Sweet Cheeks: Natural High

Sweet Cheeks: Natural High: "A couple years ago my neighbors, that are brilliant in most every way, came up with a plan to plant the city easement strips (the strip of ..."

Natural High

A couple years ago my neighbors, that are brilliant in most every way, came up with a plan to plant the city easement strips (the strip of land between the street and the sidewalk) with crocus. So one fall day we all drilled holes and dropped hundreds of bulbs into holes and called it a day. The next February, I remember coming home one day and seeing little peeking blooms around. Sigh.




Each year the show gets a bit better and each year it makes me giddy with the knowledge that spring is truly just around the corner, and the long hibernation if over.
 

Sweet Cheeks: Sun, Love, Forest Hill Park and a Windy Day

Sweet Cheeks: Sun, Love, Forest Hill Park and a Windy Day: "I love to go out to eat. Really. I love everything about it. I like getting out of mommy clothes and getting into wife clothes ;) I like t..."

Sun, Love, Forest Hill Park and a Windy Day

I love to go out to eat. Really. I love everything about it. I like getting out of mommy clothes and getting into wife clothes ;) I like taking the time to get all smacey. I like the time alone with my husband. I love a well crafted cocktail. Because I love to cook I love to see what is new on the food scene. Because Richmond is a food town I have a plethora of restaurants to choose from that will no doubt leave my belly full and me feeling heady over the whole night. Sigh.




So you would think that my Valentines plans would have involved a hot new strapless dress that hugs my curves like Joan off of Madmen, or a perfectly made cocktail at Juleps. You would think.



My husband, instead, said to me when he left that morning. Make sure you are home by noon. He had that special mischief in his eyes that made me ask, “so should the kids be with me?” He said yes.



Hmmm??



So at noon he comes home, gets the kids jackets on and tells me we are going for a picnic. We have been having this odd warm spell here and it has been glorious after a dull, grey winter. So off to Forest Hill we romped. We set out a blanket, ate lunch, the kids romped on the playground, Joel and I laid in the sun. The kids jumped on us and made us come play. They rolled on the ground, we all laid in the sun together. We got, snuggles, and giggles and wiggles and hugs.

And there is no cocktail, or fancy dress better. And I fall a little more in love. Sigh.

Sweet Cheeks: DIY Shampoo

Sweet Cheeks: DIY Shampoo: "To be honest, I have read about this for a while. However, I still choose to buy my insanely expensive sulfate free shampoo over the interne..."

DIY Shampoo

To be honest, I have read about this for a while. However, I still choose to buy my insanely expensive sulfate free shampoo over the internet instead of trying it. I just could not reconcile the concept. In my mind the baking soda would leave my hair chalky and filmy and the vinegar would leave it stripped and dry.




I am not sure what motivated me to finally try it, perhaps it was bucking up the $12 to ship the shampoo that cost far to much because I can’t find any sulfate free stuff in Richmond. I wish I had been smart enough to try this PRIOR to order the stuff.



My hair is super, SUPER thin. I have a ton of it, but each hair itself is thin. This worked great for my hair. Left it super shiny and soft. I have some friend with different hair types trying it and will post back letting you know how it worked for them.



I found the recipe here. http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Shampoo/step10/NO-POO/





Give it a try! I would love to hear your feedback!



Can’t beat it, 100% natural, 100% easy, 100% cheap. Love it!

Sweet Cheeks: Love, Naturally…

Sweet Cheeks: Love, Naturally…: "I know I told you the next post would be about a “shampoo” that you could make yourself, and I do promise that I will get that up tomorrow..."

Love, Naturally…

I know I told you the next post would be about a “shampoo” that you could make yourself, and I do promise that I will get that up tomorrow. However, this blog is not just about beauty and skin care. Really, for me, it is about how to get back to the best parts of life. Again, for me, I think that is getting a back to a more natural way of living, but it may mean something a bit different for you.

Either way, today the kids were being…I don’t even have the right word that wouldn’t make me sound like a bad mom. Twits come to mind, but I would never use that to describe my sweet little angels ;) It was gorgeous out, but all they wanted to do is fight. I wanted to be outside and certainly wanted them out soaking up the special glory that are the first peaks of spring. Sigh. However, my little [angels], had another agenda and I could not for the life of me figure out what it was or how to make us all happy. Exasperated I left them outside and went inside. Even more frustratingly, they followed. Grrrr.

Then Tristan sparked on an idea. He asked if tomorrow was Valentines, and then Jillian, asked to make a “special card for her friends, “ and finally we found something to settle into. I even made my own for my hot husband. Glitter flew, paint spilled, every window was open and the stereo was turned up just a little louder than normal…and it was perfect.

And truly to me, these are the most special acts of love I could ask for. The kaleidoscope of color, the sparkly brilliance, the honest intent...

True Love.

The Ugly Truth About the “Beauty” Industry

Image by sm. caruso

So I bet the last time you went the store and bought your shampoo…or maybe your babies, you felt good about your purchase. You felt safe. I mean after all, it is a national brand carried by a national store. Right? Thank god the industry is regulated. We could live in China. Then who knows, we could have lead in our shampoo.

Thank god, right? Wrong. Dead wrong. At this point my industry is NOT regulated. At all. You know what that means. That means I could bottle up sour milk and tell you it is the cure all for acne. Ick right. That also means I could put an ingredient that contains lead in that baby shampoo and, well, who’s to know!

Scary. Perhaps you are thinking, that wouldn’t happen, companies can’t mislabel in the U.S. Wrong. I, without a doubt can bottle something and put “All Natural” and “Organic” on the label and it be neither. What is stopping me? I am not regulated. But the label “ organic” is regulated, right? Yes, but only when it comes to food.

But my baby shampoo is so mild it doesn’t even make my babies eyes tear when it gets in. How harmful can that be. Hmmm. Did you ever think to ask why? Why would getting foreign matter in your eye not make your eye do what it is intended to, protect itself. By tearing. I never did frankly. Turns out, companies actually put an ingredient in baby shampoos that numbs the eyes so it won’t tear. Great, I guess, except for the fact, that that is what your eye needs to do to flush out that stuff that should be burning if your baby could feel it. Hmmm.


So how do you know what to do?

What you put ON your body goes IN your body. The skin is the largest organ after all so everything you put on your skin is absorbed into your body and processed by your liver. So, just like with the food you eat, you should read the labels. What do you look for? First let’s start with what to look for and avoid:

Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea:
Known to cause dermatitis.


Parabens - there are different Parabens but all end in Paraben (ex, ethylparaben). At the least they are irritants, but some are toxic. You will find them in most skin care products and are used as a preservative.

Stearelkonium chlorideToxin and irritant.


Sodium Laurel Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate
An allergen, irritant and some concern over toxicity.

Petrolatum-Petroleum jelly There is evidence that supports the use of this positively and evidence that indicates that this actually leaches moisture from your skin. I will take a neutral stance on that, but ask… at the end of the day is a petroleum product the BEST thing you feel you can put on your skin? No. Than why do it.


Phthalates (Dibutyl and Diethyl):
An ingredient typically used in hair spray, nail polish and some fragrances as a plasticizers providing flexibility. Considered high hazard on Skin Deep for it's various potential health problems.

Propylene Glycol PEG and PPG
Allergen

Diethanolamine, Triethanolamine (TEA, DEA):
These are irritants and possibly toxic.


PVP PVA copolymers toxic when inhaled



The reality is that alone none of these are probably that big of an issue. However think of how many, shampoo, soaps, lotions, cosmetics, detergents, deodorants, hair care products you use. Daily. It all adds up and overloads our body and our babies. And it is making us sick. So try a little detox. In your lotions and potions look for ingredients you know (olive oil, shea butter, coco butter, jojoba oil, sugar, salt, vitamin E). Read the labels and avoid the above, for shampoos, soaps and body washes. You might be surprised if you stop using the harsh cleansers that your skin will calm and you may not need to moisturize 5 times a day anymore. Just think what you can do with the extra time ;)

So next post stay tuned for the best shampoo, I have ever used… AND you can do it yourself. Really…


Also check out this great link for more information on this and what you can do to bring about change.

http://www.youtube.com/v/pfq000AF1i8&hl=en_US&fs=1″%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam




Keeping it Natural,


Sweet Cheeks

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