Making Weird Slimy Laundry Soap

Can't wait to wash something in this stuff...  ???

I mostly made this stuff out to curiosity.  I'm pretty happy with my cheap laundry detergent that smells good.  But since this is the trendy thing to do these days, I had to join the club.  I'm still not convinced.  But I do love saving money and this was SUPER easy to make.  It turns out a lot like Nickelodeon slime.  Or worse.  I'm still not sure how that happened.  It's a chemistry thing, I guess.

Anyways, here's how you make it, if you are curious like me:

Easy Ottoman Slipcover

Winter is a great time to do some little home improvements.  I mean, you're stuck inside anyways.  Can't lay out on the deck or pick flowers, which is what I'd rather be doing.  So... This month I'm busy being crafty and organizing my house.  I do it every year, about this time, when I'm dying to work outside with dirt and power tools.

Here's an easy project that you might like to do.  It's crafty AND cheap.  And useful.  What's not to like?
You may have seen something like it on TV, but they always go too fast and I end up forgetting about it.   So, I just sortof figured it out on the fly...

A Tuscan Kitchen

Thanks to your great ideas, I am once again inspired!  Yay!  I thought I'd collect a few pictures here to share with you.  I love this Tuscan theme for the kitchen.  It's also the perfect way to incorporate all my random old furniture and to cover the ugly fake brick walls!  Stucco!

Let's Just Be Honest People

Have you ever seen the movie "Apollo 13"?  I'm not sure why, but I've seen it about 20 times.  Anyways, there's a scene where the astronauts were all buckled in their spaceship, getting ready to blast off to the moon, possibly into oblivion and the news reporters are interviewing their wives.  One of the wives had been through the whole ordeal before and the other one was brand new to the terrifying experience.  Right before the reporters arrived, the wise, older wife smiled confidently and said to the younger, "remember, you're proud, happy and thrilled."  Guess what the younger wife said when asked how she was feeling?  Yep.  She was proud, happy and THRILLED!

Really?? Why couldn't she just tell the truth?  "I'm pregnant, terrified and about to throw up... but I'm also very proud."

Happy Birthday Elijah!

Today is the first of the February birthday extravaganza!  Elijah is NINE!

Ruthie made him a special breakfast...

Holy Guacamole and Other Random Things...

I had lots of ideas for upcoming posts that I was going to share with you.  I had pictures to go with them.  I also had the strangest thing happen to my computer.  Somehow iphoto has mysteriously vanished from my cyber world, taking all of my pictures with it.  This is one of the many perils of having so many children.  We never quite know who dunnit.

Easy Homemade Noodles

We just got done making a big batch of homemade noodles.  Have you ever tried it?
I used to think it would be hard to do, but...

They're really, super easy.  And cheap.  And delicious.

A Decorating Emergency

 I'm desperate here.  I seriously need help.  Your help.  What I'm about to show you may shock and disturb you.  It's pretty terrible, I'm warning you.

First off, you must know that I love my house here in Kentucky.  I love my land and woods and porch swings.  I love my back porch and front porch.  I even like my mud room.  The problem is my kitchen.

It's actually my fault.   I ASKED God for a house with bad decorating.

Why You Shouldn't Homeschool

On my fridge there's a list of the Top Ten Reasons to Homeschool Your Children.  It's been there for years and I read it almost every day.  They are very good, important reasons.
There's also a bazillion books and articles out there telling you about all the joys and benefits of homeschooling. So, just to be fair, I thought I'd tell you why you shouldn't do it.
Yep, you heard right.
Brace yourself.

Lazy Man's Cabbage Rolls

By special request from a dear friend, I am going to attempt to tell you how I make this cheap and kid-pleasing supper.  It tastes like the old-fashioned pigs in the blanket that my mom used to make (I just discovered that they are actually called "galuskis" or "galumpkies"). My great grandma was from Czechoslovakia.  But that's sortof beside the point.

First I must warn you that I AM an artist.  Cooking is sortof improv for me, even though I usually start out with a recipe.  That way, if I don't have exactly the right ingredients, it's no big deal...usually something different and better results.  That's the case with this recipe.

Also, I have no pictures. I have my reasons...

1. I'm busy cooking.  I don't have the mental capacity to cook AND take good pictures.  The fact that several people are talking to me at the same time, and someone is usually playing drums or some other loud music and well, you get the idea.
2. My kitchen is dark.  It is evening when I make dinner, so there's no sunshine.  Boo. 
3. This is not a very attractive meal.  It looks like slop.  So, just use your imagination.
4. Most importantly....I'm pretty sure you can handle it without pictures.  You're smart and know how to chop things and brown meat and pour it in a pan.  That's my main reason.  : )

Here's a picture of a winking babushka, instead.  She's pretty cute.

So, here's the recipe: