• Castile soap is an olive oil-based soap that is both mild and powerful - it's perfect for DIY recipes ranging from laundry detergent to facial cleansers.
• It can be used to make a baby wipe solution, shaving cream, shampoo, makeup brush cleaner, makeup remover, foot scrub, pet shampoo, natural pesticide and weed killer.
• When using it as a shampoo, remember everyone's hair is different and do a patch test first.
• For a homemade foot scrub mix 1 tablespoon of castile soap with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and 1 cup of white sugar.
• To make a natural pesticide mix ½ teaspoon of castile soap with 1 quart of water and spray it on plants every few days if pests persist.

• Make laundry detergent from MamaSuds Castile Soap, with rubber / nitrile gloves, face mask, measuring cup, spoon and airtight container (Powdered Laundry Soap)
• For Powdered Laundry Soap: grate 1 cup of MamaSuds Castile Bar Soap, mix 2 cups of Washing Soda (sodium carbonate) and 1 cup of Borax (sodium borate), mix in soap flakes and store in airtight container
• Use 2-3 Tablespoons per load for regular washer; use 1 Tablespoon or less for HE Washer
• For Liquid Laundry Soap: dissolve 1/2 cup Borax and 1 cup of Soda Wash into warm water on a stove while stirring; add essential oils for scent if desired; add to 2 cups of MamaSuds Castile Soap; let cool completely
• Use 1/4 cup per load for regular washer; use 1-2 Tablespoons or less for HE Washer

• Castile Soap is a vegetable-based, non-toxic, natural and biodegradable product with many uses.
• It can be used to make DIY beauty products and household cleaning products.
• Castile Soap offers benefits like versatility, affordability, and gentle cleansing qualities.
• It can be used as a shampoo, body wash, laundry detergent, dish soap then followed up with an acid for stunning results.
• MamaSuds offers quality Castile soap-based products at an affordable price.

• Remove slime from clothes with vinegar and baking soda by pouring vinegar over the slime, scrubbing back and forth until it comes out, and rinsing with water.
• For dried slime, mix white vinegar, water, and baking soda to create a paste and cover the dried slime before letting it sit until dry.
• Castile soap can also be used to remove slime from both wet or dried slime on clothes.
• For carpet stains, mixture two parts of vinegar and one part warm water together before spraying onto the stain and using a soft brush to work it loose.
• An alternative is to add one teaspoon of castile soap to one cup of warm water before spraying onto the stain, scrubbing gently with a sponge and repeating as necessary.

Decorating a home can be an intimidating process for anyone. Trying to be eco-friendly when designing a new space adds an additional challenge. Luckily, eco-friendly home décor has come a long way, making it totally possible to create an ethically sourced design without compromising on style. Keep reading for some tips on making your green space look its best.

Buy Used

One of the easiest ways to keep your carbon footprint small is to buy pre-loved furniture and home décor. Start by checking eBay and Gumtree, which have fantastic vintage pieces added every day. You can also check your local thrift stores and use social media to see if anyone has pieces they’re looking to sell. Although secondhand furniture may not seem as exciting as getting something new, vintage pieces actually make your space unique. You can also always DIY the furniture to make it fit your space better. With so many tutorials on YouTube and blogs, you should be able to find a method that will work best for your renovation.

Think Before You Paint

Many people begin any room makeover by putting on a fresh coat of paint, as it’s one of the most affordable ways to change up a space. If you’re looking to design in an eco-friendly way, however, you should take the time to research the type of paint to use. Many paints contain VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which release toxic emissions into the atmosphere for years after they’ve been put on your walls (EPA). This is not only bad for your family, but also detrimental to the environment. VOCs used to be critical to the paint-making process, but this has changed in recent years. When you select your new color, just make sure to buy one that is clearly labeled “low VOC.” In fact, some brands have no VOCs at all!

Take on a Project

One of the coolest ways to make your home more eco-friendly is to take on some DIY projects that are both energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing. For example, you can create a water wall with a collection of beautiful mason jars. Simply place the Mason jars on a window that receives a lot of sunlight. The water will then absorb heat during the day and release it at night, keeping your house cooler while you’re awake and more comfortable while you’re sleeping. You can even paint the jars so that your room is filled with colored light, creating a stained glass effect. Alternatively, you can just mix some food coloring into the water.

Even easier than a DIY is splurging on a bunch of houseplants. They’ll purify your air and look beautiful while doing it. Look through the home design inspiration here to get ideas for houseplant placement.

Avoid Normal Curtains and Carpet

Standard curtains don’t do a whole lot to control the temperature of your room. By investing in thermal curtains, you’ll cut down your energy bills for years to come. If there is a certain look that you absolutely love, you don’t have to sacrifice style. Simply buy a plain thermal curtain lining and place it behind the decorative curtains of your choice.

You may also wish to consider investing in hardwood floors instead of carpet. Carpet is not only full of pollutants and chemicals that release toxins into your home, but also harms the planet during the manufacturing process. And even the best carpets need to be replaced every ten years or so. Although real wood, the most environmentally-friendly choice, can be pricey, it will hold up well over time and increase the resale value of your home.

Although decorating a space in an environmentally friendly way can be a challenge, it’s worth it to know that you’ve helped your planet while also beautifying your space. Grab a paintbrush and get started today!

My Favorite Kombucha Recipe

I am a total newbie when it comes to making Kombucha at home. But I have done a few batches and they were delicious so I thought I would share my recipe because it tastes wonderful and costs just pennies in comparison to what I was buying at Kroger. 

So back when we went on our Solar Eclipse Trip we stopped and stayed with out-of-town friends for a visit before we all traveled to southern Kentucky. While we were there I saw my friend Elaine had a few giant glass jars of Kombucha brewing on her counter. I picked her brain for awhile about it and told her I had been putting off trying it because A) I don't have time and B) it looks hard. Come to find out, it's so easy and takes no time at all. So once she walked me through all the steps she offered me a SCOBY (it stands for Symbiotic Culture of Yeast and Bacteria). I was so excited because I also wondered how to get one. She even gave me a giant jar (how great is Elaine?). So the SCOBY is the pancake looking floating thing that "eats the sugars in the sweetened tea and creates an acidic, vitamin and probiotic rich beverage". (Wellness Mama)

So after I took the SCOBY and jar from Elaine I put it in the fridge for almost 3 weeks before I got the guts to try it. After researching lots of different recipes I decided to do a combination of black tea and herbal tea and to go decaffeinated. Why? I drink too much coffee as it is, I don't need anymore caffeine and my husband doesn't drink caffeine either and I really want him to drink it (hint hint Jim!). 

I used a half gallon glass jar so if you have a gallon jar, double the recipe 

• 3 black tea bags and 2 Herbal Teas (not flavored!) I used Celestial Times Sleepytime Honey
• half gallon of water (64 fluid ounces, 8 cups)
• 1/2 cup of organic pure cane sugar
• 1 cup of starter liquid (mine came with the SCOBY that I was gifted

Steps

1. brew tea and sugar in 8 cups of water (I used RO water)
2. let cool completely (otherwise you'll kill your SCOBY!)
3. remove tea bags and pour into glass jar
4. add in your starter tea liquid
5. place your SCOBY in the jar
6. cover with a tea towel or cheese cloth and put a rubber band around the neck
7. store in a dark room temperature place

Note: I used vinyl gloves when handling my SCOBY to be sure that I didn't get any germs on it. 

 

Now wait 7-10 days and then you can bottle your Kombucha. Personally, I reuse a vessel I have (mason jars, distilled water jug) and store in the refrigerator. 

I was concerned that the SCOBY went down to the bottom in my batches but apparently that is fine. It has full range of the jar to hang out in 😀

Have a recipe that works for you that you'd like to share? Please comment below and let us know!

 

 

• Avoiding ingredients like fluoride, synthetic dyes, propylene glycol, SLS/SLES, and parabens in toothpaste is beneficial to overall health.
• Two recipes for homemade toothpaste can be made with organic coconut oil and baking soda or baking soda and olive oil.
• Alternatives to homemade toothpaste are Jason Natural Toothpaste or Babyganics.