Christmas is coming, the Goose is getting Fat!

And final's week is next week, and life is good!!! It is finally getting cold here, not Montana cold, but I actually have to wear socks to stay warm, so there you go. I didn't post over Thanksgiving, although I should have. I am thankful for so many things and other than having Christmas decorations all over the house that need to be put away, I am pretty happy with life. Things will be better on Tuesday night when my Organic Chemistry final is over as well.

So, my blogger friends, I must say bye for right now, I'll post soon... I promise!

Heritage album class

Place Holder for the Heritage Album on December 10th for the Family History Group.

Frugality at its finest! Homemade Laundry Soap!

How would you like to seriously save some cash, be eco-groovy, and have amazingly great smelling clean laundry with NO soap residue??? Well, this is the post for you! Here is an experiment that I tried earlier this weekend. I have been considering it for a while and did quite a bit of research about it. What spurred it on was the fact that Tide and Cheer prices were inching up close to 10.00 per jug. Even with a coupon you only save .50 or 1.00 after you buy 2 jugs of goo.

I realize that convenience has absolutely taken over our world. Everything has to be in single serving packages, redi-made, instant, microwaveable, or obtained in a 3 minute drive thru transaction. It seems like we have lost touch with the way things used to be done. About 2 years ago I posted my favorite wheat bread recipe so, now, 2 years later, let me share with you my favorite recipe for homemade laundry soap. I even have pictures of the mess and the ingredients for your viewing pleasure. I made two batches that provide enough soap for 50 or so loads depending on how stinky the clothes are. Store it in a nice air tight container. My calculations so far the laundry soap is coming in at about .10 per scoop. I have 3/4 of a box of Borax and Washing Soda left. I probably have a year supply of ingredients OR MORE!

So with no further adieu, here is the recipe:

Powdered Laundry Detergent

2 Cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated)

NOTE: 1 Bar=1Cup

1 cup Washing Soda

1 cup Borax

· Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.

Use 1-2 tablespoons per full load. The mess... I used a cutting board to cut the Fels-Naptha into chunks. I put it through our "SALAD SHOOTER" twice. The first grate, it looked like old lady toe nail clippings, but then it fell apart into wonderful little granules.

My, My... how they grow up!

I have had the pleasure of being dear friends with a sweet young woman. I have watched her grow from a very spunky, unfocused Freshman to a beautiful, sophisticated adult. Recently, Adrianne turned 18 and she started her own business with Mary Kay Cosmetics. Even if you have your own preferred brand of cleanser and moisturizer, it is important to make sure that those products are meeting all your needs. I, have had great success with NuSkin 180 system, and more recently I have been using the Murad physician's line of products to deal with my adult acne. However, in honor of Adrianne's new business, I have decided to try the Time wise face care again. It's been 9 years since I have used Mary Kay!!! LOL. Anyway, they have a 100% money back, bottom of the bottle guarantee, so I have nothing to loose. I'm happy for her, it is a great education!

Take a moment FOR ME, will you? and go check our her website! HERE

Adrianne, I'm proud of you for learning about business!! Go get em!

Fall Bliss!

Oh, how I love crisp days! After all, I am the one who won't be happy until I'm living in an igloo in the middle of the arctic tundra... here are some beautiful pictures of our amazing tree out front of our house. No other trees on my block have changed colors...they are all green except for this beauty:

Amy Butler ALTERED ROLODEX

I made this amazing Rolodex this weekend! I am offering free shipping for it through my etsy store. This wonderful item comes with a free greeting card :).

Has it been that long?!?

I am so sorry to procrastinate on my blogger entries. Let me give you a "Reader's Digest Version" of my life for the past few months: I am taking Organic Chemistry and Medical Terminology. Both have been fun classes for me, but the OChem leaves NO TIME for crafting and updating my blog here. Mark and I have been getting the outside of our home ready for winter, this means mainly cleaning up all the stupid walnuts that have fallen from the trees. If it were up to me, I would chop those things down!!! They killed my tomato plants and now are leaving a sappy nut all over the ground.

Lately, I have completed a few paper art projects that I would like to share with you. All of these projects are listed in my Etsy store. I hope you will consider buying handmade for Christmas and Birthday gifts this year! It's much more fun to give and your receiver will know how much love you put into that gift.

Here are a few things : ENJOY!