Why not spend Vinegar Friday in the kitchen?

TGIVF!!

Earlier this week, I grabbed my gallon jug of distilled white vinegar and went to work on a couple of things in my kitchen. 

First, I noticed my rinse dispenser was empty in my dishwasher, so I filled it with DWV. Then I poured a cup of vinegar in a bowl, added a few slices of lemon, and put it in the microwave. I turned it on high for 90 seconds and then let it sit for 5 minutes or so.

Image by Peter Griffin

While I was waiting to wipe down the inside of the microwave, I proceeded to do the task I had planned all along, before being sidetracked. I cleaned the coffee maker. You see, it dawned on me that morning that I hadn't cleaned the coffee maker in... well, I hate to admit it... in over a year! Seriously. The pot and the brewing basket had sat through many cycles of the dishwasher, but that was it. It was time to clean the inner workings. I poured vinegar in the coffee pot to the halfway mark and added tap water until it was full. Then I dumped it in the coffee maker. I heard you should use a filter when doing this, so I added a filter, plugged it in, and ran it through a cycle. When it was done, I took the hot water to the bathroom and poured it into the toilet bowl. Waste not, want not, right?

I ran two more cycles with clear tap water before declaring the coffee maker clean. Phew. And I filled the cats' bowl with the second pot of water (after all, the little vinegar residue will help keep fleas away). I used the third pot to wash some pans that were in the sink.

Cleaning out the microwave was a breeze after the steamy, lemony vinegar did its job. I just wiped it down with my Norwex Envirocloth. Again, not wanting to waste anything, I dumped the vinegar and lemons into the garbage disposal and freshened it and the air. Ahh, the invigorating scent of lemon.

Capping the bottle of vinegar, I set it by the basement steps to be carried back to the laundry room. After all, I had to do laundry later in the week, and I never do laundry without my DWV!

A couple of days after finally cleaning the coffee maker, it quit. Quit. Done. My husband says vinegar killed it. I think he's teasing. I mean, really. Vinegar wouldn't do that. Perhaps it just died from the shock of being clean. 

Keeping it green with vinegar,

Say "I Love You" In Canvas Sweepstakes!

Say “I Love You” In-Canvas Sweepstakes

Sponsored by: PrintSmart.Co ~ 
Organized by: Mom Powered Media

When I was a child, photographs were black and white, usually with a yellowish tint. As I got older, we were treated to color photos, albeit a bit off with their hues. As a parent of young children, I didn't take endless shots of their adorableness. I couldn't afford it. You see, we couldn't preview the pictures ahead of time and printing them wasn't cheap. How I hated to get my envelope of photos back from the store, or in the mail, only to have to throw out a handful of them. It was wasted money, pure and simple. 

Life for parents, and grandparents, today is much simpler and cheaper when it comes to taking pictures. With digital cameras, we can take dozens of pictures, load them on our computers, delete what we don't want and print what we do. We pay only for the pictures we truly want hard copies of. Sweet. 

Do you know what else is sweet? The deal we have for you from PrintSmart.co:

4 – 16×20″ Canvas Prints for $79 with Free Shipping. 
{Only $19.75 per canvas!}

1″ thick gallery-wrapped canvases  
Printed at the high photographic quality of 2880dpi  
Image is mirror wrapped – reflected on wrapped edges, ensuring full image is displayed on face of the canvas 
UV fade-resistant coating is applied to all canvas prints  
Arrives ready for hanging on a black wooden frame  
Accepts all major photo file formats  
Free shipping!

To Redeem, visit: 
 https://printsmart.co/shop/canvases/canvas-prints/ 
and use code: 4canvas

Turnaround time is 3 weeks.

One Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 Visa Gift Card

 and 10 additional winners will each receive  

16×20″ Canvas Prints from PrintSmart.co.

Giveaway ends February 12th at 11:59 p.m.
Open to US residents only, ages 18+. 
One entrant per household. 
Void where prohibited by law. 

To enter please use the giveaway form below. 
Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Disclaimer: The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. We are not associated with any of the companies named above. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household. Void where prohibited by law. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received. Confirmed Winner(s) (by Random.org) will be contacted by email. Winner(s) have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this sweepstakes. My blog is not responsible for product shipment/delivery. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Contact theiowamom@gmail.com if you have any additional questions or comments.

Is your little one a TwirlyGirl?

Disclosure: TwirlyGirl provided me with a dress in exchange for my honest review. The opinions share here are my own and are not influenced by my receiving a free product.
 



I admit it. I'm a sucker for unique and fun little girl dresses like the one I recently received. I knew it was coming, but I can't tell you how happy I was when I opened my package from TwirlyGirl! Rather than using environmentally unfriendly products to wrap the new frock they sent  me, they wrapped it in fun multicolored fabric, cylinder style, with two ribbons on each end. Loved it. Shouldn't all little girl dresses come this way? Unfortunately, in my eagerness to see the dress, I failed to take a picture.


In addition to the unique packaging, there was also an envelope with my first name written inside an orange heart. And guess what? My name, Hana, was spelled correctly! Right away I knew these were people who paid attention to detail. Bonus points. I mean, seriously, I have aunts that still spell my name with two 'n's. Not cool.

There were fun goodies in the envelope, like the big round tag that says, "Ooh! Someone's getting a present!" On the back of the tag is a link to a fun personality test. Okay, I admit it, I took the quiz. Here's my result: 

31 - 40   FLYING PONY   There's so much you want to do. Where to begin? Your enthusiasm is inspirational. You march to the beat of your own drum because you know how to think for yourself. Express your true colors while wearing THIS.

Admittedly, I would look a bit silly in a little girl dress like the one for my personality, but hey, I don't think they intended the quiz to be for grandmas! 

Okay, so let's get to the meat of this review of little girls dresses. Did I like the dress? More importantly, did my granddaughter, Laura, like the dress?

Speaking for myself, yes, I loved the Spinderella dress the kind folks at TwirlyGirl chose for Laura. I like the blend of textures with the various fabrics. It's well-made, it's fun, it's comfy, and it's twirly! What little girl wouldn't love that?

So, did Laura love it? Check out the pictures and you decide: 

Hmmm. Pretty sure she likes it! As a matter of fact, she wouldn't stop twirling in the church parlor that day!

Even my grandson, Lincoln, seemed to approve!

Of course, by now you've only seen the Spinderella dress, but your can see more TwirlyGirl dresses for little girls by visiting their website.

Once you have the chance to see the other fanciful designs, I'm convinced you'll want to buy something (and no, I don't get a commission if you do). So here's the sweet part -- folks in the Green Grandma community get an extra special bonus -- 15% OFF your entire order! Just type in the code FUN56TG at check out. The code is unique to this community, is case sensitive, and does not apply to sale items, gift certificates, or Design your Own Dress feature. But hurry! The discount ends on 3/11/14. So, what are you waiting for? Shop here to find the perfect design for your own little girl.

I'd love to see pictures, so feel free to post them on the GG FB page. I'll be looking forward to it!

Reviewing it for you,

In-Canvas T2

Please click on the follow button to follow each Twitter user. Then go back to the Rafflecopter form to claim your entries. Thank you.

Enter to win a $25 Target GC plus a GE reveal halogen light bulb!

Brrr. For many of us, the weather is just a bit too frigid. Snow, sleet, ice, sub-zero temperatures, etc. So, I was thinking a giveaway just might brighten these dark days of winter... especially a giveaway that included GE reveal® light bulbs. How about if we throw in a Target gift card to sweeten the deal (just in time for Valentine's Day shopping)?

Enter to win a $25 Target Giftcard plus GE reveal® light bulbs! A quick and easy way to makeover your home for the New Year is to switch your light bulbs to GE reveal® for clean beautiful light that will make the colors of any room pop. GE reveal® bulbs provide amazing clean full spectrum light that filters out the dull yellows of standard incandescent light bulbs. Watch this fun and stylish video featuring four hip tastemakers discussing the importance of good lighting and how quick and easy it is to do a reveal® lighting makeover. 

 
Click here to see my own review of the bulbs, complete with my own personal makeover photos!

GE reveal® light bulbs are now available at Target where all makeover needs can be purchased in one swoop and with great savings using Target's Cartwheel savings app. With the Cartwheel app, you can browse for savings ahead of shopping or while at Target, you can scan the barcode of any product to see if there is a Cartwheel saving. Download the Target Cartwheel app on your IOS or Android.

New bonus: Search "GE reveal" in the Cartwheel app and receive 25% off GE reveal light bulbs! Offer expires 2/28.

You can also print off the $2 off coupon below for amazing savings on GE reveal bulbs at Target. Expires 2/8.

We have a great opportunity for you to win this makeover experience. You can enter to win a $25 Target gift card plus a GE reveal® halogen light bulb plus a free download of the Herbert Bail Orchestra EP (first track featured in GE Lighting video).

Just share this post on your social media and let us know which room you would like to makeover with GE reveal® light bulbs!  

Share to Enter: Must be U.S. resident

Share this blog post on your social media and comment below with the link to your shared post. Tell me which room you'd like to makeover. Winner will be chosen after midnight EST on 2/4/14 via Random.org and will be announced here on the blog, on the GG Facebook page, and on Twitter.

Hashtag #GEreveal plus #Targetgiftcard Tag @TheGreenGrandma and include link to this giveaway:
http://tinyurl.com/kjbaazk

Here's an example: 

If I win #GEreveal bulbs+ #Target giftcard, I'll makeover my _____ with reveal’s beautiful clean light! @TheGreenGrandma http://tinyurl.com/kjbaazk

That's it. Looking forward to reading about which rooms in your home in need of a lighting makeover! 

* GE and Target are only providing the product and not running the giveaway.

Do you know what day it is?

This unique Holocaust memorial, located in Budapest, visualizes the shooting of thousands of Jews directly into the Danube. Photo in public domain 

This unique Holocaust memorial, located in Budapest, visualizes the shooting of thousands of Jews directly into the Danube. Photo in public domain - See more at: http://www.readthespirit.com/religious-holidays-festivals/international-observance-holocaust-remembrance-day/#sthash.gZ3A1jAM.dpuf

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Were you aware of that? How many Facebook posts did you read about it? How many news stories? Did it trump news about Justin Bieber's arrest last week?

Sometimes our society's focus on celebrities (mishaps or otherwise) frustrates me. I, for one, am tired of hearing about Justin Bieber, Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, and any of the Kardashian family. I mean, seriously.

But shame on me if I ever tire of hearing about the injustice done at the hands of the Nazis. I mean, seriously.

My concern today, however, is about the upcoming generation. Where will their focus be? As they are continually bombarded with electronic "brain noise," I can't help wondering how bored they will be when exposed to the brutal reality of history. Will they find it irrelevant? Will they simply dismiss it as boring? That, my friends, will be a tragedy. And it's up to you, as parents, to make sure it doesn't happen. Do your kids hear more about celebrities than they do about real people... real heroes who died... real servants of mankind... real people with real bodies and real missions and real stories? It starts at home, my friends. 

Maybe today is the very day to start teaching your kids about things that matter. What better way to remember the horrors of the Holocaust. History can only repeat itself when people no longer study the past.

Caring about our children,

Stop the itching! A little Vinegar Friday advice

TGIVF!!

One of our community members has a couple of children who suffer from eczema. She's tried everything she and the doctor could think of, but never got it completely under control. Until now.

What do you think the solution was/is? Apple cider vinegar, of course! She adds ACV to their bath water and follows up with a nice slather of coconut oil. The results? Super soft skin with no dyes or chemicals. Relatively cheap and effective. Problem solved. 

Vinegar baths aren't just for people with eczema. Adding a cup or two of ACV to your bath water will ease itching from other conditions, including dry, itchy, winter skin. And remember, ACV foot baths give you baby soft feet. 

Let's hear it for super ACV and coconut oil! One of my favorite combos.
 

Keeping it green, soft, and healthy with vinegar,

Please note: I am not a medical professional. The above suggestion is based on experience and not medical data. Always check with your doctor before following any advice here on the blog... unless it's about line drying, cloth diapering, no pooing, etc. Well, you get the picture.

For more vinegar tips, check out my book VINEGAR FRIDAYS. 

Starting the New Year Off Green -- Natural Living Blog Carnival

 

Welcome to the January 2014 Natural Living Blog Carnival: Starting the New Year Off Green.   
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Natural Living Blog Carnival hosted by Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project through the Green Moms Network. This month, our members are reflecting on the successes they had from last year, and setting goals for themselves this year. Check out all of the posts to get ideas on how you can start your New Year off green!

—–

Looking for some inspiration on taking your green living aspirations up a notch? You've come to the right place. And that's not because I have all the answers you're looking for. It just might be because someone else in the links below does! I'm so happy to be part of this natural living blog carnival with other like-minded bloggers who are trying to live greener and healthier lives just like me. Let me tell you, their blogs are well worth the follow! Especially during this carnival. So grab a cup of whatever it is you like to drink and sit down to spend some time with us. After all, that's what we're here for! 

Every year, I learn more about living a greener and healthier life. 2013 was no exception, although I must admit, sometimes the months and years blend together and I don't really know when I started doing one thing or stopped doing another.

Wireless Router Image by Peter Griffin

For the most part, 2013 was a year focused on electronics. I read articles on the potential dangers of cell phones, tablets, laptops... even cordless telephones. I started turning the wireless off on my phone when I went to bed. I would do the same with my wireless router, except it's in the basement and with my fibromyalgia, I have trouble doing the steps, so it remains on all the time. Not that I'm happy about that. I really am concerned about how much my family is exposed to the wireless signals all around us. It's frightening. 

But more frightening to me, is the exposure of this kind of radiation for my grandchildren, whose tender, developing brains are more susceptible to the dangers. That's why I dedicated several posts in 2013 to trying to limit the amount of time spent playing on/learning from electronic devices. I simply don't think it's safe and many, many experts say it's not good for the kids developmentally.

The iPotty by CTA Digital

That's why I ranted about the iPotty and Fisher-Price's Newborn to Toddler Apptivity Seat.  So while 2009 started off with cloth diapering as its theme, 2013 was definitely about electronics. But I also implemented some changes to my routine, most notably, I stopped dying my hair. It was the one thing I was still doing in my beauty routine that wasn't good for me or the environment, even though I did try to buy "safer" hair coloring. Going gray has been an adjustment for me, and I can't promise I'll follow through with this in this current year. Sometimes I like it, and sometimes it just makes me look and feel old.

Image by Marina Shemesh

So, what's ahead in 2014? I'm planning on washing my clothing less often. I read recently that, unless they are visibly dirty or stained, we really don't need to launder our clothing as much as we've grown accustomed to doing. By simply hanging our worn garments out in the fresh air for a couple hours, they are good to go the next time we want to wear them. Makes sense. So, I'll be saving water and energy by doing fewer loads and making sure the machine is full before I hit the start button.

While I am pretty good at unplugging many things, like my chargers, the toaster, microwave, etc., this year I'd like to install more power strips that will simplify the process for more items, like the television and lights that are rarely used. After all, whatever is plugged in is sucking up electricity, even if it's off. 

I also plan to limit the amount of baths I take. I love long, hot baths. The problem is, it takes energy to heat all that water, plus, I have an electric heater running the whole time I'm in the tub (which is generally over an hour). Not cool. So I'm going to save water, gas, and electricity simply by choosing to bathe less. 

Those are some of my goals. What about yours? Did you start the year with any green resolutions? If so, I'd love to hear about them.

Keeping it green in the new year,

Visit Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project to learn more about participating in next month’s Natural Living Blog Carnival! Please take some time to enjoy the posts our other carnival participants have contributed:

Win a pair of tickets to see GIMME SHELTER

Being a mother is the toughest job in the world... Period. 

Now imagine... you are young, homeless, and without a family to lean on for support. That’s exactly what happened to Agnes “Apple” Baily. Based on a true story, Ronald Krauss’ new film, GIMME SHELTER, stars Vanessa Hudgens (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL) as 16-year-old Agnes “Apple” Baily, a teenager who sets out to find her biological father and is forced into the streets in a true journey of survival. 

CAST: 

Vanessa Hudgens (Agnes "Apple" Bailey) 

James Earl Jones (Frank McCarthy) 

Rosario Dawson (June Bailey) 

Brendan Fraser (Tom Fitzpatrick) 

GIMME SHELTER received 5 stars from the Dove Foundation, their highest rating! 

“GIMME SHELTER is a deeply moving and meaningful film that celebrates the dignity of life at all ages and stages. A great, gritty depiction of what it means to put your faith into action to help those society far too often marginalizes." ~ Kelly Rosati, VP, Community Outreach / FOCUS ON THE FAMILY 

I can't wait to see this movie. How about you? Well, thanks to Roadside Attractions, I have a pair of tickets to give away. Just enter on the Rafflecopter below. Open to US and Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Each household is only eligible to win ONE (1) Pack of Two (2) AMC Movie Tickets via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. 

A brighter home is about to be revealed

This is a sponsored post. I received product and/or compensation in exchange for my honest review. However, all opinions are truthful and my own.

 

Are you as frustrated as I am about the phasing out of the incandescent bulb? As I've written earlier in the month and ranted on FB, I hate CFLs. Hate them. Between the poor lighting they provide, the threat to our health when broken, and the environmental concerns when disposing of them, CFLs are bad news all the way around. Of course, that's just my opinion, and some of you certainly may disagree with me due to the energy savings associated with this form of lighting.

I'm thrilled, however, to have an alternative. The GE reveal® light bulbs offer energy-efficient technology with clean, brilliant lighting. Seriously. To prove it, I replaced 5 light bulbs in my newly redecorated den. The results were quite discernible. Of course, you might have to take my word on that, since pictures don't always tell the whole story.

Before... using a combination of incandescent bulbs and CFLs

After, using one GE reveal® LED light bulb and 4 GE reveal® halogen bulbs

Before with a 75W incandescent bulb

After with a GE reveal® 53W halogen bulb

As you can see, there is more clarity in the room. Everything appears sharper. The GE reveal® 53W halogen bulb is used as a substitute for a 75W incandescent bulb and the 11W GE reveal®LED light bulb replaces a standard 60W bulb. 

While the halogen bulbs are not as energy efficient as CFLs or LEDs, they still use 28% less energy than an incandescent bulb. 

Both the GE reveal® LED light bulbs and halogen bulbs eliminate the yellow tone of traditional lighting. The results are pleasing -- colors pop and eye fatigue is minimized (if not eliminated entirely). The bulbs are perfect for reading, needlepoint, painting, etc. as they are bright without being abrasive. 

The GE reveal® line is engineered to filter out those dingy yellow tones and provide an enhanced spectrum of light. Plus, there is no delay -- the lights come on instantly with the flip of a switch. The LED light bulbs dim (from 100% to 20%), saving even more energy. They use up to 80% less energy and, here's the really good part, contain absolutely NO LEAD OR MERCURY! 

I love these bulbs and have replaced the light bulbs in my office as well. Eventually, I plan to use the halogen and LED light bulbs from GE's reveal® line everywhere in my house. Hallelujah there is now an affordable choice other than CFLs! If, however, you are a fan of compact fluorescent lights, you'll be happy to know the GE reveal® line includes CFLs.

To learn more, visit GE reveal®

You can purchase the GE reveal® light bulbs nearly anywhere light bulbs are sold. But if you shop at Target, you can use this coupon (click here) to save $2. But hurry, the coupon expires on 2/8/14.

Smart phone users can download the Cartwheel Target app for even more GE Reveals and other amazing deals. 

Click here to download Cartwheel for IOS
Click here to download Cartwheel for Android

As a final note, I needed a new brochure photo for a conference I'm speaking at in March. What better place to take the picture than in the den with the new brighter, clearer lighting. I think it came out pretty well. What do you think? 

And yes, that is my foot I'm sitting on. I cropped the picture for the brochure!