Oct. 21, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Fantastic Shopping Trip!
I've been wanting to buy some essential oils to help me clean the house more naturally. So, with the money we saved, I was able to go to the local health food store and purchase 3 essential oils. Here is what I made with them:
Air cleaner:
Eucalyptus oil and water -- Combine in a pan with water and heat. It takes the toxins out of the air. (It works even better if you have a diffuser, but that would mean spending more money, along with adding more clutter in the house to store the diffuser.)
Homemade Febreze for your furniture:
Fill a spray bottle with water. Add 15 drops EACH of tea tree oil and lavendar oil. Shake, then spray on your furniture, pillows, etc.
To clean your sinks:
Sprinkle some baking soda in the sink, then add a few drops of either the tea tree oil OR lavendar oil. Scrub, rinse, dry. It leaves the room smelling nice and fresh.
I also cleaned my bathtub with the baking soda and lavendar oil. My hubby walked in and gave me a funny look, then asked, "Why aren't you using Bon Ami?" I explained that when cleaning a tub with that type of cleaner, it is very hard to get it washed off. Since baking soda is GOOD for your skin, it makes a better (and natural), choice. If I don't get it all rinsed, then the next person gets to soak in a baking soda bath and give their skin a refreshing treat!
DD and I went shopping on Friday. We got some fantastic deals, which I want to share with you. Keep going to the end of my post for some great tips!
We started out at Bath & Body Works. I recently contacted their corporate office through the Internet because I have noticed that lately, their employees are like leeches -- they won't leave you alone while you are in the store. I want to enjoy myself in that store and just browse. I don't want to fight off pushy salespeople. Anyway, they sent me a $25 gift card for my valuable feedback. 
I got 2 bottles of Vanilla Bean lotion, a bottle of vanilla bean essential oil (to make handsoap), and a stuffed animal (a lamb). My total came to $37.50, but I got one bottle of lotion + the lamb for free with promotions. I only spent $19.80 of the $25 on my gift card, so basically, I walked out of there without having spent any of my money.
Next, we went to JC Penney, where I got dd a new bra for FREE! I had a coupon where if I spent $10, I got $10 taken off my total. If you don't have a JC Penney charge card, you are missing out on these kinds of deals. They do this a couple of times a year. Whenever I buy something there, I make sure that I charge it on my Penney's charge card so that I will get these wonderful promotions.
We also went to Walmart where I got:
2 pair of jeans $32.92
$20 fleece-lined zip up sweatshirt for only $15.00
Shoes $28.00
3 bras $20.64
a canister to store my homemade bisquick $ 5.88
Miley Cyrus CD $13.88
With tax, our total was $124.46. However, I had $100 in gift certificates which dd and I both earned at a local business for helping them with some testing. Our final total was $24.46!
~~Stacy~~
Comments
Oct. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by solidrock
I am saving for the essencial oils to make the air freshener ect. It is always great fun to have a gift certificate!
Oct. 21, 2008 - cleaners
Posted by calina
We must be on the same page! I made homemade cleaners last weekend. I am a firm believer in using baking soda as a scour cleaner because our tub has jets in it. My youngest daughter has eczema and severe allergies, so I don't want her coming in contact with more chemicals.
Another thing I do for air freshener is put apple peelings & cinnamon or citrus peels and cloves in a pot on our woodstove or you could put it in a potpourri burner or you could put it in your coffee pot and turn the warmer on.
One last thing, what are the ratios for the diffuser you were talking about. I put the tea tree oil in a pot of water on our woodstove, especially when someone has a cold or sinus infection. It seems to help us breathe better. I didn't know it actually cleans the air.
Oct. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Canadagirl
I am for sure going to use the homemake fabreeze reicpe ! My boys room is in the need of a over haul and sanitization too. lol This recipe was perfect timing. [0;
Wahoo on all your gift certificates ! What a lovely way to shop !!
blessings and ((HUGS)) my SSiC
In Him<><
-Mary
Oct. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by kympossible
Good deals!!! Thanks for the reminder about using baking soda to scrub the tub. Mine needs a scrubbing, but the cleaners really don't rinse away well.
Blessings,
Kym
Oct. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CandyFoote
Wow, what a great shopping trip!
Candy
Oct. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by floridasunsets
Can't wait to try the homemade fabric spray!! Thank you, Stacy!!
Oct. 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by HSBCompanyBlog
Cleaning the sink with tea tree oil sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing this with everyone on the HSB Company Porch Blog Tip Challenge!
Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB
