I am out of brick songs

But we are not out of bricks.
We have some leftover brick from our patio. Remember I was asking for advice on things to do with it.
Well fire pit was one idea.
And it turned out well. take a look.

We had leftover limestone as well. So we first put that down and leveled it

Put the brick down. Made sure it was still level.

3 rows and its done.

The old fire pit 'bin' sat inside the bricks

BEFORE

AFTER

Brick House

Who knew there were bricks underneath our walls?

JUST KIDDING.
I had left over wallpaper from the laundry room. remember this?

This wall has always bugged me because it was never even. It had bumps and holes from various things. It just wasn't nice and smooth. So I thought I would try it out.
Before.

After.

You like?

Just another brick

in the patio...
It's done! Thanks to our talented friend Rob, its done. (and Paul & Chris for the prep work, the hardworkas Paul put it) In one day.
Even a beautiful cut corner.
I-L-O-V-E-I-T

We have extra bricks. Any advice on what we should do with them? Fire pit?

Ingredients

** I debated posted this post because I don't think one person will read it but its happening and its my last post about products and how they are bad and how you need to start buying Melaleuca. I promise, last post with so many words**

I said I was going to use the cosmetics, haircare and laundry products I had left before switching completely over to Melaleuca. However, Mason had an extra long nap today and it gave me time to clean out some cupboards and while doing that, reading labels.

I was taught at a Arbonne party not too long ago about a few ingredients you do not want to see on any labels in your home.

Parabens stuck out in my head but I couldn't remember the rest. So I went to a great website, MadeFromEarth

They list the following ingredients.

1. Paraben

2. Phthalates

3. Petrochemicals

4. Cosmetic Fragrance (Parfum)

5. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate

6. Diazolidinyl Urea or Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

They explain on the website what these are and how they could be harmful.

I read in a book that companies putting their products on the shelves, don't have to get the product tested or approved before we as consumers buy it. AND if there is something harmful in it, the FDA cannot recall it. As long as the ingredients are on the label properly, it is up to the consumers to figure out what is good for them.

For those who do not want to read through the website above I will sum up the ingredients in my opinion.

Paraben: Low Cost preservative that is used in face products, body moisturizers, body wash, cleansers, sunscreen etc. Testing has shown that the parabens absorb into our skin 10 times the concentration of an oral dose and contain estrogenic activity which can lead to breast cancer.

Phthalates: This ingredient is very toxic and helps the product you apply, absorb into your skin. L'Oreal discontinued the use of this in their products in Europe only due to severe allergy complaints. L'Oreal and other companies still use it in North America

Petrochemicals: Petroleum is found in almost all skin care products. anemia, kidney degeneration, nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord and the rise in cancer rates are linked back to Petrochemicals. During testing the products with petrochemicals, most animals died before the study ended. The FDA cannot stop the product from hitting shelves is more then 50% of animals died while testing it. What's it doing to us?

Cosmetic Fragrance: Artificial fragrances are made from petroleum or coal which degrade in the environment and cause skin irritations. Companies use these rather than the real thing in nature because it is cheaper.  

Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate: (SLS or SLES) FDA requires companies to list all ingredients and in order of the highest concentrations first. Go find your shampoo or face cleaner and this ingredient will be listed at least second or third. It is used in concrete floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car wash detergents, and just about every soap and shampoo on the market.In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It can change genetic information found in a cell, impairs structure formation of eyes, damage the immune system, causes separation of the skin layers.

Diazolidinyl Urea or Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate: It is used also as a preservative. causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The label on your skin care product may not list "formaldehyde". The following ingredients break down and release formaldehyde: diazolidinyl urea (or 3-diol diazolidinyl urea) 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 (or bronopol) DMDM hydantoin. The label on your skin care product may not list "formaldehyde". The following ingredients break down and release formaldehyde: diazolidinyl urea (or 3-diol diazolidinyl urea) 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 (or bronopol) DMDM hydantoin.

Just like Phthalates, it has been banned in Europe after studies concluded that effects can result in: carcinogen, causes allergic reactions and contact dermatitis; headaches; irritates mucous membranes; damaging to eyes; linked to joint and chest pain; depression; headaches; fatigue; dizziness and immune dysfunction.

In my opinion, you should read the website or go read a few labels.

I checked a few of mine and here they are...

LOreal Shampoo: SLS, Fragrance, Petrochemicals, Phthalates

Colgate&Crest Toothpaste: Petrochemicals, SLS

Aveeno Baby Cream: Petrochemicals, Parabens

Johnsons Baby wash and cream: Parabens, Fragrance, SLS

And that is just a hand full of products I grabbed. I actually went through all the creams, face wash, baby products, makeup and this is what happen.

A big garbage pile

Vaseline, Aloe, Johnsons, Proactiv -All products we had and they all had at least one ingredient listed above.

So much more organized in there.

 

We will be switching our products to Melaleuca a lot quicker than we expected. Go check at least one of your cosmetics, shampoos, cleaners.
Change to something that is all natural and that will not harm you as it enters your body.

Swing

$10 Swing I picked up a few weeks ago from Once Upon A Child. Some chain we had and a lock we had.

First Branch was too high.

Lower branches from the first were too low

So I double looped the chain

attached the loops from the swing onto the lock

attached lock to chain.

Ready for baby

Front yard is in my 'bad books' but its getting better

CounterAct

The laundry room got left behind. With all the other things that happen around here in a day I never found the energy or the drive to do anything down there.
I put Mason to bed last night and decided, why not?
I got started and I got frustrated just as fast as you can say counter.
Wood was splitting, screws were flying, drills were dying.
Brandon could hear me saying choice words from upstairs so he came down and helped. With his help and some nails, He helped finish the bracket that would hold the top of the counter.
Then I screwed in the top plank boards (minus one)
Here it is today.
Not done but getting there, just like everything else in our house!

Please tell me we are not the only family that has things in every room that are not done.

Burnt on cheese

So this isn't too exciting for a lot of people but I am posting it anyways. And for those who aren't excited, a better post is coming right up.

I had a plate in the dirty dish pile that was full of baked on cheese. I would normally put that in the dishwasher, use my Finish Power Pucks and hope for the best. Probably after an hour, opening the dishwasher to find the plate with cheese still on it.
But I didn't use Finish, I used Melaleuca Diamond Brite and I didn't have any dirty dishes after an hour cycle.

Same plate straight out of the dishwasher

After a cycle with Finish Power Ball Pucks. not so clean

After Melaleuca Diamond Brite

Tackling the deep fryer next...

Family Weekend

We were at a wedding on friday. A Kampen cousin.
It was beautiful. I didn't take many pictures, maybe 4.
We also had some people over at our place on saturday, who we love to have at our home. All 6 of you.
Then on sunday after church we had a Kampen family get together. There were a few more than the normal occasions since some were in town for a wedding. That was nice to see them and be with the whole family. BIG thanks to the hosts :)

Next post will be on my clean dishes...it's more exciting than it sounds :) promise

Everything can be painted

I am happy with the renovations in our upstairs bathroom but at the same time, I don't love it? Does that only make sense to me?
Everything was bought on the cheap and nothing completely goes together.
For example, the towel hooks and the toilet roll holder. They are both wood but the 'furniture' is all black wood.
Here is a picture since I do not make sense.

So I was at Wal-mart for something else and I looked in the bathroom aisle. I loved some hooks and toilet roll holders they had but didn't want to spend $10-$15 on something I already had.
Spray paint? Yes Sir. Why didn't I think of that months or years ago.
So much better, take a look.

The Line up

These are just a few things I ordered from Melaleuca and will let you know how they compare.

Somethings I did not post below were the Attain bars and the Simply Fit Popcorn. Will tell you more another time

Palmolive vs. Ecosense Lemon Brite

Finish Quantrum (Which is my husbands favorite!) vs. Ecosense Diamond Brite (Which will be his favorite soon!)

CLR (I know such a strong cleaner) vs. Tub & Tile

Proactiv (been using for years, ONLY thing that has worked) vs. Zap-it

Melaleuca toothpaste vs. Colgate Total

Another good thing about Melaleuca shipping. Your kids can play in the boxes!

I will get to comparing these products right away and let you know the results!

TUB & TILE

I went to clean the bathroom with Tub&Tile and took before pictures to show you the difference. Well unless the bathroom is really really dirty, you cant see much through my camera.
So I set out to be brave and drew on my tub with not one but two permanent markers.


I used to use CLR for most things because its tough and works in most cases. However it has a really strong bad odor that makes me feel like its killing me from the inside out and it burns your skin. So I wear gloves when I use it which sucks.
I bought Green Works a few months ago because I thought, hey it has green in the name. It must be good for you and it must work because I hear about it everywhere.

Now since actions speak louder than words. Take a look.

PERMANANT

After using Green Works by Clorox. Not much difference

After CLR, a little came off, but not much. I started to get scared at this moment that I just ruined our tub

All worries are gone because Melaleuca Ecosense Tub&Tile got it all off! AAAAmazing!