Homemade ~~ Fabric Softener!

I did a post a while ago about making my own laundry detergent, but I must of forgotten to share with y'all that I also started making my own fabric softener not long afterwards! 



Its really easy actually!  All I do is mix in my 75 oz. Snuggle bottle~~~~

1 bottle of cheap hair conditioner (I like VO5..its less than $1!)
3 cups of white vinegar
and water

Thats it!!  I mix the first 2 in the bottle and top it off with water (hot water will make it dissolve together quicker).  Its so simple..and to answer the question thats probably in your mind right now, no, my clothes don't smell like vinegar!  Actually, if you do a little research, in the 'old days' women used white vinegar (straight up!) to naturally soften their clothes.  Its one of those things (like baking soda) thats good for a lot of things!

Do you make anything homemade to clean with?  How do you like it?  Do you save a lot of money by 'diying'?

Homemade ~~ Crafting!

I've really been bitten by the craft bug lately!  Well, more like sewing, but same difference!  I wanted to share with y'all what all I've been creating....

First, some curtains I made for my best friend!  I'd do anything in the world for this gal, and when she told me she was going to redecorate her room I told her I'd make some curtains if she'd like!  She was totally on board and this is what we came up with..they turned out beautifully if I don't say so myself!

 

 

After completing this project, I moved on to a new blanket for Makayla's bed.  I found some really cute owl fabric at Hobby Lobby and picked up some hot pink fleece at Walmart (because its cheaper there) for the backing.  I wanted something a little heavier than what she had on her bed already, with winter coming up and colder nights, I want my little snuggle bug to be nice and warm.  :-)  I even made her a coordinating pillow case cover after I was finished, to complete the look!

 

 

 

 

When I was making her blanket, I had to clear off the area next to my sewing maching to well..sew it (I have a habit of collecting fabric and then piling it up next to my machine!).  After getting it done, I went through the fabric and came across some I had forgotten I'd purchased to make me and my mom a couple of fall aprons!  So of course, I jumped right into it and got them done in a reasonable amount of time.

 

Did I ever tell y'all that I've made so many aprons over the years I could (probably) do it with my eyes closed? 

 

 







 

They turned out super cute!  Mine is the chevron print w/the coordinating turkey fabric pockets, and my mom's is the turkey printed one w/coordinating chevron pockets!

 

Have any of you done any crafting lately?

 

 



Adventures

We went on a little 'adventure' last week on one of Damon's days off (have I mentioned he's on a new schedule now?  I'll have to explain in another post).  Instead of going to the Pumpkin Festival, that we've done year after year (after year, after year!) we were in the mood for something else for a change.  So we headed out to Coonskin Park in Charleston..not what you'd expect in the capital city of our state of West Virginia..its definately a beautiful little gem of a place! 

And we had a blast..especially Makayla!  She got to chase ducks!  I'm pretty sure its the first time we'd taken her there....

 

It was a fun day as you can see..and much needed!!  If we can get back while the weather is cooler in the coming weeks..it'd be great to take a little picnic and enjoy it all over again!



Review for "Beloved" by Robin Lee Hatcher



Set in the late 1800's and early 1900's, Beloved is a classic Christian romance filled with drama!  Diana Brennan, the main character, was an orphan as a little girl and was lucky to find wonderful adoptive parents.  Even luckier, she felt, after she married Tyson Applegate, the son of a wealthy mine owner.  But then Tyson takes off, leaving no explanation of why, when, and where he's gone off to.  Diana is devastated and hurt, and years later, after hearing Tyson has not been found after being in the war in Cuba at the time, moves on with her life and is ready to become engaged to another man.  Imagine to her surprise when Tyson is not only among the living, but wants her to rejoin him in his new mansion to be by his side as he runs for public office.  How can she trust a man who betrayed her so?

I had actually not read a book that was set in this time period and wasn't sure if I'd be able to follow along and really relate to the characters, but to my surprise it was an easy read and the struggles the characters had were adaptable to life in this day and age.  Trust is something easily broken (in any time period) and once lost hard to regain.  I found the struggles Diana faced could happen to any woman in this day and age.  Though I 'believed' in those days, woman had more grace and were more forgiving when they were done wrong, Diana proved wrong on my theory and was very headstrong.  Good to see and enjoyable to read!!  I loved the adventures she had with getting to know Tyson all over again as well as the struggles she faced.  She was a very relateable character.  I would definately recommend this book!

I received this book through Booksneeze.  These are my own opinions based on this book.



Falling for Fall

Like our 'paci' pumpkin?  Totally Makayla's idea!



I've really been enjoying fall so far..even if the temperatures around here the past couple weeks haven't really been screaming that fall is here!  More like summertime temps..but oh well..in God's timing, right?!

Lately I've been...

• reading..A LOT..and its been wonderfully relaxing!
• enjoying time with my girl
• trying to eat a little better (cutting out sweets is not easy when this time of the year hits!)
• drinking more water (to keep those pesky UTI's at bay!)
• shopping for Christmas (yes!!  I've already got several good gifts for Makayla bought and my mom's shopping is half done!)
• shopping online (which goes with the above mentioned)..can I say how much I loooove online shopping?  makes life so much simpler.  :-)
• crafting..with more to come!  pictures to come in another post! 
• thanking God MORE for His blessings on me..I feel like I need to concentrate more on that!

Have you officially fell for fall yet?

Still here!

Sorry for the lack of posts as of lately..but I am still here!  I've been battling a UTI (AGAIN!) for several days now with new medication that I'm praying works this time around.  I hadn't had one in years, but when one does crop up on me I have a hard time getting rid of them!  Prayers for me, PLEASE!

I did manage to do something pretty major in the past week despite feeling under the weather....



Makayla is now in a toddler transition bed!  I finally caught the conversion kit for her crib in stock online and ordered it asap.  I didn't really want to buy a whole new toddler bed when this one transitions (which is why I picked this crib in the beginning..so we'd get the use out of it!) and so far its worked out well! She's not fell out of bed any and so far (fingers crossed) she still stays in bed until I go to get her. 

Plus as you can see from her smiling face, she's pretty happy about it all!

Now if I can only get going on the whole potty training thing......sign.

Day Trippin'

So when we go to Beckley, sometimes we'll make a little side trip to Grandview State Park.  It doesn't take no time at all to get there, we feel like we've really 'gone somewhere', its not big, but the views are great! 

And it makes for some nice pictures!  ;-)

 

It was a great day..just too bad we didn't think to take a picnic with us!