Challenge

Challenge to all of you bloggers and blog readers, I am running out of face wash so I am going to hunt out
an all-natural face wash for acne-prone, combination skin.
I would love any and all suggestions. Leslie, are the essential oils working out for you? Let me know because I may be starting off with that idea.

"A Simpler Way of Life"

Introducing my new reflection group on Mondays from 7-8 in the Conservatory.

This reflection group called "A Simpler Way of Life" will focus on sustainability and environmental issues in a fun, hands-on sort of way. We will be making our own homemade, all-natural goodies (think shampoo, deodorant, all-purpose cleaner, food, and more) while learning about issues surrounding our environment and reflecting on ways we can help, even while in college. We will also host guest speakers throughout the six-week class (hopefully including my cousin who is an awesome RAW and vegan chef). Time change is available if lots of people need to change it up so just let me know if you are interested, but can't make this time slot.

For those of you that can't attend the class since you aren't on campus, I will be posting updates. I have been gathering ideas including some from this awesome blogger Progressive Pioneer who gave me some personal advice (awesome!) as well as some great ideas off of her blog. Her blog is filled with all kinds of great projects supporting sustainability in many ways. Check it out for some inspiration and be checking back here for some updates about my class!

PS- I would still love suggestions, ideas, and inspiration for my class!! I'm all ears and so willing to learn.

Also, I wanted to give some updates on my personal all-natural adventures. I love the detergent. I add a 1/2 cup extra of borax to the 2 tablespoons that it takes to wash one load. This leaves the whites super white and everything completely odorless and clean. I have been pleasantly pleased with the fluffiness of my laundry and its cleanliness.

My No 'Poo is also fabulous though I have had to do some experimenting. I have thickened the baking soda wash just a bit. I put about 2 parts baking soda to 3 parts water. I have found that I am gradually lessening the amount of baking soda as my hair gets more used to the wash and the weather cools down (ie- i'm less sweaty). I also only apply the vinegar mixture to the ends of my hair because it acts as a conditioner and was too much for my roots. But now that I have worked this all out for my hair (yours will be different no doubt), it is wonderful and the experimenting wasn't bad at all.

Right now I am experimenting with some homemade deodorant because my Tom's failed me. Before I post results, I want to get the perfect recipe, but it's only made out of baking soda and corn starch. Nice!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

College life is staying pretty busy as suspected. It's taking some time just to get adjusted to the new time schedule, but all is well. I am in two art classes: drawing and digital photography which will both be great, but BAD NEWS, I am a horrible drawer. I knew this going into the class. I really just want to learn. So today I picked up my sketch pad and tomorrow I'll be getting my pencils to get my drawing on. This weekend I went to an art exhibit downtown and volunteered at the Memphis Botanical Gardens. They are fabulous so if you're in the area you should definitely check them out.

Anyways, my exciting adventure today was to make some All-Natural Laundry Detergent. Directions:

1 cup grated soap
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda

Mix well and add essential oils if you want. You are supposed to use Ivory Soap, but I had some all-natural soap laying around so I am trying that. I haven't actually used this detergent yet, but I have heard rave reviews. It is much healthier than all of those chemicals in your typical store-bought detergents and much much cheaper. I will have to let you know how it works out!

Reception Table Centerpieces

Well, I am moved in to school and experiencing the very typical first week rush of going to classes for the first time, seeing all of the friends I missed so much, starting up work, and so on and so forth. Anyways, with all of this craziness and a long to-do list for tomorrow's student activity fair, I only had a minute or two to post so I grabbed this picture I had tucked away in a wedding inspiration folder. It is a picture of a reception centerpiece with different size/shape vases (you can kind of see them), which I love and will do for mine and Andrew's wedding. I have already started collecting said vases at thrift stores around the city in order to create these centerpieces. I have milk glass, green glass, and clear glass to mix it up. Hopefully they will look just as great, be a bit "green" with all the reusing and recycling, and add a great personal, unique touch!

And grazie to the readers... Thanks for all of the great "all-natural" ideas! Let me know how they work out (for those people that are just starting out). I would love to know so I can use them too. Also, one of my most wonderful friends gave me lots of new all-natural goodies today including some face wash, shampoo, and body soap so I will have to try them out and let you guys know how they go.