Do you use the dishwasher detergent pods? Those can be expensive after buying them week after week.  However, we have found a great DIY recipe from Apartment Therapy on how you can make them yourself.  Keep reading to learn how to make this and let us know how they turn out!

Have you made any lavender laundry detergent yet? Good news: to make lemon dishwasher detergent pods you only need two additional ingredients (kosher salt and powdered lemon). They are fast and inexpensive to make, you know exactly what's in them — and they work really well! Read on to see how to make yours.

Makes approximately 35 pods. Original recipe courtesy of Happy Money Saver.

What you need:

Ingredients

• 1 cup kosher salt

• 1 cup washing soda

• 1 cup baking soda

• 15 packets of True Lemon or about half an ounce of an equivalent powdered lemon product (usually found in the drinks aisle at the grocery store)

• Measuring cup

• Mixing bowl

• Mixing spoon or whisk

• Ice cube tray or mini muffin silicone cups

• Small scoop or spoon

• Storage container

Supplies

Steps:

1) Gather your supplies.

2) Put dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and combine.

3) Add water and wait for fizzing to stop. Give the mixture another good stir.

4) Spoon mixture by the tablespoon into your ice cube tray or equivalent. I used mini silicone muffin cups. Press the spooned mixture down as flat as possible. Use the back of your spoon or scoop. Consider that the final shape needs to fit in your dishwasher's dispensing compartment.

5) Set the tablets out to dry. I took mine outside and they dried in a few hours in our Florida heat.

6) Gently take the dried pods out of their molds and place in a storage container. I used a re-purposed jar with a spray-painted lid.

7) Use white vinegar as a rinse aid.

My dishes come out more sparkling than my previous earth-friendly liquid product left them, and when I open the dishwasher, I'm greeted with a slight but non-chemical lemon scent. I love these pods and I think you will too!

(Image credits: Shifrah Combiths; Shutterstock/Shutterstock)

Head Outside No Matter Where You Are

Do you want to get outside, but you are not sure where to do it?  There are many ways to explore the outdoors even if you live in a city.  Apartment Therapy has your list of ways to become "outdoorsy" no matter where you live.



1. Camping at home
Got a backyard? Then you've got the perfect bear-free zone in close bathroom distance for creating a fun camping spot for yourself or the whole family. Pitch a tent, drag your favorite blankets and mattresses outside, build a fire in a fire pit and enjoy a night of staring up at the stars (until you get tired of being outside and can slip back inside to sleep).


2. Forest bathing
In Japan, they have Shinrin-yoku, which translates to forest bathing. It basically means walking through a forest and immersing yourself in the aromatic smells of nature, even for a short time. If you happen to live near a forest, bathe away! But if not, find your own little spot of nature you can cell phone-free walk through, paying close attention to smells and textures. It could be a local park, a botanical garden or even your own backyard if you've planted lots of lovely flowers and other smell-good things in it.

3. Urban hiking
Grab a friend, pack a light bag, pick a within-walking-distance destination and do what I like to call urban hiking — a longer-than-usual jaunt through and past the same streets you drive past every day, going slower and pausing to take in sights, smells new scents and notice things around you. If you live in a hot environment, don't do this in the heat of day (in fact, don't do any of these activities at noon if you live in a hot zone). And though figuring out the best path to get to where you're going is part of the fun, remember that not every city in the world is super walker-friendly; be extra vigilant crossing streets and don't listen to music, rather paying attention to the sounds around you. And take these things with you.

4. Meetup for an outdoorsy thing at your own pace
We mentioned the website Meetup in the last exploring post (we swear they're not paying us!) but they are a great way to explore more of the outdoors in a way that you might find enjoyable, whether that's going kayaking with new friends or going on an outdoor photography excursion. Find the thing that makes you excited to be outside and do that.

5. Find a foraging class
Are you a foodie that prefers being in a kitchen than in the wilderness? Find a foraging class where you live or in a nearby bigger city. It's amazing the free plants to eat there are out there for the taking, and it'll make you view your surroundings in a whole new way.

6. Birding and bugging
You can find a bit of nature just outside your door, even if you live in a big urban city! Buy or borrow a bug or bird book, grab a magnifying glass or binoculars and marvel at the flora and fauna that exists even among the sidewalks and concrete. Just don't pick up anything you don't recognize and don't disturb any snoozing creatures!

It is Time for Some Graduation Gifts

High School Graduations are always around this time of year.  This means many people have endless trips to graduation parties and gifts to hand out.   It can be hard to come up with unique gifts for each person, but these are some great creative ideas.   There are gifts that can be funny to gifts that will be handy in their studies.

Yahoo has come up with ten great creative gifts for the person that is tired of handing out money.  There is everything from a joke gift of dice to the working girl survival kit.  Keep reading to learn more.

10- The Working Girl Survival Kit : WishingFish.com is home to this neat little invention. Life's little snags sometimes get the best of ladies on their average work day. In this 10" x 3.5" case, is a plethora of tools for the average new working woman. The Working Girl Survival Kit contains toothbrush/paste, lip balm, stain remover, band-aids, tissues, lotion, and many more extremely helpful items. The container itself is a snazzy-looking silver briefcase, that will more than likely become your graduate's best friend.

9- Student Decision Dice: Graduates with a healthy sense of humor will love the "Student Decision Dice." This little silver pair of dice carry the options: Sleep, Go to Class, ATM, Party, Study, or MTV. Costing at around $12, this is a neat present to add to any graduate's gift basket.

8- Memories and Moments Celebrated Through Art: If you happen to be very close to your graduate, then the "Memories and Moments" tribute is the perfect present. Created by MemoryLane.com, this customized piece of art is comprised of all the memories, symbols, and artifacts from your graduate "giftee's" life. The print itself is created from keyword information that you supply to the artists. They then take the keywords and create a "Memory Lane" out of them. It'sthe perfect gift for the quirky individual who's not a huge fan of sappy sentiments.

7- One Share of Microsoft Stock: What better gift than a piece of the "rock." Snatch up this creative gift from OneShare.com. With Microsoft currently being the world's #1 software company, there are fewer innovative ways to bestow congratulations upon your graduate gift recipient. The share comes with an engraved stock certificate, and costs around $70. What's more, your giftee will receive an annual report, dividends, and ONE shareholder vote.

6- Money Maze Bank: This present is actually fun for any age. This clear cube houses a ball which must be guided through the cube's internal maze, in order to open the door, and release the prize (cash, or other monetary gift) inside. The maze-cube itself costs $13 or so. The monetary gift you place inside is up to you!!

5- Leather-bound Journal: Memories are best documented in personal journals. And for $22, this leather bound, artisan made journal is the ideal gift for graduates. Whether he/she decides to leave home, or pursue opportunities close to home, this journal reeks of sophistication. The traveling journal comes from Renaissance Art, and is gift wrapped in a handmade chenille pouch.

4- Tailgating Cooler With Grill: Football fans will adore this handy little invention. The portable kit contains an actual grill with small fold out legs. (The grill portion is stored inside the cooler.) It also doubles as a cooler for all your graduate's icy beverages. Accessories also include a (3) piece BBQ set, shoulder strap, and a waterproof compartment for food items. An ice pack, as opposed to loose ice cubes should be used in the cooler so as to reduce the weight, and preserve the physical integrity of the unit. For just $80, this is one gift that will keep on giving semester after semester.

3- Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit: Every young woman on the road (especially a new high school graduate) should have an emergency kit. The Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit, costing only $30,appeals to the stylish and eccentric survivor. Featuring such items as bottled water, safety pins, handy-wipes, and instructions on changing tires and jump starting a dead battery---your giftee will love the snazzy carrying case, and appealing look of the products inside.

2- Mini Money Stash Container: In times of need, the Mini Money Stash Container can be more than a lifesaver. This gift is essentially a metal container (brass, aluminum, or stainless steel) which attaches to the graduate's key chain. The container itself is able to hold rolled dollar bills (preferably large denominations, since it's not that large). In the event of an emergency, like a purse or wallet being stolen, it's a great idea to have some back-up emergency cash. What's great is that this engravable gift (from Sunshine Products USA) costs under $50.

1- Wallaby Trip Kit: Everyone knows that dormitory rooms and bathrooms are typically short on space. Unless your graduate is staying at home, or living on his/her own, more than likely an organized place for toiletries is in order. Magellan's Travel Supplies offers a Wallaby Trip kit which contains all the most necessary compartments for small toiletry items. This swiveling bag also hangs on doorways so that access to personal effects is quick and easy.

Albuquerque Film and Media Festival

Now through June 8th you can go to the Albuquerque Film and Media Festival.  The event is being held at Nob Hill.  This event is to honor achievements in music, film, arts, and entertainment.  The event will include food, movies, panel discussions, entertainment, and networking events.  There are a variety of admission options for every person.  You can learn more at VisitABQ and ABQfilmx.

Event Details

Through June 8, 2014
Time: Schedule Varies
Recurrence: Recurring daily
Admission: Varies

Location: Nob Hill

Central Ave, between San Mateo and Girard, Albuquerque, 87106
Phone: 505-350-8572

Send Email
http://abqfilmx.com/

The Albuquerque Film & Media Experience is a socially conscious and impactful event that represents creative achievement in film, music, arts and entertainment. AFME programming includes new media and technology, domestic and international movies, food and art , engaging conversations, panels and face-to-face time with industry leaders in attendance. There will be incredible networking events and opportunities to tell your story as we gather with some of the most creative minds in the industry. Come see how enchanting we really are as we celebrate cinema, community and the arts.

Your Key to A Better Night's Sleep

What is keeping you awake at night?  There are five simple reasons in your home that could be preventing you from getting your nightly shut eye.   A good amount of sleep is crucial for staying healthy and active.

We have five problems that could be causing you to lose sleep below.  We also have some suggested solutions that may help you in the future.  You can learn more at apartment therapy.


PROBLEM #1: ALLERGIES

Is your stuffy nose keeping you from getting shut eye? Seasonal allergies are one thing, but dust mites are with us all year round. Your bed is Disneyland for those little critters, who thrive on all the dead skin cells your body provides.

Fixes: Vacuum your room with a HEPA filter and clean your bedding as often as you can— including your pillows, which you can throw in the dryer for 15 minutes to kill off any existing bugs. Instead of scented detergent, use a few drops of eucalyptus oil in your laundry. Put hypoallergenic protective covers on your mattress and pillows. And lastly, strip your mattress before you go out of town to give it time to air out. (I won’t rile up pet owners by suggesting you ban furry loved ones from the bedroom, but it’s worth thinking about.) Read more onbedroom allergies here.

PROBLEM #2: LIGHT

Your room is too bright at night. Whether it’s coming from the outside, a nightlight, the television screen, or your blinking alarm clock, any light keeps your body fooled into thinking it’s not sleeping time.

Fixes: Buy really dark curtains, or add liner, to block out street lamps. Also turn off electronic devices and remove anything else that emits brightness. (If you’re worried about getting up in time, try covering your alarm clock instead.) Lastly, swap out higher watt lightbulbs in your bedside lamp for dimmer ones; these will aid the transition as you’re winding down from the day by reading in bed at night.

PROBLEM #3: TEMPERATURE

Some nights you're too hot, and other times, it's too cold. Sleep is induced when you are at rest and your core body temperature lowers. If your heat is on too high (or too cold for that matter), your internal thermostat fluctuates which leads to restless sleep.

Fixes: Everyone is comfortable at different temps, so experiment to find the right one for you. There's no right answer but cooler is generally better - start in the 65 degree range. There are always fans and blankets to help you regulate, but know that bedding material makes a difference too; memory foam pillows and mattresses, for example, are hotter than more traditional ones. If you are still having trouble staying asleep, look into bedding and pads that keep you cooler at night.

PROBLEM #4: NOISE

There’s the 5 am garbage truck variety that’s impossible to ignore. But when it'stoo quiet, the slightest disruption can reach epic proportions and you find yourself focused on that weird hum or dripping faucet. Either way, you need a way to soundproof your sleep.

Fixes: If it’s too loud, wear earplugs as a first resort. Or, try a white noise machine or app —or even a basic fan— to drown out any noises that violate your REM cycle. If it’s really bad, get as far away from the offending noise as possible. Either move your bed to another wall to dampen neighbor noises, or, if you have the option, try swapping your current bedroom with another room entirely. Read more on bedroom noise here.

PROBLEM #5: MATTRESS

Having a healthy, comfortable, supportive mattress is critical to a good night's sleep.

Fixes: Flip your mattress with the seasons, alternating between end-over-end and side-over-side rotation. If it's time for a new one, check out Danny Seo’sgreat tips on mattress shopping. A couple of years ago, Maxwell also experimented with different mattress brands for twelve months and wrote about it in his Year in Bed series.