Baking Momma of Two: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

Homemade Fabric Softener

I have been looking for some ways to save my family money. We are a one income family with (almost) 5 people living under our roof. My husband works very, very hard to provide for us. I feel that it is my job as the wife, mother, keeper of the house, etc... to help save money where ever I can. I use coupons (only if it is for things that we would normally buy), I have tried to buy more things on sale, and thanks to Pinterest, I am learning that I can make a lot of things myself for much less than it costs to buy pre-made at the store.

I was very excited when I came across this recipe for Homemade Fabric Softener! I use fabric softener to help make clothes and sheets smell nicer for longer, but I also use it to help keep our stuff soft and fluffy. The down side to that is the kind we buy is 90 oz and says it does 105 loads and is almost $7 a bottle and rarely on sale. I don't use quite as much per load as the directions say to help it last longer, but I am doing at least one load of laundry a day to stay on top things. It all really adds up! When I found this recipe, I knew I would be trying it as soon I finished out the bottle of fabric softener that I was using.

I am including the recipe for the fabric softener along with some of the pictures I took of the process. It is super easy to make! It uses 3 ingredients and took 10 - 15 minutes to make.

I reused the bottle of Downy that I had just finished. It says it does 105 loads. So, I am going to see how my homemade fabric softener compares. I labeled the bottle before I started mixing everything together. The bottle of Suave conditioner on the left is only 15 oz instead of the 16oz (or 2 cups) that the recipe calls for, but I think it worked out just fine. The best part... it only cost $0.98!

It was very hard to get pictures of the steps. I poured the 6 cups of hot water into the container, and then squeezed the conditioner into it. Then, I shook it like crazy! Every so often, I would unscrew the cap to let some of the air out, and then continued to shake.
**BE CAREFUL if you do this!! The hot water in a closed container makes it sort of "explode" when you release the pressure.**
Then, you add the vinegar and mix well.
Mine was this consistency when it was all done being mixed.

I poured what was in the cap back into the container in hopes of a getting a good idea for the consistency. I think it was right on par with my store bought stuff. :)

I am so happy with how this turned out. I didn't do the exact math, but I think this only cost me like $2-$3 to make. My clothes are still soft and smell nice. I used a scent that isn't super strong because I typically use scent free stuff.

My one word of caution.... the first load that I tried to use this with I had the problem of the top layer being more "suds" and then the liquid came out very fast. I made a little bit of a mess! From that point on, I just gave the bottle a little shake before trying to pour any out. The next few loads were still a little tricky, but since I have used a little more from the bottle it has been going much better!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Mamatography - Week 16 - April 15 - 21

Mamatography for the week of April 15 through 21

Week 16

4/15 - Sunday
We finally planted our pepper seeds today. These are in the mini greenhouse that we have the broccoli and kale in.

4/16 - Monday
Little K and I were just hanging out.

4/17 - Tuesday
I tried my hand at making my own fabric softener. It only used 3 ingredients and took about 15 minutes to make. I am working on the post now. I wanted to make sure that I tried it before doing my post. :) *So far, I love it!!*

4/18 - Wednesday
I had to go to the dr today. So, Little K and I picked Big K up at an earlier bus stop. While we waited, Little K played with a tablet thing that my Dad gave to us for the kids to play with.

4/19 - Thursday
Oops! I forgot to take a picture today. I really don't even remember what we did today!
4/20 - Friday
Today over nap time, I started working on the DVD Coloring Cases for teh boys. (The link for the blog that I found the idea on.)

4/21 - Saturday
Today was my hubby's first day off in quite awhile. The weather was beautiful, so we got some stuf done outside. I sort of feel like we planted our newest Asian Pear tree in honor of Earth Day (which is tomorrow).

The next two pictures are of one of the flowers on my one PawPaw tree. There are quite a few flowers on this tree, but this one is the most open. It is simply BEAUTIFUL!!

This angle was a little harder to get of the same flower as above.

If anyone is interested, the PawPaw trees are native to my area. Well... maybe not my exact area... but not too far away! Here is a website with more information. I am very excited for these trees to grow fruit! Until then, we go and pick PawPaws as a fun family activity! :)

*We're participating in a 366 day photo challenge at Diary of a First Child. To visit past Mamatography posts, please go here . To see other Mamatography participants, please visit any of the links below!

***

Are you up for a challenge? One that will take something from you every day, but give a whole lot back too? How about joining me for the photography challenge in 2012 then? A photo a day of whatever your day involved. You can jump in any time through the year!
If you’d still like to join us, you can start at any time, just sign up here and our host will email you further information.
Without further ado, here is the current list of all participants for Mamatography 2012 so far!

Diary of a First Child

African Babies Don’t Cry

Woman of the Willows and Wetlands

From Cristin To Mommy

Princess poet’s Life Adventures

Loving {Almost} Every Moment

The Artful Mama

The Family Patch

Boo Roo and Tigger Too

Becoming Crunchy

Vibrant Wanderings

Actually Mummy…

Boho Mama

Casyfamily

Loving Earth Mama

Baby Dust Diaries

Baking Momma of Two

Momma Jorje

The Mommy Metamorphosis

Toddler In Tow

Boobie Time

Mama Unfurling

Attached Mommyhood

Adventures of the Raanan family

Mommy and Little I

A Living Family

Fun with Ima (mommy)

ShariMamatography

Carrigan’s Joy

Becoming Three

take more pictures

Girls Can Do Anything

Anktangle

Growing A Life

Happy Earth Day!

This past Sunday (April 22) was Earth Day. I hope that everyone took the time to celebrate!

We planted a tree! Okay... technically this wasn't FOR Earth Day. We just happened to plant our new tree the day before Earth Day. My hubby worked all day Sunday, plus, it rained ALL day! Here is a picture of our beautiful new Asian Pear tree in our front yard!

Over the past few years, we have removed all of the landscaping that was here when we bought the house. We have been replacing them with edible landscaping. We like the idea of planting things that have a dual purpose.

I am also very big on teaching my children about Reduce - Reuse - Recycle.
We try to find new uses for things that would normally be thrown out. Thanks to Pinterest, I have found some really great ways to reuse some of our stuff. I made my own fabric softener using stuff that I had around the house (post with pictures coming soon!) where I was able to reuse the last bottle that I had purchased. My favorite, though, would have to be the DVD Coloring Case. (She also has an updated post for the DVD Coloring Case). I am in the process of making one of these for each of my boys. I think a post will be coming about this one as well. (I'm going to give them to the boys as a gift from the baby... I think when I am in the hospital. So, I won't be sure how they like them until the baby arrives.) It is a great way to use some stuff that I have laying around the house.

We took a break from technology on Earth Day. Even though it was dark and rainy, we did not turn on any lights. I kept the TV off, no video games for the kids, lunch didn't need electricity. It was nice to see the kids just play with toys and read their books. :)

What sort of things did you and your family do for Earth Day?

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Homemade Doughnuts in 15 Minutes

Let me start by saying.... I am seriously addicted to Pinterest. I have found so many amazing recipes on there! This is another good one!! It's quick and super easy! My family LOVED them! :)

This recipe is for Melt In Your Mouth Doughnuts. Only takes about 15 minutes to make. It did take me a little bit longer, because I couldn't find anything to make a good doughnut hole. So, I did struggle with that a little bit. Otherwise, they were quick, easy and best of all.... YUMMY!! :)

Be sure to check out the link to see where I got the recipe from...there are a lot of good step-by-step pictures. I posted the recipe here, and included some pictures that I took. Enjoy! :)

Melt In Your Mouth Doughnuts

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 ten count can Texas style doughnuts (or your preference, just not flaky layers)
1 Cup Sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 stick margarine, melted
Vegetable Oil For Frying

Instructions

Pour oil into skillet to the depth of a little less than 1/2 an inch and heat on medium to medium high for about five minutes. In a bowl, melt margarine. In a separate bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar.
Using a plastic bottle cap, cut the center out of each biscuit. Drop dough into hot oil, watching carefully and turning when golden. Once doughnuts are golden on both sides, remove to paper towel lined plate. Repeat until all dough is cooked, including doughnut holes.
Dip both sides of each doughnut into melted margarine, then press both sides into cinnamon sugar mixture. Serve warm.

Google Recipe View Microformatting by ZipList Recipe Plugin

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Mamatography - Week 15 - April 8 - 14

Mamatography for the week of April 8 through 14

Week 15

4/8 - Sunday
Today was Easter Sunday. My husband had to work in the morning. In the afternoon, we went to my mother-in-law's house for Easter dinner and the mini egg hunt she had.

4/9 - Monday
Little K and Daddy playing video games. Big K was playing video games, too... but was too far away to fit in the picture. Today was his last day off for Spring Break.

4/10 - Tuesday
Little K eating his breakfast while playing his DS.

4/11 - Wednesday
Nothing too exciting today. I made more Tub Scrub.

4/12 - Thursday
Little K was pretending to sleep. This is the first time he's ever done this.

4/13 - Friday
This one was actually taken on 4/14... I didn't have the camera ready when he did this on 4/13.

4/14 - Saturday
This is one of his FAVORITE toys! Yes... they are his baby nail clippers.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Mamatography - Week 14 - April 1 - 7

Mamatography for the week of April 1 through 7

Week 14

4/1 - Sunday
Apparently I forgot to take a picture today! Sorry! We didn't do anything too exciting... at least not that I remember.

4/2 - Monday
Big K had a school field trip to Philadelphia. While he was on the field trip, a kid in his class knocked his glasses of his face and stepped on them. :( This is what they looked like when he got home.

4/3 - Tuesday
This was such a crazy week for us, that I also forgot to take a picture today! Big K had a half day of school.

4/4 - Wednesday
Big K had a half day of school again today. I had a prenatal appointment this evening. On the way home, we saw a little boy riding a bike, while leading a horse down the road. It's hard to see in the picture, but I had to wait until I was at the stop sign to take his picture. This isn't anything "new" for the area that I live in. I just don't usually see kids his size on a bike that big AND leading a horse to who knows where.

4/5 - Thursday
Big K had the day off school. The boys and I had a play date with a friend of mine and her two little ones. All 4 boys had a blast! Little K would rather play with their magnets than help everyone else make ice cream!

We made ice cream in baggies!! It was so much fun and so delicious!! This isn't a very good picture, but it was much better than I thought it would be! We will definitely be making this again over the summer!

4/6 - Friday
Big K had another day off of school for his Spring break. Little K LOVED having his Bubub home!

4/7 - Saturday
I ended up having to go to the dentist as an emergency visit thanks to an abscess tooth. It made for a pretty miserable weekend. I couldn't really eat or drink anything. My wonderful husband bought me a delicious watermelon wedge. It was the only thing that I could eat. It sure was delicious... I just wish I could have enjoyed it more!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Poor Eggbert! :(

Last week, the hubby and I went to get a few treats for the boys for Easter. We do not typically buy our candy - mainly because our parents buy them WAY more than any of us will it! My husband wanted to get Little K a hollow chocolate bunny, but finding one that was hollow proved to be much more difficult than we had ever thought! When he finally found one, he knew right away that it was PERFECT! :)

**Quick back story - for those of you that do not know, Little K's nickname around the house is "Cutiebert" - OR anything that ends in "bert" - Grumpybert, Goofybert, Sillybert, Sleepybert, etc. This is all thanks to when I was pregnant my husband and Big K called the baby "Engelbert" (as in "Engelbert Humperdinck") because we couldn't agree on a name.

Now that everyone is all caught up -

The hollow chocolate bunny that my hubby found had the name of EGGBERT!! How perfect is that?? We were so excited!

We finished our shopping, ran the other 2 errands that we had and went home. Hubby hide the bags with the kids stuff in our room until after the kids went to bed. When he pulled them out to put the little stuff in the eggs, he found this!!

Poor Eggbert! :(

Apparently is was a little too warm in the car for Eggbert to survive the few errands we ran!

I didn't even get a chance to get a "before" picture to show how cute Little K's first chocolate bunny was!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Mamatography - Week 13 - March 25 - 31

Mamatography for the week of March 25 through 31

Week 13

3/25 - Sunday
I tried a new recipe for breakfast today - Cinnamon Crescent Rolls. Recipe and more pictures will follow in a future post. :)

3/26 - Monday
It's only been 3 days and the seeds that we planted on Friday have already started to grow!!

3/27 - Tuesday
Add another day and now look at them! So hard to believe how fast they are growing!

3/28 - Wednesday
Little K is growing up so fast! He really likes to empty his book shelf and put all of the books back. It surprises me how much he enjoys to have things nice and neat...only to be destroyed seconds later! ;)

3/29 - Thursday
We recently bought Little K a step stool to help with potty training. I decided to give it to him one morning while he was watching Big K get onto the bus. He was so very excited to be able to see his Bubub without me having to hold him!

3/30 - Friday
This is how we spend most mornings! He likes to empty all of the bins / baskets and then lay on the floor and play with his toys!

These are the seeds that we planted exactly 1 week ago! Can you believe how tall they are already??

3/31 - Saturday
I tried another new recipe this week. I wanted to make this one for breakfast tomorrow, but it turns out the hubby has to work. So, I made these doughnuts for dessert. They were delicious and super easy! :) (To see my post that includes the recipe, link to where I found the recipe and pictures that I took, please go here!)