Time keeps on slipping away

Wow! Look, I do still know how to type on my blog!!! To sum up last year: It went way too fast!  My kiddos are growing WAY TOO FAST! This month Johnson #5 will be 3!!! (SIGH)  And with that birthday comes the lovely task of potty training! A few of you know that I am not the best @ potty training the Johnson kids! (Stop laughing!! You know who you are!!!)  I have Johnson #5 in Big boy pants as we speak.  Here is hoping he doesn't leak everywhere!  I would LOVE to have him out of diapers by his birthday~ We shall see!    The kids are all back to school! Which means this house is QUITE! And with the house being quite, it makes me nervous! Why, not sure! I guess you just get so used to all the noise & when its quite it is sureal!  Well, my luck last as long as it took me to type this post. I must go & change someone pants =) Such is life in the Johnson House!



Be Blessed my Friends!

Made by Mama J

Here is my new "crafty" blog.  Check it out!  I will be adding new things to it as I make them!  http://www.madebymamaj.blogspot.com/

And now.......Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

So, I know that I have not posted in awhile. I have been busy with getting the boys back to school.  It has been a CRAZY house for awhile now.   As you can see from my post below, I enjoy making homemade cleaning products.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my homemade laundry detergent.  It is so nice to know that I will not be buying the Expensive "name brand" detergent anymore.   I am still using the 1st batch of soap =)   I ran out of dishwasher detergent yesterday & thought I would pick some up at the store.  I had to catch myself.  I can make my own with things I have in my house now.  So I an going to use this recipe:



-1 Tablespoon Super Washing Soda to the dishwasher dispenser
-1 Tablespoon Borax to the dishwasher dispenser



That's it, Your DONE!




Now the recipe for removing the hard water spots that frequently occur with automatic dishwashers.



-Poor distilled white vinegar into the clear rinse gel department





Cost Comparison: 

The cost for this recipe is less than 4cents per load.

Calculation as follows:

  Cost of Borax $2.50 for 76 oz. = .03/oz or .015 oz for 1/2 oz                

  Cost of washing soda $2.50 for 55oz. = 4/oz or .02 for 1/2 oz

Recipe calls for 1/2 oz of each so the cost per wash is 3.5 cents.

How much does your detergent cost this week? Next week the price will go up.
Give it a try & let me know what you think.  I am very excited to try this recipe.  I LOVE SAVING MONEY!

The Idea Room

The Idea Room is one of my fav blogs. She has tons of idea's, thus the name THE IDEA ROOM! She is having a give away for a silhouette machine. I have never seen this machine before & was quite excited about this amazing machine. Pop on over for your chance to win & to check out all of her wonderful ideas!

Homemade Dryer sheets

Hi All! I hope you enjoyed the homemade Laundry Soap. I know that I have enjoyed the laundry soap more than you can know.  It leaves your clothes with very little smell at all, which is good.  I love fabric softener & usually put some in each load of laundry. That can get really expense in my household.  So, I have searched online to find a better way of saving money in this area.  I have came across alot of different things. These are my favorite two:


The 1st one is an oldie, but goodie!  cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle. It helps keep washing machines & hoses fresh & clean.  It also help with the "smell" that sometimes occurs with the front loading washing machines.



The second recipe:

-1    5 gallon bucket*              

-1 container of Fabric softener

                                                           -1 package of sponges

Pour fabric softener in bucket

Then fill bottle with water and add to bucket, Twice..

2 parts water to 1 part fabric softener

Cut sponge in half & place in bucket. I only cut up one, but will add another.

When ready to use, squeeze out extra mixture for one sponge and add to dryer as you would a dryer sheet.  I use two when I dry, just cause I like the smell of the fabric softener I use.  Works just as well as any dryer sheets I have used in the past & also helps with static.

*It says to use a 5 gallon bucket, but I will us a 3gallon bucket next time, just so I don't have the bulk from the 5 gallon bucket.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

 

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine

• 4 Cups - hot tap water

• 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (found mine @ Ace Hardware)

• 1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda* (found @ Ressors, it like Homeland)

• ½ Cup Borax  (walmart, very easy to find)

(Pictured above)

 

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.

 

Add melted soap into bucket already containing washing soda and Borax.

 

 

Stir well until all powder is dissolved.

 

 

Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

 

 

This is what it looks like atfer it has sit over-night.

It will be thick & jelly like, just stir until it is mixed well.

- fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap ( I am using a 2 gallon water jug from Wal-mart $4.00. It is important that you use something that you can shake before each use. It doesn't have to be 2 gallons, it is 1 to 1 ratio on this soap with water. So, if you have 1 gallon jug, use 1/2 soap half water. You get the picture , Right?!!?)

Half full of soap

 and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

 

 

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

 

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

 

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

 

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

 

 

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Tabor & the Splash Pad

Tabor's 1st time at the Splash Pad!  He LOVES the water.  See for yourself!