Gradual Changes--Making Our Home Less Toxic

I paid a visit to my natropath a couple of weeks ago. I have been having ongoing problems--nothing major, just things that I wanted to have guidance in dealing with. During our conversation she asked what cleaning products I use. After a minute or two I told her that I really don't do that much cleaning. Yes, I dust and sweep the floor. The floor gets mopped. I don't let mold sit around in my shower or toilet. However, I don't follow a regular cleaning schedule and I don't like to use a lot of commercial cleaning products--the basic reason I don't do a whole lot of cleaning. I know that sniffing that stuff is not good for us. The whole time I am using those type of cleaning products I am trying not to breath. I mop the floor with vinegar, but I haven't taken the real plunge into more natural cleaning.

Tonight, however, that all changed.

Step #1:
Get rid of the artificial scented wax stuff in the Scentsy.

A dear friend gave me a Scentsy for my birthday a couple of years ago. I have only used it a handful of times because those scents are totally toxic. The daughter got headaches from them, and while I enjoyed having good smelling smells, I knew it really wasn't good.

So . . . I heated up the existing wax with my hair dryer and threw it out. I put coconut oil and lime essential oil in the bowl and plugged it in. So. Much. Better!!! Good smelling home--no toxic induced guilt. Ideally I would like to use beeswax not coconut oil, but I do not currently have any beeswax available, so I used what I had.

Step #2:
Wipe down the walls.

Have you ever been totally amazed to find dust on the walls of your home? It totally freaks me out. So tonight I mixed up the following:

Wall Cleaning Spray
2 cups distilled water
1 cup white vinegar
12 drops lemon essential oil

Mix in a spray bottle. Shake before each spray.

My living room walls got the treatment tonight with the above spray and a microfiber cloth.

Step #3:
Refresh the carpet.

I have found a recipe for a carpet cleaner using essential oils in a rented steam cleaner. That will be happening at some point, but for tonight I vacuumed very well then shook the following onto the carpet:

Carpet Refresher
1 cup cornmeal
2 cups Borax
2 cups baking soda
10 drops rosemary essential oil
20 drops lemon essential oil
20 drops lavender essential oil

Mix well and sprinkle on carpet. Allow to sit for several hours, or better yet, overnight.

The mixture is currently sitting on my carpet and will be vacuumed up in the morning.

My family just got home and they are all very happy with the wonderful smells from all my work.

One room started, many to go, but slow and steady wins the race.

A piece of my heart

My third born, my Bubbie Boy, is the child I shake my head over. The one who causes me to do deep breathing. The one who makes me wonder on a regular basis if we are going to be taking a trip to the emergency room. I often say that his older sister and brother did absolutely nothing to prepare us for him. They are responsible, mature. Bubbie? Not so much.

A sign hangs in his room that reads, "Meandering to the beat of a different drummer." He is very unlike the rest of us who are living this life with him. Yet he is passionate. He feels things deeply. He fiercely defends those whom he loves. He sings at the top of his lungs. He wakes in the morning asking if anyone wants to play a board game.

To be truthfully honest, he Absolutely. Wears. Me. Out. For me to try to accomplish anything is a chore because he almost always requires my attention.

So, why is it, that tonight, while he is having a sleep-over at a friend's house, do I keep looking at his room and sighing? It feels like part of my heart is missing. Don't get me wrong. I am glad he is enjoying his friends and I am not trying to keep him my little boy, but I just feel better when he is here.

I know I should be striving to accomplish some of those many, many things I am always saying that I am unable to because of his activity level; but, honestly, I will be glad when he is back home under our roof.

I so love that little boy.

Parent Directed Education

Our homeschool is in for a shake-up. Plans are not yet hammered down, so I do not want to share details, but for us it is big.

In light of the changes, I have become increasingly annoyed by the lack of support for parents who are just trying to do what they feel the Lord wants for THEIR family.

Jimmie inspired me to make a blog button of my own. My old "Proud Homeschooling Mom" just wasn't fitting right for now, so this is my attempt at replacing that button.



Details will be forthcoming with what I think will be a long editorial. For right now just let me say, I am clinging to my Father for guidance.

HOW many steps???!!!

Do you have people living in your home who cannot just wait to get to their (BIG breath) Xbox, texting phone, DS, Ipod, computer, TV, etc., etc., etc.?

We seem to have that problem.

I decided to come up with a solution.

It's called PEDOMETERS.

I placed an order on Monday for three pedometers. (I have had mine for a little over a week.) Did you know that you are supposed to walk 10,000 steps each day? You are. I am not going to require quite that much. But I am going to require 6,000 steps. We will increase that number over the summer. Each person who desires screen time must log 6,000 steps on their pedometer first.

Excitement currently abounds. The little step trackers have been in our possession for all of thirty minutes. We will see how excited everyone is tomorrow.

As for me, I am excited and will continue to be.

Works for me!