Tuesday ONLY Free fries and drink at Jack in the Box

Click here for a free fries and a drink coupon from Jack in the Box.

Don't laugh too hard

Mark and I circa 1994? Can you see what I am holding?

March WEDNESDAY Redbox code

Jeralyn kindly pointed out to me that this month Redbox would have a Wed. freebie. The code is 75EA16 for today. You will have to swipe a credit or debit card but as long as you bring the movie back before 9 the next night you won't be charged. Thanks Jeralyn!

FREE Redbox Code-Monday only

The free Redbox code for today is MS72K3 . Enjoy!

Homemade Laundry Soap (here you go Bonnie!)

I am finally posting the recipes for homemade laundry soap. I am going to try this today. I am excited about it. I like to pretend that I could be a pioneer. :)I had some trouble finding the Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (different than A&H detergent, the washing soda is in a 55 oz yellow box that resembles the shape of a cereal box) I finally found all the ingredients at Smiths. Albertsons has the Fels-Naptha but Smiths and Fred Meyer seem to carry it all. I have heard that the Fels-Naptha soap is great for stain fighting!


Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value (from Duggar Family Website)

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
1/2Cup Borax

- 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, 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.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with 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)



Powdered Laundry Detergent- Top load machine

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

Let me know if you make it and how you like it!

PS- Local gals, do you know where I can get essential oils for a reasonable price? I would appreciate a local (or great online) source. Thanks!

Crazy Hair Day

Crazy Hair Day is a big deal at my kids elementary school. We had a fun time with it early this morning. Kate had to turn sideways to get through some doors.

Whoa! Slow down Kay.....

I know. Several posts in a row after months of no posting. I am just excited about a lot of things right now. Maybe I have spring fever. Nah, spring has definitely not come to Idaho.

I secretly love the Duggar family! There, I said it. I religiously watch their show on TLC (my favorite channel "18 Kids and Counting". I love their conservative values,old fashioned manners,amazing organizational skills, and money saving tips.Their kids even go courting and don't kiss their spouse until their wedding day. (and people think Mormons are conservative :)I wouldn't stay sane with 18 kids(four is mightily pushing it) but they seem to do better than most.

One thing I am trying from their book is making homemade cleaners. Yesterday I made glass cleaner. It was so easy and I figure it costed me .05 if that. Plus, it's made with natural stuff so that has to be good, right? It worked pretty dang well.

Homemade Window Cleaner

3T Ammonia

1T vinegar

Put in spray bottle and fill the rest of the way up with water.

I also made a paste of vinegar and baking soda (Zachy loved to watch it fizz)and cleaned the tub with it this morning. That tub is sparkling!

I plan to make homemade laundry soap next. I am pretty picky about the smell of laundry soap (I love Tide w/Fabreeze Spring and Renewal) so it may be more of an experiment and a lesson in self reliance. :) I will post more recipes for natural cleaners soon.

Any other Duggar fans out there?