PERFECTLY PRESLEY!

Well hi there my faithful compadres! How are you doing this morning? I am rather tired actually. I was up late cleaning and building. Yes I said building LOL. I had some scrap wood outside and I braced it on the wall in my bathroom to make a quick makeshift shelf. I painted it white so it would match the bathroom walls. I wanted to do a second shelf, but my drill just gave out on me. It really drove me nuts all night, so I was organizing my little head off! You ever get that "busy energy" that you just can't work off no matter what you do? Yep that would be me LOL! I have alot of sudden "visions" for different areas of the house. Now let's just see if they can come to life.

Alright, its time for the Frugal Mom to take her title by the horns! I found a great site that has tons of great tips. LOL I could make an 8 part series of the Frugal tips of they had... and I think I will LOL! So far, I have brought you Kitchen and recycling tips, and have things like health and beauty, grocery tips, and more still ahead. Today though, I am bringing you some Frugal Cleaning tips!

Frugal Cleaning Tips

1. Dusting with a paintbrush can be an effective way to get into those hard to reach door jambs, etc.

2. Clean your windows with crumpled up newspaper instead of paper towels.

3. When cleaning windows, wipe the outside of pane with vertical strokes and the inside with horizontal strokes. If any streaks appear it will be easier to tell which side they are on.

4. Don't pay lots of money for Windex. Wait until the gallon size Windshield Washer fluid for cars goes on sale, and stock up. I see it in our area on sale for .69 cents quite often. Refill the Windex bottles you have, and save!

5. Are your shoes smelly? Here's a solution. Put some tea leaves into a pair of stockings and stuff each into a shoe. Leave for a day or two and the smell just vanishes.

6. You can clean grease or ink off your hands using vegetable shortening. Just rub it on your hands and then wash normally with soap. Also, you can clean stubborn stains from clothing. Rub a small amount on the stain and then rinse with club soda.

7. Make your own household cleaning products. Use natural cleaners instead of harsh chemical ones.

8. Vinegar - Add to dish water to cut grease. Use as a furniture cleaner. Cleans and disinfects wood cutting boards.

9. Baking soda - Removes mildew from small areas. Use to clean tubs and sinks (won't scratch). Makes a great scouring powder: Keep in a jar with shaker top. Excellent for those with chemical allergies.

10. Clean your rings with toothpaste and old brush.

11. To remove grease from wallpaper, apply baby powder to a clean powder puff, rub, and spot disappears.

12. Cuticle remover will clear hands of nicotine stains.

13. Use Lubriderm skin lotion or Turtle Wax to shine your shoes.

14. Treat stubborn bathtub stains with a mixture of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide. By the time the paste dries, the stain should be gone.
15. Paint Brush Cleaner - Household Ammonia.

16. Radiator Cleaner - Tri-sodium phosphate (buy at paint store).

17. To remove sticky residue/glue, try one of these: mayonnaise, peanut butter, nail polish remover, "Goo Gone", or any oil.

18. Tile Cleaner - Deodorized kerosene (buy at an oil company).

19. Use Benzol to remove tar, paint, and wax gum from your car.

20. Erasers will remove black heel marks on floors & Artgum erasers will clean bone colored shoes.

21. To keep the corners of your windowsills free of dust and moisture, rub a white candle into each corner of the sill.

22. If your polished furniture has small scratches: Try rubbing them with a shelled walnut. You'll see the scratches just disappear!

23. Keeping silver jewelry in a zip lock or air tight container will keep it from oxidizing.

24. As soon as you notice a spot or stain on clothing, stop what you are doing and take care of it. The sooner you attend to it, the better the chance you can remove it.

25. To clean glass containers - Use salt and lemon juice, and if the glass is not too fragile, crushed ice. Swirl these around until container is clean, then rinse with warm water.

26. What is the best tool for scrubbing a carpet spot? Another small piece of carpeting.



OK, so now I want to discuss something I absolutely adore... ELVIS PRESLEY! The King of Rock & Roll! OMG was he a handsome man! I even put in CD's and put headphones on my belly when I was pregnant! My kids were born with a love for Elvis LOL! I have seen every movie (and owned them too), can sing every song, and have a huge box of memorabilia... including an old statue whiskey container music box!

Elvis Aaron Presley, in the humblest of circumstances, was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. His twin brother, Jessie Garon, was stillborn, leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948, and Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953. When Vernon and Gladys Presley moved the family to Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis was exposed to a variety of musical styles, including rhythm and blues and jazz. He worked as an usher at a movie theater, a truck driver, and a warehouseman before beginning his show-business career, arguably the most remarkable in modern history. Elvis Presley was a singer, guitarist, and actor. As a rock and roll idol from the '50s through the '70s, he influenced music for an entire generation. In the words of the historical marker that stands outside the house where he was born: "Presley's career as a singer and entertainer redefined popular music."

Ok let's talk crafts. Today I am gonna bring you a rather extravagant idea actually that sticks with the new theme. People in nearly every generation love Elvis and they like to show this appreciation with crafts. There are certain things that make Elvis special. He was a hit in his own time and he continues to be a hit well after his death. You can use these crafts for many different reasons. If you are a particularly large Elvis fan, then you may want to decorate a room in your house with these crafts. Or, you could celebrate either your own birthday, or Elvis’s birthday with these crafts as well.



Craft Idea of the Day: Velvet Elvis

The biggest Elvis craft is the velvet Elvis. This is a painting of Elvis made on black velvet. You can do this yourself fairly easily if you have some proficiency in painting. Even if you do, this can be a really fun activity to do that can really get your creative juices flowing. Find a picture of Elvis’s face that you really like, and then paint that image onto the velvet. You can then hang this up in your home’s regular décor, or you could use it as a focal point for a party. What you choose is completely up to you. Elvis crafts are great because you can really show your appreciation for your favorite entertainer. These crafts are easy to do so that you can have fun with the making of them as well. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination while making crafts related to Elvis. You could use his music and his movies for inspiration while you create.

Time to talk food my Bossa Nova Babies! If ya haven't guessed by now, this week is PERFECTLY PRESLEY WEEK! Now, Elvis had many favorite foods along with the basic Southern dishes he grew up with. I have gathered a few recipes which are documented favorites of his and also will put a modern (and maybe more tasty LOL) spin on them. Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Breaded Chicken Livers, Ham Hocks with Pinto Beans and Blackberry Pie are just a few of the things Elvis grew up with and enjoyed throughout his life. So each day, I plan on featuring one of his favorite food items for you to enjoy. And we are gonna start this week with the infamous sandwich... only turned up a notch! Eat & Enjoy!



Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 to 3 ripe bananas
8 slices white bread
Topping:
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions

In a frying pan, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Make sure butter does not burn.

In a small bowl mix together the peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon. Slice the bananas into 1/4-inch thick slices. Spread the peanut butter mixture on 4 slices of bread and cover with banana slices. Top with the remaining 4 slices of bread. Spread the remaining butter on both sides of the sandwiches. Grill the sandwiches in the frying pan until each side is golden brown.

For topping, combine the sugar and cinnamon in shallow plate. Coat the grilled sandwiches with the mixture. Cut diagonally and serve hot.

Ok folks... its time for me to "Shake, Rattle, & Roll" on outta here and finish the projects I started late last night. I hope you are as excited as I am about this weeks theme. I might listen to some of my favorite Elvis music while I work... after all, he offers over 800 great songs to choose from! As Elvis says, you are "Always On My Mind"... so come back and rock on some more great chit chat tomorrow. Until then... HUGS!