DIY

Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap

August 10, 2020April 16, 2021by sweetsoutherngraces1 Comment

Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap

Making your own homemade powdered laundry detergent may take a few extra minutes of your time, but it’s a lot cheaper than store bought. Plus you’re keeping your home chemical free. Continue reading for full instructions and cost break down.

Ingredients:

I’ve been making my own laundry detergent for years! It saves so much money plus y’all know how much we try to live without those yucky chemicals! Plus, it’s super easy with just three ingredients: washing soda, borax and Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap .

What you will need to purchase:

• (1) 3 pound box of Super Washing Soda

• (1) 4 pound box of Borax

• (2) Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap Bars

• Container for the detergent

• Grater

• Wooden Spoon for stirring

• Tablespoon for measuring

Directions:

Pour the washing soda and borax into a large bowl. Grate both bars of the Dr. Bronner’s soap, on the fine side of the grater, then add to the washing soda and borax bowl. Stir the detergent until it’s all mixed in really well.

How Much Detergent to Use Per Wash?

I use 1-3 tablespoons per wash, depending on the load size and how dirty the load. In a normal load, I normally use 2 tablespoons but if a load is really dirty, I will use 3 tablespoons.

Cost Break Down:

Let’s break down the cost to compare pricing of store bought.

•Washing Soda $4.12

•Borax $4.47

• Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap $3.62

• Total= $12.21

This receipt will make 112 loads, giving you 7 pounds of detergent. Break that down to $0.11 cents per load!

Compare Natural Name Brands: Conclussion:

Now, if I were to buy a natural detergent, let’s compare the costs of those! Let’s compare costs to Whole Foods 365, Molly’s Suds and ECOS.

• Whole Foods 365 for 80 ounces at $11.99 with 53 loads = $0.23 cents per load.

• Molly’s Suds for 70 ounces at $20.99 with 120 $0.30 per load.

• ECOS for 57 laundry square pods at $25.26 for 57 loads = $0.44 cents per load.

Conclusions: Savings, No Chemicals and How Long Will the Detergent Last

Y’all! The math don’t lie! I love saving my family money and we are using a detergent that is not full of chemicals! I call that a win win! This detergent will last us for a month! Can y’all believe that I’m only spending a little over $12 per month on detergent for a family of 6?!

Sensitive Skin:

Yes! We use this on our sensitive skin! Several of our family members have sensitive skin with skin issues like eczema, ect. I have even used it in replace of the expensive baby washing detergent! I have been using this recipe for the last 16 plus years!

Liquid Laundry Detergent: Final Thoughts

When I first began making my own laundry detergent, the first recipe I used was for liquid detergent. I used that recipe for the first couple of years since we had a HE Washer and were told to only use HE soap. One day I decided to test a couple loads with the powdered detergent and never went back to the liquid. We have never had a problem with using either recipe’s in our HE washer’s!

Final Thoughts:

Have you ever made homemade laundry detergent? If so, what have been your thoughts? Hope y’all enjoyed the recipe and enjoy the savings!

❤️-Shae

Decor

Spring Brunch Table with Kirkland’s

March 13, 2020April 16, 2021by sweetsoutherngraces15 Comments

Spring Brunch Table

[This post contains sponsored links. The items featured and linked in this post were all provided by Kirklands; all opinions and reviews are my own.]

SIMPLE SPRING TABLE

Tablescapes are one of my favorite ways to be creative! With spring right around the corner, I wanted to create a tablescape that would be neutral, casual with a farmhouse touch.

I already had most everything on hand like the dishes, table runner, crystal glassware, chargers and greenery. I picked out this beautiful White & Mango Wood Cake Stand from Kirkland’s. I wanted to use it as my centerpiece for my Spring Table Brunch. With a cake stand, I feel that it is versatile from serving foods to adding a candle or a plant!

The next item I chose from Kirklands for my tablescape was their beautiful Charcoal Plaid Napkins . The napkins add a simple touch of charm and complete Spring Table Brunch.

LET’S GET STARTED ON CREATING THE TABLESCAPE! HERE’S HOW:

I like to add my table runner first, then begin layering with my chargers, adding in a dinner plate and lastly, the smaller bunny plates. I also added the crystal glassware that was a gift from my mother. On top of the layered plates, I added the Charcoal Plaid Napkins from Kirklands.

Now it’s time to add some height to the tablescape. I began with the White & Mango Wood Cake from Kirklands. I decided to add a faux fern in a planter for even more height. Next, I grabbed a couple of my vintage & mason jars, along with a couple smaller new mason jars. I added fresh baby’s breath flowers to those jars for an added element of height as well! One thing I love about creating a tablescape is using all the greenery! I love adding frosted eucalyptus while mixing in a few cut pieces of lambs ear.

These decorating ideas are sure to create a neutral and bright table for spring! I enjoyed sharing these tips with you, as well as the pieces I found at Kirklands to create this look. If you have any questions about creating this look, please let me know!

❤️-Shae

Decor

Christmas Home Tour-Deck the Halls

December 9, 2019December 8, 2020by sweetsoutherngraces4 Comments

Welcome to our Christmas Home Tour with farmhouse cottage with bits of rustic, boho and shabby chic flairs! Keep reading for a unique home tour to inspire your own Christmas decorating for your home.

Deck the Halls-Shae’s Christmas Home Tour

Welcome to our “Christmas Home Tour-Deck the Halls”. We are thrilled you are here! We’ve got lots of Christmas decorating ideas to get your juices flowing! Our goal is to inspire you to create your own festive Christmas home to share with family and friends. I hope as you tour our home that you gets lots of inspiration and ideas for your home!

Farmhouse Christmas: Let’s Decorate

Christmas is my favorite time of year to decorate! I have always enjoyed decorating for the holiday since my very first Christmas as a newly wed. We didn’t have much, but that didn’t stop me from making our house a home for the holidays! This is where all of my DIY inspiration began and on a dime!

The Importance of Inspiration:

With that being said, whether you have a big budget or a non existent budget, you can create something magical, if you just use your own creativity! After all, isn’t your own creativity part of the magic? That is one reason why I spend time, getting inspired before I purchase anything! Being inspired is like saving money in a sense! I hope this tour gives you inspiration and helps you to step outside your tried and true decorating!
I believe your home, what’s inside your home, your surroundings, should add joy to all of your decor! Let’s get this party started!

Farmhouse Christmas: Front Porch

As you step onto our covered front porch, you will see a vintage vignette complete with a vintage sled. Our table is a vintage singer sewing machine base that we found on our local trading site. It was a diamond in the rough, as it was all rusted when we found it. We sanded and painted it with black latex paint and added a wood top. The wood top was made from a tree that fell on our property, that my husband milled.

As you open the front door of our open, you will most likely be greeted by our golden retriever mix, named Tinker Belle, inviting you into our home, as long as you give her a good belly rub!

Farmhouse Christmas: Dining Room
You will see lots of cottage farmhouse with bits of rustic decor in our dining room. My husband and I designed and built our farmhouse table. When we began shopping for a new dining room table, everything we found was not made of real wood and that got me to thinking that we could design and build our own! We headed to a local wood store and picked out the most beautiful ambrosia maple! I was like a kid at Christmas time, waiting on my husband to build the table so I could figure out what stain, paint or epoxy I wanted to use. I was so excited to begin having meals around our table!

I also enjoy styling my dough bowl for each season. My husband also made the dough bowl from a salvaged log, that he found on the side of the road.

Farmhouse Christmas: Living Room

Let’s head into the heart of our home, our family room/living room. Our white stone painted fireplace with our newly, neutral painted walls gave me the idea for using natural elements on our neutral, flocked King of Christmas tree. Most of the ornaments were handmade by my husband and I. From the embroidery hoop wreaths to the wood Christmas blocks to the wooden spindle ornaments. We enjoying creating a space with items that we love and by creating it with our own hands, gives us such JOY!

We also designed and built the wood tree box stand. I thought it would be fitting, giving all of our neutral plus natural elements this year! When it came time for stockings, I knew I wanted something white or light and originally thought I wanted white sweater-y material. It was a no-go real quick, when I found that none of the stores had what I was envisioning in my mind. I remembered I had a left over painter’s drop cloth canvas from when I made my curtains, so why not make them out of that? I basically made 6 stocks for around $11! You can see that blog here . I also added ship lap wood name tags to all of stockings as well. Those were super easy to make and free because I had all items on hand!

For my mantel, I added greenery from Hobby Lobby along with some Christmas picks that I bought a couple years ago on clearance from the Hearth and Hand collection for $1.47 each! I also added bits of lambs ear and red berries! I added the berries because one of our daughter’s requested color! Well color you will have my darling!

Farmhouse Christmas: Kitchen Deck the Halls
For our kitchen, I would use the same cabinet wreaths that I made last year, except I would flock them myself. I added a neutral “Merry Christmas” cotton garland that I found I Hobby Lobby for the ribbon. I added more red berries that you see throughout my home. I added my tiered tray to the corner of my bar area and added all the essentials necessary for making hot cocoa. My girls always love a hot cocoa bar!

Farmhouse Christmas:Eat-in Kitchen

This year, I decided to dress up the girls kitchen play set for Christmas as well! We had the best time, making it feel like a cozy spot for them to make memories, making gingerbread houses and tea parties, of course! And what gingerbread making party wouldn’t be complete with our American Girls?! For this tree, I made “ribbon” with ripped pieces of painter’s canvas drop cloths. It seriously has come in handy this year! I also made a bow for the tree topper from the canvas drop cloth! The tree skirt? Canvas drop cloth! What rustic farmhouse tree wouldn’t be complete without our hand-strung, cranberry and popcorn garland!

Farmhouse Christmas: Outdoor Tablescape

My Christmas isn’t complete without my outdoor Christmas tablescape! My husband and I also designed and built this table as well! For our outdoor tablescape, I used my dough bowl with a few flocked trees, white Christmas houses and the crystal that was given to me by my mother. It is a farmhouse, rustic feel and I enjoy the simplicity!

Keep Everything in Perspective:

If you are anything like me, you really enjoy seeing all the creativity! When I am looking for inspiration in other people’s homes, whether it’s in a blog, magazine or in person, I get inspired to go home and create my own magic!! My hope is that you will take our inspiration but not feel pressured from it. We always do our best to re-use decor and you can always revamp by painting or by just giving it a mini makeover!

Prioritize Joy:

With my blogging and IG responsibilities, I decided to focus my efforts on what was most important to me. When I thought long and hard about it, I decided that every square inch of my home should be filled with Christmas because it gave me such JOY! Decide for you, what’s most important and do what gives you joy without feeling overwhelmed!

Farmhouse Christmas: Setting Limits

I know that there are times when I begin to feel like I need to set limits with myself. When I begin to feel overwhelmed, I let one or two or however many things I’m balancing on my plates, go. Gone. Load lightened. And guess what? I don’t feel guilty about it. That is how I set my own boundaries with myself. Boundaries I make with myself are a great way for me to set limits. Being proactive in managing potential stress is a great way to have more time, joy and energy during the holidays! Pick and choose your priorities because after all, isn’t this time of year for celebrating with the birth of our Savior, traditions with our loved ones.

From our family to yours, we wish you a joyful, blessed and peaceful holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

❤️-Shae

Please continue the Christmas Tour: Deck the Halls from the other talented bloggers.

https://www.dabblinganddecorating.com/single-post/2019/12/02/Christmas-Front-Door

Christmas Home Tour 2019

Christmas Home Tour 2019: Deck The Halls

Christmas Home Tour

Decor, DIY

Fall Floral Arrangement

September 26, 2019September 26, 2019by sweetsoutherngraces14 Comments

Today I am excited to share a new monthly challenge with y’all! Recently, Tara from Stilettos And Shiplap , Emily from LeCultivateur and I came up with a idea for a new monthly challenge which will consist of something a little different each month! This month we will be creating a Fall Floral Arrangement and the rules were simple. Use a container we already owned, fall florals were a must and keep it budget friendly under $15. Ok, challenge accepted. Now, I must admit that it is definitely a challenge for me. I am definitely floral arrangement challenged, but I am always up for a challenge for my creative mind. Think outside the box. Mind you, my car is in the shop, so I will need to use everything I already have on hand or natural elements from outside. Shouldn’t be to hard, right? If you are a blogger and would like to join us, please email one of the hosts!

I wanted to start with a vintage crock that I found at an estate sale for $5, last fall. That would be my container.

I originally thought I would use some clippings from my butterfly bush outside, along with some flowers from Trader Joe’s, that I already had on hand. My husband buys me flowers from Trader Joe’s, a couple times a month, so we always have fresh arrangements on hand.

I went outside to cut a few stems off the beautiful butterfly bush! It has grown so much this year alone! There were so many butterflies as well! If you look closely, you can spot a few of the orange and black Monarch butterflies.

I just love the flowers from the butterfly bush! So beautiful and vibrant! Now to start filling the crock!

I rearranged the floral arrangement, three times before I decided it was not going to work. Scratch that idea.

I decided to bring out all of my fall colored eucalyptus, pumpkins, candlesticks, acorn sprigs and a few pieces of greenery. I began to arrange them in the crock. Finally it felt like it was coming together. Styled our candlesticks that my husband and i made from a vintage bed post, along with my pumpkins from Hobby Lobby. I love adding the wood farmhouse beads too! I am definitely no professional but I did enjoy challenging myself with this fall floral arrangement! Best thing is that I made it for free because I already had everything on hand for this fall arrangement. Had I went out and purchased the fall florals, I would have only spent $10!

Have you made a fall floral arrangement? I would love for you to check out my friends to see their stunning fall floral arrangements!

❤️-Shae