My three favorite "Good Deals" of the last week...

"Good Deal" #1 TARGET:
FREE 6 pk 20 oz Smartwater
When you buy 10 Vitaminwater or Smartwater
Right now Vitaminwater and Smartwater  are on sale at Target for 10 for $10

I don't splurge on much for myself, but I LOVE my Smartwater. I get excited when it goes on sale for 10 for $10, but when I get a FREE 6 pack with it...I actually jump up and down...haha!

"Good Deal" #2 Also TARGET:
Buy 1 Get 1 FREE, AXE bodywash or deodorant
Coupon in the MAY 22, 2011 RedPlum
Our Target carries these for $3.29
My husband was thrilled that I brought him home an AXE bodyspray AND deodoarant. I was thrilled that I got BOTH for $3.29

"Good Deal" #3  Walmart:
My little girls has terrible allergies, so on outdoor days when they are really bad, I like to keep a box of Claritin on hand.
At my Walmart, I found a box of 20+5 free, for $9.37. I used a printable coupon from Coupons.com, for $4 off any 24 count or higher.
Out of pocket= $5.37 I usually have to pay at least $10-$12, for these. I was SO excited!!

Bacon wrapper tenderloin...for two...

Olive oil
1 pork tenderloin, Fat trimmed

4 slices of bacon
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon of Seasoning Salt
1 teaspoon dried basil

Preheat oven to 375. Mix together garlic powder, seasoned salt, basil, oregano, and black pepper. Sprinkle over tenderloins and rub the pork tenderloin. Wrap the bacon around the tenderloins secure with toothpicks. Drizzle with olive oil.  Place in a baking dish and bake uncovered 1 hour.  Remove and wrap in foil. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.

The EASIEST grilled chicken...

What you need:
4-6 boneless/skinless chicken breasts (I have made this with bone in chicken and it worked great)
1 bottle of Italian salad dressing
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Mix ingredients together and place the chicken in the marinade. Cover and let sit overnight. Flip in over at some point to give the chicken an even flavor.

Grill as usual.

Kibble for kids...

2 cups chocolate chips
1 box of Rice Chex
1 1/4 cups peanut butter
1/3 cup margarine
2 cups powdered sugar

Milt chocolate chips, peanut butter and margarine in a glass bowl in the microwave (Go in 30 second intervals). Stir well in between.. Add cereal to the chocolate peanut butter mix. Stir until coated. Place powdered sugar in a paper bag, pour in cereal mix, and shake to coat. Spread out on a piece of wax paper and allow to cool and set. I always serve in stack sized Ziploc bags. Great for trips to the park..

Daily Deal sites...

Here are a handful of my favorite daily deal sites.


1.) OpenSky

2.) Tippr

3.) Totsy (GREAT FOR MOMS)



4.) Zulily


5.) Ru La La I have ended up with so many freebies through Ru La La. 

6.) Beyond the Rack is another that I have scored many cheap or free deals on.

These are the ones I actually use. I'm going to try to find as many as I can for you, and will update as I check each one out. :)

7.)Groupon! I love Groupon! A little while back I got an amazing deal on Old Navy. It's awesome!

8.) Living Social! I snagged $40 worth of magazines 3-4 months ago for $10. I was so excited. They have a great variety of deals.

As per request...Making a few extra bucks, online...

I have compiled a list of survey sites that actually payout. If you've been looking for a few extra bucks, check it out...


1.) Toluna This is for surveys and polls.


2.) Valued Opinions pays you for your opinion.


3.) Global Test Market Panel  Global Test Market Panel - Voice Your opinion Try products and get rewarded. Earn rewards for every online survey you complete Receive a check in USD Share your opinions and help companies with their market research.
 4.) Survey Spot Take surveys to earn prizes, or cash. You also have a chance to win many of their drawings.


5.) Mysurvey MySurvey.com is a group of consumers from throughout the United States who influence future products and services by volunteering to participate in consumer research. By sharing your opinions about products and services, you are rewarded with Reward Points to redeem for cash and merchandise.


6.) CrowdTap I love crowd tap! This is a place you can earn gift cards and rewards as well as give feedback on freebies! It's AWESOME!!!



7.) Valued Opinions Don't give your opinions away get paid for them.


8.) Consumer Advisory Group    You will be able to enter sweepstakes for prizes including $50 Gift Cards for some of the surveys you complete, as well as have opportunities to earn individual gift cards.

9.)  Inbox Dollars Inbox Dollars pays members to read emails, take surveys online, play games, and go shopping! New enrollees also receive $5 just for joining.

10.) I-Say I-Say Young Adults Survey. Ages 18-30 Qualify. As part of the Ipsos i-Say Community, you get to see new products and ideas before anyone else.

11.) Shopper's Voice Do you have opinions you want to share? Would you like to see different types of products in the marketplace? Do you enjoy doing surveys? Do you like the chance to win prizes or get rewards? If you said 'Yes' to any of these questions, we want to hear from you! Becoming a member of Shopper's Voice® is easy and membership is free. All you have to do is complete the survey and you will automatically be eligible to receive exclusive money-saving coupons, free product samples, and other special offers by mail and email. Plus, you'll also be instantly entered into our Grand Prize draw for $10,000 cash.
12.) Swagbucks Win Prizes just by searching the web. Swagbucks is a loyalty program where you can earn free stuff including 1,000's of products for doing the things you do everyday. Register to get started. No credit card required!

13.) Vindale   Surfers who sign-up to Vindale get rewarded to give their opinions on products and services.

Brown Sugar Meatloaf

What you need:
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup ketchup
2-2 1/2 lbs ground beef
3 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup finely crushed cracker crumbs (I use club crackers)

Preheat oven to 375. Spray a loaf pan. Mix together brown sugar and ketsup. Pour the mixture into the bottom of pan. In a bowl  mix all remaining ingredients and shape into a loaf. Place loaf on top of ketchup. Bake for around an hour or until juices run clear.

Caramel Cheesecake Squares...Yummmm!

Crust

1 cup finely crushed Graham crackers 

2 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling

1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin (1/4-oz envelope)

1/4 cup whole milk

8 oz cream cheese, softened

2 large eggs

3/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup caramel, melted 

1 teaspoon vanilla

Glaze

3 oz bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes

2 teaspoons light corn syrup

Crust:

Preheat oven to 325. Line bottom and sides of an square baking dish with foil (overlapping), leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Finely grind crackers with sugar and a pinch of salt in a food processor. While processing, add butter, mixing until combined. Press mixture evenly onto bottom of baking pan. Bake 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes.

Filling:

Add gelatin to milk in a bowl and let soften. Mix together cream cheese, eggs, salt, vanilla and gelatin mixture with an electric mixer until well blended. Add the caramel. Beat until well incorporated. Pour filling over crust, and bake in a hot water bath in oven until center is just set, about 40-45 minutes. Cool cheesecake completely in pan on rack, about 2 hours. Chill, covered, for at least 6 hours.

Glaze cake 2 hours before serving:

Heat all glaze ingredients in a double boiler. Stir until smooth. Pour over cheesecake, tilting baking pan to coat top evenly. Chill, uncovered, 30 minutes.

Chocolate mousse Cupcakes....

What you need:

3 Chocolate bars (14 ounces) I always use milk chocolate

6 eggs

1/3 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Pre-heat oven to 325. Line a standard-size 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Melt 2 chocolate bars in top of double boiler over simmering water (Or 15 second increments in a microwave). Stir eggs, vanilla and flour into melted chocolate with whisk. Spoon into prepared tins. Bake for about 12 minutes or until sides of cupcakes are set but centers are still soft (It doesn't look done, but it is). Cool cupcakes in pan for 5 to 10 minutes. The centers will firm up to create a warm silky mousse. With your last bar of chocolate, use a potato peeler, or a cheese grater to create curls and sprinkles for garnish. Be careful when peeling paper liner from cupcake. Cupcake may split.

Homemade foot cream for cracked feet...

What you need:
5 ounces Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Peppermint extract
1 Square of bees wax

In a double broiler, add your oil and extract. Allow to simmer for 30 minutes on low heat. Remove oil mixture from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, add the bees wax and return to double broiler. Heat until completely melted. Once melted, pour into a container such as a mason jar (Mason jars tolerate the heat the best), and cool. Once cooled, cover with lid. When ready to use, you may warm up the mixture and rub into cracked heals and feet. I've noticed that it seems to work better when warmed up a bit, but it's not necessary.

How to make your own Vanilla Extract

What you need:

4-5 vanilla beans

1 cup vodka

glass jar with tight fitting lid

Use a sharp knife to cut 3/4 of the way down each vanilla bean, splitting them in half. Keep the end connected. Drop the vanilla beans in a bottle with a tight fitting lid (mason jars work perfecttly). Cover completely with the vodka. Shake the jar every once in awhile. Store in a dark place for 2 months. This will stay good for years. You can keep topping it off with vodka as you use it, just remember to give it a good shake.

You can also make vanilla sugar by putting a split vanilla bean into a jar of sugar. It's a fantastic way to infuse sugar with a vanilla flavor for baking.

Good Deal of the week #1....Best deal you'll get on Direct TV!

Click on the picture to go directly to the DirectTV page.

Lock in your savings for 2 years and save $500! Plus get free HD and 3 months of Showtime, HBO, Cinemax and Starz for free. Plus Get NFL Sunday Ticket Free with most packages! Here's my best translation of the fine print for you:

Choice Extra Package and above:

• Free HD
• Free HBO, Cinemax, Starz, and Showtime for 3 months
• Free HD DVR and HD Receiver upgrade

Free NFL Sunday Ticket for Choice Ultimate Package and above.

How the $500+ Savings Works:
You'll receive a monthly bill credit of $31 in your first year and a monthly bill credit of $16 in your second year. In order to receive the full $31 monthly credit in the first 12 months, just redeem your rebate online and sign up for DIRECTV emails. You'll need to provide a valid email address. Redeem your rebates by visiting directv.com/rebates. If you redeem prior to your installation, your rebate credits will begin with your first bill. Rebates submitted online after installation will take 6-8 weeks. Rebates must be submitted within 90 days of the start of your service. Free HD requires Auto Bill Pay.

Homemade body wash....

What you need:

-1 cup Cheap unscented shampoo (If you have sensitivities, get a sensitive shampoo)

-1 cup Water

-15-20 drops Essential oils (any scent you'd like, but my favorite is vanilla)

-1 teaspoon of  Xanthan gum (You can find this with the organic foods or sometimes near the vitamins...)

In a bowl, mix together all ingredients. DO NOT BEAT OR WHISK! Use a spoon to stir everything together. Pour into a squeeze bottle and apply to a loofah when using.

Liquid homemade laundry soap...great for skin sensitivities

What you need:

2 gallons Water (hot)

1 bar Ivory Soap, grated

2 1/2 cups Baking soda

In a saucepan add your grated Ivory. Add just enough hot water to cover the grated soap. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is completely melted. Pour 2 gallons of hot water into a large pail or container with a lid.. Add melted soap and stir well. Now, add the baking soda. Make sure the mixture is mixed thoroughly.

Use 1/2 cup per full load.

Indoor/Outdoor Bug spray.

What you need:

2 cup of hot water

2 teaspoon of tea tree oil

Pour into spray bottle. Shake well. Spray in areas you notice the insects. Safe around kids and pets. Works great indoors as well.

Homemade Diaper soak...

Diaper pail soak:
1/4 cup washing soda
1/4 cup borax
Water

This is a great soak for diapers. Once soaked, drop in wash machine, and run through wash cycle. Run an additional rinse cycle with 1 cup vinegar to soften up the diaper, and neutralize and odor left behind.

Baby Lotions...

Bedtime lotion:
1 cup of petroleum jelly
9 teaspoons of olive oil
30 drops of lavender oil
30 drops of chamomile

Mix VERY well in a bowl. When mixture is blended, seal in an airtight container.

Regular baby oil:

2-3 Vitiman E capsules

1 cup of grapeseed, almond, sunflower OR olive oil

Mix together in a bowl. Put in a bottle or small spray bottle. The Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant and helps to heal wounds.

Sensitive baby bath soak...(Eases itchy skin)

What you need:

1/2 cup nonfat dry milk

1/2 cup whole dry buttermilk

1 cup rolled oats


Let child soak in bath for 15-20 minutes and rinse off.

Nighttime Baby Bath...

What you need:

1/2 cup nonfat dry milk

1/2 cup whole dry buttermilk

2 tablespoon cornstarch

4 drop lavender oil

Mix together all the ingredients and store in a clean container or Ziploc bag.

To use: 1-2 tablespoon for the baby's bath.

Make your own foaming baby wash....

What you need:

Foaming hand soap bottle (See picture..I used an old Dial foaming hand soap dispenser)

Baby wash

Water

Clean your soap pump really well. Add about an inch or so of baby wash to the dispenser, and then top off with warm water. Replace pump, and shake well. Pump and you should have a nice foam soap. This will help to make a bottle of baby wash last about 4-5 times longer.

Making your own baby food..Vegetables!


You can turn any vegetable into a high quality baby food. As with fruit, you always want to find the freshest, best quality produce.

To make vegetables:
Boil the vegetable until slightly mushy. Puree in blender, and you're ready to store the veggies, or freeze them.

One tip that I loved was to use ice cube trays to freeze the puree in. When they were frozen, I'd toss them into a labeled Ziploc bag. It was so easy to grab and go. I'd grab a cube or two, warm it slightly and it was ready.


Here are a few recipes my girls loved...

Chicken and peas.
Once a week, I would grab a skinless, boneless chicken breast, trim the fat, and boil it until it was cooked completely through. I would then grab a bag of frozen peas (Which had been thawed and boiled), and I'd add the chicken and the peas to the blender. Sometimes I'd have to add a little water. It was a hit with the babies.

Another great one was Mixed vegetable and ham casserole. I would remove any fat or skin from the ham, and thaw a bag of organic frozen vegetables. Add both ingredients to a saucepan of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Drain water and puree in blender.

Make your own baby food...Fruits!



First, you need to have a baby food processor, a hand mixer or a blender. I always used a blender and had no problems with it reaching the consistency I wanted.


Second, when making fruit baby food, it's important to pick the best quality and the more ripe, the better.


Bananas:
This is super easy. Break the banana into chunks, drop in your blender and puree. Pour into bowl or containers, and you're done. Bananas can freeze, but they turn a brownish color. They may look yucky to you, but there's nothing wrong with them and they taste the same to baby.


Applesauce:
Core your apple, and drop into a saucepan with water. Bring to a boil and allow to boil until apples it tender but not mushy. Remove from water, let drain, and remove skin. They should easily peel right off. Drop into a blender and puree. Can be frozen as well.  I suggest going with a sweeter apple.


Plums:
Slice in half and remove pit. Place on a cookie sheet skin down. Bake at 325 until tender/crisp. Remove plum and drop into blender. Puree until the skin is completely ground up. Can be frozen.


You can mix and match fruits and veggies. One of my daughters favorites was applesauce squash...


The basics to all baby food making, it to not add extras. Make the vegetable or fruit just tender enough to puree. Most baby food can be frozen in airtight containers.


You can use frozen fruit and vegetables and achieve the same results.


Making your baby's food at home is not only cheaper, but so much healthier. It may take a few extra minutes of prep time, but once you get started, you'll notice that making batches and freezing them, are just as convenient as baby food jars you buy at the store.

Cooking with kids...Morning O' cookies!

Morning  O' Cookies

2 large eggs
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup walnuts
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
1 cup flour
1 cup oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Cheerios

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix together eggs, honey and butter. Stir in carrot, nuts and fruits. In another bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Add dry mix and cereal, to the fruit mixture.Mix until incorperated. Shape dough into golf ball sized, balls. Place on a ungreased baking sheet (Roughly 1 inch apart) Bake for about 15 minutes or until firm when lightly pressed.

FUN Kid friendly meal...Chili-dog Pot pie...

2 cups biscuit baking mix
2/3 cups water
3 cups chili with beans
6-8 hot dogs, sliced
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Pre-heat oven to 350.
In bowl, mix together baking mix and water to form a dough ball. Set aside. Spread half of chili into the bottom of a casserole dish. Make a layer of the hot dogs over chili. Cover the hot dogs with cheese, then top with remaining chili. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the biscuit dough to around an 1/4-inch thick sheet. Lay the dough over the contents of the dish, and poke a few slits to vent steam. Bake for 15-25 minutes or until the top crust is golden.

Dealing with a picky eater....

Many parents experience "Picky Eaters" at least once. Here are a few tips and ideas to add some healthy choices into your child's diet. Before long they'll start to actually try new things.

1.) Try topping veggies with a little shredded melted cheese. Most picky eaters, love cheese. Don't overdo it with the cheese, but by sprinkling a little on top, your child is more apt to try it.

2.) Veggie fries. Most kids love fries. I like to mix it up a little and turn other vegetables into fries. I've made squash fries, zucchini fries, rutabaga fries...you name it. I sprinkle them with some sea salt, drizzle them with a little olive oil, and bake until tender in the center. My kids LOVE these.

3.) Let them help you make the meal. Often times, kids won't eat something because they don't know what it is. When you let them help, they can see what each part of the meal is.

4.) (THIS IS AN OPINION BASED TIP)...Stop giving in when they ask for the same foods over and over again. Trust me, I know it's hard, but you're child won't know if they like something else, unless they try it. Create a "Buffet Plate". We do this about once a month with our girls. It's become a fun game, now. I make small servings of multiple foods, including a few of their favorites, and spoon a teaspoon of each on a large plate. They "Try" each of the items in their buffet. This is when I usually add a new item to menu. They like most, hate a few, but every time, they walk away knowing they found a new food they loved.

Another site for freebies and coupons....

I found another GREAT coupon and freebies site. Like I promised before, if I find anything, I'd let you all know.  Click Here: WOMANS FREEBIES AND COUPONS!

**Reader Question** Cooking when your family down-sizes....

 Question:
Any tips when the family downsizes and you dont feel like cooking anymore?

Answer:
 It's really easy to get away from cooking once the family starts getting smaller. Something that works wonders is to "Cook ahead". If you ever get in the mood for cooking, cook as much as you can. Freeze prepared at home, meals for... those days that you don't want to cook but you also don't want to go out and eat at a fast food place. By cooking ahead, you'll have the quality of foods that you're used to, but the prep time is very little.

Keeping Fleas Off your Pet....

We have two cats, and two dogs. I feel your pain when it comes to fleas. I hate them...and so do our four-legged family members. I hate using dips and shampoos with all of those chemicals. I always worry about our kids snuggling up to our dogs if they've been bathed with traditional flea treatments. I also worry about one of the animals licking a place then may not have been rinsed as well as the rest of them. Here are some family/pet friendly options for keeping fleas at bay.

1.) Tea Tree Oil.
I add about 5-10 drops of Tea Tree Oil to every shampoo in the house, including our pets. Tea Tree oil repels fleas, ticks and lice. There's something about the oil that they just do not like. I add the oil, shake well and I'm good to go until the next bottle is pulled out. Make sure to shake prior to each use.

2.) Garlic!
If your poor cat or dog is being eaten alive, start giving them a little garlic in their food. Garlic secretes an oil into the skin that is odorless to us, but Fleas and other little blood suckers, HATE it! You can give your pet fresh garlic, or they sell garlic tablets at pet stores.

3.) Borax!
Fleas in your house, can drive anyone crazy. At the beginning of each season, I do this. Pick up a box/tub of Borax and sprinkle throughout your house on the carpets. Let it set overnight, and vacuum up in the morning. No more fleas! 

Fun For Kids...Bubble Maker...

Empty disposable container with lid (Butter or whipped topping tubs, works great)
Flexible straw
Hole punch
1/3 cup of dish soap
2 cups of water
Permanent marker

With your hole punch, punch a hole in the lid of the container. With your hole punch, punch a hole near the top of your actual container (About 1/2 inch below the lip of the tub). Now you're ready to blow some bubbles! Pour in some dish soap and water into your tub. Insert the straw, flexible end first, into the hole on the side of the tub. Aim the straw down to the bottom of the tub. Put the lid on the container and BLOOOOW!!! Bubbles!!!!

If you decide to decorate, use permanent markers, only! The soap solution may ruin any other type of decoration

Sinful Chocolate Cake

2/3  cup  unsweetened cocoa powder

2 1/4  cups all-purpose flour

1  teaspoon  baking powder

1/2  teaspoon  baking soda

1/2  teaspoon  salt

1  cup  boiling water

1/2  cup  butter

1 1/2  cups  packed brown sugar

3  eggs

1 1/2  teaspoon  vanilla

1/2  cup  buttermilk (Easy substitute: 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice OR vinegar in a glass measuring cup. Add enough milk to make 1/2 cup liquid; stir. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes before using.)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour two round cake pans. In a bowl, mix boiling water into cocoa powder until mostly dissolved. Set aside. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Put to the side. In a larger bowl, cream together brown sugar and butter with an electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition, until smooth. Whisk in vanilla. Mix together the cocoa mixture and buttermilk. Add flour mixture alternately with cocoa-buttermilk mixture, on low speed until combined. Pour batter into pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in pans on wire racks then remove from pans and allow to finish cooling.

Ice with Milk Chocolate Sour Cream Icing

Milk Chocolate Sour Cream Icing:

In a saucepan, melt 6-7 ounces of cut up milk chocolate over low heat, stirring none-stop, to avoid burning. Set aside to cool. In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup dairy sour cream, 1/4 cup softened butter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until combined. Gradually mix in the cooled chocolate, Beat until fluffy.

"New Baby" gift for Dad's...

The Daddy Tool Belt

What you need:
A tool belt
Bottles
Diapers
Wipes
A rattle
A binky
Baby Tylenol
Baby thermometer
Baby teething gel
(It's really your choice of baby items, but this list gives you an idea)

Iron on patches or decals that spell out "Dad" or "Daddy"

Putting it together:
Pick your place to iron on "Daddy". Follow instructions on decals and patches. Fill the pockets with the baby items. Place it in a box. Pack with tissue paper. Now wrap in your choice of paper. Dad's LOVE this gift. It's not the typical frilly diaper bag. It's a manly diaper bag, and guys love the fact that it's a conversation starter.

Summer fun for kids...and the grown ups that love them...

-Go for daily walks.
Each day make a little scavenger hunt map. when you go for your walk, encourage your child to find the items on the map.

EX: A truck, a tree, a blue bird, a bug, and a stick.

Make it fun. This gets you out for some fresh air and a break from the daily grind, and gives your child/children something to look forward to.


-Plant a garden.
My girls have loved doing this every year. We set a day to plant a garden. We turn the dirt. Plant the seeds. Water the soil. Then each day we go out to see if anything is happening. We continue to water, weed and watch. When that first sprout pops through the soil, they are so thrilled. They take care of their garden each day and are so proud of themselves. This teaches children about plant life and teaches them responsibility.


-Water Balloon Bowling.
It's a hot day. The kids want to play in the water. Here's what you do. Take 10 of those water bottles out of the recycling bin, fill them half way with water. Grab a bunch of balloon and fill them with water. Stick them in a basket or large plastic bowl. Have your kids bowl with the balloons. Not only will they have a blast, i think you will, too.

More summer ideas to come....

Fishing themed Father's Day gifts...

Fish frame:

What you need:
Craft foam
Cardboard
Scissors
Markers
Glue
Hole Punch
Ribbon
A picture of the child

Find a fish shaped template (I recommend something 6X8). Draw shape on craft foam. Using a glass or other round object, trace a circle on the fishes belly and cut out. Position the picture on the back of the craft foam so that the picture can be easily seen through the circle on the front. Using the same template, cut the fish shape out of the cardboard and glue to the back of the foam fish. Use a hole punch to make a hole in the top center of the fish. Tie a ribbon through the hole (This is how you hang the picture). Now, use your markers to decorate the fish.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fishing Fund

What you need:

A can with a lid (Old coffee cans work great)

Construction paper

Fishing stickers

Glue

Sharpie

Loose change

Wrap your can with construction paper. Glue onto can and let dry. Write "Dad's Fishing Fund" on the front, and embellish the can with stickers or drawings. Using a sharp knife, make a slit in the lid big enough to drop change in. When the can is completely decorated, drop the loose change in the can to get Dad's "Fishing Fund" started.

Ideas for sneaking vegetables into your family's food....



-Dark Green veggies are by far, the best ones for you. Most veggie-haters, turn their noses up to anything green. Try chopping the vegetables into tiny pieces and mixing them into the food. For example, finely chopped broccoli mixed in with white rice and shredded cheese, is hard to turn away.

-Cauliflower mashed potatoes. Make mashed potatoes using half potatoes, half cauliflower. Add butter, salt and pepper and a tablespoon of garlic. You're family will have no idea.

-Smoothies!! If you have a fruit lover, you can easily sneak in a carrot, squash or zucchini to a fruit smoothie. They won't have a clue.

-Puree some vegetables in a food processor or blender and add it to cooked pasta. Use a few seasonings to spice it up, and you have a healthy meal.



Dog Biscuits...

What you need:

6 slices of cooked bacon, finely chopped
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup of oat flour
1 cup of rice flour
1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheese
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1/3 cup water

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients mixing until the dough creates a ball. Roll and cut into your choice of shapes. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool and store in an airtight container in the refridgerater for up to 21 days.

Homemade Durable Kids books....

Create a personalized book that holds up to those sticky fingers.

What you need: 
4x4 inch pieces of cardboard (The amount of pieces you need depend on how many pages your book is)
Construction paper
Glue
Markers
Pictures
Ziploc bags or laminating sheets
Hole Punch
Ribbon or shoe laces


Cover each piece of cardboard with construction paper. Glue down. Allow to dry.


Create your book. Write your story. Glue on your pictures. Don't forget the cover.


When your book is finished, you have two options.
Option 1: Slip each of your cardboard pages into Ziploc bags. Get as much air as you can out, and zip shut. Cover "zipper" with a strip of masking tape. Using a hole punch, make a hole in the top left corner and secure the pages together with a ribbon or shoe lace tied in a double knot.


Option 2:
Laminate each of your pages. Use a hole punch to make a hole in the top left corner. Secure pages together with ribbon or shoe lace.

Homeschooling...one HUGE tip for encouraging learning...

I know you were expecting this long article with two dozen tips, but there's one tip that will have the biggest impact.

PRAISE!!

There is no greater reward to a child than his or her parent being proud of them. When they reach goals, let them know that you noticed the hard work and effort they had put into that project or goal.

 "Great job, Sally! Look at how smart you are!"
" WOW, Tommy! I know how hard you worked on that. What a fantastic job!"

I know that this seems like second nature to many of us, but by verbally rewarding their success, you are encouraging them to reach out and want to learn more.

Like I said...Simple tip, but you will notice such a huge difference in your child's drive in a very short time.

Grilled Garlic Corn on the Cob...

We love summer partially because we can eat this.

What you need:
4-6 ears of corn
4-6 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1/2 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
dash of pepper

In a bowl, mix together butter, garlic, garlic salt and pepper. With a butter knife, spread the mixture on each ear. Wrap in tin foil. Add to the grill and let cook for 15-20 minutes. Flip about half-way through. Remove from grill and allow 3-5 minutes before unwrapping. this keeps it juicy and crisp.

YUM!

Italian Mushroom Salmon

6 fillets salmon

1  packet of  dry Italian dressing mix

1/3 cup water

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 clove of garlic, minced (should be about a teaspoon)

1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly butter a baking dish. In a small bowl, combine salad dressing mix, water and lemon juice. Mix well. Arrange salmon fillets in a single layer in the baking dish. Pour the water mixture over the salmon and add the sliced mushrooms on top of the fillets. Bake, covered, for 12-15 minutes. Remove cover and bake for an additional 10 minutes, bast with the juices.

Glazed Chocolate Pound Cake...

What you need:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2  cup butter, softened
3 cups sugar
3 teaspoons of vanilla
5 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 325.

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing very well after each. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Alternate between adding dry mixture and buttermilk to creamed mixture. Beating well. Pour into greased and floured bundt pan or 2 loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes  Bake until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely before adding the glaze.

Glaze:

1/3 cup butter
2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons hot water

Melt butter in saucepan. Remove from heat and whisk in in confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until glaze is of desired consistency. Drizzle over cake. Top with Whipped topping if desired....

Pork Cilantro Tacos

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound pork tenderloin, cut into strips
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons lime juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
Corn tortillas, for serving

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. sprinkle pork with cumin, salt, and pepper. Add pork to skillet. Cook until you lo longer see any pink Stir occasionally. Remove from skillet and set aside. Add onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno to skillet and cook until golden and tender, 3-5 minutes. Add in pork, cilantro, and lime juice  Finish cooking until the pork is done, about 2-3 minutes.
Serve on warm with corn tortillas.

Greek Dipping Sauce...

A very simple dipping sauce that gives you a not too sweet flavor with a kick.

1 teaspoon curry powder
1 cup plain Greek Yogurt
2 tablespoons Mayo
1/2 teaspoon honey

Mix all ingredients together. Chill for 1 hour and serve.

Cheaper Ink?!

I know we recently talked about the cost of ink for printing coupons, and I wanted to share a site that may save you a few bucks. Simply INK

Now, I'm not sure how much you pay for it in your area, but where I live...its EXPENSIVE! I pay $28 for a black Lexmark ink cartridge. I started buying online, because it was cheaper...even with shipping.

I'm pretty sure they are also still offering 10% off all orders and Free shipping for orders over $50.

Giving new life to an old pillow...



Do you have a flat, stale pillow that you once loved? Give it a new life. Simply stick the pillow in the dryer with 2 dryer sheets and let tumble on low heat for 15-20 minutes. It not only fluffs the pillow, it freshens it up. I like to do this to my pillows about 1-2 times a month.

Random Tips...

~Loose Screws : To make a screw hold tightly, dip it in glue before replacing.

~ Sandpaper Tip: By damping the backing on sandpaper, it will last longer and resist cracking


~Rust Stains: Spread a paste of hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar over the rusted area, and add a few drops of ammonia. Let it stand or 2 or 3 hours.


~ Removing Scratches: Rub mayonnaise into scratches on furniture with your finger, let it stand, and remove with a soft cloth.


~Feather Pillows: Put feather pillows in the dryer and tumble. Then air outside to completely freshen.


~Too Sudsy: When your washer overflows with too many suds, sprinkle salt in the water-the suds will disappear

~Final Rinse: Add a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse when washing clothes to make sure the alkaline in the soap are dissolved.

~Removing Sweater Balls:  Small knots and balls can be removed sweaters by shaving with a razor or rubbing gently with sandpaper.

~Basil repels flies and mosquitoes. To deter ants, use catnip. Sprinkle it in their paths.


~To keep your extension cords from getting tangled, insert them into a empty toilet paper roll to store.

Homemade Chocolate pudding...

What you need:

4 ounces of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 cups milk

2 tablespoons of sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/8 tablespoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla

In a saucepan combine the sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Once everything is well incorperated, add 1 cup of the milk and the chocolate and whisk slowly over a medium heat until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Slowly add the remaining milk and cook until a slow boil starts. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla.

Pour the pudding into bowls and let it cool to room temperature. You can either serve the pudding warm, or cover it with plastic wrap, making sure the wrap is touching the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming, and refrigerate until cool.

Super cute Father's Day craft...

What you need:
Small rocks 2-3 (ping-pong ball sized)
A small (Single serving size) metal pie tin
1 Popsicle stick
Glue/glue gun
Construction paper
Sharpie

Clean your rocks and let them dry. When rocks are dry, draw a face on them (We have each child draw one of themselves). Set aside.

**Note** You can get as detailed as you'd like with the rocks. We have added google eyes, pipecleaner hair, used bubble paints and so on...

Glue the Popsicle stick to the back of the pie tin (Like you're adding a sail). Cut out a rectangle piece of paper (about 1 inch by 2 inches). Glue to the top of the Popsicle stick. Write "Dad Rocks" on the flag. Put your little rock faces in the tin. You can glue them down if you'd like.

Super cute on Dad's desk or on a shelf in the garage. :)

Sunday Coupon Preview...

I just found out about this. It's actually pretty cool. You can see the weekly inserts for your Sunday papers, before they come out. I know a lot of you are starting to get into couponing, and I wanted to make sure I was making as many options as possible, available to you.

I tried this out a few weeks back and it made my menu planning and shopping list a lot easier to plan out. I know what coupons I'll be getting in my Sunday Paper.

If you'd like to Check out the "Sunday Coupon Preview", click HERE!

Simple No-Bake cookies...

3 1/4cups quick oats

2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

In a saucepan, mix sugar, butter, milk, cocoa and salt. Bring to boil over medium heat. Stir often (3-ish minutes). Remove from heat. Add in vanilla and peanut butter; stirring until peanut butter is melted. Add oats and mix well. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. Let stand until firm. Store tightly covered.

Cleaning those "Flat paint" walls...

I'm not going to lie here. I HATE Flat Paint!! Unfortunately, our entire home is painted in it.

Here are a few ways to clean those dirty fingerprints, and smudges.

1.) Sugar Soap. You should be able to find this at your home improvement stores. Follow the directions, and those walls should be nice and clean.

2.) CLEAN water and a CLEAN cloth. Dip  your cloth in warm water and get the dirty spot off your wall. Wring it out and wipe the entire area lightly. This will avoid giving you those water markers.

3.) A broom. Wrap broom bristles with a clean cloth. Sweep the wall (A lot of those marks can be swept right off). Now spray a household cleaner on the cloth and gently sweep any spots you're having issues with. DO NOT use any glass cleaners. Those always make the stain worse.

Filling nail holes in your wall...

This is a fairly easy task, and typically pretty inexpensive.

Here are some simple ways to cover those holes.

1.)Wall putty. We all know that white pasty stuff is used for filling holes, but there are a few little things to remember. After you have filled the hole, use a damp sponge to wipe off any excess. This helps give it a more finished look. Paint to finish. You can have your paste tinted at any paint shop. It's usually really cheap and if you have a wall that's anything but white, tinting can help to make those filled nail holes less visible.

2.) The trusty toothpaste. Fill those holes with plain white toothpaste. Again, wipe any excess off. This will work great for walls you plan to paint.

3.) Soap. This works wonders for off-white walls. You can usually go to the $ Store and find an off white bar of soap for this purpose. Run on the nail hole, wipe with a slightly damp sponge, and dry with a paper towel.

If you have a wood colored wall. wood fill works pretty well, too.

Super simple Smore's Pie...

What you need:

Premade graham cracker crust

1 cup crushed graham crackers
2 boxes chocolate instant pudding
1 jar of marshmallow fluff
1 8 ounce pack of cream cheese
1 king sized chocolate bar, grated

Prepare pudding as directed. Pour into pie shell. In a bowl, beat together fluff and cream cheese, until smooth. Spread on top of pudding. Sprinkle crushed graham crackers on top. Finish by sprinkling the grated chocolate bar. Refrigerate for 1+ hour.

Degreasing your appliances...

What you need:
2 large bowls or buckets
Hot water
1 cup Vinegar
1 tablespoon dishsoap
2 terry clothe washclothes (I'd recommend using old ones you can throw out)

In one bowl, mix vinegar, dishsoap and 4-5 cups hot (As hot as you can stand) water. In the second bowl, clean, hot water.

Take one of your clothes and swoosh it around in the bowl, ring out until it's no longer dripping from the cloth. Wipe and scrub appliances. Use the fresh bowl of water with another cloth for rinsing. Dry with paper towels or lint free rag. This will break down the grease and give you a clean, grease free surface. For burnt on grease, squeeze some of the vinegar water on the stain. Let stand for 30 minutes and wipe clean.

Fat-Free Tuna Salad-Stuffed Tomatoes

                                  What you need:

1 medium red bell pepper

1 small cucumber, peeled and seeded

1/4 cup fresh parsley

1/4 of a medium red onion

1 can water-packed tuna, drained (crab and shrimp work great for this, too)

Juice of 1 lemon

Salt and pepper

Lettuce or spinach leaves

4 medium tomatoes, cored

Finely chop red peppers, cucumber, radishes, parsley and red onion. Combine in a large bowl. Add the tuna to the vegetables, flaking it with a fork. Add the lemon juice and toss to combine well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange lettuce leaves on plates. Place a tomato in the center of each plate. With a sharp knife, vertically cut the tomato almost to the bottom, leaving the halves attached. Rotate the tomato, making 2 more cuts to create 6 wedges. With your fingers, spread out the tomato, making a flower design. Spoon 3/4 cup of the tuna salad in the center of the tomato, and serve.

Honey Almond Polenta

What you need:
3 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cornmeal
3 Tablespoons butter
2 1/2 Tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 Tablespoons toasted almond slivers
Extra honey

To toast the almond slivers, place them in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Stirring often, cook until lightly browned. Let cool.
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the milk and salt to a gentle boil. Slowly mix in the cornmeal. Reduce heat to low and cover. Stirring occasionally, cook for 3-5 more minutes or until thickened to your liking. Stir in the butter, honey and vanilla. Top each serving with almond slivers and a generous drizzle of honey

Goulash

What you need:
1 box elbow macaroni
1 can kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 bag frozen corn
1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small can of sliced olives
1 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons dry basil
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt

Brown ground beef in LARGE skillet. Season with the garlic and seasoning salt. Drain and return to skillet. Add in your garlic, onion, basil and olives. Let simmer for 5-7 minutes. Add in your kidney beans, corn and diced tomatoes.

Start your pasta. Cook according to directions on box, drain and return to pot.

Add your ground beef mixture to the pasta. Stir well. Add in your tomato sauce. Mix well, and let simmer for another 5-7 minutes, or until thoroughly heated. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

Random Tips...

-To help remove the odor of new paint, place a bucket of water in the freshly painted room.

-Wax candles will burn for a longer period of time if they are chilled in the fridge several days before they are lit.

-Save all left-over pieces of soap, either hand or laundry soap, and place in a container. Pour a small amount of water over them and place on back of stove, the soap will melt and form a jelly. This works great for washing dishes or clothes.

-Don't waste your money on brand name napkins. You get the same results with the generic, and it's half the price!

-Use shallow tubs and boxes to store like items in the refrigerator. When you need something, just pull out the tub and grab what you need (condiments box for ketsup, mayo etc.). No more digging through the fridge trying to find that jar of mustard

Free ways to organize your drawers...

Look around your house. How many small boxes, plastic butter containers, baby food jars etc., do you find. Use them. What better way to recycle, then to reuse.

Old check boxes, small shipping boxes: These can hold any small objects like ties, scarfs, underwear (Rolled). I line 3 or 4 boxes and sort by color.

Jars and plastic containers: These are great for earrings, tie tacks, pins, make-up, small kitchen utensils (Wine corks).

Get creative!

I like to wrap the box in pretty paper to give it a finished look. I also cut a strip to wrap around a jar, so they all match.