7 Practical Things I’ve Learned From Social Media

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facebook, good ideas on the internet, pinterest, ravelry, social media

1.  How to DIY Fruit Water (via Facebook, originally posted @ The Yummy Life) 

This is probably my favorite discovery via social media.  I love water, but sometimes…it gets boring.  Add some fruit, maybe even some veggies or herbs, infuse in the fridge, and voila! Some of my favorite variations so far, strawberry with chamomile, orange with mint, and orange with hibiscus and ginger.  For me, this is a great way to get the kids to eat oranges–for some reason they aren’t fans of the fruit itself, and since I’m not a fan of store-bought juices, this is a great way to sneak some of the fruits and veggies into their diet that I couldn’t otherwise get them to consume.

And I’ve found quite a few great recipe ideas this way–Overnight Oatmeal, Spicy Guinness Mustard, P.F. Chang-style Lettuce Wraps, and this delicious looking little 4 ingredient recipe for Meyer Lemon Sorbet that I found on my pinterest today.  Anything you could possibly want to eat is probably posted online already.  Maybe just a Facebook update or Pinterest pin away.

2.  (Almost) Perpetual Green Onions…and other veggies from kitchen scraps (Facebook and assorted blogs)

Most of us probably know that you can grow a carrot top by placing it in a cup of water.  But how many of us would have thought to regrow our green onions that way?  Or to root and replant celery?  How about a pineapple?  Or an avocado (though it can take 7-15 years to fruit, assuming you are even in the right climate)? There’s also ginger, garlic, potatoes and sweet potatoes, that awesome hydroponic lettuce with the roots attached (this is my favorite lettuce of all time, when I can justify the expense…being able to grow it again in my window sill is *squee!!*), and beets and turnips and radishes, etc.  Plus, if you shop at the farmers market, you have a better chance at getting non-hybrid varieties (just ask, they’ll be happy to tell you!) and can save the seeds to plant in your own garden.

3.  The Secret Produce Code (Facebook)

The premise is that the little sticker on your produce can tell you how your fruits and veggies were grown.  The PLU code (Price Look Up–its official name) is a defined list of codes for produce by the International Federation of Produce Standards, and numbering convention goes like this:

4 numbers=conventionally grown
5 numbers starting with an 8=GMO
5 numbers starting with a 9=organic

This one is actually a bit of a mixed bag. These codes are a matter of convenience for the store, not the consumer.  In all technicality, its true.  But in practice, its not…at least with regard to identifying GMOs.

4. Underwater Viewfinder=beach fun for kids (pinterest)

Egg Carton Mancala

I originally came across the idea for this on pinterest, though I’m not entirely sure if I pinned the original or not.  Either way, the kids and I made our own, and much fun ensued.  And there are zillions of other ideas for cheap or low-tech crafts and toys for kids to be found in blogs, on pinterest, etc.  Like this list of kid friendly experiments.  One of my favorite finds (that I still haven’t tried yet) was one that I first ran across from the TED videos…Squishy Circuits–a way to teach circuits to preschoolers, and its made from homemade play dough recipes!

5.  Rediscovering Lost Crafts (youtube, ravelry, pinterest, assorted blogs)

Ever hear of a Dorset Button?  How about chicken-scratch?  Victorian-era hair jewelry?  Pine Burr quilt pattern?  The web has become a treasure trove for reclaiming and rediscovering lost and obscure crafts.  And even the not-so-lost-and-obscure crafts.  I can’t even begin to tell you how many times my grandmother tried to teach me to crochet while I was growing up…but after watching a tutorial on Tunisian Crochet on youtube a couple years ago and checking out a couple of tutorials (including this one) and I’ve been crocheting up a storm ever since (interesting fact: during the Victorian era, what is now called Tunisian crochet was used in winter clothing).

6.  Just Say No to Commercial Cleansers! (pinterest, facebook, assorted blogs)

This is a topic I’ve written about on occasion, though its been a while.  But I continuously run across  some great ideas for greener (environmentally and pocket-book wise) cleaning or some twists on an old favorite.  From laundry soap, to dishwasher detergent, to orange vinegar cleaning spray, there is an environmentally and economically friendlier replacement just a Google search away!

Along with commercial cleansers around the home come tons of ways to replace commercial cleansers of your body.  From going No ‘Poo to DIY facials, the web seems to breed DIY beauty tips like Tribbles on Star Trek (yes, I am that much of a nerd)…even on my own blog.

7. You can reuse, DIY, upcycle…just about anything (all over the web)

Crochet hooks from sticks?  Play kitchen from an old TV cabinet?  Innovative storage for board games AND wall art, simultaneously?  Turning cans into an adorable organizer? Make a yarn political statement on reproductive rights for your congressman?  I’ve run across all these and more in my social media feeds…from the adorably whimsical to the practical to the outright bizarre.  Some of them I’d love to do, if I had the need and the stuff to do it with, and some of it, I just kind of stare in awed wonder of creative superiority.  Every once in a while, I just stare.

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feed your face

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cleansing, diy beauty, facial recipes, mask, moisturizers

Chickadee models the Mango Mask…and just *look* at those eyelashes!
She got those from daddy (so did Collin)…I’m totally jealous, lol!

I’m always looking for a way to do stuff with what I have, and to do them as naturally as possible…and since I assume that most people that read my blog are at least *somewhat* like minded, here are a few ways that I use fruit on my face.

Now you can use fruit on your face too!

Not that I’m advocating peer pressure or anything.

But really, you should try it…you might like it.

Applesauce Steaming Cleanse
Take a 1/4 cup of applesauce, a dash (or two) of grapeseed oil, and a sprinkle of cinnamon (just a sprinkle!) and mix. Apply to the face. Take a steaming hot wash cloth or towel (but not so hot you burn your face) and place it over your face. Relax. When cool, wipe off, rinse the rag and repeat a time or two. Leftovers can be refrigerated and used throughout the week.

Simple Citrus Scrub
Take about 2-3 tablespoons of the juice of a citrus fruit (I prefer orange or tangerine, but lemon and grapefruit are also popular choices) and add sugar (white or brown, your choice) until all the juice is absorbed. Add a dash of extra virgin olive oil (or another appropriate oil). Scrub gently and rinse thoroughly. Leftovers can be refrigerated and used throughout the week. If you add a dash of Dr. Bonner’s Peppermint soap, this makes an awesomely fantastic and refreshing exfoliating body wash too!

Mango Oatmeal Mask
Pulverize about 1/3 cup of oatmeal (I do it in the blender, since my food processor bit the dust) and mash about 1/3 c of mango (I do this by juicing the mango flesh that is close to the pit–I think that part has a weird texture and don’t like to eat is, so I turn it into juice for mango-ade while using the left over pulp for my face). Add a big dollop of yogurt about a generous drizzle of honey, and mix it up (buzz it for a second in the food processor or blender, if you’ve already dirtied it). Put it on your face. Don’t worry, it *will* be a bit lumpy and that is okay. Let it start to dry and then rinse off well. Leftovers can be refrigerated and used for a couple of days…and are pretty tasty.

Banana Moisturizing Mask
Peel a banana and take a few bites. When all that is left is about 1/2 of the banana, mash it up. Scramble in an egg yolk and add a dash of sunflower oil. Put it on your face. Rinse after about 10 minutes. Leftovers *can* be put in the fridge for a day or so, but look kind of gross (like old banana)–I don’t recommend it…which is why I suggest eating part of the banana first. No one has such a big face that they need an entire banana for their mask.

Apple Chamomile Toner
Since it never fails that at least once a week I cut up too many apple slices for the kid’s snack tray for them to eat in a timely manner, I had to come up with a way to use them. Take a handful of apple slices (or even a whole apple if you want to dedicate an apple to your face) and pulverize it (or just dice really finely). Put the apple and a about one cups of water in a saucepan. Add about 2 tablespoons of chamomile flowers (or two chamomile tea bags) to the pan (you could also add some yarrow if you have some handy), bring to a boil and then cut off the heat and allow to cool. After its cool, strain and add about 1/4 cup of witch hazel. Apply liberally with a cotton ball or cloth. Keep in the fridge for up around two weeks.

Watermelon Juice After Sun Toner
Take home a few slices of that watermelon from the barbecue–you know, the one where you forgot to reapply the sun screen? Juice the watermelon pieces (watermelon juice also makes good popsicles) and add to an equal amount of aloe vera gel and green tea. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and apply liberally.

Toss the ‘Poo

Tags

hair care, no poo. quitting shampoo

I know what you’re thinking.

Something about monkeys right?

Of course…maybe I’m wrong, and you’re hip to the lingo.

‘Poo, is shorthand for shampoo.  I’d say they call it that because its a stinky sham and its worth is based entirely on what two or three generations of branding and marketing propaganda brainwashed us to, but the term actually originates from the Hindi term champo and basically means to massage.  Anyhoo…I don’t use shampoo.  Yes, I am serious.  And…its actually a pretty common phenomenon.  Really.

Here, you can see for yourself what the hair of a person that does not shampoo looks like:

This is almost a  month after the last shampoo and three days since the last wash…

In the most extreme form of no ‘poo, some people switch to only rinsing with water…but I’m not there yet, and I doubt I ever will be, simply because I don’t care that much about not washing (I just wanted to give up another disposable plastic item).  Instead, I wash my hair every four or five days using a regimen similar to this one.  Some sites (like this one) recommend a water-only rinse period for your scalp oils to *really* come into balance, but I have’t found that to be necessary.

If you have never heard of this and wonder “Why on earth would anyone want to stop shampooing?”, there are a couple of reasons:

• It saves money (the stuff you use is much cheaper than shampoo and conditioner, particularly if you use salon stuff
• For many people, their hair has more body, looks better, is more manageable and requires less styling products (saving more money)
• It is better for the environment–no plastic bottles to become pollution and no hard-to-pronounce chemicals going into the watershed (and into the ocean and the ocean food chain and becoming itty bitty pieces of plastic sand for my kids to play with at the beach)
• It eliminates direct exposure to some of those hard-to-pronounce chemicals, which may or  may not result in personal health benefits down the line (or at least minimizing health risks)

So, you might be wondering what I wash with (unless you clicked the links above, or have heard of this already…in which case, you have some idea).  My shampoo-free regimen includes 4 essential items–a BBB (on long hair forums, shorthand for a boar bristle brush), baking soda, ACV (shorthand for apple cider vinegar) and honey.  Oh, and water (and a cup to mix stuff)…but I don’t do anything with the water or cup until I get to the shower.  Herbs or essential oils are also optional, but not essential.  Plus you might want some squirty bottles (something like an old mustard bottle or those bottles for applying hair dye or even an old water bottle like I use).

Basically your “wash” consists of baking soda and water.  Some people make a paste of the baking soda with the water and massage it into the scalp, others make a sort of baking soda and water slurry and apply it to the scalp and hair.  I fill my bottle with about a 1:8 ratio of baking soda to water.  When I’m ready to apply it to my hair, I shake it up (as you can see in the picture it settles to the bottom) and apply it directly to my scalp from front to back in sections, and then I massage my scalp and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out.

For my “conditioner” I have a second container which hold a 1:4 honey-apple cider mixture.  After rinsing, I add about two or three tablespoons worth to the cup in the pic, which I fill the rest of the way with water.  Sometimes I will fill the cup with hot water and add a peppermint or chamomile tea bag, or some lavender or rosemary essential oils (depends on my mood and my hair care needs),  letting it seep, before I add the ACV and honey mix.  When you put the “conditioner” in your hair, focus on the hair itself (particularly the ends), and not your scalp.  Warning: It will smell like vinegar. Let it sit in your hair and think about salad dressing for a few minutes and then rinse it out.  I have a pretty good sniffer, and I only get a slight whiff of vinegar upon occasion as my hair dries.  Once your hair is dry though, it won’t smell anymore.

The third part of getting this to work, is brushing.  Personally, boar bristle brushes are the best for this.  They are a natural fiber that basically redistributes your natural oils from your head down the length of your hair, making it shiny (not greasy) and full of body (but not frizz).  Plus, you can get them with a wooden handle, which means No Plastic!!! Brush your hair often and well (100 strokes might be a bit much, but the sentiment is in the right place).  Also, I rarely need to use any styling products when I’m shampoo free (maybe if I’m doing something special and using my hot rollers), and you can just rinse the gunk out when you are done.  Even better, my hair is fairly straight with shampoo, except its thick and it frizzes, but shampoo-free it has just enough wave to have good body and no frizz (which means none of that anti-frizz stuff).

I’ve gone shampoo-free several times now over the past few years and ended up stopping for one reason or another.  The first time I tried, I was in the military and I did the hard core water-only thing.  That didn’t last very long, because my hair got icky and icky hair is out of regs (basically, I couldn’t give my hair the 6 week balancing time)…then I switched to baking soda and ACV for awhile, until I got out of the military and it came inconvenient working at a pool and went back to shampooing.  The advantage though, was that even after I quit no ‘poo, I could get away with washing my hair only twice a week instead of every day…which made going shampoo-free much easier the next time (and the time after that).  The biggest thing I have learned from my trial and errors is that it takes trial and error to get a system that works…and its not the end of the world if you “go back”, you can still try again.

My recommendation for someone that wants to try going shampoo-free is to keep your same schedule but replace shampoo and conditioner with baking soda and vinegar for every other wash, then to replace all but one a week, and then all together.  Once you are only using baking soda and vinegar, try to go an extra day or two between regular washes.  The other option might be to try to lengthen your time shampooing and then switch to baking soda and vinegar (especially if you just bought new shampoo!).  Also, it might take a few tries to get the formula right–a good friend of mine and fellow blogger makes her own shampoo from with Dr. Bonners (I’ll nag her to put the recipe on her blog–mission accomplished!) since the baking soda part doesn’t work for her…the only problem of course, might be getting one’s 11 year old daughter on-board (love this blog–its like looking into a crystal ball, I can totally see my kids in 10 years)!

Adventures in Yogurt Making

Tags

cooking, recipies, yogurt

I started experimenting at yogurt making a bit…

Sophie is a skinny Minnie, and she needs as much fat and calories in her diet as possible…the problem with this is that the only whole milk yogurt I have been able to find in the grocery store is the YoBaby stuff…which is NASTY (or, as Scott put it, I wouldn’t feed that to my dog, much less to my kid), and she won’t touch (and she LOVES yogurt).

In my research of blogs, biologists and chemists webpages, recipe sites, etc, I have come to a simple conclusion…as long as you don’t kill the bacteria, everything else is open to experimentation…

My method to quick (a relative term) and simple yogurt making:

To start out with, you need to figure out how much yogurt you want to make. A good ratio for ingredients is 1 gallon milk:1 cup starter. The amount you begin with is the same amount you will end with, but not all of it will be yogurt (the rest will be whey). You can also add non-fat dried milk to make your yogurt thicker.

Scald milk to ~185 degrees F (according to some sources, this is not absolutely necessary–I have since tried making yogurt without scalding, and it is fine, though the storage time seems to be a shorter). Cool milk to ~110 degrees F and blend some milk with the (live culture) starter yogurt til not lumpy. Pour milk and starter into a large pan (I use a roasting pan) with a lid and stir. Maintain in heated area in the bacteria’s preferred temperature range (about 100-130 degrees F)…most recipies will recommend somewhere in the 110-120 degree range. The higher the temp, the shorter the incubation time, the lower, the longer. the longer you allow the yogurt to culture, the tangier and thicker it gets. Drain the whey. Refridgerate. (If you hate being wasteful and have issues tossing out the whey, you can make bread with it, in place of the water…it makes for a bit denser bread, but is plenty yummy. I have actually heard of people that make a drink out if it, but can’t find any recipes).

…or just buy a yogurt maker (I’m seriously considering this method…though the hubby is likely to protest another kitchen gadget)

I have been splitting up the yogurt into thirds (minus a cup as a starter for the next batch)…1/3 to use in place of sour cream, 1/3 to flavor with fruit and stevia (for me) or sugar (for Sophie), and 1/3 to make into a yogurt spread–sometimes called yogurt cheese (put yogurt in a cheesecloth like piece of cloth) and further drain, add herbs and such.

Useful yogurt:
*Eat yogurt while taking antibiotics. Antibiotics can also kill off the healty bacteria in your body–because yogurt contains live cultures, it helps to repopulate the bacteria in the digestive system
*Many lactose intolerant people can enjoy yogurt since the bacteria convert the lactose to lactic acid.
*It has been suggested that yogurt can reduce the number of vaginal yeast infections for women that are prone to them. There are also claims that a vaginal suppositories of plain yogurt can “cure” yeast infections, or at least lessen their severity and duration. However, most studies that refute these claims. Even so, its still good for you. And yogurt CAN help in non-vaginal yeast infections…like yeast diaper rashes in children.
*Some studies suggest that daily yogurt consumption improves HDL (good cholesterol) levels and decreases LDL (bad cholesterol) levels.
*Equal parts of yogurt, honey, and oatmeal make a great face mask. Add a couple drops of lemon juice and lavender essential oil.
*Yogurt can be used to soothe an itchy scalp and perhaps lessen dandruff. Rinse after 10-15 min.
*It has been suggested that daily yogurt consumption can lessen eczema flare-ups, as well as sinusitis and bronchitis in children.
*Regular yogurt consumption may help preven colon cancer.
*Try plain yogurt on a baked potato instead of sour cream or as a substitute in recipes that are traditionally high in fat content–creamy dressings, sauces, or dips. Replace up to half of sour cream or cream cheese with plain yogurt. If it works, try more–some recipes will tolerate complete substitution, but others will not.
*Yogurt can soothe a sunburn.
*Make moss “paint” for the garden–grow moss between the cracks of your stone walkway, on the sides of flowerpots, etc. Pour a cup of plain active-culture yogurt into your blender along with a handful of common lawn moss and about a cup of water. Blend for about 30 seconds. Use a paintbrush to spread the mixture in any cool and shady spot where you want it to grow. Mist the moss occasionally until it gets established.
*For the dieters out there–a daily dose of yogurt has been linked to greater weight loss.

More resources for info:
I love this website for info on healthy foods
Dr Fankhauser’s guide–check out his site, he has info on tons of stuff…he seems like a really cool guy
University of Nebraska’s how to with trouble shooting info
a bunch of yogurt recipes
mucho info about diy yogurt
about.com’s how to

Next, I think I’m going to make butter…