stain remover

I'm back, peeps.

I have way too many recipe-I-owe-you's out in my name. 

So, I have a bit of catching up to do...

the perfect gluten-free chocolate chip cookie {finally!!}

grain-free cranberry orange scones

gluten-free grilled pizzas...to name a few.

But this recipe is one our family uses everyday.

We dig for worms. 

We fish. and river-stomp. and dance in the mud. 

We savor popsicles in the sun until they melt all over our clothes.
We slurp watermelon so juicy it runs down our arms.
We pack up hot chocolate and hike and snack in the woods.

We paint.
We climb trees. And roll down hills.

We play hard.
And we use lots of stain remover.

I think we go through it by the gallon in the summertime. 
Which is why I started making our own, for just pennies, to keep up with all the boys at play.

Homemade Stain Remover
2 parts hydrogen peroxide*
1 part Dawn dishwashing liquid
Mix the two ingredients in a spray bottle. An old "Shout" bottle works well. 
*Hydrogen peroxide, H₂O_2, becomes diluted to water and oxygen when exposed to light, hence the brown bottle it comes in. My smart older chemist brother taught me this. So, be sure to use an opaque bottle.

We have put it to the test - mud, coffee, ketchup, marker, soy sauce, paint, hot chocolate...It has removed them all.

Because life is too short to stay clean all the time.

Life is also too short for me not to write about more than what we use for a stain remover. Writing down this recipe for how to clean ourselves up on the outside reminds me all too much of the stains we keep on the inside. No matter how clean we may try to make our clothes and our house and our car, we all have been marked with a stain we cannot remove ourselves. There is no formula to wash away our sin. Jesus said trying was like cleaning the outside of the cup when the inside was still filthy. I remember the moment when someone offered me a drink, then pulled a dirty styrofoam cup out of their unwashed dishes and filled it with water for me. They were extremely poor, so I overlooked the stains to appreciate their gesture. But that doesn't work with God. How is anything less than perfect acceptable before a holy and righteous Creator of all things? 
Do you know what the incredible thing is?! 
He has not left us to clean up ourselves to be "good enough." He has not even asked us to try. He sent a Savior. 
We have a whole holiday set up to celebrate this remarkable Gift. 
{Merry belated Christmas, btw. Happy New Year too! Sorry it's been awhile...}
God in flesh. God with us, Jesus. 
Who lived a perfect life, died as a payment for our debt, conquering death so that we may have life! Every sin...He has removed them all! This is the part where I want to put exclamation points after every sentence because the more I grasp this, the more it affects my days! It changes who I want to be and how I want to spend my time. Because this life is not all there is! 

No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. 
I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow.

Isaiah 1.18 {NLT}

Oh, how I pray you know Jesus. 
There is no greater joy than experiencing His Almighty Love.

Let Him make you whole. 

Let Him wash away your stains forever. 

There is no sin that is a match for His grace.

Timothy Keller, Prodigal God

homemade dishwasher detergent

Homemade dishwasher detergent.  Seemingly, a paradox.  I mean, you have a dishwasher to have to do one less thing, to have more time to do something else.  So, why make dishwasher detergent? Besides the fact that I appreciate a paradox now and then...

It takes 5 minutes, and saves you $31. Plus, some days it's just easier to make it up rather than run to the store.  I tried this recipe last year on a day we were out, and I didn't feel like dragging 3 sick kids to the store.  For me, it worked well, if I switched back and forth between homemade and store-bought.  But, there is also the risk of borax I didn't like.  So, another winter-y, blizzard-y day that this mama didn't want to trek to the store, I found this and LOVE!

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

1/2 cup Dr. Bronner's sal suds or pure-castile soap {I use the pure-castile soap, because it's what we had on hand.}

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon lemon juice

5 drops essential oil {I use lemongrass, which is antibacterial, insecticidal, antimicrobial, antiseptic.  Would also recommend tea tree - something with disinfecting properties.}

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

Mix in a bottle.  Shake well before each use.  Use 1 Tablespoon per load.  

I also fill the rinse aid compartment with distilled white vinegar.  

I've been using this daily for 3 weeks now and haven't had a problem with it.  It cleans well and doesn't leave streaks.

Here's the math!  
{I take no credit for the math, except for pasting it from the original recipe.}

Dr. Bronners Sal Suds: {$12.29 for 32 oz. on Amazon} It is a super-concentrated, natural, all-purpose cleaner that is gentle on the skin. It works well in hard & soft water. You could also use Dr. Bronners Castile Soap in any scent. 

Lemon Juice: {$1 for squeezy lemon thing, anywhere!} Fights soap residue & cuts grease.
Lemongrass essential oil: {$5 at health food store} Natural anti viral & anti bacterial.
White vinegar: {$1 at Walmart} Rinse aid. Leaves your dishes sparkling & gets rid of residue.

How does it compare?
Just looking at the Sal suds, with one bottle, you can make this recipe 8 times. Each time you make the recipe you get about 20-24 loads...So.. 24x8= 192. 192 loads of dirty dishes for about $18 {add all the ingredients prices up}. Sound good? I think so!
Let's use Cascade Complete as an example of a store bought detergent.
It is about $7 for 26 loads. 26 goes into 192 about 7 times... so.. 7x7= 49.
$49 vs. $18 for 192 loads??

I think the homemade dishwasher detergent wins the price battle.  

.................................................................................................................................

I'll be back with "10 minutes."

Since giving up facebook, I'm realizing just how many 10 minutes there are in a day.  We're on a mission to see just how meaningful these moments can be.

The ambitions we have will become the stories we live.

~ Donald Miller

made with care ~ for the rest

I've been known to be back in a bedroom sewing a pillow or two on Christmas morning, as the family is waiting on me to read the Nativity story...  
My husband has come home before to find me buried under a table of handmade Christmas cards, trying to make it to the post office before it closes at 2 pm on Christmas Eve...  
That, friends, is handmade gifting gone bad.  
Awhile back, a friend put in a request that I post some handmade gift ideas, hence this little mini-series.  These are the kinds of posts I would rather scrap and discuss over a hot beverage of your choice.  I just don't want to come across like I have it all together, or that these are the best ideas out there.  But, it's what I got.  And, I'm happy to share.  

~ soy candles ~

Someone once asked me if I could make candles.  I couldn't.  So, I had to learn.  I don't know why, but I do that sort of thing...  I bought a pan from goodwill, soy wax from hobby lobby, and some essential oils {I chose grapefruit-clove}.  I can't find the exact directions I followed, but these look close, except I didn't use a double broiler.

I have just been putting the wax into baby food jars, but after a friend made me this, you can know I am on the hunt for vintage tins.  Isn't this the coolest?

~ cookbook ~

I snuck into my mom's recipes one year, and put together a "tastes of home"  cookbook with our family's favorite recipes.  I also included stories from our childhood.  It turned out to be pretty meaningful to them.  (Maybe because it was actually made and wrapped before Christmas day :)

~ hanging rack with vintage door knobs ~

I have always wanted to make one of these to hang our towels on.  Instead, we made two and gave one as a gift.

~ cloth napkins ~

You can even make them out of fabric you already have, like an old dress shirt as explained here.

~ washcloths ~

I don't know how to read patterns; so my knitting is pretty limited.  Plus, I really only knit in the car, and I get bored doing a big project.  So, I knit washcloths now.  Which means, they make it to gift ideas.

~ laptop sleeve ~

Sometimes I don't even know what I'm knitting.  I just knit.  Then, I start piecing things together and realize it makes the perfect size sleeve for my laptop.  Okay, this has only happened once.  But I still love it.  And, it cost me nada.  I made the yarn from cutting up old t-shirts.  I'm so embarrassed writing this right now, 'cuz who has time to cut up old t-shirts?!?  Certainly not me!  I don't have time to watch this youtube clip that tells you how to do so either...

~ t-shirt scarf ~

{Source: julieannart.com}

~ no knit scarf ~

{Source: martha stewart}

~ peppermint lip balm ~

{Source: Soule Mama}

~ apron in a jar ~

{Source: pleasant-home.com}

~ chalkboard-painted mug ~

{Source: 26.media.tumblr.com}

~ burlap and letter in an old frame ~

{Source: loveoffamilyandhome.blogspot.com}

~ bookmark ~

{Source: pinterest}

~ tile coasters ~

{Source: apartmenttherapy.com}

~ doily-print bowl ~

{Source: creaturecomfortsblog.com}

I hope these ideas will inspire some of your very own.  Like, the chalkboard-painted mug reminded me of seeing glasses with squares of chalkboard paint on them to identify those glass it was.  Which made me think of the 69 cent mugs we got from Ikea.  Which made me wonder if dry erase markers would work on them.  And they do!  Next coffee gathering at our house, you can know we will be drinking from these.

I also have learned guys are hard to make for.  Unless you know of a DiY tutorial for a power-tool, they may be better off buying for.

~~~~~~~~~~

While it's fun to create a gift for someone special, I never want to forget why we do this.  Christmas is a celebration of the most remarkable gift of all ~ our Savior born into this world that we. may. have. life!  New life!  Life everlasting!  Life in and through Him!  I think sometimes we settle for celebrating the festivities rather than the honored guest.  It's like we are so enamored by the glittering tinsel and twinkling lights that we miss the King being in our presence!

The thought of making a gift for someone may stress you out as much as me having to push a cart through a crowded store on Christmas Eve.  I get that.   So whether you buy your gifts at the mall or make them all, my hope is that every heart prepare Him room.  That we don't chase after stuff to fulfill a longing only He can.  That our days would sing long and loud...

What can I say? 

What can I do? 

But offer this heart, O God, 

Completely to You. 

So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, 

In awe of the One who gave it all. 

I'll stand. My soul, Lord, to You surrendered. 

All I am is Yours!

made with care ~ for the kiddo

When I recall what I got for Christmas as a kid, one gift stands out.  "Barbie dream house" was on my wish-list, and I can still remember the unveiling of a dollhouse my parents had made for me.  Complete with custom wallpaper, carpet, stairs, shingles, you name it.  My mom had made furniture out of cardboard and fabric.  It even had teeny-tiny little hand-towels.  I would spend hours in front of that thing.  Just last weekend, Jude was moving the furniture and dolls around.  There is still just something so special to think of all the time and thought that went into that gift.

Which brings us to handmade gifts, part deux.  

.: made with care :.

~ for the kiddo ~

...including, but not limited to...

This week, I decided to revisit these bags I made for the boys last year.  They were a huge hit, but I used cheap felt.  So while they are still being used, they look pretty rough.  I'm going to try out a wool-blend felt this time.  This is truly simple sewing - no hemming whatsoever.  Just sew raw edges together.

 I made them big enough to hold a regular-sized notebook.  

Then we filled each of their bags with items unique to their interests.

It has been the perfect bag for car-trips.

Just enough stuff to keep them busy, without taking up too much room.

Some other handmade bag ideas, 

'cuz every boy needs a place for his treasures:

 {made from the pocket of a pair of shorts being thrown away}

Speaking of bandanas...

Source:  bandana dress

Source:  bandana apron

ashleyannphotography.com has some great ideas for DiY projects,

like who knew you could turn a bed sheet into a Star Wars' costume?!?

This project involved a $3 t-shirt, a squirt gun, bleach and rubber gloves 

(NOT optional).  I have seen others make designs rather than letters.  

Endless possibilities here.

A friend sent me a link to these superhero towels selling for $40.

They only cost $5 to make!

If, instead, you have a princess...

Source: etsy

I saw this idea on pinterest, using an old t-shirt.  So, I made one.  

{Sorry, Jude.}

There's always capes for your little superheroes!

 (looks like someone has picked up a few of my Kristen Wiig moves :)

Inspiration for the non-sew-er:

Source: pinterest {animals superglued to jar lids and spray painted}

Source: pinterest {fort kit; including sheets, rope, clamps, flashlight, glow sticks}

Source: homemade crayons

Source: candy cane playdoh

Source: doctor or veterinary kit

If you still haven't found anything that excites you to make a kid a gift, here's 30 more ideas.  Happy dreaming, crafting and surprising!  

~~~~~~~~~~

While it's fun to create a gift for someone special, I never want to forget why we do this.  Christmas is a celebration of the most remarkable gift of all ~ our Savior born into this world that we. may. have. life!  New life!  Life everlasting!  Life in and through Him!  I think sometimes we settle for celebrating the festivities rather than the honored guest.  It's like we miss the King being in our presence because we are enamored by the glittering tinsel and twinkling lights.  

The thought of making a gift for someone may stress you out as much as me having to push a cart through a crowded store on Christmas Eve.  I get that.   So whether you buy your gifts at the mall or make them all, my hope is that every heart prepare Him room.  That we don't chase after stuff to fulfill a longing only He can.  That our days would sing long and loud...

What can I say? 

What can I do? 

But offer this heart, O God, 

Completely to You. 

So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, 

In awe of the One who gave it all. 

I'll stand. My soul, Lord, to You surrendered. 

All I am is Yours!

made with care ~ for the foodie

OK, who just turned their page in their planner to this week, and realized Christmas is 2 months away. It’s 'bout time for Santa’s workshop to kick it into gear! I’ve thought of 3 categories of handmade gift ideas to share.  First up, for the foodie. 'Cuz back in the day, this used to be a food blog…

I may have sold out and joined pinterest.  So some ideas are from there, mixed in with some of my own.  
{Links to the recipes are in red - just click on the title.}

.: made with care :.

~ Caramel Corn ~

The above is a honey caramel corn with orange zest I made last year.  

I also love this recipe and would like to try this one.

~ Christmas Trail Mix ~

This is a mixture of honey roasted peanuts, dried cranberries, 

pistachios, almonds, white chocolate chips, 

pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) and holiday m&m's (optional)
Great for co-workers, teachers, bus drivers, secretaries.  
And, a welcomed alternative to the token cookie plate.

~ Moose Munch ~
I've never made this before, 
but the picture was enough to make me want to try it out.

(pic from pinterest)

~ Homemade Vanilla Extract ~ 

{How cute are these little bottles?}

(above pic from pinterest)

I was pretty skeptical when I made my first vanilla...vanilla beans in vodka for 2 months, and that's it?  It's true!  And, it's a money-saver.  1 pint of homemade vanilla extract costs $10, which is what you can pay for a little bottle of pure vanilla.  

~ Cookie Dough ~

I thought this was a cute idea to give away your favorite cookie dough.  Plus, it would allow for a treat on a later date.

(pic from pinterest)

~ Mocha Truffles ~

~ Rum Cake ~

I had never had rum cake in my life, until one arrived on a blistery December day in a cute Christmas tin to our front door, all the way from Florida!  

Such a thoughtful, super-yummy gift!  It's easy to make gluten-free - simply substitute a gluten-free yellow cake mix.  Just sayin... :)

(pic from the pioneer woman)

~ Coffee ~

We have officially gone full-blown coffee snob.  We used to spend $8/pound on grocery-store coffee.  Our coffee budget was $50 a month!  {We like coffee, we have friends who like coffee, and we like to drink coffee with friends.}  So, to save money, we started roasting our own coffee.  5 years ago, for an early Christmas present, I bought Andy an iRoast2.  We could get green coffee beans for $1.85/pound.  {Prices of coffee have gone *way* up.  Our last shipment was $4/pound, which is still a savings.}  

That year for Christmas, we roasted coffee for our family and friends.  

I'm still not sure I can come up with a better gift for a coffee lover...

(pic from pinterest)

Does anyone else feel like they just gained 5 pounds reading that post?

Sorry about that.  

I promise you didn't.  

We'll move onto kiddo gifts next...sans calories.

~~~~~~~~~~

While it's fun to create a gift for someone special, I never want to forget why we do this.  Christmas is a celebration of the most remarkable gift of all ~ our Savior born into this world that we. may. have. life!  New life!  Life everlasting!  Life in and through Him!   I think sometimes we settle for celebrating the festivities rather than the honored guest.  It's like we miss the King being in our presence because we are enamored by the glittering tinsel and twinkling lights.  

The thought of making a gift for someone may stress you out as much as me having to push a cart through a crowded store on Christmas Eve.  I get that.   So whether you buy your gifts at the mall or make them all, my hope is that every heart prepare Him room.  That we don't chase after stuff to fulfill a longing only He can.  That our days would sing long and loud...

What can I say? 

What can I do? 

But offer this heart, O God, 

Completely to You. 

So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, 

In awe of the One who gave it all. 

I'll stand. My soul, Lord, to You surrendered. 

All I am is Yours!