{Beauty Series} Oil Pulling

I'm obsessed with coconut oil. I cook and bake with it, use it in my hair, as a moisturizer, home remedies, I use it as a cleanse, eating it by tablespoon every once in a while. Back in February, when my best friend's sister-in-law mentioned she was oil pulling, I was all ears and all in. I've been doing it daily ever since. The results are fabulous. It will forever be part of my morning ritual.

Psst...It's Wear Purple for Peace Day :)

Now, these days I can't read through my blog feed without finding one or two posts about the new oil pulling trend. I've been meaning to share about my experience, and now that I found some unexpected down time I'm blogging away.

So what in the world is oil pulling? Well, every morning after I drink a glass of water, I get up and take a heaping teaspoon of coconut oil and swish it around my mouth for 15-20 minutes. During this time I'm preparing my coffee, breakfast, work lunch, chores, laundry, laying out my clothes, hop in the shower, or taking a stroll around the yard (soon with our puppy!!!!). The more distracted you are the easier it is to reach that 20-minute mark. (The first time I did it I lasted 6 minutes, and by day three I was at 20 minutes.) When I'm finished I spit it in the trash, rinse with a few sips of water, and go about my day. I feel refreshed. My teeth are whitening, and my gums have not bled once since I started (which is saying a lot because I tend to brush a little too hard). It's supposed to help with bad breath, and have anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis treatments, too. Then, after breakfast and coffee, I brush my teeth. (However, I have heard some people only oil-pull and forgo brushing...to each his own.)

So what is the point? One article states, "In India people credit oil pulling with a range of cures, from reducing all manner of aches and pains to even reversing heart disease....It’s well documented, for example, that ingesting certain kinds of oil has a [pulling effect] on other oils and fat-soluble toxins, such as heavy metals and pesticides, drawing these substances from the fatty tissues of the body." It's also rumored to relieve headaches and detoxify the body by pulling out toxins.

Points to remember: Don't eat anything before oil pulling in order to really pull the toxins out of your mouth and body. However, you want to drink a glass of water beforehand to get your saliva going. Don't swallow or the toxins will go right back into your body. Spit it in the trash. It's oil. It will clog your drain, pipes, and toilet. If the oil is grayish or yellowish then the toxins are coming out. (I don't really pay attention to the color, I just spit it out.) Spit the water you use to rinse with in the trash as well. (I heard of people rinsing with salt water as well.) Don't brush immediately after; it's good to let the oil sit on your teeth.

Some people do this at night before bed. I prefer to do it in the morning. Find the time that fits best with you. It will feel weird at first, but trust me you will easily get used to it. I look forward to oil pulling and use it as my natural morning mouthwash. I'm obsessed.

I convinced Mama to try it and, as long as I melt it down a little bit, Mr. B reaps the benefits too!

Please feel free to ask me any questions! :)

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

1. Coffee

Coffee. Coffee.

COFFEE.

I'm bringing a new feature to Sweet B's Impressions this year, and it's all about my favorite things. Each post will be completely dedicated to that one favorite thing. And I couldn't think of a more perfect way to start off this series. For those who know me, even if it's just through this blog, it's quite obvious. And it has six letters.

C-O-F-F-E-E.

My coffee bar :)

I was a late bloomer in my family. My love for coffee didn't happen until I went to college, where I first learned to enjoy the taste of coffee-flavored things. My love for strong, black coffee began my senior year of college, living with my best friend. Jessica loves to tell the story about how she came back to our apartment one night, around 11 p.m., and I greeted her with "Hey, I just made a pot of coffee! You want some coffee!" She just looked at me and went to bed.

I think most in my family came out of the womb drinking coffee. Mama gave my cousin her first taste of coffee at nine months old. We love our coffee. It doesn't matter what time of day, or night, there's always a pot on. And if not, there will be shortly. My fondest memories are of shared coffee at the kitchen table. The kitchen is where my family gathers. The kitchen is where you wanted to be. It was always filled with family, laughter, stories, food, and the smell of coffee. We didn't need anything else. And I loved that. I'm sure that is why I love coffee so much. It's the memories associated with it. It's the ritual of my coffee time I enjoy so much.

Which reminds me, it's National Coffee Break Day. I hope you are celebrating.

Also, I love coffee everything. Coffee flavored chocolate, ice cream, books, quotes, coffee shops. I love Starbucks. It's my little treat. I like the environment. The smells. The rewards. The customer service. I could write a whole separate "Favorite Things" blog just on Starbucks. But I'm saving you from more obsessed-with-coffee-ramblings.

Bonus. I love COFFEE mugs.

This is what our "beverage" cabinet looks like at the moment. Mostly overflowing with coffee mugs, and of course my many travel mugs. Sadly, the holiday mugs are sitting on a shelf in the basement. (Also, I want to point out that this picture is minus a good three mugs. They're currently being used or have been, and for the moment reside in the dishwasher. Annnnd, a few of my mugs I house at work, that way I have choices. Love choices.)

The below picture was taken two Christmases ago. Mama understands me so well.

Growing up in my family, no one ever had matching mugs. I mean, what fun is that? Opening up the cabinet and selecting the mug that best fits your mood at that exact moment is almost as satisfying as the coffee itself. I loved going to Grandma's and using her cranky "Grandma" mug. I have two favorites, a purple mug and a Starbucks mug, I use at my parent's house, and that big white one [pictured above] has Mama's name all over it when she visits me.

Mr. B, however, does not understand this at all. He's been known to threaten to "clean out" my mug cabinet, asking why I need so many mugs, and when will we have that many people over all needing a mug? In response, I have been known to threaten violence. As mentioned before, my husband does not drink coffee, nor any hot beverage requiring a mug. After seven years of knowing me, and over five years of living together, just recently he has learned he is fighting a losing battle. Now he just rolls his eyes every time I bring home a new coffee mug.

But, we have compromised....only because I understand I cannot use every.single.cabinet.space for my lovely mugs. I rotate out my Christmas/holiday/winter mugs. Unfortunately, I'm sure soon I will have to rotate the seasons as well.

This should actually be favorite thing #.5 (because I need the mug first, and then the coffee. But I've been known to drink out of just about anything.)

Bonus. Bonus. Check out this article, from Women's Health Magazine, on indicators you're obsessed with coffee. Guilty of all charges. Except #1. I am quite the morning person :)

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi