Unfolding Dreams

Introduction I know some of you have seen the prices of the more natural products and are wondering, are they worth it? Do they really work? Or maybe you are saying I would but they are just too expensive.  Buying natural products in some ways are not anymore expensive than buying different cheap products for every member in your family. Yes, it might be $3-5 dollars each per shampoo and conditioner, which is only about $6-10 dollars as an estimated total for one set. Sounds pretty affordable. However, if you have a family, you might be buying items for yourself, your spouse and your children and maybe even two sets for your children, one for the girls and one for the boys. All that really starts to add up, especially if you are not buying in bulk and you are buying year round.  Point being, unless you are not going to use any products...you will have to spend some money (and sometimes making your own products can cost the same or more). The good news is there ar...

Going Natural almost always starts out as a way for me to save money. First, it was the cloth diapers and cloth wipes, because disposable diapers and wipes adds up so fast in cost over time. Before you know it that first year goes by and you've spent quite the amount of money and bracing yourself for the cost of pull ups and potty training while you might still be buying night time diapers for a heavy wetter, which  can go beyond the second year for some children. Some time later, I found myself learning about sulfate in our beauty and hygienic products and started switching out my products for ones with less harsh chemicals. Here is a complete list of Natural Products I am using, I will continue updating it. To see the lists and / or products, click the links. I hope you find this list helpful, especially those who are seeking and want to know more natural products but sometimes wonder where they are. Feel free to comment below and share some of your natural pi...

Sulfate Free - 98.9 % Natural Burt's Bees Baby Shampoo and Wash   Burt's Bees Baby Bee Bubble Bath Sulfate Free - 100% Vegan Perfectly Posh's Fabulous Baby Wash   Perfectly Posh's Fabulous Baby Lotion  

Sulfate Free Cleansers Wen Wen Hair Products may not be available at all locations * Aveeno Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo Aveeno Pure Renewal Conditioner Other Retails: Wal-Mart Products may not be available at all locations * Salon Grafix,   Healthy Hair Nutrition   Salon Grafix Nutrition Cleansing Conditioner L'Oreal LOreal Paris EverCreme Sulfate Free Conditioner  - 100% Vegan Herbal Essences Herbal Essences Naked Moisture Shampoo Herbal Essences Moisture Conditioner Herbal Essences Naked Cleansing Conditioner Other Retails: Wal-Mart, Target Products may not be available at all locations * Hair One Hair One Sweet Almond Cleanser Conditioner Leave in Conditioners Giovanni Direct Leave In Conditioner Last Edited: February 8, 2017

I am kind of dipping my toes into this somewhat. My toddler isn't in pre-school yet due to the birthday cut off, so I decided to start doing pre-school at home. I didn't want to waste almost a full year at home with no education. I do find 36 months+ a great starting age, some of these things I feel are possible to be done at 24 months too.  Supplements ABC Mouse One of the things we are doing is an online pre-school curriculum:  www.abcmouse.com .  You do have to pay for this one after a free month. So far we like it and paid for it.  ABC Mouse has a short cut for the desktop that goes straight to the website. (Plus our parent controls prevent access  to internet sites except for ABC mouse on a custom setting especially for my toddler.)   It has its own lessons, learning games, books that are read out loud, coloring pages, songs and so forth.    Before: My toddler could not use a laptop or a laptop mouse before we found it. Afte...

Have you seen those photos floating around facebook and other parts of the internet about people finding molded and / or bugs in their babies / children's squeeze pouches? I saw them too. As a parent that tries to be natural as much as I can, cloth diapering, using coconut oil as hair moisturizer...It made me worried, I tried to avoid them and I semi-believed the pictures I saw, until one day in the grocery my toddler asked for one. She gulped 3 of them down while we were shopping. A nagging thought kept reminding me of those pictures. But what she ate seemed fine and she was fine, until one afternoon I gave her a pack that was going to expire in May 5, 2014 and it came out with some mold on December 9, 2013.  In some cases natural is better. These are real photos.

My Hair Length My Routine My Hair Product Organization

Purpose: Storing hair products Items Used: Wood crate from craft store How: Drilled into the wall with nails Purpose: Storing hair brushes Items Used: Wicker Basket  Purpose: Storing Hair Accessories Items Used: Re-purpose old Jewelry Box 

My Hair Care Routine How I Wash: 1. I wash my hair every 7 days. 2. Sulfate Free Cleansers I use: Wen and Aveeno.  3. I apply Olive Oil in my hair for a few minutes before using cleanser. 4. I split my hair into 4 sections using hair ties and individually wash and detangle. 5. I dry my hair with an old t-shirt instead of using a towel. 6. After washing my hair, I apply a leave in conditioner: Giovanni 7. I braid my hair into 4 braids. 8. I add  Coconut Oil to the ends of my hair. For Dry Hair My Night Time Hair for Curly Hair: 1. I split my hair into 4 sections that I spray with with water and moisturize with coconut oil 2. I braid my hair into 4 braids 3. I sleep with a satin hair cap on during the night My Night Time Hair for Straight Hair: 1. I detangle my hair  2. I apply some coconut oil to the hair 3. I braid the hair into a single braid 4.  I sleep with a satin cap on during the night

~ Click on the links ~ 1st Time Going Natural (2011) 2nd Time Going Natural (2013) Last Edited: February 8, 2017

Information that I've researched and learned... Ethnic Hair Basic Tips (All Hair Types) Hair Products

Sulfate Free Cleansers Wen Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo Aveeno Pure Renewal Conditioner Leave in Conditioners Giovanni Direct Leave In Conditioner Combs Conair Styling Essentials Comb, Shower Detangling Brushes Goody Tangle Fix Detangling Brush   The Wet Brush Heat Styling Products Instyler Rotating Styling Iron Infiniti pro-Rotating Styler Heat Styling Organizers Polder Style Station

These are great tips I have come across while  doing research on how to take care of and keeping my hair healthy.  Hair Products Buy hair products based on it describing hair texture, not race. Washing  Use Sulfate free shampoos and conditioners often. However, you may still need sulfate shampoos to help prevent / get rid of build up. Trimming Always trim hair with hair cutting scissors. Paper scissors can cause split ends. Heat Use heat protecting products before using styling tools.  If your styling tool has low, medium, high -  it is usually best to use medium setting so the hair doesn't take longer to do on low and so it is not so hot on high it will burn the hair. However, use whatever setting you are most comfortable with and know will not burn your hair. This setting may and can be different for different hair types. Sleeping Cover hair at night in satin or silk hair cap to avoid breakage and tangles, especially if you have l...

So I made nurse gift baskets, one for my labor and delivery nurses and one for my mom and baby nurses when I was expecting my second, based off an idea I saw on Pinterest. However, with how quick labor went and rushing to the hospital (1.5 hours of active labor) and my rush to get home to my first child, so we could begin life as a family of 4 (18 hours in the hours in the hospital), the baskets remained forgotten at home.