music in the mail.

i have a favorite thing
about my new apartment here.
on this side of the
ocean.


it's the mail slot.

{often the simple things

right?}

it's charming.
it's old.
it's from the 1920's.


but you know, sometimes the mail

gets a little stuck

in there.

so you have to tug.

and sometimes

the mail

takes an unfortunate

hit for this.

{oh well}.

today.

something new happened.

a package.

held my name.

propped nicely beneath

#106 mail slot.

that's strange,

no cyber monday

shopping done here.

i tucked the package

under my arm with the

rest of little victories 
from the tug-o-mail.

hands full.

i set the loads in my arms

down and promptly 

forgot all about

this little brown package.

until later.

when i finally stopped 

for a minute to remember.

how can you forget mail?

and a package at that!

{still unsure.}

i opened the brown paper 

to find

two CDs:

one christmas. and one not.

and a note.

from a kind gentleman

that i met once.

once.

we had chatted and connected 

on our mutual love for 

the beauty only choirs

can create.

here he was

sending me some of 

his son's choir tunes.

wondering if i might

enjoy them.

might i?!

oh yes i might..

and i'm going to try

my absolute best

to perhaps see the famous

land of lakes choirboys

this december 9.


any joiners?


come.
we can sit and
rub our goosebump-ed arms
together.




-n.

rub your arms moments: are you listening?

i once had a teacher
who would rub her arms 
full of goosebumps and implore
her class,
"shhh! shhhh!!
did you hear it?!
weren't you listening?!"

she was not everyone's favorite.

she gave us B's.
sometimes C's.

shook her head
and told us we weren't trying hard enough,
just when we thought we were.


she marched out when we were

impossible.

she pursed her lips, piercing 
us with silence, when we

didn't listen.

she moaned when we couldn't

hear our own faults.

and worse...
she made us do it 
again & again & again.


we would say, i'm no good.

she would say, you can be.

we would say, i can't.

she would say, you can.

we would say, i won't ever.

she would say, you will.

but we loved her.

when she was absent for even a day,

we begged to have her back.

she stole our hearts.

we might not have known.

she might not have known.

regardless.
it didn't matter.
because she taught us
what she was.

 

melody.

rhythm. 

movement.

moments.

music.

she taught us these things.

but most importantly
she taught us

to listen.

to listen to 
our own voice.

to the voice beside us.

and the voices all around.

she taught us to love beauty.

beauty that we

all

standing together

working toward one thing...

created. 

together.

she taught us

harmony and perfection

could come into a single moment.


she taught us to
notice the moments.

she would gasp.
and glow.
her excitement
and wonder penetrating the room,
rubbing her arms.


"did you hear it?!
are you listening?"


the body knows beauty.


but she taught us to listen for it.
and appreciate it.


this teacher
she doesn't know. 
she can't.
of how often my mind wanders to her.
to her classes
where she would push and push us.
bubble with pleasure
rubbing to her arms...


because of her,
there is always something for me
about a choir...
those moments.
only envoked by voices
working together.
to create
those moments of perfection... harmony
and utter beauty.


hmmm...
it touches something deep inside.


do you hear it?
are you listening?


may choirs find you.
or 
may you find them.
and may you notice
the moments.
and rub arms full of goosebumps.


let the season begin,
natalie.

ps beautiful images found here. here & here.

revisiting old friends.

i am constantly looking

for new books to read.

new releases.

the best of 2011.

the best books in the last century.

must reads.

new york time reviews.

meandering through bookstores.

yes please.

as much as i love the new.

lately in my book reading

i've taken sometime

to do some remembering...

rereading...

some revisiting...

have you revisited any of your

oldest

and most favoritest

of friends lately?

have you dusted them off

and paid them some long

overdue

quality time?

have you smiled the knowing

smile when the part comes

and you know precisely

how your friend

will respond?

"just how many dresses

did you say you had, Wanda Petronski?"

"a hundred. a hundred dresses.

all lined up in my closet."

"i'll give him a balloon.

i've got one left from my party."

"that, Piglet, is a 

very good idea...

it will cheer Eeyore up.

nobody can be

uncheered with

a balloon."

"Mr. Bennet, you take delight 

in vexing me. 

you have no compassion on

my poor nerves."

"you mistake me, my dear. 

i have a high respect 

for your nerves. 

they are my old friends. 

i have heard you mention them with 

consideration these twenty years 

at least!"

and in your revisiting?

have you noticed something

you haven't noticed before?

"but of course we can't take

any credit

for our talents. 

it's how we use them 

that counts."

and so it is with

reoccurring visits. 

with these old friends

there is a 

sort of 

timelessness 

than cannot be explained.

can you remember the first 

time you were

introduced 

to these gems?

hmmm...

for some yes.

for some no.

for some friends are so deep 

apart of me

i cannot remember not knowing.

but others are new friends

and their wisdom

is still sinking in.

have you read any

old favorites as of late?

due tell...

due tell...

-n.

poetry. no i mean poetry.

i have two friends
who first introduced me
to poetry.


and not just the rhyming
imagery, prose and verse.
i mean the kind
that when the reader
reaches the end of the poem,
the reader will never
be the same.


poetry that is
earth altering
jaw clenching
wind knocking.


poetry that exposes.
poetry that disrupts.
disturbs.


poetry that introduces you to
a piece of your soul
you never knew was
in you.


so i thought i would share.
these words...today.


today
when the changing of seasons
is in the air.


today
when the busy people
busy around.


today
when dreamers dream.



today
when occupiers occupy.



today 
when the trees groan and bend
to the will of the wind.


today
when hopefuls beg themselves
not to give up.


but i must warn you.
only read if you are ready.
only read if you are ready...

Love the quick profit, the annual raise,

vacation with pay. Want more

of everything ready-made. Be afraid

to know your neighbors and to die.

And you will have a window in your head.

Not even your future will be a mystery

any more. Your mind will be punched in a card

and shut away in a little drawer.

When they want you to buy something

they will call you. When they want you

to die for profit they will let you know.

So, friends, every day do something

that won't compute. Love the Lord.

Love the world. Work for nothing.

Take all that you have and be poor.

Love someone who does not deserve it.

Denounce the government and embrace

the flag. Hope to live in that free

republic for which it stands.

Give your approval to all you cannot

understand. Praise ignorance, for what man

has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Ask the questions that have no answers.

Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.

Say that your main crop is the forest

that you did not plant,

that you will not live to harvest.

Say that the leaves are harvested

when they have rotted into the mold.

Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.

Put your faith in the two inches of humus

that will build under the trees

every thousand years.

Listen to carrion - put your ear

close, and hear the faint chattering

of the songs that are to come.

Expect the end of the world. Laugh.

Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful

though you have considered all the facts.

So long as women do not go cheap

for power, please women more than men.

Ask yourself: Will this satisfy

a woman satisfied to bear a child?

Will this disturb the sleep

of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.

Lie down in the shade. Rest your head

in her lap. Swear allegiance

to what is nighest your thoughts.

As soon as the generals and the politicos

can predict the motions of your mind,

lose it. Leave it as a sign

to mark the false trail, the way

you didn't go. Be like the fox

who makes more tracks than necessary,

some in the wrong direction.

Practice resurrection.

this poem is by a brilliant man,
wendell berry.
entitled:
Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front.


do you have a poem that
you love?
and loves you?


please share.


- n.

good-bye shampoo {the hair experiment}.

part 1: the explanation

Have we spoken today? Or in the past 9 months? Because if we have, I know I have told you about this little hair experiment. And finally, I am ready to share it in the world of blogs. First I shared it with this really awesome UK group called Global Cool. It's just a short overview, so if you are needing more details. Please read on.

part 2: you want me to do what!?

Have you ever wondered why we scrub a bubbly substance into our head and scalp but wince, whimper, cry or even curse when that substance sneaks in, burning our eyes? It's just how it is, right? Wrong. Something about that should seem strange.

So when a friend of mine approached me about doing a little hair experiment with her that involved saying goodbye to shampoo and conditioner...for forever!...I was greatly intrigued.


part 3: the reasons why.

Great research has been done about how most commercial shampoos contain ingredients chemicals found in anti-freeze, engine de-greasers and brake fluid. These chemicals have been proven to absorb into the brain and skin up to three times faster than water. What!? Read for yourself. 

Take a gander at just a few of the chemicals often found in our shampoos.

• Coal tar --- a proven cancer-causing chemical
• ZPTO --- known to offer side-effects such as headaches, naesua, or strong alergic reactions
• Menthol --- which has yet to be safety tested for it's side-effects 

Surprisingly, baby shampoos are even worse than adult shampoos because they contain higher levels of ethylene oxide to avoid the eye irritation. But this chemical is a proven endocrine disruptor. An endocrine disruptor is a chemical that negatively affects the hormone system, specifically known to cause learning disabilities, sexual development problems and much, much more {read what the EPA has to say here}.


Not only are we pouring these chemicals onto our heads and bodies, but we are polluting the water systems in our sewage system as well. Learn more about how buying cosmetics has affected our planet: the story of cosmetics.


So the hope of shiny, thick, full, smooth and glossy locks of hair...must we throw this dream out the window?! No no no. Don't you worry. There are other options...


part 4: so where can we turn?


In the past, I have been a purchaser of those natural, organic, very expensive, green, beautifully packaged, very expensive, enticingly bottled, shampoos and conditioners. I love them. I love how they smell. I love how soft they make my hair. I love how pretty they are. But because these shampoos are high quality and pretty fabulous products, made with {mostly} good ingredients, they are $$$ expensive!

These products cost me my paycheck, and that, I'm just not so fond of. Also I learned that not all organic shampoos are made without chemicals...which is confusing right? So, you must choose wisely.

There's got to be another way, especially if you are buying organic shampoos and conditioners for the whole family. And I'm here to tell you, there is.

part 5: turn to your kitchen cupboard.

Now I would like to enter exhibit A in all it's simple brilliance...

{exhibit A: baking soda}

this 8 oz. box purchased for $0.50

Get this, using shampoo strips your hair of it's naturally produced oils, so by using shampoo, your hair has to find away to adapt. You know what it does? It produces more oils. By leaving shampoo out of your hair, your hair has a chance to normalize its pH levels by producing and keeping the amount of oil it desires.

Now, this normalization of your hairs oils typically takes anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. The blog world supports this assertion, leaving people with varying levels of greasiness for what could be days or a month. Not sounding so fun anymore?

Just think about it. How long has your hair and scalp been used to this oil-striping-shampoo? It has to get used to a new-normal. Give your locks a break! 

Part 6: you just gotta get in the shower.

Start first with some baking soda, not to be confused with baking powder [which was learned from an extremely unfortunate changing of the soda and the powder, this mixup is not a happy mistake].

This little box of baking soda, I  purchased will last me well into spring 2012. Now that is a good deal.

Once you are standing in the shower, dump a little baking soda, nickel size amount into the palm of your hand. Turn off the shower stream {if you choose}, then let a few drips of water hit the baking soda, creating a little creamy paste substance. 

Flip your head over and direct the paste-like substance into the roots of your hair.  Focus on the greasiest areas of your scalp, the crown of your head, your part, etc.etc.etc.

Now, give yourself a little head massage for a minute or two. Some articles say that the massaging of the scalp stimulates hair growth {here. or here or here.}

If you are looking for creating a lather by massaging the baking soda into your hair, I better tell you right now, that you won't find it. In fact, it feels kinda gritty. But when you choose to learn a new kind of normal...you get used to it. And you know what? I even like it now.

Enter exhibit B....

 {exhibit B: apple cider vinegar}

this 16 oz. bottle was taken home for the 

price of $2.49

Apple Cider Vinegar, compliments of Trader Joe's. I take two tablespoons of the apple cider vinegar into a small travel size spray bottle, fill the bottle the rest of the way with water. After the baking soda, spray a bit of the vinegar/water mix on the ends of your hair, not too much! Let sit for a few moments, similar to using conditioner, then rinse out.

And there you have it!

Another tip gleaned from experienced hair experimenters, if it's available to you, grab some coconut oil before your shower and add it to the dry ends of your hair. Let it sit for a few minutes before jumping in the shower.  Winter is not far off for many of us. The past few days, I've  been noticing how my hair is feeling dryer and stiffer than normal. So the coconut oil has become a once a week part of my hair routine.


{Look here for more coconut oil secrets}


Coconut oil for skin and hair can be found at your local grocer for anywhere between $7 to $10. 

part 6: after thoughts.

Now I can't remember, did you say, have we spoken today? Because, this hair experiment...I'm obsessed. I love it.

How often do you shower? Everyday? Twice a day? Hmmm...did you know that as a culture we are greatly over-showered? We have, unfortunately made showering daily the norm.

It is too much personal information to tell you I only shower {at most} 2 times a week??

Now, now, before you go blasting me for my lack of personal hygiene, I would just like to say, let's remember back to the days of reading Laura Engels Wilder and how the knobby-kneed-me admired her all the more when I read she only bathed once a week. Obviously she is my {weekly} inspiration.

The oils our skin and body produce are important. By showering everyday we are depleting our body and hair of their natural ways to hydrate and replenish themselves.

It is important to note, that if you want to try the baking soda hair experiment, while still showering once or even twice a day, you will not like what happens. The baking soda substance will build up into your hair and let's just say...yuck!


My suggestion? Start off easy. Try showering/washing your hair every other day. It will take your body a few days perhaps weeks to adjust, but in the end, your skin, your hair and the earth... will thank you.


part 7: and what now?


Try it!


And of course let me know what you think.


Have you already been doing this kind of thing for years? Do you think this is the weirdest thing you've ever heard? Do your own research. Let me know what blogs, articles or research you find. I always love to learn more! Happy experimenting. 

Until next hair washing,

Yours truly,

- n.