Homemade Toothpaste Recipe!

I came up with this recipe after experimenting and researching for some time. I like the fact that it is all natural and made with ingredients that I can pronounce and are good for you. Oooh and no fluoride!

• Baking soda has many natural health uses, and can even be taken internally to help balance pH. 
• If you haven't heard about all the amazing uses for coconut oil, check this out. You might also want to do some reading on oil pulling... interesting stuff!
• Stevia is plant-derived and doesn't damage your teeth. It sweetens up the mix.
• The calcium supplements are added to help to remineralize your teeth. I recommend Vitamin Code Raw Calcium, because it is plant-derived calcium which makes it more "bioavailable" (more easily absorbed). For more information on remineralization, see here.
• The peppermint essential oil has antiseptic properties, and gives the toothpaste it's minty taste! 

Homemade Toothpaste

 

3 Tbsp. baking soda
3 Tbsp. coconut oil
1/2 tsp. stevia extract powder- you may also use Xylitol for added decay prevention
3 powder capsules calcium supplement (carefully pull them open)
25 drops peppermint essential oil (you could other oils for your own flavor)

Put all the ingredients in a small bowl and mash with a fork until smooth.

Spoon the mixture into a cute container. And voila! Or, if you prefer, you could also try using a kitchen syringe to put it into a cleaned out toothpaste tube.

To use it, just dip your clean toothbrush in, or use a spoon to put it on your toothbrush.

Let me know how it works for you!!

love & light,
Claire

What Can I Do?

This is an excerpt from an article in Mother Earth News magazine. It is something I wish everyone knew and remembered. :)

Do you agree?

love & light,
Claire

Homemade Whole Wheat Bread with Agave

Here it is, my homemade bread recipe! This is one of my all time keepers. It makes 2 loaves at a time and I keep one to eat and freeze the other. I love the fact that it is 100% Whole Wheat.

If you have never made bread before, don't get discouraged. It takes a few times before you get the hang of the correct consistencies and amount of flour to add. Just remember, don't over-flour, don't overcook, and HAVE FUN! Also, making bread is a fairly long process, you have to let it rise for almost an hour, twice, before you even bake it. You can get other household chores done, do some reading, or watch your favorite TV show while you wait.

I adapted this recipe from the one that I found here.

Homemade Whole Wheat Bread with Agave

1 Tbsp. yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 & 1/2 cups hot tap water
6-7 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/3 cup agave nectar
1/2 tbsp. sea salt

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Let sit about 10 minutes.

2. When the yeast is ready, pour the hot tap water in a separate large bowl. Then mix in 3 cups of whole wheat flour, oil, applesauce, agave nectar, sea salt, and the yeast mixture.


3. Mix in 2 more cups of whole wheat flour.

4. Slowly add the remaining 1-2 cups of flour (1/2 cup at a time). Be very careful to not over-flour the dough. Remember, the end product will begin to form into a ball and should still be slightly sticky. Flour a large surface such as your countertop, pour the dough out of the bowl and knead it for 8-10min.

5. Coat a large bowl with oil, form the dough into a ball, then place the dough in the bowl.

6. Place a clean dish towel over the bowl and let the dough rise for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.


7. IT HAS RISEN!! Spray a large area on your countertop with cooking spray. Dump the dough ball onto the counter and divide into 2 sections. Punch down and re-knead the dough sections into bread shapes and place into greased bread pans.

8. Cover the bread pans with the towel, let rise for about 45 minutes or until they have doubled in size again.
9. Bake the bread loaves at 350 degrees for 25-35 min. the tops of the loaves should be nice and golden brown. When the bread is finished cooking, I like to coat the tops with a little Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread and a light sprinkle of sea salt.

10. Let the bread cool a few minutes before removing them from the pans. Then place them on a cooling rack until they are no longer warm on the outside. I usually eat a slice at this point! It's just too tempting. ;)

Mmmmmmhmmmm!!!

What is your favorite bread recipe?

love & light,
Claire

Shopping Mindfully

So, one of the biggest ways we bring waste into our homes is through grocery shopping. I'd like to share some ways to avoid the extra waste:

• Write grocery lists on old receipts, scrap paper, junk mail, etc.
• Bring your own shopping bags, mesh produce bags, and bulk bags.

• Buy from bulk dispensaries - no packaging, weeee!!
• Look for liquids in bulk too. You may be able to find items such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, syrup, honey, and olive oil. Just bring your own refillable glass bottles.
• Remember, when you bring your own bulk bags and glass containers you need to get a tare weight. They need to be weighed at customer services or a checkout before filling them up. It's easiest to just write the tare weight on the container with permanent marker or wax pencils. Use washable markers to write the item numbers on your bags and containers.

• If you buy meat and cheese, buy them at the deli and bring your own jars/containers to put them in.
• Ask your local grocery store; some won't do it. (Locally, I have found that The Merc will.)
  
• Buy bread at the bakery and use a cloth bag.
• Try making your own bread. (My recipe here!)

Homemade Whole Wheat Bread with Agave!

• Buy non-packaged produce.
• Better yet, get your produce at your local farmers' market - None of those pesky stickers, and you're supporting the local farmers!! :)
• If food is out of season, remember to try canning some yourself for the next year (I'll have a tomato canning tutorial with my Grandma, one day this year!)
• If you have to buy something in a container, try to get glass. It's much more easily recycled.
• Look for local dairy farms that sell milk in refillable glass bottles.
• Bring your own jar to local, family-owned, or specialty stores to fill up on items such as ice cream, candy, dog treats, etc. Just ask if they will allow you to do it first.
• Buy refillable "adult beverages."
• Get beer from your local brewery and refill that growler!
• Call local wineries to see if they will refill bottles.
• Screw or flip top bottles are the least wasteful.
• Brew your own! It's fun!

I hope you find this post helpful! Do you have any shopping suggestions to share??

love & light,
Claire

The Overview Effect

Check out this short documentary on the effects astronauts feel after viewing our planet from space. It's pretty amazing to think about and gives you a greater appreciation for our fragile environment and our connectedness.

"We have to start acting as one species with one destiny."

"If the earth becomes sick, then we become sick."



Wanna experience a little more "Spaceship Earth"? Here you go:




love & light,
Claire

Beginning This Lifestyle

I started this lifestyle change after seeing a handful of documentaries about the environment, pollution, plastic, food, and farming.

Addicted to Plastic, Forks Over Knives, The Corporation, The Future of Food, Garbage Warrior & No Impact Man also check this page out for more!

I wanted to stop whining about all the harm we do to ourselves and this planet and start doing something about it. When I ran out of something at home, I decided I was going to try and make it myself first, instead of just going out and buying more. Then, I came across a blog by Bea Johnson called Zero Waste Home. It was full of things you can do to reduce waste in your life and live more eco-friendly; I was absolutely inspired. Some of the waste reduction information I’ll give on this blog will be repeated from hers, but I feel this information cannot be repeated and shared enough. Here are some of the things I have started doing, or would like to integrate in my life:

• Refuse waste from even entering my home:
• Plastic bags, product packaging, junk mail, freebie pens and stickers, newsletters, flyers, etc. Sign up for paperless billing.

• Bring reusable shopping bags and produce bags for groceries. Buy bulk dispensary items. If something has to be bought in a container, I try to get glass (more easily recycled).

Vintage Lady Gillette Safety Razor - I bought mine on Ebay.

• Find alternatives to disposable and one-time-use products such as: cloth "paper" towels, cloth napkins, safety razor instead of disposables, etc.

• Make my own products if I can’t buy them in glass, metal, or cardboard containers. Plus I know what ingredients are in the stuff I’m using this way.
  

• Use a reusable stainless steel or glass bottle for water. Stainless steel insulated travel mugs work best for coffee or tea.

• Circulate out household plastic items and try to find things made of wood, bamboo, or stainless steel. These things are BPA free, much more durable and will last much longer. Also, when I tire of them, they won’t end up in a landfill because they can easily be donated.

• Recycle or reuse the waste you do bring into your home:
• Glass, Cardboard, Paper, Aluminum, Plastics #1-7, Milk/Juice Cartons
• Electronics, cell phones, metals, and batteries. There are places that will take this stuff if you look.
•  Compost food waste.

• Utilize the library for books, movies, music, and video games.
• If there is something I really want to own, I buy it used or download digital copies.

• Buy used furniture, décor, linens, appliances, tools, clothing, etc. Plus, vintage is cute!
• Send emails or letters to companies when I am not happy with their packaging and have ideas for more environmental or healthy alternatives. Companies need to hear what the people really want.

• Use power more efficiently:
• Use power strips that can be turned off when appliances/electronics are not in use.
• Switch to CFL or LED lighting when bulbs go out.
• When buying replacement appliances, try to find ones that are energy efficient, or even manually operated.

• Conserve water:
• You’ve heard of this before, so, some new things may be:
• Collect shower water while waiting for the water to heat up, and use it to water plants.
• Research collecting grey water (rinse cycle water from washer) for watering outside. Make sure it is allowed in your city ordinances.
• Attach rain barrels to downspouts. 
• As far as flushing, if it’s yellow, let it mellow. Unless you have guests, hehe.

Remember, shopping is voting. When you buy overly packaged products you are creating a demand for them. On the other hand when you buy more eco-friendly you are voting/showing that there is a demand for that also. As Bea from Zero Waste Home says, "Manufacturers are candidates and consumers are voters. Let's start voting right."

Try to think about the life-cycle of the things you buy, and where they end up when you are done with them. If you don’t know, research a little and you might be shocked.

Replacing plastic containers, dishes, bags, bottles, and other household items may seem like an expensive venture at first. Well, it kind of is, but a lot of these things are a one-time purchase and should last you a really long time.

I want to incorporate these practices into my life to better the health of myself and my environment. I also want to be a model for others, to show them that it can be done. If you are thinking, “Who am I to change anything, I am just a drop in the ocean,” remember, “What is the ocean but a multitude of drops.” I realize it could take a long time for the needed changes to be made in this world. The movement is building momentum, but we all need to do our part. I hope you will join me.

love & light,
Claire

What are some of the ways you reduce your waste?