Buy Nothing Day and Creative Gifting

Photo Credit

While it is a few days late, I will say I did not buy anything on Buy Nothing Day. I didn't feel as if I was making any difference because I've already been trying to consume less, buy less, use less and I'm not a big Christmas gift giving person. I usually just focus on my immediate family. I don't even send Christmas cards. Although in an effort to get rid of the hundreds of pages of magazine clippings and arts & crafts in my apartment, I am making homemade cute Christmas cards this year. At the rate I'm going, people may receive them by next Christmas. Or maybe I'll give myself an extra week and call them, "New Year Cards" or something. Any hoo.

I have no intention of shopping. I shop for what I need and give myself a few indulgences. Although lately, I'm loving the empowerment behind creating and making my own products, that even my beauty indulgent purchases have decreased.

(I must admit. I did just purchase another bottle of Marc Jacobs perfume. Its my signature scent and I was out. Even though I have probably 10+ bottles of other perfumes that i need to go through. Ugh. I know. I know. I'd give them away but they are half empty or 1/3 empty. Who's going to take that? I mean if you want it, you are welcomed to it. I'll ship them to you for free. Email me and I'll send you the list of all the kinds I have and I will send them your way. This would really help my personal guilt.)

I digress.

Everyone in my family already has their "holiday gift" except my five year old sister. I use the "" not because i said holiday but because I don't really do "date specific" gifts like birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, christmas gifts. I am the person who will purchase or make something that's perfect for you and give it to you right then. So my mother received her "birthday gift" two months before her actually birthday. It was an all expense paid trip to Vegas for five days.

Last month my mother received her christmas gift early. Her laptop broke down and so I bought a brand new one for her with an external hard drive, with facial recognition software, with microsoft office...it was fully loaded! It wasn't really a christmas gift. Had this occurred in July, she would have received it then or whenever the need arose. Considering all the things my mother does with her laptop..homeschool children, take online classes her self, coordinate meet up groups, research, business and such...purchasing her a new one is granola. Laptops are multi-functional devices. Her's came with a built in camera, built in speakers, media player, dvd player...all that good stuff. Perfect for her life on the go.

There were a few things i could have done different or still can.

1. Recycle her old laptop. (She is still transferring all her files and software to the new one but once she is done, the old one can be recycled. Actually as I type this I realize she's using the old one as a backup for home use)
2. I could have purchased a refurbished laptop for half the price I paid and the possibly spent more money on more programs and such for her. Or purchased two refurbished laptops for the price of one brand new one. (Yea. So I definitely forgot to think about that! Even my mac laptop was purchased used. It was two months old when I purchased it off Craigslist with the original receipt. But for my mom's computer I did receive multiple discounts and shaved over $500 off the cost of the laptop and some software)

All in all. My mother has her Christmas gift sans the home made creative holiday card that I have yet to make.


My siblings also have their "holiday gift." Although it has little to do with Christmas. In an effort to promote the growth of their personal character, I started a project called the Ipod Project. The three older kids have eight weeks to accumulate a certain amount of points in various categories such as Character, Stewardship, Chores, School and Relationships in order to win an Ipod Touch. Each catergory has sub-categories. There is a cap on how many points they can receive per day and they can also lose points. They can not get points in the same sub-categories two days in a row in order to encourage a holistic approach to improvement. We have this whole elaborate chart where the tally is kept and they can only receive positive points by having another sibling take notice and they can only lose points by admitting it themselves. (They are notorious for ragging on each other.) If they receive bonus points, they can even win a $25 itunes gift card for music.


I must say I am having fun with the competition. There have already been improvements. They are behaving more positively towards each other. They are taking the initiative more. They are trying new things and thinking creative and I love it. We modeled the categories in areas where we knew each child needed improvement, or after general character traits that benefit any human functioning in the world and after their own suggestions for things. According to my mom, they are each on track to receive their very own iPod Touch.

(My three sisters and brother. I am in the middle. Bianca (15) is on my left. Hanna (10 soon to be 11) is on my right. Dasia (5) is in front of me. Daniel (14) is behind me.)

How is this sustainable? Because it focuses on the need to sustain ourselves! You can save the world, the trees, and the rabbit's fur but of what use is it without high functioning human beings. What use is the a beautiful sky without people to stop and appreciate it. We focus on saving the earth for the future. But we sometimes neglect the children that are the future. And teaching a child to pay attention to stewardship encourages a sustainable mindset.


Also the prize is multi functional. Music player. Planner. Email A billion Apps. This prize is SO worth it!


The end date is near Christmas time so if it makes the holiday gods happy, I can label it as their "holiday gift."


Mr. Officer and I are not exchanging gifts because I'm too lazy to think creatively and make or buy one. Who knew laziness could help me consume less. :)


I will also be repurposing things around my home as gifts for a few select friends. I have a bad habit of purchasing multiple coffee and tea mugs and for someone living alone..there is no justification in having 30+ coffee mugs. Since they are brand new with the price tags still stamped on, I will be filling them with packets of tea, hot cocoa and such and giving them as gifts to friends. It's the same with the WAY too many candles and other cute little things around my house that i have too many off. I'll add some flair and love and someone else will be able to use what's just crowding my space.


You are going to come across many blogs with holiday party ideas, green gifting ideas, no stress ideas, creative ideas and all that goodness. A lot of them have great ideas and are very useful. What i encourage. Just find what works for you. If you do like to shop and buy gifts for everyone you love..I encourage you to find gifts for them that will be used and not end up in the back of the closet. Create, repurpose or purchase gifts that hold meaning or that will last. Its not about finding "green gifts" per se. Its about finding ways to sustain life. Rather than buying a barbie for your little girl...although I LOVED barbies as a child. Buy or MAKE a game that your entire family can play. Instead of buying lots of new books...purchase used books or write and illustrate a fun, silly, or adventurous story for your children or with your children. Wouldn't that be a great gift. To make a "book writing kit" that includes story ideas, crayons, paper and such and then to tell your child you will have a special day where you write a book together. I may actually steal my own idea!


Now that "Buy Nothing Day" is officially over, what are you buying this holiday season and why? How are you shopping for sustainable gifts? What creative gifts are you making?

Stolen for Fashion by PETA

I saw this as an ad on HULU and was like, "well, ok then!" I was a little bit freaked out. If I were a person who wore rabbit fur and alligator leather....I'm not sure that this would change my pattern of behavior. I think what it does for me is prevent me from ever purchasing it to begin with.

Part of living a sustainable life is through protecting our resources, our livelihood, and our earth. While I don't believe everyone should be a vegetarian or vegan, I also don't believe that everyone should eat steak every day.

It's the same with fashion. In the past animal fur was used for warmth because people lived outside in tents or they didn't have People's Gas to heat their apartments. Nowadays that need has been meet. Although it makes me wonder. Is it better for the environment to use fur for warmth or natural resources that are dwindling?

Anyways....just though this was interesting.

My feet are Vegan

Over at one of my favorite blogs, Eco Mam's Guide to Green Living, I came across a wonderful discovery.

Photo Credit

I will be honest. I don't like UGG boot knock offs. I purchased a pair of UGGS for years ago and while they in no way promote a sustainable lifestyle...they are COMFY and they last for YEARS...unless you are like me and you do a stupid thing and pretty much destroy them. But I tell you those shoes are like a cloud from heaven.

I've considered purchasing a new pair just because. But I can't bring myself to spend over $100. But I also frown and turn my nose up to the knock offs. I'm not one who gives value to labels. I give value to things that work perfectly for me. And for awhile the UGGS did.

Well, Eco Mama came across a pair of substitutes that are also VEGAN FRIENDLY. And that is of value to me. The boots were originally priced at  about $50 but they are currently on sale for $20. I bought one pair. I considered buying three pair in various colors but I think that is wasteful.

My pair are set to arrive on Friday. I love when I am able to meet a need and support causes that are important to me.

I'm also looking for a pair of brown flats because I NEED them and a pair of shiny green flats because I WANT them. Suggestions on where to shop?

Granola Interview with Photographer Sam Schwartz

It's been long and coming but FINALLY, here is my interview with my dear friend, amazing photographer and fellow granola Sam Schwartz. I asked a lot of questions and she provided LOADS of information. But I promise you, it is worth the read. I learned so much more about sustainability and about Sam and I am so grateful she did this for me. Now I'm encouraged to interview even more people to learn more! Two performers in my most recent show are vegetarians and during our last break in between shows I grilled them with questions. I'm sure they were wondering just what I was up to. Now without further ado, here is Sam. I'll interject my responses and such, here and there, fyi.

I am the black girl in the picture. My fiend Megan is in the middle. And Sam is on the other end.

What is a CSA? How did you learn about? 




Actually, I learned about the CSA from my roommate Laura.  CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  Basically, we (along with many others) purchase a share of a local, Illinois farm.  For about 5 months a year, we receive 3/4 bushel of freshly picked, organic fruits and vegetables every week.  We have the option of getting bread, meat, and eggs from the same farm for an additional price.  Laura and I started purchasing the share two years ago.  We write a check to the CSA around March or April and then we are able to pick up the food once a week starting at the beginning of June until the last week or so of October.  Buying into a CSA program has several benefits.  First, you are getting freshly picked fruits and vegetables from an organic farm--which means no nasty chemicals or synthetic fertilizers AND your produce is only a few hours picked, so there are maximum nutritional benefits.  Second, because the CSA is local, you are supporting local agriculture, which is just better for farmers and for you.  You also have the option of helping with certain harvests if you want.  Related to being locally grown, you are also eating foods as common as carrots, but as diverse as kohlrabi or swiss chard.  Lastly, I have definitely become more aware of keeping food and planning meals around the food that is in season and provided.    

(Because of Sam's CSA involvement, we were able to take this apples........)

(...and turn them into this delicious pie!)

Another cool thing about CSA's:  if you live in a warmer climate (such as Florida) sometimes you can get this produce all year round--and it might even be cheaper and have awesome things like almonds!  There are also co-ops where you can get things like soap, paper products and other non-perishables.


 
Do you consider yourself "green"? In what ways would you say you live a "green" life?


Well, "Green" is a term I think we all need to use very loosely.  To be honest, I think it is all marketing!  Let's put it this way:  I recycle.  I try to turn things off and unplug them when they are not in use.  I don't buy those t-shirts at luxury brand stores that have weird "green" messages on them.

In what ways do you see yourself improving towards living a more sustainable life?  


Sustainability is always a goal.  Let me explain in the light of what I just said above:  "Green" to me seems like a really great way to make people spend more; consume more.  The idea of sustainability is about allowing life to be simpler while also trying not to drain a community or system of its resources.  I also think that sustainability has a lot to do with a process over time.  Being “green” is a trend, a tax break, a social status.  However, living with the goal of a sustainable lifestyle not only connects us to our communities, but makes us aware of our habits.  A sustainable lifestyle can also connect us more fully to our futures. Humans spend so much time figuring out how to get more for less.   More money for less work, more food for less cost, two for one…you see it all over the place, and frankly, this attitude disconnects us—from others, from the world, and ultimately from ourselves.  We don’t pay attention to where food or products come from.  We don’t know who harvests, or what it takes to grow.  We don’t know what chemicals enter into our bodies and homes.  Personally, I think living sustainably might take a little more time and effort, but in the long run, you get what you work for and it is more satisfying in the end.  I wish that we could live by that sort of mantra—you get what you work for.  Consider: 

“[H]uman brains…[have] become such copious and irresponsible generators of suggestions as to what might be done with life, that they made acting for the benefit of future generations seem one of many games which might be played by narrow enthusiasts—like poker or polo or the bond market, or the writing of science fiction novels.

[We] found ensuring the survival of the human race a total bore.”  --Kurt Vonnegut

I believe that taking these extra steps to be connected are more than just the trend that people make it out to be.  It is an important step to making certain that we can survive ourselves and our own technology and ideas.
    So, ways that I see myself improving...Over the past year I have started to wash out my ziplock bags (most of the time...if there is meat/dairy/egg product, I usually throw it out) and reuse them, I started an herb garden in my apartment, I unplug appliances such as the toaster, tv, cell charger, etc.  I also try to buy used if possible either through craigslist, freecycle, or the thrift store.  I've been trying to buy local groceries if possible.  I try to buy my spices and other herbs in bulk--sold in a small bag--to cut down on waste.  In fact, if I can find things without the extra packaging there is a better chance I will buy it that way.


I have also started to cut back on the chemicals I introduce to my environment and body.  It is very difficult because sometimes I rely on strange chemicals for medical reasons or because those are the things that are available and work the best.  I encourage people to take a look at the ingredients of things like lotions or cleaners.  I try my best to purchase cleansers that are not petroleum based.  Instead of buying a highly chemicalized prescription lotion for the very dry skin I get in the winter, I started just using olive oil, which has worked wonders….and I know exactly where it comes from!

It really helps to have a roommate who has these same goals also.  It doesn't help when your roommate doesn't care about things like saving energy or recycling.  My current roommate, Laura, is pretty awesome about stuff like this and I've learned a lot from her.  In that respect it is helpful to have friends who share the same values.  I get a lot of great ideas from friends!


Goals for the future: I would love to get one of those composters and start composting.  I would also love to start my own vegetable garden.  Going to the grocery store has become such a disappointment because it is hard to tell where that food is coming from.  Very few grocery stores and products label if something is genetically modified (because it is not something Congress sees as important…for whatever reason—food industry lobbyists, I’m sure.  Europe does it even for things like candy bars.)  That being said I would like to start buying more locally grown foods from farmers markets, and maybe even directly from local farms.
 

Is living a sustainable life in line with your personal goals for life? (for example, one goal of mine to be intentional in all that I do, to be present. one thing I've seen is that by trying to be more conscious of my energy consumption, waste reduction or intake of local food...i find that it makes me a more intentional person and it keeps me present. they just linked up naturally) Do you see examples of this in your life?  


Yes, a little.  A lot of these new habits started in an effort to save money.  This summer, I started baking my own bread because I realized that purchasing "the good bread" was costing me as much as $4.00 a loaf, but if I made it from scratch it cost me about $1.11 a loaf.  The same with herbs.  Buying them fresh from the grocery store can cost upwards of $3 (or more) and then they go bad before I can use them up.  But I can have fresh herbs all year round just by investing $1.25 in seeds and some dirt.  The same goes for buying used things. You can usually find things just as good as new for much less--and you don't encourage mindless spending.  Because you have to spend the time looking for something worth your money AND time, you are less likely to just buy whatever is stocked on the shelf at a department store.  It's all out there, folks.  Everyone thinks they need everything at one point, and when they decide they don't, it goes to the thrift store.   
All that to say, I've saved money, but I also found that things become much simpler when they don't come in a package.  Things seem to exist better, to flow together.  By simplifying I feel like I am doing something good for myself as much as possible.  It’s one of the only ways I feel like I can be a little selfish, without actually negatively impacting others. The effort adds balance to life. And I think that is the purpose now:  to find a better balance every day.

Why are many of your products in your home organic, natural, sustainable or raw? Such as the raw sugar, unbleached flour, seventh generation tissue, recycled aluminum foil?  

 (photos I took around Sam's home)

Here's another side of the story:  I don't want processed foods in my body!  Did you know that European countries won't import our meat and other foods because they are appalled by the way we produce our food?  American food won't pass any standards tests in Europe.  The way we produce and slaughter animals.  (By the way, did you know that raw meat in America is treated with Ammonia to keep out contamination?) The pesticides and hormones and genetically modified seeds we use.  It's really horrific.  As for the raw sugar--I'm a vegetarian (although I still eat some fish every so often) and often times sugar, when it is refined, is filtered through an active carbon source--usually animal bone char.  I'm usually not one of those crazy vegetarians, but I just find this kind of nasty.  All of this may sound kind of fundamentalist, but the way I think about it, every little bit counts.   

(photos I took around Sam's home)

Were you raised in a granola home?


Not entirely...We did eat a lot of granola! I was raised in a home without a ton of money.  So a lot of the things we did revolved around trying not to spend a lot of it.  Turning off lights, shopping resale, all that. My mom was an avid recycler though.  Before there were recycling programs in our town, I remember every Saturday we packed up all our recycling in the car and drove it to the next town over to recycle it.  And after we got a pick-up service, we had these huge bins where we put the recycling after we washed it and removed all the labels and reduced it.  We were recycling MACHINES!

Why did you choose to become a vegetarian? Have you noticed a different in your life since doing so? Have you felt that your meals are limited because you've taken meat out? 


I'm a little embarrassed to say that I first started eating vegetarian in high school because of a bet.  My best friend bet me that I couldn't last a month and I was determined to prove her wrong!  I've gone back and forth since then.  Reasons that I eat vegetarian:  Health reasons--I've found that eating less processed, simpler foods helps digestion, helps me to sleep more soundly, I feel more energetic because I'm eating several times a day in smaller portions and eating things that have more available nutrients than, say, a lean cuisine.   Other reasons have begun to emerge as well.  As I've continued exploring a vegetarian diet, I've found that it can also support a more sustainable ecosystem, a more balanced agricultural system.  I know that one person cannot change the way our farming system works.  But I also like the idea that I can explore other options like the CSA, not eating meat, buying more natural, organic foods, fair trade products. 

(If you go to dinner at Sam's place, you will eat things like Stuffed Tomatoes with Risotto, Ginger Carrots and Homemade Dill Bread.)

What is your favorite green product?  
Trees?

What is a great green tip? 


Evaluate the things you buy, such as cleaner, shampoo, lotions.  Take a look at the ingredients and see if you can find products with ingredients that you can identify right away.  If you have to Google more than 2 or 3 things, you might want to find an alternative.


Try to buy more locally grown veggies, eggs, and meats.  They taste better!

I notice that your apartment has lots of plants and herbs that you grow and take care of? Is there a particular reason?   

Having plants in the apartment makes it seem a little calmer and a little more inviting, especially in the winter.  It also increases oxygen, humidity in the winter, and has a cooling effect in the summer.  Also, they are easier to take care of than dogs…or kids…and I kill fish all the time…so, plants it is!

(Sometimes, Sam even has tomatoes and lavender growing at her place. It's wonderful!)

 

Tell me about your chair project and why you didn't just go buy chairs from ikea?

I needed some dining room chairs and I found 2 sets of 2 matching chairs from freecycle.com.  The upholstery was dirty and ugly, but this was fine with me because I wanted to reupholster the cushions myself.  Why? First I wanted to have chairs that were unique from anyone else’s!  I also like the idea of refinishing old things and making them usable and hopefully stylish.  So I got the chairs for free, and then I went to a cute little fabric store in Wicker Park www.theneedleshop.com and found some fabric that I liked.   

Also some other questions that will be good for people to know....

Where are you from?  


I am from Pell Lake WI.  It’s ok if you don’t know where it is.  We didn’t have paved roads until 1999.
 
On a Saturday afternoon at 3pm what are you most likely to be doing? 


Maybe taking a walk with a certain dog, cooking, if I’m being good I’m exercising.  Taking photos around town…shooting a wedding.  As I write this, I am sitting with two dogs, a handsome man and some good tunes, brewing my first beer recipe—Pear Walnut Oktoberfest!

Anything else you'd like to add? 

http://www.illinoisfarmdirect.org/index.html
http://www.plowcreek.org/farm/    (our csa)
http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-issues.php  (the website for the movie Food, Inc., but also includes links to other sites with information about food)
http://www.wbez.org/Program_WV_Series.aspx?seriesID=143  (podcasts/online listening on public radio about food)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120013107   (part I of an interview about overfishing on Fresh Air)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120049590  (part II of an interview about overfishing and how to eat fish more sustainably)
www.michaelpollan.com   (he is not only a phenomenal writer but also writes about sustainability, farming, consuming, and nature in the books he writes, but also for print such as the New York Times, Newsweek, Time, National Geographic, etc.  This is a link to his site, which links to articles he has—beautifully--written)

Sam is a photographer who currently resides in Chicago, IL. To learn more about Samantha Rose Photography, please visit SamanthaRosePhotography.com.

(Would you like to be interviewed next on granola tendencies? Do you live a granola life? Do you have amazing tips and advice that would help others learning more about sustainability? If so, email me at SheenaLYoung at gmail dot com and I'm sure readers would love to hear from you!)

The Price of Convenience

For the past year I have been consistently purchasing my facial products from the Body Shop. I enjoy MANY of their products. This is a picture inside my bathroom mirror where you can see I have almost the entire line of their seaweed facial collection.

I tallied the cost from their website.

Face Wash 12.00

Toner 12.00

Exfoliating Scrub 14.50

Mask 22.00

Did you calculate that? Thats $60.50 for my freaking face.

I will say that it yielded impressive results. My skin wasn't in the perfect shape this time last year and after I adopted a regime after the best facial in the world, my skin became better after using the Body Shop products.

But this isn't about who's version is better. From what I could feel after making my own products, it felt the same. My toner was too potent in smell and needs a stronger essential oil. But then, my exfoliating scrub was a lot gentler but still just as effective.

What this is about is taking more control in how I spend my money. This is about having a sense of freedom in knowing exactly what I am putting on my body. This is about finding other ways to spend my time that shopping and consuming and purchases nonstop. This is about finding somewhere else to invest $60.50 since I have the ingredients in my pantry. This is about me attempting to generate less trash and stuff. And tonight, I found simple, easy, quick ways to do that.

I like that instead of products, I have ingredients...to make whatever I want to concoct.

I know have completely natural, organic facial products. I can tell you every single thing I put on my face and I kind of like that. I like having full control over my body and my choices and my money. (well, sort of. Uncle Sam still takes what he wants)

Now, I'm not saying everyone should start making their own products. Although I encourage you to at least try. What you have to do is way what its worth. The price of convenience no longer outweights the price of all natural products, the price of trash produced, and the price of money spent.

I will say, essential oils are costly. I'm sure there are some websites that sell them in bulk for better prices that I found at Wholefoods. But it is an investment. However, essential oils can be used for EVERYTHING. So it may be worth it to buy an essential oil for $15..knowing that you have all the other ingredients in the house to make your own products and knowing that you'll use that oil for many other things as well...as oppose to spending $15 on a toner or something.

Just saying.

Consumption

Photo Credit

Day one of the No Impact Project involves looking at consumption. In layman's terms, it means giving a second thought to every purchase I make. I've done a couple of things to combat bad spending purchases. I have a very thorough budget. I use Mint.com I keep an ongoing list of things I need to purchase and pretty much stick to that list. So even when it seems like I've purchased a ton of things....95% of the time its because it was actually on my list. This list included everything from asparagus, a paper shredder, black boots, or a book about the day of the dead. I'm very organized. Conscious about my spending. And particular about how I spend my money.

Photo Credit

But...no matter where you are...there is always room for improvement. You can always push yourself. Today while grocery shopping, I passed by the tea aisle. Instinctly I grabbed a box of Mighty Leaf African Nectar. I was so excited for this tea. I looked forward to going home and making a cup or two or three or the whole box!!!!

However as I neared the checkout line, I looked at everything in my cart and started thinking about the things I didn't really need and could make do without. Then I remembered the box....

Truth be told, that's not even all of the tea. There's more in the cabinet above the sink. And this picture doesn't show the layers beneath of even more tea.

So I put the box back. I will not buy any more tea until this box is empty. I put a number of other things back too. And it felt good knowing that I had saved myself probably over $50 of stuff.

Natural Products versus Homemade Products

My name is SLY and I am a product whore.

Photo Credit

Sure I can toot a horn that many of the products, toiletries and cleaning supplies that I buy are Eco-friendly, natural, organic and promote fair trade but if I want to push myself further... perhaps I need to look at the whole consumerism issue.

STOP BUYING STUFF.

We are groomed to think we need to keep buying things. You work so that you have money so that you can buy the things you want and need. It's your American right to shop. I remember a radio shack commercial years ago that came out around Christmas time. People were in line buying all the other things they needed to go with all the things they'd already purchased. They bought the toy car but forgot to buy the batteries. They bought the digital camera but needed to buy the media stick. I can't remember the tag line but it mentioned something to the effect to buying more stuff for the stuff you already bought. It sickened me. But I am guilty of it.

It's not just buying more natural products. Maybe we need to realign our thinking. Shift our paradigm. Perhaps it's to stop buying in general. Or to decrease the things you are purchasing. How much money would I save if I made half the things I use at home? Plus every time I buy a product...its just continuing the cycle...even if its an all natural face wash put inside a biodegradable container. It still took energy, resources, money, and more to make that natural product.

I remember my great grandmother, who recently passed telling me the only things they bought while she was growing up were shoes and their Sunday clothes. Everything else they made or planted. She was born in 1925. Things were different then.

Yesterday, I went into body shop to buy some shaving cream. I love their men's line. It's THE BEST!!!! But because it was buy two skin products, get one free...I bought an all natural face wash. I'm almost out at home and an all natural face mask since that container is almost empty too. But then I bought...two more fragrant oils. Even though I have a basket of about 15 and way too many incense that I need to go through. And a couple other things.

This morning I felt a little bad about buying it, since what I NEED is a new pair of jeans and a coat. But as I went through my list I rationalize my spending by thinking, "I need a new mask because it's out. And I need face wash because its almost out. And I need shaving cream because that's almost out. It wasn't a random shopping spree."

True. But what if instead of continually buying things, I made a simple face mask with household products? Then I could return the one I purchased for $15. Honestly, I don't even know what I paid for it. The price wasn't listed and I haven't glanced at the receipt. It could be $5 or $35.

So I'm taking back at least half the things I purchased and I've looked up some simple recipes.

Simple for me means the handmade products.....

• Contains ingredients that I readily keep in the house such as oatmeal and honey and essential oils.(I know I'll have to buy a few things I don't normally keep such as rosewater or glycerin...but there are many other uses that I'll find for them. And isn't that sustainable...to have 100 ways to use oatmeal?)
  
• Is simple to prepare. (Five steps or less. I don't want to spend five hours creating a face wash that has forty ingredients. I don't have time for that. Even if I had time, I don't want to spend time doing that.)
• It eventually works once I use it. (If after trying the homemade recipe the results are not as effective, it's not gonna work. Some things you will just have to buy. I say that now, but perhaps my rationale will change later)

I've looked up things that will lead to me taking back the products I bought

• face wash
• face mask
• face toner
• shaving cream
• face exfoliant
  

For a simple face mask I found a recipe on About.com.

This face mask is suitable for all skin types and is super simple to prepare. It will cleanse and rejuvenate your skin. Prep time is three minutes
.
The ingredients are

• 1 tbsp oatmeal, finely ground (I'll use my blender to grind the oatmeal)
  
• 1 tbsp live, organic yogurt (no flavored kind)
  
• A few drops of honey

Preparation

• Add yogurt to oatmeal in a small bowl and mix together.
• Warm a few drops of honey (to do this,  warm a spoon under hot water for a minute, then add a few drops of honey to the spoon
• Stir the honey into the yogurt and oatmeal mixture.
• Apply the mask to the face. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse off with several splashes of warm water. Follow with a warm washcloth.
• Apply moisturizer.

I can do this face mask. My current regime has my washing, toning, exfoliating, masking, and then moisturizing my face once a week. I have the time on Saturdays to prepare this. While the oatmeal will be my all purpose mask, I also found a more luxurious one I'll treat myself to perhaps once a month or every now and then.

For the rose face mask, I found the recipe on About.com as well.

This mask, based on roses, is perfect for balancing out the oily and dry areas of your skin.

The ingredients are

• Optional: 6 fresh rose petals
• 2 tbsps rosewater
• 1 tbsp natural yogurt, room temperature (not lowfat or non-fat)
• 1 tbsp runny honey (to get honey runny, you can warm it in a microwave for a few seconds).

Preparation

• Soak rose petals, then crush them in a bowl.
• Add the rosewater, yogurt and honey.
• Mix well and apply to the skin. 
• Leave on for 10 minutes. 
• Rinse.

Lovely. I'm excited to try both out. I also looked up an exfoliant. The simpleness of the recipe is ridiculous. I found it on multiple websites. It simply says to mix a tiny amount of brown sugar with olive oil in your palm and massage it into your face once it has turned to a paste. I honestly can't believe the simplicity. I always keep brown sugar in the house because I bake as a hobby. I ALWAYS ALWAYS have olive oil because i use it to cook and I use it for my hair. Finding another usage for this makes me happy. Now I don't have to buy it anymore!

For a simple toner I found a recipe on Homemade Beauty Recipes. 

The ingredients are

• 4 oz of witch hazel
• 10 to 20 drops of your Essential Oil.
  

Preparation

• Mix ingredients well into the bottle. (you can find a bottle at a beauty supply store. I buy bottles to house my oil concoctions for my hair.)
• Shake well before each use
• Apple to face with cotton ball after cleansing.
  

The recipe is so simple!!!!! I love simplicity. I always keep essential oil in the house...I use it for home fragrance, my hair and sometimes I drop it into the laundry. A new ingredient I will have to purchase is witch hazel. But a simple google search shows that you can purchase it even at Walgreens. I also saw that there are other uses for it. On Wisebread.com they outline 15 uses. Some of which will apply to me directly. Therefore its a wise purchase. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am about making my own mask, toner, and exfoliant. Also, I love that I will have something in my house called "Witch Hazel."



While I didn't find a good recipe yet for Shaving Cream, I did come across some other products in the house that could be used instead of shaving cream such as baby oil and hair conditioner. Both of which I have tried with amazing results. Perhaps I'll continue using those alternatives until I find a concoction I can make. Years ago I read an article in the paper about using baby oil in the summer to do a quick shave and what I like is that after you're done shaving, your skin is already moisturized. I used the conditioner once and at first I balked at the idea because I love my conditioner so much and felt like I was wasting it. Is it wasteful to find multiple uses of a particular thing? No. Its innovative, time saving, and cost effective. Two bottles of conditioner comes out cheaper that a bottle of conditioner and a bottle of shaving cream. (At least the kind that I use!)


For the face cleanser, I found the recipe on What Would Ginger Do.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces of grapeseed oil
• 1 ounce of lemon juice
• 2 ounces of raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 ounce of agave nectar
• 15 drops of tea tree oil
• 5 drops of lavender oil

Preparation

• Mix everything together
• Store in the refriderator
• Shake well before each use. (do not get it into your eyes and do not ingest it.)

Usage

• Twice every day, moisten your skin with warm water
• Squeeze a teaspoon of the cleanser in your hand
• Massage into your skin on your face and neck for 30 to 60 seconds.
• Rinse off with a clean soft cloth and warm water.

The recipe again seems fairly simple. Actually very simple. Even now the only ingredient I would need to purchase is the agave nectar. But only because I am out of it. I use agave to sweeten my tea. Its hard to believe that I have most of these ingredients in the pantry and yet I keep buying products I could readily make. Its so crazy. I will have to purchase some reusable containers to store them in however...but that's worth it.

I am excited to make these things and to begin altering the recipes to my own liking. I will keep log as I make these recipes with pictures and post as well as attempt to track the money that I am saving.