Recipies from 'Domestic Goddess on a Budget' by Wendyl Nissen

Store cupboard

Apple cider vinegar

Baking soda

Castile soap (I use Dr. Bronners liquid and cake)

Essential oils

Glycerine

Sunlight soap

White vinegar

Spray cleaner for kitchen

1 litre water

1 tsp baking soda

a few drops of liquid soap

10 drops lavender or tea-tree essential oil

(add 1 tsp olive oil for wooden benches)

Dishwasher liquid mix

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup liquid castile soap

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

5 drops tea-tree essential oil

1/2 cup white vinegar

use 2 tbsp per load

Hand dishwashing mix

3 tbsp liquid castile soap

2 cup water

1 tsp glycerine

10 drops lavender essential oil

Stainless steel

Wipe with baby oil

Toilet bowl cleaner

Throw ~1 cup baking soda into bowl, add ~1 cup white vinegar, watch it fizz!

Leave ~10 mins then scrub with brush.

Spray tea-tree spray (1 cup water with 30 drops tea-tree essential oil) in and around toilet.

Liquid handwash

250 ml boiling water

2 tbsp grated Sunlight soap

dissolve about 10 mins, then add

2 tsp glycerine

2 tsp rose water

10 drops essential oil of your choice

Magic night face cream

1/2 cup olive oil

3 tsp apple cider vinegar

~1 tbsp water

3 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

I should have mentioned that this book not only has sections on natural cleaning products, natural beauty and health and the kitchen but also has sections on gardening, how to save money, how to reduce, re-use and recycle and how to manage your life! It’s a fantastic book, I highly recommend it.

Wendyl also has a website http://www.wendylsgreengoddess.co.nz/

I’d love to hear how these recipes work out for you and any other recipes that you would recommend.

Making furniture from cardboard

Here at Transition Kenmore we like to promote the three R's: reduce, reuse, recycle. Plus extra ones such as repair. Making some of your own furniture is one way to put some these principles into practice.

It doesn't have to be complicated either, if you have cardboard, string, some cloth and a needle and thread (which should be most members of our community group) then you can make an attractive looking foot stool.
Hat tip to the creative geniuses in the family, my wife and her brother for showing us how it's done.

1) Take a bunch of old cardboard



2) Start cutting out identical sized pieces










3) Stack



4) Stabilise with cardboard retainer round outside, hold in place with string



5) For a bit of comfort, cover with dacron, sew up













6) Cover with fabric



7) Enjoy



So, sure you can just recycle your cardboard, but why not put it to use as something functional? Reusing some "waste" products and reducing the number of trips to Ikea.

Local Handcrafts from the Handmade Expo

These are some of the beautiful handmade goods I bought from the Handmade Expo in Ipswich last month. The expo is being held monthly up to Christmas at the Ipswich Turf Club, Bundamba and from August will include gourmet fresh foods. If you can't leave your house, check out our talanted Brisbane crafters on ETSY. Meet them in the flesh at Brisstyle markets in December -not to be missed.

The chenille bag was actually a gift for my daughter from Handmade heaven and the wheat packs are from bubbachenille.com. The kids really love their 'hotties' on these cold nights we are having! 

This gorgeous little scrap bag and tea cosie are from Wimcee who do really lovely creations - 

perfect for presents. I am collecting tea accouterments at the moment in a bid to give up tea bags forever. I am trying to make time for 'tea' instead of throwing a bag in a cup and carying it around the house between jobs!