Lavender Orange Powdered Laundry Soap

I've been making my own laundry soap for quite a while now, and while I've been content with it, I have missed the lingering scent of store-bought soap.

What I don't miss is the chemicals.

My go-to recipe for laundry soap is this liquid soap. Many people use this recipe. My only problem with it is the mess. I have a space between my counter and washing machine that is too small to place a shelf unit, but too big to miss with the soap dripping from my scoop. In fact, that space is the perfect size for a folded step stool, which is usually gummed up with gunk.

I'm not a fan of gunk.

When researching alternative powdered soap recipes, the formula seemed to be the same in all. Borax, Washing Soda, a low-suds bar soap, and Baking Soda. Most used Zote, Fels Naptha, or Ivory. But I was after a specific smell.

Lavender.

Here's what I came up with~

For the lavender scent, I didn't use the unscented bars in this picture~they were for another batch.

 

~The Players~

3 bars lavender Dr. Bonner's castile soap
1 4lb. box pure baking soda
1 box borax
1 box washing soda (not the same as baking soda)

Using a large hole cheese grater, grate all 3 bars of castile soap.

Put half the grated soap into a large food processor. Add 1 cup baking soda or washing soda and pulse until fine. It is important that you add one of the soda's or the castile soap will not grate fine enough. (Ask me how I know...☺)

Repeat with the remaining grated castile soap.

Using a large bucket or stockpot, mix together the powdered castile/soda, the remaining box of washing soda, baking soda, and borax. This is best done outside or in a well ventilated area. Try not to inhale any dust.

The soap is ready to use as is, or you can add 40-50 drops of sweet orange essential oil and mix well. Store in a dry container. For a large load of laundry, use 2 Tb.; smaller loads, 1 Tb.

I stored my first batch in 7-quart jars. Each jar will last 40-60 loads, depending on size. By my calculations, that's at least 280 loads of laundry (or as much as 420!) for less than $20.

Take that, Tide.

*I also like to use the unscented castile soap with 30 drops of lemongrass and 20 drops of cedar essential oils.

**For chemical-free dryer sheets, use a matching essential oil.
 



So Long Johnny. There's a New Salt in Town.

Once upon a time, I enjoyed a good barbecued steak. There were certain things I could count on when cooking that steak, such as; the beef was always grass-fed from our farm, it was always cooked until the cow had just stopped mooing, and the steak was always shared with someone special named Johnny. 

Those were the good ol' days.

When I found out about my food allergies, our way of barbecuing had to change. And so did my special partner. See Johnny was no good for me. Oh sure, he made me feel itchy and tingly all over, but he also caused an ache in my belly that would last for days. I loved him, but all he knew how to do was hurt. So I ended my lifetime love affair with Johnny. Cold turkey. I'm not saying it was easy or it happened overnight, but somewhere in the aftermath, something started to change. I realized that I didn't need to be in a relationship with an abusive seasoning full of soy, wheat, and random fillers. I needed the real deal.

The back of the Johnny's Seasoning Salt bottle says "Pure Magic." Then it lists the ingredients: salt, sugar, paprika, pepper, dehydrated garlic, soy sauce powder (made with soybeans, wheat, salt, and malto-dextrin), cellulose gel, and citric acid.

I wonder if the magic is in the genetically modified soybeans, the cellulose gel, or the malto-dextrin. (For the record, I looked up cellulose gel and was assured that it is vegan, so that's one less thing to worry about when barbecuing meat.☺)

This new relationship is so simple. There are no funky ingredients and you can name your bottle of salt whatever you like. I'm calling mine Steve. 

And I'm sure we'll live happily ever after...

Somebody forgot to add the pepper.

~ Steve Just Seasoned Salt ~

3 Tb. sea salt

2 Tb. garlic powder

1 Tb. onion powder

1 Tb. coarse black pepper

2 Tb. paprika

1 Tb. sugar

pinch of cayenne pepper

Mix together. Store in a dry covered container.

Enjoy!

~The End~

Inexpensive Entertainment

A couple of weeks ago, I celebrated another year since my escape from the womb. I also added another year to the growing tally of how many times I can celebrate my 29th birthday.

I'm up to 16. Don't judge.

One of the things I enjoy in the evening is sitting next to a campfire. The sound of the wood crackling, the smell of the wood smoke as it drifts toward the night sky, the laughter of my children as yet another marshmallow spontaneously bursts into flames...that is inexpensive entertainment. And better than any rerun on the boob tube. Our last fire ring, which was a rusty old barrel cut in half, only made it through 2 summers. In our area, rain is a campfire ring's worst enemy. So, for my birthday, my family built me a Pacific Northwest worthy fire pit. If you need a last minute gift idea for Father's Day, a campfire ring just might fit the bill and the pocketbook.

Here's how:

There are 12 stones for each of the 3 rows, for a total of 36 bricks. The bricks, or cottage stones, are almost a foot in length, so if you use smaller stones, adjust accordingly. Arrange each row in a circular pattern and stack the next row in a staggered pattern. This will allow the air to circulate and keep your fire from turning into a smoldering smoke-fest. If you have grass, you can add a small bag of sand to the bottom of the ring if you want to, but it isn't necessary. Depending on the stone used, a campfire ring can cost as little as $36. The best part? It can last indefinitely.

And I guarantee it will last longer than 2 wet, Pacific Northwest winters.☺

*If you live in town, check with your local fire department about rules regarding backyard campfires.

when less is more

This was not the post I intended to write today, but sometimes life gets the better of me and I feel compelled to get on my proverbial soapbox again.

I've noticed a whole lot of complaining lately over the cost of food, electricity, gasoline, etc. A person can't leave a grocery store without hearing at least one grumble, and standing near the gas pumps will get you a whole lot more, including a new appreciation for all the adjectives being used. (Very creative~vulgar, but creative.) You will also gain a new understanding of just how frustrated your neighbors really are.

I get it. Probably more than most.

See, we have a large house. 19 different rooms to be exact. That's 5600 sq. feet of area to heat and light up. There are 4 bathrooms in the house, two kitchens, a living room, dining room, family room and laundry room. And 10 bedrooms. Yes, 10. There are also 12 people living in this house. This means 12 people turning on and off (most of the time) the lights, flushing the toilets, cooking meals, washing/drying laundry, and eating.

We feel it too.

But if I dwell in that place where complaining about everything is the norm, my life becomes one of worry, stress, and pessimism. It becomes one that is no longer one of being grateful for the things that I have, but one that is filled with bitterness and anger for what I don't.

Recently I was invited to an event on Facebook. It is a 24-hour electricity blackout, intended for the people in my county to show the local public utilities company our concerns over the rising cost of power. And in the spirit of fairness, I understand. In the midst of rising costs, our elected officials have also given themselves some really fat raises called cost-of-living raises. Except most of them are making well over $100,000/year. And maybe they really do deserve those raises. But most of us who are having to watch our pennies aren't allowed "cost-of-living-adjustments," so I do understand the reasoning behind this protest. What I don't understand is the personal responsibility that the majority of people refuse to take.

Here's the thing. Change will not happen if a few people decide not to use their lights or turn on their televisions for a day. Change begins with each one of us in our own homes. We need to take responsibility for what we consume. If each person who is tired of paying higher prices for electricity, water, garbage, groceries, or gas were to do just one thing, it would make a difference where it counts.

Our wallets.

So, what is that one thing?

Consume less.

Every day.

If you want to send a real message that will be heard, use less.Turn down your thermostats/air conditioning. Flush less. Take shorter showers. Dry laundry outside or on a rack set up in your bathtub. Shop locally. Consolidate trips to town. Buy less processed or packaged foods. Recycle. Play more board games and watch less television.

If you want to make a real difference, complain less. You want change?

Be that change.

"Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want." 
 ~Anna Lappe, author~


"I'm starting with the man in the mirror, I'm asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer, if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself then make a change."
~Michael Jackson, singer/songwriter~

Frugal Fridays~Hair "Conditioner"

In my quest for all things au naturale, I've found a beauty of a hair conditioner. In the past, I've used every commercial conditioner on the market. Not only did I get mixed results depending on the brand, I was also relieved of the extra weight I was packing around in my purse.

I'm talking money honey.

These days, unless you're packing a stack of coupons, hair conditioner will cost $4/bottle minimum. The salon stuff will set you back at least $12. And it's not quality we're paying for, it's chemicals. Lots of nasty chemicals that leave waxy build-up, cause dandruff, and yes, even rob the hair of it's moisture. Many hair products claim to repair damaged hair and recover split ends, but if you have half a brain, you know that this is false advertising at its best. Here's the skinny: Hair is made up of dead cells. It is not a living organism. It cannot be resuscitated with chemical promises, and commercial products will not create long, luxurious locks while you sleep.

Although, I'm pretty sure there are evil hair fairies sprinkling gray pixie dust on mine while I sleep.☺

After ditching the commercial products, I started using an apple cider vinegar rinse on my hair. (1 cup water and 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar.) It did a great job of keeping my hair mousse from making a permanent home on my scalp, but did little by itself for keeping the dry scalp at bay. Between winter and the wood stove, this year was unusually bad. Like I-can't-wear-my-favorite-black-shirt bad.

A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a recipe for homemade hair conditioner. And honestly, I cannot tell you where I got it. I think I had found it through the link of a link of a link of a link to another blog. Or the link of a link of a link of a link through Pinterest. Or the link of a link of a link...oh, never mind. If this is your recipe, I thank you. My hair thanks you. And my wallet thanks you.

~Hair Conditioner~

~The Players~

3/4 C. water

1/4 apple cider vinegar

2 Tb. aloe vera gel

1 Tb. honey

8 drops peppermint essential oil

8 drops tea tree oil

Combine all ingredients into a squirt bottle or condiment bottle. Shake well to incorporate the honey and aloe vera into the mix.

To use: After shampooing hair (I use a natural shampoo bar.), squirt conditioner all over scalp and hair being careful not to get any in the eyes. Gently massage conditioner into scalp. Allow to sit for a minute or two before rinsing well.

Be sure to shake before each use to reincorporate the oils and honey back into the mix. Style as usual.

Here's what each ingredient does:

*Apple cider vinegar balances the ph in the hair, and removes build-up from hair styling products. It is also an effective treatment for dandruff and itchy scalp.

*Aloe vera gel is an effective treatment for dandruff, dry scalp, and psoriasis.

*Honey is an antiviral and antibacterial that moisturizes the scalp.

*Peppermint essential oil reduces excess oil that can cause hair to fall flat and soothes skin irritations and itchy scalp.

*Tea tree oil kills bacteria, combats dandruff, and is an effective preventative for lice.

Shiny hair, more money in the wallet, less exposure to unnatural chemicals, and very frugal.  

What are you waiting for?☺

This post is linked to The Homestead Barn Hop and Vicariosly Vintage's

Homemade Dryer Sheets

In a perfect world, my dryer would be unplugged full-time. For now it gets a May-October vacation. (Weather permitting.) When the sun is shining the laundry dries on a clothesline. When it's raining, we have indoor racks to hang our wet clothing on. But with 11 people in the house and only so much floor space (we even have suspended racks from the ceiling), the dryer gets it's fair share of service.

A couple of years ago, we switched our chemical-laden fabric softener for white vinegar, but I've had a difficult time parting with the dryer sheets. Yes, I use a "natural" brand from the health food store, but these are expensive and too easy to leave off my grocery list. Sadly, sometimes I succumb to the pleasing aroma of vanilla & lavender wafting down the laundry aisle.

Not anymore.

A couple of weeks ago my middle son decided to help me out by throwing in a load of laundry on his own. Never mind that this son has never washed a load of laundry in his life, he wanted to help. (I'm finding myself gritting my teeth as I type this~the memory is still too fresh!) This helpful son placed 12 pairs of jeans (12!!!) in the washer, went downstairs and grabbed an unopened bottle of store-bought detergent, filled the soap dispenser with the highly scented detergent, added Oxy-Clean, then filled the fabric softener dispenser with the same smelly liquid detergent before turning the machine onto the delicate cycle.

Here's what went wrong.

1. Our washing machine holds 6 or 7 pairs of full-size jeans, tops. Any more than that, the machine doesn't agitate. He knows this as the washer repairman knows us by our Christian names. All of us.

2. I make all of our laundry soap, which sits right next to the washing machine. You know what it is by the sign on the front that says "Laundry". BTW, up til now I thought my son could read.

3. The store-bought laundry detergent has been down in our garage for 2-1/2 years. Yes, years. Never opened, and hidden behind the Murphy's Oil Soap...buried under 2-1/2 years worth of garage dust.

4. There is a "How to do laundry" page taped to the cabinet door above the homemade laundry soap. For jeans it says, "No more than 6 pairs of jeans at a time. Always wash on warm. Press the heavy duty button. NO FABRIC SOFTENER EVER."

About 10 minutes after my son started the load of jeans, the family (who was watching t.v.) started complaining of headaches and sore throats. I kept sniffing the air and asking who fell into the perfume bottle. We traced the source of smell back to the laundry room and the machine that had bubbles about to spew like a volcano erupting.

I realized two things that evening.

1. The chemicals in laundry products are toxic. Once we found the source, opened the windows, and rinsed the now 2 loads of blue jeans, the headaches and sore throats disappeared. So did the bubbles.

2. My son can't read as well as I thought.

So now the store-bought laundry products are lying in the garbage can, destined for the local landfill. I wish there were some other place for them, but that's the best place I could come up with. My laundry soap can is newly filled and my supply of vinegar has been replenished. And the dryer sheets that I had already run out of? I now have an unlimited supply of reusable, non-toxic, and scented to my perfection dryer sheets. And I didn't pay a dime for them.

Here's how~

Cut an old cotton towel into strips 4-6 inches wide. Pinking shears work best.

Not pinking shears here~I'm a quick learner and switched over after the first strip.

 Cut the strips into squares. I ended up with about 25 squares.

No need to cut the selvaged edges.

To use: Add 3-4 drops of favorite essential oil to cloth. Toss in dryer.

 Homemade dryer sheets can be used up to 3 times before they need to be thrown in the washer. Just refresh with more drops of oil. My favorites are lemon, lavender, and grapefruit. Smells like summer, even if I do have to resort to using the dryer.☺

Emmie and her attempt at becoming a real-life Smurf.

 

Looks like it's time for another load to go in...

This post is linked to The Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop.

***UPDATE***

 

Since I started using this method, I've found that these work much better when the dryer sheet is wet. Add the essential oil to the wet towel, then toss in the dryer. I still love these!!

5 Little Saving Nuggets in the Grocery Cart

I though I'd share a few little tips I've learned to help keep the grocery bill down. No, I didn't learn them all this week, but because it's Friday and Friday begins with the letter F, I figured I'd share something frugal-licious. Because frugal-icious starts with the letter F too.

And that my friends is how I roll.

Scary, huh?

I'm currently waiting for Sesame Street to call with a job offer. Skills like this shouldn't be ignored.

So, here's a few "nuggets" of wisdom that I've learned. You may already know some of these, but since I focus my energy on matching my letters to the days of the week, I'm a little behind.☺

1. Bulk spices~I've said it before, and I'll say it again (yes Mom), bulk spices are big money savers. However, I didn't realize just how big until this week. My bay leaf jar was suspiciously low on leaves (I think they are currently hanging on the fridge on a piece of art work.), so it was time to buy some more. Now, I don't know if the origin of the bay leaves has anything to do with the price, but a jar of Turkish bay leaves was going to cost $10.19. Ahem. (For that price, I was tempted to rip down the artwork, glue and all, and just call it a "broth binder"!) If you know me at all, you'll know that I don't pay $10 for anything other than coffee, so my mission was to find it cheaper. Enter the bulk spice bins. For $0.50, I was able to completely refill my jar, and buy organic coffee beans, while leaving the artwork intact.

Speaking of coffee beans...

2. I love coffee. There. I've said it. But I'm kind of a coffee snob. I refuse to drink sludge from a can or anything that wasn't ground just before percolating. I also like to know when the beans have been roasted. I've been buying my beans at a local coffee shop for a couple of years now. I love the blend that the owner put together of dark and regular Sumatra beans. I love how perfectly roasted those beans are, and I love that this coffee shop was started by her dad many moons ago. That said, having 5 adult coffee drinkers in our house makes this little habit a very expensive one to have. At $10.85/lb. per week, this adds up quickly. Imagine my joy when I discovered that some of the Costco's now have coffee roasters in them! Better yet? The beans are organic!! Buying 5 lbs. of beans at once might seem excessive if there is only 1 coffee drinker in the house, but at a savings of $4.55/lb., buying this way saved us $22.75 for the entire month's worth of coffee. (Contrary to popular belief, extra beans should NOT be stored in the freezer. Store them in the fridge to prolong their freshness.)

3. Fabric softeners~First, let me tell you that I don't always use traditional fabric softeners. Quite often I use white vinegar, and sometimes I even steep dried lavender in it first. But sometimes, I fall victim to the enticing scents from the softener bottle, especially the lavender/vanilla scent. When I do get weak, I make sure that I have a manufacturer's coupon in hand and shop at a store who is advertising a sale price. But, here's a little tip to help stretch out that big bottle of deliciousness...Pour half of the bottle into an empty bottle, then fill both bottles up with water. Give it a little shake, and you've now stretched your purchase of 1 into 2. It's not only easier on your wallet, but also on your clothing and your washing machine.

4. Dryer sheets~A lot of people use dryer sheets. I know this because every time I have a coupon for some, I end up having to ask for a rain check. Cut the cost and the chemicals by cutting your dryer sheets in half. Does the same job for half the price.

5. Paper towels~This has been a super-saver for us. We didn't realize the amount of paper towels that were being used until we stopped buying them. Of course, that didn't last long, and paper towels have their place in the kitchen. But by using select-a-size towels to clean up greasy messes, wash rags for cleaning regular spills, and cloth napkins for mealtimes, we were able to cut our usage by 90%. The last time I bought paper towels was in August. I bought a large package of 12. Today as I sit here, we still have 8 of those rolls. Another tip? Buy cloth napkins in the clearance section of the linen department. For $0.99, I got a package of 6 with a big initial on the top. Of course, it's not a J, but who really cares when you're children are wiping spaghetti sauce all over it! Better yet, if you're handy with a sewing machine, whip up your own using fabric scraps you probably already have.

Personally, I like to keep people guessing with the big "I" and "S" initials on mine. Keeps it "f"resh.

And yes, that was another "f" word brought to you by the people of Sesame Street...I mean, me.☺

My Less-Is-More Resolutions

Last year I made a few resolutions, which I am happy to share, I actually kept.

No really. I did.

Mostly.

I'll admit, the fanny pack thing didn't happen.

This year I've decided to see if I can make it 2-in-a-row by setting some more goals. Unlike last year's tongue-in-cheek resolutions, these will be a little more difficult to keep.

Because they're real.

And since they have absolutely nothing to do with weight loss, these should last a little longer than the first week of January.

So, here is my list, in no particular order.

1. Consume less.

Since we don't have a weekly garbage pick-up (at $60/month), we take our trash into the dump/recycling center ourselves. Our goal was to make this trip on a monthly basis, but so far, we haven't been able to get past the 2 week mark. With our recycling credit (newspapers, cans, glass) our total cost to dump is between $2 and $5.00/load.

The price is not the issue. It is the amount of garbage that we are taking in. Four of our five cans are usually filled with recylcables. In our area, there are only 2 kinds of plastic that can be recycled, all the others head to the landfill. Before you start thinking "Uh-oh, another nutty environmentalist..", let me assure you that I am not. Well, I am, but not one of those weird incense-burning, pot-smoking, free-love kind of environmentalists. I'm more like the milk and cookies with a hug at bedtime kind of nut.

My resolution isn't just to decrease my trips to the dump, but to decrease our family's dependency on all the items that we don't always need to purchase or that come with hard-to-dispose-of packaging.

Such as:

Packaged foods~We all know that most packaged foods are processed foods. And we know that those aren't good for us. But there are plenty of whole foods that come in cartons, bags, boxes, and plastic.

Solution? Buy in bulk. Whole Foods (and many others) have an awesome selection of healthy beans, pastas, nuts, dried fruits, and spices, not to mention honey, olive oil, and grind-yourself nut butters. Cut consumption by bringing your own bags and containers. Most places will weigh your empty containers and subtract that from the filled weight. Mesh produce bags are another way to cut wasteful packaging. (Store bulk items in glass canning jars that you probably already have!) Make your own mixes, seasoning "packets", breads, and yogurt. Not only are these a healthier alternative to store-bought, it is a good way to keep the grocery budget in check. (I'll share more tips later for saving at the grocery store!)

Reusable bread bags~My Mister "gets" me!

Cleaning products~Most of us have at least on cupboard filled with cleaning supplies. One for the toilet, one for the shower, one for the floor, etc...Not only are most of these products toxic, they take up space in the house and the garbage can.

 Solution? Make your own. It's surprising what a little white vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap can do. Just be careful reusing bottles that had toxic chemicals in them as they can become even more toxic and even deadly. (Bleach & ammonia for instance.) Also, forgo that expensive, toxic laundry soap and make your own for pennies. (White vinegar makes a great fabric softener and a gallon usually costs less than a dollar.)

Drying clothes~Most people don't think twice about running an electric dryer, until the power bill arrives. The energy wasted on a load of laundry is only second to the stove/oven. The power comes from somewhere, and someone is going to pay for that power. Probably you.

Solution? Install a clothesline for outside drying during the warmer months and use a drying rack for the winter. I have 2 hanging racks in front of my woodstove and am hoping to purchase a wooden rack from here. And check out the repurposed baby gate here. Save the dryer for the important stuff, like jeans. Nothing puts me in a bad mood faster than crunchy jeans...

 Speaking of clothes...

Clothing~Ever notice the poor workmanship of the clothing nowadays? Most are sewn in foreign countries, possibly by underage employees, who are probably not being paid enough of a wage to live on. Remember Levi jeans? Sorry to tell you, but these are not made in America anymore.

Solution? Buy from second-hand stores. These stores are not the disgusting places they once were. Second-hand shopping has become en vogue, and retailers are finally understanding that we don't want to purchase items that have last year's Christmas gravy stained to the front. In our area, we actually have some pretty classy thrift stores that we have scored numerous deals at. And some of these stores actually benefit other organizations such as, our local women/children's shelter, hospice, boys & girls clubs, etc...(Local people~check out The Red Hat Thrift Store, The Hospice Thrift Store, and in Vancouver, Plato's Closet.)

Sometimes you'll even find furniture worth saving!

Solid wood bed for $124...My grandmother has the same bed and paid $1200 new!

Toiletries~This is kind of a touchy subject for me.

Because I'm a girl.

I like my mousse, hair spray, makeup, razors, deodorant, lotions, and the like, but there is a lot of packaging involved with this stuff. Not to mention, most of it is overpriced, toxic, and marketed in a way that makes a woman think she is less of a woman to not have these things.

Solutions? Don't buy into the lie. Yes, I still use mousse, hairspray, makeup, and thankfully, deodorant (most of the time☺), but I'm more choosy and I don't use this stuff everyday. I take into account how long something will actually last. I make what I can at home, and make purchasing decisions based on whether the package can be reused or not. Crazy? Maybe, but I have raised 6 girls and that's a lot of "stuff". There are recipes on the web for making your own deodorant, soaps, shampoos, and lotions. If that's not your thing, try a mineral salt deodorant stick that can last for an entire year. Use coconut oil right out of the pantry (I store mine in a little cup on my bathroom counter.) instead of expensive moisturizers and lotions, and try making your own bar soap. (I'll be sharing a recipe for shampoo bars soon!) I use mineral powder makeup and reuse the little jars for important things like scrapbooking embellishments, buttons, and tacks. And disposable razors? No way. Use a razor with replaceable heads, or even better, an electric razor.

Finally, make things that you use a lot of. For us, it's candles. When the winds blow, we're the last to get our power back on. Instead of purchasing some made-in-China (or wherever) candles, we roll our own from beeswax sheets.

It's a fun way to spend an afternoon and there is NO GARBAGE to pack to the cans.

And that's it. My New Year's resolution for the year.

Just one.

I should be able to manage just one, dontchathink?☺

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN 2012!!!

This post is linked to the Living Well Blog Hop.

Sweet & Spicy Pickles

Once upon a time, there was a dill pickle. The dill pickle was always comfortable being a dill, but had aspirations to be more than just a condiment on top of grilled burger.

It had dreams of topping egg salad.

And in a perfect world, just being eaten straight out of the jar.

A couple of years ago, my in-laws decided to pull us out of our dill pickle comfort zone. Initially, I declined to try one of their newly discovered pickles, but after hearing the "ooohs and ahhhs" of my Mister, I relented.

Since then, not a day has gone by that we've been without having these dill pickle converts in our fridge.

This is by far the easiest "canning" recipe I have ever used. It requires no canning and uses dill pickles that can be picked up at Walmart for just a couple of dollars. Within 3 days, what once was dill is now sweet & spicy.

It's magic.

~Sweet & Spicy Pickles~

I had these on hand, but prefer the Vlasic from Walmart.

~The Players~

1/2 gallon kosher dill pickles

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2-1 cup sliced, canned jalapenos

4 cups organic sugar

1/2 gallon jar with a tight-fitting lid

Drain the dill pickles in a colander for about 2 hours.

Cut pickles into 1/4" slices.  Put into a half-gallon jar.

Shake the jar to help settle the pickle chips. In order, add jalapenos, sugar, then the vinegar. You may need to add the sugar slowly and allow it time to fall down into the jar. I used a butter knife to create little "canals" for the sugar to drop into. Do not add the vinegar until all of the sugar is in the jar though.

After the vinegar is added, cover top of jar with plastic wrap before screwing the lid down tight.

Turn the jar upside down and set in a pie plate. (Just in case the jar leaks!)

Flip the jar 2-3 times a day for 3 days. The sugar will dissolve and you will be left with a sweet pickle that has a little "kick" to it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some egg salad to make!

Enjoy!



Country Folk and Their "Issues"

Disclaimer: Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Seriously. 

 

Dear Mr. Mailman,

     Maybe you and I got off on the wrong foot. I know that sometimes I forget to stand my outgoing mail up in the box, or fail to raise the flag, or even inform you of my up-coming vacation plans. I understand the spot you are in working for the federal government and all, but out here in the country, mailboxes share the responsibility of delivering goods to us. You are part of the USPS. We country folk are part of the JBNDS, or the "Just Being Neighborly Delivery System".

     In the summer, a mailbox doubles as a neighborhood delivery system, sans the postage. A large enough box can hold a couple of dozen farm fresh chicken eggs or a basketful of sun-ripened tomatoes. It can hold the still warm-from-the-oven cinnamon rolls that the neighbor placed in the box as payment for the honey she received the day before. It's a convenient place to leave a note for the farmer who is in the middle of haying his fields, and a mailbox is just the right size to hold a  bouquet of dandelions that a 10 year old boy might want to surprise his momma with.

     In the winter, a mailbox is great way to dole out those last minute Christmas cards. And it keeps the fancy government "decorations" off the front so one can actually enjoy the pretty stickers that the kids decorated the envelopes with. Of course, the no-postage cards usually have a tray of home-baked Christmas cookies attached to them, and really, it's the only way to guarantee a before-Christmas delivery what with the last minute rushing and all. (It also shaves a little time off your already busy schedule!)

     I realize that mailboxes were only meant to house mail that has gone through the proper channels. But out here in the country, a mailbox is like a big, metal present just waiting to be opened. See, we're pretty excited to see a truck or tractor pull up next to the mailbox. Us country folk know that it is unlikely we'll run to the box, only to discover our neighbors have left us with bills or late notices for the 'lectricity. It's just as unlikely that they'll have dropped off their junk mail for us to plunder through. The anticipation of what goodie might be waiting is almost too much to bear as we make the long walk to the box.

    I understand that to city folk, leaving something other than mail in the box might be considered a criminal act. And having seen those teensy, tiny wall-mounted boxes, one would be hard-pressed to fit anything other than a couple of envelopes into them anyway. I'm supposin' it might leave a mess if the wrong thing were to be stuffed in there, hence the reason to impose such rules regarding the contents of said box. But I don't live in the city. Nor do I have a teensy, tiny wall-mounted mailbox. I have an extra large box, to hold an extra large amount of tomatoes, and I purchased it with my Mister's very own money.

     As a citizen of this here country, I appreciate it when criminals are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But, I don't think you are aware of what constitutes a criminal offense out here. A teenager taking a baseball bat to my mailbox would be considered a criminal act. A person using the mailbox as a dumping ground for his/her empty Starbucks cup, would be a criminal act in my book. And as any up-standing, true-blue, country person will tell you, it is downright criminal for anyone to leave their extra zucchini's in a neighbor's mailbox. It just ain't considered neighborly at all! Real country folk know to leave extra zucchini's inside a stranger's parked car at the grocery store (and RUN!) anyway! I will support you prosecuting those dastardly zucchini dumpers as far as the law will allow!

     What I don't consider a criminal act is when the paperman, of whose job is a lot like yours (minus the health benefits and 401K), places my newspaper inside my mailbox, while it's raining.

     We country folk just call that being kind.

     But because we appreciate you Mr. Mailman, we have listened. And we have conformed. Maybe not willingly, but it is done.

You may not know this Mr. Mailman, but gone are the days when the local newspaper provided a box for the paper. Also gone, is the ability to purchase a box from the local hardware store. So, Mr. Mailman, we built our own country kind of paperbox from a drain pipe, a cap, 2 screws, and leftover spray paint. For free.

I understand the rivalry between delivery systems, but since the mail vs. paper dilemma is now resolved,  I'd really appreciate it if you could just scoot the mail towards the back of the mailbox tomorrow.

This farmgirl is expecting a delivery of honey from the JBNDS and I'd hate to get honey on my mail.

Sincerely, Me

P.S. If you find a steaming cup of cocoa in the mailbox on our first snowy day of winter, that's for you Mr. Mailman. But maybe we should just keep that between us.☺

This post is linked to Farmgirl Fridays.

Extreme Couponing~Part 2

So now that you've started clipping coupons, what's next?

Do you just wander around aimlessly through the stores, grabbing each and every item that you have a coupon for? Do you maximize your purchases by buying the maximum limit number of items, or do you just purchase one of everything? Do you buy 5 different brands of toilet paper, knowing that your family will only use Brand X or apple juice for kids who prefer orange? Or do you stock up on items that you currently don't need (i.e. denture cream), but may need a few, or 20 years down the road? What do you do with all the coupons that you may not use? And where do you put everything once you get home?

Making the decision to coupon doesn't just require dedication and hours of research. Although an important aspect of couponing is just that, there is much more required of you.

Discretion

 The quality of having or showing discernment or good judgement...

Nobody needs 42 bottles of Nyquil, or 80 tubes of Crest. And while looking into the pantry and seeing 50 boxes of macaroni might seem like a good thing, in actuality it's not. (Unless of course you are planning to donate those items to your local food bank or homeless shelter~then by all means grab those goodies!)

Extreme couponing can cross the line into extreme hoarding very quickly. While I'm an advocate of preparedness and keeping the pantry full, I find it very disturbing to see people stockpile items that they have no intention of ever using or have enough time to use, just because they have a coupon for it. And moving a child into the basement so his room can be turned into another stockpile room, is a good sign that the couponing has turned the corner.

Besides it can really mess a kid up.

So, in the interest of saving money, here are a few tips that I have learned/am learning.

1. Read the fine print on your coupons when making a plan. Some coupons are not subject to doubling, or require the purchase of other items to be redeemable.

2. Only redeem coupons that you and your family will actually use. If you don't use sleep aids, don't purchase them! You are not saving money if you're spending it on useless items.

3. Double the largest coupons. In my town, we have a store that has "double" coupons. When used with a manufacturer coupon of at least 50 cents, they increase the savings another 50 cents (maximum). While they're not true double coupons, another 50 cents can take a $1.50 savings up to an even $2.

4. Do your research before leaving the house. Have a list for each store and the in-store sales going on to match up with your manufacturers coupons.

5. Preload, via the Internet, any "club cards" you may have. Often times there are more online coupons for card members than the advertisements show. And it keeps you from having to clip and keep track of the weekly store coupons.

6. Stick to what you know on the larger ticket items. If your family will only use one brand of laundry soap, don't waste your time or money trying to change their minds. If, however, you can pick up a pound of butter for $0.55, but it's not your usual brand, a $0.55 price tag is a good time to experiment.

7. Visit online coupon websites to print coupons from your own computer. Check with the stores  before shopping to make sure they accept computer-printed coupons. I once spent an hour loading my cart with groceries from these coupons, only to find at checkout that this particular store didn't accept them. Talk about a big, fat waste of time!

8. Organize a coupon exchange with friends. Everyone wanting to participate, clips as many coupons as they can during the month, then gets together and trades the coupons that they can't use. I have several "feminine product" coupons that I can't use (no equipment and my girls aren't interested in these), but someone will be excited to get them. I've been invited to my first one later this month, so I'll let you know how it goes!

9. Check expiration dates. Never buy 80 boxes of cereal at once, unless you have 40 children...and if you do, GOD. BLESS. YOU....but for the rest of us, the cereal will become stale before it's even opened. The same rule applies to any over-the-counter medications.

10. Take advantage of clearance items. Sometimes stores need to get rid of a product quickly because of overstocking, label changes, or it's being discontinued. This is where great savings can happen. But only if it's a product that you will use! Otherwise it's like burning money.

11. Pair up with a friend to maximize savings. Some coupons will require you to purchase multiples of an item before the savings can begin, so partner up and then split it up later.

I've noticed that on the show "Extreme Couponing", shoppers can get very creative with their organizing of coupons. While it may make sense to carry around a 3-inch, 3-ring binder to some, for me it's not practical. I bring a clipboard with my notes attached, a pen, and business-sized envelopes for my coupons. Currently, I have 4 different envelopes; 2 with store names on them for their weekly coupons, 1 with manufacturer's coupons, and 1 for all of the coupons I plan on using that day. I bring them all though, just in case I've missed something or visit a store on the spur of the moment. (It happens!)

Just know that there is no right or wrong way to coupon. Some people are more successful at it than others (*ahem...that would be me.), but any savings is better than none, especially if you remember to only purchase those items that you will use now, or in the near future.

One last thing.

12. Be courteous. It takes a little longer to go through a check stand with coupons and not everyone is as thrilled as you are about your little stack of gold. Especially the mom with the crying baby. Or the elderly gentleman whose wife is waiting in the car. And for goodness sake, be aware of your surroundings when perusing the aisles. It will do you no good to save a few pennies at the check stand if you have to pay for someones physical therapy from a drive-by couponing mishap.

It could happen.☺

Frugal Friday~Extreme Couponing, Part 1

Photo credit

One of my newest obsessions, in a growing list of many, is extreme couponing. I had heard about the show on TLC, but didn't really have a desire to sit down and watch crazy people using scissors in an obsessive-compulsive sort of way.

Silly me.

Thanks to an unexpected rain shower and below normal temperatures, my Mister and I spent a cozy afternoon with a fire, a cup of organic decaf, and the remote control. Of course, the remote became obsolete once we stumbled onto the show, "Extreme Couponing". Do you know how long a marathon actually equates to on television? About 7 hours. It was not one of our finer moments.

We did however learn a very valuable skill. No, it is not how to use scissors while rummaging through someone else's recyclables. (While a valuable skill to be sure, it does us country folk no good to rummage around in other people's firestarters; it could get us shot.) We learned that with the right coupons, a little research, and a whole lot of prep time, we too could save thousand of dollars from our grocery bill.

Thousands you say?

Example: One lady purchased over $3,000.00 worth of groceries. Her final bill with coupons, rebates, and a loaded club card was $9.10. Did you hear me? $9.10!!!! Not only did she stock her own food pantry, but she also donated a hefty amount to her local food bank. Another family, over a period of time, was able to pay off their mortgage and pay cash for brand new vehicles with the money that they had saved. Yet another couple, who are empty-nesters, use their savings to go on elaborate vacations every year!

After being a sceptic for so long, I have to say, I'm hooked.

Now, because I'm a newbie at this, my savings were not what they could be in the future. Apparently, one needs to be diligent about clipping coupons and building a stash. But, for a first-timer, I did good. (Insert goofy giggle.)

I only have one problem with people who extreme coupon. Just because a person has a coupon for something doesn't mean they need to buy it~especially if it is something he/she would never use! One lady had over 40 boxes of cat food and had never owned a cat in her life. So, while clipping coupons, I made sure to only clip those that would benefit our family. That said, I did buy a few things that I normally wouldn't buy, like boxed macaroni & cheese, movie-sized boxes of Whoppers & Reese's Pieces, laundry detergent, and packages of pasta.

In the spirit of justification, here's my reasoning:

1. Boxed mac & cheese is an easy meal that the kids can prepare if my Mister & I have a date night. I don't have to worry about them burning the house down, and because it's not the norm for them, it makes a fun treat. It also makes date night a little more spontaneous since I don't have to worry about planning something before we can leave.

2. Movie theater candy makes family stay-at-home-movie-night a little more special. For us to take the 7 of us to the movies, the tickets alone would cost us almost $65.00. Add in popcorn and a drink, and we're looking at a movie viewing experience of well over $100! No movie is worth that. Ever.

3. Laundry detergent~I make our own laundry soap for home use, but sometimes I forget to make the soap in time. Store-bought soap also travels a little easier during vacation travel!

4. Packaged pasta~Usually we use brown rice or sprouted wheat pastas, but during the summer, I'm not particular. With all of the potlucks, picnics, and camping, boxed pasta is fine, just as long as we use the healthy stuff the rest of the year.

While these are not our normal, they do store well, are great for traveling, and save us money.

Because I plan on taking a fabulous trip someday.

So how did my first extreme couponing trip go? I came home with...

*10 barbecue sauces (no corn syrup!)

10 packages mac & cheese

1 dijon mustard (large jar)

1 bag of dog treats

1 dishwasher detergent

1 rinse aid (for cleaning out the dishwasher)

2-100 oz. liquid laundry detergents

*4-1.5 quarts key lime sherbet

4 bags of frozen hashbrowns (for camping)

2 Father's Day cards

*2 sun tea glass jars

*1 hanging flower basket

10 movie-sized boxes of candy

10 packages of various pastas

*4 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese

1 lb. butter

4 bottles of loratidine for allergies (36 count)

3- (44 count) packages of feminine products

1 hair mousse

1 jar no-sugar pasta sauce

1 balsamic vinegar

60 double rolls of toilet paper (the good stuff!)

*4-2 liter bottle of soda

*2 bags of Sunchips

*6 organic limes

*4 organic lemons

$312.51~total amount of goods purchased

$240.82~total amount of money spent

Savings of: $71.69

(I also earned a $.20/gallon gas discount at one store, and a $.10/gallon discount at another.)

So, maybe my first trip wouldn't be considered extreme, but for us, I've never saved that much just by clipping coupons, loading the store cards with in-store sales, and keeping an eye out for buy 1, get 1 free deals. The items with * next to them are products we purchased for our daughter's graduation party, so without those the total spent would've been about $80.00 less with the same savings. 

I guess there's always next time!☺ 

Are you extreme couponing? Do you have any special tips to share? I would love to learn more!



Frugal Friday~RinseThat Gunk Right Outta Your Hair!

As a woman who likes to look her best, I rely heavily on hair products to tame my wild, out-of-control hair. Without a little mousse, or a lot depending on our finicky weather, my curls turn into nests of tangles, ready for any passing feathered friend to rest their weary wings upon. When I'm camping in the mountains, all I need is a baseball cap and some sunglasses, but try visiting a credit union wearing that get-up these days and you'll understand my need for mousse.

I used to pay anywhere between $5-$12 for a bottle of clarifying shampoo, only to use it a couple of times, then throw it out because it was taking up shower space. Besides stripping the old hair product from my hair, it would also strip the much-needed oils from my scalp. Which then, of course, required a different over-priced bottle of shampoo to stop the snow storm from blanketing my shoulders.

It could be a conspiracy...

Here's my solution, and you don't even have to look outside your kitchen pantry to find it. Are you ready for it?

White vinegar!

In a bottle, (I use a condiment bottle with a pointy tip), mix 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Shake to mix. After shampooing your hair, carefully squirt vinegar rinse as close to your scalp as possible (hence the pointy tip!). With your fingers, massage the vinegar into your scalp and hair, being careful to avoid contact with the eyes. Rinse with warm water.

Use once per week to remove the gel, mousse, and hair spray of hair-do's past, but not more than twice weekly. You don't want to change the PH of your scalp.

Vinegar rinse also makes a great detangler!

Frugal Friday~A Ziplock Bag Dryer

Remember wire coat hangars? You know, from the "olden" days?

Re-purpose them for something that is actually more useful than rusty spots on the shoulder seams.

Unless of course, you like rusty spots on the shoulder seams because it adds character to your ensemble.

I applaud anyone who marches to the beat of their own drums!

First, fold up one side of the hangar towards the center.

Then fold up the other side.

If you don't want to use this to dry plastic bags, you could sign it and call it art.

I only reuse bags that have had dry ingredients in them, never meat, because I only use cold water to wash them off. I'm not sure if freezer bags have BPA in them, so this is a safe way to re-purpose without compromising health.

When not in use, these can be hung back up in the closet!

Making Vanilla and Lemon Extracts

Last year, I tried my hand at homemade vanilla extract. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but was hopeful that my trip to a liquor store wouldn't be in vain. According to Wikipedia, an extract is a substance made by extracting a part of a raw material, often by using a solvent such as ethanol or water.

In this case, vodka.

The vanilla extract was a success. In fact, I shared the fruits of my labor in gift baskets for Christmas.

Because I had made a gallon of the stuff.

My goal when entering the liquor store was to get in, grab the vodka, and get out. Somewhere in there I remembered to pay, but really, it's all just a blur. The problem was that nobody had warned me that there are like 5,000 different kinds of vodka, taking up an entire wall of the store. That meant that my method wasn't going to work. I was going to have to actually speak to the store person, which made my in-store time more prolonged. More time for someone I know to catch me in the act.

People might start to talk.

"Oh look. It's that lady with all the kids."

 "I just knew she was an addiction waiting to happen!"

Then those people would talk to other people and it would eventually get back to at least one of my grandmothers, my parents, or (gasp!), my pastor.

That would be bad. I can just imagine Sunday morning, people gathered around, trying to cast the demon liquor spirit out of me.  

People would definitely talk.

Since I gave away the majority of that gallon of vanilla, my share didn't last as long as I thought it would. So my Mister and I revisited the liquor store again.

Except he didn't get out of the truck.

He was afraid that people might talk.

Needless to say, having now been twice, it appears that I'm now on a first name basis with the liquor store lady. I've decided to limit my visits to once every 3 years lest she thinks we need to start exchanging Christmas cards.

Which for my family, translates to you are all on your own this year.

If you get started now, your vanilla extract will be ready in time for holiday baking!

~Vanilla Extract~

Madagascar Vanilla Beans (3 beans per cup of vodka)

Vodka (This does not have to be the most expensive stuff in the store!)



I made a half gallon, so I needed 24 vanilla beans. I cut lengthwise up the bean, leaving the top uncut.

Place the vanilla beans in the jar and fill with vodka.

Screw a tight-fitting lid on top and label with the date the extract was made. Place in a dark cupboard to steep. Shake the jar once a week for 3 weeks, then once a month after that.

Vanilla extract is ready to be used in 6 months.

~Lemon Extract~

1 organic lemon (for each 1/2 cup of vodka)

Peel lemon with a vegetable peeler being careful to only peel the rind, not the pith.

Measure vodka into a saucepan; add rind. Bring to boil; remove from heat and pour into jar.

Screw a lid down tight and place in cool, dark cupboard for minimum of 2 weeks before using.

If you see me coming out of a liquor store near you, please don't judge. 

I'm really just thinking about sugar cookies.

This post is linked to the Recipe Swap at Grocery Cart Challenge.