One of the biggest changes I experienced in 2012 (I mean, besides becoming a mother) was Steve’s and my transition into a more natural lifestyle. Out went the parabens and sulfates in our shampoo and GMOs in our cereal, in came loads and loads of organic produce, full-fat dairy and homemade household cleaners. It’s been so good. I’m not much of a crafter, and I cringe at the thought of DIY home improvement, but somehow where those two things meet in the middle, I feel right at home. Plus, despite the fact that all my life I’ve struggled with my champagne taste and beer budget, I am really enjoying finding new ways to be frugal! So you might say I have been busy these last few months earning my natural living merit badges. And I thought I would share a little about the things I’m doing and learning.
First — the kombucha.
The kombucha is a work in progress. I am having a hard time making it, well, taste good — by the time I drink it, it’s vinegar! I found a good method of flavoring it (using frozen berries from last summer’s CSA boxes) but where I falter is knowing how long to ferment the berries, and then knowing whether and how long it will keep in the fridge. I have made a few good batches but in general I think I have a long way to go before Whole Foods offers my specialty brew on tap.
Next — yogurt.
I got a Euro Cuisine yogurt maker for Christmas and I am in love. As it turns out, making homemade yogurt is INCREDIBLY EASY — basically the yogurt maker just acts as an incubator. Lots of people use insulated coolers or crock pots for their yogurt (or, in my dream kitchen, an oven warming drawer), but a yogurt maker takes the guesswork out for a newbie like me. I made my first batch last week and was thrilled with the results. My next task is to strain it so it thickens to be more like Greek yogurt, but for right now I am just so excited to have found a way to enjoy organic, grass-fed full-fat yogurt for a tiny fraction of the price I would pay to buy it at the store — that is, if I could even find organic grass-fed full-fat yogurt.
Third — oil cleansing.
I waxed poetic a few months ago about the oil cleansing method, but our relationship has not been smooth sailing. Yes, I loved how it left my skin feeling soft, nourished and moisturized, without the flaky dry patches and tight feeling I was so used to. But my skin seemed to be having a hard time adjusting to the new routine, and just last week I declared that the oil cleansing method just didn’t work for me, and that I would have to go back to using ordinary face wash every night and spackling on ordinary moisturizer, jumping right back into the vicious cycle of dry skin. But the more I read about it, I think my skin was just going through what’s called a “purge” — basically, that things get a little worse for a while before they get a whole lot better. That is, if the hundreds of gushing testimonials I’ve found are to believed. I am going to give it another try. I promise. I am going to stick with it for a while and (I hope) leave the vicious dry skin cycle behind for good.
And in the meantime, I have a recipe for a homemade foaming facial cleanser to use on my non-oil-cleansing days. Frugal, easy, and natural: yes.
Lastly — gardening.
Sigh …
Okay, so it’s only January. But I am hard at work planning on what I want to plant this year! We have a pretty small garden space, but we are planning to redo the garden beds and fill it in with new soil. Steve got me a book on vegetable gardening for Christmas which I have been studying, and I am really looking forward to learning more in the coming months. It’s so nice to have warm summer sunshine to think about during these cold (or, well, unseasonably warm as the case may be) winter nights. What should I plant?
Coming up I have a few more merit badges that I’d like to earn — namely in pressure canning (guess what’s coming home with me next week when I turn 33), homemade bread, composting, sprouting grains, and maybe making some kefir. Eventually I also want to try making my own body butters and soaps, but one thing at a time for now!
Told you 2013 was going to be a great year … we are off to a wonderful start already!
January 10, 2013 at 6:44 am
All this is great but where is the gratuitous picture of Will?
grandpa
January 10, 2013 at 8:09 am
Haha! I am falling down on the job here.
January 10, 2013 at 10:08 am
I still really want to make my own yogurt, especially because my son is dairy-free and we buy coconut yogurt, which is $.99 for an individual cup! If I could make soy/almond/coconut yogurt that would be great, but I think non-dairy is sometimes trickier. I think I will try a crockpot method first before buying another appliance, but glad it is working for you.
I have yet to try oil skin cleansing, but my skin is decent and I don’t use anything special besides water anyway. However I have switched to “curly girl method” for my hair which means no silicones in my hair products. I now only have to shampoo 2-3 times/week, and I only use hair gel without silicone and I have GREAT hair. However I of course started this while pregnant so not sure how things will change once baby comes out in a couple weeks. All that to say it took about a MONTH of greasy, gross, bad-looking hair before it settled into its new routine! So your skin could definitely still be adjusting.
January 10, 2013 at 11:09 am
Oooh, if you try a non-dairy yogurt, will you come back and share your experience and recipe??
January 10, 2013 at 11:16 am
I will try and remember! The comments on the machine Amy linked to do mention soy milk is even in the instruction book so it seems promising! I don’t plan to start making yogurt soon though – baby is coming 1/29 and need to settle in first
January 10, 2013 at 11:19 am
Fair enough! I may try to find a good almond milk version and will let you know.
January 10, 2013 at 5:11 pm
Yeah — I am going to take your cue and just give my skin some time to adjust. I used oils last night and it felt so good! I haven’t felt the need to switch up my shampoo routine (beyond buying a non-toxic shampoo) — as it is I really only need to wash 2-3x per week anyway. But I am definitely curious about the baking soda/vinegar thing, so I may give it a try sometime. At the very least, it’s very frugal and reduces waste …
And YES I want to try making a nondairy yogurt. I don’t drink soy milk (almond milk occasionally in oatmeal or a smoothie) but I am dying to try coconut milk yogurt. I will report back!!
January 10, 2013 at 5:11 pm
And congratulations on your soon to be new baby!!