Bugs Be Gone!

After 10 years of having Lyme Disease I have a hatred for Ticks, and who likes bug bites in the first place? I also hate to put Deet on my sweet babies so I went in search of what essential oils I might use to keep bugs including Ticks away from them this summer. Many recipes keep mesquitoes and ants away but don't repel Ticks which is much worse in my opinion. Note: one oil that comes highly recommended for Tick repellant is Rose Geranium. I didn't have it on hand for this batch, but I will be getting some!


After doing some research I had a list of good oils for the job, a list of safe carrier oils, and other ingredients that can be good to go on the skin. From there I made my own up. Here goes:

Elizabeth's Bug Be Gone recipe

8oz Witch Hazel
2 teaspoons Organic Olive Oil
1 1/2 teaspoons Essential Oils (equal parts Lavender, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Lemongrass, and Peppermint)
Aloe Vera Gel (optional)

I mixed it all up in a pint sized Mason jar and  started out by adding 10 drops each and then added a few more at a time until I got 1 1/2 teaspoons and added that to the mix. Shook well and poured it in small spray bottles that I found at Wal-Mart for $1 each. I highly recommend you use a small funnel. Put lid on and shake well between pouring so oils don't separate on you.

I poured half the mixture into 2 - 2oz. bottles.
I added 2 teaspoons Aloe Vera Gel to the remaining 2 bottles.


Each time I re-apply the spray I shake well, and because this is a Deet free spray, I re-apply every 30 minutes to an hour honestly. I was not sure in the beginning how it would smell with so many oils in the mix but honestly I love it! It has many different notes that hit the senses. One perk it is also supposed to be a good spider repellant too!

Laundry Soap

I was talking to a friend the other day who I gave some of my laundry soap, she had run out and went back to her commercially prepared detergent and disliked it so much, she wanted to make some of what I use. I cannot imagine going back to anything else. Instead of a written how-to I thought I would put up a pictorial post. I highly recommend The Duggar Recipe.  One thing to note, have ten (yes 10!) gallon jugs ready before making this recipe.

 Feel free to ask any other questions you may have! :)

Simple to Make ~ So good on your clothes ~ Wonderful for your pocket book!

Grate one bar of soap

Melt on stove top in 3 cups of water

Pour melted soap into 2.5 gallons of water

Add Borax and Washing Soda

 

 

 

Add another 2.5 gallons, stir well, and let sit overnight

 

 

 

 

Sunshine In A Jar

Fresh Dill Canned Carrots are my latest creation.
It seems like I am keeping my sanity by standing at the stove. I have been wanting to be creative and honestly somedays the only time I get is while making dinner. So I am putting this here mostly so I don't forget that I made them in the first place. Haha.

 It makes me feel good when I am creative. I have had a stress filled week with children who are not feeling well, and lots of other things. Some times I choose other creative outlets (and sometimes I choose brownies!) but if all I have is a few moments during dinner I am going for it.

Matt asked me last night why I had canned carrots instead of other things that are hard to come by out of season. I couldn't at that time explain it was more in the creative flavoring and pretty optics of the jar. I had been thinking all week about how I could jar up some sunshine, and this what I came up with.

I chopped 2 pounds of carrots into small sticks, then put a clove of crushed garlic, and 2 heads of fresh dill into a Ball jar. I packed the carrots in there tightly. I then poured a boiling brine over top, leaving 1/2 inch head space. I canned them for 17 minutes in a water bath canner.

For the brine I boiled: 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup white vinegar, 1 cup cider vinegar, 2 cups water.


Sanity saved!

Frugal Friday: Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle!

While reading Jonni McCoy's book Miserly Moms, she challenges the reader to think like our grandparents who walked though difficult time during the great depression and find uses for things we normally would throw out.

That got me to thinking about another dilemma I had been thinking about for a while. I want to make my laundry space a little more tidy. While I love my home-made Laundry soap it also takes up a lot of space, and is kinda messy to clean up when spilled. I have been planning to switch to the powdered soap when my latest batch runs out.

Well, it came to me! My youngest son is on Similac Organic formula, and their containers are so nice. Not only food grade but have a nice rubber seal on the inside to keep from any leaks. Plus a built in scoop that is exactly a table spoon. Score for me! I found a use for my containers I thought I would be recycling.These sturdy little containers also stack nicely any where you want them too.

1 scoop for regular loads, and 2 scoops for heavily soiled, and it pops right back into its home, nice and neatly.

You can do this too, even if you have no children on formula, ask your friends to save them for you.
Reduce, Re-use, Recycle!

Taco Time!

A few months ago, I saw this interesting contraption going around on my sister and brother's facebook page. I had no idea what it was, so the next time I saw her I asked her what it was. That is when she introduced me to my newest favorite kitchen product, Tupperware move over, ha!

Here they are on their first new years together!

The Taco Press! Here is it in its full glory, made just for me by my brother-in-law who has real skills!

We made our first homemade taco's last night, and they were delicious! I mean so very melt in your mouth good. Andrew scarfed his down, and Matt definitely approved too!

My original thought in making these myself was, we could make them inexpensively compared to the organic ones we buy now, but when I put them in my mouth, all I could think was how delicious they were.

So here is how I made them.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour ~ I prefer half a whole wheat and half white flour mix
4 Tablespoons butter
1/3-1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon salt

I combined the flour in a bowl then cut in the cold butter, think pie dough making here. I used my Quick Chef Pro chopper but you could use two butter knives. It blended perfectly. Then I added water slowly until the dough is a little thinner and tackier than pie dough.

Placing a lump of dough the size of two tablespoons inside gallon size baggie (that had one seam cut open I put it in the taco press, press down as hard as you can and whalaa a nice thin taco.

I pan fried them with a little vegetable oil for less than 30 seconds on each side. They were crisp on the outside, and just a bit soft on the inside. We served the usual insides of meat, vegetables, and fixin's, it was a great meal. It was healthy, frugal, and delicious!

Warning Frugal Nerd Alert!

Because I am a bit of a frugal nerd here is how my cost comparison broke down for the taco's

Organic soft tacos: $2.79 for a 10 count package = .27 per taco
Homemade soft tacos: $.70 for 12 tacos = .06 per taco

Ok so that doesn't look like much savings right? Well saving cents makes cents! Actually I have another post about changing behaviors to save cents that add up quickly to many dollars coming soon.

Thinking about it we eat lots of tacos in this house. So lets just say we eat...

10 tacos per week x 53 weeks a year = 147.87 is what we would spend on store bought tacos and my homemade tacos that would cost us 31.80, which saves us 116.07 a year. Yep I am a nerd but the cents do really add up!

My Lovely Lips Are Lovin' Me!

When I made my first "homemade product" over a year ago. I was such a consumer. It wasn't quality if I didn't buy it right? I was just looking to be frugal. Wrong! Instead of frugal, I am making high quality products for pennies compared to store bought

Recently the make-my-own bug has bitten me. Renee over at FIMBY has been motivating me for several months now...and so after loving my laundry soap, then deodorant (will never buy Secret again), followed by my homemade soap which is curing right now awaiting my Mother's Day. I have yet again made something I will never go back to buying! My lips are in L.O.V.E.

I must give Renee the credit for the recipe. I am still learning, but the more I make my own, the more I am branching out to create my own.

I think the hardest part of making my own products is actually gathering the supplies. In this case most of my ingredients came from my local organic health store. Once I have them on hand, it takes no time at all to be reaping the benefits of my own goods.

A few of you have asked where I got my supplies, so I noted it for you. I am sure you could get it online too.

Ingredients

• 1/2 oz. (approx. 3 tsp.) grated or roughly chopped beeswax (local organic Co-operative)
• 1 oz. (approx. 6 tsp.) coconut oil (local organic Co-operative)
  
• 1 1/2 tsp. lanolin (Left over from Breast feeding my babes)
  
• 3/4 tsp. vitamin E (I had capsules in my cabinet and poked holes in them to add up)
  
• 2 tsp. hard honey (local organic Co-operative)
• 3/4 tsp. peppermint essential oil (local organic Co-operative)

Assemble what you need:
This actually takes the longest, the making is a breeze!

Grate the beeswax and melt with the coconut oil, Lanolin, and Vitamin E. It was the consistency of vegetable oil when melted completely.

Second add the Peppermint extract and Raw honey (some know it as hard honey). If you are buying it new for this purpose I would scrape the top and use for something else. Particles don't break down well.








Mixing the peppermint extract and Peppermint was tricky to incorporate. You have to be really fast. I started with a wooden dowel but quickly moved to a rubber spatula which worked so much better for me.

I did have to reheat some to pour it in. I do not prefer the tubes, as much as the round containers. It goes on so smooth and the peppermint is yummy and tingly.

The best part of making my own, is there is always plenty to share with others. I love being able to pass some on to family and friends to enjoy as well.

Try it for yourself and let me know how you like the recipe. If I can do this you you definitely can do this!

Whimsical Wednesday ~ 20 things to do with Ice cube trays!

I stumbled upon this list of uses for Ice cube trays. I never thought of a few of these!

1. Pesto: Fill each cube with pesto, seal and freeze. For easy preparation, place cubes in a stainless steel mixing bowl and rest the bowl over a Dutch Oven pot of cooking pasta (for a makeshift double boiler). The heat from the boiling water will melt the cubes
just in time to toss with the hot pasta.

2. Lemon & Lime Juice: Fill each cube with lemon/lime juice, seal, and freeze. Remove as needed for adding that zing or lemons/lime flavor to cooking or baking.

3. Homemade Baby Food: Freeze small amounts pureed fruits, vegetables, starches, and meat in each cube. Fill each cube, seal, and freeze for fresh, unprocessed baby food. To use, take out the desired number of cubes and thaw or reheat before feeding.

4. Fresh Herbs: Chop fresh herbs. Transfer 2 tbsp. of herbs into each cube, fi ll with approximately 1 tbsp. of water per cube, seal and freeze. Store until you are ready to add them to sauces, soups, stews or salsa.

5. Leftover Wine: Fill each cube with any type of wine, seal, and freeze. Perfect for adding to sauces. There may be a small difference in color of the sauce but will not affect the taste.

6. Juice & Pudding Popsicles: Fill each cube with juice or pudding, seal and freeze. When ready to eat, remove from freezer, place in a snack cup and let it slightly thaw until it becomes the consistency of an Italian Ice.

7. Frozen Fruit Chunks: For the perfect garnish for a sparkling summer drink, place assorted fruits into each cube including strawberries, lemon/lime zest, raspberries, pineapple, or grapes. Fill the remainder of the cube with water, seal, and freeze.

8. Buttermilk: Fill each cube with buttermilk, seal and freeze. Buttermilk can be frozen to be used in baking. If you would like to use it to make salad dressing, place in a chopper and blend it till it returns to its original consistency.

9. Egg Whites & Egg Yolks: Fill each cube with egg yolk/egg white, seal and freeze. Use for recipes that call for egg white or egg yolks.

10. Pancake, Waffle, & Crepe Batter: Fill each cube with batter. Seal and freeze. Place a cube on a hot fry pan, let it spread out then cook as normal without the fuss.

11. Coffee & Tea: Don’t water down your drinks. Fill each cube with coffee or tea, seal, and freeze. Use in place of ice for iced coffee or tea.

12. Tomato Paste & Tomato Sauce: When all you need is a small amount for a recipe, fi ll each cube with tomato paste or sauce, seal, freeze and use as needed.

13. Leftover Gravy: Fill each cube with leftover gravy, seal and freeze. Remove and use as needed.

14. Flavored Cubes: Fill each cube with your favorite fruit flavored drink or juice, seal and freeze. Use to flavor ice tea or other beverages or to add
flavor to water in your favorite re-usable bottle.

15. Onions, Garlic, Chilies, Carrots, & Celery: Chop vegetables, and transfer 2 tbsp. into each cube, fill with approximately 1 tbsp. of water per cube, seal and freeze. Perfect for adding to casseroles, sauces, soups, stews or salsa.

16. Chocolate Molds or Fudge: Prepare chocolate or fudge according to directions. Fill the cube with the chocolate, seal and freeze until firm. To loosen run a small knife under hot tap water and loosen the edges.

17. Leftover Condiments: Fill each cube with leftover condiments like mustard, ketchup, barbecue sauce, salsa, or relish, seal and freeze. Thaw and use as toppings or in recipes.

18. Cookie Dough: Always have fresh baked cookies on hand. Fill each cube with a heaping teaspoon of cookie dough, seal and freeze. Thaw slightly, place on cookie sheet and bake as directed in recipe.

19. Stocks, Broth & Sauces: Fill each cube with stock, broth or sauce, seal, and freeze. Remove and use as needed.

20. Gelatin Squares: Prepare gelatin square recipe on packaging. Refrigerate until firm. To loosen, run a small knife under hot tap water and loosen edges.

Ok your turn, what other uses can you find for Ice Cube Trays?

Wanted to add, I found a great blog post for a 21st idea! Go check it out. Yum http://www.thetidynest.com/2010/09/freezer-smoothies.html

How-To Tuesday ~ Clothes Pin Bag

The warm weather is upon us here on the East Coast as we head into the month of May. It is time to start hanging out laundry again. I am starting the year with a fresh clothes pin bag. Here is how I did it! I will add some pictures when I get them uploaded.

1. Find a button up children's shirt (3T or 4T works great)

2. Hand or machine sew the bottom of the shirt together, creating a pocket.

3. Hang on a plastic hanger.

4. Unbutton the shirt when you need to use it, and button it back up when you are done. OR leave it open all the time which is what I do.

Whala! You have a clothes pin bag for cheap or like in my house ~ Free! It stays on my clothes line most of the summer.

Frugal Friday - Dryer Balls

Reducing Electricity = More $$ in my pocket!

These Dryers balls are my latest whimsical attempt to be frugal by keep our electric costs low, and use our energy resources responsibly. I do enjoy hanging my laundry on the clothesline but sometimes that just is not possibility. So when using the dryer I throw 6 of them in with my wet laundry to lower the amount of drying time.

Making them is simple! I made them while resting one afternoon during nap time.
Buy or reclaim (Thrift shops always have wool sweaters you can pick up for next to nothing) about 3oz of 100% wool. Roll a tight ball about half the size of a tennis ball.

Next I tied them in a pair of nylon panty hose with a knot at either end. I used a pair of support hose from 2 pregnancies ago since that is what I had in the house. Any store carries the knee highs for less than a dollar and you can reuse them for all your dryer balls.
I washed in hot water, then threw in the dryer on high heat for 20 minutes. Repeated a second time, then took the balls out of the nylons and wrappped more wool tightly around these felted balls until they were size of a tennis ball or baseball. Put them back in the nylons, washed and dried again with heat.

Once I dried them for the last time, I took them them out of nylons and throw them in my dryer. They pretty much stay there. My drying time (except denim) has reduced about 25% and the clothes are softer (eliminating the need for dryer sheets). Sheets and light cotton dries about 40% faster.

I am just now finishing the book Miserly Mom by Jonni McCoy. Watch for a future post reviewing this great book! She writes that every little bit helps. What seems like pennies add up when combined with other efforts to reduce spending.

Frugal Friday ~ Laundry

I posted in January about making my own laundry soap. I gave 7 gallons away and kept 3 gallons for myself. Well I am just coming to the end of the batch. For 2$ I have not had to buy laundry soap for 7 months. The soap works great, it gets out the most difficult stains and leave every load smelling fresh. I will be making another batch this week. I am so glad I stepped out of my consumer mentality and tried this recipe out.

Yet another frugal development in my laundry routine. About 7 weeks ago our dryer broke and the very nice repair man stood us up 3 times. Needless to say we had an little bundle of joy 4 weeks ago adding significantly to our Mount Washmore. Trying to keep up with it, I decided to start hanging the laundry up to dry. At first my husband hung it around the house, um no, so then we graduated to two drying racks. I love them because they they are so easy to set up on our back deck.

Well when little boy was born, we needed to do significantly more than the drying racks could handle. So up went the laundry in the back yard. Thankfully we have to poles in the back yard that have been there for decades.

What turned into necessity has awakened a new way of life! I love hanging out my laundry. They smell fresh and take no longer to dry than in an electric dryer. I do miss the softness of towels in the dryer. As crazy as it sounds it is so peaceful out there. The two boys can come out and enjoy the time with me. No distractions or noise except the birds.

Doing a load of laundry a day keeps me from hating the washing, folding and putting away. I wash it at night, hang it out and put if away before the day is done. No piles upon piles waiting for me. I am also looking forward to seeing what the difference in our power bill is after exclusively handing laundry out for almost 2 months now. It has to be a little better.

Getting off to a great start for Fall

What is your favorite season? My absolute favorite is Fall. September is my favorite month. It is so full of possibilities. In some ways it is better than January for me. The heat of Summer begins to fade, and the harsh cold of the North East is still a long way off.

I find myself pulling close to home, organizing and spending time in the kitchen. This year brings an added dimension as my first child enters pre-school, so I add educational planning to this season as well.

One very awesome thing I note as I begin this new season is I have stuck with my January resolutions. I have turned my thoughts and efforts to a more frugal and simple way of life. This has taken shape in many ways as I cut and trim my commitments and budget. I have continued to focus on what brings my home and family the most joy.

As fall comes I am looking forward to continuing this focus and blogging about it more. Tee hee haven't been very good about that necessarily.

Awesome Meal Planning Find!

I have found the greatest meal planning website. Thanks to my good friend B! I have used several programs both free and for a fee and never come across something as easy and streamlined as this!



Plan to Eat

This site allows you to upload your recipes with the click of a button. You can import a recipe or input your own. Once the recipes are in your recipe book you can drag and drop them into the day you would like to use them. You can save plans according to any theme (holiday, season, budget friendly). With the click of a button you have your shopping list according to the dates you choose, and have the option of keeping track of what is already in your pantry and does not need to be bought to make the recipe. This can be as quick as 15 minutes a week!

One great feature is you can coupon and take advantage of sales as your list can be divided by store each week. It really is an all in one site great for people with no time to sit and spend a lot of time on meals each week.

This has given me the tools to get back on the meal planning band wagon in preparation for the newest addition coming to our family in the summer. It is saving my budget, and helping me keep to my special diet this pregnancy.

I highly recommend this site to everyone!

Frugailty: My latest Whim

Who knows if this will be a long lasting change but the new year has brought with it a new level of frugality to my home. I have made my own laundry soap for a fraction of the cost of Tide and All, and find I absolutely love it! It reminds me so much of the fresh smell of my clothes hung on the wash line that I went out and bought a clothes drying rack.

Since we moved to this home I have been trying to figure out how to hand my laundry AND keep track of my little one. Well I figured it out. I bought a drying rack for the back deck. Now he can run safe while I hang the clothes out. The wonderful smell of clothes dried in the sunny warm breeze is heaven! All this fails to mention the drop in electric bill I am hoping for. My darling husband is happy with this whim as long as it keeps me from talking him into a chicken coop. It won't be long honey!

In the spirit of homemade soap I tried a dish soap recipe out that I did not like so it is back to the drawing board for that one. I will figure it out though. If it is not economical I will got back to coupon for free dish soap. After all it did take me over a year to use the purchase of 40 bottles at .10 cents each.

I am really excited about some of the whimsical creativity that 2010 is already luring me towards!