Try It Out Tuesday: Bath Fizzy Cupcakes

Be sure to enter the Picky Sticky Giveaway HERE before Friday!

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Who doesn't love taking a hot soak... and what makes a long bath more relaxing is having your favorite scents wafting through the air and being surrounded by a nice skin nourishing concoction.

These super easy homemade bath fizzy cupcakes are a great way to add a little something special to your bath... and they make awesome little gifts!

What you need:
1 cup citric acid
3/4 cup corn starch
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup raw sugar
4ish tablespoons oil
*I use olive oil, but almond oil works well too... any oil would work
10ish drops scent or essential oil
*I used special soap scent (on clearance for $0.25 at Joanns)
Cupcake liners

Mix all dry ingredients together.

This is where I separated mine into two bowls to use two scents.
Add oil and mix until just moist... kind of like the pea state of pie crust.
Add in your scent.

Scoop about 1/4 cup into a cupcake liner and press firmly into cup. If they are too dry, you can spritz lightly with witch hazel or water (if you use water be super sparing as the water can activate the fizz reaction).

Let them sit for a little while until they are dry.
Gently pull the liners out.

I labeled my different scents with little paper circles placed on top of each fizz.


Wrap gently with tissue paper and tie with a little ribbon and you have a sweet little gift!
Drop one in a bath and enjoy!!

Try It Out Tuesday: Carpet Cleaner

A few weeks ago, one of our dogs had an emergency bathroom accident all over our bedroom floor (really late at night). I had a regular old carpet cleaner in the cleaning supply area... and I used it. We were in a pinch and I didn't want the mess to soak into the carpet if I left it until morning when I could research cleaners. That night I had a sore throat and my allergies were terrible the next day. I blame it 100% on the cleaner. This sent me into a frenzy to discover a good carpet cleaner... that would take out messes without giving me an allergy attack. This super simple concoction is my new go-to carpet cleaner.

You need:
1/4 cup dish soap
1 cup lukewarm water

Combine the two in a spray bottle. Spray, rub and blot to remove excess moisture. This can be used to clean large areas of carpet or spot treat small areas.

Try It Out Tuesday: Wood Floor Polish

We have wood (well fake wood) floors... and finding a "green" polish for them is difficult. I haven't found one I love... and I really don't like spending lots of money to decide if I like them. So when I came upon this I decided it was worth a try and I like it pretty well.

You need:
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Combine the two in a spray bottle. Spray lightly over floor and buff to a shine with a cloth (or your floor mop). Then go over again lightly with a dry cloth.

Enjoy!!

Try It Out Tuesday: Toilet Cleaner

We have hard water, and so our toilets get a residue very quickly... we go through a lot of toilet bowl cleaner... and with this solution, it isn't as expensive... and it is much more environmentally friendly!

You need:
1 cup borax
1/4 cup lemon juice or vinegar

Combine the two to make a paste and apply to the inside of the toilet bowl. Let set for 1-2 hours then scrub clean and flush with water.

Hope your toilet sparkles (and smells nicer too)!
Enjoy!

Try It Out Tuesday: Corn Starch Diaper Powder

Does your little kiddo have a sensitive bum? I know mine does... and we use a good amount of this awesome cooking ingredient to treat it!

That's right... you can use corn starch to treat your babies diaper rash! It is the main ingredient in most store bought diaper powders... and this is talc and fragrance free as well (and cheaper too). If you like a little fragrance, you can add one drop of your favorite oil to a cup of corn starch, put it in a container and shake until the oil is distributed throughout. I use mine as is. You can store this in a little salt shaker for easy application!

Enjoy!

Try It Out Tuesday: Mold Killer

Do you ever find yourself face to face with this...
Eeek... Mold!
And in my experience, the mold grows in one of two places... the bathroom or the kitchen. I really don't like the idea of using a chemical or bleach based cleaner... especially where food would be stored... but I also don't like the idea of mold touching my food. So I need a cleaner that kills the mold but also isn't going to be toxic!


Enter tea tree oil!
Mix 1 tablespoon with 1 cup water and spray onto the mold.
Leave to set for at least 2 hours.
If it is in the shower or bath (where water will rinse over) leave until your next shower/bath and gently rinse off. If it is elsewhere, wipe off. You can rinse after wiping off... but there isn't a strong need.

*Tea tree oil has a very strong aroma, but it is safe to breathe.
**Tea tree oil can be used as a topical treatment for acne, athletes foot, warts, toenail fungus and more... but should not be used as a topical treatment if you are pregnant or nursing.

Try It Out Tuesday: Homemade Baby Food Part 2

So... after a few weeks... I have the second half of the homemade baby food blog (and giveaway)!

I have had the honor and pleasure of reviewing the book "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron.

This book has been a great resource for me as I am on the journey of feeding my kiddo! It is like the baby food bible. This one book is the ultimate resource for food safety, recipes, thrifty tips, and more! I was surprised by the wealth of information in this book that was not just about "baby" food. The book follows feeding from infancy through toddler... with a good number of recipes that would appeal to adults as well!

As a new mom, I am super appreciative of all the recipes and kitchen tips for making baby food... she goes in depth on batch cooking, freezing and storing techniques and even shopping tips for making baby food.

There are loads of great recipes... including how to make your own yogurt! Another recipe that I am finding useful (and cheaper than buying the store variety) is her Super Porridge recipes... AKA grain cereal. Yaron explains how to take "rice cereal" into a whole grain medley that can grow with your child all the way into adulthood. Her fruit and veggie recipes are great and simple.

The latter portion of the book is dedicated to really fun topics... like cake decorating, crafts to do with your child, money saving tips, time saving tips, silly/fun recipes and more.

I honestly keep this book with my baby food supplies for easy reference. It is a wealth of information and tips that I am glad to have.

I have one copy of this book to giveaway! I will run this giveaway until Friday... and on Friday I will choose one commenter to win (using random.org). Just leave a comment to be entered! Even if you don't have a kiddo or don't plan on making your own baby food, this is a great resource for food safety and cooking information as well as some fun crafty ideas!

Try It Out Tuesday: Tie Dyed Easter Eggs

Check out the Cool Tricks Giveaway HERE!!
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Change of plans... Last Tuesday, I said I would be doing Part 2 of Homemade Baby Food... but in light of Easter in a week and a half, I decided to do this post instead. Next week I will continue the Baby Food series!

Isn't this egg just stunning?!? I think this could rival on of the Fabergé eggs (well, maybe not... but it sure is pretty). Side-note... when I was in the fifth grade, the Fabergé eggs came to a nearby museum and my parents took my brother and me to see them... and they were amazing! If you ever get the chance to see them... go!

Anyway... you can make eggs like this using a fairly simple tie-dye process!

I started with boiled eggs (because I my pots are aluminum). If your pots aren't aluminum, you can start with raw eggs and boil them in the process.

Find some old ties. I got mine at a thrift store for $.50 a piece.

Make sure they are 100% silk. You can check the tag to see this. If it doesn't say all silk or 100% silk... they it is likely not. One of my ties looked and felt like silk... but didn't transfer any die.

Using a seam ripper or some small scissors, take your ties apart. Remove all lining, so all you have left is the silk.

Cut a piece of silk large enough to wrap the egg.

Wrap your egg snugly in the silk (design side touching the egg).

Wrap the silk & egg in a piece of light colored cotton. I used a pillowcase I got at the thrift store.

Secure with a rubber band (or a hair tie if you cannot find anymore rubber bands).

Gather all your eggs into a pot (I used a microwave proof glass bowl).

Cover with water and about 1/2 cup vinegar. Boil for 20 minutes (if you plan to eat the eggs, boil them for 20 min. and then leave them in the water for another 20 min.).
*If you use the microwave, cook the eggs for 25 min.

When you pull the eggs out of the cotton/silk wrap, they should have the patterns transferred! My eggs turned out very light because of the microwave... if you do this on the stove top, they should turn out much more vibrant.

Polish them with a little vegetable oil... and enjoy those stunning prints on your beautiful Easter eggs! What fun to hunt for these little gems!

**If you cook your eggs in the microwave, there is a slight chance they could explode. I have not had this experience, but it is possible. If you start with boiled eggs, the chance is lower.
***I am not sure of the safety of eating these eggs... I have seen that many people do... but as I am not aware of the dyes used on the ties I cannot vouch for the safety.

Try It Out Tuesday: Homemade Baby Food... Part 1

Have you entered the Abigail's Hope Designs Giveaway Yet? Check it out HERE until March 18.
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This is Part 1 of 2... next week I will be doing a book review and giveaway on this subject... as well as addressing any questions/comments that come up after today's post!!!

Now that my little girl is old enough to start eating "solids" I have decided that I will be making my own baby food for her. I have been working on this for a few weeks now... and rather slowly because she isn't eating much more than rice cereal.

So far I have made sweet potatoes, apples and pears. She has also tasted avocado (raw) and banana (raw). The rice cereal she is getting is a box variety and we are using the same kind she got in the hospital. Once we run out of that variety, I might consider making my own rice cereal as well!

I had a food processor from my wedding registry... and it has admittedly gotten little use! So, I was pleased to have a reason to dust it off and give it some jobs. I have found that making baby food is super easy and it fits right into my cooking time.

For most fruits and veggies, you simply steam the food, blend it up to the desired thickness (you can add the cooking water to thin it) using your processor and then freeze the puree in ice cube trays. Once frozen, the cubes of food can be stored in the freezer for quite a while... and then to use them, you can thaw them in the fridge or simple microwave them!

There are certain foods that are rich in nitrates (dangerous for baby)... and you have to be careful about those foods (like carrots and spinach). Otherwise, the process is incredible simple.

I am curious to know your experiences with making baby food! Do you have any recipes you love or your kiddo loves? What about recipes you or your kiddo hated? Any tips or tricks you have found? Any favorite books on the subject?

Try It Out Tuesday: Vacuum Cleaner Tip

Easter is coming up... check out the awesome giveaways with prizes that would liven up any Easter basket!

Looking for the BooBoo and Norm GIVEAWAY? Check it out HERE until March 11.
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Have you entered the Abigail's Hope Designs Giveaway Yet? Check it out HERE until March 18.
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Do you ever look at the underside of your vacuum cleaner... ick! Between the dog hair and my long hair... our vacuum cleaner gets overworked. I vacuum at least once a week... so it doesn't take long for the bottom of our vacuum cleaner to look like this:
Once the hair is all wrapped around the beater brush, it doesn't spin and therefore, it doesn't pick up as much dirt. Scissors work to get the hair out, but they are usually so bulky and awkward to get into those little places. You also have to be careful to not snip the bristles on the beater brush. So here is an idea for how to get that hair out!
Use a seam ripper! Maybe not the same one you use for sewing... but if you rinse it after... it will be good as new! The little blade on the inside is perfect for cutting through hair and the size makes it super easy to get into even the smallest crannies of the vacuum!

Just slide it across the beater brush and it will cut the hair, then pull the hair out and throw it away! Easy... albeit gross!

And in just a few minutes... your vacuum cleaner looks like new again! Amazing!

What tricks do you use to make cleaning easier!?!?!?

Try It Out Tuesday: Oven Cleaner

Looking for the BooBoo and Norm GIVEAWAY? Check it out HERE until March 11.

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Let me start with a little confession and a story...

Confession: I hate cleaning my oven, therefore I hardly ever do it.

Story: I started a fire in my oven. This was a few years ago, after we had been living in this house for 3 years and I had never cleaned the oven. I didn't even know I needed to clean the oven... or how to do it for that matter. I was baking Monkey Bread (sticky-gooey-messy-yummy cinnamon bread)... and I had placed it in a springform pan (thinking it would make for easier clean-up after the fact). So the gooey-yummy juices dripped down in the bottom of the oven. I am sure there was already a big mess of dripings down in the bottom of the oven. So the sticky-gooey drippings kept on dripping... and they were smoking a bit... but I just kept baking because I thought it would stop. Then it started smoking A LOT. I opened the oven to see all kinds of flames jumping out at me! I promptly shut the oven and went to the garage to get the fire extinguisher. I opened the oven again, hoping to see the fire had put itself out... it had not. I realized I would indeed need to use the extinguisher, so I tried to break the pin... couldn't get it to break... the fire was still going... and I was super scared by this point because I was going to be the girl whose house burned down because I couldn't get the pin out of the fire extinguisher... I called 911 and kept working on the pin. After the nice emergency dispatcher calmed me down and sent a team out to our house she talked me through using the fire extinguisher and I actually got the pin out. I sprayed the white foam all in the oven and put out the fire. The firemen came, helped clear out the smoke (with a HUGE fan) and laughed at my plight.

Since then... my oven has not been the same. I have cleaned it a couple times, but it really hasn't been clean. There has always been the icky scar from where the fire was... until the other day!
We went to use the oven and it started smoking... a tell-tale sign that it needs to be cleaned again. So I decided I was going to look into a "green" cleaner instead of the scary oven cleaner that just about requires a haz-mat suit. What I found was quite simple... and it REALLY worked... I no longer have a nasty stain from the fire and my oven is really clean! It is a cleaning wonder!

The recipes I found were all fairly similar and they incorporated the following ingredients:
-borax
-vinegar
-water
-dish soap
-baking soda

They all had different amounts... so here is what I did! I used my all-natural cleaner I told you about HERE. I sprayed it very liberally all through the oven. I then sprinkled baking soda all through the oven. I did this very generously as well. I used close to half a box of baking soda. I then sprayed the cleaner over the top of the baking soda. I left this overnight. In the morning, I sprayed the oven with water and then wiped the paste-like cleaner out. I didn't even really have to scrub or use much elbow grease. I did use a scraper to get the fire stain out... but the baking soda really cut through the grease and grime. I am so pleased with this method because it was super easy, smelled much nicer than store-bought cleaner.

Happy Oven Cleaning

Try It Out Tuesday: Mabel's Labels

Have you heard about Mabel's Labels?

I was recently given the opportunity to try out some of their Classic Sticky Labels and I LOVE them!

Mabel's Labels is a Canada based company that creates all kinds of labels perfect for you and your kiddos! They have labels for just about everything you might need to mark as your own. Even if you don't have kids (or your kids don't need labels anymore) they have handy household labels!

These are the labels I got... you get to choose your color and icon and personalize them!

These labels are microwave and dishwasher safe! I have labeled bottles, bowls and spoons as well! These can go to the babysitters or daycare and will make it back home!

Can't you see yourself using something like this?

What about iron-on labels to identify your child's jacket... keeping it out of the lost and found!
Their iron on labels or tag mates (that adhere to clothing tags) are both washing machine and dryer safe! I am eying some iron-ons for blankets and diaper/wipes cases. Wouldn't that be great for daycare or the church nursery? These would have also been perfect for when Karsie was in the NICU and used her own blankets... we lost a few blankets to the hospital laundry because they weren't labeled!

Are you a teacher like me? They have a set of classroom labels to help label bins, file folders and shelves! That would save a bundle of time to have everything all organized and labeled!

My favorite item right now is their Curbsides... they are labels for your waste bins! Sometime over the last year we lost our greens bin... Had we had one of these super cute labels... it would have made its way home to us!

So... check out Mabel's Labels today!!!

Try It Out Tuesday: Skin Deep Website

How much do we know about what is in our body products? I know most of the time I don't know much... and when I try to look it up or read the list of ingredients, I cannot figure out what anything is! I especially am concerned with what is in the products I put on my baby! She has sensitive skin to start... but she is so tiny and I want to make sure that I am using products that are safe for her. A few months ago a great friend sent me this link:
Skin Deep
I absolutely love this website! It is a database of *most* body products that I use or am interested in using! I am able to look up products and see their rating for safety! I can also look up specific ingredients and find out how safe they are! Each item or ingredient is given a safety rating from 0-10 (0 being safest) based on the ingredients and how safe they are.

I have to admit I have spent a lot of time looking up products or potential products on this site. I also have to warn you that even products that are given a good (low) safety rating sometimes have crazy warnings. For example witch hazel (Rite Aid brand) has a rating of "1" which means it is very safe. But it is also marked for risk of cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, and other concerns. I believe this is because it contains alcohol... which can have those risks when consumed, but it is safe for use on the skin. So when you look up products, take the information with a grain of salt.

Try It Out Tuesday: Witch Hazel Review

Since I have been either pregnant or nursing for more than a year now, I have made some changes to the body products I use. It seems that almost everything can be passed to your baby during these times, and I have tried to be super careful of what I am passing on to mine.
One of the main products I have tried to avoid are the chemicals that work best at fighting acne. I am prone to the annoyance, and I have been able to keep it under control in the past by using different acne medicines. All during pregnancy and the first few months of nursing, I really hated the acne and felt there was nothing I could use to treat it! I used a mild face wash, but that didn't take care of the problem.

In some research I had come across witch hazel but didn't really give it a second thought until I mentioned this to one of Karsie's nurses and she said something about witch hazel. She had been using it and really liked it... so I did some more fact finding and I decided that witch hazel would be safe to try and it seemed like something that might work! I decided to try the alcohol free variety and I bought a bottle of Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel (this kind appeared to be the most natural form). I started using it in early December and I almost instantly fell in love!
I immediately noticed that my skin felt smoother and the acne started to go away very quickly.

This has not been a miracle cleanser for me, but it has made a difference.
Aside from cleaning my face, I have used it for treating razor burn and soothing/healing a paper cut. I have also seen that you can use it to treat a bad diaper rash, reduce bruises, take the itch out of a bug bite (or poison ivy or oak too), reduce vericose veins, or reduce swelling under the eyes.

I purchased Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel at Whole Foods for about $10, but since there isn't a Whole Foods where I live, when I needed a refill, I got a bottle of Rite Aid Witch Hazel for $2! I like both varieties pretty well (though Thayer's smells much nicer :)

I would encourage you to give Witch Hazel a try!

Try It Out Tuesday: Laundry Day

In all my research on how to "green" my cleaning products... and in order to help combat my little Bug's super sensitive skin... I came across some DIY laundry soaps! I didn't even know that was possible! I was super curious at how it would work... and I was impressed at how simple it is. I tried it and I have fallen in love with my new laundry detergent! I also found some ways to finish out that load of laundry without using dryer sheets (which leave a residue on clothes).

There are recipes available for making both liquid and powder detergent, but the steps for making liquid detergent were much more involved. So I went with powder...

What you need:

-1 cup Borax Powder (remember, you just got a box last week for cleaner?)
-1 cup Super Washing Soda
-1 cup grated soap (about 1 bar)

*Borax and Super Washing Soda were both near the laundry detergent in my grocery store and each cost about $3. The soap cost $.10 for a 3 pack using some serious couponing... but I imagine I will be spending $3 on future 3 packs. Also, I used Dial Hypo-Allergenic soap, but you can use any soap you like. In my research both Dove and Ivory had high recommendations.

Tools:
-Measuring Cup
-Cheese Grater (fine)

1. Grate the soap.

2. Combine the soap, Borax and Super Washing Soda in an airtight container and shake up.
3. Use 3-4 Tablespoons per load of laundry. Enjoy clean clothes and inexpensive, safe laundry soap!

**I made a triple batch so I would have enough to last for a good while. I am LOVING this soap. I especially love the mild scent. If you love a stronger smell, choose a stronger soap!


I also have learned a few things about dryer sheets and I am choosing not to use them anymore... plus I hate spending money on them. I have taken to tossing 3 tennis balls into the dryer with my laundry. This keeps the static at bay (not gone from fleece) and it decreases drying time by fluffing the laundry. This has also cut down on wrinkles... which means less ironing! Yay!

Finally, I like my laundry to have a mild scent, so the laundry soap is just about right for me... but sometimes I toss a little cotton baggy of lavender into the dryer to add a gentle fragrance. You can also put a couple drops of lavender (or whatever scent you like) oil onto a hankie and toss that in the dryer with your load.

Enjoy your new greener laundry!

Try It Out Tuesday: Spray Cleaner

I am working on trying to live a more "green" life. Not so much because I am a tree hugger (I am just a little bit) but because I am trying to be more cautious of what I bring into the house and what products I use on my body or especially on my baby's body. So as I run out of certain products, I am trying to find better/safer/greener products to replace them with... all the while, trying to save money (there are lots of great green products out there, but they tend to be more costly).

One of the things I have been concerned about is all the cleaning products in our house! We have different products for everything (toilets, windows, sinks, counters, showers, linoleum floors, wood floors, dusting, etc.). Most of these products have chemicals I cannot pronounce and they all require "adequate" ventilation and have warnings about keeping them away from children. So I did some research and decided that I can really cut down on the number of cleaning products I use... and I can make some cleaners of my own!

All Natural Glass Cleaner

First, I have been using this for a few years now and it is better than the glass cleaners you can get in the store. You mix 1 part water with 1 part vinegar and you have an amazing glass cleaner! It works really well to use newspaper as your wiper (instead of a paper towel). Your hands get the print all over them when you use newspaper... but it really leaves a nice clean window without streaks!

All Purpose Cleaner (works on tile, showers, sinks)
3 c. water
3 T borax powder
2 T vinegar
1-2 T dish soap (I use an all natural dish soap)
a few drops of your favorite essential oil (I used lavender because it was what I had)

Combine in spray bottle and swirl to mix. Spray over surface, let sit for a minute, scrub tough spots, and wipe away. You can follow with a wet sponge if you like, but it is not necessary.I tried this just a few days ago and I LOVE it! You have to use a little elbow grease to get the tough spots, but I feel better about how natural it is!

Stay tuned for more easy to make, all natural cleaning products (and a use for the rest of the borax now that you have a whole box)!