The Purple Fig Cleaning Company

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to stumble across the Purple Fig booth at my favorite farmers market. I love me some all natural cleaning products (and please don't fool yourself that the stuff you buy at the grocery store is really truly all natural!), so I struck up a conversation with the lovely Amanda, who filled me in on the details of this kick-ass Austin small company. They are a small cleaning company, both commercial and residential, and they focus on getting a deep clean without harsh chemicals. The also make their own (truly) all natural cleaning products, and since I am quite honestly just too determined to be Super Mom to consider a cleaning service (no matter how desperately I need and want that in my life...), I contented myself a bottle of the Eucalyptus Lemon all purpose cleaning spray.

Now, I grew up using vinegar and baking soda and peroxide and orange oil and things like that to do the cleaning. It works. Swear to god it does. Do I have a cleaning caddy full of vinegar and baking soda and peroxide and orange oil? Sadly, no. Hell, I don't even have a cleaning caddy, I just have a disaster area of an under sink zone, (but I swear there are natural products mixed in down there, Mom and Dad!). I'm not going to lie, I expected this stuff to end up swallowed up by the abyss, like so many other not very great natural cleaners have.

This cleaner is NOT abyss material. I freaking love it. I used it to clean my (gross) fridge as soon as I got home, and it rocked. It left this beautiful light clean scent, which is oh man, so much better than the smell of bleach assaulting me every time I open the fridge! It cut through grease without a problem, and the dried on stuff that was no longer identifiable? A two minute soak and it came right off. So I moved to the microwave. Has there ever been a microwave that get regular use that isn't disgusting? I mean really. Talk about dried on gunk. Sprayed it on, let it sit for maybe a minute, wiped clean. Stove top, spotless. And this stuff smells incredible! It doesn't smell like hippies, or an herb garden, or anything like that, it just smells clean. I like the way clean smells, especially when it's in my kitchen.

Amanda did suggest that I not use it on a daily basis on my stone counter top, as the vinegar will over time dull the shine a bit. That's the only caveat I have to offer about this cleaner. I have not gotten my hands on the other Purple Fig products, but I plan to soon.

The Purple Fig is an Austin based small company that provides benefits to their employees (what?! People do that?!). They offer kids classes, where they'll teach the wee ones about the water cycle and the importance of knowing what you're putting down the drain, among other things.  Then there are the adult seminars where they'll talk about what green cleaning means, from the obvious cleaning products and techniques, to plants that help purify the air in your home. They provide cleaning services. They make cleaning products. I think the Purple Fig rocks. Check them out. CleanFig.com

Mommy rating: 10

I am in no way affiliated with the Purple Fig company.

Mrs. Fun Facts Tip #1

Imagine that you just pulled a pan of perfect, gooey, delicious brownies out of the oven. Now imagine that it's an hour later. If your family is anything like mine, all that's left is the middle, all the awesomely crusted edges eaten first. I hate that, because I only like the crustiness, and I generally make the brownies before I've had enough vodka to forget that I'm on a diet, and then when I do forget I'm only left with the dregs of brownie-dom.

Ridiculously, embarrassingly simple solution: muffin tin.

Mix up your favorite brownie recipe (it's from a box, isn't it? Don't worry, I don't judge, mine is too...), and instead of the usual square cake pan, put that chocolaty goodness into a muffin tin. Every brownie comes out with a perfect gooey center and the amazing crust that is the only reason to eat brownies in the first place.

Boom.

You can thank me later.

Austin Nature and Science Center

I had taken Havoc to Zilker Park's Nature and Science Center when he was about nine months old, and while he liked playing with the other little boy we hung out with that day, he was really too young to enjoy everything the Center has to offer. Today was an unusually warm December day, topping out in the low 80's, so we decided to take the boy back to see if it would be more fun for him now that he's two and a half. Plus, it's free (although I strongly suggest leaving a little donation), and oh, how I love free!

The main building has a room filled with cool things for the kids (and Dads, if Tim is any kind of gauge to go by!) to touch; animal pelts, bones, snake skins, teeth, feathers, all kinds of interesting sensory items. Havoc loves to touch things, so that was a hit, right up until he realized that it was totally okay to be touching these things, so he lost interest.
There is another room with a big cave that is always full of kids (and Dads) running through the tunnel and laughing. Havoc found a couple of cute sisters and chased them around for a while, giving them "Yarrrr"s (roaring at them) and laughing his little face off. It was super cute, aaaaand then the girls' tiny little baby sister started crying from all the yelling, so we bolted before we got any glares from the other parents.

Outside, there is a small zoo of rescued animals, most of whom were sleeping, of course. I'm not sure how it is in other places, but it's a serious rarity to see zoo animals up and about in Central Texas during the day! The enclosures are decently outfitted, although the close quarters and heat make it smell just awful. The small animal house (which is small in and of itself) is even smellier, but the snakes and fish and turtles and tarantulas made it worth it to me. I love me some creepy crawlies! Havoc enjoyed seeing the animals, but he was much more interested in the Birds of Prey area, full of owls and vultures and hawks, oh my! He minded his manners and told the owls goodbye when we headed to the Dino Pit.

The Dino Pit is, I think, the biggest draw for the kids.

It has several big pits full of sand for the kids to dig in, and under the sand are buried (artificial, of course) dinosaur bones! They're huge and cool and there are tons of kid sized shovels and brushes to bring out the little archeologist in the kids. I wish there was some kind of shade there, as I don't particularly enjoy baking in the sun and certainly don't want my fair skinned little man getting burned, but other than that it's a great area.

There is a beautiful pond there with turtles and water lilies and reeds and such, and a shallow stream in which you can usually find some adventurous youngsters splashing around!

It's a great picnic spot for the fam, although I doubt I'd bring non-parents there, just not much there to interest the childless... and somehow I doubt it's "acceptable" to BYOB.  Seemed wisest to just not ask. It's also not dog friendly, which is unfortunate since most of the rest of the Zilker area is and we love to take Zoe there to run around. It's open Monday-Saturday from 9-5, and Sunday 12-5.

Dad: 7 of 10
Mom: 7.5 of 10
Kid: 9 of 10
Price: 10! Free is always a 10

http://austintexas.gov/department/austin-nature-science-center

(By the way, sorry about the craptastic photos, I spaced out on bringing the big kid camera and took these with my phone. Oops!)

I am in no way affiliated with the Austin Nature and Science Center.