Natural Cleaning

As my little man is crawling around now- with his cute tummy scraping the floor- I realize I don't want to be using harsh chemicals like bleach on the floor and comet in the tub where he bathes.  After doing some official research on Pinterest I found tons of great links to natural cleaning supplies.

The first I found was homemade laundry soap.  I am using up my current soap and then I will be trying this recipe.  I have found several online that make multiple gallons and you need a 5 gallon bucket to let it soak overnight.  I am not ready to commit to 5 gallons of laundry soap, so this recipe only makes a gallon at a time.  Perfect!  It also uses Dawn soap which I have found to be super effective.  You can also add essential oils for scent and to make it antibacterial/antifungal (like tea tree oil).  The biggest bonus for me is the savings. Many mommas on these blogs did the math for me and found regular detergant like Tide, Arm & Hammer, ect are .15-.20 cents a load, and this is .03-.05 cents depending on how much you use.  Who can beat that?
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/no-grate-homemade-laundry-soap.html


The next one is my absolute favorite.  Vinegar.  The end.  This stuff is amazing for cleaning everything.  I deep cleaned our house Saturday and used just straight vinegar and also a vinegar/dawn spray.  Vinegar is naturally antibacterial, non toxic, edible, and dang cheap.  It can be used directly on counters, floors, sinks, mirrors, a rinse aid in the laundry, microwave, stove, tables, and anything else you need to clean.  For amazing shower grime cleaner I use 1/2 cup really hot vinegar and 1/2 cup dawn dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray the grime, let sit for a bit while you clean the rest of the bathroom and just wipe it off!  Simple as that.  No scrubbing with comet or stinky fumes.  (except as my mom says your house may smell like pickles)  :)

Here is a link: http://lifecraftsandwhatever.blogspot.com/2012/01/dawn-vinegar-soap-scum-killa.html

This next one I want to try soon.  I did some reading on dryer sheets (like Bounce) and found known carcinogens in them.  Cancer causing agents.  um--no thanks.  Now I do realize that everything from makeup to processed food probably has some of this crap in them, but if I can omit them easily and inexpensivly, why not?!  Enter Dryer Balls:

http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2011/04/homemade-wool-dryer-balls.html

These dryer balls are made of wool yarn that has been washed and dried a couple times to felt it and make it stick together.  Then you can add a few drops of any essential oil  you'd like and toss them in your dryer.  The lady on the link above says that it decreases her drying time too.  Awesome.  Dryer sheets are expensive anyway, and using a Joann's, Michael's or Hobby Lobby coupon you can get wool yarn for just a few dollars.

I am really not trying to go all Hippy on you (although i'm sure it really sounds like it), but my perspective has changed SO MUCH after having my sweet little Eli, and I want to do anything I can to protect him.  These things are amazingly inexpensive and much safer to have in your home. I know I can't protect Him from everything, but I feel it is my job as a mom to protect him from what I can, and these are so easy!  Now don't get me started on vaccinations.  I spent the entire summer after Eli was born researching and talking to my mom about them.  I have some strong opinions on the poison they use in these immunizations.  I'll save that for another post ;)

Let me know if you try any of these and have success!  My pickle smelling house sure is clean thanks to these!

a touch of fall.

Yesterday I added just a few touches of autumn to our nest to welcome in fall.  I told myself I couldn't decorate until the table was finished just to make decorating a little more fun with new furniture.  

 

Although its always sad to see the warm summer leave us, I do love a good high school football game, cider, sweatshirts, snuggling in fuzzy blankets with my bebe, and watching the world bring out new and beautiful colors of fall! 

 

 

 

 

 

That sums up all the decorations I own!  I just can't justify spending money on decorations I only use a few months out of the year, so I made or repurposed most of these things, but I still think it looks a little bare.  But its only September, I have time!

Sit and Dine.

Our table was a very generous gift from Bryan's aunt and uncle that belonged to his grandpa.  We used it and loved it for 3 years but it was worn out!  We wanted to buy a new dining room table when we got back from Alaska, but after looking our small budget was not going to

 buy much more than a coushin! 

The prices were outrageous so we re-did our table instead!  It cost about 25 dollars for the supplies to paint and varnish the table, and we purchased new chairs.  Perfect!  We were going to stain the top a walnut color and paint the bottom half black, but after we sanded the top the rings, scratches, chips, and water marks were too prevelant so we opted to go all black instead, and we love it!

 

 



sanding all the finish off the base and legs first.  (sorry its blurry)  But Baby was out here for a lot of it, and was a great helper.  (we put him inside while we varnised with the stinky fumes though!)



 



Coat #1



 

painting the top of the table

 

polyurithane finish

 

all done!

There are things we would have done different in hind sight, but we are both really please with it!  We celebrated our new table by having homemade chicken artichoke pizza.... yum!

Brought some animals home

Here is a tiny sneak peak of the nursery.  After going to the zoo I was inspired to bring some animals home with me :)

They wouldn't actually fit in the room so I drew some instead!

And we decided to bring some birds home too :)  These ones are very quiet, don't poop on things, and don't eat anything!  :)

Baby Are You Ready Yet?

I know these last couple weeks are important for Baby Boy's lungs to continue to develop and for him to put on some baby fat, but I am SOOOOO ready to meet him!

I'm almost 36 weeks and I think this last month is going to crawl by just waiting to meet him.  I will be busy with packing, cleaning, moving, unpacking, and more cleaning, but I just want to hold him in my arms. 

I hope he is not too comfortable in there and wants to meet me 1/2 as much as I want to meet him.  I am not expecting this motherhood thing to be all fine and dandy all the time.  I know he'll cry and poop, but I just don't care :) 

I did the cutest load of laundry though!  After I start packing I am not sure when I will see things again, so I got a few things ready for the hospital and such, including getting his new clothes ready.  To die for!!!

Waddle Waddle Waddle

This morning starts my real break from work!  Since I finished work last thursday, its been a very busy (but fabulous) week.  This morning I dropped off Bryan at school and went to a park to waddle for a bit.  I walked 3 miles and it felt so good!

I actually felt like I wasn't pregnant!  I was able to walk the park loop for about 45 minutes just quietly  watching the world wake up.  A thunderstorm had just passed and the sky was filled with dark blue and grey clouds with the sun trying to peek through.  The crickets were still chirping and the air smelled so clean and fresh.  I could have stayed out there all day walking and enjoying nature. 

This is the park where we will be hanging out at when we move in 2 weeks!  It is just down the street from our apartment so we can walk there quickly.  It felt really good to "visit" where we will be raising our son for his first year.  There was no freeway in sight, no sound of cars, just peace and tranquility.  It really felt right to be where we are and what our next step is in life. 

Next, we just need baby boy to come!  I am just passed 35 weeks but I'm getting sooo excited to meet baby!  He's kicking like crazy and always letting me know he's there.  I love him so much already, its an amazing feeling for your heart to stretch so big to hold all the love for your family, friends, spouse, and this new little critter.  Maybe i'm like the Grinch that my heart grew ten sizes :)

Our Soon to Be New Apartment

I realized that I don't think I posted what our new apartment will look like.  We are now in a one bedroom one bathroom apartment in Sandy, UT, but in June will be moving to a two bedroom two bathroom in Riverton, UT! We are so excited for the extra space, two walk in closets, and another bathroom!  These apartments are only 4 years old so they are in better condition then our current one.

It seems so spacious compared to our place now.  I can't wait!  We are ready to move now, even though we still have 1 1/2 more months :)  We are getting antsy and ready to move on.  

There will definitely be a lot of changes in a month.  We move to Riverton, have a baby, and go to Alaska!  Yikes!  I am so grateful that my mom will come for a couple weeks and help us get settled in, take care of baby, and get ready for our travels!  But we are ready for these changes in our life, and so excited!!!