Wellness Wednesday: Shaving with Coconut Oil?

You may have gathered from past posts that I'm attempting to remove chemicals from my life, one shampoo, one deodorant at a time. Well, that's definitely going to be a slow process for me simply because 1) I'm trying to figure out what items/brands to replace the toxic ones with and 2) my body is so crazy, I react negatively to ingredients that most people would have no trouble with, so this is even more so a trial-and-error process than it would normally be.

My quest for a deodorant replacement is looking promising, and I may have found it, but I am not positive about that yet. So my verdict on that will come later. However, I do have one success to share: shaving with coconut oil! (This page contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after following these links, I may receive a small commission. Thank you!)

Maybe you've heard of this, or maybe this sounds crazy to you (I was skeptical), but I first saw this over at Empowered Sustenance (I use Lauren's experiences and suggestions as a great guide in the quest for a healthy lifestyle) and I decided to try it.

Now, I have a horrible time with shaving my legs. Maybe some people find it pleasant, but there's nothing pleasant about it for me. I have tried all kinds of shaving creams and shave gels and different kinds of razors and up until trying the coconut oil thought I'd found the best option that was possible for me. Regardless, when I would be done shaving, I would have to put loads of lotion on to try to get the itchiness to calm down. And I would have to keep putting more lotion on every so often when it wore off. They would itch so bad, I would actually use the word "screaming" instead, as it felt more appropriate.

Well, after replacing my shave gel with coconut oil the first time, I didn't need to put lotion on--it felt like I already had! Needless to say, as far as I'm concerned I am done with shave gel for good. I've been using coconut oil ever since, which has been about a month and a half now.

Besides the benefit of not needing to use [toxic] lotion afterwards (I haven't found my lotion replacement yet), the coconut oil doesn't cost more than shave gel--while you pay more up front for a jar, it lasts a lot longer than a bottle of shave gel and so really balances out. Plus, the coconut oil leaves your legs smooth and almost dewy for hours afterward--and you can even apply more later for kicks! I recommend Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. (Here's a coconut oil guide for you.)

You only need about 1 teaspoon per leg, so before I take a shower, I take a plastic spoon and scoop out enough for both legs and take it into the shower with me. (Storing coconut oil in the bathroom isn't a good idea because of the temperature changes.) When you go to put it on your legs, it will probably seem kind of clumpy at first, but just rub it in as best you can. It will definitely seem odd the first time because it looks like you have nothing on your legs--I'm used to them being completely covered in shave gel!--but it doesn't feel like that at all. And you don't even need to rinse your legs afterward--plus rinsing wouldn't do much good anyway since water doesn't rinse oil away.

My only warning is that the very small amount of oil that does fall off can make the bathtub floor kind of slick, so do watch out for that. You can either wipe it up afterward or just be really careful, and I go with the latter. ;)

So if you're looking for a chemical-free shave gel, here's your answer! I highly recommend giving coconut oil a try! And if you do try it, let me know how you like it!

Have you tried cutting any chemicals out? 

Are there any brands or tricks like this you've found that you'd recommend?

P.S. I'll be making my big announcement tomorrow, you guys! Can't wait! :D

Grateful Heart and Good Intentions

Well, another weekend has come and gone and so has Daniel's whirlwind visit. I was amazingly able to make it to church with him for our last official Sunday there, and now we've got about two more weeks to go. For those who were keeping track. ;)

I shared on Wednesday how frequent it is that those of us with a chronic illness have to cancel plans and tell people no. And how guilty that makes us feel even though it's not our fault. We can tell the friends and family we've cancelled on how sorry we are, that we really hate doing this to them, and that we feel awful about it, but not everyone will really understand.

And it seems like a lot of those times that we have every intention of going to whatever the event may be--just for something to happen at the last minute to prevent us. In times like these when they know you may not be able to go when the time comes, but you have every intention to, and then something comes up to prevent you at the last minute, you feel an extra level of defeat. Good intentions don't mean much when you end up stuck in bed in spite of them.

So this Grateful Heart Monday, I am grateful that God sees our intentions--in this case, the intentions I have to come through for friends and family, only to be thwarted by a body I really can't control. Those I disappoint can't see the struggle that goes on within, a struggle much bigger than they realize, but thankfully God can and knows that we're doing the best we can.

 ~ ~ ~

I've got some super exciting news to share later this week, you guys! I can't wait to announce it!!

A Full Friday! aka an Unintended TV Roundup

In no time, this week will be another distant memory, but for now, this was the longest week ever! Daniel's coming back for the weekend tomorrow and I cannot. freaking. wait. In the meantime, allow me to ramble on for a bit.

1~ I'm starting this off with something I have been dying to share. Have you HEARD this girl?? I haven't been keeping up with America's Got Talent at all until last week, when I saw Emily West sing in Judgment Week. And my jaw hit the floor and I backed it up and made Daniel watch it. Now it's your turn:

How anyone can sing that amazingly, perfectly, I have no idea, but she was absolutely incredible. Like, go-ahead-and-give-her-the-million incredible. So, naturally I looked her up and listened to everything iTunes could offer, as like many singers on these shows, she's already released multiple songs and EPs.

Well in all my looking, I found "Blue Sky" in which Keith Urban sings backup. {What such connections say about her belonging on this show, I don't know, but I'm just here for the music.} I was just sure he'd come in for the second verse and am so disappointed he didn't. It's so beautful and they sound so good together it probably would've brought tears to my eyes if he had--that would have been way too perfect. Regardless, the song is perfect enough! I have left it on repeat and it has joined the ranks of Kate York's "Go" and Danielle Bradbery's "I Will Never Forget You." It's my current song obsession. How was it not a hit when it came out four years ago??

As if that's not enough, what did she sing this week LIVE on AGT? "Chandelier." No one should sing that song but Sia, in my opinion. But she sang the crap out of it and got a much-deserved standing ovation. Needless to say, I am sooo hoping she wins. And either way, I hope she makes it big because everyone needs to hear her. How anyone has so many layers to their voice while having such absolute control over it is beyond me. At times she sounds like Faith Hill, then Joy Williams, then Natalie Larue, then way back to Gogi Grant. (Does anyone know who those last three are??) Just amazing. She deserves her own post. Which this practically now is.

2~ So, Andi made her choice this week. Thank goodness she picked Josh. (Hey, called it back in like week 2! ;) As you may know, I did quit watching after the Eric exit incident (which was never mentioned during this final show), but I tuned in to see how it all wrapped up the last two weeks. And while I was temporarily quite thrilled for her and Josh, the night ended with me frustrated--again. :P

In a nut shell, is it just me, or did she never say "I'm sorry" to Nick? Okay fine, I'm sure they're required to keep at least two guys around even if they're only in love with one--for the sake of argument, let's give her that. But when it's all over, and the guy you rejected sincerely thought you were in love with him, and you sure acted like it, I think an apology would be fitting. But she just got snippy with him for getting a little too personal in that interview, which as I saw someone correctly point out, she could have already held and settled privately. Plus, I couldn't believe how little Nick finaly said when he had the chance--he'd had months to think over all this, and yet when the time came it's like he had no idea what to say.

Ahh, frustrating. I wish there would be just one season that ended without frustration--I started out with Desiree and to this day am not sold on her and Chris, we all know what happened with Juan Pablo, and now Andi who can't even be courteous to the guy she did who-knows-what with, assured over and over that everything was going to be okay the night before she sent him home, and totally gave the impression--to him at least--that she was in love with him. Since I'm relatively new to this whole thing, is this how every season ends??

3~ And on the topic of TV, I'm excited that Who Do You Think You Are is back on. Simply fascinating. {Spoiler:} I just knew last week when they found out the great-great-great grandmother was tried for murder that she had to have a reason. And she sure did--what an awful, incredible story. Maybe someday I'll share some of the stories I've found in my family tree...

4~ I'm pleased to announce that I seem to be improving from this cold thing that has knocked me flat all. week. long. (You know, more so than usual.) If this is the case, now I'll have about a week of improving from the aftermath of it, if that makes any sense.

5~ And now as we've been left with the close of another month and the start of a new one, I wanted to share your all's 5 favorite Instagrams of mine from the crazy month of July. :)

By the way, this necklace is available right here for just $21!

So! Anybody else keeping up with America's Got Talent? Did you hear "Blue Sky" when it came out 4 years ago? Were you happy for Andi and Josh? Are you into genealogy at all?

Wellness Wednesday: What "No" Really Means

Many things are the inevitable norm when you have a chronic illness, among them being pain of any level, pacing yourself and accomplishing comparatively little every day--or sometimes nothing at all based on how your body is treating you--and never knowing how you'll feel day to day and hour to hour.

But another thing that is the norm is having to say no. A lot. To anything from family dinner on Sunday, to going out to eat with your spouse, to your best friend coming over to visit.

My family and close friends have pretty much come to expect that more likely than not, I probably won't be able to come to             . I frequently have to say no, whether from exhaustion, stomach issues, or my messed up sleep schedule landing me finally in bed when whatever event is taking place.

To those who aren't sick, hearing no much more often than yes could make it seem like either I'm just not really putting forth the effort to make it, or I don't really mind saying no so much and that the event I'm missing isn't all that important to me. But none of those are the case.

A few months ago, on one of many mornings when I was exhausted and miserable, I somehow found it in me to get up, get ready, and make it to a certain event. I decided to just try and get through it. And I got there, sat down, was absolutely miserable, and in the middle of it looked up at Daniel and said, "This is not worth it." No one knows one's body better than oneself, and I know when I cannot and should not say yes.

As far as my frequent no's possibly implying that I don't mind saying no or that the occasion I'll be missing isn't that important to me, that is the absolute opposite of the truth. Every single no I give leaves me with guilt--guilt that maybe I'm not really trying hard enough (even though I know deep down that's a lie) and guilt over the disappointment I'm causing those affected by it--like my husband, my family, and my best friend. Every time I have to cancel on my best friend, which feels like 75% of the time, I feel like an absolutely terrible friend. And even though I know she knows and understands, I don't feel any less bad about it.

And yet, with the endless cycle of feeling awful so often, having many limits, being left with no choice but to say no so often, and feeling guilty about it all, I've come to learn that I have to give myself permission to give myself a break. To learn to be able to say no and not feel like the worst friend/wife/granddaughter, etc. for disappointing people because of something I cannot control. That's certainly something I'm still working on, but something I know I have to learn to do for my own attempt at health and well-being and sanity.

So if you know me "IRL" or have someone in your life that has a chronic illness and you hear no and get cancelled on a lot, please know that what's behind our "no" is not lack of care or love or not trying hard enough but rather an answer that we don't get to choose, plenty of disappointment and guilt, and one more necessary attempt at self-care.

And today, I'm wishing for fewer no's, the ability to not beat myself up when it can't be a yes, and for those I disappoint to understand as best they can.

Also linking up with Link Love.

I've Got Raleigh Down, Y'all ... Not Really

I'm back! Did y'all miss me? ;) Between pre-moving's madness and life in general, I gave myself a much-needed week off from my blog. But here we are again for Grateful Heart Monday!

Last, last weekend, as I mentioned we would be doing, we did fit a massive apartment-hunting spree into 2 days. Let me just say, if you or anyone you know needs advice on any apartment in the vicinity of Raleigh, send them my way! I seriously had to have looked up at least 50 apartments on my phone just while Daniel drove us around, in addition to the gobs that I went through online ahead of time. Even though I'd exhausted the internet resources on the topic, one landlord gave us a thick booklet of apartments in surrounding areas, so I proceeded to go page by page, find each one that listed either a good price or no price, Google map it to see if it was close enough to Daniel's job, then if it was, try to find prices on their website, and if the prices were good, call them for any availabilities. All as fast as my fingers could fly, let me tell you, and while my battery got lower and lower. It was in.san.ity. I knew we only had so much time, and it all really depended on me getting to the bottom of every possibility as fast as possible.

We probably drove by and/or visited 15 maybe? I don't remember at all. But the reason for the rush was that, first of all, Daniel was still at his old job in WV all week, so we only had weekends to get things done, and the new start date was coming fast. So we had two options: find an apartment that happened to be available immediately so we could both move in, or find one available in the semi-near future and he would stay with some distant relatives in the area until we could move into the apartment, and I would stay back home with my parents in the meantime. The latter, while the option lending to less panicked packing and moving, was obviously not the preference, but the one that we ended up with.

We did finally find ourselves an apartment, but it's not available to move in until mid August. So, I'm here, and Daniel is there for 2 1/2 weeks. I never dreamed this long-distance thing would ever happen again--we were long-distance for a large part of our time dating, and it killed us to be apart--even once he lived 25 minutes from me and we saw each other every day. We got rid of that problem when we got married! I'm really just trying not to think about it, or else I would be absolutely miserable. Plus, I ushered in this momentous weekend of him leaving with a cold that gave me the most painful sore throat I have ever had--his last day here I literally couldn't talk. Not ideal.

But my whining is over--ever since my sister's husband was deployed a couple years ago, I definitely have a new perspective on missing your spouse. Two weeks? I'll be fine. ;)

So this Monday, though it feels way too much like we're back in 2011, I am grateful:

~ I am getting better, and have a voice now.
~ I ate at Chickfilla (for the first time in about 9 months) while we were apartment hunting--without any stomach pain after. Can you say exciting? I just discovered their grilled nuggets and cole slaw are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and everything! Who knew??
~ Moving near a big city will mean more allergen-free food options, both grocery stores and restaurants. And that, my friend, changes everything!
~ Daniel starts his new--potentially incredible--job today!! I felt awful for him every day he went to his last job, and he has deserved this new one for so, so long. He's excited, and I'm excited. :D
~ We did find an apartment--and secured it before someone else got it first! Those things go fast!
~ And we're moving! To North Carolina! Finally!

So how was your weekend? Have you had to be long-distance from your spouse for a few weeks at a time? Any advice, suggestions, warnings about anything in the vicinity of Raleigh?
{Oh, and don't miss out on my Katya Valera shop credit giveaway going on over at Sweet Southern T!}