How to Remove Chewing Gum from the Dryer Drum

 

 

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Chewing gum.  A childhood obsession of mine.  I would scuba dive into the deepest abyss in the house, the couch, and recover five pennies lost to the world as we know it.  Their age and rarity would probably be worth a paper dollar to my grandpa.  But the agonizing spread of time between his next visit and the possibility that he wouldn't buy them from me wasn't worth the risk because the corner store three houses down had a little glass jar full of Bazooka Bubble Gum priced at $0.05 a piece, one of the only things in my life that I had enough money to buy and didn't have to ask permission for first.

Now if I wanted to hunt down some quarters and dollar bills in a life threatening safari, also known as my mother's purse, sneak up to the store, purchase a Baby Ruth and arrive home with the appetite destroying enemy in hand, I could.  Would I eat it all myself?  No.  Would I be questioned on my integrity and ability to be trusted in the home?  Yes.  Would my mother make me share the candy bar with my two sisters?  Yes.  Did I find that fair?  No.  If I was willing to put my neck out and risk my integrity and ability to be trusted by my own family for the momentary delight of caramel, chocolate, peanuts and I think nugget (what the heck is in a Baby Ruth anyways, leave a post if you know) I should have been awarded that candy bar for my bravery and given the honor of eating it in front of my sisters while I watched Sesame Street, knowing I was the only one that still needed to learn my ABC's and numbers.

Gum was my oasis.  It was nonthreatening and like a Chewy granola bar commercial,  it kept my mouth busy at the most important times:  church, long car rides, parent teacher conferences and any check out counter in the tri state area.  I could ask to bum a piece off any adult in my family and they would happily oblige.  I guess I was a chatter box child attempting adult conversations at the irritation of most people around me.  You know the type.

In my adulthood my love for gum is more of a way of life than a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

                                                       Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I use it to clean food from my teeth after eating, which in turn helps to prevent cavities.

                                          Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It is a form of stress relief and a tool for focus when my mind is in overdrive. 

                                         Image courtesy of at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

And let's face it, if my breath stinks, which happens to all of us, I can pop in a piece of gum and I'm good to go.

In all it's glory there is a downside to gum.  And I'm not talking about the epidemic of gum stuck to sidewalks and the bottom of tables, although that is pretty bad.  What I'm about to mention is much worse.  It's a slap the forehead and say, "D'oh!" type of moment.  It's an interrogate every person living under the roof type of offense.  It's leaving gum in your pocket when you wash and dry your clothes.

Not only does this ruin almost every item that's in the dryer with the offending sticky outlaw, it coats the dryer drum with this tar like substance that's stretched and smeared and baked on!  The first thing that came to mind when this happened to me was that it was probably my fault.  I tried wiping it out, really I did.  It wasn't budging.  But you know what, I had a bucket of rotten smelling rags that needed ran through the wash so...dust to the wind.  I mean, come on, my dish rags would look better with more stains anyways, so that was a mute point.  To my surprise, and I don't recommend this because it could have been a fluke, the gum stayed on the dryer drum and didn't transfer to the rags.  Oh ya, I was back in business and the laundry getting d.o.n.e.  

That gum stain has become a part of my dryer.  I honestly don't even notice it anymore, in a negative way that is.  Now when I see it I'm like, "What's up buddy?  Stay strong".  I know that's wrong.  That's how houses slowly deteriorate.  When things that are broken or dirty just become a part of your home, maybe go to a nice Bistro or shop in an upscale town, then come home with fresh eyes and the inspiration to take on a few outdated DIY projects.  That's what happened to me after a visit to my mother's house and I saw her beautiful, and I mean gorgeous, washer and dryer.  I came home and stared at that gum stain like I was a made man.  It was going down.  But how?  Graaannnndddmmmaaa!!!!!   Hhhhhheeeelllllllppp!!!  By grandma, I mean Google.  This is what I found...

1st thing's 1st:
Put a small load of old towels in the dryer.  Run on warm for a few minutes and soften the gum.


2nd thing's 2nd:
Mix a tablespoon of powdered laundry detergent with a tad of water.  Make a thick paste and apply to a clean cloth.

3rd thing's 3rd:

Use the cloth to scrub off the gum; then wipe the entire dryer drum.

4th thing's 4th:

The next load in the dryer should be damp rags.  This will remove any residue or gum leftover.
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I followed these instructions and said bye to my old friend Dry Gum and my new friend Melted Crayon.  I was pleasantly surprised that it removed both!  This is definitely a method I will be passing down to my kids and sharing with my friends.  Obviously checking pockets is the best prevention.  Share that too.  And if you do find some lost treasure, maybe indulge in a favorite childhood candy.  It may not be good for the body but it sure is good for the soul.  

  
Written by Jessica Connor

Clothing Flame Retardant; Natural, Homemade and Easy



As we enter Memorial Day weekend we bow our heads in honor of the brave men and women that died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  You will always be remembered.

 

               The gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery are decorated by U.S. flags on Memorial Day weekend.

Memorial Day was formerly known as Decoration Day.  It originated as a way to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers that died in the Civil War.  By the 20th century Memorial Day was extended as a day to honor all Americans that died while in military service. 

Volunteers gather at national cemeteries and help place American flags on each grave to honor the soldiers that died while in military service.  Many others visit cemeteries and memorials.  

Before the American Civil War in some rural areas of the American South, a tradition of visiting family graveyards in late spring or early summer was similar to a family reunion.  The deceased would be remembered while friends and kinfolk would reconnect over a potluck picnic.  This may shed light on the current Memorial Day traditions we share of camping and BBQ festivities.    

 

For kids Memorial Day is often bundled into a weekend that represents the beginning of summer and the end of the school year.     

 

photos courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

 

    

If you're one of the many Americans going camping this weekend and you'll have children with you, you need to remember that there will probably be a campfire.

photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

 

Trust me, those kids are going to want to poke sticks in the fire, throw dry leaves on it, sneak garbage into it, and test the theory that spit can put it out, all while eating smores.  A sugar rush, family, the fresh outdoors, and a campfire make for excellent memories for the little guys and gals.  Is it dangerous and are you going to find yourself extremely protective?  Probably.  Good for you. 

 

To help you relax a little change the girls out of their loose sun dresses, the boys out of their swimming trunks, and put everyone, yourself included, in tight fitting clothing like a good, sturdy pair of jeans that are 100% cotton.  Cotton will ignite so keep an eye on how close they get to the fire.  Wool is your best bet since it smolders and can be put out with a few stern pats or taken off quickly and stomped. 

 

For added protection you can make your clothing flame retardant by following these simple directions. 

 

Nonpermanent Flame Retardant
2.5 ounces borax
2 cups boiling hot water

1.  Combine the borax and boiling water in a bowl and stir until all the borax is dissolved.

2.  Pour into a spray bottle, shake, and spray onto the clothes.

3.  Don’t rinse.

4.  Let dry before dressing the person in the clothes.

5.  Reapply the spray after each wash.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/natural-nonpermanent-flame-retardant.html#ixzz2UEDeYgX6

 

 

Obviously you have the option of dressing the crew in clothes already manufactured with a coating of flame retardants but there is growing evidence that it's not safe for our health.  Check out this link for loads of information on the topic. 

 

http://e360.yale.edu/feature/pbdes_are_flame_retardants_safe_growing_evidence_says_no/2446/ 

 

However you decide to honor our fallen heroes this weekend keep you and your loved ones safe around the fire.  And be sure to educate the next generation on the importance of Memorial Day.          

Beauty Shop Revelation

I finally went to a salon this week and had my hair trimmed.  I donated my hair twice in the past three years, committing to the au natural look for better quality wig material, but decided to enjoy the length for a while before slicing off the required 10 inches.  To all the ladies and gentlemen out there with long, flowing locks, I now understand how nerve wracking it is to have a pair of scissors snipping methodically at your hard earned mane.  It took years to achieve that length, right?  When I had short hair, the stylist could do no wrong.  Chop it, shock it, twist it, and snip it.  I'd be back in four weeks anyway and pomade could fix anything.

While I was sitting in the barber chair the stylist did her usual trash talking of bargain bin hair salons.  To the horror of all the staff, and wannabe beauty queens within ear shot, I admitted that I almost pulled into Best Cuts before opting for a more experienced establishment.  Now, to be fair to Best Cuts, these ladies all worked there for 5-13 years before moving on to bigger and better blow outs.  But, I guess that memory was short lived and the cycle of graduates from cosmetology school is at full throttle because there hasn't been hyde nor hair of a want ad in the paper to fill the void of their departure. 

After the pack of wolves was finished devouring their mid morning snack of other people's unfortunate hair stylist choices, we turned our attention to something positive, weddings.  And who doesn't like to talk about that.  They're like babies.  Everybody knows one, has one (two, three, four, or more), or has already been there...done that.  In that case, the conversation was flowing like polish on a pedi.

Of coarse, the notion of getting ones image professionally enhanced, by the self proclaimed divas of hair dye before the big event, was the main topic for the stylists.  The patrons were more interested in finding out where, to who, and how long they'd been dating before hand. 

In the midst of all the wedded bliss, I heard a woman slice through the snipping and the snickering, with a declaration comparable to a Disney princess that refuses to fall into the hands of her villain; "Wedding season is upon us, ladies"!  Did I really just get an adrenalin rush?  I mean, I literally started to panic.  I frantically searched my wardrobe, via memory, for acceptable wedding attire be it at a beach, ballroom, backyard, or dive bar.  I even considered having my nails done for the first time since 1999.  I had to get out of there.  The smell of bleach, burnt hair, and concealer was getting to my head, let alone being in one room with ten women that were probably menstruating or having hot flashes.  When I start considering acrylics it's time to split. 

On my way home, with a wonderfully layered cut I might add, I was finally able to breath and think like myself again.  The thought of weddings was still there but without the sense of panic I was suffering from while in the beauty bubble.  So, instead of freaking out about what color lipstick to wear if my dress is red, I was focusing more on what the bride and groom might get a kick out of as a gift.  Stem ware?  No.  Photo album?  Nah.  Puppy?  Nadda, but maybe.  Dryer balls?  Why the heck not?  They're going to be doing laundry, right?

So it was decided.  For this wedding season, that sneaked up on us so mischievously, I would gift Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls to the bride and groom.  Yay for me.  All by myself with a declaration for nobody to hear.  So, I decided something else.  I would be getting my nails done for the weddings.  Maybe just my toes.  You see, like I said, the smell of bleach, burnt hair, and concealer had gotten to my head and I found myself missing it.  That, and the resemblance between being in a salon with 10 catty women that were probably menstruating or having hot flashes and growing up in a family of multi-generational, catty women, that I know for a fact were menstruating, having hot flashes, or had one too many glasses of wine.  It felt good to be home.  And that, not the monster lashes, was the most beautiful thing about it.            

                                    photo courtesy of freedigitalphoto.net

Inventions: Giving the Gift of Quality Time to Families

photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net  

Mother's Day is upon us heavier than ever before.  Social media is constantly putting unnecessary pressure on mothers by pitting perfection against reality every time a "friend" posts a picture of a perfect meal, a family photo in a staged location, or scripts an ego stroking announcement of one's ordinary accomplishment.  For example:  Snuck a 15 minute nap and a mini dark chocolate candy bar while the hubby read The Hungry Little Caterpillar to our precious little ones!  Thanks Babe, I'm such a lucky lady! 

Yawn.

I wish.

That stuff gets stuck in our subconscious and whether we like it or not we compare who we are ~ to who they are...and who we used to be ~ to who we wish we could be...and our mother ~ to ourselves as a mother... and celebrity mothers ~ to mothers we know that look like celebrities...and...

And while we're all wrapped up in meeting a glowing screens, unattainable expectations, that would be more accurately described as comparing-induced hallucinations, we've forgotten that our time and love is what truly matters to our children.  Not whether or not it's favorably documented.    

Really?  Really.       

Yes, motherhood has been mainstreamed.  But in the home, motherhood is still about being a tangible rock for children who's young hearts are as innocent as an apple blossom.

When they get their feelings hurt and their tears need dried, it's the mother who wipes them away with her tender kisses.

When they cross a developmental milestone, it's the mother's heart that swells until it bursts with shouts of praise and hugs of joy.

When they're sick as dogs, it's the mother's hand that cools their forehead and rubs their back.

When their belly growls, it's the mother that started dinner an hour ago in anticipation of their needs.

When they wet the bed, it's the mother that helps them peel off the shrink wrapped pajamas and warms their wrinkled skin in a bubble bath.

And when everything is going haywire, and the kids are being rotten, and the house is a wreck, it's the mother that somehow manages to get everything back on coarse.

Could you imagine doing this 150 years ago?  Would you have had enough time?  What type of daily chores would have gotten in the way of spending time with and caring for your children?  Would they "learn how to fend for themselves", so that you could tend the livestock and a garden that was the size of a few football fields?   

What you may not realize is that, now more than ever, we are spending larger amounts of quality time with our kids even though life seemed simpler back then.  Thanks to inventions like the dishwasher, washer and dryer, automobile, indoor plumbing, electricity, and the convenience of grocery stores and restaurants, our main job as a mother today is to be with our children.  Back 150 years ago, a house wife labored hard and long hours or they didn't eat.  When somebody asked, "Where's Jimmy?", he could have been a.n.y.w.h.e.r.e.  In the barn, in the woods, asleep in a haystack, at the creek, at the neighbors, in the fields, etc.  And he was probably a ripe ol' age of 5.  Hence the dinner bell.                

So when you get home from work and flick the lights on, run the dishwasher, brew a cup of coffee, put a load of clothes in the wash, and throw a casserole in the oven, take a moment to imagine how long all those chores would have taken a mother 150 years ago.  Then look at your children and imagine them fending for themselves while you were busy.  Thanks to modern day inventions you have all the time in the world to do the best job in the world, be a mom.  And the only opinions that matter are the children's.

Happy Mother's Day






 

    

Dryer Sheets Could be Costing you Money at the Doctor and the Pharmacy

Take a look at these percentages.

from Reader's Digest May 2013

Did you notice that skin disorders has the highest percentage for doctor visits?

If you are part of this group, or know of someone that is, try using our wool dryer balls instead of chemical laden dryer sheets.

Our skin is a sponge and soaks up toxins from everything we come in contact with, even the air.

I'm sure you could imagine, or have experienced, what wearing a garment coated in synthetic perfumes chemicals and petroleum from dryer sheets could do to your skin.  Eczema, acne, and rashes top the list of reactions.  And that's just our skin. 

Dryer sheets are also notorious for causing migraines, breathing difficulties, nerve disorders, and anxiety. 

How are those little sheets of horror still being sold you ask?  They're not required to list all of their ingredients.  They're similar to cleaning products.  And we aaaalllll know what those guys get away with. 

I'll list the ingredients of our Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls right now.

1.  Wool.
2.  The occasional piece of hay if it was missed in the cleaning process. (Very rare)
3.  Non-toxic dye.

Give them a try.  Your skin doesn't lie.

If you are worried you'll miss the scent of dryer sheets you can add about 4-5 drops of your favorite essential oil right on the dryer balls.  The scent will permeate your clothing just like a dryer sheet.  Some of our favorites are lavender, rose and lemon. 

Lavender is the most popular smell sold in dryer sheets so maybe start with that one if you're looking for an easy transition. 

You can find essential oils online and at your local health food store.  I've also noticed the larger grocery store chains are starting to carry a wide variety in their natural and organic health sections. 

The only essential oil I've seen at WalMart is Tea Tree oil. 
It has a medicinal smell and is labeled as a treatment for skin disorders.  I use it mixed with vinegar in a spray bottle for the kitchen and bathroom, I dab it on cuts, I've used it to keep fleas off the dogs, I spray it diluted in my children's hair as a lice prevention, and I use it in the washer machine as a disinfectant (do not mix with bleach).  If we're fighting a sickness, or were exposed to something, I add it to our dryer balls for added disinfecting powers during the drying cycle. 

Basically, you need to lose the dryer sheets and move on to something healthier for you and your loved ones.  It's so easy to do and if you use 4-6 Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls in the dryer instead you'll never miss a beat.  And the more you use the better. 

You see, instead of coating your clothing with a slippery slime like dryer sheets, the wool dryer balls keep your clothes moving and free flowing by bouncing around (you can actually hear it).  This prevents static and wrinkles because the clothes aren't rubbing together as much and they're not pushed up against the side of the dryer in a big clump getting wrinkles BBQ'd into them.       

Like I said, it's worth a try.  The statistics are proof that we need to step up our game on trying a few home remedies here and there instead of being a victim of big business advertising and deceit. 

Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls:  No bull, just wool.

Disinfect and Separate That Laundry

                         photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/kthread/4141751450/

The Thanksgiving leftovers were polished off or frozen.  The decorative corn stalks tossed into the compost bin.  And visiting family members returned home from their travels.  Reflections of the new holiday memories were quickly, respectfully and momentarily set aside when the kids eagerly reminded us that Christmas was right around the corner.

htt/www.flickr.com/photos/29278394@N00/5343053441/
 

For the sake of my youngster's future thoughts of their own childhoods we sprang to action.  With the local radio station playing holiday favorites we journeyed into our 200 year old basement. We emerged with our traditional, and horribly spider infested decorations.  A few swats and couple flicks later we were in business and managed to trim the tree.
 

Our energy spent, our house up to date, we all fell asleep with a smile.  In our home, on that night there was no question those kids were dreaming of the spectacular surprises Santa might have in store for them.
 

                                  http://www.flickr.com/photos/londonlooks/4212150693/

 

The next morning, to my complete horror and surprise, I looked in the bathroom mirror only to be greeted with an infected spider bite.  I looked and looked and looked again.  Almost embarrassed for my own family to see it.  

 

I couldn't understand how it happened.  I never felt a bite.  I washed my face before bed.  The sheets were clean.  What in the world and why me and why on my face?
 

                                         http://www.flickr.com/photos/drcw/2626035272/

I needed answers.  Not only on how to treat this wound but on where it would've come from.  I searched photos of poisoness spider bites and came up empty.  To my favor if I might add.  A poisoness spider bite is something to be feared and respected. 

 

I was getting a little nervous.  If this wasn't from a poisiness spider what exactly was I dealing with?  Call it trial and error, call it home remedies, call it expanding my knowledge, call it gambling with my life, I don't go to the doctor unless absolutely necessary and after I have exhausted all allotted time for natural remedies to have a crack at what's pestering  me.  This of coarse would not be possible without the Internet since I don't have a degree in medicine.  To my disgust there was a strong case of some type of bacterial cross contamination from the laundry.  I thought I was better than that.  Boy did I have a rude awakening.
 

Honesty is the best policy and in this case I hope to save you from the sniffles, an infection or an ugly stomach virus.  I messed up.  I was separating colors from whites and yadda yadda yadda.  But I was not separating underwear or dishtowels from the common loads of laundry.  I just always washed everything on hot and dried each load till bone dry.  Apparently there are some nasty bacterias, viruses and yeasts (spores) that are stronger than your washer and dryers hottest setting. 

 

Apparently people of old knew this and used to boil their clothes.  If I'm not mistaken I remember a news story from a few years back where a lady caught her house on fire microwaving her clothes in an attempt to kill germs.              

 

                                                                                           http://www.flickr.com/people/dok1/

Today we're lured into buying cold water detergents and saving energy by hanging our clothes to dry.  That really sounds wonderful and I have images of a sunny, green world when I imagine my clothes hanging from a clothes line.  But are they sanitized?  And does it matter which path is taken to achieve a presentably clean outfit?  You bet it does!

Have you ever been to a house, maybe it's yours, where the dish rags get used over and over again?  The same old hand towel hangs on the handle of the fridge for all to dry or wipe their dirty hands on?  They have a unique smell called bacteria.  It makes the nostrils curl up and die.  Imagine what kind of infection you can get if it touches an open cut or dry cracked hands. 

Our immune systems were designed to fight off dangerous bacterias and viruses.  Otherwise we'd look and feel like decomposing zombies.  Unfortunately, every once in a while a little bugger will put our bodies to the test.  But having a few tricks up your sleeve to disinfect your laundry can keep your system from hitting overdrive and avoid risking the possibility of defeat. 

 HOW TO SEPARATE YOUR LAUNDRY:

 

1.  Separate loads in cloth bags that can be washed.
 

                                     http://www.flickr.com/photos/treydanger/517092661/
     (Make your own!  Check out http://blog.makezine.com/craft/how-to_tuesdays_pillowcase_lau/)

2.  Wash UNDERWEAR separately to prevent spreading fecal matter and yeast spores.

3.  Wash DISH RAGS separately to prevent spreading staph, e-coli and salmonella.

4.  Wash TOWELS separately to prevent staph and mildew from spreading.

5.  PILLOW CASES get washed/changed daily to prevent spreading staph (lives in the nose of about 30% of population) and acne break outs.  Make more out of t-shirts!  Great for college students!  http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-T-shirt-Pillowcase/

6.  From there you can separate loads based on color, fabric and durability.

7.  Never use a dirty laundry bag or basket for distributing clean clothes.

 

HOW TO DISINFECT YOUR LAUNDRY (Only use one chemical, additive or oil in each load of wash to prevent harmful and life threatening chemical reactions):

 

1.  Wash on hot.
2.  Dry in dryer till bone dry.

***IF YOU WANT TO WASH ON COLD USE ONE OF THE DISINFECTANTS***

3.  Add one cup of bleach.

4.  Add 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil.

5.  Add 1/2 teaspoon of grapefruit seed extract.  Why?  Even hospitals use the extract to kill Staph, Strep and MRSA's.

6.  Add one cup of hydrogen peroxide.

7.  Add one cup of Pine Sol or a similar product with the same active ingredients .

8.  Add one cup of white vinegar.
9.  Add a few drops of tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract to your Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls.
10.  If you have a disinfect or sanitize cycle on your washer or dryer...use it! 

***ADD DISINFECTANT TO A FULL WASHER MACHINE BEFORE ADDING CLOTHES.  SPOT TEST HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AS IT MAY HAVE A BLEACHING EFFECT.  IF USING A DELICATE FABRIC TEST SPOT ANY DISINFECTANT YOU PLAN TO USE***

Fingers crossed these simple steps and necessary efforts will pay off for you this winter with less stomach bugs and infections.  I know we've already put a lot of these tips into practice at our home and I won't be mixing loads of blatantly contaminated fabrics with normal loads ever again.  Of coarse there are still going to be door knobs, public restrooms and desks at work and school that can't be put into a washer and dryer but when you get home wash your hands and do your laundry the sanitary way.  For an added boost of protection eat healthy, get a daily blast of fresh air and sunlight, exercise, manage your stress and let yourself laugh.  As for my infected spider bite, all is well with a little bit of my natural treatments.  And next year, we'll be storing the Christmas decorations somewhere other than our old, dusty basement.   

Written by:  Jessica Connor
 

Have a Laugh on Black Friday

   You may be reading this while standing in a mile long checkout line at the mall today.  Maybe you're taking a lunch break and resting your dogs after hunting down the best deals in town all morning.  Who knows?  You might be that rebel that refuses to shop on Black Friday, online or in stores.  You little rebel you.  Whoever you are and whatever you're doing you can use a good laugh.  Especially if you're the champion that cooked, cleaned and invited family and friends over for Thanksgiving yesterday. 

Joke #1:

What do you get when you cross a turkey with a centipede?

Drumsticks for everybody!


Joke courtesy of The Reader's Digest December 2012  Article:  Laughter, The Best Medicine

Joke #2:

   It was Black Friday, the morning after Thanksgiving, and the crowd was huge and getting antsy.  A small man pushed his way to the front of the line, only to be shoved back. On his second try, he was picked up and thrown to the end of the line.  On his third attempt, he was knocked to the ground, kicked, and, again, dumped in the back.
    "That does it," he murmured.  "If they hit me one more time, I won't open the store!"


Joke courtesy of The Reader's Digest December 2012  Article:  Laughter, the Best Medicine  Sent in by L.B. Weinstein, Miami Beach, Florida   


   We hope this lightened your day a little bit.  Happy Black Friday.
  

My Morning Goes From Sleepy to Dangerous to Delighted

The alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. this morning from the dresser at the edge of the room.  I jumped out of bed with my sheets tangled around my ankles and the bedroom walls mysteriously springing to action and slamming themselves against the bridge of my nose.  I bashed down on the snooze button like I had a personal vendetta with the device.  I made the seven foot journey back to bed with minimal assaults from enemy furniture and resumed my sleepy slumber. 

The alarm went off again at 4:35 this morning.  Only this time from my husband's iPhone.  I played dead.  I held my breath.  I snored.  I farted.  I gave him about a minute to admit he was awake and shut off his own ear puncturing app.  Then suddenly the sound waves jiggled my brain like a Grateful Dead concert.   I jolt of hippie dance shook through my soul and my arm shot out across his face in search of the alarm.  If I'm going to be entertained by the Grateful Dead it will not be an impersonation.  Unfortunately my elbow landed on his eye socket.  That woke him up.  I tapped the iPhone, curled up and slipped back into snooze land.  My husband glared at me with his good eye.  I have a sixth sense for that sort of thing.  I snored and farted.  He fainted.

The alarm went off for a third time at 4:40 this morning.  The culprit was the clock on the dresser.  Yes, the same one protected by the maniacal, moving walls.  Yikes.  I wasn't stumbling over there half awake again.  Trick me once, shame on you.  Trick me twice, shame on me.  I kicked the blankets off clean.  I swung my feet around a sat at the edge of the bed in a perfect 90 degree angle.  I stood up, eyes wide open, and marched straight for that black little box.  The walls had an ally.  The calico cat curled up on the carpet screeched, scratched and clawed it's way up my leg when my right foot firmly planted itself on ol' Kitty's backbone.  Kitty in tow, I nearly broke my finger when I pressed the off button.  I was officially awake.  Off was a safe bet. 

I walked into the kitchen.  Morning chores swirled in my thoughts.  Just as I was about to start coffee and packing lunches I remembered that load of laundry in the dryer.  The one that had my daughter's favorite outfit for school in it.  Oops.  I sauntered in expecting yet another wrinkle in my morning.  I opened the dryer and inspected the contents.  Behold...fluffy, wrinkle free and ready to wear threads were patiently waiting for Momma to retrieve them.  Once again Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls came to the rescue, not only for the families clothing but for my morning.  It's going to be a good day.  

Written By:  Jessica Connor

Be Thankful and Relaxed This Thanksgiving

We're a week from Thanksgiving tomorrow!  It seems like everyone I talk to is giving me advice on how to make the most of the holiday.  Some of it is useless.  For instance, I don't think I'm going to stretch my stomach for maximum food capacity by eating a pound of grapes on Thanksgiving eve.  I'm also confident I won't need to hire a babysitter so I can sleep off the meal. 

I once heard of a family that used a paper table cloth, similar to the kind at a family restaurant, and let the kids color all over it while the meal was being prepared.  It keeps them in the middle of the excitement without getting too close to the stove or the desserts.  That's useful.  I'd probably add my own little design to it too, between basting the turkey and checking on the rolls.

To this day the best advice I've received on how to enjoy Thanksgiving has come from my old granny.  She told me years ago to make sure I have the television tuned in to the scheduled football games.  Of coarse I put my own spin on it.  We enjoy our meal sitting down at the dinner table, but once we're done anybody interested in putting up their feet and relaxing in front of the t.v. is more than welcome to.  As the mood lightens I hand out a trivia game about the teams playing.  I create it myself with a lot of help from the Internet since I'm not an expert on the players or the game. 

To entice the contestants, who are always half asleep by this point, I offer first, second and third place prizes.  They're won based on the combination of order of completion and most correct answers.  There is an automatic disqualification for anybody caught on the Internet.  The prizes are usually a pie, a bottle of wine or a pair of tickets to a home game.

I tie it all into the theme of Thanksgiving by requiring all participants to announce to the group what they're thankful for when they turn in their trivia sheet.  Somebody always ends up crying, usually the biggest guy in the room, and the family always ends up bonding. 

For the rest of the group that doesn't know a lick about football trivia we enjoy a game of Apples to Apples (such a great game for groups) or another card game.  Playdough and Legos are set out for the kids.  We sit and chat and snack on sweets.  We laugh till we cry and make plans to get together again. 

It all sounds easy and fun but I do get stressed out over the organized chaos of it all.  I just do my best to stay cool and keep the mood light.  It's not the time to discuss mortgages or school grades.  It's not the day of the year to wish for more stuff.  It's a day of satisfaction and gratitude. 

I hope you all can spend this next week preparing your hearts as well as your pantries and homes for Thanksgiving.  If you find yourself stressing over the responsibilities of it all just remember that whatever you're thankful for would probably bring tears to some big guys eyes.  We're all important to somebody and whatever our role in life is, no matter how big or small it feels, is huge to the people that love us.            

By: Jessica Connor 

Life's Subtle Clues

It’s not very often that you experience the combination of feelings reminiscent of your junior high school dance.  Suffering through the social vulnerability of the environment, thousands of swirling emotions cramped into an hour long adrenaline rush, stifled by the necessity to appear cool, and the onslaught of intense self-consciousness from a brief glance of a certain someone, was a rite of passage.  Of course you didn’t know that at the time.  You thought “A Night Under the Stars” was some type of medieval tradition marketed to the students as the not to be missed social event of the year by a faculty that was obviously unfazed, or distortedly entertained, by the idiosyncrasies of preteens.  In hindsight that combustible, unpredictable energy you gulped down with your Hawaiian Punch represented something big happening in your life.  

 

After years of memories, accomplishments, failures, good times and bad you’ve learned to foresee the future.  You don’t get so worked up when something or someone potentially good for you crosses your path.  You handle things with maturity and wisdom.  You understand that there is a balance to life that can land you on your face if it is not treated with respect.  Or do you?

 

Who am I kidding?  We’re all like pimple faced preteens just doing the best we can!  We try to prepare dinners that go over well with diverse and picky palates.  We secretly take a skipped opportunity for a coworker to compliment a new hairstyle as, “Wow, your hair really looks like crap.”   We cry over Folgers coffee commercials when the college cutie surprises the parents on Christmas morning because we hope our own parenting efforts will be rewarded with that type of loyalty.  We are constantly ebbing and flowing on this roller coaster called life.  But there are no crests at the top of giant, looming hills slapping us in the face with an imminent need to be fully aware of what comes next.  Man, I wish there was!

 

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if you got that rush in the produce aisle because the avocados were, for the first time in the history of all grocery stores, perfectly ripe for guacamole?  Or if there actually was only a single time in your life that fireworks would explode from every nerve in your body when you met your soul mate?  What if you were leaving for work but your feet froze and your gut sent you into a tizzy because you almost forgot your wallet, which was sitting right next you?  How about a good old spell of vertigo when you considered buying an adorable companion puppy for your aging parents that would grow up to be a 100 pound, hip fracturing, blood pressure raising, critter from the deep beyond?  What if your feet started dancing uncontrollably, your fist pumped the air with complete confidence, and you started yelling, “That is so AWSOME!” when you came across Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls and their amazing ability to fluff your laundry without the added chemicals of dryer sheets?  Life would be a cake walk.

 

Unfortunately (or fortunately if you’re the glass is half full type of person) life, the necessity of the emotional torment of a junior high school dance, and the health benefits of Hawaiian Punch, will always remain a mystery.  We know that not every single thing that’s good for us is going to smack us in the face like The Three Stooges.  And we’re perfectly aware that with the good comes the bad.  We just do our best and hope we don’t miss out on any subtle clues along the journey.         

 

 

 

       

VOTE FOR ME!

We are so PLEASED to be considered for the Fed Ex Small Business Grant.

Won't you help us achieve our goals and vote for us today?  You can vote one time each day.   We appreciate all your love and support and will continue producing safe and chemical free products.

We have exciting things coming up for the new year, so stay tuned for more fun, felted things.

 

CLICK HERE

TO VOTE FOR LEAPING SHEEP 

 

 

The Wonder Years

When I was a little girl I spent my time at home.  I was actively involved in a house hold.  My siblings and I had chores, academic expectations and responsibilities.  We didn't have a gaming system and the Internet wasn't invented yet.  Without all that technology, and still light-years ahead of the world our grandparents were brought up in, we still had plenty to ignite our imaginations and cause us to wonder. 

A lot of our thoughts were social and emotional as they are today, but we chewed on it.  There was more time alloted between the present and future.  Our thoughts were like the four seasons.  We could think on one issue, experience within it a cold spell, a rebirth, a growing season, fall away from it and enter a cold spell again only to find ourselves in the presence of an elder begging for a glimpse at a path towards a resolution.  

That type of face to face interaction almost always played out during a daily routine.  Our beliefs, passions, hobbies and self worth were nurtured right there in the kitchen with a pile of potatoes and peeler in hand or a basket of laundry to fold.  We felt like little puppies following mothers and grandmas from room to room inquiring as to the ways they handled situations like first crushes, bad grades and broken friendships.  We watched their body language, took note of how many memories flashed through their minds before they chose an appropriate answer for their wide eyed audience and always knew they were being cautious.  They wanted to pass on to the next generation what was right and true.  They admitted mistakes and claimed fault.  They molded us as much as our wild untamed hearts were capable.
 

We walked away from our youth with multi-generational experiences guiding us.  But when we arrived at adulthood it was nothing like what we were trained for.  Today we overwhelm ourselves juggling things like text messages, Skype, cyber bullying, e-how, Facebook, Google, camera phones and more that were so inconceivable to 99.9% of the growing population, let alone our elders, that there were classes given to teach operation of these phenomenons to the general public.

So here we are living in the age of technology.  Sprinting to keep up with it's lightening speed advances and almost unknowingly letting our ground roots suffer at the hands of "instant results".  Where do we fit cross stitching a family wall plaque or sitting on the porch with good company and a sweet tea in between surfing the web, lounging in chat rooms with potentially dangerous strangers or catching up on 3 hours of must-see-t.v. that we digitally recorded and can watch from any room in the house?  How do we connect to ourselves, the ones our elders worked so hard to raise us up to be, if we're lost in a web of digital signals and bright, colorful images?  We follow that routine of daily chores that we witnessed, participated in and left the nest with.  

You could walk into any home today that is inundated with technology, everyones head down and illuminated with the glowing screens of an ipad, d.s. or laptop and you will still see evidence of daily household routines in play.  It could be a hot pot of coffee brewed each morning, sheets always changed on Sunday, shoes taken off at the door, or laundry dried with extra dryer sheets.  With life so different from what we knew years ago it almost feels like defiance to even consider the thought that the sacred daily routine could be done without it's key ingredients.  

What would the average mother of the 80's say if you tried to replace her toxic arsenal of cleaning products with vinegar and baking soda?  How would she react to a dryer full of clothes stuck together with static because you confiscated her chemical ridden dryer sheets?  How would you feel if somebody did that to you, today?  

I like to think that the amount of information we absorb on a daily basis has made us more approachable towards healthier living ideas.  If we can be convinced that it's a good idea to share our daily lives play by play on a social network we should be open to the idea of green cleaning products like Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls.  You can still enjoy the hum of the dryer swimming through your home while dinner simmers and kids do homework.  Your clothing will still emerge fluffed and virtually static free reminiscent of days gone by.  And you can still be swept away by a fresh bouquet of scents tickling your nose every time you fold your laundry if you put a few drops of your favorite essential oils on the Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls at the start of the drying cycle.  No, this isn't the exact routine you were raised up on.  But the human race is as adaptable as it is susceptible so it's worth breaking the mold for...and worth creating a new one.     

Written by:

Jessica Connor



Ingredient Anxiety

I went to my favorite salvage grocery store yesterday. I only needed a few things but knew better than to walk in there with less than $40 in my wallet. It is so hard to beat those scratch and dent prices that I impulse shop till I drop.

As I scanned the aisles and cautiously plucked items off the shelves for my routine "safe ingredients" check I was flabbergasted to see an abundance of organic and natural products stocking the shelves! I caught my breath and changed gears. Ingredients no longer mattered because that sunny day label "organic" and that whatever's clever label "natural" filled me with the confidence of a care bear.

All I needed to do was load my cart to the brim and slide into home for a $40 grand slam. It was getting very hot. I'm pretty sure every customer there had the exact intentions I did. I worked fast. With $20 left to spare I already had a month’s supply of organic chocolate chip cookies, organic alphabet cookies, organic pancake mix, all natural fruit snacks, organic chocolate and peanut butter cereal, organic candy, organic pop, organic sweet iced tea, naturally seasoned snack mix, all natural pudding, Hamburger Helper, instant potatoes, and so on and so forth.

And then it hit me. Not all that glitters is gold. Here I was, sweaty, breathing heavily, crazed look in my eyes, adding and subtracting obsessively, and gripping the handles of a cart filled with processed foods like I was the Grinch. What in the world just happened to me? Organic sugar spikes blood sugar just like non-organic sugar. All natural fruit snacks get stuck in teeth just like the ones doused with chemical food colorings do. Fresh foods are still better than candy.

So what possessed me to think that it was good for my family and me? One word….Marketing. They play on our instinct to want to protect ourselves and loved ones. They know that those magic little words “organic” and  “natural” will encourage us to buy their products because they're presented as being "safer".  And typically, we don't second guess them.

Marketing companies have successfully figured out a way to trick the consumer out of using their common sense when shopping. And it doesn't stop at food. Yes, organic and natural products are better for you...if they're good for you in the first place! You can't dress a wolf in sheep’s clothing and expect it to be gentle. You can't invite every product pushed as safe into your home and expect to have great results.

Dryer sheet companies are like wolves. They've figured out that people are having allergic reactions to their products like hives, asthma attacks, depression, eczema outbreaks, rashes, confusion and dizziness. So like the corporate giants they are, they made a few alterations like no perfumes or dye free and labeled them as hypoallergenic. Perfect, right? Nobody wants anything they could be allergic to in their home.

But dig deeper. Dryer sheets are still chemicals and crude oils that melt in the heat of the dryer and coat your clothing. When the clothing cools so does the oil creating a slick barrier that wrinkles just cannot compete with. Of course our skin is a lot smarter than a wrinkle and absorbs those toxins like a glaze on a sponge cake. The damage it does isn't even on our minds because that word hypoallergenic and the serene graphics on the packaging convinced us everything is A OK. Until the next rash pops up. Or until your dish towel won't soak up a drop of water because it's absorbency is blocked by oil. Or you develop some sort of respiratory condition.

If you want to protect yourself and your family as a consumer know your product. Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls are 100% natural. Not 10%, not a mere 5%. They are 100% wool, from an actual sheep. They will fluff up your clothes, reduce the drying time and retain the absorbency in your fabrics naturally. No marketing ploy needed. Just the facts.

Written by:
Jessica Connor

 

      

Halloween!  Halloween!  Trick or Treat?! 

           Children young and old, far and wide are counting down the days to their annual costume parties and trick or treating adventures!  It's the only day of the year that you can pretend to be whatever you want!  IN PUBLIC!  This is huge.  A very big deal.  If you miss out on this opportunity your inner Broadway, Tony award winning performance is going to have to wait 365 days for it's next curtain rise.  Do be so kind as to allow yourself some creative freedom for a day.  Just one.  That's all your imagination is asking for.

           Given the fact that the majority of us do not have screenplays flooding our inbox we must be selective with our choice of character.  To thoroughly enjoy your Halloween experience there are many things to consider. 

1.   Who are you when you sing in the shower and dance like nobody is looking?
2.   Is your personality strong and brave or weak and timid?
3.   Do you want to reflect the type of personality you wish you were or who you are?
4.   Are you a dead ringer for a political figure or celebrity? 
5.   Are you secretly scared if every costume is of a dark nature but yours?
6.   Is your party indoors or out?  Weather hot or cold? 
7.   Are you 18 or older?  (Some costumes really should be for adults only)
8.   How much money are you prepared to spend?
9.   Are you trying to win a costume contest?
10. Are you making your costume or buying it?   

          What this questionnaire boils down to is:  Be something that makes you excited to have fun even if you are timid.  If you hate the creepy costumes you might not be as afraid if you wear one too.  Don't dress as a hula dancer if you're trick or treating outside in Ohio.  If you're under 18 maybe swap the fishnets for opaque stockings.  If you're entering a costume contest an over the top get up usually makes the final round. 

         Now, down to the nitty gritty.  You're either going to pay an arm and a leg for a prefab costume or you're going to dig down deeeeep into your memory for how your old granny used to thread a needle.  Okay, okay.  That was a little dramatic.  Of coarse you're not going to sew the entire thing from scratch.  But you may need to make a few alterations.  If you're not hip to sewing, the iron and a Heatnbond tape roll (or a similar product brand) is your new Gotta-Have-The-Best-Costume-I've-Ever-Had-In-My-Entire-Life best friend.  It's a sew free way to bond fabrics quickly and easily.  It's cheap as dirt and can be found in most craft sections at your favorite store.  
         
      If you've already made the decision to purchase your costume at one of those nightmare inducing pop up Halloween shops, congratulations ahead of time.  You're going to tie for first at your costume party for the most common and predictable get up.  You'll still go home with some candy though.

      Now for all you imaginative entrepreneurs.  Your possessions are your canvas.  Go, create!  Reduce, reuse, recycle!  If you need to bond some fabrics, minus the needle and thread, check out   http://www.thermowebonline.com/content.php?t=Directions&k=86490id=126 on how to use Heatnbond.  They do have a product option that you can sew over for a stronger hold if you plan on moving around a lot.  The trick is though....wash your intended fabrics FIRST (even if you just pulled them out of your closet) with NO FABRIC SOFTENER IN THE WASHER OR THE DRYER.  The fabric softener leaves that yucky, invisible slime on your clothes making the Heatnbond completely useless.  It only glues fabrics together that are clean, dry and yuck free.  This doesn't mean you can't have that soft, fluffy fabric we've all come to love.  During the drying cycle toss in a half dozen or so Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls to fluff your future costume while retaining a bond friendly surface.

        Once you've created your masterpiece, please do a few dry runs on hair, make-up and character traits.  Remember, this is your once a year opportunity to party like a (fill in the blank)!!!  Have fun and be safe!!
   

Written by:
Jessica Connor

  Your little bambino has a diaper rash and it's a doozy. He kicks and screams and shoots you a look of terror as you wipe him clean. Once he's dry and calm you wipe the tears from your own eyes and give the doctor a call. You do not want this rash to cause your baby that much pain again. For either of you for that matter. The doctor's advice, or whatever medical professional you happen to be given the privilege of talking to, for treating a diaper rash usually goes something like this:

1. Change the diaper more frequently

2. Apply a barrier cream

3. Use wet paper towels instead of baby wipes or rinse with running water

4. Allow to air dry before dressing with a new diaper

5. Call back if there are no signs of improvement or symptoms increase That's great advice!

   And I can solemnly swear that it works. But why aren't the causes of the diaper rash addressed? Are our little ones yet another case of treat the symptoms and ignore the causes phenomenon? I say when you're old enough to make your own decisions or if your busy schedule has you in a time constraint go ahead and use the luxuries of the here today gone tomorrow treatments. But be prepared because tomorrow eventually becomes today and you will be facing the same trials all over again.

   Now that can be applied to most areas of our lives, can't it? But this is a dryer ball blog so we'll stick to what we do best. If you'd like to meditate on any of our advice further you're more than welcome to. If you'd like to prevent diaper rash consider the following causes:

1. Allergy to dryer sheets used on babies clothes and cloth diapers - Even the hypoallergenic dryer sheets are basically crude oil and chemicals that leaves a slick film on fabrics to prevent wrinkles.

2. Prolonged wetness due to lack of absorbency in cloth diapers - Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls help retain absorption of diapers

3. Loose bowel movements due to introduction of new solid foods - Introduce new foods based on the three 1's - 1 new food at a time - 1 week at a time - 1 tablespoon at a time

4. Allergies to foods mother has eaten if you are breastfeeding your baby - Common allergens include gluten, dairy, eggs, soy and citrus - Check with your doctor before altering your diet

5. Allergies to formula ingredients - Ask your doctor for suggestions on a gentler formula before switching

6. Sensitivities to ingredients in baby wipes - Make your own wipes - http://www.mommyisgreen.net/2010/05/make-your-own-baby-wipes-or-spray.html

7. Sensitivities to traditional, throw away diapers - Consider using cloth or organic. As mentioned before your doctor's advice is valuable and proven to work.

But for the sake of your little one try to prevent a rash before it starts. We can't be there to help change diapers but we can help you ditch some of those irritating chemicals your baby may be sensitive to.

Make the switch to Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls from traditional dryer sheets and you're one step closer to a smooth bottom. If your baby or any family member suffers from eczema they may find some skin relief as well. Soon your baby will be sleeping like a baby.

Written by:  Jessica L. Connor

We have been very busy making balls, balls, balls.  We are so grateful to our fans and customers for using 100% wool dryer balls and spreading the word about how wonderful wool can be to our health and the health of the planet. 

We have just completed a sale with a "deal of the day" website and sold over 800 balls in 25 minutes!!  We are blessed beyond belief.  Not only is our little family company growing everyday, but we have three new grandchildren in the family...a set of gorgeous twins from my middle daughter, Marla and another beautiful baby boy from my oldest daughter, Carissa  They were born one week apart.  They both use Leaping Sheep wool dryer balls to protect their babies from harmful chemicals in fabric softeners.

Since we have been growing at a steady pace via facebook, deal of the day websites, etc, we thought it was time to tell the masses.    We have decided to move into the rhelm of print advertising.  We will be featured in Baby and Toddler magazine in their fall/winter issue.  It is sure to be a very busy and exciting 2012 holiday season. 

We look forward to the challenge and absolutely love what we do.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for Leaping Sheep.

• YOU CAN BUY LEAPING SHEEP DRYER BALLS HERE

• YOU CAN ALSO FIND THEM HERE

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Break the Dryer Sheet Addiction

I've heard people say that going green is too expensive.  That they need more money to make such a drastic change. 

Weeellll...this picture is of a woman named Coco.  She's married to rapper and actor Ice T.  They have plenty of money. 

What's she doing you ask?  She's smelling a dryer sheet.  In an addictive manor.  Doesn't she know that they're loaded with chemicals?  Could be yes, could be no. 

All it takes to make a change in your lifestyle is knowledge, a will, and a way.  And if you're worried about the price of going green...for most people Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls only need purchased every 5-7 years or so.  That's a lot of money saved by not buying toxic, and apparently addictive dryer sheets. 

Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls are a Natural Renewable Resource

At Leaping Sheep we refer to our 100% wool dryer balls as a natural renewable resource.  It sounds green and environmentally friendly but what exactly does it mean?  

The term renewable resource is defined as:  a natural resource with the ability of being replaced through biological or natural processes and replenished with the passage of time. 

The passage of time referred to in the definition of a renewable resource is relatively short.  To put it into perspective it is a resource that you should see naturally renewed many times during your lifespan. 

Examples of Renewable Resources are:

Animals/Fiber (Wool)

Insects

Reptiles

Plants

Trees/Timber

Water (Hydropower)

Grass

Air/Oxygen (Wind energy)

The Sun (Solar energy)

 Leaping Sheep Wool Dryer Balls are 100% natural wool and a 100% natural renewable resource.

Another set of natural resources found on Earth are referred to as non-renewable.  It doesn't have a good ring to it, does it? 

The term nonrenewable resource is defined as:  Any natural resource from the Earth that exists in limited supply and cannot be replaced if it is used up;  also, any natural resource that cannot be replenished by natural means at the same rates that it is consumed. 

Once a nonrenewable resource is removed from the Earth it will certainly not be seen again in our lifetime or that of the next generation.

 

 

Examples of Nonrenewable Resources are:

Fossil Fuels

Oil

Coal

Copper

Diamonds

Natural Gas

Iron Ore

Minerals

Gold

Silver

Platinum

Rocks, etc.

Dryer sheets are most often made from a non-woven fabric web of fine polyester fibers.  Some are made of polyurethane foam.  Polyester and polyurethane are petroleum based products.  Unrefined petroleum is a "crude oil" and a nonrenewable resource.

We all try to do our best when it comes to using the gifts and resources that Mother Nature has given us.  Now that we have more knowledge on what we are using and how long it will take to replace we can make more informed decisions on the products we use in our homes. 



From the Earth - To the Earth