Pediped Giveaway

This is my first time posting about a giveaway that's being offered on another blog, but I am so very excited about this one that I had to!  The Bragging Mommy is giving away a pair of Pediped baby/kids shoes!  This company sounds so fantastic and has so many adorable choices!  I've entered giveaways for these before, but never been lucky enough to win.  I haven't ever had a pair for my boys, but I have read enough reviews to feel pretty confident that they are great shoes!  I'd be especially excited to try them for little M, as he's still not the most secure walker.  Their shoes are tailored to different developmental stages from infants to (approx) age 7, so either of my boys could still wear their cute designs!

Natural Lotion!

This past week I made my first attempt at creating a homemade lotion, specifically targeted at little M's eczema.  This time of year is hard on it, and he needs something great to keep him soft and itch-free.  I have tried lots of OTC eczema formulas with less than satisfying results.  I've had the most success with this formula from Burt's Bees and a not-yet-released sample of a new cream by My True Nature.  But nothing has ever been quite good enough for my guy.  So after tons of research I ordered several ingredients to start experimenting with my own eczema relief lotion.  Call me a control freak, but there's just something great about actually having the ability to know exactly what is in a product that's going on his skin!
I'm not 100% satisfied with my first attempt, but I believe we're on the right track!  Here's what I used:

1/2 oz beeswax

1 tbsp shea butter

2 tbsp cocoa butter

1 tbsp sweet almond oil

1 tbsp vegetable glycerin

I simply melted it all together using a double boiler setup, then poured it into a repurposed baby food jar.  I allowed it to cool and found that the oil seperated back out from the wax and butters, so I needed to give it a good stir.  It was great that night, but became too solid by the next night.  After a few days I decided to add a couple more liquid ingredients and see if I could soften it up a bit.  I added:

1 tsp sweet almond oil

1 tsp glycerin

1 tsp jojoba oil

You'd think I would learn from round 1, but no.  Again I allowed it to cool and the oil separated out.  I mixed it all up and was rewarded with a slightly creamier result.  It's pretty firm after a night, but softer than before.  Can I tell you that it smells absolutely delicious?!  The wax I purchased had a distinct honey fragrance, and my cocoa butter smells like white chocolate.  It even tastes sweet!  (I used a little as a lip balm, just as an experiment!)

I still have a lot to learn, but I am quite happy with my first round of lotion-making!

Hello Again!

It's been a while since I've been able to post.  After a round of stomach flu for big G, hand foot & mouth for little M, basketball season for my coach hubby and a broken elbow for myself, I am finally returning to my version of normal.  While the past month + has been a whirlwind, I have found some time to try a couple of natural recipes!  I created dishwasher detergent from the recipe I had previously posted.  I think it does a pretty good job of cleaning, but we do get some really hard lumps that can be a challenge to break up.  I've also found that it does leave a small residue on the dishes...nothing a little vinegar in the rinse cycle can't fix!  Overall I am happy with my economical and environmentally friendly dishwasher detergent! 

Has it Really Been a Month??

I think I must have blinked and lost the last 4-5 weeks.  I have this idea of making this a great blog with links to great deals and eco-friendly tips, but I have had a couple of setbacks.  I just haven't invested the time I need to figure out how to make this work the way I want.  I have a lot of learning to do!  I read blogs daily.   I love browsing and getting tips and entering giveaways.  My hat is off to all of those bloggers out there...it's a LOT more work than I ever imagined!

Update...

Round 1 of my green laundry was only a semi-success.  Note to self: there are different sizes of graters!  I needed to get my bar of soap grated into a much finer substance instead of looking like shredded cheese.  Oops!  Live and learn, right?  When I used this first batch I could see little bits of the bar soap floating around as the washer ran.  I went ahead and set it for a second rinse...just in case!  The laundry came out fresh & clean, so I was very happy with the recipe. 

The natural bar soap I purchased here was super soft, so I unwrapped the second bar to allow it to dry out and harden a bit before I make batch #2.  (Can I tell you hat this soap had an absolutely beautiful, herbal smell.  It's not strong enough to stick to the clothes, but still delightful!)

Going back to batch #1: Some changes were needed to make this the laundry soap I was wanting.  (Who wants to have to waste all that water running a second rinse every time?)   I allowed it a couple of days to dry the shredded soap particles to dry a bit.  Then I put it through my trusty Magic Bullet (one of the best inventions ever, IMHO.)  Out came the fine powdered detergent I was hoping for int he beginning.  It's running through my washer as we speak!

Next project: Homemade Automatic Dishwasher Detergent.  I found a recipe that I am going to try on DIY Natural.  Since I just made laundry detergent, I already have almost all of the ingredients on hand!  Now I just need to order some citric acid and pick up some kosher salt next time I'm at the grocery store.e   I'm not low on detergent yet, so this project may be on hold for a little while.  I am looking forward to it, though.

There's just something so great about knowing exactly what you are putting on your clothing and dishes, as well as what you are sending out into the environment.  Add huge savings to that, and it's an all around win!