Vinegar and a sunburn

When you get a sunburn the products out there to help soothe and prevent blistering or peeling can be quite costly. Believe it or not, a natural and cheaper remedy lies just in your pantry.....it's vinegar! I'm not kidding. I've actually used this and it works.

"To soothe a sunburn spray white distilled vinegar on skin, repeating as often as you like. Let it dry naturally, do not rub off. Ice-cold white distilled vinegar will feel even better, and may prevent blistering and peeling." Courtesy of Vinegar Tips

Thanks to a friend of mine who teaches science I learned that vinegar is made of water and acetic acid, so it will moisturize and soothe your sunburn. Acetic acid is called an NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug), which helps reduce the swelling of the damaged tissue and relieves the pain.

You can also pour a complete small size bottle of white vinegar in a bath of luke warm water and soak in it for about 15 minutes or longer if desired, it will relieve the pain of sunburn immediately and the redness that comes the sunburn and helps prevent peeling. You can also apply vinegar before going out in the sun and you will lessen the chances of getting sunburn! Courtesy of The Vinegar book.

Here are a few other helpful tips for sunburns
Clean and Simple Sunburn Remedies
eHow: How to Treat a Sunburn with Vinegar

Easiest Egg Drop Soup

Egg drop soup is so easy, here's one recipe that I use.

2 cups of Chicken broth
1 egg
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped spinach

Heat the chicken broth in a small pot. Stir the eggs, basil, parsley and s/p in a separate bowl.

When the broth is hot, slowly add the egg mixture into the broth stirring gently with a fork. After about a minute, turn heat off and add chopped spinach.

Serve immediately!

Flea Market Finds

Heard the saying: "One mans junk is another man's treasure...."
Well I came across these neat ideas from the
Better Homes and Garden Website, they took things that
were basically junk and turned them into neat storage ideas.

Here are a few:

Mount a section of iron fencing on the wall as a coat rack. The curled ends of this fence section are just right for holding coats, towels, robes, or leashes.

Salt and pepper shakers are easy to find at flea markets.
These glass ones now hold bath salts and look charming when grouped
together and displayed near the tub.

To read the entire article, go here.

Homemade Baby Wipes

Homemade Baby Wipes

Baby wipes can be expensive. Here’s a little trick on how to make your own:

• 1 package strong paper towels
  
• 1/4 cup baby oil
  
• 1/4 cup baby shampoo
  
• 2 cups water
  

Cut paper towels in half (cut through the whole roll so there are two smaller rolls) and remove the cardboard center. Put 1/2 of the roll in an old baby wipe container (standing so the center hole of the roll is facing up).

Mix together the oil, shampoo and water, and pour 1/2 of the solution over the paper towels. You may wish to turn it over to let the roll soak up the mixture.

Wipes should easily dispense from the center of the roll. This makes two containers.

Don't throw mushy fruit away!

I bought these peaches and didn't eat them all before they grew very soggy and mushy; you really would not want to bite into them.
But being frugal minded I knew I could do something with them
instead of just throwing them out.

So I turned this mushy fruit into.....

this!!!

Don't forget you can save money and be creative when it comes to old fruit: jams and jellies, sauces and salsas, smoothies and pies
can all benefit from old very ripe fruit!

Peach and Berry Crumble

Homemade Laundry Soap

I recently made a new batch of laundry soap, but this time it's all powder and I LOVE it! Here's some pics; it's a very simple and basic recipe -
the "hardest" part was grating up the two bars of soap.

12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated) This came out to two bars of soap, I use Ivory.

• Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
• Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

To read my original post, go here.

Super Easy Laundry Powder Recipe

I've been out of laundry soap this week and wanted to find a different recipe. My original Laundry Soap Recipe wasn't too complicated, but I found it to be clumpy (very normal by the way).

So I thought this time around I'd try a powder and boy do I love this! Most of the ingredients can be purchased at Smart & Final, all except the Washing Soda.

Washing Soda by Arm & Hammer is a highly alkaline chemical compound which can be used to remove stubborn stains from laundry. It is NOT to be confused with Baking Soda.

Many stores carry Washing Soda, typically with other laundry products. I find mine at Albertson's (or Kroger if you're not in CA). You can also call 1-800-524-1328 and give them the UPC code 33200-03020. The service will ask for your zip code and then tell you places in your area that sell Washing Soda.

Anyways, on to the recipe. It's very simple, the hardest part is grating up the bar of soap - but even that's not really that hard!

Powder Laundry Soap
(courtesy of tipnut.com)
12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated) This came out to two bars of soap, I use Ivory.

• Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
• Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

Believe me, this recipe is so easy and it makes a TON! I hope you have the chance to make it. I took some pics while making it, I can post them tonight!

Friendly Frugal Reminder:
Make time to save money.
It's worth it!

Make-It-From-Scratch-Mondays - Chai Tea

Chai Tea is something we either like or don't like, the taste is unique! For all you Chai lovers out there here's a delicious recipe that I know you'll enjoy. Sip it over ice to cool you down!

Chai Tea Mix

Courtesy of 2passthetorch.com

*1/2 cup instant tea
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup dry milk
* ½ cup dry creamer

Spices:

* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon ground ginger

* ½ teaspoon salt
* ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
* 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/8 teaspoon cayenne (careful, careful!)

Spoon a couple of heaping teaspoons into a mug of hot water, stir, and Voila. Or pour this over a glass of ice and enjoy it cold!

Frugal Reminder:

It's always cheaper to make
rather than buy!

Hi Frugal Friends,

I apologize for the sporadic postings lately. I'm pregnant with baby #3 and this time around I'm exhausted. So my blogging has slowed way down, not to mention laundry, vacuuming and dusting....ahh well as is life!

Anyways, just wanted to say I'm back and I plan on updating some fun frugal finds and Recipes that I've taken a liking to.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Summer!