Going Au Naturel

Forty has been a wild ride. Now, I'm a thrill seeker, I love the wind going through my hair, high speeds, dropping from the sky, living on the edge...but seriously, no one told me that I was going to have to completely change my game. Good thing I like change!

I hit forty and thought, this is it! This is the year I'm going to get in to shape. (Cue laughing minions here). 

Just kidding. 

Forty is the year I embraced my amazing self and decided that you know what, I'm pretty damn awesome just the way I am. Ok, I could be a little nicer most of the time, but we're shooting for progress not perfection here in our forties. 

What I wasn't expecting was that my body would revolt. Creaky knees was the start of it. Clapping when I run up the stairs was next (I'll let you figure that one out). Then, I grew no less than 50 wirey spring loaded silver hairs, many in the part of my hair, which hang out, waving to anyone who is in their 30s or younger (because those people can SEE them). My skin decided it would no longer tolerate soaps, lotions, and other products that smell oh so good. (Buh-bye Bath & Body Works). Pimples. Yes, I didn't have them as a teen but I do as an adult. And my belly, well, that's the one that just isn't right. I love a good, thick, dark beer and my belly has decided that it does gluten no more. 

So what's a girl to do? 

I decided to take a look back and dig in to some more natural solutions that my body would tolerate. I'm still working on how to give up the gluten. Oy mamas, that's a tough one. It's EVERYWHERE. 

I started with my face. I'm going to share a few gems, and keep sharing, in case you are also looking for something different that'll work for you. I don't claim it will work for you, nor am I a health professional, so take what I share with a grain of salt and know that what works for you is absolutely perfect for you! 

I did a good amount of research in to what was causing my issues. I spent oodles of money and time at the dermatologist, trying to find a solution. Everything I was given had chemicals in it. Most of it made me face really dry and tight, but didn't soothe the redness or stop the breakouts.  Then, I read about tea tree oil. This is some stinky stuff. There are so very many brands out there that it took me a while to find something my skin could even tolerate. I tried tea tree oil from the local food coop and could handle using just a little at night. Note: Don't go slapping tea tree oil from the Walmart all over your face. That shit burns. Use some common sense if you're going to try this out.

Mr. Man is a patient man. When I say the stuff I used in the beginning stunk, he could smell it on the next floor. Putting the tea tree oil on my face helped, but it didn't solve all of my woes. I still had these wicked skin washes that were drying my skin out and not solving my problem. He may have been tolerant, but there was no convincing him to give it a try. (We're a pimply pair). 

I found Goat Milk Stuff by accident. I'm not kidding when I say that hands down, this soap changed my life. I do not use any other soap anywhere, this is it! I tell everyone I can about it, so here you go. I itch no more. Both the redness and my pimples are gone. This stuff may not be for you, but I've never go back. It makes me wish I had goats. Ok, maybe not. It makes me wish Kat had goats. 

More about the stink factor next time. I found a solution for that too! 

All of this is not to sell you on a soap or using stinky stuff on your face. If something isn't working in your life, go out there and find what does work for you. Keep looking until you find it, You will find it. You don't have to settle. You can own awesome.