About 5 weeks ago I went on a "No Poo" adventure. That simply means I'm not using shampoo + conditioner to wash my hair.

What am I using, you ask?

Baking soda mixed with water and Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with water. I'm not sure of the portions but it's working.

Here is what I have noticed.

-My hair is fuller. Like shampoo commercial fuller. I have really thick hair and this just enhances it.

-I loose less hair. I'm not sure why but I'm not pulling out handfuls. I have a comb in the shows and I run a comb thru it and it's visibly less.

-My hair felt dryer during the first 2 weeks or so. I almost gave up. But on the 14th day it felt better. It was the first day I actually liked it. I don't have oily hair at all so this is expected.

-Before I washed my hair every other day, I'm going 4 days now and it still feels great. I don't feel homeless.

Next, my nails. I use to paint my long nails when I was younger. Like, before I was married, before I did dishes, scrub sinks, toilets + before kids.

"Back then" my nails were always nicely painted. I was drawn towards reds and browns. They never chipped. They lasted forever. And my nails were always a long length and all the same size.

I'm a bit picky. I don't want chipped nails. With my hands always being in water my nails would chip the next day and I would be taking it off. A waste of time to me. Oh and the drying time with the littles, impossible.

A couple years ago I did a set if gel/shellac nails. They were okay but a bit of an expense. About 5 weeks ago I tried it again and I liked them. Had them done again and I loved them even more. The polish didn't chip and my nails didn't break. SOLD.

I graduated from cosmetology school the same year I graduated from high school. It was a vocational option. Through the years I've kept my license up.

I've been tossing around the idea of buying everything and doing it myself. I'm about a 25 minute drive to a nail salon, then if I have to wait it's more of my time. Plus the cost of having them done.

I purchased everything this week. I knew the process just from having then done. But I also watched a few you tube videos for clarity.

Yesterday I did my nails and I'm really happy with the way they turned out. And I know I will be doing this often.

It's been about 5 years since my husband & I took FPU.  At the time we were part of a small group from our church & we did it as one of our studies.  One of the things that stuck with us through that time was 401Dave.

401Dave is the child saves for a car & when he gets his drivers license the parent matches what the child saves dollar for dollar.  Our kids know about the 401Dave plan & at 14 & 11, they know they will be buying their own car & that we will match it.  

My oldest son, Zakkery is 14.  He's nearing the point that he will be starting drivers training soon.  He doesn't show much emotion about it.  When he was younger, he never wanted to drive.  The thought scared him.  Being the oldest, he's my safety child.  But he has always loved cars.  He's my artist, so he draws cars ALL the time.  His dream is to work for GM and draw their prototype cars!  Let's not discuss the recalls on GM cars right now, ok!

As the years have passed, he's okay with learning to drive a car on a road where there are laws.  He does indeed love driving go carts & off road vehicles, which never makes sense to me.  But I digress.  He will be signing up shortly for drivers training because I will not be driving him to college.  That would be weird people!  

Once again, I am raising men!  

How have my kids saved for their future cars?

They are savers.  Whenever they get money for work, allowance (which that word no longer is allowed in our house), birthdays, holidays, etc., they put it in their wallet (which they don't ever carry).  Then I go in and check out how much money they have in there & it's easily over $100.  I then notify the husband that he needs to have the boys make a deposit into their "bank account".  They then add up their money & get the total & it's all done on a piece of paper. 

You see, my husband & I don't spend a $1 here or there.  The dollar store wasn't a reward store for the boys.  We never felt the need to buy the boys something every time we stepped foot into a store.  When we stop to get gas, we just get gas.  We don't run in and grab a box of candy & a drink for everyone.  That innocent spending is mindless & it adds up.  So being that we don't spend our money that way, the boys don't either.  If I am running to the store & they are going with me, they don't say, "Oh wait, I need to grab $5 in case I see something I want!"

That is how my kids have been able to save their money for their future cars!  

**My husband & I are wondering if we will be able to match dollar for dollar because they have some serious cash going on!**

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Etsy

Allowance.  Kids reach a certain age & they request an allowance.  Mine did.  We discussed it & they received it.  There weren't any guidelines on getting it or not getting it.  I guess you could say they got it because they had air in their lungs!  The allowance is coming to a screeching halt! 

You see, allowance means that they are "allowed" a certain amount of money for just living & breathing!  Think about it.  We are guilty of this!  

While eating dinner Friday evening, we broke it to the boys (ages 14 & 11) that allowance will be ending & commission will be taking its place!

With a blank stare from the offsprings,  we shared our exciting news,  and we went on to explain what that means for them financially.  

Their new word for the day was "Commission".  

We explained that they will have "projects" or "jobs" to do either independently or with the help of their sibling or parent.  That "job" will have a dollar amount pinned to it!  

For example, I will have to lay a fresh coat of mulch in my flower beds in a few weeks.  Instead of me doing it by myself, which I would normally do, that will be a "job" & $10 will be tagged to it.  I will assist & work beside them. These jobs will be written on a 3x5 card with the payment written on it.  So they can determine which job to do & which job they would rather pass on!

They will learn quickly that Work = Money & No Work = No Money!  

Let me make it very clear, they will not be getting commission to wash & fold their laundry, empty the dishwasher, clean their bathroom etc.  These are chores that they are required to do because they wear the clothes, they eat and drink from the dishes & they use the bathroom frequently.  Therefore, you dirty it, you clean it!  This has been in place for years & something they already do!

I know it may sound harsh, but their father & I are raising men that will find their passion in life & make money doing it!  They will not be living in my basement at 29, eating my food & not having a job!  

When we teach our kids responsibilities & we teach them that if they work they get paid, we are  instilling in them a drive to work & at the same time we give them dignity! 

Have you ever noticed how a child stands a little taller & they become a little more confident when they take pride in something?  


Keeping these conversations alive in the household reminds them that life isn't free.  I am excited to see the transition, working for commission & not just expecting a hand over for breathing for an entire week!  


Related Posts:
Smart Money Smart Kids

Work = Money 


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Work.  It's a complete sentence if you ask me.  It's something we all have to do.  As parents we want to instill good work ethics, we want them to know that work is as equal as breathing air.  But it's hard to convince them of that.  It takes a little more effort. 

 If you want to survive in this world you must work & you must have air in your lungs.  


In the book, "Smart Money Smart Kids" by Dave Ramsey & Rachel Cruz, chapter 2 (Work - It's not a Four Letter Word), explains how kids need to learn at an early age that working = money.  Requiring kids to do age appropriate chores around the house is ok.  They won't die, although they may try to convince you they will.  Allowing kids to do nothing while you do everything to make their world a better place, is not okay!  I am not raising boys.  I am not raising teenagers.  I am raising young men!  That's my end goal as their mother & that is my #1 job!

Dave says, "Teaching children to work is not child abuse.  We teach them to work not for our benefit, but because it gives them both dignity in a job well done today and the tools and character to win in the future as adults."

Growing up in Michigan a child learns early not to toss pop cans & bottles in the trash can or recycling bin.  It's worth .10! (Why isn't there a cent sign on the keyboard, have we not arrived?) I digress..... anyway, we have large amounts of pop cans under the sink in the garage & under the sink in the basement.  They gather at a rapid pace.  

One day last Summer, my husband said to both boys, ages 11 & 13 at the time, gather the pop cans & bottles, count them, put them in boxes & bags and I will take you to the corner store to return them.  You get to keep the money.  Child B did all the work.  He gathered the pop cans & bottles, counted them a few times for accuracy, put them in bags and boxes and then told his Dad he was ready to go to the corner store.  

A while later they arrived back home & Child B had spent his money.  He rewarded his work with a glass bottle of Mt. Dew & a steak, fresh from the meat counter at the corner store!  Child A looks excited when he sees what his brother had purchased and says, "Where's mine?"  His Dad looks at him and calmly explains, "I asked you both to gather the pop cans.  Jeremiah hopped right to it & he got the job done.  Since he did all the work, he got to keep/spend the money!" 

Zakkery didn't have a fit, he didn't have a tantrum.  He knew he should have worked if he wanted to benefit from doing work.  He was bummed, no doubt!  His brother had a cold glass bottle of Mt. Dew that he was carefully nursing on a hot Summer day!

This was a great teachable moment for both of the boys.  I remember great conversation taking place that evening as we ate dinner.  We didn't bash him for not wanting to collect the pop cans & bottles.  He got the lesson loud and clear! We didn't overly praise that child that did do all the work.  He got the lesson loud and clear too!

Since that day, there's been plenty more trips to the corner store to return the pop cans & bottles.

On December 1, 2013 I went wheat free.  You could say it wasn't the best time to go wheat free.  Right before the holidays & all.  But I did & I didn't cave & eat any awesome rolls that were served at my sister in laws house for Christmas Dinner. 

I have allowed myself twice to eat wheat.  Once was when we got off the plane in South Carolina + we passed a Chick Filet.  Another time on the same trip, we had an appetizer sample platter + I had a quesadilla.  My stomach did hurt after I had the quesadilla + it continued to hurt for several hours after.  

But I can honestly say that I have lost the craving for bread, fresh rolls from the oven or a fresh loaf of bread that is placed on your table by the waiter.  For me that is progress + self control.  

Every once in a while I will snap a picture of myself in the morning.  I never take a picture of my face in the morning, scary sight people!  But the other day I snapped the picture on the left because I actually had makeup on + I wanted to compare the progress of the Wheat Belly Project.  

I flipped through my pics + found the pic on the right which was taken exactly a year ago from the pic I took on the right.  I couldn't see progress in my face on an everyday basis + I think that is pretty common.  We are very critical of ourselves for one + secondly we see ourself every single day!  


The scale is just a number.  It's not my biggest motivator along this journey!  Instead my biggest motivator has been seeing the changes thru pictures!


What motivates you to stay in shape + treat your body well?

On April 22, 2014 a new book will be released. "Smart Money Smart Kids" by Dave Ramsey & Rachel Cruze, his daughter.

I applied to be on the launch team for this book and I was accepted. I was pretty excited because these are the types of books I enjoy reading. I also listen to Dave Ramsey on my iPad when I am sewing.

Everyone on the launch team received a PDF copy of the book. I have been reading it and it is so so good.

I haven't completed it yet but I do know this: it's an easy read, it deals with money and you and I make daily decisions about money. But who's teaching your kids about money?

If it's not you, then who? Don't assume that they will "just know" how to manage money. Don't assume that school will cover it. Don't assume they will just pick "it" up and "figure it out".

More is caught than taught!

"Smart Money Smart Kids" is full of real life experiences and lessons that can teach kids how to win with money!

Hop over to the website and read the first two chapter for free or preorder your copy at www.smartmoneysmartkids.com

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ETSY

Hey, we survived winter!  The calendar says we did!  

Stop in at the shop & grab an infinity scarf for the breezy spring days that lie ahead!  

Use code: SPRING to receive 30% off!

Today, my hair is straight. It's smooth. I can run my fingers thru it. It swings. It's what I always wanted.

But it's not naturally straight. It's not the naturally bored straight hair like I dreamed of at age 12.

Prior to the age of 12 (hmmm) it was thick & straight. But I didn't care then. My mom always fixed my hair nice and tight with French braids and ribbon barrettes. My hair was never messy and it was never my problem to make sure it looked perfect, it was her problem.

When the magic number 12 showed up it went wild.

Wavy, kinky (my mothers favorite description), curly..... Just plain wild.

Over the years I've used heat to straighten my hair such as hot rollers, wrong hair brush and hair dryer, a really bad straightener from the 80s.

Nothing worked. Every day was a bad hair day.

Insert hair products and cosmetology school. After gaining knowledge and the correct products and tools, my hair was tamed enough for the 90's.

My senior picture was loooooong spiral curls (with the very Big Bang). The wildness had been tamed.

Over the past 21 years my hair has only gone shorter. Marriage & babies made me do it. When it's shorter it is curly but it is not tamed or public viewing acceptable.

A few nights ago I was with girlfriends and one mentioned that she had not used shampoo in 3 weeks.

First thought, she's sitting next to me and second thought was her hair probably stinks but it looks really good.

So she told us all about her new regimen. Baking soda and apple cider vinegar.

A palmful of pasty baking soda. Ummmm check. I have a 5# bag on my washer for laundry. Massage into parts, hairline and rinse, a couple days a week. Conditioner is apple cider vinegar, soak ends of hair in apple cider vinegar massage thru hair shaft. Do this once or so a week.

Her hair was healthier and shinier.

Since I haven't had curls in a lot of years, I'm going to do an experiment and try this. I am hoping it will define my curls and tame them. I am also anxious to see if I have shine added too.

Stay tuned.

I have some really really exciting news to share!  March 29, 2014 is the debut of lil' alice Trunk Show!  I am really excited & really nervous about doing this.  It's one of the goals for 2014.  It's okay that I am nervous, it's a healthy nervous/fear that I have.  It forces me to believe beyond what my mind & heart think I can do!  

If are dreams stay dreams, they never become reality!  I don't want to have regrets. 

In the midst of anxiousness, nerves & fear..... I put on my Brave Boots!

So, you are asking what is a lil' alice Trunk Show?
First, let me tell you what it is not!  It's not where I pull my car into a hostess driveway & you shop lil' alice from the trunk of my car!  True story, that is what my Mother thought was a trunk show.  So I needed to squash that idea in case anyone else was thinking the same thing!  

Instead, I lil' alice Trunk Show is where I bring all of my handmade products, like aprons, zippered pouches, tote bags etc. to the hostess house & her girlfriend's, aunts, mom, cousins, in laws come & shop.  It's cash (or credit card) & carry!  Everything that is purchased is taken home that night.  No shipping costs!  No patiently waiting for the awesome order to come in!  

What is lil' alice?
First things first, I am a one chick show!  Everything that is online in my Etsy shop, everything that will be at a lil' alice Trunk Show is made by me.  I don't have extra hands in the shop cutting fabric & designing new ideas.  Since I am the show from start to finish, I am limited on the hours in my day & the amount of items that I make.  I hustle in the shop.  I can get a lot done in an "assembly line" type of production!  But I also get bored with the same fabrics too, which is why many of the items are limited quantities!

Why should you attend/host a lil' alice Trunk Show?
There are perks for the hostess.  More on that soon!
You should attend a show because there will be items there that are not readily available in the shop.  And there are a few of the items waiting for the debut Trunk Show!  If you follow me on Facebook, you can see behind the scene peeks of what I am up to!  

How do you get invited to a lil' alice Trunk Show?
There are 2 ways.  You host a Trunk Show or you know someone who is hosting a Trunk Show. 

Trunk Shows are set up as an event through Facebook!  

Who is hosting the debut Trunk Show?
Jen Karolak!  She has been a lover of lil' alice from the beginning.  I appreciate all of her support through the past 4 years. She gives me great insight & feedback & she always tells me that she is getting lil' alice into the hands of her co-workers & friends!  Thanks Jen!  I look forward to our evening together!  

On December 1, 2013 I had had enough. Enough of the bloating. Enough stomach pains. Enough of the wheat.

In Feb 2013 my husband bought us a gym membership. I went religiously 3x a week. I jumped out of bed at 4:30am. Was home by 6am to get Child A up for school.

I agree. It was early. But it's what worked for me and still does 13 months later.

What didn't work for me was working out and not eating right. Child A has been gluten free for 5 years and it worked for him. I had the knowledge of the benefits of eating gluten free but not the motivation.

But that changed on December 1, 2013.

I half heartedly took a picture for my own referencing. I'm glad I did because I wasn't seeing a physical differences until I snapped the second pic 2 weeks ago.

I was floored at the difference.

What you eat really does make the difference!

It has reenergized me to get out of bed at 4:30am at -5* on a cold Michigan morning and suck it up and hit the gym regardless.

I walk in the gym rubbing the sleep out my eyes (I'm not a pretty site, no makeup, no hair do) but I walk out awake, alive and ready for my day.

You could say I got started on my New Years goals a month early & I'm still plugging along as we head into March.

If you find that your New Years Goals have been thrown out. You failed the first week or the second. Pull yourself up by your boot straps and press reset!