toothsoap....and other things.

So I made my own toothsoap. With my hypothyroidism, excess fluoride might not be such a great idea.
Tom's toothpaste is ridiculously expensive, and I had all the ingredients to make toothsoap. First impression- it's soapy. Go figure. Not minty enough either, but my teeth feel clean. So, here is what I did:
I mixed 4 tablespoons of coconut oil, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and 2 tablespoons of Dr. Bronner's peppermint castile soap. Then added a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Just dip brush and use.

Next time, less soap.
Stay tuned for my adventures in deodorant, laundry detergent, and dishwasher detergent.

For Jordan.....

As I am now on a gluten free kick again, (for various health and dietary reasons, plus the sheer challenge of learning how to bake all over again), I decided to make my own coconut milk and coconut flour. Here are my food bloggy photos of the endeavor. I did this in between paint coats, going shopping at Old Navy, going out to Empire for lunch and Los Blancos, and painting chalkboard paint on my canisters (thanks for the idea Jordan- now that I have all these different flours and quinoa and amaranth, I needed a way to label things...no photos....go to http://the2seasons.com/2012/06/26/diy-chalkboard-kitchen-labels/ for the idea. I just painted right on the canisters....the labels might have been simpler). 

First, poke a hole in the coconut's eyes, drain water into your blender.

Next, get your husband's hammer from the basement, think about doing this on the kitchen counter, think twice, then head for the concrete driveway with freshly drained coconut, dish towel, and hammer. Smash coconut.

Return husband's hammer to basement so you don't leave it out like you usually do, get coconut out of husk.

Oops.....haven't taken hammer to basement yet......I will do that soon. I promise Jay!

Pour 2 cups of hot water into blender with coconut. blend.

Strain.

I got about 4 cups....I added a little more water though.

damn camera..this is blurry. 

Remaining coconut pulp.

Put coconut in oven at 350 degrees.

Bake for about 10 minutes....didn't really brown up, try it anyways.

process toasted coconut in food processor.

not as fine as I would like, but I am going to give it a shot anyways. Next up, sometime this week, gluten free carrot cake cupcakes.

maybe about 2 cups for 1 coconut

And then I did more....

Primed!

So after Michael and I enjoyed a Moscow Mule (vodka, ginger beer and lime) to celebrate our successful porch painting, we got to work priming all the Azek- the white plastic trim board all along the front of the house. Then Sunday morning, I got right back to work. Sunday evening, Wyatt was good enough to sleep from 3-7 and let me and Joanna paint paint paint. Jeremy came over to give Sawyer some lovin'. 

first coat!

Jeremy was very helpful and held the ladder for Joanna Sunday night.

Joanna being the hero and finishing the last of the brown paint painting!

TADA! And you said it wouldn't be done Jay Cole!

This past weekend

look how careful I was!

Jay flew off to Colorado, so I had Grandma Judy take Wyatt to the zoo, and Michael and I proceeded to make a mess, I mean stain the pressure treated slats on the screened in porch that has no screens yet.

Marshmallows

So somehow, I was able to carve out some time yesterday to make marshmallows from scratch. I am no food blogger, so here is a picture of the final product. perhaps we shall have some smores today.

NO MORE SHEETROCKING!!!!!

The last piece of sheetrock went up last night around 9:00pm. It didn't go easily. I am a terrible helper. I mis-measured, I dropped the sheetrock so it cracked on the back....Jay tripped on the cord and went through the window screen- the NEW window screen.

not a great picture, but it is the new window and the new wall

Things weren't pretty here last night. Thank goodness today is the 4th and maybe, just maybe we can relax.

Been a little busy....

So haven't had a chance to update the blog recently. We've been a little busy. We replaced a lot of siding on the front of the house, as well as finished up the trim work for the windows and the door. We also moved the dryer vent- it was on the side of the house by the driveway and blew out hot air all winter, freezing up our car doors. Now the vent is nicely concealed in the front behind the lilac bush.

Great stuffing the windows.

Melting the azek, plastic board in a big pot of hot water. Thanks Austins for your pot!

Installing the melted Azek board as an accent trim piece.

What it looks like....

Super Why! (don't worry..look real close and you'll see Daddy's hand on his ankle.)

Hi Mommy!

Window? Who needs a window here?

Framing in new window

Finished front of house. Still needs painting. Grey boards are primed siding.

Dryer vent used to be next the GFI outlet. It is now at the front.

Dryer vent.

No Dryer Vent.

View from She-she's house.

HOLY CRAP! The front entrance room is sheetrocked and mudded!

Jay also worked all day on framing in the new hall window. There may hopefully be an update after this one showing the newly installed window, but at this point in time, just photos.