({v})
This entry isn't necessarily about living simply. But the point of the blog is to make a positive change in the world - generally I try to do this by living simply, but there are unlimited ways we can make a difference in our local and global communities.
One way I plugged myself in recently was being part of The Vagina Monologues. Please visit www.vday.org if you don't know much about The Vagina Monologues or V Day. V stands for valentine, victory, and vagina. Eve Ensler wrote TVM in 1996, and it has been translated into over 45 languages since then and been performed around the globe. Eve began by doing interviews with over 200 women, asking them about their views of sex, relationships, and violence against women. "Women's empowerment is deeply connected to their sexuality," Eve once said. "I'm obsessed with women being violated and raped, and with incest. All of these things are deeply connected to our vaginas."
The point of TVM was to showcase the idea that nobody wants women to talk about their vaginas. We aren't supposed to acknowledge our periods, historically we aren't supposed to enjoy sex, we aren't supposed to be able to do anything without the help of a man, we aren't supposed to think of ourselves as beautiful - let alone see our vaginas as a fabulous part of ourselves. But if we can't talk about it, can't welcome it and respect it and love it, we'll never be able to have an open discussion about the violence against women. If we can't talk about sex, we can't talk about rape, incest, molestation, etc. We need a place to embrace our womanhood, and this is a place to do it.
The Vagina Monologues turned into a movement called V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls. Each year, V-Day raises around 50 million dollars to help find ways to fight against sexual violence against women and girls. Can you imagine that each year, 50 million dollars is put up to fight sexual violence, and each year, there is still sexual violence?
200 thousand woman in the U.S. are raped every year. And we think we have such a great country. Consider the rest of the world.
I've heard some criticism against The Vagina Monologues since I began, and I have to say that most of it came from people who stopped listening after they heard the word vagina. And most of those people were women. Can someone explain this to me?
Criticism has ranged from:
- that's feminist bullshit that I can't stand
- it's only for women, men have nothing to do with it
- there isn't a problem with rape in this country, so it's not necessary to show that
- it's vulgar
- it's amoral
- it's disgusting
- it's only for lesbians, and wants everyone to hate men
All I can say is, that's all wrong. It's about ending sexual violence against women and girls. The monologues are real women's stories. You may not agree with all different women's perceptions, you may not relate, but does it matter? The goal is to raise awareness that there IS sexual violence going on, and we need to embrace women as human beings who deserve nothing less than total respect, as all humans do. If you don't want to see the show, okay. But don't bash it, especially when you don't know anything about it. And maybe consider making a donation to www.vday.org to help us help those who have been victims of this violence. 10% of our proceeds for the performance went to the women and girls of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where women and girls are dealing with a femicide (see http://www.vday.org/drcongo/background). The rest of the proceeds went to ACCESS, http://www.assaultcarecenter.org/, where I am going to begin volunteering next week!!!
What are you passionate about? Find a way to help. You're on the internet right now anyway - educate yourself now!
This hasn't been the most coherent blog ever. But I haven't had my coffee yet today.
PLEASE read http://www.vday.org/about/more-about for more information. ({})
One way I plugged myself in recently was being part of The Vagina Monologues. Please visit www.vday.org if you don't know much about The Vagina Monologues or V Day. V stands for valentine, victory, and vagina. Eve Ensler wrote TVM in 1996, and it has been translated into over 45 languages since then and been performed around the globe. Eve began by doing interviews with over 200 women, asking them about their views of sex, relationships, and violence against women. "Women's empowerment is deeply connected to their sexuality," Eve once said. "I'm obsessed with women being violated and raped, and with incest. All of these things are deeply connected to our vaginas."
The point of TVM was to showcase the idea that nobody wants women to talk about their vaginas. We aren't supposed to acknowledge our periods, historically we aren't supposed to enjoy sex, we aren't supposed to be able to do anything without the help of a man, we aren't supposed to think of ourselves as beautiful - let alone see our vaginas as a fabulous part of ourselves. But if we can't talk about it, can't welcome it and respect it and love it, we'll never be able to have an open discussion about the violence against women. If we can't talk about sex, we can't talk about rape, incest, molestation, etc. We need a place to embrace our womanhood, and this is a place to do it.
The Vagina Monologues turned into a movement called V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls. Each year, V-Day raises around 50 million dollars to help find ways to fight against sexual violence against women and girls. Can you imagine that each year, 50 million dollars is put up to fight sexual violence, and each year, there is still sexual violence?
200 thousand woman in the U.S. are raped every year. And we think we have such a great country. Consider the rest of the world.
I've heard some criticism against The Vagina Monologues since I began, and I have to say that most of it came from people who stopped listening after they heard the word vagina. And most of those people were women. Can someone explain this to me?
Criticism has ranged from:
- that's feminist bullshit that I can't stand
- it's only for women, men have nothing to do with it
- there isn't a problem with rape in this country, so it's not necessary to show that
- it's vulgar
- it's amoral
- it's disgusting
- it's only for lesbians, and wants everyone to hate men
All I can say is, that's all wrong. It's about ending sexual violence against women and girls. The monologues are real women's stories. You may not agree with all different women's perceptions, you may not relate, but does it matter? The goal is to raise awareness that there IS sexual violence going on, and we need to embrace women as human beings who deserve nothing less than total respect, as all humans do. If you don't want to see the show, okay. But don't bash it, especially when you don't know anything about it. And maybe consider making a donation to www.vday.org to help us help those who have been victims of this violence. 10% of our proceeds for the performance went to the women and girls of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where women and girls are dealing with a femicide (see http://www.vday.org/drcongo/background). The rest of the proceeds went to ACCESS, http://www.assaultcarecenter.org/, where I am going to begin volunteering next week!!!
What are you passionate about? Find a way to help. You're on the internet right now anyway - educate yourself now!
This hasn't been the most coherent blog ever. But I haven't had my coffee yet today.
PLEASE read http://www.vday.org/about/more-about for more information. ({})
Adventures with the Diva Cup
Hello, menstruation!
It's been a couple months. I missed you.
I recently finished a book which I would highly recommend to all women and any man who loves a woman. It's called "Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation" by Elissa Stein and Susan Kim. It is all about periods - everything you ever wanted to know, didn't know you didn't know, the history of menstruation, the cultural and historical attitudes, loads of interesting information about what the fem care industry and birth control companies are trying to tell us, and much more. From a literary standpoint, not the greatest (some intense bias and a lot of chapters that end with rhetorical questions); but for all those inquisitive minds like mine (hats off to you, Jeanna and Kat), a lovely read. You'll feel enlightened to be sure.
It's also been a very lovely form of method acting as I try to grasp my character in "The Vagina Monologues," which is coming up in a couple of months! All you who are able, end of Febs, M-Shop, fundraiser for ACCESS Women's Shelter in Ames -- be there.
I have lots of thoughts and fun facts I could share, but the most important thing I took away from the book is this: menstruation is beautiful; tons of blood soaked tampons and pads in landfills, not so beautiful. There are a couple of alternatives (like re-usable pads that get washed in the laundry or dead sponges), but the one that seemed the most likely for me to switch to is a new little friend called The Diva Cup.
I had already been eyeing Miss Diva at Wheatsfield, but after reading Flow, I couldn't not buy one. I had been planning on waiting to buy it until after I used up my current stash of tampons, but then my period started about the same day I finished the book (interesting), and I just couldn't wait. I rushed to Wheatsfield and purchased my first Diva Cup.
The Diva Cup is just one of many versions of menstrual cups available to Green Goddesses(-wannabees) like myself. Other brands are The Keeper, The Moon Cup, and Lunette. The menstrual cup is a reusable cup which is folded and then inserted into the vagina like a tampon (minus the applicator). It creates a suction and catches the blood, then you pull it out, empty the blood, wash the cup, and reuse. It's so simple! For me, the hardest thing (which I would have previously put my foot down about) is that you have to use your fingers to guide Miss Diva into your vag. But I've been getting acquainted with my "eccentric tulip" for the Vagina Monologues, and this was just another way to do that.
I'll be honest, it was really really weird the first time I put it in. But nobody was home, I laughed by myself a lot, and after some rotating, leg lifting, etc., I finally got it. And then... nothing. It was just like having a tampon in. And taking it out was easy, and dumping the contents out was easy, and by the time round two of insertion took place, I felt like a pro.
What can I say? It may be something that takes time to sit in with some of you, but here's what should really help you at least consider this as an option: the average woman will throw away 250 to 300 POUNDS of tampons, pads, and applicators in her lifetime (pg. 235). And don't play ignorant: that waste isn't getting recycled in any way, shape, or form; it's going into our landfills, our dumps, our earth. This is just one simple way to cut back on this bloody mess. Plus, you'll definitely save money over time with the cup - it can be reused for years, if properly maintained.
And I won't even get into the issue of some of the dioxins, bleaches, etc. found in most tampons. Maybe they haven't bothered you. But we've only been using tampons for less than 100 years - who knows if there may be longer term risks.
Anyway, I want to end on an fun note. Here are some intercultural ways to let someone know you're "on the rag."
Netherlands - "The Tomatoe Soup is Overcooked."
Brazilian - "I'm with Chico"
Chinese - "Little Sister Has come"
Latin America - "Jenny has a Red Dress on"
Australia - "I've Got the Flags Out"
Denmark - "There are Communists in the Funhouse"
Ireland - "I'm wearing a Jam Rag"
and many more, if you grab yourself a copy of Flow.
Bleed on, my ladies, bleed on.
P.S. PLEASE comment. I have had so many fun and interesting conversations with people via Facebook in regards to numerous posts I've put up. The purpose of this blog is to have a conversation HERE. If you have a thought, please post it here, and post it with confidence. Trust me - you're not the only one thinking whatever it is you are itching to say to me. So just do it - comment!
It's been a couple months. I missed you.
I recently finished a book which I would highly recommend to all women and any man who loves a woman. It's called "Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation" by Elissa Stein and Susan Kim. It is all about periods - everything you ever wanted to know, didn't know you didn't know, the history of menstruation, the cultural and historical attitudes, loads of interesting information about what the fem care industry and birth control companies are trying to tell us, and much more. From a literary standpoint, not the greatest (some intense bias and a lot of chapters that end with rhetorical questions); but for all those inquisitive minds like mine (hats off to you, Jeanna and Kat), a lovely read. You'll feel enlightened to be sure.
It's also been a very lovely form of method acting as I try to grasp my character in "The Vagina Monologues," which is coming up in a couple of months! All you who are able, end of Febs, M-Shop, fundraiser for ACCESS Women's Shelter in Ames -- be there.
I have lots of thoughts and fun facts I could share, but the most important thing I took away from the book is this: menstruation is beautiful; tons of blood soaked tampons and pads in landfills, not so beautiful. There are a couple of alternatives (like re-usable pads that get washed in the laundry or dead sponges), but the one that seemed the most likely for me to switch to is a new little friend called The Diva Cup.
I had already been eyeing Miss Diva at Wheatsfield, but after reading Flow, I couldn't not buy one. I had been planning on waiting to buy it until after I used up my current stash of tampons, but then my period started about the same day I finished the book (interesting), and I just couldn't wait. I rushed to Wheatsfield and purchased my first Diva Cup.
The Diva Cup is just one of many versions of menstrual cups available to Green Goddesses(-wannabees) like myself. Other brands are The Keeper, The Moon Cup, and Lunette. The menstrual cup is a reusable cup which is folded and then inserted into the vagina like a tampon (minus the applicator). It creates a suction and catches the blood, then you pull it out, empty the blood, wash the cup, and reuse. It's so simple! For me, the hardest thing (which I would have previously put my foot down about) is that you have to use your fingers to guide Miss Diva into your vag. But I've been getting acquainted with my "eccentric tulip" for the Vagina Monologues, and this was just another way to do that.
I'll be honest, it was really really weird the first time I put it in. But nobody was home, I laughed by myself a lot, and after some rotating, leg lifting, etc., I finally got it. And then... nothing. It was just like having a tampon in. And taking it out was easy, and dumping the contents out was easy, and by the time round two of insertion took place, I felt like a pro.
What can I say? It may be something that takes time to sit in with some of you, but here's what should really help you at least consider this as an option: the average woman will throw away 250 to 300 POUNDS of tampons, pads, and applicators in her lifetime (pg. 235). And don't play ignorant: that waste isn't getting recycled in any way, shape, or form; it's going into our landfills, our dumps, our earth. This is just one simple way to cut back on this bloody mess. Plus, you'll definitely save money over time with the cup - it can be reused for years, if properly maintained.
And I won't even get into the issue of some of the dioxins, bleaches, etc. found in most tampons. Maybe they haven't bothered you. But we've only been using tampons for less than 100 years - who knows if there may be longer term risks.
Anyway, I want to end on an fun note. Here are some intercultural ways to let someone know you're "on the rag."
Netherlands - "The Tomatoe Soup is Overcooked."
Brazilian - "I'm with Chico"
Chinese - "Little Sister Has come"
Latin America - "Jenny has a Red Dress on"
Australia - "I've Got the Flags Out"
Denmark - "There are Communists in the Funhouse"
Ireland - "I'm wearing a Jam Rag"
and many more, if you grab yourself a copy of Flow.
Bleed on, my ladies, bleed on.
P.S. PLEASE comment. I have had so many fun and interesting conversations with people via Facebook in regards to numerous posts I've put up. The purpose of this blog is to have a conversation HERE. If you have a thought, please post it here, and post it with confidence. Trust me - you're not the only one thinking whatever it is you are itching to say to me. So just do it - comment!
Movie Recommendation: Food, Inc.
Put this on your holiday list, folks: Food, Inc. Visit this website: http://www.takepart.com/foodinc
The Point
HI all. First, an apology: I really have never been too fab at keeping up with blogs. If I thought anyone read this on an ongoing basis anyway, I'd maybe try harder. Hint.
So I had a conversation with someone close to me yesterday, and I felt like it got a little heated on my end. First, let me write it down, then I'm going to dissect. We were talking about where to go grocery shopping. This is not verbatim, sorry - I'm doing my best.
Her: We can stop by Wal-Mart.
Me: Or Wheatsfield.
Her: It's cheaper at Wal-Mart.
Me: Wheatsfield's producers grow organically and ethically, ensuring a better environment.
Her: God will take care of our environment.
Me: No, he won't - he left us to be the earth's stewards, it is OUR job to take care of it.
Her: God is in control.
Me: I'm not saying he isn't. He is in control - but it doesn't mean we can ignore our responsibilities.
Now, I'm really not trying to force my beliefs on people about eating organically. If you don't want to or you don't understand why it is important, then I'm sure you wouldn't want to go out of your way. I would think it is wise to choose education on any subject over ignorance, but that's your prerogative. For now. Maybe we won't see much of a change in our own lifetime, but I am sure that our kids will reap the destruction that we've sown, and I'm totally not trying to be apocalyptic.
Ok, my real problem with the conversation is - and has been - when Christians just blow off facts or responsibilities and pass the problem over to God, even when God has asked us IN THE BIBLE to take care of the earth and everything we've been given. I grew up believing it was okay to throw my trash out the window and into the ditch as we drove by because - hey! - we know how the world is going to end (RAPTURE - NOT EXCESSIVE LITTERING), and God is in control, so why bother?
Why bother, hmm? Then why bother asking people to come to church? GOD IS IN CONTROL! Why bother going to work? GOD WILL PROVIDE. Why not do whatever we feel like doing?
Oh, right - because that same God gave us a conscience to know the difference between good and bad. Plants thriving, animals reproducing, humans living in harmony with nature - GOOD. Trash everywhere, plants covered in pesticides, air pollution, animals mutating, and humans ignoring all of it - BAD.
That's the point. It's why I stopped going shopping for clothes every week so that I can spend slightly more to buy food that isn't ruining the world. That and avoiding sweat shops and promoting local artisans. The point is that we all have a responsibility to take care of the world around us. Even if you DON'T [somehow] believe in global climate change [which has been scientifically proven and the whole world conferred on it last week in Copenhagen], how hard is it to respect the land we live on? Why is it SO BAD to consider the plants, the air, the animals that we are polluting and hurting and destroying? God gave the land to us to rule, but not rule like a selfish tyrant, making choices for ourselves and ignoring all of those that are effected by our decisions. God is in control, but I have yet to see him step in and intervene when corporations pump toxic gases into the air, dump pollutants into the water, and fill landfills with waste. He isn't going to step in - he asked us to take care of it. And like everything else I've seen in human history, humans do reap what they sew. So I'm asking this: why are so many people defiantly defending their right to ignore that responsibility and do as they please, regardless of the consequences?
Steam...
I apologize to you, other person in my conversation, if I got snappy or rude. But I felt like the rules of civil discourse and logical reasoning had been thrown out the window and into the ditch just so we could carry on a conversation where the truth can be warped to create a world where everything is okay as long as you trust in God. I don't live in that world. I trust in God and I want to treat this world with the respect I believe God has asked me to give. But I love you.
So I had a conversation with someone close to me yesterday, and I felt like it got a little heated on my end. First, let me write it down, then I'm going to dissect. We were talking about where to go grocery shopping. This is not verbatim, sorry - I'm doing my best.
Her: We can stop by Wal-Mart.
Me: Or Wheatsfield.
Her: It's cheaper at Wal-Mart.
Me: Wheatsfield's producers grow organically and ethically, ensuring a better environment.
Her: God will take care of our environment.
Me: No, he won't - he left us to be the earth's stewards, it is OUR job to take care of it.
Her: God is in control.
Me: I'm not saying he isn't. He is in control - but it doesn't mean we can ignore our responsibilities.
Now, I'm really not trying to force my beliefs on people about eating organically. If you don't want to or you don't understand why it is important, then I'm sure you wouldn't want to go out of your way. I would think it is wise to choose education on any subject over ignorance, but that's your prerogative. For now. Maybe we won't see much of a change in our own lifetime, but I am sure that our kids will reap the destruction that we've sown, and I'm totally not trying to be apocalyptic.
Ok, my real problem with the conversation is - and has been - when Christians just blow off facts or responsibilities and pass the problem over to God, even when God has asked us IN THE BIBLE to take care of the earth and everything we've been given. I grew up believing it was okay to throw my trash out the window and into the ditch as we drove by because - hey! - we know how the world is going to end (RAPTURE - NOT EXCESSIVE LITTERING), and God is in control, so why bother?
Why bother, hmm? Then why bother asking people to come to church? GOD IS IN CONTROL! Why bother going to work? GOD WILL PROVIDE. Why not do whatever we feel like doing?
Oh, right - because that same God gave us a conscience to know the difference between good and bad. Plants thriving, animals reproducing, humans living in harmony with nature - GOOD. Trash everywhere, plants covered in pesticides, air pollution, animals mutating, and humans ignoring all of it - BAD.
That's the point. It's why I stopped going shopping for clothes every week so that I can spend slightly more to buy food that isn't ruining the world. That and avoiding sweat shops and promoting local artisans. The point is that we all have a responsibility to take care of the world around us. Even if you DON'T [somehow] believe in global climate change [which has been scientifically proven and the whole world conferred on it last week in Copenhagen], how hard is it to respect the land we live on? Why is it SO BAD to consider the plants, the air, the animals that we are polluting and hurting and destroying? God gave the land to us to rule, but not rule like a selfish tyrant, making choices for ourselves and ignoring all of those that are effected by our decisions. God is in control, but I have yet to see him step in and intervene when corporations pump toxic gases into the air, dump pollutants into the water, and fill landfills with waste. He isn't going to step in - he asked us to take care of it. And like everything else I've seen in human history, humans do reap what they sew. So I'm asking this: why are so many people defiantly defending their right to ignore that responsibility and do as they please, regardless of the consequences?
Steam...
I apologize to you, other person in my conversation, if I got snappy or rude. But I felt like the rules of civil discourse and logical reasoning had been thrown out the window and into the ditch just so we could carry on a conversation where the truth can be warped to create a world where everything is okay as long as you trust in God. I don't live in that world. I trust in God and I want to treat this world with the respect I believe God has asked me to give. But I love you.
Jeanna's Christmas Trees
I think recently, full of the holiday spirit, I've been making snarky comments about Christmas trees and how it's so wrong to cut down trees just to put in your house. Then my very insightful and good friend Jeanna told me I was wrong, and told me she'd fill me in later.
I spent the next couple of days contemplating that, and then I decided that it made sense. Fake trees are made out of plastic and are not bio-degradable. Real trees are planted yearly on Christmas tree farms, which is good for our environment! They aren't being cut down from forests, which means that (unlike what I was thinking) it isn't adding to deforestation by any means.
I think a problem I still have with Christmas trees is just that, if you buy one to last you forever, you aren't spending as much money than if you buy a real one every year. So that's my two cents about that.
Don't get me started on the holidays though. Two words: consumerist brainwashing.
Happy Holidays!
http://www.countryliving.com/homes/home-maintenance/eco-friendly-christmas-trees?click=main_sr
I spent the next couple of days contemplating that, and then I decided that it made sense. Fake trees are made out of plastic and are not bio-degradable. Real trees are planted yearly on Christmas tree farms, which is good for our environment! They aren't being cut down from forests, which means that (unlike what I was thinking) it isn't adding to deforestation by any means.
I think a problem I still have with Christmas trees is just that, if you buy one to last you forever, you aren't spending as much money than if you buy a real one every year. So that's my two cents about that.
Don't get me started on the holidays though. Two words: consumerist brainwashing.
Happy Holidays!
http://www.countryliving.com/homes/home-maintenance/eco-friendly-christmas-trees?click=main_sr
Update
It's been a while since I started this little experi-ence/ment, and I think you all deserve the truth: I'm not perfect at this.
I've got a 100% on some aspects. I haven't bought anything from a retail store/non-locally owned businesses. I don't know if I've ever gone this long in my life without walking into a Target. I think the girls at Express are wondering what happened to me. Oh, and I can't tell you how nice it is to be letting my memories of HyVee slip into oblivion (talk to Steven about how much I wicked-hate HyVee). I have saved probably... hundreds of dollars by not buying new clothes. Yes, seriously. I've only bought four sweaters in the last couple of months, and they were from Salvation Army - and they're cute, too! And I was really getting cold. Ahhh guilt free warmth.
Steven and I basically only shop for food at Wheatsfield Co-op here in Ames. It's amazing. It features locally owned food, and even tells you how far from Ames the produce and products come from, which I love. I even occasionally get to eat some locally raised and farmed and walked-abouted and happy beef from very close to Ames. Happy cows live here, too. Just depends on what farm they are from. I feel good about the eggs and milk I'm consuming - I know the farms they are from and the ways they are being "harvested." I think those cows and chickens are proud of the work they do. All the ingredients we buy are organic or locally produced. I just... can't tell you how guilt free I feel about eating. Now, the flip side of this coin is that, in October, our grocery bills almost TRIPLED what they normally are. However, we did have to buy a lot of start-up things, like tons of organic flour for making bread and noodles, what seems like gallons of high quality olive oil, cans and cans of organic tomato sauces, and a very expensive bag of organic (and, unbeknownst to us at the time) vegetarian dog food. Hey Mikey, she likes it! BUT, flipping that same coin over again, this month we've evened out to what should probably be normal, and we're only spending about 50-75 more than before. Not bad, hmm?
I'm going to miss fresh produce this winter.
The shaving is going okay. Steven hates it when I lift my arms, but I'm getting used to the pits and the legs being a little wild. I still shave on occasion, but it's getting easier to stretch the time between shaves out longer. I shaved yesterday, out of courtesy of my co-workers who I will be sharing a hotel room with this weekend. Don't expect it again during debriefing, girls.
I'm very very very much in love with the idea of getting dreads in the future. I'd do it now, but it needs to be about twice as long as it currently is (past my shoulders). I'd rather do it like that than add extensions. Might need to take a trip out to Portland, as I guess the queen of dreading works and lives there and does fantastic coils in record time. Maybe a weekend trip this summer?
Been doing my best to walk/ride my bike to work. I drive less than once/week, and only if I am going to need my car for something else that day where I won't have time to walk home and get it. I like this a lot, but it hasn't even snowed yet... I'm going to need lots of cheerleading soon.
Now... confessions: I've eaten out more than twice/month. BUT I have stuck to the only-locally-owned restaurants, so I guess I get an E for effort. The reason I have a harder time with this rule is because if there is nothing pre-made for me to grab for lunch, I go to work thinking, "Just don't eat for lunch," and by 10:32 AM I'm complaining to my lovely co-worker Ashley that I'm STARVING and WHY DIDN'T SHE THINK TO BRING SOME SOUP FOR ME and GIVE ME ONE OF THOSE M&MS and WANT TO GO TO GREAT PLAINS!?? And usually by the time I get to that last part she's all, "YES OKAY SOUNDS GOOD SHUT UP ALREADY." No, she's way nicer than that. So I end up eating out for lunches more than I meant to. I'm still a work in progress guys, come on.
So, that's my update. I'm also excited to start spending more of my time volunteering and helping my community. P.S. Please come to "The Vagina Monologues" at the M-Shop on campus this February - all proceeds go to support ACCESS Women's Shelter here in town. And I'm in it. And Christelle is going to be in it too, so if not for me, do it for her. She's super cute.
I have stopped washing my face daily. About once every other day. It helps I don't wear make-up that often. My face seems healthier; I think I used to dry poor face out.
P.S. Still loving on 7th Gen products to get me guilt-free through the day-to-day necessities like dishwashing, laundry, and toilet paper.
Goals next up:
- Organic(?)/natural deodorant?
- Organic/natural soaps
- a straight razor for when I do shave
- I really can't wait to have a huge yard sale this spring. I'm going to get rid of, like, everything. If anyone wants some barely used shampoos/perfumes/lotions for like, $1 each, let me know. I have Redken, Paris Hilton, Bath & Body Works, Garnier Fructis... lots o' stuff... just want to get it out of here. I used to be a chronic beauty product buyer.
- Doing away with paper products completely? I think this would be the hardest to convince Steven of.
- The Diva Cup? I'm thinking yes. (stop gagging, wimps - I'm doing this for my kids and yours, and I bet you anything your kids will ask why you didn't try harder. Oops, sorry... Judgment Fail).
Kimmy P
Soup's on!