Where I’ve landed: Thoughts on Unconditional Parenting
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
It’s about time I wrote about my Honest Company products. I’m on my third monthly bundle and I’ve tried LOTS of the products so I wanted to share here a little about what I like and dislike.
First of all, you don’t have to do a bundle in order to buy products from The Honest Company. But I wanted to try out a few different items, so I went the bundle route to save money. You can change what comes in your bundle each month and push back the date to come every 5 or 6 weeks, or even longer. You’re also able to cancel the bundle service at any time.
I only purchased items I “needed” or was currently out of. I didn’t want to just buy a bunch of products and waste what I already have. And each month I include mainly new items I’ve only repeated lotion and sunscreen as of this post. Below is a list of what I’ve tried and a few thoughts about each one.
The good: It cleans great. Dishes are sparkly and clean and the scent is really light. Not over powering.
The bad: It doesn’t bubble up like I like dish soap to bubble. In my mind bubbles = clean. But I’m learning that’s not always the case. Bubbles usually mean more chemicals, and I’m trying to reduce the chemicals in my home which is why I’m trying these products in the first place. I also don’t like that it really dries out my hands after washing a sink full of dishes.
The good: The brush is great for baked on gunk. For me it was the perfect solution for my Le Cruset cast iron skillets – especially the grill pan with all its little grooves.
The bad: The little dish the brush sits in is supposed to create bubbles. That doesn’t really happen with the Honest Dish Soap because bubbles are fewer with this soap. My hubby put Dawn dish soap in it once for my daughter and the bubbles were incredible!
The good: It’s ALL good. The smell is heavenly. Eucalyptus Mint. Woah. Fresh and not over powering. Cleans great too!
The good: It’s ALL good too. No streaks on my glass top stove.
*Note: I use this with my Norwex cloths sometimes. I know you should just use water, but I don’t completely trust water to clean it all the germs. Don’t worry. I rinse my cloths out with super hot water after to make sure the cleaner is out. And I figure it’s super gentle cleaner anyway…can’t be too bad.
The good: Thick and moisturizing. We haven’t used it too much.
The bad: Teeny bit of a funky sunflower/nut smell, hard to describe. I don’t feel like it worked as great as the reviews said. Mariah’s eczema spots didn’t seem to heal super fast with it like the customers claimed. Her prescription cream works much better, but I’d like to get away from prescription creams, so I’m torn.
The good: ALL good. Sweet, but light orange vanilla smell. I thought it was a weird smell combo when I read the name of it, but I like it. Mariah has wild and crazy curls that can only be combed after a bath or shower. THIS STUFF WORKS! to untangle and keeps the whining at a minimum. We spray it on and let it soak in while she brushes teeth or puts on jammies to let it do it’s thing before we comb.
The good: Sweet Orange Vanilla smell is light and just right. Good for Lana’s fine baby hair.
The bad: Not super bubbly (this is a theme for me). I’m not sure how great it would be for my or Mariah’s thick curly hair. I still need to test it out.
The good: I really like this lotion. It’s not super thick, but leaves us feeling moisturized. No strong over powering smell.
The bad: Takes a few minutes to sink into the skin.
The good: Not greasy at all! Great sun protection.
The bad: Thick and white and kind of takes a while to spread.
The good: ALL good! same great sun protection in a convenient spray!
The bad: It wasn’t available until this month. So I bought two lotions. BUT the lotions are small to throw in my purse and are better for faces than the spray obviously. BUT they just came out with a sunscreen stick – going to try that next.
The good: No good.
The bad: It STINKS! Literally. So smelly. The citronella smell makes me nauseous. And it’s not very good at keeping bugs away in my opinion. We still get attacked with it on. However, keep in mind me and my girls seem to attract mosquitoes like no other. It might work for you. We use some essential oil sprays for bugs and the nasty deet stuff, but we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do. Bugs love us!
The good: It works. My teeth feel clean when I’m done.
The bad: No bubbles. No strong minty fresh breath. I like that about toothpaste, so I need to make up my mind about this one similar to my dish soap problem.
The good: It seems to work (we’ll know from the dentist in a few weeks). Mariah likes the flavor.
The bad: No bubbles. Hard to get a good “lather” in the mouth. Lana just sucks on it and says it tastes like medicine. It’s strawberry flavored.
The good: It bubbles! Cleans my hands well and doesn’t leave them dried out.
The bad: Mandarin scent. I thought I ordered Lavender.
Whew. Long list! I still have the Toilet Bowl Cleaner and Bubble Bath to test from my newest bundle. Let’s hope the Bubble Bath delivers on the bubbles. I can’t shed any light on the diapers or baby products because we’re past that stage, but I’ve heard great things from friends. I started buying The Honest Company products because I wanted the sunscreen. There will definetly be items I purchase again and a few I’ll leave behind. Target has started to carry a few of the lotion, baby products and soaps and I’ve heard a rumor that Costco sells larger sizes of the lotion, but I’ve yet to see it. I still think trying a few bundles is the way to go. We’ll be done with bundles soon and will just buy items when we need them in the future.
So, I made this the year of the veggie garden. I’ve never grown food before. I mean, if you count some basil on the deck in a pot or the 7 cherry tomatoes that somehow showed up on the little plant from Home Depot despite my neglect, then I guess technically I grew food, but let’s be honest…it wasn’t much.
Normally I fill our deck with flowers, and then by the middle of June/early July I’ve forgotten to water them and they die. Last spring I started reading up on gardening in hopes that this year we’d be in a home with a yard where I could garden my little heart out. A new house wasn’t in the plan for us, so I had to make due. Read More
I’ve written before about how I’m purging and letting go of all the extra crap in our house. And surprisingly this phase hasn’t been just a phase. It’s still going strong 6 months into the year.
I think part of the added oomph is due to my soon coming return to work. I’m only ONE MONTH away! Do you know how long 12 months is when you’re waiting to return to your dream job? SO SO RIDICULOUSLY LONG! I’m thinking my current situation is a bit like nesting that happens in your last trimester of pregnancy. You want everything in order before the baby arrives. In the same way I’m hoping to get everything in order/cleared out before I return to work and my life changes forever.
The other reason the purging fuel is burning strong is due to drinking the Kool-Aid reading more about minimalism. Read More
I always want the BEST. Most of my Google searches start with “the best ______” – recipes, ways to garden, restaurants…you name it. I want the best. Why would I want anything less?
I’ve always had high expectations.
When I was five, I was in my first children’s Christmas musical. I listened to the tape over and over again so I’d learn all the words, just like I’d been instructed. But my imagination got going while listening to those songs. A full Broadway show played in my head each time I practiced. Dance numbers were beautifully choreographed, the scenery and costumes were extraordinary. When we finally started rehearsals on stage, I was deeply disappointed. We were standing in LINES?! Just a few hand movements? We’d wear matching t-shirts? *sigh*
In fourth grade the school year was coming to a close. I decided I’d bring my new camera to school during the last week so I could take some pictures of my classmates. It had been one of my favorite school years and I wanted to remember my class. I had a plan. I’d have everyone on the playground. I imagined different spots everyone would stand or hang or sit in front. It was going to be epic. The day came, I asked everyone to head to the playground for a picture, maybe about half of them went and it was nothing like my epic photo in my head. I wish I still had that picture to post. It was really terrible. Perhaps that was a sign posing people for photoshoots is not one of my strengths.
Those are just two small examples, but I could list countless times I set myself up for disappointment throughout my life: photo sessions, what staying at home would be like, performances I’d attend, how my children should behave, what marriage would look like….. I’m a planner and a dreamer, so I can really build something up until it’s pretty impossible to make a reality.
That’s how it went with my race last week.
I’d really built it up. BIG. I expected a huge life changing event. Music blasting all night, everyone dancing it up, feeling so proud of myself for finishing a 5k. But it was nothing like that at all.
Ok, ok, it was on a small scale. The music and party atmosphere of it all was fun. It definitely kept me from getting bored. And because we were in the dark winding all around the fairgrounds in circles, I had no idea how long I’d run or how much further I had to go. And I did it. At a super slow pace and quite a bit of walking because it was SO crowded.
The strangest thing was I wasn’t proud of myself for doing it. I thought I’d feel some sense of accomplishment. But I didn’t. My friends asked if I’d do another race and I said no. I have absolutely no desire to do a race again.
Maybe it was because I didn’t run without stopping which was my expectation when I signed up. Maybe because it was the same distance as walking around the lake by my house which I’ve done in the past.
I can’t put my finger on it. But maybe I just had too many expectations.
And maybe that’s why I have a hard time finding joy and excitement in my life sometimes. I over think and build things up too much which lead to disappointment. I expect too much from others, so they end up “letting me down”.
So what’s a girl to do? How am I supposed to balance my love of planning and dreaming alongside healthy and realistic expectations? I certainly don’t have it all figured out, but it’s where I’m at right now. No “answer” or way to turn it around right now, just thinking it over and thinking out loud.
Anyone else set expectations too high?
So in 8 days I’m supposed to run my first ever 5K. Yeah. About that…..
I’ll just be dancewalking. I don’t want to miss out on the whole experience of the night and not get my money’s worth. That’s what I’m telling myself so I feel better about sucking at training and preparing for it. But we all know the truth is I sucked at the training. I mean, I have “good” reasons. I had a little in office procedure done that kept me out of the gym one day and caused me to slow down a bit. Then there’s the fear of pelvic prolapse that I want to be mindful of because I do have a few signs.
But honestly, I’m hating running again. Hating the gym. And hating my body.
Here’s the deal….
I’ve been faithful to go to the gym 3 days a week for an hour. FOR NINE MONTHS!!! And I have lost ZERO POUNDS! (I do not apologize for the screaming or all that is yet to come) I’ve met with a trainer, had sessions with him and followed his plan for me. I got stronger, yes. I also go bored. I run/walk. I did a few weeks of a 30 day “crossfit” home challenge. I take a Barre class. It kicked my butt and I could hardly walk. My jeans fit a little TEENY bit looser. That’s not enough for me.
I HAVE A GOAL WEIGHT!!!
I want to meet that goal weight.
Or I’d like to at least come close to it. OR JUST LOSE SOME FREAKIN’ WEIGHT!
Or even just see a difference in my appearance.
It makes me mad, because 6 years ago I lost 15 pounds in 6 months doing less than I do now.
And you can judge and give me all the ideas you want in all the world. But just know this: I KNOW THEM ALL. ALL of them.
I need to work harder, or count calories, or eat only meat or no meat, cut out sugar or carbs, or be at the gym every day, or drink more water…….All of them. I know. Believe me I know.
So here’s my dilemma, the reason one of the reasons I struggle so much:
I flop back and forth with being happy with my current weight and body shape, and striving for the goal weight and body.
Well, actually I’m NEVER happy with my current weight and body shape. I hate it. I hate that squishy saggy wrinkled from stretch marks stomach. The one where the abs won’t come back together and I look like I’m still 4 month pregnant. I hate my squishy arms and double chin and that my thighs are so big, my knees aren’t defined anymore. I seriously hate it all.
And so I think going to the gym and losing weight will fix those problems. That’s how it’s supposed to work. But it’s not working.
So I try to accept the shape I am. To love myself. Afterall, I’m not in the overweight range yet. (Normal BMI goes to 24.9 – that’s EXACTLY where I am) But it’s so hard. So ridiculously hard. I swore I would never let myself get fat. Whelp. Here I am. Fat. And I can’t seem to fix it.
I decided to get things checked out by a doctor. To see if there’s something preventing me from losing weight. I’ll have some bloodwork results next week, but you know what she told me today?
“Not getting enough sleep really throws off your cortisol levels which could keep you from losing weight. You should be getting a full 8-9 hours a night. That’s probably the biggest factor in all this.”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Oh lady. It’s a good thing you didn’t tell me that this time last year. I might have punched you in the face. But really, you think I can get a full 8-9 hours every night with a toddler cutting molars and complaining about “scaries” in her bed? Or what about the fact that I have to get up to pee at least once or twice per night? Or the 5 year old who needs the occasional snuggle or lotion on her legs because she’s allergic to all the things outdoors? Oh, and the 2 year old has an internal clock set for a 5:45 wake up.
So yeah. Sleep won’t happen for a few more years.
*sigh*
I’m done complaining now. I’ll wait for those lab results. And in the meantime? I’ll work on loving my current shape a little more while still going to the gym. Blah.
Please ignore the fact that I ate half a chocolate bar while writing this. It’s been a tough day. And chocolate hasn’t been in my house for awhile. Thank you.
Maybe I’m getting old, but I’m longing for the “good ol’ days” lately. Maybe it has to do with simplifying my life that’s making me wish for the days gone by, who knows. Whatever the case, here are two things I miss from my childhood that I wish my kids could experience….
Sure, Netflix is great for quick and easy entertainment, but there’s something I miss about those trips to the video store on Friday and Saturday nights. The smell of stale popcorn, the buzz of the florescent lights and catching a glimpse of a movie playing on the TV up in the corner while you browsed. That feeling when you rushed to the new release section, followed it by its alphabetical order, and found the movie you’d come in for. The thrill of finding the ONE video left on an entire section filled with empty cases.
I even miss needing to wait for that new release. It taught me not to expect instant gratification. Instead I’d spend time browsing the outer walls looking for another new movie that might be suitable. If nothing turned up, it was to the middle section – usually to musicals or maybe to comedies for me. Or if I wasn’t trying to look too cool I’d settle for something from the children and family section where toddler toys were scattered around on the floor.
Then there was that off limits room I didn’t understand. It said I had to be 18 so I couldn’t go in and usually only big scary men came out. I honestly don’t think I knew what was actually in that room until I was in college. For that I’m thankful.
Once I’d settled on a movie, or the group of us finally made up our mind, we might grab some candy from the check out counter and be on our way. But not before we walked around the counter empty handed to grab the rentals. I always thought that was so strange, to get it on the other side.
I guess I miss physically going to the video store. I’m not sure what it is I miss the most….making eye contact with other people, seeing and touching the video cases, smelling the popcorn (even if I never ate it because it’s not my thing), having candy options. Whatever the case. I miss it.
We had to be so much more creative before cell phones came onto the scene when it came to group road trips. Even with just two cars, there was no texting or quick call if you got separated. You also couldn’t just keep following the GPS and know you’d all end up in the same place eventually. Both cars had a map or set of directions written out and you had to stay together to see if someone made a pit stop. Do you call them pit stops? Or is that just related to the NASCAR influence in my childhood?
Anyway. There was more teamwork. More creativity. Like window signs.
I miss window signs. The driver needing to match the speed of the car next to you while everyone else tried to read the sign. If it was in pencil or pen it was harder to see. Marker was always best. And let’s be honest, the driver always tried to read it too. Not safe. Just like texting and driving. If you were the one writing the sign, you had to make it short and sweet.
I remember driving to the beach when I was around 6 and the car we were traveling with was holding something up in the window. My dad drove closer and we could see it was a magnadoodle with a message on it. A giant letter P. Time for a pit stop.
During youth group trips we used walkie talkies. So much more fun than cell phones. Constant, immediate contact. The giggles, pointing out roadside attractions, trying to share a song from the radio (which never worked), two cars trying to talk at the same time so neither message got through, people who put their mouth on the speaker and you understood nothing. *sigh* Yeah, I miss that.
Or maybe I just miss my teenage years. All the crazy adventures and outings. The carefree days.
Yeah. I’m getting old.
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
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