My Favorite Things… Misto

Yep, it's time for more of my favorite things! You may not like all the same stuff I do, but I'm totally going to share anyway. You know, just in case.

This Misto sprayer is seriously so ah-maz-innnnnnnnng. I've wanted one for ages, but I never purchased one for some odd reason. Finally, a few months ago, I picked one up on a random trip to the PX.

I am never going back people, NEVER!

You see, products like Pam use chemicals that then wind up in your food. This is no good, peeps. The worst part is these products advertise themselves as a "healthier" way to cook. Go ahead, check out the ingredient list on your can of Pam (or other non-stick spray). I bet you'll be surprised at what's in there. You might not even know what most of those ingredients even are. What the heck is "propellant"??? Whatever it is, I don't want it in my food.

I made the switch to a better, healthier, and less chemical-laden me. So far, the Misto is exactly like using my old cooking sprays. I fill mine with olive oil usually. Then you just pump the top and spray away. This is also a money saver too, bonus! One can of Pam runs anywhere from $2.50 and up. That means my Misto (around $10) has paid for itself with just a few cans of cooking spray.

Lemme know if you try it out yourself, peeps. Until next time, happy cooking!

Thanks for reading, everyone!

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Email me: armylifefromthewife@gmail.com

Pinterest Tested: DIY Natural Face Scrub

In keeping with our chat yesterday (ya know, about my journey to all things natural?), I've got a great guest blog for you today. My niece has been on a journey of her own, looking for natural solutions to basic beauty issues. And she's sharing some of those tips with us, yay!

So here's Ivy and her all-natural facial scrub:

… I started looking on Pinterest for some great face scrubs, and I was immediately inspired by Homemade For Elle's honey and oatmeal facial scrub. I tried this scrub first, and ouch! It totally dried my skin out, and I hated how the whole oats felt.

From there I started researching different ingredients for natural facial cleansers, mud masks, etc. I liked the idea of oats because they exfoliate, but I definitely needed them ground up more. Crunchy Betty had a similar facial cleanser, yet totally different in several ways. On a side note she talked about giving the scrub a turbo charge with neem powder. I was like.... what is neem?! I have to know about this basic ingredient! It's amazing for your skin.

I began to look into neem powder, which is available no where near me. I substituted neem oil, which is one of the worst smelling things in the world. So I'll definitely be ordering neem powder at some point in hopes that it won't stink SO bad! The lavender, tea tree, and lemon oils I added did cut the smell though.

I was hooked by then, so I kept looking for more way to improve my scrub. I wanted a super scrub that would help with my black heads too. So I researched calcium bentonite clay. It's main function is to pull toxins from your skin and replace them with the nutrients in the clay, such as calcium. Once I tried a basic bentonite clay/apple cider vinegar mask I knew I was on to something, it rocks! So hippie problems, on my day off or in my free time I roam around natural grocers for hours looking at everything, googling it and seeing what I can do to use it in my everyday life. Crazy right? It's my new hobby.

After a couple weeks of trying to perfect my scrub, I posted on my page what I came up with! I added the lemon essential oil for anti-bacterial reasons, and because I have semi acne prone skin. This scrub is soooooo good for me personally that when I got 3 minor pimples, I was shocked! Then, my time of the month started and I realized why… normally I get big neck pimples (so gross), and this time they were just minor blemishes.

Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it for yourself:

5 drops lemon essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops tea tree essential oil
5-10 drops neem oil (this stuff is thick, smells awful and is amazing for your skin)
1 tablespoon bentonite clay
1 tablespoon honey (Raw is best, but I'm using up what I have and it works great)
1/2 cup oats coarsely ground (I put them in the food processor)

Oats in the food processor

Mix up all the ingredients (I do this in my food processor). I use the scrub every morning. Pour about a half dollar size amount in your hand, get it wet, and squeeze it in your palm to get a ballish clump. Then I scrub it all over my face and rinse. Using oil on your face sounds scary but after my adjustment (a few days) it made a HUGE difference. My skin is brighter, more even, and way less breakouts! If you try it out, please let me know how it works for you.

Finished scrub, waiting for use

I'm a natural mama when it comes to skincare and makeup now. I night moisturize with a combo of rose hemp seed oil and apricot kernel oil. Moisturizing with oil sounds scary, but it rocks! My face didn't have to work so hard to produce it anymore and it evens and brightens my tone. My daily moisturizer for morning is Brilliant by Younique, which is one of the products I sell through my Younique website. My skin has never looked better! It took a week or two (and a few mud masks) to detox from everything I've used previously, but that adjustment period was WORTH IT! No more spending a ton of money on cleansers that don't work for my troubled skin.



I hope y'all enjoyed this guest post today! I'm excited to try out Ivy's facial scrub as soon as I can. If you want to keep up with Ivy and her natural beauty tips, you can also follow her on Facebook. Until next time, my friends!

Thanks for reading, everyone!

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Email me: armylifefromthewife@gmail.com

Chatting with Friends

Everybody I know seems to play these "apps", like Words with Friends, Scramble with Friends, Match with Friends…. well, I've got my own version. It's called Chatting with Friends! With so much technology in the world, I don't want to lose sight of what's really important in my life. Moving to Germany has helped me greatly, because the internet and phone service is definitely not on par with what I was accustomed to in the States.

This means I use my technology less. Some might find that a hardship, but I've found it to be a lifesaver, honestly.

Every week, I pick one day that I try to call all my loved ones in the States. I find it helps me to call all my friends and relatives on the same day, so I make my rounds and chat with everyone. Last week, I was lucky enough to talk with one of my favorite people…. I bet you can guess who.

You got it, I chatted with my girl Abby!

Whenever we start yakking, a single phone session can go on for hours. Maybe days if our phone batteries didn't die.  You know what I'm saying here? Abby and I connected with each other right away, from our first meeting. She's the kind of friend where time and distance don't matter. Seriously, we could not speak for months (prob wouldn't happen though!) and still be instantly cool with each other, no issues.

Me and Abby hiking the Guadalupe Mountains

Those are the kind of peeps you hold onto forever. I'm so blessed to have several people like this in my life.

Abby and I talked of everything under the sun, like photography and travel, our problems and joyful moments. And we also talked about some lifestyle changes we've each been making in our lives.

See, a few years ago I found out I have the early signs and symptoms of MS. This has set me on a path of research and discovery. And I don't like everything I'm finding. There are so many chemicals and drugs on our markets. The food we consume is full of them. The more I research, the more overwhelmed I become.

So instead of freaking out, going to the extreme, and basically having a total meltdown, I made a decision. I would tackle one thing at a time in my life. I want to be a healthier, better version of me, but I can't make all those changes at once. I'm afraid I would become discouraged and give up if I did.

I began the journey by cooking as often as possible from scratch. I buy organic when I can. Of course, I'm not perfect. Some of my tried and true recipes are still made from processed goods.. but I'm getting there.  A few months ago, I started making my own Brown Sugar Scrub instead of using chemical-laden bath soaps.

Brown Sugar Scrub

I have a super long list of the changes I want to make. For example, I hope to test out my own shampoo and deodorants, as well as a body lotion. Food-wise, I plan on making my own gummy snacks and granola bars in the near future. So expect a lot of these recipes on the blog!

I love having the support of my amazing friends (like Abby!), who have their own journeys and changes ahead of them. And I'm so inspired by the people I know who really look ahead and make the effort to achieve their goals (also like Abby!)

I know I've rambled a bit today. You might not be interested in this stuff at all. But it's what was on my mind at this moment. No matter what comes my way in the future, I'm so blessed to have amazing people around me. I carry them in my heart wherever I am in the world, and I know they carry me in theirs. Friends are awesome, aren't they? So take a minute today, put down your game, and pick up the phone. Have some real contact with some of your favorite peeps. I bet you won't be sorry.

Until next time, my friends!

Thanks for reading, everyone!

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Email me: armylifefromthewife@gmail.com