Words on Wednesday: Pleasantries

Now that it is socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music, I've been rocking out while cooking, cleaning, class working, caravaning, colluding, and any other appropriate alliteration-ing.  Check out Pandora's "She & Him (Christmas)" station - loving it right now.  I have also begun my holiday baking with my new, most favoritest, awesomest, glorious...est kitchen gadget!

That's right.  I am officially a registered Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer owner, and I couldn't be happier.  She's so shiny and blue.  I'm pondering a good name for her, as I consider her to be a family member (Tyson may not, but since when does he have a say?).  Hit the comments with your suggestions.

In honor of my blue beauty's arrival and Christmas music, I have chosen this week's Word on Wednesday!

dulcet, adj. 

        

        1. pleasant to the ear; melodious: the dulcet tones of the cello.

        2. pleasant or agreeable to the eye or the feelings; soothing.

        3. Archaic . sweet to the taste or smell.

             Origin: 1350–1400;  obsolete dulce  (< Latin,  neuter of dulcis  sweet)

This week's WoW adapted from Dictionary.com.

Check back tomorrow for shots of my girl in action whipping up her first batch of dulcet delicacies: Chocolate cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting!

I have also been crocheting up a storm, so keep an eye out for a few crochet-centric posts.

Green: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Thanks to StumbleUpon, I've discovered a bunch of great recipes (as I discussed in my last post), but I've also discovered a bunch of great "Go Green" ideas.  Today, I decided to try out one of the many I've bookmarked - Homemade Laundry Detergent!

I used this recipe from diy Natural.  I meandered over to my local Publix grocery store, partly for the ingredients, but mainly for some not-yet-a-mother Mother's Day present to myself (okay, mayyybe I let Tyson have one or two).  I was shocked and super pumped at how inexpensive the ingredients were.  If this stuff really works then we could save a TON of money on laundry detergent!

For all three ingredients I paid: $8.87 (which will end up making me 4 batches, since I only bought a 4-pack of Ivory, but the Borax & washing soda will last for more than that) versus $10-$20 for one jug of brand name detergent filled with chemicals and other harmful ingredients.

Jabs' recipe calls for:

1 shaved bar of bar soap
1 Cup Borax
1 Cup Super Washing Soda

Stir it all up and use a tablespoon per load (use another tablespoon if the load's extra nasty).  Could it be any simpler?  I mean, come on!  Simple, earth-friendly, AND wallet-friendly?  I'm in Heaven.

I've already used the detergent on a load of delicates, and can say that they smell fresh and clean and were not harmed in the wash (I was convinced they'd come out horribly splotched and ruined - why I tried it on my delicates first, I cannot say...).  I'm waiting for the hamper to fill up with workout clothes, so I can give the detergent a real test of stink-removal. I won't lie, I sweat a lot when I work out, and Tyson is a stink machine -- our children are definitely out of luck in the smell department if genetics have anything to do with it)

I'm thinking about adding a little fragrance oil to make the detergent smell extra nice to give as a gift in a nicely decorated jar.  DIY GIFT!



This post brought to you by: grad school procrastination!