Fels Naptha Homemade laundry detergent

I have found this really great recipe for laundry soap. A family of four can buy all the ingredents for $33.00 for a whole year supply of laundry soap!!!! That is cheap. I have used it for about three months and I have several friends and family hooked on this stuff. I thought I would put all the information on my blog so everyone can have this information.... Enjoy I can send it to anyone who wants it in a word document......

Fels Naptha

Liquid Laundry Soap
1 bar grated Fels Naptha soap
3gallon bucket
1 cup washing soda (Again, Arm and Hammer)
1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
2 1/2 gallons water

Put grated Fels Naptha in saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill bucket with hot water and add soap. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup Borax and mix well. As it cools, it will thicken. May be used immediately. Use ½ cup for normal dirty loads and 1 cup for REALLY dirty loads.

Powdered Laundry Detergent
1 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup 20 mule team borax
Mix and store in airtight container or bag. For normal loads, use 2 tablespoon. For heavy loads, use 3 tablespoons.


Poison Ivy Prevention: Fels Naptha Soap has been used for over 100 years for the treatment and prevention of poison ivy, sumac and oak rash. My family has personally used it for over 10 years. If you think you have been exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, shower immediaetly with Fels Naptha to remove the resin from your skin. This will greatly reduce and in most cases, prevent any skin reaction to the poison ivy oil. Make sure to launder your clothes in some shaved or grated fels naptha (about 1/16th of the bar) to remove the resin from your clothes. Poison Ivy resin can stay on your clothes for over 1 year even if the clothes have been washed with normal detergent.

Poison Ivy Treatment: If you are exposed to poison ivy and you have a reaction, simply shower with Fels Naptha to remove any resin left on the skin and it will help to dry up the rash as well.

To clean your shower, rub a non-abrasive scouring sponge with a wet bar of Fels Naptha and start cleaning. It will take a little hard work the first time you use it but it will be a breeze after that.

Washing with Fels Naptha can greatly reduce the itching and discomfort from bug bites. Though it is NOT a hand soap, it can cut even the grimiest of messes. Wash hands with Fels Naptha to remove ink, grease, or a variety of other nasty stains. Again, remember that this can be a skin irritant and should be used carefully and only after reading the warning label on the soap.

To clean paint brushes, simply drag the wet brush through a lathered bar of Fels Naptha and work in. Rinse well with warm water. The brushes stay soft and supple using this method.




Spring and Fall Lawn Tonic

Spray aphids with 3 tablespoons grated Fels Naptha Soap dissolved in 1 gallon of hot water. Mix well and let cool. Spray as needed.

For Black-spot fungus on roses: Make the Fels Naptha Solution by shaving 1 inch of Fels Naptha bar into a nylon stocking and placing it into a gallon of boiling water along with 4 ounce of liquid dish soap (Ivory). This will keep nicely and you can use it as needed. It will have a gel-like consistency so mix well before using. For the black-spot fungus, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon of Fels naptha solution and 1 gallon of water. Spray as needed.

IMPORTANT***** In recent years soap manufacturers have added degreasers and antibacterial ingredients to their products. These are VERY harmful to your plants and most likely will burn or kill them. When a home gardening technique calls for liquid dish soap be very careful that you use only Ivory or Fels Naptha Solution. You can also use the original liquid lemon type detergent which has no additives, just be careful that it does not contain a degreaser or is antibacterial.

Fels Naptha Soap is a fantastic stain remover and pre-treater. It works especially well on oil-based stains. Just rub the stain with a wet bar of Fels Naptha Soap. Let it sit for a while and launder as usual. It works great on baby clothes which have formula stains.

* For chocolate smudge on clothes, rub the stain with Fels Naptha Soap and let sit in your filled washer with 20 Mule Team Borax for 30 minutes. Launder as usual.

* Thoroughly wash all clothing including hats, gloves coats in Fels Naptha Soap to prevent an outbreak of poison ivy. Poison Ivy resin can remain on your clothes for over 1 year. Washing with Fels Naptha will eliminate the resin from your clothing.

* To remove Halloween makeup from clothing, simply work a little Fels Naptha into the stain and launder as usual. It may take a repeat washing to completely remove the stain.

* To clean white canvas tennis shoes, simply work the Fels Naptha Soap into a lather and use a soft brush to work into the canvas. Launder as usual without chlorine bleach.

* To remove old stains on colored clothes, make a solution of 2 cups warm water and 1/2 cup white vinegar. Pour on stain. Let soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse well and work in Fels Naptha Soap. Launder as usual.

Recipe for tanning hides submitted by a gentleman in Indiana…. Did you know that Fels-Naptha makes a great leather tanning solution??? It's much safer than almost any other (chromium or solvent) method for tanning. In 1980, a friend and I tanned 30 deer hides....some for leather, and some with the hair on for rugs, with great success! The hides with the hair on, STILL retain the hair to this day! Use 1 bar per gallon of liquid....we reduced the bars to shavings first, over low heat (we did this in a big cast iron kettle over a campfire), then allowed it to cool. It turns into a runny "gel". Then the hides need to be fully immersed for 1-2 months, depending on ambient temperature. Just thought I'd pass this along, as I'm preparing to do some tanning again just now.

Pinocchio... I've got no strings

At Colton's school the Performing Arts are very important. They have four different performances each year. This time the theme is.... Magic! Colton is in the performance group called Mighty Mites. They did a Pinocchio routine to the song I've Got No Strings. I wish I could post the performance here but it is to long. Colton made the cutest Pinocchio! Good job COLTON! I am so pround of him.

Colton's Message to family and friends......

I was at school on Friday afterschool at 5 o'clock. I had to go back to school to do my pinocchio song and show. I felt scared. The lights burned my eyes out. My Mom was going to go to the show on Saturday but my Mom came on Friday. When I first saw my Mom on the front row, I freaked out in a good way and I had a good show. Love, Colton

San Diego, California

San Diego, California February 16, 2209 - February 20, 2009

What a great time we had on Vacation!!! What great memories and moments!!! I think that it is these small moments in life that help us to see the big picture of what is really important... family. Colton and I had so much fun. Our favorite part of the week was collecting shells on the beach. Colton and I got so excited and we found great shells, multiple star fish, crabs, a car key, small batman toy and a pair of reading glasses! Colton and I were having so much fun seeing what treasure the other person found. The weather was great. We had rain the first day and on Tuesday morning but other than that the sun shined.

We did go out on the Ocean, about 15 miles, to see if we could see any whales or dolphins. The boat was called the "HornBlower". According to the Captian, "This boat is the best ocean worthy little boat and it has never let me down." We did see some whales and dolphins but this experience was not as wonderful as we had all expected. Because of the storms the ocean was a bit choppy... to say the least. We all got sea sick! Hooray for Barf Bags!!!!! Boy did we use them. Dad 3 times, Marian once, Colton once and yours truly once. We diffenatly felt green around the gills. And to think we actually paid for the experience!

The other great activity was visiting SeaWorld for two days. Colton and I feed the Seal Lions. We bought the frozen dead fish and placed them in the sea lions mouths. The little white birds were so aggressive. I had a fish in my hands and before I could give it to the Sea Lions a bird swooped down and took it right out of my hand. It completly took me by suprise! Later, Dad had a bird swoop down and take his breadstick from his lunch tray!

SeaWorld was a fun experience. We had been two years ago for the first time so it was nice to go again and know what to expect and to remember the fun stuff. It was so much fun going with my Dad and my Sister, Marian. It was nice to do a vacation outside of Utah and Arizona. Hope you enjoyed this little travel log.

Celeste and Colton

I am certainly looking forward to next year when we are all going to Jackson Hole, Wy for Dad's big 60!!!! What fun.

Christmas Morning

Feliz Navidad

Colton and I were speaking in Spanish the other day. Colton said the funniest thing in Spanish. Follow is the conversation.
Celeste - "Tu quieres escuhe musico de Navidad?" (Do you want to listen to Christmas music?)
Colton - "Si, Mama, yo quiero eschuco musico 'davi-nad.'" (Yes, Mom, I want to hear 'Mas-Chist' music.)

I don't know if the translation is as funny as it really is. I just laughed so hard. Colton reversed the syllables of Navidad and said Davi-Nad.

Disclaimer****** If you know Spanish and my conjugations (spelling?) are wrong.... remember.... I never said my Spanish was perfect.

Christmas Letter to Family and Friends

Dear Family and Friends,
I decided to post our Holiday letter on my blog and just sent out postcards with the blog address. Hopefully if you are reading this you were able to get to my blog. I thought I would save on postage and paper. Not only good for my pocketbook but also for the environment.
What a wonderful year it has been for Colton and I. I finally graduated from both Mesa Community College with my Associates in General Studies and from Excelsior College in Science of Nursing! I thought graduation day would never come. But with some determination and lots of prayer, we did it. I still have to take my state boards before I can work as a RN. I am studying and looking to take them the first part of next year.
While I have been busy studying and working Colton has been on two different vacations this year…. One with my Mom to Pinetop, AZ and the other was to Utah to visit my Dad and sister, Marian. He flew in the plane by himself! This was not his first time flying but it was his first time flying alone. I think I was more nervous than he was. Needless to say I did not get a vacation this year and I am ready to have some fun in this coming year.
I had been serving in the Liahona 3rd ward (Spanish Speaking) for the past four years as the Young Women President. In October the Liahona ward was re-organized and the Primary and Youth Programs where combined with another English ward in our Stake, I decided to have our records transferred to the English ward which we live in. I loved the opportunity to serve in the Liahona ward and I am so grateful that I was able to learn another language through my service to the Lord. I am hoping to keep up on my Spanish. I have a friend at work that speaks Spanish and we always talk in Spanish, plus when I start working in the Hospital I am SURE I will be utilizing my Spanish on a daily basis because of the area we live in.
Colton is attending New Horizon School for the Performing Arts. He loves learning the dances, songs and after school sports program they offer. Reading had been difficult BUT I discovered Star Wars beginning reader books and since then reading has been easier and more enjoyable to him. The other night I caught him with the light on reading after bedtime. Part of me is upset with him because he needs his sleep but the other part of me wanted to jump for joy because reading has been so difficult for him. He loves Star Wars and will often put “Anakin” on his school papers. He has asked me to call him “Anakin” but I refuse!!! He will always be my Colton Jordan, mi Corazon!
Currently I am working at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. I love my job. It is a college for Naturopathic Doctors. The environment at work is so peaceful and holistic. I am learning a lot of great stuff and the people here are great. After working as a RN for a while I would love to come back and become a student here.
Well I think that this letter covers the high points of our past year. I hope that all of you will take time to “Count your Blessings” and realize the hand of our Heavenly Father in your lives. Colton and I have been so thankful for all the friends and family that has been there for us over the years. We truly have been and are blessed!
With much love,
Celeste and Colton

Thanksgiving

Well as promised..... Thanksgiving Photos! We had such a lovely day. We have so many things to be thankful for. Our lives are truly blessed. In the back ground it our Thankful Tree. Every morning we wrote down 2 -4 things we were thankful for. Near the end it became difficult to think of something different. We began to put things like "cereal" & "blueberries" (these are the thinkgs we were eating for breakfast!). I hope that we all can carry our thankful attitude in to the Christmas Season and give to those that are in need of love, support and friendship.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!! Love Colton and Celeste

How to Cook A Turkey

Celeste: How do you cook a turkey?

Colton: Oh, There are 300 ways to cook a turkey.

Celeste:But if you haad to cook a turkey how would you do it?

Colton: I would use number 1 way.

Celeste: How would you do number 1.

Colton: Well, you warm it up, then cut it up, then serve it. It's that easy.

Applesauce Making

Pumpkin Carving

Colton's Hoe Down... I love this Blogging stuff

Colton's Hoe Down was a complete blast! This morning he asked if I could make him a vest ... I did my best and I was able to make one for him. I think he looks absolutley dashing. He danced a great Country Western routine to the song Itty Bitty. I wish I could post the video but it won't let me. I guess I am doing something wrong OR it is too long. These are Colton's friends.. Corbin, Enrique, Mirah, Not sure of the girl in the black hat and then Colton. Colton did so good I had three peoplecome up to me and tellme that they noticed Colton and that he looked great up there with his Country moves. I think I amgoing to have to start teaching him the 2 stepso we can dance together!!!! I think I am addictedto this blogging thing. I love recording our life this way... Hope you enjoy as well.

The German Festival

When I heard that the German Festival was coming to Tempe I was so excited. I was anticipating German Culture, Dance, Food and FUN! I was sadly disappointed!!! Colton and I was there for only a couple of hours before we decided this was not a German Festival! They were more interested in selling Beer and having seedy woman dressing up as very bad bar maids telling ronchy jokes...... with bad polka music playing in the background. This was a very big disappointment this past weekend!

So I decided I had to come home and find some of my own German Photos to put on my blog. The photo of the Castle I belive is Neuschwanstein... but since I was born in Germany and just a baby, I don't remember. I am not promising that the Castle photo is Neuschwanstein. The Photo would have been taken around 1975-1977. The Photo below is of Marian, my older sister and I with our dirndls. This must have been some time in 1977... I would say in the spring time because of all the flowers.... I am not sure though... So enjoy the "real" German Photos because there was nothing real about the German Festival that we can share!

I went to a Kaplan class to help me pass my State Board test. It was two days of intense review and I still have two more days to go next weekend! I recieved my new calling in the Olive ward as Sunday School Teacher for the 16 and 17 year olds..... I guess they seem to think I have a knack with the young people. I am looking forward to relaxing a bit and not having such a demamding calling. Well this is my post for the week . Make it a great day and week for that matter!

The Hispanic Featival

Last night Colton, his friend Laura and I went to the Hispanic Festival. They had food, music, dance and arts representing 20 different Hispanic Communities. Since Colton is half Hispanic (Argentina) I try to help Colton learn and develop a love for his own cultures. They had a Pinata making craft. Colton made a Darth Vader Pinata! As Colton says, "I am Star Wars number one fan!" My Dance teacher, Liliana also performed her Flamenco dance with her group, Flor Y Piedra, which is translated into Flower and Rock. Her Husband is Peter (Which means the Rock) and her name Lilliana (Which is a flower). They are great people. Colton and I love to watch them dance! It is spectacular and captivating. This is Peter with the Guitar and Lilliana dancing.

Today I was released as the Young Women's President of the Liahona 3rd Ward. I have mixed emotions... on one hand I am sad to leave my girls and to not have them to think about and worry over on a weekly if not daily basis, but on the other hand we have been so short of good leaders for so long it has became a difficult burden of caring for these beautiful girls and knowing that there is more that needs to be done that I just could not do. I hope that I will have been an influence for good to them in their lives. Colton and I have had our records moved over to the Olive (English) ward. We are looking forward to an exciting new start there.

Well I guess this catches everyone up on our lives. I hope you have enjoyed your little peek into our lives. Feel free to leave comments, email, and or call anytime.

The Lost Dutchman ~ Camping

Last night Colton and I went camping at the Lost Dutchman State Park with our ward, Liahona 3rd. The mountains were spectacular! The sunset was stupendous! Colton thought it looked like the planet Tatooine from Star Wars so of course he was glad he brought along his lightsaber. We had a nice time making tin foil dinners and smores. The weather was still a little warm but cooled of to a nice 75 degrees at night. I would like to go back to this place in a month or so when the weather would be 75 degrees during the day and 50 degrees at night. Enjoy the photos!

The Chinese Moon Festival

Last night Colton and I went to the Chinese Moon Festival at the Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix. We loved the exotic smells, vibrant colors of reds, greens, yellows and blues and the different dances and martial art performances. I had two favorite performances. The Peacock Dance and the famous Lion Dance at the end. Colton's favorite performances were the martial arts, there were young men used weapons as they did martial art moves and displayed great acrobat skills. The more dangerous and flashy the better, Colton thought.

The moon festival is a celebration for the bountiful harvest. There is also another tradition of eating moon cakes under the moon. Thankfully we had a bright beautiful moon last night..... so needless to say we did eat soft lotus mooncakes and red bean mooncakes under the full moon. We were not accustomed to the taste of the mooncakes so after we had our bite of the mooncakes so we could say we participated in the chinese tradition we bought a piece of chocolate cake to share. Colton found a beautiful wooden sword to buy and I found a beautiful black lace fan with roses on it. We also bought a Chinese yo yo to play with. We had a great night! We love seeing new thing and learning about other cultures.

P.S. Don't tell Colton... but I am going to have him do a short three sentence "essay" on our experience....... I will post it when we get done with it.

What a Summer

Well..... I decided to start this blogging thing to see if it be a good and fun way to document our lives and to let family and friends know about how we are doing. I am not sure were to start so I guess I will start with the most recently victory in our lives.

I finished and passed the CPNE test! If you are wondering what this is, it is the final exam I needed to complete to finish my Nursing Program through Excelsior College. I used all of my cell phone minutes calling my Mom and Dad crying about the stress and talking about the days activities each night that when I did pass the test on the third day I was out of minutes! I had to have them call me in my hotel room to talk. I am very glad that this is over with. Out of 7 students that went to New York for the test only two of us passed. It was very sad and nerve wracking to see the other students dropping like flies on the second day! But I stayed focused and did what I know I needed to do. One song that I played over and over to try to help me reduce the stress was "This Is The Moment" From Jekyll & Hyde Musical. I have included the lyrics here for you to see what great lyrics they are.


This Is The Moment Lyrics
This is the moment!This is the day,When I send all my doubts and demonsOn their way!Every endeavor,I have made - ever -Is coming into play,Is here and now - today!This is the moment,This is the time,When the momentum and the moment Are in rhyme!Give me this moment -This precious chance -I'll gather up my pastAnd make some sense at last!This is the moment,When all I've done -All the dreaming,Scheming and screaming,Become one!This is the day -See it sparkle and shine,When all I've lived forBecomes mine!For all these years,I've faced the world alone,And now the time has comeTo prove to themI've made it on my own!This is the moment -My final test -Destiny beckoned,I never reckoned,Second Best!I won't look down,I must not fall!This is the moment,The sweetest moment of them all!This is the moment!This day, or never,I'll sit forever With the gods!When I look back,I will always recall,Moment for moment,This was the moment,The greatest moment Of them all!

When I spoke to Colton (he was staying with my Dad in Utah) he said, "Mom, I knew you would pass." I thought to myself, "I am glad I did not have to tell him that I did not pass." I think it would have been hard to have Colton disappointed with me for not passing. Every morning during the Summer he would ask Heavenly Father to, "please help my Mom pass her test and to not be stressed out anymore." I am so thankful to have a son that knows the importance of prayer in our lives.

On the other side of Colton being happy I passed my test.... the other day I was reinforcing the rules of the house and homework rules and Colton yelled at me and said, "where did the "fun" Mom go before the test?" What he meant was during the Summer I was so stressed and busy trying to study I let a lot of things slide and he had way to much freedom around the house. I was on maintenance mode when it came to motherhood! We spent hours at parks, the Zoo and museums where he played in a certain areas while I had my note and books trying to study and absorb all the information that I needed for my test. He is defiantly not happy with the more involved Mom !

So now you might be asking what next? That is a very good question I am asking myself that For so long my life has focused on the CPNE I am spending some time readjusting and looking forward. In October I will Officially graduate from Excelsior College. After that I can submit my application to the AZ state board of Nursing. I will be able to get a job in the hospital and work for up to three months before I take my state board Exam. So...... right now I am staring to study for the stateboards, wait for October 17th so I can get my graduation letter, transcripts and diploma and then it is off to work at the hospital.

I can't believe that I graduated twice this year. First at MCC in May with my General Study Associates and then from Excelsior with my Nursing degree! What a great accomplishment !