Homemade Baby Wipes

Homemade Baby Wipes

Hey Guys! So, I started making my own baby wipes the day I brought Zoey home and I have to say it has probably saved me hundreds! It is the most simple and quick process that will save you a ton of $$ You only need a few things to get started and you most likely already have most on hand! 

Things you need:

* Vivo paper towels (cut in half) 

* Coconut oil   1 tbsp

* Baby lotion   1 tbsp

* Baby bath wash  1 tbsp

* An old container or Tupperware for storage 

* Tap water

•Microwave two cups of water for two minutes. Then whisk in one tablespoon coconut oil, one Tablespoon of baby lotion and 1 tablespoon of baby body wash.

Make sure you only use Vivo papers towels that are cut in half with a big sharp kitchen knife!

•Then pour over cut paper towels inside a wide bowl

 •Pull out cardboard center

•Then squeeze the sides in and roll it around to get all the liquid.

 •Then slide in container (I used an old antibacterial wipe container a friend gave me)

 •Then pull the middle paper towel through the center like wipes

 •And then through the lid!

Another container I decorated! ^^

TA DA!!! Its that easy! 

They are safe and chemical free! (as long as your baby soap and lotion are chemical free) 

I have decorated my container to look super cute! Feel free to customize your container or even customize the smell with different lotions and body wash to get a different smell each time!  

I hope you all find this as easy as I do and will begin your wipe making adventure and start saving $$ 

Live. laugh & love,

~Lana

HE Compatible Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

Have you ever made your own laundry detergent? Of course not, right? Who would do such a crazy thing?! lol When I first discovered this idea I thought oh yeah right, there is no way this will actually clean my clothes. If this was possible how was this the first I am hearing of it? Well, after much much research I decided on a recipe that was easy and had good reviews by tons of awesome moms! How could I go wrong? So I went out to find the ingredients I needed. Believe it or not they have all been right there in front of me as I have been spending hundreds of dollars picking out expensive chemical based product to wash my innocent families clothes for years!!!! Right there in the same damn isle! Yeah, blows my mind too! So I bought the three items needed....yes, that's it, three ingredients!

1 Box of Mule Team Borax     $4.29 http://www.20muleteamlaundry.com/store-locator

1 Box Super Washing Soda (NOT Baking Soda)  $2.99 or less http://www.armandhammer.com/Products/WhereToBuy.aspx

14 oz. Bar Zote Soap    $1.00 http://www.zote.com.mx/english/where.htm

5 Gallon Bucket with a Lid   $2- $12.50 depends on where you go and what you choose. You can get a pickle bucket from firehouse subs for $2 :) You're Welcome

Tap Water

Grater

Pot that can hold at least 6 cups

Essential oils for custom scent (Optional but Awesome!) Silky Scents http://www.silkyscents.com/essential_oils ,  Wellington Fragrance http://www.wellingtonfragrance.com/Essential-Oils–C35.aspx?gclid=CLfa3vvJ564CFWYZQgodD2rJYg, Puritan’s  Pride http://www.puritan.com/essential-oils-679?Mcat=0&left&cm_sp=leftnav-_-aroma-_-essential_oils&cm_re=Aroma-_-LeftNav-_-essential_oils to get you started.

Soap dispensing containers ( Save the containers from your store bought laundry soap, rinse them well and recycle them for your own soap. If you don’t have any left over containers, try asking friends or family if they have an extra to spare. promising a soap sample can be a good motivator.)

 Now.....

Grate your pink bar of Zote Soap.

 Put 4 cups of tap water into your pot and set your stove to medium heat. Pour your Zote shavings into your pot 

Stir frequently until all soap is melted and turned into liquid. A few chucks are okay, don't wear your self out!  This whole step will take you about 5-8 minutes.

While your soap is cooking down, fill your 5 gallon bucket 3/4 of the way full with tap water. Water temperature is not important.

In the bucket add:

1/2 C. Super Washing Soda

1C. Borax

Stir together briefly.

Then add:

The soap in your pot

Essential Oils

Essential oils are usually added 10-15 drops per every 2 gallons.Careful to pick a scent that you enjoy as it will be with you for as many months as it takes you to use 10 gallons of soap. I prefer no smell or a clean scent so I skip essential oils all together.

Add more water to your bucket until your about 2 inches from the top or until you feel it’s as full as it can be for you to comfortably stir it without having to then mop the floors too. 

Here is the hard part......ready?

Put your lid securely on your bucket and let it sit overnight or for about 12 hours.

Give your soap a good mix the next day before you pour your soap into soap dispensing containers. It will appear as a thick gel before you stir. I then moved my soap to the container I have pictured at the top. Just because I like the lid better and because when I made my batch in the five gallon bucket I did not have a lid for it. Then Using a funnel, fill the soap dispensing container of your choice 1/2 way full of your homemade soap. Do not worry, it will be a little lumpy. Fill your dispensing container the rest of the way with tap water. Use the same amount as you would of the store bought.

Voila!

You’ve just made 10 gallons of HE laundry soap!

Simple Right? That wasn’t so hard. Only took less than 15 minutes of your time, costs the same amount to make 10 gallons as it does to buy the small jug of your name brand but that small amount of money lasts for MONTHS this way. I also pair it with my Fabric softener that has vinegar and really helps with removing smells!

I have been using my batch of soap for over a month now and still love it! I also pair it with a homemade fabric softener made with vinegar (witch taste stinky smells out) I will post my fabric softener soon! 

Hope y'all love it as much as I do!

Live, laugh & love
~Lana

Crockpot "Refried" Beans

When I originally saw this on Pinterest (penniesandpancakes) I thought there is no way refried beans could be that easy to make! Turns out, they are! Refried beans are one of those things you have to have in order to have a "real" Mexican Night at home. So instead of buying a can of preserved beans I figured this has to be a better option for my family! And did I mention that it only cost 19 Cent per cup! What a steal! I love when I find out something is so easy and affordable! Hey, If the crock pot is doing all the work how can you complain? So here it is......




*Makes about 16 cups

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs pinto beans
1 large onion, chopped
4 Tbsp. jarred minced garlic
*Up to 2 1/2 Tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp cumin
10 cups hot water

* You can use as little as 1 Tbsp. It depends on how you like your beans.

DIRECTIONS
Rinse the beans in a colander. Pick out any bad beans.

Combine all the ingredients in the crock pot. Remove any floating beans. Cover, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours and THEN on LOW for 2 hours. I found you can also just cook them on low for 8 hours if you need to leave them at home while you run errands or go to work for the day!

Uncover, and remove extra liquid. Leave enough liquid to reach the desired consistency when the beans are mashed. I pour the liquid into a bowl in case I need to add more liquid back as I am mashing ;)

Mash beans with a potato masher to desired consistency.

Serve warm. Store in air-tight containers in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks, or freeze in zip lock bags for later use.

 I have three bags of frozen beans in my freezer just waiting for our next Mexican Night! I cant wait!

Enjoy!

Live Laugh & Love,

~Lana

Garlic Herb Pizza Dough

 Garlic Herb Pizza Dough

    One of my favorite things to make is Homemade pizza! I mean come on, who doesn't love pizza? I love that I can pick whatever topping I want with out being limited to delivery pizza options. I mean the pizza above ^^ Shrimp pesto with goat cheese YUM But in order to top your favorite pizza you have to start with an amazing crust. THIS crust is amazing. The flavor that you get is unreal! This is one recipe I have shared and the feedback is through the roof! Okay fist off let me say, you need a bread maker...... if you don't have one, go to a yard sale or look on Craigslist for one because I'm pretty sure you can buy one for pennies :) I was given the maker with out the spinner in the bottom, then was given another maker that was broke but had a spinner! Score! :)  So here is the fabulous crust you have all been waiting for.... and trust me when I say, no one will believe you made this crust from scratch

 Ingredients

1 teaspoon active dry yeast
2 cups bread flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
2/3 cup lukewarm water

 Add ingredients to your bread machine in the order specified by your machine. Use the dough cycle (about 90 minutes).
When cycle is completed, remove from bread machine; shape dough and top with your favorite pizza toppings. 

Cooking time for the pizza just depends on your toppings, usually as soon as your cheese is bubbly and your crust is browning it is done. I have also thrown it on the grill to cook YUMMY 

Hope yall enjoy :)

Live, laugh and love
~Lana

Nice to meet you all!

Hello everyone! 

Thank you for stopping by! I am so thrilled to finally have a blog started! I have been told by so many that I should start one! I'm really not sure why, except for the fact that I love to share EVERY single thing going on in our lives here at the Pennewell house! 
Let me start off by sharing my beautiful family! My husband Justin and our beautiful daughter Zoey! 

I am going to share everthing from recipes, to kid activities, to great house hold tips I come across or make up! :) I have a major passion for cooking and I enjoy sharing recipes with others! I am basically the guinea pig to make sure it is tasty before you all waste your time and money testing it out ! Lol Have you ever seen those pinterest fail photos?

Fail: Baked Hard-Cooked Eggs

 

Fail: Spiderweb Cupcakes

 
  hahahaah  They are pretty funny. 

 But I have to say I can count on one hand how many recipes I have not liked. But they were still edible, just not good enough to make again! My husband is the most supportive guy I could imagine having by my side! He has supported me in EVERY decision I have made. From breast feeding to failed recipes, he is by my side as my biggest cheerleader! I am so so thankful for him and our spunky daughter! I will begin by sharing TONS of recipes I have been slaving away in the kitchen making! Stay tuned for tons of great tips and recipes! Please share with friends and family!

Live, Laugh & Love
~Lana