Chemical free beauty products

I have always been a proponent of toxin-free things... selling my high quality detox foot pads, it is important that I practice what I preach. I have been eating toxin- and chemical- free as often as possible, but in my daily routine I was still using chemical products on my hair, skin, teeth, and in my household. So, I have decided to try to make my life as toxin-free as possible.

Here is what I am doing:

1) I was introduced to a baking soda shampoo and apple cider vinegar rinse, by my sister in law. I have been using it now for 2 weeks and my hair feels fabulous. I am so surprised, I never thought it would be this easy. I don't have oily hair, so those with oily hair may have a time period where the body has to adjust. It can take 2-4 weeks, from what I have read. I also have long hair, to my waist, and it has been tangle-free and light, not heavy at all.

2) I am using homemade soap instead of the toxic soaps from the store. I use Miracle Soap (all natural, no toxins or chemicals) for my face morning and night. I don't wear foundation so I don't worry so much about this.

3) I am using coconut oil for lotion and facial moisturizer.

4) My sister in law gave me some homemade laundry soap. This is pretty cool! It works ok, even got some old stains out of one of my articles of clothing. It does make the clothes feel a teeny bit different, and no scent, so I put lemon essential oil into the wash with the laundry soap. I use dryer balls from Norwex so I don't have the need for dryer sheets.

5) Homemade toothpaste. Who knew that all you needed was coconut oil, baking soda and peppermint essential oil for a fresh, clean, toxin free mouth?

6) I am using vinegar to clean my house now. I also use Miracle Soap for my floors. For the past 2 weeks I have only used natural cleansers (mostly vinegar) in my home.

My goals are to work my way to using homemade deodorant (right now I am using the crystal deodorant which is chemical and toxin free, but I still want to try the homemade kind) and also homemade perfume. I have a whole bunch of essential oils (dozens) and I have everything else, I just need some organic vodka. Anyone know where I can get that?

So, after I have been using these products for a few months, I hope to be able to tell a difference. I do not smell. I have asked my husband to tell me if he smells body odor on me, or if my hair starts to reek. So far, I am good!

Goodbye Toxins!!

Do these clothes give you cancer?

As the following newsletter crossed my desk this morning, I read through it and am just sick to my stomach. I am trying to become toxin free, with my detox foot pads and by using natural, toxin free (and homemade) products. I now have homemade, all natural laundry soap, I also have homemade shampoo and conditioner using only 3 ingredients (that is another blog post altogether). I am using coconut oil as a moisturizer, along with my miracle II lotion, (and I use miracle II soap -- all natural -- for cleanser). I have recipes for natural deodorant that I haven't tried yet, but plan on making the homemade toothpaste this weekend. (I am currently using something similar to the crystal stone for deodorant). Most all of my makeup is natural, none of the chemicals that you usually read in an ingredient list. So now I have to worry about my clothing? Hmmm. Sorry about posting the whole email below, I am not promoting Cancer Defeated at all, but when a topic comes up that interests me, I want to comment on it.

Newsletter #169
Lee Euler, Editor
[Image] Cancer Defeated logo
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About Cancer Defeated!

Are There Cancer-Causing
Chemicals in Your Clothes?

    Most of us put a lot of thought into eating healthy food and breathing clean air, but not a lot of folks worry about healthy clothing. It's a chilling thought to wonder whether the shirt you're wearing right now might contain deadly chemicals.

    But it's something you should take notice of since cancer-causing chemicals are found throughout most of the fabrics we buy and wear. Keep reading and I'll explain what I mean. . .

Continued below. . .


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    Personally, I'm very sensitive to dyes, chemicals, and treated fabrics. I even have white "all cotton" sheets I can't use because they make me sick. I'm certainly not alone — over a million results pop up on Google when you search "chemical sensitivities to clothing."

    The good news is that it's easy to fix this problem, once you understand it.

Your chemical-laced clothing

    In a recent study commissioned by Greenpeace International, several major clothing brands were found guilty of using nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) in the manufacturing process. This chemical breaks down into toxic nonylphenol (NP), which has hormone-disrupting properties that persist over time and can be hazardous even at low levels.

    The clothing brands tested included 14 leading brands like Calvin Klein, Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Nike, and H&M. The clothing articles that were tested were manufactured in at least 13 different countries. Greenpeace used an independent laboratory to test for the presence of NPEs. Of the 78 articles tested, a full two-thirds (52 items) tested positive for NPEs higher than the regulated limit of detection (1 milligram NPEs/kilogram material).

    NPE is actually banned from use in textile production in a lot of countries, including those in the European Union, but regulations are lax in most Asian countries where a lot of global clothing brands source their products. The chemical is most commonly used in the dyeing process.

    The fact that NPEs were detected in the fabrics proved they were used during production. And if they were used in production, there's a good chance they were released into the environment where they're unable to fully break down. This stuff hangs around for a long time.

    That's bad enough, but on top of that, global exports deliver clothing with residual NPEs to markets where those chemicals are banned in clothing manufacture. Worse, washing these clothing items releases NPEs into water treatment facilities unequipped to handle them. "Treatment" at those facilities generally only speeds up the breakdown of NPEs into toxic NPs. Those NPs end up in aquatic systems, build up in the food chain (fish, for instance), and then come back to us. (If you want to read the full Greenpeace report, go here.)

    We know for sure that this increase of hormonal buildup released by chemicals in our environment taxes our bodies in major ways. It may be having an immediate effect on our children, and especially on young girls. Puberty for girls used to begin around age 15 or 16 over a hundred years ago. Now, it starts as early as age nine. The average age of menopause has also been adjusted — now it's ten to 15 years later than it used to be.

    The reasons for ever-earlier puberty are not known for sure. It's a controversial topic. But NPEs may be a factor.

    Not only does early onset of puberty increase a woman's number of fertile years, it increases her chances of breast cancer.

    But it's not just Greenpeace finding all the bad news. Chinese authorities have also tested for and found cancer-causing textile dyes in clothing manufactured by some popular Chinese brands, including Jeanswest and Baoxinlai (sold both in China and abroad). In this case, the offending toxin is decomposable aromatic amine, a poisonous dye that has been banned since 2006.

    This dye cannot be washed out of fabric and is easily absorbed into human skin. With long-term exposure, it can cause cancer.

Wearing scented chemicals
Can damage your health

    The health risks of clothing don't stop in the manufacturing process. Depending on the laundry products you use, you may be coating your clothes with even more cancer-causing chemicals.

    In a study conducted by Anne Steinemann of the University of Washington, there is a sickening cocktail of chemicals that gets emitted through the air vents of clothes dryers. The toxic elements stem from both liquid detergent and perfumed dryer sheets. Steinemann's analysis found over 25 volatile organic compounds, seven of which are considered hazardous air pollutants, in the dryer vents. Two of those chemicals — acetaldehyde and benzene — are considered carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency.

    The fumes alone potentially cause headaches, asthma, and possibly even seizures. Dryer sheets are the worst offenders since their chemical ingredients get heated up and released into the air, posing a respiratory health risk to anyone who breathes the fumes — whether they're inside or outside your home.

    Sustained exposure to the chemicals from dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener may very well have a toxic effect. Both products contain benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), limonene (a known carcinogen), and chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen).

    Fabric softeners in particular are designed to stay in your clothes for an extended period of time. This means those chemicals gradually seep out and are either inhaled or get absorbed directly through the skin.

    Just the fragrance chemicals alone in these products are extremely toxic, known to cause liver damage and cancer in mammals. These things are only approved for consumer use because the FDA considers them cosmetic products — on the same level with shampoo, deodorants, and creams. The agency claims there are no health risks because those chemicals aren't absorbed through the skin.

    That's a grossly false belief. For a regulatory agency to say, "There's no problem! The skin doesn't absorb a thing!" is the equivalent of claiming all the transdermal patches on the market don't work. And nowadays, a wide variety of pharmaceuticals are available in transdermal patch form, including nicotine patches for smoking cessation, opioid medications for pain relief, estrogen patches for contraception or menopausal symptoms, and scopolamine for motion sickness.

    As I've often said, if you depend on these government agencies to look out for you, make sure your insurance is paid up — health and life — because you're gonna need it. The agencies mostly function to reassure the public that the products of industry are just fine — so you don't look into the matter too closely yourself. People who do are considered cranks and kooks.

Natural ways to keep poisonous
chemicals out of your clothes

    What we know for sure is that the skin is our largest organ. Our bodies drink in anything we put on it, including chemicals that linger on and in our clothing.

    A lot of factors are contributing to this poison problem in our clothes, from lax regulation in the clothing manufacturing process to lack of education regarding laundry products. But at least there are a few things we can do about it.

    As far as avoiding clothes that were mixed with toxins in the manufacturing process, your best bet is to either buy organic clothing or buy clothes manufactured in the U.S. or the E.U.

    And the laundry product issue is really a good reminder not to focus all our attention on pollution from cars and industry. A lot of it happens right in our own homes.

    On the brighter side, plenty of "green" companies are now coming out with safer fabric softeners. Seventh Generation and Ecover both have options that rely on vegetable products and natural essential oils. There's also Maddocks' Static Eliminator, a non-toxic, hypoallergenic reusable dryer sheet made out of a proprietary, chemical-free polynylon.

    A word of warning: I find I have a bad reaction to a lot of the "green" laundry products found in health food stores. One problem is the mania for scenting everything. Try them out carefully and observe your own symptoms. Headaches, muscles aches, skin problems or respiratory problems may be caused by these products.

    Another great alternative to the laundry product problem is to use "homemade" fabric softener. National Geographic's Green Guide recommends adding either a quarter cup of baking soda or a quarter cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle. Either one will soften clothes, while the latter will also address static cling (but don't mix either one with bleach since the resulting chemical reactions could cause noxious fumes).

    Or, you could take several strips of an old cotton shirt or pillowcase and soak them in a jar of vinegar combined with an essential oil, like eucalyptus. Add a strip to every load you toss in the dryer. Or just put the vinegar mixture in a spray bottle and spray the wet laundry.

    I haven't tried baking soda or white vinegar in my wash — if you have, drop me a line at our letters to the editor address: newsletter@cancerdefeated.com

    And of course, the best "old-fashioned" solution to keeping chemicals out of your clothes is drying them outside on a clothes line. Let the fresh air and sunshine do all the work. Even here, alas, I have to introduce a word of caution: quite a bit of pollen can settle on clothes hanging outside. So if you have allergies you may need to be alert to the problem.

Kindest regards,

Lee Euler Publisher


References

"Cancer-causing dyes in Chinese clothes." Beijing. IBN Live. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cancercausing-dyes-in-chinese-
clothes-report/127902-2.html

"'Cancer risk' of perfumed products that go in your tumble-dryer as chemicals are found in air from vents." By James Tozer, Mail Online. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2029873/Cancer-risk-
perfumed-products-tumble-dryer-chemicals-air-vents.html

"Death by fashion: is your wardrobe poisoning the world's water supply?" by Gervase Poulden, the Ecologist. http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/clothing/1028204/death_by_fashion
_is_your_wardrobe_poisoning_the_worlds_water_supply.html

"Dirty Laundry 2: Hung Out to Dry | Unraveling the toxic trail from pipes to products." Greenpeace." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/toxics
/Water%202011/dirty-laundry-report-2.pdf

"Ditch the Dryer Sheets: Spray-Fresh DIY Fabric Softener." by Crunchy Betty. http://www.crunchybetty.com/ditch-the-dryer-sheets-diy-fabric-softener

"'Greener' Laundry by the Load: Fabric Softener versus Dryer Sheets." Scientific American. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=greener-laundry

"Greenpeace finds highly toxic chemicals in branded clothing." By Christina Luisa, Natural News. http://www.naturalnews.com/033436_toxic_chemicals_clothing.html

"Toxic Fashion: Your Clothes May Cause Cancer." City Weekend Blog. http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/articles/blogs-beijing/
beijing-style/toxic-fashion-your-clothes-may-cause-cancer/

"Warning: Many dryer sheets contain cancer causing chemicals." By Mike Adams, Natural News. http://www.naturalnews.com/002693_personal_care_products_dryer_sheets.html


If you’d like to comment, write me at newsletter@cancerdefeated.com.  Please do not write asking for personal advice about your health. I’m prohibited by law from assisting you.  If you want to contact us about a product you purchased or a service issue, the email address is custserv@cancerdefeated.com.


Editor in Chief: Lee Euler Contributing Editors: Mindy Tyson McHorse, Carol Parks, Roz Roscoe Marketing: Shane Holley Information Technology Advisor: Michelle Mato Webmaster: Steve MacLellan Fulfillment & Customer Service: Joe Ackerson and Cami Lemr


Health Disclaimer: The information provided above is not intended as personal medical advice or instructions. You should not take any action affecting your health without consulting a qualified health professional. The authors and publishers of the information above are not doctors or health-caregivers. The authors and publishers believe the information to be accurate but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. There is some risk associated with ANY cancer treatment, and the reader should not act on the information above unless he or she is willing to assume the full risk.

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Can detox foot pads help you lose weight?

Over the years I have seen detox foot pads that claim they will help you lose weight. Some of them have ingredients like grapefruit pectin, which is known to help those pounds get flushed away.

I have been selling Purify Your Body detox foot pads for over 7 years, and have been using them for almost 9 years. (Not continuously... I normally use them only on weekends as maintenance). I have studied, and found the best formula using the best ingredients, and of course, using absolutely no fillers. As a result, Purify Your Body offers the best deal on the best foot pads, and as always, we offer free priority mail shipping anywhere in the U.S.

So, I hope that I come to you with a little bit of knowledge on this subject. Detox foot pads WILL help you lose weight. But not in the way you are thinking. You don't need special ingredients (like grapefruit pectin). None of the ingredients ENTER your bloodstream. (It can be debated that minute amounts do get into your body... and that might be true, just as your skin might absorb lotion, however, the ingredients of the foot pads PULL things out, and so let's say that nothing in adequate amounts to help you lose weight, will enter your body through the foot pads).

With most people who are struggling with their weight, we see a problem of a sluggish metabolism. When your body is filled with toxins, your thyroid isn't going to work to regulate your metabolic system. It will become almost stagnate. As a result, no matter what you do, no matter how many calories you burn, no matter how few calories you eat, YOU WILL NOT LOSE WEIGHT! At least not easily.  It will be very difficult for you to lose weight and it will cause a vast amount of frustration as a result. Like walking on a treadmill, you won't get anywhere no matter the effort you put in.

So, where do the detox foot pads come in? Simple. You cleanse your body -- especially use them on your toes -- and get your system cleaned out, so when you DO workout, when you DO eat right, your body will reward you by losing the fat. Like a well tuned machine, your body will finally respond to all your weight loss activities.

Yes, it is that easy.

But, if you continue to put toxins in your body (i.e. via the foods you eat and the toxic drinks you consume), you will face the same situation over and over again throughout your life. Some of the worst culprits include diet beverages that contain aspartame and sucrolose (splenda). This horrible poison is so bad for anyone who wants to lose weight. It will make your metabolism slow down so that it is at a standstill. It can cause brain lesions, migraines, epilepsy, and more. It can make you feel fatigued. And it is in so many processed foods, including yogurts! Commercial yogurt is NOT a health food. Don't be misled. IF you want a good probiotic, try kefir. In fact, try making your own. Email me if you want some kefir grains, and for the cost of shipping, I will send you some delicious, wholesome kefir grains. (Please do a Google search about kefir and the health benefits. Then read about how to make your own kefir. After you have done this, and if you are interested in trying it out, THEN request some kefir grains from me. But only if you are serious).

I would suggest starting out with a 60-day supply of the detox foot pads. Wear them every night, rotate the area on your feet where you put them on. Then, at the end of the month, consider how you are feeling, and decide if you want to continue. You will know whether they will be worth it to you.

Detox Foot Pad Testimonial

Good Morning. Thanks so much for the foot pads. I tried them last night for the first time. I followed your suggestion on your website and put 3 on each foot…..on heels, arches and balls of the feet. The gooiest was the ones on the balls of my feet. You will not believe this and I certainly know it’s not “in my head.” I got out of bed this morning and DID NOT HURT like I usually do! I have osteoarthritis and struggle each morning and moan and groan when I get up out of bed. I still had minor pain but not like I normally hurt! Isn’t that amazing, after just 1 night? (It almost scares me, just thinking how much toxins are in my body, judging by the goo on the foot pads!)

-DK in Texas

tag: detox foot pads

The first time I tried raw milk

I grew up in California, in a suburb of San Jose. We didn't have access to raw milk, and the only time I ever experienced it was when I was 5 years old and my family went across the country to visit relatives in Pennsylvania. There, we got to see goats being milked, cows being milked, and a myriad of other things that I can' tseem to recall. I remember being squirted with milk as someone was milking a goat, I believe. I did not think that was funny at all.

But now that I know what happens on commercial dairy farms when they produce milk. I cannot get myself to drink store bought milk anymore. The blood and the pus that gets into the milk is "fine" for us to drink because it is going to be pasteurized. If they didn't pasteurize, the dairies would never be licensed because of all the crud and germs, bacteria and such that are in the not so clean dairy production centers... "but it is ok because pasteurization will kill them all". No, thank you. I gag now when I think of drinking milk from the store. Not to mention the hormones and antibiotics that will be lurking in your milk, or that the cows are fed genetically modified soy and corn. Yuck. Gross. Disgusting.

So, I found a co-op in my area that I could join and become a "member". As a result, I would have access to raw milk from an organic farm. One of the HUGE differences between an organic dairy farm and a commercial farm is the cleanliness and the gentle way of treating the animals vs. shoving them to be milked from a metal machine that makes their teats swollen, infected and inflamed. The safety and cleanliness requirements are way above and beyond what is required of a commercial dairy.

The first time I tried raw milk, I have to be honest, I couldn't drink it straight. I had to make chocolate milk. So I was drinking chocolate milk for about 2 weeks!! YUM! And I used it for cooking, and then for cereal. Pretty soon I became familiar with it, the wholesome goodness of fresh milk, from a bottle that I had to shake to distribute the cream on top!

Then I was hooked.

I recently went through the same process with kefir. I had been making homemade yogurt, which was very time consuming. I was told that kefir was so much easier, but when I thought of drinking fermented milk, it just grossed me out (even though yogurt is a type of fermented milk and I ate that all the time!). So, I slowly tried, started making it with some raw milk kefir grains a local farmer gave me. I started out by making fruit smoothies with it, and then just flavoring it with vanilla extracts... and now I barely sweeten it at all.

New processes and new foods take time to be comfortable with, but I am so glad I did. They don't seem strange to me anymore, but 5 years ago they did.

I am thankful I have my delicious, healthy, wholesome milk, and raw milk kefir now. I am getting REAL nutrition, an abundance of vitamins and minerals and other nutrients, and tons of healthy probiotics for my insides :) Oh, and tons of enzymes that my body needs, as well.

How different people use detox foot pads (detox foot patches)

 There are many ways to use the detox foot pads. The first way I recommend is to wear three on each foot (depending on the size of your feet) the first night, so you can figure out what area of your feet are producing the most goo, and then focus on that area (with one on each foot) until that area is clean, and comes back in the morning white, vs. filled with goo. You should be able to feel better the quickest with this method.

But, there are so many other methods to use the detox foot patches.

One lady uses only one per night to help her sleep, and she rotates which foot and which area she puts them on, every night. This saves her money, and does a very slow detox, but still works well for her.

Everybody is different, and it depends on how  many toxins, what kind of toxins, and how often you are exposing your body to toxins. It can take MONTHS of the goo to disappear from the foot pads. My husband wore them and it took him only one month, and he doesn't have as healthy a lifestyle as I do! It took me over 3-4 months to get my arches to come out clean in the morning.

However, you don't have to use them for that long, to still get health benefits. If you notice that you are feeling better, sleeping better, having more energy, the foot pads ARE working. So if you can only afford on month for right now, I still recommend that. Many people are on limited, fixed incomes right now, and our economy isn't really helping us feel safe financially. We don't want to spend on something unnecessary, but I see it as health should be our top priority. That way we can continue to live our lives, work, earn money, and not feel sick.

I also would recommend trying them on different areas of your feet.... the underside of your toes, the heels, the balls of your feet, and the arches.

You also can put them directly on a swollen or inflamed area (elbows, knees, etc) if there are no open wounds in the area. You will be amazed at the inflammation that it pulls out.

One lady uses the detox foot pads for her children. They used to be disruptive in school, and wouldn't sleep well at night. Now, they sleep like babies, and she only uses one foot pad per kid per night. That is all it takes.

I know I sleep better with the foot pads on my feet at night. Some people that I know hate to have anything on their feet while they sleep. Those folks might do best to use the foot pads during the day.

Please "like" Purify Your Body's detox foot pads on Facebook

We offer special promotional codes every so often, so don't miss out!

First day of "winter"

I know the winter solstice is still a few weeks away... but weathermen all around call Dec 1st the first day of meteorological winter. We have about an inch of snow on the ground from last night, welcoming us to "winter". But worse than that is the chill... for the next week at least we won't be seeing higher than freezing temps.

I am sick of the cold when I have to do things... like drive to work, run errands, etc. if I had to stay at home I would be fine. Light the fire, sit on the couch with my notebook, and crocheting, and sodoku, and my nook, with music playing in the background (I prefer that to TV). And have nothing to do for hours. This wouldn't work for me if it was just 15 minutes, which is basically all I seem to get these days :(

This Saturday I have no plans outside the home. So LET IT SNOW. I plan on doing my chores early in the morning. I can't wait.

Tonight I get to see Shannon. :) Unless one of us postpones again, for like the 17th time!

Wow, this is a boring blog post. One of my most boring ones. HAH! Gotta leave for work now to give myself extra time for the traffic.

Happy Winter!

My experience with Kefir and its health benefits

This past summer I was introduced to homemade kefir. I was suffering from what we thought was acid reflux, and so I researched some natural methods to treat it, and stumbled upon kefir.

I couldn't imagine drinking a "liquid yogurt drink" or a "fermented dairy drink" but everywhere on the internet I read fascinating testimonials about the health benefits of kefir, so I decided to try it.

I didn't want to buy the commercial brands, I wanted to make my own. The co-op where I get my raw milk from has a lady who had excess kefir grains, and so she gave me some for starters. I used raw milk, and started as directed by the many websites out there that teach you all you can learn. I make my kefir by fermenting it for 24 hours, and I flavor it with vanilla and liquid stevia. I drink it as a morning protein shake.

Some of the diseases/illnesses that kefir works to improve include:

  • colitis / ulcerative colitis
  • irritable bowel syndrome
  • leaky gut
  • acid reflux
  • heartburn
  • gastritis
This is just a few things that it can help. It relieves most all gastro-intestinal disorders, and adds the healthy bacteria into your gut. (tons more than yogurt!) It has a tranqulizing effect on the nervous system, and promotes good health.

I just feel fabulous after drinking some every morning for the past 3 months. I suggest you look into it if you want your body to have what my doctor calls a "superfood" - so try it out!! It is delicious!!

And to feel even healthier, please try my detox foot patches, to pull out the toxins from your body. Doing both the kefir and my detox foot pads for just a month, you will feel so much better!!!

Did you have the wedding of your dreams? Did you get into debt? Do you regret it?

I hear and read a lot about how newly engaged women become bridezillas, and how extravagant weddings can be. Most everyone agrees that it is ridiculous behavior, and that the important thing is the marriage and the man you are marrying. Yet Bridal magazines continue to flaunt showy and frivolous affairs that cost a fortune to achieve. And weddings that are under $10,000 are considered "cheap" -- well, I spent less than $1,000 on mine, MUCH LESS! The most expensive item was the flowers, and I only spent $150 on them!!!

I wonder how many people out there rack up debt to pay for their "perfect wedding" and they are paying it off for years afterward... sometimes even after they end up divorced!

I am not ashamed to admit I had a simple wedding, with what I thought was a beautiful dress. I bought my dress on eBay brand new for only $25. I actually bought two that I liked, in case one didn't fit right, so I got 2 dresses for $50, and that second dress I sold locally on Craigslist for $100, making enough money to buy my tiara and some shoes, a garter and I splurged and had some tanning sessions. Here is a picture of us, my beautiful $25 dress, the homemade floral bouquet, and my new husband who never smiles! Trust me, he really is happy to be married!!!!

wedding photo

And for the cake, we got two regular white cakes from the local bakery. Their wedding cakes started around $150 for something simple that only fed like 10 people, and only went up in price from there... so I got a 10" and a 7" regular cake (NOT wedding cake) and bought the cake stand and cake topper from Michael's with a coupon I had. Then some of the flower clippings, we decorated the cake with. It ended up being only $50 with all the supplies, and it fed up to 35 people, although there were only 15 people at my wedding:

Wedding_cake

I will admit that I do not like huge crowds. I do have a lot of friends, but I wanted to celebrate this intensely special day with just my immediate family. At least those who could make it out to Minnesota. The rest of my family watched via Skype. I didn't need to rent a huge banquet hall, we didn't have to do anything special except state our vows and make promises to each other. We didn't have to have bridesmaids and groomsmen, and make others fork over tons of money for a tux or a dress, nor did we need gifts. A few people demanded to be allowed to buy us gifts, but we didn't want any. We are two professionals who make decent money. This is a second marriage for us both, and we have everything we need.

So I wonder -- do you regret having a huge wedding? If so, was it because you are now divorced, or because you got into debt? If you are a parent who paid for a huge wedding for a child, do you regret that? I wonder because I hear about so many marriages being in jeopardy, people going through divorce, and I am curious -- did they start out on the wrong foot? Focused on materialism and fancy "things" vs. the treasures of the heart? Please comment, I would love to hear your take on this... and if you had the perfect wedding, what was it?

I am very far from being materialistic. I prefer comfort over fashion. I have bad taste in styles and accessories, and you know what? I don't care. What I care about is if I perform to the best of my ability, that I don't lie, that I don't cheat, and that I do what is right. My wedding may be considered tacky by some, especially being married on April Fool's Day, which I think fits us perfectly! It is pretty funny, we have a great relationship filled with jokes and pranks and teasing.

And we have our bad days, too. We are still doing somewhat of the "dance" and learning how to be each others support, friend, encourager, while still trying to get our own needs met. It is a dance. And we sometimes act like we have two left feet, and stumble. But, I am in for the long haul, and practice will make us perfect.

I have married the man I chose, and I would marry him again in a heartbeat.

So tell me your experiences!! Good or bad! I want to hear!