Homemade Laundry Detergent

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:
water
1/3 bar Fels Naptha (shaved with cheese grater)
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda (NOT baking soda-This can be found in the section with laundry detergent)
At least a 2 gallon bucket

Put the soap shavings in a pot with 6 cups of water.  Heat this until the soap dissolves. Remove the pot from heat.  Pour 4 cups of hot water into your bucket.  Add the soap mixture and stir.  Then add 1 gallon plus 6 cups more water into the bucket.  Let this mixture sit for 24 hours.  It will form into a watery gel mixture. Use 1/2 cup per load of laundry.

Organization Challenge Day 12: Spice Cabinet

The spice cabinet!!! I extended this by organizing all 3 cabinets in that side of the stove. I have now organized all of my cabinets!!!! Yay!!!!! Now, I just need to finish the drawers. It will happen soon.

Before:

After:




Sooooooo much better!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Organization Day 11: Freezer

I know the challenge was only to organize the freezer, which probably meant that the fridge was set for another day. However, I was in the mood+my baby boy was taking a great nap+I might not be in the mood later. Nevertheless-it is done, and I am so happy it is! My fridge was looking pretty bad!

Before:

After:
















- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

No Snow for Us

While the rest of the country seemed to be getting snow, we did not. It was quite chilly topping out in the 40s today, but no snow-as usual. I would have driven north an hour or two if I had heard of snow there. Oh, well. Since we couldn't make a real snowman, we made our own kind-using cotton balls!

I thought he turned out pretty cute. Plus, Madison really enjoyed making him, and that, folks, is all that matters. After we finished him, Madison wanted to do something else. So, I handed her a scrap piece of paper and told her she could draw a picture. I only expected to see the typical squiggly lines and circles that she has been drawing lately. BOY WAS I WRONG!!! She started drawing us-her family. I was in complete shock that she could draw that well-with so many details! Eyes, eyebrows, teeth, arms, legs, high heels. The person in the center is me with high heels. I guess that is because I always wear them-NOT!!! I am still in shock hours later. This was a hidden talent. my baby girl is growing up too quickly.






Now, I really wish that I had given her a fresh piece of paper. You better believe I will cherish this forever!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

UPDATE: I did not care for this detergent.  It left powdery film on many of my dishes.

I have been meaning to make some of my own cleaners for a long time now. I even had the box of Borax and a huge bag of baking soda waiting on me. A friend of mine just inspired me to actually do it. She had challenged herself to make something new each month that she would normally buy. What a fun idea.

So, I pulled out my recipe for homemade dishwasher detergent an made a batch. I think it took all of 1 minute.
Recipe:
1c Borax
1c Baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Mix together. Use 1 Tbsp plus 1 drop of liquid dish soap with each load. You can use white distiller vinegar for a rinsing agent. How easy!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Organization Challenge Day 5: Under the Kitchen Sink

I did yesterday's challenge yesterday, but I have been so busy since then. I may not post pics for this one, because they really weren't that impressive anyway.  There wasn't a great transformation on this one, because we had cleaned out that space a couple of months ago.  Happy organizing everyone! I hope everyone is staying motivated! I still need to do todays assignment, but I really want to get a couple more baskets first.
TGIF!!!

HollyDays Giveaway

There is going to be a giveaway for a $50 gift certificate at:

HollyDays

Still Motivated, but Tired

Wow, this 21 day challenge has been wonderful and exhausting all at the same time.  Tasks that should take an hour, take all day for me with two small children (3 years and 4 months). I know I am not the only one in this situation. I am so glad this stuff is getting accomplished, because when the challenge is over, I won't feel so bad if we just sit around a few days and just cuddle and play.  Right now, I am spending almost my entire free time organizing and more.  When I start organizing, that leads to cleaning because I am seeing cabinets, baseboards, door frames and door fronts up close. I just finished wiping down door frames, doors and baseboards in my very long hallway.

Here is a pic of a tired momma and her sweet girl. Pay no attention to the UNorganized sewing area behind me! You will notice my storage items waiting on me in the background!

Organization Challenge Day 4: Linen Closet

Vast improvement! I am mostly excited that it forced me to organize my gift wrap.

Before:
Do you see my jumbled mess of gift wrap, boxes, ribbon and tissue paper??? Yuck!

Voila!!!

Look at this beautiful specimen of organized gift wrap! I also have a box on the top shelf that holds all of my gift bags.  I want to get one more matching box to hold all of my gift boxes and tissue paper.

My Beautiful Children

Organization Challenge Day 3: Tupperware Cabinets

What a feeling of accomplishment! I forced myself to throw away a ton of containers.  I had a whole matching set.  There was no need for me to keep the others.  Take a look at my organized, clean cabinets!

BEFORE:

During:

After:

Yay! I LOVE IT! Check out the organizational challenge:

Organization Challenge Day 2: Desk Top

I spend so much time at this desk that I should keep it organized, BUT I don't. Take a look at how it was before the challenge:

Here it is after I took everything off (except the monstrous computer) to clean:

This is one of my organizers.  It is where I always put the bills that need to be paid, blank envelopes, and mailing labels.  Oh, and the large envelope for collecting records for filing our taxes. As things start arriving in the mail, I immediately put them in this envelope. I don't want the hubby having to put out a search warrant for the missing items when he sits down to file our taxes.

This is the final product. I know that some would say there is still too much clutter, but it is just right for me.  The organizer on the left holds a clip board, my address book, more labels, and all of the specialty printing papers and labels. The printer sits on a stand just to the right of the desk. So, it is kinda handy to have it there.

I am taking part in the 21 day challenge at:

Christmas Fun

I know this post is really late, but I thought I would share some pics from the holidays.


The Polar Express

My family at my parents' house. We took soooo many pics for Mom to put on her Christmas cards

Going to the Nutcracker Ballet with MiMi & Pops

Brunch with Santa

This is Uncle Jason, Aunt Carissa and cousin Quinn

Brantley, Madison & Quinn at Mimi & Pops' house

Beautiful Christmas light display with my family

PawPaw, cousin Sophia, Madison & MawMaw

Christmas Eve-Putting out the reindeer food

Madison and Mr. Jingle

Cookies & milk for Santa

Christmas morning (It just looks like a maid's costume and a vacuum. It is actually an Alice in Wonderland dress and the vacuum that Santa brought.)