All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

I wanted to pass along how to make my favorite all purpose cleaner. I love it and it works great! I use it to clean the kitchen, bathrooms, toys, high chairs, etc. It is wonderful, natrual, non toxic and chemical free! If you reguarly use cleaners in your house I highly recommend switching to this or something similar. If you are using producs like lysol you are putting MANY harmful chemicals in the air and surfaces of your home that are very dangerous. This is especially harmful in the winter when your house is all closed up and no there is fresh air to move it out. Another great natural cleaner I use for floors and bathrooms is distilled white vinegar. So easy and great!

Antiseptic All Purpose Cleaner Recipe:
-Up to 1 tsp. antiseptic essential oil kills viruses and bacteria as well as great scents(thyme, sweet orange, lemmongrass, rose, clove, eucalyptus, cinnamon, rosemary, birch, lavender, tea tree, or theives.)
-1 tsp washing soda
-2 tsp borax
-1/2 tsp liquid soap or detergent (Dr. Bronnners) Can get find at Target and some other stores
-2 c hot water
(I also usually add about 10-15 drops of grapefruit seed extract, which kills viruses and bacteria)

Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake to disolve and blend the minerals. Spray this on the surface and leave for 15 minutes before you wipe it with a rag. This allows the essential oils antiseptic qualities time to work.

I also sometimes double the recipe and put in a larger spray bottle.

Enjoy!

Natural and Homeade Cleaning Supplies

I wanted to share two natural cleaning products you can make yourself and are great on a tight budge. I won't go into all of the details in this post, but I am sure most of you know that cleaning supplies on the market have horrible chemicals in them. I strongly urge you to keep them away from your family and home. The worst part is that on cleaning supplies you will not find ingredients. I absolutely think this is wrong and I don't know how they get away with it in the secret trade. I personally like to know what is in the products I use and also know they are completely safe for me and my family. The two that I am going to share today are dishwasher and laundry detergents. These are two critical places to start with natural products in your home. Why? When you use most commercial dishwashing detergents it leaves chemical film on your dishes which you then ingest everytime you use the dishes. Many of the harsh chemicals and toxins that are repeatedly put into your body can lead to toxicity and health problems. In the same way laundry detergent is very important as it leaves scents and chemicals on your clothes that you wear all the time. Actually many babies are affected very badly by some of the chemicals and scents that they are surrounded in with clothes, blankets, etc used in detergents and fabric softners. So, it is really important to use natrual products with babies. You don't have to make them yourself, but since there is the secret trade even in natural products you will not always know the ingredients. They can say they are natural, but are really not. Make sure you are able to find out ingredients before purchasing. It should be pretty obvious as to what chemicals would be harmful. I know there are several new products out on the market right now that are probably really good, but I haven't tried them yet.

Dishwasher Detergent:
1 Tablespoon Borax (find with cleaning supplies at local grocery stores)
1 Tablespoon of Washing soda (find with cleaning supplies at local grocery stores)
Then put distilled white vinegar in the rinse compartment

Powdered Laundry Detergent for pennies a load:
2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated - you could also try the other bar soap, such as ivory)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
Use 1 tablespoon per load for 32 loads.

You can also add a few drops of essential oils for a fresh smell of your choice.

I also have used Charlies Soap for Laundry detergent if you don't like to make it. I bought a huge tub that is pennies a load and will last me for years.

What about cleaning the rest of your house with homeade natural products? In the next post I will have recipies to use in the kitchen and bathroon and all purpose cleaners.

If you know of others that you use and like please pass them along!

What God has taught me through the election...

What happened last night for our country was not what I was hoping for. I was not surprised, but it was still very hard to see come about. I am usually not an emotional person, but being pregnant is seeming to bring this out of me. I have spent much time over the last few months praying for this election and giving it fully to God. I wanted a miracle and for the Christian/conservative values I believe in to be shown to America and not taken in the other direction. Why did I become so consumed by this? I think it was because God wanted to teach me some amazing things and mold me during this time. I am thankful for what He has done in my life over the last few weeks and especially the last few days.

Before this election I was so sad and hurt at the thought of Obama and the Democrats gaining such power in this country. I feared that they would bring this nation farther from God. Also, over the last few months I have never seen so much negative media leading our people, people being torn apart for their different political views, and looking to these political leaders to save them instead of clinging to the ultimate Savior. I can hardly stand to watch TV right now as it is being dictated by such a liberal media that people are turning to for answers for their life. I hate that to become president or other elected offices you have to lie and bash the other party beyond belief. People are also clinging to some of the new elected leaders believing they have come to save and rescue them. Rescue them from these "bad times" and bring much needed change that will in return ultimitely make them happy....or not? It makes me absolutely sick to my stomach! I am afraid that people putting their hope towards such things will only lead to disappointment. Only God can fill the holes in our life and make us complete and meet all of our needs. Also I must mention that we are really not having "bad times" right now in America that over half of the people believe because they were told so.

Do Americans think hard times are:(From an article David Letterman wrote recently:
-that 95% of Americans have a job
-being able to go get food at local grocery stores whenever we want
-being able to drive across this country without having to show identification as we enter each state
-if we are hurt or sick we can get immediate care from a hospital close by
-Over 90% of us have cell phones and many with flat screen TV's and many other luxuries
-We have political, religious, and social freedom that other countries long for
-70% of Americans have homes
-air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter

God has blessed us all so richly in this country and we are so ungrateful!!

What has God Taught me Through This?
God has really convicted me of several things. I want to share a story that happened yesterday as I was headed to vote. I was saying prayers in the car and had the Christian radio station on. Since I am emotional right now I teared up as I again lifted my hand and surrendered this election to Him. "May your sovereign will be done!" I said. As the polls had already been open I knew there was not anything more I could do, but trust God. Then I heard a wonderful song come on. Not even sure who it was or the song. But there were several phrases that made tears stream down my face. Phrases something like this: "When all has faded no more tears will be shed." "All the things of this world will be gone." "But Jesus will still remain." "There will be another day"

At that moment I was reminded that we get so caught up in so many things that in the scheme of things do not matter. As tears were coming down my face I was also happy to hear that there would come a day when there would be no more tears or sadness. :) All that matters is that I serve and follow God and look forward to the day when I will be in perfect harmony with him. Yes, there are so many things going on in this country and world that are not leading people to God and even yet farther from Him. But, we as Christians need to stand strong and boldly proclaim His name to this nation and country. May we lead people to the true leader during this time and have real change! May we talk about God more then the election and the leaders in office in America. Many people are being steered the wrong way and they will only be disappointed when it once again fails. These people need to see the face of God and how he can save and meet there every need. Only He can do that! I truly believe and trust that God is going to use what is going on in America and our culture to bring more people to Him! May He be glorified as we unite together for His name!

Since the election is over I am also very convicted that I must steer away from spending so much time in front of the TV and computer. I must instead spend time on things that really are important. I must focus more of my time on growing my relationship with Christ instead of feeding it things not of Him.