Today I had a "success"... Every other week I purchase deli meat in bulk and always cringe at how my bundle of meat is packaged in styrofoam. I cannot bear the idea of throwing the trays throw away! I was really excited when the lady who helped me said she never uses it! From now on I will always make a point to request NO styrofoam. What was my problem anyway? Did I not know how to speak?

The lady also had suggestions on what to do with styrofoam I have at home. Apparently you can shrink it in the oven. She told me to have my kids draw on them and you can shrink it at a low temperature. It couldn't go without saying that the idea sounded a bit toxic. Don't you think? Something to research.

Since it's been so long since I've blogged, I thought it would be best suited to answer my friend's question about what I use for cleaning products via blog.

My "summary" of what we use in our home:

Laundry:
Vinegar (liquid softener and gets the clothes cleaner/fresher)
Laundry Dropps (smells great, doesn't clean the best)
Borax- natural and helps when used in conjunction with eco-friendly soaps
I still cheat on occasion and will use a smidgen of regular soap to
boost my "natural" or the Laundry Dropps.

Dishes:
Seventh Generation (not too expensive @ Target)
Palmolive Eco+ dishwasher soap (not too expensive)

Cleaners:
Floors and all purpose: Greenworks, Method, or vinegar solution
(see this link for mixes for other homemade cleaners)
Baking soda is good for toilets- but I still cheat on occasion and use
Comet which is so not good and has bleach
Showers: I suck, I use comet bathroom spray cause it works soooo good, the
only thing that eases my mind is that it's phosphate free.
Window/Glass cleaner: Vinegar & water, but again I cheat time to time
cause I LOVE how good ammonia free window cleaner for cars works

Bleach is terrible for the environment- again, not that you won't find it in my house! Not good, I know!


Shampoo/soaps:
Trader Joes Tea Tree (super cheap)
Baby's Burt's Bees- LOVE the smell
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap- love the Tea Tree and Lavender
Bar soap- any organic/natural/paraben free soap I come across
Hand soap: JASON brand and Method overall (buy huge refills at Costco
and save)

It's been a gradual change with much room to grow!