Ditch the chemicals- try a simple home remedy

Every time I clean the bathroom or kitchen I think about the chemicals I'm using, where they came from  and where they're going.  Of course, down the drain seems fine but when you really think about it, the chemicals we use, bleach, ammonia, tub & tile cleaner (whatever that is!) it's all really nasty stuff that is harmful to the water and therefore harmful to us. Not to mention the fumes we breathe in every time we clean.  

I've started using more earth-friendly products such as Seventh Generation and Method but they're likely still harmful to me when breathing them in.... have you tried 'em?  Burn baby Burn... that's what they do to my nostrils! So, I've begun researching and testing out some home remedies that will save me some money, and hopefully a few nose hairs. Here are a few of the recipes I've found and the sites on which I've found them.     

For a clogged drain try: 
1 cup salt
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
Mix & pour down drain.  Follow with 2 quarts boiling water


Bathtub Cleaner: 
Make a paste of peroxide and cream of tartar. Scrub vigorously with a small brush. Rinse thoroughly. If the stains persist, spread the mixture over the stains and apply a drop or two of household ammonia. Allow to set for two hours before scrubbing.
Did you know that honey remedy for skin blemishes? Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a band-aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin, sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.


Here are the sites:
Impact Lab

Recipe Gold Mine

Earth-Friendly crafts from Martha!

You know everyone has little spot for Martha somewhere!!  No?  Well maybe you will after you see her ideas on how to repurpose leftover materials and oh man- these are some great ideas. Simple to do and a great was to make something new out of something old.  Try it, decorate your place, give as gifts to friends or heck- sell 'em (remember my friend KC from MakeShopLive in an earlier post?!)

I really love the jars as vases especially now that I know that there is this great stuff that can 'paint" the inside but I'm proud to say that for the last few years I have refrained from buying any type of wrapping paper or bows!  I have either re-used the stuff that has wrapped gifts given to me or whatever I get from stores when I buy something.  For example, I bought a pair of shoes and inside the toe was a giant wad of tissue paper.  It made really cool wrapping for Valentine's day with a purple bow that was tied around the handle of a bag I got when Christmas shopping.  The bag has also been re-used so... I think I'll keep that up!

Oh and in case you've been under a rock or in the middle of nowhere.... all things Martha can be found at marthastewart.com .

Farmer Fran

Back a few months ago I was having a conversation with an RA at The New School who was telling me all about how she spent last summer working on an organic farm  She talked about what it was like to live off the grid (more or less) and how different it was but also how doable it was.  She told some great stories and I was intrigued.  She explained that she had found a farm through an organization called World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms  So with this resource you can find an organic farm on which you can volunteer and in return you get food, accommodations and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyle.

Love it!

We all know how important it is to eat organically but how many of us actually know how to grow things organically and what it really takes on the farming end?  Probably not, but we also probably don't have the time to volunteer with our busy loves and jobs.  Well, my very good friend Fran realized her passion for this and is a perfect example of someone who has made a decision to stop with the daily grind and get back to what's important.  She decided she wanted to do this and put in her two weeks notice and is doing it!!

Go Fran Go!

She has started a blog about it so that we can live the experience with her and I hope you'll take a look and consider following her too.  She never ceases to amaze me and I learn from her everyday.  I have no doubt that you'll learn from her and be inspired by her decision to follow her heart and do what she most wants to in life.