Tired of being tired?

Mighty Nest (Bottle Bright)

Just a quick blog post on something we discovered through Mighty Nest. It's a bottle sanitizing tablet that works amazingly well. We don't drink the tap water here in our city. It doesn't taste right and it almost taste like a mix between way over chlorinated pool water and dirty laundry. It's an off taste and we've tried so many different ways to try to give it a cleaner taste. From charcoal sticks, to filters, to boiling and nothing has taken the taste out of the water here. So, we made a choice a few years ago to fill out water with three and five gallon jugs in the city next to us that gets their water from runoff from Mary's Peak. It's the highest mountain range on this side of the Cascades. The water is crisper, cleaner, and above all it doesn't take like a hotel swimming pool. Along with us filling we needed a way to sanitize the once in awhile between fill-ups. I went on a mad internet search looking for something that was made without harmful ingredients and also didn't change the taste of the water once we filled it. Mighty Nest, of course I've bragged about them a lot on here, had just what I was looking for. I also have seen them being sold at the local food co-op here. It's a company named Bottle Bright. Their single-use tablets get dropped down into the jug, fizz, and clean the container. You can use them for smaller water bottles, too. We don't fill the large jugs to the top and use the tablets. We end up putting about 1/4 of water in the bottle, drop the tablet in until we're ready to refill them. We let the tablet sit in the jug during that time. Once it's time to refill, we give the bottles a good shake and rinse completely. The tablet water doesn't get wasted either. We pour the water into our bathtub, sink, duck's pool, pet's bowls, etc. When it comes time to clean the jugs, everything gets a good sanitizing. 





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Minimalism: End of Spring Cleaning

Time for end of spring cleaning, am I right? This past year has been intense and I'm starting to be a bit more selfish with my time and energy. I have some repairing and damage to fix to myself, as well and this spring to summer transition I am spending more time doing more selfcare and focusing on positive changes. I've been doing that for a few months now, but spring is really the time to do some cleaning and clearing. I've decided to spend this time ridding the house of germs, cleaning up our "make-shift" pantry, and boosting our immune systems and self worth. I decided now is the time to go through and get rid of many things in our possession that we are only keeping out of not hurting other's feelings. Emotional attachment is the worst kind of attachment to break, but now is the time. That means, cleaning a lot of areas that seem to get neglected in our day to day activities, donating gifts that we don't even like, and getting rid of clothing that no longer fits. Spring is the perfect time to do some spring cleaning, in more ways than one. Here's a list of things I am tackling this spring to get them cleaned and back to looking and feeling fresh.

*Window Cleaning: There's 12 windows, total in this rental house. Each one of them will be getting a through and well-deserved cleaning inside and a through washing outside, too. Plus, all of the curtains will be getting a good washing, as well as the curtain rods removed and cleaned.

*Microwave and Oven: A few drops of lemon juice and lemon essential oil in a glass bowl of water and placed inside the microwave for 20 seconds before wiping it out, helps with the smell and to help remove any stuck on food particles along the sides and on the top. For the oven, I use a squirt bottle with warm water and lemon essential oil, spray around the oven and hit the self cleaning cycle.

*Floors: The floors in this old house are a mix between, linoleum, carpet, carpeted stairs, carpet squares, fake wood vinyl, and chippy old linoleum in the laundry room. We've replaced the bathroom flooring a few years ago (a reveal of that will come soon), but overall this old house could use a bit of TLC with the floors. Unfortunately, renting you are limited on what you can do. The bathroom was a no brainer and after waiting five years for the "landlord" to do it, we finally just pulled the trigger and did it ourselves. It was either that, or fall through the floor. I will be using Dr. Bronner's soaps, vinegar, and some essential oils to get stubborn stains off the floors. It works great and their Sal Suds work amazingly well on all floor types. For the carpets, I use a carpet shampooer and go over the floors with a water/vinegar mix, and then again with the the vinegar/essential oil mixture with water. I've found it works the best, even in those machines, and doesn't leave a chemical smell for several days afterwards. I use peppermint essential oil on the hard floor surfaces. It seems to help keep spiders and ants at bay. I also use peppermint essential oils near doorways and windows. 
A good recipe I follow:
1. One part vinegar
2. Two parts water
3. 1-2 drops of Dr. Bronner's unscented castile soap
4. 8-10 drops lemongrass essential oil on open floors and bathroom
5. 8-10 drops peppermint essential oil for around doorways and windows

*Walls: Go old vinegar and hot water works the best. We don't have small children in this house, so it's not a huge cause for elbow grease on the walls, but there are a few areas that take a bit more scrubbing; door frames, garage entrance, bathroom wall, kitchen wall, etc. For those, straight vinegar and a bit of baking soda gets it right off. I am planning on repainting a few areas that seem to have heavier traffic throughout the year, too.

*Furniture: I vacuum and scrub with water/vinegar mix for stains. We don't have a lot of furniture that has cloth on it, so that part is pretty simple. We do have a lot of wood furniture and a simple mixture of vinegar and water gets those looking like new. 

*Refrigerator/Washer/Dryer/Oven: I like to pull these out once a spring and clean well under, behind, and even inside of them. I pull everything out of the refrigerator, wash the shelves, sides, and top, as well as the freezer, with a water/vinegar mix. Throw away old, or expired foods and reorganize to suit our needs. When I pull the refrigerator out, I clean the drip pan, and vacuum the coils and underneath. I hand wipe the underside of the refrigerator with a water/vinegar mix and wipe down any areas that seem to accumulate dust or debris. I run the washer with a hot load and vinegar and soap inside the washer. I clean the water pipes, water shut off knobs and around the sides and top of the machine. For the dryer, I do the same, clean the sides, and top and wipe the inside out with a water/vinegar mix. With the oven, I pull it out the oven completely (unplugging it) and clean the underside of the oven and wipe down the floor entirely where it sits. I like to clean the walls around all of these machines, too.

*Light Fixtures/Door Knobs/Locks/Light Switches: These should be cleaned at least once a week, if not once a month, anyway. The light fixtures and ceiling fans maybe every six months, depending on where you live and how much dust your house accumulates. This house seems to be a dust trap, as well as a place spiders like to hang out, for some reason. I've read it has a lot to do with drafts and this house is definitely drafty, even at the best of times. I like to wipe and clean everything with a vinegar/water mix and hit the dusty areas with a wet rag at least once a month, but spring is a good time to start a routine and get that dust, dead bugs, and other unwanted items that seem to find their way into and onto our fixtures. 

*Seasonal Bedding: Wash it, fold it, and put it away in the closet. Since the seasons are changing there's no need to have heavy bedding on your bed. Also, washing your mattress cover during this time is a great routine to get into. I tend to wash ours once a week with the other bedding, but some people only wash their mattress cover every six months, or once a year. It's really up to your lifestyle and preference. I prefer a clean bed at least once a week. Vacuuming your mattress during this time is a great way to cut down on dust mites and allergies, too. Also, popping your pillows into the dryer on low cycle with some wool dryer balls with a few drops of your favorite essential oil, too, will help with allergies and dust mites, as well. 

*Garage: I like to take everything out, sort through things one-by-one and donate things we haven't used in year. A year is enough time to determine whether you're going to use something again. With the exception of items that you don't use on a regular basis, air pump, tarps, car jack, anti-freeze, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc. Those items are needed, but may not be used in a year's time, so hang onto them. But, sort them and keep them in an area for extended keep. If now say, you haven't used something in three years, it's probably time to let it go. Fire extinguishers and first aid items should be used, or replaced in that amount of time anyway. After everything is removed from the garage, a good spray of the floor, or a moping is needed (depending on your flooring) and cleaned of debris, car tire marks, paint spills, oils spills, etc. Once your floor is dry, start bringing items back in. Never leave items on the floor of your garage. If needed purchase shelving, or build shelving. Items on the floor tend to make the area look cluttered. Wall hooks and racks are great for items, as well, consider installing what suits your needs and keeps your garage floor tidy.

*Repainting: I like to stand outside at the front of my house with a notebook and walk through the entire house all the way to the backyard and write down anything that needs a good coat of paint. Front door entrance, vestibule, hallway, stairs, walls, kitchen, backdoor trim, garage walls, and even possibly the outside deck or porch area. Writing it down you won't forget what you saw and won't see it later and get frustrated that you forgot. All of this is a good way to start the season fresh and feel like your home is well taken care of. There are other items that get added to that list, as well. Items such as, a new piece of wood on the window where the air conditioner sits, trim replacement for a piece missing by the stairs, or even maybe a new lock on the gate. Writing them down and walking through gives you the same eye as a guest and what they could see when visiting. 

I get a lot of my cleaning tips from Clean Mama. She posts some great schedules on her social media pages and I love to check in with her newest posts just to keep myself on task with everyday chores, as well as monthly, and yearly tasks. Her site also has printables and other items you can purchase to keep you accountable to your cleaning tasks. She was a huge help during our minimalism challenges on what to bring into the home and what to get rid of. It was nice to know that I wasn't alone in this desire to make my home more to our needs and wants, and keep it clean at the same time. 

I follow this rough draft of chores, but with a few additional things added that fit our lifestyle. I'm a Virgo and as a Virgo, "Cleanliness is instinctual for Virgos, so they will obsess about an item out of place or a surface stain until it's been properly taken care of." Remember, we are not looking for perfection. 

Five Simple Things (June 4)

Hello.

We had some sunshine this week, but a couple of days were still chilly. We did get one day of rain, so that's a good thing, especially after last year's wildfires. Hopefully, we stay calmer this year than last. We redid a lot of things in the backyard this week, but still have a ways to go. We don't want to put too much work, or effort into it since we're moving soon. But, what we did so far looks great! Looking forward to showing some of the things we've changed around and sort of "document" it on the blog. Hopefully more sun will grace us with its presence in the following week. Here are five things this week.

1. This Box.

When Yogi Surprise stopped their monthly box shipments, I went on a mad dash to find a replacement. I do miss Yogi Surprise a great deal, but KIWI Eco Box is a great replacement so far. I am loving the fact that everything in their box is sustainable and better for us and the planet. You can sign up here, for the July box shipment, or do a one-time purchase of one of their starter kits. 

2. These Geese.

Skylar and I have been getting out more and walking, or running a few blocks at a time. One of our routes takes us past Ralston Park here in the city and this was the first time we've seen Canadian Geese in the canal, especially ones with babies. I hope we see more of them around the park, it's a nice addition to the backdrop.

3. This View.



On May 28 we got a tiny view of Venus and Mercury meeting in the sky. It's a tiny view, but we enjoyed looking for it through the telescope.

4. This Episode.

This week we put out a new episode of Diabolic Evil with the story of Johann Otto Hoch. His story is similar to most of the ones we covered so far. A killer with no remorse and a selfish moral overall. You can check out this story on our Anchor page here.

5. This THC/CBD.

Trying new things this month with some CBD/THC for pain management. My anxiety has been okay for the most part and I think it has a lot to do with a good blend I've found. I'm still going to try different things until I find the right one that works for me and my issues.

We also got a glimpse of Jupiter and Saturn near the moon on May 31. It wasn't a great view through the telescope, because the moon was bright and overshadowed Jupiter and Saturn. I am eager to see what else the night sky shows before the end of summer.



Positive affirmations this week: "What has caused you joy this week?"
I don't think it's really just one thing, but a lot of little things. Nothing big really excites me anymore, but the small things I'm starting to appreciate more as I get older. I enjoyed the time I spent with Skylar running and walking this week, also the moment of looking at the night sky with my own Sky-lar. He is really a lot of fun to be around. I also enjoyed the time I spent with him recording our new episode for our podcast. He and I are really close and he does bring me a lot of joy.

Have a nice weekend.

Sometimes Wants (Summer)

 These are the summer time "Sometimes Wants" that have caught my eye lately.
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3.  4. 

5.  6. 

7.  8. 

8. Thayers Natural Lavender Face Toner, Face Mist

It's summertime, finally, right? Here are a few things I've added to my routine. I have been looking into changing up more of my skincare routine and SPF is always a plus. Being over 40, sun exposure to the face is definitely something to avoid. I've been liking ILIA products lately. Made with better ingredients and I love their skin tint with SPF. It doesn't make my skin oily, or break me out additionally to what I already deal with. Also, the All Good sunstick in coconut is amazing! The smell is heavenly and I find myself using it all over because it smells so great. With it being summer, too, time to bring in some summer scents into my car with the car diffuser, too. Spending a lot more time at the coast, those smells don't need to be brought home, especially from our wet suits. Hanging clothes on the line, refreshing drinks with some fun additions and crushed ice is great during the summertime. Along with facecare comes washing and toning. I'm loving Earthen Skincare face wash and the Thayers Lavender Toner. I like to wash my face, and then using the Thayers toner in lavender to press it into my skin. It's very hydrating and I like to use it to prep my skin before adding sunscreen or the tinted sunscreen. I also included some random items like the sunflower grow kit and sidewalk chalk to help embrace the kid inside of us. Also, some beeswax wrap DIY kit. If you haven't made the change from plastic-free to more sustainable options, this a good start. Give it a go this summer and you won't go back to cling-wrap, or even plastic food covers again! 

End of May 2021 (1 Second Every Day)