Deodorant- Otra Vez

I did a post on home made deodorant a million years ago and I have received a million emails on the topic.  I thought it was necessary to post again to update my previous post.  I tried many different recipes.   I can't remember where I located the final solution but it has worked wonders for me.  NO, it is not really fun to make (heating, mixing, pouring etc.).  In fact, it is pretty boring and not very glamorous at all  The solution that worked for me was Vinegar.  Yes, Plain old white Vinegar.  I read that is might burn if you have recently shaved but I have had no problems.  I put the vinegar in a small spray bottle and apply once a day.  It really is amazing.  You should try it!

Flouride

I recently took my kids to a new dentist.  They were all scared because it was a new office and well dentists are scary (at least they are to me, because I never get numb)  Anyway, I explained to him how I don't use any chemicals (including commercial toothpastes) and would appreciate him not giving my kids the regular toothpaste and coated floss to take home.  After that conversation he probably deduced (is that a word??)  that I was a total looney bin and then the question about flouride came up.. Did I want my kids to receive the flouride treatment?  Well NO...   Then he wanted to know why and gave me an explanation about why he thought I was wrong. He said nothing had been proven and he would abide by my wishes.  He made me feel like an idiot for questioning him.. AFter all he is the dentist and he knows what he is talking about much more than I do.
   A week after this happened the reports about flouride in water began streaming in via the News.  They are going to reduce the flouride in the city water??? What??? This cannot be, because there is no evidence according to my dentist that  there are any problems with flouride!   We live on a farm so we are not exposed to flouride except maybe in the very few processed foods we consume.  That makes me happy because this is real problem for some.. I have posted a link to Dr. Mercola's news flash that I read today.  It has links the "Environmental Working Group" and some other studies and organizations that have information on the subject.  
    My point of this whole post is to remember that instincts can be right and when it comes to you and your childrens' health you have to take control and not rely on others to know the information or even to support the valid research information.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/05/breaking-news-us-finally-admits-too-much-fluoride-in-the-water.aspx

Gonna Try Harder!

It has been an eternity!!!   I think I am a little weird this way....  I started Rural Farm Rhythms to talk about the farm and farm life.  I started a blog before this one about fitness and health.  I am bored... I get bored really easy. I am into about a million different things and frankly I like to bop around alot.  I can't just pick one subject!!  I have decided that I am GONNA TRY HARDER dog gone it!   I will blog everyday.  I WILL..    ONLy...... It may be about something totally different everyday.  Sewing, crafting, knitting, herbal remedies, do it yourself, whole living, farm life, spirituality, exercise, clothes, hair, singing, dancing, books, nursing (not nursing right now, but I still like talking about it and the benefits), camping, biking, life lessons, bluppers and blunders,  me, motherhood, canning, cooking, soap making etc. etc..  You get the picture.  
   I know a little about a lot, but I want you to fill me in the gaps.  I need your input, your expertise.  Please comment and let's learn, explore, and laugh together!    I will categorize my blogs so you can find what you are looking for.  Yee Haw,  let's get started!

Not Enough?????

Well, it is that time of year!  The time of year when I wonder if I have enough put up for the year.  I really stress over this, ya'll.   It bothers me.  My garden has been less than glorious this year.  The weather has been weird for Tennessee and some things just didn't produce as usual.  I have to continuosly remind myself that God will provide and I need to be satisfied with the abundance.    I am in a constant internal struggle over what I know to be true (God Providing) and what I am afraid might happen (not having enough and having to spend money I wanted to save at the grocery store)--  I guess there are worse things to worry about but I have a generally stress free, wonderful, blessed life.   I haven't counted all I have put up and to most it looks like a lot but is it???   I have two freezers.  One is full of beef, corn, fried okra, pesto, basil, peppers, zucchini, squash, and I can't remember what else--- Ohh yeah, blueberries.   The other has more corn, salsa, more okra, roasted tomatoes and that is about it. It is primarily still empty.  Boooo!!!!   Not much variety there.   I have two big canning cabinets and they are not full either.  Yikes, what am I gonna do? WWWHHHaaatttt am I gonna do?  In my cabinets I have canned Blueberry, Peach, Blackberry Jams, Salsa, Spaghetti Sauce,  Tomatoes, Tomato Juice, Bar b Que sauce,  and green beans..  I am sure I am forgetting some but it is still not enough.  I have potatoes under my house and dried beans in jars.  I have also dried some herb flower heads. I am expecting to fill my second freezer with hog that will be slaughtered a little later.  I have also put out my fall garden out so that will fill up some more space.  What am I missing?  I will probably buy some extra produce.

Cosmetics, Cleaning and Coercion

I have been chemical free for almost two years now.  My extended family feel I have fallen off the deep end.  My reasons for becoming chemical free are numerous but here are a few. 
   1.  My skin is the largest organ of my body and everything we put on it is absorbed through the skin.  Nicotine patches, birth control, anti nausea medicine is all distributed through skin patches. 
  2.   Do you know what the label says?  Are the ingredients proprietary?
I started looking at the labels of cleaning products and cosmetics and I didn't know what half of them said.  If a company has a proprietary blend they don't even have to tell you what they put in it.  
DO YOU think that the huge companies making these products and also making millions really have your safety in mind???  Or are
they relying on your naivety and ignorance?  I think they are going to buy the cheapest ingredients possible.
3.  Did you know that parabens from cosmetic products have been found in breast cancer tumors?
4.  Scull and cross bones.  Is it neccessary to have products that are dangerous in your house?   NOOOO.  Common, cheap, natural items work just as well
5. Cancer, Endocrine disruption, Tumors, Skin problems, behavior disorders etc. etc et.  On the rise!!!!
6.  Saving money.  I rarely ever go in the cleaning or hygeine product aisles.  I can make anything I need at home.

The bottom line is that there are so many questions surrounding many modern conveniences and products.  The research is available and as a mom I feel it is my responsiblity to provide the safest healthiest environment possible for my children. 
Here is a link to my favorite site filled with tons of research and information on everything.  Please add this to your favorites.
Sorry if I have rambled or if anything I have written is confusing.  I am so passionate about this topic it is hard to put into words.  I will posting lots of recipes for your own homeade cosmetics, cleaning products etc. 
        OHHH, Coercion.   I almost forgot.  I have been preaching this stuff to my kids for a few years and it sooo funny to hear them say, " We can't eat fast food, it is unhealthy" or "No thank you, we don't do chemicals."  or walking through the store and passing by the chemical aisle, " Mom, get me out of here I smell artificial fragrances."
   I am diligent about this is at home, but everyone has to decide for themselves what is best for their family and I let my kids know that some people have decided not to dive off the deep end and that is okay. 

Don't forget to check this website out!
Environmental Working Group   

Dull women

Lately I have been pondering the phrase "Dull women have clean houses" !  I am the queen of doing 20 little projects at once and if you are reading this blog you probably are too!  If you look around my house you will find little stacks of project stuff and things I have bought or recycled for upcoming projects.  It doesn't lay around forever because I am certainly not lazy and am always working on something, but there are always messes somewhere!  I am not going to post pictures of my "bomb" of a house right now (It is canning season!)  but believe me it is bad.  Along with the peppers hanging from every rafter there are cookbooks, sewing patterns, fabric, jars, magazines full of new ideas and much MUCH more.  My point is that up until now I have always believed the above to be true!  I don't like unexpected company and when it is clean it is really really clean but it really doesn't bother me that much because I believe there are more important things.  I try to read my bible twice a day.  More than once when housework is calling God has also been calling me to do a devotion so I believe that we should try to keep a clean home but obviously other things are more important.
   So why have I been pondering this lately????   Well, my youngest starts kindergarten on Thursday and I will be at home all by myself until 3:00 in the afternoon.  It has just donned on me that I may actually have time to keep my house immaculate.  My 4 year old won't be following behind me pulling out things I just put up. To tell you the truth, the idea of a quite, clean house all sound a little "DULL" to me!  So over the next few weeks I am going to try hard to clean a little but not too much because I refuse to be dull! 

Gray Hair

No that is not me-but it will be in a few years!

Today's blog post will be short and sweet because I am up to my ears in canning and trying to get my fall garden out this week and have limited time.

I am in my mid 30's.  I think I started getting gray hair in my early 20's.  I used to color my hair at home but I am too tight with my money to get it done much in the salon.  I have been color free for about a year now!   I don't color my hair because I don't want to be high maintenance and I don't like putting anything artificial on my skin or hair that could be absorbed into my body.  At first my husband would comment on how gray I was getting but now it has all kind of blended in.  I have cut my hair a few times in the last year to cut some of the old color out.  There are some natural-ish hair dyes but if I can go gray gradually and naturally I am okay with that.   You have to dye your hair more often if you use the natural dyes anyway, which translates to more money.
  
"Over 5,000 different chemicals are used in hair dye products, some of which are reported to be carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in animals.. Because so many people use hair dyes, scientists have tried to determine whether exposure to the chemicals in hair coloring products is associated with an increased risk of cancer in people." National Cancer Institute