White Teeth

This morning we officially squeezed the very last pearl of toothpaste out of the tube. Luckily, it took exactly a minute to whip up this easy formula found at Pioneer Thinking.

6 tsp baking soda
1/3 tsp salt
4 tsp vegetable glycerin
15 drops essential oil such as peppermint, wintergreen, or anise.

Mix, brush, and spit!

Update: Hmmm, it's kind of salty when you brush but the minty aftertaste is refreshing. Feels clean and polished too. I guess you can't go wrong with baking soda--same as I use for cleaning my sinks!

From Rags To Stitches

I have always wanted to learn how to sew, and taking a vow of poverty is a good way to get my ass in gear. Doubtless in a year I will need a few things. I have a toddler whose feet grow sizes in the night. In fact, his Ferrigno toes are probably bursting through his pajama feet at this very moment.

Fortunately, I've enrolled myself in a sewing class to start off on the right foot. My first project will be something small and easy, like a pillow cover. I like the idea of using vintage and reclaimed fabrics, like this scrap (above) rescued from a tattered 1970s bedspread. Just think, if I could get my hands on thick drape panels I could make play clothes for the entire family!

Hopefully I can progress to the point where I'm like Molly Ringwald in Pretty In Pink. Though, if I'm honest, I would have totally held onto the gorgeous vintage gown in favour of patching together a formless, shoulderless feed sack. But that's just me.