Going Green

Now days, it seems like there is a new “green”, “natural”, “organic”, and/or “eco-friendly” alternative for every product on the market — and the main difference I see between these “green” products and the other “regular” products is the price!

“Green” products ALWAYS seem to be more expensive! 

And while I definitely AM in favor of protecting our environment, reducing the amount of chemicals we put in and on our bodies, and lowing our energy consumption… I have to wonder if this is just a marketing tactic for some companies.

Honestly, is it REALLY necessary to pay more for “organic parchment paper” when regular parchment paper is already eco-friendly? And is it REALLY necessary to pay more for “natural” body lotion when I don’t even know what “natural” means?

I think the one that makes me laugh the most is General Mills cereal — they now have more “whole grains” and are marketing Lucky Charms as “healthier”.  I have absolutely nothing against cereal or against General Mills, but if people are really willing to believe that Lucky Charms could possibly be a “healthy” breakfast… they are just buying right into these marketing tactics!

I’m sure you’ve all seen, heard, and read stories about companies using these “green” words to lure buyers into paying more for their products — and I have to believe the stories are true.

You would not believe all the junk mail and spam emails I’ve gotten since Nora was born — all trying to make me feel like a horrible mother if I don’t use only “green” baby products {for 2 to 3 times the prices}!

I do know there are certain fruits and vegetables that are important to buy “organic” {see this handy printable chart} but other than that, I honestly don’t have enough information to know when it’s just a marketing ploy or when it’s “for real”.

What are your thoughts on paying more for “green”?

.

photo credit

8 comments →

A few weeks ago, I shared how I keep our showers clean in about 10 minutes a month. I mentioned that although I try to use mostly homemade cleaners in and around our house, I still hadn’t found a great homemade cleaner for the shower.

Well, after that, I got a bunch of emails with different “recipes” for homemade shower cleaner; and although I was skeptical, I decided to try a few of them out.

Anyway, after experimenting these past 2 weeks (yes, our shower is now extremely clean) I’ve picked my favorite… and it’s REALLY simple!! 

Recipe for Homemade Shower Cleaner

Thanks to Anna for sending me this “recipe”!

Step #1: Pour any amount of white vinegar into a plastic spray bottle {I started with about 6 oz.}

Step #2: Heat it up in the microwave until very warm. {you do NOT need to reheat it every time you want to clean your showers}

Step #3: Pour the same amount of Dawn dish soap into the spray bottle.

Step #4: Put the top of the spray bottle on and gently shake until they are combined.

That’s it!!

Just 2 simple ingredients and about 5 minutes of your time and you have a very inexpensive, homemade shower cleaner that works wonders on soap scum and smells great too!

NOTE: This cleaner is also great for removing greasy buildup in the kitchen!

Do you have any other great homemade cleaning recipes?

.

Pin It

58 comments →

source: 

I talk a lot about saving money — because it really is something I’m passionate about.

Dave and I do not make a lot of money, but by pinching our pennies and living a pretty frugal life, we are able to put about 50% of our income towards building our savings and investments each year. I know some of you might be reading this and thinking, there is absolutely NO WAY we could save 50% of our income, but I’d like to challenge you to just try saving a few extra bucks each month.

I firmly believe that no matter how tight your budget is, there is always SOME way you can save a few cents here, or an extra buck there.

One way we’ve been able to save more is simply by using less.

.

I know that statement might sound overly-obvious… but have you ever tried it? I mean REALLY tried it? Below, I’ve listed several ways we save more by using less…

1. Dish Soap:

I only use about half the recommended amount of dish soap and dishwasher detergent and my dishes still come out sparkling clean.

2. Laundry Soap:

I usually use SoapNuts and vinegar for our laundry, but if I do need to use detergent, bleach, or fabric softener for something, I use about half the recommended amount — and I’ve never had any issues with this!

3. Hand/Body Wash:

When the hand soap and body wash bottles are about half empty, I add in some water and shake it around to “thin down” the soap and make it last just a little bit longer. Our hands and bodies are still clean

4. Napkins:

We almost always use cloth napkins, but if for some reason we need paper napkins {for lunches or really messy foods} we rip the napkins in half — yes, we REALLY do this!!

5. Paper Towels:

I only buy the paper towels that are divided into 3 small towels and we almost never use more than one small section. If it’s a big mess, we’ll use t-shirt rags or towels and then throw them in the wash.

6. Storage Containers:

We pack our lunches in re-usable lunch bags and use mostly re-usable storage containers as opposed to plastic bags. We also ALWAYS use re-usable water bottles.

7. Cleaning Products:

I make most of our cleaning products, shampoo and conditioner, and other toiletries for pennies… which is a huge saving over expensive store-bought products.

8. Meat:

Whenever a recipe calls for ground beef, shredded chicken, or another type of meat, I almost always use 1/2 to 1/3 less meat and then add in extra beans, rice, veggies, etc. to make up the difference. No one ever notices and the meal is much cheaper that way!

9. Dairy Products:

I use dried milk mixed with water or yogurt in many recipes that call for regular milk or sour cream. Dried milk is much cheaper and easier to keep on hand since it’s non-perishable.

10. Utilities: 

We ALWAYS turn of the lights when we’re not in a room, we turn down the heat when we’re sleeping or not home, we take very quick showers, and I run my washing machine and dishwasher on the “quick” cycle to save money on utilities.

I realize that many of you might be amazed and how “cheap” we are {and that’s OK!} but if you’re looking for a few extremely simple ways to save a few extra bucks each week, these ideas will do the trick.

And while it might not sound like much, a few dollars each week can really add up after a few month or years. Plus, by using less of many of these products, you’re helping the environment too!

Do you have any simple ways to save more by using less?

.

12 comments →

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed.

Congrats to:

Sharon (rusthawk@…)

Cassie (sassyfarmer@…)

I will email you to get your information!

I don’t know about you, but every time the holiday season rolls around, I head downstairs to my bin of candles and pull out all those delicious holiday scents. I usually have at least one candle lit any time I’m home — especially after dinner when the house is dark. It just puts me in the holiday spirit and makes everything seem warm and cozy.

Lately I’ve been trying to use more of the soy candles just because they are healthier, more natural, and they seem to be even more fragrant. Plus I like that they don’t give off nearly as much black soot when they burn.

So because we’re smack in the middle of the crazy holiday season, I thought it would be a perfect time to giveaway some delicious {and totally gorgeous} candles from Pure Integrity Soy Candles – a company that specializes in super high-quality soy candles.

I’ve been burning their Victorian Christmas scented candle for the past couple of weeks and just LOVE how festive our house smells all day long! I also have their Lilac scented candle tucked away just waiting for the first hint of spring.

However, since Pure Integrity has SO many scrumptious scents to pick from, I figured that gift certificates might be the most practical giveaway — so you can choose your favorite items.

The Giveaway:

:

Today, two lucky Simple Organized Living readers will win a $50 gift certificate to Pure Integrity. You can purchase anything you want and give the items as gifts or keep them for yourself! 

How to Enter:

1. Leave a comment. What are your favorite uses for candles?

2. Like Simple Organized Living and/or Pure Integrity on Facebook, and then leave a separate comment letting me know you did {or that you do already}.

If you are reading this in your email or feed reader, please visit the actual blog post to enter. Email entries, Facebook comments, and Twitter messages will NOT be counted.

Prize:

(2) $50 Pure Integrity gift certificates as described above.

This giveaway ends at 10:00 pm on Monday, 12/12/2011 and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. I will use And the Winner Is to select the winning comments at random. Winners will be notified by email and noted at the top of this post. Winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize or I will choose a new winner. Please see my full disclosure policy and contact me with any questions you have. Good luck!

128 comments →

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed.

Congrats to Leslie lesliemsaunders@… I will email you today to get your information!

I recently blogged about my all-natural and totally homemade hair wash, hair rinse, and my oil cleansing face wash. Since then, I have received tons of comments and emails asking for more information about other natural toiletry products {either to make or to purchase}.

So I’m super excited to share the “delicious” and totally natural Spa Mountain Naturals products with you today {psst… there’s a giveaway at the bottom so keep reading!}

All the spa mountain products are made with carefully chosen amounts of natural ingredients and have absolutely no synthetics. Their products are also exceptional for anyone with dry skin and hair — both of which I have!

So, with the dry, winter season {and the holiday gift-giving season} just a couple months away, I thought this would be a perfect time to share these amazing products with you — and give you a chance to win a fantastic gift set of products.

I’ve been using the Spa Mountain Herbal Soaps for several weeks now and can already tell that my skin is less dry. I’ve also been using their Plum Oil Nectar in my hair and it has really helped it to be less dry and frizzy… so I’m thrilled!

The Giveaway:

:

One lucky Simple Organized Living reader will win a Spa Mountain Naturals Gift package {$50 value}, including the following:

• one 1 oz. French Plum Oil Nectar

• one 2 oz Gentle Moroccan Clay facial mask

• one 4 oz Pure and Gentle Hand Wash Spray

• two bars of Herbal Soap (any variety — I’m using the Lavender right now!)

Enter to Win:

:

Simply leave a comment telling me why YOU would like to try these products.

You may have ONE extra entry by liking Simple Organized Living on Facebook — and letting me know that you do.

This contest is open until Monday, September 26, 2011, at 10:00 pm EST. ONE winner will be selected at random and announced later that week. Please read my full disclosure policy and contact me with any questions you might have. I received a complimentary selection of Spa Mountain Products for review, however all opinions are my own!

65 comments →

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted any pictures of our bathroom renovations. We’ve made TONS of progress, but after working on projects all day long, I really don’t feel like taking pictures and blogging about them all night long!

However, I’m super excited to show you a few pictures of the brand new, walk-in shower in our master bathroom… and to share a few more of my homemade shower products {they are SO SIMPLE to make!}

Ok, so let’s start with the shower…

.

This is the entrance to our shower {the trim is all Bright White and the wall color is Antique White by Behr}.

You can read about what I’m storing in these baskets and other creative bathroom storage ideas here.

And here’s a look at the inside of our shower. I’ve ALWAYS wanted a completely white subway tile shower…so I’m thrilled with how it turned out! You can’t really see the floors, but they are small white hexagon tiles that look really old fashion.

Even though I went with all white tiles {yes, I love neutrals} I think the monotone pallet allows the detailed tile-work to really pop.

Do you see that cubbie hole next to the shower lever? That’s where we keep our shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, and facewash — it’s probably one of my favorite features of our shower  because it means that all of our shower “clutter” is concealed!

However, you might notice that those don’t look like traditional bottles of shampoo, conditioner, facewash, etc. — and that’s because they aren’t traditional.

They are my “homemade shower products”!

1  = Homemade {oil} Facewash — you can read all about that here

2 = Homemade Conditioning Rinse — just half water, half vinegar

3 = Homemade Shampoo Wash — nope, it’s not dish soap — just baking soda and water!

**We still have a couple bottles of store-bought body wash left, but after that’s gone, we’ll be switching over to Dr. Bronners soap for our bodywash/shaving cream. I’d also be open to making body wash, but I’m not really sure where to start with that one!

My Homemade Shower Kit:

:

Ok, let me go into a little bit more details about these homemade products.

I’ve been using them instead of traditional store-bought products since the beginning of 2011 and have absolutely NO desire to switch back {yes, Dave uses them too}.

1. FACEWASH:

I can’t even tell you how much Dave and I both love the oil cleansing method for washing our face. We’ve both seen our skin improve since we started using this method at the beginning of the year, and my dry skin issues are nearly gone! Plus, now I only wash my face at night and just splash a little water on it in the morning.

You can read all about how I make my oil cleansing facewash here but it’s just a mixture of caster oil and sunflower or olive oil!

2. CONDITIONING RINSE:

I’ve already shared many of the different uses for vinegar — but I really want you to know how much I love using vinegar as an extremely simple, effective, and practically free hair rinse.

All you have to do is find some sort of bottle {I used a small dish soap bottle so it would squeeze out nicely} and fill it half full with water and half full with white or apple cider vinegar {no it’s not an exact science}. Then, after you shampoo your hair {or use my baking soda hair wash} simply squeeze a little  over your wet hair and scalp — then rinse well.

And I personally guarantee your hair will NOT smell like vinegar at all!!

3. HAIR WASH:

Ok, I’ll admit that this one was the most difficult for me to comprehend when I read about it over at Simple Mom. I didn’t think it could possibly work — but it does, and Dave and I have both been “converted” to washing our hair with this simple baking soda mixture.

Just find another squeeze bottle {I used a larger dish soap bottle for this since we use it more often} and fill it with 1 T. of baking soda for every 1 c. of water. I have short, thick hair {see picture}, so if you have really long, curly, or extremely thick hair, you might want to add more baking soda.

I can fit 4 cups of water in my dish soap bottle so I add 4 T of baking soda and shake it up until it dissolves. This mixture will last us a few weeks {and we both use it every day}.

Why I’m Using Homemade:

:

I’m actually NOT a huge “green” freak — and even though I have absolutely nothing against going green, I definitely don’t go out of my way to live an overly “green” life. Yes we recycle, we reuse, we try to limit our trash, we make lots of food from scratch, I can and freeze almost all our fruits and vegetables, etc. etc.

However, the main reasons I make our own facewash, shampoo, and hair rinse are not because it’s “green”, it’s because…

• They are WAY cheaper — like practically free! A box of baking soda will probably last you over a year if you made your own shampoo — and I can find boxes of baking soda for $0.50 or less! Vinegar and caster oil aren’t much more.

• They are SO quick and easy to make. I was shocked at how simple all three of these products were to make. It takes me less than 30 seconds to whip up a new batch, and one batch lasts several weeks/months.

• They don’t have strong chemical smells. I’ve always had a pretty sensitive nose, but being pregnant has made it even more sensitive. So the smells of traditional toiletries really started to bother me. My homemade products don’t have any smell, besides the vinegar, but that rinses right out.

• They are better for our shower and our drain. Since I clean my shower with vinegar and I clean our drains with baking soda and vinegar,  I figure these products will be great for our shower and drain! They don’t leave soap scum like regular products so I honestly don’t have to clean the shower as often.

• I know I’m doing something good for my body. I’m sure you’ve all heard how putting chemicals on your skin isn’t great for you. Well, even though I’m not totally organic and natural, I feel like this is one simple, inexpensive way I can do something great for my skin, my body, and my health.

So that’s it — our new shower and my super simple homemade shower products!

Do any of you have a great “recipe” for homemade beauty products — especially body wash???

If you do, please share!!

22 comments →

Remember a few weeks ago, during my Birthday Giveaway Week, when I talked about MadeOn Hard Lotion? Their lotion bars and other homemade products are some of my new favorites!

A few of the reasons I’m hooked on their products is because they are all-natural, totally organic, and they don’t have a strong fragrance. But now I have yet another reason to be a super fan — because the founder, Renee Harris, is sharing her recipes with anyone who wants to try making their own products!

Renee has already shared the recipes and DIY kit to make her famous Hard Lotion and Lip Balm, but now she published a brand new e-book called “My Buttered Life”. Inside, she shares a ton of relatively simple and inexpensive recipes for suntan lotion, bug repellent, body lotion bars, foot protector bars, tan enhancers, and more!

Oh, and it’s only $5.00!!

You can watch this video if you need a sneak peek at some of the recipes in the book.

If you’re reading this by email, you can click here to see the video.

Don’t wait, get your copy of My Buttered Life for only $5 today!

!

And if you do purchase the DIY Hard Lotion and Lip Balm Kit, you’ll get the ebook for free!

Comment →