Thoughts on Minimalism, the old days and God...

Does the word "minimalism" appeal to you?  How about the phrase "capsule wardrobe"?  Or what about "vegan"?  These all seem to be the popular buzz words among young people today.  Some people even claim it affects them spiritually.  I admit these do have a certain appeal to me as well.  Living in a affluent society where we have so much it seems a self induced doing without is refreshing. Take for instance the capsule wardrobe, this appealed to me in the fact that I would have less to take care of and it would be easier to get dressed.  However, I've had a mental block about actually doing it.  Searching for answers, I looked back on my childhood of the 1970's.

We were a family of 7, which was a fairly large family in the 1970's.  My parents owned 2 cars, mom was a stay-at-home mom and my dad made a fairly good salary as a purchasing agent for an oil company.  However, my parents were not rolling in the dough with 5 kids to clothe, feed and take to the doctor.  We had a simple 3 bedroom home, with an old couch, two chairs, a coffee table, an end table, a couple lamps, a record player and a TV.  At one point in my life my parents moved into a 4 bedroom home and I got to have my own bedroom.  However, my parents did not have enough furniture to fill my room.  For a while all I had was a bed and a bookcase made out of 2x4's and cinder blocks.  I had to use the bookcase as a dresser to house my undies & pj's.  Eventually my parents were able to buy me a dresser and nightstand and let me tell you I felt like a queen!  So I've checked minimalism off the list as I've been there, done that.

As for the capsule wardrobe, I had a walk in closet in my bedroom, but it was mostly empty.  I remember anxiously waiting for my grandmother to come for a visit.  Why?  Because she would often bring me hand-me-down clothing from my cousin.  I remember at one point I had a 3 or 4 pairs of pants, a sweater or two, two long dresses that my grandmother had made for me, a few tops and blouses, a couple pairs of shorts and maybe 3 pairs of shoes max.  How's that for a capsule wardrobe?  So I checked capsule wardrobe off the list of pursuits. Been there done that, don't care to do it again.

As for diet, nowadays, being vegan is all the rage.  I admit it appeals to me as eating more veggies is always a good thing and avoiding GMO's is a good thing too.  In the old days people talked about being vegetarian, but mostly that was for hippies.  If you were a normal American family you were on the "food we can afford" diet.  Therefore, we grew up on Kentucky Fried Chicken, ground beef, Cheerios, whole milk, white bread, baloney, Hostess Twinkies, chips, Hi-C fruit punch and the yucky veggies mom served at dinner.  We supplemented with water from the garden hose and fruit eaten off backyard trees.  I remember food being more fresh, seasonal and tasty in the old days.  As for being vegan, well, I think being a vegetarian appeals to me more than being vegan.

Looking back on my childhood, I can see that I've already experienced minimalism and the capsule wardrobe in my life.  As for diet, that maybe could use some further exploration and change, so that may be something to pursue. But, all of these are just outward things.  What is more important is our spiritual condition.  So spiritually speaking, does any of  these ways of living change our spiritual condition?  The answer is "No".  What we physically have or don't have or what we eat or don't eat doesn't really make the difference.  Jesus said in Mark 7:18-20:

And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) 20And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.…

So in conclusion, being a minimalist, a vegan or practicing the capsule wardrobe concept doesn't necessarily do anything for our soul.  However, God can use these experiences in our lives, no doubt, but they can't make us right with Him.  Father God is the giver of good gifts, He makes the sun to shine on the just & the unjust.  The greatest gift He has given us is His Son, Jesus.  While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).  So spiritually speaking what we do with Jesus is what makes all the difference in our spiritual condition, nothing else.  That is minimalism right there.

Update & Use It Up Report

Hello!  It is time for a monthly update.  I will first start off with the general update.  It was my birthday in March.  Had a wonderful birthday and I am now 55 and eligible for the senior discount at my local thrift store.  Yay! LOL

As far as work is concerned, I think progress has been made with the little girl I babysit.  First, my grandson is standing up to her more which I have no problem with.  I let the parents know and they are fine with it.  I can say she has improved on a one on one basis with me, but when her parents are around she drops little hints that she doesn't like me.  However, her father told me that they trust me so she keeps coming.

Otherwise, we have been sick for like the last month.  Little colds and tummy bugs one right after the other.  My grandson vomited in his crib with the tummy bug (it took a couple days work to get that smell out of the room).  My hubby got the tummy bug and vomited too.  Thankfully, when I got it, I did not vomit, just had back door issues.  Wonderful topic, right? LOL  Anyway, right now we are struggling through this weird cold thing.  So many of these viruses attack my bowel, even with it being a cold type thing.  Anyway, Mark has a cough and we both have the congestion in the head.  And the aches and tiredness with this one have been more than normal.

Now on to the Use It Up report.  I used up the Andalou Rose scented lotion.  I got to the bottom of the tube, but there is still stuff in there.  Well, I put the last of it into a pump bottle and mixed it with another lotion (Whole Foods 365 lotion in lavender scent).  The other item I used up was the Renpur Co-wash for my hair.  So, as my grandson says:  All gone!

As for shower gel, I am still using the EO rose scented one.  Its a big bottle so it is going to take awhile to get through.  As for hair care I am still using the Renpur co-wash.  Finished off the one bottle and I am on to my 2nd bottle.  Also added a new addition to my routine.  I bought a 4 oz bottle of Dr. Bonner's castile soap in the scent Cherry Blossom.  I use that to deep cleanse my hair once or twice a week and to wash my face when in the shower.  I also went back to using the Shea Moisture deep moisturizer for my hair.  My hair got really nasty on me, so I went back to it.  I just use it more sparingly and follow it up with the co-wash.  Doing it that way is way better as my hair is not as greasy just moisturized.  I did use the Shea Moisture as a leg shave cream once and it worked well for that too.  As far as bar soap is concerned I have not gotten through the bar of Amazing Grace yet, its still going strong.

I did stock up on 365 brand lotion since it went on sale for $1.99 a bottle at Whole Foods.  I picked up the lavender and herbal mint scents.  When I got home I found I already had a bottle of mint in storage.  Drat!  Oh well, I am sure it will get used eventually.  I also picked up a bottle of the Ultra Moisture Whole Foods lotion that I liked so well.  Remember the Sugar Plum scented lotion I picked up after Christmas?  Yeah, well it is the same lotion just unscented.  So obviously I now have plenty of lotion in storage.  And of course as usual I have too many products just like I have too much clothing and too many purses, but clothes & purses I will save for another post.  

Big Wet Snow

This is a picture of my backyard with a foot and a half of snow.  It is so odd that the day before this picture was taken I was sitting in one of these chairs enjoying the warmth of the sunshine as Everett happily played in the yard.  Believe it or not, there is green grass under that snow.

In the far corner of the backyard is our pine tree bent over with the heaviness of snow. Everett and I had played around that tree in the sunshine.  Hoping the tree bounces back after the snow melts from its branches.

This is a view from the front yard.  Snow everywhere!  The main streets were clear, if you could get to them.

We are expected to get even more snow Friday night and into Saturday.  Can't imagine anymore snow than this.  Its going to be a wintery Easter.

Nightly Face Care Routine for Older Gals

I thought I would post my very simple nightly face care routine.  I am in my 50's and prone to eczema.  It took me awhile to discover products that work well for my stage in life.  I've been using these same three products for quite awhile now and thought I'd share them.

Step one is cleansing the skin.  This Cetaphil soap is great!  I've been using it since 2014 and it is very gentle and never dries my face out.  I only wash my face once a day and when I do I use this soap. 

Second step is moisturizing, which is a two step process for me.  Pictured above is the first step in my moisturizing process.  It's like a fat chapstick, so it is very easy to apply where I need it.  I use this on my eyelids and underneath my eyes.  I also apply it around my mouth, around my nose area and upper lip and the bottom of my chin. I used to get dry patches in these areas, but since using this very convenient stick everything has cleared up and is staying that way.  I also use this stick on my chapped lips and it works wonders.

This is the second step in my moisturizing process.  Out of Africa Shea Butter Hand Lotion has been a blessing.  From the first time I used it I fell in love.  I use it all over my face after applying the Emu oil stick.  In the couple of years that I have been using this lotion I have not had any negative reaction and my skin has stayed nicely moisturized.  Oh, yes, it works well on hands too. LOL  Anyway, I highly recommend it.

So these are the three products I use in my nightly face routine.  Its a very simple and low maintenance skin care routine that has kept my skin healthy for a few years now.  I hope this helps.  Take good care & God bless!  
 

Updates

This is going to be a general update and a "Use It Up" update combined.

General Update
I have been busy taking care of my new daycare client.  Its been an adjustment getting used to the hours.  I've been working 9 1/2 hours 2 to 4 days a week. The parents are very nice people, however, their little girl is a challenge for me thus far.  She is an only child and doted on so that may explain some of her behavior.  My grandson is 6 months younger than her and he has been great about sharing his toys and playing with her.  He's had times where he has needed correction, but that comes with any child.  However, this little girl seems to have a different dimension.  The first day she played with my grandson she punched him two times and bit his finger.  Her parents had a talk with her and she was better for a bit.  Then one day out of the blue she hit my grandson upside the head.  Today my grandson was sitting on the sofa reading a book and she pushed him off the edge.  None of these things were provoked by my grandson.  All I can say is that I have to keep it in prayer.  I know kids do these things, but I don't want to have my grandson picked on just so I can earn a few dollars.

Use It Up
Well, I don't think there has been much progress.  I did use up all of my Moisture Max Sugar Plum lotion.  As pictured below.

I went to Whole Foods to purchase some more Moisture Max lotion, but for some reason decided against it.  I think because I had just purchased two tubes of A La Maison brand lotion for $4.99 a tube at Marshall's.  I found Sea Salt & Coconut scents and I have the soaps in those scents in my storage.

And I also purchased more of the Renpur Co-wash which has been working really well for my hair.  I did purchased a deep hair conditioner by Shea Moisture prior, but it leaves my hair too greasy.  So no more Shea Moisture products for my hair, they just don't work for me, going to stick with Renpur.

I got bored of the Philosophy body wash in my shower.  I was hunting around in my cupboards and came across my EO Rose scented body wash (as pictured below).  Completely forgot I had it in there!

I also found a new Andalou 1000 Roses body lotion in my cupboard too (pictured below).  So using that and the Rose Petals Rosewater spray also.  Still using the Rose scented bar soap as decoration in my bathroom.

So there you go, that is my update.  Thanks for stopping by and catching up with me.  God bless!

Use it Up Update

Well, it has been exactly a month since I last posted.  I really don't have much to report in the way of "using it up" because I have not used anything up.  For the month of February I usually use anything rose, but this year I am not doing that.  The Andalou "Aloe Mint" shower gel and lotion have a little bit more to go, but I got bored with them and put them away.  In my shower, I've been using a body wash by Philosophy that I got from a friend a couple Christmas' ago.  It is in the scent "Peace on Earth", which has sort of an orchid scent. In my tub, I am using a bar of Philosophy bar soap in the scent "Grace" which I got as a gift more than a couple years ago.  Usually, I am a stickler for matching my scents (soap & lotion), but this month I am not doing that. I've been using that "Moisture Max" lotion in Sugar Plum that I picked up last month.  I have been enjoying that lotion a lot and I am planning on purchasing the plain scent of it when I am done with the "Sugar Plum".  I think I am starting to move away from the matching thing.

This month I got hired to take care of a little girl who is 6 months older than my grandson, Everett.  I don't get paid to watch my grandson, so it will be nice to earn some cash again.  I don't know what it is about having people come to the house, but it always motivates me to start cleaning out the clutter.  Since I gained weight from being able to eat again, I had to revamp my wardrobe.  I went from XS to S/M.  I've had two storage boxes sitting in the baby room filled with my clothing that doesn't quite fit right anymore.  Well, with having a 2nd child around I thought it was time to go through those clothes.  So I went to town on it and eliminated one whole box of clothes.  I tried to sell some of my clothing at a consignment shop.  Ugh!  I am SO done with consignment shops!  For some women those shops work well, but for me, NO!  So my clothing will be going to benefit charities from now on.  They need it more anyway and it is better to help the needy than the "in need of nothing" crew.

Use It Up Update

It is time for the "Use It Up" Update.  First, I will report on items I bought this month. I bought a new lotion.  It was 50% off, so I could not resist.  Besides, the type of lotion (Maximum Moisture/Whole Foods brand) is great for winter.  It is thick and rich and really helps with that winter itch.  Here is a picture of the lotion from the internet.

The scent I picked is Sugar Plum and it smells delightful. 

As for using my supply up.  I did use up a bar of peppermint soap (pictured below in the glass soap dish).  I got that bar of soap as a birthday gift. 

The next items that are close to being used up are pictured below.

Andalou Aloe Mint shower gel is halfway gone, and the lotion is nearly gone.  Maybe by the end of the month both will be all gone.

Remember the pump on the above pictured soap broke?  Well, I put the soap into a different bottle and have been using it in my kitchen.  I just poured the last of it into the new bottle, so it is on its way to being used up.  Hopefully by the end of this month.

Oh, I have forgotten to mention, another thing I purchased this month, pictured above.  This is a perfume I use.  Kuumba fragrance oils are all natural, very fragrant and long lasting.  A little goes a long way.  I get many compliments, so if you want to try them I recommend it.  I get mine at Whole Foods Market.  I have been using this one little bottle of Arabian Rose for about a year or more and it is finally gone.  I bought a new bottle in the scent Lavender Lace (hubby approved).

So that is my update for this month.  I hope that I have inspired you and that you are using up what you have.  But most of all that you are enjoying what you have.