Tip(ful) Tuesday: Non-Toxic Flea Elimination

Is it me or are the fleas really bad this season? Our poor dog was scratching his butt off so our vet recommended that we give him flea control every 2 weeks rather than every 4 weeks. I thought the flea problem was over until little bite marks started appearing on Marlie's legs. The fleas were setting up a society in our carpet and biting her when she crawled around! I resisted the urge to bomb the house with pest poison and did some internet research instead. I found very detailed instructions for a environmentally safe way to get rid of the nasty buggers from a professional carpet cleaner:

• First vacuum all your carpeting thoroughly. After vacuuming take vacuum outside and empty the bag or the canister.

• Next step have your carpets professional cleaned, or rent a Rug Doctor and do it yourself.

• After carpet is completely dry sprinkle all the carpeting with Borax, or if Borax isn't available, use Boraxo laundry detergent. Work powder into carpet with a stiff broom or carpet rake .

• Vacuum up carpets the next day, and again make sure vacuum bag or canister is emptied after vacuuming.

• Last step, and perhaps the most important, is to reapply the Borax in eight days. If it is indeed a flea infestation, the flea eggs deposited by the adult fleas hatch in eight days.

I tried it and it works! Marlie can crawl on the carpets again. :-)

*postcript* after receiving an email from a concerned reader, I want to caution that Borax, although a natural mineral, can be toxic when inhaled or ingested. Please use caution by wearing a mask or glove and keep it away from children and pets.

Tip(ful) Tuesday: Renew Baby's Interest in Played-Out Toys

photo credit: jbcurio/CC 2.0

Marlie has very few toys compared to other babies. This is on purpose. I personally don't believe kids need a ton of toys. Reason one: they are usually made of toxic, non-biodegradable material that glut our landfills. Reason two: kids always prefer playing with your keys, remote control, and pots and pans anyway. Reason two: kids get bored with toys really fast.

Case in point, I bought Marlie a developmental plush bunny toy when she was around 6 months old. It had textured paws and crinkly ears. She loved that stupid thing...for about a month. It didn't surprise me that she suddenly lost interest in it, but I was shocked when she started showing outright contempt for poor bunny. She would toss the bunny out of her crib like a used up Kleenex.

So I put Mr. Bunny away and kept him out of her sight for about a month. I recently introduced the bunny into her toy rotation and it was like she was seeing him for the first time! Eureka! This probably only works on babies.

Tip(ful) Tuesday: Get Your Groupon

Damon clued me in on this website that offers incredible deals from retailers in your community. It's called Groupon and it works like a group discount rate program...a minimum number of people have to purchase the "deal" in order to get the special price. I checked it out and saw some pretty amazing deals for spas, restaurants, and activities (like golf). You can sign up for email alerts to get the deal of the day delivered to your inbox. Yesterday, I purchased $40 worth of food for $20 at a Mediterranean cafe. I can't believe I didn't know about this sooner!

Tip(ful) Tuesday: Define the eShakti Woman and Win!

I haven't been clothes shopping since Marlie was born. I dread the idea of juggling an armful of clothes while maneuvering a stroller through the narrow aisles of a department store. Don't even get me started on the tiny dressing rooms! I miss clothes shopping. Badly. I have been wanting to try online shopping, but am hesitant to order clothes I can't touch or try on. eShakti to the rescue! I have been offered the chance to sample and review product from the company's line of beautiful women's clothing. I cannot wait!

In the meantime, I want to share information with you about the FABULOUS contest eShakti is running on their website. All you have to do is answer 3 simple questions:

1. Who is the eShakti woman? (in 25 words or less)
   
2. Which 3 products describe eShakti the best?
3. Why do you think these 3 products describe eShakti the best? (in 30 words or less)
   

Did I mention there are prizes? Here's what you can win:

• 1 grand prize winner will receive $250
• 25 runner-ups will receive $50
• everyone who enters receives a $10 eShakti gift certificate

I know you are anxious to enter, so here is the contest entry form. The contest deadline is March 31, 2010 at midnight. Please do me a favor and tell them that Marlie and Me sent you. Good luck!

Tip(ful) Tuesday: Coupon for Almond Breeze

I stopped drinking cow's milk 5 years ago and switched to almond milk. It has the same nutrients, but didn't cause the digestive problems I had with dairy milk. Plus, it tastes fantastic!
My favorite brand Almond Breeze is offering consumers a $1 off coupon to try their product. Click the link to print yours today.

Tip(ful) Tuesday: Shop for Baby and Save!

A mommy could easily go broke buying all those cute clothes, blankets, and socks . That's why I love discount stores. There are two web sites that I know I can count on for great bargains on baby items.

Baby Half Off sells a baby/kid product everyday for over half off of the retail price. You can find out about about their deal of the day by subscribing to their blog, joining their Facebook fan page, or following them on Twitter.





MamaBargains.com posts multiple 50-80% deals daily and you have to check back frequently and act fast. They don't have an alert tool yet (it's under construction), but you can follow them on Twitter or Facebook and see updates whenever a new item is available.

Tip(ful) Tuesday: FREE DVD Rental

Have you see those cherry red kiosks outside your local Walmart or Walgreens? They are self-serve DVD rental machines owned by a company called redbox, and I am in love! Let me count the ways:

• I love that rentals are only $1/day...no hidden fees!
  
• I love that you can reserve your DVD online to guarantee your selection is waiting for you...no disappointment from driving all the way to the video store to discover your movie is out-of-stock!
• I love that you can return your rental to any location (more than 17,000 nationwide)...no more special trips to inconvenient locations!
  
• I love that they never charge you a late fee if you don't return your rental on time, just pay for additional night(s)...no mad dash to the to video store to avoid penalties!
  

sign-up for their e-newsletter and get a promo code for one free night's rental!

Tip(ful) Tuesday: Holiday Cards

I look forward to giving and receiving greeting cards during the holiday season, but in these budget-tightening times I have to be smart about how much I spend to spread holiday cheer this year. Here are some ways to send holiday cards when you are on a budget:

• Send an electronic card. Before you start squawking about how that would be tacky and cheap, think about the paper waste you will be preventing. Got Free Cards has some very cute e-cards!
  
• Make your own. You don't have to be a graphic designer thanks to web sites like The Paper Mill Store and Southworth. Just download their templates, customize and print at home or at your local print shop.
  
• If your heart is set on a professional job, then check out Vistaprint. They are are having a 50% off sale on many of their designs and you can get 10 FREE cards with some orders.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tip(ful) Tuesday: FREE nursing cover

Udder Covers is offering their patterned nursing covers for FREE. Just go to their web site, select your favorite pattern (some are already sold out) and type in promo code "thanks" or "thank you" to get your free Udder Cover (a $32 value). You just pay $8.95 for S/H. I ordered the Maria to have a spare. It would also make a great gift for a mommy-to-be. Happy Shopping!

Tip(ful) Tuesday: Take Control of Your Immunity

A foreword disclaimer: I am not a doctor. The tips provided are based on my personal experience. Talk to your primary care physician about ways you can enhance your immunity with supplements and natural foods.

This is a follow-up to Sunday's post in which I mentioned that I had a cold last week that was so mild it hardly registered. I was largely asymptomatic except for that familiar scratchy throat and a day of sneezing/coughing. I decided to share my immune-strengthening program that I have been following since the summer in preparation for cold/flu season. I used to get a bad cold at least twice a year, but decided to start being proactive about my health once I learned a few things from a holistic practioner:

• Did you know your immune system resides in your gut? By simply eating right, you can build a resistance to the cold and flu or minimize symptoms and the length of your illness. This means consuming foods that strengthen your immunity and avoiding those that suppress it--- like caffeine, sugar and processed foods. I make a cinnamon/honey spread that I eat on spelt bread once a day and boil a piece of ginger root in water and drink it as a tea. I also take a vitamins and herbal supplements in the form of 1,000 IU/daily of Vitamin D, an Echinacea/Goldenseal (take 10 days on and 3 days off), and probiotics. I took zinc lozenges while I was sick because zinc is known to shorten the length of colds.
• Do you treat your body like a temple? Your body's cells, tissues and systems are constantly regenerating and needs its rest to perform this function. Getting enough sleep will help your immune system fight off an infection. If you do get sick, it will help you recover faster. This step was harder for me to follow while caring for an infant, which is probably why I came down with a cold in the first place. In addition to restorative sleep, you need to decrease stress (I'm not saying "stop stressing," that's impossible!)...just that you should find a way to combat stress so that it doesn't interfere with your health. Exercise is my weapon of choice. I get a mood boost from the endorphins and an immunity boost!
• Do you practice good hygiene? I am shocked when I see a woman walk out of the ladies room without washing her hands. I am annoyed when I see sick people sneezing or coughing at the store without covering up. This is how the cold and flu spreads...poor sanitary habits. Wash your hands frequently; keep them away from your eyes, nose and mouth so you don't introduce an infection; and never sneeze or cough into them. I know the recommendation is to use a tissue or the crook of your arm (but this where I cradle my baby). If I didn't have a tissue nearby when I needed to cough or sneeze I would cover my mouth with my hands and sanitize immediately.

Get Healthy, Get Happy!

Tip(ful) Tuesday: What Wear When You Are Breastfeeding

Photo of Angelo Baldemor statue by bingbing

In preparation for breastfeeding I purchased four nursing bras and received one nursing tank as a gift. I was so focused on the undergarments that I completely forgot about tops. I didn't need to worry at first because the weather was still warm when I gave birth, so I just wore tank tops. Then it got cooler, and the idea of exposing my bare skin to the frigid air sent me running to the department store.

But when I got there I was clueless about what to buy...flannel button-downs, long-sleeved scoop necks, cardigans? Confused, I left without buying anything. I mentioned my dilemma to my pastor who shared this awesome tip with me: buy men's tank-style undershirts to wear over your nursing bra and under your top. When you need to nurse your baby, just lift up or un-button your shirt and pull your boob through the extra-large arm holes of the men's tank. Now you have a cover-up layer between you and the elements (and curious onlookers).

Tip(ful) Tuesday: SWAP MAMAS

I am all about the Reduce. Reuse. Recycle...I'm crunchy and cheap like that. So when Marlie outgrew her newborn cloth diapers, I went hunting online for a way to exchange them for larger sizes. Environmentally-conscious and frugal moms, meet SWAP MAMAS where you can connect with more than 4,000 moms to swap stuff, be green, and save money! It took me a minute to figure out how the site works and it's pretty simple. You post a description and photos of your items for trade and wait for members to barter with you. You can also scroll through posts looking for stuff you need and make your own offers. Sometimes, members just give stuff for FREE! It is a thing of beauty! Plus, no money transactions are allowed so you don't have to worry about being defrauded. The site is divided into groups such as crafts, books, and coupons (just to name a few out of hundreds). My only recommendation for improvement would be to add a search function so that you can query the posts by key terms rather than having to click through each one. Other than that, I find the site is fairly easy to use AND addictive. I have already exchanged coupons with a mother in North Dakota and I'm hoping to swap cloth diapers soon. Not every group is about swapping goods though...there are even groups that exchange recipes and baking tips! In this economy, very few of us can afford to buy the things we want or need brand-new. Say your kids want the latest Disney DVD, but it's not in your budget. Just join the Disney Mamas and/or the Big DVD Swap and offer to trade a DVD you no longer need in exchange for the one your family wants. My next task is to swap some of my old books for children books to start Marlie's library.
If you have stuff you want to get rid of, check out SWAP MAMAS. Your junk IS someone's treasure!