IKEA hack

things you purchase from IKEA and make into something better...  IKEA hack.

Well, I discovered one[I actually did this years ago, but my Dad said I should post this on Pinterest, so I am]!  I took a curtain ring with clip and made it into a recipe card holder for my kitchen cabinets, so the card stays clean and I can read it while making my recipe [also works great for full size paper too].

we can't do everything

we can't do everything

all I can say is AMEN! (Click above title to read what I just read)

homemade laundry detergent update

Works well. Doesn't leave residue. Only lasts us 3-4 months rather than 6. Still a deal at $8. for 3 months. I would guess it's 10 loads a week but maybe more...

homemade dishwasher detergent

I found this recipe for dishwasher detergent and was excited to try this out too!  We spend a LOT of money buying Cascade, and while I like clean dishes, I would like it better if it weren't so expensive...


So, I mixed it up this afternoon and will run the dishwasher tonight.  [cleaned everything well but one spoon, which may have had peanut butter on it...] 

Another pickle jar holds a half recipe.  [De and the boys really like pickles... me, not so much---at all!]  I spent $5.10 making the huge batch that will last quite a while, using only 1 Tablespoon at a time.


[I substituted Ball Fruit Fresh instead of lemonade/citric acid, since I couldn't find citric acid locally.]


Ingredients and cost:

half the box =$1.50

half the box =$1.60

already had, maybe =$1.00's worth?

epsom salt = $1.00's worth?

[UPDATE: October 2011, this doesn't seem to be cleaning our dishes.  Not sure why, but I'm going to try to tweak the recipe...]

homemade laundry soap

After reading blogs/websites about saving money on making your own laundry detergent, but noting how complicated they seemed (boiling soap and water, mixing it after it cools, letting it sit overnight, mixing again, then it can be used...) I was interested, but not THAT interested.

However, I recently found this organic laundry powder recipe and decided to try it out.  I purchased the ingredients at Giant and Target, and made the recipe this week.  It made 1 gallon of detergent (I halved the recipe) which I put in a cleaned-out pickle jar. To test it out, I threw Friend in the wash, along with some towels; they came out clean!

So I have a gallon of detergent, which is supposed to last a family of four for 6 months, for $7.96 :)  Now to see if De likes using it for his dress clothes [he sometimes gets white spots on his black dress pants with powder detergent].

Here's my ingredient list and prices:

$.97

$4.49

1/2 the box @ $1.50

maybe $1.00--already had a HUGE container from COSTCO

shredded soap, Borax, baking soda in a clean, empty trash can

shredded soap

up next...

my five year old photographer, always trying to take Mommy's camera and a million photos.

my little helpers, who love to make silly faces

this morning

made and ate breakfast. washed dishes. showered while the boys watched Thomas and Friends. steamed cauliflower and roasted butternut squash. pureed the vegetables and froze them in small portions for recipe additions. washed more dishes. took photo of my "map and truck" quilt.

It's a rainy day..... and Charlie was in quite a mood. Nothing was right with the trains; and because they are his life, nothing was right with anything! So I decided that a movie was in order ~ the boys watched Mary Poppins for the first time.

chores

I have given Billy some chores to do around the house... using a small dustpan and broom to sweep up and put in the trash the pile I made sweeping; setting out the silverware for meals; cleaning up his toys; getting dressed by himself.

Added folding kitchen linens to his list... cloth napkins, wash cloths, dish/hand towels :) He did it very well today for the first time! Woohoo!