Homemade Laundry Detergent

So, I whipped up a batch of laundry detergent last week and thought I would give out my recipe with pictures. It's SO cheap, fast, and, best of all, you know what you're putting back into the water.

The recipe is:

1/2 Cup borax

1/2 Cup arm and hammer super washing soda (NOT regular baking soda)

1/3 bar of Fels-Naptha soap, grated (You can substitute 1/2 bar of Ivory soap)

water

1. Pour 6 cups of water into a pot with grated soap. Bring to a slow boil until all soap dissolves.

2. Stir in 1/2 C borax and 1/2 C washing soda. Let dissolve for a few minutes.

3. Pour mixture into a 5-gallon bucket or pot. Add 4 cups hot water. Stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups cold water. Stir.

4. Let mixture set for 24 hours. Do not stir again.

5. Use a measuring cup and funnel to distribute into easy-pour containers. I am reusing an old detergent bottle, a large Hawaiian Punch bottle, and a large coffee container. Note: It will be goopy! But it's great detergent.

Use 1/2 C for each load.

I purchased the materials about a year ago and still have plenty left. Each load is less than pennies. It sure beats buying detergent for $5 a bottle that only lasts a couple of weeks. Plus, it's great for people with sensitive skin. And, as an added bonus, borax and washing soda will not harm the environment.

Let's Get Crafty!

In a recent trip to Michael's craft store to purchase a birthday gift for one of Simon's friends, I was awakened to my creative side. Okay, that might be pushing it. I was inspired....to get the kids involved more in hands-on activities and to do some myself. Not only does it provide satisfaction, but it is a sort of therapy.

Simon painted and glued together a wooden fighter plane.

Anna painted a plastic princess sun-catcher. The next day she peeled off all of the paint. Well, I guess that means we can just do it all over again?

And me... well, I've been in love with owls lately and whilst shopping for the aforementioned birthday gift, I stumbled upon an American Girls owl project. Small, cheap, and for little girls. But, hey, who cares? It's cute and I love it!

I use it as a camera holder - it's perfect.

So, do something crafty today. Even if it's childish :-) And don't forget your 40% off coupons from the paper!

The Garden of Weedin'

Seriously, we under-estimated the weeds in our brand new garden plots. Surely just tilling up the soil once should do it, right? No. Spraying some Round-Up? Nope. Okay, okay... laying down newspaper and covering with compost? Well.... maybe?

Well, despite our weed problem, our veggies are growing. Maybe not flourishing, but they're growing. And we're excited about it.

In April we planted the first round: asparagus, onions, carrots, radishes, potatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, tomatoes, mesclun, spinach, dill, parsley, basil, and cilantro.

A few days ago we added corn, beans, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, okra, cantaloupe, and watermelons.

So maybe our garden won't be perfect, but there is something about planting seeds, watching them grow, and then eating their fruit that reaches the core of who we are. It makes you appreciate your labor and the things you normally take for granted. It is some small satisfaction.

Lesson of the day? Sometimes you just have to get on your hands and knees and pick out those weeds! I have no idea how that might apply to life, other than, shortcuts can actually just be the long way of getting to the desired end.

Wholly-Granolly

So, one of the recipes from Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution book is homemade granola. I happened to have the ingredients on hand last week so I made up a batch. It's so simple and good for you.

How to make it:

1. Pour 2 cups of old fashioned or quick oats (not instant) into a sheet cake pan.
2. Add 1 cup of nuts. I used walnuts, almonds, and pecans.
3. Add 1 cup of seeds. I used sesame, poppy, and sunflower.
4. Add cinnamon (or other similar spice).
5. Mix it all up.
6. Drizzle about 3 TBSP olive oil and 5 TBSP honey (or real maple syrup) over mixture. Stir well.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Every 5 minutes, stir and flatten mixture.
8. When finished, add 1 cup of chopped, dried fruit. I've used dates and currants.
9. Store in air-tight container and eat with milk, yogurt, or ice-cream.

It's delicious!

The Food Revolution

Yes, I have jumped onto Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution caravan. Why? Because I send my child to the public school, where he eats daily in the cafeteria, and I don't want him to be fed junkfood. Schools are teaching our children academics, why not proper nutrition?

"Simon, what did you have for lunch today?" I ask everyday.


"Chicken nuggets.....pizza....cheesesticks....burger......oh, and chocolate milk!!!"

Hmm...seriously?

Now, yes, I could send lunch with him everyday, but quite frankly that is expensive. We are eligible for the National Student Lunch Program (5 family members + 1 income = free lunch) and we are blessed to use this for the time being. The USDA regulates the school lunch program which provides free and reduced lunches to millions of students across America. The regulations are as follows:

• No more than 30% of calories from fat



• No more than 10% of calories from saturated fat



• Must provide 1/3 of Recommended Diatery Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium, and calories

That's it. Local schools choose what that looks like on the lunch tray. Many times that includes processed chicken nuggets and strawberry-flavored milk. To have something of that nature every day is not health conscious. And yes, they do serve strawberry milk at Simon's school. Seriously, can't we just drink milk-milk? Does we have to sweeten up everything?

But, it's not just about school lunches. It's also about what we're doing at our own homes. Are we giving our families life-giving food? or are we feeding them dead, processed, fake-food? If you are interested in finding out more info, go to Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution website. Also, consider signing the petition.

Our bodies are made of what we eat. That's kind of sobering. What is your body made of?

I have checked-out Jamie's new book and have decided to commit to cooking healthy food for my family. The problem we face is that we have a very specific budget for food, so the fact that his new book is aimed at healthy, affordable meals is particularly appealing to me.

I recently cooked his Sizzling Beef with Spring Onions and Black Bean Sauce - AMAZING! Click to watch the video.

Part of the "revolution" includes not only implementing healthier foods in my kitchen, but passing them on to you as well. The ingredients are simple and this and many other healthy recipes can be found on his website for free!

I'll be sharing my experiences with these recipes in the days ahead. Maybe even some nice photos. The beef dish was too good to stop and take pictures of, sorry!

What have we Adkins been up to?

We at the Adkins home like to keep to ourselves; not because we're snobby or rude, but because we're introverts. We're also socially awkward. Now, my husband would correct me and say that he's the only true introvert in the home, besides our 6 year old son, but I think I'm more introverted than he gives me credit for.

So, just what have we been up to this year?

Well, last November we moved from Louisville, KY (pop. 261,624) to Midway, KY (pop. 1,604 - well, in all fairness it's now 1,609). Steve is working for Midway College for a former supervisor from Berea College. We made the move because we all needed to be off of a 2nd shift lifestyle. Also, I admit that I was completely overwhelmed with homeschooling Simon in the midst of nursing and potty-training. The move allowed me to feel comfortable sending Simon to public school that wasn't so... big city? And, another reason is that I wanted to finish my degree and I can do that through the online/evening school at Midway College with a staff spouse tuition waiver. I am studying Psychology, which is close to what I was studying at Berea College, Family Studies. I should be finished in 4 semesters. I am interested in human resources, non-profit work, or doing masters coursework in social justice or psychology.

We keep to ourselves here in our own little universe. I stay home with the littlest ones, opting out of full-time work and daycare at this point. It would actually be more expensive to work with daycare being $1,000 a month for two pre-schoolers, traveling expenses (because the economy is not exactly booming in Woodford County), and after-school care expenses for Simon.

While at home, I tend to the hearth, if you will, by keeping the home organized, clean(ish), planning healthy meals, coupon-cutting and price-matching to get the most bang for my buck at the supermarket, making my own laundry detergent, planting and weeding our new garden, and the list goes on and on.

I decided to start this blog for personal reasons. If you happen to read it, that's wonderful and I hope you enjoy something that I have to say or share. Maybe you can teach me something as well.

For my first post, I would like to add some pictures that re-cap the past few months in our home. Or at least what I have taken pictures of.

Anna turned 3.

Simon ran away with pirates.

Steve turned 31.

We got this chair. (Hey, it's a nice chair, and worth mentioning).

It snowed. A LOT.





Claire got engaged.

Steve made some beer.

We started a very ambitious garden. 4 total plots.

Anna learned the importance of a frosty mug.



Claire had her first 3-course dinner chewing gum.


Claire turned 1 !!!

Our seedlings hatched. Then most died.


Dodie got a new friend, Dadie.

The kids scored at the church easter egg hunt.

I joined a campaign to revive pillbox hats.


The girls got into their first cat fight. Fiesty!

Anna was Fancy Nancy for a day.


Mimi!!

Anna designed her first skirt and grew clown feet.

Papaw visited and I wore a skirt that was too short.

Anna Ingalls.
The fruits of our labors. Mesclun, radishes, spinach, scallions, and fresh dill.

Claire started walking! And has 4 teeth!

WHEW. And, we also joined the Lutheran Church (LCMS), I registered to vote as a democrat for the first time, and Steve and I have started the Couch to 5K program together.

Stay tuned for my adventures in friendship, homemade laundry detergent, Lutheranism, granola, and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. And, in June we'll be heading to SOUTH DAKOTA ( I know, right?) for the first ever Adkins Family Road/Camping Trip!!! You won't want to miss our review of The Farmer's Kitchen's Sour Cream and Raisin Pie in Atlantic, IA.

As always, don't forget to freak freely.