getting frugal with house products

This past month Brett and I have gone back to REALLY sticking to our budget. (we really want to put save money to buy a second vehicle). Some months we are good then other months, well we are bad and and splurge way too much. Yes I may still use coupons but money is being wasted by being lazy and doing what is "convenient". I am too lazy to get up and fix my hubby's breakfast and he has to do fast food or I don't plan our meals so its easier to go out to eat or I buy stuff that is more "convenient" and waste more money than if I made it myself. So back to planning meals and sticking to it, getting up and making brett's lunches and even found ways to "make" my own baby food, kids smoothies (instead of going for shakes), freezer pops, laundry detergent, household cleaning supplies, and even air freshners. I know I might be going overboard but again when you look at how much you spend on laundry soap and cleaning supplies its crazy especially when you use it as much as I do. Thought I would pass along some of the recipes I have found so if you are feeling frugal and want to try some :) Spray for house instead of frebreeze: 12 drops eucalyptus oil 10 drops lavendar oil 14 drops orange oil 1/2 cup distilled water Pour distilled water into spray bottle(dark glass one if possible) add essential oils shake gently but thoroughly before using vegatable and fruit spray: for hard skinned fruit and veggies: fill spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water then spray the solution onto yor fruits and veggies; rub it in and rinse for soft skinned: fill bowl with equal parts white vinegar and water then soak your fruits or veggies in solution for minute or two then rinse spray for cleaning toys or bathroom counters, toilets: 1/4 cup bleach 2 1/4 cup water make sure you mark the bottle :) Kitchen cleaner: Empty spray bottle white distilled vinegar antibacterial dish detergent fill bottle with vinegar and then spray on counter and let set for minute then clean off with towel or fill bottle with 3 drops of dish detergent and fill rest with water. shake bottle then spray surface and wipe clean Floors: Add 1 cup vinegar with 1 gallon of water and mop away :) and so you see there are a lot of "homemade" cleaners...I found some window recipes using Dawn dishwashing soap (my sister has used that and has said it works great). Next time you go to store pick up empty spray bottles, dawn soap, and white vinegar and you can make almost any kind of cleaner and it is a lot less expensive then buying the $3 or $4 bottles of the name brand cleaner which in most cases are toxic anyway! so in what ways do you try to save money?

blessings

Yesterday we found out that Brett may not have a job come Monday morning if the government shuts down. And if and when they go back, would they get paid for the days they miss they do not know either. But instead of worrying about the uncertaintity, we are going to trust in the Lord to provide and rest assure He will take care of us just like he promises to. Today in my devotions I read about the widow in 1Kings that only had enough meal and oil to make a cake for her and her son and then they would die. Elijah comes along and ask her to make him a cake first. I'm sure it was a big step of faith for her to make Elijah's cake first. But she did and the Lord blessed her. Her barrell and cruse may not have been kept full, but they NEVER ran out. Oh what a blessing and encouragement that was to me today! To know if we are faithful to give to the Lord FIRST, even when we don't know when our next pay check is, the Lord will bless us and will make sure we do not go hungry.It would be so easy to keep the portion of our last pay check that is supposed to go for tithes and faith promise and put it in savings "just in case". But after reading this story and being reminded that we have to give to the Lord FIRST before he will bless us, I dont' think we will be holding back from giving to the Lord since we want to be a part of His blessing on our lives. Our desires may not alway be met but our NEEDS will be! Spurgeon once said, " God never yet forsook in need, the soul that trusted in Him indeed!" I am looking forward to seeing how the Lord will provide!

A game that was introduced to us a few years ago by my sister, Ashley. We had so much fun playing with our family that Christmas that we had to buy it for ourselves. And since then we have played it with many of our friends. It is so much fun to see if the friends playing with us are thinking the same way as their spouses :) So next time you need a new game, look for this one!

On Friday we celebrated Cailyn's 3rd birthday. Wow it seems like last year she turned 1! this little girl if full of life! She keeps us all very busy but I love her so much! She loves her mama and she is always there to help me with whatever I am doing...laundry, cleaning, washing dishes, even when I sit on couch she is there right beside me, and with a book for me to read :)

She got a new bike for her birthday!

Shannon, do you recognize the T-shirt :) I love purple on her! Thank you so much. She wore this on Friday and even slept in it and then of course all day Saturday she had it on! Just washed it so its ready to be worn again :)

The cupcakes I made for her birthday were homemade and the recipe was given to me by my sister Ashley. They were so awesome! I think the peanut butter icing was what was so good. You could make a regular chocolate cupcake or from scratch like I did but you gotta use this recipe for the icing :

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup creamy peanut butter

3 1/2 c powdered sugar

1/4 milk

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cream butter and peanut butter. Add 1/2 powdered sugar and mix well. Blend in milk and vanilla. Add remaining powdered sugar and blend until smooth.

I have some icing left over since it does make a lot so I am going to use it to ice some brownies this week!

I have started craving smoothies during the morning instead of my coffee. (I ran out of creamer about 2 weeks ago or so and I haven't bought it since...guess that is one way to not drink coffee :) ) I have found so many recipes for all kinds of smoothies. I am always trying a new one with new fruits or juices in it. Today's smoothie was Hawaniian fruit smoothie and it was so delicious! Brettw as home this morning so he was able to try it though he thought there was too much greens in it....but said he didn't taste it once he drank it .... that just proves that you don't watch Heather make her smoothies so you won't know what's in it....as long as they taste good that's all that counts :) Here is the recipe I will past on: Hawaiian Fruits and Greens Smoothie 1/2 cup almond milk( you could try to substitute for regular milk but I usually have almond milk so I used it) 1 frozen banana(I just used one that was in the refrig) 1/2 cup fresh pineapple or pineapple juice handful of spinach or greens :) 1/8 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 1/2 fresh or frozen strawberries 1/4 cup fresh or frozen mango Combine ingredients in blender and ENJOY!

One of our favorite breakfast or snack food are donuts. We love any kind; white covered, chocolate covered, bite size, big one, fresh ones from a farm near us, or just homemade! Just give my kids and me of course, donuts and we are happy :)

Nathanael loves to put things together. He has a great imagination! One of his favorite things to do is create things with Lego's. He built this helicopter the other day just using his imagination. He has built airplanes, dinosaurs, alligators, guns, and so much more and they look so real too....his alligator actually could open and shut his mouth :) He's going to be my architect some day :)

if you look in the background you can see the capitol

One of our favorite places to walk is down at the National Mall. I really didn't appreciate history as much when I was little (and we even made field trips to some historical sites with my family) but now that I am older, wiser, more appreciative :), and I am living near a lot of "historical sites" I am so enjoying re-learning about these famous places and people. Nathanael and Madison are learning about some of these monuments in history class so its neat to actually go and take them to some of those places they have learned about. It makes history more meaningful and interesting when you can go to that site and talk about what happened or why we have that monument for that person.

Last month I had posted that I was looking for a recipe for good southern biscuits. A good friend of mine, Mrs Headley, brought me a Biscuit mix that is called Southern Biscuit formula, complete biscuit mix that you just add buttermilk. Wow! were they good! Thanks Mrs Headley, we have really enjoyed making and eating them :)

I have been trying to do at least one new recipe each week. They are supposed to be new "supper" recipes but sometimes it ends up being a new dessert or breakfast item :) I don't have pictures of the meals so you that have to have pictures to see what the meal looks like...well you are out of luck this time...just trust me these meals are good!
Cheese and Bacon Chicken
2 Tbl olive oil
4-6 pieces breast halves or more if you use breast tenders
12 pieces of cookied and crumbled bacon
1/4 cup Teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup Ranch salad dressing
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
Put the 2 tbl of oil in the bottom of crockpot (this step is optional) Put the chicken in the crock on top of the oil. In a small bowl combine the teriyaki sauce and the ranch dressing. (you will have to taste it...it sounds crazy but its good :) ) pour the sauce over the chicken making sure you get in between the chicken pieces. add the cheese and bacon on top of chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hrs. the cooking time depends on how big the chicken pieces and if they are frozen or fresh. Then enjoy! I had red potatoes to go with it and a veggie.



Applesauce Chicken

4 chicken breast or thighs
1 1/2 cup of applesauce
1 T dried onion flakes or 1 yellow onion chopped finely
1 T apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 black pepper
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes(optional, I didn't have it this time)

Directions:

Put chicken in crockpot. add onion uness you are using dried onion and you would wait to add it with your applesauce. In a bowl mix the applesauce, vinegar, garlic, and spices together. pour on applsauce. cover and cook on low 5-7 hrs or high for 3-4 hrs.
we had this last night and it was delicious! I guess if you are not an applesauce person you may not like it but it was really tasty and it made the chicken really moist!

Yesterday we made some brownies. I only put half the batter in the dish and then we used Hershey Chocolate Candy bars to put in middle of one side of the pan and then marshmellows on the other side. After you add whatever you want, then pour the remaining brownie mix on top. the part with the candy bar was my favorite although the marshmellows weren't that bad either :) Next time will be peanut butter chips :)

Manna for Moms | "Growing in Solitude" by Megan Breedlove

Manna for Moms "Growing in Solitude" by Megan Breedlove

oh the joy of trying to take 50 shots to get at least one that is half way decent :)

sisters! I love my sisters so I am so thankful my girls have each other. There are 3 years inbetween them just like there are between me and my older sissy and me and my younger sis. My girls are beginning to enjoy each other's company more and more. I love seeing them play together. Cailyn loves to do anything Madison does, even likes to dress like her. Since Madison usually is dressed first, Cailyn will literally often look at what she is wearing then go and find something that looks like Madison's outfit(one reason I buy matching clothes for the girls).

Even down to the tights or socks, Cailyn wants to be like Madison.And one thing now I am so happy about is that Cailyn wants to wear hair bows just like Madison....if you knew Cailyn before she would NOT keep a barette in but now she is wearing bows and allowing mommy to even curl her hair...big step for us :) I hope and pray that my girls stay close just like I am with my sisters!

Is it already here that my little "baby" is mobile? Where has the time gone.....it was just yesterday that it seems like he was content just laying in the swing or in my arms! But no not anymore! he has to be on the ground and he may not be crawling but he gets to where he wants to be...his way is by rolling...and he can do it pretty fast I might add :) I am now constantly vacumming and reminding kids to pick up the small toys, crayons, paper, or whatever else that looks like he is interested in getting his little hands on and then into his mouth. I love this stage though! love his interest in EVERYTHING now, love his contagious smile, his wet kisses, his hands reaching to grab my face, and even him pulling my hair :) Just wish I could slow the clock down some!

The beautiful tulips my hubby brought home last week! Thank you honey! I love when you bring me flowers :)

Again these pictures are from last week....this was last Friday...it was gloomy when I woke up and so due to the circumstances that day it was difficult to be in a good mood. But then by afternoon the sun was pushing those dark clouds out and was brightening the sky. It was beautiful! Just reminded me that those "dark clouds" in our lives can be brightened by our Heavenly Father, the "Son" if we will allow him too!

Ok, this picture is from last week but this is what we did today just didn't get a new picture :) There is a park in the subdivision next to us but we can walk thru ours to get to it. As you can see behind the kids its a new subdivision that is in the process of beinging built...they built the playground first, now the houses are being built. so right now hardly anyone uses it. I like it because its small (which means I can keep tract of all my kiddoes), there is picnic tables so we can have a picnic, and I even like the 10 min walk there even if it is all uphill, that is my exercise for the day and when you are pulling a wagon with more then 40 lbs in it I think I can say I am burning major calories :)

Nathanael, 7 yrs old, with lots of gap in his mouth...man I don't remember losing my teeth left and right like he is...tooth fairy is going to be broke soon :)

Ok this picture was taken 2 weeks ago but I still wanted to post it because I was so happy of my savings that day :) I went into Safeway for a couple items but these item were not on my "list" but came across a sale for the weekend. The box of chicken have 9 chicken breasts in each so 36 chicken breasts( which means 12 meals total for our family) and they are Purdue which I love! They were marked down to $4.99 each that day, usually $11 or $12 each. THen the formula was on sale for $3.99. Even that is not good enough for me but I had 2 coupons for $3 off any similac formula :) they had expired but you know me I am going to try to use them anyway :) and I am glad I did because they took them, never even looked at the expiration date :) now I"ll buy the formula for $.99 each :)