posted September 15, 2012 07:05 AM            

I get really annoyed when people police others for not using "organic" or "natural" products and look down on people who don't do that.

I buy all of my own groceries with my own money, and seriously, that stuff is ridiculously expensive.

It's easy for people who can easily afford it to shame others for not buying it, but not everyone has that luxury of being able to afford stuff like that. I try to ration my more-expensive stuff and make it last longer, but it's easier to do with some products (like shampoo/conditioner) than others (like lotion/makeup).

I think, too, that the producers of these products have to understand that their products are far more expensive than a lot of others and not everyone can afford them. If they want ordinary people to buy them, the cost has to be reasonable.

The other issue, too, is that I have really wondered if they are more effective/healthier, or if they are just trying to make more money. I'm really not decided on that. Part of me feels that even if it's all fake, it's better to be safe than sorry, but, on the other hand, I would hate to throw away money for nothing.

I don't know how they could get their costs down. And, obviously, they have to make a living and a profit, and I get that. Still, if people really want others to use supposedly healthier products, I do think that costs need to be taken into account.

The other thing, too, is that some "organic" stuff tastes/smells bad, or is otherwise unappealing. Like some of the stuff I see at the health store smells like...well, a barn. I don't want to smell like that. And one food fad that I tried out of curiosity (and I won't name it because I know others believe in it and I'm not going to fight over it) tasted so awful that I would never do it again. There was no flavor or joy in the food at all, the texture was awful, and the price was ridiculous. Others, they just seem so..."hipster-esque". I feel weird buying them.

Anyone have any thoughts on that? Or recommendations as to less-expensive products that are "approachable" (i.e., not "weirdo" or "hipster-ish") and also appealing? Things that do smell nice and don't smell too "naturey"? Things that feel nice? Taste good? And are not expensive (compared to other brands of the same product) and ridiculously priced? And that actually work?

The other issue I have with makeup is finding one that matches my skin tone; right now, only one really works, and it's a regular, over-the-counter brand. The rest give me that weird look of having a face and neck that don't match.

posted September 18, 2012 01:12 PM            

Natural moisturizer: shea butter (no smell), coconut oil(pleasant), cold pressed olive oil(smelliest)

A 1 gallon tub of unfiltered coconut oil is now! $69. Lasts forever AND you can cook with it.

Natural hair product - that same coconut oil for a mask
henna blend - $4 per 5 uses depending on your hair length

For washing your body, your hair, your face: castile soap - Dr. Bronner's 32 oz - around $10. You have to dilute it with water and it will last for months. (I'm still looking for the best natural shampoo/ conditioner combo)

Perfume - I use essential oils - a little dab behind each ear is all you need for a night out. This is the only thing I'll splurge on. Quality essential oils are not cheap.

I don't use makeup and generally avoid putting chemicals on my skin if I can help it.

posted September 20, 2012 07:23 PM            

Coconut oil has a lot of saturated fat, though. Not good. At least the kind I've seen sold around.

I'm not trying to look down on others or anything; sorry if if came off that way but I was feeling annoyed.

Mainly, what bothers me isn't when people simply use that stuff--it's when they go all batty on people who don't use it and make them out to be bad people. A lot of times, people just can't afford it or something about the product isn't appealing. It's the judgment that bothers me

posted September 21, 2012 08:39 AM            

Oops, I meant 1 gal not 5. Doh.

The price has jumped a bit too. I've had mine for a year now. They must have had a sale on it.

posted September 22, 2012 12:30 PM            

He does bring a good point though. "If it doesn't have stuff added to it why is it more expensive? You know poop is organic"
ME: "no your poop is only organic is you eat organic food!"

A lot of things don't p!ss off my dad. But talking about organic food does!

My mom gets annoyed when I tell her fluoride is not very good for people. Cause she use to put kid water bottles in my lunch called "fluoride to go"

posted September 22, 2012 03:51 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Stawr:

my dad doesn't understand the difference between organic and food with added msg genetically modified, pesticide, red number 40, dyed type food.

He does bring a good point though. "If it doesn't have stuff added to it why is it more expensive? You know poop is organic"
ME: "no your poop is only organic is you eat organic food!"

A lot of things don't p!ss off my dad. But talking about organic food does!

My mom gets annoyed when I tell her fluoride is not very good for people. Cause she use to put kid water bottles in my lunch called "fluoride to go"

I don't eat everything organic, but I really like to know what's in the food I eat and what it can do weather it's beneficial or the opposite.

---

To be honest, I would be annoyed too if people went on to me about that stuff. It does come off as judgmental and preachy when people in real life (i.e., outside of LL) do that to me.

It doesn't come off as "helpful"--maybe it's intended that way, but it doesn't feel that way to an outsider. It feels like a criticism and it feels uppity and condescending, from what I've experienced when people outside of LL have done that.

What's also annoying--and I've had this happen--is when someone is very picky and demanding, and you go out of your way to host them at your house, pouring a lot of time and effort and expense into it, only to have them eat nothing of what you worked so hard to prepare (and what everyone else liked--including very blunt people who would tell you honestly if something didn't taste good). There's being a good hostess, and then there are people making unreasonable demands and being ridiculous. Good lord that made me mad. I don't buy nasty ingredients, either. I'm not Julia Child, but I know that I usually do a good job, and most people really compliment me and enjoy my cooking.

posted September 23, 2012 10:23 AM            

Some of my friends I can really get into it and talk about food benefits, and we can get all hardcore about it. And we can be all like 'omg this is so bad, and this is so good! ahhh yeahh!'

but other people I'm just more like "so I read/heard that this alternative works very really well. I tried it my self, and success!"

In class last week I really had to hold back from blurting out "also cinnamon and avoiding food with msg will prevent alzhimers"

If I'm at a party. I'm gonna eat whatever they provide the guests with. I appreciate it when people invite me over and offer something to eat. There have been a few times when people invite me over and don't offer me anything, and I'm starving!
This happened one time. And I'm just like wow these people are not gonna offer me a thing. So I tell them I'm going to step outside for a smoke. And then they make a comment about it. And I say back "well I'm hungry and I need to suppress my appetite." haha

If I'm at a shin dig and the host orders a pizza I'm gonna have one. I'm not gonna go "oh this has gluten in it can you go out of your way and order something else?" or "does this pizza have gluten in it?" I allow my self to splurge for these kinds of things. I also like to try new foods.

But yeah I do have my moments where I hear health news that gets me heated. And I get on my soap box. Like Maryjane being illegal, selling people raw milk is a federal crime, ABC possibly getting sued for exposing "pink slime added to meats", and tyranny to people that grow their own food, have free range animals, and collecting rainwater off their own property. And Monsanto shelling out so much money trying to prevent prop. 37

wow I think my Scorpio moon pluto conjunction in the 6th house is showing.

posted September 23, 2012 02:47 PM            

The people who were picky with me have not been invited to eat at my place in several years, and won't likely have that change. I don't talk to one of them at all anymore.

I just can't stand over-pickiness. It drives me up a wall. It's like just LIVE already for frak's sake lol. It's not like having something once in a blue moon will kill you in most cases.

I personally don't believe in gluten-free except for celiacs who have to do it. I don't want to disrespect, so I'll just leave it at that.

I am trying to phase out things that might be harmful, but, at the same time, I also want to make sure that, if I'm going to pay a lot of money (which I don't have coming out of my tuchas: champagne tastes on a beer budget = story of my life *sigh*) for something, it had actually better be worth the investment. If something isn't actually safer or more effective, and if I don't enjoy using it, I'm not paying more for it.

As for meat, it's a non-issue for me, since I don't eat it. Fish, I tend to only eat when I go out somewhere and don't buy it on a regular basis.

As for offering food, it depends. If someone just comes to drop something off and leave in like two minutes, or shows up randomly uninvited expecting to come in, I don't offer--in the first case because they aren't staying; in the second, because I'm not prepared and find that a bit imposing. However, if I invite you over to hang out for awhile, yeah, I will have food! And most likely, unless I'm busy or have had a lot of expenses, it will be homemade from scratch .

When I go out to eat, which isn't often, I usually just have a cup of yogurt the day of, and eat lightly the day after if I still feel full from everything. I try to eat the healthiest thing on the menu, and enjoy it.

Personally, I do not support marijuana use or drinking raw milk, but I'll agree to disagree and not have a fight about those issues. As for journalism, I don't feel that journalists should get into trouble over exposing the truth in some cases. When it comes to people's private and personal lives, I feel they should leave people alone and mind their own business, except in cases of abuse/someone being harmed or likely to be harmed, but if the issue is corporate and not personal/private, then yes, they should be able to address it professionally and objectively.