Yeah, we went there.

Homemade laundry soap?  Sure!  Why not!

Eli and I are always looking for ways to be frugal and save a penny here or there as we are paying off our student loans (thanks again Mr. Ramsey!).  Our first attempt at homemade soap went pretty well!  Here is what we did:

1.  Supplies.  One bar of Fels-Naptha laundry bar soap, borax and Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

 
2.  Grate one bar of soap and then put it in the food processor to chop it as tiny as possible!  I don't have a picture of the food processing because we had to take a late night trip to my moms to use her 1977 processor and I didn't have my camera with me!!

 
It looks like cheese, but it doesn't smell like it!  It's really a super "clean" scent.  Again, don't forget to chop it smaller.

3.  Mix the super finely grated Fels-Naptha with one cup of borax and one cup of super washing soda.  Stir/shake well.  Use about 2 tablespoons for each load.

We use a round plastic container to hold the mixture.  The soap doesn't completely mix with the borax and washing soda, but we try to use equal parts when we put it in the washer.  When doing research to make this, we found SO MANY recipes of this, but they use pretty much the same ingredients.  So we just took a chance on this mixture and found it's been doing great!  

I had a couple of items go into the washer that I watched for stain removal.  It did just as good, if not better, as regular store detergent.  I have also found that washing on "hot" has been helpful.  We use high efficiency washers and don't have any problems.  The bar soap, borax and super washing soda are all "low sudding", "low suds", "get the point?"  

Oh and I bet you want to know the cost???  Sorry!  I don't remember the exact cost and I can't find the receipt but the breakdown below is pretty close.

Borax:  $3
Fels-Naptha - $2
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda - $3

We found all of the ingredients at Walmart (right Eli???).

We have already done about 15 loads with the mix and have TONS left in the first batch.  That doesn't even touch the rest of the materials ready when this first mix runs out!

So, who else is going to try this??  Look up other versions of the homemade soap online!  You can make a liquid mix too!  Anyone else know of a homemade item that we could make and save some cheddar??

Next blog....  
Follow up on our homemade body wash, trip to Shorter U, and/or Dad's birthday camping trip!!

xoxo, 

pt byrd

The TREE!!

As promised, here is a picture of the tree that my sister Becky and my former student built.  It really adds dimension and color to my room!  I love to keep the classroom clutter-free, fresh, simple and organized (...ok, I try).  I think the tree was the icing on the cake!  Now, if this stays up all year, I'll be amazed!!  As many times as I say, "stay off the swing" there is always that one student interested in testing to see if the cardboard swing (above the striped "bench") will hold them...

xoxo,

pt byrd

The Classroom

So...it's Labor Day weekend and I am finally getting a chance to blog about my classroom!  I have had several requests to see the nest, so here goes!

Of course, I had to go with the bird theme.  Mrs. Byrd.  The cricut cartridge and machine from a friend who recently went to China to teach was a LIFESAVER (thank you Amber!!).  I laminated these three birds and use a dry erase marker to change the names each week.

My amazing co-worker gave me the idea and the supplies to put burlap on the background of this bulletin board.  Again, I used the cricut to cut the small birds and mounted them to two different types of paper.  I laminated the sheets and then hot glued them to a clothespin.

 

This is a close up of the clothespin with laminated bird.  I used twine as the "clothes line".  Students choose their own work to celebrate each week and are in charge of changing it out.  It gives my third graders the ability to choose what they are most proud of and it is one less thing I have to change out.  I honestly prefer them changing it anyway so they can take ownership.

I reused the letters I made last year in "Camp Kellenbenz" and they fit perfectly with the vintage looking clock and the rest of the classroom decor.

One MAJOR item I don't have pictured here is the tree!  My sister Becky and one of my students from last school year spent an entire day building a tree in the corner of my room by the book shelf.  Vines branch out and are suspended from the ceiling and also drape out in the corner of the wall.  Book jackets mounted on the wall complete the look.  I'll post a picture of that soon!

I am excited about another year at Faith.  I am honored to teach and know that God has me there for a purpose.  I don't take this responsibility lightly as I know God has placed a stricter judgement over me (James 3:1)!  I have to pray daily that my students and others see me as a light, the way I see my Heavenly Father.  The only way I can be a light is if I lean on, learn from and light my candle from THE LIGHT SOURCE.

"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."

James 3:1

Have a great school year everyone!

xoxo,

pt byrd