Big Green Genie

Livin’ clean without goin’ nuts!

Archive for the ‘Just thinkin’’ Category

Sep 9, 2009

Where HAVE I been?

Posted by Lilla under Just thinkin'

What a crazy time I’ve been having! The time from my last post has flown by and I can only apologize for my lack of blogging.

I started teaching computer aided drafting in April, moved in June, vacationed with my mom in July. Upon being home for a week I was called back to my mother’s to help her recover after a fall and subsequent hip replacement surgery.

However I have not been idle during my non-internet time! I managed to kill my small garden. I guess it’s a very good think my significant other has a green thumb, or I would have gone without fresh home grown tomatoes this summer.

I made my first two batches of Cold Process soap.  I learned a lot and will be sharing the experience in a later blog.

I made blackberry jam all on my own for the first time, and it turned out betterthan I had hoped, tasty, sweet and good.  I plan on sharing that bit of fun too.

I took up beading and jewelry making.  I used a couple of kits, but I plan on expanding with my own designs, too.

I took 4 train rides between Southern California and Oregon, and enjoyed them to a certain extent, but took greater satisfaction in knowing I wasn’t driving a car the approximately 3200 miles that the trips entailed.

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Mar 4, 2009

Again With the Deodorant

If you have been reading this blog at all you will know that I’ve been experimenting with homemade deodorant stick. And I’ve had some good luck with baking soda and cornstarch in a cocoa butter/coconut oil base.

Yesterday I changed the formula to create an even more stable product that would stand up better to increases in temperature.  So it seems that the new formula is going to be exactly what I want in solidity.

I’m really pleased that it is as stiff as it is… here’s my dilema:  I was so excited at the solidity that I tried to turn the knob on my recycled deodorant container too soon and broke the screw right off the knob.  So here I was with my freshly concocted solid in a container that I could no longer get it out of in a usable form.  Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 3, 2009

Deodorant…Again!

Posted by Lilla under Just thinkin', Personal Care, Recipes

OK,  so I have to tell you that I really like the deodorant I made a while back.  It was great until, after having a warm day two days ago and it melted a bit in the container and slumped to the side.  Which wouldn’t have been a problem except I am not used to using a microwave.

I put the container into the microwave thinking to warm it enough to allow the contents to melt back into original form.  And it probably would have worked except I, being “microwave challenged”, managed to melt it and pop the retaining seal off the bottom of the deodorant container.  There was my wonderful concoction all over the slightly dirty glass tray. Read the rest of this entry »

Feb 9, 2009

What the heck?

Since I started writing this blog and began using advertising, I get really annoyed with the automated ads that get thrust upon me from time to time.  I want you all to know that I am aware of the inconsistencies that show up from time to time, and am working on a better filter for the ad content.

Amazon is keyword driven, and at times the products that are featured with my articles are conflicting with my views.  For instance, the insecticide that was being featured under my article for NATURAL PEST DETERRANTS.  I saw that this morning and was both annoyed and amused.

There is a way to get adverts that are consistent with my content, I know there is!!!  I will prevail in this, I promise.  Until I get it managed… bear with me and ignore those ads that seem really out of place.


Feb 2, 2009

New gadgets

Posted by Lilla under Just thinkin'

Recently I was fortunate enough to receive an Iphone from my employer. Best thing about it is that I can add to my blog through a neat little application that was free. Of course, now I have no excuse not to blog every day. There is, indeed, no rest for the wicked.

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