P.U. You stink!

So, a couple of weeks ago at book club (where we don't read books), us girls all got to talking about cosmetics and foods and how nothing really seems safe to use or ingest these days. American companies don't seem to care too much about the long term health of its citizens/customers...just how much they can grow their wallets. It was quite overwhelming to be honest, but it really got me to thinking a lot more about what I actually choose to put on and in my body on a regular basis. I began reading labels on everything, not just food. It'll take baby steps and persistence to make healthy changes, but I'm willing - especially since this is a way to honor God with how I treat my body/temple. (My husband is getting on board too!)

One of the most controversial cosmetics is antiperspirants/deodorants. Biggest reason is because of the aluminum found in antiperspirants. Although research apparently doesn't show that there are any immediate adverse effects of aluminum on the body, it has been suspected as a link/cause to Alzheimer's and breast cancer. The health experts will tell you that it is perfectly safe to use antiperspirants, but I don't think I want to take that risk if I can help it... Yeah this is about to get personal haha!

So, the little researcher in me got on the Internet and found a recipe for homemade deodorant. I did use this Himalayan sea salt bar that Kyle had bought back in college. It worked, but stung really bad. I mean it was salt after all. :-) So I decided to try a different route.

One person that I read about on a blog just used straight up baking soda, so I tried that (you can put it on dry or mix a little with water in your palm to make a paste and just apply with hands or a makeup sponge). That prevented odor just as well, but it was kinda gritty and made my armpits itchy at times.

So I found this one recipe here: http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/03/quick-stick-deodorant.html Which uses only four natural ingredients (of which I only used three - I skipped out on the essential oil since they are so costly and I didn't think it was that necessary since the coconut oil would create a nice fragrance by itself.)

The only thing in it is baking soda, corn starch, and coconut oil!


I just made it yesterday and used it for the first time today. It seems to have worked just fine! Overall I just feel really good using something in which I know and understand what each ingredient is, and also that this was something I made right in my own kitchen!

I encourage you to start reading and researching the products that you use everyday and pick one or two things that you can change or try differently. It's quite amazing that a body wash or deodorant can have over 20 ingredients of which I can't even pronounce, but you can make something on your own that is much healthier for you in the long run and only uses three ingredients. It just feels so much better putting less junk on my body, knowing that it will serve the same purpose as the store bought factory produced stuff.

Wow. I'm totally turning into a hippy...

Alternative Solutions

Over the past couple days I have found my heart rather frustrated and angry at all the criticism that has sprung up around the Invisible Children video and their campaign to stop the crimes of Joseph Kony and the LRA in Africa. (If for some reason you have been living in another dimension and haven't seen or heard about the whole ordeal, just watch the video on my previous post.)

I have found myself in prayer about my feelings and know I'm in need of God's wisdom in all of this...but I just have to get some thoughts out. Writing is therapeutic to me and helps me wrap my head around what's going on in my heart and outside of it. (haha that was so cheesy)

Keep in mind, you are not obligated to read this. ;-)

Some people just like to stir up controversy and prove a point just because they can and no other reason beyond that. I accept that. The internet gives everyone freedom to say what they want.

But some people criticize because they truly believe that Invisible Children is not the best place to invest your money or support. Some people criticize because they think that military intervention is not the right solution, and are concerned that people spreading the video and IC platform aren't fully aware of what they are promoting. (Side note - Personally, I think people need to have more faith in our youth and their ability to reason and think critically.) Some people criticize because they think it's all a gimmick and that simple awareness doesn't solve anything. (Is not awareness a catalyst that brings about a real change/solution? - you can't solve a problem if no one knows or cares about it...) Alot of people are just annoyed that it's another "internet fad" that will die down and a majority of the people supporting it will forget about it in a week. (While that may be true for many - it is not true for every person who watched/talked about/spread the IC video and campaign.) Videos/information going viral is nothing new, and that's fine if it annoys you. But instead of complaining about how your twitter feed is clogged up with Kony2012 hashtags, and essentially putting down the people who support the campaign, can't you at least try and offer something constructive and positive to the mix?

I could go on, but I really just want to say this - 

If you are one who takes any of the opposing stances to IC and what they seek to do with this campaign, then please offer a constructive alternative solution to go along with and support your claims and views! If you don't care or feel the need/responsibility to do that, then by all means, can you at least contribute to the cause in another way that you deem more appropriate than IC without creating a stink about it? If you don't feel the need/responsibility to act at all - then please just say no more about the matter and let the rest of us be concerned about it.

You can turn a blind eye to the whole thing, or you can join the movement in other constructive ways if you don't think IC is the way to go.

I don't have any problem with Invisible Children, the way they spend their money, and their tactics in bringing justice to Joseph Kony. Back in college (I believe in 2007), I along with many friends and students from my university participated in the Invisible Children Commute. It was the first time I learned of the conflict of the LRA in Uganda at the time, and I haven't forgotten about it since. Hundreds of us made the commute (some drove, but most walked there) to sleep (actually I don't think anyone slept...) outside on concrete steps in the middle of downtown Lynchburg, VA to make a statement, bring awareness to the issue, and take steps to bring about change (wrote letters to our congressman/senators). I am proud to see how far Invisible Children has come in their campaign, and I am proud to stand with them even now.

Here are a couple of other Organizations that I have looked at for an alternative to people that don't believe Invisible Children to be the best option.

Here's an opportunity for you to do your own research and contribute positively.



http://www.warchild.us/



http://www.childsoldierrelief.org/work/databases/

This one has an entire list of NGOs big and small that you can look into supporting.

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Invisible Children's wesbite
http://s3.amazonaws.com/www.invisiblechildren.com/index.html

Invisible Children's Critiques to criticism
http://s3.amazonaws.com/www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html

Tell Everyone

Yes, this video is about a half hour - but just get over it and take the time to watch it. Then act! All it takes is a few clicks on your computer to share with the world.

For the children of Uganda.

For the world.