GONE Step2 Wacky Water Sprinkler Table $8

Right now you can score a Step2 Wacky Water Sprinkler Table for only $8! This was 49.99, what a GREAT Easter or birthday gift!

Talking Santa $10 from Avon

Through today only, Avon has extended their free shipping on ANY order when you enter the code codeblack at checkout. You can score this  Interactive Talking Santa on sale 75% off down to only $9.99 (regularly $39.99!). While supplies last!

*Avon exclusive. Voice-activated Santa answers preselected holiday questions, which encourages kids to read. Santa's mouth moves and his body sways when he talks. Comes with reference book and instructions. Uses 3 AA batteries (not included). Plush. Imported.

(Found on a Savings Message Board not sure who to give credit to)

Adventures of Astro the Elf Day 1 and 2

So I love Christmas, it is probably my favorite holiday. I rarely get gifts and that is okay with me! I love to give and more than that I love the magic of the season. We teach our children the story of Christmas and Jesus' birth but we also have the magic of elves, Santa, and the whole lot. So it is no surprise that two years ago we added the Elf on the Shelf tradition. Aaron was 4 and at first he actually did not believe.... it took some convincing. Two years later he and Caleb (3) can not be more excited. I started hearing around Halloween, "When is Astro coming back Mommy?"

WELL..... HE IS BACK :) Astro returned two nights ago, so lets see what he has been up to!

Night one... he is back. Hmmm is that socks on my tree?

Night Two... Why yes a an Elf in a Marshmallow bath!

Okay so my kids LOVE Astro. Mommy and daddy have to remember to move and do silly things but they love him. I can not tell you how often I wake up in the morning and have forgotten to do something. So there I am 5am running around the house trying to come up with something to make my kids laugh. OH word of warning.... they won't drink magic green elf milk. So help me come up with silly ideas for Astro. Also do you have a great Christmas tradition? Feel free to share it here.
 

Report Card Time: How do you reward?

So my son is in first grade. He has adhd and o.d.d so as you can guess school work is an issue in our house. He gets NO special treatment at school and we focus a lot of our attention on his work at home too. Well his report card came in today......

A's ...... 7
B's ...... 3 (87%, 89%, and 90%)
S ..... 1 

So here is my question..... how do you reward good grades? Our local Dairy Queen rewards A's with ice cream but I want to do something to show him we are proud of him too.  Please share your thoughts below.

Wordless Wenesday~ Tiger Cub

Bob cat badge, 3 belt loops, camp badge, and Immediate recognition badge!

DIY Laundry Detergent

So I know you have seen people making their own laundry detergent. I have to tell you I was more than skeptical. I read recipe after recipe and I was so confused. I wanted something I knew was going to work and work well. I also did not want to mess it up..... I mean this is supposed to save me money right!Well I found it after looking at so many recipes. I took the common denominators and made it MY way. I am in LOVE, my husband is in LOVE, and I think I have about a year before I will have to make more. How wonderful is that!!

HERE is what you need:

* 2 Boxes Borax Soap (found in Detergent aisle) $8.00
* 1 Box Baking Soda Washing Powder $4.00
* 1 Container Oxy Clean (I bought the Kroger Brand) $4.00
* 2 Bars Fels Naphta soap or Zote soap $2.00
* 1 Bottle Scentsy Washer Whiffs $12.00
* OPTIONAL 1 Scentsy Dryer Disk $7.00 (for two)
TOTAL $30 for 1 year of Laundry Detergent

I bought a 5 gallon bucket and poured the borax, washing powder, oxy clean, and washer whiffs into the bucket. I took my metal cheese grater and grated the two bars of soap and threw that into the bucket. Put the lid on the bucket and shake it. (I counted this as my arms workout for the day lol) I used the Coconut Lemon Grass Washer whiffs because they are yellow and so is the fels naptha soap :)


The great thing about using the Scentsy Washer Whiffs, is that you have a ready made bottle to put your detergent in for easy reach. I fill the bottle up with my dry detergent and then use the built in cap for measuring. It does NOT take a lot of detergent to get really clean clothes.  I only use about a 1/4 to a 1/3 of a cap!

I pair this with a Scentsy Dryer Disk in the same scent of the Washer Whiffs. You just throw the bar in the dryer and then take it out, throw it away after the scent is gone. Scentsy says the dryer disk lasts for about 15 loads, yet I have gotten 40+ loads out of mine at times. When I lay down in bed I feel like I am in an exotic paradise and I know my clothes have not been washed in tons of chemicals and I did not break the bank to clean them!

Do you make your own detergent? Tell me about it, if you try this one I would love to hear your experience too!
 

Wordless Wednesday