FRUGAL FIXES

Well a bright and early Good morning to you out there! How are you doing today? I am tired really… tired of all the weird dreams I have been having. But other than that, I am doing ok. I had the incurable munchies again yesterday and I hope they do not continue through today! I took care of this problem almost 10 years ago! But thanks to the fact I have a teen daughter, it haunts me still LOL!












I didn’t do any sewing last night for reasons I would rather not discuss in fear of becoming angry again. So, being motivated each time I peered in my kitchen, I cut the lemons out of the rest of the scraps and finished putting the fabric appliques on the top portion of the cabinet doors. I came home and the DH had the bottom cabinets all scrubbed and ready for the yellow checker board painting… which also didn’t get done either cause I couldn’t find my tape! UGH! Anyway, don’t the top cabinets look absolutely fabulous? I think they are just too cool! (I pieced 2 pictures together to make the panoramic shot so you could see the whole thing… I know terrible chop job, sorry LOL!)

Ok time to bring the frugality to the Frugal Mom site. I found this article about some quick fix remedies for common problems. I admit, I am even guilty of a few of these LOL. But it’s a way to temporarily fix an issue, maybe if just long enough for you to get home to fix it properly or until your next paycheck when you can afford to fix it. Either way, it’s an interesting article.



9 Easy Wardrobe Fixes Using Everyday Office Supplies
by Kaboodle.com, on Wed May 12, 2010 10:21am PDT

Often the worst wardrobe mishaps—a missing button or broken bra strap—happen as you are running from meeting to meeting or chained to your desk with no sewing kit in sight. However, you can avoid a Janet Jackson-esque wardrobe malfunction and keep your chic office outfits looking tailored by using common office supplies. Here’s how:

1. Wardrobe Malfunction: Missing Button
Quick Fix: Double-Sided Tape
Let tape temporarily do the work of a button by taping the sides of your shirt together where the missing button reveals too much. Bonus: Unlike using the stapler to close your shirt, tape won’t permanently damage your cute blouses! You can also close the peek-a-boo space between buttons in the same way to prevent your bra or skin from showing.

2. Wardrobe Malfunction: Scuffed Shoes
Quick Fix: Sharpie
Touch up unsightly nicks and scuffs in your favorite pumps or hottest boots by coloring in the marks with a Sharpie of a similar color.

3. Wardrobe Malfunction: Broken Bra Strap
Quick Fix: Paper Clips or Key Ring
If your bra strap has snapped, simply tie the strap onto one end of a paperclip and hook the other end onto the metal loop at the base of the bra. You can do a similar MacGyver-like trick using a key ring.

4. Wardrobe Malfunction: Bad Hair Day
Quick Fix: Paper Clips
Most of us have experienced a midday bathroom break during which the mirror showcased surprisingly frizzy or flat hair. Or perhaps you got caught in the rain on your way to the office. This is another instance paperclips can come to the rescue. Use them as bobby pins or barrettes to create an emergency up-‘do or pin back unruly bangs. Who knows, you may even start a trend.

5. Wardrobe Malfunction: Runs in Pantyhose
Quick Fix: Wite-Out or Liquid Paper
Much like nail polish, Wite-Out will keep a dreaded snag in your tights or hose from spreading. Just dab a bit onto the frayed ends to halt the unraveling.

6. Wardrobe Malfunction: An Exposed Stiletto
Quick Fix: An Eraser
Few things are as annoying (and dangerous) as trying to walk in high heels that are missing the rubber or plastic covering of heel base. Prevent a slip by inserting the heel into a thick eraser or gluing a slim slice of a pencil-top eraser to the exposed metal. The pink rubber might not go perfectly with your favorite pumps but it will save you from a fall on hardwood or tile flooring until you make it to the cobbler.

7. Wardrobe Malfunction: Undone Hem
Quick Fix: Stapler or Masking Tape
No pins in sight to keep the hem of your pants or skirt from falling down? Simply staple the hem to your desired length. Thick trousers or jeans will be able to withstand the staple with minimal damage. Just be careful when removing them so as not to tear the material. A kinder, gentler, but less secure bet is lining the hem with masking tape.

8. Wardrobe Malfunction: Chipped French Manicure
Quick Fix: Wite-Out or Liquid Paper
Who hasn’t painted their nails with Wite-Out just for fun?! Use the stuff on your chipped French mani and you’ll look as if you’ve just come from the nail salon.

9. Wardrobe Malfunction: A Stubborn Zipper
Quick Fix: Pencil
There’s no need to battle a stuck zipper. Instead, color it with a wooden pencil, which will help lubricate the track so you can easily slide the zipper up or down. Genius!

Isn’t that kind of neat how someone came up with these practical remedies? Here are some other quick fixes to make note of…

-Another hair-fix: Twist your hair into a bun and use 2 pens or mechanical pencils as chopsticks to hold it up.

-Don't have time to make it into the tailor to hem skirts or pants? Use duct tape. Adjust the hem to the desired length, place duct tape, and iron over the fabric!!! It lasts through washing numerous times.

-Letter openers, the long straight kind, also make a nice bun holder. Often the metal ones even have a decorative handle.

Alright today is another day for recycled crafts. And this one is aimed at mom’s with little kids who love to color but either break the crayons or color down to “Crayola nubs” LOL! DO NOT throw those away! Keep a jar specifically for tidbits of crayons and when you have enough, you can do this neat craft.



Craft Idea of the Day: Rainbow Crayon Cupcakes

Materials:

Crayons
Cupcake cups
Oven
Oven mitts

Directions:

These recycled crayon cupcakes are great to make for little fingers who struggle to hold little crayons.

Drawing time is a rainbow of colors as your child runs them across the paper releasing all the mixed colors.

You can use inexpensive whole crayons or recycle all those broken pieces in the bottom of the toy box.

This crayon cupcake project is great for schools and groups to recycle their broken pieces.

Preheat the oven to 250 deg F

Remove the paper wrappers from the crayons and put the crayons into a cupcake cup and place the cup cake into a cupcake or muffin tray for support.

Allow them to melt in the oven, melting time may vary depending on your crayons brand so make sure you watch the crayons and once melted take them out.

Allow them to cool before touching.

Peel off the cupcake paper and use as normal.

**Note** You can also use shaped molds such as hearts, stars, etc.

Well gang, its time for super scrumptious pie! Yep, we are on the backside of the hill of “Unique Pizza Week” sadly... day 5. Only 2 more days left. But we have had some fun huh? Today is a special pizza for the potato enthusiast. Its called the Baked Potato pizza and let me tell ya, it gets rave reviews! The sour cream, bacon, onions and cheese make every bite taste just like a loaded baked potato. Try it on for size… you just might be surprised!



Baked Potato Pizza

Ingredients

1 (6.5 ounce) package pizza crust mix
3 medium unpeeled potatoes, baked and cooled
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 cup sour cream
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
3 green onions, chopped
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

Prepare crust according to package directions. Press dough into a lightly greased 14-in. pizza pan; build up edges slightly. Bake at 400 degrees F for 5-6 minutes or until crust is firm and begins to brown.

Cut potatoes into 1/2-in. cubes. In a bowl, combine butter, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Add potatoes and toss. Spread sour cream over crust; top with potato mixture, bacon, onions and cheeses. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.

Ok ladies and germs, its time for me to get off of here and get dressed, take the kids to school, and head out myself. I’ve had loads of fun with you today and I hope you have to. I’ll see you back here tomorrow for more exciting adventures in blogland! HUGS!