1. A Braided Scarf
Loving the braided scarf look.
Thanks to the power of Pinterest, I discovered this great trick on how to braid a regular scarf (compliments of Krissa’s Creative Hands). It’s a fun little twist on a classic accessory that I enjoyed all last month and will continue to enjoy nearly all year round!
2. PicMonkey
Have you noticed the text I’ve been adding to my pictures lately?
Here’s a sampling:
(Click to Enlarge)
Links: Kate’s Cars Birthday Party, Green Smoothies, Anniversary Pumpkin Bouquet, S’mores Bars
It’s a great way to tell your picture’s story without needing a caption, and it’s all thanks to PicMonkey – a fabulous free photo editing website! I learned about PicMonkey from Heather (At the Picket Fence) at last year’s Haven Conference, and it’s now become my go-to photo beautification site. I use it for adding text and creating collages. It’s incredibly easy and intuitive to use, with loads of free features!
3. Marinated Apple Slices
Another Pinterest find last month is this super simple marinated apple slices recipe from Let’s Talk Fitness. Simply marinate thin apple slices in a bowl with the juice of one lemon and ½ c. orange juice, refrigerate for at least half an hour, and enjoy! I was able to marinate two sliced up apples in this recipe and enjoyed one after about an hour and the other a few hours after that and both tasted great! They taste kind of like SweetTarts candy, so if you’re looking for a healthy, all-natural way to get your pucker on, give this yummy snack a try!
4. Kale
I know I already mentioned this in my 2013 Whole Living Challenge Recap, but it bears repeating: I fell in love with kale in February!
I’ve been adding kale to green smoothies for a couple of years now, but have never tried it beyond that until last month. Now, thanks to some great new recipes I discovered while doing the Whole Living Challenge, I’ve been enjoying raw kale in salads, using it lieu of lettuce on my tacos, wilting it and scrambling it with my eggs – I’ve even added it to my chicken noodle soup because I thought it needed a little more green!
Kale is literally one of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat (it has an ANDI Score of 1,000 – the highest nutrient score possible! – versus, for example, spinach which has an ANDI Score of 739) so I’m loving that I’ve found all these new ways to sneak it into my diet!
5. Something I’m NOT loving this month?
Tom’s Deodorant.
Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I decided to test out Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant in February. At first it seemed to be working well for me, but after a month of testing I’ve decided to go back to my old antiperspirant/deodorant.
I’m all for being more all-natural, but it’s never good when you can smell yourself.
As much as I’d like to reduce the amount of chemicals I come in contact with, for now it appears that deodorant is one of those things that’ll be an exception.
(Along with my eye cream, hand sanitizer, and all that crack I smoke on the weekends.)
What were some of your things loved in February?
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The apple does taste like sweet tarts! good call
so glad you liked it this month. That picmonkey looks neat and I like that scarf 
Thanks Allen! And thank you for the great snack recipe!
Love this – I too recently tried Tom’s and was not a fan.
D, you crack me up “and all that crack I smoke on the weekends”! LOL! Seriously never change the style of your writing because your fun personality shines right through!
Anyway, I hated Tom’s as well, and I also wasn’t a fan of LAVanilla deodorant http://www.sephora.com/the-healthy-deodorant-P237120
But I have heard good things about this http://www.primalpitpaste.com/ I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ll let you know if I do and it works.
Hahaha, thank you Erin – I couldn’t resist! And thanks for the tip on the deodorant. I’ll check that one out!
Long time listener, first time caller…
Have you tried Tom’s antiperspirant? http://www.tomsofmainestore.com/product/11486
The deodorant is just a good-smelling clear stick, which I use in the cooler months – LOVE the lemongrass scent. But the antiperspirant is a powder-based white stick that actually stops sweat, and I use it in the warmer seasons. The only downside is that, for now, the only scents are powder or unscented, but that’s minor to me. It’s a little harder to find than the deodorant, but I’ve been able to get it at a few drug stores. Don’t give up on natural just yet!
Hi Allison! Welcome! For you first time on ATG&D we require that you prepare a little song and dance for the rest of the group to enjoy. I’ll standby for your YouTube link… 😉
I’m minimally informed (I’ll admit) but I thought the plus for Toms was to eliminate the aluminum (linked to breast cancer, right? Am I making this up? I could be…) but their antiperspirant still has the aluminum in it. That’s why I was trying their straight deodorant. I actually got their UNSCENTED deodorant which might be my problem (in my mind that made it more “all natural”). I wonder if I’d have a different result if I tried a scented option. Hmm…
I love the Arm & Hammer free and natural. Smells so good. Loved your post…I really want to try scarves and I love the braided idea.
Thank you Jasmin! Maybe I’ll give Arm & Hammer a try! It works wonders for my fridge, and the last I check I didn’t have week-old tilapia in my armpits. #bonus
I was wondering about Tom’s… I did try another kind of natural deodorant & it wasnt bad. I just read a study where some deodorants are linked in with breast cancer. Great….. let’s just all be stinky – then no one will be able to know who really is the ‘smeller’
Win, win!
Have you tried Kale chips? Preheat the oven to 425, spray a baking sheet with Pam, place 1 layer of kale on the sheet, spray the kale with Pam, and sprinkle with salt. They bake up in a few minutes, and are a crispy snack. I’ll bet K and G will even like them!
I tried kale chips way back when I first started trying kale and wasn’t a fan. (That was back when I ate ZERO veggies). My tastes have certainly changed since then, so I should give these another try! Thanks for the suggestion, Anne Marie!
Ha! 2 years ago, when I was bothered by some underarm irritation, I wondered if the chemicals in my extra strength deodorant/antiperspirant were to blame. So I tried to go with bare armpits as often as I could for a few weeks, but I ALSO bought some Tom’s deodorant in peach scent for those times when I felt I HAD to wear SOMETHING. Aaaaaaand…… I ended up smelling like a combination of B.O. and fruit salad. Lol! I wasn’t impressed either.
LOL ErinEveylyn! I hope your underarms are doing better now!
that braided scarf is pretty sweet. also, i love pic monkey! too bad about the tom’s. i don’t use it, but my hubs likes it.
Thanks Paige!
I need you to come move in with me so you can kick start my behind on this whole living challenge. Wanna move to San Diego for a few weeks?
Deal.
(As long as G and Kate can come with me.)
(And my blender.)
These are good! I second the recommendation for trying kale chips. My 8 year old kiddo clamors for them.
I fell in love with Tobasco in February. I had never really used it before, but now I literally cannot get enough of it.
jbhat
Ooh, good to know – thanks jbhat!
Pic Monkey is the best
i love using it to edit pictures!!!
Wunder list is my new fav app i found it in jan and have used it obsessively- no more post it notes all over my purse! Plus, you can sync it up with other users. Grocery lists can get zapped to my husband while he’s still there 😉 Its pretty awesome!
I love hearing about helpful new apps! Thank you Melissa – I’ll give that one a look!
I just found your site and I am going to keep up with it. I had to comment on the Toms….I have tried Toms (both the Naturally Dry Antiperspirant and Deodorant) Jason’s deodorant, Crystal and another I’m too lazy to walk upstairs to look and after almost a year of having to reapply 2 times a day, just outright waking myself up at night I stink so bad, but the topper was when my husband said “I woke up because I smelled one of us last night” I thought I would just try and homemade one. I had all the ingredients so I figured why not. I made one that was arrowroot powder, coconut oil and baking soda (I got it from the internet). I have to say I no longer smell! Even when I work out the next day and don’t apply deodorant before the workout I don’t smell. In the past I could hardly stand the stench of myself on my treadmill.
I just thought I would share because I too am trying not to use so many chemicals and buy less prepared items.
WOW Valerie – that’s amazing!! I’m all about making our meals from scratch, but I haven’t ventured into toiletries yet (although I have some friends who have, so this isn’t a bizarre concept to me). Can you link me up to your “recipe” and process? I’d love to hear more!
So I’m not the only one who still smells after Tom’s? I’m so happy to hear that!
Not at all, Julie!
Too bad about the Tom’s! I switched to this deoderant a few months ago and I love it! I had been using Dove and felt like I smelled like deoderant all the time. This one is truely fragrance free and it works for me. Sorry to hear it didn’t work for you!
I’m trying to get on the Kale bandwagon…wish me luck
I’m happy to hear it works for you Megan! I bet it’s a body chemical, pH thing – mine’s just a mis-match. Good luck with the kale!!
Did you know that deoderant was originally marketed to women? They claimed that their husbands wouldn’t find them attractive if they smelled, so the women bought deoderant. And then? They marketed deoderant for men to women too! Saying, it works for you; it’ll work for your husband too! Crazy….
That’s so interesting! I love learing little tid-bits like this – thanks for sharing Debbie!
I think another reader mentioned it, but I figured i would double recommend since I really like it — try Arm and Hammers Natural Deoderant. I used to use the clinical strength stuff that stopped all sweat but really felt it was harmful to the body – had a few days of sweating (no smell though) pits while I transitioned but I have been using the Arm and Hammer since then – for several years. Great stuff! – even through working out and summer beach days it keeps me smell-free. As with any natural deoderant you do still sweat a bit, but i noticed it is much less as my body adapted.
Thanks for your awesome blog – i always appreciate your posts! keep it up….
Hmm…that’s an interesting point about allowing your body to adapt to it, Meredith. Great advice! I’ll definitely check the A&H brand out.
This post was full of great little tips, I’m pretty much going to use all of them!Thanks especially for the apple tip! I’m always about trying to get my little one to eat healthier.
Thanks bridget!
I’m a little late to the party but oh well
I have tried a couple of different Tom’s scents. Some work and some don’t for myself. When I started eating organic and using natural products, deodorant was one of the first things I changed because just like you said the aluminum in regular deodorant has been linked to breast cancer and I have read several studies as well that say exposure to aluminum could be one of the reasons for Alzheimer’s. Your armpit contains some of your largest veins, so the chemicals from deodorant are going directly into your blood stream. Don’t give up on your search for a natural alternative! You just have to find one that works for you. 
Such great points, Brittany. Thank you for the push to keep on searching for an all-natural alternative that works!
I also tried (and did not like) Tom’s deodorant. This is the stuff you want: http://soapwallakitchen.com/products/deodorant-cream IT IS AMAZING.
Thank you, Laura. I’m still shopping around, so I’ll add this to my list!