DIY Sunday

Continuing with the tree-hugger theme, today I made a new batch of laundry soap. It's super easy to make, super cheap and works better or just as well than any other brand..... In my opinion.  All you need: 

Borax is 2$, Arm &Hammer 2.50$ and Ivory soap is .99$ for 3 bars (but you only need one).  I used lavender essential oil as a scent booster but of course you don't have to have that.

Next is the fun part. The original recipe I used called for grating the bar of soap but I discovered this really neat shortcut.  If you microwave a bar of ivory soap, it expands almost 5x its size. It's really cool to watch.  It cools off in about a minute and you can crumble it up into flakes.

Add equal parts Borax and Arm & Hammer Washing Soda and then add your soap flakes.  After mixing well, I added 20 drops off lavender essential oil and mixed again. 

I keep my detergent in a cereal storage container and it lasts for months.  One warning.. It does not suds up but that doesn't mean it's not working....

So there you have it! Homemade laundry detergent for around 4 months or longer for about 6$!

DIY Saturday

Project #1 today....DIY Composting Bin

After watching the episode of CNN's Morgan Spurlock's "Inside Man" on trash.....

check it out here....
We started thinking about ways to reduce our trash production.  We composted years ago, but got lazy and haven't tried since. Jerry found this idea and we going to give it a shot....All the materials you need are: plastic bin with a good lid, drill and some potting soil (or any kind, I imagine).

First, Elizabeth measured and marked places for our holes to be drilled....

Next, she helped drill the holes....

added the soil...and done!

Now, we will add our food to be composted, and flip the tub every other time to keep a good mixture.  Since it is compact and almost sealed, the tub creates an accelerated rate for the compost to break down. The holes let the rain in, excess drain out, and let the gasses out. We will be ready for our new spring garden project in no time!
Happy Saturday!
M.

Back to work....

How can it be time to go back to school already? Especially when you go in to wake these two up and they look like this? He loves his sissy. Wishing everyone a great first day back....

#Famfun2016

Yesterday we were the epitome of lazy bums....we did not feel the need to get dressed or leave the house, and barely felt the need to leave our designated spots on the couch.  It was nice, but one day was enough of that. We decided to have a fun family day today and all got to submit an idea.  Daddy won the vote.  It was an awesome day trip and ended with some AWESOME bbq and pie from Big Bob Gibson's BBQ.  

                                                        Jerry's favorite part, I think.

This was a super cool robot that scanned your face (look in the reflection) and copied your expressions.  Jack LOVED it.  

E was not too sure about my harnessing abilities....

driving the moon rover

Moon Landing

  Chinook

 Inside the Chinook

 a RIDE. also, a big fat NOPE

 souvenir

 space guy

constellation viewing

Bodyscan: very cool combo of xray and MRI

                                                                       Astronauts!