Happy Birthday Pop!

We'll the hubs had another birthday! I was looking back and I can't believe how much he has grown! :)
Sadly, this was the first year that I didn't make him his favorite German Chocolate Cake. I was just not in the baking mood.

Yum! Pop!!

 I did steal this cute idea for his gift. A loves to study and drink pop. It's like his energy booster! I thought getting them in all different shapes and styles was super cute! I would have changed the root beer phrase to " I'm always Root-in' for you!" So, they are all about him! But either way check them out on her page, stinkin' cute!

Pinnin' Projects: ABC Magnets & Prayer Pail!!

Both of these I spied off of pintrest.. My ABC Pin doesn't have a link with it, but this is the link to the pail idea!

Our ABC Magnet Match!

Yes, this is so easy, and so fun and someone who is obsessed with these little crystal stones on magnets.. this was right up my ally. I've sent out our family pic on them, and will soon have business cards on them.. yes, obsessed! And I love them!

So, I just mod-podged cute (maybe too girly) paper to the back of my stone and hot glued a magnet disk. I made two sets! An Upper Case and a Lower Case set. That way they can match, they can spell word with 2 of the same letters, and there is plenty for two boys to play with at the same time, in two pie pans! They can use them on the fridge, or in our case right now we have metal doors (AMAZING!). 

I like the pans because its just compact play!

ABC Letters in a Pan!

Matching Letter! Yes, That's mod-podge on my fingers..geez.

Our Prayer Pail !

Oh, I've been meaning to do something with this pail. We made this at MOPS like forever ago, and it just kept finding different uses or no use at all.. so when I saw this idea and knew how BIG of a family we have.. it was a must do! So easy, just tied on all this cute ribbon (which i don't own) onto a metal pail! EASY!!

Then, I mod podged different style paper on the Popsicle sticks. The Aunts and Uncles have the same style just in purple or blue, the girl cousins and boy cousins also same but in pink or blue, and then our family, and direct grandparents are in a different pattern. Friends and neighbors can be something else, but 50 something for now is great!

They are adorable, and my kids LOVE to pick some out and quickly pray for them. Then I try hard to mention their names throughout my personal daily prayers! <3 it!

Pray Pail!

I love that they have articles in front of them like Cousin, Brother, Aunt.. to help them realize how they are related to us. And I don't know about you, but cousins are friends, and friends are cousins.. just trying to straighten that all out!

FUN FUN!

Kissin' Our Laundry

In January I received this recipe from a friend. At the time I didn't know where it can from buton Pintrest I found some familiar pictures. I was interested in making my own laundry soap. Its funny because before I only bought $20 Tide once a month. My friend from down stairs told me she only spends $20 a month on all her families bathroom and washing needs. That is insane to me because I'm for sure way over $100. She uses Money Saving Mom for a lot and maybe one day I will learn.

We've always used Liquid laundry soap. It was going to be a harder transition I thought to use the SUPER SUPER simple dry laundry mix. I was afraid of clumpy yuck in my washer corners or in my clothes. Although it would be way less space to store a dry detergent.

I used what I had the first time I made this in January, 10 gallons and 6 months later, I've got clean clothes and one less shopping expense. I made a slight change to this batch, only because I LOVE even #'s. I think that even amounts Borax and Washing Soda will still work just fine. I'll update later if needed!

Our Liquid Lavender Laundry Soap

Ingredients

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

5 Gallon Bucket

Funnel 

Cheese Grater

10 Gallon Jugs

 1 Laundry Bar Soap

1/2 Cup Borax

1 Cup Arm & Hammer Super WASHING Soda

15-20 drops Lavender Essential Oil

**UPDATE: I USED 1 FALS NAPTHA, AND 1/2 IVORY, AND 27 OIL DROPS.. I REALLY LIKE THIS RATIO.. I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ONCE I'VE BEEN USING IT FOR A WHILE**

I wrote the Instructions on my designated 5 Gallon Bucket!

Step 2:  Melt Your Soap 

Grate your Soap!

 I use Ivory you can use Fals Naptha, which is so easy to find in your Laundry aisle.
Or any other Laundry Bar Soap you find! I had a bunch of Ivory bars, because the Ivory bars are smaller (or so they look) i use 1 1/2 bars. I like the way Ivory smells so that worked best for me.

   Add Soap and 4 cups Water to a sauce pan on  Low-Med heat. 

Constantly stir until you've melted all the soap! This is so important. I got impatient this time and hand to pick out some of the chunks I wouldn't let melt. No clumps allowed in Liquid Soap!! You can probably spot some of them in the pic below. Oops!

Step 3: Mix Ingredients Together! NO CLUMPS ALLOWED!

Add Hot Soap Mixture to 1/2 Full Bucket of HOT Water + 1/2 cup Borax, 1 cup Washing Soda

 Break up any dry chunks and make sure it all dissolves. The warm water makes all the difference!

After I make sure all the clumps are gone and the soap is mixed up great I add my Lavender Oil. Both Lavender and Tea Tree Oil have great anti bacterial agents. Adam always likes the Lavender scented laundry stuff so again, this works best for us! There are SO many amazing healing agents and great stuff in Lavender, I can't wait to learn more about it!

Step 4: Fill it Up and WAIT!

Fill up our bucket to the top with water and put a lid on it. Then let sit over night or for at least 8 hours if you make it in the morning! The soaps got to do it's thing!

Step 5: Squish!!!!

Oh, It's so much fun squishing!

Your soap is going to be all globby. You can mix it up with a spoon, or that cool mixer thing on the recipe link.. but I'm so hands-on, it was important to me to get my hands into it. Remember, these are pretty strong soaps.. so wash your hands, and arms quickly after. When you are mixing make sure you squish all those, ALL those globs up and make it smooth and bubbly again! This is your soapy concentrate!

Step 6: Fill Bottles Half and Half

With your funnel fill half soap and half water! Makes 10 gallons.

I use the Ozarka bottles for my soap. I also use them for my water storage. They are thick like a juice bottle, until milk jugs. They also stack!!! A great quality for small living spaces. They happen to be just little less at 1 gallon. So, when I measured 8 cups soap, I couldn't get 8 cups water. You can measure it straight out, or by looking!  The best thing about filling our bottles.. we get clean floors at the same time!

Silvery Swirl 

When I went a hair salon a few years back, they were showing my their shampoo for me to buy. One of her points were the shampoo had a silvery swirl in it.. and that is what we should look for in our soaps. I'm not sure why.. but I was happy to see this beautiful silvery swirl in my soap. It might come from the Ivory but I've never used the Fals Naptha or others bars in my detergent. Just remember bubbles separate and trap the dirt, and the silver swirl is something good!! :) Wow, that sounded professional.

Ten Gallons

Ten gallons fit compact into my laundry room very nicely.  Tighten your lids, dry your containers,a and store somewhere safe. Also- SHAKE BEFORE USE! Your  soap will simmer and you will clearly see the separation again like with the globs.. no worries.. with the smaller individual bottles it is easy to SHAKE IT OUT!!

I hope you love it too!! Also, you can try some of these tips!

Pre- Stain Remover

This is where I use it. I use my Fals- Naptha bar as a stain remover. I pre-treat my stains by running the bar under water and rubbing it on the stain! I've got little boys so we get tons of stains. If I can remember to treat them, I'd have to say this works just as good as any.

Fals Naptha or another Laundry Bar Soap

My Pre- Stain Remover

Fabric Softener

In the final rinse cycle, I sometimes toss a 1/2 cup of Vinegar into my wash. This helps it feel soft and helps with any mildew smells... especially with my towels! Try it one day!

Fabric Softener

Dryer Sheets

I use Layers by Scentsy Dryer Disks. They come 2 in a pack and each bar lasts 15 or more dries. They have static electricity properties, and right now they come in two scents: Coconut Lemon Grass and Quiver. Both fantastic! Get them here!! gloeng.scentsy.us

Kissin' Our Homemade Rainbow Play Dough!

We made some homemade play dough today! It was super easy, and really fun!We used this recipe from Musings From A SAHM. 

In a non-stick pot

Medium Heat

MIX 

1 C. Flour

< 1/3 C. Salt 

2 t. Cream of Tartar

ADD

1 c. Water

1 T. Vegetable Oil

STIR

COLOR

STIR

until done.

 At first I used a regular metal pot and it got way too hot before I even started. When I added my dry and wets, it hardened SO FAST I didn't have time to mix in the color while it was still in the wet stage! That is SO important! The blue was our first batch, and you can clearly see the white chunks. not cool!

Reminder #1- It's easier to use a NON-Stick pot!

Reminder #2- Watch the temp, it will heat up fast while you go so make sure its a low- med temp so you can keep it on track!

Reminder #3- Once you've mixed the dry with the wet, add the color!! It comes out richer that way!

My green batch turned out the best! When I poured it out on the table where my wax paper was it was still kind of gooey. I was afraid it was under-done. It turned out to be the softest and easiest to play with!

Reminder #4- Don't over cook!

The only ick I have about this, and maybe it is all homemade play dough, is while playing my hand get covered in uncomfortable SALT! For sure next time we make this we are going to down size the salt. I know it is necessarily but I think there was so much. Maybe soaking the salt in the water before adding it to heat will help but for us it didn't work out quiet right there!

Reminder #5- Control your Salt! reduce Salt.

Finally, storage. We use these shoe boxes to store tons of your textural play, so it worked for us.. but I love the baby food jars for on the go play! If it does dry out- water should help, maybe that will help my salt problem too!!

reminder #6- Keep in tight storage, if it dries out, add water or play with wet hands!

Kisses to FlyLady

I've been shinning my sink with FlyLady. I especially love the Windex part!! I've tucked away all my soaps and cleaning stuff under neath, because I love it this way! She's right it is a gift in the morning!!

I've been trying my best to stay consisted, because if I let one day pass without doing my chores it gets out of control fast! I haven't done her 31 day challenge. I couldn't see everyday at the same time and knew i wouldn't be consistent and getting on every day to check the to-do list. I just jumped right in and did what I was on. That's really what she wants you to do anyways.

I signed up for her Big Tent email.. they were helpful at first. I love the Kelly missions, the kids missions, and a reminder for my daily duties. Sometimes I like to read a few of her thoughts or testimonials but it is just annoying getting 30 or so emails daily.. mostly trying to sell me her stuff. I bet her stuff is awesome and if I had them I would probably rant all day about them too.. but it is a little overwhelming. Maybe I can train myself to look at the assignments daily or even weekly (because they are posted) on her website.. www.flylady.net

Either way, I am gaining so new habits. If I get my but up, dressed with my shoes on, and actually do what I should. Through the past month of this, I've realized.. if I got paid for my job at Mommy, Inc. I would have been fired way long ago!

Our 'stolen' Father's Day Gifts!!

 This year I finally took time to do something crafty for Adam, instead of our homemade cards which usually get broken, forgotten, and tossed. I had quick inspiration from strangers I sneak in on! Plus, I got my $5 gift from Kohls, and knew I needed to get Adam a small new pocket wallet!! Along with his new bank cards which were ruined from the heat, in his car! He will probably love that the best!

stolen idea from My Computer is My Canvas

Stolen Idea from No Time for FlashCards

 This bookmark is perfect for him! I chose to do a bookmark, a big one for school books because when school comes around we all get stressed out from over studying, time away, and procrastination!! (atleast thats how I see it! shh!!) The house just falls apart. I have to remember only 6 more years to go, it won't last forever, although it feels like it!!
I wish it didn't have to be so stressful, sometimes I don't think it should make him crazy like it does, but we all deal with things differently! This reminds him why he works so hard, and that it is all worth it!! The poem makes me cry about every time I read it!

Shrinky Dink is so much fun!

Dad, We Love You!!

Valentines Delivery Truck!

 This cute project was found at No Time For Flash Cards here. Our downstairs neighbor called us down to make them togetehr! I made Q's! so fun!!

72 Hour Food Kit & Emergency Binder

I finally went out and bought a couple of things for my 72 hour food kit. I have been saving milk jugs like the example of the food kit from food storage made easy. Instead I just picked up these dollar boxes and stuffed them with the things they suggested! I had a simalar box in my car back in the day but it was filled with body spray, gum, soup,a hand warmer and lip gloss or something. I am so excited to have something incase of an emergency! I feel so great knowing we can run away and have 3 days of food.
As for the clothing, and daily goods.... well, I am working on it. I am trying to make a goal to by 5 things each pay day. I guess the first step is going around the house and seeing what I already have. It is on the to-do list!

Food Storage Made Easy, in the "getting started" section also suggested to have an emergency binder. I felt so proud that I already have one! My mom has had one forever! She kept all her important records with her. Her Will, birth certificates, immunization records, etc. Once I moved here and took a better look at the thing she hauled around to appointments and such I gathered all my things together and it has been so nice knowing I know where all these important things are immediately.
My book is color coded. Before the color separator starts is all our marriage documents with copies! Then Each color is a different person with all their stuff! Then I have a work color with my license and Adam will have one for his work.. and maybe we will get more children and I'll need a bigger binder! The site gave me great ideas on storing random dollar bills in it, and making copies of my credit cards. I am going to improve it and have it on hand anytime I need it!
I love the idea of preparedness. When we were little I remember playing the game "If a fire is in your house and you can only take 3 things what would you take?" As long as I fill my kit up with all my needs both physical and spiritual. My kit should have everything I need, then I can choose 2 more things.

**Other than my emergency kit stuff I would take a necklace that has been passed down 4 generations already and I can't decide what I will want to take if I had the nerves enough to actually think about getting them. Adam would pick his spanish scriptures & box of mission pictures/journals.**

Question:
If a fire is in your house and you can only take 3 things, what would you take? (other than people)

Nursery Board

This was the first project I did for the Nursery. It is designed to keep track of all the kids. This way I know who is with me and when they leave, etc. It was crazy when parents would come and then there kid is gone and the door is open for escapes, and other kiddo's are getting sad because their mom isn't there. Luckily I had a solution, I read this idea on sugardoodle while doing all my nursery research. They had an apple tree and apples. I choose to do sheep in a field with a shepherd.
Every Sunday morning when I get there I put the board outside of the classroom. Luckily we have two doors in our nursery class. I labeled one to be the ENTER door and the other to be the EXIT. When the child comes to Nursery they remove their sheep from the "Missing" side & place them in the field. A lot of the parents allow their children to remove their own sheep which helps them recognize their name, and they get to see their face underneath. When everyone is in I know who is on the board and who is missing for the day. We can then go over who is here and who is missing, and then return it to the table outside. (We never do because play hour is first and they are too occupied, but we could do it before our prayer.. which is a great idea since we have all little ones for the new year!)
When it is time for pick up the parent removes their child's sheep and slides it under the door. We make a big deal about the sheep & whose name it is. We then have time to gather all the childs "stuff" and we walk them to the EXIT door while the children are gathered on the other side, waiting for sheep and playing group games. It is super easy and has been really helpful. I don't feel worried about the kids leaving, and I have control on when the doors open and close.
Plus, it has our schedule posted and what the lesson was for that day. Everyone loves the sheep board.

Kisses to "The Fun with Food Storage Network"

I have been a little blog crazy lately. I may not be posting the "best" things lately but I have been doing a lot of spying on strangers and I am so glad I have. I have found some really neat sites and I will share my finds with you later!

Right now!!! I love my newest find!

Food Storage has been on my mind since we left UT. It has been eating me up inside and I want to get started on something so important. I almost put the word "Prepared" in my Word of 2009, because I want to get going on being READY!

They have made it easy with 3 area of focus:

Plan it

Buy it


Eat it



I have suddenly become so excited for this site and I can't wait to learn more and feel excited and ready for food storage!!

I HAVE taken their challenge to get READY in a year with food storage!!

Word of 2009

Inspired by: Tip Junkie

This year I want to be BETTER than I was last year. I want to DO everything I know I should & more. I want to be POSITIVE & OPTIMISTIC, even when I am granted new challenges to endure. I want to say YES more and Complain less. I want to ENJOY and not worry so much. I want to be more GRATEFUL. I want to RECOGNIZE what I have & not take it for granite.

The word I choose this year is:

APPRECIATE

- to grasp the nature, worth, quality, or significance of
- to value or admire highly
- to judge with heightened perception or understanding : be fully aware of
- to recognize with gratitude
- to increase the value of