Herbal... Stuff

[Currently listening to: Explosions in the Sky.]

My herbs are steeping! I'm so excited to finally get started with these recipes. I refuse to waste the beauty and cleaning products that I have, so I can't make these recipes until I run out of something.

Well I'm out of shampoo and conditioner so that is my first project. I bought castile soap from Whole Foods last week. Dr. Bronner's was the only brand they have there, so I got the Rose one. (Oh and I went to Sevananda today and notcied that they sell the same big bottles of liquid castile soap for $2 less. Damn, Whole Foods.) The book Make Your Place that I'm using said to get unscented, but I couldn't find one and I figured natural rose fragarance couldn't hurt.

Anyways, castile soap is made with all vegetable/plant oils so it is very gentle (no Sodium Laureth Sulfate), and can be used on your hair/body, your pets, or as an all-purpose cleaner around the house. So obviously I figured that was a great place to start. So I put a little in an old hand soap bottle with a few drops of lavender oil, and I've been using that to wash my body and my hair. No conditioner. Since castile soap doesn't contain detergent it doesn't strip your hair like normal shampoo so my hair hasn't even been dry. I LOVE the way the soap makes my skin feel. I have pretty sensitive skin so I'm used to soap making my skin feel itchy or dry. Not with castile soap! It leaves my skin soft and moisterized, no itching. I don't want to keep using it on my hair though, I want to use baking soda.

This blog post was given to me by StumbleUpon a while ago, and it's been in the back of my mind for months. And then this book I'm reading says the same thing! So I'm going to wash with baking soda tomorrow, and use the book's recipe for conditioner. Instead of just apple cider vinegar and water you steep 2 T each of dried nettles, chamomile flowers, and rosemary with it. So my hot water, vinegar, herb concotion is sitting overnight, and I'll strain the herbs and use it tomorrow. I can't wait to let you know how it goes! I'm going to use this routine for at least three weeks to see if my hair reacts well.

My other current project is facial cleanser. I ran out of that this week too (thank God because it also contains SLS) so I've used the castile soap the past couple of days. That works fine because it is so gentle, but I wanted to try one of the recipes in the book. It actually uses castile soap, but you mix it with an herbal infusion that works for your skin tone. Lemon verbena and rosemary are both good for oily skin so that is the infusion I have steeping now. An infusion is just like making tea, you put the herbs in really hot water and let it sit until the water cools. The only thing I'm missing is mason jars, I'm just using pots and pans right now. I might actually be able to use that tonight, I can't wait to try it!

I need to learn how to make these posts shorter, I don't know why anyone would try to read this whole thing! I hope someone is interested, or has the time.

One more thing. Food. Unfortunately Friday was a VERY late and... eventful night. So I didn't make it to the Farmers Market with Kendra :( I'm so upset with myself, I really wanted to get up and go this time. Oh well, I'm not going out or getting drunk this Friday so I won't have an excuse! Meanwhile I've eaten out the past couple of days. Like I said, tonight I went to Sevananda. I've never been before, I love it! It is like a smaller Whole Foods, but even more... natural. They have a whole wall full of every dried herb imaginable. Which is why I went there. But I also grabbed some food since I have two more days until I can go to the Farmer's Market. I got local eggs (awesome!), almond crackers, almond butter, a couple onions, zucchine, and cheese. Kendra turned me on to the nut and rice crackers with almond butter, such a yummy snack!

Speaking of Kendra. I am so happy I have a close friend who can be my role model for all of this. Ever since she got pregnant she has been so focused on making good choices for her and her family's health. From making good choices for the environment, to the food she eats, what she buys, what she cleans with, everything! I look to her as an example for so much, and it is helping me to stay motivated to change my lifestyle. Isla is so lucky to have such a great mother, I only hope I can pull it off so well. So Kendra, I hope you are flattered by all the things I am going to "copy" from you, you are the best role model I could ask for!

Aaaaand, one last thing. I cut all of my hair off! I absolutely love it, I'm so glad I finally got sick of it being long and wanted to do something different.

I hope this wasn't too long and boring, I'll try to condense the next post better :)