DIY Children's Kitchen Entertainment Center

I had linked to a craft site last year for this idea, and after seeing this, MJ of Making do with the not so new was then inspired to create her own children's kitchen from an old entertainment center. As you can see, it turned our beautifully and would make an awesome DIY, or rather BIY(build it yourself) Christmas gift for a little girl.

Go see how she did it here. Guess how much it cost her, $6.22! She's got a really neat blog - great frugal living tips.

Natural and Organic Inexpensive Stocking Stuffers

I'm really loving Vitacost.com. Their prices are so inexpensive, and shipping is a flat fee of $4.99. I've ordered from them before and was very pleased with the products and fast shipping. I don't know how they do it, but I'm grateful. I ordered my sister and her family Dr. Bronner's Certified Organic Castile Soap in the 2 ounce bottles for $1.49 each. She and her family are coming from overseas for Christmas, so she will need gifts that are on the small side to take back with her.

Dr. Bronner's Organic Pure- Castile Soap Tea Tree -- 2 fl oz

Dr. Bronner's Organic Pure- Castile Soap Lavender -- 2 fl oz

Dr. Bronner's Organic Pure-Castile Soap Peppermint -- 2 fl oz

I got a few for myself because I make my own hand and diaper wipes. These little bottles will be perfect to stick in my bag along with my cloth wipes. I don't use the soap full strength - just a few squirts in some water.

I also got some natural body(or home) spray - orange. It's purified water and pure essential oils - very nice to spray on your sheets, body, hair or in the air. Heritage Products Orange Water w/Atomizer -- 4 fl oz Update: This is very weakly scented. I will not purchase this again. Try the Home Health brand at Vitacost. The rose scented water(spray) was very nice - not too strong, and not too weak. I had to add my own orange essential oil to the Heritage product to even smell it a little.

BTW, in case anyone is wondering about the weird religious ravings on Dr. Bronner's soap bottles. You are not funding a bizarre religious cult. ; ) Dr. Bronner was a harmless eccentric and former mental patient from a brilliant German Jewish family. His parents were murdered by the Nazis, but he and his siblings escaped the same fate by immigrating to the United States before the war. His real family name was Heilbronner, successful German commercial soap makers before the war. Bronner has since passed away and his children carry on the business. More here.

DIY Inexpensive Pedicure Tool: PedEgg

I've been using a PedEgg for quite a while now, and it works much better than a pumice stone or a foot file. The results are as good as a professional pedicure, but a lot less expensive! I got mine at Target for $9.99; it can also be found at drug stores and Walmart. The only complaint that I see popping up again and again is that the filings fall out of the tool, but if you use it on moist feet, this is less likely to happen. I no longer have that dry outside edge on my heals. I have to use it monthly to keep it away, which is fine. The PedEgg keeps my feet looking neat and healthly without the cost of a pedicure. Whoever invented this tool is very clever, and I'm glad they are offering it for a reasonable price.

Here is more information and a PedEgg review with comments at the MSNBC Health section, Does It Work?

PedEggat Amazon is $7.68. Shipping is free if you buy other items from Amazon(not associates) in order to reach the free shipping threshold of $25.00.

Before Modern Rhinoplasty...

1920 advertisement for a nose shaper in a teacher's periodical. Just some of the funny(weird) advertisements I find in vintage books over at Google Books.

Random Frugal Homemade Recipes

Here are few quick and easy homemade dishes and desserts we had this week:

Pollo Loco(crazy chicken) An excellent tart and spicy chicken. Recipe for the Mexican Seasoning.

48 ounce bags of boneless skinless chicken can be found inexpensively at Walmart. Ours is $6.98 a bag. Hint: add a little sugar, and use up your orange sauce in this recipe from leftover Chinese takeout. I left out the cilantro, and added about a cup of vinegar to the marinade. Instead of grilling, I cooked them in the marinade on the stove, and used a little of the same in a pot of rice. Serve with salsa(or chopped tomato) and/or homemade guacamole, if you have some avocados.

Barbecue Baked Beans I deleted the green peppers.

Peach Crumble with two bags of frozen peaches Easy! Fresh peaches are better of course.

Classic Blueberry Crisp I used frozen blueberries.

Oatmeal Buttermilk Raisin Muffins includes an easy recipe for the buttermilk. I ran out of butter, so used oil. The children ate these up fast!

Frugal U.K. Home: A Low Impact Welch Woodland House

Built with natural and recycled products for just 3,000 pounds(about $6,000) and a lot of sweat equity, this little home reminds me of a Hobbit home. Read more here.

Economical Homes: Straw Bale Houses

More common in California, New Mexico and Arizona, straw bale homes are inexpensive to build, green, sustainable, super insulated, sturdy, and highly fireproof. Apparently they are quake-proof as well(CNN Tech article).

Strawbale.com, blog, pictures, workshops, and information.

Straw Bale House Free Plans

Plans and Budget for Building a Small "Starter" Straw Bale Home (low cost to build - ultra energy efficient - no utility costs) ESTIMATED COST: under $10,000 including utilities. Also consider that these small home plans might make a nice in-law house or rental unit. A smaller simple version could make a cute playhouse, animal shelter(farm), or tool shed as well. The ideas are limitless and extremely affordable when using straw bale walls.

Straw Bale Home Construction

How Straw Bale Houses Work

Free Homeschool Printables and/or Downloads: Elementary and Middle School Readings for Columbus Day

Free Homeschool Fourth Grade Columbus Day Lesson Plan and Readings

Columbus Day is Monday, 10/13/08. From a 1920's periodical, Primary Education: Click on images to enlarge and print the two page lesson plan. All are free an in public domain.

Recommended readings per lesson:

The Beginner's American History by David Henry Montgomery - Pages 1-14

From the Old World to the New by Marguerite Stockman Dickson - Chapters 4, 5, 6

A History of the United States by Waddy Thompson - pages 4-8, 11-12

The Story of Columbus and Magellan by Thomas Bonaventure Lawler - Pages 1-67.


If you don't want to print all these pages, these books are downloadable so that you can read them on your desktop or laptop.

Children's Art Project Freebies: Autumnal Leaves and Pumpkins

Click here at Art Projects for Kids blog for Contour Leaves instructions.

HT to Berry Patch for this one.

Other autumn/fall projects offered at Art Projects for Kids:

Batik Crayon Pumpkins









Layered Fall Leaves

More Canning Jar Labels

These are vintage labels found over at the Library of Congress which are free to use.
Click on images to enlarge and copy.








More here.

Vintage Pastry and Bread Dough Tips

Very helpful vintage advice for baking short cuts at Tipnuts.

Update: Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap in the Dishwasher?

Well, I tried it tonight. I used Dr. Bronner's Castile Liquid Soap in the dishwasher. Last night I use Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds with great results.

I was too lazy to make up the recipe(see original post), so I placed a few squirts of my 50/50 Dr. Bronner's Castile soap mixture which I use for the bathroom in the dishwasher's detergent dispenser. I refilled the rinse dispenser with vinegar, and the dishes came out fairly clean. I had more plastics than glass this time, but the few glasses that were washed came out clean without any film, and no spots. I did find one glass bowl in the back which still had a bit of oatmeal film. I plan to add more castile soap(70/30) to the mix in order to see if this improves the cleaning power. It still did a good job.

I just got an awesome new dishwasher, so that maybe a contributing factor to the great results here. It's not an expensive one, but it's a nice new Kenmore with lots of fancy jets. I run my dishes on the ecocycle, so it's less water than the normal or heavy wash cycle, and still they look great.

I think what I'll do is use the Sal Suds for the really greasy jobs, and continue to use the castile soap for everyday dishes. I'll keep using these products because of their cost effectiveness and eco-friendliness, not to mention other factors which made me feel good about this product. Dr. Bronner's is certified organic and fair trade, American made, and is still a family owned business that has not sold out to big corporations. A company with integrity, a rare gem, and I'm happy to help them with my purchases of their quality products.

Note: Don't try regular liquid soap, it will bubble too much and possibly break your dishwasher.

Plain and Simple: Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking Recipes

Wonderful good! This cookbook is free and in public domain here. Downloadable and readable online. Wonderful hardy recipes including those for Fastnacht, Shrove Tuesday. Check out the recipes for traditional Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas cookies.

Review: Dr. Bronner Eco-Friendly Sal Suds in the Dishwasher

I picked up Dr. Bronner Sal Suds at a local health food store primarily to use on the floors, in the kitchen, and as an eco-friendly replacement for dishwasher and laundry detergent. So far I'm loving it as a laundry detergent, and tonight I tried it in the dishwasher. I had been mulling over the idea of using Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap in the dishwasher until I discovered his Sal Suds which is a better grease cutter, more effective on greasy dishes. From the bottle:

Description:

Super-concentrated organic cleaner. 100% biodegradable. It is equally effective in hard or soft water and will rinse freely, hot or cold. Excellent for hard water shampoo, dishes, laundry, floors, rugs, cars, boats: All household uses!

Sal Suds is a balanced formulation of naturally derived surfactants with pure fir and spruce essential oils: it cleans and rinses with exceptional power, yet is mild and gentle on the skin. Sal Suds is not soap-based and is formulated especially for all-purpose hard-surface cleaning.

--Perfect for general household cleaning: dishes, floors, laundry, etc.

--Equally effective in hard or soft water, rinsing freely, hot or cold.

--Concentrated and self-preserving: no hidden preservatives or ingredients.

--No synthetic dyes or fragrances: all ingredients fully disclosed and described.

--Biodegrades rapidly after doing its job. Pure high-quality fir and spruce essential oils: no cheap harsh pine stump oil.

--No animal testing: Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics certified

Ingredients: Water, sodium lauryl sulfate, coco-betaine, lauryl glucoside, fir needle oil, spruce oil.

Free Of Harsh Chemicals, Phosphates, Silicates, Sequestering Agents or Other Strong Alkalies.

Directions

1. A few drops in a gallon of water removes all sprays from fruits and vegetables.

2. 1/4 oz. does a sink full of dishes.

3. 1/4 oz. in a basin of warm water cleans all your undies.

4. 1 oz. in a pail of water will clean your house and car from top to bottom.

5. For extra heavy jobs, cut it in half or use it straight.

6. Pour some on a fabric stain and watch it disappear.

7. Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds will also disappear-naturally-after it has done its job, without affecting nature's balance.

Warnings

Don't drink!. Keep out of eyes!. Sal Suds is an all-purpose cleaner, and is not intended for everyday body-washing use.

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http://www.vitacost.com/Dr-Bronners-Sal-Suds-All-Purpose-Cleaner-32-fl-oz

Results: Excellent! I winged it on the amount to add, and squirted about a teaspoon and a half into the detergent dispenser, then I filled the rinse dispenser with vinegar. The dishes are as clean as if I had used Cascade. There was no film on the dishes or glasses. I'm not even sure they needed the vinegar rinse, but it can't hurt. I'll try it without next time to see if there is a difference.

An excellent place to buy Dr. Bronner's online is Vitacost. Their shipping is a flat fee of $4.99 within the Continental U.S. only, excluding Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. I noticed that they ship Internationally as well.

Here is the link for finding Dr. Bronner's products outside of the U.S. It is sold by distributors in the U.K., Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Norway.

Earth Friendly Flea and Tick Lawn Treatment

Ticks and fleas love shady areas, and we've got a lot of it in our backyard. This year has been particularly bad for fleas and ticks. The pets need to be dosed with Frontline Plus every three weeks, or they get reinfested. Of course this doesn't help me any. I get ticks on my legs just going to hang the laundry on the line.

The problem is our lawn, it's full of fleas and ticks, and I didn't want to use any harmful chemicals , so we are trying natural food grade diatomaceous earth(DE) as an organic flea and tick killer. It works as a dehydrator and asphyxiator, eventually killing pests. The only downside of using DE is that the small dust particles can be hazardous to breath, so a mask would be necessary in order to sprinkle the stuff on the lawn. It also needs to be reapplied if it rains.

I've read that you want to find a natural food grade form of DE, not the one sold for swimming pools. The swimming pool grade DE is very toxic to pets and people. Reportedly, the food grade DE can be used directly on pets and carpets to kill fleas and ticks; however, I'd verify this with your vet. Here is the Material Safety Data Sheet on DE(PDF). Planet Natural has got a 1.5 pound box for $6.50.

I'm also considering an Organic Lawn & Garden Spray with Clove, Thyme, and Sesame Oil. Supposedly it kills fleas and ticks dead, and is safe around pets and children. Planet Natural sells a bottle which covers Covers up to 5,000 sq. ft. for $11.95 bottle.

Dirtworks sells huge bags of DE and other natural flea and tick killers for pets and lawn.

Garden centers are likely to carry DE as well as True Value and Ace Hardware stores, and places like Home Depot. I know Ace will order items for free delivery to the store if they don't stock an item. We use Ace Hardware for many of our organic gardening needs.

I'm trying the DE first; if it works I won't be purchasing the oil spray . I'll update this post soon with the results.

Bon Ami: An Old Fashioned Favorite and Non-Toxic All Purpose Household Cleaner

Bon Ami is non-toxic, allergy and earth friendly made of mild natural abrasives: sodium carbonate(washing soda), calcium carbonate and feldspar. Non-abrasive Bon Ami cleanser can be used for all household cleaning. First made in 1886, it has been a household staple for many years. Check Bon Ami's availability at stores here. Prices average about $ 1.50 for a 14 ounces can.

More information for multiple uses for this green product here. There are two products, the original 1886 formula( no detergent or bleach) and the polishing cleanser( biodegradable detergent and no chlorine). These products are phosphate free. The polishing cleanser is easier to locate in brick and mortar stores.

Collection of cute Bon Ami vintage advertisements.

Health and safety information on Bon Ami, rating of one.

A October 31, 2007 interview with Lynn Tondat Ruggeri, Ph.D. via Townnews.com, author of "Safer for Your Baby: A Guide to Living Better with Fewer Chemicals: When asked what parents should do to handle serious cleaning situations, such as blood, bathroom substances and raw poultry, Ruggeri said, "Between Bon Ami, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and castile soap, you can clean most everything from pans and ovens to countertops, walls and floors." Bon Ami, French for "good friend," is a 120-year-old powdered cleaner made from the mineral feldspar. Read more here.