I just wanted to share how I have changed my diet and how it has changed me and my health already. The thing I love so much about changing my diet in this way is that the results were basically immediate. I don't struggle with my blood sugar and I started dropping weight. I have lost 9 pounds in 6 weeks. I had started dieting before I found out about the diabetes and had already cut a lot of my sugar out of my diet and I had lost 2 pounds when I went to the doctors appointment that led to me finding out that I have diabetes. I have lost 7 of that in the last 4 weeks. It was probably less than that because its been four weeks since that doctors appointment and it took two weeks to confirm that I had diabetes so I guess 7 pounds in 2 weeks. I seriously get up every morning to every other morning one or two pounds lighter. It is very exciting and to think I would have struggled for a year or more to get similar results.
I have been eating a lot of healthy low fat protein like turkey, and chicken, and beans, and peanuts, and soy milk. I have been eating green vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and green beans. I have been eating low fat cheeses like feta. I don't think the mozzarella cheese sticks that I have been eating are as low fat as I would like but they make a great snack with some peanuts. I have been eating fruits high in pectin like grapefruits. I have been making home made vinaigrette salad dressing with white vinegar and olive oil and salt and pepper. I have been replacing bad fats with healthy fats. I found Smart Balance Omega Plus margarine, and mayonnaise and peanut butter that has flax seed oil and other healthy oils and plant starols. I have been eating Hodgson Mill Steel Cut oats and putting a pat of my Smart Start margarine with about a half teaspoon worth of cinnamon and maybe one ounce of Silk vanilla soy milk and one Splenda with fiber packet. I have started eating white carbohydrates in true moderation and mainly eat only 100% whole grain carbohydrates like 100% whole grain bread. I did not have much luck with the 100% whole wheat pasta with my blood sugar so I have reduced eating pastas in extreme moderation. I have been drinking Arizona Green Tea, I prefer diet it has 0 calories but even the regular Arizona Green Tea only has 80 calories per 8 ounce serving. I have been eating fruits and vegetables high in potassium like bananas and potatoes. I have not had a problem with my blood sugar with these starchy vegetables although some people do. I have also been enjoying making yogurt smoothies. I got some plain yogurt and add some soy milk and some ice and what ever fruit I am in the mood for, I have done coconut once and strawberry banana once. I have added a splash worth of no sugar added juice for flavor once and I have added a sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast package to give a chocolate flavor. My smoothies are usually not as sweet as most people would like so a packet of Splenda probably would make this better to most people but I like them with the natural fruit flavors. I have been drinking more water. I found some sugar free creamer for my coffee. I some times have a diet soda. I found some good sugar free candies and cookies. When I get that just can't take it need a sweet treat craving I have one of these very delicious treats.
It is very good knowing that I am eating healthy for my body and still just dropping weight like I have never been able to before in my life. I can't help but thinking that this diet would work for any one who needed to loose weight and not just for people who struggle with Diabetes. With diabetes on the rise in our country I feel confident saying that I think most people would benefit from a Diabetes friendly diet. No need to wait to be diagnosed with a potentially life threatening disease to make the change. One thing is for sure as far as I am concerned, I wish I had some way of knowing just how effective this way of eating would be for weight loss. I would have been on board with this years ago.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Being a working mom might not pay.
My mom found this news report on Fox 6. I know I have certainly been having this problem especially since my family grew from just the one child to now having three children. When I just had the one child he was the first grandchild on both sides of the family and his father and I were not together so there were no shortages of people who wanted to keep him, have him spend the night and even the weekend. I practically did not even need to worry about child care. Since my second child was born I found that people were more reluctant to keep the two children. If I wanted to go back to work I was gonna have to arrange child care. Now that I have three children people don't even want to come visit much less want to run the risk of possibly being asked to be left alone with all of these kids. (Ha ha)
My personal situation is a little different than many peoples would be. I home school my oldest son. If I went back to work now I would have to put him into public school. I am not even sure that there is a child care solution for him at the age of 9 years old, other than hiring some one to come to my home to baby sit him. I have thought many times that hiring a baby sitter to sit with my children at home would be one of my better options. Either way I slice it, hiring one sitter for three kids or putting the oldest in public school and the younger ones in day care, would be expensive. Even with a full time job at my education level earning minimum wage, I basically could not afford to pay child care expense and afford to drive back and forth to work and especially not have my own place with bills and possibly a car payment and forget car insurance. Even adding another job does not help because that adds more child care.
So there you have it. A single working mother can not afford to work. I have also done this math with several income levels and it still does not work. It is not just a minimum wage. You could technically have a high enough level of income to afford child care and the basic necessities. I have not done the math higher than two times minimum wage because even if I went to college to attain a degree you would be very lucky to start out making double minimum wage. Many careers top out at about double minimum wage. One more thing to add to this topic is that even if I attend an online college course the only way I am going to have time to get in good studying would be to have child care. Student loans, grants, even scholarships don't dish out enough money to start and complete college for a single mom.
I have even further come to learn on this topic, after years of living it my self, a penny saved truly is a penny earned. By being a stay at home mom I save more money than I could earn going to work. It saves gas money like you would not believe. I prefer to have a car for emergencies and for running errands and some times we like to do something fun or have a field trip. With our current emergency system and my small town I do not need a car. Which means if and when we can not afford for me to have a car it is inconvenient but not the end of the world. Obviously I save money on child care by being at home. I have time to home school my oldest son and even though the initial expenses of home school enrollment and curriculum can be expensive it is still less expensive than public school. I make our meals at home. That has many advantages but is less expensive and more healthy than going out to eat more often because of time restraint of having the super busy schedule. I am able to grocery shop more effectively and that helps the grocery budget. I don't clip coupons because I believe they are part of the reason for increased grocery prices. I do shop to find a good price and usually surprise my self. I have time to grocery shop every week so I can get a greater variety of food to eat at the good prices as apposed to buying a month worth of what is on sell on my one shopping day. I make things home made that I might not have time to make other wise, like baby wipes and laundry detergent that really make an impact on our budget. I have found that there are always money saving things that I can find to do to help make they money we have to work with do what it needs to do. Where as when you are earning a living it seems like you can almost never earn enough money to make it.
There is so much more on the topic of ways that you save. It is hard for me to cut my self off at this point but I think I have made the point. Maybe I will write another blog about ways to save money in your home.
Here's the link!
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/17545413/many-moms-say-having-a-job-outside-the-home-doesnt-pay#.T5Mo82AudqI.facebook
My personal situation is a little different than many peoples would be. I home school my oldest son. If I went back to work now I would have to put him into public school. I am not even sure that there is a child care solution for him at the age of 9 years old, other than hiring some one to come to my home to baby sit him. I have thought many times that hiring a baby sitter to sit with my children at home would be one of my better options. Either way I slice it, hiring one sitter for three kids or putting the oldest in public school and the younger ones in day care, would be expensive. Even with a full time job at my education level earning minimum wage, I basically could not afford to pay child care expense and afford to drive back and forth to work and especially not have my own place with bills and possibly a car payment and forget car insurance. Even adding another job does not help because that adds more child care.
So there you have it. A single working mother can not afford to work. I have also done this math with several income levels and it still does not work. It is not just a minimum wage. You could technically have a high enough level of income to afford child care and the basic necessities. I have not done the math higher than two times minimum wage because even if I went to college to attain a degree you would be very lucky to start out making double minimum wage. Many careers top out at about double minimum wage. One more thing to add to this topic is that even if I attend an online college course the only way I am going to have time to get in good studying would be to have child care. Student loans, grants, even scholarships don't dish out enough money to start and complete college for a single mom.
I have even further come to learn on this topic, after years of living it my self, a penny saved truly is a penny earned. By being a stay at home mom I save more money than I could earn going to work. It saves gas money like you would not believe. I prefer to have a car for emergencies and for running errands and some times we like to do something fun or have a field trip. With our current emergency system and my small town I do not need a car. Which means if and when we can not afford for me to have a car it is inconvenient but not the end of the world. Obviously I save money on child care by being at home. I have time to home school my oldest son and even though the initial expenses of home school enrollment and curriculum can be expensive it is still less expensive than public school. I make our meals at home. That has many advantages but is less expensive and more healthy than going out to eat more often because of time restraint of having the super busy schedule. I am able to grocery shop more effectively and that helps the grocery budget. I don't clip coupons because I believe they are part of the reason for increased grocery prices. I do shop to find a good price and usually surprise my self. I have time to grocery shop every week so I can get a greater variety of food to eat at the good prices as apposed to buying a month worth of what is on sell on my one shopping day. I make things home made that I might not have time to make other wise, like baby wipes and laundry detergent that really make an impact on our budget. I have found that there are always money saving things that I can find to do to help make they money we have to work with do what it needs to do. Where as when you are earning a living it seems like you can almost never earn enough money to make it.
There is so much more on the topic of ways that you save. It is hard for me to cut my self off at this point but I think I have made the point. Maybe I will write another blog about ways to save money in your home.
Here's the link!
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/17545413/many-moms-say-having-a-job-outside-the-home-doesnt-pay#.T5Mo82AudqI.facebook
Sunday, April 22, 2012
I was just diagnosed with Diabetes.
About a month ago I went to a doctors visit for another health issue and my new primary physician gave me the full blood work number that she does all new patients. She called back a week later saying my diabetes test was high and she wanted me to come back to retest. A few days later when I could I went back to be retested. One week later she called and said it was high again so I am diabetic now. She said my AIC level was 6.5. She wanted me to come in as soon as I could to get prescriptions for diabetes and cholesterol and get my glucose meter and supplies and learn to use them. She said my cholesterol is not high for a normal person but it is for a diabetic.
After she called me the second time with the final results, of course, I looked up what I could online. I wanted to know if the medications were safe while I am nursing my 15 month old and what I could expect to change about my diet. I wanted to know if the medications were not safe what I could do with my diet to possibly make do with out the medications until I am ready to ween my little girl.
I found lots of helpful websites full of information regarding all of my concerns. I went to the grocery store and bought what I could in accordance with what I found. I have been eating this slightly altered diet for about a week now. I started the day before my return to the doctors office to get my prescriptions and glucose meter. So when the nurse taught me how to use my glucose meter my blood sugar was 83. That is on the low side of normal. The nurse then said that was good and that my blood sugar had not been testing high just my AIC level.
I went to Wal-Mart pharmacy to get my prescriptions filled the next day after my appointment. My prescriptions were on their $4 list. That is great because I cant really afford an expensive health problem at this time in my life. I ask the pharmacist if my prescriptions were safe while I am nursing and she looked it up and said no. I told her about my blood sugar readings that that I am not having any trouble keeping my blood sugar at this level always testing about the same between 93 and 110 at my before and after eating. She said that the AIC test indicates that my blood sugar must have been high some time in the last three months because that's what makes your AIC level high like that.
I wanted to experiment now that I have my glucose meter to see if any of my favorite no no foods or drinks would effect my blood sugar in a negative way. I went out for Mexican food and had a Margarita with my dinner. It did not effect my blood sugar negatively. I had learned previously after much research that it is safe to have up to 2 serving sizes of alcohol per day while you are nursing. I researched donating breast milk for the NICU. Not only did I learn that they do the breast milk donation program to make real breast milk formula for the premature babies that some times can not latch on and nurse yet, and that it saves lives of infants, but that according to their standard of what is acceptable quality breast milk allows 2 servings of alcohol per day. If its safe for the NICU its good enough for me. I don't drink every day but it is nice to have a final word on the matter.
I also wanted to test some of the other no no's. Yesterday for dinner I had two slices of pizza with white bread crust. The white carbs are the no no here. It did not effect my blood sugar negatively. I had a soda yesterday after noon, no negative effect. I went to the drive in movie and just let it go just to see. I had chili cheese fries and a large soda and a hot chocolate over the course of 2 movies and no negative effect.
The only thing I have noticed weird about my blood sugar is that according to what I know at this point that your after you eat blood sugar taken 2 hours after eating should be higher. Mine is the on the same scale before and after. I have been eating 5 times a day for a very long time now. I have always experienced this strong hunger some times dizzy, light headed, irritable and hands shaking about every two to three hours. It does not make any difference even if I stuff my self I will just be hungry again any way. I just eat until I am full and stop cause I know I will be hungry again soon any way. I did not think of my meal sizes as small. I can usually hold like 2 pieces of pizza. So I guess that is kind of small compared to what some adults my age eat.
I guess for me after getting so worried at hearing the term diabetic that it is a little anticlimactic for my blood sugar to be a lot more normal than I was expecting. I guess I always thought that this savere hunger came from having low blood sugar and that's why I eat so often. Feeling this hungry feels to my body like I am in danger of my blood sugar plummeting and that I might pass out or something. When I check my blood sugar though it shows that it is just still at mid ground. I also have to keep my temperament in mind because I am dealing with small children all day every day and when I am shaky and irritable it makes it more difficult to keep my cool with the constant chaos.
The diet information that I found online is simple and easy to understand. For high blood sugar basically you need to eat less sugar obviously as in sugar sweet drinks and candy. Sugar can also be found hiding in all kinds of foods that you buy at the grocery store so it is important to read labels. White carbohydrates break down as sugar in your body so they are to be avoided as well. 100% whole grain breads and pastas are good for you and high in fiber. I found some foods can help reduce your blood sugar as apposed to just not making it higher. Peanuts are one of the major contributors to lower blood sugar. One web site said that people who ate peanuts or peanut butter 5 times a week had consistently lower blood sugar. Peanuts are not the only nut on the helpful list other nuts as well are attributed with reduced blood sugar. It says to try to eat unsalted nuts because the sodium level of eating nuts that often can be dangerous. I also found that spinach helps reduce blood sugar. Vinegar also reduces blood sugar. There are several others but that is a good start.
To help reduce cholesterol the formula is simple. Take in less bad fat and put in more good fat and increase fiber to keep every thing moving along. Nuts were on the cholesterol list as well as the diabetes list. That makes one easy diet change. Olive oil is a healthy form of fat for your diet. You can eat about one tablespoon full a day. This goes well with my spinach and vinegar from the diabetes diet. Spinach salad with home made vinaigrette any one. Soy is good for cholesterol. I had to read the back of the package to find a soy milk that I can stand the taste of that had a reasonable sugar level. There are many other things, I just wanted to give some basics. These are things that I found helpful easy tips and wanted to share.
I also looked up some of my favorite foods and drinks to see if they would still be OK for me to eat. Things like pizza and sushi, because of the white rice, and alcohol can be hard on your blood sugar. One of my favorite foods is feta cheese. I was glad to find out that it is a lower fat cheese and a good nutritional source as well as other low fat cheeses for diabetics to eat as snacks and with food.
Here are some of the helpful websites that I found.
http://www.joslin.org/info/Fitting_Alcohol_Into_Your_Meal_Plan.html http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com/2007/08/14-foods-that-lower-cholesterol/
http://www.ivillage.com/lima-beans-7-foods-lower-blood-sugar/4-b-337499
After she called me the second time with the final results, of course, I looked up what I could online. I wanted to know if the medications were safe while I am nursing my 15 month old and what I could expect to change about my diet. I wanted to know if the medications were not safe what I could do with my diet to possibly make do with out the medications until I am ready to ween my little girl.
I found lots of helpful websites full of information regarding all of my concerns. I went to the grocery store and bought what I could in accordance with what I found. I have been eating this slightly altered diet for about a week now. I started the day before my return to the doctors office to get my prescriptions and glucose meter. So when the nurse taught me how to use my glucose meter my blood sugar was 83. That is on the low side of normal. The nurse then said that was good and that my blood sugar had not been testing high just my AIC level.
I went to Wal-Mart pharmacy to get my prescriptions filled the next day after my appointment. My prescriptions were on their $4 list. That is great because I cant really afford an expensive health problem at this time in my life. I ask the pharmacist if my prescriptions were safe while I am nursing and she looked it up and said no. I told her about my blood sugar readings that that I am not having any trouble keeping my blood sugar at this level always testing about the same between 93 and 110 at my before and after eating. She said that the AIC test indicates that my blood sugar must have been high some time in the last three months because that's what makes your AIC level high like that.
I wanted to experiment now that I have my glucose meter to see if any of my favorite no no foods or drinks would effect my blood sugar in a negative way. I went out for Mexican food and had a Margarita with my dinner. It did not effect my blood sugar negatively. I had learned previously after much research that it is safe to have up to 2 serving sizes of alcohol per day while you are nursing. I researched donating breast milk for the NICU. Not only did I learn that they do the breast milk donation program to make real breast milk formula for the premature babies that some times can not latch on and nurse yet, and that it saves lives of infants, but that according to their standard of what is acceptable quality breast milk allows 2 servings of alcohol per day. If its safe for the NICU its good enough for me. I don't drink every day but it is nice to have a final word on the matter.
I also wanted to test some of the other no no's. Yesterday for dinner I had two slices of pizza with white bread crust. The white carbs are the no no here. It did not effect my blood sugar negatively. I had a soda yesterday after noon, no negative effect. I went to the drive in movie and just let it go just to see. I had chili cheese fries and a large soda and a hot chocolate over the course of 2 movies and no negative effect.
The only thing I have noticed weird about my blood sugar is that according to what I know at this point that your after you eat blood sugar taken 2 hours after eating should be higher. Mine is the on the same scale before and after. I have been eating 5 times a day for a very long time now. I have always experienced this strong hunger some times dizzy, light headed, irritable and hands shaking about every two to three hours. It does not make any difference even if I stuff my self I will just be hungry again any way. I just eat until I am full and stop cause I know I will be hungry again soon any way. I did not think of my meal sizes as small. I can usually hold like 2 pieces of pizza. So I guess that is kind of small compared to what some adults my age eat.
I guess for me after getting so worried at hearing the term diabetic that it is a little anticlimactic for my blood sugar to be a lot more normal than I was expecting. I guess I always thought that this savere hunger came from having low blood sugar and that's why I eat so often. Feeling this hungry feels to my body like I am in danger of my blood sugar plummeting and that I might pass out or something. When I check my blood sugar though it shows that it is just still at mid ground. I also have to keep my temperament in mind because I am dealing with small children all day every day and when I am shaky and irritable it makes it more difficult to keep my cool with the constant chaos.
The diet information that I found online is simple and easy to understand. For high blood sugar basically you need to eat less sugar obviously as in sugar sweet drinks and candy. Sugar can also be found hiding in all kinds of foods that you buy at the grocery store so it is important to read labels. White carbohydrates break down as sugar in your body so they are to be avoided as well. 100% whole grain breads and pastas are good for you and high in fiber. I found some foods can help reduce your blood sugar as apposed to just not making it higher. Peanuts are one of the major contributors to lower blood sugar. One web site said that people who ate peanuts or peanut butter 5 times a week had consistently lower blood sugar. Peanuts are not the only nut on the helpful list other nuts as well are attributed with reduced blood sugar. It says to try to eat unsalted nuts because the sodium level of eating nuts that often can be dangerous. I also found that spinach helps reduce blood sugar. Vinegar also reduces blood sugar. There are several others but that is a good start.
To help reduce cholesterol the formula is simple. Take in less bad fat and put in more good fat and increase fiber to keep every thing moving along. Nuts were on the cholesterol list as well as the diabetes list. That makes one easy diet change. Olive oil is a healthy form of fat for your diet. You can eat about one tablespoon full a day. This goes well with my spinach and vinegar from the diabetes diet. Spinach salad with home made vinaigrette any one. Soy is good for cholesterol. I had to read the back of the package to find a soy milk that I can stand the taste of that had a reasonable sugar level. There are many other things, I just wanted to give some basics. These are things that I found helpful easy tips and wanted to share.
I also looked up some of my favorite foods and drinks to see if they would still be OK for me to eat. Things like pizza and sushi, because of the white rice, and alcohol can be hard on your blood sugar. One of my favorite foods is feta cheese. I was glad to find out that it is a lower fat cheese and a good nutritional source as well as other low fat cheeses for diabetics to eat as snacks and with food.
Here are some of the helpful websites that I found.
http://www.joslin.org/info/Fitting_Alcohol_Into_Your_Meal_Plan.html http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com/2007/08/14-foods-that-lower-cholesterol/
http://www.ivillage.com/lima-beans-7-foods-lower-blood-sugar/4-b-337499
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Homemade Strep Throat Prevention
I found a web site that had this simple recipe for strep throat prevention. I have used it, and altered it to my liking and had success using this in my home. I can not find the website now. I don't like using a source that I can't site. I will pass the information on by saying this is not original from my mind and if any one knows of the website that I speak of I would love to have the address to add to this post.
You will need
1. One part Listerine equivalent mouthwash.
2. One part honey.
Mix together thoroughly and gargle. You can use this three times a day or as needed if you already have strep throat and once a day to prevent strep if you get chronic strep throat.
I use
1. One part Listerine equivalent mouthwash.
2. One part hydrogen peroxide.
I found the honey and Listerine to not have the best texture or flavor for the frequency of use needed. In my online research I found that honey is a natural peroxide agent and that is why it is good for oral hygiene and treatment of strep throat, sore throats, and canker sores. Basically any type of oral health issue. So I decided to try it with Hydrogen Peroxide and was satisfied. It bubbles in the back of your throat so it can be difficult gargling but well worth the effort.
I could not get my 3 year old to come near any thing mint or cinnamon or anything else he called "too spicy" when he was battling his strep throat battle. He did have to have his tonsils out. I did get the rest of my family on board with using this preventative. I realized at one of my sons doctors appointments that I realized he needed to come to the doctor because my throat was sore. I have to say that using this treatment none of my other family members needed to have antibiotics for strep even though my 3 year old had it five times in five months. With that much strep exposure my entire family and I may have ended up with needing our tonsils out. I am glad to say we are all doing much better and even though my son had his toncils out he still has had strep one time. That is still quite the improvement!
You will need
1. One part Listerine equivalent mouthwash.
2. One part honey.
Mix together thoroughly and gargle. You can use this three times a day or as needed if you already have strep throat and once a day to prevent strep if you get chronic strep throat.
I use
1. One part Listerine equivalent mouthwash.
2. One part hydrogen peroxide.
I found the honey and Listerine to not have the best texture or flavor for the frequency of use needed. In my online research I found that honey is a natural peroxide agent and that is why it is good for oral hygiene and treatment of strep throat, sore throats, and canker sores. Basically any type of oral health issue. So I decided to try it with Hydrogen Peroxide and was satisfied. It bubbles in the back of your throat so it can be difficult gargling but well worth the effort.
I could not get my 3 year old to come near any thing mint or cinnamon or anything else he called "too spicy" when he was battling his strep throat battle. He did have to have his tonsils out. I did get the rest of my family on board with using this preventative. I realized at one of my sons doctors appointments that I realized he needed to come to the doctor because my throat was sore. I have to say that using this treatment none of my other family members needed to have antibiotics for strep even though my 3 year old had it five times in five months. With that much strep exposure my entire family and I may have ended up with needing our tonsils out. I am glad to say we are all doing much better and even though my son had his toncils out he still has had strep one time. That is still quite the improvement!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent!
I found this recipe online just about a week ago. I ran out of my store bought dishwasher detergent and thought I would see what I could find to use. I tried it out and it worked fine! I was super excited!
It is so easy!
1. One part Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. (I used one tablespoon as I only wanted to do one load)
2. One part Borax 20 Mules. (I used one tablespoon as I only wanted to do one load)
Mix and use as you would any other dishwasher powder.
I found one other website that I think gave me the magic ingredient. The first website said their dishes came out gritty even after scouring dishes before loading. The second website recommended using vinegar as rinsing agent just like you would any other store bought rinsing agent.
1. Finish the rinsing agent you currently have in your dishwasher.
2. Rinse out the residue from the rinsing agent.
3. Pour about 4 tablespoons of vinegar into the place for rinsing agent in your machine.
4. Use for about 4 loads of dishes and then add more.
I found this especially great because I keep these ingredients around my house and an easy alternative to store bought dishwasher detergent and rinsing agent. The only thing I noticed that I was less than thrilled with is because this super basic recipe has no scent my dishes did not have that lemon scent that I guess I am used to. I found other websites with other more complicated recipes that called for sugar free lemon aid kool aid packets. I am interested in trying them and will let you know if I do. At that moment I needed something with the ingredient's that I had available at hand and this one fit the bill.
Here are the websites!
http://greenliving.about.com/od/greenathome/a/natural_green_dishwashing.htm
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/householdsavings/qt/Rinse_Agent.htm
It is so easy!
1. One part Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. (I used one tablespoon as I only wanted to do one load)
2. One part Borax 20 Mules. (I used one tablespoon as I only wanted to do one load)
Mix and use as you would any other dishwasher powder.
I found one other website that I think gave me the magic ingredient. The first website said their dishes came out gritty even after scouring dishes before loading. The second website recommended using vinegar as rinsing agent just like you would any other store bought rinsing agent.
1. Finish the rinsing agent you currently have in your dishwasher.
2. Rinse out the residue from the rinsing agent.
3. Pour about 4 tablespoons of vinegar into the place for rinsing agent in your machine.
4. Use for about 4 loads of dishes and then add more.
I found this especially great because I keep these ingredients around my house and an easy alternative to store bought dishwasher detergent and rinsing agent. The only thing I noticed that I was less than thrilled with is because this super basic recipe has no scent my dishes did not have that lemon scent that I guess I am used to. I found other websites with other more complicated recipes that called for sugar free lemon aid kool aid packets. I am interested in trying them and will let you know if I do. At that moment I needed something with the ingredient's that I had available at hand and this one fit the bill.
Here are the websites!
http://greenliving.about.com/od/greenathome/a/natural_green_dishwashing.htm
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/householdsavings/qt/Rinse_Agent.htm
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Homemade Laundry Detergent
I started using this homemade laundry detergent about a year ago. Using this recipe has really saved money for my house hold. I have had some trouble with it because some times it does not clear stains as well as I would like. I will tell you today what I have done to tweak this recipe to make it work better for me.
You will need,
1. Bar of your favorite bar soap. ( I prefer Ivory)
2. One cup of Borax 20 Mule Team
3. One cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda.
This website recommends grating the bar of soap and stirring in the other two ingredients for 5 miniutes and enjoy. They recommend using one tablespoon of laundry for an average size load and two tablespoons for heavily soiled laundry. This type of laundry detergent does not produce soap suds and so it is safe for high efficiency washing machines.
I have tried a few variations of this and the one that seems to work the best for me is to add 1/2 to 1 cup of color safe bleach powder and one more bar of soap. I also have found out that if I microwave the bar of soap it will puff up and soften and I can smash it up with a fork to about the same consistency as I can get grating it and it seems easier to me. I microwave about 1 minuet on high per bar of soap.
This is the website that I found this!
http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-laundry-detergent-soap/
You will need,
1. Bar of your favorite bar soap. ( I prefer Ivory)
2. One cup of Borax 20 Mule Team
3. One cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda.
This website recommends grating the bar of soap and stirring in the other two ingredients for 5 miniutes and enjoy. They recommend using one tablespoon of laundry for an average size load and two tablespoons for heavily soiled laundry. This type of laundry detergent does not produce soap suds and so it is safe for high efficiency washing machines.
I have tried a few variations of this and the one that seems to work the best for me is to add 1/2 to 1 cup of color safe bleach powder and one more bar of soap. I also have found out that if I microwave the bar of soap it will puff up and soften and I can smash it up with a fork to about the same consistency as I can get grating it and it seems easier to me. I microwave about 1 minuet on high per bar of soap.
This is the website that I found this!
http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-laundry-detergent-soap/
Monday, April 9, 2012
Homemade hair lightening recipe!
I researched this topic online almost a year ago and now I cant find the exact website that I found this information on. Apparently there is new information on this topic out there and that is just great! I am going to start with the recipe that I have personally tried.
1. 1/4 of a lemon worth of lemon juice.
2. 2 tablespoons of honey.
3. 1/2 cup of your favorite hair conditioner.
You just mix together these three ingredients and put the mixture on your hair starting at the root and working down to the tips. Leave on your hair for 4 hours. You can use a hair cap but a plastic grocery bag will work just secure on your head well. You will need to wash it out with shampoo when you are finished because of the honey and condition after you have washed thoroughly. This solution does tend to dry your hair slightly.
I personally had subtle results at first. The good news is that any time you use lemon to lighten your hair the result improve every time you go out into the sun. Because this hair lightener is more gentle than hair bleaching kits you might buy in a store you can do it every couple of weeks to get the results you desire.
A few things that I found really fun and cool about this recipe is that first of all, when you mix the ingredients together it looks and smells like a regular cream hair dye just with out the strong chemical smell. Another thing I enjoyed was that it gives your hair a multi tonal color that does not looked dyed just naturally lighter.
This is the web site that I found that had the closest recipe to this now that I looked for it again.
http://www.agrlcanmac.com/2009/02/natural-hair-lightener-honey.html
1. 1/4 of a lemon worth of lemon juice.
2. 2 tablespoons of honey.
3. 1/2 cup of your favorite hair conditioner.
You just mix together these three ingredients and put the mixture on your hair starting at the root and working down to the tips. Leave on your hair for 4 hours. You can use a hair cap but a plastic grocery bag will work just secure on your head well. You will need to wash it out with shampoo when you are finished because of the honey and condition after you have washed thoroughly. This solution does tend to dry your hair slightly.
I personally had subtle results at first. The good news is that any time you use lemon to lighten your hair the result improve every time you go out into the sun. Because this hair lightener is more gentle than hair bleaching kits you might buy in a store you can do it every couple of weeks to get the results you desire.
A few things that I found really fun and cool about this recipe is that first of all, when you mix the ingredients together it looks and smells like a regular cream hair dye just with out the strong chemical smell. Another thing I enjoyed was that it gives your hair a multi tonal color that does not looked dyed just naturally lighter.
This is the web site that I found that had the closest recipe to this now that I looked for it again.
http://www.agrlcanmac.com/2009/02/natural-hair-lightener-honey.html
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