Green Mom - Happy Mom

I have been making some real progress these last few weeks in building my online business. The first few weeks were really tough, a lot of learning and tasks to accomplish, but now I am starting to reap the rewards of all my hard work.

The more I progress, the clearer my goal and vision becomes. This whole thing started as a way to supplement our inconsistent household income, the restaurant business is very fickle and was leaving us a bit tight at times. But now I am finding that we can REPLACE and EXCEED our income. All that being said, this has freed me up to start thinking much bigger, not in a financial way but in a philosophical and emotional way. With the knowledge I have, the skills that I have learned, I can really help people. I can lead others down this same path with confidence and integrity. That feels really good.

To be able to ease the stress and strain of daily life and be able to focus on what really matters, family, I can think much more clearly. Some of the things that used to get under my skin about the restaurant don’t seem to bother me anymore because I have a new goal and new aspiration to focus my energy on. I know that I am not stuck in that business and that in time we will either be able to sell it or afford to pay someone to run it for us. Either way is fine with me. As long as it means I can put my daughter to bed every night and her Daddy is around a lot more than he is now.

Here are some other DIY Recipes for household cleaners:

• Kitchen Cleanser - You will need Baking Soda and Lemon essential oil. PREP: Fill a plastic flip top or stainless steel shaker (like the kind you use for powdered sugar) halfway with baking soda. Add 15 to 20 drops of essential oil. Stir, add more baking soda until it reaches the top of the shaker. Secure the lid and shake to mix. USE: Sprinkle on counters or in sinks, then wipe with a damp cloth or cellulose sponge. Rinse well. Don’t use too much or you’ll need to keep rinsing and wiping.
• Floor Cleaner - You will need Distilled White Vinegar, Filtered Water, Lemon essential oil (optional). PREP: Fill a clean 16oz. squirt bottle with equal amounts vinegar and water. Add 15 - 20 drops essential oil and mix. USE: Squirt on the floor and wipe with a clean rag or mop. This cleaner can be used on finished wood, ceramic tile and vinyl.
• Tub & Tile Cleaner - You will need 1 2/3 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup liquid soap, 1/2 cup filtered water and 2 TBLS. distilled white vinegar. PREP: Mix baking soda and liquid soap in a bowl. Dilute with water and add the vinegar. Mix with a fork until any lumps are gone and the mixture has a pourable consistency (you may need to add more water). Pour into a clean
  16 oz squeeze container (the kind with the squirt flip top lid. Shake well before using; keep the lid tightly closed to prevent mixture from drying out. USE: Squirt on tub, tile, sink or toilet bowl an scrub. Rinse well. If any baking soda residue remains, rinse with a mixture of vinegar and water and next time use a little less baking soda in the recipe.
• Glass Cleaner - You will need 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar, 1/2 cup liquid soap, 2 cups filtered water, essential oil (optional). PREP: Mix soap and water in a clean 16oz spray bottle. Add vinegar and essential oil. Shake well. USE: Spray on windows and either squeegee off or wipe with a paper towel. Once you have cleaned your windows a couple of times, omit the soap (which removes the waxy residue left behind by conventional cleaner) and switch to 1/2 cup vinegar mixed with 2 cups of water.
• All Purpose Cleaner - You will need 2 TBLS distilled white vinegar, 1 tea White Borax (available at grocery stores in laundry aisle) 16oz HOT , filtered water, 1/4 cup liquid soap.
  PREP: Mix vinegar and borax in a clean 16oz spray bottle. Fill with water and shake until the borax has dissolved. Add the liquid soap, shake to mix again. USE: Simply spray and wipe.

Here’s to a green, healthy home and happy family…Let me know how these work for you!

I just received this great email from my aunt about peroxide and its many wonderful uses…

• Teeth Whitener - Take one capful (the little white cap that comes on the bottle) and hold it in your mouth for 10 minutes, best to do while showering. Not only does this whiten your teeth but also helps with canker sores. It actually says mouth wash and gargle in small print on the bottle.
• Toothbrush Sanitizer - Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of peroxide to keep them germ free
• Household Surface Sanitizer - Clean your counters and table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simple put a little on your dishrag when you wipe down or spray it on the counters with a standard spray bottle.
• Wooden Cutting Board Sanitizer - After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.
• Laundry Stain Remover and Whitener - Add a cup of peroxide to your load of whites instead of bleach or apply directly to blood stains. Let it sit for a minute, rub, rinse with cold water.
• Mirror Cleaner - No streaks.
• Make a 50/50 mixture into a spray bottle and use as an overall household disinfectant.

Let me know how these solutions work for you!