About Tricia

I am Tricia. Momma of nine, homeschooler, artist, foodie and maker of all kinds of things. It's a pleasure to share here our family homesteading adventures, the things we make, and what inspires our days. Read more about my family and work here. Thanks for visiting!

Author Archive | Tricia

Laundry splurge

By on June 29, 2012 in Home

Laundry, oh how you love to pile up and oh how I love to pretend you don’t exist.

With ten people in our family and little ones who wear something for 10 minutes then throw it down the laundry shoot, our pile grows faster than the weeds in the garden.  I have completely lost my laundry rhythm with this whole muscle pull thing and pretty much my whole schedule is out of whack.

I need to do some laundry, actually days and days of it.  I am getting to where I need to pep talk myself into getting small things done and the laundry monster knows it.  A few days ago I went in ready to attack only to find that I am out of laundry soap.  How did I not notice that?

Problem is I was out of castile soap to grate into my laundry detergent mix.  All I had on hand was Dr Bronners liquid.  So I mixed up the borax and washing soda into my container as usual and then to each load I added a half tablespoon of Dr Bronners to the wash.  It worked, it actually worked wonderfully.

Could I make my laundry soap with grated Dr Bronners instead?   Should I just continue adding the liquid to the powder?  This would cost more but then again, how much am I still saving by making my own detergent and doesn’t my momma nose deserve a nice smelling experience in the laundry room?

Yes!  I do!  Off to Amazon to see if I could get it cheaper than at the store.  Oh my could I ever.  I got a pack of 6 soap bars for $21.97 with free shipping for Prime members and then I remembered I have lots of gift cards I have gotten from searching through Swagbucks.  That means my splurge is now free and I am one happy momma.  Oh the lovely smell, it makes me want to do the laundry and that is a big feat.  Hopefully my tummy muscle will keep getting better so I can get back to hanging the wash on the line instead of using the dryer.  My dream consists of the amazing lavendar smell followed by the warm sunshine smell on a clean pair of bed sheets…that sounds like vacation to me.

Need the recipe?  Here is the one I have used for years.  I just substituted the Fels Naptha for the Dr Bronners soap.

What’s your splurge?

Oh and if you don’t use Swagbucks as your search engine and want to sign up, please use my link.  I earn about 5 gift cards to Amazon every month just for having them as my search engine.  They have hundreds of things you can use your points on from hundreds of gift cards to paypal cash and shopping.  If you sign up through my referral ID either through this link or on my side bar you can find my Swagbucks Widget,  I would get referral points and this is my plan to buy Christmas presents this year.  If you need some easy tips of getting points, email me and I will share.

Oh and speaking of vacation, tomorrow we leave for a much needed week at the beach.  Not sure if we have WIFI but I will do my best to stay in touch.  When next we meet, I hope to be relaxing in the sand.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)

Comments { 0 }

Stash Bash

By on June 28, 2012 in Knits and Crochet, Stash Bash

I’ve never met a crafter without a stash of some kind. This year my goal is to use up all the craft supplies I have spent money on that are taking up mental and physical space in my life.  Join me here every Thursday for a Stash Bash. 


This week is going by like a flash.  I am packing up for a week in Miami Beach.  There is so much to do and plan and my girls need me to get sewing.  I have a few vintage bed sheets and pillow cases to turn into beachy summer dresses and some projects for me as well.  


Now, I have a confession to make.  I bought yarn!!!  Yes I did!  I fell in love with this knitted swim suit  from Petite Purls for Livie.  I was hoping to have it done by our trip next week but I ordered two colors that I was missing to make it and the wrong colored yarn showed up. I am now waiting for two balls of Cascade Fixation in Ecru so I can get started.  I hope to have it done by end of summer.


Here is a picture of it from the Petite Purls site.


So what have you been up to? I love to see what you come up with. I have added the Mr Linky to the bottom of this post for you to link up your Stash Bash projects.

Here’s what to do. There are no rules. 
Just use what you have and try to not buy new supplies, unless you need it to complete a project that you are making from stuff you already have in your stash. 
Take a picture of your project or progress and blog about it or post a picture to flickr.
Then come back here on Thursdays and post a link to your post.
Don’t forget to link back to the Stash Bash so others can find us and get encouraged too.
Fair enough?     

P.S.  Its so nice to hear from other stash bashers so if you visit some of the links don’t forget to leave them a quick little comment.  

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)

Comments { 0 }