Last week’s blog morphed into something so practical but something I am so passionate about: taking steps toward getting healthy with the everyday products we use. Even if it’s one switch or baby step at a time. We can all do something. And it all adds up!

I know it can be overwhelming to look at these small things and wonder “how can I make all these switches? I don’t have the time, the money, the resources…”

Friend, I hear you. I see you. I know how you feel. I was there 3 years ago. It really comes down to one product at time. The first step is to become aware. When we’re aware, we can either freeze and get stuck or we can take back our lives and decide to make a change. YOU CAN DO THIS. If you need help, please comment below or message me. We need each other. You’re not alone. I would love to help however I can. Your life matters, your health matters, and your family matters.

I basically cut last week’s blog in half (you’re welcome, faithful reader!) and saved the rest for today. If you read to the end you’ll find some of my favorite switches and products I currently use. Because friends, chemicals are hiding everywhere. (My husband laughs when I say this, but it’s true!) For example, they’re often hidden in the ingredient list under “fragrance” because companies don’t have to specify what’s exactly in the fragrance.

We can do better. One small thing at a time.

But first, I thought I’d mix it up! I want to introduce you to my dear friend Shannon who really inspired me to a new way of living chemical-free. I’ve still got a ways to go, but I wanted to interview her and share the Q&A with you!

 

Introduce yourself!

My name is Shannon Williamson. I’m 42 and live out on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state.

I have 2 kiddos, Payton, 11, and Kendall, 8, and have been married 14 years to my soulmate Ryan.

My favorite things are Jesus, coffee, my dog Winston, belly laughs, polka dots, and cupcakes.

I stumbled into natural healthcare after several disappointing interactions with doctors. I wanted to avoid going as much as possible so I started researching PROACTIVE tools to support our wellness. It’s an incredibly fulfilling journey that truly feels like ministry. If I can get one person to take control of their health, then it will all have been worth it.

 

What does Chasing Wellness mean to you?

In this day and age, wellness doesn’t just happen. You have to be intentional about it because our environment is toxic. What we eat, wear, put on and in our bodies, clean with. It all accumulates into a toxic storm that’s wreaking havoc on our bodies and minds and keeping us from living out what we were created for. It takes effort but it’s worth chasing.

 

If you could encourage people to ditch just 3 products, what would they be?

I’d choose dryer sheets, multi-purpose cleaner and candles.

• Dryer sheets = dryer balls! Affordable, easy to use, and last forever. Just drop some essential oils on the balls and run the dryer. I like these ones.
• Multi-purpose cleaner = Thieves Household Cleaner. Replaces just about EVERY cleaner in your home! Just a capful of concentrate in a 14-16oz bottle topped with water. It cleans just as well as the toxic stuff and smells amazing. PERFECT for getting your kids involved too without the concern of respiratory distress. You can get Thieves Household Cleaner here!
• Candles = Diffuser w/pure essential oils. Replacing candles with diffusers is one of the best things you can do to detox your home. Diffusing has so many benefits including forcing dust to the floor, eliminating toxins in the air, improving moods, supporting immune systems, and smelling AMAZING! I have never had so many compliments on how my house smells once I switched to diffusing. My favorite is the Desert Mist diffuser from Young Living.

Other key items to ditch & switch: laundry detergent, dish detergent, and body wash.

 

What is the most interesting/shocking thing you’ve learned so far on this journey?

That there’s very little monitoring of what goes into the products we use every day on our bodies and in our homes. So many of the chemicals used in common household products get directly into our bloodstream and accumulate over time. The rate of chemicals added yearly to our supply is increasing at a similar rate with cancer, Alzheimers, ADD/ADHD. Once you see this happening, you can’t NOT keep quiet about it.

 

Why Young Living? 

I chose Young Living because of their Seed to Seal promise. NOTHING is out of their control from seed selection to planting, harvesting, distilling, bottling. And all oils are tested 26 times in triplicate. That’s insane quality control, so I am totally ok using it on myself, my kids and my pets. Their oils have worked better than anything else I’ve tried and I actually love the network marketing side of it because you not only purchase oils that work but you get someone to support and educate you along the way. You can’t get that from oils on Amazon or your local health store.

 

What is your favorite YL product? 

Thieves Household Cleaner. I cannot live without it. Close second would be Valor essential oil blend. It’s the first oil where I had an actual visceral reaction. Like my body CRAVED it. Still does!

 

What is your favorite DIY recipe?

Mermaid Spray! This supports hair growth and thickening and works as a detangler for fine to regular hair. Smells incredible too! This is my most requested recipe!

 

Any Netflix suggestions?

• Stink!
• Heal
• Emotion 2.0
• What the Health?

 

Where can people find you on Facebook/Instagram to keep learning and growing?

You can join our wellness group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chasingwellnesstogether/

Instagram: @shannonkwilliamson

Contact me any time with questions: chasewellnesswithme@gmail.com

❤

I absolutely loved hearing Shannon’s heart and all of her helpful suggestions! God crossed our paths at just the right time, and I have gotten to learn so much from her. I don’t always have time to research ingredients and recipes, and Shannon has been a well of wisdom and information. (Thank you, Shannon!)

In last week’s blog I focused more on cleaning products, but as Shannon mentioned, chemicals are in so much more! Perfume, beauty products, feminine hygiene products… the list is as endless as the amount of products on the shelf.

I am not claiming to be an expert, and I know I haven’t arrived. There are still ingredients on labels in my home that I can’t pronounce nor do I know what they do. And I am still working on food and what we eat, as well as clothing and where we purchase them. But! Here are some practical options. Good. Better. Best. We are always growing and learning and changing.

This is the culmination of over two years, switching one product at a time, at being intentional and looking past the “natural” or “free & clear” label and reading about ingredients and what they do. These are actual changes that my family has made; this is what has worked for us so far.

Remember… start with one switch at a time. When you use something up, don’t replace it with the same thing you always purchase. Find a better option. Something that works with your budget, that maybe has less chemicals. In the beginning I was researching a lot on the EWG Skin Deep Database to find good products for my family (and Shannon has been a helpful, resourceful friend!).

I pray these inspire you and help you, not overwhelm you!

 

– Perfume/Cologne

This was one of the first things we ditched when we started using essential oils. This was hard for me at first, because I loved my perfume (Calvin Klein Beauty). After a few weeks of not using it, I was shocked at how it gave me a headache when I smelled it, and how fake and chemical it smelled. Now we use essential oils and homemade roller bottles and they are helping our bodies instead of hurting them.

 

– Toothpaste

Dental hygienist friends, don’t get mad, but we don’t use toothpaste with fluoride. (Gasp!) But my kids also don’t have cavities. We also stay away from SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate). I personally like Young Living’s Thieves toothpaste but here are a couple that we like that have been a little kinder to our budget:

• Jason Sea Fresh
• Hello Kids Toothpaste

 

– Hair Products

I love the Mermaid Hair recipe that Shannon shared. My girls and I use it everyday! For hairspray, I use SheaMoisture Mist. If I need a mousse for my curls, I use the SheaMoisture one. Another hair product I love to help with my curls is Carol’s Daughter Shine Pomade. (These may not be the best options out there, but they work in my budget and are better than what I used to use! Baby steps!)

 

– Shampoo

We have tried to make our own shampoo but it was a watery mess. We love Young Living’s products but also have to watch out for gluten in some things. These are two great options that we use that have been a little more cost-effective, along with a shampoo bar that I’ve used and like…

• Thinksport Shampoo & Conditioner
• Beauty Without Cruelty
• Yellow Bird Shampoo Bar

 

– Make-up

I was using Bare Minerals, which I thought was a good option. I switched to Young Living’s Savvy Minerals line. My face went through a detox season and I thought it was the YL foundation… I tried going back to what I had and the Bare Minerals irritated my face so much! Itchy, irritated, uncomfortable… sometimes it takes time for your body to get rid of the toxins we’ve exposed them to. I only use Savvy Minerals foundation and I love it.

 

– Feminine Hygiene Products

Yes, TMI for some. But for the rest of us, this matters! The product I was using had so many harsh chemicals and fragrances. I almost switched to a “natural” one and discovered it contained gluten (what?! why?!)… I’ve been using Natracare for all these needs for a couple years now. As with most of my healthy choices and because of my location, I buy online at Amazon or Walmart.

 

Thank you for being patient… I know this is a lot of information, but I pray these blogs are a resource to you on your journey. I have accumulated a lot of essential oils over the last two and a half years, as well as other ingredients that enable me to make the following products at home. If I can do it, you can too! It takes time, grace, and research. If you want to try something or need the recipe I use, please let me know! I love that I get to make the following for my family and I to use, and that we’re taking care of the bodies God has given us. Again, these are all products I make and don’t have to purchase:

• Foaming Body Wash
• Foaming Hand Soap
• Face Moisturizer
• Acne Serum
• Hair Rinse (in place of conditioner)
• Deodorant (although my husband prefers this one! Just try to avoid aluminum)
• Cough Rub (instead of Vick’s Vapor Rub)
• Detox Foot Baths
• Produce Wash 

These may seem like all the small things in life, but they really do matter.

Remember, do what you can. Don’t compare for the sake of comparing. None of us have it all together. Be inspired to make a healthy change! If I can do it, you can do it! And if you’re still overwhelmed, I’d love to help you.

One small thing at a time.