Five Years Later

Okay, so it's been FIVE YEARS since I last wrote anything. Part of that was a simple neglect of blogging. A big part of that was my education took over my life. As I worked toward a Masters degree in Spanish I was overwhelmed with choices and things I could do with my degree! I discovered the wonders of translation, definitely my new favorite activity, as well as linguistics, pedagogy and as before a love of history and the written word.
Well, I graduated in June!

I made it through the exams and theses and came out the other side with an MA in Spanish from the University of Oregon! 

Since then I have been working on a translation project of my own as well as some freelance copyediting. I'm translating a collection of fables by Fernán Caballero (Cecilia Böhl de Faber) called Cuentos de Encantamiento, which I have translated as Tales of Enchantment. It's a lovely project, and I find it culturally important since the awareness of the Spanish fable is lacking. We know the Brothers Grimm, Aesop, Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, Rudyard Kipling, but we're missing better representation of incredible authors like French fairy tale writer Madame D'Aulnoy and Cecilia Böhl de Faber who wrote in the late 1800s Spain, under the pseudonym of Fernán Caballero! My goal is to translate all of the tales in this collection as well as illustrate many of the stories. And so, I am starting up my blog with the goal of sharing some of these wonderful stories with people. I currently have a few lovely friends following me, and as a start that's fantastic! If you know anyone who may be interested in fables, fun for all ages, this is where they can find them! 

Cuentos coming soon!!! 

shampoo free!

Hello!!  It's been a very long time since I have written anything, and I could say I've been busy but I feel like that's just an excuse.  

So, to begin I want to say that over the past few years I have been slowly falling down the rabbit hole into a world where, as it should be, I want to know everything that goes into my body.  That doesn't just include food, but beauty products, detergents, and household cleaners.  Eugene is an easy place to learn about all these things, especially now that my brother and his boyfriend work at an organic market.  I have also been taking to the internet, that ever-popular vaguely-reliable information source, and reading about all sorts of things from raw and natural foods to health and beauty blogs by people like Crunchy Betty, who I adore.  

I found that there are a lot of shampoo free/poo-free blogs out there (and I have read many many many of them) discussing their journeys with natural hair care.  The beginning of that journey, for me, began when I started using natural shampoos and while I liked it I still was not a fan of putting so many things I couldn't pronounce into my system.  If I had taken more science maybe those ingredients wouldn't seem so off putting to me, but after researching it quite a bit I decided to go "poo-free."  Another big step was not washing my hair too often.  For most people that's every day, but I've never been a wash-my-hair-every-morning kind of girl.  Now, to be clear yesterday was the first day I showered without shampoo and conditioner.  This journey has literally just begun.  My hair feels recently washed and clean and smells very faintly of tea, bergmot, and lavender.  
Since about 14 inches of my hair is super processed (last fall I bleached it, dyed it lavender which turned green, dyed it dark blond to cover the green and then waited for my roots to grow) my journey may be a little different than some of the people out there writing these blogs.  


Here is my "recipe" created using tips from many people, including crunchy girl, thorough advice from simple mom, and simple cleaning, and my own ideas on what my hair needs :
In a half gallon Ball jar I made about 4 cups worth of sleepy time tea with about 4/5 Tbs of honey disolved in it.  Honey is good for moisturizing and the chamomile in my sleepy time tea is good for bringing out natural blonde highlights.  I waited for this to cool, squeezed the tea bags and stirred it up.  I washed out two empty bottles of shampoo and conditioner (the Yes to Carrots brand) and dried them out in dish strainer.  
For the hair wash - 
about 1 1/2 Tbs baking soda mixed with a quarter cup of the tea.  (next time I may use less baking soda.)
For the rinse - 
I mixed half a cup of cider vinegar with half a cup of tea with honey.  To that I added a drop of lavender oil and a drop of bergmot oil.  
I also brought the honey bottle into the shower for the crispy dry ends of my hair.  

In the shower I put the wash onto my dry scalp, before I got my hair wet and massaged it in for a minute or so.  I rinsed it out (which rinsed in like a second!) and then poured the rinse over my scalp and then concentrated on the ends.  I am not a fan of the vinegar smell, but it's better this way than full strength.  

Most of the blogs out there talked about an adjustment period, where their hair may be greasy or waxy or dry, and it may put a lot of people off the idea of even trying it.  I have to say that it all depends on a lot of factors.  I, for example, feel like my hair may have already gone through a transition period when I went to paraben and sulfate free shampoo and conditioner.  Also, having never washed my hair every day probably helps too.  I would say that day one is a total success, though here are some pictures for you to judge for yourself!  

Issues so far:  ants in the shower!  I woke up this morning to find ants crawling all over my little bottle of raw honey, where did they come from??  Also, I feel like my hair might still smell a tiny bit like vinegar, but that could be my imagination.  Alex, my husband, says it smells like nothing.  

Positives:  it's cheap!  So very very cheap!  I love the tea scent and it's so natural if it gets into your eyes or mouth (like I did) it doesn't burn.  I think it just makes me feel good about myself, healthy body healthy mind.  

If you would like to read more about why going shampoo free may be a good idea (economically and/or ecologically) then I suggest checking out this section of simple mom's blog on the subject.  Also, talk to anyone you know who's done it.  It may take the scary out of it!  When you really think about it, it's not that you aren't cleaning your hair, you are just taking the detergent-free route!  And it's oh so good for your hair!  

Love

I can not fully describe in words the warmth and love I was received into when I went with my husband back to visit our friends and family in Spain.  A woman in Cadiques, Spain once told me that Catalans can seem a little standoff-ish at first meeting, but once you become a part of each other's lives it is a bond of friendship that is never broken.
As we prepared for our trip out to Spain I began to feel the ever familiar pangs and tingling of anxiety and fear.  Not of anything in particular, but more of a fear of being afraid, especially in a slightly unfamiliar place.  I lived in Sant Andreu de la Barca for 2 years, and Barcelona for a year before that, but I always had a home base - a familiar place that I knew I would feel safe and comfortable.  Unfortunately I have had this anxiety and fear building up inside and it has been at times debilitating.  Even flying out to visit my parents at our family home in Michigan for the Christmas holiday inspired anxiety.  So I was prepared for a difficult time for our 3 weeks away from home in another country.
When we arrived at the airport Pepe, my suegro/father-in-law, was waiting impatiently to greet us with a wide smile and strong hugs (and the pinching of my chubby cheeks).  I started to feel a gentle wave a calm come over me.  Then two of our friends, Sandra and Francis, came to help carry luggage and have a coffee.  We were all so excited and talking about a mile a minute.  They drove us to the place we were staying.  My cuñados/brother and sister-in-laws' home is in the process of renting or selling, hopefully, and is empty at the moment so they invited us to stay there.  There was no detail that they hadn't thought of.  There was plenty of food and drink in the fridge and cupboards, shower gel and sponges in the shower, flannel sheets for chilly nights, not to mention a CAR lent to Alex by his brother!  And it isn't the detail that really matter, so much as the thought process behind it all.  It is not as a chore or necessity but more like a second nature to make those that you love feel as happy and comfortable as you can.  
There were so many moments, like being invited into everyones' homes for meals and games, meeting out for dinner or coffee, calçotada and antikaraoke, or just watching tv on the sofa with friends; where I really felt so warm and fuzzy that the anxiety and fear felt like a distant memory.  I could be on here all week describing every little detail, but all that needs to be said is that the bond of friendship is one of the most powerful drugs in the world.  Love really does conquer all.  If it were not for the amazing people I am privileged to know I might still be cowering in my living room in Eugene wondering what it would be like to go back to Spain.

HAPPY 2013!!

Happy 2013!!  It turns out we were right about that Mayan calendar being cyclical, eh?  So, we're still here and it's that time of year when we make promises to ourselves that we hope to keep throughout the year.  There are the blaringly obvious ones, like get in shape, that I hope to work on and am always happy to have a companion!  But this year there are things I'd really like to change in my life.
Alex and I would like to buy a home this year and that will require a great credit score from both of us so we can get a first home that we love.  What I need to do is work on being that responsible adult I see in many of my friends.  Yes, we are all young at heart and should stay that way, but I would like the security of knowing that I am doing everything I can to prepare us for a bright future.  That includes going back to school, getting on top of any debt (however small) without hesitation, and making healthy choices.  School will take a lot of work and that responsible adult I hope to be, but it will also be enjoyable even at its most difficult times.  According to our credit score we are doing pretty well so far, Alex just needs to create more of a credit history (my handsome foreigner!).  It's the healthy choices that will be a lot of work.  It's not only nutrition and exercise that I need to work into my daily routine, but also not letting outside factors effect me internally.  More than anything I need to get out of my head.  I use the word routine loosely as it's been difficult for me to find daily routine in the struggle of unemployment.
In the quest for being a grown up I hope to keep my blog updated.  I hope.  :)

Hope you all are having a wonderful not-too-hungover first day of 2013!  (The first year since 1987 to have 4 different numerals in the year!)

End of Week 3!

I bought a book, which has been around for a little while, called You Are What You Eat and have been using Dr. Gillian McKeith's advice to eat healthier.  A friend of mine mentioned that she used to use her detoxes when she felt unwell.  No wonder it sounded like familiar and sound advice!  When we started working out I thought that I just needed to eat more veggies, which I've always loved, and healthier proteins and carbs.  I have become a little obsessed with nutrition and what I put into my body.  I have been researching nutrition studies online and through documentaries and books.  

I have always tried to eat organic where needed.  (There is a list called the Dirty Dozen which not only lists the fruits and veggies with the most pesticide residue, but also those at the bottom of the list, things you peel or simply don't need to buy organic.)  I've extended my love of organic fruits and vegetables to eating a healthy plant-based diet.  

The film Forks Over Knives talks about the huge benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables in our diets, and the unnecessary addition of meats as protein as many fruits and veggies contain plenty of protein.  As I watched it I jokingly called it "vegan propaganda," but I have to say that it makes a convincing argument. I would recommend it to anyone interested, there is a link above.  I would also recommend Food Matters, which discusses the importance of vitamins and their healing properties, as wells as the need to avoid processed foods and eat vegetables instead.  The most astounding film was called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead and was about an Australian man who was sick and overweight who went on a juice diet.  He traveled across the United States, starting in New York, and juiced his meals for 60 days!  He detoxified his body to the point where he no longer needed medication.  Along the way he spoke with people about what he was doing and one man in a truck stop told him he had the same disease and was morbidly obese.  After one journey finishes happily, another begins with the truck driver who was in fear of his life.  It is absolutely incredible what eating enough fruits and vegetables will do for a person!!  They are both happy, fit, and healthy men with long lives ahead of them.  It makes you think, is a few moments of pleasure over a cheeseburger worth it in the long run?  Sure, once in awhile, but I know I personally had to make a big change in my life!

So, today is day three of a vegan diet and we bought a juicer.  I'll let you know how it goes!!  

Eat well, exercise well, sleep well and feel well!

ABC's Juice from Reeboot website.

2 Weeks!

It's day 14!  We've been successfully at this for two weeks now!  I can feel it in my posture and more freedom of movement.  They are little changes, for now, but it makes it much easier to keep going when you have such positive results.  Sure, I feel super tired after doing an hour of P90X, but my brain buzzes with endorphines and as we all high five I can't help but grin like a child.  :D  Bring it Week 3!!!

Hoy es día 14!  Hemos estado haciendo eso, con éxito, dos semanas ya!  Lo puedo notar en mi posture y tengo más libertad de movimientos.  Son cambios pequeños, del momento, pero lo hace much más fácil seguir con el rollo tener resultados tan positivas.  Sí, estoy super cansada después de hacer una hora de P90X, pero mi cerebro esta vivo con endorfínas y cuando todos chocamos cinco al final no puedo evitar sonreír como un niño pequeño.  :D  Venga Semana 3!!!

Day 10-11

Yesterday was a dark, gray morning.  It was windy and raining.  All I wanted to do was stay in bed and sleep till summer.  The night before I had stayed up too late, having fun, but I knew it was time to get out of bed.  So I, grumbling, got up and pulled on some leggings and my new colorful tanktop, bright socks, and sneakers.  That little moment of excitement over a pop of color in my life was exaggerated by the morning number on the scale.  Yay, the numbers are actually going down!  Happily imagining swimsuit season (for the first time in my life) and the possibilities of the future, I made myself a lovely breakfast, grabbed my water bottle, and headed out to meet my work out buddies.  My face fell a little when I opened the door to the blustering chill of the day.  God, did I want to go back to bed as the wind whipped rain at me like freezing knives.  But, you know what?  I went and I worked out anyway.  It was really hard, but afterward I felt amazing!
Today was more of the same, rain and wind darkening the sky.  Down pour and floods in the streets.  I was up late with a book and felt so tired.  But I did it.  And I'm glad I did.  Today we did an hour and a half of yoga, and with some advice from my mom I ended on a much more positive note this time.  I felt more cleansed and stress-free.  And it was really hard, and each time I try to push myself harder and try to ignore the pain, but as we go I can feel a little more stretch or a few more reps and I know I want to keep doing it.  I want to be flexible, strong, and most importantly:  healthy!
The bottom line is, it would be so much easier to not work out.  I could sleep in late, stay up late reading, and do whatever I want.  But the truth is that there is so much time in the day one hour is nothing.  60 minutes of time.  And If I work out in the morning it makes me keep going through out the day.  Instead of eating junk food and sitting, I feel inclined to clean and do chores.  I take my time making a healthy meal instead of getting take-out or fast food.  And it all makes me feel like I'm doing the right thing, for myself, for once.  And it's been a long long time since I've felt like that.  This has been a long time coming.