DIY Laundry Detergent

This laundry detergent has everything you need: it's cheap, smells great, works great, has no harsh chemicals or fragrances, and is homemade and super easy!

Your start by grating one bar of soap. I usually use the 'camomile' bar soap from The Soap Works. I haven't look crazy hard or intense, but this company seems to be one of the best options for bar soap in the area. I buy mine from Harvest Health Foods.

Here's the finished grated soap.

Next you add one cup each of washing soda and borax.

Mix those three ingredients together until they are well blended. Easy as that!!

I usually use 2 tablespoons per load of laundry.  I also throw in a some vinegar, because, as I am learning more and more, vinegar pretty much does everything!

Here is the link where I found this recipe. I used to use a different, liquid recipe, but I like this one a lot more!

DIY Baby Gate Cover

This DIY project was born out of pure necessity. Every time I would leave Henry behind the baby gate he would squeeze his leg between the bars. At first it was fine, he could pull his leg back and forth and have fun with it. However, as he grew the squeeze became tighter and tighter. Eventually, his leg got too big to pull back out of the gate, and he got stuck. 

So, after a day or so of brainstorming, I figured an ordinary, white shower curtain would work pretty well to wrap around the baby gate. It matched the color of the gate, and would be durable enough to withstand the pulling and biting that I'm sure Henry would bring down upon it. All it took was folding the curtain in thirds, duct taping one edge to the outside pole, wrapping the curtain around the gate, and duct taping the curtain edge down. In the end, the curtain cost $2.00 and I had the duct tape already, of course. Might not look the best, but it's better than having to grease down an irate baby to try and force his leg out from between baby gate bars, or having to cut him out!

Homemade Curtains

You can't be a stay at home parent with out doing some DIY projects; and, being a stay at home dad is no different.  It wasn't too long into my new endeavor of staying home that I figured I would give it a try.  My first project: DIY Curtains.

I found a website with easy instructions (sorry, I can't remember what the site was).  I will try my best to explain how I made them.

1. Started out by measuring the window the curtains would go on and buying enough fabric to cover.

2. Cut the fabric to the appropriate size to cover the window and hang down as far as you would like.  When cutting keep in mind you will need to fold and sew each side so measure and cut extra.  The vertical sides each have a 1 inch hem.  The horizontal side each have a 2 inch hem.  I thought this looked nice and it ensured the top hem was large enough for the curtain rod to slide through.

3. The website suggested using double sided tape (if you weren't too adept at using a sewing machine).  Sewing is not a skill I have mastered, so I figured I would give the double sided tape thing a try.  Tried, and failed.  At least now I know to never try that again.

4.  I ironed each hem so it would make it easier to sew.  It did - I was very happy that I thought of this before I started.

5. After ironing and getting the sewing machine all set, the sewing is super easy.  Everything is straight stitches from end to end.  Be sure to sew the vertical sides FIRST and the horizontal sides LAST.  This will ensure you don't sew over and close the top loop so the curtain rod can slide through the curtain.

That is all there is to it!

I'm sure all you master seamstresses out there will be laughing at this post, some of the terminology I use, and...this part:  One thing to make the sewing go A LOT easier - make sure you put the foot down!  I sewed the entire curtains with the foot up!  Thanks for pointing that out to me Annie :)

Henry just had to photo-bomb!!