Nelves by Joni

My last several posts have been on saving and making money, something we all need to do, so I thought it was time that I flipped back over to the re-purposing/recycling part of my blog.

I want to introduce you to Nelves, The Nature Loving Elves by my friend Joni. She started making these a short while ago as a way to try and get an income and they have taken off.

Nelves Nature Loving Elves! Nelves help Mother Nature look her best! Hand made and no two are exactly the same.

Nelves are fun
They laugh, they play
They take care of nature in a really great way!
They talk to the trees, the bears and the bees.
They make flowers grow and help rivers flow
They take care of the fish and the birds
The ocean and the forest
The mountains and deserts
The parks and fields

They live in the tree in the middle of a field
In the coral in the ocean
In the park and the city
They can’t be seen but they are there
Helping nature happily

Don’t think they are rude
They don’t mean to intrude
But they can’t help but stop in your garden
To give an encouraging word to the things that you grow
Just wanted you to know

They are here now to ask for your help
You can help in so many ways
Little things really, but they pile up in a hurry.
Pick up the garbage, the can and the wrapper.
Throw out that garbage! Recycle that box!
Reduce, reuse and recycle all that you can!

One last thing they ask and it’s not hard at all
Plant a seed, plant a garden of veggies or flowers
Plant a tree for the future
Help them grow
The Nelves say thank you!

To get your very own Nelve contact Joni

Phone	(920) 252-9072
Email	Nelvesbyjoni@gmail.com

Be sure to check out my other blogs;
The Great Spam Project - A blog all about Spam (the email type, not the edible)
Ghost of a Writer - My Personal Blog
Killer Teacup - My Online Portfolio
 

Re-use Clear Plastic Containers

You pick up some donuts or even some blueberries and you have these clear plastic clam shell containers. Instead of tossing them in the recycle bin why not wash them and put them aside to use in the spring. I have found that these are fantastic mini-greenhouses for your future garden.

I put a little bit of dirt in them and then my seeds and water. None of them close completely and many of them already have drainage holes, so I close them up to keep a nice green house effect going.  When the moisture build up too much I open them for a few hours. I find that these are great to get the plants going and they keep the bugs and birds from picking at your seedlings.

The Great Spam Project - A blog all about Spam (the email type, not the edible)
Ghost of a Writer - My Personal Blog
Killer Teacup - My Online Portfolio

Related articles

• Sowing Winter Seeds
• Grow Your Own: What to Buy
• Early Seed Start Method

Money Saving Tip #7

Homemade wood polish

I have a lot of wood in my house. Years ago when we bought our house we did not have a child and at that point we decided that we would slowly buy good furniture we liked, rather than going out to fill the house with cheap crap.

So we have a lot of wood in our house, our living room, bedroom, dining room, breakfast nook and library all have a lot of wood. We even redid one of the hallways with wood trim. Then we had a child. It makes me grateful that I like distressed wood, because since the child came along the wood has gotten even more distressed.

I don't like chemicals, so even before the child came along I was using this and it does a beautiful job protecting and cleaning the wood. It also does a wonderful job eliminating water and heat marks.

Furniture Polish

1 Cup white vinegar
1/4 Cup oil (I like olive, but almost any of them will work, some like to use almond oil)
Put it in a spray bottle with a fine mist and shake well before using.

The vinegar acts as the cleaner and will help remove anything while the oil will moisturize and protect. Just clean with a soft cloth and let it dry.
  
If you have water marks on the wood, then let the oil/vinegar mix sit on the mark for a while and you should be able to rub it out, if it doesn't leave then I have found that mayonnaise works,there is also a hot iron method for tougher stains.

If you don't like the smell of vinegar then you can also use a cup of the citrus cleaning solution instead of straight vinegar



The Great Spam Project - A blog all about Spam (the email type, not the edible)
Ghost of a Writer - My Personal Blog
Killer Teacup - My Online Portfolio

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Food Network Oil And Vinegar Dispenser (Google Affiliate Ad)

Money Saving Tip #6

Make Your Own Citrus Spray Cleaner

I saw this all over the internet and, I admit, I had my doubts. About a month ago I thought I would give it a try and I love it. I am saving money, the environment, my health, and recycling.

In my house we always have some sort of citrus fruit. Cuties (a brand of mandarin orange) are very popular are with my son so we always seem to go through them. I like all oranges and grapefruit, we also occasionally pick up lemons and limes for various things. All you need to do is keep the peel when you are done with the fruit. 

Requirements:

Citrus Peel

White Vinegar

Resealable jar

1. Fill jar with as many peels as you can jam into it
2. Top the Jar up with white vinegar
3. Let the jar sit for a week or two in a cool dark place
4. Pour the vinegar into a spray bottle

Some people like to dilute it with 50% water, if you do that I would suggest you use filtered or bottled water so you don't get the chlorine or minerals. My tap water has a high iron content and will leave water marks behind.

This works great in the kitchen and smells good too. After two weeks you barely notice a vinegar smell, but can definitely smell the citrus fruit. I have been using in all the rooms of my house.

I tend to keep a jar half filled with vinegar and as we finish the fruit I put the peels in, then I let it sit for two weeks after the jar is full.

Once you've strained out the vinegar, put the peels in your compost and your garden will love you.

The Great Spam Project - A blog all about Spam (the email type, not the edible)
Ghost of a Writer - My Personal Blog
Killer Teacup - My Online Portfolio