Get Clean with Shaklee Basic H2 - A Review : Small Notebook
I have been using this stuff for years and love it. I'm so glad to have a review to pass along. Passionate Homemaking also has a list of easy-to-make, safe, household cleaners. Really all you need is baking soda, vinegar and Basic H2 for the whole house. Also, microfiber cloths are my new favorite housecleaning tool. I bought a 8 pack of them at Target (automotive section) a year or so ago and they are still in great shape. The kids and I use them for everything... general cleaning, dusting, windows, mirrors. I even attach them to my swiffer-sweeper (reusable swiffer cloths!).
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How to Create a Paperless Kitchen : Simple Mom
This is something I have been thinking about/working on for the past year or so. We have switched to using cloth napkins most of the time, but it's hard to hand a cloth napkin to a kid with a blueberry smoothie. And I try to use rags, not paper towels. I struggle with going completely paperless mostly because I just don't have enough cloth. We're getting there... soon.
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Michael Pollan on the Oprah Show: "Food 101" : Kelly the Kitchen Kop
I just found this blog, and loved her recap of Michael Pollan's visit to the Oprah Show. I didn't see the show, but loved reading her notes. Michael Pollan appears in Food, Inc., a documentary on the food industry. We netflixed it a month ago... an eye-opening movie. The journey from "farm" to table is not pretty.
I have always tried to provide simple, organic, local, whole foods for our family when possible, but this movie challenged me to do more. Now I am looking into CSAs and local grass-fed beef/milk suppliers. The other day, Hannah says to me as I poured her a glass of grass-fed milk (that I picked up at Whole Foods), "Mom, why does it say grass-fed on the carton? What else would a cow want to eat?" Exactly.
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The Oil-Cleansing Method : Simple Mom
About 4 months ago, I was running out of my (very expensive) skin care supplies and didn't want to order more. I wasn't all that pleased with what I had been using, and really wasn't sure what was in it. After reading about this "oil-cleansing method" a handful of times, I decided to give it a try. I have DRY skin, so I use Simple Mom's recipe for drier skin and then use coconut oil as a extra moisturizer. LOVE it. I'm never going back. And it's basically free!
Also, the new blog Simple Organic has a *great post* on healthy skin care.
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Lastly, I am thankful for this thoughtful post...Can Natural Living Become an Idol? : Passionate Homemaking
I love these kind of posts. I enjoy Passionate Homemaking, too. Thanks for the Simple Organic site. Hope you all are doing well and enjoy all the snow!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all these links, Jennifer! I've been contemplating a few simple changes around here recently (more organic, less preservative-packed, homemade bread a la Breadbeckers style, and so on)... but I'd never heard of CSA's before. Will surely have to research that more... love the idea of supporting the little local guy; love the idea of feeding my family GOOD food.
ReplyDeleteMy request (if i may be so bold)-- please share more as time an inspiration permits!! Every idea, link, suggestion you've passed along has been ultra timely and super successful. Would love to hear even more about simple living in your home! Taking notes and loving it :)
Have a super weekend, and thanks again~
Not sure if you've already read, but may I highly recommend Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable Miracle"? As an excellent writer, she logically encourages the reader (but not guilt inducing) to eat locally. Not sure I could make all the changes their family has - but it is inspiring nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteLove these links, thanks for posting them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. I've been thinking about watching Food, Inc, but I just don't know if I could handle watching it. Sometimes I think I don't want to know any more!
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