UPDATE: This post is from October 2012, just a few months after I began my journey towards a holistic lifestyle. You may be interested in reading a more recent post, 70 Ways to Be a Hippie, For the Crunchy-At-Heart.
A few months ago, my sudden and fanatical interest in real food and natural living slightly perturbed my family. “Is that safe to eat?” my Dad asked with concern, when he saw my first jar of gingered carrots fermenting on the counter.
Now, my family is acclimated to my unorthodox eating habits and strange lifestyle changes. For example, nobody has even bothered ask me why I now have a step stool sitting next to my toilet.
I don’t shy away from poop discussions anymore. When I was first diagnosed with colitis, I was stuck in a hospital bed for two weeks straight. Each day the doctor would come in and say, “Hi, Lauren. How was your poop today?” He would proceed to extract from me a thoroughly detailed analysis of my bowel movements. Although I’m very glad not to have that discussion anymore, I can now talk about elimination without blushing and/or wincing.
I’m glad I’m not scared of poop talks anymore, because otherwise I would have skipped over this article!After reading it, I tucked a step stool next to my toilet as a makeshift Squatty Potty. And guess what? Squatting rocks!
Everybody knows that a good poop makes a good day. I am a squatting convert and ready to embrace more of a crunchy lifestyle!
My Hippie Transition
But my transition to “hippiness” is not stopping with squatting.
So far, my Hippie To Do List this month includes:
- Putting down my shampoo and conditioner bottles… for good
- Trying the oil cleansing method–I have high hopes it might help my acne and oily skin!
- Giving the cold shoulder to my (albeit aluminum free) deodorant in favor of this homemade version
- Using homemade toothpaste instead of my glycerine-laden natural brand of toothpaste
- Giving up tampons in lieu of the Diva Cup
What is the worst that can happen? For starters, I could turn into a greasy, smelly monster with bad breath and blood-stained panties. That sounds like an adventure.
And I love adventures!
I’m Not Perfect
There are still some things that I will be forever un-hippie about. For example, I’m still searching for suitable natural alternatives to some of my favorite cosmetics.
UPDATE: Here are my natural makeup recommendations for sensitive skin.
My question is: how hippie will you go? And what are the ungreen things that you will never give up?
I will be back with updates on my hippie progress, so keep your eyes peeled.
This is awesome! I love it, and can related. While I am amazed at the things I’ve been willing to change there will always be a few things that seem to keep me anchored to all the normal folks. 🙂 Paper towels still find their way into my home. I try not to use them all the time, but every now and then I just need SOMETHING that is convenient. Ha!
Thanks, Robin! And thanks for all your encouraging posts that inspired me to “go hippie!”
Paper towels and napkins here too. I will have to attempt to get rid of them, which equals MORE LAUNDRY!! LOL
Love it! I’ve done all of the things on your “Hippie To Do List” ! I love them all. There was a bit of trial and error to get through, but you’ll find your Happy Hippie inside. The Diva Cup takes some getting used to, but don’t give up! I’m going to try this squatting thing and suggest it to everyone! Thank you!!! Happy Hippie-ing to ya!
Thank you for your encouraging words! It’s great to hear from somebody who has “been there, done that.” And I am a little bit petrified of the Diva Cup. I hope it goes well!
The Diva Cup is amazing! It’s a life-changer. You should at least give it a try, Lauren. What do you have to lose? 🙂
I’m about to write a post about the Mooncup! You should check it out! I’ve been using one for 6 years! UH-MAZING. Life changer for sure!!! 🙂
I can’t wait to read what you say about it! I’m having a difficult transition to the Diva Cup, and I’m thinking of trying something else.
Hahah! Lauren this made me laugh!!!! lol. I love this post! I certainly went to that degree with my “hippiness”. My family just calls me the “weird one” though I think it is rubbing off on them a little. I don’t use shampoo or toothpaste , but instead baking soda. It LOVE it! Sometimes I just go without a shower and jump in the lake. I also have a stepping stool by my toilet..though it keeps disappearing. hmmm. Have you gone into the coffee enema direction yet for detoxing? or clay baths that leave a slimy rim around the tub (my sisters hate me for this)..we are way too much alike it is funny!
Oh one more thing..earthing? Just walk around barefoot and everyone will give you funny looks( been there done that)..you are better off with your earthing mat 🙂
Yes! I forgot about my new earthing mat! I will have to write about that in a follow-up post. And yes, my sister gets mad when I do my clay baths for the same reason! I do water enemas to get things regular sometimes, but I can’t do coffee enemas with my colitis. I guess we are just a pair of weirdos!
I like being weirdoes together~it makes it a lot less lonely 🙂
Yeah – my friends think I’m a fruitcake. I have done many of these things and are still discovering others. I tried giving up shampoo, but never felt clean, so I don’t think that will be happening for me on a permanent basis. I do wash my hair less frequently, though (every 3 days instead of every day). And toilet paper – I don’t think I will ever give that up! 😀
I am with you on the toilet paper! I’ve used the baking soda shampoo a few times now, and my hair feels greasy and residue-y. But I heard that it take a while for your hair to adjust and produce less oil. So I’m going to try to stick it out.
Oh, Lauren! Giving up toilet paper wasn’t that hard! It’s actually totally luxurious! 🙂 We have a squatty potty, too! It’s awesome!
Are you just using baking soda on your hair? Or are you doing apple cider vinegar rinse, too? I’ve found that my hair feels “sticky” or coarse right after showering. It doesn’t untangle well like commercial conditioners. So I’ve stopped trying to untangle it wet. I let it dry and then it combs out easily! I also tried using coconut oil for frizzies, but it got too oily, so I’ve used a bit of aloe vera, and that works well.
I’ve been using the cider rinse also, and I love it! My hair felt SO GROSS for the first two weeks of no shampoo. I couldn’t untangle it when it was wet or dry. But now my hair is so soft after washing it and I can untangle it easily. I haven’t heard of using aloe in hair… but I am so going to try it now!
I am fairly new to the real food thing – still not sure I will ever be able to drink raw milk. I am moving closer to starting my family on GAPS and going more natural. We have a squatty potty – it needs no explaining with a potty training toddler 🙂 Check out http://www.cheekymaiden.com for natural soaps, shampoos, etc. I love the shampoo bar and tooth soap! They definitely took a while to get used to, but I love them now.
I used to think the same thing about raw milk… and now I won’t touch pasteurized milk with a 10 foot pole! Just try it, once, and you’ll never go back 🙂 I’m going to go check out the shampoo bar and tooth soap you recommended!
This totally made me laugh as I am making my way toward hippie too! Oh the blank stares I get when I talk about food and health!! 😉
I started using baking powder applied with a makeup brush, and it’s the best deodorant ever! You do have to make sure your pits are clean and dry when you apply, for maximum effect.
I’ve changed to homemade deodorant, tooth powder, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies…can’t bring myself to use the Diva cup. I use I bleached organic cotton pads instead. I switched to reusable cotton facial rounds and dryer balls also. They were an investment, but totally worth it.
If you still have issues that the squatty potty doesn’t help, you could try some abdominal massage…works great for me!
My next adventure is to try to make homemade ketchup.
Candice, I’m going to try your baking soda + makeup brush suggestion! And thanks for the suggestion regarding abdominal massage–I have been looking into that and I’m glad to hear it was effective for you. Good luck with your homemade ketchup!
Sorry, not powder, baking soda.
Try the Lunette menstrual cup…it’s great. I’ve been using mine for a year now and love it!!!
Love your site….I have changed to a number of the things posted above as well and feel better about myself every day.
I am going back through your blog so this reply is a bit late, but thought I would comment any ways.
I have used the diva cup for 6 years and love it, never going back! I dont think I could ever go to homemade maxi pads, I know a lot of hippies do this…but not this one!
Some times I dont shave my legs , however I could NEVER be hippie enough to show off my hairy legs in public.
I think the Squatty Potty would make a great 10 year anniversary gift for my hubby who suffers from diverticulitis.