A Natural Oral Routine: DIY Toothpaste and Mouthwash

Toothpaste has been a longtime frustration for me. Even when it's 'all natural', there's usually something that I can't pronounce or don't understand. Does that necessarily make it a bad thing ... no, but I just don't like it. Call me anal, call me silly, tell me I'm overthinking it. I doesn't matter, it still bothers me. It's just that plain and simple.

I've made a few toothpastes over the years and never quite loved them. Then I found Earthpaste. Did I finally find a toothpaste of my dreams?! How could it be. A few simple ingredients and my teeth felt great after using it. Even the kids loved their lemon flavor. After about a year of using Earthpaste, I found a problem with it ... the price tag! But I finally found a toothpaste that I loved ... was it worth it?

I should know, you should yell at me ... the best things in life are homemade! If the ingredients are truly that simple, I should be able to make it myself. So, I did. I did a lot of digging about amounts and the reasons why to use some ingredients over others and I finally felt confident. I knew the taste and consistency I wanted.

One big concern was the amount of baking soda and clay, I didn't want to harm my teeth. Luckily, I have a few dental hygienist friends that were able to advise me on amounts of ingredients for safety and protection of my teeth. And yes, I know, Earthpaste doesn't use baking soda ... but I like it! Also, xylitol, an ingredient that I never wanted to use before in cooking but I was assured that it helps fight cavities so it is very beneficial in toothpastes.

Let me just admit that the first few batches got tossed! As I always say, my stubbornness pays off and I finally did it. I have been using this toothpaste for just over a year now. My teeth have never felt better and I have had great visits with my dentist!

Homemade Clay Toothpaste

5 T calcium powder
5 T coconut oil (organic, unrefined)
2 T baking soda (aluminum free)
2 T xylitol
1 T redmond or bentonite clay
distilled water if it's too thick ... I start out with a Tablespoon at a time, winter I need more than summer since the coconut oil is at a thicker consistency in my house.

Optional: Essential oils or food grade, organic extract. I love peppermint, cinnamon and orange the best! The kids still use lemon. I use about 5-7 drops per batch.

Mix all ingredients except the water and clay until you have a very smooth consistency and it is thoroughly mixed together. Then add the clay and flavoring. Finally add water if you need so it is the right consistency.

I keep mine in a small 4 oz mason jar and use a popsicle stick to scoop it out on my toothpaste.

Tea Tree Mouthwash

2 c distilled water
1 t xylitol
2 t calcium powder
5 drops tea tree oil

Mix all in a mason jar. When ready, swish a bit in your mouth and spit out.

**Make sure you are using 100% certified therapeutic grade essential oils. Oil Fragrances are already mixed with carrier oils and some have fillers and artificial ingredients.

**Natural remedies do not work for everyone so consult your physician for any concerns. I am far from a dentist, but this toothpaste continues to work for me and I hope they work for you!

Smoky Tempeh Mushroom Burgers
Makes 8

8 oz Tempeh
1/2 medium onion
2 cloves garlic
8 oz mushrooms
1 c cooked rice
1 medium carrot, shredded
2 T liquid smoke
1 T worsteshire sauce
1 t dijon mustard
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper

Horseradish Sauce

1/2 c Veganaise
1 T horseradish (this will vary on the spice level of the horseradish you have and your likings
1/4 t pepper

Garden Beds: To Raise or Not to Raise

The past four years we have gone with raised garden beds. Paul built them when we first moved into the house. This past fall, we decided to demo them and do one large garden. Surprisingly, this was a tough decision that we went back and forth a bit for quite a while, but let me tell you, I am SO excited to start our big garden. Here's why ...

When we first moved into our house, we knew we wanted a garden but we didn't realize the extent for our love. The first year we built three 4' x 8' raised beds. The following year we added on two more. Then we added on one 4' x 12' lower bed. The final year we added yet another 4' x 12' lower bed! Our back yard was turning into a geometric design of raised beds! We never realized when we started how big they would get. We were simply wasting a lot of great garden space in between the beds that we had been creating. Gardening has turned into a major part of our food supply and we really want to make the most of the space we had. Simply said, the walls had to come down!

I was apprehensive though. We spend a lot of time in our backyard, both as a family and entertaining. The garden beds had turned into a landscaping design that complimented the look of the yard. I did not want to turn our yard into a chicken-wire mess. Luckily, my friend made a garden for his parents earlier in the season. When I saw it I realized that big gardens can be just as part of a beautiful landscaping look as the raised beds were. Luckily, Paul was on board, were were able to reuse the lumber from our raised beds and we didn't have to buy anymore soil simply by spreading around the raised beds.

Why Raised Beds:

1. Easy Weeding: Weeding could not have been easier. I would simply sit on the ledge and pick away. Working all the way around the bed without having to be on my hands and knees. 
2. Pretty Landscaping: I love the way raised beds look. They can be a major part of your landscaping design and you can fancy/rustic them up how you see fit to match the rest of your look. Personally, I don't like chicken-wire. I really didn't want a yard of it. I know, this is getting picky, but whatever, it's my yard :) 

Then Why Lower the Garden?

1. Wasted Space: After we realized all the space we were using up as walkways in between the raised beds we knew we were crazy. All that walkway space equaled loss of vegetables in our fridge!
2. Larger Vegetables: In the raised beds, I never wanted to do many large vegetables: squash, pumpkins, etc. They would take up too much real estate in our precious area. 
3. Still Pretty Landscaping: Lower beds can still look just as decorative as raised beds. I absolutely love our new look!
4. Less $$ for Maintenance: With our raised beds, we had to add a lot of compost every because the soil height would drop down so much. In our 4x8 ft beds, it would lower about 4 inches a year!

Now, in the same footprint as the raised garden beds, we have TWICE as much room for vegetables in our large, lowered garden. We decided that with the extra space, we are going to try forgo our CSA membership too and really work on ours. Having multiple plantings. We will have to have a few extra trips to the farmers market but I really think we're going to be saving a lot of money in the long run!

So basically, my conclusion is if you are planning a smaller garden with a few choice vegetables and herbs, a raised bed is perfect. They are easy to maintain and look great in the lawn. If you are planning a bigger garden with larger vegetables, don't waste your green space and make one large lower garden! Regardless of your choice, enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor!

The 10 Best Homemade Kombucha Flavors

Earlier this year, my friend introduced me to homemade kombucha. I have to be honest, at first I told her, 'Not a chance, I'm a wheatgrass girl and kombucha is way to much like vinegar for me.' After she convinced me to try a sip, I was instantly hooked. Homemade tastes nothing like store bought ... duh! After about a week since I had my first sip, she gave me a SCOBY and my homemade kombucha life started! It's only been about 6 months, but I have since given daughters out to about 5 others so they can start making their own. The kombucha family is growing! My mom, who has chronic joint and back pains, is hooked (and has noticed a little improvement).

There are so many benefits of kombucha. It really is quite the health elixir!

• Detoxification
• Joint Care
• Boosts Immune System
• Aids Digestions and Stomach Issues
• Increases Energy

There are so many ways to make kombucha. I do a continuous brew. My one gallon container makes about 5-6 16-oz bottles a week (in the summer it was 3-4 days because my house was so hot and and kombucha fermented faster). It takes about 15-20 minutes every time I make a batch. Even in the crazy busy months, it is so worth it!

During my short time as a kombucha brewer, I have tried so many combinations of fruits and herbs with the change of seasons it's been a great little flavor adventure. With fall now here, I have been completely obsessed with apple cider and chai flavored kombucha. I decided it was high time to share with everyone all the amazing flavors that I have grown to love. Please remember, when doing a continuous brew, you always want to add the flavors to your secondary fermentation so that you don't effect your SCOBY with any of them. If you have ANY questions, please ask. I'm not an expert (yet), but together we can find the answers!

The 10 Best Homemade Kombucha Flavors

Honey, Ginger, Lemon (raw honey for a healthier booch)

Lavender and Lemon

Apple, Turmeric, Ginger

Mango and Lime

Berry-Craze! Blackberry, blueberry and strawberry ... oh my!

Blueberry Basil (fresh basil please)

Strawberry, Mint, Lime (fresh mint please)

Chai Spice Blend (dried cinnamon, ginger, coves, nutmeg and cardamon)

Apple Cider (apples and a cinnamon stick)

Purple Grape (tastes like wine!)

I'm not going to give you exact amounts, because it all depends on your flavoring strength preferences. For instance, I'm a ginger fanatic, however, to many, mine is too spicy for them. Play around with them to see what you like best. It also depends on how you secondary. Some people secondary the whole batch together. Some people use 12 oz bottles and others 16 oz. A few things to remember ...

• If you're using frozen fruit, you generally don't need as much as fresh for the flavor to really permeate your booch. 
• Dried vs. fresh spices ... Use 1/2 the amount of dried. i.e. 1 tsp of grated ginger = 1/2 tsp of dried ginger 
• The flavor grows with everyday that it is in secondary fermentation. 

There are tons of places to get your own SCOBY and start brewing. If you buy store bought kombucha, start saving money and start brewing. You won't regret it! Remember, the best things in life are homemade. My friend got hers from Kombucha Kamp. Their directions were super easy to follow and both of our SCOBYs are stronger than ever!

Sponge Water Bombs: Just Say, 'NO' to Water Balloons!

We're officially one week out of school and I can't do another water balloon! It's just a hunch, but I don't think I'm alone out there. With Simon only 10 months old and putting everything in his mouth, I can't pick up shards of balloons fast enough! The weather here has been amazing and we've been living outside from morning until night and the kids are water crazy so we've gone through our fair share of water balloons already.

For Gabe's last day of 3K, they had great weather and got to play outside in a sprinkler and have fun with other water toys. One mom brought these sponge balls that the kids were all loving. Once I got a closer look, I was completely wowed. It was so easy yet so ingenious ... a cut up sponge, tied together in the middle ... that's it! Basically, a reusable water balloon!

Today, I finally stopped at a dollar store to pick up some sponges. The kids and I sat on the driveway cutting up sponges and tying them up. I had them sort the colors and count how many they were putting in a pile ... this kept them busy so they stopped wanting to use momma's big scissors!

In no time at all, we had a pile of sponge bombs and were racing to the back yard for the best water fight ever! Thank you, whichever mom it was that single-handedly changed my summer!!

How to Make Sponge Bombs

What you need:

Sponges
Zip Ties or Hair Ties
Scissors

Directions:

1. Cut all sponges the long way ... into three equal slices.

2. Group together 8-9 slices.

3. Zip tie or use a hair tie and tighten them together around the middle. If you are using zip ties, make sure you cut the extra tie off. You don't want any sharp pieces off of the zip tie. Using a wire cutter works best to cut it down completely flush.

4. Race to get the sponges in the water and let the fun begin!

That's it! No more filling up endless balloons. No more picking up little pieces in the yard. No more tears after the balloons are all gone because you can go through a whole bag in 2 minutes. Save money, save time, have happy kids, sit back and enjoy the sun and summer!!

DIY Natural Laundry Detergent

Have you ever done something and asked yourself, 'Why did it take me so long to do this?!' That is exactly how I'm feeling about making my own laundry detergent. It was so easy, so cheap and I always have the ingredients on hand from making other cleaning products.

In the past four years, I have become a laundry detergent snob. With Gabe, we did cloth diapers. I did so much research while I was pregnant about what detergents were the best for the job while still being economically conscious. I fell in love with Country Save.  It was good for the diapers, the washing machine and not so bad for the environment either! It was (and still is) a great detergent.

Once I began working on a dishwasher detergent, I remembered why we had to stop cloth diapers. We have such hard water with iron and other materials in it that no matter what detergent I used, we couldn't keep them clean ... or get that gross ammonia smell out. I tried EVERYTHING! With dishes, I was easily able to tell if the detergent wasn't working great because my dishwasher would look bad or simply enough, there would still be spots on the dishes. I was nervous to try it out with clothes because it would be harder to tell.

Well, my last box of Country Save was dwindling down and I decided it was time to at least give it a try. After a few loads, it seemed to be working really well. No smells and everything appeared to look really good. This weekend, I finally had a good test ... clothes after a bonfire. The clothes reeked of smoke and some grass and dirt from the kids running around. They came out smelling like roses! Actually, they came out smelling like nothing because it is fragrance free!

It's cheap, it's effective and it will last for a long time ... I'm sold! Again, why did it take me so long to do this?!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Makes 5 cups

1 bar castile soap
2 c borax
2 c washing soda

First, grate your bar of soap. Then put the grated soap into a high speed blender and pulverize it to dust.

In a bowl, put all three ingredients together and mix well. Keep detergent in an airtight container.

For regular washers: use 1/8 cup; 40 loads
For HE washers: use 1 T; 80 loads

Homemade Salt Substitute Recipe

I always considered myself a salt fanatic. I used to over-salt my foods a lot just because I love that extra flavor. Then, Paul came into my life and I realized what a real salt fanatic was. He is guilty of salting his food before he even tries it. After a few years of this driving me absolutely crazy, he stopped pre-salting and I started controlling our salt intake. Some recipes I used to try using other ingredients instead of salt to bring out the natural flavors. Then, I began experimenting with salt substitutes.

Years and years have gone by since I started using this recipe. In the past few years, I have to admit, I have completely forgotten about it all together. My sister-in-law recently got married and she was doing a spice mixture as their wedding gift for their guests. My salt substitute recipe instantly came to mind and I rushed out to my local health food store to pick up some lemon rind (they sell it in bulk). The lemon rind is the big star to this recipe and in my opinion, you can't have a salt substitute without it! I love sprinkling this on raw tomatoes and lightly sauteed vegetables, but you can really get creative in using it anywhere.

It's wonderful to have a new addition to the family and celebrate a great wedding. It's also great to resurrect old recipes that were long lost deep in the recipe books! Enjoy it like we have and healthy happy eating to you!!

Homemade Salt Substitute Recipe

Makes 2/3 cup

1/4 c garlic powder
2 T oregano
2 T onion powder
2 T lemon rind (dried)

Mix all ingredients into a bowl and use as needed. Store in an airtight container.

5 Minute Homemade Playdough without Cream of Tartar

It's been a long week. When I say long, I mean looooooooooooong! Last week, Gabe had a little bike accident with Paul. He didn't want to walk so we look him to the ER and the sent us home letting us know it was bruised and he should be walking soon. 4 days later he was still out of commission. After every bribe in the book and trying everything to force him to walk, we took him back in. This time, they took x-rays and we found out that he has two fractures. After a full week of cheerleading and coaxing Gabe into walking, I was to exhausted to even be upset. We at least know what's going on and can start moving forward. He has a cast and for the next four weeks. Oh, did I mention this weekend was Paul's sisters wedding too and we found out about him needing a cast 3 hours before the rehearsal dinner?!? Like I said, looooooooooooong week!

Well, we got through the wedding and the first few days of a three year old in a cast and we're trying to find our normal. Gabe didn't feel like going outside to play just yet and he was starting to think a lot about his cast. I needed a quick distraction. Yes, playdough! They were so excited. I asked them what colors they wanted and I went to work. I haven't made my normal playdough recipe in a little while. I was digging through my spice cabinet looking for my cream of tartar and I couldn't find it. My heart sank. I quickly went to Google trying to find a recipe that didn't use it. I found this one on a great mommy site. It worked pretty well, but it was a little tacky. For my next batch I added a little more salt and changed up the vinegar a bit. It was perfect.

Gabe completely forgot about his cast (for a good hour) playing, building mountains, making snakes and lizards and even a couple cars. Life was good ... actually, it was great!

I do love my other playdough recipe, but this one was so very easy! It took one pot and hardly any effort. After the kids were done playing, it stuck to itself perfectly for easy cleanup! If you don't have natural, organic food coloring, check out these great ways to make all different colors using food and spices!

5 Minutes Homemade Playdough

Makes 1 1/2 cups

1 c water
5 T salt
1 T canola oil
1 T white vinegar
food coloring (optional)
1 c flour, I tried with AP and wheat flour and both worked out
essential oils (optional)

In a pot, add water, salt, oil, vinegar and food coloring over medium heat. Mix it around so the food coloring mixes into everything before adding the flour.

Then add the flour and consistently mix it.

Once it starts thickening around the spoon, turn off the heat but keep mixing until it turns into a big clump. It doesn't take long at all!. Take out of the pot and let it cool for a bit. Finally, knead it for a minute or two. I made four different batches right away and then kneaded them all afterwards so they cooled down.

I add in the essential oils as I'm kneading it. You don't want them heating up in the pot with the playdough. Lavender is my favorite for the kids to play with. I just used two drops per batch.

How to Make the Perfect Hard-Boiled, Easy-to-Peel Egg

You know when you get in a relationship and one person takes on certain jobs and they are just theirs to be had from that point on. It's almost as if they claim that duty. For the first 7 years of our marriage, making hard-boiled eggs was Paul's job. Strange as it may be, he seemed to have the magic touch when it came to eggs. Too often, mine would come out a little raw in the middle or the yolk would start to turn grayish on the outside from cooking too long. For some reason, hard-boiled eggs were my nemesis!

When I started staying home with the kids, I decided it was time to take a few duties off of Paul's hands. Since I am such a generous and giving wife, I decided I would do the hard-boiled eggs! What a doll, hey?!

I did still have the occasional oops here and there, but after awhile, I got it dialed in! With a few tricks, my eggs are now 100% delicious 100% of the time. They come out fluffy and perfectly done every time. Never raw, never too hard, never cracked in the pot and always easy-to-peel!!

Since it is prime hard-boiled egg time with Easter just around the corner, I figured it was time to share the secret! And, if you do plan on dyeing some this year, it is so easy (and I think much more fun) to make your own naturally dyed easter eggs!

The Perfect Hard-Boiled Egg

1. Fill a pot with water and add in your eggs right away. Make sure that they are completely submerged. By adding your eggs before the water is hot, it prevents a cold egg from cracking from the shock of boiling water.

2. Set your timer for 18 minutes.

3. Bring the water to a small rolling boil. I leave the pot uncovered so it doesn't boil over.

4. Once your 18 minutes is up, drain the water and put the eggs into a ice water bath. The more ice the better. By cooling them fast, they will shrink ever so slightly and separate from the shell.

5. After at least 5 minutes, I start to peel them. They should no longer be hot to the touch. I roll them around, cracking them on every side. The peel should fall right off.

6. Eat up! I love eating them right away because the center is just a tad warm and the yolk is deliciously fluffy!

As a little side note, always try to buy organic eggs. Even though the cage-free, vegetarian fed 'natural' eggs sounds yummy and healthy they can still be fed with GMO seed and hormones can 'sneak' in. If you buy organic you are certified to be free from GMOs and hormones. Yes, I know they are slightly more expensive, but think about it the next time you buy a coffee or one more cocktail when you're out. That one extra dollar you spend on 12 eggs for your family is sure to be worth it!

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

As you may know, I started making my own dish soap a while back. It took a bit to find the right ratio so it was thick and still worked good. That venture was nothing compared to finding out what worked for my dishwasher!

Let's start at the beginning. The water at my house is very hard and has lots of iron in it. It doesn't taste bad, but we definitely have our limitations ... like we can't use it to brew (a big pain in my rear)! I tried lots of different recipes that were out on the web, they would always work for about a week, but we would end up having lots of spots and my dishwasher would get cloudy after that. Ugh ... back to the chemicals!

I honestly felt like giving up on this one and just blaming our water. However, every meal I would watch the kids eat and I couldn't help but cringe a little knowing that I was using dishwasher detergent that I didn't like (even if it was 'safe'). I wanted a simple homemade detergent with very few ingredients. This would also save some money!

I decided to give it one more try ... the good 'ol college effort and of course, it finally worked. Does that happen to you? Right when you're about to give up on something you figure it out?!? Happens to me ALL of the time! Lesson learned (again): never quit!

What finally worked for me was not to use salt in my mix. I also always have white vinegar as my rinsing agent now. I have had spotless, clean beautiful dishes every time and my dishwasher is looking great! So, if this recipe doesn't work for you, keep adjusting it until you find what works best with the water in your area. If you need, try a little salt too. Citric Acid is a new ingredient for me. I haven't used it in anything before. Don't be intimidated it is a very safe and common ingredient. It can be found at many hardware stores and even natural food stores. As usual, I got mine online through Amazon.

Good luck!

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Makes 40 Loads

1 cup Borax
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric ccid
1 drop essential oils per load (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and keep them in an airtight container. I like using a mason jar.

When ready, add 1 T of mix per load. Again, I also fill my rinsing agent compartment with white vinegar.

How to Freeze Pumpkins

Just because Halloween is now over doesn't mean it's time to forget about pumpkins. Actually, this is the perfect time for them. It's nearing the end of the season, where I live anyways, and farmers are clearing the fields and pumpkins are one of the last things to go. You can get them for next to nothing! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, there's not a better time to get your pumpkin puree out of the way.

I am a person that loves pumpkin all year round. I'm not crazy about pumpkin pie, but I love a hint of pumpkin in other desserts and I LOVE LOVE LOVE savory pumpkin dishes ... you can't go wrong with Pumpkin Burgers or Savory Pumpkin Quinoa). So, I like to have a few jars of puree in the freezer for whenever my pumpkin craving sparks.

A little pumpkin goes a long way too and this process is very simple for the output that you get, you can't go wrong! I can't necessarily say 1 pumpkin = 4 cups, because even with the weight of pumpkin, the seed weight vs flesh can vary. This year, I did 3 smaller pumpkins and one medium size this year and I got 14 jelly jars. I like using jelly jars for pumpkin because most of the recipes that I use it for call for 1 cup. If you need more at a time, use pint jars and of course, you can use freezer bags too.

The USDA has said that it's unsafe to can your pumpkin puree because it is so dense that the heat can't penetrate the inside, that is why many home canners will cut theirs in cubes and then can it. You can use this to your discretion, I still know canners that do it, but the information is out there so take it how you will. Other people will cube there pumpkin, add water and then can it. It's easy to do, but if I can avoid a few extra steps and I have the freezer space, I'm going to do it!

How to Freeze Pumpkins

1. Cut your pumpkins in half and scoop out the seeds.
2. Preheat your oven for 375º. Place your pumpkins downward with a 1/2 inch of water in the pan. Depending on the size and thickness of your pumpkin the time that it takes them to cook will vary, start checking after 30 minutes. You want the insides to be completely soft.

3. The outer skin becomes very hard so it's easy to scoop the flesh right out.
4. Next, pour into your jars or freezer bags. If you are using freezer bags, make sure you write how much you are putting in each bag so that you don't thaw too much.

5. Finally, put them in the freezer. It's always best to thaw items in the refrigerator rather than leaving them on the counter!