Organic Shopping List

This is just for my own reference. I intend to acquire these things over the next couple months or so as the products I'm using now run out. I should need the first two by June and the third I've already bought as it was on sale. I decided I want to try and use as many recyclable and biodegradable products as I can and my conditioner is not biodegradable while my shampoo is. So I'm buying new conditioner but I'll probably keep using the same shampoo I am. I have never used organic laundry detergent but I have used Dr. Bronners before (notice I'm not getting the Peppermint kind!!!). I figure that it's worth the experiment at least to know that I don't want to use that brand in the future. The goal is to eventually be all organic all the time...but we start where we can.

• Dr. Bronners Almond Castille Soap
  
• ECOS Laundry Detergent
  
• Ecco Bella White Ginger Mango
  

EDIT: I acquired the first on the list today.

Other body/healthcare thoughts

I thought about my hair a lot last night. The hair dye I use has to be awful for the environment. I don't really like henna. Beyond this, I think I'm ready to go back to my natural hair color. One thought I had was that I could just let it grow and cut it in a year because in a year without dying it, it should be long enough for me to cut off the dyed hair and have longish hair that's my natural color. Of course, this means I'll look stupid for about a year. Realistically though, I am working for the college this summer and I won't be seeing anyone when I apply for grad school for at least 8 months so my hair should be long enough to cut at that point if necessary and not look awful. Wow is this a big step for me though. I've been dying my hair since my sophomore year of high school.

I also decided that I want to try and learn to live with my allergies without constantly taking pills for them. They are tons better in Boston and tons worse in Texas. This makes me think that they are tied to the plants that grow further south. Basically, if I can make it through the next year, I will probably be able to handle them in grad school because two of the three schools I'm looking at applying to are in the north. My allergies, at their worst, make me have an outbreak of labyrinthitis. Which means I have to lay down for a week or so and then it gets better. I can deal with that.

(no subject)

I feel absolutely wonderful today. I got up this morning, chatted a bit online. Then I realized that I was ahead on my homework and I needed to buy a new facial cleanser as mine breathed its last today. I biked down to Happy Meadows which is 1.25 miles one way according to Mapquest. So I rode my bike/walked my bike up the huge hill 2.5 miles this morning. While there, it was 15% off day so I bought an olive oil bar soap from a brand called "KissMyFace" and I also picked up the Dr. Bronners because I wouldn't have to pay shipping. I managed to do all of this in an hour and have time to drop off a paper with Dr. Bates before heading over to Natural Science. I got a 10/10 on the lab we did last week. I then came back to my room to take a shower since I hadn't gotten the chance after biking in the heat this morning. I must say that I absolutely LOVE both of the soaps I bought. I had forgotten how much I liked Dr. Bronners but I definitely remembered. Also, the olive oil bar is scent free and left my face feeling soft, moisturized and clean!! Add to that the cost of both was $13 and I have enough soap to easily last me a year! *does the happy dance* I'd definitely recommend both of these products. Happy Meadows does carry the laundry detergent I want but I think it may be cheaper online (have to check shipping and handling). I also didn't have a bag big enough to carry the laundry detergent home in. I need to acquire a basket or rack for my bike at some point in the nearish future before the summer when I have to buy my groceries on my own. I've now have eaten a nice lunch of chicken rice and I feel balanced and relaxed. It's amazing how important hygiene rituals are to balancing my psyche.