Frugal Friday- Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

I have been making my own dishwasher detergent for a few months now.  I think it works just as well as Cascade, but at a fraction of the cost.

So here's how you do it....

Ingredients Needed:

Washing Soda, Kosher Salt, Lemon Shine, and Borax

 In a Ziploc Baggie or an Airtight Container mix: 1 Cup Washing Soda, 1 Cup Borax, 1/2 Cup Kosher Salt, and 1/2 Cup Lemon Shine.

I have an old OxiClean Scoop to measure out the detergent.  About 1 Tablespoon will work.

Easy!!!

My Thoughts

1. I'm not sure how the detergent works on really dirty dishes.  I basically wash my dishes before I put them in the dishwasher, so this detergent works really well for me.

2.  I have seen other recipes that call for Citric Acid from the canning stuff or Lemon KoolAide.  I bought the Lemon Shine to see how it would work.  Next time I'll try the KoolAide.  You have to have some sort of acid to prevent your glassware from getting that cloudy residue.

3. The Kosher Salt helps keep the mixture from getting lumpy.  The slightest bit of moisture will cause the detergent to basically turn into a solid piece.  Not Fun to chip away at it.  I learned the hard way and that's why I started using the Ziploc.

Come back next week for another money saving tip!

Seriously Thursday

1. Seriously- this is my first time doing this! I have been wanting to partake for a while, but I've never done it.  So today is the big day!

2.  Seriously- I am in the process of weaning Ava.  I successfully breastfed my baby for 14 months and 1 day. And now 5 days into it...My boob hurts.  BOOB.  Not boobies. Just one.  The left one to be exact.  It's hard and sore and I think I need some cabbage leaves to put on it.  Yes, I said cabbage leaves.  Talk about a natural remedy.  

3. Seriously- I let my 14 month old watch a Barbie movie.  More than once a day.  And this is after I studied in college that a child under the age of 2 shouldn't watch tv. Children under 12 months can't actually see what's on the tv and children under the age of 2 shouldn't watch for their brain development.  Pretty sad, but she likes it and I need my SANITY.


4. Seriously- I walked an extra half a mile today during our morning walk all because a little girl kicked off her boot and it took Mommy that long to notice.  I guess Ava wanted me to burn a few more calories! Ha!

5. Seriously- It has been confirmed in the past 24 hours, all men have a mental disability.  I won't even go further to explain my proof, but I have it and it is true.

6. Seriously- I did 9 loads of laundry in the past 24 hours. NINE! That's what happens when you don't do laundry for 4 days.

7. Seriously- My dogs are cute.  A lady at the park this morning confirmed it.  So all you Jackson and Rajah Haters are wrong!

8. Seriously- I love my Erin Condren Life Planner.  Like LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.  I am a very organized person. I love lists.  I love that I can open my planner and see everything I need to do.  Thank you Mrs. to Mama!

Ava 14 Months

Ava- My little bug.  You amaze me.  You are growing up so fast. Every day you complete a new accomplishment.  Your little personality is really shining through.  You are definitely a Mommy's Girl.  You are such a sweet girl.  You love your puppies.  You love to give Jackson big hugs.  And you love to give Mommy big hugs and kisses.  You are so funny and you know when you are doing something cute.  That mischievous little smile and the way your eyes sparkle.  I can't get enough of you.  I love to hear you laugh, see your smile, touch your soft sweet hands.  I love you so much Ava.  

A Little Bit About Ava:

Length:  ?
Weight: ?
Hair Color: Dark Blonde
Eye Color: Dark Blue with a little Brown around your Pupil.  They almost look like they are turning a grayish blue.

A Look at Your Daily Routine

5:30-6:30 am- Wake Up!
7:30-8:00 - Breakfast!  Pancakes or Toast.  Grapes or Bananas.
8:30-10:00- Walk to the park with Mommy.  Play at Park.
10:00 -12 pm- Play time!
Noon- Lunch time!  Finger foods.
12:30-2:00- Nap time
2:00-5:30 pm- More play time! Snack at 3.
6:00 pm- Dinner
6:30 pm- Bath Time 
6:45 pm- PJ's, Stories, Rocking
7:00 pm- Bed Time


Feeding:  You love to feed yourself.  The only time I can feed you with a spoon is if you want something that I am eating.  You like to eat Mommy's cereal, yogurt, ice cream, cottage cheese, grits, and salad.  For some reason you like to chew on the lettuce, but Rajah actually is the one who grabs it once you are done chewing on it and have thrown it on the floor.  You really don't like meat, but you prefer Turkey over Chicken and Chicken over Beef.  Your favorite veggies are still green beans and sweet peas.  You love Sweet Peas!  Your favorite fruits are Grapes, then Cantaloupe, then Watermelon, then Bananas, then Strawberries. You also eat pasta and rice.  Your favorite snacks are Cheez Its, Goldfish, Animal Crackers, and Teddy Grahams. At the grocery store one day you reached into the basket from the seat and grabbed an avocado.  You bit through the skin and got a big bite of avocado.  I was completely shocked when I turned around to find green stuff all over your face and a huge bite mark in the avocado.

Diapers: Size 3

Clothes Size: 12-18 Months.

Favorite Toy: You like to open cabinets and pull everything out.  In the kitchen you like to pull out colanders and strainers.  You figured out how to open the tv cabinet on November 9 and you pulled every DVD out.  I didn't realize we had so many until I had to put each one back into the cabinet.  You also love your stuffed animals- Bun Bun of course, a pink bear, and  a pink puppy.  You also love your baby.

Bun Bun's Accident: Back in late September/ early October (I can't remember the date) we were at Nana's, when all of a sudden I heard a rip.  My heart stopped and I looked over at Nana's Precious Puppy Sky. Sky was laying on the big chair all regal looking with Bun Bun in between his front paws.  Her butt was pointed straight up.  I ran to her and grabbed her, but it was too late.  Sky had ripped a hole in Bun Bun's butt.  Mommy and you were devastated.  Bun Bun was put into pre operative care at the farm waiting for Aunt Debbie to perform surgery.  But she forgot. So Aunt Sandy was going to perform the life saving surgery, but she forgot too.  Finally Mommy went to pick up Bun Bun with hopes to perform the surgery herself.  But she got scared and couldn't bring herself to do it.  So on November 6th, Aunt Sandy performed surgery.  Bun Bun is good as new!  When we handed her to you, you grabbed her and held her close.  You held her in your car seat on the way home and I have never seen you hold Bun Bun so tightly and close to you.  You are back to dragging her all over!

Other Things You Do: You can climb onto the couch.  You like to sit and look around at everything going on.  You like to sit on your riding toys and have Mommy or Daddy push you.  You can walk the dogs. You really hold a leash and walk behind them.  But you frequently drop the leash and go the other direction.  You are cutting 3 teeth.  The top front two molars and the bottom 2nd tooth to the left.  You have new freckles too.  The first one showed up a few months ago on your left leg, then one on your left arm.  Then about a month ago one showed up on your booty.  I always think it's something else when I am changing your diaper.  The newest addition is one on your right shoulder blade.  And a new one on your chest.  In the middle part of your rib cage, but closer to your right side.  You love to go to the park.  Your favorite thing to do is swing, but we also go across the bridge, climb through the tunnels and go down the slide.  You have so much fun at the park!

Sweet Things You Do: When Mommy says, "Hugs," you run up and wrap your arms around me.  When I say, "Kisses," you run up with your mouth wide open and rub your slobbery face all over my face.  I love it.  One of my favorite things you do.  It melts my heart every time. 


Funniest Moment:  One day we were giving the dogs a bath and you threw all your toys into the tub.  I guess you thought the dogs needed to play during their bath time.  When I was scrubbing the tub, you did the same thing. You cheat when you sort shapes into this snail thing.  The shapes are a triangle, star, and flower.  You used to bang the shapes into the holes, hoping to push one through, then you figured out that the top comes off.  So now you open it, throw the shapes into the snail and shut the lid.  That's my girl!

Milestones and Other Events:
October 19, 2011- Coley comes to visit!
October 21, 2011- 1st time to ride in the car part of a grocery cart with Coley.
October 22, 2011- Dewberry Farms with Cole, Mommy, and Daddy.  (2nd year in a row = new family tradition)
October 27, 2011- Your first time to Bake!
October 31, 2011- Your 2nd Halloween.   Ava the Lady Bug.
November 6, 2011- 2nd Turkey Dinner at St. Theresa's.  Reunited with Bun Bun.

What else could go in that mouth?

The stroller essentials: Tea Pot, Dog Toy, Victoria's Secret Bag.

Hmmm....

Putting money in her bank.

At the Pumpkin Patch.

Ava and her Big Pumpkin.

Ava and her little pumpkin.

Ava Baking.

Silly Girl!

Eating Mommy's yogurt.

Couldn't pick one to take to PaPa's.

Halloween 2011.

Reunited with BunBun!

Taking Bun Bun on a ride.

Eating Breakfast with Bun Bun.

Snack time with Jackson. 

Giving Rajah a cracker.

Snack time with Bun Bun.

Climbing on the Couch.

Successfully Made It!

Her favorite Jungle Gym.

Such a Pretty Girl!

Jackson and Ava watching Barbie together.

They have a special bond!

Halloween 2011

On Halloween Eve we went to PaPa's.  I had spray painted her wings the day before and forgotten them!  Unfortunately her wings looked more maroon than red.  Which would have been fine if she was an Aggie Bug.  So plan B took place. We were planning on going to Town Center for some Halloween festivities, but when we arrived, EVERYONE was there.  Ava was screaming.  It was getting late.  So we decided to go home. 

Ava the Lady Bug!

The Bug fell down.

What is on my head? 

What are these?

The Bug Running!

Quick Picture with Mommy.

Family Photo.

On Halloween Day Ava and I went outside to take a few pictures.

 When Daddy got home we went back outside to take more pictures. 

And of course my precious pumpkin had his own photo shoot!

Frugal Friday: Less is More!

I've said it a million times and I'm sure I'll say it a million more, But I am ALWAYS looking for ways to cut back on our spending.  Every penny adds up!  

One way that I am stretching my dollar is to cut things in half.

So what do I cut in half.....

Dryer Sheets

Pot scrubbers

Paper Towels

(When using for small jobs)

Dry Sweeper Cloths

(I actually flip it over and use the other side)

It may not seem like a lot, but it's all about the little things.

Come back next week for another money saving tip!

Saturday Morning

Since Ava has a new found passion for baking, 

She awoke bright and early,

At 6 am,

Eager to bake.

So we made Blueberry Lemon Muffins.

The Blueberries

 The Batter

I totally gave my girl Cheez Its after she had her breakfast, so I could finish baking.

Before they went in the oven.

Yummy!

Daddy's first bite.

He approves.

Ava's first bite.

Ava's second bite.

Mmmmm....

I think she likes them.

Ava approves!