Homemade Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin

I started using this because my son had eczema. We were going through expensive All Free and Clear detergent very quickly, but he was still breaking out. When I found this recipe, it not only cleared his skin, but I make about a year's worth of laundry detergent for under $20.


Homemade Laundry Detergent


Materials needed:

• Snapware Airtight Storage Container (must be airtight or it will clump!)
• Measuring Cup
• Grater

Ingredients:

• 2 bars Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Soap - Grated
• 2 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda 
• 2 cup Dry Powdered Borax
• 2 cups of Oxi-Clean Free and Clear Powdered (Optional)

1. Grate 2 bars Fels Naptha Laundry Soap 
I bought a cheap cheese grater  and plastic shoe box from dollar store and use exclusively for grating the soap and storing my soap making tools. If you grate the Fels Naptha soap pieces too big, they won't dissolve, so do not rush this step. A friend tried this recipe and she said she used her food processor but the pieces were too big and did not dissolve. Sometimes I grate them, then use my fingers to break into crumbles.

2. Add in other powdered ingredients 
I also bought a cheap measuring cup from dollar store that I use exclusively  for soap making because Borax is toxic to ingest.

3. Mix Well in an air-tight container Container must be air tight or it will harden with big clumps. I use a Snapware Airtight Storage Container with locking lids, that is also leak proof. The air tight container will prove even more useful because you can put the lid on and just shake.  If you are making a double batch you may have to stir just a bit.

4. Use 1 1/2 Tbsp for an Extra Large Load in a Non High Efficiency Washer (see below if you have High efficiency washer).  Experiment with a load of towels to see if you can get away with just using 1 1/2 TBSP in your washer.

I have heard some people complain it doesn't melt in cold water, but since I ONLY use cold water to wash clothes the temp of the water is not the problem. If the soap flakes are not dissolving, you are not using enough water and/or stuffing your washer too full, or are using too much soap.   High Efficiency washers do not use as much water as older washers. If you have a high efficiency washer you will need to use less detergent.

Thank you for using Affiliate Links.  They help keep the blog open, at no extra cost to you.

Lattice Privacy Fence-adding height to a short fence

We put a privacy fence around 3 sides of our yard last Spring.  The 4th side was a neighbor who we liked and already had a nice short 4 foot fence.  That neighbor unfortunately had to move.  Since we don't know who will be moving in, the neighbor gave us permission to extend his fence up a little bit before he sells it. We have been wanting this for while because there is a restaurant with outdoor patio two doors down.  You can also see in the Before picture that we could see the restaurant's dumpster from our backyard.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

Instead of digging new posts and putting a brand new fence in, we extended the existing posts.

Homeschool Portfolio-What to Keep

If you are like me, your kids have about a million drawings by the end of school year. 

This portfolio enables me to keep some major pieces, but doesn't allow for hoarding. We also live in INDIANA, where homeschool laws do no dictate we keep a portfolio.

We also have a Homeschool picture Album, so I don't have to keep all the pictures in the file folder.

Materials for simple Portfolio File Folder:

• 13 Good quality hanging folders- Labeled Preschool through 12th grade
• Large Plastic file folder with lid 
• sharpie and stencils for child's name on front (or print  and use contact paper adhere to bin)

Preschool Folder

• Picture Album of Field Trips (PRINT THESE & date, you will regret it if you don't)
•  Any cards the boys made me( lot of times they dictated to my husband something super sweet).
• Hand Print art for later size comparison & accompanied by sentimental ooh and ahhs. :)
• One example of First milestones, like first picture of a face, or first time they wrote their names.
• A piece that was an example of a certain obsession, like when they only drew dragons for a month. 

Kindergarten

• Pictures of them on first day of school and on last day.
• Small Picture album of field trips (thin plastic from Dollar Tree)
• Samples of handwriting from beginning of year and from end of year
• Example of math page (a chart or something artsy & fun)
• Any Books they made; We made a Creation book, seasons of an apple tree, and other unit based books.
• Kindergarten Diploma
• Example of an art phase, like when they drew dump trucks all year.
• Any cards they made you.

Elementary Grades 

• Printed pictures of them on first day of school and on last day
• Small Picture album of field trips (thin plastic from Dollar Tree)
• Samples of handwriting from beginning of year and from end of year (especially for lower Elem)
• Final Math Test (there is no need to keep all their worksheets)
• Books they make (example- we turned Draw, Write, Now Pages into a book)
• Any Cards they made me
• Binder from the year's unit study (We use My Father's World, and each year has a theme, with a corresponding binder to keep work)
• Example of an art phase 

Junior High Grades 

• Printed Pictures of them on first day of school and on last day
• Their writing prompts or writing notebook (very fun to read stories they wrote)
• Final Math Test (there is no need to keep all their worksheets)
• Any Cards they made me
• Binder from the year's unit study (We use My Father's World, and each year has a theme, with a corresponding binder to keep work)
• ONE Example of an art phase or special subject they studied

Homeschool in Indiana

Kindergarten Graduation.

The boys and Mommy had a great first official year of Homeschooling.  Kindergarten graduation was a must,.  I almost did some cap and gowns and pomp and circumstance, then thought better of it.  We decided to make just a fun family night to celebrate our first successful year of learning together as family  (and Mommy/Teacher needed something low-key that I didn't have to cook or plan too much). For dinner we went to Pizza Hut and used our last Homeschool Book It Gift certificate.  Each boy enjoyed their own personal pan pizza (and mommy enjoyed the free food she didn't have to cook)


Then we followed with dessert at Ritter' Frozen Custard.  It was a great night for all!  Nothing beats their Worms 'N' Dirt for kids (Chocolate custard, Crushed Oreos, and gummy worms!)






I also made diplomas.  I was planning on having the boys dictate their answers to me, but they were adamant about filling out the diploma themselves! We filled these out before we went out to dinner, and showed Daddy when we got home.  They were very proud of themselves:) A little stamping ink on their hands and we have a keepsake to keepsake in our home-school binders/portfolios!

Indulgence

Definition of Indulgence in Webster's dictionary is to:  

a : to give free rein to
b : to take unrestrained pleasure in .

I must MUST remember this on days I think I DESERVE indulgence. God never wants us to give "free reign to" anything in our lives except Him! 

 

Kids Eat Free (or almost free)- Mishawaka/South Bend/Granger

This of course is not a complete or perfect list, but as many restaurants I could find.  Comment below if you have any restaurants to add or correct so I can share with other families!

I recommend CALLING AHEAD to make sure the restaurant has not changed their policy.

Updated to the best of my knowledge 4/30/15

MONDAY

• Flat Top Grill in UP Mall- Kids 10 and under eat for free all day, limited to one child per adult entree purchased
•  TGIFriday’s: —Kids eat free, though offers vary by location.
• IHOP -Daily- Kids eat for free from 3 -8 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Ponderosa in Town and Country Plaza in Mishawaka- Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Chick Fil A on Michigan Street in South Bend- Bring in Sunday's church bulletin get a free chicken sandwich when you buy an original chicken sandwich.
• Main  Street Pub- Kids Eat Free. 2046 S Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. 
• Golden Corral: Kids 10 and under eat free from 5-9 pm. Two kids per adult. Kids 3 and under are always free.

TUESDAY

• Fazolis in Mishawaka on McKinley-99 cents kids meal with purchase of adult meal, 5-8pm
• Bob Evans - Kids eat free. One child per adult. 12 and under. 4pm-close
• Famous Dave's- Kids eat free with purchase of adult meal
• IHOP- Kids eat for free from 3-10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• TGIFriday’s- Kids eat for free all day, limited to two kids per adult. though offers vary by location.
• Ponderosa- Kids eat free from 4pm to close. You can get up to 2 free kids’ meals with each adult entree purchased. 
• Beef O Brady's in Granger- Kids eat free 4-8pm with purchase of adult entree. 1 child per adult
• Main  Street Pub- Kids Eat Free. 2046 S Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

WEDNESDAY

•  Roc’s- Down town Mishawaka.  Kid’s night after 4pm
•  Legends of Notre Dame -free kids meals on Wednesday nights.
• Buffalo Wild Wings- 1.99 kids meals 5pm-8pm 12/under dine in only
• IHOP- Kids eat for free from 3- 10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Ponderosa - Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Main  Street Pub- Kids Eat Free. 2046 S Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

THURSDAY

• IHOP -Daily- Kids eat for free from 3 -10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Perkin's Restaurant & Bakery- Kids Eat Free with purchase of adult entree. 4pm-8pm.
• Ponderosa - Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

FRIDAY

• IHOP -Daily- Kids eat for free from 3 -10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Ponderosa - Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

SATURDAY

• IHOP -Daily- Kids eat for free from 3 -10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Steak-n-Shake- Kids Eat Free all day. One free kid's plate per $8 spent.
• Ponderosa - Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.

SUNDAY

• IHOP -Daily- Kids eat for free from 3 -10 pm, limited to one child per adult entree
• Granite City Food & Brewery- Kids eat free with adult entree purchase. 5pm-close.
• Steak-n-Shake- Kids Eat Free all day. One free kid's plate per $8 spent.
• Ponderosa - Kids 3 and under eat for 99 cents all day
• Main  Street Pub- Kids Eat Free. 2046 S Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46637
• Cici’s Pizza: Daily—Kids 3 and under eat free. Ask server for specific details.