The last weekend of spring break activities

I bet not knowing what this picture is looks pretty gross. I am making laundry detergent today. Yes I do tons of laundry everyday. This helps keep costs down. This is the bar soap melting down.

You just grate it up and melt it in some water. Add the other cast of characters, add more water in a 5 gallon bucket and you have cheap per load laundry detergent.

Here is the cast of characters. I am sure you have seen the recipe floating around blogland. I have been making it for about 4 years. If I can get detergent super cheap, I buy it. Otherwise, I make it. So many people ask me how we make it on one modest income with so many kids and with our kids so active in sports. We don't do it perfectly and we are still learning. But, we make choices. No, making your own detergent won't put your kids thru college or pay for travel soccer, but all pennies add up to dollars. It's a bunch of small decisions that can add up to paying for something else. Priorities I guess. And God's hand in all of it. And shopping at garage sales...speaking of...

Garage sale season started here today. It is cooold but the churches usually start off the season and they are held indoors. They are the best because you go to one place for lots of stuff! Went to 2 today and found a box full of white federalist ironstone! My oldest comes home tonight from her trip and will see her room makeover. We are going to enjoy the rest of the weekend with the kids because next week starts 2 million practices and running around crazy. Have a great weekend!