Portion Control....Soap Style

I have had a monumental revelation,lately! It is getting really expensive to run a household. Of course, it doesn't help that utility, gas, and food prices are on the rise, but just keeping the basic non food necessities around really adds up (especially when you have a houseful of kid's). I have stopped buy most cleaning products. Opting to use home made cleaners, vinegar, baking soda, and micro fiber cloths.I pretty much only buy the ingredients to make my cleaning supplies (much cheaper and earth friendly). I do still buy Lysol wipes (I have a houseful of males......enough said!). I have been really paying attention to cost per ounce (or count) on the  personal hygiene and the household products we use. Most of the time it works out that the largest or warehouse size is the best price (praise be to Costco's coupon books).  I am great at  portioning out just about anything and trying  to use the least amount possible to make them stretch just a little further. However, the rest of the family not so much! Their philosophy seems to be that those big bottles and boxes of , whatever, are bottomless and FREE (silly, silly family)!

So to up the ante on portion control compliance, I have had to get a little creative. If you take the guess work out of it, they will comply....most of the time!

I switched from regular hand soap dispensers to foaming soap dispensers a long time ago (the day Child #3 pumped an entire bottle of regular hand soap on the bathroom floor). Now I refill my foaming soap dispenser by filling the dispenser 2/3 full of water and adding 1/2 tablespoon antibacterial soap. Shake to mix the soap and water. Then add more water to the fill line if necessary.

In fact, most antibacterial dish soap's can be used in place of hand soap. They also happen to be cheaper the regular hand soap refills, too.

My kid's can go through a bottle of shampoo in record time. Since the majority of the people in this house have hair an inch long, they really don't need a palmful of shampoo to wash their hair (or make bubble bath). To save money on shampoo I buy it on sale, and  then pour it into a pump bottle that we have been reusing for years.

To ensure that they don't use an unholy amount with each shampoo I twisted a wide rubber band underneath the head of the pump. Now the pump will only go so far before stopping. Giving them enough to get their hair clean, but not enough to waste. 

The same goes for dish soap. In my continuing efforts to produce marketable members of society, I have been making my kid's wash the dishes that won't fit in the dishwasher by hand (or if they are getting a little sassy...all the dishes).  I have been refilling a one liter plastic soda bottle (with a salvaged dish soap bottle lid on it) from the Costco size dish soap bottle to make it more manageable, but squeeze bottles = free for all + waste, at my house.

 So now, I refill a 20 oz plastic soda bottle (with a salvaged pump lid from a bottle of hand sanitizer) from the mondo container of dish soap.  Two pumps is enough soap to fill the sink with lots of bubbles!

Bar soap seems to be the Achille's heel. I have encased many bars in legs of worn out nylons. This method works great......if they remember to hang the soap up after their bath!!!  I guess some things are a work in progress!

 

Home Made Pancake/ Waffle Syrup

This syrup is super easy to make, and very tasty. My kid's have been eating it for years on their pancakes, and there haven't been any complaints yet (even from the picky ones)!

Homemade Pancake/ Waffle Syrup

2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. maple extract (Mapleine)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tablespoons corn syrup (to prevent the syrup from crystalizing)
1 cup water

Stir ingredients together in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat stirring occasionally until it comes to a boil. This is the important part WATCH YOUR SYRUP CLOSELY!
Once it comes to a boil it will boil over quickly. As soon as it starts to boil and the sugar is dissolved take it off the heat and let it cool. The syrup is thin while it is hot, but once it cools it's thick just like store bought syrup. Pour into an old flip top syrup or ketchup bottle and store leftovers in the fridge. It will stay good for a month in the fridge.

Happy Easter

"Of Him who delivered each of us from endless death, I testify He is a teacher of truth—but He is more than a teacher. He is the exemplar of the perfect life—but He is more than an exemplar. He is the great physician—but He is more than a physician. He is the literal Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One of Israel, even the risen Lord, who declared, “I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:4)."  - President Thomas S. Monson

"Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!"

 

Happy Easter, Sisters!

Tiffanee's Salsa Supreme

For everyone who enjoyed the salsa Thursday night after our Square Foot Gardening Class, you can find the recipe here:

Tiffanee's Salsa Supreme

 Tiffanee Gould is a Highland 7th Ward alumni, and a VERY  dear friend. I have never eaten a recipe of her's that I didn't like! In fact, her blog, One Crazy Cookie, is chuck full of easy, delicious, and economical recipes.

Don't Forget Our Square Foot Gardening Class!!!

Don't forget, ladies. Well will be holding our Square Foot and Container Gardening class:

This Thursday, April 7th

at 6:30 pm

in the Relief Society Room

I am super excited to share step by step how to grow produce in even the smallest areas. Please come join the fun!  Even if your an avid gardener all ready, come share you wisdom with us!!!!

Home Made Disinfecting All Purpose Cleaner

Homemade All Purpose Disinfecting Cleaner

2 TB ammonia
1/2 cup alcohol
1/4 cup vinegar
3 1/4 cups water

I add the first three ingredients in a quart spray bottle then fill it up with water. I keep one in both bathrooms. It is great for cleaning sinks, hard water on tile, toilet seats, kitchen counters, most hard surfaces, and greasy fingerprints off of doors. I even use it as a mirror and window cleaner (no streaking). To make disinfecting wipes cut a small roll of Bounty paper towels (no substitutes) in half (with a serrated knife). Place each half roll in a plastic container (if you use the 110 count tubs of Lysol wipes save the empty tubs. The rolls fit in them perfectly). Pour 1/2 of the solution over each of the rolls. Give the paper towels a few minutes to soak up the solution, and then pull the card board out of the center. Much cheaper than the commercially made ones, and as long as you keep a supply of the ingredients on hand, no having to run to the store to get more when you run out!