I AM THE MASTER...

The mistress?--but I don't like the connotations associated with that word, so I'll go with master--of homemade goods.

It's true. I am not very good at a lot of things, but one thing I AM good at is all things DIY. Not artsy DIY, but homey DIY, like dish soap and lotion. And laundry detergent. And dryer balls. And sunscreen, deodorant, clothes degreaser and dishwasher detergent. Yessiree, I've made them all. And what's more, I'm happy with them!

Well, all except my first laundry detergent recipe. If you all remember way back when I first blogged about it and tried it out, I was rather a fan of it. However, after a few weeks, I started smelling soap everywhere. Towels, bed sheets, clothes... it was making me sick. Also, my towels weren't as absorbent as they were before. Obviously I had some build-up. I don't have an extra rinse on my machine and I was already putting such a small amount of detergent in the washer, I didn't want to use less. So I found this recipe somehow and decided to give it a shot. Instead of being only washing soda and Dr. Bronner's soap, it also has baking soda, citric acid, and salt in addition to the other ingredients. Since I assumed the washing soda and baking soda do basically the same thing, but the washing soda is more effective, I skipped the baking soda. I have done several loads of laundry, and my towels are absorbent again, and I don't smell soap everywhere. So, I'm pretty happy with this new recipe. I guess time will tell if I will continue to like it.

There are still several things I want to try, like these reusable food wraps, this homemade bleach, homemade make-up, and of course some sewing projects, not to mention homemade shampoo (I found a recipe somewhere that was basically honey and water... I'll have to try to find that again) and conditioner.

I did make my own tooth soap to use instead of toothpaste, and both Jon and I HATE it. I gag every time I brush my teeth. So I'm on the lookout for a new recipe. The tooth whitening recipe on that page is fine, but I don't like using it every day because the baking soda can cause tooth sensitivity and my teeth are already really sensitive.

Also, I'm a great cook, as my banana bread, ham, potatoes, and roasted veggies will attest... and I'm becoming quite the gardener. I have 3 tomato plants, 3 sunflower plants, an avocado pit, and garlic all going and all thriving at my apartment, AND I'm helping with the garden at my parent's house that we just started this year. So far, we've gotten some radishes, peas, and zucchini harvested. Very exciting.

So anyway. There's a list of my current accomplishments, haha. Hopefully I've inspired you to try some DIY projects, or, if you're not willing to make them yourself, to employ me to make it for you! Ha!



May your banana bread and potatoes always be smothered in butter!