Playdate for Max and a recipe for cheapos.

Rob and I decided to not stress over Max's birthday, that he would not remember it and that he would just enjoy a day with us at Chuck E. Cheez and a few presents. And a cookie cake.

And we were right. He loved it.  I felt good not planning a big party and buying extra stuff for my kid's birthday. After all, we are going to Silver Dollar City in November as a joint present to the kids. I felt good about it.

No I didn't.

I took oreos and juice to his school on his actual birthday.

Then I planned a playdate at my house and invited his friends. And made cupcakes. What's that saying about not being able teach and old crazy mom new tricks? I cannot be taught to keep life simple.

I think Santa Max enjoyed Birthday part Deux

During previously mentioned playdate, my friends Krystal and Michelle, started asking questions about my homemade laundry detergent. Then it became pretty much blasphamous that I hadn't blogged about it yet. And when Krystal and Michelle tell you to blog about something, you do it. Cause they are drama free and fun and I love their kids and they have awesome taste in 2 year old birthday presents.

In an effort to make myself go completely and totally batshit crazy trying to do everything save money, I have taken to making lots and lots of stuff homemade. It started with having to go dairy free, it was easier to make waffles, pancakes, and such homemade than pay out the arse for dairy free stuff. Then I realized that homemade pancakes tastes so. freakin. good. and cost almost nothing to make. Seriously, they cost so little. At the same time, I was getting so tired of buying laundry detergent. Its so pricey and I hate buying it. I heard that some people made it at home, so I thought I'd try it. LOVE! One batch of this laundry detergent lasts about a month and costs about $3. I wash a lot of clothes. I have two boys that I let play in mud, eat spaghetti, help me cook, everything. Rob also wears jeans everyday to work and I wear scrubs that I strip out of the minute I step in the door (Because I work in a nasty place), so on work days, I use two full outfits. I probably do about 7 loads a week. So, to a normal person, this amount would probably last more like two months. I believe someone broke it down to costing $0.03 per load. And, Oh my gosh it smells so good and it cleans so well.

So, here you go, girls.

1 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (not baking soda)

1 cup Borax

1 Fels Naptha Soap Bar-$1.87

I buy the Super Washing Soda and Borax at Kroger and its usually less, the Amazon price is $6 for the Super Washing Soda and $6 for the Borax. All of these are located in the laundry section at the store. I have better luck with the Fels Naptha with price at the hardware store in my town, so Rob is trained to grab me one everytime he goes to the hardware store. The Washing soda and Borax make enough for 6 batches or so of detergent. 

Using a cheese grater grate down the bar of soap till it looks like above. Stir in 1 cup Borax and 1 cup Super Washing Soda and mix until well blended. 1 tbsp of soap to a load of laundry. Unless it was a play in the ditch day, that gets 2 tbsp.