Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Healthy Non Toxic Home/Garden


For your home and garden: 
Homemade cleaners and products you can purchase that will keep you, your children and pets safe and healthy. 



All-Purpose Cleaner: 
Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. 
Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains 
on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, 
windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.


Idea/formula source: eartheasy.com
Photo source: www.bubblews.com 
Carpet Stains:
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. 
Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

For fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto spot and 
wait 15 - 30 minutes before vacuuming.

For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, 

borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a 

few hours. Vacuum.


Idea/formula source: eartheasy.com
Photo source: www.thriftyfun.com

Porcelain and Tile:

Baking Soda and Water: 

Dust surfaces with baking soda, then scrub with a moist sponge or cloth. If you have tougher grime, sprinkle on some kosher salt, and work up some elbow grease. 


Lemon Juice or Vinegar: 
Got stains, mildew or grease streaks? Spray or douse with lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush. 

Disinfectant: 
Instead of bleach, make your own disinfectant 
by mixing 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap 
and 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil. It's easy!


Idea/formula and photo source: thedailygreen.com





Fragranced with essential oil, this concentrated, plant-derived formula uses coconut extract as a natural degreaser. Vitamin E is added to leave your hands soft and moisturized. It’s packaged in a beautiful recycled plastic bottle and finished with coordinating ribbon and a unique pewter charm. Always the perfect hostess gift.



Fragrance Notes: A tart, juicy lemon fragrance with a distinct lemon citron top note, a verbena nuance and lemon rind base note.

Just a spray or two of this concentrated naturally plant-derived formula on a damp sponge will clean an entire countertop and fragrance the whole kitchen for 4 to 6 hours. It’s packaged in a beautiful recycled plastic bottle and finished with a pewter charm. 

Fragrance Notes: Warm notes of Tonka bean soften the finish of pure essential oils from aromatic lavender flowers.






Homemade Weed Killer: 
1 gallon of white vinegar, 1/2 cup salt, Liquid dish soap 
(any brand), Empty spray bottle. 
Put salt in the empty spray bottle and fill it the rest 
of the way up with white vinegar. 
Add a squirt of liquid dish soap. 
This solution works best if you use it on a hot day. 
Spray it on the weeds in the morning, 
and as it heats up it will do its work.

Idea and photo source: 


Homemade sprays and solutions:

If other home remedies fail, make a general homemade insecticide solution. For centuries, gardeners have put soap on plants to repel insects. Try diluting a one-percent solution of a simple dishwashing soap with minimal dyes and fragrances. 

Spray thoroughly and repeatedly on plants. Another popular solution is a mix of onions, garlic and pepper, but it has not been scientifically proven.


Instead of loading up the yard with toxic insect killers, consider the wide variety of alternatives, including soap, marigolds, aluminum foil and non-toxic chemicals.



Idea/formula source: www.networx.com
Photo source: dfw.cbslocal.com






Ticks...bloodsucking, disease-spreading parasites.
You love gardening, biking on trails, camping in the 
woods and being outdoors. 
Ticks love you being in those places too.
Here is a Non-Toxic way to prevent ticks 
on you and your family and your pets. 

From Lori: Ticks and Lyme Disease: 
"From personal experience, it is not something you want to catch.
Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and I want to spread awareness as much as possible to as many people as I can reach."

What is Lyme Disease? (click here)

 Make sure you do a "tick check" everyday.

Repellent for Pets:
Add 1 cup of water to a spray bottle, followed by 2 cups of distilled white vinegar. Ticks hate the smell and taste of vinegar, and will  be repelled by this ingredient alone. Then, add two spoonfuls of vegetable or almond oil, which both contain sulfur (another natural tick repellent). To make a repellent that will also deter fleas, mix in a few spoonfuls of lemon juice, citrus oil, or peppermint oil, which will all repel ticks and fleas while also creating a scented repellent. Spray onto the pet's dry coat, don't get it in their eyes (or other sensitive areas).  Spray down your pet once per day if they are only going outside to go to the bathroom, spray them several times a day if they spend the entire day outside. 

Repellent for You:
In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water. To make a scented solution so you do not smell like bitter vinegar all day, add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil or bath oil. Eucalyptus oil is a calm, soothing scent that also works as a tick repellent, while peppermint and citrus oils give off a strong crisp scent that also repel ticks. After mixing the solution, spray onto clothing, skin, and hair before going outdoors. Reapply every four hours to keep ticks at bay.
Source: wtaq.com



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Monday, July 01, 2013

4th of July Summer Fun, DIY & Entertaining









Inspired by turn-of-the-century celebrations, these seven joyful tributes to red, white, and blue harken to a time when impromptu hats were folded from leftover newspapers, and marching bands, firecrackers, and lawn games marked the day
Step 1: From blue crepe paper, cut a strip 8 inches wide and 20 inches long.

Step 2: From a clean newspaper, cut a narrower strip of paper. Lay it down in the center of the blue strip, gluing in place. Repeat, cutting an even narrower strip of red crepe paper, then gluing in place.

Step 3: Fan-fold across the narrow width of the strip. Fold in half lengthwise.

Step 4: Open out on either side of the center fold you just made to create a circle; glue. Print "Happy Fourth"; cut out around the letters in a circle with pinking shears. Glue onto rosettes.

Step 5: Cut 8-inch pipe cleaners in half. Use one to form a loop; slip through another to form another loop, and so on. When chain is complete, glue a pipe cleaner loop to the back of each rosette, first passing it through a chain loop, then gluing in place.
Idea and photo: www.countryliving.com



Taylor Linens
God Bless America Pillow - As seen in Country Home Magazine
Hand-embroidered on an ecru ground. 100% Cotton. 

Machine Washable. 
Filled with a white goose feather pillow. 20" x 20" 

Taylor Linens
Denim Flag Porch Pillow 20" x 20"
100% Cotton. Machine washable. Hand-embroidered.

Ingredients:

  • Strawberries, sliced
  • Blueberries
  • Pineapple, cut into star shapes
  • 2 bottles dry white wine
  • 1 cup Triple Sec
  • 1/2 Cup berry-flavored vodka
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup simple syrup
Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours.
This is obviously a beverage intended for you and your adult guests, but you could whip up a kids version by replacing the wine and hard liquor with white grape juice or Sprite (or both!).
Recipe and photo: decorfortheholidays.com

Red, white, and blue bands of sand dress up votive candles to make flickering lights that are cheerful and fun. Designing a candle is as simple as pouring layers into a glass. Make several, and create a patriotic centerpiece to coordinate with china or linens for outdoor dining.
• Sand
• Votive candle
• Drinking glass
• Clear glass vase or jar
• Funnel

Fill a clear drinking glass with enough sand so that a votive candle placed on top falls just below the rim.
Idea and photo: www.marthastewart.com


From: White Lily Flour and The J.M. Smucker Co.

Makes: 12 servings

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray
3-1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 tsps. baking powder
1-1/2 tsps. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1-1/4 cups buttermilk
1-1/4 cups all-vegetable shortening OR 1ø sticks all-vegetable shortening sticks
5 large egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tbl. red food coloring
1 tbl. blue food coloring

Garnish:

Fresh blueberries and strawberries, optional

Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting:

2 cups butter, softened
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. almond extract
1 (13-oz.) jar marshmallow cream

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat three 8-inch round pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper, cut to fit. Coat paper with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl. Add buttermilk and shortening. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add egg whites, vanilla and almond extracts. Beat an additional 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as needed.

3. Pour ont-third (about 2 cups) of batter into prepared pan. Divide remaining batter into 2 medium bowls. Stir in food coloring to make one red and one blue batter. Pour batter into remaining pans. Tap pans on counter several times to remove air bubbles.

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes before removing from pan. Remove cake and cool completely on wire rack.

5. For frosting, beat butter in a large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Gradually beat in sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until fluffy. Beat in almond extract. Stir in marshmallow cream until well blended.

6. Place blue cake layer on cake plate and generously frost top. Stack white layer and generously frost top. Add red layer, frosting top and sides of entire cake. Garnish with fresh blueberries and strawberries, if desired.
Recipe and photo: unusual2tasty.blogspot.jp


Celebrity Chef! The Game ($30)

If you and your friends are Food Network junkies, check out Celebrity Chef! The game is designed for culinary professionals or home cooks, whose goal is to collect cookbook offers, television shows, restaurants, and endorsements by answering "Name That Dish!" and other questions. The player with the most points does not win a television show―only bragging rights. For more information, visitcelebritychefthegame.com
Idea and photo: www.coastalliving.com


Ahoy, matey! These anchor-print cotton/linen napkins pep up any table. 53% Cotton/47% Linen. 
Machine wash cold. 22"x22". Set of 4.


Monday, June 24, 2013

Nautical Décor for Indoors or Outdoors: Do YOU go crazy for JUTE?

Pine Cone Hill's fresh new nautical tote bags in easy-clean polypropylene, with adorable appliqued anchors on each side. Lightweight and roomy, with a wide opening and durable handles and bottoms. 

A fresh new nautical design in navy and ivory, featuring Pine Cone Hill's easy-clean all-season polypropylene



These anchor-print cotton/linen napkins pep up any table. 53% Cotton/47% Linen. Machine wash cold



A sturdy anchor...on a blue background with rope border! Classic colors with a bold image sure to make you feel right at home. Hand hooked 100% New Zealand wool.




WHAT IS JUTE?
Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber 
that can be spun into coarse, strong threads.
"Jute" is name of the plant or fiber that is used 
to make burlap, Hessian or gunny cloth.




Boucle woven jute with double borders in fresh colors with mitered corners. 100% jute with latex backing.

Couture Dreams Enchantique Jute Window Curtains are what we like to call a French inspired Art Deco with a Modern Twist. Truly beautiful and unique these rustic chic jute window curtains are each hand printed with a large decorative motif. Offered in three different colorways and lengths, these curtains are sure to dress up any room. 

Couture Dreams Chichi Tablecloths are truly one of a kind. A mixture of different textures and materials make up this unique table covering for a sophisticated and custom feel. Truly stunning, these tablecloths are sure to turn any table into a memorable setting. Each petal is individually sewn onto the skirt creating a beautiful array of soft cascading petals. The petals in juxtaposition to the jute make for an astonishing table setting.

Wingback chair with white linen and one-a-kind French jute insets. Inset is one of a kind and is always different. We will send you an image of the inset when you place your order for approval.
Surya Poufs are super-fun, super-fashionable and super-functional! Use them as a footstool, extra seating or table when topped with a tray. Stack them for a dramatic effect or put several together for a fabulous focal point. Surya's pouf collection includes tribal textiles, animal prints, and fantastical textures and patterns, a perfect marriage of form and function!




Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Made in America