Penny's Frugal Linky....

What a great way to start the day! I was lucky enought to team up with not only a fellow blogger, but a dear friend of mine, over at A Penny Saved, Is a Penny Earned, for a frugal linky party. This week's theme is "Sanity Savers".

What is a linky party? It's a way to share all of your favorite tips, by submitting the link.

Have fun scrolling through all of the tips. Let us know what your favorites are.

Enjoy!



Linky Guidelines: Please link up to your exact post and not the main page to your blog. Also, link back here from your post so that others can find the fun. You can use the button or a direct link within your post. Thanks so much for participating!

Next week's topic ~ Cleaning for the Holidays

How to make scented pine cones....

The first step is to find your pine cones. If you pick them up outside, stick them in a Ziploc and pop them in the freezer for a few hours. This kills the little bugs that could be living inside.

If your pine cones are closed, and you'd like to skip any drying time, Place them on a cookie sheet and bake for an hour at 250. They should open up for you.

Once they have cooled completely, Take a small paintbrush and coat each pine cone with cinnamon oil. If the oil is very strong, you can dilute with a 50/50 mixture of the cinnamon oil and vegetable oil. Toss the finished pine cones into a large Ziploc. Break up a few cinnamon sticks and toss them in the bag. Most homemade scented pine cones, take 6-8 weeks of sitting in a Ziploc. It's supposed help infuse the oil...and it does. BUT, I have found a quicker method. Pop that Ziploc in the microwave (SEALED) and microwave 4 or 5 times, for 30 seconds each time. Let cool, and store the sealed bag in a dark place for 24 hours.

How to clean a down comforter at home....

Gasp! Yes, you can wash a down comforter at home...AND you can use regular laundry soap...GASP!

Here's the tricks....

Only use half the amount of detergent and NO fabric softener. You can use bleach, just not every time. I use it every other wash. When drying, dry on the lowest setting, with a couple of dryer balls. Don't have dryer balls? Throw in a couple shoes (CLEAN of course)...


There you have it...Much easier than you were expecting, huh? :)

Removing spraypaint....

Without Chemicals:
Go to a home improvement store and pick up a rubbing stone. Apply a little pressure and scrub in a circlular motion. Most, if not all, of the paint should come up.

Another option is a pressure washer.

With chemicals:
Pour some paint thinner and a few drops of dishsoap on the paint. Use a scrub brushto scrub until paint is gone.

How to remove grease from carpets....

What you need:
Spray bottle
1 cup vinegar
1 cup HOT water
1/2 teaspoon dish soap

Mix together the soap, vinegar and water and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the area. Make sure it's pretty saturated. Allow about 30 minutes. Them using warm water and a clean cloth, blot the area until all of the stain and soap are up.

Removing food coloring from carpet...

What you need:
Water
Old towels
Dishwasher (not dish soap) detergent (Make sure it doesn't contain bleach)
Scrub brush

Apply a little detergent to the spot, dip the scrub brush in water and scrub. Use a Wet washcloth to keep blotting the spot, until the spot has been removed. If you are able to wash, throw it in the wash machine...

Removing food coloring from skin....

What you need:
Small bowl
Handsoap
3 tablespoons salt
3 tabespoons vinegar or lemon juice

In a small bowl, add a few drops of dishsoap, the salt and the vinegar or lemon juice. Use the back side of a spoon to crush the salt and form a paste. Apply to the food coloring stain on skin, and gently rub. Rinse well, once stains have been removed.

Weekly Menu for October 25th-31st...

Tuesday, October 25th

Apricot Ribs

4 pounds baby back ribs

1 jar apricot preserves

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 teaspoons garlic powder

In a bowl, combine everything but the ribs. Place ribs in a baking pan. pour sauce slowly over ribs, making sure to cover all of the ribs. Cook for 2-3 hours at 300. You can cook these in a crockpot as well. Add everything to a crockpot and cook on low for 7 hours...

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Wednesday, October 26th

Spicy Cubed Steak.

4 cube steaks

3 TBL flour

1 TBL chili powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 TBL olive oil

1 can diced tomatoes

Mix flour, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Place the steaks on a piece of wax paper. Sprinkle about 1/2 of the mixture over the steaks. Press mixture into the steaks, flip and repeat on the other side.

Heat up a fry pan with olive oil on medium high heat. Cook on first side for 3-4 minutes or until the steak easily releases from pan. Cook on the other side for 2 minutes. Remove steaks from pan. Add can of tomatoes to the drippings. Sprinkle with a dash of chili pepper, and salt. Once you have brought the tomatoes to a simmer, add the steaks and Simmer for 10-15 minutes

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Thursday, October 27th

Super Easy Goulash

1 can of corn

1 can of peas

1 can of green beans

1 can of red kidney beans

1 pound of hamburger

1 onion

1 pound of macaroni noodles

1 jar od spaghetti sauce

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 small can of tomato paste

Brown hamburger, drain and add to a soup pot. Drain all canned ingredients, and add to pot. Start macaroni noodles. When noodles are tender, drain and fold in noodles. Season with 1 tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp seasoned salt, and 1 chopped onion. Let simmer on low for 30 minutes.

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Friday, October 28th

Sauteed Chicken in Garlic Sauce

1 head of garlic

1/3 cup chicken broth

1/2 tsp dry oregano

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/4 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1 1/2 TBL olive oil

Mince garlic and place in a saucepan with broth and oregano. On a shallow plate, mix flour, salt and pepper. Coat chicken with flour mixture by placing on plate, and flipping. In large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. At the same time, bring saucepan of broth and garlic to a simmer. Add chicken to the hot skillet and cook for 5 minutes, flip and cook on the other side for 4-7 minutes or until the chicken is completely cooked. Plate the chicken add the broth mixture to the skillet and deglaze the pan. Use a whisk to mix well. Spoon the garlic broth sauce over chicken when ready to serve.

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Saturday, October 29th

Pork Chops with Mushrooms and Herbs

4 boneless porkchops

1 tsp dried thyme

2 Tablespoons butter

1 onion

1 cup sliced mushrooms (I prefer portabella)

1/2 cup light cream

Add butter to a large skillet. Melt butter on Medium heat. Add chops and cook on the first side for 4 minutes without moving. Flip and cook on the second for another 4 minutes. Remove chops and add onions and mushrooms, thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Add cream to pan and bring to a boil. Return pork to skillet and lower heat. Simmer for 10-ish minutes or until chops are a very light pink.

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Sunday, October 30th

Homemade pizza

The crust: (I love this easy crust. You don't need yeast and it freezes so well!)

1 tbls cornmeal

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup shortening

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup milk

Preheat oven to 425. Grease pan and sprinkle with cornmeal. In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until you have fine pieces. Add water and milk and stir until dough forms. Press onto pan and top with pizza sauce, and toppings. Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.

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Monday, October 31st

Southwestern Steak

2 LARGE Steaks (This works with any cut)

Vegetable oil

2 tsp beef bouillon granules

1 can stewed tomatoes

1 cup salsa

Preheat oven to 325. Cut steaks into cubes (1x1). In Skillet, heat vegetable oil, and add steak. lightly brown steak. Add beef bouillon granules into a 1/2 cup of hot water then add to skillet along with tomatoes and salsa. Pour into a baking dish and bake for 35-40 minutes.

This week's HOT Coupons!!!! October 24th, 2011

Free Online Babybook!!

What a great idea! Do you want to be able to share your photo's with friends and family, or just have them all in one spot? Check this out! Totsites is offering this for FREE!!!

Create a free online baby book to privately share photos, movies, and more with friends and family. Make an Online Baby Book: 80+ Cute Designs, Private & Secure.

This Week's "Dishin It Up" Spider cookies....

What you need:

Oreo's

Licorice (We used the chocolate Twizzlers)

Sprinkles

White frosting

Using a sharp knife, cut the Twizzlers into 4 inch pieces. Slice thin to resemble legs. Gently remove top of oreo and drape licorice over filling leaving about 1 inch hanging out of each side. Repeat to create 8 legs. Replace top and carefully press down. Use a red sprinkle for the mouth. Pipe two small dollops of icing for the eyes, and use a sprinkle for the pupil.

Today at Savemore you can get these REALLY cool things called, Appliance art. I'm picking up this one, since my kitchen is in a Coffee theme. :D They also have a chalkboard one (Great fro kids), you can transform your appliances into a stainless steel look....they have something to match any decor....These are so neat! I'm paying the $25 for mine, but if you are a new member, you can get it for only $15!!!

Features

• Large selection of magnetic and vinyl panels for appliance
• Improve the look of your appliances and your kitchen for 90% less than the cost of new appliances

Great deal on amazing coffee!! Only $2 for $24 worth!!

 

Right now, on Savemore, you can get $24 worth of REALLY good coffee, for only $2 with new sign-up credit, or $12 for existing members... If you follow my page at all, you know how I feel about coffee. This is the good stuff. I bought this last time it was available, to try it out...AWESOME! I'm buying it again this time around!

Features

• Roast-to-order gourmet coffee delivered right to your door
• World’s best specialty coffees
• Large selection with more than 1,000 artisanal & hard to find coffee brands
• Special V
• VIP Club program perks available

Great deal for Christmas.....

Check out this deal!! Save $110!!! What little boy (or husband) wouldn't love this?? And if you have Amazon Prime...Free shipping as well! :D

Removing smoke odor from wood furniture....

Let's say that you found a great deal on craiglist. It's the pine/oak/maple display cabinet you've always wanted...you load it up, bring it home and then notice a strong smoke smell. Oh No! Wood holds odors like you wouldn't believe, BUT it's also a fairly easy fix, if you're willing to put in a little elbow grease.

Here's what you need to do....

Fill a spray bottle white white vinegar. Spray the piece and wipe down. If you find sticky spots, that is nicotine build up. Spray again, and wipe. This is where most of the elbow grease will be needed.

After the surface s clean, use lemon oil to wipe down the piece. Be a little generous. The lemon oil will be absorbed into the wood and neutralize the odor.

If you want to avoid oil, make a paste of borax and water, or baking soda and water and use it as a cleaner and odor neutralizer. Wipe with clean water and dry well!

Who Loves great deals on healthy snacks for kids??? I DO!

Get $30 worth of organic fruit snacks for as little as $3!!! If you are new to Savemore , you get a FREE $10 Credit to spend on your first purchase. My kids love these snacks. My daughter could eat an entire bag of the bananas, by her self!

• Made from the highest quality organic & natural ingredients
• Full serving of fruit
• Great source of vitamins & minerals
• No added sugar
• Featured in SELF Magazine, US Weekly, & O Magazine

Boston Market Deal!!!

Today at Savemore You can get a $25 gift card to Boston Market, for only $15!!! These go quick, so hurry and grab yours!!!

• More than 490 locations from coast to coast
• Fresh, home-style meals
• Healthy options available
• Meals for one or the whole family

  

UPS My Choice - Sign up for Free!

Become a Member Get delivery that fits your life! Get alerts before packages arrive, Electronically authorize packages for drop-of, re-route to other locations and many other options.

Apple cinnamon Crockpot Oatmeal...

What you need:
3 apples, sliced and peeled
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
5 cups water
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Layer the bottom of the crockpot with the sliced apples. Add the cinnamon and brown sugar. Add the oatmeal water and salt. Cook on low, overnight. DO NOT STIR!!!

My three, top Baby Stain removers...

The first, you can buy at the store...BabyOxy. This stuff works fairly well, and if you want something quick, it's great.

The other two are homemade...

Pretreat
Things You'll Need:
1/2 cup ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
2 tbsp. liquid soap
2 quarts water
Spray bottle

Spray on spot, and allow to sit for a few minutes, then wash as usual.

Homemade Diaper soak (Safe for little bottoms)
What you need:
2 cups baking soda
2 cups vinegar
2 gallons water

Mix in a tub. Allow cloth diapers to soak and wash in wash machine with 1/2 cup vinegar.

Saving when you don't have coupons....

I love coupons! I truly believe that using coupons has given my family some financial freedom. BUT coupons aren't the only way to save money. There are times when you don't have have coupons for the items you want. I have a few solutions....

Ask!
If you can't find them, ask for them. Swing on over to the company website and find an 800 number or an email, contact them, and tell them that you love their product but never get coupons to use on the products, and this limits how often you buy. 9 times out of 10, they are more than happy to send you some. Viola...Coupons!

Timing!
Wait it out if it's something you don't need right now. Almost everything goes on sale at one point or another. Keep your eyes peeled for those sales, and stock up. If you are able to stockpile at the sale price this will help you to avoid buying at regular price.

Double up!
When cooking, think of ways to avoid food waste. For example, I tend to make enough food for any army, when I cook. Instead of wasting all that food, I bought some of those compartment freezer containers, and create my own microwave dinners. toss them in the freezer, and instant meals. I refuse to waste. This ends up saving us A LOT of money. They are great for my husbands lucnh, or quick dinners. We even have a quick and easy night, where everyone can pick out a meal, and pop it in the microwave for a healthy, homecooked meal...

This week's HOT Coupons!!!!

FREE STUFF from Inkgarden!!!

USE CODE: ForFree which gives you $13 credit which will give you any one of the items free. or 2 items really cheap.
New Ink Garden customers only. Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers. One use per customer. Expires Dec. 31, 2011.

These are the FREE items:
Notebook, Mousepad, 10 Holiday Cards, 10 Invitations, Ceramic Mug, Biz Cards, Placemat, Notepad and Note Cards!!!

My two favorite preschool workbooks....

If your preschooler is showing interest in learning...JUMP ON THAT!!! Don't miss the chance to help teach them new things. One reader wanted to know how to encourage her child's interests, because the little one came home from preschool, asking for homework. My tip: Pick up a few of these workbooks, and set 15-20 minutes a night for you and the child to sit and have "Learning time". At 2, base the time around their desire. If the get bored 10 minutes in, it's ok...If they want to "Learn" for more than 20 minutes, encourage it. They'll show you when they've had enough. They will tend to absorb more when they are excited. Once they start losing interest, you can drill them all you want, nothing will stick..:)

Possible Free Jewelry....

Head over to Savemore for a FREE $10 credit to use on your first purchase. That would make this deal FREE!!

Get $30 worth of silver jewelry for $7 (Free with new sign-up credit). I bought myself a necklace to replace one that recently broke. I'm excited to get it...:)

Love Inkgarden!!!

Custom Mug - Only $1.00! Design your own custom Mug using your own text and images or use InkGarden's large clip art collection. No set up charges, No minimum quantity. Free full color printing. Use code: DOLLAR at checkout. 1 use per customer. S&H not included. Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers.Exp. 10-31-2011

Here are puctures of the mug I bought last time! I LOVE my mugs!! :D

Pet tip: Shedding animals....

Does your dog shed like there's no tomorrow? Try feeding her/him garlic. This helps with skin issues, which is the leading cause of shedding... You can find them in pill form at any pet supply store...:)

Weekly Menu for October 18th-24th....

Here are the dinners I have planned for this week.

**Tuesday, October 18th**

Chicken Mozzarella
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 jar of spaghetti sauce, or 2 cups homemade
6 slices mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon garlic salt
pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 325. Place chicken breast halves into a baking dish. Sprinkle with the garlic salt. Pour sauce over chicken and bake for 1 hour.

Top with cheese slices and bake an additional 10 minutes. Fantastic when served on top of pasta.
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**Wednesday, October 19th**

Mexican Meatloaf
2 pounds ground beef
1 can of diced tomatoes (With chilies if you prefer spicy)
1 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs
1 egg
3 tbl shopped dry onion
1/2 cup salsa
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Mix together everything except cheese. Pack mixture into a loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Sprinkle with cheese and place in oven until melted.
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**Thursday, October 20th**

Dijon Pork Chops
4-6 pork chops
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 TBL Dijon Mustard

Preheat oven to 350. Arrange chops in a sprayed baking dish. Combine sugar and Dijon, and mix well. Spread mixture on top of chops and bake covered for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until brown.
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**Friday, October 21st**

Creamy Spinach Spaghetti
1 7 ounce box of spaghetti
2 tablespoons butter
1 8 ounce carton of sour cream
1 cup shredded cheese
1 8 ounce package shredded Monterrey Jack cheese, divided
1 package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

Cook spaghetti according to package directions, drain and stir in butter until it melts. In a bowl, combine sour cream, cheddar cheese, half of the Monterrey Jack and spinach. Fold in spaghetti and spoon into slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 2-4 hours. Top with remaining Monterrey Jack when ready to serve.
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**Saturday, October 22**

Sausage Quiche
1 9 inch pie shell, store bought or homemade
1 pound bulk sausage, cooked, and crumbled
4 eggs beaten
1 pint half and half cream
1 1/4 cups shredded Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Add sausage to pie shell. Mix together eggs, half and half, cheese, and 1/4 tsp of each salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture over sausage. Bake for 35 minutes or until center is set. Allow quiche to stand at room temp for 5 minutes before slicing. I serve these with dinner rolls or toast.
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**Sunday, October 23rd**

Baked Crab Sandwiches
Butter
12 slices thin bread, crusts removed
16 ounces imitation crabmeat, flaked
1 8 ounce package shredded cheddar cheese
4 eggs beaten
3 cups milk
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp garlic salt

Butter 6 slices bread and place butter side down in a 9x13 baking dish Spread crabmeat over bread and top with remaining 6 slices, butter side up. Sprinkle with cheese. Mix eggs, milk, curry and garlic salt. Pour slowly over the bread. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325. Bake for 45 minutes.

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**Monday, October 24th**

Ham and Bean soup
1/4 cup butter
1 15 ounce can sliced carrots, drained
1 cup celery
2-3 cups diced ham
2 cans Navy beans with liquid
2 cans Pinto beans
2 cans chicken broth
2 tbl garlic salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tsp pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped onions

Put EVERYTHING in a soup pot, or a slow cooker. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 1 hour on stove top or 4-6 hours on low in the crockpot.

"Dishin' it Up" Slow cooker Ham and Beans

Welcome to another addition of "Dishin it up"! If you are new to this feature, "Dishing it Up", is a recipe swap that some amazing bloggers and myself, have set up. After checking out my post for this week, don't forget to swing by and check out the other fantastic recipes in this week's swap. They are listed right below this post. This week's theme is crockpot/slow cooker meals....Check it out!


1 pound dried beans, (soaked overnight)

3/4 pound cooked ham, chopped

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon dried chopped onions

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Just enough water to cover

Combine all ingredients in the Crock Pot. Pour enough water into the slow cooker to cover the mixture by about 2 inches. Set slow cooker to Low; simmer 12 hours, or high for 6 hours, stirring occasionally.

Ways to prevent grainy Mac and cheese...

I LOVE homemade mac and cheese...but when I first started making it, it always had a grainy texture. After A LOT of experimenting, I found these solutions to be the most helpful...

After making the flour and butter mixture, add COLD milk. Whisk until nice and creamy. Slowly reheat, and gradually add in the cheese. Often times the grainy texture is caused by adding the cheddar to sauce that is too hot. Whisk until smooth, on low heat. it takes a little longer, but is SO worth it.

Another tip is to use a mix of cheese. Cheddar has an amazing flavor, but by adding a cheese like mozzarella, it will help to prevent the grainy texture.

If you HAVE to have just cheddar, add two slices of American cheese to the cheese mixture. This will help to break down the protiens in the cheddar and give a creamy sauce.

Preventing "The Midnight Roam"....

Do you have a little one that likes to get up in the middle of the night? We had a "Midnight Roamer", for a few weeks when my youngest was about 2 1/2.

Here's what we did...

Safety gate!!
We didn't have to use it for long, but it helped. We put a gate up at the end of our hall, so our daughter couldn't leave that area. The trick was to make sure the latch was facing out so she couldn't climb over it. If your little one isn't a climber, you could even put it in their doorway.

Talk to them!
A two year old can understand what you are telling them. I actually used my daughters dolls to explain the dangers around the house. I showed her that there were a lot of things that could hurt her, and she shouldn't touch. This actually ended up working better than the gate. If she did wake up in the middle of the night, I told her to come to me. She did! Usually all it took was me walking her back to her room, giving her a kiss and tucking her in. The few times that she was a little more awake, I allowed her a toy in her bed (Usually a doll to talk to)and she'd be asleep within a few minutes....

Stick to your routine!!
I know I sound like a broken record, but typically, sticking to a routine prevents those middle of the night wake-ups. Not always, but most of the time. I had a routine, but for that short amount of time, I had that little "Midnight Roamer". It's worth trying...:)

Oh no! Someone got sick on your carpet...

What you need:
Water
Vinegar
Baking soda

Mix together 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water. Spray down the area, then sprinkle baking soda on top. If you can do this at night, it's ideal. Let is sit overnight. Use clean warm water to rinse. Dampen a cloth, gently rub the spot, repeat until all of the baking soda is gone. When the area is dried, the odor should be gone...You WILL smell vinegar while it is damp. One completely gone, the vinegar spell will dissipate.

$5 for a $10 Gift Card to Chili's...

Offer not valid for purchase with referral or sign-up credit. Gift card valid at the following restaurants: Chili’s Grill & Bar®, Romano’s Macaroni Grill®, On The Border® Mexican Grill & Cantina®, and Maggiano’s Little Italy®. Limit one per household.

Creamy Pumpkin soup....

What you need:1 16 ounce can pumpkin
1/2 pt. heavy cream
2 tablespoons of butter
1 onion finely chopped
2 potatoes, pealed and diced
3 1/4 cups of chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg

In a large soup pot, saute onion and potato in the butter, for 5-8 minutes. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low heat until veggies are tender. Blend half of the mixture in a blender, until smooth. Add the second half and repeat. Pour mixture into a saucepan. Add pumpkin, salt, nutmeg and pepper to the mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 8-12 minutes. Fold in heavy cream. Simmer until heated thoroughly.

Glitter pumpkins

I do these every year and use them as a centerpiece. My girls do the bright colors and mine are more neutral.

What You Need: Assorted glitter (regular kids’ craft glitter is fine)
Mod Podge or other craft glue
(I used watered down Elmers and it worked great)
Medium width paintbrush
Several sheets of newspaper or brown paper grocery bags
3 or more mini pumpkins and/or gourds (varying the shapes and sizes creates more visual interest)

Spread newspaper or brown paper bags over your work surface.
Work with one color of glitter at a time so that the various colors don’t get mixed up, unless you want to create multi-colored pumpkins (those are pretty too!).
Pour about ¼ cup of glitter onto the newspaper in a pile for each pumpkin you want to coat.
Dip the paintbrush into the glue of choice and paint an even layer of glue all around one of the pumpkins, leaving the underside unpainted.
Then, roll the sides of the pumpkin in the glitter(The kids usually roll. I usuallt use a spoon and sprinkle the glitter over and over and until I get the look I want) Once you have coated the pumpkin as much as possible this way, fill in any gaps by sprinkling and gently patting the glitter down onto the exposed areas of glue. When the pumpkin is completely covered with glitter, set it aside and allow it to dry completely.
Return any unused glitter to its original container and discard the newspaper (or wipe it down completely so that no leftover glitter remains).
Set up your workspace again, pouring a new color of glitter into a pile on a new sheet of newspaper. Repeat steps 1-6 until all of your pumpkins are coated in glitter.
After all of the pumpkins have dried, arrange them on a platter with fall colored leaves (faux or real ones), berries, and other festive foliage you might have in your backyard or garden. Adding a few pillar candles of different heights can also add a beautiful aesthetic element and warmth to your table.If you don't want to coat the pumpkins in glitter, you can draw glitter designs on them instead. Paint your desired design—a pattern of shapes, say, or a jack-o-lantern face—on your pumpkin using the glue, then pour glitter over it. For very young kids, you can also use cereal in place of the glitter.

Halloween Party Ideas, for kids....

Goodie Bags:
Filling goodie bags, can get expensive! Here's an idea that won't just save your pocket book, it will create a fun memory for the kids.

Pick up a package of paper lunch bags. Set up 3-5 Halloween craft stations. You can do this for really cheap. Go through your craft supplies, and grab all of the scraps.

The first station is where they can decorate their own goodie bags. Have markers, construction paper....crayons.

One station can be the "Pumpkin Head" table. They can use construction paper and tissue paper to make their own Pumpkin head.

Another can be "Create a scary story" table. Have mini books for each child to write a scary story in. These can be made with printer paper and a construction paper cover.

Another station can be "Lolli-ghosts" Have then turn a sugar free lollipop into a ghost by draping a piece of tissue paper over the lollipop, and tying it off with a bread-tie.


Story Time:
With the stories the kids wrote, they can all sit around with a flashlight, and read their stories out loud, or you can read it to the group.

Spooky ghosts...

What you need:
White Trash bags
A permanent marker
Rubber bands
Yarn or string
Newspaper

Open your trash bag. Start balling up old newspaper and filling the bottom. Form it into a ball inside of the trash bag. Use a rubber band to create the head. (See Picture) When the head is formed, draw on the spooky face. At the top of the head, use string to thread through to create a way to hand the ghost. You can tie these to trees, outside, or use them as indoor decorations.

Weekly Menu, October 11-15

Tuesday, October 11th
Bar-B-Cups
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
1 (10 count) can of refrigerated biscuits
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400. Brown beef and drain. Stir in BBQ sauce. Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Place biscuits in 10 sprayed muffin tins. Firmly press in bottom and on sides. Spoon 1/4 cup meat mixture into each biscuit. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool for 1 minute and remove from pan.

Wednesday, October 12th
Sour Cream and Sausage Casserole
1 (8 ounce) package medium noodles
1 pound ground sausage
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup small curd cottage cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup chopped green onions
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare noodles as the package instructions state, drain and set aside. Brown meat in butter, then add salt, pepper and tomato sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes.Mix cottage cheese, sour cream, chopped onions and noodles. Alternate layers of noodle mixture and meat mixture in a 2-quart casserole dish, beginning with noodles and ending with meat. Top with shredded cheese. Bake for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned.

Thursday, October 13th
Spinach stuffed Chicken Breast
1 10 ounce package fresh spinach leaves
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheese (Your choice, but I prefer mozzarella)
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
1 pinch ground black pepper
8 slices bacon

Preheat the oven to 375. Place spinach in a large bowl, and heat in the microwave for 3 minutes, stirring every minute or so, or until wilted. Allow to cool for a few minutes. Stir in sour cream, cheese, cream cheese, garlic salt and garlic. Lay the chicken breasts out on a clean surface, and spoon some of the spinach mixture onto each one. Roll up chicken to enclose the spinach, then wrap each chicken breast with two slices of bacon. Secure with toothpicks, and arrange in a shallow baking dish. Bake uncovered for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, then increase heat to 500 degrees, or use the oven's broiler to cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to brown the bacon.

Friday, October 14th
Quick Potato Soup
3 large baking potatoes, peeled, cubed
1 14 ounce can of chicken broth
1 cup shredded Velveeta cheese
1 8 ounce carton of whipping cream
1/4 tsp celery seed (Optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Boil potatoes, drain and coarsely mash with a fork. Add broth, cheese and cream to mashed potatoes in a sauce pan. Heat thoroughly, stirring often. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and diced bacon or bacon bits.

Saturday, October 15th
Lasagna Roll-ups
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 can mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1/2 cup refrigerated pesto sauce
8 lasagna noodles , cooked and drained
2 cups spaghetti sauce store bought or homemade
3/4 cup Salsa
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Mix ricotta, mushrooms and pesto. Top each noodle with 1/4 cup cheese mixture. Spread to edges. Roll up like a jelly roll. Place seam-side down in 2-qt. shallow baking dish. Mix together pasta sauce and picante sauce and pour over the top of the roll-ups. Bake at 400°F. for 30 min. or until hot. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake 5 min. more or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 min.

Carmel Apple Salad.....

1 Container of frozen whipped topping

1 package instant butterscotch pudding

1 can of crushed pineapple with juice

3 cups diced apples

1 cup of dry roasted nuts

1 cup of marshmallows

Mix together whipped topping pudding mix and pineapple with juice. Mix well. Add in diced apples, roasted nuts and marshmallows. Chill for 2 hours.

Preventing headlice....

School has started and this seems to to be the most common time of year for head lice. Once your child gets it, it's not a quick fix. You have to wash sheets, blankets, jackets, hates, pillows....everything they have been in contact with. Then there's the shampooing, combing, tears, more shampooing...A LOT more tears...most likely for your child, and yourself. Sore scalps....you get the picture. So, to prevent lice, or as a prevention to be re infested, I have one tip for you...TEA TREE OIL!!! This is has been a tip I have used since I was 9 years old and had my one and only encounter with lice. My grandmother swore by tea tree oil. Ever since then, I add 10 or so drops to every bottle of shampoo that comes into our home.

Lice HATE Tea Tree oil. And it also makes it hard for the lice to attach to hair (in case that one oddball doesn't mind the scent). Not only that, but Tea Tree oil makes your hair look and feel amazing....:)

Helping to ease new paint odors....

If you've ever painted a room, you know that paint smell can be a little overwhelming. Here are my top two favorite tips (Both I use often)...

~Place a large bucket in a newly painted room, with the door closet, for 12-24 hours. The water will absorb the overwhelming smell...

~To tone down the odor while painting, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to your paint. Mix very well. Paint as usual.

Birthday theme ideas...

Have a costume party! Kids LOVE to dress up. If you let them dress up anyway they'd like, you can do a crazy mixed up theme. No special patterns...basically just buy what's on sale and mix it up, just like their costumes...:)

The Royal Kingdom:
The girls can dress as princesses, the boys like princess, and if the parents want to get involved, they can dress up as the king and queen. Have fun creating a castle cake with ice cream cones, and candies. Have then do fairytale plays, or puppet shows. You can be as elaborate as you'd like...

Fish theme...
Bring in a kiddy pool and drop in some plastic fish. Let the kids fish in the kitchen. Create a fish cake. Make goodie bags out of mini fishbowls...

I'll continue to add to this list over the next few days....:)

Removing a sucker (or any other hard candy) from carpet....

You walk into your child's room, and what do you see stick to the carpet in the corner? A sucker!? You try to pull it off, but that thing is STUCK! What to do?

Boil some water in your teapot. Bring it to the sucker, and start pouring the hot water over the sucker. Give it a minute, and start gently lifting the sucker or candy off of the carpet. Once the candy has been removed, use a drop of dishsoap to remove any sugary residue....

Banana Crumb Bread...Also shared by Heather! :)

Thanks again, Heather!!

 In large bowl:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

In medium bowl:
4 bananas, mashed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/3 cup REAL butter, melted
mix well and pour into the large bowl
mix all ingredients well and pour into greased bread pan


 Topping:
 2/3 cup brown sugar
4 tbsp flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
cut in 2 tbsp REAL butter
use a fork it mix together until crumbly and moist
sprinkle topping on top of bread mixture

bake at 350 for 45-60 min or until done

Halloween Bark..Shared by Heather...:)

Halloween Bark

1 cookie sheet lined with wax paper

14-16 of the Halloween oreos some crushed and some cut in quarters

1 cup of candy corn

1 cup of mini pretzels, broken into pieces (optional)

Spread/sprinkle these items on the wax paper

1 pound of Wilton's chocolate candy melts

melt chocolate in microwave until smooth

Pour over oreos and candy corn

Then sprinkle with black and orange Halloween sprinkles

Place in fridge until firm and then break into pieces (like peanut brittle)

Great Treat!!! Thanks Heather!

Nature collage...

Before the weather gets too cold, take the kids out for a nature walk. Let them find things to add to their nature collage. Sticks, acorns, even bottle caps. We actually decorate a paper bag to take with us, and they fill the paper bag.

When we get home, we find a nice sized piece of cardboard, to turn into a picture. We paint the cardboard any color that the girls would like. With craft glue we create a collage. Once dry, we glue a frame around the borders with sticks.

They love this!

Roasted Pumpkin seeds....

What you need:
1 cup pumpkin seeds, rinsed and patted dry
2 teaspoons of melted butter
Dash of salt

In a bowl, mix the butter and salt. Add in the pumpkin seeds, and stir until all seeds are lightly coated.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spread the seeds evenly on the tray. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until a golden brown.

What to do when you've overstocked potatoes....

You've bought a bunch of potatoes, now that you have them home....what are you going to do with them all?

Here are a few ideas:
Fried potatoes:
Dice up enough potatoes to create a serving for your family, toss them in  freeze bag. Dice up some onions, red peppers, and even mushrooms, and toss them in the bag, too. Remove all of the air, and freeze until ready.

Mashed Potatoes:
Prepare a large batch of your favorite mashed potatoes. Spoon enough for a family meal, into freezer bags. Remove the air, let cool and freeze.

Homemade potato chips:
Thinly slice potatoes. Drizzle some olive oil on a cookie sheet. Spread out the potato chips, and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at 375, until crispy. Drain on paper towels, and store in a ziplock or other airtight container.
(Other ideas: sprinkle with taco seasoning to make "Taco Chips", drizzle a little vinegar, then salt to make "Salt and vinegar chips" Get creative with the flavors....

Super quick and easy Volcano Cake....

What you need:
1 box of cake mix
Cooking spray
King sized Chocolate bar
Coffee mugs
Frosting
Whipped topping (optional)

Prepare cake mix as per directions. Spray inside of coffee mug with cooking spray, Add 1/2 cup prepared cake batter. Drop in one square of the chocolate bar, Top with an additional 1/2 cup of batter. Pop in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. Carefully remove mug, and turn onto a plate. Top with 1/2 teaspoon frosting. The frosting will melt. Finish off with optional whipped topping.