My Poo life

Being 'poo' free is the shit( what a cheesy play on words huh? lol) But its true.I NEVER have to run to the store to get shampoo or conditioner cause I always have the stuff on hand.I can make the shampoo/conditioner to fit my hair style and personal needs.Its all natural and almost everything I use you can eat.I do not like to put things on my body that I would not put in it.So if I wont eat it chances are I wont use it.BUT the recipes I use for my 'shampoo' and 'conditioner' have essential oils in them.MOST that I use are safe for consumption ( however tea tree and neem oil should not be ingested).But other than that everything I use is right there in the kitchen.What I use to wash my hair I make up everytime I need it.The conditioner I make ahead of time and let sit.I have used the conditioner mix right after mixing and its ok but letting it marinate for a while makes it so you get all the goodness out of the herbs.I like to let mine sit in a cool dark place, for atleast 2 weeks, giving it a good shake everyday.
Hair is not as dirty as people think.Unless your rolling around in the mud ( ohh fun!) or something equally as messy, then you hair isn't all that 'dirty'.From what I have read, heard from others and dealt with personally I can tell you that if your hair is extra oily, then its your hairs way of rebelling against the product you are using on it.It feels the need to kick out oils to protect whats being done with it.Like someone who commented in my last post I used to have unbelievably oily hair at the root but it was dry as a bone on the ends.What I was using was stripping my hair of its all natural oils and so it was producing tons to replace it and I never gave it a chance to right itself.
I shouldn't even say that I wash my hair because that's not very accurate.What I wash is my scalp.My hair gets washed in the process but I don't 'wash' it.And I only 'wash' my hair about 2 times a week, the rest of the time I only use the 'conditioner'.On the off days I just rinse my hair as if there was shampoo in it.Its called water washing it.Its not healthy to cleanse your hair everyday.I was weary of this in the beginning and of my hair not getting clean enough, so if anyone is reading this and sitting there thinking ewwww, just know I was in your shoes before I switched also.I couldnt get my mind to switch from a bottle telling to 'wash, rinse and repeat'... to no bottle, no lather and more rinsing than washing.The lack of lather was what took me the longest to get used to.I used to think lather was what cleaned my hair.I'm glad I know better now.
At the end of this I'm going to post what herbs work best for what hair type and hair issue, so you all can personalize your mixes.Here is what I use and how I use it.Just a heads up I have hair to the middle of my back, you might need more or less mix for yourself.

For my 'shampoo' I mix:

• About 4 cups of very warm water ( Not too hot that you burn your scalp)
• About 2 TBSP of baking soda
• About 1/4 cup of my homemade Orange Oil Cleaner
  
• Sometimes I add a drop or two of Tea tree and Neem oils
  

That's it.I mix the orange oil and baking soda together ( cause I like to watch it bubble and fizz lol) then I add the water.The baking soda and orange oil cleans the hair like you would not believe! You dont have to use the orange oil cleaner, but its super easy to make and does work better.Baking soda and water will work as well.But I love how the orange oil cleans and plus I love the orange smell :) The white vinegar in the orange oil cleaner practically dissolves dandruff and keeps it at bay.Its amazing! I mix this up, take it to the shower and scrub my scalp while I pour it on.I grab my hair and squish it through my hair like I'm milking it.Then I let it sit for a minute or two and then rinse.Now, for me anyway, when its in my hair my hair feels very matted and I was scared the 1st time I used it.I don't know why this happens but its something I had to get used to.I just wanted to give you a heads up in case it happens to anyone who tries this, don't freak out.It goes away :) Ok so after its sets I rinse, scrubbing while the water runs through it.You have to rinse very thoroughly with this.If you leave any left on you will be able to tell.Next step is to condition.Now this recipe is for MANY conditioning treatments and this is what I let sit for atleast 2 weeks.You can use right away too if you wish.

For my 'conditioner' I mix:

• 1 bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar
• Whatever herb suits your needs, I'll post some of them later.

I add rosemary,sage,chamomile,catnip,lavender and the essential oils Neem and peppermint to mine.I use more of some than of others but its usually a big handful of each per large jug of Apple Cider Vinegar.I really pack them in there.I'll post the properties of the different herbs at the end of this.I have, in a pinch, just used apple cider vinegar alone.
I apply the conditioner by using a old condiment bottle.I strain the vinegar mix into the bottle about 1/4 to 1/2 way up the bottle and then fill the rest with water.I use about 1/4 to 1/2 of the bottle each time I use it.I coat my hair with the mix and scrub it into my scalp same as I do with the shampoo.And I milk it just like the shampoo.Then I let this sit for atleast 3 minutes.Since I have curly hair I pick my hair out with the conditioner in it to help detangle it and make sure it worked its way through.To keep my curls intact I NEVER pick my hair out any other time then that.Not after I get out of the shower or when its dry.I will finger pick it if I need to, but pulling on curls takes the spring out of them.So after the conditioner has sat a few minutes I rinse but this time I don't rinse as thoroughly as I do with the shampoo.I want some of this to stay in.Just to warn you there IS a vinegar smell, I have come to like it and it does not bother me in the least.Don't be scared of this.It goes away completely once your hair is dry.I went to one of my sons track meets last year with my hair still wet.One of the boys on his team asked me if I had been eating Salt and Vinegar chips lol The same day people there were having a terrible time because of gnats or some little bug flying up in their faces.They must not like the smell of my hair cause I didn't have one bother me :)
If anyone has any questions please let me know.I will answer them as best I can and if I dont know the answer I will get it for you.Now there were some people who left comments in my other poo post ( lol that sounds funny ) who were concerned about ethnic hair.When I started out researching this MOST of the info I got was from sites for natural ethnic hair care.My children are multi racial, my sons hair is very thick but my daughters hair is thinner than mine.So my family's hair goes from thick to thin.This works on us all.I have also seen women with bone straight baby fine hair who have a very similar hair care regime.You just need to find out what works for you, and tweak your recipes accordingly.Some might need less baking soda or more to cleanse their hair.You will just know and it wont take long to figure it out.There also was another comment about dandruff.Seriously if you do not wish to go all out and go this natural just use a treatment of white vinegar.Mix 1/2 vinegar with 1/2 water and let it sit in your hair for a few mins, scrub then rinse.You will see the difference right away.I told you in my other post that I tried many recipes in the beginning of my natural hair journey that did not work for me.I was going to post those here but I can see how long this post is getting so Im going to pass for now.If anyone wants to know those just leave me a comment and I will put up a post with those recipes.
Ok here's a list of herbs and their properties.Some research on your own will pull up more but this will start you out.

• Burdock: root helps prevent dandruff

• Catmint/Catnip: leaves encourage hair growth and soothes scalp irritations
  

• Chamomile: flowers soften and lighten hair

• Lavender: antiseptic, antibiotic, stimulates hair growth, and degreases hair loss
  

• Parsley: enriches hair color and gives a nice luster

• Rosemary: tonic and conditioner, one of the best herbs to use, gives luster and body, also slightly darkens the hair
  

• Sage: tonic and conditioning, darkens the hair

• Stinging Nettle: tonic and conditioning and helps prevent dandruff
  

There are tons more but this is a good list to start out with.I was going to post pics with this but I think its long enough as it is.I will post one pic at the end because Hyla requested it :) Its the Aloe Vera that we use as our only styling product.Ok that's not true, sometimes I use coconut oil too.But not all that often.If anyone tries this out PLEASE come back and let me know how it worked for you.If you have decided to try this out please realize that it IS a process and like I talked about in the other post, there is a transition you have to go through but it is TOTALLY worth it.Unless your lucky like my daughter and switched over without a hitch, that lucky duck.Alright enough rambling from me, here's your pic Hyla.Just so you know its on the back wall of our walmart before you get to the pet dept.Its on the bottom row.( Hyla and I are neighbors so we go to the same wally world :D )

Merry Mixing!!!

I am Poo free! (almost)

I am poo free!! Not that kind of poo, I'm still full of it ;)The 'poo' I'm talking about is shampoo. I said almost in the title cause I'm a big fat cheater and I have given in a few times.
I decided to go poo free about 2 yrs ago.I was chicken for almost a year.Then I decided to let my daughter be my guinea pig.My daughter transitioned about a yr ago and her transition went smoother than expected.Well she had ZERO transition actually.My daughter is multi racial and has very fine curly hair.I'm not sure if this is what helped her switch over so easily or not.She co washes...which means washes her hair with conditioner.I have yet to find a homemade conditioner that works for her and she refuses to use the conditioner I use.So I still buy hers,But she is 'poo' free.I am taking baby steps to get her totally off any store bought hair care products, even ones marked natural.But for now I worry less about all those chemicals in the shampoo.Like methylisothiazolinone(eeek).Or any number of these: sodium laureth, sodium lauryl sulfate, diethanolamine, momothanolamine, triethanolamine...I can go on.Check this place out, it breaks it all down for you.And these just name a few.They are tons of little evil chemical compounds in every little drop of shampoo.
Since I have made my own transition I have MUCH healthier hair.I have loose curly hair that loved to frizz up, not a issue anymore.And it grows much faster.My transition was ugly and lasted far longer than it should have because I'm a cheater.You hair goes through a bit of a rebellious stage when you switch over.It did not help that I tried many different home made shampoos that I HATED.If I had used in the beginning what I use now I would not have had so many issues.Ahh live and learn.So since I have switched over, about 7 months ago, I have used a store bought(but all natural) shampoo maybe 4/5 times.Most of those times were in the beginning weeks and I used a homemade shampoo what was horrid for my hair type.I had to fix the damage :\ But I'm getting in the swing of things now and think I'm in the clear.I have a bit of psoriasis and things are MUCH better now that I stopped using shampoo.When I was still using shampoo I would have to switch every few months because I would get flakes, or it would stop working well on my hair or the fragrance would end up making me itch like crazy or my psoriasis would act up.I haven't had to worry about any of those things in the past few months.My hair doesn't stink or smell dirty, it just smells like clean hair.If I want my hair to smell fresh and purty I have a spray bottle with water and essential oils in it and if I want to freshen up I can give it a spritz.I never feel the need to though, ok its cause I'm lazy and never think of it.
I have also cut out all styling products for myself and my daughter.Now her hair is unruly.It takes me 20 mins ( at least) in the morning to just pick it all out.But to style it and keep it in line what we both use is all natural Aloe Vera.It's fantastic!! We use the clear kind, not the green kind with all the extra stuff in it.I buy mine from Walmart.I use it when I braid her hair also and it holds great.If you have curly hair give it a try, I swear you will not be disappointed.But on the up side if you are disappointed you can still use it. Aloe has a million uses.
Tomorrow I am going to post my hair care routine and the recipes I use/have used. Some didn't work for me but they might work for someone else :)
Love & Light

Product review: Jade & Pearl Sea Sponge Tampons

To start out this review ( just to warn you this is my first) I am going to let you know how I came across this company and their product.This is going to be a bit long I think :) Also there might be TMI moments.I will warn you ahead of time on those.

Ok here we go....










Like I said in another post I was looking for natural/eco friendly alternatives to feminine products.I had already used cloth pads but I was looking for something that might be a bit more leak proof, discreet when wearing and a way for me to collect my moon flow.To be honest I am not sure how I 1st came across the Jade & Pearl web site, probably google although I'm not sure what I was looking for.I had no idea what a sea sponge tampon even was, so it was pure luck.And I do indeed feel lucky to have found them.I emailed them and got a reply from them within hours! They were so helpful and open to work with me that I could not believe it.Their customer service is amazing and they are personable and answered any questions I had.
I got the product in the mail within days.The kit I got had 2 sponges and a cloth bag to store them in.I also got a few brochures.Their items are printed on recycled paper using soy ink and packaged in biodegradable cellophane.How sweet is that?!? The brochures were very informative and the directions could not have been any clearer, it was all pretty straight forward stuff.How to clean it, insert and remove ( which I was the most nervous about) and how to store it.I could not wait till my next moon cycle to try it all out! I was able to fight my excitement and wait a few days to open the packaging so I could take pics and all.Now I will admit that at this point I was NERVOUS.I felt the sponges and they were hard.I looked at it and thought there is no way....... But I'm a trooper and I was going to try it out no matter what.But before I get to the review and let you know how it worked for me I will give you some info about sea sponges.

Sea sponges have the ability to regenerate from even the tiniest fragments, and as it is harvested millions of eggs and sperm cells are released into the surrounding water.Making sea sponges a renewable resource that provides a ecologically sound product for menstrual use.Women through out the ages have used rags,sponges, grass,cattail,moss,seaweed and other absorbent materials to collect their menses.
Think of this, the average woman uses nearly 17,000 disposable pads and tampons throughout their menstrual years.In North America alone an estimated 20 BILLION bleached pads and tampons end up in the landfills and sewage systems each year!! And that does not even take into account the applicators and packaging that goes along with these products.
There are many risks with conventional tampons besides the dreaded TSS ( Toxic shock syndrome).One hazard with conventional tampons is Dioxin, a by-product of the tampon fiber bleaching process.Risks associated diseases related to Dioxin exposure and synthetic fibers are endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease to name a few.
I have had issues with wearing tampons for many years.I was nervous to try these to be honest because of my past tampon use.So like I said after I opened the package and felt them I was even more apprehensive.But I took a deep breath and got them ready for their first bath.The minute they hit the water they turned so soft I was amazed.I could not believe the change just a bit of moisture made and then I realized that inserting these things would be a breeze and I was almost certain that I would have zero issues with them.I chose the baking soda wash to clean them, since I know that baking soda is a softener.All the other ways to wash them are all natural too which I just love.I rinsed them and squeezed all of the water out and got one ready to insert.(Now you can wear more than one if you have extra heavy flows,they also have a teen size which I thought was nifty.)Ok so I sat there, took a deep breath and popped it in.No resistance, it forms to your own personal shape and curve so it fits where it needs to.I sat there.And I sat there a bit longer.To be honest I was a bit nervous to stand up and have the thing fall out.It was a irrational thought I knew but I was still nervous.Finally I got up, nothing.I wiggled, nothing.I bounced, nothing.I squatted, nothing.
TMI alert.... I was worried about the mess involved with manually inserting the sponge.But with the sponge being moist when you insert it kinda clears a path for you and there was extremely little mess.No more so that with any other product.
I wore it for 3 hours before I took it out.I wore a cloth pad with it since I was nervous of leaks.Again I was nervous for nothing.
I will say this, I felt it inside me.Now I had not worn a tampon in almost 16 yrs.I remember that last time I wore one and it was agony.This was nothing even near that.All that I felt was a slight fullness.Not even what I would call pressure.I just knew it was there.I honestly was amazed at the comfort of it.But like I said it was so very soft when I wet it that I knew it would form to my shape.There is no way tampons could ever do that or come close.
Removal of the sea sponge brought on more unnecessary anxiety.Does anyone know what its like to remove a tampon that's dry? Its horrid.I didn't know how absorbent the sponges would be so I had that in the back of my mind.I was also scared of ripping it.I felt for it, pinched it gently and it slipped right out.I gave it a look over and realized that I could have flowed 3xs the amount I did and still been in the clear.Those little things sure can hold a lot.At this point you could rinse and reinsert.I rinsed it out.....ok I harvest it, if anyone wants to know how that went just ask and I will fill you in.So anyway,after I harvested what I could I rinsed.It rinsed out SUPER fast and easy.I'm used to having to squeeze and flush out my cloth pads but this was much easier.I squeezed it under the water a few times then the water ran clear.That was it.From beginning to end ( if you take out my neurotics) the experience was a smooth, comfortable and earthy experience.I knew the whole time that I had nature/sea sponges in me, at one point I made myself giggle cause in my head I was singing ♪♫♪♫♪'Shes got the whole ocean, in her womb'♪♫♪♫♪ to the tune 'Hes got the whole world in his hands' LOL
I happen to love this product and will use it again.The sponges have to be replaced every few months but the price is ridiculously low so it shouldn't be a issue for anyone.Check out Jade & Pearl, they have moon time kits for girls just starting out, lunar calendars and cyclebeads to chart your cycle,cloth paniliners,and other all natural items.You can tell they take pride in their wares and the have a respect for the environment.Its a quality company.
If anyone has any questions at all please just ask either here or contact me ( from my profile page).Don't be scared to ask a personal question if its something you want to know.I had a hard time not adding tons of TMI here, so believe me when I tell you I have no problem discussing anything.

Ok people, let the Sponge Bob Square Pants jokes begin :P

Natural solutions to your monthly cycle

I have been using a natural product for my moon cycle (menstrual cycle) for over the past 6 months.I decided to switch over from store bought for many many reasons.I didnt like the chemicals used in either tampons or pads, I didnt like the HUGE waste it produces and I like to save money.I couldnt see buying something that just gets wasted every month and thrown into the waste pile.I havent used tampons for years because after I had my son they were no longer comfortable for me.So I went out on a search for a more eco friendly alternative.I found cloth pads and I LOVE them.I have had no issues with them other than there is more work involved with them since you have to wash them and all.I hand wash mine because I dont want them in the washer with everything else and I want to make sure they are extra clean.I do not mind hand washing them and for me there was no yuck factor.Mine are handmade and I have bought mine from a few women on Etsy.
But then I began to view my moon cycle in a spiritual light.I already blogged about that and I will again, just to warn ya'll. I had read up on uses of menstrual blood and its significance in cultures.Since my moon time came to mean a time of power for me I thought it was wasteful to just throw it away.Some women collect their menstrual blood every month and mix it with water and feed their plants.They claim that they grow faster and fuller,which I believe to be true.Some women collect theirs every month for magickal purposes.I thought of using mine for both.....since its a sustainable resource and all lol I doubt I will run out any time soon.
So in my quest to find ways to collect my moon flow AND be gentle on the earth I came across two products.One you may have heard of but the other thats not so often spoke of.I contacted a few companies and asked them if I could do a product review on their product and 2 said yes.
I will be posting a review of one of the products tomorrow...or later tonight since Im so excited lol I have tons of pics ( of the product, nothing yucky lol) and just to give a warning I will be VERY open in my review.So if your squeamish you may want to use caution.
Does anyone have any natural or alternative solutions to their moon cycle that they would like to share?
Love & Light

10 Things YOU can do to curb global warming

1) Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Look closely at labels when buying light bulbs. Those marked as CFLs last 10 times longer and use 66 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs while delivering the same light levels. CFLs also reduce the release of greenhouse gas emissions and are safer because they burn at a lower temperature (160° F or less) than incandescent and halogen lights, which can burn at temperatures up to 500° F.

2) Turn down the thermostat just three degrees in the winter and up three degrees in the summer. You can prevent the emission of nearly 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

3) Inflate your car tires. When walking or biking isn't feasible, you can do something to better protect the Earth while driving. Take a step in the right direction by inflating your car tires. Pumping them up can improve your gas mileage by about 3.3 percent -- a savings of about 7 cents per gallon. It's the right thing to do for your wallet and the right thing to do for the Earth.

4) Turn down the hot water heater. Set your water heater to 130° F. While you're at it, turn down your house thermostat during the winter to 55° F when you go to bed or leave home. These simple actions can have enormous positive consequences, preventing the emission of more than 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide over the course of the year, while cutting your energy bill by more than 10 percent. And that's just from you! Get your friends on board, and the benefits will multiply.

5) Choose your seafood wisely. The world's seafood will be entirely depleted by 2048, according to a report in the journal Science. That means the moment to do something about this is now. By buying and eating certain types of seafood, you can discourage harmful fishing practices and avoid the more depleted or threatened species. Take a look at Seafood Choices Alliance or Seafood Watch to make smart choices.

6) Purchase EnergyStar-labeled appliances. EnergyStar products are among the top 25 percent most efficient and can provide a 30 percent return or better through lower utility bills.

7) Wash and rinse in cold water. If everyone in the United States alone switched to cold water with their washing machines, we could save about 30 million tons of carbon dioxide each year -- and more than $3 billion in energy costs, collectively. And what's more? Cold water cleans your laundry just as well as hot water.

8) Buy locally produced meats and produce. Sounds like a good idea, but you don't know where to start? Just type in your zip code on Local Harvest's website to see a list of farms and farmers' markets close to home, as well as nearby restaurants committed to supporting their neighbors. Buying locally produced food cuts out the middlemen and the vast amounts of energy required to get your products onto store shelves. Most produce in U.S. supermarkets travels an average 1,500 miles before it is sold!

9) Drink more water from reusable glassware. It's great for your bank account, your health, and your planet.Water does the body good. The average American consumed more than 400 beverage bottles and cans in 2006, leaving behind wasted glass, plastic, steel, and aluminum. That adds up to excessive amounts of fossil fuels and hydropower for mining, processing, refining, shaping, shipping, storing, refrigerating, and disposing of those materials. Of course, changing your drinking habits both at home and at work is applicable to just about every other habit, as well. You've heard it before and you'll hear it again: Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

10) Walk, bike, and carpool. In the United States, the car represents one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. You can significantly reduce your emissions by commuting to work. Try combining trips to minimize emissions, which are greatest at the beginning of a journey before the engine has reached optimum temperature and efficiency. When purchasing your next car, make it a fuel-efficient one. Hybrid cars can get twice the fuel efficiency of the average new car, cut greenhouse gas emissions by half or more, and reduce urban air pollutants. Carpooling saves energy, cuts on additional pollution, and allows you to take a turn as a passenger instead of driving everyday. Car-sharing (not pooling) is available in numerous U.S. cities. Car-sharing enables you to rent a car just when you need it. Each car-share vehicle displaces four to eight privately held cars, requiring less parking area and creating less road congestion.(My brother has gotten rid of his car and does this.He LOVES it.) If you live within an hour's bicycle ride to the office (~10 miles), consider biking to work one or more days a week.

One little change can make a great impact.

Water conservation facts and tips

It may be hard to believe but we are running out of water.Ok yes I know 70% of the earths surface is water.But that doesnt change the fact that water, usable by us, is dwindling( read up on snowpack).And dont even get me started on whats in our drinking water.ANYWAY here are a few facts and tips for saving water.

• A running faucet uses as much as 3-5 gallons of water for every minute its on.
• You waste 5 or more gallons of water if you leave the tap running while you brush your teeth.
• Washing a normal size load of dishes(whats that?) with the tap running can waste as much as 30 gallons of water.
• If you wash your car at home the average amount of water that runs through your hose is 115 gallons.Washing it at a self service car wash uses on average 5-10 gallons...a savings of 100 gallons of water!!
  

But there are a few things you can do!

• If you just wet and rinse your toothbrush while brushing you only use 1/2 gallon of water.This can save you up to 9 gallons each and every time you brush!
  
• If you get a stop flow valve on your sink faucet and use it while washing dishes you can save up to 20 gallons of water each and every time you do a load.( a 'normal' sized load that is,unlike my monster loads)
  
• For the ladies: Do not shave you legs in the shower.It takes time and wastes water.Fill up the tub with just enough water to shave in and do it there.Is it a pain in the ass? Sure.But you want to do the right thing dontcha??? lol

• If you use a kettle for tea,hot chocolate or instant coffee ONLY put in the amount you intend to use.Fill your mug to the top and pour into the kettle,adjusting for the small amount that will turn to steam.The rest is just waste and will be evaporated, for nothing.

These are such small actions that they shouldn't be to hard to do.Remember that every saved drop helps.

Practice PREcycling

I know that everyone is onto the Recycle,Reduce,Reuse part (well I hope you all are) but what about precycling? Precycling is as simple as reducing waste before you buy.By making the right choices when shopping , by precycling, you can prevent excessive waste and the need to recycle.Although recycling is wonderful it does require energy to recycle those products and therefor uses up large amounts of energy at recycling centers and puts a significant amount of pollution back out into the air.Which is counterproductive.

* Each American uses about 205 lbs of plastic per year,about 65 lbs of that if for the packaging of the items we buy and is thrown away as soon as the package is open.
* About 30% of ALL plastic is used for packaging.
* Americans go through almost 3 million plastic bottles every hour!!!
* Packaging waste accounts for almost 1/3 of all garbage American send to landfills.
* Buyer packaging amounts to roughly 5 million tons of waste a year.

So I know you are wondering what you can do right?? Be aware of what you are buying.Everything you purchase has a effect on the environment.Try to make it a positive effect.Here are a few simple things you can do:

* Bring your own reusable bags to the store so you will never have to answer "Paper or plastic?" again.
* Buy eggs in cardboard cartons and NEVER in styrofoam. Or if possible go to a local farm and buy them there.
* Look for the recycled logo on all boxed items you purchase.
* Buy in bulk.It's cheaper and uses minimal packaging.
* Buy veggies loose and not in plastic bags.The best way to do this is to buy locally from a farm or farmers market.Or even better yet grow your own.
* Avoid squeezable plastic containers, which are made of different types of plastic in several layers, and are non-recyclable.

If only 10% of Americans purchased products with less plastic packaging just 10% of the time, we could eliminate about 144 million pounds of plastic from our landfills,reduce industrial pollution, and send a message to manufacturers that we are serious about alternatives.Maybe if YOU rethink how you buy items then THEY will rethink how they send them.
Refuse what you don't need
Reduce what you do need
Reuse what you can't reduce
Recycle what you can't reuse
Rebuy (buy recycled) whenever possible.

Severn Suzuki speaking at UN Earth Summit 1992

This young woman has so much wisdom for a 12 year old.She is an amazing human being.And to think this speech was in 1992, before the masses thought about the environment.Long before I myself ever put any thought to it.And here was this beautiful 12 year old talking to the UN about the environment and how to save our planet.She is my hero.I never get tired watching this and it still chokes me up every time :)
"If you don't know how to fix it, please stop breaking it."

Homemade: All purpose orange oil cleaner

I have switched most of my household cleaners to homemade ones.This one is fantastic(no cleaning pun intended).Orange oil cuts through grease amazingly and almost everyone I know uses a cleaning product that has orange oil in it.It has been over a year since I started making this and I LOVE how well it cleans and I also love the scent.It makes me want to drink it, and I could since there are no chemicals in it.My daughter has (had) terrible asthma but since I have taken most chemicals out of my house it has cut down dramatically. She was on a rescue inhaler and a preventive one.Both of which she used everyday.She no longer is on the preventive one and hardly uses the rescue one.Changing over is one of the best choices I have made.Not to mention the fact that this stuff is super cheap to make....which Im all for. It does take time, but it isnt time consuming.The worst part of the process is waiting since this isnt something you can whip up and use on the spot.(I have another cleaner like that if anyone wants me to post it, let me know)This is made with items you probably have on hand and if not you will find in the grocery store.The vinegar used in this is a great disinfectant and deodorizer.And the oranges cut through grease better than anything else I have tried and they are yummy too!

Heres what you will need:

• Orange peels ~ I use organic so it's not coated with chemicals
  
• Vinegar
• Spray bottle

That's all it takes. Seriously. Well that and time.Save all of your orange peels when you eat them, it can be one at a time.You dont have to eat them all at once lol Then add them to your bottle of vinegar.Store the vinegar in a cool dark place.Mine is under the kitchen sink.Every day or so take the bottle out and give it a few hard shakes.I let mine sit for about 4 weeks before I use it to clean with.Fill up your spray bottle anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 full of the orange/vinegar mix and the rest with water.Then clean away.When the bottle gets low get a new bottle ready to go.I save some of the orange/vinegar mix and add it to my new batch to get things started.When I start a new batch I take the peels from the old bottle and wring them out to get all their goodness and that helps the start of the new batch also.I have other uses for the cleaner also but I will save that for another post.If you have any questions about this please click on the contact button and I will get back to you as soon as I can.Merry mixing!

Homemade : All natural deodorant

If you haven't heard of the evils of store bought deodorant and the chemical poisons that are used in it you might want to look into it ASAP.Run to google and you will find tons of sites with lots of info.Go on now.Scoot!( I could spend hours telling you but I just want to get to the recipe lol)

Ok,Back? Did you see what I was talking about? Ready for a all natural substitute you can make at home with items you likely have on hand? One that has a handful of ingredients and is organic? Did I mention it takes less than 5 mins to make? Seriously, what could be more appealing than a item that stops you from stinkin up the place, is all natural, handmade by you in minutes, and is CHEAP?? And let me say this right now.I can sweat!I used to buy the clinical strength commercial deodorants and I still had issues with sweat and smell.But this stuff is AMAZING!

Here's what it takes:

• ~Coconut oil
• ~Baking Soda
• ~Corn Starch
• ~Tea Tree Oil
• ~Lavender Oil

That's it.You can also add other essential oils of your choice but this is all I use.The tea tree oil and the lavender oil are used for their antibacterial properties.That is what kills the funky smell.The baking soda works as the same but it also keeps you dry along with the corn starch.The coconut oil holds it all together and makes your skin smooth.
In a bowl mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup corn starch.Mix well.Melt 1/4 cup of coconut oil and add a couple TBSP at a time till you get a texture mud.You want it to end up thick like a paste BUT this stuff thickens as it sits.What you have in the beginning is not what you will have in about 24 hrs.So make it about 1/2 as thin as you want it to be in the end.My 1st batch came out THICK( I don't know if you can tell in the pic below).Whats great about this is that it still works no matter what the consistency is.It just makes it easier to work with if its on the creamier side.And if it doesn't get to the texture you want tweaking it is easy.Just add a bit of what you need till its where you want it.( Too thin add Baking soda/corn starch and too thick add coconut oil) I am also thinking about coming up with a liquid deodorant that I can put in a little spritz bottle.

Anyway here it is:


My container is the glass one on the right.I have had it for about 2 months and that's what is missing.Granted I don't use it everyday, but almost.I just scoop a little bit (very little) out and spread it on.A little goes a long way with this stuff.I don't have to reapply it either.This stuff is that good.I will NEVER go back to store bought.The plastic container on the left is my sisters that I just made.If you can see it the consistency is goopy like mud.In a few hours it should thicken up quite a bit and be creamy but firm.Go ahead and try it out! It works great, costs pennies and you wont have to run to the store and buy poison in a stick.Plus the containers you put this stuff in can be found in the kitchen OR you can even reused your old deodorant stick( save them from the landfill).Just fill them up,let them sit overnight to thicken, then use. If anyone tries it out please let me know what you thought.Merry Mixing!

How to properly recycle everyday items

So everyone recycles their bottles, cans and cardboard/paper right? Right?! Well what about items that people may not know how to recycle? I know how busy life is and I know people don't have the time to go out and find where to recycle the items we use daily but that dont fit in the bottle/can/paper categories.( Insert Might Mouse music....."Here I come to save the dayyyyy!") You may have to make a phone call or click the mouse but I will give you a starting point to work with.Get your pen and paper ready.

• Batteries : My local Staples store accepts them, free of charge, as do some other retail stores in my area.Also check out ehso.com.They will show you places in your area where you can drop off batteries.
• Foam peanuts : Some peanuts are now made from vegetable starches! To see if yours are place them under running water and see if the melt.If they do then you have biodegradable and non toxic peanuts and the company that sent them too you kick ass! If not then you have the old evil kind.Call 'The peanut hotline' toll free at 1-800-828-2214 and they will let you know what businesses in your area accept them and reuse them.
• VHS tapes: Most people now buy DVD's and and moving on to blu-rays.To help keep VHS tapes out of the landfills send them to a business called Alternative Community Training.They are a nonprofit company that provides jobs for people with disabilities.They either erase the tapes, resell the ones in good condition or recycle the plastic from the rest.They have recycled more then 1 million tapes so far! Simply mail the tapes to them ( using USPS media mail makes it pretty cheap)

• ACT 2200 Burlington Columbia, MO 65202
  
  
  
• Paint: Donate!! There are tons of places in your area that will take your paint.Habitat for Humanity is always in need of..well anything you can donate.Check out habitat.org to find a habitat in your area.Or you can go to earth911.com and find out where to recycle it in your zip code.
• CD's and DVD's: You can mail discs to 'Back thru the future' a woman-owned ( whoo hoo) electronics recycling and data destruction company.They also let you know about recycling your hard drives.

I am going to look into this some more and if I come up with any others I will share them.If you have something that you want to recycle, but dont know how to, leave me a comment and I will do the hunt for you.Don't forget about precycling and save yourself some of the hassle of figuring out where to send items when your done.