Frosty the Treat Cup

Does anyone else ever have to get out of bed to write down craft ideas that pop into your head at night? I'm guessing this doesn't happen to that many people, but you're in luck because this is the result of the "visions of sugar plums" that were dancing in my head. I decided that it's a cute idea for a teacher gift so Mia's preschool and dance teachers will each be getting one of these snowmen filled with homemade goodies. Note: I'm labeling this as a kids craft, although I did most of the work. Mia chose the colors of the buttons for the eyes and mouths and also the colors for the pop pom/pipe cleaner ear muffs. Older kids could do more themselves, and if you substituted tacky glue in place of hot glue, I would feel more comfortable suggesting that. Hot glue guns should only be used by adults.

Materials:

• tin can
• white paint
• paint brush
• newspaper
• something to hold paint
• glitter (optional)
• buttons (for eyes and mouth)
• pipe cleaner
• scissors
• 2 large pom poms
• broken bit of orange crayon (or pom pom or button)
• hot glue gun (or tacky glue)
• felt (optional for adding a scarf)

Directions:

1. If you are planning to use a hot glue gun, plug it in to warm it up.
2. Cover work surface with newspaper. Pour some white paint onto a Styrofoam tray (or a plate) and paint the outside of a clean, dry aluminum can. If you want your snowman to be sparkly, sprinkle glitter onto the paint while it is still wet. Set can aside so paint can dry.
3. Cut a pipe cleaner in half. Take one half and bend it slightly to form a "u" shape.
4. Decide which part of your can will have the snowman's face. I recommend avoiding seams for this. Once paint on can is dry, apply hot glue to the inside of each end of the pipe cleaner and press down each end to make an arc across the top of the can. Apply hot glue to two large pom poms and then affix the pom poms on the ends of the pipe cleaners to finish the ear muffs.
5. Lastly, make your snowman's face. Use hot glue (or tacky glue) to adhere buttons for eyes and mouth. Hot glue works best if you are using an orange crayon stub for the nose. If you don't want to use crayon for the nose, tacky glue will work to hold a button or pop pom nose. Tip: If using a crayon, rub it down so that one end is relatively flat. This is the part you will attach to the tin can. For the other end, you can color with or use a sharpener to shape it as desired. 
6. We didn't do this, but you could also cut a strip of colorful felt and tie or glue it around the base of your tin can to add a festive scarf for you snowman.
7. Allow all glue to dry before moving or filling your snowman treat cup.

P.S. Don't forget to check out my book review and giveaway for Green Grandma's Vinegar Fridays. Giveaway ends Wednesday, December 14, 2011, so you still have time! This book has many amazing tips for cleaning just about everything including pet messes and crayon marks from the walls. There is something for everyone, so be sure to like Green Grandma's Facebook page and let her know I sent you.

Christmas Sun Catchers

I love making sun catchers with the kids because any time they want a project and I don't have a new idea, I can dust this one off and make it fit with the current season or upcoming holiday. While the approaching Michigan winter may not make me normally think of sunshine, these look pretty and remind me of stained glass windows, which is something I do think of at Christmastime. These can be made by toddlers on up, but they do require some parent prep work. If you aren't interested in drawing your shapes you can trace holiday cookie cutters like candy canes, Christmas trees, bells, stars, angels, gingerbread men, reindeer, or Santa Claus. I drew the ornament free-hand and traced candy cane and Christmas tree cookie cutters to make our sun catchers. Another option is to download a template, cut that out, and then trace it. For construction paper, we used traditional Christmas colors of red and green, but you could try black to make your sun catchers look more like stained glass windows. Or, use any color you wish.

Materials:

• pencil 
• clear tape
• scissors
• clear contact paper
• construction paper (We used traditional red and green.)
• cookie cutters (optional) 
• tissue paper (Again we used red, green, and some white.)
• paper trimmer (optional)
• hole punch (optional)
• yarn, string, ribbon, etc. for hanging (optional)

Directions:

1. If you are making a shape that is symmetrical, fold your paper in half like a hot dog before drawing and cutting out your shape. This makes it go a bit faster, and hopefully it creates less frustration, too. If you are making a shape that isn't symmetrical, simply draw (or trace) your shape and cut it out on two pieces of paper. Tip: If you are using two pieces of paper, you will need to make sure they stay together so that you get identical Christmas shapes.
2. Cut two pieces of clear contact paper (I used both a paper trimmer and scissors for this.) so that they are 1/4 inch larger than the construction paper all the way around. Tip: Do not remove backing from contact paper until you are ready to use it.
3. Adhere one piece of paper to the clear contact paper so that there is a border of 1/4 inch all around the paper. Tip: Slowly peel the contact paper away from the backing as you smooth the construction paper down onto the contact paper. This way you don't end up with "bubbles."
4. Have your child stick tissue paper squares onto the contact paper Christmas shape until it is filled. (Mia has created her own technique for filling in small spaces: crumpling up the tissue paper into balls. It makes the sun catcher a bit bulkier, but it does work, and I think it adds a bit of visual interest to the design. She helped Logan fill in the ornament hook using this method.)
5. Layer the second piece of construction paper on top of the first, making sure that the Christmas shapes line up.
6. Add the second piece of contact paper over the top, smoothing it down as you go. Trim away excess if desired, but don't trim too much or the sun catcher will not stay together. 
7. You can display your sun catcher in a window using clear tape. Another option is to use a hole punch to make two holes near the top, thread some ribbon or yarn through the holes, tie it off, and then hang your sun catcher.

Don't forget to read my review of the book, Vinegar Fridays, and enter for a chance to win your own copy. You have until Wednesday, December 14, 2001 to enter the drawing.

Vinegar Fridays: Book Review and Giveaway

Green is My New Favorite Color
I was very excited to receive a copy of Vinegar Fridays by Hana Haatainen Caye (aka Green Grandma) for review. Why am I so excited? Ever since Logan was born and I became a full-time mom, I have slowly gotten away from some conventional ways of cleaning and have switched to greener alternatives. Sometimes I look back and wish I had known about greener alternatives when Mia was a baby, but it is never too late to learn "new" things. While vinegar itself is not new, and the tips for using it have been known for generations, we have been bombarded by chemical cleaners in the past few decades. If you're like me, you have grown up using only commercial products for everything. Lately, we hear more and more news reports of things hurting our kids, so I am sure you will be glad to learn that there are simple, safe, and inexpensive solutions for cleaning practically everything! I never knew that vinegar has so many uses, and honestly, I had never used it all that much until last year when I began making my own cleaning solution. I am excited to be able to share some of Green Grandma's tips with you as well as point you toward a giveaway so you can get your own copy of this great little book.

Something for Everyone
Vinegar Fridays is a compilation of Green Grandma blog posts, organized into chapters of related items: cleaning in the kitchen, cleaning for other areas of the house, pest control, car care, kids, pets, health, beauty, and more. In the introduction, the author explains that her tips are "intended to change the way you traditionally do things -- and get you out of the habit of using chemicals and toxins in your everyday life." There is literally, something for everyone in this book. Several tips could easily fit into more than one chapter, so I found myself wishing there was an index for easy reference. Luckily, I had highlighted anything that I thought I might use (which means that my copy is full of neon yellow) and I found myself reading and rereading those highlighted sections this week, as I tried out as many tips as possible.

Why Vinegar? 
In chapter 2, Hana Haatainen Caye explains exactly what is in those commercial cleaning products and why you don't want them in your home.

1. Floor and glass cleaners and furniture polishes contain ammonia, which "can cause skin rashes and eye, nose and lung irritation." (page 3)
2. Toilet bowl cleaners, disinfectants, and laundry whiteners contain bleach, and when the American Association of Poison Control Centers' released its annual report for 2007, it showed that "over 14,000 children were poisoned by chlorine bleach." (page 3) When chlorine bleach is produced, mercury and dioxin, a carcinogen, are released. Bleach is also a skin irritant and can cause asthma attacks. Not to mention, that "when combined with ammonia, the result is a toxic gas!" (page 3)
3. Formaldehyde can be found in several places in your home including your cabinets and carpet, as well as in disinfectants, furniture polish, and detergents. This can cause "nasal stuffiness, itchy eyes and nausea." (page 3)
4. Glycols, found in degreasers, floor cleaners, and dry-cleaning solutions, can cause eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation.
5. Many carpet and air deodorizers contain napthalene. Possible side effects of inhaling this include headaches, nausea, confusion.
6. Petroleum distallates, found oven cleaners and pesticides can irritate the skin.

If you are feeling scared and overwhelmed by all of that, don't despair. The good news is that you can replace all of your dangerous commercial cleaning products with vinegar, which is cheaper and safer for your family and your home. Vinegar is an effective antiseptic, and it cleans and deodorizes. What more could you ask for from a cleaner?

Do Try This at Home
Someone's in the Kitchen with Vinegar
I definitely wanted to try a few tips from the book before reviewing it. As with everything, results vary. What works great for me, may be slightly different for you. Of course, this also means the ideas that didn't go so well for me, may have positive results for you. Really, you have nothing to lose by trying. My only major disappointment was using distilled white vinegar in the dishwasher (page 13). First, I tried making my own dishwasher detergent using Borax and Arm and Hammer Washing Soda. I expected this to work great since this is what I have been using to make laundry detergent for the past year. I was frustrated to find a cloudy film on all of the dishes, and that was even with using vinegar in the rinse compartment. I thought maybe I wasn't using enough vinegar, so I tried again, only the second time I used vinegar in the rinse compartment and our regular dishwasher detergent capsules. I still had very cloudy dishes, not spotty, but covered with a film. While I am sure it was harmless, it wasn't very appetizing, and Mia refused to drink from the cups that were cloudy. So, I wasn't interested in trying that again.

You'll be sure to like this method of cleaning your microwave. "Put a microwave-safe bowl in the center of the oven with 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup water. Cook on high for 90 seconds and let sit for a few minutes." Once the water has "cooled down a bit, just remove the bowl and wipe down the microwave with a damp cloth." (page 14) (Note: I used a microfiber towel that I got in a 24-pack at Sam's Club for about $12, and absolutely love.) This made cleaning the microwave super easy and I knew that the smells and any germs would be gone.


Remember when I mentioned that I started making my own cleaner about a year ago? One of the first things I tried was straight vinegar for cleaning the toilet. I didn't like it because of the smell. I have changed my viewpoint on this as I have been using green cleaners. Yes, vinegar has a smell, but it always goes away in a reasonable amount of time, and I much prefer the smell of vinegar to the smell of bleach. This is increased by the knowledge that vinegar is safe to touch and inhale and bleach is not. (And I do not like wearing gloves when I clean.) That said, I decided to give distilled white vinegar another shot at toilet cleaning. (page 10) A couple of nights ago, I poured a cup of distilled white vinegar into the toilet and went to bed. In the morning, I scrubbed it a little, and was pleased with the results. The toilet was clean, sanitized, and even a bit whiter. I am convinced that the vinegar made a dent in the orange streaks in the the toilet bowl, which are caused by the iron in our well water. Verdict: You won't find a better toilet cleaner; it's simple, safe, and effective.

Distilled white vinegar (1 tablespoon) also can be combined with water (1 cup) and baking soda (1 teaspoon) to make a fantastic room deodorizing spray. (page 19) Just mix in a spray bottle and use as needed. This is perfect for bathroom odors, including the ammonia smell coming from our small, open trash can where I keep Logan's used cloth diapers until I'm ready to wash them. I was curious if this would take away kitchen smell, too, like grease, and sure enough, it will. The plus is that I don't worry as much about where the spray lands because I know it is safer than the aerosol room spray I was using (as infrequently as possible because I was pretty sure it wasn't really a good thing, but I didn't know there was an alternative.) Now, I will never buy those sprays again.

I cleaned all of the bathroom mirrors with a 50/50 mix of distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. (page 11). Spraying the solution onto one of my microfiber cloths instead of directly on the mirror made for sparkling, clear mirrors that were totally streak-free. That was a first for me.

I was excited by that success so I decided to see what would happen if I took the same mixture sprayed on my microfiber towel and wiped down the chrome faucets, which always seem to have soap scum and mineral deposits on them. Wow! This was so quick to do, and it worked better than anything else I had tried before. I didn't even have to scrub them with a toothbrush.

Next, I tackled the shower door. (page 10) It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but this turned out to be a sorely neglected feature of our master bathroom. To clean the shower door track, I poured undiluted white vinegar in it and let it soak for a few hours. When I went back, I rinsed with hot water and watched the gunk started pouring out. A little bit of scrubbing with an old toothbrush yielded a lot more gunk, hair, and orange iron build-up. It was pretty gross, but I feel better knowing I took care of that mess before it got any worse. And now that I know how easy it is to clean, I'm going on record to say that I have no excuse for ever again allowing it to get as disgusting as it was. To clean the shower door itself, I sprayed it with vinegar and then took my shower, allowing the steam to do the work for me. I wished I had a squeegee to wipe it down afterward. I'll have to add that to my shopping list. I did notice some film on the door when I went back later to check on it, so I sprayed more vinegar and gave it a light scrub with the toothbrush, followed by a hot water rinse. Problem solved. When I was scrubbing out the shower door track, I inadvertently discovered that the vinegar and toothbrush were taking off all that that build-up iron on the inside of the shower itself. You can't imagine how excited I was by this discovery! I have tried countless things to remove all that orange from our shower with little success, but all of a sudden it was just coming off and I was barely touching it. Needless to say, I tackled as much of the shower as I could with my little toothbrush and spray bottle of vinegar. (Note to self: I should probably add larger scrub brush to my shopping list to go along with that squeegee.) Since a picture is worth a thousand words, this one should tell the story of my rust removal pretty well.

{Vinegar + toothbrush = less orange shower. No elbow grease required.}

Around the House
For cleaning the mini-blinds, a most abhorrent chore, I used a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water in a small bowl. (page 7) I put on some inexpensive cloth gloves (the stretchy winter kind), dipped my fingers in the solution, and then slid them between the slats in the blinds. This was time-consuming, like any other method of cleaning blinds, but it worked, and as a bonus I didn't have to worry about Logan poisoning himself when he started sticking his face into the bowl.

By this point in my experiments, I am pretty sure that vinegar has magical powers. It's even giving me motivation to do chores that I let go longer than I should like dusting the wood furniture. (page 8) To do this, I made a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and olive oil in a small bowl. I dipped one of my microfiber towels into the liquid and then started wiping the furniture down. This is fantastic for so many reasons. The wood looked wonderful, clean and shiny. It seemed to get rid of the grime that was built up in little crevices that I can't tackle with a dry cloth alone. I had previously been using my home-made all-purpose cleaner, but it didn't work this well, although I felt safer using that than back in the days of using Endust. It evens smells nicer than aerosol sprays (as long as you don't mind the smell of salad dressing). Once again, when Logan wanted to "help" I had no reason to be concerned for him touching or possibly ingesting my cleaning solution.

The last of the household cleaning "miracles" was using vinegar as a carpet spot remover. Even if none of the other trials had been successful, I would be touting the powers of vinegar just for the fact that it did wonders for my carpet. As described on pages 48 and 49, I first used vinegar to eliminate a spot where (conveniently enough) the dog had just thrown up. There are a few steps to this but it's completely worth it. First, blot up liquid. Then, sprinkle baking soda over the spot and leave overnight. In the morning, vacuum up the baking soda. Then scrub with distilled white vinegar and follow that with water. I was incredibly amazed by how well this worked at eliminating the spot and the odor, especially considering that we have tried a few different products, mostly geared toward pet accidents, with little success. Don't tell her I told you this, but the following day, Mia urinated all over the carpet. (Moms of preschoolers know that they get so involved in playing that they forget to go.) Of course after sopping it up with my microfiber towel, I reached for the baking soda. In the morning, I was worried when I saw so much urine on the surface of the carpet, but now I realize that is the way it was supposed to be. The baking soda did a great job of drawing it out and the vinegar took care of the rest. Once I knew that this works on pet stains and kid messes, my next question was "how will it do at tackling set-in stains of unknown origins?" I am thrilled to say that it got rid of one, so I am planning to do the rest of my house as time allows. If only I had known about this sooner, it would have saved me a lot of frustration, time, and embarrassment. Since seeing is believing, I have included some before and after photos of my amazing carpet stain removal experiments.

{Urine Stain (aka "Pee Pee") -- with Baking Soda}

{Urine Stain (aka "Pee Pee") AFTER -- Can you say "Wow!"}

{Stain of Unknown Origin -- BEFORE}

{Stain of Unknown Origin -- AFTER}

I Feel Pretty
Okay, after all of that cleaning, this may come as a surprise, but vinegar is my new favorite beauty product. Earlier this week I posted about my experience with no 'pooing. My new method of hair washing without shampoo was inspired in part by Green Grandma herself, and involves, you guessed it, vinegar. I've been no 'pooing for 7 weeks now, and I have no plans to go back to shampoo. To read about my experience, see my post. For more information check out Green Grandma's post or chapter 11 of the book, Vinegar Fridays, which is devoted to the topic of no 'pooing.

If vinegar is good for hair, it must be good for nails, too since they're made of the same stuff, right? After soaking my feet in a bowl of water mixed with 1/2 cups of apple cider vinegar, I polished my toe nails. I was hoping that the soak would smooth out my cracked heels like it did for Green Grandma (page 23), but I must have set my expectations a bit high. My feet were soft, but I still had dry, cracked heels. Oh well, I figured, and decided to try out the nail polish since she said it would go on smoother and last longer after an application of vinegar. (page 26) (Honestly, I didn't expect the foot soak to be a miracle cure, so I wasn't terribly disappointed.) Verdict: the polish did go on more smoothly, and as far as I can tell it lasts longer (no chips yet, and it's been a few days). So, this was a success.

I really wanted the acne remedy to work. In fact, I think this is the first thing I actually tried from the book. (pages 26-27) In a plastic container with a lid, I mixed 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water. I apply this morning and night after I wash my face. I decided this is healthier (and cheaper) than the store-bought astringent containing things I cannot even pronounce. Right away, I was sure it was working. I remain optimistic despite getting two new breakouts. It certainly isn't any less effective than the store-bought stuff, because I was getting zits while using that, too.

I haven't used face masks in awhile. As any mom will tell you, we don't spend as much time or money on ourselves as we did in the BC era (Before Children), so that seemed like an obvious extra to cut out of the beauty regimen. However, after trying Martha Washington's Vinegar Facial Mask, (page 25) I am planning to make this a weekly me-time ritual. It's easy to make up; there are only 3 ingredients. Combine 1 egg, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, apply to your face, and wait 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. I know that this improved my skin because my husband commented on it both the evening that I did the mask and the morning after. My skin was fresh and glowing, and I swear it even felt tighter, at least temporarily. This will definitely give you some exfoliation, just not in a harsh way like those scrubs do.

High Hopes
There are many, many more tips and tricks contained in the book, Vinegar Fridays. I am sure it will take me a few months (or even years) to get through them all. The good thing is that I have this guide to refer to whenever the need arises, and I have high hopes that vinegar will get the job done. I've compiled the following list of tips I am sure to use in the near future:

• removing crayon from the wall (page 8)
• hiding scratches in wood furniture (page 9)
• cleaning the grime off cupboard doors (page 13)
• unstopping clogged sinks (page 15)
• getting garlic or onion smell off of hands (page 20)
• eliminating odors after carsickness (page 21)
• for minor cuts and scrapes (page 24)
• wart removal (page 26)
• relief for aches and pains (page 33)
• to soothe coughs/congestion (page 34)
• to prevent ear infection (page 35)
• relief from nausea and vomiting (page 36)
• sunburn relief (page 43)
• treatment for itchy skin-- caused by bug bites or poison ivy, sumac, etc. (page 44)
• gum removal (page 45)
• cleaning toys (page 46)
• all natural flea-bath and preventive -- To keep in mind for when it gets warmer (page 47)
• cure for pet's hot spots (page 48)
• keeping rabbits out of the garden (page 51)
• getting rid of ants --This will have to wait until next summer. (page 54)
• laundry stains and other woes (pages 60-61)

Two Ways to Get Vinegar Fridays
Want more great ideas that will save you money while making your home clean and healthy? Buy the book, Vinegar Fridays by Green Grandma, Hana Haatainen Caye. Or win a copy of Vinegar Fridays by doing the following:

1. Like Green Grandma on Facebook.
2. Post a comment on the Facebook page letting her know I sent you. Simple, huh?

The deadline for this giveaway is Wednesday, December 14, 2011. One winner will be randomly selected by Green Grandma. The winner will be announced on this blog.

Coming Clean

My "Dirty Little Secret"
I have been trying to figure out when it's appropriate to share my "dirty little secret," and I have decided to just "come clean" and make it public knowledge to all three or so of the my regular readers (and anyone else who happens to read this). I haven't shampooed my hair in 7 weeks. There I said it. Okay, there have been two trips to the salon where my hair was shampooed by my stylist (despite my telling her both times that I had just washed it), but I personally have not used shampoo in 7 weeks. Before you get grossed out, let me explain that I am still washing my hair, just not in a "conventional" way. Aside from my husband's initial comment, "Your arms are getting tighter around that tree all the time," nobody has said anything. Maybe they haven't noticed a difference, even though I have. I suppose that is good since I have been trying to appear to be a "normal" person, however, I am really hoping to start getting some compliments soon because I want to share my "no 'poo" success.

A Seed is Planted
Sometime over the summer, my friend Jenifer announced on Facebook that she had stopped using shampoo. I had never heard of such a thing, so admittedly, I thought it sounded a bit odd. However, she is a very green person and I respect and admire that about her, so the idea stuck with me. Then, when I read that Green Grandma (one of my favorite new blogs) was also no 'pooing with positive results, I felt like it was time to give it a try.

I didn't even realize a person could wash her hair without shampoo, and since it had taken years of trial and error to find the commercial products that give me the best results, it was natural to have some reservations about ditching my Pantene. My biggest fear was that I would look like a greaseball and that was not going to be okay since I was just getting started with my chocolate business and I figured that people wouldn't want to eat or buy food from someone who looked like she hadn't showered in awhile. So I asked Jenifer for some advice, which she quickly provided. She joked that pony tails were her best friend for the first few weeks, which I can understand. And not to be shocked if my hair gets flakier. That's just the scalp getting back to normal (more on that later). Mostly, she gave me some reading to check out, and this helped me understand more about no 'pooing before I jumped in with both feet. Here is another blog that Jenifer suggested, and I found to be quite informative.

My other concerns were pertaining to the vinegar rinse. I worried that vinegar isn't the best smell on earth, and what if my hair ends up smelling like it? Jenifer assured me that rinsing helps get rid of the smell, and by the time my hair is dry, it will not smell like vinegar. And she's right. Also, most of the websites I looked at (including Green Grandma's) said to use apple cider vinegar and I only had distilled white vinegar in the house. I asked if this was okay to use, and Jenifer said yes. It's what she uses. I asked about the difference and she suggested that it was personal preference (and budget) comparing apple cider vinegar to sirloin and distilled white vinegar to hamburger.

Debunking the "Squeaky Clean" Myth
I'll let you in on a secret that the shampoo companies don't want you to know. Washing with shampoo, especially as frequently as they have led us to believe is necessary for clean hair, is actually bad for your scalp. It strips it of natural oils, which causes the oil glands to kick into overdrive, which is turn means that we have to wash our hair more often to keep up with the excess oil that is being produced. Your hair does NOT need to "squeak" to be clean. That is marketing, pure and simple, and most of us have bought into it for years because we didn't know there was an alternative.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat -- No Thanks!
Getting away from using shampoo is an eco-friendly choice. The amount of energy used to produce and package baking soda and vinegar is much less than what is involved in creating shampoos and conditioners. Using commercial shampoo guarantees that you will use commercial conditioner, because shampoo is so harsh, you will have to add moisture. Shampoo is essentially detergent. Detergent is not really good for your hair, and I assume this means it isn't good for the environment either since shampoos are filled with chemicals to do everything from produce extra suds (completely unnecessary for cleaning hair) to preserving the shampoo and preventing growth of bacteria (nice to know you aren't using bacteria-laden shampoo, but doesn't it make you wonder why this is needed in the first place?) to making it smell nice. In other words, by using shampoo, you are massaging chemicals right into your skin, which is your largest organ. Scary, huh?

In addition to saving me money by passing on the shampoo, my scalp is now healthier. I wouldn't be surprised if my overall health is better, too, given the toxins that are in that Pantene I was using. (Check this list of shampoo ingredients to avoid if you want to know more about your current shampoo.) I don't wash the kids' hair all that often since it doesn't really need it, but I am considering transitioning them over to no 'pooing. The biggest concern that has kept me from doing it is the vinegar rinse. I am afraid they will fight me on this because it doesn't smell fruity like what they are used to, and if it happens to get into their eyes (which, face it, it very likely will), it will burn. However, after learning more about the chemicals used in shampoos and how the FDA does little to regulate them, I may have to change this how we wash the kids' hair. The Suave Kids shampoo they currently use has the same bad ingredient as Pantene: sodium lauryl sulfate. When it comes down to it, exposing them to toxins is a much greater concern than the temporary stinging in the eyes, especially when the FDA is not going to protect consumers from known carcinogens.

My Wash Routine
When I began no 'pooing I tried to go 3 or 4 days between washings like Green Grandma, but it just didn't seem to work and I wasn't all that happy with how I looked. (My pony tails look like weird stubs, not really cute, so I really wanted to avoid that option.) At this point, I am washing every other day, which is half as often as I used to wash when I was using shampoo. Online, you will find many different variations of how to no 'poo. This is mainly due to the fact that everybody has unique hair, so your washing needs may vary from mine. It may take a bit of trial and error before you get it figured out. Here is my routine:

1. Before washing, I brush my hair and scalp well. This is actually very new to me. Having curly hair has meant that I formally did not brush it since it would create frizz and damage the hair. I haven't noticed any damage, and since I am washing immediately after, frizz isn't a concern. The brushing helps distribute the natural oils before washing. Note: Natural bristle brushes are recommended, although I haven't purchased one yet.
2. Next, I add 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda to a measuring cup and get in the shower. (Initially, I used a full tablespoon, but I have tweaked it to fit my needs.) I fill the rest of the measuring cup with warm water, and mix the baking soda in with my finger. To wash, I just pour small amounts at a time all over my scalp, gently massaging as I go. I then rinse out my hair as usual. 
3. In place of conditioner, I use about 1/2 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar (again, I started out with a full tablespoon, and I have tweaked the amount as I've gone along). I pour it into my measuring cup, and then fill the rest with warm water. I pour this mixture over my entire scalp, and then wait a few minutes before rinsing it out. Since I am only washing every other day, I use this time to shave my legs, which works out nicely. Lastly, I rinse. Note: Since I'm on a "hamburger budget", I've been using the distilled white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.
4. That's it. I let my hair air dry, and I no longer need to use styling products to make my hair behave.

Ready for My Close Up
My naturally curly hair looks different depending on what point in the "wash cycle" I am at, but it's actually more predictable now than it ever has been before. I've always joked that my hair has a mind of it's own, which I am sure other curly-haired people can relate to. Now, I know that it will be curlier on the days I wash it -- really nice, almost controlled looking curls that are soft, shiny, and very nearly frizz-free. (And believe me that last detail is enough to convince me this no 'poo business is a good thing that I am doing for myself. I never would have guessed I would have such beautiful hair without the use of styling products considering that I was never able to get it to behave with any of the commercial products that I have tried over the years.) On the off days, it loses some curl, but it is fuller than before and it looks nice when I finger comb it and fluff it out.  

I have never been as happy with my curls as I have since I gave up shampoo. I think my hair is beautiful, and honestly, I don't know if I have ever felt that way before. The funny thing is, I am not buying expensive salon products-- just plain old vinegar and baking soda: safe, cheap, and effective. What more could I ask for from a shampoo and conditioner?

{I washed my hair the day of this photo.}

{See how happy I am with my hair?}

{Close-up of hair on day after washing.}

{Best bed head ever.}

By the way, stay tuned to the blog for an upcoming review and giveaway of the book Vinegar Fridays by Green Grandma. Vinegar has more uses than you can even imagine, so I can't wait to share.

Paper Snow Globe Craft

Mia came home with this construction paper snow globe that she had made in preschool and I thought it was a cute idea. I think this could also be done with 2 paper plates, (one whole and one cut in half) but we haven't tried it yet. I could also see this modified to be a fish bowl craft or even a crystal ball to make at a Wizard of Oz themed birthday party, for example.

{Snow Globe by Mia, Age 4}

Materials:

• 2 colors of construction paper OR 2 paper plates
• scissors
• something round to trace
• pencil
• clear contact paper
• crayons
• glitter
• glue

Directions:

1. On a piece of construction paper, trace around a plastic lid, plate, cup, or bowl to get a circle shape. 
2. Using crayons, draw a design on the paper circle. Mia made a snowman, but you could make anything that you would like to have in a snow globe: Santa, snowy houses, trees, reindeer, etc.
3. Trace a second circle onto another color of construction paper. Cut out the circle. Fold it in half and then cut into two pieces. Save one for the snow globe's base.
4. Trace a third circle onto a piece of clear contact paper and cut it out. Don't peel off the backing yet.
5. Glue your paper circle onto your paper half circle, which serves as the base for the snow globe.
6. Carefully peel the backing off of the contact paper. Sprinkle a little bit of glitter onto it, not too much, though, or it won't stick to your paper. Adhere the clear contact paper on top of the paper circle to complete your snow globe, which looks like it has snow flakes swirling around inside.
7. Once glue is dry, display your project.
   

Bingo Marker Christmas Tree Craft

Here is a simple Christmas craft that would work for toddlers on up.

{Christmas Tree by Mia, Age 4}

Materials:

• green construction paper
• pencil
• scissors
• Bingo markers
• newspaper 
• tape
• glue (optional)
• yellow construction paper (optional)
• brown construction paper (optional)

Directions:

1. Fold a piece of green construction paper in half like a hot dog. Draw half of a Christmas tree shape, including the trunk at the bottom. Cut out the tree shape and unfold it.
2. Protect your work surface with newspaper. Dot Bingo markers onto the tree shape. We used orange, red, blue, and purple Bingo markers from Dollar Tree. Logan decorated his tree with "ornaments" and Mia made "garland" and "ornaments" for hers. She also used lots of orange dots to make the tree trunk look brown instead of green. Allow ink to dry.
3. If desired, draw and cut out a star from yellow construction paper. Tape (or glue) on top of your tree. You could also cut a trunk from brown construction paper and tape (or glue) it onto the green paper.
4. Display your Christmas tree. Ours are now affixed to a window with clear tape.

   

   {Christmas Tree by Logan, Age 2}

Little Stinker

Yesterday morning while I was applying makeup, Logan entertained himself by unrolling all of the toilet paper. I figured this would keep him busy, and it wasn't hurting anything, so I let him continue. (It wasn't the first time it's happened in our house, and I am sure it won't be the last time, either.) That is, until I noticed a tell-tale odor and I informed him, "I think you pooped." His response was, "No! You poop." I took him downstairs to check, and sure enough, he needed changing. The whole time I was changing his diaper, Logan continued to insist, "You poop!" I think it is amusing that he tried to pass the blame on this one, and I am hoping that this means he will be a terrible liar.