Crunchy

Crunchy ~

Adjective. Used to describe persons who have adjusted or altered their lifestyle for environmental reasons. (according to the urban dictionary)

This is not a word I would use to describe me, but I love it.  Crunchy.  What a funny thing to be called. I hadn't heard this until recently.  First I saw someone use it on Facebook, and then I heard a friend use it during our conversation.  I love it.  Crunchy.

I have dabbled in a little crunchiness and some of it has stuck, but most has not.  I wouldn't say I do any of it for environmental reasons though, but more for caring for my body or wanting to use less of something (my urge to become a minimalist).  A lot of it seems "trendy" and then when I dig deeper I realize many people have been doing these things for years, but more people are just feeling the urge to take care of themselves and/or the environment. 

Right now, my current "crunch" is using coconut oil as deoderant.  I know, sounds crazy.  I have been using the clinical strength deoderants for as long as I can remember.  They are expensive!  I'm getting tired of paying $8 for a stick of deoderant and started researching less expensive deoderants that might work for me.  I read about several products on the market that I could try, and I did try one...Toms.  I only used it 4 times, but knew it just wasn't going to work.  I did some more reading and this time read about people making their own deoderants....it sounded like way too much work.  One of the ingredients in nearly all of the homemade recipes is coconut oil and I did read where some people are just using that and it is working wonders for them.  As I already own coconut oil I decided to give it a try.  It was quite weird at first, but I'm about a week in and loving it!  My underarm skin that is normally very dry, is actually soft now.  The minimalist in me would LOVE if deoderant is one less thing taking up space in my bathroom drawer.  

One "crunchy" thing that I have held on to is cleaning with my anti-bacterial Norwex cloths.  I love that I don't have to use anything other than a cloth to clean with, and I can rest assured that my counters are actually clean.  Need assurance about the cloths?  Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pf8iyHHYXE  I also read a study (of course I can't find it now) by a Harvard scientist, who ran a similar test comparing the cloths to cleaning with a paper towel and multipurpose cleaner and the results were clear that the Norwex cloths picked up more bacteria than the paper towel and cleaner.  

As far as food goes...I'm on again, off again with eating all fresh, little-to-no preservative foods. This is true for a lot of things in my life...I just don't want to commit to any one habit :) I prefer to be open to all things...keeps life fun and interesting.  While I sometimes admire those with strict rules/habits for life, I just can't quite get there and find it much more enjoyable to not be stuck with one plan.  I have tried so many times to set rules or schedules for things (like cleaning), but none ever last and I realize how glad I am when they don't.  So Pinterest, take all your schedules/family information books/etc. and go be boring somewhere else.  Okay, Okay, just kidding, I do need a little organization in my life to keep me sane....I like a good balance though.  

Anyway, back to crunchy.  Some other things I tried out were cloth diapers (they are seriously adorable!!), all natural body soap and shampoo, essential oils for teething, amber necklace for teething, and then of course several "all natural" versions of foods. 

I've noticed that those who are "crunchy" in one area, may not be in another.  It's so interesting how we can be so cautious with, for example, what we put ON our bodies (chemical free soaps, lotions, etc), but not care what we put IN our bodies....or vice versa.  I suppose if we all choose at least one area to treat with care, we are doing better than we were.  

What do you do that some consider crunchy??