Saving Money!!!!!!!!!

Lately, my husband has been making homemade olive oil soap and is going to start making me candles (he wanted to teach my son chemistry, but wanted to make something useful while he was at it).

I went out to dinner with a bunch of ladies a few weeks ago and one was telling me that she makes her own laundry/dishwasher soap. From the many people I have talked to, it works just as well as store bought. I don't know about you, but I hate buying laundry detergent because it is so expensive! So, Matt & I made our own! Plus, it only costs $5 for 640 loads (if you make the liquid one).  We did some research and yes, these recipes are safe for High Efficiency Washing Machines :)

If you want to make a stronger one for "whites" then you add more borax. I am going to make one for whites and one for darks.

Below is the recipe. Enjoy!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Powdered Laundry Detergent - Top load machine

1   Fels-Naptha soap bar
1  Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½  Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda." Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha  bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. Washing Soda and Borax can often be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2 per batch.

 

I am making the dry detergent. I hate all the containers that pollute the top of my washing machine so I am putting the detergent in a pretty apothecary jar with a silver scoop. I know, I am a dork! ~S

Fun Question Friday!

If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, which color would it be?

Hmmm. This is a tossup-either Red or Black. But I cannot imagine only wearing one color for the rest of my life!

                                                                       

What are your nicknames?

I HATE nicknames-especially when someone calls me “Sherr.” My husband calls me all kinds of love names tho. Tee hee hee!

What’s your ringtone?

The Cave by Mumford & Sons

Do you like sushi?

Not really. I have never craved sushi. However, while I was in Montana visiting my brother, he took me to a sushi restaurant that was to die for! I would love to go back just to eat it again.

When was the last time you sat and looked at the stars?

Last summer when we had our hammock in the backyard. I often sit out back at night and lay in the hammock looking at the stars. When I was little, I would lie on my back on the trampoline and look at the stars a lot.

Do you prefer the sunrise or sunset?

The sunset! There are beautiful sunsets in Oregon. I love when the sky glows a pink and orange color.

What’s your favorite hair style on a woman?

I love long wavy hair. Examples: The Kardashians, Jessica Simpson or Taylor Swift. I have had my hair long most my life, so I tend to like the longer looks.

 ~S

Happy 35th!

Today is BOTH of my childhood friends' birthdays. Happy Birthday Shannon & Aimee!!!!!!!!!

I am so grateful to have both these lovely ladies in my life.

Shannon & I have been friends forever! I have a picture of both of us walking out of Kindergarten together. She is beautiful, talented, compassionate, a mother of four and one of the most kind-hearted women I know. I hope she knows that despite the miles that separate us, I cherish our friendship, realize that even though we are not in touch that frequently, I still think of her often and admire her.

Here is a picture of Shannon and her most recent birthday party for her son Oliver (don't you love that name for a boy?!). As you can see, Shannon is hands down the winner in my book with creating beautiful, creative kids' birthday parties-you should see pictures of her other son's parties! If I lived close, I would pressure, plea and beg for Shannon to start a business with me designing kids parties. No, really I would! I love you Shannon....Happy Birthday!

Aimee & I met in high school. Aimee was the beauty queen, singer, popular, gorgeous, stylish, confident, caring and a really good friend (and still is!). I loved and still love her fashion sense, sweet spirit and generosity. My most favorite memories are of me lying on her bed talking about marriage, our future and so forth. She is a wonderful mom,wife and a great friend.

Aimee home schools her kids (something I am in complete aw of), active in the church and the mother of two.  Aimee is also very crafty and a perfectionist like me. I miss her dearly and hope to come visit her soon. Happy Birthday beautiful lady. Love you.

Both Aimee & Shannon struggle with pain like me, but in different ways. Whenever I am down, pouting about my disease or feel hopeless, all I have to do is read a few posts on FB about these two ladies and I know that life does go on, there are other people struggling out there and if need be, I can call both of them for support or for a shoulder to cry on. I hope they both know that I would do the same for them. I wish we lived closer :( Now that you both live in the same state, I will have to come see you this summer.

Thanks for being in my life ladies. Happy Birthday to you both! ~S

One of My All Time Favorite Reads

Grandma

We understand death for the first time when he puts his hand upon one whom we love.  ~Madame de Stael

I remember the first time I met my husband's grandma. As most of you know, Matt & I had a whirlwind courtship. I was worried about how she would receive me and if she would like me. Matt & I have the same experience with our grandparents-we both visited them often, were very close to them and thought highly of them in every essence of the word.

He was telling me stories about his grandparents (on his dad's side) from the first time I met him. So it was no surprise that he took me to meet them right after we got married. Their house, like most grandparents, was immaculate. I remember talking to his Grandma in the kitchen and watching in complete awe when she opened her cupboards to every appliance she owned wrapped in plastic. I had seen my grandmother wipe off every square inch of condiments before placing them in the fridge, but never had I seen this type of organization. Nothing in her house was out of place and the garage was no different. If you know me, you will not be shocked to know that this was a BIG deal for me! Ha!

I loved to hear her stories about Matt's dad's college days, aspirations and Colorado. She was a sweet, petite, loving and a welcoming grandma not unlike my own. Matt was incredibly fond of her and I knew after he had lost his cousin, sister and grandpa all in the last few years, the loss of his grandma would be just as difficult.

It is so hard to lose loved ones. I have lost many in the past years, but for me, the loss of my Grandma is still a raw subject. I miss her every.single.day. I never questioned her love for me and how proud she was of me. Her little white house in southern Utah was such a welcoming site after hours of driving. I still imagine her and grandpa sitting in their little sun room in their recliners watching the road in the anticipation of our visit. Words cannot explain the loss I feel for grandma and I only know too well how Matt is feeling.

For both our sakes, I hope with all my being that there is life after death. That we will both be able to see our grandmothers and loved ones after this life on Earth. My heart breaks at the thought of not seeing them again.

I am worried about Matt. He grieves so differently than most people-quiet and in his own time. He also tends to blame himself-why he didn't visit her sooner, call more, send more letters.....normal questions I'm sure. I asked myself the same thing when I lost my grandparents. I also know it is very important for him to see and walk inside her house again-something I was not able to do before my grandparents' house was sold (it was the house my dad was born in) after they passed away.

The last few days have been crazy with both of us working, me fighting a sinus infection and Matt and the kids with a cold. I am making a roast and his favorite cookies tonight so we can sit down for a nice meal as a family. I hope on his days off he will catch up on some sleep and relax.

If death has taught me anything, it has made me re-examine my kids' relationship with their grandparents. Fortunately, my parents come once a year to see my kids-but their other grandparents don't. Matt & I both wish our kids had closer relationships with their grandparents like we did as kids, but living far away makes it really hard. I think this is common with most families across the globe.

Please keep Matt's family in your thoughts and prayers-it is a difficult time for them right now. ~S