Alternative Housewife

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2010-01-23T00:14:00.001-08:00

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OBEY Adopt

2010-01-15T02:17:00.000-08:00

Zumiez is currently featuring clothing to sponsor causes, and my charity of choice is OBEY for Mutts Like Me. I already love OBEY designs, and I can definitely get behind animal causes. I plan to order this Obey Adopt t-shirt. 100% cotton, all profits from this shirt go to the cause. Advertise this worthy cause on your body with great pop art and know your proceeds go on to help needy cats and dogs.

From the site:

Whether you want a specific breed or a marvelous mutt, you can be sure to find your new best friend at a shelter or rescue group near you. And if you can’t adopt a pet, there are plenty of other ways you can help our four-legged friends.

When you're looking for your next pet, it's easy to get lured in by the appeal of designer breeds, and even our dog wasn't adopted from a shelter, unfortunately. When you find the right pet, you don't care where they come from. I'm not saying to turn down any pet, but try searching shelters and adoption websites first, before you move on to breeders. I know firsthand that nothing compares to raising a puppy, and you don't have to compromise that experience just because you adopt. My search of Adopt a Pet turned up several puppies and young dogs as well as older companions.

Looking through the pages, my husband and I couldn't help but bookmark a couple pets to scope out. We haven't even paid off our pet deposit for Rufio yet, and we also want a (human) baby soon, but I do think Ruf deserves a live-in friend, and cute dog faces are hard to resist.

This is my fave dog, adoptable in Oregon:

Isn't she terrifying? I love it. I would name her Tallulah, but my husband would never have that. In fact, he wants to adopt this dog.

How to Make Easy Money Online Via Surveys, Shopping, Referrals

2010-01-13T03:18:00.000-08:00

For SAHMs (Stay At Home Moms) or women who work from home, there are lots of opportunities to bring in extra cash online, from blogging to selling handmade items on Etsy. One easy way to boost your income is to use your social network to your advantage, referring friends to fill out surveys and shop as you do the same. If you refer enough people, you'll find you pull in checks without having to do any of the actual work yourself!

CashCrate is my favorite way to make quick cash online, because how much you make is really up to you. It's totally tedious, but making $20 or more a month is really easy. A little more invested time could easily double, triple, etc. that amount, and the more people you refer, the more you'll rake in without even having to log into the site. The payout threshold is just $20, meaning that is all you have to make to request payment. The only downside to this site is that you will get swarmed with emails after signing up and filling out surveys, so I suggest setting up a free email account with Yahoo or Hotmail as your junk inbox.

When it comes to actually filling out surveys and such on CashCrate, use common sense - I have never had a problem with any security or privacy issues. You can ask to only be shown 100% Free offers, as there are tons of basic surveys you can get paid to fill out. You can also click Go Shopping to see which retailers will reward you for shopping - they might be places you are already spending money, so might as well get some of that cash back!

Inbox Dollars doesn't spam you nearly as much as CashCrate, and you do have to click within emails to confirm receiving them, so it's up to you whether you use a junk account or your primary email address. The payout threshold here is $30, and there is an automatic $5 credited to your account just for signing up. The friend who referred me just got a check for $200.

Ideeli isn't set up to make money, but it does give you a kickback when your friends shop! The site offers designer clothes and accessories at discount prices in short online sales that last from a few hours to a few days each. I ordered some luxe lace-up Matisse Henna Gladiator Sandals last summer just using credit. Sign up for the designer sales, and get a $25 shopping credit whenever a referred friend makes a purchase.

Similarly, Beyond the Rack will give you a $10 shopping credit for referrals. Their sales run a bit cheaper, so it pays off.

Aromatherapy for Mood

2010-01-11T21:51:00.000-08:00

Your environment is a reflection of yourself and vice versa. On top of a clean home, the scents that surround you influence both your own mood and the impression left on your guests. Aromatherapy can be used to treat depression and stress, and has even shown to be effective on dogs! Pamper yourself, your family, and even your pet with the aromas below.

Chamomile & Lavender are good for treating stress/anxiety, and for sleep or relaxation. Chamomile is slightly fruity, and I prefer the scent to the taste of chamomile tea. Lavender is floral, and great for bedtime. A quality lavender candle will fill an entire room with scent. Light near your bed half an hour before it's time to sleep (but don't leave unattended). Lavender has been linked to lowered blood pressure and decreased muscle tension.

The above scents are also great for treating depression, as is Sandalwood. I recently discovered sandalwood when my mom gave me a set of sandalwood tea candles as part of a gift. Woody and fruity, it's now one of my favorite scents. Sandalwood and Jasmine are said to be romantic scents.

Citrus and Minty scents are ideal for energy and mental clarity. They also provide your home with a 'clean' feeling, which is why many cleaning products are scented and marketed as Orange or Minty Fresh. (When it comes to choosing cleaning products, I suggest Citra Solv, which I'm sure I'll post more on later. It gets through anything, and I don't mind getting it on my bare hands or using around my pup!)

Citrus scents Peppermint, Lemon, Orange, and especially Grapefruit are all stimulating scents. One of my favorite smells of all time is simply Gap Scents So Pink. Orange Spice Black Tea is great for a mood boost on hot or cold days.

I find that minty smells can provide a boost of energy or a gateway to sleep, depending on when applied. I'm pretty obsessed with Tiger Balm and everything like it. Camphor gels or pain patches on the back of my neck are the perfect pick-me-up when I'm sitting at the computer for long hours, while I'm also a fan of menthol and lavender nasal sprays before bed.

More on Candles...

Some candles seem really pricey, but good ones can burn as long as 40+ hours, and the best candles require less burning time to put off a lingering scent. Yankee Candles are famous for their potency, and sometimes you can find them at outlet stores such as Ross or TJ Maxx for as much as half off. Otherwise, they sell for around $20 each. Bed, Bath and Beyond has a great selection.

The Kardashian sisters at Dash are working on a candle collab with For Every Body that will include soy-based, eco-friendly candles and soy sprays.

Secondhand Home: New-to-Me Furniture

2010-01-06T22:38:00.000-08:00

This furniture isn't really new to me, as it was sitting in my friend Ginger's apartment the past year. When she announced she was moving, she assigned me a sheet of paper and instructed me to make note of everything I wanted, like a registry. It's bittersweet, as she no longer lives close by, but I love the comfort of her familiar furnishings. This also saved our home, as moving from a studio to a 2-bed townhouse, we definitely had space to fill.

We love this old dining table, with sides that drop down. She donated her red napkins, napkin rings, and place mats from World Market. My favorite is the old skool chairs with studs. This dining area still needs a bit more inspiration, and note the artwork we still haven't gotten around to hanging!

This serving cart is a bit rusted, but very clean, and too fun to pass on. It's the one time I wish our townhouse apartment was a flat - it'd be so fun to serve tea to the bedrooms!

We are in love with this red ottoman, and we finally have a real living room! (On the other side of the room is our old coffee table & Ikea couch.) The leopard stool is also fabulous. The small round table is from Urban Outfitters.

One of the best pieces is this desk, which my friend hand painted. That's a Travis Outlaw bobble head on top of the TV. My husband is always watching Food Network.

My favorite new piece of furniture is definitely our new bed. I was married and sleeping on an air mattress last week, which was a very sad state. Luckily, Ginger passed down this fabulous bed frame (I was skeptical, but actually in my apartment it looks so vintage and sexy) along with a box spring & mattress. Secondhand mattresses are iffy, so it was a relief to get one from a trusted source.

Secondhand furniture not only gives a home more character than cookie cutter Ikea pieces (of which we do have a few!), it is also a great form of recycling. Furniture from friends and family can also bring comfort.

Blending new and old works as well in decor as it does in your closet. For instance, we brightened up an old-fashioned bed with brand new linens (Mattress pad, comforter, and sheets, about $80, Ross).

Win a Green Toys Tea Set from Minnesota Mama

2010-01-01T15:40:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Mama is giving one lucky reader the chance to Win a Green Toys Tea Set.

Green Toys are made from recycled milk jugs, and the resulting plastic is considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics.

I entered this contest for my favorite baby. I adored tea sets as a child (and still do, really!) and this toy is not only a good accessory for make-believe play, but also a great tool for teaching kids about recycling.

Easy Tips for a Clean Home

2009-12-31T02:01:00.000-08:00

Cleaning your home doesn't have to be something you dread. If you keep on top of messes as they happen, most homes can survive on a thorough cleaning just once or twice a month, giving you more time to enjoy your living space. A few tips can make cleaning easier and more satisfying.

1. Do it when the mood strikes. My husband gets really annoyed when I clean at 2am, but I know it's better to get it all handled when I feel like doing it than to force it later. Clean everything in sight when you truly want to do it, and just lightly maintain and pick up after yourself the rest of the time.

2. Clean just before your shower. This works sort of like magic, where you clean and clean, hop into the shower exhausted, and pop out into a freshly cleaned home. You'll do a better job tackling messes when you aren't concerned with messing up your looks, and your hot shower will feel like a steamy reward. For extra satisfaction, throw in a workout before or after the clean fest.

3. Reuse cleaning wipes. I used to feel guilty using pre-moistened wipes for cleaning, as it seemed really wasteful, but I found that even the store brand cleaning wipes can be rinsed and used several times. One wipe can be folded over a few times to clean your counters, and then rinsed under the faucet and used to wipe down your sink. Disposable cleaning wipes are also the best way to clean inside microwaves. For extra cleaning power, use wipes with a citrus or vinegar cleaning spray.

4. Rearrange your space. Not only will this expose hidden messes under furniture, it serves as a huge motivator. When you are excited about your space, you'll enjoy taking care of it, and chores will seem less monotonous.

5. Reward yourself with scents & ambiance. When you're finally finished getting everything clean, light a few candles or oils for aromatherapy. Your favorite scents can chase away cleaning smells and signal your brain to relax.

Pet Head: Only For Cool Dogs!

2009-12-30T20:50:00.000-08:00

Even though I knew I loved the Bed Head TIGI product line, I brought home the Pet Head Holiday Gift Set based on the packaging - the bottles are so cute I leave them in my shower all the time, and the set came with a doggie towel. Even though we'd just given our pup Rufio a bath, we couldn't wait to use them, and busted open the Deck the Paws Cinnamon Shampoo, which smells exactly like a sugar scrub I love. The smell lasts for days on the pup, and the products are paraben-free, so I don't have to worry about covering his coat in chemicals.

The Feelin' Frosty Sugar Cookie Magical Deodorizing Spray is even better. Although Rufio spends the majority of time inside, sometimes a quick walk in the rain is all it takes for him to start smelling a little foul. Pet Head's Deodorizing Spray doesn't just cover up smells like other dog sprays we've used, but actually neutralizes while oatmeal and aloe vera soothe the skin. The coat is conditioned by tea tree oil, and the overall result is a happy dog who smells like a dessert.

Pet Head also sell pet-safe color dyes for those of you who dream of pink or blue tails and paws. Get the latest at Cool Dog News.

New Blog: Keywords

2009-12-27T03:25:00.000-08:00

Alternative Baby Cleaning Coffee Cooking Diet Coke Dogs Domestic Drinks Earthy Edgy Family Feng Shui Food Future Mom Gardening Green Happiness Home Homemaker House Housewife Lifestyle Luxe Natural Pets Piercings Recycling Secular Style Stylish Sustainable Tattoos Weight Loss

Blog posts coming soon!