Counting My Blessings

It has been awhile since I have blogged. I haven't abandoned my "GREEN MOMENTS" I do have to admit they have been few and far between though...

Two months ago I was a serious car wreck. It truly has been an adventure since then...and not a good one. Our car was being worked on....on day 34 the insurance company decided to total it. As they totalled it...we had to look for a new car. As we're looking for a new car, we are finding that with the insurance $$$ we can't afford to purchase something like what we had before.  I've been to chiropractic treatment. 

All this to say....I have NOT been focussing on how to be more green. I wish I had been...but I've been solely in survival mode. I have tried biscuits and gravy (that was a 1st in my life). I've been putting up Christmas decor...which has been a nice distraction. None of this has taken the stress away...although it has helped. What has helped is COUNTING MY BLESSINGS...

I'm excited to say that Juan is on his way home with a car...so we can send the rental car back. Our new car is not the same size as our previous automobile...it is in fact smaller. But I am doing something new this month....counting my blessings everyday. Everyday I write in my "Thankful Journal" 10 things I'm thankful for...

Today I am thankful for:
1. Health
2. My children
3. My husband
4. That no one was seriously injured in that accident
5. Our new Car
6. For good friends who truly care
7. Our jobs....ability to do what I love
8. The wonderful season of Christmas to celebrate all the wonderful things in life including the birth of Jesus
9. My Family!
10. That everyday is a new day...a fresh start and tomorrow I can focus on how to find more "Green Moments"

Cheap Laundry Detergent & Automatic Dish Washing Detergent!

Everyone is looking for a deal these days. I am definitely one of those people. In my Homemade book I found a couple recipes on detergent and thought I'd try them yesterday. The results were astounding!

The first one was the Automatic Dish washing detergent. Each bottle we've been buying from publix or target (the no name brand) is between $2.50 - $3.00. 

The recipe is: 2 cups of Borax. 2 cups of washing soda. For each load of dishes, put 2 tablespoons of the mixture in the soap dispenser. I tried the mixture and ALL the dishes came out clean! My regular detergent doesn't always get all the dishes clean!

The Borax was $4 and the Washing Soda was $2. I purchased them at publix and to my surprise they were both located right next to the pricey detergents.

I also tried making the laundry detergent that was in the book. The recipe was really simple as well to do. 1/2 cup soap flakes (grate a pure soap bar), 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup borax & mix together.

I grated soap that I had extra from hotel visits. I picked a scent I really liked. I put the mixture in the machine & let the water rise.  Then put the clothes in. I tried it on Juan's t-shirts first to see what it would do. haha (with his permission of course)! The detergent worked really well.  

These were definitely simple to make. I'm glad I tried them. Plus I have A LOT of Borax and washing soda left to make much more detergent. I'm just not really aware of the effects of borax and washing soda vs. the leading brands. I'm going to do some more homework to find out more. I want to make sure if I'm going to the trouble of making it, it's good for my family and the environment.

If you have additional info please do share!  I'd love to learn more.