I know we don't really need instructions at the dining room table, but...

I know we don't really need instructions at the dining room table, but...

This little project came out better than I expected. I saw this little Pin. But sorry Etsy, not for your $42 price tag. So I looked around to see what I had on hand, of course I had Mod Podge. I used some simple cardboard letters from any craft store, and I had this beautiful scrapbook paper just screamed vintage!

It was just  a matter of trace, cut and Podge! 

I did a little vintage treatment on the raw edges, using pastel chalk. I rubbed black chalk on the edges, then smeared it giving it a worn look. Doesn't have to be perfect.

I had these nifty plastic stick on picture hangers. 

Cuteness! An instant trendy kitchen update. 

You can find the Vintage 3D star Here.

My new favorite, DIY laundry detergent.

It was time to make more of my usual laundry detergent recipe. It was perfect I only had to buy on bar of laundry soap (less than a $1 @ Wal-Mart). I had all the goodies I needed already from my other batches, easy! I went to go grab my 5 gallon bucket, then all of a sudden I didn't want to do it. I just didn't like melting and waiting, and separating.  I just wasn't inspired. Back to the drawing board. I remember seeing a concentrate mix and I wanted to try that, but I got distracted by a little powdered ditty. 

Overall I was concerned because it was a powder concoction. I was afraid it would leave residue stains. Might as well try  I wasn't going to be making the bulk recipe that this site called for! It made 20 pounds, holy dirty socks Batman! But I highly recomended this recipe. 


Stir Stir Stir! If you do it in a smaller batch use a sealable tub, and shake shake shake!

The best part about it I didn't have to wait over night, and  no residue, and the yummy smell!  I will warn you the bulk recipe, like I said makes a lot. But go for it if you want. I also was low on a couple of the ingredients because I wasn't planning on making this. So I did a little guessing, but this is a sure win. My recipe is in RED below with the original. Also with my recommendations, along with my quantiles I ESTIMATED. This started as just an experiment, but I will be making it again! But the original recipe is easy to play around with. So give it a shot, I LOVE IT! 

BLISSFUL 55‘s HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent aisle 

1/4 of a box Borax (Guestimated, use some sort of clear plastic tub with measurements on the side.)

1(3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda- Found in the detergent aisle

Just a bit less than 1/4 Box of  Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. It's all I had left, so that's why this is what it is!

1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean- Found in the detergent aisle. (This is optional but I highly recommend adding it)

I had about 1/2 a tub, I went for it and dumped it in. YES use it!! AWESOME! $$$ Money saver, buy the store brand, we are saving Money right!$$$

2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap- Found in the detergent aisle (we chose to do pink for the scent but the white would be just fine. You can also use Fels Naptha)

1 bar of Fels Naptha, thats what I have always used, never seen the other one. $$Get from Wal-mart, less than a bucks!$$

1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda- Found in the cooking aisle (You could also get two 2 lb box, we couldn’t find the larger 4lb box when we went)

Junkies, I just used 1 box 16oz ( open and used a few times) of dollar store baking soda .52 cents! 

1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- Found in the detergent aisle OR 3-4 bottles ofScentsy Washer Whiffs found HERE. (my favorite scent is Quiver)

This is what I left out, I have Purex, good deal and works just as good as Downy! I received a free sample of the Downy Unstopables and Purex is just as good! I only left it our is because I bought the foo-foo smelling scent, I don't think my husband would appreciate it. So I add it when I wash. But I will be buying the fresh scent and adding it. 

Directions

1. Grate zote (laundry bar) soap with cheese grater or food processor.

2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bucket.

3. Use 2 -4 Tablespoons per laundry load. (YES THATS ALL, THATS WHERE THE $$$$ SAVER IS)

One seam PJ's and a use for old bed sheets, a Camera phone tutorial!

Only I can take the easiest PJ tutorial, and find a short cut. But I personally am proud because I am calling it a repurpose (sneaky cheat move).

I have accidently held on to some bed sheets that just don't fit any of the beds in the house, and my eldest daughter has grown out of a set too. I also didn't want to spend any money on making PJ's pants. I had some old Nightmare before Christmas sheets and I knew I had to use them for something. I was also hanging on to a link for a 'one seam PJ tutorial' link off Pinterest. I had to give the tutorial a try before I moved to the sheets. I used some remnants I had to make my son some. He was in a growth spurt so I had to make some things to hang out in the house. Because I would be washing the few pair of nice pants constantly (he is the spit up King). They were easy to whip up. After that I was hooked! Holla! <---Said that!

The tutorial calls for a cute cuff that you can make in different but coordinated fabric. I was like, “Nuh-uuuhh, this is supposed to be The Lazy Mama's tutorial!”. Then I was like, '”Ah-ha!”. You know why? Your old flat sheets and pillow cases already come with a ready made hem, and cuff. And if you have an older nicer flat sheet might have that ribbon detail! There you go I just Lazy-ified easy! I mean I got crafty on crafty!



Lay out your fabric, or flat sheet. You will be tracing plus a bit (seam), around a pair of pants, or other PJ's. 

Fold your fabric lengthwise, this will create your first leg, and one less seam! Pa-pow!


At this moment I realized I am wearing the pants I want to trace... so it is now a, 'ass out' tutorial!

Fold your pants in half and trace and cut. You now have your pattern, use the one you have just cut, and trace again on another folded area of your fabric.




When I am winging it making my own pattern I do take a moment to pin it the two legs on top of each other just to trip up and make sure it's not all out of whack!

Now you should have two legs! Open them up, sew just the crotch on either side.


Open them up! Then stack them.


When they the two legs are on top of each other make sure they are inside out! Because next you will start to sew.


The pins mark where you will be sewing


Pins show where you will be sewing first. Remember you are only sewing the rise first.

Now fold them back so you are looking at the front of them, you now have PJ chaps! Just sew the inseam of each leg. Remember you already have your bottom seams done :-)


By now you are on the radar of your kids, they will be such great helpers (ahhhh!). There ya go, the rise (crotch) sewn, and folded back to look like pants.

To make a waist band, simply fold over the width of your elastic with a little room for your seam. Too much you risk rolling elastic, to tight, well your elastic just won't fit :-) Sew all the way around leaving about an inch to feed your (measured to your PJ recipients waist) elastic through by using a safety pin.


Measure your waist band.


Sew around creating a waist band, leave room though! You have to thread your elastic.


Sew your elastic together, before you sew up the opening.

When all the way through sew your elastic together, then sew up your hole.



DONE!


Then I ran downstairs to my daughters room, only full length mirror with space. Love the haze? The toddler happened all over it! HA!

To see more pictures, or the tutorial with the cuff go HERE.

Crock Pot Apple Butter to die for!

After the success of Crock Pot Apple Butter Pork Chops I had to make my own apple butter. Insanely easy! My house was full of spicy apple-ie goodness!   (I am making up words it was so good.) I used the same site for Apple Butter that I adapted Crock Pot Apple Butter Pork Chops from (Frugal Foodie Mama). I like any one with Mama in their title! 

After a day of two crock pots teasing me with dinner and apple butter I was rewarded this morning with Apple Butter on my home made bread, and a mock pumpkin spice vanilla latte. 

I adapted my recipe because I only had the minimum amount of apples and only had apple juice not cider. Also you will find my recipe for All Spice, and brown sugar below it's so simple,  there's no reason to ever buy it.

Did I ever tell you I hate peeling, and coring? It sucks, I rarely do it, I leave most skins on for all the nutrients. But this recipe calls for peeling.. BLAH! I only had 6 apples on hand and thats the below minimum. You really need 8-10, using 6 I should of used a little less apple juice because I had to scoop out my apples and leave some juice in the bottom of my crock. 

It's just as easy to dump in your ingredients but I wanted to make sure that I blended the spices with the juice before. I also ran out of brown sugar so I had to make my own too! 

After all the peeling, the coring, making all spice, and making brown sugar I poured the mixture over my apples and cinnamon sticks. It really is easy if you're prepared! I am the queen to making a chaotic mess. 


Im surprised I actually get food into a crock pot some days.

Apple butter you have to tend to during the day. I was stirring every couple of hours to make sure the cinnamon infused into the apples. It was a divine task. *NOM NOM*

I left my apples in for 8 hours because I used the full amount  of juice, and only 6 apples. I wanted the extra juice to hopefully boil down some. When It was time to add to the blender I scooped out the apples and left a juice at the bottom I could tell that it would be too watery if I added it to the blender. I used a a quick 3 second chop because it goes fast! Watch out! Too much and you have apple water. I reused my jam jars from my stash. Six apples made two average sized jam jars. I waited to cool then put into the fridge, it will last a couple of weeks, if not eaten this weekend ;-).

Crock Pot Apple Butter

8-10 apples- peeled, cored, and chopped

3/4 cup of apple juice or cider* 

1 1/2 cups of brown sugar**

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp allspice***

3 whole cinnamon sticks

Peel and core your apples, and chop into smaller chunks. Mix your juice or cider, and sugar with the spices. Pour over apples and cinnamon sticks. Leave in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. When reached a nice soft rich consistency pour into bender. Use a pulse setting, it will blend very quick. Blend until smooth. Contain in jars, either reused, or if you like to use elaborate means!

* I only had apple juice, and I love Spiced Apple Butter, So I upped the nutmeg to 1/4 tsp, and everything else heaping!

How to make your own brown sugar:

Some time ago I ran into a Pin about making brown sugar. Super easy, just mix sugar and maple syrup. That simple, but of course I didn't have maple syrup on hand. That's just my luck. So here is a substitute for the substitute. I actually used my Splenda baking mix, you don't have to, but I  did it with out thinking ( I do a lot of that). The consistency still came out the same, but this is the Splenda that had sugar mixed in, so I don't know about 'the straight stuff'. 

I was a half a cup sort, so I used half cup Slpenda baking mix, Karo Dark Syrup, and Maple Extract. I did not do any measuring because this was on a whim. I just tasted as I went. The cool thing is as I stirred it truly looked like brown sugar.  My only tip is dribble the extract as you go.  I could pick it up between my fingers and chew on it like the real thing! I don't think I will ever buy brown sugar again. The awesome thing about this is you can really add to the richness and aroma of the apple butter by doing this.

***Make your Own 'All Spice'

Equal parts of:

 cinnamon
 cloves 
 nutmeg

If you want less cloves and nutmeg just use half of what you used of cinnamon. I know mind blowing. 

I am really thinking that this Apple Butter had a gift-giving quality. Paired with a home made loaf it's "aces baby!" Yeah, I will get you my so-addictive-bread-it's-crack-recipe next. My list of stuff to share is just growing, and I am to the point that I forget what picture is for what recipe. I really need to upload and name the file or picture. There's a new idea! 

 

"Organize my files! Say what, that can't be done!"

Dawn of a New Budget , Part 1

Oh how close minded I feel! In the world of pinning and blogging I forget thats there's another world other than the one we live in. Yeah I know, scary huh? I kid, I kid... but digress.  We have the world on boards, or in our reader so to us we know  it all, and have seen it all. But yesterday I had an eye opening Facebook moment. I answered a post to a friend on my personal page. The question was how to cut back the family budget. Well I responded with my big list of things I do in my house, like make every thing. It was just a vague list assuming that every one has heard of all this before. Her response was kind of a: "Wow, I am a mom and  have a full time job, how can I do all of that and still have time to see my family?!"  

That's when I was like "woah", you mean not every one blogs and lives on Pinterest. Shame on me. Well I better have answers then. (She's found the joys of  the crock pot, so a lot of time after work just opened up).

A lot of the simple things I do to skip the most expensive aisle in the grocery store are easy, and kid's can get involved. Of course use your judgement with your kids. These recipes do include HOT water.

My easiest and biggest money saver is making my families laundry soap, and softener.  This is how I make mine, it's the most popular, and proven. Many others have gone as far to do the break down of cost.  But all I need to know is hundreds of loads for about 6 cents per load.



Gather your things:

• 5 gallon bucket with lid. (Home depot, Wal-mart)


• Fels-Naptha soap (grocery store, Wal-mart in laundry aisle)


• Arm and Hammer Super washing soda (not baking soda! I got this also @ Wal-mart in laundry)


• Borax (again Wal-mart)

The soap is less than a buck @ Wal-Mart, and the Super washing soda is around $3-4. Get a new clean bucket too. You're looking at spending what ONE big jug or box of Tide. But you will be getting about 600 loads. (That's an average, 600 is for HE washers, lower for top load and your personal usage preference.) But think, 5 gallons for the price of your Tide.

How to:

• Grate your entire bar of soap (Smells SO good).


• Put in a pot with 4 cups of water already hot (much easier).


• Also fill your bucket half way with HOT water set aside on floor.


• Now stir your soap continuously on medium-low. You don't want it to boil! (It took me under 10 minutes. That's why I make sure the water was already hot. It should be nice and smooth, no chunks.)


• Pour your soap mixture into your bucket of hot water.


• Add 1 cup of Washing Soda, and 1/2 cup of Borax.


• Stir! Use something long enough thats going to reach the bottom of the bucket.


• Now fill your bucket the rest of the way up with water. Stir again. 


• Put the lid on tight and let sit over night.

In the morning you will have a bucket of goop since it thickens over night. I HIGHLY recommend that you now separate into separate containers. It keeps the concentration much more evenly. I lucked out and my Mum gave me these awesome bird seed containers. But I also got a few from the Dollar Store. I also use a jug for the detergent that is in use. I also got that from the Dollar Store. 

This is a lot of soap! Behind my jugs are the bird seed ones I reused. The one thats empty is one I used already. Its a great Dollar Store container. I love these giant jugs, much easier to pour. I kept a cup from my old liquid detergent to measure my mixture. It's about 1/4 of a cup. But you might want to try different amounts for yourself. Some times I dump in more if it's a large load of kids clothes :-).

I have done test's too. I washed some clothes in a free sample pack of some other liquid detergent, and a load  in the homemade. Same!

You will also see my home made softener, very cheap to make all sorts of scents! Making your own softener will also lead you to making your own dryer sheets, and fabric fresher spray!

Comming soon in part 2...

DIY Softeners

Part 3

Fabric sheets, and dryer balls

Part 4

DIY stain fighter, and laundry boosters

Part 5

DIY reusable Swiffer Sheets

Staying savvy in the face of the ZPOC

You know what most, and or ALL zombie movies are missing... Birthdays. As we all watch The Walking Dead unfold we  see moments of life returing. But how about a freaking birthday cake every now and then.  If you're me you think about these things. Well it's all rather easy, staying a calm collected woman in an apron, it's cake! Well in the ZPOC kitchen it can be.

I am sure by now you know the 2 ingredient cake?!  Rather sustainable pantry eats. Oooooh you say; "Sure it's easy to say, but the grid is down."

You wouldn't of said that if you knew me on Twitter. No really. I did a series of it! I'm fun that way.

No worries, I gotcha'

Well there's a lot of 2 ingredient cakes out there, but not this one. It's particularly gross looking. It's zombie inspired.

• Chocolate cake mix (boxed, any brand)


• Cherry Pie filling


• Stir, Bake, pour into spray greased (shelf friendly spray grease) cake pan @350 degrees, 30-40 minutes

May you be Nom Nom be with you, not the Zombie :-)



 Powered Sugar  shelf friendly, strawberries,well camp by a farm or grow. Canned toppings work too. May all your birthdays have cake in the ZPOC :-)

Now to cook it.....

Here, I took care of that for you, I found this:



You're Welcome. Happy Birthday. :-)

A Dollar Store Copy Cat Craft

My Humble beginnings...

 This little copy cat craft I did was created over the early spring, before my son was born!

We have an odd lay out in our living room, there's this very unnecessary giant ledge. We have a gas fire place, but that shouldn't have cause all of this ledge-e-ness. Who knows, it might just be a tomb of the previous owners.
 Any way, the space behind the TV seemed too open, and blank.  I saw the pictures going around Pinterest of Pottery Barn knock off mirrors, so I thought let's go to the Dollar Store.

SI got my 12 mirrors, 1 super glue, and 1 roll of duct tape, and spent $30?!  It's the Dollar Store, it has the same trappings of Target.
  It was so easy I did it preggo with a toddler at my feet. I am sure you could also be drunk, or have a hoard of toddlers it's that user friendly.

I laid out my mirrors, and began to tape the seams.

 After I did  the seams I did a criss-cross action too over the back. I was supposed to get poster board, but I forgot (I was distracted) so I used our moving boxes.  I hacked up a box, glued that sucker to the back for stability.

 Done. It wasn't going to be hung so I didn't bother with a hanger for the back.

 Any way, this is an oldie but a goodie.♥

So MANY months later I had it down to clean and bloke one of the mirrors. I thought it would be an easy fix but noooOOooo... that tape was super stuck my friends! 

Now it hangs in my odd shaped laundry room where I have a foot and a half of space to open the dryer door. But it's true what they say, mirrors sure open up a room.... ummm no.

♥♥ #irony