Craft Room vs. Crap Room

Being the mom of four boys I often find my days busy doing things like:

*taking rocks out of the washer that came out of the pockets

*letting the poor bugs loose from the jars in the garage

*changing plug-in scents when the "boy smell" surfaces

What I would really love is a beautiful, colorful, functional craft room where I can bring out my 

girly, fun and crafty side that is often hiding and doesn't get out much.  

This is where Mandi and Hailee come in!  Mandi over at Vintage Revivals has the style that speaks to me!  She has the chance to come to my house and redo/updo my really sad looking craft room/crap room!   

Craft room tour

What I'm great at...organizing!  What I'm not good at....decorating!  Look at how bare the walls are; screaming for a makeover with wild and crazy paint, pictures and shelving! 

Do you think I have enough mismatched tables?  I would love a huge work space where I can sit with friends and have a blast!  That back door is a huge closet for hiding things...not monsters, but often children!

Don't be jealous of my way fabulous comfortable chairs.  I want to craft just so that I can sit in these chairs..  No really, friends won't leave because the chairs are sooooo AWESOME (sarcasm and giggle)!

Another view of the dressers that don't match any bedroom so I get to put them all in my craft room

(YIPPEE).  Great for functionality, but totally lacks in creativity!

Help me...I'm naked and I look so drab!  Bring on the fabric, color and the WOW!  

As you can see, this room is not a creative, color-popping room of a CRAFTYLICIOUS mom!  Save this mom of four boys and make my space a craft room instead of what my hubby calls it....my crap room!  

Disclaimer to Mandi and Hailee... you will LOVE Springfield, Virginia (you're so excited you are about to pee your pants)!  I'm close to stores (HomeGoods and LOWES are within a 10 min drive), historic buildings to visit and WE would have a WICKED AWESOME time together!  I would have a pit crew waiting for your arrival to help us out, my kids are all in school, I'm a NIGHT OWL, have a sweet tooth and I COOK!  

Homemade Hand Soap

I LOVE yummy smelly things and that includes my kids hands!  We wash our hands all the time and with 7 sinks in this house, I needed to make more hand soap.  I have tried about 6 different recipes and fine tuned the perfect soap recipe!  

What you will need:

1 bar of soap (grated makes about 2 1/2 cups so feel free to use all those little soaps you get free at the hotel)

1 tablespoon glycerin (get it in the medical aisle right near the hydrogen peroxide)

9 cups of water

Large pot

Grater

Measuring spoon

Funnel

Large container to store hand soap in

Grate down the bar (or bars of soap) into a bowl.  

Boil water in large pot.  Change temperature to simmer and add grated soap and glycerin to pot.  

Mix until soap is melted.  Once melted, remove from stove and let sit for 12 hours.  

Pour into large container using funnel or pour slowly.  

*All soaps are different!  If your soap is too runny, add more soap.  If is is too thick, add more water.  

* I love the foam soap dispensers!  I use this same recipe and just add extra water in the soap dispensers before I add soap and shake.  

* If you like smelly soaps, use a bar of smelly soap!  

*This only costs me the original purchase of the glycerin which was $1.80 at Walmart.  With only using 1 tablespoons per batch, I have about 20 batch's per bottle.  The soap only costs 9 cents per batch for 9 cups of soap. Can't beat that and now I have some extra cash in our monthly budget! 

Homemade Laundry Detergent

With 18 loads of laundry to do each week, I need another money saver!  This is a super cheap but easy recipe and it gets all the stains, smells and yuckiness out of the rough tough boy clothes.  It's a winner with being HE safe and I bet you will love it too! 

1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle

1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle

1  box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle

3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap, found in the detergent isle (if you use Zote bars use 2 bars instead, Zote can be found at Home Depot)

2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent isle.  You can make this without the Oxyclean and baking soda but it makes my clothes soooo clean with a family of boys that I dare not try it without! 

Unwrap and grate the 3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap into a large and sturdy trash bag.  

Add all the other listed ingredients to the large trash bag.  Just a caution with the Borax...pour slowly or the dust cloud will appear!  ;)  Close the bag and hold tightly as you slowly mix/shake/roll the trash bag around to mix contents completely.   

Put into seal tight containers for storage.  I keep the little cups that come in the Oxy Clean to use for exact measurements for the detergent.  Makes about 800 1Tbls loads for about $12.00!  That's enough to last me 9 months! 

Homemade Uncrustables

*These thaw out in my kids lunch making the perfect sandwich! The jelly is coated inside 

the peanut butter so the bread doesn't get soggy. 

* I started making these because I hated the cost of the Uncrustables at the store and my kids were 

whining to be like the other fun kids! Problem solved...I have extra money to get a massage now!

1. Lay out parchment or wax paper on counter.
2. Apply peanut butter on both sides of the bread (we use wheat and make sure the bread is fresh)
3. Using the Pampered Chef Small Scoop, put one scoop of your favorite jelly, jam or preserves

 (we like grape and strawberry) in the middle of half the sandwich.

4. Put together the two halves of bread. 
5. Press slightly to flatten out jelly. 
6. Using the Pampered Chef Cut N' Seal, press down to cut and seal your two pieces of bread.

Here is what the Uncrustables look like once completed.

7. Put one or two sandwiches in a sandwich bag with the flavor of jelly and the date written on the 

outside of the bag. Take out air and seal.

Here is a closeup of the finished bags...ready for the freezer!

NO...I don't waste the ends! We will be eating pb&j french toast strips tonight for dinner 

(breakfast for dinner..oh yeah) if I can keep my hubby from snacking on these!

8. Lay flat on a cookie sheet and freeze. Once frozen, you can place in a container so 

you can use your cookie sheets.

Try a batch!  Let me know what your kids think! 

Homemade Fabric Softener

When you think about it, fabric softener does the same for clothes as hair conditioner does for our hair!  My favorite part is I get to select the scent myself.  I don't have to just pick one off the shelf and with the million different scents of conditioner out there...you have a million different scents to be had!  I do 18 loads of laundry a week so at only $0.01 per load, it's a huge money saver! 

Items you will need:

(2) cups of hair conditioner (my favorite and good smelly ones are Herbal Essences Hydralicicous, Body Envy and Red Raspberries with Brazilian Silk)
(3) cups of distilled white vinegar
(6) cups boiling water
(1) Mixing utensil
(1) Bucket/Pail/Pot
(1) Empty Bottle (I used an empty labeled milk jug)

STEP 1. Pour the 6 cups of boiling in water into the pail

STEP 2. Add the conditioner
STEP 3. Add the vinegar
STEP 4. Start stirring

Some conditioners will clump up but once you get them in the jug, shake and the clumps will disappear.

Using funnel, pour conditioner into your container! Don't forget to label the container! 

COST: I did go out an buy the vinegar for $1.82 at Walmart, used a third of the bottle ($.60) and conditioner I had on hand ($.48)

For a grand total of $1.08! This is a 96 oz bottle that I filled, and according to Snuggle, 96 oz = 96 loads! This makes it $.01 per load!

Let me know if you try this and what scents you like! 

Birthday Boy!

My sweet little Corbin has grown up so fast!  He just turned three (August 5th) and I'm so sad the time has gone by so quickly!  Here are his pictures from each of his birthdays so far.  

ONE

Mom made me a chocolate cake with chocolate icing with a HUGE candle in the middle.  I had all my brothers and some friends with me to help me celebrate.  I LOVE cake and anything else that is super sweet. Mom says that I have a sweet tooth like her.  

TWO

My mom had a "Despicable Me" party and I got to celebrate with family and friends.  We had games, tons of food and goodies all based on the movie.  Here, I am posing with my fun cupcakes!  I love being two!  

THREE

Wahoo for turning three!  Everyone says that being three is the hardest, but I don't EVER give my parents any trouble.  I sometimes have a hard time communicating and get upset but I'm a pretty calm-natured kid.  I LOVE bugs, playing games, reading books and pushing my huge trucks in the front yard.  I spent this birthday with the Patke family and of course, my family was there!  Three is going to be AMAZING! 

So Long...Farewell!

The month of July was jammed packed with trying to see and spend time will all my good friends, among a list of tons of other things to wrap up before I left Georgia.  Some of these friends are bosom buddies and I will be forever connected to them.  

 My longest(not oldest) friend, Sara!  We met in 8th grade and have stayed best friends since.  I NEVER thought I would  EVER live back in Warner Robins so we could hang out, have fun, laugh and rekindle all past memories.  I love you tons my friend! 

I first heard Summer bear her testimony in church and her testimony was an answer to one of my prayers.  Months later I got Summer added to my Visiting Teaching route so I really got the chance to get to know this talented women! She is amazing and such a great friend....our paths WILL cross again! 

Morgan and I got to spend since January a ton of time together! She is a bunko player, movie goer and she makes me laugh! We even got to be companions for VT together for a few short months.  She is also my Pilates buddy for life! Tons of AWESOME things are in store for her this year and I will miss her hugs! 

This chick is by far one of the most positive people you will ever meet! She can have ants in her pants and she would dance and still smile! Angie, I will miss our breakfasts together, playing Bunko, hugging your neck and playing wackee six! 

First impressions aren't everything and come to find out....we are WAY too much alike!  Sam, you are an amazing friend, mom and wife and I will miss our long talks, our driving in the back grass lane to each others houses and wearing a huge pink bra that is all dazzled and tasseled! 

What do you say to a sister that became a best friend, but that I love you tons.  As I type this I'm crying and missing you the most.  Kirsten, you are strong, witty, courageous and you will persevere any trial that comes your way!  Thanks for introducing me to BINGO, Just Dance and Vampire Diaries.  I would pick you as a friend even if you weren't my sister! 

This couple is the BEST fro-yo buddies in the world! We would go out late at night and stay at Munchies until almost or over closing time.  Tony and Tracy, you are true friends and I will miss spending time with you!  I will forever count every 20 while sitting in church because of you! 

My dearest Laura....you have touched my life in such a way and we are kindred spirits! I will miss our monthly lunches and talking about the kids, our crafts, our jobs and other "fun" topics!  You are the best and you deserve the best...hey you have me!  ;)  Love you bunches of oats! 

We sure have been through a lot this last year haven't we Leah?  I'm so glad that I got to be friends with you and you stayed by my side through "stuff". Your dear little Levi became a strength for me and I know that we were supposed to be friends to get through that.  I will always think of you while I'm watching Bachelor/ette!  

Miss Janet is seriously the BEST Pre-School teacher in the universe! My little Corbin will sure be missing you and since he will be home with me this next year, I will be missing you as well! Thank you for teaching my son and being a part in our life! 

There are certain young women who you see yourself in....Rebekah is one of them! She is brilliant, a leader, misunderstood and a jokester!  I will miss you and all the YW in the ward! 

Sarah started out as Haden's cub scout leader and with all the phone calls, questions and my confusion, we became great buds! She stays cool as a cucumber when stress surrounds her.  I will always be grateful to be a part of her life and to share in her retirement in the AF as she served 20 years!  

You wonder why I love camp?  You wonder how I come up with all the fun practical jokes?  You wonder where my testimony was built on the power of amazing leadership?  This women right here...Karen! She was my YW leader and camp director for all 6 years of me being a YW.  I'm the person I am today because of her and I love that and proud of our connection! 

I don't have enough room to write all the things that Aubrey and Chad Christensen have done for our family.  Chad is the best scout leader and helped us with Trenton when others slacked! Aubrey watched my little ones while I went to camp, traveled for work or went to the temple.  I can't wait to see the fun things that are coming up...you DESERVE them! 

My FRIEND!  I will miss our lunches, our phone calls, and I will miss YOU!  Good thing you have family in VA so I can hang out with them and feel like I'm with you! 

I met you first at Erin's jewelry party and hoped that we would be friends! Wendy, I think you are the GREATEST!  You stood up for me, feet planted, telling the truth and not shaking from it when others turned against you!  I LOVE you! I look forward to pulling out your kids teeth ;), clipping watermelons/squash (eeeh) from the garden, hitting up Sonic, staying up till 4am, sleeping on the air mattress (I mean ground for you), listening for creepers trying to steal our girls, getting ice cream at camp and just having an AWESOME time EVERY time that we are together! 

Massage me......you are the best!  I will miss getting my massages and Eric will be too! Buffie, you have made me laugh when I wanted to cry and kept me afloat when you didn't even know!  As the newest Pampered Chef consultant in WR, you are doing amazing and growing and sharing the love of cooking at home with the family, just like I would be.  That feels good that I left it all in your hands.  

Gee-ma and mom, I have already missed the Sunday dinners, the swimming in your pool, going out for lunch, seeing your face in church and watching you serve and help others.  One of the greatest blessing of moving back to WR as being close to you and dad! I'm glad that we have had this time together! I can't wait to see you in October for TOFW! 

Friday night BINGO with the girls! We are the only ones that show up that is under the age of 80!  They get mad when one of us wins and they have a ink bag versus us only having one ink a piece!  Tell the creepy kid in the star that I said hi! 

I have missed some....I don't have a picture with each of you!  Please know that I love you, you complete me, you are a part of my life and I want that to continue even though I'm not right by you!  I love the quote: A friend is someone who will bail you out of jail.  A best friend is the one sitting next to you saying "boy that was fun." Thanks to each of you for sitting on the bench with me having fun! 

Random Acts of Kindness

So here it is...my last week(July 23- 28) living in Georgia!  It's kind of bitter sweet.  I didn't feel right leaving without sharing a piece of who I am with the town before I left.  My friend just left a blog entry of her RAOK(Random Acts of Kindness) and it triggered within me a burn to do the same.  My son Haden needed some service for cub scouts so I took him along with me on a service journey.  It felt so good to do something good for others while in the midst of the craziness of moving.  

I printed these off these cards onto white cardstock and cut them out.  

RAOK #1- My good friend had just moved into a new house on base and she was saving her boxes for me to use.  While stopping at her house a few days prior to pick up the boxes, she mentioned how much her knee was hurting.  I mentioned using Biofreeze Gel and since she hasn't heard of it or has access to getting any, I shared some of mine.  We dropped this off with a RAOK card.  

RAOK #2 #3 #4- While on base dropping off the Biofreeze Gel, we stopped at the gas station and picked up three cold waters.  Haden and I drove around to find the perfect group to drop them off to.  We found a group of three guys mowing and weeding and cleaning the grounds around the base youth center.  We pulled up and Haden handed the guy standing up all three bottles of water with the cards and said, "Keep up the good work and have a nice day!"  What a grown up and polite thing that made this little lady super proud.  The guys were floored and smiles across all the faces let us know they appreciated the act of kindness. 

RAOK #5- We stopped off at the Dollar Tree and hid a $1.00 bill in between the checker games.  Sure hope a kid finds this and enjoys a free toy! 

RAOK #6- We hid another $1.00 down low in the ball pit for a kid to find! 

RAOK #7- The last dollar bill was hidden in the coloring books.  Who doesn't LOVE to color????

RAOK #8 #9 #10- We placed exact change for a FREE soda (pop..for you westerners) on the outside of three machines at Kroger with the cards.  

RAOK #11 #12 #13- While at the Dollar Tree we picked up three smiley face balloons.  We handed them out to three strangers and told them to have a nice day.  Our favorite balloon drop off was to a man bringing in shopping carts at Walmart.  You could tell that he was confused by the offering of a balloon but as we drove off he yelled back a loud thank you! At this point, my heart feels good as we leave a little Lee spirit in town.  

RAOK #14- Haden had an eye exam about a week prior to this and while sitting in the office we noticed that all the coloring books are all colored in, EVERY page to include the covers.  We picked up four brand new coloring books and dropped them off at the kid table with a card in exchange for Haden's brand new pair of glasses.  That should keep some kids super happy while waiting, and parents! 

RAOK #15- While out we need lunch with the fridge unplugged so it could get to room temperature before we moved it so we made a stop to the cheapest (not best tasting but does the trick) pizza joint, Little Ceasars!  We got two pizza's for the family and prepaid for an extra pizza and crazy bread for the next person that walked in.  The cashier was like, "really?"  She said that she heard of people doing things like this but never have seen it in action.  I smiled and left a card with her and asked her to pass the treat on.  

RAOK #16 #17- One last stop before we headed home for lunch was Sonic to pick up a Cherry Limeade for a friend that just got home from the hospital due to gall bladder issues.  While there, we paid for the lady's order behind us and left a card.  The manager came to the window and gave Haden a free Slushy for our kindness.   

RAOK #18 #19- Two of my friends in the last few days have had babies.  With my kitchen being packed up, the best way to bring them a meal was to premake them and just drop off freezer meals once they had the baby.  So each mom got four freezer meals along with bags of veggies to make whenever they were too tired to make dinner or didn't feel like cooking.  

RAOK #20- When I cleared out my kitchen I had tons of freezer food and pantry food that aren't allowed to be packed.  I sent all that food over to a friend's house that I know would love to have the extra food items and would eat them up without them going bad.  

With all these RAOK I've learned a few really fun things.  People are genuinely shocked when service is done for them without them asking.  I will be doing this more often! I was also amazed at the affect it had on my son, Haden.  He still talks about all the RAOK and I'm so glad that he got to feel the goodness of serving others.  

When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.  Mosiah 2:17