No more shampoo

This week while pinteresting I stumbled upon an article on a blog about how to wash hair more naturally without shampoo and conditioner. Then I found, with a little research, that this isn't entirely unheard of. Here are the basics:

For shampoo use baking soda with water about 1 Tsp of baking soda per cup of water (adjust more or less depending on how dry your scalp is) in a squirt bottle.

For conditioner use a solution of vinegar and water (about 2 Tsp per cup of water) in a spray bottle.

Apply the baking soda mixture to the roots of your hair, massage and let sit while you shower. Rinse thoroughly. Then spray the length of your hair with the vinegar and water solution. Rinse thoroughly.

Surprisingly your hair doesn't smell like vinegar what-so-ever after you're done.

There are several benefits of using this method. One, it's super cheap. It also is much more environmentally friendly. Also, one your scalp gets used to it, your hair needs to be washed much less frequently. This is because when you use regular shampoo it strips your hair of all it's oils and then your scalp over produces oil to make up for it. However, when you use this method, the baking soda removes dirt but leaves essential oils so your hair doesn't get oily as fast because your scalp is not overcompensating.

One down aside is it doesn't leave your hair smelling nice like shampoos do. It doesn't smell like anything actually. But you can add scents with things like coconut oil if you desire.

Is training over yet?

So to update my blog on what's been going on... I went to hubbys graduation in October. It was so unbelievably nice to see him for two whole days. Then we both went off in separate ways again. It's not so bad now that he's in AIT. We get to text every night and we talk about 3-4 times a week. Sometimes even skype. Mostly on weekends. It's a big step up from only talking once a week and it helps make timer go by faster. I also don't feel as much of a world apart as I felt during BCT. That being said, I still can't wait for all this training to be over. I know deployments are in our future eventually but it will be nice to be able to live with him again. I also can't wait to move into an apartment on base wherever we get stationed. The in-laws have been great but I'm ready for my own place again. I'm sure once he deploys I'll be wishing I was back here with family but for now this us how I feel.
Anyway, he gets tocome home for two whole weeks around Christmas! I'm soooo excited. So for now that's what I'm looking forward to the most.

15 days

Just over two weeks. I even get to talk to him on Sundays which I'm extremely grateful for. Yet, I can't help but want to scream at the top of my lungs that I need him and this needs to be over. Sometimes.

Mail

It's been 9 days. I need a letter. Okay maybe I don't "need" it to survive but it sure would make me feel better.

An escape

So I planned back when hubby first left to come visit my parents in Tennessee while he was gone as a sort of half way point. That time is finally here. The drive wasn't too bad since I stopped to visit my future sister-in-law on the way down. It was rough making the drive alone just for the fact that it made me miss him. But I guess a lot of stuff makes me miss him. I'm hoping this week turns out to be a nice escape. Anyway, this really is a beautiful region of the country.

Missing my husband

But I got a letter from him today!

That is all.

Things Keeping Me Sane

-work
-family
-old texts from hubby that I can reread to make me feel better
-girly movies
-internet
-my dog
-new camera and upcoming photography class

Exciting Future

It's been just over a week since hubby left for training. The first week was rough but I'm feeling more optimistic day by day. It also helps that I have gotten to hear from him every night for the past four days. However, he leaves reception tomorrow and gets assigned to his unit then I can't expect much more than letters. 

We are both happy for things to finally be getting under way. The more time that passes the easier it will be I think. It's nice to be able to say that one week has passed. I'm sure before I know it I will be saying only one week until I get to see him. 

I'm trying to focus on the future. A family friend has a house that has been up for sale for awhile nearby where hubby will be for AIT and we are talking about the possibilities of me staying there so I can be closer to him for that 5-6 month span of time.  I know I might not actually get to see him a lot even if I do move there but I think the adventure of living somewhere new would be exciting. We will see. A lot of things to figure out between now and then if it does happen. 

Staying Busy

Time seems to be going by really slow. Not as slow as yesterday though. Everything seems a little easier than yesterday. I'm hoping that trend continues throughout the next ten weeks. I've just been trying to stay busy. That's what everyone says to do. It's still sometimes difficult even when I'm busy just because so much stuff reminds me of him but I've been getting a lot done. I have been working out which has helped a little. I keep telling myself that if he can do all of this for me then I can do some stuff for him. I can work out and get stronger physically and be more emotionally and mentally strong for him. I also feel like he will be so happy and proud to find out that I painted the rest of the porch on the house we are selling. I plan on fixing up some more stuff there soon too. Really I guess I am just taking things hour by hour, day by day. I know that if anything I will miss him more each day but I told him I would stay strong for him so I will.

Hard

Going to bed alone is hard. Waking up is even harder. Things are a lot easier during the day if I stay busy. It hasn't even been a whole day since he left and I'm really struggling to figure out how to make it through this. I did join a gym and ran today though. I figure if he can do what he's going to be doing the next 11 weeks then I can commit to going to the gym most days. I would love to be able to run with him when he's done with all of this but I know that could be a stretch.

Dreams

It's funny sometimes what dreams can tell us. Yes, I have an occasional dream where people turn into spiders but sometimes my dreams are way more realistic. Last night I had a dream about my hubby leaving which I was sort of expecting to have by now. It was a pretty simple dream that took place at the airport. Yet somehow it made everything make sense. Don't get me wrong I'm not sitting here in denial that he is leaving for trainign for 30 weeks, with intentions of somehow keeping him here, but my dream made me feel okay about him leaving. He has to leave. Not only because if he doesn't show up the army will find him, but because it's the right thing to do at this point in our lives. In my dream, after making a decision to send someone else in his place, I looked at him asking what we were going to do now and he said "nothing".  This seems really simple when I write it down but it really put everything into perspective. There is no going back, even if we wanted to, even if we tried to. Our future is scary and it's also exciting. It is a big change for both of us and we made the choice together and the time is finally here.

Too Soon

Hubby leaves for army training on Monday. We have been super busy between finishing up moving and army stuff and visiting with friends and family. I have been handling his pending departure very well so far. I think being so busy has helped. Night time is the worst though. But on a more positive note, we are going to see Almost Queen, a cover band, tonight which should be fun then possibly going to the fair tomorrow. Sunday he has to go to a hotel so he can get up super early and go to processing, but we will get to have dinner and what not since he doesn't need to stay there until 10pm. Then Monday I can go see him off. It really is surreal that he is leaving so soon. Time has flown by.

Zoo time

So this is the last week left until hubby leaves for the army. We have tried to plan a ton of fun stuff to do that we haven't done yet this summer. Today we went to the zoo.

A walk in the park

Took the dog for a walk in the metroparks the other day while hubby was doing army training. Only stayed for a half hour because the bugs almost carried us away but the scenery was beautiful.

An Exciting Week

The week started off by finally getting an offer on our house on Monday. The deal came to a close last night so now all we have to do is wait for the inspection. Hopefully there won't be too many things that need fixed. We can't really afford to come down on the price to have the buyer fix anything but we can probably do some small stuff if needed. Either way it's still really exciting! Then today we bought a new car! It seems weird that this happened all in the same week. We didn't just go buy the car because we sold the house. It was something we had been planning to do for months since hubby won't need a car for some time while he is in training. So we went and test drove it last week and then made the purchase today. Bye-bye old cars, hello new Chevy Cruze!

Hubby Leaves Soon

Hubby leaves in 2 and a half-ish weeks. It's quite surreal. I'm excited for what army life will bring us but unbelievably sad to be separated from him for so long. I'm not sure how I will end up taking it. Some days I think when he leaves I'll just cry all of the time but then sometimes I have thoughts that I'll be okay, sad on the inside, but that I'll surprise myself with my strength, I guess I will find out soon enough. Right now I'm just trying to make the most of the time we have before he leaves.