Keeper of the Home: Natural living

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Natural living

July 1, 2008: Something they can really sink their teeth into
Comments: 0 | Categories: Babies , Healthy kids , Natural living

There is just something so reassuring about these natural toys that we've recently purchased. I love that I can let me kids play freely with them-- gum them, suck on them, chew them to their little heart's content-- and I don't have to be worried about the toxic substances that...

June 19, 2008: I choose hope
Comments: 10 | Categories: Current events , Faith , Natural living

There is a lot of bad news out there. Sometimes, being on the internet so much, I can tend to feel overwhelmed by all that I read and see. One site in particular has really been getting to me lately, with what I feel is a particularly negative, hopeless and...

June 17, 2008: Edible communities
Comments: 2 | Categories: Going green , Natural living

I stumbled upon a rather serendipitous find last weekend, while visiting with my sister-in-law. I suppose I made for a rather rude house guest, as I temporarily lost myself in this intriguing read, a magazine all about local food in Vancouver! The magazine not only had some interesting articles on...

May 30, 2008: Now this is something that I have definitely never thought of using cloth for!
Comments: 11 | Categories: Frugality , Going green , Natural living

I stumbled upon this creative thrifty odd interesting idea today, and thought I would pass it on to you all! Have any of you ever heard of this idea of Family Cloth? Have you tried it? (If you have, wow, you are a brave soul, you have my most sincere...

May 29, 2008: Who knew going cheap and minimalist could be so good?
Comments: 9 | Categories: Frugality , Natural living

So, in the past month I've ditched shampoo, starting using the Oil Cleansing Method for my face, and started making my own toothpaste. Any one curious to know how it's all going? Actually, I don't think that I mentioned I was doing the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM). I discovered it...

May 27, 2008: My thoughts on sunscreen, Part 2
Comments: 7 | Categories: Healthy kids , Living healthy , Natural living

If you missed the first post in this series, you can read it here. Based on my discussion last time about my concerns with the use of sunscreen (which brought up great discussion- thanks for all your comments!), you may well be wondering what am I suggesting for sun safety....

May 22, 2008: My thoughts on sunscreen
Comments: 23 | Categories: Living healthy , Natural living

My question is, do you know of or have an organic/natural sunscreen for babies? With the weather warming up here in Tennessee, I would really like to find a sunscreen for my almost 1 year old that doesn't have all those chemicals in it. Thought maybe you would have some...

May 22, 2008: Tips for eating locally
Comments: 0 | Categories: Going green , Natural living

I read this post by Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking today, and thought it was such perfect timing considering the recent discussion on purchasing organics and the local vs. import debate. She mentioned going to the Farmer's Market (I guess the ones in her area are open earlier in the year...

May 21, 2008: Baby Steps: Replacing your Toothpaste
Comments: 15 | Categories: Natural living

This week's baby step is: Consider what you are currently using for toothpaste and seek to replace it with a better alternative. There are so many different beauty and toiletry items that we could focus on replacing, but a la "Baby Steps", we will choose just this one for now....

May 19, 2008: Free BPA-free Sippy Cup- call quickly!
Comments: 5 | Categories: Babies , Healthy kids , Natural living

Just wanted to pass on a (potentially) great freebie that a friend just let me know about. Since all of the BPA info has come out into the open, Avent has been offering refunds on their products containing BPA. Now, it turns out they are offering a free trial of...

May 18, 2008: Truly organic?
Comments: 8 | Categories: Going green , Natural living

This morning, I had the extreme pleasure of speaking to a lovely elderly lady named Sonja, with a European accent I couldn't quite place. I was calling to ask when the strawberries on her farm would be ready to buy, and we ended by talking about when to plant corn,...

May 13, 2008: Best deals on Klean Kanteen?
Comments: 8 | Categories: Frugality , Natural living

A quick question for you all (because I know you're such a resourceful bunch!)... My SIL and I have decided to bite the bullet and start buying some Klean Kanteen bottles that I've been mentioning, as we've been wanting to for quite some time, but the cost is just somewhat...

April 21, 2008: A winner and a question
Comments: 6 | Categories: Going green , Natural living

First of all, congratulations to MaryBeth from Four Silly Sisters, who will soon be toting around two adorable re-usable shopping bags, in addition to her triplets and toddler! We're all jealous happy for you! Thanks to Stacey of Yvonne Totes for the fantastic giveaway! Secondly, I have a question for...

April 8, 2008: All you ever wanted to know about oatmeal!
Comments: 16 | Categories: A bit of this, a bit of that , In the kitchen , Natural living

Today's kitchen tip is a quick lesson in soaking and cooking oatmeal. Recently, I've been asked multiple times what kind of oats we use, and to explain the details of how I make our breakfast cereal, so here goes... For the longest time, we have been buying organic rolled oats...

March 13, 2008: Spring cleaning for your plastics!
Comments: 8 | Categories: Going green , In the kitchen , Natural living

In the midst of the flurry of spring cleaning that's happening around the blogosphere right now,this article from The Green Guide seemed particularly relevant. While you're tackling the kitchen, you may just get motivated to chuck out recycle a whole lot of the plastics that may be bringing some less-than-desirable...

March 5, 2008: While we're on the topic of cloth diapers...
Comments: 3 | Categories: Babies , Frugality , Natural living

Here's a site for you to check out: The Used Diaper Company During my recent diaper cover research, I ran across this site that I thought I would pass on to you. When I was originally planning to buy new covers, I spent quite a bit of time looking on...

March 4, 2008: Backwards WMFW- Getting my cloth diaper covers to stop leaking!!!
Comments: 15 | Categories: Babies , Natural living

Some of you may remember that back before Christmas, I was ecstatic to order 4 new Bummi's Super Whisper Wraps. Unfortunately, my excitement was only short lived. They are leaking now, not just from the edges, but even from the back and front panels. It is so bad that I...

February 20, 2008: Know where you food is coming from!
Comments: 4 | Categories: Good stewardship , Living healthy , Natural living

Do you know where the food on your table has come from? Or the conditions that it was raised in? Yesterday, I read an article and watched a very disturbing video describing the largest beef recall in history. The video shows clips of very weak and ill cattle, being prodded,...

February 19, 2008: I'm sold on the dry diaper pail!
Comments: 7 | Categories: Babies , Natural living

Just a couple of weeks ago, I wrote a few posts about cloth diapering (Part 1 and Part 2), and was asked by a reader about using the dry pail method. It was actually the first time it had occurred to me that it was even an option to not...

February 13, 2008: A better (greener) option for groceries and gifts
Comments: 10 | Categories: Going green , Good stewardship , Natural living

Over the last few months, I've been feeling so convicted about the waste that our family produces. One of the areas that has been really getting to me is bringing home 5 (or 10) plastic bags when I come home from the grocery store. Of course, I save them and...

February 7, 2008: Natural dry cleaning alternatives?
Comments: 0 | Categories: Going green , Natural living

After an unfortunate spill (alternative "coffee" beverage + dressy wool jacket= an unhappy mommy) at church this past Sunday, I've had dry cleaning alternatives on my mind. My sweet sister-in-law said that she had heard of a more natural dry cleaner in the city we live in, so I gave...

February 4, 2008: Your input is requested!
Comments: 6 | Categories: Babies , In the kitchen , Natural living

I have several questions from readers that I would like to open up to all of you! From Cloth Diapering (even for the faint of heart): I was wondering, have you ever tried the dry pail method? And if so, is there a difference in the stinkiness? Beth I was...

February 2, 2008: Q&A: Cloth diapering (even for the faint of heart)- Part 2
Comments: 11 | Categories: Babies , Going green , Natural living

If you missed the first post in this series, here's the link. Here's my basic method: Whenever I change my little guy, I toss all of the diapers and wipes into a pail beside his change table (I try to remember to close the velcro tabs, but hey, I'm not...

January 31, 2008: Q&A: Cloth diapering (even for the faint of heart)- Part 1
Comments: 5 | Categories: Babies , Going green , Natural living

I'm assuming that you cloth diaper. I would love all the info that I could get as far as your favorite methods, and the products you use. The information out there is overwhelming. I am Mama to five wonderful girls and have another blessing on the way , due July...

January 17, 2008: The Dirty Dozen- Making the most of the money you spend on organics
Comments: 10 | Categories: Frugality , Natural living

Have you ever wondered whether some fruits or vegetables are more important to buy organic than others? The simple answer is yes! Certain crops can be more difficult to grow, and when not using organic and natural methods, require the use of many more pesticides and sprays than other crops....

January 16, 2008: Tips for eating seasonally
Comments: 8 | Categories: Going green , Natural living , Nutrition

If you are blessed to have a Farmer's or produce market near your home, you may have noticed that the vast array of colorful fruits and vegetables shift slightly as the seasons change. Spring brings with it the first fresh greens and carrots, then summer arrives with berries and sweet...

January 8, 2008: Health alert- Nalgene water bottles being pulled off shelves
Comments: 13 | Categories: Living healthy , Natural living

I just received an email from my mother-in-law, with a link to an article on Dr. Mercola's site. It seems that Nalgene bottles are being taken off the shelf because they contain BPA (bisphenol A), a toxic chemical that causes hormone disruption. This article explains it all very well. I'm...

January 5, 2008: The Story of Stuff
Comments: 2 | Categories: Good stewardship , Natural living

Take the time to watch this very thought-provoking video! Big hat tip to Lindsay for the link!

January 1, 2008: Beautiful wooden and safe teething toys for babies!
Comments: 2 | Categories: Babies , Living healthy , Natural living

I just had to share these stocking stuffers we bought for my 7 month old son this Christmas. I've posted a bit about my recent concerns over toy safety, and so when the time came to find a few small gifts for our children, I knew that what I bought...

December 15, 2007: Book Review: The 100 Mile Diet (at last!)
Comments: 1 | Categories: Books , Natural living , Nutrition

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating, and actually stayed up late a couple of nights to keep reading. It's a topic that fascinates my nutritionally minded, health-nut brain, and inspires me to re-evaluate much of what I am buying. I did not...

December 14, 2007: Healthy vs. Frugal- Do I have to choose?
Comments: 11 | Categories: Frugality , Living healthy , Natural living

In a word... NO!!! Honestly, I don't think it has to come down to that. I believe that frugality includes the ability to be creative, to think outside of the box, to cheerfully go without certain things or substitute items for others. It includes carefully weighing quality and cost and...

December 13, 2007: What are you putting onto your skin (and into your body)?
Comments: 0 | Categories: Living healthy , Natural living

In light of my recent post, I wanted to spend a bit more time talking about the dangers of chemicals in products that we use topically (such as make-up, lotions, deodorants, shampoos, etc.) and orally (toothpastes and other mouth care products). Although there is a growing acknowledgment that toxins in...

December 12, 2007: Want to know if your cosmetics and toiletries are safe?
Comments: 6 | Categories: Living healthy , Natural living

How sure are you that the ingredients in your cosmetic products (ie. shampoo, makeup, lotion, toothpaste, baby soap, etc.) are safe and non-toxic? My sister-in-law just sent me an excellent link that I wanted to pass on to you. It is called Skin Deep- cosmetic safety database. This site is...

November 29, 2007: Having children a selfish act?
Comments: 3 | Categories: Natural living

On Saturday, when my blog was down, my husband and I read this incredibly sad and disturbing article, and I've been mulling over a post about it ever since. Here are some of the "highlights": Had Toni Vernelli gone ahead with her pregnancy ten years ago, she would know at...

November 27, 2007: Natural household cleaners, Part 2
Comments: 3 | Categories: Frugality , Living healthy , Natural living

I wondered last time how many people were hoping for a list of every natural substance (vinegar, baking soda, lemon, etc.) and how I make different combinations and concoctions in order to cheaply make my house sparkling clean and non-toxic, with the scent of lemons wafting on the breeze. You...

November 13, 2007: Book Review: The 100 Mile Diet (first installment)
Comments: 0 | Categories: Books , Natural living

This weekend I finally got my hands on a book that I've been really excited to read since I heard about it. It appeals to the back-to-the-land, everything natural and homemade, wish I was born in the 1800's, side of me. And yet, this book is so current, so relevant,...

November 10, 2007: I get to go shopping...
Comments: 3 | Categories: Babies , Mothering , Natural living

...but it's not going to affect our budget (I can't believe we're already 1/3 of the way through our month of trying not to spend any money)! My husband's Grandma, who is just so sweet, just sent us a cheque for getting some things that our kids need, and it...

November 7, 2007: Natural help for teething babies?
Comments: 3 | Categories: Babies , Natural living

Alright, Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer is hosting a backwards Works-for-me-Wednesday. In other words, rather than suggesting my own tip or advice about a subject, I get to ask all of you about a question that is burning in my mind! Here it is... how do you help (and...

November 1, 2007: Getting revenge on cold and flu season
Comments: 2 | Categories: Living healthy , Natural living , Nutrition

It's upon us (cold and flu season, that is). On Tuesday night, I got run over by a nasty head cold and I am still slowly recovering. Since I'm nursing and don't want to take medications or pass my cold to my kids, and I have an allergy to pseudoephedrine...

October 25, 2007: Antibiotic misuse has tragic results
Comments: 0 | Categories: Living healthy , Natural living

It grieves me to read the latest news regarding the antibiotic resistant forms of staph infection that are spreading. This morning I read two articles about concern over staph infections in public school students (read here and here). The primary issue in this current situation is not as much the...

October 23, 2007: Natural houshold cleaners- Part 1
Comments: 0 | Categories: Living healthy , Natural living

I don't know about you, but I get excited about finding products that work to keep my family safe and healthy, protect the environment, and don't break my budget! My kitchen tip this week (part of Kitchen Tip Tuesdays, hosted by Tammy's Recipes) is the first of a series on...