{handmade laundry detergent}

Saving money really means something these days. And while I have always used some homemade cleaning supplies {because they really do work better} I only recently started researching making my own laundry detergent, dish soap and other homemade products. Made my first batch of laundry detergent and LOVE IT. Smells good, cleans well and cost pennies compared to other store bought detergents.

1- 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle
1- 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle
3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap, found in the detergent isle or 3 bars of Zote soap
2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent isle.

(the oxyclean is optional, I added it into mine because my boys play outside ALOT and get dirty)

Of course I bought generic to save money - and found most of my items {the soap, oxyclean and baking soda} at the Dollar Tree for $1 each. Found the Borax and the Super Washing Soda at the Harris Teeter. Spent less than $10 for 6 months worth of detergent because this detergent is not filled with fluff like store bought detergent is. It is concentrated - so only 1 tbs is need for each load.

milkglass lamps

So, I bought these milkglass lamps about a year ago at a local junk store for around $12 for the pair. I had big plans for them to adorn our mantel but I am an easy craft kinda girl - any project that takes more than 30 minutes totally turns me off.

Because I thought covering the shades with fabric would be difficult and hard to manage, I went with a material I knew all about - PAPER. However, my first selection was definately not what I had in mind. It totally belonged in someone else's house.

My next paper choice said everything I wanted it too, but I realized that paper could only be a temporary fix because all the papers I found that I liked were for scrapbooking so I had to piece papers and patterns together and tape them to make it long/wide enough to cover the shades. They stayed like this until now because I found a how to on Pinterest! Who knew all I would need was a glue gun and my fabric to cover the shades? I am a pro with a glue gun!

I got my courage up and found the fabric I liked and with a glue gun, ran a line of glue along the edges where the fabric met at the overlap  and glued the fabric tight together.

Then I ran a bead a glue every few inches underneath the lamp shade and turned the fabric under. It looks so professional!

It's a Winter Wonderland - Coconut Cupcakes

 Ingredients

Cupcake Ingredients

          3/4 cup of unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 1/4 cup of sugar
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup of canned coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups of flour
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 cup of sweetened desiccated coconut

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 8 oz of Philly cream cheese (1 package), room temperature
• 1/2-1 cup of powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup of sweetened desiccated coconut

Method

Cupcake Method
1 Preheat the oven to 350 F. Cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar and cream till light and fluffy again, scraping down the sides halfway through to ensure even mixing.
2 Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 30 seconds each to ensure mixing. Be sure to scrape down the sides after each egg to ensure even mixing.
3 Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder in one bowl. In another add 1 cup of a well shaken can of coconut milk and a teaspoon of vanilla. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients and mix, then add 1/2 of the wet ingredients. Continue alternating with the wet and dry mixtures, ending with the dry. Stop mixing once just as the ingredients become incorporated; do not overbeat.
4 Fold in the coconut. Scoop into cupcake papers about one half to three-quarters of the way full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, rotating the pan after the first 15 to ensure even baking. Be sure to check with a toothpick to see if the cupcakes are done. If the toothpick comes out of the cupcake clean, then they're ready. Allow the cupcakes to cool for a minute or two in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting Method
1 Cream the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes. Scraped down the sides and bottom.
2 Slowly add the powdered sugar, taste as you go adding more sugar until you have reached the desired sweetness.
3 Fold in the coconut. Spread onto cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle on a bit of extra shredded coconut on top and serve.
Makes 20 cupcakes.

{a handmade Christmas}

I am all about decorating on a dime. And this Christmas, especially, offered no reason to change my ways.  So, here are some simple solutions for your grand taste but small pocketbook.

{above} Christmas trees using 12x12 sheets of scrapbook paper and candlestick holders.

In this we mixed burlap and grapevine together with some shimmer and shine to create a Winter Wonderland snowman for the front door.

And these little snowman ornaments will look great on our packages or make great little ornaments for our neighbors. Rolled with simple white yarn and hot glued together. Topped with a wire black hat and little wire arms...

But one of my favorites that I created this year for the home is this beautiful tulle wreath.

adding the special touch - a rolled flower from some quilt binding and a bird nestled inside.

{more to come}

for more ideas go to www.facebook.com/downhomemagazine or www.downhomemag.com

{how does your garden grow}

Mary, Mary, quite contrary How does you garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and not one marigold...Well, not yet. I did plant some marigolds from seed over the weekend.

As well as harvest a few of my vegetables that I have cared for over the last several weeks.

I have plucked some beautiful spring onions

And after weeks of wondering what my cabbages would grow up to be...

one finally graduated to the Sunday dinner table...

Soon, we'll be gathering peppers and tomatoes and squash and beets 

 {then canning peppers and tomatoes and squash and beets}

I remember how much hard work goes into having a garden - with all the planting and weeding and watering. I did alot of garden work as a young person in my parents' garden. But it is not until you have your own garden that you experience/understand the harvest....making all the hard work worth while.

Pimp That Jar Contest by Down Home Magazine

You plan on doing any canning this year? Why not enter our contest?


DHM is hoping to inspire you to get out your glue gun, dig up some embellishments, and turn that trusty

old mason jar into something a little more flashy.


Here’s the Details:

* Embellish, package or otherwise ‘dress up’ your favorite jar of canned veggies, fruits jams or jellies with anything you like as long as it doesn’t damage the contents or break the seal.

{here are some samples from other contests}

* Send us a JPG of your creation to downhomemagazine@nc.rr.com with subject line: Pimp That Jar. (Jar must be available for us to photographed if you win)

*All entries must be received by 10pm EST August 3rd, 2011.

We will post the entries on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/downhomemagazine and leave it to our fans to vote for a winner! Winner will be announced in the Sept/Oct 2011 issue of Down Home Magazine - just in time for the Fair Issue! The winner will be contacted by email and receive a copy of “Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving” and an Eastern NC Goodie Bag.

Entry form available online at www.downhomemag.com

I Play Farmville - in real life

Anyone who knows anything about me at all knows that I lit up when I found this book - The Backyard Homestead -. I found it at one of the many visits to my local Tractor Supply store to gather ideas for my little “homestead”. (though I rarely buy anything from the big box store) I was amazed at how the book broke it all down for me and gave me real harvest amounts that I could relate to. I knew that having your own garden was helpful because i have one myself. I also have a few chickens and fruti trees, It is my goal to grow as much of my own sustainable foods as possible. The book tells you how to do just that. .

On the back of the book, it tells you that on a 1/4 acre, you can harvest:

1400 eggs (seriously? I love that!)

50 lbs of wheat

60 lbs of fruit

2000 lbs of vegetables

280 lbs of pork

75 lbs of nuts



Now you can call me nuts if you want to, but I sure would like to have even a quarter of these foods for free.. And, anyone who can;t see the savings in this terrible economy is nuts if you ask me.