MommyTLC: DIY

Showing posts with label DIY. Show all posts

Monday, August 22, 2011

DIY Flower Arrangements

11:54 AM | Posted by Unknown |

Several years back I purchase this beautiful tall vase for a Christmas arrangment but since then it's been in my closet collecting dust. I've wanted to use it, don't get me wrong, but with the large opening my flower arrangements came out looking droopy and unattractive!

Homemade Detergent

6:25 PM | Posted by Unknown |

These days, I'm all about saving a buck! So when I heard from my sister-in-law, Laurissa the DIY Mom, about making your own laundry detergent and how easy it really is, I was all ears! Not to mention that she only spent $4 to make 2 1-gallon battles! Hello, I spend close to $20 for a bottle of Tide. That's $36 big ones I'll be saving!
I'm really bad about throwing out old laundry detergent bottles, so I know I have at least 2 or 3 sitting in my basement collecting dust. That's a great start already! Now all I need is to pick up the following ingredients and I'm making me so homemade laundry detergent!

Recipe #8
2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)

Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.
In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load.

Liquid Detergents Note

Soap will be lumpy, goopy and gel-like. This is normal. Just give it a good stir before using. Make sure soap is covered with a lid when not in use. You could also pour the homemade soap in old (and cleaned) laundry detergent bottles and shake well before each use.
*If you can’t find Fels-Naptha locally, you can buy it online (check Amazon).

Optional

You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade laundry detergent. Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.

Essential oil ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil

My daughter and I both have eczema, so I'm supposed to get the laundry detergent that is for sensitive skin but I don't! I know, bad mommy!!! It's just the cost can sometimes be too much. I'm on a budget here people, and that's not something I do too well with. I do however use Aveeno soap for the shower and since I have the option of adding essential oils (caution - some essential oils cause skin irritation on sensitive skin, make sure that the oil you select isn't one of them by clicking here) like lavender to a fragrance free soap. I'm excited to try this new recipe and I'll let you all know how it goes!

If you've tried making your own laundry detergent, what did you think of it? Was it as easy as the recipe described? Would you recommend it to a friend? I'd love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a line!

Labels: Detergent, DIY, Homemade Laundy Detergetnt, Laundry, Mission Organization, Online Recipe, Recipes | 0 comments

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Mommy Needs a Time Out

11:06 AM | Posted by Unknown |

I don't care if your a stay at home mom or a working mom, when it comes to having some "me" time, it's damn near impossible sometimes. Between work (whether it's inside or outside the home), cooking, cleaning, bathing, entertaining and all the other minor tasks that every mom faces throughout the day, finding that little window of time to just gather your thoughts and regain your sanity is hard to do. But it has to be done ladies! We need that time, no matter how large or small that window may be, we need to seize it! A little "me" time goes a long way.

I can't remember the last time I really did something for me. Yes, I went out a couple weeks back for a few drinks with friends and yes, I went out for lunch with a girlfriend earlier in the week, but I'm talking about taking a few moments alone and doing a little something just for me. By the end of last week, I was simply at my breaking point. I had been so stressed out from work (although I tried to not let my family see how stressed I was), my daughter starting camp for the first time and our well overdue visitor finally leaving and having to clean up after the disaster left behind, I just about had it! My back was tense and I was snapping at people for no reason (SO NOT LIKE ME). I needed a TIME OUT!

While doing a little blog hopping earlier that day, I came across a post from a fellow Domestic Diva (an an inspiring women!), where she wrote about home mani/pedis. This inspired me to search for some at home remedies and treat myself to a little spa night. Thanks to Glamour's 13 DIY At-Home Spa Tricks, I was able to find some great home treatments and I came up with a couple of my own to help me feel soothed and relaxed.

When I was done making dinner, getting my daughter showered, putting her to be and tiding up the house, it was finally time for me. I got a nice bubble bath going, placed lite tea candles all over the bathroom and a few scented candles around the bath tub (choose relaxing fragrances like vanilla or lavender, or go for your favorite fragrance- mine is lemon grass). Since it's summer, I don't have the heat running so placing my favorite lotion (Twilight Woods from Bath & Body Works) on my heater, I opted to fill the sink with hot water and submerged my lotion in the water to allow it to heat up a little. After soaking in the tub for a good half hour or so, I kind of lost track of time after a while and finally decided it was time to get out when I began to feel like a prune, I smothered myself with the heated lotion, dressed in my favorite pj's and headed downstairs for a little pedicure. With my trusty Ped Egg I removed the ruff skin and applied a generous coat of nail polish to my toe nails and relaxed with a good book while they dried. Once that was done, I applies some more lotion to my feet and put on my socks to allow my feet to soak up the lotion, leaving my feet silky smooth and looking cute as can be!