Just call me Penny . . . pincher

I thought that garage saleing was a thing of yester-year, but OOOOH NO! I made the biggest find last Saturday. I got these 2 girlie chairs for $2.00 a piece. They're knocked over in the picture below. The girls just love them. Kate especially. She's always just kickin' back, lounging in her princess chair. Keeping James out is another problem--actually he doesn't want to sit in them, but use them for his forts.

Ok, so ever since I saw on the TV show "18 Kids and Counting" the Duggars making their own laundry detergent the idea has been hatching in my little o' noggin. I figure if they can find the time to make their own, so can I. So today I gave it my first go. The first round, I had the wrong stuff--baking soda not washing soda. They're actually different things. I used Ivory soap. And well--it didn't really work out. It was sort of white, watery, sludge. Not the slimey goo I was supposed to have according to the website--don't remember the name-something about tips. Then, since I had to go to Winco anyway, I decided to see if they had the right stuff, which they did. So I gave it another go--this time using the right stuff--washing soda, and I used Fels Naptha soap as well. I must say, the first round of laundry turned out just fine. I purposefully put in a dress with red jello stains (fresh-not set it) and some dirty towels. Everything came out clean and smelled sorta like nothing--which is the goal for doing laundry--I guess. I made a 60-80 load batch of detergent for $1.36. Pretty good deal I'd say.

OK, so to be honest I'm not sure if this is something to be proud of, or if I should start seeing a therapist. But . . . Wal-mart on Mill Plain is closing their fabric department and everything was 1/2 off!!!! I'm pretty sure I have enough pink and purple fancy fabrics to make fairy princess costumes for the next six years--but at $1.00 a yard how could I resist??? I got stuff for 8 sets of pj's, 4 dresses, MULTIPLE Halloween costumes/dress-up boxes, 2 fleece blankets, 2 sets of faux silk curtains, and 1/2 the fabric needed to recover the couch my sister Jeny gave me. I got the rest later for $1.24 a yard!

NOW--HERE'S THE RUB. I HAVE TO DO THE SEWING! I guess that'll be another post--but for the record I have 2 sets of pj's done for James and we'll definitely be getting our money's worth--they should fit until he's 8. ;) Here he is posing in his new choo-choo pj's--complete with milk spilled down the front. He looks distressed because I asked him to look at the camera. Apparently James is still under the delusion that camera's steal your soul, and therefore should not be looked at EVER, especially when mom wants your photo.