Mass seaweed bag

The big noodle loves seaweed. But it's ridiculous our choices or lack of, choices when it comes to seaweed for snacks.

I'm not quite talking about eating, but how much or little packaging there is! The choices available usually involves packaging multiple times the weight of the seaweed itself!!!

I'm happy to announce that I found a happy medium. Least packaging for 50 slices of seaweed. :)

I don't soap.

There, I said it.

This is my personal hygiene post.

I have not shampooed in a year and soaped in over 6 months. And the noodle is very happy to do the same.

The hair is not laden with lice, dropped off or covered with grease. I don't think I smell bad or of anything but me. Of course, when I have a super long hot sweaty day, I realize I do smell sweaty, but that happens even when I do use soap.

Going no 'poo this time isn't the first time I've tried it. Few years back, I had tried going no 'poo. And in the middle of things, I had a holiday in the UK. And the change in the humidity levels completely wrecked it. My hair felt uncomfortable and I caved in fearing what my mother in law thinks of me. But that was only in my mind for two reasons - I don't think anyone actually noticed anything wrong with my hair, and two, my mother in law is really cool and supports my conservation and slightly kooky ideas.

There are a lot written about going pooless (LOL). I seriously find that term amusing. Anyway, I figured that not only will it be good for myself, by reducing the amount of chemicals I expose myself to, I'm also reducing the stuff I buy and throw down the drain - quite literally, and bin. And with going outdoors so often as well, I find that not being encumbered by bottles of shampoos and soaps very liberating.

So, what do I do?

Some 'researchers' or journalists has actually tried out these no soaps and poos. And I find them quite biased. They actually ditch cleaning altogether! And I find this totally unfair. They end up totally bashing going soapless and pooless because they end up filthy and disgusting! Not washing is not going pooless or soapless. There's a difference.

I wash my hair with water as I do with shampoo before. I just massage my head a little more and scrub my hair a little more. Some recommends baking soda, tea, vinegar etc. I just use water. And I do this whenever I feel like it. Be it everyday when it's hot, or every other week only when I feel like I need it. But it's not always smooth sailing. In the first two weeks, my hair didn't particularly look or feel good at all. It was greasy and clumpy and very easily, I could have ended up with shampoo. But, after that, it has been pretty good.

As for soaping. I ditched it very easily. I still use my scrubbing gloves occasionally. And my skin's improved too! Deodorant was hard to ditch initially. But I think my own body flora has flourished and I find that going deodorantless is bearable too.

Showers these days have been reduced to just under a minute! LOL. During hair wash days, max 5 minutes. And I do enjoy a couple more short showers during the day especially when the day's hot.

So, friends, if after reading this, you do want to avoid me, I can understand. But do let me know if you think I DO smell. I honestly want to know! It's scientific too! ;)

Update March 2020: I still don't soap. Except washing hands all the time before food prep, after contact with anyone/anything. So, does that count? Sigh...

Gasp, it's about the monthlies...

...or 'crimson tide', or about your 'best friend's come to visit' however you want to describe the menses. Disclaimer: If you're male (or maybe even a sensitive female...) and you think you're going to cringe soon. Please close the page. There are graphic images and descriptions below.

I think I've very happily reached the point that I'm open to discussing it as adult-like as possible. Especially after having a very curious child who makes sure we keep doors open at all times.

Over the years, I've been experimenting with tampons, conventional pads, tissue paper, etc. After reading multiple blogs of enlightened others, I had decided to take the plunge into the world of cloth pads. Yes, I've tried pieces of cloth before. And why not? Speaking to various people in less polluted locations, I've learnt that others are very comfortable just using old pieces of cloth for this. And yes, it works. You just need to change it often, and be wary of leaks. 

So, back to cloth pads. I finally managed to acquire the elusive PUL material. That's the same waterproof clothlike material they used for cloth nappies I used to use on the Big Noodle. I dug up the hubs old unwanted shirts and t-shirts and fashioned some reusable cloth pads! There!

My varied homemade stash from old shirt, t-shirts and towels. I've kept the photo small on purpose. 

And they worked good. Absorbent. But of course, there were grouses. Leaks sometimes happen as well. They are a little bulky compared to super slims and tampons. 

I would soak these in a little tub in the bathroom, empty out the water every evening into my potted plants (god forbid, now you know why those herbs are so fat and juicy!!!) and toss them into the wash whenever there's laundry. But they do get smelly even when the water's changed. 

However, all the negativities aside, I still love these. I noticed I don't have any/minimal period pains. I don't need to pay tons of money for tampons or fancy shmancy super slims. But I think I feel best of all that I am achieving the objective I had set when I wanted to do this in the first place. Reducing my disposables. :)

And recently, a friend has introduced me to something else. Moon Cup. *gulp*

Started it. Love the concept. Just pour out (again, into my pots!!!), wash and reinsert. No extra washing.  Liking concept so far. Not liking removal so far. Will need to talk about that more when I have more experience.

Update (Nov 2014) : It has been over two years on. I'm still using them. I now realize I prefer AIOs which I use, fold, button up and keep away. Then at the end of the day, I rinse them in the shower, and hang them to dry. When dry, I throw them in the laundry basket for the next round of washing with the rest of the clothes. And the period pains have not returned :D Best side effect!

Update (June 2016) : Still loving them. Methods used still the same as 2014. With a half cup of Vanish powder in wash load. Pains have stayed away 😊
Gave up the moon cup very very early on as it gave me a very nasty bout of UTI.

Update (March 2020): Extremely stressed out by the lockdown with 6 under one roof and me going bonkers providing for everyone. Need time away.
But, yes, those ol' pads are still surviving. A couple had retired over the years, but most of them still in pretty decent if not great shape. Method still the same from update Nov 2014.

A long hiatus and I hope to be back

Harlow. It's been a very very long while now. In the past two years, many things have happened and I'm still working towards finding balance and time to do just about everything - juggling work, motherhood, housekeeping, daughterhood, teacherhood, etc etc etc. But don't we all? I just am complaining. ;)

But recently thanks to a couple of friends who reminded me of my blog, watch for the return of..... Terra Cin! Cheese.

One of the first posts I believe will be coming concerns personal hygiene. Hahaha, hopefully that post will not send those very friends away! ;)