Products I adore: Preserve

I discovered a fabulous line called Preserve while on my shopping trip. This made in the USA (woot!) brand uses all recycled materials to create everything from razors and toothbrushes to the fabulous bright red cutting board I bought. BPA free.



Cutting board $14.99



Mixing Bowls $24.99




© copyright homemade grits

My green-themed shower

Yesterday I had my first baby shower. It was a green-themed shower at my dear friend Emily's house. It was given by Emily and Jodi:



It was a perfect afternoon with beautiful flowers and friends and lots of wonderful memories. Emily and Jodi had the best ideas, they are so creative:



Emily made the adorable puppets and used baby jars covered in pink paper to hold the flowers which doubled as party favors!





A birdhouse full of wisdom from all the guests, written on paper made from recycled coffee filters...so sweet!

The food was incredible...chicken salad, green bean casserole, fruit, and my favorite crisp made by Jodi.









The lovely ladies sitting on Emily's lovely porch.



Look at my beautiful presents. The gift wrappings were even "green." The presents were wrapped in old newspapers, food jar wrappings, and just simply boxes with no wrapping paper.

Jordan came with a bundle of adorable fattycakes gifts. They were a huge hit!





I received the sweetest, most thoughtful gifts. From organic onesies to a diaper pail full of all my cloth diapering needs from my Mama. I was given the most beautiful clothes, toys, bottles, baby care items, all environmentally friendly!!! One of the most touching moments was when I opened my gift from several of my co-workers past and present, of a newborn photo session with Katy's Mama, Kerry Halasz. She takes beautiful pictures and I couldn't believe that they had done that!









Lucy remembered my post on Lou and Lee, how cute will Matilda be???



Bebe, Aunt Rachel, and me





sweet friends

Thank you to everyone who came and made it such a special day for me, and thank you especially to Emily and Jodi.

© copyright homemade grits

Green and Clean

My friend Jodi was interested in green cleaning and suggested I do a post on that. As we all know our favorite cleaning products aren't always so great for us or the environment. I found a great list of concoctions you can make out of regular household staples. You can see them all here!

Not only are homemade cleaning supplies better for the earth, but they are cheap! A fun Martha type project would be pre making them, putting them in pretty spray bottles from the Container Store and labeling them...



Martha's suggestions:

These basic products have more than one purpose; use them in place of chemical-based cleansers for a healthy and less-expensive alternative.

Dishwashing Liquids
Mix 2 cups water with 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle. Use solution to clean countertops and other household surfaces. Rinse with plain water.

Baking Soda
Combine 3 parts warm water with 1 part baking soda. With a damp sponge, rub the paste on laminate countertops, then rinse. It will also polish chrome and stainless steel.

Borax
To remove marks on stained toilet bowls, add 1/2 cup borax to the water, swish it around, and let soak overnight.

Washing Soda
For extremely soiled surfaces, such as oil-stained garage floors, mop area with a solution of 1/2 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate) mixed in a bucket of warm water.

Soda Water
Pour a small amount of soda water onto a fresh carpet spill, and blot with a towel. Don't rub, as you may mat the fibers. If the stain is set, try hydrogen peroxide: Pour some onto a clean, white cloth, then press cloth to carpet. Wait about 15 minutes, blot with a clean cloth. There should be no need to rinse.

Water
Boost the cleaning power of ordinary water by presoaking a soiled spot, flushing away dirt or grime with a stronger spray, gently scrubbing, or using warmer water. For protein stains, such as egg or blood, cold water still works best.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is safe to treat stains on delicate colorfast fabrics. Place stained area in a bowl, and pour on peroxide. Let soak at least 1 hour, then launder as usual.

Distilled White Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Place paper towels or sponges soaked in full-strength vinegar or lemon juice over crusty buildup around faucets. Leave for about an hour, then scrub deposits away.

Tea-Tree Oil
Mix a few drops of the oil in a spray bottle filled with 2 cups water and 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid to create an effective general-purpose cleaner. (Handle cautiously, and consult a doctor before using if you are pregnant.)



© copyright homemade grits

What is a CSA?

Lately I've been talking to friends a lot about living simpler lives and going back to an old fashioned mentality of living of off our own resources, supporting local businesses, buying handmade goods, and trying to live a healthier and more organic lifestyle.

Rachel's roommate Claire, was the first person to tell me about CSAs. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), is a movement that I'm hoping is going to continue to grow.

CSA as defined by localharvest.org:

Many farms offer produce subscriptions, where buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, coffee, or any sort of different farm products.

A CSA, (for Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" (or "shareholders," or "subscribers") of the CSA. Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. Some CSAs also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season.

A CSA season typically runs from late spring through early fall. The number of CSAs in the United States was estimated at 50 in 1990, and has since grown to over 1000.

Find the CSA nearest you and support your local farmers!



© copyright homemade grits