Monthly/Bimonthly Maintenance

To prevent buying overpriced, overpackaged convenience items, I make a habit of mixing in more ingredients. This month, I got a $.50 box of baking soda and a $1.00 bar of soap from the dollar store. I grated the bar with a cheese grater and added it to my existing powdered detergent container plus about half a box of baking soda (probably should've gotten two boxes as it's very multipurpose). Onto hair. Grocery Outlet had a coconut oil hair mask for $1.99. Took an empty baby food jar, dumped the hair mask inside and mixed with my normal conditioner. Now it'll last me 1-2 more uses! As for my moisturizer, I spooned two teaspoons solidified coconut oil into another empty jar plus a few drops of argan and olive oil. Not uber cheap, but cooking with even slightly less oil easily allows for this.

DIY Organic Face Mask Recipe

After ready the very inspiring book Forever Chic, I was hurriedly trying to whip together a face mask in the kitchen. The goal was to make something gentle, moisturizing, and full of antioxidants. Admittedly, I have not used--let alone made a face mask in about a year. Brizzle saved the day via the final ingredient! Combine: 1/2 t plain yogurt, 1 t mayo, 1 1/2 t turbinado sugar, and 4 red grapes.   :-)
Tres bien!

Green Living Epic Fails

     After reading the popular book Zero Waste, and pondering how unnecessary our materialistic culture has become, I've felt increasingly inspired to 'go green'. Despite the best of intentions, there have been many, many epic fails along the way!
1. Replacing dry shampoo with carob powder= off-putting smelling hair.
2. Using a miswak stick instead of my normal plastic toothbrush rendered tartar galore ('bristles' were too short and pliable to get the job done)
3. A concoction of coconut oil/baking soda/cinnamon/peppermint- infused liquid stevia instead of my normal fluoride-free Tom's of Maine toothpaste left my mouth feeling less than refreshed.
 4. My own shampoo rinse (which was inspired by many recipes) made of vinegar, honey, and baking soda equated to a stuck together, dried out hot mess of a mop!
5. Brizzle and I donated Medela and Playtex bottles in favor of one stainless steel sippycup/bottle per kid, but the nipples lasted a few weeks max. (the kids bit right through them).
6. Exclusively using cloth diapers on our youngest resulted in multiple doctor visits and four prescribed tubes of medicated ointment to treat a painful rash.

Favored Cloth Diapers

If you are in the market to buy cloth diapers, econobum, and kissaluvs are good options to consider. Why? They will grow with your baby. That means not having to worry about replacing S, M, or L every few months. Unbleached is better for the environment and your baby. If you don't know how prone your child is to diaper rash, make the necessary considerations before parting with your hard-earned moola!

Green Contraception

If you're truly monogamous and looking to save money (in the long run) on contraception, consider Ovuview, Pearly, Lady Comp, or lambskin condoms which can be thrown into the wash and used until they crumble. The last one doesn't sit completely well with me in theory, but the concept of cloth diapers, diaphragms, menstrual cups, or gladrags isn't much different. Anyway, Ovuview is a free app made available to android users. Make sure your thermometer isn't faulty, and have a backup method until you are given the green light.

How to Extend the Life of Your Shampoo

Do you ever feel guilty buying that overpriced (but still somehow containing harmful preservatives) organic shampoos that only last 1-2 months? In a large mason jar, pour in shampoo, liquid castile soap, water, and a drop of argan oil until the shampoo has the consistency of egg whites--or comfortably watered down shampoo. Lol.