Make Your Own Natural Cleaning Products-Stop throwing your money down the sink by buying toxic chemicals.

The majority of cleaning product found in the stores are toxic and do more harm than good being used in your home. They also cost a bundle compared to the cleaning solutions you can make from natural products that you may have already in your pantry. If you still have your old cleaning solution bottles, then recycle them by clean them out and refill them with these natural cleaning solutions instead. I don't have room on this page to list all my favorites here so I have just put some basic cleaning solutions that I love to use. For a full list you can check out my favorite links at the bottom of the page for more amazing household maintenance cleaners, pest control and stain remover solutions. Happy Cleaning! :)

Window and Glass Cleaner Solutions-

Use fresh lemon juice or club soda to get your windows and other glass items sparkling clean. All you need to do is lightly spray your glass with club soda and scrub with newspaper. If you use straight lemon juice, than make sure that you use a lint-free cloth to scrub with. Another alternative is inexpensive vinegar, but some people have a hard time with the strong vinegar smell. Mix 3 tablespoons vinegar with 2 cups of water (or for a bigger job - 1/2 cup vinegar to 1 gallon water) and spray right on your windows.

Oven Cleaning Solution-

For a quick spot treatment, sprinkle table salt liberally on the hot spill before your oven cools down. Allow the oven to cool. Grab a damp cloth and rub off the spill. The best tip is to not wait to clean your oven when it gets dirty. An old stain is harder to clean.

Toilet Bowl Cleaning Solution-

Sprinkle baking soda into your toilet bowl and then drizzle vinegar on top of the baking soda. use your toilet brush to scrub. Your toilet bowl will be clean and deodorized.

All-purpose disinfectant Solution-

Mix 2 cups water, a few drops of natural soap, and 15 drops each of tea tree and lavender organic essential oil. Don't use this as a glass cleaner though because it will leave streak marks. It cleans any other surface and is a safe and gentle cleaner to use on your kids things too.

My New Favorite Cleaning Tool/Mr. Clean Magic Erasers-

These little inexpensive white sponges do amazing clean up and scrubbing jobs. If you have children you have to try these. You only use a little water to moisten it and no other chemicals. It is my new favorite cleaning tool! Check out this web site to see what can be cleaned with the Magic Eraser http://household-tips.thefuntimesguide.com/2006/01/magic_erasers.php

For a full list of natural household solutions please visit these sites:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/8088/clngrn.html
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/mod02/01500631.html

Oh Baby! Attention All Pregnant Moms- New Nine Natural Product Launched For Mothers

Hey Moms, my dear friend Melani just told me that her cousin has just launched an amazing new Product called Nine Naturals. It is a wonderful line of hair care/bath products made especially for Pregnant Mothers. They are free of the bad ingredients we are supposed to avoid during this time, such as phthalates, sulfates, DEA, and parabens. All products are non-animal tested and certified vegan. These product would make a great gift first Mother's Day gift for a new expecting mother or anyone who loves natural products that smell wonderful. Please check out her web site at http://ninenaturals.com/. Thank You.

A Night Under The Stars-Date Night or Family Night idea

There is truly nothing more beautiful than turning your head heavenward at night and seeing the wonders of the universe before your eyes. I was so fascinated by the night sky that I took an astronomy class in college and it was an amazing eye opening experience. The summer clear skies are perfect at night for star gazing and even better if you are away from the lights of the city or population where they are easier to see. If you happen to own a telescope than you are probably already familiar with the night sky and go star gazing often, but for those of us who don't then here are a few ideas to spend a evening with your loved ones under the stars.

Cabot Space and Science Center-
On each clear Friday and Saturday night in the summer, The Chabot Space and Science Center in the hills of Oakland, CA hosts a free event to go to the back of their facility after closing hours (7:30-10:30), where they keep their massive telescopes and look through them. Anyone is welcome and there are volunteers available to answer questions that you may have about anything you may see or not see in the night sky. I have done it a few times and it is an amazing experience and best of all it is FREE so take a date or your older children. http://www.chabotspace.org/ The space center has some fun exhibits for your kids too or movies to watch so go there during the day too for some fun.

Planetariums centers-
Planetariums are also a great way to get familiar with the sky for your younger kids who have strict bed times, they are a great relaxing afternoon date idea too. Just find one in your local area on the web and if you live in the bay area check out my earlier posting on fun things to do with kids in the bay area to find some near you.

Name a Star after your loved one and Movies under the stars-
If you are looking for a fun gift for someone who loves the stars and universe or a romantic gift for a loved one who has everything, you can have them officially named after a star. Go to these sites to find out more http://www.starregistry.com/ or http://www.starnamer.net/ Then you could present them with their official star named certificate when you go star gazing one night. Watch the movie, A Walk To Remember for a romantic star gazing movie night before you go look at the starts together or give your gift to your loved one then. You could also go watch a movie under the stars. Heather Farms Park in Walnut Creek, Ca and San Francisco Golden Gate Park all have Outdoor movie nights under the stars in the summertime. There will be a Free drive in Movie Thursday, April 23, 2009 at the West Wind Solano II Drive-In in Concord, so don't miss this fun movie night under the stars with your family if you live in the area. Gates open at 6 p.m. and movies will start at 8 p.m and there is a bouncy castle for the kids. The movies are Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.

Glow in the dark Star Books for children and Constellation books-
I love the glow in the dark star books and constellation guides. Here is a great site I found by the Lunar and Planetary Institute, with a list of these books and great information about everything you want to know in the night sky. .http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/constellations/books.shtmlYour local library or bookstore will have these books too so check them out and bring them with you to star gaze.

Astronomy Classes-
If you have some free time or are retired, take an astronomy class with your spouse at a local inexpensive community college or if you are a student it is also a wonderful science elective. Even if one of you takes the class, you will learn so much amazing information about the universe that you can share that wonderful experience when you go star gazing with anyone, it is worth it!

Family star gazing activities-
You could read to your children about the constellation mythology stories or use the glow in the dark books outside to find stars together. Give them a copy of a the star hemisphere maps and have them point out the constellations or circle them or give them a blank calendar and have them draw them moon fazes each night. Decorate their bedroom or the family room ceiling one night in glow in the dark stars and turn off the lights to star gaze together. Go for a drive with them in the hills or take a camping trip together and star gaze at night. They even make some tents with moon roofs for star gazing. Have them watch for shooting stars or teach them how to use a compass following the north star etc. Or if your kids are really into space send them to a space camp or go plan for the next shuttle launch in florida and watch that. I went to the last one and it was really amazing to watch the space ship rocket blast off. What ever you do with them make it fun and also educational and they will love it and learn to appreciate the Universe too.

My Top Ten Smart Mom Purchases

Here are my top ten smart purchases that I or my mom friends have made and would recommend to any new mom. You may notice there are only 8 pictured and that is because I just did two posts on two of my favorites earlier this week so I will mention those again to look at. I have a few others I love that I will list on another top ten list later. If you have some that you would like to share also, please let me know in the comments box bellow. Thanks :)

1. The Bob Revolution Jogger Stroller-Just bought this and it is amazing. Glides so smooth. It folds up small and even the wheels come off for smaller storage. If you want a jogger stroller that also converts to a bike trailer I would suggest the Chariot brand too! I have heard it is excellent as well. You can find both of these strollers at REI to look at or go to bobgear.com to get more information on the Bob strollers.

2. Eddie Bauer High Chair-This is the B is For Bear Chair in light wood. I received this for my group baby shower gift and love it sooo much. It has a plastic fabric covered seat and back cousin that is so easy to clean two parts to the tray table and storage at the back to put my daughter's bibs and feeding supplies. You can find these chairs at Target and Babies R' Us in the dark wood too.

3. Maxi-Cosi Convertible child car seat in Penguin. This chair is so well built and is nicely padded all over. It comes in some really cool colors too and has a side cup holder for your kids bottle/sippy cup. We bought ours at Target, but you can check the web for the other colors and different sizes.

4. The Hooter-Hider- My sister-n-law received this at her shower and loved it. It is one of the best designed breast feeding bibs I have seen with a U shape wire at the top for the mother to check out her baby and still keep her privacy. The fabric selection is really nice too with a lot of different prints available to choose from. Check Amazon.com or the web for these.

5. The Snack Trap-My neighbor friends have these for their children and I am about to order some for my little girl. It allows the children to hold onto their snack cup themselves and reach in and pull out a snack too without spilling all the snacks. Best snack cup design I have seen and very well priced too. Babies R' Us carries them online only or you can go to snacktrap.com web site to order these.

6. Smart-mom bling Jewelry- These necklaces and bracelets are made of non-toxic silicon for mom's to wear and babies to chew on. My daughter loves it when I ware these out in public or at church so she can chew and play with them without breaking my expensive jewelry. They also make key chains too. Great for your little teether babies! Go to smartmomjewelry.com to find these and other gift sets.

7. The Diaper Genie 2- I love this diaper pail. Keeps my daughter's room smelling clean and fresh. You have to buy refill liners but they do last awhile if you wad the diapers up really tight when you put them in. We bought ours at Babies R' Us.

8. The Baby Safe Feeder- I bought this when my little girl was learning to chew foods without teeth. You can put fruit slices, teething biscuits, or any food that they may normally choke on if not purred. Add ice cubes and it is great solution for teething baby gums to munch on safely by themselves or for first aid owies. Babies R Us carries them but make sure you get the brand shown, the other's aren't as good and fall apart! Or go to the original babysafefeeder.com web site to order.

9. Kidco Pea Pod Plus Tent-See earlier posting below.

10. Squeaky Shoes- See earlier Posting below.

Homemade Oreo cookies or ice cream sandwich cookies

One of my friends introduced these homemade Oreo cookies to me when I was in High School and we made them all the time together in the summer. They are sooo good and simple to make. Change the white cream cheese filling color with a little food coloring for baby showers and holiday colors. You can also make them into ice cream sandwiches by just omitting the cream cheese filling and using your favorite softened ice cream in the center instead, then freeze instead of refrigerate. If you are make them for a kids party you could roll the sides of the ice cream cookies in sprinkles for a little extra fun.
It is an amazing cookie to share with your friends too! Enjoy!!!



Homemade Oreo cookie recipe
Serves 8 people

Ingredients
2 packages cake mix, devils food
1 1/2 cups vegetable shortening, butter flavored is my favorite, but plain works too
4 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 package cream cheese
2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup butter

Directions
Cream together first four ingredients. Roll into small balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 9 minutes Only. They will look a little dough like but they will harden and cook while they cool. Let cool on the cookie sheet, then transfer to cooling racks or wax paper to assemble filling.

Frosting: Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and butter. Spread between two cookies and refrigerate till served!

The Pea Pod Portable Tent-Crib

I never wanted to buy a portable crib because they were so heavy and bulky to transport with you on trips. When my husband's grandmother offered to get us one, I reluctantly said ok and began the long search for a small portable crib. I came across the Pea Pod Tent and thought it was perfect. Not only does it do the job as a portable crib but it folds up in a small circular bag and is so lightweight. It comes with a blow up pad and sleeping bag too. The best part though is you can use it for your babies until they are six years of age and take it camping or use it for indoor play too. If you have a little girl you can get the pink one and a miniature pink pea pod tent to match for her dolls to sleep and play in. Our daughter loves it and we even take the tent to the beach with us. Great product to buy and also cheeper than a portable crib too! They also have one that has a self inflatable mattress too if you don't want to pump it up every time.

Here is a store that I found that sells the Pea Pod Plus tents in red/blue or princess pink for $79.99 and the Tent with a Self inflatable mattress version for $99.98 in camo colors.
http://www.jmsjustforchildren.com/store/shop_product.php?UPC=11441

Put a spin on your family bowling night-Virtual Bowling, Wii Bowling, Oven Mitt bowling, Bocce Ball

Nintendo Wii bowling-
I bought my husband a Nintendo Wii with the Wii sport games earlier this year. We are addicted to the bowling and tennis games. It has become our new family fun bowling night and we don't even need to leave our home or put on sweaty used rental bowling shoes to play. If you don't own a Wii yet or don't have the Wii Sport game then here are a few other ways your family can put an new spin on the old classic family bowling night.

Virtual Bowling-
The Metreon in San Francisco not only has an arcade and theater etc. but they have Virtual Bowling, which is a combination between Wii bowling and the real thing. It is so fun!

Oven Mitt Bowling-
Go to the dollar store and purchase a pair of oven mitts and take them with you to the local bowling alley. Put on the mitts and try to roll the ball to the pins. Great way to add more of a challenge and fun to the old classic bowling. I did this on a group date and it was such a fun experience since it gave everyone an even playing field throwing the ball with the mitts on.

Bocce Ball-
If your family happens to have a bocce ball set, then head to your local bocce ball court or freshly cut lawn to play. This game is a combination between the classic bowling without pins, lawn bowling and horseshoes but played on a clay/dirt bocce ball court. I have played on the courts at Rodger Smith Park in Pleasant Hill, Ca and the Martinez Marina courts too. If you don't live in the east bay then try google to find a court in your area or just play on your trimmed lawn.

Children's bowling set-
If you have really little children you could buy them a children's bowling set for them to play and practice or make one out of plastic water/soda bottles for pins and a small ball. They could even have fun decorating faces on the Pins/bottles. I have even seen extra large blow up ball and pins sets too for some family fun. Check it out here at this link!

http://www.hearthsong.com/hearthsong/product.do?section_id=0&bc=1005&pgc=2510&country=0&occ=1005&cm_mmc=merc_datafeed-_-product-_-2510&mr:referralID=c1d3afc2-2e22-11de-a8aa-000423bb4e95&mr:trackingCode=NA

Have a great bowling night, whatever you decide to do!