Monthly Archives: August 2009
Homemade Pizza
| August 31, 2009 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
All you need to do to make your own frozen pizzas is take your favorite dough recipe and make enough for however many you want to freeze.
Precook the dough enough they just starting to get a bit darker (not brown yet) and are firm. Let cool then top however you like. Stick them on a cookie sheet with a piece of wax paper between each crust and put them in the freezer for a few hours. Once totally frozen pull out and wrap in foil or however you choice, put back in freezer until you need them.
When you are ready to eat them just cook at the temp your dough calls for, it should take around 12-15 minutes or so. Just watch it the first time to be sure. It is done when the crust starts browning and the cheese starts to brown on the edges and is all the way melted. It’s just like cooking a store bought frozen pizza.
Environmentalism Is Great For Your Hair
| August 29, 2009 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Changing my showering habits and soaps has been not only better for the environment but for my hair as well.
I have long hair that has always been on the oily side. I had to wash my hair everyday and it would still be a little oily.
I have no learned that I washed my hair wrong! We are told to wash our hair daily and maybe even repeat if your hair is oily. This is wrong. If you hair is oily it’s likely dry and trying to make up for the lack of natural oils. Washing your hair less will strip less of the natural oils.
Another thing is that people say not to put conditioner on your scalp. This is all untrue. Putting conditioner on your scalp helps put more moisture on your scalp.
I now wash my hair once or twice a week with shampoo and the other days I just use conditioner. My hair isn’t nearly as oily and my scalp is less dry and itchy. Also I have less split ends. This also saves money because you buy less shampoo.
Of course if you are willing to try “No Poo” then you will save anymore money! I want to try this soon. So even if you aren’t into the “going green” movement (shame on you! hehe Joking!!) this will save you money.
Have you tried “No Poo” or even just less washing like me?
Product Review: The Natural Dentist
| August 27, 2009 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
The Natural Dentist’s products are free of
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Artificial Ingredients
- Alcohol
- And they have fluoride-free products as well!
I’m very happy to find fluoride-free products as I don’t use fluoride. My husband, however, won’t jump on that boat as he believes the same thing most people and dentists believe; that fluoride is good for teeth health. But we won’t get in to THAT!
One thing that I think is neat is they sell the toothpaste without the cardboard box to reduce the waste. I’ve always wondered if we really needed the box. The tubes also are designed so they can stand up on the counter.
My husband tried out the Healthy Teeth & Gums Whitening Plus Toothpaste Peppermint Twist. He said it tastes really good but he didn’t like the way the silica felt, however that is just something some people aren’t used to. I have used mostly toothpastes with a lot of baking soda in them and I like the way the slight grittiness feels and how clean it gets your teeth. The silica is totally safe and helps gently remove stains. If you are used to more gel like toothpastes this may take some getting used to.
My husband also tried the Healthy Teeth Toothpaste for Kids Sparkle Berry Blast. Not surprisingly he didn’t love the berry favor but thought kids would like it. Said it worked well and he liked the gel type toothpaste better.
I sent my friend the mouthwash and toothpaste to try as it had an ingredient my husband and I are allergic to. She loved both. She said the kids even liked it. The toothpaste even got rid of a canker sore in her daughter’s mouth in two days! She said that is way faster than any medicine she has tried. She also noticed none of them had any bad breath issues after using the mouthwash and toothpaste for about a week.
The only thing that I’m sad about with these products is that I can’t use the toothpaste as the fluoride-free one has goldenseal which I’m allergic to. After hearing how much my friend loved it I wish there was one without goldenseal, but this of course isn’t a problem if you aren’t allergic to it.
I highly recommend these products. Go to the website for a $1 coupon and to find a store near you. You can also buy the products online on CVS.com , Drugstore.com, and TheVitaminShoppe.com.
Product Review: Mission Playground
| August 26, 2009 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
“In 2003, the company began out of Mark McMahon’s garage in San Diego as a graphics-driven line of t-shirts carrying positive messages to inspire thought and awareness. Since then, he has built a team of conscious individuals who inspire environmental awareness and preservation.” –Mission Playground
I was able to try out some items from Mission Playground. All of the items are very soft, well made, and they hold up very well in the wash.
My favorite item is the Kenny Hoody the inside is just so soft, warm, and very cute. While it’s very hot in Oklahoma right now I’m sure come fall and winter I will get a lot of use out of this jacket.
I gave one of the shirts to my good friend because it was burnt orange which is not a good color for me. She loves it and says she wears it often. I also got to try a t-shirt, hat, and tank. All are high quality and soft.
One of the neat things about Mission Playground is the S.E.E.D program they started. S.E.E.D stands for Sustainable Environment & Education Development.
Here is what the website says about S.E.E.D-
“S.E.E.D. is a program established by Mission Playground that is committed to raising awareness for issues that concern our playgrounds.
S.E.E.D. will pledge 1% of sales to non-profit organizations that share the same passions as we do for our playground.”
Mission Playground can be found online or various retailers across the USA, Canada, Japan, and now Australia.
The Boreal Forest And Clearcutting
| August 25, 2009 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
The Boreal Forest or Taiga covers most of inland Alaska, Canada, Sweden, Finland, inland Norway, Highland Scotland and Russia. Parts of it reach in to the continental US as well,
This beautiful forest is being clearcut and exploited for oil and natural gas. In Canada less than 8% of the Boreal Forest is protected.
“Since 1975, logging companies have cut down 65 million acres of the Boreal, an area the size of the United Kingdom.” -Forest Ethics
The Boreal Forest is home to animals like Caribou, Bobcats, Elk, Siberian Tiger, Lynx, 1/3 of all of North America’s song birds, Gray Wolves and more.
Some of the companies currently clearcutting the Boreal Forest are Sears, XEROX, and Procter and Gamble.
But there has been good new for the Boreal Forest this month. Kimberly-Clark, best known for the Kleenex brand, has finally agreed to stop buying wood fiber from the Boreal by 2011 unless it’s FSC-certified. They also will be increase their use of recycled fiber. This is a huge victory for Greenpeace and everyone that worked on the Kleercut campaign!
What can you do:
- Use the Greenpeace shopping guide for paper products.
- Tell Sears to stop using clearcut paper for their catalogs.
- Tell the Ontario government to protect the Boreal Forest.
- Opt out of catalogs and junkmail.
- Buy recycled paper products.
- Recycle your paper.
The Kimberly-Clark victory shows us we can make a difference. So do the things above and leave your ideas in the comments! Together we are strong.
Product Review: BuyGreen.com
| August 25, 2009 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
“Our mission at BuyGreen is to become your most trusted source for green products, offering the widest variety of quality products, the best information for consumers, and the most enjoyable shopping experience. “- BuyGreen
BuyGreen has everything from furniture to office supplies. They also try to be a sustainable business. They work to reduce waste, conserve energy, and minimize use of resources. They also buy carbon offsets to help reach their goal of being “carbon free.”
They are also approved by Co-Op America and give 1% of their sales back to environmental causes through One Percent for the Planet, and support various environmental and social causes.
I was able to try out some of their cleaning products as well as an organic cotton reusable bag. I really like the bag. It can hold a ton of items and is light weight so storing it is easy. While it seems light weight it still can hold 25-35 lbs!
I was also able to try some Epic Cleaning Products. Here is what the website says about them-
“All EPIC products contain no petroleum distillates, parabens, phthalates, heave metal, ammonia, chlorine bleach, phosphates, 2-butoxyethanol, isopropanol, formaldehyde, ozone-depleting compounds, skin sensitizers, chronic health hazards, dyes, synthetic fragrances, fire hazards or reactive hazards.”
My favorite EPIC product was the All Purpose Cleaner. The All Purpose Cleaner I tried was the Citrus & Ginger. I really liked the smell, it’s not overwhelming and just leaves a nice light clean scent. It also comes in Free & Clear and Lavender. All of the EPIC products I tried work well and I recommend them.
Another line of cleaners that BuyGreen sells is Howard Naturals. I like that they carry some natural cleaners that are harder to find, such as-
- Wood Cleaner & Polish
- Wood Preserver
- Upholstery Cleaner
- Granite & Marble Cleaner
- Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish
- Kitchen Cabinet Cleaner & Polish
From the website:
“Howard Naturals turned to the natural products industry to find the most innovative vegetable-derived ingredients, so they could develop the very best natural cleaning products possible – without using any petroleum distillates, ammonia, bleach, silicone oils or other chemicals. Then they took an extra step and added their own specialized blends of essential oil fragrances to provide a touch of aromatherapy.”
The products I was able to try are just a small sample of things you will find on the BuyGreen website. Be sure to go check out all the other wonderful eco-friendly products!
Happy Anniversary Kids Konserve
| August 24, 2009 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
August 15th was Kids Konserve’s 1st anniversary! So to help them celebrate be sure to go check out all the wonderful things they have to offer. There is a back to school special running right now!
Product Review: Ban T-Shirts
| August 24, 2009 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Ban T-Shirts is the place to go for political and environmental shirts. All the shirts are made in the USA and many are organic.
Ban T-Shirts’ shirts are sometimes (or often) controversial. They have a whole page of hate mail (which I found very funny). So you want to visit with an open mind. But they have many great environmental shirts.
I was able to try out one of their shirts (the one above). They are well made, light weight (great for summer!), and soft. I have worn my shirt a few times and it’s a great shirt. I’m sure I will get more shirts from them in the future.
One of my favorite things about Ban T-Shirts is they donate equivalent to the cost of planting a tree to Trees For The Future for every T-shirt you buy.
If you like to wear t-shirts that share your views with the world, be sure to check out Ban T-Shirts.
Ban T-Shirts is kind enough to offer a discount for 10% off with this code: BAN999TEN .
*Retro Housewife Goes Green doesn’t agree with all the statements on the Ban T-Shirt t-shirts or website.
Baked Potato Skins
| August 23, 2009 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Baked Potato Skins
(Recipe from: RecipeZaar)
Ingredients
* 4 large baking potatoes, baked
* 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
* 1/8 teaspoon pepper
* 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
* 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
Directions
1. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp and save for another use leaving 1/4-inch shell.
2. Place on a greased baking sheet.
3. Combine oil, Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, paprika and pepper and brush all over potato skins.
4. Bake at 475° for about 8 minutes and turn over.
5. Bake for another 8 minutes or so and then turn right side up.
6. Sprinkle bacon and cheddar evenly inside of skins.
7. Bake 2 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Since there are only two of us I freeze half of the potato skins, you could double the recipe if you have more people.
If you want to freeze them just skip step number 7. Put them on a cookie sheet in the freezer for a few hours and then put them in an air tight container in the freezer. Pull out the amount you want when you are ready for them and just bake them until the cheese is melted.
Giveaway: EcoStore USA *CLOSED*
| August 23, 2009 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
“Our eco friendly, plant-based household cleaning products are as effective as the leading supermarket brands, and our body and baby care ranges are gentle on your skin and are simply beautiful to use.
All of our products are made from plant- and mineral-based ingredients, free of toxic chemicals that bring people closer to nature with non-toxic, environmentally safe solutions that also help to reduce our carbon footprint.”- EcoStore USA
EcoStore USA has been kind enough to offer a $25 e-gift certificate to one lucky reader! Read below to see how to win.
And now for the rules-
1. Post your e-mail!!!!! Every time people forget, you can’t win if you don’t leave an e-mail address. (if you have a blogger account that has your e-mail that works as well, or if you fill it out in the info, just somewhere please!)
2. Go to EcoStore USA and tell me what you would spend your $25 on.
3. Enter by September 1st at 11:59 p.m.
Extra Entries (post separate comment for each):
1. Blog about the giveaway, post link.
2. Post on Twitter, post link.
3. Add me on Twitter @retrohousewife5, leave username in comment.
4. Follow me, let me know which way you are following.
