Shampoo Bars

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After seeing The Story of Cosmetics video, I was on a mission to find better ingredients in our daily products.  For years and years I looked for a shampoo that didn’t contain some of the harmful chemicals I had read about.  I tried the ‘no poo’ method for way longer than most people would have, since it didn’t really work for me, no matter what ratio or approach I tried.  When I had my second child, I just felt like I needed to take a break from my shampoo quest.  I found one at our natural grocery store without some of the chemicals, but with a packaging that I never felt good about.  I don’t exactly know if I ever figured out if it was recyclable, and even if it was, I still cringed at the idea of that packaging having to be made and go through its recycling process at all.

This year, I finally found a solution!  I was overjoyed to find the company, Zero Waste Cartel.  With my first order, I felt like I solved so many of the packaging and waste dilemmas I’d been having.  But my favorite part of the order, hands down, was their shampoo bar.  I ordered the Pink Hibiscus, and I fell in love immediately.  It suds up really well.  I love the way it smells.  I loved how it cleaned my hair.  And the very small bag it comes in is compostable!!  Wow.  There are so many scents available, and there are conditioner bars available as well.

Lately, I’ve been noticing shampoo bars other places, which I’m so excited to see.  I’ll keep getting my Humby bar from Zero Waste Cartel, while I can, because I love supporting their company, and I love these bars.  They have posted a great video about the bar and how to store it so it will last longer.  (They’re always offering helpful tips and even DIYs for some of their products.)

If you, too, have been searching for a shampoo solution or a way to reduce some of your plastic waste, I highly recommend trying shampoo bars!!

(My favorite Humby so far has been the Pink Hibiscus.  I tried the Eucalyptus Fairy, and even though it was pretty and worked well, it didn’t seem to have much of a scent.  While that could be a good thing, I missed the hibiscus and returned to it.)

 

Funny National Park Reviews

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I remember seeing these posters last year and cracking up!  With Covid and fires going on, seeing something to make me laugh was a welcome break.  They were extra funny given the circumstances that were going on, the same way Darth Vader and Son made me laugh a little louder and longer because of when I read it.  I have definitely  benefitted from online reviews, but it can also be a bit discouraging at times.  It starts to explain a lot about people in a way that’s not very hopeful or positive.

So, the fact that this artist took some of these absurd reviews of our National Parks–basically, people criticizing some of the most beautiful natural spaces in our country– and made posters of them–Yes!  Genius!  And while some of them are hilarious, -“I didn’t even get to touch the lava!” and “There are bugs, and they will bite you on your face!”- some are actually perfect advertisements to attract visitors like me- “Nothing specific to do” and “No cell service”

Check some of them out.   I’ve pinned some here too.

Also, these aren’t the posters, but you can find a collection of more ‘bad’ reviews here.

Scrunchies

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Scrunchies can be a fun, easy, and appreciated gift.  These are a great opportunity to use fabric scraps and you don’t have to worry about the packaging and transportation of a new, store-bought item.  Once you get the hang of making these, you’ll be able to make bunches at once.  Give one as a gift, tie one to the outside of another present, or make a variety of different scrunchies.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cookies

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Pumpkin Cookie recipe

My mom used to make pumpkin cookies every Halloween season, and every year I wonder if I’m going to find the ‘right’ recipe that tastes as good as the ones I remember.  And, somehow, every recipe seems to be delicious!  But I thought I’d mark this one this year, so I can keep track a little better.

Pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting?!  Yes, please!  These taste wonderful fresh, but I’ve also frozen leftovers with great success.  They probably aren’t ‘best’ right out of the freezer, the way some other stuff is, but with a little time on the counter or in the microwave, they’re golden.

We also sprinkled a bit of pumpkin pie spice on top at the end, and my daughter really wanted to add roasted pumpkin seeds as well.

 

Churros

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Churro Recipe

I remember when a student of mine brought in homemade churros for a school party, and I was in complete awe.  I had had churros at zoos or theme parks, but homemade??  Wow.

It wasn’t until years and years later (well, last year, to be exact) that I actually tried making these.  They’re a bit time-consuming, as most fried things are if you don’t have the equipment or experience to do them quicker, but they’re also super simple.  (My daughter made them all herself.)  We had made these once or twice before, but my daughter asked to make these today, for Dia de los Muertos.  Bless her, because churros are so flipping yummy!  I definitely couldn’t eat these often, but they sure are a delicious treat.  We could barely keep enough on the plate to take this picture.  They go fast!  Give them a try sometime!