DIY Produce Wash

Honestly I am a fan of homegrown, organic produce.

We have 1/3 of an acre lot, and we have planted and eaten a variety of produce grown in our yard.

Fruits like peaches, blackberries, pears and figs.

Vegetables like tomatoes, sweet peas, zucchini, lettuce, spinach and so on.

But with a family of 5, we still buy plenty of produce at the store.

Although I am always on the lookout for marked down organic produce,

truth is, we can't always fill our cart with it.

So our next best option is to wash our produce with our homemade produce wash.

It's easy, effective, affordable and safe for us and our environment.

Here is how to make yours.

Naturally Cleaning Upholstered Used Furniture

I am really into using natural cleaners at all times.

One of the main reason is that I have a chronic condition that gets worst with strong chemical smells. 

Also, natural cleaners are better for our environment, as whatever we wash down the drain goes back into the water we drink. 

On a different note, I am into buying secondhand items whenever possible (aka 99% of the times).
It's cheaper and it keeps stuff out of the landfills.

That said, most things are either washable or "wipeable".

Others items, such as used upholstered furniture, need a more creative approach.

Today I am sharing how to clean used upholstered furniture.

Let me start by saying that 

Free material for adding curb appeal

Most of the things in this world are not free...

or are they?

Yes, if you are not picky on what you want,

most times you can get free material and add curb appeal.

Today I am going to show you two things that you can get for free,

pretty much anywhere you live.

We just landscaped our entire yard for FREE.

I am talking about 

Easy paneling update

If you live in a house that was built before 1980ish,

chances are that you have wood paneling in one or more rooms in your house.

I know some of you may cringe at the sight of paneling, 

but I believe that what is an eyesore for some, 

can be updated for very little money and time.

You have probably have heard of painted paneling,

but here are some tips, ideas and projects to turn paneling into something beautiful.

Let's start with our main bathroom.

Project here

This paneling was the "old" kind, 

somewhat glossy.

BEFORE

I washed it with water (you won't believe how dusty walls can get...paneling or drywall alike).

Then I used a 

How to clean a butcher block (3 ingredients natural cleaner)

When it comes to cleaning,

I am all about natural products.

They are better for us and better for the environment.

Especially when it comes to clean surfaces like wood,

you want to make sure you use natural product, 

as the wood is porous and will absorb the chemicals.

This is what you need:

How to unclog a drain (best kept secret)

Our house was built in 1966...and with that in mind, we know our plumbing is not the best.

On occasion we get a clogged drain. 

Most of the times we can get the drain unclogged with plunger, baking soda+vinegar, liquid plumber chemicals as a last resort.

On more than one occasion we had to call the plumber to do their magic.

So what's their secret?

Back in March our faithful plumbers came out to fix a few things that needed some attention.

One of them was working on the kitchen sink, and you know that it was a nasty job.

Corroded pipes and clogged up drain. 

A mess for sure.

This older gentleman told me he

Wall decal without a silhouette cameo

Ever wonder how to make a vinyl wall decal without a silhouette cameo?

The possibilities are endless and this is something easy to do.

Sure it would be faster if you owned a silhouette cameo, but you would also have to pay about $250 for the machine+material.

About a year ago I found a pack of 5 vinyl removables wall "tiles". 

It was only $1.

 They sat in the closet until yesterday.

I searched for an image for lamps, and 

Spreadable butter (the easy way)

I am a butter person. 

I know some say it's bad for you...but it's all about quantity. 

I don't use much of it.

(I am also a whole milk kind of lady...but then again, I don't drink lots of milk).

Anyhow, this is usually what I buy to spread on my morning toast/bagel/muffin.

Beside the fact that it is pricey, when I looked at the nutritional info, well, I wasn't really impressed.

One of the things that I try to keep in check, is the sodium intake.

I mean, it is absurd the amount of salt that is found in most foods.

I have trained my taste buds to "require" less salt, and because I cook mostly from scratch, I can really keep the sodium intake down.

Anyway,

I decided to try to make my own spreadable butter.

I used 

Natural mosquito repellent

Today I am going to share my natural mosquito repellent.

I am one of those people that attract mosquitoes...

yes, great, I know.

I must not be the only one...

One night, as we were working in our yard, 

3 Steps for a Cleaner Dishwasher

Today I am going to share 3 easy and frugal steps to keep your dishwasher running well.

For sparkling dishes load after load, a dishwasher needs monthly cleaning.
Don't worry, this are easy.

Spending money can save you money

Can spending money, save you money?

Yes.

source

The majority of people equate frugality with spending the minimum on necessities and spending next to nothing on everything else. But on the following four items you don't want to scrimp on. 

In fact, spending money on these will save you money in the long run.

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is made from organically grown apples and retains many beneficial components because it is not pasteurized. 

ACV undergoes two fermentation processes where it produces enzymes and nutrients that makes it so good for us.

Here some benefits of raw ACV

Benefits of consuming Local Honey

I love honey...for many reasons.
I buy locally grown, organic, raw honey.

 This is because the local bees are consuming foods from the area you live in. 

This is beneficial as they contain immune stimulating properties needed for your body to adapt to 

The cheapest medicine

In our modern commercialized world, 

it seems that we usually overlook simple, 

yet vital things.

 Did you know our bodies are 

3 Ways to Shop Smart

First of all let me say this:

saving money is not a poverty issue. 

It's a spending smart concept that anyone can embrace.

I have to say, I get my frugality from my dad...it's in my genes. 

(I also get my freckles and my green eyes from him)

Long before the economy turned sour I embraced the world of thrift stores and consignment sales.

 I don't think of it as buying used stuff, 

but rather as purchasing recycled goods to help keep the earth clean, 

and save money all at once!

Some people are almost ashamed of shopping frugally, but then again, saving money is not a poverty issue, it's a spending smart concept.

So let's look at 3 ways of shopping smart.

Pet safe flea control

Let me start by saying that many flea remedies contain "nerve poisons" that can cause nerve damage to humans and obviously to pets.

my uncle's dogs in Southern Italy

Prolonged use of such "poisons" on our pets will naturally weaken their immune system. ***For example, some flea collars and powders can cause severe conditions such as 

How to budget for vacation (4 steps)

I've always loved to travel,

but travel can be expensive.

When you planned, budgeted and saved for your vacation, you'll be less likely to worry about "running out of money" or even worst, using your credit card for money you don't actually have.

Here's how to budget and save for vacation.

How to buy airline tickets to Europe

Ten years ago, I could buy a round trip ticket to Italy for about $500...in the old days.

Now it costs about 3 times as much...per person.

Sigh...

That said, you can still fly for less, and here are some of the "tricks" you need to know.

Pay attention to seasons

Summer flights are definitely the most expensive, but early June and late August will have better fares.

Even better early May, and mid-October.

--outside my parents apartment in Northern Italy--

Winter has better fares of all...but who wants to travel when it's cold! 

Right?

Know when to buy your tickets

Usually you can find the best prices between

Insulate your Garage Door

When we deal with extreme weather 
(either cold or hot), 
one of the things we can do to keep heating/cooling cost to a minimum, is to insulate our home. 

Garages are usually overlooked.
Insulating the garage, will keep it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Same for the garage's adjacent room.
***Bonus added: it will also reduce street noise too***

Our two car garage is right underneath our upstairs bedrooms, and right next to our bedroom, so we knew we had to do something about that.

Replacing the garage doors would be nice, but not necessary, so the very next best thing was to insulate the garage doors.

We read a lot of info, and what we settle on

Debt-free life is the best life

A debt-free life is the best life.

That means: living below our means. 

Sounds too simple? Well, it is.

source

Something we can do is to leave at least 10% of your monthly income alone, pretending that money does not exist. 

For example, if you make $3,000 monthly, leave $300 alone (10 percent). 

Pretend you make less and set up your budget based on this number. Living below your means will ensure that during hard economic times you will not be in over your head. 

You will have the extra $300 to compensate for higher gas price, food prices and more. 

Also very crucial is to set up