Laundry, Laundry, Laundry

  With cloth diapers and 2 babies, my washer stays busy, but I haven't bought laundry detergent for 2 years or dryer sheets and stain remover for the past year thanks to great simple recipes are gentle yet tough on clothes and HE efficient nevermind being dirt cheap, about 3 cents per load.  Here are my recipes for laundry care:
   Detergent
     1 bar Zote or Fels-Naptha (I prefer Fels-Naptha due to grinding ability but both clean equally)
     1/2 C Borax
     1 C washing soda
   Let bar dry out and then grind to fine powder in processor (some people grate their soap w/ a grater).
   Add other ingredients and pulse 10 times or until will mixed.
   Use 1 T per load.

  Softener
    Add 1-2 T baking soda in wash, and then add 1/4 C vinegar to rinse cycle.

 Stain remover (Oxyclean)
   1 C water
   1/2 C washing soda
   1/2 C hydrogen peroxide
  Mix all ingredients.  I usually pour over stains.  Here is a before and after of MK's shirt.  Literally took one minute for the stain to go away, and just think, all natural ingredients!

Before 

After!

I could not believe how good these results were, especially since I didn't do this until 5 days after the mess.

Bonus recipe- Dishwasher detergent

   While you have the processor out to make the laundry detergent, whip up a batch for the dishwasher.  It costs the price from 12 cents a load down to 4 cents a load.

   Equal parts of dish detergent, borax, baking soda, and washing soda.  Mix well in processor, and you are done.  I use dish detergent in it b/c you have to citric acid to get rid of  streaks, and I have yet to find citric acid in the store.  

Oil of O-WOW!

  I have been known most of my life as someone with skin problems.  Before kids, I had to use something with benzyl peroxide, but after having Allison, my skin developed an allergy to it. (Didn't have to use it while pregnant and breastfeeding b/c my skin was clear)  So, I started making my own.  1st, I made a face wash out of yogurt, honey, and lime juice.  It worked great except I smelled like spoiled milk all day.  I also used green tea as a toner, also worked great.  Allison's daycare teacher, noticing my acne, recommended Burt's Bees tomato soap.  That stuff is awesome.  I've been using it every since, until now...
  I'm almost out, and I can't find it anywhere.  So, instead of buying more expensive organic face washes, I decided to make my own with a recipe that my friend Danell found.  This stuff is even better than the tomato soap.  Ready for this, it's castor oil and olive oil!  You just adjust the ratios of oil based on skin type.  1:1 for normal, 2:1 for oily, and 1:2 for dry.  I, of course, did oily.  I took the pictures after the fact.

The ingredients.

I used an old honey jar which turned out great b/c it had a stopper so the oil didn't spill out, and it had the tbs marked on the sides.  Made the dilutions easy.  I just filled the container 2/3 full of castor oil and then topped it off with olive oil.  Another 2 minute thing that will last months and cost very little.

  To use, squeeze a quarter-size drop into your hands and massage on your face for a minute.  Then take a hot rag and cover your face for another minute.  Then wash off oil and pat dry.  You are left with awesome beautiful skin that doesn't need lotion.

Minty Fresh!

  I ran out mouthwash not too long ago and was waiting for it go on sale.  Once you start couponing, it's hard to buy anything at full price, and you get used to things being a certain price, like I expect contact solution to be free.  Anyway, I was looking at how to make tooth soap (more on that later) and came upon a recipe for moutwash. 
  DIY mouthwash is so basic that I decided to try it.  It took a few minutes to make and will last months.  I think it cost 50 cents or so to make a liter.

 1st. Add 1/2 a tsp of baking soda per cup of water.

 2.  Add a pinch of salt.

 3.  Add however many drops of essential oil you want.  I added close to 20.

 4.  Wisk well to dissolve everything.

 5.  Pour into container.

 6.  Finish!  Yes, I'm reusing a Listerine bottle.

 This is all you need to have a good mouthwash that is alcohol free. 

Payton and His Girls

We went to Texas for Christmas, and Payton got to spend 5 days with us at my parents' house.  Payton loved seeing his sisters, and they loved seeing him.  We'll see if the love lasts when he's here all summer long....

It's Been Awhile...

  I didn't realize that it had been so long since the last time I've posted something until today when I decided it was time to edit my blog.  But I have a good excuse!  I have basically been a single parent since the last time I posted.  Brandon has been gone on work trips nonstop.  That leaves 2 against one. 
  I am exhausted by the end of the day, as most moms are.  Even now as I type this, I have a hard time focusing.  Allison is no longer napping and in the crib, so I have a little shadow from 5:30 in the morning to 6:30 at night.  I know her sleeping schedule sounds extreme, but I've tried adjusting it.  She just wakes up earlier!   Mary-Kate is the sweetest baby that you will ever meet.  She smiles nonstop and sleeps like a baby.  She's super quiet and just likes to sit in my lap, unless her sister suddenly drops something. 
  One of the reasons I'm suddenly blogging again is that I'm becoming popular in a way.  People are interested in my way of life--couponing, making things from scratch, cloth diapering, etc. (basically thriftyness).  One of my resolutions this year is actually to stop couponing.  Sounds crazy, right?  I want to get serious to about making things from scratch and get out of the big super-processed-selling stores. 
 Here is a list of things I'll be trying to make and have made this year:
   Laundry detergent
   Stain removal (oxyclean)
   Dishwasher detergent
   Shampoo and Conditioner
   Face wash
   Mouth wash
  Tooth soap
   Soap
  Hand lotion
  Deodorant
 Chapstick
  Yogurt
  Bread
  Crackers
  Granola bars
  Oatmeal Cream Pies and other goodies
  Mayonnaise
 This is just name a few. ;)  I'm sure there are other things, nevermind canning and making jellies.  Ironically, my good friend Danell has a similar resolution.  We both thought about this without knowing that each other were doing this, so I think it will be fun to have each other for support on our blogs. 
  

Clothesline!

 
A few months back I asked Brandon to build me a clothesline for an anniversary present.  Well, it's has been the best anniversary gift yet.  I have 100 feet of line, and with the summer heat, everything dries faster than in the dryer. 
  One of the main reasons I asked for one is for the cloth diapers.  They have to air dry anyway, so it's nice to put them outside and have them dry in a couple of hours instead of waiting all day for them to dry in the dining room.  I can now have them dry by naptime and have that chore done before the girls wake up.  One less thing to do after bedtime in the evenings! 
  I know use the clothesline for all our laundry except our towels.  The towels end up crispy.  I am a little disappointed though that a clothesline only save a person $100 a year.  I thought it would be more.  Oh, well.  It's nice to get out in the fresh air a couple of times a day. 

Allison loves it too!  She see the basket of laundry by the door in the morning and gets excited.  She knows we are going out.  I usually go ahead and put her in her swimsuit, but occasionally I forget or think, "Oh, she won't get in the pool today."  She always prove me wrong.

Allison's Tower

Today Allison and I got out her blocks.  I thought as usual this would only entertain for 5 minutes.  Well 30 minutes later, we had this creation.  Allison did most of it herself.  I only had to rearrange an occasional piece to stabilize it.  She was so funny.  When it would tip over or a piece wouldn't go on how she wanted it, she scream in frustration and then keep working.  When it was all said and done, we had this.  I told her, "Stay here, and I'll get my camera."  When I came back, she was sitting quietly next to it.  I then told her, "Stand next to your tower so that I can get a picture."  She then proceeded to stand next to it and smiled.  I then left the room, and a minute later she pushed it over and destroyed it with glee. :D