Epiphani
Happy Wellness Wednesday, Garden Fam!
I have a direct message for a select group of gardeners out there…
It's World 'No Tobacco' Day and I want to encourage any of my gardeners who are still smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco to consider and begin taking measures to QUIT!
Now… Before you unsubscribe, hear me out...
You and I both know that it's not good for your health and in 2023, there's no way it's good for your pockets. A tobacco habit may not be easy to break, especially when there is nicotine involved, but I can assure you that it is possible and worth it. I won’t go into all of the details of the possible adverse consequences, but none of them are good. Tobacco alone is bad enough, but when it comes to vaping, you could also be unknowingly smoking heavy metals. Your lungs are begging you to quit, and so am I. Know that I don’t come to judgment, because I’ve been there, in a slightly different way… You can see my cannabis testimony on our YouTube for more details on that. I won’t bore you with it here!
If you're ready to make that move, I have just a couple tips for you. On the physical side, you can consult with a medical professional or addiction specialist to help you formulate a plan towards your new, tobacco-free life. On the spiritual side, I definitely recommend that you begin praying (& even fasting) against addiction. The goal is to be set free altogether, not to simply replace one addiction with another, so it's important to break it at the root! Seek God for a strategy and for His strength.
If God delivered me from years of cannabis use, He can surely set you free from that tobacco habit. You may not even be able to envision your life without it, because you’ve built much of your life and your routines around your tobacco use, but you can have a totally different life, and it can happen swiftly. Yes, it will require self-control and diligence, but it doesn’t have to be as hard as you may be imagining. It is not God’s will that we depend on other things to bring us peace, comfort, joy, (or anything else people seek substances for), so surrender that habit to God and allow Him to lead and empower you to quit for good! And also trust that He can and will restore every cell, tissue, organ, etc. in your body that has been negatively impacted by this habit.
Welp, if you’ve made it this far, I hope you have made it up in your mind to make a change! I am praying for you in your journey to your new life. If this episode was not for you, wonderful! Please share it with someone who you know could use it.
I love you all bunches!
Have a healthy & wholesome week 💕
Happy Wellness Wednesday, Garden Fam 🌸
I'm back with Part III of our 'Cleaner Living' series!
If you haven't caught the other two posts, go check them out. This week, we're talking about one of my favorite things:
HAIR 💇🏾♀️
Black women’s natural hair has not always been accepted & praised in the ways it is today, nor have products and information always been so readily available to care for our natural hair. So it is understandable how we came to embrace products like chemical straighteners to make our hair more “manageable” for ourselves and “palatable” in professional and academic spaces. Thankfully, we are in a time where our hair is finally being embraced in its natural state and we have so many tools and resources at our fingertips. The stigma is being broken, and it is wonderful to see, but the ties to old ways of doing things are not easily broken. In today’s video, I share the science behind chemical straighteners (relaxers) and the risks of introducing our bodies to their harsh ingredients. My goal is to present you with the facts so that you can make well-informed decisions about your hair regimen that are in line with what is best for your health.
To learn more, watch the video and/or check out the information and resources below!
Here’s to giving up the creamy crack, embracing our natural hair, and living a cleaner life 💁🏾♀️
As always, have a healthy and wholesome week!
Love you bunches 🍇
Focus Scripture
Psalms 139:13-14
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
Video Notes
Getting Off the Creamy Crack: The Journey to Natural Hair Care
Learn to love your hair in its form
This IS the part where I tell you to love yourself as you are, including the process involved in taking care of you (and in this case, your hair!)
Psalms 139:13-14 NKJV
Enjoy and embrace the journey
If you’ve been getting relaxers forever, expect there to be some transition and adjustment along the way.
Make it enjoyable like an adventure of learning or relearning your hair.
Find style inspiration and follow natural hair channels on YouTube
Replenish your hair and your body with nutrients for health
For your hair
Protein treatments
Natural rinses and hair masks
Protective styles
Not good with hair? Find a good natural stylist near you, or even a good girlfriend!
For your body (and your hair, too)
Eat well – fruits, veggies, collagen, biotin, etc.
Check out our ‘Giving Your Body What It Needs’ series for more guidance
Don’t relapse!
Stick to it and don’t go back to the creamy crack! 😆
Review the Facts
How we temporarily or permanently change the curl patterns of our hair
Our hair is made of keratin proteins that are held together by two kinds of bonds
Disulphide bonds (stronger)
Hydrogen bonds (weaker)
Our curl patterns are based on the shape of our hair follicles
Protein bonds impact curl patterns once hair grows out of the follicles
Straightening our hair
Temporarily
Hydrogen bonds are affected by temporary heat straightening through methods like:
blow drying
flat ironing
curling
These bonds can be restored upon wetting the hair
Permanently
Disulphide bonds are broken when using permanent straightening methods like relaxers
These bonds are not restored upon wetting the hair again
Recent Lawsuits
There are a few links below detailing the lawsuits that have been filed against companies making chemical straighteners. Women are suing due to being diagnosed with:
endometrial carcinoma
Uterine cancer
Ovarian cancer
Uterine fibroids
Problematic Ingredients
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Our endocrine system is responsible for our hormones
EDCs affect this system and therefore impact hormone functioning
Phthalates are EDCs that are often found in relaxers
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more durable.
They also can be used to help materials dissolve.
Can also be found in vinyl flooring, lubricating oils, and personal-care products
Possible adverse and long-term effects
“Previous studies have found hair product use to be associated with a higher risk of hormone-sensitive cancers including breast and ovarian cancer…” – JNCI
“Exposure to excess estrogen and a hormonal imbalance of estrogen and progesterone have been identified as key risk factors for uterine cancer” – JNCI
Salon workers may experience the following due to repeated exposure:
Respiratory difficulties
Dermatitis
Other forms of skin irritation
Nerd Out 🤓
Happy Wellness Wednesday, Garden Fam 🌸
I hope you are doing WELL! Last week, I encouraged you to exchange toxic chemicals for cleaner, safer products to live a healthier life. I shared a wonderful tool that has been a game changer in my journey to cleaner living and I know this would greatly support those who are looking to do the same. If you missed it, make sure you go back and check it out!
This week, we are continuing our Cleaner Living Series and zooming in on household products. Home is where the heart is, and it should also be where health lives. In today’s video, I explain why you should start using healthier household products TODAY. I also give a shout out to the company where my journey began. If you’re ready to begin your journey, today’s video and post is for YOU! Below, you can find a few of my favorite safe household products.
Reminder – Why should you be using cleaner products?
Your lungs
Your eyes
Your skin
Your home
What should you consider switching out?
Cleaning products — kitchen, bathroom, floor, carpet, furniture
Laundry & dish detergents
Air freshers
My Favorites
My #1 favorite - Melaleuca
Melaleuca is a wellness company that sells just about everything under the sun! This was my first introduction to cleaner living, because it made it easy to find almost everything I needed in one place.
What I love:
Everything in one place from cleaning products to personal care to vitamins and supplements
Their Clean Home Pack, which replaces just about all of your cleaning products at once (from laundry, to kitchen, to bathroom, and MORE)
Their products WORK
Ex. Tub & Tile is like the clean version of scrubbing bubbles, it does the work for you!
The products smell amazing!
If you like to spray a lot when cleaning like I do, you will not be disappointed (nor will you faint! lol)
The cleaning products are concentrated, so they will last you a long time!
The only ‘con’ that I can think of:
You can’t buy it in store
Where to Buy
Note: There is a membership program where you can get a super discount and even sign up for a monthly subscription delivery, but you can also just purchase from the site at the higher price.
If you try it, let me know what you think!
Prefer to buy in-store? My Favorite In-Store Products
Shower, Tub, Counter, Toilet
Baking Soda
The superstar of household products
You always have it around
It’s super inexpensive to restock
It removes dirt, grime, and dinginess from your white tub and counters
It has no smell
Cons
It does not disinfect, so you may need to pair it with another [clean] product that does
It sometimes leaves a white residue if not rinsed well
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface - link
This is a good, versatile product that can be found in most stores
It cleans well, especially when paired with baking soda
Nice scent selection to choose from
Cons
Scent can be a bit strong when a lot is used
Contains one ‘half and half’ ingredient (see last week’s video if you don’t know what that means)
Sprouts Toilet Bowl Cleaner - link
Gets the job done for a reasonable price
Smells great!
Mirrors
Method Glass & Surface - link
Gets the job done well
Cons
Has one ‘dirty’ ingredient, so I’ll probably try the Seventh Generation glass cleaner next time I don’t order more from Melaleuca
Disinfectant
Seventh Generation Disinfectant Spray - link
Works well and smells great! I like the Lavender Vanilla & Thyme scent.
Cons
None from me!
Dish Soap
Trader Joe’s Liquid Dish Soap - link
Both scents they carry smell great and clean well!
Cons
Just one: Doesn’t stay super sudsy as long as I would like, so usually add soap to my sponge a couple times throughout washing
Laundry Detergent
Trader Joe’s Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent - link
Keeps my clothes clean and is gentle on my sensitive skin!
I prefer scent-free detergents, but it does come in lavender as well!
Cons
None, really! I guess it’s only a con if you don’t live near a Trader Joe’s, but that’s a tragedy in itself! Lol
Seventh Generation Free & Clear EasyDose Laundry Detergent - link
This one is a great backup if you don’t live near Trader Joe’s. I ended up trying it because TJ’s was closed on New Years day and so far, I love it! My favorite part is the automatic measurement. When you squeeze the bottle, it only lets out enough for one load, so no guessing and no waste!
Cons
None so far!
Dryer Sheets
Wool Dryer Balls - link
These are great, because I don’t have to constantly refill my dryer sheets, they help my clothes to dry more efficiently, and they still soften my clothes. As mentioned, I prefer scent-free washing, but some people add a couple drops of essential oils to theirs before drying to get that fresh scent!
Cons
None for me! Maybe that I didn’t start using these sooner!
Air Fresheners
This one needed its own post, to be honest. So check out some suggestions here!
I hope this was helpful! Now that you have the information and a tool you can use...
What are you waiting for?! Let’s get CLEAN!
Have a healthy and wholesome week!
Love you bunches 🍇