Tips Archives - Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood

DIY Laundry Soap Recipe

22 Apr posted by Mrs. Weber

Today is Earth Day, so I thought it would be fun to share a great recipe for making DIY laundry soap that is super earth-friendly and great for kids with sensitive skin. Another bonus? It can be made for a great price too!

My friend Lindsey shared this recipe with me and I recently got around to making it. I’m in love! It cleans our clothes well and is a way less intimidating recipe than some DIY laundry detergents out there. It literally took me five minutes to make and with minor clean-up! Here’s the scoop:

INGREDIENTS

2 cups hot water
⅓ cup of salt {works as a abrasive to help clean stains}
1 cup of washing soda {found in laundry aisle} can also just use plain baking soda!
1 cup Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap in liquid form {Found in the natural body products section at my Meijer. I adore the scent of the French Lavender!}
Clean empty gallon milk jug

DIRECTIONS

Mix 2 cups of hot water with salt and washing soda in a bowl until dissolved well. Pour mix into the empty milk jug, then add the cup of Dr. Bronner’s. Fill the rest of the milk jug with water, letting some suds out as you fill it. Shake well and don’t forget to label the jug!

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Shake jug before each use. Use ¼ to ½ cup of soap per load. Add ¼ cup of white vinegar to loads that are especially stinky {i.e. workout clothes or undies} to help with odor control.

IMPORTANT: This is compatible with HE washers. High efficient washers like low sudsing soaps, and this does just that. I use it in my LG front loader and just place the liquid in the top compartment.

Initial investment for supplies = Just under $18 {stores may vary}. Very budget-friendly compared to the big brands out there and there are NO harsh chemicals. Makes approx 5 gallons.

What are your favorite DIY items for household use?

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Budgeting is Sexy.

13 Mar posted by Mrs. Weber

Money

Free image from stock.xchng

Since meeting my husband more than 8 years ago, there are a few things I’ve become more passionate about. For starters, politics. Second, Frank’s Red Hot sauce. He’s an addict. I never thought I’d dig the stuff, but now I crave it.

But the #1 thing my hubby has taught me? Budgeting is SEXY.

Seriously.

Prior to me deciding to stay home, we never really tracked our expenses. What was the point? We both made good money and it didn’t matter how we paid for things. We paid our credit card off each month and consulted each other before purchasing any larger ticket items.

Today, it’s a different tune. Every single penny matters for us. Saving during a month could mean a project on our house, or maybe even a vacation one day. If you don’t already know, I am married to an accountant. He has intricate spreadsheets on our money that may as well be rocket science to me.

When I started staying home, I had no choice but to learn more about where our money was going. We looked at our new income and figured out how we could live within our means, and still save for retirement. I plan on going back to work full-time in the years ahead, but we decided not to include that possibility, with all my future work projected as our fun money.

How do you do this? Work backwards. We decided we’d work until 65. Assuming we will not have social security or pensions, we determined how much we will need to live on if we make it to our 90′s. Let me just say that we need to save MILLIONS with inflation calculated. It sounds like SO much, but think: That money could potentially need to be spread across 40+/- years. It’s actually quite overwhelming to think about.

I’ve heard people say you don’t need to save until you are in your 40′s. Are you crazy?! When we are in our 40′s, our kids will be driving and going to college…Those factors make saving a tad more difficult. The time to save is in your 20′s and 30′s, before kids are grown and cost way more than they do as babies.

I’m in control of our monthly budget, which has been eye-opening. We spend a lot of money. Lately, I don’t always use coupons like I should, and we like to eat out. Couple that with the fact that the more healthy groceries we buy are expensive, and we go through a lot of dollars.

Here’s for my transparency: Our budget is $1,200 a month. This amount doesn’t include our mortgage or most of our bills. It sounds like a lot, right? Well, it’s not. Not for us hipsters who like to do cool things and eat out a lot. We go through this money so fast it’s ridiculous. Shoot, we have fairly fuel-efficient cars and our gas costs alone are usually between $300-$400. Coupled with at least $500 in groceries most months, and most of the budget is spent, leaving little left for fun, or even a new pair of jeans. {For the record, I use a plain old Excel spreadsheet to track everything.}

That’s where I come in to save the day. I can only overspend on that initial $1,200 where I can make up the cost. I get creative most months, but thankfully, my part-time job and occasional blog gigs make up the difference. I am thankful each month because these days, we are rarely on budget, and I hate digging into the money we specifically set aside for saving, or even worse, using money we try to set aside for our children’s educational savings plans.

Sounds stressful? Well, it’s not. I actually feel relieved knowing where each and every penny we have goes. It’s empowering. It’s enlightening. And, sure, it’s even sexy.

If you need a swift kick in the budgeting butt, I highly suggest tuning in to The Suze Orman Show. Along with my number nerd hubby, she has helped me to truly understand the need for saving moula!

So, dish — do you have a monthly budget? If not, I highly encourage you to track it for a few months! You’ll be amazed at where your money goes.

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10 Things to Consider Before Staying Home

7 Mar posted by Mrs. Weber

I just realized a very special 2-year anniversary just passed me by. It has been 2 years since I decided to quit my well-paying job to stay home with my first little love monkey. At the time, I was scared to death, but now I know I made the best decision for my family. After all, I get to see moments like this all the time…{Mondays are almost always pajama day at our house!}

I’ve been lucky to find a flexible part-time job and plenty of other creative ways to supplement our income, but it hasn’t been easy. There have been months I’ve scratched my head trying to figure out how to come up with extra money so I could justify getting a new pair of shoes.

Staying home is NOT easy, nor is working full-time with kids. All parents work in some way, and all for the benefit of their kids.

But, if you’re considering quitting the corporate world to stay home, I just have a few items you should consider:

10. You have to be slightly nuts to stay home. First and foremost, remember your discussions {or, in my case, lack thereof} will revolve around saying things like “Don’t stick that up your nose!” or “Get your hands out of your pants!” You will be a slave to preparing kid-friendly snacks {which, for me, involves a lot of time at my cutting board} and trying to figure out exactly why the baby is crying for the umpteenth time.

9. Your house will NEVER be clean. Maybe with kid #1 my house was pretty darn clean. But add one more kid to the mix, and it’s virtually impossible to keep it clean at all times. My floors are always sticky, there’s aways laundry to be folded, or someone is coloring the walls with red lipstick. Always. Clean freaks, beware, and be sure to pin lots of articles on how to get odd stains out.

8. You will go through toilet paper like crazy. Your potty breaks are no longer on the company’s dime. Plan accordingly. You don’t want to run out. And you will almost always have a visitor when you go. That takes some getting used to!

7. If you are a social person, you will need other stay-at-home friends. For me, Twitter and Facebook are crucial. I feel like I’m talking to people…even if nobody responds! But also, in-person play dates with fellow parents who are home are needed. Make sure you have at least one person to turn to when you need help during the day — believe me, you will need them!

6. Yoga pants or sweats will provide comfort most of the day. If you’re one to love getting dolled up, think twice. Finger painting, crawling in tiny places and breastfeeding don’t translate well with cute trendy dresses and stylish pumps. Don’t even get me started on hair. I barely have time to brush mine, let alone take an hour to dry and style it. Nice hair mostly happens on weekends only in my world.

5. You will need to learn how to cook. If you’re not already a whiz in the kitchen, get ready. The mere thought of taking two kids out to eat alone — even if it’s just going through the drive-thru — is daunting. Sure, I’ve done it, but it is not fun. Breakfast, lunch, and 98% of the time, dinner, is at home. It’s just easier. Also note: You will spend a TON of time at the grocery store to provide said meals.

4. Find a hobby. I don’t know many people who just stay home and plays with their kids all day {not that there’s anything wrong with that}. Whether you start a side craft business knitting hats, take yoga classes, or find a part-time work from home gig, you will need something as an outlet just for you.

3. Shopping becomes strategy. Gone are the days when shopping was fun {unless I’m alone, which is rare}. I don’t buy anything that costs more than $30 without a little research. Every dollar counts when you are on a budget. Don’t turn your nose up to second-hand items. Always look for coupons or promo codes for discounts. Bundle your insurance policies for savings. Forgo cable. Little things can add up and make more room in your budget for classes and fun outings to enrich your child’s life and help them with socialization.

2. You need to be an internet rockstar. Websites like Macaroni Kid and local parenting magazines are amazing for finding FREE things to do to keep little minds occupied. Know where to look to find the scoop in your area. Plan events in advance so you have them on the calendar and can plan your week accordingly.

1. The number one question: Is it financially possible? Everyone likes to think they could live off of $50k a year {more or less}, but then reality sets in. Are you willing to sacrifice vacations, expensive hobbies, nights on the town, and the likes? Remember to NEVER stop saving. Things come up, cars break-down, roofs collapse and more. Always have some money in the bank.

If you stay at home or work from home, what discoveries have you made?

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I’m Featured on Mom It Forward!

20 Feb posted by Mrs. Weber

I’m super pumped to share that I am featured on Mom It Forward today!

Come check out my piece to learn some fun ideas on how to make inexpensive and fun new spring break traditions. Just click here to check it out!

Comments are closed. Please share the story above if you’d like to show the love

Filed Under: About Me, Tips

New Year, New Office/Playroom Space

4 Jan posted by Mrs. Weber

So sorry for the impromptu mini vacay, people. I needed it! Don’t get me wrong, I love blogging and the internetz, but I needed to focus on my family for the past few weeks. Let’s just say after cookie-making, food-eating, snuggle-giving, snot-wiping, and LOTS of ME time, I’m ready to see what 2013 has in store!

My big project during the past few weeks was reconfiguring our office/playroom. Unfortunately, it’s the first room you see when you walk into our house and for the past 6 months while we’ve lived here, it has driven me secretly crazy. We were using plastic storage bins for toys and my hubby’s giant desk from college. It was a hodge podge room and it looked disorganized — something I don’t do well with.

Armed with $350 {I went a bit over budget}, I came up with a plan to transform the room. I spent some time on Pinterest seeing what works and settled on the pieces I wanted from Ikea. Unfortunately, what I discovered was that Pinterest rooms are gorgeous but not even remotely functional for us. Our kid’s toys don’t match and I’m not going to color match their books because let’s face it: They won’t stay that way. I needed to find a design that wasn’t all white and perfect looking because that’s not who we are as a family.

So, I decided to work with the colors of the toys and make a colorful, yet functional space where the kids can play while I work.

With the help of Ikea, Walmart (shhh…don’t tell), Meijer and Pier One, here’s what I came up with:

Office space

Toy Storage

Kid's Artwork

Expedit shelving and workstation + 4 baskets for storage from Ikea ($241)
Spray painted an old beat-up cookie sheet for us to practice letters with magnetic letters
Glass jars for toy storage from Walmart ($5)
Spray painted an unfinished shelf from Ikea ($6)
Used old frames to showcase Kinley’s artwork and tie the colorfulness of the room together
Clearance curtains from Pier One ($40)
Rug from Meijer ($29.99)
Framed art from Walmart ($25)
Reused an old Ikea end table for a coloring table for kids

I’m pretty happy with the way it looks now and am happy to finally have a room I want to spend time in.

Now, if only I could get the toddler to keep her toys in there, we’d be all set!

Next up: Our bedroom! That is going to take a looooong time to save up for. I’m scouring Craigslist for deals. I’m so ready to be done with our furniture from the 1970s.

Where do you find affordable things for your home?

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26 Simple, Inexpensive Acts of Kindness #26Acts

17 Dec posted by Mrs. Weber

Acts of Kindness

You want to do acts of kindness this holiday season to honor Sandy Hook victims, but where to begin when you’re on a budget? Here are some simple ideas that cost $5 or less:

1. Many charitable organizations are outside asking for change this time of year. Why don’t you buy them a warm drink to enjoy while standing in the cold? Or how about some toe warmers? {A stranger bought me a hot chocolate when I was ringing bells last year, and I think about it all the time. It was SO kind!}

2. {Idea from a friend}: Leave a cup of pennies by Sandy the Pony at Meijer. It’s one of the few things that costs a penny, and yet it brings so much joy to the lives of kids. If you’re not near a Meijer location, leave quarters in candy/toy machines.

3. Burn a CD with inspirational music {or Christmas music} and drop it off anonymously to neighbors with a nice note.

4. Buy a $5 gift card for a store you’re shopping in. Empower a cashier to give it to someone who looks like they need some cheering up.

5. Visit a nursing home. Purchase inexpensive carnations and walk around, wishing the elderly a Merry Christmas.

6. Help someone load groceries into their car.

7. Offer to put the cart away for someone with their hands full at the store.

8. Babysit a friend’s children so they can run errands and finish up Christmas shopping.

9. Donate used books to a library. These can often go toward used book sales, which help keep our libraries open.

10. Leave a nice note to a waiter/waitress that did a great job or made you smile. Sure, big tips are nice, but encouraging words have the power to last a lifetime as well.

11. Leave a coupon next to a product at the store. It will make the next person who needs that item smile.

12. Let someone go ahead of you when in line somewhere — at the store, post office, or even in traffic.

13. Write a nice note or have your child draw a picture for your local police or firefighter station. Remind them of why they do the work they do…even on Christmas day.

14. If you’re going through the drive-thru, buy a meal/coffee for the person behind you.

15. Did you have an outstanding teacher or mentor that made a difference in your life? Write them a note telling them how much they meant to you.

16. We can’t forget to treat mother nature with kindness. Pick up trash when out and about.

17. Donate blood. I know it’s scary for many, but did you know you could save up to 3 lives with your one pint? And to more rare blood types {like myself, a B- gal}, it truly can make such a difference.

18. Join a group such a Freecycle, and give away items you aren’t using. This time of year, many families cannot afford things like Christmas lights or trees. Offer up ones you are not using {but are working, of course}.

19. Make a meal and give it to someone. Know of a neighbor or friend going through a rough time? Create a dish they can easily heat up and eat.

20. Write down inspiring quotes about kindness on sticky notes and leave them in public places, like the bathroom in a shopping mall. Here’s a good list of ideas to get you started.

21. If you use Pinterest and have discovered a great recipe, craft or idea from it, go comment on that person’s blog post. It makes a difference for bloggers to hear that their idea is loved

22. Don’t forget about our furry friends. Go to a dollar store and purchase some inexpensive toys or treats and drop them off to a local animal shelter.

23. If you’re at the store, add a treat, like a candy bar, onto your order for the cashier.

24. Sign up to be an organ donor. Click here to determine how to sign-up in your state.

25. Since I know many of my readers are bloggers, and therefore decent photographers, offer to take photos of families in need {or just your neighbors/friends}. Photo sessions are expensive, so capturing a family for free is surely something that will be cherished for years to come.

26. Give a smile, a kiss, or a simple hug to all those you encounter. Let them know you love them and count each day as a blessing because of them.

What ideas can you add?

post-signature

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My Budget-Friendly Gift Picks for 2013

20 Nov posted by Mrs. Weber

Tis the season! I decided it would be fun to do a mini gift guide highlighting some of my favorite gifts…and maybe a few items I want too Please feel free to chime in under the comments to tell me your favorite gift ideas or link to your company!

FOR THE {LITTLE} KIDDOS…

Bronner’s ornaments. I love shopping online at Bronner’s {a Michigan-based MEGA Christmas store} so I don’t have to worry about getting lost in the real store. One of my favorite items is their personalized ornaments…There are seriously hundreds to choose from. These are my favorites for kids – and only $10 (personalization is included)! See online here. And you get a free ornament for shopping orders over $50.

Melissa & Doug ANYTHING. You can’t go wrong with the quality of their items! Here’s a tip: Many of their items are sold at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Michael’s. Download the free apps from both stores and always have a coupon with you for major savings! (Ex: Many M&D items run $20. A 40% coupon will make them only $12. Score!)

DisneyStore.com fleece blankets (personalization is an extra fee). These are adorable and seem to always be on sale, so snag one for less than $20. They are the perfect size for the car, or even your child’s bed, and come in a variety of characters from Merida and Ariel to Spiderman and Lightening McQueen. Plus, use Ebates.com for 3% cash back. Can’t beat that!

The Loveable Little Misses and/or The Marvelous Mr. Men books. Remember the books like Mr. Busy and Little Miss Sunshine? Get 8 of the books in an adorable folding case for just $11.55 on Amazon. I bought this for Kinley a few years ago (for when she’s older) and LOVE it. Purchase with another item to total $25+ for free super saver shipping.

FOR ADULTS {OK, and myself}…

I love my slow cooker. Seriously, it’s the best thing we received from our wedding. If you’re in the market for one, I highly suggest this 3-in-1 one from Hamilton Beach. I love that there are 3 pot sizes to pick from because I feel like it helps cook things more evenly when they are in the right insert!

Sassy phone cases…because let’s face it: Our phones showcase our personality! There are tons for less than $5 on Amazon. I especially love this simple polka dot one (just $1.20 shipped).

Keyboard skin. If you’re like me, you are probably super worried about sticky fingers ruining your keyboard. There are tons of cute, colorful skins out there to protect your computer. I especially like this purple one from Amazon that’s only $1.43 shipped!

Something else that always makes for great gifts? FOOD. Some of my favorites include:

Lemon Zest Madelines from Donsuemor {So cute and individually wrapped for easy gift giving}.

Coffee from Paramount Coffee {based in Lansing, Mich.} This company has the BEST flavors: Toasted Coconut, Traverse City Cherry, Caramel Apple Spice and more FTW! Being a mom of little ones, it’s impossible for me to go to coffee shops, so I love when I have “fancy” coffee at home. Note: Their prices are not fancy.

Davidson’s Organic Vanilla Cream Spice Tea.I love tea in the cold weather and this one is such a yummy treat.

Wine. Specifically, from Leelanau Cellars here in Michigan. Love their Winter White wine, which is semi-sweet. Best part? It’s typically 2 for $10 at both Kroger and Meijer. A great hostess gift!

What are your favorite gifts to give and receive?

This post does contain some affiliate links, however, I chose items I really liked or want!

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Treat Yo Self with a FREE Card

19 Nov posted by Mrs. Weber

Have you all heard about Shutterfly’s latest card-making site, Treat? Well, I’m kind of obsessed.

You see, I love all this techy/social media stuff, but I still have an intense passion for cards. Because I love picking them out just as much as I love receiving them. And if you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably seen my tweets about how excited I get to go to the mailbox everyday…I LOVE getting mail that isn’t bills or junk!

I have made several cards with Treat and they are all adorable, unique and best of all — personalized. Putting the person’s name on the card makes it that much more special in my opinion! Treat has cards for every occasion — from holidays and birthdays, to congrats, thank yous, and every occasion in between.

With the holiday fast approaching, Treat is offering a fab treat for us all Create and send a totally personalized greeting card from Treat for FREE. Whether saying thanks for Thanksgiving, wishing a best friend a holiday birthday, or simply sharing the holiday cheer with a just because card, Treat lets you create a one-of-a-kind card that is sure to impress.

Grab one free Treat card good TODAY 11/19 & TOMORROW 11/20 when you type in the code TREATBLOGR before checkout. This is 100% free – no shipping costs, no gimmicks.

Now, go play and make someone’s day by sending them a little treat