Cheap trick... Otter-Pops

My little 2 year old figured this one out herself! Her hands get cold holding an otter-pop so I usually wrap a rag around it to protect her little hands. Today she improved my idea... She got her gloves and came to me saying... "mommy, I get cold popbsicable... brrr brrr...". She rubbed her hands together showing me her gloves. Baby girl, you are so smart! Gloves will make it so much easier for you to hold a cold "popbsicable".

$50 budget week grocery week #4

Monday
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch: mashed potatoes and steamed beets
Dinner: leftover sloppy joes (I didn't blog last week since we were out of town most of the week. I however cooked Sunday night sloppy joes and Friday I made the biscuits, mashed potatoes and gravy with steamed veggies Saturday we ate at a birthday we went to and the rest of the week I was at my mom's house)

Tuesday
Breakfast: yogurt and fruit
Lunch: more potatoes (I crave them!)
Dinner: tacos

Wendsday
Breakfast: blueberry french toast eggs for the little one
Lunch: sandwiches with herbed foccacia  bread
Dinner: chicken breast veggies and cheesy potatoes




Thursday
Breakfast: scones fruit and yogurt
Lunch: flour tortilla pizzas
Dinner: enchiladas







Friday
Breakfast: apple sauce pancakes eggs and fruit
Lunch:  black bean quesadillas 
Dinner: chicken pot pie... and one not so chicken pot pie

Saturday
Breakfast:english muffins eggs orange juice and maybe sausage for the hubby.
Lunch: parsley pesto noodles
Dinner: veggie burgers

Sunday
Breakfast: apple flax muffins fruit
Lunch: herbed naan hummus possible wraps of some sort or just dip the naan in hummus
Dinner: cauliflower soup



Snacks
crackers
celery carrots and dip
fruit
leftovers

Using just over$34 dollars due to gifts from other people's garden and fresh peaches from my tree! Lots of savings!

Cheap Idea Snacks in the ride!

Snacking in the car. Yep, pretty easy right? Lately, I have been busy with wedding preparations and we have been in the car a lot! At first, we would get so hungry I was buying things I wouldn't at the store to snack on.  Then there is the killer... you go to drive up... and it costs 12 dollars for you and your kid! That is a lot of money now that I am feeding our family healthy and yummy on $50/week.

So, I came up with a quick easy life saver in the car. I have treats hanging out in the car. We have water yes, it gets hot but, it is better then nothing! If you know you will be out and about during a meal... pack it!

My little 2 year old thinks it is so fun when we picnic in the car! You could also find a park and give them time to get the wiggles out. It is a little more enjoyable experience shopping when they feel fed, happy, and got that energy out. Bring a sandwich, carrot sticks, pretzels and some water your next shopping extravaganza!

Diapering for almost free?

Yes, you can do it! I have been researching this pretty strongly lately. Going from $2500 to $25 on the diapering yearly bill!

Our first child I really wanted to cloth diaper and we did for a little while. I loved cloth diapering but didn't know what I was doing. Once, the cloth diapers were too small for her, I couldn't get my husband to pay for more. I couldn't blame him. We didn't have a whole lot of money to put up front for cloth diapers to do it again and again, whenever she grew. Cloth diapering can be much cheaper... but you have to fork out lots of money to save money, or so I thought! Disposables where easy to pay 10 dollars here and there. Although we spent lots of money in the long run it was easier to  handle, since we were living paycheck to paycheck. I tried making cloth diapers but didn't understand how you use them etc... They turned out a mess. So, I have some new information this time around and more time to figure things out! I am going to try it again. Here are some sources of information. Just click on the links to get some awesome information.

Cloth wipes- I tried this the first time and didn't work out... I heard you can use baby wash cloths instead of buying expensive online ones. Score! Recipe for solution... Even cheaper!

Types of diapers- This is part of why my first experience failed. I had no idea you pair this with that.

Cleaning your diapers- Good to know! I did learn some of this but with the first we had an apartment with no outdoor space... this time I will be able to line dry on sunny days!

Buying and Selling your diapers- I get so overwhelmed online trying to figure this out! Glad I won't need too much of this info... Since I will be sewing mine and making them gender neutral for the next baby.

Cloth diapering on the go- We didn't do this at all since I had no idea how to. This time we will!

Wet bag- Oh so that is how you go places... ;)

HOW TO DO THIS ALMOST FREE!

Now that you are educated all about cloth diapers...

I found several you tube videos that woman used fabrics around their house to make their stash. I have a ton of sweatshirts and fabric scraps etc... that I could use. This lady is very frugal and I love how she makes things from around the house. It got me thinking about things here at home or things to buy at yard sales... since you know I am a yard sale diva.

So by far I love this website! Download the diaper pattern and print it for free! Then download the Tiny Tooshie diaper pattern. She has some wonderful information so please read it all. She says that you will spend about $.50-$2 on each diaper by following her pattern. One-size diapers are anywhere from $18-$35 a piece. What a savings! If you can mainly use everything from home you can make your entire stash of cloth diapers for the price of 1 week worth of disposables! I am in!

Note: PUL can be replaced with heavy duty vinyl table cloth! Will be doing this!

More websites full of info:

Sew a diaper stash for $30 or less

All in One pattern- most like disposable diapers and easy for dads to change

Pocket Diapers pattern

Fleece Pockets

Trim prefolds

Make wipes and solution

Sewing diapers know how

Coupon Website!

I have touched on this before... but I will talk a little about this again. I use to be a couponer... not anymore! Yes, you can save money. Yes, can stock up a huge hoard...

and that is what it is, a hoard. I believe in coupons and saving money, but I think there are more cons then pros. So, we do not coupon like some extremist do.

However, I have found countless ways to save money without losing your mind and soul. Some of these ideas I share with you on this site and hope they help you as much as it has helped our family! With that said... I believe coupons should be used and not abused.

When I need something it is helpful to try to track a coupon down when possible. So here is a new website I just came across that may help you save some money when you are out and about. http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/

Dress your best for less!

Today at church I got compliments on my outfit. I looked down at my $2 ruffle blouse I got at a thrift store and my $1 skirt I got at a yard sale. Both have the Gap tags on them, with a belt I got at a Dollar store, they look like the latest look! So my secret to my $5 outfits that look like over $100... Learn where to splurge and save. When I say splurge... I mean buy super cheap new clothes!

My first and favorite place to buy kids and my own clothes are yard sales, all the way! If you hit yard sales frequently and with an open mind, you may find some super cute things to wear. First, I look for my size or close to it. I have been known to do a bit of sewing to make things work, not too hard really! Second, I look it over to make sure that its in good condition. Sometimes if I really love it and it's something I can fix I buy it anyways! Third, I try to get dressy clothes so I keep this in mind.
The second cheapest place to look are the thrift stores. Don't give up if you don't find stuff your first time! Every day there are new things! Keep an open mind. I find the best items when I am willing to look out of the box. Sometimes vintage pieces pop up that seriously are the most fantastic pieces! Check out jewelry and belts while you are there!

The place I get things to pull everything together... clearance racks and stores like Ross. The first place I go at a store is the clearance racks. After shopping yards sales and thrift stores I have a hard time parting with $10. I have price points I stick to. I will not pay more then $15 on pants, $20 on shoes, $10 on blouses, $7 on screen T's etc... that is my final price new! Always check the clearance first at any store it kinda makes everything else look expensive after so you hold true to you price points. This isn't my only reason though, I find a lot of gems there. Sometimes things I would have passed up but once I give it a chance and try it on it becomes my favorite piece.

Shoes.... I love shoes just like any other gal! I find most of my shoes at Ross, Pay Less or  eBay. I check the clearance first! My champion running shoes I got for $4 from Pay less and they are great!

Timeless pieces are easy to jazz up with a belt or jewelry. Edgy pieces are fun to get to mix things up sometimes, as well. Just experiment with things and keep a couple looks in mind as you start out or just go for it!

Hazel

Get out of debt fast!

I am not a financial advisor, but I will give you the best advice that I can, pulling from what I have learned in the past! With the New Year here, this is a great time to start this new resolution! I think everyone wants to be debt free.  Even those that have lots of debt can be free, with a little discipline and a few tricks I have learned!

First
Credit cards are the devil!

This seems to be one of the hardest things for people to wrap their heads around! I was lucky that I was told this young in my life and told often! However not everybody is aware of this!  I was just very surprised when I married into debt.

The problem with credit is that it's so very easy to use. When you need or want anything, you have a magic card that pays for it until you get your pay check. That is if you ever pay it back, by then there is always interest payments and other things you need to buy. It is a never ending cycle or so you think! This is just a quick example: you owe $3000  at 10 % interest rate (which is a really low rate for a credit card). You pay $100 towards it every month and $30 goes to interest! Basically you are throwing away more than $1000 in 3 years time! Credit Cards are designed to get you further in debt and make money for the credit company, not to help you!

Second

Interest rates make a huge difference!

Credit Card rates are usually higher than any other rates out there. My husband and I got rid of all his credit card debt by getting a new loan on our vehicles at 6.5% and using the extra money on the loan to pay off the credit cards. We now could easily pay off the credit cards that were at a ghastly 30% or so (this was just a few years ago when the credit card companies kept raising their rates for no reason). Most of the payments we made were going to interest only and by doing this, the opposite started to happen. It was fantastic! It really makes a huge difference what your rates are. Shop around to get the best possible deal for yourself. Consolidating your debt may help you as well. See what is best for you!

Third

Cut up the cards

That is right, cut them up! Even if you haven't already paid them off, get rid of them so you aren't tempted to use them! If you aren't adding to the balance then eventually you will pay them off! This may cause some discomfort at first, you will have to budget a little tighter. Once they are paid off, the money that usually goes to paying the credit cards will be in your pocket again. Be creative with new income ideas and on how to save money. Eventually you will be debt free!

Fourth

Pay Principle Only

Most loans you take out will allow you to make additional payments on principle only. I always ask before I take out a loan if they have any fees for paying the loan off early or paying principle only just in case, I haven't had a problem with it yet though. This takes discipline, but if you can pay any extra at any given time ask for the money to go as principle only! It will not count for the next month, but in the long run you will pay less interest during the whole term of the loan. This means shorter time for the loan and less paid out of pocket for interest.  

Fifth

The Roll Effect

This is a fantastic way to pay off loans! I just hope I don't lose you while I explain this! At the bottom of this section, there are two different websites that may help you if I lose you. Alright! If you can find a way to pay a little more toward your bills each month, this is a great way to get out of all your debt! I am going to use an example by using just $100 a month more! Lets say these are your loans below!  

1. car payment APR 6.5%  loan size $13,500 payment $264.14

2. visa APR 17% loan size $ 7,500 payment $186.39

3. Store Shop credit card 20% APR loan size $3500  $92.73

If these were your loans you usually pay $543.26 a month, by adding $100 more you will be paying  $643.26 until your loans are all paid off. This will not change for this example, but if it is too hard financially, just do what you can when you can. We are going to start by paying off the smallest payments first. In this case it would be the shop card. The extra $100 will be added to this loan payment every month, as principle only, until this is paid off. When we go to pay off the next loan we will have the $100 plus the shop card $92.73 to add to the visa card. Now we are adding $192.73 to the visa cards principle every month. Once this is paid off we have the $100 the $92.73 and the $186.39 from the visa card to put toward the car payment. We will be adding $379.12 to the principle of the car payment. This will pay it off shortly. When all of the payments are paid off that $643.26 that was paid every month will now be in your pocket to save, and to start buying things in cash with!

Just like a snow ball, you can pack a little snow together (the $100) and send it down the hill to pay off  a loan. As each loan gets paid off it makes the snow ball bigger and gives you more money to put toward the next loan.  After everything is paid off you will have a huge snowball, or a lot of cash, so you don't have to use loans anymore!

This really works and in case I am not making sense to you check this out!http://www.daveramsey.com/article/get-out-of-debt-with-the-debt-snowball-plan/ He uses a different approach but I am sure it works well to!

http://lds.org/ensign/2011/07/getting-out-of-debt-for-good?lang=eng This has a great visual with the example lists provided.  Read under "A Simple, Effective Method"

Sixth

Don't Buy New

I hope my husband learned his lesson here, I know I did! It was shiny and it looked oh so cool with all the added parts, chrome and all.  When I looked out the window of our apartment, I thought "there is a 700 dollar a month view. Too bad you cost even more for gas and insurance. Why didn't we just buy a house if we were going to spend that kind of money every month" as we would buckle our seat belt and drive off, away from our rented apartment. What I didn't understand is how we still owed 17k on a truck that was bought 5 years ago! I thought when you bought a car it was over a 5year period loan. I guess there are longer loans as well, when you get a loan from a dealer! As great as it was to have a super top of the line truck, with all the must haves and wants, it had its problems too. Not only the terrible payment we had to pay with an ugly dealer interest rate, but the truck had its problems. The lights constantly went out, the battery wouldn't hold a charge, the heater went out and boy was that expensive to fix. Other things that went wrong, the underside already started to rust, the DVD player hummed, recalls... etc... etc... When we finally paid it down enough that we could sale it, we couldn't count how much our losses were! We bought a little car for $500 from a friend, and put a couple hundred in fixing little things here and there. With a title in hand and savings of $900/month, we wore grins when we drove our little beater around! At the pump we were getting 30+ mpg. It may not be a shiny fancy truck, with chrome or a DVD player, but my little clunker got us everywhere we needed to go as we got out of debt. Get this... when we sold that little car after a year of pocketing $900/month... only putting $500 in parts the entire year... and paying $500 for it... we made $1500 on it! It sold 15 minutes after putting it in the classifieds for $2500!

Seventh

How to Stay Out of Debt

Keep yourself in check! Make goals to save money to buy something you want or need. Stay frugal with your money. Don't just buy things you want, because you have money in your pocket. Make long term goals to pay off your house, start on retirement, pay for your child/grandchild's college, and anything else worthwhile you might think of. You may enjoy finding fun ways to save money by couponing, shopping for the best prices, and through yard sales (both purging your treasures and finding someone else's). Check this blog often to get new ideas and to stay motivated!

Eighth

Refinance/ Consolidate

This is what I was referring to when talking about interest rates! When interest rates are as low as they are now, this could be a great option. This is tricky though, you have to weigh this one out to see if it is a good option or not. Consolidting on a credit card or similar loan may effect your credit in a poor way. The best way is how we did it, where we had a lower rate then a credit card and by using our vehicles it helped our credit.  We got hit pretty hard when the economy crashed. For us, it wasn't whether we would make the loan too long or if we would end up paying too much in interest by refinancing. We honestly could no longer pay all the bills from the debt my husband had previous to the marriage. We refinanced the new truck I talked about previously, since he had used a dealership and got a terrible interest rate on it. The credit union was very helpful letting us consolidate the credit card loans into our vehicles. They let us get a little extra added on the loan, for the truck, to help pay off the credit cards. We paid part cash for the the little affordable car (that I got a wonderful deal on) and got a small loan on it, to help my credit score. We were then able to get a much larger loan on it and paid most of those nasty credit cards off. Since we had even more credit card debt my husband had recurred, we needed an extra loan to pay this off. My husband had a motorcycle that was almost paid off, so we got a new loan on it as well. It was so nice to have all of our loans centered in one place. Whenever we had extra money we would put it toward the cars, until the cost on this was low enough to sell them. My husband had an old truck he drove after we sold his new fancy truck. After we sold my little car we bought another, from a friend, with cash.  My husband gave it a little tune up and it drove like a champ! Parts were cheap because we could get them from the junk yard! Once the cars were sold, we paid off the motorcycle quickly! In less than 3 years we have gotten out of $50,000 of debt! We are finally ready to look at homes now! You can do this too! It is so freeing to not have these bands of debt around our ankles!

Ninth

Set a Budget
This has been the hardest thing for us! My husband's work is not steady because he works for himself. This is the best way we found to make sure bills are paid and to stay out of debt: First, bills must be paid for the month with all the money we have. Second, we budget about $400 for food for the month. Third, bills need to be paid a month in advance, in case of a hard month. Fourth, extra payment on the loans principles only. Fifth, spending money ($100 or so very little). Sixth, any extra in savings. This may not be the best for you. However you decide to budget make sure you are getting out of debt and not adding to it. Knowing where your money is going every month can help you to find ways to tighten your budget in different categories.

Tenth

Add Job to Pay Debt

This may be selling crafts or baked goods, babysitting, yard sales, or cleaning houses.  Find an extra way to make a little money while you are getting out of debt. I found ways such as selling extra things around the house on a free classified site (pictures make a difference), I became quite good at this. We "pimped" out our Pomeranian stud and sold our female's puppies. Anything that could help us through this tough time!

Eleventh

Get Priorities Straight/Keeping Things in Perspective

Getting out of debt isn't easy, but you have to remember that you cannot let debt consume you and hurt your relationship. You and your partner need to work through the debt together, making sacrifices but focusing on what's important as well - your family and your relationship. Get a babysitter and make time to do something special with your spouse so you can remember why you fell in love. Set time aside to do group activities as a family to involve the kids as well. Don't let your debt get the best of you. Splurge on needs and pass on wants, when possible. By keeping your debt, family, and relationships your biggest priorities you can move into a less stressful part of your life and gain a stepping stone in your relationships. This has been a huge help in our marriage to get through this rough patch financially and it has brought us much closer.

Twelfth

Be Willing To Part With Toys

This was a huge sacrifice in our lives, but very worth while! I parted from my cute pink scooter and my little car that I loved. My husband made lots of sacrifices too. He sold his nice new truck, his snowmobile trailer, and recently 2 fishing boats (not in the best shape but none the less it was a sacrifice). You can do this by just not buying either! If there is one toy my husband loves it is a boat. If there is one toy that can really suck your money down, it is a boat. It is hard not to have a boat to him, but once we can buy a nice boat that doesn't need constant fixing in cash we might do so, in the future.

Thirteen

Get Organized

When it comes to working your way out of debt, it's all about organization -- believe it or not getting your documents organized can save you money!

Fourteen

Stop Eating Out

Eat in and save money, it is healthier and a great family activity. I promise eating at the table and discussing your day will bring your whole family closer! Even if it is just you and your significant other. If you aren't the best cook I can relate. When I first married, I thought a home cooked meal consisted of pouring dry noodles in boiling water and warming sauce from a can. With about 3 years experience, I now can my homemade sauce, make noodles from scratch, make home made french bread with garlic dipping sauce, and a toss salad for an every day meal.  A couple months ago we went to one of my favorite Italian restaurants for my birthday. It has been a long time since we have gone out so it was a big surprise when we hated our meals! My husband told me on the way home "I would rather stay home and eat your stuffed shells, honey". This was one of the best compliments I have ever received. Wow, I am not a so so cook anymore! It is so great to be able to cook better meals at a better price at home! Anyone can do it! My favorite site is allrecipes.com I pick what looks yummy and a 4 star or more. If you don't know what you are doing there are lots of tutorials on youtube.com so try that too!

Getting Out of Debt Doesn't Mean You Can't Ever Spend Again

Just make sure your splurges are not huge and won't compromise all the hard work you are doing to get out of debt!

Hazel

How to paint your house for cheap!

I got the green paint for this project from Glidden for free. The wall color is a bunch of miss tints that I mixed in a 5 gallon bucket 

I go to the local paint stores to check out miss tints. Recently, I mixed some whites and creams to make a color I love, its a tanish cream. Of course there is a down side to miss tints, you cant mix the same again, and they are premade. I however got super lucky and I got 7 gallons of high quality (usually $50 a gallon) for nothing. For projects this is a great way to go! Try looking at miss tints the next time you want to paint! There may just be an already mixed color you love! If you need more paint try mixing a couple similar colors to make more or add a white to stretch and lighten the paint.

Hazel

Getting a great workout for cheap

Joining a gym or hiring a personal trainer can be a great motivation to get going on a new fitness regimen.  However, I've learned from experience that you can get a great workout in your own house or (better yet) outside!  I actually prefer working out on my own, and avoid the gym for numerous reaons…#1 being that it can be expensive (it can also be a waste of money if you are not using what you pay for).

When the weather is nice there are countless ways to get exercise outdoors.  One of my favorite ways, and one of the easiest ways to get started on working out, is to walk.  When the weather allows, or if you're brave enough to bundle up and go out in the cold, start walking.  You don't have to power walk, walk a certain amount of miles, or walk for so many minutes. Just enjoy a nice walk with your spouse, with your kids, with a friend, or on your own.  Try to set a new goal to walk anywhere that you may be headed, that is less than a mile away.  Instead of hopping in the car to drive to the nearby mini mart or to a friend's house, try walking there.  You will feel awesome.  Not only does it provide a chance for exercise, but it also provides a chance for you to "slow down" from the fast pace of every day life.  There is something sweet and simple about taking the time to walk, you have a moment to think and to enjoy the beauties of the world.

As the weather is getting colder and we move into winter, it can be more difficult to feel motivated to head outside for exercise.  There are lots of great ways to get a good workout in your own home.  No fancy equipment needed either.  If you love music, turn your favorite tunes up and dance around the house for 20 minutes.  Show those dance moves off!  You can also come up with your own aerobic routine in your living room.  Start off marching in place for a warm up, then as you get going start alternating with 1 minute of knee lifts, 1 minute of leg kicks, 1 minutes of side steps, etc.  Come up with any sort of Jane Fonda grape-vine routine that you want, and have fun putting it all together for your own personal aerobic class.  This is one of my favorite ways to work out lately as my belly is getting bigger with baby #2!

If you have a set of hand weights google some exercises for strength training and come up with your own circuit routine.  If you don't have hand weights, you can use your own body's resistance to do the same exercises.  Push-ups are one of the best arm and chest exercises and are free of charge.  Squats and lunges help to lift and get your buns into shape.

Check your local library for exercise dvds or books.  This a great way to add variety without paying big bucks on numerous workouts.  I also love to check Hulu.com…there are "commercial breaks" during the workouts but you can march in place until the workout starts up again.  Same with youtube.com…you can find video clips that work for you and put them together for your own routine.

While exercising, remember that what you are doing is good for your heart, your bones, and your state of mind.  If your jeans fit better after a month of sticking to it then all the better!

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/tipsandtricks/a/basictraining.htm

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/at-home-workouts-0

http://www.allyou.com/diet-fitness/at-home-workouts/

Mae

Birthday Party Ideas

My little one is going to turn two in about a month. Coming up with a theme of the party is my dilemma right now. She is interested in a lot of things right now so I really could go a lot of different ways this year. Last year I narrowed it down to two ideas and she picked kitties, or what she called kikis. I had a lot of fun with the theme. There will be a post of it to give you ideas if you are interested in the theme.The party was made from things you probably have at home, so you could do the theme pretty cheap! Lots of little things to prepare but it was a blast! I found this website today that has a huge list of ideas so if you are having a block, like me, check it out it may help a little. The site has ideas and people posted personal parties on how they did the theme. To keep the budget low, try to find way to make it yourself or similar. If you must buy things, check out discount stores and dollar stores.
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/party_ideas.html

Hazel

Bountiful Baskets

http://bountifulbaskets.org/
This is how I save a ton of money on produce! Bountiful Baskets is a co-op and is run by volunteers. On Mondays (check the site to see the time your state signs up) I go to their web site to put my order in and pay with a credit card. The basket pictured below is just the basic basket. It is 15 dollars and I pay a $1.50 to help with shipping costs. I have actually gone to the grocery store and checked out the prices for everything I got, in my basket, one week to compare. I checked 4 different stores and picked the best price of the produce I received. It would have been close to 50 dollars plus the cost of gas driving around to 4 different stores! Why do you save that much money? Some may be skeptical about the condition of the produce... honestly, it is usually in better shape than what you find at the store. "Why?" you might say. I was just as skeptical about this at first! When you go on the website and make your purchase, on Mondays, they pool everyones money in your area, and buy produce at whole sale price straight from the farmer. Every week it is a different selection and I never now what I am getting. This week most of the stuff I received I would normally buy, but there were a couple wild cards that will be fun to experiment with.  Even if I chose not to experiment with the 2 items I don't normally buy, I still saved money. There is a truck that brings the locally grown produce to your area (you sign up for the place you pick up and the time) As I mentioned, it is run by volunteers so I try to go earlier to help distribute the produce when I can. The produce you receive is what is in season and there are other basket you can get as well. If you are interested check to see if they are established in your area. They have been branching out and they are getting to new places all the time!  If they aren't in your area, contact them to see if they could bring the co-op to your area!

Hazel

vinegar+Hazel=love

Dear vinegar,
I have a confession to make... it is... that... I uh... love you! You do so much for me! It is so hard not to love you! You are irresistible, why would I reach for anyone else when you can do almost every job for me? Why spend money on anyone else when you are less expensive and earth friendly? Oh and how versatile! I can use you anywhere and you don't mind. You give it your all and do such a fantastic job! I am convinced God made you just for me, to make my life simple and easier. How I dread the day your are gone. To make sure that day doesn't come I buy you in bulk whenever you are on sale. Here are some of my favorite things you do for me (but there are hundreds of other ways to!)

CLEANING
To make things  easier on myself I have just taken a spray bottle and diluted white distilled vinegar in it and use this in my daily routine to clean everything! mirrors, counter tops, toilet you name it...  plus it is a great deodorizer! Most of what is listed below I got from vinegartips.com, since they have lots of other ways to clean things and recipes. There is more on their site I just tried to shorten it a bit so I only kept the ones I use a lot.

Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so, then run hot water down the drain.

Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.

For cloudy glassware, soak paper towels or a cloth in full-strength white distilled vinegar and wrap around the inside and outside of the glass. Let sit awhile before rinsing clean.

Make a metal cleanser by adding enough white distilled vinegar to 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar to make a paste. Rub it on and let it dry on the surface. Wash it off and dry with a soft cloth.

To make cleaning the grill easier, spray a solution of half water and half white distilled vinegar on the cooking surface.

Kill germs/ all purpose cleaner  with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. or 1/2 and 1/2 solution vinegar and water

Wash indoor/outdoor carpet and accidents with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar in 1 bucket of warm water. Scrub using a brush or a broom and then hose off.

Get decals off walls or doors by letting undiluted white distilled vinegar soak into them for several minutes before trying to peel them off. Repeat if necessary.

To clean and disinfect baby toys/bottles/books add a good-sized splash of white distilled vinegar to soapy water.

GARDEN

Kill weeds and grass growing in unwanted places by pouring full-strength white distilled vinegar on them. This works especially well in crevices and cracks of walkways and driveways.

Discourage cats from getting into the kids’ sandbox with white distilled vinegar.

Preserve cut flowers and liven droopy ones by adding 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar to a quart of water in a vase.

Keep rabbits from eating your plants. Put cotton balls soaked in white distilled vinegar in a 35mm film container. Poke a hole in the top and place in the garden.

Wash fresh vegetables with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of white distilled vinegar in 1 ½ quarts of water.

Laundry

Prevent lint from clinging to clothes by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the wash cycle.

Some stains on clothing and linens can be soaked out using equal parts milk and white distilled vinegar.

Remove perspiration odor and stains on clothing, as well as those left by deodorants, by spraying full-strength white distilled vinegar on underarm and collar areas before tossing them into the washing machine.


HEALTH/BEAUTY

 Stave off high blood sugar and other Alzheimer's risk factors with a daily dose of vinegar. According to researchers, there is evidence that vinegar sinks risk factors that may lead to memory decline and dementia -- namely, high blood sugar, insulin resistance, diabetes and prediabetes, and weight gain. While vinegar does not confront Alzheimer's directly, studies at Arizona State University have found that vinegar can curb appetite and food intake, helping prevent weight gain and obesity. Swedish investigators agree. In one study, downing two or three tablespoons of vinegar with white bread cut expected rises in insulin and blood sugar by about 25 percent. Pour on the vinegar -- add it to salad dressings, eat it by the spoonful, even mix it into a glass of drinking water. Any type of vinegar works because it's the acidity that counts.
--Source: AOL Health and "100 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S AND AGE-RELATED MEMORY LOSS" by Jean Carper. Copyright © 2010

Stop insect stings and bites from itching by dabbing them with a cotton ball saturated with undiluted white distilled vinegar.

Soothe sunburn with a spray of white distilled vinegar, repeating as often as you like. Ice-cold white distilled vinegar will feel even better, and may prevent blistering and peeling.

Get rid of foot odor by washing feet well with antiseptic soap daily, then soaking them in undiluted cider vinegar for 10 minutes or so. Remember that cotton socks aid odor control more effectively than wool ones.

Tone facial skin with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and water.

Eliminate bad breath and whiten your teeth by brushing them once or twice a week with white distilled vinegar.

AUTOMOTIVE

Remove the hazy film that builds up on inside windows by spraying with white distilled vinegar.

When doing car maintenance, soak rusty bolts and screws with white distilled vinegar to make them easier to remove.

PETS

Kill fleas by adding a little white distilled vinegar to your dog or cat’s drinking water.

Stop a dog from barking with a spray bottle filled with equal amounts of water and white distilled vinegar. When the dog barks, spray the vinegar water in its direction but not in the face.

Remove pet odors. After cleaning, cover the area with baking soda. Let it stand overnight. The next day vacuum up the baking soda and wash the area with white distilled vinegar. Rinse and let dry.

Get rid of bunny/ bunny urine smells. I carpet clean the area the bunny peed with vineger water solution and spray a water/vinegar solution to keep the odor down

COOKING


Freshen wilted vegetables by soaking them in cold water containing a spoonful or two of white distilled vinegar.

Make onion odors disappear from your hands by rubbing with white distilled vinegar.
If you’ve added too much salt to a recipe, add a spoonful of white distilled vinegar and sugar to try correcting the taste.


Thanks vinegartips.com for even more ideas in uses for vinegar!
some other websites with even more ways to use vinegar
http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/homemaking/vinegar.html
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/vinegar
http://odyb.net/food-cooking/62-little-known-uses-of-vinegar/

Hazel

Getting the most out of your Spinach

Does anybody else buy those giant bags of spinach from Costco?  Has anybody else felt horrible when they had to throw away half the bag?  Spinach is super healthy and you can get it for a pretty good deal, during the fall.  Although a giant bag may be more than your family can get through before it goes bad, if you're adamant about adding it to your dishes, chances are you can get pretty close to the bottom of the bag.  It's a great way to add some extra vitamins and iron without your pickiest little ones even knowing.

One of the great things about Spinach is that it is very versatile.  You can make green smoothies and add any misc fruits that you may need to use up.  You can add spinach to your favorite soups (think Italian-wedding soup!) or to an omelet or scrambled eggs.  You can make an awesome salad or add it to a sandwich or panini.  I have found some delicious recipes over time, on my quest to use up the last of my spinach before it goes bad.  These are a few of the recipes that have now become "regulars" in our house.

Usually when I make this minestrone recipe I leave out the red wine, add a can of diced tomatoes and any extra veggies I have in the fridge, and I usually leave out the pasta.  I also double the spinach, at least.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/jamies-minestrone/detail.aspx

This frittata is one of my husband's favorite meals.  I add any extra veggies that we have (mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini…) And usually like to add bacon if we have it.  I also use any cheese that I have at the moment (it's especially yummy with feta).
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/crustless-spinach-quiche/detail.aspx

For a delicious green smoothie throw some fresh or frozen berries in your blender with a handful of ice.  Usually you'll need to add some kind of liquid, water or juice.  Rinse a couple of handfuls of spinach to add and blend it up until smooth.  Add anything you'd like, to make them more nutritious or to your taste.  Try adding some yogurt or cottage cheese (gives it a little zing).  You can also mix in some oatmeal or protein powder.

Happy Spinach Eating, and hopefully less guilt for throwing away rotten spinach!

Mae

Disney Movie Rewards!

This is a great program, if you haven't already made an account then you've got to check it out! It's easy, you just put in codes from movies you've bought that participate in the program.  You can find other codes online as well.  I have already had five free movies sent to me and I didn't have to pay for shipping!  There is a promotion they are doing right now, if you put a code in by November 15th, you can get 50 bonus points!  The code must be from a dvd, blu-ray, or cd.  The extra code to get the bonus 50 points is M1D17MAIGNEH.  There are so many things you can get from your rewards points starting at 100, the dvds start at about 500 points.  Points add up quick so check your dvds and see if you have any codes to enter!

http://www.disneymovierewards.go.com/

Hazel

APPLES

Apples are in season still. If you haven't canned applesauce, made your own apple juice, apple pie filling, or jam you may be missing out. My thoughts on this... it costs money to buy all the things you need to can! If you can get some of your supplies used and the apples as close to free as possible, then this is an excellent way to save money. It could pay off to buy new if you really enjoy canning and do lots of it! There are lots of ways to go about getting apples free. I use to have the most amazing golden delicious tree in my backyard in a past house. I miss it more then you know! It was a great money saver! They take a while to grow but you won't regret planting fruit trees. Another way, get cozy with your neighbors friends and family to see if they need someone to share with. They might just want you to help yourself so their fruit doesn't go to waste. Also, I have seen posts on my local online newspaper classifieds for people to come pick their own. Check your classifieds and if your local paper doesn't have an online classifieds see if they might want to do so! This is great place to barter and get things cheap! Speaking of apples they are awesome in many different ways but another creative idea is to use it in a main dish. Here is a recipe link.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/herbed-pork-and-apples/detail.aspx

Hazel

Produce in Season

When pinching pennies it is crucial that you try to revolve your meals around what is in season. Though I love pomegranates they are sometimes 4 times the price in May than they are in October! Some of the produce on sale and in season right now are: pears, onions, broccoli, pineapple, avocados, squash, apples, oranges, pomegranates, carrots, and tomatoes. Just by buying the produce in season, you will save a bundle every month! You can experiment a little with produce and you may be surprised!


This is my new favorite recipe that I tried with carrots. Honestly, who said you can't have cake for breakfast?

Carrot Cake Waffles
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flout
2tsp baking powder
1tsp ground cinnamon
1/4tsp salt
1/4tsp ground ginger
1 egg
1/3cup packed brown sugar
1cup milk
1 cup fine grated carrots
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Spread
4ounces cream cheese
1/4cup powder sugar
2 tbs milk
1/2tsp vanilla extract
1/4tsp cinnamon

1. heat waffle maker on medium heat
2. spray waffle maker just before you put mixture on it every time so they don't stick (for some reason I forget this at least once every time I make waffles)
3. pour batter on greased maker (mine uses about 1/4 a cup of batter cook until golden brown
4. place all spread ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth and combined

Use the spread on the waffles  for a yummy breakfast dessert! Only makes enough for 3 or 4 people may want to double!

Hazel

ALLYOU.COM

This is one of my very favorite websites, allyou.com, everyday there is a new sample that is sent to you free of charge. You do have to give the various sites it sends you to your information so they can send the sample. I think it is very imporant that you be careful with giving your information to any site, but allyou is legit! I havent had a problem with them yet. You can either go on their site daily or have them send emails by subscribing.

Hazel