Why I do not coupon anymore...

I have gotten several questions and concerns about couponing over the last 18 months. I used to LOVE couponing. It was my "high" so to speak. Lets see how much I can get for free, or actually get money back for buying stuff. I taught some family and friends how to coupon. I was proud to share my "gift of couponing". I got all this food, cleaning products, drink mixes, paper products,etc for next to nothing! How exciting right? Now lets flip the product over and read the ingredients. How many of them can you read/pronounce? How many of them have side effects? Have you researched any of the ingredients you put in/on your body?

I read and researched the ingredients, its scary. I'm not going to give you any examples, you need to take the time and research it. This is about your health, and the health of your kids.

Keep in mind- With couponing you have to go buy papers($1.75 per paper where I live, plus the time it takes you, plus the gas it costs you to drive and get the papers), the time it takes to organize coupons(approx 30-45 minutes), search sale ads( approx 45-60 minutes), then go to the store. Now fight the Sunday crowds to get that sale item. Oh wait you mean you couldn't get to the store Sunday? So now you have to go during the week and hope and pray that the sale item is still on the shelf. Well I'm glad I do not have to deal with any of it anymore. It has taken some adjusting over the last 18 months, but I am proud to say I have done it! I have gotten our shopping list at the grocery store down to nothing anymore. On average my MONTHLY grocery bill is $250 for my family of FOUR.

So since January 2013 (read about my goal from 2013 and January 2014) I have been trying my best to eat healthier and use less chemicals. I can not believe how much simpler my life has gotten. I started slow. We all know nothing happens overnight. When I ran out of something I would look for the homemade versions online. I would try a few "recipes" and see what worked for me. Most of the time the homemade versions worked wonders!

Homemade Laundry Soap - I can not believe how much money I have saved over the last 18 months. For $12 I get ( $4 box of washing soda, $4 box of Borax, $4 gets 4 bars of Fels-Naptha Soap). I have made laundry soap 4 times (in 18 months). EACH TIME I make laundry soap I get 9.5 GALLONS of laundry soap. Oh and did I mention I know EXACTLY what is in my soap!


Store bought laundry soap- Average cost for 1 gallon of soap $12.00 (x 18 months = $216) Oh but you use coupons and wait until its on sale right? That's fine, you still can't beat my homemade price!

$216 Store bought (every 12 months)
- $12 homemade (remember mine is every 18 months)

I have saved $204 on my grocery bill over the last year making my own laundry soap! 

Homemade Eczema Cream- Poor Adyson was having a hard time with severe dry skin/eczema last winter. I took it upon myself to research the problem. The recipe I created worked wonders. I did take her to the doctor. Of course the doctor was ready to write a script and shove us out of the office. I explained to the doctor I prefer NATURAL medicine first and if the script is still needed then we could come back. The doctor wanted to know what I had in mind, I showed her the "recipe" and brought in a what I had already made. She squeezed some out of the tube and rubbed it on her skin. The doctor LOVED it. Her words were "I wish all parents could be more interested in their children's health and try home remedies first".  Yes it cost me $13-$14 dollars to make this recipe, but now I have enough to make several batches and I know whats in it. Oh and that script that the doctor  was going to write me, it was going to cost $30-$40 to fill it.

There aren't many/few coupons for good eczema cream.

Script $35 - $14 homemade = saved $21


Half Homemade Beauty  -Most of these beauty items you can make from what you have on hand. Yes you are still using some commercial stuff, but you can always substitute for the natural/organic. I am switching to the natural/organic as I run out of the original product. Also you may spend some money to get started, but you will be able to make several batches.

Store Bought-

Body Scrub $10
Make up wipes $6
Baby wipes $2
Facial Toner $4
Total            $22 -monthly ($264 yearly)

Homemade

Body scrub $1
Make up $1
Baby wipes $1
Facial Toners $1
Total             $4 -monthly ($48 yearly)

Saved $22-$4 = $18 monthly ( $216 yearly)


Homemade dinners Breakfast and snacks  with these posts I doubled most of the recipes and was able to freeze them for "TV dinners". Some of these I use as a "boxed dinner" recipe. Such as the Sloppy Joes, I can put all the dry ingredients into a plastic sandwich bag, write the full recipe on the outside of the bag. When I want to cook it I add the wet ingredients when the recipe tells me to.(While the dinner is cooking I refill the bag and put it back in the cupboard.) I do not buy "boxed dinners" anymore. I create my own. I know EXACTLY what is in them. No more store bought frozen breakfast meals, or boxed dinner meals. The homemade tartar sauce is the BEST I have ever eaten, and I will NEVER buy store bought again!

To make homemade boxed dinners is simple, most of us have the spices sitting in our spice racks. The noodles/rice in the cupboard. Meat in the fridge.

Store bought boxed dinners $1.79 x 4 nights a week =$ 7.16 x 4 weeks = $28.64 monthly x 12 months = $343.68 yearly

Homemade boxed dinners $0.50 x 4 nights a week = $2.00 x 4 weeks = $8.00 monthly x 12 = $96 yearly

I have saved $247.68 yearly by making homemade boxed dinners

Cleaning stuff  I have been VERY pleased with the cleaning recipe I have created. Its labeled as a floor solution in that post, but you can use it as a Multi-Purpose solution for windows, kitchen, bathroom, floor even making your own cleaning wipes! All from the list of my must haves at the BOTTOM of this post. Its nice to go from 6 different bottles under the sink to 1 bottle under the sink. The kids don't have to ask me "What do I use to clean..."

So I was able to get rid of, glass cleaner , kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, floor cleaner, store bought cleaning wipes. The prices below are average prices for the products in general. Some of you use the almighty coupon and wait for it to go on sale. Others of you buy the cheapest brand. Others won't use anything but the national/name brand.

Glass cleaner $3.00 ( I used 2 a year) = $6
Kitchen cleaner $3.00 (I use 4 a year) = $12
Bathroom Cleaner $3.00 (I used 4 a year) $12
Toilet Cleaner $3.00 (I used 4 a year) = $12
Floor Cleaner $3.00 (I used 4 a year) =$12
Cleaning Wipes $3.00 ( I used monthly) $36
Total ....................................................... $90

Homemade cleaner- 
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
5 squirts dawn dish soap
5 drops orange or lemon essential oil
Put it in a spray bottle and use it just like you would any other cleaner!

It costs me $0.50 per bottle to make my cleaner. I make a bottle a month. Takes 1 minute to make!
Plus buying my reusable wipes (from the dollar store) 2 times a year = $2.00
My annual total is $8.00


Cleaning wipes- keep your container from your old wipes
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
3 squirts dawn dish soap
3-5 drop lemon or orange essential oil (optional for smell)
2 packs of resuable wipes. They come 10"x 20" so I cut them in half so I get 10"x 10"

Mix liquid together in a cup/bowl. Cut your wipes in half. Stuff wipes in the container. Pour liquid over the top. Use just as you would other cleaning/disinfecting wipes. When you use all your wipes (I put mine a mesh laundry bag)wash them. Takes 1 minute to make.





I save $82 yearly making my own cleaners.

My favorite items that I keep on hand (and you probably won't find a coupon for them)... By using different combinations of the following ingredients you can do/clean EVERYTHING.

1. Dawn dish soap. The PLAIN BLUE dawn. (I am not paying $1.75 for a paper, $3.03 in gas to get a $.25 coupon)

2. Vinegar- both white and apple cider

3. Baking Soda- I buy it by the 12 lbs bag at Walmart

4. Washing Soda

5. Borax

6. Essential Oil- Tea Tree Oil, Orange oil, Lemon Oil, Lavender Oil,

Yes some homemade versions were a fail too! - I tried making homemade dish soap, dishwasher detergent. These failed because in my area I have extremely hard water. I tried several recipes and couldn't get anything to clean the dishes. So I did have to go back and continue buying the store bought versions.

So for everyone out there saying "I don't have time" think about this. You just spent how much time on Facebook? Pinterest? Google? Couponing? Playing a game on your phone? But you have the time to do all those other things. Its a commitment, just like couponing, etc. You just have to say "I'm going to do this". Now if you go back and add up all that I saved. I have saved on AVERAGE $770.00 THIS PAST YEAR just by taking a few minutes ONCE A WEEK to make my own stuff.
I also know exactly what is in EVERYTHING I make and to me that is PRICELESS.

So what are you going to make? 

Master Closet Clean Up

So we all do it. We make over the entire house before we worry about the master bedroom or the master closet. Well I decided 2014 is going to be about the master bedroom. In 2012 we did Brittany's room. In 2013 we did Adyson's room and finished it about 2 weeks ago. Now its time for me to work on the master!

I LOVE the size of my closet. I LOVE MY CLOSET, did I say that already? I just hate that we didn't have the money to do anything with the master closet. We could not afford a fancy closet organizer. So we put up a wire rack at each end of the closet. Then we shoved dressers in there, and called it a day. So I am making the best of the closet and the space it gives me!  The pictures posted below are so EMBARRASSING!!! I took them to tell the truth about what the closet looked like before the clean up!

BEFORE...

Left Side                                                                                Middle

                
 Oh did you notice all those little boxes on the top shelf? I'm sure you have a few of them hid somewhere you know the ones I'm talking about. The small digital camera that you bought 3 years ago, that you no longer have, but for some reason still have the box? Or the other electronics boxes you have BUT don't even have(use or the warranty has run out) the product anymore. I had 4 of those boxes in my closet.

                                                         Right side...

Yes you see an empty coffee creamer bottle on top of my dresser. You are right again, you do see an empty bottle of Mr. Bubbles in an empty coffee can. The reason for this is well... I'm lazy for not taking them to the recycle where it belongs and I was keeping certain containers so I could reuse them. Why are the dresser drawers not shut? Ummm... because I was lazy? No No No that's not it, I couldn't or wouldn't fold the clothes right and SHOVE them into the drawers. You see when you shove clothes into drawers most of the time you can't close the drawers afterwards. Then I just gave up trying to close them altogether! So you noticed my Bath & Body Works bag huh? Yep I still have 7 candles left from the Semi-Annual Sale in June!!!

So the first thing I did was clean my closet. I actually put stuff where it belongs. The containers in the recycle. Boxes in the recycle, etc.

Then I went through the clothes in the dresser... This was a little time consuming. But I kept the rule in my head. IF IT DOES NOT FIT DO NOT KEEP IT. My problem is I am SUPER skinny, so when I gain weight I'm excited! I was excited to try on clothes to have them be too tight! But if you are one of those who fluctuate in weight then KEEP your clothes! So there is also 1 more rule, IF YOU HAVE NOT WORN IT IN 2 YEARS TOSS IT!!! If you scroll back up and look at the LEFT SIDE picture, in the upper left hand corner there is a rack of office clothes. Since I gained weight 2/3 of this wardrobe went. PLUS since I had not worn any of it in 5 years, I tried on every piece and what didn't fit went.

 Now that all the clothes have been gone through, I tried on EVERYTHING on the hangers next. Keeping the rules in mind.
- If it does not fit, do not keep it.
- If you have not worn it in 2 years, toss it


AFTER...


Left Side...                                                                        Middle...

              



  Right Side...                                                                  Bottom of Right/Middle...

                 

Oh you say something is off about the right side??? You are absolutely right. I cleared out so many clothes that I didn't need the dresser anymore. I hung up everything that stayed. I had so much room left over on the left side after nothing fit...I was able to put what did fit from the dresser on to hangers! So I pulled the dresser out of my closet. To take some clutter out of the master bedroom I pulled my makeup table into the closet! I love having my table in the closet!!! Please keep in mind this took about 3-4 days to complete. I took my time organizing, cleaning, vacuuming, etc.


Questions comments or concerns leave them below! 

I am feeling very accomplished!!!

Half -Homemade Beauty Recipes

                    Over the last year I have found several beauty recipes for face wipes, baby wipes, facial toners, etc. There was trial and error while I made these. Some required expensive ingredients, others required 2-3 days to "set up" before you could use it. There were a few that I absolutely LOVED. To make it a keeper it had to have a few things. They had to be SIMPLE to make. The recipe had to be CHEAPER than the "original" version. The ones I LOVED so much I actually ditched the commercial brand and made them a  permanent part of my beauty drawer. 

RULES OF MAKING WIPES...

-When making wipes ALWAYS use BOUNTY paper towels. The generics do NOT hold up. 
- Always use DISTILLED water, this is not the same as filtered. 
-2-3 drops of Tea Tree oil is good to add to prevent mold/mildew in your wipes
- keep them out of the direct sun. Put them behind a picture frame, throw a towel over them, in a cupboard, etc. The sun heats up the wipes and causes the mold/mildew
- find a container big enough for the wipes. I use a 2qt pitcher, I pull the wipes through the pour spout it works fabulous!!! (At the store-Go to the towels and get a roll, then go to the container isle and try and stuff them into the container, it should be a tight fit.)


BABY WIPES-

1 roll BOUNTY paper towels (cut in half)
2 cups DISTILLED water
2-3 drops tea tree oil
1-2 teaspoon baby shampoo

Put your paper towels CUT SIDE down into your container. Mix all your liquids together by stirring. Do not shake them as this will activate the bubbles and you will have a sudsy mess! Microwave 30-45 seconds. Pour over the paper towels starting on the inside cardboard and work your way out. Let it sit 5-10 minutes, then flip and sit for 5-10 minutes. Pull the cardboard out of the middle, and this should start the roll. If it does not then pull out out of the middle. Do not pull out of the sides, it will not work well! 

FACIAL WIPES/MAKE UP REMOVER WIPES

1 roll BOUNTY paper towels (cut in half)
2 cups DISTILLED water
2-3 drops tea tree oil
2 teaspoon coconut oil *
2 teaspoon of facial soap (do not use the "scrubbing/exfoliating" washes, the "scrubbies" will sit on top of your wipes)

I LOVE this as my facial cleanser. Its very mild and half the chemicals! 

Put your paper towels CUT SIDE down into your container. Mix all your liquids together by stirring. Do not shake them as this will activate the bubbles and you will have a sudsy mess! Microwave 30-45 seconds. *Make sure you melt the coconut oil, so it seeps into the paper towels. Pour over the paper towels starting on the inside cardboard and work your way out. Let it sit 5-10 minutes, then flip and sit for 5-10 minutes. Pull the cardboard out of the middle, and this should start the roll. If it does not then pull out out of the middle. Do not pull out of the sides, it will not work well! 




FACIAL TONER

2 GREEN TEA bags
3/4 cup DISTILLED water
1/4 cup witch hazel
2-3 drops tea tree oil
container to hold 8 oz (I just refilled my empty bottle)

Heat your water in the microwave for 1 minute. Drop in both tea bags. Let them steep until they are at room temp. Pull the bags out. Stir in the tea tree oil and witch hazel. Pour in the container and its ready! Use just like you use your current toner! 

BODY SCRUB

1 cup Olive Oil
1 cup Sugar
2 tablespoons used coffee grounds
2-3 drops Essential Oil/Perfume oil -(When using Essential oils or Perfume oils a little goes a LONG way.) I only use these so the my scrub smells pretty! This is optional.
16 oz bottle

Pour/Mix all together in a reusable bottle 16 oz bottle. Shake the bottle very well to mix everything together. I LOVE this recipe. I use it every time I get in the shower, especially in the winter. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a soap perfume (which means its safe for skin, do not buy a candle perfume!!) to add to my oil, I bought LoveSpell it smells wonderful. I want to try Orange Blossom Essential Oil next! 

 CAUTION- shower may be slippery after using this, make sure you spray a little cleaner/vinegar afterwards!!!! 

Make sure you choose a bottle with a pea-size spout to pour out of. 

 

The blue spout the right has a squared spout and does not work well with the scrub. You need a spout similar to the gray spout (which is from a reused bottle of V05 hair shampoo)
Follow the recipe, that way you have enough room to shake the bottle to mix everything
. 

I hope you have as much fun making these as I did. Let me know if you have any questions! I would be happy to answer! 

Wishing everyone Merry Christmas!

Week- 49 

             It's been a busy week! Running to the grocery store to prepare for the winter storm headed my way! I'm all prepared to bundle down for the weekend and watch the weather. This will be the last weekend to relax before all the holiday plans start. So I think instead of going for a story telling we will stay home. 

On the way to run errands Adyson & I found something...in the middle of the road!!! We couldn't believe this guy was wondering the roads the day before freezing weather was due to hit us! 

I've been doing lots of searching this week for recipes in preparation for one of my goals for 2014. I've been playing with an awesome app too! I'm very excited about it! I can't wait to tell you about it, next year! I hope you guys will like it! 

HOMEMADE- I've made a new batch of  a few things! I love my homemade stuff. My skin has never been softer in the winter! You remember I have made these before and loved all of them! FACIAL TONER

MAKEUP WIPES

2 cups DISTILLED water 

1 Tbl face soap

1 Tbl coconut oil

1 Tbl jojoba oil

2 drops tea tree oil

Mix all together and heat in microwave for about 1.5 minutes

Cut a roll if paper towels in 1/2.

Use a container big enough to hold & keep wipes air tight, such as a pitcher (this is what I use, & pull wipes through the pour spout;) )

Put wipes cut side down in container. Pour liquid over the top & let sit for 5 minutes. The. Pull the cardboard out of the middle & start your roll! 

I have missed these. It's been a few months since I have made any but I will never be without them again. 

 BODY SCRUB-

Equal part olive oil and sugar. If you notice its too runny add some sugar. Put it in a container ( I used an empty body wash bottle) and set in the shower. I use this every other day. BE CAREFUL THIS WILL MAKE YOUR SHOWER SLIPPERY!!!  I wash/soap up and rinse then use the body scrub and really scrub it into my skin. Leave it on for a few minutes and gently rinse off. No more winter dry skin!!! All natural and healthy for your skin! 

READING- I've caught up on all my magazines, I had a TON of them! I hadn't read any since September. So I caught up! I love my magazines! Quick little articles, wonderful pictures, recipes, apps to try, new & up to date information. I cut out all my recipes & exercise/workouts, & stapled them into my spiral notebooks. I have 4 magazines I subscribe to, SHAPE, Fitness, Women's Health, Women's Day. 

                                              

Follow me on Good Reads to catch me on the latest book

I finished Haunted on Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase. Loved it if you like ghost stories, etc. Great, funny! Now I am reading The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox  and loving it so far! 


EATING HEALTHY- I've been loving having a small crock pot for breakfasts or smaller portions for just 2 people! I have made several breakfast casseroles and oatmeals since I got it. 

AWESOME BROWNIES

I am loving these for a treat/snack! They are awesome! 

REVIEW TIME-  
Last week we updated to the HOPPER with Sling. I am not that impressed. So the HOPPER is the main box( in the living room), and the girls and master bedroom have a Joey. (Yes 4 boxes in all) The feature of Sling is what sold me. Being that my husband travels I thought it would be nice for him to be able to watch his shows at his convenience (airports, hotel rooms, where ever he had wi-fi). This is not what its cracked up to be. 
Sling- When my husband watches Live TV on his device he takes up a "Joey/Tuner" from our home TV. So If Brittany is watching "A", Adyson is watching "B" and I am watching "C"  my husband has to watch what we are watching, and if he chooses to watch "D" then he will change our station!!! 
HOPPER- Same goes with the HOPPER, If Brittany is watching "A", Adyson is watching "B" and I am RECORDING "C" then we are stuck watching C. This " Record 6 shows at once" is for PRIME TIME TV only Monday - Saturday  6pm-11pm?? something like that. So it records the ABC, NBC,CBS, FOX, etc for those hours. 
It is nice that the girls can record what shows they want. However there are KNOWN system/software issues with the HOPPER with Sling according to the "advanced tech support" people I have talked to about these issues. Some of my shows do not record, although the HOPPER says its recorded. You can set up folders, so every one's recordings go into their own folders, but my folders don't work!
Everyone can press a button on their remotes and everyone can see what everyone else is watching. I can see from the living room or my bedroom what the kids are watching. The kids can press the button on their rooms and see what I am watching. That fact what not explained to me BEFORE I got the HOPPER. 

I'm still deciding if this is what we want/need or if we need to add a HOPPER to the bedroom. UGHHH decisions, decisions, decisions. 



My Christmas decorations- I love my Charlie Brown Christmas tree! My husband and the kids got it for me this year!! It plays music too!

A Special shout out to My Cousin Abby- Adyson Loves her TMNT sleeping bag! 

 

 
Every year since we moved into the house, Brittany has been putting bows on all the knobs in the kitchen. She coordinates them every year. It cracks me up. I love her to death and wouldn't change a thing!

He is one of my favorites, given to me by my Aunt Julie.

                       Merry Christmas!!! 

Week 47 & 48

                I'm trying to get the last little bit of Christmas shopping done. I HATE shopping after thanksgiving. I go into a panic if I still have gifts to purchase. 24 days until Christmas! It's so exciting I'm totally feeling the spirit this year! 

The Girls decided they wanted a small tree in their room this year!!! 


Adyson is purple.                                                     Brittanys is Blue & Silver! 

             

I must admit I'm very proud of my self and all the goals I have accomplished this year! I had 13 of them. I have accomplished I think 10!  Which is more then I thought I would get done honestly, but when you write down everything you do and share it with the world it gives you that extra push you need! 

The family has been a little scattered this last week. We are helping Aunt  Nancy pack for her trips over the holidays!  Aunt Nancy had a few appointments to get through, Kids with dentist appointments, grocery shopping, etc! Hopefully now that Thanksgiving is over it will calm down. 

I know its still a few weeks off but has anyone started working on their 2014 goals? I have a few that might surprise you for next year! I'm getting excited for it! Gives me something to look forward to! 




FARM HAPPENINGS-  Very sad on the farm Tuesday morning. I went out to make sure everyone was OK because it was so cold Monday night. I found that my pigs had gone out in the middle of the field and made themselves a hay pile instead of going in their stall to stay warm. Many of you remember these cute little guys when we brought them over here in June. So Rest in Peace Hammy and Bacon. 

 HOMEMADE-   Well I have come to the conclusion after MANY DAYS of research and blog searches that my water is VERY HARD.  After a few weeks of using homemade dishwasher powder my dishes had a film that would not come off. I used vinegar as my rinse aid. I also can not make a dish soap for washing dishes in the sink that is tough enough because of my hard water. So I have gone back and researched some more natural dish soaps/detergents and found Ecos at SAMS Club  and this is my new dish soap, for a really good price! I bought some generic tabs to try until I find some natural/better ones. 




READING-   I know I promised to have Angels & Demons read but I'm about 40 pages in, and just can't stay interested. Sorry guys! Makes me mad that its looking like I won't make my goal of a book a week!! But I found a wonderful E-book box set titled Six Times a Charm and from the set I'm reading Haunted on Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase from Barnes and Noble. I have busted out my my long lost friend Nook Simple Touch from www.bn.com. My wonderful husband bought this for me while we were on vacation over the summer so I could read on the beach! I love this better than anything else. I can read in direct light/sunlight with no problems. Best of all Adyson doesn't want to play with it because its black and white. So its all MINE!!! 


EATING HEALTHY-  Well all the Halloween candy is just about gone.  I have been using my little crockpot (1.5 qt) like crazy for breakfast lately. Its just so nice to wake up and your house smells wonderful from breakfast that is already cooked! I am loving my Breakfast board on Pinterest. I have made a few different oatmeals and breakfast casseroles. They were all great!!!  I'm going to post more meals as I make them! 

I think I told you guys about Chickens in the Road she has a fabulous website about the "noodles and sauce" pouches you buy & how to turn them into homemade. So far everyone I have tried has been great! She gives me lots of inspiration! Thank you very much Suzanne! 

 FAMILY TIME-  It was great this passed week with Thanksgiving and going to the in-laws and spending time with extended family! We all had a great a time! Then Daddy and Adyson decided to play TMNT. Daddy was a Foot Soldier, Adyson was Donnatello

Can't wait to post pictures of the house decorated on my next post! Until next week see ya later!!! 

Week 42 & 43

The past 2 weeks have gone by so fast! Sorry about not posting last week, but I didn't have internet! The cable modem finally died. We had to go 5 DAYS without internet!!  Can you imagine? Oh it was horrid. :) 

Then Adyson and I had the crud for a few days. Let germ season begin! I have added an extra vitamin C  & D tablet to my diet along with  B complex.  I have been watching a lot of Dr. Oz lately I love his shows. I like the new up to date medical information he gives. So I am going to try his immune system booster. 

Doctor Oz

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/easy-fixes-boost-your-immunity-pt-1

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/easy-fixes-boost-your-immunity-pt-2

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/easy-fixes-boost-your-immunity-pt-3

( I AM NOT A DOCTOR, I AM NOT ENDORSING ANY PRODUCT. This is simply the diary of my life that I am sharing with you, and where I got my information. Please do your own research!)

REVIEW TIME-

I have to tell you we bought a new Linksys wireless router a few weeks ago. I really like it so far.  It can handle 7+ devices at a time and comes with  the option of a Guest Network with its own password!   Also has PARENTAL CONTROLS!!! Seems to be working great for us! 

I also LOVE the body scrub I found on Pinterest a few months back. I thought I had put it into a post earlier but can't seem to find it. I have been using this scrub since spring/summer started.  I love it and have since started using it all over my body every couple days and so far this fall/winter season I have not had to use lotion! Just remember this is an oil based scrub so your shower/tub will be EXTREMELY slippery when you rinse. 

I also LOVE the facial toner I made during week-20-21-22. So I haven't bought facial toner since! I love the smell and the way it feels! I'm 1 step closer to a chemical free life! 

IOS7- still not working correctly. As you remember from Septembers Blog I was having issues with Photo Stream. I have uninstalled everything, reinstalled everything, signed in and out of everything. Turned permissions on and off. I am getting very frustrated with everything. Still no luck! Anyone else having issues with Photo Stream? OH and the newest update 7.0.3 still didn't fix the issue!!!! 

Movie reviews- I didn't rent any movies last week because I caught the crud last week. It's that time of the year to start taking your vitamins and drinking your orange juice! Oh it was horrible last week sinus infections kick my butt! The  it turns into the chest congestion from the nasal drainage, yuck! So I used the entire stock pile of tissues, that's right all 10 boxes! My poor nose was redder then Rudolph. 

FARM HAPPENINGS- there was a death on the farm last week. Adysons chicken went to heaven. She broke her leg. Adyson took the news better then I thought. It went something like this-

Me-  Mommy has some bad news to tell you. Chicken Girl went to heaven last night. Since she is in heaven now she is not in pain anymore.

Adyson- OOOOOHHHHHH NNNNNOOOOO! Mommy I didn't say goodbye to Chicken Girl. (she has a sad, pouty face. She thinks this over for a few minutes) so mommy when are we getting  new chickens?

ME- well I'm glad you want more chickens but we have to wait until after Christmas and then your birthday before we get more chickens.

Adyson- I get to pick them out right? And I want to paint the chicken coop with rainbows. 

Me- sure honey what ever you want. (Thinking to myself, I'm glad my kids are resilient) :)

REST IN PEACE CHICKEN GIRL

READING - I'm still working on Angels & Demons. Since I wasn't up to snuff last week all I did was relax so I'm behind, I know! What are you reading?

Find me on Goodreads.com

HOMEMADE-  Since being sick last week. I am  stepping up the whole foods/healthy foods in our house! As most of you know I do not buy "boxed" dinners. I am working on getting the rest of the processed foods out of my house. 

 So I am excited to announce that I have FINALLY used up all my couponing, stockpiled dishwasher tabs!!!  I found a recipe on Pinterest about making your own dishwasher soap. It uses simple stuff from around the house (well their around my house) So hopefully you can make some too! If you have made homemade laundry soap you should have most of the stuff on hand.

DISHWASHER SOAP-

3 cups Borax

3 cups washing soda

1 cup Epson salt ( I got a big 10 lb bag at Sams Club for around $8)
1/2 cup citric acid. (don't freak out, I found it in the canning isle of the grocery store. I used this in place of the "lemonade packets" or Lemi-Shine rinse aid called for in most recipes) around $3-$4. 

Mix all ingredients together. Use 1-1.5tbs per load! PLEASE BE AWARE IT MAY HARDEN IF NOT STIRRED EVERYDAY. You can break it up and still use it. Or you can get little ice cube trays and pour powder into trays & let sit out for 2-3 days to harden. Just remember to buy to use trays that have small enough cubes so they fit properly in your dishwasher & a container big enough to handle all the tablets! 

So far I like it! I've only used it a few times so it's going to be reviewed again in a few weeks once I give it a good & dirty test!

CRAFTS- With Christmas coming I have lots of crafts planned for Adyson to do! Thanks to Pinterest I would love to do Adyson's hand in the clay and bake it. I also love the idea of the Snowman Orniments. There is so many. But I REFUSE to push the holidays. So we wont be starting any Christmas crafts until after Halloween. I just can't wait. 




Hope everyone has a great week! See you next time! 

Week 38 & 39

                  I'm sorry its been 2 weeks! You know how life can get away from you. The seasons are changing. Its finally getting a little cooler here. Does everyone realize that there are only 88 days left until CHRISTMAS?!?!?!?! I have already started looking into what the kids want.

Just a moment... I need to say Happy Anniversary to my Husband. 5 years ago this week we married. I have been blessed ever since. I never thought I would find a man a good as my husband. I'm glad I snatched him up. He is my everything. He doesn't have a clue the effect he has on me. The smile on his face lights up the room. I just can't picture my life without him. Happy Anniversary!!!

I must admit  I have been in a BLAH mood for a few weeks. I have not wanted to work out. Anyone else feeling the same way? Is it the seasons change? But I am going to say I have not been sleeping well at night either. I have got to get back on the wagon. So of course what better day to start then a Monday!

UPDATE- My husbands grandmother Mimi Sam has FINALLY come home!!!! She's been home about a week now! She is doing great and glad to be home. Thank you for all your prayers! Love you Mimi!!

Adyson enjoying her Mimi's back scratcher! 

IOS7 Update- Anyone else having problems with Photo stream not loading to your computer? I'm trying to write this blog and figure out what is going with my phone. I had to sign out of iCloud on the computer and on the phone, and sign back in!Ok never mind that didn't work either!
If anyone has a anything to suggest PLEASE DO!!! Very upset that my photos are no longer saving to my computer!!! 

HOMEMADE- So yesterday I was CRAVING brownies. so I dug through Pinterest where I found a perfect recipe for brownies. They came out gooey, and thick and fudge like. Oh I had 2 when they came out of the oven. The best part is I know everything thats in them!!!! Best part is you can make up the dry stuff ahead of time and put in a ziplock bag and add wet stuff when you are ready to bake.

My dessert board on Pinterest. Keep in mind this is homemade. So the batter is much thicker then store bought.

My Version of Homemade Brownies-

2/3 cup cocoa
2 cup sugar
1 & 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick melted butter + enough vegtable oil to make 1 cup
1/4 water
1/4 vegetable oil (yes 2 different amount of oil)

Mix together. Grease 9x13 pan. bake 360 for 22-27 min depending on how gooey you want them.

Oh did I mention they were AWESOME!!!

So Adyson has been into Cat in the Hat lately. She read Green Eggs and Ham SEVERAL times over the last 2 weeks. So she decided she wanted to try to eat green eggs and ham. So I made some for her.

                             

So because my eggs and ham didn't look EXACTLY like the book she wouldn't eat them. But at least I tried. 



READING- I've read the Fifty Shades of Grey series- I LOVED IT! (Besides the obvious sexual content which is not a big deal to me) I loved how the story had a real purpose. 2 people who have issues and learn to work through them. I just had to see what all the hype was about. I really liked the actual story throughout the series! Which leads me to my next question of HOW are they going to turn this into a movie? Cause 75% of the first book Fifty Shades of Grey is sexual content. So it will be interesting. Oh & after reading the books I can NOT picture the cast they have hired for the roles in the movie.

Next on my reading list is Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson. The movie came on last weekend so I DVR'd it. So I think from now til the end of the year I'm going to read books turned movies. I'll read the books & watch the movies. I've always wanted to do this! Please post in the comments below for suggestions!

You can look me up on Goodreads
You can also be a Nook friend, trying to figure out how to throw a link out there but can't find one.

Anyone have any suggestions?

MOVIES- 

Life of Pi- I've tried to watch it 2 times & fall asleep within 15 minutes. I just don't understand what all the hype is about with this movie. 

Sorry this post is so short. I really need to keep better track of things and use the app on my phone. I know I have more to say, but nothing comes to my mind. Well until next time!!!! 

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Week 37 Its Football time!

                                     I hope everyone had a great week! Mine went OK. I had a few bumps in the road but I over came them. I have a love hate relationship with Fall. I love the idea of cooler weather, but with that comes preparing everything outside for the up coming winter. And me preparing to stay indoors for 4 months... UGHHHH... But I love FOOTBALL. I can't wait to see how my Seattle Seahawks do this year! GO SEAHAWKS! 


CRAFTING-  So last week to go with my Halloween Village for Grandma I also made her some decorative soaps for her bathroom. I shipped it Tuesday so she should get it this week! I wish I could be there when she opens it. 
I took the Glycerin Soap and melted it. It only took 1 small cube per soap(I bought a 5 lbs bag at the craft store for $18)

Then I added 2 yellow drops & 1 red drop of soap dye 

Then added the critters to the soap while the soap was still liquid.  

FARMING-  When the weather starts cooling off we start preparing for the winter. This weekend we made sure the hose pipes to the animal water was properly set up for winter. The electric cords for heat lamps ready to go. Also everyone got their Permethrin sprays. The cow stalls were cleaned out and muck dumped in the garden. 


 NO CHEMICALS-  I have done some pinning on Pinterest lately and I created what I feel is an AWESOME recipe for HOMEMADE cocoa! Pinterest Drinks So far I think its wonderful and simple to make. I had all the ingredients to make it. I read through all the different versions and tried a few. I tasted a few too. The ones that call for chocolate pudding mix in the cocoa I thought were a little gritty. So maybe the pudding doesn't dissolve? But I cut it out the 2nd time I made it, and LOVED it. I ALWAYS use milk instead of water to make hot cocoa, I love the creamy texture when I use milk. I haven't tried my recipe using water but its good with hot milk or coffee! 

Please understand when you make something HOMEMADE it does taste a little different then the commercial brand.  It took about 2-3 times of drinking it to "adjust" to the flavor now I love it!

My Homemade Cocoa (You can make this easily in bulk.)

Equal parts-

-Powdered Sugar
-Powdered Milk
-Unsweetened Cocoa
                                                                        


Mix all together. I measure out just over 1/4 cup of cocoa mix to 1 cup hot milk/coffee. Enjoy!!!!



MOVIES- 

Beautiful Creatures- is a great movie. Reminded me a little bit of Bewitched (the 1960's TV series) because her family doesn't approve of the relationship to a "mortal". It was a nice movie. 

End of Watch- WOW the language in this movie! Its basically the show COPS turned in to a movie. I liked the idea behind the movie very real scenes. I liked it, just NOT for young ears.When your 15 year old says " wow this movie has some language," you know its bad.

 READING- I know I'm in so much trouble. I still haven't read a book. Its been 3 weeks now? I'm going to start 50 Shades of Grey tonight!!!!

MUSIC-  I know I'm in trouble for this too! I am scheduling time to do this, this week. I'm tired of putting it off. I want to learn some Christmas music this year.

 GAMES-  Where's my Water? and Turtle Trek have become Adysons favorite games. When Jackie came home this weekend he introduced Adyson and Brittany to Minion Rush. Now all 3 of them are addicted to it! 

 SMOKE FREE----- ON SEPTEMBER 17 IT WILL BE 2 MONTHS SMOKE FREE!!

ENERGY EFFICIENT-  So is it just me trying to be energy efficient or is everyone trying? I am doing my best to switch out light bulbs to the new energy ones as the old bulbs blow out. But I HATE the new bulbs. To me they are not bright enough? Is anyone else having this problem? Please tell me I'm not the only one. I have tried the "bright" and the "day light" bulbs they just are not bright enough for me. What do you think?

I wanted to give a my daughter a shout out HAPPY 15 TH BIRTHDAY BRITTANY!!!!! I love you and I am very proud of you! I am glad to have you in my life. 

Brittany and Noah. We took them to Red Lobster for her Birthday! 

Until next week, enjoy yourself and life! Don't let moments pass you by.