Ode to Veggie Soup

For those of you that know me very well, you know that one of my favorite things is my Moms amazing veggie soup. I have honestly loved this for as far back as I can remember!

I would always NEED (yes, NEED. Not want. NEED!!) veggie soup on my bad days, when things were not going well and seemed as though they wouldn't be getting better anytime soon. My mom would tell me how easy it is to make but I would always turn it down because honestly, in my mind, it wouldn't be the same. Moms just always have a way of putting that special kind of love into things that you just don't get if she doesn't make it herself. I really thought that I would mess it up and never try again.

Mom sent me the recipe in my awesome book for Christmas one year and I was very happy to have it in my arms. My boyfriend Brian said that he would make it for me if I wouldn't do it myself! (I love him!) I decided that it was only right that I made it myself to see that I was able to make it just as good as Momma had. I was motivated by my daughter. I wanted her to taste the one thing that I loved so much and hopefully create the love for the soup in her, that lived inside of me.

Surprise! Surprise! I made the soup and it tasted so AMAZING!! I was in love! And so proud of myself! It looked, tasted, and smelled almost exactly the same. That mom love was missing... but it was still perfect! Another surprise (that wasn't very surprising to me) was that my daughter LOVED the soup BUT picked out the cabbage and the onions.... just like I did. :) Made me laugh! I went ahead and told her about me not liking those things either but that omitting them was NOT an option! I think she gets it and now only picks out the onions!

My Momma is my best friend and when she told me that she was going to write about Veggie Soup, I knew that this was going to be something that made me cry!She is good at touching my heart like that. Well, she did it and I was right about crying! It's a great post and I want you all to go see it here! :)

Now for the recipe! It really is very simple and very pocket friendly! And being a frugal momma, that makes me very happy!

Mommas Veggie Soup


You will need:

• 2-3Pounds of hamburger
• 1 Large onion
• 2 cans of green beans (drained)
• 2 cans corn (not drained)
• 2 cans peas (not drained)
• 1 can carrots (drained)
• 1 can stewed tomatoes
• 2-3 stalks of celery, chopped
• 2 cans of beef broth or 1 box
• 1 large can of tomato juice
• 5-6 potatoes, cubed raw
• small head of cabbage, chopped quarter size
• tsp. garlic powder
• tsp. onion powder
• tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Put it together:

In a 15 qt. stock pot, brown the hamburger and the onion. Don't drain. Add  celery, potatoes and 4 cups of water. Cook for 20 minutes and then add all of the ingredients EXCEPT the cabbage. Bring to a boil. Add the cabbage. It will float on the top until it cooks down. If you use a big pot like mine, it will fit nicely. If you use a smaller one, keep adding the cabbage til its all in there! Now turn down the heat and simmer for an hour or two. Stir occasionally. Now devour it!

I really hope that you will try it and let me know what you think! Do not hesitate to ask any questions about how to make this. This is my first recipe I have ever posted so I hope I wrote it so that it makes sense to everyone! Do you have a comfort food that mom could always make to cheer you up! Let me know! I look forward to hearing from you all! Frugaly Yours. 

$28.00 For a Year of Clean Laundry!

Laundry soap...lasts a year.....$28.00?!?!

Yes please!!

Every frugal girls dream! I have learned in my frugal adventures that making things yourself is a great way to save money. Sometimes it takes more time because you don't just pick it off the shelf, but in my opinion, the benefits far outweigh any complaints... most of the time.

Now, I found this on Pinterest, of course, which linked to the blog, How Does She. (Super awesome site that you should check out for lots of D.I.Y projects!) The "year" is based on using 2 tablespoons of the powder and washing 6 loads of laundry a week. This is approx. how many loads I do for my family so, the year, should work out just fine for me. If you have a bigger family, the amount of time it lasts may be less but even $28.00 for 6 months of clean laundry would make me happy! 

Now, to the fun part.... making it happen! 

Here is what you will need:

1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent aisle

1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda- Found in the detergent aisle

1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean- Found in the detergent aisle.

2 (5.5oz) Bars of Fels-Naptha - Found in the detergent aisle (You can also use Zote soap which is what the site calls for but all I could find was the Fels-Naptha)

1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda- Found in the detergent aisle (If the 4 oz is available. Otherwise, the smaller 2 lb can be found on the grocery section of the store.)

1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- Found in the detergent aisle (I used only one to make this batch but I believe that I will be purchasing another one to add to the mix because i really LOVE smelly laundry!)

 Now, the hardest part of creating this would be grating the soap! I am lucky enough to have a food processor and this is what I used to save time. If you don't have one, no worries! Just use the fine side of the cheese grater and while you do it, remember that you will only have to do this once a year and you are saving LOTS of money!

 I know that as you look at this, you will wonder if it will dissolve in the water. I have found that in my washer, it goes great. I was worried myself. I wash on a medium filth level and there is no sign of the soap on the clothes at all. *Shoo*

Not super fine, still lumpy, but it works just fine.

 Hooray!!! The hard part is over! Now all you have to do it put it all together in your 5 gallon bucket. You could use something smaller if you like, it makes about 2 gallons I would say. (Do with my measuring guesses what you will!) The "recipe" I followed mixed everything in small intervals to make mixing easier. I decided to put it all in and then mix. I'm a rebel, I know. 

 

 OK, now you get the idea! :) It looks great in the pictures but I will tell you, do this in the garage or outside! It does get pretty dusty in the house and that's not something that you would want anyone breathing in! I learned my lesson for sure so now you don't have to! 

I attempted to stir with a wooden spoon but that was SO hard. It was like stirring hardening cement really! My momma taught me to "Work Smarter, Not Harder" so, I decided to just go all in and mix it with my hands, and arms lol. This worked very well. 

 After getting it all mixed up, I removed the paper from the Purex crystals and filled it up with the new mixture. I used the scoop that comes in the OxyClean container (which BTW, I saved because it is a great container for something I'm sure!)

On the Purex Crystals container lid, the middle mark is about 2 Tb. On my first load, I used a full lid because I was worried I guess. Came out smelling great and wicked clean. Even Brian's work pants, and those are not pretty! On the next load, (also had work pants in it), I used the 2 Tb mark. Guess what.... it smells and feels EXACTLY the same. So this tells me to use less and save more! Also, a side note, this detergent doesn't get soapy. So if you're like me, wanting to watch it all mix up, its not going to happen. I thought about it and nothing I used makes bubbles. The bar soap, but there isn't enough in just one load to soap like you might think it should.  (I wish I had a picture of my finished laundry bottle for you but my beautiful daughter got a hold of my camera...... need I say more?) 

All in all, I would have to say that I would recommend this to everyone I know, obviously! This is why I am here telling you about it! I really like the smell and how soft they feel. I will still use my dryer sheets of course but coupons help to aid in their cost!

Soooo....  get to the store and get your ingredients! I'm sure that you won't be disappointed and I know for a fact that your wallet will be happy! If you decide to make this, leave comments on what you think! Good or bad! People are different and we all know reviews help us make up our minds! Thanks so much for reading guys! Come back soon! Until then, <3 Frugaly Yours. 

Officially a blogger!!

Hello friends! YAY! I have to start by saying how happy I am to be writing my first ever blog post! I am so proud of myself. I have been looking at other peoples blogs and can't believe I have not thought to make one of my own. Well here I am. An official blogger. Feels good. 

OK, enough rambling. Did I mention I am new to this? I am sure you will go through the strides with me as I learn all the fun things you can do with a blog so bear with me! :)

I am creating this blog to post stories of my life of course, as well as all the fun things I hope to do and create in my "Living Frugal" adventures. I am a lover of Pinterest, who isn't, and find that I pin so much stuff in hopes that I will get around to doing it or using it someday in the future. This blog will give me reason to ensure that I try them. 

Here, I will share with you my attempts to be awesome! I am not an artistic person and though I have great vision in my mind, getting it out of there is another story and sometimes ends quite badly. Can't learn if you don't try though. 

Well, I think this is good for a first time post! Signing out for now but will return soon with something fun!

<3 Frugaly Yours

(I know Frugaly is spelt wrong BTW, but it was the only way I could have it!)