What Did You Do Last Night???

Whew...what a night.  : )

Let me start with a couple of pictures from Monday night...because they are just that awesome.  : )

They may not be the best quality...but they definitely say 1,000 words.

Look at these two enjoying each other!!

Sorry...couldn't resist.

So, yesterday.  Valentine's Day...

I had to work at the office during the day.  When I got home, Gordon & GT headed off for their Valentines Day excursion (GT's very first movie at the movie theater - Star Wars Episode 1 in 3D, nonetheless - yes, I missed this first and there are no pictures!!!!!) while the Little Miss & I prepared to get our laundry list of things done while we had the house to ourselves.

Vadyn & I started with a trip to the Dollar Tree.  Seriously, LOVE that store.  We may or may not have spent an hour in there last night, filling our cart to the brim dropping twenty bucks...after we got home from the store...we got busy.

First on the docket:  Homemade Dishwashing Detergent.  You heard me...

The ingredients:

Equal parts of each.  I started with 1/4 cup, 1/4 cup and 1/4 cup...
(Since it's my first time making it, I wanted to test it out)

I found the recipe here.



 I mixed it right in the container I planned to store it in and voila!!

Load the dishwasher, use one Tablespoon per load...

(Do you like the action shot)

I'm excited to see how this compares to the detergent I've been using (which hasn't been getting my dishes clean, causing me to have to handwash dishes that have already been in the dishwasher...not good!)

After that was done...I made homemade laundry detergent.  Oh. Yes I did.  I am sooooooooo glad I did, and I think you should, too!!!

What was Miss Vadyn doing during this time, you ask...

Scooting around the kitchen...and smiling!!!!

Back to the detergent...

The Ingredients
(That's right...two of the same ingredients as we used for the
dishwashing detergent!!...get excited)

The recipe I used can be found here.

One bar of Fels-Naptha soap (you can use other kinds, too...just check out the link), One cup of Super Washing Soda and One cup of Borax.

First, shred the bar of soap:

Next time I'll use something that grates a little better...this just shredded it...
another trip to the Dollar Tree!!!

Add one cup of Washing Soda

...and one cup of Borax

Next time, I'll mix it in the container that I store it in...I'm so excited to try out my new detergent!!  I've heard only positive things about it & I'm most excited about the money saving potential!!  Just like the dishwashing detergent, you only use one tablespoon per load (you can add extra for tough stains).

Viola!!
(Yes, I realize I abbreviated tbsp. two different ways.  I like to mix it up a little bit, what else can I say)

These next two pictures are for all of the people who've asked me how I get Vadyn to leave her bow alone.  Well, she doesn't anymore.  Are you happy???!!!

 

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E! (Even without her bow) After the laundry detergent, I made another batch of my homemade fabric softener (this time I used blue conditioner, so it turned out the same color as Snuggle/Downy, it's the little things, lol) and then the boys came home from their movie.  They had a blast, just like I knew they would.  GT loves Star Wars and he had no idea what his Dadda had in store for him when they left the house. Since Gordon was home now, I enlisted his help with cutting a roll of papertowels in half, because I had another batch of baby wipes to make.  (Yes, I was busy last night!!) This time we used the saw.  I'm still trying to perfect this part of the method.  The mess isn't too bad, I'm just looking for the best way to cut the papertowels without shredding the paper towels too bad.  It wasn't really any better or any worse... After all of my home made fun, it was time for GT to get into the shower and get ready for bed.  Gordon & I had a little celebrating to do.  After all, it was Valentine's Day!! Guess who needs a haircut? But before I put the kids into bed (or Gordon & I did any celebrating, for that matter), I made a quick trip to Michaels.  I'm making some puppets for my crochet class. (Insert sssseriously excited squeal here...just wait til you see them)



Oh yeah.  Yarn SALE!!



When I got home, Gordon & I put the kids to bed & then enjoyed our one on one time...but I can't blog about that.  Let's just say, there wasn't a lot of crocheting getting done.

 

; )

XOXO