Answer? I don't know, yet!

As the daughter of a single mother who was also a hoarder (yes! a real hoarder like on those shows) I can tell you that I learned about cleaning entirely on my own, entirely awkwardly like it was all a big secret and I did not learn homemaking entirely effectively. Not even a little effectively. I am a homemaking disaster, really. Early on after moving into our home I'd stalk my neighbors with weird questions like, "oh, how often do you clean your baseboards?" (ps - they lied, they had no idea either. Most of us move out of a house before you have to clean the damn walls or baseboards.. or they just hire someone to repaint)
So what does this have to do with Confidence? Well, if I am coming from an untidy mess, I think I feel like one myself. If things are tidy I can feel calm and centered and that is a great base for confidence. Tidy enough, I mean. Trust me, I am no perfectionist :D.
If you are next level (or you weren't raised by a hoarder) then I see that clean and tidy home base as a springboard for creativity. Your decorating reflects your creativity and you can have the space to create! That is nice Whatever your "home" is, whether it is a room, and apartment, a house, a mansion, it can reflect your personality and affect your mood. You deserve for it to be as you like it.
Let me know where you are on the hoarder to tidy spectrum :) Do you find it easy to keep things tidy or do you struggle? Do you have a space to be creative? I can't wait to hear about your experience with this subject. 
Till next time!!
Cynthia


ps- for my Granola sisters, what is your go-to cleaning stuff? I have a norwex like set of wipes and I have Branch Basics on my wishlist but for now I just use a lot of vinegar and baking soda :) Except for my toilets which I go full nasty sudsy bubbles on! 

​Alright, you confident creators! What is your Earth Day commitment?

First you might be asking, what is that? Well, its a tradition around here that we add to our eco conscious living choices by committing to one more earth friendly action. It could be anything from switching from paper towels to reusable cloths or it could be replacing your grocery store plastic veggie bags with washable reusable ones. Whatever you decide I hope it brings you pride and that little spark you get from being part of the solution. 

(And p.s. - if you are reading this well after Earth Day, then there is nothing wrong with starting now!)

This year we are going to bring back our veggie composting and this time I won't let it mold on my counter! Today I am establishing the plan for this composting, including a timeline of how to get it done. Since we just planted some veggies in a barrel on the patio, the timing couldn't be better for this quick and easy change. 

Below are a few ideas to consider. Let me know your ideas in the comments, or if you have decided on a new environmentally friendly plan of action!

IDEAS FOR EARTH DAY COMMITMENTS

• Get rid of the paper towels and use any environmentally friendly option (there are a bunch!)
  1. Get a basket and fill it with absorbent scrap material like cut up old dishtowels
  2. Find a washable version of paper towels on Etsy (they even go on a rod for convenient use!) lmk if you want a link
  3. Bamboo (or any kind of eco-conscious) sponges
• Replace all the bulbs in your house with LED light bulbs (http://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-energy-efficient-light-bulbs.html)
• Plant a tree
• Start a home garden
• Schedule a cleanup of your nearby natural wonder (sadly trash is not just on the beaches, but everywhere humans gather)
• Get a reusable water bottle and skip the expensive, trash producing, unhealthy soda/coffee cycle
• Switch to package free snacks like fruit or bulk items you put in your own glass containers - or in my case, used spaghetti sauce and jelly jars ;). You could start by just doing one "package free snack week". Then make it once a week every month, and on and on. 
• Switch any household cleanser to the organic version. Dish soap is an easy place to start. The more advanced among you might be ready to switch your whole house cleaning to something like Branch Basics.

This particular Earth Day has the theme of "Protect Our Species" to combat the habitat destruction that impacts our beautiful Earth diversity and threatens endangered species and all of us. That is a big one for individual changes which is why these little changes add up over time. But if you'd like to make an impact related to the theme, please consider making a donation to any of the organizations working to keep our planet safe for animals, plants and us!!

There are so many easy and rewarding things to do this Earth Day and every day!! I'm so excited for you to try something new.

Multitask Master Product

​We just shorthand the amazing product as "WRBB" because we use and recommend it so much, it is too much of a mouthful to say Wild Rose Beauty Balm every time!
You cannot go wrong with this, it has a million and one uses:
Exfoliating cleanser
Face mask
Moisture boost
Hand treatment
​Nourishing makeup remover
Heel & elbow softener
Eyebrow tamer
Dry patch helper
Lip conditioner
Nourishing nail bomb
Shine/sparkle over makeup
and on and on!
This balm is the bomb.