Returning to Home -

It was breezy and the small wind seemed to increase a bit, but nothing prepared us for the gust that came! Suddenly it gusted 3- - no 40 - no 50 mph! picking up dirt, debris, bits of tree branches flew by. The gust didn't end - it increased! dirt and sand in the eyes- we couldn't see the road any longer- so thick was the wall of dirt going by-  the umbrella for the table picked up and flew 10 feet into the pool, trying to grab it and save it and nearly fell in -then continued blast- trash and tree limbs flying across the parking lot... a dust devil the size of a small tornado picked up large tumble weeds and threw them into a whirl 200 feet up in the air... it kept going....until it was gone.
... just as suddenly as it started....
I saw this happen last month.

 An actual occurrence, that turns out to be a perfect analogy for our lives this last three months.

A whirlwind, a tornado of events, turmoil, upheaval, and then sudden calm.  Discovering how to survive a storm and still smile with little left.
I am not comfortable giving out whole details, but in short- we were buying a house, the seller backed out 5 days before escrow, everything fell through, and three months later- after multitude of events such as losing cars and jobs- we are finally back in a rental house.
It is now a week after our move and I am still going through boxes, and discovering where things might go and basically...settling down.

Whew.
I never intended to be away so long.

I learned a great many things during that time and I want to share it all with you, I just have to figure out how to word it all. I missed writing!
The three months covered the bulk of summer here. The hottest months- we did a great deal of swimming and walking.
Many hours got spent outside- and we enjoyed the BBQ many nights, rather than going out to eat fast food. I found out just how bad I could feel after nasty fast food. (McD's made me feel like I had poisoned myself into a sluggish grease pit, I wasn't alone! Everyone including the kids agreed!)
Oh, how I missed real food! I craved home cooking daily. We all craved it after just a week of not having it! The BBQ helped, but really  nothing compares to homemade lasagna fresh from the oven (our voted most missed food 2nd was baked chicken).

 I missed my All natural cleansers and safe cleansers. I used baking soda whenever I could but could not escape the motel cleansers etc.

In the heated outdoors, I discovered Lavender Essential Oil is fantastic for mosquito bites, and spider bites, and virtually eliminates all itching! It also deters ants and flies.

I discovered my small jar of coconut oil could become far more than cooking oil, it turned into my daily moisturizer, my hand lotion, and a soothing answer for sunburn!

I discovered my bottle of castile lavender soap could wash dishes, be a hand and body soap, and shampoo!

I discovered that even in trying times and adversity I still could not compromise my beliefs that natural is better than the convenience products sold on the shelves. All in all the experience was like a test for all of us- did our steps to go real food and more natural before really take hold? I'd have to say a resounding YES!!!!!

So happy to be back! So happy to be able to write it all again!

As I unbox and unravel from the past summer- I hope to start sharing everything again. Thanks to everyone for following and thank you for your patience!

-Janey
a truly Consistently Sporadic Writer

All Natural Daily Moisturizer

All Natural Daily Moisturizer

I have become aware of the scary amount of chemicals and fake ingredients that are included in daily moisturizers sold today. It’s amazing, the amount of dangerous ingredients in products sold to be the best.

Nature is best. Your skin is natural, you are natural, so use natural products. What can be so hard about that? 

Many do not consider their skin to be an organ of the body. The fact is, it’s the largest. What you put on it soaks in, goes to your blood stream, goes into cells and structure, and affects you. What you put on it -goes IN it. Simple.

The golden rule for your body’s organs is: If you do not recognize an ingredient, your body cannot recognize it either. This applies to lotions, soaps, shampoos, body washes, deodorants, etc. etc. etc. Anything you put on to bare skin.

But I am addressing replacing my daily facial moisturizer with a natural ingredient. It’s been over a year now, with my new routine, and I cannot be happier! The older I get, the drier my skin reacts to weather changes and exposure. But I have found the easiest answer for me: Grape seed oil and coconut oil.  Grape seed oil is light, thin, soaks in fast and doesn’t leave a heavy greasy feel. It does not clog pores, and it’s 100% natural.  Leaves my skin happy,

In harder weather, harsh conditions require a little more, so I combine 1 tsp. of 100% organic virgin coconut oil and 1 tsp. Grape seed oil into a recycled/reused night cream container and use this instead of Grape seed oil alone. Still doesn’t clog pores, soaks in in just a minute, and leaves my face not feeling dry and taut.

Bye-bye chemicals. Hello Happy skin!