Live and Improve Pinterest CHALLENGE!!!

I have been working hard to clean and declutter.  Anyone else?  There I was, on an absolute roll, and then-the inevitable happens.  I come across some 'things'.

What 'things'?  It's something I've either written down, like a recipe, or an odd purchase from the past like the silicon mold I bought long ago for a use I may have one day. What am I to do with these 'things'?  I most likely should just trash them because I didn't use them.  But oh, how I want to use to them!

Running across a myriad of these little items here and there caused me to go into ADD overload. ADD overload means I hit up Pinterest. I began planning my garden in ice cold January, and then it hit me.

All these pins and they are just sitting there.  More mind clutter if not physical clutter.  So, I am challenging myself to actually DO some of the pins.  And now, I'm challenging you too!  Join me! Pick a 'pin' and do it.  Post your results!

The first pin I tried was the bath bomb fizzies.  I had to order some ingredients that I'd never heard of, then make a pretty substantial (although easily cleaned up) mess in order to make a few bath fizzies. They were pretty much a fail, but that is (I think) because the mold was so intricate.  You need to do these with a fairly plain mold.  Here's how they turned out:

I was going to give them out as gifts at my sons Eagle ceremony, but since they didn't turn out right, I used one myself tonight.  It was really nice!  I'm planning to make more--with a different mold.

Lessons learned on this one:

1)  Use more colorant.
2)  Do NOT spill the essential oil.  It will make you ill with the smell.

Now it's YOUR TURN.  Pick a pin and go for it!  If nothing else, you may find some pin links that simply lead to a page that is no longer working.  In that case, hit EDIT and then DELETE PIN. Boom, you've just decluttered!

As for me, I need to return to planning my garden.....

Cleaning AND Decluttering

I am in love with Norwex.  I have been using the Cleaning Paste faithfully, only doing 'water only' on seemingly easy jobs.

After using the Mesh Pot Scrubber on this cookie sheet along with UPP made paste:

I decided to put the Enviro Cloth to a major test and use ONLY water on my DISGUSTING microwave.  Warning, the before is what happens when you give a 9 year old boy free reign to use the microwave.

I needed to rinse the cloth 3 times and it took me 2 commercial breaks, but the verdict is:

A-MAZ-ING.  No other words needed.  

I deep cleaned my counter and my stove, then sat back and wondered what to do next.  That's when it hit me.  I need to declutter as I go.  I have accumulated too much 'stuff'.  No matter how clean things are, if it's all cluttered up, or I can't find it when I need it, then changes need to be made.

I have joined Declutter 365 and YOU SHOULD TOO.  We can improve our homes together.  One day I may even see this place as my Haven instead of a project filled, never ending 'to-do' list.

Finishing up the bathroom project

We enjoyed Christmas Eve, Christmas and then BAM, the weird throat virus my oldest had last week hit me.  So the day after Christmas was filled with hot tea and naps.

Here it is 2 in the morning and I'm not tired--of course.  What to do, what to do......Ah!  A before and after picture of my tub!!!  Well, part of it anyhow.  I decided I was making too much noise, so I only did enough to do a before and after picture.  I'll get the rest tomorrow.

This took a total of TWO MINUTES using the Norwex Descaler, bathroom scrub mitt and water.  The difference is amazing.  Mind you my tub is not white in the first place, it's more of a cream color.  You can see more hard water and calcium stains in the after picture on each side for comparison.

Even better was how easy it was.  The build up is horrendous.  I've used caustic cleaners that 'worked' yet were dangerous and toxic.  I've used home made cleaners that also worked, yet smelled extremely bad!  Even the cats were making gagging noises. (Can we say VINEGAR?)  And I've tried other less caustic products on the shelves that did nothing at all.  By far Norwex Descaler is the best.

It's all about inspiration.

My husband claims I get 'inspired' to do things at the oddest times.  Today, I'm starting to believe him.  It's almost Christmas, I mean REALLY almost Christmas.  I should be digging out where I've hidden things, wrapping and baking.

So of course I get the bug to completely redo my bathroom as well as clean out the kitchen and laundry room cleaning supplies (you know, all the toxic ones).  Not to mention back up all the computers to the external hard drive.  Makes perfect sense.....right?

I did manage to weed out quite a lot of unnecessary things and really get a lot done.  Bonus?  I know where everything is now!  I even labeled the drawers in my bathroom closet.  Hey, when inspiration strikes you just go with it.

I'll wrap gifts tomorrow.  And get into some Christmas candy while I'm at it.  The promise of that reward should drive me to get it done.

Don't kill yourself cleaning.

No.  Really. Don't KILL yourself cleaning. 

 Many of us have been causing and/or contributing to illness, auto-immune diseases and even cancer. How? By trying to clean our homes, kill germs and keep ourselves and our families healthy. Why have we been doing this day after day, generation after generation? According to the EGW, “In terms of household cleaners, neither ingredients nor products must meet any sort of safety standard, nor is any testing data or notification required before bringing a product to market.” 

 You read that right. The toxic ingredients in our every day household cleaners are not held to any standard. "Heavy Duty" to me now means "Heavily Toxic". The ingredients to cleaners don't even have to be on the label! We know how many calories are in a piece of chewing gum, but ingredients for 'fragrance' and other such vague labeling are protected by patent copyrights. That is the excuse companies are hiding behind in order to pass off their toxic products onto the average consumer. Thankfully there are organizations out there that have looked into these dangers for us. 

 Here I will share five of the MOST COMMON--Not only the most TOXIC, but also most COMMON, as well as their known effects. 

 5. 2-BUTOXYETHANOL Found in: Window, kitchen and multipurpose cleaners. 

 Health Risks: 2-butoxyethanol is the key ingredient in many window cleaners and gives them their characteristic sweet smell. It belongs in the category of “glycol ethers,” a set of powerful solvents that don’t mess around. Law does not require 2-butoxyethanol to be listed on a product’s label. According to the EPA’s Web site, in addition to causing sore throats when inhaled, at high levels glycol ethers can also contribute to narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage. Although the EPA sets a standard on 2-butoxyethanol for workplace safety, Sutton warns, “If you’re cleaning at home in a confined area, like an unventilated bathroom, you can actually end up getting 2-butoxyethanol in the air at levels that are higher than workplace safety standards.” 

 4. QUARTERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS, OR “QUATS” 

 Found in: Fabric softener liquids and sheets, most household cleaners labeled “antibacterial.” 

 Health Risks: Quats are another type of antimicrobial, and thus pose the same problem as triclosan by helping breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They’re also a skin irritant; one 10-year study of contact dermatitis found quats to be one of the leading causes. According to Sutton, they’re also suspected as a culprit for respiratory disorders: “There’s evidence that even healthy people who are [exposed to quats] on a regular basis develop asthma as a result.” 


 3. TRICLOSAN 

 Found in: Most liquid dishwashing detergents and hand soaps labeled “antibacterial.” 

 Health Risks: Triclosan is an aggressive antibacterial agent that can promote the growth of drug-resistant bacteria. Explains Sutton: “The American Medical Association has found no evidence that these antimicrobials make us healthier or safer, and they’re particularly concerned because they don’t want us overusing antibacterial chemicals — that’s how microbes develop resistance, and not just to these [household antibacterials], but also to real antibiotics that we need.” Other studies have now found dangerous concentrations of triclosan in rivers and streams, where it is toxic to algae. The EPA is currently investigating whether triclosan may also disrupt endocrine (hormonal) function. It is a probable carcinogen. At press time, the agency was reviewing the safety of triclosan in consumer products. 

 2. PERCHLOROETHYLENE OR “PERC” 

Found in: Dry-cleaning solutions, spot removers, and carpet and upholstery cleaners. 

 Health Risks: Perc is a neurotoxin, according to the chief scientist of environmental protection for the New York Attorney General’s office. And the EPA classifies perc as a “possible carcinogen” as well. People who live in residential buildings where dry cleaners are located have reported dizziness, loss of coordination and other symptoms. While the EPA has ordered a phase-out of perc machines in residential buildings by 2020, California is going even further and plans to eliminate all use of perc by 2023 because of its suspected health risks. The route of exposure is most often inhalation: that telltale smell on clothes when they return from the dry cleaner, or the fumes that linger after cleaning carpets. 

 1. PHTHALATES 

 Found in: Many fragranced household products, such as air fresheners, dish soap, even toilet paper. 

Because of proprietary laws, companies don’t have to disclose what’s in their scents, so you won’t find phthalates on a label. If you see the word “fragrance” on a label, there’s a good chance phthalates are present. Health Risks: Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors. Men with higher phthalate compounds in their blood had correspondingly reduced sperm counts, according to a 2003 study conducted by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Harvard School of Public Health. Although exposure to phthalates mainly occurs through inhalation, it can also happen through skin contact with scented soaps, which is a significant problem, warns Alicia Stanton, MD, coauthor of Hormone Harmony (Healthy Life Library, 2009). Unlike the digestive system, the skin has no safeguards against toxins. Absorbed chemicals go straight to organs. 

We need to get these 'cleaners' out of our homes for good. I use Norwex products. Micro Fiber cloths that are infused with silver so no bacteria can grow. They clean with water. I can't live with out them and the Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent. I have yet to find something these three items cannot clean.   

EnviroCloth, water and Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent. 

 It's just amazing how safe these products are and how well they work. 

Another Norwex Convert.

We got a free recliner and had to make room for it. That meant rearranging the living room. So glad I put the big furniture on sliders last year. What happens when you move furniture? You find the dust bunnies. (And if you're lucky a $20.00 bill hiding under the couch like I did!) They were taken care of by the vacuum easily enough. But then I noticed the baseboards. Blech. And they're so far down there, all the way to the floor. But wait! I have a 9 year old that loves to help!! I taught him how to wet a Norwex cloth, ring it out and asked him to wiped down the boards. He was actually impressed with how clean they came, he went and did other rooms. Now, he DOES love to help--but never that much. The power of Norwex. Wow.

Will You Leave a Mark on the World?

Had a great day today researching genealogy at the DAR Library.  The worst part was traffic, of course.  Washing D.C. is laid out in such a strange way.  The history behind it's planning is fascinating, but traveling it, not so much.

It is so much fun looking into your past and finding out about the people before you.  My youngest son wants to be in the water ALL the time.  Turns out my husband came from a very long line of boating fishermen.  It makes you wonder how many traits really are in that strain of DNA aside from your hair and eye color.

Sometimes you get lucky and find out that you are related to someone famous, or someone who made a noticeable impact in their community.  And then you run across those people who have seemingly left no stamp at all on the world.  

Women stand out most of all to me.  The men can normally be found on at least a transaction document having to do with land or jury duty.  Many women cannot even be connected to their maiden names!  

Those women are the ones that really make me think.  What was their day to day like?  I look to see how many children they had and how long they lived.  Even though a paper trail cannot prove the impact they left on this world, we at least know they led to you.  Were they frail? faithful? before their time?  The world may never know.  How did they feel about themselves?

So what impact are you making on your world?   You might believe that you have no impact at all.  I can assure you that is not the case.   If you are reading this post it is because God led you here so I could share with you a different perspective.  

Even when you were a child, you touched the hearts and souls of others without intending to.  Have you ever had your day brightened just by seeing a smiling baby?  You were that bright spot for others once.  Many, many others.

Someone is always watching you, just as you are watching others.  They have unspoken fears and insecurities and worries too.  We all do.  It all serves a purpose.  Everything.  The good, the bad, the ugly and the downright heartbreaking.  

Have you ever been feeling down, and I mean way down?  Beaten up by the world, like everything is out to get you.  Then you see or hear about someone who has it a little worse, or something you feel like you could never handle.  "At least I'm not as bad off as that." has been a thought that goes through our heads every once in a while.  So the next time you are having a 'Murphy's Law' day, giggle to yourself when it occurs to you that you may be the one someone else sees and thinks to themselves "At least I'm not as bad off a that."   

When you question God and say "WHY ME?", realize it may not be for or about you at all.  It may be for the person who needs to see that someone has it worse than them so THEY can change THEIR perspective.  God uses it all.  It's not always fun, but it's true.

Like most people I had dreamed of making a memorable impact on this earth. Something of real value.  Understanding that I have some kind of impact on others every single day of my life has made me rethink how I define value.  I don't have to change the world.  I only have to do my part.

Little by little and step by step I aim to improve myself.  Instead of feeling like a failure when everything seems to go wrong, I will now have the faith that God is using those painful situations for His purposes.  My search for perfectionism and earning the reward of 'Super Mom' no longer interests me.  I can now stop beating myself up for perceived failures and be thankful that God is using me no matter what.  Even if I leave no paper trail.  Even if no one remembers my maiden name.  I am here to do what He sent me to do, whatever that is.

Life is a journey and the road has numerous curves.  Stop trying to straighten it out and just enjoy the ride.  You are serving your purpose.  You are leaving the stamp you were born to make.  History will do what it wants to do with us.  Let's live in the NOW and stop worrying about the future so much.

Sometimes being known for something is overrated.  Betsy Ross is well known for something she didn't even do!