So grateful for these 3!  We are going to the Outer Banks next week to spend Thanksgiving with my brother, Dan and his girlfriend, Erin.  We can’t wait!  It’s so nice to get away and I am so glad I have my little family to share the holiday.

This layout is inspired by Sketchy Thursdays…

Credits: Katie Pertiet, Autumn Ice Cardstock, Designer Digitals, Jessica Sprague Fall Florals Patterned Paper, Shimelle Laine’s Long & Winding Road Free Kit from Two Peas in a Bucket,  Fonts: Porcelain & VT Portable Remington.

Over the last two years, I started embracing some more “natural” practices.  I have never considered myself particularly “crunchy,” but as time goes on I have adopted a few of these practices.  It all started when I read something about aluminum in anti-perspirants and its links to both Alzheimer’s and breast cancer.   Sure they might be rumors, but I decided to switch anyways.  I now use Tom’s of Maine – I prefer the lavender fragance.  I have a friend that just splashes a bit of vinegar in her pits to eliminate any odor (and she always smells great!).

The next practice I took on is cleaning my hair without shampoo.  I first read this post on Simple Mom.  I bought two 8 oz. squirt bottles from Rite-Aid and followed Tsh’s lead.  I wash my hair with the baking soda solution (1 TBSP Baking Soda to 8 oz. water) every other day, and typically, I follow it with the vinegar solution (1 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar).  I am loving how my hair looks and feels.  I used to use a LOT of conditioner and frizz serums and frizz sprays, because I have my hair highlighted. Now,I don’t need them because my hair is producing it’s own oils to keep the frizz down.

The back

Another back

You can see the hair, but no face

Does anyone take a good picture in the mirror? Not me.

When I read the post about going shampoo-free, I also found other links about OCM (oil-cleansing method).  I had to try it!  OCM is basically washing your face with a combination of castor oil (a drying oil) and a carrier oil.  I have fairly dry skin, so I use a ratio of 90% grapeseed oil and 10% castor oil.  You could use sunflower seed oil or olive oil as well.

Here’s a bit about castor oil from wikipedia:  The use of cold pressed castor oil in folk medicine predates government medical regulations. Cold pressed castor oil is tasteless and odorless when pure. Uses include skin problems, burns, sunburns, skin disorders, skin cuts, and abrasions. Castor oil has also been used to draw out styes in the eye by pouring a small amount into the eye and allowing it to circulate around the inside of the eyelid. Note that most bottles of castor oil indicate the oil is to be kept away from the eyes. The oil is also used as a rub or pack for various ailments, including abdominal complaints, headaches, muscle pains, inflammatory conditions, skin eruptions, lesions, and sinusitis….Castor oil has also been noted for its acne-healing abilities.[32]  via Castor oil – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

I’ve been using the OCM for a month now, and I really enjoy washing my face at the end of the day.  There is a meditative quality for massaging my face with the oils, then steaming the dirt away.  My face feels dewy and moist.  There is no need for any other moisturizers after the wash or in the morning.  A splash of water is al I need to get me going!

Grapeseed oil

From wikipedia.org: Grape seed oil is a preferred cosmetic ingredient for damaged and stressed tissues, possessing regenerative and restructuring qualities which allow for strong control of skin moisturization. It can help skin retain the normal structure of epithelium cells and nerve cells via supporting the cell membranes. It is noted to be especially effective for repair of the skin around the eyes. Used as an all-over skin moisturizer, grape seed oil is known to reduce the look of stretch marks….In addition, grape seed oil applied to the feet each morning clears up many foot problems such as itching, scaly flaking and odor.

I am also using grapeseed oil for moisturizing after I get out of the shower.  My skin is extremely dry and itchy and most moisturizers don’t last very long.  I tend to have ashy, itchy, flaky skin on my legs in the winter, so I’m hoping this is a good solution to help my dry skin. Dylan also has very dry, itchy skin, and I’ve been using this on him too.

These are just a few of the steps I am taking to use more natural products in my home. I am evolving and becoming a bit more crunchy.

No, I’m not pregnant. Ha, ha!  But, I am going to be working hard for a new goal.

On August 22, 2010, I will be “racing” in the Iron Girl Sprint Triathlon in Columbia, MD.  According to the site, I am 289 days from “race day.”

Hollie Avil: http://www.hollieavil.com/gallery.html

The swim is .62 miles.  This is my biggest concern and the area I will need the most training.  It is an open water swim with about 200 women starting at the same time!

Emma Moffat: Professional Triathlete

The bike ride is 17.5 miles.  This is the area, I am most prepared for.  Because, I spin about 3-4 times a week, I think this shouldn’t be too hard.  But, I may want to pass out after swimming .62 miles!  Plus, riding my bike in a wet bathing suit — not sure how that will feel.  Sometimes, it gets so hot and humid in the spin room, that I wish I was wearing a bathing suit!

Pip Taylor - Professional Triathlete

Last is a 3.4 mile run. I am not a natural runner, but I can run 3 miles. I’m just not sure how easy it will feel after the swim & bike.

Julie Erter - Professional Triathlete

I am so excited that I signed up!  My first goal is to add swimming and running into my workout schedule.  I have so much to look forward to — new goals, a new bike, new running shoes, and 14 weeks of training beginning in May ‘10.

Today, I started a class, Blogging for Scrapbookers.  I’ve been wanting a place to record my thoughts, share some of my creativity, and capture our family stories.   I am hoping that this is a place I can come several times a week to do write and share pictures.  A few years ago, we had a blog telling stories , but when Dylan (baby #2) came along life became too overwhelming to keep it going.  So, here I go again!

I need to address a few issues in my workflow for this to really work.   We currently download pictures to our Mac Tower and then I share it back to myself.  But, many times, that computer has to be turned on (which doesn’t seem like a big deal).  This may not sound like a big deal, but when I’m short on time, it becomes another hindrance to scrapbook (and now blog).  I’m sure I/we will figure it out soon enough.

I have not shared this blog with anyone, yet, but the Blogging for Scrapbookers students.  So, if you are reading this, welcome to my new blog!  Thanks for reading!