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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