So if you read this you might have noticed that I haven't been blogging much lately- actually not at all. I was off for the summer and now that I am back I have been getting into the swing of things so haven't had much time to blog. Now that things are more routine I thought I would start back up. Luckily, I don't think many people read this so hopefully no one was devastated by my online absence.
Here's the latest. I failed miserably at not spending. I am thinking of trying again... so I will keep you posted. New things include tracking our trash and recycling as a first step in starting to cut down. My husband is in charge of this and he is doing a great job. Soon we can analysize the data and start reducing. I would like to compost more and we have a compost system but need to collect more kitchen scraps and take them outside to compost. I thought about one of those counter top buckets for compost but I think they attract fruit flies and we already have a fruit fly problem because we like bananas. Instead I am opting for a pyrex container with a lid. We had one out but then didn't use it so I need to start again. Sometimes progress is slow in our house.
Also new is that we are trying Chagrin Valley soaps. I was using Lush bar shampoos but looked at their ingredients and they have a lot of dyes and parfums. Additionally, they do not say their scents are phalate free and I noticed that they add parabens to their cosmetics so I am not inclined to trust them. Per Beth Terry's recommendation in her awesome book Plastic-Free I ordered from Chagrin Valley. I have yet to try the shampoo bars because we have some Lush we are using up but I will let you know. I really like that they have castille soap for babies that is very pure.
In the bathing department, I have been looking for a plastic-free alternative to my bath pouf. This has been mostly unsucessful. I wanted something that would be small, lather well with bar soap, and not be gross. I tried loofahs but they were too scratchy and I have sensitive skin. Then I got a cotton crocheted bath pouf but this because a dense wet lump. So I tried a ramie bath pouf from Amazon but the same problem. And then I looked into ayate washclothes but they too didn't dry between showers, were too big for my small hands, and didn't lather up. Natural sponges have been the best bet and I may go back to them as I tried them once before although they attract my long hair like a magnet. I ordered a Vics washcloth from Amazon and cut it into four smaller pieces so I will try that on my face. If anyone has recommendations let me know. I am looking for something that makes a good lather and is not a big wet mess. I found a recycled plastic pouf but sadly it is #4 plastic and so I can't recycle it where I live. So the hunt is still on.
