Happy Holidays!

So I created this brand new blog, and then abruptly stopping writing.  SO sorry about that.  The holiday season has been madness!  But I've been trying A LOT of fun things on my Pinterest boards, organizing my Pinterest boards, and taking lots of pictures!  So after the holidays wrap up, I'll sit down and start letting you in on some of the craziness, too.  Until then, wishing everyone a very happy holiday season!!

~Liz

More fun with gelatin: Jiggle Soap

I had my step-son over this weekend, so I scoured the Pinterest boards to find something fun to do....  I found the video about the jiggle soap and had to run with it.  I thought he'd really like it.  So, we put it to the test.

Source: youtube.com via Liz on Pinterest

I used a bubble milk bath and my soap and some Mrs. Stewert's bluing because I didn't have any food coloring whatsoever.  I also used a silicone mold for our soaps because I thought that would give it more interest.

My 7 year old helped stir while I handled putting in all the ingredients.  Then, I poured it into the silicone molds using a Pyrex measuring cup.  It filled 5 out of 6 "Christmas Tree cupcakes" perfectly.

We made it at 10 in the morning and hoped it would set up by bath time around 7 p.m.

And the result??!?!

Complete success!  Our little milky blue trees came out super cute.  Step-Mom and Step-Son approved!

Pore Strips

There was a pin that caught my attention yesterday.  It was about homemade pore cleaning strips.  As much as I love the ones out of the box, I rarely bother to purchase any because of the price.  It sounded to good to be true, but I was up for experimenting a lot this weekend.  ;)

Source: petitelefant.com via Liz on Pinterest

I followed Allison's instructions {please view her original post ~ she has lots of great photos!}:

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 - 2 Tbsp milk {any kind}

Method:
{Use a disposable container & tools!!!  I happened to have an ancient plastic cup and fork.  This worked fine.}

Mix until well combined.  Nuke in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and apply as quickly as possible using some sort of disposable tool {I used the back end of the plastic fork I used to mix it with}.

Leave it on until it is completely dry.  Assume that means around 15 minutes.

There are a few things to note:

1. It stinks.  Like, I thought the cat did something bad, stinks.  She doesn't tell you that in the post.  Though if you read through all the comments, it's mentioned there.  I didn't read the comments before trying the mix, so I was a little worried I'd done something wrong!
2. Apply it lightly.  If you apply it in glops, it will take forever to dry, and I feel like you lose a bit of the effectiveness {I don't know if that's really true}.  It just seems to grab more when it's a nice even thin layer.  .... and lastly ....
3. It hurts when you pull it off. Luckily, I don't have sensitive skin, so this wasn't really an issue for me.  I guess it was a "hurts so good" kind of thing because I liked the fact it was definitely exfoliating!!

Below are photos of my "ruins."

Sticky gunk left behind after application; why it helps to use disposables!

The mask I pulled off my face!

So would I use this stinky semi-painful concoction again?!?!  YOUBETCHA!  I love exfoliation.  Hence, the reason I use sugar 2x a week with my oil face cleanser {see original blog here}.  I think I will add this as an additional exfoliator into my routine.  I used it all over my face and had no problems.  If you're more sensitive, start with just your trouble spots ~ say, your nose ~ and see how you do with it.  I loved the results on this one.  Definite success!

Natural Shower Cleaner

As part of my normal weekend tasks is to clean house, I knew I had to tackle the grimy fiberglass shower.  I never look forward to the task, but putting it off further was not an option.  I'd seen a post on my pinboard specifically talking about cleaning showers/tubs, and thought this would be a perfect opportunity to give it a go.

How to Clean Your Bathtub with a Grapefruit & Salt

Source: re-nest.com via Liz on Pinterest

The post reads:

What You Need

Materials

1 Grapefruit
1/4 cup kosher salt

Instructions

1. Halve Grapefruit: 1 medium to large grapefruit will clean your entire bath or shower from top to bottom, including all the fixtures. Simply cut it in half with a knife and you'll be all set.
2. Sprinkle With Salt: Using 1 grapefruit half at a time, sprinkle liberally with salt. Wet your bathtub and sprinkle the remaining salt around the bottom.
3. Take That Scrubbing Bubbles!Scrub your grapefruit around your shower or tub, making sure to slightly "juice" the citrus over each fixture and lifting it every few seconds to pick up fresh salt from around the tub instead of just pushing it around.
4. Rinse: When all is said and done, simply rinse away the pulpy bits and the salt and your shower is as good as new. Not only is it clean, it will smell so fantastic you'll want to curl up in it and read a book. Ok, probably not, but you get the idea!
Additional Notes:
This technique will get thick grime and dirt rings off your shower area and does amazing work on cast iron tubs especially. You can also use this method to clean your sinks, toilets, tile and more — it just depends on how grapefruit crazy you want to get!

I had an abundance of citrus in my fridge for some reason, so I set to the task.  I didn't have "kosher" salt on hand ~ I had way too much regular iodized salt.  So, that's what I used.  I'm not sure if this makes a major difference. {???}

I can't believe I'm going to post my dirty shower online, but I'm sure everyone's shower must get dirty at some point... :)

Here's what we started with:

Grimy shower "ring" of sorts

Film on the shower door

Closer look at the grime ... sorry

Left side, not cleaned; right side, covered in salty grapefruit juice

 I put a lot of elbow grease into working the juices and salt around effectively.  I wanted to make sure I scrubbed hard in order to make sure my "thick grime" was assaulted properly...

Pulpy, salty "mess"

Thoroughly scrubbed and salted grapefruit

 The whole time I was cleaning, it smelled fantastic!  I couldn't wait to be finished with my task so I could eat the other half!  However, I kept scrubbing because I noticed that the grime was more or less getting pushed around and not really coming off the surface.  So I really put a lot of effort into it.  A lot more than if I'd been using my typical Magic Eraser... and that's when I started to get discouraged.  I'm not sure how "green" a Magic Eraser is, but it seemed to have worked considerably better than this natural "recipe" was doing....  Finally, after what I would consider a good effort, I decided it was time to rinse and see where I stood.

Still have a grimy ring, it just moved.

This certainly looks shiny, though!

While the door looks better in this picture, there's still a film there.

I ended up having to go over the entire thing {except the shiny chrome!} with a Magic Eraser in order to get rid of all of the funk.  I'm not sure where I failed, but I'm disappointed.  The natural cleaner couldn't compare to the Magic Eraser on this particular effort.

The original blog, however, does contain some "success" photos ... so, maybe the type of salt matters.  Or maybe my fiberglass has a different texture than hers ~ who knows.  But put this one down for another fail...

Grout Cleaner

There was a post on my pinboard that grabbed my attention for this weekend:

"Whiten grout with vinegar." It read.

Source: thisoldhouse.com via Liz on Pinterest

But the more research I did on the issue, the scarier this pin seemed to try.  According to several folks, the vinegar will whiten the grout, but also remove the sealer from it and cause your grout to degrade .... um.... no, thank you!!

So seeing as my main bathroom looked like this:

Grungy grout!

... I knew I needed to at least CLEAN the grout.  So I set to the task of finding something that might help me do just that.  I started with this pin about natural cleaners:

Source: kitchenstewardship.com via Liz on Pinterest

But it didn't really address grout except for using an old toothbrush on it.  But it also mentioned using baking soda to scrub.  And I know you can use hydrogen peroxide to "bleach" laundry so.... I put the combo to the test.

To test, I started in a particularly stained corner.

I put a LOT of baking soda down and ran it along the grout lines.

Then, I sprayed it with the hydrogen peroxide and started scrubbing!

As you can see in the above picture .... the baking soda has started to turn a grungy gray color.  Clearly, my efforts were working in at least some capacity.  After I had scrubbed each inch, I removed the access soda {with a paper towel ~ not very green, I know ~ but I did reuse each paper towel a few times before tossing it!}.  Then, I went over it with my steamer, and wiped again.

You'll notice that the title of this post is "cleaner," not "whitener."  The grout certainly isn't white ~ but it is definitely cleaner!  So naturally, I set to working on the rest of the bathroom.... {how do I get myself into these projects??!?!}

I certainly feel better about presenting guests and kiddos into this bathroom.  It's been sanitized and thoroughly scrubbed!  It may not have whitened the grout to a pristine white look, but the grunge is gone!  Success!

Face Wash / Daily Facial

So after my previous fail, I was determined to find a pin on my pinterest boards that I could call a success!  And I found it on my "Naturally Beautiful" board.  It's from a blog that I absolutely adore: Simple Mom.  She wrote about cleaning your face without harsh, drying soaps.  So, naturally {pun intended}, I was intrigued.

Source: simplemom.net via Liz on Pinterest

Simple Mom's author, Tsh, uses oils to clean her face.  Yes, oil.  Tsh explained that oil disolves oil.  I'll repost the same quote Tsh used from acne.org:

 “Oil dissolves oil. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that “like dissolves like.” The best way to desolve a non-polar solvent like sebum/oil, is by using another non-polar solvent similar in composition: other oils. By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruit that heal, protect and nourish your skin. When done properly and consistently, the OCM can clear the skin from issues like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blackheads, whiteheads and other problems caused by mild to moderate acne–while leaving your skin healthy, balanced and properly moisturized.”

And so, I was sold.  I figured I had nothing to lose except the couple bucks it would cost me to go out and find the right oils.

To make your cleanser:

There are actually several variations of one single recipe. Your task is to determine which one works best for you! Here's the standard guideline:

• For those with normal skin, start off with a one-to-one ratio of castor oil and EVOO{extra virgin olive oil}. 
• For those with acne-prone or oily skin, reduce the proportion of EVOO, and try three parts castor oil to one part EVOO. {This is the one I use.}
• For those with drier skin, start off with one part castor oil to three parts EVOO. 

Additionally, you can play around with the oil combination you use. Castor oil appears to be a must. However, you could change from EVOO to grapeseed oil {this is what I use} or flaxseed oil or almond oil or jojoba oil. I haven't tried anything but the grapeseed, simply because I had extra of it around the house. I hear EVOO is really the best oil to use since it's pH is closest to our natural sebrum. But grapeseed oil seems to work fabulously for me. And I've been using this method for several months now.

Until reading about the oil cleansing method, I'd honestly no clue what castor oil was or where to find it. It turns out castor oil is oil made from a castor bean. It's mainly used as a natural laxative, so that's the area of the store you'll find it! It should cost you only a few bucks. It will last you several months.



I store my cleanser in a little oil bottle that came with a bread dipping set that was given to me as a gift. I use the dishes from the set all the time, but hardly ever the bottle, so this works perfectly.

To use your cleanser:

This is the easy part. Pour a small amount of the combined oils into your palm. Gently rub it into your dry face. Give your face a little massage using the oils. I usually just work it in using slow circular motions. Be gentle! Do this for about a minute.

Now, take a damp hot washcloth {not too hot, of course ~ we're going for relaxing mini-spa, not pain!} and rest it on your face. Let the steam open your pores. When your washcloth is no longer steaming {should be about a minute}, rinse the cloth and gently use the damp cloth to remove the oil from your face.

Your face should be thanking you right about now!

I follow this method every night. My skin is soft {to where I hardly use a moisturizer ~ ever} and breakouts are pretty much non-existent.

Extras:

In the morning, I rinse my face with a cotton ball and witch hazel just to remove any excess dirt or oils.

About 2x a week, I add granulated white sugar to my oils and make a scrub. This is a powerful scrub ~ so if you have sensitive skin, you may want to opt for something softer like cornmeal, if you even choose to do a scrub at all.

The first week I tried this, I got whitehead pimples that seemed to only last until my next cleaning {24 hrs}. I hear there is sometimes a kind of adjustment period your skin goes through before it realizes it can stop producing all those excess oils since you're no longer stripping your face of them. I suppose this was mine.

After a couple weeks of using this method, I added 3 drops of Tea Tree oil to my oils {3 oz Castor oil to 1 oz grapeseed}. Tea Tree is a natural antiseptic, so it's helpful in clearing up acne. Now, I hardly ever see a pimple in any form.

There is a lot of information found on Tsh's blog, including the original source she used to gather her information, links to other blogers who have tried this method, and probably most helpful ~ comments from readers who have tried it. I encourage you to read her blog to get the best understanding of the method.

Homemade Dishwashing Detergent

The day I decided to undertake this new blog I was thoroughly excited. I already saw the long list of awesome tips, recipes, and ideas that I’d managed to accomplish, successfully, thanks to the never ending list of possibilities available in blogland and Pinterest…

I hurried home, anxious to write my first entry, although I had no earthly idea of how to start it. After much contemplation, I figured I ought to just jump right in and start reviewing. I decided I’d try to write something after dinner.

My husband and I made dinner, and when we went to start the dishwasher we realized we were completely out of dishwashing detergent. And just like that, it was time to put my first Pinterest pin to the test. The lesson would be in homemade dishwashing detergent.


Source: greenlivingtips.com via Liz on Pinterest

The recipe goes as follows:

1/2 cup liquid castile soap
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3 drops tea tree oil
1/2 cup white vinegar

Method:

Stir all ingredients together until blended. Use 2 tablespoons per load of dishes, shake well before use.

I got busy mixing and shaking and put it to the test.  The liquidy substance started to "curdle" and separate ... so a lot of shaking was in order.

New Detergent ; Old Prego Jar

The result?

FAIL.

Seriously?!??! My first blog entry was going to be a fail?!?!? Ugh – not exactly the exciting, encouraging beginning I had been planning. But, the slimy film on my dishes could hardly be called a success. I put the dishes through a second rinse, but they still didn’t look clean.

It's hard to see here, but trust me, it's icky.

Can you see the filmy slime??

The truth is, not all the fantastic finds out there are successes. Sometimes they will not work as brilliantly as they claim. However, that won’t stop me from scouring the web looking for the ones that DO work. And I’m looking forward to testing them so that I can brag about the ones that do – meanwhile warning you off the ones that don’t!

{P.S. If you have tried this recipe and it works for you, please let me know!  Maybe it's my water/dishwasher or something .... Additionally, if you have a recipe that works for you, please let me know what it is and where you found it so I can try it and give proper credit.  Thanks!}