Changing, one step at a time

I aspire to live a better life. To me a better life is one that has minimal impact on our environment, a natural life, a healthy life.  I want to eat organic local produce.  I want to prevent illnesses.  I want to be happy.  I want to be frugal and avoid giving my hard earned money to large corporations for items I do not need.  I want to avoid chemicals.

There was once a time in my life when I was doing pretty much all these things.  I was living in London, I had money and time, no children and it is so easy there.  Organic food was readily available near my flat, and there was such easy access to natural products.  I was a strict vegetarian, and was very clued up about beauty products and their contents, what was tested on animals and what wasn't.

When I returned to New Zealand, I discovered that it was not quite so easy to live like that here.  And the other thing which I think impacted me the most is that no-one I knew in New Zealand lived how I wanted to live.  I realised that whilst I was living away from home, I wasn't being influenced by my friends and family, and I was free to live how I wanted without being judged.  I realised that it is hard to be the 'odd one out' all the time.  It is also quite antisocial if everyone you spend time with aspire to different ideals than you.

I went off track for a while, in regards to the way I want to live.

However, I feel I am getting back on track.

There are a few reasons for this.  The main reason is that I am now spending more and more time with like-minded individuals, who inspire me.  I am also loving The Natural Parent Magazine Facebook page.  Every day other NP/AP mothers (and fathers sometimes) post questions.  Through these questions I have discovered all sorts of interesting things.  I am now 'poo-free', I am 'pulling oil', I am drinking ACV.

Yes.  I know.  I am a bit of a weirdo perhaps.  But you know what?  I am happy.  And you know what else?  I realised that I can have the life I aspire to have.  I don't have to go out and change everything in one go, I can just do it slowly, one step at a time.  Life is a journey, not a destination.  And I plan to enjoy it.

Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex Review

Recently I was sent some Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex to try and review.

Generally my routine for my face consists of the following products:  Water.

Yes, that is right.  I do not use any special cleansers, toners or moisturisers and my skin has never been better.  However I have noticed that I am beginning to get a few wrinkles.  Which scares the crap out of me to be fair.  I am 30 years old, and I do not want to look old.

This product makes the following claims:
See results in an instant. Watch as advanced micro-fillers and light-diffusing particles dramatically reduce the appearance of wrinkles in just one application. And its hydrating formula reduces the appearance of deep lines in just 14 days.

I don't know if I saw results in an 'instant', but there is a definite improvement.  I have been using the product for over a month now and my lines are certainly reduced.  I actually really like the product.

In regards to the packaging - the bottle is lovely and shiny and the product is dispensed from a push down pump type of thing.  The pump SUCKS!  It is flimsy, and I can feel that there is product left but you just can't get it out!  This needs to be fixed.

I have one other major issue with the product.  Olay do animal testing.  Yes that is right.

So, what to do?  Use it, have less wrinkes, and live with the guilt on my conscience, or do the right thing and stand up for what I believe it?

I think I will be going back to water.

Poo-free update

It has been over a week now since I ditched my shampoo and conditioner.

I LOVE my hair.  I have managed to get over the urge to constantly touch my hair cos it feels so damn good, but I still enjoy looking at it!

My hair is so much softer, and has so much more body.  I did have very flat hair before.  But now it feels thick and luxurious.  It also feels very clean.

I have found the best way for me to apply the baking soda mix is to shake a little bit of baking soda into my palm (maybe a teaspoon full), wet it slightly and then apply this to my scalp.  Then I repeat that about four times to ensure my head is covered.

So poo-free = success!

I shall soon endeavour on another small step to become more 'green', chemical free, and self sufficient.  I'll keep you posted.  Over and out :)

Poo-free day 1

When I woke this morning I was quite excited about jumping in the shower and getting busy with my BS and ACV!

After wetting my hair I sprinkled about a tablespoon of baking soda into my palm and wet it so it was a runny paste.  I applied this to my hair, but it was quite hard to spread it around the scalp and hair so I had to do about 3 lots before I felt like everything had been cleaned.  I left it in for a minute or so, and I was feeling quite sceptical.

After rinsing it was time for the ACV.  I had a cup in the shower, so I filled this with warm water first before adding the ACV.  I then slowly poured this over my hair, only once splashing myself in the eye!  I was wondering if I would smell pickled afterwards....

I rinsed out the ACV and I could immediately feel how tangle free my hair felt.

I had to wait until my hair was dry before I could see if it really had worked.  And it did!  My hair looked and felt really nice, and clean.  I didn't smell bad, or of vinegar.  My hair feels slightly oily, but not overly so, and it certainly doesn't look oily.

So success.  Will keep you posted.  I intend to improve my BS application - maybe use a sprayer or squirter bottle.

I am going 'poo-free'

Okay, for those of you not down with the lingo, that is short for 'shampoo free' and not some kind of constipation issue.

I know a number of people who have been converted lately, so I thought I would give it a go too.  I am a bit nervous as I really really like to have clean hair.  I am a shampoo every day kind of girl.  So this is a BIG deal to me.

Instead of shampoo, you use baking soda and apple cider vinegar (ACV).

You firstly you put a small amount of baking soda (approx 1 tbsp) into your palm and then mix with water to a runny paste.  Then apply this to your hair, let it sit for a minute then rinse it off.  You can then do an ACV rinse - mix 2 tablespoons with about a cup of water, massage into your scalp and hair and then rinse it off.

And voila - clean hair!

Apparently it can take a couple of weeks for your hair to get used to this new routine, without the harsh shampoo detergents stripping all the natural oils away, and you hair can be a bit oily.  This is what I am afraid of.  So I have a back up plan.  A hat

I believe this will be my friend for the next couple of weeks!

So tomorrow is my first day.  Hopefully it will be okay!

Night Weaning, the Gentle Way. Day ?

Okay, it has been a while since I have blogged.  I have been away for a few nights.

This is where we are at:

Still in the first phase.  Things are improved, he is sleeping for longer stretches at a time (sometimes 4 hours!) and gets to sleep easily, not on the breast.
At this stage I am not going to move to the next step (no feeding) until he has finished with these molars he is working on.  Thats right - I was so busy checking his canine teeth, which have been on the verge of coming through for ages, that I failed to notice he has 2 molars, and is working on about 6!  So I just feel to mean depriving him of milk when his mouth is so sore.  Therefore we are just going to keep going as we are, and in a couple of weeks I will change to no feeding between 11pm - 5am.

Thats parenting for you - you make these plans, and then things change, you re-evaluate and do something else.  I will keep you posted though!

Night Weaning, the Gentle Way. Day 4

Last night was much improved.  I decided that as I was so tired, my main focus was going to be on sleeping, rather than sticking to the night weaning.

So I wasn't pushing the whole fall asleep without the breast thing so much, but I found that he was naturally starting to do that!  So I was very pleased.  He was sleeping for decent stretches (around 2ish hours) and immediately going back to sleep.  So I feel quite rested today.

By now I should be on phase 2 of the night weaning method, but I am going to stay on this first phase for a few more nights, just til I feel we have it mastered!

Night Weaning, the Gentle Way. Day 3

Last night was a complete and utter disaster.

It started out brilliantly.  My little man was sleeping for good stretches (2 - 3 hours at a time) til around midnight.  He even got to sleep quickly without feeding himself to sleep once.  And then Mr 3 year old starts up, having a very loud dream and wakes us all right up and then promptly falls right back to sleep himself.
But me and the baby?  Awake from 1ish to around 5.30am.  Yes.  thats right.  bad night.  He just wanted to be awake, and would not lie still,

So I am very tired.  And I know what you are thinking, and the answer is No - I have not been operating any heavy machinery in this state.

I don't know how tonight will go.  I am so tired I just want to do whatever will get me the most sleep.  Quite short-sighted, but I do have to function.

Night Weaning, the Gentle Way. Day 2

Success (of a kind)!

Last night I stuck to the method, and I ended each feed whilst my son was still awake and then managed to get him to sleep by patting his back.  And we did this every time he fed between 11pm and 5am.

So we did successfully stick to the method.

HOWEVER, he only slept for between 15 and 45 minutes between these wakeful periods so then we had to do this process many, many, MANY times during the night.  So that was the not so successful part.

I do feel like we are getting somewhere in the process though, so we will keep at it.

Night Weaning, the Gentle Way. Day 1

Last night was not exactly a success.  I fed my little man about 3 times before 11pm.  Then after that I was meant to feed, stop whilst he was still awake and then coax him to sleep.

There was a major problem though, he had a sore tummy!  So the first feed after 11pm went something like this:

11.15: Stirs, grizzles, so I feed him.
11.18: feeding slows down so I quickly remove breast from his mouth and then pat his back to try to get him back to sleep
11.20:  He is crying.  He does a big fart and obviously has a sore tummy
11.21: I feel too mean not feeding him, so let him feed for comfort.

Then he basically fed all night long.

Nevermind.  We will try again tonight :)

Night Weaning, the Gentle Way. Day 0

My lovely second child is now 14 months old.  He is a happy, and a joy to be around.  He loves boob.  He likes to breastfeed a LOT.  I have always feed on demand (and demand is definitely the right word!) day and night.
However, I have come to the decision that I am ready to attempt to night wean him.  My reasons are:

1. He currently feeds a minimum of 5 times during the night, sometimes more than 10 times
2. I am really really tired
3. I am starting to resent the night feeds, and I don't want a 'negative' breastfeeding relationship
4. I struggle to maintain my weight.  I get skinny.  I find it hard to eat enough to sustain this many feeds.
5. On the nights he does decide to feed a little less, I end up with very painful plugged ducts

I have decided to go with the Jay Gordon night-weaning method (full outline here).  It is specially designed for older babies (over 1 year), who co-sleep.  Tick and Tick.

Basically you pick a 7 hour period during the night that you want to be feed-free.  I am actually just going to make this 6 hour, to begin with, as I think that will work best for us.  I am going to have 11pm - 5am as our set time with no feeding.

Stage One - The First Three Nights:
"At any time before 11 p.m. (including 10:58) nurse to sleep, cuddle and nurse when he wakes up and nurse him back to sleep, but stop offering nursing to sleep as the solution to waking after 11 p.m.. Instead…..

When your baby awakens at midnight or any other time after 11 p.m., hug him, nurse him for a short time but make sure he does not fall asleep on the breast and put him down awake. Rub and pat and cuddle a little until he falls asleep but don’t put him back on the breast (or give him a bottle if that’s what you’ve been doing). He must fall asleep with your comfort beside him, but not having to nurse to feel comforted enough to drift off.

Now, he will tell you that he is angry and intensely dislikes this new routine. I believe him. He will also try to tell you that he’s scared. I believe he’s angry, but a baby who’s had hundreds of nights in a row of cuddling is not scared of falling asleep with your hand on his back and your voice in his ear. Angry, yes. Scared, no, not really.

During these first three nights, repeat this pattern only after he has slept. He might sleep for fifteen minutes or he might sleep for four hours, but he has to go to sleep and reawaken to get cuddled and fed again."

So, as simple as that!  Yeah right.  I am very very nervous about attempting this.  I really don't like my baby to be upset.  It breaks my heart to hear him cry, so I will do what I can to avoid that.  I know that for these few nights I will get even more tired.  I worry that it won't work.  I worry that I am depriving him of his favourite thing in the world.  That he will be hungry.

However, despite these fears, I am going to push ahead.  I am ready for change.

Wish me luck and I will let you know how we go tomorrow.