I'm a Mouse, Duh!

Happy Halloween!

Christian and I carved pumpkins with Jennifer and Namanja last weekend. Namanja had never made a jack-o-lantern before [I guess they don't really do that in New Zealand]. Anyhow, it would be embarrassing to admit who's is who's [well, for me anyway], so I'll just leave that to your imagination.

Happy trick-or-treating! I can't wait to see pictures of all the new kiddos in their costumes!

No Shampoo?!

I heard about this "no shampoo" movement at this really awesome blog [Bonzai Aphrodite] and was very interested.

See, most of the cosmetic and toiletry products I use are natural, but the one thing I have had a major problem with is shampoo. I have tried paraben-free and organic shampoos, but they just dry out my hair like crazy [and they are usually uber-expensive]. I had submitted to the fact that I would just have to use "normal" shampoo if I wanted my hair to be moisturized. Then I stumbled upon the aforementioned blog.

The idea of No-Shampoo is that eventually you will use no shampoo [hence the name, it's super scientific]. Our hair was not intended to be stripped daily of it's natural oils [surprise]. It actually wasn't until the 1970's that shampoo became widely used on a daily basis, possibly when the shampoo manufacturers saw big profits to be made. Shampoo is entirely unnecessary, but because we use it so often our bodies have come to expect it. Here is what happens: our hair produces natural oils to condition, we wash those oils away with harsh soaps, our bodies learn to compensate by producing even more oil, so we end up washing our hair every day. You see the cycle. So, you cannot very well just stop using shampoo right away. Well, you can [and I tried], but this is what will happen: your hair will get unmanageably oily until you breakdown and are willing to use the harshest chemical possible to cut through the oil [gross]. Trust me, you don't want to go that route. The other option is to wean your hair off of shampoo. A good way to accomplish this is to use a baking soda/water mixture as shampoo and an apple cider vinegar/water mixture as conditioner. I know what you may be thinking "Ew. I don't want my freshly washed hair to smell like vinegar." And I am here to tell you that after you wash the mixture out you can't smell it. The idea is to start using these solutions as often as you would normally use shampoo, and then begin to wean. If you start using the solutions every day, slowly cut back to every other day, then once every three days [you get the idea]. Eventually you will be using these solutions on a very rare basis. And that is the goal. To eventually use it maybe only once a month or so. The idea is that your hair will revert back to it's natural state of self-regulating the oil that it produces, so just rinsing with water should be sufficient.

You may be thinking, "Can't I just cut back on my shampoo rather than switch to these weird baking soda and vinegar things?" Well, you could, possibly. I am not sure that it would work the same way, though, because the soap is still harsh and not really letting your body start to regulate the oil it produces. Baking soda and apple cider vinegar are very gentle on your hair, especially when diluted with water. And the baking soda does not strip your hair of oils the way most shampoos do, it just absorbs any excess oil. And the apple cider vinegar just conditions your hair without leaving a waxy film behind.

So here are the directions for the solutions:

1 tbsp baking soda to one cup water

[and]

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar to one cup water

Pretty simple!

Well, I hope this was helpful [or at least interesting]. If you are interested in trying this out and have any questions, let me know. I haven't shampooed my hair for over two months now. Yay for healthy hair!

Mix Tape

I actually made this playlist for a friend, and it starts out pretty dark, but I have been addicted to it lately.

1. 9 Crimes - Damien Rice

2. Hurt - Johnny Cash

3. Bother - Stone Sour

4. Honesty - Billy Joel

5. Disarm - Smashing Pumpkins

6. Runaway Train - Soul Asylum

7. Just Breathe - Pearl Jam

8. Home - Engineers

9. Heart of Life - John Mayer

10. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight - The Postal Service

11. Love Song for a Savior - Jars of Clay

12. Dear John - Taylor Swift

13. Don't Stop Dancing - Creed

14. The Climb - Miley Cyrus

15. Free - Zac Brown Band

16. Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson

17. Love Like Crazy - Lee Brice

18. Beautiful Day - U2

19. Forever Young - Bob Dylan & The Band

Admittedly this gets cheesier towards the end. But hey, that's me.

[some of these are not the official music videos because I couldn't find them]

Saucy Apples

Ok... so that was my best attempt at a creative title [forgive me] [don't judge me].

I was offered apples from a [super cool] lady at work who had just picked two trees worth. I gladly accepted. I knew I would find a way to use mass amounts of organic apples. So, after a very hectic week I decided apple sauce was the best [and easiest] option.

I make apple sauce a little differently than the traditional method, mainly because I don't own one of those apple smasher things [what are those called?]. Anyways, I make it in more of an innovative [yeah, innovative sounds much better than ghetto] manner.

First, I peel and the apples. This takes quite a while when you are working with apples marginally bigger than a golf ball.

Then, I core them and place them into a baking dish.

Then I bake them at 350° for about an hour, or until they are soft.

And finally, I dump them into a blender and blend to my desired consistency. Well, I also add a little honey and cinnamon.

Oh, and this time a added some blueberries to one of the batches. It is really good :)

Well, that was my day off :)

Money, Money, Money

Check out what I found:

A Glacier Park quarter. I didn't even know we were making National Park quarters. Pretty cool, huh?

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia [Seed]

Yes, the very same seed that was soaked an spread all over terracotta characters is also an ancient Aztec super food. It is said that Aztec hunters could live on just two tablespoons of chia seed a day while they were out hunting. In fact, chia seed was as much a staple of the Aztec diet as maize.

So what makes chia seed so good [aside from the funny plants and ancient usage]? Well, there are several reasons to add chia seed to your diet. First, it helps balance sugar levels in your blood by slowing the transformation of carbohydrates into sugar. Some diabetics have actually been able to stabilize their blood sugar using only chia seed. Second, chia seed is known to increase energy. To be sure, it is not a stimulant just a good source of energy. It is actually known as "runners food" in certain circles because of the energy it provides. Third, chia seed is generally considered to be the best source of omega-3 fatty acids. It has the highest amount of omega-3 of any plant-based food. And unlike flax seed, the human body can digest the seed as is. Also, unlike fish, chia seed is an ecologically sustainable source of omega-3s and does not potentially contain heavy metals. Fourth, chia seed has been shown to lower cholesterol naturally. Fifth, it is a great source of protein, calcium and iron. Sixth, chia seed acts at a natural colon cleanser. As the gel flows through your digestive tract it attracts any old, undigested material and guides it out. And finally [this one is merely a personal benefit] I find it to be a great breakfast. It is hard for me to eat first thing in the morning, so chia seed is my breakfast compromise.

There are many ways to eat chia seed. The way I usually eat it is by soaking about a tablespoon of chia seed in about 3/4 cup of water and letting it sit for about 10 or 15 minutes until it forms a loose gel. And then I drink it. I am not going to lie, the texture took a little getting used to, but now it doesn't bother me at all. You can also mix it into juice, yogurt, applesauce, etc. I have even heard of people just sprinkling dry chia seed onto their meal for a crunchy texture.

You can find chia seed at most health food stores, but I find it most cost effective to buy it in bulk online and store it in the refrigerator. Our last purchase was a $23, 3-pound bag in early September and so far Christian and I have both only used about half of the lot.

Chia seed is also a good addition to any emergency survival kit [or backpacking adventure]. It is lightweight, and you can survive on a small amount if the situation requires. Although chia seed stays fresh for quite some time, it is perishable, so it is a good idea to rotate your stock if you choose to use it in your survival kit. [And just as a side note, it is always a good idea to have a basic survival kit.]

If I haven't made my case by now, I guess it's no use, but I will just add that I love chia seed and it is very good for your body.

Speise, Bier und Tanzen

There is an Oktoberfest event going on in town, so Christian and I decided to grace it with our presence.

We shared a brat :)

And a beer.

We saw the most adorable older couple dancing. They were so cute, between songs they were stretching and getting water... lol.

And finally we had the most amazing desert ever: a sacher torte. YUM!

It was a fun day

:)

Doing the Laundry

I started making my own laundry detergent mainly because the store bought variety is so expensive. And the cheaper stuff is way too perfume-y. Since then, I have become more aware that detergents are hard on your clothes and your body, which is why so many people experience allergic reactions to laundry detergents.

Simple water is enough to clean most laundry, but if you need more peace of mind [like I do], there is a middle ground between just water and harsh detergents: homemade laundry soap. I have made a couple of different kinds and this is one that is easy to make and works very well. It is completely non-toxic and uses only natural ingredients. If you would like, you can add some essential oil for fragrance and antibacterial properties, but I find that the scent in the bar soap is enough [and I use the eucalyptus kind for it's antibacterial properties]. One batch of this should last a while, because you only need about a tablespoon or two per load.

Well, I hope you try it and have fun!

Laundry Soap

2 cups Dr Bronners Classic Bar Soap [any scent], finely grated

1 cup baking soda

1 cup washing soda

1 cup borax soap

Mix together. Use 2 tbsp per load.

Occupy Wall Street

Since the mainstream media has displayed a major lack of interest in this movement, I find it necessary to post about.

photo via TheAtlantic.com

Occupy Wall Street is a non-partisan group of people coming from all creeds, races and genders to come together as the "99%" of the population who want to abolish the greed and corruption of the 1% of people who are running this country politically and financially. They continue to lead a peaceful demonstration near Wall Street [or the "financial district"] in New York City that began on September 17. The group has been criticized for not having a clear goal or set of demands. However, I find that empowering because they are not asking for a single thing, they are asking for many things that will empower the 99% and cause an entire systematic change in how the US government is run. They are bringing light to the fact that it is not one issue or another, the whole system has broken down. Their overall goal is to abolish the unwavering corporate influence over US policy and economy.

The group has experienced police abuse. There are reports of people being barricaded in and then pepper-sprayed without just cause or warning. Reports of police being overly violent for the situation. I am proud of the people who have continued to show up despite this unfair treatment by those who are supposed to protect our right to freedom of speech. If the police will not protect them, then they need to continue to show the police that they are not afraid. And that the behavior of the police is only more evidence that this demonstration is necessary. Also, when CNN and FOX were informed about this police brutality, they chose not to report it and actually hung up on the people calling to let them know what was happening. Again, more affirmation that this cause is essential to taking back our country.

Since this demonstration began, more cities have come up and joined the group. The movement has now spread to Chicago IL, Cincinnati OH, Cleveland OH, Columbus OH, Indiana, Indianapolis IN, Kansas City MO, Michigan, Minnesota, Omaha NE, St Louis MO, Tulsa OK, Wisconsin, Albany NY, Binghamton NY, Boston MA, DC, Hartford CT, Maine, New Haven CT, New Jersey, Philadelphia PA, Pittsburgh PA, Providence RI, Rochester NY, Vermont, Arkansas, Ashville NC, Atlanta GA, Birmingham AL, Charlotte NC, Clarksville TN, Columbus GA, Daytona Beach FL, Durham NC, Florence SC, Greensboro NC, Jacksonville FL, Knoxville TN, Lexington KY, Louisville KY, Memphis TN, Mississippi, Nashville TN, New Orleans LA, Orlando FL, Richmond VA, Tallahassee FL, Tampa FL, Winston Salem NC, Albequerque NM, Austin TX, Dallas TX, Houston TX, Phoenix AZ, San Antonio TX, Boise ID, Colorado Springs CO, Denver CO, Eugene OR, Las Vegas NV, Los Angeles CA, Olympia WA, Portland OR, Sacramento CA, Salt Lake City UT, San Diego CA, San Francisco CA, San Jose CA, Santa Cruz CA, Seattle WA, and Spokane WA. I encourage everyone to check out OccupyWallStreet.org to see what they are about and what they are doing. If you are near one of these cities, I encourage you to explore OccupyTogether.com to see what they are about [or just click the link for the city you are nearest].

I am very proud of these people and groups, and if I were remotely close to any of these areas you can bet that I would be right there with them. Good for you! I am sending you good thoughts and appreciation from afar.

I believe that the freedom of speech is the single most sacred freedom that we [sorta] still have as Americans. It is important that we use this freedom to express our disappointment in how our government is run. When you don't have money or power as an individual, you can come together as a group and demonstrate your power in numbers. The middle and lower class have the benefit of outnumbering the elite by an astronomical amount of people. This is our power. Let the government know what you want. This is our time. This is our freedom. Much can be accomplished through peaceful protest. Thank you, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr for showing the world the power of dedication and people unifying as one group. My challenge to you [and me] is to learn to put aside our differences to make this world a better and more peaceful place for everyone. We can do it, if only we come together.

"We are the 99%"