DIY Lotion Bar

This is by far my favorite day. I ran out of body lotion about a week ago and have been getting dry and crusty ever since. Then I scrolled through Pinterest to get some lotion ideas. The most common ones I found had coconut or olive oil, plus a Shea or cocoa butter and maybe some other oils thrown in along with some essential oils. So with that knowledge I got to work.

I walked down to The Wedge and bought myself about a cup of Cocoa Butter disks. I took it home. Melted in some coconut oil with orange and lavandar essential oils (so I smell like chocolate lavandar Orange, or candy) and then let it cool. When I started letting it cool I realized it wasn't hardening up like I thought it should. I mean, I didn't want it to be a rock, just like lotion. However it remained liquid. So I threw it in the fridge for 20 minutes. When I came back it was lotion texture, so I pulled it back out and set it on my dresser. Te next day it was rock hard and I couldn't even scoop it out of the jar.

Plan B: I melted it down, poured it into molds, and set them in the fridge.

Result: Cocoa orange lavandar body perfection. Just roll it on your body and feel the benefits. Initially it comes on a little greasy, but once I rubbed it in, it was just like any other lotion.

Here's the recipe. Enjoy:

1 cup cocoa butter
1cup coconut oil
10 drops orange essential oil
10 drops lavandar essential oil

1. Place cocoa butter in a Pyrex bowl and soften in microwave for about 2 minutes.
2. Add coconut oil and melt for another 2 minutes or until all is liquid.
3. Add essential oils and stir.
4. Pour into molds (I used cupcake liners in muffin tins, plus the. The liner acts like a wrapper for the lotion.
5. Cool in refrigerator until hard. Does not need to be refrigerated afterwards.

Use every morning, every night, wheneve you're crust, or whenever you need a pick me up and want to smell like candy :)

Don't forget:  May Day Challenge starts tomorrow! 

Recycled Toothbrush

Today the dental adventures continue. I'm not so brave as to make a new DIY toothpaste. However, I did get a new toothbrush. They were on sale 2 for $4 at The Wedge and they're made completely out of recycled yogurt cups.

Preserve Toothbrushes:
When I first brought this up to my boyfriend, he was a little hesitant, saying "a recycled toothbrush?" Raised his eyebrows. However, I assured him they're just made out of products that used to be something else, and that way they save the earth. I'm a huge fan of that. Now, in review, the handle was stiffer than what I am used to. I'm used to a handle with a bendable end. This one is simply curved, so it still gets all the hard to reach places, just in a different way. Also, I'm used to seeing special stuff on my toothbrush, like "tongue brusher" and "plaque buster." None of that here. I have to rely on the bristles to brush my tongue and the cirular motion to get all the plaque off, (which is usually needed with or without special features. Have to say, I think it was my money's worth. Now I just with they had a replaceable head instead of having to replace the whole toothbrush, making it more Eco-friendly. 

Sick Day!

I'm sick. Not I-can't-get-out-of-bed, going-to-die-today, coughing-up-a-lung sick. More like the I'm-going-to-have-to-trudge-through-work-with-a-headache-and-congestion-for-the-next-three-weeks sick. However, yesterday I was sure I had the early symptoms of strep. We've had 3confirmed cases at work this past week. So yesterday when I feel a slightly tender tickle in my throat, I feel my nose and head congested, plus I'm tired beyond belief, yes, yes, I go into panic mode thinking I may have strep.
I pull my contacts open so I'll have the clinics number available to get a throat culture the next day. I know there is a lot of herbalists out there that debate whether you can just tough-out strep or not. By I know that antibiotics shorten the time of being contagious from 3weeks to 1week.

Lucky me, I woke up and had no sore throat. So that's a basic garuntee I don't have strep throat. However, last night I cancelled all my plans, ate chicken soup, went to bed early and tried and herbal concoction I'm going to share.

When my mom has a sore throat scare she generally prescribes a tonic that looks like this:

2tbsp Apple cider vinegar
1tsp honey
Cinnamon
Cayenne
Lemon juice
All diluted with boiling water. Sip until the soar throat is gone.

Personally I can't stand this concoction. Nor can my little sister who says "It tastes like death." So there you have it. 2 votes NO! Something about the apple cider vinegar and cayenne make me squeal in dread.

However, I can't deny the health benefits of this remedy to anyone that is suffering from illness (especially sore throat). In short*:

Apple cider vinegar: antioxidants and bacteria killer

Honey: antibacterial, antioxidant, strengthens immune system.

Cinnamon: antioxidants and anti-inflammatory

Cayenne: anti cold, cough, flu, sore throat, and allergies (has been called a natural anti-biotic)

Lemon: vitamin C, flushes out toxins, anti-inflammatory

Boiling water: I'm not sure what the health benefits are warm vs. Cold. However I do know that when I was in China it was impossible to find cold water. They say it is better for the health to drink it boiling. All water fountains came with cold, hot, and boiling features. However, even the cold was above room temperature.

*the links are simply one website I have read with the common claims I have seen on many websites and health stores. Also, my descriptions are just summaries on how these ingredients may help with a cold, flu, sore throat, and whatever other common illness may be going on.

As I said, i can't deny the health benefits, but I can't stand a those things together. So here is my own tonic.

Citrusy Sore Throat Tonic

Honey (to taste, but I use 1-2 teaspoons)
1-2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
2 lemon slices
1 lime slice (I don't know the health benefits of lime, but I love the taste of lemon-lime)
Boiling water.

Place all ingredients in a mug. Stir and enjoy (add cinnamon if desired).

Note I didn't add cayenne. However, because I know it helps cut colds I took one tsp of honey sprinkled with cayenne on the side. If you like Mexican chile candy you'll love this.

This remedy worked so well I didn't have a sore throat the next day and was far less congested.

If you need to use this, get well soon, and remember May Day Challenge starts in 2 days :)

May Day Challenge: 3 Days Left!

3 Day left until we start the May Day Challenge! To egg on your inspiration I'm using my brand new Norwex Snack Bag! I ordered it a couple weeks ago, because I use so many ziplock bags when I pack my lunch and it came yesterday. It's made from the same material as the Norwex sandwich wrap. Such a great solution. Durable and reusable. Simply wash out when finished and use again.

You could win this and other Norwex product when you join the May Day Challenge. Simply post to Facebook your green adventure with the hashtag: #adventurouslygreen

May Day Challenge

As I mentioned in my post about my Kleen Kanteen, in my Kleen Kanteen came a brochure called the Refuse Single Use Challenge. Basically, it's challenging consumers to take a pledge to reuse items. Refuse to just use something once and throw it away. Become sustainable.

So this had me thinking. I became inspired to challenge my own readers. Starting MAY 1st, I'm challenging all of you to join me on this green adventure. For 1 WEEK (May 1st-May 8th) I challenge you to GO GREEN!

Here's What You Do:

May Day Challenge

1. Choose One Way to Go Green: Maybe that means switching to an animal safe cosmetic, switching to a reusable tumbler, or just starting to recycle. Whatever it is, just do it. Also, you can do more than one. That is totally acceptable.

2. Document: Take a Picture of your green adventure.

3. Submit: Post your picture on Facebook with the hashtag: #adventurouslygreen

4. Win: At the end of the week all participants will be put into a drawing for $15 in Norwex Product. Get inspired by flipping through the catalog Here:Norwex 2015 Catalog

The countdown begins: 3 Days!

Klean Kanteen

Anyone that has spent anytime with me this winter probably knows my struggle with the coffee cup. I have been through, not 1. Not 2. Not 4. 5!

I've been through 5 travel mugs!

For those of you that have heard the struggle and are  sick of hearing my drama, skip down a paragraph. For those of you that have no idea what I am talking about, stay tuned.

I bought myself a Starbucks DIY photo mug in November. I put photos in it from my trip to China. Then, when Christmas time hit, I put some Christmas themed card stock in the container (trying to be festive and all. Well the cardstock got water-logged in the DIY part and while I was trying to in clog it it broke.
Round 2. After Christmas I went to Starbucks again, because Starbucks has amazing Post-Christmas Clearance and I purchase a cute ceramic tumbler. Not only that, but after I bought the tumbler, I had enough stars on my gold card to get a free drink. So I take my brand new tumbler in with me to Starbucks the next day (I always treat myself to Starbucks on weekends I work). I get my tumbler filled with a Flat White (favorite drink ever!) Then I head to work. I get to work. My hands are full so I set down my tumbler to open the door to the office. Crash! As I open the office door, my tumbler falls to the ground, not even a sip taken. Sad Saturday!
Round 3. I steal my Dad's travel mug for a week. (All my baristas thought it was so great I was using my Dad's mug)
Round 4. Stealing's wrong, so my boyfriend bought me a nice plastic, double wall thermos from Marshall's. So this one lasted about 2 weeks, then it mysteriously fell from my counter and shattered.
Round 5. I give up, go to Target and get a $3 mug from the Bargain section until I figure out a better solution. Of course the outside wall broke apart from the inside wall and it spills on me everytime I sip from it. 

I love the idea of travel mugs. They're better for the environment by cutting down on paper waste, I can take it with me. However, I have he luck where mine breaks, falls apart, or just doesn't keep my coffee warm while I'm driving from point A to point B.

I was about to despair of all hope. Then I spied my roomie's new travel mug on the counter. Siver rim on the bottom. Color black. A kid with a ring on top to carry. Kleen Kanteen on the side.

So I was nosy. And after doing some research, I learned that Kleen Kanteen is an outdoor gear brand. It's mad with stainless steal and claims to keep your hot stuff hot for up to 6hours! Wow!
I mean everything else has failed, so it's worth a go. Plus they are huge advocates for reduce, reuse, recycle. (They had a brochure for a 30 day challenge in my Kanteen, but more on that later).

So I bought one. Beautiful Mint green color and so far I've had it for 3 days. And it's the best! I dropped it a few times on accident and it hasn't busted. I put coffee in it at 6:30 a.m. And at noon it is steal steaming, meaning I don't have to chug my morning juice. Also, it rinses out so slick. Unlike plastic thermoses that absorb the taste of coffee, the stainless steal rinses out without any taste and I can put water in it that will taste like water, not coffee basket residue.

So far, Klean Kanteen=success.
Stay tuned for more on the Kleen Kanteen Challenge!

Witch Hazel Astringent

 Finally guys, that project I told your had been testing all week is finished. I just couldn't feel right about making something and giving it my stamp of approval without actually testing, especially after the Toothpaste Fiasco. 

So here it is! With a stamp of approval, Witch Hazel-Grapefruit. 

Witch Hazel found at your local Target for $1.99)- it's a natural astringent. Aka as a blackhead, zit killing, pore-shrinking machine. 

Grapefruit essential oil- I found out this is an antibacterial(so cleans your face) a stimulate, so it wakes you up (since I use this in the morning I found this to be a benefit) and an anti-depressant, plus so many more things.

Witch Hazel Astringent

1 bottle witch hazel

10-20 drops grapefruit essential oil. 

1. Open witch hazel

2. Add essential oil

3. Put cap back on and shake (shake well before each use) 

4. Use a cotton ball or face pad to apply every morning. 

5. Follow up with moisturizer and additional beauty routine. 

And the results: I had a couple small pimples and the beginning, and in a day they were gone. Also, visibly reduced the noticeability of pores. 

Good Morning!

*Note: after I wrote the article, a friend clued me in that citrus oils are photosyngetic, making your skin more suceptible to the sun. So instead of citrus, maybe use peppermint for that wakening. Also One site said that you can dilute the oil and that should weaken it enough for facial use. Again, shake before each use to ensure you don't get an overly strong concentration of oil. 

Egg carton Snack Dish

Again, those following, I am going on an adventure of going green, which means reducing, reusing, and recycling whenever and wherever possible. So this week I needed some Peanut Butter. So of course, I took my BPA free plastic container to my local co-op ( The Wedge) and ground my own peanut butter! (I don't care how many times I go to the co-op that still amazes me).

I was using it in a recipe and when I ran out of my usual breakfast food this morning I though, peanut butter and apples it is. Only problem was, I had used all of my tiny storage containers, and who really wants to take a tiny bit of peanut butter in a Sandwhich sized container? Not I!

I've tried plastic wrap, wax paper, and Sandwhich bags all in the past, but all were super messy and I only got half of the peanut butter and the rest stuck to wrap. So next plan: egg carton caddy. :)

This was the best thing I have done for my peanut butter. I was worried I was going to get little shreds of carton in my peanut butter, but no such luck. I cut a cup off of the carton, spooned the peanut butter into the cup, and covered it with just a tiny bit of plastic wrap for the next morning.

Result: perfection:)

Yes, the carton did soak up a bit of the oils, but since the carton material is so absorbent, it didn't make a mess. Plus, not of the butter stuck to the side. Definitely doing this again. Plus, It goes into te compost bin, making it even more Eco friendly :) 

Public service announcement

So some of you know this, some of you don't, but a couple weeks ago I started a new blog called adventures in green living. I had gotten on this trend of testing out DIY projects and thought, why don't I blog about my reuse, reduce, recycle renovation. So I stared a new blog and found out yesterday if I stick with my old one I could get paid. So out with the new, in with the old. Maybe older really is better. Either way, for those of you that ha been following, my green blog is going to be on this blog and for those of you who didn't know:More Green Posts Here. 

Norwex

So as I mentioned yesterday, and as my lovely Novio has encouraged me to, I am finally posting about Norwex.

I started selling Norwex about a month ago, because 1. All my friends were doing it. 2. Who doesn't like product discounts. 3. I absolutely love their make-up cloths.

So what is it? The best way I can some it up, is that Norwex is microfiber and silver put together to magically clean your house without water. For a more in-depth look at Norwex watch this video:

 

 

 

At this point I could either give you a Norwex speel, but I'll save that in case you want to host a party. Instead, I'm going to give 5 reasons why I use Norwex (and you maybe should too):

5 Reasons I Use Norwex

1. It's Green: It's good for the environment. Because I have started selling Norwex, I've had to start researching what is in other products and what makes Norwex different. When you start looking at the chemicals in Clorox, Lysol, Tide, even Cascade you'll be shocked. EWG scores all of the latest chemical products (as well as other products) on their health for people and the environment. When  saw that Cascade received an "F." I was shocked. This cleans my plates, where I put the food, I put in my mouth. YIKES! Norwex simply uses water and silver ions to clean everything!

2. Science Backs it: I was really skeptical of Norwex, but when I chatted with a friend that was a middle school science teacher, but now is a homeopathic health counseling expert, I found out that science really does back up Norwex. This stuff works. Needless to say, Norwex is all she uses.

3. Lazy Girl: I'll be honest, I hate cleaning. I absolutely hate it. I hate the chemicals. It's a drag to spray things and then wipe it down. I rather just grab a Lysol wipe and wipe it away. Well, Norwex is my solution to that. I simply get the cloth wet and wipe my stuff clean. 

4. Thrifty: Yes, the initial price of Norwex is more expensive. It seems a little odd to spend so much on just one little rag. However, when you think of the fact that in that little rag is a lifetime supply of Windex (Lysol, bleach, etc). It doesn't seem to bad. It's actually cost effective.

 

5. Kids Line: Norwex has a kids line. What other cleaning company do you know that actually has products for your kids to clean the house? None! In fact, most have a disclaimer saying: KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN! Not Norwex. Norwex even makes the cleaning supplies look like toys, so while your kids think they're playing they're actually cleaning the house. Saves mom a little energy.

 

Let me know if you'd like to learn more or host a party :)

Adventures in Green Living: DIY Toothpaste vs. Store Bought

About a month ago I started selling this product line called NORWEX. (I should really post a blog about Norwex, but that will be for another day). In short, Norwex is a line of green (eco-friendly) cleaning products that use the science of microfiber laced with silver ions to clean and anti-bac your home (like I said, i need a whole post about this).

All that to say, the more research I did on Norwex, chemicals in mainstream products, and what that does to your body. The more I realized, wow wouldn't be cool if I could actually go away from all mainstream products and make my own products! So here I am going, as I am running out of my everyday products, going to venture out in old-wives-tales and home-remedies to make my own products. Here goes week 1.

I ran out of toothpaste, and so went to the Internet to research (because clearly the Internet is the most reliable source.) And i found plenty of information and recipes. Here's just a few of the articles I found:
Wellness Mama
DIY Natural
Weed Em and Reep
 However, this seemed to be the post popular, and most copy-catted diy recipe that I found:

Homemade Toothpaste

This recipe called for:

4 Tbs coconut oil

4 Tbs bentonite clay

2-3 Tbs filtered water

1/2 tsp real sea salt

10-15 drops essential oil of choice (I used spearmint)

and a pinch of stevia if desired. 

I followed this recipe, plus added 1/2 tsp of baking soda, because the weed em and reep recipe was similar plus had baking soda. Plus I know that it is a natural whitener, because when I first started drinking coffee in college I received horrible stains on my teeth. Adding baking soda cleared those up fast./

Most of the websites shared information about what each ingredient does and why it is beneficial for the mouth. Again, a whole Internet of bloggers can't be wrong. 

So in the afternoon I whipped my recipe up and I tried it. 

The first thing I noticed is that this is not like store-bought toothpaste. I had to chunk it onto my toothbrush. Plus, it had a weird oily texture due to the coconut oil. But hey, coconut oil is good for you, right. The Internet said that it helps whiten and restore. So I brushed. 

In fact I've been brushing for a week. However, on day 3 I started to notice my mouth was a little sore. I thought, not big deal, maybe it's just my mouth adjusting. I kept brushing. 

By day 5 I had the worst sores in my mouth I had ever seen. I would post a picture, but no kidding, if you google "Cancer of the mouth" or "mouth ulcers" you'll get a pretty good look at what was going on. NOT pretty. I also noticed my teeth turning yellow. What!? What happened to the baking soda. At this point I decided to add a mouth rinse. Hydrogen peroxide is a good mouth rinse, and there's even instructions on how to use it on the back of the bottle. I mixed up a concoction that was put on the back of the bottle. Dilluted in water, plus I added stevia and 25 drops essential oils, peppermint. This seemed to work wonders. I got the freshness I had been missing from my store-bought toothpaste. Plus by day 6 my teeth were white. 

However, on day 6, and now on day 7 I have noticed my mouth ulcers are getting worse. I think it's time to ditch the toothpaste. 

Doing even more internet research, I've noticed there is a lot of controversy on whether brushing with baking soda is actually good for your teeth. If you do it right (like in a store bought paste, or with a store bought paste on occassion) it will work great. However, dangers can be abrasiveness to gums and enamel. Still trying to figure out the mouth ulcer issue, because baking soda is supposed to clear those up. 

In the meantime, going back to my regular store-bought toothpaste, and going to use my rinse to try to heal up my mouth wounds. Hopefully will have more success in round 2 of Adventures in Green Living!