...emergency brake

Start, stop. Repeat. Again. That's how I'm feeling about my blog, but I'm at it again. I need a place to brain dump. I was using Facebook for that but I just deactivated my account. I'm tired of people using social media and texting to avoid contact. That voice connection can make all the difference. 

Thankfully, this Saturday morning I had breakfast with a friend. We chose to meet at La Madeleine and have breakfast at 9am and then went our ways. She said she wants to do it again in a couple weeks. I'd love that, but we've been trying for a once a month and we are lucky to do once a quarter. Friendships need more priority in our lives. Relationships period. With people, not apps or phones.

If it hadn't been for Saturday breakfast, I wouldn't have spoken with anyone this weekend - and I had a three day weekend, Friday through Sunday. Used my voice for a whopping 1.5 hours, poor Linda!

I've put the brakes on SM. Yes I still have IG but I've only ever posted there because at one point I did connect my FB and IG. But really don't look at it even. The app connection had made me feel even more lonely - I want phones and people back in my life, been my obsession all weekend. Anyway, this will be my dumping ground. I want to save some pics, thoughts, memories. I loved that part of FB, the walk down memory lane. Creating here. 

Just for cuteness sake, love this pic.

...reverting...

I used to freely admit I didn't like the phone and preferred texting. You know that saying....be careful what you wish for, right? Well, I'm taking back those words. Yes, the phone can put me outside my comfort zone for some reason. BUT....as I'm aging, I am resenting the disconnectedness of text and social media conversations. 

Don't get me wrong, I think technology can be absolutely phenomenal, but I'm hitting the "back in the good ole days" period of my life. I want simple, direct, meaningful. I miss the conversations that are complete and not ignored or only a portion addressed. The time lapse between sides of the discussion/convo can be enormous. I want connection, discussion, resolution. I want the warmth of someone's voice and the feelings it evokes in me. I want hard conversations. I want to make myself and potentially the person I'm talking to uncomfortable with what I say because of the emotion, caring, and love that is in my words. That is something people are starting to forget, I fear.

It really hit home yesterday, which was my 64th birthday. I did not speak to one person. Every birthday wish was words on a screen - Facebook, Messenger, Text. It broke my heart that not one person could bother to pick up the phone and make that extra effort - and that I have done just this in the past, not realizing the personal connection I was rejecting. 

I know an incoming phone call can be at an inconvenient time, or not something you want to deal with, but too bad. I'm going to be THAT person who calls you at THE most inopportune time and, if nothing else, tells you that I wanted a vocal connection to tell you the reason I'm calling. That connecting with you on a vocal level is more important to me than words on a screen. I love you.

 

.....dog gone it.....

13.5 years this boy brought joy into my life. Helping him to the rainbow bridge last Monday was hard, but his quality of life had tipped toward the pain and “let me go” side. I held him as he left and he will be in my heart always. I still hear a noise and think he’s knocking to come in, or it will be time to feed him, and I have to stop myself from heading to the kitchen. My life is incredibly quiet, didn’t realize what a big space he had in it. I’ll always love you my sweet boy. 

Cowboy

February 23, 2007 - August 31, 2020

American Staghound Extraordinaire, one of the Fab Five

 

Homemade incense.....yeah, it's a thing!

I have some amazing incense, purchased from a website where things are hand made and fresh.  I also have some incense from the store....some from Walmart, some from Planet K, some from a metaphysical store in Sedona, some from Amazon.  

There is a HUUUUGE difference between the incense I purchased from the website where the woman hand makes things and all the other sources.  Huge.  Did I mention how vast the difference is?  The scent is true, not headache inducing overpowering like I've run into from other sources.  Well worth the cost and yes, I know it's "handmade" but never stopped to ponder that handmade meant that me, with my aromatherapy background and love, could make it myself.

Until today, that is.  I take classes through Aromahead Institute and am working on my Aromatherapy Specialist designation.  I read the Aromahead Blog as well as the Aromatics International Blog (one of my absolute favorite oil suppliers as they have extremely complete info on their site).  Guess what?  I found a great post from Aromahead that explains how to make your own incense sticks.  It details out why many of the mass produced blank incense sticks are NOT good due to ingredients in them.  The resource for Thai Punk Sticks she recommends is from Scents of the Earth. 

I know this hand made incense won't be as inexpensive as what I'd been purchasing in stores, but that's not my end goal.  I look to have more natural ingredients about me, things that do me and my psyche good, are good for my world.  In pursuing this, I have less and better quality and truly enjoy it more.

It's not for everyone, making your own incense, but I wanted to share.  I haven't tried it yet as I've just ordered my punk, but I'm moving my little used olive dish into my "laboratory" or studio as I prefer to call it, and am anxiously awaiting to make my own!

If you try it out, please let me know what you think.....dobré zdraví.

...let the cleaning begin!

I'm all about natural, thus my push to get chemicals out of my life.  Fabrics?  COTTON!!!   Well, I'll take linen as well but 100 percent cotton is my hands down favorite.  I know it wrinkles, but the most important thing to me is that it breathes!

I have a tendency to be warm so clothing and bedding must be 100 percent cotton.  Sometimes, like in pillows, I do have to give in a bit.  I found pillows that are cotton shells and interior are hypoallergenic and washable.  Guess what was washed today?

If you haven't washed your pillows lately, please do.  They get filled with dust mites, oils and moisture from our faces and goddess only knows what else.  So today.....pillow cases off, as well as pillow protectors (you do have pillow protectors between your pillows and pillow cases, don't you?  Or am I simply a bit more germophobe/clean freak than most?  Me and Sheldon....).

Unfortunately, I saw some yellowish stains on my pillows.  Sweat, saliva, I don't really want to know but it creeped me out.  And I wash my pillows every three months or so.  Pillow cases every week, protectors not as often as the cases.  Ugh.  HOT water into the machine, two pillows to keep the load balanced and Seventh Generation detergent.  Then a cap of Thieves Concentrate from Young Living.  Moved my pillows into the dryer and tossed in my wool dryer balls (see older post) that I had put lavender on and push that dryer button.  About 30 minutes later, I HAVE THE FLUFFIEST, CLEANEST, MOST WONDERFUL SMELLING PILLOWS!!!  Those dryer balls do wonders - smashing around inside the dryer, putting pockets of air between items allowing them to dry faster and fluffing up those pillows!  

Did you catch all that natural stuff?  Yes I used laundry "detergent" but it was Seventh Generation at least.  Haven't gotten to making my own yet.  No more dryer sheets in my house, simply oversized wool dryer balls with essential oils on them (added about 15 minutes before being tossed into the dryer, the oil that is....so oil spots don't get on your items).  

Well, spring has already sprung and the spring cleaning has started.  Are you joining me?  If you have any specific questions on cleaning without chemicals, email or message me and I'll be happy to guide you!

...removing chemicals from my laundry life

I'm on a major quest to remove as many chemicals from my life as possible.  Yes, it's a current trend.  Yes it's better for your health and environment.  However, I have another motivator.  My husband has "beat" cancer that was brought on by early and prolonged exposure to chemicals.

At a young age (10ish) he was exposed to strong pesticides as he sprayed crops, as well as when the crop dusters would spray the fields directly behind his home, lifting up only as they started passing his home.  He had these awful chemicals eating away in him and at a young age (42) was forced to retire when his body could no longer function as it should and he battled Hairy Cell Leukemia.  He's beaten the demon and continues to work on his health despite roughly 16 surgeries, many related to cancer and chemicals destroying his body.  

I truly believe that chemicals, plastics, convenience foods.....all play a part in our health and possibly had more detrimental effects than we had expected.  As a result, I'm on a mission to de-chemical our home asap.

One of the first and easiest steps is the dryer.  Dryer sheets are a new phenomenon that we honestly can easily eliminate.  Wool is a natural material, not man-made like dryer sheets, created of "fake" materials.  Ever seen a wool dryer ball?  Similar in looks to an oversized tennis ball with some good heft to them.  Dryer balls help your laundry dry faster by bumping around between your items inside the dryer and creating space that the hot air can get in.  Static isn't entirely eliminated but that's a compromise I can tolerate. Oh!  Almost forgot the other great thing about dryer balls...softness!  As they bounce around among your clothing, they soften that sometimes stiff feeling left in towels and jeans.  And yes, they will get "pills" but that doesn't deter from their effectiveness or long life (years potentially).

One thing I love to do is add essential oils to the dryer balls....I'm all about scent.  You don't want to put the oils on as you toss the balls into the dryer with your clothing - you could get oil spots on your items and that is a drag.  Instead, as you start your laundry and are loading items into the washer, put 3-4 drops of essential  oil onto each dryer ball.  By the time you toss your wash into the dryer, the oils have soaked in and you will not be chancing oil stains.  Instead, the scent will be released slowly throughout the laundry tumbling.  

My absolute favorite scent to add is lavender.  My kids associate the smell of lavender with laundry and have been known to swear they will always use lavender laundry scented  products.  Orange and lemon are nice as well.  Mix scents up.  Look at the shelves at the store and check out the scents.  Your imagination is the limit.

If I'm going to use my dryer, dryer balls are my choice, no more dryer sheets in this house.  Of course, outdoors with the scent of fresh air and sunshine is my favorite method of drying!

Get your dryer balls here.

Have you cleaned your diffuser lately?

We all talk about wonderful diffuser recipes, but I really don’t see discussions on diffuser care.   You do realize you need to take regular care of your diffuser, right?

Each week, take time to wipe your diffuser down, inside and out.  If you’re a fanatical cleaner, after each use is best, but who has time for that?  Wish I did….

First unplug your diffuse — leave cord in the wall and unplug at the diffuser point.  By wipe down, I mean take a cloth and put a bit of alcohol on it and wipe the inside and out of the diffuser.  Get those fingerprints off and the oil drops, as well as the dust that has collected.  Use a cotton swap dipped in alcohol to get inside really good – the nooks and crannies as well as the ultrasonic plate or chip in the bottom.  That’s the minimum you should do.

Once a month it’s a great idea to clean it a bit deeper, like you would your coffee pot.  Fill the diffuser about halfway with water and add about 10 drops of white vinegar.  Turn on the diffuser and run for about 10 minutes.  Unplug and wipe it all down.  Voila!

Ever hear your diffuser start to make grinding noises or sound like a little choo choo train starting up?  Yup….deep cleaning time, you’ve waited a bit too long.  Regular care and five minutes a week can extend the life of your diffuser.  You are doing so much good for yourself using it, give it a bit of TLC as well.