Naturally Homemade

Recycle those burnt out lightbulbs!

2013-11-26T10:51:00.001-08:00

So I was putting up Christmas lights today and replacing the burnt out bulbs with working ones. They were a bunch of sets given to me from a friend whom had gotten them from a garage sale. I was super pumped about reusing these lights that to a lot of people they would just throw away. That got me thinking of all the endless strands of lights are thrown away because one bulb is burnt out and effects the rest of the strand. Not to mention the bulbs that get thrown away and the expectancy of it depleting away is vary vast. I thought I'd search around and check out what we can do to recycle the whole light strand and some statistics.

Check out my findings!

I found that light strands are barely biodegradable (if at all). Plastic and wire can take hundreds or thousands of years to decompose. Not to mention the risk to the animals that rummage in and near our landfills.

Three Ways to Recycle Christmas Light Strings

Fortunately, there is more than one way to recycle your unwanted lights.
* Donate working strands to your neighbors in need. If you still have the box, try Goodwill, the Salvation Army or similar organizations. Drop them by your local homeless shelter to brighten the windows. Give to a neighbor who's a little tight on cash, or take them in to work and offer them to your colleagues. A great way to connect your usable items with neighbors is through online services such Freecycle .
* Creatively recycle and reuse the strings at home. By stripping the wire from the plastic you can collect the copper and recycle it to get paid for by the pound. However, a short amount of time doing this in your own home can result in a nice collection of convenient twisty-ties for your household's use (World Environmental Organization). Forum member "VP" at how can i recycle this? uses the wire for plant ties, and saves the plugs as spares.
* Send the stands in to Christmas lights recycling programs. How to recycle your Christmas light strands Several North American companies offer light recycling, many times offering reward discounts on new strands.

Just another fact......

* Electricity Waste
Regardless of how great outside Christmas lights may be to see, they require a lot of energy and are an immense waste of our planet resources. According to a report commissioned by The Department of Energy, holiday lighting consumes more than six terawatt-hours per year, the equivalent of the total electricity consumption of 500,000 homes in one month. It is hard to ignore the environmental consequences of this unnecessary electricity consumption. The energy used in powering seasonal lighting results in the wasteful burning of coal, oil and natural gas. The unwanted by products of this can include smoke, acid rain, and carbon dioxide emissions.

Why LED are better........

LED Christmas lights only use 10 percent of the power needed by incandescent lights. LEDs also last as much as 10 times longer, with an operating life of 20,000 hours!

Well finding lots of resources regarding recycling Christmas lights was a great success. I did realize that maybe the old sets of lights may be more of a concern now that I have seen the environmental impact the are having to be using up. Maybe for now I can display my lights for a few hours on a timer and cut down on energy waste and by even turning them on by a few nights a week. I think I will purchase a new strand of LEDs a year to replace the older ones.

Hope you all consider these facts and we all can help lower the impact of wasted resources.

You can purchase LED lights at.....

Amazon,
Canadian Tire,
Home Depot
Walmart

Recycle More!

Home Depot- Recycling program - You can recycle your old Christmas lights, light bulbs, lawn mowers.

Rona Recycling Program - Rona has their big bins outside their store which consists of stations
containing six compartments for recycling batteries, compact fluorescent bulbs, power tools accessories (e.g. blades), cardboard and paper, plastics, glass and metals, and mobile phones.

Do your part,its takes a little extra time out of our lives to organize it according to being more eco efficient but the results if we all do is amazing!

52 uses for coconut oil!

2013-11-25T09:27:00.001-08:00

I don't know about you but I love coconut oil for its amazing scent and endless uses. Being prone to skin blemishes and using harsh cleansers on my face it tends to get dry and prone to wrinkles when not moisturized. I started to use it after washing my face and it is so light and gentle and I haven't been getting any blemishes since. Its also great for curly hair to tone down the frizz. Here is a great list of all of its amazing uses for your whole body and even house hold uses. You'll be amazed at how much money you will be saving in the end!

Eat a spoonful when you need an energy boost.
Use it as the base for a homemade body scrub.
Use to condition your wooden cutting boards.
Use as a super conditioner on your hair (apply to dry hair, leave in as long as possible and then shampoo as normal).
Use as a styling agent if you have really dry hair. Just rub a tiny bit on your palms and apply to your hair and style as normal.
Keep a little container in your purse for lip moisturizer.
Add a spoonful to your dog or cat’s food. CO is great for our furry friends!
Replace nasty, unhealthy vegetable oils in your cooking and baking with CO.
Make healthy Magic Shell ice cream topping.
Use it for oil pulling.
Use a tiny dab on your underarms for a natural deodorant.
Use coconut oil instead of shaving cream.
Add to your bath tub for a moisturizing soak (a drop of peppermint oil is wonderful!).
Use as a makeup remover.
Use it to help sooth chicken pox, shingles, or other rashes or skin irritations.
Use it to treat athlete’s food, ringworm, or other fungal or yeast infections.
Take a spoonful with your vitamins to help improve absorption.
Spread a thin layer on cuts or burns to speed up healing.
Take up to 5 spoonful's per day for improved thyroid function.
Add a spoonful to your smoothies for extra nutrition and flavor.
Use on the delicate tissue around your eyes to help prevent wrinkles and sagging.
Use as the base for homemade toothpaste or lotion.
Use in place of massage oil.
Use on your baby’s diaper rash or cradle cap.
Use to help reduce visibility of stretch marks or to prevent stretch marks.
For nursing mothers, use coconut oil on your nipples to prevent cracking and irritation.
For nursing mothers, consuming coconut oil will help increase your milk flow.
Apply to bee stings or bug bites to soothe and heal the wound.
Women can use in the nether regions to relieve yeast infections, dryness, and/or discomfort.
Eat a spoonful with each meal to improve digestion.
If you’re prone to nosebleeds, coat the inside of your nostrils with coconut oil regularly.
Helps soothe and heal hemorrhoids.
Take to helps reduce or eliminate migraines.
Use as the base for homemade vapor rub.
Mixed with peppermint, lemon balm, rosemary, or tea tree oil makes an excellent insect repellant.
Mix with baking soda for a non-toxic “Goo Gone”.
Use to help detox the body during a cleanse or fast.
Use as a metal polish, but always test a small area first.
Use as a leather moisturizer.
Season your cast iron pans.
Use to oil your pans and baking dishes instead of pan spray.
Got gum stuck in your hair? Try using coconut oil to remove without cutting your hair.
Use instead of WD-40.
Use as a personal lubricant (not safe with latex).
Take a spoonful to help with heartburn, acid reflux, or indigestion.
Use as a natural sunscreen.
Mix with a tiny bit of fresh lemon juice and use as a furniture polish (always test a small area first!).
Mix with butter and toss your popcorn in it.
Use on cracked or rough heals to help smooth them out.
Massage into your nails and cuticles to help strengthen them.
Use as the base for homemade chocolate candy (like peanut butter cups).
Take a couple spoonful's every day to help overall immune function.

Drop the Drano!

2013-11-24T20:06:00.001-08:00

Living in old houses the drains were constantly clogging up from hair and all sorts of debris. Being a renter in the past it was no problem handing over the plumbing bill but now we are home owners and we feel the need preserve our home and its plumbing for as long as possible. A plumber once told me that draino will eventually deteriorate your pipes and it can be extremely dangerous if the solution was to splatter back up the pipe. Many plumbers have had this happen to them. I have a great alternative that you can find these items in your home and is safe. With regular maintenance you should not see a build up again.

What you will need

Turbo snake (purchased at any Home Depot, Rona, Canadian Tire)

- Start by pouring baking soda down the drain

- Then add the vinegar, you will notice it start to bubble

- Wait about 5 mins for the vinegar to work its way down the drain

- Pour your boiling water once you can't hear the solution bubbling

- Get the "Turbo Snake" and feed the Velcro end down the drain as far as it will go and pull back up

* You will notice the clogged debris attach to the snake

- turn faucet to hottest setting and let flow until the water goes down the drain.

* If not completely unclogged try the whole method again.

Some facts about Drano!

Here a plumber blogs about the dangers and damages Drano and Liquid Plumber can cause.

http://www.erplumbingheating.com/Plumbing-Heating-Air-Conditioning-HVAC-Blog/bid/126256/Here-s-Why-Plumbers-Think-You-Shouldn-t-Use-Drano-or-Liquid-Plumr

Here is a conversation on stories of Drano spewing back up and causing serious burns. This stuff is DANGEROUS folks!

http://www.yelp.com/topic/chicago-so-is-it-wrong-to-put-draino-and-such-down-the-drain

Paper Mache Pig

2013-11-24T16:26:00.000-08:00

I don't know how many people remember doing this in school but it was just as fun doing it when you are an adult. My daughter loved getting into this mod podge squishing and playing in it. I had to keep reminding her to add some more paper layers. hahah. This project may take a few day to finish but the end result will be worth it and you are using up some of your recycling while doing it. Zoey, whom is 5 was the perfect age for this craft. I don't think toddlers will be too much into it, you may end up doing it all yourself, but if that is what you are going for, great! I decided to do this one in the carport just to save myself the hassle of potential splatters. Messy scale for this craft is a 5! But tons of fun.

Paper Mache Pig/ Piggy Bank

Glue ingredients:
1 cup of flour
1 1/2 cup of warm water
1 tsp white vinegar
1/3 cup of sugar

Here's what you'll need:
Newspaper torn into strips
1 glue recipe in a bowl
2 toilet paper rolls
1/2 cardboard egg carton
Scissors
1 blown up balloon
String
Acrylic paint

Here's how you make it:
1. Once you have a good pile of torn newspaper dip a strip and scrape off excess glue. Start to lay the strips onto the balloon overlapping just a little bit to prevent holes.
2. Cover whole balloon until all you have left is the knotted part.
3. Tie string around knotted balloon and hang it up somewhere to let dry
4. While balloon is drying, cut out ears, nose from the toilet paper rolls and feet from the egg carton. You can refer to my photo below.
5. Once balloon is dry tape ears, nose and feet to balloon and proceed to cover with more strips of newspaper dipped in glue. Make sure there are no holes and let dry
6. Once completely dry pop balloon where the knot is and pull out remnants
7. Paint your pig a desired colour and cut a coin slit at the top if you want it to be a piggy bank.
8. Throw out any left over glue

Congratulations you are done! See how many different animals you can create. This is also a great way to make your own piniata for a party. I plan on doing this as a piniata for my daughter's upcoming birthday.

More Playdough! Even Edible Ones!

2012-09-20T21:48:00.002-07:00

Where you ever wondering if there actually is an edible playdough recipe? Well your question has been solved! Here are some great playdough recipes that your kids can make a figurine, place it in the oven and eat it. How fun is that.

No-Cook Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup salt
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup water
2 Tablespoons oil
A few drops of food coloring
Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients very well and store in plastic bag or covered jar.

The next three recipes are each an edible playdough recipe, especially fun for small children because they can eat the dough. Use raisins, cheerios or small candies to decorate the creations then enjoy!

Peanut Butter Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:
18 oz. peanut butter
6 Tablespoons honey
Nonfat dry milk
Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients with enough nonfat dry milk to form into a workable dough.

Homemade Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar
1 1/4 cups powdered milk
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
Directions:
1. Mix until dough reaches proper consistency for molding.

This playdough recipe needs to be baked when done sculpting because of the raw egg in the recipe.

Edible Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup warm water
1 package dry yeast
1 egg
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
5 cups flour
Directions:
1. Stir yeast in 1 1/2 cups very warm water until dissolved.
2. Mix in egg, honey, shortening and salt. Stir in flour a little at a time until makes a ball.
3. Knead 5 minutes. Make flat figures on cookie sheet. Cover with towel 25 minutes. Bake 20 minutes in 350 degree oven. Eat or shellac it.

Scratch and Sniff Paint

2012-09-20T13:31:00.002-07:00

Your kids will be scratching a hole through the paper wanting to smell this dried paint.

Here's what you need:
Small mixing bowl
2 tbsp jell-O mix
1 tsp hot water
Mixing spoon
2-3 tsp liquid tempera paint
Airtight container

Here's how you make it:
1. In the bowl, combine the jell-O mix and the hot water with the spoon until the Jell-O mix dissolves.
2. Stir in the liquid tempera paint.

Here's how you use it:
1. Using a paintbrush, paint the mixture on a sheet of paper.
2. When your artwork is dry, scratch and sniff the paint.

Here's how you store it:
- Store paint in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. Stir the paint a few times before using.

Tips and Trick:
- Choose a Jell-O flavour that compliments the color of paint you're mixing it with. For example, use grape Jell-O mix with purple paint and strawberry Jell-O mix with red paint.
- Although this paint smell delicious, it is not advised to eat it!

Basic Finger Paint

2012-09-20T13:20:00.002-07:00

Yourself and your toddlers will love this easy to make finger paint. This recipe calls for soap so deffinatly no staining and washes up easily.

Here's what you need:
2 small mixing bowls
1/3 cup clear liquid dish soap
15-20 drops of food coloring
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp cold water

Here's how you use it:
1. In one bowl, mix the dish soap and food coloring with the spoon.
2. In the other bowl, mix the cornstarch and cold water.
3. Add the second mixture to the first mixture and stir well.

Here's how you use it:
Using your fingers, paint the mixture on a sheet of paper.

How to store it:
- Store finger paint in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1-2 weeks. Stir the paint a few times before using it again.

Tips and tricks:
- Get your toddler to cover their whole hand in paint and make fun hand prints.
- You can use old baby food jars to store paint in
- Use egg cartons and have a variety of colors.

Perfect Play Dough

2012-09-20T13:02:00.004-07:00

You will never buy store bought playdough again with this easy recipe. There are so many variations you can do when it come to color, scent, texture and appearance. Get your kids busy and make some play dough today!

Here's what you need:
Large saucepan
2 cups water
1/2 cup salt
1/2 tsp food coloring
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 cups flour
2 tbsp cream of tartar

Here's how you make it:
1. In the saucepan, mix the water, salt and food coloring together.
2. Place the saucepan on the stove burner and boil the mixture on high for 1 minute. Stir mixture until salt dissolves.
3. Remove saucepan from stove and add oil, flour and cream of tartar.
4. Once dough is cool enough to touch, knead for 5 mins.
5. Store in a ziplock bag.

Tips and Tricks:
To make a creature you can try to stick spaghetti into dough and you have a porcupine.

Alternate recipes:
Gingerbread- add 4 tsp ginger, 2 tsp nutmeg, 2tsp clove, 2tbsp cinnamon
Vanilla bean- add 1 tbsp vanilla
Apple pie - 2 tbsp cinnamon, red food coloring

great playdough alternatives

Crystal Shimmering Paint

2012-09-20T12:47:00.001-07:00

Looking to make that snow effect on you artwork? This is a great paint for that. All you need is one main ingredient that we never think to use. Check out this recipe and try it at home.

Here's what you need:
1tbsp Epsom salts
1tbsp boiling water
Small mixing bowl
Mixing spoon
1-3 drops of food coloring

Here's how you make it:
1. Mix epsom salts and boiling water in a bowl. Add desired food coloring.
2. Stir until most of the salt has dissolved.

Here's how you use it:
1. Using a jumbo paintbrush, paint the mixture o a sheet of paper.
2. Set the paper aside to dry. When the water has evaporated from the salt mixture, shimmering crystals will appear.

Tips and tricks:
- Brush mixture onto holiday cards of pictures with snowy scenes to make them sparkle.
- Use black construction paper as a background for your artwork. When the salt mixture crystalizes, a night sky will appear, which will make a perfect setting for a spooky Halloween scene.

Sand Sculpting Clay

2012-09-14T16:12:00.000-07:00

Ok here we gooooo...... This little project was super easy and quick to make. Feels quite similar to play-doh and even molds easily. Now lets see what kind of creations our little ones come up with. Feel free to add a picture of your creations at the bottom.

Sand Sculpting Clay
This sandy clay can be molded and dried to make a permanent, stonelike creation.

Here's what you need:
Old saucepan or pot
2 cups fine, dry sandbox sand or beach sand
1 cup of cornstarch
Mixing spoon

1 1/2 cups of hot water

Oven mitt
Baking sheet lined with wax paper or aluminium foil

Here's how you make it:
1. In an old saucepan or pot, mix the sand and cornstarch with a spoon. (Don't use a good saucepan or pot because the sand will scratch it.)
2. Add the hot water and stir.
3. Place sauce pan on the stove burner. Heat the mixture on medium, stirring it constantly until it's like thick mashed potatoes and is difficult to stir.
4. Remove saucepan from heat.

5. Pour onto baking sheet and let cool until it's ok to handle.

6. Soak saucepan and spoon immediately.

Here's how you use it:

1. Mold the clay into any shape you wish

2. If you want to make a creation permanent, let it dry in a warm place or on a sunny windowsill. A large creation may take several days to dry completely.

Here's how you store it:
Can be stored in a plastic bag for a few days. Will start to get hard if left too long.

Happy creating!