http://www.parenting.com/gear-gallery/Gear/Holiday-Shopping-Coupon-Code-Gifts?cid=enews120809
Parents magazine has posted coupon codes to help us all with our holiday shopping. Be sure and check them out.
http://blog.thebonbonbabe.biz/2009/09/30/new-giveaway-all-kinds-of-goodies.aspx
…so we are celebrating with custom pillowcases and made beds (well some of us are — remember I also have teen boys)!
To make our custom pillowcase we used Crayola Fabric Markers (I found them at Michael’s Arts & Crafts and used a coupon) and a plain white pillowcase.
These markers are great! Bella literally spent hours working on her pillowcase. She is really into hearts as you can see! She asked me to draw a heart shape. The pillowcase was thin enough that I slipped a paper with a heart drawn on it in the middle and she could see it well enough to trace. It would be fun to use coloring book pictures as templates also. A child could easily decorate anyway they like, but if they seem intimidated have them make a drawing first on paper and then they can trace it.
** Make sure you place a piece of cardboard inside the pillowcase to keep the markers from bleeding through to the other side. Read package directions for setting the fabric.**
Really the possibilities are endless for this craft—- slumber party or birthday crafts, gifts, etc.. They could even be further embellished with bits of fabric, trims and embroidery.
Bella loves her new pillowcase!
I recently stummbled upon a awesome little blog. It is called Skip To My Lou
This blog has some of the best crafting ideas for kids old and young.
THings like a duct tape bull whip, Furoshiki ( the Japanese art of gift wrapping), Grilled Pizza...
There are ideas for crafting, recycling, food... you name it! There is even a place where you can submit a question on how to make something. I highly suggest you check it out soon.
This is a must check out and enter today!! http://thesupportsystem.blogspot.com/2009/06/summer-fun-giveaway.html
If you love tarts check out Just Tarts! 100% soy wax 100% scent saturated and only $0.60 each. Over 80 scents and a great variety of tart warmers to choose from. Low shipping costs. Awesome Rep program, FREE to join. Extrememly low quota, only one tart a month.
http://justtarts.wahmweb.com/store/aGo.asp?aff=111 Be sure and check out my other companies @ www.jenscountrycreations.webs.com
Cash For Books - We Buy Books & We Pay The Shipping!
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Hey there.. are you hungry? Craving something sweet? Check out.. Shake your Bon Bons!! Find the best home made candies, baked goods and other fab goodies at.. http://sybb.webs.com/jeanettereed.htm or better yet.. join the affiliate program and reap the goodies!! Thanks
Havens Sweet Scents is exactly that.. a Haven! I was lucky enough to test her citrus explosion soap and her lavender lotion. The sample size of soap that I received lasted a lot longer than I thought it would. I used it every day for a week and there was still a small sliver left, which I'm using to help make my bath smell good..lol. Normally I shy away from regular bars of soap. They usually leave my skin dry, rough and itchy. Not this soap.. It felt like silk while I was scrubbing with it, had great lather and the smell was divine! Afterwards, my skin was silky soft and not dry or itchy. What amazed me was while drying off after using it for the first time was the amount of dead skin that came off of my body!!! I have never had this happen before. It was amazing and the scent lingered for hours as well.
Now, the lotion is just as heavenly. It is not greasy, absorbs completely and nourishes the skin. The scent is light but noticeable and lingers as well. My hubby works as a grounds keeper and his nose gets burned daily. He was complaining about it and I put some of this lotion on it and he had instant relief.
I would highly recommend these products to all that are looking for great bath and body luxuries. Havens is like a heaven on earth! www.havenssweetscents.webs.com
Jeanette Reed
Neutralize Pet Odors
Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA
By Jasmin Malik ChuaJersey City, NJ, USA Sun Mar 23 17:21:00 EDT 2008
Unknown.
READ MORE ABOUT:Dogs Green Cleaning Green Pets Organic Baking Soda Vinegar Water
If horked-up hairballs and puppy piddle have you in a funk, Annie Berthold-Bond of Care2.com recommends using a one-two punch of baking powder and vinegar to whisk away the offending stench.
Clean up the mess, and then sprinkle the area with baking soda, Bond says. Leave the baking soda to set overnight, and then sweep or vacuum it up the next day. For double the cleaning power, mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 1 gallon of water. Using this vinegar wash, wipe down the area, then rinse. ::Care2.com
See also: ::Multitask with Baking Soda
Difficulty level: Easy
If you love tarts check out Just Tarts! 100% soy wax 100% scent saturated and only $0.60 each. Over 80 scents and a great variety of tart warmers to choose from. Low shipping costs. Awesome Rep program, FREE to join. Extrememly low quota, only one tart a month.
http://justtarts.wahmweb.com/store/aGo.asp?aff=111 Be sure and check out my other companies @ www.jenscountrycreations.webs.com
Cash For Books - We Buy Books & We Pay The Shipping!
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shine chrome sink fixtures that have a lime buildup, use a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.
Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so then run hot water down the drain.
Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.
Deodorize and clean the garbage disposal with white distilled vinegar ice cubes. Make them by freezing full-strength white distilled vinegar in an ice cube tray. Run several cubes down the disposal while flushing with cold water.
Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.
Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and white distilled vinegar.
Cut the grime on the top of the refrigerator with a paper towel or cloth and full-strength white distilled vinegar.
Avoid the bad smell when you heat up a newly cleaned oven by using a sponge soaked in diluted white distilled vinegar for the final rinse.
To clean a grease splattered oven door window, saturate it with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Keep the door open for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping with a sponge.
Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.
To prevent good glassware from getting etched by minerals, wash then spray with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Give the glasses a hot water rinse before letting them dry or drying them with a towel.
For cloudy glassware, soak paper towels or a cloth in full-strength white distilled vinegar and wrap around the inside and outside of the glass. Let sit awhile before rinsing clean.
Get rid of lime deposits in a tea kettle by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the water and letting it sit overnight. If more drastic action is needed, boil full-strength white distilled vinegar in the kettle a few minutes, let cool and rinse with plain water.
Remove mineral deposits from coffee makers with white distilled vinegar. Fill the water reservoir with 1 cup or more of white distilled vinegar and run it through a whole cycle. Run it once or twice more with plain water to rinse clean. (Check the owners’ manual first.)
Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of salt (or baking soda) and white distilled vinegar. Rinse clean.
For stained and smelly plastic food containers, wipe them with a cloth dampened with white distilled vinegar.
Remove odors from a lunch box by placing inside a slice of bread that has been soaked in white distilled vinegar. Leave overnight.
Remove ugly film in narrow-necked glass jars, flower vases, and bottles by letting undiluted white distilled vinegar sit in them for a few hours. Add a little rice or sand and shake vigorously to loosen stubborn stains. Repeat if necessary.
To clean tarnished brass, copper, and pewter, use a paste with equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and table salt.
Make a metal cleanser by adding enough white distilled vinegar to 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar to make a paste. Rub it on and let it dry on the surface. Wash it off and dry with a soft cloth.
Polish brass and copper with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of ketchup and 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar. Rub it on with a clean cloth until dry and shiny.
Remove dark stains on an aluminum pot by boiling a mixture of 1 cup white distilled vinegar and 1 cup hot water.
Discourage ants by spraying undiluted white distilled vinegar outside doorways and windowsills, around appliances and wherever you find the pests coming in.
Get rid of fruit flies by setting out a small dish of undiluted white distilled vinegar.
Clean the wheel of a can opener using white distilled vinegar and an old toothbrush.
Remove the smell of spoiled food from a refrigerator by first rinsing the area with soap and water. Spray surfaces with full-strength white distilled vinegar and wipe them down with a damp cloth or sponge. Fill some containers with baking soda and place inside. Close the door and leave for a few days.
Wipe grease off exhaust fan grids, the inside of your oven, or anywhere grease gathers with a sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar.
To make cleaning the grill easier, spray a solution of half water and half white distilled vinegar on the cooking surface.
To remove a label, decal, or price tag, cover with a cloth soaked in white distilled vinegar. Leave the cloth on overnight and the label should slide off.
Renew sponges and dishrags by placing them in just enough water to cover them. Then add 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar. Let them soak overnight.
Get rid of calcium deposits on faucets by soaking a cloth or paper towel in white distilled vinegar and wrapping the area tightly. Let this sit for a couple of hours or overnight.
Remove soap buildup from faucets by scrubbing them with a solution of 1 part salt to 4 parts white distilled vinegar.
Rid a faucet of lime deposits by tying a plastic bag containing 1/2 to 1/3 cup of white distilled vinegar around it and leaving it there for two or three hours. If mineral deposits don’t wipe off, scrubbing with an old toothbrush should complete the job.
Shine colored porcelain sinks by scouring them with undiluted white distilled vinegar.
Rinse away soapy film on countertops with a solution of white distilled vinegar and water.
Clean grout by letting full-strength white distilled vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush.
Kill germs all around the bathroom with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
To remove grime, mildew, and scum from the tub, tile, shower curtain or door, wipe with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Rinse with water.
Spray shower doors with full-strength white distilled vinegar after you’ve squeegeed the glass, or before you step in and turn on the water. It will help release the hard water deposits so they don’t remain on the glass.
Mix up an inexpensive tile cleaner by adding 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup white distilled vinegar, and 1 cup ammonia to a gallon of warm water.
Get rid of stubborn bathtub film by wiping it with white distilled vinegar and then scouring with baking soda.
Soak a sponge or loofah overnight in a strong white distilled vinegar and water solution to remove dirt and slime. Rinse several times with cold water and let air dry (in the sun if possible).
Clean shower door tracks by filling them with white distilled vinegar and letting it sit for a few hours. Pour hot water into the tracks and wash and scrub away the scum with a toothbrush.
To clean a scummy showerhead, pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup white distilled vinegar into a sandwich bag and tie it around the showerhead. Let this set for an hour after the bubbling has stopped. Remove the bag and then turn on the water.
Deodorize the toilet bowl by allowing 3 cups white distilled vinegar to sit in it for about a half hour before flushing.
To make the toilet bowl sparkle, pour in a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar and let it sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with the toilet brush and flush.
Freshen air in the bathroom by spraying into the air a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar, and 1 cup water.
Get a shining finish on a no-wax vinyl or linoleum floor by cleaning it with a solution of one cup white distilled vinegar for every gallon of water.
Apply full-strength white distilled vinegar directly to tough linoleum stains. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping it up. If that doesn’t work, apply white distilled vinegar again and then sprinkle some baking soda over the white distilled vinegar. Scrub the area with a brush or sponge. Rinse clean with water.
For an economical and environmentally friendly floor cleaner, mix a solution of 3 drops dishwashing liquid to 1/3 part white distilled vinegar, 1/3 part alcohol, and 1/3 part water. Spray sparingly and mop for a fast clean-up.
Some carpet stains can be removed with a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and 1/4 cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the carpet stain and let dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day. (Always test on an out-of-sight part of the carpet first).
Bring out the color in carpet by brushing it with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar for every gallon of water. (Always test on an out-of-sight part of the carpet beforehand).
To reduce soap bubbles in a steam cleaner add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar. Use the same amount in the rinse water to remove detergent residue and make carpets stay fresh longer.
Wash indoor/outdoor carpet with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar in 1 bucket of warm water. Scrub using a brush or a broom and then hose off.
Clean up pet accidents by first blotting up the area and then adding a white distilled vinegar-and-water solution. Blot until it is almost dry. Then sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day.
Create your own window cleaning solution by combining 1/2 cup non-sudsy ammonia, 1 cup white distilled vinegar, and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a gallon of water.
Remove the wax residue left by commercial window cleaners with a solution of 2 cups water, 1 cup white distilled vinegar and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap or detergent.
To remove paint from windows try using undiluted, hot white distilled vinegar. Give the solution time to soften the paint before removing with a razor edge tool.
To remove paint splatters from windows apply full-strength white distilled vinegar with a clean paintbrush.
Get rid of mildew, dust, and stale odors by wiping down walls with undiluted white distilled vinegar on a cloth or a sponge mop.
Clean woodwork and walls with a mixture of 1 cup white distilled vinegar, 1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup ammonia and 1 gallon warm water. Wipe on with a sponge or damp—not wet—towel.
Clean wood paneling with a solution of 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar, and 2 cups warm water. Wipe on with a soft cloth.
Remove wallpaper easily by using a paint roller to wet the surface very thoroughly with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and hot water. Or spray on until saturated.
Get decals off walls or doors by letting undiluted white distilled vinegar soak into them for several minutes before trying to peel them off. Repeat if necessary.
Remove white water rings from wood with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and vegetable oil. Rub with the grain.
Remove fireplace soot and grime with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Use a brush to scrub and a towel to blot up the wetness and dirt.
Clean fireplace glass doors with a solution of 1 part white distilled vinegar to 2 parts water. Spray or wipe on, then wipe clean with a dry cloth.
To kill germs, spray full-strength white distilled vinegar on doorknobs and then wipe them dry.
Remove the smell of a dead mouse or other rodent (after removing all animal remnants) by wiping down the area with either white distilled vinegar or bleach. Then place a fabric softener sheet in the area to remove any lingering odors.
Never use white distilled vinegar on marble. The acid can damage the surface.
Before painting old concrete, clean with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Let it air dry.
Clean hardened paint brushes by simmering them in a pot with white distilled vinegar. Soak them first for an hour before bringing the white distilled vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.
Remove mud and stains from plastic, fiberglass, or aluminum sports equipment by applying a paste of 1 part white distilled vinegar to 3 parts baking soda. Wipe off with soapy water and rinse with clear water.
Clean your grill by spritzing white distilled vinegar over wadded up aluminum foil and scrubbing the grill vigorously with it.
To remove film in glass baby bottles, fill with equal parts hot water and white distilled vinegar. Let sit for at least an hour. Scrub with a bottle brush.
To clean and disinfect baby toys add a good-sized splash of white distilled vinegar to soapy water.
Clean vinyl baby books or board books by wiping with white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp sponge or cloth.
Clean scissors that have become sticky (after cutting tape, for instance) with a cloth dipped in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
Clean and deodorize urine on a mattress with a white distilled vinegar and water solution. Then sprinkle the area with baking soda and let dry. Brush or vacuum the residue after it is dry to the touch.
Shine pennies by soaking them for a couple of hours or overnight in a glass or bowl of undiluted white distilled vinegar.
Vinegar is a clean, cheap substitute for many expensive dirty things. It can clean dandruff off of your scalp, extend the longevity of your nail polish and works as a replacement for fabric softener. Vinegar can do so many wonderful things that I’m going to write more than one post about the wonders of vinegar. Here are some green ways to use vinegar around the lawn and in the garden.
If you don't have a lemon handy, vinegar will kill those pesky weeds trying to grow between sidewalk cracks.
Spraying vinegar in ant-infested areas will keep them away.
Clean a birdbath with it. This will keep the neighborhood birds from getting sick from their waste in the water.
Cure a cement pond.(From Vinegar Tips)Cure a cement pond before adding fish and plants by adding one gallon of white distilled vinegar to every 200 gallons of water. Let sit three days. Empty and rinse thoroughly.
You can clean all of your outdoor fixtures with vinegar. And don't forget to clean your tools with vinegar as well.
Kill mold in your gardening containers with vinegar. You can also kill mold on seedlings with vinegar.
Cure Lawn Brown SpotsPut a tablespoon of vinegar in your dog's drinking water every day and you will no longer have those brown spots in your lawn from the dog's urine.
Clean Your Pet's EarsIf your pet has been scratching his ears due to insects, you can relieve him by spraying its ears down with vinegar. Vinegar also removes skunk odor.
Deter unwanted animals.Vinegar deters cats from prowling around your yard, but it also keeps raccoons, rabbits and other varmints away.
Have a great lawn or garden use for vinegar of your own? Want to read what other Planet Green readers are doing with vinegar? Check out the new vinegar forum.
More on Gardening5 Alternatives to a Backyard GardenSpring is Here, Start Bulb PlantingPlant Trees Outside and Save Energy Inside
Replace your Fabric Softener with Vinegar
Vinegar works as well as conventional fabric softener without the health risks or the waste or the animal fat.
By Josh PetersonLos Angeles, CA, USA Thu Mar 26 10:00:00 EDT 2009
Digital Vision/Getty
READ MORE ABOUT:Clothing Eco-Friendly Laundry Vinegar
Watching commercials on TV can be like opening a door to a realm of madness. Commercials like to take advantage of special effects and outlandish premises. Half of the time, I can't figure out what these people are trying to sell me and the other half of the time, I sometimes question if I have lost my sanity. Some of the truly horrifying and Lovecraftian commercials are for fabric softener. Giggling teddy bears are the stuff of nightmares.
The good news is that you don't even need to buy fabric softener, and, therefore, you will never have to think about soulless, fabric-softener-hawking, homunculi again. Fabric softener sheets are pretty wasteful. You put in one sheet per load and throw away one sheet per load. And for you vegans out there, fabric softener sheets are often made with tallow. You could be drying your clothes with animal fat. And liquid fabric softeners aren't much better:
From the Good Human:
Some of the most harmful ingredients in dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener alike include benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), benzyl alcohol (an upper respiratory tract irritant), ethanol (linked to central nervous system disorders), limonene (a known carcinogen) and chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen), among others.
You can avoid these health risks, the animal fat and the waste simply by using vinegar to soften your clothing. Add 3/4 cups of vinegar to your final rinse cycle and your clothes will come out soft. And now for the best part, vinegar is ludicrously inexpensive when compared to fabric softener. Saving money and saving the planet together again.
More on Vinegar:Use Vinegar to Stretch Your Nail Polish DollarRemove Cigarette Odor from Clothing with Vinegar4 Reasons to Use Apple Cider Vinegar on Your Scalp
Times is tough. They are so tough, in fact, I can't even use the right verb conjugations to describe how tough these times is. We're in a recession. People are looking for creative ways to save money. Folks are making cutbacks all over the place. They are eating out less, buying less and repairing instead of replacing.
Well, I think I've found a decent money-saving tip for the ladies and the goths in the audience. You can make your nail polish last longer with vinegar. Simply soak your fingernails for one minute in ½ cup of warm water and two teaspoons of vinegar, either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar will do the trick. Wait for you nails to dry. Paint them as usual. This will remove oils often found on the nails. The paint will stick to the surface of the nails and not to the oils.
By reducing the amount of nail polish that you use, you will reduce the amount of trash that you produce. Reducing the amount of trash produced is good for the environment. It's also good for your pocketbook.
Don't forget to use all-natural nail polish. Non-organic nail polishes often contain formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Stay away from those toxic nail polishes.
Thanks to the internet, you can find organic nail polish for your fingertips with your fingertips.
More Eco-Friendly BeautyUse Henna as All-Natural Hair Dye or Deep ConditionerGet This Gossip Girl Look The Green WayHow to Care for a Sweater and Make it LastHow to Repair a Shoelace AgletMake an Apron From A Too-Small Skirt
Get Rid of Fleas the Green Way
Because you're not doing your pet, yourself or the planet any favors with dirty air.
By Sara NovakColumbia, SC, USA Sat Mar 28 15:30:00 EDT 2009
Steve Krull/iStock
READ MORE ABOUT:Dogs Green Pets Outdoors Pesticides Vinegar
It's a constant battle against the army of fleas attacking my two puppies, Madison and Bella. I hate the idea of giving them a heavy chemical pesticide like Frontline, but I don’t want to watch them suffer. Don't wage chemical warfare on your pets if you can avoid it. The environment, indoors in particular, is already highly polluted from the emissions of all the chemicals used in paints, carpeting, and other household furnishings. In fact, the air inside is twice as polluted as the air outside. So avoid adding anymore chemicals to the mix. What are some eco-friendly, natural ways to kill the fleas?
Try these chemical-free methods to get rid of the pesky fleas:
Use vinegar and salt.
Keep your pet clean.
Make sure you vacuum daily.
More on Greening Your Pets:How to Go Green: PetsGreen Pets: By The NumbersReduce Your Pets' Chemical Exposure
Keep your home free of dirty cleansers. Use vinegar instead.
By Josh PetersonLos Angeles, CA, USA Tue Apr 07 09:30:00 EDT 2009
George Doyle/Getty
READ MORE ABOUT:Detox Your Home Green Cleaning Green Home Household Toxins Vinegar
What can I say that hasn't already been said about vinegar? Nothing. It's great. It's green, and it can clean the heck out of your house. Check out these tips.
Vinegar makes a wonderful cleanser. Plain distilled vinegar added to a cloth can clean the following things.
Faucets
Cutting Boards
Bathtub Ring
Shower Doors
Stainless Steel
Countertops
Soap Dish
Soap Residue Anywhere
Fridge
Once a month, add vinegar to your dishwasher to clean the inner workings of the appliance.
Clean food jars with vinegar to make them into cups.
Polish kitchen supplies with vinegar.
Make a scouring scrub.
Use vinegar as an ingredient in multiple green cleaners.
Neutralize pet odor.
Clean your kitchen appliances with vinegar.
Remove clogs from showerheads.From How Stuff Works:Showerheads can get clogged with mineral deposits from your water. Remove the deposits by mixing ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water in a large bowl or bucket. Remove the showerhead and soak it in vinegar solution for 15 minutes. For plastic showerheads, soak for 1 hour in a mixture of 1 pint vinegar and 1 pint hot water.Equal parts vinegar and water will clean most carpets. Vinegar can also be implemented to remove exotic stains.
Unclog Drains by mixing equal parts baking soda and vinegar.
Vinegar and baking soda can also unstink your garbage disposal if you pour it in there.
Remove price tags.
Clean linoleum with baking soda and vinegar. Pour vinegar on stain. Let it soak for ten minutes. Add baking soda. Scrub. This also works to remove urine stains and smells from a mattress.
Remove paint from windows.
Apply vinegar to concrete. The paint will take better.
More on VinegarVinegar is Amazing! 9 Green Uses for Vinegar on the Lawn and GardenReplace your Fabric Softener with VinegarGet Rid of Fleas the Green Way
Everything you need to make this all-natural, mildly abrasive scouring scrub is most likely already in your kitchen.
Made with baking soda, vinegar and 10-12 drops of your favorite essential oil blend (to offset the vinegar smell), this 'recipe' comes from green living expert Laura Klein of OrganicAuthority.com.
This miracle mix is a powerhouse cleaning agent for sinks, bath tubs, toilets and anything else on which you would typically use an abrasive 'conventional' cleaner. According to the EPA, indoor pollution levels are typically higher then those outside your home, and traditional, chemical-filled cleaning products are contributors to this indoor pollution problem.
Plus, making your own cleaning products is not only better for your indoor environment (and outdoor, since nothing toxic is going down the drain), it’s less expensive.
According to Laura, vinegar is an all-natural anti-bacterial that kills 99% of all bacteria, 82% of mold and 80% of germs and viruses. So put it to work!
Here's what you need to make enough to last you a couple of months:
Large-mouthed glass jar with screw top lid that holds at least 2 cups
2 cups of baking soda
½ cup of white distilled vinegar
10-12 drops of essential oil (found at your favorite local natural food store or at MountainRoseHerbs.com)
This post was inspired by Planet Green's show, G-Word.
What's not to love about mixing your own cleaning products from tried-and-tested formulas? Not only will a non-toxic cleaning kit save you oodles of cash over the years, but it's also unlikely to leave you gasping for an emergency-room doctor. Cleaning green is also gentler on the environment, to boot. To transform your home into a safe, nontoxic haven, says Annie B. Bond, author of Clean & Green (1990, Ceres Press), you can complement your kit with an edited selection of commercial eco-friendly cleaning products you trust.
We've excerpted some of Bond's favorite clean and green basics. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils for a spot of aromatic grime fighting. Bonus: Lavender and tea-tree oils are also natural antiseptics.
All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 tsp washing sodaA dab of liquid soap2 cups hot tap waterCombine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.
Tip: If you're out of washing soda, use 2 1/2 tsp of borax, instead.
Window Cleaner
1/4-1/2 tsp liquid detergent3 tbs vinegar2 cups waterspray bottle
Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past.
Creamy Soft Scrubber
Simply pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn't leave grit.
Tip: Add 1 tsp of vegetable glycerin to the mixture and store in a sealed glass jar, to keep the product moist. Otherwise, just make as much as you need at a time.
Oven Cleaner
1 cup or more baking sodawaterA squirt or two of liquid detergent
Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface it totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top, then let the mixture set overnight.
You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn't work for you it is probably because you didn't use enough baking soda and/or water.
Mold Killer
2 teaspoons tea tree oil2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.
Furniture Polish
1/2 tsp oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.
:;Care2
Difficulty level: Easy
Did you know that Parenting.com magizine website isnt just for those that have babies. You can find many excellent topics that can help with finances, relationships, going green and much more. Today, they are looking for people that are willing to be a product tester for them. (http://www.parenting.com/Mom/momtester.jsp)
From time to time I may post a copy of there articles if I feel that it will help all of us here in the internet, blogging, wahm world. For instance, the following article. I hope you enjoy.
25+ Ways to Save Money Instantly
Hundreds of dollars' worth of ideas to sock away more cash without feeling the pinch
By MP Dunleavey, Parenting
My husband and I didn't start out as savers. We were happy-go-lucky spenders, especially in the early days of our marriage. But gradually the reasons to save started to outnumber the impulses to spend: We had a child, we wanted a bigger house, the retirement fairy wasn't showing up... Then the economy began to unravel, and we all know what that meant. Although we've gotten better acquainted with the Art of Saving -- and come to love her cranky twin, Spending Less -- I increasingly believe that saving is like a set of muscles that needs constant toning: It takes practice and diligence. Yet even in the best of times, we all have so many demands on our money that when we do find ways to cut back, it's hard to stash away any extra cash before the next priority gobbles it up. But whenever you can, put a little away. Soon you'll be covered for an emergency. And that general feeling of panic about cash flow? It may start to subside. Here, some easy ways to cut back without feeling the pinch.
Be a Coupon Queen
Secrets from clipping mavens:
Clip newspaper inserts. They're usually the best source of deals in your area, says Sandra Gordon, coauthor of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products. And some websites offer printable coupons for food and other merchandise (like sporting goods and books). For our favorite sites, check out Parenting.com/coupons.
Collect them only for items you need and use. Toss the others without a shred of guilt: You're not saving if you're just buying extra stuff.
Store them alphabetically by type of product (coffee, wipes) in a small accordion file. It's easier to carry around and then find the coupon you need when you're at the store.
Combine coupons with other discounts, sale prices, or double coupon days at the store. Not sure when those are? Ask the checkout clerk next time you're there.
Bank Better
According to a 2008 government study, Americans are paying some $36 billion a year in various banking fees. Clear those unwanted charges out of your accounts:
Ask your bank if it signed you up for automatic overdraft protection (ODP), and what it will charge you if you use it (the average penalty is $27, according to the FDIC). Then, cancel the ODP, be more vigilant about your account limits, and save on those sneaky fees.
Pay bills electronically Most banks offer free bill-payment services, so take advantage of this money saver. No more stamps, save on paper waste, and avoid late fees -- it's all automatic.
Check Bankrate.com for banks that offer better deals for checking, savings, and money market accounts (look for higher interest rates or lower or no-minimum balance requirements). Sometimes a local credit union has the best terms.
Make a Deal
Smart shoppers are always bragging about how they got a lower price -- but if you're not a born haggler, how do you know when to negotiate the price? And what do you say, anyway?
"There's often a sliding scale that you can tap into, but it's not always on the radar," Gordon says. She's a believer in simply asking. Below, some ways to do just that:
"I was wondering if we could get a discount on her ballet class because I can't do the full fee right now." If that feels too revealing, just ask for a price reduction.
"Is this your best price?" I found the sales guy at Lowe's remarkably flexible when we were shopping for a dishwasher last year. We got 15 percent off!
"We were thinking of paying cash -- can you offer us a discount?" Gordon notes that there's often more wiggle room in the price with big-ticket items.
"I'd like to lower my bill. Do you have a better package?" And use leverage: If you can save money elsewhere (on anything, from cable service to swim classes), mention the competition.
Slash TV Costs
With most premium cable packages running $100 or more, it's hard for some families to justify that monthly chunk -- but it's even harder to live without HBO and Nickelodeon. Fortunately, there are low-cost alternatives, says Serena Mershon-Lohkamp, a mom in Wakefield, MI. "We canceled cable and just watch shows from the networks' websites right on our home computer," she says. Other sources of amusement:
Noggin.com and Nickjr.com The online versions of these fave cable channels offer games and videos. And they're free.2Redbox.com A cheaper version of Netflix, this site doesn't have older movies or TV shows, but you can reserve newer films for only a dollar a day each, with no late fees.Hulu.com If you have high-speed Internet and a decent-size screen on your computer, this fun site offers a variety of TV shows, including classic Saturday Night Live, Family Guy, The Daily Show, Nip/Tuck, and some older movies.
Shop 'n' Save
Cash-back credit cards require a little financial discipline, but they can really boost your bottom line. "We put everything on a cash-back card, then pay it off each month," says Mershon-Lohkamp. "We never pay finance charges -- and at the end of the year, we get a check for $150 to $200 from our credit card company." It's important to keep up with payments, like Mershon-Lohkamp does, though: Most of these cards carry a high interest rate, so you won't be able to reap the rewards if you're always paying those extra monthly charges. Check out Cardweb.com to find cash-back cards. And sign up for Parentingprivileges.com, which is a great way to get cash back no matter what card you use (one of our editors saved hundreds on a vacation!).
Save Big on Food Shopping
...At the Grocery StoreOpt for store brands Today's store brands offer brand-name quality at lower prices (because you're ot paying for fancy packaging and advertising).Know the lowest prices The price of a half gallon of organic milk can vary a dollar or more depending on the store. Shop around when you can.If you live in or near an ethnic neighborhood, like a Chinatown, don't pass up those grocery stores. Often, the overhead is lower, so the prices are, too.
...Wherever You GoMarks put together a list of 30 standard family items -- from coffee to disposable diapers to mustard to cereal -- and tried four shopping methods. (Bulk-club shopping, store-brand shopping, savvy shopping, and impulse shopping.) Not surprisingly, the impulse method (buying without regard to price) was most expensive, but sticking with store brands and shopping at a warehouse club were almost identical. Amazingly, simply being a savvy shopper (using coupons, store bonus cards, and sales) saved more than $100. A triumph for smart shoppers!
...At the Warehouse ClubThe hazard of shopping at a warehouse club "is that the theme-park atmosphere makes it hard to stick to your list," says Consumer Reports senior editor Tod Marks. Still, the prices can't be beat -- even when you take the membership fee into consideration. "Look for products that don't go on sale too frequently at your supermarket," he says. That includes not only classic warehouse items like toilet paper, but cereal, coffee, canned tomatoes, meats and fish, cream cheese (it can be frozen!), or staples you can still use in six months, like kitty litter, shampoo, and toothpaste. Clubs also offer deals on prescription drugs -- and Costco and Sam's Club pharmacies are open to anyone, not just members.
Dump FeesModern life is packed with monthly fees. Check out some you can lose:Ringtones, wallpaper, and other cell-phone frills (be sure to scour your bill; you may have forgotten what you signed up for!).Random Services Thirty-day trials often rope you into a monthly charge (credit monitoring, that homework website your daughter used once).Gym Membership Feeling guilty you never go? Kill two birds with one stone.
Swap AroundOne of the easiest ways to save money is to prevent yourself from spending any. How? Swap for whatever it is you need. Moms in my area sometimes organize an informal "books, clothes, and toys swap," which is like a giant yard sale, but everything is free. Bring stuff to share, take what you want, and leave the rest (or cart it to the local thrift shop). If you're looking for specific items, try Swapbabygoods.com or Freecycle.org -- both free websites where you can list stuff you want to pass along and find the stroller or hockey skates you need. (Just make sure, especially with used baby goods, that the item hasn't been recalled.) And if you aren't already swapping childcare, give it a try. Babysitting co-ops have been around for years, but there's never been a better time to start one up. Parents "pay" each other for sitting with points or poker chips. Everybody saves!
Also check out..
Instant Money Savers 17 easy ways to slash your spending - Parenting.com
101 Ways to Bail Out Your Budget We've put together 101 of our best budget boosters and money-saving ideas to help you cut back on spending. From saving big at the supermarket to answering your kids' tough money questions, we're here to bail you out of financial troubles. - Parenting.com
Easy Money: Slash Your Food Bill Six steps to a leaner, meaner grocery budget - Parenting.com
Today I thought I would look and see what kind of sites and companies offer free samples. I went to Google, typed in what I was looking for and OMG.. over 63 million hits!!! So, I am going to try and list some here that look like they may be pretty good sites. Please let me know if they turn out to be great or not..lol.. You know how it goes, what works for one may not for another. If we stumble upon some that are really great, then we will see about adding a button link for it on the menu section.
Also, if you would like to become a publisher, please let me know!
So, here we go...
http://free-product-samples.blogspot.com/
http://free-stuff-finder.com/
Caress bath products... http://caressskinwearcollection.com/english/default.asp?lang=english
http://www.freesamplesblog.com/
http://www.thunderfap.com/
Business related.. http://www.bplans.com/
http://www.freemania.net/
Did you know that WAL_MART offers free samples of several different products?? Check this out.. http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples.aspx
I hope you enjoy these sites that I have found. Again, please leave me some feedback and let me know if there is anything you would like to see posted or if there is anything you would like to post! Have a great weekend!!
Here are some quick, simple and mostly painless ways to reduce the amount of power you use. Many repay your kindness to the Earth with another kind of green.
By Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine
Still stalling on going green? Procrastinate no longer.
We give you 13 ideas for saving energy around your home that involve little or no installation and barely a bump in your routine. Individually, they cost less than $75. Collectively, they can save hundreds of dollars a year in household energy bills and thousands of pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions.
You have every reason to follow these tips and not a single reason to ignore them. Get cracking, folks.
1. Take a flier on fluorescents. They no longer buzz, flicker or turn faces blue, and they represent one of the brightest ideas yet for cooling down the atmosphere and your electric bill.
Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) approximate the glow of incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy. If every U.S. household replaced just one incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent, the emissions savings would be comparable to taking 3 million cars off the road for a year.
Don't let the price of CFLs -- as much as $7 each -- turn you off. The lights not only last 10 times longer than incandescents but also save up to $60 in electricity per light over their lifetime. Some utility companies subsidize the energy-sparing lights, reducing the tab to $2 or so.
A bright way to cut your power bill
Not every CFL produces a warm, candlelight glow. To achieve that effect, look for one with a Kelvin temperature of 2,600 to 3,000, says Donn Davy, a home-energy consultant in Novato, Calif. Fluorescents that operate at higher temperatures provide hard, white light better suited for task lighting. Most compact fluorescents are spirals or U-shaped tubes, but you can also find them in bulb form. Some of the newer lights adjust to three levels or work with a dimming switch.
Fluorescent lights contain small amounts of mercury. In some communities, you'll need to dispose of them as hazardous waste.
More from MSN and Kiplinger
· 16 simple ways to conserve water
· How green are you?
· Bottled water: A river of money
· Going green on the cheap
· Is a penny a gallon worth a detour?
· A shopping guide to eco-friendly products
2. Vanquish the vampires. Remember James Thurber's story about the aunt who worried that electricity was leaking out of the wall sockets? She had a point, of sorts. Appliances that include a clock or operate by a remote, as well as chargers, "are all sucking electricity even when you're not using them," says Dale Bryk of the National Resources Defense Council. Of the total energy used to run home electronics, 40% is consumed when the appliances are turned off.
The obvious way to pull the plug on so-called energy vampires is to do just that -- pull the plug. If you don't want to keep rebooting your PC, you can reduce the juice to it by putting both the monitor and the computer itself in sleep mode when they're not in use. Computers operating on snooze control use about 95% less electricity than those running on full power.
To get yours to nod off, go to the control panel, where you will likely see "sleep" or "hibernate." The sleep mode powers down the computer, whereas instructing it to "hibernate" effectively turns the PC off while preserving your applications. Both modes let you resume work where you left off.
If your computer powers down by default, you can adjust how long it waits before going to sleep -- say, from 30 minutes to 15 -- or set the monitor to power down first. Don't bother using a screen saver, which neither preserves your screen nor saves energy.
To get all your devices on the same nap schedule, plug them into the Smart Strip Power Strip ($31 to $44). The strip senses when your computer or TV is asleep and electronically unplugs devices that depend on them, such as a printer or DVD player, until the controlling device wakes up.
Video on MSN Money
Use your money to go greenYour dollars can help make the world a more sustainable place, says MSN Money's Ann Monroe. Strategies range from investing in environment-friendly funds to buying local food.
3. Harness the wind. Once you've cleaned up your own act, help clean up the power grid by buying so-called green energy -- electricity generated by wind or solar power or a blend of renewable resources. You'll pay about a half-cent to a few cents more per kilowatt-hour for green-powered electricity compared with electricity generated from nonrenewable resources.
If companies in your area haven't yet gone with the wind, you may still be able to pay a small premium on your utility bill to support green power elsewhere. Or you can subsidize it separately, with so-called green tags or renewable-energy certificates.
To find certified renewable-power sources in your state, as well as programs that sell green tags or renewable energy certificates, go to the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Locator or to Green-e.
4. Insulate your water heater. The newest electric water heaters have plenty of insulation. But if you have one built before 2004, wrap it in an insulating blanket (under $20) and save 10% -- about $30 -- annually on your water-heating bill.
5. Cover the hot tub. Hot tubs lose heat even with the top on. Float a thermal cover ($26) under the hard cover and cut energy use by one-third.
6. Service the furnace. Have your furnace tuned every two years, and you'll save about 1,250 pounds of carbon dioxide and 10% on your heating bills.
7. Turn down the heat. For every degree you lower your home's temperature during the heating season, subtract 5% from your bill, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. An Energy Star programmable thermostat ($70) saves more than twice its price within a year.
8. Set the washer to cold. Use cold water to wash your clothes and save 50% of the energy you would otherwise use for hot water. Set your dryer on the moisture sensor, not the timer, and cut energy use by 15%.
9. Dim the lights. Install light dimmers, which cut electricity use by the same percentage that they lower the light.
10. Stop drafts. As your father would say, don't heat the great outdoors. Put weatherstrip around the frames of your front and back doors and save about $30 per year in energy costs.
11. Lower your water temperature. Set your water heater at 120 degrees. If your heater does not have a temperature gauge, dial down until the water feels hot, not scalding. (Before going too low, make sure your dishwasher has a booster heater, which gets the temperature back to 140 degrees, necessary for proper cleaning.)
12. Insulate pipes. Wrap precut pipe insulation around exposed hot-water pipes, including pipes traveling through crawl spaces. Your dollars can help make the world a more sustainable place, says MSN Money's Ann Monroe. Strategies range from investing in environment-friendly funds to buying local food.
13. Use timers on lights. Install occupancy sensors or timers on lights in areas you use only occasionally and for exterior lights, which tend to get left on during the day, says Crissy Trask, a green-living consultant in Spokane, Wash. Occupancy sensors start at $20 per switch, light timers at $7. Anyone with basic wiring skills can install them.
How the savings were calculated
Many of these calculations rely on figures provided by Jeffrey Langholz and Kelly Turner in "You Can Prevent Global Warming (and save money!)," updated to reflect an average electricity price per kilowatt-hour of 10.6 cents, the recent national residential average.
This story was reported and written by Jane Bennett Clark for Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine.
Published Oct. 5, 2007
To view more please visit~
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/13EasyInexpensiveWaysToGoGreen.aspx
I am just getting this blog started so please be sure and let me know what all you would like to see added.
I would like to suggest that you check out ...
http://grocerysavingsforrealfamilies.blogspot.com/
http://www.freesamplefreak.com/
http://www.fairyblogmotherblog.com/
With these sites you will find some great tips and plenty of freebies.
I found 3 great freebies on Free Sample Freak earlier today.. they are..
http://www.rightathome.com/default.aspx for a free Glade sense and spray
http://www.juicyjuice.com/Public/Default.aspx for a free sippie cup or water bottle and ...
http://www.kiwimagonline.com/contests/ToGoBrands/ Enter to win a free gift basket full of goodies and once you join you will also receive a free e-cookbook.
I will be posting more great stuff asap so keep checking back for more. Have a great weekend!
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