How to Load and Clean a Dishwasher

I'm super persnickety. One area of my life where this manifests daily is in the loading of the dishwasher. I like to strategically arrange the dishes and bowls so that every centimeter of space is maximized. I officially do this to save water and energy, but a big reason is because it's just plain fun!

I wish my plates were this colorful! Image via SmallNotebook.org, specifically the great post: 5 Tips to Improve Your Dishwasher.

Personal quirks aside, there is somewhat of a real science behind loading the dishwasher. Seventh Generation's blog features awesome tips on how to load a dishwasher.

My favorite tip is: "Don't prewash dishes! The enzymes in dish detergent need a place to work, and food particles provide the work site."

That's great news because unless I've had previous problems with a specific food I just scrape off any food remains before putting the dish (into the perfect spot) in the dishwasher.  My dishes almost always come out clean so clearly that tip is spot on. (Pun intended.)

When my dishes stop coming out clean or the washer smells a little funky, I know it's time to clean the dishwasher. Here's a simple, green way to clean your dishwasher:

1. Start with an empty dishwasher.
2. Wash the drain attachment in warm sudsy water. (I never do this because my dishwasher drain thingy doesn't come out.)
3. If the utensil basket is attached to the door, remove it and clean behind it. Also, use an old toothbrush to scrub food out of any nooks. Replace basket.
4. Throw 1 cup white vinegar into the dishwasher. 
5. Run the dishwasher on high heat, deep cleaning setting.
6. Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda over the floor of the dishwasher. 
7. Let it sit overnight.
8. Run the machine once again.
9. You've now got yourself a clean machine! 

I learned this process from Melissa Maker at Clean My Space. Check out her How to Clean Your Smelly Dishwasher video. Don't you totally just wanna hang out with her?!

And, cuz I care, here are some non toxic ways to keep stainless steel dishwashers clean and shiny.

I use Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwashing Powder. I'm happy to know it scored an A on Environmental Working Group's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. Check out EWG's safety ratings of various dishwasher detergents to see how yours stacks up.

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

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WIWW: What I Wrote Wednesday

Today's guest blogger is 7 year old me. This is what I wrote in my diary on December 27, 1986.

An exclusive look into my diary. Hee hee!

I love the sun! But that has nothing to do with I'm write. I lik when me and cupcakes play ball, play house, play dress up, and ressul. Cupcakes likes a cocaspanya But Cupcakes dosent know I'm writing this and who ever heard of a talking reading dog. Nobody so Let's not Bhodir Bother.

I'm impressed by my cursive!

That was the second entry in my diary. The first was written on Christmas but didn't give the best impression of my mother so I figured I'd skip that one.

I will, however, share my "diet food" recipe from the Christmas entry. It's actually still really yummy! (I'm rephrasing it so it's easier to understand.)

1. Stick a candy cane into a lemon half so that the juice ends up on the candy cane. 
2. Suck it and enjoy the seriously delicious explosion of sweet and sour!

Did you keep a diary when you were a child?

This post was inspired by Charlotte of Chartreuth's adorable entry, "My first blog." 


Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

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I am amazing! (So are you!)

Say it with me, "I am amazing!" How about adding, "I love and accept myself exactly the way I am right now."

Why?

Why not?! You are amazing and superloveable! And apparently self-love is a key ingredient in reaching personal fulfillment.

I didn't come up with this. Louise Hay has been helping people heal traumas and enjoy life by prescribing daily affirmations of self-love for decades. So have many other self-help experts.

While all that self-love stuff can sound kinda ridiculous, last night Nick Ortner of The Tapping Solution pointed out what the opposite of self-love sounds like:

"You suck. You're dumb. You can't do anything right. Why do you even bother trying? You know you will fail."

That's pretty supereffing ridiculous! Most of us wouldn't say that to anyone else. Unfortunately many of us have said these things to ourselves. I know I have. Some especially bad days it's been my entire inner dialogue.

Nick says this abusive dialogue makes it difficult for us to achieve our goals. He compared it to baseball. When a team is playing at their home stadium, they are cheered and encouraged by the energy and love of the crowd. They are more likely to win. This is the home court advantage. The "away team" is at a disadvantage because most people are booing them and wishing for their failure.

No person is perfect. We all make mistakes and bad choices, big and small. One key to success is to make the courageous step to recognize and accept our imperfections. We must then give ourselves love and support while we move forward towards our goals.

If we fail to move on with self-compassion and instead choose beat ourselves up, we are truly wasting time. Jeering ourselves also increases stress which, in addition to being unhealthy, makes it harder to think and get things done effectively and efficiently.

We've got to acknowledge we all have unique gifts and deserve the pleasure of sharing that with the world. Let's be loving, forgiving, and encouraging to ourselves so we can make it happen!

Do you treat yourself like you are the home team or the away team? What's one way you can commit to cheer yourself today? 

<3 Here are some free tapping (EFT) audios from The Tapping Solution to help you relieve stress. <3 

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

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Shannon's Cleansing Sweet Squash Succotash Recipe [Vegan, Gluten-Free]

Guest post by Shannon Sodano.

When you live a life of overindulgence, your body is left feeling tired, your mind foggy and your spirits down. If you make simple shifts to your lifestyle that balance and re-boot your body, you can regain control of how you take care of yourself, leaving tiring habits and unhealthy cravings behind.

From Halloween sweets to big Thanksgiving and holiday meals, ‘tis the season of overindulgence. If you’d like to forget about gaining the typical 5 to 10 holiday pounds, not feel tired and lethargic from overeating all season and want to try a way of living that gives you more energy than you ever thought possible, a cleanse may be for you.

 A cleanse is a short-term way of eating and living where you focus on eliminating the foods and bad habits that make you feel sluggish and fill yourself up with those that restore and energize you. A cleansing diet includes foods that purify your insides and leave you with ample energy to live off. Cutting out certain things like sugar, alcohol and caffeine helps you sleep and get through your day better plus leaves behind less sluggish residue. Animal products are taken out too, since animals produce their own toxins.

Here is a simple recipe that can get you in the spirit of cleansing. It will prevent cravings, manage your waistline and give you lasting energy for the busy days of fall. Plus, it makes a great Meatless Monday meal! If you want to register or find out more about a Pre-Holiday cleanse visit www.shannonsodano.com/cleanses.

Inspired by the Native American tradition, this recipe makes great use of the bounty of fall vegetables and is a sweet, healthy and hearty meal.

DIY Lavender Sachet Hair Clip and Brooch

Lavender sachet brooch

A few days ago I got bored while waiting for my vegan lasagna leftovers to reheat. I very rarely get bored (there's always Instagram!) but I'm trying to get smarter about the time I spend on social media so that left the question: What fun thing can I do for 20 minutes? Pinterest!, my mind said. No!, I resisted. I decided I'd better make something with my ridiculously large stash of lavender.

A sachet seemed like the best idea given the time constraints. Basically, a sachet is a little pouch containing something with a fabulous scent or magical powers. I think lavender has a little bit of both, plus it's totally my accidental theme for this week!

Lavender sachet hair clip

Wanna make the same thing?

You'll need:

• one sheet of paper & a pencil or marker
• straight pins & a pair of scissors
• two fabric scraps of different colors and textures (I used crafting felt and a synthetic sports fabric, but cotton would be another good choice.)
• lavender flowers & lavender essential oil (Available at Mountain Rose Herbs)
• thread & needle or sewing machine
• random string of beads
• colorful embroidery or crafting thread

Do this:

1. Draw a shape that you like on the paper. Make it at least 1/4" bigger around than you'd like your sachet to be, unless you plan on having exposed edges like mine does). Cut it out to make a pattern/template.
2. Sandwich together the two pieces of fabric. Face to face if you wanna reverse it. Butt to butt if you want exposed edges.
3. Pin the pattern to the fabric sandwich. 
4. Cut.
5. Remove the pattern.
6. Repin and sew together leaving a little opening.
7. Use embroidery/craft thread and random beads to make a cute (optional) decoration on the sachet. It's probably easier to outline the template on the fabric with craft chalk and embroider/embellish on a larger piece of fabric before you cut or sew it. I just like to work in this order. You should do whatever works for you too.
8. Mix together some lavender flowers (enough to fill your sachet) and few drops of lavender essential oils. 
9. Make a funnel with paper to get the lavender into the opening.
10. Sew closed with the machine (if doing exposed edges) or tuck edges in and sew closed by hand, if you're not.

Now that you've got yourself a sachet, the question is what to do with it. Since I've been fighting the blues, I figured I would make the sachet into something I could wear all day. A hair clip seemed perfect!

I stuck a large bobby pin through the back piece of fabric. Automatic hair clip. A duck clip would work too. If your fabric doesn't have holes or open weave, stitch a clip to it with embroidery thread.

If you wanna wear it as a brooch, stitch a large safety pin or a brooch pin onto the back.

Now when friends and co-workers ask, "What's that wonderful smell," you can say, "It's me!" And when they ask why you're in such a good mood, you can say, "It's my handmade brooch!"

Tip: Store this inside a drawer or your purse when you're not wearing it so it can serve double duty.

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

Consider supporting this blog by shopping via my Amazon shop. Thanks. 

Vegan Lasagna with Homemade Ricotta Recipe [Gluten-Free]

We had a wonderfully satisfying Meatless Monday dinner of vegan lasagna last night. I tried out a new-to-me technique for making a dairy-free ricotta-like filling. Here's the recipe:

Vegan Ricotta

Ingredients

• 1 lb soft tofu
• ¹⁄₄ cup nutritional yeast
• 2 TBS tahini
• 2 garlic cloves
• ¹⁄₂ lemon juice of
• some Italian herbs Fresh is flavor magic but we didn't have any on hand so I used dried and it was good.)
• ¹⁄₂ tsp salt

Directions

1. I blended everything in my Vitamix by gradually going up to 5 and using the tamper. You could make it in a food processor too.
2. Another option is to mince the garlic then mix and mash everything together with a fork.

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Once you've got ricotta, you're ready to build the lasagna casserole. I love whole wheat pasta, but there are gluten-free options like brown rice flour pasta.

Vegan Lasagna

Ingredients

• 28 oz tomato puree or marinara sauce
• 1 box lasagna pasta gluten-free optional
• 1 carrot
• 1 handful mushrooms
• 1 eggplant
• 1 onion
• 1 cup frozen chopped spinach
• vegan ricotta use above recipe

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. (Don't cook, if using no-bake lasagna.)
2. Meanwhile, sautee veggies in olive oil.
3. Cover bottom of baking dish with tomato puree or marinara sauce. You can pour it straight from the Tetra pack or jar if you're not making your own. My boyfriend prefers to mix it with the veggies (?!), so that's what we did.
4. Top with pasta.
5. Spread thick layer of vegan ricotta over pasta.
6. Top with a little more tomato puree.
7. Add a layer of your favorite veggies. Even frozen veggies straight from the bag work well. We used sauteed carrots, mushrooms, eggplant, and onions along with frozen chopped spinach.
8. Repeat steps 2-5 until you reach the top of the casserole dish.
9. Top with tomato puree, making sure all the pasta is covered.
10. Cover with foil or dish lid and bake for 40 minutes. (If you don't cover it, you will get crunchy pasta.)
11. Cool for 10 minutes then enjoy!

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What are your favorite vegetarian lasagna fillings? I know lots of vegans are avoiding soy these days; if you're one of them, I'd love some recommendations for a nut-based ricotta. 

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

How to Organize Under the Bathroom Sink

 

A reader requested ideas for organizing under the sink. I figured I'd share actual photos of the tiny under sink cupboard my boyfriend and I shared in our wee Brooklyn bathroom. If that space can be organized anything can!

Use removable shelves.
All the items in the Before picture are in the After picture too. You can multiply your space by using removable shelves with multiple levels. They give you more surfaces to put things on without piling them. I actually took the before picture last to illustrate the point. (Y'all know under my bathroom sink isn't piled up like that in real life!)

You can find these shelves on Amazon and in the kitchen section of The Container Store and Bed Bath and Beyond. Measure your cabinet taking into account any pipes under the sink to make smart choices about which shelves to buy. Also consider the variety of heights of containers you need to store. You can see from the photo that I have a single and double shelf in this cabinet.

Get clever with containers.
I reused salad greens containers to create little bins that make it easy to pull out groups of items. This keeps me from having to move a million smaller containers and boxes to reach whatever I am looking for. This also prevents things from piling up.

Don't be afraid to repackage products into jars, bins, and bags that work better with your organizational method too. For example, I keep my cotton swabs and pads together in a sandwich container.

Be a bathroom minimalist.
Don't feel like you need to store everything you use in the bathroom in the bathroom, especially if your space is small. Keep back stock of toilet paper and hair products in another room. Or better yet, don't buy any until you almost run out. When we lived in Brooklyn, land of 24-hour bodegas, one spare roll of toilet paper was plenty.

Also, do not keep more than one trial or single use size anything per person in your house for longer than a month. They will pile up to become space hogs if you don't. (Yes, two hotel sized bottles of shampoo, though they may be from different hotels, count as more than one of the same item.) Stored those you do keep packed away in your overnight cosmetics bag, which you should keep in your suitcase instead of in the bathroom.

Do you have any tips for organizing under the bathroom sink? What's working really well in your home?

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

Consider supporting this blog by shopping via my Amazon shop. Thanks.