I have been making my own laundry detergent for a few years now. I have come up with a few changes that makes it even easier for me. Not that it’s hard to start with, but I just found a couple of changes made it even easier.

The original recipe calls for mixing in the bucket, and letting the bucket sit for at least 24 hours, then using the mixer to smooth it out, then pouring it into bottles.

I have a small kitchen and even smaller laundry room, so having a bucket sitting around was very annoying. It was always in the way!

So now, I mix and pour right away into bottles.

Ah, but then it clumps up, right?

I had started putting 5 or 6 of the glass bead things (do they have a name?) that you put in the bottom of flower vases into the detergent bottles before I started pouring directly into the bottles, because my detergent seemed to clump even after being mixed with the mixer.

So when I tried pouring directly into the bottles, they were already there to mix it for me! I just give the bottle a good shake, until the beady marble like things are flowing freely. It’s always nice and smooth for me!

And not having a bucket sitting around the kitchen Works For Me!

I have used coupons for over 20 years, probably close to 25 years. I have always used a card file or similar container. For the last few years, I have used an acordion file holder.

It was really a check file to start with. I used envelopes inside each catorgary to help keep the coupons sorted out. I really hated standing in the store shuffling through a pile of coupons looking for the right one. And then to find it had expired made me really upset! See what a mess it was?

I read on some blogs last year about people using binders with baseball card pages to organize their coupons. So I found a binder on clearance for $5.00. I bought one package of baseball card holders. I can’t remember how much I paid for those. One package wasn’t enought, though. I raided my scrapbooking binders where I organize my supplies in baseball card holders, as well as photo pages 4×6 and 5×7 for larger pieces. I did use some of the photo pages in my coupon binder. I used them for the different store coupons. See how much better this looks?

And here’s a shot of it on the shoping cart.

Yeah, I was in Walmart. lol It was busy, and the only empty aisle was the bread aisle in the corner of the store. I could hear people coming up behind me, and I was trying to hurry. I could just hear them saying “Look at the crazy lady taking a picture of her shopping cart!” Well, I could hear them in my head. lol They didn’t actually see the camera, thankfully, or they really would have said that! lol

I have used this binder since last October, and I just love it. It is so easy to use. I have sections for each store that I use coupons at, as well as a restaraunt coupon section.

Using a coupon binder instead of a box, Works For Me

I like to keep my most often used small appliances on the counter. The mixer, the food processor, the blender, etc. There is only one plug on my long counter, so all the cords are run behind the appliances. That makes it a pain to plug something in, I have to follow the cord to find the right plug.

But not anymore!

I used a permanent marker and wrote on the plugs. F for food processer, M for mixer, b for blender, etc.

No more following the cords! I can go to the outlet, and pick up the right plug end right away.

I know it sounds simple, but it makes my day a little easier, and it Works For Me!

Can the two mix? Sure they can! My dh is a diabetic and a big eater. So getting him full with out overloading him on carbs is a daily challenge. He (we) prefer to use diet to control his blood sugar level. Pills are a last resort (usually). So I hit upon this idea…

When I’m making a casserole, I make extra meat for dh and don’t mix it into the familys casserole. For example, is this picture, it was a chicken casserole, so he got a chicken leg quarter (sometimes 2) on the side. If I’m using hamburger as the protein in the casserole, I keep a cup or two out for him, and he adds it to his portion of the casserole.

This casserole meal planning Works For Me, and sure takes some of the stress off meal planning for a diabetic.

This year (well, 2008), when I unpacked the Christmas decorations, I found this note that I had left myself.

I had forgotten that I had written it, so it made me laugh. lol But I remembered to put something under the Advent candles, so they didn’t drip on the furniture.

Leaving notes for myself in the holiday decorations for next year, Works for Me!

We love to cook out! We haven’t used our grill in about 2 years. We made a firepit in our yard and we cook out as often as we can. We even like to make breakfast over the fire!

We use plastic picnic plates instead of paper plates. I keep them on the top shelf, and there were constantly falling on my head! But I solved that problem with a plastic bin. see…..

I measured, and bought a bin that fit the space and let the door shut completely. As you can see, I also keep the tableclothes (which are fabric remnants) with the dishes. See how nice and neat they dishes are in the bin….

When we’re ready, we take the bin down and carry the whole thing outside. No more kids struggling to carry them all out on trays and dropping the cups everywhere!

This kitchen organizing tip Works for Me!