A couple years ago I made a big change...  I gave away all my standard household cleaners and bought (or made) all natural ones.  Not only are all natural cleaners better for the environment, they are better for your home and your family.  The toxins in standard cleaning products have been linked to cause health problems, including asthma.


My Husband and my daughter both suffer from pet (and many other) allergies and my daughter has allergy induced asthma (something my husband had as a child but has out grown).  It was shocking to learn how harmful cleaners in your house can be.  I take so many precautions to keep our home safe and contaminant free for them but yet, I could be aggravating their symptoms just by cleaning the bathrooms!


I became very ambitious and created a science lab in my kitchen as I mixed, concocted and labeled all my new cleaners. Only problem, some of them didn't work... and I couldn't find recipes for some of the things I needed (i.e. Stainless Steele and Granite polish).




Here are some of my favorite recipes household cleaners:

Family Movie Nights

One traditions that we started about a year ago, and one of my favorites, is family movie night.  Since we only have K-man and V-girl every other week, we try to have a movie night on the Friday's they are with us.  It is a great way to end the long week and start the weekend and we all enjoy it.  We watch a range of movies but try to get family movies that all 4 of us can enjoy.  Sometimes, we dress up, sometimes we decorate and we ALWAYS have a themed treat!

Here are my top 5 favorite movie nights, so far:

* Open Season 2

We enjoyed the first one so much that we made sure to rent the second one when it came out.  I surprised the family with "Forest Droppings" for our treat which consisted of Malted Milk Balls, Milk Duds, Chocolate Covered Cookie Dough Pieces and Junior Mints.

* Newsies

I loved this movie as a kid and was certain my kids, and my neice and nephew would love it also.  Sadly, I was wrong. BUT they did enjoy the dinner (New York Style Pizza) and the treats (Apple Slices - for the 'Big Apple' - and caramel dip served on newspapers) and dressing up as "Newsies".

* WALL-E

We actually watched this movie in Disney World last summer when it first came out but V-girl got it for Christmas this year and she thought we needed to have a Movie Night for it.  Our treat was Milky Way and Mars bars.  I tried to make eye holes in the masks but it didn't work.  It is lucky that we are all looking the right way for the picture.

* Iron Man

We all really liked this movie! And the masks were a HUGE hit!.  The ARC Reactor cake on the other hand... well, at least it tasted good!  It was a noble effort!

* The Princess Bride


So far, this movie has definitely been a favorite - even though the kids are a little young to get some of the humor.  V-girl and I dressed up with our Tiaras and veils and K-man dressed up as the Dread Pirate Roberts.  I bought the netting material for the veils, and the swords, at the Dollar Store (my favorite place on earth!).  V-girl and I used tiaras that we already had at home (mine from my wedding, hers from Disney World) and I cut up an old shirt to make the K-man's mask.


For treats, we had 'Fiery Swamp Mix', 'Magic Pills', '6th Finger Cookies', Peanuts ("Anybody want a peanut?") and 'As You Wish Fish'.  And, of course, we had 'poison' (red kool-aid) to drink! I wrapped the goblets in tinfoil to make them fit the theme.


I can't take all the credit for these ideas.  I originally became aware of how cool  Movie Theme Nights could be  (and often use ideas) from Heather Ann Melzer.

A Girlie Girl with a Green Side

I am a "girlie girl".  I love diamonds, high heel shoes and flowers.  I can not do anything with out lipgloss on. I love makeup, coffee and music.  Most people think that I have WAY to many purses... I think that I am barely meeting the minimum necessity and really could use a few more. My favorite color is pink.

I am also a  "green girl".  I love nature and I try to recycle.   I am careful about what I put in and on my body.  I try to make sure my home is clean and free of chemicals.  I use reusable grocery bags.  I have a long way to go but I continue to learn and make adjustments.

In more simple terms, I am greenish-pink. :)

My hope is that this website can mix together life, style and a green sense of living.  Some stuff will be geared one direction more than another.  But isn't that what life is about?  Finding the balance that works for each of us so we can enjoy life to the fullest.