Rubber Duck, Part 1

The latest book I am reading is Slow Death by Rubber Duck, the secret danger of everyday things.  There is so much information in here that is valuable in search of living a safer existence in a confusing and polluted world that I am going to do a series of posts on the subjects covered in this book.

Today I will cover the beginning of the book which gives us an overview of the problems chemical pollution has had on our health.

When it comes to pollution most people think of car exhaust or the smoke stacks of steel plants in my area.  I remember going to Buffalo, NY and not being able to see the sky due to the air pollution. The same could be said for Pittsburgh, PA where the steel plants polluted both the air and the water.

The pollution being discussed in Slow Death by Rubber Duck is about the pollution we can't see. Chemical pollution found in everyday objects.  The authors, Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, realized the best way to find out what chemicals are affecting us was to experiment on themselves while having blood samples taken at regular intervals.

In the foreward, I read "We are now into the fourth geneeration of people exposed to toxic chemicals from before conception through to adulthood, and statistics tell us that humankind is under siege."

The science tells us that the chemical soup we are living in is having a detrimental effect on our health.  What you may not know is that children are more susceptible to these toxins than adults.  While we may live, eat and sleep in the same home they will have higher levels of these chemicals in their bodies.

The scientific research is showing that many of the health problems we are seeing today are a direct result of this toxic environment, both inside the home and outside.

A child born today will face higher odds than previous generations of one or more of the following

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Learning disabilities
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Asthma
• Childhood and pubertal cancers, 
• abnormal genitalia development, and infertility
• Breast and prostate cancers,
• Parkinson's disease
• Alzheimer's Disease

That's quite a list, but one thing they all have in common is the science of being directly linked to chemical exposure before birth.

The numbers are staggering, the US alone produces, or brings in, 42 billion pounds each day and 4.1 billion pounds are disposed of or released into the atmosphere in one year. 

When we think about the amount of chemicals in that light it's pretty hard to know how to protect our families, our children.  Did you know there are almost 650 toxic chemicals monitored by the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory?  Yet there are some 82,000 chemicals being used.  Yes of the 82,000 chemicals being produced and used only 650 are being monitored by the officials who are supposed to be protecting our health.    How do we educate ourselves and know what is safe to have in our homes when there is very little information out there to work with?

Where are these chemicals?

• Baby bottles, (more on that later)
• Personal care products
• Upholstered furniture
•  Vinyl toys and furnishings
• Any thing with flame retardants 
• All items with stain-repellants
• cooking pans
• electronics
• clothing
• building materials
• Carpeting
• Glues used in our buildings and furnishings

"It is estimated that by the time the average woman grabs her morning coffee, she has applied 126 different chemicals in 12 different products to her face, body and hair."  I don't know about you but I think we can do better.  When it comes to our personal care products the main ingredient to watch for are phthalates but manufacturers don't have to include this on the label. To minimize your exposure look for the word "fragrance" which is a tip-off this product contains the hormone disrupting phthalates.  Women aren't the only one exposed, men and even children's shampoos and other lotions are loaded with them.

Suggested actions:

Let's being with our morning routine.  Let's ditch the chemical laden personal care products.  Yes, my suggestions are inexpensive because we need to live in reality here.  We aren't multimillionaires that  have unlimited means to make the transition to toxic free products.

Shampoo and conditioner:  This one isn't too hard, there are plenty of natural, chemical free products out there.  I personally use baking soda and vinegar to wash and rinse my hair but you could use any number of products.  Just do your homework.  For example several years ago I read Kiss My Face products were free from toxins. I bought a hand soap for the bathroom.  A few days later I read the label to find chemicals I didn't want in my home in this very soap.  Some men who have short hair will even wash their hair with bar soap, same as their body when showering. 

Deodorants:  Many people use baking soda for a deodorant or a homemade mixture using baking soda.  I have yet to find a homemade recipe that works for me.  My choice is found on every drug store and most grocery store shelves, Tom's of Maine. The key point here is to accept that people sweat, that's how our bodies release toxins.  By using an anti-persperant we are inhibiting our bodies from doing it's job.  All we really need is odor control.  So ditch the aluminum (and other chemicals) by switching to a natural deodorant.

Shaving:  Stop wasting your money on shaving gels which are loaded with toxins.  Try using plain soap and water, or maybe a bit of olive oil.  I learned to dry shave as a teen and never saw the need to change. After shaving I add a bit of coconut oil to my skin and am good to go.

Make up:  Limit the number of products you use and you could afford to buy one or two natural products.  Personally I only wear one product for special occasions, mascara.  It's much cheaper to buy one higher priced item than several.  Again, read labels and see which you are comfortable eliminating or switching.

Other: Say good-bye to regular nail polish and polish removers.  Do an experiment. Don't use any nail polish or remover for say a month.  Then open the container and see how sensitive you are to this chemical soup.  Sure, you are applying it to your nails which are dead tissue, but you are breathing the fumes while you use them.  Hair color and perms save your money and your health and consider going natural.  A good cut and you should be good to go. 

Is there a product you are concerned about?

To be continued....

Personal Care Products

Have you ever added up how much money you spend on grooming products?  It may not seem like a lot when you replace items a bit at a time, we run out of personal products at various times, unlike light bulbs that seem to all go at once.

Take a moment and think about what you have in your bathroom.  How many different shampoos do you have?  What about conditioners, body washes, shaving products?  Then there are the colognes,  perfumes, styling products, masks, lotions, facial washes, make up removers, nail polish and the list goes on.

When did we start buying different products for each person in a home?  There is no need to do this, skin is skin. sure you might have trouble with eczema or oily skin, but our skin really only wants a few things.

We are conditioned to believe we need all these products being marketed to us, but we don't.  Not only don't we need them but they are loaded with chemicals, chemicals that are absorbed into our skin and washed down the drain to enter our water supply where water treatment plants do not  have the ability to remove them leaving them in  our drinking water.  Now we not only absorb them through the skin but we ingest them as well.  What does our skin need?  Water and a bit of moisturizer when dry or when you have been out in the sun.

You may think all is lost but phthalates in particular have a half life of 12 hours in our bodies.  Our bodies will naturally purge itself of these chemicals ( not every chemical works like this) by simply reducing our exposure to them. 

To  start you can begin to wash your face with plain water, you can wash your hair with a mixture of baking soda and water and follow with a white vinegar rinse, better known as no-poo. I've been washing my hair this way for more than a year and have seen wonderful results.  The eczema I suffered with since childhood was gone after the second wash.  You can't imagine the relief I have to know I won't have white flakes on my clothes every time I move my head. And the conditioner I needed for years I no longer need. My hair is silky, healthy and never tangles.

To avoid phthalates, you want to look for the word perfume or fragrance on the ingredient list, this is a dead give-away that your product has these chemicals in them.  Just buying a product that says it's "all natural" won't protect you.  This report by the Environmental Working Group found almost have labeled as natural were found to contain cancer causing chemicals and lists which products to avoid.

Save yourself some money and improve the burden on your body's health at the same time and start eliminating these products from your home and daily routine. If you want to learn more I highly recommend Slow Death by Rubber Duck.

How many products did you count in your bathroom?   

Christmas Decorating the Eco-Friendly Way

In my small town I began spotting Christmas decorations for sale the end of August.  Talk about dragging out a retail season.  It is so easy to over spend when you are being marketed to for 4 months.  If you only pick up one item each time you are shopping by Christmas you may be overwhelmed with where to use them.

I made a decision in 2001, after losing everything in a fire, to only use what we could make. By making, I'm talking about small things, a crocheted ornament, a cross stitched pillow ornament, a handmade blanket that wasn't necessary Christmas-y but done with reds to add a bit of color all winter.  One exception to this rule are my poinsettias.  They are just so cheerful and anything alive me feel more connected to nature in a season where I am indoors more than out.

We collect pine cones in autumn, these I use naturally but once it gets dark around 4:30pm  around Halloween, I need some bursts of color to cheer up the dark afternoons.  I turn to the pine cones first.  Painting them will give them a whole new look.  Same with adding acorns, leave them natural or add a bit of color and place in a small vase.  When a guest left a glass Snapple bottle behind I removed the label and cleaned well. Having a wide mouth this bottle makes a lovely display for natural elements.

A tree is a big decision.  Do you buy an artificial tree to use year after year or do you buy a live tree?  What about a tree with a root ball?  Live trees have their costs, what do you do with it when the holiday is over?  Unless you have a chipper at your disposal most end up in the landfill.  Not good.  if you have land or know someone who would like a pine tree on their property then a live tree with a root ball is a good choice.  Couple of things I learned from trying this one year is that it limits when you can bring the tree indoors, and it weighs A LOT!  Even with help from a burly man this was awkward to get in, and out, of the house.

What about an artificial tree?  This can be a good choice, it's a one time investment that should hold up for years. It can be set up any day and left decorated indoors for as long as you would like to have it.  But its manufacturing process isn't good on the environment, which makes it a non-eco choice.

I have experimented with different things over the year.  A large branch which came down after a storm was hung on the wall horizontally with ornaments hung from it.  This went over well with family and guests.  This year I crocheted, using heavy yarn to hold the shape, a tree shape and hung that over the window.  To change things up, instead of ornaments I looked to my jewelry.  Earrings worked perfectly as did a pewter key chain of a hummingbird I use more for decoration than its usefulness.

If you  haven't decided on what type of tree to have yet this year, here are a few ideas that eliminate the traditional Christmas tree while giving you the atmosphere you may be looking for.

• Have you seen a dead tree, why not bring that in. Look how lovely it can be.
• Save space with one of these designs
• Here is another simple idea that uses no electricity nor does it need much adornment to be beautiful.
• This tree is created with a camera tripod.

If you have trees outside your door or a main window you can decorate that tree, enjoying the view from the window and choose to use pops of color indoors.  A large box can be cut into the shape of a fireplace with mantle (if you don't have one) to hang stockings and set presents under.  Don't buy the cardboard simply ask for shipping boxes from a local business.

While most of our money seems to be spent on gifts, decorating can take quite a bite out of the budget.  Try to live with what you already have and use them in new ways.  A glass bulb hung from a light fixture, such as a bathroom sconce may add all the extra color you need.

Another place people tend to spend a lot of money is on pillows.  Decorative pillows are an easy way to change the look of a room, but don't buy new pillows, cover what you have.  A simple slip cover will cost much less (you can make them from old sweaters or other fabrics you have on hand).  Not only is this cheaper but you won't need to store those holiday pillows.  Storing a small selection of pillow slip covers takes up less space and uses less resources to make.

What tips do you have for decorating on a budget in an environmentally sound way?

Reconsider Christmas and Strive for Zero-Waste

"First do no harm" Hippocrates

As I see it life should be for living, but not in a way that harms.  I try  remember the phrase "first do no harm" in all my actions.  Yes, this was originally stated by Hippocrates in the oath for medical doctors.  But I believe this is probably the most important phrase to remember in all aspects of living our lives.

Seeking Zero Waste

To do no harm then is significant to how we leave the planet for future generations. One of my goals in life is to see if I can enjoy life while creating as close to zero waste as I possibly can.  While I do pretty well most of the time, holidays, especially Christmas is the hardest time to accomplish this goal.


The biggest waste during the holidays seems to me to be in packaging and wrapping paper. I decided to make reusable gift wraps last year.  I had acquired quite a bit of fabric over time from people who would pass it on to me when they saw I had made a quilt.

I say made a quilt. I found I really don't have the patience for this activity on a regular basis, I just don't enjoy it.  But in other people's need to purge I found myself with an abundance of fabric and had no idea what to do with it, until now.  I realized I had a goldmine here for reducing waste this Christmas.

Making my own gift wrapping

By Christmas, I was able to wrap each gift without spending a dime in supplies. I have a small box with plenty of threads and found other supplies in places some people may not have thought of.

Moving into my new home I found I needed a new set of curtains. I am handy enough to make my own, but none of the fabric I had either was what I wanted or large enough to use. Pricing fabric and ready made curtains I finally decided on a pair of ready made. This set came with a valance and a pair of tie backs. Since I wasn't going to use these on my windows I decided I would use them in my wrappings.

The valance was perfect for using in my gift bags as it already had a pocket for a rod, I was able to thread found cording or fabric through to tie the bags closed. The tie backs had small pieces of velcro sewn on them. I removed the velcro and used it to close a couple of other bags.

Personalizing my bags

One hobby I have mastered is cross stitching. I had several holiday patterns I thought I would like to complete, but had no idea what I would do with them when finished.   I completed a few of them, added these to the fabric for one of a kind gift bags.  This went over well, recipients remarked on which bags they liked the most and the small children took the time to see what was on their bag as opposed to just shredding the wrapping paper on packages.

Other ideas for wrapping gifts, and their drawbacks

• towels
• pillow cases
• sheets

These three ideas are nice as wrappings yet didn't fit what I had in mind.  Have you priced sheets lately? They aren't cheap, so unless I wanted to give the gift of sheets in the first place, purchasing the sheets meant I would be spending more on gifts than I wanted.

Another drawback is simply that to wrap a gift in a gift means that come the next occasion I would need to figure out, again,  what I was going to wrap the gift in.  It made more sense for me to make bags I could reuse, not something I would have to replace as needed.

Gifts exchanged that don't create waste, well almost

Gits that don't create waste are much harder to find with each person having things they want or need.  I decided to give gifts that would be useful to each person.

• slow cooker. One person expressed a desire for this,  so that's what she got.  Try to find this made in the United States, good luck. but when I thought further I realized that even though I couldn't do anything about how or where it was made, every part of the wrapping could be reused or recycled. An added plus is that the use of a slow cooker costs less to operate than an oven.  In addition, if more people took a few minutes to add things to a slow cooker in the morning they wouldn't be tempted to stop for take out.
• Kitchen storage.  Again, I would have to recycle the packaging, but this would be used for an extended time period
• Books for children Since we use the library almost exclusively for books, getting a gift of a book they can keep is special.
• Games. Aren't just for children.  A great way to enjoy time with friends is to invite them over for a pot-luck dinner and play a game.  Inexpensive and no waste.
• Home-baked goods. Okay, I don't bake but both my daughters-in-law do as does my brother. So plenty of cookies were brought to share
• Fruit baskets This is something my sister has given for Christmas for several years now. While I don't think she eats much fruit herself she knows everyone one of my immediate family loves fruit.But don't order a fruit basket, make your own it's much cheaper.  A basket with 2 of each of the following: apples, pears, kiwi, orange, bananas ran my sister $25.
• Hand-made gifts One example of this came from my sister as well. She recently taught herself to crochet. She enjoys making dishcloths and gives them out for gifts. This year she brought with her several pairs in different colors and let everyone choose what they liked.  

Best gifts come from the heart and represent family

The best gift this year was one I received from my children. My children are grown and each have their own families. They live one hundred miles apart. This year they got together secretly and had a large family portrait done for me. It was meaningful, and was actually something I had wanted but wasn't sure how to arrange around their work schedules.

This was also the gift with plenty of stories behind it. The story of  what made my grandson laugh hysterically while having the picture taken which was the photographer asking who had stinky feet when attempting to get smiles from the children, to how impressed they were that the 3 year olds were able to keep the secret from me that they saw their aunt, uncle and baby cousin.

What factors do you take into consideration when purchasing gifts?

Were we perfect in our attempt to have zero waste?

Was this  year zero waste? No, not yet. I guess this goal will be a work in progress for a few more years. We're  getting closer though. My attempts to achieve this has spurred others to ask questions. I've been asked why I made my own gift bags and why this is important to me.  Who knows this may spread, my sister and I have talked about designing bags we can sell to help others save money (and waste) . First do no harm, next step is to introduce another way.

What is a Necessity?

The biggest choice we have to make in trying to live inexpensively is the structure we choose to live in.  Whether it is a detached single home, an apartment or any other home style, the key is to evaluate what you really need.  Do you need a guest room or will a pull-out couch in the living room work for you? What square footage is really enough?  Anything larger than what you need will cost you time to maintain and clean and money to heat and maintain.

One of the things I had to decide when choosing my current apartment was could I live without a stove? Next came, did I need a refrigerator? Since I have been preparing all vegan meals in my home and rarely, if ever, use the oven I decided I could live without a stove, but what about the fridge?

How to live without a refrigerator

Why would I have to make this decision? It's simple when the hotel was converted into apartments a small kitchenette was installed, but no wiring was added for a stove. The original thought was that college students would be interested in living here and as they mainly used hot plates in the dorms this would be a situation they were familiar with.

These apartments also don't come with a refrigerator, although space was allocated for putting one in. I decided to try living without a refrigerator for a couple of weeks, but while I liked knowing I was saving on energy usage I missed having a fridge.

Before purchasing a fridge I looked at what I had been buying and how much space I really needed to store perishables. As it turned out I really didn't need that much. The local grocery store is exactly half a mile from my home which makes purchasing fresh food easy and convenient.  I decided on a compact refrigerator, one you would see in a dorm.

A compact refrigerator has worked out nicely for a while, but it didn't last long.  I had it just over a year when it died.  I decided to do my homework and see if I really could live without a fridge once again.  Turns out most of what I thought needed to be refrigerated didn't.  Eggs are just fine left on the counter and most condiments don't need refrigeration, even if they state to refrigerate after opening.

One thing I did notice was that I would like to have a way to freeze leftovers, eliminating the need to eat the same thing for days.  I bought a used chest freezer to replace the fridge and couldn't be happier.  A fridge might now be a necessity for you either.  Take a look at this list of foods that don't need to be kept in a fridge.

No stove, impossible!

Now what about a stove.  My first week here we had a few chilly days and I wanted a bowl of soup. I pulled out my crock pot (slow cooker) which has never disappointed me before. The leftovers were another matter. A slow cooker really isn't something you quickly warm a single serving in, but then I  had an idea.

I had received a rice cooker for a gift a few years back. I don't make rice often and when I did I would make a large batch and freeze it. So the rice cooker wasn't used all that often, especially without a freezer now.  I thought I would see what else it would do and find it has been wonderful for warming leftovers.

I can also use the rice cooker when I want to make a serving of oatmeal for breakfast.  It cooks just as quickly as it would in a pan on a stove top, maybe even quicker.

Healthier meals is a plus

Breakfasts are simple and I frequently choose from these:

1. Oatmeal cooked with a chopped apple, dried cranberries and a sprinkling of cinnamon. It's sweet enough that I never use sugar to enjoy this. Like me you can experiment with other fruits, peaches and pears are also two favorites.
2. a piece of fruit
3. a smoothie. I have an old blender that was my grandmothers, (they just don't make them like this any more) I toss in a banana and any other fresh fruit that sounds good to me that day.   I tend to avoid the more mellow fruits such as pears as the flavor just doesn't satisfy me. I do love to blend bananas with berries or oranges
4. green juice. I toss in any greens such as kale or spinach I have handy a few carrots, and an apple for sweetness

Lunches and dinners are interchangeable

1. Veggie wrap. Using a cabbage or lettuce leaf I fill it with chopped or shredded peppers, onions, carrots, radishes, and the like. I will add some chopped fruit like pears or papaya or avocado.
2. Salad. Again this is meatless as I am a vegan but anything available can be added. I like to add dried cranberries as well.
3. hummus sandwich with a bowl of soup or chili
4. Any breakfast food from above that just sounds good at the time.

As I have slowly added more fresh foods to my diet, because I can more easily shop for my groceries, I find that I am feeling better than I have in years not to mention a few pounds lost.

Advantages to living without a stove

1. I am not wasting square footage on a large appliance that I used so little when I had one.
2. Clean  up is a breeze after meals and no more drip pans which seem to need replacing every couple of years; no matter how careful you are when cooking.
3.  I'm not using energy having an appliance plugged in when it's not being used.
4.  But the biggest advantage is seen in my weekly chores. No longer do I have to pull out a stove to clean around and under, I don't have to wipe down the surface to keep it free from dust. Oven door doesn't have to be wiped regularly from children's hand prints.   And no more exhaust fans to wipe down and keep clean.

Not for everyone, but then I'm not everyone

For many people a kitchen fully equipped is a dream come true. For me it is just the opposite, it is a lot of wasted space and time. Time to search for what you wanted; time to clean all the cabinet doors, counter tops and appliances. Take a look through your cupboards and pantry. How many things are there that you haven't touched in months if not years?

What does my kitchen look like?

One Cabinet under the sink holds my laundry and cleaning supplies, a small box of tools, a flower vase, a fire extinguisher and a box of garbage bags.

The only other lower cabinet  holds my food dehydrator, slow cooker when not in use, container of surplus tea bags (I like variety but don't want all on display), wire strainer, grater, a few extra plates for holidays, two serving bowls, and some storage containers some holding my food staples such as rice and beans, others for storing leftovers.

The only drawer in the kitchen holds my sharp knives, serving utensils, a small amount of tea bags, my dish cloths and wash cloths and my fabric napkins.  Rather than taking up space for a large utensil holder I keep my silverware in a 3 sectioned metal pen/pencil holder I found for free on the counter

On the counter top I have an antique milk glass bowl which holds fresh fruit and a hurricane glass with a nice candle in it. Off to the one side of the sink (and mostly out of view of the living area) is my dish strainer, behind this I store a few spices I use daily and my cutting board.

I have a tall, narrow cabinet  off to the side of my kitchen. In this I store my clothes, dishes, cups and glasses, and all my pantry items.

Isn't that enough?

What more would I need? I have everything necessary right at my fingertips. I'm sure many of you are shaking your  heads asking what other convenience have I given up? Not a one. I haven't owned a microwave in years. I never liked the taste of food cooked in it and found it was an eyesore to look at, and rarely used at that.

I wonder what you may have you kitchen you could never part with. I'm sure some of the items on my list are things you would never want. That's okay, it's our differences that make life worth living.

Using the Basics

When it comes to living inexpensively the basic things we need are a few simple tools and a bit of know-how.  One of the things that has saved me the most money over the years has been restoring free or very cheap pieces of furniture.  I had no formal training, but when necessity comes calling you learn to make do. 

My toolbox contains a hammer, a set of allen wrenches, a variety of screwdrivers, a pair of adjustable pliers, sand paper and sanding blocks,a plumbing zipper, and a caulking gun. With these you can do nearly every job around the house.  I would like to add a couple of clamps to my box but for now have found creative ways to securely hold things in place while gluing.  A set of weights works nicely for most things and I've even been known to pick up the end of the couch and set my piece under the foot. 

Most of my tools I have found at thrift shops or been given, but if I were going to buy one new I would look for a lifetime warranty such as Craftsmen tools found at Sears.

For most plumbing issues a zipper will work nicely, these are found for about $2 and are a long piece of thin, flexible metal with teeth like a zipper on each side instead of just one. You simply shove it down the drain, wiggle and pull it back out. The teeth on the zipper will pull the hair and other matter clogging up your drain right out leaving you clog free.

 One of my favorite items to work with are fabric drop cloths. Because of their size they can inexpensively be turned into curtains for over-sized windows or even as upholstery fabric to cover an old piece of furniture.  You can use Sharpie markers to create designs with or without a stencil or fabric dye or paint to change the color.  A $20 drop cloth will cover an entire full-sized couch with material left over, so even if you decide to dye or stencil the fabric you will still be way ahead financially than if you had purchased upholstery fabric.

Here are some examples to get you started

• Drop cloth coasters 
• Debbie shows you how to make curtains, place mats and even pillows from a drop cloth
• Don't know how to sew, this tutorial will show you how to make curtains using a hot glue gun.
• Rugs are expensive but here's how to make your own rug any size and any pattern for very little.
• Have an ugly floor but can't afford to carpet or lay hardwood flooring? You can create a lovely floor with brown paper bags, everything you need to know is in this tutorial.  I've even seen this done on outdoor concrete patios if they have some protection from the elements.

There was a time when being a jack of all trades was common, I think it's time we return to that practice and learn just enough to be able to save a lot.  

Do you have one item that had multiple purposes to save you money?

My Winter Skin Care

The cold temperatures have set in. We've seen a few days of snow, but what is the first sign that the warm days are over?  My skin becomes dry and flaky.

I experimented over the years with diet, the amount of water I drink to stay hydrated and probably every moisturizer on the market until a few years ago.  One morning as I was weighing which moisturizer would be best that particular day, yes I had several for the different seasons, I stopped to think about what I was doing.

I was applying a bunch of chemicals to my skin.  This isn't normal. We are born with everything we need. Our skin, like our internal organs, expects us to keep foreign materials away from it.  Our skin is our largest organ, the last line of defense in protecting our inner organs from being polluted and harmed.

With this in mind, why was I putting chemicals, those made in a lab, on my skin.  My skin deserved better if it was going to protect me. 

Like most other choices I made over the last couple of decades I turned to the kitchen.  What would be natural enough to not break down the skin yet add a bit of moisture to keep me from feeling like a lizard?  My first experiment was to use a fresh aloe leaf.  That first day I felt a tightening of my skin, a strange sensation, but within a few minutes I felt the softest skin ever. 

It didn't take long to see I would need to fill my home with aloe if I were to do this on any kind of regular basis.  It was time to look through the kitchen again. This time my eyes fell on a jar of organic coconut oil.   I thought about something I had been hearing frequently, to never put anything on my skin that I wouldn't eat.  Well, that sure eliminated all those jars of moisturizer because I would never consider putting even a drop from any of them in my mouth.  But coconut oil, I cook with it so of course I would eat it.

Since that day I have never gone back to using product from the health and beauty aisle in any store, including the "healthier" options.  My skin is soft, healthy and has a glow of youth I thought I would never see again.

So how much do  you need to moisturize say your face?  Approximately the size of a pea. Yep, that's all it takes to condition my face and neck.  Since I use it on my hands, feet, and ankles as well and on my legs after shaving, I find that using a teaspoon and scooping out enough to coat less than half the surface is enough to moisturize all those areas that are affected by the dryness in the air.

While purchasing organic coconut oil can cost you as much as $10 a bottle most don't consider this to be an inexpensive option, but when you realize just how long that one jar will last it costs less than a penny per week for naturally, healthy skin. 

Give it a try and let me know what you think