I wonder if my HOA would be cool with this....

With the amount of eggs we go through weekly it would be a great to invest in this adorable coop from Green Chick Coop.
{Did I just call a chicken coop adorable?  Not too long ago I would have been shopping online for  Juicy Couture and now I'm googling chicken coops...I don't know what is happening to me!}

"Being Granola"~I have a confession...

I have a confession...I don't wash my hair with shampoo.  In fact I don't even use conditioner.  Wanna know what I do use? It's simply Baking Soda & Vinegar.  I know you probably think that I've gone off the deep end but I assure you I haven't. There are lots of people who are going poo free these days.


I was skeptical at first too and even tried it on a day when I knew I wouldn't be seen by anyone but I was sold after that first time.  My hair instantly felt smoother and looked shinier.  It did feel a little oilier in the first days of trying it out but the transition period didn't last long. 

Reasons to make the switch....

~Save $.  You know I've been on a money saving frenzy lately so I was thrilled to give up my expensive organic shampoo for  baking soda. 

~Protect yourself from harmful chemicals found in the majority of hair care products.

~Oil is actually your friend.  Shampoo strips your hair of natural oil that is supposed to nourish and protect the hair follicles.  That is why your hair needs conditioner afterwards.  It's a cycle! 

~Baking Soda naturally deodorizes and clarifies the hair.

~Vinegar naturally balances your hair's pH level, detangles and smoothes the cuticle.

So are you ready to give it a try?  Here is how you do it...


~Get 2 empty shampoo or squirt bottles. One for the baking soda mixture and the other for vinegar.


~Use Baking Soda as a substitution for shampoo.  Mix 1 Tblsp Baking Soda with 1 cup water.  Squeeze onto hair, massage in and then rinse.


~Vinegar is used next in place of conditioner.  You will want to pick an Apple Cider Vinegar.  Mix 1 Tblsp Vinegar with 1 cup warm.  Squeeze onto hair then rinse.


Helpful tips...


~Works fine with color treated hair.  I used an herbal color on my hair two months ago and it hasn't stripped the color at all.  I wish it would though!


~Lemon juice can be used after baking soda to clarify if you are feeling a little oily.  The ratio is also 1 Tblsp with 1 cup water.


~Corn Starch can also be sprinkled onto scalp to absorb excess oil if needed.


~It's good to do a cold rinse to tame any frizzies.


Places where you can find more info....


~Simple Mom (I love this blog!)


~Babyslime

"Being Granola" Homemade Hand Sanitizer

With Flu Season in full force it's important to make sure that you are protecting yourself as well as you can.  If you think that by using antibacterial products you are protected then think again.  The flu including Swine Flu is a virus and can only be killed by anti-viral products.  By using antibacterial soaps you can even cause germs to mutate.  The last thing we want to do is help them! 
First make sure that you are constantly washing your hands with good ole' soap and water and when you aren't near a sink then use an anti-viral hand sanitizer.  You can even make your own.  There are so many great essential oils that are effective in killing viruses.  Here is a combination that I like but feel free to come up with your own blend.


Anti-viral Hand Sanitizer
~ 2 oz aloe vera gel
~1 oz water
~5 drops Lemon essential oil
~5 drops Lavender
~5 drops Tea Tree oil


*Other Anti-viral Essential Oils:
~Cinnamon
~Eucalyptus
~Sandalwood
~Oregano
~Thyme

*If pregnant avoid using Cinnamon, Lemon, Sandalwood, Oregano and thyme.  They can be too stimulating.

Being Granola ~Garlic Ear Oil

Almost every child will at some point be faced with  an ear infection so as a parent what do we do?  Give them an antibiotic that may or may not help?  Before you go that route think about trying a natural remedy like antiviral garlic ear oil.  It can easily be made at home and because 70% of all ear infections are viral it is highly effective. 


Garlic Ear Oil
~4 Garlic Cloves
~Organic Olive Oil 
Place Garlic Cloves in double boiler. Pour enough oil to cover cloves and heat for 30 minutes.  Let cool and pour into glass bottle with dropper.  Drop 2 drops in each ear 3-4 times a day. 

*If you're not comfortable making your own ear oil Herbs For Kids makes a great one that you can get here.

Being Granola

My friends think I'm granola.  One of them asked me when I was going to start dreading my hair. That's okay, I'll take it as a compliment.  I know they secretly love coming over to my house to eat hummus with organic veggies while sipping on green tea with agave nectar and I'm who they call when they need advice on natural remedies.  So I'll embrace my granolaness and to show it I'll be doing a series of posts appropriatly titled "Being Granola." To start it off I'm going to share a great granola recipe.  I can't do a series on being granola without a granola recipe can I?! I hope you enjoy!

*Almond Butter

  Granola Balls*

~2 cups Granola (Feel free to make your own for extra credit or use a packaged one like Back to Nature.)

~7 Tblsp Almond Butter

~3 Tblsp Milk (I use vanilla rice milk.)

~3 Tblsp Honey (Get it local!)

~1 tsp Cinnamon

~1/2 cup Flaxseed Meal

Mix all ingredients together except for Flaxseed Meal.  Form into balls and then roll in flaxseed meal.  Chill until ready to serve. Easy, healthy and delicious!