Random Acts of Kindness

 Some of you may know about my pledge for 2011, to do at least 12 (one per month) RAOK for the year. I had gotten off to a slow start with I think 2 for the year to date, this month I have bumped it up to 4, but let me tell you I am going to far exceed my 12 goal - let me tell you why...... I have discovered TheToySociety their aim is to create a "something for nothing " experience. Basically you handmake a toy of any description and leave it somewhere for someone else to find and keep. I did my first toy drop this morning and OMG I am hooked. The elephant above is what was left, what do you think? Would you like to find something like this? This will be the first of many.

I want to give a big big thankyou as well to Nic from http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/sraokfor giving me the insipration and push to do something more, to put some of the ideas whirling around in my head into action. I can't put into words how you have made me feel and hopefully what you have set into motion.

I have finally been doing some craft, I haven't gotten photos of everything yet - but here is a taste - Sawyers blanket. Some of you may know that when Macallum was born I threw together a stray piece of minky and fleece in pale blue that for some reason of another Mac cannot live without. Now while it is lovely that he adores it so much, being pale blue makes it forever filthy, and trying to get it away from him for long enough to wash it is lets just say not easy. So this time around we went with a much more dirt friendly colour. The back is a road pattern so he can even play cars on it when he is older. I hope he loves it half as much as Mac loves his.

Next post will have more creations I promise

xxxxx

due to popular demand

well not really but I did get a request to put a basic recipe for the no poo hair care method up, so ask and ye shall receive - just for you Kristie.

Bare in mind it does need a little adjustment to suit each individual but the basic place to start is

1Tbsn bicarb soda dissolved in 1 cup water, apply this mix to your hair starting by working it around the roots and then down the rest of the hair. Don't be alarmed there will be NO lather. When you have rubbed it around a bit - rinse it out. You are then ready to condition - use about the same quantities - 1tbsn apple cider vinegar (ACV) into 1 cup water and work it in like the bicarb, when you are ready rinse it out. No you won't smell like vinegar I promise.

You can also add your favourite essential oils to the ACV mix if you like, also some honey is nice too.

Experiment, I think you will be surprised by the results........

If you do give it a go I would love to hear about your experience.

Shampoo free and loving it

In keeping with our desire to live a more natural, simple life we have stopped using shampoo and conditioner. No it is not unhygenic or dirty as I have been told - we still wash our hair, I just don't use a chemical cocktail to do it.

Have you ever read the ingredients in your bottles of shampoo and conditioner? Do you even know what those things are or what they do? I am not prepared to put those things onto my head, sorry but I am not one who believes that just because it is on the supermarket shelf then it must be safe. I believe that I am protecting my families health by not allowing these chemicals to be absorbed through the skin and into our bodies. I believe what is too toxic to put in your mouth is too toxic to put on your skin as well.

So I can hear you asking - what do we do with our hair? - Well I'm glad you asked - we use what is known as the no poo method.
Almost 12 months ago I decided to take the plunge after reading a lot about it I figured what did I have to lose ( except another expensive item off my shopping list lol). Basically we wash in a mix of bi-carb and water and rinse in apple cider vinegar. After an inital adjustment period my hair has never been better, no more dandruff and healthy, strong hair.

I know what you are thinking - oh no I couldn't do that my hair would be a big oily mess yada yada yada. Well let me tell you this- your hair's natural oils work on a supply and demand system - the more you strip the oils away with shampoo, the more demand you create and so the body produces more oils. When you stop using the products there is an adjustment period while your body regulates itself again. For me that period was about 4 weeks.

Admittedly its not easy for everyone to get through the adjustment period. My hair was long then so I put it up everyday and tried to hide it a bit for work, but it really didn't bother me too much but I do understand this may be offputting for some.

Another upside is that I am not purchasing more plastic and so doing one more little bit for the environment.

All I can say if you are interested Google is your friend - you will find heaps of info on the internet to help you decide if this is for you or not. I love the fact that I have found a frugal, easy, toxic free way to care for our hair

what do you have to lose...........

helllllooooo anybody there

well if you are still around reading this blog you are a better person than me - I nearly gave up on the blog but  here I am again. No promises on when I will be here again though

The biggest thing to happen in my absence was the birth of the very special Sawyer Phoenix

isn't he perfect? Already he has settled in well to the craziness that we live in, and he is well loved by all his siblings too.

 Delaney and Sawyer

Brierley and Sawyer

mental note to self - upload more photos :)

Can honestly say very little else has been happening, not much sewing or knitting at all, I lost the love for a while, I am slowly getting my mojo back but I have nothing to show for it yet - I do have something special that I just finished knitting but its a gift so no pics yet.

I am also participating in a dishcloth swap on http://downtoearthforums.com/. I haven't done a swap in ages and this is a nice small project to help me find the swap love again.

anyhoo the baby is calling so to speak so seeya later alligators