Homemade Laundry Detergent

The first time I made this was about a year and a half ago and I just ran out this week. I cannot believe that one batch lasts that long!

It only costs about $30 to make, so for me, that breaks down to approximately $1.67 a month for laundry detergent. Amazing!

We only do laundry for two, which equals to about 5-6 loads of laundry per week between our towels, darks, colors, whites, bedding and John's work clothes. I use 1/8 of a cup per load so it makes sense that it lasted us this long!

The recipe is so simple and all of the ingredients are easy to find at any grocery store.

You Will Need:

A large bucket

A huge mixing spoon

A fine cheese grater

Container to keep detergent in

1 Box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1 Box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

1 Box Borax

1 Tub Oxyclean

1 Bottle Purex Crystals Fabric Softener

(I use Fresh Clean Waters Scent)

2 Bars Fels Naptha Laundry Soap

Step One: Grate the two bars of soap into a bowl. This method takes the longest and gives you hand cramps, but it gives you the finest result. You can also cut the soap into one inch cubes and put in the food processor until pulverized. (that's what I did last time) Or, you can try this method in the microwave and crumble it.

mmm... looks like cheese! But don't be tempted. Soap would not be good on your nachos!

Step Two: Take each ingredient and pour half into the bucket layering as you go. Do the same with the other half. I find this makes it easier to get it to mix evenly than just pouring all each ingredient in at the same time. Mix thoroughly.

Step Three: Pour into a container and start saving money!

I love, love, love this recipe because it's septic safe, HE compatible, it's gentle enough for sensitive skin like mine and it still gets the clothes clean and smelling fresh! Oh, and it saves me money!

Oh! And I like to save the empty Purex bottle for other homemade cleaning recipes, like this fabric softener I make.  You can save the tub from the Oxyclean too!

Gender Reveal Party

 
Sunday December 15th we had our gender reveal party for little baby Wallace. After getting an ultrasound Saturday night we brought the results to my best friend Kassie's house so she could bake either a blue or pink cake. As much as the anticipation killed me, it was so awesome to find out with our family and friends when we cut into the cake! Here are a few ton of shots from the party! Be prepared for a million pics! 

DIY Snow Globes

Last Christmas I made some DIY snow globes inspired by a pin I saw in Pinterest. I've gotten so many compliments so I thought if do a tutorial. A few of these will be gifts this year and they are definitely budget friendly. I already had everything I needed except for extra trees so this project cost me less than $3. 

You Will Need

Glass jars if varying sizes (wide mouth if using mason jars)

Glue gun

Epsom salt (mine is from the dollar store bought last year)

Clear or white glitter (optional)

Bottle brush Christmas trees (mine are from Ben Franklin)

Little critters if you want

I started by laying out all my jars and supplies so I could see how many little trees would fit in each one.

Next I cut out little bits of cardboard so I could make my trees sit up higher. If you skip this step your trees will sit much lower and you will barely have any snow in the bottom if your jar. Little wood dowels would work well too.

I started gluing the little bits of cardboard to the bottom if the trees. While those were drying I glued my mason jar lids together. Don't hot glue your thumb like I did... I forgot how much that little bit of glue could hurt!!!

After putting everything together I added the Epsom salt and glitter to the bottom of the jars. I just eyeballed this and added enough to where I thought it would reach the bottom of the trees. This was definitely trial and error but there's no easy way to try and measure it out.

Finally, I glued the lids on and voila! Done!

Spicy Sausage Tortellini Soup

AKA My husband's new favorite soup! I adapted this recipe from Party In My Kitchen after finding it on Pinterest. This soup is so easy to make and it's super quick too. 

You can change it up to fit your tastes by adding more or less sausage and tortellini. (so for us, that means more meat to make it man friendly) 

You Will Need

One Pkg Spicy Italian Sausage

One Pkg Tortellini (approx 2-3 cups)

4 Cups Boiling Water

3 Chicken Boullion Cubes

1 Can Evaporated Milk 

1 1/2 Tbsp Oregano

1 1/2 Tbsp Chives

1 1/2 Tbsp  Parsley

Salt & Pepper

Parmesan

Step One: Brown Italian Sausage. (I like to use Johnsonville hot, but mild or medium is fine)

Step Two: Break up boullion cubes in bottom of soup pot. Add 4 cups boiling water to dissolve.

Step Three: Add sausage, evap. milk, oregano, chives, parsley, salt and pepper. Slowly bring to boiling. (approx 15-20 min)

Step Four: Once boiling, add tortellini and cook to pkg instructions. (7-9 min usually)

Step Five: Serve with fresh Parmesan.

Enjoy!

7-Up Biscuits

I've been seeing recipes for 7-Up Biscuits all over Pinterest for awhile now.

One night while deciding what to make for dinner I realized that I had all the ingredients on hand to finally try this bizarre seeming recipe. AND they would be perfect with the salmon I was making!

I typically double most recipes, but this one seemed as if it might not work, so I kept the original measurements. I mean, how could biscuits bake properly with pop and sour cream?!

Well, let me tell you, they bake just fine... More than fine.. More like amazing...
More like, eat the whole pan good!

You Will Need:

2 Cups Bisquick

(plus more for patting out)

1/2 Cup Sour Cream

1/2 Cup 7-Up

1/4 Cup Butter, Melted

Step One: Preheat oven to 450 and add your Bisquick to a mixing bowl.

Step Two: Slowly add sour cream. Fold in with fork as you go.

Step Three: Slowly add 7-Up. Continue folding. Fair warning, dough will be very sticky!

Step Four: Add melted butter to the bottom of your 9x9 square pan.

Step Five: Sprinkle Bisquick on a flat surface to pat our your dough. Prepare yourself for frustration.

Step Six: Roll out the stickiest dough you will ever encounter. Be sure to flour your hands first! And even if you do you will be a sticky mess like me.

Step Seven: Cut your biscuits into squares. I used the bottom of a tupperware as a template. You know, cuz that's the proper tool to use in this situation.... Or maybe a biscuit cutter if you're fancy like that. Whatever.

Step Eight: Arrange biscuits on top of your buttered pan. 

Step Nine: Bake 12-17 minutes depending on your oven. Mine were perfect at14 minutes.

Step Ten: ENJOY. And try not to eat half the pan before your husband even gets to them. Not that I did that or anything...

 

I could not believe how good these were! I was worried they'd be sweet or lemony from the 7-Up, but not at all! They were perfect!