Naturally Whiter Teeth

This is something I remember my dad doing, when I was kid. Using baking soda to whiten his teeth. A lot of people mix baking soda into a paste (just add water) and brush their teeth with that (look at the picture).

However, that can be really extreme. It's definitely too strong for my teeth. So I found a really nice happy medium. Every other day, I brush my teeth with baking soda in the morning. The rest of the week, I brush with normal toothpaste. I mix it in with my normal tooth paste. It tastes and feels better than 100% baking soda.

Baking soda is vegan and affordable. You can most likely find it already in your household and it beats paying 30-50 dollars on whitening strips or 100-200 dollars on laser teeth whitening.

This is not recommended for people who have any type of glue in their mouths: fake teeth, braces, permanent retainers, etc.

My teeth haven't been very white ever since I got braces off. I can already tell it's made a huge change. The very first use showed a difference. I can't wait to see the progress after a few weeks. Affordable! Vegan! Uh hello? Totally earthylove worthy!

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. -Phyllis Diller

Soaking and Soaping

Did you know your skin is the largest organ you own? I mean, you always knew it was important. You watch for pimples, cuts, scars, freckles, and wrinkles. If your skin looks good, you look good. So, what are you soaking into it?

1. Go into your bathroom
2. Look into the mirror
3. Notice how beautiful you are.
4. Head towards the shower
5. Pick up your body wash/soap
6. Find the ingredients
7. Now, try to pronounce them.

Uhm, scary. What on earth is BENZALDEHYDE? And why am I rubbing it into my skin. Toxins, Chemicals, and Poison..oh my!

Take a look at this website, and tell me this doesn't freak you out! http://www.ourlittleplace.com/chemicals.html

• "BENZALDEHYDE (in: perfume, cologne, hairspray, laundry bleach, deodorants, detergent, vaseline lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, bar soap, dishwasher detergent)

  Narcotic. Sensitizer. "Local anesthetic, CNS depressant"... "irritation to the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs, and GI tract, causing nausea and abdominal pain." "May cause kidney damage." "Do not use with contact lenses.""

Go organic! I just bought the best smelling soap in the world. It was 2 dollars at whole foods. I love it and I can't wait to soap up! It doesn't have any scary ingredients and it makes my skin, nose, and brain so happy! It will also make your heart happy, because you aren't hurting the planet. It's cheap and natural. Very earthylove worthy. Don't knock it till you try it.

Update: Since I was a kid, I have always gotten these little red dots on my arms. Totally embarrassing, totally annoying. I have also known other girls who have these little dots on their arms too.

I always know a soap works, when it can get rid of the dots! Dove got rid of them. But dove is just not organic! I was so nervous, that the organic soap wouldn't do the same trick. But I was oh so wrong! They are gone! Thank Goodness! This is how, I know, It is a good soap. I give it an A+!

Be flirty with Vegan-ism!

I am not a Vegan. I repeat: I am not a Vegan. However, It's a goal that I would really like to work towards one day.

I just got my copy of the "the kind diet" by Alicia Silverstone. I had the amazing honor of hearing her speak at my school. She is amazing and beautiful! Such an amazing role model. I can't wait to finish this book! My roommate and I are taking turns from it, it is literally blowing my mind! My favorite part is all the recipes. They're are some amazing AMAZING recipes in this book. So healthy and SO SO natural. I can't wait to try them all out!

I highly recommenced checking this book out. Alicia is hilarious, cute and down to earth. I'm not a vegan, but I'm what Alicia calls a "flirt." I'm just flirting with the idea and practices. One tiny step that will make a huge difference.

"I don't feel like a dream girl, but I think it's really nice. I guess a part of me wishes I got that sort of attention in my real life. Because in my real life, I'm this weird, dorky girl who just hangs out with her dog." - Alicia Silverstone

Quick update: I am now a Vegan. hehe. This is where it all started. Don't worry this book is not brainwashy, it will not trick you. Going Vegan was totally up to me! I'll post a blog soon about how it's changed EVERYTHING. But until then, enjoy this blog!

Avocado Hair Treatment

My recipes/remedies don't usually have measurements. Because I think it's important for you to use what you have, and just "make the rest up!" After this remedy my hair was softer, shiner and felt more conditioned. My roommate experienced "thicker hair," which is awesome because she complains about thin hair. She was able to tie up her hair in a bun with one hair-tye, when usually she needs to twist it around twice!

All you need:

• Mayonnaise (it's bad for you! so yay for getting rid of it!)
• 1/2 of an Avocado (eat the other half! eating them is good for your hair too! YUM.)
• Egg
• Towel

1. Make enough to cover your entire hair with. For one person, you really only need half of an avocado and one egg.
2. Mush it into your hair, make sure you really massage it into every piece. Have fun feeling the mushiness!
3. Then wrap it up in a warm wet towel. Wait 15 minutes!
4. Then wash it all out! Wash with your usual shampoo! And your normal conditioner. But use icy cold water to wash out your conditioner.

Enjoy your new hair! I loved this remedy. My hair is usually really tangly, and this conditioned it so well. I would love to be able to do this every week!

The hair is the richest ornament of women. ~Martin Luther

Thrify Challenge

Yes, that's my closet. Yes, that's a bunk bed. Yes, I share a small crowder room with my best friend. Yes, we share a closet. Yes, we are stuffed in here!

It's crazy how much girls and guys will spend on clothes. My roommate and I came up with this great challenge. We are not going to buy any clothes NEW for 6 months!? Sound's crazy? Think again! So far, we've both found adorable and trendy things.

It's perfect for treasure hunters. You can find amazing things at Goodwill's, garage sales, local thrift stores, vintage shops, Ebay, Amazon, Plato's closets...and etc! Plato's Closet is a great store. It's like a Goodwill, but they only take the latest fashions and clothes. You can't drop it off, it's outdated by an year! Isn't that nifty?

It's definitely not easy. We live in an amazing city with so many good stores and clothing. But we are saving so much! And we are recycling! My roommate and I are on a small budget. We want to help the environment by buying natural cottons and other vegan materials. But those clothes can often be expensive! This is our way of helping the earth out. So far, we can't complain. My wallet is happy, my closet is happy, the earth is happy, and I'm happy!

We want to invite you to join the challenge. 6-12 months can be a long time. So why not try it out for three months? You will not be disappointed.

I'm just taking this one day at a time. I'll keep ya'll updated!

The finest clothing made is a person's skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this. ~Mark Twain

Greasy Hair Remedy

Everybody hates greasy hair. Girls can't stand having it. Girls can't stand boys who have it. If you're anything like me, theres nothing that feels grosser. My roommate claims that half the time, I complain about greasy hair, I don't have it. But I'll never believe that.

I have thick hair and live in some raw humidity type of weather. I have to wash my hair everyday. Sometimes, If I'm going somewhere special, I want to wash it twice a day. But that's sobad for the environment! According to answers.com~ we use 20 gallons of water for a five minute shower! That's crazy. And my showers definitely aren't just five minutes..

So, here's a trick to get rid of greasy hair. However, this does NOT replace daily showers.

This is just perfect for that first moment when you catch your hair starting to get greasy.

You may have heard of waterless shampoo's...this is just like that...EXCEPT it's not going to break your bank! All you need is body powder! I use Gold Bond. It comes in that great cute little yellow and red container. All you need to do is sprinkle the smallest bit into you hair and than pat it in. It absorbs moisture and grease!

Waterless shampoos can be anywhere from 30-100 dollars. EEP!

It's an amazing trick. It's perfect for when I take a shower in the morning, but have plans in the evening. My super amazing roommate taught me this trick! She's the best! And this trick saves time, money, and water!

“Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.” - Albert Szent

The Breakfast Mask

You could always buy a "do-it-yourself" mask at the store. But I bet you'll find ridiculous ingredients on the back like, "Methylparaben" and "Phenoxyethanol." Or you could go to a spa and put down some MAJOR cash for a more "natural" mask.

However, I don't want to soak my skin in sketchy ingredients, nor do i have enough money to support a spa trip. If you're on the same boat, the Breakfast Mask is for you!

It feels amazing on, and even more amazing when you take it off. My skin felt brand new and refreshed. All you need is:

• Oatmeal
• An egg (Optional)
• A mixing bowl
• A spoonful of honey (Optional)
• A wash cloth (Optional)
• Toilet Paper (Optional)

Vegan? This will totally give you awesome results WITHOUT the egg and honey! Go crazy, my vegan lovers!

Besides the wash cloth and toilet paper, any observer would totally think your just making breakfast. These ingredients are super cheap, and most likely already in your house! This mask feels great to do at any time of the day. I use it for a fresh start right when I wake up, or a nice soothing remedy for right before bed! The choice is completely yours!

This recipe makes enough for two Mask-ers. I picked two, because this is best to do with a friend! Having a friend there to put it on for you is relaxing. It's also a bit messy, it could be hard for you to put it on yourself while lying down.

1. Wash your face. Take off all your makeup and other gunk that cultivates on our faces.
2. Cook a bowl of oatmeal. (Organic is best) But whatever you have, will work. Just make sure it's not one of those sugary flavored oatmeals. Original/Natural is key.
3. Let the oatmeal cool to about the temperature you would usually eat it at. So still, warm!
4. Crack an egg into. I use one egg for one bowl of oatmeal.
5. Drop in the honey!
6. Scared for oatmeal in your hair? If no, skip this step. If yes, read on! My roommate Chelsea (bottom picture), didn't want to mess up her hair. So we took a piece of toilet paper and tied it around her head. It made the most perfect/cheapest hair protector!
7. Lie down somewhere comfy. If you are messy, It might be nice to lay a towel down under your head.
8. Have your handy friend lightly push on the oatmeal mask.
9. Let it soak in for about 15 minutes. But I like to keep it on for 30! It just feels so good!
10. Soak your wash cloth in warm water and then massage the oatmeal mask off.
11. After it's all gone, splash your face with cold water! (Closes your pores!)

How do you feel? My skin was so smooth and soft! And it was so clear for the rest of the week. I think I'm going to start doing this once a week!

Beauty is only skin deep. -Thomas Overbury