DIY Mrs. Meyers Liquid Hand Soap

There's a DIY craze right now, I'm sure you're well aware of it (hello pinterest)! I'm a big fan but usually only if it means I'm saving money. I say all that because you might be thinking "Are you serious? Just buy the dang liquid soap!" I feel that way half the time I see DIY things but when you see how easy and cheap this is, you'll change your tune. This one got me!

I love Mrs. Meyers soap, we've been using it forever and I'm obsessed with the basil scent. I was perusing every aisle at Target (as you do) and I found the bar soap and knew immediately I had to be one of those people and make my own liquid hand soap. It was actually really fun and took all of 10 minutes actual hands on time... can't beat that.

So lets break it down:
The liquid soap usually costs around $3.99 for a 12.5 oz bottle... So a gallon would cost approximately $40!

Since I already had the glycerin all I had to buy was the bar of soap which was $3.99. That's like 90% off, which makes the crazy frugal lady inside me very happy.

Like I said I got my soap from Target. If they don't have it, you can get it on amazon! It's a couple dollars more but still so cheap considering how much soap it makes.

To make the soap you'll need:

1 bar of soap
2 tablespoons glycerin

Heat up a gallon of water in a very large pot over medium-high heat
Grate your bar of soap with a cheese grater (This was my favorite part, its very satisfying)
Add the soap to the hot water. Stir occasionally. When the soap has melted completely, add the 2 tablespoons of glycerin and remove the pot from the heat
Let the mixture sit for about 12 hours or until the soap has "set"

Mine didn't take quite 12 hours. I took a whisk to it when I noticed it was cool and gelatinous.
The consistency was perfect, exactly like the kind you buy. However if your mixture is too thick you can add a little bit more water to get the consistency you need!

How easy is that? And now you don't have to buy soap for a year (or more?!)

Social media!

Soooo I finally made an official facebook page for this blog! I guess facebook is a big deal or something? ;) If you want, I'd love for you to go "like" it. I'll make it worth your while!

You can also find me on twitter, usually talking about my kid, asking for advice or retweeting Friends' quotes. There's instagram and pinterest too!

And last but not least, do you use Bloglovin? Its my favorite blog reader site; so clean and easy to organize. You can follow this blog through there too!


Now your turn! If you blog, would you leave a comment with a link to it! I'd love to check it out and add it to my bloglovin list!

Our Favorite Baby Books

If there is one thing that Beck might have too much of for his age it is definitely books (but if we're honest, too many book is never a bad thing). His collection is pretty massive, which is awesome because he already loves looking at/grabbing/reading them. We read them all throughout the day and always wind down at night with a few.


I could probably recite most of these by heart. These are our favorites right now!


1. Dream Animals

2. I Am a Bunny
3. Bear Snores On
4. Press Here (this is definitely for older kiddos, my nephew LOVES it)

5. Once Upon a Memory
6. Harry the Dirty Dog
7. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
8. How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
9. Dear Zoo
10. I Want My Hat Back

If I had to choose an absolute favorite that you must get it'd be Dream Animals. The prettiest illustrations and such a sweet little night time read. 

Also in current rotation are classics like:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
On the Night You Were Born

Goodnight Moon

Fox in Socks
Where the Wild Things Are
Dr. Seuss's ABC

Also!! Those indestructible books are awesome! We have the Mama and Baby one and he grabs and chews on that thing constantly, it makes him giddy. 

What are your favorite children's books? We're always on the hunt for new ones.

Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew coffee. It's delicious, it's quick, it's easy (almost dangerously so). I've put the recipe on here before years ago (the photos are terrible, sorry) but it's worth a repost.

We've been having some super hot days here and there so this and popsicles are the only way I'm staying sane in our apartment without A/C. I guzzled down two glasses before 11am (it made for a productive morning)

Here's how to make it:

In a jar, stir together 2/3 cup coarse coffee grounds and 3 cups water

Cover and put it in the refrigerator overnight or at least 12 hours

In the morning, strain twice through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth (Alternately you could press through a french press)

Drink as is or add milk, half&half, sugar or whatever else you normally add to coffee! 

Mom Uniform—The Perfect Striped Dress

This is the outfit I have been living in lately. It's practical and simple—the ideal mom uniform right? And it sure beats sweats and a baggy t-shirt! I've heard lots of moms say that dresses aren't doable with kids but meh, they totally are. (Note: I always wear bike shorts underneath dresses since I'm kind of all over the place with a baby) I usually just throw on a pair of clogs or flats and call it a day!

I also got this striped swimsuit because I'm forever obsessed with stripes (I think I have a problem!). I can't wait to wear it to Sauvie Island every weekend come summer.

P.s. They also make some really amazing baby and kids clothes


Striped Tunic: Boden // Clogs: Lotta // Beck's striped leggings are from H&M

Old Navy Baby Sale + NYC Event This Weekend!

Hey hey!

Old Navy asked me to help spread the word about the Kids & Baby sale starting today. It's going to be a good one! You can bet we'll be there scooping up our favorite baby jammies. They will have toooons of stuff for $10 and under, so if you've been needing some warm weather clothes now is the time to stock up!

I'll be grabbing this cute panda onsie, short sleeve romper and striped pants for Beck. And I'm seriously considering getting that embroidered romper for a future baby girl. Is it not the cutest thing ever? (The striped romper and floral set too!)



Also!! If you're in NYC, you're invited to attend the kids carnival event at the Flagship store. There will be carnival games, a prize booth, face painting, balloon artists, arts & crafts, a photo backdrop station, cotton candy, popcorn, hot dogs, and more. Plus you can shop the sale while you're there. I'm wishing I were in NYC right about now. 

Location: 610 Avenue of the Americas (at 18th Street), 2nd floor 
Time: May 10th, 12pm – 4pm

Click here to see the official invite and get more details about the event!


This post is sponsored by OLD NAVY. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. We're long time Old Navy fans over here!

Bedtime routines

Bedtime routine at 5 months:

A fresh diaper and clean jammies. A book or two (or three, four or five). Lots of rolling around on our bed to get out last bits of energy. Singing a couple songs—You are my sunshine and a few we made up. About 100 kisses on those cheeks of his. And thank you prayers for a healthy baby who has a warm place to sleep. And a few extra kisses just in case the previous 100 weren't enough.

Then he goes to sleep without a peep.

(If only we had that kind of success with nap time)


The PJ's are from Old Navy and the kitty rattle is from Ikea

Currently

(And a photo of chubby baby legs and diaper butt. Because is there anything cuter in the whole world??)

Reading: Hands Free Mama. It has been a good/hard read. After a few more chapters I'll have a more in depth post about how I've reworked some things in my life because of the book but all you need to know for now is you should probably get it and start reading it asap. You'll love and hate me for it.

Listening: I'm a total sap and made an entire playlist of songs that remind me of Beck. Do you have any favorite songs about baby boys (or babies/kids in general)? I could listen to them all day, even the cheesy country songs. Also, the new Foster the people record has also been on repeat since it came out.

Trying: To not be controlled by a to-do list this week (See what I'm reading^). I thrive off of productivity and checking things off to-do lists so this is stretching me big time. Hoping I can just accomplish things as they need to be done instead of having the feeling of something hovering over me 24.7

Loving: watching Beck learn new things everyday. He's rolling and scooting. Nearly sitting up and wants to jump up and down on your legs all day. Its fun but also alarming how quick they catch on...

Eating: I got a salad spinner for Christmas and have seriously been eating salad almost every day since. Seriously the best invention ever. But before you think I'm so healthy I've also been eating ice cream like its going out of style and maybe I ate an entire box of fruit snacks the other day. It all equals out right? ;)

Wishing: My baby would take long naps. Or anything longer than 15 minutes. He sleeps great at night so I can't complain too much but for real, how do I get him to stay asleep longer during the day?