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HEALTH

HOME/ Homemaking/ Natural Products/ Organizing

Organizing And Storing My Spices

I found these little glass containers at a garage sale about a year ago for a couple of bucks.  I pictured them organized, labeled, full of different spices in beautiful earthy colors, all lined up along the top of my stove.  They HAVE been lined up along the top of my stove, but sitting empty, collecting dust, and looking sad.

The last 2 days were spent spring cleaning my kitchen.  IT IS SO CLEAN and I AM SO HAPPY!  My mother- in- law helped finish it up, for which I was so grateful– I’ll have before and after pics coming up soon.

You would not believe the difference in my floor tile grout…I think I forgot the grout is supposed to be cream because it been closer to mocha (can you tell I’m trying to make the color of dirt sound a bit more appealing??:))

Because I was spring cleaning, I knew I had to tackle my spices, and I’m very happy with how they turned out.  I put the spices that I use most often in the jars, the rest of the spices I have on a small, double-decker lazy susan in the cupboard right next to the stove.

I have said this before in another post, but if you can find a store that has bulk bins full of spices, (where you can help yourself to whatever amount you need, and are charged by weight), then, by all means, DO IT!

Most health food stores have this option. I can’t tell you what a difference using fresh spices has made in my cooking and baking.  It is very economical, and I can buy smaller amounts of spices that I do not use very often, so they won’t sit around forever, getting stale.

I don’t know about you, but having a clean kitchen and organized spices makes me wanna bake, so I’m off to search my recipes to see what I can make!

Amazon Links:
Lazy Susan
Empty Glass Spice Jars
My Favorite Label Maker

T

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HOME/ Natural Products/ Organizing/ Simplifying

Spring Cleaning #2-Sunroom

Spring cleaning–its a love hate thing for me.  Don’t like doing it, but LOVE the results.  So far, I have finished my Living Room and my Sunroom.  The Living Room took me 4 hours (one hour of that was fixing my vacuum, grr) and the Sunroom took about 2 1/2.  Not a fast process.  2 rooms down, 10 to go!!

I bought the ebook, “Spring Cleaning For Normal People” at Simple Mom, for $7.00.  One tip in the book that has been super helpful is her suggestion of taking everything out of the room (not heavy furniture), and putting it in a central location before you start cleaning.  Not only does this get it all out of the way for deep cleaning, but as you put each piece back, you have a minute to think about whether it is something that is useful or beautiful, and if you want to keep it or not.   Thanks to this tip, I have eliminated a ton of stuff!  It also gives you a chance to focus in on each object to deep clean it, too, before putting it back in its place.

{great tip– pile stuff in a central location}
{eww.  nasty, dirty window sill}
{this window marker has been there since my husbands birthday…his birthday was in February!}

This is how I cleaned my sunroom: 
~piled everything in the center
~used broom to reach high for cobwebs in corners and windows
~used broom to brush off loose dirt on window sills
~filled bucket with water/vinegar (1/2 & 1/2)
~wiped down doors
~wiped down window sills/frames
~wiped down all walls
~wiped down floor trim
~used a Mr. Clean eraser to get rid of scuff marks on doors and trim
~cleaned windows inside
~cleaned windows outside
~got frustrated because I couldn’t reach 3 windows on the outside without a ladder
~marveled at how bright the room looked with clean windows
~put back decor that didn’t touch the floor, cleaning them and eliminating as I went
~moved objects that did touch the floor from the middle of the room so I could…
~…sweep!
~mopped (twice…it was nasty)
~sat in the swing, sighed and smiled

{ahhh, much better!}

{what my kids like to do in the sunroom}
{my youngest walked in and said, “Wow, mom, you painted??”:}
This is the type of hook I used to hang the scooters.  2 per scooter.  The ones I used are rubber coated and white.  They have worked well.

This post is linked to:
Saturday Night Specials @ Funky Junk Interiors
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch
It’s So Very Creative @ It’s So Very Cheri
The DIY Showoff Parade @ The DIY Showoff
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple
Making The World Cuter Mondays @ Making The World Cuter 
Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Bragfest Boardwalk @ Bobbypins Boardwalk
Works For Me Wednesdays @ We Are That Family
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Tackle It Tuesday @ 5 Minute Mom
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Spiritual

Me-Exposed.

I am reading a book on Identity.
God and I have been working hard together, as He shows me who I REALLY am.
When all the fronts are stripped away, what is left?
The core of who I am.

It is so important for me to embrace fully who God says I am.  In order to do this, it takes a stripping away of old beliefs, a painful but beautiful process.  This is where the work comes in.

It is so worth it, this hard work of exposing the core, of getting real.  You see, I have 3 precious little motivators.  3 little girls who deserve a mom who can show them the beauty of their Savior.  This is my life’s work.

I am not alone in this work:
~I have God, who is enough, yet in His goodness He has provided so much more for me:
~I have a wise man sent from God, it is his profession to give words of wisdom, he accepts money but his words are priceless.
~I have a husband, who has a million times over shown me true love, reflecting The Answer in so many ways.
 ~I have multiple women in my life, they speak life into me, allow me to see their cores, and teach me as He transforms them.
~I have a virtual world that is real, words of truth come through with a click of a button, so many tidbit treasures.
~I have so much to be grateful for, I am overwhelmed.

I wanted to share a written example of the work I am doing.
It about me, as a six year old girl.
It was a fleeting moment in time, but its residue has lasted.
I was being disobedient, sneaking to a house 2 blocks down, “just for a few minutes, mom will never know,” and she didn’t, until now.
I wanted to see where my new little friend lived, what the insides of her home looked like.
She lived there alone with her dad, who was not home.
Oh how I now hurt for that little girl friend, living alone with a lost, twisted man.
A man who left violent, gruesome, worse than you can imagine, twisted, bloody, horrendous pornography out in the open
I experienced 3 minutes of hell in her home…she lived in it. I never went back there again.  I don’t remember playing with her again. I don’t remember her name, but God does. May He bless her wherever she is.

~~~
Beginnings Of Core Exposure
It takes such a brave soul to explore the core.
Blinders off, zeroed in, honest, real and true.
Paralyzing fear, such a scary place to go, yet I do.
I feel shame, exposed.
The enemies traps are everywhere, yet little girl innocence is unaware, vulnerable to his snares.
He preys the young, creating fear, triggering premature interest.
He smirks in satisfaction at her confusion.

A six year old-in the wrong place and time.
A trap set, sitting nonchalantly on a countertop, atop a pile of mail.
Trap lures, little fingers open, caught.
Eyes see, heart freezes, puzzled panic sets in.
Hands slam shut, eyes want to, mind does but too late.
Violent, evil, gruesome images, branded into a brain too small to fit them in,
Little legs skip away, time to play.  Smile pasted, mind shuts down.
God in His goodness creates this intricate mind,
One that when circuits are overwhelmed, trips to self protect.
It stays tripped for lengths of time, until the enemy comes by
With an accusing finger, he pushes reset.
His lips full of lies, I believe as truth
Evil “repairs” damage even more.
Through the years, I am convinced fixed, but still broken.
Satan smiles at his crafty plans and makes more of them.
God’s heart breaks.  But…

He knows the Ultimate plan, beginning and end.
He has a plan on His Holy Heart, a plan just for ME:

~a plan to work it all out for good
~a plan with a guarantee to make all things new
~a plan that promises to overcome the evil one
~a plan that heals and restores
~a plan that has purpose
~a plan that turns pain to beauty
~a plan to reveal, redemption real
~a plan that will open eyes shut tight
~a plan that will come about, in His time

That time is now.

Plans fulfilled twenty-eight years later,
As the faithful fixer helps the little one restore the core.

Little girl scared, yet ready, He gently probes.
Holy hands hold hers
He moves to push reset, she wants to flee,
But then remembers whose hole- pierced hand it is.
Tears fall.  She speaks words aloud, images unimaginable.
The circuit shorts, breaks.  Beautiful brokenness.
Shattered, yet the core remains.
Exposed, real, true, free.
Reset, remade, renewed
Eyes reopened they see purity
She smiles relief, safe and eager for more plans of His to come.
Little girl, now with 3 of her own,
(3 little ones who make core exposure necessary)
Is being made NEW.
~~~

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FAMILY/ HOME/ Natural Products/ Organizing

Spring Cleaning #1

Well, I have given up the idea of someone else spring cleaning my home, (I offered on facebook to trade hair/nail/waxing services in exchange for a spring clean, and it was met with little interest-I guess no one else wants to spring clean, either!!:))  Kathy, my mother-in-law, encouraged me to do a little at a time and enjoy the good feeling it will bring as I get it done.  I like that advice and I’m going to take it!  For some reason when it comes to spring cleaning, I want it all done at once, which paralyzes me!!  I have a pretty clear calendar this week, so I will do a bit at a time and let you know how it goes!

I found this awesome ebook “Spring Cleaning for Normal People“ at Simple Mom, and bought it for $7.00.  It was worth every penny!  She has a way of breaking spring cleaning down into manageable steps, and gives great tips which makes it much less overwhelming.  Last week she had a spring cleaning series on her blog that was very inspirational, you can click here to check it out.

1st Step: Decluttering

From Tsh @ Simple Mom:
Does every item in your home make your family happy?  Does the item add to your home, your life, your family?  Of if you were truly honest, would you say it’s more of a burden?
If it’s a burden in any way, get rid of it.  It’s not worth the valuable real estate between your four walls.

“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”-19th century architect William Morris 

This is what I will do today. I will start this spring cleaning week by going from room to room and getting rid of anything that does not fit in the above quote. (and sneaking it to the Goodwill before my girls get home!!:))
I plan on using my mornings this week to spring clean, then in the afternoons, do something I enjoy (gardening, cooking, reading). If I set aside a full days to clean, I will get bored, burn out, and give up.  I can handle the mornings knowing I will get to do something more enjoyable in the afternoon!  Here goes..wish me luck!
*do you spring clean each year?  is motivation as hard for you as it is for me?  do you have a system?  got any tips for me??

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Easter/ Holidays/Parties/ Love/ Spiritual

Good Friday-Remembering

These are two of my most favorite songs.  I couldn’t decide which one to share, so I shared them both.  I encourage you to watch the both of them, and remember with me why this Good Friday is such a very, very special day.

{both videos are very graphic, viewer discretion advised}

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Easter/ Holidays/Parties/ Love/ Spiritual

Easter Lessons

 

With Easter coming, my girls and I have been having quite a few discussions about sin and our need for a Saviour.  I was wanting a tangible way to show them different types of sin, how often we sin, and how great our need is for a Saviour.

I took a bulletin board square, drew a cross on it, and then we looked up some Bible verses and brain-stormed different types of sin, which I then wrote onto the cross.

 

~We discussed why and how Jesus died, and the amazingness– He took our sins upon Himself and paid the penalty that we deserved, by dying for us.

 ~We talked about repentance, how we must acknowledge our sin, ask Jesus to forgive our sin, and turn away from our sin. He takes the burden of them onto Himself, and they are no more.

~We talked about how He makes us whole and beautiful, and how we can come to Him anytime, He will always be ready and willing to forgive us, making us new again.

~We talked about the beauty of Easter, how He conquered death and is Risen, indeed!!

With pins (reminding us to think of the nails that pierced His skin) and beautiful, shimmery circles (the circle shape represents how He makes us whole),  we have been coming before the cross this week and acknowledging this amazing thing our Saviour did for us.

It has been beautiful, seeing my girls ask for forgiveness more often, and going to the cross before their Jesus, on their own.  I see them walk away, with freedom in their eyes and a lightness in their step.

My youngest- “Oh, mom, the cross is becoming so beautiful!!”  I smile and think, “so are you, my child, so are you.”

10
Frugal/ HEALTH/ HOME/ Natural Products

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I have been using Homemade Laundry Detergent for at least 6 months now, and I LOVE IT!  It is easy, inexpensive, green, and it works!  When I tell people I do this, I often get “I just don’t have time to do that.”  I thought that, too, until I put it into perspective–it is like making a very inexpensive, 3 ingredient recipe that makes a huge batch, and lasts for months because you only use 2 Tbls/load!

I have tried 2 recipes, both are quite popular on the web.  This is the first one I used and it is the one I will stick with. It is easy to make (no measuring), uses a true soap with no fillers, makes a lot, and does not have an off- putting scent.

It uses:
1 box Borax (76oz)
1 box Washing Soda (55oz)
1 bar Kirks Castile Soap

If you click on this link, it will take you to a picture tutorial on Instructables of how to make it.  Be sure to read the comment section while you are there, the author answers many questions which I found very helpful.

{when I made it, I used my food processor to break up the soap, 
 in the link above, she uses a micro-plane to grate it, which would make it more fine}

The second one was a bit more pricey, used a soap that had ingredients that were not as pure, and I really didn’t see much difference.  Fels Naptha soap is pretty scented, which I didn’t care for.   I know people who really like this recipe, and it is very popular on the web, so I thought I would share it even though it is not my first pick.

It uses:
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Fels Naptha Soap, grated

~~~

If you have ever seen the TV show “18 Kids And Counting,” you will know that the Duggar family work hard at being frugal.  They use a Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent which I have never tried, I like how my powder soap looks in my big jar, and I think powder is less messy.  The Duggar recipe needs some cooking and stirring, but if it works for 18 kids and is still being used even despite fame and fortune, it must work well!!

{my laundry room will be pretty like this someday…its on the doozy list. 
 I DO have that pretty jar, which makes me happy!}

~~~

*TipNut has an amazing resource for Homemade Laundry Detergent FAQ’s.

~~~

The first recipe is supposed to be GREAT as a toilet, bathtub and grout cleaner when made into a paste with some water.  I’m excited to try this, as I have been buying “Method” brand toilet cleaner from Target, which costs more than I would like to spend.

My husband and I went on a mission a few months ago, to STOP all unnecessary spending.  The first couple months we called “No Spend” months, and we really buckled down and tried our best to only spend when absolutely necessary!  We have been a bit more relaxed lately, but we are still very frugal.  We have been able to save a few thousand dollars by doing this, which is pretty amazing, as we were not big spenders in the first place.  It has been super fun…yup, I said FUN!  It really is all in the attitude.  We have so much to be thankful for, so I looked at this as a fun challenge, eager to see just how much we could save buy being purposeful about every cent.  We both have been surprised at how much we we’ve saved, and feel super blessed that we have been able to pay off debt.  I have learned that spending even a dollar here or a dollar there adds up fast!  When you make a bunch of little changes to save a bit here and a bit there, that also adds up fast!  Check this:

First Recipe Above costs about $10.00 for 137 Loads—that is only .07 cents a load!

The following are various commercial detergents in typical sizes and pricing. The numbers of loads are as per the manufacturers’ instructions.
– Seventh Generation’s Free and Clear Natural Laundry Detergent 2x Ultra: $11.99 for 50 loads. ($0.239 per load)
-BioKleen Liquid Laundry Detergent: $14.39 for 64 loads. ($0.224 per load)
– All’s Small and Mighty 3x Concentrate for HE washers: $8.49 for 32 loads. ($0.265 per load)
– ECOS Laundry Detergent, Ultra Concentrated with Soy Fabric Softener: $9.49 for 26 loads ($0.367 per load)
– Tide’s 2x Concentrated Laundry Detergent: $14.99 for 32 loads ($0.468 per load!)
– Dreft’s 2x Concentrated Baby Laundry Detergent: $31.99 for 110 loads ($0.290 per load)

Making our own detergent is a great example of how we have been able to save in small ways that add up.  Making my own cleaners, laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent has saved us A LOT of money, and I love that our home contains fewer harsh chemicals.

Off to go do a load of laundry!

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