Spring Cleaning

I don't have Pinterest insecurity.

If anything, I have Pinterest overconfidence. Why else would I decide that I could make my kitchen look like these in a single day as advertised on multiple home blogs?

Pinterest should come with several reality checks. The first would be that professional home bloggers do this shit because it is their job. I have a job that keeps me out of my own home upwards of 30-40 hours a week.

Second, some home bloggers hire a cleaning service or have help with childcare. They aren't actually doing it all themselves.

Third, a lot of these bloggers are living on a budget that is clearly two or three times what our budget is. Square footage alone can tell that tale.

Fourth, those that do are probably fundamentally different personality types with completely different style than yours truly.

Case in point

We have no need of a pantry because most of the food we eat is perishable so we don't really need to store food.
We have no space for a pantry because we live in a small apartment.
We have very little counter space and it certainly isn't granite.
We have no dishwasher.
We really don't have that many cabinets and we only have three drawers.
We also really do not have room for more than two people at a time in our kitchen.

In other words, our kitchen has issues that renters just can't fix.

Despite knowing all of this, it is that time of year where I Pinterest-stalk images of perfectly laid out and organized homes and think to myself-I can totally do that.

Overconfidence.

Needless to say, I'm a complete liar. Much like those lying misrepresenting heifers ladies on Pinterest with their empty countertops, daily vacuuming, all white living rooms, and "natural" cleaning products all while blogging full-time and homeschooling between five and eight offspring.

Sure you are.

Anyway, challenge accepted.

Why do we have twenty-eight + spoons?

I've been spring cleaning.

I'm not sure why Tim had this much silverware.*  Remember, most of the time only two people live in this house.

Before

Family housing has some odd size drawers.  This organizer is one of two at Target that fit and the only one that wasn't plastic.

After

Seriously . . .  what single man has this much silverware?

The rejects-I hid them in the bottom of the napkin basket.  I don't know why.  Don't judge.

*(We never really consolidated belongings upon marrying but my silverware was the kind you get at Walmart in a bundle for a dollar. . .  so, good riddance.)

DIY Life-How to Make Powder Laundry Detergent

Wes and I decided that we would save a little money and make our own laundry detergent.* 

Here's what you need:

All Images are my own

• Borax
• Washing Soda
• Soap-we used Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (You could also use Fels Naptha or plain old Ivory)
• Air Tight Container
• Grater
• Bowl
• Measuring Scoop

Here's what you do:

• Grate bar of soap and measure out one cup.  (This usually works out to a little less than three quarters of the bar)**
• Add one cup of Borax
• Add one cup of Washing Soda
• Shake/Mix/Stir

We have high efficiency washers in our complex and this mix is perfect for them as it is low-sudsing.  It is also great for regular washers.  The best part, you only need about two tablespoons per load.

That works out to half of this little sauce cup thingy that we have re-purposed.

Give it a try-I'm sure you'll like it!

*It is important to note that DIY is not always cheaper.  Our laundry detergent is and if we used cheaper soap we could save even more.  What we like most, however, is that we know exactly what this detergent is made out of.


**We like to make small batches but you could adjust amounts as desired.