Let's face it: Times are tight and budgets are shrinking. But there are ways to stretch, and even (gasp!) have fun doing it! This blog is about finding ways to get more from every household dollar, and enjoy every precious minute.
Friday, February 03, 2012
...At the end of a long and busy day at the “mom-ffice” and the
“blog-ffice,” it seems like it would be less energy just to start a pot
of chili or soup. But even that gets old after a month. So let’s change things up a bit. Let’s change the scenery...
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
It’s often the simplest organization tricks that I appreciate the most
and work the best. Here are seven tricks I’ve come across that will get
you saying “I need to do that"...
The Internet is full of free digital downloadable images to use for
office labels and more! A simple search for free clip art, free vintage
images, and free printable images will yield many exciting results.
Purchase basic office supply labels and you’ve got yourself a craft that keeps on giving...
As the biggest pigskin game of the year approaches, I’m trying to figure
out the best way to entertain a group of friends, without adding extra
money to our grocery budget. We love entertaining in our home, but it
can be a drain on our budget if we aren’t careful...
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
...I can’t promise
you that your entire world will be organized, but I can promise you that
if you accomplish these 10 habits on a daily basis for the next 66 days
you will begin to feel a sense of control over the “mom chaos” in your
world...
I found a fun alphabet in one of my vintage clip art books to share
with you. I really like the twisted and intertwined detail of each
letter.... Here are some fun ideas for using large and ornate alphabets...
Several months ago, I accidentally took a dish towel to the table. It was a revolutionary moment in my career as a “mom chef.” Because
I had the towel at the table, I didn’t have to get up again to grab one
when someone spilled their milk, or smeared their peas all over the
table (20 month old!)...
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
With three kids in college my book-buying bill throughout the year seems
to increase with each quarter or semester of classes...and has led me to discover six ways to save when purchasing college
textbooks...
Even though little travel sewing kits are rarely expensive, I think it’s
more fun to make and customize your own. In fact, make several while
you’re at it to tuck into your purse, glove box, luggage and to share
with others...
...now that I pay closer attention to the pennies I spend at the grocery
store, eating seasonally and making the most of the best priced
vegetables is at the top of my grocery budget priority list. And that
means winter vegetables are a staple in our house these days...
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
After I de-clutter and purge my home I am left with piles of items
that I need to clear out, leaving me two choices: sell or donate... Selling will require more time but will give me a little
extra money... If I donate, it’s just a matter of deciding where and when...
End tables are a very purposeful item in a living or family room for
elevating lamps, holding drinks and stacking reading material. But on a
budget, you don’t need to limit yourself to store-bought furniture when
you can get creative...
There’s just something about tortellini...They cost a
little more than other kinds of pasta noodles, but it is well worth the
splurge every now and again. Your overall meal cost won’t be terribly
high when you pair it with inexpensive ingredients. Here’s a soup recipe
with this amazing pasta...
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
When the calendar turns over to January 1 and the New Year begins, our
minds begin to think of new goals, getting organized and a fresh start.
This goes right along with the fact that January has been declared
National Organization Month....
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
...I now love working
with glitter when crafting. I was thinking it would be a good idea to
design a catch-tray for the extra glitter that falls, but one that
allows easy pouring of remaining glitter back into its designated
bottle. You can purchase paper trays for this use at craft stores, but
it’s very simple to make your own!...
Friday, December 30, 2011
...I’ve come to believe that resolutions lend themselves to failure. You
always hear about people making grand goals for what they’d like to
change: lose 20 pounds, quit drinking coffee or soda, quit “bad” habits.
You start hearing people complain that they are not seeing results by
the end of the second or third week in January...