8 Simple Steps to Healthier Eating

I often hear people comment that they would like to eat healthier foods, but feel they can't because they are too busy, it's too expensive, etc. Today I want to share some simple steps that anyone can take to make healthy eating a bigger part of their lives too. Because food is important! I hope everyone has the experience of eating food that is so wonderful that they declare, "THIS. This right here is proof that God loves us!" Or is it just me that does that? Ah well, no matter how loudly *ahem* your soul sings when you eat good food, it's an important part of each of our lives, and has the ability to influence our individual health and wellness, not to mention our mood and energy. So how can we eat delicious food that is good for us too? Well, read on friends! 

1. Don't buy it! 
If you don't buy something, then you won't eat it. Seems logical, right? This is probably the most important factor for me. By choosing not to buy food you don't want to be eating anyways, you are basically eliminating the need for self-control from the equation. You only need self-control in that moment in the store and then at home it's easy! It's not there to eat so you are not going to have that problem...

2. It's all about the snacks. 
I have written before about the importance of having healthy snacks around if you want to eat healthy. I find that it is usually the in-between times when I am feeling snack-ish that I crave things like chips or chocolate. I want some tasty morsel to munch on, and it turns out that frozen grapes totally hit the spot!

Fresh produce from the garden is the best snack ever! 

3. Read the label! 
Finding a healthy option can be as simple as reading the label on things you are buying. As a general rule, the smaller the number of ingredients, the better it is. Also, avoid unpronounceable ingredients. For example, apples contain....apples. But a box of good ol' KD? Not so much. The same rule applies when you are comparing brands. When you are buying applesauce, for example, look for the brand with the least ingredients. You should be able to find a variety with literally just apples, or maybe with a little citric acid (vitamin C) to preserve it.

4. Make Substitutions One at a Time. 
The easiest way to change your lifestyle is to make one simple switch at a time. So if you really love to eat crackers, look for a better variety of crackers such as brown rice crackers, or maybe try making them yourself. Then, switch something else the next week, like finding a more natural variety of yogurt. If once a week seems like a lot, try once a month or every other week.

5. Plan Ahead. 
When you walk in the door after a busy day, starving and with absolutely no dinner plans, you are more likely to order pizza or make the Mr. Noodles that are sitting in the cupboard (which I wouldn't have in my house anyways right? haha). Menu plans are a lifesaver for eating healthy, and saving the grocery budget. I don't make a daily plan, but I try to jot down a few meals that I will make when I go grocery shopping so I make sure I have the ingredients and so that I can refer to the list when I don't know what to make. If you think about what you are eating beforehand, you are also more likely to take things out of the freezer to thaw or actually have time to pack a lunch.

Valentine's Day soup...from my Instagram feed

6. Cook Extra. 
This is my saving grace for when I forget to plan ahead. Batch cooking is where it's at y'all. Especially as a university student. I can cook a batch of chili and get 8 meals out of it...one the night I make it and 7 for the freezer. I have a whole bunch of the 2-cup Pyrex containers that I can put in the oven/toaster oven (put it in a cold oven so the glass warms up slowly and doesn't crack) or the microwave no problem. When I have to pack a lunch, I just grab one of my little meals out of the freezer and it's even better than a frozen meal from the grocery store. I will also sometimes freeze larger batches for if I have company, or Wes comes over.

7. Pack Food and NOT Money. 
I learned this trick in high school. If you don't have money to spend on eating out, you are not going to eat out. The way to combat not having food is to just pack a snack! I try to keep some easily pack-able items in my cupboard like crackers, dried fruit, trail mix, a piece of fruit, etc. (grab and go items). I also like to keep an extra granola bar or something in my bag just in case (Clif bars and Lara Bars are my favourite for a treat). This way, I can just bring a couple dollars in case I am stuck and need the subway or an emergency tea (it happens folks!) and maybe my debit card (which I can't use at most places on campus). I have saved myself a lot of money and donuts doing this. I know, because I don't always heed my own advice and pay for it (literally) later.

8. Have a Water Bottle You Like. 
Most of the time when you are just feeling peckish and want a snack, it's actually because you are thirsty or even dehydrated. I find that having a water bottle that I like helps me to keep hydrated and reminds me to bring water with me when I am out. If you are feeling like you want chips but aren't sure you are really hungry, try drinking a glass of water first. Especially if it seems like nothing you eat is really satisfying. Your body may actually be craving water and not salt or sugar.

Greener Beans

I am here today to let you all know that University has not allowed me to escape unscathed (Escape? Who am I kidding...definitely still stuck there lol). No, I have fallen into the world of coffee. But see, I have a dilemma, which is that I don't completely like coffee. Oh, I like its effects, don't get me wrong. That stuff is liquid gold for an early morning class or wrangling kindergarteners. But the coffee flavour? Not so much. I can handle it if it's mild, but not just straight up coffee.

Enter, the latte. And Starbucks. You see, a latte still has the effects of coffee, without tasting like I'm drinking tar. 

Problem is.....that's a $5 commitment. One would think that my reasonable (ahem) self would consider this ludicrous, but no...sometimes survival comes at a price (as anyone who has had to PAY for school knows). 

Now, don't go freaking out and think I have abandoned my beloved tea, because that could never happen. My tea count per day has not changed (a LOT), this is simply an addition. Plus, Starbucks has tea too ;) But the point is that sometimes girlfriend's gotta have some serious caffeine and Starbucks kindly assists with that.

So what do you do about such a situation when you want to be kind to the planet and your bank account? Well, allow me.

You buy one of these!! Starbucks has started making these reusable cups and they sell them for...wait for it...$1. That's ONE DOLLAR. Yep. Annnnnnnnnd... when you use a reusable cup at Starbucks, you save 10 cents, which means the cup pays for itself in 10 visits (or 10 classes, depending on how you prefer to count). Actually, if we are really getting precise, they take the discount before tax so you really save more like 15 cents when they round it to the 5 (because they finally got rid of the penny), which would be 6 or 7 visits. But we aren't going to get that precise, because school just ended and there are just some things you need to recover from in life. So really, the money savings alone is a bonus if you ask me. 

On top of saving some cash...can we just all take a minute to think about how many cups AREN'T going in the garbage when you reuse your cup? I don't know how many other people have a Starbucks on their campus, but we have one glorious Starbucks and about 8 Timmies, among other coffee shops, and that is a LOT of disposable cups. In fact, at this time of the year (exam time) I would bet that the garbage cans are 90% full of just coffee cups. So I think a serious argument could be made for the benefits of reusing a cup. I mean, Americans alone throw away 25 billion styrofoam cups each year (source).

In case you need some other reasons, here you go: 

1. This cup is way more sturdy than the regular paper/plastic cups.

2. It looks just the same so you can still feel classy with your Sbux like all the cool kids. 

3. It's super light so it's no trouble to throw it in my bag in the morning on the way to class. 

4. This one is my favourite discovery. The cup is only in one size, and when you order a tall, the baristas tend to fill it up anyways giving you more bang (code for caffeine) for your buck. It's pretty much the most awesome thing ever. 

Now, I am sure you might be wondering why I didn't have a reusable travel mug before now. I did. But I broke it. So I was in line one day and and saw this and thought, what the heck, why not? And I realized this is something anyone, and I mean anyone, could do. Talk about a simple switch. 

Make the Switch: Food Storage

Today I want to mention a really simple way to make your lifestyle one step healthier, by removing some plastic from your home. One of the easiest ways to do this is to switch your food storage to something less harmful.

Why do I want to avoid plastic? 
1. Plastic often contains toxic chemicals. We know to avoid BPA, but many manufacturers just substitute with BPS, another toxin (or various other toxic materials). Furthermore, plastic is made from oil and chemically rearranged to make a basically indestructible compound. This doesn't sound good for our bodies to me. I could go on and on, but essentially plastic contains toxins and that's why I don't want it in leeching into my food.

2. Toxins make you sick. All of these toxins can cause a variety of problems, from infertility, to cancer, to asthma and more. One study even claims that plastic is contributing to obesity because it causes stem cells to change to fat cells.

3. Plastics are horrible for the planet. They don't react with pretty much anything, making them very difficult to break down. So nearly every piece of plastic ever made is still around. And when some plastic does begin to break down through photodegradation with sunlight, it can be ingested by marine life and wildlife. Not only does this negatively impact the environment, but also our food supply as well.

Kick it out. 
Knowing this information, we can see why it is important to limit the amount of plastic we let into our homes as much as possible. And yet, plastic is EVERYWHERE! We drink water out of it, store our food in it, carry our laundry in it, make our kids' toys from it, etc. I think the easiest and most logical place to start, is with how we eat and store our food since that is actually going inside of us. So I am going to share tips from my own experience switching to non-toxic food storage with all of you!

1. Glass. Glass is a great alternative to plastic - it lasts a long time, is doesn't get stained, it doesn't affect the taste of your food, and most types can be reheated in the oven. I switched out my plastic containers for glass one at a time and looked for massive sales or found them at thrift stores. Pyrex is definitely my favourite though and is great quality. I got a 10 piece set for 60% off after Christmas this year! If you are in Canada, Canadian Tire has sales on this stuff almost weekly.

2. Jars. Another great alternative is to use glass jars for storing food. I save pasta sauce jars, or other food containers, along with using Mason jars. Jars are especially useful for storing soup, homemade tomato sauce, or broth/stock. I have used them for all sorts of things though - chopped veggies/fruit, extra cooked meat, homemade bread crumbs, nuts, etc. I also use glass jars for most of my pantry storage and it works wonderfully - I can see what's inside and easily label them, and I like how it looks too :)

The humble mason jar...

3. Stainless Steel. There are also stainless steel food containers - like this one! I don't have any yet, but I'm sure they would be great for packing lunches because they would be lighter than glass, and don't have the risk of being broken as easily (although I haven't even chipped any of mine and I'm not overly cautious with them).

4. Reusable Snack and Sandwich Bags. I have a set of reusable sandwich bags that I made myself with an online tutorial that I found a few years ago (before I even knew what Pinterest was lol) and they are just simple fold-lock style bags with scraps of fabric I had on hand. Super simple and great for dry foods like crackers, bread, nuts, etc. I also purchased an Itzy Ritzy bag off of Amazon with my last textbook order, since I figured I was getting free shipping anyways. I have this one and I LOVE IT! I love that I can just throw these in the wash with my regular clothes and I'm good to go! Less waste, I'm not bringing plastic into my house, and it's one less thing I have to buy. That's one of my favourite side effects of a more simple and natural lifestyle - there are so many things I don't even have to buy at the store anymore (deodorant, face wash, food storage products, bread, etc.).

5. Packaging. Last but not least, consider the packaging of food you are buying. Try to avoid packaging that contains toxins (BPA lined cans, plastic wrapped snacks, etc.). Buy in bulk or buy whole foods with minimal packaging (think: fruits and veggies that don't have to be packaged at all, etc...I use reusable produce bags). My local farmers market is my favourite grocery store!

Start slow and switch things in your home one at a time - you will be shocked at the changes you have made in no time! What is your next simple switch?

Merry Christmas...In March!

I recently wrote a little bit about the new sheets I got with some Christmas money I had been given, which I love love love! But I think my most favourite Christmas gift I got this year finally came in the mail this week. Yep. You read that right. Gotta love shipping to Canada.

It's this beauty, right here.

Source

My new duvet cover! Apparently I had a theme going between the sheets and the duvet cover and the actual duvet that I got for my birthday last year...my 8 year old cousin thought I was really boring and told me growing up seemed lame. Amen, sista.

But really, I guess I did have a theme happening. I decided a couple years back that I wanted to make my bed more natural and free of toxins. After all, I spend probably about half of my day there between sleeping and studying and using it as a couch (welcome to tiny university rooms, people). My game plan was pretty simple - to start with what I needed most, and what went on sale first - and gradually make the changes that I wanted. The final aspect that I changed (as far as bedding goes), is this duvet cover.

Here it is in real life...in my tiny little room with no true window. You can thank my phone for this lovely little snapshot ;) 

I'm so excited!!! I got an organic cotton pin tuck duvet from West Elm, in feather grey. But it was a close call between the grey, amethyst, and white. I settled with the grey because I think it will be most versatile in the next while for me. Plus I just like it ;) I had been looking for pretty much exactly this for the longest time, and I'm so glad I waited and researched! I was losing hope that I could get something organic, with the look I wanted, for a decent price. Now it's been freshly washed with my soap nuts and dryer balls, and my bed is beautiful :) I have the shams too, but I didn't bring them to school, so they aren't pictured here (in case you are wondering). I also decided to go with a Queen duvet, which is why it looks a little big on my twin bed. I figured that I am almost done school, and the next bed I get will likely be a Queen, either when I get married or get a grown up place or just when I replace my rapidly dying bed that I have right now, so I might as well plan ahead and save a few bucks later on. I will say, it was pretty fun to open a Christmas gift this week with 3 weeks left of classes and a case of the winter blues - it made my day so amazing! Now that I have officially opened all my Christmas presents, I think Spring needs to just hurry itself along and show up finally. Soon, I tell myself, soon.

No more dryer sheets...

This is my second post about simple, natural laundry solutions. You can read the first one here.

After my high school science teacher taught us how dryer sheets worked, I knew that they were something I wanted to avoid putting on my clothes. I am pretty sure he was doing a lesson on electricity and used it as an example, but of course I forget that part ;). Oddly, I also remember the time he lit a gummy bear on fire and blew it up.  Ahem. I'm sure my camp friends understand...Sarah and Andrew?

Back to the point. Basically, after my teacher explained that the dryer sheets essentially coat our clothes to stop them from clinging together with static and to make them feel softer, with chemicals, I questioned whether I really wanted them on my clothes. I just left it alone however, until I came to university. Then I had to pay for them. Ha! During my first year at school, I just didn't use any because I refused to spend money on a little sheet to fluff my clothes that I would simply throw away afterwards. I eventually heard about dryer balls - made with wool or plastic. After doing some research, I decided that I wanted some wool dryer balls, but they were really expensive (usually around $40) so I put them on my "someday" list in my brain and forgot about it.

But one day, a really random thing happened. I was watching my two cousins and needed to get out of their house for a few hours so some work could be done, and decided that it would be a good idea to take the stroller and walk 45 minutes away. Now before you write me off as completely crazy, I will have you note that I knew coming back would be nap time for the baby. Which meant one of two things - it would go horribly or wonderfully. See? Only half crazy. That's how it works right? As it turned out, they BOTH fell asleep and suddenly I was just walking along with two sleeping kids and an hour and a half to kill. So I decided to check out this unique little shop that sold eco-friendly home decor as I was walking past and right inside the door was a set of four wool dryer balls on sale for something like $17! So I got more excited than I should have, and bought them. And THAT, my friends, is how I became the proud owner of wool dryer balls. Because you all wanted a 3 paragraph spiel on that right?

Anyways, I'm just here to tell you that a great natural alternative to dryer sheets is to use dryer balls.

I have these ones

Allow me to explain...
Dryer balls are energy efficient and cost saving. They decrease drying time by about 40%. How? The balls get tossed around with the clothes in the dryer, allowing for better air circulation and resulting in faster drying time. The balls also fluff the clothes as they move about, making the fabric feel softer without just coating them in chemicals. The fluffing (yes that is the technical term, thank you) helps to decrease wrinkles too. They also last for years and years, so you definitely get your money's worth out of them.

Most companies that make dryer balls claim that they cut static, and while I would say they definitely don't remove it, they do help somewhat. Especially if you try not to over-dry your clothes. And if you still want your clothes to smell nice, you can just add a couple drops of essential oils to each dryer ball too.

You can also make them yourself! There are tons of tutorials out there, so check them out. I wish I had known that you could make your own before buying them!
Of course, the cheapest, most natural option is to just air dry your clothes... :) But for the times you use the dryer, these are great!

Some links! 
In the Southern Ontario area:
Dryer balls in Toronto, Ontario
Dryer balls in Orillia, Ontario
Dryer balls in Barrie, Ontario (by ordering)

Read more:
Do wool dryer balls shrink drying time?

Using soap nuts for laundry!

Today I am going to introduce you to my favourite natural laundry soap!

Enter: the humble soap nut.
Say what?
I'm talking about these guys right here.

Source

What are soap nuts? 

Well first of all, spoiler alert! They aren't nuts at all. Soap nuts are actually the dried shells from the fruit of the Sapindus (soapberry) tree. They contain something called Saponin which is a natural cleaning agent that works just like soap or detergent. Saponins are natural surfactants, which basically means they lower the surface tension of a liquid and can be used as detergents or foaming agents. Soap nuts are completely natural, and 100% biodegradable. They are also gentle and great for sensitive skin.

How do I use them?

They are pretty much the easiest thing ever to use. When you buy them, soap nuts come with a little canvas or linen bag. You just pop a few of them in there (I like 3 or 4), tie the bag closed and throw it in the wash. For a cold wash, I like to soak them in warm/hot water while the machine fills up to activate the cleaning effects of the soap nuts. I keep a mason jar beside the washing machine and just fill it with hot water, put the bag of soap nuts in, and leave it while I fill the machine with clothes. Once I put the clothes in, I just dump it on top. If you want to, you can also put the lid on and give it a shake to get the bubbles going. They have a low sudsing level, which makes them great for HE machines or cloth diapers. 

How long can I use them for? 

A good benchmark is to throw them out after about 4-5 washes. However, it depends on the temperature of your washes (hot water depletes them faster), how dirty the clothes are, and how many soap nuts are in the bag. You will know it's time to throw them away when they no longer have the waxy outer coating and seem mushy or grey, or when there are no bubbles if you shake them in a jar as I mentioned above. To dispose of them, simply throw them in your green bin and compost them! I love that there is no waste with these - they come in a fabric bag (usually), and then get composted. 

How much do they cost?
The brand I have (link below) cost me roughly $13 (including tax) for a 250g bag. Now that I know more, I have realized that this is actually a relatively expensive price for soap nuts. I bought them during my first year of university, and probably have about 30 washes left, give or take a few. So in 20-ish months of school since I bought soap nuts, I have spent $13 on laundry soap. I would say that's pretty good! As a disclaimer, I should let you know that I also made my own laundry soap at one point last year as an experiment (more on that another day), which I probably used for 5 months of that time. So let's say I have gotten 18 months total (20-5 = 15, plus 3 more months I'll get out of the bag = 18). Still tracking with me here? Okay, let's keep going.

So if we divide the total cost over 18 months, it costs me $0.72 per month. I would say I average 8 washes per month (2/week - max!), which would then cost $0.09 per wash. And I have most definitely seen soap nuts for cheaper since then. At the time I bought them from a store that was local to my home town, both to save shipping and to support the business. Granted, I am only washing clothes for one person...so that helps cut the amount of laundry I'm sure. But look around and you should be able to find a good deal!

If you want more information, here are some links to check out...

The brand of soap nuts I currently use
Soap nuts available locally (in Toronto)

David Suzuki's page on soap nuts

Stacy Makes Cents' post on soap nuts

NaturOli soap nuts info

Stefanie's review of soap nuts

One Small Change

When you first start thinking about natural living, it can be a little bit overwhelming. That's how I felt, at least! There are so many things that could be harmful or toxic, so many changes to make, and I had no clue where to start. Today I am going to share how I tackled this problem years ago, and actually, how I still do today.

One at a time. The easiest way to make your lifestyle more natural, is to make one small change at time. I know, you are all blown away by my brilliant ingenuity, right? In reality, this idea is not a new one. There are tons of websites and blogs out there encouraging people to make one small change a month, in order to "green your lifestyle" or whatever you want to call it. So whether you want to have a more natural home or save a few bucks, Julie Andrews said it best,

"let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start." 

Like I said in my previous post, making my own deodorant was the first switch I made for my life. I decided that it was something I could do, and I had 2/3 of the ingredients on hand already. After I finished that project, I simply picked another one. The easiest way to make these changes is to just keep replacing a product as it runs out.

I am going to try and post on this topic regularly so that hopefully some of you will be inspired as well. Some of these ideas are ones I have already posted on (and some I plan to post on), and you can check in with the "Make the Switch" tab at the top of the page for more ideas as I add them.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Make your own deodorant
• Use a reusable water bottle
• Switch your face wash
• Stop buying paper towels 
• Clean your windows with vinegar
• Use a natural toner
• Use coconut oil for eye make up remover
• Introduce essential oils into your home

Why Does it Matter?

So some of you may be thinking, Melissa, why does it matter whether I eliminate toxins from my home, food, and environment? Who cares about 'healthy' food - I'm in university, we're supposed to eat crap! Why does it matter if I make things myself instead of buying it from the store? Why does it matter if I shut off the lights when I leave the room or choose to put an extra blanket on my bed instead of turning up the heat? Why does it matter if I compost and recycle? Why would I spend my money on organic sheets or fair trade chocolate?

OK, maybe some of you weren't wondering quite exactly that,  but for those of you who are (or are now), I want to take a second and explain why on earth any of this even enters my mind. So if you want to find out, grab a cup of tea and prepare yourself...here goes.

I get questions and comments from people in my life all the time, whether they are family, friends, or random people in class. Sometimes they think it's cool that I brought almonds to class in a reusable sandwich bag. But most of the time, I'm pretty sure people think I'm a little nuts or have these impractical, larger-than-life, dreamy notions that will require me to marry rich. To be honest, for a while I was kind of self-conscious about it all. I mean, almost no one in my life was worried about what they used to clean their windows in high school. And I certainly didn't know a soul who was making their own deodorant. It was a little quirky, and I was ok with that, but it just seemed to be such a big deal and required a whole explanation to bring it up and end the discussion with the other person still believing I was mostly normal, so I shied away from talking about it. Even today, people will tell me flat out that I'm dumb. Somewhere along the lines, though, I got over it. I'm sure a big part of it was just growing up, finding my groove, and doing my own thing.

But back to the original question, why do I care?

That time when I was 17 and Wes had a furry animal growing on his head ;) 

It's good stewardship. 
I believe that everything I have has been given to me by God. I want to use my resources to the best of my abilities, so that I can bring Him glory, and serve others. For me, that means making a wise use of these things. I consider what food I eat, what products and medications I use, how much sleep I get, and so on because I only have one body and I want to be able to use it well (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). I want to take care of the planet, because it's not mine to destroy. It was lovingly designed for all people to enjoy and care for (Nehemiah 9:6). I try to be wise with my money and possessions, because they weren't designed to control me and fuel my own selfishness (trust me, I need no help) (Matthew 6:19-21), but to provide for my needs and those of others. I only have one life to live, and I want to use it well.

When I was talking to one of my aunts during the writing of this post, I think she summed this all up well, "it [the decay in the world - ill health caused by food and its effects, etc.], is a macro reminder of how God created Creation to work in unity and in unison. Respectfully…With a servant’s heart…Mutuality. It is likely not the sexiest reason, but it all matters and we should not or need not be wasteful with what we have. We try to live a life of generosity AND simplicity. To me it is impossible to do either without prioritizing natural living." Annnnnd...Amen.

I feel better. 
When I take the time to care for my body, I am more free to be the best me I can be. I notice a tangible difference in the way I feel,  the amount of energy I have, how alert I am, etc. Being energetic allows me to put more into being a good teacher, student, friend, family member. When I am taking care of myself, I get sick less often (very rarely, actually), and don't need to waste time dealing with that. My skin is better, I sleep better, and my mood is better. I could go on for a LONG time on this one. I'll spare you that because I'm sure you get the point ;)

I feel better when I am being wise with my money. I mean, as a student, every dollar saved is one I don't have to pay off later. While it involves a LOT of delayed gratification, the thought of paying of school debt is pretty daunting so I get pretty excited about that haha. Saving money where I can, also frees up more money for the things that are most important in life. The more 'flex dollars' I have (as I like to think of them), the more I can choose where those dollars go instead of spending them on fixed expenses like face wash or deodorant that I have to buy at regular intervals.

Once you know...
I have this reoccurring problem where I find out something is toxic or unhealthy, or find a way to make a product more easily myself, and it drives me CRAZY after that. It's actually really annoying. I keep hearing myself tell friends, "don't research it unless you are ready to change it...because you might have to after that!" haha. Am I the only one who has this problem?

All that being said, the same reasoning provides a basis for grace and moderation. This idea of responsibility, stewardship, and mutuality. Not everyone makes the same choices, has the same priorities, or has access to the same things (either by money or location). That's OK! There is more to life than being physically healthy or saving every possible penny or being a perfectly responsible citizen.

As the professor in my Inclusive Education class said, "the human always comes first." The context of the discussion was that while it's great to have a schedule, a plan, and a direction in your classroom, every student is exceptional and people come before all our teacher-y plans. I think that statement translates into every area of life though. Ultimately, our bodies won't last forever and our money and possessions won't come with us when we die. Loving others is SO much more important. That is our real responsibility, I think. At the end of my life, I don't want people talking about how eco-friendly my home was, or how great I was at making own soap. I want to be known as someone who served others, as someone who loved deeply, and as someone was God's love in action to those around me. I so often fall short of this standard - most of the time, in fact. But my heart's desire is that none of this natural living stuff would come between me and the people God has placed in my life.

Do I eat real, whole foods? Sure. Sometimes. But other days I eat the unhealthy food my housemate brings home from the day care she works at because it's free and I'm craving carbs. Just last night I went to McDonald's with my housemates and got a McFlurry. And it was DELICIOUS! Do I make my own face wash? Yes, and I love it! But I also put mousse, gel, and/or hairspray in my hair all the time - because goodness knows I'm not about to anger the beast on top of my head if at all possible. It's not about measuring, comparing, or an all-or-nothing lifestyle.

So let's not let our food, our Pinterest boards, our level of DIY skills, or what kind of shampoo we use be a source of judgement - whether that is "I can't believe they eat that organic food all the time, it's so obnoxious," or, "why are they eating ice cream for supper? Don't they know that sugar shuts down your immune system?" Whatever kind of judgement you have for someone else on something as silly as this, get rid of it people! Life is bigger than that.

Ahem. I will now step off my soapbox.

A Great Resource!

A few years ago, I stumbled upon the Environmental Working Group (EWG) site, and it has proven to be a really fantastic resource. If you want to know more about the toxicity and dangers of the products you purchase and use, I would highly recommend giving this site a browse!

What is it?
On the EWG site, it describes itself as "the nation’s most effective environmental health research and advocacy organization... [Its] mission is to conduct original, game-changing research that inspires people, businesses and governments to take action to protect human health and the environment."

Basically, the EWG is a database full of research that has been laid out in a very accessible format for the average consumer. There are consumer guides (more on that in a minute), articles, videos, news, apps, and more in a format that is easy to read and understand. I am a fan! 

Skin Deep
Quite possibly my favourite part of this site, and definitely the one I use most, is the Skin Deep Database. Skin Deep is the cosmetics guide, and features almost 80,000 products ranging from make-up, to toothpaste, to shampoo. You can search basically any product you might use on your body here. Each product is rated from 1-10 for toxicity, and that label is broken down into categories to explain whether the rating is for allergens, carcinogens, etc. It even tells you which ingredient is the culprit and why. 

The best part? They have a mobile app for this database! I have been having fun using this one in stores. If want to find me while I'm shopping, just look for the crazy lady scanning bottles of soap with her phone like it's normal. It's just so useful! Because really, you want to know about the product when it's in front of you and you are trying to decide if it's a good purchase. It's annoying to have to go home and google something and then have to go back to the store after making your decision! 

Here's how it works.

Step One: Open the app, and scan a barcode or type in a product name. 

Step 2: The available results will come up. Select your product. Mine is the first one.

Step 3: Continue to click through the information if you want to see more. If you are viewing it on your computer, you will get a description/explanation beside each risk as well. The mobile app simply has the rating beside each ingredient. 

That's all there is to it - check it out! 

Simple Eye Make Up Remover

To round up my posts on my natural face care routine, I thought I would share what I use for make up remover. It's about as simple as it gets, folks.

Step 1: Gather your supplies. I use those trusty little homemade cosmetic squares (and of course, cotton balls, regular cosmetic pads, a kleenex, a corner of a washcloth, anything really, will work just fine) and coconut oil. If you have to take a minute here to catch your breath after all that hard work, I won't judge. ;) Still tracking with me? Alright, moving on.

Step 2: Apply a little bit of coconut oil to your eye cleaning device of choice (a pea sized amount is plenty) and wipe off your eye make up with it - mascara, eye shadow, whatever.

Step 3: Oh wait! That's it. See, I told you it would be easy :) Pretty painless solution if you ask me. I have been doing this for years and have always had awesome results! It feels great, smells lovely, and it's super cheap to boot. Not to mention being completely natural, chemical free, and all that good stuff.

My favourite coconut oil is Dr Bronner's - it smells sooo delicious, and I love that it is both organic and fair trade, along with being a pretty decent price too.

Easy Face Toner and Spot Treatment

To continue my natural facial care routine, today I'm going to tell you about what I use for toner. It's pretty simple! You can read about how I wash my face here.

A wonderful iPhone capture from my room for you...

I just use some witch hazel on some homemade cosmetic squares I sewed a while ago (you could use some cosmetic pads or cotton balls from the store as well). The one I have has some aloe in it which is even more and soothing, too. After washing my face, I put a little squirt on a cosmetic square and rub it on my face, making sure to hit the target areas where I am breaking out or tend to break out. Super simple! I bought mine at a local health food store. A bottle of this stuff lasts me forever!

Why witch hazel? 

Witch hazel is one of those awesome jack-of-all-trades kind of things. It's perfect as a toner because...

• Witch hazel is an astringent - this helps it tighten up pores. 
• It has antioxidant and antiseptic properties.
• It is gentle and non-drying to the skin. It locks in moisture. 
• It helps minimize scarring and stretch marks.
• It's soothing and anti-inflammatory, making it especially helpful with skin that is itchy, inflamed, or otherwise irritated.
• It is healing and is often referred to as nature's Neo/Polysporin.

Other uses for witch hazel that I have come across include: healing cuts and varicose veins, getting rid of bags under eyes, treating sunburn, insect bites and stings, deodorant, scalp treatments, cleaning jewelry, treating razor burn, healing bruises, and soothing diaper rash.

Spot Treatment
For a simple, easy spot treatment, I just apply some melaleuca (tea tree) essential oil to any blemishes I am trying to get rid of. I am planning to do a whole post on tea tree oil in the future, because it has tons and tons of great uses and properties as well.

Give it a try and let me know what you think! 

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be. I am simply sharing my personal experience. Never use a product on your body in any way without doing your own research first. 

How to wash your face...naturally!

After fiddling for years with a whole bunch of different options for face washing, I think I have finally settled on something that works for me. You guys are never gonna guess...

Are you ready?

It's honey!

Like this! 

Were you shocked? Okay maybe not, but whatever. I was surprised at my discovery, alright?

Using honey to wash your face is an idea that is pretty established around the blogosphere - just search it on Pinterest if you don't believe me. After my many other attempts, I decided to give it a try...and I'm so glad I did!

Why use honey? 
Honey has both antibacterial and healing properties. It also cleans the skin without stripping it of its natural oils. It's slightly drying, which is great for pimples and all their annoying friends you are trying to kick off your face, but it's also incredibly moisturizing! Double standard? Maybe, but I'm not complaining! It's supposed to be what worked for Cleopatra, after all. Honey tightens the pores and has tons of enzymes that not only help scrub your face but are also anti-aging. It also loves every skin type - dry, oily, young, old, acne... It's basically amazing. No big deal guys.

What kind of honey?
While there are many kinds of honey out there - pick something that says "raw," "unpasteurized," etc. You don't want a pasteurized/processed version. I get mine in bulk from my local health food store, or the farmer's market. It depends what's cheaper. Raw honey will sometimes be a little cloudy and might have little crunchy bits of honeycomb, pollen, and propolis (good stuff!) in it. The only ingredient will be pure/raw honey.

How to wash your face with honey: 
1. Tie your hair back and get it out of your face. Honey will make your hair really sticky.
2. Remove your eye make up if you are wearing any. (Look for a blog post on that soon :)
3. Wash your face with a wash cloth and warm water - as warm as you can safely and comfortably handle. This will open up your pores.
4. Scoop out a teaspoon or so of honey and massage it on your damp face for about a minute - all over. Just use it like you would a normal face wash. The water on your face and hands should dissolve the honey so it's not too sticky at all.
5. Wash your face with warm water again, making sure to get it all off. It rinses off really easily too! Dry your face.
6. I follow up with a homemade toner.

Other ways to use honey: 
To remove blackheads - place honey straight on dry skin (I do this on my nose) and tap with fingers. It will be quite sticky, and pulls bacteria and dirt out of your pores. Lovely, I know ;)

As a mask - follow the steps outlined to wash your face normally, but leave it on for 5-30 min. This mask is brightening, as well as helping to make pores smaller and work on acne scarring. Overall your face might like to just drink in all the goodness! For extra moisture, mix one part honey with one part olive oil.

To exfoliate - mix 1 tsp. of baking soda with 2 TBSP of honey for a gentle exfoliating mask (adjust quantities depending on how strong you want it to be). Let it sit in the bowl for a few minutes, and then apply what you need to your face and rub gently. Wipe off when you are done. Since these are food products, you can use this on your lips too! Great for True North winter skin, I'm telling you.

Homemade Deodorant Recipe

I first started making my own deodorant about 4 or 5 years ago when I found a simple recipe online. I didn't believe it would work because it seemed so ridiculous to me to do such a thing. But I figured I couldn't knock it until I tried it and I gave it a shot!

Making my own deodorant was probably the first natural living change I made. After some brief research on why you might want to avoid conventional deodorants, I discovered that they are actually quite dangerous. If you think about where you are putting that deodorant, filled with aluminum and plenty of nasty chemicals, it is a huge risk for breast cancer and other types of cancer. On top of that, sweat is actually good for your body. Sweat itself isn't what we are trying to avoid, but the smell caused by it. It's definitely a topic worth researching.

Of course, one of my favourite features of this recipe is that it costs pennies per year. I only make this recipe twice a year at the most, and it probably costs me 25-50 cents (maximum) per batch. Which is hugely motivating for a student!

So, without further ado, here is the recipe I use now after fiddling with it for a couple years.

Supplies: 

1 empty deodorant container (I bought one at the dollar store and cleaned it out with hot soapy water - you can also use a small mason jar or other container)

2 TBSP Baking Soda

2 TBSP Arrowroot Flour (a more natural substitute for cornstarch)

1 TBSP Coconut Oil* 

1 tsp Shea Butter*

1 tsp Cocoa Butter*

1 TBSP Beeswax (grated or in pellet form)

*You need 5 tsp of oil total, so if coconut oil is all you have, go ahead and use that

Directions: 

1. Add all the ingredients to a small pan. I used a mini cast iron skillet I bought in Vancouver, but any little pot will do. 

2. Melt the ingredients on the lowest heat setting (stirring regularly) until all the oils and wax have melted. 

3. Pour the mixture into your container and let it cool. I put it in the fridge for a few minutes to speed up the process.

That's it! You can use this just like you would any store bought deodorant. The only difference is that it's slightly softer so you don't want to push it up too far. Give it a shot!