Monday, March 19, 2012

Monday Tidbits

Goodmorning! We're slowly getting back into the groove after our Spring Break with Travis home.
I didn't do a single load of laundry all week.
So you can probably imagine what I'm tackling this morning :)
My mind is in a million different places this morning...
so the rest of this post will be bullet style.
Here we go :)

*This week on the blog is going to be a fun one!
Thrifty Thoughts will be about being creative and using what you have.
I'm excited to show you what I've been working on :)
Thursday will be a giveaway from Lisa Leonard...you will NOT want to miss it!
And in the next week or so there's something else that I'll be announcing!
No..I'm not pregnant and we are not moving :)

* I've been working on our menu plan for the next two weeks.
I'm trying to cook healthier for our family.
I need to use less butter and salt in my cooking.
My goal is to cook heart healthy meals every dinner.
Heart disease runs in Trav's family.
I plan on him living until we're 100...
which means I need to get started on healthier cooking now!
Do you have any heart healthy recipes?
I would LOVE to have them if you do!

*Super random.  But I LOVE buying cleaning supplies and laundry detergent.
There's nothing that motivates me to clean more than new supplies.
Anyone with me?!
Speaking of laundry detergent...
I go back and forth on making my own.
I know there are some of you who do.
If you do...would you leave a comment with your recipe?
I'm wanting something that smells good and fresh.
Is that possible with home made detergent?
And do you feel it gets your clothes as clean as store bought?
I need something strong enough that can clean my Coach's stinky athletic socks until they sparkle :)

*I am addicted to blankets, quilts and pillows in our home.
We have a huge box that is filled to the top with blankets to grab whenever you want to curl up.
My favorites are quilts that my mom and grandma have made us.
Which brings me to the matter of quilt making.
I'm really wanting to make a quilt this summer.
I thought this tutorial looked like a good one!
How many of you have made a quilt?

Alrighty...Dora the Explorer is coming to an end over here.
Time for me to get moving!
Have a great Monday friends!!!





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14 comments:

  1. i am the same way about cleaning products! buy me some new bleach and the bathroom will be bleached asap haha.

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  2. Love new cleaning products!
    I would love to make a quilt this summer... We'll see!

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  3. Eating less meat (especially red meat) can be really good for heart health. I have a chili that Hunter can't even tell is different from regular :) (I didn't tell him until AFTER his 2nd bowl.) It's really flavorful and doesn't need tons of salt either!
    Also, when I was pregnant I bought a ton of really cute fabric to make a quilt for Lily... and now she's almost 9 month old and has no quilt. I'm so intimidated! But I really would like to do it. Maybe we can make one together :)

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  4. I made my own detergent for two years prior to being married (and getting a little lazy). I would grate a bar of Fles Naptha and add borax and washing soda (one bar plus one cup of each I think). Then just add a tablespoon or so to each load. I always liked it, didn't give the overwhelming scent that some detergents do, but no complaints. I found a recipe that said to use oxy clean instead of washing soda, which I might try when I make another batch.
    I've also used homemade liquid detergent, the Duggar recipe. It was great too, just a little more time consuming to make and harder to store. Basically the same thing.
    Took me a while to get out of the, "is this REALLY working" mindset, but saved tons of money and no one ever said I looked dirty :) Lots of my friends make their own.

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    1. Ashley,
      I usually make the FelsNaptha recipe you mentioned and have found it helpful. I saw another on Pinterest that was the same though it also added the OxyClean which would be a big boost I'm sure!
      I've made a quilt before and loved the process, but gave it away to my former pastor's wife who was a sweet mentor. Find a friend who can quilt to "shadow" you as you get started, it's really not bad at all!
      Laura

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    2. Ashley got me hooked on the powder version..........Fels Naptha, 1 1/4 C of borax and washing soda. Love it. I hear you can add essential oils to make it scented, but the mister and I use as is. Yes, the MISTER uses it too.......without even batting an eye! And he grates the Fels Naptha for me! :)

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    3. Ashley got Danavee hooked and Danavee got me hooked. I don't even know if I would go back to store bought detergent to be honest. It's cheaper, I have it in a cute little glass canister and it makes fabulous presents! I'm also a HUGE fan of equal parts blue Dawn dish soap mixed with White Vinegar in a spray bottle to clean the tub and sinks. Another super cheap recipe.

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  5. 1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle

    1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle

    1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle

    3 bars of Dr Bonner's lavender soap

    2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent isle.
    (this is optional, I added it into mine because I have pretty messy kids and the cleaner the better)
    Also I sometimes add a couple drops of essential oils into the washer for more of a scent

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  6. I recently started making my own and love it! I use 2 c. washing soda, 2 c. borax, 1 bar grated fels-naptha, and 1 bar grated ivory. I process it all in a food processor. Smells great and gets clothes really clean! Also, I recently made my first quilt! It was so fun and I can't wait to do another one. Here's the link (pic at bottom of post):

    http://ramblingsofrobin.blogspot.com/2011/10/her-again-and-quilt.html

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  7. I made my own detergent in Feb. and I LOVE IT! It helps that stale smell that can set in in towels. Fabulous! It doesn't smell like tide, but it is a nice smell in the container and you can put it in one of those large glass canister jars from walmart or Target and that alone will make you love it! I made the powder kind. It was 3 bars of fels-naptha, 1 box of borax, the large (almost same size as the borax box) of baking soda, a box of washing soda, and 2 of the small or 1 large container of oxy-clean. I used the off brand from walmart and it was all right next to each other. It was about $16 for all of my supplies and they say it will last about 9-12 months. So far so good! I still pretreat if it needs it, but have loved it! Let me know if you try it!

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  8. CRAZY... I just made my own tonight and i really like the SMELL of detergent and would normally go on and grab the good smelly stuff but... Trying to spend less so i decided to make my own... I found a recipe that includes 1 C. of borax and 1 C. Arm& Hammer washing soap... both found at walmart and a bar of soap... your choice on the bar... i did a lavender one for the SMELL of course... I'll let you know how it works... Its cooling as I type and "coagulating"...aka thickening as it cools :)
    And I made a quilt in college that i love and i have a really pretty patch work one that i have been working on for ummmm 10 years... seriously :( I always say it would be a great baby quilt maybe i will finish it one day :) Have a wonderful Wednesday :)

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    1. i just read some of the other comments about detergent... Mine is liquid.. it also calls for 2 gallons of water.. :)

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  9. Well this goes against the grain a bit but I think we need to redefine what heart healthy is. Instead of ridding the house of butter, switch to quality, grass-fed butter (like Kerrygold or organic valley) and use real, unrefined sea salt (like RealSalt brand, or celtic sea salt). The nutrient and chemical break down of these are actually VERY different from their conventional counterparts. Here is an article that explains a little: http://www.sott.net/articles/show/242516-World-Renown-Heart-Surgeon-Speaks-Out-On-What-Really-Causes-Heart-Disease

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  10. Just found your blog (googling borax and detergents!) Found a similar recipe to the ones shared above, but includes a container of Purex Crystals. Found it at wal.mart for under $5 and they had 3 different scents. Once I'm through my big box store tub of tide, I'm going to try making my own...well, maybe I should try it before my tide is totally gone! ;-D


    Leigh Ann

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