Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Winner Canned am

Hey canned am you won as selected by my lovely little Eva. you can choose either
a 25 dollar gift certificate to swiss chalet/montanas /harveys gift card (nothing to do with shoppers it is a regular git card) or a 20 dollar gift card for elsewhere

please pm me through frugal on how to collect your prize.

Friday, November 07, 2008

I am so tired.

sorry i have not been around for a bit. Since i started working some full shifts and training and my husbands commitments and health issues it has been crazy here.

I was working quite a few hours last week training.
Dh had to create a presentation for the Army
DD was once again sick and couldn't breathe. this last time was pretty scary and it is not over yet

I have been going to bed around 7pm trying to catch up on sleep. i normally do not go to bed until 12am .

i have all the training done now and will go live on the floor my next shift. and yes it is alot harder than it looks.

orgainized christmas update is still ongoing and will be updated today.

follower of my blog contest winner will be announced as intended this friday night.

and i have a lot of reading of alot of blogs i have to do. so i best get started.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Dentist-- love /hate relationship.

A little background on my crazy mouth.

I suffer rom receeding gums and tooth sensitivity. Of times my own breath is enough to cause pain.

So since about four years now i have put thousands of dollars into fixing up my mouth,. but by the time one thing is finished another arises. this morning i went again for a 1/2 cleaning and 2 fillings. these teeth were filled just 2 years ago. i say a 1/2 cleaning because i have to be frozen to do a cleaning. so i can only do a half of my mouth per appointment. I need fillings extended to where the gum line receeds so that the root does not become exposed. which was what had happened

Anyway i love my dentist. i feel no pain or discomfort (except in my wallet) haha I am glad that i found him. Dentistry no longer needs to hurt, not like when we were kids. now it is virtually painfree.
so go!

I told my dentist today if i go in for a visit and i do not have a cavity in the future i want my picture on the wall.! he agreed! lol

Monday, October 27, 2008

Organized Christmas Week One Oct 26- Nov 1

In an effort to organize our Christmas's here we go.

the preparation is based over 6 weeks

week one: get organized Oct 26-Nov 1
week two: Reality check Nov 2- 8
week three: gifts and giving Nov 9-15
week four: get cooking Nov16-22
week five decorate Nov23-29
week six celebrate week Nov 20- DEC6


Each week then has tasks that are recommended to be done to avoid stress at a later date.


To do this week
  1. Make the promise! During the next six weeks, spend 15 mins a day to get ready for Christmas. To make planning fun, set aside a Christmas planning centre.
  2. Begin a Christmas planner in a notebook or three ring binder. If your using a clear pocket binder, print the cover and spine pages. Add lined blank pages and planner pages from www.organizedchristmas.com
  3. Make or designate a holiday calender. Print the countdown plan calender and add it to your Christmas planner
  4. Begin at the beginning . Review your families holiday values/traditions. record your findings on the printable holiday family values worksheet
  5. Gift-buying looms! Start a master gift list. Print the master gift list form and use it to record gifts as you buy them.
  6. Begin a Christmas card list. locate addresses, and consider a computerized Christmas card address list for maximum time savings, or print Christmas card list forms for your Christmas planner.
  7. Complete the holiday home spruce up exercise and schedule home improvement projects.print the home spruce up worksheet to track progress.
  8. Will your family travel? Make travel plans and reservations this week. Will you host house guests? Make arrangements for overnight guests.
  9. Arrange for family photos for holiday gifts or Christmas cards.
  10. arrange carpet cleaning now.

To buy this week

  1. Christmas cards or supplies for Christmas letters
  2. postage stamps.
  3. supplies for your binder/planner.

So ladies this is week one lets get started!

might i also recommend that we start getting a list of what we have in our gift closets and start brainstorming the ideas for presents. also if you will be buying gift cards as presents you may want to write in your planner to spread out the buying.

A huge consideration for me every Christmas is the cost of postage . my family is spread all over this great country and i usually have to budget almost 100 dollars just for postage, and this year is no exception as the postal rates have gone through the roof again. Now most people think well why not send a gift card. I do not like gift cards for family i prefer to send parcels i picked and wrapped myself. then to send gift cards. but that is just my opinion.

But if you have to send parcels like me you may want to work that into your planner

Orientation at work ( Sunday)

I GOT A CALL ON Saturday to see if i could come in for a four hr orientation first thing Sunday morn at 8 . i agreed. it was slightly informative.
i got the all important hr forms to fill out. so i am officially hired.

I will get my discount card soon. yay!

hopefully if hours stay where they should . my pay will pay for all food and extras. so that we can get back to saving money and making up for the loss of funds due to the reserves.

we shall see.

Now i do not want to sound like i am glamorizing a cashier job. ( although i have done much worse over the years) I am very excited to just be out of the house. earning some pocket change and keeping my foot in the door in the market place.
When i contacted my references letting them know that the store may be calling. I was offered my old job back.! I declined because it would cost more money travelling the 1/2 hr rather than the three minute drive, also it starts at 5 so Dh and i would have crossover problems and other issues. I would like to work there again . but it simply does not make sense at this point.

But It really felt good to be offered the job .


Last night Dh parents were by for a quick visit. and that concluded the weekend.

First dinner Party (saturday)

Well i have been busy since Saturday. Most of the day Saturday I spent cooking and cleaning to have our first guests other than family over to dinner.

I made Chicken Mom-esean And we had spinach salad and crusty breads.

Dh was working til 5 so it was all up to me! oh well it was my idea after all. :)

it was a lovely evening We had the bouncy castle out for the kids to play on . Our company had two boys so there was five kids floating around. 17 mo, 2, 4, 5, and 7 and surprisingly it was really good. they were all well behaved and it was no trouble at all.

It was an attempt to make myself become more extroverted. Having friends over for dinner is certainly something i would consider outside my comfort zone. But I forced myself to do it and i am so glad we did. After supper and the kids went home to bed. dh went to our friends house for a few drinks and my friend came over here for a few drinks

I am glad i did this.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Caramel corn!





























I love caramel corn. and i have found the most wonderful recipe.! I have been making this for a few years.


That being said i no longer eat sugar soo.... No caramel corn for me. But that doesn't mean my family can't have any right?

7 quarts plain popped popcorn
2 cups dry roasted peanuts (optional)
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup margarine
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


DIRECTIONS
Place the popped popcorn into two shallow greased baking pans. You may use roasting pans, jelly roll pans, or disposable roasting pans. Add the peanuts to the popped corn if using. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, margarine and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring enough to blend. Once the mixture begins to boil, boil for 5 minutes while stirring constantly.
Remove from the heat, and stir in the baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will be light and foamy. Immediately pour over the popcorn in the pans, and stir to coat. Don't worry too much at this point about getting all of the corn coated.
Bake for 1 hour, removing the pans, and giving them each a good stir every 15 minutes. Line the counter top with waxed paper. Dump the corn out onto the waxed paper and separate the pieces. Allow to cool completely, then store in airtight containers or resealable bags.
I am carrying some to a halloween party next week as well i will make small bags for DH lunches and for the kids afterschool snack.
I Love and miss caramel.
Try it i am sure you will not be disapointed














Thursday, October 23, 2008

Really starting to get excited about going to work!

i have not heard yet about going into sign hr documents or about firming up the training but it is early and we had such a positive interaction i know all will be well.


ahh!!!!!!!!!111111


so who wants to take bets about how long it will be before i start complaining about having to go to work.? i am taking 3 weeks!

ahhhhhhh!!!

I wonder if it will help me lose weight?

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Employed?

Well ia m sort of employed. she has given me the job barring the criminal record check which i know will come back clean.

So i will start training on the 2nd.

I am rather excited to start. thanks for all the good vibes. Gotta go phone my mom and spread the good word.

they offer an employee discount of 10% which is fabulous a discount on food!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Organized Christmas update

so the challenge is comming!

this week i have gone through and made uo my master gift closet list. So now i Know what i have on hand.

i also have to pick up a book of stamps to address my cards with and try to make up a master list of who we are buying for this year

get your books ready, get your master lists ready, and get some christmas cards out of storage!

Starts next week!!!

Have you ever watched Survivorman?



I do not often say these words alltogether in one sentence " he is the man"

The "Survivorman" is Canadian filmmaker and survival expert Les Stroud, who must use his survival skills to manage for seven days by himself in various remote locales with little or no food, water, or equipment.

Stroud is completely alone (he is not accompanied by a camera crew and he operates the cameras himself). He is equipped with only his clothes, his camera equipment, his "trusty harmonica , and a Leatherman multi tool . Often, the show begins with a specific scenario in which one might find oneself stranded (such as a car breakdown in the desert; or stranded on a deserted island after a storm). To add to the realism of the "scenario", he is sometimes permitted to have some 'everyday items' that a stranded person in such a situation might possess. He also carries a satellite phone for use only in an emergency.



In each episode Stroud places himself in a unique survival situation. The show is meant to demonstrate how one might survive alone in a remote location with minimal supplies until being rescued. Finding food, water, and materials to make fire and shelter pose the main challenges of each episode.
Part of the tension of Survivorman is in watching Stroud deal with the aftermath of unsuccessful or inappropriate survival techniques and decisions. The reasons for these errors can include time limitations, being unfamiliar with a technique, or misjudging weather conditions, all frequently encountered by people in survival situations. Stroud allows these predicaments to occur for the benefit of the TV audience, rather than simply sitting and waiting to be rescued. While acknowledging the errors and the negative effect on his emotional state that they can create, Stroud remains calm throughout, providing a model of behaviour vital to successful survival.
In addition to the physical challenges posed by each survival situation, Stroud confronts the psychological effects of isolation, physical injury, and exhaustion. Stroud is never without his harmonica, even in the episode where he honed his harmonica to eight sharp points on the hard rocks in an unsuccessful attempt to create a flounder catching device. Stroud's harmonica playing creates an atmosphere in strong contrast to the often dismal nature of the survival experience, and has a noticeable positive effect on the host. Stroud also narrates to the camera, commenting on his physical and psychological state, providing survival tips, or making jokes (such as his parody of an iconic scene in The Blair Witch Project), effectively employing the future television audience as a companion. Stroud also often dismantles available equipment (e.g. bike, snowmobile, airplane) and puts it to another practical use



Except for footage of him arriving at his new setting, and being retrieved at the end of the week, the content of each episode is taped entirely by Stroud himself using several DV video cameras that he must carry with him everywhere that he goes. (He has lately switched to a number of HDV cameras.) The burden of having to carry, place, and retrieve the camera equipment for each shot adds to the challenge and difficulty of each survival situation. His camera and audio gear typically weigh about 50 pounds (22.7 kg) in total. During the "Behind the Scenes" episode, Stroud explains that "setting up or tearing down all of my camera gear takes about 65% of my time," making survival more challenging. The episode also explains that Stroud and his team extensively scout their locations ahead of time and consult with survivalists and natives to the area. The goal is both to ensure Stroud's safety and to sketch out interesting scenarios and techniques that can be illustrated on the show. He later records a voice-over commentary in the studio, where he explains his decision-making process and details of how he accomplished various tasks.



i highly recommend checking out these sites to learn more and i am sure there are youtube videos of his amazing adventures.




Silk coupons

Does any of my blog readers use Silk? I have 2 fpcs and 5 1.00 coupons I am looking to trade either a book of stamps or 2 free cheese coupons (the cracker barrell ones cracker cuts).

Monday, October 20, 2008

empoloyment in the future??

As i have mentioned previously i applied at the superstore for a job . well i have an interview set up for this wednesday.

which is really good timing for us. I haven't worked since my first daughter was born. but I need to do it for the money and for my sanity. but mostly for the money. we are in a tight spot right now and it will come in handy.

My husband joined the reserves last year and since then we have had a 25-30% reduction in our income. that although hopefully only temporary a few more years it is still present nonetheless. we have cut back all we can and the only solution is to bring in more money, I cannot ask dh to take a third job he needs to spend time with the kids. So off to work hopefully i go.

Weekend wrap up




Well this was a weekend i am sure glad is over. first off i was on my own DH was gone with the Army to New Brunswick. so it was just me and the kids.


Friday my oldest day came home puking from school with a high fever. she vomiited on everything in the house i swear. poor thing she was some sick. and poor me i am sick of doing laundry. She seems to have made a full recovery though,


Whatever germs they get at school is certain to be brought home to my asthmatic youngest dd.


well she was okay friday night but come saturday morning she was gasping for breath, and not sleeping. she was just to the hospital for this two weeks ago, and they gave us some advice on what to do ( such as giving her more requent higher quantity of puffs of her rescue puffer. the puffer seemed to be working but the cough from the cold and the runny nose certainly were not helping. So gave her tylenol cough and cold and that seemed to do the trick to get a few hours sleep.


I was watching for the take me to the hospital warning signs i know all too well. but with the methods i used i was able to keep her breathing steady enough to not warrant it.


Why is it they are always sick when you are on your own.?


Anyway she seems to be better today , still raspy and there is a tug on her cheast but she is a lot better and i think we may have weathered this cold and asthma attack. The doctor told us that the family has to get the flu shot. does anyone know when they start giving those out. i will have to make an appointment for sure as soon as they start. i cannot even imagine that.

and chances are they get sick again when i am on my own. Of course lately, that could be anytime!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

"Why didn't I think of that?" Household tips.

Som of th biggest changes to my budget have come from household tips that i read in newsletters, books and websites.



here are a few new ones i have found and liked. I have been working on this post and a ew others like it for a few days now. why i have been so quiet i guess. anyway i hope there is one in here everyone can implement.



1) Sprinkle cinnamon on aluminum foil and place it in a hot oven, leaving the door open. As the cinnamon heats, the cinnamon will permiate the house



2) Spray the inside of a mayonnaise jar white. Store it in the refrigerator as a hiding place for money or valuables.



3) Did you know you can freeze milk? Next time it is on sale, pick up several gallons and freeze it!



4) Brown sugar will not harden if stored in the freezer.



5) Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers after your food preparations. Just slice and rub a raw potato on the stain and rinse in clear-cool water.



6) Shop for items BEFORE you run out of them. If you run out of an item you'll have to pay whatever the store is charging that week.



7) Nearly everything can be cut in half -- use only half a dryer softener sheet, half the recommended amount of detergent, half a cotton ball, etc. Try it on anything you can think of - if it works, you save money, if it doesn't, what do you lose?The same idea goes for quick dinners. If you're putting together, for example, Hamburger Helper (or another "instant" meal), consider using a 1/2 pound of meat per box (or just make up 2 boxes at a time, with a full pound of meat). Most of us actually get far more protein in a day than we need, so cutting back to a 1/2 pound of meat doesn't hurt any of us. How about instant drink mixes? If you're buying mixes that don't have the sugar added (which, by the way, is cheaper than buying the mixes with sugar already in them), think seriously about how much sugar you mix in. Do you REALLY need to use a full cup of sugar with that small packet of flavoring? Or could you cut it back to 1/3 or 1/2 cup and decrease the amount of sugar your children are getting in each serving? The next time you're simply following directions on any grocery item, take a moment to evaluate the claim before you do as it says. You may save yourself some money!

8) Use an egg slicer to slice apples or mushrooms.
9) Leftover pancake batter makes good fried onion rings. Separate and let soak in batter for fifteen minutes. Fry in hot oil. 7. Don’t throw out leftover coffee. Freeze it in icecube trays, and when you don’t want to make an entire pot, you can get your cubes out of the freezer and pop them in the microwave.
8. Dry Mustard will remove onion odors from your hands or cutting board. Rub in, then rinse off. 9. Use plain baking soda or salt as a fire extinguisher.

10. Put rice in your salt shaker to keep the salt from getting hard. **Thank you Lisa!

11. Remove odors from your fridge by placing a vanilla extract soaked cotton ball inside. Another popular method is to leave a cup of baking soda or a slice of lemon in the fridge at all times

12. Cleaning behind your refrigerator will keep it running longer and more efficiently. Another fridge cleaning tip: Make sure the unit is level. An unlevel refrigerator works harder than it needs to and wastes energy.

13. Store plastic wrap in refrigerator - it will prevent it from sticking.

14. A good trick when you go away on vacation is to place a baggie with a few ice cubes in the freezer. If a power failure occurs while you are gone and the food thaws and then refreezes you will know about it when you get home.

15. Use a powder puff to dust flour on rolling pins, pastry boards and cookie sheets. Store puff in a margarine tub with a small amount of flour for quick dusting jobs.

16. Leftover Safety - If food has been contaminated with germs from a person's mouth, it should be tossed. For instance saving baby food when you have fed the baby from the jar is hazardous.

17. You can reheat small portions of leftovers in the same pan. Wrap individually in foil and place in enough water to cover the bottom of the pan.

18. When converting your favorite recipe for microwave cooking reduce the liquid by one-fourth. Liquid does not evaporate in a microwave as much as it does in a conventional oven.

19. To save on electric and water only run your dishwasher when full. When adding dishes take a handful of baking soda and sprinkle the dishes and bottom of dishwasher to absorb odors. When you run the dishwasher there is no need to add detergent to the first cylce receptacle only to the 2nd one that stays shut until the second cycle starts. The baking soda will take the place of the detergent in the first cycle.

20. When you have a spill in your oven, sprinkle some salt on it right away. Then when the oven cools wipe it off.


21. Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces--no more stains.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Organized christmas Challenge and contest

have you heard of http://www.organizedchristmas.com ?

A lot like the organized home site. there are fabulous craft ideas, recipes, and printables glorious printables!

they have a 6 week Christmas organizing plan you can read about it here. http://organizedchristmas.com/christmas-countdown

there is so many wonderful things on this site. if there is anything you particularly like or find useful please post back here so we can all check it out.edited to add pics of my binder from last christmas. there are tons of pages from it I can use again this year like my address pages or my idea sheets for ideas for presents for people i may not have used from last year."

I am challenging anyone who wants to join in the organized christmas event on my blog

what does it involve, you need to create yourself a workbook either using the printables so generously provided at the site.
create yourself a space where you can stay organized and on budget.

see pictures of mine here http://stayathomemomtothreewhataboutme.blogspot.com/2008/10/organized-christmas.html

each week is broken down into small tasks for you to accomplish in order to stop the stress of christmas from building and overwhelming you this season

What do you really want for Christmas? More time, more joy, and less stress? A calmer, more centered holiday celebration is easy when you simplify your holidays with the Christmas Countdown!

The Countdown is a free six-week Christmas organizing plan from OrganizedChristmas.Com. By breaking Christmas preparations down into small, easy-to-take steps, the Countdown gives you a holiday headstart for a stress-free Christmas season. List, gifts, decor and food--you'll be ready for Christmas with time to spare.
Follow The Plan: During the Countdown, we'll follow a six-week organization plan from the last week in October through the first week in December. Goal: to complete holiday planning and preparations by the first weekend in December.
Six Weekly Themes: Each week has a special theme to focus Christmas organizing.
Week by week, we'll zero in on gift-giving, take charge of holiday budgets, organize Christmas cards, plan holiday meals and decorate for the holidays. Find each week's assignments at the weekly themes pages:
Daily Messages: Each day during the Countdown, you'll read an inspiring daily message on front page of our site. Daily messages bring a dose of inspiration, the day's assignments, links to checklists and printable holiday planner forms, along with recipe, gift and craft ideas for a jolly holiday.

Print A Free Christmas Planner: During Get Organized Week, we'll begin printing more than 50 printable forms, calendars and checklists and build a personal Christmas planner to streamline holiday cleaning, cooking, gift buying, and decorations. Use our printable pages to journal holiday memories, organize preparations and track gift-giving.
Christmas Countdown: Get Ready For Christmas!

On my blog www.stayathomemomtothreewhataboutme.blogspot.com ! will weekly post what the ideas are for the week we can all check in and post how we are doing on our tasks and our budgets. if you stick with it til the end there will be a very special surprise for a lucky winner ! no hints will be given. earn extra points for posting pictures of your organizer. either here or on your blog (if you have one)
Join what do you have to lose. nothing

what do you have to gain? a nice relaxed christmas thats what!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

the spice of life.







I found these drawer spice racks at the store today for 10 dollars each. so I bought two and now all my spices that used to be in jars as shown in picture. it is much easier to see what i am doing now. and it looks fabulous! just look at its beauty... just kidding.


Dh is going on expedition again this weekend so he will be gone from tomorrow morning til sunday night. we will miss him. but we will still have a good time here on our own.

anyone have any plans for this weekend?

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Recipies for Household cleaners

i hardly ever buy cleaners anymore, as it is one of the type of items that are heavily couponed or try me free and so on. but since i started making my own laundry soap. i am going to start making my other cleaners too. as i have 3 kids in my home . the less toxins the better, and with the constant talk of cleaners having known carcinogens in them, i feel better not using them at all.

Anyway, here are some recipes i have found.


Before you get started mixing things up, you’ll need a couple of spray bottles to put your concoctions in. You can get inexpensive bottles in the travel section of stores like Wal-Mart or you can reuse spray bottles from commercial cleaners as long as you thoroughly clean them out to prevent unwanted chemical reactions. Be sure to label what you make to prevent accidents.
You’ll also need some old rags, sponges, or cloths for scrubbing purposes. I use an old fashioned sponge for the heavy scouring work and micro-fiber cloths for cleaning surfaces like counter tops. Micro fiber cloths can be rinsed/washed and reused over and over, making them an inexpensive choice if you don’t like rags or old washcloths.


Now that you’ve got your basic supplies, on to the recipes!

Window/Glass cleaner: Mix equal parts water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle. You can use a rag to wipe the glass, but a sheet of newspaper does even better.

Floor cleaner: Pour 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar into one gallon of water. Mop as usual.

Counter tops: Mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe down countertops with a sponge or cloth. For stubborn stains, scrub with baking soda.
Tubs/sinks: Straight baking soda works well for scouring away soap scum and mildew. Sprinkle it into the tub and add just enough water to make a paste. Then scour away. Spray the chrome with the counter top mixture (above) of vinegar and water then wipe down to make it shine. If you have heavy mold or mildew, straight vinegar sprayed directly on the affected area works well for loosening it.

Toilets: Sprinkle straight baking soda into the toilet and swish around with a brush. Let it stand for a few minutes, swish a final time, and flush.

Fabric softener: Pour 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar into the fabric softener dispenser or add manually during the rinse cycle. This softens clothes, removes excess detergent and does not leave a smell behind.

Carpet deodorizer: Sprinkle straight baking soda on carpet, using more in heavily trafficked areas or where pets stay. Vacuum after 20-30 minutes.

Powdered laundry detergent: Mix 5 cups soap flakes and 7 cups of Borax and shake well to mix the flakes and Borax. Store in plastic container or old laundry detergent box. Use 1/2 cup per load.

Exterior house wash: If you have vinyl siding, this cleanser will get rid of mold and mildew. Mix one quart of bleach per gallon of water in a hand sprayer. Add 1/4 cup of dish washing liquid (hand washing liquid such as Dawn or Ivory, not dishwasher liquid). The dish washing soap just makes the mixture “sticky” so it will adhere to the wall long enough for the bleach to do the work. Spray on the walls and then rinse with a garden hose or light pressure wash.

Drain Cleaner: Pour 1/4 cup baking soda down the drain. Follow with 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar and plug the drain until the fizzing stops. Pour one gallon of boiling water down the drain to flush out the clog. Prevent clogs by pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain once per week.

Dishwasher Rinse Aid: Pour distilled white vinegar into the rinse agent compartment and wash as usual.

Furniture Polish: Mix 1/4 cup olive oil or mineral oil with 4 tablespoons distilled white vinegar and 20-30 drops of lemon essential oil. Pour into a spray bottle and shake well before using.

One of the concerns I often hear about the recipes that use vinegar is that the vinegar will leave a smell behind. Let me assure you that once it dries or runs through the rinse cycle in the washer, it no longer smells. One of the benefits of homemade cleansers is that most leave no scent whatsoever behind, so your home does not smell like a hospital. If you want to add some scent, you can experiment with essential oils such as peppermint or lemon.

concern is that these cleansers don’t kill bacteria. The Heinz company has found that vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of viruses, so if you want to disinfect without using harmful antibacterial chemicals, vinegar is a great choice. Tea tree oil is another great disinfectant and can be mixed with water and used on counter tops and in sinks, tubs, and toilets to disinfect.
As with any sort of cleanser, test your creations on inconspicuous areas to make sure there’s no discoloration, scratching, or other adverse effects. And two final words of warning: First, never use vinegar on natural stone such as granite or marble because it will scratch and pit the stone. Second, never mix bleach with vinegar because it will give off a toxic gas.

Using homemade cleansers is just as effective and much less expensive than using commercial cleansers. Once you’ve mastered the basics, don’t hesitate to experiment with the concentrations and added scents you use to find what works best for you. Just remember to always test anything new before using it widely.

14 great books as recommended by frugal people.

When i started a thread over at FS over a year and a half ago. these were some of the books that were suggested as recommended reading

1)the tightwad gazette 1
2)The Tightwad Gazette 2
30the tightwad Gazette 3

4)The millionaire next door
5)The Wealthy barber David Chilton

6)Don't Spend Your Raise by Dara Duguay
7)Financial Freedom without Sacrifice by Talbot Stevens

8)Vinegar, Duct Tape, Milk Jugs & More: 1,001 Ingenious Ways to Use Common Household Items to Repair, Restore, Revive, or Replace Just About Everything in Your Life by Earl Proulx and the Editors of Yankee Magazine.

9)Frugal Luxuries by Tracie McBride
'10)Money Drunk/Money Sober' by Julia Cameron

11)Miserly Moms Living on one income in a two income economy.Jonni McCoy.
12)Saving on A Shoestring [i]How to cut expenses Reduce debt Stash more Cash[/i Barabara O'neil

13)Not Buying It by Judith Levine.
14)America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money authored by Steve and Annette Economides

please feel free to add your favorites.

Is being Frugal now ' all the rage"

Everywhere you turn now people are talking about living more simply. that is certainly not a bad thing to me. it is just surprising.

I joined a website after i had my son 7 years ago. it is www.frugalshopper.ca the site was really new then but it has grown a lot over the last almost 6 years.

I have learned a lot about living simply there. but it is more centered on getting good deals than it is about alternate less costly ways of doing things. The friendship/comradery factor is high and the thought of missing out on a good deal keeps me going back.

has living simply become the new fashion? Living simply has always been the fashion at my house because of both necessity and desire. It really is a part of who we both are. And i like to believe i am passing that along to my kids.

will update with some books for recommended library reading

Monday, October 13, 2008

DEAD matchstick promo, fragrance samples and a SDM gift card contest

http://www.fatalattractiontocutesample.com/



check it out!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy thanksgiving everyone.

right now i am thankful for timeshifting. i am watching corrie that i missed earlier. so i got to see John get his thumping. I remember when Rosie was born, never knew she would grow up to so be troublesome. :)

Happy thanksgiving everyone

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Cola can Oil lamp. check it out! In case of emergency

Oil & Cola Emergency Lamp.

What will you do this winter when the lights go out? Hopefully you've got your emergency flashlight, radio, food and water supplies. If the power will be out for some time, however, you may want to know about this easy oil lamp. Great for camping too.

The parts needed for this lamp can be found in virtually every household.

empty aluminum cola can,
an old cotton sock,
and about a tablespoon of cooking oil are all you need.

First stab an empty cola can in the middle and cut around the circumference until you cut the can completely in half. Use a pair of gloves to hold the can halves, because the metal is very sharp. Use the bottom half of the cola can, and cut half inch deep slits spaced each half inch along the circumference of the can. Fold over to make a safe rim along the edge. Now take the top half of the can and work the pull tab off the top by pulling up and side to side. Work the tab back and forth with upward pressure, until it pulls off. Dispose of the top half can into the recycle trash. Next cut a one inch by 3/8" slip of material from the old sock. Roll the material into a thick rope and feed it into the pull tab attachment hole. Pull through about half an inch so it sticks up while the pull tab rests upside down. Now pour a cap full of cooking oil into the bottom of the can. Place the upside down pull tab with the wick in the middle of the can and drape the cotton wick so it pulls the oil from the edge of the can. The length of the wick pulled through the tab hole will determine the height of the flame. A good quarter inch of wick will give a good flame with virtually no smoke. Now you can light the wick and it should last about three to four hours with each tablespoon or so of corn oil.

pictures

Friday, October 10, 2008

Free christmas gift tags *added pics*






With all the expenses we have at christmas time this is an area we can all cut back on. last christmas i made tags for this year out of the christmas cards i received last year.

here is another great alternative. You can print wonderful little tags off the internet here is a few links,

http://holidays.momsnetwork.com/gifttags.shtml

http://holidays.momsnetwork.com/gifttags5.shtml

http://holidays.momsnetwork.com/gifttags6.shtml

http://images.transcontinentalmedia.com/canadianliving/crafts/CL_christmaslabels2.doc

http://images.transcontinentalmedia.com/canadianliving/crafts/CL_christmaslabels1.doc
although tags are not very expensive, why buy what you do not need. It also allows you to have something unique to your family.
some coloring pages and more fun things.
enjoy

Indoor camping.

Dh has set up the tent downstainrs and the kids are camped out down there eating popcorn and watching a movie. they are having a ball.

So indoor camping it is for the kiddies. i will post a picture later

SEARS DEALS



electric guitar
mini 37-key keyboard
6 demo songs
play along feature
3 sound effects
try me function
electric guitar with 13 notes
4 drum sounds
tempo control
play/record/stop functions
batteries included
ages 4 years and up
while quantities last

Please specify the quantity between 1 and 99
clearance - save 40%
outlet price: $17.94
Sears regular 29.99
they are also clearing out some vitamins.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

HALLOWEEN treats













Do you have a certain type of thing you give out every year? are you a chips person, a chocolate bar person, candy?






I usually do the bags of items. some chips a few suckers, a pencil a few candies.



now last year being the first halloween we had in this house in a family neighbourhood. I thought for sure we would have a couple hundred children so i prepared for that. oh boy we had about 70 . I still have things left over from last year!






this year i am going to do chips and a bar.









But i also like to make up little bags for the littliest ones with a playdoh and a few other things.






But this year i am just going to do chips and a bar and make special bags for my kids friends. with hot chocolate, chips bar, halloween magnet and some lollipops.






i am only going to prepare for 100 kids this time and after that all out! Jeez that is gonna cost enough as it is. I really love Halloween . my husband walks the kids around about 3/4 and i do the last bit. i stay home and hand out the treats. i love the little kids comming to the door









Although i have to say last year i had about 20 kids from about 8 pm til 930 pm that were old enough to drive a car if not vote. i just open the door and give them whatever because it is not worth my car or house getting egged over lol the last halloween i went out as a kid was when i turned 13 . What about you?



excited to share this Smart money Holiday Spending worksheet.

I am sure over the next few months there will be many posts and entries about
Christmas.

i found this and i am so excited to share it. it is http://www.smartmoney.com/consumer/index.cfm?story=holidayspending3333#

please scroll down the page and take a look for yourself. you can fill it all in save it to your computer. it is awesome and much easier than making one for yourself.

check it out

small blurb

"WE'LL ADMIT IT: creating this worksheet was an eye-opening experience.
If you're like us, you've emerged from past holiday seasons considerably poorer than you expected to be. It's no wonder: With a bewildering array of expenses bombarding you at once, it's difficult even to list them all, much less keep track of them.
This worksheet makes the process a whole lot easier. Gone are the days of wondering where the $100 you had in your wallet moments earlier disappeared to. (Holiday cards, stamps, pictures of the kids and wrapping supplies will burn through most of it — and a nine-foot Fraser fir will surely send you running back to the ATM.) Now, you can account for all of your expected and unexpected costs without driving yourself crazy. Our worksheet covers everything from holiday gifts to movie tickets, wrapping paper to highway tolls — and you can add anything else we might have forgotten. (Our advice: If you simply must have that $30 yule log candle this year, count it as a miscellaneous item in the "Decorations" section.)
MORE ON PERSONAL FINANCE FROM SMARTMONEY.COM
3 Open Enrollment Tips Beating the Budget Crunch Bouncing Back After Being Laid Off
The true beauty of our worksheet is that it's savable. You can enter as much information as you wish today, massage your budget numbers and then track your results over time to see how you're doing. At the end of the season, you can tally up the totals — and spare yourself the annual shock of January's credit-card bill.
Consider it a gift, from our family to yours. "

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Sears Outlet site online







This time of year I always keep a good eye on what sears outlet has on daily special and on their kids and toys section. you can sort by brand or price. I prefer to sort by price.




this is a good deal Sportsillustrated trivia game




and much more.


they will also wrap gifts and send to your recipient for a small fee. (cheaper than mail in a lot of cases lol)


check it out.


Dentist says all clear for cavities or the kids.

I took the kids to their bi annual visit to the dentist today. they both got great reviews and bill of dental health.
love my dentist. he is awesome with the kids and my husband and I the hygenists are friendly and not that fake friendly you see sometimes. And the receptionist is a wonderful person who makes going to the dentist fun.

I have pretty serious issues with my teeth, i have teeth sensitivity issues breathing in to ast can make my teeth hurt violently, i used to have to use ambasol just to brush my teeth, receeding gums, and a propensity for cavities.

so i go to the dentist a lot.

Now i am not neccessarily anatic with my kids teeth but i am quite strict about it. i do not want them to suffer like i have.

good (relatively) dental health is attainable for all canadians so take advantage of it or your kids even/especially when they are little.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

If you could only pick three channels to watch...

if you could pick only three channels to watch on your television. what channels would they be?

i am a major fanatic for cooking shows, documentary and home living

I think i would pick

1) food network
2) tlc (although i rarely watch that now)
3) and heaven help me the CBC!!

growing up in small town NFLD the only TV we had was in our living room and the only channel it got was the CBC so i watched a lotof Dallas, Tommy Hunter, Kate and Allie here , threes company here and anything else that came on CBC ( all of the previous shows i LOVE. (Tommy hunter and his old doc brown stories at the end of the show is a great family memory for me.) But taking all the good and the bad. Some of my most beloved shows ever were on the CBC Road to Avonlea, North of 60, and so many more. This is what i maintain; that with the cbc you kinda have to take the boring with the good. I guess I just wanted to throw a little props out there to the CBC .

The most important thing being, that they have been showing Coronation Street since I was a baby and I have been watching it faithfully for over 25 years all on the CBC so thanks for that CBC!

Organized Christmas










http://www.organizedchristmas.com/

A lot like the organized home site. there are fabulous craft ideas, recipes, and printables glorious printables!

There are also great things there for Halloween! http://organizedchristmas.com/topic-halloween

they have a 6 week Christmas organizing plan you can read about it here. http://organizedchristmas.com/christmas-countdown

there is so many wonderful things on this site. if there is anything you particularly like or find useful please post back here so we can all check it out.
edited to add pics of my binder from last christmas. there are tons of pages from it I can use again this year like my address pages or my idea sheets for ideas for presents for people i may not have used from last year.

Organized home

This is and the following posts are very similar but i thought that they really deserved different posts.

www.organizedhome.com

I have been visiting this website for years and it's sister site organized Christmas for 3 years. making Christmas a truly organized affair.

There is everything on this site. tips tricks, ideas, decluttering suggestions recipes and printables that will organize your home. http://organizedhome.com/printable-planner-forms

You will probably be mad at me for posting this as you will spend a half an hour there browsing around before you even know it.

You can even customize and print your own household notebook http://organizedhome.com/household-notebook

check out the http://organizedhome.com/fall-cleaning-chore-checklist and get started on your fall chores.


I hope you all find something on this site that you like if you do please post back your favorite part so others can check it out too.

I got my order of Ladybugs and lullabies hair clips

They are too precious for words. they work wonderfully. now i just have to teach dd not to try and rip them out of her head. you can order some here www.ladybugsandlullabies.ca i ordered using a coupons code for a 25% of using the code autumn08 not sure it is still valid but you can give it a try. i recommend them for the quality for sure. and the cuteness factor is out of this world!

Become a Follower of my blog and WIN

I will be running this contest for the month of October, become a follower and receive an entry . encourage others to be a follower on your blog for a chance to win and get 5 entries. and the prize is sure to be a help with Christmas gift giving or just a booster for your household budget.

The prize is a 20 dollar gift card to a store of your choice!!!!

wow an easy way to win 20!

contest closes Halloween night. So the faster you get the entries in the better so it does not get forgotten.

many thanks for making all my giveaways a success.

FPC's and giveaways

AS they should be arriving, if not already received they will be shortly, please post that they are received. so i can cross it off my list.

Marlaene, I need you to contact me about your win. Thanks

Monday, October 06, 2008

Free sample of bounce awakenings

https://pgpromotions.archway.com/bounce_ca/?language=en&utm_source=awakenings_bouncesite

go here for free dryer sheets.

homemade laundry detergent.

I have been making my own laundry detergent and fabric softener sionce i read these postings over at That british woman blog here and here. and i love it! thanks so much for posting it.

i add some lavender essential oil to it for scent. it is so inexpensive and so easy to make. I am making a bucket full as we speak. I highly endorse the recipe for cleanliness . i have an he washing machine and use this.

spring / christmas cleaning - year round.

I always like to do a major clean leading up to christmas to donate toys and things to charity shops. to clean for visitng friends and to make room for new things. (if santa should leave some)

here is an article i found.


Typically, heavy duty cleaning and organizing is done once a year. When spring rolls around it is nice to open the windows in your house and clean up after hibernating all winter. But why wait until spring to thoroughly clean your home? Follow these tips to help tidy up your home in a few easy steps.
Tackle one area at a time: You will be able to get more done, more effectively by focusing on one room/area at a time. If you try to multitask during cleaning then it actually takes you longer to get your chores done. Also, try starting with the more difficult areas to clean such as the bathroom or kitchen, and then move to easier areas. Getting the more difficult rooms done in the beginning allows you to save some energy for the rest of the home.
Get Rid of Stuff!: Getting rid of items that just take up space in your home can make you feel better and can even earn a little money. Again, work on one room at a time. Start two piles in each room: a sell/donate pile for items that are in good shape and a trash pile for items that are in poor condition. Don’t be afraid to get rid of stuff! Chances are that if you have not used it in the past year, you will not miss it when it is gone. This is especially true for clothing, kids toys, kitchen accessories and old books. You will be amazed at the new space that you will have once you get rid of the old and unused.
Deep clean: After you have sorted, purged and organized it is time to clean. Again, tackle one room at a time. This is the perfect time to do those biannual cleaning chores such as cleaning the carpets and washing the inside of kitchen cabinets and drawers. Once those chores are done, you can move to daily/weekly tasks such as dusting and vacuuming.
Other helpful tips:
Sort your paper documents such as bill stubs, medical documentation, etc. Shred any unnecessary documents and neatly file away important documents in a filing cabinet or other storage container.
For out of control craft supplies, separate supplies into logical piles. Since I scrapbook and make hand made greeting cards, my piles were paper, rubber stamps, and miscellaneous craft tools. Consolidate into an easily accessible storage container such as a toolbox on wheels. Many craft stores sell craft storage containers that are perfect for keeping your items organized.
Sort through bathroom cabinets and get rid of any expired medicines, make up, and other toiletries. Using expired items can make you sick!
Keep a purge mentality all year long. This will make your job much easier when the time comes to clean and organize again.
After you have finished, kick up your feet and enjoy your freshly clean home.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

another weekend flown by!

Well i didn't get as much done today as i had envisioned for myself. but i am proud of what i did accomplish. and i will do the rest tomorrow or the next day. i did however manage to fit it time to make a pot of butternut squash soup. yum!

does anyone know of a good website builder that is little or no cost. i have no html experience. and i want to make a simple site. i have tried Microsoft frontpage and dreamweaver and they both require more knowledge than i have. i need something as simple as blogger is. and i am not sure that actually exist

how much can a list save you at the grocery store?

A grocery shopping list can be the front line tool you use in saving money on your grocery budget each month. There are several more sophisticated ways to save grocery money, but none is easier or faster to implement than the lowly grocery shopping list.

Interestingly, this is a tool that almost everyone knows about, yet very few people actually use it in a systematic and reliable way. For those folks who are not convinced of a grocery list's potential power in household management, here's what happens when you DON'T use one. -- You lose money. Without a grocery shopping list, a shopper is at the mercy of "what looks good" in a grocery store. Believe me, if you shop this way, you WILL find something that looks irresistible. And costs more than you might have spent with a list. Why? Simple. It is the grocery stores' job to entice you to spend money in their stores. That's how they stay in business. There's no problem with that.

But it's YOUR business to get the best value for your money...unless you don't care how much you spend on your groceries each month.

You lose time. Using a grocery shopping list means you can enter your favorite grocery store, fly up and down the aisles one time, and be ready to check out in the fraction of time of another shopper who uses the 'browse' method of grocery shopping. And if you're under the mistaken impression that you'll need to spend lots of upfront time figuring out what to put on your grocery list, well, you don't.

Hang your grocery list in a prominent place in your kitchen and train your family to use it. Then your list will be ready to go shopping when you are. -- You lose nutrition. Using a grocery shopping list means you get EXACTLY what you want at the store; and that includes the nutrition you want for your family. You call the shots on how much fat, salt and sugar your family consumes. You can decide to emphasize whole grains and whether raw vegetables, frozen or canned will grace your family's dinner table. In short, with a grocery list, you are in control. -- You lose efficiency. Ever stand in your grocery store and think to yourself, "well, I know I need some frozen veggies (or broth, or canned fruits, or favorite mixes, etc.) to keep on hand for that easy throw-together recipe my family likes. But I can't remember what I already have at home. I'll just get a couple of bags of SOMETHING to keep on hand." Fast forward to the night you want to actually COOK that wonderful food for your family. You discover you've got two bags of frozen broccoli and three bags of frozen stir-fry veggies, but what you NEED is a bag of frozen corn. A grocery shopping list could have helped you bring home the corn. Without the extra stir-fry. Using a grocery list means you have what you actually need in your pantry when you need it. Plus, you'll end up with less throw-away food, too, since you're purchasing what you know your family will eat within a given period of time.

Bottom line, if you're serious about saving money at the grocery store, the first thing you'll want to use is a grocery shopping list. It's easy and you can start using one today. Whether you're a college student learning how to grocery shop for the first time, a newly married couple establishing a budget, or a mom whose family has grown and the grocery budget has developed a mind of its own, the place to start to regain control is the lowly grocery shopping list.

EVER FEEL LIKE A MAID... except without the pay?

Well that is me today miss molly maid. i have a ton of cleaning to do. just regular old stuff but a lot of it. normally it is clean and tidy here all the time but the last couple of days I have not quite been in the mood for cleaning and then the amount of mess three kids can make is overwhelming and you don't know where to start.

right now it is actually tidy here just a lot of things need to be done that i call behind the scenes. the floors need mopping, the beds need to be changed, dusting, cleaning the kitchen, bathroom and a pile of laundry are all waiting for me.

and i still have to few groceries i just bought to cram into the fridge. there seems to never be enough room in the fridge.

Then i was thinking that after all the cleaning is done it might be a good time to invite the in laws around for dinner. they Haven't been around in about a month,. so two birds with one stone and the place is clean to boot.

Not sure if inviting them over will fly with dh, he is working til five today (dang Sunday shopping) so i will have to pull it all together myself and usually it is never very pleasant here when they do come over. I will run it by him when he checks in. I think mil will call today to see if they can visit anyway. our relationship with them could fill a whole blog in and of itself.
Anyway better get to cleaning.,,, happy Sunday!

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Tips to organize your Kitchen

tips on organizing your home.

Let's start with the kitchen: Pantry or food shelves: Put like items together, soups in one place, and canned vegetables in another and canned fruits all together, pasta in one place—you get the idea. Everything has its place so when you need it you will save time and easily be able to see what you have. (It just might scream 'take out' pizza night.)

If you haven't done this for awhile it is a good idea to make sure the cans or bottles are still good by checking expiration dates and check to see it is bulging. If it is, it is definitely spoiled and you need to get rid of it. Snacks: Place them in a basket at a convenient level to grab and go. Or if you have family members that you don't want to get into them, hide them.

Lids: Do you have plastic or glass bowls used for storing left-overs? If the lids are always all over the place, put them in a basket by themselves which makes it easy to match to the bowl and eliminates hunting for the matches. If you keep the lids on the container that takes up a lot of space in your cupboard. Dishes: Do you have enough room for all you have? Get metal stacking shelves that can double the amount of space in your cupboards. They come in many sizes and there are corner ones as well as straight ones that are adjustable. It is a good time to determine if you like or need all the dishes you have. If you see you never use some as you don't like them or you have too many for your needs or space; then donate to a charity.

Silverware drawer: Place the silverware in a container made for that purpose. Larger serving pieces can be placed next to it. Does your container slide back and forth as you open the drawer? A simple solution is to use sticky Velcro on the underside of the container—works great for bathroom drawers too where containers tend to want to slide about.

Pans: Place the ones you use most frequently toward the front of your shelf (if you hang them you have no problem with finding the right size when you need it).
If you have pans with a finish that can be chipped or scratched paper plates between the pans prevents this from happening.
If you have medicines in the cupboards check their expiration dates and make sure little children can't get into them.
Kitchens are often the hub of the home so a well organized one makes everyone happy. While you are waiting for Spring, or if you live where it is already Spring check out those cupboards, take an inventory and Get Organized now.

Winner picked for a tims card or a book of stamps.

marleane is the winner as selected by my little cutie! marlaene please contact me on frugal as to whether you wish to have a book of stamps or a five dollar tims card. and your address I will put a window of a week for you to get back to me. or the prize will be forfeited to another contest.
congrats!!

New Jeans

well, i was trying to get dressed today and i could not handle my old jeans anymore. they were just too big in the legs and thighs. i was not going to buy a new pair of jeans till i hit 30lb lost. but i have hit 25 so close enough i will have to set a new shopping reward or 30 lbs. i hate to say sizes because everyone body is different and numbers shouldn't matter but that being said, i went down 6 sizes!!!!

anyway it has been years since i bought a pair of jeans. the last jeans i bought were old walmart ones. the ones that stretch so bad they are all misshaped and everything. So i got it in my head that i would stop in old navy at er picking up DH from work. i was in the store 15 minutes and walked out with a pair of jeans. wow jeans are expensive. 39.50 wow! oh well i am just happy to have a pair that fits and kinda looks good. i hope though that in 3 months time i am out buying another pair and having the same too big problem. lol

i am starting to become more comfortable with my new lifestyle eating has become easier and a lot more diverse. i still strongly believe that success relies in finding healthier ways to make our comfort foods is the best way to keep ourselves on our "diets"

but enough about that. it was my sil birthday today so this morning the kids and i brought over a tray of pastries and a card and put them on her doorstep knocked and ran away. it was our way of giving her breakfast without the inconvenience of an early morning visit from three rowdy kids and myself. I hope she had a great day. Happy birthday sil

My two new favorite things!

Well thanks to Gill squash soup recipe. it is now one of my favorite things. the family didn't like it much but i loved it so more for me!

my second favorite things. is a new comfort food for me sugar-free style. (yes it has natural sugars)

one of my favorite things are raspberries. and they are super good for you in moderation, high in fiber.

when i started eating no-low sugar one of the things i had to learn to live without is ice cream and my goodness i love ice cream and all things refreshingly cold. so i have discovered a new way to get that ice cream comfort. frozen Europe's best raspberries right out of the freezer. with some heavy cream poured onto it and allow to sit long enough to get the frost to warm up and it to melt a little i am telling you it is so good.

Friday, October 03, 2008

free bottle of Dove body wash hurry

http://www.wakinguphannah.ca/freebodywash/


submit your email and wait for an email back. while supplies last
go go

Nighttime feeding wins the poll

certainly not my favorite part either so not surprised it led the way.

Feeling very tired today my youngest has a cold and whenever she gets a cold she has asthma attacks the last couple of days was no exception. at the hospital with her till the wee hours. but she is much better now. and we will all hopefully make up for the lost sleep tonight.

i will be posting the winner of the stamps/ Tim's git card after school when i get the kids to draw a name.

and i have exciting news about a new contest i will be throwing. i have had so much fun passing out fpc's and codes and things. that i just want to take it up a notch. details to come soon.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

gift closet pictures





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