underway

New Year resolution: Simplify.
Status: Underway.

Give me a moment to debrief you on the past eight months. 

My family has approached a more natural lifestyle -- we've significantly reduced our processed foods, meat and dairy products, upped our fresh produce consumption (organic, when it fits the budget), and I've started making many of my own household cleaners and toiletries with natural ingredients. Every nook and cranny in my house is almost completely organized and purged of uselessness (last space to tackle is the basement *insert BIG fake grin here*). We even did the unforgivable! -- got rid of our TV and DVD player!

All these things have helped my home life feel so much more... simple. Natural. Easy. Happy, even.

Honestly, the one thing I miss the most, the very most, is shampooing my hair. The luxurious lather of thick bubbles foaming on my head and the house-consuming fragrance of it all. Think... Herbal Essence commercial.

But that's it, really! 

More recently, I've had a wonderful change in the way I do things around the house. Following the link posted by SimpleMom.net I read an article called 10 Things That Will Make You Happier at Home. I love all ten points and some I already follow; but there were three that I've newly embraced. 

1) Making my bed everyday. I know what you're thinking: What a nasty little thing she's been! Well, sorry to disappoint but, I lost my OCD in this area when I was preggo with #2. I'd make my bed to impress my husband and maybe a guest -- but mostly I'd just close the bedroom door. 

2)Bring every room back to "ready". Ingenious. Take a few minutes to return things to their place before leaving the room. Easy peasy -- and what a world of difference it makes! Lastly, 

5) If you can't get out of it, get into it. As the article quotes, "The dishes are not going to clean themselves, so you will do it, and you will like it." I think Mary Poppins says it beautifully [note: must be read in a charming English sing-song accent] "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and snap, the job's a game. And every task you undertake becomes a piece of cake....!" You get the picture. And you're still singing the song. That's ok, so am I. Go ahead and finish it off, "... in the most delightful way!"

Maybe you are happy-go-lucky: you already make your bed everyday, tidy up after yourself [and your husband, and child(ren)], and you merrily accomplish the mounds of dishes and laundry. I still think you should read the other seven tips. 

Now, I've saved the best for last! The most exciting change of the year has had nothing to do with natural, simple, effective, or efficient living.

It has been the change in my heart. 

I've chosen to delight myself in the Lord. To turn my constant grumbling into honest thanking. He has filled me with purpose and joy. 

And practically? - He has empowered me. 

      Patience: with the three year old. 

            Selflessness: with the husband. 

                  Desire: for godliness. 

It is a "simple" change of lifestyle. And I'm so glad I'm underway!

no 'poo for you?

So you know how I've been going Simple this year?

Wellllll...

Apart from beginning my oil cleansing regimen (which, by-the-way, is something I recommend to everyone who will listen to me), I tried going "no 'poo."

I began the process of "no shampoo" by switching from regular shampoo to an organic, ph balanced one, which I then weaned off of by watering down (more and more). After I was at about 1 tbsp of 'poo to 2 cups of water, I transitioned to baking soda (1 tbsp/1 cup water). For conditioner I sprayed the ends my hair with apple cider vinegar (1 tbsp/1 cup water).

To be honest, I really didn't like it.

My hair lost it's luster completely and became Static Central. After each wash, I never knew if my hair would look dead or oily (but no shine) and dead. My roots were horrendous. The only praise I had about it was that my hair was far more obedient. Where I put it, there it remained; something I've never achieved with my silky thin locks. But, that wasn't a good enough reason to stick with ugly hair.

After about two months I anxiously switched back to my very-watered-down shampoo.

Now I am happy!

I wash every-other day with my watered-down-'poo, and finish off with a tiny dab of conditioner, along with a little splash of apple cider vinegar (I let it sit as I bath/shave, then rinse completely). I figure that my mixture is way better on my hair and scalp than what I was doing to it before. I think it's my official new way of managing my hair.

My hair looks great, from the roots down. No static. Yes shine!

So, shall I call it sham-ter or wa-poo?

Have you tried no 'poo? How did it work for you?

update: OCM

So, I think it's time to provide you with a follow up to my post about The Oil Cleansing Method.

It has been over a month now and my face is erupting.

       Just kidding.

It's doing wonderfully! I definitely recommend the OCM.

I'm still using the same bottle that I made in the first place (50% castor oil to 50% olive oil). But I do think that the next batch I make will lean more heavily on the EVOO -- since I'll get a teensy bit flaky on the nose and cheeks (maybe 40/60?).

I am thoroughly impressed with this method of cleansing. My face has not had one blemish in over a month now (two months including the miracle month before trying the OCM.) I feel so much more confident about the skin I'm in. I've grown to enjoy the massage I give myself as I gently - but firmly - rub the oil on. I have already had a number of very stubborn pores clean themselves out and I see a lot of open pores that are making towards the same progressive goal - clean, empty, and functioning! [TMI: Seriously, I had this one by the side of my lip that I thought I'd have to live with the rest of my life -- but no! - it cleaned out just last night!] The hot "steaming" with the washcloth is probably my most favorite step. I take deep slow breaths and try to let go of all the stress of my day. An added bonus is that this stuff removes all my make-up! Hooray!

I look forward to the future; hoping that my skin will purge out the gunk and I'll be left with a brilliant complexion!

For now, I'm enjoying the supple skin and healthy glow I see in my reflexion each night.

Click here for an update! 

the Oil Cleansing Method

As part of my Simple new life, I've started a new regimen for my skin. So, let's face-talk!

Through my teenage years, my complexion was fairly clear. A monthly blemish wasn't unusual; but that was really the extent of it.

Around the age of 19, however, something changed. Between the climate change from CA to CO, new side bangs I was sporting, extra compulsive face-washing, and maybe some stress or hormonal changes(?), my face gradually began to bump up. I'll spare all the details, but years later, I am still mourning over the imperfections that the post-teen bout brought me.

Things have toned down considerably. Though, I can't tell you a definitive reason. The only possible contributing factor I can associate is - my second pregnancy. I lost interest in (cow's) milk. My hormones changed. I stopped using strong face cleansers. So, for almost a year now, I've had increasingly healthier skin. You pick a reason.

But there is still room for improvement!!! Hence the Oil Cleansing Method.

HERE is the site that I originally stumbled upon.

After vamping into my Simple Year, I've finally braved up enough to try it. But everything in me tells me

 oils + face = a no, no

I guess it does make sense. Water repels oil. Thus we need strong chemicals to strip the oils. So our face freaks out and tries to [over]reproduce oils; face gets oily, dirty, clogged. Buuuut, take a cleansing oil, and help draw out the natural oils to clear the clogged pores. Voilà! (Or so they say...)

http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2010/11/gimme_an_m_how_the_higgs_gives.php

Tonight will be day three of my oil cleanse [I've chosen to do 1 part Castor oil to 1 part Olive oil]. But let me tell you about day one. I poured a dollop of the thick oil into my palm, heart pounding, I slowly began to apply the oil to my face, targeting my problem areas. The terror of what I was doing made me physically sick to my stomach. After I steamed and blotted off, my face felt great. And still does! I haven't had to use any lotion and, more importantly, I'm not an erupting grease ball (my worst fear).

So far, so good. I'll keep you posted.

a simple year

http://geology.com/articles/bottled-water/bottled-water-vintage-bottles-blm.jpg

I restart my blogging this year two weeks late better late than never.

I have a project I'm working on.

                             And I'm stoked about it.



Did you know that I'm practically a Native American.

Ok....

                              No, I'm not. At all.

But ever since the fourth grade I wanted to become one when I "grew up".

 -- Living off the land, wearing beautiful handmade mocassins, have flowing locks of silky black hair and perfect copper colored skin...

                  Hey, we can all dream, can't we?


Some refer to me as a "hippie". But that just isn't right.

                          I just like simple and earthy

And so, my quest for this life has begun. As I run out of household products, my goal for this year is to replace them with homemade, frugal, [more] natural, simple alternatives -- like vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, etc.

Best of all, my husband has agreed to it.
              Well, that's not entirely honest, I haven't explained
                    to him all the details of the extent of it.
In all reality, I couldn't do it without his participation. I'd get discouraged and lose my steam. I know that he will be satisfied with the new, shall-we-say, "products" that I'll be concocting, even if he labels them as ridiculous at first.

This year is going to be great. Already, I'm looking forward to a wonderful, vibrant, happy 2012
                       - and I haven't even showered with soap for two whole weeks!

To answer your thoughts; no, it's not gross, I am clean, & I don't stink