THRIFT STORE TUESDAY

Well good morning everyone! How are you doing this terrific Tuesday? I'm good, thanks. I want to wish everyone a HAPPY NATIONAL THRIFT STORE DAY!! LOL yes you read that right. Today is a day to say thanks to all those bountiful thrift stores which hold treasures galore! So I encourage you all to drop by at least one thrift store and lend them a helping hand by looking around and finding something to help them... even if its just a shirt! LOL.

Yes... I found you yet another article claiming to help with frugality and so I am bringing it to you. Who couldn't use a spare $500? I know I sure could! Now there are a couple I am not agreeing with or doing (like the section about pets... totally kiss my butt there authors I WILL have my animals!) but some could be rather useful. So check them out and you be the judge!

10 easy ways to save $500 or more

From installing a TV antenna to adjusting the thermostat, you'll barely feel the pinch with these smart tips for economizing.

By Bankrate.com

Raises are hard to come by at many jobs, so don't wait for the boss to be struck by the sudden realization that you're valuable. Give yourself a raise by spending less of your hard-earned cash.

Following any one of these tips can save you as much as $500 per year. Some of them can save you more. If you do all 10, you'll save at least $5,000 a year. That's a heck of a lot more than the measly 3 percent increase that your employer is likely to hand out. And the best part about it is that you don't have to smile and say "thank you."

Drive less
With gas hovering around $4 per gallon, you don't have to cut back on much mileage to save $500 in a year. You'll save that much in gas alone if you drive a car that gets 15 miles per gallon just 36 fewer miles per week. When you divide it by 50 weeks, 1,872 miles in a year isn't much. If you have a 40-mile round-trip commute, persuading the boss to allow telecommuting one day a week, or squeezing 40 hours of work into four days, will definitely put you ahead about $500 per year.

If that doesn't work for you, there are other options. The cutback doesn't have to be extreme. Trimming a couple of unnecessary short hops out of your routine is enough to hit the target. Encouraging the kids to take the school bus instead of schlepping them in the car, or consolidating three trips to the grocery store into one weekly excursion may do the trick. Vacationing at the lake instead of driving the family to Florida will certainly hit the goal.

Bring your own stimulant
Stop buying coffee at the chichi coffee joint down the street from work. Either bringing coffee from home in a thermos or brewing it in the break room will actually improve the quality of your morning shot of energy, as well as cut its cost dramatically. You can get 40 cups of coffee from a pound of beans. Even the gourmet ones can be purchased for $4 per pound. If you're spending $2 per day on coffee -- easy to do in most workplaces -- you'll go from spending $500 a year to about $25 by making your own.

Save even more by taking cans of soda or bottled water to work instead of buying them out of the vending machine. Bottled water sells for around 30 cents a bottle at a big-box grocery stores. Compare that to the 75 cents or more that you'll spend at the machine, and it's a no-brainer. You can go even further by cleaning your small plastic water bottles and replenishing them with drinking water from a gallon jug. (It's an environmentally friendly move, too.)

Conserve energy
Dad was right. Turn off the TV when you leave the room. Using less energy is a painless way to save. Heat and air conditioning are the largest home-energy hogs. The U.S. Department of Energy points out that during each 24-hour period, you will save about 3 percent on your energy bill for every 1 degree you lower the thermostat setting (or, conversely, raise it when air conditioning is the big cost).

For example, let's say you normally keep your thermostat set at 73 degrees in summer. If you raise it to 76 degrees, you will save about 9 percent (3 degrees times 3 percent) or 9 cents for every dollar you spend on air conditioning costs. If you're spending $2,000 per year, that small change will save you $180. Buy a programmable thermostat and turn the system up 10 degrees during the day when no one's home and you'll save much more.

Here are some other quick fixes for savings that add up to an additional $400: Switch to U.S. Energy Star-approved light bulbs and save $60 a year. Running a 32-inch TV four hours a day costs $3 per month, but many families use the TV for background noise, letting it play 24/7. You can save more than $200 a year just by turning off the TV when nobody's watching it. Washing clothes in cold water is good for another $60 a year and powering down your computer at night can save $70.

Dig gardening
Gardening doesn't just burn a lot of calories; a nice yard also adds value to the house. If you do it all yourself, it's pure profit. Assuming a modest savings of $300 per summer for mowing your own grass and another $200 for such related expenses as applying your own weed killer and fertilizer, a $500 savings is easily attained.
Bonus idea: Assign jobs like shoveling, raking and car washing to Junior, who's always good for hitting you up for money. While you might shell out $200 for him to do these chores, it's a savings, considering that you were going to give him the money whether he worked for it or not.

Go small or stay pet-free
Fido and Tabby are lovable, but they can cost a bundle. If you're considering a pet, keep the cost of their upkeep in mind. Pawprints and Purrs, an animal adoption agency based in Keithville, La., tells its clients to expect to pay these annual costs of pet ownership: cat, $640; small dog, $780; medium dog, $1,115; large dog, $1,500. Obviously, smaller is cheaper. The difference between a large dog and a small one is $720 per year -- that's a lot of kibble.

Don't flush money down the commode
No-name-brand toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, paper cups, plastic wrap, plastic bags, etc., are all available at half the price of similar name-brand products when you buy them in bulk.

You don't even have to wait for a sale. Such stores as Wal-Mart, Kmart, Costco and Sam's Club offer these items all the time at bulk rates.

For instance, you can buy 15,000 sheets of toilet paper for about $13, compared to the 4,224 sheets of the "squeezably soft" variety that routinely sells for $9 in a 12-pack. Big-name plastic wrap can be 10 times more expensive than the big-box variety.

Of course, bulk buying requires having some cash on hand, transportation to carry large quantities and big enough storage space for these items. If you can manage those basic requirements, buying big can be a tremendous deal and easily cut costs by $500 per year. But remember, putting these purchases on your credit card defeats the purpose.

Limit media
A cost that didn't exist at all for most people a decade ago has morphed into a major expense. The average monthly cable bill, excluding Internet access and other extras, now runs about $52, according to SNL Kagan Research, which monitors the broadcasting industry. Look hard at what you are spending for television, phone and Internet. If you are like the rest of us, cutting $50 a month out of this category is a slam dunk.

Who watches 300 channels anyway? The easiest way to cut costs: Just take a deep breath and cancel everything but the basic plan. Most cable companies have a very limited plan for $10 or $15 per month that offers local channels and a few other networks. If you have satellite, the basic plan, including local channels, will cost you about $30. If you want to watch a movie or an HBO series now and then, rent it -- you'll still come out way ahead.

If you have greater than average do-it-yourself skills, consider installing an antenna and capturing high-definition television signals over the air. An antenna isn't your father's rabbit ears -- you get no snow and reception that's probably clearer than your cable or satellite provides. And best of all, it's free. A page on the National Association of Broadcasters' Web site lists the stations you can expect to receive. In most cities, that's all the networks plus PBS. In rural areas, you might get less, but that's changing quickly. CNET offers a great set of instructions for setting it up and calls it a three-hour project.

Next, examine your phone service -- particularly your cell. What kind of user are you? If your phone's for short calls only -- "I'm on my way home now, dear" -- consider a pay-as-you-go plan like ones offered by Virgin Mobile. It has cool phones, and, for a total of $80 per year, you can make those kinds of calls and have peace of mind. It's a big bargain.

Family plans are another possibility. Four people on the same plan will cost about $25 each. Calls at night and during weekends are usually free, so the small prime-time minute allocation goes a long way. You just can't chat endlessly during regular business hours with these plans.

If you are paying more for home phone service than about $50 per month for both unlimited local and long-distance, you're missing the boat.

For those with high-speed Internet service, the cheapest phone option is probably an Internet-based phone service such as Vonage or others offered by cable or phone companies. These aren't subject to the same taxes that wired phone lines are, so for less than $20 a month, you can get 500 minutes of service with lots of features, including voice mail.

There are drawbacks. One is that if your Internet is down, so is your phone.

Sign up for tax-advantaged plans at work
The possibilities include education, health, transportation and child-care savings accounts. If you're in the 25-percent tax bracket, you'll be $500 ahead once you spend $2,000 in pretax dollars on these necessities. If your company doesn't offer these plans, ask for them to be added. It's a cost-free benefit that even the smallest and most cash-strapped employer can offer.

Eat in
Replace one $20 eat-in restaurant meal per week with a large $7 carryout pizza from any of the billions of cheap pizza places in every city. Better yet, buy pizza at the grocery store.

Don't bank on it
Pay credit card bills in full as soon as possible, and take advantage of free bill pay.

The real savings can be had by avoiding credit card debt and paying off what you've accumulated as quickly as possible. For instance, if you owe $4,000 on a card charging you 18 percent interest, and you pay three times the minimum payment every month, or $300, you'll pay off the card in 15 months and spend about $500 in interest. If you spread the cost out and pay $200 per month -- still twice the minimum payment -- you'll pay off the bill in 24 months and pay out $4,800 in total -- $800 in interest. If you can bite the bullet and pay as much as $400 each month, the debt will be gone in less than a year and you'll save between $100 and $700 in interest over the other options.

Saving money doesn't have to take an ugly bite out of your lifestyle. Once you put these strategies in place, you won't feel pinched, because you're not giving up much at all.

This story was reported and written by Jennie L. Phipps for Bankrate.com.

OK now, one of the things my mother is helping me do is declutter some areas of the house that are an "emotional problem" for me. While I was searching for some creative and inexpensive ways to organize, I found this project and instantly fell in love! I was like OMG SUCH CUTENESS! Its a craft that could be done for any room in the house, any age range, any purpose! It's super wonderful! Destri from The Mother Huddle has the GREAT tutorial on today's craft idea! So jump on over there and get sewing on some lovely little baskets!



Craft Idea of the Day: Fabric Basket Organizers

Supplies:

all your sewing stuff
cafe rod, or curtain rod
brackets to hang rod
three 8 x 10 Plexiglas sheets, I bought mine at Home Depot for about $4 a piece, by the window section

Materials:

each basket takes 1 yard of fabric, so I used three for this project.
each basket needs a yard of interfacing, again I used three yards. I used pellon 809 decor bond, but craft bond would work as well.
Fabric Cuts:

From your fabric cut six 18½ x 28 inch pieces, and three 4 x 10 ½ inch pieces. You will then iron them onto you interfacing per it's instructions, and then cut out. Trust me, it's easier than cutting out the pellon and then ironing! As a side note, the ironing is the longest part of this project...if I had a teenager I would have paid top dollar to have them do it, just sayin'!



Well are you ready to start the day right? I think we need to have some BODACIOUS BANANAS for breakfast! That's right! They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and so why not make it healthier when possible. Whether its a grab & go item or a sit down at the table kind of deal... breakfast is the fuel for your day! Just like putting gas in your car... you are fueling up your body for whatever life holds for you, so make it the high octane fuel! LOL! Ya can't trade in for a new one like you can a car (trust me, if ya could I would SO be on a "new every 2 PLAN LMAO)! So here are some more super fun facts about bananas and some great recipes for you to try! Eat & Enjoy!

Here are some more facts about one of the world's most popular fruits:

India is the #1 banana producer in the world.

The most popular banana cultivar in the world is the Cavendish. This is the banana most often seen in U.S. and European markets.

Before Cavendish, Gros Michel was the main banana cultivar exported on a mass, commercial scale. In the mid-20th century, Gros Michel was ravaged by Panama disease and is no longer sold commercially.

Panama disease, or Fusarium wilt, is a fungus that attacks banana plants. It was reported in Australia in the 19th century.

It is believed that the Cavendish, like the Gros Michel, will be devastated by Panama disease within 20 years and will no longer be able to be produced commercially. This would be a difficult blow to the banana industry.

Scientists are trying to develop a hybrid, disease-resistant banana.

Chiquita was initially called the United Fruit Company. In the 20th century, they played a controversial role in the politics of Central America, where they had vast holdings. The company earned the nickname of "The Octopus" in the region because they had their hands in so many political pots.

The CIA-sponsored 1954 coup that overthrew the democratically-elected Guatemalan government headed by Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán is believed to be a direct result of influence by the United Fruit Company, which had an antagonistic relationship with the Arbenz government.

In Uganda, bananas are such a big part of the diet that the same word, matooke, is used for both "food" and "banana."

The pejorative term "banana republic" was coined by American writer O. Henry. He used it in reference to Honduras, but the term became widely used in reference to any Latin American, Caribbean, or African country that was politically unstable, relied heavily on basic agriculture, and was not technologically advanced.

The banana split was invented in 1904 by 23-year-old David Evans Strickler, an employee at the Tassel Pharmacy soda fountain in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

The song "Yes, We Have No Bananas" was released in 1923 and became a huge hit. It refers to the banana shortage at the time.

In 2001, Britain recorded 300 incidents of injuries related to bananas. The majority of these involved people slipping on banana peels.



Dole Fruity Breakfast Burrito

Ingredients

2 (8-inch) flour tortillas
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons strawberry jam
2 medium DOLE® Bananas

Directions

Place tortillas on baking sheet. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon evenly over tortillas.
Broil tortillas 1 minute or until hot and lightly browned.
Spread jam down center of tortillas. Place one banana over center of each tortilla; roll up tortillas.

Benefits
Low Fat, Cholesterol Free, Good Source of Fiber, Good Source of Potassium, Good Source of Vitamin C



Dole Banana Raspberry Smoothie

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups DOLE® Pineapple Juice
1 cup vanilla yogurt or frozen yogurt
1 cup DOLE Fresh Raspberries
2 ripe, medium DOLE Bananas, peeled

Directions

Combine pineapple juice, yogurt, raspberries and bananas in blender or food processor. Cover; blend until smooth. Garnish with raspberry and banana slices, if desired. Enjoy!

Benefits
Rich in Fiber, Rich in Potassium, Rich in Vitamin C, Good Source of Calcium



Dole Sunrise Pizza

Ingredients

2 DOLE® Bananas, peeled
4 frozen whole wheat waffles
1/4 cup low fat whipped cream cheese
1 can (11 oz.) DOLE Mandarin Oranges, drained
2 teaspoons honey
Dash ground cinnamon
Fresh raspberries or blueberries (optional)

Directions

Thinly slice bananas on diagonal.

Prepare waffles according to package directions.

Spread waffles with cream cheese. Arrange banana slices on top, overlapping. Arrange mandarin oranges in center of each pizza. Drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Garnish with raspberries, if desired.

Benefits
Low Cholesterol, Good Source of Fiber, Good Source of Vitamin A, Rich in Vitamin C

Well folks, I have to get off of here and get ready for my parents to come over. They have been kind enough to help with some projects around the house. You know me and my projects LMAO! And I have to check out the DD's foot... she hurt herself real bad at band practice and now she is limping and all bruised up. Never a dull moment in this house, that's for sure. Hopefully after that I can get some sewing in before DP's arrive! So have fun, be safe, and don't do nothin' I wouldn't do! LMAO... until tomorrow... HUGS!

HOME CRAFTING

Howdy do on this chilly Thursday morning? I am quite sore and confused actually. I’m wondering where is this rain we were supposed to get? I just got the cold part! But other than that LOL, I am pretty good. I hope this finds you well in whatever land you hail from… I know I have a Canadian, East Coast, and Ohio reps present… but the other ones of you lurk and don’t send a shout out, how am I supposed to know where you are representing? So where are ya from!? Come on in… sit… chat with us. I love to talk to my readers! But if not, if ya just come here to read, that's ok too!

Ok, so I didn’t get any sewing done yesterday sadly, BUT I did manage to get some organizing done. Working on the house is just as good as crafting… lets say I was crafting on my house! LOL! See I had this big Rubbermaid tub full of Christmas ribbon in storage that now needed a new home. So it’s just kind of been sitting here in the living room getting under foot. Well I have tons of other ribbons too I use in my crafting (making bows, etc.), and since Dad put up a screen door for me, a spare piece of pegboard. I also have some wooden dowels and some rods for the board…. Hmmm… I got it!



TADA!!! Presenting my Ribbon Rack! I hung a lot of my “everyday” ribbons on the dowels and hung the dowels on the pegboard! Pretty snazzy huh? That allowed me to put all the Christmas ribbons in the 2 drawers I almost emptied. PLUS its organized for easy access (just spin and clip) AND I can see what I have and what I might need! I think it looks kind of professional! I saw one similar to this in a store once. LOL! I was quite proud. And before you ask, yes this is only PART of what I have! I have 2 more drawers full, and a box or 2 still full too LOL!

So then I was perusing the web yesterday and I found an interesting article under my local news. It was called “33 Things to Do in Houston for $2 or Less” featured by our local Channel 11 News. I was thoroughly happy to see this article for multiple reasons! First being it’s a positive article for a change! I don’t look at the news much because its always littered with hate, murder, and just plain ugliness and sadness. Then the fact that this is an article of FRUGALITY! YAY! Cheap entertainment… and considering I am fixing to start mapping out our summer excursions… it was like finding gold! And lastly is more of a hope. I hope this article inspires people to get out with their families and enjoy some quality time! Stop being so cooped up behind those stupid video games and TV shows and get outside and enjoy life, ya know? Its too short… use it wisely! I know I TRY to do at least 1 special thing with my kids each summer, even if it doesn’t cost a lot. Last summer we got to go to the Blue Bell Ice Cream Creamery (YUM!!!!) and the Jersey Barnyard. We all had a GREAT time and it made memories for my kids that they can have forever. Hopefully they will do the same with their kids, ya know? We would have done more, but I got injured and it put me down for the whole summer, which sucked! But I can walk again (somewhat LOL) and I plan to have a better year this year! I am planning for the zoo, maybe the museum, the Mrs. Bairds Factory, the Dr. Pepper Factory, and a few other things… SHHH! Can’t tell ya yet… you’ll leak it to the kids! LOL! I don’t like to tell them and get their hopes up and then something happens where they get disappointed. Not cool… so I just surprise them! But in secret, I already have it all planned out LOL cause that’s how I operate best! Anyways, if you are in the Houston Area or might be visiting the Houston area, I typed up the list for you to see… admission is free unless I made a note! I’m sure you can Google each one to learn more… many have their own websites. Shoot, I know at least 1 of these is on my Bucket List (which I plan to be conquering some of them this summer LOL!).

33 Things to Do in Houston For $2 or Less

1. Art Car Museum
2. The Orange Show- $1
3. Lee & Joe Jamail SkatePark
4. Sam Houston Boat Tour
5. Houston Center for Photography
6. Discovery Green
7. Lights of Buffalo Bayou
8. Contemporary Arts Museum
9. Beer Can House- $1 admission for grounds, $5 for private tour
10. Miller Outdoor Theater
11. Museum of Fine Arts Houston- free all day on Thursdays
12. Buffalo Soldiers National Museum- $2
13. Dunham Bible Museum
14. Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
15. Holocaust Museum
16. Project Row Houses (Black 3rd ward)
17. Gulf Greyhound Park- $1
18. Buffalo Bayou Art Park
19. John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science- free admission on Thursdays 2-5 p.m. There is an admission charge for special exhibits during these Free Family Thursday hours. The price for Planet You is $3 per person. The price for Backyard Monsters: The World of Insects is $3 per person.
20. The Heritage Society
21. Kemah Boardwalk- just to walk around is free, but the rides and restaurants DO cost… some getting kinda pricey! They have carnival like games, lots of rides, and great shopping and food! It’s only 12 miles from me, so we know about this place VERY WELL! LOL!
22. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Garden
23. The Water Wall
24. The Jung Center
25. Houston Museum of Natural Science- The permanent exhibit halls are open free for patrons every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Special Exhibitions require paid admission.
26. Byzantine Chapel Museum
27. Lawndale Art Center
28. The Menil Collection
29. The Children’s Museum of Houston- Free Family Nights are offered every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m
30. Rothko Chapel of Houston
31. Houston Public Library
32. Blaffer Gallery
33. Rice Gallery

So, plan on getting outside and expanding those lungs with some fresh air this summer! If you aren’t in the Houston area, you can probably contact your local Visitors Center for information about what all is available in your area… or just Goggle it! LMAO! I plan to have a very full summer this year!



Ok sticking with the “Home crafts”, I painted the door and jam that my Dad installed with a couple of coats of primer. I have to do the trim on the next dry and sunny day so it will match the house. After dinner was completed I painted more of the squares on the cabinets in the kitchen. I also started on the trim of the lower cabinets too. I will get them all done eventually to where the only thing left to do is order then put the wallies on and put up the new curtains, etc!

Ok, so what kinds of crafts are in store for today? More sewing I think because I have special “secret agent” plans for Friday LOL! Plus taking a day or sew (LOL) break I think will keep me from getting burnt out on sewing and losing my Mojo! Can’t have that. Now I am not sure I will be making any of these, but I know they are a very popular item, especially with young mothers.



Craft Idea of the Day: Shopping Cart Cover

Things You'll Need:

1 yard of coordinating fabric
4.5 yards package of 1-inch elastic
2 yards of coordinating bias tape

Make the Inside of the Shopping Cart Cover

Step 1: Measure and cut two identical pieces of fabric with the following dimensions: 1 times the width of a cart's seat and 2 times the depth wide, and 1 times the length and 2 times the depth long.

Step 2: Use fusible interfacing and fuse a layer of batting between the two pieces of fabric.

Step 3: Make a box by cutting squares out of the corners and baste the corners together to make a box shape. Use bias tape to finish the edges.

Step 4: Cut two holes for legs In the front of the "box" about 6 inches in diameter. Baste around each opening and sew bias tape around the leg holes. Baste the top edges of the "box" together then measure the total length around the top.

Make the Skirting of the Shopping Cart Cover

Step 1: Take two pieces of fabric and cut them 1.5 times longer than the distance you measured around the top of your "box" and 1.5 feet wide.

Step 2: Sew the two pieces, wrong sides together, along one long side. Press the seam and flip to right sides together.

Step 3: Stitch 1.5 inches from the original seam leaving a 2-inch space to feed the 1-inch wide elastic. Feed the elastic through the pocket you made using a safety pin as your guide. Attach the two ends of elastic together by sewing an "X" into both ends.

Step 4: Baste around the raw edges of your skirting and gather. Make sure you end up with a length equal to the length you measured around the top of the "box."

Step 5: Pin and sew the gathered fabric to the wrong side of the top of the inside of the "box." Trim and finish the edge with bias tape.

Okie dokie… I had a couple of emails asking me to share how I cooked the roasted veggies cause they looked "absolutely heavenly” LOL! Alrighty, here ya go gang… but remember, this will work with all kinds of veggies, not just the ones I used, so feel free to substitute or even add to the list!



Roasted Vegetable Medley

Ingredients

olive oil
1 large yam, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 large potato, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup baby carrots
2 zucchini, cut into 1 inch slices
2 yellow crookneck squash, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large onion, cut into medium-large pieces
4-6 cloves garlic, minced, divided
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, divided

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the yams, potatoes, and carrots into a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and Italian seasoning and toss to coat thoroughly. Spread onto the baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

While that pan roasts, in the same bowl, place zucchini, onion, squash, bell peppers, and garlic and drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Place second pan in the oven Continue baking until all of the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes more.

Once tender, remove from the oven. Toss the roasted summer veggies with the potato mix in a large bowl until combined.



Now you HAVE to have a main dish right? Well I saw this recipe and I had to try it! Now I HAVE to share it with you LOL! Jean’s 88c chicken inspired me to share this one with you LOL! So, if you have a thing for yummy chicken, you might want to try this one on for size! I know that even I could go for another pan of this delish chicken every time I make it LOL! It goes great with peanut noodles too! YUMMY!!!!!!!



Baked Asian-Style Honey Chicken

Ingredients

1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces
3 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup chopped green onions
sesame seeds to garnish, optional

Directions

To Marinate: Arrange chicken pieces in a 9x3 inch baking dish. In a small bowl combine the onion, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and honey; mix together and spoon mixture over chicken. Cover dish and refrigerate to marinate for 1 hour, turning pieces once.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

Bake chicken for 30 minutes. Turn pieces over and top with green onion, then continue baking for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until chicken is tender and cooked through and juices run clear. Sprinkle lightly with sesame seeds to garnish. Serve immediately.

OMGoodness… aren’t you so incredibly hungry now? I know I am drooling! Alrighty, I need to go check my plants to make sure the cold and wind did not break or kill them and then I need to get started on the crafts, so I will let you go for now. Meet me back here tomorrow for more fun and ideas, ok? HUGS!

THE BATTLE OF THE STORAGE UNIT

Well good morning my darlings! How are you this bright sunny day of days? I am actually in a pretty good mood LMAO! I am so proud to announce that I have done it! I have completed my goal of emptying the storage and eliminating that monthly expense! YAY GO ME! I am a month and 6 days ahead of my deadline I set for myself! WOOHOO! I should hold a party LMAO! I defeated the storage unit YAY! LOL! I am super stoked about this even though it looks like an A-bomb went off in my living room LOL! Boxes and bags everywhere… but its ok! I can work on that now at a super human pace without worrying if the bill is paid or if they are going to lock me out of my own belongings! Oh don’t get me wrong, the people who work there have been super nice to me over the years, but not having to pay that chunk of money is even NICER! LOL! I have to go back one last time to sweep out the trash and pick up a couple of BIG items, but then I am done! YAY! Everybody dance a little chair jig now in my honor… LMAO j/k.

Ok, Jean, to answer your question, yes ALL those plants are running rampant at my parents property. And the thing is, I know people pay good money for those plants too, so after consulting with my parents, I have found that I think I am going to include some of these beauties in my plant sale, provided they all take off, which it looks like they are going to! YAY! Mother nature has given me yet ANOTHER gift… the gift of CASH LOL!

I know some of you are wondering how my doctor appt. went, so I will fess up right now LOL. All of my lab work came back naughty, my Blood Pressure is decreasing but she is not happy still, so I am permanently on yet ANOTHER medication daily for that, I have to have more labwork done in 2 months, and she griped about my diet and weight. Ya know, all the normal stuff LMAO. HOWEVER… there IS one bit of good news! Since my last visit 2 weeks ago, I have lost 7 pounds! YAY! Another GO ME moment LOL! She WAS happy about that… of course most of it was water weight but still… that’s a lot of water! LOL! Just more motivation for me to keep going and doing what I have been.

Ok its time to get crafty! I saw this craft on Thrifty and I just HAD to tell you about it! Its sooooooo cute! I might see about making some with my kids this weekend!



Craft Idea of the Day: Egg Dioramas

These are adorable hanging above a table from a light fixture. They are eggs with tiny scenes inside.

Approximate Time: a couple days, for drying time

Supplies:

Jumbo eggs
Dye
Shellac
Sponge brush for shellac (unless spray-on variety is used)
Moss
Figurines
Faceted and pony beads
Fake flowers
Ribbon
Tiny flowers or pearls
Hot glue gun
Needlenose pliers
Cuticle scissors
Sharp scissors

Instructions:



Using real jumbo eggs, make a hole in the side with cuticle scissors, and drain the egg and let it dry.

Dye them and let dry.

Shellac, and let dry.

Place moss inside, and a cute figurine.



Decorate the edges of the hole with faceted beads or a pearl string and add poms and pony beads to the top and bottom.

Add flowers bows and a hanger.

By Lily from Elkhart, IN

Aren’t those the cutest things?! OK, so now I want to eat… all this super mega hard work the last few days has made me monstrously hungry!!! And sorry doc, but I want me some REAL food… and LOTS of it LOL! I mean some meat, potatoes, veggies, breads, and lots of OH-SO-NOT-GOOD-FOR-ME Yumminess! LMAO!



Barbecued Pot Roast

Ingredients

1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 pound boneless beef chuck shoulder steak, cut 3/4 inch thick
1 tablespoon canola oil
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1 medium onion, sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons ketchup
4 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard

Directions

Combine salt and pepper; rub over steak. In a Dutch oven, brown steak in oil on both sides. Add the water, tomato sauce, onion and garlic. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Combine the remaining ingredients; pour over the meat. Cover and simmer for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until meat is tender.

And then I thought that this cake made into individual portions would be a cute party treat for a future party… maybe a garden or outdoor theme… check it out!



Dirt Cake

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
3 1/2 cups milk
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
32 ounces chocolate sandwich cookies with creme filling

Directions

Chop cookies very fine in food processor. The white cream will disappear.

Mix butter, cream cheese, and sugar in bowl.

In a large bowl mix milk, pudding and whipped topping together.

Combine pudding mixture and cream mixture together.

Layer in flower pot, starting with cookies then cream mixture. Repeat layers.

Chill until ready to serve.

Add artificial flower and trowel. Enjoy!

Alright kids, let me get off here for now and go finish the last step in this battle of the storage unit so I can rest easy and pack leisurely LOL! I will meet you back here tomorrow for another great day full of excitement LOL! HUGS!

CONQUERING CLUTTER

Hi everybody! How are you doing today? I am trying to get pumped up to get up and get motivated. We are going to be getting the big chunks of holiday stuff out of my storage unit today and moved over to my mom & dad’s garage attic. This is gonna be a big feat as I have many years of collecting stuff to move! Let’s put it this way… I rent a 10x10ft. storage unit and it is piled to the door and about 8.5-9ft. high…. Only having one little path on each side to maneuver around! A sad packrat isn’t it? So today my holiday stuff is being moved out to my parents so that I will be one step closer to conquering that goal of eliminating that bill! Wish us luck… cause we’ll need it!

Ok, the last few nights I have had a dream every night where I start with a tiny table selling plants and learning everything I can, even getting a botanist degree, and the venture turning into something similar to Mr. Maas nursery and home. I could definitely handle that! So yesterday Madison and I talked about the seed2plant sales. She thought it was a good idea and wanted to help. (I’m sure when the other kids find out about it there will be lots more hands helping LOL!) So we have a few pictures to share with you from our day yesterday…



Here is the DD on “Wasp Duty” LOL! She was a little spooked when we first went out there to plant because there were so many wasps. I had told them about my little run-in with them and she was afraid they would try to pollinate HER head LOL!



Did I not tell you that this strawberry has been taunting me? Its like practically over night this thing went from a pale pink to a fire engine red! All plump and juicy yumminess just calling my name… its not cool! Ya can’t eat just ONE strawberry… its like pringles! Ok LOL so anyway, my garden is turning into an overnight miracle! Definitely one for an impatient gardener! I don’t know what I did but I am saying thanks every morning!



DD again… planting our tons and tons of seeds. She keeps asking if I want her to take a picture of me, but I’, like “No thanks, you’re much cuter on camera than me” LOL!



Here is the table of seeds we ended up with last night. We now have over 100 seeds sowed. And we will be doing more when I get more containers. I almost have another egg tray emptied which is at LEAST 30 more seeds! We started Poblano, Green Bell Pepper, Jalapeno, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Okra, 2 different kinds of tomatoes, and some peas. Gotta go through my stash of seeds and see what else I have to try to start. Hopefully I can have a nice variety of seedling plants to sell in about a month or so. That should be enough time for them to germinate, grow, purchase the pots and transplant them all. I can print out cute labels on my computer, so that won’t be a problem. Just getting those dang little pots right now is the big issue…

So that was our day of planting fun. Most of the plants are established now and doing their own thing. All I am doing is making sure they have water and mother nature is helping with the rest! But its so exciting going out there each day and seeing the, sometimes dramatic, changes with each plant. I have one broccoli plant with looks like a poofy yellow loofa of flowers LOL! I have a Roma tomato almost as big as an egg, and so many other small, but noticable things are going on too! It’s a wonderful feeling!

OK, so now that I’m done swooning over the garden LOL, lets get a little crafty. I found this cute addition to your décor on my Thrifty Fun pages and I thought you would enjoy it!



Craft Idea of the Day: Bunny Jar Vase

Create this cute bunny vase for your Easter table from a pint jar, felt, and few other supplies.

Approximate Time: About 30 minutes.

Supplies:

pint jar
white felt
pink felt
wiggly eyes
black marker
3 chenille stems
pink pom pom or pink cotton ball
white cotton ball
scrap piece of cardboard or poster board
pencil
scissors
hot glue gun and glue sticks

Instructions:

Draw a bunny head, including the neck onto a piece of thin cardboard or poster board; cut out the design. Using this as a template, trace around the head onto a piece of white felt; cut out. Glue felt head to cardboard template and set aside.

For arms, draw a football shape onto cardboard that measures approximately 4 1/2 inches wide by 11 inches long; cut out. Using this as a template, trace around arms onto a piece of white felt; cut out. Glue felt arms around jar; they will overlap slightly in front.

Draw an inner ear onto piece of cardboard; cut out. Using this as a template, trace around inner ear onto pink felt twice; cut out both pieces and glue to inside of bunny's ears.

Glue on wiggly eyes, chenille stem whiskers, and pom pom nose. Use black marker to draw on the paws and to draw on a mouth. Glue the neck of the bunny inside the jar to hold in place. Glue white cotton ball at the bottom center on back of the jar for the tail. Fill the jar with fresh or artificial flowers.

By Rachel's Mom from Wilkesboro, NC

I think I will make one of these and maybe put some fresh carnations or tulips or something “Spring-y” in to cheer up my living room! Ok, now on to my personal favorite part of the day… yep FOOD! OMG its no wonder I need to rent the local circus tent for a formal gown… cause I love food LOL! I love to grow it, I love to cook with it, and I especially love to EAT IT! Now here is an absolute easy one pot wonder… but I will say it has a slight “hot dog-ish” taste, so maybe try with an Italian or Andouille sausage or even chicken meat… either way, its yummy and oh so filling!



Baked Penne with Smoked Sausage

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package Hillshire Farm® Smoked Sausage
1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
2 1/2 cups milk
8 ounces uncooked penne pasta
1 1/2 cups French-fried onions, divided
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup frozen peas

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut sausage into 1/4-inch slices.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Add sausage; cook and stir for 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly browned.

Combine soup and milk in a 13x9-inch baking dish. Stir in uncooked pasta, sausage, 1/2 cup French-fried onions, 1/2 cup cheese and peas. Cover baking dish tightly with foil.

Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and top with remaining 1 cup French-fried onions and 1/2 cup cheese. Bake for 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Ok kids, I have to go wake up the household and get them up and moving for the day so we can get the storage knocked out and hopefully conquer the clutter today! Ya’ll have fun and be good and I will see you back here tomorrow! HUGS!

LOVELY LITTLE LISTS

Well GOOD morning everyone! How are you doing today? I’m well… cold but well. Its not as bitter a cold today as we are on a “warming trend” the weatherman says LOL! I am really scatterbrained today, so the topics are all over the place… lists, crafts, food, gardening, you name it and I’m thinking about it! I hope everyone is ok… I’ve noticed a decline in readers. I hope everyone is still enjoying the information I share. Well for those still out there, here we go…

Now, I hate to admit it, but recent party planning and the lists, etc. that I use has put me into overdrive! LIST OVERDRIVE! I learned a long time ago that I function best with lists. They keep me organized and help me accomplish all kinds of things. I suspect I may be ADHD (as does my son’s doctor), and I treat myself as such (even though I have never had an official diagnosis), so I have learned that this is a tool that helps me in life. Without them I tend to be disorganized, forgetful, and downright LOST! Grocery lists, inventory lists, Monthly menus, To Do lists, Guest lists, Bill paying lists, etc. You name it… so guess what I am going to be doing today? Yep LISTS!!!

Craft Idea of the Day: Homemade Menu Calendars

For starters of my pile of lists, I’m going to make my own menu calendars. I found a great free printable blank calendars on another blog entry… check it out HERE! Then I am going to print them out smaller than a full page and bind the months together with some rubber cement. Then I am going to mount the pile of calendars onto some pretty scrapbook paper (food or kitchen related). After that all dries, I am going to put it onto a piece of cardboard cut the same size as the scrapbook paper and mount a strip of magnet on the back. Once completed, I’m going to write a meal on each day and hang it on the fridge so everyone will know what’s in store for the upcoming month. I hope it will turn out cute… and I have all the supplies to do it, so even if I mess up LOL., I can do it again! You can do this too… and not just for meal menus, but just a calendar in general. You can use a picture of your family, your pet, etc. There are also many computer programs to design and print your own calendars as well. The possibilities are really endless. I choose to hand make my own cause it allows me to be more creative.

Then I got in a really crafty mood yesterday when I went through another box from storage. I had some periwinkle blue ceramic tiles that I found on clearance (like 5 cents each at the Home Depot one time. I bought them cause I needed a cheap purchase for a secret shop… the box had like 24 or something… didn’t count them LMAO!) and I sat there thinking… what can I do with these? Then it hit me! I recently found some scrapbook paper that matches my current living room! I have modge podge, decorative papers, and tile… DECOUPAGE TIME!



I cut the paper to fit the tile and decoupaged it on. On 2 of the tile, I just cut out one of the flowers with some special scissors, glued fleece (you could use felt too) and then I sprayed varish/clear sealant on it. I glued a ribbon around all 4 sides and then a tiny bow where the end of the ribbon was and… Voila a pretty coaster to match my living room!!



Now with the tiles that have a full square covering them, I am gonna checkerboard them with the plain blue tile to make a pretty table top! I am going to cut a piece of plywood to the same size as my table and adhere the tile to it. Once it is completed I will have a lovely tabletop to match my living room (as it is right now!) I think it’s turning out very pretty! I just need to go get more paper LOL. Then I thought I could make others and sell them! Small end tables, full size coffee tables… or BOTH! How cool would that be!? And when I redo the living room in 60’s psychadelic… I could do tie-dye and 60’s symbols like peace signs, hearts, moons, etc! COOL huh? LOL…

Then I found more wooden spoons in storage so I spray painted them bright orange. They are gonna be more garden markers and I think this color will stand out very nicely against all the green I hope to be having! I tried a couple in yellow too, but I’m not diggin’ that color as much. Not bright enough! Maybe multiple coats will look better… if not- it’s off to the store for paint YAY! LOL…

Then my brother was a gem and brought me some wooden palates last night, so I think I’m gonna start building my planters on the back porch today. (Can ya tell I am anxious about my gardening coming up? LOL) I’m not sure if I want to line them with plastic or with like a mesh or a moss or something… will have to look around the Garden Center and see what I like best (and what’s cheap)… right now, it looks like the plastic might win! I have plenty of that everywhere LOL! I’m also going to paint some cat litter buckets white and make some hanging planters… I might even decoupage one with Strawberry paper and make a planter for the cute strawberry plants in my kitchen window… which are already giving me baby berries BTW! Isn’t that the coolest!?



Then I think I am going to start cutting material for my daughter’s room and one of the things I want to make is a scrap wreath. Basically you cut strips of material and you tie it around a wire ring/wreath form. You keep tying and tying until you have a very full wreath! I have to cut the closet curtain too… and get all the measurements for everything in her room. The goal is to have her room redone by the end of the month. That only gives me like 9 days YIKES!! I best get motivated and busy huh!? Maybe since I am still in the crafty mood, it'’ll be the perfect time!



Okie dokie so we gotta eat right? A crafter has to eat to keep up their crafting strength if nothing else LMAO… so what to make. I think some Meatloaf with some Broccoli cheese rice and some garlic focaccia bread slices would be nice… last time I made it, it was a huge hit! But I’ll share a different broccoli casserole side recipe with you today that is also a big hit here in my house.



Ritz Broccoli Casserole
(I found the original recipe on the Kraft website and made some adjustments.)

Ingredients

2 pkg. (16 oz. each) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed, drained
1 lb. VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
72 RITZ Crackers, coarsely crushed (about 3 cups), divided
1 (10oz.) can of cheddar cheese or cream of broccoli soup
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted

Directions

HEAT oven to 350°F.

MIX broccoli, VELVEETA, soup, and half the cracker crumbs until well blended.

SPOON into 2-qt. baking dish. Mix remaining cracker crumbs and butter; sprinkle over broccoli mixture.

BAKE 45 min. or until heated through.

Ok gang, Alex is still home and he just woke back up, so I need to get his medicine to him and get him fed (hopefully he will eat) so that he can be settled in and I can get some crafts going. I hope ya’ll are safe and warm and well wherever you may be. Until tomorrow… HUGS!

REDUCE REUSE AND RECYCLE!

Howdy everybody! Hope you are doing well today! I am feeling somewhat better today. Think my meds are finally doing some good! PLUS an added bonus is that I sold the old car we have had sitting here waiting for a loving person to take! YAY! Paying some bills! Most people don’t get excited over that, but I do! It means I am one step closer to financial freedom! Remember I set the goal of eliminating as many bills and debts as I could this year…

OK, I have been so pumped about the recycled crafting that I am gonna go craft-crazy today! I’m gonna cram a bunch of stuff in today! So pull up yourself by the boot straps and hold on for your 8 second ride! YEEHAW!!! LOL!

Craft Idea for the Day: Recycled Crafts (part 2)



Crayon Caddy

Approximate Time: 30 minutes
Supplies:
7 water bottles
24 inches of ribbon
Glue stick
Glue gun
Scissors
30 inches of string
Instructions:
Take the 7 water bottles, wash and remove paper labels.

Cut 6 of the water bottles to about 2 1/2 inches in height and 1 bottle to 3 1/2 inches in height.

Heat up the glue gun and arrange the shorter bottles in a circle around the taller one in the middle.

Take a string and tie them together snugly.

Drip glue between the bottles to attach them. When the glue dries, take your 1 inch wide ribbon and cut to the appropriate length, so that it goes around the outside of the bottles.

Glue in place and you're done!



Ceiling Fan Blade Key Holder

This is an easy way to use old ceiling fan blades, I turn them into key holders. It takes a short time and they are fun gifts to give.

Approximate Time: 1 hour or less
Supplies:
ceiling fan blade
stencil paint
stencil brushes
letter stencils
decorative stencils
hooks to hold keys
spray paint for background color
ribbon or old shoe strings (something to hang it with)

Instructions:

Unscrew fan blade holders and clean blades. Use spray paint for background color, your choice of color but light colors work better. Let paint dry and start stenciling. Use letter stencil for writing the word "keys" at bottom of the blade. Now the fun part, I use stencils but if you can free hand paint all the better! Just decorate anyway you want. I have done flowers, birds, whatever. It is better if you wait for one thing to dry before going to the next one. Place the hooks one on the bottom and two on each side of blade, more if you want. Use ribbon, string, leather, just whatever you have around just thread through the two holes on the sides then through the one on top so it comes out the back tie a bow or just a knot, I make these and sell them at our church yard sale, they do go fast.



Book Angels

First of all I would like to just say I love making these for any occasion. They are cheap and easy to make and best of all its a great way to recycle all those hard cover books you don't read anymore or the ones you can get at a yard sale for dirt cheap.

Approximate Time: 1 day and 2 hours

Supplies:
1 hard cover book: free-$1.00
1 small porcelain doll from a dollar store or thrift shop: $.50-$1.00
1 can of white paint (I get mine free from our hazardous waste facility) or maybe you have some left over in the garage from a new paint job in the house
1 small can of black paint, I get it from the dollar store: $1.00
1 spool of lace: $1.00
A small piece of felt: $.50
1 spool of any type of corrugated string: $1.00
small flowers, stars, beads, gems, etc. for decorations, which are usually laying in your craft drawers
Hot glue gun
foam paint brush: pack of 5 for $1.00 at dollar store

So total to make these books are between $4.00 to $10.00

Instructions:
First, take 20 pages from the front of the book and, two at a time, fold the bottom corner to the middle of the book with the folded part facing the front cover. Press to crease. Then do the same for the last 20 pages at the back of the book with the folded part facing the back cover, thus forming the wings. Then figure out how many pages are left and find the center. Turn the book upside down and fold two pages in the center the same way as before so you don't lose it. Go back to the front of the book, take the first two pages after your recent folds, fold bottom corner into the center. Press to crease. This will give you the same fold as before, just upside down. Keep folding towards the front of the book. When you hit the center fold start, folding from the back of the book the same way (folding towards the back cover). Keep going until you have folded all the pages. Here is your dress. Ta-Da the hard part is done!
Now when I first made these, I left the wings folded and just put a few drops of hot glue so they don't pop out too much. As I got making more, I decided to cut the creases so that I still had the shape but not the bulk (I prefer to cut), but to each their own, I guess. It's all trial and error. I will try to post one of each, if I can.

The next step is to paint the wings and dress using the foam brush. These work better to get in the creases in the dress. As that is drying, you may need to altar the doll. The ones I get, the arms and legs are separate but the head is attached to the torso so I use needle nose pliers to slowly and carefully detach the head (starting in the arm hole) making sure I keep at least some of the neck still attached. Don't forget to keep the arms.

Now that the paint is dry on the front, take your black paint. Cover the whole back and any other parts on the front that the wings and dress don't cover.

Next after all is dry. Glue head on book. Cut your felt shape. Take your felt and glue the neck part to the head. The arms can be tricky. The arms should only use half of the length of the felt cut for the arms. With the dolls being so small the whole arm only makes the hand to elbow. You can stuff the rest of the sleeve or leave it (it will be covered later). I usually play around with them for a while until I get the felt to wrap them the way I want and the arms to place on the dress the way I want them too. Once I get them the way I want them, I then glue the arms into the sleeves. Don't attach to dress yet just in case you want to add things under the arms, for example: lace, gems, etc.
Trim bottom of dress with lace and make a long strand to wrap as a shawl over head and shoulders then down as far as you want. This helps to hide the fact that the arms are too short. Next glue shawl to head, then glue arms where you want them. Sometimes I can even get them to pray. Then I hang a cross earring (from the dollar store) from her hands. Trim wings with corrugated string, add decorations to wings and dress. Check for any spots that may need a dab of hot glue.

And you have your very own book angel for any occasion. I have made these for baby showers, teachers gifts, anniversaries, Christmas gifts; next is a wedding one.



Juice Bottle Buckets

This particular bucket was made by cutting the top off the apple juice bottle with an X-Acto knife. I then wrapped fabric around the bottle, securing with a hot glue gun and attached trim on the rim. For the handle, I punched holes into the side and attached another ribbon. You can attached any type of decoration you want onto the front.



Clothespin Dress

Materials:

old toddler dress
thread and needle or sewing machine
clothes hanger (a child size would also work)

Directions:

All you have to do is sew the bottom straight across and and insert the clothes hanger in top and hang on your clothes line but dont forget to bring in from the bad weather. This could also be hung in your closet to hold nylons, socks, gloves, and scarves, etc.!



Pencil Cups

Simply take old aluminum cans (from veggies, etc). and wash them out real well with soap and water. Make sure there are no jagged edges. Cover the can with decorative scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, wrappers, etc. The possibilities are endless!



Ice Cream Cone Piggy Banks

Make these piggy banks for gifts for Christmas or any other special occasion. Save empty Juicy Juice containers (46 oz.), wash them out, cut out a slit in the side for the money, and painted them. Acrylic paint is the best. You can add “sprinkles” by punching holes in various colored papers and gluing them on. A cherry on top to decorate it and you have a FUN and neat gift!



Tin Can Herb Pots

Another use for aluminum and vegetable cans is to make an herb garden indoors. Cover the cans in decorative paper, paints, etc. Poke holes in the bottom of the cans for drainage and fill with a few small rocks (for weight) and dirt (about 1.5 cups maybe). Plant your seeds and watch them grow! This is a multi-purpose craft… you’re recycling, you’re creating a fresh oxygen source in your home, and you’re saving money by growing your own spices and herbs! Fresh is better… healthier!



Book Safe

There is something mysteriously appealing about a hollow book safe - it is a practical idea that adds to home security, but is also an ideal treasure box for sentimental keepsakes. This free craft project would make a cool homemade gift for mom, dad or teens. Choose the book with the recipient in mind - Dad may appreciate a book safe made from an old car manual or history book, while Mom would prefer to stash her cash in a sewing book or romance novel. If placed on a shelf with similar books, the altered book safe will fit right in and no one will ever guess its true purpose.

Supplies:

Hard cover book of sufficient size to allow a cut-out of 1/2" to 1" deep
Exacto knife
nail scissors or similar
non-fraying fabric or felt for lining
hot glue gun and glue sticks or strong craft glue
scrap cardboard
ruler
pencil

Instructions:

Caution:
Exacto knifes are VERY sharp. Although the instructions for this craft are relatively easy, it does involve deep cutting with an Exacto knife and may be dangerous for some people to do.

This is definitely NOT a safe craft for children!

Please proceed with this craft at your own risk.

1. If your book has a paper cover, remove it and replace it when you are finished making the book safe.
2. Open the book and decide how deep and how large you want the hollow opening. Measure and mark the width and height of this rectangle on a page that is at the depth that you have chosen, measuring the depth from the inside of the back cover. The cut side near the center of the book should be far enough from the center to allow use of the ruler as a straight edge for cutting; usually this means at least a ruler width away from the center line.
3. You may need to support the side of the open book that you are not cutting, so that the other pages lie flat as you work. If so, use another book placed under the open front cover to support it. You could also use a rubber band to hold the loose pages to the front cover and away from your work area.
4. Begin cutting with the Exacto knife, using the ruler as a straight edge on each side of the rectangle, cutting down through about a 1/4" inch of pages. Take particular care with the corners to ensure each cut meets the cut that joins it.
5. Remove the cut out rectangle that you just created and discard. Use nail scissors if it is necessary to trim the sides straight.
6. Lay down the pages that now have an opening cut in them, and draw around the inside of this rectangle, on the page directly below, so that you may repeat the cuts exactly.
7. Repeat steps 4 to 6 until you reach the back cover. Place a piece of scrap cardboard inside the back cover as you work on the last section, to avoid scoring or cutting the back cover with the knife.
8. Cut fabric or felt to fit the bottom of your rectangle. Measure the depth, and cut one or more strips of fabric to this size, with enough length to cover all four sides of the rectangle.
9. With the glue gun, place enough hot glue in each corner of the rectangle and up the sides to secure the pages in place, forming your "book safe." This will be covered by your fabric lining.
10. Use hot glue to secure the side strips of fabric all around the rectangle, being careful that the fabric does not extend anywhere above the opening or the book will not close properly.
11. Finally, use hot glue to fasten down the bottom lining fabric. Cut away any glue "strings" once the glue has cooled, and close the book. If you have one, replace the paper book cover. Your book safe is now ready to hide money, valuables or keepsakes in its secret compartment!

New Life Crayons

Maybe your little one has broken crayons scattered everywhere in his room and you just can’t bear to throw them away. You can do single colors or mix up the pieces and give the crayons new life! Remove the paper wrappers and place the broken pieces into metal muffin tins (I recommend shaped tins). Bake the crayons for about 10 minutes or less… just enough to melt them together to form the new shape!



Cake Pan Burner Covers

A Trash to Treasure craft project! Recycle cake pans and make yourself a set of artistic stove burner covers! Are you tired of looking at those ugly burners? Well cover them up with dollar store cake pans (that's where I bought mine). Note: I have an electric stove You don't have to be artist - just paint like you did in grade school...

Supplies:

8 inch cake pan for the small burners

9 inch cake pan for the large burner

acrylic paints - white for the base, plus any other colors you need for your design

sealer - I used a brush on gloss.

rubbing alcohol

Instructions:

Clean the bottom of the cake pan with rubbing alcohol, you will actually see some metal paint or dust from the pan. Let air dry, and don't touch with your hands. We have lots of oil on our hands.

Now paint on two coats of white paint, making sure you go one way, from one end to the other end, in a brush stroke. Let dry for a couple of hours.

Now paint on any design or scenery you want. If doing a scenery, I started with a darker blue at the top, working lighter blues towards the middle, ending with a dark green at the bottom working the lighter greens towards the light blue. I'm no artist, but I don't think I did too bad - and my kids liked the picture!

Let dry a day, and brush or spray on a sealer.

Caution: Do make sure that your stove burners are turned off and cold before topping with your masterpiece.



Woven Magazine coasters

1. Tear out 6 magazine pages. Cut off the ragged edge on each, then cut each page in half lengthwise. I stacked them and cut them all at once with an X-acto knife and ruler. (To make a coaster with a finer weave, cut each of the half-page strips in half lengthwise again. And note that weaving will take you twice as long!)
2. Fold each strip in half lengthwise. Then fold the resulting piece in thirds, folding the cut edges inward first so they're hidden inside. Now you have a long, thick strip. Fold it in half at the center. See steps pictured above. Repeat with each magazine sheet
3. To start weaving, interlock two strips. This is the bottom left corner of your coaster.
4. Add another strip that wraps around the outside of the horizontal bottom strip.
5. Continue weaving. Some strips will wrap around the outside of the coaster when you start them; some will begin sandwiched between two existing strips. See above. Keep adding to your coaster one strip at a time, making sure to push the papers tightly together. Flip your coaster over and check the back frequently to make sure nothing's going haywire back there!
6. When the coaster has 6 horizontal and 6 vertical strips, it's time to finish the edges. Strips that emerge on the outsides of the "coaster sandwich" need to be secured. Trim off one end of the strip so it's even with the edge of the coaster. Bring the other end around the edge of the coaster and tuck it under the closest weave to hide the raw ends. You should have just enough length to reach.
7. Strips that emerge from the inside of the sandwich can simply be cut off. If you want to seal your coaster with something, you could try some spray acrylic sealer and see what happens.

Scoop of Hugs and Kisses

Use a laundry scoop and some candy to make a gift for someone special.

Materials Needed:

Laundry Scoop
Hugs and Kisses Candy
Clear or Colored Plastic Wrap
Ribbon

Instructions:

A simple gift idea! Fill the Laundry scoop with candy hugs and kisses. Cut a large piece of plastic wrap. Set the scoop in the middle of the plastic wrap. Fold the plastic wrap over so the two ends meet at the scoop handle. Pull the plastic wrap tightly around the scoop and gather around the handle. Tie a ribbon around the handle to hold the plastic wrap in place. Tie a note onto the scoop that says "A scoop of Hugs and Kisses for you".



Bubble Necklace

Instructions for making a necklace that is also a container that holds your bubble soap and wand.

Materials Needed:

Film Container
Bead
Yarn
Pipe Cleaner
Home-Made Bubbles

Instructions:

Glue the side of the pony bead to the center of the film container lid, making sure neither hole is covered. Set it aside for the glue to dry. Start out by decorating the film canister if desired. You can use stickers, permanent markers, or other items; just remember, there is a good chance of it getting wet!
Cut a piece of yarn long enough to fit over the head once the ends are tied together. Thread one end of the yarn through the bead and tie the ends together. Make a small wand by forming one end of the pipe cleaner into a circle. Cut the pipe cleaner so the wand is small enough to fit into the film container. Store your wand in your container along with some bubble solution. You can buy bubble soap, or even make your own!



Mini First Aid Kit Necklace or Tin

Instructions for making a tiny first aid kit necklace using an empty film container, pill bottle, or mint tin. Perfect for a purse, backpack, or suitcase!

Materials Needed:

Film Container, Pill Bottle, or Altoids tin**
Yarn or Ribbon
First Aid Supplies (see below)

Instructions:

Put holes in the sides of the film container, and attach a long piece of yarn or ribbon to go around the neck. You can also poke a hole in lid to feed the yarn or ribbon through. Tie the yarn into a knot so you can wear it around your neck.

Fill the film container with first aid supplies such as a small packet of antiseptic wipe or alcohol, band-aids, safety pin, small wrapped hard candy, and money for a phone call. Include a piece of paper with important phone numbers.

As a finishing touch, you can paint a red cross on the outside with nail polish or cut a cross out of whit contact paper.



**If using an Altoid tin, simply cover the top with scrapbook, contact paper, or paint and fill with supplies.



Toilet Paper Roll Drum Ornament

Materials Needed:

Toilet Paper Roll
Felt
Ribbon
Toothpicks
Tiny Pom-poms
Craft Glue
Scissors

Instructions:

Cut the toilet tissue roll in half. Cut a piece of felt to fit around the outside of one of the half rolls and glue it in place. Cut 6 pieces of ribbon, each one should be 2 1/2-inches long. Glue these pieces of ribbon around the toilet tissue roll to form 3 'V' shapes that touch at the top. Trace around one of the round ends of the toilet tissue roll piece onto a piece of white felt; cut this circle out. Dab some glue around one of the round edges of the toilet tissue roll. Center the white circle on the glue. Cut 3 more pieces of ribbon, each about 8-inches long. Fold one into a loop and glue the ends onto the top edge of the drum for a hanger. Glue the other 2 around the top and bottom edges of the toilet tissue roll. Trim off any extra ribbon. Cut off the pointy ends of the toothpicks; paint them black. Once the paint is dry, glue the 2 tiny pom-poms onto one end of each of the toothpicks. Glue these onto the felt top of the drum so they look like drum sticks.



Garden Markers

Take old wooden spoons and wooden utensils and give them new life by painting them with a bright color. Then write the name of the plant down the handle with a permanent marker. You can hot glue small trinkets to match the marker if you wish. Would make a great gift for the gardener in your life when you pair it with a pair of gloves and some seed packets (can both be found at the dollar store along with wooden spoons if you don’t have any at home to use).



Beach in a Jar

Fill a jar with sand and shells from the beach you visited. You could also make these cute gifts/souvenirs for friends and family! I make these for my friends if we go to new places on family vacation… and they are always a hit!

What You Need:

Glass jar with lid
Glass cleaner
Paint pen, optional
Sand
Shells, pebbles, small pieces of driftwood, and sea glass
Thick crafts glue

Instructions:

Use glass cleaner to remove fingerprints from the inside and outside of the jar. Decide if the jar is going to sit on its bottom or lie on its side. If you'd like, use a paint pen to write the name of the place where you collected the shells on the side of the jar. Pour enough sand into the jar to cover the bottom. Drop shells, pebbles, pieces of driftwood, and sea glass inside the jar. Glue a large shell, a sand dollar, or a group of shells onto the lid. Let the glue dry. Put the lid on the jar.



Baby Sock Coin Purse (I make these a lot!)

Baby sock change purses can be an adorable shower present or just a neat way to remind yourself to "sock away" your loose change. You can make one in as little as 10 minutes, which makes them ideal last minute gifts or baby shower favors. In this article, we will discuss how to make a baby socks change purse. Lay a baby sock flat on the table. It should be a clean, unused sock with a cute pattern. If you have selected a lacy anklet sock, then turn the sock down so that the lace is not at the top of the sock. Cut a slit about an inch long on either side of the sock. This will make room for the hinge on the metal clasp. Position the change purse clasp so that the top edges of the sock fit in the metal grooves of the clasp. The groove is meant to hold the material at the top of the change purse. In this case, it will be holding the edges of the ankle hole. Press the metal edges tightly together using the pliers. This will hold the sock firmly in place and enable you to shut the purse tightly so that change cannot escape. Fix the ends of the clasp to the sock with the needle and thread. There will be at least one small hole at each end of the change purse clasp. Use the needle and thread to firmly attach the ends of the clasp to the sock for added durability. Decorate with rhinestone accents. Sparkly rhinestones are a good way to customize your baby socks change purse and add pizazz to your cute new look.



Magazine holders

What You Need:

Empty cereal boxes
Wrapping paper, or wallpaper
Scissors
Tape (double-sided works best)

Instructions:

Cut off the sides of the box at your chosen angle and height. Wrap the box in wrapping paper or wallpaper, taking care to hide your tape. Repeat until you have enough storage boxes to house all of your magazines.

Tips:

1. Fabric or contact paper can also be used to wrap the box.

2. To hide your seams, place them on the corners of the box.

3. If you plan to group several boxes together, on a shelf or elsewhere, stick to the same size box – you'll achieve a more orderly look.

So there ya go… I think that’s enough to keep you busy for a few days LOL! I was going to cover some crafts using puzzle pieces, but there are WAY too many... so I figured in an upcoming entry, I'll cover just that... because you all know the puzzle piece is special to me anyway! There are literally thousands more ideas you can do to make recycled crafts! Just Google and you can be whisked away to a treasure cove of ideas. OK now for food… most of my readers know I am not privileged enough to get a chance to have many leftovers LOL… BUT- it doesn’t mean that I don’t do research for the benefit of my friends! Rather than posting a billion recipes here, I found 2 great sites that have a database full of ideas for leftovers and they are pretty easy to navigate… being divided by ingredient, etc. The first is called LeftOverChef.com and the other is LoveFoodHateWaste.com … be sure to check them out!

Well I am still conquering the clutter mess… and I think it’s contagious! YAY! My DD15 actually cleaned her room and found a banker’s box full of books she no longer reads, some in pristine condition. So I showed her a resource she has to recycle those books and make a little cash in the process. We loaded up and I took her to Half Price Books where they buy used books, CD’s, etc. She got like $15 and she was thrilled! Then I was up until about 2am this morning cleaning out in the bedroom closet! I took out 2 HUGE 39 gallon bags of clothes I either can’t fit or don’t wear anymore… I only saved 1 shirt I cant fit and its because I’m gonna turn it into a reusable shopping bag to that store. The shirt was a promo giveaway when they opened a new location at PetSmart and it has their logo on it… so why not make one? I’ll post a picture when I’m done with it (LMAO I know… I just inadvertently gave you another recycling craft idea LMAO! T-shirt shopping bags! That’s pretty good! LOL!) I also removed 1 big 39 bag of trash! I hung this row of hooks I found (actually supposed to be used to hang brooms, etc. on) at the back wall of my closet and hung some of the purses I use the most (yes I LOVE purses! LOL have them EVERYWHERE!) behind the clothes. I thought it was pretty smart! I’m going to get a couple more so I can hang more purses and belts, scarves, etc… all across the back wall in there! I went through my shoes too and took out a bunch. I got to get an over the door shoe organizer for the ones that remain! Gonna try to tackle some more of that room today! It looks tons better though… TRUST ME! LOL…

As for food? Well since I am on this cleaning frenzy, I have to have some fix it and forget it meals… so guess what that means kids?! YEP… more crock pot yummies!! Check out what’s for dinner in my house today!

Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken Recipe

6 chicken breasts (boneless & skinless)
salt & pepper to taste
garlic powder, to taste
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup

Rinse chicken and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Mix undiluted soup and pour over chicken in the crock pot. Cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Serve over rice or noodles.

Crock Pot Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe

1 small onion, chopped
1/4 c margarine
2 c uncooked quick-cooking rice
2 c water
1 can mushroom soup
1/2 tsp salt
1 (5 oz) jar sharp cheese spread
2 (10 oz) pkgs frozen chopped broccoli
Dried onions

Combine onion, margarine, rice, water, soup, salt, cheese & broccoli to the Crock Pot. Cook on Low for 6 hours. Sprinkle dried onions when served. Serves 8

Ok kids… I’m out of here for the day. Happy cleaning, crafting, or whatever your journeys take you to do! Be safe, have fun, and see you tomorrow! HUGS!