Detox.

Part of what we're into around here is what many would call "crunchy" living. I just call it "doing my best to be healthy, natural and not too materialistic". This is kind of a struggle for me: in my insecurity and weakness, wanting to get along with everyone and to have them all like me (working on that; it has lead to some pretty toxic situations, and hasn't been good for me OR for my little family. It's a big project of mine!), I end up going along with too much and getting sucked into materialistic and consumeristic mindsets (brand awareness, replacing perfectly good and functional items with whatever is "better", falling into marketing traps, especially in terms of toiletries, cosmetics and, weirdly, kitchenware...) and then I wonder why it's "never enough". EX. HAUST. ING.

Enter Crunchy Betty. This woman has been such an inspiration as I try to clean up my exterior AND interior (emotions and perceptions) act. She researches ingredients, exposes harmful or shady products, and has these amazing recipes for making your OWN toiletries, using healthy food (that you can also eat...it's two birds and one healthy, delicious, skin clearing stone!). She writes about Throwing Away Your Sad Magnet. Her call to take the "It's Not Just Business" pledge keeps me aware of what I'm putting in my shopping basket, onto my skin, into my body and what I'm letting into my life and my mind.


And now, I'm taking her Crunchy Betty Honey Challenge. (Link will be live on Monday July 18.)

 I've never really had BAD skin, but I also never really had GREAT skin, either. And what with some sun damage, a pregnancy and now a busy toddler, my not-so-great-skin is starting to look pretty blah. I started the oil cleansing method a couple of months ago, and the results were mixed. On the one hand, my unblemished skin was clearer than I could remember it being. On the other, the blemishes were VERY blemishy. Maybe it's my skin just detoxing, but that isn't supposed to last this long, according to what I've read via google. So I think this "wash your face with honey for two weeks" idea sounds pretty good!

 Of course, cleaning up my act does not end with my face or hair or emotions or perceptions. There's a pretty intense spiritual detox going on, as well. That's another post for another day. :) For now, let's get honey-cleansing!

I'm Kind of a Mess

This comes as a surprise to no one, of course, but today I'm focusing on just a single area of my messy disorganized life: Le Wardrobe. I love color and texture (and natural fibers!) and unique pieces, and while this all makes for one riotous spree through the thrift stores (FAVORITE. way to shop. EVAH), it doesn't exactly lend itself to an organized closet with a cohesive "theme" (and the ability to make many outfits out of few pieces). Also, there is this weird thing that I do where I don't wear any of my fun clothes, EVER, because...I don't really know why I don't get all fun colorful with my costumes on a daily basis. Lord knows, having only one kid, and a relatively easygoing one at that, I have ample time for creating outfits and maintaining the resulting laundry/upkeep. I have caught myself, on occasion, thinking "What if I want to wear that SOMEWHERE, LATER, and it's in the laundry?" Which is a extremely ridiculous reason to not wear ONE outfit out of an entire closet full of them, especially since, see above re: never wearing any of the fun things EVER. I am vast, and contain multitudes. And they all disagree with each other.

ANYWAY. Enter Louise. Louise came into my life last May, while I was visiting Portland for my nephew's Baptism (and, no doubt, wearing something boring. See above), and I will never ever forget it, because I saw her at Mass, where I was futilely hushing my then 18 month old son in the back of the church. The choir processed up to Communion first (so they could then sing for the rest of us while we received), and in the parade of billowing robes and solemn faces, I caught a flash of marvelousness on someone's feet. These shoes are unforgettable, even if you don't then acquaint yourself with their remarkable wearer, who is pretty amazing even in the least marvelous shoes (although I think she leaves the wearing of unmarvelous shoes to me. See above). I've been following her postings and feeling some rumblings of inspiration. And I think I'm ready (ALMOST) to follow her lead, and start getting all dolled up to go to the dry cleaners (or whatever it is that I do with my day...)! And because I am nothing if not adventurous (/stupid) I've decided to start with our two-week interstate tour of special occasions: a Dallas graduation and then another Portland jaunt, to celebrate wedded bliss.

THIS should be INTERESTING. :D