Adjusting

I am hoping to start blogging more, and have added blog time into my schedule.

I said in my last post that there have been a few things that have saved my sanity in these fast moving 9 months.

#1: Google Calendar

BEST THING EVER!! Seriously, if it isn't in my calendar (which is synced to my phone) then it more than likely does not get done.

Laundry is even in the calendar... Maybe I have lost my mind...

#2: Having a hobby

I used to knit all the time. It is very therapeutic. It took me months to pick it back up again, and I actually had to sign up for a class to get me started again. Right now, I am taking sock knitting class, and so excited to make myself a pair of socks. I also have two current projects going, the socks and a pair of wool pants for Mr Z.

#3: Wonderful Man

I could not do this alone, and single parents, hats off to you! I have no idea how you do it.

#4: You

I have been trying for about 6 months to get back to you, and am hoping I am back. I really am going to try and get at least 3 posts a week (not 3 a day, today is definitely not going to be the norm).

Menu for Nov 11- to 16 and Thai Wonderpot Review

Here is this weeks menu, along with tonights dinner review.

Day	Dinner
Monday, Nov 11	thai wonderpot
Tuesday, Nov 12	Sante fe chili
Wednesday, Nov 13	Moroccan Vegetable soup
Thursday, Nov 14	black bean enchiladas
Friday, Nov 15	Quiche- bacon and broccoli
Saturday, Nov 16	Black bean burgers and sweet potato fries
Sunday, Nov 17	Roasted Chicken and Potatoes

Nothing too fancy this week. But we do have a menu, unlike last week. We took turns being very sick last week, Wonderful Man even took two days off work and school he was so sick.

Being a new mom, I found it was incredibly hard to figure out this new life of keeping an infant happy, and the normal housekeeping routine down. Honestly, I still haven't figured it out completely, and I figure I never actually will.

There have been a few things that have helped me find my routine again.

#1 Google calendar!

Seriously it is wonderful. I plug in my schedule, when I want to work out or make dinner, and bam! Reminders to do it!

Life and mind saver!!

But, I digress. Tonight for dinner we had one of the One Pot Wonder dishes that have been floating around Pintrest lately. 

We tried the Italian one about couple of weeks ago, it was alright. 

Tonight we tried One Pot Wonder Thai Peanut Noodles

I LOVE Thai food, Wonderful Man, well this is his one flaw.

I love that I can just throw everything in, Stir it a few times. Another plus, they are quick and easy.

It was really good, although I might have put a little too much lime. Wonderful Man, said it was alright, and as long as I don't put cilantro in it I can make it again.

Finding the time

Mr. Z is almost 9 months old, and such a busy busy little boy.

I keeps me busy too.

But I really want to start blogging again. So I am going to try and see if I can get some things going.

First I want to change things a little, we are a family on a budget, we try to eat healthy, we try to use economical and environmentally friendly cleaners, and we try to be frugal.

Along with being frugal and environmentally conscious, Wonderful Man and I are both like to look at things scientifically.

On thing I would like to do, is give you our weekly menu and review on recipes. We usually try at least one new recipe a week. For this I will have a pintrest board with recipes, and then one with our reviews. But don't worry you non-pintresters, I will also have a place on the blog for you to find them too!

Clean Green and Frugally

I started this blog as a place for people to get real green clean tips from a normal person. I hate those bloggers with the "perfect" lives and "perfect" homes. I will be the first to say that house is not clean, but I am enjoy the precious time I have with my little one know that he is growing up way too fast!

I also want to share the cleaners I personally have tested. I have never liked the store bought cleansers. So after I moved out and starting buying them myself I decided there had to be a better way. After a few years, of looking a trying things I have found a few things you can't live with out.

Number 1: Laundry detergent
Number 2: Dishwasher detergent (if you have one)
Number 3: A spray cleanser
Number 4: A scrub (either powdered like comet/ajax or a paste like soft scrub)

I wanted green alternatives. I searched and tested. Finally I have found my four cleaners I can not live with out! To make it even better, these are recipes that I know with free up some money in your budget. They will also take about 30 minutes to make all and they are safe to use every day!

The laundry detergent is great, and since I started making it THREE years ago, I have yet to buy regular laundry soap. I have even given some away to skeptical friends.

Dishwasher detergent, works and we liked it, but we had too many problems with it. Maybe in a few months, or a year, I will try it again. We are really liking the Seventh Generation, even with our hard water we don't need a rinse aid anymore.

A good spray cleaner is something every home needs. I can't decide between the regular or the orange infused...

A good kitchen scrub, or all purpose scrub, is something everyone needs. I am loving the fresh summer sent of my orange peel scrub.


There you have it, my top four must have green cleaners. I hope you enjoy them! Do any of you use them? Do you like them? If so, what is your favorite thing about them?

Homemaking Tuesday: Oranges Part II

This post has been in the wings for awhile! So here you go the second part of cleaning with oranges! I showed you how to infuse vinegar with orange peels back in October. Today, I will tell you about a scrub that I saw on Crunchy Betty.

I have said before, but I LOVE this lady's blog! 

I while ago when I was looking for what to do with all these orange peels I was tossing I saw Crunchy Betty's Grapefruit Scrub recipe. I thought that would be a great way to replace my store bought secret weapon, so that I an not using it as often.

Crunchy Betty uses borax in the scrub, and so while I was waiting to get some dried orange peels I did some research on borax. For myself, I have decided it is safe enough to use.

I also REALLY need to clean my stove top. I haven't cleaned it since Baby was born, and well... A picture is worth a thousand words right? (P.S. Don't judge me!)

Since my stove really needs a good scrub, I decided to make and try out this scrub. I think this is obvious but, I made my scrub following the recipe from Crunchy Betty, but used ORANGE peels not grapefruit.

Borax, Orange peels, and Baking Soda

I really should wipe off my stove more often... This is just after wiping with a wet rag!

Now for an interruption by my super cute baby!

Ah! Clean stove! (and the start of dinner...)

This scrub smells AMAZING! It works great, and I never doubted it wouldn't!

And another shot of my baby! Who will be 5 months on Saturday!!

Aye Carumba!!

I know I said I was back, but life with an infant is unpredictable! 

I hope to finish up some of those posts promised eons ago!

I also, of course, have some things in the work.

I do want to keep with blog up, so please stick with me!

Hello, World!

I am alive!! Sorry the blog has been a little neglected. Life is in a constant flux. A lot has happened since November, but my 'vacation' is over.

As you readers know, when I left for 'vacation' i n November I was 6 months pregnant. We had our little miracle baby in February! He is perfect, and even lets us sleep some nights.


Over the break I didn't get much done, except the Shower Experiment, so that will be posted soon. While I am adjusting to motherhood, there will not be the daily posts.

In the mean time here are some pictures of our perfect baby boy!