Not-so-funny funny of the day

DIY dishwasher detergent

Ran out of dishwasher detergent, so I am trying this hack today.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6087290

3 drops of dish detergent in soap cup in dishwasher. 

Fill soap cup about 2/3 full of baking soda.

Add salt until cup nearly full.

Run dishwasher as usual.

 

WORKS! And the dishwasher is really clean, too!

Toy wreath, weather, DIY cleaner, stuff...

January 2014 - photos and stuff

A rare pic of me and my first Instragram pic.

Yummmm...homemade pretzel buns...

http://dizzyfordragonflies.blogspot.ca/2015/01/breadmachine-pretzel-buns.html

...and homemade pouding chomeur!

Sometimes I like cats better than people!

You know it's cold out when you can't see out the window for the frost!

Another frosty window.

Just some of my stuff...it lookes pretty.

The misfit toys wreath. It was supposed to be just for Christmas, but we like it too much to put it away. I cut a wreath shape out of thick cardboard and got out the bucket of toys the kids had collected. The toys are broken, part of a set missing pieces or unwanted...but not enough to give them away.

http://www.cbc.ca/stevenandchris/decor/diy-wreaths-1

Jan 22, 2014:  First day of spring cleaning.

The bucket is filled with hot water and Mr. Clean, but I am also trying out some DIY (homemade) cleaning products and I will let you know how they work.

update: made an all-purpose spray cleaner with vinegar, baking soda and water and IT WORKS. My stove top has never been so shiny!
GO green: https://brightnest.com/posts/infographic-make-eco-friendly-cleaning-products
http://www.cookesfrontier.com/2012/03/orange-vinegar.html
http://www.freebiefindingmom.com/make-25-homemade-cleaners/


Darcy's journal for today: http://tiggeric.blogspot.ca/2014/01/january-2014-photos-and-stuff.html

New Year's Resolutions

2013: SIMPLIFY

My new kitchen composter kicked off a motivation in me to give back to the earth. I think by doing so I will also better myself in many ways. As such, I thought about some meaningful resolutions I would make for 2013.

#1: CUT THE CRAP
- buy local as much as possible. Ideally locally produced food and products, but that is often difficult, especially on a limited budget. If I can at least buy new things that are made in North America and NOT CHINA, I will happy.
- we already buy local eggs and maple syrup; local produce when in season, I make our bread, dinner rolls and pizza dough.

- less chemicals that I can't pronounce in my fridge and pantry. I think this goes hand in hand with buying local.  Items that don't have a long transportation will have less chemical preservatives. When we can't buy local, I check the ingredients and try to avoid anything "artificial."
- we have switched from margarine to butter.

#2: 3 R's and a U:  Reduce, reuse, recycle and UPCYCLE (I'm already on the right track here)
- being more vigilant with reducing and reusing before recycling.
        + We return our empty egg cartons when buying eggs.
- upcycle (think arts n' crafts!)  Using something old to make something new.
         + Milk carton and soda bottle bird feeders
         + Christmas balls made from old X-mas cards
         + I buy a lot of 2nd hand items (reusing/ upcycling in some cases))
         + I sell, trade, or donate our unwanted items. I participate once per season in a swap meet with other families from Lachute at the CAL (Comite d'action Locale of Lachute)


- composting. I got a small kitchen composter from my mom for Christmas and it is wonderful! It holds about 5 days worth of food scraps in a compostable bag, which I then put in the brown bin from the city. In the summer I will start a compost pile, too.
       + So far this year we have already cut our actual garbage by half, largely due to composting.
- buying local also helps here, as most local products have less packaging and use less fossil fuels for transportation

#3: GO GREEN
This is a variation of the same theme.
-Using eco-bags
-using biodegradable, phosphate-free products in the house.
        +I currently use Method , Green Works, and Attitude a lot, but I am open to other suggestions for efficient, environmentally friendly cleaning products. I am also open to making my own products (Vinegar and water, baking soda, etc), so if you have a formula you'd like to share that would be great, too.

#4: Darcy
This is last, but by far not least.
Darcy has occasional bouts of separation anxiety at daycare, school, and even at home with Daddy when I'm out, albeit rarely. I am approaching this by supporting her and building trust and security in her.  I feel that although she must learn to cope with this and be without Mommy at certain times, that she must not be punished for her feelings. My goal is for her to become comfortable without me and learn to calm herself and most importantly know (trust!) that I will be there when she needs me. (Maybe not when she wants me to be there...)

There may be times that people think I am codling her or spoiling her when she's weepy and shy, but maybe she is just having one of her days when she really needs to be with Mommy as much as possible. Darcy is the reason I quit the job I loved and completely changed my career track and lifestyle...so I can be her mom and spend time with her while I have the chance. Of course, on the other hand, I am human and there are days when her mommy-needs don't fit the schedule or just simply get on my nerves...give me a bit of a break, too!

CWF challenges 40 to 50

Week 40: Recycle Oil and Antifreeze
Got leftover antifreeze in your garage? Don’t dump it! Service stations and recycling centres will take both oil and antifreeze for you and dispose it properly
Week 41: Stop Hosing Down Your Driveway

A toxic potion of brake fluid, oil, grease and antifreeze can cause havoc on a watery ecosystem. When you hose down your driveway, this chemical concoction eventually leads to our lakes and rivers. It might be a little extra work, but cleaning up spills properly is well worth the effort. For dry spills, simply get out your broom and dry sweep the area; for wet spills, clean it up with kitty litter and an absorbent cloth.

Week 42: Swap chemical cleaners for good ol’ elbow grease

Sure chemical cleaners take the work out of cleaning the oven, but many degreasers and disinfectants are wreaking havoc on aquatic organisms. Not only do they pollute aquatic habitats studies have found 70 per cent of American streams contain traces of the surfactants that make chemical cleaners suds up - but they also toy with the hormones in fish. So roll up your sleeves and clean soap scum in your shower with some good ol’ fashioned elbow grease.

Week 43: Trade antibacterial cleaners for a homemade cleaning potion

Not only does bacteria boost your immune system, but some bacteria can actually benefit the environment. Antibacterial ingredients, such as triclosan, have been found in 58 per cent of our steams. Mix your own cleaning potion with one part vinegar to one part water. Can’t stand your home smelling like vinegar? A few of drops of lavender or rosehip essential oil should mask the scent!

Week 44: Ditch the Drano and unplug your clogged drains environmentally

Your thick head of hair might be great for styling, but it’s awfully gross when it plugs up the drain in the bathtub. Still - there’s no need to rely on industrial lye and acids to unclog your shower drain of hair and debris. A simple plunger or plumber’s snake will do the trick.


Week 45: Check your dishwashing detergent for phosphates

Get your dishes squeaky clean with dishwashing detergents that are chemical free. Although most laundry detergents and dish soaps no longer contain harmful phosphates in their list of ingredients, some detergents still contain the ecosystem disturbing chemicals. Once phosphates get into lakes and streams, they can spark a boom in algae and weed growth.

Week 46: Make the Switch to Recycled Toilet Paper

Did you know Canadians use 3.4 billion rolls of toilet paper every year? It’s true! The average person uses 100 rolls of toilet paper annually. So how can we make a difference? Swap your virgin bleached variety for recycled. If we all switched out just one roll, we’d be able to save 48,000 trees and nix 4,500 kilograms of air and water pollution that goes into creating it.

Week 47: Combat dandruff with tea tree oil instead of mainstream dandruff shampoos

Many mainstream dandruff shampoos are full of toxic ingredients like coal tar, selenium disulphide and zinc pyrithione all synthetic ingredients that are harsh on aquatic species and ecosystems. Fight the flakes by washing your hair with natural tea tree oil shampoos instead or add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular shampoo.

Week 48: Fight bad breath with a tongue scraper instead of mouthwash

Think bad breath is bad? The stuff that’s in mouthwash is worse. After ingredients like anti-parasitic thymol swish around in your mouth as you gargle, they make their way into our lakes and rivers and can be toxic to aquatic organisms. Start scraping your tongue with a tongue scraper everyday instead to combat stinky breath.

Week 49: Lay Off the Lather
Primping with clarifying shampoo, deep conditioner, moisturizer with SPF, and exfoliating body wash might make you feel like a million bucks, but have you thought about the laundry list of ingredients in them? All kinds of complex chemicals wash off your body and into our rivers and oceans every time you shower. Opt to reduce the amount of product you use or treat yourself to a shopping spree all-natural formulas only.

THE LAST ONE!!!

Week 50: Wrap it up recycled style!

All the wrapping paper, tags and trimmings involved in gift giving makes for a lot of wasted paper come Christmas morning, after the kids have torn apart their presents. With this bow tutorial, you can have an eco-friendly holiday while wowing your tikes in just 12 minutes flat.

You can read more about CWF, it's 50th anniversary and the challenges here:
http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/about-cwf/50th-anniversary/the-anniversary-challenge.html