Friday Night Fun, Well Maybe Not

I spent about 30 minutes of my Friday evening making homemade laundry detergent. For less than 1 dollar I have 8 containers of laundry soap (50-62 oz each). I did get the recipe from the Duggars website, you have probably heard of the show- Meet the Duggars- the family that has 18 kids. I have probably watched the show twice and the one time I watched they were making laundry detergent. If you know me you know I like to try new things and that I am frugal. I have made the dry version and then Friday I made the liquid (better value). I think your clothes smell good and it keeps ours clean.

Liquid Soap (front load or top load)
4 cups hot tap water
1 soap bar (I use Zote because that is what I can find, they also suggest Fels Naptha)
1 cup washing soda (baking soda)
1/2 cup borax

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir constantly over medium-low heat until soap is melted and dissolved. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, soda and borax, mix until dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let set overnight. Stir in morning and fill laundry soap containers half full of soap and then the rest of the way with water. Shake before each use. Yields 10 gallons.

Top load- 5/8 Cup per load
Front load -1/4 cup per load

I only had enough containers to make 5 gallons. The zote bar is 97 cents at walmart. Such a deal.

Ultrasound

This is the last picture taken of me before we find out whether we are having a girl or a boy.

Hand up by face, thumb out!

Can you tell by this cute face?

Do you know what you are looking at?

Can you tell what we are having?

Bill had a hard time believing so we needed lots of penis pics, yes IT's A BOY!!!

We are both so excited! He looked wonderful, right on track for size and measurements and everything looked perfect!!! Thank God for all the blessings.

What a Savings!!

Most of you know that I play the grocery game, if you are still not playing you need to sign up. If you read my moms blog www.reinventingdorsey.blogspot.com you have heard all about her savings. I have been playing since some time in 2008 but I decided in 2009 to keep a close recording of my spending and savings. Before I played the grocery game I spent an average of 125 at the grocery store per week and I had no pantry. I mainly shopped for 1 week or groceries based on my meal plan or the week. Now I spend way less per week and I have a huge pantry of food and we had to buy an extra freezer! Here is my record for the year so far:

January:
Spent 536.05 Saved 241.00 Savings 45%

February:
Spent 392.83 Saved 243.31 Savings 62%

March:
Spent 462.60 Saved 202.25 Savings 44%

April:
Spent: 455.98 Saved 205.79 Savings 45%

Here is a list of all the things I have gotten free this year:
reusable shopping bag
mahatma rice mix (4)
crest toothpaste 6.4 oz (2)
French's mustard 14 oz
Colgate toothpaste (4)
trident gum
Del monte diced tomatoes
Colgate adult tooth brush
blistex lip care
Mentos gum (6)
Huggies bathwash
French's Worcestershire sauce



As you can tell from the list we have a closet full of toothpaste but it was all free! Bill is always teasing me about running out of stuff but I figure free is free and if I get too much I can always donate to the food bank or salvation army. The above grocery bill is most of our meals because we eat out very little and I pack lunch for Bill and myself. If you haven't already consider joining. If you do join please put my name down as the person who referred you and I can earn free weeks.

18 weeks Pregnant

Today I am 18 weeks along and feeling wonderful. I had an appt on Tuesday and the babies heart rate was 168. It has been high every time 168-175. Does the heart rate change any ones vote? Our ultrasound is Tuesday so we do not have to wait much longer. People continue to ask me if I have a feeling as to whether we are having a girl or a boy, the answer is no. When I was pregnant with Sydney I had no indications that she was a girl. My pregnancy has been identical to last time, no morning sickness, tired especially in the first trimester, some heartburn and always hungry!!

Happy Mother's Day

Here is a video of one of my Mother's Day cards. My day started with being able to sleep in a little. We had breakfast and read the Sunday paper. We all went for a long walk around the golf course. Sydney and I got ready and went to the grocery. Then we all went to a wonderful brunch at the club. We have spent some time outside cleaning up the yard. I have enjoyed quiet time reading in the sun room while Sydney naps. So far it has been a wonderful Mother's day.

First Trip to the Dentist

Tuesday I took the day off to take Sydney to the dentist for the first time. The office is very kid friendly and decorated in jungle theme. Sydney and I spent some time talking with the hygienist and then looking at all the tools. Sydney did not sit in the big chair this time but laid backwards across my lap with her head in the hygienist's lap and then the dentist's lap. The dentist is a lady named Dr. Stephanie Lindsay and she was wonderful. She did her undergraduate work at Kalamazoo College in MI so we talked about me being from MI. Sydney got an A+ for great teeth and I received affirmation that I am doing things correctly with regard to her teeth. Sydney did not like laying down but the rest of the visit was fun. She picked out a new blue toothbrush! Her favorite color right now is blue!

Hot Weather in North Carolina

Well last weekend brought in the first of the really hot weather, we had temps in the high 80's. The country club pool does not open for a few more weeks so we had to break down and buy a little pool. Sydney loved it, even though the water was cold she was jumping in! Bill and I are both looking forward to seeing her at the pool this summer. We are hoping she will learn to swim and continue to love the water.