You see it everywhere. The organic, gluten-free, chemical-free, movement is here. From moms needing to remove things from their family due to health factors or because they feel it is necessary for the season of life they are in. I am somewhere in the middle. I am not totally crunchy and I am not totally non-crunchy either. My family eats prepared boxed meals some times. Other times I make things completely from scratch! If I had a dishwasher I would totally take advantage of it’s time saving abilities instead of being a big conservative. But, I am also semi-crunchy…
What do I mean by semi-crunchy?
I believe that we can live life enjoying things in moderation. I believe that it is ok to indulge in some things so long as we are not glutenous. And I believe that indulging doesn’t mean just in food. We can indulge ourselves in the latest technology to save ourselves time and we can also grow our own vegetables because they are good for us and our earth.
I am a work-at-home, homeschooling mom. That means that my children and I are home 95% of the time. I have to find ways to be the most cost effective that I can because, time is money. I do enjoy the convenience of things that full-on crunchy moms would cringe over. I am okay with that. Let me break down ways that we are semi-crunchy for you so that maybe you can find ways to improve around your home and your life as well!
Personal Products
For years I was a die-hard bath and body user. You know what I am talking about. Those chemical laden, smell good, lotions and potions that you can buy at your mall. I especially loved the winter apple scent that came out at the holidays. YUM! Then I started looking more into the chemicals they used to create the products. Did you know that it only takes 26 seconds for those to enter your blood stream? With most of them being petroleum based I was grossed out! So I went on a hunt to find something that smelled just as nice and wouldn’t break the bank. I found my answer in Perfectly Posh! It is spa-grade products, made with all natural bases, with no fillers, and junk. SCORE! I contacted a friend who sent me samples and I was sold. Since Perfectly Posh in am MLM company I decided that I would sign up just to use the discount for myself. Turns out that I am not the only one who enjoys being pampered without using harsh chemical laden products. My favorite part? Everything is inexpensive. It is all Buy 5 Get 1 FREE, nothing over $25, plus $5 shipping. Can’t beat it! I love that my daughter can use the products on her face. I enjoy the fresh scents and new products that come out every few months. And the Snarky fragrance… let’s just say that there isn’t much out there that smells as good!
Cleaning Products
I have no lies to tell. I am a big fan of anti-bacterial cleaners, and cleaning wipes. There I said it. Let the flogging begin… With that said, I am also a HUGE fan of Norwex. Have you heard of it? I hadn’t until recently. Let me tell you what. Once I saw how well those handy-dandy little rags worked I was sold and placed an order. (I have a cart full right now!) I couldn’t believe how well they clean without using any harsh chemicals at all. Just wet, swipe, done! What could be easier? I will forever be indebted to my friend, Jenn, for introducing me to the awesomeness that is Norwex! Just don’t be shocked when you come to my house and find Lysol or Clorox, I still need those to feel like I got everything clean. (semi-crunchy, remember?)
Essential Oils
Are you sick of hearing about these things already? They seem to be everywhere you turn. You can’t read a blog post, visit Facebook, or go to Walmart without seeing essential oils. For near 2 years I would only use a certain, very expensive, MLM brand. It had to be that brand because of their promise and their standards and their blah, blah, blah. Turns out I can use oils and not break the bank! You can too! I did my research and found a brand of essential oils that I have found to be comperable to the MLM’s out there for the fraction of the price. Best part? You can find them on Amazon as well as their website. SCORE! I will admit that at first I was a bit skeptical. How can they be “as good”? Then I placed an order and was sold. While there are still some oil blends I will buy from the MLM I will mostly be buying my singles from Plant Therapy.
The main thing about being crunchy…
Remember all things in moderation. If you jump in too much, too fast, it will overwhelm you and make you crazy(er). Unless a health issue is on the line do not go in full force. Step into the crunchy world with your toes and keep on sinking in until you are comfortable. I will continue to weed out more and more in our family until I feel comfortable. We will still have some boxed dinners, and I will likely still use household cleaners, but it works for us! Find what works for you and move on!
