Homemade Laundry Detergent, Take 2...Powder!

For Abbie, because I promised.  And the rest of our readers, too!

Well, I finally ran out of my 5 gallon bucket of liquid laundry detergent (Duggars' Recipe).  It lasted me over a year, and that includes a time when another family of 4 was living with us and using the detergent.  I also didn't dilute it nearly as much as the Duggars suggest because I felt like I needed more cleaning power.  My final review is that, while it definitely costs very little compared to store-bought, I felt that our clothes got a bit dingy after a while.  ESPECIALLY the whites.  Frustrating.  Also, I missed that "laundered" smell.  It's one of my favorite smells in life, after all!  It wasn't a big deal, but I also wasn't fond of measuring liquid.  It just seems messier than it needs to be, whether store-bought or homemade.

I didn't want to make another 5 gallons of the liquid without first trying a powder form.  Some people seem to caution away from powder because of it "wafting in the air" posing a problem to breathing health.  Others said they had trouble with caking in their dispenser.  It does cost a bit more than homemade liquid, but still not nearly as much as store-bought.  And powder?  Just so much easier to measure!  So I researched, chose a recipe, and went for it!

I used Liz Marie's Laundry Soap recipe.  I had 1 leftover bar of Fels Naptha, so I only did 1/3 of her recipe - yes, math was involved to figure out how much of the other ingredients to use.  Good brain exercise!  I also thought it would be good to only do 1/3 just in case I didn't like the recipe or it wasn't effective.  Here are my notes from making it:

• I left out the scent beads because of cost and non-necessity.
• Microwave the soap bar(s) on a plate.  It makes it SO much easier to grate or powder-ize.  After breaking up the pieces as much as I could by hand, I put it in a big ziploc bag and went to town with my rolling pin.  I figured, "The finer the bits, the better they dissolve" to avoid the caking issue.
• I picked up a simple plastic snap-top container from Target - plastic is cheaper, lighter, and IF per chance it falls off of washer/dryer/shelf, you'll only have to clean up detergent.  I use a 2 Tbs measure (harder to find in store, though not impossible...Amazon will rescue you).  Normal loads use 1 Tbs (half a scoop).  Bigger or more soiled loads use 2 Tbs (whole scoop).

I made my 1/3 batch back at the beginning of December.  It's mid-Februrary now, and I still have at least 2 months or so of detergent left!  Which means a full batch would last approximately a year to a year and a half!  My thoughts after using it for a few months:

• I.  Love.  It.  After the FIRST load, I thought I was seeing things.  The clothes seemed brighter - especially a particular green shirt my boys wear.  I called my boys into the laundry room and asked if they thought the shirt was a brighter green.  Even they agreed!  I'm pretty certain it's the oxyclean.  And if you keep extra on hand, you can add a little to any load you want to have an extra punch of clean!  I usually do this for whites and wash on warm.  They have revived a bit from the dingifying effect of the homemade liquid.  But new socks we've gotten recently are still perfectly white!  No dingifying!
• Laundry smell!  It's back!  I think because the Fels Naptha isn't so diluted down with water as in the liquid recipe, the smell is able to shine a bit more.  I imagine the powder version would smell like whatever soap you choose to use (Fels, Zote, etc.).  The smell is not incredibly strong like store-bought, but you might catch me with my nose in clothes.  Maybe frequently.  If you were a bug on a wall in my sunshiny laundry room.
• Measuring?  LOVE.  Super easy.  Mess free.  Unless you bump your hand or the measuring spoon or just completely miss your dispenser.  But that's user error.  ;-)
• Wafting and breathing powder in?  Not with daily use.  I did notice some of this action when pouring the batch into my plastic container, but I'm the only one around when doing it.  So no worries for my kids, namely my asthmatic boy.
• Caking?  I have had no issues with this at all.

Conclusion?  I'm sold.  For forever.  :-)

Ps - I would have pictures for you, but I believe my superhero power of spastic static ruined the memory card drive of my computer......  Apologies.  You'll just have to imagine my little container filled with powder and measuring spoon!

One Week Down

Month of Freezer Meals...

LOVE.  After one week, both my Hubz and I have noticed how much smoother things run.  Especially in that Valley of the Shadow between 4:30 and 6:00.  I know I'm not the only SAHM that knows how hard those hours are!  With at least the main part of the meal already prepped, so much stress is taken off of that part of the day.  Hubz even had to call one night to say he'd be home an hour later.  Normally, I would NOT be happy with that but would try to suck it up and push through, desperate for help to come home.  This time?  "Ok, that's fine!  See you then!"  Because I knew that dinner prep/cooking was not going to be a big ordeal.  Dishes have greatly been reduced post-dinner which frees up time for family.  Oh, and reduced prep means more time to just chill with my kids.  Another bonus?  I had all of 8 items on my grocery list for this week.  Crazy!  I totally can do 8 items with 3 kids if I choose to go mid-week.  And I didn't have to use brain power to come up with a menu and list -- can't tell you how huge that is since quick thinking hasn't been one of my fortes the last few months.  Summary: We are lovin' it!

Health & Fitness...

This week saw me stepping out like never before to truly be disciplined with what I eat and exercise for both health and internal wellness.  I feel a strong need to get my body into good shape for the future since MS is unpredictable in it's timing and symptoms.  It has gone WONDERFULLY!  I attribute the new found discipline to making it a spiritual endeavor this time around.  Actually praying and asking God to help me choice by choice, day by day (with a few friends also praying for me!).  He is faithful to answer!  I also was led to My Fitness Pal, a website that helps you track food and exercise.  I checked into it -- and it is amazing!  I have never counted calories before, and it has turned into a challenge for me.  It also really helps the discipline with what I eat.  I can also plan out my day and "save" calories if I know of something I'll want to eat later (i.e. a restaurant where an MS seminar is held or Super Bowl snacks...).  My Fitness Pal also has an app which has been helpful when I can't sit on my computer.  If you are wanting to lose weight or are already working on it or you just want to see how many calories/nutrients you regularly eat, you should try it out!  It's free!  Within the calorie counting, I have also made sure to keep sugar intake extremely low and keep carbs/dairy on the lower side but NOT out completely.  My body still needs the nutrients found in them!

Weekly Tips...

* Do NOT freeze raw potatoes.  They turn BLACK and soft as well as leak liquid all in the container/foods they are in.  There goes both my chicken pot pies for the month.  :-P

* Buy your local grocery store's deli pizzas when they are on a good sale. Snip in half, plastic and all, with kitchen shears and wrap with foil.  They'll fit in your freezer for one of those nights and save you money!  Safeway's deli pizzas are big and go on sale for $5.00.  Two for $10 is better than any Pizza Hut special!

* Top Doritoes with shredded pepper jack and heat either in the oven or microwave.  YUM!  Thank you, Super Bowl, for the opportunity to have one of our favorite snacks!

Never-ending Laundry

I had to explain to JG the other day the quote, "A mother's work is never done."  Laundry is one of the reasons behind that saying!  I've attempted numerous methods to stay on top of the never-ending laundry in my home.  I've tried doing laundry ALL on one day which meant about 7 loads, and it was almost certain one or more loads would be left crumpled in a hamper waiting to be folded (for days...or in the washer or dryer...washer being the worst of the three...you know what I mean).  I've tried designating days for which type of load.  Yeah, that didn't work at all because life gets in the way.  I've tried doing one load a day, but I am too OCD about "properly" sorting laundry to just throw all the day's clothes/towels in one load. I've tried doing laundry on just two days, but some piles weren't big enough to do; and it just got too confusing.  Frustrating.  I've also never liked having to get three different hampers and take them to one central place to sort the loads and have it all overtake my laundry room.  Annoying.

SOLUTION!  Yes, I have found one that works really well for our family and might be worth trying for yours.  A solution that does not take up mountains of floor space, tells me when which load needs to be done, AND one that my kids and Hubz can consistently help with.  Woo hoo!  Walmart has laundry hampers that are tall, thin, and white.  Simple and organized looking.  I purchased three of them (approx $18 total) to place at the top of our stairs where we have a little landing area.  They come with stickers: whites, colors, and darks.  I put two "whites" stickers on either side of the whites hamper and so on with the colors and darks.  (I REALLY wish I had room for four baskets as I am a whites, lights, brights, and darks gal... but I will take the room I can get and compromise for now!)  This spot is very central to the bedrooms in our home, so my kids and Hubz can immediately (or when reminded to) take their dirty clothing to the hampers and sort them.  This means no dirty clothes littering the bedroom floor or bathrooms.  It also means teaching them how to sort laundry.  And it means that at a glance, I can see which load must be done -- each hamper is a great size for one load of laundry.  Hamper full?  Slide that baby into the laundry room (or have a kid do it!), throw it all in the washer, start it up, return hamper.  DONE.  No gathering hampers.  No sorting into piles.  No random hampers taking up space in bedrooms or laundry room with dirty clothes waiting to be washed.  No panic that this load was not done on this day.  No zillion loads in one day.  Wash, dry, fold.  It is RARE that I have to do two loads a day.  I think this method is wonderful because it is more relaxed and flexible... and it runs me rather than me trying to control it.  If that makes sense.  :-)

(Towels are a different story -- I have one hamper in the laundry room for those.)

I.  AM.  IN.  LOVE.

Keeping Your Home

ENCOURAGEMENT:  From the Seasoned Author...

This post was inspired by another blog and a short conversation on Facebook by some young wives/mothers.  I have only read this post, so I can't say anything else about this particular blog.  This lady has a passion for cleaning, and that is great...maybe she could come to my house.  She could have a fit for herself!  :)  One thing we need to remember is the importance of doing what is right for our family rather than going by the standards or ideals of others.  Is a clean house important?  Yes.  Is a spotless house important?  ...that depends.  I am not a great housekeeper.  I had a friend once tell me that my house was "relaxed."  I was embarrassed that this particular person thought that about my house.  Once I thought about it though, I realized that we are just different.  And that is okay.  Her house looks like it could be in a magazine.  It is well decorated and very neat.  My house, well, as I look around right now, there is a stack of mail, a binder and several books stacked/strewn over the surface of the coffee table, a bottle of medication and a piece of mail on the mantle, my purse and a bag from Kmart on the fireplace insert.... you get the idea.  Oh yeah, there is dust you can see on the entertainment center.  She's right.  It is relaxed.  I'm okay with that.  Do I dust?  Do I mop the floors?  Yes.  I even occasionally wipe down door jambs and switch plates (not often and not on a schedule, like spring time or fall).  To me, here is what's important... ask your husband, if you are married, what his comfort level is when it comes to the cleanliness/tidiness of the house.  What makes him comfortable is very important.  He needs to be able to come home and relax and be comfortable.  Once you've asked him what his comfort level is, weigh the importance of how clean the house is against being the mom your children need (if you have kids).  I know there have been times in my life where I was so fixated on how the house looked that I was screeching at my children if one thing was out of place....having a few papers on the coffee table is not important compared to being a good example of love, patience, gentleness and kindness to my children.

I just want to encourage you to think about what level of cleanliness/tidiness is right for your family and your family situation.  When you see lists like the one on that particular blog, don't beat yourself up if you don't live up to that persons standard of cleanliness or spring cleaning.  Don't compare yourself with others, either by putting yourself down or by looking down at others.  Just take care of your home and family for the glory of God and you will be considered His faithful servant.

TESTIMONIAL:  From the Younger Author...

I am in the midst of what my mother is talking about.  It seems as though each added member to my family is an instrument the Lord uses to break me of perfectionism, from my Hubz all the way to my youngest child.  There was a time when I would have decorated my home in pristine modern style, everything in its place and streamlined.  Cleaning done on a weekly basis, each day having its own set of chores.  Well, finances never allowed us newlyweds to "style" our apartment.  And moves and kids have certainly flipped my love of modern style on its head.  Practicality and comfort now win, people.  :-)  And the keeping of my home? ...

There was a phase I went through when I fought as hard as I could against losing "control" of the cleanliness of my home.  Obtaining a Home Ec degree only fanned the flames.  WHAT?  I didn't clean the toilets and it's been over a week, as in 8 days?  The tub hasn't been cleaned in a week and a half?  The world is coming to an end -- where is our schedule, our sanity??  Ridiculous, right?  I know that now.  I remember while going through that battle of letting the control (freak) go that one of my dear friends told me they didn't clean the bathrooms weekly.  I was in shock.  I thought for sure that family must be "perfect" in their house keeping.  But the problem was my own perspective.  That family was just as healthy as my own -- whether the toilets were cleaned weekly or bi-weekly, tubs cleaned weekly or once a month.  It truly was eye opening and put me on the path to freedom from perfectionism.  I purposefully experimented with allowing myself to stretch the time between cleanings.  A slow start, but a good one.  (Disclaimer: This is one of those happy medium things...you can't let it go for TOO long or you risk disease and bad stewardship of what God has given!)  I've also worked on becoming ok with others entering my home without everything perfectly in place and all clutter hidden away.  It really is not worth it to go crazy straightening if it's going to stress you, your kids, or your hubby out.  People know you live in your house... and some people are even intimidated by perfect-looking homes which means your guests won't feel comfortable.  If you have a perfectionist-control freak streak, you are your own worst enemy when it comes to how your family and guests feel in your home.  It means you are at risk of choosing to sacrifice relationships on the altar of sterile style.  Be careful.

My mom is right.   Having a home that is comfortable for your hubby and being the mom your kids need is far, FAR more important than the physical upkeep of your home.  And trust me, I am STILL working on this.  Perfectionism and love-of-routine is very hard to let go of if it's in your blood.  I still go through times of struggle, and even occasionally shed tears over the lack of routine when life just will not seem to slow down long enough for me to be in control and at least have a near-perfect home.  (Have you noticed a couple thematic elements in this post?  They are both antagonists!)  And there are times in life when life must be busy, like say for a few months back to back...as in what's been happening for my family this year.  That's okay!  Life will reset, whether back to the old normal or you'll just discover a new normal.  There can be no constant in housekeeping.  Exhibit A: clean toilet one minute, used the next.  Exhibit B: all laundry completed, only to find clothes in hampers at bedtime.  The only constant you need for whatever "normal" you find yourself in is a fixed gaze on God's will and glory.  Keep your home for HIS glory, not your own.

As proof that I have come a VERY long way, I can testify that 2 of the four toilets in our home have lovely pink rings in them, and I honestly can not remember the last time I cleaned them.  Or the tubs.  And you should SEE the dust, especially considering all the sanding/painting that's been going on.  And the laundry?  Good thing it has its own room.  ::chants to self "It's ok.  It's ok.  It'll get clean sometime..."

Pretty Efficiency

Do I know how to make cookies?  Of course.  But that's not all they teach you in four years of college-level Home Ec (despite what many people assume).  They also teach efficiency, time management, money management, and tricks of the Home Manager's trade.  I love being able to contribute to food events at our church whether showers, meals, receptions, Sunday school snacks, or whatever.  But life gets busy, and it certainly isn't practical ALL the time to try and fit in a home-baked item.  Does that mean I have to say no?  Does that mean I have to buy something from the store and plunk it on the table to say "There, I contributed"?  No to both!  So here's my little, simple trick of the trade: Buy something and just arrange it on your own dishes!  Time is valuable, sometimes more so than dollars.  And service to others is priceless as it is commanded in Scripture.  Don't put value on dollars more than time and people.  Sometimes, it's worth it to spend a bit more to be able to contribute but in a way that looks nice and blesses people.

Three specific examples of what I've done:

1) I LOVE potato salad.  But it can be time consuming.  And Safeway makes the best Southern potato salad ever!  So I have been known several times to buy Safeway's potato salad and make it pretty in one of my white bowls for baby and wedding showers.  No one knows any different because it fits right in with the pretty table decor!

2) I know that April is going to be a crazy month for my family, but I also gave Hubz "12 Pies for 12 Months" for Christmas.  That means he gets a pie even if it's a busy month for us.  When you do the cost breakdown for a lemon meringue pie, it's pennies more to just buy one and A LOT less time (and hassle...have you ever tried to make meringue perfectly? UGH!).  So I flat out bought him a bakery lemon meringue pie.  He's happy as a lark, and I saved us a couple (or more) hours of time.

3) I signed up for Sunday School snack last month -- and it happened that no one in my family went to church that day.  Thankfully, we live super close to a Safeway and even closer to another family in our church.  Thanks to a great sale, I got 100 cookies for $10.00 that morning.  Slap those cookies in a couple dishes for the "pretty" factor, deliver to said neighbor to be taken to church, and the rest of my morning was spent caring for our sick kiddos and just resting as a family.  Bonus: our Sunday school has way fewer than 100 people... so we had cookies for a week!  GOOD cookies!

Disclaimer:  If you find yourself in a financial situation in which you really shouldn't purchase something, then don't.  Family comes first, and no extraneous purchase should jeopardize your family's needs.  If you have more time and less money, then home-made goods tend to be cheaper.  But not always -- so be careful!

Misperception and Failures

It's been fun to have women here and there comment about how they are enjoying the new blog.  What an encouragement to know people are reading and benefiting from our new endeavor!  A while back, I was telling one sweet lady a story about a failed beauty recipe I had just tried.  She said, "Oh, you should include that on your blog!"  A conversation about misperception and failures followed, and it was a great topic to discuss!  She thought it worthy to post in order to make sure people have a full picture of who I am.  Thanks for the idea, Colleen!

Let's start with misperception.  It's in regards to how people perceive...me.  It all began back when I declared that I was going to major in home economics.  The misperception then was that all I was going to do was spend my parents good money on learning how to bake chocolate chip cookies and sew something.  The mocking was most potent during my freshman year at Masters.  :-P  Over those four college years, the mocking subsided as all of us students matured and understood more about the work load we each carried.  I dare say that by senior year, many came to respect home economics majors because they saw the incredible work load of presentations/projects but also because they realized the value of what we learned in that department, both practically and spiritually.  But the misperception of holding a degree in home economics never ends completely, as I've found out.  Instead of being made fun of for baking chocolate chip cookies as Little Suzy Homemaker in home economics, you are perceived to be a Martha Stewart who knows it all and can do it all in Family & Consumer Sciences.

I am neither of these ladies.

Might I have a certain advantage knowledge-wise of cooking, sewing, home management, family finances, and the like?  Sure.  But that doesn't mean I'm perfect.  Neither is my memory.  And I did NOT learn all I know from my home ec classes.  Just ask my mom how often I called her when I was newly married for advice, especially as it pertained to cooking (and...how often I still call her...).  :-)  Mothers and grandmothers have a wealth of information that you just can't learn in four years of classroom, textbook teaching!  And experience is also key in all the areas home economics covers.  I learned a lot about the chemistry of cooking in Principles of Food Preparation, but I have learned so much more about cooking through 8 years of being the chef in my home.  It's been wonderful to see the science in action and figure out why some things work and why other things are epic fails.  The third way I have increased in my abilities beyond a home ec degree is the wonderful World Wide Web.  There is SOOOO much available at our fingertips to help each of us improve in the areas we struggle with!  Just incredible!

In no way do I want to demean my degree.  I highly value the knowledge and experience I acquired in college -- and the practical/spiritual training I received CERTAINLY changed me more in those four short years than any other time in my life.  (And I got a hubby out of it!)  But I just want to make sure that my friends and readers know I'm imperfect.  I fail every day in some area of home or family management.  Things are not always clean and straightened and perfectly decorated.  I get overwhelmed and behind in household tasks.  I have to seek out information and help often in order to discover new ways of doing things or how to do it at all.  All areas pertaining to Home Economics - Family & Consumer Sciences are areas that are ever changing.  We would be wise to be active in our pursuit of making our homes the most efficient, comfortable places for each of our families.  A four year degree just doesn't cut it when you're talking about a lifetime of home and family management.  Remember: knowledge, advice, and experience... all wrapped up in a neat bow of PRAYER! Then our management will grow to be a beautiful gift to our Employer.

As for the epic fail Colleen said I should tell you about...  I tried Dining on a Dime's recipe for leg wax.  (YES, leg wax.  Hey, don't fault me for being curious!)  I don't even really remember the recipe other than that it had lemon juice, sugar, and water.  You're just supposed to boil it for however long and then let it cool.  Well, lemme tell ya.  I let it boil, and boil, and boil.  It wasn't looking the way I thought it should.  I turned my back for a second, and smoke started pouring forth from the pot.  Oh heavens!  The pot went straight outside.  I had no idea what to do.  It [should be] common cooking knowledge that hot liquid sugar will burn the shananagins out of whatever it touches.  But if it cools, it will harden.  I'd never made hard candy until that night.  :-P  I did manage to save my pot (though I did somehow get a shard of hard candy in my eye while trying to clean it...NOT comfortable by any stretch of the imagination).  But there is still a pyrex bowl of dark brown hard-as-a-rock "candy" sitting on Hubz's work bench in the garage.  He said he'd try to get it out.  But I betcha I'll throw it away before that.  I'll stick to my razor and shave cream for now, thank you.

Risk, from a Home Management Perspective

Sometimes you just gotta.  But hopefully you think through it first.  Even if just for a few minutes.  I'm talking about taking risks.  In my family, I am the Home Manager.  What does that mean?  Well, under my husbands leadership, I take care of our children and home which includes meals, cleaning, clothing, shopping, schooling, etc.  Which one involves the most risk for me?  Shopping.  Because it deals with making financial decisions.  Not huge decisions -- but small financial decisions add up to big impact on the family budget.  I try to be wise.  I make lists and stick by them.  But sometimes I color outside the lines, so to speak. And I get nervous all the way home, wondering if Hubz will approve or be disappointed I bought something we could do without.  Though I've found several times he "scolds" me for NOT getting something I should have!  Those are nice moments.  :-)

So today I'll tell you a little story about a risk I took.

Have any of you ever purchased an infomercial item?  I never have.  They just seem so gimmicky.  Too good to be true.  Sneaky with hidden costs or bad warranties.  Why would you buy something that seems risky without even seeing/touching it first?  That's just silly!  Right?  Am I right?

I found myself at BJ's in the bread aisle.  A well dressed man, who I thought was a BJ's manager, came up to me and handed me a slip of paper.  There was going to be a knife presentation in just 4 minutes; and if I was there when it began and stayed through, I'd get a free paring knife.  I had no kids with me.  Why would I NOT listen to someone ramble so I could get a free knife?  I love my little knives -- in fact, how does a kitchen that serves little kids run well without them, all that cutting of food into bite-sized pieces??  *ahem*  Quite a group gathered at the little blue booth.  Finally, the salesman bounded up to the podium, energetic and enthusiastic.  Same guy that handed me the slip of paper.  Aha.  So you're really trying to sell me something here by personally inviting me.  Ok, funny man.  I'll listen just to get that paring knife.  He started into his presentation, and I guarantee it was "infomercial" to a T.  It actually made me think all the way back to Logic class with Dr. Morley.  This guy was using logical arguments all over the place to draw us in to his product.  Getting us to participate with hand raising and audible answers to his questions.  And, naturally, he was doing the typical infomercial demos of slicing tomatoes, filleting the skin off, slicing bread without crushing it...sawing on a hammer and then slicing the tomato again like butter.  I politely stood there listening with no intention but to say a sweet "thank you for the paring knife" and be on my way with milk and bread.

But those knives sure looked and sounded like good quality.  What's that you say?  Lifetime warranty?  ::thinks to self::  "I bet Pampered Chef has a lifetime warranty on that knife block I want.  I wonder how long it'll take for me to be able to have another show and get that knife block at half price.  Forever, probably.  That's a lot of money, even at half price..."  ::snaps back to reality::

Then he started talking about what we could purchase from him that day.  Yep.  You guessed it.  Not one, folks, but TWO of these all-purpose knives for $39.99, yours to take home today.  But that's not all!  You'll also get the chef's knife... and the filet knife... and two pairing knives PLUS the free pairing knife... and even a food chopper and two nifty little juicers!  All for just $39.99 because "we're partnering with BJ's for just today as we gear up for the Easter/Passover season, this won't happen again until next year, folks!"

Ok, why do I feel myself faltering?!  I just want the free pairing knife.  I did not come in to BJ's today intending to spend $40 on knives.  And this is just an infomercial.  Doesn't that automatically mean "shouldn't buy" or "steer clear"?  But I do know for a fact that several of my most used knives are getting dull.  One of them, my beloved santoku a previous resident left (which meant free to me!) you can even SEE the divets in the edge of the blade.  And one of my biggest issues in the kitchen is when people have dull blades.  Dangerous and makes cooking less efficient.  (Soap box alert!)  Stop, Dawn.  You're being sucked in!!  Now wait a second, Conscience.  You've been using the same knives for almost 8 years and they have never been sharpened.  Because they can't be sharpened due to the style.  This knife set is only $40 and has a lifetime warranty -- if anything happens or they go dull, they are replaced for free.  These 6 knives will match the current knife block you have which means they will mix fine with the few knives left that are sharp.  And they cost MUCH less than the Pampered Chef knife block you've been eyeing.  Even if this is too good to be true and they are dull in a year and the warranty is not honored (which would mean it's a bad company), you've still come out ahead by not paying hundreds on a Pampered Chef knife block AND not cooking with the dull knives you now have.  But would Hubz approve of an infomercial purchase??

"...and if for any reason you don't like them, you can bring them back to BJ's for a full refund."

Say what?  ::sucked in neck deep::  That takes care of the Hubz issue.  Sharper knives.  Only $40.  Lifetime warranty.  Love the look.  And a chopper -- haven't had one of those in a long time since my Pampered Chef one broke.  It'd be nice to chop onions fast again since I cry rivers doing it with a knife.  Hmm.  Ok, I'll stay behind and wait my turn to hold them and ask questions.

People!  Out of about 30 people standing there, only TWO of us stayed behind to ask questions.  I can't tell you how many hands shot up when the guy asked who wanted to take home the set today.  They blindly took the boxes!  I couldn't believe it.  Here was an infomercial in better than 3D where we could actually try out the product and ask real-time questions -- and no one did?  Ugh.  Anyway, I held one in my hands.  Super light and easy to manipulate, smooth to the touch.  One piece, forged design.  Mmm, lookin' sleek!  I asked if they fit in a standard knife block because I don't want to have new knives and nowhere to store them (or empty spots in my knife block).  Yep, they do fit, mam.

OK.  ALRIGHT ALREADY.....I am defeated.  Give me a set.  I walked away, heart pounding and feeling ridiculous, both because I caved to this presentation and worrying about what Hubz would think.  I took a risk.  And I had no idea how it would turn out on multiple levels.  Did I really just save us money by purchasing this knife set and holding us over for at least several more years in the knife department -- or forever since that's how long the knives claim to last?

I can't tell you the ultimate result of my risk-taking.  What I can tell you is that Hubz was totally fine with the purchase, though he did make sure to playfully chide me for giving in.  And after a few weeks, I love those knives!  They are easy on my wrists and hands and are definitely super sharp.  I cut through raw potatoes like butter!  I even made Hubz come watch me, my own little infomercial to him.  :-)  He was impressed.  There are two draw backs.  1) The chef's knife does not fit in my knife block, but oh well.  The knives are worth it!  2) I've used the chopper once...and hate it.  Pampered Chef's is better quality; but I hated it, too.  I think it's me, not the choppers.  My hands/wrists/thumb joints just aren't cut out for that kind of pounding due to the way God made them.  I guess I need to cave and a get a food processor.....  ;-)

That was a long story, but hopefully you enjoyed the break from your real life.  All I want to get across is that we have to be wise as home managers.  But we also need to know how to quickly process information and make fast decisions when time won't allow us to hash out all the pros and cons, talk about all the options, and consult multiple people (or the internet).  And the best way to be quick at processing and decision making while still being wise -- PRAY for God to give you wisdom throughout your day!  He has given us this important task of managing our homes well, and He promises to provide us with wisdom to do it!  And after you pray, remember that we learn through making decisions.  If a risk we take fails, oh well.  Learn how to do better or differently next time!  If a risk we take succeeds, great!  Learn from it and improve upon it next time!

A note about the picture... one of the risks of having new, super sharp knives is getting sliced.  ;-)  I was putting a glass down on the counter where the chef's knife was laying, waiting to be washed.  I BARELY brushed against the knife, and it sliced my finger EASIER than butter!  Now that's the kind of knife to have in your kitchen, folks!