Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

I'm finally reporting back on my money-slaving experiments!

First, home made shampoo is not my friend. As much as I want it to be, we just don't get along. I'm really not sure if it's just my fine, wavy, color-treated hair or simply my preference. In any event, I tried it and I didn't like it.  We will call that money-slaver an epic fail and move on to homemade makeup remover wipes.

Now, have you ever tried to cut a roll of paper towels in half? My photo above shows my personal challenge and the outcome. This is after using a high quality bread knife (not so sure of it's quality after this experiment). Please don't tell my husband, he's kind of a cooking knife freak, for lack of a better term.  Any-who, I completed that portion of the challenge and realized I couldn't turn back now. I placed one of the halves of paper towel in a rectangular container and added 4 cups of warm water mixed with some coconut oil, tea tree oil (to prevent mold), a small amount of facial cleanser, and a couple drops of essential oils that I had on hand.  My only complaint right now is that 4 cups of water is too much for the roll I'm using. Other than that, my face feels GREAT after I use them!

Finally, since my shampoo idea didn't work out for me, I decided to make my own toothpaste.  You can search 'home made toothpaste recipes' and find the one you like the most. I used baking powder, coconut oil, peppermint oil, and some vegetable glycerin.  Honestly, I love the way my teeth feel after using this stuff, so I will continue to make it.  I just store it in a tiny plastic container (shown in photo).

If you knew me, you would know that this was quite the effort on my part :)  Meaning, I'm kinda proud of myself LOL!

Have you ever tried any home made money slaving ideas?  I'd love to hear about it!

Money Slaver

In an effort to make money my slave (or stick to a budget) I've been looking for ways to simplify some everyday routines at home. For instance, I love the convenience of using makeup remover wipes to wash my face before bed, however the cost does not justify the convenience. Enter One Good Thing. This is a wonderful blog where I found a homemade recipe for makeup removing wipes. I plan to make these tonight and report back with the results.
Next question: Does my hair really need all of those products and that shampoo with so many ingredients that I can't pronounce? According to The Paleo Mom I just may need a little baking soda and some lemon juice instead of shampoo & conditioner. Will I try it? Why not? Talk about items that I can use elsewhere if I'm not happy with my locks. Not only that, The Paleo Mom says that she uses just plain water on most days to 'wash' her hair and that this routine isn't recommended for anyone who uses gels or mousse or other products. Cha-ching! That's even more money saved.
So, since it is Spring Break this week (meaning I probably won't run into very many people that I know - suddenly I can hear the song "Your So Vain" playing in the background) I'm going to give this healthy shampoo a try. Again, with the intent to report the results right here.
Will you join me?

Comfort Food

Comfort food. Sounds strange coming from someone who hates to cook and can barely decide what to eat half the time. But I think of the term as more of a way of life. When we struggle to make ends meet and try to work harder to accomplish the task; or when it always feels like we are striving to 'do better' or to be like that person who always seems happy with their life.  Well, that's not comfort food. That's more like 'discomfort food' or at the very least it's just 'hard to swallow food'.
There's something about being at peace while in your circumstances. We may not always like what we're going through, but the struggling to make it go away can magnify the problem.
So, how do we stop striving and struggling and juggling? Very carefully! It seems that peace comes from rest. It also seems that the more chaos there is, the greater the need to just STOP. Some people give up when all they really needed was a break, a breather, a time-out.
I find that reading, crocheting, going on a date with my hubby, or even going to church is a great way for me to take a break from everything around me. It gives me focus in a sometimes blurry world. I like books that are edifying so that I can learn more about myself and hopefully grow stronger; I like seeing something that I've created to remind me that I really do have a creative side (I can't tell you how many times I have said "I'm not very creative"); I love it when my hubby and I can just get caught up with each other and not have to think about getting caught up with work or laundry or (fill in the blank); and church is my chance to grow my spirit as I am reminded of just who God made me to be.
How about you? Do you need a break? How do you unwind?