Remedies for Christmas Crankiness

I have been increasingly grouchy (much like Grandpa there) due to the holiday consumption blowout-ganza going on all over the place! Next year I am seriously gonna get on the ball and make presents.
My goal list (yay for resolutions early and often!) includes:

learning to make jelly/jam

learning to can/jar food

learn to do basic sewing stuff

Anyhoo. For now I will get a grip on the Xmas dizziness by being industrious! My first line of business was to replace the poopy chemical dishwasher powder we use currently. Also on to-do list, find out how to give myself a haircut. Thank you internet, score and score!!

To-Do #1- Homemade dish washing liquid- I found a great recipe. It looks easy, and one less carton of junk to lug home from the store sounds excellent. Plus, any way in which I can smell up my house with peppermint Dr. Bronner's is a surefire success to me! Thirdly, reading those crazy ravings all over the DB's labels is sweet fun!!

I got the following recipe from Naturemoms.com.

Natural Dishwasher Soap Recipe

1/2 CUP LIQUID CASTILLE SOAP *do NOT use regular liquid soap!*

1/2 CUP WATER

1 TEASPOON FRESH LEMON JUICE

3 DROPS OF TEA TREE EXTRACT

1/2 CUP WHITE VINEGAR

COMBINE WATER AND LIQUID CASTILLE SOAP.

STIR.

ADD LEMON JUICE, TEA TREE EXTRACT AND VINEGAR.

STIR UNTIL EVENLY BLENDED.

STORE IN A SQUIRT TOP BOTTLE.

USE 2 TABLESPOONS PER DISHWASHER LOAD.

CAUTION! DO NOT USE REGULAR SOAP IN PLACE OF CASTILLE, UNLESS IT IS LOW SUDSING SOAP..... OTHERWISE, YOUR DISHWASHER WILL OVERFLOW!***

***Remember in Freaky Friday (not that Lohan-afflicted one) when she tries to wash and bubbles go all over the place!? Yeah! So use castille soap here unless you want to do a reenactment!***

To -Do #2. Haircutting- There are tons of websites for haircutting. Many were comical, many were way to mathematical for me.

I found a nice easy one and will let you know how it turns out. I have hair a little past my shoulders, and unless it wouldn't fit in pigtails anymore, nothing hair-cut wise would be too much of a disaster.

Here are the directions I chose:

How to Cut Layers in Long Hair

- Wash and condition your hair.
- Comb out all the tangles. Your hair should be wet.
- Bend over and comb all of your hair into a ponytail in front of your head, not the top.
- Put a ponytail holder in it.
- Twist your ponytail to the right and cut off the length you want.
- Let hair go and brush the ponytail.
- Pull up and twist to the left.
- Cut off the same length.
- Undo the ponytail. The hair falls in graduated layers from the top to the bottom.
- You now have perfect layers. You hair is still long, but you have layers!
-Cut your hair a little at a time - inch by inch until you create desired layers and length.

-Use a sharpened pair of scissors to get a clean cut.

Feel free to comment with any ways you get around the hullballoo!!