Deadly Poision

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely,
and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Phil 4:8

While we were in the States recently, a woman at the beauty counter tried to sell me a brownish powder for my vanishing eyebrows.  But while I loved the product, I did not love the price.  When I got back to Kakamega, I noticed that Pinterest recommends cocoa powder as a great alternative.  So, with nothing to lose, I decided to give it a try. And you know what?  It actually works!  AND it smells scrumptious! 

This discovery unleashed something in me that I'm finding a bit difficult to control. I've since done some research on the web, and I've learned that 60 to 80 percent of the lotions and potions we place on our bodies go directly into the bloodstream, and that most of them are full of toxic chemicals.  Knowing this, and having no chance whatsoever to purchase my favorite products locally, I've taken to making my own concoctions from the contents of my pantry.

It's been amazing.  At last count, I'm making my own shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, deodorant, body lotion, face wash and face cream. I am particularly proud of my homemade blush and lipstick, and while I couldn't bring myself to use crushed beetles (as that famed beauty Cleopatra did), I once again consulted Pinterest and turned to crayons as the basis for my color palate. That's right -- crayons!  (The Crayola website indicates their crayons are non-toxic and safe to eat so long as the paper is removed.  Go figure!)

Watch out Revlon!  There's a new girl in town!

Apparently, you can also dye your hair with tea bags, but Ken drew the line and asked me to postpone that little experiment until later in the year, after we get back from a couple of conferences. That's OK, because in the meantime I'm turning my energies to making stain remover, all-purpose cleaner, spray starch, and Febreze!   As you might guess, Ken's not exactly ecstatic about this new trend in my life, but I have to admit that he's done reasonably well in embracing my new-found passion for homemade products, although I also suspect it's primarily because he likes the effect on his wallet. 

Anyway, since I have been saving so much money lately, Ken drove me on Saturday to Kisumu so that I could splurge on a haircut and a good meal.   Unfortunately, after a two-hour drive, we found that my hairdresser had gone out of business.  Ken saw the devastated look on my face, and he quickly developed Plan B.  We would visit the two best hotels in town, he announced, and ask where they send their wazungu guests for haircuts.  Sadly, both hotels referred us back to where we'd started.  Not to be defeated, Ken then took me to the largest market in town to find some residents who might give us a lead. We did meet one charming gentleman, but you guessed it, he too referred us back to my original hairdresser.  We had struck out.

A typical local salon

So, despite a great meal and a day out, I found that I wasn't in the best of moods on the way home.  I started running through my mind all of the negative experiences of the preceding week, which ultimately left me feeling terrible.  But when I reached the depth of my self-pity, I remembered a quote by Alan Rufus:

Negative thoughts are poison to the body, mind, and soul. 

It was just like my body.  My toxic thoughts were stealing my joy, I thought.  So I promptly banished the poisons from my mind and prayed that God would take captive every thought, so that I could give them back as gifts of praise.  He did just that, and my spirit was healed. 

Now, I wonder what else I can find in the pantry!