TipsyTuesdays~Top 10 uses for Coconut Oil

When my friend first introduced me to Coconut Oil, I was a bit hesitant to even try it let alone go and buy it. She told me how good it was for your health and its benefits which includes a high amount of rich vitamins and minerals. She went on to tell me how she used it for beauty purposes and also a healing ointment for her baby's bottom and her dry lips. She went on to tell me how great it was for cooking and even as a substitute for a butter spread. By now she pretty much had convince me, and went on to doing a little research of my own. I found out the Coconut Oil was nicknamed "The Healthiest oil on Earth", I also found out the when you cook with coconut oil all the nutrients stay in the food, which is totally not the case with all the other oils. I started baking with this oils substituting all other oils, including olive oil which i usually used and my food tasted good Like real real good! My brownies were moist and tasted divine, with a slight kick of coconut flavor, but oh so Good! So I figure I share with you all the uses I have found for using coconut Oil!

1. Lip Balm, when my lips feel dry like extra dry, I will apply coconut oil to them and within a few applications not only do they feel moist, but I know the nutrients being absorbed by my lips are not hazardous but actually good for me.

2. As a lotion, I know you are probably thinking, Why in the world would I apply oil to my hands? Let me tell you that this oil is not only instantly absorb by my hands but there is no oil residue feel left behind. 

3. Make up remover, You are not only avoiding putting harsh chemicals on your face, but it will get the job done and you will also have the great feeling of knowing that minerals that our faces need were actually left behind once the make up was removed.

4. Body Scrub, I don't know about you, but I love a good Body Scrub, and nothing better then if its something I can put together in my own house. I will usually put together equal amounts of coconut oil and sugar, mixed them together and I have a scrub full of nutrients and minerals that are being absorbed by my body while exfoliating my skin. 

5. Smoothies, add a spoon of coconut oil to any smoothie to add a nutritional boost

6. Ear Infections, I have used it in my children's ears to help speed the ear infection healing process

7. Acne, oil helping fight acne? those two don't seem to add up, but give it a try and it might just work for you. My skin is very acne prone and it has help keep it a bit under control I still brake out now and then, but not like I used to before applying coconut oil on a daily basis.

8. As a substitute for any oil when cooking, as I had mention before Coconut oil is known as the "Healthiest Oil on Earth", Not only is it packed with nutrients and minerals that stay in our food when cooking, even after high levels of heat. It also contains Lauric Acid which is proven to be anti-fungul, anti-bacterial and anti-viral agent.

9. As a shaving Cream, OK so I had read about this and since I had already being doing a scrub, I figured why not! So yes it totally works and it leaves your legs moisturize.

10. For Baking, I dare you to try it! Substitute any call for oil on any recipe and tell me if whatever you bake, does not taste oh so Good! You will also be able to tell that your cookies, brownies, bread will be so moist and to top it off a ton healthier!

Tip of the Day-Reviving Old Paint Brushes

To revive your old nylon paintbrushes, all you need to do is soak them in hot vinegar for 40 minutes, then wash them with hot water and soap, if they been put through coats of paint you might have to peel off or brush off the paint. But for the most part it does the job and your brushes are as good as new!!!

Cleaning Tile Floors with Vinegar

About 70 percent of the floors in my home are covered in tile. As fancy and inviting as it looks, it is oh so hard to keep up with! specially the brooming and mopping. You can say that in the last two months since moving into my new home its been the one chore I have most dreaded. Specially when mopping with store bought solutions won't do the job that they are meant to get done. I will mop and mop only to feel dissatisfied with the end results.

 

That is when I made the decision to use vinegar to clean my tile floors. I did a little research and this is why opting to use vinegar for cleaning my tile floors is probably the best, most inexpensive, most Eco-friendly solution to use.

 

Vinegar is created when fruits high in sugar ferment and then turn into alcohol, This alcohol has high percentages of Acetic Acid. The acetic acid is the one that pretty much gets the job done when cleaning my tile floors, the acid will brake up all of the build up and stains.

When Cleaning with vinegar
*Add 1/2 cup of vinegar, to a gallon of warm to hot water
*use a mop and to get to hard to get stains use a microfiber cloth
  and use your hands to get the job  done.

Here is an extra tip for the stains that are hard to get out, Make a paste of vinegar and baking soda leave it on the stain for 1 hour prior to cleaning. And then mop with the water to vinegar solution.

TipsyTuesdays~Drying Tennis Shoes in the Dryer

Here is a little tip when trying to dry your tennis shoes in the dryer, just tie a knot on the shoe laces and close the dryer door on the shoe lace with the knot hanging out, so the shoe hangs against the door, while the dryer keeps going and drying the shoe with out all the extra noise.

TipsyTuesday~Shaving Cream Alternate

Hello, friends! Brenda here again from From Me, With Love. Even though it is winter I have still managed to need to shave my legs- haha! TMI? Perhaps but we all know it's true. We seem to lose a little bit of interest in maintaining our legs silky smooth when it is snowy and cold out. Because that is the case in the winter time, I also don't have any shaving cream handy. Truth be told, I hate buying it because it just seems like extra stuff I don't need. So, I have been using this amazing alternate....conditioner! It works just like shaving cream and I feel like my legs don't get nearly as dry. I just apply just like I would regualr shaving cream. The other plus side is that I already have it and usually have lots of it since I just use a teeny tiny amount on my hair. I love being able to use one product for several uses. What are some of your favorite products that have dual uses?

TipsyTuesdays~Great Tip to Keep your Towels in Place

You know how hard you try to keep your house clean and if there is a Tip that will make your house look a little more orderly then why not try it.

So this is the problem we run in at our house. With so many little hands rushing out of the bathroom after washing their hands, there seems to be little time left or even desire to dry their hands so, the Towel most likely will always end up in the bathroom  floor, after my children attempt to dry their hands as they are walking out of the restroom, then the towel will more likely end up in the bathroom floor only to be stepped about 50 times before being noticed.

So here I have a Super Easy tip for you.

Just tie a ribbon around the Towel, it will not only look stylish, but it will help you keep things in place just like they should be.

TipsyTuesdays~6 Tips for Keeping your Nails Healthy and Strong

1. Trim and file your nails often.

2. Moisturize your hands and nails at least 2 times per day, massaging your nails and cuticles with a fragrance free lotion if possible. 

3. Put on a coat of Nail Strengthener, this products work because they are full of Keratin Protein which is what the nail is composed of.
4.Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning specially if you are using harsh chemicals.

5. Make sure your meals are loaded with protein based foods, such as eggs, peanuts, meat, chicken, green peas; And of course liquids that will helps you keep your nails hydrated and make your nails less likely to look dry and be an easy target to brake. 

6. Wash your hands often, this will help get rid of bacteria that builds up under the nail, specially after eating. 

Homemade Furniture Polish for our Tipsy Tuesday

I remember wondering once upon a time if there was a Homemade furniture polish I could put together to avoid a trip to the store. Then I called my father, who usually has an answer for almost all my questions. He said do you have Olive Oil? Which I replied

 "Dad I'm not cooking, I'm trying to clean"

He sure teach me a thing or two that day, The many uses to Olive were endless and here is one which is sure to leave your furniture looking polish and smelling good.

1 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

 New Spray Bottle

Whenever I use this mixture on my furniture, I love using a microfiber cloth, it makes my job 10 times easier, because it helps with the dirt pick up. With this Homemade Furniture Polish you will feel at ease that you are not exposing your family to chemicals; Its not only environmentally-friendly, but its also great for your pocket. Here is an extra tip, if you are into using Essential Oils like myself. You can use 2 drops of Lemon Essential oil for the 1 cup of Olive Oil and it will also do the trick with this one, I have found that the smell stays longer and its more powerful.
We love to hear from our readers Feel free to send us Questions for upcoming Tipsy Tuesdays.
                                                   

by: Dennissa Valdivieo Ramirez (Mother of 5)

 

TipsyTuesdays~How to Clean your Shower Head

 These are actual pictures of my experimenting in my own bathroom with the natural solution.  A number of SuperMoms have shared with me their solutions for how to clean my shower head and keep it flowing free from hard water build up and mineral deposits that can plug up the tiny holes.
I have tried some natural solutions in the past that have not worked, so naturally I was a bit curious as to the actual results.
The deposits on my shower head were so bad that I could hardly get a decent stream of water to come out of the spout.  After one night of only soaking in distilled white vinegar, the shower head flows like new! I must admit, I wished I had done this little trick months before.
 But now I know!
And that's why I want to share it with you.
I highly recommend you give it a try in your own home.
Here is what I did:Using a natural cleaning solution of good old White Vinegar and a Ziplock freezer bag. I used a twister tie to wrap the bag around the neck of the shower head.
It is important to submerge the entire shower head in the vinegar solution.  This way the solution can soak over night (Note: This method is best for shower heads made with chrome, stainless steel, or other protected metal surfaces.)
The acids in the vinegar naturally will break down limescale, mineral deposits and rust.  (it does all the hard work for you) 
Some other solution suggestions are:  *Lemon Juice in place of Vinegar
*CLR Kitchen and Bath* 1/3 Cup Baking Soda 1 cup Vinegar (found on Pintrest)

Do you know someone who could use a simple trick to make live easier like this one?
 Share our articles, share our blog, sign up for our newsletter for my tips and tricks for you home.
Let's take care of each other. 

7 Tips for Safe Trick or Treating

Can you believe Halloween is here? And with only a couple of days left to come up with costumes or go buy some last minute candy, I have put together a list of things that will keep your Trick or Treating Fun and Safe along the way.

1.  If you allow your children to go Trick or Treating on their own, make sure you create a route map.

2.  Remind them to only trick or Treat at homes that have the light on.

3.  Never enter a person's home or car, when trick or treating unless your being supervised by an adult.

4.  Try to limit Trick or Treating times to 5:00-8:30 p.m. 

5. When choosing a costume, try to choose costumes that will allowed your children to trick or treat    

without falling, because they are too long. Try to avoid masks which often obstruct a child's vision.

6.   If your children are trick or treating after dark, make sure they carry with them a flashlight.

7.   Instruct them to not eat any of the candy till they get home. Once the candy is home make sure to

      inspect it in a well lit light and toss away any candy that the wrapper seems to have been played  

      with. 

8.   Have fun, join in the fun and dress up!!!

by: Dennissa Ramirez (SuperMom of 5)

TispyTuesdays~A Tidy Game for Kids

My son is 10 almost 11 and suffers with ADHD.  That means he is a hands on creative thinker.

He likes order, but sometimes a job can seem way too big for him to accomplish. Myself being a mother with ADHD, I understand his brain cramps.  So I try to think of creative interactive ways to help him "see" things a little clearer.

His challenge is to clean his room.  I know what I want in a clean and tidy room: laundry put away, toys picked up, trash in the bin etc.  But to him, when I say go CLEAN YOUR ROOM, he sees it as an impossible monster to conquer. "Where do I start?'  I am sure we can all relate.  It may not be my bedroom, it could be a closet, dishes or laundry.  Have you ever heard the saying....."When eating an Elephant, take one bite at a time."

This is exactly how my brain needs to function.  So, we came up with a way to play "I SPY" in a messy room that may seem to be over whelming.

You will need:
1) a piece of paper or recipe card
2) A single dice with numbers 1-6
4) A timer

On the paper number things in the room you want put away.
Here is my example.
1. Socks/underwear
2. Shirts/jackets or coats
3. Pants/PJ's
4. Shoes
5. Toys
6. Trash/ papers

another fun variation is to use colors:
1. black/white
2. red/pink
3.yellow/orange
4. brown/gold
5. green/blue
6. purple/ silver

The Point of the Game is to have them go down the list and mark the items off till the room is clean.

Article By: Stephanie Goodman Supermom of 3 and 2 bonus sons.

TipsyTuesdays~Hair Tips by Noelle

The majority has spoken and this weeks Tipsy Tuesday is going to be on HAIR!!! 

First off let me introduce myself.  I'm Noelle and I've been a hair stylist for 8 years.  It's a passion of mine and I enjoy sharing my knowledge with anyone who will listen!  (Even if the only person is my husband).

One Super Mom  commented that her hair was breaking so I decided to do a post on hair care hoping this will answer her questions and solve the problem.

One of the keys to healthy hair is hydration and there are many things that can hydrate or dehydrate your hair.

Hydrating:

*Washing your hair 2-3 times a week, but I have noticed a big difference in my hair only washing it twice a week.  So, I would shoot for twice a week.
 -Your scalp produces oils that protect your hair and washing it too often strips your scalp of the oils and doesn't give your hair time to soak it up.
*Scalp and deep conditioning treatments once a week.- The scalp treatment helps get rid of dead skin on the scalp and brings the natural oils further down the hair.  Deep conditioning treatment helps replace the moisture you've lost over the past week.

*Putting products in your hair before any thermal styling tool (blow dryer, curling iron, flat iron, hot rollers, crimper, curling wand, ect.) is used.  The product creates a barrier so you don't lose nearly as much moisture as you would with out it and it protects your hair from burning.
 -Leave in conditioner doesn't count as a thermal protecting product, but is good to use and can be put on before the other products.

I hope you enjoyed this Tipsy Tuesday and please leave comments with your thoughts and any questions.  I would love to do another one on hair if there's enough interest.  Let me know!

By: Noelle Newitt SuperMom in Training 

TipsyTuesdays~Preserving your Pumpkins

With Halloween fast approaching our family favorite tradition is to carve pumpkins.  I work hard to get the just the right pumpkin, pick out perfect expressions, clean them and carve accordingly.  But within a week, fresh happy jack o'lanterns end up resembling an old man.  And that's just not fair!

Is there anything we can do to keep our Halloween art work from rotting or loosing their youthful figure?

Well, after some research I found a solution for jack o'lanterns to last a week longer!

The skin of the pumpkin protects the inside from the rotting elements such as fungi, bacteria, molds and critters.  When we cut into the skins we are exposing the inside of the pumpkin to these rotting elements... and this is how Jack looses his smile.

So, the idea is to sterilize and seal the exposed flesh.  (That sounds kind of gross)

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

1. Mixing a tablespoon of Clorox Bleach with one quart water in a spray bottle.  Spray the carved pumpkin inside and out with the Clorox solution and let it dry for approximately 15-20 minutes.

2. Rub all the cut or exposed surfaces with petroleum jelly (vaseline) to lock in the moisture. This will keep "Jack" from drying out.

3. Use a paper towel to can clean up any smudges.

4. Place your pumpkin on top of a paper towel or newspaper to protect the surface it is sitting on.
(no more stained cement.)

5. And I suggest not putting your jack o'lanterns in direct sunlight or exposed to freezing temperatures.
kind of like taking care of your own skin.

Your pumpkins will Thank You.

What are you going to carve on your jack o'lanterns this Halloween?

By: Stephanie Goodman SuperMom of 3 and 2 bonus sons

TipsyTuesdays~Opening Jars

I don't know about you, but I have the hardest time opening jars.
 I will try and try until I have no strength left in me.
But, after much research, I have come across two easy tips, that will make opening jars that much more enjoyable!
*First, run the lid of the jar through warm water.  This alone will usually do the trick. 
*Second, dry up the lid with a towel.
*Third, use Latex Gloves (from Smith's) to open the jar, the non-slip grip will get your jar open in no time, with almost no effort.
What are your tips, when opening a stubborn Jar?

By:Dennissa Ramirez SuperMom of 5

Tipsy Tuesdays~Keep your House Smelling Fresh and Clean

Greetings SMT community!  I'm glad to be back and can't wait to share with you a little secret that I don't often tell. But to get things started, you need to know a little bit about me. A couple of months ago, we adopted this.

Which is a welcome addition to our blind (zombie eyed) elderly Luna.

Throw in two cats and two kids, a husband, and a slightly exhausted working mom, you have a pretty good idea of what my home could look like on any given day. However, I have a little tiny trick that keeps my house smelling clean, and not at all like a hound dog puppy who is having a hart time potty training (eww!) Almost every visitor that comes through my front door makes a comment as to how nice it smells. "Is it a candle? A plug-in? Have you been scrubbing your house from top to bottom?" To which I say, "Really? Gee, I guess I didn't realize it." (Lie.)

So, you want to know my secret?  ::insert trumpet fan fair::

Dryer Sheets. Good old fashioned dryer sheets. They are cheap, disposable, and most importantly, they smell amazing.

All I do is lift the vent grill off the floor, place a new dryer sheet over the hole in the floor, and replace the vent grill.  Every time air passes through your vent, it will perfume your house with the delicious smell of fresh laundry. 

And I must warn you a bit. Those first couple of days of putting a fresh dryer sheet under your vent grill will make your house smell pretty strongly of fluffy towels and crisp clean bedding.   Probably more perfumed than you want. Butthe smell dissipates to a tolerable level quite quickly. If it is still way too strong for your taste, you can put the dryer sheet in the dryer for 5 minutes or so and it won't smell so strong. Another word of caution is that I try to only put the dryer sheets in larger rooms where company will hang out.  Living room, family room, the vent down the hall...Putting them in your bedroom will probably be way too much scent.  Stick to those wide open spaces. And as to how long they last? I swap them out every couple of months. How is that for keeping a little extra bit of dough in your wallet?

So now you know my secret. Let's just keep it between us girls.  :)

Until next time, Super Moms!

Anna

TipsyTuesdays~Cleaning out the Closets

Hi! Brenda here again from From Me, With Love. So are we all settled into school schedules? I am still getting the hang of it. Now that I have a little more time and a schedule I decided to organize and clean out the closets. Let's call it Fall Cleaning! 'Cause we all need more cleaning, right?! Kidding...

World's tiniest shared closet. It looks like it is about to snap. Yikes. Good thing I got rid of stuff.

So, we didn't do this "fall cleaning" last year and when it came time for Back-to-School Shopping we bought clothes we already had and didn't buy what we needed because we thought we had it already. So, even though some back to school sales are over, you can still get some great deals and donate to those that may not have been able to go Back-to-School shopping.
Where do I start?!? This is the hardest part, starting!
But once you get into it, it is so easy and so fun to purge!


1.Beginning: Grab 3-6 trash bags and label them: Donate, Trash, Sell (optional), Alter/Refashion (optional), Too Small- Hand-Me Downs for kids (optional), Out of Season (store)

2. To keep or trash?  If you are like me, I like to keep my clothes because a lot of times they come back in style! But, I have to get over that and donate/trash the clothing that;
      a. Does not fit. (I have been meaning to get back to pre-marriage weight but that isn't gonna happen! Be happy with yourself!)
      b. I do not "love" or even like (including gifts- I have to keep telling myself that not keeping the item does not mean I don't like the person!)
      c.  Damaged (I know it is your favorite sweater of all time ever but let it go! I promise you will find something....eventually!)
3. Now that you have stuffed your bags (fully I hope!) you now have a closet that you love.

 It may seem a little bare but that's ok! You only have things that you LOVE and that FIT!
I know for my kids I got a lot of hand me downs that weren't necessarily my style. I was still grateful and dressed my kids in them.  But now that I do have a small budget for their clothes, I can buy them some of my favorite styles.  They may not have a lot of clothes to choose from, but at least they are my favorites.
Also, I like to think that the clothes I get rid of might suit others when they are in need. It may not be my style but it could be theirs!  Another perk: not as much laundry! Woot woot!

Bags full of donations and trash. Never felt so good to purge!

My boys' shared closet. Not much clothing but some of my fave outfits are in there!

Ok, now go and purge! I'd love to see any before and afters!

Since I try to be as purposeful as I can, I try to refashion stuff I am getting rid of to make that wearable again. Here are some of my refashions: color blocked baby shoes, patterned pants (it is in Spanish but you get the picture), glitter shoes and more to come!



By: Brenda Bird SuperMom of 3
follow her blog http://www.brendabirddesigns.com/

TipsyTuesdays~Getting Rid of Plastic Container Smells

Have you ever left food a little longer then you were supposed to on your plastic containers?
 Long enough that the smell, seems to have penetrated permanently? Well, here is a little tip we wanted to share with our SuperMoms!

Tipsy Tuesdays- Keeping Lunch boxes Cool

Here are a few tips that will keep your lunch boxes cool

1. Freeze the juice, the milk or the water.  By the time lunch time rolls around, the liquid will be thawed enough to be able to drink.  Freezing drinks will also help keep your other lunch items cold.

2. When packing lunch items, make sure that the products are always cold by packing them in your fridge or a colder environment. Try to not pack anything at room temperature.

3. You will want to insulate the coldness in the lunch boxes a little better. For example, instead of using 1 brown bag, use 2.  Or two sandwich bags, etc.  

4. If you have a lunch box that has no insulation, use Ice packs! They are usually very inexpensive and you can reuse them. If you want to save a little money, make your own ice packs by folding a wet wash cloth inside a ziplock bag and freezing it. 

5. Pre-make sandwiches and things you want to keep cool and stick them in the fridge before packing them.

7 Ways to use Lemons

Tipsy Tuesdays- Why Use a Microfiber Cloth?

Out with the old in with the New!
It used to be the paper Towels did the best work for me.
 I  can remember the cotton cloth my mother used to use to clean our kitchen counter top and the windows. They always seem to leave so much residue and particles behind.
But now days we have what I like to call, my very best cleaning friend "Microfiber Cloth".
As I have mention to you before, I love using Microfiber cloth, with almost all my to-do housework, from cleaning the windows, counter tops, computers, toys to  polishing my wood furniture.
These cloth are made up of ultra fine synthetic fibers that are woven together to create a microfiber.
The friction created between the ultra fine synthetic fibers attracts the dirt and make any cleaning job ten times easier, to the point where in most cases you really don't have to use any cleaning solutions.
What I love most about Microfiber cloths, is the fact that they do not leave any lint and residue behind, which is great because that is the whole reason why I started cleaning in first place.
So there you have it, This is Why I use a Microfiber Cloth!