A Busy Little (ok, not so little) Bee

We all know I love to be thrifty. I saw a recipe for making laundry detergent! Normally, when I find a DIY for household cleaning stuff, it's usually really complicated, requires hard to find ingredients and a ton of time + equipment. I'm tired after just reading about making the stuff. The laundry detergent recipe was super simple though. The ingredients weren't super expensive or difficult to find. I was able to purchase everything at my local grocery store. I tried the powered detergent. There was a liquid version, but it required cooking and a 5 gallon bucket. I don't have a 5 gallon bucket, nor do I have storage for 5 gallons worth of detergent...yet.

Here are the ingredients:




1c. Borax
1c. Washing Soda (not baking soda)
4.5 oz bar soap (grated)

*optional - several drops of your favorite scented essential oil!

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and voila! I used Ivory soap. It was super easy to grate. From start to finish, it took about 5-10 minutes to make. How awesome is that? All the ingredients cost about the same as a bottle of liquid detergent, but makes a ton of batches and you use less detergent per load, so it lasts much longer.

The detergent works really well. I also add 1tbsp of baking soda to my wash as a booster. In a load of wash, add about 2tbsp of detergent. I found that it works best in a warm or hot wash, so that the bar soap dissolves.

After making the detergent, I was on a DIY roll!

I saw this creative tutorial for making recycling a man's dress shirt. Then, saw that my brother-in-law put a black & white, long sleeved dress shirt into a bag to deliver to goodwill. I asked if I could have it, in order to give the tutorial a go!

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures throughout the process. That's probably a good thing, though. Not having a pattern to use was harder than I thought. I'm a super novice...the last time I sewed more than a hem or button was in high school home ec. class. That was...well...not yesterday. Also, after screwing up a few times, I found my own, easier way to do certain steps.

Here's the almost finished product! I'd like the shoulder ties to be a little longer, but I messed up the first go round & almost ran out of fabric. Oops. Also, I need to make belt loops and do a couple of touch ups. What do you think?

Cycledelic

A few weeks ago the Cycledelic Girl Gang had their inaugural ride. Several girls couldn't make it, but those of us who did, had a great time. The morning of the ride was chilly and foggy, but we didn't let it bring us down.

In true Cycledelic fashion, we had to start with a *fist pump! And, I'm showing off my cool, new SpokeID. It's like roadid, except cooler, 'cuz it's made from a spoke...and, the lettering is engraved, not just stamped on (so that it can eventually rub off).



We're about to balance on two wheels, but balancing on one leg proved to be quite difficult. This was something like our 3rd take.



Once we started rolling, the fog started to lift. The roads were relatively quiet & serene, with the exception of this big 'ole jerk, who tried to run us off the road.






We stopped at the General Store (it's a must if you're cycling around Shelby Forest...or, even if you're not) for some grub and more photos!



They even had music for us.



After lunch, we went into the park for a little hiking and to work off all of the food we had just inhaled. It was such fun, but it was difficult to ride home after lunch and a hike. I just wanted to curl up in the sun and take a nap!

I'll leave you with my latest, "this is why I'm single" picture. I was going for "Goober," (was that his name) from "The Andy Griffith Show."



*Most of these pictures were stolen from Cat, but I told her I was going to steal them, so, it's cool.

Three Things - Answered

So sorry to have kept you waiting, my pretties! The thrifty three items were: black turtle neck, white shoes and the black bag. Did you recognize the turtle neck and shoes from previous posts??

Here's how the whole outfit stacked up:

Gap black turtle neck - $3.99
Merona beige short sleeved sweater - $10.00 (it was on clearance!)
Banana Republic beige pants - $29.99
White wing tipped shoes - $3.98
Black Dooney & Bourke bag - $20.00 (yep...$20.00!!)

Grand Total: $67.96!

As evidenced by my infrequent, "Thrifty Thursdays," I love re-discovering clothes and bags at thrift/second hand stores. When I find a stylish piece or fun, sharp bag that still has plenty of life left, I have such a feeling of accomplishment. It's like I've been playing a game and I just smoked my competition. What's your favorite way to find great deals?

Three Things Thrifty!

This week, I'm wearing three things scored at thrift & second hand stores. Can you guess which three? At least one item is recurring...have you been paying attention to which one it is?? :-)

Is That Music I Hear?

Two posts in 24 hours? Yeah, pinch yourself, smack yo' mamma, whatever you have to do, 'cuz this is happening.

During a super fast errand (because I was at work, it's chilly, & I can't bring myself to wear a jacket, yet...evidently), I heard music. Of course, like all the kids in the Pied Piper of Hamlin story, I too, have to follow the music. Also, I'm subject to follow brightly colored, sparkly things, as well. Oh, how good I am at digression.

Back on point.

Ok.

I discovered the source of the music. The Mobile Music Machine. It's hauled by a bike and the wheels of the trailer are the front wheels of, what appears to be, mountain bikes:



How cool is that? Speaking of cool, this was parked close by:



That is a skateboard on the back. Yes, this bike has it all...even fuzzy dice.

San Francisco

Recently, I ventured to California for the NORCAL warrior dash. One of my college sorority sisters met me in San Francisco. Neither of us had ever been to that area before, so it was a great excuse to meet up. Since, I loooovvvee freaks and heard San Francisco was the freakiest, funkiest place, I was really excited. Perhaps to my own detriment. Ahh, the curse of great expectations.

One HUGE positive...I saw countless people riding bikes. 99% of the guys riding bikes were quite good looking. I was very tempted to knock a few off their bikes, solely to meet them. "Oh, I'm sooo sorry, are you ok? Let me buy you a drink to make it up to you." Shameless, yes. And, the chances were very high that they would not be into me, since I have two 'x' chromosomes.

An old friend lives in SF, now. He met us and showed us some of his favorite night spots. One of which had a photo booth. Always a good idea. Always.



The next day, we walked to China Town. Here I'm taking a photo of the entry way...and also, of a cutie patootie taking my picture. I mean, I was the only thing to see on the side of the street where I was standing. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!





We did pass Lombard Street. We could see the steepness and crookedness in the distance, but alas, my phone camera's zoom was not adequate to capture it in the distance.



We then made our way to Fisherman's Wharf, where we took a ferry to Alcatraz (by far, the highlight of my trip)!

Here's where everyone showered (the inmates, of course, not us). Yikes!



They locked me up and threatened to throw away the key! Just a side note, it's hard to really show a scowl with the sun blinding you. This was along the C-D Block, where the bad of the bad were housed. It was on the west side of the island, along a wall of windows (hence the sun). They said that there was (is?) a yacht club on the other side of the bay. Each NYE, the club would have a blow out party. If the wind blew just right, the inmates could hear conversations and laughter from across the bay. Can you imagine?



Here's the view of my finger and San Francisco from outside the Administration Building.



There's an amazing view from the area where inmates would go outside. Of course, this was past a solid steel door I'm sure they were never allowed to pass through.



This was in the most dangerous part of the prison...the dining hall. There were ledges where inmates picked up their trays of food. I saw "Capone" etched on one. I'm sure it was etched there after he was long gone (they say that when he was there, his brain was pretty much gone from syphilis), but I'd like to think that he, himself made the etching.

Answers for the Patient

Once again, Miracle Miaya, guessed correctly. The thrifty item was the black & white skirt.

Evie Black Tank Sweater - $12.99 K&G
Max Studio Black & White Skirt - $1.98 Thrift Store
Target Black Leggings - $14.99 Target (obviously)
Bandolino Shoes - $24.99 (TJ Maxx)
White Scarf - $7.99 (China Town of Memphis)

Outfit Total: $62.94

Extras: The bike is "Big Bertha" a circa 1995, steel framed (a million pound) Diamond Back
The trunk back (on the back of the bike) was from the Clymb - I think I paid $25.00! You can sign up for the Clymb, on my page, to the right.
Sling Back - Patagonia. If I have to wear a bag when cycling, this is my favorite. It has a belly strap to avoid slippage, but it rarely slips, anyway.