Movies have a pervasive and influential role on the world. Despite the knowledge that a large portion of mainstream movies are fictional, it is hard not to realize parallels and find ideals within their carefully crafted storylines. Romantic comedies make romance and true love seem one funny conversation away, they give you the feeling and impression that carefully crafted lines and slinky dresses will find you the love of your life.
Let me tell you first hand that this is not true. When I found my other half, the one person who completes me, I wasn't even looking. I was with someone else at the time, unhappily that is for certain, and did not even admit the possibility that there were feelings between us. Regardless of this, my future wife made it her mission to make me feel better, to make me smile, laugh, and chat. She was the light part of my days, and even though I didn't know what I was feeling I enjoyed spending time with her. She fell in love with me even though I was unkept, dirty, depressed, and unhappy in life. I didn't wear any fancy clothes or drop any special lines to make her swoon, our personalities just clicked together. I wasn't looking for anyone, and yet I found the most wonderful person of my life.
There is no trick to finding love, it really is as simple as being okay with yourself and just talking to people. You never know who you will find a connection with. If you are a big book nerd (guilty!) or enjoy dissecting insects or really enjoy playing video games or anything else that isn't "mainstream", don't ever think that you can't find someone who is just right for you. Don't ever dream of changing either, because you will never be happy with yourself that way. If you can't be happy with yourself, how could you possibly be happy with someone else?
Mainstream is just what the corporations are paid to sell to us. No one fits into that mould, and no one is supposed to. Why else would they alter and distort photos to emphasize impossible sizes and unrealistic shapes? Because all they want you to do is feel miserable about yourself so that you will spend your money to try and acheive their concept of 'perfect'.
I'm not perfect. My wife isn't perfect. My mom and dad aren't perfect, and M's family isn't perfect either. So what? I'm happy. M is happy. My parents are happy, and so are M's. None of us fit into the carefully sculpted mould of unattainable perfection. And we shouldn't try to either. Why? Because perfection is no fun. If you were perfect, all your energy would be focused on staying perfect. You would be miserable just trying to keep up with all the upkeep and maintenance and dieting, exercise, drugs, makeup, etc and you would never have any time to do anything that you actually enjoy.
Shun mainstream and embrace individuality. You don't have to be a non-conformist to be individual. Don't like thinking you have to fit into a size 3-5 to be healthy? Don't! A healthy weight is different for each person. I've been that size 3-5 girl, and it sucked. I am now happily a size 10 and I feel no shame about that. My body feels great, and yours can to. Give it what it needs, and you will find your perfect weight, size and shape.
When you begin to trust yourself to take care of your own body, you start feeling a great level of confidence. Confidence to just be yourself. That aspect alone will draw people to you, and you will have a great influence on those people. Confidence is an attractive aspect simply because so few people actually possess it. So be true to you, love yourself, and you will find levels of happiness that you never thought possible.
Happiness for all shapes and sizes,
Laura
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Weight Does Not Equal Perfection
I’m finding myself getting very irritable of late. Like I’m stuck stationary when I want to be moving forward. I stopped writing for almost an entire week, and have been feeling kind of stuck. This is very hard to break through, and despite being able to talk at length with people about the things that are on my mind, I haven’t been able to put it into writing. I’m not really sure why exactly; maybe I was piling too much freelancing on my plate. I have regained some semblance of control over that and allowed myself to take a break over the weekend. I’m feeling much better now about writing and the flow of words, and I plan on making sure that this lesson stays forefront in my mind.
There was a whole different source of frustration for me fairly recently, and I did know that it would happen. Being around people who are so vastly different from me in almost every way is very challenging and emotionally draining. It takes a lot of effort not to snap or freak out about things that I cannot control. It’s not that these people are bad people, they are just different from myself and I am pretty firmly set in my ways and my thoughts.
There was also the rampant focus on weight in terms of how it impacts physical appearance. There is so much more to a person’s appearance than just their weight. Every compliment that was shared during the weekend had relevance to that person’s weight and/or how much weight they had lost. Sure, some people need to lose weight, but it’s not a matter of numbers or girth, it’s a matter of health. The focus being on just size is frustrating and aggravating.
I once believed that to be considered a healthy weight, you had to be a size 6 or less. Now I’m sitting comfortably in a size 10 (or so) and I’ve never felt healthier. Sure I have a little bit of weight on my hips, legs, and stomach, whatever. I eat pretty much whatever I want and don’t fluctuate in weight. I eat healthy foods, and I try to get in a little bit of activity every day. Some days are better than others, but I don’t beat myself up over it. If I’m feeling particularly ‘bleh’ then I know it’s either time to eat some food, or time to get my body moving.
I don’t beat myself up about having any extra weight either. It’s healthy to have a little bit of flub. It helps keep me warm (that was certainly a huge challenge when I was size 3-6) and if I get sick I don’t worry about eating, I can focus on relaxing and healing. Even after I got my wisdom teeth removed, I had lost about 10-15 pounds. Once my mouth felt better and I could eat properly again, I ate whatever I wanted and my weight went right back up to where it was. No muss, no fuss. This is where my body wants to be, so why should I fight it? Just to fit within someone’s ideal of what a perfect woman looks like? No thanks. I’m perfect the way I am, because I am perfectly Laura. Why would I want to be anyone else?
Fighting with self-image is a huge challenge that many girls, women, and even boys and men go through. For what? So that companies make money trying to tell you that you will feel better about yourself if you lost 5 more pounds, if you fit into that lower size, if you buy this, buy that. F*ck it! Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” and I stand by that. Take the focus off of appearances, and worry more about actions and words. Take the focus off of being “beautiful” and “pretty” and focus more on being “confident” and “comfortable” with yourself, your children, your family and your friends.
When E comes to me in the mornings after she’s gotten herself dressed, she asks me: “Mommy, do I look beautiful?” and I always reply “You look very comfortable and ready for your day.” She smiles and gives me a hug. Because being comfortable and ready for your day is more important that being fancy, stylish and pretty. Being dressed to be able to take on your day and show it that you’re the boss is both essential and freeing. When you don’t have to worry about how you look beyond being appropriately clothed, you have more time to focus on what really matters, like play, work, fun, and learning.
In the morning when I get dressed, I choose clothes that are comfortable. Always. If I’m not going to be comfortable in my clothing, I won’t be able to focus on my daughter, my wife, my job or my friends. I will be too busy worrying about if there are wrinkles in my clothing, or how much I have that this shirt chafes, or how much I’m going to need to soak my feet at night after wearing a horrid pair of shoes all day. Why bother? There are so many more important things in life to experience, so many positive things, to worry about focusing on something as silly as looking perfect. Because perfect is different to everyone, and just because the magazine or advertisements say that you’ll be perfect in a size 0 doesn’t mean you will be.
Feel confident in your own body, because it is perfect for you. What else can you ask for?
There was a whole different source of frustration for me fairly recently, and I did know that it would happen. Being around people who are so vastly different from me in almost every way is very challenging and emotionally draining. It takes a lot of effort not to snap or freak out about things that I cannot control. It’s not that these people are bad people, they are just different from myself and I am pretty firmly set in my ways and my thoughts.
There was also the rampant focus on weight in terms of how it impacts physical appearance. There is so much more to a person’s appearance than just their weight. Every compliment that was shared during the weekend had relevance to that person’s weight and/or how much weight they had lost. Sure, some people need to lose weight, but it’s not a matter of numbers or girth, it’s a matter of health. The focus being on just size is frustrating and aggravating.
I once believed that to be considered a healthy weight, you had to be a size 6 or less. Now I’m sitting comfortably in a size 10 (or so) and I’ve never felt healthier. Sure I have a little bit of weight on my hips, legs, and stomach, whatever. I eat pretty much whatever I want and don’t fluctuate in weight. I eat healthy foods, and I try to get in a little bit of activity every day. Some days are better than others, but I don’t beat myself up over it. If I’m feeling particularly ‘bleh’ then I know it’s either time to eat some food, or time to get my body moving.
I don’t beat myself up about having any extra weight either. It’s healthy to have a little bit of flub. It helps keep me warm (that was certainly a huge challenge when I was size 3-6) and if I get sick I don’t worry about eating, I can focus on relaxing and healing. Even after I got my wisdom teeth removed, I had lost about 10-15 pounds. Once my mouth felt better and I could eat properly again, I ate whatever I wanted and my weight went right back up to where it was. No muss, no fuss. This is where my body wants to be, so why should I fight it? Just to fit within someone’s ideal of what a perfect woman looks like? No thanks. I’m perfect the way I am, because I am perfectly Laura. Why would I want to be anyone else?
Fighting with self-image is a huge challenge that many girls, women, and even boys and men go through. For what? So that companies make money trying to tell you that you will feel better about yourself if you lost 5 more pounds, if you fit into that lower size, if you buy this, buy that. F*ck it! Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” and I stand by that. Take the focus off of appearances, and worry more about actions and words. Take the focus off of being “beautiful” and “pretty” and focus more on being “confident” and “comfortable” with yourself, your children, your family and your friends.
When E comes to me in the mornings after she’s gotten herself dressed, she asks me: “Mommy, do I look beautiful?” and I always reply “You look very comfortable and ready for your day.” She smiles and gives me a hug. Because being comfortable and ready for your day is more important that being fancy, stylish and pretty. Being dressed to be able to take on your day and show it that you’re the boss is both essential and freeing. When you don’t have to worry about how you look beyond being appropriately clothed, you have more time to focus on what really matters, like play, work, fun, and learning.
In the morning when I get dressed, I choose clothes that are comfortable. Always. If I’m not going to be comfortable in my clothing, I won’t be able to focus on my daughter, my wife, my job or my friends. I will be too busy worrying about if there are wrinkles in my clothing, or how much I have that this shirt chafes, or how much I’m going to need to soak my feet at night after wearing a horrid pair of shoes all day. Why bother? There are so many more important things in life to experience, so many positive things, to worry about focusing on something as silly as looking perfect. Because perfect is different to everyone, and just because the magazine or advertisements say that you’ll be perfect in a size 0 doesn’t mean you will be.
Feel confident in your own body, because it is perfect for you. What else can you ask for?
Wasting food makes me angry
It really does. There is not much that is more aggravating to me than wasting food. It is a huge waste of money, time, and resources. When M makes something for dinner (or breakfast or lunch for that matter) she makes enough to feed everyone, almost exactly. If not, we have leftovers and they are eaten the next day. It is great, and we almost never throw any food away. Except for in some circumstances, but I’m just not going to get into those since they aren’t really about me or either of my girls. Anyways!
Every now and then it pops up either in the news or on a blog that I read a large number of pounds of food being thrown out despite still being perfectly edible. Why? Because they are ‘day old’ or their ‘serve by’ date has passed, just as one example. Other times, it’s just because someone made too much food and has no concept of eating leftovers. It seems to me, and this is just my opinion and how I see things, that the more affluent people tend to think they are above eating leftovers.
What’s wrong with leftovers? If it was good enough to eat once, it’s good enough to eat again. Especially if it’s homemade.
Am I wrong? Is there something inherently ‘poor’ or ‘desperate’ about eating leftovers? Personally, I think they are the greatest thing when it comes to making my lunch in the mornings.
Oh, wait. Maybe that’s the issue? Affluent people don’t bring lunches? I work in the downtown core of my city, and there are A LOT of people who eat out for lunch everyday. Is that simply because they’re lazy, or they think that it’s a good thing to spend their money on? Sure, I like to eat lunch at a restaurant sometimes. Not everyday. It’s a treat, it’s something to brighten me up on a boring or lousy day. If I’m too lazy to find something in my fridge to eat… well, that doesn’t happen because there’s always something to eat.
Sometimes it’s just a bag of crackers, a few fruit and a container of vegetables. I’ll throw some hummus in there too. It’s just a mish-mash of stuff to eat, but it tastes good and gets me through the day.
At restaurants, I know from personal experience from working in one, there is a lot of food that gets thrown in the garbage. Whether it’s because it goes bad, the ‘quality timer’ expires, someone clumsy drops it, etc. That’s part of the reason I don’t really like to eat out very often. There’s also the fact that you have no real idea where the food comes from in a lot of cases, but that’s a whole separate concept.
If I want to eat something fancy, I just tell M that I have an idea for a dinner/lunch/breakfast/snack and work with her to find a recipe and help her make it. That way, it’s made with ingredients I know I’ll like in realistic quantities. And the leftovers taste delicious, no matter what.
Wasting food just makes me really angry. There’s the fact that there are starving children and adults across the world, including in our own cities, who can’t afford to eat. There’s the fact that the carbon emissions from growing, harvesting and processing that food are just thrown into the trash, literally. There’s also the fact that it is a horrid waste of money.
In a world where everything is about earning more money to buy more crap, you would think that people would be less likely to throw it in the trash. You may as well be throwing your money into the garbage directly for all it’s worth. I just don’t understand why there are so many people who just throw their food into the garbage (or compost, which at least fertilizes the ground, but still) and then wonder why they have no money at the end of the month.
Anyone have any tips, or are you as confused about this as I am?
Every now and then it pops up either in the news or on a blog that I read a large number of pounds of food being thrown out despite still being perfectly edible. Why? Because they are ‘day old’ or their ‘serve by’ date has passed, just as one example. Other times, it’s just because someone made too much food and has no concept of eating leftovers. It seems to me, and this is just my opinion and how I see things, that the more affluent people tend to think they are above eating leftovers.
What’s wrong with leftovers? If it was good enough to eat once, it’s good enough to eat again. Especially if it’s homemade.
Am I wrong? Is there something inherently ‘poor’ or ‘desperate’ about eating leftovers? Personally, I think they are the greatest thing when it comes to making my lunch in the mornings.
Oh, wait. Maybe that’s the issue? Affluent people don’t bring lunches? I work in the downtown core of my city, and there are A LOT of people who eat out for lunch everyday. Is that simply because they’re lazy, or they think that it’s a good thing to spend their money on? Sure, I like to eat lunch at a restaurant sometimes. Not everyday. It’s a treat, it’s something to brighten me up on a boring or lousy day. If I’m too lazy to find something in my fridge to eat… well, that doesn’t happen because there’s always something to eat.
Sometimes it’s just a bag of crackers, a few fruit and a container of vegetables. I’ll throw some hummus in there too. It’s just a mish-mash of stuff to eat, but it tastes good and gets me through the day.
At restaurants, I know from personal experience from working in one, there is a lot of food that gets thrown in the garbage. Whether it’s because it goes bad, the ‘quality timer’ expires, someone clumsy drops it, etc. That’s part of the reason I don’t really like to eat out very often. There’s also the fact that you have no real idea where the food comes from in a lot of cases, but that’s a whole separate concept.
If I want to eat something fancy, I just tell M that I have an idea for a dinner/lunch/breakfast/snack and work with her to find a recipe and help her make it. That way, it’s made with ingredients I know I’ll like in realistic quantities. And the leftovers taste delicious, no matter what.
Wasting food just makes me really angry. There’s the fact that there are starving children and adults across the world, including in our own cities, who can’t afford to eat. There’s the fact that the carbon emissions from growing, harvesting and processing that food are just thrown into the trash, literally. There’s also the fact that it is a horrid waste of money.
In a world where everything is about earning more money to buy more crap, you would think that people would be less likely to throw it in the trash. You may as well be throwing your money into the garbage directly for all it’s worth. I just don’t understand why there are so many people who just throw their food into the garbage (or compost, which at least fertilizes the ground, but still) and then wonder why they have no money at the end of the month.
Anyone have any tips, or are you as confused about this as I am?
Guest Post: How to Make Eco-Friendly Pest Repellents
Today we have a special treat to help prepare us all for spring. Insects are pesky creatures, but if you're like me you don't really want to go around squishing them and killing them all day. Insects do serve a purpose on this earth, so repeling them naturally with earth-friendly materials is healthy for both your body and the earth. Here are a few different ways to repels pests using environmentally friendly items, thanks to a guest post from Bailey Harris who typically writes for car insurance, but also cares about the earth and it's health. Take it away, Bailey!
Commercial pest repellants can work very well when it comes to keeping pests away. But if you would rather not spray toxins on your skin or release chemicals into the air, there are more eco-friendly ways of getting rid of pests inside and outside your home. With a few simple and inexpensive ingredients, you can create your own natural pest repellants.
Mosquito Repellants
One inexpensive way to keep mosquitoes away is to put vodka in a spray bottle and spritz your skin with it. If you don’t want to walk around smelling like alcohol--it will leave a slightly stale odor--you can cut the scent by adding a little essence of basil or some other scent you enjoy. The basil will enhance the repellent quality while improving the odor. You can also make a non-alcohol spray solution by steeping three teaspoons of dried feverfew in one cup of hot water. Allow the mixture to cool and spray it on your skin.
Burning a citronella candle also works well if you're outside. The pests will avoid the area as long as the candle continues to burn. Unfortunately, if you’re moving in and out of the area you won’t be protected, and applying citronella directly to the skin won’t keep mosquitoes away for long. You’ll have to reapply often. Some people consider citronella to be toxic. The EPA considers citronella safe, but if you have concerns you may opt for a citronella-free essential oil candle made from soy wax.
Moth Repellants
If moths are your concern, there are eco-friendly alternatives to chemical moth balls. The most common substitute is probably cedar chips. Cedar chests are used to store woolen clothing for a reason--cedar repels moths. Placing your cloths in a cedar chest or sprinkling cedar chips in the closet will keep moths at bay.
Rosemary, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorn, and thyme are herbs that not only add flavor to your meals but can do double duty as a control for pests. They can be combined and placed in a sachet, and then hung in the closet to keep pests away while making the room smell good
Lavender and mint are other eco-friendly ways to enhance the odor of a room while repelling moths. As with the cloves, cinnamon, peppercorn, rosemary, and thyme, lavender and mint are attractive odors and can be placed in a bag and hung in your closet to provide protection from moths.
General Pest Repellant
Basil is a natural repellent for bugs. If you sprinkle basil leaves around the bottom of the cupboard or put them in an open container inside the cupboard the scent will keep the pests like ants and roaches away. Basil also works to keep pests from entering a home. Try sprinkling basil leaves around the house and in cracks in the cement or wood. Fresh basil plants can have a similar effect if plants strategically around the house.
Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes on many topics, including car insurance for http://www.carinsurancequotes.net/.
Commercial pest repellants can work very well when it comes to keeping pests away. But if you would rather not spray toxins on your skin or release chemicals into the air, there are more eco-friendly ways of getting rid of pests inside and outside your home. With a few simple and inexpensive ingredients, you can create your own natural pest repellants.
Mosquito Repellants
One inexpensive way to keep mosquitoes away is to put vodka in a spray bottle and spritz your skin with it. If you don’t want to walk around smelling like alcohol--it will leave a slightly stale odor--you can cut the scent by adding a little essence of basil or some other scent you enjoy. The basil will enhance the repellent quality while improving the odor. You can also make a non-alcohol spray solution by steeping three teaspoons of dried feverfew in one cup of hot water. Allow the mixture to cool and spray it on your skin.
Burning a citronella candle also works well if you're outside. The pests will avoid the area as long as the candle continues to burn. Unfortunately, if you’re moving in and out of the area you won’t be protected, and applying citronella directly to the skin won’t keep mosquitoes away for long. You’ll have to reapply often. Some people consider citronella to be toxic. The EPA considers citronella safe, but if you have concerns you may opt for a citronella-free essential oil candle made from soy wax.
Moth Repellants
If moths are your concern, there are eco-friendly alternatives to chemical moth balls. The most common substitute is probably cedar chips. Cedar chests are used to store woolen clothing for a reason--cedar repels moths. Placing your cloths in a cedar chest or sprinkling cedar chips in the closet will keep moths at bay.
Rosemary, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorn, and thyme are herbs that not only add flavor to your meals but can do double duty as a control for pests. They can be combined and placed in a sachet, and then hung in the closet to keep pests away while making the room smell good
Lavender and mint are other eco-friendly ways to enhance the odor of a room while repelling moths. As with the cloves, cinnamon, peppercorn, rosemary, and thyme, lavender and mint are attractive odors and can be placed in a bag and hung in your closet to provide protection from moths.
General Pest Repellant
Basil is a natural repellent for bugs. If you sprinkle basil leaves around the bottom of the cupboard or put them in an open container inside the cupboard the scent will keep the pests like ants and roaches away. Basil also works to keep pests from entering a home. Try sprinkling basil leaves around the house and in cracks in the cement or wood. Fresh basil plants can have a similar effect if plants strategically around the house.
Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes on many topics, including car insurance for http://www.carinsurancequotes.net/.
Stressed? Here are 4 quick and easy ways to lower your stress and feel better
Stress wreaks havoc on the body, we all know that. It can emulate the effects of a heart attack on the body, making the sufferer go through the motions of having a heart attack. It can disrupt sleep and destroy energy levels. Stress is one thing that can cause more damage than anyone could possibly foresee.
The longer that you allow stress to sit in your body and wrestle with your mind, the worse the effects become. A little bit of stress can be a motivator, absolutely. But when the stress starts causing negative feelings and emotions, it’s time to consider that you need to release some of it.
Here are four easy ways to kill your stress level, and feel better now:
Remember that you are worth the effort, and you deserve to feel how wonderful it is to have little to no stress.
Do at least one thing for yourself everyday, even if it’s just five minutes. Take your time brushing your hair or in the shower and really enjoy what you’re doing. Slow down when you’re walking to or from the bus stop and look around at the beauty that surrounds you. Play with your kids or friends, boardgames, sports, or just horsing around! Just get out there and do something!
Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go have a snack! Gotta keep my energy up and my stress down for my family, my health, and my work.
The longer that you allow stress to sit in your body and wrestle with your mind, the worse the effects become. A little bit of stress can be a motivator, absolutely. But when the stress starts causing negative feelings and emotions, it’s time to consider that you need to release some of it.
Here are four easy ways to kill your stress level, and feel better now:
- First and foremost, the quickest, easiest and most effective way to release stress is to take some ‘me time’ and do something for yourself. You work hard, you do your best, and you deserve a reward. So take a nice warm bath, toss in some Epsom salts, and light a candle. Or maybe you’d rather sit in your backyard/nearby park with a nice drink (tea, beer, lemonade… whatever floats your boat!) and enjoy the scenery. Anything you want to do that takes you away from the stresses in life, just do it!
- If you can’t walk away from your life for longer than 10 minutes right now, consider breathing deeply with your eyes closed. This simple and quick technique has immediate calming effects. All you have to do is close your eyes, inhale deeply and exhale slowly. Take your time. Enjoy a moment of silence and take in a good punch of refreshing oxygen.
- Eat some fresh fruit. Whichever type of fruit you’d like, it doesn’t matter. But some fresh and vibrant fruit. First off, the bright colour will lighten your mood and lift your spirits. Secondly, the fruit will be chock full of natural sugars and vitamins that will give you an extra burst of energy and top up your energy stores. So grab a quick and fresh bite from your fridge, and enjoy the flavours and the colours.
- Laugh! Read a funny joke, talk to someone that you find amusing, or watch a funny video. Anything that will make you giggle or full-out roar with laughter will almost immediately drop your stress level. Laughing both causes your body to move, simulating physical activity (which is also great for reducing stress, especially long-term) as well as causing your serotonin levels to rise and improving your outlook and stress levels very quickly.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat healthy, fresh, raw foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains as often as possible.
- Take time for yourself regularly!
Remember that you are worth the effort, and you deserve to feel how wonderful it is to have little to no stress.
Do at least one thing for yourself everyday, even if it’s just five minutes. Take your time brushing your hair or in the shower and really enjoy what you’re doing. Slow down when you’re walking to or from the bus stop and look around at the beauty that surrounds you. Play with your kids or friends, boardgames, sports, or just horsing around! Just get out there and do something!
Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go have a snack! Gotta keep my energy up and my stress down for my family, my health, and my work.
Update on coconut oil
So I wrote a review of coconut oil a while back, this great product that I got for decently cheap in a beautiful glass container. It is still working wonders for me, and I would love to share the ways how.
Firstly, it is a fantastic moisturizer for my lips. I still use lip balm, but only because I have a few sticks that M doesn't like. When my lips are actually irritated, I reach for the coconut oil and slather it on. It feels way more natural on my lips, and it's almost invisible that I have anything on my lips at all!
Second, great skin moisturizer. The winter has been wreaking havoc on my normally nice and smooth skin. Havoc I tell you! This year has been the worst for it so far, oddly enough, possibly due to me taking out so many unnatural products from my beauty regime. So instead of using those, when I'm in the shower I grab a small dab of coconut oil and rub it all over wherever has been the dryest (most itchy) and the surrounding areas. Typically it's my legs and my arms, and sometimes my face and neck. I keep rubbing it in while the shower is running, the heat helps it absorb into my skin more efficiently. Then, voila! Soft silky skin right out of the shower. When I do this, I also try not to rub my skin with the towel so I don't rub off any of the oil or anything.
Finally, because of how great it is at moisturizing skin, it is a great injury cream. I rub it on my feet when they have blisters or irritation. I rub it on the edge of my scalp (by the hairline) when my dry scalp irritates me. I put it on my eyebrows if they're irritated after plucking. The list goes on. As long as it's not a heat injury (because oil will cause your skin to retain the heat, worsening the injury) I slather on some coconut oil and rub it in good. Even burns, once the actual heat has gone away (usually the next day) I will start putting coconut oil on it. I will confess, I don't know the science of why it works, but if I had to guess it would go something like this: The skin is kept soft and moist using a natural product that does not irritate the cells, speeding up the healing process and laying the groundwork for effective white blood cell movement.
Like I said, this stuff is amazing. Not to mention that a little goes a long long way. When this jar runs out, you better believe that I will be buying a new one!
Anyone use a simple natural product in their health or beauty regime? Let me know!
Peace and serenity,
Laura
Enjoy my updated review on coconut oil? Digg it or share it on your favourite social networking site!
Firstly, it is a fantastic moisturizer for my lips. I still use lip balm, but only because I have a few sticks that M doesn't like. When my lips are actually irritated, I reach for the coconut oil and slather it on. It feels way more natural on my lips, and it's almost invisible that I have anything on my lips at all!
Second, great skin moisturizer. The winter has been wreaking havoc on my normally nice and smooth skin. Havoc I tell you! This year has been the worst for it so far, oddly enough, possibly due to me taking out so many unnatural products from my beauty regime. So instead of using those, when I'm in the shower I grab a small dab of coconut oil and rub it all over wherever has been the dryest (most itchy) and the surrounding areas. Typically it's my legs and my arms, and sometimes my face and neck. I keep rubbing it in while the shower is running, the heat helps it absorb into my skin more efficiently. Then, voila! Soft silky skin right out of the shower. When I do this, I also try not to rub my skin with the towel so I don't rub off any of the oil or anything.
Finally, because of how great it is at moisturizing skin, it is a great injury cream. I rub it on my feet when they have blisters or irritation. I rub it on the edge of my scalp (by the hairline) when my dry scalp irritates me. I put it on my eyebrows if they're irritated after plucking. The list goes on. As long as it's not a heat injury (because oil will cause your skin to retain the heat, worsening the injury) I slather on some coconut oil and rub it in good. Even burns, once the actual heat has gone away (usually the next day) I will start putting coconut oil on it. I will confess, I don't know the science of why it works, but if I had to guess it would go something like this: The skin is kept soft and moist using a natural product that does not irritate the cells, speeding up the healing process and laying the groundwork for effective white blood cell movement.
Like I said, this stuff is amazing. Not to mention that a little goes a long long way. When this jar runs out, you better believe that I will be buying a new one!
Anyone use a simple natural product in their health or beauty regime? Let me know!
Peace and serenity,
Laura
Enjoy my updated review on coconut oil? Digg it or share it on your favourite social networking site!
Fresh air is good for your energy
No matter what season it is, it is important to get fresh air everyday. It will give you energy. It contains less re-cycled air. Re-cycling air is not a good thing for you, unless you have trees that are growing in your air circulation system, as it simply leaves the carbon dioxide in the air which lowers the amount of oxygen that is circulating.
Going outside gives you that immediate rush of fresh oxygen which will also help wake you up if you are feeling a slight drag in energy level. It's hard to stay motivated and awake when you are surrounded by fluorescent lights and old air. So if you feel yourself starting to fade in energy and liveliness, take a step outside and breathe deeply.
If you work in a densely populated area, such as downtown, it may seem counterproductive as the air is not as clean as it would be in the suburbs or somewhere surrounded by trees. It is still very effective and helpful to give yourself a quick perk in the middle of your day. If this is the case, and you feel that it isn't giving you the longer effects that you get from elsewhere, just make sure that you get some fresh air when you are back in the less populated area of your city.
Getting active while you're outside also helps, because it increases the amount of fresh oxygen that is being circulated through your blood. Exercise already boosts your mood and energy level, so kicking that up a notch with some fresh air will only make it pack a more powerful punch.
There is always time to go outside for a few moments. If you are watching TV and don't want to miss your show, just wait for the commercial. No one enjoys watching the commercials anyways, so take opportunity of the break to take a step outside and jog or walk around your yard. If you are on the computer just take an extra break when you go to the bathroom (for example) and step outside afterwards for a quick pick-me-up.
The positive effects on your body and energy level outweigh the few moments that it takes to get the air, so take a step for your own health. Each day, try to get outside at least twice for at least 30-60 seconds. You can always increase that amount, so don't worry if you think it's too short a time. Fit it into your schedule wherever you feel like it, and don't let yourself make excuses. It can make all the difference in your work day and keep a smile on your face.
Peace and serenity,
Laura
Going outside gives you that immediate rush of fresh oxygen which will also help wake you up if you are feeling a slight drag in energy level. It's hard to stay motivated and awake when you are surrounded by fluorescent lights and old air. So if you feel yourself starting to fade in energy and liveliness, take a step outside and breathe deeply.
If you work in a densely populated area, such as downtown, it may seem counterproductive as the air is not as clean as it would be in the suburbs or somewhere surrounded by trees. It is still very effective and helpful to give yourself a quick perk in the middle of your day. If this is the case, and you feel that it isn't giving you the longer effects that you get from elsewhere, just make sure that you get some fresh air when you are back in the less populated area of your city.
Getting active while you're outside also helps, because it increases the amount of fresh oxygen that is being circulated through your blood. Exercise already boosts your mood and energy level, so kicking that up a notch with some fresh air will only make it pack a more powerful punch.
There is always time to go outside for a few moments. If you are watching TV and don't want to miss your show, just wait for the commercial. No one enjoys watching the commercials anyways, so take opportunity of the break to take a step outside and jog or walk around your yard. If you are on the computer just take an extra break when you go to the bathroom (for example) and step outside afterwards for a quick pick-me-up.
The positive effects on your body and energy level outweigh the few moments that it takes to get the air, so take a step for your own health. Each day, try to get outside at least twice for at least 30-60 seconds. You can always increase that amount, so don't worry if you think it's too short a time. Fit it into your schedule wherever you feel like it, and don't let yourself make excuses. It can make all the difference in your work day and keep a smile on your face.
Peace and serenity,
Laura
Magnesium and Your Health
I am all for natural remedies and homeopathic relief of any health problem that arises. I avoid pain killers, and haven’t used one in over 3 months. Instead, when I am in pain I opt for temperature therapy (hot/cold) and drink a lot of water. This has done me well so far, but I do not have any chronic pain issues.
My mother, however, does have chronic pain. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia approximately 1 ½ years ago (maybe more, maybe less, I'm not 100% sure on that), and has been working forward with her health and general well being even more so now that she understands the source of her pain.
I found this book (The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines
) at a garage sale this past summer and bought it for 50 cents. I decided to look through it for certain health problems that important members of my family, including myself, suffer from.
Turns out there is an easy way to relieve the pain and tension from fibromyalgia that many people overlook. Magnesium is the easiest and one of the safest natural remedies for fibromyalgia. It is also easy to consume if you eat a diet of whole, unprocessed, raw foods.
Magnesium is also essential for full calcium absorption. In fact, ingesting too much calcium can reduce the capability your body has to absorb magnesium. Without magnesium, even with vitamin D, your body is only able to absorb 500mg of calcium in one sitting.
Many common foods in the “standard American diet” contain little or no magnesium. This leads to an extremely common occurrence of magnesium deficiency. Simple and easy to eat foods contain magnesium including almonds, cashews, lightly cooked spinach and fresh fish such as halibut or pickerel. (more detailed information found at www.hoptechno.com/bookfoodsourcemg.htm )
How does this relate to my pain, my mother’s fibro, and life in general? Easy. Magnesium is a key ingredient to activating many enzymes in your body, and a deficiency in it can cause fatigue, confusion, heart disturbances, nerve and muscle problems and many other problems.
Want to reduce your pain, increase your health, and generally feel better? Consider adding some magnesium to your diet. Food sources are the easiest to digest, and are highly recommended by yours truly. Alternatively, if you aren’t able to eat enough, or you don’t want to risk it, there is the option of taking supplements. If you choose to take supplements, be sure to take them with food to ensure proper digestion.
Simple ways to increase your health and vitality. Improve your diet by adding magnesium.
Peace and serenity,
Laura
~~
Looking for other ways to improve your health through natural remedies? Stay tuned, I’ll be posting more information over time that is based on natural and healthy ways to increase your health and decrease your dependency on chemical drugs. Follow the new Natural Remedies tag for a full listing.
My mother, however, does have chronic pain. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia approximately 1 ½ years ago (maybe more, maybe less, I'm not 100% sure on that), and has been working forward with her health and general well being even more so now that she understands the source of her pain.
I found this book (The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines
) at a garage sale this past summer and bought it for 50 cents. I decided to look through it for certain health problems that important members of my family, including myself, suffer from.Turns out there is an easy way to relieve the pain and tension from fibromyalgia that many people overlook. Magnesium is the easiest and one of the safest natural remedies for fibromyalgia. It is also easy to consume if you eat a diet of whole, unprocessed, raw foods.
Magnesium is also essential for full calcium absorption. In fact, ingesting too much calcium can reduce the capability your body has to absorb magnesium. Without magnesium, even with vitamin D, your body is only able to absorb 500mg of calcium in one sitting.
Many common foods in the “standard American diet” contain little or no magnesium. This leads to an extremely common occurrence of magnesium deficiency. Simple and easy to eat foods contain magnesium including almonds, cashews, lightly cooked spinach and fresh fish such as halibut or pickerel. (more detailed information found at www.hoptechno.com/bookfoodsourcemg.htm )
How does this relate to my pain, my mother’s fibro, and life in general? Easy. Magnesium is a key ingredient to activating many enzymes in your body, and a deficiency in it can cause fatigue, confusion, heart disturbances, nerve and muscle problems and many other problems.
Want to reduce your pain, increase your health, and generally feel better? Consider adding some magnesium to your diet. Food sources are the easiest to digest, and are highly recommended by yours truly. Alternatively, if you aren’t able to eat enough, or you don’t want to risk it, there is the option of taking supplements. If you choose to take supplements, be sure to take them with food to ensure proper digestion.
Simple ways to increase your health and vitality. Improve your diet by adding magnesium.
Peace and serenity,
Laura
~~
Looking for other ways to improve your health through natural remedies? Stay tuned, I’ll be posting more information over time that is based on natural and healthy ways to increase your health and decrease your dependency on chemical drugs. Follow the new Natural Remedies tag for a full listing.
Want a healthy glow, even in the winter?
There is a new study published December 24, 2010 that indicates that healthy looking skin can be influenced heavily by a nutrient found in colourful fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids are nutrients that are known for being found in carrots and are fantastic antioxidants.
Not only are they very effective antioxidants, but it turns out that they can give you a healthier looking skin tone, which many Caucasians (myself included!) suffer from a lack of in the winter. The lack of strong enough UV to produce a skin reaction and suntan causes many pale people (again, I’m as pale as you can get without having a pigmentation deficiency) to run to the drug stores to buy up some self-tanning lotion.
Instead of spending your money on these expensive and often non-functioning lotions, we can now opt instead to purchase colourful fruits and vegetables to give us a healthy glow that will go along with a healthier body.
A list of foods with carotenoids can be found at nutrientreference.com
The abstract of this study can be found at ehbonline.org.
Not only does this study show that carotenoids bring about a healthy glow in your skin, but it indicates that a large portion of individuals actually prefer the glow that comes from these nutrients as opposed to the glow from obtaining a suntan. Figure that out!
I can say that I will be keeping my eyes peeled for these foods more now that I had previously. Not only is it a healthy nutrient to consume, but it improves your skin tone. It doesn’t cost you anything extra aside from adding a little bit to your grocery bill, so that makes it a more believable source immediately.
So if you think your skin is looking a little bit pasty in the winter, take a trip to the grocery store and pick up some delicious fresh and colourful vegetables and fruit. Your skin will thank you, your digestive system will thank you, and your health in general will thank you!
(source: NaturalNews.com)
Not only are they very effective antioxidants, but it turns out that they can give you a healthier looking skin tone, which many Caucasians (myself included!) suffer from a lack of in the winter. The lack of strong enough UV to produce a skin reaction and suntan causes many pale people (again, I’m as pale as you can get without having a pigmentation deficiency) to run to the drug stores to buy up some self-tanning lotion.
Instead of spending your money on these expensive and often non-functioning lotions, we can now opt instead to purchase colourful fruits and vegetables to give us a healthy glow that will go along with a healthier body.
A list of foods with carotenoids can be found at nutrientreference.com
The abstract of this study can be found at ehbonline.org.
Not only does this study show that carotenoids bring about a healthy glow in your skin, but it indicates that a large portion of individuals actually prefer the glow that comes from these nutrients as opposed to the glow from obtaining a suntan. Figure that out!
I can say that I will be keeping my eyes peeled for these foods more now that I had previously. Not only is it a healthy nutrient to consume, but it improves your skin tone. It doesn’t cost you anything extra aside from adding a little bit to your grocery bill, so that makes it a more believable source immediately.
So if you think your skin is looking a little bit pasty in the winter, take a trip to the grocery store and pick up some delicious fresh and colourful vegetables and fruit. Your skin will thank you, your digestive system will thank you, and your health in general will thank you!
(source: NaturalNews.com)
Potential homemade deodorant recipe!
I found a super easy and simple recipe for homemade deodorant, and I am looking forward to trying it out. I have all three ingredients that are needed, so all I need now is some patience to actually do it. This recipe calls for baking soda, coconut oil and cornstarch, and apparently ends up the consistency of store bought deodorant.
By the sounds of it, based on the ingredients, this deodorant will not only make me smell less because of the baking soda (always a plus!) but it will also moisturize the skin in my under arms from the coconut oil, and be less irritating thanks to the corn starch.
My under arms are rather irritated right now, as I’ve been using just straight baking soda as deodorant. It keeps the stench away for most of the day, but I find that the skin is quite red and irritated.
The past few mornings, I put some coconut oil onto the skin of my armpits and rubbed it in before applying the baking soda. The irritation was cut significantly, so once I mix these together with corn starch into one product not only will it be way easier to apply (1 step instead of 2-3!) but it will save time. Plus coconut oil has a faint smell to it that I find quite appealing!
If you’re allergic to coconut (as one of my friends is) you could go with any natural oil that is solid at almost room temperature. Some examples include Shea butter and palm oil.
I will confess that this does not slow down the perspiration. You will still sweat. It just won’t stink, because the baking soda kills of the odor causing bacteria. If you find that the mixture isn’t strong enough to remove the odor, try adding a few drops of tea tree oil.
I plan on making this deodorant this weekend, and I will try it out for a few days or a week and let you know how it goes. If all goes well, I will share the exact recipe with you. I wouldn’t want to share it before I know for myself how effective it is.
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
By the sounds of it, based on the ingredients, this deodorant will not only make me smell less because of the baking soda (always a plus!) but it will also moisturize the skin in my under arms from the coconut oil, and be less irritating thanks to the corn starch.
My under arms are rather irritated right now, as I’ve been using just straight baking soda as deodorant. It keeps the stench away for most of the day, but I find that the skin is quite red and irritated.
The past few mornings, I put some coconut oil onto the skin of my armpits and rubbed it in before applying the baking soda. The irritation was cut significantly, so once I mix these together with corn starch into one product not only will it be way easier to apply (1 step instead of 2-3!) but it will save time. Plus coconut oil has a faint smell to it that I find quite appealing!
If you’re allergic to coconut (as one of my friends is) you could go with any natural oil that is solid at almost room temperature. Some examples include Shea butter and palm oil.
I will confess that this does not slow down the perspiration. You will still sweat. It just won’t stink, because the baking soda kills of the odor causing bacteria. If you find that the mixture isn’t strong enough to remove the odor, try adding a few drops of tea tree oil.
I plan on making this deodorant this weekend, and I will try it out for a few days or a week and let you know how it goes. If all goes well, I will share the exact recipe with you. I wouldn’t want to share it before I know for myself how effective it is.
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
The Three R's - Reuse
The next item on the list of primary and essential ways to follow green living and lessen your footprint on the earth is also simple: Reuse.
By reusing things that have further use to you or someone you know, you pass on and increase that item’s value. Reusing your belongings, possessions, etc is very easy and does not have to take up a lot of time or space. It may actually save you both.
Examples of choosing to reuse
For example, instead of using single use paper towels, grab a cloth rag. You will be able to use that one rag infinite times more than you could dream of using a paper towel. They are not even comparable in cost, as you have to buy paper towel, but you can make a rag out of any piece of fabric. Another example, instead of buying the single serving size cups of yogurt for your lunch, invest a few dollars into small reusable containers (I’ll bet you can find some at your local second hand store!); this will allow you to spend less money on the larger tubs of yogurt (way cheaper by weight/volume) and you’ll get enough to last you longer.
There are a few other obvious examples of reuse, such as investing in a stainless steel water bottle and stop buying bottled water, or bring a set of utensils with you when you go out for lunch so that you don’t have to get the single use plastic utensils. Countless options for you to follow that will lower your impact on the environment exist, all you have to do is pick one and get started!
Find a way to take something that you were going to throw in the garbage to either make it into something new, or to reuse it. Challenge yourself a little bit every day. Don’t be afraid to try new things, you might find something that was more efficient than you imagined!
Good example of a chronic reuser
If you want some very fantastic and interesting ways to reuse objects, check out Rob’s World. Every few days he posts a new project that he’s just completed, and honestly it’s all pretty simple stuff. Not only that, but you can guarantee that no one else will have the exact same copy of what he has made.
Spend your shopping dollars where it counts
My favourite method of following reuse is by choosing where to shop. Whenever possible, I choose second-hand stores (such as Value Village
Continue the second-hand cycle by donating your goods that you no longer needs to your local second-hand store (again, try to avoid the Salvation Army) so that someone else may be able to make good use of your old treasures. When you are slowly decluttering your home and life of excess stuff, drop the items that are still good off there. Clothes that don’t fit anymore, or that you just don’t like, drop them off. Continue to fuel the circle, and it will continue to provide for you.
Peace and serenity,
Working out with a partner
Getting physical exercise is known to be good for your health. Keeps your blood pumping and increases fitness. It also releases endorphins, which create the happy and satisfied feeling that you get after exercising or eating something like chocolate.
Now, if you want to further increase your endorphin levels, as well as reinforce an interpersonal bond, try exercising with a friend or partner. Working out with your partner, especially, has a healing and bonding effect on your relationship. Not to mention the one-on-one time the two of you will have, and the common ground you will both share.
This past week, M and I have started cooperative exercising. We take turns leading the exercises, and mix it up. It’s a lot of fun! I show her a few yoga poses, and we both get a great stretch and release. We toss weighed balls back and forth to work out our arms and shoulders. We did sit-ups, and tandem squats with interlaced arms.
This may sound incredibly dull, and if I were doing it on my own, it certainly would have been. But with M, there’s an added challenge, as well as company. She is right there with me, and so we work out together.
Not only did I manage to actually work out (an accomplishment for me!) but I actually enjoyed it, and look forward to the next time we will be doing it again.
Because of the release of endorphins during exercise, the two of you will have synchronized chemical reactions where your endorphins will both create the feeling of happiness as well as evaporate stress. These feelings will create a more open relationship and you will likely find yourself drawn nearer to your partner once more.
Now, if you are exercising with a friend, similar reactions will happen. You will feel a closer bond with the friend, and you will begin wanting to spend more time with them. If you are already in a relationship, I would recommend mixing up your exercise partner to avoid any undue stress or accusations that may occur, particularly if your partner is known for being jealous.
Exercising with a friend will create a more open friendship as well, which will lead to a deeper connection between the two of you, and you will feel more able to open up to them. It is always good to have a friend you can talk to about anything, and regular exercise with this friend will create simple opportunities to begin a conversation.
Working out with a friend will also give you time for yourself to spend time with someone aside from your partner, which is very good as many people have difficulty doing activities without their partners.
Instead of just drilling away in the gym, or in front of the workout video, invite someone to join you. Reconnect in a way you could never have previously imagined. Relish in the openness of your newly rediscovered relationship.
Do you work out alone? Consider inviting your friend or significant other to join you. What sort of coupled or partnered exercises do you like best? Share your preferences, and learn something new!
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Guest Post: Greening Your Closet the Frugal Way
The following post is from a wonderful woman named Lisa Shoreland who offered to write this very detailed and in depth article about clothing. She is an experienced writer who recently had an epiphany on her consumer-based lifestyle and has begun looking at her life differently. Help me to support her in this, and share any other tips you may have regarding this subject.
Green is the new black on the runway, but most of us can’t afford what we see within ten miles of a fashion show. There are cheap ways you can make your closet more eco-conscious, however, and here’s why you should.
Cotton Is Deadly
Over 60% of the clothes we buy are made of it, but 150g of pesticides and fertilizers goes into cultivating enough cotton for just one adult-sized t-shirt. More than 8,000 chemicals bleach and dye the cotton after cultivation before it hits stores. By the way, just one drop of the pesticides used in making this t-shirt in your blood stream would kill you.
It ends up killing lots of people, in fact—and not the buyers. Over 75% of our cotton is cultivated in developing countries where workers can’t afford safety equipment, which means 20,000 workers die annually from pesticides used in cotton production alone.
Sweatshops Are No Secrets
After cultivation, 20 million people (most of them underprivileged women and children who earn as little as 8 cents USD an hour) work to manufacture the cotton into clothing, towels, underwear, and the like. They have no access to education, they have a family to send money to, and they work in unhealthy and horrendous environments that frequently cause complications leading to death.
Reports were leaked in 2008 that Victoria’s Secret subcontracts a sweatshop in Jordan whose Bangledeshi workers were “slapped and beaten, not paid their full overtime pay and labored from 7 a.m. to as late as 10 p.m., seven days a week with one day off every three of four months.”
Sadly, Victoria’s Secret isn’t alone; almost everything sold in stores today are made in sweatshops with little better conditions. The average short-sleeve t-shirt from American Apparel, a company which manufactures its products in downtown L.A. by fairly paid workers, will generally set you back anywhere between $10 and $20. You can get three t-shirts from WalMart for that price. Add “organic cotton” to that fair trade t-shirt and you’re looking at a price between $15 and $30 per shirt. Small wonder why: safety and dignity cost money.
Consuming, Polluting, Wasting
With all the suffering that goes into one t-shirt, you’d think we’d treat our closet like gold. Both in 2009 and 2010, however, the average American spent over $1,000 on clothing. The average American also throws away about 70 lbs of clothing and textiles away annually.
The question, then, is this: how much suffering is your money worth?
Alternatively, how much would you pay to destroy the ecosystem? By throwing away 70 lbs of non-organic fabric clothing in landfills annually, we are polluting the soil and our water systems with the very same toxins that go into them during the manufacturing process.
The Alternative
But enough with the drama. Many people simply don’t know about the chemical processes of the clothing industry and that children not much older than our own are working day and night so they can eat. Others don’t care.
I was such a person up until this year (really). I used to shrug and say, “If not them, then who? Somebody’s got to do it.”
That changed when I heard not long after New Year’s 2010 that my underwear and clothing godsend Victoria’s Secret was responsible for the abuse of hundreds of underprivileged workers. This was around the same time that I watched the BBC series “Blood, Sweat, and T-Shirts” on the Web. The two forces effectively K.O.-ed my spending habits. It dawned on me that my closet was full of biologically and ecologically harmful chemicals and the blood, sweat, and tears of disadvantaged people. I was a cog in the clothing industry’s machine, a useful tool in the perpetuation of profit and misery.
I was done. I am proud to say that I donated all clothes I would have otherwise thrown away and spent a total of $10 in 2010 on apparel (it was spent in a CVS of all places, when my two-year old pair of sandals finally broke and I was miles from home). Obviously, I can’t survive forever on the clothes I have now. I won’t be a size Small when I’m pregnant and I doubt I’ll be wearing sweater dresses and boots when I’m 80.
When I do get new clothes, however, I’ll be going down a different path this time.
Where Does the Frugal Part Come In?
Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go college, where recently she's been researching Nursing Scholarships and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing and hogging her boyfriend’s PlayStation 3. To keep her sanity she enjoys practicing martial arts and bringing home abandon animals.
Did you like what you read here? Let me know, and I will pass it on to Lisa. If you have any other comments about clothing and it's effect on the world, please share them below. A huge thank you to Lisa for writing this very well-paced and well-informed piece.
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Green is the new black on the runway, but most of us can’t afford what we see within ten miles of a fashion show. There are cheap ways you can make your closet more eco-conscious, however, and here’s why you should.
Cotton Is Deadly
Over 60% of the clothes we buy are made of it, but 150g of pesticides and fertilizers goes into cultivating enough cotton for just one adult-sized t-shirt. More than 8,000 chemicals bleach and dye the cotton after cultivation before it hits stores. By the way, just one drop of the pesticides used in making this t-shirt in your blood stream would kill you.
It ends up killing lots of people, in fact—and not the buyers. Over 75% of our cotton is cultivated in developing countries where workers can’t afford safety equipment, which means 20,000 workers die annually from pesticides used in cotton production alone.
Sweatshops Are No Secrets
After cultivation, 20 million people (most of them underprivileged women and children who earn as little as 8 cents USD an hour) work to manufacture the cotton into clothing, towels, underwear, and the like. They have no access to education, they have a family to send money to, and they work in unhealthy and horrendous environments that frequently cause complications leading to death.
Reports were leaked in 2008 that Victoria’s Secret subcontracts a sweatshop in Jordan whose Bangledeshi workers were “slapped and beaten, not paid their full overtime pay and labored from 7 a.m. to as late as 10 p.m., seven days a week with one day off every three of four months.”
Sadly, Victoria’s Secret isn’t alone; almost everything sold in stores today are made in sweatshops with little better conditions. The average short-sleeve t-shirt from American Apparel, a company which manufactures its products in downtown L.A. by fairly paid workers, will generally set you back anywhere between $10 and $20. You can get three t-shirts from WalMart for that price. Add “organic cotton” to that fair trade t-shirt and you’re looking at a price between $15 and $30 per shirt. Small wonder why: safety and dignity cost money.
Consuming, Polluting, Wasting
With all the suffering that goes into one t-shirt, you’d think we’d treat our closet like gold. Both in 2009 and 2010, however, the average American spent over $1,000 on clothing. The average American also throws away about 70 lbs of clothing and textiles away annually.
The question, then, is this: how much suffering is your money worth?
Alternatively, how much would you pay to destroy the ecosystem? By throwing away 70 lbs of non-organic fabric clothing in landfills annually, we are polluting the soil and our water systems with the very same toxins that go into them during the manufacturing process.
The Alternative
But enough with the drama. Many people simply don’t know about the chemical processes of the clothing industry and that children not much older than our own are working day and night so they can eat. Others don’t care.
I was such a person up until this year (really). I used to shrug and say, “If not them, then who? Somebody’s got to do it.”
That changed when I heard not long after New Year’s 2010 that my underwear and clothing godsend Victoria’s Secret was responsible for the abuse of hundreds of underprivileged workers. This was around the same time that I watched the BBC series “Blood, Sweat, and T-Shirts” on the Web. The two forces effectively K.O.-ed my spending habits. It dawned on me that my closet was full of biologically and ecologically harmful chemicals and the blood, sweat, and tears of disadvantaged people. I was a cog in the clothing industry’s machine, a useful tool in the perpetuation of profit and misery.
I was done. I am proud to say that I donated all clothes I would have otherwise thrown away and spent a total of $10 in 2010 on apparel (it was spent in a CVS of all places, when my two-year old pair of sandals finally broke and I was miles from home). Obviously, I can’t survive forever on the clothes I have now. I won’t be a size Small when I’m pregnant and I doubt I’ll be wearing sweater dresses and boots when I’m 80.
When I do get new clothes, however, I’ll be going down a different path this time.
- Buy from secondhand stores like your local PTA Thrift Shop (but don’t support Salvation Army; see previous post for more). There’s no shame in going secondhand—it keeps old clothes in circulation, which means less chemicals in our earth. Plus, vintage is always in.
- If you must buy new, buy organic and fair trade. Look for the fair trade logo, and don’t cheap out on organic cotton if you've got a newborn baby in the house. A baby’s skin is much more sensitive than ours.
- Recycle old clothes or swap them with friends to add variety to your wardrobe. You can try your hand at DIY to remodel old clothes into new things, like a pair of underwear made out of your favorite old t-shirt , a cute bag made out of Dad’s old ties, or a reusable shopping bag made out of your hubby’s shirt. Remember, reuse, upcycle, and recycle are still keywords when it comes to your closet!
Where Does the Frugal Part Come In?
- Remember that if you document the prices clothing you donate, you can write it off your taxes.
- Buying vintage often means buying cheap.
- Swapping, recycling, and upcycling are free! These combined will more than make up for the monetary cost of buying organic.
Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go college, where recently she's been researching Nursing Scholarships and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing and hogging her boyfriend’s PlayStation 3. To keep her sanity she enjoys practicing martial arts and bringing home abandon animals.
Did you like what you read here? Let me know, and I will pass it on to Lisa. If you have any other comments about clothing and it's effect on the world, please share them below. A huge thank you to Lisa for writing this very well-paced and well-informed piece.
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Guest Post: Seven Steps toward Greener Pets
In a first for Simply Green, we have a wonderful guest post from Jean Dion, a wonderful pet and animal lover who cares about the environment and compassion towards other living things. She loves animals and writing (much like me!) and has offered very sweetly to contribute this very insightful piece to those of you who enjoy reading my posts. So enjoy, let me know what you think, and if you love animals pop on over to her site and read her very helpful and insightful posts.
Having companion animals can be hard on the environment. Taking a few simple steps can help you reduce the impact of your pets.
All of the topics above were covered in more detail on my blog: dionjean.blogspot.com
Please visit to learn more about how to green up your pets, and to read the day's musings.
A big thank you to Jean Dion for this post, and I hope that the pet owners out there find it helpful! I personally have two pets and they are very near and dear to my heart. I appreciate that each person's opinion and method of caring for their pets in a responsible manner is their own to make, and I hope that these tips are helpful to those who are looking for more information.
If you want more information on homemade pet food, check out Beth Terry's method of making her own cat food with barely any plastic waste.
Of course, reduction may be more important to you in the reference of poop bags. If this is the case, reuse the bags you have or that your family may have collected. You can be sure that people without pets tend to hoard produce bags, bread bags, etc simply because they feel bad throwing them out. If you ask for them for your dog, I would say at least 90% of them would give them to you without blinking.
If you are trying to cut down on your clay consumption (cat litter) and don't want to contribute to non-nutritious forms of corn consumption (corn based cat litter) you could always try potty training your cat, like Mark and Melanie of NoNewPlastic.com
Have any other tips, tricks or ideas on keeping the planet healthy while enjoying the company of pets? Feel free to share them here, or if you don't want your words made public send me an e-mail (or click the Contact Me tab).
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Having companion animals can be hard on the environment. Taking a few simple steps can help you reduce the impact of your pets.
- Reduce your passive energy consumption. Look around your home for items you keep plugged in for your animals. I have removed an automatic scooping litter box, a kitty water fountain and an automatic pet feeder from the grid at my house. This means I must wash the pet dishes and clean out the cat box every day, and remember to feed my pets at the same time each day, but I have also reduced my drain on the grid.
- Spay and neuter your pets. Consider the number of animals that are euthanized every day at animal shelters or given away on Craigslist, Kijiji or even local newspaper classifieds. Most of these animals are adults, thrown away when they were no longer cute and cuddly babies. You can reduce this waste and cut down on pet overpopulation by making sure your own pets do not reproduce.
- Purchase environmentally friendly cat litter. Many commercial cat litters are made with sodium bentonite, which is harvested in disastrous ways. You can read more here. I have recently switched my cats to World's Best Cat Litter, made of corn. My cats are still transitioning to this cat litter, and it is a bit of a struggle, but the benefits are well worth the work.
- Purchase biodegradable pickup bags for your dog. It's always bothered me to see people placing a biodegradable substance (poop) in a perfect, plastic coffin. Biodegradable bags solve that problem. You can buy them here.
- Put a bell on your cats, if they go outside. Cats left outside can decimate local bird populations, and cats will kill birds regardless of the food you leave out for them. If it is at all possible, leave your cats indoors. (I do not advocate a cat-inside-only existence only because doing so would be hypocritical. I have three feral outdoor-only cats.)
- Purchase durable dog toys. Most dogs, if given half the chance, will rip the heads and arms right off a toy in order to get to the poly filling. Many owners will then toss these toys right in the landfill. Before buying a toy, try to pull it apart yourself. If your dog is a power chewer, only allow him to play with the toy for a short period of time before you remove the toy. My pug, Liam, loves to destroy toys. I repair them. This explains why his toys all look like mutants.
- Research your pet food. Look for food produced locally, to help cut down on energy costs used in shipping food. If at all possible, make your own food using local, organic ingredients. Do your research and consult with your veterinarian before taking this course, naturally.
Please visit to learn more about how to green up your pets, and to read the day's musings.
A big thank you to Jean Dion for this post, and I hope that the pet owners out there find it helpful! I personally have two pets and they are very near and dear to my heart. I appreciate that each person's opinion and method of caring for their pets in a responsible manner is their own to make, and I hope that these tips are helpful to those who are looking for more information.
If you want more information on homemade pet food, check out Beth Terry's method of making her own cat food with barely any plastic waste.
Of course, reduction may be more important to you in the reference of poop bags. If this is the case, reuse the bags you have or that your family may have collected. You can be sure that people without pets tend to hoard produce bags, bread bags, etc simply because they feel bad throwing them out. If you ask for them for your dog, I would say at least 90% of them would give them to you without blinking.
If you are trying to cut down on your clay consumption (cat litter) and don't want to contribute to non-nutritious forms of corn consumption (corn based cat litter) you could always try potty training your cat, like Mark and Melanie of NoNewPlastic.com
Have any other tips, tricks or ideas on keeping the planet healthy while enjoying the company of pets? Feel free to share them here, or if you don't want your words made public send me an e-mail (or click the Contact Me tab).
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Movie Day: Food Inc
So I'm definitely behind the in-crowd in finally watching Food Inc
but everyone has to jump on the wagon at their own pace, right? Right. (see here? I'm at least a year behind the time.)
Since I finally watched this movie, thanks to Zip.ca, I have to say that it was a good watch. It was also a good source of conversation between my wife and I. We discussed the various subjects as they came up, and it was a good conversation. It was definitely interesting seeing how each of our own biases showed up in our opinions. My wife being a meat-loving meatatarian (as she calls herself) who avoids veggies and anything that tastes healthy (also her words), and me being a vegetarian who loves health foods and whole wheat and trying new things. It was definitely interesting.
Most of the things I saw on there, information-wise, were pretty old news. Especially since I read all the other health blogs, and Dr. Mercola's site. But it put pictures to the words, which really resonated with me and made me feel a little bit better about trying to eat real foods. It even struck a chord with my wife when she saw what went into meat fillers (i.e.: ammonia).
Despite the fact that the information for this movie came entirely from the United States, it was well rounded and gave a good insight into their food system. I'm not sure how much different Canada's food policy is, and I have yet to hear of a documentary that looks into it, but I'm sure it can't be that far off. I have to say that our meat in the grocery stores here in Ottawa definitely looks healthier and fresher than the meat they showed in the movie. I hope that means something.
It certainly is amazing to hear about all the different uses for corn, and just reinforces my feelings about eating real foods. Knowing that processed foods are full of corn and soy is really disenheartening. I felt myself feeling really bad and empathizing for the latino(looking) family who couldn't afford the real healthy food and went for the junk food instead because of the price. Buying junk because it's all you can afford is really a catch-22, because you pay for it later in life with your health.
You can tell from how the farmer's are talking about the situation that they are unimpressed. The meat farmers are getting screwed because they're subsidized by the big companies and can easily get their contracts cancelled for any little thing. The female chicken farmer that they featured had her contract cancelled because she believed in having an open chicken house that had windows so that her chickens could see the sun and the outside. She refused to switch to the dark, closed, ventilated chicken house, so she lost the contract with the meat company.
The seed cleaner's story was equally sad, if not worse, because he had been in the same business for years (probably more than fifteen) and he got sued. He tried to fight it, but he ran out of money to pay his legal bills so he was forced to settle with Monsanto. This segment of the movie made me really glad that I consciously avoid soy products, and now I will be even more observant and open to looking where hidden soy and corn might hide.
Paying higher prices to get good, healthy, real food is worth it. It's worth it in the medium term because you'll feel better and you'll have more energy. It's worth it especially in the long term because your body will be healthier and less prone to chronic diseases, not to mention that your immune system will be stronger from you putting real food that provides real energy.
In summary, it was a really good movie and puts everything in perspective. It brushes over a huge range of topics and gives you a taste of each one. The movie features Michael Pollan who wrote The Omnivore's Dilemma
(which I look forward to reading soon) as well as the mother of the boy who sparked Kevin's Law Barbara Kowalcyk. Even if you've read The Omnivore's Dilemma, and Fast Food Nation
, I recommend watching this movie. Because, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. So a movie must be a few million at least. Rent it, share it, borrow it, or buy it, it is a good watch and a sobering look at the food industry and how it has evolved.
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Please note that some of the links are to the Amazon.com site where you can purchase the titles. If you do, a small commission goes to helping to support Simply Green. I recommend that before buying, you check out your local library, or used book store. Keep the world a little greener and share the love. Thank you.
but everyone has to jump on the wagon at their own pace, right? Right. (see here? I'm at least a year behind the time.)Since I finally watched this movie, thanks to Zip.ca, I have to say that it was a good watch. It was also a good source of conversation between my wife and I. We discussed the various subjects as they came up, and it was a good conversation. It was definitely interesting seeing how each of our own biases showed up in our opinions. My wife being a meat-loving meatatarian (as she calls herself) who avoids veggies and anything that tastes healthy (also her words), and me being a vegetarian who loves health foods and whole wheat and trying new things. It was definitely interesting.
Most of the things I saw on there, information-wise, were pretty old news. Especially since I read all the other health blogs, and Dr. Mercola's site. But it put pictures to the words, which really resonated with me and made me feel a little bit better about trying to eat real foods. It even struck a chord with my wife when she saw what went into meat fillers (i.e.: ammonia).
Despite the fact that the information for this movie came entirely from the United States, it was well rounded and gave a good insight into their food system. I'm not sure how much different Canada's food policy is, and I have yet to hear of a documentary that looks into it, but I'm sure it can't be that far off. I have to say that our meat in the grocery stores here in Ottawa definitely looks healthier and fresher than the meat they showed in the movie. I hope that means something.
It certainly is amazing to hear about all the different uses for corn, and just reinforces my feelings about eating real foods. Knowing that processed foods are full of corn and soy is really disenheartening. I felt myself feeling really bad and empathizing for the latino(looking) family who couldn't afford the real healthy food and went for the junk food instead because of the price. Buying junk because it's all you can afford is really a catch-22, because you pay for it later in life with your health.
You can tell from how the farmer's are talking about the situation that they are unimpressed. The meat farmers are getting screwed because they're subsidized by the big companies and can easily get their contracts cancelled for any little thing. The female chicken farmer that they featured had her contract cancelled because she believed in having an open chicken house that had windows so that her chickens could see the sun and the outside. She refused to switch to the dark, closed, ventilated chicken house, so she lost the contract with the meat company.
The seed cleaner's story was equally sad, if not worse, because he had been in the same business for years (probably more than fifteen) and he got sued. He tried to fight it, but he ran out of money to pay his legal bills so he was forced to settle with Monsanto. This segment of the movie made me really glad that I consciously avoid soy products, and now I will be even more observant and open to looking where hidden soy and corn might hide.
Paying higher prices to get good, healthy, real food is worth it. It's worth it in the medium term because you'll feel better and you'll have more energy. It's worth it especially in the long term because your body will be healthier and less prone to chronic diseases, not to mention that your immune system will be stronger from you putting real food that provides real energy.
In summary, it was a really good movie and puts everything in perspective. It brushes over a huge range of topics and gives you a taste of each one. The movie features Michael Pollan who wrote The Omnivore's Dilemma
(which I look forward to reading soon) as well as the mother of the boy who sparked Kevin's Law Barbara Kowalcyk. Even if you've read The Omnivore's Dilemma, and Fast Food Nation, I recommend watching this movie. Because, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. So a movie must be a few million at least. Rent it, share it, borrow it, or buy it, it is a good watch and a sobering look at the food industry and how it has evolved.Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Please note that some of the links are to the Amazon.com site where you can purchase the titles. If you do, a small commission goes to helping to support Simply Green. I recommend that before buying, you check out your local library, or used book store. Keep the world a little greener and share the love. Thank you.
Healthy Snacks e-book sale!
Healthy Snacks To Go e-book - The comprehensive and easy to use guide to easy and healthy snacks. These recipes are amazing, and incredibly forgiving. They are easy to follow and Katie stuffs these pages full of useful facts as well as links to other information that you may want to find.
This Friday, November the 26th, (also known as Black Friday) she is holding a sale on this fabulous buy. 50% off the first 50 copies sold using the code BLACKFRIDAY! But hurry, the code expires at noon MST.
If you don't manage to snag yourselves a copy of the Healthy Snacks To Go e-book on Black Friday, Katie is also holding another sale on Monday, November the 29th, (also known as Cyber Monday) which is the online trickle from Black Friday. The first 100 copies sold on Monday are going for an even 4$ using the code CYBERMONDAY which will expire at 6pm MST.
If you haven't had a chance to check out this woman's fantastic site, please take advantage of it now. She offers a wealth of information on a large variety of health related topics, and she is extremely friendly.
Her other e-book is also available through the attached link, but it will not be on sale for this weekend's shopping festivities.
Happy shopping, and if you're heading out to brave the crowds in any stores, be careful. Remember family first, and stay safe. There are things more important than buying gifts, so remember what is important to you and your family.
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Disclosure: Simply Green will earn a small commission for every copy of the Healthy Snacks To Go e-book purchased through this link as well as the Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods e-book so thank you in advance for helping to support this site.
This Friday, November the 26th, (also known as Black Friday) she is holding a sale on this fabulous buy. 50% off the first 50 copies sold using the code BLACKFRIDAY! But hurry, the code expires at noon MST.
If you don't manage to snag yourselves a copy of the Healthy Snacks To Go e-book on Black Friday, Katie is also holding another sale on Monday, November the 29th, (also known as Cyber Monday) which is the online trickle from Black Friday. The first 100 copies sold on Monday are going for an even 4$ using the code CYBERMONDAY which will expire at 6pm MST.
If you haven't had a chance to check out this woman's fantastic site, please take advantage of it now. She offers a wealth of information on a large variety of health related topics, and she is extremely friendly.
Her other e-book is also available through the attached link, but it will not be on sale for this weekend's shopping festivities.
Happy shopping, and if you're heading out to brave the crowds in any stores, be careful. Remember family first, and stay safe. There are things more important than buying gifts, so remember what is important to you and your family.
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Disclosure: Simply Green will earn a small commission for every copy of the Healthy Snacks To Go e-book purchased through this link as well as the Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods e-book so thank you in advance for helping to support this site.
Sugar-free trial update
So the sugar free trial was definitely a big ole failure. But that's okay.
Why is that okay? Because I've learned a little bit more about nutrition and what's in my food. I am still actively trying to limit my sugar intake, and even invested in some agave nectar (it was on sale, and I've always wanted to try it)
Not quite the bottle I got, but it looks pretty close.
Also been thinking about looking into stevia
But mostly, I found that I had a lot of trouble in the afternoon, after I had eaten all the nice juicy fruit I brought to eat.
So I've started bringing extra fruit to work, to try and help me over the afternoon slump of sugar deprivation.
Peaches seem to be my body's favourite natural sugar source, and I can't wait until they're back in season here. Unfortunately, that'll be around 8 months *sad face*
What food helps your body beat the afternoon drag?
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Why is that okay? Because I've learned a little bit more about nutrition and what's in my food. I am still actively trying to limit my sugar intake, and even invested in some agave nectar (it was on sale, and I've always wanted to try it)
 |
| Photo found on Google Images search here |
Also been thinking about looking into stevia
But mostly, I found that I had a lot of trouble in the afternoon, after I had eaten all the nice juicy fruit I brought to eat.
So I've started bringing extra fruit to work, to try and help me over the afternoon slump of sugar deprivation.
Peaches seem to be my body's favourite natural sugar source, and I can't wait until they're back in season here. Unfortunately, that'll be around 8 months *sad face*
What food helps your body beat the afternoon drag?
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Monday Musing: Sustainable eating
Do you hunt your food, or forage it? Have you ever gone apple or berry picking?
It's hard! It's a lot of work, and a lot of time being put forth for your own sustenance when you have to gather your own.
But at the same time, it's very relaxing, and leaves you with a sense of accomplishment. Buying your food at the grocery store, you eat the food and that's it. But when you've put forward all that thought and energy towards your food, you enjoy it a little bit more. It tastes a little bit better.
I would love to have a garden. Even a few plants would be nice. Grow my own seasonal fruits and veggies. Put forward my energy for something more, my health, my family's health.
Those of you who read this, who don't have a garden or food plants, do you wish you did?
I dream of the day when I have a little house with a nice big yard, and I have a full garden and a few fruit trees. I am working to make my dream a reality.
What are you doing to reach and acheive your dreams? Have you started taking steps towards them? Why not start now?
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Enjoy the Monday Musing series? Here are the rest of the posts from this series:
Gardens
Happy thoughts
Automatic negative reactions
Thanksgiving
Contentment
Crutch or reason?
It's hard! It's a lot of work, and a lot of time being put forth for your own sustenance when you have to gather your own.
But at the same time, it's very relaxing, and leaves you with a sense of accomplishment. Buying your food at the grocery store, you eat the food and that's it. But when you've put forward all that thought and energy towards your food, you enjoy it a little bit more. It tastes a little bit better.
I would love to have a garden. Even a few plants would be nice. Grow my own seasonal fruits and veggies. Put forward my energy for something more, my health, my family's health.
Those of you who read this, who don't have a garden or food plants, do you wish you did?
I dream of the day when I have a little house with a nice big yard, and I have a full garden and a few fruit trees. I am working to make my dream a reality.
What are you doing to reach and acheive your dreams? Have you started taking steps towards them? Why not start now?
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Enjoy the Monday Musing series? Here are the rest of the posts from this series:
Gardens
Happy thoughts
Automatic negative reactions
Thanksgiving
Contentment
Crutch or reason?
Sugar free trial
I've done it before, and I'm doing it again.
Going sugar free. Initial goal is one week. Seven days. Not so terrifying.
The rules: (remember, these are my rules, so if you want to do this yourself, feel free to use your own rules)
-No refined sugar, which means, no sugar in my tea/coffee, no brown sugar on my oatmeal, no sugar in my muffins, etc
-No artificial sweeteners, no Splenda, no aspartame, nothing
-Allowed: natural sugars, such as those in fruits and vegetables.
Started this on Tuesday, but had some bread which had sugar in it, so official start date was Wednesday October 20th.
Why am I doing this? It's a test, a trial so to speak. It makes me have to remember to check labels of foods, and pushes me more towards raw, whole, real foods.
Also, sugar depresses the immune system, it's addictive, along with countless other issues
It's eye opening, and it's inspiring. I love the feeling. I haven't gotten any withdrawal symptoms, which is surprising. But we'll see.
Once I make it to a week, maybe I'll continue and make it to a month.
(Sidenote: I've also stopped eating meat, and significantly cut down my dairy and egg consumption.)
Have you ever tried something new, just temporarily, to see if you could do it and how you would feel?
Do you think I'm crazy and out of my mind for trying something like this?
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Going sugar free. Initial goal is one week. Seven days. Not so terrifying.
The rules: (remember, these are my rules, so if you want to do this yourself, feel free to use your own rules)
-No refined sugar, which means, no sugar in my tea/coffee, no brown sugar on my oatmeal, no sugar in my muffins, etc
-No artificial sweeteners, no Splenda, no aspartame, nothing
-Allowed: natural sugars, such as those in fruits and vegetables.
Started this on Tuesday, but had some bread which had sugar in it, so official start date was Wednesday October 20th.
Why am I doing this? It's a test, a trial so to speak. It makes me have to remember to check labels of foods, and pushes me more towards raw, whole, real foods.
Also, sugar depresses the immune system, it's addictive, along with countless other issues
It's eye opening, and it's inspiring. I love the feeling. I haven't gotten any withdrawal symptoms, which is surprising. But we'll see.
Once I make it to a week, maybe I'll continue and make it to a month.
(Sidenote: I've also stopped eating meat, and significantly cut down my dairy and egg consumption.)
Have you ever tried something new, just temporarily, to see if you could do it and how you would feel?
Do you think I'm crazy and out of my mind for trying something like this?
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Adopting Simplicity: Ask yourself this...
When trying to determine a task/item/pastime/etc...'s priority, as yourself this:
Does it fulfill me in any way? Meaning, does having it around make you feel better, more accomplished, or does it just serve as a status symbol?
Can I enjoy it? Is it something that will get active use, or just sit in a corner/on a shelf/in a closet for months/years?
Why do I have this? Did you buy it because someone else had one, and so you felt that you needed it? Or is it something that you can truly use to benefit yourself somehow?
Ask yourself these simple questions when making choices about anything that takes your time or money. Make sure that when you spend money, you really get your value out of it. If it's something that will go out of style in less than five years, is it really worth your energy now?
Take a breath, and remember that all you can be is all that you want to be. You just need to take the steps to get there. Ensuring that you are not surrounded by things that distract you from your goals is a surefire way to find the energy to push yourself towards them.
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Enjoy my Adopting Simplicity series? Here is a list of the other posts from this series:
Step 1
Be Here Now
I could never...
Three important things per day
Simplify your holidays by adding depth
Does it fulfill me in any way? Meaning, does having it around make you feel better, more accomplished, or does it just serve as a status symbol?
Can I enjoy it? Is it something that will get active use, or just sit in a corner/on a shelf/in a closet for months/years?
Why do I have this? Did you buy it because someone else had one, and so you felt that you needed it? Or is it something that you can truly use to benefit yourself somehow?
Ask yourself these simple questions when making choices about anything that takes your time or money. Make sure that when you spend money, you really get your value out of it. If it's something that will go out of style in less than five years, is it really worth your energy now?
Take a breath, and remember that all you can be is all that you want to be. You just need to take the steps to get there. Ensuring that you are not surrounded by things that distract you from your goals is a surefire way to find the energy to push yourself towards them.
Peace and serenity,
Simply Me
Enjoy my Adopting Simplicity series? Here is a list of the other posts from this series:
Step 1
Be Here Now
I could never...
Three important things per day
Simplify your holidays by adding depth
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