Dread Heads, Shampoo Sorrows and Lab Rats!

Due to the SLS factor* and not being one who buys into specialty products that easily, I am finding myself in a bit of a quandary over my hair. It has ALWAYS been my crown and I want what’s healthiest for it! When I was little my grandmother brushed, washed and styled it. And then when I had children of my own they would vie for who got to brush mommy’s hair before bed. I cut it short a few times in my life, and didn’t really dig it any of them. I love my hair; it’s a lot like a security blanket.
Unfortunately, after 3 children and many years of being exposed to chemicals and free radicals, my hair is thin, dry and brittle. It even got a bit of a wave to it after being stick straight for most of my life! I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m not going bald or anything. My hair is just totally different than it used to be and requires a lot more attention. For the last 13 years it’s been mandatory that I use some sort of conditioner and the clean rinsing shampoo recipes I have cause my hair to knot and tangle! I still haven’t found a natural conditioner that works as well as the stuff in the bottle does.
I have found a recipe for a Yucca and Mallow shampoo that sounds great. The chic on the video that gave the recipe said she uses it and her hair looked very healthy and thick. Most people even have these plants in their yard and don’t even know it!! I will most definitely give it a try sooner or later as I am still working on identifying the wild natives on the property. We will see, and I’ll keep you posted. Better yet, why doesn’t some one try it and get back to me?
So, after washing said head of hair with a clean rinsing shampoo I made from castile soap and utilizing a baking soda and honey rinse, I gotta tell ya, my hair was STRIPPED of any residue or gunk. Meaning, it knotted and locked and I had to rewash with icky stuff and use conditioner just to get a brush through it!! One way or the other, something has to change, cause me locks gotta get clean and I will NOT buy another plastic bottle filled with chemical laden poison that’s being poured into Mother Earth by the gallons DAILY, thanks to humans who are willing to put their vanity above Mother’s (and their very own) health! I just cant get down with washin in the same stuff they use on lab rats to cause sores so they can use another chemical to help heal said sores!! That’s just me though…Tree huggin, Dirt worshipper that I am.
... Wait a knotty lockin’ minute here!
Knots?
Locking up?!
NO brushing?!?
Clean soap?!?!
Sounds like the perfect condition for Dreads to me!!
I have known a few people with dreads and I REALLY love the look. The whole dreadlock journey is calling to me too. The ability to let go of control for a while of SOMETHING sounds both exhilarating and tantalizingly scary. So far, just researching the subject has lead to emotional and personal healing as well as some really great education and Spiritual growth, and I haven’t even put the dreads in yet! Imagine what it will be like when I do!! Yeah, I said it. It’s most likely going to happen. I just gotta get over a few things like, putting knots in my hair on purpose (my grandmother would KILL me!) and finding some one knowledgeable to help (no way I'm dreadin this head alone, it would take days!. Not to mention Dreading your hair is a big commitment and other than my kids, I'm not real big on it and uh, commitment’s just another dirty word if you ask me!So, we will see where the journey leads and I will surely keep you posted.

Until then, what solutions have YOU found for natural hair care products free from harsh chemicals and not stored in resource depleting plastic bottles?

I would love to hear input on this one, whether you have had dreads for years or just started a set.
Even if you’re not a dread head, I bet you have an opinion about or input on Dread Heads,Shampoo Sorrow and Lab Rats!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happenin Handmade Hippe Dreadwraps and more from my friends at Two Hills!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/twohills
Love this Dread Head WAHMomma and her hand made Vegan, Earth friendly soaps!
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=3213239

*If you are not familiar with this dangerous and damaging chemical PLEASE read this blog for a detailed description and links with additional information including the MSDS sheet!
http://thegreentraveler.blogspot.com/2011/04/eco-friendly-multipurpose-cleaner.html

Lavendar Fields

I’ve had Lavender on the brain folks, for the last month! Lavender oil, Lavender flowers, Lavender mead, Lavender propagation, Lavender Fields foreverrr!!!
So, in celebration of the great and profound things rolling around in my head, I have decided to post the Lavender Cookie Recipe for you!
What is your favorite use for Lavender?

Lavender Cookies

1 Egg

5oz. butter

1 ½ C flour

         ½ C white sugar

                2 T Lavender flowers

1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Cream butter and sugar.
3. Beat the egg and add to the butter and sugar.
4. Stir in flowers and flour. (I stir in small amounts at a time of the flour for even distribution.)
5. Drop onto cookie sheet and bake 15-17 minutes.

Alteration: If you want a really delicate and flaky cookie, try handling it like my world famous pie crust! The secret is cold butter, the colder the better! Mix the flowers with the flour. Then place cold butter cubed into ¼’ pieces with some flour in a food processor and pulse until it looks like sand, adding the remaining flour little at a time. Small chunks of butter are cool and you don’t want to over process this! I always just use my hands or the egg beaters; they used to make tools just for this you could probably still find in a Thrift!

So, once the butter and flour are combined, turn this mixture out onto a floured surface. If you can pick up some of it and squish it together until it sticks, push the entire amount together and then wrap it and put it in the fridge. Roll it out after about an hr and make cutter cookies!

Too wet? Add flour.

Too dry? Add water.

Let me know how these turn out for you!

Nature's way of Dying Easter/Ostara Eggs

Had I thought about this one earlier I would have published it before the Spring Equinox (Ostara), but I thought of it now, so that’s when it will get published!
(I’m just grateful it decided to show up before Easter!;-)

Since my Eldest was little we have celebrated both the Pagan and Christian holidays. It made for a busy year full of crafts, fun, surprises, magic, discovery and honor. There was a time however, that I thought of dropping the Christian ways. But why? Santa is WAY cool! And who wouldn’t want to entice thoughts of a Rainbow colored bunny spreading joy to all the children in forms of sweets and treats?? They don’t have to be imprinted with any social injustice, reminded of any pain, all they want is Joy and Love.

So, with that said, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite things to do in honor of Ostara.
Easter Egg Coloring with Food Dyes.

The first year we did this I remember being astonished at the results! Mother Nature sure does provide some beautiful color! Not to mention It was easy to execute, the materials were all Earth Friendly(except for the Dixie Cups), and way cheap as we just incorporated the ingredients to our meals!
Here were some of my favorites!

Yellow onion skin-GORGEOUS deep orange/brown.
Don’t over think the prep on this, we throw the chopped off ends and scraps into a pot of water when peeling the onion.

Blueberries-they made a more delicious color than the grapes, you can do either or, or experiment and do both!

Kale-didn’t get as green as I wanted, but made a far out bright yellow!

Beets–Canned or jarred beets work well for this!
Anything from Pink, to Scarlet! Mix it with the grape and get purples!

All food items can be boiled,each separately in equal parts water for about 20 minutes.
Strain out the food matter and pour the dye into your desired container.
Add 2T white vinegar per 1 cup of dye.
HAVE FUN!


Tips:
1.If you would like to make blown eggs, it is better to color them THEN blow out the center. Ask me how I know! ;-)
2.Try drawing on your boiled egg with a white crayon then putting the egg in the dye!


*We have been using Dixie cups,but will be using reused salsa jars in the future.

Eco Friendly Multipurpose Cleaner

Onward and upward in the Green journey we go!

Picking up a cleaner at the market that isn't riddled with 25 letter ingredients, of which you are sure translates in to poison, was one of the most daunting tasks in the Green Journey for me. When I found and tested this recipe series I was elated! I knew most of these ingredients, my mom and grandmother used them in our home growing up!

But before we get on with the recipe, let’s play a game of hide and seek!
Take a trip around your home, read some labels and seek out where Sodium Lauryl Sulphates (also known as Sodium Laureth Sulphate and here on out referred to as SLS) may be hiding!

Hints: Shampoo, dish soap, laundry soap, household cleaners, toothpaste, bubble bath, cosmetic cleansers, you get the idea.
How many times did you find this creepy chemical hiding?


“A study at the University of Georgia Medical College, indicated that SLS penetrated into the eyes as well as brain, heart, liver, etc., and showed long-term retention in the tissues. The study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children's eyes and prevented them from developing properly and caused cataracts to develop in adults...”
..."Sodium lauryl sulfate is used throughout the world for clinical testing as a primary skin irritant. Laboratories use it to irritate skin on test animals and humans so that they may then test healing agents to see how effective they are on the irritated skin."
http://www.healthy-communications.com/slsmostdangerousirritant.html

"In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, SLS also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It is also well documented that it denatures skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin.This denaturing of skin proteins may even be implicated in skin and other cancers."
http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-laureth-sulfate.html

MSDS Sheet on SLS:
http://www.healthy-communications.com/msdssodiumlaurylsulfate.html

My other SLS related blogs:
Dread Heads, Shampoo Sorrows and Lab Rats
Natural Hair Care Part I- Why Bother?

I was shocked and disgusted when I researched this one!
Next step, TAKE ACTION!
One of the best ways to get this harmful chemical OUT of our homes once and for all is this easy to make, easy to use, homemade, Eco friendly Triple-Action Multipurpose Cleaner! Again, please be sure to label all containers properly with an ingredients list and keep ALL cleaners out of reach from the curtain climbers!

Triple Action Multipurpose Cleaner
¼ c baking soda
½ c borax
½ c white vinegar
1 g warm water
1.5 g or larger container

Add the warm water to your bucket, add in all other ingredients and stir until dissolved. This solution can be diluted by halving the ingredients if desired.
THAT’S IT!! Now, your ready to clean any hard surface in your home including tile, grout, counter tops, floors, cabinets, this is GREAT for the fridge because it takes any residual smells with it. One could add essential oils to it for aroma therapy or to even boost the cleaning properties..the possibilities are endless! Note: the vinegar smell is a neutralizer, it will fade quickly and take any stink with it!

HAPPY CLEANING!

The icky sticky facts about paper.

The people asked and now they shall receive! Here is a snippet from my workshop on paper diapers and their harmful affects.

Let’s look at some facts and figures about the paper alternative.
-In 1988 nearly $300 million dollars was spent annually just to DISCARD disposable diapers. Cloth diapers can be used 50-200 times before being turned into rags!

-Disposable diapers generate 60x more solid waste and use 20x more raw materials such as crude oil and wood pulp.

-The manufacture and use of disposable diapers amounts to 2.3x more water use than cloth.

-Over 300 lbs. of wood, 50 lbs. of petroleum feed stocks and 20 lbs of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby EACH YEAR!

-Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about 4% of solid waste. In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up around 50% of the houses waste.

-In May 2000 archives of childhood disease published research showing that scrotal temperature is increased in boys wearing disposable diapers. Prolonged exposure will blunt or completely abolish the physiological testicular cooling mechanism important for normal sperm generation.

-Disposable diapers take around 500 yrs to decompose. All the while leaching harmful chemicals back into our planet!

-These are the same chemicals that are so harmful to our little ones!

Such As:

Dioxin- this is used in the paper bleaching process. This is a KNOWN carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer linked chemicals, banned in most countries!
Most feminine products also contain this chemical.
If you are interested in an alternative please contact me for more info!

Tributyl-tin(TBT)- a toxic pollutant KNOWN to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals!

Sodium polyacrylate- is a type of SAP or super absorbent polymer, a similar substance was taken out of tampons in 1980 when it was linked to TSS.


Now Let’s take a look at Economics:
*These figures are based on averages out of San Francisco California a few years back.

Disposable:
-Each baby will use around 6,000 diapers in the first two years.

-This is around 60 diapers a week @ 23 cents per store brand diaper, 28 cents for name brand. This brings us to a 25.5 cent average.

-Based on these numbers we are looking at about $1600 to diaper for two years, or about $66 a month.

Cloth:
-Each family will more than likely need around 6 dozen diapers.

- This is 3 dozen each in two different sizes. This should last two children up to two years!

-This set up can be as low as $300 to as much as $1000 depending on what type of system you purchase, if you make your own, and what materials you use.

-The cheapest diaper I have made cost us about .10 cents. We upcycled some old T-shirts!

-So, you can save as much as 1/10 of the cost of disposables, even more if you use found objects like t-shirts or towels!

We take cloth campin! Are cloth diapers more of an inconvience than paper?

Well, the Tribe is off to festival and I thought I would share with you the rigors of cloth diapering in the wood.

To me, it is worth any slight inconvenience of travel when I out weigh the pros vs cons of cloth diapering. But that's just me, some moms may cloth diaper at home and be afraid to take it a step further, and for other moms who are new to the concept of cloth, maybe this can be a great educational tool for you too, either way, I wanted to share another leg on our journey with you!

So far it has been a blast picking out what part of my fluff stash goes along! AND as an added bonus, we get to show off all those adorable prints (made by none other than muah!)because we won't be needing a cover most of the time!
HOORAY FOR NAKEY!
After packing the bag, I picked it up, tossed it around and sat it on the ground next to the rest of the gear to go in the truck and my bag is no more inconvenient or heavy than a plastic package of diapers large enough for the weekend. This bag contained all of his wipes, diapers, covers, longies and bibs and burp rags!
*Plus it's a pretty rad bag!

The only thing so far that I could see being an "extra" was the small Rubbermaid kitchen trash can with a latching lid we use as the diaper pail. No biggie.

SO, we are off to see the Wizard and I will keep you posted from the wood, and if I'm too busy having fun, well then I will just have to update you when we return to home sweet home!

For now,
Merry Part!

Update:

Well, that was easy. We spent the weekend primitive camping and there were only two major differences in the whole diapering routine:


1. We didn't wash the diapers. We were only there for two days, so we just threw them in the diaper pail.
2. I ASSUMED that we would be able to scrape any solid waste into the porta potty. We all know what happens when one assumes anything! I'll spare you the gory details and just say that the portable shower will definitely come in handy next time!

This is what we brought along as far as supplies:

Diaper bag. (duh)
Baby wash cloths for wipes.
Jelly jar with homemade wipes solution.
Diaper pail.

All in all a total thumbs up for cloth and camping!

Quinoa- The Super Easy Super Food!

My journey to a greener healthier lifestyle has taken me down many avenues, sometimes it's a tofu super highway where I'm not really sure exactly what to think,sometimes it's a bottomless free fall down the rabbit hole and others it takes me down Easy Street, that's where I met Quinoa (keen-wa).

This ancient grain (which is actually a seed)originated in the Andes and has been around for centuries. It's nutty flavor and rice like texture make it a shoe in for endless possibilities!
Why is it Super you ask? Well, it is "unusually" high in protein, low in carbs and packed full of all 8 amino acids!
Complete nutrition in a tiny, easy to store, easy to use package!

This was the first recipe we used for Quinoa and LOVED it!

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup quinoa
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
(if your are strictly veggie water will work here. we use chicken stock to add flavor!)
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
* 1 teaspoon powdered garlic
* 1/2 medium onion , chopped
* 1 cup chopped zucchini
* 1 tablespoon chopped basil
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
* 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
* 6 medium tomatoes
* 2 teaspoons breadcrumbs
* 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Method:

1. Throw Quinoa in your sauce pan, toss in 1T olive oil to coat. Then add in salt,pepper,Italian seasonings,garlic and chicken stock. Bring it to a boil, cover and simmer for 20 m ins.

2. Sautee onion and zucchini with the other 1T olive oil, paprika and cumin, throw in the fresh basil at the last minute just to wilt.
Tip: I hulled out my tomatoes while all of this was cooking.

3. Once Quinoa is done, combine the two mixtures.

4. Stuff the tomatoes generously, top with a sprinkling of bread crumbs and Parm cheese.

5. Cover and bake @ 350 for about 20 mins. Tomatoes should be warm not squishy.
Tip: After the tomatoes are cooked, I uncovered them and turned the broiler on for a few minutes to brown the top!

Nutritional Info:
164.1 calories
3.4g fat
0.7g saturated fat
5.9g protein
30.6g carbohydrate
1 mg cholesterol
4.2g fiber

After trying this, we decided that we wanted more crunch and less tomato so I made this alteration and THIS is my favorite so far!!

1. Prepare Quinoa just as above.
2. Prepare onion and zucchini just as above.
(yes, same spices)
3. After you have mixed the two together, tear up some raw baby spinach and stir into the mixture.
4. Spray a bread loaf pan with some non stick spray and transfer the Quinoa, onion, zucchini and spinach mixture to your bread pan.
5. Sprinkle Parmesan bread crumbs and freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the top, this is going to brown up into yummy, crunchy deliciousness!
6. Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for about 15-20 mins, keeping an eye on the top. Once its all nice and warm, if the top is not as brown as you want it, then just turn on the broiler for a few minutes, but watch it carefully!

The possibilities are endless with this stuff!
Have fun and let us know what you think!