So, in the pursuit of saving money, I have been trying different homemade soaps over the last few days. Actually, if I am honest, I have been reading about it and the process fastinates me, so that’s really why I am doing it! So far, I have made two different soaps. A laundry soap and a dish soap. It’s been fun, and quite interesting!
I did the Basic Soap recipe from this site. It was quite easy to make, and I got a kick out of grating and melting the soap! I used a bit of lemon juice as water for this recipe as I love that the lemon juice cuts grease. However, the next day, I noticed it wasn’t “gelling” at all. The day after, it was one huge lump of soap! You couldn’t even squeeze it out of the bottle it was so solid. Also, I noticed that when I am around this soap, my asthma kicks up. I used grated Ivory as the bar soap, so that may be why. I seem to remember, way back in my childhood feeling kinda “funny” after I used Ivory. I remember feeling like it was hard to breath. I didn’t know I had asthma at the time. So, it may be the Ivory…but I have no actual “scientific” proof of it. So, I am still looking around for a new recipe.
The laundry soap I got from somewhere in internet world and forgot to bookmark it. I used liquid Castile soap, water (duh) borax, and washing soda. No, I don’t remember the measurements! The soap didn’t gel at all, but maybe it will soon? I am thinking the fact that I didn’t let it set overnight might be one of the problems. Anyway, it seems to be doing a good job on my clothes. They are coming out clean, and smell like clean clothes. I put vinegar in my fabric softener dispenser so the clothes are softer. I did this for a long time, but had to stop when I switched to a laundry soap that had color safe bleach in it. I noticed that the mildewey smell that my front load washer has been plagued with came back quickly after I quit using the vinegar.
I’m having fun with this. It may take some time before I find exactly what I want, but hey, why not right?
I’ll see if I can find the laundry recipe I used…it may be lost forever!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Experiments
In the spirit of cutting back like everyone else in our great country, I have decided to try to make my own cleaning products. So, I started with researching Laundry soap. I have found some awesome sounding recipes, and I got all excited to try it. One problem…I cannot seem to find anyone who carries washing soda. I looked all over online at our local stores and no one seems to have it. I am going to one store tomorrow, and I am hoping they will (a little birdie said they might) I am looking forward to trying it. I kind of figure even if it doesn’t work out, I haven’t really lost anything, and it can be a science experiment for the kids.
I know this ones short, but it’s late and I am tired….see ya all later!
I know this ones short, but it’s late and I am tired….see ya all later!
Monday, October 11, 2010
And the party is over
Sigh…what a day. The party went off without a hitch, but man, I am tired and my hands are hurting from doing the cake. Yes, I am whining. Why? I donno…maybe because I want to?
I am sitting on my couch trying to figure out the whole business of coupons. The idea of coupons fascinates me. I use coupons at the grocery store and am happy when I save $14.00 off of my lovely 250 food bill. But how in the world do people walk away with all of these free or .01 deals? Do they sit in front of their computer with the newspaper ads sitting next to them scanning through stuff…or do they just get “lucky”? I so don’t get it! And why do some stores accepts double coupons but some don’t, and what in the heck are double coupons anyway? Are they accepting two of the same coupons for one item or are they doubling the savings of ONE coupon? Ahh…the questions that boggle my mind. It’s probably a good thing I am not like a doctor or something. I’m pretty sure being able to understand using coupons might be a prerequisite to being a doctor. How else would they eat through medical school? See? I make sense sometimes! So, this is my mission…to understand coupons. I might be posting different sites that I find helpful…we shall see what we shall see, huh?
I am sitting on my couch trying to figure out the whole business of coupons. The idea of coupons fascinates me. I use coupons at the grocery store and am happy when I save $14.00 off of my lovely 250 food bill. But how in the world do people walk away with all of these free or .01 deals? Do they sit in front of their computer with the newspaper ads sitting next to them scanning through stuff…or do they just get “lucky”? I so don’t get it! And why do some stores accepts double coupons but some don’t, and what in the heck are double coupons anyway? Are they accepting two of the same coupons for one item or are they doubling the savings of ONE coupon? Ahh…the questions that boggle my mind. It’s probably a good thing I am not like a doctor or something. I’m pretty sure being able to understand using coupons might be a prerequisite to being a doctor. How else would they eat through medical school? See? I make sense sometimes! So, this is my mission…to understand coupons. I might be posting different sites that I find helpful…we shall see what we shall see, huh?
Sunday, October 10, 2010
PARTY
Why is it that they days you have so much to do that you can’t think straight are they days that, no matter what, you cannot concentrate? I am supposed to be getting ready for BunnyBop’s birthday party that’s this afternoon. Instead, what am I doing? Sitting on my butt playing on the computer. Really????
So, I decided to take this opportunity that I have given myself to actually blog again. Believe me, I have missed it, but life has been so crazy, one thing after another, ya know? Hopefully by the end of this week things will slow down and I can get into some sort of actual schedule, instead of running around here, there, and everywhere!
Like I said, BunnyBop’s birthday party is today. Yep, we are having it WAY after her actual birthday. With everything that has gone on, we just haven’t had time to get to it. Luckily she’s only three, so she doesn’t really care. All she knows is that she’s getting birthday presents, and she is having a bunny cake. She is very excited about her bunny cake. I was excited about it, but it came out kinda disastrous last night. The bottom layer totally fell apart in my hands, the filling deflated and squeezed out the sides and the blue frosting, which is the background color for the cake, had chunks of butter that didn’t mix into the frosting. Of course, I didn’t see that until I had started spreading the stuff on the cake. After much frustration, tears, and yes, I will admit, a few not nice words, the stupid thing is done. BunnyBop likes it. I guess that’s what matters…even if Mommy doesn’t!
I need to mop because there’s frosting stuck to the floor. That seems to always happen no matter what I do when I make a cake. The sticky greasy frosting gets everywhere. Luckily I have learned not to mop the floor until after I make the cake. That’s a plus, right? I need to do laundry too, and Hubby just told me he wants the rec room to be used so the kids can play the Wii. Didn’t quite count on that one, so I need to go down there and dust and vacuum. And put the kids toys away. Our rec room is clean, but it isn’t organized yet. That’s going to be the LAST room in the house I do.
Well, off to work I go. I am hoping to be on more, as life slows down a bit….
So, I decided to take this opportunity that I have given myself to actually blog again. Believe me, I have missed it, but life has been so crazy, one thing after another, ya know? Hopefully by the end of this week things will slow down and I can get into some sort of actual schedule, instead of running around here, there, and everywhere!
Like I said, BunnyBop’s birthday party is today. Yep, we are having it WAY after her actual birthday. With everything that has gone on, we just haven’t had time to get to it. Luckily she’s only three, so she doesn’t really care. All she knows is that she’s getting birthday presents, and she is having a bunny cake. She is very excited about her bunny cake. I was excited about it, but it came out kinda disastrous last night. The bottom layer totally fell apart in my hands, the filling deflated and squeezed out the sides and the blue frosting, which is the background color for the cake, had chunks of butter that didn’t mix into the frosting. Of course, I didn’t see that until I had started spreading the stuff on the cake. After much frustration, tears, and yes, I will admit, a few not nice words, the stupid thing is done. BunnyBop likes it. I guess that’s what matters…even if Mommy doesn’t!
I need to mop because there’s frosting stuck to the floor. That seems to always happen no matter what I do when I make a cake. The sticky greasy frosting gets everywhere. Luckily I have learned not to mop the floor until after I make the cake. That’s a plus, right? I need to do laundry too, and Hubby just told me he wants the rec room to be used so the kids can play the Wii. Didn’t quite count on that one, so I need to go down there and dust and vacuum. And put the kids toys away. Our rec room is clean, but it isn’t organized yet. That’s going to be the LAST room in the house I do.
Well, off to work I go. I am hoping to be on more, as life slows down a bit….
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