Soap!

 
  For a few years now, I've been wanting to make my own soap but been busy with the whole baby thing.  I finally found some time to make it, and to my surprise, it is quiet easy.  Yes, there is a chemical involved that will eat your skin (why I haven't done it with little ones around), and yes, there is math involved.  But, the end result is so exciting. 
  I've made 2 batches the past 2 nights.  One batch was soap bars, and the other was shampoo bars.  I plan on making a third batch next week, laundry soap to make detergent out of of.  (I would make it tonight, but we're having a party tomorrow.  I need to do some hosting work)  I'm making so much right now because it has to cure for a month before it can be used, and we move in three months.  I want to make sure I have plenty of everything and cured before we move.  I also want to use up all the lye (the nasty chemical) before we move.  I would have made a 4th batch of castile soap (100% olive oil), but that will have to wait.
 
  Here's the breakdown of cost for the soap (4 oz bars):
    Bath soap--$1.79 a bar
    Shampoo bar--$2.17 a bar
    Laundry soap--21 cents  a bar  (this will drop my detergent cost to about a penny a load)

  If you were to buy these online or in some frilly store (I used good stuff to make these):
    Bath soap--$4-7 a bar
   Shampoo bar--$4-10 a bar
   Laundry soap--97 cents to $1.50

 So, there you go.  I've been up super late the past few nights making soap, looking online for recipes, and doing calculations.  I've even worn my lab coat and safety goggles.  I guess soap will fill my lab need until I can go back to work. ;)