Inexpensive Home Fragrance

Here is a great way to keep your home smelling delicious during the holidays!

Directions

• Bring a saucepan full of water to a boil, then add the ingredients from a recipe of your choice.  Bring the water and ingredients to a boil, maintain the boil for a few minutes then turn down the heat and simmer all day.  Just be sure to add water as needed. 
• Caution: Set your timer for 30 minutes so you remember to top up with water. You don’t want the pot burning dry. Do not leave the house with this left heating on the stove.

Recipe 1- Christmas Potpourri Simmering Pot

3 sprigs evergreen or handful pine needles
2 cinnamon sticks
2 TBS whole cloves
2 bay leaves
2 pieces orange rind
2 pieces lemon rind

Recipe 2-

Cinnamon sticks
Apple peels
Orange rinds
Whole cloves

Recipe 3-

Peel from 1 lemon
Peel from 1 orange
2 bay leaves
3 cinnamon sticks
2 TBS whole cloves

Recipe 4-

Apple juice
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves

Recipe 5-

Whole cloves
1 tsp nutmeg

Recipe 6-

5 to 6 cinnamon sticks, broken
1 tbsp. lemon peel
1 tbsp. orange peel
1/2 c. whole cloves
1 tbsp. nutmeg
1/4 c. whole allspice
1 tbsp. bay leaf pieces
2 slices dried apples, optional

Recipe 7-

Peel from a whole orange
Whole cloves
2 Cinnamon sticks

Recipe 8-

Recipe 9-

6 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp vanilla

Recipe 10-

2 sticks cinnamon
Peel from one lemon
Fresh rosemary
Whole cloves

Adorable Post-it Note Holders

Look at how ADORABLE these custome post-it note holders are!  I absolutely love this idea becaue it is inexpensive, practical, and SO cute!  Check out the full tutorial at sistersstuff.blogspot.com, and if this isn’t enough, make sure to check out Whitney’s cute cookie mix neighbor gift idea.

Pottery Barn Inspired Wreath

I know, I know, how GEOURGOUS right?  Well, if you have an extra $80 buckaroos to smack down at the Pottery Barn, this little beauty can be all yours! 

Yeah, me neither!

Well, another alternative I found is this STUNNING d.i.y. version. 

Head over to Made with Love and Glue to see the tutorial.  She managed to make hers for a budget friendly $4.00!!  I would TOTALLY spend that to have something so fabulous hanging on my front door!

Oh, and a side note.  I know I have already posted about  the gifts in a jar, but I found this cute idea to go along the same lines:

Click HERE to see the full story!

Giving Thanks

First of all, I want to say Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope that you save bundles of money this weekend on all of your Christmas wants and needs.  Second of all, I wanted to share a few thoughts about Thanksgiving :

Is it just me, or does it seem like this year the Christmas decorations began popping up BEFORE Halloween was even over?  The commercialism of the Christmas season seems to be overpowering many beautiful things about the Holidays, including Thanksgiving.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the Christmas season, but I think it’s a little bit sad that we skip over the one holiday that is dedicated to being mindful of the things we have to be thankful for.

I believe that celebrating Thanksgiving as a time of reflection and maybe even soul searching about the things we are truly thankful for, is vital.

I am willing to bet that for one reason or another, this year has been  hard for many people.  I know it’s been hard for us at times.  But I have found that it is during the hard times that being thankful is the most important.

I am thankful for having to tighten our belts a bit when it comes to spending.  That has helped me learn the value of hard work, and more importantly, it has shown me what things are really important.  Most of the time the things that are important aren’t things.

I am thankful that my husband has been working long hours to provide for our family.  That has helped me realize how much I love to have him around, and what a valiant man he is.

Finally, I am thankful that my kids argue, while politeness is a virtue, I am so glad that they are passionate people.  When channeled in the right avenues, I know that will take them far.

I’m thankful for the noise that accompanies that passion because it reminds me that my hous isn’t empty and I’m not alone.

So, I would like to encourage youto think about the things that might be making your life difficult, then think about how you can learn to be grateful for them.  It may just change your life.

Money Saving Solutions

I know that by now most everybody has heard about “Black Friday.”  The day after Thanksgiving when people brave the cold to stand in line for hours in the wee hours of the morning in order to get elbowed, stepped on, and sworn at.   Why on earth would they do such a thing?  Money, Money, Money.  Shoppers everywhere save loads of money by heading out early in the morning on Black Friday to get their Christmas shopping done.  Crazy?  Yes.  Worth it?  Perhaps.

But have you ever heard of Cyber Monday?  Cyber Monday is the following Monday, and traditionally that is the day that many online retailers slash their prices, offering great savings.

One company, which only occasionally has sales is The Diaper Bag Diva.  Sources say that their popular JP Lizzy line of diaper bags will be dramatically reduced which could make for a great Christmas present.

Or, you could try, The Diaper Bag Center  which offers a ton of great ideas for baby gifts.  Perfect for the expectant mother, or little baby on your shopping list.

Be on the lookout for bargains!

AH-Some Carmel Sauce!!

How cute are these?!  I think they would make great gifts, paired with a bunch of apples, or even some ice cream.  Who doesn’t love carmel sauce.  Michelle over at This Crazy Life, made these adorable labels that you can download and print for free!  She also included the recipe for some sweet and tasty carmel sauce.  Seriously it just doesn’t get any better.

Gifts in a Jar

It seems like every year I end up spending more time trying to find simple gifts for my neighbors, kids’ teachers, and co-workers thank anything else.  I always want something inexpensive yet cute or practical.  Gifts in a jar are great ideas!  They can be as individual and unique or simple and cost effective as you want to make them.

I found some great ideas at Organized Christmas.Com

Here are a few recipe ideas :

Brownies in a jar:

Homemade Laundry Detergent

It seems like everybody I talk to is looking for ways to cut back and save a little cash.  Unfortunately that is exactly what a lot of us are left with, “a little cash.” I think that most people start with the obvious things, like not eating out, being less frivolous on material things, and even giving up some favorite outings, but what happens when all of the “extras” are cut and you are still left a little short on cash?  Well, my goal is to help you find ways to save on the necessities.

One thing that we just can’t escape, (Heaven knows I wish I could) seems to be laundry.  It seems like I am constantly burning through bottles or boxes of laundry detergent.  So, I have found 10 recipes for homemade laundry soap.

I’m not going to lie, at first I was skeptic, but these detergents really do work! 

10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes

Courtesy of Tipnut

Recipe #1

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

• Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
• Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
• Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
• Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).

Recipe #2

Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar

• Grate the bar soap and add to a large saucepan with hot water. Stir over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
• Fill a 10 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the melted soap, Borax and Washing soda, stir well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water.
• Use 1 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

Recipe #3

Hot water
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/3 bar Soap (grated)

• In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
• In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
• Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

Powdered Laundry Detergent – Recipe #4

2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (you could also try Ivory)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

• Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
• Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

Recipe #5

Hot water
1 bar (4.5 oz) Ivory Soap – grated
1 cup Washing Soda

• In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is melted.
• Fill a large pail with 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot soap mixture. Stir until well mixed.
• Then add the washing soda, again stirring until well mixed.
• Set aside to cool.
• Use 1/2 cup per full load, stirring well before each use (will gel)

Recipe #6

2.5 gallons Water (hot)
1 Bar soap (grated)
3/4 cup Washing Soda
3/4 cup Borax
2 TBS Glycerin

• Melt bar soap over medium-low heat topped with water, stir until soap is melted.
• In a large pail, pour 2.5 gallons of hot water, add melted soap mixture, washing soda, borax and glycerin. Mix well.
• Use 1/2 cup per full load.

Recipe #7

2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Washing Soda
2 – 2.5 gallons hot water

• Melt grated soap in saucepan with water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is dissolved.
• Pour hot water in large pail, add hot soap and washing soda. Stir very well.
• Use 1 cup per full load.

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.

Powdered Laundry Detergent – Recipe #9

12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated)

• Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
• Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

Recipe #10 – (Powdered)

1 cup Vinegar (white)
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup liquid castile soap

• Mix well and store in sealed container.
• I find it easiest to pour the liquid soap into the bowl first, stirred in the washing soda, then baking soda, then added the vinegar in small batches at a time (the recipe foams up at first). The mixture is a thick paste at first that will break down into a heavy powdered detergent, just keep stirring. There may be some hard lumps, try to break them down when stirring (it really helps to make sure the baking soda isn’t clumpy when first adding). I used 1/2 cup per full load with great results.

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.