Happy New Year!

Tis the season for New Year's Resolutions. I thought I would post some pix of my pre-Christmas projects and give you a list of my resolutions for creativity to inspire you to create this year.

In my quest for an organic home, I've crocheted about ten dishcloths and tossed my nasty germy sponge. This is a picture of the dishcloths that I am selling in my etsy shop.

Here is the dress I made for Baby E for her dedication at church. She is sitting on the chenille quilt that I made for her before she was born.

I also made an afghan as a wedding gift, but, alas, I cannot find the picture.

I plan to accomplish many creative projects this coming year as well as the usual resolutions of losing weight and reading my Bible more. As soon as the Christmas decorations are away and the house is cleaned, I'm gonna be a crafting maniac! Here's my list:

· Make at least one piece of clothing for each member of my family.
· Of those clothes, I will make two of the patterns from scratch.
· Paint two wooden trays for Christmas 2009 gifts.
· I have a great pattern for a Christmas advent calendar and wonderful memories of a calendar that my mom had...I want to make one and spread the memories to my children.
· Finish (finish being the key word) at least 2 quilt projects.
· Finish at least 2 crochet projects.
· Learn to knit (this one has been a recurring resolution for the past three years, sadly).
· Finish my pregnancy scrapbook.
· Finish Baby E's 1st year scrapbook.
· Read 5 books.

So, ambitious as it is, there is my list. I will be sure to post updates and pictures of my progress over the coming year. Hopefully, this will inspire you to make a list of your own. Keep it in a place where you will look at it often and stay on track! And remember to enjoy time with family and friends this year!

BPA, PVC, OMG...I'm losing my mind!

AAAARRRGGHH! I'm feeling very overwhelmed right now!

I have been checking out Baby E's teethers and bottles and they are not all BPA, PVC, and phthalate free! I found a blog with a lot of good information on it, Non-Toxic Kids, and it is really helped in my resolution to make my home organic and non-toxic. However, I am one hair away from breaking the camel's back and tossing everything I own out and starting from scratch. I have ordered glass bottles to replace the plastic ones without a recycling number. I tossed all the unknown plastic teethers and kept the Sassy BPA free ones and the wooden one from Plan Toys that I put in Baby E's Christmas stocking. I'm looking at an enamelware plate, bowl, and cup from Nova Natural for her toddler foods. And let me tell you how much I love the Nova Natural catalog! I can't wait to order some of these all natural, made in the USA, old fashioned, imagination inspiring toys for Baby E's first birthday! I will write a review when I get some of their products.

I think it is time for some sleep (Baby E's first tooth is poking through and that plus diaper rash has been keeping her up!) and then maybe I'll be able to plow ahead with detoxifying my home!

Good Night!

Quick Note

Just a quick note to let you all know another great use for vinegar! It works well as a fabric softener! I just pour some in the fabric softener compartment in my washing machine and it is dispensed during the rinse cycle. Now, I don't have to use fabric softener sheets in the dryer. They supposedly coat your clothes with toxic chemicals and I never knew you weren't suppose to use them on towels or baby clothes anyway. They make towels water resistant, defeating the purpose of a towel, and they take away the flame retardant on baby clothes.

Hooray for another tried and proven green idea! Hundreds more to go!

Green Progress

Here's an update on my progress of going green. I found the fels naptha soap! Unfortunately, it is only sold in bar form. Yes, I grated a bar of soap. No, I will never do it again. The recipe (1 cup fels naptha, 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax) works really well and it smells really good. However, the grating is just way too time consuming. I plan on trying a ready made detergent that is chlorine, phosphate, fragrance and dye free. I believe Arm n Hammer makes a good detergent. I am also still cleaning my bathroom with vinegar and baking soda and loving it! And am trying to remember that there is nothing that soap and warm water can't clean.

The main problem I am having with going green is the price tag attached! They can hike up the price just because they can put "organic" or "eco-friendly" on the package. I would love to buy all organic food and all natural soaps and cleaners but I can't afford it. Oh well, perhaps when I win the lottery...I guess I would have to play the lottery first!