Simply Living

All Natural Laundry Soap

2013-11-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

I posted this a while back, but think that it is such an amazing natural

product and since we have so many new visitors to Simply Living you

may have missed it the first time. So, I am posting it again for you just in case.

Soap Nuts are not nuts at all really, they are actually berries of the sapindus tree.

When the berries ripen and drop to the ground they are collected and dried naturally
in the sun free of any pesticides or chemicals. This entirely eco-friendly, chemical free,
and hypo-allergenic laundry soap comes from the hard outer shell of the berry that
contains saponin (a natural detergent with anti-microbial properties) that is released
from the soap nut when it's agitated in water. The saponin acts as a water surfactant,
which enables water to penetrate fabric and mix with the dirt and oils so it can be
removed when the water is drained resulting in clean clothes without
the need for a rinse cycle.

Soap nuts are low sudsing so they are safe for HE washers, are gentle enough to
use on cloth diapers, and do not have added perfumes. However, if you prefer your
clothes to be scented you can always add a little of your favorite
essential oil to the wash bag.

To use them is as easy as can be, you simply pop 4 to 6 soap nuts into a wash bag
(which is usually provided with your order, but you can use any drawstring cloth bag),
and pop it into the washer. These same nuts will wash approximately 5 loads of laundry
(cold water allows for more washings). When the soap nuts have released all the saponin
(you will know because they will be shiny), go ahead and toss them into your compost.

Not only are soap nuts much more eco-friendly (not requiring extra packaging, using
less energy, and require less water without the need for a rinse cycle) and 100% biodegradable, they are also MUCH cheaper than traditional laundry detergents. While traditional detergents average $11 for a 64 load bottle (17¢ a load) a $22 bag of soap
nuts yields on average approximately 300 loads of laundry equaling .076¢ a load.

The sapindus is native to Nepal, India, and some parts of Asia but will thrive in most

tropical regions inculuding some areas of the US. You can find out more about growing
your own sapindus here. But be warned, if you are thinking of re-landscaping,
it takes about 10 years for the tree to produce the berries.

Africa

2013-11-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

At this time of year a few years back I was able to do some volunteer work

on Klipkop, a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa. I volunteered along side 10 others for

three weeks, doing manual labor. The work was long, the conditions were dirty,

the weather was hot, and the experience was one of the best in my life.

While in Africa, I was fortunate enough to backpack through

South Africa, and visit Mozambique.

Below are some of my favorite photos from that experience.

If you would like more information on Klipkop please visit their website here.

Feeling Zen

2013-11-06T14:57:00.002-07:00

Yoga at the library.

Happy Halloween

2013-10-31T13:01:00.000-06:00

Lola asked to be a "Fancy Lady" for Halloween.

I figured whose more "fancy" than Holly Golightly...

This last picture was taken at preschool.

Skate Park

2013-10-16T15:00:00.000-06:00

An afternoon at the skate park.

Crazy Hair Day

2013-07-10T12:43:00.000-06:00

Today is crazy hair day at preschool.

I started out with no plan, and this sort of just evolved.

A lot of people said it looks pretty Dr. Seuss, which I suppose it does. :)

What a fun day!

Morning Hike

2013-07-03T14:55:00.000-06:00

A quick hike in the morning before work.

A Little Hike

2013-06-26T13:16:00.000-06:00

Today, we are just enjoying the fresh air.

Plein Air

2013-06-26T13:10:00.000-06:00

Every summer there is a Plein Air Festival in Telluride.

En Plein Air is a French Term that means in the open air. Artists come from all over to pain our beautiful scenery, and I thought why not let Lola experience this for herself.

She looks a bit like Georgia O'Keefe in this photo doesn't she?

It's the hat and the khaki pants.

Aquarium

2013-04-17T13:14:00.000-06:00

In the Denver Aquarium.

Most of the photos did not turn out very well inside, but I really like this one.

Beauty

2013-01-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

On my drive into work this morning.

Sunday Drive

2012-11-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

What an amazing and unexpected day!

We had no real plans for the day so when Jeff suggested we take a

drive Lola and I were totally on board. We packed a picnic and headed

out to see where the day would take us. Isn't it nice to have no plan at all

sometimes, and just let the day happen?

Bonus, I got to take all these beautiful photos.

Happy Halloween

2012-10-31T11:25:00.000-06:00

Happy Halloween

Fishing on the Valley Floor

2012-10-17T12:22:00.000-06:00

One of the best things about living where we do is that there

is ALWAYS something fun to do as a family. We had a few hours to enjoy some

fresh air but didn't want to go very far, so we walked across the street

to go fishing on the valley floor across from our house.

Lola's first casting lesson, one of the perks when your dad is a fly fishing guide.

Ok, seriously how amazing is it that this is right across from where we live?

Pumpkin Picking

2012-10-15T12:12:00.000-06:00

We made the hour and a half trek to go pumpkin picking

at Covered Bridge Ranch, yes that is the nearest place to pick pumpkins.

It was a wonderful day complete with a hayride, hot cider, and eating

sunflower seeds right from the flower!

Lola loved the seeds so much that after leaving the farm we headed

straight to the natural market to buy her a big bag.

Mushroom Hunting

2012-07-19T12:00:00.000-06:00

This has been an incredibly rainy summer, the perfect conditions

for beloved fungi to flourish in the high alpine forests.

We spent the day mushroom hunting for porcinis, an earthy rich tasting wild mushroom.

Disclaimer: only hunt for mushrooms that you are certain

you know what they are as some are highly poisonous!!

Look forward to Jeff's Wild Porcini Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil recipe, YUM!!

Christmas Part Two

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

She absolutely LOVES this dog.
I think she thinks it's real, she was giving out treats to Jet and brought one over
to this guy and put it in his mouth. Seriously, too stickin' adorable!

Christmas Part One

2012-01-02T07:00:00.004-07:00

This is from Christmas Eve, Santa was VERY good to Lola!

You can't see in this picture, but presents continued to the left, and behind where I was standing taking the picture too. And to think that Santa agreed to take it easy.

Phew, all these gifts are exhausting!
Time for a rest with Daddy.

Christmas Part Two tomorrow.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T11:14:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a safe and happy New Year.
I wish for each of you that the year to come is filled with peace, love,
kindness, smiles, creativity, health, and laughter.

As a side note, I have not neglected posting about our amazing Christmas Day, I have been quite busy this past week, and promise to post about our Christmas and all the incredibly amazing and thoughtful gifts Lola received this coming week.

Then, hopefully the following week, I will finally get to post her Birthday Party which was back in October. I have a bunch of fantastic tutorials, recipes, and party ideas for you.

Let It Snow

2011-12-28T07:00:00.015-07:00

This is the window in the living room after we hung the snowflakes on

Christmas Eve. We are really happy with how it turned out, plus it was so cute when Lola

discovered the "snow." See the tutorial on how to make snowflakes here.

We hung the flakes with fishing line by threading it loosely through

the openings in the flakes, and then tied the line around the curtain rod.

Best Cookie Ever

2011-12-27T07:00:00.038-07:00

These are quite possibly the best cookies I have ever tasted!

My mom made them the other day, following what she thought was

a recipe, but turns out did't follow the recipe at all and created her own new cookie!!

They are light, moist, cake-like, not too sweet, and taste almost likea very fluffy shortbread.

Ingredients:

1 package Better Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix

1 stick of butter

¼ tsp vanilla extract

1 (8oz) package room temperature cream cheese

1 egg

Directions:

Combine all ingredients with electric mixer.

Chill Dough for 2 hours.

Roll walnut size balls of dough in powdered sugar.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350°s for 10-12 minutes.

Dust with powered sugar when cooled.

Pour glass of milk.

Enjoy.

The hardest part about making these cookies is eating only a few!

Christmas Poem

2011-12-25T07:00:00.004-07:00

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Santa's Workshop

2011-12-24T23:00:00.003-07:00

Jeff was so excited to have his first late Christmas Eve night toy assembling project.

Uncle Jim was a big help!

Uncle Beezer, not so much.

The guys got it done in plenty of time, and it looks fantastic!
She is going to be so surprised!

See the finished project here.

Snowflake Tutorial

2011-12-22T15:00:00.087-07:00

I mentioned in an earlier post that we are creating our own white Christmas

this year, and that is no joke. Jeff and I (mostly Jeff because he is amazing) made dozens
of paper snowflakes in a variety of sizes, dusted them with fine glitter (fairy dust I think
it was called), and will hang them in the windows with fishing line on Christmas Eve
to make it look like it's snowing when Lola wakes up on Christmas Day.
Pictures of the windows here.

Below I have demonstrated how to fold the paper, and cut the snowflakes.

Start with a square.

Fold in half to make a triangle.

Fold in half again to make smaller triangle.

From the pointed side, fold into thirds.

This is the hardest part.

After both sides are folded this is what it will look like.

If you were to open up the last two folds,

this is where the creases are.

Cut off the bits that hang over.

You will be left with a triangle.

Now for the fun and creative part, cut your design.

Cut away more paper than you think that you should, the negative space
is what gives snowflakes their delicate lace-like design making sure that you leave
bits of the edges so that it holds together.

See how I cut most of the paper away?

Unfold, and be amazed by your genius!

For those of you who are nervous about jumping right in and free-handing
your own flakes, I posted a few of the flakes that we made below so that you can get an idea of what to cut away to get different the patterns.

Tips to remember when making your own flakes:

Snowflakes are all different, so don't worry about making them the same. Besides I think
a grouping looks best when there is a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles.
Use very sharp small scissors.

Pine Cone Elf

2011-12-22T08:44:00.002-07:00

I was so excited when I came across these sweet little pine cone elves from this shop.
The seller sells them in sets of three, but is unfortunately (for us)
on vacation from her shop at the moment.

While I absolutely support buying from crafters and their shops, and encourage you
to do the same... They look simple enough to make yourself (since she is away), and could
be a fantastic follow up (or alternative) to the elf craft in this post from the other day.

Kiddos will have so much fun gathering all the pine cones!!

Which is ALWAYS a fun outdoor activity!

Oh my gosh, how many different ways could we use these little guys??
Ornaments (which is how she suggests)
Attach to gifts as fun little adornments
Wine glass identifiers
In a Christmas village as an alternative to traditional snowmen
Presents for children's friends, or teacher
Attach to a Christmas card as a thoughtful personal touch
Place markers at the Christmas dinner table
Kids can attach them to string, and have a pine cone elf marionette show

I could go on all day!

All the images in this post are from the original shop.