Baking soda is my best friend

This wouldn't be a homemaker's blog if I didn't mention baking soda. Baking soda packs some awesome powers. It cooks, it cleans, it does the dishes and the laundry, removes odors and stains (true story. I had a month old stain in my carpet that I totally put off cleaning up. Yikes! I should have taken pictures.) It's like having a maid in a box, and I don't even have to pay them! Wait, purchasing it counts towards paying "them"...whoever them is (are? Oh grammar...). Sodium bicarbo-ception.  >_>

Here's a small list of what baking soda can do and is used for:

•  Baking - I cook a lot. Many baking recipes I have used call for baking soda.
• Deodorize your refrigerator - Works like a charm. There's always something gross lurking in my 'fridge that I just don't feel like pulling out of the back corner just yet. Never said I was a perfect housewife. ;-)
• Dishwasher - I add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to my dishwasher, along with only 1/2 of the dish washing soap recommended. Cleans my dishes much better. My dish washer is ancient. (Not even going to get started on my ghetto dishwasher)
• No "poo" method - Washing your hair with baking soda and rinsing with vinegar. It's all the rage on natural/organic forums. I use to do it, and it does works well. I think I will do it again and post results. Works best for the naturally curly haired gentleman and ladies out there.
• Laundry soap - Creating your own laundry soap! I haven't adventured into this yet, but I've read mostly good results about making your own laundry soap. Of course, it involves baking soda. I will research more into it.
• You can also just add a 1/2 cup to your washer before loading the clothes. Out comes sparkly fresh, and bright, clothing! :) I just spent the last half hour away from this post, separating the mountain of clothing I have to wash today. I'm going to test this out on my whites as they aren't too white anymore.
• Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet - Let it sit overnight. Vacuum in the morning. Works great with a house filled with crazy animals. (aka: husbands, children, cats, birds, dogs,)
• Spray cleaners- Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup baking soda into 1/2 gallon or 2 quarts of water. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice if you'd like a scent. Store in a spray bottle. Works like a charm.
• As I've read into other uses, apparently baking soda also can slow down the process of kidney disease, helps heartburn and acid indigestion. Cool. My husband suffers from heartburn and indigestion. More research to do! I love being my own teacher. :D

This is just a small number of things that baking soda can do. As I progress through the list later on, I'll take pictures, perform little experiments to show the awesomeness that is sodium bicarbonate!

Salek

I'm going to post a song for you to enjoy after every post you read. A word of warning: I listen to everything!!! God bless y'all!

Next on the plate: Starter for Amish Friendship bread. I don't have friends out in Pittsburgh just yet, but I'll make this any way and show you how to as well so you can share it with your friends!

Chronic skin picking and the urge to kick it in the butt!

The author of Bonzai Aphrodite has this fantastic reader activity that she starts every monday of each month. It's called MMM or Monday Monthly Mission. I always try to take part in these missions as they are ways to improve ourselves as people; be it a social, personal, or environmental change, Sayward asks you to participate and to give your opinion on the matter at hand. I thorougly enjoy taking part in her missions.
This month, we're focusing on bad habits. We choose a bad habit and attempt to change it for the better of ourselves, our family, and/or our community. At the end of the month, we return to said MMM and explain our thoughts on how we did and whether we will continue to stay away from that bad habit.
My choice of a bad habit is a compulsion called Chronic Skin Picking. I have had the compulsion for many years, well over twenty (and to think I'm twenty-two years old!). It began as hair pulling and than moved into picking at my skin. It has always been a high source of stress for me, even though the reason I skin pick is because of anxiety and stress. Imagine that! I explained to Sayward what habit I plan on changing, and the lovely lady found a website for me on Trichotillomania and Chronic Skin Picking! Bless her!
I'm just so glad to know I am not the only out in the world who deals with the constant urges to pick at my skin or pull my hair out. I requested information on both Trichotillomania and CSP; sometimes I return to pulling my hair out over picking at my skin. I hope that I can find at home remedies to help me cope with my urges. I do not have health insurance at the moment so if I can solve this on my own, great! If not, I better start saving up for the Doctor. Boo.
So to begin my part of the MMM, I took pictures of my face. My face is where I do the brunt of the damage. I always dreamed of having perfect skin. I will have scars after I stop my habit but at least I will know I can control my urges if everything works out by the end of the month. It WILL work out! I will post my before and after pictures after the MMM is over. We'll see how I well I fought my urges!

I am going to try a few methods. First, I need to keep my fingers constantly busy. What is the best way for me to keep busy? Exercise, writing, crocheting, or knitting. I could always search for other activties...perhaps cooking as well. I smoke, but that doesn't bloody count. First off, UNHEALTHY! Second, I still pick at my skin even when I smoke! So that does not count in any way. Such a nasty habit...tsk. I think I know what I'm going to kick after my CSP!
Folks, what else do you think I could do to keep myself occupied and away from my face!? I love opinions!
If you want to participate in the MMM, head on over to Bonzai Aphrodite. You won't regret it. The community is immensly supportive! I do not think I could do what I am doing now with my CSP without the help of the Bonzai community and its beautiful Creator, Sayward! You guys ROCK!
Salek

Hello! I am Salek! I am a 22 year old woman in constant battle with myself to eat healthier, exercise, and all the while stay environmentally conscious! What better way to keep myself in check than to have a blog on said topics? There are soooo many blogs out in Internet land like mine but I am going to try and keep you folks as entertained as possible in my own endeavors. Of course, I will be plugging blogs I thoroughly enjoy on a daily basis.

I have been sitting here with a cup of tea and nom-ming on a pack of blueberries for the last half hour trying to decide on what topic I could begin writing on first. As much as I dread talking about it, I will begin discussing my health first.

I am overweight. Discouraging no? ALAS! Do not click the back button yet! Let me explain myself first. I have Poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. I was diagnosed in 2007 after eight years of heavy and sporatic periods. Apparently, my issues with weight loss has been effected by my PCOS. I was rather happy that I could have a bit of an explaination behind my difficulty losing weight but it was no excuse to not exercise or eat healthy!

Last year in February I had an epiphany after watching my brother graduate from Boot Camp in the Navy; I want to be recognized for my valor and my willingness to protect my country and its people just the same as my brother. I also plan on joining the military.

While I still have the military as one of my biggest goals to date, I decided to attend the Police Academy after I graduated College for that extra experience. My Police Academy test was last Saturday. I passed my 300 meter dash, sit ups, bench press, but failed my mile and a half. I was devastated but I know that my next test is two months from now. I will not fail again.

From my brother's graduation, I had stayed very disciplined with eating healthy and exercising every day. I actually lost thirty pound in a course of seven months and than October 2009 came around. I was still in school and I worked in food service. I lived and breathed my job because of the impending holidays. Since I spent most of my days in my restaurant and my school, I gained almost all of my weight back. I am at 200 lbs as of today.

So where exactly does this lead me? I gained all of my weight back, I failed my Police Academy test, I'm sore, tired and hungry as hell. I guess I'll just have to keep you posted as I discover that for myself.

I may fail but I always get back up and try again.