Manic Mondays: Fusing Plastic

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I would really like to thank the first person who thought of ironing plastic bags together to make a thick piece of plastic that could be used for about 10 GAZILLION things....But I have to sleep sometime so I'll just list 10 things at the end of this tutorial.I didn't use any bags for THIS tutorial though. I had about 6 Dollar Tree plastic tablecloths left over from my baby shower so instead of throwing them away...I kept them! And I wasn't sure what for exactly till this weekend when I came across an article for fusing plastic bags. I thought I'd give it a shot with the tablecloths, and come to find out...It works!

 

Manic Mondays: DIY Produce Bag

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We have started to become regulars at our local Farmer's Market these past few months. I love the idea of fresh produce, meats, and eggs. Plus all the handmade soaps and beauty products are wonderful treasures!! Only thing is I hate bringing home plastic bags. I have yet to accumulate enough reusable grocery bags for our weekly grocery store trips (we eat a alot) so we have waaaay more than enough plastic bags.
 Thanks to Pinterest  though, I found a way to make my own reusable produce bag that I can take with me to the Farmer's Market. And it's out of OLD T-SHIRTS. Yay for being cheap frugal!!!!! 

5 Health and Beauty Benefits Using Apple Cider Vinegar

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You know that old saying, "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away."??? Well what about Apple Cider Vinegar? It's made from apple juice and is fermented to hard apple cider. It's then fermented a second time to apple cider vinegar. I've found hundreds of uses for this unbearably strong smelling vinegar on the internet and apparently a lot of them claim to be health related. Apple Cider Vinegar is a completely natural product. And I'm talking about the raw, organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (the cloudy stuff).  It has been used for over 10 thousand years for it's healing properties and to treat various aliments. According to several natural-health sources, ACV contains vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, beta-carotene, bioflavonoids, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, enzymes, amino acids, potash, and apple pectin. It's no wonder people say it's good for you! It's packed with some healthy stuff!! Since I've got this HUGE interest in alternative medicine, I'd like to share with you a few things I have discovered (and might even try after I pop this baby out) about ACV and how it can benefit you health wise....

Homemade Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin

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One of my first blog posts was how to make Homemade Laundry Detergent. Not only am I saving money but I am also watching out what kind of chemicals we use in our household. Store bought detergent = Not so safe. Homemade detergent = Safe. But now, with the new baby coming Oct 23rd, I have had to find homemade products that are safe(r) for the little guy.

I have made an adaptation from my homemade laundry detergent recipe that is not only safe for the new baby but also for anyone with sensitive skin.

Homemade Hairspray (And it WORKS!)

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Since going No Poo, I have slowly been replacing a lot of my commercial hair/body care products with more natural and non synthetic ingredients. The next thing I can cross off my list is, HAIRSPRAY!! Living in South Texas, the humidity here is God awful. So what every woman needs to keep her curls from going flat or her hair looking like she stuck her finger in an electrical socket, is hair products. Hairspray mostly. But what's in commercial hairsprays?? Poisonous fumes that should not be enhaled!!! Sure it can be safe when used properly but with the chemical compounds it contains (Polyvinylpyrrolidone, Propylene glycol, Polyvinyl alcohol, Hydroflurocarbon, Denatured alcohol and Carboxylmethylcellulose), you are taking a very large risk on your health over time. And let's not forget that it is HIGHLY flammable. Especially the hairsprays that are aerosol. These synthetic products are NOT necessary! Make sure you Educate Yourself. I know this seems very one sided but with all the other health problems we could potentially face in our lives, do we really need to add on to it??

How to Make a Diaper Wreath

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Yesterday's tutorial was on How to Make a Diaper Cake. Adding on to that, I have decided to make a Diaper Wreath. There are a couple of ways to do this. One being the Rolled Version and the other being like the one I will show you in this tutorial. I'm not sure what to call it...The Tied Version???                              Anyways...Since I've made this for MY own personal baby shower, the theme will be sports. 

Supplies:                                                        

-Wire hanger (a foam wreath will work also)       

-Curling ribbon                                                       

-Hot glue gun                                                         

-Diapers (size 1 or newborn)                          

-Any embellishments or decorations you wish to use to go with your theme.   

-Baby items (onesies, stuffed animal, shoes, etc.)

Start by taking the wire hanger and opening it up till you have a circle, leaving the "hook" part in tact. If you are using a foam wreath, don't worry about this step.

Take an unfolded diaper and slip it under the wire. Fold the diaper closed and it should be wrapped around the wire hanger. Then take curling ribbon and tie a double knot leaving the ends loose.

 To make those pretty little curls simply take one blade on a pair of scissors (be careful) and run it along (starting from bottom to top) the DULL side of the curling ribbon. Note: When doing this the ribbon should be between the blade of the scissors and your thumb.

Keep adding diapers and tying off with ribbon all the way around your wreath. You don't want there to be any holes so make sure they are pretty snug and close together.

I added a bow on top of my wreath. You don't have to add one like mine but if you do, I went to youtube and used This Technique. I also found that using wired ribbon works best because it is so easy to manipulate.

Start adding your decorations and embellishments to your wreath by simply tying them in between the diapers and around the wired (or foam) wreath. You don't want to hot glue anything to the diapers because this makes them unusable. We want the mommies to be able to use the diapers!

For anything that does not have a way to tie on to (like balls or wooden letters) simply put a small dab of hot glue on the back and lay a ribbon on top. You will then be able to tie it around the wreath!

Cool right??? I know I'm not the first person to think of this, but I felt pretty darn smart after I did. And my brain hurt because it took me about 15min to figure it out haha!

To hang something in the center, you can use ribbon, fishing line, or if your using a baby toy take the plastic hook and hook it around the neck of the hanger. 

I then tied a toddler baseball glove using curling ribbon around the monkey's neck..Poor monkey...

This is what the final wreath looks like.  I have to give a lot of credit to a friend that helped me out. She's been helping me put together my baby shower and I think the both of us have come up with some pretty creative ideas. I think the wreath and the cake came out amazing for our FIRST TIME EVER making one. But of course, I biased.... Thanks Clarissia :)

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below. I LOVE COMMENTS!

Manic Mondays: Diaper Cake Tutorial

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With my baby shower coming up in a couple of weeks, I decided to save a bit of money and make my own diaper cake. I did a search on how to make them and found that there are about 3 different methods. The Rolled Up Version, the Pinwheel Version (which I was initially going to make), and then the Folded Version (which I did make). I liked the folded version because it was different, I had never seen this, and it looked really cute. Just something to think about: I didn't go with the traditional rolled up version because I feel that taking rubber bands off EVERY SINGLE diaper is a pain in the butt. That"s 60-100 diapers you'd have to do that to!! Something a new mom would not like to put on her, already busy, schedule. I recommend the pinwheel or folded version.

Manic Mondays: Soda Bottle Bird Feeder

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I have been wanting to make a bird feeder or bird house with my daughter for quite some time now. Since she drinks Soy Milk, I thought those rectangular cartons would be perfect. Come to find out, my wonderful husband chucked the carton that I was waiting and hoping to use in the trash (shame on him). So that kind of put a stop to that idea. Then I saw a 2 liter bottle of soda and decided to take revenge (he was almost done with it anyway!). And come to find out, the plastic bottle works great as a feeder! This isn't no fancy bird motel with a built in automatic timer or anything but we don't really need all that and I'm sure the birds really don't care what the heck it looks like.

Here is what you'll need:

1 or 2 liter plastic bottle

2 wooden spoons

small eye screw

some kind of rope or twine for hanging

knife or scissors 

bird seed

For another reference on this project, check out Disney Family Fun.

Plastic Bag Organization

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Does anyone else have a plethora of plastic bags shoved into a dark corner or space under their kitchen sink?? Around my home we use them for all sorts of things..Trash can liners for the bathroom, pickup doggie doo-doo outside,  scooping up dirty kitty litter, pretend parachutes, and wrapping up breakables.

Homemade Play Dough

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Play-dough is a great way for toddlers to spark some creativity and work on those fine motor skills. I personally don't really care for the store bought kind because when I was a kid, it somehow always wound up in my mouth. There is something about those bright colors (and that smell!!) that just made you curious enough to see if it tasted as good as it looked. And I was wrong.....Each time.

This recipe I found is wonderfully made with safe ingredients so if it winds up in some little tummies, it should be okay. I didn't take a taste test though, so not sure on the flavor. 

Homemade Laundry Detergent

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The first product I started making homemade (and what started my green journey) was laundry detergent. After I saw the results and saw how we were saving some money, I instantly got hooked. There are soooo many different recipes and it can be made in powder or liquid form.

 One thing we had to be cautious of is making sure this was okay for our front loaders. I didn't want to damage my expensive birthday presents after all! But I have learned that MOST ingredients in homemade detergent is low suds which means it's front loader friendly :)

The ingredients in my recipe are safe for front loaders, but feel free to change it to your liking and smelly goodness preference.




What you will need:

1-4lb box of Borax
1-3lb box of Washing Soda
1- 3lb container of OxiClean
3-bars of Fels Naptha
2-2lb boxes of Baking Soda
1or2- bottles of Purex Crystals

Grate bars Fels Naptha soap (yes like grating cheese). Combine all ingredients into container. Mix well. Use 1 to 2 T per load.

 As you can obviously tell, this makes ALOT of detergent!! We went to Wal-Mart and bought one of those 5 gallon buckets with a lid, lined it with a trash bag, and mixed all the ingredients in. I suggest mixing a little at a time because the container will get heavy and mixing will become a somewhat tough.


Make sure to keep those Purex Crystal containers!! Their lids have these lines on them that measure out 1 and 2 tablespoons perfectly!


And for those of you who have front loaders, I already know what you're going to ask..Where do I put the soap?? Since I'm a visual learner, here are a few pictures to help...

Measure out your detergent.

Take out the tray where you usually pour the liquid detergent into. Pour in powder detergent and start washing!!!

I think next time I'm going to try out the liquid version. But seriously....I have enough detergent to last me a year (maybe?)!! Once again I hear my bank account applauding :)

Feel free to post any questions about making homemade laundry detergent. If you're unsure of the ingredients or afraid to try any of them, I can offer alternatives and or redirect you to some sights I have found with comments that might ease any worries.

Manic Mondays: DIY Fall Wreath

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Sorry for missing yesterday's Manic Mondays. Which is usually the day where I show a DIY tutorial for something crafty. Apparently my little bun in the oven decided he might want to come a whole 7 WEEKS early..Impatient much?? Just like his dad....


So I had to take a small break for the day but now I'm back to catch up. Luckily I had most of everything ready and set up. The project is a very simple and cute fall wreath using everything from the Dollar Tree. So let's get started on our DIY craft tutorial for....

How to Clean That Musty FRONT LOADER Washer

Pin It Now! I had to have those front loaders...I just HAD to have them. Leave it to me to want something that washes and cleans yet requires that you wash and clean it. High efficiency=High maintenance. So everyone who has these knows what I'm talking about when I say I have a smelly washer problem.

 These wonderfully made front load washers use less water and energy (which means less hot water) and causes a build up behind that rubber ring right on the inside of your washer. Peel this back and you will see a wonderful collection of mildew and mold that look like they are doing the dirty with your left over hair and other nasty things that have collected under there..Well...That's cause they are and it smells just as dirty. After you've grossed out enough, and sanitized your hands in bleach (Maybe your eyeballs too. JK. Don't do that.) you can rest assured I have found a solution to this accumulation of ick and guess what?? No more smell :)

Manic Mondays: Let's get started (Coffee First Please!)

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Sometime during the day there is a period of two hours I like to call "Me" time. It's designated just for ME and usually happens when my little 2 1/2 yr old gremlin is taking her daily nap. I like to catch up on baking home goods, take a much needed nap (For the sake of my poor husband), work on some DIY projects , and more recently, work on my blog.

For today's "Manic Mondays" post I'm going to share a little DIY project. This is an easy project that can be used as a jewelery holder, candy holder, for a baby shower/bridal shower, or whatever else your little heart desires. I know some of you can be more creative than that. I just made it, you do what you want with it. You're welcome.

Baking Soda and ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar)

Pin It Now! Okay, so I have a secret. Yesterday I went to a business mixer and since I've been starting my blog, I've had a few followers now who, surprisingly, love what I have to say ( Thank you by the way, I feel the love). I had one ask me if I have been doing the "No Poo Shampoo".  I said no and stated I was just not ready yet. But in the back of my mind  I'm thinking, "Today is only day 4 I CAN get through this! God does my hair look bad? It looks dry and frizzy. And it's staring to curl. Damn this humidity."

Yep..Exactly what I was thinking (I can be such a diva)...

Week 1

So yes  I have begun my journey into the world of never using commercial shampoo and conditioners again (I think my bank account just did an applause). Sorry for the big fib guys! I promise I won't keep anymore secrets! If your curious as to what my hair looks like now that I'm on day 5, it's actually not THAT bad. I usually go 2 maaaybe 3 days in between washings anyways because my hair is so thick and curly. If I was to wash every day, my hair would dry out and look like I stuck my finger in the electrical socket. So I guess it's used to a few days without the washing.

But, I still feel the need to clean my hair somehow other than just rinse with water. Que the Baking Soda Wash and Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse. Just a quick background before I spill the recipe..

Regular shampoo has some pretty harsh sulfates in it. These sulfates clean the hair (a little too well) and strip us of its natural oils. Which THEN causes our scalp to produce more oil than is actually needed. Then there is dandruff and itchy scalps which makes us wash our hair more, and it's all ONE BIG continuous cycle. Geez...What are we doing??? Baking soda doesn't strip our hair of it's natural oils, it just simply removes the dirt from our hair. Well that sounds a whole HECK of a lot better :)

Regular conditioner can be just as nasty. "But it makes my hair feel so soft!" Yes true..But guess what. Since you used an unnecessary detergent on your hair (shampoo) and stripped your hair of all it's natural oils, you now have to use a synthetic protectant in your hair (conditioner) to make it soft and manageable. Plus the leave in conditioner, the detangler, then heat protectant. The list goes on and on...I'm no saint, I'm SO guilty of this too...Also, let's take a look to see what in it..I bet you 10 bucks if you were to look on the back of your conditioner bottle the second ingredient would be alcohol. The first is usually water. Alcohol...Really??? I might as well light a match and set my hair on fire...Okay, enough ranting..You get the idea :) 

 Baking Soda Shampoo
1 tbs baking soda
1 cup filtered water

*You will also need a measuring cup, tablespoon, and if you want a use or re-purpose an empty CLEAN container you can. 

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
1tbs of vinegar
1 cup of filtered water

*You will also need a measuring cup, tablespoon, and a clean empty container if you want to use one. 

The ratios for these recipes are flexible, you really can't mess this up (unless you don't rinse it out). If your hair is long and thick, add more baking soda, and if it's short and thin add less. I used a little bit more because I have thick curly hair, and it's about medium length right now. Use cool or cold water with the baking soda shampoo. Using warm to hot water can make the baking soda clump up, and that just won't work (lukewarm is fine). Pour onto hair and rub into scalp in circular motions. Rinse very thoroughly. 

For the vinegar rinse, I used a lot more than one tablespoon. Probably about 1/4 cup to 1 cup. Flip your head over and pour all over your ends only. No need to pour or rub into your scalp. Let sit for a couple of minutes and then rinse thoroughly. 

My personal experience..
I did the baking soda shampoo..Okay yeah, it feels clean but my hair feels dry. As I was doing the ACV rinse I was thinking, "There is no way in heck this is going to make my hair feel soft." Then as I started rinsing it out, something happened (and no I didn't drop the soap). I started to feel my hair smooth out.  Then it started to detangle. Then I said, "Holy &*$%, it works!".  So take THAT overly priced synthetic commercial conditioner!! And if that's not enough I had a hair dresser come to trim my hair (she's a mobile hairdresser, isn't that cool??) and I told her what I did and SHE even said, "Your hair does feel really soft!". Why yes...I know it does ::wink wink, nudge nudge:: I'm definitely hooked!

If you're worried if your hair will smell like vinegar, it won't. I was a little worried, but once your hair dries the smell is completely gone. And believe me, when your hair dries...It is OH SO soft. 









 
 
 

DIY Homemade Green Deodorant

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So I finally made my first REAL batch of all natural deodorant. And I finally got my hubby to smell my armpits. What did he say?? "I don't smell anything. Cool."  Then when I started talking about how I needed a man (referring to him) to try it on, he decided sleep was a better option. Love..Haha! I'll get him one day :)

Since I'm pregnant, I've been a little bit more aware of what I'm putting in and ON my body. Since I can be nerdy I did some research on commercial deodorants and the chemicals they contain. If you want to know more information, keep reading. If you want to skip the boring educational stuff scroll down to the recipe (but I urge you to at least read up a little bit on the facts!)