Jul 29, 2010 Posted in Environment | View Comments

FAQ: What do I do about “necessary” disposables?

Carrie asks, “What do you do about “necessary” disposables. Like toilet paper, cotton swabs and the like?”

This is one area where I think I am falling behind. I dislike using disposables. While TB was in cloth diapers, I would often times use a cloth on myself (as I did him) instead of toilet paper, because I was already doing the laundry. However, those days have past, and we have gone back to toilet paper, though we now use recycled unbleached toilet paper. It’s a little rougher, but it does its job.  On the other hand, I could easily do a load of laundry a week of cloth wipes, and maybe that should be one of my future challenges?

As for cotton swabs, I don’t generally use them often, though I LOVE the way they feel. (Shh…don’t tell the doctor.) However, Rebecca pointed out a week or so ago that I should be using ear wax softener drops, so I will be checking that out in the near future. Ehow has some home made natural methods that I intend to try first though.

Other than those two, I cannot think of many disposable products that I still use. Those that continue to stick around include: wax paper, parchment paper, aluminum foil (I try to reuse it some), press and seal (again, I reuse it), and a few plastic bags for storing vegetables and the like (which I also wash and reuse).  With all of the products, I try hard not to use them. I use reusable (cloth) bags to bring sandwiches and wraps to work, for example, but sometimes it is necessary.

How about you? What disposable items do you use? Have you found any alternatives I should try?

Jul 28, 2010 Posted in Getting to know me, Pictures | View Comments

Wordless Wednesday: Me and “The lip gloss”

OK. Not so wordless. The following is a photo of me in the same color of lip gloss I am giving away!

Jul 27, 2010 Posted in Basketball, Getting to know me | View Comments

A Season and Basketball

I have started and stopped writing this post many times mostly because I do not want to sound like I do not enjoy my life, but it is time to be honest. Sometimes being the wife of a basketball player is a challenge. Very few times are harder for me than this time of the year. It is an easy time to get down on all that is going on, and I have to be especially careful not to allow resentment to fester in my heart.

I know some of you are thinking, “what is this woman talking about?”

Allow me to explain.

We are entering prime signing time for basketball. Even when Kevin was younger, he didn’t tend to sign until late-July to early August. The past two years he has signed in October and November…and not in Europe, but the Middle East. Waiting for “the call” is always a challenge, but some years are harder than others. This year is one of them. Part of it is my own health issue (more on that later this week), but part of it is the fight within me to trust that things will work out. In other words, the action-researcher/planner part of me allows the lack of action on my part to feel unnatural and manifest itself in discontent. Plus, Kevin has been home since February, which has been nice except for the unemployed part. (It’s definitely a year to praise God that I am also employed!)

In the past seven years of doing this (wow!), I have learned to cope with each season (and this is but one) differently, and like I said, some are harder than others.

One thing this off-season has reinforced for me though:

• Nothing is a given. Life can change at any time, so it is best that I not hold on too tightly to what I plan for the future.

Kevin’s surgery ensured that lesson was ingrained on both of our minds and hearts, but it also makes this signing season even more stressful for both of us. All we can do is wait… tic toc. OK, Kevin also works out.

What reoccurring life event is a struggle for you?  Remember…each comment is a chance to win the 100% Pure lip gloss.

Jul 26, 2010 Posted in Getting to know me | View Comments

McKLinky Monday: My idea of a favorite vacation

The ladies of the RHOK are NOT playing. They ask, “what is my idea of a favorite vacation? “

I have so many places in mind!

I LOVE vacationing as a family.

I dig vacationing with just my husband.

A FAVORITE though?

That is the easy part.

If I were to narrow it down, I think I would say– time somewhere, anywhere, where we can relax and enjoy one another, but also be on the go.  To me, vacationing is more about spending time with the people I love, not necessarily about what we see, though we do get to see some awesome places. The special part is seeing TB’s smile, and watching Kevin help him see things.

What’s your idea of a favorite vacation?

Jul 23, 2010 Posted in Friday Feature | View Comments

Friday Feature: 100% Pure

First off, I think from my beauty routine (in parts I and II) it is easy to tell I have really minimized the products in my life, and I rarely wear makeup. Like almost never. That being said, there are special occasions where I’d like a little cover, mascara, lip gloss, etc, but I have very sensitive skin and most products cause me to break out and/or have very itchy skin.

I had been on the lookout for a while when I stumbled across 100% Pure Cosmetics.  The downside is that the products are not in the EWG database (except the mascara), so I had to go digging based on ingredients. (Did you know you can do that?) The ingredients turned out to be mostly 0s and 1s, though the Foundation Powder contains some chemicals rated moderate (3-5) in its sunscreen ingredients.  None of the products are tested on animals, the brushes are mostly vegan, and they pre-cycle packing materials. (Check out a more complete list of their environment and animal stances here and here.)

After considering the company and the ingredients, I ended up ordering the 8-piece Fruit Pigment Color Collection, Healthy Flawless Skin Foundation Powder SPF15 and  a Pink-Berry Lip Gloss to see if I would like their products. Normally, I would have shied away from the face powder, but I am having problems finding any that are rated low hazard.

I found all of their products to work for me. The powder went on smoothly without looking heavy, as did the eyeshadow and mascara, though if you are used to a very bold in one coat eye makeup, you might night like these products. The blush looked natural, and the lip-gloss was shiny and smooth without being super sticky. Most importantly for me though, the products did not irritate my face!  Overall, I thought my face looked enhanced (versus painted).

Liking this product won’t encourage me to wear makeup more often, but I certainly won’t cringe about it either. I have not used any of their other products, but if you do, please share in the comments!

And now the fun part…

If you clicked the links, you will notice that I accidentally ordered the same Pinkberry lip gloss that comes in the 8-piece fruit pigment color collection. My error is someone else’s benefit! Leave me a comment, any comment on any post, between now and next Thursday at 5 p.m. (Central time zone) to be entered for a chance to win the lipgloss. Earn multiple entries by commenting multiple times and/or on multiple posts. Good luck!

(As always, I purchased the prize myself and no one is paying me to say, write, or do anything related to this product!)