I’m back from the blogging dead, haha!

It’s only been 2.5 months since I last posted something. I’ve really been enjoying my summer and I have so many blog posts I would love to do.

I mean first let’s back it up 2.5 months and talk about the Bachelorette! I was so into the Bachelorette this year that I made a bracket and everything. I never thought I’d be joining #bachelornation. I can not wait to find out who the next Bachelor is going to be. While we wait for the next Bachelor I’ve gotten into Bachelor in Paradise. If you don’t watch this show you definitely should. Will Evan find love in Paradise?! We’ll have to wait & see I guess.

So…what did I do this summer? The husband and I spent an entire week in Lake Tahoe. It was a blast. We rented a condo near the lake and went mountain biking and kayaking and of course did plenty of relaxing. We took one weekend trip to Sun Valley but the mountains were on fire so that was a very smoky trip.

And, ok, I guess this is kind of a big deal…I almost forgot…we are building a house!! It’s all still very new and nothing has really happened yet. Basically we found an area where we wanted to build but had to wait 6 months or so until the builder could release the lots. About a month ago the lots were finally released and we were 3rd in line to pick our lot! So we plopped down some money to secure the lot and now we are basically just waiting.

The next step will be going to the design center to pick out all the colors and finishes. This sounds fun but is also slightly terrifying. I have some sort of color blindness and I have a really hard time matching colors and also identifying what a color is. For example, I will swear up and down that something is purple when it is in fact brown (or so people tell me-I still don’t believe them even when they tell me!). So that makes it hard but then there are also just so many decisions to make. And they all cost money! I think that’s the scariest part. I just know that the things I like are probably going to be the most expensive option and then I’ll have to choose between being heartbroken or being broke. And those aren’t fun options. But that should all be happening in the next couple weeks.

This will be a fun thing to blog about though 🙂

Rocco is doing great still, he’s just my best little buddy! Lately he’s been going to Doggy Daycare a couple times a week and LOVING IT. I had been wanting to find a day care for him since some days I can’t exercise him in the morning and in the winter there are days that I just don’t want to exercise him. He has friends there now, including another Min Pin named Max and apparently the two just play all day. I like to image Max is one of Rocco’s brothers and they’ve been reunited…

Anywho, so the title of today’s post is DIY Laundry Detergent and I actually AM going to tell you how to make your own laundry detergent!

But first, a testimonial! Last winter we went to Mexico and it was super humid and when we got home all our clothes had “that smell” that clothes get when they’ve been damp for a week. It’s not a good smell FYI. I first used traditional laundry detergent and “that smell” did not come out. Not after one wash and not after 2 washes. So, I made up a batch of this laundry detergent and what I want to tell you is: THE HOMEMADE CHEAP STUFF WORKS BETTER THAN COMMERCIAL DETERGENT. I was just a shocked, believe me. I have a pre-conceived notion that home made cleaners can not be as effective as store bought, chemical filled cleaners.

Wrong.

And the thing is, it’s really easy to make. It doesn’t make a big mess in the kitchen like most of my projects and it only takes a few minutes. And I really can’t stress the importance of switching to “all natural” as much as possible. The chemicals and dyes in cleaning products not only get into our bodies through our skin but they also get into the water supply which isn’t good for all the frogs and other creatures. And if that isn’t disturbing enough, just think about all those chemicals getting into your body and messing with your hormones and then storing themselves in your fat cells so they can wreak havoc in a time released fashion.

So let’s get to it!

DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent (safe for front load washers)

• Large, clear plastic bottle (I use a clear soft soap bottle)
• 1 cup castile soap (I use the tea tree flavored one for extra germ-killing power!)
• 3 cups hot water
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/3 cup salt
• 2 cups hot water

Mix 1 cup castile soap with 3 cups hot water together in the large container you are going to use for your detergent.
In a glass bowl or large glass measuring cup mix the baking soda, salt and 2 cups of hot water and stir. Pour this mixture into the other mixture, shake to combine and voila you are done! The detergent will separate and you’ll have to shake it up before each use which is why I think storing it in a clear container is key.

Use 1/4-1/2 cup per load. I still have my old plastic laundry cups and use a full cap in my front load machine.

 

I know making laundry soap sounds like a total pain but I promise it only takes a couple minutes. I make 2 bottles every time so I only have make more once every couple months.

Alright that’s all for now, now go get caught up on Bachelor in Paradise!

Laura