With all of the stress from what’s been going on with my parents lately I’ve thankfully turned to my sewing machine to deal with it.
Sewing.
It has been a perfect, productive hobby where I can get lost sewing and listening to my Pandora station–right now I’m loving Nouvelle Vague.
Swiss chard.
I’m always stumped when the ”toss out” date is approaching and I need to use it up and fast. Here’s an unusual use of swiss chard and for snacking of all things.
Don’t be chased away by these leafy greens, they actually taste quite good as chips. Ainsleigh couldn’t get enough.
A few weeks ago, we had had it. There were about 5 glasses per person, per day making their way into the dishwasher daily.
I tried to figure out a way to keep one glass per child per day to keep down the washing and keep the girls (and myself) more responsible. My solution was a water station mat.
I’ve always looked for ways to involve my girls in the cleaning process of our home. First of all, because I need the help in a household of six. And second of all, because they need the experience of being a part of a whole where everyone contributes.
Our cleaning station was invented to provide one location where the cleaning supplies are stored and reachable for the helping children (and adults). This means a couple things, that the cleaning supplies must be safe for kids to handle/use and that the cleaning station should be exciting (enticing) in some way.
For thousands of years, homemakers have progressed in “making a home” from simply observing other homemakers, talking, sharing ideas, and implementing new ideas– all for the sake of their home.
The home is where children feel loved, are nurtured, and understand many lessons of life. The home is where order and service can be experienced. It is where we are our true selves most. We can be more vulnerable, more honest, and more real. It is where real living takes place.
It is no wonder that our homes are sacred to us. Why we care to make a warm, soothing meal. Why we try our hardest, despite many interruptions, to keep order and cleanliness in our home. And why we go seeking for new ideas for every season of our families and our growing home, to make life in the home satisfying in those season.
While we’re still in the vein of laundry for the Homemaking for the Modern Mama series this week, exploring an alternative to those costly and chemical-ridden dryer sheets and fabric softeners is our task today.
How does the average American spend money drying and softening clothes?
Bounce Dryer sheets (120 sheets / loads) = $15.27 or $30-$50 per year if you purchase 1 per month.
Fabric Softener (40 loads) = $10.00 or $75.00-$100 per year if you purchase 1 per month.
If you’re using natural dryer products:
Seventh Generation Natural Dryer sheets (65 sheets /loads) = $12.29 or $55-$75 per year if you purchase 1 per month.
Seventh Generation Fabric Softener (40 loads) = $8.00 or $60.00 – $80.00 if you purchase 1 per month.
(Stats from Smart Klean)
(Thank you for all of your concerns for me this past Friday. I feel grateful for such friends I have found in my readers.)
Let’s get the Homemaking for the Modern Mama week started off with a bang! Here’s this week’s first money saving, natural approach to taking care of your home: homemade laundry detergent.
There are a few reasons for you to get excited about making your own laundry detergent:
Simplicity has become the theme in my life. I think it has been by default, with each new child that has entered my life and the more responsibilities on my plate.
Buy yes, the simplicity is good for my soul. It goes against what I would have wanted if I were younger and less realistic. I now embrace what my daily reality is with four children in tow and all that comes with being a mother and wife.
Last week on a stroll with the girls we saw everyone’s fall wreaths hanging on their front door. We came back home and tried to come up with what kind of wreath we could make. Caroline wanted to glue fall leaves and pumpkins on our wreath. Johanna had no comment (I’m used to that) and the twins, they don’t really have a say right now.
So we tried coming up with something we could hot glue to a straw wreath. I had seen it done before and began raiding the cupboards. We found one bag of dried lima beans.
I’ve been so anticipating our frolicking through the meadow to gather this fall’s colorful leaves, crisp branches, and dried reeds.