Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

So, yesterday I was searching for something and came across a recipe for homemade laundry detergent, but I didn't have all the ingredients I needed to make it but happened across another one for dishwasher detergent that I did have everything for so I thought I'd give it a try. Mainly because our sink was leaking really bad and totally soaked the box of detergent I had under the sink and ruined it. Anyway, I tried the recipe and was totally impressed! Especially with my hard water, my dishes lately have been AWFUL and I've had to run the cycle again with no better luck the second time. Just white stuff all over my dishes.

So here's the recipe (so easy):
1/2 Cup Borax
1/2 Cup Baking Soda
1 Tbsp LemiShine

Mix together and use about 1 Tbsp in dispenser and another tablespoon in pre-wash cup
I also read to use vinegar in the "rinse agent" dispenser. Store in an air-tight container. I only made half the recipe to start with cause I wasn't sure I would like it and I didn't have enough Borax :)

Another recipe calls for Washing Soda instead of Baking Soda, but I don't have that yet, so I couldn't tell ya which is better.

If you're not sure what the ingredients are:
Borax-a "laundry booster" You can get it pretty much anywhere, I got mine at Walmart, it's right by the laundry soap. I got the 20 Mule Team brand. It comes in a green box with red letters (This is also in the laundry detergent recipe I'll be trying)
Baking Soda-Sorry I can't help you if you don't already know what this is, haha
LemiShine-Lifesaver for my dishes, but pretty pricey. My dishwasher worked just fine the first few years we lived here then suddenly my dishes would come out looking AWFUL, my plastic stirring spoons were all white and gross with residue and this stuff seriously saved them after nothing else would. I'm pretty sure it's the secret weapon for the dishwasher, especially if you have hard water. But like I said it's pretty pricey so I'm glad it's only about 2 Tbsp per 1 Cup of everything else, you could probably even do less. When I first got it, it said to fill both dispensers with it so ya if you were just using that, it totally wouldn't be worth it. But I can totally handle 1 Tbls LemiShine: 1 Cup everything else. Anyway, I would just see what works with your dishwasher, but I still think it's cheaper total than dishwasher detergent from the store because my dishes aren't having to be washed more than once and there's no hard water spots.

Anyway, there ya go! I'm gonna go to the store this week and get some stuff for the laundry detergent and I'll post it on here as soon as I cook it all up and see how I like it :) I'm pretty excited about the whole thing, especially cause my mom's friend in her ward has been using it for over a year now and loves it...and the BEST part
drum roll please!
Only 1.5 cents per load-SCORE!
To be posted soon!

Labor and Frugality

In Gordon B. Hinckley's talk To the Women of the Church in 2003 he counseled us on what we should teach our young men. Among the thing, one thing in particular stood out to me: "Teach them to be frugal. Labor and frugality lead to prosperity." I have to be honest when I say that was one of the very many reasons I married the man that I did. He has always been such a hard worker in all he does and he's always been extremely frugal (which was great for someone like me who was never very good at saving money). When I read this I thought, "hey great we're gonna be rich someday cause Heath's works hard and is frugal!" Well, I'm still waiting for that ;) but I know our lives have been blessed because of this.

I've thought a lot about our personal financial situation and how being frugal and working hard can be considered "the better part" for us right now.

So, I'm gonna strive to take the advice I'm supposed to give my young men (when they get older) and do as he says so I can actually know what I'm talking about.

I've also decided that there's a difference between being poor and being frugal. Being poor isn't a choice. I can't choose how much money we make at our jobs, but I can be frugal in how I spend that money; regardless of how much or how little it is. Whether we are in poverty or making millions of dollars a year (which I'm sure will be very soon, haha). I'm going to strive to be more frugal and not purchase things I don't have money for, or even if I have money for something ask myself if this is really the best use of my money.

I guess I'm just trying to introduce the fact that I'll probably be adding some posts on here on saving money, or do-it-yourself projects/things. I think that's another way I can "choose the better part".

Mary & Martha

"Like Mary, choose the better part:
Sit down as by him, ease your load;
Commune with him, heart to heart.
Be still; and know that he is God.
But now, be Martha: rise once more,
Prepare the supper, sweep the floor,
And trim the lamp; now, work your fill-
The bridegroom's at the gate. Be still!"

Be Still
By Arthur H. King
Ensign, Dec. 1976

As the first post on this new blog of mine I was thinking about the title I came up with, Choose the Better Part. I've heard this countless times in the Church and that's what I decided I need to do better with my life. As I was looking for quotes or stories about choosing the better part, I came across this poem from the LDS Church's website and it really got me to thinking about "choosing the better part." We have to do both-we have to be able to sit and be still and commune with the Savior- something I definitely struggle with. Making the time to be still and just listen and learn from the Spirit. But I like how the author points out that's not the end-We then have to get up, get our homes in order, and work. I think this really is going to be my journey; learning to not only do one of these, but both. Being able to balance my spiritual needs and the physical demands and needs that come from being a wife and a mother as well.
Wish me luck :)