So tomorrow is my birthday.....

I have the odd fortune to have been born on Sept 12th, 1980. My birthdate hadn't ever been anything significant or special (unless it fell on Grandparent's Day- and, really, it still isn't), but it was mine and I was happy with it. When I went to bed on September 10th, 2001, I was a very angry (internally- externally I am usually cheery) young woman looking forward to getting trashed the minute her plane landed in Vegas for her birthday. I had been struggling with lots of things in my adolescence up to young adulthood (adhd and anger management issues being among them) and had a very hard time being able to see the bright side to much of anything, unless it had to do with partying- my parents and my uncle and his then-wife (my aunt) were to come out with and we were going to do some serious celebrating. Waking up on September 11th changed my life- of course, I didn't realize it then, but the day that caused so much devastation was my salvation. I always had a hard time waking that year because I never went home to bed at a decent hour. Naturally, this meant that my mom/boss was in charge of waking me up..and I will never forget the panic in her voice when she did that day.

"Shit, Christi. Get up. You have to see this. A plane just crashed into the World Trade Center" (We are all afflicted with Trucker Mouth. Luckily, most of the people around us tolerate it and understand that our curse words are not always venomous.)

I jumped out of bed, bleary-eyed and irritated with the world for happening all around me, and walked into her room across the hall- just in time to watch the second plane hit. By this time, my mom, assuming that this was an accident, was away from the TV brushing her teeth. I cried out for her to come see what had happened, totally certain some dumbass air traffic controller had gone off his meds and killed so many by allowing a second plane to crash. We both rushed to get ready for work so we could turn on the TV there and follow the story.
By the time I got to work, we Knew. And my world would never be the same.

We had decent internet service at the body shop we worked at, so I immediately got online and was accosted with so many of the images, live feeds, and assorted testimonials from ground zero. Even we, out here in the middle of the desert, were in shock. As angry as I was, I could not fathom what could drive the People That Did This To Us to sacrifice so many innocent people. We spent the rest of the day mostly in contemplative silence, unless there was business that needed tending to.
After work, I ditched my friends for our home computer. I needed to see what was happening across the country- partying wasn't so important already anymore. I don't have to sum up all the details here- I know everyone remembers the horrors.
What really got me was watching all of the jumpers. One by one, desperate to escape the hell inside, they took their chances and plunged to their deaths. It was too much for me. Something in my head finally clicked- what I was doing to myself was a slow suicide. I was a recovering drug addict, still a binge drinker, and in an abusive relationship. I was angry for reasons unknown even to myself, and couldn't see the sunshine even as I burned in it...I knew then that I was done with the lifestyle that was destroying me. I decided to search out help for my addictions, to make a conscientious change in my negative mentality, to own up to my actions and accept the consequences... 10 years later, I sit here in a pool of emotions. I know that what happened on September 11th had absolutely nothing to do with me, but when I meditate on this day and enter my 'happy place' I always acknowledge those who  helped, indirectly, to change my life with the end of their own.

By the way- we had the privilege to fly into Vegas on 09/13 and honor those who had died on the darkened strip. The trip had a somber tone to it, but we managed to still have fun. That trip also helped to teach me how to find the positive in every situation, even when the world seems pretty bleak.

OK, y'all- please don't run for the hills! The next posts up will be business as usual. Just thought I would share a little piece of my personal history with all of you.

Why, YES, I AM a dirty hippie....

Now that we have this homeschooling thing down, Ethan and I get to attend our local homeschool co-ops and park days, and other social events where 'getting-to-know-you' is involved. Apparently this is a bit of a shocker to lots of people, so I will come out and say it outright.
I do not wash my hair (at least, not with shampoo), use deodorant (not from the store!), brush my teeth with toothpaste (from a tube), or use facial cleanser or moisturizer (hello eczema...and acne...and wrinkles). Or even wash my clothes with commercially made soaps (again, hello, eczema! and asthma...and ashy, ASHY skin).
Luckily, according to my husband and a few other trusted friends, I manage to NOT do all of this without smelling like 'sweaty fat broad'. (No, it is not only on account of the fact that I do not sweat- no, y'all, you don't really wish this on yourselves. It SUCKS) Since (I needed something to write about, and) I am really getting tired of 'splaining it to the Lucies, I figured I would put my basic recipes down on here and let it be understood HOW I manage to NOT do all of this and still smell relatively ,well...nice. Did I mention that the cost of all of my raw materials combined (as in, for everything I make) cost about as much as one purchase of each product (storebought) combined per year? Without further ado- this is what I DO:

Shampoo

I am a no-poo'er almost no-poo'er through and through. I do not use shampoo straight out of the bottle on a daily (more like bi-weekly) basis; rather,every other day I 'wash' (clarify seems to me the better word) my scalp and the roots of my hair with a mixture of 1/4 tsp baking soda, 4oz. water, and (depending on the weather) a teeny tiny drop of tea tree oil. I put my mix in this bottle

which usually lasts me through 2 washes. Every 2 weeks (this is where the almost comes in) I use a dime sized drop of a mild shampoo added to the mixture to remove all the gunk that builds up in my hair. ( I really am a gringa- at least my hair is- and it tends to become too weighed down between my natural oils, desert dirt, and the occasional dousing of hair spray- for people with coarse/wavy hair, this may never be necessary. Sadly, for me, it is, at least bi-weekly, at least for now) If my hair starts to dull or look/feel coarse, I mist with a 60/40 water/apple cider vinegar rinse (that I don't rinse, ha!).

Yes, friends, for about an hour or as long as it takes your hair to dry, you will smell like salad dressing. Once your hair dries, the smell dies. So don't fret about that. For any extra conditioning I may need, I usually opt for a drop or 2 of avocado oil with a drop of patchouli oil massaged into my palms, then into my hair.

Deodorant

Yes, y'all, I really do not sweat...but I can get smelly! To remedy this, I combine coconut (or sweet almond, if I am out of coconut) oil, baking soda, a pinch of alum (the mineral, not aluminum), and drops of my favorite essential oil (usually patchouli). I personally do not measure this, but rather add oil until it is a nice firm, almost saltdough-y consistency. Then, I plop it in a jar and call it a month. You really only need a pinch under each arm (or less maybe but I have large underarms) and I find, for me, that this works like a charm. 

Toothpaste

This, my friends, has been the wildest experiment. These days, we toss in a jar: baking soda (usually til the jar is nearly full), lemon oil (appx 1 tsp), and a drop of peppermint oil. shake until thoroughly mixed, and pinch/scoop some out as needed. I find that my teeth stay cleaner longer using this, and it kills even the worst garlic breath, too.

If your teeth need whitening, rinse (DO NOT SWALLOW) with a capful of hydrogen peroxide for about 10 seconds. I do this occasionally, and I hate it- but I would rather not have to use the dreaded chemi-strips....So I suck it up and go with the lesser of the 2 evils.

Facial Cleanser

Baking soda (i fill the jar til nearly full) Sweet almond oil (1-2 tsp...maybe more if you use a relleh relleh big jar) Glycerine (literally, 3 drops, pre-shaken into the almond oil-again, adjust amount to the size of your jar)

The baking soda should be pasty when fully mixed, and should be applied as a scrub. Be careful, though, not to sit with it too long, or to scrub too hard, because it is pretty abrasive! If you have moderate acne, you can also mix in a drop or 2 of tea tree oil, but I usually do not. To tone, I again, spray with my handy dandy water/acv mixture. This, friends, will become something you develop a skill for- a bit of advice- keep your eyes shut, and hold your breath until the mist has subsided! I also use this as a body scrub. I love it- and I find that my skin glows if I use it regularly....

I do generally wash my arse- but with castille or hand-crafted, all natural, irritant free soaps. I find that essential oils, for the most part, do not bring out my dreaded E, but almost all synthetic scents do, and with a vengeance. The longer I go chem-free, the worse my reaction is to them- matter of fact, that is usually how I can weed out a fake 'natural' or 'unscented' product (aside from reading the label). If any of you are on hard times(or not), these ingredients can be had for 20 bucks or less,can make everything above, and can last you a pretty darned long time. It takes a bit of getting used to (especially the hair, because we are all used to having dried out, artificially silky locks), but in the long run, you just might find it is worth it. I know I did. I highly suggest Dr. Bronner's line of soaps- especially the liquids- but if you choose to use them please remember to DILUTE! Failure to do so WILL result in a sticky sorry mess.

Laundry Soap

1 bar washing soap (most common being fels naptha or zote) appx 1c washing soda (yes, there IS a difference!) appx 1c baking soda (I buy it in bulk at costco for about 6 bucks, y'all. it is my go-to for just about everything...that and lemon juice) appx 1c borax appx 1c oxy clean (not really necessary, but some folks don't feel right about washing their whites without it) you will need a grater and a food processor...and a vessel to keep the powder in.

1. grate the soap bar 

2. toss the whole lot into the food processor 

3. pulse until it looks like a laundry soap you would use ( generally you want the grated soap to be powder-fine)

4. store in an airtight container We use an old oxy-clean scoop (the small one)to measure out our soap- about 2tbs will clean a large load, but you can adjust the amount of soap to your liking. Also makes a great pre-treat paste- just add water, rub in about 20 mins before wash time, and toss in the wash. Always remember to check for colorfastness- I want no ruined Sunday t-shirts on my head!

For softener, I use 1/4c white vinegar in a 'downy' ball or the softener dispenser, depending on where I am washing clothes. Again, no stink, so don't worry. If you feel that that might not cut the mustard for you, I made my own 'dryer balls' using recycled tennis balls with a slit cut into them; I add a drop or 2 of my favorite essential oil to the INSIDE of the ball, and have yet to have an oil stain from it.

So, now you all know how I can be such a dirty hippie, still smell good, and be proud enough of it to tell it like it is. Enjoy!

Things we will miss about the summer

Music under the stars
Movies on the lawn
Hitting the park and making random friends DURING ps hours
Endless sunlight (we have endless sunshine- but the days are already getting shorter)
Watermelon (almost out of season, sob)
Fresh Green Chile (we are canning away!)

Things We are looking forward to in the fall

Homeschool Park days
HS co-ops
Pumpkins!!!!
Persimmons,Quince, and the like
Halloween!!!!
Being able to take the bus everywhere again (mommy loves an eco-ride)
No wait times at our favorite hangouts
Making new and unlikely friends
Moving into our RV (hopefully sooner than later)

Mighty Mites football is upon us!

OK, y'all-
I happen to have a supercute kid with his OWN sense of style. I mean that when I say it. I have not dressed this kid since he was 3- when we shop for clothes, he is allowed input on every article of clothing, his hair choices are his own (even when he looks like a crazy werewolf), and he even accessorizes. I love him to pieces, so he will be in a lot of my posts. Be forewarned. Today, I am letting you in on a secret- 5-7 year olds playing full contact football looks a LOT like the Little Giants movie. Seriously. Boy is playing for the El Paso Bandits, and, as a former football fanatic (as in, football really no longer interests me) I can tell you that watching these kids play is super entertaining. No fancy moves, no superstar touchdowns, etc- just lots of tiny people in oversized pads trying to make their way up and down the field. I promise every post won't be about this, haha. I just had to get this out there. And of course, I have to show y'all what I mean!

The Maldonado U-Pick "garden"

This is going to be a short one. If you love to pick your own produce straight off the farm (only fun when it is the family farm, at least for me friends), then this is the place for you! The produce is standard for our region- squash, 'maters, okra,eggplant, and of course CHILES! They also had small flower patches- kinda cute- cut-your-own-arrangement deal...Bring sunscreen, bug spray (a MUST),water (lots, because we are in the desert and it is always hot!) and an extra pair of shoes (irrigation,people). We went with a family friend and her daughter, and, while we walked away with some good produce, I personally prefer my nice, neat farmer's market.On the upside, we did get to feed the goats some weeds and the kids played for a (short- BUGS!!!!) while on the playground. While the Maldonado's have something good going with their corn maze, if I am going to be working any fields, I think I prefer them to be my own.

yes, I AM a bad blogger

Y'all, I have had about 2 or 3 weeks worth of posts to publish, and hadn't published a single one. My apologies. This will become a more consistent thing as we get settled into our homeschooling routine. Speaking of, homeschooling, DIY,craft, and food posts might also sneak their way (frequently) into my blog. I initially was going to do strictly a review based blog, but I think that it would become boring to me over time...so, heads up- this is all just to make good reading, friends.
Also, if there is anything you would like me to check into, let me know. I will get it put up here!

Mama's Tamales- the BEST Mexican food this side of the border (not counting abuelita's house, of course!)

What can I say about Mama's Tamales? Well, for one- I wish it were open longer, but maybe the short hours are better for my waistline....
We have been fans of this restaurant for the past 3 years or so. The place is owned by 'Mama' and her many daughters, who all bear some resemblance (but are MORE beautiful than)to Frida Kahlo. The walls bear all sorts of testaments to Diego Rivera, Kahlo, 'Mama', and their family heritage. Furniture is all too cool, with these solid rustic tables and chairs- some stained, some painted the brightest, happiest colors ever- basically, when you walk in, you feel at home.

Daily specials are posted on a blackboard right as you walk in, and some days you know you are in for a special treat. What sets Mama's apart is that their food is made.from.scratch every day. No canned anything to be found, the food is never greasy or stale (loaded with cheese, yes, but never dripping with grease), and best of all- nothing is fried in lard! (sorry, y'all- I kind of hate that stuff. It tastes like death to me). I will return to this post the next time we visit, and update pics and the like- this blog stuff is still new to me and I am feeling my way around it, slowly....