Coconut oil is amazing, plain and simple. You can really get a bang for your buck when you buy coconut oil.  It’s not expensive and is so versatile!  You can eat it, cook with it, and even slather it on your skin. It’s great for you any way you use it! Coconut oil is antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, and antibacterial. You can buy coconut oil online or at Walmart, Kroger, or your grocery store.  Look in the aisle with the oils.  I either buy the Spectrum organic coconut oil * or the Lou Ana Coconut oil from the store. Benefits of coconut oil Hair Care: coconut oil is an amazing hair conditioner. I put a tiny amount on my hand, wait for it to melt, and then rub it into the tips of my hair.  Not only does it condition it, but my hair shines and even curls better with coconut oil!  I put it on my hair after blow drying it in the morning.  You can also massage your scalp with it at night for extra oomph and protection against [...]

You’ve probably heard the term before, but be assured that I’m not going to talk about that exactly. Last week I spent time with my 20 year old sister. She thinks I am totally a tightwad but that’s another story. We were talking about money and she said that since she’s been unemployed she’s had to tap into her savings account. While she was working, she was always contributing to the account. Now that she’s not, she obviously needs money for gas so it has to come from somewhere. She said that before she became unemployed, she would never touch her savings account. It was almost a sin to withdraw money. Once she “broke the seal” though, she said it was much easier to keep hitting up her savings account like a rich uncle. In her case, she really can’t help it because she doesn’t have a steady source of income. But to combat withdrawing too much, I recommended she have a separate account that she has a certain amount of money in so that may help curb the habit. [...]

Now is not the time for fantasies. With the horrible economy, housing market, and environmental issues, it’s not the time to be dreaming of moving or radically changing your life. Or is it? I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I am homesick and want to move closer to my family. I think before we actually have a baby I want to be near my family for support and so they can experience it as well. Unfortunately, they live in Michigan, and we all know that is the worst state for unemployment right now. So what do we do? I’m the type of person that is always wishing and dreaming. I’m envisioning a house on land, my own little homestead with many animals and environmentally friendly. I’d love to build a “green” house. Mr. Money sometimes tells me I need to just enjoy the things I have and not wish for other things. But I tend to disagree- without fantasies, life is boring. I’ve been down in the dumps lately and I think it’s partly due to the fact [...]