Hello Helichrysum!

helichrysum2

Dont be deceived by how simple this little plant looks.  Some could even mistake it as a weed.  I assure you it’s quite helpful!

This lovely specimen is nicknamed the ‘Everlasting’ flower.  It’s therapeutic qualities include antesthetic, anticoagulant, antispasmodic, antiviral, liver protectant, detoxifier/stimulant, chelates chemicals and toxins and regenerates nerves.

Sounds like it pretty much does everything!  I’m going to try adding it to my daily dietary routine for a week to see how it might be helpful with my liver issues.  I’m also adding it to my skincare routine for sure!  I’ll be adding it to some jojoba oil and lavender for my stretch marks to see how it might regenerate the tissue there.  I’m also making an incredible face serum with it!  True therapeutic grade Helichrysum is worth its weight in gold, but it’s definitely worth the investment.  Between it’s ability to support the body against viruses, regenerate nerves and treat sore and damaged muscles, this is an incredibly versatile oil!

The Wise Woman Face Serum features the Helichrysum, bergamot, lavender,  Frankincense, Geranium, and Rosewood!  Mixed in jojoba, Evening Primrose, and Rosehip seed oil…. oh my.

It’s the bees knees, I’m tellin ya.

It will be up on my etsy site tomorrow.

You can also purchase some helichrysum essential oil through Young Living, Here.

It’s pretty expensive if you arent buying it wholesale, so if you’re interested, let me know and I’ll explain that process to you.

Blessings of Peace and Health to you all!

I’m off to enjoy my jasmine rice dessert.  Come back tomorrow for that recipe!

March 10th, 2010 by Lacey | No Comments »

Grow your own

My day tomorrow just got cleared, cause I just happened upon THIS blogpost!  I had no idea it could be SO easy.  Oh, this is so exciting!  Anyone have some good recipes for Oyster Mushrooms?

oyster_mushrooms_coffee

March 8th, 2010 by Lacey | 1 Comment »

Hippie Tip O’ the week

There’s a reason I refer to this blog as NEO hippie.  Neo meaning new.  Like a whole new breed of hippie.  It’s kinda the Portland urban homesteading, cowgirl gypsy hippie sort.  Not so much the dreade…. hmm.  I’ll be dreading my hair soon. Not so much the VW bus driv…. I really miss my vw bus…. Not so much the grateful dead follo… hmm…is Dave Matthews like the new grateful dead?….

Ok. There are some similar ideals.  But, I don’t feel like it’s fair to stereotype.

focus.

I thought I’d start something.  Wait a second.  I hear you snickering at me.  I know I start a lot of things and I suck at finishing what I’ve started.  You don’t have to bring up the ‘Pursuit of Optimum Health’.  Or the ‘Weekly essential Oil’ review.  I can tell that you’re wondering what even HAPPENED to a year with Sally Fallon?!  I haven’t forgotten about Sally.  I need to postpone a bit on that as this season of my life is sort of volatile.  And I haven’t forgotten about the Pursuit of Optimum Health.  I’ll have you know that I’m only 8 lbs away from reaching pre baby weight, and not all that far from feeling like my nimble ninja self.

You should have seen the look on the post office guys face as I hauled in a 40lb box with 20lb kid strapped to my back.  Okay.. that’s just a normal day in a mom’s life.

Okay, WAY off track.

Did I mention that I’m currently enjoying some Organi..(like I’ve said before, everything in my house is organic or locally and naturally produced… so I wont preface EVERYTHING with organic.  Just assume) Jasmine rice, raisins, cinnamon, Raw Local honey and Raw cream.  Oh dear LORD.  It’s better than ice cream.

What is this post even about?

Uh….
blog-179What the crap does a picture of delicious food have to do with this post?!

I don’t know.  I just thought I’d distract you with a picture of my afternoon snack from yesterday.  Rosemary flat bread, goat cheese, strawberry jam and pears.

SO

GOOD.

My tip this week, is to go through your house and find all the products that you use to make your house smell ‘good’.  Air freshners, wall plug ins, garbage can bags that are scented to smell good, Febreeze (gag me with a spork!) perfume, dryer sheets….. and stop buying those things.  Wean yourself slowly.  Why?

These things are not safe.  Scented items usually have cancer causing agents in them, they cause headaches, they can even produce allergies in someone over time.  Trust me.  You’ll get sick alot less, have fewer headaches and feel much clearer headed by ridding your house of these ’smelly’ things.  Over time they actually decrease your ability to smell!  Your sense of smell helps you taste!  I don’t want to live in a world I can’t taste!  Oh flatbread with goat cheese, jam and pears would be wasted on a tasteless tongue!

See.  That picture DID serve a purpose in this post.

What to buy instead?  Beeswax candles.  Don’t use dryer sheets.  You don’t need them!  Add a few drops of essential oils to a damp cloth and toss it in the dryer with your clothes.  Or better yet, hang them out on a clothes line for a few hours!

Wear essential oils as perfume, create a feeling rather than OVERWHELM someone with a musky perfume-y scent.

Get houseplants.  They help control the scent.  Open your windows everytime it’s nice out and air out your living space.

Spray your garbage can down with vinegar and then dust some baking soda into the garbage bag to help control smell.

What are some of YOUR natural smell alternatives?

March 7th, 2010 by Lacey | 3 Comments »

It starts with the floor

I don’t know about you, but I am a barefoot mama.  Growing up, I ran around my horse pastures barefooted.  Up until this last year or so I didn’t really wear anything but flipflops.  I think living in a city has changed my ways a bit.

Your feet have the largest pores in your body.  Did you know that?  When we use Essential oils in this house, we always apply some to the feet.  The skin is less sensitive  but the oils are taken easily into the body there.

I wonder what else gets soaked in through the feet?

Would you lick your floors?

I can lick my floors.  UHnnnnnnaaa  that was the sound of me just licking my floor.

You don’t believe me do you.  I did.  I promise.

My floors aren’t spotless.  I can also promise you that.  We run in and out.  Sometimes with shoes.  Sometimes not.

I actually just mopped the hardwood today in the livingroom.  I don’t think that’s really been done completely in the year we’ve lived here.  Yep.  Baby spit up, dirty feet, fallen food….. it’s all there.  I sweep, and you probably wouldn’t have been able to REALLY tell.  Trust me.  I’m not a ‘dirty’ person.  Well, I guess that depends on who you ask.

I can lick my floors because I cleaned them with pure castille soap, and rosemary and lavender essential oils.

If you’ve been reading my posts for awhile you know I’m a big stickler for Therapeutic grade essential oils.  They really are an entirely different thing than what you can pick up at the grocery store.  Or even your local Whole Foods for that matter.  I use Young Living.  If you you’re curious why, ask.  I’ll tell ya.

Anyway.  Back on track.

If you want to keep yourself and your family healthy, start by NOT using products to clean that you wouldnt mind licking.  Or rubbing all over your face.  Would you wash your face with a clorox wipe?  Or with windex?  How about that hardwood polish?  Yeah.  I didn’t think so.  I’m especially concerned with my floor products since Kai spends most of his time LITERALLY licking the floors.  He’s an odd kid.  He scoots around on his belly like a beached seal.  And he really does lick the floors.  But I’m not worried about it.  Actually, it’s probably helping keep him healthy because of the essential oils I use.

Playing on the floor

Playing on the floor

While I mopped, they played some 'music' for me

While I mopped, they played some 'music' for me

I use Castile soap, Dr. Bronners to be exact, oxygenated bleach (not really bleach), vinegar and sodium bicarb for all my cleaning.  Add some lemon and some essential oils and there’s no mess I can’t handle.  I dare you to come over and tell me I can’t make a floor shine like pinesol!  My dishes, laundry and everything else sparkle!  That’s not to say I don’t let some messes get out of hand once in awhile… or everyday…..well.  Most of the time.

And the best part?  My house smells like herbs.  And home.  And *real* fresh air.  Another awesome part?  Ask me how much I DON’T spend on household cleaning products.

March 6th, 2010 by Lacey | 2 Comments »

Baby Eats

blog-135

My little Kai is going to eat me out of house and home before he’s 1.

The kid started looking longingly at my dinner at 4 months old.  Drooling.  Waving his hands wildly.   Squawking like a starving baby bird.  So at just 5 months I decided to test it out.  See how he did with some food.

He ate 1 whole cup of mashed yam.  And still begged for more, but I thought we’d better move into this slowly.  If it were up to him, he’d be eating Porter House Steak and Potatoes!

After confirming with my Naturopath, we decided that Kai should be getting a few ‘real’ meals outside of nursing each day.  He was nursing every 2 hours before that and my body was having a hard time keeping up, especially at night.

So far we’re only doing homemade baby food.  And  he’s had no stomach issues, no gas, only pure fat happy baby, other than the unfortunate egg yoke incident…. Those didn’t settle well with him.  Which is unfortunate because we get some incredible eggs from our happy hens.

With Cae we started him out with the standard baby rice cereal.  That stuff has less nutritional value than McDonald french fries.  It’s purely filler food, processed and stuffed full of ‘vitamins’.

A few of the benefits of making baby food at home is 1) CHEAP! 2) you know EXACTLY what your kid is eating, 3) it’s as pure and innocent as your little one!  No processing, no chemicals (if you choose organic) and full of REAL nutrition.

Another thing to keep in mind, is that it doesn’t have to be bland!  I add cinnamon to steel cut outs.  Boil it till it’s super soft, blend it up with some unsalted organic butter, some peaches or blueberries, the cinnamon and guess what.  He SCREAMS at me between bites cause I cant shovel it in fast enough!

Come on Woman!  Feed me faster!

Come on Woman!  Feed me Faster!

Steel cut oats, blueberries, salt, butter and water.  Pureed.

Steel cut oats, blueberries, salt, butter and water. Pureed.

A few of Kai’s other favorites are peas with sweet potatoe pureed with butter and rosemary, french lentil soup with ginger and leeks and beets and broccoli.  Oh and Avocado blended up with some purified water and some sea salt.

blog-167

Here’s a few random tips

1)Something I would keep in mind is to avoid dairy (other than organic butter), wheat and honey.  These foods tend to be hard to digest, especially honey! Oh and nut butters.

2)Don’t sweeten the food with sugar.  They think it tastes just fine with fresh fruit pureed in!

3) Caleb was and still is very sensitive to apples and strawberries, so I would only try those later, like say past 9 months and in small quantities at first to see how they react.  Kai had a bad reaction to egg yolks, as most babies will.  Wait until they’re older for those too.

4)Make sure you use Organic foods.  I know they’re more expensive, but we’re talking about your childs health!  And to be honest, it’s cheaper to buy a bunch of organic bananas, puree them yourself than to buy the little jars of baby food.

5)Make large quantities ahead of time and store them in large glass jars in the fridge, the freezer or in individual serving sizes for traveling

6) Whole leaf teas are excellent for calming baby!  I use a catnip, peppermint, chamomile blend at night sometimes for Kai to help him sleep.  Mountain Rose Herbs even has a blend called Quiet Child.  Or order your own herbs from them and make a mix!  But do your research, some herbs are detoxifying or too strong for little ones.

7) Just because you don’t like something, doesn’t mean they wont love it!

Here are some excellent foods to start your little one off with.  Play mix and match!

Veggies Do’s

Peas, Carrots, yams, sweet potatoes, onions (cooked down really well and added to other things!), turnips, spinach, beets, squash, brocoli (cooked REALLY well), avocado…. let me know if I’m missing anything here

Veggie DONTS

Tomatoes, anything raw, corn (I avoid this because there’s corn in SO many products), anything NOT organic, uh….. am I missing anything here either?

Fruit DO’s

bananas, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, pears, peaches, cherries (remove the pit!)melons,  again…. if I’m missing something here, let me know

Fruit DONT’S

apples, mangos, strawberries, citruses, …. Remember this isnt an exact list and these are good tips for the first 6 months of feeding solids

Fats and proteins DO’s

organic Broths (especially if it’s homemade!), (okay, lets just assume EVERYTHING is better Organic okay?) butter (unsalted is best) coconut oil, olive oil, legumes and beans soaked cooked and blended! Be careful with beans.  I wouldn’t trust the canned kind, they may not be digestible enough.  Buy bulk beans and soak them for 24-36 hours (rinsing every 8 hours or so) then cook them well.

Fat and Protein DON’Ts

No meat right away, check with your naturopath or doctor on a good schedule, I think 1 year is a good time to start introducing (?) cheeses, anything soy (I abhor soy products, read about that HERE) But don’t take my word for it, do some research!

Grain Do’s

steel cut oats, rice, quinoa, and other NON gluten types

Grain Don’ts

wheat and anything with gluten in it


Kai’s Peas and Sweet Potato Puree

1 bag of organic garden peas

1 Tbl organic unsalted butter

1 medium sized sweet potato or yam

dash of celtic sea salt or some other herbs like rosemary, thyme (go lite!)

Purified water

Start  by slicing the Yam or Sweet potato into large chunks and place in a glass, enameled, stainless steel or cast iron pot (teflon or aluminum leech into food!) cover in purified water and boil till soft.

drain out SOME of the water and add peas, butter and seasoning.  Simmer a few minutes until peas are mushy and butter is melted.

Transfer to something you can blend the food in.  Like a blender, or I use my immersion blender.

Blend until it’s the consistency of thick yogurt.  If it’s too thick and paste-y add more water.

Keep in the fridge and watch your little one gobble it up!

HI.  I am one fat happy baby.  My momma feeds me good stuff.

HI. I am one fat happy baby. My momma feeds me good stuff.

March 5th, 2010 by Lacey | 2 Comments »

Embrace


blog-098

I think Jasmine tea is my favorite.  I didn’t like it at first because it smelled sort of perfume-y, but I think it’s my favorite.  Although Hojicha is wonderful as a breakfast tea….

I didn’t know how to start this post, so I just jotted down the first thing on my mind.  Which is the tea I’m sipping.

Perhaps I should try blogging first thing in the morning when I feel fresh and awake, rather than late at night when my eyelids are begging to be closed for the evening.

OH…. a new adventure is on the horizon.  The hubster is currently training in California for a few days for his new job.  He’ll be working for a solar panel company, which is exciting.  What I’m having a hard time with though, is that he will no longer be at home in the middle of the day on a monday.  Or get done with a job early and come home at 3 on a thursday.  Or work all week and then have the next week off.  He now works 40+ hours plus 15 at school and the weekends will be reserved for homework and a few precious hours of family time.

I wasn’t prepared for this.

I’m looking at possibly 3 years of this schedule before Hubster is done with school (if he chooses to complete his masters).

Oh my.

I might be blogging more in the evenings.  I might get more knitting done.  I might also need weekly therapy.  How do you single mom’s do it?!  I can compose myself for a day or two, and then I fall apart and thank the stars that my dear spouse is home for the next day or 2 to give me a break.  The price we pay for a secure job.  Carpentry is hard on the body, but it’s also nice to have so many breaks and I actually really liked that he didn’t have a set schedule.

But Spring is here.  Or at least the flowers think so.

blog-102blog-100

I appreciate the gusto for which the flowers and new foliage seem to be embracing our premature spring.  I almost found myself frustrated with the cheerful little sparrows the other morning as the chirped their awakening from the winter song.  I wanted to shush them into silence for a few more months, because my internal clock says,’ Not yet!  It isn’t time!’.  But nature embraces the change.  It goes with it.  If you fight change, you don’t survive.

So I am taking my lesson from the crocuses and the cheeky little finches.  Embrace this season.  It is what it is.  The way you respond is all you can control.  SO I choose to be thankful.  Thankful that my husband has a good job in this uncertain economy.  Thankful that I live in truly, the best city in the world.

Thankful that I can hang my skittle colored baby diapers out to dry on my clothesline

blog-105

Thankful for our little hens that we inherited from our ex- (Is there a better way to put this, that doesn’t sound so…. sad?) housemates, whom we miss dearly!

blog-114

Thankful for Gertrude, my new Teal Ordeal

blog-095

Isn’t she beautiful?!  Oh, how I love a Volvo.

blog-078

And more than anything, I am thankful for a man who works so hard to provide these wonderful luxuries for me.  I suppose embracing my life isn’t so bad after all.

March 2nd, 2010 by Lacey | 6 Comments »

A teeny tiny Dream

The little pet store in the town my parents live in offers quite an array of interesting and exotic animals.  Chinchillas and Solcatta Tortoises, Boa Constrictors and little geckos.  They also have the normal pet store animals like cats and puppies (it’s sooooo hard to hold a puppy and not be tempted to sell a kidney for it, right?!).  But today I saw something that made me think, ‘I wonder if I could get a few un-caged chickens home in my subaru wagon with my 2 kids?’  I saw the cutest tiny chickens.  They were even advertised as such.  ‘Super tiny chickens’, to be exact.  Can you imagine how cute their teeny tiny eggs are?!!!  I’ve added them to my wish list.  Right next to a Dexter cow and some miniature goats.  It was at this point in my daydream that I realized that I actually just want a teeny tiny farm.  It’s got to be easier to keep teeny animals than their full grown counter parts, dont ya think?

seramamin-goat

This little calf is about the size of a Golden Retreiver :)

This little calf is about the size of a Golden Retreiver :)

Perhaps this small themed dream stems from my short complex (I’m 5 foot, what, you gotta problem with that?! :)  Really though, I think it’s my way of dealing with the reality that this whole farm dream of mine, is really more mine than my dear hubsters.  He enjoys our chickens, and he enjoys working hard outside, but I see him tremble a bit as I ramble on about herds of cattle and yards full of chickens and goats and horses to ride and rows of sustainably grown vegetables, an orchard of fruit-bearing trees and so on……  He sees the realistic side of all this which is… money, poop and lots of mud and things to shovel.  All of which I grew up with and dont mind.  But a marriage is about compromise and not forcing your dreams on each other.  Which brings me to my cob hobbit house.  It has been scaled down to a cob outdoor office of sorts.  Seth disclosed to me that he has a bit of a dream of renovating an old farm house.  You see he’s spent the last several years in various carpentry jobs, none of which included the building of a mud house.  He apparently feels he should use the talents he has, rather than spend time acquiring a new one.  I see his logic and I can alter my dreams to include him :)  And he’s agreed to still build me a little hobbit shed/office and a cob outdoor oven, so I wont have to be deprived of that dream either.

February 26th, 2010 by Lacey | 8 Comments »

To new adventures!

blog-075

I finally got a clothes line up.  The smell of fresh sun soaked sheets is beautiful.

February 25th, 2010 by Lacey | No Comments »

Care for the skin you’re in

I have been asked on occasion how and what products I use for my skin/face/hair/makeup….etc.  I figured a post about it would be nice to have in order to explain what I do and why I do it!

I know this is going to end up looking like a giant ad for my etsy products… but I created them because I couldn’t find stuff like this anywhere!  And I’m not lying.  I. could. NOT. find stuff that I liked, that worked or was even close to being affordable.  Thus the birth of neohippiemama skincare.

scrub2

Raw Honey Turbinado Scrub

First let me premise this all by saying, your very first line of skincare starts in the kitchen.  Drink filtered water.  Eat organic fruits and veggies.  Use coconut and grapeseed oils.  Cut soy out of your diet.  Eat pasture fed meats.  Whole grains.  Choose local sources for dairy and eggs.  Don’t pump your body full of diet pills, medications (question your dr.’s advice… do research before taking ANYTHING) and ‘meal replacements’.  Cut back on the coffee, sugar and alcohol.  When you do consume those things chose natural and organic.

So. We’ll start with the top and work on down.

Hair:

Here’s a recent picture of what my hair looks like currently

dscn3446

Sorry for the crazy lady smile.  My hair is more voluminous than it has ever been.   It gets easily entangled in a certain someones grubby little baby hands, but I like it just fine.  I use Henna to give it a bit of a copper/red glow.  Henna is just a plant.  Plain and simple.  It comes in a powder form, I add boiling water and maybe some yogurt and honey or an egg yolk to give it extra shine.  It comes in the normal shades, like black, auburn, red, blonde and a neutral shade which is simple to strengthen and give your hair natural shine.  It wont lighten your hair and it has absolutely no toxins or unnatural substances in it.  If you want to lighten your hair a bit, add a squeeze of lemon juice to it.

Shampoo and conditioner.  I haven’t bought a bottle of either in 2.5 years.  I use baking soda diluted in water to scrub my scalp and apple cider vinegar diluted, to give it shine.  I use my Tress serum to condition and tame it.  I never came across a shampoo or conditioner that was cost effective, and void of parabens, sulfates or fragrances that I like.  Besides the fact that I am saving at least $20 a month.  Actually more, because I don’t buy hair sprays,  mousse, gels, or shine enhancers, and I haven’t been to a salon in 3 years.  I wonder how much I HAVEN’T spent on my hair?!

tress-serum

Thats it.

I am planning on dreading my hair soon….. stay tuned for that.

Facial care and makeup

Let me preface this by saying…. up until literally a few months ago I have ALWAYS had problems with certain areas on my face.  Right around my chin and mouth and around my nose are always dry, broken out and red.  I have tried everything from Clinique and  Estee Lauder to completely natural products like Mychelle and Dr. Haushkas.  It’s crazy how stubborn my skin has been.  Part of it is diet, part of it is hormonal inbalances and the other 1/2 is skin care.  Right now I use my Healing Face wash which has healing Organic Jojoba Oil and a few different organic therapeutic grade essential oils coupled with pure Castille soap.  My skin is clear people.  AND it doesn’t burn when I wash my face!!!  You have no idea how great this is…  I moisturize with either my Healing Calendula and Lavender cream or my Face tonic.  Switching between the two has given me the best results.  OH my face is soft and little wrinkles seem to have been stopped in their tracks.  It’s seriously true love.

For makeup I use Everyday minerals.  They’re the best natural make up I’ve found that’s also in my budget.   Hold on to your seats, cause I’m about to tell you how much I spend on makeup EACH year.  Yes, I said year.  $50.  That includes 2-3 powder foundations (That last F.O.R.E.V.E.R) blushes and bronzer,  eye colors and eyebrow color.  Check it out, follow this link for a FREE KIT, add one of the kits to your order.  I’ve been using this company’s makeup for 4 years now and I will remain loyal as long as they continue to use great ingredients and keep their prices so reasonable.  As for mascara and lip stuff, I recently indulged and purchased a Dr. Hauschkas Aubergine Mascara, but when I got home, I was disappointed in it’s toxicity rating by this website, Cosmetic Database, especially since I dropped $30 on it.  I will be researching BEFORE purchasing next time!  As for lipcolor, I don’t really use color.  I just keep my lips ridiculously soft and kissable (seriously, I cant keep my hubster away from them) with my LipLove.  I have gotten rave reviews back from my purchasers on this product.  I’m not surprised really.  I used natural beeswax and local raw honey, jojoba and avocado oils, to name a few of the yummy ingredients.

Moving on.  Body.

Wash:

I make my own soap….. which isn’t for sale yet.  I’m working on perfecting it.  I can’t quite get consistent results yet.  But you’re safe if you purchase natural Lye soap.  Try a goats milk and oatmeal bar.  You can find one at Etsy or a local health food store.  We also use Dr. Bronners for everything.  Body wash, dishes, laundry, washing the floor….

dr-bronners1

It’s great stuff.  Pure Castille soap.

I also use my Healing Calendula and Lavender Cream for all over body moisturizing, but mostly on my stretch marks and hands (As well as my face)  I just finished perfecting my all over body lotion, which sold out in the first day, so I’m working on another batch which will be available next week.

Deodorant:

Man, the ingredients in commercially sold Deo is soooo bad for you!  Especially if you’re nursing… all those toxins shoved right in your little ones face… yikes.  I have tried EVERY natural crystal, deodorant, spray… whatever.  Nothing works.  That I’ve found.  But don’t lose hope!  There is an answer!  I mix up equal parts pure organic coconut oil and baking soda with therapeutic grade lavender and tea tree essential oils and guess what….. IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I’m not even kidding you.  It’s crazy!  I’m working on the recipe to sell on my site (it will most likely have some sort of emollient in it to help it bond so it can be put in a stick and spread on…. I use my hands right now)

Dental Care: First of all, flouride should not be in your dental hygiene routine.  Am I just rockin your world right now?!  Do some research, here’s a good place to start.  I use Young Livings Dentarome Toothpaste.  Want some?  I’ll add it to my order, or I’ll show you how to order it at wholesale price.

Here’s a little secret.  I haven’t been to the dentist in 7 years.  Here’s another secret that will blow your mind.  I have a cavity that has been bothering me for the last year and I’ve been ignoring it…. (I know that’s bad)  Since I’ve been drinking Raw Organic milk and using young livings toothpaste… it’s going away.

Yes.  you read that right.

It’s diminishing AND it doesn’t hurt.  Did you know that cavities can HEAL?!  You don’t have to just get them filled!!! Holy crap.  It’s a miracle!  Read more about dental health on the westonaprice.org. site.

The Hubster uses Young Livings Mouthwash because he smokes a tobacco pipe and I cant STAND kissing him after he smokes…. Or really if he smokes then takes a shower, brushes his teeth, or uses ‘other’ mouthwashes.  This mouthwash, however does the trick.  He used to test my nose by saying he hadn’t smoked that day… but I could tell.  Now I cant.  I keep it stocked well for the sake of our marriage.  :)

Fragrances:

I use my Therapeutic Grade Essential oils for fragrance.  It’s healing, natural and not toxic.  Miessence has apparently come out with a non toxic fragrance line that looks like something I’d like to try!

Did I cover everything?  If you have other questions, let me know and check out your cosmetics at CosmeticDatabase.com It’s amazing and incredibly disturbing what lurks in your cosmetics, skin care and dental care!

February 13th, 2010 by Lacey | 8 Comments »

A Funeral A Wedding and the Winds of Change

dscn3496

My grandfather, Papa Bob was laid to rest this January.  Kai and I flew to Montana to say goodbye and support my father as he mourned his loss and processed his past.

dscn3507

A veteran, a true cowboy and a hard man.

dscn3505

May the memories we have be ones to cherish and look fondly upon.

papabpbscan3

After flying home I had one day to repack and get myself ready for my dear sis-in-laws nuptials.   The wedding was sassy and beautiful, just like Chelle.

dscn3560

Yours truly and my handsome hubster

weddingparty

I loved how Chelle decorated!

weddingleprachaun

Cae was the wedding leprechaun and he danced the night away, until the soles of his shoes LITERALLY came off.

At the end of January we faced the realization that we would once again be moving, as our housemates are off on a new adventure in Arkansas.  We wish them well and will miss our home, but it is better to embrace change than fight it…..

dscn3585

Enjoying some February sun as I look forward to what lies ahead for myself and my little hobbit family.

February 8th, 2010 by Lacey | 1 Comment »