Homemade Liquid Soap

Just a little favorite thing I found on good ole pinterest ...    It makes a gallon of liquid soap from 1 bar of Meyer's Clean Day soap!    The hardest part of this was actually finding the bar soap.  Amazon only sold it in packs of 6, 2 Ace Hardware stores only sold every other thing of Meyer's, and the grocery store did not carry the bar soap either.   My sister told me her Ace sold the bar soap, but this time I called before I went...   Yay, they had it!    So here is the recipe:

• 1 gallon of water
• 2 Tablespoons of Glycerin (found near the band aids at Publix) - $3/bottle
• 1 bar of Meyer's Clean Day (I chose the lavender scent) - $5/bar

I used a cheese grater to grate the soap & put it in a pot with 1 gallon of water & the glycerin.

Over medium/high heat, it becomes soapy water once the soap dissolves.   (this happens in a matter of minutes)   Turn off the heat & let cool for 10-12 hours.   If it a little harder than liquid soap once you have let it cool (like mine did), add a little water & use beaters to get the consistency you would like.

The savings is incredible & I can't wait to use this in my homemade mason jar soap dispensers!

Next time I will try it with my other favorite soaps...   Keep you posted!  

Evernote....

I have been obsessing over my "to do" lists to organize my craft ideas, grocery lists, work & general things floating in my head...    (basically re-writing it everyday!)

I have decided to go back to Evernote!   It has gotten even better.  

You don't have to carry lists anymore, you can retweet something & it will go directly to your evernote page (& it will sync with your phone app automatically).  Like Pinterest, there is a "web clipper" that can clip an article, save images, email notes or to-do lists!

So throw away your pad of paper or post its & check it out!

Crafting Ideas From Pinterest

I haven't posted in a while, but for a good reason.   I am loving Pinterest so much...  maybe a little too much!   It is a wonderful way to learn more tips & tricks, but also for home improvement, craft ideas, or recipes.   Here are a few of the projects I have been working on.

The 2 plain doors above my fridge are now painted with magnetic paint (4 coats) & then chalkboard paint.   I have a little touch up to do, but the finished result is so fun!

Chalkboard paint on my planters...   :)

I had bought glossy white spray paint to make porcelain vases, but my originally black planter was screaming for an update....    (btw, I found the same spray paint at Home Depot for half the price that I paid at Michael's!)   So when I bought more white, I also got spray paint in silver.   I love the way it turned out!

I have many more projects in mind & I occasionally tweet some of my favorites!   Check them out!

Pinterest is my new favorite thing...

Have you heard about this one?   My friend, Lainey, introduced me to it...   (check out her blog if you want some great recipes)   It is a virtual pinboard where you can post anything from decorating ideas, recipes, workouts, or travel ideas.    No more magazine rip outs for me.   :)   I now have a place where I can store all my ideas & feel organized doing it!   Check out pinterest when you can.   Right now, I am putting up all my magazine "rip outs", but soon I will be checking out other boards for new ideas.   You can also find your friend's boards via twitter, facebook, or email!   Let the creative juices flow!

Want an eyeliner that won't smudge??

Honestly, this is the best eyeliner I have ever used!   It is Make Up For Ever's Aqua Eyes...   Usually by the middle of the day my eyeliner has traveled to the crease of my eyes & I look like a raccoon.     (winter & summer)   I read about this eyeliner for something to wear while at the pool, but it mentioned it was good with the heat.  At first, I bought it in the black color and loved it as a base.   It was a little too drastic for a daytime look.   Then, I got it in the brown (2L)...   LOVE!!   Can't wait to try other colors!    I got them at Sephora, but here is the link to Make Up For Ever.  

Coconut Oil!!

The latest health craze....   Coconut oil!   Not only is it better to cook with because it has a high smoke point, but the other benefits are almost uncountable!    Here is a list of 80 uses for coconut oil.  These include moisturizer, eye cream, hair conditioner, deep treatment, bug bites, skin problems, & so many more!   Check out the link - you will be surprised how many there are.  I have done the hair treatment for 30 minutes & loved the results!   (very keratin like!)   I have used it as an eye cream & it absorbs immediately.   (btw, there is literally no smell)

Initially, I bought a cheap bottle from the International Farmer's Market.   I was so impressed that I have bought a "name brand" & "organic" bottle!   I will update you on the difference.  Here are the bottles I have purchased:

I will post here  under comments as I continue to find more fun, useful uses!   Here is an answer to how coconut oil is good for you & how it also helps burn fat.    Let me know how it works for you!

Better 'n Peanut Butter

I LOVE peanut butter....   like cheese, I think it should be a food group!  It is a little distressing to me that it not considered a "healthy" fat.    So when I found Better 'n Peanut Butter at Whole Foods, I was over the moon.  

I was even more ecstatic when I thought it tasted great & Rob likes it more than regular peanut butter!   It is 100 calories per serving instead of 200-220 & 85% less fat.   It comes in a low sodium version as well (which I found at Trader Joes).   They taste pretty similar, but that is probably because it is already low in that department.   It is a little more expensive than its fully loaded counterpart, but worth every penny!

If you love peanut butter like me, you gotta try it!