Drying out jalapeños

We have an abundance of jalapeños. I have pickled them (yum!). Now I'm trying my hand at drying them out.

This is just the start of a long jalapeño chain.

I got the idea from Jalapeño Madness.  If you need more ideas on what to do with your large harvest of jalapeños, check out the website! 

As for me, I have quite a few peppers to string.

Pickle time!

I have picked so many cucumbers this last month. What to so with them? It finally hit me.  Pickles!  Need the recipe?  Go here

This should last awhile!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

As you know from this post, I make my own laundry detergent. I have been pretty happy with it.

I was having some problems a little while back with my washing machine, but I found if I just put the detergent in with the clothes, everything turned out great.

I was looking around the web at various homemade laundry detergents and found that I could make a larger batch.  A lot of people mentioned using Zote soap so I thought, why not try it?

I made the double batch and found that it lasts a lot longer.  I don't have to make the soap every couple of months.  This larger batch lasts anywhere from 4-6 months.

Here is the recipe for the larger batch.

Laundry Detergent (the Big Batch)

bars of soap (2 of Zote or 3 Fels Naptha)
1 box of Washing Soda (washing soda, not baking soda, you can find it in the laundry detergent aisle)
1 box Borax

Grate the bars of soap.  I use the food processor to grate the soap.  Once it is grated, I then run it through with the blade inside with a little borax and a little washing soda (so it doesn't stick to the processor and become clumpy or clay like).

Mix all together and put into your container(s).

This time I tried the white Zote soap.  I was not impressed with the scent.  I put in a little lavender essential oil.  The scent does not transfer to the clothes (very happy about that).  I'm hoping that this will keep the whites....white.  I thought maybe that the Fels Naptha might be the reason some of my whites are turning dingy.  We shall see...

I still put in a 1/2 cup of white vinegar for the rinse (or instead of using a fabric softener).  And, no, your clothes will NOT smell like vinegar.

Better get to work.  I have quite a few piles of laundry to do.

Walking

I thought I would give some updates on my walking travels.

I still walk everyday.  I roll out of bed at 6:30am, throw some clothes and shoes on and head out the door.  I try to get my walk in before RT goes to work.  (still trying to figure this one out now that the kids are back in school)

I still see sports bra lady.  You remember her, she's in her late 60's, wears a sports bra and too short shorts an walks her dog.  Today she didn't have the straps of her sports bra over her shoulders.  Not sure what was holding the bra up.  Don't think I want to know, either.

Then there's the guy who jogs with his small dog.  The dog has gotten better at the whole jogging thing.  When they first started out, the dog was dragged most of the way.  Now, the dog sometimes runs ahead of him.

Oh, and then there's the guy who has been jogging the trails for the last 17 years.  I'm not sure if this guy lives in the area or even goes home.  Anytime you are on the trails, you see him jogging.  I think he is the Forrest Gump of our area.  (except, no one has followed him in seventeen years)  He has changed his clothes a few times over the last seventeen years.  He started out in a long sleeve button down shirt and dress slacks.  He is now wearing long basketball shorts and a tee shirt.

There are quite a few people who jog in khakis and a golf shirt.  I'm not sure what that's all about.  Maybe trying to start a new jogging fashion trend.

There's the woman who always carries her purse with her when she's out walking.  You never know when you're going to need it.....I guess.

There is another woman with two small dogs.  She usually carries one of the dogs.  She has got to be the friendliest person on the trails.  Always has something to say and always happy.  Wishing you a wonderful day with a huge smile.

The other day I was having some fun with a jogger.  He was ahead of me, but, I think he was done jogging.  He was tired and wanted to just walk it out.  He saw that I was approaching and decided to run as fast as he could for about 10 seconds and then stopped.  He walked a little and turned to the side (not looking directly at me) to make sure that I was far behind him.  If he turned to the side and saw that I was approaching, he would run for another 10 seconds and repeat the process.  This happened two or three times.

I was amused (of course).

The fourth and fifth times I decided to run with him (and stopped when he stopped).  When he turned to the side to see how far ahead he was, he realized I was right behind him and started running again.  He gave up after the third time and let me pass (I was bummed because I was having so much fun).  I think I wore the guy out, but, hey, he got an even better workout because of me!

I try to do my part and help others.

Fall back to school means when you clean your house, it stays clean. 

..........Until the kids get home

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Most people think that's Christmas. The rest of us think of it as Back to School. 

Today is the big day. First day. 

First day, senior year

First day, freshman

First day third grade

I like to make sure my pictures are fun and entertaining. Look at the pictures and you can play "where's the dog?" 

Hears to a great day and a great school year!

Pantene Beautiful Lengths

It's official.

They got my hair. 

Thanks for the letter, Pantene. 

Hair

I have been having some issues with my hair. As you know from this post, I have been using castille soap (with a  little water) as my shampoo. Lately, well, since I got my hair chopped off, my hair has been falling out. I read up on hair falling out. Stress can be a factor (if that was the case, than it would have happened 6 months ago). Another reason I found was that some vegetarians don't get enough iron in their diet so they start losing their hair.  Even though I try to make sure I get enough iron, I added an iron supplement to my diet.  Nothing changed.

I read a little online about using Castile soap as shampoo and kept finding people had problems because of the high ph balance. The scalp doesn't like the shock of going from a ph balance of, say, 4, to a ph balance of 8 or 9. One of the things that can happen is Hair falling out.  So, there I am trying to figure out what's best to use for my hair.

I had to wash it today and used a cup of warm water mixed with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (acv). Acv has a low ph balance. 

I am working on what to do next. I have to decide soon. I'll keep you posted on my findings.  

What are your shampoo habits?  Are they causing you any problems?  

Clean your room

Bella cleaned her room.

Well, she does this on a regular basis.  Sometimes (well, most times) she starts cleaning, then starts playing, so the room looks neat in one small area, but the rest of the room looks like a bomb went off.

The other day, Bella wanted to show me her room.  It looked pretty good.  There were some questionable areas, but, for the most part it wasn't too bad.  She was quite proud of herself.

Today, I had to put something away in her closet.  I opened the doors and went to step in a little and stepped onto a pile of lots of little things.

I guess I found where all of her stuff went.  :)

If I ever decide to take the dogs for a walk while I am still in my pajamas, I hope someone stops me and either has me mentally evaluated or just locks me up.

Overheard at the dentist

"The dentist's gloves taste good.  No, really.  They taste like banana and blueberry."

Want a piece of Candy?

My kids LOVE candy.

Wait.

Alex and Bella LOVE candy.  Nick is just okay with it.  We'll leave him out of this one....for now.

Anyway...

When they get candy, they eat it all right away.  They try to save it, but, it doesn't last very long.
They both love to hide the candy in their room so no one steals it from them.  I usually find quite a few candy wrappers in their room.  Very rarely will they share their candy with anyone.  If they were going to share their candy, I would like to think that they would share it with me.

Today, Bella handed me an opened box of Sno-Caps.  She got these on one of her movie outings with her grandmother.  She didn't finish them at the theater, so she brought them home.  I had mentioned (the day she got them) that I loved Sno-Caps when I was her age.  It was my favorite movie candy.  I asked for some and was given one.  Yes, you read that correctly.  One (1) tiny little Sno-Cap.   I know she has a HUGE sweet tooth, so, I figured I would just let her be.

A day or two later, said Sno-Caps were "cap"-sized on her bed.  (in other words, spilled all over her bed) I figured she would eat them when she got back to her room or just throw them out.

Fast forward a few weeks.  Here I am, minding my own business and Bella hands me the box of Sno-Caps and tells me that I can have them.  I politely decline (remember they were all over her bed?).  Bella insists that I take them because I mentioned that I used to like them.  I casually mention the fact that they have been sitting around for about a month.  (she denies the length of time but can not give a definite date as to their purchase) I asked about their little accident all over the bed.  (apparently that didn't happen to these Sno-Caps)  I then say Thank You and that I don't have a taste for Sno-Caps.

She stomps off, saying that I am mean.

Well, I guess I should be happy that she was willing to share.

(a little too willing, if you ask me)

Someone put an empty container of hummus in the refrigerator. I'm not sure if I should be upset about this or just be happy that they all like to eat hummus. 

Perfect hair

I tried for years to achieve the perfect hair.  I knew the cut I wanted and how it would lay.  I had pictures that I would bring with me to the stylist.  My cuts would come close, but never exactly how I wanted my hair.

I looked at Bella today and realized she has my perfect hair cut that I wanted 10 years ago.  She doesn't have to put much effort at all into it and it looks great!

Since I cut off all of my hair, my perfect hair days have gone away.  I hope I don't have to wait much longer for perfect hair.  I think I have waited long enough.

Me:  Make sure you brush your teeth.
Alex:  Why do I have to brush my teeth for registration?
Me:  I don't want to smell dragon breath

*dragon breath = really, really bad, hot, smelly breath

Freshman Registration

I now have two kids in high school.

Scary.

Today I went with Alex to register for high school.  It was a first for me since RT took Nick when he was a freshman.  After freshman year, the kids don't want to be seen with their parent(s) so they go to registration alone or with a friend.

There are so many fun things going on at school:  plays, sports, billions of clubs, dances, etc.  Almost makes me want to go back to school.  (I said "almost.")

School starts in two weeks (yikes!).  Gotta try to enjoy every last minute of summer while we can!