Things I've learned in 2010

I have learned I do not have to use dryer sheets. If I dry the synthetic clothes and natural fibers separately, then there is no static cling! I can also hang up those few synthetic items and save on electricity. I learned I could fix a spray bottle with white vinegar and a little essential oil and spray into the dryer to help as a softener. Or add it to the rinse cycle of the washer. When I think of money wasted buying dryer sheets! Wow. Not counting the dryer sheets in the land fills and the chemicals released into my house from them!

I learned that I could make my own foaming soft soap from regular soft soap. I noticed on a soap container my mom bought that you add 1/10 liquid soap to 9/10s water and have foaming soft soap. So, I bought 2 foam soft soap bottles and now make my own. Another thing that made me realize this is that I bought the wrong product once when I meant to buy soft soap, I bought the foam one instead and it was mainly water. Just imagine how much money the manufacturers are making off us by us buying 9/10s water from them!

I learned I can lose those unwanted pounds by being careful what I eat. I realized I was the only person responsible for what went into my tummy. I did not reach my second goal, but my first goal was reached and has been maintained. It is hard with all our social eating, but I keep reminding myself that the end goal is more important than giving in ... most of the time!

I learned I can live without a microwave. Well, I still have it because it is in the shed, but I haven't used it much at all.

I learned I can make a blog! It has been almost a year now.

Building our porch

It seems every time I try to start posting every day something comes up to keep me from it. But then, I am glad this item is coming up! One of the reasons we worked with the Census was to earn money for a front porch. It is becoming a reality. With friends and family pitching in to help, our dream is coming true and at a good speed! We sat on it yesterday! The trick is to get it to be stable without attaching it to the mobile home. Code office won't let it be attached. But, my hubby is figuring it out!

Almost done. But, it got cold. brrrr. Really, though he would still be working on it, but the stove at the church needed to be replaced and remodeling needed to be done because of it. But, I'd rather he be working inside. There will be some warm days again .... I am sure of it!

Updates

It has been more than a year since I started using home-made laundry detergent and gave up the microwave.
The detergent seems to be doing fine. Our clothing is clean and have not rotted. And, we've saved several dollars not buying the expensive stuff.
We moved the microwave out to the shed last week. Steve's suggestion being we were not using it and needed space. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it completely. It can be used there if needed. My idea is to have it on the counter we will  build one day in the kitchen so company can use it if they want. It can always be used for storage in the meantime. Time will tell.
I remember my first microwave. I wanted one but we could not afford to buy one. They had one at the school auction, but it did not sell. A friend owned it and had it sitting in their house. I made a comment about it. Later, I was collecting clothes for a needy family and they came over with a box. I saw it was the microwave box, but I thought it was clothes and told them to set it aside. They did and sat for a while. Finally, he said, "Well, if you don't open the box, I will." I looked at them funny and went to the box. Well, they had brought me the microwave as a gift! That was in the 80's. In the 00's we gave it away before one of our moves. That microwave was over 20 yrs old and still worked! Thanks Jim & Sally.

home made facial scrub

I thought about this so did a search. There are many recipes out there. Here are the two I plan to try.

Salt facial scrub

Ingredients: Salt, baby oil, Vitamin E, fragrance (if you want it).
Method:
Take a bottle with a lid. Fill more than half of the bottle with salt. Add baby oil into it. Stir
it with a spoon so that the oil seeps to the bottom of the bottle. Add a small amount of
vitamin E and fragrance. And stir it all together. There you are with your ready to use scrub.
http://home-family.top54u.com/post/Homemade-Facial-Scrubs.aspx

1 tsp olive oil ( cold pressed ) and 1/2 tsp sea salt applied gently to a wet face will not only remove dead cells, but it will also improve micro-circulation. Olive oil is going to nourish the skin, leaving it incredibly soft.
http://www.natural-homeremedies.com/homemade-beauty-recipes/facial-scrubs.htm