YUMMY Pumpkin Ice Cream

Today my daughter and I made the yummiest Pumpkin Ice Cream!  So of course I am going to share.

If you make it with fresh pumpkin, cut the pumpkin into four parts and put it on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake it at 350 until it's fork tender.  Once it cools, scoop out the pumpkin away from the skin and put it into a food processor and process until smooth.

If you are going to use canned, make sure it is organic.  Farmer's Market brand is BPA free.

You will need 1 Cup of Pumpkin.

In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together 1 1/2 Cups Organic milk, 1 cup sugar,  and 2 eggs.  Keep stirring constantly for 10 minutes.  The mixture will start to thicken, do not let it brown.  Remove from heat and whisk in the pumpkin, 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg.  Chill the mixture in the refrigerator then churn in ice cream maker for 30 minutes until firm.  Chill in freezer overnight for firmer ice-cream.

YUM! Can't wait for Thanksgiving to share this with everyone.

Give it a try.

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One of My Favorite Things In The Garden

We made a decision that we wanted to try to plant as many bee and butterfly attracting plants as possible.  They are beneficial to pollinate our garden beds so why wouldn't we.  We have planted a lot of bee attracting flowers but one of my favorite things we have planted has been the Butterfly (Milkweed) Weed.

The plant itself is great.  It is a green stalk with green leaves that grows straight, and they have beautiful red and yellow small flowers.  I liked them when I saw them sprout up, but then came the caterpillars.

Boy did they come.  They totally crushed the first set of plants on one side of the garden, literally left them looking like sticks, then the made their way to the other side of the garden for the other set of Milkweed we had planted.  By the time they had taken those down to sticks the other ones had started to re-sprout.  So.....they made their way back.

Then they disappear.

The plants start growing back nice and healthy and you aren't sure where the caterpillars are.  Well.....maybe

We made the most amazing discovery yesterday.  We found a crysilis.  It was beautiful.  A gorgeous green with a beautiful gold shimmery line and gold dots.  It looked like there was some amazing gem inside.

Today as we had the picnic my 3 year old daughter planned we discovered that they butterfly had just hatched.  It was holding onto it's crysilis, which I read they do for an hour after the hatch to allow their wings can harden so they can fly.

Then he took off.

I'm sure we will see him in the garden as we have seen many of them hanging out and drinking the nectar from the Milkweed, or chasing my 3 year old around the yard as they have been doing.

Seeing the circle of life for this creature has been fascinating.

One of my favorite things we have planted has been Butterfly (Milkweed).

Give them a shot, you will be happy with the results.

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Great Article On A Company Doing Great Things And Needs Help

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/tampa-bay-harvest-is-hungry-for-donations-to-pay-its-director/2147950

Non-Toxic Halloween Face Paint

If your child has decided to be something for Halloween that needs face paint, I have a healthy option.  Natural Face & Body Paints by Natural Earth Paint. http://www.naturalearthpaint.com/  They are non-toxic, organic, free of heavy metals, parabens, and formaldehyde.  They are made using clay and natural pigments.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

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Cheap Non-Plastic Popsicle Molds

I have been looking for a while to find a stainless steel popsicle mold.  I found a couple, but they are very expensive.  And since I do not use or trust plastic this has been my mission.

On a recent trip to Walmart, I go there and to dollar stores since they normally always have cheap non-plastic kitchen items, I discovered these small stainless steel containers that were the perfect size for a small popsicle.  I always make smoothies in the morning and wanted to freeze the leftovers for popsicles. Well for $.97, yes 97 cents for 4, I was able to load up on these little cups that hold the perfect amount for a summer treat.  All I had to add was a popsicle stick!

Everyone in my family loves them, and for really cheap I have found a non- toxic way to have popsicles!

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My FAV New Item and Website

If you follow my blog you know I am very antiplastic!  Even BPA free doesn't work for me.  I don't trust the rest of the chemicals in plastic just in case one day it comes out there was another part of it that they find causes cancer or some other horrible side effect.

I will admit that there have been a few times that we have found ourselves out and stopped at Chipotle and my daughter uses the little plastic straw for her Organic milk and it horrifies me.

While at a recent trip to Whole Foods I made a wonderful discovery, Susty Party paper straws.  They are compostable, non-toxic made from FCS certified paper, oh and made in the USA!   The packaging which feels like plastic is actually made from plants and can be composted.

I am now going to be taking a few of these and keeping them in the car.  For those few times that we find ourselves going out to eat I can use these paper straws instead of having my 3 year old use the plastic straw.

They are so old school it's wonderful!

Check them out at www.sustyparty.com and find many other great items such as cups, bowls, cutlery and party sets.  All compostable and non-toxic.

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Finally, Homemade Liquid Hand Soap!

In my quest for making all my own products for the house the one thing that has been a thorn in my side is liquid hand soap. It has been so hard to get it right.

I have tried a few different ways and methods that have not worked out as well as I would have liked.

I have been like a mad scientist trying to get this right.  I had to make it work! I was now on a mission.

Well, Finally it did!  I made liquid hand soap!  I made it work and I am sooo proud.  Not only did it take 2 simple non-toxic ingredients, but it is amazing!!

I took a bar of Dr. Bronner's Mild Unscented Baby Soap (I use this for EVERYTHING!), grated it with a cheese grater.  Put water, one cup of water for every ounce of grated soap, into a pot to get it hot.  Take it off the burner and pour in the grated soap.  Stir until the soap is dissolved.  Let it sit and cool for at least over night.  Stir occasionally.

Here is the part that is totally up to how your's cools.  If it is too thick and gel like, add more water.   No need to reheat just pour some water in and see if it sets again at the right consistency.  Once it is right for you put it into your soap dispensers and save the leftover,  if there is some, in a jar.

That is really it!

My batch that I perfected is amazing, bubbly and I LOVE knowing that it only took two ingredients that are both non-toxic to make this.  Not even counting how cheap it is to make  ($2.99 a bar at my grocery) compared to buying my normal non-toxic liquid hand soap!

Give this one a shot for sure!

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That Time For Florida Gardening

It's that time in Florida.  The seeds are purchased, thanks High Mowing Seeds, the garden beds are almost empty with new organic soil and compost material added.  Ready to start the Florida "winter" garden. Which really means grow everything!

Now that the ridiculous summer heat is almost over the seeds can be planted!

Have you started planning or getting your beds ready?  Let's grow food!

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Watch Out: I'm making my Own Liquid Dish Soap

I am in a quest to make all my own cleaning products.  If you have read my blog you know that I clean my house with only vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, Dr. Bronner's soaps and lemon juice.  After I started making my own laundry detergent, which I LOVE, I felt the need to conquer more.  Conquer the whole house!

My first endeavor was to try to make dish washing detergent, which went well.  It cleans really good, although it does get sticky in the container.  Still going to try to work that out.

I decided liquid dish soap was next.

I was shocked at how easy it was to make, how bubbly it got and how well it cut grease!

I put 1/2 cup of Dr. Bronner's unscented baby mild liquid castile soap, 1 tablespoon of grated Dr. Bronner's unscented baby mild bar soap, 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar, 1 tablespoon of Arm and Hammer's Washing Soda to thicken it, and about 10 or so drops of tea tree oil.

I mixed all the ingredients together and then added about 1 to 1 1/2 cup of hot water from the teapot.

Make sure to keep stirring until the bar soap melts.  Let it cool.  Stir it occasionally as it cools.

If it gets too thick add more hot water and mix.  If it is too liquidy for you you can more grated soap or a little more washing soda.  Mine is more liquidy that the one I used to buy, but it works just as good!

The other part of making this is that it is super cheap.  I use the rest of the grated bar soap to make my laundry detergent and the rest of the ingredients I already had to clean my house anyway.  Win, Win!

Next I will tackle hand soap!  I feel like a mad scientist.

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Really Good Organic Article

I was in the checkout aisle and saw Christy Turlungton on the cover of a magazine.  I saw her and thought WOW does she look great.  Then I saw the other topics and decided to buy.  It is the current Prevention and they have a great section on Organics.

The part that hit home and the reason I grow my own or buy Organic was "US farmers use 1.1 billion pounds of pesticides a year and the residue can last for days or years in the environment".

Billion?  And they cause cancers and a ton of health problems.  Not to mention the damage they do to the young minds and bodies of our kids.  NO THANK YOU!

If you see this magazine buy it and give it a read.

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This is too Funny! The Challenge

I ran out of garbage bag a few days ago.  I only use recycled bags to try to do my part to not destroy the planet, but since my local grocery store doesn't carry the garbage bags I normally use I decided to wait until my weekly Whole Foods run.

That was 3 days ago.

3 Days!!!!  I hadn't realized that until tonight.  I recycle and compost so much that I actually have so little trash that for the last 3 days I didn't even realize I didn't have a trash bag in the garbage can.

I started to think if everyone could take three days to recycle, compost and not throw away what you normally throw away, wow could we do a great thing.

Yes it is probably a dream, but if you think about it and make an effort I bet you could realize how little trash you really could have.

We really can make a smaller footprint on the environment we leave for our kids!

Give it a shot.

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Rosemary for Shrubbery!

We have Giant Rosemary bushes in our backyard.  Honestly, when I took them out of their pots and planted them in the ground I had no idea how large they would get.

While we were trying to figure out what type of shrubs we wanted to surround our patio my husband came up with a brilliant idea, plant rosemary as our shrubbery.

The rosemary grows the same as other shrubs and can be shaped the same.  It smells amazing, can be used for cooking, AND will keep the mosquitos at bay!

It's really easy to get the cuttings going.  All you need is sand, Perlite (organic) and peat moss.  Mix equal parts, fill a small container leaving 1/4 at the top free.  Soak the pot with the mixture in warm water then let drain for an hour before planting the cuttings in them.  Keep them watered.  Wait 4-6 weeks for the cutting to root and then plant them where they will permanently placed.

What a great, delicious, way to plant shrubbery around the house!!

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Homemade Dishwashing Detergent

I have been using a dishwashing detergent that is a good one and is free of the nasty chemicals that can harm you and the environment called Wave by Earth Friendly Products.  I use the free and Clear.  But I wanted to see if there was an even safer, and let's face it cheaper, alternative.  I decided to try and make my own.

I started with Citric Acid.  It's the same thing used for canning and can be found on the canning area of the grocery store.  I used 1 1/2 Cup.  I mixed in 1 1/2 Cup of Super Washing Soda, which I already have to make my laundry detergent.  1/2 Cup baking Soda, which I use to clean EVERYTHING.  And 1/2 Cup Sea Salt, I used coarse for better cleaning.  I mixed them all together and gave it a shot.  I put in 1 tablespoon.  I was shocked.  The dishes came out amazing!  The glasses were super sparkly.

For ALOT less than I was paying for dishwashing soap I now will be making my own.  I love knowing exactly what the ingredients are!

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Backyard Gardening

A few years ago when we started to grow our own food I never imagined what it would become or how much it would become apart of our family and daily life.  I now cannot imagine my life without food growing in my backyard.  That wasn't always the case.

I used to always have herbs growing.  Even as a single person I always had basil and such growing on my balcony of my apartment.  I told my husband that my dream would be to grow everything we could in the backyard.  Well, we are trying.

As I sit and write this I am on the patio looking out over the things we grow and I am thinking, the hardest part is the start.  We have beds, some above ground some on the ground, and that is the hardest part.  Building the beds and building the space for ground beds is really the hardest part.

I buy all my seeds from either High Mowing Seeds or Seeds of Change.  I have always had  success growing from their seeds and they are certified organic.  Once things grow I do save seeds and use them though for my next crop!

In my garden, which is now in summer Florida mode, I have corn, Blueberry bushes (which have been reduced and waiting for next season), an avocado tree, peach tree, tomatoes, onions , lemon tree, carrots, beets, radishes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, kale, sage, lemon balm, dill, basil, thyme, oregano, Kiwi, rosemary, aloe, papaya and fennel.  I also have some medicinal herbs like chamomile, feverfew and echineacia.  So there is just a couple of things growing in my surburban backyard.  : )

So if you are thinking that you can't do it and can't feed your family from your yard, your wrong.  You can do it, no matter how much space you have you can grow somthing that will feed your family.  The hardest part is the start.  

If you have questions about it please ask.  Get going, feed your family from the food you grow.  You will know where it comes from, and you will know whats been put on it.

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Completely Non-Toxic Weed Killer

Why on earth people still buy Round-Up knowing how bad it is for the environment and health of people still amazes me.  Whenever I see it in a store I want to scream.  When I see someone with it in their cart it takes everything in me not to say "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?".

Round-Up is one of the most toxic things you can put on the ground.  It gets into our water system and becomes toxic for us.  Not only that but by buying Round-Up you are helping to support Monsanto, who is the maker of the product.  Isn't that insane?  The maker of one of the worst chemicals now is supplying us with our food, GMO food that is.

The most amazing part is that if you have weeds all you need to do is pour some distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar on them and they will die.  Another solution is to pour boiling hot water over the grass that grows in between you sidewalk cracks and they will die.

That's it.  No chemicals, no toxins.

Try it next time and see.

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FAV New Product! Primal Pit Paste

Since going chemical free years ago for our personal care products the one item that hasn't really worked so well is deodorant!  I have tried every brand out there that is Aluminum and paraben free and quite honestly they really don't control odor as well as my husband and I would like.  So when I heard rave reviews of an organic deodorant I had to give it a shot.

The product is Primal Pit Paste.  Great name huh?  We tried the Primal Pit Paste Strong Unscented, we don't like anything scented in our home.  My husband was the guinea pig.  He wore it and it really worked!   I tried it next, even gardened with it, and it still controlled odor!  This stuff is amazing. Finally a chemical free deodorant that actually works!

It does feel odd applying it since you apply it like you would a lotion, but then again that is the industry telling you how deodorant should be applied.  They do have a stick deodorant option as well.

The ingredients are organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, organic arrowroot powder, aluminum free baking soda, and essential oils.

I for one am SOLD on this product!

Check them out at www.primalpitpaste.com

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Fav New Spa Products! LUMINO

In my quest for great Organic skincare products I have found a product line that I LOVE!  The company is called Lumino.  I already use their food grade Diatomaceous Earth, I take a teaspoon of it in water everyday, so when they sent me samples of the spa products they have I was excited to try them.

The ingredients of the products are organic and paraben free.

I started out using the Dead Sea Salt Scrub, which was amazing, and followed it with their Masque and then Good Night Organic Skin Emollient.  When I woke up in the morning my skin looked incredible! Then I tried the Intensive Spa Therapy Foot Scrub followed by Intensive Spa Therapy Foot Butter.  WOW!  These feet that spend alot of time gardening really appreciated it.

They also have non-toxic pet and home products.

The are very reasonably priced, especially for being Organic.  Check them out at www.luminowellness.com.

I for one have become a huge fan!!

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Chemical Free Easter Egg Dye

Trying to keep away from chemical dyes for Easter eggs I found a chemical and artificial dye free solution. A company called Glob has a natural Easter egg coloring kit.  The kit is $14.  It has enough color for 1-2 dozen eggs.  It has 3 colors (yellow, purple and blue) made from Annatto, radish and cabbage, 3 compostable mixing cups and 3 bamboo brushes.

They also have wonderful non-toxic paint sets and paper other things.  Check them out at http://store.globiton.com

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FAV New Item! Fenugreen Freshpaper Bags

OK, if you are a reader of my blog you know I am ANTI-PLASTIC!   I don't want it in my house or near my family or food.  When you are trying to store your garden veggies there is the challenge of what to store them in to keep them fresh and not use plastic.  Well I have found something completely awesome!

They are paper bags that will keep your fruits and veggies fresh longer and are organic and compostable!  The company is Fenugreen.  The product is Freshpaper bags.

FreshPaper™by Fenugreen is a simple piece of paper that keeps fruits & veggies fresh for 2-4 times longer, organically.
​
Often described as a "dryer sheet for produce," one small (5" x 5") FreshPaper sheet can simply be dropped into a fridge drawer, fruit bowl, or any other container filled with produce.
​
FreshPaper is infused with organic spices and has a distinctive maple-like scent that signals that the paper is active.​​​
​
Biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable, this award-winning innovation has received international recognition for its potential to change how the world keeps its food fresh.​​

This is GENIUS!!!  Now all my organic fruits and veggies are going in them.

Check them out at www.fenugreen.com.  Oh and shipping is free.  They are at many Wholefoods locations, not mine yet, but maybe yours.

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My Food Storage Containers!

I am anti-plastic.  Even if it's the BPA free.  Who is to say that all the other ingredients in the BPA free plastic will not harm us some day.  I mean they sold us on the fact that BPA wouldn't harm us when they put it into everything.  OHHHHH  wait, that's right, they put it in everything and never told us!  And now even though study after study shows it's toxic for us our government decided to say it was ok to keep using and refused to ban it, even though other countries have.  So I am not the person to trust them not to have some other ingredient in their plastic that won't hurt me or my family.

Seems like everything is plastic thought doesn't it?  I am very psycho over what comes into my house, but especially for what my food is stored in.  Think about this, anything with any acidity level can cause one of the chemicals in plastic to make it leach into your food.  BPA free, sure,  but what else is leaching?

Well I have quite the collection of glass jars that I have kept from the items I buy.  I try to buy only items in glass jars or BPA free lined cans (which I don't keep).  I will even go as far as to buy a certain jars just for it's shape that I don't have but need and not care what product was in it just so I can have it for my collection.

You can do this and replace the plastic.  Try going by your dollar store, or here the Big Lots has great deals on the "glass jars" I need.  Like I said I don't care what's in them.  If you replace the plastic food containers in your house with glass you will be saving your family the BPA or even the unknown chemicals in the plastic that could harm you.


Give it a shot.

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New Fav Makeup Product

I have just found a product I love so I have to share.  It's Physicians Formula Organic Wear Makeup Line.  I bought the Pressed Powder and the Loose Powder.  LOVE them.  They don't settle into creases and the color (I bought the Translucent) doesn't change and get orangey.

Here is the best part, the ingredients.  Or should I say what it doesn't contain.  It is 100% free of harsh chemicals, 100% free of synthetic preservatives, 100% free of parabens, 100% free of GMO's, 100% free of synthetic colors and 100% free of synthetic fragrances.  It contains OrganiSoy to help even skin tone and texture to restore skin smoothness, and Eco-Olive which is a natural antioxidant to help shield skin from harsh environmental aggressors.

The pressed powder comes in packaging that is cardboard, not plastic,  and has a mirror on one side with a brush.

So Far I am impressed!  Oh and it's alot cheaper than other brands.

Give it a shot.

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New Favorite Item For Kids

I have found something so cool I have to share.

My daughter is obsessed with Space, the planets and astronauts so I was trying to find her a little play spaceship and I happened upon my new favorite thing.  A company called Makedo.   https://mymakedo.com/shop/product_detail/find-make-space-pod.  All their kits are intended to use cardboard boxes you already have or acquire.  They send you the small parts to attach them and a guide of how to do it and you reuse cardboard boxes to create!  BRILLIANT!

It is recycling at it's finest.  My daughter and I cut the boxes and used the guide to figure out how to do it and tada!  A spaceship!

The attachments for the panels and stickers along with a safety knife are all included in the kit.

We used an egg carton for the "control panel" and she wanted me to add a "telescope" so the center of wrapping paper worked just fine!

She loves it and the fact that we made it together was even more special.  Is it picture perfect? Nope, but I think that it what makes it so awesome!

They have several kits available.  You can find them on Amazon.com and also on Walmart.com.

Keep your boxes and get creating!

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Yes This Actually Is My Life

I had someone I know contact me the other day and ask if I really clean my house with only vinegar, water and baking soda.  It wasn't to be insulting, she is trying to eliminate chemicals from her house and  wanted to find out if I really use only that and how I use them.

It made me laugh as she asked.  YES this blog and the information is in fact how we live.  Anything I am posting are things that I have actually done and continue to do in my household.  I have a quite large garden in the backyard growing as much as I can.  I make my own flour and ALL bread products.  I make my own butter, jams and ice creams.  I use vinegar, water and baking soda to clean, and a little hydrogen peroxide for the counter tops.  We haven't used a scented products in this house for years and all things have to be BPA, phthalate, SLS and dye free.  And with a little help from my daughter I make my own laundry detergent.

I know to someone who isn't living this lifestyle it seems like it cannot be real, but oh yes it is.

Is it easy?  of course not, but that's why I have this blog.  I hope that some of this info will be helpful to someone looking to change.

Thanks for reading!

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I'm also on facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tampagreenmommy

Yummy Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus Recipe

I was at the store the other day when my 3 year old grabbed a container of Organic sun dried tomatoes and asked if we could buy some.  Sure why not.

Well, she did not enjoy the taste of them in the pasta I made her with them so now what?  I am not going to let them go to waste.  I decided to add them to hummus and YUMMY!

I used 15 ounces of garbanzo beans.  I buy mine organic in the bag not canned, so I have to soak them overnight and them cook them to soften them.

3 tablespoons tahini, organic

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon salt

3-4 cloves garlic, depending on how much garlic taste you want.  (We can ward off vampires in our house)

1/2 Cup Olive oil.  (Here is a tip for your olive oil, I use Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  It is certified authentic.  Your olive oil should be GREEN and smell like olives.  If it doesn't then chances are it is a mix of different oils and not the real deal and you will be missing out on the health benefits of the olive oil.)

1/2 cup organic sun-dried tomatoes.  I used packaged and then soaked them in olive oil to rehydrate and drained.  But you can buy oil-packed and drain.

1/4 cup shredded fresh basil

Put the garlic, salt, tahini and lemon juice in the food processor till smooth.  Put in the garbanzos and 1/2 cup olive oil blend until smooth.  Add sundried tomatoes and pulse until they are chopped up small.  Then add the basil and pulse a couple more times.

Pop it in the fridge for a little while so the flavors can blend.  Top it with some olive oil and a little paprika!  Tada!

Serve with some warmed pita or Naan bread.

My husband went crazy for it!

Easy and delicious.  It's also nice to switch up the taste of regular hummus!

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FAVORITE New Product!

In my endless quest for non-toxic products I have found another one I love so of course I have to share.

I found it after looking at the back of my 7th Generation Liquid Dish Soap one day and noticing that it contained Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.  I just glanced at it one day, as I never had before thinking that all their products were safe.  HUH?  That is not at all what I expected to see.  There it was.  A chemical I would never allow in my toothpaste or anything else but there it was washing my daughter's sippy cups?  Really?  I don't think so.

I have now found and have been using a product that is comprised of non-toxic ingredients and there is no SLS.

If you choose to buy one of the ones with a scent, then there will be the oil of that scent in it.  IE, apricot, almond, etc.  NON TOXIC!  I do all free and clear.  After being a free and clear home anything with scent is overwhelming.

This work so well, bubbly and take off your food.

I have been in love with their dishwasher detergent for a long time but now I am SOLD on their Dishwashing soap also.

And I have to say a SHAME ON YOU to 7th Generation for putting Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in your dish soap. It says *Naturally Devired* on the label.  Well here is what I have discovered about that:
Although SLS originates from coconuts, the chemical is anything but natural.
The real problem with SLES/SLS is that the manufacturing process (ethoxylation) results in SLES/SLS being contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a carcinogenic by-product.

OHHHH, So it could cause cancer and I am supposed to wash my dishes and daughter's sippy's with it?  Come on 7th Generation!  I used to trust you.

Well no more, this is my new fav!

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Oh Yea, I'm Making My Own Flour!

I have been lusting over the Kitchen Aid Grain Mill attachment ever since it in the  Williams Sonoma catalog.  I kept thinking how cool it would be to be able to make my own flour for my bread.

Well, my husband surprised me with it for our wedding anniversary last week.  He also went to Whole Foods and got me the grain I would need.

Some people might not find this romantic, and yes he does benefit from the gift, but anyone who knows me understands how awesome a gift it was.

Isn't it pretty?

I was so excited attaching it to my mixer, opening the bag of grains and starting the machine.  Instantly the flour started to come out and I was amazed. FLOUR!  I was making flour!  It was so incredibly easy! I was now going to make my bread using the flour I created.  Insane I know. But this made me really happy.

I was really nervous to use my flour.  It does have a different texture, not as soft as the flour you buy in the store.  My bread however came out wonderful.  My husband said it has a heartier texture to it and he loved it.

I really didn't change anything in the amount of ingredients too much.  I added a little more moisture as it seemed like the flour drank it in right away, but other than that I didn't change anything.

I did read that if you don't grind the flour and use it right away then put it in a paper bag, close it and leave it on the counter for 2 weeks.  The flour, if not use right away, goes into a storage phase that makes it unsteady.  And who wants a loaf of bread that doesn't turn out right after all that work.

Make sure to use a hard grain for bread flour, for all purpose flour use a mix of hard and soft grains, for baking use soft grains.  Store the grains in a glass jar to keep the air out.

I really love baking my own bread.  I know what goes into it and there are no preservatives in it, besides the fact that it tastes way better than any store bought.  Now however I really know what is in it, even in the flour.  Oh how I have turned a corner.

My husband always says, "Little House On The Prairie Called"..... well now I really have become Laura Engals!

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Strawberry Picking Time!

This is one of my favorite times of year.  It's strawberry picking time.  And it's happening at the perfect time in our house since we just ran out of the strawberry jam I made last season.

If you are in the Tampa Bay Area, or will be visiting, the place to go is Ergle's Christmas Tree Farm.  Yes they do more than trees.

The grow their strawberries using Natural and Healthy Growing practices. They offer strawberries that are hydroponically grown so there is also no bending over to pick them.

The berries are $2.99 a pound, which if you have been buying Organic in the stores you know this is a deal!  And they will have them thru June!

They provide the buckets and you just go and pick.  They are the sweetest strawberries we have ever had.  Perfect for eating, my homemade jam, or the yummy strawberry ice cream I will be making!

Once you get them home soak them in 1 part white vinegar to 10 parts water for a few minutes and it will clean them and kill any mold and keep them for so much longer in the fridge.  Make sure to store them in a colander so they have air circulating around them.
 

3325 Trieman Blvd
Dade City, FL 33523 352-583-3647

Definitely worth the drive!

Till Next Blog......

Not Organic, But Ridiculous!

This is not about Organic living, but I felt the need to vent anyway.

I had a very sweet friend who sent my daughter some outfits.  Among them was an item that I said NO WAY to when I saw it and the more I think about it the more it made me mad.

She sent a pair of Levi's shorts.  They are actually "Shorty Shorts".  She sent them in a bigger size, 8, since my 3 year old is already in a size 5.

OK I am not a prude, but this is absurd!  Why on earth are they making "shorty shorts" for children???  Even if my daughter wasn't able to wear them till 8, Really???  An eight year old wearing shorts that go right under her butt?  So when she would be able to wear them, which will probably be around 6, I am supposed to allow my CHILD, not adult daughter, to wear these?

We are already dealing with little girls going into puberty WAY to early from all the hormones in our foods, do we really need to celebrate that by dressing them like this as small children?

I for one will not, I don't want to see it on her at 6, 8 or quite frankly at all while she lives under my roof.

Till Next Blog....

Beware Of This Item!

I had to get locks for our fence gates today so I went down to my local Ace Hardware and picked up a couple.  I bought Ace brand padlocks with the number combination on them.  No big deal right?

When I got home and started to read the directions on how to set the lock I was stunned when I glanced at the warning on the package......

WHAT????  So I have to wash hands after handling or I can get cancer?  And if my very curious 3 year old gets her hands on than it can cause reproductive harm?  Are you Serious?

Let's just say that I will be taking these back tomorrow and will be letting the know exactly why!

I never thought to check something so simple.  Goes to show you that you really do need to check anything that comes into your house.

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So Great To Hear This From A Doctor

After my daughter battling her ear ache for a couple days the pain had subsided but I found her saying "What?" a lot.  So rather to be safe than sorry I took her in to her pediatrician.

I told her that I had been using the coconut/garlic oil mixture I had made.  She checked her ears and said there was no infection!  She said there was a little fluid causing the muffled hearing but that she would be fine.  She said that the oil I used did a great job.

I almost fell over!  Was this a member of the medical profession telling me that the non-drug method I chose worked?

Yes I did walk out of there damn proud, and yes I will keep finding natural ways to take care of everything I can!!!

Just wanted to send out an update!

Till Next Blog......