Well, hopefully he already loves me and this will just put him over the top and I mean truly...what other household product is so versatile!
He has this obsessive need to have spotless dishes. I mean spotless! And if he even THINKS the JetDry is getting low he refills it.
Now - we've been out of our rinse agent for some time and he mentions it A LOT. I however, just cannot bring myself to pay so much for something we really DON'T need and I think a lot about how it might get into my kids plastic sippy cups and that's just gross.
So, we're at a stalemate! Rinse agent is expensive, the glasses are spotty with out it...what to do?
Send Donielle over at Raising Peanuts a subliminal SOS and...presto she has passed along a fabulous, frugal tip so we can BOTH be happy!
Vinegar will rinse your dishes clean and help break down the gunk in the dishwasher. I currently use vinegar as a cleaning agent once a week...I just pour some in the bottom with some baking soda and run it on a long 'pots and pans' mode. Now I can add it to the rinse agent compartment, too!
Friday, March 14, 2008
My Husband Is Going to Love Me and I Love Vinegar!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Works for Me Wednesday: Great Deals on Organic and Natural Foods
Why don't more people eat natural and organic foods? With all the reports and recommendations from reputable organizations, the increase of certain disease and cancer, you'd think it would be an easy decision...
I know the answer to this question...affordability!
That's why we're here. To make this endeavor as affordable as possible, to make the decision to change your family's diet easier, to remove one less hurdle.
A big part of the shopping I do each week involves coupons and sales. That's the hard part when it comes to this particular share of the market. Natural and organics foods are at a premium.
I need your help to make this a really GREAT resource! Do you know of any place with consistently great deals on natural, whole or organic foods? Do you have a tip or a brand recommendation for getting a good deal or do you know of a good resource for coupons?
Help us!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tipster Tuesday: Healthy Clippings Savings Booklet and an e-coupon resource!
I found another great way to get coupons for all of those natural and organic food companies who don't distribute to the population at large!
At my local natural foods store (Nature's Pantry), there are booklets you can pick up called "Healthy Clippings" that contain a few articles submitted by various food makers along with coupons for their products! These appear to be all over the country so maybe it's just me who is in the dark about them??
Look at your store if you haven't already found them or ask about it at Customer Service.
Also of note is this link to natural and organic food makers' coupons
Health e-Savings
Be sure to check out our other blogs' editions of Tipster Tuesday; BeCentsAble and CentsAble Baby
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Make It Yourself Monday: Eco-Friendly Fabric Softener (Part 2)
As a correlating installment to last week's Homemade Dryer Sheets, I found this recipe for homemade liquid fabric softener! It had a few good reviews so I'm going to try it this week!
You can add some essential oil to the mixture for scent. It's available a your local natural or whole foods market or usually at candle shops.
Recipe courtesy Recipezaar.com
Ingredients
1 cup baking soda
6 cups distilled white vinegar
8 cups water
10-15 drops essential oil of choice (optional)
Directions
1) You will need a one gallon container.
2) First add the baking soda to the plastic container.
3) Next add 1 cup of water to start with.
4) Slowly add the vinegar to the bottle as the vinegar and baking soda will start to fizz.
5) Then add the rest of the water swirling around & cover venting the top a few times.
6) Last add the essential oil.
7) Add 1 cup in your final rinse cycle for each load but give the bottle a good shake to stir up the essential oil if using.
Let us know if you try this and what you think!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Allie's Answers: Tip of the Day
Check out Allie's Answers Tip of the Day for a good (scary) tip on your plastics...
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Works For Me Wednesday: My Franklin Covey Inspired Planner
I spent 7 years in a corporate finance job where I had access to (and an excuse for) all the newest organizing gadgets! Franklin Covey was literally my favorite store. Since I started staying home I have slowly and hesitantly given up all of my lovely planning binders and unused pages and forms.
Now that I am blogging on a regular basis and have two kids to raise, I have discovered a new "need" for my planners and kicked myself for getting rid of them all. However, our one-income budget will not support my FC addiction so, this past week I had to get creative.
I actually mentioned to my husband that I planned to get an organizer of some sort and I could see the look in his eyes - thinking "uh-oh". So, I decided to take my frugality to one more step, just in case he doubted my efforts.
I found an old small-size three-ring binder we had lying around (we have 2 identical ones actually) that happened to also have sturdy tab dividers in it. I also had a notebook full of lined paper that was largely unused despite having had it for SEVERAL years (that's another addition I have - office supplies!) and two smaller steno type note pads. I got out our three-hole punch and adjusted the holes to match the small binder. I used power point to layout a planner page exactly as I needed it you could use any program you are fmailiar with (even excel). My notebook is the perfect size for a half-sheet of paper so I was able to make 2 pages from each piece. I then used small sticker-labels to label my dividers on both sides.
The best part was that I get to be creative in planning my pages and they can be different every time I print them. I took a lot of pleasure in this particular part of the process because I was always wanting MORE from my pages. They never quote met my expectations (at least that was the justification for buying more before my old ones ran out!)!
I LOVE my new planner and I feel SO good about doing it this way. My husband was impressed with me! Here are the photos.
I realize this is not a natural or organic idea/act but I am re-purposing things I already have around the house (I only printed the pages new, everything else was lying around doing nothing!) so in my defense I am saving a bit of unnecessary production, waste, fuel, etc!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Make It Yourself Monday: Eco-Friendlier Fabric Softener (part 1)
I discovered recently that dryer sheets (used and unused) are VERY dangerous for my pets (specifically 2 dogs who chew on EVERYTHING that's not tied down and looks remotely destructible - no, really just everything!). I read that if they ingested enough of them they could die from the toxicity. I'll have to find the specifics on this to add to the post later.
The point is that I wondered how on earth I could keep them from getting into them as they seem to end up lying all around they house after we do laundry. It's like someone used them for confetti.
In a recent issue of Mother and Child Reunion a contributor submitted an idea for a less expensive alternative to dryer sheets that I think is probably better for the environment (and my dogs).
Buy a box carton refill of any liquid fabric softener you like (or want to try). Pour the amount required for a single load into a container and leave a sponge or thick washcloth soaking in it. When you are ready to dry a load of laundry, ring out most of the liquid from the sponge or cloth and toss it in the dryer. When ringing use your best judgement, I think the idea is that there is no dripping but that there is enough to spread as the clothes are tossed about!
The idea is that your fabric softener will go 2-3x further and you will spare the landfills some waste!
Let's try it together this week and let us know how it went for you!
Next week's installment of MIYM is on Homemade Fabric Softener!
Monday, February 18, 2008
More Eco-Friendly, Thrifty Cleaning Tips!
Soak up stains in your porcelain sinks with SALT!
Another great cleaning tip from Allie at Allie's Answers!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Brown Bread vs White Bread
Excellent article on the topic of white bread vs brown bread, from Green Living Tips
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Flaxseed Meal
I'm not sure how it happened but I recently became a flaxseed lover! I read Dr Sears Book, The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood and took much of what he wrote to heart. Flax was one of the things that really stuck out to me and I began adding that and wheat germ to as many of our meals as I could.
One day I read (on a package of Bob's Red Mill Flaxseed Meal) that I could substitute 1/2 c of flaxseed meal for the wheat flour in a bread recipe. So, of course I tried it!
I was so excited that I could make healthy wheat bread for my family and include the flax!
Since it works so well I wanted to pass along the recipe.
This will make a 1lb loaf in a bread machine or via convential methods.
1-1/8 c water (120-130 degrees F)
2 Tbsp oil
3 Tbsp Honey
1 tsp salt
1-1/2 c bread flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c flaxseed meal (any variety)
1-1/2 to 2 tsp yeast
Either follow directions for your bread machine or those below for conventional baking
Mix dry ingredients and yeast, mix liquid ingredients and add to dry, mix through and let rest for 10 mins. Knead and shape for baking, cover and let rise until doubled. Cook at 350 degrees until bread sounds hollow when knocked, 35-45 mins.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Have you considered the benefits of cloth diapering?
Aside from the peace of mind of knowing that you ALWAYS have diapers...it's so much better for the environment and some report babies experience fewer, less severe diaper rashes with cloth diapers. You can even get organic ones for added purity!
Check out the discussion on our other blog.
The Benefits of Food Coops
We have not personally tried a food coop but hope to locate one this year and start doing so!
Elizabeth at Effortless Eating, wrote a great article about these benefits here.
If you are interested in finding a coop in your state check out the links below.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Organics...Really, Really Better For You!
So, imagine that you are a tiny little baby...pure and simple. What would you want put in your body??
The more I think about my children and their pristine little bodies, the more I conjure up a list of the vast array of chemicals that must coarse through their veins just from walking down the street. When I think of the foods I'm giving them I have to wonder what's in those foods?
Possibly you've heard of studies performed in recent years to test the blood of humans and animals for toxic substances. Even the US GAO (General Accouting Office) proposed and outlined a study in 2000 for quantifying the potential risk from toxins in the air, land, homes and even in our foods. The agricultural methods employed today by US farmers are ones of economic survival. They are forced to produce larger and more plentiful crops in order to keep pace with imports. This requires ennumerable chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and soil additives. These toxins become part of the food we eat. Whether we are eating US grown or imported produce, meat, dairy, etc. we are exposing ourselves to unknown chemicals.
The only way to avoid this is to know the path our food takes from seed to stomach! The only way to do this is grow it yourself, or buy organic or locally grown products and get to know your farmer (through Community Supported Agriculture or Local Farmers Markets)!
Watch our blog for ways to make organics and all natural foods more affordable!
For more reasons to make room in your budget and to adjust your families palate for organics and natural foods, read the articles below.
- The Today Show and Joy Bauer discuss various organic and locally grown foods topics www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17479836 , www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13737389/?GT1=8404
- Nature Moms discusses a recent study outlining the benefits of organic tomatoes http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2007/07/27/organics-are-healthier/
- Article from Time Magazine about locally grown produce http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1595245,00.html
Now, I realize this next link is meant to be helpful and informative to consumers but the way I see it...it illustrates WHY organic foods are a better choice. The idea that I shouldn't eat a lot of apples so that I don't build up a high level of the particular pesticide used on apple trees is absurd!
Also check out the EPA's National Organic Program for labeling info and fact sheets
Thursday, January 24, 2008
What good is an "organic" pop-tart?
It seems like anything can be labeled "organic" and suddenly be healthy. What does "organic" mean?
The article linked below helps sort it out for you.
http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/diet-nutrition/eat-for-health/inside-organics.aspx
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Small Steps to Big Change!
Great article on how to do small things in your life that will have a big impact on the environment!
http://www.ehow.com/how_2126992_be-green-little-effort.html?ref=fuel
Cleaning without chemicals
It's amazing that just 6 months ago we were spending several hundred dollars a year on cleaning goods for our homes...things like Mr Clean, Windex (which I've always detested the smell of), Clorox, Scrubbing Bubbles, Swiffer Floor Cleaner, Lysol spray and wipes....the list could be endless!
I don't know if it was the idea that our infant daughters (now 7 mos and 1 yr old) would soon be crawling around on the floors that we had smeared with toxic gunk or an urge to be thriftier that led us to find some cleaning products that didn't involve ingredients we can't name and keeping the Poison Control hotline on speed-dial but we went on a hunt and what we have found amazed us!
First - you do not have to spend more than a few dollars every six months to keep your house clean AND germ free! Vinegar, water, baking soda and lemons will tackle most any job. Second - in the event that I do want something that smells really good or might provide a bit more power than the household items listed above...there are very good companies out there that make safe/non-toxic cleaning supplies. Third - we porbably could have asked Grandma!
Method (available in Target, CVS and other stores) and Seventh Generation both focus on people-friendly cleaning products that smell good and work well.
If you can - just use the basics. If you want to put out the cash for something try using a product that WON'T kill you rather than one you hope won't!
Where to look for organic and whole foods?
While I love to find new, unique places to shop, I disagree that our local Supermarkets are a bad place to find the foods we want. I think they key is understanding what's a good deal and when to purchase.
Articles on where to buy organics, whole foods
http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/17ways090204.cfm
http://aboutmyplanet.com/daily-green-tips/money-organic-food-2
Watch for information on year-round Farmer's Markets here in Kansas City courtesy KC Food Circle.
To Get Started...Recycle Within Your Limits
I desperately want to start recycling as a part of our family's lifestyle. Like MANY people I've talked to, I have two problems diving in...1) space constraints and 2) cost of purchasing recycling bins/containers!
For now, we do what we can afford (in space and money terms)...newspapers and Household Hazardous Waste.
Check out recycling containers that don't cost an arm and a leg!
See this article for tips to make recycling easy for everyone in your family!
Check out this link for more info on HHW recycling in the area:
http://www.marc.org/Environment/SolidWaste/HHW/hhwfacilities.htm
Monday, January 14, 2008
Opting for Eco-Friendly (and Family Friendly) Cleaning
It's a very liberating decision to make...to STOP buying all those lovely, "clean" smelling, cleaning products with the scary labels on them! Aside from the obvious money savings, there is an eco-factor that I was really ready to embrace.
I love the fact that I can clean anything anytime with water, vinegar, baking soda and lemon! My baby girl and very curious son can literally get under the kitchen sink and play if they want to without Mom worrying about what they might be drinking!
I do however, still have a problem. What do I do with the leftovers?
I have boxes of bottles and packages of things I know I shouldn't simply throw away (I mean how can I be eco-anything if I trash the "eco" part doing it?) but I know I'll feel hypocritical using until they're gone! I'm one of those "all or nothing" types.
Allie at Allie's Answers addressed this very topic recently and thank goodness she did!
Check your local government's website for locations that accept HHW and any restrictions or guidelines!
