Venturing…

Wow, I have really been missing an opportunity here!

You see, we’ve been traveling around with B this summer. He travels for work, and we have been along for most of the ride.

So far we’ve had a blast in Boston, walked around NYC twice, visited historic landmarks and museums everywhere, ran into mild car problems in Philadelphia, and saw an old friend down in Texas.

Keeping it eco-friendly on the road can be a challenge, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make it a little easier. From where to stay, to what to bring, join us on an adventuring Venture in Green!

The Juice

Were you an outside kid? I was a total outside kid. My brother and I would be outside and in the woods from the time we woke up to the time our dad whistled us in after dark. Naturally, I had more than a few run ins with poison ivy. Once, while swinging on vines in Economy Park with my cousins, I got poison ivy on my face. It caused my glasses to sit crooked on my swollen face. My saving grace- The Juice.

My dad claims he’s never gotten poison ivy, but I’ll say it’s The Juice. The Jewelweed Juice. I know you know what Jewelweed is, you’ve probably played with it. It’s a member of the impatiens family. It has little orange/yellow flowers with oval leaves, but the kicker is the seed pods. They will burst when you touch them.

It’s been a while since I’ve had to stew some jewelweed to treat my poison ivy.  And since the flowers and seed pods are not in season, I had to do some searching.

The kids and I took to the trails

In search of jewelweed, I knew we had to get to some low-laying lands with an abundance of water from a creek or near wetlands. Once we got to the bottom, I knew we were in the right place! So we played around in the trails for a while before we plucked our jewelweed and went on our way.

Here is what the jewelweed looks like, it is a little easier to spot with the flowers and seed pods that really give it away.

Now, I do not suggest you go out in the woods and pick any plant you think is what you are looking for. Be sure of what you are picking before you use it.

Back to The Juice, it is easy to make. Just pull the jewelweed out of the ground. Take it home and rinse the dirt off of it. Then all you have to do is boil it in some water. Boil for 10-15 minutes, then strain through a piece of cheesecloth. Store The Juice in the fridge for 1-3 months. LABEL IT PROPERLY! IT WILL LOOK LIKE ICED TEA BUT DO. NOT. DRINK.

Apply to the affected area to stop the itch and dry out your poison ivy.

Have a great, and itch-free summer!

 

 

Vinegar Clean!

Last Thursday, I was featured in The Green Grandma‘s guest blog post called Supermoms! How I Birthed My Baby — Part 8. I told the tale of REDs birth at Pittsburghs own The Midwife Center for Birth and Woman’s Health. It was great to connect with a local green blogger whom I’ve been reading for almost 2 years.

The Green Grandma’s claim to fame is, without question, her Vinegar Fridays book and posts. I was dabbling with cleaning with vinegar, but after I found her blog, I jumped in with both feet!

It’s become a running joke between my brother and I. Yesterday, he was over and I was telling him about how I have a few splotches of poison ivy on my arms and legs. Growing up together, and being kids who love the outdoors, we are quite familiar with the trials of that three-leafed menace. I told him I’ve been putting vinegar on my ivy spots and he laughed. Just a few weeks ago he saw me pouring vinegar on weeds outside to kill them. “You’re like the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding” he said, “The guy who thinks Windex cures everything”. I can’t lie, it’s true. But it does really work!

Seeing that it is still Spring, and if you’re like me that Spring Cleaning project has taken the back burner to other things (like getting out and enjoying the weather!), I’ve put together a few of my favorite vinegar cleaning recipes. (DWV = Distilled White Vinegar)

·        Clean windows by mixing 3 Tbsp DWV, ½ tsp liquid soap, and 2 ½ cups water in a spray bottle. Spray on windows and wipe clean with a towel.

·        Run your coffee pot once with the water reservoir filled halfway with DWV, and then run it again with just water, your coffee pot will be spotless and your coffee will taste better!

·        Freshen the air around the house by combining 1 tsp baking soda, 1 Tbsp DWV, and 2 ½ cups of water. Once the mixture stops foaming, mix well and use in a spray bottle.

·        Give your cutting boards a nice scrub by putting 1 Tbsp of table salt on the board, then scrubbing it with half of a lemon.

·        Kitchen or bathroom drains running a little slow? Pour 2 oz of baking soda down the drain, followed by 5 fl oz of DWV, then stuff a rag in the drain to plug it and prevent the mixture from foaming up. Wait 20 minutes, then take the rag out and pour 1 gallon of boiling water down the drain.

·        Hot DWV can be used to clean dried paint off of glass. Just apply to a cloth, and wipe the paint away.

·        Easily clean off splatters in your microwave by heating 2 Tbsp DWV and 1 cup water in a microwave safe bowl for 45 seconds. Carefully remove the bowl, and wipe the microwave out.

·        Clean and deodorize your toilet by pouring 2 ½ cups DWV around the bowl. Brush vigorously and allow to remain in bowl for 30 minutes.

·        Make a furniture polish by mixing equal parts DWV and vegetable oil. Wipe on, then buff with a soft cloth (Try on an inconspicuous part of the furniture first).

·        Soak your paint brushes in hot DWV, then wash with warm soapy water to soften them up for your next project.

·        Remove winter salt stains from some shoes by wiping with a solution of 1 Tbsp DWV and 1 cup water.

Vinegar is a simple and cheap product that has so many more uses than just salad dressing! And if you buy in bulk, you decrease the amount of packaging and get more product for your money! You’ll be surprised at how versatile some of the products in your kitchen cabinets are! Happy Cleaning!

I no-poo and you can too!

About a year ago, I said NO to Sodium Laureth Sulfate (a known carcinogen), Cocamidopropyl betaine (named ‘Allergen of the Year’ by The American Contact Dermatitis Society), and Sodium Xylene Sulfonate (an eye and skin irritant). That’s right friends, I said NO to shampoo!

These things were found on the label of a so-called ‘Natural’ shampoo. After doing a little label research, I realized I needed to find a new way to cleanse my family’s hair. That’s when I found a simple, inexpensive, effective, and safe way to clean our hair. And the best thing is, you already have everything you need to do it yourself!

All you have to do is mix 2-4 Tbsp of baking soda in a cup of water.

 Pour that on your hair while you’re in the shower, and scrub it into your head. Thoroughly rinse it out. Then mix 2-4 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar in the same cup filled with water.

Pour that on your hair and scrub in also. Thoroughly rinse it out. The vinegar smell will not linger on your hair after you rinse. The baking soda will gently get the oils out of your hair, and the vinegar will soften your hair and scalp.

So the next time you lather up, turn the bottle around and see how many of the ingredients you can identify (or even pronounce!). Go on the internet and check those things out! Some of the things you’ll wonder why they’re there in the first place!

In Action

I love when companies put things in place to help the environment, but what I really love is when I get to see those things in action.

Case-in-point –  the electric car charging station at the Greenfield Giant Eagle.

This made me gitty!

It goes to show you that Field of Dreams had it correct – If you build it, they will come!

 

Winning this Week

We had some pretty exciting stuff happen at Changin’ Time this week!

Firstly, we had the debut of our You Tube commercial we had recorded a few weeks ago.

Changin’ Time Commercial

It’s gotten TONS of positive feed back, and even a few new customers! Things are really rolling along! SUPER THANKS to the Slippery Rock University students that worked on it!

Also in the good news pile was our results from a laboratory we send our diapers to.

Changin’ Time has enrolled in the Real Diaper Industry Associations’ Accreditation Program. This voluntary program helps us adhere to the strictest sanitation guidelines in the laundry industry. Our diapers, wipes, and diaper covers get randomly tested for bacteria growth, absorbancy, pH, and how sanitary they are.

We are happy to report that they all PASSED! Well, not only did we pass, but we are sitting pretty with great sanitation scores!

Things are looking very bright for the future of Changin’ Time!

Cloth Friendly Diaper Salve

If being an advocate for natural and attachment parenting has taught me anything, it’s that almost all baby products you can buy in a big box store are worthless. I had a lot to learn when I purchased my first cloth diaper.

Wait, you mean I can’t use regular laundry detergent?

What’s this ‘diaper sprayer’ thing, the American version of a bidet?

This little jar of rash cream is HOW MUCH?!?

It has been an eye-opening experience, but I’m all the better for having experienced it! One truth cloth diapering parents have to deal with that can be hard to swallow is-

Rash Happens.

When that molotov cocktail of #1 and #2 mix in that diaper, bad things can happen.

I will admit, just using cloth diapers will not guarantee rash-free cheeks. But cloth diapering parents tend to change diapers more often because they know there are no chemicals in there to pull moisture away from babys skin, thus leading to less diaper rash.  But sometimes, there is nothing you can do but treat it.

Case-in-point, REDs latest rash. It was a doosie. She eats a little more adventurous than your average baby, so sometimes what comes out is unpleasant for her skin. There are all sorts of cloth-safe rash treatments out there nowadays! But since I have made cremes with MIL for de la Cueva Soaps, I felt confident enough to do it myself, and it was so easy, I think you can do it too!

I am going to share this one as my first…

BEESWAX AND COCONUT OIL DIAPER RASH SALVE

Coconut oil is a hot product right now! I literally danced like a little girl when I found it in spray form at my local co-op. Besides being good for your body on the outside, it’s amazing when you cook and eat with it too. Check it out! It’s great in this salve because, depending on where you live and the season, it will stay solid at room temperature.

Ok, now for the good stuff-

Grab 6 oz. of Coconut Oil

And 1 oz. of Beeswax

 And some Tea Tree Oil.

*A note on measurements: Get yourself a scale! Not just for diaper salve making, but for baking and cooking too! Measurements by weight are more accurate and you will yield better results!*

Then get your equipment. You’ll need a glass mason jar, some chopsticks or small wooden spoon, and a pot.

Place the mason jar in the pot, and fill with water so it comes halfway up the side of the jar. Turn the stove on medium heat, and place your beeswax inside the jar to melt. You’re kind of making a double-boiler.

Once things get boiling, you can turn the stove down to a simmer and stir the beeswax until it’s completely melted. Then add the coconut oil a few scoops at a time. Once everything in the jar is melted, you can turn off the stove and take the jar out of the water.

Then add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil and mix it in. I go a little on the heavy side because I love the smell of it, but if you don’t, add at least 5 if only for tea tree oils anti-fungal properties.

After that you just let it cool and harden at room temperature for a few hours. After that you’re ready to use it!

This rash salve has served me very well. Don’t be afraid to play around with the ingredients! Lavender oil is a great substitute for tea tree. And if you want a thicker salve, add more beeswax, or a thinner one add more coconut oil.

Also, if you’ve never used coconut oil on your baby, try some on a small patch of skin just to be certain there’s no reaction.

Happy Diapering!

Wordless Wednesday

Oil Pulling

Oil Pulling.

This is one of those times where I excitedly told B about it, and got The Look in response.

Oil Pulling is an ancient Ayurveda process that is so simplistic and easy to do, there’s no reason not to try it!

So, what do you do?

Firstly, you want to do this in the morning. Right when you wake up and have an empty stomach.

Pick your oil. I recommend using coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil because of their mild flavor.

Pour a Tablespoon.

Swish it in your mouth for 20 minutes. Don’t swish too hard, this isn’t mouthwash and your mouth can get tired out.

DON’T SWALLOW IT! This oil is pulling impurities out of your mouth! You don’t want to put them back in your stomach!

Spit it out.

Rinse your mouth out with a salt water solution.

Then you can brush your teeth as usual.

I know what you’re thinking. ‘That was EASY! But why should I do it?’

Oil Pulling Therapy has been found to help many ailments. Like head-aches, bronchitis, tooth pain, eczema, ulcers and diseases of stomach, intestines, heart, blood, kidney, liver, lungs and women’s diseases. It heals diseases of nerves, paralysis, and encephalitis.

But it’s by no means a quick fix. Like with many alternative health treatments, it’s not meant to treat the symptoms, but rather help your WHOLE body. Luckily, I do not suffer from any of the ailments listed above, but I’ll still be pulling oil every morning. I’d rather live wholly now and not suffer later.

A great website for Oil Pulling can be found here: www.oilpulling.com

**This is an opionion post. If you suffer from any medical problems, you should contact a doctor before trying this. I am not a doctor, just a lady living alternatively.**