HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!!

Ok, so it is earth day, so I had to write a post on some more environmentally friendly cleaning products... Sorry, I was raised by hippies! I do it not to fight the cause, but because I am tired of all the chemicals around my babies and my life. It has gotten too much for me, and I have very VERY exploratory children! They want to get into and test everything I have or touch... A big issue for me! ALSO, it is MUCH MUCH cheaper to make your own! And easier than having to run to the store, if you have the recipe, you can just whip it up with your ingredients, or borrow the neighbors. It is easyy on the earth, house, and on the wallet! What a win win...

Anyhow, here are a few tips (no a ton of tips) from a website called eartheasy.com ENJOY!!!!

Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower. Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water. For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum. Chopping block cleaner: Rub a slice of lemon across a chopping block to disinfect the surface. For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the spot and let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe. Coffee and tea stains: Stains in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water. Deodorize: • Plastic food storage containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda • In-sink garbage disposal units - grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit • Carpets - sprinkle baking soda several hours before vacuuming • Garage, basements - set a sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours Dishwasher Soap: Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard. If you want to use a commercial dishwashing soap, try Ecover Ecological or Trader Joe's powders, which contain no bleach or phosphates. Dishwashing Soap: Commercial low-phosphate detergents are not themselves harmful, but phosphates nourish algae which use up oxygen in waterways. A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs. Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle. (This is not an antibacterial formula. The average kitchen or bathroom does not require antibacterial cleaners.) To disinfect kitchen sponges, put them in the dishwasher when running a load.
Drain Cleaner: For light drain cleaning, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 liters water, heat (but not to a boil) and pour down the drain. For stronger cleaning, pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes. Fabric softener: To reduce static cling, dampen your hands, then shake out your clothes as you remove them from the drier. Line-drying clothing is another alternative. Floor Cleaner and Polish:
		vinyl and linoleum: mix 1 cup vinegar and a few drops of baby oil in 1 gallon warm water. For tough jobs, add 1/4 cup borox. Use sparingly on lineoleum. wood: apply a thin coat of 1:1 vegetable oil and vinegar and rub in well. painted wood: mix 1 teaspoon washing soda into 1 gallon (4L) hot water. brick and stone tiles: mix 1 cup white vinegar in 1 gallon (4L) water; rinse with clear water. Most floor surfaces can be easily cleaned using a solution of vinegar and water. For damp-mopping wood floors: mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water. Add 15 drops of pure peppermint oil; shake to mix.
Furniture Polish: For varnished wood, add a few drops of lemon oil into a 1/2 cup warm water. Mix well and spray onto a soft cotton cloth. Cloth should only be slightly damp. Wipe furniture with the cloth, and finish by wiping once more using a dry soft cotton cloth. For unvarnished wood, mix two tsps each of olive oil and lemon juice and apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to spread the mixture further into the material and apply to the furniture using wide strokes. This helps distribute the oil evenly. Laundry Detergent: Mix 1 cup Ivory soap (or Fels Naptha soap), 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads. Lime Deposits: You can reduce lime deposits in your teakettle by putting in 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm. Marks on walls and painted surfaces: Many ink spots, pencil, crayon or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse.
Metal Cleaners and Polishes:
		aluminum: using a soft cloth, clean with a solution of cream of tartar and water. brass or bronze: polish with a soft cloth dipped in lemon and baking-soda solution, or vinegar and salt solution. chrome: polish with baby oil, vinegar, or aluminum foil shiny side out. copper: soak a cotton rag in a pot of boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Apply to copper while hot; let cool, then wipe clean. For tougher jobs, sprinkle baking soda or lemon juice on a soft cloth, then wipe. For copper cookware, sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub. gold: clean with toothpaste, or a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour. silver: line a pan with aluminum foil and fill with water; add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with soft cloth. stainless steel: clean with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar, or olive oil. For stainless cookware, mix 4 tbs baking soda in 1 qt water, and apply using a soft cloth. Wipe dry using a clean cloth.
Mold and Mildew: Use white vinegar or lemon juice full strength. Apply with a sponge or scrubby. Mothballs: The common mothball is made of paradichlorobenzene, which is harmful to liver and kidneys. Cedar chips in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an absorbant cloth will repel moths. The cedar should be 'aromatic cedar', also referred to as juniper in some areas. Cedar chips are available at many craft supply stores, or make your own using a plane and a block of cedar from the lumberyard. Homemade moth-repelling sachets can also be made with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and rose petals. Dried lemon peels are also a natural moth deterrent - simply toss into clothes chest, or tie in cheesecloth and hang in the closet. Oil and Grease Spots: For small spills on the garage floor, add baking soda and scrub with wet brush. Oven Cleaner: Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4cup baking soda, 1/4cup salt and 1/4cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. (avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots. Or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers Union. Paint Brush Cleaner: Non-toxic, citrus oil based solvents are now available commercially under several brand names. Citra-Solve is one brand. This works well for cleaning brushes of oil-based paints. Paint brushes and rollers used for an on-going project can be saved overnight, or even up to a week, without cleaning at all. Simply wrap the brush or roller snugly in a plastic bag, such as a used bread or produce bag. Squeeze out air pockets and store away from light. The paint won't dry because air can't get to it. Simply unwrap the brush or roller the next day and continue with the job. Fresh paint odors can be reduced by placing a small dish of white vinegar in the room. Rust Remover: Sprinkle a little salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours. Use leftover rind to scrub residue. Scouring Powder: For top of stove, refrigerator and other such surfaces that should not be scratched, use baking soda. Apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge. Shoe Polish: Olive oil with a few drops of lemon juice can be applied to shoes with a thick cotton or terry rag. Leave for a few minutes; wipe and buff with a clean, dry rag. Stickers on walls: Our children covered the inside of their room doors with stickers. Now they are grown, but the stickers remained. To remove, sponge vinegar over them several times, and wait 15 minutes, then rub off the stickers. This also works for price tags (stickers) on tools, etc. Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work. Tub and Tile Cleaner: For simple cleaning, rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For tougher jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.) Wallpaper Remover: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water, apply with sponge over the old wallpaper to soften the adhesive. Open room windows or use a fan to dissipate the pungent vinegar smell. Water Rings on Wood: Water rings on a wooden table or counter are the result of moisture that is trapped under the topcoat, but not the finish. Try applying toothpaste or mayonnaise to a damp cloth and rub into the ring. Once the ring is removed, buff the entire wood surface. Window Cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter (qt) warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. The All-Purpose Cleaner (above) also works well on windows. Be sure to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar will etch the glass and eventually cloud it.
Healthy Home Cleaning Habits
		Exchange Indoor Air: Many modern homes are so tight there's little new air coming in. Open the windows from time to time or run any installed exhaust fans. In cold weather, the most efficient way to exchange room air is to open the room wide - windows and doors, and let fresh air in quickly for about 5 minutes. The furnishings in the room, and the walls, act as 'heat sinks', and by exchanging air quickly, this heat is retained. Minimize Dust: Remove clutter which collects dust, such as old newspapers and magazines. Try to initiate a 'no-shoes-indoors' policy. If you're building or remodelling a home, consider a central vacuum system; this eliminates the fine dust which portable vacuum cleaners recirculate. Keep Bedrooms Clean: Most time is spent in the bedrooms. Keep pets out of these rooms, especially if they spend time outdoors. Use Gentle Cleaning Products: Of the various commercial home cleaning products, drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and oven cleaners are the most toxic. Use the formulas described above or purchase 'green' commercial alternatives. Avoid products containing ammonia or chlorine, or petroleum-based chemicals; these contribute to respiratory irritation, headaches and other complaints. Clean from the Top Down: When house cleaning, save the floor or carpet for last. Allow time for the dust to settle before vacuuming.

Easter in California....

Nana asked us to get a few pictures in the Easter dresses she sent to us in the mail, so we went to the front of our house by the boardwalk. The wind was blowing so much today...

So we went down to build sandcastles.


An Easter castle perfect for any California bunny!



We had to go wash off our feet and jump a few waves when we were done.

Cozy Rosey - Project Bunny!

Here is a project I started and finished today. My second Reiley girl asked why the Easter bunny did not bring her a stuffed animal... Then she asked if I could make her a bunny.... So I made this one we are calling Cozy Rosey. I used pink dot minky, a few glass beads, one button, and some cute Amy Butler material for around the neck and on the feet. I used yellow embroidery thread for the whiskers. For the fill, I used dry brown rice to add a little weight.

Here I am putting the green glass beads onto the cut out body, I also used yellow in the middle of the eye.


I have the minky being cut here and there is my emdroidery thread behind, which I ended up switching from pink to yellow for the whiskers.


Here she is finished, she is not perfect, but we like her! I am going to give her to Reiley on her birthday in a few days.

Egg Hunt Dress

This is the dress I started this morning, so I am happy with how it turned out for a quick sewing project. I really wanted a cute little dress she could throw on in the morning and hunt eggs! She loves it, so I am happy and the pocket in the front is perfect fro her as she loves to gather stuff and bring it with her!

Our little peanut butter cup!

A good friend of mine called me from Germany, and as we caught up laughing and groaning over some mundane military wife type conversation, my second, almost 7 year old, daughter Reiley asks me "Mom, can I have a snack?... (me)Sure, something healthy (R) How about peanut butter with some carrots? (me) Ok" End of conversation right??!!
OOOOH how wrong was I to say yes to this request in a weak mommy moment to get a few more minutes of uninterupted adult conversation! As I approached the kitchen I saw the mess! Oh no! I gotta go I said, still walking I see the walls and shriek "Oh Emmary baby!" Oh man I have to go, where is she I say in panic of what may possibly be, still walking I see the couch, but then I walk around and see the front of the couch and her little body slathered in peanut butter! And there she was smilling covered, literally from head to toe.... Could I be mad, no! But boy oh boy does this offer more time to clean than I wanted!
I had to let the dog get a lick or two so I could get a picture of that and he could get a treat before I dunked her in the bath tub for a complete scrub down! This was all too funny.
Thank goodness there are no peanut allergies in our family!! Enjoy the pictures ;)

Oh this Military man and me.... This post was going to have a whole different feel to it, but alas, I just have to mention him and say how much I adore this guy... He is not perfect, but he is mine... And if I put into a computer the perfect qualities to have the perfect husband, there are a few FOR CERTAIN I would leave out, but I am sure he would do the same making the perfect wife.... So there we are. Two imperfect people who make it work with each others flaws.... Not even flaws, but he is the very precise, things MUST be a certain way, kind of guy, and I am much more laid back, go with the flow... So there lies our conflicts... Nothing major, all "dealable" (yes I make up words sometimes too, a talent I possess) and here we are with three kiddos, a wonder dog and the traveling Brood collectively works somehow, and somehow it is great...... Now if we get in a heated battle over me crackling my gum inside my mouth, or him going into super OCD mode over my domain, we will both pitch the story of who is the worse partner, but at other times, he just looks at me, and I know he is saying "I love you honey, thanks for being cool about poker night" and I am his, all gooey and 17 again! Those big blue eyes caught me then and he just has a way... Like when I go to battle over a credit card or need customer service, he can go in there and come out in minutes with the right answer in our favor, where I spent two days, and the only answer they give is "Sorry no".... The man got on a flight he was not supposed to with 5 other guys, because he promised me he'd be home on that day from an over seas deployment, don't ask me how, And for those of you who are Apple people, he even turned in a used apple ipod at the PX (who WILL NOT, and has a posted policy they will not take them at all, you have to mail them to apple) and got a new one with more memory, (and yes, I had already worked the issue and here he comes, while I wait in the truck with a new ipod in the bag!!) That is un heard of... He just hears the answer he does not want, and somehow finds a way that his way is the right answer for both parties... and does not budge!
Again, that is such a great quality in ways, and drives me nuts at home! All in all, I just had to say how much I love that guy!
He can charm me and drive me nuts all in the same hour, but I love him. He is an amazing daddy and our three girls adore him the same way I do...... So, the next post can be when he is driving me nuts, but I had to post a nice one first! I love my military man!

Here are two more great recipes for wiser cleaning. First it saves money, which is ALWAYS a bonus for the military wife, and second, it cuts down the amount of chemicals the little one's are being exposed to around the house, and last it cuts down on waste from the packaging... But a great thing is that what I post, I have made sure that they, not only work, but they have to work as well, if not better than those store bought items, or I just wont use them as it would waste my time, and that, I can not waste.
By the way, I am no tree huger, although my blog was almost titled "Raised by Hippies", which I am still thinking I could change it... I will keep you posted on that one ;)
Anyhow, our skin absorbs so much we put on it. So, this recipe is AMAZING! It is a natural moisturizer, that you will smell so delicious and your skin will thank you a million times!


Rich Body Moisturizer: Take ½ cup coconut oil and mix with a ¼ cup cocoa butter and a few drops of your favorite essential oil (Optional, just use whatever you like the smell of best, I made mine without it)
**( I will also just use the Coconut oil straight, it is something to try if you'd like, but I like it)**

Second is a furniture polish. The store brand stuff is not good. First it is wax passed, petroleum based. They contain other chemicals. It is aerosol and something has to happen to that spray can right? That aside, they are WAY over priced. So a good solution, make the same stuff yourself, save money, and it works Superbly. I also have a few very expensive antique pieces, so I do not fool around when it comes to those!

Lemon Furniture Polish: Squeeze the juice of 5 Lemons, mix in a spray bottle with 1 cup Olive Oil (use the cheap O.O. as this is not salad and it is not going to end up on your booty, so extra virgin is not necessary for this) Shake and use. This is awesome and along with the all purpose cleaner I posted previously, you have two cleaners that will clean just about anything in your home, and do it cheaper and healthier for those with kids.

Beeswax Polish: You can buy this stuff ( http://www.beeswaxpolish.com/ ) or, if you are near a bee farmer, ask them for the good stuff! Refined Bees wax leaves no finger prints, which for moms is greater than words! Use what the bee farmer gives you straight and follow their instructions. This stuff is great in restoring furniture that looks like it has seen it's last days, and then Wah Lah!

BONUS:
I have a dog... He is amazing in every way, but leave the toilet available, and he thinks you very kindly gave him fresh water. This is fine with me, but a good cleaner to keep him safe is TANG.
Yes, the powdered drink mix. I got this from the "Queen of Clean" and I used it when my baby was small and would dump her toys in the toilet when I was not looking and try to... well, put the toy in her mouth! Gag, I know, but kids are kids and I have three, I try to make sure these things don't happen, but sometimes they do.
Anyhow, The acid in the tang cleans the bowl and it is totally safe for kids. Another alternative, that is a little better, but not cheaper, is the lemons.

TOILET CLEANER: cut up the squeezed lemons you used in your furniture polish (small pieces) and let it sit in your toilet over night, in the morning flush and add a little baking soda and scrub. You will have a nice clean toilet.

This is great if you make fresh lemonade for the kiddos, you can even cut and freeze lemons in a zip lock and throw a few pieces in at night when you are looking for a deeper clean.
**On a regular basis, I say do the tang and on a deeper clean, do the lemons.


I hope you guys can use one of these recipes, they all work really really great, although the lotion is my favorite! i have a few more that I love, but I am still looking for a Mr. Clean Magic eraser alternative, until then, he lives as a staple in my house! Like I said, I am no crazy person when it comes to these things, so you will find a mix of store bought and home made natural alternatives in my house on any given day. I prefer to use the home made as much as possible as my 2 year old keeps asking "Mommy can I help cleaning?"