For the Generation To Come

This is part of Works for Me Wednesday hosted at Shannon’s blog–go there to read all the great ideas!

I am trying to make a conscience effort to replace things in our home with ones that are not made of chemicals. I have begun to try some of the homemade cleaners, etc. My family is not always cooperative, as you can well imagine. But here’s one that I’ve found that IS working for us!

I read about “No Poo” several months ago. You can read more here, or here, or here and it has nothing to do with your bowels!

I have somewhat done “no poo” and somewhat just replaced my shampoo with a natural alternative. But I’m finding that in one month I “wash” my hair about 6 times compared to at least 20 times a month before!

What you need: I use 2 clear bottles that are made for homemade dressings or sauces…like ketchup and mustard squirt bottles. You will also need some baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and some essential oil(alternative listed below).

Mixing: Bottle #1 is filled with warm water (about 1 1/3 cup) and 2-3 teaspoons of baking powder. Bottle #2 is filled with warm water (about 1 1/3 cup), one tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, and a teaspoon of a natural conditioner or a few drops of essential oil. The conditioner that I had purchased was from Burt’s Bees and I used this at the beginning because I didn’t have any essential oil. It helps give it a nicer smell. Use whichever one you want!

Using: Use bottle #1 and squirt as much as half the bottle for those with really long hair and massage into scalp. Let sit a minute or so and then rinse thoroughly. Now squirt about the same amount from bottle #2 all over your hair making sure to get it all to the ends. Let this sit a couple of minutes then rinse well. That’s it!

A few notes: I try to keep my hair brushed with a natural brush more often now to spread the oil down the hair away from my scalp. This will help but won’t be great when you first start this! Your oil glands will begin to realize that you are not going to be washing and stripping all the oil off every day and they will begin to produce less oil. But the first week or so is a little rough–just keep your hair tied up! And lest you think I only bathe 6 times a month now–I am still taking the same number of showers I just don’t always wash my hair. When I’m not washing my hair I just massage my scalp and let the warm water run over it!

Not only is this a much healthier alternative–it is easy on the budget!

This is part of Works for Me Wednesday hosted at Shannon’s blog–go there to read all the great ideas!

Sometimes I’m frugal–not consistently–but sometimes. With homeschooling books and curriculum I look for things that can be reused with other children. That seems smart to me! But there are times when you just have to buy something that IS consumable. This fall we are going to begin using a new language arts curriculum that looks fabulous–CQLA. My only drawback with not trying it last year was the price, knowing that it was consumable and I’d have to rebuy it every year.

The secret I found to reusing is write-on transparencies and Vis-a-Vis markers. This particular worktext is sold as looseleaf paper that is 3-hole punched ready for your binder. So I placed the first unit in a one-inch binder with 2 transparencies between each page (hole-punched, of course.) Now my child can open to the appropriate page and use the marker to write on the transparency instead of the page. When we are done with the first unit (about one month) I will take all the pages out. I’ll put the worktext pages back in the big 3-ring binder with the rest of the units and get out the next unit. The transparencies I will just wipe off with a wet paper towel. Now I’ll be able to reuse with another child!

Note: If your workbook is bound you could cut the spine off and 3-hole punch the book. If it’s a pretty thick book take it to your local office store and they will do it for you for just a couple of dollars.