Pet Accidents Spray

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Oh yea Pin it!! First Home Love Life post about Pet Oder Be Gone..With animals it's a good thing to pin. Wait after reading the comments I see that many have found that if you add something it to it can make it even better....

So even better write a blog post about it!!! So I don't have scroll threw the comments.  And I can share with my readers.....



2 parts water 
1 part mouth wash
squirt of Dawn
 splash of vinegar
splash of hydrogen peroxide

The mouthwash is said to help lift the fats out. Dawn helps remove them.  I am hoping that eco-friendly dish-soap will work too... Vinegar cuts the ammonia. Miss Animal rights hate the smell of vinegar hopefully lemon will work too.   Hydrogen peroxide cuts the proteins.

Some are saying to use Scope some say use original Listerine. Mint washes are said the menthol or other mint extracts help remove the orders. Listerine has thymol and eucalyptol make it similar to the "thieves oil".

But I say use what you have on hand to try it....


 

The 8 R's

Reuse. Reuse that jar for storage. That bottle for your homemade salad dressing. If you need help try Planet Green's Guide  How to Reuse Everything 

Repurpose. Rebuilding things with scrap wood. Pallet crafts.  Crafts.  Sewing tee into a blanket.

Repair.  Before you buy a new one see if the old one can be repaired.  This is happening more with cars reports say.  That we are holding on to our cars for 2 more years then before.  But I have a feeling it is the economy that plays a big part of that.....


Return. Just google cell phone return and you will find tons of sites.  Plus some will take  other electronics. Target and Walmart have drop boxes for that in their stores.  Easy to do!! Same with printer cartridges; if you can't refill that is.



Refill. Printer cartridges, water bottles, and more..

Rot.  Compost that leftover food (fruits and veggies) no meat products, eggs or cheese.


Refuse. Don't buy the over-packaged disposable single-use junk!  Don't buy the over priced stuff that is not eco-friendly.


Recycle.  This is that last step if you can't do any of the other 6....

 

Mini Me??

Sorry kinda blurry but you get the idea.... 

I made a dress-form just like the video I saw on Threadbanger.  It was quite funny when my daughter who helped me put on her facebook:....  not what I thought I be doing today: Putting my Mom in a trash bag and using gorilla tape! Oh yea many family friends wanted to know if she got all Dexter on me.... LOL

I wore a tank top and placed a trash bag on for the base.  I did find a site that had the way to make one bookmarked but lost it.  Heck I thought I know the basic steps.  I remember reading that they used 3 rolls of duck tape to make 2.  I told the daughter I make her one but she decided that she really didn't want to get "taped Up".    I still have a 2 rolls and half of the gorilla tape.  That's why it is black not the gray color of duck tape.  LOL I also got my daughter a roll of the fancy duck tape with blue flowers to bribe her to help... and I really didn't need to I just had to ask.  I love that kid... LOL

I didn't have a ton of fabric to stuff it with.  I did add some newspaper... I didn't like the newspaper it was too lumpy not solid enough for a dress form.  I used some foam filler and it was like DANG! it's only 1/4 filled??? SO I then got fiberfill and stuffed it.  I was lucky that it was on sale.....  It took the whole bag...  Really?? Oh my goodness....

Sad thing is after it was done I asked really??  I LOOK like that??  LOL I know I don't have a huge chest but this made it look tiny, and where did my waist go...  Oh well I guess it is the way it was stuffed and it still has my basic measurements so I can use it .   I have used it already....     I really have too many t-shirt I didn't wear because of the neck and arms  being to tight.  Now they are cool looking....

Goo Removal

I so love pinterest!  I even have a board I named Green Household Tips .  I found a pin that had gunk remover.

Non-toxic replacement for Goo Gone! The recipe for the remover is equal parts coconut oil and baking soda.  I keep my coconut oil in my refrigerator and it will be more solid that way.  I did warm the oil in the microwave before adding my baking soda.  I was not sure if this goo would work to remove goo.

AS you can see I did use it on my honey jar and the label came off very well!! I have used peanut butter to remove labels but the clean up was a pain. AS anyone that has cleaned out a peanut butter jar.  PLUS I would have to let it sit for a while to get most of the label off.  And many labels where  stubborn and would still use goo be gone on the last sticky stuff that won't come off!!

I also did a couple of plastic bottles that where left in the house. A sport drink bottle and a lemon aide bottle that the kids left here.  I removed the sticking stuff off the plastic and didn't scratch  the plastic up....   I am going to put some water in the empty bottle and freeze them.  They are hopefully going camping with me this summer.  I will use them to keep my food cold.  If they melt they are drinking water!!

But the glass jars will be used to hold my sauces or dressings.

 

Smashing Great idea

So when I was younger we had these books that we would cut and glue pictures and stuff into. We called them scrapbooks. We glue in our pictures, notes, report cards, newspaper clippings and so much more. We write in bold letters, silly sayings and sometimes not so nice words... Drawing silly things or adding pictures from magazines and stickers....  NOW the papers and they ideas that has taken off is so amazing!  It very interesting to see the different  ways people do this creative way of remembering things...... The charms that you can add to the pages.  Plus things like  scissors for beautiful edges and hole punches....

I like this video because it kinda has a catchy little tune and nicely moving little dittoes to keep you watching.

BUT it is a commercial for the product a smash book but you can make one from a old notebook.  Strangely I have a few around the house.  And I have made this type of smash book from don't hate me but a old book.... The old book didn't work to well seeing the binder couldn't take all the pressure.


 

Hey have fun with it!

Grease is the word!!

So many time the green dish soaps are no the greatest at removing that greasy mess on my pans. My dressing bottle is the worst!  So I went to the internet to research.  The ideas I found:

Sprinkle salt on dish and use as a scrub
Add 1/2 cup of Vinegar to dish water
for glass soak with soap and microwaving for a minute or so

Wait if the vinegar was the answer won't my dressing bottle be easier to clean? It oil and vinegar...  I have been having fun using different vinegar favors so maybe only the white? Well it really didn't work....

Microwaving with the soapy water or without??? Didn't work for either...

The salt helped remove some of the grease.  The pans were the one where this worked the best.  I sprinkle the salt and let sit until I am ready to wash the dishes.  Maybe it help to put it in when the pan is still a little hot..

So the best method is all of them together!! While it is warm from cooking (no need for the microwave!!!) sprinkle with salt. Then before washing remove the salt with the dishcloth.  I don't wet down the towel. I add warm water with vinegar to soak it till I reach the pans....

That worked! So I found out that lemon also works well.  I like to clean with lemons cause they smell so good!!

Yummy...

I just got a ice cream maker at my local Target for a song! So I made some Strawberry sorbet.

The recipe as in the ice cream maker booklet (hey I googled ice cream machine recipes and found this same recipe over and over!!)



Strawberry Sorbet

2 2/3 cups  strawberries, pureed
1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup water
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and
simmer until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool completely (1– 2 hours).
Combine with pureed strawberries and lemon juice.
Pour into canister and freeze .

I thought I might make some and freeze it in the popsicle mold.  But when it came out if the machine it wasn't very solid, kinda soft.  Very yummy but soft.... next day after I put the left overs in the freezer it was solid.  Guess I did find a homemade frozen fruit bar!! LOL! Mine will not have all those preservatives and artificial coloring.  Just fruit and  water.  You can also use juice for the sugar water. Add more or less to the taste of the fruit.  The sweeter the fruit the less the sugar!

Plus I have been making more and more smoothies.  Sometimes make too much.  I got the idea to freeze them in the popsicle mold.... That has become my "dessert" after work... Yea one got a little too stubborn and stayed in the mold.... that's ok it will be the last one eaten!! Rawww!   I also have frozen my left over milk shakes.... very yummy!!

Next is gelato!!

Use less...

Doing my eco-friendly thing, I have a old office chair that I sit in as I surf the web.... but the problem is that the  cats also love it.... they have realy really like it...   As you can see, they like to climb to the top of the chair.  Sometimes they  will sharpen their nails on the side there!!!

It kinda bothered me that I had this horrible looking chair, it wasn't broke or really too bad, just has this part of the chair that is torn up!!!

I was reading the Sunday Morning paper and noticed that one store had bucket seat covers on sale. I thought wow that might work.... Oh yea it works.... Yea the back isn't as tight as the cover would be in the car.  I thought I might cut and sew something to help it if needed. But I use that sun pillow because I am short and my legs don't hit the floor while my back is to the back of the chair. 


Aw I have a "new" chair and I didn't add to the landfill! My family laughed when they saw it and asked where I go the just one seat cover... Really they asked if I had the other one... LOL BUt I think they are getting one for their beaten up chair..........

Shampoos

The best green shampoo......Liquid Castille Soap! Wrong... it breaks me out... I have very sensitive skin that includes my scalp! So most homemade shampoos use this ingredient..And most green health food store brands shampoo use chamomile... Chamomile is part of the Asteraceae plant family, which includes ragweed and chrysanthemum, If you have  allergies, chamomile  may cause some reaction.... If I use chamomile on my face or hair.... My eyes swell up and I can't breathe..... fun times trying to find a herbal shampoo!  I was using a unscented shampoo but then it stopped working.  So really they say that the shampoo doesn't stop working your needs -your hair needs change.... but hey I have to switch...  Found one that I missed the chamomile.... it was like smack in the middle... I read right over it... and I learned even a little amount... judging by the fact it wasn't one the first key ingredients... I will not be able to breathe normally..and look like I cried for days.. grrr....

So many health food store shampoo have chamomile and or are over $10 a bottle.... too rich for my budget.  The grocery isle of healthy organic shampoos are the same thing....

When I first started to use the organic shampoos I would have to wash my hair every day or my hair would look so greasy. Now I wash my hair every couple of days and looks fuller.  Well that before trying to find my shampoo.... there are some that dry out my hair (ok I saved it for summer, for those sweaty summer days..Worked great them!!) Then the ones that made my hair look even more greasy...  

I tried the no poo -hummm I couldn't do it.  I know there is a adjusting period but I couldn't do it...my hair was too greasy. It made my head itch. I "washed" with conditioner, that too made my hair look too greasy and flat.  Then I try to make my own... yea the liquid castille soap allergy was uncovered after my first homemade herbal shampoo...  green tea shampoo..... I had bumps that inched and hurt! So no more Castille soap, I did try straight castille soap on my body and got the same rash... and it really hurts!! 

So my last recipe.... thing is I found this from a baby shampoo recipe and a regular shampoo recipe with milk so I thought I make a hybrid of the two.....


 Milk Shampoo

• 1/4 cup Non-Fat Dry Milk
• 1/4 cup Whole Milk
• 1 tablespoon Corn Starch
• 2 tablespoons of honey

Combine ingredients in a clean container.;It makes a thick paste.  Use just as you would a mask for your hair.I left on for about 5 minutes.  I used it on my face and my windburned arms....... nice and soft soothing...
I did rinse for longer then normal  just cause I don't want to smell like spoiled milk later...
The only problem is I found was my hair was a little snarly.  So I did use some coconut oil that I use on my hands.  I rub my hands with a small amount, you only need a very small amount; and then I  ran them over the ends of my hair.  My scalp I very lightly ran my hands over the hair... and soon my comb was going threw my hair without a problem.... You can use your hair conditioner or hand cream like that too...

Guess we will see how this plays out...........


 

Fragrances

Fragrances are made of petroleum products and ......synthetic materials. They are blamed for many allergies and allergic reactions in many health and beauty products. Things like asthma, wheezing, headache and contact dermatitis. PLUS there are hormone disruptors  that can hurt unborn children and even cause health problems. Because many ingredients have been found and proven to cause cancer and other health problems  But the theory is it can be tolerated in small amounts. That would be ok if most of the products we used have fragrance or that one fragrance could have over 400 ingredients to produce that smell.....     

So what a green eco-friendly girl to do??? Make her own that is.

H2O based perfume

1-1 1/2 cups of flower petals
2 cups of distilled water

Collect flower petals and wash thoroughly removing dirt and pollen.
Fill aluminum pot with 2 cups of water. Add petals. Simmer but do not boil water. Simmer for 2 hours and don't let the water boil away, you can more distilled water if needed.
Turn off heat and let cool
Strain the water into a bottle or jar.
Nice spray for your linen.

Vodka based cologne

bottle of vodka or ever-clear
Flower petals

Collect flower petals and wash thoroughly removing dirt and pollen.
Fill a jar with the petals. Pour alcohol over petals just to cover the top of the petals.
Let sit for one day Strain and add more petals but not alcohol.
Repeat the straining of petals and adding new petal to you get the desired strength.

Cream Perfume

Olive Oil, EVOO, Almond Oil
Beeswax
Essential Oils
small  glass  jar
Small container to pour finished perfume into


 Add one tablespoon of olive oil and about 3/4 tablespoon beeswax to your glass jar
Microwave for 10 seconds until melted, might need to ass 10 seconds. Add your essential oils. Between 5 and 15 drops of  your essential oil(s)
Stir the essential oil
Let it sit and harden for at least 30 minutes. 

Making beads

Flour Beads
2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
3/4 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (helps keep from cracking)

Mix flour and salt together. Slowly add water. If too dry add more water, too moist add more flour.
Knead for 15 minutes. Cool in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Pinch off a piece of dough form a bead and poke with a toothpick, straw, stick, skewer or nail.
Bake at 350 for 2 or more hours.

Add different flours for different effects.
Can add Unsweetened Kool-aid, paint or food coloring to the beads before baking. Can paint after baking.

Jewelry Clay Beads

1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 flour
1/2 salt
1/2 cup water

Coffee Dough (the dough kinda drys to look like stone)
1 cup flour
1 cup coffee grounds (cold)
1/2 salt
1/2 cup of cold coffee



Can add some small flower petals,  ground herbs or flowers to any bead recipe for beads that smell nice.


Sawdust  Beads
2 cups sawdust
1 cup flour
1 cup water

Knead  until mixed.
Pinch off a piece of dough form a bead and poke with a stick, skewer or nail.
Can be sanded after dry.


 Paper beads.
news paper, magazines, catalogs, colored paper, copy paper, junk mail,  brown paper bags, gift wrap (not heavy or shinny) or scrapbook paper.
glue

You cut the paper into strips some may be triangles, Different sizes will make different size beads, Have fun making all sizes and shapes.

Paint glue on the wrong side of the paper.
Roll  up the paper from the widest end; with a toothpick, straw, stick, nail or skewer.
Add a small drop at the end of the bead.

Can be painted if wanted.  To help protect the beads use  paint the bead with clear/top coat nail polish or a clear glossy varnish.

adults only. Lube talk

Happy Valentines Day!   With Valentines Day on it way I found this so fitting for the occasion......

Many of the popular personal lubricants are petroleum based.  Meaning that many ingredients are not also the best thing to put in a very sensitive personal place.  Many of the ingredients are the same thing that are used in motor oil!  I do however think that if you are not in a commented relationship, as to say you need; to use the over the counter products for protection of the HIV virus, but that is just me. I not a medical personal type person.  I just think that  one needs to be very careful with this disease.

Ingredients you should avoid:

propylene glycol

parabens

synthetic fragrance

Yes there is many lubricants that are eco-friendly that are for sale in health food shops and on line. But the can cost more than the name brands. Much more.

recipe;

2 cups water

2.5 Tbsp flax seeds

Boil the water to a full rolling boil. Add flax seed.  simmer until reduced to half. Around 20 minutes

strain and let cool. Place in bottle. Store in refrigerator. Room temp will last only a few days.

Can also used as a hair gel. But really don't use to used stuff, but then if you are having a wild night.(I'm jealous) .. it doesn't hurt if it  gets into your hair.....

List of things to make

Ok maybe it is a list of things that I think would be cool to make. I don't have a dumpster in my backyard but wouldn't it be cool to have a swimming pool made from dumpsters. I really would love to make a window farm. . I think it just the time I am not looking forward to...

But I really loved the truck farm A film maker has a farm in the back of his Dodge Ram truck that he drives in Brooklyn, New York.

So I think after the window garden the first project I might actual do is make my own hammock


I also found a project that I really could do. Solar Jars or Moon Jars. But I would not buy a new solar light. I have had some break and my dad is trying to fix them. Plus he was wracking his brain - that's my dad's dads'speak for you, to make something to put on the patio table. So I show him the lifehacker page and well guess I am not making a Solar Jar or a Moon jar.... my dad is talking about making it. I will post a picture of it after he makes it... One for me and one for him.

Why not dream big? I saw this nice minibuilding. built with earthbags. Looks like a hobbit studio. to go with my hobbit house.