Toni The Chic Momma: "Vinegar Fridays" Book Review and Giveaway!

As I got dinner going in the show cooker this morning, I did some cleaning around my house. Know what that means? I was cleaning with vinegar! I've been cleaning with vinegar for awhile now. I'm sure you're wondering what sparked my desire to begin clean with vinegar. Well, I'll tell you! Back in 2008, when I first found out I was pregnant with my oldest little boy, I decided that I wanted to start using more natural, eco-friendly cleaning products. I headed to my local health food store and picked up a well-known brand of natural cleaner. The bottle of cleaner cost $5+ and my husband just flipped. I loved the fact that I was using a more natural cleaner that wasn't riddled with chemicals, but honestly, $5+ for a bottle of cleaner is quite insane. I started doing a little research and decided to start making my own household cleaner. In fact, I recently wrote a blog posting about eco-friendly cleaning!

So, I now do all of my household cleaning using vinegar, water and baking soda. I dust, clean, disinfect, sanitize and mop with vinegar. Plus, I also cook with vinegar and use it in many recipes, marinades and salad dressings. However, vinegar can be used for so many other household chores and can be a part of your health and beauty routines. I was completely oblivious to vinegar's many other uses until I had the opportunity to read "Vinegar Fridays."

Hana Haatainen Caye, also known as The Green Grandma, has written "Vinegar Fridays," a book filled with the wonderful uses of vinegar. I absolutely love the book's description, "A splash of vinegar with a dash of personality." The book, "Vinegar Fridays," is such an easy read, many thanks to Hana's personality jumping off the pages. Let me tell you, this book is not your Grandma's book about vinegar. Ummm, well, actually it is, but this Grandma's book is way better!

The first thing I noticed about "Vinegar Fridays" is that all of the information is compiled in such an organized way. For example, each chapter pertains to a specific use of vinegar. One chapter is regarding the beauty uses of vinegar: "Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder." Another chapter is regarding the many health benefits of vinegar: "Vinegar - For The Health Of It." This organization truly makes finding specific uses for vinegar around your household easy peasy.

So, what did I learn? Well, vinegar makes an awesome substitute for fabric softener. You may not know, but many fabric softeners are filled with chemicals that are not only harmful, but can also irritate asthma and allergy sufferers. Simply adding 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle will soften your clothes and also help reduce static clean. Plus, vinegar whitens, deodorizes and disinfects. Can you say, "WOW?" Wait. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "But won't my clothes smell like a salad dressing?" Now, when I clean with vinegar, yes, there's a smell of vinegar. However, the smell dissipates quickly and then my home just smells clean. The same will apply to your clothing. At first, your washing machine will smell of vinegar, but again, the smell will dissipate and your clothing will smell just clean. If you want to smell flowers and other garden delights, go pick some fresh flowers and herbs!

With cold and flu season upon, you or a loved one may catch a yucky cough. If you want to treat that cough naturally, apple cider vinegar will come to your rescue! Use 1/2 cup organic, raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 4 teaspoons honey. Green Grandma suggests taking a tablespoon of this concoction whenever your cough starts up, as well as right before you lie down at night.

So, have some of the uses and remedies peaked your interest to learn more about vinegar? Well, you're in luck! Green Grandma is going to give one of my lucky readers their very own copy of "Vinegar Fridays!" Simply follow the easy Rafflecopter instructions below to win your very own copy of "Vinegar Fridays!" There are TWO mandatory entries and the other entries are simply extras. Trust me, you'll LOVE "Vinegar Fridays."

If you don't win my giveaway, fret not. You can purchase a copy of "Vinegar Fridays" for yourself or a friend here! Good luck!

Hope all of you are enjoying this week of Christmas! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy Blogging!

Toni The Chic Momma

P.S. - Green Grandma graciously sent me her book, "Vinegar Fridays" to review. However, this review is my personal, honest opinion. My 2 cents. Thanks for reading and stopping by!