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

I Made My Own Baby Wipes!!!

My homemade fabric softener turned out so good...I decided to give homemade baby wipes a shot.  I am so freaking excited.  (Hey...it's the small things)  I am all about saving money!...and all about passing on my tips!!  I did a little researching online for a "recipe" (I looked at two different recipes)...one called for baby oil and one did not.

The ingredients:

2 cups water (you will have to adjust the amount of water depending on the absorbency of your the papertowels that you are going to use - for instance - my magic number turns out to be around 2 1/4 cups)
2 tablespoons baby oil
2 tablespoons baby shampoo or baby wash
1 roll of papertowels - (this is where I got particular...pretty sure I found the best papertowels for the job)

I found the PERFECT container at Dollar Tree

1.  Cut the roll of papertowels directly in half...or as close as you can get it...



My brilliant husband thought of the perfect way to measure
halfway on the roll.  He's so quick!!



We used a large serrated knife to cut the roll of papertowels in half.
A little messy - so prepare yourself.  : )
I read somewhere you could use a saw to do this part of the job...

Put the water, baby shampoo/wash and baby oil (if you choose to use it) in your container - stir gently to mix ingredients.  Pull the cardboard out of the middle of the dry roll of papertowels and then stuff it inside the container.  Let it soak overnight or for a few hours - you'll know when they are done.

I'm fairly happy with the way that these turned out...there are a couple of things that I don't like about these - like how they are perforated, so they are kind of hard to "one hand"...but I can look past that, seeing as they are going to save money in the long run.

Let me know what you think.  Will you give it a shot???

Why Didn't I Think Of That?!?

I guarantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems … some you never knew you had!

Hull Strawberries easily using a straw!

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

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Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD-40 (also works on walls).

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Stop cut apples frpm browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

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Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.

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Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music.

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Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

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Add this item to your beach bag... Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily.

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Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.

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Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.

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Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose. - GENIUS!!

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Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.

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For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.

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Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door

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A tip for holiday packing...Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes.

(You can find them in just about every hotel!)

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A muffin pan makes an awesome craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.

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Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.

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Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.

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Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. 

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Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila –

you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. Click here for recipe.

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Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

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Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

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Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.

Do you have any tips or tricks to share?