My Daughter's Orthodontics - Three Year Update

I've received a few requests lately to post an update on my daughter's journey with her orthodontic treatment.  

My daughter, Alina, is almost 10 years old, and she's been using an orthodontic appliance for nearly 3 years. We started Alina's orthodontic treatment early so that we could make the most of her growing years. Rather than using braces, which are well known to not work very well in the long-term, we are using an orthodontic appliance designed to stimulate the palate and jaw to grow larger.

Despite a nutrient-dense diet, Alina's palate and jaw did not naturally develop large enough to accommodate her adult teeth. After researching alternatives to braces and talking with an excellent pediatric dentist who specializes in developmental orthodontics, we decided to use a plastic myofunctional appliance made by Ortho-Tain.

How Alina Uses Her Orthodontic Appliance

Alina wears her Ortho-Tain orthodontic appliance every night while she sleeps. Because we started her treatment early, she does not need to wear the appliance during the daytime at all (whereas if we had waited a few more years before starting, she would have needed to wear it at night as well as for a few hours in the daytime).  Alina tries to remember to bite down hard on her appliance a few times whenever she puts it in her mouth, to strengthen the muscles in her mouth and jaw and further encourage her palate to enlarge.

Alina has been very cooperative with this whole process and has done a fantastic job of wearing her appliance. Her orthodontist is very pleased with her progress and gives her all the credit for being the one to do the work of wearing the appliance and following his instructions.

Our Results From Three Years of Treatment

Over the course of her orthodontic treatment, Alina has progressed through three sizes of orthodontic appliance. This means that her palate and jaw have grown significantly so that she was able to progress to increasingly larger appliances. Currently, Alina has lost 8 baby teeth.  Based on the size of her adult teeth, the appliance Alina is currently using may be the last one she needs (but we will know more when she loses more of her baby teeth).


And now for the pictures!

Pre-treatment (April 2014) - Alina's baby teeth have no space between them (minus the one spot where she is missing a tooth)

February 2017 - Her beautiful smile, after almost 3 years of orthodontic treatment

There is more space for her adult teeth on the bottom now compared to in the last update I posted

There is plenty of room for all of her adult teeth thus far

For information about our journey into orthodontic care, check out the rest of the articles in this series:  

My 7-Year-Old Needs Orthodontics! EEK!
Why We're NOT Using Conventional Braces
Alternatives to Conventional Braces
Selecting an Orthodontist or Dentist, and Our Rapid Results   

My Daughter's Orthodontics - One Year Update

 

Have you tried any alternatives to conventional orthodontics? What were your results?

Dressing For Positive Body Image - Including Before and After Pictures

This is the final post in my series on positive body image.

I've never been much into fashion, makeup, and jewelry. I never really liked clothes' shopping, as it always seemed so hard to find clothes that fit my petite-yet-curvy proportions. Often, I'd end up buying clothes that fit fine, but that I seldom wore. Part of my underlying body image dissatisfaction was the feeling that finding the right clothes was hard, and that some styles that I admired on others never felt quite right on me. But I didn't know why.

A couple years ago I ran across the "Dressing Your Truth" program, which is designed to help people dress according to their energy type. It includes guidance for clothes, hair, makeup, and jewelry for each energy type. This was intriguing to me. Could it be possible that the reason I never liked fashion was because I was going about it all wrong? Could it be that there was value in such a program?

Spending Money on Learning How to Dress?!?

I've blogged a few times about how energy typing has greatly improved my marriage and my parenting skills. Well, it all started with me finding the Dressing Your Truth (DYT) program. I took a headfirst dive into learning about the energy types and found so much value in being able to better understand myself, my family, and friends.

Yet I vacillated on whether or not to buy the Dressing Your Truth program. I didn't want to spend the money; what if this program didn't work for me? I was skeptical about whether it would work, but I had found the energy type information to be so valuable that I kept wondering about DYT. Since I was on the mailing list, I finally received an offer that the DYT course was on sale for $99. My sister-in-law was willing to split the cost with me (since we are both Type 3's).

So I finally bought the DYT Type 3 course. That $50 has been one of the best purchases I've ever made. It would have been worth the $99 price, too. (And probably much more, but I could never stand to spend hundreds of dollars on something as inconsequential as "fashion".)

Now for the Before and After...

 

Before Dressing Your Truth

After Dressing Your Truth

 

Life After DYT

Dressing for my energy type has been life-changing. Shopping is easier because I know exactly what I'm looking for. Getting dressed is easier because, even though I have fewer clothes than I used to, I love everything I have. And best of all: dressing for my energy type makes me feel great. I actually feel more energetic when I am dressed for my energy type, and I can really tell a difference when I am not dressed for my type as I feel sluggish and "blah".

When I am dressed for my energy type, I don't feel dressed up; rather, I just feel like I'm being myself. This has helped my body image, too, because I feel content with the clothes and style I'm wearing. Dressing as a Type 3 with a secondary Type 2 just suits me!

Life after DYT is also different in that random strangers will complement my appearance. That is not something that used to happen. Several people I know have said that I look younger, and I have seen the same in friends who have are also dressing for their energy type with DYT. One friend summed up the change in my appearance by saying she just thought my life must have been going very well lately, because I seemed different.

DYT has been so tremendously beneficial for me that I recommend it to everyone. It is such a wonderful resource for being true to ourselves and reflecting our true selves in our outward appearance.

 

More Resources About Dressing Your Truth

Want to know see more Dressing Your Truth makeovers? Check out these videos and articles:

Type 1 Makeover
Type 2 Makeover 
Type 3 Makeover 
Type 4 Makeover 
Free Energy Profiling Course to Determine Your Type
Dressing Your Truth Course
3 Live DYT Makeovers of Grandma, Mom, and Daughter

Have you heard of Dressing Your Truth? Do you feel content with you style and fashion?

Promoting a Positive Body Image in My Daughter

This post is the second in a series about positive body image.

I think there is way too much emphasis in our culture on physical appearances. Already overly-thin
models are airbrushed to make them look even thinner and yet with larger chests. Normal events such as aging take on a dark cast, as we are told again and again that the normal processes of aging such as wrinkles and gray hair are not okay. It would be a rarity for a girl to grow up in this culture and feel completely content with her own appearance.

Having grown up with my own insecurities about my appearance, I want things to be different for my daughter. She is now 9 years old, and just coming up on the age when I first became self-conscious about my own body. I want her to accept herself as she is, to not be overly fixated on her appearance or judge herself as inferior just for looking the way she was made. I may not be able to prevent appearance-related insecurities altogether, but I'm certainly going to keep trying to make it happen. This post is about the steps I'm taking to allow my daughter to grow up feeling content with her appearance and yet not overly focused on her appearance.

Don't Focus on My Daughter's Appearance

One of the most basic ways I am teaching my daughter to not be overly focused on her own appearance is by not focusing on her appearance myself. I'm sure I have told my daughter she is pretty perhaps a handful of times in the 9+ years of her life, but this is not something I comment on regularly with her. In her book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, Meg Meeker MD writes about the damaging effects of focusing on a girl's appearance. When we repeatedly focus on our child's appearance (whether through positive or negative words), the child gets the message that their appearance is very important, and that their intrinsic self-worth is related to their appearance. This kind of thinking can be a huge factor in the development of eating disorders. I choose not to propagate the message that physical appearance is important with either of my children, instead focusing on traits such as honesty, kindness, and perseverance when I want to praise them.

Don't Talk About My Own Appearance in a Negative Light

For good or bad, whatever my kids see and hear me do repeatedly, they will be likely to do themselves. If I talked abut my own body and appearance in a negative tone, I would likely start to hear my kids do the same. I have seen this happen numerous times with mothers and daughters: mothers who frequently berate their own appearance have daughters who do the same. I purposely do not talk about my own appearance in a negative light. This benefits my own self-esteem as well as my daughter's.

Limit Media and Exposure to Commercials

Our society's preoccupation with appearance can be seen very clearly in video media, internet ads, and especially commercials.  Through those outlets, we are clearly told that we need to correct ourselves to look more like the "beautiful" people, through things like hair-dying, anti-aging products, dieting, tooth whitening, and the like. Repeatedly exposing ourselves to those messages serves to undermine any attempts at being content with ourselves and our appearance.  I purposely limit my children's (and my own) exposure to these influences so that we do not become overly preoccupied with our looks or judge ourselves harshly.

Guard What is Coming Into Our Home

Even checking the mail afforded opportunities for my children to become overly focused on appearances. A few years ago, I ordered undergarments from Victoria's Secret, only to then start receiving catalogs in the mail on a regular basis which were filled with images of scantily-clad, overly thin models. Something inside me revolted when my young daughter went to check the mail and returned carrying a VS catalog, which of course she had looked at on the way back from the mailbox. So I searched for the not-easy-to-find place on their website where I could unsubscribe from all mailings, and I will have to do so again in the future if I ever order from them again. 

I also purposely do not read magazines that propagate the messages that we must be beautiful in a certain way. I know that anything I bring into the house would certainly be looked at and read by my children, so I purposely do not read those types of publications.

Home Schooling

One of the unfortunate aspects of the school environment is the focus on appearances.  During my own childhood, I remember kids at school (including myself) becoming overly focused on appearances and what others were wearing. Kids were teased for looking different or for wearing clothes that weren't "cool". This would likely be exacerbated nowadays with the current bombardment of appearance-related images and videos that we can all be exposed to. 

While this is not the primary reason that I homeschool, it is certainly an added benefit that my kids are not being exposed to the school culture that includes such a high focus on appearances. My kids do have friends that they socialize with regularly at homeschool group activities, but I've never heard any of the kids talking about appearances in a negative light. The closest I've seen to any focus on appearances was one child admiring another's shirt.

 

Discuss Appearance Issues At Opportune Moments

As we go about our normal lives, opportunities arise when I can talk about body image with my children.  I purposely take time to discuss this with my children at those times. For instance, in reading the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, we talked about how absurd it seemed that as a young girl Laura was jealous of her sister Mary's blond hair. In the later books, as Laura moved into young adulthood, she complained of her own appearance and longed to be more long-and-lithe like some of her friends.  My children and I discussed this, as well.

In these discussions, I make the point that there are things that we can change about ourselves and there are other things that just are as they are.  For instance, we can work on learning to control our tempers, on learning to persevere when things get tough, and on choosing to serve others instead of ourselves.  But the overall shape of our bodies, the color of our hair and eyes, the color of our skin: these are things that are just part of how we are made, and choosing to be dissatisfied with those is pointless and can even be damaging. My hope is that these discussions will help my children keep a healthy perspective on themselves as they grow older.

Creating Contentment

My goal in all of this is to help my children be content with themselves, and to learn that there are much more important things to focus on than their appearances. There may be more challenges to this as my children grow older, but with this foundation laid I hope that they will have a more positive experience in adolescence and early adulthood than I had myself.  I will continue to find ways to promote positive body image and less focus on appearances as the years go on, because I think this is an important aspect in teaching my children to be kind to themselves and others as they mature.

 

Do you have any tips for promoting a positive body image in children? Or have any experiences to share?

 

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Cultivating a Positive Body Image

This post is the first in a series about positive body image. 

8th grade - I hated looking younger than everyone else

A Pattern of Discontentment

From adolescence onwards, I was never quite satisfied with my body and appearance. In the early years, it was that I was too short and looked too much like a little child. I was a "late bloomer" in that I didn't start menstruating until just before I turned 15 years old. Combine that with being younger than most of the kids in my grade, and the stage was set for having body image issues.

As I moved on into adulthood, I could still always find plenty to be dissatisfied about in my appearance: my freckles, my lack of 6-pack ab muscles no matter how much I worked out or how slim I was, the gap between my front teeth, my different proportions compared to the "ideal". And after becoming a mother, I could easily find ways to be discouraged in my appearance, with my new stretch marks, bigger hips and abdomen than before pregnancy, and an overall different shape than pre-pregnancy.

2008 - early motherhood

Although my negative body image was never severe, and never caused me to do anything drastic, it was like a splinter wedged under my skin, that inexorably kept poking me for over 20 years. Did I really want to let that splinter keep festering for the next 50 or 60 years?

 

Deciding to Change

A couple years ago I had an epiphany: I could just decide to let go of being dissatisfied with my body.  I could decide to be content with being as I am, knowing that I take good care of my body by eating a healthy diet and getting a good amount of physical activity. Rather than continuing to be unhappy with my appearance for the rest of my life, I could just decide to let it go!

This was a big shift for me. I made the decision to stop the internal self-criticism of my appearance, and promised myself that I would be happy to be just as I am. It was a tearful, sweet moment when I looked in the mirror and told myself that I was fine, just as I am. That I am just as I was made to be. That I would love and accept myself, just as I am.

Content to be me in 2016

Settling in to Contentment

Making the decision to change how I viewed myself has been one of the best self-care steps I have ever taken. Although there have been a few times when I have seen myself shifting back into that old negative thought pattern, by reaffirming my decision to accept myself, I have been able to quickly shift back into being content. Making the conscious choice to change this aspect of myself really has worked and allowed me to live the last couple years feeling happier and more whole.

In future posts in this series on body image, I will share how I am actively promoting positive body image in my daughter and the life-changing system that has revolutionized my wardrobe and appearance.

Do you harbor negative thoughts about your own appearance that are keeping you from finding joy?  What has helped you overcome negative body image?

Homemade Hair Care Products

I've blogged previously about natural hair care, and wanted to share the latest updates to the hair products I make and use. My array of homemade hair products includes shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, styling paste, and dry shampoo. These products work well, they are inexpensive, and they are much healthier than conventional hair care products.  

Baking Soda Shampoo

I've been washing my hair with baking soda for nearly 4 years now.  This super simple shampoo works effectively to cleanse my hair, and it is easy to tailor to the dryness level of my hair, which varies somewhat throughout the year.

How to make Baking Soda Shampoo:

• Thoroughly clean out an old shampoo bottle (or use one like this).
• For each 8 ounces (one cup) of water, add 1/2 Tb baking soda (for normal or dry hair) OR 1 Tb baking soda (for oily hair). A funnel is very handy for preventing a mess if your bottle has a small opening.  
• Add water and fill to the top the bottle. Put the lid on and shake well.  

How to use Baking Soda Shampoo:

1. Give the shampoo bottle a quick shake before each use.
2. Wet your hair.  Apply the Baking Soda Shampoo to your scalp, roots, and hair (only as far down as hair may be oily).  This shampoo is very watery, so I find it works best to just run the shampoo bottle all along the roots on the top and back of my head, which lets a trickle of the solution out.  
3. Use your fingertips to scrub your scalp.
4. OPTIONAL: Allow the shampoo to stay on your hair for a few minutes for extra cleansing action.
5. Thoroughly rinse your hair.

If you want more information about how to use Baking Soda Shampoo, including what to expect during the transition period and more tips on how to tailor the shampoo for different hair types, I've blogged about that here.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Conditioner

For the first few years I was using homemade shampoo and conditioner, I used an apple cider vinegar-based conditioner. However, when we moved to our new house last year, I found that the water supply at our new house made my hair more dry.  So now I have modified the recipe to include a small amount of raw honey, which makes this conditioner more moisturizing for my hair.

 How to make Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Conditioner:

• Thoroughly clean out an old conditioner bottle (or use one like this).
• Using a funnel, for each 8 ounces (one cup) of water, add:
• 1 Tb raw apple cider vinegar (for normal or oily hair) OR 2 Tb apple cider vinegar (for dry hair). 
• 1 tsp raw honey
• 4-6 drops of lavender essential oil (or other essential oil of your choice)
• Add WARM water and fill to the top of the bottle. Using warm water allows the honey to dissolve more quickly into the mixture. Put the lid on and shake well.  If your raw honey was especially thick/crystallized, you may need to let this mixture sit for a little while, shaking periodically, until the honey is fully dissolved. 

How to use Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Conditioner:

1. Give the conditioner bottle a quick shake before each use.
2. After washing your hair with Baking Soda Shampoo, apply the Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Conditioner to the scalp, roots, and hair.  
3. Massage the mixture into your hair and scalp. Let the conditioner stay on for a few minutes. 
4. Thoroughly rinse your hair.  Then rinse it some more. Sometimes, the vinegar solution will grow some tiny SCOBY strands (these are like what is used to make kombucha), so you need to rinse your hair very well to make sure no little bits get left behind. 

Aloe and Sugar Hairspray

I've tried several different homemade hairspray recipes, and this one is my favorite. The recipe includes sugar, aloe, essential oils, and a small amount of alcohol (which helps the hairspray dry much quicker).  Rather than using aloe juice called for in the recipe, I use the natural aloe vera gel which we already keep in our home for treating itchy bug bites and sunburns.

I typically use this Aloe and Sugar Hairspray by spraying a small amount onto my hands and then scrunching it into my hair.  This hairspray works well for me, although if I apply too much it can give my hair a bit of that crunchy feel (just as most hairsprays can). I admit, though, that on days when I want to look especially polished, I still apply a last spray with Loreal Elnett Hairspray.  I have yet to find a good replacement for that type of finishing spray, which holds every hair very well since it is an aerosol and comes out in a very fine mist. That particular hairspray leaves my hair feeling soft and flexible while still holding well. But for everyday use, I stick with the Aloe and Sugar Hairspray. 

You can see the recipe and instructions for making Aloe and Sugar Hairspray here.

Hair Styling Paste

I discovered years ago that a small amount of my homemade hard lotion works fantastically as a hair
styling paste for short hair. When I have short hair, this Hair Styling Paste gives my hair a bit more texture and definition, without being sticky or stiff.

How to Make Hair Styling Paste:
[NOTE: This recipe is the same as my hard lotion recipe. This is such a versatile product!]
Ingredients:

• One part unrefined coconut oil
• One part shea butter (I buy this in bulk at my natural foods co-op)
• One part beeswax (if you have any local honey producers, you can probably get the best price by buying this directly from the beekeepers)
• Optional: small amount of essential oil such as lavender or jasmine 
• NOTE: you can make the end product harder by adding more beeswax or softer by adding more coconut oil. 

 Method:

1. Using small warmer crock pot or double boiler over low heat, melt the beeswax. 
2. Add the shea butter and allow to melt. 
3. Add the coconut oil and allow to melt.  
4. Stir well to combine. If desired, add essential oils and stir a bit more.
5. Pour the melted ingredients into plastic containers or mini-muffin tins. (This same recipe can be used for lip balm, so you could also pour it directly into lip-balm tubes.) 
6. Work quickly to clean up the pot and spoons while they are still warm.  I find the best plan is to wipe them with a clean cloth or paper towel immediately.  If you leave them to cool, the beeswax will be very hard to clean off!
7. Allow the Hair Styling Paste to harden in the fridge, and then remove from the containers.  I like to make enough to last for many months, so I just store the extra in the fridge until I'm ready to use it. 

How to Use Hair Styling Paste:

1. To apply the Hair Styling Paste, rub a little onto your fingertips. Only a very small amount is needed for hairstyling.
2. Apply the paste by "piecing out" clumps of hair or scrunching it into the ends of the hair.  Do NOT apply this paste at the roots of the hair, as that can lead to a greasy look. 
3. I find this paste to be most useful for styling short hair. 

Dry Shampoo

I typically wash my hair once every two days, and my hair does not look oily on the second day. Sometimes, though, I don't have time to wash my hair on the 3rd day, and to combat oil on those days I use dry shampoo made from of cocoa powder and arrowroot (the link recommends using cornstarch, but I use arrowroot in mine). I use an old makeup brush to apply this dry shampoo and it works amazingly well.

 

 

Do you make any homemade hair products? Which are your favorites?

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Easy Homemade Sunscreen, Mosquito Spray, and Arnica Lotion

With hot weather arriving here, I thought I'd share some of my favorite homemade skincare products. I blogged previously about my Top 10 Storebought Body and Hair Care Products, and now I am excited to share some of my favorite homemade products. I love using homemade skin products as they are healthier than most of the storebought products, and I can customize them to fit my family's needs. 

Sunscreen

On a daily basis, I don't use any sunscreen at all, but on days when I will be outside for extended periods of time I find that I am likely to burn without sunscreen.  We have a high UV factor here in the dry desert with its many sunny days, especially at our altitude. I have always abhorred store-bought sunscreens: they were too heavy, some were greasy, and they often led to breakouts on my face.  About a year ago I decided to try making my own sunscreen after reading this Natural Homemade Sunscreen post.

I opted to try the "Even Faster Way to Make Sunscreen" from that post, and have been very happy with the results.  My own homemade sunscreen is made by combining the following:

• Ingredients:

• one 6.5 fluid ounce bottle of California Baby Super Sensitive Unscented lotion - This is the lotion I used on my face back before I switched to coconut oil; and I love that it is lightweight and fragrance free.
• 2 Tablespoons Zinc Oxide powder
• Instructions:
• Remove a small amount of lotion from the bottle so there is space for the added zinc oxide powder.
• Using a funnel, very carefully pour the zinc oxide into the lotion bottle. Beware that the zinc is a very fine powder, so you may choose to wear respiratory protection during this step.  
• Put the lid back on the bottle and shake well to combine.
• Shake well before each use. Apply the sunscreen and rub it in to reduce any whitening effect from the zinc. Re-application may be necessary if there is heavy perspiration.

I don't know the equivalent SPF of this homemade sunscreen, but I do know that this keeps me from getting sunburned when I am outside for several hours. This sunscreen is not waterproof, so I will stick with my Badger Sunscreen for those times when I will be perspiring greatly or swimming outdoors.

Arnica Lotion

I've blogged previously about the many wonderful uses of homeopathic Arnica in treating soft tissue injuries such as bumps and bruises, sprains and strains. For particularly strong injuries we do take Arnica pellets internally, but for very minor injuries I prefer to use Arnica lotion externally.

Because I was dissatisfied with the inactive ingredients in storebought Arnica lotions, last year I decided to make my own as follows:

• Ingredients:
• one 6.5 fluid ounce bottle of California Baby Super Sensitive lotion
• 1/2 ounce of homeopathic Arnica liquid in 3x potency   
• Instructions:
• Remove a small amount of lotion from the bottle so there is space for the added Arnica liquid.
• Pour the Arnica liquid into the lotion bottle.
• Put the lid on the bottle and shake well to combine.
• Apply lotion as needed for bumps, bruises, or sore muscles. (NOTE: Arnica should NOT be applied externally to broken or scraped skin.  Calendula salve is better to use in those instances, and can be used alongside Arnica taken internally for any shock or pain with the injury.)

Mosquito Spray

Here in the desert, the mosquitoes arrive with our yearly monsoon season in July. I've always been one of those people who is highly attractive to mosquitoes, and I can be literally covered in mosquito bites in just a short time outside.  Sadly, I seem to have passed this trait on to my children as well.

For several years, we used natural mosquito-repelling bracelets, and we did have some success with those (especially if we used multiple bracelets per person). However, the smell of those bracelets is so very strong and even leaves a taste in my mouth, so so I was still open to finding a better solution.

Thankfully, last year my sister-in-law passed on a recipe for homemade mosquito spray that is made with essential oils.   My family used this spray last year and found it to work very well so long as it is applied often.  It smells heavenly, so it is no chore to spritz myself and my children with it every 30-60 minutes when we are outside during mosquito season.

(This recipe is re-printed with permission from Camp Wander.) 

• Ingredients per 2 ounce spray bottle:
• 30 drops lemongrass essential oil 
• 30 drops lavender essential oil
• Top off with good-quality alcohol-free Witch Hazel (I like to use Rose Petal Witch Hazel for this recipe)
•  Instructions:
  

  • Combine all ingredients in spray bottle and shake well to combine. 
  • Apply often, especially if there is heavy perspiration.

What are your favorite sunscreen and mosquito-repellent products?

Links to Amazon are affiliate links. If you use these links, your price remains the same, but I earn a small commission. Thanks for supporting this site!

Top 10 Storebought Body and Hair Care Products

I love to use homemade body and hair care products, but my husband still prefers some storebought products.  And, since there isn't enough time to make everything, there are some products I have never even tried to make (such as soap). These are our favorite storebought body and hair products. I'll talk about my favorite homemade body and hair care products in a future post.

Skin Care Products

1. Coconut and Papaya Bar Soap
I always thought I hated bar soaps. All of them would leave my skin feeling stripped and dry. But then a couple years ago I was given a bar of Coconut and Papaya Soap as a gift, and realized I was wrong.  This soap has a wonderful, light scent, a smooth, foamy lather, and it does not dry out my skin!  Now I use this soap in my every-other-day showers and in the soap dishes by our bathroom sinks.

2. California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Bodywash 
My husband and son have rather sensitive skin with a tendency to eczema, and in the past they have had skin reactions to soaps and laundry detergents. It took a lot of trial and error to find California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Bodywash, which works for everyone in the family with no skin reactions.

We have been using California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Bodywash for over 6 years now. My son's chronic eczema has now been cured through homeopathy, and my husband's eczema has gotten better and better as he continues his homeopathic treatment.  Nonetheless, we still use this soap.

I use this soap as a gentle facial soap. My husband uses this soap as an all-over bodywash and shampoo. I also add a squirt or two of this soap under running water to make bubbles for my kids' baths, which they use to wash themselves with. This soap is sold at Target for cheaper than it can be found online.
 
3. Unrefined Coconut Oil
I love using unrefined coconut oil as a moisturizer. I coconut oil as a daily light facial moisturizer as well as for all over my body after showering. Click here to see my tips for using coconut oil as a moisturizer. My favorite brands of unrefined coconut oil (which I use for body care as well as cooking) are Spectrum and Dr. Bronner's, and the best prices for these are at our local healthfood co-op. 

4. California Baby Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion
My husband's preferred moisturizer is California Baby Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion. He has been using this lotion on his sensitive skin for over 6 years.  We used this lotion on our daughter when she was a newborn (back before we realized that kids don't need baths daily; now they hardly ever need to use lotion at all since they aren't bathing daily). I used this lotion as a facial moisturizer for years, until I started using coconut oil.  I currently use this lotion occasionally at times when I need a lotion that will absorb quickly.

 

Deodorants

My husband and I stopped using conventional antiperspirants many years ago, when we learned how unhealthy antiperspirants can be. Through lots of trial and error, we have both found deodorants that work for us.

5. Alvera Aloe and Almonds Deodorant
For some reason, my body chemistry has always reacted to scents. Back in high school when I first tried wearing perfume, I was always disappointed that shortly after applying perfume the scent would change to not smelling very good.  I have the same problem with many deodorants.

But I love Alvera Aloe and Almonds deodorant. I've been using this deodorant for over 5 years. The fragrance is fantastic, and it stays smelling good all day. This is not an antiperspirant (which is good from a health standpoint), so I do still sweat while using this deodorant. But it does make my sweat smell very good.

6. Bubble and Bee Pit Putty Cream Deodorant
My husband's favorite deodorant for the last few years has been Pit Putty Cream. He prefers the Spearmint and Tea Tree scent, and I love it's refreshing scent. (Being a short person myself, I do get to have a sniff of this deodorant whenever I hug my husband.) Pit Putty Cream contains arrowroot powder which will absorb small amounts of sweat, so I have used this deodorant occasionally when I needed to prevent sweat rings under my arms with dress shirts. 

 

Hair Products

I use homemade shampoo, conditioner, and hairspray (which will be included in my upcoming list of Top 10 Homemade Body and Hair Care Products), but there are a couple of storebought hair care products that I use as well.  

7. Argan Oil
Argan oil is renowned for its moisturizing properties. Even though it is an oil, Argan oil is very lightweight and does not leave any greasy sheen. Many people use Argan oil as a facial moisturizer, and it is reputed to be anti-aging.  I'm sticking with coconut oil for my face, but I do like to use Argan oil for my hair.

I use a very small amount (one or two drops) of Argan oil after my every-other-day shower. I simply rub the oil on my fingertips and then apply it to the ends of my towel-dried hair. Argan oil helps keep my hair shiny, moisturized, and smooth. Argan oil is very pricey, but I use such a small amount that I have used less than half a bottle in 6 months (and that includes the time I accidentally knocked the bottle over and spilled some).
 
8. Giovanni Sunset Styling Lotion 
This is a very lightweight product that contains essential oils, and it has a watery consistency.  I use it because it reduces frizz and flyaways in my very fine, wavy hair. After applying Argan oil to the ends of my hair, I apply a small amount of Giovanni Sunset Styling Lotion all over, and then I scrunch my hair and let it air dry.

Toothpaste

In addition to the homemade tooth cleaners I discussed previously, we enjoy using the following two storebought toothpastes. Because my family is hypersensitive, we need to avoid using mint toothpastes as they can interfere with our homeopathic remedies, and that rules out most toothpastes on the market. However, these two options work well for us and are glycerin-free.

9. Lemon EarthPaste
Earthpaste is a non-foaming toothpaste based on Redmond Clay (which is rich in more than 60 trace minerals that may aid in tooth remineralization). I had heard of Earthpaste before, but only ever saw flavors such as cinnamon, which I am not fond of. However, I randomly saw lemon-flavored Earthpaste in the children's section of our healthfood co-op a few months ago, and decided to give it a try.  We love it!

10. Coral Kids Toothpaste
On days when I would like to have the classic foaming-toothpaste experience, I use Coral Kids Toothpaste.  We used Mint-Flavored Coral White toothpaste back before we started our homeopathic treatment, but with out mint sensitivity that option is currently ruled out.  But now we can use the Coral Kids version instead. It tastes great, and people who want something more "normal" will like it just fine.  This toothpaste also contains minerals such as calcium which may help in tooth remineralization.

What are your favorite storebought body and haircare products?

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WINNER of Naturally-Tinted Balms and Herbal Salve

There were 41 entries to the giveaway for the Bessmess Naturally-Tinted Balms and Herbal Salve! I used a free random number generator to select the winner.  The winner is: Michelle Sopa, Hubertus, WI.

Congratulations, Michelle!  Please send me your e-mail address at nourishedandnurtured@gmail.com no later than February 28th so I can send your contact information to Bessmess. 

GIVEAWAY: Naturally-Tinted Balms for Lips and Cheeks Plus an Herbal Salve

On Monday February 24th, I'm giving away some wonderful natural beauty and health products.  Bess Taylor, of bessmess on Etsy, has generously offered to give the winner a choice of 3 tinted balms for cheeks and lips plus a 1-oz herbal salve (containing chamomile, lavender, and calendula).

practical meets pretty, items inspired by nature

In Bess' words, here are descriptions of the tinted balms and herbal salve:

tinted balms [made with calendula-infused sweet almond oil, mango butter, beeswax, alkanet root powder and/or annatto seed (for the tint), vitamin E, lime essential oil, & love]: I choose organic ingredients that will add a beneficial quality to the end product. The beautiful colors come from infusing the oils with a variety of different roots and seeds. This product can be applied with one swipe of your finger for hydration or if you would like a bit more color, scoop a bit out and apply with your finger or a lip brush. I am a very practical person, but I also believe that practical things can be pretty, so I used watercolor to paint the original labels to represent the shade in each tin. As mom on the go, I love a multipurpose product: this product pulls double duty as lip and cheek color. The resin coating makes the tin more lasting, as you can use it to hold small items once your balm is gone.

herbal salve (made with chamomile, lavender, calendula, kokum butter, avocado oil, beeswax, & love): I always have a tin of this go-to salve in my purse: helps with a number of things including dry skin & mild itching to fly away hair and removing mascara smudges. This salve has a soft floral scent derived naturally from the herbs.

I myself have tried Bess' tinted balms, and they work great.  My daughter has very much enjoyed having her own tin of makeup that she wears on occasion, and I love knowing that it is safe and natural for her to use.

about Bess

bessmess started when my papa labeled all of my childhood "work papers" as bessmess. From then on, any craft I was making was known as bessmess to all.

My newest endeavor of tinted balms started with the beauty of a beet & is an accumulation of 5 years of science lab classes, 10+ years of professional makeup artistry, living through a period of severe chemical sensitivity, a renewed love for painting (my labels), being a Reiki Master (adding love to all of my products), and a mom of an active 3-year-old little boy (multipurpose products that give color in a natural way).

how to enter the giveaway

 There are three ways to enter this giveaway:

• Leave a comment below including your location and your first and last name. Entries that do not include this information will be excluded from the drawing.*
• Pin this giveaway on Pinterest and then leave another comment to let me know that you have done so. 
• Share this giveaway on Facebook, and then leave another comment to let me know that you have done so.  

This giveaway will be closed to more entries on Sunday February 23rd.
I will randomly select 1 winner on Monday February 24th.

*In one of my previous giveaways, multiple people claimed the same entry.  To prevent that from happening again, I am requiring people to include both their first and last name, as well as their location.

Holiday Gift Ideas for 2013

As the holidays near, I thought I would share a list of some of my favorite gift ideas for 2013. Many of these are homemade and frugal. Please share your own favorite gift ideas in the comments section.

Skin Care

• Homemade hard lotion bars are a favorite for many of my friends and family.  Hard lotion works wonderfully as an all-purpose moisturizer as well as for extra-dry spots such as winter-time feet. A few of my friends even use a dab of hard lotion to style their hair.
• Homemade whipped body butter is an all-purpose moisturizer that is lighter than hard lotion and applies very smoothly and easily.  One good way I have found to store it is in a deodorant-type container; that allows for it to be easily smeared on legs, arms, or anywhere else. Whipped body butter would also make a great belly moisturizer for any expectant mothers. 
• Naturally tinted balm for lips or cheeks is a wonderful girlie gift.  Although I've never been much of a lip-color-wearer, I like to use this colored balm on my lips for special occasions.  My daughter has never been allowed to wear any makeup (she is only 6 & 1/2 after all), but when I received this colored balm it was great that she could try it out too because the ingredients were so natural and safe. In typical 6-year-old fashion, my daughter used the balm on her lips, cheeks, and eye lids too.  The color looks very natural, so even on a 6-year-old it didn't look gaudy (although obviously she is too young to wear makeup on a daily basis). 

Homemade Candles

• Homemade tallow container candles are made using rendered beef tallow as candle wax. Tallow was traditionally used to make candles hundreds of years ago, and makes for pretty white candles.
• Homemade beeswax and coconut oil candles impart a light, sweet smell to the air. This tutorial shows how to make them (I used unrefined coconut oil instead of palm oil).
• Pure beeswax candles clean the air, burn slowly, and smell wonderful.  You can make your own using this tutorial.

Nature-Inspired Gifts

• Sock bird feeders attract the cutest little birds.  I love to hang one in a spot where I can watch the birds from my living room. 
• Flower seeds can make a great gift for any young child.  We like to collect seeds from our own flowers and package them up to give as gifts. 
• A field guide for the local area makes a wonderful gift for any nature enthusiast or child.  We love to use our National Audubon Society Field Guide for the Southwestern States whenever we find a new creature in our yard or for exploring in the desert.

Real Foodie Gifts

All of these recipes store well, which makes them great for gift-giving. They are all grain-free.

• homemade vanilla extract
• chocolate chip cookies 
• apple snap granola
• apple raisin snack bars
• coconut macaroons or lime macaroons
• sauerkraut
• beet kvass
• crispy nuts
• kombucha tea or flavored kombucha tea
• dried herbs from your own garden 

Grandparent Gifts

• Photo albums featuring the grandchildren are always welcomed by grandparents.
• Handprint or footprint ornaments are gifts that can last a lifetime. Paint some silver paint onto your child's hand or foot, then place onto a large glass ball ornament; allow to dry and then write the year and child's name with a silver Sharpie
• Letters, stories, or pictures made by the kids are also among our favorite grandparent gifts. If they are too young to write themselves, type up a story dictated by your child and print it on nice paper; I like to leave a space on each page for my daughter to draw a picture to accompany the text.

What are your favorite homemade gifts?