Bellingham Hippie » Shopping

Organic- Eco-friendly Shopping – THC Organic Market – Long Beach WA

Missy — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:10:36 +0000

THC Organic Market, Long Beach WA

After you make a huge change in your lifestyle, it can be a little challenging when you go to plan a vacation, whether it be camping, travel over seas, road tripping, or just a mini-break spent at your father and step-mother-in-laws on the Long Beach Peninsula. Do you change what you eat, or use or do normally to make it easier? (Is that even an options?) Or do you soldier on, sticking with your convictions?

Rick and I went away for a few days recently. Over the last few years, as we have been students and changed careers many times, have not had a ton of money to spend on travel. Also, until recently, Rick couldn’t do much traveling anyway, his health complicated simple trips of more than a few minutes. At the moment at least, he’s doing well and we can plan to act like a “normal” couple, taking little trips here and there. We are just learning how to do the green, organic, gluten free “hippy” way of traveling. It’s scary, exciting and very fun so far!

Before we left, we did searches looking for gluten free options (as this is the most important part of our life) anywhere near Ocean Park, where we were staying on the peninsula. I wanted to find anything. And we found THC Organic Market in Long Beach, the town. I was so excited! I was going to take pictures, shop and generally be a total hippy nerd.

Not long after we left, I realized that I had forgotten our shampoo. Shoot! What was I going to do? I was agonizing over it while we drove. Because though I don’t wash my hair daily, there was going to be one “hair wash day” in the middle of the mini-break (UK version of mini vacation – I have friends from there and think “mini-break” sounds better). I don’t like using my plain castile soap on my hair, I had tried that once with very little luck. Although, to be fair, my hair was really long then, not short as it is now.

The first full day that we were on the peninsula, Rick and I went on a mission. Rather, I was on a mission and Rick was along for the ride. We searched and searched, following google maps directions on his phone, to find THC Organic Market. Nothing, it wasn’t where it should have been – according to the map. I’ve discovered since living in Bellingham, that Google Maps don’t always do everything perfectly. Just as we were going to give up, we drove further into town, and stumbled upon the market! There it was, at the end of a long building, just across the street from the Neptune – the local movie theatre. I just about lost my self control I was so excited!

There was a little “A” frame sign with the days soup special(if I remember correctly) out front. Inside we found a smallish store, packed seven or eight feet high, with all the stuff I could find at the Bellingham Community Co-op! I was in heaven! There were organic products everywhere! (I know the name has “organic” in the name, but you never know.)
After a few minutes of being completely ridiculous, I settled down and looked for stuff I might need. Tea. I had woken up with a sore throat that morning and didn’t have any of my soothing tea with me. I found a whole section of Yogi teas. Review on the tea itself will be coming soon!

As I was browsing, resisting Rick’s urges to get going, I ran across my shampoo brand. Actually, found my exact shampoo, that doesn’t burn me or make me itch. (Also, should do a review on that as well.) My day was complete. I could wash my hair the following day without worry. Yes, I am a teeny, tiny bit neurotic and prefer my hair washed once it’s passed the three day mark. So far in my hair experiments that is as far as I have gotten. Anyway, getting side-tracked.

We ended up getting some of our “normal” groceries at THC Organic Market. We were able to enjoy organic butter on our gluten free rolls(from our co-op), cups and cups of Throat Comfort Yogi Tea, and a good shampooing the next morning (okay, almost afternoon). It was so awesome we went back the next day to show Rick’s dad and step-mom, George and Judy – and get gluten free donut holes and buffalo jerkey.

So if you ever find yourself on the Long Beach Peninsula in need of tea, shampoo, pet food, organic anything. Check out the THC Organic Market. Get their address, get the Neptune Twin Theatre’s address for reference. Or if you don’t mind talking on the phone(like I do), give them a call for good directions. Just don’t rely on Google Maps, (sorry Google,you are cool but the maps needs work). Mapquest?

To read their story, check out their site closer, or for updates, click on the following links:
Website: THC Organic Market
Facebook page(updates): THC Organic Market Facebook Page

Indoor view - THC Organic Market, Long Beach, WA

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Orglamix – Lovely Makeup – Awesome Service

Missy — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:35:51 +0000

     A few months ago I started a hunt on etsy to find someone whom provided safe cosmetics. I read through countless ingredients list, profile pages. I managed to narrow it down to what I was looking for specifically – mineral foundation and eyeshadow. Which really, only narrowed it down a little. I eventually decided to try a sample pack from a little shop called Orglamix. I liked what she said, her ingredients lists, and the pictures were just so fetching!
     I love her stuff! I’ve ordered from her several times in the last few months. My makeup case has been recreated without chemicals. Cheri is my makeup girl!
     In December I ran out of my foundation so I ordered the large size for winter color. And got it, along with a couple of sample eyeshadows. Lovely! (The other time I ordered from her she sent a sample as well. I love samples!)
     Then yesterday, Rick got the mail and brought me yet another package. I wasn’t expecting anything. I already had my handmade shoes delivered a week ago. (Yes, handmade! With vintage fabric! I’m in love with them and will eventually do a post on them in the future.) I opened the package to find two of my foundation color! With the order form from December. I was confused to say the least. Today, I sent her a message and asked what I should do. I offered to pay for them, ship them back, whatever she wanted me to do. She sent me a quick note that it was a mistake, but don’t worry, they were on her! I still feel strange about keeping them. But since I plan on ordering from her indefinitely, she will definitely get more money from me. (I wish there was a way to tip through paypal)
     I wanted to tell everyone whom reads my little blog that Cheri at Orglamix is super awesome! Thank you Cheri for your kindness, and great service!

Drink hot tea from a second hand cup to stay warm

Missy — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:32:29 +0000

     Since we decided to cut back on our expenses, we have only used the wall heater two days. Both days were very cold and neither Rick nor I could stay warm. That is not too bad though, two of ten or so days, without using the wall heater.
     I have done my part to stave off using the heater. I put on a couple more layers of clothing. I have avoided very cold foods, such as frozen fruit smoothies – though I am not sure how much longer I am going to want to “avoid” those.
     One thing I have done to stay warm on the cold days is having a cup of tea. I have always loved tea and coffee cups. My grandparents always had pretty ones with flowers. I have one of them. I love it. But it isn’t big enough in my opinion. I love huge mugs. I found this one at theLynnwood Goodwill a month ago. It was only $1.60 or so. It is so pretty, clear, light blue. It holds just the right amount of hot drink.
     This holiday season why not try a Goodwill? You can find many things far less expensive. It may take a little hunting but it will be worth it.

Sephora

Missy — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:01:33 +0000

     In the last few months my skin has developed some problems. I now have eczema on my right hand which on a bad day will cause deep cracks making me wear a glove while I massage. I’ve discovered that a lot of the common ingredients in hand lotions and hand soaps make it worse. So I use natural, organic alternatives. I’m also having more trouble with the skin on my face. I’m getting blemishes like I’ve never had before, deep pimples and clogged pores that seem closed. I am slowly switching away from cosmetics and facial care that includes synthetics of any kind. My basic skin care regime is changed and that has helped. However, the cosmetics I have in my bag now are not all natural. I’ve done some research about where to find better alternatives. Many of them are not local and would have to be shipped. If that was the only option that would be fine. However, after some more research I found out that Sephora carries some alternatives to the normal cosmetics. I looked online first, going through product lists and reviews of the products and wrote down a couple of things too look at when I went to the mall. I consider myself lucky in that because I love just a few miles from Alderwood Mall so it is more cost effective for me to go into the store and buy what I need rather than having it shipped to me.
     I’m not a fan of the mall. I find all the superficiality I see there to be repulsive. Though I enjoy makeup I think it’s what is inside the person that matters, not the outside. I walked slowly through the whole store with a friend not wanting to ask for help because I was expecting to come across a rude snob. Well, though the customers where annoying and fake the woman I asked was very helpful and nice. Questions answered and direction to the product for which I was looking I pick up what I needed and looked a couple of other things. I was very excited. I don’t mind ordering online, however it is nice to be able to see things in person, and colors are not always well presented on computer either because of the camera used or my computer at home.
     I decided to get two products a mascara and a mineral eye shadow. I’ll let you know how they are after I’ve used them a few times. An idea to help with choosing a cosmetic is to look locally first. Though maybe your local mall may not seem like a typical “green” alternative consider this – it may cost you less to drive to the mall to look. It’s good for you to walk around; most malls require a bit more walking than your typical grocery store. The products have already been shipped to the shop so by going there you don’t have another truck have to ship things to your home – your car probably gets better gas mileage than a UPS truck, or you can take the bus or walk. Might seem like a stretch but it makes sense to me. You may also be lucky enough to have a local small business nearby that makes eco-friendly cosmetics. So far I have not found that, but if anyone whom reads this knows of a local small company in Snohomish County WA let me know. I will continue looking myself.

Holiday shopping

Missy — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:05:24 +0000

     I hate to be the one to bring this up. It is after all not yet Thanksgiving. However, with the economy in the crapper many of us may want to try to spread out our Holiday shopping over a couple of months rather than one month.
     Rick and I always try to get a head start because when December rolls around we don’t always have a ton of money to blow. We started shopping in the spring for Christmas. Each time we go to Target together, we peruse the sale items looking for the fun item to make someone laugh or something useful that didn’t get completely bought out. We also love to go to the Antique Mall in Shoreline and try Goodwill on occasion. There are other options to consider though.
     Earlier this year I discovered something called Etsy. It’s great! It’s a lot like Amazon or Ebay except there is no bidding and everything has to be handmade or vintage. I bought a reusable grocery bag on Etsy a few months ago and it has been a life saver. I window shop at Etsy now and again looking for something unique.
     I decided to look under the vintage category to see what was listed. Some of the things weren’t overly exciting, some of them were great though. So far I’ve bought one thing for Rick for Christmas. I can’t post about it right now because, though he says he doesn’t read my blog, I don’t want to risk him reading it on a whim and spoiling the surprise. You’ll just have to look back after Christmas for my awesome Etsy gifts.

So a plug for Etsy: if you are gifting handmade items and you don’t want to make them yourself or don’t have the talent, or you want to find something vintage that no one else has think online and support these artists and craftsmen and craftswomen. Support the little men and women instead of your local Wal-Mart!