DIY: Laundry Detergent

I'm so excited about today's post! This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time, but I was waiting until my stockpile of store-bought detergent was gone. I love my new detergent and want to show you how it's done! 

 Some want to make their own laundry detergent because it can be made without all of the harsh chemicals in most store-bought detergents. Others  (like me) like the cheap price that DIY detergent offers per load.

If you want a "greener" detergent with fewer chemicals, then leave out the optional items that I added to my detergent. You'll still get wonderfully clean results!

Step 1: the supply list

Here's what you will need:

• 1 box of Borax (4lbs. 12oz.)
• 1 box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (55oz.)
• 1 box of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda (4lb.)
• 3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap
• Oxy Clean (3lb. tub) *Optional
• 1 small jar of Downy Unstoppables *Optional
• Grater

Step 2: grate

Grate the 3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap. I bought a cheap grater at Wal-Mart so that I didn't have to use my nice food grater. You can use the large grater or the finer grater. Above you can see the difference. I chose to use the smaller because I felt it would mix more efficiently. 

Step 3: mix it up

I lined a small trash can with trash bag, put everything in, and stirred, and stirred, and stirred, and stirred. It's important to make sure that everything is evenly and well-mixed. 

After everything was mixed well, I poured it into the large glass jar that I bought to hold the detergent. 

Step 4: scoop and wash

Keep your supply in your washing machine and use 1-2 tablespoons per load. Works great even in cold water. 

I decorated my jar with vinyl cutouts from my Cricut!

Pretty easy huh? I thought so! Enjoy the freshness!

Life Lately...

I'm baaaaack! (At least I hope that I am). Yes, I have definitely been absent from the blogosphere lately, and quite honestly, I haven't even had the desire to check my email.

Since the middle of May, my husband and I have been traveling all over the Western Hemisphere! We've been to NYC twice, Montana, Panama, Colorado, and Kentucky. On top of all of this traveling, I have been enduring as best I know how the first trimester of pregnancy!

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, I'm sure you've heard the news...we are expecting our second little Rabon on March 5 (hopefully sooner)! As excited as I am, I must say that I have never been so knocked off of my feet in all of my life. Let's just say that this pregnancy has definitely been a different experience compared to my first.

Nausea and fatigue have controlled me it seems like these days. It is all I can do to get dressed some days. My energy level seems to be slightly improving, but I cannot wait until the icky feeling of nausea goes away. I am currently 12 weeks pregnant, so hopefully as I near the end of this first trimester, I will begin to feel better.

As a result of everything going on (but mostly my extreme need to nap most of the day) I have been neglectful of my little blog. However, I plan to pick back up where I left off.

Thanks for being patient! Until next time...

Running with Flair

Anyone that has known me for a long period of time knows that I hate with everything in me am very challenged when it comes to long distance running. Running the mile in high school is the only category that kept me out of the top award category. Seriously, I hate to run. Put me on an elliptical any day of the week or even let me power walk, but running, NO THANK YOU!

Yes, that is how I have always felt about running. BUT, my husband has had this crazy idea since January to run a 5K. Great for him, but not for me. At least not until he got me interested in the Color My Run. It sounded like it would be so much fun, so I jumped on board and agreed to walk  run it with him. Granted, I didn't run the whole time, but I did push myself harder than I have in a very, very long time.

Here are some pics from our morning of fun! Fun and running - who would have ever thought I'd use those two words together?

Lots of color!

My sister-in-law ... so glad she could run with us!

Little Man came out to cheer us on.

One of our teen girls...yeah, she kicked my tail!

Can you tell Dad avoided the color?

TJ...the man crossing the finish line victoriously! Love it!

Overall, it was an awesome experience. My only complaint about the day was that I didn't actually get to check the 5K off of my to-do list. The course was not actually 5K long which was very disappointing when it was over. Oh, well, guess that leaves room for more challenges ahead!

What good came out of preparing and accomplishing this task? I actually don't despise running so much anymore...you cross the finish line a lot faster if you run instead of walk! Be inspired!

Glimpse of Montana

This week as are on a mission trip with our teens to Bozeman, MT, serving alongside Pastor Phillip Brown Nd the Calvary Baptist Church. Today we hiked the "M" Challenge, and believe me, when you are not used to the lower o urgent level, it is TOUGH! But we all made it! It was great to look over the city that Pastor Brown and his family are called to reach.
I'll be recapping our trip during our return trip but until then pray for our big day Saturday!
Have a great weekend!

High Five for Friday!

This week is one of the few that I have actually at home this summer, so it has been sorta crazy-hectic around here. Trying to get so much done in so short a span of time can be exhausting! But here are some highlights from the week:

1. Love this $.97 nail polish from Target - didn't chip until day 5! I did have trouble with another color in the same brand though. But this color is awesome! 

2. Roxy's Deli on Times Square - not impressed - lots of meat but dull flavor. 

3. Dad built the frame for my small raised garden (plants to follow soon). 

4. Little man has a throat virus that has taken some extra care and time the past few days (poor thing)!

5. My little bro graduates from high school tonight! I'm so proud of him!

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A Good Read...

I literally just got home from a baby shower, and my heart is full of excitement for this new mom! In fact, I have several friends who have either just had their first baby or are pregnant with their first. Naturally I am super stoked for each of them, and talking to them causes me to relive my own experience in becoming a new mom. My baby will be 19 months in just a few short days (not a baby anymore).

Of course, parenting is something that never stops. Each new stage brings on new challenges and questions. There are days when I feel like I am superwoman, tackling every mom challenge that may come my way; then, there are days I call my husband crying because I feel like a total and complete failure as a mom.

What's a mom to do? The only thing I can do if I want to be successful as a mom is to turn to Scripture and the guidelines that God has set in place for me as a parent. In my own personal time with the Lord each day, I just started studying verses and passages of Scripture that deal with parenting. Sure, I've claimed several verses and models of godly parenting to follow since little man was born, but I really want to know God's mind when it comes to being not a good mom, but a godly mom.

Sticking to Scripture is the only perfect advice that you will get. Therefore as a mom, I must use the Bible as my chief source of knowledge and wisdom. But there are also some great books from experienced, godly parents to help expound on biblical principles. I just finished reading Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman, and it shed some major light on my discipline procedures (Thanks for the recommendation, Christine). So, I'd like to share a few of my favorite titles with you. 

Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

A Mom After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George

Passionate Parenting by Cary Schmidt

Six Ways to Keep the "Good" in Your Boy by Dannah Gresh

Six Ways to Keep the "Little" in Your Girl by Dannah Gresh

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Dare to Discipline by Dr. James Dobson

These are just some titles that are good to read. Of course, I don't agree with all that is in them, but only God's Word is perfect. Read with discretion and filter it with the Word of God. Take each day a step at a time and do what is right each day. I find out more and more that parenting is difficult, but you reap what you sow. 

Happy Reading! 

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

I would love to hear book suggestions from you! Leave a comment!

High Five from The Big Apple

My husband and I spent the week in NYC with our high school seniors on their Senior Trip. Naturally, all of my five come from our trip here this week. I'll be posting more about the week later, but here are some highlights from each day!

1. Rickshaw tour of Central park.
2. Yankees game.
3. Statue of Liberty.
4. 9/11 Memorial.
5. WICKED!

Look for more to come! Have a great weekend!