MetaPWR: doTERRA’s most versatile blend with DIY MetaPWR

2024 Update:

Finally!  doTerra is finally facing up to the truth.  They hired a scumbag resin supplier that ripped off the tribes of Somaliland.  Read the doTerra Newsroom response here.  They also devoted an entire website portal to this issue.  I researched Barkhad Hassan and Asli Maydi company back in 2022 and quit doTerra because of it.  I also researched Anjanette DeCarlo.  But after days of researching frankincense in Somiland, Asli Maydi, and DeCarlo, I stopped for my mental well-being.  I was in turmoil over something that was a world away that I had zero control over.  When I wrote to doTerra about it, they did not address my question AT ALL.  Now, two years later, I am feeling a bit more at peace.  This is one of those times when the truth, albeit glossed over, finally comes to light.

Update:

I decided that I can't recommend the doTERRA company.  Over the last year, I had questions regarding their Frankincense oil (their most over-priced and controversial oil) and its associates would not give me straight answers.  The further I dug into finding out answers, the more doTERRA became the King of Defection over the King of Oils, leaving a bad taste in my mouth.  I did not always feel this way about their company and have some of their oils that I still use, but have no intention of reordering from doTERRA.  I hope that one day their corporate leadership will be fully transparent, show public remorse, abandon their corrupt supplier, truly buy direct from the locals, and begin to repair the frankincense fiasco that they created (whether knowingly or unknowingly) in Somaliland and surrounding countries.  Maybe one day if I get brave enough, I will do a post about it.  For now, please do some research and decide for yourself if doTERRA is a company for you.  I still think that the oils in MetaPWR create a great blend though.  Here's my guess*** at the MetaPWR formula:

DIY MetaPWR Oils:  

• 35% Ruby Red Grapefruit
• 25% Lemon
• 25% Ginger
• 10% Cinnamon Bark
• 5% Peppermint

To make a more child-friendly version, switch the peppermint out for spearmint, and then make sure to only use this as a diffuser blend for kids (on account of the cinnamon bark).

Best Dishwashers 2022

Buying dishwashers can be tricky.  Currently, the delays and shortages were hard to work around as we bought a new dishwasher. Here are some tips:

1. Buy from your local appliance store. When you visit an appliance store you can handle and compare the appliances and really get a feel for which ones are top quality. Buying from a local appliance store also means you can walk out with the appliance.

2. Do not buy from LG or Samsung. Supposedly, LG and Samsung do not pay their repairman, and so it is difficult to find someone to do repairs under their warranties. LG's LDFN4542W was at the top of my list until I learned about repairman refusing to service them under warranty.

3. Buy with whatever credit card has the best purchase protection and warranty extension. (I recommend Costco's Citi Visa with 120-day purchase protection and 2-year extended warranty.) The reason why I say this is because dishwashers are now considered disposable. All the companies I researched had a one-year parts & labor warranty. Using a credit card with a good extended warranty means you can feel more secure laying down more money for a dishwasher.  If you don't have a credit card with these options, then I would say buy the least expensive quality dishwasher you can find (just not LG or Samsung).

#1 Dishwasher: Maytag MDB8959SKW. This dishwasher was not even on my list until I visited the local appliance store. Upon opening it and inspecting the inside, I could tell it was very solidly built and high quality. It's third rack is a major game changer. I chose this Maytag over Bosch's 800 series because its third rack has so much more room, and the racks move smooth like butter. And dishes come out so dry! $899  I feel like a queen using it.

How to grow Tomatoes as Perennials

This post is for my future reference, but it might interest my readers as well.

Tomatoes are tender perennials.  In a mild enough climate or warm enough greenhouse they can last for about two years.  Some people dig up their tomatoes and bring them in and then out again each year.  Others grow clones of their treasured tomato plants and grow them over the winter then put them out in the Spring for a headstart on the season. Read on for these methods in detail!

Probiotic Maker Review (aka EZ Yogurt Maker): Easiest Yogurt Ever

Do you want to know a method of making yogurt that takes less than a minute of preparation and has zero cleanup?

Let me introduce you to something called Probiotic Maker (formerly EZ Yogurt Maker).  I've been using it for about three years now.  It makes yogurt/kefir with less than one minute prep and has zero cleanup.

Here is what you do:

Probioticmaker.com

1. Open a new gallon (or half-gallon) of milk (or milk alternative) and pour the yogurt starter into the milk.  Replace cap and shake to distribute the powdered starter.
2. Slip the maker over the gallon, plug it in, and let it culture for 8-11 hours.
3. Transfer carefully (without shaking to the fridge) and cool at least 8 hours.  Enjoy!

I know, you are shaking your head right now. No boiling, no thermometer, no pans, no ice, no Instant Pot, no dishes???

https://turcopolier.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c72e153ef01b8d2d3dac4970c-popup

I know!  Insanely. Easy. Homemade. Yogurt.

I've been using this over three years now and just love how easy it is and that each starter packet has 11 different strains.  I'll give you the cons first and then we can recap the PROS!  Yea!  Read on for more details!

Wicking Planter Barrel (SIP Planter) and Planned Fertilizers

I converted two of my barrel planters into wicking planters (SIP planters).

Here are more details:

Norwex vs E-Cloth: Why Premium Microfiber is not your Cleaning Fairy Godmother

I could spend a long time comparing all the cloths that Norwex has to offer with all the cloths that E-Cloth has to offer, but for everyone's reading sanity, let's keep this short and show each brand's two major cleaning cloths.  Both brands produce premium microfiber cloths.  And I love cleaning with them.

E-Cloth draped over Norwex. The window cloths are on top of picture.

Close up two E-Cloth General Purpose Cloths and Norwex Enviro Cloth 

What you need to know about both brands:

Norwex makes high quality microfiber cloths.  So does E-Cloth.
Norwex is rather expensive.  E-Cloth is rather reasonable.
Norwex strands are 1/200th the diameter of human hair.  Same with E-Cloth.
Properly used, Norwex can remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface.  E-Cloth boasts over 99%.
Norwex has a 2-year microfiber warranty.  E-Cloth has a 3-year microfiber warranty.
Norwex a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.  E-Cloth does too, but there is no stated time-frame.
Norwex has BacLock.  E-Cloth does not.  E-Cloth used to dabble in such a feature with their Professional General Purpose cloth but ultimately decided to nix silver additives.

Best Stovetop Cleaners

Stovetop Cleaner Test 1:
Purpose: Test different cleaning methods on the stove top.
Method: I divided bottom left burner into four sections.  I timed myself for one minute cleaning with four different cleaners.
Cleaners to be tested: Shaklee Scour Off, rubbing alcohol, E-cloth Stove & Range, and Magic Eraser.

Results:  Magic Eraser was the clear winner.  It thoroughly cleaned it's section within a minute. Second place was Shaklee Scour Off. In third place was the E-cloth stove and range cloth. The clear loser was rubbing alcohol.

Jello Simply Good Gelatin and Pudding Review

I cannot tell you how pleased I was to find JELL-O Simply Good gelatin.

I'm talkin':

Feel-like-doing-cartwheels pleased.

High-fives all around with the grocers pleased.

Creating abstract art with my JELL-O Simply Good loot pleased.

Seriously, I had given up on finding gelatin mixes without artificial dyes and it was just so satisfying to see these little packets of JELL-O Simply Good gelatin with the words "NO artificial flavors, dyes or preservatives" on the front. I bought all the flavors.  Then when I saw them in another store, it was happy flashback time and I bought even more.  And I picked up quite a few puddings too.  Yes, puddings too!

Ollas Part 3: How Did My Garden Grow?

So if you read Ollas Part 1 or Ollas Part 2, you will know that I have a fascination with gardening with Ollas.

Last summer I used about 10 ollas in my tomato gardening adventures.  Two of those ollas were the GrowOya brand and the rest were homemade.  Now that Spring is here I thought I would give a quick update on how my tomatoes did with ollas, so that I can potentially save you some time.

It did not go well.

I think that the super dry climate of Utah just did not allow the tomatoes to get the much needed water from the ollas, even when I filled up the ollas everyday.  And this went for both the bought GrowOya and my homemade ollas.  And just so you know, filling up ollas is a pretty big chore with lots of funnels and squatting involved.  Basically, during the intense heat of the summer, it was not fun and since it was not rewarding, it was double not fun.  I ended up watering from above to save my urban tomato crop.

So, even though I love the idea of using ollas to cut down on water usage and be a super cool gardener, I cannot recommend it for a dry desert climate, especially for use in growing tomatoes.  I. Am. SO! Bummed.

Do Magic Erasers have formaldehyde?; Magic Erasers vs Norwex Cleaning Up Pads

If you are reading this post you probably have heard someone say something along the lines of:

"Magic Erasers have formaldehyde in them!"

OR

"Magic Erasers are toxic and cause chemical burns!"

You are probably wondering if you should ever use Magic Erasers because you are wondering if they are safe.  I have been in your position too.  Years ago I first heard something along those lines, did some research and was reassured enough to begin using them again.  Then recently I heard the same thing again and realized that I had forgotten all of my past research, so I decided to research them again, document my research, and post it for my future use down the road.  So this post is for me to remember as much as it is for you.

Along with the food and body product revolution, I have been whisked into the "clean without harsh chemicals" movement.  For me, its all about showing respect for my body and the earth.  So I have been taking baby steps to avoid harsh chemicals.  And since Magic Erasers are just sponges that work with water alone, they fit into my "try to clean with just microfiber, water, or non-harsh chemicals" ideology.  I love the cleaning power of Magic Erasers, especially for my stove-top.  So when people say that they are toxic, that sends me scrambling for answers/proof because I don't want to give them up.

Okay, so here is how this post will go.  I will provide you with a description of the ingredient in Magic Erasers, explain that ingredient, provide safety information, and then lastly compare it with Norwex Cleaning Up Pads.  I'm including the comparison at the end because both times that I heard statements accusing Magic Eraser of being unsafe was from Norwex consultants.

What are the ingredients in Mr. Clean Magic Erasers?  Proctor & Gamble reports that the only ingredient in Original Magic Erasers and their Extra Power Magic Erasers is melamine polymer, which is an "Abrasive Foam".

What is Melamine Polymer Foam?  Melamine foam is a "foam-like material consisting of a formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer."  Melamine Polymer is also known as melamine foam, and is a form of melamine resin.  Melamine foam feels soft but really is as hard as glass and cleans through abrasion.

Okay, so the scary word fomaldehyde is there.  But did you catch the dashes in between formaldehyde and melamine and sodium?  Those dashes are not just "ingredients" in a recipe--it is a complex scientific process that produces a different compound.  I don't understand it but chemical engineers and scientists do.  So in melamine resin, the "formaldehyde is more tightly bound in melamine formaldehyde than it is in urea-formaldehyde, reducing emissions".  Here's a snippet from that page for you:

WHEW!  Now onto some explanations that I do understand.

Alligator Chopper vs PL8 Professional Chopper Review....What is the Best Chopper?

Okay, so I have issues cutting onions.  They make me cry AND the leftover onion-y air particles stay in my eyes/contacts for hours.  Four years ago I did some looking around for a onion chopper.  I found a Vidalia Chop Wizard without the dicer piece at my local thrift store and I also bought a Alligator Dicer from Amazon.

The Vidalia Chop Wizard worked great for chopping produce for quite some time...until the base broke.  The Alligator dicer was loved instantly and it is still going strong.  I love, love, LOVE it.  But the Alligator dicer has only one chop blade and I have really been wanting a chopper that has different sized chop blades.  And when I dice tomatoes with the Alligator dicer, the juices run out onto the counter because its collector container is above the unit instead of below.  So I have been looking at different choppers in the hopes of finding THE PERFECT one.

So after much looking around online, I settled on the PL8 Professional Chopper and I bought it from Jet.  It has the ability to do a 1/2-inch chop, 1/4-inch dice, and 1/8-inch mince.  It also utilizes a cleaning grid system like my beloved Alligator Dicer.

Long review short, I still think the Alligator chopper is way better than the PL8.  I am majorly bummed because I was hoping that the PL8 would out-shine it BUT it just couldn't get a crisp, clean cut/dice like my trusty Alligator.  Plus, the PL8 was a huge PAIN to clean, even with its cleaning grid system.

So what now?  I have purchased an attachment piece for my Alligator that will allow a 1/2-inch chop.  I will just deal with the tomato juice issue.  And I still really want to buy this version of the Alligator but I just can't justify the expense.  Of course, I will keep my eyes open for one that can top my Alligator chopper.  ;)  Until then, I'm going to say that the best onion and food chopper is the Alligator. It rocks!!!

Thanks for reading!

PS:  I do think that it is worth mentioning that the Vidalia Chop Wizard company, when they heard about this post, offered to replace the broken part.  But since I had bought it used and had already got rid of it, I declined.  So they have good customer service.  If the Alligator choppers are too pricey for you, I would consider buying the original Vidalia Chop Wizard either directly from the company or from BBB using a $5 off $15+ purchase coupon that they often send in the mail.  I would not recommend their Elite version (based on online reviews).

Ollas Part 2: Best place to buy ollas on the cheap is GrowOya

2019 UPDATE: How Did My Garden Grow? for the Ollas Part 3 post

2019 UPDATED Buying Guide:
If you read Ollas Part 3 then you'll figure out that my olla gardening experience did not go well in my dry Salt Lake City desert climate.  But if you really want to try it, here are a couple of places you can buy them (it seems the only available size is small which really limits your watering radius):

• GrowOya website
• Amazon
• Walmart
• Home Depot

ORIGINAL POST FOLLOWS:
If you read Ollas Part 1, then you already know about ollas and that I made my own.  While it was definitely a cheap option (about $5 per olla), I didn't enjoy the process and wasn't getting fabulous results in my garden with my homemade ollas.  For the last year, I have been keeping up with the olla online market.  I somehow stumbled upon the company GrowOya and ending up finding a good deal on Jet and bought two to try out in my garden this year.  I am beyond excited!

Here is a snippet from GrowOya's website.

So this review is not complete in that I haven't tested these ollas for a whole garden season and cannot make any statement as to how well they will do in the garden.  However, I really feel like I need to get this review public now because:

1. I do not know how long these ollas will be on sale and wanted to give my readers a chance to buy a somewhat affordable olla if they do not want take the DIY gamble.
2. I have high hopes that they will perform well in my garden this year based on the reasons below.

I will definitely come back to this post at the end of the growing season to give you all the details on this particular olla.

Okay, now here is the story of how I got the large GrowOya ollas for $23 each shipped.

Ollas Part 1: Gardening with Ollas and Where to Buy Ollas

I love experimental gardening!  One of my latest obsessions is gardening with ollas.  If you haven't heard of ollas, then just do a basic "olla irrigation" search and you will be promptly educated.

"What is an olla?"  Here is a link to my favorite article on ollas.

An olla is basically a porous earthen pot that is mostly buried under ground and then water is poured into the olla and it slowly seeps out water to the roots of nearby plants, according to their needs.  It is supposed to cut down gardening water up to 70%.  How cool is that!?!

Last summer I conducted my very own Homemade Olla Experiment and am here to post the results.

Testing my homemade ollas, my tomato plants surrounding olla, olla with roots, and olla root hole.

Last summer I made my own ollas by caulking together two unglazed terra-cotta pots (after sanding the top edges and plugging up the bottom hole of one of the pots).  It was a 2-3 day project to make 6 ollas that would hold 2.5 liters each and cost about $5 per olla.  Then I buried them and put about three tomato plants around each of them and almost exclusively watered with just ollas, which I filled up two times a week.

Replacement Guarantees; Ginsu Knives and Norwex Microfiber Cloths

I want to talk about warranties and replacement guarantees.  It is not uncommon when making a purchase to come across warranties and replacement guarantees.  Often times, this is a selling point for me.  If I can buy with confidence, then I am more likely to dish out the cash.  But I haven't utilized many warranty or replacement guarantees.  I usually think, "Why bother?" because the company will just find a loophole and not honor it.  But this year I ended up putting some companies to the test: Ginsu and Norwex.  Find out how it went below!

Best Cheap Budget Vacuum for Carpets is Under $50

IF you are looking for an inexpensive vacuum for carpets that is:
    - Powerful
    - Easy to Maintain
    - Bagged
THEN the $43.84 Bissell Powerforce vacuum (exclusive to Walmart) is for you.  This vacuum has proven to me that you don't have to spend a ton of money to get a great vacuum.

I used a snippet from Bissell website to create this collage.

This was the vacuum that my husband and I bought when we were newlyweds.  We used it until we had to leave the country (ha ha, that sounds so dangerous).  Upon our return to the states,