Thursday, March 28, 2013

Recipe Thursday - Homemade Laundry Soap




This week's Recipe:
When I discovered this recipe for homemade laundry soap, I just had to try it and I love it. My clothes look clean and smell great! Plus I have saved a lot of money. It takes a little money to buy the ingredients in the first place - but this lasts A LONG TIME! It lasted just about 6 months for me.

Homemade Laundry Soap
by Jen from Blissful 55 on HowDoesShe.com  



1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax

1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean

2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap
At first I couldn't find this, but I discovered it later - so I actually used 3 (5.5 oz) bars of Fels Naptha and 1 bar of Zote

1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

1 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener 
Keep this container - it is the perfect way to measure out your soap!


Grate zote soap with cheese grater or food processor.

Mix all ingredients together in a large bucket.

Use 2 -4 Tablespoons per laundry load.


______________________________
Each Thursday, I am going to be sharing a recipe with you! I will pick a recipe from my collection and I will be sharing where I got the recipe and everything. But I am going to include my own photo of the finished food, the original recipe, and try and share the things I changed when I made it!

I would love your help too! If you have a great recipe, especially week-night dinner recipes (but I would love    all kinds of recipes) - please share it with me, by emailing me at dedesmith32@gmail.com. I will try it out and feature it on my blog! If you have cooking tips or anything else in regards to cooking and food - please email me!
recipe

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Wednesday SayingZ | I am a Child of God

{ This week's quote }
I am a Child of God
lead me, guide me, walk beside me

Each Wednesday, I am going to be sharing a quote/saying with you! 
I am a collector of quotes/sayings/scrapbook titles, etc. and I love to hear new ones! So, each week, I will share a quote/saying with you that I hope will inspire you and make your day a little better! I also create pieces of wordart with these quotes each week and offering them to you as a freebie!!!  Feel free to use them in your scrapbook layouts or just print them out for great wall decor!

If you have any great quotes/sayings - feel free to send them in to me at dedesmith32@gmail.com - I would love to use them!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Family History TuesdayZ | Accomplishments

Here is this week's journal prompt :





Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. If you don't write in your journal regularly - I am going to encourage you to write just ONCE A WEEK and answer the question/idea that I give on Tuesdays. These ideas hopefully will spark a memory and you will be able to capture that in what you write/record so that it can be left for your children/grandchildren/family/friends. Give as much detail as you can when answering.

Will you do this for me? Will you do this for your families? You can write it down in a journal, you can type it up on a computer or journaling software, you can take a recorder and talk, you can videotape your answers, you can even scrap a page with the journaling. It doesn't matter how you do this - it's just important that you do it. The memories, the dates, the information is the only real thing we can leave to our families when we are gone.

If I come up with other family history ideas - I will be sure to share it here too - and if you want to share with me your ideas - that would be wonderful and I'd be glad to share them here too. Just comment here or email me at dedesmith32@gmail.com.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Revolt | Week 4

The Revolt Now Fitness Program with Nichole Huntsman!

So today marks Day 1 of Week 4!  I had the opportunity of attending the Story@Home/RootsTech conference and so I missed out on my workouts for a couple of days, but I'm sticking with it this week!

I'm so proud of myself for making it through 2 repetitions of the workouts today. I'm not at the complete workout level yet - but I'm working on it and that feels really good! I'm continuing to love Nichole and her videos.  I love that she's just so REAL - and it's nice to workout with someone who is on your side! I have yet to step on a scale, since I started the workouts and I'm really nervous to do so - I don't actually own a scale, so I've been procrastinating getting one. I'll let you know when I finally cave and get that scale! 

I encourage you all to find something that works for you.  I have to say that the Revolt plan is highly affordable and something you can totally do at home with a few exercise equipment (weights and stability ball). You don't have to have a gym membership and you can do it on your own schedule. It's only 9.99 a month! I think you owe it to yourself to try it out!

I'm excited to share my journey with you - at least once a week, I'll be letting you know how its going for me!

So, I would love to encourage you all to 
check out the RevoltNowFitness.com and see if it 
could be the change that you need in YOUR life!

Let me know if you decide to join - because 
I would love to share this journey with you!


________________
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for RevoltNowFitness.com. I received the 12-week program to review for these posts. The views expressed in this post are my own.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Recipe Thursday - Pretzel Salad




This week's Recipe:
I loved the salty sweet taste of this salad! It makes a great dessert!  The crunchy bit just made it amazing for me!


Pretzel Salad
by DeDe Smith 

Bottom Layer:
2 cups broken stick pretzels
3 tbsp sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened

Middle Layer:
8 oz softened cream cheese
8 oz. thawed Cool Whip
1 cup sugar

To pLayer:
1 large package strawberry Jell-O
3 1/2 cup boiling water
1 (10oz) package of frozen strawberries, cut up

Bottom Layer: Mix butter and sugar; mix in pretzels. Press into 9x13 pan. Bake 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Cool.

Middle Layer: Mix sugar and cream cheese. Gently fold in Cool Whip. Spread on pretzel layer. Chill slightly.

Top Layer: Stir Jell-O and water together. Add frozen cut-up berries. Stir well. Pour gently over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until set.

______________________________
Each Thursday, I am going to be sharing a recipe with you! I will pick a recipe from my collection and I will be sharing where I got the recipe and everything. But I am going to include my own photo of the finished food, the original recipe, and try and share the things I changed when I made it!

I would love your help too! If you have a great recipe, especially week-night dinner recipes (but I would love    all kinds of recipes) - please share it with me, by emailing me at dedesmith32@gmail.com. I will try it out and feature it on my blog! If you have cooking tips or anything else in regards to cooking and food - please email me!
recipe

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Wednesday SayingZ | Stand Ye in Holy Places

{ This week's quote }
STAND
Ye in Holy Places
and be not moved

Each Wednesday, I am going to be sharing a quote/saying with you! 
I am a collector of quotes/sayings/scrapbook titles, etc. and I love to hear new ones! So, each week, I will share a quote/saying with you that I hope will inspire you and make your day a little better! I also create pieces of wordart with these quotes each week and offering them to you as a freebie!!!  Feel free to use them in your scrapbook layouts or just print them out for great wall decor!

If you have any great quotes/sayings - feel free to send them in to me at dedesmith32@gmail.com - I would love to use them!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Family History TuesdayZ | Jobs

Here is this week's journal prompt :





Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. If you don't write in your journal regularly - I am going to encourage you to write just ONCE A WEEK and answer the question/idea that I give on Tuesdays. These ideas hopefully will spark a memory and you will be able to capture that in what you write/record so that it can be left for your children/grandchildren/family/friends. Give as much detail as you can when answering.

Will you do this for me? Will you do this for your families? You can write it down in a journal, you can type it up on a computer or journaling software, you can take a recorder and talk, you can videotape your answers, you can even scrap a page with the journaling. It doesn't matter how you do this - it's just important that you do it. The memories, the dates, the information is the only real thing we can leave to our families when we are gone.

If I come up with other family history ideas - I will be sure to share it here too - and if you want to share with me your ideas - that would be wonderful and I'd be glad to share them here too. Just comment here or email me at dedesmith32@gmail.com.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Revolt | Week 3

The Revolt Now Fitness Program with Nichole Huntsman!

Check out this fabulous video that Nichole 
put together to share with us her program.

So today marks Day 1 of Week 3!  I'm afraid I dropped the ball last week and missed out on a few workouts, but I'm back on the wagon this week!

I'm doing things just a bit differently. I have kind of came up with my own little plan. It revolves around doing 1 rep of the Revolt exercises and then I add a rep of LeanMoms.com exercises (just the strength and ab exercises. I am failing at both meal plans. I just can't seem to get on board with the meal plans. It feels too hard to put together and buy extra supplies because there is just no way the rest of my family is going to be able to get on board with a meal plan.  So, for me, I am trying to control my calories and control portion size. I feel like that for me that is what is going to help me stay with this lifestyle change.

I think that one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to find a exercise program that fits your needs. Not all plans will work with every person and you need to find something that works for you. For now, I'm feeling really good about combining these 2 plans (Revolt and LeanMoms) and doing my own meal thing. I encourage you to find something that works for you.  I have to say that the Revolt plan is highly affordable and something you can totally do at home with a few exercise equipment (weights and stability ball). You don't have to have a gym membership and you can do it on your own schedule. It's only 9.99 a month! I think you owe it to yourself to try it out!



I'm excited to share my journey with you - at least once a week, I'll be letting you know how its going for me!



So, I would love to encourage you all to 
check out the RevoltNowFitness.com and see if it 
could be the change that you need in YOUR life!

Let me know if you decide to join - because 
I would love to share this journey with you!

________________
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for RevoltNowFitness.com. I received the 12-week program to review for these posts. The views expressed in this post are my own.

I'm a Lister - March 18th



* have started exercising

*  have become obsessed with wood crafts

*  have had personal scripture study (most days)



Sunday, March 17, 2013

I'm a Lister - March 17th



* Adventures of Childhood

* Friendship

* Family

* Depression & Anxiety

* Happy Times




Saturday, March 16, 2013

I'm LDS - Humility & The Creation



 


I'd love to share a few articles with you today that have inspired me this week!

Humility Definition by Andrea Pearson
What is the definition of humility, and how can we attain it?

Our Heavenly Father loves us, and so gave us a beautiful world for our enjoyment. 

___________________
I belong to The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints. In an effort to share my testimony of my Savior and share some of the beliefs of my church - I will be writing a post with references to articles about my church. I don't want to offend anyone, but I do want to carve out a little space on my blog, where I feel like I can share my beliefs and my soul, because this church is a huge part of who I am. Please feel free to email me or comment if you have any questions. Please note that the posts are personal and are in no way officially endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Friday, March 15, 2013

I'm a Lister - March 16th




*  Audiobook - The Great Hunt (Wheel of Time #2) by Robert Jordan

* Somewhere Only We Know - Keane

*  Can't Fight this Feeling - REO Speedwagon

*  I'll Be Okay - Amanda Marshall

*  Don't Stop Believing - Glee Cast

*  What Are Words - Chris Medina

* Eclipse (All Yours) - Metric

* Neutron Star Collision - Muse

*  Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

* Bad Day - Daniel Powter

*  Daydream Believer - Mary Beth Maziarz

*  The Call - Regina Spektor

I'm a Lister - March 15th





*  Making monthly dinner menus and sticking to my grocery list

* Not giving in to my impromptu spending frenzies

Thursday, March 14, 2013

I'm a Lister - March 14th





*  My Savior, Jesus Christ

* My sister - Kori

*  My friends - Beverly & DeAnna

Recipe Thursday - Chicken Delicious



This week's Recipe:
Another fabulous meal made in the crockpot!  You can also make this a skillet meal, but Crockpot is easier!


Chicken Delicious
by DeDe Smith 

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Juice of 2 lemons
1/2 cup cider vinegar
2 tbsp mustard
1 cup water
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 chopped onion
1 cube of butter
4 cups chicken broth
3 cups cooked rice

Mix the sauce all together in crockpot. Add the chicken. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Use 2 forks and shred your chicken right in crockpot.  Serve over rice.

______________________________
Each Thursday, I am going to be sharing a recipe with you! I will pick a recipe from my collection and I will be sharing where I got the recipe and everything. But I am going to include my own photo of the finished food, the original recipe, and try and share the things I changed when I made it!

I would love your help too! If you have a great recipe, especially week-night dinner recipes (but I would love    all kinds of recipes) - please share it with me, by emailing me at dedesmith32@gmail.com. I will try it out and feature it on my blog! If you have cooking tips or anything else in regards to cooking and food - please email me!
recipe

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

I'm a Lister - March 13th




I can't really think of any causes that I have 
except just being a wife and mother to my family.

Wednesday SayingZ | Be Not Moved

{ This week's quote }
Stand Ye in Holy Places
and be not moved
until the day of the Lord come
For behold it cometh quickly
Saith the Lord


Each Wednesday, I am going to be sharing a quote/saying with you! 
I am a collector of quotes/sayings/scrapbook titles, etc. and I love to hear new ones! So, each week, I will share a quote/saying with you that I hope will inspire you and make your day a little better! I also create pieces of wordart with these quotes each week and offering them to you as a freebie!!!  Feel free to use them in your scrapbook layouts or just print them out for great wall decor!

If you have any great quotes/sayings - feel free to send them in to me at dedesmith32@gmail.com - I would love to use them!


Tuesday, March 12, 2013

I'm a Lister - March 12th




*  Make dinner

*  Family Scripture

*  Say Family Prayer

* Get the kids to bed

* Play on my Nexus

* Play on my computer

* Spend time with hubby

Family History TuesdayZ | Exercising

Here is this week's journal prompt :

My Journaling:
As much as I try - I really dislike exercising. I do enjoy long walks and I like playing volleyball and basketball, but that's about it. I am always wishing that I could find a way to enjoy exercising, but I haven't found that joy in it yet.



Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. If you don't write in your journal regularly - I am going to encourage you to write just ONCE A WEEK and answer the question/idea that I give on Tuesdays. These ideas hopefully will spark a memory and you will be able to capture that in what you write/record so that it can be left for your children/grandchildren/family/friends. Give as much detail as you can when answering.

Will you do this for me? Will you do this for your families? You can write it down in a journal, you can type it up on a computer or journaling software, you can take a recorder and talk, you can videotape your answers, you can even scrap a page with the journaling. It doesn't matter how you do this - it's just important that you do it. The memories, the dates, the information is the only real thing we can leave to our families when we are gone.

If I come up with other family history ideas - I will be sure to share it here too - and if you want to share with me your ideas - that would be wonderful and I'd be glad to share them here too. Just comment here or email me at dedesmith32@gmail.com.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Revolt | Week 2

The Revolt Now Fitness Program with Nichole Huntsman!

Check out this fabulous video that Nichole 
put together to share with us her program.

So today marks Day 1 of Week 2!  I'm afraid that this is going to be a rough week for me - it's THAT time of the month again and I'm afraid I always have a tough time during this time of every month.  I don't have a lot of energy and I am not very moveable, so I only got through 1 repetition of today's workout - but at least I did something!  I had the temptation to just skip it all together today, but I pushed through and at least did part of the workout. 

I'm loving Nichole's videos and how we can just work right along with her through the workout. I'm loving that I can do this at home and I don't have to have a gym membership!  I'm loving that the work-out is part strength training and part cardio/ab work-outs. And I'm loving that even though I'm weak and a beginner, I can still work my way up through this work-out. It's been great that Nichole says to just do what I can and that 1 repetition of all the workout is okay and I can build up to more!  


I'm excited to share my journey with you - at least once a week, I'll be letting you know how its going for me!


So, I would love to encourage you all to 
check out the RevoltNowFitness.com and see if it 
could be the change that you need in YOUR life!

Let me know if you decide to join - because 
I would love to share this journey with you!


________________
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for RevoltNowFitness.com. I received the 12-week program to review for these posts. The views expressed in this post are my own.

I'm a Lister - March 11th


*  Get Dressed and ready for the day

*  Take my pills

*  Exercise

* Shower (most mornings)

* Check my email

* Read the Scriptures

* Feed the fish

*  Get the kids off to school

*  Play on my Nexus

New Release Monday - Mini-KitZ Collection





Awhile back, I released a huge collection of my old freebies and challenge prizes.  I am now re-releasing my MINI-KITZ Collection and adding 3 new kits (Mini-KitZ 11-13), plus you can get a great deal if you get the BUNDLE!
If you missed out on my past challenges. now is the perfect time to pick up all the bonuses and freebies that you may not have received!

You can purchase these products at the following stores: 
My Blog




Sunday, March 10, 2013

I'm a Lister - March 10th



*  Strawberry Cheesecake

* Cheese Fries

* Chicken Salad Sandwich

* Strawberry Crepes

Saturday, March 9, 2013

I'm a Lister - March 9th




*  Catch up with my family's scrapbooking

*  Organize and finish unpacking boxes in Garage

*  Learn Photography skills

*  Convert my Dad's Home Movies to DVD