Cravings have always been a thing for me. When I am pregnant they are super serious. I can't stop thinking about what I want until I get it and I need almost immediate gratification.
With my son is was chicken noodle soup...until it literally made me sick and I haven't had it since (canned chicken noodle soup) I will only eat it home made. I also had a "problem" with Granny Smith Apples (about 3 a day) and with Lucky Charms (a box every other day) and then there was the $1 plain vanilla ice cream from McDonalds which would still be a problem if I had cash on me at the moment!
My adoring husband would call and ask me if he could pick anything up on the way home from work. Thank goodness he had to pass 1 McDonalds and a Kroger every night on the way home!!
Not as much with my second pregnancy but I still had my little things. A bowl of ice cream a night was pretty important and I LOVED peppermint tea.
Right now, NOT pregnant, I have a new addiction and I can't get enough!! I love a spinach salad. Always have, always will. I don't even care if there is anything to go with it besides the spinach and the dressing. I have always loved Italian dressing and really have never liked another as much. I can do ranch occasionally, I can even do a vinegarette, but I stick with my Italian. Until NOW! I can't get enough Poppy Seed dressing! Not Lemon Poppy seed or Bacon or anything else, just plain old Poppy seed and I want about 4 salads a day now that I have found this miracle dressing...so that I why I say, "There are worse things."
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sometimes Even Superman Needs Help From His Friends
I am curious if all women feel this way... I am always looking for ways to improve myself, my life, my family, my home. I embrace change and I actually enjoy change. I always thought that was a good quality in my self and now I am wondering if it means I am fickle? Do I change my mind too often? Do I hate to follow through? Do I know how to follow through? Am I dissatisfied with my life.
All I have ever wanted to be, for as long as I can remember, is a mother. I had motherly instincts of love and care and responsibility from a tender young age. I was always looking out for the underdog. I was always able to relate to older women in conversations about life. I loved taking care of cousins younger than myself and I loved babysitting once I was old enough to be trusted and certified of course. I always wanted to have children of my own to love and help grow and take care of, so much so that I had alot of trouble declaring a major in college.
I wanted to be a drama teacher, but they dropped my major. This sent me into a crazy tailspin of all kinds of considerations from a social worker (too emotional for this deep feeler) to an interior designer( except I didn't give a crap about all the different kinds of chairs out there) to eventually settling on Art Education where I could teach children and help them appreciate things that I appreciated about art. I still have a love affair with art. I still create and consider myself an artist. I have a fascination for cubism and Picasso. I adore Gothic Cathedrals. I had this dream, as a young twenty-something, to pack my backpack and travel Europe to see the amazing cathedrals I studied in Art History classes throughout college. It was my dream vacation. Of course now as a mother of 2 and wife to my sweetheart husband the thought of all of us having that kind of vacation sounds like no fun, too many logistics, too much traveling. Bring on the beach!!
Anyway, one thing that has never been in question is the fact that I wanted my babies. I have always wanted them and they are perfect and they are mine. I have really high expectations of myself though and my struggle is, not only do I want to be a great Mom, which I believe I am, but I want to be the BEST Mom. Like EVER. In the whole history of the world! This in turn makes me have Mommy Guilt constantly for every little thing I do or don't do for my kids. Guilt about not spending enough time with them on one isolated day, not taking them on enough outings one week, not sitting down to play and enjoy them enough. People have always complimented me on what a good Mother I am. Telling me how much they can see I love my children. Telling me how it seems like I do anything and everything for them and I am a super Mom. I love to hear these things, I love to give to my children and do things with them, teach them and show them my love. But I have been struggling. I have been struggling with thoughts of not being good enough. I have been feeling terrible about anything and everything and I have, at times, felt like I can't be a good Mom for my kids. I work too much, I don't get enough sleep, and in reality I have lost who I am when I became their mother. I define myself by being their mother and although there is nothing wrong with that, what good can I be to them if I am not taking care of myself and my own needs???
I have found this to be a very taboo topic among mothers that many do not talk about and do not share. The feeling of inadequacy as your child's mother due to the stresses and responsibilities of life in general. The full time job you have raising your children, running your household and being responsible for your family all the while holding down another job as well. Why don't we talk about this? Why don't we share?
I have always been jealous of the Mom who seemed to be able to keep the house clean, stay organized and never seems to have an off day. Guess what? This Mom doesn't exist! All of us have off days, messy house days, sweatpants days and cereal for dinner days and that doesn't mean we are careless, irresponsible or don't love our children.
It is so hard for us to ask for help, to admit we need help. We have put our needs to the side to be everything and everyone for our children because of the love we have for them. I am admitting that I need help. I can't do it all. I don't want to do it all. I want girlfriend's who will chat about this with me and keep it light so I can laugh at some of these times.
I am reaching out. I am writing about it. I am talking about it. I am not "super mom" all the time and I can't be. It doesn't matter how much I want to be, I can't be. It has been really hard to come to grips with for me. I am a perfectionist who has way too high expectations of myself.
I was talking to someone who said to me, "There is no question IF you love your children. The question is Do they FEEL loved by you?" This question broke it all down for me and hopefully for you too. I can honestly say that in all my moments of impatience or weakness, being tired or fed up, my babies KNOW that I love them and they FEEL my love for them each day and no matter what that will never change.
All I have ever wanted to be, for as long as I can remember, is a mother. I had motherly instincts of love and care and responsibility from a tender young age. I was always looking out for the underdog. I was always able to relate to older women in conversations about life. I loved taking care of cousins younger than myself and I loved babysitting once I was old enough to be trusted and certified of course. I always wanted to have children of my own to love and help grow and take care of, so much so that I had alot of trouble declaring a major in college.
I wanted to be a drama teacher, but they dropped my major. This sent me into a crazy tailspin of all kinds of considerations from a social worker (too emotional for this deep feeler) to an interior designer( except I didn't give a crap about all the different kinds of chairs out there) to eventually settling on Art Education where I could teach children and help them appreciate things that I appreciated about art. I still have a love affair with art. I still create and consider myself an artist. I have a fascination for cubism and Picasso. I adore Gothic Cathedrals. I had this dream, as a young twenty-something, to pack my backpack and travel Europe to see the amazing cathedrals I studied in Art History classes throughout college. It was my dream vacation. Of course now as a mother of 2 and wife to my sweetheart husband the thought of all of us having that kind of vacation sounds like no fun, too many logistics, too much traveling. Bring on the beach!!
Anyway, one thing that has never been in question is the fact that I wanted my babies. I have always wanted them and they are perfect and they are mine. I have really high expectations of myself though and my struggle is, not only do I want to be a great Mom, which I believe I am, but I want to be the BEST Mom. Like EVER. In the whole history of the world! This in turn makes me have Mommy Guilt constantly for every little thing I do or don't do for my kids. Guilt about not spending enough time with them on one isolated day, not taking them on enough outings one week, not sitting down to play and enjoy them enough. People have always complimented me on what a good Mother I am. Telling me how much they can see I love my children. Telling me how it seems like I do anything and everything for them and I am a super Mom. I love to hear these things, I love to give to my children and do things with them, teach them and show them my love. But I have been struggling. I have been struggling with thoughts of not being good enough. I have been feeling terrible about anything and everything and I have, at times, felt like I can't be a good Mom for my kids. I work too much, I don't get enough sleep, and in reality I have lost who I am when I became their mother. I define myself by being their mother and although there is nothing wrong with that, what good can I be to them if I am not taking care of myself and my own needs???
I have found this to be a very taboo topic among mothers that many do not talk about and do not share. The feeling of inadequacy as your child's mother due to the stresses and responsibilities of life in general. The full time job you have raising your children, running your household and being responsible for your family all the while holding down another job as well. Why don't we talk about this? Why don't we share?
I have always been jealous of the Mom who seemed to be able to keep the house clean, stay organized and never seems to have an off day. Guess what? This Mom doesn't exist! All of us have off days, messy house days, sweatpants days and cereal for dinner days and that doesn't mean we are careless, irresponsible or don't love our children.
It is so hard for us to ask for help, to admit we need help. We have put our needs to the side to be everything and everyone for our children because of the love we have for them. I am admitting that I need help. I can't do it all. I don't want to do it all. I want girlfriend's who will chat about this with me and keep it light so I can laugh at some of these times.
I am reaching out. I am writing about it. I am talking about it. I am not "super mom" all the time and I can't be. It doesn't matter how much I want to be, I can't be. It has been really hard to come to grips with for me. I am a perfectionist who has way too high expectations of myself.
I was talking to someone who said to me, "There is no question IF you love your children. The question is Do they FEEL loved by you?" This question broke it all down for me and hopefully for you too. I can honestly say that in all my moments of impatience or weakness, being tired or fed up, my babies KNOW that I love them and they FEEL my love for them each day and no matter what that will never change.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Local Business
Thank God for local business owners. We are in an area that had many local business owners of plenty of non-franchise businesses. Family businesses. In fact I have a few that are favorites and a new one to boot.
There is Gramer's Market in Erlanger. Family owned small grocery and butcher shop/deli. This was where I held my first job as a cashier at the tender age of 15. The store was entirely run by family Jim was the butcher, Jane ran the grocery and did the payroll, their daughters even helped out at the store evenings and weekends and then there were a few of us who were honorary family for awhile. They run their store with integrity, respect and care for their community. Go there for your steaks, a decent sandwich or cup of soup and lottery tickets!
Then there is Lee Hartke Auto Body. The mechanic and auto body shop who even after winning the lottery continue to give top service to the community with their quick service and honest workers. Go there when you have a fender bender.
Last week our oven element went out. Broke in half in my husband's hand when he was investigating the problem. I use the oven daily. For food and for a kiln for my clay work. We CAN'T live without one. I was devastated and expected the worst. We headed up to Hagedorn and Sons, the local family owned appliance store that is literally right up the street from our home. We walked in with our broken element and without saying a thing they knew what we needed, got it off the hanger on the wall AND brought the extension we would need to fit it into our oven. It was a fair price and way cheaper than I thought it would be, and they handled us quickly and with knowledge about what we needed.
When we left the shop my husband told me that this is how things should be. We had an in depth discussion about how big business has taken away the helpful attitude that dealing with a family owned business gives to the local economy. We started talking about how differently things would have gone had we entered another big appliance shop or home store. No one would know that subject matter, it wouldn't have been done easily, it probably would have had to been ordered and who knows if the order would even come in correctly and then we would have been out of an oven for the amount of time to figure out the problem.
Local businesses are something my husband and I respect and prefer. We like the small hardware store, the local mechanic, the grocery where OUR clerks know OUR names and OUR children. We like the small town feel of the small family business and prefer to do our business with those folks. We go to the smallest library in town because we know the librarians and they know us. We head to the mechanic shop shared by 2 brothers who's names we know and who are familiar with our car. Hagedorn and Sons is another local business that we will turn to for our appliance needs even if they are a bit more expensive (which I don't know that they are or not) we will head up the street to our local business owners where the importance of providing for their own families by opening a business runs over to the customers they are serving who are made to feel like part of the family when they are dealing with the business.
There is Gramer's Market in Erlanger. Family owned small grocery and butcher shop/deli. This was where I held my first job as a cashier at the tender age of 15. The store was entirely run by family Jim was the butcher, Jane ran the grocery and did the payroll, their daughters even helped out at the store evenings and weekends and then there were a few of us who were honorary family for awhile. They run their store with integrity, respect and care for their community. Go there for your steaks, a decent sandwich or cup of soup and lottery tickets!
Then there is Lee Hartke Auto Body. The mechanic and auto body shop who even after winning the lottery continue to give top service to the community with their quick service and honest workers. Go there when you have a fender bender.
Last week our oven element went out. Broke in half in my husband's hand when he was investigating the problem. I use the oven daily. For food and for a kiln for my clay work. We CAN'T live without one. I was devastated and expected the worst. We headed up to Hagedorn and Sons, the local family owned appliance store that is literally right up the street from our home. We walked in with our broken element and without saying a thing they knew what we needed, got it off the hanger on the wall AND brought the extension we would need to fit it into our oven. It was a fair price and way cheaper than I thought it would be, and they handled us quickly and with knowledge about what we needed.
When we left the shop my husband told me that this is how things should be. We had an in depth discussion about how big business has taken away the helpful attitude that dealing with a family owned business gives to the local economy. We started talking about how differently things would have gone had we entered another big appliance shop or home store. No one would know that subject matter, it wouldn't have been done easily, it probably would have had to been ordered and who knows if the order would even come in correctly and then we would have been out of an oven for the amount of time to figure out the problem.
Local businesses are something my husband and I respect and prefer. We like the small hardware store, the local mechanic, the grocery where OUR clerks know OUR names and OUR children. We like the small town feel of the small family business and prefer to do our business with those folks. We go to the smallest library in town because we know the librarians and they know us. We head to the mechanic shop shared by 2 brothers who's names we know and who are familiar with our car. Hagedorn and Sons is another local business that we will turn to for our appliance needs even if they are a bit more expensive (which I don't know that they are or not) we will head up the street to our local business owners where the importance of providing for their own families by opening a business runs over to the customers they are serving who are made to feel like part of the family when they are dealing with the business.
Under Construction...
I am hoping you noticed but in case you didn't, I am doing some work on the blog. I have changed the pages that used to run across the top to labels on the right of the blog page. This will allow me to continue adding information to share with all of the readers about these topics and to add more as they come along. It will be more organized for myself and easier for you to access as well.
I will be doing more research and making more changes to make the site more accessible and user friendly along the way and will keep you updated.
For those who hadn't visited the pages before, the articles are posted below as "new articles" so you can read them. If you have kept up and read them before, then you can refresh. I will be updating information, posting new articles and photos soon.
Thanks for following and staying tuned...
I will be doing more research and making more changes to make the site more accessible and user friendly along the way and will keep you updated.
For those who hadn't visited the pages before, the articles are posted below as "new articles" so you can read them. If you have kept up and read them before, then you can refresh. I will be updating information, posting new articles and photos soon.
Thanks for following and staying tuned...
Recipes on the Cheap
This is going to be a page or pages of recipe's that we have begun to work into our menu due to our budget changes. I am hoping that even if you are great in the kitchen or horrible in the kitchen you can do these recipes!!! You really can. They are easy and I will give a breakdown of the cost of the meal. I have spent tons of time on changing up the menu at our house and am happy to be able to share with other friends who are "living debt free" or just looking for some family food. Will begin the recipe posting soon. Thanks and stay in touch!!
Before we get started with the recipes I have a few tips for lowering your grocery bills. We have added these certain tricks to our household to save the money and they work!!
* cut the bacon in half in the package before serving. This makes the package work for two big breakfasts. It also reduces the waste of making the whole package. Make MORE eggs to fill up the tummies no one needs 8 strips of bacon!
* use canned biscuits. They are 38 cents at Aldi (where we shop) and they can be used in tons of recipes. Use them as biscuits, make donuts with them, make dumplings, make mini egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast.
* Buy a whole chicken. For around $4 you can have at least 3 meals from a whole chicken. I make one every two weeks. The day I make the chicken (in the crock pot so no work) I serve a big dinner with potatoes and stuffing etc... Then I add water and boil the bones to make stock. Leftover chicken after dinner makes chicken salad, chicken quesadillas, omelets and many other types of meals. I usually make chicken salad for the next days lunch. The stock I keep in the fridge until I need it but usually make chicken and dumplings, chicken and rice or chicken noodle soup with it. That is 3 meals and there is always leftover soup too so even more than three meals. It is some work but not alot of work and for $4 that is a bunch of meals!!
* Buy ground beef in bulk and freeze. Sometimes I get the meat when they have marked it down so much because it needs to go today or will go bad. Usually I can get 5 lbs for $5 or less just by watching for the stuff that is "ready to spoil if not FROZEN TODAY" Saves a bundle. Bring it home divide it up and put it in freezer bags individually so I have at least 5 meals out of it. perfect and cheap
* Start using chicken legs. The are $2.39 for a bag which usually had 8 legs. Make em like wings, make em like oriental style, make em Italian style, pour BBQ sauce on em and throw em in the crock pot. This is at least 2 meals for my family and they are so inexpensive that I grab a couple of bags. Much more flavor than breasts and a 3rd of the cost or less.
* Bagels for breakfast and drink your coffee at home. 6 pack of bagels $1.39. 2 6 packs is breakfast every morning for Jon who is running out the door and eating in his car and 2 extra that I can use during the week for whenever. Coffee at home was a hard one cause coffee CAN be cheap but can be pricey depending on where you go. Make it at home take a to go mug and $5 gets you a big can that lasts us about 3 weeks or so.
* When the fish is on sale buy it and freeze it. Good deals come by with fish all the time and even if you won't eat it for awhile your freezer keeps it for a long time and it doesn't take up much space so even if you don't have a deep freeze-which I don't- you will be OK stocking up a bit.
* Cream of soups!! Cream of mushroom, Cream of chicken and Cream of celery are stocked up at my house all the time. good for a casserole, good for soups, good to flavor chicken or beef in the crock pot and serve with noodles (also cheap) egg or spaghetti or any kind of noodles.
* Taco night! This is great cause taco seasoning is nice and cheap too. Put in the crock pot with ground beef, ground turkey or chicken breasts. By the time it is cooked the chicken can be easily shredded. Crunchy or soft shells are a good price and you can make them as cool as you want or as basic as you want. Meat and cheese in a shell or the works. Oh and always put an onion and green pepper chopped up in the crock pot too if you have them. Nachos, burritos or tacos/taco salad.
Before we get started with the recipes I have a few tips for lowering your grocery bills. We have added these certain tricks to our household to save the money and they work!!
* cut the bacon in half in the package before serving. This makes the package work for two big breakfasts. It also reduces the waste of making the whole package. Make MORE eggs to fill up the tummies no one needs 8 strips of bacon!
* use canned biscuits. They are 38 cents at Aldi (where we shop) and they can be used in tons of recipes. Use them as biscuits, make donuts with them, make dumplings, make mini egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast.
* Buy a whole chicken. For around $4 you can have at least 3 meals from a whole chicken. I make one every two weeks. The day I make the chicken (in the crock pot so no work) I serve a big dinner with potatoes and stuffing etc... Then I add water and boil the bones to make stock. Leftover chicken after dinner makes chicken salad, chicken quesadillas, omelets and many other types of meals. I usually make chicken salad for the next days lunch. The stock I keep in the fridge until I need it but usually make chicken and dumplings, chicken and rice or chicken noodle soup with it. That is 3 meals and there is always leftover soup too so even more than three meals. It is some work but not alot of work and for $4 that is a bunch of meals!!
* Buy ground beef in bulk and freeze. Sometimes I get the meat when they have marked it down so much because it needs to go today or will go bad. Usually I can get 5 lbs for $5 or less just by watching for the stuff that is "ready to spoil if not FROZEN TODAY" Saves a bundle. Bring it home divide it up and put it in freezer bags individually so I have at least 5 meals out of it. perfect and cheap
* Start using chicken legs. The are $2.39 for a bag which usually had 8 legs. Make em like wings, make em like oriental style, make em Italian style, pour BBQ sauce on em and throw em in the crock pot. This is at least 2 meals for my family and they are so inexpensive that I grab a couple of bags. Much more flavor than breasts and a 3rd of the cost or less.
* Bagels for breakfast and drink your coffee at home. 6 pack of bagels $1.39. 2 6 packs is breakfast every morning for Jon who is running out the door and eating in his car and 2 extra that I can use during the week for whenever. Coffee at home was a hard one cause coffee CAN be cheap but can be pricey depending on where you go. Make it at home take a to go mug and $5 gets you a big can that lasts us about 3 weeks or so.
* When the fish is on sale buy it and freeze it. Good deals come by with fish all the time and even if you won't eat it for awhile your freezer keeps it for a long time and it doesn't take up much space so even if you don't have a deep freeze-which I don't- you will be OK stocking up a bit.
* Cream of soups!! Cream of mushroom, Cream of chicken and Cream of celery are stocked up at my house all the time. good for a casserole, good for soups, good to flavor chicken or beef in the crock pot and serve with noodles (also cheap) egg or spaghetti or any kind of noodles.
* Taco night! This is great cause taco seasoning is nice and cheap too. Put in the crock pot with ground beef, ground turkey or chicken breasts. By the time it is cooked the chicken can be easily shredded. Crunchy or soft shells are a good price and you can make them as cool as you want or as basic as you want. Meat and cheese in a shell or the works. Oh and always put an onion and green pepper chopped up in the crock pot too if you have them. Nachos, burritos or tacos/taco salad.
RECIPES
STRAWBERRY CREPES
(for the beginner)
Anyone can make these crepes and these were my first attempt EVER. Let me know how it works for you!!
Crepes:
1 cup pancake mix
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups milk
3 tbs melted butter
Topping:
6-8 strawberries cut up
1/2 block cream cheese
2tbs milk
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 big squirt of honey (to taste- no measuring necessary)
Make topping first. Put all things in blender, blend till thin and put in refrigerator for about 15 or so while you are working on your crepes.
Crepes- mix all ingredients in large bowl. This will be thin, so thin you think "how will this possibly every make a pancake?" Crepes are not actually held together by the pancake mix but by the eggs so even though it is thing they will cook up beautifully and be flexible for your folding later.
Cook em up! I always add a couple of tbs of oil TO THE MIX not to the pan, this will help em keep from sticking. Works for regular pancakes too- old tip from my Dad! I use my soup ladle and 1 scoop is 1 large crepe. Cook until top looks bubbly but dry. You can always check under the crepe with your spatula to see that it is browned- the mix holds together much better than pancake mix actually. Brown em on both sides and make a stack of them as you cook to keep them warm.
Roll them and put them on plates, drizzle with the topping and enjoy!! I put fresh strawberries on them for a pretty picture but the topping is enough for sure. They are tasty and easy for the kids to cut and eat.
CRESCENT ROLL SAMMIES
1 package of crescent rolls
8 slices of lunch meat
2 slices of cheese
Using packaged crescent rolls, unroll each triangle and put 1/4 a slice of cheese, 1 piece of lunch meat rolled and roll crescent roll into shape. Put on foil on cookie sheet and bake for 10-12minutes at 350degrees.
I use all different meats and cheeses. Good way to use up some stuff if you are low on one kind of cheese or only have a couple of pieces of turkey left. You can make them with tomato soup as a twist on the regular grilled cheese or just make a plate of them with all the sides baby carrots, fruit, chips or something along those lines. I usually call this lunch a snack and just make one big plate for everyone to share!
**one package of crescent rolls makes 8 sandwiches**
Best Highchair
This will be an ongoing list of products that we parents love, where to buy them, why we love them etc...
Please email me with anything you would like to see added to the list at Amy@thethriftygift.com
This highchair is FANTASTIC for so many reasons and I didn't even know it until my second baby came along! I accepted freebie high chairs from a couple of friends only to learn WHY they were FREE. I never had a good one and I didn't want one that took up so much real estate that we couldn't walk around our eat in kitchen. Then I found this gem.
1. folds flat after use for storage
2. cloth is completely removable and machine washable
3. seat is shallow from front to back so it is easy for the new upright sitters
4. affordable at $39.99
5. Fits up to any table so they can eat at the same table top you are eating at
I have no complaints and this is by far the BEST purchase I have come across as far as baby furniture goes!
Find this highchair and other products like this at http://www.ikea.com/
Please email me with anything you would like to see added to the list at Amy@thethriftygift.com
BEST HIGHCHAIR
1. folds flat after use for storage
2. cloth is completely removable and machine washable
3. seat is shallow from front to back so it is easy for the new upright sitters
4. affordable at $39.99
5. Fits up to any table so they can eat at the same table top you are eating at
I have no complaints and this is by far the BEST purchase I have come across as far as baby furniture goes!
Find this highchair and other products like this at http://www.ikea.com/
Household Budget Tips: Laundry Detergent
In October of 2009 my husband and I took a pledge to become debt free. We joined up with Dave Ramsey through his website, radio show and book, "The Total Money Makeover" to "live like no one else so later you can live like no one else." All cliche's aside, we decided that we were tired of living paycheck to paycheck and playing the game of "creative financing" to get all of our bills paid.
In order to really achieve this we had to cut budget EVERYWHERE. We never had cable so that wasn't an issue but we honed our grocery budget, planned meals, found alternative ways to find and make cleaning supplies, we planned everything down to the most minute detail and because of that we are down almost 40k in a year and a half! It has been really difficult and although I read books and researched, I would have found it helpful to hear from someone else some tips on just how to do this. That is what this page is dedicated to doing. I will put some of the tips I feel were most helpful, some recipes and if you email me and share your own tips/successes I will post these too.
This page is always a work in progress so keep joining us for more useful information
This page is not for grocery tips so much as household tips that will help you eliminate some extra costs here and there. One thing I always hated trying to work into the budget was laundry detergent and supplies. We are a family of 4 and there is constant laundry and the detergent, even the less expensive kind is such a break to the wallet. I researched and talked to folks and started making my own. This sounds like a HUGE chore but I assure you it is NOT. In a year's time I have made only 2 batches and you can do this too.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE:
1 clean 5 gallon bucket (lowe's, home depot, walmart, auto parts store etc...)
1 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (this is not baking soda and it is found in the laundry aisle- it contains sodium bicarbonate)
1/2 cup Borax (also in laundry aisle- and inexpensive with so many uses)
1 bar of Fels Naptha Soap (or a bar of your choice) You can find this at Meijer regularly stocked or online
Put 4 cups of hot water into a sauce pan and add your bar of soap shredded (I got a cheese grater at the dollar store for this and this only)
Stir until mixture is smooth with no big chunks of soap.
Fill 5 gallon bucket 1/2 full with hot water and add soapy water mix to the bucket.
Add super washing soda and borax then fill to the top with hot water.
Put lid on bucket and let sit overnight. It will turn into a gel and with mixing become smooth enough to pour into your container.
KEEP YOUR OLD CONTAINERS THEY ARE GREAT FOR THIS.
Fill detergent container 1/2 full your finished soap mixture and 1/2 full of water. A 5 gallon bucket makes 10 gallons of soap!!
**Note** this detergent works for regular machines as well as High Efficiency- it makes very little suds and bubbles but works like a charm. You can add essential oils if you want certain scents I leave mine alone to keep it FREE for the kids laundry. Any questions??? Email me at :Amy@thethriftygift.com
In order to really achieve this we had to cut budget EVERYWHERE. We never had cable so that wasn't an issue but we honed our grocery budget, planned meals, found alternative ways to find and make cleaning supplies, we planned everything down to the most minute detail and because of that we are down almost 40k in a year and a half! It has been really difficult and although I read books and researched, I would have found it helpful to hear from someone else some tips on just how to do this. That is what this page is dedicated to doing. I will put some of the tips I feel were most helpful, some recipes and if you email me and share your own tips/successes I will post these too.
This page is always a work in progress so keep joining us for more useful information
This page is not for grocery tips so much as household tips that will help you eliminate some extra costs here and there. One thing I always hated trying to work into the budget was laundry detergent and supplies. We are a family of 4 and there is constant laundry and the detergent, even the less expensive kind is such a break to the wallet. I researched and talked to folks and started making my own. This sounds like a HUGE chore but I assure you it is NOT. In a year's time I have made only 2 batches and you can do this too.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE:
1 clean 5 gallon bucket (lowe's, home depot, walmart, auto parts store etc...)
1 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (this is not baking soda and it is found in the laundry aisle- it contains sodium bicarbonate)
1/2 cup Borax (also in laundry aisle- and inexpensive with so many uses)
1 bar of Fels Naptha Soap (or a bar of your choice) You can find this at Meijer regularly stocked or online
Put 4 cups of hot water into a sauce pan and add your bar of soap shredded (I got a cheese grater at the dollar store for this and this only)
Stir until mixture is smooth with no big chunks of soap.
Fill 5 gallon bucket 1/2 full with hot water and add soapy water mix to the bucket.
Add super washing soda and borax then fill to the top with hot water.
Put lid on bucket and let sit overnight. It will turn into a gel and with mixing become smooth enough to pour into your container.
KEEP YOUR OLD CONTAINERS THEY ARE GREAT FOR THIS.
Fill detergent container 1/2 full your finished soap mixture and 1/2 full of water. A 5 gallon bucket makes 10 gallons of soap!!
**Note** this detergent works for regular machines as well as High Efficiency- it makes very little suds and bubbles but works like a charm. You can add essential oils if you want certain scents I leave mine alone to keep it FREE for the kids laundry. Any questions??? Email me at :Amy@thethriftygift.com
Friday, September 2, 2011
When it Rains...It's Really Raining!
Life has been taking some large and unexpected turns lately. As we have always thought "bad things come in threes" we kinda thought we must be on the up and up with life, yet...
I have been working full time or close to full time to try to make up for the weeks that Jon won't be paid while he is on leave recovering from surgery. It has been hard but I now feel adjusted to the fact that I work most nights during the week. Jon has had to adjust to taking care of the kids every evening on crutches and handicapped but we are all making it and things are going ok.
Tonight to make up for the fact that I will be working for the next 3 nights, I thought I would make a casserole so Jonny didn't have to worry about making a plan for dinner. I put the dinner in the oven as I was leaving only to get a text message that read, "the oven still isn't pre-heated" after AN HOUR. So obviously something is wrong with the oven- which is a much used appliance at my house that I can't live without.
As he is trying to google a troubleshooting plan to figure out the issue the laptop takes a crap and won't do ANYTHING. Blue screen of death.
For real?? So they ordered a pizza, he played around with oven trying to figure it out, I called Dan to help with the computer and all the while I am about to just laugh because it is all I can do. It's not funny but it is crazy how much I am supposed to be handling right now. Just crazy.
I have been working full time or close to full time to try to make up for the weeks that Jon won't be paid while he is on leave recovering from surgery. It has been hard but I now feel adjusted to the fact that I work most nights during the week. Jon has had to adjust to taking care of the kids every evening on crutches and handicapped but we are all making it and things are going ok.
Tonight to make up for the fact that I will be working for the next 3 nights, I thought I would make a casserole so Jonny didn't have to worry about making a plan for dinner. I put the dinner in the oven as I was leaving only to get a text message that read, "the oven still isn't pre-heated" after AN HOUR. So obviously something is wrong with the oven- which is a much used appliance at my house that I can't live without.
As he is trying to google a troubleshooting plan to figure out the issue the laptop takes a crap and won't do ANYTHING. Blue screen of death.
For real?? So they ordered a pizza, he played around with oven trying to figure it out, I called Dan to help with the computer and all the while I am about to just laugh because it is all I can do. It's not funny but it is crazy how much I am supposed to be handling right now. Just crazy.
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