Serious Play

Homemade Wash + Rinse

So, in an effort to reduce the chemicals in my life, I am testing out homemade shampoo and rinse.

 

It is a surprisingly simple recipe for both the Wash and Rinse.

Wash:  One cup of water + one tablespoon of baking soda. Shake well until dissolved.

Rinse:  One cup of water + one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Shake.

 

I found these squeezable plastic travel bottles at the dollar store. I have an aversion to plastic (more chemicals) but figured glass bottles in the shower may not go over too well. Also, I wanted the squeeze factor that a plastic bottle allows.

To identify the two solutions I simply wrote on the bottles with a Sharpie permanent marker. So far the ink is holding up well in the shower. And I figure that if it does at some point wash off, I can always rewrite the words.

 

I have used these concoctions twice now. The first time, earlier this week, I was pleasantly surprised by the softness of my hair. I allowed my hair to air dry, which I rarely do as a rule because I get the frizzies. However, after using my new Wash + Rinse my hair did not frizz up while drying. Score!

The second time I used my new Wash + Rinse was this morning. This time, I blow-dried and flat-ironed my hair as per usual and found a different result. My hair did not respond to the fussing like it usually does. It seemed to not have the same gloss or the same texture as I am used to. I guess it is true that whatever they are putting into our hair care products is leaving a heavy coating of something. Is this good? Bad? Not sure yet.

I have read that you have to give this "no shampoo" thing some time. It takes a while for your hair to readjust and for your natural oils to regulate. But then I am told it is all worth it.

I guess I will see...

 

 

 

 

Potted Plants

So, after a week straight of rain, it has finally stopped.

 

I don't actually mind the rain, it just means more indoor days. And right now, we are itching to be outside! However, now that the rain is over, my flower garden is sprouting like crazy!

Last year, just before my parents moved off the farm, I raided my mom's garden...with her permission of course! She let me take whatever I wanted home with me to plant in my garden. Now that Spring has arrived, my garden is full of surprises!

While waiting for my flower garden to grow, I planted two large pots with flowers to set on my front step. For several years, I have been wanting to do this. I kept looking at pots, but anything that was the size that I had in mind was way out of my price range! And then, one day a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon these beauties when I wasn't even searching (isn't it funny how that happens).

My husband wanted to stop at London Drugs and as I walked down their seasonal section, I found these pots...and they were on sale! They were large. They were plastic, so despite their size, they are light. They look like concrete. They were only $30 each! So, of course they came home with me.

After a trip to Lowe's and a little dirt, I now have two smashing flower pots on my front step to greet our summer visitors. Every time I drive by to park in the garage, I slow down to take in their beauty!

What do you like to grow in the summer?

 

Digital Frame: Karen Russell

 

 

Monthly Magazines

So, I am a magazine junkie.

I love this time of each month when my subscriptions start rolling in. In this day and age of technology, I get very little real mail, so when these gems show up in my mailbox, they bypass the recycle bin and land safely on my kitchen island. I can hardly wait to boil a cup of tea, settle into my deep dark brown leather sofa and crack them open!

For me, reading a magazine is a whole experience. My first pass through is like riding a bike through a puddle. I want the thrill of the experience to put a smile on my face and develop a longing to do it again without the burden of getting soaked or my mamma calling me in for dinner. I let the strength of words and phrases grab me and pull me in. I let the color combinations dazzle me and cause me to linger on those pages. I let the new ideas compete with one another to win my approval with the hope of becoming realized. This part of the experience is like sensing a gentle spray of water on my face and giggling all the way to the other side of the puddle!

On my second pass, I am more deliberate and selective. I choose to which articles I will give my full attention. I jot down notes or use sticky notes to mark pages to which I will return. I absorb a lot of the meat and theme of the magazine, allowing myself to be informed and persuaded. This is when I form opinions and follow up on questions that arise from my reading. I look into referred websites, search authors and google instructions. This part of the experience brings me satisfaction.

On consecutive passes through the magazine I fill in the gaps. This is when I notice little details that were previously missed, or articles that didn't grab me so strongly the second time through. Sometimes, these items end up having the greatest impact on me, or they seem like something I will get more out of in a specific situation so I make a mental note to return another day.

Now, there are those who will judge the 'green' factor of a paper magazine. I am proud to say that my magazines do not end up in a landfill. Martha Stewart Living has grown into a significant collection that filled multiple boxes which were sent out to the refuge of the garage during our home renovation. Upon return into my home, these magazines still pull me aside and cause me to spend an entire evening leafing through pages, sometimes with purpose, sometimes aimlessly and smiling. My decorating magazines are scoured for catalysts and several pages are torn out to adorn my inspiration journals. Finally, as a last stop, my magazines are donated to my school for Art classes.

Even with the emergence of the internet and the iPad, I am not swayed to abandon my glossy-page-turning ways. Nope. Never.