Valentine’s Day Look: Retro Red Florals
Hello!
I feel as though I’ve been gone so long that I’ve forgotten how to blog. This last week has been a crazy one; we moved back into my parents’ basement, and all week I have been working hard to get things organized, get rid of stuff, and furiously cleaning because apparently now that I’m over morning sickness (which lasted only three weeks, but was much more intense this time) and over the horrible chest cold I caught from Asa, nesting has already set in and I want to clean. every. single. thing.
I’m selling a few items from my closet — some of it vintage, most of it not– and if you want to wander through what’s still available, please do! Most of it is stuff that I’ve only ever worn once or twice, and it’s all in really good condition. One dress, I’ve never worn (it was sent to me by a friend who also never wore it, and she didn’t care if I sold it, so y’know). Right now shipping rates are hard for me to guess, so I may have to charge more if you’re international and buy several items, or I might refund you if my shipping guesses were way over what I actually needed to get it to you.
And, I am still going through my closet and dresser drawers, so more things will probably pop up throughout the week. I’ve got a friend who is pretty quick to snatch what she wants, though, so if you want anything, be quick! I can always reserve an items for you until Friday, when I ship things, just in case I add something later in the week that you want. 
This past week, I have also been on Pinterest a ton, and I think it’s turning me into a naturalist. I discovered this post, which talks about a no shampoo method of using baking soda and apple cider vinegar or a citric rinse, and all of the other articles I’ve read (as well as lots of comments) have said that their hair has never been healthier. Shampoo tends to strip your hair of all its natural oils, so your scalp then overproduces to make up for it, and you end up needing to shampoo more and more often. Plus, your hair becomes clogged with product, and loses its volume, and all that fun stuff — my hair has gotten SO flat and lifeless lately — and the soda/ACV method will help clear all that up, doesn’t strip your hair of natural oils, and is generally just all around good. And also cheap.
I’ve also been wanting to try making my own cleanser using coconut oil, which I already love as you can use it for so many things. I think I’ve always been a little bit of a naturalist, but this year it’s really coming out, what with planning to garden and have chickens, knowing I’ll have a second baby with a midwife and no medications (unless I need them — and I’m not against painkillers or hospitals at all! Mamas are all amazing, no matter HOW they choose to have that baby. I just have a pretty high pain tolerance, I am terrified of needles (like dude, you got an epidural and the needle didn’t freak out out? THAT is impressive to me!), I hate swallowing pills, and I really love my midwife!)
But, I really love finding natural ways to care for my body, and if they’re going to save me money to boot, it’s definitely worth trying! Have any of you tried the No Poo method, or coconut oil cleansers? Let me know in the comments! And, let me know if you’re interested in hearing how it goes, and any questions you’d have so I can write a good info post in a few months!
Vintage dress, heels, and cardigan, thrifted | necklace, gift | flowers, who knows.
This outfit is what I had planned to wear today for a Valentine’s day tea party with my cousins and nieces. However, being pregnant I realized for one, the buttons are near to popping. For two, the sleeves dig into my arms any time I reach forward. And for three, well… pregnancy boobs. Enough said. So after taking pictures, because I’ve never worn the dress on the blog and it’s a shame, I decided to change into something that wasn’t in danger of cutting off my circulation or popping open over my belly, and all was well.
I’m hoping, if I have time, to do Valentine’s Day looks for pregnant women all week, (or not pregnant women, you know) because I love Valentine’s Day, and I have a few new dresses that would be adorable alternatives to red or pink. Even though this one… is very blatantly Valentiney. Haha!
I hope you are all having a wonderful Monday!
Valentine’s Day Looks from past years: Coffee Date | Casual | Bombshell | Retro | Plaid | Vintage | Modern
Bloglovin|Facebook|Twitter|Pinterest|Instagram|Fiction Press|Etsy|Photography
13 Comments
tiallarising
I used the baking soda/ACV method on my hair for a while, but it honestly wasn’t a positive experience for me. After about 1 1/2 months of using it, my hair became very coarse and extremely easily tangled. When it got to the point that it was painful just to think about brushing because of all the tangles, I called it quits and went back to shampoo. I had SO wanted the No-Poo method to work because yes it is so much cheaper and more natural…but it just didn’t work for me.
Also, I never used coconut oil as a cleanser, but I did use it as a moisturizer, and that was wonderful for a while. Unfortunately, I have very acne-prone, oily skin, so it ended up making my face break out worse than usual. However, I think it would work well for someone who has dry, non-acne prone skin. 🙂 For a natural cleanser, I tended to switch between plain yogurt and honey, which both worked very well. Those also can be used as masks instead of regular cleansers.
You may have read about using baking soda as toothpaste as well. I tried that, and though it tastes absolutely disgusting at first, I got used to it. However, it starting stripping the enamel off my teeth after prolonged use, so I went back to regular toothpaste. Big bummer for me.
Anyway, that’s my experience with naturals. 🙂
Eccentric Owl
I read that if the baking soda/ACV process makes your hair too dry, it means you need less baking soda, and more ACV, plus you can use honey or eggs or something (I don’t remember which) as a hair mask to help. I am pretty sure I will have to troubleshoot a lot before I get the right combination — the link I shared has TONS of information in the comments from people who run into issues, and how to fix them.
And I read that if you’ve got oily skin, you can mix castor oil in with the coconut oil, and it helps with acne. For dry skin, it’s recommended to use avocado oil mixed in, which is what I plan to do! I do think though that some methods are best for certain skin and hair types, so we will see! Some people said straight coconut oil actually dried out their skin.
Ooh, yogurt and honey sound so good for cleansers… 😀 I’ve heard honey is really great!
I have always heard that baking soda is REALLY bad for your teeth, for the exact reason you said! We use Tom’s toothpaste, which I like… mostly. 😀
It’s always sad when natural things don’t work out as well as expected; I’m kind of hoping to run into issues that I can figure out how to fix, so that I can be more helpful to people who need it!
Jamie Rose
This would’ve been a great Valentine’s Day outfit! It sucks that it’s tight but you’ll be able to wear it again after you have the baby. Maybe there’s a way to loosen the sleeves too. Or cut them off and make it a sleeveless summer dress! I also am in love with the pretty flowers in your hair. The whole effect is gorgeous.
As for baking soda/vinegar hair cleaning, that’s not something I’d try with my color treated and oily hair. The baking soda would strip the color out. I use fancy shmancy sulfate free shampoo (that my hairdresser mom gets at a huge discount) to keep everything in check. My hair always looks best on the days I wash it. I can definitely see how the baking soda and vinegar method could work for some people though. You might as well try it. You can always try something else if it doesn’t work out!
Jamie | http://www.petitepanoply.com
Natalie Mullaney
What an absolutely gorgeous outfit! I love the vintage style . . . it is absolutely charming!
JennyOH
You look glorious! Love the hair style.
My husband does an apple cider vinegar rinse for his hair every few days (and usually doesn’t shampoo in between), and he always has thick, shiny hair. Hope it works for you.
Pam
You look lovely! I look forward to hearing your experience with ACV. We always have Braggs at home to help with husband’s digestion.
I also feel your pain. I thrifted a red sweater with hearts that is too small because of pregnancy boobs. I never thought my chest would grow faster than my stomach.
Glad your morning sickness is over!
Vanessa
Such amazing style! Glad I came across your blog!
http://www.velee.weebly.com
Linda gnatspan
You are so beautiful and this style suits you well. I love those shoes. gnatspan 🙂
Danie Williams-Rivera
You look fantastic! I’m super excited you’re thinking about doing the “no-poo” method. I started about a month ago, but I use this recipe instead: http://www.thankyourbody.com/ph-balanced-shampoo-recipe/
A friend of mine who has curly hair says that the baking soda/acv dried out her curls pretty badly in the winter and this one was a better method. A couple things to be aware of when you first start (or at least this is how I maintained my hair during the transition):
1. Your hair will be a grease pit when you first start. (The first day was AWFUL!! But, it got gradually better after that.) That’s ok, the adjustment period is when your scalp is figuring itself out and will go away. It took about a month for my hair to stop being so greasy.
2. If you don’t want to have to wear your hair up during the adjustment period, I used dry shampoo (I know even the mostly natural kind has chemicals, but I was able to faze this out as my hair adjusted) since I have short hair and it can’t go all the way up.
3. If you use this recipe, use a standard quarter amount for the shampoo (it feels weird with no lather, but you get used to it) and I tripled the ACV/Water rinse. I think I’ll be able to lessen this as well after my hair gets used to it, but this REALLY helped deal with the adjustment period.
4. I pushed as many days in between washing as possible (typically 4 days between “shampooing”), which is why I think my adjustment period was only a month, I think I’ve heard some people take as long as 3 months.
I finally started hearing compliments on my hair and though I think I have a little more adjustment to get through, my hair is SOOOO soft! I can’t wait to see what it’s like when I’m totally through it!
I also use coconut oil for a face lotion, and almond oil for body lotion, but I haven’t tried the coconut oil cleaners, post about how that goes! I’d love to hear!
XOXO,
Danie
http://www.letter2self.com
Eccentric Owl
Ooh, if this baking soda thing doesn’t work very well, I’ll try that! I have actually only ever been washing my hair with shampoo maybe once every four or five days anyway, so I’m hoping that will help with the transition period! All of the comments and the responses on the article I linked, the woman never had issues as soon as she figured out the right ratio for her hair type, so we’ll see!
I’ve JUST started using the coconut oil cleanser — I do coconut oil and avocado oil in a 50/50 solution, and so far so good! It takes my makeup off so well, and I barely need any lotion afterwards — I only need extra lotion if it’s a super dry day, or if I scrub off any dead skin. So I’m excited even though I’ve only been doing it for two days! I’ll definitely be doing a post on both things in about a month for progress updates!
Danie Williams-Rivera
Awesome! I’ll have to try that cleanser! I’m trying to go all natural as well. Post how the new no-poo stuff goes. I’ll look forward to seeing it! I’m sure your transition period will be much easier with that washing schedule already! Yay!
By The Shore, Life & Style
You’re looking absolutely beautiful, lovey!! Adore this look, so pretty & perfectly retro. Plus, phew moving, never easy – right?! Hope you’re wonderfully settled in now though! xo
Emily
You should check out the ShamPhree site – it was some great info! I have been shampoo free for about 2 months and I absolutely love it. It has been a real process to find a regimen that works for me, and definitely don’t be discouraged as you go through “transition” and your scalp adjusts its oil production. For me, it took about 3 weeks. If there is a Sally Beauty Supply or similar salon supply shop near you, you can get a boar bristle brush for just a few bucks. The thing I love most about bein shampoo free is how easily I can adjust things without having to go out and spend money on a new shampoo, conditioner or hair treatment. If my ends feel dry, I add a little coconut oil; if my hair is feeling brittle, I add a bit of vinegar to my baking soda wash to balance th pH; if my scalp is flaky, I massage my scalp with tea tree oil. It’s really liberating to be able to give my hair and scalp what they need!