Fabric Softener

Homemade Fabric Softener


If you’ve been wanting to cut costs on Fabric Softener… try making Homemade Fabric Softener!

What You’ll Need:

6 cups HOT water
3 cups white vinegar
2 cups Suave Refreshing Waterfall Conditioner {or other favorite scent}
What You’ll Do:

Mix conditioner & hot water well, until conditioner is dissolved completely.
Add the vinegar, and mix well.
Store in a large container {empty fabric softener container, empty large vinegar bottle, etc}
Pour into a downy ball… or use approx. 2 tbsp. in the fabric softener spot in your laundry machine… then wash!

5 in 5 Days 3-5... Make me an offer I can't refuse

I am totally cheating here by combining 3 days for one thing, but... I'm good with it. Yesterday I spent the day going through each room and gathering garage sale stuff. It took more time than I thought it would(as all of my projects thus far have done). Today and tomorrow are sale days and at the end of tomorrow I will make a g-dub trip.

5 in 5 Day 2... The Pit of Despair!

I was a bit busy yesterday with editing pictures, YW, Activity Days Mom/Daughter night, helping fix the lawn mower (mostly just fixing the speakers on the computer so Kevin could watch a youtube on fixing it... but it counts.) and other lame stuff, so I thought I would be sneaky and get up this morning and tackle something easy and post about it. I thought, "20, maybe 30 minutes tops... Then I'll get dressed and ready for the day."
I made the rookie mistake of tackling the craft/catch-all dresser in our entry. Rookie! Two hours later I am standing in the middle of a mess strewn all over my kitchen bra-less and starving. Rookie!
My mistake was in thinking that it would only take one box to take care of all of the contents. Nope. 4 Boxes! 1 for kids crafts which I will need until the end of school and when school starts again. 1 for my craft stuff ie: card making, scrapbooking, poster making. 1 for stuff I am donating to a friend's supplies. 1 for goodwill. But don't forget the two grocery bags of garbage too.
I am done sorting, but now I have to find places for the bits and pieces of the rest (walkie-talkies, shoe laces, super glue, old film canisters, etc.)
I am counting this task as complete, but my next task (Task 3) might include cleaning off my kitchen counter tops :P

5 in 5... My Life In A Box

So, I am totally crashing the 5 in 5 challenge, but since I don't have a personal blog I am doing it here.

Challenge: Start packing!
I sat down today and did a count down to how many days I had left before we move... (69) Then I figured out how many days I would actually have to pack... (47! And that included today). Yikes!!!
The problem that I face is that there are few things that we own that I would want to move with me that I don't mind packing up right now.
















The solution... Bookshelves! I have 7ish bookcases in my home and have found that I can, temporarily, live without my books and cherished chotskies. (Featuring a wooden whale puzzle I made for Brady when he was 4, Grandma Hanna's old radio from her garage, and a frog prince Marcy gave me when I was single and dating a bunch of toads.)



With everything packed away, I show my real talent for moving. I have mastered the art of tracking my belongings and minimizing the frustration of not finding what you need after you move. This is box number 4 that I have packed and labeled with the number on all sides. Then I label the basics of what is in the box... Then genius comes in numbering each box in a notebook and then detailing what is in each box.

Later I will highlight each box number to indicate weather it will go into storage or with us.
I am a big fan of this method, but I really don't ever want to have to use it again ;)

Snow is in the Air

So, this year is projected to be a snowy one for the NW states, and where there is snow there are also power outages, impassable roads, and frozen pipes.
The question is: How do YOU prepare for this?

What do you have a year supply of?

Kevin went to Home Depot last night and got really excited over finding the energy efficient light bulbs on sale for 1/4 of the price. He stocked up and got 6- 12 pack boxes of them.
He was pointing out to one of our friends that now we had a year supply of them. She giggled and said, "Yep, I'm certain they will be very helpful when the Apocolyse hits and the power grids go out."
It was kind of funny, but it did make me stop and think. I now want to make sure I stock up on some candles and matches.

I would like to mention that I do have a year supply of:

Laundry Soap
Light Bulbs
Frozen Berries
Cake Mixes
Frosting (Thanks Debbie for the tip)
Salt
Yams (I have 3 cans of yams that were given to us, so really it is like a 3 yr supply)

I have a 3 month supply of:

Mac & Cheese
Flour
Sugar
Rice
Pastas
Granola Bars (Snack Items)
Oats
Juice Drinks
Corn Bread
Pancake Mix
Pumpkin Pie Filling
Salad Dressing & Various Condiments


I know it is kind of obsure, but most of the foods can be cooked by itself or with only water.

What do you have in your storage?

Emergency Tool Kit

Kevin has been watching a show called The Colony. It is a reality show about a colony of people who have found each other after a massive virus has (supposedly) wiped out the population. It takes place in wiped out Katrina destroyed Louisianna. The people are half starved, with no electricy and dealing with invading groups of people who are also fighting to survive.
What caught my attention was how handy a basic set of tools would have been to this group. What are your thoughts on an emergency tool kit within your year supply or even 72 hour kit?

Recap- Homemade Laundry Detergent

I did it! I made my own batch of homemade laundry detergent... and I now have the components to make a years supply. Yeah! I have tried it out and it works great! It smells clean and has really no odor when it comes out of the dryer. There are no perfumes or dyes to irritate the skin. It really is great. Here are some pics:

These are all of the ingredients.
When you grate the soap it looks like shredded cheddar cheese. I have also heard of chopping up a block and running it through the food processor.

When you melt down the soap melt it super slow.

After you mix the batch and let it sit it will gel up like runny jello.

















A good tip is to funnel a portion into a recycled milk jug or detergent container. Then you just shake the container each time before you add it to your washer instead of stirring the 5 gallon bucket each time.

I also found this site that makes it in the dry form:
http://www.knittinandnoodlin.com/2008/07/homemade-laundry-detergent-a-tutorial/

I then went to Freddies and found a Mr. Steamy two pack for under $14. I just fill one up with water and throw it into the dryer with my wet clothes. This eliminates the need for fabric softener.

Because sometimes it's hard to be a Mom

We had enrichment last night and it was all of self-preparedness. My favorite tip was how to make your own laundry soap and store enough components for a years supply.

Recipe:
1 bar Fels Naptha soap (grated with cheese grater)
1 cup Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer, not baking soda)
1 cup Mule Team Borax

Put grated Fels Naptha in a saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Put dissolved soap in 5 gallon bucket and then add hot water to fill the rest of the bucket. Stir. Add Washing Soap and Borax and mix well. As it cools it will thicken. It helps to mix it every now and then as it cools to reduce thickness. If mixture becomes too thick, add hot water to thin to desired consistency. May be used immediately. Mix well before each use. Use 1/2 cup (normal) to 1 cup (heavy) or 1/4 for HE front loading washers.

Cost:
Winco has everything
Fels Naptha- $1.12 / bar
Washing Soda- $2.70 / about 6 cups
Borax- $3.76 / about 12 cups

To make a 5 gallon batch- $1.88
1/4 cup per load means 5 gallons will do 320 loads of laundry
Each load would cost $0.005875
For a family of five that made a batch about every other month a years supply would cost $13.08 and still leave you with half a box of Borax.

A tip for easier use is to find one of the juice pitchers that has a mixing paddle in it. Fill it with recently mixed soap and just pump it once or twice before each load. Refill as needed from the big bucket.

Cheap deals of the week.

If you have just $10 to spend on food storage this week, I've got some ideas for you:

Fred Meyer has a coupon this week for cans of tomatoes or beans 2/$1, limit 10. If you had 2 coupons, you could stock up on 20 cans. I love that Fred Meyer usually has tons of extra ads at the store early on in the week - so it doesn't matter if you don't take the paper, you can still take advantage of the coupon savings.

Another good deal at Freddy's this week.

Albertsons has a deal on for Betty Crocker cake mixes and frosting - $1 each, if you buy 10. That's a pretty common sale price for the cake mixes, but a slightly better deal than usual for frosting.

What deals have you found this week?

Taking Stock, Re-Stocking.

The holidays are over...the wedding has been celebrated...Alex had his birthday.  All my excuses for living in the bunker for the last month or so are done.  Time to refill the shelves.

Steve and I made pretty good progress yesterday with restocking the shelves...I still need to go to one or two stores to finish up...then we'll be good to go.  For us, this is an ideal time to get our bunker in order - there are no big financial commitments for at least a few weeks, so all of our household discretionary funds can be used for stocking back up.

Is it time for you to examine your preparedness?  If not, when?

Another Good Reason to Have a Bunker...

This month we not only had Steve's birthday, but also a wedding shower, an upcoming wedding AND Christmas. AND moving the newlyweds to Idaho. Oh, and Alex's birthday soon after. That's a lot of extra strain on finances. It's times like this that really make me glad that I don't have to spend too much on food and basic household supplies. I can stretch that food budget a bit to help with the other "incidentals".

An important aspect of this "rob Peter to pay Paul" is that we need to replace and restock as soon as it is feasible - that way we're still prepared for whatever life throws our way. And that's one thing you can count on....life will throw things.

Favorite Bunker Accessory

Tonight is our ward's "Fall Festival". In the past this has just involved games, costumes and trunk or treating. This year they've added a soup and bread cook-off. I think it's a brilliant idea - get something into the kids before the candy.


I signed up a couple of weeks ago to bring soup. I figured I'd make something fabulous and homemade...this morning I downgraded my plans to great and semi-homemade. If you can call "6 Can Tortilla Soup" semi- homemade. I did open all the cans by myself. At home. I decided that it would be safer ( cough, cough) and more hygienic (snork, snork) for me not to have my hands (hack, hack) all over anything.


The hardest thing about making this soup - especially when making a double batch (12 cans), is bringing all those cans upstairs from the bunker. Say hello to my little friend. I found this retired Safeway hand basket at the Hillsboro Goodwill. Little did I realize what a handy helper it would be.

How would you spend $15?

We've been in the Bunker for nearly a week and a half. Steve and I spent a little money yesterday at Costco on totally non-bunker related stuff (engagement pictures, etc..) We didn't spend ANY money on food there. I was slightly tempted, but really, $15 doesn't go very far at Costco.

I may go to the store today. Maybe. We will probably run out of milk this morning - so I could spent 3 or 4 dollars buying a weeks worth of milk. I'm trying to decide what else to buy....

What would you spend your $15 on??

Thrifty Nifty Ideas

So, from the bunker I have made homemade playdough. I did nearly deplete my salt storage, but think I'll be ok for the next week or so.

Playdough is surprisingly easy to make. I'm not a huge fan of the stuff, I've have one too many run ins with it being ground in the carpet for playdough to be a friend to me. Never the less, my kids love it.

Playdough

Flour 3 cups
Salt 1 1/2 cups
Water 3 cups
Vegetable Oil 2 TB.
Cream of tartar 1 TB
Food coloring few drops or unsweetened "Kool-Aid" 1pkg.

Mix ALL of the ingredients in a large saucepan.
Cook over medium low heat, until the dough comes away
from the edges of the pan and it becomes difficult to move the spoon. Remove from heat. Cool until it can be handled.
Place on counter or wax paper knead 3-4 times.
Store in an air tight container.

One week in the Bunker

I was sure that being in the bunker this time would be a total slam dunk. After all, I had prior experience and this time we get to spend a little bit of money (if we choose to). Our bunker looked fully stocked. Ready, set go...yeah, go and get sick the very next day.

Here are some of my thoughts about being sick while in the bunker:

• I've been glad to have a freezer with plenty of homemade soup stocked in it.
• I feel less inclined to make things from scratch - I couldn't even smell the bread that I made on Thursday.
• I don't take over the counter remedies very often - so they are not part of my storage.

I was talking to Tia about whether or not buying some Sudafed (or other cold remedy) should count against the bunker. She wisely reminded me that having medications is on the list of things we should have in our emergency preparedness stuff.

I'm glad we're doing this again - and I'm happy(ish) that I will be able to take away a lesson this time...I think our family will be working on our first aid/medical supplies when we exit the bunker.

Systems Failure

Okay, I've fallen and I can't get up. Try as I might we only made it 4 1/2 days in the bunker before all Heck broke loose and I ended up buying dinner. It was either that or committing Hari Kari (don't you have to be able to spell it to do it?) so it happened. I had a terrible, awful, no good, very bad day and then had to run around like a chicken to pick up or drop off my kids hither and yon. Then I had to peel a whole bag of Costco potatoes (my hands hurt too!) before I broke down. But I'm back in the Saddle Again tomorrow - I promise!

Why do I want to talk like Jacque Cousteau now?

Remember those Jacque Cousteau specials where he talks very fluidly about the life of some obscure sea slug that we all wanted to know more about by the time he was done talking? Well, I want him to narrate our bunker time....so, put on your best Jacque voice and...

Zee small light children were amazed at zee deftness of zhere modder's cookeeng skills. Watch zee modder as she feeds her children zee ham and cheese fritata wiss candied carrots. See zee children sneer and turn away as if zhey know she is poisoning them. See zhem run away to find zheir own food....

Day two of the bunkering wasn't nearly as good....

Hunkered In

Well, we started our Hunker in the Bunker today. I didn't really cheat by having turkey leftovers the first night did I? We are going for a goal of the entire time Jim is gone (10 days) plus 2 or 3 while he is home - he was not a fan of the idea to say the least.

The kids thought it was fun (the first night). We'll see how they are on night 6 or 7....

Hunker in the Bunker II

We were going to start tomorrow - but hey, I'm not going to the store today anyway, so today it is.

Are you in?