I Bathed in Chile Peppers! Austin Natural Soap Review

Austin Natural Soap Chile Pepper Soap

My Texan neighbor gifted us two bars of soap from Austin Natural Soap. I was excited to try them because they are fragrance-free, vegan, never tested on animals, and handmade in small batches with all-natural ingredients including supermoisturizing oils.

Austin Natural Soap also has the great sense of humor you'd expect from something coming out of that city. I mean, check out this bar of soap:

Austin Natural Soap Broke Back Mountain theme Cowboy Soap!

Yesterday, I tried the Chile Pepper Soap with Southwestern Jojoba Oil and loved it. It was non-irritating, as the label promised, even on the tender bits. (Phew!) It was also indeed very moisturizing. Jojoba oil is actually a wax that is easy for our skin to absorb because it is most like sebum. (Sebum is the oil our hair folicles produce which protects skin from bacterial infection and reduces the natural water loss from the skin.) Yay for this beneficial oil being in this awesome soap!

I haven't tried the Cowboy soap yet but I look forward to taking it for a ride.

Connect with Austin Natural Soap: Website // Facebook

Have you tried Austin Natural Soap? What's the strangest soap you've ever used?

I shared this blog post on Tidy Mom's "I'm Lovin' It" blog link party. It's my first time joining and it's a lot of fun-- especially all the cool Valentines Day projects! (Big hello to all the new visitors from there!)

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Please like Olivia Cleans Green on Facebook, join my email list, subscribe to my YouTube channel, follow me on Twitter, and subscribe to my blog posts (by RSS or email) to keep in touch and discover more creative green homemaking tips.

My Green Winter Visit to NYC: Part 2

I'm back home in Providence, but I wanted to share more of what I did in NYC with you all.

Shambhala Yoga & Dance Center: Located just two blocks from my old apartment in Prospect Heights, Shambhala is a wonderful place to groove and move with the diverse and friendly faces in the community. I took JourneyDance with Jeanine, where we danced through the root chakra.

Vegan pastries from The Cinnamon Snail

Cinnamon Snail: I had a love fest at this awesome vegan lunch truck when it stopped near Union Square on Saturday morning. The servers were superfriendly and warm even though the weather was frigid. I tried an assortment of sweet pastries and they were just as delightful as the service. I can't wait to find them again and try their acclaimed breakfast and lunch offerings which include things like fig pancakes, maple hickory BBQ tempeh, hot Thai tomato vegetable soup, and ancho chili seitan burger. Follow them on Twitter to find out where they are parked and what the daily specials are.

Angelica Kitchen: I worked here forever so this place tastes like home. Nothing beats their Dragon Bowl Bargain for lunch (and dinner- yes, it's that huge): superfresh organic, vegan, local, seasonal steamed veggies, rice, beans, and tofu, served with dressing (get gravy), soup, and house baked bread with spread. (I'm nuts about the southern-style cornbread with carrot spread!) If you get there early, you might find yourself lucky enough to catch a "still special" (a discounted version of leftovers from yesterday's special). Visit their website for menu with daily specials.

Owl and Thistle General Store: I stopped in this sweet shop on Crown Height's ever-evolving Franklin Ave after getting chai a few doors over at Little Zelda. Owl and Thistle sells mostly green and/or local products including Raganella herbal goodies, Sea Grape soaps, and Pepper Press letterpress cards. They also supported the Vegan Book Swap 2.0 so I love them! Check out their website for hours, info about events like sewing classes, or to shop the best of Brooklyn online.

I took this photo of a Maoz Sandwich months ago. I did not have the same level of discipline/ forethought to photograph these things before eating during this trip.

Maoz Vegetarian: It's just falafels, but then again it's not. They are soooo exceptionally good! I went here twice in one week. They'll try to upsell you with $1 add on's like fried eggplant and hummus or splurges like fries, but the spread at the salad bar is so lux you don't need them. Best lunch under $6 in NYC! Maoz is global, so check out their website for all the locations.

My mom's dog, Cocoa, posing with cocoa. Ha ha!

Billi, the cat I was cat sitting, posing atop my agenda. She is making it clear that cuddling her should be my priority!

Visiting Family & Friends: It's no surprise that NYC has fantastic shopping and eating, but the best thing about visiting is catching up with loved ones. Thank you to everyone who had me over for hugs, food, and schmoozing with your kids! I love you!

Have you been to any of these places? What's your favorite thing to do in NYC?

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Please like Olivia Cleans Green on Facebook, join my email list, subscribe to my YouTube channel, follow me on Twitter, and subscribe to my blog posts (by RSS or email) to keep in touch and discover more creative green homemaking tips.

My Green Winter Visit to NYC: Part 1

I am having the best time being a tourist in NYC even though I''ve lived here my entire life (until just 7 months ago). Here are some of the greener things I've done over the last few days:

I bought an Afro wig! It's acrylic, not so green, but a cute indulgence!

Pure Yoga: You don't need to be a member to visit Pure Yoga. You can take a workshop. I came to the Upper West Side location for JourneyDance class with the founder. I stayed for a little chillout on the comfy couches and in the steam room. Afterward I ate at Peacefood Cafe (all vegan) for the first time. It was okay, but next time I'll stick to my favorite local spot: Josie's. It's not all veg, but they have lots of tasty, hearty, and organic vegan fare.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts at MOB

Maimonide of Brooklyn (MOB): Interesting vegan deliciousness, that manages to dodge being crunchy, served in a clean, hip, and friendly environment. Brunch on weekends. Read more about them on their website or on Yelp.

Oh My Heavenly Hair Red Room Luxe Salon & Store: On my way to MOB, I was drawn to this natural hair salon that also sells their own line of herbal vegan hair and skin care products. The owner Debra was radiant, friendly, and forthcoming with tons of knowledge. I'll share an interview with her here soon! I also purchased some goodies for my mom, so I'll have her report back with a review here on the blog too.

Century 21:  If you don't mind getting fist and elbows with tourist, you can find some deeply discounted good stuff here. I spotted a rack of vegan handbags by Urban Expressions. I bought an awesome teal purse for $44 (the SRP was $70). I also saw lots of bamboo kitchen utensils, bamboo socks, organic cotton basics. Fun! I go to the financial district location, but other locations can be found on their website.

Champs: I met a friend for brunch at this bakery/ diner that manages to be popular despite the dirty bathroom and long waits. Once I ate my Buenos Dia Salad (flavorful tofu scramble, smoky tempeh, avocado, tomatoes, creamy chipotle dressing served on a plush bed of greens), I understood what all the fuss was about. Check 'em out on Yelp.

Sustainable NYC: I used to work at this shop that sells "eco-friendly versions of everyday products and gifts" so it's not really new-to-me, but it's totally worth mentioning. They've got everything from cards handmade by African lady artisan cooperatives to espresso drinks made with fair trade coffee roasted in Brooklyn. When I visited, I bought some awesome ecojot notebooks and econuts soap nuts and ate a yummy bowl of lemon chickpea soup. (Can't make it to NYC? You can buy gifts online at their website too.)

Discovered a new use for coconut oil: I shaved my legs with coconut oil for the first time and OMG! My legs are so smooth, even though I used a cheapo bic razor. I will never buy shaving cream again! During this trip, I've used coconut oil as: mouthwash (via oil pulling), body lotion, hand cream, conditioner, and shaving cream. Hooray for not needing to pack tons of personal care goodies! (Check out more uses of coconut oil here.)

Walking: I have done lots and lots of walking in the cold. I am sure I've lost 5 pounds in just 5 days. Walking is so superhealthy!
 
What have you been up to this week? What's green to do in your city? 

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Please like Olivia Cleans Green on Facebook, join my email list, subscribe to my YouTube channel, follow me on Twitter, and subscribe to my blog posts (by RSS or email) to keep in touch and discover more creative green homemaking tips.

Check Out Your Green Resource

"Your Green Resource" is a weekly exchange of links to blog posts focusing on green, natural, frugal, and healthy tips and ideas. I just discovered YGR last week, but it's currently in its 68th week. (Whoa!)

Image via SortaCrunchy.net

I love all the creative tips that are being shared! A few of my favorite links this week include:

• 10 Tips to Kick the Sugar Habit
• How to Use Cloth Baby Wipes
• 15 Ways to Use Vinegar at Home
• Cooking with Cast Iron Review
• Homemade Shampoo Bar & Giveaway

Your Green Resource is hosted by: Stacy at A Delightful Home, Emily at Live Renewed, Mindy at Creating Naturally, Rebekah at Simply Rebekah, and Beth at Red and Honey. You can visit either of these blogs to join in on the fun; see what's there and share a green-themed post from your own blog.

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Please like Olivia Cleans Green on Facebook, join my email list, subscribe to my YouTube channel, follow me on Twitter, and subscribe to my blog posts (by RSS or email) to keep in touch and discover more creative green homemaking tips.

Four Fantastic Pot & Pan Scrubbers

Burned cheese sauce, omelets, burned oil, crusty oatmeal... Whateves. They're no problem for these fantastic, all-natural pot scrubbers that you probably already have in your house.

Coffee

Image via the internets. Wish I had captured this in action before I gave up coffee.

Brew coffee at home? Reuse about 1 TBS of the spent grinds to scour your omelet off your stainless steel pan. Coffee grinds keep for several hours so you can use them later to remove other stubborn food from pots and pans. Just make sure you toss them out (or compost them) at the end of the day or else they'll be moldy. Also beware: This will dye your sponge, dish rag, and any other fabric it touches sepia.
This is my all time favorite scrubber! I've used coffee grinds to clean up a variety of burned, crusty food from stainless steel pots and pans and they always work brilliantly. It's so great, it's the thing I miss the most now that I've stopped drinking coffee regularly.


Pine Needles

Omelet meet Pine.

Pine needles have scour power and release a delightful smell. I saved a few branches of our Christmas tree before I tossed it out (making potporri) so I happened to have a lot on hand. You can pull pine needles off the branch, but it's no problem if some are still stuck to a little twig. That will help scour too! It takes about 2 TBS/ half a small handful to scour a pan.
I tried this for the first time today. It worked well to clean up my boyfriend's omelet pan and a pot that I used to cook burn vegan cheese sauce in, though I should note that I pre-soaked the cheesey pot in warm water while I ate breakfast. It isn't the best scrubber but it works well enough. Compost the pine needles when you're done with them.


Baking Soda + Dish Soap + Heat

I damaged this pan, but I also fixed it thanks to Melissa Maker's strategy.

This tip comes from Melissa Maker at Clean My Space. Check out her video and blog post for full details. It is more of a process than a one step fix, but it's a fantastic, low effort way to clean superdurty burned pots and pans. It requires no soaking, so this is great for when you've got company coming over or need to leave town right after you do dishes. It's also the easiest way to clean up burned oil. I imagine it's also safe for pans with non-stick coating so long as you use the soft side of the sponge in the final step.
Confession: This summer while apartment sitting, I badly burned a fancypants All-Clad pan while re-heating seitan cutlets. (Notice a pattern? Yes, I burn food. That's why this is a cleaning blog and not a cooking one.) I tried baking soda and a scouring pad: Fail. I added Ecover dish soap to baking soda and used a scouring pad: Fail. I tried Ecover soft scrub: Fail. Then over Christmas, I apartment sat in the same home and found the same pot was still burned. I tried this along with a scouring pad. Success! And it was so easy!!!
I've used Melissa's method with both Ecover and Seventh Generation brand dish detergent, so I don't think the brand of detergent matters much.

Plastic Produce Netting

This is an easy one. Save the plastic netting that comes with your onions, oranges, pistachios, potatoes- you know the kind, it's usually bright green or red...and  wrap it around your sponge. (The more times you wrap it around the sponge, the more scrubby it will be.) Use this to scrub pots. It's good at removing chunks of food from pre-soaked pots of burned rice and oatmeal.  Obviously plastic isn't natural, but it's a great way to reuse what would otherwise be trash. It's also reusable for as long as you want to keep it. Just remove the netting from the sponge and soak it in equal parts vinegar and water for 10 minutes every now and then to clean it.

Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

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DIY Natural Cleaning Wipes

The lovely new-momma Jessica of Krrb recently asked me if I had any tips for making natural cleaning wipes. I'm a spray and wipe kinda gal, so I didn't have any.

I did end up trying this eventually. Here's a picture to prove it!

I took to the internets in search of DIY tutorials that readers loved and discovered one at Homemade Ginger: cut up old cotton t-shirt + diluted Dr. Bronner's + old wipes container  = cleaning wipes. Brilliant! Lots of Ginger's readers suggested adding antibacterial tea tree oil to keep the wipes from getting moldy. That seems like a good idea!

How to Clean a Refrigerator

I cleaned my fridge on Sunday. Cleaning the fridge is one of those things I love to whine about and struggle to avoid procrastinating on, but once I get going I realize: a) it's not that hard, b) it doesn't take that long, and c) the benefits are way awesomer than any I might have gained from sitting on the couch watching football for an extra thirty minutes.

When was the last time you cleaned your fridge from top to bottom? Can't remember. Maybe you should do it now. If you just went grocery shopping you get a pass to wait until next week, but do it then.

Here's how to clean a refrigerator the fast and green way.

This isn't my fridge. It belongs to vegan iron man, Rich Roll and is part of Well + Good's Refrigerator Look Book Series. I'm pretty sure all their participants clean their fridge before W + G comes over. They're always so clean!