Dishwashing Detergent DIY

In an effort to make my home chemical free AND save money for my growing family...I have been trying different recipes to try and replace our most expensive products.

We had a baby last year and that means bottles....lots and lots of bottles which in turn ment lots and lots of dishes.

We have a pretty good dishwasher, not top of the line but gets the job done as long as you have a good detergent.
Good Detergent means $$$.

I have made two batches of this, cost me pennys per load!! Each batch lasted about two weeks...but we are washing dishes and a load of bottles every day. The average one load a day house hold may last 3 weeks to 4.

When my little one was born i had enough presence of mind to save all those formula scoops but they can be purchased new on amazon.

Below is two formulas, the original posted by Young Living and mine. Both are essentially the same the main difference is I dont like the smell of Purification EO.  It cleans amazingly well in the dish washer so i reduce the amount and add other EOs to cover the smell.

Original Young Living Recipe

1/2 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/8 cup Citric Acid
30 Drops Purification Oil
1 quart Glass Jar

Mix all in glass jar, close lid and shake.
Use 1-2tps per load ( about 1 scoop)

My Adapted Version
1/2 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/8 cup Citric Acid
7 Drops Purification EO
7 Drops Orange EO
7 Drops Lime EO
7 Drops Lemon EO
7 Drops Citrus Fresh EO  (optional, sometimes i leave it out)
1 quart Glass Jar

Mix all in glass jar, close lid and shake.
Use 1-2tps per load ( about 1 scoop)

Broccoli Salad

I love it when a recipe has a flexible ingredient list, is healthy and my kids will eat.  I love how I can change this to fit what I have instead of a trip to the store.  I also love that I can make this and for lunches (we almost always pack them with Turkey Pinwheels recipe can be found here) and it stays crunchy.

Broccoli Salad

Sauce Recipe
1 Cup Low Fat Mayo
1 Cup Low Fat Greek yogurt ( I use Vanilla flavored or Lemon)
2 tbsp. Orange Juice or Lemon Juice (Optional)

Salad
1 Large bag of frozen broccoli & cauliflower
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup raisins ( I bought the bag of raisins and cranberries)
1/4 cup Chopped Nuts
1/2 cup seedless grapes cut in half
6 strips of crispy bacon cut into pieces (or you can use bacon bits)
1/2 cup shredded cheese
1/2 Sliced onion ( This is option, we don't like onions so we don't use it)

In a pan on the stove bring 6-8 cups of water to a boil.
Once boiling put in broccoli & cauliflower for 3 mins
While boiling get a boil of ice water
After 3 mins with a slotted spoon  remove Broccoli & Cauliflower and place in ice water bowl for 3 mins.  After 3 mins remove to bowl

This cooks the broccoli, the ice water stops the cooking process and leaves the broccoli done but still crunchy.

Once done mix sauce recipe together and combine will all ingredients.

I usually pour sauce over after I have mixed everything together, I don't always use all the sauce.

Store fridge up to 5 days, Enjoy!

Turkey PinWheels / Roll Ups

My oldest is pre diabetic so we are constantly working on making healthy low glycemic lunches for school.

I stumbled upon this pin wheel / roll up recipe, its super yummy!!

1 package of Misson 100% Whole Wheat Burrito tortillas
1 block of low fat cream cheese
1 package of dry Hidden Valley Ranch
1lb of shaved Turkey Lunch meat
( we bought what ever was on sale at the deli)

Set Cream Cheese out and bring to room temp

Mix cheese and ranch together until well blended.

Spread a good amount on the tortilla cover with one layer of lunch meat. Roll up

Let sit in fridge 2hrs before slicing and serving.

Continue until you run out of ingredients

Monthly Bible Study

My goal is to one day read through the entire Bible, so for 2019 I am going to do it by one verse at a time every day! Who don't want to spend time in Gods word every day! Its a great way to see what God has in store for you to learn each month!  Again these are not of my creation but of those by Sweet Blessings.

I started this post in 2015 and have upated it monthly (well almost monthly) for the past 4 year. Hope you enjoy!

(Pictures is example of one month, all 12 months below)

Links for Each Month Individually and all together are listed below as well as Blank Scripture Writing Form AND bonus Scripture Writing by topic . Updated Monthly so Check back Often

January                   

February                    

March                      

Lent

April                          

May                         

June                        

July                           

August                    

September               

October                   

November              

December              

Scripture Writing by Topic (also Sweet Blessings)

 

Peace                                  Attributes of God

Kindness                             Light

Courage                              Self Control

Lent                                    Waiting on God

Grace                                  Wisdom

Friendship                          Relationships

Grief                                   Faith

Obedience                          Worship

Rest and Sabbath                Hope

Strength                              God is Sovereign

Prayer                                 God is my Refuge                    

Joy                                      God's Promises

Who I am in Christ             Serving Others       

Names of God                    Purpose

Encouragement                  Comparison and Envy

Health and Healing            Birth of Christ

Psalms                                Contentment

My Comforter                    God Can Make a Way

Miracles                             Attibutes of God

Blank Scripture Writing Form can be found Here


Or Print them all Here


Again these are all the creation of Sweet Blessings Blog.

In Shower Body Lotion/ Wet Skin Lotion

 

Saving time getting ready and saving money is always a must, so companies spend a great amount of time and money trying to save us time and money.
Ironic huh?

 

Well I purchased two products that help with that and moisturize my skin. Two birds one stone kinda thing. Mainly because the commercials make it seem so easy!  Just shower, moisturize and done!

 

In all truth I went to my local big box store to purchase the Nivea one because that's the only commercial I had viewed at that point but upon arriving with my very chatty preteen I had completely forgotten which one I was looking for and purchased the Jergens.

 

Once home my preteen informed me that I had indeed purchased the wrong one, so I said oh well and started using it.  Later in the week I was at my Pharmacy and picked up the Nivea.

 

Before I give my opinion I must state that I have oily skin, but my legs and arms are often dry. I do not like lotion due to the "oily" or greasy feeling that I get when using it. I almost always only use lotion right before bed so I can sleep while its working and I don't have to feel the oiliness of it.

 

Nivea In Shower Body Lotion

Price:  Less than 6.00

How to Use Product: Shower as normal, apply product, then wash off

Warnings : Can leave residue on bottom of tub/shower so a fall risk is possible. Bottle states to wash off bottom of tub after use.

Sticky or Oily Feeling?: YES!!! Oily feeling for sure! I didn't like the way it felt at all.

Final Review:  While my skin felt more moisturized with this product and lasted much longer than the Jergens I don't like the fall risk or oily feeling.  Its a personal thing for me, so this is a product I wouldn't buy again.  I actually gave it to my preteen to use.

 

Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer

Price:  Less than 5.00

How to Use Product: Shower as normal, while still wet apply lotion and towel off

Warnings : Since this product can be used outside of the shower/tub the risk is small

Sticky or Oily Feeling?: NO!

Final Review: While my skin was moisturized, the product did not last as long as Nivea.  Though that's a let down there is no oily feeling, no slip risk its a product I will buy again and use every day. I really like this product

 

So the winner? Jergens!

 

 

I was not paid, asked or solicited to review these products. Its something someone asked me personally and since I felt so passionate about my response I decided to do a blog post.  

 

 

 

 

 

06/15/2016 Update

Its summer time where I live and we have the most awful amount of humidity!

That being said I still stand by my earlier choice of Jergens WetSkin as the best of the two. While Nivea did last longer, in this humid summer heat...it feels horrible on my skin. Jergens goes on and no after feel.

Also I have to say...that Nivea might be great for the winter time dryness,due to it lasting longer. Since I dislike a lot about the product it will be my last resort (personal opinion), for others it may be perfect.

 

6 Months later and my winner is still Jergens.

Thank you

I have been lazy over the past two years in my blogging, had a rough pregnancy and now a 10 month old. So needless to say I have had my hands full.

My blog normally gets 30 views a month, and I rarely check the stats on this...I just get on blog and get off.

Today for some reason I went to look for a specific post to edit it, upon that I noticed one of my post had 911 views! Its only been up for 10 days!! Then I got to my stats and it says I had 1,298 views in the last 30 days. WOW!!

So thank you for coming, stopping by checking out my stuff. It means a lot to know that someone some ware is reading, doing a bible study or cooking something I posted.

Thanks,
CG

The Road to Christmas Bible Study with Guide and Reading Plan

 

 

***2021 Update***

This post has gained a lot of traffic lately and I hope it blesses you as it did me. Due to Drives Security Changes it keeps asking permission to view the downloads. Every request has been approved, I have deleted and readded (is that a real word?) the documents. They should open with no issues, if not ask permission to view and ill send it to you. Sorry! (or comment how to fix it, I am all ears!

********

I realize its December 2nd and this should have been started on Monday. I am fashionable late I guess.

 

Sorry teething baby, busy days at work and it slipped my mind to post this.

 

Below is an Christmas Bible Study, its not to late to catch up!

 

Love God Greatly is a great place to find free bible studies, help and guidance.

 

This is the bible study they did in 2014 for Christmas, so the dates & days of the week are off, but they best thing about Gods word is it never changes.  Like God its the same every day!

 

This bible study comes with a great daily guide and reading plan.

 

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did

 

Road to Christmas Study Guide can be downloaded HERE

Road to Christmas Reading Plan can be downloaded HERE

 

 

Below I have listed each Weekly Reading, Challenge and Bible Verse as well as links to each discussion for the week. I strongly encourage you to do all of them

 

 

Week 1: Monday Wednesday Friday  

 

 

Week 2: Monday Wednesday Friday

 

 

 

Week 3: Monday Wednesday Friday

 

 

 

Week 4: Monday Wednesday Friday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Bible Study is not of my creation but Love God Greatly gave express permission to reproduce this.

 

 

 

 

 

Prayers for Momma's

Life is hard and being a mom is harder. There are days when we have it all together and things are going right but more often than we like to admit our days go the opposite way.  The kids are crying, dishwasher don't want to work, and we are lucky to brush our teeth (a shower just isn't in the cards on these days)

Being a mom again at the age of 32 has taught me ALOT.  First: I know why people say have your babies in your 20's, you are more of a spring chicken and you can handle the sleepless nights better. Second: I have more patience than I did at 20 when I had my first baby (yes I put 12yrs in between my kids)

I have been the mom on the porch crying out to God for help because I have had no sleep, the babies teething and everyone wants something from me.  I am have been in the trenches and fought the fight mommas! I have been there and done that and come out to the other side! There is hope! These days will not last forever and you WILL miss them.   God is how I survived a difficult pregnancy and a baby who cries all the time!

God will help, deliver and see you through! You only need to call out to him!  If you have read my previous post you know I have a War Room board on Pinterest (you can see that here )

So below are some of the prayers I pulled from my War Room, print them, save them and use them when your day seems to be less than you planned. You are not alone! 

Stay strong mommas, this stage will only last a little while and then they will be on their own.  Blink and you will miss it, you will miss all of it. Even the late nights, teething, crying, bottle washing, puking, formula stains...you will miss every moment you have shared with your kids.

Praying for you all.

 

 

Frog Eyed Salad

No its not real Frog Eyes! Its a pasta! Acini de Pepe Pasta to be exact!

I married a Mormon and I'm told this is a traditional Mormon dish...served at almost every family/church function.

I first tried this about 14yrs ago and i have to say i have been hooked since!

I have included a nutritonal guide as well.

Frog Eyed Salad

1 Cup Sugar
1 tbs Flour
1 Pinch of Salt
1 Cup Pineapple Juice ( usually about 1 cup in 1 can of pineapple chunks)
1 egg yoke stired up
8oz Acini De Peppi Noodles
1 container Extra Creamy Cool Whip
1 Can Pineapple Chunks
1 Can Manderian Oranges
* Marshmellows if you want, we dont like

Place Sugar, Flour,Salt, Pineapple Juice & Egg into small sauce pan, stir well and cook slowly ( so you dont scramble the egg) until thick and bubbly. STIR OFTEN!!!
Once thickened remove from heat and let cool

In a large sauce pan fill with 20oz water with 1 tsp of oil. Bring to boil, place noodles in, stir and cook for 9 minutes

Drain and Rinse Twice

Place noodles & sauce in a bowl, stir, add in cool whip, then fruits.

I like to let sit in frige for 24hrs before serving

Enjoy!

December Christmas 31 Day Scripture Plan

While I normally only post Christmas blogs after Thanksgiving because I feel bad for Thanksgiving every year.  Its so often gets over looked!

That being said I am breaking that rule due to my schedule for the week of Thanksgiving, I want yall to have this before the 1st of December.

While I wish these were of my own creation again they are not, some day I will sit down and let God flow through me to create something like this...I just do not feel it is in His plan for the moment.

Take a moment to down load the Plan and Worksheet and spend the month of December with me going through the Bible remembering the reason for the season.

I hope your Christmas Season is filled with lots of love, laughter and happiness.

To Print and Download a copy click for the Plan  HERE and HERE for the Worksheet