Sunday, March 30, 2014

Oh, Coconut Oil, How I Love Thee!!!

Coconut oil and raw unfiltered honey have suddenly replaced the ten or so bottles of various beauty addiction products that used to fill up my bathroom (though, I admit, really I keep them in the kitchen).

You know the drill. This fabulous new/hot product will give you everything you've been dreaming of...soft frizz-free hair, with a healthy shine that everyone will envy. Either you've read about it in your latest edition subscription, a friend raves about it, or your helpful hair stylist made you look incredibly gorgeous at your last appointment so you just had to have "it".

But, even if I could get it to work once (and we know we will never get the look our stylist will give us at home), never again does that miracle and expensive product deliver. And, if it does, the extra work I had to put into it just doesn't happen with a two year old and new baby on the way.

I have what I like to call the product graveyard. And, because of the amount of money I've dished out for those miracle products, I just can't bring myself to get rid of them.
Until now.

I've been a "no 'poo" addict for over a year now (although at the beginning of my pregnancy I had to find alternate conditioning routes...the apple cider vinegar and I weren't close friends for awhile), and that started my searching Pinterest for more alternatives to the expensive and chemical filled products I once bought by way too many.

There are dozens of variations on the "no 'poo" conditioning route (the baking soda and water wash is pretty standard...though, I may try washing with raw honey and water eventually), and after trying a few, finally, I've found my perfect combo.

My thick, semi curly, and incredibly long hair rebelled at bananas/avocados, and yogurt/egg yolks just didn't cut it. Enter of my favorite things...

Organic virgin coconut oil. The great thing about coconut oil? I can use it for so many things...wait, this could be bad!

In the kitchen as a substitute for oil and non-stick awesomeness (a higher heat tolerance with a touch of sweetness), fabulous in smoothies. Beauty uses? In an exfoliating scrub (leaves skin super soft and hydrated), a no fuss lip balm, after shower/bath moisturizer, stretch mark remedy (um, second baby here!) added to cocoa butter, the afore mentioned hair conditioner, anti-frizz/leave-in hair treatment.

Plus, it just smells like summer....

posted from Bloggeroid

Monday, March 10, 2014

My Favorite Things...Softlips In The Polar Vortex

If there is one thing that I've noticed about this neverending and frozen winter season, it is how dry the air in my house is from the heat being on an endless cycle of fighting Polar Vortex after Polar Vortex.

My humidifiers can't keep up.

Between a stuffy and dry nose and chappedr lips, I feel like the Sahara Desert has nothing on my humble abode. Searching endlessly and trying everything from vitamin e oil, to coconut oil, to plain old vaseline,and Sugar Lip Moisturizer (Blistex and I do not mix), I finally found a lip moisturizer that works, and doesn't break the bank.



Softlips Intense Moisture...just what this mommy who has less than two weeks for baby boy number two to make his arrival needed. Because really, who, at ten days from their due date wants to dish out forty bucks for lip scrub and moisture rich expensive lip balm from Sephora? I'm lucky if I change my yoga pants at this point. And, yes, I have totally been using Pinterest to make my own various products, but, again...yoga pants and showers take precedence. Especially with a two and a half year old.

Did I mention they are $1.99...for two? LOVE. My husband and lil man even use it.

Mint or Very Berry? Hmmm, I'll take both. I mean, I need at least one for my purse, one for my night stand, one for the boys, and one for the hospital bag.

posted from Bloggeroid