Island Mama in the Kitchen: A Tip

When I find something that makes my life easier I like to share it.  Like when I discovered a pizza cutter is fantastic for cutting things into bite size pieces for your little one and it can even be used one handed while holding the fussy, impatient, hungry little one, I made sure to tell everyone I knew that had a baby or toddler.  Or when I finally tried Google calendars and realized I could have several colour coded calendars in one, I knew I had to blog about it.

So here's the tip of the week that has made my life easier and my grocery bill smaller... sure it maybe only by a few cents but in this economy every little bit helps right?

I wash a lot of dishes... by hand... we don't have a dishwasher.  Sometimes I feel like all I do is wash dishes. Anyway this tip won't reduce the amount of dishes or the time spent washing them, but it will reduce what you spend on dish liquid.  I used to by the expensive brands but as our family size has increased faster than our grocery budget, I have looked for ways to make a dollar stretch.  I started buying a less expensive brand of dish liquid but the thing I hate most is having a dish liquid that does not cut grease.  I found I was using twice as much of the cheaper brand so it really wasn't saving anything.  That is until I discovered that putting about 1/8- 1/4 of white vinegar in the water cuts the grease.  The dishes come out squeaky clean.. I can even wash a glass after a pan of bacon fat and the glass will sparkle! 

Maybe you knew that already, but if you didn't, that tip is my gift to you!!

Happy dish-washing!


Linking this to Works for me Wednesday.

A new place: Hiding and Seeking

I have a new blog.

If you have been following me, you will know that on January 3  I began a plan to read the entire Bible in 90 Days.  I am joining hundreds of women who have linked up through Mom's Toolbox and each week we check in as a form of accountability and encouragement to each other.

Wow, what a journey it has been so far!  I have read though Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deutoronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1& 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job and I am presently reading though Psalms.

All I can say is GOD is so faithful, patient, merciful...

His love for his people is beyond measure!

In order for me to keep up with the reading I found that it is best for me to get up and get it done first thing in the morning.  I am NOT a morning person and since having Marcus I had not gotten back in any sort of routine that involved getting up early on a consistent basis.  Last year I began following Kat's blog, Inspired to Action where she encourages readers to "Maximise Your Mornings"... establish a morning routine and make the most of your day. Three weeks ago I signed up for the "Hello Mornings Challenge" and now have a great accountability group through Twitter.  I am up each morning at 5:30 knowing there are other women who are doing the same thing (many of whom are also doing the Bible in 90 days challenge) and we are praying for and encouraging each other along the way.

The leader of my accountability group is Katie Orr who blogs at Do Not Depart.  She is hosting a challenge to memorize the entire book of Philippians and I feel God leading me to join in.  I will be learning five verses a week and at that pace it should take about 21 weeks. Even if it takes much longer than that I will press on because it has been a while since I have been intentional about memorizing God's word and I really feel him leading me in this way.

So why a new blog?  I had been recording my Bible in 90 Days thoughts on this blog (here and here and here and here), which started out as a homeschooling blog.  I want to keep the focus of this one more on our family and homeschooling and have the new one as more of a personal blog to follow along this journey of HIDING God's word in my heart and earnestly SEEKing him.

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119:10-11

So join me at Hide and Seek!  It is my prayer that as you follow along with me you will be encouraged to Hide and Seek as well.