No Poo Cheats, Tips & Tricks

In 3 years of being shampoo free (yes, you read that correctly, I don't wash my hair with shampoo), I've learned a few things.  I've learned the basics of what method works for me in my usual routine, but I've also acquired some cheats along the way!

If you want more details to either get started or solve some common problems, here's my usual washing details and here's a list of the most common questions I receive about being Poo Free.

My daughter and I!  Both shampoo free!

 In between the usual seven, eight, nine, ten days of a shampoo free wash, my hair sometimes encounters lots of different environments.  Here are some of my top tips to either extending the length between washes or dealing with unforeseen circumstances in between washes.

Cheat: Scent-Be-Gone! 

Ever been in a house or restaurant where bacon is being fried?  Really, if they're frying anything, you WILL stink, especially if you are a female with longer hair.  What do most people do when they have an unwanted scent in their hair?  They go home and wash their hair.  But what can you do if you're No Poo and you just washed yesterday?  You can't wash again, otherwise you might threaten your No Poo groove.  And you certainly can't walk around smelling like IHOP until your next shampoo free wash! 

Enter...Scent-Be-Gone!  Actually, it's nothing that fancy.  I mix a few drops of lemon essential oil (order here) with some water, mixed in a spray bottle, sprayed on your hair.  It works great and leaves your hair smelling neutral.  

From everything that I can tell, this does NOT bleach my hair, but I use Young Living essential oils, so I can't promise what your results will be if you use another brand.  You won't be left sticky or smelling like a Lemonhead (haha, I'm funny) because the lemon juice dissipates in the same way that the vinegar scent is gone when you rinse your hair with vinegar.

This works great for campfire or any other unwanted scents!

Cheat: Boar's Hair Brush

Have I mentioned I like this little creation?  Because I really do!  Sometimes, when you're close to washing day, you either notice your scalp is looking a little iffy or your ends are seeming a bit dry.  A boar's hair brush helps evenly distribute natural oils from your scalp to the ends of your hair.  You kill two birds with one stone by using this brush!

Cheat: Homemade Dry Shampoo

Sometimes, you know it's not wash day, but you really need your hair to look nice for a certain event, but it just looks a little too greasy.  While I don't recommend this technique during the transition stage of going No Poo, for someone whose hair has adapted to this method, there isn't too much harm in using this spray in emergency situations.  Here is the recipe for homemade dry shampoo for BLONDE or LIGHT hair only. 

Ingredients:

1 TB cornstarch

4 TB of water

1 TB of rubbing alcohol

Mix it all together in a spray bottle and spray lightly on greasy spots.  Not too much.  Comb or brush through hair to help even it out.  This can be premixed and stored, but make sure you shake it up before you use it. 

Cheat: The Peri Bottle

Image source

The peri bottle has brought many women relief in the postpartum period, but little did we know it's be the perfect size for No Poo washes.  Holding 8 oz, you can easily toss a tablespoon of whatever you're using on your hair, add water, shake it up and apply to your hair.   Easy mixing, no spilling, and perfect proportions.  I know some people that bought quite a few, prefill them with baking soda and apple cider vinegar respectively, and add water once they're in the shower.  I'm not that organized and usually fill mine right as I'm rushing to the shower. 

Best of all, they are fairly cheap! 

I want to hear from you, No Poo'ers!  What are some of the best tricks you've learned in your Poo Free journey?

Cloth Diapering Away From Home and On The Go!

Before I begin this post, let me say this: I only have one kid.  Don't hold me responsible for what I do once I have two children!  I'm just hoping and praying my oldest daughter, India, will be potty-learned before baby #2 is born this summer. 

I cloth diaper away from home.  Shocking, yes.  Not every cloth diaperer does this and I can understand.  I normally don't go longer than two days away from home in cloth diapers without access to laundry machines.  I'm going to share with you today some tips and pointers for making it easy to cloth diaper away from home!

1. Get a good wetbag. (A wetbag is a bag with PUL lining, covered with fabric, which is closed by a zipper). No one wants a stanky poopy stinkin' up their diaper bag.  So, get a good wetbag that can, for the most part, hide any stank that would be trying to make itself known.  Some people are cool with a plastic grocery bag, but I prefer something a little more reusable.  I like Planet Wise wetbags as they are pretty fashionable!

2. Use a disposable liner.  I'm not talking about a disposable insert (although those are great, too), but a disposable liner that easily lines a diaper and can be flushed or thrown out if soiled.  If it's just wet you can either save it to reuse it, wash it or toss it.  With no potty sprayer nearby, disposable liners are the perfect accessory to cloth diapering away from home. Imse Vimse liners are my favorite and can be reused multiple times.

3. When in cloth, use cloth wipes.  I use cloth wipes at home and I find it easier when using cloth diapers away from home, to use cloth wipes as well.  Nothing easier than wiping off the baby, rolling it all up and tossing it in your wetbag.  The few times I have used disposable wipes, I've found it hard to leave the baby on the changing table and go and toss the wipe, because heaven forbid you leave that thing with the dirty diaper and wash it!  I will wet some wipes in a plastic bag so they're all ready to go.  Of course, I do have backup disposable wipes with as well for those, what I like to term, 6-wipers.

4. Use your most convenient diapers when out and about.  I use prefolds almost exclusively at home, but when I'm spending the afternoon shopping, I have All-In-Ones and pockets (pre-stuffed) with.  You want to make the change as quick and seamless as possible.

5. If needed, save the poop for at home.  If your baby drops a dirty and you aren't using a disposable liner or the disposable liner has failed you in some way, wrap the dirty diaper up and stick it in the wetbag, to be taken care of AS SOON as you get home.  This is also a useful option when you don't want your baby walking or crawling around the public restroom while you clean up. But, DO NOT forget about this soiled diaper for days on end...I may or may not speak from experience. ;-)

A cloth diaper on the go!

Happy Cloth Diapering!

5 Quick Ways to Save Money

I'm always looking for little tips to save money.  Whether I want to put the money saved towards a bill or save it for a house project or spend it on some new cloth diapers, it's nice to know when you're able to save a bit.  Here are some easy, quick tips to save money.

1. Drop a small (or large) bill.  Look where your money is going each month.  Can you find a cheaper gym?  Do you read those magazines or can you get a cheaper e-version?  For us, we dropped our Netflix when the bill went up to $16 a month.  We weren't watching that many movies and for that price, we could rent almost 16 Redbox movies to justify it.  And Redbox had all the new releases and Netflix didn't.  Now, we end up getting a Redbox movie maybe once a month, costing us $1 versus $16.

2. Make a shopping list off your grocery store flyers and follow it.  Browse your grocery store's flyer and make your weekly menu off of that.    I have a major weakness in that, when I'm hungry, I'm hungry.  My friends and family know I turn into a monster without food and get sick.  If I neglect the dinner menu, I either run to the store and come home with ice cream, Doritos, sour gummy worms, and frozen taquitos or I send my husband out for fried chicken.  See, no menu=no self-control=YUCK.  So check out the super sales and plan your shopping list.  If you need inspiration, this is a site where you can enter ingredients and in turn, are given recipe ideas!

3. Drop the land line and consider your cell phone service.  For years, people have been getting rid of their land lines and directing all their phone calls to their mobile phones.  Great way to save.  However, cell phones prices and addendums have continued to snowball, leaving some families, who opt for services like unlimited data, text and talking, with monthly bills reaching $1,000.  It may be worthwhile to pay your contract severance fees and find a pay-as-you-go or prepaid phone.  I have several friends who are happy with their $45 a month mobile phone bill and service and don't find it inconvenient to buy minutes and data as needed.

4. Check reviews and prices.  Shop before you buy.  With nearly everything online, there's no reason why you can't Google a review for that new blender you want.  In doing so, you may find that the $40 machine is good, but there is a $30 blender, of a different brand, that has better reviews and a longer warranty.  Besides, thinking about your purchase (when it's not physically in front of you) quite often makes you reconsider before making a hasty decision with that new birthday money.

5. Don't buy it, make it.  You saw a cute canvas photo print in a store but didn't like the price tag?  Replicate it.  Have a craving for Chili's salsa?  Make it.  Have a baby shower coming up and you need a gift?  Check out this list of 12 baby shower gifts you can make.  Laundry soap killing your budget?  Mix up your own.

My mantra!

Saving money can be easy and not as painful as one might think!  Hope this encourages you and maybe gives you some ideas as to how to fatten your wallet!

Limiting Your Household Plastic Usage - Guest Post by Jakob Barry

When it comes to rescuing the environment we don’t have to be part of a large organization to make a difference. Much of the work can be done right at home and a good place to start is with our use of disposable plastic.

Plastic was invented in the mid 19^th century but only began to be mass produced around World War II. Since then the material has done wonders for fields such as medicine, sports, technology, and house remodeling but over the years the ecological impact on our planet has in many ways been disastrous.

Most plastics take long periods of time to biodegrade and chemicals used to manufacture containers for food packaging often cause bodily harm by leaching into the product, which is then consumed by people and absorbed by the digestive system.

That’s why the more we cut down on using plastic the faster the world can begin to heal and we can have a better future. Here are a few easy to implement tips on limiting every day plastic usage in our lives at home:

1. Plastic-ware: Most people use plastic-ware not because it looks better or that it’s fancier than stainless steal, silver, or even wood. It’s usually out of convenience which is sometimes necessary and unavoidable. At the same time each plastic fork that gets tossed in the trash could take up to 100 years to biodegrade and as it’s breaking down the chemicals used in the manufacturing process pollute the ground. That’s why whenever the opportunity presents itself get back to using reusable flatware instead of plastic utensils, plates, and cups. It will mean a change in routine and more patience having to wash things out but the long term benefits out way the immediate hassles.

2. Plastic food bags: Both adults and children use plastic bags regularly for snacks and sandwiches for lunches but these can effortlessly be replaced by reusable containers. Try having several and of varying sizes available, especially for those mornings when you forgot to wash out the one from the day before.

3. Plastic shopping bags: Believe it or not billions of plastic shopping bags are used worldwide by consumers annually and each bag could take up to 1000 years to biodegrade. If you think about it, that’s a lot of plastic lying around ecosystems internationally. The easiest way to get off the plastic bag hitch is to start phasing them out while finding reusables made of cotton or canvas for hauling your groceries home.

4. Plastic bottles: When it comes to all things plastic people recognize bottles as an obvious candidate for recycling but still consume more. To get around purchasing drinks like water use the tap more and drink out of reusable water bottles. Furthermore, if you like soda, buy a soda carbonator and make your own flavors. Most of these machines don’t use any electricity and after a few months you’ll be saving at the register as well as feel a little lighter not having to carry heavy six packs home.

5. Plastic trash bags: The next time you decide to throw something away take a good look at it. Is it paper? Recycle it. Is it plastic? Recycle it. Is it from a fruit or vegetable? Compost it. Ninety percent of the things we toss in the regular trash have another use and it’s up to us to decide how to be more resourceful with our garbage. By doing this we will use less plastic trash bags around the house. Alternatively, whenever possible use paper bags instead.

Finally it’s important to note that if you’ve been using plastic disposables all your life and it’s hard to make the transition to mostly reusables try Greener brands which biodegrade faster or consider those made from paper or vegetable matter. They may be a little pricier but will help make a smoother shift towards a completely plastic free life.

Jakob Barry is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com. He blogs about eco-friendly kitchen topics for pros across the U.S. like Anaheim flooring contractors.

Preserving the Life of Cloth Diapers

It's a known fact that cloth diapers can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars over the poopy butt years.  But even though cloth diapers can withstand the bottoms of several children, there are some things you can do to ensure that they remain in good condition as long as possible and you get the most for your money!

Watch the heat
If you dry your diapers in the dryer, make sure any that contain PUL or elastic aren't dried on full heat. In the winter, I hang mine on a makeshift clothes rack, so they don't see dryer time at all.  Line drying will also help preserve the life of the fabric on the diapers.  But, as great as line drying outdoors is, the outdoor elements, especially the hot sun, can do a number to your diapers as well.  Make sure they don't sit out there in the heat for hours, or your diapers may only last through one child.

Wash frequently 
You don't have to wash your cloth diapers every day, but if you're wondering how often you need to wash them, while the stench is making your eyes water and your husband vomit, then it's time to wash.  Don't go longer than 3 days or else you can end up with mildew and permanent stank.

Use care when washing
Use the right soap, formulated for cloth diapers (my personal favorite and the only one that doesn't give my baby a rash is from the Peaceful Housewife - it's seriously amazing!!!).  Don't use bleach or fabric softeners.  Make sure all aplix or Velcro is secured so it doesn't snag or get caught on other diapers.

Avoid diaper cream
Most children get rashes at some point in their diapers days, but at all costs avoid the nappy cream.  All they do is cling to the fabric, putting a barrier on the diaper and therefore, your diaper loses absorbancy.  If your baby has a rash and air time just isn't doing it, either get a diaper rash cream that is cloth diaper safe, use coconut oil or use a traditional diaper rash cream with a disposable liner on the diaper.

Rotate
Make sure you aren't using the same dozen diapers all the time.  When your diapers come back clean, put them on the back of the shelf or the bottom of the basket and bring the others up to be used in the rotation.

Happy diapering!

Taking a baby camping at a music festival

A music festival may be the last place you envision your little one.  If loud music, heat, dust, bugs, dirt, strangers, camping and a baby make you want to run the other way, this post may not be for you. :-) 

However, if good music, friends, camping, laughter, camp food, your kids and summer love sound like fun, bringing a baby camping to a music festival might be a great fit!

Enjoying the music at the mainstage

Perhaps some people may think it's ludicrous to bring a child to an outdoor music festival, but judging from all the families I saw camping with small children, I'm guessing it's more popular than one can imagine.

Bringing a child (or perhaps several) camping at a music festival can be a wonderful time! My daughter was enthralled with all the music and loved interacting (or being a complete ham) with different faces that she's never seen before.

Here are some pointers I learned on our most recent excursion!

 

1. Plan ahead:

(I missed this step entirely, as 40 minutes before the group was leaving to camp at a Christian music festival and my daughter and I were contentedly situated at home, I decided to go.  Oops.  Then I ran around my house throwing things into reusable grocery bags, hoping and praying that I grabbed everything necessary.) 

• Check the weather
• Pack for all situations (more on this in a bit)
• Know who performs where and when to optimize shows that you want to see with your child's naptime or mealtimes
• Is this event family friendly?  Do they have additional children's programs or play areas?
• Plan where you will camp.  Is it close to the concert areas?  Do you want to be close to the concert areas?  Are the restrooms nearby?  Can you park close by?
• Get familiar with a few key stores or restaurants in the city, in case your baby needs a change of scenery, or maybe you need a break!

2. Provide additional entertainment:

Your child may not find your favorite events all that wonderful.  We had a day and a half of rain, leaving us with a muddy disaster - something I didn't really want my daughter playing in because I didn't want to clean it up! 

• Your child's favorite snacks are a wonderful distraction when you're both at your end
• A portable DVD player for a rainy (or muddy or unbearably hot) day
• A few favorite toys, for entertainment in the car as well as when your attention needs to be elsewhere (like preparing a meal)

Muddy mess while camping!

3. Plan on being alone and/or missing events:

• With a child, you simply cannot be a part of every single thing that you want to be a part of.  Is it still worth it to you if you have to spend 2-3 hours of your day back at your campsite while your child naps?  Is it still worth it if you miss you favorite concert?
• Bring something for YOU to do while your child naps or has downtime at the campsite

4. Bring a stroller AND a baby carrier:

I can't emphasize this point enough!  There were times when my daughter was too hot, I was too hot, and she just wanted to be in the stroller and getting fresh air.  There were times when she just wanted to be held.  There were times when I needed to nurse her, but I was going to be late for a concert if I sat down and fed her.  The carrier was perfect for killing two birds with one stone: nursing your baby, while walking to or from your destination.  She even ended up sleeping in her baby carrier during one of the concerts!  And don't forget, a stroller makes a great pack mule, far better than your husband! ;-)

5. Pack right, not light:

• You simply can't have too many blankets.  We ended up have very cold weather one of the days, and every single blanket I had was used in some way, shape or form on that day
• Bring cold weather clothes.  Again, unforseen cold weather left my daughter wearing the same clothes two days in a row
• Bring warm weather clothes
• Swimsuit
• A hat for baby
• Natural bug repellent
• Sunblock, if you use it
• Umbrella
• A small fan if you have a power source
• A pack and play or playpen for your child - for sleeping and for times when you don't want them getting near dangerous items like a camp stove
• Earplugs (although my daughter ended up spending every moment trying to get those things out of her ears, and eventually even ate one)
• I'm a cloth diapering Mama, but in this instance, bring the disposables!
• Wipes  
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  Make sure your cooler is filled with cold water, and that your diaper bag has it's fair share so you don't have to keep trekking back to the campsite to get more water.
• Bring your camera - after all, you are making great memories

6. Make friends everywhere:

• You need your neighbors to be your friends!  They'll love you and your loud child a lot more when 6 AM rolls around and your child is fully awake and being loud!
• Become friends with people around you at the concerts.  They will not only lend a little more grace to you and your cutie, but they can help be a watchful eye (like notify you when your daughter eats her earplug).

Have you gone camping or brought your child to a music festival?  What tips to you have about surviving camping or a music festival with a small child? 

The Best Baby Items (4 months to 8 months)

I love lists!  You can read my top ten list, Birth to 4 months here, but many of those items are still on my favorites list and are still loved and used daily. 

Here are a few new items that have made my four month to eight month favorites!  If you are looking for unique baby gifts, these are highly coveted in my opinion. :-)

In no particular order my Top 10 Baby Items...

1. Sophie the Giraffe -

India loves Sophie.  I don't have to say much more about it, because if you've ever met my daughter, Sophie is never too far from her.  Sophie is a #1 seller for children's toys, and I can see why.  I've never met a child who didn't love her.  She's made of natural rubber and painted with food paint, so she is safe for baby to chew on.  She is one of the best items for a new baby, or an 8-month old.

2. ERGO Baby Carrier, or other soft structure carrier -

I reviewed my six baby carriers and ultimately, concluded that my ERGO baby carrier is my favorite. India has now reached the point where she tried to escape from my other carriers and other carriers don't provide the needed support for this growing, active little girl!  I LOVE my ERGO baby carrier!

3. Evenflo Exersaucer -

India hated the infant swing and bouncer (read: I never got to shower), and I'm not one to put a baby in one of those, unless I will be out of reach - getting the mail, changing clothes, etc. It surprised me greatly that India actually enjoyed her Exersaucer! Although she isn't so crazy about being confined in it so much now, at her peak, she would play in it for 20 minutes, which would let me get a few things done sans baby.

4. Conair Sound Machine -  

Another thing I WASN'T going to do. But this machine has been wonderful. When India hears it, she knows it's time for bed, and cuddles close instantly. I teach piano lessons from home, and those coincide with her nap, so this helps drown out the sound in our small house.

5. Munchkin Mesh Feeders -

While we do infant led feeding, infant led solids, baby led weaning, infant directed feeding (really, someone needs to come up with ONE name for it and spread the word!), mesh feeders are great for stuff that she could too easily choke on.  When we have beef, she eats if from here or in pieces that I tear up for her.  She also has bits of frozen food in here too, like Meshy Boobsicles. :-)  It's perfect for when I wash dishes or clean the kitchen.  She can safely eat without me having to watch every bite. 

6. Good, quality teething toys -

India's favorites are her Sophie, her Babi Corolle Babipouce doll, and ImagiPlay wooden teethers, all of which smell SO good!  We don't allow many plastic toys in our house because of BPA, PVC and phthlates .  The US has made great strides in beginning to eliminate the endocrine disruptors from bottles and pacifiers, and some countries have even made it illegal, but unfortunately, many toys still contain these plastics.  Since these toxins enter a body easily by the mouth, and children put EVERYTHING in their mouths, we've decided to use healthier toys.  Ironically, India chooses the healthy toys over ones made of plastic.   



7. Organic Coconut Oil from Tropical Traditions -

Yes, you read that correctly.  Why coconut oil on a list of favorite baby items??  Since phthlates, one of the toxins mentioned above, is found in most perfumes, lotions, shampoos, etc (even baby products), we mostly use coconut oil for a moisturizer after baths.  Coconut oil is awesome for diaper rash, is safe for cloth diapers and is killer (no pun intended) on yeast rashes.  We also use it for cooking, and India loves to eat it in its semi-solid state.

8. Green Mountain Diaper Products - (previous top 10 item)  

The more I hear about Green Mountain Diapers and the more I use them and they still look the same, the more I love this feels-like-next-door-neighbors company!  I have several items on my 'drool' list, and love how Karen really listens to her customers.  Don't forget the SnuggleWool blankets that they carry!  We LOVE ours!

9. aden + anais swaddle blankets - (previous top 10 item)

Although India isn't swaddled any longer, these blankets are still used for everything!  Peek-a-boo, nursing cover, changing mat, chew toy, oh yeah, and blanket!  Talk about versatile!






10. Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm - (previous top 10 item)

This balm has saved our butts so many times!  It's absolutely perfect for clearing up the slightest bit of diaper rash and it's safe for cloth diapers.  Earth Mama Angel Baby has great products: their Postpartum Recovery Kit was literally a gift from God after I had India!  You can't go wrong with any of their non-toxic, organic products!

What are some of your must have or favorite baby items from when your child was 4 to 8 months old?

Dr. Bronner's as Handsoap

Anyone who knows me very well, knows that I HATE spending money. The reasonings behind my frugality are another blog entirely. Anyone who knows me well, also knows that I hate spending money on things that are horrible for the environment and equally as destructive to our bodies.

Getting involved in the whole organic living sphere can be quite overwhelming. What you previously thought was 'natural' because it said so on the bottle, you soon learn it's full of the same garbage as the normal stuff. Parabens, aluminum, DEA, just to name a few.

When you decide to 'go organic' or even green, your pocketbook can take a major hit if you're not careful.

Enter Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap...

Dr. Bronner's castile soaps - peppermint, lavender and almond!

It's been one of my loves for almost a year now. I use it for anything and everything.  The ingredient list is nothing to fear. It's also Fair Trade Certified. I have a travel sized Lavender, an 8 oz. Peppermint and an 8 oz. Almond. My 8 oz peppermint bottle cost maybe $7-$8, and is lasting me forever, as it needs to be diluted for almost every use. Dr. Bronner's brags of it's many uses, and I can testify to most of these: body wash, face wash, shampoo, laundry, household cleaning, shaving cream, toothpaste, and today I found a new use!

Handsoap!

I used Dr. Bronner's peppermint, as I haven't even opened my almond yet, and thought the lavender might be too feminine. I mixed 1 part Dr. Bronner's to 4 parts water(I used 4 TB of Dr. Bronner's and 1 cup of water) and put it in my soap dispenser. That's it - foamy soap on the cheap!

Dr. Bronner's peppermint castile soap for handsoap!