DIY: Dishwashing detergent

I was waiting to run out of my beloved Seventh Generation dishwashing detergent to begin experimenting with some more cost efficient solutions. Seventh Generation is my favorite natural dishwashing detergent I have used but gets pretty pricey at around $8 a bottle. For quite a while I was using Palmolive because it is pretty inexpensive and says "Eco" and "Phoslate Free" and "Better for lakes and streams" right there on the bottle so I figured it must be semi-natural, plus it is conveniently sold at Target. Then I found out not only is it owned by Colgate and has chlorine in it but a host of other dangerous ingredients. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) gives it an "F".

I went back to using Seventh Generation but my pocket book was hurting. So, I decided to start experimenting and making my own. I am still not sure where I stand with using Borax, so opted to leave it out for now. Lindsay over at Passionate Homemaking (one of my favorite blogs, I have been following it for years) had a recipe for homemade dishwashing detergent I decided to try.

Very simple.
1/2 cup of Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds
1/2 cup of water
1 tsp lemon juice
3 drops of tea tree oil
1/2 cup of white vinegar

I added a 1/2 cup of baking soda (I wanted my dishes clean!)

***Update: I have been using this for the last two weeks. It definitely does not get my dishes as clean as Seventh Generation but it is soooo much cheaper to make! I am not sure exactly how much I am saving though since I do have to lightly wash my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to make sure they are really getting clean.  I would be interested in exploring that more. I miss the smell of Seventh Generation's dishwashing detergent, so lemony and light. The white vinegar smell is not at all pleasant. Overall, I am pretty satisfied with this recipe but am going to keep experimenting..

First Book Review: Montessori From The Start

I have been on a mission to get our little household organized and de-clutter this month, along with starting some basic schooling with my oldest who is three. I am going to call her by her nickname "Sissy" for this blog. Also, I have been working on focused play time with my little "Tiger" who is pictured, he is fourteen months. I love my kids! They are my delight and I love that we get to go on this adventure called "life" together!! I am so humbled that God entrusted them into my care and so very blessed to be their mommy.

Recently, I have been inspired by the book, "Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three", which I just started reading. I really wish I would have read it when my daughter was younger because it has some practical ideas I would have applied earlier into our daily "rhythm". Primarily the emphasis on simplicity and decorating the home for the Montessori child. We have way too many toys and I have been deliberately weeding through them as I have been reading this book. Also, just getting rid of the clutter and the distraction from too much even useful items. I want our home to foster imagination, learning and prayer.

I will say rather STRONGLY that there are quite a few recommendations in the book that I do not agree with and am still weeding through Montessori- learning as whole. The biggest weed in my personal opinion was the recommendation in the book to wean babies prematurely and potty train before they are truly ready. It feels like from some of the Montessori books and blogs I have been reading that the attempt to foster independence take precedence over the child's individual needs and personal readiness in a given area. It actually becomes the opposite of "attachment parenting"with some of Maria Montessori's ideals which maybe I will blog more about later. I am still learning about her.

Right now the two practicals from reading this book that I am going to work on implementing into everyday life with my littles are:
1. having uninterrupted block of learning/work time. I want to really work on being an observer of what is capturing Sissy's attention during our learning times and be sensitive to disregard our "schedule" and go with her flow.
2. Creating a home that is conducive to the growth and learning of a one year old and a three year old. Moving things down to their level, rearranging their rooms in order to give them simplicity and supervised independence. Including them in what I m doing throughout the day i.e., cooking, cleaning, feeding the dog.

I still haven't finished the book and so I am sure I will have more thoughts to come. :-)

Rainy Days and Lattes

What a perfectly delightful day as hurricane Isaac brought much needed rain to the plains of Kansas, Starbucks pumpkin spice latte' was added to their menu for the fall season and I finally got a date with my husband. I would say August ended with a bang! Our date was needed as we went over our fall/winter schedule and tightened our budget, the latte' made it a little sweeter than it might have been otherwise. For us it is definitely a season to tighten ship and get our lives in order. We are attempting to do a money envelope system for our finances and really steward our time in a way that will benefit our family as a whole. My husband is juggling a lot of balls right now: finishing college, Alderman in our city and working full time as an insurance broker to provide for our family so I can stay at home with my littles. I am blessed. Our goal this month is to eat at home except for our weekly coffee date. We spent way too much money on eating out this summer. September we welcome you!

The Red Balloon

Our (my kids and I) favorite book is "Goodnight Moon" and it only seemed fitting to use the title as the name of my blog. However, it was already taken and so I chose "Good Night Red Balloon" as the title of this new blog. There is a darling French movie about a little boy and a red balloon who follows him everywhere, the movie ends with the little boy floating up in the sky to a place where children and balloons are friends forever. Balloons remind me of hope and childlike joy. And that is somewhat of the journey we are on, isn't it. "Goodnight" is the only time I have to blog, when my sweet children are tucked in bed, fast asleep and dreaming. Hopefully through this blog I can share with you some mommy musings that might inspire you on your own journey. Goodnight Moon. Goodnight.