Tried & True Tuesday

I was a busy bee today.  I was awake before the sun even came up and decided to use the quiet of the morning to work on a few projects.  My first, was to clean out and re-organize my bedroom.  Which I did and it feels soooo good! Then, I got to start on the fun and yummy stuff.  My mom has a great recipe for Zucchini Muffins.  We all love them, but I also wanted to try one that I found and tweaked to suit myself.  Shout out to my sister....Thanks for the zucchini, fresh from her garden.

Mom's Zucchini Muffins....or Bread 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease cupcake tins or bread pans. 

You will need
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups flour (I used wheat flour)
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons chia seeds (optional)
2 cups grated zucchini (skin and all)

Mix the all the dry ingredients in a bowl, same with the wet ingredients.  Combine both mixtures and put in 2 bread pans or about 24 cupcake tins.  Bake muffins for approximately 20 minutes and loaves for approximately 40-45 minutes.  Insert a knife into the center of the muffin or loaf, if it comes out clean they are done. 



My Zucchini Muffins

Preheat oven at 350 degrees, grease cupcake tins or bread pans.

You will need
2 eggs
3/4 cup melted butter                                         
1 1/2 cups honey
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups wheat flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 cups grated zucchini (skin and all)
1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Mix the all the dry ingredients in a bowl, same with the wet ingredients. Combine both mixtures and put in 2 bread pans or about 24 cupcake tins. Bake muffins for approximately 20 minutes and loaves for approximately 40-45 minutes. Insert a knife into the center of the muffin or loaf, if it comes out clean they are done.  I love how rustic looking my muffins turned out!

Homemade Ice Packs

Ice packs are my best friend!  Before my brain decompression surgery, I had made some hot/cold rice packs to use, but they didn't get a cold as I would have liked them to.  And when I say "I" made them, I mean my mom sewed them and I added the rice and essential oils.  I hate strongly dislike sewing.  I would rather poke my eyes out with the straight pins.  I do have one ice pack that I had bought at Wal-Mart, but when that one got warm, I was outta luck.  My mom had seen a recipe for the homemade ice packs some time ago and told me about them.  I finally made one last night! I love the fact that they freeze quickly, they are so simple to make and inexpensive!

Homemade Ice Packs  (for a large ice pack)

2 one gallon size Ziploc bags
2 cups water
1 cup rubbing alcohol
food coloring (optional)

Place one bag in a bowl and fold over the edges, add water, alcohol and food coloring.  Zip the bag closed, mix and then place inside another bag for extra protection from spills etc.  Put in your freezer and you can use it for as long as you'd like.

And there you have it...I said it was simple :)



Recycled Chunky Crayons

My son is now 10 and he very seldom uses his crayons.  Well, except for melting them onto canvas.  That was a fun project and turned out really neat.  He has some tweaking that he wants to do to it, then he will post his finished masterpiece.  He wanted to make chunky crayons for his three year old cousin.  So, we unwrapped a bunch of crayons this morning and broke them into little pieces.  After spraying a mini-muffins tin with non-stick spray, he dropped different colors in each little spot.  We put them in the oven that was already preheated (from earlier baking) at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until the crayons were fully melted.   Here is what ours looked like when they cooled.

I love that my son is so thoughtful.  My niece is going to love these! 

_________****UPDATE****______

Last week I started my "NO POO" revolution.  I have washed my hair four times with the baking soda/water mixture and conditioned with the vinegar/water mixture.  I am liking it so far.  My hair feels very clean,  has more body and feels thicker.  I will admit, it's hard not to reach for the shampoo and all that lather, but I am not going to give up on this!

Have a splendid day!

-Nicole

A Few of My Favorite Things, Friday.

Overnight/Soaked Oats  (this week's favorite food)

I have been reading a lot about soaking oats and other grains.  To read more about soaking oats and the benefits, click here.  The first time I read an article about them, I thought...Oh Yum!  I found different recipes and most of them weren't really my cup of tea...or oatmeal.  I am not fond of a lot of flavor combinations.  I am a flavor snob.  My favorite though, is Strawberry and Banana.  I adjusted my recipe to look like the one below.  Read the comments after the recipes for additional tips.

My Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats    
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup strawberry yogurt
1/3 cup milk  (any kind will do)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 small mashed banana

Mix all ingredients in a glass jar or bowl.  Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The original recipes used Greek Yogurt, but I used regular strawberry yogurt for the flavor. Be sure to use Rolled Oats, not quick oats. If you chose to use Greek Yogurt, add 1/3 cup more milk. You can make Greek Yogurt yourself if you have regular yogurt at home. I didn't see the sense in the extra work and I didn't have Greek Yogurt on hand (because I hate it.)
If you are a fan of adding granola to your yogurt, I am guessing that you will also like this. It is very nutritious.  By adding chia seeds, you add extra nutritional value.  Chia seeds are high in essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6.)  To read more about the benefits and nutritional value of chia seeds, click here and here.
I made this recipe the other night.  I threw it all together right before I went to bed.  Soooo simple and I LOVED it!!!  It was so nice to just pull it out of the refrigerator and eat it without any other preparation.  This is even a good idea for an on the go breakfast.

 

Simple Acts of Kindness.... not always so Random. 

While shopping last week, an elderly man pushed his shopping cart in front of me and stopped.  I said, "Oh, excuse me," not wanting to be in his way.  He paused and replied, "I am going to ask you for a favor." Of course, I said "sure."  I expected him to ask me where he could find something, but instead, he said, "Just you and your family have a great weekend."

It's things like this that put a smile on my face and bring tears to my eyes!  How incredibly sweet! 
I am just a nice person, I try to be courteous and smile, even when I don't feel like it.  I was so discouraged the other day because I was being kind and the recipient didn't even acknowledge me.  I don't need a big "Thank You" or anything along those lines, just show a smile.  It's just so simple!  I went about my day, but it was still bothering me.  I thought for a minute, I am just going to stop being nice.  Huh, I don't think that is in my nature.  I just have to accept that there are people out there that were not raised as I was. I am so thankful for the little things and I just want to see other people smile.  Just like that elderly man did for me.  I will never forget that moment! 
I came across a website some time ago that pulled at my heartstrings a bit.  This is a great reminder that there are other people out there just like me :)
Robyn Bomar celebrated her 38th birthday in a unique and inspiring way.  She and her family preformed 38 Random Acts of Kindness and then asked people around the world to preform just one and let to her know about it.  And, so began... My Birthday Project's website.  Here is the link to the original blog that details her 38 Acts.

Molasses as a plant fertilizer, one of my favorite things.

Apply to plants at a rate of 4-5 tablespoon per gallon of water.

I use warm water, it is easier to incorporate the molasses into the water.  Love this!  Chemical free!

Fabric softener (I nixed my idea of putting fabric softener crystals into my Homemade Laundry Soap.)

My sister stopped for a visit and brought a few recipes that she uses.  The following recipe is easy peasy and NATURAL. Score!


All Natural Fabric Softener
2 cups white vinegar
2 cups baking soda
4 cups water
Mix vinegar and baking soda, then add the water.  Pour 1/4 cup into the washer or spray on a sloth and through into the dryer.  You could probably add a few drops of an essential oil to the whole mixture for a pleasant sent. 

Loved and Useful Things

This little arrangement is one of my favorite things.  I have a small place and things that I love, I try to display.  These things are also very useful.  I bought the sifter years ago because I just loved that it looked old and worn.  I do use it quite a bit.  The cherry cutting board was made and given to me by someone very special.  I hate to use it, but I do.  My sister had given me the little hen on the nest for a birthday present.  I just think it is so cute.  The glass jar is full of sunflower seeds.  I try to keep it within reach of my 10 year old son.  He is not a very good eater, but he loves sunflower seeds.  I figure if he can reach them, he will eat them.  And he does!  

Have a splendid day!

-Nicole

A Smile Restored

Today has been a rough Chiari day. With idle hands, the wheels in my mind tend to turn overtime. Thinking about doing and thinking about thinking. The vicious cycle that has been my day. I had accomplished nothing except for bringing on a heavy heart. I felt this way until....I decided to relax in an oatmeal, milk and lavender bath. During my tub time, I had to laugh when my orphaned kitties joined me. They were very curious and spent most of their time on the side, but one had come as far as walking on my knees (over the water.) Laughter they say, is the best medicine. I needed a good dose of that!

Feeling relaxed, the smile returned to my face. Now, again, enjoying the simple things. The sweet sounds of katydids calling, hoofs hitting the pavement, buggy wheels turning, my flowers by moonlight and the sight of my new to me apron. My mother has had many wise words to share, but the one that rang true today.....
"You have bad moments, not bad days."
-My Momma

With words remembered and spirits lifted, I give you this, so simple and sweet....

Oatmeal Milk Lavender Bath
1/2 cup ground oatmeal (grind oats in a coffee grinder or food processor)
1/2 cup powdered milk
4 drops lavender essential oil

Have a splendid night!

Tried & True Tuesday

Tried & True Tuesday

I have come to the conclusion that if I cannot put it IN my body, then I am not going to put it ON my body.

 I have been researching (between naps) the wonderful World Wide Web and reading, reading, reading.  I came across a few books last week at the Goodwill, that I have fallen in love with.  The best thing about them...they were only 49 cents a piece.  You can't beat that!  I hit the thrift store jackpot, also finding two glass mixing bowls, two beautiful mason jars, a kitchen (junk drawer) organizer and a wooden mixing spoon.  I have a very  hard time buying items at full price when I am going to be using them for soap making, body butters etc.  I tend to beat the living hell out of my crafting tools. 

Last week's, thrift store treasures

"NO POO," Day 1

Today was my first day of "NO POO."  I have been reading so many different blogs that swear by the "NO POO" approach to washing and conditioning your hair.  I have been and still am very skeptical, but super excited.  I rinsed my hair, washed with one tablespoon of baking soda mixed in a cup of warm water, rinsed again and then sprayed my hair with one tablespoon of vinegar mixed with warm water.  There are several different combinations and opinions on how much baking soda/water and how much vinegar/water should be used.  You more or less, have to be your own chemist on this one.  If your hair gets too dry, use less baking soda and more vinegar.  If your hair gets too oily, use less vinegar and more baking soda.  I read that it can take a few weeks for your hair to adjust to its normal PH.  It can go through a transition period and your hair can become very yucky!  Keep calm and carry on.  After the transition period is over, you will have the hair of your dreams.  Seriously, it is supposed to give your hair more body, make it more shiny and all without the use of chemicals.  Like I said, this is only day one for me.  I will keep you posted!  Wish me luck :)

You can probably see the lemon and limes peals floating in the large mason jar, in the picture above.  That is another project that I am working on.  An all natural, multi-purpose cleaner.

I am in the early stages, just soaking the citrus peels in a vinegar/water mixture.  I will post the finished product and the results on another Tried and True Tuesday.  I found the recipe on Lexie Naturals.      

 Multi-Purpose Citrus Cleaner

OK, on to the real Tried and True.  These are things that I have been doing and LOVE!  For a few weeks, I have been using a slice of lemon and 1/4 of a tablespoon of honey to wash my face.  I only do this about 4 times a week or every other day.  On the off days, I wash with a regular, very mild soap.  My skin is super sensitive and breaks out along my chin.  I don't have blackheads or white pustules, just little bumps.  I hated the way my face would feel when I touched it.  It was GROSS!  I found this idea on Pinterest, but the directions weren't very directional.  So, I just made up my own.  The result...skin that is finally BUMP FREE!!! I couldn't believe it.  Now, I can't live without it. 

Lemon and Honey Face Scrub

1 slice of a lemon (I use left over lemons that I used in my Lemon Mint Water)
1/4 TBSP honey

Drip the honey onto the lemon and use it as a you would a wash cloth to clean your face.  Using a
circular motion, work it into your face.  Let the lemon and honey mixture sit on your face for five minutes and then wipe off with a warm cloth.  You won't see immediate results, but there should be noticeable results with in two days.  LOVE IT!!!

Homemade Deodorant

Again, if I can't put it IN my body, I won't put in ON my body.  Soooo, I made my own deodorant.  And it WORKS!  I used this yesterday and then went to the pool for the afternoon.  I did an armpit check and there was NO smell.  I don't usually smell myself, so I am not sure that my old, store bought deodorant does or doesn't do the trick.  Bottom line, the deodorant that I made is natural and does not contain chemicals!  Love that!

Homemade Deodorant 

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup corn starch

6 TBSP coconut oil

Mix together in a bowl and then store it in an airtight container (in the refrigerator during warm weather).  I did start with a spoon, but then used my hands (for the warmth) to incorporate it well. 

I used one of my old (hoarded) body butter containers.  You may want to add less coconut oil if it seems too liquidy.

This ugly thing called Chiari Malformation can make experimenting and writing a difficult task.  I hope to post as much and as many natural, DIY recipes and concoctions as possible.  If you find that I have missed a few days, please be patient!  I finally, after two weeks of phone calls, messages and tears, got an appointment with my neurologist.  I am so relieved!  He is wonderful to me, but his office staff lack in empathy.  It should NOT take two weeks to get an appointment.  Wish me luck :)

Have a splendid day! 

~Nicole





A Few of My Favorite Things, Friday!

These are a few of my favorite things today, Friday!  It is raining today.  Although, I normally complain about the rain.  It is a favorite today.  We really need it in Eastern PA. 

These two are among my favorite things!

I was given four kittens that were only a few days old.  They did not even have their eyes open yet.  Their mother was hit by a car and killed.  I bottle fed them and became their momma.  They were all very special to me.  These are the two that I still have.  One is awaiting a new home on the 29th and the other has stolen my heart.

 He will remain with me because, I can't imagine my life without him.

Fels-Naptha....another one of my favorite things.

I used this in my homemade laundry soap, but it is also a great when used as a stain stick.

I picked up this Fels-Naptha at my local Wal-Mart for 97 cents.

The label reads:

1. Wet stain with water

2. Work Fels-Naptha Soap into stained area

3. Let stand for one minute

4. Wash according to care label instructions

My son gets frequent bloody noses due to his allergies.  He had a few shirts that had dried blood stains on them.  So, I tried the Fels-Naptha as a stain remover.  Works Great!  I was so pleased to see the stains had totally disappeared!

Another one of my favorite things..."The Green Guide To Daily Living"

On my latest trip to the bookstore, I found this book on the sale table.  I thought, for a dollar, it would be worth a few good tips, at least.  I was pleasantly surprised by some of the tips that the book offered.  Did I mention it was only One Dollar?  Did you know....

When a label on a personal care products reads, Natural....it means absolutely nothing!

When a personal care product is USDA Certified Organic... it means that 95% of the products' ingredients are Certified Organic.  Good to know!

Look for these organic products:

- Dr. Bronner's
- Origins Organics
- Burt's Bees, Inc
- Everyday Minerals
- Kiss My Face Corporation
- Intelligent Nutrients

Hello, my name is Nicole and I am a book hoarder.

Yep, that's right.  I hoard strange things.  I love being organized and having a clean and clutter free home, but if you look under my bed, you will find evidence of my hoarding. 

My favorite hoardings right now are:

-Books

-Anything that I could possible use as a container for my handmade lotions and body butters

-Anything that could possibly be used for a craft (of any kind), this gets a little messy

-Doilies

-Organic cooking oils (which I use for cooking and body lotions etc.)

Solar Power....my Friday's most favorite thing! 

Not just because my partner in crime works for a solar company, but because it is so very sustainable. Check out the website below.  Lenape Solar's page offers facts and some very convincing reasons "WHY" to choose solar.

http://lenapesolar.net/whysolar.html

These are a few of my favorite things...Happy Friday!

A year's worth of homemade laundry soap for $17.00.  Has to be too good to be true, right? WRONG!

I don't enjoy doing laundry and I especially do not enjoy spending a ton of money on detergents and stain removers.  There are about a gazillions different products out there to choose from and I don't trust any one of them.  I have a problem with all the chemicals that are added and more of a problem with ingredients that I can't pronounce.   The act of doing laundry itself is not bothersome, it is just the stain removal and the folding that I detest. I actually love throwing it in and letting my washer do all the work.  Now, if I could only find a washer with a fold button, I'd be in business. 

Anyway, I made my own laundry soap!  I know, crafty right?!  Actually, I searched the internet and found various recipes.  Then, I tailored it to my own needs.  All in all, I am very pleased with the result.

Here's how I did it. 

I purchased all of the ingredients all at my local Wal-Mart. 

2 bars of Fels Naptha or Zote soap (laundry isle)
4 cups washing soda (laundry isle)
NOTE: washing soda is different than Baking Soda and regular laundry soap powder.
4 cups baking Soda (any brand)
6 cups Borax
Grate 2 bars of Fels Naptha soap, add 4 cups washing soda, 4 cups baking soda and 6 cups of Borax in a large bowl.  Mix carefully because all of the powdery ingredients will fly all over and create a big mess.  Not to mention, make it hard to breathe.  I then poured the whole bowl into a large plastic cereal container.  You can use any container that you may already have on hand, just make sure that it is air tight.  I add 2 tablespoons to each load of laundry.  Keep in mind, this is low sudsing.  I panicked the first time I used the soap.  I was so nervous that I only used it on a load of towels, then a load of older clothes, but it far exceeded my expectations! 

Here is my finished product.  I had to make it pretty.  So, I put some in an old mason jar, added a ribbon and a label. 

The only thing that I will do differently next time, is add fabric softener crystals.  Then, I can cut out using fabric sheets and save a little more money.  I also think that I am going to double my batch.  It isn't very time consuming to make, but why not make more and not have to think about it for a while. The batch that I made cost less than $6.00 to make.  If I doubled the batch and added fabric softener crystals, it would be approximately $17.00.  Doubling the recipe will last about one year, doing 2-3 loads of laundry a week.  Amazing!!! 

I am so excited about this and I have been telling everyone that I know.  It is less expensive and works great.  Have fun!!!
Others notes that I wanted to add:  I came across a recipe for laundry soap that included all of the above ingredients with the addition of OxiClean.  At first, I thought that it may be a good idea, but after doing some research, I was stunned.  It turns out that one of OxiClean's main ingredients is  washing soda. No wonder my clothes have looked cleaner and brighter!  Score!

Fels-Naptha is a washing bar, but is great if used as a stain stick (and much cheaper)!

Born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, I grew up fishing, playing in the mud, rescuing animals and of course playing with Barbies.  I am an animal lover, junk collector, deal finder, art lover, crafter, trash to treasure hippy wannabe, that would love to live a completely green life.   

After being diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Malformation and having brain decompression surgery in the same year, it was a bit of an adjustment.  Having “too much brain to contain” was no joke!      

Having been a busy body (or gasoline ass, as my mother would call it) I had a very hard time adjusting to a more sedentary life. I was used to working eight and twelve hour shifts on my feet.  Now, I have good days, bad days and very bad (can't get out of bed, off the couch or even stay in the upright position) days.  So, it was extremely difficult to accept that the life I once knew, was now gone.  I had myself a pity party for a few months and then decided that it was time to just get over it and move on.  I started looking for projects to do, gifts to make, rooms to organize and things to clean (and knew products to clean them with).   I am sooo going to make the best out of the good days.

So, with an open mind and plenty of time on my hands, ready, set, experiment and create!