Our Fabulously Frugal, COLORFUL Birthday Party!

Saturday we had Luke's 1st Birthday Party. We ended up going with a Colorful/Rainbow Theme. It was actually by accident. Haha. 

When I went to the Dollar Tree, I grabbed the red, yellow, and blue streamers. Hubby picked out the plates, napkins, and cups. I made up a funfetti cake mix for the cupcakes and decided at the last minute to make different colored icing for some of the cupcakes. As I went I realized I had enough cupcakes to make four of each of the colors of the rainbow.  I grabbed a package of bubbles for "gifts" for the other kiddos and it just so happened to have rainbow colors. 

 My wonderful sisters hung all the streamers for me so we had a wonderfully colorful room! They way they twisted the two colors together created another rainbow look. Thanks again girls!

For the table I grabbed three mason jars I had on hand, filled them with crayons, colorful toys, and pipe cleaners. Then we made fun shapes to stick up out of the jars...a more boyish alternative to flowers. 

After putting this all together I realized we had a colorful rainbow theme going on. Then I remembered I had a book about rainbows. It's call "I Love You More Than Rainbows" by 

Daddy read it to all the kids before we opened presents. It was really special! 

Luke got the special cupcake with the 1 candle in it. Big brother even helped him blow it out. 

Luke loved his cupcake! He kept making a funny "too sugary" face when he would get a taste of the frosting. It was hysterical! 

 When we were done eating cake, reading our story, and opening presents, all the kiddos went outside for some slip-n-slide fun. The kids had a blast. It was so fun to watch them run around the yard squealing and trying to figure out how to actually slide.

This birthday party cost us right around $25 dollars for all the plates, cups, napkins, forks, table cloths, steamers, balloons, bubbles, cake mix, and icing. I already had the items for the center pieces on hand (mason jars, crayons, pipe cleaners, etc). For cupcake "trays" and "stand", I simply used our regular white plates, and put one on top of a clear bowl to make a stand for it.

Happy 1st Birthday Luke! We love you so much!!!

All Purpose: Citrus Enzyme Cleaner

Today I am sharing my first post over at The Cheap and Choosy. Head on over and check it out. The Cheap and Choosy has a ton of wonderful ideas for Simple, Frugal, and Intentional living! 


Not too long ago, I started my journey into the wonderful world of Natural Homemade Cleaners. If you have never made your own homemade cleaners I strongly encourage you to give it a try! They are very simple and frugal to make. Add in the benefit of not worrying about your children or pets around them and you have some pretty awesome reasons to start making your own.

Today I am going to share my newest and favorite natural homemade cleaner, the Citrus Enzyme Cleaner. This cleaner is absolutely fantastic! It can be made for pennies out of items you probably already have at home or are about to throw away.

What you will need...
*7 tablespoons of brown sugar.
*1 1/2-2 cups of fruit peels. I went with Lemon and Orange. You can also do lime, grapefruit, apple, or pineapple. I have read that pineapple actually has the most cleaning power to it.
*1 tsp. Yeast (optional)
*2 liter bottle with cap
*1 liter (approx 4.25 cups) of water
*Funnel
*Permanent Marker

Directions...
Cut up your fruit peels and put them into the bottle. Using your funnel, add the brown sugar, yeast and water. Screw cap onto bottle and shake vigorously. Now here is why the yeast is optional. (I did not know about this when I first made this cleaner and did not add the yeast.) Without the yeast it will take three months for your cleaner to fully mature. With the yeast, it will only take you two weeks! Wish I would have known that at first....oh well...it works just as great, and was definitely worth the wait. If using yeast, take your permanent marker and write the date that is two weeks from when you made it, so you will know when it is ready. If you are making it without the yeast, write the date that is three months from when you made it. This is especially helpful if you are making new batches that are a few weeks apart, so you do not get them confused. Store in a cool, dry place. I keep mine in my pantry.

When storing, you want to make sure that the cap is not screwed on all the way on. A lot of gas will build up and could actually cause the cleaner to explode. Yike! So make sure to let the bottle breathe. If using yeast, you will want to shake your bottle every day for the first week. If not using yeast you, will want to shake it every day for about the first month. Shake it once a week after that. When you are ready for your first use, strain the sludge/pulp from your cleaner and go to it!

Why is this cleaner so fantastic? Other than the fact that you don't have to buy more vinegar (I go through that stuff like crazy!), it is extremely eco-friendly and allows you to use food scraps to make it. I love that! This cleaner truly is an ALL purpose cleaner! Here are just a few of the things you can use this cleaner for...

-cleaning floors...1 part enzyme to 10 parts water.

-cleaning bathrooms....1 part enzyme to 10 parts water.

-washing dishes...add 1/4 cup of enzyme.

-getting out stains (it is amazing for this!)...use undiluted directly on stain.

-laundry...add 1/4 cup enzyme.

-fertilizer for plants (I am especially excited to try this!)...simply take your left over mop water and pour on your plants!

-cleans and clears drains...use unstrained "sludge" from enzyme cleaner.

-wash your car...1 part enzyme to 20 parts water. (My van desperately needs a bath!)

-cleaning fruits and veggies...1 part enzyme to 10 parts water.

-insect repellent...use undiluted. This is supposed to be amazing for ants, spiders, and roaches.

-skin care product! (This one amazes me. I am trying to get up the courage to try it.)...1 part enzyme to 2 parts water.

My experience with it...
My cleaner is still about two weeks away from the full three months...but I became too excited and too impatient to wait. I tried it out on both my bathroom and my kitchen floors. It is absolutely fantastic! My bathroom and floors looked and smelled wonderful. I am so happy with the result. Next time around I will be trying the yeast to speed things up, as well as trying a pineapple version.


While doing research on the Citrus Enzyme Cleaner here are some other women who have made it and had great success...
Homemade Mamas
Happy Homemaker
Off Beat Home...Thanks to Jillee for the awesome yeast tip to speed up the process! Makes a great thing even more awesome!

Fabulously Frugal Birthdays

(Image Source)

As I started planning my son's first birthday, I began to think about my own birthday parties growing up. My parents went out of their way to make it a special day just for me. We invited friends over to our house, played a bunch of fun backyard games, ate cake, and opened presents. It was fun. It was simple. It was so incredibly special.

While searching the web for ideas, I noticed that parties today are going all out with all of the decorations, additions, and special touches. There really are many fabulous ideas out there. But honestly...I simply can not afford to do them. As I scroll through each amazing picture on Pinterest, I almost feel that if I do not go all out, I am somehow cheating my kids out of a fabulous childhood.That maybe, I did try as hard as the mommy who has an entire candy bar, chocolate fountain, glass dishes and fancy labels for everything.

Then I started to think about my birthdays growing up. I honestly don't really remember the decorations or what theme we had. I do remember my mom creating all of these fun and crazy games that I got to play with my friends. I don't remember if we had tons of theme specific treats to eat. I do remember helping my mom make my cake, special, just for me.

Often times we think that we have to spend a ton of money to create memories with our children, or to let them know how much we love them. I know I can fall into that trap. But honestly, money doesn't matter a thing to kids. What matters is that mommy and daddy took the time to do something special, just for them and with them. I say all of that to say....you don't have to spend a ton of money on your child's birthday party to make them feel special! Going all out on their birthday party won't magically make you a "good" mom, just like doing a "simple" party wont make you a "bad" mom.

So lets all let go of the "I have to do this to be a good mom" guilt...ready...1.2.3..deep breathe in....exhale...

Good! Okay now that we have that over with lets talk parties! Here a just a few tips my own mom used over the years to give us fabulous birthday parties, frugally...

1. Guests....keep the guest list small. Invite family and 5-8 close friends (not 5-8 familes...5-8 friends). No need to invite 20-25 friends. Your kiddos don't need that many new toys any way. The more people you invite the more supplies and food you will need. The less people you invite the more quality time you will be able to spend with each of them.

2. Time....Plan the party around 10:00 am or 2:00 pm. Having it around these times will not require you to have lunch made for all of your guests. Trying to feed 20+ people can get very expensive! You can instead, serve small snacks if you wish, or simply serve cake.

3.Entertainment... Play classic games. No need to rent that huge bouncy house or petting zoo. Good old fashioned water balloon fight, a slip-n-slide (made out of tarp or even trash bags), relay races, or team games like capture the flag, are always tons of fun! This was honestly my favorite part of my parties. Mom kept it simple and added a fun twist to each game.

4. Details...Make it yourself. The cake, the invitations, decorations, the thank you's, do it all yourself. You will spend precious time with your child creating them and build tons of memories together in the process.

5. Decorations...Go simple with the decorations. Pick 2-3 things you love and do them. Honestly it is amazing the fun things you can do with streamers and balloons! You can find a lot of party stuff at the Dollar Tree and save a ton! Better yet...use what you have at home! Instead of purchasing new glass serving dishes cover a rectangular box in white paper and add some fabric or scrapbook paper to the top to make a stand for snacks, food, and cake.

6. Location...have the party at home, in your back yard, or do it picnic style at a park. No need to spend a bunch of money for a fancy location.


As I have been planning Luke's 1st Birthday party I have found a lot of really fun, creative, and inexpensive ideas to make your kiddos party fabulous. Here are some of my favorite ideas I have found on Pinterest...(some of these parties do fall into the "super fabulous" category...but remember just pick one or two things from them that are inexpensive to do. Don't feel like you have to recreate the whole party!)

I loooove this DIY "Hungry Caterpillar" Invitation from Pottery Barn Kids. Guess what? The printable is FREE! I think I would make this with out the mason jar to save money though.

"Hungry Caterpillar" made from balloons! How cheap and easy is that?! Find this and more "Hungry Catepillar" theme ideas here.

Make a chandelier of balloons! See the full party details at The Pleated Poppy. 

These ruffled streamers are a completely fabulous variation on plain old paper streamers. Find the how to on Made.

This is another fun alternative to streamers...cut circles out of colored paper and string together. Adorable! See the entire Rainbow themed party at Homemade by Jill

I love this sweet and super sentimental idea of making picture garland. Fabulous for a first birthday! Check out full party details on The McClenahans.

This "Hungry Caterpillar" "cake" looks so fun. Pretty positive I can make this! Find it here. (I love the Hungry Caterpillar theme...can you tell?)

These would be a cheap and really fun snack for little ones! I know my Luke would loooove it! See the whole candy land party here.

How fun is this water balloon pinata idea?! Kids would love this! Idea from Scrappy Happy Heather.

Fantastic idea! Simple. Easy. Cheap. Plus you are reusing something you might have thrown away (yogurt cups). Idea from La-La's Home Daycare.

My boys would go crazy over this balloon and pool noodle game from Parents.com.


Are there any frugal and fun party games, ideas, food, or decorations that you love?  Share them below! Then get to planning that fabulously frugal birthday party! 





 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

Linking to Teach Me Tuesday, Frugal Tip Tuesday

Natural Cleaning: Lemon Dusting Cloths

Today I am going to share my super easy, and frugal, Lemon Dusting Cloths recipe. I really do hate to use Pledge. I hate the smell of it. I hate the way it cleans. I just all around don't like it. Plus, after reading the back of the can, which has at least three or four warnings plus the list of chemicals in it, I decided to find a more natural option. I was thrilled when I found this post for Lemon Dust Cloths at Growing Home.

So here is the recipe...(I love recipes that I already have everything to make it in my pantry!)

1 Cup Vinegar
1 Cup Water
1 tsp Olive Oil
1 Lemon Rind
2-3 Microfiber Cloths
Jar with a lid

Directions: Mix the vinegar, water, and oil, in a bowl. Soak your microfiber cloths in the solution, squeeze out excess water, and place in the jar with lemon rinds wrapped around.

I usually make my cloths up in the morning some time and let them set till the afternoon when I am ready to dust. I like to let them sit for a while so they take on that wonderful lemon smell rather, than a strong vinegar smell.

Microfiber cloths are wonderful to use since they are great at trapping dirt and dust. You can pick up a pack of three, wash cloth size, at the Dollar Tree. The olive oil and lemon are wonderful at polishing furniture, wood baseboards and door frames, and even fan blades.

Give it a try! I have been thrilled with the results and the wonderful fresh lemon smell!


Update: I completely forgot to add...don't throw your lemon rinds away after you are done with your cloths! Leave them in your empty jar and add white vinegar, filling it to the top. Screw the lid back on and allow to set for about a week. The result will be lemon infused vinegar which you can then use for your Kitchen & Floor Cleaner and Bathroom Cleaner!

Linking to Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Raising Homemakers, Healthy 2Day Wednesdays, Teach Me Tuesday, and Tiny Tip Tuesday, Living Green

No Poo 30 Day Challenge Week 4 Update

The day has come! 30 days is finally complete! It has gone by fast. So...after 30 days of not using any commercial shampoo or conditioner am I happy?

YES! I am incredibly happy with my hair! I have been wearing my hair curly every day for the last 30 days, however yesterday (Sunday), I  decided to try straightening it to see how it would look.

                

My hubby took these pics for me in the morning, with his camera phone, in our bathroom, with no windows...hence the lighting issues, and the fact that I look a little jaundiced. For whatever reason the pic of the back of my hair picked up much more light (maybe because it is angled down? I don't know). Any way...same room...same lighting...somehow they look like completely different pictures. As a matter of fact...my hair color is more of a mix between the two pictures...not completely one or the other. Next time I'll wait and get a good picture outside. Oh well...moving on...

I am so happy with my hair! I am already seeing my curls become more defined and less frizzy. It is still going to take a while for my hair to completely "heal" from all the damage I have done to it over the years (I am sure straightening it isn't going to help much either). Plus, when I straightened my hair I did not have to use any anti-frizz, straightening, or styling products! My hair came out super smooth, shiny, and soft! I could hardly believe it! 

Monday I decided to get my hair trimmed. I haven't had it cut in about six months, so it definitely needed it! I walk in, and the lady asks me if I would like it shampooed. I tell her no thanks and sit down in the chair. She starts to play with my hair and ask me what I want done...here is the conversation that follows...

Hair Stylist "Wow I love your hair. It is so soft! What shampoo are you using?"

Me "Ummm...actually I have not used shampoo in three weeks."

Hair Stylist looking just a tad confused "What was that?"

Me "umm...I have not used shampoo in three weeks."

Hair Stylist, eyes getting bigger "I'm sorry what did you say?"

Me..saying it just a bit louder "I have not used shampoo in three weeks."

Hair Stylist now looking at me like I am completely crazy "Okay...?"

Needless to say..it made my day. She had never in her life heard of some one doing something this crazy. I explained it all to her as she cut my hair. I didn't "win her over" with my no poo ways, but she also didn't argue against any of my reasons for not using shampoo. I laughed the whole way home. That poor lady. She really thought I had lost it. 

So here is how my week went..

Week 4 Update...Days 22-30

Saturday- Washed my hair yet again. Already feeling greasy since yesterday. I still blame that hair repair recipe. Pretty positive I got it all out this time. Used way too much Baking Soda to remove all of it and dried out my scalp. (Note: if you are having a hard time with an itchy, dry scalp, just adjust the amount of baking soda you are using.)

Sunday- No wash. Hair looks great and feels great. Not oily or greasy. 

Monday- Did not shampoo. Got my hair cut. She simply sprayed it down with water to cut it. I fixed it curly after. It looked amazing!!! So beyond happy today! 

Tuesday- Hair still looking awesome. I lightly wet it down with water from a spray bottle in the morning to reset the curls. Works perfect. 

Wednesday- Washed hair. I think I have finally found the perfect amount of baking soda/ vinegar mixture that works for me!

-1 tbsp of baking soda to 1 cup water. Mix up in a bottle and use half of this for one washing. 

-1/4 cup apple cider vinegar to 1 cup water. Mix up in a bottle and pour a decent amount on ends of hair. Do not wash out. 

Thursday- No Wash. Still sooooo happy!

Friday- No wash. Yup...looking good. Wore my hair up today just because. Curls still look great. 

Saturday-Washed hair. Straightened hair. Hair looks amazing. So soft and healthy. 

Sunday- No wash. Hair still straight. Got lots of compliments today :-)

That is it my friends! The end of my 30 day experiment! This is no longer an experiment for me, but a lifestyle. I cannot see my self ever going back to shampoo again! The thought makes me cringe! 

Best bonuses since changing to "No Poo" (gotta think of a more permanent name for it!)...

                                 -Hair is less oily. 

                                 -Curls are more defined.

                                 - Holds a "style" easier

                                 - Less frizz (not completely gone yet, but definitely less. This will take time.)

                                  -Softer hair 

If you are just hearing about "No Poo" for the first time check out my other posts...

"No Poo" 30 Day Challenge -What does going "Poo" free mean?

"No Poo" Week 2 Update

"No Poo" Week 3 Update

Some additional thoughts....

I have read that some people can not get this method to work for them. If you find yourself hating this method, but still want a more natural way to clean your hair, then check out Frugally Sustainable's Etsy store! She sells "shampoo" bar soaps" that would be an awesome alternative! I have never tried them myself...but I decided that if this method didn't work for me that I was going to give them a try. Or if you are really adventurous she gives you a tutorial on how to make your own! 

Remember, that everyone's hair is different. What works for me, may not be perfect for you. Take some time and experiment with it. Hair too dry? Cut down on baking soda and increase your vinegar. Hair too oily? You may need to increase your baking soda, and only put a little bit of vinegar on your ends. Also, don't forget about the transition period...your hair will have excess oil for a bit, but it will pass! 

I love that this is another way to simplify my life, cut down on costs, and live naturally. 

So how has your hair been doing? Are you enjoying going "poo" free? Thinking about starting the 30 day challenge?  Leave me a comment below! I would love to hear from you! 

Linking to Simply Made Home, Homestead Barn Hop, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Healthy 2day Wednesdays, and Whole Food Wednesday

Frugal and Simple Laundry Series: Homemade OxiClean and Color Safe Bleach

I hope you are enjoying our Frugal and Simple Laundry series this week. Today I am going to share two recipes for homemade laundry boosters. 

My boys are rough on their clothing. Grass stains, food stains, dingy and muddy socks. You name it, they have it...and they are only 2 1/2 and 11 months old! How does that happen? 

My new homemade laundry detergent has been working wonderfully at getting the majority of the stains and dirt out. However, my boys socks just don't seem to want to give up their dirt. Luke's socks are especially awful since he crawls every where. So not only are the bottoms filthy, but the tops are as well. No matter what I do, I just can't seem to get their sock white again! 

I really hate bleach. Really, really. I hate the way it smells, and I am always worried that I am somehow going to get some on my clothing and ruin them. Instead of giving in and buying a bottle of bleach,  I decided to do some research first. I ended up finding two perfect replacements! 

Homemade Oxiclean

Why skip the bleach in the first place? Well I'm glad you asked! Bleach is actually a chlorine based  product that is very harmful to people, pets, plants, and our earth. It even breaks down fabrics over time. I definitely don't want that! Homemade "Oxiclean" however is not harmful to people, pets, plants, the environment, or your clothes. It is an oxygen based cleaner, that when added to water, releases oxygen that lifts stains and odors. 

After searching for a good alternative to traditional bleach I found the recipe below on One Good Thing and decided to give it a try. 

What you need...

1. 1/2 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda

2. 1/2 cup Hydrogen Peroxide

3. Hot Water

Directions:

Mix 1/2 cup of Washing Soda with 1/2 cup Hydrogen Peroxide in a large bowl or bucket. Add in hot water till your bowl is half full. Add your dirtiest, dingiest, filthiest clothing to the bowl. Make sure each piece gets thoroughly soaked. Add just enough more water to cover the clothes. Stir a little to make sure it is all mixed up and each piece of clothing is covered. (I did this with just a batch of socks so a bowl worked great for soaking. If you have a large batch you can add this mix to your washing machine and let it set for a while before letting it finish out with a rinse cycle.) Let your clothes soak for at least a few hours. Overnight would be even better. After allowing it to soak toss the clothes and mix that was in your bowl into the wash, and launder as normal. 

I was so extremely excited to see that my little guys socks were white again! Not brown, but white! It worked perfectly! 

A few notes to remember: Make sure you do not mix up a large batch ahead of time. After this mixture sets for too long it will loose it's effectiveness. It is so easy to make up really quick, that making up a big batch wouldn't really save you that much time any way. If you don't have any Washing Soda on hand you can substitute Baking Soda. Washing Soda just has a little more umph to it's cleaning power. 

Homemade Color Safe Bleach Alternative

I first saw this recipe for a Bleach Alternative at Frugally Sustainable. 

She uses...

-1 1/2 Cups of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

-1/2 cup white vinegar or lemon juice

-Pure water to fill gallon jug

-10 drops of lemon or lemongrass essential oils (optional/omit if using lemon juice)

I did not have any essentials oils on hand and I really love to use vinegar in my wash, so I decided to go with...

-1 1/2 Cups of Hydrogen Peroxide

-1/2 Cup White Vinegar

- 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice

-Gallon jug of water

 Here is how to make your own...

Add hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and lemon juice to a gallon jug. Fill the rest of the way with water. Add 1 cup to your wash and you will have softer and brighter clothing! It really works wonderfully...and hardly costs anything! I love that! 

(Apparently when you mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar together you get what is called Peracetic Acid. If this concerns you at all check out Frugally Sustainable's post above for a discussion in her comments section on this matter.)

Currently I am using my color safe bleach alternative for almost every wash. I use my homemade OxiClean when I have a very dingy, stubborn load that needs a little extra help. Between my homemade laundry soap, the homemade oxiclean, and the color safe bleach alternative, I have very clean, soft, and wonderful smelling laundry! I am so happy with how it all works...and better yet, that it is so incredibly cheap to make!

Linking to Simply Made Home, Homestead Barn Hop, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Healthy 2day Wednesdays, and Raising Homemakers

Frugal and Simple Laundry Series: Benefits of Line Drying

Today in our Frugal & Simple Laundry series I am going to be sharing the Benefits of Line Drying. Yes...I said benefits! While line drying clothes may seem like an old, out of date, and unnecessary practice to many, there are several benefits to drying your clothing the "old fashion" way.

Benefit #1 It saves you $$$ on Electricity. 

Did you know that your dryer is one of the top energy users in your home? Yep, it is right up there next to your refrigerator, lights, and your water heater. Even if you hang one of your loads each day, you will be saving money on your electric bill. Now who doesn't want to do that?! 

Benefit #2 It saves you $$$ on products. 

Fresh Mountain Air, Cool Breeze, Spring Rain, these are just a few of the fresh air smells that the commercial product companies are trying to bottle up and sell to you. You can have it for free by simply hanging your clothes to dry! 

I first started line drying after I began using cloth diapers. My diapers were looking a little stained and pretty dingy. However, you can not use bleach on cloth diapers. After doing some research I found that the sun is the best bleach ever! I hung my diapers out on the line to dry, and they looked brand new! Guess what...it also sanitizes!!! Don't worry about buying bleach, simply let the sun do it's thing! 

Benefit #3 Less wear and tear on clothing.

Have you seen how much lint your dryer collects? That is because your clothes are being worn out by rubbing together in your dryer. Hanging your clothes to dry outside will cut down on the wear and tear, allowing your clothes to last longer. 

Benefit #4 Less wrinkles = Less ironing

Properly hanging your clothes to dry can actually cut out the wrinkles. Less wrinkles means less time spent with your iron! Simply snap the item in the air to release the wrinkles, then hang to dry. 

Benefit #5 No Static Cling.

Static cling comes from your clothes rubbing up against each other in the dryer. No rubbing, no cling!

Benefit #6 Environmentally Friendly

Line drying obviously does not use any energy or put off anything harmful! A win-win!

Benefit #7 Time spent outside in the sunshine!

This is honestly my favorite benefit of line drying our clothes. I love the sunshine, and I love to be outside. This gives me the perfect excuse to spend fifteen minutes outside with the kids soaking in some vitamin D. (After looking up some of the benefits of sunshine I found that it can actually help to level out hormones in us ladies...and may even help with pms symptoms! That is a good enough of an excuse for me! I line dry to help with my pms! Ha!)

Here are a few tips to remember when line drying your clothes...

-Shake out wrinkles by snapping your clothes in the air before hanging them up to dry.

-Hang shirts and socks upside down to avoid marks from clothespins. (I have never noticed marks on my clothes from my clothespins before, but I have read that some others have this problem.)

- Fold your jeans and towels in half, then hang on the line. Flip them over when one side is dry.

- The sun is great at bleaching whites. Because of this you will want to turn your bright colors inside out, or hang them in the shade to prevent fading. 

-Hang heavy items on the outside of the line. This will keep your line from dipping too low in the middle. You definitely don't want your clean clothes dragging on the ground. 

- If your clothes feel a little bit crunchy, toss them into the dryer for a few minutes to soften them up. I only have to do this with our towels and jeans. Everything else feels great! 

-Remember not to hang items that are wool or loosely knitted, such as sweaters. Lay them flat to dry to retain their shape. 

-Wipe down your clothesline, and clean your clothespins periodically to avoid dirt build up that can transfer to your clothing. 

If the thought of hanging all of your laundry to dry seems a bit overwhelming, then start out with just one load a day. I will tell you though, that it really only takes me 15 minutes to take a load off of the line and hang a new one up. Plus I fold the laundry as I take it off the line, so that saves me time later. So why not give it a try? Get outside and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air! 

Enjoying Beautiful Somehow? Then I would love if you would look up to the right hand side and click on "join this site" or subscribe to posts to make sure you don't ever miss a post!

Linking up to Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, and Healthy 2Day Wednesday

Frugal and Simple Laundry Week: Homemade Dryer Sheets and Fabric Softener

To continue with our Frugal and Simple Laundry Series, today I will be sharing my version of reusable fabric softener sheets.

I loved Bounce dryer sheets. I loved the way they smell and how they make my clothes feel! I had never considered changing to anything different. I honestly didn't even know there was another option.

But, there is! Believe it or not, you don't have to buy dryer sheets, a dryer bar, or anything else to put in your dryer ever again.

Homemade Dryer Sheets

Here is what you will need...

-1 bottle of liquid fabric softener
-1 spray bottle
-1 wash cloth
-Water

Step 1: Pour 1 cup of liquid fabric softener into the spray bottle.

Step 2: Pour 2 cups of water into the spray bottle. Swish mixture around in the bottle. Try not to shake, it will cause bubbles.

Step 3: Spray mixture onto wash cloth till very damp. Not soaked just damp all over.

Step 4: Toss into dryer with clothes. Shut the dryer door and turn it on!

That same wash cloth will last you about 3-4 loads before you need to spray it down again! Using this method, your bottle of fabric softener will last a loooooooong time! It works perfect. It softens your clothes, removes static cling, and leaves your clothes smelling oh so good!

To make this method even cheaper...you can make your own fabric softener!

Homemade Fabric Softener


Here is what you will need...

-2 Cups of cheap Hair Conditioner (yes you read that right)
-3 Cups of White Distilled Vinegar
-6 Cups of Hot Water

Step 1: Mix Conditioner and hot water together until conditioner is dissolved.

Step 2: Add vinegar to conditioner and water. Mix.

Step 3: Store in a container of your choice (you can reuse an old fabric softener bottle). Use your homemade fabric softener exactly like you would the store bought version! You can spray it on your homemade dryer sheets or add directly to the wash!

The great thing about this is that you can pick which ever scent of conditioner you like!

If you want a more natural and even cheaper version...simply add 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle in you washer. It will soften your clothes and remove static cling just like store bought fabric softener. The vinegar smell washes completely away, however, obviously with this version you wont get a flowery or fruity smell like you would with the conditioner added.

These are both incredibly easy to make and store. You now have one less thing to buy, and one less thing to throw away (those little dryer sheets will sit in a landfill. Forever.). 

Tomorrow I will be sharing simple tips on managing laundry, and including your kids in the process!

Linking up to Frugal Days Sustainable Ways , Raising Homemakers, and Healthy 2Day Wednesday

Enjoying Beautiful Somehow? Then I would love if you would look up to the right hand side and click on "join this site" or subscribe to posts to make sure you don't ever miss a post! 

Frugal and Simple Laundry Week: Homemade Laundry Soap

This week I am going to be sharing a bunch of new recipes and tips for that wonderful thing we all love to do...laundry.

Does any one else feel as though laundry just never ends? I can get all of our laundry washed up, folded, and put away, and magically three more loads appear. And we only have four people! Taking care of all that laundry can quickly become expensive and time consuming. After becoming frustrated with my old laundry care routine, I had been in search of more frugal and efficient ways to take care of our clothing. 

Today, I am going to share with you our recipe for frugal & simple homemade laundry soap. 

I had previously done coupons in order to cut cost on laundry soap. This was the one thing I seemed to be able to do well with coupons. Since I decided to forgo the coupon clipping, I knew I would have to find a new way save money on our laundry.

Thanks to Pinterest, my eyes had been opened to a whole new concept...

Make your own detergent.

I heard of a few people making their own before, but never gave it too much consideration. I figured it would be complicated, include a ton of ingredients that would be hard to find, and time consuming to make. Well, I was...wrong. wrong. and wrong again.

I originally found this recipe on The White Silk Purse. She gives wonderful detailed instructions on how to make both the liquid "paste" version and a dry version.

There are many recipes out there for making your own laundry detergent. So, when I chose the recipe I wanted to make it had to fall within these guidelines...
-It had to be simple to make.
-I had to be able to find the ingredients at my local store.
-It had to be easy to store.
-It had to be cost effective

So here is the recipe I finally settled on:

You will need 4 basic ingredients.
                     
1. 2 Cups Borax
2. 2 Cups Super Washing Soda (Not baking soda)
3. 2 Bars Fels Naptha Laundry Soap
4. 6 Cups Hot Water

You will also need 5 quart sized canning jars to store your laundry detergent (I got 12 for $8 at Wal-Mart).

All three of the main ingredients you can find at Walmart in the laundry aisle. Easy to find at my local store...check!

Step 1: Place 6 Cups of water on the stove to heat. (You do not want it to boil, just get very, very hot)

Step 2: Grate your two bars of Fels-Naptha Soap. The finer the better. It will melt faster that way. 

Step 2: Add Fels-Naptha soap to hot water. Stir continuously for 15 minutes until all the soap has dissolved. It basically looks like the picture below...frothy and bubbly. (One thing Dana from the White Silk Purse mentions, is to not let it boil...it will make a mess.)

Step 3: Once soap has melted remove from heat and add in 2 cups of Borax and 2 cups of Super Washing Soda. Stir until it is all dissolved, 3-5 minutes.

Step 4: I did this step a little different than the original instructions. By accident. But I think it ended up being easier in the end. Pour the mixture equally into 4 quart sized canning jars. Easy to store? Check!

Dana (from The Silk White Purse) then adds water to fill up to the shoulders of the jar and mix together and let it set for 8 hours. This was the part where I had two screaming kids and got a bit distracted. I forgot to add the water. It set for 8 hours. I kept looking at the jars and thinking...'hmmm this just doesn't look right. Was I supposed to get smaller jars? I thought they were supposed to be full.' Nope. I just read it wrong. Like I said, it actually worked out better in my opinion. I let my jars set for the full 8 hours and then added the hot water and filled to the shoulders of the jar.

                           

(here are my jars, waiting out the 8 hours. Forgot to add water, they were supposed to look full by now. Oops. Oh well.)

Step 5: For this step Dana explains how the soap separates and hardens on the top and you have to use a knife to break it back up. Mine did not do that. I am assuming since I forgot to add the water till after it set. Instead, I simply used a spoon to mix up the hot water and goopy mixture. Some parts were a little hard, but did not require a knife. I also did not worry about mixing the water and goop thoroughly, since they are put into a blender in the next step.

Step 6: Spoon the contents from one jar into a blender. Mix thoroughly on high until the goop becomes thick and creamy.  Spoon back into jar. Since the mixture has puffed up a bunch you should have some left over. I had enough to fill up 1/4 of a new jar. Continue process with other three jars. You should end up with about 1/4 extra from each jar giving you roughly 5 jars total in the end.

That is it! Simple to make? Check!

This was so very easy to make! A lot of other recipes require you to use the whole box of borax and super washing soda, a ton of water, and a five gallon bucket. That is too much heavy lifting for me. I love that this version fits into small jars that I can store above my washer!

Oh yah...and the really awesome thing about this laundry soap recipe...the cost!

It only takes 1 tablespoon of soap for a large load of laundry! For real! This stuff is a concentrated version so it packs a lot of cleaning power. One quart will clean about 64 loads of laundry. That means that one batch of laundry soap, 5 quarts, will last you about 320 loads!

Even better...it only cost 1.7 CENTS PER LOAD! Say what!!!!!!!!! Amazing, right?! I never thought I would be so excited about laundry soap. Hop on over to the White Silk Purse, and Dana does a break down  of the cost and about how much it would cost you to make enough for a year. Guess what...it is right around $20. Compare that cost to your favorite brand.

Cost effective? Check!

Okay, so it is pretty easy to make, easy to find the ingredients, easy to store, and is cheap; but do I really like how it works?

YES! I actually love it. Our clothes do not have a flower smell like what you may get with store brand detergent. But, the Fels-Naptha gives it a wonderful clean and fresh smell! I love the smell! As far a clean factor, I honestly can't even tell a difference between my homemade version and Tide. Seriously. It even works well in cold water.

So why not just give it a try? Next time you run out of the store brand detergent, opt for buying the supplies you will need and make it yourself!

Don't want to worry about cooking it, letting it set, ect? Try the powder version (also found on the link from the White Silk Purse above). Simply grate the fels-naptha soap bar, stick it in your food processor to make sure it is super fine (powdery). Then mix with borax and super washing soda. Store in container of your choice. This apparently only takes 2 teaspoons to do a large load. I might try this version next time. Not sure, I am pretty much in love with my laundry soap now.

Have you ever made your own laundry soap? Have a tried and true recipe you love? Share your experience below!

Come back tomorrow...I will be sharing my "homemade" dryer sheets!

Linking up to Frugal Days Sustainable Ways , Raising Homemakers,  Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Simply Made Home, and Homestead Barn Hop

Enjoying Beautiful Somehow? Then I would love it if you would look up to the right hand side and click on "join this site" or "subscribe" to make sure you don't ever miss a post! 

"No Poo" 30 Day Challenge Update

Fed up with frizzy, dry or oily hair? Curious and a little terrified as to what the 30 day "No Poo" Challenge is? Check out The Challenge and make the commitment to natural and healthy hair! 

Week 3 of the "No Poo" 30 Day Challenge

This week has been a much better one for my hair than the last two. I can tell it is slowly starting to regulate the amount of oil it needs to be making. My hair feels and looks better! I have noticed this week, that my curls are becoming more defined and less frizzy.

I am currently using...

1tbsp of Baking soda + 1 Cup water
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar + 1 Cup water

I also use the ACV as a leave-in conditioner, instead of rinsing it out. My ends are super dry and need the extra boost. It is making a difference!

I saw a hair repair recipe on Frugally Sustainable's Facebook that I decided to give a try this week....

Not 100% sure I love the results yet. It left my hair feeling very, very greasy. I was disappointed after the first wash with it. I am waiting it out though, it seems like after my last wash I was able to get more out and my hair feels softer, but still pretty greasy. We will see, not sure if I will try it again. Time will tell. Give it a try if you want and let me know your results with it. Is there any other recipes you use?

Here is how my week went..(starting from last Friday)

Week 3:

Friday: Did not wash hair. Hair is not oily on top. Hair feels soft and curls are more defined.

Saturday: Did not wash hair. (Don't worry I am still showering every day! Promise!) Hair is super duper oily and greasy! Yuck! We were at the park all day and got rained on...maybe had something to do with it. Maybe not.

Sunday: Washed Hair. Hair looks awesome. Finally! Hair is very curly, soft, and clean.

Monday: Did not wash hair. Lightly wet hair with a spray bottle to reset the curls. Worked great.

Tuesday: Did not wash hair. Sprayed with bottle to reset the curls. Hair looks and feels wonderful. So happy with results today!


Wednesday: Tried hair repair recipe. Hair feels super greasy! Yuck. Recipe is very hard to wash out. Not sure if it takes a few washes to get it all out. Pulled back in a bun for the day.

Thursday: Did not wash hair. Hair is still greasy from recipe yesterday.

Friday: Decided to wash my hair a day early due to greasy feeling from hair repair recipe. Finally got it feeling clean after this wash. Hair feels soft. Maybe the recipe worked after all. Still not sure if I will try it again.


How are you doing going Poo free? Any progress? Struggles? Share below! I would love to hear from you!

Linking up to Frugal Days Sustainable Ways & Healthy 2Day Wednesday