A Cheapo Like Me

Some people are spurred by concern for the environment. Some people are trying to be healthy and organic. Some people are trying to stick it to 'the man'. Me, well, I'm mainly just cheap. Two of the things that I do also fall under healthy and organic I suppose, but the thing that makes them winning to me is CHEAP.
  A few things I do:
 I make my own deodorant.
 I make my own laundry detergent.
 I water down my mascara.

Okay so that last one is pretty simple. You just add one or two DROPS of water to your used up mascara and you get like another couple weeks out of it!

 The other ones, maybe you've never tried before? Try it!!

Deodorant

 1. Put 1/4 cup each of baking soda and cornstarch in a bowl with 15ish drops tea tree oil. You can do more or less of the tea tree oil, depending how much you like/hate tea tree oil. Be mindful though that tea tree oil helps counter bacteria and combats smell!
2. Stir in 2 TBSP of Coconut Oil. This can be found in most any organic section, and often the lard/shortening section of the grocery store.
3. Mush into a soft consistency. I often microwave my coconut oil and stir it in softened. Then smash it into an empty deodorant container (or just put into a small container) and refrigerate. After it cools, it will stay the shape you put it in even after you take it out.

 I have had great luck with this, and have always found it wins out over my B.O. Thank God.

Laundry Detergent

This works just as well as any you will buy at the store. Check out this link for the recipe I always use:
 Roger And Rosaleen - Laundry.... Again!

 You only need to use about 1 TBSP per load, works out to a lot cheaper than store bought! Also, you can read reviews for front loading, or HE Washers. It works, apparently. You can find borax and washing soda in the laundry sections of your local grocery store!

Baby Brain

    Oh my goodness, do I ever have a bad case of baby brain lately. And by lately I mean the past three years. It feels like the past year has been the worst. Ever since my youngest got mobile and I am now chasing and refereeing a 3.5 year old and almost 2 year old. I am forgetting appointments, playdates, passwords (ahem, I have forget my blog account password three times in the last 8months and had to change it over and over again!). WHAT IS GOING ON!!!

  I've heard this is normal to go through 'baby brain'. Only I thought that just meant when you had JUST HAD said baby. Not almost two years later.

  I have always been a book-smart person, as in I thrived in a school environment. I feel like I need to go back to school to get my brain kick started back into gear! I told my mom the other day that I feel like my IQ has dropped drastically since having kids....maybe that's because I can't successfully complete a thought without being interrupted anymore. ;)

 Well, a few photos to prove that this brain power loss is worth it:

 

Kanzashi in Bloom

I attempted my first Kanzashi flower yesterday. I am pretty happy with how it turned out, but I find it is a bit too big and bulgy at the back to put in Amaris' hair. I think perhaps it would would better on an adult, or as a shirt or purse adornment.

I also had never heard of Kanzashi until yesterday! Kanzashi is a type of fabric flower first used in Japan, they become popular in the Edo period when the women began wearing their hair up in elaborate styles and would decorate with combs and fancy silk flowers (such as the Geisha). There are only 12 (ish I think) known Kanzashi masters left in the world, you used to have to apprentice to learn the art. Isn't it amazing, APPRENTICE to become a MASTER at making fabric flowers! I love how seriously they take such things, it's an art form!

I got the book "Kanzashi in Bloom" out of the library, it was most helpful! I did find a tutorial though here:

http://www.jenminnis.com/kanzashi.html

Winter Things

My little darling turned three this January. THREE. When I started this blog she wasn't even ONE. Isn't she the most beautiful three year old you have ever seen? I can say this because I'm totally biased. But seriously.
We had a pink birthday, pink cake, pink balloons, pink hats, the whole house exploded into pink. The above picture is of her actual birthday day, not her party. I'll post those photos later, but beware your computer may glow pink when you open the page.

(My Mom and Jamison enjoying the white cold stuff)

We also got our first snowfall. Oh Victoria, how I love thee. We got about 4 inches and it stuck around for two days. I have had everyone on the island's worth of snow and cold so I am pleased as punch to say WE NEVER GET SNOW HERE. Well, once a year. Heck, it was like -5 for like, three hours one day. Crazzzzzzzzy.

Everybody knows on the island that when it snows - YOU GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY. Schools are cancelled after three inches for petey sake. I am not kidding my Saskatchewan and Albertan friends.

All in all, this winter has been pretty good. It sure is beautiful here in paradise.

(Our view from the dining room table)

Every Parent in the World

I came across an article I firmly believe every mom (and dad) in the world should read. It really is exactly how I feel every single day in my parenting.

Please check it out by clicking right HERE. :)

My adorable children, worth "the climb" of parenting's Mount Everest everyday!

Beautiful can be Simple

Found a site I like. It's full of pictures collected from different places of simple, earthy touches, beautiful baked goods, awe inspiring patterns, and dwellings that inspire a big "sigh" and thoughts of peaceful occupancy.

I think beautiful can be items reclaimed and used for different purposes. I think beautiful can be a former ugly with a coat of spray paint (I usually lean towards white). I think beautiful can be a handful of monochromatic flowers from you garden. I think beautiful can be spending time to set the table instead of eating in front of the TV. Beautiful can be simple, it just takes more time! :)