How to Make Your Own Swiffer Pads and Solution

Thank you bloglovin for today’s tip….

I will admit I love my Swifter. It makes things quick and easy on the hardwood floors.  I even have a Swifter Jet to do the kitchen floor.  So you can imagine how excited I was to find this inexpensive solution.

This is so much cheaper, with a mild scent and reusable cleaning pads.  I’m not usually one for making my own solutions BUT this seems easy enough….  It’s so simple, you’ll seriously wonder why you didn’t start making your own refills sooner.

For the cleaner, all you really need is water and white vinegar. Add a dash of dish soap to de-grease the floors and some essential oils for scent and shine. Pour the solution over your reusable rags and go to town. When you’re done, just toss the rag in the washing machine and use it again later.

If you have the Swiffer Sweeper, it’s easy to just cut up a couple of old rags for the pads. But if you have the Wet Jet, some people use chenille socks instead of terry towels. Just slip one over the Swiffer’s base and cut two small holes where the solution sprays out. And speaking of solution, to refill the Wet Jet’s bottle, submerge the cap in an inch of boiling water until the plastic softens (it should take about a minute). Then use your hands or a screw driver to gently pry off the cap. Refill the bottle with homemade solution and screw the cap back on. Voila!

Ingredients

2-3 old dish towels
1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
3 drops dish soap
5 drops orange essential oil

Instructions

1. Trim dish towels to fit the base of your Swiffer. Fold towels and place in a plastic container.
2. In a small bowl, combine water, vinegar, dish soap and essential oils.
3. Pour solution over the towels.
4. Wash the floors as usual.
5. When you’re done, toss the cleaning pad into the washing machine and reuse.

Need a place to store your DIY kit?  Why not try Thirty One’s Double Duty Caddy

Whoever said you can’t take it with you didn’t know about the Double Duty Caddy. Picnic utensils, condiments, art supplies, cleaning supplies, baby needs, cosmetics and lots more are easily transported in this sturdy, structured carrier. With two separate interior compartments and 4 exterior mesh pockets, there’s plenty of room to take whatever you need with you when you’re on the go. Not going anywhere for a while? Keep it on the kitchen table, counter or in the cupboard to hold napkins, salt and pepper shakers, sugar and more, or put it in the bathroom to keep all your beauty products together and organized.

The best part is when you spend $35 in the month of JUNE (there is still time left!), you can get ANY product in the solid crosshatch print for 50% off.  What an amazing deal and a great way to stock up on some of your favorite organizing products.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Tasty Tuesday: Applesauce Donuts

This will probably sound crazy BUT one of things I miss about being gluten free is not having a donut.  My favorite was always the apple cinnamon ones from Delicious Orchards or Krispy Kreme’s Boston Cream.  I know, none of them are Weight Watcher friendly and definitely not gluten free.  I know there are some available but I just can’t bring myself to pay the price for them.  Of course, not being much of a baker, making them could be a real challenge.

I was excited when my daughter, Belinda, who has Celiac Disease f ound a few recipes and shared recipes one of them with me. It was originally posted by Andi Gleeson.

Glazed Applesauce Donuts

This Applesauce Donut Recipe is low in fat and big in flavor. Treat yourself to these easy doughnuts for breakfast!

Prep Time 10 minutes     Cook Time 15 minutes     Passive Time 10 minutes          Servings 12 donuts

Ingredients

Donuts

• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour (I used spelt)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

Cinnamon Applesauce Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons unsweetened applesauce
• 4 teaspoons water (added one at a time as detailed in instructions)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray donut pan(s) with cooking spray.

2. Whisk together egg, milk, applesauce, sugar, and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and salt. Whisk until smooth.

3. Spoon batter into prepared baking pan. Each donut opening should be filled almost to the top. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. (If you only have one donut pan, you will need to repeat this step when the first six are done.)

4. Allow donuts to cool in pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment, wax paper, or a silicone mat. (This lining will help in the next step.)

5. When donuts have cooled completely, whisk together powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, applesauce, and ONE teaspoon water. If mixture is too dry to mix in all the sugar, continue adding water ONE teaspoon at a time just until a thick glaze forms. (If you make the glaze too thin, it will just soak into the donuts.)

6. Dip the top of each donut into the glaze, and twist back and forth a couple times to get a good coating. Lift the donut straight up and let the excess drip off, then place the donuts glaze-side up on the lined baking sheet. Allow to rest about 15 minutes to let the glaze set before serving. Best eaten within a few hours.

Recipe Notes

• Adapted from Ina Garten’s Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts.
• I know this recipe looks long, but it really is easy! I just wanted the instructions to be clear and detailed so they would be easy to follow.

Thank you for this recipe.

Belinda has a side gig of being a Wellness Advocate with doTERRA Essential Oils.

What Are Essential Oils?

If you have ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you’ve experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. These naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. Essential oils provide plants with protection against environmental threats and play a role in plant pollination. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health-care practices.

Essential oils are both exciting and promising when it comes to taking care of your own and your family’s health. Whether you’re applying essential oils topically, enjoying the aromatic benefits through diffusing, or taking essential oils internally, the positive effects of essential oils are boundless.

That’s why you’ll want to ensure that the essential oils you are using are capable of delivering on their promise. You’ll want to make sure that you are choosing essential oils for their potency and their purity.

Be sure to check out her website for more great tips on staying healthy with essential oils.

Have a recipe you want to share, be sure to send it to me.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Instant Energy Boost

Yup it is here again and you lost an hour over the weekend with the time change.  I am always glad for this change because it means longer days with warmer weather on the horizon.

What better topic for today than “instant” energy boosts, right?  I’m not talking about massive amounts of coffee although it may be an option.  It was for me many years ago when I was doing the commute of 4 hours a day round trip…

Here are some natural ways to rev up your day WITHOUT caffeine… and yes, it is possible.

#1 – Inhale Mint

Believe it or not, a whiff of this scent can make you feel more alert.  I don’t mean sniffing a candy mint, I mean the real thing FRESH or peppermint essential oil!  There is research which says it can also enhance your memory.

#2 – Slow Down

“Slow down, you move to fast”.. yes, it is an old song so I am showing my age.  The truth is a low or moderate paced walk can energize you because it sends more oxygen to your brain.

#3 – Balance your B12

Eating a healthy balance of foods could do wonders for your energy level BUT vitamin B12 helps your body turn food into fuel.  The vitamin is found in only animal proteins such as meat, poultry and dairy.  If you are vegan or vegetarian, you may want to take a supplement but check with your doctor first.  I actually had an over abundance of B12 for awhile and it can have negative effects on your body as well.

#4 – Have a Hearty Lunch

Do you have mid-afternoon slumps?  I do and it is usually a result of what I ate for lunch.  Yup, your lunch can make the difference in how you feel in the afternoon.  The key is to have a lunch combo of fiber and protein.  Make sure you pick whole-grain breads and pasta or have a hearty soup, stew or salad.  Pack your own lunch in one of Thirty One’s amazing thermals… try the thermal lunch tote and you can personalize it so no one takes your lunch!

#5 – Just Add Sleep

When I think about sleeping more, I usually think of getting up later  but we should really go to bed earlier.  I know your favorite shows start later at night, right?  The truth is as adults, we need 7 or 8 hours of sleep a night to feel rested and alert.  What is your average?  Here is a trick to help you prep for bed: set an alarm on your phone so you can start winding down for the night.  Once the alarm goes off, put all of your electronic devises AWAY for the rest of the night.  I have been trying to do this a half hour before bed and it seems to help.  Tough but it does work.

#6 – Find Fresh Air

Feeling tired?  Take a break and go outdoors.  Being outside for about 20 minutes may be enough time to shrug off the sleepy slump of the day.  Taking a walk may rejuvenate you.

What do you do to gain energy during the day?  Share your best tips with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!