Homemade Laundry Detergent

So, another thing I thought would help my budget would be making my own detergents.  I saw a bunch of friends posting pictures of their 5 gallon buckets full of detergent that they made for next to nothing.  Last night, I made 5 gallons of laundry detergent based on the Duggar family's recipe.  SUPER easy, smells like heaven & did I mention CHEAP??

First you start out with your ingredients:

 5 gallon bucket with lid (obviously) ($5.00)
4 cups hot tap water
1 bar Fels-Naptha Soap ($1.25)
1/4 cup Borax ($5.00 for the box)
25 drops Lavender Essential oil (optional) ($11.00)
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda** ($1.00 for box)

**If you can't find Washing Soda, I found a way to convert baking soda into washing soda.  You measure out your Baking Soda, pour it into a glass dish & bake for 30 minutes on 400 degrees. It crystalizes & works every bit as well.

Grate Fels-Naptha & add to saucepan with water. Constantly stir over medium low heat until soap dissolves & melts.

Fill 5 gallon bucket halfway full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda & borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top, stir, cover & let sit overnight to thicken.

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

Yields 5 gallons. 
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The bottle I'm going to use to fill with detergent is a 1.75 gallon bottle.  I'm estimating it's gonna save me somewhere in the neighborhood of $100+ because I buy detergent in the large bottles at Sam's and i'll only have to fill it halfway each time.

By the way, I used the Lavender and it smells like heaven.  I loved making this detergent & am looking forward to putting it to use shortly ;)

I'm THAT Parent

Tonight my baby had his first real soccer game.  

It was chilly & super windy.  It had rained this morning, so I came to the game equipped with folding chairs to avoid a wet butt.

Aside from that, I became THAT parent.  The one who yells to guide their child in the right direction.  

"Kade get the ball!" 

"Kade go with your team!"

"Kade run, run, run!!"

Yes THAT parent. 

When I watched my little cousins play soccer and saw how truly obnoxious some folks can get over youth soccer, I swore I'd never be this kind of parent.  But tonight I realized this: my child looks to me to guide him in the right direction.  The coach has 7 children to watch over and can't constantly be directing my child the whole time.  If I don't tell him he's going the wrong way, he can't learn to go the right way.  If I'm not telling him how to steal a ball & what team we're against, he won't know because he's too big of a sweetheart to just take things.  If I don't teach him in each and every little area of life, I can't say I've really done my job as a parent.  From sports, to education, to relationships with others, I will be THAT parent until my children are both old enough to make their own decisions without my interference.  So, tonight I also realized it's okay to be this way.  They're only little for so long.  And I intend to serve them as well as I can until they're grown =)

I'm A Soccer Mom

My baby boy had his first and second soccer practices this week. The first practice included: lots of playing with dirt, minimal listening & a tad bit of soccer.  Not to forget, an overly nervous mama who was constantly correcting.  When we left the first practice, his main concern was "I need a whistle like the coach has!!"

By the second practice, I'd had a pep talk with Kade.  He'd been told that we have plenty of dirt at home to play with and at soccer we were to play with friends, listen to coach & kick the ball.  And at the second practice, he applied what he'd been told.  And he's actually getting good.  We have another week of practice ahead next week and then games begin.  Wish us luck, i'll keep you updated on this new adventure ;)

My 1st Attempt @ Chicken Pot Pie

One of my absolute FAVORITE foods ever is Chicken Pot Pie.

I found a recipe that seemed simple enough.  Again, my food isn't Pinterest quality as far as looks go but was devoured in no time.

1 box refrigerated pie crust (on a Monday I have NO time for made from scratch)
1 1/2 lb rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning
3/4 tsp. salt
1 3/4 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 medium potatoes, peeled & diced
3 large carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/3 cup onion, chopped
1/3 cup butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a pot, boil water and add potatoes & carrots. Cook until tender.

Next, in a seperate saucepan, saute onion with butter.

Add garlic & celery, cook until tender.  Then stir in flour, whisk until well-blended.

Slowly add & whisk chicken broth.

Add seasonings & continue to mix.

Add milk & keep on medium heat until you have reached your desired thickness.

Add carrots, potatoes, peas & chicken.

Roll crust into 9 inch pie pan. Add filling & then layer with other piece of crust.

Bake 50 minutes.  You may want to let the pie sit for a few hours to keep it intact when you cut.  I wasn't so patient ;)

We're....Buying a house!

My hubby and I finally put our house on the market about 2 weeks ago after looking at a house 3 miles down the road from my parents.  We had originally had every intention of building on the 2 acres in front of my parents' house.  But after living with them for the 7 months, we decided having our own little place with more acreage would be nice.  

This brick house has 3 bedrooms, 1 bath on the main floor & a full unfinished basement.  It belonged to an older couple who'd passed away & their children inherited it.  We looked at the house and land several times, got pre-approved & put in our offer (which was accepted!)

Needless to say it's just a tad outdated.  BUT my hubby & I have every intention to make it totally awesome & modern.  The house is the reason I haven't blogged as much as I'd hope to this year.  Bank paperwork galore, applications here, inspections there.  WHEW.  It's been an exhausting 2 weeks and that doesn't even include all of the kids' activities and sickness.  Kade had pinkeye, Kyleigh had an ear infection.  And, we also signed Kade up for soccer.  This is sure to be our busiest year yet.  But it's super exciting.

Just wanted to give you guys an update ;)

Snow Cream

We got snow yesterday and it hasn't quite melted away today.  I decided since I found some clean snow to make some snow cream for my babies.  My neighbor introduced it to me a few years back.

You take::

4 cups CLEAN snow

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients & enjoy 

It's a win with Kyleigh

My poor baby couldn't even feel his fingers well enough to hold his spoon right but LOVED it.

Hubby's New Favorite ;)

So, I joined in on the Mason Jar Salad thing.

My hubby said this is his new favorite lunch.  He loves Burger King's Apple Cranberry Salad.  I didn't have apples to make them but I improvised with what I had.

Baked Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast

Grape Tomatoes

Cucumber

Lettuce

Cranberries

Hubby isn't a fan of a lot of dressing on his salads so he carried his Balsamic Vinegar Dressing with him. 

Just wanted to share on the possibility anybody's looking for some possible combinations.