The Bruffeys: Our Family: Clean Living: Clean Beauty

We started blogging our life as best friends, husband and wife, in 2006 shortly after we got married. Once we had children, I created a new blog for our growing family. This is our blog sharing the story of our life: beginning with our first pregnancy and our journey as parents to our beloved firstborn, BB1, who arrived in our world perfectly on 11.5.2010 and his precious sister, BB2, born on 10.6.2012, our sweet third baby, BB3, born 2.3.2015, our 3rd vivacious daughter, BB6, born on 5.1.2018 and our 2nd living son and final Bruffey Baby, BB8, born 6.23.2021. We also love our 3 greatly missed babies in Heaven, BB4 (born in Heaven at 5 weeks 5 days on 10.8.2016) BB5 (born still at 16 weeks on 2.5.2017), and BB7 (born in Heaven at 7 weeks 3 days on 10.23.2019). I will share my stories of our family, of being a wife, a mother, a home manager, a friend, a woman, a Hope Mom, and a person pursuing hope in Christ through life and death, joy and pain. Welcome to our journey!

Friday, March 6, 2020

Clean Living: Clean Beauty

I'm so excited about this new path that I've been lead down as a part of the healthy/holisitic living journey I've been on the past decade. I've been cleaning up my skincare and beauty products (along with the products we use for cleaning!). My dear friend, Thara Reinitiz, who grew up in a more holistic household, has been a WEALTH of knowledge! For thorough, up to date information on clean skincare and beauty, check out her blog at:

Proverbs 31 in Progress

Some products I'm loving right now:

1. Cleanser: Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bar - I've used this for about 7 1/2 years and it has made a difference for my skin tone and acne

2. Moisturizer: Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream - this is light but effective and a perfect day time moisturizer

3. DIY Toner: Apple Cider Vinegar (Bragg brand) - After my youngest was born and my hormones started figuring themselves out when she was near 1, I started having acne again like I hadn't for years... I was so tempted to go grab something OTC that would have been toxic and more damaging to my skin. An online search in desperation one night lead me to using ACV as a toner! It is such an affordable and fermented skin treatment. Unless I'm having some breakout issues, I use it at night after I wash my makeup off.

4. Spot Treatment for Acne: DoTerra HD Clear - My sister-in-law gifted this to me a few years ago and I have found it very effective as a spot treatment if I have a problem spot!

5. Eye Cream! - 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream - I am SO excited about this! I've only been using it a few days, so can't talk much about results yet, but there is great info on its potential benefit

I'm still building my skincare and plan to add some retinoid, Vitamin C, and Sunscreen products soon, as well as a different moisturizer of some sort at night to better differentiate my day and night routines.

For more information on everything from makeup to skincare to cleaning products that are cleaner and less toxic, check out Thara at Proverbs 31 in Progress! She has helped lead me to several of the products above!

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The 1st Daughter: BB2

Our 2nd child was born at home 10.6.2012 - a beautiful water birth we had planned and prayed for! We are so excited to finally be holding this little one in our arms and rejoice in her presence in our family! She is our most intense, free thinking child. We delight in her and find that she is so smart and curious and has a deep need to connect with others. She is a true artist with skill in painting and drawing and she loves to express herself in this way. She loves to be a helper at home and brings excitement and a true light for life into our family!

The 2nd Daughter: BB3

Our third child was born 2.3.2015 (at 38 weeks, 6 days - a huge surprise to us!) just as fast as her big sister, arriving in the parking lot of the local hospital's birth center. We are so grateful to God for sending us another little child as a part of our family! She is SO full of joy and brings a soft sweetness to our family. She adores babies and anything that she can nurture. She has a true mama's heart. She loves to sing and dance and is very much a mama's girl. She is a true joy to our family!

Our 1st Baby in Heaven: BB4

Jordan Emmanuel Bruffey: We were overjoyed when we unexpectedly found we were pregnant with a 4th child in late September 2016. I had always hoped to have 4 little ones though we hadn't decided to try for a 4th yet. This sweet baby's life was very short, as we lost her (we do not know gender for sure) to miscarriage early, around 5 weeks 5 days. We were heartbroken, but this baby's passing has been used mightily by God in our lives and to guide us to serving others in a new way. My mother's heart longs for this baby and cannot wait to hold her in Heaven!

Our 2nd baby in Heaven: BB5

Jonathan Patrick Bruffey: After our 1st loss, we decided to try for another child. We were so grateful when we learned we were pregnant just about 5 weeks after our 4th baby passed away. We prayed diligently for the health of this cherished 5th child. I had wonderful prenatal care and had the privilege of seeing this baby, a son, on ultrasound a few times. We got to watch him grow and play and turn and hold his sweet hands over his head. Though his life ended much sooner than we would have liked, we are so glad we got to enjoy him while he was with us. Quite unexpectedly, at a routine check when I was 15 weeks 5 days pregnant, we learned his heart had beat its last and his soul had gone to Heaven. We were crushed. And still mourn this much prayed for son, We named him Jonathan, "God's gift", as he was very much a gift to our family. He was born in what can only be described as a divinely powerful, beautiful, and peaceful birth on Sunday, 2.5.2017, already in Heaven. We got to hold him and were amazed by his perfect little body, though so still. The grief journey of birthing and burying a child that has passed away is very much one day, one minute, one breath at a time. God has met our needs (Philippians 4:19) in each second as we grieve the death of our precious son.

The 3rd Daughter: BB6

Our 6th baby, Emma Elizabeth Bruffey, arrived powerfully on 5.1.2018. We cautiously, hopefully, prayerfully, eagerly, anxiously awaited her arrival. The verse I clung to during my pregnancy after 2 losses was: "...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:6-8. She loves her baby dolls and adores her Daddy. She gives the best snuggles and is a quiet, adorable joy in our home!

Our 3rd Baby in Heaven: BB7

Samuel Paul Bruffey: We learned on 10/1/2019 that we were unexpectedly, yet gladly, pregnant for the 7th time. This sweet baby seemed to be growing strong, so we were devastated to learn on 10/15/2019 that the baby had stopped developing. This sweet little one passed to Heaven on 10/23/2019. Our hearts were again shattered as we had to say good-bye to another precious baby here on earth. Our oldest son, convinced this baby is a boy, chose the name Samuel Paul Bruffey. We will hold you in our hearts forever our precious Samuel... until we one day hold you in Heaven. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:4 "I shall go to him, but he will not return to me." ~ 2 Samuel 12:23 (David, after the death of his young son); ~ Simply Missing You, My Baby, Today and Everyday ~

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Friday, March 6, 2020

Clean Living: Clean Beauty

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