Fabulous Baking Soda

Banking Soda has a ton of uses! Not just baking. I using it for scouring messes in the kitchen. Freshening up the litter box and laundry!




I bought this 5 lb bag at Sam's Club for about $5. But check your local warehouse store such as Winco. I can get bulk baking soda for about $.30/lb. So that is about 5 lbs for $1.50!! BIG savings!

I re-used an old spice container and filled it with the baking soda.


When you have a mess, such as stuck on food on pans or the counter just sprinkle on some baking soda spritz it with your vinegar/water mixture. Let sit and then wipe right off!








I also use baking soda to freshen up the litter box.

Ingredients:
~old spice container
~baking soda
~essential oil

Another re-used spice container.

Fill it up with baking soda.

drip in 10-15 drops lavender essential oils. Shake up.


This truely smells amazing. I also use it as a carpet freshener.
Sprinkle on the carpet. Vacuum up. Wala!




Lavender Essential Oil- purchase at any vitamin store.




















Always be sure to label your baking soda. This is not to be used as a baking ingredient!!



















I highly suggest this book as a great reference: Baking Soda By: Vicki Lansky

Laundry Detergent Tricks

Want to save money on your laundry bill? Not a problem! Let me explain how I save money on laundry detergent. I got this big container back in my non frugal days at walmart. I paid something like $15 for it, wow, way to much money! I have had this almost 2 years now. I will find cheap detergent on sale and just dump it in with the existing in the container. when it is almost full (say to the top of that yellow sticker) i fill the rest up with water. Shake slowly.
























Now the next thing I did was to fill this old sports drink bottle with detergent.



















This is the lid from the gigantic detergent bottle and an extra measuring spoon, a tablespoon.

For every load of laundry I add 2 tablespoons full of detergent.

For sheets and underwear type things I add 2 1/2 tablespoon and more borax.












Next is the Vinegar (Yes, I use vinegar everywhere!) This is one of those old glass bottles. I just refill it from my big jug.
**shown below**




















Refilling glass vinegar jar

















Now for every load of laundry I add a splash of vinegar. probably about 1/3 of a cup a load. Now say I forget a load in the washer and it becomes stinky, no problem! (besides the wasted detergent and energy) just add about 1/2 cup to 1 cup vinegar. Good bye stinky clothes!!!

**Also this works GREAT for that funky smell that old towels get.












I also use borax and baking soda on REALLY grimy clothes.
1/3 of a cup or so of either or will do the trick!!




Happy Laundering!

Try It Tuesday!

Ever wonder how people make all those homemade cleaners ? Well here is a lesson for you!


Start out with a spray bottle and Vinegar.


























Fill the spray bottle 2/3 of the way full. Fill the rest of it with water.














And Walla!! Vinegar is a natural disinfectant. At this water to vinegar ratio you will have a clean, germ free, chemical free home!

TIP: If the vinegar smell is too strong for you in the beginning (you'll get used to it, I promise) what I did was lessen the vinegar a tad, add a 1/3 of a cup of lemon juice (also a disinfectant) and 10 or 15 drops of essential oils (lavendar). Now I no longer do this, but it does ad a nice scent, and helps get your family adjusted to the smell of vinegar.

Treasure Tuesday!

What did you find today?

I've been a busy bee on the net today!!

1-http://www.recipematcher.com/

a great resource for kitchen savvy's! you simply type in what ingredients you already have in your cupboards and it comes back with a recipe you can make!

2- For Christmas this year I want to make soy candles for some people. I found a great how-to tutorial!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2042985_make-soy-candles.html

3- Homesteading. Nuf' said

http://www.homestead.org/index.html

Garden Update!

Frugal Freddy

That was me this weekend! Well Sunday anyway.

I made omelets.
I made bread, with the bread maker for the first time. YUMMY!!
I made cranberry chicken, supposed to be for dinner but we ate cinnamon rolls so I baked it and we ate it for lunch Monday.
I made cinnamon rolls at moms.


Wahoo!!

Monday-

no breakfast
did buy a mt dew... :(
at cranberry chicken for lunch. YUM!
Haven't decided on dinner but with grandpa not paying me my entire check.. things will be really tight around here.
Also, I believe i'm going to quite my job soon. So we have to re-adjust due to that.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

It rained, all day.

We need the rain but it was slightly depressing!

I made us homemade chicken noodle soup and homemade French bread.
I also planned out our menu for the week.

I only have a few things to pick up for the menu, and since we have $6 left to last until friday, I have to do some bargain shopping!

So far here is the menu,

cranberry chicken and mashed potatoes
raosted garlic pizza and pepperoni pizza (dough from scratch)
lasagna
tater tot casserole

Tonight, I've just got to come up with some lunches and then make some breakfast sandwiches and we will be set!

Frustration!

We went down to the farmer's market today, and I didn't want to bring my purse to hold my wallet but I didn't have any were to put it. I was utterly miserable the entire time. I've been trying to figure out how to fix my dilemma, and I found the best thing I've seen in years. 5.11. They will solve all of my problems. Not to mention they are the choice of federal, state law enforcement for over 20 years!

How much better could these pants get? Pockets galore, casual colors AND free shipping!

Frugal Find of the Week

What is it you ask?

Well I use this one as a litter box deodorizer.

Fill a container (i use an old spice jar) full of baking soda.

add 10-15 drops lavender essential oil
mix well

sprinkle over litter box and MIX IN.

Walla! Smells fantastic!

Garden 2008

Time for a Garden Update!!







Herbs!! Getting SO BIG!!


































More Herbs!!!






































My Walla Walla Onions. I don't think they are as bad as they look in the pic. They should turn out just fine.

New Format

I have a new format... We will see how this works.

Cleaning (this has to be worked on)

· Flylady zones for the month – written down in planner

· Cleaning schedule. Set up on and stick to it! Modify Flylady.

· De-clutter:

• plastics in kitchen
• kitchen towels and oven mitts
• pens - toss bad ones
• clear off top of dresser
• living room table, corner and TV area
• kitchen
• living room
• laundry room
• bathrooms
• spare bedroom
• master bedroom
• boxes of overflow kitchen stuff
• find new home for Chelsi’s litter box
• bring desk and file cabinet from mom’s for “office”

Food

· Make and follow menu

· Create 2 week rotation (maybe a month?)

· Follow perpetual pantry

· Shop at Farmer’s Market- Opens May 3^rd 9am -1pm

· Plan lunches for us so we don’t have to buy them

Projects

· send old leash back with receipt

· return humidifier to walmart

· check on rebates

· post virtual garage sale

· fix vacuum

· do inspection

· list trades/RAK

· call inter emergency physicians about bill from accident

· get rid of dryer

· get a hold of Rafael

· Make Mother’s Day Card

· Create list of things to sell or list on craigslist, freecycle, virtual garage sale

· Plan the next day the night before

Christmas Projects

• Set up Christmas Planner
• Make master gift list
• My sister's photo albums
• Rag quilt

Reading

• “Organizing from the Inside Out”
• SHE

Financial

• Buy rechargeable batteries next time.
• Shop for: chest freezer, crock pot
• Set up Renters insurance and take pictures and serial numbers
• Meet with bank to go over credit thing.
• Fill out power of attorney’s
• Compare new and old credit reports
• Plan only 1 or 2 days to stay in Idaho Falls at night.
• Set budget together
• Use budget binder and jar system
• Write down what bills are due when
• Set up office in a box in file drawer by computer
• Re-organize bill files in office
• Write down every purchase I make

Health

• Walk/exercise 30 minutes a day.
• Start new 50 lbs in 5 months diet
• No more mt dew as of May 1^st.

Challenges

· May- Begin Flylady, No Mt Dew, No eating out

· June- Pantry Poverty

I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR!

I am participating in the WOMAN challenge along with some other ladies from Mommysavers!! It begins May 11th. This free eight week challenge encourages women and girls to walk 10,000 steps or get 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day. The WOMAN Challenge begins on Mother's Day, May 11, and ends on July 5, 2008. (taken from Woman Challenge website.)

It is going to be great! If you would like more information about how to join us in the Mommysavers group please email or send me a comment!

To Grand Mother's House We Go---

Tyler, Sierra and I went to Grandma's house today.. It was a nice visit. Not much to report, They seem to be doing well.

Ya know when I have a hard time being frugal, I think of my grandma.. That women doesn't know anything but Frugality. She's amazed that I drink Mt dew every day. She would simply DIE if she knew how much we eat out. I must keep her in my thoughts more when faced with a dilemma.

When we left Preston, at 6:30.. Tyler decided he wanted to drive to Salt Lake City to go and have dinner with his dad. I was really frustrated at first, but I'm very glad we went. I got to meet his real dad, Sierra got to meet a cancer research doctor (Tyler's dad!!) and Tyler got to see his dad. We didn't get home until 2 am but it was well worth it.

Now back to normal life.
De cluttering
Unpacking
Cleaning
Gardening
Oh my!

Half Empty? Half Full?

Its kind of funny how life is.

One day it is horrible.
The next it is amazing.

Since the beginning of March I didn't have much hope about anything. I was in a very bad mood all the time, I didn't want to be anywhere.
We were just left with nothing.

However, this weekend, We started moving saturday. We only had one load moved by 10pm. It was just to much for DH and I to do ourselves. I was so frustrated that I couldn't do more to help. I was up half the night because I was so upset. That night I enlisted Sierra to help the next morning.

I drove into I.F. to get her, We dropped DH off at the house in Ucon and Sierra and I went up to the new house to move the 1 load we had dumped in the living room. It took us an hour and half to do this. By this time it was noon, and I just wanted to give up. How were we going to move the rest of the house with no help? I can't lift our couch or the washer and dryer or the dresser! What are we going to do? I kept asking myself...

As we drove back to Ucon to load the trailer with DH I was so overwhelmed with frustration and anger and sadness I didn't know what to do... I turned the car onto 108th and to my surprise there sat Tonya, Brooke and McKenzie!!! I WAS OVER JOYED!! We didn't even ask for them to help! We loaded the trailer in record time!! I was so thrilled.

Tonya bought us lunch, we didn't have enough money to really buy lunch and I think she could sense that... and then she called Bob and he helped with the heavy lifting! Oh my, how can I ever re-pay them for there help!! Such wonderful, amazing, awesome people to help us!!

So we are all moved in, it is a disaster area BUT we are moved in!

Life Is Going So Well!

Tuesday I had a lot of drive!

I went to Wells Fargo, thinking that I would only be able to open a savings account because of my credit and such. The nice banker man informed me "Ms. Henderson, you can have a checking account."
"wha?" i said! So I am on my journey to becoming who I was!

Well, I called Honda Wednesday to make my payment of $150.00.
At this rate I would be paying on that damn car for 2 1/2 more years!!! ugg.. I don't think so, I can't handle it anymore. I HATE MAKING THAT PAYMENT!!!

So, I got talking to the guy at Honda and he was like well I can give you a settlement of $2000.00 instead of $4000.00 that you owe. I said well I can't afford anything but the $150.00 right now, he said that was fine and put everything together were i will pay 3 $616 payments starting May 16th and ending July 16th.

It is a lot of money, but I planned on refinancing the Jetta in July, so to have made on time payments AND to have my stupid re-po off my credit will look AMAZING!!! OOH! I'm so excited.

All I have to do is talk to DH and tell him he has to make the rent payment May-July. Which if he has a problem with, he can kiss my ass, i've paid his rent for over 2 years... so its high time he pulls his weight around here!!


ALSO: I did my taxes.. I will be getting back $985! HELLO EMERGENCY FUND!!!!
Oh i'm so excited!!!

Oh, it is so funny how life turns so quickly!

We Are No Longer Homeless!!!

We signed a lease last night!! We will be living in Rigby.

I've made peace with it. I still have an Idaho Falls mailbox so I won't have to have 1J plates haha!

We will start moving this weekend. It will be so nice to not have to live out of boxes anymore!!

Ya for us!

My Garden!!

So I thought I'd share some pictures. No only to share but sort of as a timeline of how things are growing for future reference. So here they are!




Chives!!




















Lettuce






















This is our Parsley, Basil and Oregano





















Swiss Chard





















And this is a tulip I bought, I heart Tulips!!

My Goals

So I had great intentions on January 1st to change this year. So far its gone ok.. but I really want to buckle down and take some accountability!!

So without Further Ado..

Goals

1. Lose 100 lbs. This is not unhealthy. I am overweight.







2. Have $1000 by September 1st. This is very attainable.. I just need to try harder!!



3. Get out of debt. This one is considerably harder. BUT, I'm focused and I really Really want this one!! So here is total Debt. No discounts, No what ifs. This would change at any time.

I Sowed.. My seeds that is!

Planted my geraniums, and my garden this last weekend! wahoo!! So hopefully they all grow well, so we can cut down on our grocery budget!

I checked on the swiss chard this morning AND its already about a 1/2 inch tall!! Oh i LOVE spring!!

My Birthday- This does tie into Simple Living!

So Saturday was my 22 birthday! Wow! i'm So old!! haha

Anywho, we had dinner with Mom's side of the family at Olive Garden, YUM!

DH got me 2 1/2 dozen roses, Ahh!!

and a deep freezer!!!

Do you know how awesome this is going to be!! I'm SOOO excited to move and get our house together and actually have a HOME!

Very productive weekend

We had a great weekend!

Sunday DH and I cleaned, together!! We got mostly everything done. I don't dread going home now.

Now the challenge is to keep it clean lol.

i only have about 3 loads of laundry left. i'm so excited!!!

A little at a time.

on the spending less front, we have done AWEFUL..

i think we have eaten out everyday for the past week.

this week we are changing that though. none more.

ha! see i told myself!! lol i hope it sticks.. i'm sure gonna try!

Checkin In

I haven't felt real Bloggy lately. Not sure why, just not much to talk about.

I haven't done any FL routines.

I haven't hardly cleaned anything.

I haven't done anything.

I don't get to go to Linkin Park, so i'm not really that happy.

Blah, that is all I feel.

I have spent money that i shouldn't have.

I have lost a lot of motivation to better myself.

Maybe (well i'm hoping) that by writing all this down, that i will gain motivation once again.

Menu Plan Mondays!!

So this is the first time I will be participating in Menu Plan Monday!! I'm so excited, I've been subscribed to Laura's blog for about a year now. So this is big!! Please check her out at orgjunkie.com

So here is my menu for this week!

Monday-
Lunch- goulash
Dinner- chicken tenders and fries

Tuesday-
Lunch- LO
Dinner-lemon herb roasted chicken

Wednesday-
Lunch- egg salad sandwich
Dinner-meat stuffed shells and potato crispers

Thursday-
Lunch-LO
Dinner- beef stroganoff

Friday-
Lunch- LO
Dinner- cranberry chicken

Saturday-
Lunch- homemade mac and cheese
Dinner- porkchop casserole

Sunday-
Lunch- breakfast
Dinner-roast, potatoes and corn

Jackpot!

Last night we went to fort hall with MIL and FIL. Dh decided to break $50 into $5 bills. his money..whatever.. so we blow about $15 then walk around... he sits down at this turkey shoot machine. there's an extra chair so I sit down to watch him play. He hits bonus round after bonus round and a 13x multiplier.. then it comes up 1450 x 13x... holy crap do you know who much money that is! $189!!! so all said and done he put $5 in and he walked away with $229!!! i still can't believe it!

Living the not so simple life

Well this month hasn't gone so well, I feel.

The weekend of feb 8th-10th we went my the in-laws to a cabin in Island Park. It was nice and relaxing. I feel a lot more unwound, even today, being back 3 days.. so that is good.

The not so good part... my house is a disaster!!... seriously, the cleaning spree I went on the weekend before left no mark or dent in the mess. It is so frustrating..

One frugal thing I did this week, and just about the only frugal thing is I made chicken roll ups by hand last night. EVERYTHING!

I made the dough for the crescent rolls.
I cooked the raw chicken (on a bone, might I add..)
I even made cream of chicken soup, from scratch!

and it turned out AWESOME!!!

tonight i'm making crockpot ranch chicken that i'll put over egg noodles. YUM!

Cleaning...

This is one of my biggest challenges.

I'm not sure why, exactly..

I've really been trying to stick to my flylady routine.

She says just to do a little at a time, but I feel as though I'm getting no-were..

Its very frustrating.

So friday at work, I was browsing online and found this site called cindy'sporch.com
She had this "Rediscover your Home"

I printed them out and put them in a binder, and told myself that "I will do all of them this weekend" Hoping that if i started with a clean slate that doing the flylady routine, would come a bit easier.

It is now 4 pm saturday afternoon, I have accomplished a lot, but you can hardly tell a difference. It is so frustrating. Why can't I get motivated?

Dh gets off work in 1 hour... and the house is no were near what I wanted it to look like.

I guess I'll get my ass off the computer and "super clean" through this list..

Depression Era

I discussed this with some of the members on Mommysavers.. but it really got me thinking about how people used to live back then. How everything had to be so simple, because they had nothing. In a way, I kind of wish this would happen. Simply because it would bring the world back down to earth..so to speak.

I actually have started doing much of the things my grandma does, to save money, and make my life simpler.

I cook from scratch, and I love it :)
Save bacon fat (to make dog biscuits)
Save containers(for leftovers)
Drying rack(i don't air dry ALL of our clothes, but pretty close)
Powdered milk (my grandma didn't do this, but i LOVE it for cooking!!)
buy cow and pig to have killed and always have meat available.
Clean with Vinegar and baking soda(SOOOO much cheaper!! and works soo much better)
turn everything off at the breaker that we are not using at the moment, heaters, washer, dryer, etc.
Buying in bulk


I'm sure there are more, but this is all I have come up with.

Times were much simpler then, I wish we could go back, I really do.

a sad realization...

So I can not sleep, so as DH sleeps, I sit in the dimly lite living room going over my budget...

I have come to a sad realization.
As much money that coupons are saving me, I will no longer be using them.

Why you ask?

Somehow in my saving frenzy, I did not factor in all the EXTRA money I was spending.

and I mean EXTRA!!!!!!

Oh Boy!!!

So I will no longer be using them, expect to Roll Rebates at Walgreens and Riteaid.

which with all the money I have spent, I can just use the rebate money from the previous rebates. No More OOP...

Well with the exception of the coupons I use for food. can't beat free food!

I actually think I'm in mourning over this lose.

But it is a sacrifice that must be made, for the sake of the frugal life.

Ever heard of "to much of a good thing?"

well that is what is going on! lol

Welcome To My Life

Since I am seriously trying to simplify my life and become as frugal as possible, I thought that I needed a separate blog to document this. I'm actually not quite sure what this blog will in tale, But it should be interesting!