A to Z: The Home Address Book

This handy household item is similar to The Appliance Binder, for keeping track of important phone numbers, important dates and other information.

You can use any small binder and customize each section to suit your needs. The sections I have in my Home Address Book are: Quick Reference, Names and Numbers, Dining Out and Holiday Card List.

Quick Reference - This section is the first in the binder for easy access. It includes emergency information for police, fire, hospital, animal hospital and poison control. It also lists important work numbers, name and number of our doctors, neighbors, relatives and schools. There is also a section for frequently called numbers, maintenance and other service numbers and important financial information such as the phone number for our bank and credit cards.

Names and Numbers - This is the heart of the Home Address Book. Each entry contains the name and address of the person along with email, home phone, cell phone and work phone number.

Dining Out - This section lists all of our favorite restaurants and includes menus for each. There is a quick reference page in the beginning that lists each restaurant's phone number and a note on if they deliver or not.

Holiday Card List - If you are overwhelmed by all the holiday cards you have to send out, this is a good way to keep track of all of them. This section contains the name and street address of everyone on my holiday card list. I also include a column for year, card received and card sent. That way I can easily see who I need to send a card to and passive aggressively keep track of who hasn't sent a card back.

No holiday card from you, Uncle Bill, for the last two years? You are off the list!

Over time you can pare down the list to save on postage and to really account for who loves you in your circle of friends and family.

Introducing The Good Baby

You may have noticed that I have been absent for the last few weeks. Don't I know my blog turned a year old and there was no comment? Where have I been? What have I been doing? And what is so damn important that I don't update the blog?


This little thing came into my life a little over a month ago.

I am finding that newborns like schedules, just not your schedule. I am finally getting some sleep and hope to be blogging again soon.

In the meantime here is more Good Baby cuteness.

Go Green - Green Cleaning

The biggest bulk of our green living comes from switching to non-chemical and natural cleaning products. I always believed before that a good cleaning requires chemicals to really clean and I should have bought stock in Comet, for as much as I used.

But after getting pregnant and with The Good Baby here, I wanted to lessen her and my exposure to household chemicals. After all elbow grease is free.

Before my cleaning supplies looked like this:

Now they look like this:
You will find that several ingredients can accomplish what all the previous cleaners did. Baking soda, borax, salt, lemons and vinegar will go a long way in providing for a clean house.

All Purpose Kitchen Cleaner (instead of Comet)
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups hot water
1/4 cup liquid soap

~Mix everything but soap in a spray bottle and shake. Add 1/4 cup liquid soap last. Mix gently. Apply and wipe clean. Good for counters, wood work, appliances, etc.

Scouring Powder (instead of Comet)
Baking soda

~Pour in shaker and sprinkle in sink or on pans. Scrub with a pad and rinse.

Scouring Paste (instead of Comet)
2/3 cup baking soda
1/2 cup liquid soap
2 tablespoons vinegar

~Mix soda and soap to form a paste. Add vinegar and stir. Keep paste in a tub at the kitchen sink for scouring pots and pans or the sink itself.

Drain Cleaner
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar

~Pour baking soda down the drain followed by vinegar. Let it bubble for 15 minutes, then pour down a teakettle full of boiling water.

Garbage Pail Deodorizer
1 teaspoon tea tree oil
1 cup baking soda

~Mix and work out all the lumps with a fork. Sprinkle in bottom of pail after liner is removed. Periodically rinse pail with vinegar and water and let dry.

Oven Cleaner (instead of Off!)
1 tablespoon liquid soap
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup salt
3/4 cup baking soda

~Spray oven surfaces with soapy water. Mix salt and baking soda and sprinkle on wet surface. Spray again so that the mixture is damp and pasty. Let stand overnight. Scrape off with putty knife or wet pumice stone.

Floor Cleaner (instead of Mr. Clean)
1/2 cup vinegar
1 gallon water

~Combine in a bucket or sink and use on vinyl or title floors

Fabric Softener
Vinegar

~Add 1-2 cups of vinegar to rinse cycle to deodorize and soften fabrics.

Tub and Tile Cleaner
1 2/3 cup water
1/4 cup liquid soap
1/4 cup baking soda
2 tablespoons vinegar
A few drops of essential oil (optional)

~Add soap to water and let dissolve. Stir in baking soda, then add vinegar. Store in a squirt bottle and shake before using. Rinse thoroughly to avoid leaving a residue.

To clean grout, mix lemon juice and baking soda and apply to grout. Let dry and then rinse.

Mold and Mildew and Soapscum
Equal parts vinegar and water

~Spray and wipe clean.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Tub and Tile Cleaner (see above)
1/4 teaspoon tea tree oil (optional)

~Spray inside of toilet bowl with cleaner. For tough stains, sprinkle baking soda on a wet bowl brush, scour and rinse. Clean bowl thoroughly and often.

TIP: Drain water from the toilet bowl for better cleaning. For serious stains or rust, empty water out of bowl and scrub with a wet pumice stone. When wet, the stone will not scratch porcelain.

To remove hard-water rings: spray undiluted vinegar around the inside of the toilet then sprinkle borax onto the vinegar. Let it soak for about half an hr. Repeat if necessary.

Wood Polish
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar
10 drops essential oil (optional)

~Mix and apply. Wipe clean.

Glass Cleaner (instead of Windex)
1/8 cup vinegar
1 cup water

~Mix ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake and apply. Wipe clean with newspapers.

Carpet Deodorizer
1 pound box baking soda
1 teaspoon essential oil

~Mix using a fork to work out lumps. Sprinkle on carpet. Vacuum after 1 hour.

Carpet & Upholstery Stain Remover
Equal parts vinegar and water

~Mix and use to remove tough stains including grass, perspiration, rust, jam, coffee, orange juice, wine, beer, ketchup, barbeque sauce, chili, urine and pet stains.

TIP: Never use warm or hot water on stains containing sugar!

Powder Laundry Detergent (not recommended if you cloth diaper)
1 bar of soap (I use Dr. Bronner's Mild Baby)
1 cup borax
1 cup baking soda
1 cup washing soda

~Grate the soap on a cheese grater and combine all three. Use 1 tablespoon for small loads or in high efficiency machines and 2 tablespoons for regular loads.
*Soap tip- Grate it and let it sit for a few days to dry out the soap. Use your fingers to crush the soap to a finer consistency. This will help it dissolve better.

Powder Dishwasher Detergent
1 cup washing soda or baking soda
1 cup borax

~Mix thoroughly and store in a plastic container, use approximately 2 tablespoons per load. Use vinegar in the rinse compartment as a rinse agent to help prevent residue

To deodorize microwave, place a bowl of water with a few slices of lemon or a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice. Cook on high for about a minute. Doing so also makes it easier to clean the interior of the microwave (the steam it creates loosens hardened spills).

To clean the refrigerator: use a sponge moistened with vinegar, it helps prevent mildew. For hardened spills, make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda, scrub and wipe with the cloth moistened with vinegar.

To clean the coffeemaker glass pot: use lemon juice and salt and rub with a sponge or lemon juice and baking soda. Rinse well.

Go Green - Finances, dining out and misc

Want to be greener with your money, dining and other areas? Here is a list of things you can do to lessen your impact. These are all things we do in The Good Household, so take that endorsement for what you will.

Finance
~Pay with your debit or credit card

~Buy checks made from recycled paper

~Don’t take a receipt at the ATM or at the gas pump

~Have your bank statements emailed to you

~Pay your bills online

~Shred your past bills and use them in your compost pile or

~Recycle your paper and junk mail

~Sign up to receive less junk mail: https://www.directmail.com/directory/mail_preference/?ref=G

Misc
~Read the newspaper online

~Save information to your computer or a flash drive instead of printing hard copies

~When you do have to print, change the margins and font to use less paper

~Use email instead of regular mail

~Send digital photos to your friends and family

~Recycle ink cartridges at places like Office Max, Office Depot or Staples

~Use http://www.evite.com/ to send invitations to parties and gatherings

~Send virtual cards and greetings

~Bike, carpool or take public transportation to work

~Telecommute to work one day a week

Dining Out
~Bring your own container for leftovers

~Bring your own coffee mug to your local coffee shop

Coming next week: Go Green - Cleaning

Go Green - Personal and laundry

This is the list of little things we do in The Good Household to lessen our impact on the earth.

Laundry
~Use a clothesline or air dry your clothes

~Use a dryer ball instead of fabric softener or sheets (dryer sheets contain animal fat, which can leave deposits inside your dryer)

~Wash your clothes in cold water

Personal
~Use baking soda and vinegar to wash your hair

~Use baking soda and water to brush your teeth

~Switch to a crystal deodorant

~Cloth diaper

~Use non disposable razors

~Cut your hair at home. The Good Husband keeps his hair buzzed so this is no problem for me to cut his hair.

~Shop at second hand and consignment shops for used clothing

~Shop garage and yard sales for used goods. I was able to get a ton of almost brand new clothes for The Good Baby by shopping yard sales.

~Switch to environmentally friendly personal products, like the Diva Cup: http://www.divacup.com/

~Buy toilet paper made from recycled paper

~Use a better toothbrush, like the replaceable head Source toothbrush:
http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=16

Coming next week - Go Green - Finances, Dining Out and Misc

Roasted Asparagus with Poached Egg and Balsamic Reduction

For the asparagus I recieved in my CSA box, I was torn between this recipe and beer battered asparagus. This won out (I don't want to get The Good Baby drunk, you know) and I will say that it was mighty tasty.


I have never made poached eggs before and honestly I was a little intimated by them. But after following the directions in the recipe to a tee and double checking with my Joy of Cooking, I was able to produce two decent poached eggs. One egg was a little more done than I would have liked but the other one was near perfection.

Everything in this meal, from the balasmic reduction to the Parmesan cheese was simple and perfect. All around a nice dinner.

Ingredients:
1 medium thick asparagus bunch, tough ends removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
Coarse salt
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon light-brown sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
4 large eggs
2 ounces shaved parmesan

Directions:
~Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a baking sheet with a rim, toss asparagus with oil. Season with salt. Bake until asparagus is lightly browned and tender, 15 to 18 minutes (timing will vary depending upon thickness of asparagus).

~In a small saucepan, cook balsamic vinegar and sugar over medium-high heat until syrupy and reduced to 3 tablespoons, about 6 minutes.

~Meanwhile, bring a large skillet with 2 inches of water to a simmer over medium heat. Add cider vinegar and season with salt. Break one egg at a time into a cup, then tip cup into pan. Simmer until whites are set and yolks are soft but slightly set, about 3 minutes. With a slotted spatula, scoop out eggs one at a time and drain on paper towels. With a paring knife, trim edges.

~Divide asparagus among four plates and drizzle with reduced balsamic. Top with shaved Parmesan and an egg.

recipe by: Martha Stewart

Baby Shower

I was lucky enough to have two baby showers. The first one was thrown by my cousin and was a low-key affair with the typical (for my family) menu of chicken and tuna salad on dollar rolls, pasta salad, relish try, chips and dip and veggies and dip. Everything was delicious but I forgot to take pictures.

My second baby shower was hosted by The Good Husband's family and I was able to help out with the food. My not so cutesy theme was baby sized foods, aka finger foods.

The menu (with recipes included):

Boiled New Potatoes with Sour Cream, Smoked Salmon and Chives (modified from this recipe)
Spring Mix Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette in a Parmesan Cup

Assorted Fresh Fruit with French Cream
Turkey, Apple and Butter on Wheat Bread Tea Sandwich
Crab, Avocado and Vanilla Mayo on White Bread Tea Sandwhich

Crudité Platter with Roasted Garlic Aioli

BBQ Kettle Chips
Salted Kettle Chips with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Everyone seemed to love the food and there was more than enough to go around, which makes me happy. I want everyone to be full and happy whenever there is a party. I had an amazing time and got some great gifts for The Good Baby.

Strawberry Sorbet

Nothing says summer like a sweet, refreshing sorbet. Plus I had all those strawberries left over from the CSA box. I wanted to make ice cream but my lack of an ice cream maker left me with the option to make sorbet or granita. I chose sorbet, since I am lazy.

And it is on my 100 Foods I Want to Make List.

Ingredients:
1cup fresh strawberries
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions:
~Purée the strawberries until well blended. Place in a container and chill in the fridge for an hour.

~Meanwhile, combine the sugar and water in a small sauce pan over medium heat and bring to a soft boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. When the sugar has completely dissolved, remove from heat and allow to completely cool before refrigerating for an hour.

~When both the syrup and strawberry puree have cooled, add the lemon juice and pour into a stainless steel pan. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 3 hours.

~Remove the pan from the freezer and allow to thaw slightly. Add the sorbet to the bowl of a food processor and blend until smooth. This gives the sorbet is fluffy texture.

~Pour the mixture into a shallow container and allow to freeze an additional 3 hours.

recipe by: The Good Wife

Go Green - Kitchen

One of the biggest sources for inspiration for green living comes from The Good Grandma and various aunts in the family. Having lived through the Depression and raising several kids on a few dollars a week made TGG and her kids resourceful. They are able to come up with reuses for tons of things and have given me a whole new outlook. They had to look for ways to reduce and reuse out of necessity whereas I am able to do it freely.

The biggest change of mindset I made when going green was stopping to think about everything I was throwing away and if there wasn't an alternative. I think most of the time we forget that things like paper towels are not the only option and there are cheaper and better things out there.

So my number one green tip is to actually stop and think about everything you do and use and see if there is some better alternative out there.

These are some useful tips that The Good Husband and I practice in the kitchen, to save money and become more "green".

~Switch to cloth napkins

~Switch to cloth for paper towels or

~Buy paper towels made from recycled paper

~Use plastic containers for leftovers (BPA Free)

~Always run your dishwasher with a full load

~Shop at your local farmer’s market

~Buy locally raised beef, pork, chicken, lamb and buffalo: http://www.localharvest.org/

~Join a local CSA

~Use cloth grocery and produce bags for shopping

~Recycle all plastic and glass containers

~Recycle your plastic bags at local grocery stores

~Keep a compost container on your counter top for food scraps

~Buy in bulk and separate into individual portions (This works great if you love those 100-Calorie snack packs)

~Wash and reuse plastic resalable bags

~Keep your freezer well stocked. Having lots of open space in your freezer causes it to run more to cool the same amount of space. If you can't fill it full of food, trying freezing milk jugs filled with water. You will save on your cooling costs, and you will always have ice blocks on hand to fill your portable coolers.

Coming next week - Go Green - Personal and laundry