Homemade Laundry Detergent, Post 1

For years, I had HE laundry appliances.  Lucky girl, I know.  I didn't go through laundry detergent very quickly and had no motivation to make my own.  Flash forward to present-day, when we have sold our home and our HE appliances and are using our landlord's slightly older (and not HE) washer and dryer.  I go through detergent three times as fast.

I decided to try Farming on Faith's homemade laundry detergent recipe.  I went for the Tide addition - when boys outnumber girls, you need that extra cleaning power.  I also did just 1/6 oz. of essential oils, not 3 ounces.  I picked mine up locally and 3 ounces would have cost me an arm and leg, since it's optional anyways, I added just a touch.  I can smell it, so I guess that's enough :)  My Tide and Dove were both dye and fragrance-free.  Carrie didn't specify, so I erred on sensitive.

The consistency was a little more watery than I was expecting - probably on par with cheaper laundry detergents.  I have three gallons of the stuff and plan on using about 3/4 cup for each load, so I should have enough for about 64 loads.  I'm going to do a cost break down in a later post.

I have my first batch of laundry in the washer and cannot wait to see how it turns out!

Book Review: Going Rogue by Sarah Palin

Remember how much I love Chelsea Handler?  Well, that's how much I hate Sarah Palin.  The library emailed me that Going Rogue was waiting for me, and I strongly considered not picking it up.  I think she's divisive and I question her integrity if she thinks Fox News is the most honest and balanced network out there.  I also can't stand all the "non-answers" she gives all the flipping time.

That said, I happened to be at the library and went ahead and got the book.  Let me tell you, I was impressed.  I found it well-written.  You know how some politician talk about political things and it all sort of goes over your head.  It's almost like they put it in a way to make you feel like "you couldn't possibly understand."  She does a great job of breaking down government dealings.

In her book, Sarah Palin comes across smart, savvy, and kind.  I think she lacks all those things when she speaks.  She comes across a dumb and intolerant, I think.  Her appeals to the Religious Right and the Tea Party don't help.

I was fascinated with her early political career and can appreciate much of her fiscal conservationism.  She did a lot of positive things for Alaska - she had a 90 percent approval rating when she started the campaign with Senator John McCain.  If everything in her book is true, she was well-qualified for the VP slot and probably better represented the Republican platform than most Republicans currently in office.  (Did I just say that?  Oh, I did.)

I heard that she "punches down" a lot in this book, blaming the McCain campaign for keeping her wrangled and keeping her such a mystery.  I wouldn't say she "punched down" very often.  I thought she was pretty fair to most the people she criticized.

She gives a lot of commonsense explanations for many of her decisions - why she resigned as governor, for example.

Who is the real Sarah Palin?  The one we hear about and see on TV or the one in this book?  I think the truth is probably somewhere in between.  (Unless a ghost writer is responsible for the entire thing, then, well, you know.)

I've come to appreciate some of her accomplishments and, after reading this, believe she has a real chance in the 2012 election - if she'd get away from the sensationalism and get talking about the issues and her track record as an elected official.  I continue to disagree with her on many things, but I think the Sarah Palin in Going Rogue could appeal to the masses.

Book Review: Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris

 Well, I've got the vampire bug.  After caving in and reading all the Twilight books and late finding myself waiting in line at 7 p.m. for a midnight showing of Eclipse, I decided that I needed MORE vampires.

I bought the first season of True Blood and was quite leery of it.  I mean, I was convinced that my love of Twilight was a fluke (and maybe had more to do with Robert Pattinson and my fascination with Mormons than vampires).  It took me about five episodes to finally get into True Blood, but now I'm hooked.  I love it.  I really admire people's ability to create alternative worlds.  "Out of the coffin" is just so freaking clever.

My mother-in-law, of all people, informed me that True Blood was based on a book series.  I know, who has a mother-in-law that is into True Blood?  I do.  She's also mostly responsible for inspiring my love recipes.

So, I up and bought a box set of the first eight books in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Dead Until Dark is the first book.  Like the show, it took me about 150 pages to really get into it.  I don't know why that is.  I was amazed at how close the book and Season One compare.  It's pretty dead on.  EXCEPT there is one fairly major character in the TV series that is not in the book, Tara.  I'm gathering she's based on (and named after) a few different characters in the series.  Kudos to HBO for creating her and adding her to the story, because I just love Tara.

Book Two, Living Dead in Dallas, was much more action-packed than Dead Until Dark.  I haven't seen Season Two of True Blood (doesn't come out on DVD till May), but if it's as good as the book, then we're in good shape.

It's a fun story with fascinating characters.  So far, they're easy reads - good escape stuff, you know?  I've decided that individual posts for each of the books is unnecessary.  Either you'll read the whole series or not.  If you enjoyed Twilight and are curious if other vampire stories are your thing, then I strongly suggest giving the Sookie Stackhouse series a try.

Keep in mind, though, Twilight is for a young adult audience and Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood is written for adults.  They're, umm, more graphic in both gore and sex.

Book Review: Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

If you know me well, you know that I love Chelsea Handler.  I love Chelsea Lately and look forward to - one day - seeing her live.  I enjoy most all the comedians on her show (except you Wendy Cummings or is it Natsha Leggero - I can never remember which is which and which one is NOT funny) and the show's take on pop culture.  She's a bit vulgar, and I like it.

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang is Handler's third book.  It's a quick read filled with a dozen stories and lies.  Not everyone gets her brand on humor, but I think that can be said for any comedian (umm, Andy Dick, Dane Cook, Conan O'Brien, etc.).  I will say that I think she's a bit hard on her then-boyfriend, which might explain why he's now her former boyfriend.

I especially love her memories of wanting a Cabbage Patch Doll.  You know, it's the important things in life.

I don't think it's as good as her first book, My Horizontal Life, but if you enjoy Chelsea Handler, then you're sure to enjoy Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

I thought it would be fun to do a little Irish-inspired menu for St. Patrick's Day on Wednesday.

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Chicken and Dumplings

I'll let you know how it goes.

Recipe: White Castle Sliders from Mommy's Kitchen

I discovered Mommy's Kitchen a few weeks back and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite blogs.  It features kid-friendly food that reminds you of your childhood. 

I made her White Castle Sliders tonight and they were phenomenal. A little less greasy than the real thing, but oh-so-good.  They were so good that they disappeared before I could even get any pictures.

I used 1 lb. of ground turkey instead of 2 lbs. of ground beef. (I didn't realize I needed 2 lbs., but they were still meaty enough - my husband didn't complain).  I also used Kings Hawaiian Sweet Rolls instead of the brands she recommended.  Also, no pickles.  (I didn't have them handy and forgot about them anyway.)

Can't wait to try more of her recipes!  She has some beautiful stuff on there!

Happy National Pig Day!

A pig that has wings

Does impossible things!

Over clouds it can fly

In the wink of an eye!

She may tickle you pink

But she wants you to think

Of her messge to each

"Nothing's out of your reach!"

©LMastalski 2007

 

Thanks to Lorraine at Paper Vernissage for bringing this most excellent holiday to my attention.