Nuts about Coconut Oil!

It seems that coconut oil has been growing in popularity, especially on the "crunchy" prairie.  However, some of you may not yet be privy to the many health benefits of this oil. 

Adam and I recently had friends in town from Oklahoma.  My friend's hands were so dry and brittle they felt like sandpaper (Love you Jamie).  I love sharing natural tips with my friends, and I suggested we butter her up with coconut oil.  It took a little while to soak in, but after it did, she agreed her hands felt softer. 



Photo Source

Coconut oil is used extensively in tropical climates.  It is anti-fungal, anti-viral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and an antioxidant.  It is in solid form until it reaches 76 degrees, then it melts to a liquid. This makes it easy to use for a variety of purposes.  Coconut oil really is one of those products that can be used for hundreds of different things. 

We (Carla and I) use coconut oil for the following:

Moisturizer- body and facial
Cooking/Baking in place of hydrogenated oils and butter
Deodorant
Diaper Rash Cream- one of the few that's cloth diaper friendly
Nipple Cream when breast feeding
Hair conditioner
Shaving Cream
Eczema
Pet Care
Cradle Cap
Acne
Dietary Supplement

I recently began using coconut oil as a facial moisturizer and have been pleased with the results.  I have also used it in the past as a deodorant and in baked goods (I used it in place of butter for my sweet potato casserole and it was AMAZING).  I have also used it in my dog's ear, to treat an infection, which healed within a couple of days. 

I will link to several sites where you can find other information.  I typically buy the Virgin, unrefined, and organic variety.

http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/28296-health-properties-coconut-oil/
You can purchase Coconut Oil at your local grocer (Kroger sells it in Owensboro), health food store, or online here Vitacost.

~Trina

I HATE WASHING DISHES

Ugh.  There's not a night that goes by that I don't find myself facing a sink full of bottles and pumping parts.  They seem to multiply in the sink.  Typically, I will spend 30 minutes washing bottles, pull out the sink stopper, only to find that I have two more dirty bottles sitting on the counter. 

For the past few nights, I have been making mental reminders that "we're almost out of dish soap."  Well, tonight we were officially out.  And since I don't have the time, energy or money (that's another blog post on our new commitment to budgeting), I decided to make my own. 

After a quick search online for "homemade dish soap," I found several recipes.  This one is from ecoKaren, and uses castile soap.  I can't comment on it's effectiveness, but it was easy and inexpensive to make.  I even had all the ingredients on hand! 

 

I love making my own cleaning supplies.  It seems all the recipes use most of the same ingredients in some way or another: vinegar, essential oils, water, baking or washing soda, castile soap.  Buying these products in bulk also saves money.  The next time you "run out" of something, consider making it.  I'm convinced (except the one time I tried to make my own toilet bowl cleaner- bust!). 

~Trina

Solid Food with a Spoon?

I've always been indecisive.  I just like to make informed decisions. I will spend hours on end researching child development, sleep habits, etc.  When I was pregnant, I bet I had 5 books I looked at every night before going to bed.  My night stand is full of books and my downfall is google.  I google EVERYTHING.  When my son was born, I think my googling went into overload.  (How many times can I type google, hmmm.)

My latest googling craze has been: "feeding baby solids" "solids baby 7 1/2 month" "baby food recipe" "homemade baby food," and the list goes on and on and on.

We waited until 6 months to really introduce solids.  I "decided" to not start with fortified rice cereal (after reading a La Leche League book on solids).  I felt it was important that my baby receive actual food for his first "meals."  His first solids were banana, sweet potato, and avocado.  These were easy to prepare.  I simply smashed the banana and added some breast milk.

As I googled "baby solids," I happened upon a practice entitled "Baby Led Weaning."  This idea was created by Gil Rapley.  It does not refer to "weaning" from the breast, but adding complementary foods.  It involves the idea of giving your baby real solid foods.  Foods that they can pick up and eat.  From this perspective, if you have waited until 6 months to give your baby solids, they are ready for finger foods.

This may sound crazy.  Think about it though.  Did we always have little pureed jars of baby food on supermarket shelves?  When did solids become thought of as "Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 2 1/2?"  It seems silly.  If you are feeding your baby solids at 4 months (which is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics), then yes, you may have to spoon feed purees.  A 4 month old is no way near as developmentally prepared for solids as a 6 month old.

I personally like the idea of baby led solids.  I like that he will be able to experiment with foods.  The speech therapist in me appreciates the sensory aspect and allowing him to develop his chewing skills.  His fine motor has really developed from picking up small pieces.  He has a pincer grasp at 7 1/2 months! 

But, I don't know.  I go back and forth.  He recently had a choking episode with a banana.  No, it wasn't "just gagging."  It was real deal, no air coming in or out, no noise, choking.  And I was scared to death.  Yes, yes, I know I'm trained in CPR and am a feeding therapist for goodness sake.  But when it's your own child, it's scary. 

So, we've resorted to my eeeny, meeny, miney, moe lifestyle.  This morning I gave him a banana to hold and experiment with, while I spoon fed him some organic Earth's Best apples and bananas (Stage 2).  I've also given him apple slices in a mesh feeder, which he LOVES. 

He loves his baby yogurt!

I have to wonder if I will spend the rest of his life riding the fence.  Maybe it won't be such a bad thing for him to experience the best of both worlds.



~Trina

"When something seems bad, turn it around and find something good."

About this time last year I signed up, and subsequently became addicted to, Pinterest.  I suddenly saw all of my wardrobe in a new light.  Old t-shirts became scarves; other old shirts became handkerchiefs and dryer balls. One old turtleneck (circa junior year of high school!) became an infinity scarf, leg warmers, and a headband for me or Katie (have I ever mentioned her big noggin?).

Lately, I've gone through another closet revamp craze.  I've been reading some blogs about minimalism and have gotten rid of several pieces of clothing that I have been holding on to "just in case."  I'm also repurposing a few items to give them new life.  A couple of v-neck sweaters are some of my favorite go-to sweaters in the winter time.  One of the sweaters is UK blue so I wear it very often on game days.  The other has a nice gray and red argyle pattern which I like to wear around Christmas.  I'm sort of getting tired of them in their current style and other people are probably tired of seeing them too!  So I decided to take the plunge, cut both sweaters straight up the middle and turn them into cardigans! 

Red and gray argyle sweater turned cardigan begging to be worn over my black dress!

I used iron-on fusible webbing that was passed down to me from my late Mammaw Edna (perhaps where I inherited my seamstress itch that isn't yet satisfactorily scratched because of sub-par skill level).  For now I plan to pair these cardigans with a belt until I have the wherewithal to add a button.  I can now wear these sweaters over dresses or turtlenecks too.  I just LOVE the versatility of cardigans!

While I had the iron and webbing out, I also mended a pair of really cute bermuda shorts that I haven't bothered to wear for the last two summers because one of the hems had fallen out.  The entire project took less than 30 minutes for all 3 pieces.

Repairing the hem of my sailor-striped bermuda shorts.

I'm already giving a few other pieces a critical eye when I pass by them in the closet.  I can hear them all running to hide from the scissors!

Oh and credits to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (one of Katie's favorites) for this post's title.

Planting Our Little Prairie

I'm so excited that Fall Break is finally here!  The local school system is off all week which means my wonderful hubby is at home all week!  I've been very much looking forward to this week as we have set it aside to finally add some plantlife to our dull/dead suburban backyard.
Some of the plants we bought on clearance at Lowe's.  The rest we transplanted from my uncle's extensive and beautiful master garden.  I wanted hearty, drought resistant perennial bushes that flower at different times of year as well as some breezy grasses.  Steve is gracious enough to let me run with my vision of our little prairie all while doing most of the grunt work.
 

Our little helper toting an azalea around to the backyard.

Steve working hard to dig a hole for one of the two forsythia bushes.  Every spring the bright yellow buds of forsythia bushes remind me of my dear college roommate, Beth.

 

Katie and I planting an azalea.  Bless her heart, Katie's lived in the city her whole life, but she's a country girl at heart.  Outside in 65 degree weather with bare feet in the mud!

We finally have a tree in our yard!  A transplanted maple that's about the same height as Katie.  I look forward to seeing it grow as she does.

Not sure what this is, but it's a purple grass that feels like feathers.  I LOVE it!!  We planted it so that it can be seen from the large dining room window.

My heart is full of joy when I look in the backyard now.  I can't wait to see how each plant grows and transforms with the seasons and years.  Isn't nature such a beautiful illustration of life in general?  Thank you God for Your creation!

And one last note... while Steve was taking a short break he noted, "you've turned me into a dang hippy.  I'm working in the garden, drinking water from a glass jar, and wearing crystal deoderant." I shot back, "about time your lifestyle matched your politics." ;)  

Honey Granola Recipe

The term "crunchy" in "crunchy mama" is a wink and a nudge to the use of the word "granola" to mean hippy.  So I guess every good crunchy mama needs a tasty granola recipe.  Here's how I found my favorite.

Steve and I came across a show on the local NBC station called, "The Kentucky Proud Kitchen."  This show was made for us as it combines our love of cooking, Kentucky, and local products.  A recent episode featured various recipes with local honey as an ingredient.  One of the recipes was for a simple and nutritious granola sweetened with honey.

I've been on the search for an easy granola recipe for several years.  I've focused on attempting bar types because I thought they would be the most appealing to Steve for his lunch.  He had been taking various brands of processed store bought bars as a workday snack.  However every recipe I tried either ended up stuck to the pan or too sticky to be enjoyable.

I was intrigued by the basic ingredients of the KY Proud recipe and thought I would give it a try even though the end result would be a crumbly, traditional granola rather than a bar.  I was also excited that the granola would feature local honey which is a great way to cut down on seasonal allergies and is a healthier alternative to other sweeteners.

Honey Granola:

• 6 cups old-fashioned, rolled oats (I use a combo of Bob's Red Mill 5 Grain Cereal and store brand)
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 ½  cups honey
• ½ cup oil (I use coconut)
• 1 ½ cups sweetened dried cranberries (or less)
• Other suggested add-ons: 1/2 cup chopped almonds, chopped all-fruit leather, shredded coconut, flax seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, and cinnamon.  Add honey and oil, mixing well to combine.  (Honey can be gently heated in the microwave to make it more fluid.)  Spread oat mixture onto a baking sheet which has been greased (I brush with coconut oil).  Bake oats for 20-25 minutes, turning mixture over with a spatula every 5-10 minutes to ensure even browning.  Remove from oven, mix in dried fruit, and return to oven for an additional 5-10 minutes.  Remove from oven, allow to cool, and transfer to an airtight container.

After letting the granola cool, I store in several different recycled containers.  I put smaller portions in old baby food jars for Steve's lunch each day.

We have all enjoyed eating this granola, or as Katie says, "granole."  Steve says that he doesn't mind that it's not a bar and thoroughly enjoys the little bit of something sweet/protein boost for his school day. 

Here's a picture of my little granola making helper sneaking a bite:

 

And here's a picture of her drying out black walnuts to hopefully be included in future granola.

 

~Carla

"I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses..."

I've come to enjoy what I call "divine appointments" at 2 am in the morning.  These appointments are usually prompted by my little nursling's cry for mommy (yes I have a 2.5 year old that is still nursing and still doesn't sleep through the night; but that is an entirely different post for an entirely different day!).  But I actually see these moments, or hours, in the middle of the night as a time that God uses to reveal Himself to me.

Last night He rang and boy am I glad I answered!  Among many things that are beyond the scope of this blog, He spoke to me about what we've been working on here for Pursuing Prairie.  First, if my body is a temple in which His Spirit dwells, I want to give my best effort to keep it free of harmful chemicals on both the inside and outside.  Second, I feel the call to be a good steward of all of His creation and the resources assigned to my care.

I don't want to live in guilt about the choices I've made in the past or the mistakes I will continue to make in this life.  There's grace and forgiveness for that.  But I feel like I have a renewed outlook on why I am so drawn to the "natural" world.  I see it as an act of love and gratitude to my Creator.

I look forward to what He leads me to next and to sharing that in order to hopefully inspire others to seek their calling too.

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.



Refrain
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.



He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.


Refrain


I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Refrain

~Carla

De-Odor-Ain't Gone

I've been on a quest for the perfect deodorant for a while.  I want a deodorant that does it all: keeps you dry, free of odor, and is eco-friendly and non-toxic.  Why is it important to choose a non-toxic deodorant?

Your underarms are a rather sensitive place to slather on harsh chemicals such as-

• Parabens-preservatives used in the cosmetic industry that have actually been found in breast cancer tissue 
• Aluminum-yep, most antiperspirants contain aluminum.  Aluminum has been established as a neurotoxin.  Scary stuff- it can cross the blood-brain barrier and is capable of DNA damage.
  
• Triclosan- an antibacterial and antifungal agent that is currently under review by the FDA.

Needless to say, I don't want to put any of that in my body, so I have been experimenting with the following deodorants:

1. Tom's natural deodorant
2. Crystal deodorant
3. Suave 24 hr (powder scent)
4. coconut oil
5. **nothing**  :)

Originally, I thought I would do a legit, controlled scientific experiment to determine which deodorant worked best.  However, my busy schedule (including caring for a 5 month old) got in the way of that.  I will merely list pros and cons of each type I tried.

1.  Tom's-  I like that this still has a scent.  The apricot scent is nice.  However, the deodorant is almost a gel-like form.  It is a little sticky as it goes on.  I felt like it was good at hiding odor for the first few hours.  After a while though, especially if I was in extra hot conditions, it just did not hold up well.
2. Crystal deodorant- This is a roll-on and doesn't smell like anything.  Considering my underarms stunk when I got out of the shower (more on that in a second), as SOON as a I applied this, my pits smelled like, well, nothing.  As I sit here at 9:30 in the evening, though, I do smell "au naturel."  I got this at Kroger in the natural/organic section.  It was inexpensive.  
3. Suave 24 hr.- Ugh.  I got this for $1 at a Dollar Store on my out-of-town work day because I was DESPERATE.  It was over 100 degrees, I was in and out of the car (with little to no air conditioning), using the breast pump while driving, and forgot my deodorant.  Nuf said.  This is actually terrible.  First, the smell is awful.  I literally feel like it's 1993 when the baby powder scent was in (remember Love's Baby Soft perfume??).  Second, I seriously feel it does something to change the chemistry of my underarm area.  I swear to you I can't SCRUB this stuff off in the shower.  It's like there is a film under my arms that won't go away.  I get out of the shower with my underarms smelling like stronger BO than when I got in.  Gross. 
4. Coconut oil- Is there anything this little miracle can't do?  From using it as a diaper cream to putting it in your cookies, it is amazing!  It did a good job at keeping me stink-free, for a while.  I would say it would not be a good option if you'll be outside sweating for any period of time.  I also wonder about it leaving oil stains on my clothes.  
5. **Nothing**- When I say nothing, I mean nothing.  I have found this to be the same concept as shaving, you know, the more you shave, the less your hair grows.  Well, the less I wear deodorant, the less I perspire and stink.  However, I still feel it's necessary at times when I know I will sweat. 

And there you have it.  You have to find what works best for you, but for me, I think it would be a combination of wearing nothing and using the Crystal deodorant.  Bottom line is de-odor-ain't gone no matter what I've tried, so why risk it using chemical-laden deodorants?

~Trina   

Confessions of a (not so) crunchy mama

I used a paper towel today.  In fact, I think I used three.  And you know what, I'm ok with it.

And while I'm in the mood to confess lets add:  my daughter wears disposable diapers more often than I thought when we made the cloth plunge; I use disposable razors despite owning an electric one which is buried somewhere in the closet; and I just can't get myself to commit to no poo (baking soda and ACV "shampoo").  

Rather than beat myself up over my sogginess, I'm trying to remind myself that this is a journey, not a test.  I truly believe that in order to live life to the full, I need to challenge myself.  Some challenges are worth persevering through, others I just need to let go.  And most importantly along this journey, I'm learning that extending myself and others grace sometimes means accepting a shoulder to cry on and a tissue (even though I have a handkerchief in my purse).

~Carla

Adventures in Babywearing

A Sling

There's a problem here its become quite clear.
Got a 6-month-old Sling fanatic who is clearly an addict.
Wakes in the mid of night screams with horrific might.
So outa the bed I fling and don the medicinal Sling.
Over the head the tool I fit and in it, him I sit.
Instantly he begins to cooo tis amazing what the sling will do.
Which route should I pursue, when he's 20 what should I do?
I gotta wean him from the Sling I tell you, its an addictive thing!
— Bondweign, Hanrath

A few years ago, I had no concept of what baby-wearing really was.  A friend of mine was a distributor of the Maya wrap (ring sling- adjustable with metal rings) and I bought one from her for my cousin.  I wasn't really sure what it was or how she would use it, but I decided it would okay since it came with an instructional DVD.

Fast forward 3 years and I have a baby of my own.  That same sweet friend who I bought the Maya wrap from not only got me one, but also got me a pouch sling and my Ohio besties sprung for a Boba 3G (Carla's recommendation) from my Amazon registry.  I also borrowed a Moby wrap from Carla.  So all in all, I have 4 babywearing devices to choose from.

Moby

Maya ring sling

Boba 3G carrier

When L was a newborn, I found that the Maya, Moby, and Boba worked best.  He was 7 lb., 1 oz and he fit snug as a bug in a rug.  In the early days, I could tuck his feet, bend his knees, and fit him snugly against my chest.  He would lay his head near my heart and that familiar sound and warmth would woo him to sleep.  I liked each wrap for different reasons.  For outside the home, I preferred the Maya or the Boba for several reasons- the Boba provides more support than the Maya, and was easier for me to use when alone.  The Maya wrap took me FOREVER to figure out how to put it on.  It was easier though to adjust to get the perfect fit.  I liked to use the Moby at home due to the ridiculously LONG fabric.  The Moby is just one looong piece of fabric folded in half, so it is much easier to use at home.  I didn't want to drag it across the parking lot.

Now that he is 5 months old, I am continuing to change the way I use my carriers.  Now I prefer the Boba and Maya.  I can now carry him on my hip in the Maya (thanks to my friend Rachael).  In the Boba, his legs can hang out, but he is still facing in.  He gets mad at this sometimes because he likes to be able to look around.  I have also tried to wear him in a pouch sling recently, but it still feels awkward to me. 

I LOVE to wear my baby.  Sure, I get some strange looks sometimes from people, but I love that it is a time for bonding with him.  It is amazing how much he calms down when I wear him.  It is also much easier when going shopping or doing a lot of walking than carrying that HUGE infant pumpkin seat.  Good gosh, my child is tiny and it is still way too heavy for me!  Before "luxuries" such as pumpkin seats, baby swings, and bouncers existed, moms (and dads!) were "wearing" their babies.  They understood (centuries ago) the calmness, bonding, convenience and joy that baby-wearing brings. 

Review the following links for the benefits on baby-wearing:

Dr. Sears on Baby-wearing

La Leche League on Baby -wearing



For your viewing pleasure, check out this video:
Baby Mamas (Put a Sling On 'Em)


~Trina

Homestyle Haircuts

I have a memory from childhood of sitting in the backyard of our whitewashed farmhouse parsonage in rural Georgia having my long red hair cut by my mom.  I'm not even sure how often I got my hair cut at that age or how often my mom was the one doing it.  But that memory is so fond to me as an adult, that I have begged my mom a few times to cut my hair.  She hems and haws for a few days until I convince her that I honestly do not care if every hair is perfectly straight.  I've never been able to make my hair completely straight anyway.  Katie observed Mom cutting my hair on the front porch a month or so ago and has since occasionally talked about the experience.  She is learning to cut paper and is intrigued by this newly discovered use for scissors.  I've tried to make it VERY clear that cutting hair is only a job for mommies and daddies, NOT for 2.5 year olds!!  But I secretly do look forward to the day (hopefully not for at least another year though) when I sit with Katie out on the back patio and cut her hair for the first time.  I hope it means as much to her as it does to me.

When I first started dating Steve, he was long overdue for a haircut.  He has very thick hair and at that point of his life, he wore it quite a bit longer than he does now.  He sort of swept it over to the side in a dorky, but lovable sort of way.  I smile now thinking about it.  Thankfully after I came along, he had motivation to be more "groomed."

I've had the privilege of cutting Steve's hair for at least the past 7 years.  The last professional hair cut he had was for a friend's wedding 6 years ago.  I was still perfecting my skills at that point and he felt like he should have a "real" cut.  The set of clippers we have been using for the past 3 or 4 years is a basic Wahl set that Mom got us for Christmas.  Steve's preference is to have the back of his hair a level or two shorter than the top.  And I've learned that there needs to be some sort of fade between the top and bottom or he gets what I affectionately refer to as "wings" on the side of his head.

And as you've probably guessed by now, I'm going to brag about the MONEY we save by cutting his hair at home.  I typically cut Steve's hair once a month (more like every 3 weeks in the summer), but I'm sure he would only make time to get a professional hair cut every 6 weeks.  So let's say he were to shell out $15 (is that the going rate these days?) approximately 9 times a year.  That's $135 a year not counting the time and gas it would take to go to a barber.  The clippers only cost my mom around $20 and it only takes me about 20 minutes from setup to cleanup!

I've tried to convince Steve that he should cut my hair.  He gets irritated that I even mention the possibility because he thinks he would be ruining a "masterpiece."  So I guess I'll just deal with twisting mom's arm every once in a while when I can't make it to my wonderful hairdresser.  And I can't wait to do a future post about Katie's first cut.

Laundry Day the Natural Way

I am very sensitive to fragrances of all kinds, but especially those that are used in detergents and softeners because I carry the smell around via the clothes on my body.  When we go on walks, I can smell whether someone is doing laundry when we walk by a house based on the fumes coming out of the dryer vent.  Since I started becoming responsible for my own laundry, I have become more aware of the plethora of products, fragrances, additives, dyes, etc. etc. that literally leave my head swimming when I walk down the cleaning aisle of the store.  Here are some ways I've been working on making my laundry day a little more natural:

Vinegar vs. Softener

One of the first changes I made in the laundry process was to eliminate softener in the washing machine by substituting vinegar.  I'm not completely certain, but I believe I picked up this tip from one of the greatest books I have ever come across, The Complete Tightwad Gazette.  I simply splash about an 1/8th of a cup into the softener dispenser in the washer.  (or this past summer when I used a washer that did not have a dispenser, I put vinegar in a Downy ball).  Softener actually adds chemicals to the fibers being washed to make them feel softer whereas vinegar dissolves residual detergent off of the fibers leaving materials softer and cleaner.  Also, I don't use any dryer sheets as the vinegar virtually eliminates any static.

Detergent

Until recently, I struggled to find a laundry detergent recipe that seemed feasible to me to make.  I faithfully clipped coupons for All Free & Clear to match with sales and was able to get detergent at what I considered a decent price.  I lacked motivation and just continued with what worked and was "convenient".  Then, I started having problems with my daughter's cloth diapers leaking.  The build up of the detergent I was using combined with our extremely hard water was keeping the inserts from getting clean and therefore cut down on absorbancy.  I researched natural, cloth diaper friendly laundry detergent and found the following recipe:

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Equal Parts:

Arm N Hammer Super Washing Soda

Baking Soda

Sun Oxygen Cleaner

The original author of the recipe goes into the science of why these ingredients work so I will spare you.  I initially tried using 1 cup of each product as a starter.  I mixed up the ingredients with a wire whisk and stored the finished product in an old ice cream bucket.  The recommendation is to use 2-3 Tablespoons per load, which is about the equivalent to the scoop size which came in the Sun Oxygen Cleaner bucket.  I made a little cheat sheet of the recipe and the amount to use per load and taped it to the top of the bucket as a quick reference for mixing up refills and for anyone doing substitute laundry duty (aka Steve). 

Although the original recipe was intended as a cloth diaper detergent, I have been using it on all of my laundry with satisfactory results.  I figure if the detergent is strong enough to clean all of the lovely residue off of diapers, it is surely good enough for all of my laundry.  This recipe is truly very simple to make.  And one of the best parts to me is that all of the ingredients cost less than $12 total!!  I estimated that the original containers of ingredients should last at least 6 months if I don't use them to clean anything else around the house.  I also feel pretty good about the ingredients that go into the detergent.  No dyes or perfumes or super nasty harmful chemicals.

Drying

My next step in simplifying/reducing the impact of my laundry process is to line dry more of my clothes.  I always line dry diaper shells, sweaters, and other no-dry items, but I have had ups and mostly downs with hanging other clothes to dry.  Honestly I think it's somewhat less stressful to line dry because I don't have to worry about clothes sitting in the dryer getting wrinkled until I remember to take them out (ahem... like right now).  Once clothes are dry on the awesome drying rack I got from IKEA, and I bother to do something about it, I can throw them in the dryer on air fluff/no heat if necessary to remove stiffness.  There is the sacrifice of floor space while drying unless it's a nice day outside and I can put the racks on the patio.  Also, I just love the idea of line drying as I mentioned in an earlier post about the prairie in my mind.  So I basically need to motivate myself to get back into the habit.

Guess I should go do something about those khakis that have been sitting around in the dryer for hours...

~Carla

My new craft obsession - KNITTING!

A couple of weeks ago a dear friend from California taught me the basics of knitting.  I borrowed a set of needles and a ball of yarn and started a "sampler" to practice.  After a few rows of practice, I was ready to get going on my first project.

With this suffocating summer of many 100+ degree days, I couldn't fathom making a scarf.  So, on the heels of my post about cloth in the kitchen, I decided to make a dishcloth.  I searched for simple patterns online and found one that created a waffle weave design. http://homespunliving.blogspot.com/2007/11/waffle-knit-dishcloth-pattern.html  

Once I got the hang of casting on, knitting, and purling (thanks to another friend for teaching that step), I found the rhythm soothing.  I stayed up too late for several nights in a row, but I was able to complete my first knitted dishcloth in less than a week!  So here it is:

I loved seeing the pattern develop and like the variegated color yarn.  I immediately started working on a second dishcloth with the remainder of the yarn and have several other yarn balls waiting in the wings.  I will probably switch patterns after I finish the second one just to keep from getting bored and to challenge myself to get better at more intricate designs. 

I can't wait to see how the dishcloths do in action and how well they hold up in the laundry.  The waffle design will hopefully make for good scrubbing action.

If you are a close friend or family member... one may be headed your way in six months or so! :)

~Carla

If You Ate Today... THANK A FARMER

Hmmm.  I saw this picture on Facebook the other day, and it got my wheels a spinning.  These days, who can we thank for our food?  More than likely, it's not the farmer down the road who grows large crops of soybeans or corn.  Should we thank McDonald's, Hamburger Helper, or Kraft?  And what should we be thanking them for?  The mistreatment of animals, unsanitary conditions, pesticides on our food?  Where do these big brands get their food?  It's certainly not the picturesque farms that we conjure in our minds.  Not the rolling hills, cattle grazing freely, rows of corn ripe and ready to be picked.  

• Two percent of livestock farms now raise 40 percent of all animals in the US. 
• In the United States, 79% of pigs are raised on farms with 2,000 pigs or more.

Facts from:  http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/factoryfarming/

For most people, who shop at stores such as Wal-Mart or Kroger for groceries, we can thank huge, industrial OPERATIONS.  Not farmers.  Not men in overalls plowing the fields, but factories designed to maximize output.  Several years ago, Adam and I watched a documentary called "Food Inc." and it changed the way we eat forever. 

This movie opened my eyes and frankly, exposed our food system for what it truly is.  The changes we've made since then have been small, but we feel that any change is better than no change. 

Here are some simple things we can all do to try and change our food system:

1) Eat local, organic food when possible.  Shop at the farmer's market, or the organic section of your supermarket. 
2) Eat foods with less ingredients.  The less processed a food is, the healthier it is for you.  Avoid the middle aisles of the grocery store.
3) Cook your meals at home.
4) Have a "meatless" night at least once a week.
5) Raise a garden.  There is nothing like growing your own food. :)


Check out these links to learn more:

Pesticides on our food:  http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/

Environmental Impact: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/campaign/coolfoods/

Food Rules:  http://michaelpollan.com/books/food-rules/

~Trina

My "One" Ingredient Ice Cream

For some reason, Adam thought it would be a great idea to buy 5 lbs. of bananas last week at Kroger (love you dear :))  Considering only two of us in the household eat solid foods, we were quickly en route to black bananas.  I had pinned (ADDICT) a recipe involving ice cream and bananas.  I was intrigued by this "one ingredient ice cream."  So here is my version...

IngredientS in One Ingredient Ice Cream

1. 3 Frozen bananas (I sliced them and froze them on a plate)
2. Splash or two or three of milk
3. 1 T. Flax seed meal (it does make it a little gritty though)
4. 1-2 T. Cocoa mix (I used Tastefully Simple Malted Cocoa Mix)

 I tossed the bananas into the food processor and added the other ingredients.  After pureeing for a few minutes, the bananas weren't mixing up, so I added more milk.  This did the trick.  It turned into a smooth, dreamy frosty-like mixture.  YUMMO!  Here are some pics to tempt you!  ;)

The best thing is you CAN'T feel bad after you eat this.  With the exception of the cocoa mix, this is a wonderfully healthy recipe.  How awesome is it to get your calcium, potassium, and omega-3's in one dish of ice cream??!  I don't know how I was able to talk myself out of eating the entire bowl in one sitting.  Well, maybe I'll have a little more...


~Trina

Cloth in the kitchen

The combination of paper towels, paper napkins, and little ones making messes in the kitchen can add up to A LOT of waste and A LOT of money.  I see the huge packages of paper towels at the store and imagine the amount of chemicals and energy it took to make a product that will quickly end up in the landfill.  Granted there are many things we use that have a similar lifecycle.  But using disposable paper in the kitchen is an area I feel like we can eliminate with relative ease and affordability.

Cloth Napkins

Several years ago, I was perusing a neighborhood yardsale and found a cute set of yellow cloth napkins.  At the time, I was in the planning stages for my wedding and thought these napkins would be a nice "grown up" addition to our future kitchen.  I tried to talk the lady down to .50 for the set, but she was insistent on $1 firm.  I felt a little defeated, but figured I could afford to part with $1.  The rest of our cloth napkin stash was made complete at our wedding reception where we received four more red and green plaid napkins from our registry.  So in all we have around 10 napkins that we switch out every couple of days when we can no longer find a clean spot to wipe our mouths. :)  I envision needing to add to this collection as we add to our family, but we definitely have enough for the three of us right now.

Unpaper Towels

I've seen on several other blogs and etsy where you can make or purchase "unpaper towels."  These fancy cloth rolls are typically patterned and have snaps so that the "sheets" of cloth can attach to one another.  These rolls can fit on a paper towel holder and function much like a disposable paper towel roll would.

While I think it would be cute to have a nice roll of cloth paper towels, I've managed to survive on the towels and rags I've collected over time.  Think outside the box... or in the case the roll.  A paper towel is meant to clean up larger spills.  So as long as a rag or towel is handy, does it really need to be in the shape of a roll?  Not for me anyway.  I look forward to the day when all my children (present and future) are completely potty trained and I can add their prefold diapers to my kitchen collection.  They are SUPER absorbent!

In order to cut down on the spread of germs, I have tried to institute a policy that solid towels hanging on the oven door are for drying hands; patterned towels hanging near the sink are for drying dishes.  Also I rotate out all of my rags and towels on an almost daily basis.  I can't stand soggy or stiff towels when I'm drying my hands!

To be fair, I do keep a roll of disposable paper towels in my kitchen for guests that might not know where my rags and towels are stored.  I like to joke with my mom that she's a paper towel hog. :)  I typically buy one roll every two months or so unless she's been over.  Then half the roll is gone before she goes home.  :)  (love you Mom! you taught me to keep my kitchen clean, and for that I am eternally grateful!)

So it's seems pretty easy to end our disposable paper product obsession in the kitchen with just a little bit of resourcefulness and a small amount of investment!  Cut up and reuse old ragged bathroom towels, scour yardsales for cloth napkins, repurpose old undershirts... you get the picture.  And clean up is a breeze.  Keep a tub under the sink to collect the dirty cloth or go fancy and buy a wetbag to hang on the pantry door.  Then simply throw all of your kitchen cloth in with your dishrag and hand towel laundry. Not much harder than throwing in the trash can!

What are other areas in your home where you can apply these same ideas?