How to Make Natural Deodorant That Actually Works

I have been wearing natural deodorant for three years. The reason I decided to move in this direction is that although antiperspirants claim to be safe, I want to reduce any possible risks due to my genetics. Men often have deodorant options but most of the ones available for women are also antiperspirants with parabens and aluminum. That sweat was meant to come out for a reason–we don't want to clog our pores on our face so why would we do it under our arms?

I have tried about 15 different kinds of natural deodorant over the years and all are not created equally. I have really enjoyed pastes as they tend to work the best and are gentle on my armpits. I recently decided to make my own and put it to the test; I ran 5 km's, I chased after children, I even taught a full day of PE. The result? This recipe works. So, without further ado, here is the simple recipe to make your own deodorant.

Fall Family Photos

Family photos are important to me and whether we do it ourselves or pay someone else, all I want are some great ones with my kids and then as a whole family. Seeing the sunshine yesterday, coupled with the gorgeous leaves, I made the quick decision that we would get photos that day. The kids and Gary agreed to it, we chose the closest park to our home, and wore clothes that weren't exciting but are very "us". Well, let's be honest, sports shorts and hats are what the boys would prefer but they were willing to wear jeans. For an hour. We went midday which is a no no on a bright sunny day but cooperative kids took precedent. Here are some photos of my lovely crew:

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

Driving Change with Electric Vehicles

A friend of ours recently purchased an electric vehicle and we found ourselves fascinated while looking at it and discussing the pros and cons to having one – will this be the way of the future? Since they were introduced in 2010, approximately 1% of all new vehicle sales in our province are electric. In B.C., driving an electric vehicle can make a significant environmental change as 98% of the energy generated by BC Hydro is clean as opposed to other places in the world that may use coal or fossil fuels. What are some other advantages?

Thankful Thursday

Anyone else feel like their life is just a constant state of readjusting? They aren't always big things but I feel like there's something new always added into our day. Lately this is the transition of Baby leaving, Koen going gluten-free (and sesame-free), and Kai playing more sports at school. We have to adjust how we do things. Life, hey? Okay, so this week I am thankful for:

1. Fall leaves. We went to Tynehead looking for salmon on Wednesday but they still weren't there. At least we found some pretty leaves!

Being Power Smart and Saving Money

As a biologist and frugal mama, the combination of saving money and the environment are things that I really care about. Several years ago we learned about the Team Power Smart program which provided another incentive to try and reduce our energy usage as there are cash rewards. We were successful in the first year and continued to maintain that usage and therefore the rewards continued. How were we able to decrease our overall energy usage by 28% in that first year? BC Hydro has a fantastic list for saving electricity and these are the ones that we follow:

1. Blankets. The temperature in our home is a little lower than most in order to save but also because we have a very active family who always seem to be warm from running around. We love having extra blankets on our couch. Not only does it make our home look cozier, it sure feels that way too! We will often cuddle under them to read books or watch a family movie. Don't forget that slippers are awesome, too.

Thankful Thursday

This week was as bit easier to focus on all I'm grateful on as it was Thanksgiving after all! Seeing everyone's thankful posts on social media was uplifting and I enjoyed seeing all that people are thankful for. This week I am thankful for:

When Netflix Sends You Googling

Anyone else love being exposed to history through fictional books or movies? I recently read Moloka'i and learned all about the history of a leper colony in Hawaii. Immediately after I had to google to see what was true and what was fictional. The same thing has happened when watching Netflix! There are several series that we have watched where I have had to head off to google and see what the characters really look like and how close to reality the events were. What are some of my favourites?

The Crown: Based on the life of Princess Elizabeth. It's sort of embarrassing how little I knew of the royal family and I now find them so much more fascinating. It is very well done and beautiful to watch.

How to Prepare to Be a Foster Parent

If you are considering becoming a foster parent or are already working on fulfilling the requirements, welcome! I know it's a big decision and that you may never feel fully prepared. Along with the steps to qualify to be a foster parent (application, home study, classes, medical check, criminal record check, safety check) I would have loved a list of ideas on how to prepare for the arrival of our Little Ones. Often we have very limited time to prepare and therefore it really helps to do as much as you can beforehand. Although this list may be dependent on the age of the child that will be entering your home, here are some practical tips to help you prepare your heart, mind, and home.

Thankful Thursday

I feel like each week inevitably fills itself with a bunch of adulty things that take up a lot of time and/or money, last week it was the hot water tank, this week it was the mechanic. It's not my favourite but on to the next day and week we go. This week I am thankful for: