DIY All Purpose Cleaner

Are you into the latest craze of making your own cleaners? I've become much more health conscious over the past year. I don't like all the harsh chemicals and toxins in cleaning products you buy at the store, so I decided it was time to make my own! Not only is it super easy, it's much cheaper! I've really become to love tea tree oil, it has so many uses and I really love the smell. I buy mine at whole foods currently. A little goes a very long way! I also make my own laundry detergent. I'm still looking for a DIY dish washing detergent that works well, for now I'll buy the best green products I can. The only con with green products is they are more expensive, but if that means no chemicals then I'll spend the extra cash! Please READ all the ingredients and labels. It should not be toxic in any way. You can find numerous recipes. Just test and use what you like. I will share with you what I use! I hope I can encourage some to start making their own cleaning products. Here is the link to where I got the recipe from, their are some other recipes on their too! Love this stuff! Homemade cleansers. I saved old cleaning bottles and rinsed them out really well and just refilled with the new "green" cleaners.

All you need is: Hot water, vinegar, tea tree oil, super washing soda (can be found at most local grocers or amazon) and Dr. Bronners castile soap, which can be found on amazon as well, but I bought mine at Whole Foods. Next time I'd like to add lavender oil to mine, it's an anti-bacterial.

It's been too long

Hey gang! So it's been awhile since I've posted..and I can't blame it on my half marathon training, unfortunately. So I'll blame it on just being caught up in life's duties! ;)  I'm not going to post a recipe today. I will give you some awesome updates though, and not so awesome pictures. They're all coming from my cell phone today so do please keep that in mind! A few updates in my life...I haven't run in about 3 weeks and it's killing me! I hurt my foot awhile back so I've been doing a lot of resting. Not so sure if I'll be able to run the half marathon in September which is a huge bummer, but my Mom says we might be able to run one in October, so that's an upside! I was off work this past week, my family was on vacation. When I say my family, I mean the family I nanny for. I am excited to see the kids tomorrow I've missed them! I had an awesome week off though. I got to see my college friend who just had a baby, I got my hair done, visited my grandparents, went to lunch with a friend..and much more. The most exciting was getting a puppy today! He is so adorable. Oh, and I start school on Monday...boo! Hehe, I'm not a huge school fan but it's for the best! Okay, on to the pictures! Again, bear with me they probably won't be of the best quality. :)

 Okay, how cute are my grandparents? My sister and I and niece took them out to lunch! They love to hold hands.

 My niece, Zoe sitting on the cow

 My new hair..yes I did shave part of it!

 Meet Louie, the newest member of our family!

 What's outside Lou dog?

 We just picked him up, we couldn't be happier. We searched forever for a dog and we finally found one. So happy to give him a forever home.

Have a great week everyone! How was your weekend? What was the best part about it?

Pasta with Creamy Cajun Tomato Sauce

Oh, how I have missed my bloggy friends. It's been such a looooong time! Zac and I just recently moved and I've been so consumed by training for my half marathon, and getting ready to go back to school. A little update, we just finally moved into a lovely two bedroom house. I couldn't be more excited. We aren't homeowners yet but it's a nice starter place for us. It's also a change from an apartment. Also so nice! We have a huge fenced in yard, with plenty of weeds for me to pull, and grass for Zac to mow. :) We also have a 2.5 car garage. I love being in a house...also we were out of internet for for awhile so hence the no blogging. We are just about done here, have a few more things to unpack and hang. I will have pictures soon! :) My Mom made me this awesome sign I can't wait to show you guys. The first night we were here was not fun. Frank, my cat was scared of course as he is at any new place. It was about midnight when we found him missing. We searched the whole house and he was nowhere to be found. We figured he got out when we were throwing boxes outside. We went out with treats and kept calling for him, after about 10-15 minutes he finally came back. We were both so scared, I was so freaked out I started crying. I thought he disappeared forever. I can't imagine my life with out him right now. I'm so glad he was okay. Now he loves the house and he's loving all the windows he gets to look out. :)

As for my half marathon training it's going pretty well. I really owe my Mom for all the help and support she has given me. Mom, I love you and I couldn't do as well with out your help and support. She pushes me so much and is so encouraging. I will admit at the end of our long runs when she makes me speed up I want to be not so nice to her, but I keep it to myself. :) Sorry Mom! I want her to be proud of me so I just do it! I'm glad she is here to help! Yesterday we did some speed workouts...yeah so not fun! We ran a mile around the track and then did 1/4 mile sprints-or ran as fast as we could...it was hard, I felt like I wanted to throw up, my hip hurt, and my foot hurt. It was rough. We did that a total of four times. Then we ran three miles. It was my least favorite! I pushed through though. My Mom says a lot of times it's mind over matter. I totally agree, and if she wasn't there I probably wouldn't have done it. When it gets hard I tell myself I'm doing it for my Grandma. She has Alzheimers and is currently in the hospital due to a UTI. I hate to see her struggle and she is so important to me. I have many child hood memories with my grandparents. I can't imagine my life with out them either, and the older they get the more worried I become. I love you to pieces Grandma!!!! So when the running gets tough I power through for her, it seems to be the one thing that really works.

As for school...I've decided to go back to get my RN. Right now my dream is to become a midwife. I'll have to get my masters for that, and yes that might take me a very long time, but it will be totally worth it in the end! I  am starting school August 20th. Being a full time student, a full time nanny, and training for a half marathon will be rough but I can do it! :) Okay, so on to the recipe. I have to say I made this up...and I'm not bragging but, I'm pretty good! ;)  I used my Mom's heirloom tomatoes from her garden. They are soooo good. Thanks Mom! Again, I love you so much and am so thankful for you. I couldn't do this training and be so great with out you.

Pasta with Creamy Cajun Tomato Sauce
4 heirloom tomatoes cut in pieces
1-2 tblsp olive oil
kosher or sea salt and black pepper
4 tblsp butter
onion powder
garlic powder
red pepper flakes
1/4 c white wine
1/4 c whole milk
1/2 c half and half
1/2 c fresh shredded parmesean
pasta of your choice

I didn't have onions, or garlic for this so that's why I used the powder. If you have onions and garlic please use! It was still delicious with out it.
Heat oil over medium heat in skillet, add chopped up tomatoes and heat for about 15-20 minutes. Puree for about 25 seconds and return to skillet. After you have pureed your tomatoes get your pasta water ready, (always heavily salted!) Cook pasta until al dente. Before draining reserve 1/4 c to 1/2 c of pasta water and add to tomato puree. While the pasta is cooking add wine and seasonings to tomato sauce. Boil for a few minutes to reduce the wine.  Add whole milk and half and half. Add cheese and melt. Add pasta to sauce and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Serve and top with cheese. Enjoy! :) 

 Yum-O

 Frank's new favorite spot!