A couple days of BLAHH!

Well..... my last post was on Sunday and it is now Wednesday!!  I'm not sure how these past few days flew by so fast but it sure seems like all I did was blink and they were gone!  So, my apologies for not posting recipes and decorating ideas as promised but today is a new day and even with a sick toddler and barely any sleep, somehow I have managed to find a bit of motivation.

Fall Is Here!!! (or so they say)

      Fall is here..... or at least that's what they tell me!  Here in Florida, we really don't experience Fall the way most of the Country does. No cool breeze, no beautiful waves of multicolored leaves, no relief from the dreaded mosquito infestation!!! But in the hopes of tricking my senses, I refuse to give up!
      Every morning I place a pot on my stove filled with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and occasionally a bit of orange peel, and of course..... don't forget the water! Simmering this all day gives the whole house that unmistakable Autumn scent.
      Another great way to get in the Fall spirit is to change up your meals. One of my families favorite Fall time meal is a great big pot of chilli with all the fixins (shredded cheese, diced onions and tomatoes, sour cream, and lots of corn bread). I also tend to bake a lot of cookies, cakes, and pies in the Autumn and Winter months, which my kids love!
      As well as doing all these things I also (slowly) begin decorating for Fall and Halloween, which is tons of fun to do, especially with the kids.
      In my next few blogs I will be posting some great Fall recipes and decorating ideas along with some photos of each project. I am really looking forward to starting this Fall season with you.... even if it is 100 degrees outside! Maybe some of you who live up North can send some of that cool weather this way :) .
      If I don't melt first...... I will be back later today with some great Fall tips and recipes. Let me just get this mint and mocha coffee down first.   
 Coffey Momma

~~ a bit of simplicity~~

Welcome to my world!

     This, being my first blog attempt should, if nothing else, prove interesting.
     I decided to start this blog in an attempt to enlighten the world (or at least a few loyal followers )
in the way life once was, and should be again. Well, how I believe it to have been any way, you know, clean, simple, wholesome, and healthy.

Everything I will be posting in this blog will either be of my own creation or things that I have found and researched on-line, in books, or from friends and family, but always, always will I have tested first and will be sure to give credit where credit is due.

     This blog will be filled with herbal remedies, homemade natural cleaners, recipes for everything from cookies, cakes, and breads to chicken, pastas, sauces, and side dishes. Also, craft ideas, and how to's.
With the Holidays coming up (my favorite time of year) I will have plenty of simple and cost effective ways
to decorate your home and have fun doing it. Most of the things I will be posting are all natural and money saving ways to clean your home, utilize what you have for dinners, or just great ways to get away from all the chemical crap we buy at the stores that wont work half as good as the natural and safe alternatives we so easily forget about. Whatever it may be....... We could all use a bit of simplicity and tradition in our daily lives.

    Remember, life is much simpler than most people realize. We just need to take a few steps back from the craziness that life has become and get "Back To Basics".

Please browse the blog archives on the right hand side of this page for tons of tips!  Enjoy!!     

              LIVE * LAUGH * LOVE * CREATE!!!          
                                        Coffey Momma  

Safe alternatives for cleaning your home

The site where this was found is at the end of this page.

There are many inexpensive, easy-to-use natural alternatives which can safely be used in place of commercial household products. Here is a list of common, environmentally safe products which can be used alone or in combination for a wealth of household applications.

Baking Soda - cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
Soap - unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.
Lemon - one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.

Borax - (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.
White Vinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
Washing Soda - or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.
Isopropyl Alcohol - is an excellent disinfectant. (It has been suggested to replace this with ethanol or 100 proof alcohol in solution with water. There is some indication that isopropyl alcohol buildup contributes to illness in the body. See http://drclark.ch/g)
Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
Citrus Solvent - cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)


Today's modern home is loaded with toxic and polluting substances designed to make domestic life easier.


The cost of these commercial, chemical-based products can be high -- long term health concerns for the family, and environmental pollution caused by their manufacture and disposal. In the US, for example, 1 in 3 people suffer from allergies, asthma, sinusitis or bronchitis (US National Center for Health Statistics). Treatment for these conditions should include reducing synthetic chemicals in the home environment.

For many home-cleaning chores, you can make your own cleaning products using the formulas listed below.

A growing number of commercial non-toxic home cleaning products are also available, as healthier and environmentally responsible alternatives. Your use of these products helps promote the growth of green businesses which are contributing to a sustainable economy.
 http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm#substitutions <~~~~ here is the link to this information

Natural Cleaners

Natural Cleaners
via -  kitchencraftsnmore.net(also, thank you Tezza)
Natural Lemon Air Freshener Spray Recipe
Learn how simple it is to make an organic, natural air freshener for your clean and healthy home. It's easy on you, the environment and hey...it's also very economical too!

1 cup Water
1/4 cup Fresh Lemon Balm Or Verbena -- chopped
2 tablespoons Lemon Peel -- Grated
2 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

Instructions: Bring water to boil in a large saucepan. Add lemon balm, lemon peel, lemon juice, and baking soda and stir until baking soda dissolves thoroughly. The mixture will foam up after you add the baking soda so be sure your saucepan is large enough. Let cool and fill a spray bottle.

Carpet Stain Remover Recipe
Club soda
Dish detergent

Blot stain with club soda then scrub with a dab of dish detergent. You'd be amazed at how well plain old club soda can get some carpet stains out - as always, make sure to try it on a small area to first to make sure it doesn't affect the color of your carpet.

Hand Sanitizer Gel
1/2 cup Aloe Vera Gel
1/4 cup 99% rubbing alcohol
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon fragrance oil, optional

Mix ingredients together. Pour into a pump-style bottle or a squeeze bottle. Use a quarter sized dollop and rub hands together. Wipe residue off of hands with a paper towel.

Wintergreen Air Freshener
To add a touch of wonderful wintergreen scent, all you need are some cotton balls and some oil of wintergreen. (Find that in any pharmacy - ask the pharmacist if you can't find any & they'll likely order some in.) Dip the cotton balls in the oil of wintergreen and place near opened windows or anywhere out of sight where the air will circulate around them - smells minty and wonderful!

Homemade Windshield Washer Fluid
9 c water
1 c isopropyl alcohol
1 T liquid dish soap

Directions: Combine and store in a plastic jug and use to refill windshield washer receptacle in your car.

Veggie Wash
Easy! Just add a few tablespoons of vinegar to a bottle of clean, cold tap water. Shake well and spray on veggies and then wash under flowing clean water as usual. Helps to clean those fruits and veggies better than ever - and it's a lot less expensive than those commercial produce washes.

Tough Hand Cleaner
1/4 cup grated naphtha soap ends
2 tablespoons mason's sand or pumice
1 cup water

Place soap and water in a saucepan. Place over low heat; stir until soap is melted. After mixture cools, add mason's sand or pumice. Store in a cottage cheese container or margarine tub. To use, dip fingers into soap mixture and lather hands. Rinse well. This works well on greasy tools, also. Be sure to rinse and dry tools thoroughly.

Rust Remover
Sprinkle a little bit of salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is nicely soaked in lime juice. Leave the mixture on for two or three hours. Use the leftover rind as a handy scrubber. Rust is gone.

Lavender Dishwashing Soap
2 Cups soap flakes
1 gallon water
25 drops of lavender essential oil

Place soap flakes and water into a pan. Heat over medium heat stirring occasionally until it boils and until soap dissolves. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes to thoroughly combine the ingredients. Remove from heat and let liquid partially cool, add the essential oil and stir. Pour into a clean plastic squeeze bottle or re-used dish soap bottle.

Glass Scratch Reducer
Use some plain white toothpaste and a soft cloth to reduce the visibility of scratches in glasses. Buff gently and then wipe clean.

Fabric Freshener Spray
All you need is some LIQUID FABRIC SOFTENER, some water and a spray bottle. Pour a few tablespoons of the fabric softener in the bottle, add water until nearly full. Shake well before each use. Works just like the expensive fabric freshener sprays! (Sort of like Febreeze/Febreze spray...also is a great way to use up a little bit of leftover fabric softener liquid.)

Formula for Homemade Cleaning Glasses
The best formula no matter what type of eyeglasses or coatings you have on your lenses is as follows: Fill a spray bottle (any size will do) with 3/4 rubbing alcohol and 1/4 water. Put in a few drops of dish soap. Spray both sides of each lens and rub clean with a soft cloth. Never use paper towels, toilet paper or kleenex as they contain harsh abrasives that will scratch your lenses.

Fizzy Jewelry Cleaner
To clean jewelry place in hot vinegar with a little baking soda, this foams a lot, and let sit for 5 minutes. Lightly scrub with a soft toothbrush to get in crevices, rinse clean and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Do not use on loose stones.

Make Your Own Daily Shower Cleaner
You can make your own version of daily shower cleaners. In a 32 oz. spray bottle, pour in 8 oz. of rubbing alcohol, then top it off w/water. After each shower, spray the walls and shower curtain. You won’t have to rinse.

Bleach Alternatives
1/2 cup 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in the rinse cycle or
1/2 cup washing soda to warm or hot water wash cycles or
1/2 cup lemon juice in the rinse cycle

Tip: After clothes have spun dry in the washer, hang them to dry in the sun. Sunshine is a natural bleach.

Natural Coffeepot Cleaner/Stain Remover
Pour pure white vinegar into the coffeepot and swirl it around a bit. Use a scrubby sponge on the hardest stain areas. Rinse a few times, and you're done!

Cleaning Your Coffeemaker with Vinegar
This is a great thing to do about once a week: pour a few cups of plain white vinegar into your coffeemaker (withOUT any coffee grounds) and let the machine run through as usual. Then run through with plain water to get entirely rid of any lingering vinegar. The acidic vinegar will work fantastically well to clean your coffeemaker from the inside out - and your coffee will taste fresh and wonderful again.

Got Fleas?? Be rid of them for good without chemicals!!

Got Fleas?? I don't know why this works but it really does.

in every room of your house put a dinner plate on the floor and fill with regular tap water. Then in each plate put one drop of dish soap (simply to break the surface of the water).
Allow plates to sit undisturbed for as long as possible.
The fleas are attracted to the water for some reason but since the surface has been broken they sink and get trapped.
This was the only method that worked for me and I tried everything!

I know this sounds to simple to be effective but give it a try~~ you wont be disappointed :)

Tea Tree

Tea Tree Treasure
Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. I’ve used it successfully on a moldy ceiling from a leaking roof, on a musty bureau, a musty rug, and a moldy shower curtain. Tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.

2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water

Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. Makes two cups.

Vinegar Spray
Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing if you can put up with the smell. It will dissipate in a few hours.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html#ixzz1LxqqfnHn

How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit | Care2 Healthy & Green Living

www.care2.com

Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit and be Clean and Green like Annie B. Bond.

Fresh Linens

Sweet Fresh Linens: Grind lavender buds or dried scented geranium leaves or dried lemon verbena leaves in a coffee mill or blender or for that old world feeling use a mortar and pestle. When changing the linens on the beds, sprinkle a small amount of this powder on the mattress (or mattress pad), then place the bottom sheet over and on the mattress. Since lavender has bug repelling properties, sleep time is not only sweet and relaxing, but reassuring as well. After placing fresh pillowcases on the pillows, sprinkle a small amount of this herbal powder inside the cases.

Simple Laundry Softener

Laundry: No need to invest in expensive fabric softeners. Add one-half to 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle of your machine. This is especially valuable when laundering cloth diapers as it will remove the problems usually causing diaper rash. It effectively rids the laundry of soap residue and allows the fabric to be naturally soft as well as balancing the pH which will extend the life of the fabrics. The smell of vinegar dissipates upon drying and leaves the laundry smelling fresh. If you wish to add fragrance to the laundry apply 2 or 3 drops of essential oil to a damp washcloth and place in the clothes dryer along with the wet laundry. I prefer lavender for its nice clean smell and disinfecting properties.

To keep your home smelling fresh:

Gel Fragrance in a jar: Make your own gel air freshener with a few simple ingredients. 1 cup water (divided), 1 envelope Knox gelatin, 1/8 tsp rubbing alcohol or vodka, 1/2 tsp essential oil or fragrance oil. Boil 1/2 cup water, then dissolve the Knox gel in it. Add the other half of the water (cold) and stir until blended. Add the alcohol and essential oil and stir until well blended. Pour into jars of your choice. Set out to fragrance a room. Don't place on a very warm spot like the top of the TV or it will liquefy some. If this happens, you can restore it by popping it into the refrigerator for awhile.

If you have silk flower arrangements in the house, then you can "hide" a drop of fragrant oil somewhere in the centers of the silk flowers. This will effectively scent a room for a long time. The same can be done with straw wreaths and dried arrangements. Refresh as necessary. This works especially well in the bathroom and it's worth keeping a small decorative arrangement in there.

Another method is to place a drop or two of essential or fragrance oil on a cotton ball and tuck it in back of the radiator or under the end flaps of a baseboard heater. This needs to be repeated more often.

A really lovely air freshener is to place a few slices of some citrus fruit like lemon, orange or grapefruit into a pot of water on the stove. Simmer gently till you're satisfied with the fragrance. (This is a good use for the leftover rinds after eating).

Yet another method is to combine 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp lemon juice (or a few drops of essential oil of orange or lemon) and 2 cups of hot water in a spray bottle then shake and use like any other air freshener.

To eliminate odors in the air (including tobacco odors), set out a bowl of vinegar.

Kick that cold with some mint and ginger tea!

Well, with school back in it's once again time for the colds and flu to run rampid through out our households :( But before hitting the medicine cabinet try some herbal teas, they really do work. The best one I have found is mint & ginger with a bit of lemon and honey. It's simple to make and really tastes great.

Use fresh mint (dried is ok too)
chop up a bit of fresh ginger (has to be fresh!)
steep in boiling water for about 10 minutes.
Strain well.
Pour in your favorite mug and add a bit of lemon and honey to taste.
That's It! Simple, delicious, and works wonders on that nasty cold!
Enjoy and feel great :)

Baking Soda ~~ The Must Have!

BAKING SODA TIPS :

1. add a cup to your laundry (along with your detergent) to freshen and brighten your laundry (whites and colors alike)
2. sprinkle on a sponge for spotless and scratch free stainless surfaces and appliances.
3. make a paste to gently scrub wall to remove scuffs and crayon marks.
4. sprinkle on carpets, upholstery, and fabrics to eliminate household odors.
5. put some on a damp sponge to scrub your fruits and veggies, rinse well
6. to polish silverware - make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, rub on with cloth and rinse well.
7. next time you wash your hair, put a quarter size amount with your shampoo, wash and rinse to get rid of product build up.
8. clean hair tools - soak brushes, combs, etc.. in small amount of warm water and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Rinse and dry.
9. polish your BBQ grill grates by putting baking soda on a damp scrub brush, scrub the the grates and rinse
10. freshen drains and unclog minor clogs by pouring baking soda down the drain then pour vinegar down the drain followed by a stopper. Wait a minute or so then rinse well.
11. deodorize funky smelling laundry hampers and garbage cans by sprinkling baking soda in the bottom. Also, if it's not quite time to take out the trash or do the laundry, sprinkle a bit of the soda on top of your laundry or garbage to control the odor until you it's laundry day or your trash is full (no sense in wasting a garbage bag that's half full just cause it's stinky)
12. Bee or wasp sting???? Make a thick paste of baking soda and water and place on the sting and the area around the sting. You will feel almost immediate relief.

**buying tip** with so many uses, purchase your baking soda in bulk at places like SAM'S, BJ's, COSTCO, etc... it's well worth it and will save you so much money in many areas. Plus it really is cheaper than buying it at your local grocery store in those tiny refrigerator boxes.

Welcome to my world!

     This, being my first blog attempt should, if nothing else, prove interesting.
     I decided to start this blog in an attempt to enlighten the world (or at least a few loyal followers )
in the way life once was, and should be again. Well, how I believe it to have been any way, you know, clean, simple, wholesome, and healthy.

Everything I will be posting in this blog will either be of my own creation or things that I have found and researched on-line, in books, or from friends and family, but always, always will I have tested first and will be sure to give credit where credit is due.

     This blog will be filled with herbal remedies, homemade natural cleaners, recipes for everything from cookies, cakes, and breads to chicken, pastas, sauces, and side dishes. Also, craft ideas, and how to's.
With the Holidays coming up (my favorite time of year) I will have plenty of simple and cost effective ways
to decorate your home and have fun doing it.

    Remember, life is much simpler than most people realize. We just need to take a few steps back from the craziness that life has become and get "Back To Basics".

      LIVE * LAUGH * LOVE * CREATE!!!          
                                        Coffey Momma