Liquid Laundry Soap

I posted about my dry laundry soap, now for the one I started with originally.  I remember being very unsure of this when I first made it.  How could I make 5 gallons of laundry soap that would actually clean for under $5.00 when I would pay over $50.00 to buy an equal amount of "loads".  Just like the dry soap, you don't use near as much soap.  I use 1/4 cup (which is actually more than it calls for). 

***Warning, this post has picture overload***

 

So...Let's get started.

You will need (all found in the laundry detergent isle)

 1 bar of fels-Naptha soap

1 cup borax

1 cup arm and hammer washing soda

2 cups baking soda

and a 5 gallon bucket for mixing and storing

 

 

 

My Favorite Homemade Laundry Soap

 

I have been making homemade laundry soap for over 4 years now.  I should sit down and figure out how much I have saved over that time (I'm sure I would amaze even myself)!  When I started making it, it was on a "need to" basis to save money.  My husband had lost his job, and I was trying to save money everywhere I could.  My motto is, "Saving money on dumb stuff, so I can spend it on FUN stuff!"  My oldest child had suffered with eczema and the only detergent I could use was Tide.  I loved it, and loved the smell, but it was expensive.  I average 15+ loads of laundry a week so the soap goes fast!  I didn't know how this would affect Kaden, but I figured if I needed to, I would wash his clothes separate in tide.   I started out making liquid soap 5 gallons at a time for $7-$8.  (I will do a post on this later, I really like this for my darks).  I loved the soap, and it worked really well.  The one thing I really missed was the smell.  My favorite smell is "clean laundry" and it was missing that.  So I started adding part of a bottle of liquid tide to add the scent.  Then I started adding a scoop of oxi clean, and downy unstoppables to each load.  When my kids or hubby would do a load of laundry, they weren't as good at remembering to add all the extras.  So, I decided to try it out in a powder form and have it all in one mix.  (Wow that was a very long explanation on how my soap recipe came about!)

If you give a mom a muffin....{printable}

My sister just called to ask if I had any ideas for mom for Mother's Day and it may me think of the "If you give a mom a muffin" poem that I said I would do some printables for.....where did the time go?


"If You Give Mom a Muffin"

If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She'll pour herself some.
Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.
She'll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her
she has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook
("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger").
The cookbook is setting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The checkbook is in her purse
that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two-year-old's diaper.
While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.
Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.
She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her
that she was going to have a cup. And chances are...If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

author Beth Brubaker

Mom Helper....Dinner Helper....Blue Bucket

On my last post I said I would explain what "mom helper, dinner helper, and blue bucket" are. These three jobs are listed daily for my kids and are a big help to me.  Let's start with "Mom Helper" first.

 

What's on my Fridge....

Today I decided to share a couple more of the printables I have on my fridge right now.

The first one is for me. It reminds me of things I need to do on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
 to try to keep up with my house.

  My "Today's Tasks" come partly from my Daily - Weekly - Monthly list that is on the front of my fridge.
 I take items from it, and add to my Today's Tasks.

 

 

 

On my weekly list I have it sorted in different colors, I try to do a different color each day.  Some weeks are definitely better than others on getting things done.  Either way,  I still like to see what I did get done, and make sure the others get done the following week if they got missed.  One of the most important things for me to remember is that my brain is for thinking, not remembering.....write it down!!! As soon as I think of something I need to do I write it down or it's gone. I have too much going on to try to think back to what I needed.  I don't even can barely make it from one room to the next remembering why I'm there. 

 

 

click here for PDF printable

 

Todays Tasks

As I got ready to start my day, I went to grab my notebook to make one of my many "To Do" lists.  I decided it was time to step it up & get a little more organized with this.  So I made a fun printable that will make it easier for me each day. I just printed it off on card stock, and laminated it with my "Purple Cows" laminator.

*It was only $20 at Costco & it comes with 100 laminator sheets- I love it!

 



No...I really hadn't "started my day" yet when I made this.
Rice Krispies anyone???

Welcome!

I'll be honest....I'm more than just a little nervous to be starting this blog! I actually started a blog a year ago, but hurt my back right after my first post.  The rest as they say, is history.   A little about me and what you can expect to find on my blog.  I've been married to my amazing hubby for almost 19 years (crazy).  We have 5 kids, ages 17, 15, 12, 10 and 8 - bookend boys and girls in the middle.  My family is my life.  Everything I do is for them (trying to take a little time for myself).  I love creating, and the cheaper I can do it, the better.  My natural high is getting a great deal (free even better) and turning it into something I love.  My hubby is a great help in my projects.  I love the satisfaction I get when I finish a project, whether it's for me or for someone else.  I love spending time with my kids and husband, organizing, having a clean house (notice I didn't say cleaning), not that I mind cleaning, I just like things organized so they stay clean easier.  I love lists!  My day consists of list after list.  I get things done when I write them down.  I am known as a maven and love to get a deal.  I will share my projects, ideas, kid fun, teenage survival ;) organizing tips, favorite recipes(I LOVE to bake) and much much more.  I hope you'll follow along for a fun ride!