Babyproofing Your House, Non-Toxic Style!

It's about that time. Your baby is crawling, maybe walking and getting into everything! AHHH!!! That's what every mother is screaming on pretty much a daily basis. It is past the time to baby proof the house!


Where and what are some of the places and things your child gets into? My little daffodil is always getting under the kitchen and bathroom cabinets, she stands up putting her hands on the the toilet seat (yuck) and did I mention she loves to play with the cords on the blinds! Those are a few things she takes special interest in.

My first purchase ever for baby proofing the house were outlet stuffers and these little cord winder upper thingamajigs for the blinds. They are really cool, but for real...just tuck the cord up in between a couple slats of the blinds. After that I thought to myself...I don't really need to spend a lot of money on baby proofing the house because I have a better idea! For instance, lock your baby in a padded room with nothing to choke on or hit their head on! Kidding kidding. What? Really? You took me seriously for a minute?


No, for real. My kitchen and bathroom cabinets were the two places that were my biggest fear of her getting into. Why? You guessed it! Because of all those nasty chemicals for household cleaning. So, you want to know what I did? I replaced ALL of my household cleaning supplies with Non-Toxic products! Wooohoooo! 

 - I have baking soda and vinegar for my bathtubs, toilets, and sinks. 
     Sprinkle baking soda then spray with vinegar. Allow to bubble and scour or wipe away.


- I have olive oil and vinegar for dusting and furniture polishing. 
      Mix equal parts for polish. Add extra vinegar for routine dusting. Put in old, clean spray bottle.


- I have essential lemon oil just to make my home smell on the fresh side rather than the baby poop side!
     Add this to furniture polish.


- I have vinegar mixed with warm water and lemon juice to mop my floors. 
     Fill sink with hot water, add 1/2 C vinegar and squeeze a whole lemon into water. Leave lemon in water.


Let's see...that's about it! I don't have to bother buying a different product for each area to clean. A few common, cheap household items do the job and do it right.

I also have to say that I never have to hold my breath while cleaning. Using bleach or CLR, etc. always smelled so potent and I would dread cleaning the bathroom for that simple reason. I love that I never have to worry about my baby crawling in the bathroom while I'm cleaning, fearful that she'll breathe in irritating chemicals.


Using these cleaning products is a total win-win all the way around. They are cheap, easy, smell better, does NOT irritate skin, eyes, or lungs, and safe for baby and mama. Oh and don't forget, better for the environment. Yay! As the McDonalds people say...I'm lovin' it!


Happy Cleaning,

In the words of a mother!

Be Bold! Make a Change!

The following is a daily devotional written by Joyce Meyer. She nails it as far as how the actions of a mother, whether it be fear based or based in an attitude of boldness can be strongly conveyed to the lives of our children. What we do sends shockwaves into the atmosphere of our children’s hearts and minds.

Stepping into the Unknown

by Joyce Meyer - posted August 21, 2011

And I said to you, You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God gives us. Behold, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has said to you. Fear not, neither be dismayed.
—Deuteronomy 1:20-21

Parents, teachers, and other role models can teach children how to fear or they can teach them to be bold. A mother who is fearful herself will transmit that fear to her children. She will be overly cautious about many things, and a silent fear sinks into the heart of her children. We should not teach our children to live recklessly, but we should teach them to be bold, take action, and to never be so afraid of making mistakes that they won't try things. I believe we should teach our children and those under our authority to take chances in life. If we never take a chance, we will never make progress. Progress always requires stepping into the unknown. Experience gives us confidence, but we never get experience unless we step out and try things we have not tried before.

I encourage you to teach others by word and example how to be bold and courageous. Tell people to try things, reminding them that making a mistake is not the worst thing that can happen.

Lord, help me both in word and deed to show others to be bold and courageous. I will gladly follow You into the unknown. Amen.

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It’s time to stand up and make BOLD decisions in your own life so that you might be happier and so that your children can learn from your courageous character! Step out into the unknown! Step out in faith! Step out and do that thing you have always wanted to do but have been too afraid of failure. Tell yourself that you are full of courage! Now go out…be audacious…live a life worth living!

Speak volumes with your actions…in the words of a mother.

A Personal Constitution

Currently I am reading an exceedingly helpful book entitled “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” As I am reading I am learning about paradigms or you might call them world views. Questions have arisen in me as I read. What are my paradigms that I use to navigate through life? What are some of my world views? What are my core values? Why are they my values? What do I want to change in myself? What do I want to enhance about myself (other than my boobies)? What do I want out of life? How do I achieve those desires while staying consistent and true to my values?

Upon further reading the author listed a couple of “personal constitutions” as examples for his readers. You could also call it a personal philosophy or creed. I thought…hmmmmm??? I wonder what my personal constitution would look like if I wrote it out. I decided I wanted to see on paper (computer screen) what my core values and personal constitution would be. Here is mine. What is yours?

In no particular order:

My Personal Constitution

Seek and merit divine help

Never compromise with honesty and loyalty in all relationships

My wants will be subject to my needs and my means.

Question and consider use of products and materials as a necessity and do NOT waste

Be mindful about what I eat and feed my family

Be mindful of what I put on or in my body as well as Chey’s

My home will be organized, clean, and comfortable

Listen twice as much as I speak

Defend those who are absent

Hear both sides before judging

Remember the people involved

Be open-minded to differences of thought, opinion, and ways of doing things

Accept others exactly where they are at

Forgive always

Keep a mind-set towards unity

Be humble in speech, behavior, and attitude

Be conscience of appointments, time, dates, and commitments

Be a person who is willing to give your word and then keep it

Walk in an attitude of gratitude

Walk in love in ALL situations

Be thoughtful of others desires, wants, and needs

Be involved in community and charities

Be decisive and strive towards set goals
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Of course over the period of time, values and ideas of what you focus on may change. You may add to or take away certain things. However, most of the things you list will be true for you yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It’s how you go about operating in these values that makes you and I unique to everyone else. What are a couple of your personal mottos listed on your constitution?

Cheers to self-awareness and reflection in the words of a mother.