XXV, Laundry, and Carrot Cake

Today, I am officially older than I have ever been before. I have now technically lived for one score and five years. I was recently discussing with a friend the unique feeling in turning twenty five, especially when you already have three kids. In my mind, it is the doorway to aging. Some older readers may disagree.

We have a small Christmas and birthday budget for our kids because they get a ton of toys from relatives. Dan and I don’t get toys from relatives. We mostly get gift cards and checks, which usually go into savings or general funds. So, we give the big gifts to each other. We could get each other little gifts, then spend the money we get on big gifts, but that’s just not how we like to do things.

The Old Laundry System

I hand washed everything. Diapers were soaked, then scrubbed and washed in the sink. Regular clothes went into a large Rubbermaid bin that lived in the shower stall. The best way to describe the general wash was a ten to fifteen minute kneading of clothes in water with soap nut liquid. Then I dump out the water and refill the bin with clean water for a five minute rinse cycle.

If someone doesn’t have a washing machine hook-up and finds the laundromat inconvenient and pricey, this works. A good video that demonstrates my basic kneading technique on a smaller scale can be found on Ridiculously Extraordinary.

All of the clothes were then line dried. I would bring the tub into our room, where the largest line is. The line just goes from one wall to another, like outdoor lines go from tree to tree, attached with heavy duty S-hooks. I would hang everything to drip dry over the bin on hangers. After a few hours when the dripping stopped, I would spread the clothes out over the line to finish drying. I have two lines going across the window frame in our bedroom, one above the other, so that the diapers can hang in the sun, which helps kill bacteria.

The New Laundry System

I got the Wonderwash for my birthday. It was purchased with my swagbucks Amazon gift cards. I had read all reviews carefully, which indicated that the base was not sturdy and the handle flimsy. The base can be easily rebuilt from sturdier materials, and the handle in unnecessary, as the whole thing can be tumbled as you would roll a large barrel. Anyway, I have been using it for two weeks, and I agree that these parts were made out of the cheapest parts possible, but have not broken, and will not if used correctly. (Dan was happy about how excited I was to do laundry, so he let me play with it early.)
The barrel part of the Wonderwash is a work of genius. I can do the wash cycle in three minutes and the rinse cycle in one minute. It uses much less water than the Rubbermaid bin method. It also uses less soap nut liquid and the clothes come out cleaner. The drying is the same, except we do drip drying on the line in the shower stall, then transfer the clothes to the line in our bedroom or the one in the kids’ room, depending on whose clothes they are.

This gift is truly a luxury, as it was not necessary, but makes my life easier. It does seem like a better long term solution. Right now, we can still do one load a day, plus diapers. Some days I have to do two loads, but it is still less time than one load with the old method. By the time I have to do three loads a day, some kids will have learned how to do this for themselves.

Here is my other birthday luxury, lovingly made each year by Dan (with supervision).

Carrot Cake

Beat with blender until fluffy:

2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil or melted butter

(I used the stevia baking blend I got from NuNaturals with some old molasses instead of brown sugar, but otherwise would have used maybe a tablespoon of stevia and a cup and a half of white wheat flour with molasses.)

Add in:

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt

Blend together, then add:

2 cups grated carrots
1 can crushed pineapple
1 1/2 cups raisins
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup coconut

Bake at 350 for forty-five to fifty minutes, or in crock pot for about an hour and a half to two hours on high.

Luckily, cream cheese frosting is the easiest frosting to make with stevia. I am using this recipe, with my crock pot cream cheese, but adjusting the measurements until it tastes right. I also add lemon juice to cream cheese frosting because that’s how my mom taught me. I didn’t calculate the cost because I used expensive NuNaturals stevia ingredients that I would not have used if they were not given to me.

Continue reading XXV, Laundry, and Carrot Cake …

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Puffy Eyes Need A Little TLC – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday

There are certain times of the year that my eyes really suffer.  They get puffy, red, and sometimes itchy.  I know this is most likely caused by allergies, even sinus problems, and it is aggravating.  But, even people who don’t suffer from allergies will occasionally have puffy eyes in the morning.

There are any number of reasons why a person may experience puffy eyes at some time or other.  Fluid retention, stress, hormone changes, as well as allergic reactions, can cause your eyes to get puffy, and sometimes red and itchy, too.

Puffy eyes after sleeping may be common in many people.  Minor puffiness around the lid and under the eyes, the kind that you notice when you wake up, is typically reduced or eliminated as you go through your day as gravity drains the fluid that has accumulated during the night.  Although common, this type of puffiness just might be caused by something like too much sodium in a diet, not getting enough sleep, or excessive drinking of beverages that contain alcohol, just to name a few.

What do we do for puffy eyes?  Well, depending on why your eyes are puffy, you can choose between a number of remedies, but what works for one person may not work for another.  Sometimes, the simplest method will work the best.  At other times and for other conditions, you may need to consult with your doctor to find a method that works for you.

Here are just a few methods to help prevent the puffiness around the eye area:

• Increase your drinking water each day – dehydration will cause your body to store water.
• Limit your salt intake – salt makes your body retain water.
• Limit your alcohol beverage intake – alcohol lowers anti-diuretic hormones in your body.
• Never sleep with eye makeup or heavy creams on the delicate tissues around your eyes.
• Never use old eye makeup – it can have bacteria in it which may be irritating your eyes, or worse.
• If you suspect allergies, visit your doctor to discuss treatment options.
• Minimize the use of allergy-causing items like feathers, dust mites, etc., especially in the bedroom.
• Sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated to encourage drainage.

These are some simple methods to help soothe puffy eyes, for whatever reason you are getting them:

• Slice a cold cucumber into thick circles and place on the eyes for several minutes while laying down.
• Keep your used tea bags in the refrigerator.  Then, in the morning while you’re waiting for your fresh tea, pull two used tea bags out of the refrigerator and lay them on your eyes.  When your fresh tea is done steeping, your eyes will be soothed with the cold tea bags from yesterday.
• Try a refrigerated gel mask.
• Look for an eye cream specifically made for swollen, puffy eyes, typically made with aloe and Vitamin E.

• NEVER use any product that is not intended for the eyes – you know what I’m talking about.  The whole Preparation H thing is a fallacy, and it could result in some pretty painful damage to your delicate eye tissue.

• NEVER use ice cubes or other frozen objects on your eyes.  The temperature is too cold and can cause frostbite.

Now that we’ve covered the causes, the methods for relief, and the safety warnings, it’s time to go and give yourself a soothing eye treatment so you can feel refreshed and enjoy the rest of your Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday!

Continue reading Puffy Eyes Need A Little TLC – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …

From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.

Puffy Eyes Need A Little TLC – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday

There are certain times of the year that my eyes really suffer.  They get puffy, red, and sometimes itchy.  I know this is most likely caused by allergies, even sinus problems, and it is aggravating.  But, even people who don’t suffer from allergies will occasionally have puffy eyes in the morning.

There are any number of reasons why a person may experience puffy eyes at some time or other.  Fluid retention, stress, hormone changes, as well as allergic reactions, can cause your eyes to get puffy, and sometimes red and itchy, too.

Puffy eyes after sleeping may be common in many people.  Minor puffiness around the lid and under the eyes, the kind that you notice when you wake up, is typically reduced or eliminated as you go through your day as gravity drains the fluid that has accumulated during the night.  Although common, this type of puffiness just might be caused by something like too much sodium in a diet, not getting enough sleep, or excessive drinking of beverages that contain alcohol, just to name a few.

What do we do for puffy eyes?  Well, depending on why your eyes are puffy, you can choose between a number of remedies, but what works for one person may not work for another.  Sometimes, the simplest method will work the best.  At other times and for other conditions, you may need to consult with your doctor to find a method that works for you.

Here are just a few methods to help prevent the puffiness around the eye area:

• Increase your drinking water each day – dehydration will cause your body to store water.
• Limit your salt intake – salt makes your body retain water.
• Limit your alcohol beverage intake – alcohol lowers anti-diuretic hormones in your body.
• Never sleep with eye makeup or heavy creams on the delicate tissues around your eyes.
• Never use old eye makeup – it can have bacteria in it which may be irritating your eyes, or worse.
• If you suspect allergies, visit your doctor to discuss treatment options.
• Minimize the use of allergy-causing items like feathers, dust mites, etc., especially in the bedroom.
• Sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated to encourage drainage.

These are some simple methods to help soothe puffy eyes, for whatever reason you are getting them:

• Slice a cold cucumber into thick circles and place on the eyes for several minutes while laying down.
• Keep your used tea bags in the refrigerator.  Then, in the morning while you’re waiting for your fresh tea, pull two used tea bags out of the refrigerator and lay them on your eyes.  When your fresh tea is done steeping, your eyes will be soothed with the cold tea bags from yesterday.
• Try a refrigerated gel mask.
• Look for an eye cream specifically made for swollen, puffy eyes, typically made with aloe and Vitamin E.

• NEVER use any product that is not intended for the eyes – you know what I’m talking about.  The whole Preparation H thing is a fallacy, and it could result in some pretty painful damage to your delicate eye tissue.

• NEVER use ice cubes or other frozen objects on your eyes.  The temperature is too cold and can cause frostbite.

Now that we’ve covered the causes, the methods for relief, and the safety warnings, it’s time to go and give yourself a soothing eye treatment so you can feel refreshed and enjoy the rest of your Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday!

Continue reading Puffy Eyes Need A Little TLC – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …

From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.

Puffy Eyes Need A Little TLC – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday

There are certain times of the year that my eyes really suffer.  They get puffy, red, and sometimes itchy.  I know this is most likely caused by allergies, even sinus problems, and it is aggravating.  But, even people who don’t suffer from allergies will occasionally have puffy eyes in the morning.

There are any number of reasons why a person may experience puffy eyes at some time or other.  Fluid retention, stress, hormone changes, as well as allergic reactions, can cause your eyes to get puffy, and sometimes red and itchy, too.

Puffy eyes after sleeping may be common in many people.  Minor puffiness around the lid and under the eyes, the kind that you notice when you wake up, is typically reduced or eliminated as you go through your day as gravity drains the fluid that has accumulated during the night.  Although common, this type of puffiness just might be caused by something like too much sodium in a diet, not getting enough sleep, or excessive drinking of beverages that contain alcohol, just to name a few.

What do we do for puffy eyes?  Well, depending on why your eyes are puffy, you can choose between a number of remedies, but what works for one person may not work for another.  Sometimes, the simplest method will work the best.  At other times and for other conditions, you may need to consult with your doctor to find a method that works for you.

Here are just a few methods to help prevent the puffiness around the eye area:

• Increase your drinking water each day – dehydration will cause your body to store water.
• Limit your salt intake – salt makes your body retain water.
• Limit your alcohol beverage intake – alcohol lowers anti-diuretic hormones in your body.
• Never sleep with eye makeup or heavy creams on the delicate tissues around your eyes.
• Never use old eye makeup – it can have bacteria in it which may be irritating your eyes, or worse.
• If you suspect allergies, visit your doctor to discuss treatment options.
• Minimize the use of allergy-causing items like feathers, dust mites, etc., especially in the bedroom.
• Sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated to encourage drainage.

These are some simple methods to help soothe puffy eyes, for whatever reason you are getting them:

• Slice a cold cucumber into thick circles and place on the eyes for several minutes while laying down.
• Keep your used tea bags in the refrigerator.  Then, in the morning while you’re waiting for your fresh tea, pull two used tea bags out of the refrigerator and lay them on your eyes.  When your fresh tea is done steeping, your eyes will be soothed with the cold tea bags from yesterday.
• Try a refrigerated gel mask.
• Look for an eye cream specifically made for swollen, puffy eyes, typically made with aloe and Vitamin E.

• NEVER use any product that is not intended for the eyes – you know what I’m talking about.  The whole Preparation H thing is a fallacy, and it could result in some pretty painful damage to your delicate eye tissue.

• NEVER use ice cubes or other frozen objects on your eyes.  The temperature is too cold and can cause frostbite.

Now that we’ve covered the causes, the methods for relief, and the safety warnings, it’s time to go and give yourself a soothing eye treatment so you can feel refreshed and enjoy the rest of your Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday!

Continue reading Puffy Eyes Need A Little TLC – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …

From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.

Lemon Deodorant

There is debate about the link between deodorant and breast cancer. I really don’t want breast cancer. Anyone else agree?
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It seems that scientists generally say that deodorant is safe. But the breast cancer numbers are rising. This could have to do with the fact that the baby boomers, who were told that formula feeding was better than breastfeeding, are now getting older. It may have to do with the general loss of nutritious ingredients in our food. And it may be our deodorant, which douses the skin right next to our breast with chemicals that we would never put into our mouths. Or it may be all three.
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Whether deodorant causes cancer or not, I am curious with our culture’s obsession with underarm odors. There are many cultures around the world that don’t find the odors offensive, many even find the odors an aphrodisiac. My husband showers every day, but doesn’t put on deodorant. Unless it is real hot, I honestly don’t ever find his odor offensive.
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Underarm odor is not caused by sweat, but by the bacteria that thrives on sweaty skin. What lemon does is takes away the odor of the bacteria. What does deodorant do? Here is the answer I got from WikiAnswers

Continue reading Lemon Deodorant …

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