Wash Your Hair Backwards

No I don't mean stand the opposite way in the shower, that would just be silly! I mean, condition then shampoo! Why? you may ask, let me explain....

So while reading my wonderful copy of "No more dirty looks" (if you haven't read it, you should), I skimmed over a small side box talking about washing my hair backwards and the reasoning behind it. I didn't think to much of it but then one day (I was having a particular bad hair week), I figured, why not try it.And I have to say my hair was pretty amazing. Usually, after rinsing the conditioner, my hair is too dry in some spots and then too much conditioner hides in other spots, making my hair greasy and just overall ridiculous.

So why it works.....

Better late than never

Ok so I know that I am way behind when it comes to blogging but better late than never right? I too have changed over many of my products but lately I have been focusing on my physical health in terms of exercise. I have never been one to enjoy exercise, in fact I loath it. When I used to attend the Y and went after work, it wrecked my entire day just thinking about it. That said, I am a currently a practical nurse student and am continually reminded how many benefits a little bit of exercise has. Check out http://www.livingto100.com/ and "take the calculator". Its a fun little exercise and I learned that "Increasing your exercise regimen to 3 days a week could add half a year, to 4 days a week could add a year and a half, to 5 days a week could add 3 years, to 6 or 7 days a week could add 5 years to your life expectancy." This could be as easy as taking a 30 min walk every day.

Video: Try to Look Pretty

Love this 1 minute video, definitely how I feel! 

-Dana

Non-Toxic Nail Polish Please

I only paint my nails a few times a year, maybe that’s why it hasn’t been my highest priority to find a “clean” replacement for the toxic bottles I have at home.  Then I read an article in my Whole Living magazine about a lady in New York who started her own non-toxic line of nail polish "Priti NYC" and it got me thinking about it.

Why bother with non-toxic nail polish? 
3 of the ugly ingredients in regular nail polish 

(ALL of these are rated a 10 on the 0-10 hazard scale on the 
EWG Website):

1.) Formaldehyde- AKA: FORMALIN; FORMIC ALDEHYDE; MERTHALDEHYDE; METHANAL; METHYL ALDEHYDE; OXOMETHANE; OXYMETHYLENE.

Effects: Known human carcinogen, Known human immune system toxicant, Known human respiratory toxicant

The cure for S-A-D is C-O-C-O-A!!

Well, as my previous Heart and Soul post talked about, I have been feeling a bit down. Although I am feeling a bit more happy and excited, I am still feeling extremely tired and sluggish and not at all like myself. As I was googling S-A-D, I decided to check my email and I had this article in my inbox, sent to me from my Mom!

December 16, 2011 A Cup of Christmas COCOA Tracie Miles

They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. Psalm 145:7 (NIV)

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, there’s one thing that always calms my heart and quiets my thoughts – a cup of hot cocoa. Who doesn’t feel warm and peaceful while sipping a cup of steaming cocoa with marshmallows piled on top?
But, there is another reason I love cocoa. Each letter of my favorite winter drink helps me focus my heart on Christ at Christmas:

The Great Coconut Oil Debate

Coconut oil: I have never used the stuff, I didn't even know it existed until a few months ago. I was researching natural ways to cure a dry scalp and coconut oil came up as a really great method. So, I was chatting with a co-worker one day and she commented on how good it is for you to eat.

I ordered some from www.well.ca (to try on my scalp) and my Step dad saw it on my counter and said "I hope you don't plan on eating that, it caused many people to die of heart attacks and now they have banned it from movie theatres!"

So my question is "How do you get 2 very different opinions on the exact same product?" I did my research and although I am not a expert, here is what I found:

A Clean Makeover

Is anyone else finding it frustrating to try and buy "clean" make up in  Prince George? I know on-line shopping is a girls best friend but sometimes I need it now!

For example, I have a couple great (but dirty) mascaras, but I am getting down to the last smidgens of them and now I have a Christmas party coming up this weekend and I have no mascara! Huge problem (since mascara is my go to, feel good cosmetic)!! And I know I should have foreseen this but I am having a hard time letting go of my mascaras, it is so hard to find great mascaras but then to find GREAT and CLEAN mascaras, next to impossible.

So my goal is to hunt high and low for a fabulous clean mascara, and my standards are pretty high so we will see. I will update with my findings.

Do you have any favourites? Even if it is one I have to order on-line....for future tries maybe!

-Kristin 

Nuts for Soap Nuts!!

Soap nuts are a natural, low sudsing detergent. There are no added fillers, dyes or chemicals, yet will thoroughly wash all your articles of clothing.

I love soap nuts, I guess you can say I am nuts for soap nuts... ok I guess you can say that I am also pretty lame but regardless, I love doing laundry with soap nuts.

My goal is to start cutting out all the chemical type crap from my life. I had been discussing this with my sister one day (miss you Ashley!) and she told me about this wonderful new product she bought. She said it was grossing her out to watch her little baby boy suck on his blankies and such, knowing what kinds of horrible chemicals were all over that that freshly "cleaned" blankie! So she thought she would try out soap nuts and they work. So I was skeptical but I am up for trying new things, so I decided why not. Dana and I decided to try them out but splitting a pack.

Bring on the happy! (and the pounds)

My last few months have been less than great, so Dana, I am taking your advice and writing about it on the blog. With my husband being out of town, working long stressful shifts at the hospital, being on a health dietary cleanse that has caused me to lose weight when I need to gain weight and then not being able go to the gym (which usually makes me feel better)...I have been feeling quite low.  I am sure, not going to church or bible study isn't helping either.
But after a wonderful chat with my friends and with my husband about it, I have decided to make the most of a less than wonderful situation and try to focus on being happy and staying busy and doing what I love.
Now that I have some of my normal food groups back in, I have been able to start baking again! Here comes all that weight back, WooHoo!! In the last 3 days I have cranked up the Christmas music and made: orange cranberry chex mix, whipped shortbread cookies (it made me think of you Dana), cherry almond biscotti (Kimberly's recipe) and fudge puddles ( thank you Kara!!). Baking things that made me think of all my wonderful girlfriends definately improved my mood.
I have also tried to stop negative thoughts from forming.... easier said than done. I find that if I don't verbalize or acknowledge them, this makes it a bit more managable. I know that God wants me to be a happy person and I am really trying to focus on the good and fun things in my life:)

What do you do to improve your mood?

- Kristin

Delicious Food Blogs

Well here it goes, my first blog post ever and I have decided to choose the topic of food. Since my recent trip to the naturopath, food is all I am really thinking of...oh my goodness do I miss cooking! Anyways, my 2 top picks for favorite food blogs are...
http://ohsheglows.com/
and
http://www.dailygarnish.com/
Although these 2 wonderful ladies touch on other subjects other than food, I believe their recipes are by far the best! I really enjoy their blogs and you should check them out. They have both have a great perspective on life and it makes reading their blogs so much fun.