Tips and Tricks Tuesday #6- Clean your Shower and your microwave for LESS!

Well, hello everyone!  Did you all enjoy the long weekend?  It was a quiet Memorial Day for us.  Mr. Lewisville had to work and the kids and I hung out for most of the day playing board games and discovering what's growing in our back yard.  Now, we're back to our normal schedule, but this is our last week of school and I the kids can not wait for Summer to officially begin!  EEEK!

It's Tuesday and that means I have another Tips and Tricks post.  I'm continuing on with my natural/ green cleaning recipes.  I talked about why I use my own home made version of laundry detergent last week.  You can read all about my hormones and laundry and get the recipe HERE.  I've been using my own natural and home made recipes for cleaning for the last couple of years.  Mary Hunt from Debt Proof Living showed me the light with all these cleaners.  I was looking for ways to cut cost on groceries and when I read that you can make better cleaners and non toxic cleaners for less than store bought brands, I said, "Yes, Please!"

So today, I'll be giving you my recipe for the BEST shower cleaner you'll ever use!  Simple, easy, and wow does it work wonderfully.  As a bonus, you'll get your microwave clean too!  I know most "Green" people don't have microwaves.  I do though; I'm not that "Green" I know.

Here's the cast of characters needed to play:
1 Cup of warm vinegar
1 Cup of Original Blue Dawn dish soap

Measure 1 cup of vinegar and warm it up for 2 minutes in the microwave.  I use vinegar for a lot of natural cleaning around Lewisville, so this big container from Costco for about $3 comes in handy.

Here's where cleaning the microwave happens.  As the vinegar heats up, it softens all that crusty food in your microwave. 

You don't have to "scrub" it away.  Just wipe it off with a clean paper towel.

Nice and clean!

And now back to our program- Pour your warm vinegar into a spray bottle

Measure and add 1 cup of Dawn

 

 Mix well

Add your own home made label.  Scissors, paper, pen- you know the drill!

Do you want to see how it works?  YUUUP!

 

I spray the cleaner all over the bathtub/ shower and let it sit for 15 minutes.

I use the scrub side of a sponge and work lightly through the tub surface.  Rinse and admire the shine!  That's it-REALLY!

So clean, you can see the reflection of me taking a picture.

I use this cleaner and only this cleaner, for my bathtub and shower walls.  It removes soap scum and all those little "what in the world is that" sitting in your showers.  The best part is that it cost so much less than store bought cleaners (less than 50cents) and it's non toxic.  Other cleaners have a half life of years and years.  HALF LIFE?  It means residual chemicals stay on the surface for so many years.  Those chemicals enter your skin through pores and then a whole mess of health issues arise.  No Bueno!

1 cup of each and mix; sure, I can do that!  Hope you like the results as much as I do.  See you later this week.  I have a paint project I'm excited to show you!!! hehehehe. smiley face.

Blessings,

Lisa
   I link all my projects with some wonderful blogs.  To visit them, go to the {Link Party Love} page found at the top of this page on the {Home} bar.
Also linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch
Savvy Southern Style
No Minimalist Here
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Saved by Love Creations 
Miss Mustard Seed
Funky Junk Interiors
Coastal Charm 
Tip Junkie 

You might also like:

My Simple Iced Coffee Recipe {Treat}

We are coffee people!  Mr. Lewisville is serious about his caffeine and only drinks espresso.  We have a beautiful espresso machine we saved up for ( yes, I used the word Beautiful to describe a machine)  that makes a great shot of a "legally addictive stimulant" each morning. 

Our Espresso Machine-love it!

 I drink tea most cold mornings (English Breakfast), then have afternoon tea about 3 or 4pm (Earl Grey). I like taking a few moments for myself to relax or read during "tea time".   Yes, I am very routine.  Here's more routine- when summer rolls around, I drink more and more coffee, but only because I like having a cold cup of iced coffee in the afternoon. 

So it's starting to warm up now and the coffee machine has been busy once again!  As much as I love holding a grande vanilla latte from Starbucks in my hands, it's just not in the budget to have a coffee from their fine establishment on a daily basis.  Don't get me wrong.  I love Starbucks.  Their stores have great atmosphere and who doesn't love having a cup of coffee while sitting outside in the fresh air.  Hubby and I love to go there once a week and just talk. It's our date night place and it gives us the opportunity to laugh together, dream together, plan together, and pray together.  It's our treat for each other and to each other.

If I lost my mind however and had a daily routine for paying for coffee, it would look a little something like this.
 $4.15 per flavored latte daily
 $20.75 to get coffee 5times a week.
That's $1,079 per year, people!
Nah Uh! No way!  Not gonna happen. 

Instead, I make my own latte at home and my own iced coffee.
Here's my Lattes Recipe where a good espresso machine is needed. Don't worry.  If you don't have an espresso machine, stay tuned for "my" simple Iced Coffee recipe made from your $20 coffee maker.  (And I think the coffee is just as good!)

1 shot of espresso ( or 2 if needed)
Add 1 shot or 2 tablespoons of your favorite flavor -more if you like it sweet.  (I use Torani syrups)
Add milk almost to the top of your glass.  Mix well.
Add Ice.

This is a Beautiful shot of espresso with perfect creme

On most days, I just make my iced coffee which taste just as good and I'm pretty sure has fewer calories.
Here's how to make a great cup of iced coffee.

1.  Brew your coffee as normal but make it STRONG.  I make it in the morning and drink a hot cup to wake me up.  Whatever is left over I use for my iced coffee later.

 2.  When the coffee is still warm, add sugar to your liking and mix until the sugar is dissolved.  You can keep it in the pot, put it in a pitcher, or pour it into the glass you will be using.

3.  Put your warm coffee into the refrigerator and let it cool until you're ready to drink later.

4.  When you're ready for a mid-day pick me up, add cream or your favorite flavored creamer.

5.  Add Ice and you're ready to enjoy a .50cent cup of Iced Coffee!  (ok, I really have no idea how much this cost per cup but I do know it's a lot less than a daily dose of coffee foo foo!)

So having a daily iced coffee/latte addiction doesn't have to cost you the bank after all, and when you make it yourself, it taste so much better I think.  Enjoy!

Blessings,

Lisa

  I link all my projects with some wonderful blogs.  To visit them, go to the {Link Party Love} page found at the top of this page on the {Home} bar.
Also linking to:
Savvy Southern Style
No Minimalist Here
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Saved by Love Creations 
Miss Mustard Seed
Funky Junk Interiors
Coastal Charm 
Tip Junkie 

Tips and Tricks Tuesday #5: Homemade Laundry Detergent

So for a few years now, I've been making my own laundry detergent.  Yes, MAKING it.  In my attempt to get rid of harsh chemicals and all things toxic in my home, I found this recipe I'll be sharing with you today on Tips & Tricks Tuesday. Now, don't get the wrong idea.   I'm really not a "purist" or "naturalist"; "I only eat organic" kind of person.  Those labels come with expense and I'm more of the "keep the money in my pockets" kind of girl.

Making your own laundry detergent is a great way to save money though.  I've read that it cost some ridiculous amount like .02-.04 cents per load with this recipe.  I have no idea who spent the time calculating those numbers.  All I know is I can make a 3 month supply for about $5 (maybe less).  Good deal, right!

Here's the real reason I started making my own version of laundry detergent.  I was struggling with PMS irritability and read a great book about steps to take to help with that issue.  I learned that our environment has a great deal to do with our hormones, so controlling our environment by what we eat, drink, breathe, and allow on our skin (think make-up, lotions, cleaning products) can curb the effects of crazy hormones causing mama to go crazy.  My response- Yes, please!

 By the way, the book is called What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause by Dr. John Lee.  I think every woman over 30 should read it. 

Ok, back to business.  There are a few recipes out there to make your own laundry detergent.  I'll give you both the powder version and liquid version recipes and you can choose what best fits you.  I personally use the powder version because it's quick and easy, but the liquid version is more cost efficient (aka-cheaper!).

So here is the cast of characters!
1 box of Washing Soda (not baking soda)
1 box of  Borax
Fels-Naptha bar soap

You can find all of these products in the laundry aisle at the grocery store, but I have found that they are about half the price at Wal-Mart.  The washing soda and borax is about $3-4 each.  The bar of soap is less than a $1.  My advice is to buy a few bars and make a large supply to get you through a couple of months.  If you don't live near a store that carries these products, you can also order them from Amazon or Soapsgonebuy.

Powder Detergent

1.  Grate the soap. (One bar makes 2-3 cups)
2. Add 1&1/2 cup of washing soda and 1 &1/2 cup of Borax.
(This is my tweaked version. The original recipe calls for 2 cups of grated soap, 1 cup Borax, 1 cup washing soda.) 
3. Mix and store in an airtight container. Use 2-3 tablespoons per load.

It takes me about 5 minutes to grate a bar of soap and mix in the other ingredients.  Grueling, I know.  It doesn't make suds in your washing machine, but trust me, the clothes are cleaner than if you used store bought detergent which mainly consist of salt and phosphates.  This home made recipe is safe to use in HE washing machines and safe for little helping hands.

By the way, I just found out you can make washing soda from regular baking soda.  Without going into a chemistry lesson, bake your baking soda at 400 degrees F. on a baking sheet for about 30 minutes.  Mix it during the baking process and use gloves when handling.  Let it cool down then add it to your laundry recipe.  You can find out more about this process on my Cleaning Board on Pinterest.

Personally, the fewer steps I can take in making detergent the better.  This is good to know though and I'll keep it in my files under "just in case".

Liquid Detergent
1.  Boil a quart of water
2.  Add 2 cups of grated soap to the water.  Let the soap melt over low heat.
3.  Pour the soap water into a clean 5 gallon pail that has a lid.  Mix in 2 cups of borax and 2 cups of   washing soda.  Stir until everything is dissolved.
4.  Add 2 more gallons of water and stir well again. (You can add a few drops of essential oils here for scent)
5. Cover the pail when storing and stir before each use.  It will look like gel.  Use 1/4 for each load. 

I've never made the liquid version; like I said, the fewer step the better for me, but if you're in a pinch, this will last you a while.  Every penny helps and I'm all about making my pennies scream!

If you have family members that suffer from allergies/sensitive skin or you're someone that likes "green" cleaning, this is certainly the way to go. 

Blessings,

Lisa

  I link all my projects with some wonderful blogs.  To visit them, go to the {Link Party Love} page found at the top of this page on the {Home} bar.
Also linking to:
Savvy Southern Style
No Minimalist Here
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Saved by Love Creations 
Miss Mustard Seed
Funky Junk Interiors
Coastal Charm 
Tip Junkie 

Flowers make me smile :-)

Well, here we are in the middle of Spring and the flowers are blooming everywhere!  I love it.  The grass is green, the sun shines down upon us daily now, and Summer is just around the corner.

I've never been much of a gardener.  I grew up in the "concrete jungle" of  Los Angeles and as long as there was green grass and sandy beaches, life was fine.  A few years ago, in my quest to make a plain home beautiful, I learned how to garden.  I read books, researched online, talked to other gardeners, and started getting my hands dirty and planting seeds.

Our little flower garden in California turned out so nice.   I was an English major in college and I've always loved English gardens.  My goal was to achieve something similar, not exactly an English garden, but something like it.

Now as I live all the way up in 5280 (the mile high city) I just haven't been inspired to get the garden going.  I'm seeing all the beautiful flowers taking over my hardware stores, but still don't have the desire to get out there and dig.

I decided to start small in hope that motivation would follow.  Maybe painting flower boxes would inspire me to get a few flowers going.  I chose these boxes which have been sitting in my backyard.  They obviously needed a little something.

 

I painted and two hours later had what I hoped for.  Bring on the flowers!

This was a simple project.  I spray painted the boxes green

I had this Eden color that I didn't like for any of my other projects.  For this project, the color was perfect!

I made the simple stripe designs by using painter's tape.

I also had this Royal Blue color on hand by Valspar.  The blue and green together brightened up those miserable boxes and turned them cheery.

Then I decided to paint words on the boxes, but since I don't have large stencils or a cricut I decided to use this method I used here.  I printed out the words on regular copy paper.

My font was called "kristen" in 200

Place the paper on your wood and with a pencil, push hard and trace the letters.

 

You can see the trace outline here.  Of course, maybe you can manage to keep your letters straight, unlike mine.

Fill in the letters with paint using an artist's brush and the boxes are complete.

I picked the only flowers growing in my yard and placed them in some old mason jars.

I think they'll make a cute outdoor centerpiece, with more flowers and larger jars of course.

Before

After.

Yes, I'm inspired and will be out this weekend looking at flowers.  This was an easy and quick project.  It took me about two hours total since I used spray paint, but I was doing a few other things while working on them- you know, the whole mom thing always takes precedence.

My favorite part about these was they were FREE since I had all the paint sitting in my garage.  I like Free!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, friends!  I plan to enjoy the outdoors with my family and cook as little as possible.  We'll see how that goes!

Blessings,

Lisa

 I link all my projects with some wonderful blogs.  To visit them, go to the {Link Party Love} page found at the top of this page on the {Home} bar.
Also linking to:
Savvy Southern Style
No Minimalist Here
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Saved by Love Creations 
Miss Mustard Seed
Funky Junk Interiors
Coastal Charm 
Tip Junkie 

Tips and Tricks Tuesday #4

It's that time again!  Tuesday means Tips and Tricks for the home; those little bits of information that we never knew about or things we really didn't think about until now.

I'm enjoying these Tuesdays.  It gives me a chance to share some of the ideas from Lewisville and some of those amazing tips from Pinterest.  I've even made a new sign to commemorate our Tuesdays together.

Do you like? I LOVE it!  I made it on picmonkey! In fact, that's my first tip....

Tip 1.  Use Picmonkey to edit photos, make signs (buttons) like above, and add some cool effects to your pictures all for FREE.  I've used several other free sites but I always end up going back to picmonkey.  It's really easy, and I need easy when it comes to technical stuff.  Here is an example of what you can do:

 Original Pic

 Crop. Auto adjust. Added Museum Matte Frame. Added Text.

Tip 2.  Open up tough plastic packages with a can opener.  I always use kitchen scissors which never really work well.  This is brilliant!

Tip 3.  Need help organizing the little things in your desk? Think outside the box and use what you have around.  Look what this mint user did.  Organized and good breathe....nice!

Tip 4.  Wipe your chrome finish with wax paper to keep the water spots away. 

Tip 5.  Are you a Starbucks abuser drinker? I confess, me too.  I don't buy the store bottles, but if you do, this is a great way to reuse those bottles (or any bottle/jar).  Store spices and mark the sides with the names.  This DIYer etched her jars.  Very nice.  I think I would be tempted to paint the tops too.

So there you have it.  A few more tips to think about.  I'll be starting a series of cleaning tips next week.  I realized most of my cleaning products are home made, and we've been using these recipes for years.  I'll be sharing just one product at a time (with the recipe) so as not to overwhelm you.  Have a great week everyone!

Blessings,

Lisa