If you do stuff, stuff gets done.......

If you do stuff, stuff gets done.......

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Hi-I'm back

Hello!
I've been blogging over at Make, Do & Mend
But my heart is here, with the blog that really is my motto. 
So, I am back to if you do stuff, stuff gets done.
And I hope to stay here and to do lots of fun and useful stuff.

Come by and visit whenever pleases you.  I love to hear what other homemakers are doing. 

Thursday, August 23, 2012

this week.......


Hello everyone
this week we are getting used to a new work schedule for Nina and a new preschool schedule for Elizabeth.  So far,  thinks are going as smoothly as possible.  

I've done a little sewing- 
hemmed a pair of khaki pants for John
hemmed some sleep shorts for Jimmy
and I made 2 more fabric keychain thingies

this long one is for Nina
I don't think she is really going to wear it around her neck but she likes them big so she can easily find it in her purse

I've been using the wrist size one with keys on it and really like how it keeps my keys handy when I am out.
The bandana print one is for Amanda
3 of my 4 grands spent the day with me Tuesday.
Braeden is 6 weeks old- isn't he such a big boy to be so young?
Elizabeth and Gavin both took turns sitting in Braeden's carseat and bounce chair
even though their heads and feet extended off the ends.
Sweet silly toddlers!  
I have a long to-do list for this morning - 
a little yardwork
a walk with Theo, our sweet dog
cleaning the floors and bathrooms
doing some laundry
making 2 desserts for the weekend (my in-laws are coming to town)

 I also hope to work on a colorful paper pennant banner to put in the baby-playroom.  

But none of that is going to get done while I sit here at this laptop.

What are you doing to today?  I hope we all get lots done!  

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Homemade Glass Cleaner



I may be the last thrifty homemaker to try making glass cleaner and this is probably not news to many of you but I finally tried making some spray cleaner.  2 bottles of Windex type cleaner both ran out about the same time as I had just done some shopping.  I did not want to go shopping just to buy cleaner so I looked online to see what recipes had good reviews and used ingredients I had.

I tried this one and am really happy with it.  

Homemade Glass Cleaner

  • 1/4 c. rubbing alcohol
  • 1/4 c. white vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 c. warm water- I heated mine in the microwave not till boiling but really hot
  • and a drop of blue food coloring to make it look like Windex- optional! 
Combine everything in your  spray bottle  then shake well. 
Shake well before every use. The cornstarch could settle in the bottom of the bottle and the bottle might not spray right if the cornstarch clogs it.  
I wrote SHAKE on the bottle just to remind the user to do that.
I also reused some empty Windex bottles but I know purist natural people would never do that.  


This cleans just as well as Windex with no streaks.  
The only draw back is the scent of vinegar and alcohol does smell as fresh as real Windex.  
The homemade costs just pennies and Windex is at least $2 so I think I will stay with the homemade.


I am still using homemade spray starch too and very happy with it too

Friday, August 17, 2012

wow Staples!

this is what 90 rolls of toilet paper, 
a dozen rolls of paper towels, 
9 boxes of Puffs 
and 1 bag of Starbucks coffee looks like!

I placed that order Weds. afternoon and it was delivered Thursday morning.  

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Lots of saving and doing today


Grand daughter Elizabeth spent the day with me again today. 
While she ate breakfast,  I paid 2 bills online - I love our bank's free internet bill pay system!  


Then we went to the bank for some cash.
We made one stop at a grocer and got some frozen veggies that were on sale.
I got breaded okra and whole green beans.
Peas, corn and mixes veggies are often on sale but not the fancier ones like these were today
 for just $1 and $1.29 a bag so I stocked up on them.  


I cut up 2 cantaloupe and 1 huge pineapple
all are delicious!




Staples mailed me some coupons yesterday and I already had $40 in  Staples Rewards from ink cartridge recycling so this seemed like a good time to do a Staples order.  They offered free shipping on orders over $45,
$10 off $75 orders and a free bag of Starbucks coffee with a $75 order.
Staples allows stacking of Rewards and different coupons.
So with some careful ordering,  I spent just enough to us both coupons and my Rewards.
I was also careful to buy only things we need and use.


Item 1Qty.Subtotal
QUILTED NORTHERN SOFT N S
Item No.: 852192 Price: $15.99/each
Expected Delivery: 08/16/2012 by Staples Courier
3$47.97
Item 2Qty.Subtotal
BRAWNY 2-PLY PREMIUM PERF
Item No.: 852190 Price: $16.99/each
Expected Delivery: 08/16/2012 by Staples Courier
1$16.99
Item 3Qty.Subtotal
PUFFS BSC 3PK FAMILY 200
Item No.: 445267 Price: $5.99/each
Expected Delivery: 08/16/2012 by Staples Courier
3$17.97
Item 4Qty.Subtotal
STARBUCKS 1LB GROUND VERO
Item No.: 500527 Price: $12.99/each
Expected Delivery: 08/16/2012 by Staples Courier
1$12.99
Subtotal:$95.92
Delivery:FREE
Coupon1:-$12.99
Coupon2:-$10.00
Coupon3:-$20.00
Coupon4:-$20.00
Coupon5:-$6.00
Tax:$2.36
Total:$29.29

I'll be getting 90 rolls of toilet paper, 12 rolls of paper towels,  9 giant boxes of Puffs and a free bag of Starbucks ground coffee for just $29!


Ruffled Key Chain
 Daughter Nina requested I sew a key chain bracelet for her with the tutorial on a really cute blog Sugar Bee  that is new to me but Nina has been reading.  My stash had plenty of fabric for Nina to choose from but I did not have the same key holder metal part as SugarBee used.  I found some spring snaps in the leather department for Hobby Lobby.  
But I have looked online at other tutorials for similar key wrist bands and one of them used some handbag clips from Joanns,  I think I would like them better and I am going to look for them when I have time.  
being a hand model is harder than it looks!  

It will hold your keys on your wrist so your hands are still free
and hopefully wearing keys might prevent losing them.  

I hope you all had a nice day too!