December 30, 2010

Homemade Playdough Recipe

My kids really enjoy playing with playdough.  I have found that homemade playdough is very easy and inexpensive to make.  It also lasts longer and is softer and easier to mold.  Today we made two batches of playdough, some “cookies”, and we also decorated our creations.  Here are some pictures of our day and a recipe for you.

 

 

Playdough Recipe

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1/4 cup salt
• food coloring of choice (5-10 drops)

Mix all the ingredients, adding the food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until play dough has a smooth consistency. Remove play dough from the pan and allow to cool for a few minutes. Knead until smooth. After it has cooled, place it in a plastic bag or airtight container to keep it soft.

Thrifty gift idea:  Make some of this to use as an inexpensive party favor. Save frosting containers for the playdough.  Decorate or cover the containers.

Another tip: When I was teaching preschool, we would multiply this recipe times four so that we would have enough for about eight kids.  Also, we would make a color of playdough for each month which went along with the color of the month we were studying.

December 29, 2010

12 Helpful Tips for Moving

Unfortunately, I have moved several times in my life.  It’s very consuming and exhausting.  There are some ways to make moving a little bit easier.  Here are some tips I’ve learned that may make the process a little easier.

1.  Get organized. Keep a notepad handy for all the things you need to do.  It’s easy to get overwhelmed and forget some of the extra tasks.  A “to do” list will help you stay focused and not stress about forgetting things.

2.  Pack ahead of time. If you have a choice, there is no need in waiting until the last minute to pack.  Start by packing the things that you don’t use regularly such seasonal decorations, clothing, books, and wall hangings.  Each time I move I am reminded that it was more work than I remembered.  You don’t want to be overly stressed, so start as soon as possible.  During the last week before the move, you should only have necessities left to pack.

3.  Begin saving packing materials and try to use what you have. If you know in advance that you will be moving, begin saving packing materials, bubble wrap, newspaper, boxes, etc.  See if you can bring home boxes from work.  I also like to use sheets, blankets, and towels for packing material.  Blankets work well for packaging wall hangings.  I fold the blanket around the wall hanging and then apply packing tape around the blanket to hold it in place.  No tape touches the frame.

4.  Purchase a roll of plastic wrap (Saran wrap). It may sound crazy to you, but Saran Wrap is actually a great moving tool.  Wrap it around dressers, cabinets, and small things that you might lose.  Saran Wrap doesn’t apply tape to surfaces that you don’t want to get damaged, but it holds things together.  I have used it to hold armoire doors closed to keep them from opening and breaking.  I have used it to wrap odd items.  It’s an inexpensive fix.

5.  Label your boxes well. Simply writing “kitchen” just isn’t enough.  After the move when you’re looking for your casserole dishes, you don’t want to hunt through 15 boxes before you find them.  It’s worth the extra few seconds of effort to write something like “kitchen silverware” or “kitchen pots and pans”.

6.  Declutter as you go. If possible, try to get rid of clutter as you pack.  It costs money to pack and move things you don’t need.  Have a separate area for items to donate.

7.  Ask for moving expenses. If you are moving or relocating for your work, ask if they help with moving expenses.  Be sure to save all of your travel and gas receipts, as well as the receipts for rentals and boxes.  You can sometimes claim this expense on your taxes if it is work related.

8.  If you are renting a moving truck shop around for rates with different companies. Find out if they charge extra for each mile driven or if there are a certain number of miles included in their rate.

9.  When renting a moving truck, it is best to call to make sure your truck is there. We usually do this the day before.  Even if you have reserved a truck and paid a deposit, sometimes the truck will not be there. I know it sounds crazy, but it has happened to us.

10.  ALWAYS inspect the moving truck before leaving the rental company. Check for dents in the truck, missing trim, and any other kind of damage.  Also, check to see how much gas is in the truck.  Make sure all of this is documented on your rental agreement. Otherwise, you might face unnecessary charges.

11.  If possible, use plastic totes for fragile items. When we moved a few years ago, I decided to spend $30 on totes so that my china would be in a safer place.  Sure enough, someone was helping us unload the truck and dropped a tote with china in it.  I was surprised that none of it was broken. Boxes can easily get damaged during moving and they can also collapse if heavy items are stacked improperly.  Get plastic totes if you can.

12.  If possible, move on a week day. We have found that moving trucks are more expensive and harder to find on weekends.  A week day move will most likely make for a smoother transition since businesses and offices will be open.

These are a few moving tips that I’ve learned along the way.  What tips make moving easier for you?

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December 22, 2010

12 Useful Tips for Regifting

We have all received gifts that we find unuseful. There are some things that can be returned and other items leave you wondering where in the world they they came from. Rather than tossing or donating your unwanted gifts, consider repurposing them by regifting. Although regifting may sound tacky to some of you, here are some useful tips to consider.

1. Don’t give partially used gift cards. I received a used gift card more than seven years ago when my daughter was born and I still remember it like it was yesterday. The gift card was for $17 and some change. It left me wondering if they returned something and just gave me the gift card from the return or if someone gave them a gift card and they used it, and were giving the leftovers to me. If you have a gift card with an odd amount on it, consider adding a few dollars to it so that you can use it for a gift. Rather than giving someone a gift card with $17.86 on it, add $2.14 to make it an even $20.

2. Only give new unopened gifts. If you have to dust it or clean it first, then don’t regift it.

3. Consider using your unwanted gifts for a gift exchange party. Some refer to this game as Dirty Santa. I have played it with family, co-workers, and at church Christmas parties. It is actually pretty fun. You pick a number and that determines when you’ll get a turn in the game. The first person picks a wrapped present and they unwrap it. Then the next person can take the first person’s present or choose a new wrapped present and unwrap it. Each present can only be taken twice. Honestly, I think this is one of the best ways to unload an unwanted gift. For these gift exchange games, it’s usually assumed that people will bring something funny or something they don’t want.

4. Don’t just regift something to get rid of it. Make sure the person will like or appreciate the gift.

5. Remember who gave you the gift in the beginning. Don’t regift the item to someone who will show it the person who gave it to you. You don’t want to regift that book to your cousin who will show your aunt.

6. Make sure all the paper and tape from the original gift is gone. You don’t want evidence that the item was already gifted to you. (You need to be careful of this issue on things you buy from the store as well. I have seen items on the shelves that had a little bit of tape or wrapping paper left on the boxes.)

7. Be careful what you say about the gifts people give you. I’ve heard of people telling others humorous stories about the gifts they received from others and then regifting the items the next year. The people knew the item was a regift because they remember hearing the stories from the year before.

8. Make sure you know what’s in the box. You may get a present that has a crock pot on the box, but that doesn’t mean that there’s a crock pot inside. Some people simply reuse boxes. It would really be a mess if you thought you were giving someone a crock pot, but you gave them something else. Or worse, there could be a card inside with your name on it.

9. Only regift current items. And by that I mean don’t give someone an old CD, discolored cologne, a bath product that is no longer sold, etc. I remember one year someone gave me a set of Bath & Body Works products. I took it back to exchange it for a different scent and found out that Bath & Body Works had new and different packaging from what was on my gift. To make things worse, when I opened the gift, there was an expired coupon inside.

10. If you don’t have money for a gift, then choose something that your friend has complemented in your home. Then tell them that you didn’t have any money to buy them something, but you knew they really liked the crystal clock you have on your dresser, and you wanted them to have it. Honesty would probably be appreciated and the person would actually get something they like.

11. Don’t regift handmade items. Handmade items are very personal and the person receiving the item will be sure to ask, “Did you make this?”

12. Consider using your unwanted gifts for those in need. Each year, I know that my church will collect coats, blankets, and toys. I also know that each year I will assemble shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. I have used things that we have received to help fill the shoeboxes. (Of course the items were new.) This is an inexpensive way to bless others with a new item of something that you don’t need.

If you don’t want to regift, but don’t want to hurt your pocketbook, try this certificate from Regiftable.com. You can make a certificate for something you want to give someone, such as free babysitting. I’d love for someone to give me some free babysitting or housecleaning.

Do you regift? What items have you regifted? Do you have any regifting tips?

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December 5, 2010

Save Money with Rainchecks

You see that a store is having a great deal on a particular food item. In your mind you think, ‘It’s stockpile time!’  But you get to the store and they’re out of the item.  Rather than just counting it as a loss, get a raincheck.  

A few tips:

*Consider a raincheck as an I.O.U. from the store which guarantees that item for the sale price.  It is not necessary to use the raincheck during the current sale week.  You can use it weeks and maybe months later.

*Check to see if the raincheck has an expiration date.  Most of them do not have an expiration date which means that you can wait to use them when you need the particular item.

*Use rainchecks as a way build your stockpile.  The general rule is to purchase as much as that item as you will need in the next few months.  For example, if cream of mushroom soup is on sale for $.59/can I might purchase 10 cans.  Cream of mushroom soup has a long shelf date and I know that I will use it when making casseroles.

*Store your rainchecks in a safe location.  I store my rainchecks in my small coupon pouch.  This way I know where they are when I’m doing my grocery shopping and I don’t have to dig through my purse for them.

*Check to see if there is a limit on the sale item.  On really good deals, a store might set a limit on how many of that item you can purchase.  Always have them write the maximum amount allowed on the raincheck even if you don’t plan on purchasing that many.  This allows you to get them if you change your mind or you may have a friend that wants to purchase the deal with you.

*Look for coupons.  Check your newspaper coupon inserts and look online for printable coupons to combine with the sale price for even better savings.

*Give your raincheck to the cashier first.  Before your cashier rings up the items, she should know that you have a raincheck.  This will save time and hassle.  Group all of the raincheck items together so that they can be marked down at the same time.  Also, check your receipt to make sure each item was properly discounted.

*Most rainchecks are not store specific.  This means that if you get a raincheck from a Charlotte, NC store you should be able to use it at the Hickory, NC store.  If you plan to shop in a different area, you may want to check on this first.

When you’re shopping the sales do you remember to get a raincheck?

image (c) Karen Weideman

November 28, 2010

Recipe Ideas for Leftover Turkey

One of the things I hear weeks before Thanksgiving and Christmas are people concerned about the amount of turkey they’ll have left over.  They want to serve their family and guests turkey, but they’re hesitant because of the waste involved.  Rather than letting good food go to waste, try some of these ideas for your left over turkey.

Turkey and gravy - We had this one Friday night.  I simply made some gravy out of cornstarch and chicken boullion and warmed the turkey in the gravy.  I added some leftover sweet potatoes and rolls and made some green beans and mashed potatoes.  The kids enjoyed the meal.

Turkey sandwich - This one is a given, but it is one of my favorites. Some people like their sandwich with mayonnaise and onions.  I like mine with mustard on white bread.

Turkey salad - This is another family favorite.  I chop up some turkey, add some mayo, diced dill pickles, salt, and pepper, and it’s as good as chicken salad.  I also like to make ham salad.

Turkey and rice - Cook rice according to package directions, add desired seasonings.  Throw in some chopped turkey and some vegetables.  You might also like to make a gravy.

Turkey wraps - Add some turkey, cheese, and fresh vegetables to a lettuce slice or tortilla.

Turkey soup - There are many varieties of turkey soup. You could make a cream based soup or a Mexican style soup.  Use your favorite chicken soup recipe using turkey instead of chicken.

Turkey stock – Rather than purchasing chicken stock from the store, make your own and freeze it to use later in soups and stews.

Turkey pot pie – Chop up some turkey, add a bag of frozen vegetables, mix in some gravy, and top with a pie crust or pour on a liquid Bisquick mixture and bake.

Don’t forget to store your turkey properly.

Other resources:
Recipe Goldrush
All Recipes
National Turkey Federation
Healthy Eating Made Easy
Jennie O

What are your favorite turkey recipes?

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November 25, 2010

12 Inexpensive Fall Activities for Children

Fall is one of my favorite seasons.  It is cooler and nature is simply beautiful.  Take time to enjoy the season change and the gorgeous colors with your children with these inexpensive activities.

Make pumpkin scented playdough.  Simply use a regular playdough recipe and use orange food coloring and add a little pumpkin spice.

Look for free craft demonstrations. Check at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Michaels for free craft and kid friendly activities.

Go on a nature walk.  During autumn, there are so many changes around us.  Discuss the leaves, earth preparing for winter, or give a brief lesson on photosynthesis.  You might want to bring a bag to take some samples with you.

Make leaf rubbings from different types of leaves.  On your nature walk, you may want to take some paper and crayons with you or you can bring home your favorite leaves to use.

Make leaf people and animals. I did this with my preschool class many years ago and I wish I had an example to show you.  You select a leaf for the body and glue it to the paper.  Use your imagination to draw arms, legs, etc to make a person or animal out of your leaf.  The children thought it was quite funny.

Take a trip to a local pumpkin patch or apple orchard.  I know it’s a little late for this, but it’s something to consider for next year.  PickYourOwn.org has a list of many farms around the United States.

Make some fall themed crafts.  I have a selection of ideas at my children’s website.

Plant a tree.  Fall is also a good time to plant trees.

Play in the leaves.  My kids really enjoy this one.  They like to rake them, jump in them, throw the leaves, etc.  I was able to find some kid-size rakes for less than $3 each.

Cook together.  It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate.  Enjoy decorating cupcakes with candy corn, making turkey cupcakes, bake pumpkin bread, or other pumpkin recipes.  My kids are young, but they enjoy to stand on their stepstool and help me stir things and they really enjoy decorating cupcakes.

Make a collage.  Gather up current sales flyers and old magazines.  Look for fall related items. Cut them out and glue them on paper to make a fall-themed collage. 

Make silly looking pumpkins.  Cut out a pumpkin from orange construction paper.  Search through magazines and papers for eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc.  Glue those onto the pumpkin for a funny picture.

What kinds of inexpensive activities do you enjoy with your children?

November 22, 2010

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Recipe Round-Up

I have been cooking and freezing lots of pumpkin these past few weeks (more on that later) and so I’ve been searching around the web for new pumpkin recipes.  I am definitely interested in trying some new desserts and I’ve really been wanting to try pumpkin pancakes.  Here are some of the recipes I’ve found.

Pumpkin Blondie - Linette’s recipe sounds delicious. I’m looking forward to trying these soon.

Turkey Cupcakes – These aren’t made from pumpkin, but I wanted to share because they’re just so cute!

Pumpkin Pie Noir – Caramelized pumpkin sounds delicious! 

Pumpkin Pie Dip - Sounds great to serve with sliced fruit, graham crackers, bread, or gingersnaps.

Pumpkin Chai Pots de Creme with Pumpkin Seed Brittle – Looking for something different to try?

Honey Punkin Cream Cheese Pie – Sounds delicious and easy to make!

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls – These look so good and offer a subtle way to incorporate pumpkin into your meal.

Pumpkin Waffles – These would be great to cook and freeze for later use.

Pumpkin Pancakes – Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up to the smell of pumpkin pancakes? 

Pumpkin Carrot Cake Muffins – Oh my. Which recipe do I try first?

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins - You might like a little chocolate with your pumpkin.

Pumpkin Muffins – I’ve been looking for some pumpkin bread and muffin recipes to try. This one uses sweetener instead of sugar.

Pumpkin Bread and Muffins – PickYourOwn.org always has wonderful ideas for using fresh fruits and vegetables.

10 Different Ways to Use Pumpkin – I like the idea of using the pumpkin shell as a soup bowl.  You could also bake the soup inside the pumpkin and then eat the pumpkin when you’re done.

Pumpkin Soup – Another recipe from PickYourOwn.org.

If you have any pumpkin recipes, please feel free to leave them in the comments for others to enjoy.

image (c) Linette Gerlach

November 14, 2010

A Thrifty Way to Stuff Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child

For the past 13 years, I have stuffed shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse.   How many shoeboxes we fill depends upon our budget and how many bargains I find during the year.  One year I put together 11 shoeboxes and this year I only did three. 

I do want you to know that you can fill a shoebox for very little money.  It just takes some creative thinking and shopping throughout the year.  Each year I take advantage of after season sales, back-to-school sales, CVS free items (from coupons and extra care bucks) and clearanced items.  I keep a tote in my garage with the items I collect and then in November I use these items to stuff shoeboxes.

Tonight we put together our shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Here is a list of the things that were in one of the boxes and the cost involved.

• composition notebook  – $.10 back-to-school sale
• doodle pad – $.50 clearance
• pencil pouch – $.25 September school clearance
• pencils – $.10
• mechanical pencils $.10
• toothbrush – free
• toothpaste – free
• Don’t Break the Ice travel game – $.30 after Christmas clearance last year
• Polly Pocket car with doll – free with coupon
• gloves – $.25 after winter clearance
• soap – $.25
• socks – $.25 clearance
• teddy bear – $.25 yard sale (new, still in plastic)
• Crayola crayons – $.25 back-to-school clearance
• tote bag –  $1.00, Target 90% off clearance
• pencil sharpener – $.25
• small toys – free
• washcloth $.25 (from a multi-pack on clearance)
• candy – free (We had a bunch of candy from a church fall festival two weeks ago.)
• chapstick – $.10 (clearanced multi-pack)

As you can see, we were able to fill a shoebox with nice gifts for less than $5.  This shoebox may be the first gift this child has ever received.  Sarah Pinnix from RealLifeBlog.net has posted an informative video explaining more about OCC. 

My kids were so proud of the shoeboxes.  Filling these shoeboxes provides an opportunity to teach children to be thankful for what they have, to tell them about others that are less fortunate, and to pray for others.  It’s a hands-on lesson in compassion for others.

National Collection week is November 15-22.  Check out the OCC website to download shoebox labels, find out acceptable items for the shoeboxes, local drop off locations, or to donate online.  Samaritan’s Purse is a reputable non-profit organization that also provides emergency relief.

November 11, 2010

Should You Purchase Cell Phone Insurance?

There are many of you wondering if you should purchase the cell phone insurance.  Most financial advisors, such as Clark Howard, say that in most cases you should not get the insurance. 

If you have a regular cheapo cell phone (like me), then I wouldn’t recommend getting the insurance.  A simple math sentence of $5 x 12 months will tell you that it’s just not worth the money.  You can purchase the cheap phones on ebay or Craigslist usually for less than $50.  The ordinary phones with no bells or whistles are generally easy to come by and last a few years.  The problem with the expensive phones and Smartphones is that are known to have problems.

Take my husband’s phone(ssssss) for example.  He has had probably a DOZEN phones from Verizon.  He first started out with the Blackberry.  After getting about five Blackberry Storms and two Storm 2s, Verizon gave him a Droid. After having a few Droids, they told him the problems were from the things he had downloaded on to his phone and for him to take off all of the applications.  HUH?  What’s the point of having a data phone if you can’t have apps on it? 

All of the phones were sent back for issues such as locking up, not receiving data, the phone staying lit up, etc.  The problem is that when you send back your phone, you’re not getting a new phone; you’re getting a “refurbished” phone.  I have no clue what qualifies these phones as refurbished because they have many issues.  Just a few months ago, we dropped off another Verizon phone at a Charlotte, NC FedEx location to be shipped back and the representative at this location told my husband that they ship approximately 30 phones from that location each day!  Ok, ok, this is moving towards the craziness of Verizon so I’ll move on.

Basically, the advice is this:  If you have a regular cell phone, then the insurance probably isn’t worth the money.  If you have a more expensive phone, I’d strongly consider it.

Do you have insurance on your cell phone? What kind of experiences have you had?

Edited:  Be sure to read the fine print on cell phone insurance policies. Some charge a $35 deductible.

image sxc.hu

October 23, 2010

BeeWell for Life: Free Resources for a Healthy Life

Bumble Bee Foods has introduced BeeWell for Life, a site that provides resources and tools to help consumers achieve a healthy lifestyle and make a difference in the lives of those touched by breast cancer.

BeeWell for Life features blogs written by Coach Jenny Hadfield as well as nutritionists Willow Jarosh and Stephanie Clark. Online tools are available to measure energy balance. Members can access and manage the impact of their daily activities to make the most of their healthy lifestyle.

My favorite part of the BeeWell for Life website is that we can make a difference in others’ lives. For every mile members walk, run, or bike, Bumble Bee donates $.15/mile to Breast Cancer Network of Strength. Up to $200,000 will be donated. Every mile makes a difference. This is going until October 31, 2010 so hurry and become a free member so that you can make an impact!

Bumble Bee has also made healthy living a bit easier for those of us on the go.  You cand download the mobile app and track your miles from your mobile device.

I am member of the Bumble Bee Foods Bee Squad.  I also attended the Bumble Bee Foods BlogHer Party, but I am not obligated to write about their products.

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