Make your own wipe off sheets

Staples has heavy duty plastic page protectors on Back to School sale for $5 for a package of 80 this week.  I get very excited about school supplies, I don't know why.  I don't teach and I don't have anyone in my house in school.  What could I do with things, I asked myself... reusable worksheets I answered!  I'm super excited about this!  Worksheets, checklists, etc - slide them into a page protector and use a dry or wet erase marker to mark them up, then wipe with a piece of felt (and a little water for wet erase markers) and reuse. If you don't have a Staples, they are $4 for a package of 50 at Walmart, and dry erase markers can be found at the Dollar Tree. 

My first use - Eliana's "because you are a part of our family chore chart" pictured below.  We are teaching her that some work you do to contribute to the family and some work you do to get paid.  The chart above it is Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Junior chore chart that we are using to list and track extra jobs she can do to earn money.

Page protectors will come in handy for reusing future homeschool worksheets!

eMeals Natural and Organic and Clean Eating Menus

eMeals appeared on Groupon today for $29, half of the normal $58 a year fee.  I had always wanted to try this Dave Ramsey recommended online meal planner, but the sample menus never looked like they fit our lifestyle (or tastes).  When I saw the Groupon, I revisited the eMeals site and found that they now offer a family Natural and Organic meal plan and a family Clean Eating meal plan, both complete with shopping list.  Both plans can be used when shopping at any store, but the Natural and Organic plan can be customized for shopping at Whole Foods.  I nabbed the Groupon and will put it to use when we return from a trip to Singapore this Fall.

If you like what you see and want to purchase the eMeals Groupon, you better hurry.  There are only a limited number available!

Eco-corner

I have lovingly nicknamed this corner of our new backyard the eco-corner.  I wish we could take credit for it all, but the only green idea that we contributed is the pop-up compost bin (from Target).  It's my first time composting and I'm not even sure it's going to work.

I just hung Sweet Son's diapers to dry (sans clothespins since I have yet to find good ones at the store) and judging by the insane heat and harsh sun, they should be dry by the time I finish this post!  Oh, and yes, I had a new addition since the last time I posted, along with a cross country move and many other family changes.

Homemade deodorant

I absolutely would have never thought about making my own deodorant!  But since I am currently paying a pretty hefty price for my Jason brand Tea Tree oil deodorant, I'd love to find an cheaper homemade alternative that would work just as good.  I found this recipe on Passionate Homemaking tonight and wanted to share it.

Ingredients:

5-6 Tbsp Coconut oil
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch

Combine equal portions of baking soda & arrowroot powder. Then slowly add coconut oil and work it in with a spoon until it maintains the substance you desire. It should be about the same texture as the store bought kind, solid but able to be applied easily. You can either scoop this into your old dispensers or place in a small container with lid and apply with fingers with each use. After applying the product, you can just rub the remains into your hands as a lotion! This recipe lasts about 3 months for two people with regular daily use.

I already have all these ingredients in my pantry.  I can't wait to make up a small test batch and try it out!