Homemade Laundry Detergent

A few years back I had begun making my own laundry detergent but after months of making my own I ran out and didn't have the ingredients on hand to make another batch, so I just grabbed a bottle at the grocery store for convenience, and fell back into that old habit.  I am lazy by nature, have I mentioned that before?

So, anyway, we now have another of our sons and his family living with us temporarily.  That makes 8 people in our household which generates a never ending pile of laundry....and noise, in case you were wondering.

With the economy the way it is, I once again felt the need to try to tighten our household budget and cut back any way we could, and I was reminded of my homemade laundry detergent.  Last week I picked up all of the ingredients and whipped up a batch.  There are a couple different recipe's for making your own and you can make a powder version or a liquid version.  I always made the powder version, even though I prefer liquid detergent, I just didn't want to go through everything required to make my own.  The recipe I used to follow is very simple with just 3 ingredients: Borax, Super Washing Powder, and Fels-Naptha.  This time, though, I followed a different recipe.  Here's what you will need if you want to make your own:

Silly me forgot to take a picture, so I borrowed this one from The Happy Money Saver

Ingredients:

1 Box of Super Washing Soda 3 lb. 7 oz. ($3.24)
1 Box of Borax 4 lbs 12 oz. size ($3.38)
1 Box of Pure Baking Soda 4 lb. ($2.24)
3 bars of Fels-Naptha 5.5 oz. or you could also use Zote or Ivory soap ($0.97 x3)
1 container of Oxy-Clean 3 lb ($7.52)
*optional: Purex Crystals 28 oz. for scent  (or you could use Downy unstoppables ) ($4.76 ea. I used two bottles of the Purex)

{The prices are what I paid at my local Walmart and totals $28.81.  You can reduce this price by finding them on sale, using coupons, and also cutting back on some of the ingredients.  For instance, you may only want to use a 1.3lb tub of oxy-clean versus the 3lb that I used.}

The first thing you need to do is grab your cheese grater and grate the Fels-Naptha.  Since I am a lazy person, I skipped this and went straight for my food processor.  I chopped the soap up into squares and threw them into the food processor, then ground up the soap into a fine consistency. After I got the soap into the consistency I wanted, I then started adding a little of each ingredient into a 5 gallon bucket, mixing thoroughly as I went.  (Be aware that this is powdery stuff and it flies around.  I got it up my nose, several times.)

You will want a container with a lid so that you can store your laundry detergent and keep it air tight. After you get it all mixed up, you could use it straight from your bucket or find a smaller container to keep near your washer.  I filled up one of the empty Purex Crystals bottles with mine.  The lid on these bottles has some measuring lines so its great for measuring how much you are using.

Now, here's the best part:  It only takes 1-2 Tablespoons per load!!  This recipe makes enough for about 520 loads so that works out to about $.05 per load!!  How awesome is that!  I've used this on our laundry all week and it is working great, has a wonderful smell, and even works with my daughter-in-laws sensitive skin.

I have been thinking that this could be a great housewarming gift, or for a bridal shower, or even as a Christmas gift.  You could find some really cute containers, maybe something sweet like this:

I found this lovely container idea here.

**I don't have a High Efficiency washer, but I have read that this is safe to use with them because it is low-sudsing.  But, if you have one, please research before trying this out.**

Do you have any other frugal ideas that you are trying at home?

Hell Bunny Flamingos

*Outfit Details*

Camisole - Walmart

Cardigan - JCPenney

Skirt - JBR Clothing

Shoes - Shoe Show
Necklace - Given to me by my Mom
Earrings - I can't remember

Here's a few snapshots I took on my phone because I wanted to share this cute skirt with you guys.  It is the Flamingo Skirt by Hell Bunny and I purchased it at JBR Clothing.  This was the first time I have ever ordered anything from JBR's and I must say their shipping is incredibly fast.  I think I actually received the skirt two days after I placed my order.

I ordered according to my measurements but when I received the skirt, I could not even get it buttoned around my waist.  So I exchanged it with no problems except that the next size up was out of stock so I went up even further to the next size and I'm glad I did because it actually fit.  This is my first item of Hell Bunny's so I'm not sure if all of their clothing is miss-sized like this or if it's just this skirt.  As far as quality, it is nicely made of cotton and I adore the flamingo tropical print.

I paired it with a pale pink camisole that is so pale that it hardly even shows in these photos.  I picked it up at Walmart for about $4 and is reversible with a scoop neck on one side and a v-neck on the other.  I thought that was a great option and they had tons of other colors.  I may have to go back and get some more.

Then I threw on this turquoise cardigan that I've had for ages and a pair of turquoise sandals.  The pink beaded necklace is a hand me down from my Mom.

So, have any of you ladies ever bought a Hell Bunny item and if so, how did it fit?  I am thinking that I will eventually order more of their products but I would like to be aware of how they fit before I do.

Trashy Diva Trixie Dress

*Outfit Details*

Dress - Trashy Diva

Cardigan - I can't remember

Shoes - Walmart

Bandana - Walmart

This was our second day visiting Brookgreen Gardens, if you missed what I wore on our first trip there, you can see it here.

The Mister is a huge Sci-Fi fan and since it was his birthday that we were celebrating, I chose the adorable rocket print version of the Trashy Diva Trixie dress, but, I believe this print has since sold out on that style.

I ordered the same size in this dress as I did the Annette dress but the fit was entirely different.  I probably could have sized down a size with this dress and I'm guessing that is due to the elastic sides.

The dress itself is very well made of a slightly stretchy cotton material.  It is not lined and the skirt is not as full, more of a true circle skirt with no gathers.  Even though you are not really able to see it in these photographs, the top has a cross-over front and has sort of an inner bra setup to provide support along with the straps that tie behind the neck.

The day before these photos were taken, we spent a couple of hours playing with our grandson on the beach and it just so happened I forgot to apply any sunscreen to myself, the results of which is this terrible sunburn you see here.  Over the last few years I have developed a sun allergy.  Its not to the point where I can't be in the sun at all, but when I am out for any period of time across a couple consecutive days, I will break out in a horrible, itchy rash.  I have found, though, that if I get out a few minutes a day and slowly build up a tan, it doesn't happen as bad.  And, yes, I know the dangers of the sun but I am one of those stubborn women who enjoys sporting a suntan in the summer.  

But, I digress........ Because of the sunburn, I threw on this little butter yellow cardigan to try to shield my already burnt shoulders from acquiring any more sun.  I wore the same, comfortable walking shoes as before and threw a bandana in my hair, which had actually been set into a dry pincurl set the night before, but the humidity pulled the curl right out resulting in, you guessed it, frizz.

Overall I like this dress, but I think if I get this style again, I will size down.

Trashy Diva Annette Dress

*Outfit Details*

Dress - Trashy Diva

Cardigan - Walmart

Shoes - Walmart

Hair Combs - Belle Blossoms

A while back I shared with you that I had purchased a few new outfits to wear while at the beach for the Mister's birthday.  If you missed that post, you can find it here.  I also shared our visit to the sprawling Brookgreen Gardens so I wanted to show you what I wore on that visit.  This will be a two part post because the Gardens were so huge that we made it a two day adventure.

Our first day at the gardens I decided to sport my brand new Trashy Diva Annette dress.  This is my very first purchase from Trashy Diva and I love the quality of this dress but I have a little difficulty with the fit.  I ordered according to my measurements and their size chart but it is really tight in the chest area and mushes the girls.  Its also a bit tight for me in the waist area and I really have to suck it in to zip it, but once zipped up, it gives a nice snug fit.  The other thing I found really odd is that the belt that came with the dress seems really large.  I have it cinched nearly as tight as it will go and still have room.  Odd that the dress itself I struggle to zip but the belt is too large.

But, other than fit issues, I love this dress.  It is extremely well made, not as low cut as some others, so I feel more modestly covered, and it has hidden pockets.  How awesome is that!!  The material is a nice soft cotton and it is completely lined.

The day started off a little overcast and chilly so I grabbed a simple, super soft, white cardigan that I picked up at Walmart.  It was on clearance at the time and I think I paid like $9 for it.  Also, since I knew we would be doing a ton of walking, I threw on these super comfy sandals from Walmart.  They are a dream to walk in, lots of cushion.

My hair that day was more or less wash and go.  (Pay no mind to those gray roots shining.)  The humidity always causes my hair to frizz so I knew it was pointless to take the time to set it.  And it was a vacation, who wants to spend all day or night fixing their hair?  Not me!  I pulled it back with some Belle Blossom side combs and let it do its natural thing.  Frizz.

Sandy Toes

While planning my wardrobe for our trip to the beach recently, I noticed my closet was sorely lacking in summer dresses, so I decided to invest in a couple.  I wanted to share one of those with you today.  I found this adorable dress at Pinup Girl Clothing.  It is the Jenny Dress and I love the Tiki print.

I love the shape and feel of this dress.  It is my first PUG dress and I am impressed with the quality and fit,  I'm sure it won't be my last.  The fabric has some stretch to it, but not a lot, so it gives you a little wiggle room on the measurements.  The straps are adjustable and the top has some boning for shape and is lined with satin.

We ventured out onto the beach for a lovely walk along the ocean, which, by the way, is not conducive to maintaining any type of hairstyle.  It's always such a nice breeze along the coast line.

*Outfit Details*

Dress - Pinup Girl Clothing

Cardigan - Liz Claiborne

Hat - Nine West

Scarf - Ariele Sierra Designs

Belt - TJ Maxx

Garnier Olia Review

I have been dying my hair myself since I was a very young teenager.  I've pretty much been every color and have used every brand out there.  I know it's not the healthiest thing to do for my hair, but who can afford to have it professionally done every four weeks?

On a recent trip to my local Walmart, I dropped by the hair color section to pick up a box for my root touch up and spotted something new. 

Looking at the box, I was immediately drawn to the fact that it contained "60% oils with natural flower oils and no ammonia".  I said to myself, "Self, this has to be better on our hair, don't you agree?"  She did, and being an adventurous sort, I dropped the box into my cart and continued on with the rest of my shopping.

A couple of days later, I broke out my ratty, stained, hair coloring tshirt, grabbed a towel to protect my bathroom floor, donned the sexy black gloves that came with the product, and proceeded to get my color on.  Breaking open the package, here is what I found inside.

I think it is worth noting here that the product comes with an applicator bottle that's shaped like a tear drop.  Some may find it difficult to hold as it is rather large at its base.  However, this didn't really bother me because I don't use the applicators anyway.  I mix my product up into a bowl that I picked up for a little of nothing at my local Sally's and apply it with a brush.

The first thing I noticed was the smell, or rather, the lack of smell.  No harsh chemical odor.  I'm liking this stuff already!

The liquid wasn't too thick or too thin.  It had a nice consistency that was easy to spread but didn't drip.

Since I was just doing a touch up, I applied it to my roots and waited for about 20-30 minutes, then spread the remainder over the rest of my hair and waited about another 10 minutes.

Usually, I have a really hard time getting my water to run clear, but this rinsed out quite easily.  I always shampoo immediately and then I use the conditioner that comes with the package.   Here I have to mention that after rinsing and shampooing, my hair felt somewhat dry, so I was a little worried about how it was going to turn out, but after using the conditioner, my hair felt silky smooth and smelled wonderful!

Overall, I had a great experience with this product.  No bad smells, no itching, easy rinse, soft, thick feeling hair.  I got a very rich color, full of depth and shine. 

I must say that there have been mixed reviews for Olia, some had great experiences, and some saying that it dried their hair out.  Since this wasn't the case for me, I have to wonder if hair texture and health don't play a role in the end result and possibly even the color shade that was chosen, so, here are my statistics to help you make a better decision.

• Age:  Clock is ticking up on 49 years.
• Hair health:  My hair gets trimmed on average 4 to 5 times a year.  It is colored, typically, every 4 weeks.  I very rarely blow dry my hair but I do frequently use hot rollers or a curling iron.  I don't wash it every day, usually every 3 or 4 days using a non-detergent shampoo, and I always use a conditioner.
• Hair texture:  I have very thick, straight hair but it is fine with some texture to it.  When left to its own devices, it tends to be frizzy but flat, if that makes sense.
• Hair color:  I am a natural brunette with probably around 50% graying.  I used Garnier Olia number 6.0 Light Brown, which is a little lighter than my natural hair color.

I didn't really take any before or after pictures because there wasn't a whole lot of difference in the color, but if you look at the photos in my last post, which was done the day after coloring, you will see the depth of color that I got.  Keep in mind that the lighting in my bathroom is not the greatest and it gives me more of a red hue to my hair than I truly have, but you are able to see how shiny it made my hair.  

All in all, I have been happy with this product and I will be using it again.  At $8.99, it was a little more expensive than the Loreal Preference that I normally use, but I think it was gentle and gave me very natural looking results. 

Kicking The Habit

I have to confess something, I have an addiction to nasal spray.  Actually, the Mayo-Clinic calls it a rebound effect rather than an addiction, but I could not make it through the day without it, therefore, I call it an addiction.

For months I relied on nasal spray to allow me to breathe, it would be the first thing I did in the mornings and the last thing I would do at night before going to sleep.  I kept a bottle on my nightstand beside the bed, a bottle in my purse, and at times would have a bottle in my car.  If we were going somewhere and realized we had forgotten the nasal spray, we would turn around and go back for it or stop and buy a new bottle.  -  I say "we" here because my husband has the same addiction.

Our addiction started with allergies and nasal congestion.  Originally I bought Afrin No Drip Severe Congestion with Menthol.  It worked amazingly at keeping our sinus' clear plus it would give that little extra jolt of menthol to open up your head.  I could use it in the morning and breathe normally all day.  But, after just a few days of using it, I was also having to use it before going to sleep to be able to breath all night.  After a while, I was also having to use it during the day.  If we visited a place with particularly dry air I would have to use my spray.  It became so that I was dependent on the spray just to be able to make it through out the day.

I was buying 4 to 6 boxes at a time, every few weeks which was getting quite expensive.  The Afrin at our local Walmart runs around $7.98 per bottle so it was at this time that I switched to the store brand equivalent.  You got twice as much product for half the price, and it worked just as well for me, minus the blast of menthol.

During all of this, I never once connected my nasal spray to the symptoms I was having - dryness and stuffiness, itchy nose, sneezing, headaches.  All of these things I contributed to my allergies.  Then, a few months ago, I had a nurse friend at work notice the bottle sitting on my desk and he cautioned me on using too much.  He told me that the way nasal spray works is to constrict the blood vessels which is not something a person with high blood pressure already, such as myself, should be doing frequently.

This made me stop and think about what I was truly doing to my body, but I didn't seriously consider quitting until just a few weeks ago.  I have been having a really hard time sleeping lately and while doing some more research on the side effects of nasal spray, I noticed that sleep disturbances were one of them, along with a whole host of others.  So, I decided it was time and no matter how difficult, I had to do it.

I started out by doing some research on how to kick the habit, so to speak, and decided on two ways that I would try.  One way was to add saline solution to my nasal spray and continue using it.  As the bottle emptied, continue filling it with more saline solution, watering down the nasal spray and weaning myself off of it.  This was going to be my Plan B.  

I decided first I would try only using the nasal spray in one nostril, allowing the other nostril to heal and adjust back to not having the spray.  It would be stuffy and congested but I should be able to breathe through the nostril that I was still using the spray in during this process.  After a while, the nostril that I wasn't using the spray in would go back to normal and I would be able to breathe through it and not use the spray at all, allowing the last nostril to adjust back to normal.

It has been two weeks today since I started the process of only using it on one side and one week since I have used it at all.  I still have some stuffiness and dryness, but it's tolerable and I'm hopeful that in a few more days and I will be back to normal, though I may use a saline solution to help with the dryness and to help clean my sinus'.

I can already tell a huge difference in the amount of sneezing I'm doing - or rather, not doing and the itchiness is pretty much non-existent.  Overall, I am very happy with my decision to kick the nasal spray habit.  Now if I can just get the hubby to give it a go.

If you are considering using Nasal Spray, I caution you to please only use as directed.

My Origami Owl Locket

I recently discovered Origami Owl through a friend who has become an Independent Designer for the company.  The business was started in 2010 by a 14 year old girl wanting to save up enough money to purchase a car by the time she was 16.  - It always thrills me to see young folk succeeding at their goals.

The slogan for Origami Owl is this - "You tell stories with words...we tell ours with jewelry".  There's what they call "Living Lockets" in which you choose charms to place inside to tell your story.  Every locket is custom designed with your choices to tell your story or represent the things you love.  There are so many different ways to customize and create a piece of jewelry that is truly unique to you.

Here are some examples of what you can create.

And here is my own personal locket and how it's designed today.  That is part of what makes these so awesome, you can change them out and mix them up with your different charms, dangles, etc. and basically have a different piece every time you wear it.  Or, have more than one!

Inside my locket you will find a heart and the initial "D" for my Mister, a doggie bone for my English Mastiff, Tucker, a kitty for my British Shorthair kitten we are getting in a couple weeks, as of yet, still unnamed, a red high heel for my love of fashion, and cherries to represent my retro style.  I've also attached a Victorian key dangle and a heart shaped lock.  The dangles clip on with a lobster claw clasp so you can switch them out.  In the future I plan on filling my locket with my 6 kids birthstones and another one for my 7 grandkids.  And I'm sure there will be others, the possibilities are endless.

If you haven't ever heard of them, please check it out.  I truly love my locket and I know you will too!

Wax On, Wax Off

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about makeup removal.  A while ago I did a product review on Revlon Colorstay foundation which you can find here.  I had issues with this foundation, mainly because I have dry skin, extremely dry skin, and this foundation made my face feel even dryer.  The foundation would probably work great for those of you with oily skin or those wanting a heavier, full coverage, but for my skin and the coverage I was looking for, it just didn't work so well.

One of it's main selling points though, was the fact that it had staying power, and that it does.  You could put this stuff on in the morning and it would still be there that night.  And let me tell you, it is a bear to remove.  But, I have the perfect cleansing product for just such a task.  I have been using Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser for a couple of years now and I love it.

Albolene has been around for ages - I bet your grandma used it, and it's marketed as a moisturizing cleanser that is extremely effective at removing makeup. The product website states that this formula “is clinically proven by the Skin Study Center to moisturize better than leading brands in its category”. It's list of ingredients are few - mineral oil, petrolatum paraffin, ceresin and beta-carotene, all moisturizing agents and makes Albolene safe and effective to use every day. In fact, according to the manufacturer’s claims, the product works so well, many in the theater industry are said to use it nightly to remove stubborn stage makeup safely and thoroughly.

My experience with this product has been this:  I purchase the unscented 12 ounce container which costs typically around $10 - $13 at my local CVS store.  I use it almost daily, sometimes I'm just a lazy butt who doesn't wash her face, and the container will last me approximately a year.  So, I think that is a great buy!  

When you first open the container, it's consistency reminds you of crisco or maybe coconut oil but it liquifies on contact with your skin and turns into an almost baby oil like consistency.  Since I buy the unscented version, it doesn't really have an odor.  If I had to say what it smelled like, I would compare it to a vaseline smell.

I find that it gently and thoroughly dissolves makeup, dirt, mascara, even waterproof mascara, and lipstick. I smooth it on and then use cotton balls to remove it, although some might prefer removing with a warm, damp wash cloth.  For me, it leaves no soap-and-water dryness plus leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized.  It is gentle enough to use on my sensitive, aging eye area.

Let me remind you, I have extremely dry skin, so if you have oily skin, I would recommend washing your face after using Albolene or it could leave your skin feeling a little greasy.  (Please note:  The company does not recommend this product for oily skin.)  That greasiness doesn't really bother me because I typically use this product at night before bed and I find that overnight the moisturizers do their job and I wake with soft, supple skin.  I have, however, used it in the mornings and typically wash my face afterwards to make sure all of the excess product is off before I apply my foundation.  

Keep in mind that this is a cleanser, albeit with the added benefit of moisturizing, but I feel it's important to note that Albolene doesn't have a SPF.  I would still recommend using a daily moisturizer containing SPF or a foundation that contains a SPF.

You can also use Albolene on other areas of your body to help with dryness, such as your elbows, knees, and feet.  I find that it does wonders for my cuticles.  Their website gives several other uses for the product that you may find interesting, two of which intrigued me.  

First, they say to Intensify Cleavage: Rub Albolene along the tops of your breasts and collarbones. Dust with highlighter for a twinkling effect when wearing a strapless top or dress.  -  Yeah, I'm gonna try this!

Second, they say for those who need to lose the last five pounds, or to help motivate those who want to lose the first five, Albolene Makeup Remover, applied to the skin before a workout, can help increase perspiration to help minimize trouble spots, especially if you also cover the area with a sweat producing material such as a neoprene belt or shorts.  -  In fact, the company has a challenge and yep, gonna give this a try too!  They say this has been a secret in the boxing industry for decades.

Well, there you have it, my thoughts on this product, for whatever that's worth.  I say, if you have dry skin, it's well worth the price, so give it a try and let me know what you think.

Foundation Review for Maturing Skin

As I am aging, my skin is changing, it seems that every day I see another wrinkle.  YIKES!  On a bright note though, soon I will not be able to see those wrinkles because my eyelids are starting to droop over my eyes.  A girl has to weigh the good with the bad, right?

Oh well, back to the subject at hand, my changing skin.  It is not only getting more wrinkles and fine lines, but lacks any moisture. I have always had dry skin but now it looks dull and lifeless and is definitely a source of discontentment for me each morning.

I will be the first to admit that I am not one that follows the strictest of beauty regimens.  Gasp, I have even slept in my makeup and got up the next day just to apply more over top of the mess left from the day before.  I know, I am a horrible person.  Well, maybe not horrible, but lazy indeed.  However, this new chapter in my life is supposed to be about taking time for ME - exploring, finding, learning, enjoying - and I am not enjoying this aging skin.  It needs help and fast.

I have been trying out different drugstore foundations, seeking one that gives me a youthful, dewy appearance, not too heavy, and doesn't settle into those fine lines and wrinkles.  Most recently I tried Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Normal/Dry skin.

It claims to provide lightweight comfort, so you feel like you’re not wearing makeup and looks fresh for up to 24 hours.  It comes highly recommended and has great reviews.

Am I the only woman alive that is not impressed with this stuff?

I found it to be very thick and heavy on my skin and dried to a cakey like appearance, sinking into those wrinkles that I was trying to camouflage.  I tried using a primer before applying the foundation, applied using my fingers, a sponge, and a foundation brush, it didn't seem to make a difference.  I moisturized before applying, heck I even made the effort to have a clean, dry face beforehand.  And trust me, it does take some effort to remove this foundation.  None of this made a difference for me.  It still felt heavy on my face and my skin appeared dryer than before.  Am I expecting miracles?  I don't think so.  I just want to feel fresh and light while evening out my skin tone.   Well gas up the car babe, it's back to the makeup isle.