I think there are two camps of people when it comes to vintage. There are those of us who are all ohmygosh YESSSSSSS!!! I love things with history and back story and a past life! And there are those of us who are all Ew, NO! I am so not into someone else’s grandma’s stinky, dusty garbage.

I am decidedly a part of the first camp. I get excited about the idea of something that has lived an entire life before it enters mine. I also like the whole eco-friendly, reducing your carbon footprint aspect of it (Earth Day every day, yo!).

In hopes of converting any of you potential haters out there, I’ve curated some pretty stinking fabulous vintage finds I unearthed with a little bit of digging around Etsy.

Many of these pieces look like something you could find in stores like Anthropologie today, but the coolness factor goes up a notch when the piece is actually vintage instead of just looking vintage.

A super simple way to remove sticky residue naturally—and make recycled bottle vases.

I’ve turned my kids into hoarders. I’m not sure if it’s nature or nurture, but it’s happening. While I might complain about the constant accumulation of scraps of paper, junky plastic mementos, and wrappers that smell like their favorite candy, these girls of mine definitely got their inability to let things go from their momma.

I absolutely loathe throwing something out that is still perfectly useful—even if I’m not sure how it might be useful to me at this very moment. Sometimes I’m good and I throw everything into a donate pile. Other times, not so much. I stash things in a closet or a drawer or in a pile on the dining room table waiting for some sort of inspiration to strike.

So it was with a few empty bottles. I know. Just throw them in the recycling, right? I couldn’t do it. I shoved them into a corner of the dining room hoping my husband wouldn’t notice them while I tried to figure out a way to repurpose them. Days went by, but when the rose of Sharon bushes outside my front door started blooming, inspiration struck.

VASES!

Vases from the florist are usually pretty boring. I get it, they’re not the star of the show. But I like something a little more quirky and interesting. My bottles—which were actually a wine bottle, a syrup bottle, and an empty candle jar—totally fit the bill. My only obstacle was that sticky residue labels leave behind. And I figured out an easy way to get rid of it.

This is only the third edition I’ve done in my Momtrepreneur series, but I have to tell you: I’m loving them. I have asked all of these ladies the same questions and have never been bored by their answers. They’re incredibly inspiring.

This month, I’ve got Morgan from King Soleil shedding some light on starting a business. I stumbled across Morgan’s shop when it was featured somewhere on the internet (possibly Babble’s Top 50 Etsy Baby Shops). First, I fell in love with her work and then I fell in love with her mission.

King Soleil was born when Morgan started preparing a nursery for her first baby. When she found the decor she stumbled upon to be lacking, she started crafting her own pieces by repurposing, refinishing, upcycling and reinventing.

Could this woman and her work be any more up my alley? I think not. But let her tell her story. I hope you’re even half as inspired by it as I am!

I was standing in my kitchen the other afternoon, washing dishes for what felt like the millionth time that day, when a warm breeze came through my window. I enjoyed every second of it and once it stopped, two things became incredibly clear.

One: I suddenly and desperately needed to clean the last hangers-on from the Great Purge of 2013 and continue with the organizing my life spree.  And two: I had a physical need for everything in my world to smell as clean and as fresh as lemons.

Weird? Yes. If any of my friends told me this story my immediate response would be “Are you prego?” I’m not, but the story is true. Something about the warmth and the sunshine and the breeze reignited my cleaning fire and made me lemon obsessed. In fact, within days I went out and bought lemongrass essential oil to add to all of my DIY Green Cleaning Recipes.

Like a lot of the other ingredients I’ve been using, this one has a bunch of awesome qualities (it’s an antidepressant and is antibacterial, antimicrobial, insecticidal, fungicidal, antiseptic, deodorizing… the list goes on and on!). I also bought a big old bag of lemons and turned to the internet for ways to complete my mission.

I’ve put together a list of 20 of my favorite tips for cleaning with lemons…

1. Fill a glass jar with lemon peels then fill the jar with white vinegar. Let this sit for 2 weeks, strain and use as a cleaner (via The Greening of Westford).
2. Clean brass and copper by sprinkling salt on a lemon half and rubbing it on the metal, then rinsing thoroughly. (via Real Simple)
3. Cut a lemon in half and use it to scrub the hard water stains on any fixture. (via Broccoli Cupcake)
4. Clean your microwave and remove odors by placing 3/4 cup of water with a couple tablespoons of lemon juice in the microwave. Heat to boiling. Don’t open the door for another 10 minutes. Then just wipe away food particles with a clean cloth and dry. (via Mother Nature Network)
5. Dip the cut side of a lemon half in baking soda to tackle counter tops; wipe with a wet sponge and dry. Don’t use on delicate stone, like marble, or stainless steel (it may discolor). (via Real Simple)
6. Mix 1/2 cup lemon juice (or sliced lemons) with one gallon of very hot water. Soak white clothes in the solution (don’t use for silk, it’s best for cotton and polyester). Let the clothes soak from an hour to overnight, depending on how badly it needs bleaching. Remove the clothing from the mix and pour the mix into the washing machine and wash as usual. It’s impossible to over-bleach using lemon juice. (via DIY Network)
7. A dilute lemon juice rinse for your hair cuts soap residue and leaves hair softer and shinier. (via Mother Nature Network)
8. To remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. (via Real Simple)
9. Clean mineral buildup on tea kettles and coffee pots by boiling lemon slices in the pots. Allow the mixture to sit for an hour or two, and then rinse and dry. (via Mother Nature Network)
10. To clean stubborn soap scum from shower doors, dip a halved lemon in baking soda and scrub. Rinse with water once you’re satisfied to remove any left over baking soda residue.
11. To tackle grout stains add lemon juice to 1 or 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar (an acidic salt that acts as a natural bleaching agent) to make a paste. Apply with a toothbrush, then rinse. (via Real Simple)
12. To clean windows and mirrors put a few tablespoons of lemon juice and water into a spray bottle. It works as well as a vinegar solution and smells better. (via Mother Nature Network)
13. To get rid of unpleasant smells in your kitchen, heat the oven to 300 degrees F and place a whole lemon on the center rack. With the door slightly ajar, let the lemon “cook” for about 15 minutes; then turn off oven. Let the lemon cool before removing it. (via TLC)
14. If your hands smell from chopping garlic or handling raw fish you can rub them with lemon juice, which will neutralize the odor. (via Real Simple)
15. To remove dried-on food or detergent from the chrome inside your dishwasher by rubbing it with a piece of lemon. Rinse by wiping with a damp cloth, and then rub dry with a clean, dry cloth. (via TLC)
16. To bleach tomato sauce and other acidic-food stains from dishwasher-safe items, rub lemon juice on the spots, let the items dry in the sun, then wash as usual. (via Real Simple)
17. Scrub grills and grates with lemon juice and salt. (via Mother Nature Network)
18. Make your wooden furniture gleam by mixing one part olive oil to one part lemon juice, then rub the liquid in with a soft rag. The same mix will also give sparkle to your wooden floors. (via Quick & Simple)
19. Remove rust stains from cotton and polyesters by making a paste with lemon juice and cream of tartar. Rub the mixture into the stain, let the item sit for about a half hour, and then wash as normal (test before use). (via Mother Nature Network)
20. When you run out of dish soap, slice a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on top, working the lemon half like you would a Brillo pad. Watch as the citric acid cuts, loosens and then dissolves grease, giving your pots and pans a shiny glow. (via iVillage)

Do you have any tips for DIY green cleaning with lemons? I’m always up for new cheap and easy ways to clean!

Vintage is one of those words that just oozes cool. Even if I had no idea what it meant, I would like it. It’s like besotted and resplendent. They all just sound awesome. No? Just me? OK then. Let’s move right along. 😉

Vintage is awesome. It’s especially awesome right now, when everything seems new again. Whether you’re into Audrey Hepburn style (A-line skirts, skinny pants, classic stripes), bohemian 70s style (peasant blouses and long flowing skirts) or 90s grunge (floral dresses, flannel and over-sized cardigans), you can find something old that looks incredibly current.

You can even go a little crazy and mix them all together for vintage style that’s all your own: a flowy maxi skirt paired with a striped shirt (neon if you want to add some 80s in) and a big, cozy cardigan. The possibilities are endless and kind to both your wallet and the environment.

Buying vintage (especially locally) is oh-so eco-friendly. Not only are you keeping things out of landfills, but you’re not using new resources–you’re reusing old ones. Perfect retail therapy on Earth Day (or any day for that matter), if you ask me.

Take a look at some of the fab pieces that are available on Etsy right now…