DIY Homemade Body Wash

Homemade Body Wash
1/2 cup of liquid castile soap

1/4 cup of coconut oil 

1/4 cup of filtered or distilled water

10 drops  Ylang Ylang essestial oil

5 drops Idaho Blue Spruce essential

2 tsp glycerin

1 tsp vitamin E oil

Mix all together.  Ylang Ylang and Blue Spruce are supposed to be great for getting in the mood…if you know what I mean!

Presbyopia Sucks

It's been coming for a while.  The shower has never had the best light and it's been getting harder to see the close up items as my presbyopia progressed.  Wearing the contact lenses in the shower became ineffective due to poor lighting and wearing the bifocals impossible.  A few years ago the daughter laughed at me when my armpits were hairy and said "I know, they are too close for you to see".  Reality and truth hurts.

I have patiently waited for the body hair loss all older women report but it has thinned only.  Still have random armpit and leg hair to my chagrin.  Sparser sure, but still there.  I still need to shave else I look like Mountain Girl. Hmph.  It became worse and worse so before I hurt myself using a razor I broke down and bought this electric shaver.  This way I can put on the bifocals, shave the legs then take a shower.  Like old women do. Sure it works.  It's not as close a shave and certainly not as convenient either.  The worst part is it was the admission of my creeping codgerism. 

"What a drag it is getting old" - Mick Jagger, Mother's Little Helper

Bitches be trippin' and slippin'

Not sure what I expect.  We've had the sun tea jar for over 15 years.  Has a spigot and we bought it at Smitty's.  Been used a lot.  A few years back it started dripping so we would stop putting the jar in the fridge.  Transfer it to a big-ass plastic pitcher.  Just were mindful if the spigot.  Today, bringing in the tea I was obviously not mindful of the spigot.  It started pouring out all over the floor.  Get the jar to the counter and stop the tea-bleeding.  Turn to get the plastic pitcher and slip on the wet kitchen floor.  Ass over teakettle onto my back.  Smacked the hell out of my hip and shoulder.  Bruised feelings over how scared I was!  Kept thinking "I cannot fall and break a hip!". Sure I have osteoporosis but at age 56 years old (for NOW) do I really need to worry about broken hips?  If so the next 20 years are going to be exhausting trying to stay vertical.  Right now I just know I feel like I fell.  It hurts and I am angry.  Slathered in Muscle Spray and taking ibuprofen.  Getting a new tea jar our of the deal though.

Lotion

DIY lotion I made!

Ingredients:

– 1 cup shea butter

– 1/2 cup beeswax

– 1/2 cup jojoba oil

--1/2 drops vitamin e oil

– frankensense and Joy blend by Young Living essential oil (20-25 drops)

Tools:

– electric mixer or whisk

– glass bowl

– mixing bowl

– pot

– storage jar with lid

Instructions:

1.  I  measured out the shea butte and beeswax, placed them in bowl and set them outside.   Phoenix in June quckly melted butter and wax..

2. Stirred in the jojoba oil and 20-25 drops of essential oil and distilled water.

3. I then whipped it with my KitcheAid with the whisk attachment until you have soft peaks and a creamy texture.

5.To store, place in an airtight container and set in a cool place—it should keep for about 4-6 months.

Pre-Dawn Friday

 Why am I am I up at this unholy hour?  Yes, I went to bed relatively early but not to merit this.  Seems silly albeit beautiful with the splinters of sunlight and the birds chirping away.

I had been to yoga in the morning for an hour then came home and puttered around until I had to go teach Silent Yoga at 5.  That class we do the hour long sequence with them.  I worked them hard - we did 25 of the 26 Bikram asanas at least once. I had the lights dimmed and the Hindu Raga musice streaming.  It was a lovely class if I do say so myself.  I got home not too late and showered, ate and went to bed right after the weather on the news.  So why am I up?

Thought it would be OK, I can always take a nap but then I see the "no parking" signs along the street and the notice they'll be crack sealing our street today.  That will make for some big truck action to go along with the machinery working the light rail extension at the end of the block.  There may not be a nap in my future.

Here it is - Sunrise.  Time to meditate I guess.....

Retired

Retired!

MidLife Changes

My life has been at a crossroads.  As I neared the magic number of age and years of State service to reach the desired 80 points it was obvious that staying the next 1.25 years and reaching that magic number would give me a net result of $2500/ year in pension.  Since the move of our desks to the cold computer room I realized that would barely keep me long johns and hi-test coffee.   In addition, I felt as though I was being aged in dog years.  Sunday nights brought fear and dread knowing that another week in the cold room would commence.  Constantly cold and unhappy in my job.

My yoga teacher had told us once we went through teacher training we would soon become very dissatisfied with our current jobs.  She was right.  She still is right.  I had trained hard to become a yoga teacher and enjoyed teaching so much more than being Help Desk Heather.  Hatha Heather is what my heart is directing me to be. 

 I decided there was but one solution to this dilemma.

After lengthy discussions with the hubby, crunching numbers and adding Silver Age Yoga to my current RYT200 yoga certification; it was apparent that this was extremely do-able and I could make up the income difference teaching.  However, the thought terrified me.  That whole "quitter" label and the uncertainty of health insurance had my stomach tied in knots.  Sleepless nights, nausea and lots of meditation as I was questioning my own reality.  After a lot of angst, trepidation and support from the dear husband the decision was finally made.   Thinking through all the prospects after I leave State service it finally came to me - it is time for a change in direction.

Yesterday I submitted my 2 weeks notice to my supervisor.  I requested as little hubbub as possible.  I want to make a stealthy exit.  She was - of course - shocked.  No one ever expects anyone to retire early.  I got through the day in an anxious mood. 

Today I informed the coworkers. They are sad but also encouraged to know that it can happen.

I just hope next Friday March 13th ( my last day) they don't embarrass me.