How to Get Started with Family Cloth (and Why You Might Actually Love it)

How to Get Started with Family Cloth (and Why You Might Actually Love it)

Warning: this post is perhaps the ultimate in TMI that you will ever see on this blog. I’m talking about bathroom habits, peeps. If you don’t wanna read it, then go ahead and click here instead of leaving me mean comments. Just sayin’.

When I stop to think about it, I realize that I have peed in quite a few places over the course of my life thus far. Let’s see: if I’m counting by country, we’ve got Canada, USA, Bolivia, England, France, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.

I’ve used the facilities in this fancy-pants hotel, and I’ve squatted precariously over a disgusting hole surrounded by falling-apart wooden walls in the middle of a dusty African village. I’ve bought a roll of purple toilet paper from the woman on the side of the road, and I’ve used luxurious quilted 6-ply TP at homes where I had to check twice to make sure I hadn’t accidentally grabbed the hand towel.

I’ve awkwardly squatted behind a three-foot pile of bricks while the rest of my tour bus waited their turn in the hot African sun after we broke down on the side of the road.

Some people use bidets. Some use squatty potties. Some people wipe their butts with one hundred dollar bills.

I’ve used my own bathroom eleventy bajillion times in each of my third trimesters of pregnancy. I have, no doubt, peed in the woods a time or two, and maybe, just maybe, a lake. Definitely the ocean.

I’ve also gone tent-camping with a group at 37 weeks pregnant where the only “toilet” was a rickety wooden chair with a hole cut out perched over a dug-out hole surrounded by a tarp on only two sides. I’ve peed in quite a number of teeny-tiny airplane toilets while hurtling through the sky…

(If that’s not an odd string of memories to recall, well gosh, I don’t know what is.)

What exactly is the point I’m making here, you might ask? Well there are two things:

1) Everybody in the whole world has these bodily functions.

2) There are many variations in style and setting according to location, preference, and cultural norms.

With that in mind, I’d like to finally talk about one of my crazy crunchy hippie ways that often elicits a strong reaction: family cloth. I mean – I’ve given up shampoo for the month, so I may as well tell you all of my crazy secrets…

original photo via flickr cc

Family cloth is a phrase used for washable, cloth toilet ‘paper’. I use it and I love it.

Equipment

1. Clean wipes

2. Something to hold the used wipes

3. A washing machine with hot water and detergent.

Most people have a wetbag in their bathroom for the used wipes, and a cute basket or what-have-you for the clean ones. I keep mine in a basket on a little shelf behind the toilet.

Conveniently for me, my used ones actually go right into the dirty diaper pail within easy reach from the toilet. When we stop cloth diapering, I’ll probably just use one of my travel zippered wetbags and hang it from the paper TP holder (yes, I will ALWAYS have paper TP on hand for company, don’t fret!)

Routine

Walk into the bathroom and grab a wipe. Use dry or wet with water (your choice).

(I like to use it dry for #1 and wet for #2. In either scenario, I feel immensely cleaner than when I use paper. The cloth wipe is just… sturdier and more substantial for those purposes.)

Use your wipe as needed, then toss in the appropriate sealed bag or container until wash day (a couple of days max is my recommendation.) Easily washed with cloth diapers, or by themselves as a small load on hot. I would throw them in with my regular laundry if it were just #1 wipes. For #2 I prefer to use hot water (for #1 I’m ok with just a warm wash, considering that’s what I do with any clothes or bedding that have been accidentally peed on).

FAQ’s:

How did you get started in it?

I cloth diapered my first baby from the get-go (as soon as his teeny little legs beefed up a little to fit the diapers I had bought). We didn’t want to buy expensive cloth wipes that are sold by the cloth diaper companies for a million bucks, so we marched ourselves down to the big-box store and got a pack of cheapie baby washcloths.

I think it was around $6 for 10 of them. We got a couple of packages, and those were our designated baby wipes. Then one time a few years ago I read a post about it somewhere. Probably from this wise friend. And then my curiosity was piqued, and it was just a matter of time.

Isn’t it super gross?

I fear I’m overstating the obvious here, but bear with me. We cleaned all three of our kids’ poopy bums off with those cloths, washed them in our washing machine, and used them over and over again.

Got that? We wiped poop and pee… washed them… and reused them. The only argument that is usually left standing after getting the basics out of the way is simply the ick factor. People think it’s just gross.

Of course, that’s a totally subjective judgment, right? I personally don’t think it’s really any grosser than cloth diapers. And cloth diapering is becoming way more mainstream than it used to be (since disposables came on the scene.)

Can I be a part-timer?

Absolutely, 100% yes. I am part-time at best since I don’t currently have a system set up in my upstairs bathroom. I use the main floor one all day long and it’s where my diaper pail is (and it’s close to the laundry room) so for now I’m good with that. And of course, it’s advisable to keep cloth TP on hand for guests (and resistant husbands…)

Some people also like to use it for just #1 and not have to deal with #2. Personally, I love it for both. I find it so much more comfortable and luxurious feeling. I feel cleaner. I also use it for ‘that time of the month’ which is extra-awesome. We ladies tend to feel icky in those days because it’s tough to get totally clean with just paper. With a warm, wet cloth, I feel like I’m actually getting 100% clean. Full disclosure: sometimes I tag team it and use a bit of paper to wipe first, then a wet cloth for a more thorough clean.

Doesn’t it smell bad in your bathroom?

Nope. Not if the container or bag is sealed/zipped and the contents washed every 2-3 days.

Why???

Save money. Save the environment. Those are big enough reasons for me. You may make a different choice for your family, and that’s cool too. I just wanted to give you a rundown on how we do it because people have asked.

OK, that’s all I’ve got for now. Hit me up, peeps. What kind of questions do you have on this subject?

Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site

How To Get Rid Of Teenage Acne Without Drugs

How To Get Rid Of Teenage Acne Without Drugs

If high school isn't challenging enough – many teenagers must also deal with white heads, black heads, pustules, and old acne scars. While teenage acne is certainly normal, factors within your control may make it worse. This includes things like diet or finding ways to manage stress. The good news is that in spite of the surge of hormones that takes place during adolescence, there's a lot you and your teen can do to cure acne.

According to some reports, over 83% of girls and 95% of boys deal with acne. In other words, almost every young adult will confront a pimply face as he or she moves through puberty. This has to do with a rise in androgen levels – hormones like testosterone – which increase the size of sebaceous glands and the production of sebum, a waxy and fatty substance. In teens, acne tends to show up as:

• Whiteheads and blackheads, otherwise known as comedones
• Inflammatory acne
• Deep cystic lesions

But acne isn't only a hallmark of teenagers. It shows up in babies. And adults get it too. While hormones do play an important role in the development of acne during puberty – things like food, stress, and environmental triggers can mean the difference between unbearable teenage acne and mostly clear skin.

Take – for example – tribal communities that never see a pimple. In his book The Dietary Cure for Acne, Dr. Loren Cordain found that the Kitivan Islanders of Papua, New Guinea and the Aché hunter-gatherers of Paraguay are two communities that don't get acne. They also eat a diet that's low in quick-burning sugar and contains very little dairy.

In these communities, not one single case of acne has been found – even in young adults who are 15 – 25 years old. So, are hormones to blame for teenage acne? Sure. Is there more to the story beyond hormones? YES.

With diet as a driving factor, it may come as no surprise that antibiotics will not cure acne. In fact, these harsh drugs wipe out tribes of microbes living in the gut – making skin conditions like acne worse.

But diet can be a difficult topic to negotiate with a teen. Do your best. Use acne as way to educate your child about the relationship between skin health and gut health. At minimum, avoid antibiotics while focusing on probiotics. Here are some more tips to help your teen heal acne.

#1 – Cut out the sweets

In his research, Dr. Cordain found that stabilizing blood sugar can clear up acne. According to Dr. Cordain, acne is sometimes called “diabetes of the skin.” This is because acne is oftentimes a sign of poor blood sugar control. A diet that's high in processed, quick-burning sugars drives the production of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and androgens. If there are too many sweets, you're going to see oily skin and acne.

The easiest way to remedy haywire blood sugar – even in a teen – is cut back on sweets while bringing in high-quality protein and fat. If you're unsure about where to begin, the paleo diet offers an easy template to follow and a little meal planning can go far in setting your teen up for blemish-free success.

Bonus point for the paleo diet: It removes common acne triggers, like the dairy and wheat. While these foods aren't a problem for every teen, if acne is out of control and ruining your teen's life – these foods are worth removing for a time to see if acne improves.

#2 – Let them sleep in (or go to bed early)

Your teen is growing. All this growth takes work. Even though the body doesn't stop growing during sleep, 9 – 10 hours of nightly shut-eye allows restoration to kick in. Hormones work their magic and the body has a chance rest and reset.

Encourage your teen to get away from screens during the nighttime hours, which can interfere with the release of sleepy-time hormones. And if more sleep is needed, let them sleep in or go to bed early.

#3 – Make probiotics a regular thing

Skin health is a window to gut health. Surprisingly, gut health is rarely addressed in the treatment of teenage acne. But increasingly, researchers find that probiotics like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium help to support gut health and bring the intestinal immune system into balance – getting rid of acne. I like this shelf-stable probiotic.

Oral acne medications don't only destroy bad skin bacteria. They also kill good bacteria in the gut. These medications include antibiotics and Accutane, a harsh drug that's linked to irritable bowel disease (IBS). Besides avoiding these drugs and including probiotics, you can encourage good gut health by offering pre-biotic foods (like veggies!) and getting conventionally raised meat out of the house.

#4 – Instead of soap, give your teen a cleansing oil

The skin is home to skin bacteria, both good and bad. While we know that bad skin bacteria cause acne, it's the good bacteria that help to keep skin healthy. Unfortunately, many products and topical medications that treat teenage acne dry the skin out. These products also disrupt the balance of good skin bacteria.

To support healthy and glowing skin, it is important to use a cleanser that doesn't destroy good skin bacteria – like oil.

The oil cleansing method works by helping to remove dirt and makeup, while a warm cloth steam opens pores. Be sure to suggest an oil that doesn't clog pores – like argan, jojoba, or neem oil. And instead of picking at zits, encourage your teen to love and nourish her skin.

#5 – Run away from birth control

Oy, birth control. It's frequently given to young girls to get rid of signs of hormonal imbalance – like heavy periods, painful cramps, or acne. But it couldn't be worse for a young woman's developing body. If your doctor suggests birth control, run away as quickly as possible and find a new primary care provider.

True hormonal balance happens from within. Your teen won't be able to conjure up a healthy ebb and flow of hormones by adding birth control or drugs into the mix. Even common hormone disruptors from the environment – like plastics, makeup, and body care products – can do a lot of damage.

Instead of birth control, focus on natural skin care. Also, encourage your teen to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. The fiber and antioxidants in these foods go far in eliminating excess estrogen and controlling teenage acne.

How did you get rid of teenage acne? Please share in the comments below!

Original article and pictures take holisticsquid.com site

How to Get Natural Foods and Products Without Leaving Home

How to Get Natural Foods and Products Without Leaving Home

Is it really possible to only eat natural, healthy foods? What if you don’t have time to run into town for them? How do you get all natural foods and products without leaving home?

We live on a tiny homestead of 1/5 acre, smack dab in the middle of our sleepy town.

While we do raise our own chicken and turkey, and have as much garden produce as we can, there are just some things I can’t grow. Like our own beef, butter, or rice. I don’t have a dairy animal anymore, so cheese making at home is also out. So, I need to purchase those things if we want to eat them. Living 20 miles from the nearest grocery store means that I go as infrequent as possible, but stock up when I am there. I have also found that they don’t always carry the things that I really want. So, I tried something new.

Some of my favorite places to get all natural, healthy foods are online.

I like the idea of “grocery shopping” when it’s convenient for me, whether that be 6 AM or 3 PM. I don’t have to leave the house, put on shoes, or even get dressed (yes, I have days where I don’t bother getting dressed). I love the convenience of having it delivered to my door within days as well. Here are some of my favorite ways to get natural, healthy foods without leaving home.

The first is ePantry

ePantry has the cleaning products I like to use, like 7th Generation dishsoap and laundry soap. I do make my own of each of these when I have time, but due to heavy school schedules and activities, it’s really nice to be able to have other options. You can get feminine products, toilet paper, body wash and other beauty care products as well. The best part is that they work toward saving the rainforest with each purchase. Each time you make a purchase, you create a “pantry” that you can add auto delivery with, and have those products sent to you on a regular basis. Of course, you are free to change the delivery dates or items delivered at any time and you’ll get an email reminder just before it ships out to help you remember.

Another great place to get all natural, organic foods is with Thrive Market.

Thrive Market has a yearly membership of $59, but I have found the savings on the brown rice pasta and other things I buy worth it. The shipping does take about a week from the time you order, until the time it’s delivered, but if you plan ahead, it’s a great deal. The best part is that the shipping is FREE when you put in a minimum order, and you can order as often or as little as you like.

Need some natural supplements?

Vitacost has some great prices on those as well! They have great sales on virgin coconut oil on a regular basis and their selection of natural foods, organic beauty, and even baby items is outstanding. I like their “buy one, get one 1/2 off” of their brand items as well. I have found them to be of comparable quality. There is no membership fee at all with them. and shipping is free with a $25 minimum order. You can even shop Vitacost via your mobile phone by downloading their app! Shipping is quick with them as I have found items to be delivered in 3-4 days at the most.

Last, but not least is Azure Standard.

You create an account, shop their online store and amaze yourself at all the foods available to you. Grains, produce, oils, even books are all there! There is a section for marked down and sale items that you can grab great deals on as well. However, you have to join a “drop”, but they willingly help you with that. Each month, you create an order that is joined with your group. There is a minimum of $550 total ordered in a group to make that drop, but our small group has never had an issue with that :). Your order is paid for online, when they get ready to ship it, and your drop site is always at the same place, the same time. There is a drop coordinator that will help you with your first pickup and from then on, it’s a lot of fun to meet new people and see what they get from Azure standard as well. As a matter of fact, I usually put my next month’s order in as soon as the drop comes because I see all the things I missed! There is no membership fee, and you can order as often as you like. Being mostly bulk, it’s easy to get a $300 bill yourself, so you will want to check prices. Sometimes, it’s cheaper through them, sometimes it’s not.

Do you order online? What do you like about it? Any places I missed that are your favorites? BE SURE TO PIN THIS TO YOUR FAVORITE BOARD FOR LATER

Original article and pictures take thehomesteadinghippy.com site

How to Freeze Pineapple for Smoothies

How to Freeze Pineapple for Smoothies

You probably already know how simple this is, but just in case, I’m writing an entire post about how to put chopped pineapple into a freezer bag. But first join me for some boring talk about being boring, which is really quite exciting depending on who you are and what you are interested in.

You know how pre-teens can talk and laugh about a fictional character for hours, how teenagers can talk about shoes, how computer geeks can talk about wires, and how athletes can discuss the score of a game from 2004 – and whichever category of people you don’t fit into, you think that subject is the most ridiculous and boring topic on the face of the earth?

Yeah, well women are just as exciting. Here’s what I talk about with glee to my friends while my kids fall off their chairs in the background: “I got 4 pineapples for just $1.29 each! I know! eeeheeeheee!”

Really, I remember my mom and Kristina’s mom (my childhood friend) having a very long conversation about the price of lettuce (which had most certainly gone up to 79¢ – can you believe it?) – when I was a teenager back in 1985. Kristina and I just rolled our eyes and giggled about the fact that our mothers could possibly think that information about the price of lettuce would be interesting in the least. While our mothers continued their dry discussion, Kristina and I turned back to talking about much more exciting and meaningful topics such as which shirt to wear to school tomorrow and how the cover of my notebook had torn on the way to band class.

As it would appear, I am now my mother, and you are my friend’s mother because I’m here to tell you that I seriously got 4 big fresh pineapples for just $1.29 each! Is that not awesome? Especially since the cheapest I typically find them is between $3.00 and $4.00. That’s why I bought four. You’ve got to get four when you get them for that great of a price. And see, here I am, going on and on and having a very long conversation (with myself, sort of) about my wonderful deal on pineapple.

I, for one, am enjoying this conversation very much.

Those of you who choose to instead talk about your rock collection or printer ink for hours are going to have to find someone else to share it with – because I just got four pineapple for $1.29 each! Do you know how great this is?

How did I get such a great price on four such lovely pineapples? Now that there is an Aldi 50 miles from my town, I can price match at my local Walmart. Aldi was running a special, so I went to Walmart and price matched that deal. (They were just $1.29 each!! Did I tell you that part yet?)

Our family loves pineapple, but our palates might not appreciate eating so much pineapple in a matter of a few days. Instead, we chopped one and ate it, then chopped the rest and froze the chunks in baggies to be used later in our very favorite Pineapple Mango Smoothies.

No way will I ever find bagged, frozen pineapple at the store for $1.29/bag. Oh, but if I do, you can bet I will have a lively conversation with you about it, filled with lots of exclamation marks. (!!!!!)

As you can see from the picture tutorial early in this post, freezing pineapple is as easy as cutting away the outside of the fruit, then cutting the inside into chunks. We found that one large pineapple filled a quart-sized freezer bag.

Now you tell me: What’s the greatest deal you’ve gotten lately? You know I want to hear all about it. Be sure to use exclamation marks. (!!!!!)

Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site

How to Find the Best Bottle for a Breastfed Baby

How to Find the Best Bottle for a Breastfed Baby

So far, I have breastfed three children over five years. In my experience, finding the best bottle for a breastfed baby has been a process! My first two breastfed babies did not take a bottle at all! There are so many bottles on the market, and you can really spend a lot of money trying to choose the right bottles.

I do have a few tips to help you find the best bottle for a breastfed baby. I’ll also tell you my absolute favorite bottle for my breastfed baby!

How to Find the Best Bottle for a Breastfed Baby

Start with only one or two choices.

I suggest you only buy one or two types of bottles to begin with. As I mentioned, my first two babies completely refused bottles. I was glad that I had not invested a lot of money into bottles because they never took one. Breastfeeding and bottle feeding really are two different ballgames, and some babies are picky.

Choose bottles designed for breastfed babies.

Only use slow flow nipples. If you happen to use a fast flow nipple, your baby will likely choke. I had to wean my last son early, and he still cannot tolerate fast flow nipples. He’s been off the breast for three months! You’ll also want to choose bottles with wider, softer nipples.

My absolute favorite bottle for my breastfed baby is Playtex Ventaire. There are a few different parts, but I found that my baby had no tummy trouble and he could easily latch on to the nipples.

Try, Try, and Try Again

If you have no choice but to give your baby a bottle, you may just have to keep trying. Do not be surprised if your baby flat out refuses the first time you offer a bottle. Here are a few different methods you can implement when trying to transition your baby to a bottle:

• Try giving the bottle to him with the milk warm.
• You can try offering the milk at room temp.
• Let dad feed the baby while you are out of the house.
• Do not hold your baby in a breastfeeding position when giving a bottle.
• Do not sit in your usual breastfeeding spot when giving a bottle.
• If your baby is over six months old, the best bottle for a breastfed baby may not be a bottle at all! You can try giving him a sippy cup to drink from when you are not with him.

Don’t Stress!

With my first two babies, I decided to give up on getting them to take a bottle. I was able to be home with them and nurse on demand. Trying to give them a bottle was more trouble than it was worth. With my last baby, my milk dried up because of my current pregnancy, and my baby was nowhere near old enough to wean. We had to make bottle feeding work. It took a few weeks, but he eventually took to his bottles like a champ.

What is your breastfed baby’s favorite bottle?

Original article and pictures take www.breastfeedingplace.com site

How to Fight Cold & Flu Season Naturally

How to Fight Cold & Flu Season Naturally

Guest post by Bre Taylor

It happens every year. Holidays, cold weather…and cold and flu season. But you can be prepared. You really can fight the cold and flu season naturally!

The typical mainstream response is to medicate with all sorts of pharmaceuticals to mask the symptoms. For a more natural and holistic approach, however, the first focus must be on boosting the immune system.

A common misconception is that there are more viruses going around during cold and flu season. In reality, it is more that the sun is out less, so our bodies get less Vitamin D which in turn decreases our body’s immunity, making us more susceptible to coming down with something.

So, if you boost your immunity, you increase your defence.

5 Natural ways to boost immunity:

1. Increase your vitamin intake

Vitamin D, C and A are all great. Getting your vitamins naturally via real foods is the best way, but if additional supplements are needed, try and find a naturally produced form instead of synthetic.

2. Black Elder Berry Syrup

My kids know this as “Berry Juice” and totally love it. We give each 1 tsp a day starting in the fall, and 2 tsp daily if they are actively sick.

3. Fermented Foods

Homemade Milk Kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, and more! All are full of wonderful probiotics. A healthy gut is vital.

4. Fish Oil

Check out this post for in-depth information on fish oil.

5. Essential Oils

High quality essential oils can be anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral. They are a powerful addition to your cold and flu fighting arsenal!

What About When I Get Sick?

We’re not super heroes. People get sick. So here’s what you can do naturally! Increase your intake of all the natural things mentioned above (plus drink lots and LOTS of Homemade Bone Broth, and try these homemade remedies that you can cook up in your own kitchen using ingredients you probably already have.

* Beth’s Ultimate Strep Throat Remedy (If You’re Brave Enough) has been put to the test – she beat strep throat while pregnant (it had even been confirmed by a throat swab!). Kicks a sore throat to the curb with gusto.

* This homemade Cough & Cold Syrup is gentle enough for many doses throughout the day, and uses raw honey to make it more palatable. It soothes the throat that can’t stop coughing.

* Terrible Tonic – My friend swears by this and we have found it to be very effective as well.

How Essential Oils Can Help

I’m going to cover the use of essential oils a little more in depth here as they are what have helped us most to kick the crud fast! My last cold lasted less than 48 hours!

Essential Oils are aromatic compounds extracted from plants and fruits. Now, you may have just glossed over the anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties I mentioned above but DON’T.

Cue visual aid time…

This picture is of a cell. Bacteria lives on the outside of the cell so doctors can prescribe antibiotics to fight that if you go in with a bacterial infection. But viruses live on the inside of a cell wall.

The medical field has not been able to produce a drug or medication to penetrate that wall. But, lucky for us, a virus-fighting tool is all around is in nature.

There are two different ways to use essential oils – aromatically or topically.

Aromatic – Breathe in or use a diffuser to clean the air, open airways and to affect mood.

Topical – Apply to troubled areas. You can try applying them to your feet (some people have mixed reviews on how well this works, but you can try it for yourself!) The pores on the soles of our feet are the largest in the body and therefore act like an IV taking the oils directly into the bloodstream within 30 seconds. This makes it extremely fast and effective and a method especially useful for children. Always dilute properly using a carrier oil (like coconut oil or almond oil). Make sure to keep oils out of the eyes and ears.

Here are my top picks for Essential Oils for Cold/Flu Season:

An anti-bacterial blend

Oregano – natural defense

Lemon – soothe sore throats

Melaleuca – cold sores

Peppermint – reduce fever

Eucalyptus – cough/sinus pressure (Marjoram is a must-have for Croup)

*Not all of these oils are safe for use with children. This is an excellent essential oils site to reference to check on specific oils.

About a month ago, I thought I’d escaped the cold my husband and kids had (which by the way lasted less than 4 days for them all). I started feeling that dreaded scratchy throat. Here’s what I did:

Wednesday Night:

-Rolled antibacterial oils on my spine and feet every few hours

-Diluted and rubbed oregano essential oil all over my neck

-Diffused antibacterial oils by my bedside overnight

Thursday: my worst day; felt ache-y, sore throat, fatigued

-Drank hot water with freshly-squeezed lemon juice and honey for sore throat

-Rubbed diluted eucalyptus on my chest and diffused to breathe in when I felt was needed

Friday: had more energy but still ‘felt’ sick

-Continued applying diluted eucalyptus although I was not really dealing with any congestion

Saturday morning:

I felt good as new!

Now, don’t read all of this and think oils are the magic cure-all. I was also resting, drinking lots of water and bone broth, and all the other recommendations I gave above. But our family has definitely seen our sick time easily cut in half!

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical professional, and this post should not be taken as medical advice. Please do your own research. Material on this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It is general information that may not apply to you as an individual, and is not a substitute for your own doctor’s medical care or advice.

Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site

How to Feed Your Family When Your Oven is Broken

How to Feed Your Family When Your Oven is Broken

How is it that I feed my family all summer without turning on the oven, but right now I’m like, “Oh no! My oven is broken! What will we eat? How will I cook?”

I’d grill but it’s been rainy and drizzly for several days. This rain makes me want to bake. Of course. Poor me. I’m stuck with only my stove-top, electric skillet, fryer, blender, food processor, and crock pot. As you can see, I’m practically without any options.

The good news:

I think I’m getting my dream stove/oven out of this!!!

When the oven went out on Sunday, producing banana bread that was crispy on top but more like tepid, stringy banana pudding in the middle (so yum), Matt spent some time (once again) trying to fix it. Could he fix it? Yes. But after a while, he was over it. He surprised me with an offer. “How would you like to go shopping for a new oven?”

I thought he was kidding. We always just make do. If it breaks, we fix it. If it’s barely hanging on, we hang on with it. Therefore I kidded back with, “Yes! I want it to be a double oven! Also, I want to get rid of the electric hook up and instead hook up gas! Let’s go shopping for a gas range with a double oven!”

And Matt was like, “Hmm. Sounds good.” {Laura passes out.}

I’d never shared these dreams with him before. But knowing how much I cook and bake (which of course benefits him greatly), and how lame our stove/oven have been for so many years, I think Matt decided it was time to fork it out for a quality appliance.

I might have started acting like a five year old who was getting a double oven for Christmas. Sure, it was hard for me to think about paying extra for my dream range. But we were going to have to drop some money on a new range anyway. Might as well get the one that benefits our family and guests the most.

More good news:

You guys, not only am I going to have a double oven – I’m gonna have gas. I’m also going to say it like that to everyone I meet because it catches people off guard and makes us all giggle. I’ll say, “I haven’t had gas for years, but Matt is awesome and surprised me. So now I have gas. Finally!!” And then my friends will say, “Laura has gas! We are so happy for her.”

Won’t that just be so much fun?

In the meantime, I still don’t have an oven.

One doesn’t drop that much money without first doing research to decide which is the best option for purchase. (We’re looking at one like this. It’s one of the least expensive, if you can believe it. Cha-ching!) While I’m waiting for the range to come in and be installed, I decided to make a list of non-oven great food options. There are hundreds. I’ll just make a list based on what I have on hand and what is on sale this week.

Funny, by the way, that since I know I can’t bake, all I can think of are foods I want to bake. That’s the main reason I’m making this list. I have to get my mind off of cake.

Food I Can Make While My Oven is Broken

• Lasagna Casserole on the Stove-Top (this is totally doable and saves dirtying another dish anyway)
• Chicken Tacos (the crock pot is my friend)
• Real Food “Velveeta” and Rotel Dip (which we will use for Nachos and then Spicy Mac and Cheese another day)
• Whole Wheat Tortillas since I can’t make bread.

I had decided that breakfast is the trickiest, but as I look through this page of Breakfast Recipe Ideas, I’m finding quite a bit to work with. I have no idea why I’m making this hard. I’m just spoiled, that’s all.

Links to My Favorite Non-Oven Appliances

In case you’re interested, this is what I have in my kitchen. These will all be used double time this week, you can be sure!

• My Electric Skillet (This is 60% off right now!)
• My Cast Iron Griddle (Also being offered a huge discount right now if you need one. Only $22!)
• My Blender (Pricey but worth it)
• My Waffle Iron (It’s a cheapo)
• My Fryer (Mine is actually a little different than that, but they don’t seem to make mine anymore.)
• My Toaster Oven (I do NOT recommend this one. It’s cheap and burns toast. I had one like this before but when we broke the door I was too stingy to pay that much again. I regret the “money savings” – something I’m trying to keep in mind while shopping for a double oven.)

As you can see, I’ll still be able to make huge messes in my kitchen and my children won’t even starve while I am without an oven. There are loads of options.

As soon as I have gas, I’ll let you know. If that isn’t something to look forward to, I don’t know what is.

Do you have any non-oven recipe ideas to share? How about double-oven purchasing advice? Gas related thoughts? Really. I’m open to just about anything you’d like to share.

Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site

How to Easily Quiet Noisy Toys

How to Easily Quiet Noisy Toys

How to Quiet Noisy Toys

Don’t you just hate those kid toys that are annoyingly loud and play the same sound over and over again? You know, as if you don’t already have enough commotion and noise going on in your busy household, right?! My husband and I were agreed that we were not going to buy toys that made sounds for our children. And yes, I fully aware that makes us sound like really boring parents!

The thing is, we didn’t think about the fact that other people might give noisy toys to our children. But they eventually slowly started trickling in as gifts for our kids. And of course we weren’t going to say, “No honey, you can’t have that because it makes a noise!” We aren’t that boring and mean. But we did start getting tired of the blaring loud noise that kept coming from those “fun” toys. And so we got creative and found a solution that would allow our children to enjoy their noisy toys without driving us bonkers.

The awesome part? It’s super simple! As in “all-you-need-is-a-minute-and-some-clear-tape” simple.

How to Quiet Loud Toys

So, if you have a loud toy, first of all you need to locate the place where the sound comes out. Then tear a piece of tape just slightly bigger than that spot. For most toys, regular Scotch tape will work. But if you have a toy where the sound comes out of a huge area, then packing tape will be your best friend!

How to Quiet Loud Toys

Now, do the obvious and put the tape over the spot where the sound comes out. Make sure to cover it fully!

How to quiet a loud toy

And there you have it! You now have a quiet toy. For us, this simple little trick has made most of our kid’s noisy toys at least 50% quieter.

How to Quiet Noisy Toys

We are happy and our children are happy too! And they are none the wiser that their toys have been tampered with.

Original article and pictures take www.thriftyfrugalmom.com site

How to Do Laundry (From Start to Finish) Without Nasty Chemicals

How to Do Laundry (From Start to Finish) Without Nasty Chemicals

Hey R&H peeps! This post is all about detoxing your laundry routine, but I’ll give you a spoiler alert right off the bat – my main reason for writing this post was to introduce you to these fabulous felted wool dryer balls, sold by a WAHM at a little online shop called Lovesmade.

Once I started talking about detoxing your laundry routine I got a little carried away with the many tips and tricks out there to help you! I think we all know by now that being succinct is not my spiritual gift. Ahem. Anyway – go check out the cute little store at Lovesmade, and don’t forget to enter to win your own felted wool dryer ball set for FREE at the bottom of this post!

Detox Your Laundry? Why Bother?

If you had told newly-married me (ten years ago) that there were nasty toxic chemicals in my Tide laundry detergent (cheap store-brand for frugality’s sake: some things never change) and Bounce dryer sheets, I would surely have rolled my eyes and written you off as a total hippie consiracy theorist, slightly out of touch with reality.

Harsh? Maybe. But that’s actually the vibe I often get from others now that I’m on the other side of the equation. I’m a huge fan of seeking to avoid nasty toxins lurking in most conventional household products. And I’m not just talking about draino and windshield washer fluid, I’m talking about everything from soap and shampoo to cleaners to the seemingly innocuous dryer sheets (now I use these instead and LOVE them).

It can be frustrating and overwhelming once you realize that the government actually does *not* regulate this stuff. There are a few banned substances, but other than that it’s pretty well a free-for-all. The terms are not regulated, either. “Natural”, “eco-friendly”, “green”, and “Non-toxic” are all bandied about on products that are often anything but those very things they claim.

And in case you’re wondering? It’s not just the hippie crunchy folks complaining, either. There are a lot of banned ingredients in other countries that are allowable in the U.S (and Canada). What do they recognize that our government won’t?

So when you hear me talking about the more expensive laundry detergent from the natural foods aisle in the grocery store, or a set of pure wool dryer balls (which, actually are more frugal in the long run), or going to the effort of googling that perfect natural DIY stain remover instead of throwing some heavy-duty chemical concoction (or bleach!) on it… maybe you can understand why.

Natural laundry care is especially important to me because it essentially effects us each and every day as we wear the clothes that were laundered without heavy fake scents, irritating chemicals, or unhealthy residues. I think that detoxing your laundry should actually be one of the very first steps you take in a journey to natural living.

OK, But Where Do I Start?

Non-Toxic Detergents

Switching over to a more natural laundry detergent was easy. We got the low-down on that whole deal when we first started cloth diapering (when our first baby was born more than five years ago). You can just grab one of the more natural options available for purchase (if you don’t know what kind to buy, research what brands are cloth diaper safe – those are usually the more natural ones), or you could try one of the many DIY detergent recipes out there on the web. This is the brand I use. More resources:

Detergent Alternatives

On the other side of the same coin, Adrienne from Whole New Mom shares why she doesn’t make her own laundry detergent, and what she uses instead. (Hint: it’s nuts. Hardy, har, har. I’m hilarious…) She also has a guest post on her site that shares a recipe for DIY baby laundry detergent that uses Baby Mild Dr. Bronner’s soap. Wellness Mama also wrote about her experience with soap nuts.

Stain Removal & Freshening

You can also detox your stain removal tools! There’s no need for questionable and dangerous ingredients. Emily has a simple recipe for stain remover that you can make ahead and store in a spray bottle to keep it easy. If you’re looking for some more stain removal suggestions, check out this post from Common Sense Homesteading. I’ve heard amazing things about this brand, and really want to try it!

Fighting Stains the Natural and Green Way

How to Get Your Laundry Smelling Fresh, Naturally

10+ Homemade, All-Natural Stain Removers (Including the Best Stain Remover EVER)

Dryer Balls

These are my favourite part. I told you above about how I first started by switching to a more natural laundry detergent. Then I just kind of quit using dryer sheets, knowing they were yucky. But I didn’t know what else to use. My mom got some reusable plastic dryer balls and I used those for a while, but I didn’t love the fact that I was heating plastic every time I used them (plastic is not the most natural invention ever…)

Felted Wool Dryer Balls: The Low-Down on Lovesmade

Then… I was contacted by a work-at-home mama who makes beautiful felted wool dryer balls and sells them online. By that time I had seen the tutorials floating around online. I had probably pinned a few to my pinterest boards.

But I seem to have this problem with pinterest whereby I pin things on my DIY boards and never actually DO them. (I know I’m not the only one – ‘fess up, peeps.)

So while I’m sure that I *could* make these myself (in fact, Shahbeila was kind enough to allow me to share the basic directions with you – see below), I am totally one of those people who, with 3 kids 5 and under and a busy household and side PT job, would sometimes rather just skip the DIY and PSETMIFM (Pay Someone Else to Make it For Me). Amen?! Besides, the cost of the wool roving would be comparable to the excellent prices of the ready-made dryer ball sets that Lovesmade sells. For my family, it’s totally a no-brainer! When these wear out (in like, five years…) I will gladly go back to Lovesmade to buy myself some more!

I’ve been using these dryer balls for about three months now, and I am super impressed. I mean, I knew the claims: they are supposed to reduce static cling, reduce drying time, and help leave laundry fluffier.

I wasn’t convinced that I’d actually see much drastic change. I already had cut down on static issues from switching to a more natural detergent. When I started using them, however, I very soon became a total convert, for 3 main reasons:

1. They really do cut down on static completely, even in the dry winter air! In fact, writing this made me realize I can’t remember the last time I took something out of the dryer with static on it!
2. They also help keep the load nice and fluffed up in the dryer, preventing those “damp spots” that I used to get when stuff would get tangled up.
3. I also saw a definite reduced drying time. I could tell because my dryer wasn’t fully drying a load in a regular time setting – I was forever needing to put it on for an extra 20 minutes – but now it’s always dry in time! A clear difference.

You can buy your own set at Lovesmade and get FREE shipping until the end of November.

{To get your free shipping, use the code “decfreeship” to get it! I honestly can’t recommend these enough – and they’d make fabulous Christmas gifts, too!}

For your chance to win a free set of 3, enter below. If you buy a set and are lucky enough to be a giveaway winner – then you can use all of them together! I use six at a time and it’s perfect!

Fine print: This giveaway is open until Friday, November 29, 2013, and is open to U.S. residents. Lovesmade did not compensate me for this post, but they sent me some awesome dryer balls to love and cherish and call my own. Affiliate links are included in this post.

Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site