Running for a Reason

Maybe you read my profile, maybe you didn't...  Maybe you just pinned/searched for a craft and found my site, maybe not...  Maybe you are one of my regulars?  In any case, you are here and I am glad you are!!  If you are wondering why I haven't been blogging so frequently lately, there is a very good reason...  I am running for a Reason, specifically, I am on the Run for a Reason team raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the Half-marathon in Houston in January, 2014.

I have been training at least 5 days a week through the cold, wet, and sunny days as the weather in Texas changes by the minute.  Running, running, running...  Why on Earth did I chose to commit to a half-marathon race when the longest race I have run in was a 5K several years ago?  Or the furthest I had run so far was about 5 miles and no, no one was chasing me, there were no zombies, no Apocalypse... (Don't worry, that was prior to training.)  Well, my youngest son has Cystic Fibrosis and when the CFF Gulf Coast Chapter sent the email in early 2013, I thought for a minute about it and wanted to run the race.  I knew that I need to run this one, it chose me...

I had to get in that race because I have been very lucky in my life and when I say that I don't ever mean that my life has been easy...   Like all people, I have had my share of difficulties growing up and while I could not control the situations I was in, I have chosen how I would overcome the difficulties.  I took every experience as a learning lesson, either deciding that is how I would want things to be or making certain that I did not repeat the mistakes I saw being made.  I remember these things almost every day of my life, through every action I complete.  Now, that doesn't mean if I could that I would trade them for an easier life, because then I wouldn't be the person I am today, warts and all! But I have been lucky because I look at my life, my husband and my children and wonder what I ever did to deserve such happiness and think all of those challenges were worth the trouble to have what I have now...

Despite the past and the hand I have been dealt, I think it pales in comparison to what my son with CF goes through and will go through in the future.  If I had a magic wand, I would wave it over his sweet head and the CF would poof go away, but then he wouldn't be the person he is either...  Even at his less than two years of age, he is such a character!  He has the brightest blue eyes you have ever seen and he uses them to his total advantage!!  While we have been very lucky, so far with his condition, we are diligent and unapologetic in making sure we do everything necessary to make certain he maintains a high quality life and out of the hospital.  The toll of being one of his sole caretakers (my husband is the only other person who takes care of him like I do) can and does weigh on us as it does for many caretakers.

So instead of actively blogging, I am concentrating on training and completing the half-marathon and raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  If you are interested in making a donation, you may do so at this link.  I am very appreciative of any donation, large or small.  No pressure though, I know times are tough and you certainly don't need another person asking for an already dwindling set of funds, especially at this time of year.

If you want to see some more posts, I have been working along the way...  I expect to have some scheduled posts coming out in the next couple of weeks and am working on a whole 'Inspired by' or Knock off series to come.  I will have another binge blogging session to get these out to you, so keep in touch and I will be back soon!!

Take Care,
Morgan

Surprise!!

Surprise!!  We are getting a dog!!  No, not really!  But I love this idea to surprise your kids and family with the news that a new family member will be joining the family!  Or, you can make fido his own treat container like this...

This is super easy and cute as can be!  I found the little Labrador puppy at the store and used one of my old jars and voila: a not so subtle surprise!!

Materials:

Dog (or other surprise animal)
Jar
Chalk vinyl/Chalk pen
Appropriate Snacks
Adhesive (I used ES 6000)

Instructions:
1.  Clean Jar.
2.  Attach dog to lid with glue.
3.  Fill up jar with snack.
4.  Label jar with vinyl/chalk pen.
5.  Leave on counter and see when they figure it out!

 How do you like to surprise your family with big news?!

Take care,
Morgan

Linking up to:
I Heart Naptime 
Time to Sparkle Link Party 
Tip Junkie  

Easy Homemade Clothes Detergent

Now, I know a thing or two about making homemade clothes detergent...  With three boys 7 and under, we do unholy amounts of laundry every day!!  We consistently wash 3 loads a day of clothes, towels and another load which varies every day, so I have been making the homemade stuff for years, actually...  The only problem-o?  Never used it for cold water items; yep, that's true.  We have washed all of our HOT items in homemade detergent because that mean, old hot water can melt the shredded up soap, but...

I just never really bought into the whole using it on cold water items.  Not because I didn't think it would work or clean our clothes, but I didn't think the chunks of soap would melt and rinse off of our clothes.

Well, I made up my own recipe and by golly, it's a keeper!!  Now, I totally lucked out as the clearance gods were pointing me to a name brand cold detergent, but this recipe, it's quick and easy-peasy!!  The best part is, that I can't tell a difference between my homemade version and the liquid (off brand, store bought) detergent I used before!!  It still smells great and I have clean clothes!  The real difference is in price, even though I used a third of the amount suggested on the store bought, liquid detergent, by stretching the powder detergent and mixing in the other cleaners it will last longer than my old, liquid did.


Even better than saving money, though you don't have to shred a thing!! I opened all the boxes, mixed them in a garbage bag and poured it into my containers!!  It's that easy!!  It took me a total of 10 minutes, most of which was spent trying to open the boxes?  Really, they are dangerous to get into with scissors!  :)

Look at how nicely it's mixed up! 

Now, you don't just have to use this on cold water items only.  This is a good starter recipe if you want to start stretching your money (and detergent) when washing ANY of your laundry.  

I will include a tute, just because some people really need it, but I love this recipe!

Materials:

1 box Borax
1 box Coldwater Detergent (powder) or your favorite, all-purpose Detergent in powder form
1 box Super Washing Soda
1 bucket Oxygen Stain Remover/Cleaner
1 big container to mix - I used a double bagged, garbage bag
Containers to store
Scoop - mine came in the Oxygen Cleaner.  There was also one in the detergent, but it's way too big...

1. Open all boxes/buckets and pour into mixing container.
2.  Mix, mix, mix.
3. Pour into smaller storage containers.
4.  Use 1 to 3 scoops per load.  My washer has it's own powdered soap spot, which is actually the same spot as liquid, so I put it there.  If you don't have a 'special' place, you can sprinkle it where you would normally put a powder detergent.

Love, love, love saving money on something like this!!  I am stretching our dollar even further, because I bought the detergent on clearance AND am maximizing the cleaning power and savings!  A great way to save money and not feel like we are scrimping in any way!!  How do you like to save money without making it into a four letter word?

Take Care,
Morgan

Linking up to:
Craft-O-Maniac
I Heart Naptime
Time to Sparkle Link Party 
Tip Junkie 
Free Pretty Things for You 
Cheerios and Lattes Saturday Show and Tell
The Grant Life: Life of the Party

Many Uses for Wooden Blocks

So, I have grouped some easy projects together because it seems to make sense...  Wooden blocks and their many crafty uses!  Now, you don't have to cut wood to make these blocks (though I did), you are more than welcome to use a coupon and get some from your favorite craft store.  I found it cheaper to get a long board and cut it up, less than $3 bucks for untreated wood from the Depot, who stamped the wood from Sweden and I made LOTS of these sets!  Plus, I rounded ALL of the corners, you know, because I have too much free time!

The first two of these, I used plain old stickers (one set on clearance!) and the last one has vinyl chalkboard labels (which you can find anywhere) that I found at the dollar spot (more like $50 spot) at Tarjay.

The whole set!  Now little fingers can't ruin your fancy nativity!

Cute little package

See the Clearance sticker!  Bought these during the summer!

Now wouldn't these be cute placecards?

 Now, I did the first two with a Christmas theme, but you could certainly do other themes...  I have one in the works for when I can begin crafting again, after the blog post binge!  :)  If you would like one of the nativity sets, I have extra from a craft fair I went to...  Just contact me and we can work it out!

What extra uses can you find for wood blocks?

Take Care,
Morgan