A good start to cloth diapering

So the last time I researched cloth diapers, these are the sites that I found helpful:

Here is a good site for learning about the basics of cloth diapering.

http://diaperpages.com/

Cloth diaper reviews:

product reviews:

http://www.borntolove.com/cgi-bin/productreviews

Company reviews:

http://borntolove.com/cgi-bin/companyreviews

Cloth diaper Cleaning:

http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html

http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm

advice:
When buying your diapers, I suggest buying one of each of your top researched favorites. That way you can pick out what works best for you and baby. (Order more of your favorite and you will still use the ones that are not your favorite.)

Not Cherry Pits

But the arm pits. That is the topic of today's post. After a long journey through many natural underarm deodorants, and one that I thought was ok, I have {I hope} found my frosting. Many left me not so fresh. The rock did ok, but there were a few things I lived with: I would often drop it and it would break, leaving sharp edges. So besides waiting for it to dry, I would have to suffer through a few scratches. I was starting to wonder if this natural arm pit journey was worth it (minus the hair- I am not that "natural")??

Until one day I found a under arm, DIY potion and after reading through all the "it works" comments (and the recipe being easy, and not too many odd ingredients) I decided to try it out...minus the essential oil.
I call it my frosting because well (when my bathroom is warm) it is like frosting. I basically frost my pits every morning. Looks and feels like frosting, and I leave smelling like a German chocolate cake...because of the coconut, right?!! Well, here is the link. Make it yourself. Frost your pits.
How About Orange

Excuse is Excused

Deep down inside I knew there was a good excuse. Now I can pass the cilantro to Sianna Pancakes without guilt. Note to readers: I will eat cilantro if it is "hidden" from my taste buds and not overly strong...example: SALSA!!! Here is the "Dr's" note:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/dining/14curious.html

Better Inside Breathing

In honor of all the glorious days we have been having...here is a post about house plants. Goodbye white friend...we will see you next year!
This last weekend we purchased some indoor plants, maybe if we can keep these ones alive we will add more to the bunch...as NASA suggests.

Some plants are better for the bedrooms- this site lists a few.
http://cfc.news8.net/affinity/affarticle.cfm?id=238

This site The MR found:
http://air-purifier-reviewsite.com/blog/15-house-plants-you-can-use-as-air-purifiers/

You can Also google NASA's study on the top ten houseplants and all their air cleaning glory.

Our new plants:
Pothos - for the living room
Rubber plant-for the MR's cubical at work
anthuriums -for the bedrooms
aloe vera plant -I have been wanting this handy plant

paperless

After reading this article...I felt inspired by both the colors of cloth and the idea of using less paper! I left the site and forgot about it until the Mr. emailed me the same article. So now we have no paper towels in our kitchen. I purchased some cloth beauties at my favorite Union Gospel Mission thrift shop and we have been successfully using cloth! Our system? A large stash of rags for floor and a smaller stash of towels for kitchen mess...and a good deal of cloth napkins...for meals.

http://simplemom.net/how-to-create-a-paperless-kitchen/

For the Love of Rags

Old graduation Gown



start of our wreaths







mine and hers....




I have to admit I am pretty proud of this project. For a few reasons, and yes I am going to share them with you because I am cool like that! I find most of my crafty type projects online. This particular idea was found during the Christmas season. I was looking for a cute wreath...well I had a plain twig wreath that I wanted to give a makeover. So I found the idea of the rag wreath. How perfect...I know, I KNOW! So me. (The only thing is you can't enjoy the glory of the twigs, but I figured in a few years I will get tired of the rags and I can simply remove them and viola I can make another project for myself!)
So my sista and I did up some kissy loving beauties fit for St. Valentine himself!
The materials:
Old wreath (from my wedding, also used at the sisters last year)
old graduation gown (from highschool- yikers)
piece of cardboard - repourpose/recycled people!
some scraps of festive ribbon
(wow, I used items I have saved "for (future) art projects"..I think this officially makes me a hoarder! Oh well, at least it will look good on the wall!)

Willing To Give Wednesday

Charity Navigator: http://www.charitynavigator.org/


My fine advice today is on a wonderful site called Charity Navigator. When you donate...do you often wonder where your money/goods are going? Well this site takes all the guess work out...I think it so wonderful I have even added it to my side linka roos! Happy donating!

green paper

http://simplemom.net/how-to-create-a-paperless-kitchen/

One of the things I have been wanting to do. Now to find beautiful cloths at the Classy Rack!

My Latest Kick

(update on the great pen/pencil debate and also a tip: I tossed all dead pens and put the few working ones in two locations, the rest (not used as much) as you can see in the above picture was put in a beverage holder...by type)

So my latest kick has been finding a skin care regimen. I have always winged this in the past because I am cheap, and have been overwhelmed by the whole process. Now, since I am getting older and some days my skin hurts too much, I have decided to embark on the journey to finding my skin care regimen. I have a very helpful site to share with you all: Skin Deep There you can look up products and know what you will be putting on your body.
In my early research of finding natural moisturizer...I have googled this site (natural skin care). I just came upon it today...so we will see! Maybe I will be making some great concoctions soon!

One thing I am still learning: just because it says it is natural does not mean it is good for you.

Ok...enough of my thoughts for today...over and out
t
ps. another plus of this new endeavor...guaranteed.... no animal testing will be done. Nope not even on my cute little bun!

Willing To Give Wednesday -Give a little sun!

Hey, so since it has been awhile I thought I would try to post about something and then I realized today is Wednesday and I totally have things to say about giving!

So in my every effort to spread the wealth of consuming less and supporting the little people...(and because I just like to know where my money is going) here is a list of ways we can change the lives of people while still giving this Christmas season.

Need to get your Christmas Shopping Done?
SERRV: OH my....I LOVE this site...I LOVE the products...I am always trying to shop for gifts on this site! I love homemade! Fair trade is the way to go! Change lives by doing your shopping fair trade!

http://www.serrv.org/

Don't have money to give?
Donate blood and sign yourself up to be a bone marrow donor!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34107503/

No money or extra blood?

Reach out to one person and show them in your own way- you care. Change a life- it can be that simple.

So there you have it, so simple yet life changing.

today it's pens and pencils part 1

So pens and pencils are multiplying like bunnies in our house. I think I dread throwing things out because it is one more thing to add to the landfill. With pens and pencils, there is no exceptions. If it still works why throw it out? (see my problem peoples?) However I think my house IS becoming a landfill. So I am off to test which ones work... and then I will do more research to figure out what to do with the other pens/pencils that still work???

Suggestions are welcome.

And here is a lovely link. This person has their pens down to 2 each color and 2 pencils....eeee gads! This link does have a suggestion for people like me....I will try to get my stash down to one cup! Check it out if this sounds familiar!

Purposeful Beauty

As mentioned before- we have no storage in our lovely little home. So I googled and stumbled upon a site that gives some extra ideas. These also add extra charm....extra plus!!!!
extra storage

stuck in a funk?

De Clutter tips to the rescue! Found some good articles that will help!
The first is a method of doing a few 5's- toss 5, put away 5, delete 5, focus 5 and relax 5!
Check it out!

The second is a way you can mentally help your self! Don't read this later!

next year

(28. Sept. 2008)

yep. next year I will have (praying I will) a clothes line. It will be grand. Not the bugs and bird poop though.
Speaking of drying clothes: Here is a link from my MR. How to make your towels more absorbent.

this one is for you

(Proof that I am a hoarder...just passing this way of life down to my chillin)

So what have I been up to? Being Mrs. and Momma and de-cluttering.

My small storage deprived house has been on my to do list for way too long. I am a hoarder of all things sentimental which means every card I have ever received...to paper way too lovely to recycle has made it's way to some box or empty space in my house.
The purging, organizing, scanning, sorting and life changing has all started with a book I happened upon while browsing the half price book section.
"Simplify Your Time: Stop Running & Start Living!" By Marcia Ramsland

I am not a big reader but this book was easy to follow and read chapter by chapter. One thing that I try to do is as I am organizing is google my way to success. I often find I need more direction on my life simplifying. I usually then google my issue and find that other people on the internets have the same issue/s...and random organized people will give their two cents on the matter. Problem solved...I can move on!
One site I have found to be most helpful? Why certainly I will post that link....simplify your life away!
declutter link

I think I have some other links...but I have to take my loves to the fair now. Yummy food, animals and the art tent is calling my name!

loads of dishes

I have always assumed and never tried just putting my dirty dish directly into the dishwasher. I thought I had to have one of those fancy ones- you know the one in the commercial that cleaned a plate with a whole cake on it. Well the dear mr. sent me a very informative email and it looks like this household will not be rinsing anymore pre-dishwasher dishes.
Here is the link: dishwasher
and more reading from the link above: dishwasher 2

I especially liked the 2nd link because it gave a very helpful hint on drying your dishes (called flash dry). I usually just open the door at the very end and air dry the dishes...but the tip makes the drying process go a lot quicker. Bummer now I don't have a good excuse when I am too lazy to unload my dishwasher:)

Also just wanted to throw in my most FAVORITEST dishwasher cleaner! I have tried a few different natural cleaners...and none of them really worked. Shaklee dishwasher detergent. Not only is it safe for the environment it is also safe on your pocket book! A little bit goes a long way!
Don't worry you will be hearing more about Shaklee on this here place!!

water. daily posts. oh my.

So I have been aware of how wasteful my life is lately. When I went out to lunch today...I have to admit I cringed a little, poured myself a little guilt and swallowed a bit of sorrow -all while dumping my recyclable garbage away. Odd I know. But I really do care. Usually you will see me carrying my recyclable number one plastic cup around until I can safely deposit where it belongs. Sometimes I am good, sometimes not so good. Some days I vow I will not eat out so much, not because it is not good for me or I can't afford it but because it is a lot of waste. Now don't get me wrong...I usually don't loose too much sleep over all this green business. So today in honor of my being more aware a waste - I am going to bless you with some information on water.
Bottled water sorta falls into a similar category as eating out...in the sense that it is easy and convenient. I usually do not buy bottled water, only on occasions when it is necessary. After reading a brochure from my local water stewardship program I am glad that I don't purchase bottled water as much. So as usual I will post the site.
Here are some quotes from the brochure:
"plastic requires 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce.
over 80% of plastic bottles are simply thrown away.
bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year.
for the price of a single 20 ounce bottle of water you could fill up the same container with tap water once a day for more than 13 years."

The brochure collected it's information from:
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/

Teai Tried:
Oh- you noticed my Mexican Coke sitting pretty next to my water? (if you didn't -oh well I am going to tell you anyways)
You also noticed how healthy I eat? I keep my trader joe's (imported by my family...you know who you are...thanks!) vegan- best ever- super duper- don't even try to make them- better than your grandma's secret recipe -chocolate chip cookies in the cupboard. I basically live on those.
Okay sorry back to the coke....
So our friends told us about Mexican Coke...made with REAL sugar people! It does taste better! Go get some! Now if they only made more flavors...vanilla...or cherry please.
If I have not sold you on the deliciousness...look at the cool-old fashioned- and recyclable glass bottle it comes in!!!
And because everything I say comes with a site...here take this...read this...what- ev (that was for you dear ~xox~)
http://www.slashfood.com/2006/01/11/mexicancocacola/

as my bro and law always says..."consider yourself blessed."