June's Change Challenge - Frugally Green Baby Care

Wow, I cannot believe it is June already! My sweet baby boy turns one this month! This year has gone by so fast, but what a blessing it has been to get to know this sweet, funny, lovable little guy.  How can you resist that smile!

In honor of Brenden's first year of life, I wanted to cover frugally green baby care as this month's change challenge.  Whether you have 10 kiddos, or you are just thinking of starting a family, or having a family is not even on your radar right now, it always important to remember that babies and children are some of our most vulnerable, and most affected by toxins in their environment.  Let's work to make changes to make our world a safer place for our kids to live!

If you've read my story, you know that I started being concerned about going green around the time that my daughter was born.  It's amazing how having a little life entrusted to you can change your perspective.  It began with non-toxic cleaning and cloth diapering, and just continued to snowball from there.  While sometimes it can be overwhelming to think of all of the things that our kids are being exposed to and how it may be affecting them, I know that ultimately God is control and that He has called me to this journey, and that I need to be balanced in my approach.

I don't do this right or perfectly all the time, or, more accurately, ever.  I know there are others that do a much better job of limiting their kids exposure to toxic chemicals.  And yes, I do worry about the "what-abouts", as only a mother can. What about the lotion that we slathered on my daughter for the first year (or more) of her life?  What about some of the foods that she's eaten?  What if there's lead, or mold or worse, in the air in this older house that we live in?  What about the coffee I drink on almost a daily basis while nursing my son? Or what about the disposable (gasp!) diapers that my kiddos wear? But, I have learned that dwelling on those questions will not ultimately help anything.  Taking small steps, and making small changes as I am able, can and will make a big difference in the lives of my kids.  

So, let's focus on the positive changes that we can make in our environment at home, and in the environment as a whole, that will lead to fewer chemicals and less toxins in the lives of our little ones.  

If you're just beginning your frugally green journey - here's a look back at some of the past change challenges and posts I've written that would be a good place to start.

Homemade and Green Cleaning
Buying Pre-Owned 
Change Your Mind About Antibacterial Products

How do you limit the exposure to chemicals and toxins for the kids in your life?  Is this an area that you need to improve in? 

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Thanks for visiting Live Renewed! If this is your first time here and you'd like to learn more about me and what Live Renewed is about, click here. If you like what you've read, and would like to read more, you can subscribe to my blog by clicking here! You can also follow me on Twitter.

This is the first post for June's Change Challenge - Frugally Green Baby Care. You can catch up on all the Change Challenge posts here.

Are you brand new to being frugally green? Be sure to check out my Frugally Green Fundamentals.

How to Make Homemade Yogurt

Photo by hollygon21

My kids and I eat homemade yogurt on almost a daily basis, and I am still here to tell you about it!
Homemade yogurt might seem overwhelming, or a little scary - you are culturing bacteria after all, but it really couldn't be easier.  Plus it's good for your wallet, it will definitely save you money, especially over buying the individual fruit flavored cups, and good for the earth because it saves on the processing and packaging of conventional yogurt.

I made my first batch of homemade yogurt just about a year ago, and I think I can count on one hand the number of times that I have bought yogurt since then.  Over the past year of making yogurt, I have come up with a few tips and tricks that help me to make the the best yogurt (in my humble opinion).

I'm sorry that I don't have any of my own pictures.  I don't usually think about taking pictures when I'm making, or eating for that matter, my homemade yogurt.

Easy Homemade Yogurt in the Crockpot

*Plug in a crockpot and turn on low.  It's very important to do this first so you don't forget, and so the crockpot is the right temperature when you're ready to pour the milk in - can you tell I know this from experience?  

*Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until it reaches 190 degrees. (I use a candy thermometer I got at Meijer for $10). You can use whatever amount of milk you want - I usually do either 4 cups or 8 cups. You want to be careful not to let the milk burn on the bottom of the pan, and make sure it doesn't boil over - so stir often and keep an eye on it.

Also, I have stopped checking the temperature during this step.  It's just one less thing to have to do.  When the milk starts getting bubbly and frothy (or it boils over onto your stovetop) you know it's done.

*Once milk reaches 190 (bubbling) remove from burner and run a sink half full of cold water.  Cover the pan and place into water in sink.  (This is kind of obvious, but make sure the water doesn't go over the top of the pan, just part way up the sides.) You can add ice to the water as well, but I've found that it doesn't really cool the milk down any faster, and that's again one less thing to do.  Can you tell I'm all about simplifying steps here?!

*Let milk cool down, stirring occasionally.  Once milk has reached between 90 and 110 degrees (I've read different temps here, I usually do about 100 degrees), remove pan from water. 

*Put yogurt starter into a bowl (I use glass) and pour about a cup of the warm milk over it and stir together. Use 2 Tbsp of yogurt starter per 4 cups of milk. Meanwhile pour remaining milk into heated crockpot.  Pour milk and yogurt from bowl into the crockpot and stir it all together. 

*Put the lid on, turn off and unplug the crockpot and wrap a heavy towel around it.  Let sit for 6-10 hours. (I usually do around 8 hours).

*Place crockpot bowl in fridge to cool yogurt - this step is really important because it helps the yogurt to set better.  Since I started doing this my yogurt has been nice and thick and creamy.  If you don't have room for your crockpot in your fridge, you can carefully ladle yogurt into containers and cool in the fridge.  Don't stir too much, it needs to be disrupted as little as possible in order to set well. 

*Set aside about a 1/2 cup of yogurt to be used as yogurt starter for your next batch. 

A few more tips:
Your yogurt starter should be plain yogurt that specifically says "Live and Active Cultures" on the package.  I use Dannon, and have had success with both the regular (full fat) yogurt and the fat-free plain yogurt (that is all they sell in the small cups at my grocery store).

I use whole milk to make yogurt because we have switched to using all full fat dairy products.  But, I know that my sister uses 2% milk with good results, although she says it's not as thick as when you use whole milk.

If you are having trouble with your milk burning on the bottom of the pan, turn your heat down.  It might take longer for the milk to heat up, but you should have less trouble with it burning.

It definitely depends on the price of your milk, but last year, I figured out that it cost me $1 to make 64 oz (8 cups) of yogurt, more than a $3 savings off Dannon plain yogurt on sale, and even greater savings compared to buying the individual fruit cups.

Our favorite ways to eat homemade yogurt are with a little raw honey and frozen fruit, usually blueberries, or topped with homemade granola.  Here is a great way to make your own fruit yogurt to-go cups, instead of buying the individual ones: just mix the frozen fruit and honey into the yogurt in a container with a lid, and the fruit will help to keep it cold but will have thawed out by the time you are ready to eat it.  Yum!

Have you considered making your own yogurt at home?  Do you have any questions about it?  


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Thanks for visiting Live Renewed! If this is your first time here and you'd like to learn more about me and what Live Renewed is about, click here. If you like what you've read, and would like to read more, you can subscribe to my blog by clicking here! You can also follow me on Twitter.

May's Change Challenge is Decreasing Your Household Waste. You can catch up on all the Change Challenge posts here.

Are you brand new to being frugally green? Be sure to check out my Frugally Green Fundamentals.


This post is linked to:
Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom
Recipe Swap at Grocery Cart Challenge
Food on Fridays at Ann Kroeker

Finally, A Clothesline - And National Hanging Out Day

It's mid-April, and already we've accomplished 2 out of my 3 outdoor projects for the month.  I'm pretty happy with that.  My hubby and dad put up our clothesline for us last weekend and I've been using it and loving it all week. And hubs also made a rain barrel for us, but has to redo the lid, so it's not operational quite yet, but it's close enough that I'll call it done! Thanks babe!

Maybe it's still new and novel, but I LOVE going out and hanging my clothes on the line.  There is something just peaceful about it. The weather has been BEAUTIFUL here this past week, and after the long and cold winter cooped up inside, I just can't get enough excuses to go outside - hanging up laundry is a great one! It's just so great to slow down, get outside, enjoy creation and smell the lilacs. There is a lilac bush, which is one of my favorites, right alongside the clothesline and it smells so good when the breeze blows past. :)  It's peaceful and relaxing and so far, I'm really enjoying it. 

I also hung out my a load of cloth diapers, and I loved seeing the diapers on the line.  Cloth diapers hanging out to dry on a clothesline - it made me so happy, it really is the little things!



I washed our sheets and hung them out on the second day the line was up, because I've always read about how great lined dried sheets are.  If you have not line dried your sheets before (I never had) you have to try it!  They smell so fresh and so clean, and they come off the line nice and crisp, but still soft.  I realized why fabric softeners smell the way they do, the are trying to imitate the beautiful, natural smell of nature, but of course they can't compete with the real thing!

If you don't have a clothesline, I highly encourage you to get one!  It doesn't have to be complicated.  Ours is a retractable one that my parents gave us and goes between two of our big trees in our backyard.  It's not long enough to hold an entire load of laundry, :( so we need to put up another line between the tree and the garage, but it's definitely a good start.  Did you know that between 6-10% of a households energy use goes to drying clothes in the dryer?  I'm really interested and excited to see how our electric bill changes (goes down!) once we have our second clothesline up and we can hang out all our laundry!

And if you need a little more motivation to put up a clothesline, this Monday, April 19th is National Hanging Out Day.  It is a day created by Project Laundry List to educate people and communities about the benefits of line drying your clothes - it good for your wallet and for the earth. So, put up a clothesline this weekend and hang out your clothes on Monday and show your support for naturally drying your clothing! 

Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom
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Thanks for visiting Live Renewed! If you’d like to read more about my journey to becoming Frugally Green, please subscribe to my blog by clicking here! You can also follow me on Twitter.

This month’s Change Challenge is Read the Ingredients! You can catch up on all the Change Challenge posts here.

Are you brand new to being frugally green? Be sure to check out my Frugally Green Fundamentals.

A Real Life Meeting! And An Easy Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Photo by Denis Collette

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting one of my blog readers, Andrea, in real life! (and I totally should have taken a picture, but didn't, shoot!) Andrea contacted me through a friend of one of my friends from church because she was excited when she found my blog and realized that I lived relatively close (45 minutes) to her.  We met at a playground where our kids played and got wet and muddy because it was kind of cold and rainy, but we still had a great time. We had no shortage of things to talk about, everything from raw goat's milk to compost, square foot gardening and where to go for cheap u-pick blueberries. I even picked up a few great frugally green ideas from her! I really enjoyed talking with her, it's always so great to meet like-minded people, especially ones that live close to you that you can share local resources with!

It was also so encouraging to hear that my blog is an encouragement to others.  That is totally what I want this blog to be about - encouraging and inspiring you on your journey to living more frugally green.  I don't always know if what I do or write is making a difference, but if I can encourage at least one person, that is enough for me! And to also know that there are many of you who are new to reading Live Renewed, I am so thankful for you and honored that you have chosen read along with me!

Anyway, as we sat down to eat our lunches, Andrea pulled out a little spray bottle and sprayed her and her kids' hands to sanitize them before eating.  "Is that homemade hand sanitizer?" I asked.  "Yep," she replied, and shared some with my daughter and I. It was such a great idea, I just had to share it with all of you too!

Frugally Green Homemade Hand Sanitizer (Thanks Andrea!)
Super easy, portable, quick, frugal, and safe hand sanitizer.  Put several drops of Tea Tree Oil in a small spray bottle with water and shake to mix it up.  Spray on hands as needed, especially before eating, and don't worry about what kinds of chemicals or how much alcohol your little one might be ingesting!

I love when I get great new ideas like this.  There are probably many small things that each of us do and don't really think much of it, but to someone else is a total "Ah-hah!" moment, and, "Why didn't I think of that?!" Do you have a quick, easy, frugal, green tip or idea like this? Please share with us in the comments!  I'd love to get a good list of easy ideas to help us all be a little bit more frugally green!

It's April!

Just a few random thoughts...

April is Earth Month, and Earth Day is April 22nd, so here at Live Renewed, that is definitely something to celebrate! Actually is was one year ago that I decided to take this blog in a more focused direction - towards being Frugally Green.  It has been a great year and I am so, so thankful for all of you, my readers, who have followed along with me on this journey!  If you are newer to Live Renewed, I recently set up a Frugally Green Fundamentals page.  It has some posts that I think are pretty basic and foundational to being frugally green, check it out if you have a minute or two. 

Along with April comes spring, and I am getting very antsy to get some outside projects started!  My hubs spent the weekend and this week reseeding our front yard.  We kind of didn't water it last year, so all the grass was dead.  I was trying to convince him to plant ground cover that wouldn't need to be watered or mowed, or turn our front yard into a big garden, since he had the whole thing tilled up.  I don't think he was too excited about either of my ideas.  :)  Well, at least I tried!

There are so many great green things that you can do when the weather is warm, here are some of my outside projects that I would love to tackle (well in actuality it will probably be mostly my wonderful hubby!) outside in the next month.
*Set up a clothesline for line drying our clothes
*Make a rain barrel to catch rain water to use for watering plants, our garden and maybe even our grass
*Make boxes for our square-foot garden and start planting

The other outside project I want to work on this summer is composting.  A friend and I are going to a composting workshop in May (which I'm super excited about - does that make me weird?), so I'll probably wait until then to start on that one. 

Speaking of outside, we have had BEAUTIFUL weather the past two days and we have been enjoying every minute of it that we can.  I love to watch Kaelyn just exploring outside, looking at leaves and bugs and flowers, just running and laughing and singing and enjoying God's creation.  Brenden is really enjoying being outside too.  Of course, he loves to put EVERYTHING in his mouth, but he also likes to crawl towards balls, swing and go down the slide with his sister.  Being outside just makes me so happy, and it tires the kids out so they take great naps - which makes me happy too. :)

Also, today we walked over to the Farmer's Market - we are so blessed that we live within walking distance, it's such a great resource for real and local food! I picked up some purple potatoes (I wonder what Jer will think when I serve those!), free range eggs, and some spices and fair-trade, organic chai tea.  Then we headed over to a little local grocery store that I found out carries 100% grass-fed, organic, creamline whole milk from Indianapolis (that's pretty local!) and picked up a couple of bottles.  It's a little pricey, but I have read such good stuff about grass-fed, fresh milk I just had to try it out. 

So, all in all, a very good day today - warm weather, a walk, getting local whole foods, and day-dreaming about warm weather projects to come.  I just love this time of year and the neweness and energy that it brings! Happy April 1st!

Top picture by redstamp.

Remembering to Use Your Reusable Bags!

I posted a long while back about using reusable bags at the grocery store.  I have to say, I've done a pretty good job, over the last year, of remembering to bring my bags with me.  I just like using them so much more than plastic (or even paper) bags, that it makes my shopping trip a big hassle if I don't remember to bring them.

The problem I was running into though was the quick shopping trips or shopping at stores other than the grocery stores.  I almost never remembered to bring my bags along with me then.

Until, I finally figured out the easiest way to ALWAYS remember to bring reusable bags to wherever I am shopping (really it's so simple that I almost feel silly posting it, but I figured that maybe someone out there could use the tip) -  carry reusable bags in your purse!  Wow, what a concept, right?! But, truly, I hadn't thought of it until right around Christmas time.  I now have at least 2 and sometimes 3 bags that I keep in my purse and am always prepared no matter when or where I am shopping (not that I really shop all that much, we were talking about simplifying, getting rid of stuff and being selective about the stuff that comes into our homes this month, right?) :)

Really, the point is that sometimes I will run an errand that I didn't know I was going to run.  With two little ones, it is a big accomplishment when we actually get out of the house.  So, whenever I am out, I always try to run at least one extra errand to keep myself from having to go out multiple times during the week. With my reusable bags in my purse, I never have to worry about forgetting my bags at home or even in the car once we get to the store. 

Some stores, like Target, and if you live in this area, Martin's, will give you a $.05 discount for every reusable bag that you use.  Not, much, but every little bit helps, and it could add up over the course of the year.

So, stop reading this post right now and go grab one of your reusable bags, preferable a small, compact one, and stick it in your purse.  I have these bags that I got for a dollar at Target, that I love because they zip up into themselves and don't take up any more space than a wallet.  Even if you carry a fairly small purse, you could still fit this small bag in there.  You'll never have to worry about forgetting your reusable bags again!

Now, if only they made bags small enough to fit in my hubby's wallet...




Please visit Works for Me Wednesday at We are That Family

Cooking from Scratch

Photo by nc_hiker

I have been cooking more and more from scratch at home then ever before.  Partly I'm trying to be frugal and save money by buying basic baking and cooking supplies in bulk and then using them to make stuff at home.

Also, I really like being able to control the ingredients and what goes into the food we eat.  After reading Real Food and watching Food, Inc. (more to come on that soon), I'm convinced that there's a lot of "food" out there that isn't really food, and that we shouldn't be putting in our bodies.  I'm also becoming more convinced that there is a lot of stuff that looks and sounds good for us, but when I turn the package over and read the ingredients I am unpleasantly surprised by what I find.

Another thing that's great about cooking from scratch is that I can make at home what I may have previously had to run out the store and buy to be able to make dinner.  Last night I was making Mexican Rice for our small group and realized I didn't have any taco seasoning, so I looked up a recipe on allrecipes.com and viola, homemade taco seasoning and yummy homemade Mexican Rice.  Or tonight we're having quesadillas and I don't have any tortillas.  No worries, I now have tortilla dough resting on the counter waiting to be rolled out and cooked and then I can use them to make our quesadillas.  With basic ingredients always on hand you know you'll be able to throw together just about anything you might need to complete a homemade meal for your family. 

I was recently reading an interview with the author Michael Pollan.  He wrote The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food.  (I haven't read either, but hope to within this year.)  I thought it was really interesting, because in this interview, Mr. Pollan talks about cooking at home as an important step, maybe the most important step to take, in beginning to change our eating habits and changing the food industry. He says that when we let a big company or corporation cook for us, they use less than ideal ingredients because they are cheap and we think they taste good.  They use way too much fat, salt and sugar, more than we would ever use if we were cooking for ourselves.  Companies are not in the food business to provide us with the healthiest, best food for our bodies. They don't have our best interest at heart.  I had never thought about it in that way before, and it's just one more reason for me to try to cook as much at home as I can.

Cooking from scratch doesn't have to be all or nothing.  Start by thinking of one or two things that you buy at the store that you could probably make pretty easily at home.  Take baby steps, make small changes and before you know it, you'll be making all kinds of things from scratch.

Here's a quick list of things I used to buy, but now make at home:
Yogurt
Granola
Tortillas
Dried beans (instead of canned beans)
Dinner Rolls
Vanilla Coffee Creamer
Brownies
Bread (I still buy bread for sandwiches, trying to find a good homemade sandwich bread recipe)
Hummus
Granola bars
Lemonade
Chicken Stock
Taco seasoning
Chicken Nuggets
Peanut Butter (I still buy natural peanut butter, but I do make it at home sometimes too)
*There may be more, but that's about all I can think of right now. 

And Things I still want to try making myself:
Pita bread - tried this once and it was a disaster - let's just say I set off the fire alarm!
Vanilla extract
Mayo and Salad Dressings
Sandwich bread
*There's lots more on this list too, but I have to keep it manageable and doable to not get overwhelmed.  Baby steps, right! 

Cooking from scratch at home gives us the opportunity to feed our families healthy, nourishing food that has not been processed beyond recognition, and not to trust our food to a company who cares more about their bottom line than about our waistline.  I encourage you to try cooking one new thing from scratch at home this week!

Greener Swiffer

I know that Green Cleaning was the Change Challenge last month, but I recently started using my Swiffer in a new way that has been so helpful to me, I just had to share.

A while ago, probably over a year, I took some Gerber prefold cloth diapers that I bought at the store and cut them down to fit my Swiffer mop/broom, whatever you want to call it, and zig-zagged stiched along the edges to keep them from fraying.  I thought they were great because they are thicker and more absorbent in the middle, the part that is actually on the mop, and thinner on the outside, so they work perfectly to stick in the little grippy holes on the top.  They fit just as well as a disposable Swiffer sheet.  But, they didn't work that well to actually mop with.  When they were wet, the didn't slide across the floor very well, and the cloth was likely to fall out of the grippy holes on the top.  So, they basically got resigned to the back of my rag pile, not really getting much use.

And then, a few months ago, a friend told me how she kept her Swiffer out in her living room and just "swept" things up throughout the day to keep her floors clean.  When we were over at her house for a playdate one day, I saw her Swiffer in the corner, and thought, that is a good idea, I should do that too.  But, because we don't use the disposable Swiffer sheets, I kind of dismissed the idea and forgot about it.

Then last week, I was getting frustrated with how I vacuum and the next day, or often even the same evening, my floors are full of crumbs and dog hair again and it hardly looks like I vacuumed at all. When you have hard wood floors, a preschooler who doesn't like to sit still while eating, and a dog that sheds, it's hard to keep the floors clean.  And since my sweet baby boy is now army crawling all over the place, his shirts were beginning to look a little bit like my mop should look. Oops. I really don't want to pull out the vacuum cleaner every day, and regular brooms are kind of annoying to use.  I thought again about my friend's Swiffer idea, and decided to pull my reusable homemade Swiffer cloths out of the back of my rag pile and see how it worked.

Now, I am totally kicking myself that I didn't do this sooner!  It is amazing!  I put a new cloth on my Swiffer at the beginning of each day, and then after breakfast and lunch, and any other time I see something that needs to be swept up, I just push the Swiffer around, it picks up the dog hair and crumbs, and I make a little pile by my kitchen, and then sweep it into a dustpan once or twice a day. Another great things about it, is that Kaelyn loves to help too, and I took my old Swiffer mop and made the handle shorter and now she can push that around and "sweep" with me. (Yes, she is using a disposable Swiffer sheet in this picture, I actually had a few left from my "before" days and thought she might as well use them up, but mine is one of my reusable ones.) ;)  Using the Swiffer is much easier than using a broom, doesn't use energy like a vacuum would, my floors look clean, without dog hair dust bunnies and cracker crumbs all over, and my army crawler's shirts are staying clean.  And I don't get frustrated about feeling like I have to vacuum every single day.  Why, oh why,  did I not try this before?!

And at the end of the day, when my floors are all swept, I throw the rag in my laundry hamper in the basement to be washed and used again.  Clean floors, reusable rags, and my daughter helping me clean - it's everything that great about homemade and green cleaning!

Also, I'm participating in Steady Mom's 30 Minute Blog Challenge today.  The challenge is to write and publish an entire post in 30 minutes or less, so that we as moms can focus on the things and the place that is most important, our families and our homes.  I'm off to Swiffer my floor!

(Post time: 28 min.)  

Join us at Heavenly Homemakers for the little Green Project!

Works for Me Wednesday at We are that Family 

Change Challenge - No 'Poo, The Natural Way to Clean Your Hair

You might think that this picture should be for a cooking post, or maybe another cleaning post.  But nope, this is a picture of my shampoo and conditioner.  That's right, I use baking soda to wash my hair and apple cider vinegar to rinse my hair.

And I LOVE it, and I doubt I will ever go back to using regular shampoo and conditioner again.

This is a pretty long post, but bare with me.  This is one of my favorite things that I do, and I am really hoping to inspire you to try it too!

What's wrong with Shampoo?
One of the main ingredients in shampoo is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS.  Did you find it when you checked your ingredient labels?  SLS is a detergent, degreaser and foaming agent.  Besides your shampoo, you can also find it in dishwasher detergent, toothpaste, bubble bath and other products that foam, as well as car wash soap, garage floor cleaners, and car engine degreasers.1  It can cause skin irritation, hormone disruption, eye irritation and even eye deformities and is possibly carcinogenic when paired with some of the other typical ingredients in shampoo.2  Lovely, just what I want to be using to wash my hair.

Because it is a detergent and degreaser it actually strips your scalp of the natural, healthy oils it produces and dries your scalp and your hair out, hence the need for conditioner.  The conditioner does not stay on your hair in the same way that your natural oil would, so it needs to be continually replenished. Also, once your scalp is stripped of it's oils, it reacts by making more oil which results in the oiliness that so many people experience after a day or two of not washing their hair.  Their scalp is actually overproducing oil to compensate for being stripped of it's oils.  So you're in this vicious cycle where you wash and strip your hair of it's oils, put fake "oils" on in attempt to minimize the damage, and then have greasy hair the next day because your scalp overproduced it's natural oil and now you have to wash it again.  There's got to be a better way!

Enter the No 'Poo method of cleaning your hair. 

Step 1: Use baking soda to "wash" your hair.  Baking soda is a gentle alkaline compound effective for cleansing and removing build up from your hair.  The typical formula is 1 Tbsp of baking soda for every cup of water.  For fine, thin or short hair you may need less baking soda. Try it out a bit and see what works best for you.  I have long and very thick hair and I use a full cup of water and 1 Tbsp baking soda each time I wash my hair.  If you have shorter or thinner hair you probably don't need to use that much every time.

I use a 8 oz travel size squeeze bottle and fill it up with the water and baking soda mixed together and shake it up to dissolve the baking soda.

In the shower I squeeze the water/baking soda mix onto my head beginning around my crown and then all over my scalp.  I scrunch my hair up at the base of my neck and squeeze more water into my hair.  I work it through with my hands, scrubbing my scalp and rubbing my hair.  Now remember, this isn't soap or detergent, it won't foam or lather.  You won't get the "Aaahhh" feeling that you get with your Herbal Essence, but it is cleaning your hair, and in a much gentler, more natural way.  

Leave it on for a minute or two and then rise as normal. 

Step 2: Rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar.  Apple Cider Vinegar is a mild acidic and is useful for detangling and clarifying, balacing the pH level of your hair, and sealing the hair cuticle. The recipe for hair rinse is 1-2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar to every cup of water.  If you have dry hair, use closer to the 2 Tbsp and if you have oily hair use 1 Tbsp or less, and again, experiment and see what works best for you.

I tend to have hair that is a little drier and frizzier, so I put about 2 Tbsp. and a cup and a half of water into a reused apple cider vinegar bottle and shake it up.  I pour it over my head in the shower, starting at the top of my head with just a little, and then again scrunching up the hair at the base of my neck and concentrating most of solution towards the bottom and ends of my hair.  Wait a minute or two and then rinse it out.


You have just cleaned and clarified your hair gently, naturally, simply and frugally!

A few other notes:

*When I decided to stop using shampoo, I didn't jump right into using baking soda.  I bought a shampoo bar (like a bar of soap) made up of natural oils at a arts and crafts fair this summer.  I used the shampoo bar from September until I just ran out of it in January and then I switched to baking soda.  I liked the shampoo bar as it was more like actual shampoo - it lathered and sudsed and smelled good.  And my hair looked nice and reacted well to it, but since I've been using baking soda, I actually think I like it even better and my hair is even nicer now.  But, if you're a baby stepper and aren't ready to try just baking soda yet, look into a shampoo bar and rinse with apple cider vinegar.

*If you decide to go the no 'poo route, be aware that your hair will probably go through a transition phase for maybe 2-8 weeks.  You have been coating your hair with chemicals and it takes a while to get all that nastiness out of your hair.  Also, since your hair has been overproducing oil, it will take a little bit of time for it to balance it self out and not produce so much extra oil. Honestly, your hair will not look pretty, it will probably be greasy, dull, hard to comb or brush, and just generally blah.  But, if you can push through those few weeks, you will be rewarded with better hair than you ever had before.  So, if you can, wait to start until you have a few weeks that you don't have to be looking your absolute best. 

*You may have to tweak your solutions to get the right balance for your hair.  If your hair is too dry, use less baking soda or try rinsing with honey instead of vinegar.  If your hair is too oily, use less vinegar, or try rinsing with lemon juice, or try not using a rinse at all.

*You will probably be able to get rid of all of the other hair care products you usually use, or have bought in the past trying to manage your hair.  It will save you money and time, and help you simplify your life.

What's so great about it? 

Besides the fact that it is insanely cheaper than conventional shampoo and conditioner (even if you buy it on sale with a coupon!), and that it is simple and easy, the best part of the no 'poo method for me is that my hair has never looked better!  I have had (as I'm sure many of you do) a love/hate relationship with my hair.  I have nice thick hair that is naturally a pretty shade of auburn that I always get comments about - I really like that about it.  But, I also have always struggled with managing my hair - it's thick, and used to be frizzy and kind of wavy, so I always fought to straighten it or spent a lot of time trying to get it to lay nicely.  I used to wear my hair in a ponytail a lot. Honestly, my hair now is about as close to perfect as it could be.  I am not trying to brag, but I almost never have a bad hair day anymore, even when I haven't washed my hair for several days to a week (I do shower in between washings by using a shower cap). :)  It lays nicely, it's not frizzy, I can sleep on it and not get bed head, it's not greasy or oily, it is healthy, shiny, and soft, and just nice.

It is also so simple and easy for me to maintain. It takes me about 10 minutes to do it after I wash it.  I usually let it air dry for a while and then blow dry it for about 5 - 10 minutes with a large paddle brush, just depending on how much time I have, and then let it dry the rest of the way. If I feel like it is a little bit frizzy, I will take a little, just a very little, coconut oil on my hands and rub it onto just the ends of my hair. And that will last me until the next time I wash my hair, I just have to brush it in the morning, and I'm ready to go. It has simplified my life because I don't have to spend a ton of time "doing" my hair, and I don't waste money on extra hair products trying to tame or manage my hair.  This method is so perfect for this busy mom, with not a lot of time to spend on herself, but doesn't want to wear her hair in a ponytail everyday. I have never been this happy with my hair before, and that is why I will never go back to using regular shampoo and conditioner! 

Even if I wasn't trying to be as frugal as I can be, or didn't care about the products that I used on my body and how they affected me, as well as our world, I would still probably use this method for cleaning my hair because of how simple and easy it is, and how great the results have been for my hair.  I love it when I find such a perfect  combination of being frugal, going green and simplifying my life!

What do you think of the 'no poo method?  Are you willing to give it a try?

I'm participating in the Spring Cleaning Carnival - Get the Parabens Out at Mindful Momma

Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom
Finer Things Friday at The Finer Things in Life

Sources: 1, 2

Change Challenge - Deodorant/Antiperspirant

Photo by Roadsidepictures 

I'm going to let you in on a little secret (no pun intended). :)  Some of you that know me in real life might be a little surprised.

Most of the time, I don't wear deodorant. Yep, there it is.  Now that it's out there, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Or maybe I should wait until I see some of my friends again and see if they're still willing to be friends with me. :)

It all started about a year ago when I was pregnant with Brenden.  I had been reading about some of the nasty ingredients in different personal care products. Deodorant, actually specifically antiperspirant, contains aluminum.  Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer's and breast cancer, two things that run in my family.  Antiperspirants actually work because the aluminum blocks, or clogs, your sweat glands, meaning that you don't sweat, when maybe you should.  You also usually put it on after you shower, and shave if you're a woman, meaning that your pores are open and even more absorbent. Also, antiperspirants are created to stay on your skin and work for hours (isn't that the marketing campaign of some of the major brands?) allowing even more exposure to the aluminum and other harmful chemicals it is made up of.

I didn't really know what to do as far as alternatives to conventional antiperspirants, but I also knew I didn't want to keep putting it onto my body, so I basically just decided to stop wearing it.  I kind of think that God gave us sweat glands for a reason, and maybe it's not such a good idea to block them and keep them from working right.  I was at home most of the time with my daughter, so it wasn't like I was going to be super stinky around other people.  And I found, surprisingly, that I actually didn't sweat much (it was wintertime, but I also was pregnant) and I didn't really have any body odor either.

Now, I think I am one of those lucky people that naturally doesn't sweat much (don't hate me!), but I also think that maybe there is something to the idea that when we put on deodorant or antiperspirant every day, that it messes with our bodies natural balance.

I do feel like my body has kind of regulated and balanced itself.  I didn't wear deodorant all summer long and didn't have any problem with sweating too much or stinking really badly, unless I was exercising, but again, isn't that when we are supposed to sweat?

Baby Steps
I know that just stopping wearing deodorant may not be something that you are ready to jump right on board with, so I have some baby steps and other alternatives for you to try.  Basically the point is to move away from antiperspirants and also deodorants that contain harmful chemicals and find an alternate method for dealing with sweat and body odor.

Baby Step #1 - Switch to deodorant. While most conventional deodorants have chemical ingredients that should be avoided, at least they don't contain aluminum, so this would be a small step in the right direction.  It also may help to begin the process of regulating your body too, since you aren't artificially blocking your sweat glands.  This is the step my hubby is on.

Baby Step #2 - Use a rock crystal deodorant.  This is a more natural form of antiperspirant.  I know some people swear by it, but it doesn't work so well for others.  You may have to try it and just see if it would work for you.  You can find it at major drug and grocery stores, it's not something that you have to order online.

Baby Step #3 - Use baking soda.  This is what I used over the past year if I felt like I was getting sweaty and stinky.  I have a shaker with baking soda in my bathroom for cleaning, so I would just shake a little onto my hands and pat it onto my underarms.  It won't stop you from sweating, but will help with the smell. If you're concerned about wetness too, you can mix equal parts baking soda and cornstarch and apply that to your underarms. The cornstarch helps keeping sweating to a minimum.  This is a super cheap and low commitment option.  If you don't like the baking soda on your armpits, use it to make some cookies! :)

Baby Step #4 - Make homemade deodorant.  I recently made this homemade deodorant, and really like it. I still don't wear deodorant on most days, but if I know that I'm going somewhere or doing something where I might sweat more than usual, I'll wear this.  I also see myself using this in the summer time when I'm more likely to sweat.

BIG Step #5 - Stop wearing deodorant! This is not really a step I expect most people to actually take, but I would love to hear about it if you do, and how it works for you!! 


Being Frugally Green: 

I told you that I think that my changes in personal care products are the most frugally green things that I do, and here's why - the best part about not wearing deodorant - it's FREE! And it has simplified my life - I don't have to worry about cutting coupons for deodorant and matching them with the sale at this specific store during this specific week.  Also, I can buy the ingredients for the homemade deodorant in bulk and then whenever I need to make some, I have everything I need on hand. I don't create waste from used deodorant containers. It's just one more thing that I don't have to worry about in my already busy and full life!

Try taking a baby step towards a safer, more natural deodorant option this week!  And of course, you're welcome to chime in if you know me in person and have noticed that I've been sweaty and stinky over the past year! :)

Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom
Finer Things Friday at Kitchen Stewardship this week!  
Works for Me Wednesday at We Are That Family

February Change Challenge - Personal Care Products

I am so excited about the Change Challenge for February - Personal Care Products.

Over the past 5-6 months, I have been changing out the personal care products that I use for more natural options.  While green cleaning is pretty foundational to being frugally green, taking the step to changing what you use on your hair, and face, and skin might be a bit more of a leap for some of you, but I can't wait to share some of the things I have tried with you.

Throughout this month we'll be looking at our beauty and personal care products and talking about alternatives to conventional shampoo, conditioner, face soap, toothpaste, lotion, even deodorant, and maybe a few more if I have time.

The reason I am so excited about this topic is that I really feel like this is probably the MOST frugally green thing that I do.  I can't even begin to calculate how much money these changes have saved me over the past 6 months, and the savings will only increase as I continue to use these methods.  It has also simplified my life in so many ways, and simplicity is definitely foundational to being frugally green.

To begin this challenge, I want you to go and take a look at the ingredient lists on the products that you use every day.  Look at your shampoo and conditioner, your other hair care products, your shower gel, your face soap and lotion, your deodorant, your toothpaste, your makeup, your kid's bath soap, bubble bath and lotion.  Read the labels.  Do you know what those ingredients are? Here's a few things to be on the lookout for: sodium laurel sulfate, parabans, propylene glycol, aluminum, fragrance, and triclosan.  We'll go into more detail later about why these ingredients should be avoided.

Why is this challenge important?  Our skin is our largest organ and anything that we put onto our skin gets absorbed into our bodies and blood streams.  You may think of your skin as a kind of barrier, I know I used to, keeping what's outside out, and what's inside in.  But it's actually pretty much the complete opposite.  Don't believe me? Rub a clove of garlic on your foot you will taste it in your mouth within several minutes.  The skin is meant to absorb things into our bodies. Unfortunately, most personal care products are made up of all kinds of chemicals, most of which have not been evaluated for their effects on the human body.  We would be wise to choose carefully the products that we use on our bodies.

Photo by Toban Black

Encouragement for the Journey - Simple Acts

Photo by hartp

The first book I read about faith and going green was Serve God, Save the Planet.  It was this book that basically launched my journey to becoming frugally green, so I wanted to share a little encouragement from it this week.

At the very beginning of the book, the author, Matthew Sleeth, tells the story of watching an old woman who was sitting and begging outside Saint Peter's Basilica.  He watched as all different types of people passed by the woman, and then saw three nuns break away from the flow of people and one stooped slowly to place money into the beggars outstretched hand.  At the end of the chapter he writes,

"This chapter opened with my witnessing a simple act of charity by a nun in Rome.  Actions, deeds, and works of charity get heaven's attention.  The words spoken on earth that autumn day in Italy are now forgotten.  Yet the miracle I witnessed allowed me, for a moment, to glimpse what God sees - our hearts.  In that humble gift to a beggar, I heard the trumpets of heaven sound.  God's beautiful earth will not be saved by words or good intentions.  It will be saved by humble, anonymous acts like turning off the lights, hanging clothing on the line, bicycling to work, and planting trees.  People who are grateful for God's abundant gifts, people of faith who are not afraid to be held accountable for care of his creation, will save it." (emphasis mine)

I have written before about how I can get overwhelmed with all I think there is to do.  And sometimes it's hard for me to know how my family not buying paper products can make a difference when I see the amount of waste created in public bathrooms or fast food restaurants.   

But, now that I have taken these steps, made these changes, it's not just about what kind of difference it can make.  It's also about my heart, and the way that I choose to live.  I know that God has called me to live in this way, and I am honoring Him and bringing glory to Him through the actions in my life - big or small.  And as I encouraged us before, I do believe that the small and simple acts, that may go unnoticed by most, are being used by God for his purposes to create something bigger and better than we can know or understand.

Our actions can also have a ripple effect on others.  Maybe my family alone not using disposable products doesn't make a huge impact, but if we can inspire other families to do the same, and they can inspire their friends, and on and on it goes.  We cannot underestimate the affect that our actions have on others and how that effect can change the world. 

I also know that as a follower of Jesus, I am called to live in a way that points others to Him. May my actions cause others to ask why I live the way I have chosen to live, or why I do some of the things I do.  And may I be able to answer in a way that shows them Jesus through my life.  I pray the same would be true for you too.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

More Homemade and Green Cleaning

I hope that you are making some changes, taking some baby steps, towards green cleaning this month! In fact, I was wondering if anyone would be interested in me hosting a round-up at the end of the month where you could post on your blog about the changes you have made over the month for the Change Challenge and then linking to it here with Mr. Linky, and then we can all read about others changes and growth and encourage each other.  If you're at all interested in that, please let me know in the comments.

So over the last week or so I've been thinking about some of the other green cleaning that I do and just wanted to share a few more tips with you. These might be kind of random and are in no particular order, but hopefully you get a new idea or two to use in your home.

• Baking soda is a cheap and easy carpet deodorizer and pet hair picker-upper.  I'll add a few drops of essential oil to my parmesan cheese container of baking soda and sprinkle it around on our rug (or carpets at our old house).  Let is sit for 5 -15 minutes and then when you vacuum it will freshen the rug, release the scent of the essential oil, and help to pull pet hair up out of the rug.

• Hydrogen Peroxide is a great disinfectant.  I bought a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and a cheap small spray bottle from the travel section.  I put the spray nozzle from the spray bottle onto my bottle of hydrogen peroxide and use it to spray down my counters, sink and table after dinner is over and the dishes are done. You want to keep it in the dark brown container that it comes in, otherwise it will break down when it is exposed to light. It's not necessarily great for true cleaning, but it'll disinfect your counters and kill the germs that you don't want hanging out there.  I've also read you can mix it 50/50 with water which would make it stretch even farther. 
  

• Hydrogen Peroxide is also a great blood stain remover. I've only tried it on whites, it could bleach your colors so be careful.  
  

• Lemon juice in your load of whites helps to whiten and brighten - again, careful with colors. 
  

• If you have hard water stains on your toilet like we did when we moved into your house you can buy a pumice stone at the hardware store that with a little (or a lot, according to my hubby who actually did it, bless his heart!) elbow grease will take the stains off without any harsh chemicals. 
  

• Microfiber cloths are great for dusting!  Especially because you don't have to use any dusting spray or cleaners. 
  

• I can't remember if I mentioned this before or not, but white vinegar is great in the rise aid compartment of your dishwasher and also in place of fabric softener in your washing machine. 

 Check back on Thursday for some encouragement for your journey! 

Anything to add?  Have any homemade or green cleaning tips to share with us?  

Going Paper Towel-less

How I Haven't Bought Paper Towels in Over 6 Months
As part of the Change Challenge series, I want to tell you a little bit about how I do things on a day to day basis at our house.  Not that I think that how I do things is the best or only way to do things.  I just  have been getting lots of questions lately from friends and family about how I do some of the things that I do.  So, I thought maybe my blog readers would have similar types of questions. I think sometimes the idea of starting to do something like not buying paper towels is overwhelming to people and they don't even know where to start, or what it looks like to not use paper towels on a daily basis. Since we're tackling changing our cleaning this month, I'll start with how I handle cleaning cloths around my house. 

My mom was just telling me the other day about how my grandpa used to rinse out his paper towels, hang them to dry, and reuse them, so I guess it's just kind of in my genes!  But I've taken it a step farther by not buying paper towels at all. 

To begin with, you can read this post, where I explain what I use for different tasks around my home that others may use paper towels for.  By using these different types of cloths, I haven't bought paper towels in over 6 months.  I bought a package when we first moved into our house for the original cleaning that we would do, and haven't bought another package since then.  I also don't buy paper napkins or tissues.  The only paper product that we use in our home is toilet paper.  

My Kitchen Cloth Drawer

Recently, I had a friend tell me that she doesn't like to clean her kitchen with a rag because usually it's been sitting on her counter or sink for a few days and she thinks it's gross (which it probably is), so she uses paper towels.  Basically, I use several fresh, clean rags every day around my house.  I grab a clean washcloth to wipe K's face after breakfast every day, and if it's not too dirty, I rinse it out to reuse it for after lunch.  I use a clean dishcloth every day for washing dishes, and a clean washcloth for wiping the counters and table.  I don't reuse cloths that have been sitting around for longer than a day.  I have lots of all of the different kinds of cloths that I use, so I never run out before I've done a load of laundry.  I think that's one of the most important things - if you always have a cloth on hand, you won't be tempted to reach for a paper towel.

We also only use cloth napkins, even when we have company.  Our home group for our church comes over every Tuesday night for dinner, and I only offer cloth napkins.  I'm washing a load of rags every week anyway, it's really not a big deal to add 8-10 more cloth napkins to the load.  

Every night I gather up the used, dirty rags, usually there's a small pile on the kitchen floor by the door to the basement, and I throw them down the stairs into a mesh hanging laundry bag.  In the mesh bag they are able to air out and not get smelly or moldy.  

I would say I wash rags at least once a week, sometimes twice.  I have bleached my rags in the past, but am trying not to use bleach anymore, so I wash my rags in hot water on the heavy duty cycle with detergent and Oxyclean and an extra rinse.  

I do have some rags I could use and then throw away for really gross stuff, like if our dog throws-up.  They're usually Jer's old t-shirts that I have cut into rags and I'll use one of those to clean up a yucky  mess and then just throw it away.  

Also, it's important to figure out a system that works for you for storing your clean cloths.  I have almost a whole drawer and part of a cupboard in my kitchen dedicated to kitchen cloths.  I have a whole shelf in my hall closet for cleaning rags.  And I live in a small house with limited storage space - I have made room for what is important to me. 

Using cloth instead of paper towel has really just become so second nature to me around our home.  I don't miss paper towels at all.  It did take a little getting used to at first, but there has not been a time in at least the last 4 months that I've thought, "I wish I had a paper towel for this."  For me, I see no reason to throw away a paper that was only used one time when I can easily wash and reuse rags over and over and over again.  Not buying paper towels will save you money and save the earth at the same time. Using rags and cloths around your home instead of paper towels is definitely frugally green!

What do you think about using rags and cloths in place of paper towels?  Is it something you do, or could see yourself doing?  What steps can you take toward going paper towel-less this month?  

Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom

January Change Challenge - Homemade and Green Cleaning

Photo by Ernst Vikne

Welcome to the Change Challenge for January - Homemade and Green Cleaning!  I hope that you are ready to get started with cleaning your homes in more natural, safe, frugal and yet still effective ways!

Making your own homemade cleaners is a great first step to take towards becoming frugally green!  If you are new to this journey and just starting out this new year, this is one of those things that I think is pretty essential and foundational to being frugally green.  It's easy and cheap and doesn't require a ton of effort or commitment.  If you try it and don't like it (which I can't imagine you would) you can always use the items you bought for cooking and baking!

I challenge you to make the change to homemade and green cleaning this month! 

To begin with, there are a few different levels of homemade and green cleaning, so if you are ready to accept this challenge, first figure out which step you are on. Take baby steps and start out with just one or two and once you get the hang of those, you can move onto other areas.

• Baby Step #1 - Vinegar and Baking Soda - If you still have all commercial chemical cleaners in your home, this is the place to begin. 
  
• Baby Step #2 - Multipurpose Cleaners - Start making some different homemade multipurpose cleaners. 
• Baby Step #3 - Other areas of cleaning around your home

Baby Step #1 - Vinegar and Baking Soda
It doesn't get any cheaper or easier than this! 

First, get yourself some white vinegar and some baking soda, as well as an empty spray bottle.  (I bought a pack of spray bottles at Sam's, can't remember how much they were, but definitely cheaper than buying an individual bottle at Target or Meijer). And the next time you use up your parmesan cheese, save the container and wash it out.

Now mix vinegar and water in the spray bottle 50/50.  You can add essential oils to help it smell better if you want, but I don't bother.  Then fill up your parmesan cheese container with baking soda.  You could add essentials oils to the baking soda too, but it makes it a little bit clumpy.  You're all set to start cleaning!

Sprinkle the baking soda on any hard surface that you want to scrub - the toilet bowl, sink, bathtub, counter tops, cook tops, etc.  Use a rag, microfiber cloth, or one of those green scouring pads and scrub away (or your toilet bowl brush if you're cleaning the toilet, no need to use a rag on that! Yuck!) - no paper towels please!  You may need to get a second rag wet to wipe away the residue on the counter top or cook top, but in the bathroom you can just rinse it away. 

Or start spraying your vinegar and water anywhere that needs to be wiped down - sink, bathtub, mirror, counters, tables, floors, etc. (don't use vinegar on porous surfaces like granite). And again use a rag or microfiber cloth.

It really is that easy!

Baby Step #2 - Multipurpose Cleaners
Start making some different homemade multipurpose cleaners.  Make sure you label your bottles well, so you know which one your using.  You may find that you like different cleaners for different uses.

Here's a multipurpose cleaner that I posted previously.

And a new one that I have been using alot and loving recently: Water, Castile Soap, and Tea Tree Oil.
Fill a water bottle with warm water and add a few squirts of castille soap and a few drops of Tea Tree Oil. You don't need much of either, they are concentrated and a little goes a long way.  Use for all types of multipurpose cleaning.  I use Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild castile soap for this, which is unscented.  I'm not sure how a scented castile soap would mix with the scent of the Tea Tree Oil.  If you try a scented castile soap with this and it smells good, let us know! You can find both Dr. Bronner's castile soap and Tea Tree Oil at Target (the TTO is by the vitamins)!


Baby Step #3 - Other areas of cleaning around your home
Try making one of these homemade cleaners:
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Homemade Spray Starch
Homemade Disinfecting Wipes

Take a baby step toward homemade and green cleaning in one of these areas this week!  And check back here over the rest of the month for more tips, tricks and how-to's for frugally green cleaning!

Have you made the switch to using homemade and green cleaners around your home?  Do you have a favorite homemade cleaner recipe to share with the rest of us?  Any encouraging words for those just starting out with green cleaning?

This post is linked to: 
Tackle it Tuesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom
Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom

How to Have a Frugally Green Christmas - The Tree and Decorations

Photo by Smaku

(Sorry about the lateness of this post.  Life has been happening to me lately. :) Thanks for your patience.) 

The debate of Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees is one that can divide friends, families, even couples.  I am a Real Tree girl myself.  I cherish the memories of walking through rows of snow covered pine trees looking for the "perfect" tree with my parents and two younger sisters.  When my youngest sister left for college 3 years ago, my parents bought a pre-lit artificial Christmas Tree.  My sister still refuses to be at home when they put it up.

Now that I have my own family, my hubby and I have been traveling to a local Christmas tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree each year. 

Real vs. Artificial
Like most arguments, you can find support for either side of this debate. On the one hand, an artificial tree is a one time purchase that you can use for years and years to come, and if you get a real tree you are cutting down a living tree in order to use it for a few weeks and then dispose of it.

However, I believe the Real Christmas Tree wins this argument hands down. 

- Artificial trees are made mostly of PVC which is a petroleum product.  The production of this type of plastic releases one of the most toxic chemicals, dioxin, into the environment.

- Although artificial trees could be purchased and used for 20 years or more, I read statistics that stated that most trees are discarded anywhere from 6-9 years after they are purchased.  And guess what they do when they are no longer being used?  Sit in a landfill without breaking down because they are made of PVC. 

- Some artificial trees can contain levels of lead that are unsafe for young children to be around. Lead is used as a stabilizer for PVC and over years of use artificial trees can release lead dust which can land on the branches, on the floor, or on presents below the tree.1

-Artificial trees require resources both for production and for shipping them, and many artificial trees are made in China. 


Real Christmas Trees benefit the environment while they are growing and they are also a renewable resource.  The best way to get a live tree is to find a local tree farm.  This eliminates the need for the trees to be shipped (except for you bringing it back to your house) and you can be assured that the tree you are cutting down will be replaced by a new tree being planted, the tree farm has to stay in business after all.  Live Christmas Trees can also be recycled.  Around 90% of Christmas Trees are turned into mulch each year.2 

Go to the National Christmas Tree Association to find a Christmas Tree Farm near you!

Simplify

Now as far as Christmas Decorations go, I am of the opinion that less is more.  I think this is definitely an area that you can try to simplify this year.  Use what you have. Try making homemade decorations.  Use nature for decorating.  If you must buy decorations, consider buying used. Check out your local thrift store. I was recently shopping at the St. Vincent DePaul thrift store and was impressed by the large section of Christmas decorations they had.  

What kind of Christmas Tree will you be getting this year?  What are your favorite frugal, nature inspired, or homemade Christmas decorations?  (I need some inspiration!)   

For more great frugal ideas check out Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom!

Sources: 1, 2

How to Have a Frugally Green Christmas - Wrapping Gifts & A GIVEAWAY!!

This is the third post in the series How to Have a Frugally Green Christmas. Read the first post on gift giving, and the second post on Christmas cards.

Photo by di_the_huntress

When you think about Christmas, one of the main images that probably comes to mind is the beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree. I remember as a child getting up on Christmas morning before everyone else and just sitting in the dark and staring at our Christmas Tree with the Christmas lights on and all of presents under the tree.

And I also vividly remember the huge trash bags that we would fill with wrapping paper, boxes, bows and packaging when we had finished opening our gifts. And I think our family was fairly conservative in this area. We saved gift bags, bows, and ribbon to reuse for as long as they still looked fairly decent. My dad would always open his gifts carefully so we could fold up his wrapping paper and use it again. We saved all our boxes and reused them year after year. It's kind of a joke in our family, because when you open a gift and the box is for a crockpot, you know that's not really what's inside.

Photo by jennandjon

In America, we create an additional 1 million tons of waste during the holiday season.1 One million tons. Now, that includes more than just gift wrap, but that is a lot of trash. Most gift wrap is not recyclable because of the type of paper it is made out of, or it has dyes or metallics or other decorations that make it un-recyclable. So it all ends up in the trash.

But, it kind of defeats the purpose if you give a gift and the person knows what it is right away, right? So, how can we wrap our gifts and still be frugally green? If every family in America wrapped 3 gifts in re-used or re-usable material instead of new wrapping paper, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.2 Here's how you can do your part!

1. Re-use gift bags, wrapping paper, bows, and ribbon. Be careful as you are unwrapping your gifts and try to salvage gift wrap that could be re-usable next year. You will save yourself the cost of buying all new wrapping paper, ribbons and bows. If every family reused just two feet of ribbon it would save 38,000 miles of ribbon and could tie a bow around the entire planet.2

2. Use alternative gift wrap. Save the comic pages from the Sunday newspaper for the next few weeks and use that to wrap your gifts. Or find old calendars with pretty pictures or magazine pages for wrapping smaller gifts. Your gifts will look unique and memorable.

3. Use recycled wrapping paper. Like Christmas cards, this is a more spendy option, but still a more earth friendly choice than traditional gift wrap.

4. Use re-usable gift bags. Last year my sister made me a bunch of re-usable gift bags for Christmas. It was such a great gift, and I'm so excited to use the bags to "wrap" my gifts this year. To me, this is the best option. It may cost a little more money than gift wrap up front, but will save you money in years to come, and there is no waste. You can keep the bags within the family and keep using them year after year, or if you are giving a gift to someone outside of the family you can make the bag a part of the gift. See below for your chance to win a set of your very own gift bags!!

Here's a tutorial if you would like to make your own gift bags.
Or if you want to buy them, check out Etsy for lots of different options.

Simplify
If you have simplified your gift list, then you will have fewer presents to wrap. Also, gift bags make wrapping presents MUCH easier! You just put the gift inside the bag, tie the ribbon and you're good to go! No struggling with large rolls of wrapping paper. No measuring, cutting, folding, taping. No last minute rush to get the presents wrapped and under the tree (Oh, does that only happen in my family?) Less stress and still beautiful presents!

GIVEAWAY!!!

Would you like to have your own set of reusable gift bags to use for wrapping presents this year? Like I said, my sister made me a set of bags last year, and she graciously made a set of 5 assorted bags, with coordinating ribbons, for me to giveaway to one lucky reader! Below is a picture of the bags, if you want to see an example of what they would look like all set up and pretty see the picture above.
To Enter:
Simply leave a comment below and tell us one of your favorite things about Christmas!

Also, there are two ways you can earn additional entries:
1. If you are a subscriber or follower of my blog, or sign up as a new subscriber or follower, you get an extra entry! Leave an additional comment saying you are a subscriber or follower.

2. If you blog about this giveaway on your blog, you can have another extra entry. Please leave an additional comment with a link to your post about this giveaway.

Giveaway ends on Tuesday, November 24th at 10:00pm EST. At that time a winner will be chosen by random.org and will be announced the next day!

1. planetgreen.com
2. recycling.stanford.edu

For more great frugal tips check out Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom, and Finer Things Friday at The Finer Things in Life.