Pinterest Pin Find : Dish Soap & Vinegar Shower Cleaner UPDATE

Ok, so in my last post before this one, I included a link to a vinegar, and dawn dishsoap shower cleaner recipe.

Let me tell you that you need to follow the exact recipe, and not try to MacGyver it like I did. I might have spelled MacGyver wrong, but you know who I mean! Anyway, I used pickling vinegar, which is 7% acetic acid, as opposed to regular vinegar, which is 5% acetic acid. Yeah. Just don't! I also didn't have Dawn dish soap, because I much prefer original scent Sunlight Dish Liquid! The smell just makes me feel happy, and it sudses up real nice. Yes, SUDSES!! I am super cool, which gives me license to make up words when I feel that normal words don't cut it.

So, I heated the vinegar in the microwave, and phew...it stank, and not in a nice vinegar way, but in a strong nose stinging kind of way. Gross. So anyway, I thought that was my vivid imagination, and proceeded to try to lift the glass bottle from the microwave with no oven mitt. What a dunce I am! I burned my delicate finger tips! So once I smartened up, and put the oven mitt on, I took the steaming vinegar out, then I waited for it to cool for like 10 seconds, (I should have waited much longer), then I poured it into the spray bottle I had, with about 2 tbs of Sunlight. I shook it. It didn't gel. Ok, I figured it might not.

I sprayed it on the shower. It foamed. Ooh, that looks like it's cleaning! I spritzed and sprayed a LOT, and then I realized that the mixture was very overwhelming, scent wise, like it was having a negative effect on my breathing. I'm not asthmatic or anything, but it was really bad. I quickly started the cool water running and rinsed the stuff out of the bathtub and shower, and got out of there. I WON'T do that again. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why you should always follow the recipe for cleaning products, unless you're a scientist or something and know exactly what you're doing!

Pinterest Pin Find! - Dawn & Vinegar Shower Cleaner

I think that many of us are looking for ways to make our lives easier. What's one of the worst tasks that many of us face? How to clean our showers & tubs effectively, with as little effort as possible.

I found this on pinterest, and I thought that I should share it with anyone who might read my blog. I can't wait to get some blue Dawn dishsoap to try this. I might try it with my own trusted Sunlight original, and see what happens. I will let you know. For now, here is the original post that I found, though it's not the actual original.

Dawn & Vinegar shower Cleaner - Click Here

DIY: Natural Blackhead Removal Mask

Ok, I know that at least some of you are going to say; "Yeah, Right!".

I have tried this, and it really DOES work! I know for sure. I have tried LOTS and I do mean LOTS of blackhead removal masks, creams, and methods in the past. Nothing works as well as this little recipe I'm going to share with you.

The chances that you have the only two ingredients that you'll need already, are VERY high.

Do you have baking SODA? Yes? YAY!

Do you have Lemon juice? Yes? YAY!

You're all set. Well, not really, here are some mini instructions, to get you on your way. :)

First, get a little teeny tiny bowl, or something to put about a tablespoon of baking soda in.
Then, add a generous, but not TOO generous of a squirt of lemon juice in there. I'm going to assume it's about 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon. Once you squirt the lemon juice into the baking soda, the mixture will fix. Stir it around a bit. If it seems too chunky, add a little more lemon juice, be careful not to add too much. If it seems too runny, add a little teensy bit more baking soda. Once you have a little paste, about the consistency of say slightly loose mashed potatoes, add the mixture to the areas of your face that you are prone to blackheads and clogged pores. Leave it on for about 10-20 minutes. After 2-3 minutes, you will feel a little tingle, that's the baking soda, and lemon juice working together, to clean out that gross gunk in your pores. YAY!

Wash it off with a little water, or a damp washcloth, and you're done. Don't add anything extra to your face, and don't use soap or facial cleanser, unless you've made it yourself.

I'm trying to lead a chemical free and mostly natural life, and I encourage, but won't pressure you to do the same. I say this as I have a half empty bottle of diet pepsi next to my computer. I know right?? I couldn't resist it though. Just this one, I promise. I won't ever touch another one until next time! I honestly am trying to beat the craving for man made/chemical foods. If you need a laboratory to make it, I'm trying to stay away from it. You hear me XANTHAN GUM?

Anyway, let me know if you try this, and how well you love it ok?

Product review: Bella Dome Popcorn Maker

A couple of months ago, I was in the market for a new popcorn popper. I did some research online and when price was actually a concern for me, I decided on the Sunbeam hot air popper. Anyway that was total garbage and I brought it back.

When I got home with my new popcorn maker, I was really excited to try it. So what did I do? I went to you tube to figure out how to use it, like I always do. So, I couldn't find the same brand, but I did find one that was very similar. The basic principle was the same. The one thing that was really frustrating about the new popcorn maker, was that it was not clear in any way shape or form whether or not you had to use oil, or nothing. I read and reread the instruction manual. It didn't state one way or the other. So, I went to their facebook page. I asked them what I should do. It took them several days to reply to me. They told me that I could use any kind of oil that I wanted to, or I can just pour the popcorn on the heating plate with nothing at all. I find that if you don't use any oil at all, the popcorn kernels tend to burn a little bit before they pop but if you use oil, I use sunflower oil, then the kernels pop properly, and don't scorch.

The popcorn tastes great. Don't use a lot of oil, you won't need it. I like to use some Kernels popcorn seasoning that I buy at Wal-Mart. All in all, it's a good buy, but it takes up SO much room, and the popcorn needs oil, which is not health conscious.

PROS:

• Popcorn tastes great, very close to movie style, in my opinion.
• Pops properly, not many if any kernels are left unpopped if you follow directions, and wait for the popping to slow to no pops in a 4 second time span. If you leave it longer, they will scorch.
  
  
• You can make a LOT of popcorn at once.
  
  
• You can use the dome lid as the serving bowl, if you want to. ( I don't, and the reason for it, will be a CON)

CONS:

• The lid that you are supposed to be able to use for a bowl, as vents in it. Which is nice, but, if you want to put anything on the popcorn, instead of it pooling at the bottom of the bowl, it would run through the vents, and gather at the little extra lid that they include to put there, and then you can't swoosh your popcorn around in it. Yes, that is the scientific term. I'm very articulate. LOL
  
  
• You almost HAVE to use oil if you want your popcorn to taste good, and not burn, which adds unwanted calories.
  
  
• It is HUGE, so it takes up a lot of counter space, or cupboard space. It's also hard to maneuver into and out of any spot you put it in.
  
  
• The lid doesn't fasten to the bottom part when the popcorn is popping, and if you have curious kids, that could make for a big mess, and burned fingers!

TIPS:

• Use sunflower oil for the best tasting popcorn.
• Ensure that you don't preheat the plate. I can't remember what the manual says, but never preheat the plate. When I did this a couple times, the popcorn kernels burn before they start to pop. Putting the oil on the plate, then the corn, THEN turning it on, allows the kernels to all heat at an even pace, without scorching. Trust me, I have used this popper often enough to know. LOL.
• Don't put in too many kernels, or you will have a lot of unpopped ones left over, and of course you will run out of room in the bowl/dome.
• Use some Kernels brand popcorn seasoning, or just sea salt for great tasting popcorn
• Don't tell your doggies that you're making popcorn. They try to steal it! Heehee

How NOT to make Essential Oil

Ok, I know, the title says it all. I have tried, and failed, miserably I might add, at making pine oil. I figured I would try PINE oil, because there are lots of spruce trees around here. Is spruce a pine tree, or just an evergreen tree? Anyway, what I was really trying to make is spruce oil I suppose. Forgive my lack of knowledge, but whatevs. I'm new to trying to be healthy, and less dependent on man made chemicals and stuff. At least I know the difference in essential oils, and infused oils. haha Anyway, I followed this how to on Instructables.  I do know that I sometimes have trouble understanding things. I followed the instructions as best as I could and I found that it didn't work. I would end up getting all this scented water but there was no oil on it. From what I can understand from the instructions, there was supposed to be oil on top of the water. So, I figure that I must be doin it completely wrong.

I so, I'm going to tell you exactly what I do, so that you don't do the same thing. I want to save you some of the frustration that I'm going through. What I do is gather the plant material in my case it was pine needles from a spruce tree. I have no idea what kind of spruce it was.  the next thing that I do once I have the pine needles gathered, is a boil a kettle of water. Once the kettle of water is ready, I pour it in the bottom of my multi cooker. Then, I put the plant material in the second strainer portion, then I put the top strainer looking thingy on  top of the plant material. Then I put a pie plate in that  top strainer thingy, and then I will put the multi cookers cover on top but upside down.

I make sure that the temperature is between low and medium. I let it boil until almost all the water out of the bottom of the pot, and has condensed into the pie plate at the top of the multi cooker. From what I could understand from the Instructables tutorial, the stuff that is in the bottom of the pot contains the oil. I'm supposed to let the waters of his content of the top and the water that has left at the bottom, cool down. Then, I'm supposed to gently pour the water from the top into a jar, and then the water that's left at the bottom I'm supposed to pour that on top. Then put it in the freezer. This is where it all goes bad. Instructables tutorial says that the oil won't freeze.  everything that I put in the freezer, in that jar, completely freezes solid. does this mean that there's no oil in it? How can that be? What am I doing wrong? I've tried it 5 times! I even tried it with dandelions. Still nothing! Yes, I do have trouble understanding things but I'm not a complete idiot! So, how can I ever embark upon this new journey of being healthy, if I can't figure out how to do these things that some people find extremely simple.

If anyone else out there  reading this has any advice whatsoever please let me know! I'm really desperate to figure this out, and I don't want to spend 200 to 300 dollars on a professional still for this. I want to be able to figure out how to make these essential oils, without breaking the bank.

Maybe I will break down and buy one of those countertops distillers, but I really don't want to because they are over 200 dollars Canadian. Sigh, wish me luck! I will be sure to update you if I actually succeed at making essential oils with my multi cooker.