Monday, February 23, 2009
Homemade Laundry Detergent
As most of you know, I have been on a mission to find frugal living techniques that are easy to apply to your life and really do save you money. Well this weekend, I attempted to make homemade laundry detergent. I did the math and it really will save our family money especially since I do an average of three loads of laundry per day. This attempt was a complete success. I can not believe that I actually made laundry detergent and it smells good, works well, and saves me a ton of money! I am so excited about this new tip. If you would like to know how to make it or would like more information, feel free to email me. You could also research it on the internet (like I did) there is a TON of websites, recipes, and helpful hints out there. I am so excited that I just had to share with all of you (my three or four family members who actually check this site often for updates...hahaha...LOL).
Simpleness = Happiness
Since the beginning of this summer, I have been given a “mission” from the Lord. This mission was to simplify my life. I prayed a lot over the course of this year for my number one goal, to find balance.
This summer the Lord answered my request by speaking to directly and clearly to me. He told me that in order to find balance I needed to simplify my life in ALL aspects. As I began my mission, I worked on areas of my life that I thought needed simplifying. I started out with simplifying my house. I cleaned out every closet, every drawer, every cabinet, every box, every file, every shelf, and everything. I thought that this was it. However, when I completed this task I felt good, I felt organized, I felt simplified but it did not last long. A few short weeks later, I felt the Lord saying simplify does not mean just one area; I meant every area of your life!
Next, I proceeded to simplify my finances. I would love to say that this area is complete but I am working on it diligently every day. I have come along way in this area though. The first place I started was the area of the finances that were solely my responsibility and that I had complete control over…the grocery/household budget. I signed up for a very popular coupon deal and savings website. I started following their published advice, subscribed to the Sunday newspaper for the coupon inserts, clipped coupons, used the coupons, made meal plans, and shopped by a grocery list. I cut out some of the luxury items and reduced the frequency of other luxuries. I started becoming “FRUGAL”.
There is so much I could write on the frugal topic but I will say that after researching frugal living, it became apparent that this was part of the Lord’s message to me. Most, if not all, frugal living websites will tell you that frugal living equals simple living. I conducted A LOT of research on this topic and applied frugal living tips which would help me to simply my life and save money. Frugal living research helped me to simplify my meals. Simple meals equaled simple dinners which created peaceful dinnertimes where I could relax and enjoy a meal with my family. My favorite way to save time and money at dinner time was to stock the freezer and pantry. I always buy meat in bulk at the lowest sale price. After my shopping trips, I cook and season the meat, freeze the meat in freezer containers and use it whenever I need it. Since it is precooked and pre-seasoned, it saves me a ton of time in the evenings!
My journey did not stop at the grocery store. I was lead to simplify the management of my household. I made a family planner (some may call this a family notebook). This really helped me to get things organized. I also created many dividers for every aspect: school, recipes, documents, travel, pantry and freezer inventory, calendars, address and phone numbers, and many other family specific needs.
Once the notebook was complete, I looked over my work with satisfaction until I looked at the calendar section. WOW. Our calendar was full of all kinds of activities, events, and places to be. It was an eye opening revelation. I could not find a few hours to spend as a family. Boy, I needed to simplify our family and my personal calendar. Hence, my mission was not complete. I continued to work towards simplification.
After I had completed these areas which needed simplifying, I thought for sure I would feel peace and a sense of accomplishment. No, I did not. I ask the Lord, “Lord what else is there to simplify?” I did not get a quick response.
One afternoon, I was watching a Beth Moore study on television and she was teaching on “how to love difficult people.” She explained the whys and the hows on this topic and then as I reviewed my notes on her teachings, I realized that the Lord was speaking to me again about simplification. This was the area I had ignored…simplifying my relationships. I took an inventory of my relationships and started making changes in this area. I got started and it was tough. It is tough to realize that some of the relationships I was involved with were nothing short of a negative complicate blah that was holding me back and weighing me down. I really had to make some tough decisions with the Lord’s help and guidance. This caused me to pull back from relationships with people who I needed to love from a far because I needed to love these people the way they needed to be loved and not the way they wanted to be loved. I could not love them in this way without pulling back. I did and it felt GREAT! I could see a change in our relationship and it made me happier.
I felt that there was still a piece of the pie missing. There was something that needed more work…it was my relationship with the Lord. I had worked so hard on everything and made great accomplishments or so I thought. The Lord wants us to be free from bondage, complicated messes, and negative energy draining situations. There is a time to be in the middle of these things so that you can show others the light of the Lord and give testimonies and to be a witness of God’s glory. However, God is not complicated. He is a simple God, His commandments are simple and so should our lives. I started doing things with HIS simple commands in mind. Yes I am still working on this area but WOW what a relief I have knowing that my house, my calendar, my family’s lives, my life, and my relationships are simple and happy. I am happier, healthier, and richer because of this God given mission for my life. So I guess simpleness does equal Happiness!!!!!!!
This summer the Lord answered my request by speaking to directly and clearly to me. He told me that in order to find balance I needed to simplify my life in ALL aspects. As I began my mission, I worked on areas of my life that I thought needed simplifying. I started out with simplifying my house. I cleaned out every closet, every drawer, every cabinet, every box, every file, every shelf, and everything. I thought that this was it. However, when I completed this task I felt good, I felt organized, I felt simplified but it did not last long. A few short weeks later, I felt the Lord saying simplify does not mean just one area; I meant every area of your life!
Next, I proceeded to simplify my finances. I would love to say that this area is complete but I am working on it diligently every day. I have come along way in this area though. The first place I started was the area of the finances that were solely my responsibility and that I had complete control over…the grocery/household budget. I signed up for a very popular coupon deal and savings website. I started following their published advice, subscribed to the Sunday newspaper for the coupon inserts, clipped coupons, used the coupons, made meal plans, and shopped by a grocery list. I cut out some of the luxury items and reduced the frequency of other luxuries. I started becoming “FRUGAL”.
There is so much I could write on the frugal topic but I will say that after researching frugal living, it became apparent that this was part of the Lord’s message to me. Most, if not all, frugal living websites will tell you that frugal living equals simple living. I conducted A LOT of research on this topic and applied frugal living tips which would help me to simply my life and save money. Frugal living research helped me to simplify my meals. Simple meals equaled simple dinners which created peaceful dinnertimes where I could relax and enjoy a meal with my family. My favorite way to save time and money at dinner time was to stock the freezer and pantry. I always buy meat in bulk at the lowest sale price. After my shopping trips, I cook and season the meat, freeze the meat in freezer containers and use it whenever I need it. Since it is precooked and pre-seasoned, it saves me a ton of time in the evenings!
My journey did not stop at the grocery store. I was lead to simplify the management of my household. I made a family planner (some may call this a family notebook). This really helped me to get things organized. I also created many dividers for every aspect: school, recipes, documents, travel, pantry and freezer inventory, calendars, address and phone numbers, and many other family specific needs.
Once the notebook was complete, I looked over my work with satisfaction until I looked at the calendar section. WOW. Our calendar was full of all kinds of activities, events, and places to be. It was an eye opening revelation. I could not find a few hours to spend as a family. Boy, I needed to simplify our family and my personal calendar. Hence, my mission was not complete. I continued to work towards simplification.
After I had completed these areas which needed simplifying, I thought for sure I would feel peace and a sense of accomplishment. No, I did not. I ask the Lord, “Lord what else is there to simplify?” I did not get a quick response.
One afternoon, I was watching a Beth Moore study on television and she was teaching on “how to love difficult people.” She explained the whys and the hows on this topic and then as I reviewed my notes on her teachings, I realized that the Lord was speaking to me again about simplification. This was the area I had ignored…simplifying my relationships. I took an inventory of my relationships and started making changes in this area. I got started and it was tough. It is tough to realize that some of the relationships I was involved with were nothing short of a negative complicate blah that was holding me back and weighing me down. I really had to make some tough decisions with the Lord’s help and guidance. This caused me to pull back from relationships with people who I needed to love from a far because I needed to love these people the way they needed to be loved and not the way they wanted to be loved. I could not love them in this way without pulling back. I did and it felt GREAT! I could see a change in our relationship and it made me happier.
I felt that there was still a piece of the pie missing. There was something that needed more work…it was my relationship with the Lord. I had worked so hard on everything and made great accomplishments or so I thought. The Lord wants us to be free from bondage, complicated messes, and negative energy draining situations. There is a time to be in the middle of these things so that you can show others the light of the Lord and give testimonies and to be a witness of God’s glory. However, God is not complicated. He is a simple God, His commandments are simple and so should our lives. I started doing things with HIS simple commands in mind. Yes I am still working on this area but WOW what a relief I have knowing that my house, my calendar, my family’s lives, my life, and my relationships are simple and happy. I am happier, healthier, and richer because of this God given mission for my life. So I guess simpleness does equal Happiness!!!!!!!
Katie's One Year Check up
I took Katie to the doctor today for a check up and she is doing great. She is growing so fast and developing right on track.
She weighs 22 1/2 pounds and measures 30 1/2 inches long. She is in the 90% percentile for height and in the 75% percentile for weight. The doctor said she is going to be tall! I have a feeling that all of our children are going to be TALL!!!!
She is doing great. She is walking, climbing, waving bye bye, playing peek-a-boo, can say mama, dada, that, bubba, and nana! She loves baby dolls and likes to feed them a bottle, she loves books, musical toys, and loves her pretend dishes. She is definitely all girl! Our little princess is growing so fast! I will be sure to add pictures soon.
She weighs 22 1/2 pounds and measures 30 1/2 inches long. She is in the 90% percentile for height and in the 75% percentile for weight. The doctor said she is going to be tall! I have a feeling that all of our children are going to be TALL!!!!
She is doing great. She is walking, climbing, waving bye bye, playing peek-a-boo, can say mama, dada, that, bubba, and nana! She loves baby dolls and likes to feed them a bottle, she loves books, musical toys, and loves her pretend dishes. She is definitely all girl! Our little princess is growing so fast! I will be sure to add pictures soon.
Monday, February 16, 2009
February Happenings!
Boy has this month been busy! Each of the kids have been sick with sinus infections. Tanner was the sickest of them all. We actually took him to the doctor and found out that he has/had pre-asthma bronchitis. He was on medicated breathing treatments several times a day for a couple of weeks. It was pretty rough. Of course it made its rounds through the house with Mace being the latest victim! He was actually off of work for several days and did go to the doctor to get some meds. I know it has been a couple of weeks since my last post but with the sickness running wild in our house I have been far from lazy! The blog site just had to take a back seat! Anyways, I am hoping that we are back on track for the rest of the month. Hope every one is doing well and enjoying the month of February!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
