DIY - Some Great Homemade Cleaner Recipes to Save You Money

DIY - Go Green & Save $$$

Not only will these cleaners save you money, but they are also non-toxic, which is great news for you and your family!
I get such a sense of accomplishment from making my own products and using them, instead of paying a fortune for the packaging and advertising of those "big names".  Plus, you're re-using packaging, which is good for the environment and your wallet.
So, have fun with these!

Homemade Liquid Dish Soap:

1/2 cup liquid castile soap - I like tea tree oil scented, but you can use unscented as well
1/8 cup water
4 drops of essential oil of your choice - I like lemon or orange flavor when making citrus scented
1 tsp vinegar or Homemade all-purpose citrus cleaner (see below)

Mix ingredients together & fill your old empty laundry soap's plastic squirt bottle with your new creation.
Your might have to use a little bit more, but not much more.  And it might not suds up like you're used to, but it works!

Homemade All-Purpose Citrus Cleaner:

Can be used to clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces, the refrigerator, floors...you name it

Orange or lemon peels
1-2 Tbsp salt - any kind
vinegar
water
essential oil (optional)

Keep orange and/or lemon peels / scraps after you juice & Cut them into pieces small enough to fit into glass jars.  Sprinkle the peels with enough salt to lightly coat them and let that sit for at least 30 minutes to leach the oils from the citrus peels.  Fill the rest of the jars with a mixture of 1/2 vinegar & 1/2 water.  Close the jars and let them sit and be pretty for 2-3 weeks. The longer the better, since it'll get stronger.  Strain the mixture and place liquid into squirt bottles, which are now ready to use.
Smells great & works great too!
No toxins filling your bathroom and kitchen to strangle you as you clean, and safe for the kids to use and help you!

Homemade Mouthwash:

1/2 cup water
2 tsp baking soda
2 drops tea tree essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil

Place ingredients in a jar and shake before use.  Swish 2-3 tsp for a minute in your mouth & gargle. Spit out.  This mix is particularly good for garlic breath!

Homemade Hairspray:

1 orange or lemon
2 cups water
1/4 cup vodka
6-8 drops lavender essential oil

Cut the fruit into wedges.  Boil in the water until liquid is reduced by half.  Strain through cheesecloth into a measuring cup.  You need 1 cup.  Cool.  Add vodka and essential oils.  Pour into spray bottle (at least 10 ounces).  Shake before each use.  Lemons are better for blondes, and oranges are better for brunettes, because if a brunette uses lemon and goes into the sun, it can lighten your hair.  Remember doing that as a teenager?  No more toxic sprays in the bathroom!  Enjoy this natural alternative, and you can enjoy a little cocktail with the leftover vodka!  ;)

Homemade Powder Laundry Soap:

1 grated bar of Ivory, Dr. Bonners, Mrs. Meyers, or Fels Naptha Soap
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing soda (example: Arm & Hammer - washing soda, not baking soda!)

Stir thoroughly.  Use 1 Tbsp per load.  Add essential oils if you like, but I enjoy the soap scent personally.

Homemade Toothpaste:

2/3 cup baking soda
4 tsp fine sea salt
1-2 tsp peppermint extract or 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil
Add water to desired consistency and store in a small plastic container.  Dip your toothbrush in it and use as you would any toothpaste.  It's milder on your teeth than the abrasives in commercial toothpaste.

Homemade Deodorant Spray:

Fill a spray bottle with Everclear liquor.  Add 10 drops of essential oil per 1 oz of alcohol / liquor. Use once or twice daily.
This mixture will not keep you from perspiring, because you should perspire, but it kills the bacteria that cause odor, so you won't stink.  Spray a few times under each arm in the morning and optionally again at night.  It might sting a little, but not much and not for long. You won't want to spray immediately following a bath or shower or immediately after shaving!

Homemade Powder Dishwasher Soap:

1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda (example Arm & Hammer - washing soda, not baking soda!)
1 cup Citric Acid
1/2 cup Kosher salt or Epsom salts

(Can substitute Lemishine or Lemonade flavored Kool-Aid for the Citric Acid)

Mix ingredients together and keep in an air-tight jar or plastic container.
Use 3/4 to 1 Tbsp per load, in the open compartment of the dishwasher, or just thrown into the dishwasher.

Suggestions:  You may need to double the Citric acid for really hard water to avoid spotting, and you can also add a splash of white vinegar or lemon juice to each load, in the rinse agent compartment for a clean finish.
To keep your mixture from clumping, you can add a packet of desiccant (like the silica packets that come in a new purse or inside vitamin / medicine bottles.  Keep the desicant closed and just place it in the container to absorb moisture.  Another option would be to cut the toe off a clean pair of pantyhose, place some rice in the toe and tie it off. Put that little sachet inside the container to absorb moisture.

DIY Light box for product photography

     Credit goes to JYOseph.com for this article


Building a light box is pretty easy stuff. A light box is particularly useful for product photography where you need a nice white background. Many people find that their products will actually sell faster with a more professional looking photo. Here you’ll find a step by step on how to build your own DIY light box.
This thing isn’t really rocket science at all. I think it’s more the technique that people would be interested in. I’ve received a lot of e-mails asking about the light box so I hope this will be a help to anyone wanting to stay inside during the winter months and take shots of random stuff from the fridge.



Foam Board
 You’ll need 5 sheets of foam board, also called foam core or foam poster board. If you go to the local craft / art store you should be able to pick up large sheets for just a few dollars a piece. I have a huge box in my basement and the pieces were $4.99 a piece. The board used in this tutorial was $1.99 a piece (each piece is 30″x 20″). * My recommendation is to get a thicker piece for the bottom where the object will sit.

White Tape
 The tape I’m using is between 1″and 2″wide white masking tape. Stay away from duct tape, as the heat from the lamps makes the glue really messy. This masking tape is nice and lightweight and if you need to, you can take the tape off to re-adjust.
 Lamp / Light Bulbs
 I’m using clip-on shop lights from Home Depot / Lowe’s. You can pick these up for just a few dollars a piece.($3-$9)
 I’m using just a standard bulb from Home Depot. I’ve tried all sorts of bulbs. To your eye they may all look the same, the camera picks up different colors from different lights.
 Edit
 I tried full spectum bulbs and really have to say that they’re not worth it. Learn to set the white balance on your camera and shoot in RAW if possible.
 *Above all, I favor and would suggest using a flash directed straight up into the top of the box, this is THE BEST WAY TO GET A GOOD WHITE BACKGROUND – (see the diagram below).
 Other
 You’ll need a razor knife and a straight edge.

 Instructions

 1. Attach the Top and Bottom 

Here is a quick sample of how I apply the tape. I know it’s overkill to show this but I’d rather err on the side of being thorough. 




2. Attach the Left and Right

 It may be hard to see how it will come together, but I just applied the left side (which is at the top of the photo below). Do the same for the right side.

3. Cut Off Overhang on the Sides

 Left: Shows the box with the overhang on left and right side.
 Middle: Shows using a straight edge to cut the excess. 
Right: Shows the box with the sides trimmed down. 



4. Cut Notches in Sides

 This is something I just recently started doing. I found that I wasn’t able to set the lights deep enough so cutting a notch in the side helps. You may have to skip this step and see the final deal, then you’ll get the idea. 
The notches I cut were only a few inches deep, you could do more or less. Make it work for you. *If you’re using a flash this step is unnecessary. 



5. Lights

 You can see I added a few more lights. The more the better in my opinion. *Use a flash if possible. 


Showing the outside of the box. 



Use this light box with a Flash. Here would be a sample illustration of how to use the flash with this setup. This works like a charm. 



Optional Step
 You can apply a strip of tape to the back seam on the bottom. Apply it so the tape forms an even transition between the two pieces of foam core. This hides the back seam so you don’t have any shadows in the background. Here is a quick and dirty illustration to show what I mean: 



See What it Produces
 After literally 2 minutes with the light box and a few snaps later here is a shot I took of one of my lenses. Obvious improvements could be made here but this is just a quick image to show you how simple using this box can be. 


But Wait, There’s More
 Here is another trick I started doing. Sometimes I like to shoot the object from a top view. If you cut a hole in the top of the box, this is possible. Be careful not to cut too much, you’ll want to score the part you don’t cut, that makes it bend with ease. 



Here is a sample of shooting a necklace through the hole I just cut in the top of the box. 



Voila
 I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I’m hoping that it was easy enough to follow. From start to finish this project should take no longer than 30 minutes

Man, these Bacardi Flavors Drink Recipes Sound YUM!

BACARDI GRAND MELÓN SINGLE MIXERS:

BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ + CRANBERRY:

• 1 part BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• 4 parts cranberry juice
• Pour over ice. Garnish with fresh watermelon.


BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ + GRAPEFRUIT:

• 1 part BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• 4 parts grapefruit juice
• Pour over ice. Garnish with fresh watermelon.




BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ + SPRITE®:


• 1 part BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• 4 parts SPRITE®
• Pour over ice. Garnish with fresh watermelon.



BACARDI GRAND MELÓN COCKTAILS & MARTINIS:


BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ MARTINI:
• 3 parts BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• Splash cranberry juice
• Shake with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed martini glass.


BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ JUICE COCKTAIL:
• 1 part BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• 2 parts SPRITE®
• splash grenadine
• splash peach schnapps
• splash club soda
• Pour over ice. Garnish with fresh watermelon.




BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ MOJITO:
• 1 1/2 parts BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• 12 fresh speannint leaves
• 1/2 lime
• 7 parts club soda
• 2 tsp. simple syrup or 4 tsp. sugar
• Mint sprigs for garnish
• Crush mint leaves and lime in a tall glass. Cover with simple
     syrup and fill glass with ice.
• Add BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ and club soda, stir well.


BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ TUTTI FRUTTI:
• 2 parts BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• splash of blue curayao
• 1 part pineapple juice
• Shake with ice and pour into glass. Garnish with
    fresh watermelon.


BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ GIMLET:
• 2 parts BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• 1 part sweetened lime juice
• Shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.


BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ BALL:
• 2 parts BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• splash melon liquor
• 1 part pineapple juice
• Shake with ice and strain into a chilled shot glass.


BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ MARGARITA:
• 1 1/2 parts BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• 2 parts sour mix
• 1/2 part triple sec
• Shake with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed margarita glass.


BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ COSMO:
• 4 parts BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• 1 part lime juice
• splash triple sec
• 1/2 part cranberry juice
• Shake ingredients with ice and strain into chilled martini glass.
• Garnish with fresh watermelon.


HOW TO INFUSE – STEP-BY-STEP

1. Prepare your fruit/vegetables
    • Wash your hands and the ingredients
    • Remove greenery and excess seeds (i.e. Remove all seeds from hot peppers or the infusion will be extremely spicy)
    • Slice appropriately
        • Each fruit and vegetable can be sliced differently and depends mostly on preferred presentation style
        • The bigger the slices, the more recognizable the ingredients will be (i.e. strawberries should be sliced in half)
2. Select an infusion jar
    • Infusion containers should either be acrylic or glass and able to be covered
    • Appropriate containers include large jars, pitchers or an actual infusion jar
3. Infuse
    • Place ingredients in the jar and then pour in the appropriate amount of your chosen BACARDI® Flavored Rum.
    • The longer your ingredients infuse, the stronger the flavor of the infusion will be. After you begin infusing, taste test and determine how flavorful
       you would like your infusion.
    • Take into account the strength of your ingredients (the smell and taste) in order to determine the need to strain and the duration of infusion.

       See chart below for reference.


1-2 HOURS:  Any strong, highly flavorful and/or spicy ingredients. These should be managed closely. i.e. Honey, cinnamon, bell peppers, jalapeño, chilies or any hot peppers or strong spices.

2-3 HOURS:  Medium strength ingredients as well as any tart or sweet flavors. i.e. Kiwi fruit, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, oranges, limes and any citrus fruits.

3-4 HOURS:  Ingredients with subtle flavor profiles or that have protective skins or coatings. i.e. Apples, pears, melons, mint, basil and many other herbs.

4. Shelf Life
    • When ingredients are kept in the jar, infusions have a shelf life of one week, but keep in mind that the infusion will become stronger each day
    • Some fruits/vegetables may have color changes after time and you may want to remove for presentation i.e. apples will turn brown
    • Keep infusions out of direct sunlight and away from heat
    • If you strain the ingredients and refrigerate, it can last much longer
5. Clean
    • Be sure to use soap and water to clean your jar after each use.
Get Creative – Tips For Your Infusions
    • Mix and Match – Many ingredients that work well together in traditional recipes will work well together for infusions. Try a favorite combo like
       strawberries and kiwi fruit.
    • Spruce It Up– Create unique, easy, fresh garnishes that will add interest to your presentation.
    • Use A Catchy Name – Create unique drink names and drink menus for your infusions that will help consumer decision-making.
    • Give It a Twist – Throw in a vanilla bean and surprise guests with its flavor.

BACARDI GRAND MELÓN INFUSION RECIPES:


BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ KIWI BERRY INFUSION:
• 2 kiwi
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 L bottle of BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• In a container that can be sealed, drop in kiwi and
    strawberries then pour in bottle of BACARDI GRAND MELÓN
    and seal the container. Strain after desired potency.
• This infusion is best enjoyed served straight over ice, with a
    splash of soda or in a BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
    Summer Sipper.



BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ SUMMER SIPPER:
• 1 part BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ Kiwi Berry Infusion
• 3 parts lemonade
• Pour over ice in rocks glass. Stir well.


BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ ORANGE LIME INFUSION:
• 2 oranges, thinly sliced
• 2 limes, in wedges
• 1 L bottle of BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
• In a container that can be sealed, drop in oranges and limes
    then pour in bottle of BACARDI GRAND MELÓN and seal the
    container. Strain after desired potency.
• This infusion is best enjoyed served straight over ice, with a
    splash of soda or in a BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™
    Citrus Fizzion.



BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ CITRUS FIZZION:
• 1 part BACARDI® GRAND MELÓN™ Orange Lime Infusion
• 3 parts SPRITE®
• Pour over ice in a rocks glass. Stir well. Garnish with infused
    orange and lime wheels.

Haircut Ideas - I Can't Decide How to Cut my Hair!

I go through magazines and those books at the hair salon, and I never can decide. On one hand I feel like an idiot taking a picture of a celebrity or model & showing it to the stylist....like they're thinking I think I'm actually gonna look like that.  On the other hand, at least I'm not leaving it completely in their hands like I did one time in college - Big mistake!

I went to a salon in Austin when I was completely sick of my super long hair.  I told the stylist, "Just give me a style. I don't care what it is, as long as it's an actual hair style."  Whoa!  What the hell was wrong with me?!  My 2nd mistake that day was allowing the stylist to turn my chair so that I was facing away from the mirror - What the heck was I smoking that day?!  Yadda Yadda Yadda...I ended up looking like a palm tree with really long roots dangling beneath.  I kid you not.  Big spiked up bush on the top and long stringy strands of hair dangling below.  Tres scary.  I walked home crying and swore never to leave my room in the daytime ever again.  Thankfully, my friend Kristen took me by the hand and stormed back into the salon, demanding that the stylist give me a REAL haircut for normal people.  I ended up with super short hair, which was kind of a shock but ended up being really cute and cool.

So, now whenever I am tempted to grow my hair long again, I look back at photos of myself with cute, short haircuts, and I admire stylish cuts in the magazines and remind myself of how good it feels to be able to quickly style & go.  Whenever I have long hair, it ends up in either a ponytail or a hairclip.  Why even bother?

So, here are some of my current faves I'm looking at right now.  Decisions, decisions.....

Happy Mothers' Day To All The Fabulous Women I Know!

I want to take a minute to say Happy Mothers' Day to all the fabulous women / Moms I know!  For everything you do on a daily basis, the love you give, the sleep you've lost, the times you've worried and prayed.  You are special and blessed....You are truly a gift from God!  Even though it may not feel like it sometimes, you mean the world to that person or people you birthed, and you always will.  There's an old saying, "God couldn't be everywhere, so he invented Mothers".  Have a wonderful day, Ladies - You've earned it!  :)

Learning Style From the Women in Our Family

A Legacy of Style

Story by hedykiesler

Published on May 13, 2012 in Shop

Photo by Gabriella Cetrulo

I wasn’t the first girl who was introduced to the world of fashion by her mother. Plenty of us can remember playing with our mom’s jewelry or tottering in her highest heels. One of my most vivid memories involves begging my mom to let me wear the shoes from her wedding day (mostly because they were covered in white glitter and reminded me of glass slippers).

My mom is what I would call a glamazon. People have been in awe of her daring wardrobe for as long as I can remember. When I visit home with friends, I’m asked to give tours of her closet. Little did I know that, 20 years later, I’d still be sneaking into her closet for style inspiration — only now I can actually fit into her clothes, but not her size 5 shoes, sadly (though I doubt I’d be able to strut around in her 7-inch wedges, anyway).

As I recently began sifting through old family photos, it became clear that my mother wasn’t the first woman of style in the family. She came from a long line of glamour queens, including her own grandmother, who was donning kitten heels and classic fur stoles back in the early 1940s. Looking at these family photos gave me insights I never would have found in a magazine.  Sometimes our own family histories can bring us the most inspiring ideas.

Mom: 1970s Glam

[Pictured: 1. Arrow triangle earrings by SilkPurseSowsEar; 2. Tribal skinny cuff by SOFTGOLDSTUDIO; 3. '70s Luxe jumpsuit from LittleBeeVintage; 4. Vintage boho suede bag from HulaGirl1922; 5. '70s Leather cape from TheParaders; 6. '40s Chorus girl platforms from Parlourthearchives.]

As a child of the 70’s, my mom scours the internet for the vintage jumpsuits and sky high platforms she grew up wearing. She’ll even go for the occasional 60’s mini dress. But she always manages to keep her look contemporary by mixing vintage and modern accessories.

 Grandma Willy: ’50s Bombshell

[Pictured: 1. '50s Bone white faux ostrich handbag from missfarfalla; 2. '30s Peep-toe with etched heel from VintagePointShop; 3. '50s Blush brocade cocktail dress from onefortynine; 4. Little drop earrings by LaurenHauptJewelry;  5. Vintage pom pom stole from secret lake.]

I grew up hearing stories about my grandmother going out to the Copacabana and being serenaded by Sinatra himself. Her stylish look could have rivaled any Hollywood bombshell’s. From her white fur stole to her pale, fitted cocktail dresses, she embodied the glamour of the 1950’s.

Grandma Carol: ’60s Work Chic

[Pictured: 1. '60s Scarf from StaceyCarlisleVntg; 2. Mint fused glass earringsby boldcolorglass; 3. Jackie O. '50s-'60s suit from Vintagephilosophy; 4. Tangerine suede handbag from LoveButlerVintage; 5. '60s Taranto court shoes fromWagonWheelVintageOz.]

As the breadwinner of her family, my Grandma Carol captured the style of 1960s fashionable professionals. And she always kept her conservative look fresh and upbeat by wearing a bright color palette and floral prints, reminiscent of Doris Day.

Great-Grandma Kay: Tailored Elegance

[Pictured: 1. '40s-'50s Black petal wool hat from NevermoreVintage; 2. '50s Faux fur coat from CultOfVintageStore; 3. '40s Day dressfrom NodtoModvintage; 4. Vintage gold tone heart locket from armychic4lyfe; 5.'40s Onyx suede cross-strap sandal from clevernettle; 6. '40s Black leather pursefrom HolliePoint.]

Classic and elegant, my great-grandmother was always seen wearing fashionable hats and dark tailored dresses. Her look has always reminded me of the noir vixens of her time.

Gabriella Cetrulo is a freelance illustrator with a BFA in illustration from Parsons the New School for Design. She is also the shop owner of vintage oasis Tomorrow Is Forever. She is in the process of opening a second online shop featuring her illustration work.

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