Monday, March 31, 2014
The Semi Clean Pantry: Stomp The Monday Blues
The Semi Clean Pantry: Stomp The Monday Blues: It's Monday again. That inevitable day that rolls around every single week. Somehow though, every Sunday night I find myself suddenly ...
Stomp The Monday Blues
It's Monday again.
That inevitable day that rolls around every single week. Somehow though, every Sunday night I find myself suddenly realizing that I have a full week ahead of me, and somehow, I feel totally unprepared every Monday morning.
Whether I wake up on time, 10 minutes early, or 10 minutes late, I feel like I'm always scrambling. I skimp or cut my morning routine in half, jump in the shower, and run out the door. Days like today, I somehow managed to make it out the door with a bowl of oatmeal, but I had no clean water bottles, my banana is still half green, I had no lunch planned ahead, and my smoothie blender cup was sitting dirty in the dishwasher. Plus I forgot to lint roll so I'm covered in pet hair.Good grief, get it together Katie!
Ugh, no more of this Monday madness! From now on I swear I'm going to prepare better on Sunday night and ensure that I have a good Monday and a good start to my week.
How am I going to do this, you ask? Here's my game plan:
~Prep my fruits & veggies for the week: this means both for snacks as well as for smoothies. Wash everything in a vinegar soak, and peel and cut what will keep.
~Make sure my water bottles & smoothie cups are clean and ready to rock n roll. I'll fill a few water bottles and keep them in the fridge so they're ready to grab & go. This also makes it that much more convenient to grab a water instead of turning to a soda or coffee later at the office.
~Make healthy snacks. Whether it's healthy breakfast muffins, hard boiled eggs, or cookies, etc.
~Menu plan. This one is huge. Plus it's one that I've managed to stick to almost every single week for a while now. Since I do my grocery shopping on the weekend, because let's face it, it's madness there during the week after work, I'll sit down and plan my dinner menu for the week ahead and shop accordingly. Not only does this enable me to get all of my necessary ingredients so I'm not running to the store 2-3 times per week, but it also allows me to take meat out of the freezer to prepare ahead of time, and lets me take advantage of weekly store sales by basing my menu on what's on hand and what's on sale.
~Prep for your morning routine: Don't have a morning routine? Start one! It seems impossible to think about getting up a second earlier than necessary, but if I can do it, anyone can. Try getting up a few minutes early and try oil pulling, drink a warm cup of lemon water, and/or chug a big glass of water. To ensure that you do this, and have time for it, wash your lemon the night before, and set it out next to your coffee mug, a knife, and citrus press. Get your coconut oil out too so you can do that first thing. By forcing myself to see that stuff right away when I get up, I feel obligated to do it since there's no excuse.
~It may sound miniscule, but get your things together for the morning. Starting Monday off right can totally help the rest of your week to go by smoothly, plus it will inspire you to eat right, keep on track, and be more productive. So set out your towel and hang your bathrobe in the bathroom, pick out what you're going to wear, get your shoes ready, make sure your keys are somewhere, charge your cell, etc.
~The last two things that as of late, I just started believing, are to
-Eat your breakfast! Not eating within an hour or so of waking actually sends your body into starvation mode, which means it's going to hold onto your excess fat cells with all it's might. Eew. Also, it gives you energy to power through your day, and curbs that hankering for a doughnut from the break room.
-Get enough shut eye! Seriously, I know sometimes it's easy to roll your eyes at that one or think yeah, who has time for that? But sleep is so, so very critical to our bodies and when you don't have enough sleep, it's literally like a domino effect on your body, and tends to lead you away from your daily exercise routine and towards sugar or extra carbs. Save yourself the drama and just go to bed on time!
So, even thought we're a day late at this point, who else is with me to pull a mulligan tonight and prep myself for the week?! I know what I'll be doing tonight....and I know I'll have a better day tomorrow because of it!
That's all for now...
~Katie
That inevitable day that rolls around every single week. Somehow though, every Sunday night I find myself suddenly realizing that I have a full week ahead of me, and somehow, I feel totally unprepared every Monday morning.
Whether I wake up on time, 10 minutes early, or 10 minutes late, I feel like I'm always scrambling. I skimp or cut my morning routine in half, jump in the shower, and run out the door. Days like today, I somehow managed to make it out the door with a bowl of oatmeal, but I had no clean water bottles, my banana is still half green, I had no lunch planned ahead, and my smoothie blender cup was sitting dirty in the dishwasher. Plus I forgot to lint roll so I'm covered in pet hair.Good grief, get it together Katie!
Ugh, no more of this Monday madness! From now on I swear I'm going to prepare better on Sunday night and ensure that I have a good Monday and a good start to my week.
How am I going to do this, you ask? Here's my game plan:
~Prep my fruits & veggies for the week: this means both for snacks as well as for smoothies. Wash everything in a vinegar soak, and peel and cut what will keep.
~Make sure my water bottles & smoothie cups are clean and ready to rock n roll. I'll fill a few water bottles and keep them in the fridge so they're ready to grab & go. This also makes it that much more convenient to grab a water instead of turning to a soda or coffee later at the office.
~Make healthy snacks. Whether it's healthy breakfast muffins, hard boiled eggs, or cookies, etc.
~Menu plan. This one is huge. Plus it's one that I've managed to stick to almost every single week for a while now. Since I do my grocery shopping on the weekend, because let's face it, it's madness there during the week after work, I'll sit down and plan my dinner menu for the week ahead and shop accordingly. Not only does this enable me to get all of my necessary ingredients so I'm not running to the store 2-3 times per week, but it also allows me to take meat out of the freezer to prepare ahead of time, and lets me take advantage of weekly store sales by basing my menu on what's on hand and what's on sale.
~Prep for your morning routine: Don't have a morning routine? Start one! It seems impossible to think about getting up a second earlier than necessary, but if I can do it, anyone can. Try getting up a few minutes early and try oil pulling, drink a warm cup of lemon water, and/or chug a big glass of water. To ensure that you do this, and have time for it, wash your lemon the night before, and set it out next to your coffee mug, a knife, and citrus press. Get your coconut oil out too so you can do that first thing. By forcing myself to see that stuff right away when I get up, I feel obligated to do it since there's no excuse.
~It may sound miniscule, but get your things together for the morning. Starting Monday off right can totally help the rest of your week to go by smoothly, plus it will inspire you to eat right, keep on track, and be more productive. So set out your towel and hang your bathrobe in the bathroom, pick out what you're going to wear, get your shoes ready, make sure your keys are somewhere, charge your cell, etc.
~The last two things that as of late, I just started believing, are to
-Eat your breakfast! Not eating within an hour or so of waking actually sends your body into starvation mode, which means it's going to hold onto your excess fat cells with all it's might. Eew. Also, it gives you energy to power through your day, and curbs that hankering for a doughnut from the break room.
-Get enough shut eye! Seriously, I know sometimes it's easy to roll your eyes at that one or think yeah, who has time for that? But sleep is so, so very critical to our bodies and when you don't have enough sleep, it's literally like a domino effect on your body, and tends to lead you away from your daily exercise routine and towards sugar or extra carbs. Save yourself the drama and just go to bed on time!
So, even thought we're a day late at this point, who else is with me to pull a mulligan tonight and prep myself for the week?! I know what I'll be doing tonight....and I know I'll have a better day tomorrow because of it!
That's all for now...
~Katie
Friday, March 28, 2014
The Semi Clean Pantry: Cha Cha Cha Chia
The Semi Clean Pantry: Cha Cha Cha Chia: Every time I think of chia seeds I just can't help but sing the Chia Pet song. Cha Cha Cha Chia. Who knew you could eat them? Ok, so t...
Cha Cha Cha Chia
Every time I think of chia seeds I just can't help but sing the Chia Pet song. Cha Cha Cha Chia. Who knew you could eat them?
Ok, so they're in a different form and I wouldn't suggest eating the packets...buy the real thing from the store please. But seriously, those tiny little seeds are jam packed with good for you's. We're talking fiber, protein, calcium, and omega-3.
The other great thing about chia is the versatility. I personally use them in my smoothies, but you can add them to water for a quick power drink, add them to yogurt, make pudding, and much more. I also use them in my homemade freezer spaghetti sauce as a thickener, and I found a neat strawberry rhubarb jam recipe that I'm excited to try, which uses chia as the thickener.
They tend to have a different texture to them, and as they soak they expand and form a gel like coating. I highly recommend trying them, especially as a boost in your smoothie. Not only are you getting all the extras from it, but the high protein helps to curb your appetite and makes your smoothie last longer.
Here's a great site about Chia:
MindBodyGreen:The Amazing Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
Ok, so they're in a different form and I wouldn't suggest eating the packets...buy the real thing from the store please. But seriously, those tiny little seeds are jam packed with good for you's. We're talking fiber, protein, calcium, and omega-3.
The other great thing about chia is the versatility. I personally use them in my smoothies, but you can add them to water for a quick power drink, add them to yogurt, make pudding, and much more. I also use them in my homemade freezer spaghetti sauce as a thickener, and I found a neat strawberry rhubarb jam recipe that I'm excited to try, which uses chia as the thickener.
They tend to have a different texture to them, and as they soak they expand and form a gel like coating. I highly recommend trying them, especially as a boost in your smoothie. Not only are you getting all the extras from it, but the high protein helps to curb your appetite and makes your smoothie last longer.
Here's a great site about Chia:
MindBodyGreen:The Amazing Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Deceiving Packaged Foods
This is an excellent, excellent video for anyone that is just beginning their clean eating journey, from 100 Days of Real Food. A lot of foods can be very misleading, especially with many food companies trying to jump on the healthy, clean eating bandwagon. Be sure to read your labels!
Here she offers super simple alternatives that won't break the bank or take up too much of your time. You may be shocked about a few seemingly healthy foods.
The paper bag trick is mind blowing!
Video: Don't fall for these deceiving packaged foods!
Here she offers super simple alternatives that won't break the bank or take up too much of your time. You may be shocked about a few seemingly healthy foods.
The paper bag trick is mind blowing!
Video: Don't fall for these deceiving packaged foods!
Monday, March 24, 2014
The Semi Clean Pantry: 15 Ways to Reduce Toxins Now
The Semi Clean Pantry: 15 Ways to Reduce Toxins Now: Reducing toxins from your life may sound like something that involves a full medical team or a hazmat suit. Not quite...it's actually mu...
15 Ways to Reduce Toxins Now
Reducing toxins from your life may sound like something that involves a full medical team or a hazmat suit. Not quite...it's actually much, much simpler than that.
MindBodyGreen offers 15 simple ways to start reducing toxins from your life starting right now. Things that are as easy as not eating canned food, drinking water in your own containers, not the cheap water bottles, just getting more sleep.
One of my favorites is #3, reading your makeup ingredients. It wasn't until a couple of months ago that I even thought to pay attention to what was in my makeup, or any of my facial or cosmetic supplies for that matter. How could that have gotten past me? I try to be so careful about what I eat, yet I was slathering talc and parabens and other chemicals & toxins on my face on a daily basis? After that I stopped using all of my old makeup and found a natural line that I really like so far.
Other simple ways she suggests is eliminating mercury fillings with a biological dentist, eating more living, fresh food, and a few others.
Check out her full list with tips here:
15 Simple Ways to Reduce Toxins-From MindBodyGreen
MindBodyGreen offers 15 simple ways to start reducing toxins from your life starting right now. Things that are as easy as not eating canned food, drinking water in your own containers, not the cheap water bottles, just getting more sleep.
One of my favorites is #3, reading your makeup ingredients. It wasn't until a couple of months ago that I even thought to pay attention to what was in my makeup, or any of my facial or cosmetic supplies for that matter. How could that have gotten past me? I try to be so careful about what I eat, yet I was slathering talc and parabens and other chemicals & toxins on my face on a daily basis? After that I stopped using all of my old makeup and found a natural line that I really like so far.
Other simple ways she suggests is eliminating mercury fillings with a biological dentist, eating more living, fresh food, and a few others.
Check out her full list with tips here:
15 Simple Ways to Reduce Toxins-From MindBodyGreen
Friday, March 21, 2014
The Semi Clean Pantry: Getting Back on the Wagon
The Semi Clean Pantry: Getting Back on the Wagon: Yeah, I fell off the wagon. But with good reason. For years I was really good about exercising on a regular basis. Whether it was walking, ...
Getting Back on the Wagon
Yeah, I fell off the wagon. But with good reason.
For years I was really good about exercising on a regular basis. Whether it was walking, riding my horses, or zumba, I was always doing something on the regular. Well, then I met the man of my dreams and kind of started slacking a little. First it was not going to zumba on a regular basis, then I ended up selling my show horse so I was no longer riding, then it kind of just turned into nothing much at all. Ahh sweet, comfortable love ;)
After a year or so I had snapped out of it and began zumba classes once again, with my favorite instructor. I was finally back into the swing of things, taking classes 2-3 times per week, and walking here and there in between. I began noticing awesome changes, sure on the scale, but more so with my body. I suddenly had a flat back without any roll definition, my poochy area was shrinking, and dang, I was getting some guns for arms!
Then my injury happened. It was a Saturday morning in April, almost 2 years ago now, and my sister pulled in the driveway to pick me up for our Saturday morning zumba class. I ran out the door, slipped on ice on our concrete stairs, and down I went. I landed on my hip on the exact corner of the concrete step and felt immediate pain. I had also rolled my ankle and obtained a few bruises, but my hip was the worst. I stayed home that day and iced it, and took the week off. I tried resuming classes which seemed fine for a week or two. Then I began having nasty pain in my hip. And I mean, nasty, sharp shooting, stabbing pain inside my hip joint. I visit my chiropractor on a regular basis, but I made an extra appointment with her to see if she could help. She initially thought I may have been a labral tear, or Bursitis. We tried treating it for a few weeks, with no luck. So I reluctantly made an appointment with my Dr, who referred me to 6 weeks of physical therapy. Well, 6 weeks turned into 12 weeks, before I finally got a referral to an ortho. Three lengthy appointments, a set of hip x-rays, and an MRI later, we found out the cause of my horrible, now alternating between hips, pain, which were multiple synovial cysts on my spine. Long story short, I have a hyper curve in my lower back and over time (and I'm guessing with years of riding, falling off, getting tossed around by 1200 lb animals), it has pissed off my spine which then create these little cysts with synovial fluid, which sometimes pinch my nerves. And they never go away. The doc's answer? Lose weight. Um, right. I'll just get right on that. Lose weight without the ability to vacuum my own floors, shop for groceries for more than 15 minutes, or walk more than a block, let alone get in good exercise? No problem! The other option was to try injections, which to me, sounds a little scary and invasive for a first round of treatment.
So, though somewhat defeated, and I don't even know how many pounds heavier, I tried to do as much as I could. I started yoga classes, and a water exercise class. Keep in mind this is coming from the girl that rocked it at zumba for years for exercise and was used to riding horses, so this was different for me. Yoga was ok, but I don't think I'm cut out to be a yogi. I will say, however, that it is very relaxing and a great time to zone out and re-focus and ahhhhh, breathe. Water exercise was great too, it was actually a sort of challenge with those dang foam dumbbells your swim with, and I love being in the water. But then I had gotten a new tattoo and couldn't swim for a period of time, and by the time I checked back into classes, they had cancelled them indefinitely. :(
So, 6 months and more pounds later here I am, still no regular exercise regime. BUT, that is all going to change, starting yesterday! Well actually, I need to rewind a few weeks. I had missed a chiro appointment, and ended up being scheduled out almost a month since my last adjustment. The night before my appointment, I noticed something crazy. I had no pain. I had swept the floors in the house, did some cooking, did some picking up, got groceries, and I had no stabbing pains. What the....well, by some fluke, I figured out that by not adjusting my hips, my pain was kept at bay. Woohoo!! I tested my theory that time, and the next, and now a third time and I'm still good to go! Every once in a while I'll find something I should definitely not be doing and it will remind me that I need to slow it down, but for the most part it has been incredibly better.
So, yesterday was a gorgeous day and I decided to take our dogs for a short walk. Everything went pretty well actually, and apart from being a hair sore at the end of the small walk, and a Charlie horse in my leg in the middle of the night, I'm good to go! So, my plan is to continue walking a few times per week, lengthening my walk every 2-3 times. Then, I'll try my hand at zumba again. Because let's face it, there is no way in high hell that I can just launch myself back into zumba with my favorite teacher and live to talk about it the next day. She's crazy, and I love it. I should mention, it's not your ordinary zumba, and it contains a lot of high cardio, high impact, kick your ass to the curb, burns 700 + calories per hour, go throw up in the bathroom and come back for more kind of stuff. I can't wait!!!
And please don't get me wrong or take this the wrong way, I am very comfortable in my skin. I am confident no matter what size I am, and I am happy with myself no matter what. Yes, I'd like to lose weight, but more so I'd like to be fit, I'd like to be stronger, and I'd like to be healthier. And getting regular exercise is part of all of that. I will never be a size 5 and that's completely, totally ok by me, because as long as I am healthy, eating well, and exercising a few times per week, then I'm healthy and I'll feel good and that's what matters most!
For years I was really good about exercising on a regular basis. Whether it was walking, riding my horses, or zumba, I was always doing something on the regular. Well, then I met the man of my dreams and kind of started slacking a little. First it was not going to zumba on a regular basis, then I ended up selling my show horse so I was no longer riding, then it kind of just turned into nothing much at all. Ahh sweet, comfortable love ;)
After a year or so I had snapped out of it and began zumba classes once again, with my favorite instructor. I was finally back into the swing of things, taking classes 2-3 times per week, and walking here and there in between. I began noticing awesome changes, sure on the scale, but more so with my body. I suddenly had a flat back without any roll definition, my poochy area was shrinking, and dang, I was getting some guns for arms!
Then my injury happened. It was a Saturday morning in April, almost 2 years ago now, and my sister pulled in the driveway to pick me up for our Saturday morning zumba class. I ran out the door, slipped on ice on our concrete stairs, and down I went. I landed on my hip on the exact corner of the concrete step and felt immediate pain. I had also rolled my ankle and obtained a few bruises, but my hip was the worst. I stayed home that day and iced it, and took the week off. I tried resuming classes which seemed fine for a week or two. Then I began having nasty pain in my hip. And I mean, nasty, sharp shooting, stabbing pain inside my hip joint. I visit my chiropractor on a regular basis, but I made an extra appointment with her to see if she could help. She initially thought I may have been a labral tear, or Bursitis. We tried treating it for a few weeks, with no luck. So I reluctantly made an appointment with my Dr, who referred me to 6 weeks of physical therapy. Well, 6 weeks turned into 12 weeks, before I finally got a referral to an ortho. Three lengthy appointments, a set of hip x-rays, and an MRI later, we found out the cause of my horrible, now alternating between hips, pain, which were multiple synovial cysts on my spine. Long story short, I have a hyper curve in my lower back and over time (and I'm guessing with years of riding, falling off, getting tossed around by 1200 lb animals), it has pissed off my spine which then create these little cysts with synovial fluid, which sometimes pinch my nerves. And they never go away. The doc's answer? Lose weight. Um, right. I'll just get right on that. Lose weight without the ability to vacuum my own floors, shop for groceries for more than 15 minutes, or walk more than a block, let alone get in good exercise? No problem! The other option was to try injections, which to me, sounds a little scary and invasive for a first round of treatment.
So, though somewhat defeated, and I don't even know how many pounds heavier, I tried to do as much as I could. I started yoga classes, and a water exercise class. Keep in mind this is coming from the girl that rocked it at zumba for years for exercise and was used to riding horses, so this was different for me. Yoga was ok, but I don't think I'm cut out to be a yogi. I will say, however, that it is very relaxing and a great time to zone out and re-focus and ahhhhh, breathe. Water exercise was great too, it was actually a sort of challenge with those dang foam dumbbells your swim with, and I love being in the water. But then I had gotten a new tattoo and couldn't swim for a period of time, and by the time I checked back into classes, they had cancelled them indefinitely. :(
So, 6 months and more pounds later here I am, still no regular exercise regime. BUT, that is all going to change, starting yesterday! Well actually, I need to rewind a few weeks. I had missed a chiro appointment, and ended up being scheduled out almost a month since my last adjustment. The night before my appointment, I noticed something crazy. I had no pain. I had swept the floors in the house, did some cooking, did some picking up, got groceries, and I had no stabbing pains. What the....well, by some fluke, I figured out that by not adjusting my hips, my pain was kept at bay. Woohoo!! I tested my theory that time, and the next, and now a third time and I'm still good to go! Every once in a while I'll find something I should definitely not be doing and it will remind me that I need to slow it down, but for the most part it has been incredibly better.
So, yesterday was a gorgeous day and I decided to take our dogs for a short walk. Everything went pretty well actually, and apart from being a hair sore at the end of the small walk, and a Charlie horse in my leg in the middle of the night, I'm good to go! So, my plan is to continue walking a few times per week, lengthening my walk every 2-3 times. Then, I'll try my hand at zumba again. Because let's face it, there is no way in high hell that I can just launch myself back into zumba with my favorite teacher and live to talk about it the next day. She's crazy, and I love it. I should mention, it's not your ordinary zumba, and it contains a lot of high cardio, high impact, kick your ass to the curb, burns 700 + calories per hour, go throw up in the bathroom and come back for more kind of stuff. I can't wait!!!
And please don't get me wrong or take this the wrong way, I am very comfortable in my skin. I am confident no matter what size I am, and I am happy with myself no matter what. Yes, I'd like to lose weight, but more so I'd like to be fit, I'd like to be stronger, and I'd like to be healthier. And getting regular exercise is part of all of that. I will never be a size 5 and that's completely, totally ok by me, because as long as I am healthy, eating well, and exercising a few times per week, then I'm healthy and I'll feel good and that's what matters most!
The Semi Clean Pantry: Non-Toxic Daily Shower & Tub Spray
The Semi Clean Pantry: Non-Toxic Daily Shower & Tub Spray: Here is a great recipe for making a daily shower spray. Because let's face it, none of us scour & scrub our entire tubs & shower...
Non-Toxic Daily Shower & Tub Spray
Here is a great recipe for making a daily shower spray. Because let's face it, none of us scour & scrub our entire tubs & showers on a regular basis and things tend to build up. For a long time I used the daily shower spray from the store, not even thinking twice about what it contains. Yikes!
With this recipe, you'll know exactly what you're putting in the shower, and you'll know exactly what's NOT being absorbed into your body.
http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2014/03/diy-daily-shower-cleaner.html
With this recipe, you'll know exactly what you're putting in the shower, and you'll know exactly what's NOT being absorbed into your body.
http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2014/03/diy-daily-shower-cleaner.html
Thursday, March 20, 2014
The Semi Clean Pantry: Baking Soda: It's Not Your Ordinary BS
The Semi Clean Pantry: Baking Soda: It's Not Your Ordinary BS: Baking Soda. It's in all of our homes. But are we using it to it's full potential? Probably not! I'll admit I haven't trie...
Baking Soda: It's Not Your Ordinary BS
Baking Soda. It's in all of our homes. But are we using it to it's full potential? Probably not!
I'll admit I haven't tried everything with baking soda. I mean, come on, I do have a life. Hey now...no comments from the peanut gallery! But I have tried a few new things with it. Baking Soda aka BS to me (giggles), is a major staple in natural cleaning if you're goal is to go chemical free. One of my favorites is it's scrubbing & scouring power. Our glass stove top tends to get pretty yucky looking pretty darn easy. All it takes is a pot of water to boil over and I'm stuck with some nasty brown rings. Don't even get me started on burnt on food. Or melted plastic from when the boyfriend tried helping me out and left the spoon too close to the burner :/ Bless his heart.
To clean the glass stove top, I'll simply run a warm rag over it, mainly to get any crumbs off. Then sprinkle baking soda over the surface, use more on the tough spots. Let it sit for a few minutes. If it's a really tough looking spot, let a hot rag sit over the baking soda for a few minutes. Now get out your elbow grease and apply liberally. Ha that's my way of saying scrub it sista. Most of it will come out clean without even having to scrub, but if you have any spots you'll need to go over them a few times. If you have a hard time with just a was cloth, try a non-abrasive green scrubby. Then wipe over the whole area again with a warm rag and presto! Shiny glass stove top once again.
I've also used BS as a tub & shower scrub and it works like MAGIC! I simply take about a tsp of liquid soap (Dawn), 1 cup of baking soda, a few drops of essential oil (optional), then enough water to make a paste. I apply with a green pad and scrub the area, then rinse. Works like a charm!
Use BS on your carpet. That's right, BS can be used to make your own carpet fresh! I've been using this for a couple of years now and I love it. For starters, I saved an empty parm cheese shaker-I know, so genius. Simply dump in some BS (1-2 cups) then however many drops of essential oil, depending on desired strength. Use as a regular carper deodorizer before vacuuming and never worry what your pets, babies, toddlers, or even you are absorbing from your carpet.
In the bathroom. BS can be used as a wonderful detox bath when mixed with Epsom salt, apple cider vinegar and essential oil. Just add 1/2 cup Epsom, 1/4 cup BS, 1/3 cup ACV and a few drops of EO. This bath will help to draw toxins from your system and will aid with any skin issues, plus it's a great way to relax with a few minutes to yourself.
While you're in the bathroom, slather some on your face and teeth. Here's a great recipe from WellnessMama for homemade natural toothpaste: http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/. For your face, use BS as a natural exfoliator. Mix the baking soda with a little water, or for even better results, use coconut oil, then massage into the face for a good 20 seconds. Make sure to be gentle, we're not scrubbing stovetops anymore. Rinse your face with warm water and enjoy that silky skin.
Last but not least, you can cure BO with BS. That's right, use BS to make your own homemade deodorant! Most commercial deodorants contain nasty chemicals and additives and those can be absorbed right into our system through our pits. Try this recipe instead: http://wellnessmama.com/1523/how-to-make-natural-deodorant/
These aren't the only uses for BS, but they're my personal faves. I love cleaning with baking soda and with spring cleaning right around the corner, lots of us will begin our annual rituals of organizing, dusting, and scrubbing. I urge you to try a few homemade cleaners instead of those chemical & toxin laden products. Even if we can't smell them, those fumes are spread throughout our home and can be very harmful, especially over time. And don't think they're gone when you can't smell them anymore! Those fumes can be transferred throughout your house through your air ducts and continue to recirculate. Not to mention, BS and natural products are much, much easier on the wallet than store bought versions!
Rock on BS'ers.
I'll admit I haven't tried everything with baking soda. I mean, come on, I do have a life. Hey now...no comments from the peanut gallery! But I have tried a few new things with it. Baking Soda aka BS to me (giggles), is a major staple in natural cleaning if you're goal is to go chemical free. One of my favorites is it's scrubbing & scouring power. Our glass stove top tends to get pretty yucky looking pretty darn easy. All it takes is a pot of water to boil over and I'm stuck with some nasty brown rings. Don't even get me started on burnt on food. Or melted plastic from when the boyfriend tried helping me out and left the spoon too close to the burner :/ Bless his heart.
To clean the glass stove top, I'll simply run a warm rag over it, mainly to get any crumbs off. Then sprinkle baking soda over the surface, use more on the tough spots. Let it sit for a few minutes. If it's a really tough looking spot, let a hot rag sit over the baking soda for a few minutes. Now get out your elbow grease and apply liberally. Ha that's my way of saying scrub it sista. Most of it will come out clean without even having to scrub, but if you have any spots you'll need to go over them a few times. If you have a hard time with just a was cloth, try a non-abrasive green scrubby. Then wipe over the whole area again with a warm rag and presto! Shiny glass stove top once again.
I've also used BS as a tub & shower scrub and it works like MAGIC! I simply take about a tsp of liquid soap (Dawn), 1 cup of baking soda, a few drops of essential oil (optional), then enough water to make a paste. I apply with a green pad and scrub the area, then rinse. Works like a charm!
Use BS on your carpet. That's right, BS can be used to make your own carpet fresh! I've been using this for a couple of years now and I love it. For starters, I saved an empty parm cheese shaker-I know, so genius. Simply dump in some BS (1-2 cups) then however many drops of essential oil, depending on desired strength. Use as a regular carper deodorizer before vacuuming and never worry what your pets, babies, toddlers, or even you are absorbing from your carpet.
In the bathroom. BS can be used as a wonderful detox bath when mixed with Epsom salt, apple cider vinegar and essential oil. Just add 1/2 cup Epsom, 1/4 cup BS, 1/3 cup ACV and a few drops of EO. This bath will help to draw toxins from your system and will aid with any skin issues, plus it's a great way to relax with a few minutes to yourself.
While you're in the bathroom, slather some on your face and teeth. Here's a great recipe from WellnessMama for homemade natural toothpaste: http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/. For your face, use BS as a natural exfoliator. Mix the baking soda with a little water, or for even better results, use coconut oil, then massage into the face for a good 20 seconds. Make sure to be gentle, we're not scrubbing stovetops anymore. Rinse your face with warm water and enjoy that silky skin.
Last but not least, you can cure BO with BS. That's right, use BS to make your own homemade deodorant! Most commercial deodorants contain nasty chemicals and additives and those can be absorbed right into our system through our pits. Try this recipe instead: http://wellnessmama.com/1523/how-to-make-natural-deodorant/
These aren't the only uses for BS, but they're my personal faves. I love cleaning with baking soda and with spring cleaning right around the corner, lots of us will begin our annual rituals of organizing, dusting, and scrubbing. I urge you to try a few homemade cleaners instead of those chemical & toxin laden products. Even if we can't smell them, those fumes are spread throughout our home and can be very harmful, especially over time. And don't think they're gone when you can't smell them anymore! Those fumes can be transferred throughout your house through your air ducts and continue to recirculate. Not to mention, BS and natural products are much, much easier on the wallet than store bought versions!
Rock on BS'ers.
Monday, March 17, 2014
St. Paddy's Shamrock Smoothie
Alright let's just put all our cards out there on the table. I like, no liked, those stupid green shamrock shakes from a certain fast food place. Ugh, I know, so not good for you and loaded with food dye and I don't even want to know what else. But they're so good!
Those are now a thing of the past. I have discovered a make it yourself version that is not only tasty, but also healthy. By using the super fruit avocado as your base, you're gaining the smooth, creamy texture of ice cream, as well as all of the green machine's health benefits.
Avocados are often called super fruits, or super foods. This is for their many properties that help with everything from cardiovascular health, healthy skin, weight loss, diabetes, arthritis, nutrient absorption, and so much more. Sometimes they're given a bad rep for being high in fat, however it's the good kind of fat, the kind your body needs and craves. Avocados are high in monounsaturated fat which is the easy to burn, healthy fat. They're also high in fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins, and folic acid.
So, without further ado, here is the recipe for the healthy version of a shamrock shake that you can enjoy without all of the guilt:
(Recipe from primallyinspired.com)
Copycat Shamrock Shake:
1 can coconut milk (or 1 3/4 cups any other milk)
1 avocado, peeled and pitted
2 1/2-3 tbs pure, raw honey (to taste for sweetness)
1 cup ice
1 tbs pure vanilla extract
1 tsp pure peppermint extract (you could even throw in fresh mint leaves!)
Blend and enjoy!
Those are now a thing of the past. I have discovered a make it yourself version that is not only tasty, but also healthy. By using the super fruit avocado as your base, you're gaining the smooth, creamy texture of ice cream, as well as all of the green machine's health benefits.
Avocados are often called super fruits, or super foods. This is for their many properties that help with everything from cardiovascular health, healthy skin, weight loss, diabetes, arthritis, nutrient absorption, and so much more. Sometimes they're given a bad rep for being high in fat, however it's the good kind of fat, the kind your body needs and craves. Avocados are high in monounsaturated fat which is the easy to burn, healthy fat. They're also high in fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins, and folic acid.
So, without further ado, here is the recipe for the healthy version of a shamrock shake that you can enjoy without all of the guilt:
(Recipe from primallyinspired.com)
Copycat Shamrock Shake:
1 can coconut milk (or 1 3/4 cups any other milk)
1 avocado, peeled and pitted
2 1/2-3 tbs pure, raw honey (to taste for sweetness)
1 cup ice
1 tbs pure vanilla extract
1 tsp pure peppermint extract (you could even throw in fresh mint leaves!)
Blend and enjoy!
The Semi Clean Pantry: Apple Cider Vinegar Elixir
The Semi Clean Pantry: Apple Cider Vinegar Elixir: So you want to reap the endless benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar, but can't stomach the taste. Not a problem! Here are two great...
Apple Cider Vinegar Elixir
So you want to reap the endless benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar, but can't stomach the taste. Not a problem! Here are two great ways to prepare your ACV so that not only is the sour vinegar taste eliminated, but it actually tastes good!
Let me rewind a sec and remind you that you want to purchase raw, organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar that contains "the mother". Bragg's is a great brand.
Now, my preferred way of drinking ACV, is to drink it warm. I'll warm the water, then mix the AVC, honey, and sometimes cinnamon together. I also love this method since local, raw honey has many of it's own health benefits, as does cinnamon. So it's a win win!
Warm ACV:
8 oz water (warmed)
1-2 TBS ACV
1 TBS honey (local, raw)
1 tsp cinnamon
The other way you can down your daily dose of good for you ACV, is to drink it cold by way of this recipe from delightedmomma.com:
Sweetened Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Elixir:
1 1/2 cup of cold filtered water
2 tbs of apple or grape juice
2 tbs of raw apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of stevia (powdered) if using liquid you only need a few drops.
Mix all ingredients together and stir until well combined. You can also serve over ice as a refreshing summer drink.
Now, back when I first began drinking ACV, I had done quite a bit of research on it. The one thing that sticks with me, aside from all of the awesome health benefits, is that it can be a little hard on your tooth enamel. Because of this, I follow the suggestion of drinking it with a straw, and I always take a few sips of plain water after to sort of rinse my mouth and teeth off. Just in case.
I've also read not to drink it straight without diluting, due to the fact that it can be a little harsh on your innards on the way down. Who the heck could tolerate it straight anyways? Yikes!
Let me rewind a sec and remind you that you want to purchase raw, organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar that contains "the mother". Bragg's is a great brand.
Now, my preferred way of drinking ACV, is to drink it warm. I'll warm the water, then mix the AVC, honey, and sometimes cinnamon together. I also love this method since local, raw honey has many of it's own health benefits, as does cinnamon. So it's a win win!
Warm ACV:
8 oz water (warmed)
1-2 TBS ACV
1 TBS honey (local, raw)
1 tsp cinnamon
The other way you can down your daily dose of good for you ACV, is to drink it cold by way of this recipe from delightedmomma.com:
Sweetened Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Elixir:
Mix all ingredients together and stir until well combined. You can also serve over ice as a refreshing summer drink.
Now, back when I first began drinking ACV, I had done quite a bit of research on it. The one thing that sticks with me, aside from all of the awesome health benefits, is that it can be a little hard on your tooth enamel. Because of this, I follow the suggestion of drinking it with a straw, and I always take a few sips of plain water after to sort of rinse my mouth and teeth off. Just in case.
I've also read not to drink it straight without diluting, due to the fact that it can be a little harsh on your innards on the way down. Who the heck could tolerate it straight anyways? Yikes!
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The Semi Clean Pantry: Don't Get Discouraged...You're on the Right Track
The Semi Clean Pantry: Don't Get Discouraged...You're on the Right Track: About a year and a half ago, I began learning more and more about eating healthier, choosing organic produce over conventionally grown, redu...
Don't Get Discouraged...You're on the Right Track
About a year and a half ago, I began learning more and more about eating healthier, choosing organic produce over conventionally grown, reducing processed foods, and just plain trying to eat and live cleaner. To say that was frustrating is the understatement of the year.
I know that it should be a good experience and it should feel super awesome that you're making changes and getting healthier. And it did, and still does, trust me. The part that was so frustrating to me was the fact that there is so much, and I mean SO MUCH contradictory information and ideas out there. By this I mean things like those that are trying to lose weight eating all non-fat or low-fat products, but then finding out that all of those products are loaded with chemicals and all sorts of crap to take the fats place. Then there's those who are trying to lose weight by cutting out carbs, but then they're not allowed to eat fruits and are extremely limited on veggies. (In what world would that EVER be healthy?!). Or switching to agave nectar instead of sugar, only to find out that agave is actually really nasty stuff. Or how about butter lovers switching to olive oil for cooking, only to find out that it forms a type of carcinogen at high heat. Then there's the McDonald's, fast food, or frozen food lover that starts cooking more homemade meals instead, only to find out that the meat she's using could be loaded with hormones, antibiotics and who knows what, and that the grass fed, certified organic meat that costs 3 times as much would be so much better for her and her family.
It. Gets. Frustrating.
I have been there, I'm still there on some things, and I thought I'd never figure out what's best or what my game plan is. Starting from basically ground zero and never having bought organic produce, never having paid attention to what's in my food, I figured any step forward was a step in the right direction. And that's your key.
You may not be able to switch everything all at once, you may not be able to afford all organic, and you may have super picky meat-n-potatoes only kind of boyfriends. Oh wait, that one's mine. The point is, you have to start somewhere, and one change at a time is better than no change at all.
Start with your produce for instance: learn the dirty dozen and the clean 15 and buy accordingly. When you're ready, start making the change to buying all organic. Maybe next, switch to organic, grass fed butter and milk. Next switch your eggs, then your cheese. Next, stop buying canned tomatoes and use fresh instead, then start making your own stocks instead of buying processed versions, and making your own spice mixes, and so on.
Do your research. If you're one to purchase low-fat or non-fat versions of dairy, look at the ingredients list and look up anything you're not sure of. Compare your labels. Don't think there's much of a difference between non-fat and full fat, or conventional vs organic? Compare regular, conventional eggs to organic, cage free eggs once. There is a drastic difference in cholesterol & sodium. Same thing with sugar-free foods. They make you think it's a healthier option because there's no sugar, but in the place of sugar there are nasty, and I mean nasty, chemicals masked as artificial sweeteners that can cause a whole slew of health problems and even cancer.
So even though the stuff still may not be good for you, the regular versions are typically not as dangerous as the low-fat, non-fat, non-sugar versions. So is switching back to regular, full fat, good enough instead of switching to all organic? Not quite. But it's your first step.
Back then I knew with the more I learned and the more I realized things need to change, that I wasn't going to be able to do it all at once. I couldn't afford to buy all organic, or throw everything out and get healthier versions. I had a hard time wrapping my head around my vegetable intake consisting of more than a can of beans at dinner or a salad at lunch for pete's sake. Seriously. Not to mention that picky meat-n-potatoes boyfriend that thought I fell off my rocker and came back to as a hippy! I knew he'd be my biggest obstacle with switching how we were eating, and he still is. I've been trying different things and I must say that he's adapted quite well, but he still raises an eyebrow to a few things and even flat out refused others. I'll get him there eventually.
And I am still working on things and switching, eliminating, or adding things one by one even now, and I'm sure I will be for a long time. It's pretty neat to look back at all of the changes I've made over the last year or so though, and knowing that we've made leaps and bounds towards healthier lives. We didn't get here by drastically changing it all at once and we didn't notice instant results or changes in us by making the changes. We did it one or two changes at a time, at our own pace.
It's also important to remember that it's not only about taking things one at a time, but it's also about doing your own research. There are contradictory opinions out there on just about every topic. Don't believe everything you hear, and don't follow new trends. Instead, hop on Google and do some digging yourself, or ask someone that's knowledgeable about natural health. It's really easy to get confused as to what's healthy and what's not, or what claims to be but isn't. Find out for yourself. That is my best advice. I can't tell you what you should or shouldn't do, or how you should eat, or what not to buy, and I am not a health expert or medical professional. But I can tell you to start doing your homework and start making decisions on how you're going to improve your health starting today.
I know that it should be a good experience and it should feel super awesome that you're making changes and getting healthier. And it did, and still does, trust me. The part that was so frustrating to me was the fact that there is so much, and I mean SO MUCH contradictory information and ideas out there. By this I mean things like those that are trying to lose weight eating all non-fat or low-fat products, but then finding out that all of those products are loaded with chemicals and all sorts of crap to take the fats place. Then there's those who are trying to lose weight by cutting out carbs, but then they're not allowed to eat fruits and are extremely limited on veggies. (In what world would that EVER be healthy?!). Or switching to agave nectar instead of sugar, only to find out that agave is actually really nasty stuff. Or how about butter lovers switching to olive oil for cooking, only to find out that it forms a type of carcinogen at high heat. Then there's the McDonald's, fast food, or frozen food lover that starts cooking more homemade meals instead, only to find out that the meat she's using could be loaded with hormones, antibiotics and who knows what, and that the grass fed, certified organic meat that costs 3 times as much would be so much better for her and her family.
It. Gets. Frustrating.
I have been there, I'm still there on some things, and I thought I'd never figure out what's best or what my game plan is. Starting from basically ground zero and never having bought organic produce, never having paid attention to what's in my food, I figured any step forward was a step in the right direction. And that's your key.
You may not be able to switch everything all at once, you may not be able to afford all organic, and you may have super picky meat-n-potatoes only kind of boyfriends. Oh wait, that one's mine. The point is, you have to start somewhere, and one change at a time is better than no change at all.
Start with your produce for instance: learn the dirty dozen and the clean 15 and buy accordingly. When you're ready, start making the change to buying all organic. Maybe next, switch to organic, grass fed butter and milk. Next switch your eggs, then your cheese. Next, stop buying canned tomatoes and use fresh instead, then start making your own stocks instead of buying processed versions, and making your own spice mixes, and so on.
Do your research. If you're one to purchase low-fat or non-fat versions of dairy, look at the ingredients list and look up anything you're not sure of. Compare your labels. Don't think there's much of a difference between non-fat and full fat, or conventional vs organic? Compare regular, conventional eggs to organic, cage free eggs once. There is a drastic difference in cholesterol & sodium. Same thing with sugar-free foods. They make you think it's a healthier option because there's no sugar, but in the place of sugar there are nasty, and I mean nasty, chemicals masked as artificial sweeteners that can cause a whole slew of health problems and even cancer.
So even though the stuff still may not be good for you, the regular versions are typically not as dangerous as the low-fat, non-fat, non-sugar versions. So is switching back to regular, full fat, good enough instead of switching to all organic? Not quite. But it's your first step.
Back then I knew with the more I learned and the more I realized things need to change, that I wasn't going to be able to do it all at once. I couldn't afford to buy all organic, or throw everything out and get healthier versions. I had a hard time wrapping my head around my vegetable intake consisting of more than a can of beans at dinner or a salad at lunch for pete's sake. Seriously. Not to mention that picky meat-n-potatoes boyfriend that thought I fell off my rocker and came back to as a hippy! I knew he'd be my biggest obstacle with switching how we were eating, and he still is. I've been trying different things and I must say that he's adapted quite well, but he still raises an eyebrow to a few things and even flat out refused others. I'll get him there eventually.
And I am still working on things and switching, eliminating, or adding things one by one even now, and I'm sure I will be for a long time. It's pretty neat to look back at all of the changes I've made over the last year or so though, and knowing that we've made leaps and bounds towards healthier lives. We didn't get here by drastically changing it all at once and we didn't notice instant results or changes in us by making the changes. We did it one or two changes at a time, at our own pace.
It's also important to remember that it's not only about taking things one at a time, but it's also about doing your own research. There are contradictory opinions out there on just about every topic. Don't believe everything you hear, and don't follow new trends. Instead, hop on Google and do some digging yourself, or ask someone that's knowledgeable about natural health. It's really easy to get confused as to what's healthy and what's not, or what claims to be but isn't. Find out for yourself. That is my best advice. I can't tell you what you should or shouldn't do, or how you should eat, or what not to buy, and I am not a health expert or medical professional. But I can tell you to start doing your homework and start making decisions on how you're going to improve your health starting today.
The Semi Clean Pantry: Ditch Those Seasoning Packets!
The Semi Clean Pantry: Ditch Those Seasoning Packets!: So you're making tacos for dinner tonight. Once you have your meat ready, you reach for your taco seasoning packet and mix it in with so...
Ditch Those Seasoning Packets!
So you're making tacos for dinner tonight. Once you have your meat ready, you reach for your taco seasoning packet and mix it in with some water, right? ehhhhhhh WRONG! Put that nasty thing down!
Have you ever paid attention to the ingredients in those pre-packaged mixes? They're loaded with things like sugar, MSG, oils from GMO sources, and even gluten.
It may seem like a far fetched, pain in the rear idea at first. But honestly, it's so simple and it takes very little time. I have been making them as I need them but in large batches. So I have some for right now, and at least a few more times. For storage, I either use the small mason jars or recycle old spice mix jars, pesto jars, etc. Just as long as it's air tight.
Now you may think that your blend should look and taste exactly the same as those handy $.99 packets from the store. Wrong again. They're going to look quite a bit different, and it may take you a few tries to get your favorite recipe down pat. But trust me when I tell you that it's worth it. Not only can you create your own individual, favorite taste, but you're also taking another step to eating cleaner and eliminating another handful of toxins, GMO's and chemicals from your life.
Here's a great link with all of your basic spice mixes and some more helpful info:
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2013/02/17-homemade-spice-mixes.html
Have you ever paid attention to the ingredients in those pre-packaged mixes? They're loaded with things like sugar, MSG, oils from GMO sources, and even gluten.
It may seem like a far fetched, pain in the rear idea at first. But honestly, it's so simple and it takes very little time. I have been making them as I need them but in large batches. So I have some for right now, and at least a few more times. For storage, I either use the small mason jars or recycle old spice mix jars, pesto jars, etc. Just as long as it's air tight.
Now you may think that your blend should look and taste exactly the same as those handy $.99 packets from the store. Wrong again. They're going to look quite a bit different, and it may take you a few tries to get your favorite recipe down pat. But trust me when I tell you that it's worth it. Not only can you create your own individual, favorite taste, but you're also taking another step to eating cleaner and eliminating another handful of toxins, GMO's and chemicals from your life.
Here's a great link with all of your basic spice mixes and some more helpful info:
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2013/02/17-homemade-spice-mixes.html
Monday, March 10, 2014
The Semi Clean Pantry: Update: DIY Dryer Balls & All Purpose Cleaner
The Semi Clean Pantry: Update: DIY Dryer Balls & All Purpose Cleaner: So, a couple of weeks ago I decided to try making a few homemade household items. I chose to make wool dryer balls and an orange peel all pu...
Update: DIY Dryer Balls & All Purpose Cleaner
So, a couple of weeks ago I decided to try making a few homemade household items. I chose to make wool dryer balls and an orange peel all purpose cleaner. I wanted to update you now that I've tried these things a few times myself and let you know how they're working.
The dryer balls are fantastic. Actually, I can't wait to get to the craft store to get more wool yarn to make more! The finally felted after two hot washes and hot dryer cycles. Though they be but small, they are mighty. I can hear these things upstairs sometimes whipping the clothes into shape. So I guess that can be the one downfall of using dryer balls instead of sheets, the noise. However the benefits of being chemical free are well worth it.
I've not tried using essential oils on them yet, so I'll let you know how that goes as well. I will say though, that the clothes seem to be drying much faster, more evenly, and have a lot less static. Win, win, win!! So if you haven't tried them yet, do it.
The second project I had taken on was the homemade all purpose cleaner. Here, I took the peels from two oranges and soaked them in vinegar for two weeks. I was a little skeptical that this would still smell like I'm cleaning with vinegar. (Which doesn't both me, but the boyfriend can't stand vinegar. heehee). I opened it up a few days ago and I couldn't believe it, I could barely smell the vinegar! It had a really refreshing, fresh orange smell to it!
To use it, I diluted it with approx. 1 part cleaner to 2 parts water and put into a spray bottle. I love it. The rest, I'm keeping in the jar for storage, and I plan to take the peels out within the next week or two. Some people said they re-used the same peels for another batch, but mine don't look like they want to stay in the pool for much longer. I will though, use them for as long as I can to freshen up the garbage disposal, so I'll be getting a 3rd use out of them!
For added antibacterial cleaning power, you could add lemon essential oil for a turbo boost citrus cleaner.
There, I was your guinea pig and they both turned out just fine. So get out there and make these yourself and start elimination chemicals from your home too.
The dryer balls are fantastic. Actually, I can't wait to get to the craft store to get more wool yarn to make more! The finally felted after two hot washes and hot dryer cycles. Though they be but small, they are mighty. I can hear these things upstairs sometimes whipping the clothes into shape. So I guess that can be the one downfall of using dryer balls instead of sheets, the noise. However the benefits of being chemical free are well worth it.
I've not tried using essential oils on them yet, so I'll let you know how that goes as well. I will say though, that the clothes seem to be drying much faster, more evenly, and have a lot less static. Win, win, win!! So if you haven't tried them yet, do it.
The second project I had taken on was the homemade all purpose cleaner. Here, I took the peels from two oranges and soaked them in vinegar for two weeks. I was a little skeptical that this would still smell like I'm cleaning with vinegar. (Which doesn't both me, but the boyfriend can't stand vinegar. heehee). I opened it up a few days ago and I couldn't believe it, I could barely smell the vinegar! It had a really refreshing, fresh orange smell to it!
To use it, I diluted it with approx. 1 part cleaner to 2 parts water and put into a spray bottle. I love it. The rest, I'm keeping in the jar for storage, and I plan to take the peels out within the next week or two. Some people said they re-used the same peels for another batch, but mine don't look like they want to stay in the pool for much longer. I will though, use them for as long as I can to freshen up the garbage disposal, so I'll be getting a 3rd use out of them!
For added antibacterial cleaning power, you could add lemon essential oil for a turbo boost citrus cleaner.
There, I was your guinea pig and they both turned out just fine. So get out there and make these yourself and start elimination chemicals from your home too.
The Semi Clean Pantry: DIY Whipped Body Butter
The Semi Clean Pantry: DIY Whipped Body Butter: Lately I've been paying more and more attention to the ingredients in my every day beauty regime. I've already began to switch out m...
DIY Whipped Body Butter
Lately I've been paying more and more attention to the ingredients in my every day beauty regime. I've already began to switch out my makeup products one by one to those that are natural or much less harmful. I stopped using harsh face wash and acne cream and switched to coconut oil and fresh lemon. The results? My face finally looking probably the best it's looked in years!
While slathering my dry, chapped hands with my favorite lotion the other day (my mother, sister, and I have all sworn by this lotion for years. YEARS!), I decided to take a gander at the ingredients. Holy crap!! The three that stuck out the most to me were EDTA, imidazolidinyl urea, and methylparaben. In other words, formaldehyde-releaser, paraben, and chelating agent. Basically, that means poison, cancer, and chemical.
While EDTA still remains to have a somewhat positive rap out there in internet land, there still seems to be a lack of information. Either way, I really don't want to put any of that garbage onto my skin, which will ultimately be absorbed into my bloodstream.
If you think that's bad, take a look at your fruity foo-foo body lotions...
What's the alternative? Coconut oil! Just when you thought this literal super food couldn't get any better, it does. Coconut oil makes for a wonderful moisturizer, especially after a hot shower or bath. I swear this stuff is a food MacGyver. It can get a little tough though when it's in the solid form and you almost have to dig for it. Not to mention it has a very faint scent (if you're looking for that).
The answer to that problem? Whip it. Whip it real good. That's right, toss some coconut oil into a mixing bowl and beat with the whip attachment for a good 10 minutes. If you're looking for scent, add your favorite essential oil (be careful choosing for sensitive skin), and whip for a few more minutes. Store the mixture in an air tight container and have perfectly smooth, all natural, organic body lotion right at your fingertips. Quite literally.
Enjoy!
While slathering my dry, chapped hands with my favorite lotion the other day (my mother, sister, and I have all sworn by this lotion for years. YEARS!), I decided to take a gander at the ingredients. Holy crap!! The three that stuck out the most to me were EDTA, imidazolidinyl urea, and methylparaben. In other words, formaldehyde-releaser, paraben, and chelating agent. Basically, that means poison, cancer, and chemical.
While EDTA still remains to have a somewhat positive rap out there in internet land, there still seems to be a lack of information. Either way, I really don't want to put any of that garbage onto my skin, which will ultimately be absorbed into my bloodstream.
If you think that's bad, take a look at your fruity foo-foo body lotions...
What's the alternative? Coconut oil! Just when you thought this literal super food couldn't get any better, it does. Coconut oil makes for a wonderful moisturizer, especially after a hot shower or bath. I swear this stuff is a food MacGyver. It can get a little tough though when it's in the solid form and you almost have to dig for it. Not to mention it has a very faint scent (if you're looking for that).
The answer to that problem? Whip it. Whip it real good. That's right, toss some coconut oil into a mixing bowl and beat with the whip attachment for a good 10 minutes. If you're looking for scent, add your favorite essential oil (be careful choosing for sensitive skin), and whip for a few more minutes. Store the mixture in an air tight container and have perfectly smooth, all natural, organic body lotion right at your fingertips. Quite literally.
Enjoy!
Friday, March 7, 2014
The Semi Clean Pantry: DIY Trial & Error: Part III
The Semi Clean Pantry: DIY Trial & Error: Part III: Ok so this final piece of my DIY puzzle has taken a bit for me to finally post. However....it was worth the wait! After seeing a post on F...
DIY Trial & Error: Part III
Ok so this final piece of my DIY puzzle has taken a bit for me to finally post. However....it was worth the wait!
After seeing a post on Facebook about making your own dishwasher tabs, I decided to try my hand at it. I mean, they charge enough for the dang things at the store, and who knows what kind of crap they're loaded with, so I figured it would e a worth while experiment.
The recipe seemed simple enough, and showed a pic of the cute little tabs in ice cube trays. It called for Borax, washing soda, Epsom salt, and lemon juice. I went to the local Wal-Mart and managed to get all of my ingredients as well as the ice cube trays which were pretty cheap, and hit up the grocery store for the lemons.
The instructions say to divvy up the dry mix into 1 cup increments to mix in the lemon juice (it makes it a little easier to do and distribute), but naturally I ignored that step and managed to mix it all together just fine in one lump amount. I had recently bought some lemon essential oil so I decided to add about 20 drops of that for an extra cleaning boost. I mixed until it was a somewhat moist consistency, then began filling the ice cube trays. The powder is pretty loose, so I packed them down a little, then hit them again with more powder, then packed them down one final time.
It says to let them sit for a minimum of 24 or up to a few days to dry out completely. I don't have that much patience, so I popped one out exactly 24 hours later and it was perfectly dry and hard. All of them popped right out of the trays very easily and in the end I had about 2 dozen of them. So far so awesome!
I was pretty antsy to try them out so I gathered every dirty dish I had and ran a load with my new tabs. The first load result? Disappointment. I know, so sad right? Most of the dishes came out perfectly clean and I couldn't tell much of a difference. But a few dishes were left with this white powdery residue and some of the glasses were cloudy.
I went back to the site and read a few of the user comments. A few people had talked about this and said that adding citric acid to the mixture helped a ton. Well, I wasn't about to waste these so I opted to try another suggestion, which was to put a cup of white vinegar on the top shelf when you run the load. The blog also suggested adding 3 drops of liquid Dawn on top of the tab, but no more or your kitchen could ne taken over by suds. Whew, scary thought.
I ran the same exact load over again with both new steps. The glasses seemed better, but the white residue was still there. I found out that you actually have to hand scrub that powdery stuff off, as it won't come off in the dishwasher.
So I waited a day or two until I had another load, and tried the tab, 3 drops of Dawn, and a cup of vinegar on the top shelf. Perfection! I was thrilled to have come up with a solution that actually worked, and to be cutting back on some of those nasty chemicals I'm sure the big box brands contain.
For storage, I put the tabs into re-used glass spaghetti sauce jars with air tight lids and just store them under my sink. I knew I saved those dang things for a reason.
I know there is some controversy out there about Borax, and I've done a little research myself. Most of the sites say that it's "okay" and a few say it may be linked to some health issues. I'm going to finish out this batch, then try another recipe that doesn't use it. All in all, the way I look at it is this: it may not be 100% completely natural and pure, but it's a heck of a lot better than the brand I was using and a huge step in the right direction.
Give it a whirl this weekend, it doesn't take but maybe 15 minutes and it's a super cheap, more natural alternative. Have fun!
DIY Dishwasher Tabs:
1 cup Borax
1 cup washing soda
1/4 cup Epsom salt
8 tbsp. lemon juice
10-20 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
After seeing a post on Facebook about making your own dishwasher tabs, I decided to try my hand at it. I mean, they charge enough for the dang things at the store, and who knows what kind of crap they're loaded with, so I figured it would e a worth while experiment.
The recipe seemed simple enough, and showed a pic of the cute little tabs in ice cube trays. It called for Borax, washing soda, Epsom salt, and lemon juice. I went to the local Wal-Mart and managed to get all of my ingredients as well as the ice cube trays which were pretty cheap, and hit up the grocery store for the lemons.
The instructions say to divvy up the dry mix into 1 cup increments to mix in the lemon juice (it makes it a little easier to do and distribute), but naturally I ignored that step and managed to mix it all together just fine in one lump amount. I had recently bought some lemon essential oil so I decided to add about 20 drops of that for an extra cleaning boost. I mixed until it was a somewhat moist consistency, then began filling the ice cube trays. The powder is pretty loose, so I packed them down a little, then hit them again with more powder, then packed them down one final time.
It says to let them sit for a minimum of 24 or up to a few days to dry out completely. I don't have that much patience, so I popped one out exactly 24 hours later and it was perfectly dry and hard. All of them popped right out of the trays very easily and in the end I had about 2 dozen of them. So far so awesome!
I was pretty antsy to try them out so I gathered every dirty dish I had and ran a load with my new tabs. The first load result? Disappointment. I know, so sad right? Most of the dishes came out perfectly clean and I couldn't tell much of a difference. But a few dishes were left with this white powdery residue and some of the glasses were cloudy.
I went back to the site and read a few of the user comments. A few people had talked about this and said that adding citric acid to the mixture helped a ton. Well, I wasn't about to waste these so I opted to try another suggestion, which was to put a cup of white vinegar on the top shelf when you run the load. The blog also suggested adding 3 drops of liquid Dawn on top of the tab, but no more or your kitchen could ne taken over by suds. Whew, scary thought.
I ran the same exact load over again with both new steps. The glasses seemed better, but the white residue was still there. I found out that you actually have to hand scrub that powdery stuff off, as it won't come off in the dishwasher.
So I waited a day or two until I had another load, and tried the tab, 3 drops of Dawn, and a cup of vinegar on the top shelf. Perfection! I was thrilled to have come up with a solution that actually worked, and to be cutting back on some of those nasty chemicals I'm sure the big box brands contain.
For storage, I put the tabs into re-used glass spaghetti sauce jars with air tight lids and just store them under my sink. I knew I saved those dang things for a reason.
I know there is some controversy out there about Borax, and I've done a little research myself. Most of the sites say that it's "okay" and a few say it may be linked to some health issues. I'm going to finish out this batch, then try another recipe that doesn't use it. All in all, the way I look at it is this: it may not be 100% completely natural and pure, but it's a heck of a lot better than the brand I was using and a huge step in the right direction.
Give it a whirl this weekend, it doesn't take but maybe 15 minutes and it's a super cheap, more natural alternative. Have fun!
DIY Dishwasher Tabs:
1 cup Borax
1 cup washing soda
1/4 cup Epsom salt
8 tbsp. lemon juice
10-20 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
9 Ways to Detox Your Home
As you know, I am a huge fan of taking baby steps and adding or removing things one by one. Too much change all at once can be overwhelming for me, so taking steps towards my end goal is always a good way to set myself up for success.
This list is a great way to start detoxing your home today, one step at a time.
I myself have started to make my own cleaning products little by little. Basically, when I'm about to run out of something I'll try my hand at a homemade version and make the switch. Things that are super nasty though, like dryer sheets, I eighty sixed those suckers right away and made my own dryer balls.
The key is, and what I'm trying to say here, is don't overwhelm yourself. Don't read things like this and feel like you need to rent a dumpster, quit your job, and spend your days wearing a haz-mat suit while throwing away half the stuff in your home.
Pick one of these that you're going to start right away, then add another, then another. Next thing you know, your home will be detoxed just in time for spring!
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2011/11/9-toxins-to-remove-from-your-life.html
This list is a great way to start detoxing your home today, one step at a time.
I myself have started to make my own cleaning products little by little. Basically, when I'm about to run out of something I'll try my hand at a homemade version and make the switch. Things that are super nasty though, like dryer sheets, I eighty sixed those suckers right away and made my own dryer balls.
The key is, and what I'm trying to say here, is don't overwhelm yourself. Don't read things like this and feel like you need to rent a dumpster, quit your job, and spend your days wearing a haz-mat suit while throwing away half the stuff in your home.
Pick one of these that you're going to start right away, then add another, then another. Next thing you know, your home will be detoxed just in time for spring!
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2011/11/9-toxins-to-remove-from-your-life.html
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