Welcome!

I started this blog to share my adventures as a secret hippie mom.  What is a secret hippie mom?  Well, when I was pregnant with my first daughter, Kendall, I was blown away by all the things you can't eat, use, or look at and it got me thinking, "if these things aren't safe for a pregnant woman, are they really safe in general?"  Maybe they are, maybe they aren't.  I'm not an expert in anything other than what I feel is right for my family.  I'll be the first to admit it, I don't do extensive amounts of research, either.  If it's questionable, I just decide to cut it out.  I strive to balance healthy, green living and a sustainable lifestyle with a sustainable budget.  You've probably noticed that anything labeled green, natural, recycled, sustainable, organic, etc. are usually more expensive and it can be very financially difficult to always make buying and using those products and services a priority.

So why "secret?"  I'm going to stereotype here - I don't think I come across, at first, as a typical hippie.  I shave my legs and arms, I don't drive a hybrid, I don't smell most of the time.  Sometimes people are turned off and become dismissive or sometimes argumentative about certain topics so I like to closet my hippie for times I feel strongly enough to let people in on my secret.

When my second daughter, Brooke, was born, we decided it was best that I stay home.  The cost of daycare was almost as much as I was making and with gas to and from and lunches, it was the same, if not going to cost us money if I returned to work.  We've always lived within our means - we are careful with our money in most ways so that we have it when we want or need it.  However, I knew living on one income was going to be tough so I started to look for ways to cut down our cost.  Cloth diapering was something I was interested in with Kendall, but never did, so I looked into it again.  It seemed like a really good way to save money and cut down our environmental footprint.  That choice really made me realize that my life had gone in a more natural direction and made me want to share our experiences with the world.

Our mission: Trying to live green without having so spend a ton of it.  Being personally and environmentally conscious while still living practically and financially smart.  I'm going to share it all with you!

This blog will feed into my new website: www.secrethippiemom.com so check me out there, too!