Clean With Green – Recycled

by Angie on July 30, 2010

We’re on blogcation, & will be back with all new content
August 2! Until then, please enjoy some of your favorite articles
from the last year. Originally published February 26, 2009.

aMy journey into greener living has been exciting and eye-opening. One of the first big steps I took was taking control of what sorts of products we use in our home. Keep in mind I am far from “perfect” [ie: still using my bed head root boost, loving the Victoria's Secret body spray I've had for years, and cleaning up after a raw chicken adventure with Clorox.] However, I decided to tackle all of the other cleaning products. I dreaded cleaning our hardwood floors, because the scent of the swiffer cleaner sent my kids into coughing fits, not to mention the money I knew I could save if I made my own.

So, recently I decided to just go for it. I happily loaded up all of my old cleaners, recycled what I could and passed others along. I hit up the dollar store for empty spray bottles, then the health food store for some yummy essential oils and I was on my way. Now, does it make you a bad person if you still prefer Windex over a vinegar and lemon cocktail? Of course not! We all have our faves… I’d encourage you to try out a homemade cleaning recipe some time! You just might be hooked!

Okay, bust out those basic items and have some fun!

For the windows

Mix equal parts of the following into a spray bottle: white vinegar & water. spray onto windows and wipe with a newspaper for a streak free shine!

For the potty

This is something you will create with each cleaning. The kids will think this is great, so be sure to get them in on the fun! Grab your glass jar and mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of baking soda. It will fizz, so go ahead and pour it into “the potty”, let it sit for a bit, then return and scrub-scrub away.

a2

For the air

This is one of my absolute faves, and is where your yummy essential oils come into play! Fill one of your spray bottles with water, then simply add about 12 drops of any combination of essential oils. I recently made a lavendar / lemon freshener. Mmmm. Shake & spray around your home for a lovely burst of fresh. [Sidenote: this blend also works well as a surface cleaner, as the oils are naturally anti-bacterial!]

For the mold

In another empty spray bottle, combine the following: 2 parts water + 1 part hydrogen peroxide. spray on areas of nastiness, leave for at least 30 minutes, and return for a good rinse.

For your floors

Our previous home was equipped with 90% hardwood floors. As I mentioned, the swiffer being as awesome as it is, leads us all to nearly choke from the strong aroma of the hardwood floor cleaner. I was ecstatic to come across this recipe, and have found in our new home [equipped with tile floors] the recipe works just fine! Yes, another spray bottle… very simple. cCombine 1 part water with 1 part white vinegar and 10 drops of essential oil. Tea tree oil is a great one to mix in, you could also add lemon or orange for a nice fresh scent. Spray directly onto the floor and go ahead using the swiffer [why not recycle it this way eh?] : )

a1For your veggies

This was an exciting find for me! Especially if you are like us and can’t afford to strictly buy organic, cleaning those fruits & veggies prior to eating is so important. Simply add 1 cup of water to 1 cup of white vinegar, 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 15-20 drops of essential oil [i use lemon] or if you have fresh lemon, squeeze the juice into your mix. Clean those freshies and let them dry, love it!

For everything else

In yet another spray bottle, mix 1 liter of water with 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Add 10-12 drops of essential oils [i like sweet orange & lavender personally] and shake. This is an all purpose cleaner that has the added benefit of the essential oils which of course are a natural antibacterial. Use this on surfaces, your shower and bathrooms, in the kitchen and more.

I’ve even created a free, down-loadable PDF with green cleaning recipe cards. Click the image below to get yours!

CWG

{ 3 comments }

We’re on blogcation, & will be back with all new content
August 2! Until then, please enjoy some of your favorite articles
from the last year. Originally published March 10, 2010.

planting our garden seeds
planting seeds

One of the things I love about homeschooling is the ability to learn hands-on. Over the past couple weeks, we turned my garden starts into a full science unit.  We spent a couple days learning about seeds and plants from a textbook and then got to work.  My daughter took a clip board of notes and questions to the local seed store and after spending sometime with the garden specialist there, she decided what to plant.   She figured out what supplies and seeds we needed and we headed home to start our garden.

growing seedlings
growing seedlings

Within 10 days, the seedlings started to grow large enough to separate.  Since we planted various seeds in the same flat, it was very interesting to see the differences in germination and growth rates.  Much more so than from reading it in a book.  We, also, learned that seeds and very young seedlings need to be covered to keep them warm and moist, but the larger seedlings are stronger and don’t have to be pampered as much.  Do they teach that in school?

my favorite - making a terrarium
my favorite – making a terrarium

I love finding information about a subject we are studying from various sources. One publication we enjoy is the The Old Farmer’s Almanac For Kids.  This year, it has a large section on plants.  It contains an eclectic mix of plants, plant stories and projects.   The project that caught our eye was the terrarium.  My aunt had a terrarium when I was growing up and I thought it was the coolest thing.  I didn’t realize how easy they are to make.   We just picked up a pretty glass vase and some small plants at Wal Mart.  Layered the rocks and soil.  Planted the plants.  Added some water and a lid.  Now, we have a great little ecosystem going, a homeschool lesson learned and a beautiful terrarium on my mantel!  I love homeschooling!

What are you looking forward to learning with your children next?

{ 0 comments }

We’re on blogcation, & will be back with all new content
August 2! Until then, please enjoy some of your favorite articles
from the last year. Originally published January 6, 2010.

friendsonbeach

Over Thanksgiving dinner a conversation started about Twitter. The main gist of which wasn’t favorable. It started out harmless enough (I kept out of it considering I’m a Twitter fan) but got pretty intensely negative, albeit in a half joking tone. Ten minutes into it my 12-year-old daughter leaned over to me and asked under her breath, Are they making fun of you Mom? They weren’t but I couldn’t help but feel totally misunderstood.

That same week my husband, while flipping the channels, landed on a Dr. Phil episode where Dr. Phil insisted that internet relationships weren’t real relationships. I understood for the most part the point of the show and that he wasn’t talking to me, or about me or about my online relationships specifically but I still chose not to watch it.

I spend a lot of time online. Probably too much time, I’ll admit. But, that aside, I will stand firm in defending the kinds of connections and relationships that I have made on the web over the last few years. Blogging has been the catalyst that created and continues to create a circle of people that I deeply care about in my life. I have dear, cherished friends that I would have never even met if it weren’t for the internet. And I know that many of you reading can say the same. These are friends that I look forward to reaching out to everyday (via Twitter or Facbook) and friends that I cannot wait to see at BlogHer (or Mom 2.0 or the Alt Summit) and friends that I now talk to on the phone and plan gatherings with because I value their friendship THAT much.

It’s real; this thing we do online everyday. And it cultivates the kinds of real relationships that have made my life that much more rich and complete.

As for the people that don’t understand it, don’t believe it, or won’t support it, well, that’s just their loss. As for me? I’ll just keep enjoying and celebrating it…this authentic and real thing we’ve got going on here. Care to join me?

{ 5 comments }

A Daily Routine – Recycled

by AngieJuly 26, 2010

We’re on blogcation, & will be back with all new content August 2! Until then, please enjoy some of your favorite articles from the last year. Originally published April 10, 2009. That’s right, I said I’d be talking about this and talk about it I shall! As much as my weekly routine is a big [...]

Read the full article →

An Old Ladder Made Useful | DIY – Recycled

by JessicaJuly 23, 2010

We’re on blogcation, & will be back with all new content August 2! Until then, please enjoy some of your favorite articles from the last year. Originally published November 18, 2009. I was romping around an antique store not too long ago, looking for some vintage-y fabric to use for an upcoming photo shoot. I [...]

Read the full article →

Would you like to join us?

by AngieJuly 21, 2010

** We are no longer accepting submissions, thanks to the more than 100 who applied! We will be contacting our selections over the weekend. Authors Marta Locklear & Angie Warren We are thrilled to announce that The Creative Mama is looking to open it’s doors to a few new team members. There are some exciting [...]

Read the full article →

Finding the Light – Recycled

by martalocklearJuly 21, 2010

We’re on blogcation, & will be back with all new content August 2! Until then, please enjoy some of your favorite articles from the last year. Originally published October 28, 2009. I am a lover of light in my photography and my world in general for that matter. I could not have enough windows in [...]

Read the full article →

An Art Gallery of Your Very Own – Recycled

by Stacey WoodsJuly 20, 2010

We’re on blogcation, & will be back with all new content August 2! Until then, please enjoy some of your favorite articles from the last year. Originally published March 22, 2010. I often create sample wall displays for my clients, to get them inspired to hang their family photographs on the wall and really encourage [...]

Read the full article →

Meet Rachel.

by AngieJuly 18, 2010

Welcome! We are in a post-Photography Series coma if you will. What an exciting two weeks we had, thanks again to everyone who participated! If you’re new around The Creative Mama you can read a bit more about how this little blog was born by clicking here. Thankful Nearly two years ago on a cold [...]

Read the full article →

Thank you!

by AngieJuly 17, 2010

We just wanted to take a quick minute to say a big thank you to the photographers and vendors who made this series so fantastic. They gave of their time, insight, knowledge, and products to encourage and uplift us. Thanks so much! Also to the thousands of you that clicked over on a daily basis [...]

Related Posts with Thumbnails
Read the full article →