Love and Lego (Weekend Update)

Where did my glorious weekend go?  Friday was a GREAT day at work--we had our Fall Forum to kick off the semester, two of my colleagues and I were awarded a grant for a leadership program we are starting, I was recognized for being a new (full-time) employee, and the week ended on a high note with a good presentation at one last Division meeting and emails to all of our new PASS participants.

We had a very relaxing Friday night, eating out and coming home to veg out.  :)

After work, we picked up some cupcakes from Bliss.  This time I went for Salted Caramel and Banana Pudding while Zach got a caramel one as well and Red Velvet.  :)

We had dinner at Dickey's BBQ.  I didn't really care for the BBQ itself, but the Onion Tanglers were AWESOME.  And I love any place with free ice cream!

Saturday morning, we got up and cleaned the house in preparation for the AFOLs of Arklug to arrive.  (That means Adult Fans of LEGO in the Arkansas Lego User Group.  I'm so cool to know that.  Right?  Riiiiight.  ;)  We were having a meeting at Crystal Bridges, so everyone could see it, and we wouldn't have to drive four hours to central AR.

Everyone met for lunch at Eleven first.  Zach got his usual War Eagle beans and cornbread, and I went for this Harvest salad I love (walnuts, blueberries, and apples on it).

Then we had lots of fun exploring the museum:

(Okay, so this was actually taken at the U of A stadium, but it was the only picture anyone has posted of Richard and Chris so far, and I didn't want to leave them out.)

On our way out, I finally saw where the LOVE sign is.  (We usually use a different exit.)  I told Zach we could get our photo taken by it, which was on our summer bucket list last year.  He told me, "We're so close.  We can do it later."  Thankfully, everyone insisted we do it, so I finally got to check that off!

This crew just celebrated their first year as a family!  Love them so much!

Then we came back to our house and worked on LEGO stuff.  Everyone ended staying for dinner, so we ordered Mellow Mushroom and pigged out.  :)  And then it was time for goodbyes.  :(

 Rob with a Heart is a hugger!

my Mechelle

Last time she and Rob were up here, I was in the ICU, so it was great to see them outside the hospital!

the girls

(I was getting squinty-eyed tired...and I didn't even have to drive home!)

Today, I got up and made breakfast, watched Extreme Couponing and Doctor Who (telling you--We. Are.  OBSESSED.), cleaned up the kitchen, planned the weekly menu, and took a nap at six in the evening and went grocery shopping at nine.  What a nice end to summer before the semester starts!

Sensory Overload: 5 on Friday

What a week.

Thank goodness it's time to link up for 5 on Friday!  It's finally the weekend, which is known in these parts as the calm before the storm.  (Classes start on Monday.  Thankfully, mine isn't until Thursday.)

1)  WHAT I'M FEELING:  accomplished, satisfied, and exhausted.  I had a BIG week at work, giving lots of presentations throughout the week, prepping for the new semester, celebrating being a new (full-time) employee this year, and winning a grant to fund a new leadership program.  :)

2)  WHAT I'M SMELLING: the carwash, which got a reno.  Now, the foam is all kinds of bright colors and smells like what I would imagine Fruity Pebbles to smell like if they smelled like the colors they are...not how they actually smell.  Uh.  Yeah.  I'm nuts.

3)  WHAT I'M HEARING:  Doctor Who.  And not my Bible study app because I haven't had time to hardly pee, much less do anything essential, which makes me sad.  I'm going to do better tomorrow.  I'm going to get to the Urgent and Important again.

4)  WHAT I'M SEEING:  our ritty rat rolling around on the naked bed.

5)  WHAT I'M TASTING:  peach tarts, Italian cream cake, a tomato sandwich, chicken wings, fruit salad, and Bliss (as in Bliss Cupcakes).

This time, we went with Razorback Red Velvet, Banana Pudding, and Salted Caramel.  :)

Weekend Update and a Laundry Day Recipe

Over the weekend, I joined Twitter, started an account on Pinterest, and started uploading to Instagram.  Oh, I started a Facebook page, too!  But I haven't really done anything with that yet.  ;)  This 21st Century social networking business is hard stuff.  You can connect with me through the icons on the left.

Speaking of social networking, I give you my weekend in Instagrammed pictures.  :)

1)  I had to take Hobie to the vet on Friday.  We've been having some behavioral and tummy issues with the kitties.  :(

2-4)  So they got lots of lovings this weekend.

5)  This is how my husband naps when he has gotten up at 11 to take a nap at 1.  *smh*

6)  We captured a sweat bee (by we, Zach), and we let the kitties watch it in the jar.  They were the ones who actually found it in the fireplace.

7)  Late in the afternoon, we headed out to take care of some business.

8)  We fought the tax-free-weekend crowds at Target and rewarded ourselves with some Starbucks.  I got an iced chai tea latte of course.  :)

9-10)  Then it was time for some Bliss!  Thanks, Living Social.

11)  I found some sandals on sale at Kohl's and fell in love.

12)  I've been drinking lots of hot tea this weekend because my allergies (thank you, vet/Hobie) have been acting up and giving me swollen lymph nodes.  (At least, I think it's my allergies...)

13)  Saturday night, I made a turkey pot pie.  YUMMY!

14)  And Sunday morning, we had biscuits and gravy.

And I can't forget my clothes.  It was a royal blue and orange weekend!

I decided to do something a bit different for Menu Monday.  Over a year and a half ago, I started making my own laundry detergent to save money.  It has worked well for us; two gallons last about four months, based on my calculations.  Keep in mind, there's only two of us.

We ran out this week, so I had to make some more.  First, however, I had to buy some more washing soda.  Then, once I got home with that, I realized I was out of bar soap.  Thankfully, Walgreens had Coast soap on sale (8 bars for $3.99) AND I had a coupon, so I got the soap for $3.49!  The coupon was from a few weeks ago, but Zest is also on sale, and there was a Zest coupon in the paper THIS week.  So this might be the perfect opportunity for you to try making your own soap!

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT

1 bar soap
1 cup Borax
1 cup washing soda
2 gallons water
2 empty gallon jugs

-Shred bar of soap into a large stockpot.

-Add 1 gallon of water and boil until the soap is dissolved

-Add Borax and washing soda.

-Bring to a boil until it coagulates.  It will start to get foamy.

-But make sure you watch it very closely--or it will boil over!  Every. single. time. I turn my back for a second because it's not doing anything, and then it boils over onto my stove!

-Turn off the heat.  Add 1 gallon cold water; stir well.

-After it cools a bit, use a funnel and ladle to place detergent into jugs.

Sometimes it will get too thick; try using less soap next time.  Since this was my first time using Coast, I think I used too much, and I also overcooked it.  It was pretty solid by the time I began to funnel it!  *lol*  So I just heated it up for a bit until it started to melt again.  I really liked how easy it was to grate Coast; some of the other soaps have been near impossible!  You can choose what soap you want; I tend to add some of the Downy Unstopables to boost the fragrance anyway, and I have come to like much less fragrance than I used to.  (I also got my Downy beads as free samples; it said to add the whole pack, but I find ten or so increase the smell quite nicely.  :)

If we hadn't spilled our washing soda accidentally some months back, it would have lasted even longer.  I feel like the box of Borax and washing soda should last over 6 recipes' worth.  I believe Borax is a bit more, but the washing soda is only about $4.

I hope you will give it a try!  It only takes about thirty to forty minutes or so to cook from start to finish, but the funneling does add considerable time, especially if it is thick.  I think it is much more affordable than buying detergent.

What have you tried to make homemade?  Has it turned out?