MAKE: Home Cleaning Solutions

Once I became a mama, I knew that I wanted to clean up my act in terms of home cleaning.  I wanted to be sure that the products I used were incredibly safe to have around our daughter and I didn't want to worry about what was under my kitchen cabinet.

We have made a lot of simple and very frugal changes around our home and I couldn't be more pleased with the results.

Stacy at Delightful Home recently wrote a great post that pretty much sums up all of the changes we've made.  I couldn't have said it better, so I thought I would direct you to her fabulous post!  Happy cleaning!

NEST: Clotheslines

We have been borrowing a neighbor's clothesline this summer to hang some our our laundry dry.

There is something so back-to-the-basics about it that makes me feel good every time I pin up our laundry out in the sun.

And it is so simple.  And easy.  And free!

Consider line drying your clothes while the weather is still warm.  You don't need to construct an elaborate clothesline.  Even if you only have minimal space, you can hang your clothes to dry.  Before borrowing my neighbor's, I often draped our diapers on our deck to dry.  If you live in an apartment and have a balcony, you can use this to dry your clothes (just be sure you don't let them fall stories down!).

You can build a clothesline with posts in the ground, or consider buying a clothesline long enough to go between your porch and a nearby tree.

Martha Stuart suggests:

"Buy a clothesline long enough to span the distance between your porch and a nearby tree or post. On the porch end, thread the line through a metal eye hook, and wind it around a sailor's cleat installed about a foot below the hook. At the other end, screw another hook into the tree or post. Tie the clothesline to a snap shackle, which makes attaching and detaching the cord a breeze."

So easy!  


It has definitely saved us a bit of money this summer and the clothes smell so fresh.  The sun also helps with pesky diaper stains.  It is a win-win situation!  


Consider a clothesline at your home!

EAT: Eat Seasonally, Eat Locally

In recent weeks, our meals have often consisted of peppers and tomatoes.

We have had a surplus of them from our CSA.  

Thankfully, I love both.  It has allowed me to come up with creative ways to eat them and enjoy them as a family.

While my favorite way to eat a tomato is while you are still in the field and it is warm from the sun, we have discovered a lot of other delicious meals and snacks!

I recently made a Mexican inspired wild rice dish.  Everyone loved it and it was as cinch to prepare!

Bumper Crop Rice:

- Saute 1 small onion in a tablespoon of olive oil.

- Add several chopped peppers (I used 5) and saute.  I also added one hot pepper.

- Add in several chopped tomatoes (I used 4) and allow to come to a simmer.

- Add any other favorites - I chose corn and black beans.

- Season with salt, pepper and cumin.  

- Allow to simmer for about 10 minutes.

I made a wild and brown rice mixture and added the delicious veggie mixture to it.  

We topped it with shredded cheddar cheese and fresh salsa.  Delicious!!

The Easiest Salsa Fresca:

We received this recipe from our CSA this year.  As we were out in the fields picking crops, they were in the barn whipping this up by the ball jar for all of their supporters to take home.  It is delicious, easy and healthy.  Give it a try!

- 4 large, ripe tomatoes

- 1 large onion

- 1 T chopped garlic

- 1 T chopped jalapeno

- 1 cup chopped cilantro

- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice

- salt to taste

Chop tomatoes to desired level of chunkiness.  Drain for a few minutes in a colander.  Chop onion, garlic, jalapeno and cilantro.  Mix all ingredients together.  Let it sit for a few minutes for the flavors to marry.  Enjoy!

I love the taste of summer!

MAKE: A simple solution.

Baking soda is my friend when it comes to cleaning. I use it so often that I bought a huge bag of it from Costco. While this was certainly a cost-saving move, it was not the most practical in terms of daily use. I have a canister of baking soda in my pantry that is supposed to be used for cooking, but I also end up spooning out of it for cleaning. It's a pain. Don't worry--I don't cross-contaminate!

After an attempt to lightly coat my kitchen sink in baking soda, which involved dumping about a quarter of the canister by mistake, I decided it was time to find a solution. Here is my simple solution:

As you know, I love using old jars around my house. So, why not make one into a baking soda shaker? That way, I can keep it under the sink, pull it out with my vinegar cleaning solution, and simply sprinkle it wherever necessary.

How To:
1. Get a hammer, a nail, and an old piece of wood.
2. Rest the lid of your jar on the wood.

3. Hammer the nail into your lid repeatedly to create holes.

4. Fill 'er up!

What are some simple solutions you've found to use around your house?

NEST: Filing.

I despise junk mail. I can't stand sorting through old paperwork. But, we have a little bit of a filing situation happening in our basement. And, a little bit in our mail basket. Sometimes I avoid going down to my husband's work area in the basement just because I don't want to look at our filing crates. Yes, it's plural. We have two large crates full of paperwork. We just keep stuffing papers into them. As I said, it's a little bit of a problem.

I decided to nip it in the bud, though. If you have a similar problem, perhaps we can work through it together. Rather than continuing to add to the mayhem, I chose to address the present flow of paperwork first, before delving into our crates. I'm developing a new system. This system is partly based on what I've read so far in Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider. She recommends creating a household management notebook, which I am using to help get this mess under control.


New System (step by step)
1. Remove our names from credit card offer mailing lists. You can quickly and easily opt-out by following this link.
2. Sign up for e-statements whenever possible. Everything from bank statements to credit card bills to coupons can be received via email. And, it is actually more secure (and eco-friendly) to pay bills electronically.
3. All current receipts go into a plastic pocket in my household management binder. At the end of the month, only the most important receipts will be kept (large purchases, electronics, plants).
4. Mail is checked and sorted daily--mail that needs attention goes into the binder, mail that needs to be recycled is, coupons go into a coupon section of the binder, confidential information is shredded.
5. If something needs to be filed, it can go into the mail basket by our front door. At the end of the week, papers are filed.

Dealing with the Old Stuff
Once the current paperwork is kept under control, I can address the folders of old paperwork. Most of the papers in our basement should be discarded. We have manuals for appliances we no longer own, pay-stubs from well before we were married, and travel itineraries from years ago. Denver has an annual shred-a-thon each May. We'll box up our old paperwork until then and drop it off to be shredded, although we do own a shredder. We have so much to be shredded that it would probably burn out the motor! If you have the space for a simple shredder, it is a great way to protect yourself from identity theft and to keep up with your shredding needs. I'll base my decisions about what to keep and what to toss on an article I found in Consumer Reports.

The following documents should be kept for...
A year or less: credit card bills, bank records, current year tax records, insurance policies, receipts
Until they no longer apply: warranties, investment confirmations, loan documents, savings bonds, vehicle records
For seven years: tax returns
Permanent paperwork: estate planning, life insurance policies, pension plan

Happy purging and remember to recycle!

MAKE: Mobile

When our daughter was born, I noticed that so many baby mobiles are either kind of garish and over-the-top or many of them were muted and boring.  We ended up with a boring yellow, green and blue mobile that never caught our daughter's attention and it was put in the attic after a few months.

So when we found out we were expecting again, I decided I would try to make a mobile.  I knew infants responded best to vivid colors and black and white so I went in that direction.

I cut dozens of circles out of brightly colored and black and white card stock and strung them on a thin wire.  I tied knots under each circle and put a small bead to hold it in place.  After placing all of the circles on the wires, I tied it all to a metal hoop I purchased at Michaels and tied it to a hook on our ceiling.  Both of our sons love it!

So very easy and inexpensive and it adds some fun whimsy and color to the room!

MAKE: Celebration Banner.

I am definitely the most beginning of seamstresses.  I don't actually think I can use the word "seamstress" in association with myself.  "Sewer" perhaps?  

However, even though my skills are rudimentary, this was a project I could certainly handle!

I decided to make a celebration banner for my family.  I have seen many adorable banners of all sorts.  My original intent was to make a birthday banner.  I thought about creating it to say "Happy Birthday!"  But once I started thinking about it more, I realized I wanted to be able to hang it for many of life's other celebrations, not just birthdays.  

Since making it, we have hung it for every birthday, the birth of our sons, the homecoming of our newest baby, and many other great days.

And it was incredibly simple to make.  

I started with a long thick ribbon.  I wanted it to be long enough to hang across our door frame going into our dining room.  

Then, I found many complimentary scraps of fabric around our home.  I cut out the letters to spell "Hooray" and then cut out 12 triangles of fabric.  I sewed the letters onto the front of a triangle and then sewed the other side of the same fabric to the back to cover the raw back of the triangle.  Then, I sewed all of the triangles onto the ribbon.  So easy!  And my whole family loves it!

Hooray!!

PLAY: Get Fizzy

Courtney and Whitney have both mentioned their love for a glass of fizzy water with some fruit juice added. It's a great way to limit soda intake and curb a craving for a sweet drink. I jumped on the "fizzy water and splash of fruit juice" bandwagon this summer. And, my husband basically took it over. Seriously, I couldn't keep a bottle of carbonated water in the house. While it is not a great expense, I did begin to feel guilty about the number of plastic bottles I was recycling. As you know, it's best not to recycle, but to reuse.

In honor of reusing and reducing (as well as Father's Day), I purchased a Sodastream Genesis for my husband. We are hooked! The machine itself requires no electricity--no cord, no batteries. It's slim, taking up very little space on our counter. Since we're just carbonating plain water, it calls for very little cleaning. It comes with BPA-free, reusable bottles. They feel very sturdy. And, the best part is that it takes about twenty seconds to make a liter of fizzy water, including the time it takes to fill the bottle with water. It might just be the treat you need to get yourself through the hot, hot days of summer.

NEST: Finding home on a business trip.

About a week ago, my husband learned that he was expected to be in Florida for work. He knew it was coming, but didn't expect to be given only 3 days notice prior to stepping foot into the office. I knew that if Griffin and I wanted to accompany Jose, I would have to do all of the preparation on our end, while Jose prepared for the work he would do. I rushed around our house--cleaning, packing, watering plants, doing laundry. I made lists of things that make life more convenient and planned to pack them or think of alternatives we could find at our condo. I know, for example, that Griff does better with his special milk cup and water bottle to drink and his stuffed cow to sleep. I know that I need lightweight, comfortable long pants for evenings and our jogging stroller for my sanity.

Some people truly adore business travel. Since Jose was dreading it, I took it as a challenge to prove that it could be a fun and relaxing change of pace. I knew it would be a matter of making our condo feel like home. A few of the things I considered were what we would eat, how we would sleep and what we would do to make this business trip feel like vacation.

1. Food: If you can stay in a studio or one bedroom place with a kitchen, you have a huge advantage. You can end up making money off your food stipend if you don't eat out all the time.

Plan a menu for the week ahead of time. You may be more exhausted than normal with the pace of work or a time change and having a meal on the schedule keeps you from being tempted to give in to fast food joints. If you arrive the evening before you're expected to work, find the grocery and get your necessities.

If you always feel great when you eat eggs, toast, and a banana for breakfast, but your hotel offers a continental breakfast of Eggo waffles and doughnuts and bagels, make your own protein-rich meal. There may be a tiny twinge of guilt that you're not taking advantage of the "free food," but you'll feel better for it.

2. Sleep: Get enough of it. Bring your favorite pillow if you need it. Keep your normal bedtime and routine. Although you may be tempted to skimp on toiletries, so you don't need to check a bag, packing your regular face soap, night cream and toothpaste may help your brain prepare for sleep.

If you always sleep with a fan or noise maker, try to pack it or find a substitute. You could call ahead and ask if you could borrow a fan from maintenance. Making yourself comfortable at night will make each day a little brighter.

3. Vacation: You're traveling, so you should get to pamper yourself just a bit. Plan a meal or two out during the week at restaurants that locals recommend. If you're near the beach, take a walk or run on the sand each night after work. Buy yourself a cup or two of fancy coffee on your way into the office. Or, (what I'm longing for) schedule a pedicure at a nearby spa.

Griffin and Jose on our family business trip.

Try to Keep Your Green Going: Buy only what you need at the grocery store--just because it's on sale does not mean you need a family-size bottle of ketchup. Travel with your own toiletries, instead of buying the travel-size shampoo. Pack a water bottle that you can refill, so you won't feel the need to buy bottled water. Borrow a map of the area and plot out any errands that you need to run to prevent wasting gas driving all over town. Ask about recycling at your hotel or condo so you can be responsible with the trash that you will inevitably create.

Just remember: If it's really important to you, take it with you!

MAKE: 3 Products That Save Your Skin and Your Wallet

Aveda, Burt's Bees, Kiss My Face and California Baby may have all lined your shower shelf as you've made an effort to use more natural products. But, taking a walk down the beauty aisle can leave you with sticker shock. If you have been seeking out products that have fewer chemicals and are gentler on your skin, perhaps now is the time to make your own. Search "homemade lotion" and you'll find a flood of information, some of which is completely contradictory. I'll share what I found, so you won't need to wade through the swamp of information.

My son and I have extremely sensitive skin and we live in arid Colorado. That has led me on a quest to find the most sensitive, moisturizing and natural products I can. Recently, however, I have been discouraged by the cost of our skincare. After spending hours trying to Google the easiest and safest body cream I could make, I turned to Amazon. Sometimes a book is simply better than dozens of websites. I read countless reviews and descriptions and decided to purchase Natural Beauty at Home by Janice Cox. I practically camped out by my front door in anticipation of the book's arrival. Within an hour of receiving the book, I had sticky-noted about twenty beauty recipes that I wanted to try.



I started by making cocoa body butter, eye makeup remover, and honey soap. Please note that any products that you make out of your pantry or fridge will eventually expire due to the fact that they do not contain preservatives. I learned this the hard way when I just about dipped my fingers into my homemade soap that had been growing a lovely layer of mold. The other two items that I made seem to have a longer shelf-life, so I recommend those for certain. I found all of the ingredients that I needed at our local natural grocer.

1. Body Butter: Perfect for dry hands and feet (or your whole body if you have extremely dry skin).
I'm not sure about the shelf-life because this super-moisturizing cream was gone before I knew it. To make this product, you simply melt the ingredients together. I combined them in a pyrex measuring cup in a pot of water on the stove over a medium-low heat.

Ingredients

1/4 cup grated cocoa butter

1 tablespoon coconut oil

2 tablespoons sesame oil

1 tablespoon avocado oil

1 tablespoon grated beeswax

2. Eye Make-up Remover: A gentle blend of oils that won't burn your eyes.
I have been using this combination of castor, olive and canola oils with great results. The makeup comes off with greater ease and my skin feels softer. A clean washcloth or a cotton square can be dipped into the oils. A gentle swipe across your eyelids and you're set.

Ingredients

Equal parts olive oil, castor oil, and canola oil

3. Shampoo: As I searched online, I found many mentions of using baking soda combined with water instead of shampoo. To be honest, I haven't tried this. It's next on my list, as some bloggers have claimed that straight hair becomes more voluminous over time.

A few things to keep in mind:
Just as we strive to purchase organic produce to put into our bodies, organic products would also be safer on our bodies.
Allergies can occur to natural products.
Your creations should be examined and smelled to ensure quality over time.
All jars and containers should be thoroughly washed prior to use.

PLAY: Going to the Market.

We have a wonderful farmer's market in our city that I absolutely adore.

It seems so simple, but on a Saturday morning, going to the market is one of my favorite weekend activities.

We don't always buy things, but I just love being in the atmosphere of the market.
Everyone is always so cheerful.
The farmers are so happy to share their vast knowledge and are generous with offering samples of their goods.
The shoppers tend not to be rushed or grouchy.
The creativity flourishes and it always makes me want to go home and try to create something new.
And the food is just so very good.

Food just picked from the earth has such a wonderful taste.

And you feel good supporting local, small farms.

If you have never been to your local farmer's market, consider going this week.  For me, it is much more than a shopping trip.  It is something so enjoyable and holds so many teachable moments for our children.

And I just love it so much!

Here is a link to farmer's markets across the US.  Happy shopping!

NEST: Jars.

Last week Whitney wrote about increasing the amount of water you drink in a day with some fun suggestions. Mountain Knitter left a comment that ties in to today's post:


Mountain Knitter said...

I love those add-in ideas! Thanks!! I drink my water out of a wide-mouth quart canning jar ;)

There's something about glass jars that inspires me. They look fresh and clean. When filled, they beautifully showcase what's inside. And, I have so many in my house. Just open your refrigerator and you will see what I mean. You can certainly dump those used jars into the recycling bin, but an even greener alternative is to reuse them. Once I started thinking about it, I realized that I have reused them all over my house. You may have jars that were once filled with spaghetti sauce, salsa, baby food, peanut butter, or applesauce. No matter what, you can find a new use for them! Here are a few of my favorites:

How do you reuse in your home?

NEST: Fresh.

This truly has to be one of my favorite times of year.

Everything is so fresh and alive and vibrant.

I adore spring and with the promise of summer on the horizon, it is just an amazing season.

And it is the perfect time of year to plant something in your own backyard!

I absolutely do not have a green thumb, but there is something so very fulfilling about harvesting something out of your own yard.

My husband and I have had a garden in flower boxes on our deck, in pots in our kitchen, in the dirt on the side of our home and in a raised bed in our backyard.  

Each garden we have planted has had varying degrees of success, but it has always been a lot of fun and so satisfying to put something on your plate that you grew and nurtured yourself.

If you live in an apartment and don't have a yard, consider planting herbs or flowers in pots on your deck or even near a window inside.  

Many herbs are very hearty and even I have a hard time killing them!  

Some of the easier plants to grow include:

- beans

- lettuces

- tomatillos

- basil

- green peppers

- tomatoes

- garlic

- sunflowers

You can buy packets of seeds or for an even easier option, you can buy them as seedlings.

Many gardening stores even sell the seedlings in pots that biodegrade in the soil so you don't even have to take the plant out of the pot!  It couldn't be much easier!

Of course, you want to read the instructions that come with your plants and be sure to plant them at the correct depth and space, in the correct sunlight and give them the right amount of water.

Whatever your success or level of gardening experience, I hope you find your gardening enjoying and fulfilling!

One Last Ornament

I know we're down to the final hours before Christmas, but you might have just a minute to whip up one last ornament. I always find myself wanting to make each gift a little more special or create one more decoration before Christmas is upon us. This would be an adorable addition to a present, perhaps tied on next to the gift tag.

Why not make a Christmas dove? All that is required is some felt, a needle and thread, and some ribbon. Batting or stuffing of some kind is optional.

Step One: Draw your dove onto a piece of paper or cardstock.

Step Two: Cut out your pattern.

Step Three: Trace your pattern onto your felt. I used white, but colored felt could be fun, as well.

Step Four: Cut it out. I cut both pieces of felt at the same time.

Step Five: Sew around the dove, leaving a gap at the top to stuff and for the ribbon. You could easily sew by hand. 

Step Six: Stuff him.

Step Seven: Sew the ribbon into place, while closing off the hole.

Step Eight: Admire your good work.  

I used recycled felt to make my dove and bamboo to stuff it. You could also use old clothing to make the dove. I am thinking about making a garland of mutli-colored birds to hang in Griffin's room all year. You could also stuff the bird with scraps of fabric or bits of old socks.

Napkins.

Last year on Earth Day, we made a resolution to go paperless in the kitchen.

The switch has been relatively painless and I have been amazed at the money we have saved and how much less full our garbage cans are!  

Even if going paperless in the kitchen is not appealing to you (I fully understand the love of the paper towel), a very easy change you can make is in using cloth napkins.  

Cloth napkins hold up MUCH better than their paper counterparts and in the end are so much cheaper!  

You can make them any size you please and you can make them to be fancy, casual, seasonal, decorative or just functional.  I made some standard sized napkins and some that are smaller for my kids.  My daughter loves using them for tea parties and for her babies, too.  And cloth napkins clean up a toddlers messy face much better than paper.

There are so many tutorials out there on making them, but one of my favorites comes from the Purl Bee. Their napkins are classy and elegant, yet could be used for every day.  

Go check them out and consider whipping up a batch for a Christmas gift this year.  

Happy dining!