A RECYCLED STORAGE SOLUTION FOR THE ORGANISED

I haven't met many people (or should I say 'women' instead of people?) who believe in 'enough storage'. Personally, I can never have enough storage solutions. As a person who makes things quite often, I always have something that needs to be put away but I never seem to have enough area to put them away all nice and neatly. I am a fairly fussy person too and I do enjoy it when things are where they are meant to be but like I said, unfortunately, there is no such thing as 'enough' in my world when it comes down to storage.

The above picture shows that it is possible to use a recyclable item to get rid of some of the clutter at home so easily. The circles are actually just paper towel rolls and depending on the size of your items, they can be cut into two or three and make smaller rooms. They can also be closed on one end, so that they can be used for small items such as buttons, nails etc too.

Have a nice and easy day today!

HOW TO MAKE A PAPER BOAT

When at home, Mr. Junior plays on his own at times but his favourite is doing things with us. He generally does things like crafty projects or cooking related activities with me and does gardening and things that require tools with Mr. Hubby the most.

He loves being involved in daily activities and responsibilities and we are happy to keep it that way. However, there are times when he doesn't want to do anything on his own and can't find anything to do with me during the day and he comes and asks me whether we can 'make' something. He even gives me ideas at times.

About a week ago, he wanted to make a boat with me. As a child, I remember of making hundreds of them but I couldn't remember the right steps on that day for some reason. So, I jumped online and refreshed my mind using some online tutorials. After a few minutes, we made our first boat together with him. It was really fun. We only used what we had in hand for paper at the time and it doesn't look the best. So, excuse the picture but regardless of how imperfect it looks, it was one great activity for us to do together and made Mr. Junior very happy. I believe that is what matters the most after all, don't you think?

Below is a video recorded tutorial on how to make a paper boat. Enjoy!

A CRAFTY DECORATION IDEA

What a brilliant idea to share once again! So easy, so personal, so unique! You could use this idea and change it a bit if you wanted to. For example, if you are a teacher and are looking for a crafty idea to do with your students, you could form groups of 5 (or so) students and each group can have their unique hand stamped wreath. Alternatively, if you are a parent and would like to do something with your family, you could make this using each family member's hand prints. You can make a wreath with it and put it on a door or you can frame it!

BRINGING UP ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BABIES

There are many ways that can help us bring up our babies as environmentally friendly as possible. Below is a list of suggestions most of which are quite easy to do. Please feel free to add to this list your tips in the comments section below.

1. Breastfeed: There are many reasons why it is best to breastfeed babies in general but here, lets look at it from the environmental perspective. By not using packaged foods, you will be supporting a healthy environment (no factory carbon footprints caused during production of foods)
2. Make your own baby foods at home: When your child is ready for solids, cook his foods yourself at home. It is cheaper and healthier (and pretty easy too). 
3. Re-usable nappies vs disposable nappies: It takes 200-500 years for a disposable nappy to dissolve. It is arguable that the amount of energy and water used for washing the cloth nappies may be less harmful to the environment than the modern single use nappies.
4. Use cloth and water instead of wet wipes: Some cotton cloth  and water is so much better for your baby and the environment than the wet wipes. However, if you have a convenience issue with that, you may try to use the cloth/water at home and the wet tissues when out and about.
5. Share: Re-use baby/kids clothes and toys. Share them with others (with other family members' or friends' kids or you could choose the pre-owned ones when shopping and then pass them on to others when done with them) as opposed to buying new at all times. 
6. Choose environmentally friendly toys: Plastic is bad for your child's health as well as our planet. Choose the toys that are made using natural materials such as wood and cotton. You could even give a go at making a toy at home or choose the handmade ones when shopping.
7. Go for cotton baby clothes: Good for your baby, good for the environment, and more durable than many other materials/fabrics!
8. Read tags: Read the ingredients used in baby shampoos, soaps and other products and try to buy the ones that have natural ingredients. It may be more expensive but it would definitely be worth it. At least try to swap the one that you use the most with a natural one even if you can't afford to purchase all of your baby's products from the natural/organic range. Alternatively, make your own! Many products that we/our kids use on a regular basis can be home-made. (Let me know if there is a particular product that you would like me to write about or share a tutorial of)
9. Use natural disinfectants: Instead of using chemicals like bleach, use natural options such as bicarbonate and vinegar when cleaning baby products (toys, pacifiers etc). You can use them in general house cleaning purposes too. (I have already written about a few options such as homemade cleaning products for babies, homemade hand sanitizers, homemade laundry detergents, homemade all-purpose cleaning products, and more but If you need more information, stay tuned! I will be posting more about homemade disinfectants in the future.)
10. Be an example: Teach them how to love and protect our planet/world/environment not only verbally but by being a good example too. They are likely to be more interested and passionate about it if they see you as a caring person and if it is a part of your lifestyle. 

NATURAL HOMEMADE AIR-FRESHENER

copied picture

Who would have ever thought making your air-freshener could be so easy and chemical free? It will spread a sweet cinnamon smell in the air and I don't know many people who wouldn't enjoy that particular smell. It also looks very interesting and in my opinion, it would look great on benches, dining tables or on display shelves.

Here is what you need to do:

Cut up the top of an apple and empty out the inside of it leaving the outside as is. It should look like a cup.  Then, put a cinnamon stick in it and fill it up with hot water. The water helps to get the cinnamon smell. This is a no-waste type of a project. Don't waste the inside of the apple when you carve it out. Eat it or use it in desserts or juices. When you are done with the air freshener, you can still consume the remaining too (as long as it is in good conditions). A brilliant idea!

FILES WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH

What a lovely idea here! This is a must for me as I have a huge number of those really boring hanging files. The original files are so boring that everytime I go next to them, I feel like just leaving them open so that I don't have to see that bold all-the-same looking cover when I look at them. This craft idea is awesome and adds some fun to those folders.

You can alter the type of paper you use but for the ones in the picture above, the maker has used wall-paper scraps and she has used spray adhesive to stuck them on folders.

Check out this for the rest of the tutorial.

Have a fun weekend!

HANDMADE RIBBON CUSHION

Another craft idea from another skillful blogger! This would make a wonderful craft project for the weekend and by the next week, you may have a different look in your room altogether!

You can find her written and visual instructions for this project here. This particular project has no zip at all. She has used iron-on interfacing at the back of the ribbons. For further details and materials used, just visit her site. I leave you with a few of pictures.

Have a crafty day!

HOMEMADE HAND SANITIZER RECIPES

Here are a few homemade hand sanitizer recipes for you:

Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup PURE aloe vera gel (not the green stuff)
• 1-4 teaspoons of Witch Hazel (amount depends on desired consistency)                                             5-10 drops of essential oil (tea tree and peppermint also have natural antibacterial properties) properties

Method:

After stirring the aloe vera in a bowl for a bit, slowly start adding the witch hazel (or alcohol) until it forms the consistency level you would like to have. Then, add your essential oils in the amount you desire. 

Another Alcohol-Free Recipe

• Ingredients:
• 1 cup pure  aloe vera gel
• 1-2 teaspoons of witch hazel (add until the desired consistency is reached)
• 1/4 tsp (or 25 drops) tea tree oil (or increased amounts of other essential oils)

Hand Sanitizer with Alcohol

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 c. aloe vera gel (as pure as you can get)
• 3/4 c. rubbing alcohol (at least 91%)
• 1/8 c. vegetable glycerin (optional) (if omitted, use an extra 1/8 c. aloe vera gel)
• 10 drops essential oil (cinnamon and sweet orange are only two examples) (optional)

Method: 

Pour everything into your food processor or blender and let it go on high for a minute or two. Bottle and use as you would any hand sanitizer. Keeps for 6 months or more.

Hand Sanitizer with Soap

• Ingredients:
  1. some small soap pieces
  2. water
  3. a few drops of perfume, essential oils, rose water or a little honey
  
  
  Method:
  Add simmering water to the small soap pieces or directly immersed in distilled water after shaking a few days. Add the oils or whatever you want to add to this mixture. Pour it all into a suction pressure type of a container. 
  
  
  This sanitizer should be able to stay for a few months.

HANDMADE STORAGE BASKET

What a lovely project! It is made out of felt and it has a lining made from some floral fabric. I found the tutorial here . The website has a lot of clear pictures as well as written instructions. The original writer of the tutorial has made it sound so easy that I cannot wait to find a chance to give it a go. I am not sure if you feel the same way but at home, I never have enough storage. This would make a lovely unique personalised storage space for me and I would always have a story to tell about it. I love handmade items!

CHANGING THE COLOUR OF WATER

I have learnt this from a kids' science TV program recently. I found it amazing and wanted to share it with you too.

If you cook red cabbage, you will see that its water turns dark purple. If you pour some of that water onto a cup of plain tap water, the water turns purple. Then add some egg white and stir it well, the water will become blue. Then add some vinegar, and it will turn into pink/red. Add some baking soda, it will be blue again. Put some lemonade in it and it will amazingly turn into purple once again! (I hope I remembered them all right!)

It is incredible!

If you would like to learn more about the activity or the reasons behind the colour changes, here is one of the good sources for you.

REDUCE ORGANIC FOOD EXPENSES BY 90%!

I have recently learnt that some produces are more important to be bought in their organic version than the others as they tend to have the highest amount of pesticides when conventionally grown. If you can buy everything organic, lucky you, I'd definitely say go for it! However, if you have to choose, whether it is for you, your child or for the whole family, choose the ones that are likely to contain the highest pesticide levels normally organic and buy the ones with relatively less pesticide levels from not necessarily organic produce selling places. By doing so, you can reduce the amount of your pesticides intake by 90%!

Here is the list of the ones that tend to have the highest pesticides levels if not organically grown (so, try to buy these organic):

• celery
• strawberries
• peaches
• blueberries
• spinach
• apples
• nectarines
• bell peppers
• cherries
• potatoes (and more)

Now, lets look at the list of the produces with less pesticide levels:

• Peas
• Corn
• Asparagus
• Pineapple
• Mangoes
• Kiwi
• Honeydew
• Cantaloupe/Rockmelon
• Onion
• Sweet potatoes

I am aware that there are some standards in place especially here in Australia. However, it still doesn't mean that the foods that we consume everyday are pesticide free (unless stated so). There are ways to reduce the amount of pesticides and other chemicals we are exposed to by following some certain strategies. Some of those strategies are listed below:

Buy organic/biodynamic.

Grow your own.

Buy produces that pass particular standards (be extra careful with the imported ones).

Thoroughly wash all fruit and vegetables.

Peel or remove the outer layer whenever possible.

Do not over-consume certain types of foods. Instead, eat a variety of meats, vegies and fruit.

Cook meat/chicken well.

Trim visible fat from meats, as many residues are fat soluble.

There are many online sources available if you would like to do further reading on this topic. You can search for 'dirty dozen and clean fifteen', 'pesticide residue in fresh produce' and 'pesticides and other chemicals in food' and so forth. You can also visit some other reliable websites such as this or this. 

PRAISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT

It is important to know the differences between praise and encouragement when working with children regardless of your position as a parent or a teacher. Praise and encouragement are two different terms. Here are some notes on praise's differences from encouragement.

• praise gives personal judgement by an approving adult

• can discourage belief in oneself

• "If I'm not good then am I bad?"

• can focus on end product

• develops a competitive/superior belief

HOMEMADE FRUITY YOGHURT

I must confess. I LOVE my fruity yoghurt! Especially when the weather is hot and I don't quite feel like having anything even though I am hungry due to the heat, some fruity yoghurt would be one of my first rescuers. It is refreshing, healthy, filling and delicious. It is quite flexible too and you can make your own fruit combination depending on your taste buds or the seasonal choices.

In the picture above, you see what Mr. Junior had the other day just before his daytime nap. Nuts and berries are his favourites and he decided on this particular menu by himself. He actually put the yoghurt into the bowl, washed some organic blueberries and blackberries and added them to the yoghurt, and Bob's your uncle!

Since Mr. Junior was able to eat yoghurt as a baby, I have been making him different fruity yoghurt meals and he has been definitely enjoying them. Now that Miss Junior started having yoghurt too, she does as well.

Depending on your child's age, readiness, allergy history, preferences and the fruit available, you can use many types of fruit for this dish. Berries (frozen or fresh), bananas, mangoes and strawberries are some of the best choices. You can also make it with grated (especially for babies) or chopped stone fruit (such as peaches), pears, apples, or grapes. You can even add some nuts (grated/chopped up almonds, for example)You may choose to have a single type of fruit or a combination in it.

It often has a good colour (depending on the fruit you use) and smells really nice. It is so easy to prepare that even your preschooler can make it. You may be surprised if your child wouldn't mind skipping his over-sugary treats and instead, asking for this snack/meal once he tastes it. Not many kids (or adults) would need more than one go to fall in love with it but if you don't get that big effect after the first try, just try it again with another combo. You are very likely to be pleased.

Enjoy!

HOMEMADE ALL-PURPOSE CLEANING PRODUCTS

Below are some of many-to-come ideas and recipes for you for homemade cleaning products. The ones below are for general use. 

Homemade Cleaner 1

Mix your own cleaner with these ingredients to kill bacteria and leave your surfaces shining:

1 tablespoon of Borax powder (find it in the laundry aisle of your supermarket);
3 tablespoons of white vinegar;
2 cups of water;
1 tablespoon of dish soap;
1 drop of essential oil such as peppermint for fragrance (optional).

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, give it a shake, and you are ready to clean. To wipe windows, you also can use plain white vinegar on newspapers. To disinfect toys and other kids' products, fill a spray bottle with non-chlorine bleach (3% hydrogen peroxide) and wipe with a paper towel.

Homemade Cleaner 2

1 quart warm water
1 teaspoon liquid soap
1 teaspoon borax
1/4 cup undiluted white vinegar

Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle. Use for cleaning countertops, floors, walls, carpets and upholstery.

So, it is not that hard or impossible to ditch all the toxic chemicals lurking under your kitchen cabinet, on the shelf in your bathroom, and out in the garage. Please share you ideas and recipes with us in the comments section below.

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT

There are various homemade laundry detergent recipes that you may be able to find through family and friends or other resources. Here, I will share with you one of the recipes that you may enjoy working with. The original source of this recipe is here.

Ingredients:

1 bar Fels-Naptha bar soap
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup Baking Soda


Directions:

1. Grate the Fels-Naptha bar soap finely.  (Use a hand grater or alternatively, you can use a food processor).

2. Add 1 cup Borax.

3. Add 1 cup washing soda.


4. Add 1/4 cup baking soda.

5. Find a helper and stir well (that is banana on his nose, if you are wondering -- no need to be grossed out).

6. You should have a nice powdered mixture.

7. Place in an airtight container.  Use 2 tablespoons per regular load of laundry. 

The original writer of this recipe has even created a label for you that you can access to through the link above. 

 

If you would like to check out more homemade detergent recipes, try these:

http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Laundry-Detergent/

http://aussieslivingsimply.com.au/forum/natural-cleaners-and-products-for-the-home/446-homemade-laundry-detergent

CHIA

This is another type of seed that we have been consuming since we came across with it a few years ago. We were really impressed when we learned that it contains really high levels of Omega-3.

Health benefits of chia seeds:

• Reduces blood pressure
• Energising
• Helpful in
• Reduces pain and inflammation (helps with arthritis as these seeds help lubricating joints)
• Helps stabilising blood sugar
• Boosts metabolism and promotes lean muscle mass
• Helps cleansing the colon, absorbs toxins
• Contains 20% protein
• Provides high levels of antioxidants
• They absorb large amounts of water and are good at hydrating our bodies
• Has essential fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6. They help to improve brain function including memory and concentration), fiber, iron, calcium, niacin, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus.

According to some sources, chia seeds have three times more iron than spinach and fifteen times more magnesium than broccoli.

How to use:

You can sprinkle chia seeds on your yoghurt, cereal, or salads. It is possible to use them in sandwiches. They can also be added into smoothies or soaked in drinking water. I personally don't enjoy it soaked in water as it becomes jelly like and I don't quite enjoy that particular texture but we are happy to include it in many types of our foods as a family. They don't really have a distinct taste or smell.

Have a healthy day!

WHEN YOUR CHILD IS SAD...

What you can do when a child is sad:

• talk about feelings, especially sadness and anger
• make sure the children's teachers and carers know your child may be upset
• be available for cuddles
• make sure that they know what has happened isn't their fault
• if death is involved, talk about it simply but honestly
• talk to your child about the person or pet they have lost and encourage them to talk too
• reassure them that it's OK for grown-ups to cry, but that you'll feel better soon and you still love them very much
• don't burden your children with your grief. Get help from other adults
• try to keep family routines going, as this helps children feel more secure
• get active! it can really help when we're sad or stressed
• try to end every 'sad talk' session with a bit of hope. Plan something special with your child-like playing with a friend.

Making memories:

• remember together the good and funny times. You can still laugh when sad.
• make a 'memory book' with photos, stories, drawings etc.
• as well as helpful storybooks, you might like to make up your own story about a similar situation and show how those people managed.

(These are taken from a Positive Parenting Course's notes)

HANDMADE HANGERS

I found these hangers on this site. I thought they were unique, fun and good looking. If you are interested in learning how to make them, just click here and it will take you to the original page. There, not only will you find the instructions, but you will also be able to access to the patterns that are free and printable. Enjoy!

ESSENTIALS OF A NATURAL MEDICINE CABINET

Dr Oz's top 5 essentials for a natural medicine cabinet

1. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is a natural, essential oil derived from the leaves of a plant indigenous to Australia. It works as a natural antiseptic. It is used to soothe skin problems such as minor burns, athlete’s foot, and insect bites. When applied directly to the skin, tea tree oil has been found to have anti-microbial activity against strong bacteria and fungi.

2. SLS-free Toothpaste: SLS is the acronym of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a chemical that creates foam when you brush, but can also lead to mouth sores. Natural toothpaste alternatives aren’t as foamy but are also less harsh.

3. Tiger Balm: Tiger balm is a natural muscle relaxer. It has a substance called camphor, when used in small amounts, releases localized muscle-relaxing heat for aches and pains. It works as topical muscle relaxer/pain reliever. IMPORTANT: Remember it should not be ingested, so keep away from children.

4. Valerian Root Capsules: Several studies in adults suggest that this herb may improve quality of sleep and reduce the time to fall asleep. It is a natural relaxer/sedative. IMPORTANT: This herb should not be mixed with other sedatives or anti-anxiety medications.

5. Bentonite Clay: This is an absorbent substance that may be able to relieve diarrhea. It may also be able to absorb toxic substances in the intestines and prevent them from causing nausea or upset. It may also be used to relieve diarrhea.

Here  is Dr. Oz's website for you.

CHILDREN'S FEELINGS

(Continuation of Positive Parenting Notes)

You can help your child to put a verbal label on the feeling by asking:

• Did that make you feel ........................ when ...........................?
• Were you feeling ..................................when ...........................?
• It sounds like that made you feel ...............................................?

Some common ways to DISMISS a child's emotions are to:

• offer advice ("You should have...")
• ask why your child did or said that they did
• talk only about yourself
• tell your child not to worry
• jump straight into problem solving
• take the side of the other person (eg. teacher, brother) as opposed to listening to the child's perspective
• offer distractions
• moralise