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!

25 Must-Know Uses for Lemons

The one ingredient that I couldn't live without would arguably be lemons! They seriously do a little bit of everything ... from home, to garden, to body (both inside and out!). Nothing can substitute the wonders that a lemon can hold.

Those cute little plastic lemons do contain lemon juice, but it's sure doesn't taste like a lemon! The juice is mixed with preservatives which makes it have a very harsh off flavor. Nothing like the amazing fresh lemon scent! Those little preservatives are called sulfer dioxide. Why should we care? Sulfer dioxide is a chemical used as a bleaching agent to treat chlorinated waste water. When exposed to sulfates, it is hard to take full, deep breaths because it inhibits your lungs from over-inflating. This can also cause asthma-like symptoms. Sulfer dioxide is harmful to animal and plant life; it is the precursor to acid rain which can kill fish and stimulate the overgrowth of algae.

You still want more? How long has that bottle been sitting on the shelf for who knows how long in that little yellow bottle. sucking in all the plastic and BPA flavor. I know people love the convenience of that little squeeze bottle, but buying a bag of lemons is not hard. That little bottle can no way substitute the vitamins and minerals that the amazing lemon will give you.

Real Lemon Juice = Real Benefits and Real Results!

Home and Kitchen

1. Freshen Up. Put a little lemon juice on your lightbulbs. When the light bulbs heat up, the fresh lemony scent will fill the air. Make sure the lightbulbs are cool before you add it!

2. Clean-Up!

• Limescale Build-up: Lemons are great and removing limescale build-up from sinks and faucets. Cut a lemon in half and rub it around the effected area. Let it sit for a couple minutes before rinsing with cold water and wipe off with a clean, damp cloth.
• Make your own All-Purpose Cleaner.
• Clean the windows: Simply rub a lemon wedge over a mirror or window, wipe with a dampened cloth then buff with a clean, dry cloth.
• Clean the floors: Tile, hardwood, pergo, laminate. Lemon can help clean them all! Mix 1/2 c vinegar to a bucket of warm pater. Add 10 drops of lemon oil (essential oil) and start cleaning as usual. I also like adding a little tea trea oil to this mixture for extra antibacterial properties.
• Keep your fridge smelling fresh. Put some lemon juice on a cotton ball and place it in your refrigerator for a few hours to help knock out those icky odors.
• Freshen up your cutting board. In almost every meal, I'm cutting onions and garlic, delicious, but the odors can really get into the pours of a cutting board. Rub a slice of lemon around on your cutting board to help release those juices that have gotten in the grains.
• Freshen up the disposal. Don't always compost your lemon rind. Once a week, I'll drop my down the disposal. Them lemon juice helps get out the odors that can linger and get stuck in your disposal.
• Clean the dishwasher. Stab half a lemon and stab it onto the prongs inside your dishwasher. The acid with help degrease your dishwasher while leaving it lemony fresh.
• Clean the oven. Get those tough to remove stains and help degrease the oven. I use 2 Tbs baking soda mixed with 1 cup of water and juice from one lemon and scrub away. Make sure your oven is completely cook before starting. (This mixture works great on the stovetop too).

3. Decorate! I will buy a bag of lemons at a time. They are used as the centerpiece to my table as I use them.

Body

1. Flush out toxins. I still do love a glass of tea in the morning, but lately I have been sticking with warm lemon water. It helps detox by flushing out the toxins as well as helps aid in digestion.

2. Boost immunity. I love keeping lemons part of my daily diet. Lemons are a great source of vitamin C and the pectin fibre in lemons help stimulate the production of antibodies.

3. Help the cough and sore throat. Lemons help expel mucous and soothe your throat. I love putting lemons in my daily tea but if you want to take it one step further, Mix 1/4 lemon juice, 3/4 c raw honey and 6 Tbs of olive oil. Heat the mixture up so until it is thoroughly mixed but do not boil, it will hurt the honey). Let cool and enjoy 1 tsp every two to three hours.

4. Kick nausea to the curb. Simply smelling a lemon can help relieve your queasy feelings.

5. Dark patches. Under the arms, on the elbows and even age spots. Lemon juice is a natural skin bleacher. Dilute juice in water before applying. Be careful though, it can dry out your skin so make sure to moisturize afterwards or add a little honey or aloe vera to the mixture. *Make sure to try on a test patch before being too liberal with use.

6. Quick freshen-up. Next time your need a quick freshen and don't have any deodorant, use a little lemon wedge and rub it on the pits! It will only last a few hours but it does the trick when you need it to.

7. Natural Sun-Kissed Hair. Remember the days of Sun-In and other natural highlighters for your hair?!? All you need is a little lemon. Mix 5 Tbs with 1 cup of water and wet your hair. Now the best part ... go sit out in the sun until your hair dries. (If you have dark hair, red tones usually come out instead of blonde).

8. Strong and Shiny Nails. To increase shine and strength, soak nails in juice for 10 minutes then, brush them with a small mixture of equal amounts of water, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. This can also help remove yellow and discolored nails.

Outdoor and Garden 

1. Deter Pests and Creepy Crawlers: Most insects do not like the smell of lemon. Either squeeze healthy amounts by your doors and windows to keep them out or leave the cut strips of peel and pulp out.

2. Fill your compost: Citrus is great for your compost pile. It will help strengthen your soil quality and help regulate the flow of water and oxygen to your plants.

3. Weed killer: Use liberal amounts in your pathway cracks or patio. You can also use it around your plants, just make sure not to get it on your plants ... you don't want to harm them.

Cooking Tips

1. No more fresh 'brown' foods!: As soon as you cut your apples, potatoes, bananas and more, they start to brown. Simply squeeze a little lemon over them or keep them in lemon water until you are ready to use them.

2. Avocados don't brown right away, but they can turn after awhile. I always rub a little lemon juice on the half of the avocado that I'm not using before putting it in the fridge. Make sure that lemon juice is part of your guacamole recipe too! Keeps it looking fresher longer.

3. Sour it: Add a little lemon to milk or cream when in need of sour milk or sour cream.

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

Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes for Every Mood

I honestly don't know what I would do without my diffuser ... Okay, yes I do because I went for years without one. However, now that I have one, there's no turning back. I run the diffuser almost every day. At first when I got it, I would just put some lavender it it, but that quickly got old. Nothing against lavender, I still use it every night by the kids rooms, but I needed something more.

I began playing around with different smells and different aromas. I looked though a Guide to Essential Oils and started to dig a little deeper in the what oils pair well with others along with what their healing benefits are. It was really fun trying out new blends. I'm not going to lie, there were a few that I had to waste because the smell just wasn't cutting it for me or it was making my mood crazy!

There are many diffusers out there. Find the one that is right for you and your pocketbook. I love my Allay Litemist, it was $35 on Amazon and fills my living room and kitchen nicely. I also use the Eden's Garden Wall Plug-Ins at nighttime in the hallway by our bedrooms.

Below are my absolute favorite diffuser blend recipes. They are the ones that I continue to use over and over ... and over again! The ones that I use a lot of, like the Peace to You blend, I make in bulk by combining the oils in a separate container. Then, I don't have to pull out all the oils every time I want to use it. Plus, I also like using that blend as a body spray too ... you'll love it!

Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes for Every Mood  

Chill and Relax

It's sweet, it's citrus, it's subtle
1 Ylang Ylang
1 Lavender
1 Sweet Orange
1 Lemongrass

Indian Summer

For those warm fall days
1 Cinnamon Leaf
1 Lavender
1 Lemon
2 Clary Sage

Peace to You

I can't go without this blend!
1 Patchouli
2 Lavender
1 Ylang Ylang
1 Grapefruit

My Morning Coffee

This blend completely perks me up
1 Grapefruit
1 Peppermint
1 Basil

Vanilla Spice

This blend makes me want to bake
1 Cinnamon Leaf
1 Orange
2 Vanilla
1 Clove

Come Here Baby!

When you're in ... the mood!
1 Patchouli
1 Jasmine
1 Sandewood
1 Ylang Ylang

Citrus Boost

Boost energy and creativity
1 Grapefruit
1 Lemon
1 Wild Orange
1 Lime

So Fresh & So Clean Clean

Purify your air, also a great disinfectant
1 Fir Needle
1 Lemongrass
1 Lime
1 Tea Tree

Breathe Deep

For those stuffy, runny nose days
1 Lemon
1 Peppermint
1 Rosemary
1 Eucalyptus

Always use essential oils with caution, especially with children.

My Top 10 Kitchen Gadgets

Gadgets make the world go round ... okay maybe not the world, but my kitchen! Kitchen gadgets make a cooks job easier and most importantly, they save us time. To me, that means they are worth their weight in gold. You'll notice a theme with my gadgets. They all save me time and money.

With Christmas just around the corner you may have those one or two people that are hard to buy for. When in doubt, kitchen gadgets! They are fun and functional. You can't go wrong!

My Top 10 Kitchen Gadgets

1. Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker $15: This thing is so fast and efficient for mincing garlic. Let's face it, the minced garlic that you buy in the store does not have the same great garlic flavor. It has to be fresh. This rocker goes really fast and saves time getting your garlic really small and time from cleaning the garlic off your hands!
2. Y Peeler: My favorite is the Kuhn Rikon 3 pack of vegetable peelers. There is a potato peeler which is like your normal peeler. They have a tomato peeler that actually is gentle enough to peel a tomato and other soft fruits and vegetables. I use it the most for mangos! The third peeler looks like a carrot and it juliennes veggies. I love this for one for julienning carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, etc. This makes making spring rolls go super fast! You can buy them as a set for about $15 or if you just want one, it's $5. By the way, they stay sharp close to forever!
3. VitaMix: I know what you're thinking, "Way too expensive!!!" That's what I used to think until we finally pulled the trigger! Wait until you have a 30% coupon from Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl's or another department store and get one! Now, I realize that this thing paid for itself! Since we juice a lot, the VitaMix uses half the amount of produce as our old juicer. I also can make a lot more from scratch that I wasn't able to before like peanut butter, ice creams, etc. I have the low end, VitaMix 1300 and it does just fine for us. So ... pull that trigger!
4. Thumb Press Food Dishers ... Old School Ice Cream Scoops. If you read my blog, you will know I'm obsessed with burgers. These make perfect, consistent burgers every time and it goes fast. I also love a small one for doing my faux meatballs. They also work out great for baking. 
5. Kitchen Scale: Recently, mine broke and I was seriously lost without it! Escali makes a lot of great ones for reasonable prices. Whichever one you decide to go with, read reviews and make sure that it can go to at least 15 lbs. (you won't regret it). 
6. Mini Colander: How many times do you bring out a great big colander for one can of beans or washing a handful of produce? It's so annoying! I love my little one can colander. I feel like it could stay on the counter sometimes it gets used so much. World Market is the place to pick these up. Only $2!
7. Cuisenart Immersion Blender and Small Food Processor Combo: Again, another item that could sit on the counter. It's used for sauces, spreads, baby food ... everything! I love the tiny food processor that it comes with too. So handy to zip the motor onto it and go. Do you need the combo? Not necessarily, the hand blender alone is half the cost and that's really all you need, but the food processor gets used just as much and you don't need to pull out an entire appliance for doing a couple walnuts or breadcrumbs. 
8. Small Spatulas: One time when we were at the Mustard Museum, they had little spatulas for getting mustard out of the container. Genius! I bought a two-pack. Once I had them, I used them all the time! Most spatulas are just too big for getting around containers and really getting everything out. Now, I think I have about 6 small spatulas! If they're on sale, I can't say no! It's a small strange addiction. Don't judge me!
9. Collapsible Salad Spinner: Getting all the dirt out of your lettuce can be a pain. Believe me, if you don't see it, it's still there! Wash all your greens, all the time! This salad spinner makes it really easy to do and I love that it's collapsible to save room in my cabinet. The bowl also doubles as a serving bowl and who couldn't use an extra bowl, right?!
10. Food Processor - Small and Big. I am obsessed with my food processors. I have my small mini food processor, I also have a 7-cup and 14-cup. Because I make a lot of burgers and things in bulk, I need to have a great big one, but sometimes that's just overkill so the normal size is perfect. Is this excessive ... you betcha, but they get used all the time! This is something you don't want to skimp on too much. I have burned motors of cheap ones in the past. Find one with a good warranty! I like sticking with Cuisenart because this is what they are known for and they do a great job with them!

Honorable Mention:

• Wooden Juicer: Just like minced garlic, lemon and lime juice HAS to be fresh!
• A Good Kitchen Timer
• Pour Spouts 

Happy Shopping!

Stay Healthy With Honey

I live in Wisconsin and let's face it, brandy cures everything! Rub a little on sore gums, drink a bit to help a stomach ache or a cough and sore throat ... the list goes on. While this may help, most of the time it's just plain luck. While I do still like to use brandy as a cure, lemons and most of all honey are my go-to cure alls.

Honey has been used since the ancient times for medicinal uses both externally and internally. A wonderful benefit to honey, as opposed to antibiotics, is that it doesn't give you a resistance to bacteria so you don't develop 'super bugs' that many people get once they have been exposed to an antibiotic repeatedly. Honey can protect against damage caused by bacteria. It also has an inflammatory which can help reduce pain. Just like anything else, not all honey is created equal. Some honey can be 100 limes more potent than others!

Raw Honey: There is a lot of honey out there, so what's the difference? I like using raw honey. Other honeys (the little honey bear in the grocery store) are pasteurized at a very high heat which kills off a lot of it's natural enzymes and minerals that make honey the awesome home remedy that it is. However, some large brand 'raw' honey still go though a process to be able to be sold in stores so it's best to find a local brand at your health food store or find your neighborhood beekeeper to ensure it's really a raw honey.

Manuka Honey comes from New Zealand bees. I was recently introduced to this honey from one of Paul's coworkers. He and his family swear by it to help with common colds to even curing a foot rash that he had in which nothing else seemed to work. I had to do my research and see what all the fuss was about and I quickly learned that it was worth purchasing. Manuka flowers have more concentrated methylglyoxal in them than other flowers. Methylglyoxal gives manuka honey a higher antibacterial quality.There is a UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) rating on every jar. Depending on the honey type and style is the antibacterial quality. When using Manuka honey for it's healing qualities, go for the +20 is you can. There is a lot of research out there and being done so studies aren't completely clear but all signs seem to show that it is an extremely powerful honey. It has been used to help treat diabetes, eye, ear, and sinus infections, gastrointestinal issues and even cancer!  It appears to be quite the magical honey that has been used for ages for its healing properties.

*Do use honey with caution, it is a powerful natural remedy. It is said that honey should not be consumed by infants, some studies show until the age of 1 and others the age of 2.

6 Honey Helpers

1. Common Cold: Honey helps suppress a coughs. Help soothe a sore throat by gargling honey water or mix your honey with lemon to help relieve a cough.

2. Soothes Burns & Heals Wounds: Honey absorbs moisture from the air and helps get that right to your sore spot. It is also antibacterial which helps you fight off infections. Manuka honey has the most antibacterial properties so for wound care, use Manuka honey.

3. Fight Allergies: Your local honey will help sensitize you to the pollen in your area. Having a little everyday can help relieve hay fever and its symptoms.

4. Fight Fatigue: Add some honey to a warm glass of milk or chamomile tea before bed to get a few extra zzzzzz's.

5. For Your Face & Hair: Honey is a great moisturizer. Add a little to your shampoo or rub some on your face for a refreshing mask.

6. Boost Your Immune System: It's antiviral and antibacterial ... A little a day can help keep the doctor away!

It's time to get a jar of honey out of the pantry and into your first aid kit!

Best Homemade Dish Soap EVER!

I have been making my own dish soap for a few months now. I have noticed that I go through it really fast so I have been making it way too often. It was basically the consistency of liquid castile soap so it would come out really fast and I would end up using twice as much. It made me think twice. Is this really beneficial to make it myself or not?

I decided before I gave up completely, I would do a little research and go back to the drawing board. I found an article on Mommypotamus. She tested lots of different soaps and found one that works. It uses washing soda which I have never used before, but that is the mystery thickening agent. I was super excited to try it. The glycerin is there to keep it from separating. The first few times I made the new recipe, I was amazed at how it thickened ... actually, it got a little too thick so I had to keep adjusting the amounts to work for me. If you look at the first picture I have, it shows the soap being more liquid and the picture below it shows it getting a thick white consistency. It's really amazing!

Don't forget to check out more of my natural cleaner recipes!

Best Homemade Dish Soap

Makes 2 cups

1 3/4 cups water
1/4 cup grated castile bar soap, tightly packed
1/4 cup + 2 T liquid castile soap
2 t super washing soda
1 t vegetable glycerin
30-40 drops essential oil (I use 20 lemon to help cut the grease, 10 lavender and 10 tea tree)

Mix water and grated bar soap in a pot. Bring it to boil and mix it until the bar soap has completely mixed in.

Meanwhile, add your liquid castile soap, washing soda, vegetable glycerin and essential oils to your container. Once your water and bar soap has completely mixed, add it to the remaining ingredients. Mix well.

Here's the important part ... wait! In about 24 hours, the soap will thicken up and it will be ready to use. I will occasionally shake it up to keep everything mixing well. If it gets too thick add a little more water and if it's too thin, add more washing soda (1/2 t at a time).

Decorate Your Fireplace in Summer

In the early spring, we threw an engagement party for Paul's brother and our new sister-in-law. We have a wood burning stove and I knew that since it was getting a little warmer outside, if we had a fire we would roast in the house with the extra people. I love the feeling of having a fire when we have a party ... it's such a great mood setter that just can't be matched!

What we decided to do was clean out the fireplace and set up a bunch of candles so that we could still get that feeling of a fire. Not only did I love having a 'fire' going, but we got a ton of compliments too! Now that it's officially warm outside, I cleaned it out again and set it up to use for the whole summer.

Last night was a cool and rainy night. We lit the candles and I was so relaxed. ... having all the candles lit, listening to some good music and playing with the kids on the floor in the living room before bed, it was a great summer's night.

You don't necessarily have to do candles though. A few other ideas that you could do is to set up your fireplace with plants, a large mirror or even use it as a bookshelf! Whatever you decide to do, don't let your fireplace just sit there for the next few months but give it a little love and it will love you back!

Dish Soaps: The Good, The Bad and The Toxic

Recently, I saw an article floating around Facebook and the internet about Original Dawn Dish Soap and all its benefits ... from using it in your garden to your skin and your hair. This article even said it's biodegradable! What? Are you kidding me? I know we shouldn't believe everything we read, but I know some people out there are probably buying Dawn right now and that's just crazy. All I could think is why do people use Dawn to kill their weeds if it's safe and natural?

The Toxic:

Knowing that Dawn was not a great dish soap, I wanted to know the facts. I was surprised to learn that Dawn doesn't even list it's ingredients on the bottle. If it's so great, what are they hiding? Without even looking at a label, you can see that it has added dyes and synthetic fragrances, neither are ever good or natural! The Environmental Working Group gave Dawn a 'D' grade because of it containing methylisothiazolinone, which is a "High Concern: acute aquatic toxicity; Some Concern: skin irritation/allergies/damage". Sounds delightful, right? Dawn also contains 1 4-dioxane which is considered a groundwater contaminant.

Knowing that Dawn should not the the soap for anyone, I wanted to know what is. I found that many dish soaps, even ones that claim to be 'natural', 'chemical free' and 'made from plants' have the preservative methylisothiazolinone. It is exactly that, parts and in some cases, most of the detergent may be 'natural', 'chemical free' and 'made from plants' but not all of it.

So, what exactly is methylisothiazolinone and should we be concerned? It is an antimicrobial and preservative in the form of a soluble concentrated liquid or solid that is used in a variety of applications, such as personal care and cleaning products. According to the EPA in the 1998 document, "Reregistration Eligibility Decision, Methylisothiazolinone", Methylisothiazolinone is a highly corrosive chemical that has been found to be toxic when ingested, inhaled, or applied to the skin or eyes in animal studies."

What You Should Look For When Buying:

• Plant-based surfactants (or just plain soap, like Dr. Bronner’s)
• 1,4 Dioxane-free
• Phlathate (synthetic fragrance)-free
• Dye-free
• Petrochemical-free
• Glycol-free
• Phosphate-free
• Caustic-free

The Bad: Dish Soaps to Avoid

I was surprised to see that even Earth Friendly Products, Ultra Dishmate contained methylisothiazolinone! Dish soaps that I see often at the store and would think that they are great actually got 'F's from the EWG. To name a few, Mrs. Meyers and Seventh Generation got very low scores for both personal and environmental safety. Method brand, Green Works, Bon Ami Dish Soap are dish soaps that often claim to be very 'natural' and are anything but ... shame on you all!

The Good: Dish Soap to Look for

Better Life Dish it Out and Planet Ultra Dishwashing Liquid are both detergents that get great scores from the EWG and as far as I can tell don't have any toxic ingredients. Well done guys! However, I always feel the best is to make it homemade. I know exactly what's going in and it always does a great job. Here's my favorite recipe:

DIY Homemade Dish Soap:
1 3/4 cups water
1/4 cup grated castile bar soap, tightly packed
1/4 cup + 2 T liquid castile soap
2 t super washing soda
1 t vegetable glycerin
30-40 drops essential oil (I use 20 lemon to help cut the grease, 10 lavender and 10 tea tree)

Mix water and grated bar soap in a pot. Bring it to boil and mix it until the bar soap has completely mixed in. Meanwhile, add your liquid castile soap, washing soda, vegetable glycerin and essential oils to your container. Once your water and bar soap has completely mixed, add it to the remaining ingredients. Mix well.

Check out more of my DIY Natural Cleaners too! And please remember, we need to be educated and read labels ... the fine print of the labels is always the most important not what they advertise on the front of the bottle!

I feel like after this research, my head was spinning a little and I was remembering why I didn't like chemistry, but I'm so glad I looked into it. I can't say it enough ... don't let the advertisers win, let's educate ourselves to make our homes and families safe!

Sources:
http://fromfaye.com/2013/05/04/the-best-eco-friendly-dish-soaps
http://www.ewg.org/guides/subcategories/25-HandWashingDetergent
http://greencleaning.about.com/od/GreenCleaningResources/g/Methylisothiazolinone-What-It-Is-How-Its-Used-and-More.htm
http://fromfaye.com/2013/05/04/the-best-eco-friendly-dish-soaps/#sthash.FdQyaGkz.dpuf

DIY Spray Bottles for Cleaning

Step 2: Make your own natural cleaners. So, what is step 1 ... Make the bottles!

Time after time when reading about essential oils and cleaning I read that eventually they may effect the plastic. Buying spray glass bottles can be pricey, so I decided to make my own. Paul, being "Mr. Let's Get Off This Plastic Planet" couldn't have been happier. I started saving every glass bottle that would have the same top as my old cleaner nozzles had ... vinegar, oils and some glass water bottles work great.

Simply clean out the bottles and nozzles. I soaked the bottles in water and soap overnight so that I could get the product labels off and use my own labels. Make your solutions, fill up the bottles and start cleaning! Don't forget to check out my recipes for DIY Natural Cleaners.



Here is a template for 2' diameter Avery 22807 Labels so you can easily label your cleaners. Download now!

Essential Oils 101

Essential oils, we've all seen them and some maybe have used a few here and there but what are they really capable of?!

Essential oils are natural oils that are usually obtained through distillation and tend to smell like the plant that they were extracted from. I have used lavender oil for years, for soothing when I want to sleep and I also heard that it was good to help repel mosquitos. Other than that I have never used too many because frankly, I just didn't know what they did. A few friends of mine love their oils and I finally decided it was time for some education. I was amazed at all the great things that essential oils can do both naturally and effectively.

My medicine cabinet is not stocked with every oil that I would like, but I am slowly building my collection. I just love them. Here's a few things that were helpful to me ...

Using Essential Oils

• Essential oils should only be used externally and always diluted prior to putting directly on your body.
• Know the therapeutic properties as well as safety precautions for the oil that you are using. (I almost bought oregano oil and quickly learned that it is not good while pregnant because it can stimulate menstruation and can cause miscarriages).
• Essential oils pair great with 'carrier oil' so that you can dilute the oil for application. Carrier oils are the fatty oils that are usually extracted from seeds, i.e. hemp oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, etc.
• Best uses ...
• Massage: Best for body aches, skin care and emotional stress relief.
• Bath: Best for colds, body aches, skin care and emotional stress relief.
• Inhalation: Best for colds and flu.
• Diffusion: Best for colds and emotional stress relief.
• And of course, cleaning!

Quick Tips & Safety

• When buying essential oils, always make sure they are 100% pure. Many are labeled as fragrance. 
• They should be stored in dark colored jars.
• Keep them in a cool and dry location.
• Like everything in nature, they too expire. When stored properly, essential oils usually keep for 12-18 months. Citrus oils are about 6-9 months.
• I know I already said this, but know the therapeutic properties as well as safety precautions for the oil that you are using. It is best to perform 2 skin patch tests on your back or arm to check for any allergic reactions.
• Do not massage someone who has an infectious illness, i.e. flu, measles, cancer, etc. 
• Do not massage over varicose veins, infected areas, broken bones or injuries.

A Few Personal Favorites

Camomile:  Used for anxiety, arthritis, dry skin, headaches, immune system, indigestion, insomnia, menstrual cramps, muscle pain, PMS, sprains and stress.
*May cause drowsiness

Eucalyptus: mild burns, colds and flu, disinfectant, insect repellant, muscle aches, exhaustion and sinus congestions. I love putting a little of this in my steam mop when I do my floors.
*Make keep you awake if used at night. Avoid if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy.

Lavender: Used for acne, mild burns, coughs, minor cuts, flu, fungal infections, headaches, insomnia, irritability, muscle aches and spasms, nausea, sprains, stress and nervous tension. This is such a relaxing oil, when my kids have rough days I will put a little on their pillow at nap or bedtime.
*May cause drowsiness.

Lemon: Used for acne, arthritis, cellulite, colds and flu, coughs, oily skin. I like adding this to a lot of my cleaners for added freshness.
*Often a mild skin irritant so use in low concentrations.

Lemongrass: Used for acne, anxiety, athlete's foot, excessive sweating, headaches, indigestion, muscle aches and my main use ... mosquito repellent!

*There's not that much research into lemongrass oil so be cautious.

Patchouli: Used for acne, cracked skin, depression, nervous exhaustion and stress. It also helps relieve insect bites and best of all, break up cellulite!
*This is a funny one, small amounts can be soothing but too much can be stimulating!

Tea Tree: Used for acne, arthritis, athletes foot, blisters, disinfectant, minor burns, cold and flu, cold sores, insect bites and warts. I use this in a lot of cleaners because of its disinfectant properties.

Carrier Oils: I mostly use avocado, hemp and coconut oils. They are all great for skin elasticity ... no stretch marks please! Also if I am making products for the home or body, these carrier oils allow most essential oils to keep their original strength and potency when mixed.

Just like anything else, avoid excessive use of any essential or carrier oil.

Much of the information on uses came from Dream Earth Botanicals.

Seasonal DIY Burlap Wreath

Every time I walked through my front door I was bored. I wanted to spice up my entry way but every wreath I found just wasn't 'me'. It's so obvious ... DIY! I didn't want to spend a lot of money in case it didn't hold up and I wasn't sure how long it was going to stay there.

I found a great tutorial for a DIY burlap wreath here. It was easy to follow the directions and didn't take anytime at all. Thank you Craftaholics Anonymous! I found a few flowers from the local craft store. I bought a simple metal S for our last name from an Etsy store (sorry! I can't seem to find it anymore but it was only $6). Tada! I get so many compliments and it really brightens the entry way.

Now, I have had the wreath up for about 6 months and I'm getting that bored feeling again. What a great time to make a new wreath. As I started thinking how much I love the wreath I already have and where am I going to store my other wreath it dawned on me that the wreath just needed a seasonal freshening up. So I 'spring-ified' it! I simply replaced the flowers with a burlap egg nest and made a big bow to match.

I still kept my old flowers to replace them again when spring is over. However, I think I'll be making a summer wreath, fall wreath, winter wreath and a special occasion wreaths as well. I'll make sure to update the post with my new looks!

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

I'm a talk radio junkie. I listen to music all day at home so when I go into the car, it's talk radio time. (sorry kids). The other day on NPR there was a show on that I can't seem to shake -- Moms Petition Mars to Remove Artificial Dyes from M&Ms.

The use of synthetic dyes is so prevalent in our society that no one seems to even pay that much attention anymore. What I found astonishing was that Europe has already stripped artificial dyes from their foods. So American companies are making their foods different for Europe than they are for their own country. Come on America, let's get with it!! There are studies that have shown links to hyperactivity in children to artificial food dyes. While these studies aren't conclusive, they are are strong enough for another country to see the harm and act on it for the better of their children.

When I got home, I wanted to read a little more into this, because of course, you can't believe everything that you hear. I found lots of moms out there trying to make a difference. One website, Die, Food Dye! is about a Mother who has a child allergic to food dyes and what she has discovered along the way.

This week is Easter, the week moms everywhere are filling baskets with candy, toys and dyed eggs. I know I will be thinking twice! This year, I will be giving them a plant for the garden that they can call their own and take care of, some homemade playdough (that I still need to make but found a great recipe), new sidewalk chalk and some ...

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

1. Boil your eggs and chill them right away to stop the cooking process. I put my eggs in the water right away (when you put cold eggs into boiling water, they may crack easier). Then, bring the water to boil. I let them rapid boil for 12-14 minutes and then cool.

Red/Orange: 2T paprika

Green: 1 c packed spinach

Yellow: 2 T tumeric

Pink: 1 medium beet, diced

Blue: 1/2 c blueberries

Add 1 c of boiling water + 2 T distilled white vinegar to each coloring. Mix in the color thoroughly. Then, add the eggs. I had them sit for about 40 minutes.

They are beautiful! And it doesn't even bother me anymore that the dye leaks into some of the cracks in the eggs. I'll still eat it.

DIY Natural Cleaners

I've tried numerous DIY cleaner recipes some with luck and some have left me wondering how it worked for someone else. For this reason, I wasn't very consistent with using them. But I found myself making the kids watch a movie while I cleaned bathrooms so they wouldn't come in and smell that stuff. I was taking a shower a few hours after cleaning because I didn't want the smell to engulf me as I was trying to get clean. I was constantly seeing my kids lick mirrors and glass as they admire themselves or put anything in their mouth, I knew I had to keep working on finding the right combination. Anyone else know those feelings?!? I also wanted to be able to make the cleaners with common things I had at home (I did have to get a few extra essential oils though). I now have the recipes dialed in and I am hooked!



A few things that you may not be familiar with right away is Borax or Castile Soap. To my delight, Borax is getting so common it's in most grocery stores in the cleaning aisle. It's looks like baking soda and has a ton of cleaning boost as well. For all you scientists ... "Borax is the common name for sodium tetraborate: a naturally occurring substance produced by the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes" per the 20 Mule Team Borax site. Castile Soap for most of us is Dr. Bronners. That crazy guy with a million quotes on his bottle that made a terrific soap. Back before kids when we could go camping on a whim I felt like we lived on Dr. Bronners ... you can wash your hair, hands and even your teeth with it! Don't get me wrong, we still use it for camping trips with the kids we just don't use it every other weekend!

I have read that essential oils and plastic aren't great friends after awhile so try to use glass bottles ... and you can make your own spray bottles with items you already have! Find out how now!

Labels are key! Once I used my dusting spray as a window cleaner ... Just in case I didn't know before, olive oil does not clean windows! Here is a template for 2' diameter Avery Labels. I used Avery 22807. Download my free template now!

Seriously, try a few of these out -- your house will never feel so clean!

Cleaner Recipes

Disinfectant

2 oz vodka
6 oz hot water
1 t castile soap
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops tea tree essential oil

All Purpose Spray

3/4 c hot water
3 c hydrogen peroxide
1 T washing soda
1 T borax
1 t dish soap
40 drops essential oil (I like using tea tree, eucalyptus and lemon)

Bathroom Cleaner

2 c hot water
1 t borax
1 t baking soda
1 t castile soap
4 drops lemon essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil

Toilet Cleaner

1 c vinegar
1/4 c borax
Let sit in toilet for 15 minutes before cleaning

Dish Soap

1 3/4 cups water
1/4 cup grated castile bar soap, tightly packed
1/4 cup + 2 T liquid castile soap
2 t super washing soda
1 t vegetable glycerin
30-40 drops essential oil (I use 20 lemon to help cut the grease, 10 lavender and 10 tea tree)

Mix water and grated bar soap in a pot. Bring it to boil and mix it until the bar soap has completely mixed in. Meanwhile, add your liquid castile soap, washing soda, vegetable glycerin and essential oils to your container. Once your water and bar soap has completely mixed, add it to the remaining ingredients. Mix well. It will take a day to thicken up.

Dusting Spray

1 c hot water
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
1 t olive oil
10 drops lemon essential oil

Glass/Mirrors

1/2 lemon
Just rub the lemon over the glass and mirror. Wipe with damp microfiber cloth and polish with a dry cloth.

Stainless Steel Cleaner

Drop 1-2 t of olive oil on a damp microfiber cloth and polish away!! It's best to go with the grain.