Lotion Bar

These lotion bars are absolutely amazing and one of my favorite things to make. The shea butter and coconut oil moisturizes while the beeswax protects the skin and seals in the moisture. They work so well that you'll be able to moisturize less often even if you typically have dry skin. If you don't have a food scale, just measure out equal amounts of each ingredient, such as a quarter cup.

• 20 grams beeswax pellets
• 25 grams shea butter
• 25 grams coconut oil

Melt together in a small saucepan over low heat then pour into mould of your choice (cupcake pan, dixie cups, silicone muffin liners... etc)

Reel Mower: The ONLY green way to mow your lawn (that doesn't involve goats)

Did you know that running a gas powered lawn mower for one hour creates approximately the same amount of pollution as ELEVEN cars being driven for one hour? Did you know that the EPA estimates that 17 million gallons of fuel is spilled each year while refueling lawn equipment? That's more than Exxon-Valdez oil spill of 1989! An electric mower might seem like a better option since it doesn't directly contribute to pollution like a gas mower, but it does require electricity which may or may not be generated from renewable resources. The best option when it comes to mowing your lawn is to use a manual (push) reel mower.

Reel mowers are very inexpensive, with most reel mowers costing around $100. They're also easy to maintain, only requiring the occasional greasing. If the blades become dull, a sharpening kit can be purchased for $15. We've had our reel mower for 3 years and have yet to sharpen the blades.

Besides being cheap to buy and maintain, reel mowers are also safer than powered mowers (75,000 people go to the ER every year for lawn mower related injuries) since powered mowers have a tendency to turn rocks into projectiles. They're also quieter, allowing you to mow your lawn any time you'd like. Finally, real mowers are better for the health of your grass. The blades of powered mowers, whether gas or electric, cut by chopping and shredding. This leaves the grass more vulnerable to moisture-loss. A reel mower snips the grass much like a pair of scissors. This cleaner cut keeps your lawn healthy and looking neat.

The only downside of reel mowers is that they are slightly more difficult to push than powered mowers. If your yard is larger than a half acre, a reel mower may not be for you (however, if you have more than a half acre, I'd recommend xeriscaping the majority of your yard since lawns are wasteful in the first place). 

Soap Nuts - Natural Laundry Soap

Laundry in our household has just gotten cheaper and greener as we have made the switch to soap nuts.

So what exactly are soap nuts? Soap nuts are the dried shells of soapberries. The shells contain a substance called saponin, which creates a soaping effect. It has been used for centuries across the globe for cleaning laundry, for personal hygiene, and for several other cleaning purposes. They are hypoallergenic and naturally fragrance free.

For laundry, measure out 1/2 ounce of soap nuts (4-5 shells), place into a drawstring bag and tie it securely. Toss the bag into your washing machine prior to adding in clothing then wash using warm or hot water. Once the washer has completed all cycles, remove the drawstring bag containing the soap nuts (don't leave it in your washer). Air drying the soap nuts is not necessary if you have another load of laundry to do. If you wash with cold water (which I usually do unless I'm washing kitchen rags or cloth diapers), simply soak the drawstring bag containing the soap nuts in a cup of hot water for 3 minutes, creating "soap nut tea". Remove the bag and pour tea into your washing machine. Again, allow the drawstring bag containing the soap nuts to air dry.

Soap nuts can be reused 4-7 times. They are no longer effective when they turn light tan or grey or when they become thin and/or mushy. Spent soap nuts can be composted!

Turning Bar Soap into Liquid Soap

Use this method to make your own hand soap, body wash, face wash, and even dish soap! For dish soap, I recommend using a bar of antibacterial soap that contains no moisturizers, such as Dial antibacterial (see below for price breakdown). For a good multipurpose soap, use Dr. Bronner's. It's organic, fair trade, made in the USA, and can be used for everything from washing yourself, your floors, your carpet, your pet, your dishes, or even your clothes.  

Personally, I'm a big fan of Dr. Bronner's. Although a little does go a long way, it is still insanely expensive. I used to buy Dr. Bronner's liquid soap in both the 16 oz size and the 32 oz size (for those of you who don't know, Dr. Bronner's famous liquid castile soap comes in a plethora of sizes). If only I knew then what I know now. I could have saved so much money, saved the world from all those plastic bottles, and still enjoy the same exact product. Let me give you a break down of their prices:

Dr. Bronners Magic Pure Castile Liquid Soap

*prices gathered from Dr. Bronner's website as of December 23, 2012

**price per ounce has been rounded to the nearest cent, except in the case of the bar soap

By now you're probably thinking one of two things. 1. "Wow! That is a remarkable savings!" OR (if you are a Dr. Bronner's snob) 2. "I dilute my Dr. Bronner's liquid soap to a 1:10 ratio, so I'll just keep spending a little more to save myself the hassle." Well, I have news for you, soap snob... the liquid soap made from a bar is much thicker than the store bought liquid soap and it too can be diluted. It's the consistency of egg whites (FAR thicker than the premade liquid soap). I use about 1-2 tablespoons of homemade liquid soap to a quart of water to clean my entire kitchen (floors included). Also, the process of making liquid soap from a bar is far from being a hassle. It's so easy a child could do it and it takes just a few minutes of your time.

Want to go even cheaper? Here's a breakdown of various dish soap prices versus the liquid soap made from a bar of Dial Antibacterial. The liquid soap made from the bar is also a great choice to use as hand soap and even body wash.

*prices gathered from Walmart's website on December 23, 2012

**price per ounce has been rounded to the nearest cent, except in the case of the Dial bar soap

Now that I've thoroughly convinced you with these shocking prices, let me show you just how EASY it is to turn ANY bar of soap into liquid soap. 

Natural Crystal Deodorant/Stone Deodorant

Shortly after moving to Texas, I discovered my tried and true deodorant (Dove, if you must ask) just wasn't working for me any more. I spent the next couple months trying new brands only to find that they'd work for a while... that is, until my body acclimated to the new brand... then it would stop altogether. I found a way to trick my body by rotating three different deodorants frequently and that worked alright for the rest of the summer. One day, I decided that there has got to be a better way. While searching Amazon, I found an odd clear rock that so many reviewers swore by. I thought they were nuts and that it couldn't possibly be doing anything. It had to be some sort of successful placebo, driven by wishful thinking. Still, I was intrigued.

Fast forward a few months. I was in Whole Foods, browsing the body care section when I saw a deodorant stone for around two dollars. For that price, I just had to try it once and for all. I quickly became a believer. The stone is made from natural salts that kill off bacteria. This is NOT an antiperspirant, after all, sweating isn't bad... it's only bad when mixed with bacteria, creating a bad odor. To use, simply get it wet and rub on your underarms. It can also be used on feet. I suggest using it twice a day... once when you are fresh from the shower then again towards the end of the day. My husband quickly fell in love with it as well and that $2 stone lasted 2 1/2 YEARS! Its demise came when it was accidentally dropped, shattering into a few dozen pieces.

Deodorant stones can be purchased as just a stone or a stone that is set in an applicator. The applicator variety is about 2-3 times the price, however, the stone inside it is MUCH larger than the loose stone variety. When purchasing a stone in person, I suggest looking at it closely and choosing one with as few bubbles as possible. These bubbles can feel pretty rough against your skin once the stone is worn down to reach one. If your stone gets a rough spot either from an air pocket or from accidentally dropping it, simply take a piece of sand paper and file the rough spot down.

deodorant stone

deodorant stone set in an easy-to-handle applicator

Reusable Cloth Toilet Paper

Prepare yourselves! This one is going to be a big pill for most people to swallow. There are actually people out there that do not buy toilet paper and instead, use cloth wipes!! I know, I know... this sounds weird and gross, right? But hear me out! Toilet paper is costly (around 20-80 cents a roll depending on what you get) and harmful for the environment. Forests are cut down just to get the core material needed for the production of toilet paper. Toxic fumes are released into the atmosphere due to the chemicals used in paper pulp manufacture. Rolls are packaged in plastic wrap that will live on in landfills indefinitely. Trucks are needed to transport the finished product from factory to stores everywhere (transportation is the largest source of air pollution in the United States). All of this and what do we really have to show for it? Nothing (but pollution)! It's all getting flushed down the toilet.

Now, if you are currently cloth diapering a baby, using cloth toilet paper is a very easy and painless transition... after all, the cloth wipes can be washed right along with your child's cloth diapers. If you are not cloth diapering a baby, then I suggest making enough wipes so that you can do a small load of laundry once a week. Cloth wipes are easy to make. A single layer of flannel with surged edges is one way to make them. Two layers of flannel sewed together, turned right side out, then top stitched is another good one. If you are completely helpless in the sewing department, you can purchase cloth wipes (used for cloth diapering), use cheap wash cloths (I buy 18 packs of washcloths for $4 to use for general cleaning), or even cut up old t-shirts. For storage, a small wet bag (waterproof and stink-proof, washable reusable bag) works wonderfully.

Another thing to consider is that using cloth toilet paper doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing ordeal. Many people use cloth toilet paper for pee only and even families that exclusively use cloth toilet paper will still buy the disposable toilet paper for guests. I strongly urge you to at least give it a try. I'm willing to bet that you will be pleasantly surprised. Cloth toilet paper makes even the fluffiest/thickest toilet paper feel like cheaply made garbage and it will NEVER leave pieces behind (take that, Charmin!)

Menstrual Cup

A menstrual cup is a small, bell-shaped cup worn inside the vagina that collects menstrual fluid. Menstrual cups are a reusable, hygienic, healthy, convenient, and an affordable way to deal with your period.

Being that the average woman menstruates an average of 40 years of her life, disposable pads and tampons add up to be a big cost (on average $100-200 per year) and even bigger strain on the environment. Billions of pounds of disposable feminine hygiene products end up in landfills every year (a tampon takes appoximately 6 months to decompose while disposable pads and plastic applicators will last indefinitely) and even more end up in our sewer systems (around 80% of women admit to flushing tampons down the toilet... something that any plumber will tell you not to do! An astonishing 75% of sewage backups are caused by flushed feminine hygiene products).

Menstrual cups are nonporous and most are made from medical-grade silicone (one cup company uses natural rubber and another uses TPE, or thermoplastic elastomer). This means that menstrual cups are the only feminine hygiene product that can be truly sterilized (cups can be washed with antibacterial soap or even boiled). They also don't have the problems that are associated with tampons such as leaving you feeling overly dry (tampons don't discriminate in what they absorb), leaving fibers behind, and wicking outside fluids such as water (when swimming or bathing) and urine. Also unlike tampons, menstrual cups have never been linked to TSS, or toxic shock syndrome.

Cups are the most convenient feminine hygiene option as they eliminate the need to buy tampons again. They are also great when travelling as valuable suitcase or purse space won't have to be occupied by pads and tampons (essentially, garbage). Another plus is that they can be worn when you're not on your period. This is convenient because you can insert the cup before your period starts to avoid any surprises. Yet another added convenience is the fact that cups have a much higher capacity than tampons. Even on the heaviest of days, it is unlikely that the cup will have to be emptied more than 3 times.

Using the cup takes a little practice as well as trial and error. Insertion is done by folding the cup into either a C-shape or pushing an edge of the rim into the cup (this is called the punch-down fold, see picture below). Once inserted, allow the cup to open back to its original shape and then guide the cup so that it sits comfortably. With a finger, circle around the cup to make sure your cervix isn't sitting outside the cup. For removal, simply pull the cup down (either by the base or by its flexible, silicone stem which can be easily cut off if preferred) until it's possible to push in a corner of the rim. This will break the seal it has created and allow the cup to come out easily. Dump the contents into the toilet, rinse, and reinsert. Rinsing isn't necessary every time so feel free to skip this step if you are in a public restroom. The cup should be emptied at least every 12 hours. At the end of your menstrual cycle, the cup should be thoroughly cleaned either by boiling or by washing with antibacterial soap. Some cup users even soak their cups in a heavily diluted hydrogen peroxide solution at the end of their cycles.

Cups range in price from $15-40 and with care, will last several years. There are many (around two dozen) different brands on the market, the most popular being the Diva Cup, the Mooncup, and the Lunette. Most cup companies offer two sizes, a small size and a large size. The small size is intended for young women with light periods that have never given birth. The larger size is intended for older women, women with heavy periods, or women that have given birth. The difference between the two sizes is just a matter of millimeters, so don't fret too much about needing a large vs a small size. A cup can be worn on its own or in conjunction with a cloth menstrual pad for added security.

FleurCup in black, stem removed

'Punch Down' fold used for insertion

Humorous, yet informative video

Cloth Menstrual Pads

Cloth menstrual pads, also known as "mama cloth", are reusable, comfortable, and absorbant. They eliminate the need to ever purchase disposable pads, which in turn creates less waste and decreases your spending. They are also a very healthy option, as disposable pads contain various chemicals, fragrances, and plastics which can irritate the skin and prevents the skin from being able to breathe. There are many different styles, colors, absorbancies, and fibers to choose from (typically cotton or bamboo) and many templates and tutorials available online if you want to try your hand at making them yourself. Even if you are not a pad user, cloth menstrual pads are still a good option to use in conjunction with a menstrual cup or tampon.

If you opt to purchase cloth pads rather than make them, you will find that they are expensive. I'd say on average, they are $5 per pad (some are more, some are less) and it's recommended to have anywhere from a half dozen to two dozen depending on how often you are able to do laundry. Some of the big names in cloth pads include Lunapads and GladRags and (I think it's important to note) both these companies do their part by donating pads to impoverished girls in Africa (I'm sure you've seen the disposable pad commercials about sending pads to Africa. I never understood how sending packaging and garbage to areas of the world where clean drinking water is hard to come by makes any sense at all). Another place you can buy cloth pads include many of the cloth diaper venders along with the hundreds of independent sellers on Etsy.

Nearly all cloth pads secure with either a snap, button, or velcro closure. Some pads contain a waterproof backing such as PUL (polyurithane laminate) or a water-resistent backing (such as fleece). They range in absorbancy from light (pantiliner) to heavy (postpartum and overnight).

If you are currently cloth diapering a baby, it is recommended to wash your pads along with the diaper laundry. Otherwise, many cloth pad users either hand wash their pads or will wash them along with a load of towels.  

Bamboo pads by Bububibi

Homemade pantiliners

Cloth nursing pads

I was perfectly happy using the disposable nursing pads by Lansinoh but after I calculated that I was paying approximately 13 cents per pad (2 changes a day = $15/month!), I went on the hunt for a cloth alternative.

Off to the store I went where I purchased the only cloth nursing pads they had in stock. They were from Medela, they were lumpy, and I leaked through them in minutes. Needless to say, I went back to disposable pads while I broadened my search. I wasn't sure what I was looking for but I decided that if my daughter can wear a waterproof cover over her cloth diaper, that I should be able to find a cloth nursing pad with a similar waterproof cover built in. I came across some waterproof pads by Bamboobies that sounded good, but I wasn't about to spend nearly $10 per pair. Right when I was about to bite the bullet and purchase from Bamboobies, I found the waterproof bamboo nursing pads by BubuBibi. Each order includes two pair of nursing pads in your choice of print and ships for free. They average out to be just over $2 a pair! I have 16 pairs of these and I wash them along with my regular laundry. They are very absorbent and very cute!

BubuBibi waterproof bamboo nursing pads