The finished product

Here are the finished product pictures of our laundry soap. I can't wait to use it! As soon as this load in the washer is done now, I am going to use it for the next load. We still have a little bit of regular soap left still so I plan on finish that up so I have the container to store the rest of it in. Right now we have it split into 2 (1)gallon milk jugs and 1 20lb cat liter container.





It did end up being a little bit more watery then I imagined, but that's OK. It sure was soapy! We were having a heck of time keeping the cup in our hands while we were trying to dump it it was so slippery! At least the driveway got a really good washing! :-)

I made my own Laundry Soap!!!

Thanks to Heather for hooking me up with this information! I was mentioning to her how I really need to think of every creative way possible to try and save some money these days. She asked me if I ever thought about making my own laundry soap? Of course I hadn't. I've just begun starting to do the free coupon really looking for deals thing. So she shared with me a blog that she found with the recipe on it. Tonight I went out and got the "goods" and went to work! I can't wait to try this and think that in the end it will save us about $30 per month!

The Ingredients:

1 bar of Fels-Naptha soap ($1.09)
1 Cup of Borax (box was $3.99-we can get about 6 bathes out of this)
1 Cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soap (box was $2.99-we can get about 6 bathes out of this also)
5 gallon bucket/pail for mixing
Scented essential oils (optional) ~ I used a lavender one (jar was $8.99 but this will be used for many many other things and will last us for months/years)

I grated most of the Fels-Napta Bar with our cheese grater. When it got to close to the end, I cut it up in the small chunks. I melted this on the stove with 4 cups of water. (about 20 minutes until melted)

Add the Borax and washing soda and stir until dissolved. I also added my lavender at this point.


Pour into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill with warm or hot water to keep the soap liquid until about 2 inches from the top. Stir. This Apparently has to sit for 24 to thicken up, and stir every couple of hours. After that time, you can transfer it to what ever storage unit you choose. I will probably use empty milk jugs to store mine.

Before we added the water

Mike helping out! He was pretty impressed with this whole idea, I was surprised!

This is it sitting in our corner for us to stir for the next 24 hours. I'll take another picture then for you.

You should use about 1/2 to 1 cup per load depending on the load size/dirt.

Niagara Hospice Butterly Release 2009

Today was the annual Butterfly Release at Niagara hospice to honor those loved ones in our lives who have passes, yet were touched enough to have spent time at the Hospice House. What amazing people they are! This was the first year that ALL of the butterflies have sold out, which is ALOT! This is our second year doing the release and sending out love, hugs, kisses and secret wishes up to grandpa Les bug via butterfly. Mike was able to join us this year as well, which was nice! The memorial gardens surrounding the house and offices are done this year and are SUPER amazing! They turned out so peaceful and calming. What a special place to come and remember those who passed. You can buy a brick in the walkway as well and put names on them.

Hospice Resident House - this is where les was. What a special place.
Caden in the bounce house
Courtney with her Butterfly hand

The Gardens :

Colin loves Lily - a hospice dog

Meema in one of the Gazebo's

The memorial heart thanking all of the volunteers'


~This Plaque says this ~
Don't weep for me, for I can not be there,
I've a date with a butterfly, to dance in the air
I'll be singing in sunshine, wild and free.
Playing tag with the wind, while waiting for thee

the butterfly package
Meema releasing hers
Fly!!
Landed on a flower
So pretty!
Watching 2 of them
eating a flower.
This was meema touching one!
Close up
This one had red and blue on him as well.
The boys just loved following them and finding where they landed
Colin chasing another one
Mommy and Courtney (with her butterfly painted hand)
The kids watching a butterfly eating an orange. super neat
Close up of the butterfly on the orange.

Thinking about Dad

So this past Wednesday my dad was brought to the ER with chest pains and a tightness in his chest. Many of you know that 14 years ago, at the age of 42 my dad had to undergo a triple bypass, so this is nothing new to our family. By Wednesday evening, he was admitted and tonight (Friday) He is still there, and will stay until at Least Monday. On Wednesday they found that 1/2 of his heart was beating very very fast, the other 1/2 too slow. Very low blood pressure and a very very rapid heart rate (170+). Those are the perfect conditions for a stroke apparently. They were also worried blood clots, as the blood was pooling near his heart on the side that wasn't pumping so well. After a couple of Nitro pills not working, Dad decided to head to the ER. Later then night after an IV of Kumiden (sp??) (blood thinner) they were able to regulate and stabilize his heart rate. Over the past 2 days, they have done EKG's, Stress test, Sonogram of the heart as well as CAT scan too. Today, after looking at the old records from the cardiologist, they did find something not right in comparison to the old films. So Monday, he will be transferred to South Buffalo Mercy via ambulance to get an angiogram done. If all is well, after the recoup time of that (usually overnight) he can be released right from there. If not, then surgery may be required. Depending on exactly what needs to be done, they may be able to do it while they are in there already, unless it's more complicated then that. It depends on where/type of blockage is involved. My question to the doctor, who I always miss is this - What happens if the blockage is already in the bypassed part, can you stint a bypass?? I wish I knew the answer to this question. I'll have to google it. If not, then what happens? Can it still be corrected or do I think the worst? Unfortunately my boss is on vacation next week, so taking time off is going to be very tricky. I am hoping to be able to sneak out for a couple of hours, if only while he is in the procedure and hear the outcome from the doctor, then head back to the office. I won't even stay to see him, just to be there for it. My dad and I are very close and this is something I need to be there for. Especially if they end up having to do surgery right away. I need to be there for it. So I am going to work on that first thing Monday morning.

For now, Please keep My Dad in your thoughts and prayers!

Swaddle Wrap

Who ever said a Toddler can't be swaddled? All you need is the right size flannel stretchy blanket! this is Caden's new thing to go to bed at night (of Course still in our bed, but at least he goes to bed!) Mike began this a couple of weeks ago and now he has to do it every night, not mom, dad. So he is wrapped up so tight he can barley move. I imagine it is much like having a weighted blanket on. So after we carry him back in his bed - which is much easier wrapped up I might add - We keep him like this and still cover him with his weighted blanket as well and he sleeps all night!! Mike and Caden's term for this "swaddle" is the "wrap, tuck and roll"! LOL

Banana Bread from Scratch!

Colin can't pass up a photo op ever!
Filling!
Sprinkling filling!
Helping mix the batter

Caden & Mommy decided to make a batch of some homemade banana bread this evening, since our bananas were looking beyond gross to say the least! It's baking now, can't wait to see how it turned out! Yummy!