Jill Kemerer

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Why I Stopped Using Homemade Laundry Detergent

Last spring I came across a blog post raving about homemade laundry detergent. The recipe called for only three inexpensive ingredients, and I figured, why not? I quickly whipped up a batch, determined the money saved, and did my laundry as usual. It seemed to work fine.

My sister-in-law makes homemade laundry detergent too. Her recipe has around seven ingredients, and she loves hers. But the money savings dwindles using that method. If I'm making homemade detergent, I expect a return on my time by having clean clothes and more money in my pocket.

About three months of using the three-ingredient recipe, I noticed my whites were dingy. No biggie. I added bleach to them. They still looked bad.

Soon I noticed strange gray splotches on our T-shirts and light colored clothes. Not little spots, mind you--huge random gray areas. I tried adding OxiClean to each load. New discolorations still appeared.

After nine months of using the three-ingredient homemade laundry detergent, I've decided to switch back to store bought, liquid detergent. Too many of our clothes acquired odd markings after months of using homemade. Unfortunately, those items need to be replaced. Maybe our water reacts with the detergent. Maybe my HE washer just can't handle powder detergent. I don't know, but I'm willing to spend more money if it assures our clothes won't end up discolored and ruined.

I don't regret trying a different laundry method. Am I disappointed the money saved didn't yield the results I wanted? Sure. But in the end, I'd rather at least try a new way to save money than assume it's too hard or won't work.

Have you tried a frugal tip only to be disappointed?

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Pick Yourself Up, Dust Yourself Off...

Funny how when you're down, you think life can only get better and then it implodes. Like a few years ago when I got a particularly painful rejection on my son's birthday and promptly stepped in dog poop. You narrow your eyes and think, real funny. Yeah.

But crazily enough, sometimes life gets so bad, so traumatic, so painful that the only thing you can do is either give up or, like the song says, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again. ("Pick Yourself Up" by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Dorothy Fields.)

My father went from mild dementia to late stages of Alzheimer's in the blink of an eye.

The last two years have been difficult for me for many reasons. But if you're a believer, you can see God's goodness in it all. The little signs He sends to comfort you. The people who go out of their way to be kind just when you need it the most. There have been so many upsides in every downside.

I was raised in faith. It's a blessing to be able to talk about God with my family. We live in such a broken, decayed world, and I don't question why my wonderful, smart, kind dad has this disease. I know he still believes. I know he's going to heaven. And I know that God is with him every second of every day.

So many times I've doubted my calling, my decisions about pursuing writing as a career. But those doubts have never been from God. They've been from my own feeling of inadequacy, my impatience, my desire to contribute to our family's income, my deflated pride.

God's strength IS made perfect in weakness. I'm still excited to write. I'm still thrilled to spend time with my dad.

Last week I had a good day. Then a series of ridiculousness bombarded me, starting with a call from the high school's trainer, moving to a flat tire, and ending with feeling like a moron at a mandatory high school meeting. And you know what? I laughed. It didn't seem so bad. That's what God can do. He can take the weight of life and fill you with peace that surpasses all understanding. By the way, Peace is my word for 2014. God is faithful.

Phillipians 4:6-7 (NIV)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Next time you're overwhelmed, pray for God's peace. It really does transcend all understanding.

Thank you so much for all the kind words and support.

Family Emergency

I was out of town most of last week for a family emergency. I'll be taking a blog break until things are settled. Thank you for always stopping by and supporting my blog. Looking forward to getting back here soon.

Unseemly Pursuits: Interview with K.B. Owen

I'm so excited to host K.B. Owen! She graciously agreed to be my guest, and we're discussing her second book, Unseemly Pursuits, available now.

Let's get to it!

1. Unseemly Pursuits is the second book in the Concordia Wells Mystery series. Set in Hartford, CT in the late 19^th century, Concordia is still a professor at the university, but she has a new mystery to solve—one that determines the fate of her best friend. Did you experience any second book challenges or was it pure fun to return to the characters?

Ah, I see you’ve been there, right? It was a little of both. What a luxury it was to return to well-established characters (although a few die off or are arrested – an occupational hazard of the mystery genre) and a setting it took me a long time to build. On the other hand, I knew I didn’t want to spend 5 years writing the second one, I didn’t want to be formulaic, and my standards were higher.

2. What new skills does the unique and clever Concordia rely on to solve this mystery?

As before, Concordia’s knowledge of literary classics will help her understand hidden aspects of human nature. This novel features her long-dead father (and his past) quite prominently. Concordia and her father liked to do a lot of brain-puzzlers together when she was a child, and she’ll need to turn to that ability again in order to discover a secret. Her physical bravery will serve her well in the story, too, as she finds herself in quite a desperate circumstance.

3. What’s next for Concordia Wells?

I’m in the second draft of a mystery tentatively titled Unseemly Secrets. In the process of finding a missing boy to whom she’s grown close, Concordia stumbles upon the presence of a powerful secret society that will do anything to protect its own. Their reach is so great that Concordia doesn’t know whom to trust, so she turns to an old ally for help. In Concordia’s love life, the romance gets cranked up a few notches, which always makes things interesting!

Wow, K.B., it sounds like you're busy, busy! I love that you're raising your standards with each book--I'm the same way. And it's funny you mention brain-puzzlers. My daughter and I used to do logic puzzles. They're a lot of fun! Best wishes to you!!

Unseemly Pursuits ~

cover art by Melinda VanLone

A deadly secret that won’t stay buried…

It is the fall of 1896, and Miss Concordia Wells is hip-deep in the usual tumult of a lady professor’s life: classes, clubs, student pranks, and the unending drama generated by the girls she lives with on campus. Complicating this normality is the new Lady Principal, whom the students have nicknamed “the Ogre.” The woman seems bent on making Concordia’s life miserable.

And then there’s the exotic spirit medium, Madame Durand, who has befriended Concordia’s mother and has started a “Spirit Club” on campus. Madame’s prognostications of doom are at first only mildly irritating – until events take a sobering turn. An ancient Egyptian amulet donated to the college mysteriously disappears, the donor is found murdered, and his daughter – Concordia’s best friend – confesses to killing him.

Desperate for answers, Concordia unravels a 20-year-old secret, closely guarded by men now dead. But such secrets can be dangerous for the daughters left behind, including Concordia herself. Can she make sense of the mystery that has bound together their fates, before it’s too late?

ABOUT K.B. OWEN ~

K.B. Owen taught college English for nearly two decades at universities in Connecticut and Washington, DC, and holds a doctorate in 19^th century British literature. A mystery lover ever since she can remember, she drew upon her teaching experiences in creating her amateur sleuth, Professor Concordia Wells. Unlike the fictional Miss Wells, K.B. did not have to conduct lectures in a bustle and full skirts. Thankfully. No doubt, many folks are grateful for that little fact. :D

Dangerous and Unseemly, the first book of the Concordia Wells mystery series, was released in early 2013. Available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords, and Scribd. Also available in paperback.

Unseemly Pursuits, the second book in the series, was just released in December 2013. Available on Kindle, paperback, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords, and iTunes.

Thanks so much for being my guest today!

I get romantic about the past, but I'll be the first to admit I love modern conveniences.
What is one thing about today you wouldn't want to live without?

Have a wonderful day!

Be Back on Wednesday

Sorry, everyone, but I've been under the weather the last few days. I'll be back on Wednesday. Have a terrific day!!

Friday Inspiration 1: Careless People

Every Friday I'm sharing something I read, watched, listened to, or inspired me during the week.

Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of the Great Gatsby by Sarah Churchwell (Amazon link here) really opened my eyes about the social climate in and around New York during the 1920's.

Careless People by Sarah Churchwell. Published by Penguin Press HC 2014.

Sure, I've studied American history and have a basic understanding of the overall world politics, economic structure in America, and changes taking place in the twenties, but this book honed in on the Fitzgeralds' seemingly charmed lives for a brief period of time. Ms. Churchwell focused on the comings and goings of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda from 1922 to 1925 and how the parties, newspaper headlines, and their friends influenced The Great Gatsby.

I've read The Great Gatsby four or five times before (I love the book), but after soaking in the rich details and history in Careless People, I had to read Fitzgerald's book again. My fresh perspective helped me gain insight I'd previously overlooked.

Ms. Churchwell showed me 1922 through Fitzgerald's eyes. How old money differed from new money. How murders were sensationalized, covered up, and not handled professionally by the police.

The Great Gatsby could be set today and still make complete sense.

If you're interested in the twenties, New York, or Fitzgerald, read Careless People. It's excellent!

What inspired you this week?

Have a terrific weekend!

Smiling. It's a Good Thing.

I recently read an article about how smiling changes your mood. Just the act of your lips curving upward triggers good feelings. I have no idea if there is any scientific data to support this. In fact, I've read the opposite in other posts on the Internet.

But it's Wednesday, and I'm not a human behavior scientist, so bear with me.

Anyway... On Monday, I pushed the grocery cart through the slushy parking lot toward the store as the freezing air bit my face. My mood? Not good. I'd woken up overwhelmed with the kids home (again), a pile of laundry (as usual), a grocery list to write (yep), and a forecast of eight to eleven inches more snow on its way (NO!). So I'm zooming to the tea and coffee aisle, certain I'm missing something, irritated at the price of brown sugar, and I remember the smile article.

Has it come to this? I have to force myself to smile in an attempt to get in a good mood?

Yes. It had come to that. And, yes, I did force myself to smile.

And something glorious happened. I felt light, happy. I giggled!

It's been a long winter. A long, cold, stuck-inside, constant snow, icy roads, white sky, when-will-it-end winter. But I broke out of my rut. With one little smile.

Until next Monday...

What do you do when you're in a funky mood?

Have a terrific day!