- Use things other than wrapping paper to wrap your gifts. There are plenty of things around everyone's home that can be re-used to wrap a gift...old maps, newspaper, brown paper grocery bags and even your children's finger painting or drawings to add an extra special touch to a gift. And while I'm on the subject of wrapping papers...if you receive gifts with wrapping paper on them, do your best to recycle it and use it for your next year's gifts!!
- Use alternatives to gift boxes. While most gift boxes can be recycled or used for gifts the next year, you can also use things other than boxes to put gifts in that can be used by the receiver for other various things. For example, use a basket...which can be used for many other purposes, or buy a reuseable grocery bag and put your gift in that (I'm sure the receiver of your gift would be happy to have a handy reuseable bag!).
- Use alternatives to bows and ribbons. While we all want our gifts to look special, there are other ways to give the gift a special look without using wasteful bows and ribbons. I like to use natural things of the season, like sprigs of holly or pine...they give a gift a festive look and are very eco-friendly!
- Make gifts for your friends and family instead of buying them. While it is much easier to just go to the store and pick up a gift, homemade gifts are often more thoughtful and definitely more eco-friendly! Some things I suggest are homemade cookies or other baked goods (who doesn't love a good dessert...am I right??!!), or homemade soaps or candles (I've decided to make my homemade laundry soap and dish soap for my girlfriends this year!) or if you're experienced in knitting or crocheting, make a scarf/mittens/hat or even a sweater for the special people in your life. Another great homemade gift idea that I've done in the past is to make up the dry ingredients to different things like cookies, breads, hot chocolate and even soups...it's a good way to give people a head start on making these things themselves using the stuff you've given them! Also, something that is always a great gift for family is pictures! Pictures of your children, a family picture or a collage of memorable pictures are just a few ideas.
- Be smart about your Christmas tree!! When getting a Christmas tree, try to be as eco-friendly as possible. While re-plantable trees are the best bet for being green, they are not often allowed in housing facilities and are often too big and bulky for a lot of small houses...or if you don't have a yard to plant them in, it doesn't do much good either! If you like cut trees, then find a place willing to give vouchers for re-plantable trees in the spring. And artificial trees are another eco-friendly way to have a tree. You can reuse the same tree year after year!
- Use energy-efficient lights! While they may be more costly, they are a great way of cutting down the electric bill and using less energy during a time when we keep them lit day and night....especially if you are a very festive person who loves to light your house on the inside and outside!
- Give to the less fortunate. During a season of giving, it's important to remember those who do not have the means to buy things for their families or themselves. A great way to give to the less fortunate and be "green" while doing it is to give your gently used items to clothing and toy drives. These places provide for families and individuals in great need. There are many retailers and non-profit organizations collecting all kinds of gently used items this time of year. So go through your stuff, your kids' stuff and provide the less fortunate people with things like clothing, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and toys....not only will you be doing a good deed, but you will also be doing something environmentally friendly by putting your old items to good use!
Monday, December 6, 2010
I'm Dreaming of a "Green" Christmas....
With the Christmas season now in full swing, there are a few things that we can all do to be more environmentally friendly! Here are just a few green tips that you can use:
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Homemade Granola
I love granola!!! Maybe it's the hippiness that has been instilled in me or maybe it's just the taste and the fact that it's good for me, I don't know...but it is a staple in my diet! My family and I eat granola a LOT...whether it be as cereal, as a snack, as a topping on our favorite yogurt or just mixed in with some fresh fruit...we consume large quantities! It's also a great snack for parents and children alike who are on the go and need something quick and easy to eat! I have found a great recipe that is fairly easy to make and tastes really good and allows me to have control of what goes in the granola that we eat!
Ingredients:
raw oats
ground flaxseed
ground wheat bran
(I also use ground hemp seed, but it is optional)
raw seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame...whatever you have on hand)
slivered or sliced almonds, pecans or walnuts (this is optional and your choice as to which you want)
1/2 cup canola oil (this is what the recipe calls for, but I opt to use safflower oil)
1/2 cup peanut butter
splash of water
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon cinnamon
dried fruit (your choice....cherries, raisins, figs, blueberries, cranberries, etc.)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.
Spread raw oats onto one or two baking sheets/roasting pans. I don't measure the amount that I use...just use enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Then add plenty of flax seed, wheat bran, seeds and nuts. (again, I don't measure these things, so I just add a generous portion of each...a little more of the thing I like...or just use what I have of any of these things)
Then mix together the oil, peanut butter, water, honey and cinnamon in a glass measure cup/bowl and microwave for approximately 1 minute...just to melt the honey and peanut butter a litte to make for an easier way to mix.
Then stir the mixture into the dry ingredient on the baking sheet.
Bake at 325 for 20-30 minutes or so, stirring once or twice.
Remove when toasted to a light brown.
When the granola is cooled, add the dried fruit.
*Note, I make a large quantity of this when I do make it and just divide it up into freezer bags for easy storage and and easy way to just grab on the go. If you do freeze any, be sure that it is cooled completely before bagging it for the freezer.
Ingredients:
raw oats
ground flaxseed
ground wheat bran
(I also use ground hemp seed, but it is optional)
raw seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame...whatever you have on hand)
slivered or sliced almonds, pecans or walnuts (this is optional and your choice as to which you want)
1/2 cup canola oil (this is what the recipe calls for, but I opt to use safflower oil)
1/2 cup peanut butter
splash of water
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon cinnamon
dried fruit (your choice....cherries, raisins, figs, blueberries, cranberries, etc.)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.
Spread raw oats onto one or two baking sheets/roasting pans. I don't measure the amount that I use...just use enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Then add plenty of flax seed, wheat bran, seeds and nuts. (again, I don't measure these things, so I just add a generous portion of each...a little more of the thing I like...or just use what I have of any of these things)
Then mix together the oil, peanut butter, water, honey and cinnamon in a glass measure cup/bowl and microwave for approximately 1 minute...just to melt the honey and peanut butter a litte to make for an easier way to mix.
Then stir the mixture into the dry ingredient on the baking sheet.
Bake at 325 for 20-30 minutes or so, stirring once or twice.
Remove when toasted to a light brown.
When the granola is cooled, add the dried fruit.
*Note, I make a large quantity of this when I do make it and just divide it up into freezer bags for easy storage and and easy way to just grab on the go. If you do freeze any, be sure that it is cooled completely before bagging it for the freezer.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Homemade Dish Soap
For those of you who enjoy saving money or like to make your own safe products for your home, you will love this!! Now, not only can you make your own homemade laundry detergent, but you can now make your own dish soaps too!!! For just fractions of the cost of buying store soaps and a few easy ingredients, you can make your own dish soap that is safe for your family and safe for the environment!! I have a couple different recipes, depending on how you prefer to wash your dishes. One is for washing dishes by hand in the sink and the other is for a dishwasher.
This first recipe is for a liquid soap that can be used for washing dishes in the sink by hand.
Ingredients:
1 cup liquid Castile soap
3 tablespoons water
scented oil of your choice (or you can buy a scented Castile soap, or even use lemon juice for an easy scent)
Combine the ingredients in a container of your choice...easy as that!!! (I've seen it put in glass bottles with a metal spout for a fancier look, but I just pour it into an old dish soap container so I can re-use at the same time!!)
*Note- For those of you who aren't familiar with the liquid Castile soap, it can be found in some grocery stores and in most health food stores. I have also found it online at Target, which also sells all kinds of the scented ones too and it's pretty convenient to buy it that way also.
Here is a picture of the one I like to get which is lavender scented...it costs approximately $9 for this 32 oz. bottle, but if you do the math, you can get 4 cups out of just this bottle, which means you can make the soap 4 times with just one bottle..at an average cost of just $2.25 per mixture. And if you have ever bought organic dish soap from a store before, you will know that it costs much more than $2.25!!!
This first recipe is for a liquid soap that can be used for washing dishes in the sink by hand.
Ingredients:
1 cup liquid Castile soap
3 tablespoons water
scented oil of your choice (or you can buy a scented Castile soap, or even use lemon juice for an easy scent)
Combine the ingredients in a container of your choice...easy as that!!! (I've seen it put in glass bottles with a metal spout for a fancier look, but I just pour it into an old dish soap container so I can re-use at the same time!!)
*Note- For those of you who aren't familiar with the liquid Castile soap, it can be found in some grocery stores and in most health food stores. I have also found it online at Target, which also sells all kinds of the scented ones too and it's pretty convenient to buy it that way also.
Here is a picture of the one I like to get which is lavender scented...it costs approximately $9 for this 32 oz. bottle, but if you do the math, you can get 4 cups out of just this bottle, which means you can make the soap 4 times with just one bottle..at an average cost of just $2.25 per mixture. And if you have ever bought organic dish soap from a store before, you will know that it costs much more than $2.25!!!This next recipe is for a dishwasher soap. (FYI..if you already make your own laundry soap, this is a great recipe because it uses the same ingredients!)
Ingredients:
(the amount of the ingredients really depends on how much you want to make)
1 part 20 Mule Team borax
1 part Arm & Hammer washing soda
Mix the borax and washing soda together in a bowl...be sure to break up any clumps. Transfer into an air-tight container of your choice. (I just use a glass canning jar, as shown)
And there you have it...two easy ways to make soaps for washing your dishes that are safe and free of lots of chemicals and also eco-friendly...at a fraction of the cost of regular dish soaps!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Finding Safe Products
Now that I've scared you (or hopefully at least made you aware of the dangers) with the videos about the chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products, I'm going to share a very useful resource to use for researching all of these chemicals and find out what's safe and what isn't and find manufactures who do produce safe products. The website is http://www.safecosmetics.org/. It's full of information that is necessary for any consumer wanting to buy safe products for their families. Check it out!
Need Green Tips at Home?
If you're looking for a great resource with lots of information on green living....check out the book "It's Easy Being Green" by Crissy Trask. Not only does it give you tons of tips for things you can do at home, at work or on the go for being eco-friendly, but it also gives lots of facts and information on how living green can impact the environment in a great way, it gives suggestions on how to go about getting involved in small ways to make an impact on the Earth conscious movement and it also gives lots of different resources (including stores, websites and organizations) who promote being green or who offer green alternatives to regular services.
Monday, October 11, 2010
"Organic" Doesn't Always Mean Organic
So "Organic" doesn't always mean organic...sounds confusing right?
If you've read my previous post, you'll know that I'm all for eating organic foods. However, one of the most important things I've discovered about organic foods, is that just because the label says "organic" doesn't mean that it is, in fact, organic. Food labeling has very few regulations, so some manufacturers can actually claim that their product is "organic" or "all natural" or whatever when it isn't. So I suggest looking into what the labels mean when buying organic foods and to know what the regulations are that need to be met to call something "organic", to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. Here are a couple of websites that I have found useful:
fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&...
www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004446&...
www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/Food-Label-Decoder...
www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ome-Pop/Organic-Foods.html
In addition to knowing what the labels mean, and what the regulations are in calling something "organic", I also suggest that you should buy locally and from people you know or grow your own whenever possible. Because buying foods in the store that are organic and do meet the criteria for being organic, doesn't mean that they are grown free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals. See this link for some of the unknown facts about "organic" foods: http://www.biotech-info.net/deadly . I think it's important to know as much as we can about the foods we consume. And sometimes things aren't always what they seem...even when they claim to be the best for us!
All in all, the best thing you can do is to grow your own...because only then do you truly know what it happening to your foods! But if you can't, at least do the necessary research to ensure that you are getting the best food possible.
If you've read my previous post, you'll know that I'm all for eating organic foods. However, one of the most important things I've discovered about organic foods, is that just because the label says "organic" doesn't mean that it is, in fact, organic. Food labeling has very few regulations, so some manufacturers can actually claim that their product is "organic" or "all natural" or whatever when it isn't. So I suggest looking into what the labels mean when buying organic foods and to know what the regulations are that need to be met to call something "organic", to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. Here are a couple of websites that I have found useful:
fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&...
www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004446&...
www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/Food-Label-Decoder...
www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ome-Pop/Organic-Foods.html
In addition to knowing what the labels mean, and what the regulations are in calling something "organic", I also suggest that you should buy locally and from people you know or grow your own whenever possible. Because buying foods in the store that are organic and do meet the criteria for being organic, doesn't mean that they are grown free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals. See this link for some of the unknown facts about "organic" foods: http://www.biotech-info.net/deadly . I think it's important to know as much as we can about the foods we consume. And sometimes things aren't always what they seem...even when they claim to be the best for us!
All in all, the best thing you can do is to grow your own...because only then do you truly know what it happening to your foods! But if you can't, at least do the necessary research to ensure that you are getting the best food possible.
The Organic Nazi :)
Sometimes called the "organic nazi" by my husband, I am a firm believer in eating healthy, organic foods. Call me crazy, but I want to know that the food that I am giving my family will not only nourish their bodies, but will also be free from chemicals and other harmful ingredients! So I have made it a personal mission of mine to research foods and their manufacturers, read labels, and buy locally whenever possible...in order to buy the best, chemical free, freshest foods I can. Not only do I know that I'm giving my family the best food possible, but I can also testify that by eating organic foods, we feel better, we seem to experience less fatigue, we don't get sick as often as most people and we just have a general sense of well-being.
I think that we, as Americans, have become a society of people who are complacent when it comes to our food. If it's convenient or fast or easy or cheap or tastes good, then we eat it...not even taking the time to think twice about whether it's good for us, what is in it or anything! I know that it's so easy to eat fast food when we are all on the go....or to throw in a frozen meal when we don't have time to cook, but these kinds of foods are filled with growth hormones, pesticides, preservatives and many other harmful things that can have a lasting effect on our bodies. Need proof? Want to see for yourself? Check out some of these links to things that have influenced me and given me knowledge about food.
http://www.foodincmovie.com/
hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/chem-chim/food-aliment/index
http://www.tuberose.com/Chemicals_in_Food.html
With that said, I encourage all of you to take a step out of the comfort zone, go beyond quick and easy, and put a little effort into the foods you eat....the foods you feed to your children!! It may take a little extra time, it may cost a little extra money and it may even taste different from the foods that you are used to eating, but I can assure you, that by eating organic, homemade foods, you will not only know that you are providing quality food as nourishment to your family, but it will also make you feel so much better (both mentally and physically)! Take the time to research the manufacturers of your foods, become better informed of the things that are put into everyday foods, find grocery stores that carry organic foods, know what labels mean, shop local farmer's markets...take the initiative to know your food and know it's safe! I've included just a few of some useful websites to reference in researching foods and also what terms to look for that mean danger in your foods! But I encourage you to do more research, because there is so much more to know!
www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb
www.sweetpoison.com/food-additives-to-avoid.html
www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm
www.organicfoodinfo.net/what_is_organic_food.html
I hope that one day, as a society, we can stand up to manufacturers and insist that only the best products be put into our foods which will allow all of us to eat healthy, no matter what we buy or where we buy it! But until that day, we need to take a personal initiative to ensure on our own that the foods we eat are the best!
Throughout the course of this blog, I plan to share some of my favorite organic recipes, tips to organic food shopping (including couponing for organic food for the frugal mom) and just some overall knowledge about some of the things I've learned about organic foods. Until then, I hope that I've given you some useful information to get started on your path to being your own "organic nazi"! :)
I think that we, as Americans, have become a society of people who are complacent when it comes to our food. If it's convenient or fast or easy or cheap or tastes good, then we eat it...not even taking the time to think twice about whether it's good for us, what is in it or anything! I know that it's so easy to eat fast food when we are all on the go....or to throw in a frozen meal when we don't have time to cook, but these kinds of foods are filled with growth hormones, pesticides, preservatives and many other harmful things that can have a lasting effect on our bodies. Need proof? Want to see for yourself? Check out some of these links to things that have influenced me and given me knowledge about food.
http://www.foodincmovie.com/
hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/chem-chim/food-aliment/index
http://www.tuberose.com/Chemicals_in_Food.html
With that said, I encourage all of you to take a step out of the comfort zone, go beyond quick and easy, and put a little effort into the foods you eat....the foods you feed to your children!! It may take a little extra time, it may cost a little extra money and it may even taste different from the foods that you are used to eating, but I can assure you, that by eating organic, homemade foods, you will not only know that you are providing quality food as nourishment to your family, but it will also make you feel so much better (both mentally and physically)! Take the time to research the manufacturers of your foods, become better informed of the things that are put into everyday foods, find grocery stores that carry organic foods, know what labels mean, shop local farmer's markets...take the initiative to know your food and know it's safe! I've included just a few of some useful websites to reference in researching foods and also what terms to look for that mean danger in your foods! But I encourage you to do more research, because there is so much more to know!
www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb
www.sweetpoison.com/food-additives-to-avoid.html
www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm
www.organicfoodinfo.net/what_is_organic_food.html
I hope that one day, as a society, we can stand up to manufacturers and insist that only the best products be put into our foods which will allow all of us to eat healthy, no matter what we buy or where we buy it! But until that day, we need to take a personal initiative to ensure on our own that the foods we eat are the best!
Throughout the course of this blog, I plan to share some of my favorite organic recipes, tips to organic food shopping (including couponing for organic food for the frugal mom) and just some overall knowledge about some of the things I've learned about organic foods. Until then, I hope that I've given you some useful information to get started on your path to being your own "organic nazi"! :)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
What Does Kermit the Frog know about being green anyhow??? :)
For anyone familiar with the muppets, I'm sure you've heard Kermit's testimonial song about how "it's not easy being green". Well, I've found that actually, it IS easy to be green...if by green, we are referring to living an eco-friendly lifestyle and doing what we can to keep our carbon footprint to a minimum in hopes that our children and generations to follow have a safe, clean world to live in.
I've recently started my own little personal mission on Facebook (and even just in passing conversations with friends or strangers) to provide Green Tips, in hopes that I may reach a few open-minded people who are willing to try some simple things to in order to minimize wasteful living! I think we are all guilty at one time or another of living life without the thought of what the consequences of our actions today might be on the world around us tomorrow...or even 100 years from today! You throw away a plastic bottle thinking, "it's just one bottle", but at the same time, millions of people around the world are doing the exact same thing....and all those bottles soon add up...laying in landfills, floating in oceans or just laying along side the road as we pass by in our cars. So my hopes are that if I can "convert" at least one person into changing at least one thing differently, then perhaps they can do the same for someone else, and eventually the chain reaction can make a huge difference. And if I can reach more than one person, then even better!!!
I've got a few simple things that each and every one of us can do to make a difference. Some require a little effort, but others require no effort at all...just a conscious awareness.
1. Recycle (whether it be sorting plastics, glass, cans and paper into proper bins for curbside pick-up or dropping them off at recycle center or even if it's just collecting alluminum cans for money or using the recyclable bin at your favorite public place...any little bit that doesn't go into a landfill helps!)
2. Use water sparingly. (I know we all need water...and I'm not saying don't drink water or don't use water, but I'm just saying don't over-indulge and be wasteful with it...don't leave it run while brushing your teeth, don't take unnecessarily long showers or fill the bathtub to the brim, or don't leave the water run while you wash and rinse dishes...simple things like this can go a long way and save water!)
3. Turn the lights off! (no, I don't mean you have to walk around in the dark all evening or only use candles...I mean simply turn the lights in a room off if you are no longer going to be in that room. It's an easy thing to do that can save a LOT of energy and reduce power usage.)
And that's it. I'm not suggesting that everyone change their entire lives, I'm just asking that we all make a few simple changes in our everyday lives. If we would all do just these few things, it would greatly benefit our Earth! It really is that easy being green!! :)
I've recently started my own little personal mission on Facebook (and even just in passing conversations with friends or strangers) to provide Green Tips, in hopes that I may reach a few open-minded people who are willing to try some simple things to in order to minimize wasteful living! I think we are all guilty at one time or another of living life without the thought of what the consequences of our actions today might be on the world around us tomorrow...or even 100 years from today! You throw away a plastic bottle thinking, "it's just one bottle", but at the same time, millions of people around the world are doing the exact same thing....and all those bottles soon add up...laying in landfills, floating in oceans or just laying along side the road as we pass by in our cars. So my hopes are that if I can "convert" at least one person into changing at least one thing differently, then perhaps they can do the same for someone else, and eventually the chain reaction can make a huge difference. And if I can reach more than one person, then even better!!!
I've got a few simple things that each and every one of us can do to make a difference. Some require a little effort, but others require no effort at all...just a conscious awareness.
1. Recycle (whether it be sorting plastics, glass, cans and paper into proper bins for curbside pick-up or dropping them off at recycle center or even if it's just collecting alluminum cans for money or using the recyclable bin at your favorite public place...any little bit that doesn't go into a landfill helps!)
2. Use water sparingly. (I know we all need water...and I'm not saying don't drink water or don't use water, but I'm just saying don't over-indulge and be wasteful with it...don't leave it run while brushing your teeth, don't take unnecessarily long showers or fill the bathtub to the brim, or don't leave the water run while you wash and rinse dishes...simple things like this can go a long way and save water!)
3. Turn the lights off! (no, I don't mean you have to walk around in the dark all evening or only use candles...I mean simply turn the lights in a room off if you are no longer going to be in that room. It's an easy thing to do that can save a LOT of energy and reduce power usage.)
And that's it. I'm not suggesting that everyone change their entire lives, I'm just asking that we all make a few simple changes in our everyday lives. If we would all do just these few things, it would greatly benefit our Earth! It really is that easy being green!! :)
Friday, September 24, 2010
Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
I've also discovered....by accidentally spilling some while making it once :)...that it cleans carpets and countertops too!!! So, since then, I have used it on tough carpet stains...as a stain pre-treater on clothing...to take out stains on my car's cloth seats....to clean stains on my son's carseat....to clean stains on the couch...the possibilities are endless with this stuff!!!!
Ingredients:
1/3 bar of Fels-Naptha soap
1 cup Arm & Hammer washing soda
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
water
You will also need a very large pot or bucket (I use a 2 gallon cooking pot)
*Note...If you notice the size of these packages compared to the amount you use in the ingredients, then you'll realize that these things will last you for a while throughout multiple times of making the detergent...which equals lots of money saved. I pay approximately $4.00 for the box of Borax, $4.00 for the box of Washing Soda and $1.00 for the Fels-Naptha. When you figure the minimal amount of these things that goes into the detergent, the cost of a gallon of this homemade detergent is nearly just $1.00!!! Now that's cheap!!!
Directions:
Grate the Fels-Naptha soap with a cheese grater and put into a large pot (if you don't have a large pot, just use a small one and then transfer into a bucket for mixing after heating). Add 6 cups of water and heat until the soap melts. Add washing soda and borax and stir until both are dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups of hot water (or pour these 4 cups into a bucket, then add your soap mixture to it) and stir. After that, add 1 gallon of water, along with 6 cups of HOT water and stir. Let sit for about 24 hours and it will "gel". Once it is done sitting, I pour it into old laundry detergent jugs that I have saved. (but you could put it into any container of your choice)
I use about 1/2 cup to 1 cup per load of laundry. You have to shake up the bottle before you use the soap each time because it tends to settle. Also, it isn't really a "sudsy detergent, so don't be alarmed if you don't see suds in the water when you add it.
*If you prefer to use powdered detergent over liquid, you can use the above ingredients minus the water. However, please realize that if you wash your clothes in cold water to conserve energy, the powder tends to cake up and not dissolve well.
*If you have trouble finding these products at your store of choice, I've found that Kroger's carries all of these products.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Wonderful World of Vinegar!! :)
If you're like me, then you hate to clean your house with a bunch of chemicals that can be harmful to your family. So I wanted to share the things I've discovered about cleaning with vinegar. "Vinegar?", you ask. Yes, vinegar! "But won't my house stink like vinegar?", you ask. Not at all....once you clean, the vinegar evaporates, taking the stink with it and leaving behind nothing but sparkly clean!!! :) With just some plain white vinegar and a few other simple ingredients, you will be able to clean pretty much anything in your home!! I've compiled a list of some of my favorites below:
Make your own scouring cleanser for tough stains by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.
To clean faucets that have lime buildup, use a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.
Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean. (this is a favorite of mine since I used to hate scrubbing the microwave clean!!!)
Cut through the nasty grime in your kitchen with a cloth and full-strength white distilled vinegar....this included the top of your frig, the window of the oven, the stove surface and any other spot in the kitchen where that grime tends to settle.
To remove mildew and soap scum from the tub, tile, shower curtain or door, wipe with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Rinse with water. (for really tough stains, it helps to scour with baking soda as well)
Kill germs all around the house with a spray bottle of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Deodorize the toilet bowl by allowing 3 cups white distilled vinegar to sit in it for about a half hour before flushing. (to give it a deep clean, let the vinegar sit overnight and then scrub with a toilet brush in the morning)
For cleaning hard surface floors (vinyl, linoleum, wood), use one cup white distilled vinegar for every gallon of water. (for tough stains on hard floors, pour vinegar directly on the stain, followed by baking soda and scrub)
Wipe down walls with undiluted white distilled vinegar on a cloth or a sponge mop for a fresh spring cleaning to your house. (I do this at least twice a year!!)
Clean and disinfect baby toys and books by wiping down with distilled vinegar. (this is a favorite of mine...I use it on my son's stuff all of the time)
Give windows a good clean and extra shine by wiping down with vinegar.
*There are many more non-house cleaning things that can be done with vinegar including removing dry paint from paintbrushes by soaking them in boiling vinegar, removing wallpaper by spraying with a mixture of hot water and vinegar, get rid of flies by sitting out a small dish filled with distilled vinegar...just to name a few!
**Warning- do not clean marble surfaces with vinegar because the acid in it can damage the marble.
Make your own scouring cleanser for tough stains by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.
To clean faucets that have lime buildup, use a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.
Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean. (this is a favorite of mine since I used to hate scrubbing the microwave clean!!!)
Cut through the nasty grime in your kitchen with a cloth and full-strength white distilled vinegar....this included the top of your frig, the window of the oven, the stove surface and any other spot in the kitchen where that grime tends to settle.
To remove mildew and soap scum from the tub, tile, shower curtain or door, wipe with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Rinse with water. (for really tough stains, it helps to scour with baking soda as well)
Kill germs all around the house with a spray bottle of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Deodorize the toilet bowl by allowing 3 cups white distilled vinegar to sit in it for about a half hour before flushing. (to give it a deep clean, let the vinegar sit overnight and then scrub with a toilet brush in the morning)
For cleaning hard surface floors (vinyl, linoleum, wood), use one cup white distilled vinegar for every gallon of water. (for tough stains on hard floors, pour vinegar directly on the stain, followed by baking soda and scrub)
Wipe down walls with undiluted white distilled vinegar on a cloth or a sponge mop for a fresh spring cleaning to your house. (I do this at least twice a year!!)
Clean and disinfect baby toys and books by wiping down with distilled vinegar. (this is a favorite of mine...I use it on my son's stuff all of the time)
Give windows a good clean and extra shine by wiping down with vinegar.
*There are many more non-house cleaning things that can be done with vinegar including removing dry paint from paintbrushes by soaking them in boiling vinegar, removing wallpaper by spraying with a mixture of hot water and vinegar, get rid of flies by sitting out a small dish filled with distilled vinegar...just to name a few!
**Warning- do not clean marble surfaces with vinegar because the acid in it can damage the marble.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Activity Learning Board
I was recently letting my son play with my hoodie because he enjoyed zipping and unzipping the zipper on it, when I realized, "why don't I make something for him with a zipper on it that he can have and use to learn how to zip/unzip things?". So I came up with a neat way to give him an activity board that includes the zipper that I wanted , as well as buttons for learning to button/unbutton and shoe strings to learn to tie his shoes. Wanting to keep it rather cheap and simple,and being the eco-friendly person that I am, I came up with a great little activity board by re-using things I found around the house.... I reused a zipper from an old hoodie that was worn out to get the zipper, I used some wide ribbon from a previous project that I combined with old buttons to make a button strip (to make the button strips, simply cut 2 strips of wide ribbon, cut button holes evenly apart in 1 strip and on the other strip, sew buttons equal to the holes on the other strip), and I used some old shoe strings for tying....put them all on a poster board...and that's it. I took a hot glue gun and attached the zipper and button strip (only attaching the tops of the zipper and only one side of the button strip) and for the shoe strings, I just poked them through the poster board and tied knots in the backs to hold them in place. I added some lettering stickers that I had on hand for scrapbooking and what not, and there you have it! (below is a picture of the finished product)
I wanted to share this with all the parents of young children out there who are looking for something to occupy their child and also give them a way to learn some of the basics!
If you have any questions on the process of making this, please let me know. I would be glad to help you out!
I wanted to share this with all the parents of young children out there who are looking for something to occupy their child and also give them a way to learn some of the basics!
Organic Weed Killer
Need a weed killer for those pesky weeds that just won't go away with numerous pullings, yet you don't want to cover your outdoor surroundings with dangerous chemicals that are harmful to the environment, to your pets and to your family??? Then never fear, because here is the answer to your problems....an organic weed killer made from simple ingredients that can be found around your kitchen! Just follow these simple steps!
Ingredients:
1 quart white vinegar
1/4 cup salt
2 teaspoons liquid dish soap
Directions:
Pour vinegar into a bowl or bucket. Stir in salt until it dissolves. Slowly add the liquid dish soap. Gently mix all ingredients (try not to mix too vigorously to keep the soap from sudsing). Add the mix to an old garden sprayer or spray bottle and you're ready to use.
*Note- it may take a few sprayings to kill off the toughest of weeds, but it's worth the extra effort in order to keep chemicals out of our environment.
Ingredients:
1 quart white vinegar
1/4 cup salt
2 teaspoons liquid dish soap
Directions:
Pour vinegar into a bowl or bucket. Stir in salt until it dissolves. Slowly add the liquid dish soap. Gently mix all ingredients (try not to mix too vigorously to keep the soap from sudsing). Add the mix to an old garden sprayer or spray bottle and you're ready to use.
*Note- it may take a few sprayings to kill off the toughest of weeds, but it's worth the extra effort in order to keep chemicals out of our environment.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Homemade Chewy Granola Bars
I'm a firm believer in the fact that anything homemade is better than store bought!
Therefore, my first recipe that I would like to share is for granola bars. They are simple, quick and something that the whole family is sure to love!
Chewy Granola Bars
4 1/2 cups rolled oats 1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup butter (softened) 1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup brown sugar
To this you can add any of the following: chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, raisins, chopped dried fruit, chopped nuts, etc.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ingredients listed above. Then pour into a lightly greased pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 18-22 minutes (or until golden brown). Let cool for approx. 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving. Makes approximately 18 bars.
Enjoy!
Therefore, my first recipe that I would like to share is for granola bars. They are simple, quick and something that the whole family is sure to love!
Chewy Granola Bars
4 1/2 cups rolled oats 1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup butter (softened) 1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup brown sugar
To this you can add any of the following: chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, raisins, chopped dried fruit, chopped nuts, etc.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ingredients listed above. Then pour into a lightly greased pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 18-22 minutes (or until golden brown). Let cool for approx. 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving. Makes approximately 18 bars.
Enjoy!
Friday, September 17, 2010
How it all began....
There were 4 children in my family and my mother stayed home to raise us while my father worked, so therefore, we didn't have much as far as money goes. In order to make ends meet and to provide a healthy life for our family, my parents decided that living off the land and making/doing as much as we could on our own was the way to go. We used a lot of homemade products for every day life...laundry detergents, cleaning products, soaps and sometimes even clothes. In addition, each summer, we had a very large garden, in which we planted a variety of fruits and vegetables and grew them all organically. From the harvest of our garden, we managed to can and freeze enough food to sustain us throughout the fall/winter/spring until the next year's garden could be harvested. In addition to the garden, we raised our own livestock of cows and chickens to provide meat and eggs for the family. From all of this, I learned that it doesn't take a lot of money to provide healthy food and a safe, efficient living environment for a family, but it does take time, hard hands-on work, knowledge about organic products and lots of canning :)!! Among the many things my parents taught me, being kind to the Earth was something else that I considered valuable....we always tried to keep our little world as clean as we could and not be wasteful. We reused a lot of things (clothes, shirts turned into rags, glass/plastic containers) and found many ways to make use of things that would have otherwise been thrown away. As time went on, and I started a family of my own, I wanted to use the tools and knowledge that my parents had instilled in me to pass on to my own family. So, that's where I begin my blog....wanting some sort of an outlet in order to pass on to my children and the people around me the things I have learned and am passionate about...living a simple life....eating homemade, organic foods from my own hands and labor....doing my part to keep the Earth safe for my family and those who follow....and just enjoying all that God has provided for us!
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