Child of Hope

As an adoptive mama, I am so very excited about this! Yet another reason why I love Trades of Hope!

Trades of Hope is pleased to announce a new Adoption Grant opportunity offered in conjunction with its Gifts of Hope program! It is called Child of Hope and its purpose is to assist families with the significant expense associated with the adoption process. It is our intent to offer up to two grants, each totaling between $500 and $1,000, every calendar year.   Applicants will be considered both from within the Trades of Hope Compassion Entrepreneur community as well as from its outside customer community.

First year grants will be made in December 2013. Completed applications must be received by November 15, 2013.  

The program is being independently administered by Compassion Entrepreneurs:  Colleen Biegger and Linda Jenkins.  All applications will be treated and considered in strictest confidence.  Please contact one of them for more information and for an application.  

              Colleen Biegger                              Linda Jenkins     

            cmbiegger@gmail.com                jenkins.toh@att.net

               (515) 988-1310                          (914) 591-9332

We look forward to seeing families blessed through this program! 

New Dishwasher Soap Recipe

I had previously blogged about a Homemade Dishwasher Soap. And it worked really well. Then I discovered that borax is a main ingredient in Terro.  *pause* Wait...if that's used to kill ants, do I really want it washing my dishes? So I searched the internet for a borax free version and found this.

From "My Healthy Green Family."

So here is the borax-free dishwasher detergent recipe:

• 1 cup washing soda (old recipe used  baking soda)
• 1/4 c. citric acid (old recipe said 1/3 c.)
• 1/4 c. coarse salt (old recipe said 1/3 c.)
• 10-15 drops of citrus essential oil (Optional.  Orange, grapefruit, or lemon essential oils have great cleaning as well as antibacterial properties.)
• Homemade citrus vinegar cleaner

Mix first 3 ingredients well in an air tight container. Add essential oil.  Mix again.  Fill your rinse aid compartment with undiluted citrus vinegar cleaner.

Use 1 tsp. detergent for average loads.
Use 1 tbsp. detergent for extra greasy, dirty loads.

UPDATE:  More is not better!  If you are having any build up issues use less! 

And Frugal Omma gives it two thumbs up. Works great! Maybe even better than the old dishwasher soap!

Trades of Hope - Empowering Women Out of Poverty

About a year ago I became a Compassion Entrepreneur for Trades of Hope. In case you've never heard of Trades of Hope, in a nutshell it is a fair trade organization that helps create sustainable business for artisans around the world; particularly in areas where women are devalued, unable to get an honorable job, or have been freed from slavery.  In honor of my one year "anniversary" I though it appropriate to talk about why I love this fair trade organization so much.

Trades of Hope's tag line is "Empowering Women out of Poverty."  It's nice, it's catchy, but what does that really mean. I'm going to use some pictures to explain the profound impact of those five little words.

This is my daughter, nearly 4, sporting the new turtle backpack from Trades of Hope, made in Guatemala. The bright colors are so fun, this picture doesn't do this lovely soft pack/friend justice! She can put quite a bit into that backpack, the shell is quite spacious!

This is "Jayanthi" who was one of the 27 million slaves world wide. That is until International Justice Mission (IJM) freed her and the other slaves who were working at a rock quarry and rice mill. (Picture from IJM's FB page.) This adorable little girl doesn't look much older than my daughter or nieces. And yet she grew up living and working in slavery. I'll just let that sink in a bit while you look at her stunning "I'm now free" smile.

This is "Yulisa" who was stripped of her innocence when she was 5 years old and left for dead. In her case her family actively sought justice with IJM, but in many other cases families are so poverty stricken that they sometimes sell their children to the sex trade or other form of slavery to survive.  Other children are stolen and are part of human trafficking. (Read my book review of "Terrify No More.") Living in a land of plenty, I cannot even begin to fathom what that might be like. And the fact that there are millions of slaves makes my eyes start to glaze over because of the sheer number. BUT that's not where the story ends. This is where hope begins.

Why am I telling you about "Jayanthi" and "Yulisa"? What do they have in common with my daughter. And what do they and IJM have to do with Trades of Hope?

I'm so glad you asked! See, girls like "Jayanthi" and "Yulisa" are NO different than my daughter. They didn't ask to be slaves, to have childhood stripped from them before they even experienced innocence, to be sold and used like property. When I see these girls, I see my daughter.  Each child is precious and a blessing. Life is precious. 

Organizations like IJM help free those who were slaves. But that's only part of it. What else is there for them? What prevents them from having to go back to slavery?  That's where organizations like Trades of Hope come in - teaching women a trade so they can become artisans and provide for their families. Not a handout, but skills to live. Making a difference to that one. Not only is the Trade useful but Hope is very powerful and contagious.

Products like the Guatemalan Turtle Backpack help little girls like this, so they don't have to live like many children in Guatemala do; being street children, or Living in the city dump.  Women of many walks of life: mothers, grandmothers, widows, single women, in the USA and around the world can have an honorable job and provide for themselves and their families. Meet our Trade of Hope artisans.

Please take time to check out all the beautiful, handmade, fair trade items available at Trades of Hope. New items are being added throughout the year. They are beautifully crafted and economically priced (all items are under $50!). You can bring hope to artisans all over the world by purchasing items, hosting a party, or becoming a fellow Compassion Entrepreneur. You can help create sustainable business that changes the course of lives when purchasing items you would purchase at a department store anyway! Pretty cool huh?

While my daughter sports the adorable and fun turtle backpack, another woman's daughter has the hope of a better life. That is why I love Trades of Hope, that is why I love being a Compassion Entrepreneur.

Hydrogen Peroxide

I love cleaning with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. H2O2 is great for so many things including getting rid of armpit stains on shirts (pretreat before washing).

I found a great list of more uses from naturalsafeweightloss. Enjoy!

Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides. Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.

In the dishwasher, add 2 oz. to your regular detergent for a sanitizing boost. Also, beef up your regular dish soap by adding roughly 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to the bottle.

Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to freshen breath. It kills the bacteria that causes halitosis. Use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.

Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste for brushing teeth. Helps with early stages of gingivitis as it kills bacteria. Mixed with salt and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide works as a whitening toothpaste.

Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu.

Clean your cutting board and countertop. Let everything bubble for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse clean. (I’ve been using it for this a LOT lately!)

Wipe out your refrigerator and dishwasher. Because it’s non-toxic, it’s great for cleaning places that store food and dishes.

Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward.

Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off.

Whiten bathtub grout. First dry the tub thoroughly, then spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit — it may bubble slightly — for a little while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. You may have to repeat the process a few times.

Clean the toilet bowl. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, then scrub clean.

Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater for stains — just soak the stain for a little while in 3% hydrogen peroxide before tossing into the laundry. You can also add a cup of peroxide to a regular load of whites to boost brightness. It’s a green alternative to bleach, and works just as well.

Brighten dingy floors. Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then go to town on your flooring. Because it’s so mild, it’s safe for any floor type, and there’s no need to rinse.

Clean kids’ toys and play areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids, or anyone with respiratory problems, because it’s not a lung irritant. Spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs, and anything else your kids touch on a regular basis.

Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants.

Add natural highlights to your hair. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide so the solution is 50% peroxide and 50% water. Spray the solution on wet hair to create subtle, natural highlights.

According to alternative therapy practitioners, adding half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to a warm bath can help detoxify the body. Some are skeptical of this claim, but a bath is always a nice way to relax and the addition of hydrogen peroxide will leave you – and the tub – squeaky clean!

Spray a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide on leftover salad, drain, cover and refrigerate. This will prevent wilting and better preserve your salad.

Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags.

Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.

Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten. You can also use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system.

Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.

Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax.

Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. Or try soaking your feet in a peroxide solution to help soften calluses and corns, and disinfect minor cuts.

Spray down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.

Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers.

Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.

Use for towels that have become musty smelling. 1/2 cup Peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar let stand for 15 minutes wash as normal. Gets rid of the smell.

Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose.

De-skunking solution. Combine 1 quart 3% H2O2, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent, 2 quarts warm water. 

Gardens

It is finally warm enough here to get a garden in. The snow is finally all gone and the grass is turning green. The children and I planted beans today. They had a lot of fun.

Some people really enjoy gardening.  They find it relaxing and an enjoyable hobby. My mother-in-law is a wealth of knowledge about all plants. I often can't tell between the plant and the weed. I garden to get organic foods to eat fresh and can/freeze for winter. I'm hoping my children develop a love of gardening. Something we can do together. Maybe I'll learn to love gardening...

Omma Bars - Dairy and Gluten Free Version

Say hello to "Omma Bars."

My son loves these. He eats them every day for breakfast. Sometimes for snacks too. And he nicknamed them "Omma Bars" when he was 2 so that's what they're known as now.

I have tweaked the recipe many times over the years to make them as healthy as possible while still being desired by my children. Something that is important when you have a child who only eats 6 things!

So here is the current version in case you have a promblem feeder or picky eater in your house!

Dairy and Gluten Free Omma Bars
(I doubled what's listed below.)
1/4 c olive oil butter (I used Earth's Best non dairy butter substitute, thus dairy free)
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 c rice flour (use 1 1/2 wheat flour for non-GF)

1/4 c chia seeds (or flaxseeds)
3 c GF oats
1 Tbl sweet potato (start with 1 tsp and increase as tolerated)
3/4 olive oil (or 1 c grapeseed oil)

Mix - should be moist but not runny
Add 1/2 c of any fill ins such as craisins, raisins, chocolate chips, dates, etc.

Bake 350 for 25 min or until golden brown.

Little at a time

You're a busy person right? You don't have time to set aside a whole day to clean any more than I do. So take a little at a time. At the beginning of the week I write on my calendar the things I'd like to get done that week. Maybe it is dusting on Monday, vacuum on Tuesday, bathrooms on Wednesday, laundry on Thursday, etc.

Breaking up the housekeeping task is manageable when there's just one each day.