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?
