Must Have Monday! Wyler's Single Pack Lemonade to Go

Here is one thing that I simply cannot live without! Wyler's Single Pack Lemonades to Go. There are no calories and they taste great! I get them for only $1 a pack at The Dollar Tree and you get 10 of them. Keep them in the house or tuck them away in your purse for on the go and you don't have to worry about spending money on drinks while out! A great quench to your thirst!

Tips Tuesday! Cleaning Windows

Onto the windows of our spring cleaning...

Just imagine, one minute you're looking through a foggy mess and then - in a flash - you have a crystal clear window on the world! Here are some proven tips to make window washing a snap!

Washing

Use vertical strokes when washing outside windows and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks.

For a real shine, rub a blackboard eraser over a newly washed window.

Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too fast, and probably streak.

Always wash windows from top to bottom.

Consensus of opinion has it that crumbed up black and white newspaper dipped in vinegar is the absolute best way to wash windows. Dip paper in vinegar and wipe the glass until almost dry, then shine with dry newspaper or cloth.

Other cleaning solutions

Mix 1/3 cup ammonia in 1 gallon water Or 1/2 cup ammonia, 1 cup white vinegar and 2 Tbs cornstarch mixed in a bucket of warm water.

On cold days, add 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to each quart of water to prevent icing.

Keep a spray bottle filled with 3 Tbs ammonia, 1 Tbs white vinegar and cool water on hand for spot cleaning windows and mirrors.

For painted windowsills, dilute rubbing alcohol with water and rub with a cloth. It gets rid of spots,and the sills look freshly painted.

To avoid taking down curtains when washing windows, drape them through a hanger and hang them from the curtain rod.

For outside windows, dip a long handled mop in cleaning solution, wash, then hose off. Throw a clean towel over the mop to dry.

A long handled car wash brush attached to a hose works great, too!

Straight vinegar will get those outside windows really clean.

Must Have Monday! Purex Crystals Softener

I cannot tell you how much I am in love with these crystals!!! As a Purex Insider, I received a 4 load sample to try out and held a giveaway for 3-28 oz bottles. Those winners are so lucky!!!

These crystals leave the freshest scent on your clothes for a long period of time. I didn't get around to doing laundry for a few days and our worn clothes still smelled fresh!!! This is a new staple on my shopping list!

Special Time Sunday! Happy (Non) Birthday

Birthdays come but once a year. How about having a non-birthday?

A non birthday is simply a birthday party on a day that is not your real birthday!

1. Bake or buy a birthday cake. Have your family blow out candles (everyone gets a turn)

2. Put all of your family members names into a hat and draw a name (name exchange), 1 name per person to buy a gift (no more than $1)

A fun way to spend some time together :)

Swap a Recipe Saturday! Taste a Rainbow

I found this yummy cupcake recipe for St. Patrick's Day on familyfun.com
Taste a Rainbow

Here's what little leprechauns look forward to on St. Patrick's Day: a magical snack that can add color to the grayest March afternoon. Pot of gold not included.

Ingredients:

White cake mix (we used an 18-1/4-ounce box)
Food coloring (red, blue, green, and yellow)
Baking cups
Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions:

Prepare your favorite white cake mix, then divide the batter evenly among six small bowls. Following the chart below, dye each bowl of batter a rainbow color.

RAINBOW COLOR DROPS OF FOOD COLORING
Purple 9 red and 6 blue drops
Blue 12 drops
Green 12 drops
Yellow 12 drops
Orange 12 yellow and 4 red drops
Red 18 drops


Line 16 muffin pan wells with baking cups. Evenly distribute the purple batter among the cups, then the blue, and so on, following the order shown. As you go, gently spread each layer of batter with the back of a spoon to cover the color underneath.

Bake the cupcakes according to your recipe directions. Before serving, remove the paper wrapping, and if you like, top each cupcake with a whipped-cream cloud.

Frugal Friday! Zero in on the best buys.

It is Frugal Friday, 1 day late. I found this article in AllYou magazine, March 25, 2011 issue.

Zero in on the best buys

There are many warehouse-club bargains to be had, but these are real steals!

Prescription Drugs

You can save more than 50 percent on common prescriptions at clubs compared with other pharmacies. Be sure to shop around, though, as costs vary between stores within the same chain.

Bottom Line: At Costco, 20-milligram Lisinopril pills (a generic blood pressure drug), cost less than $10 for 100; the price is more than $56 at CVS. That's almost an 82 percent savings!

Big-Ticket Electronics

National discount chains and online retailers offer similar prices as warehouse clubs do on televisions. Where you can find significant savings, however, is on the clubs' generous extended warranties and return policies.

Bottom Line: a 42 inch Vizio LCD HD television comes with a 2 year warranty and a 90 day return policy at Costco. The same TV as Sears costs only $20 more but has a one-year warranty, and you have just 30 days to bring it back.

Things to Make Thursday! Homemade Potpourri

Up to making something homemade? How about some potpourri :) I found this recipe on allfreecrafts.com.

Homemade Potpourri

Beginning with the first show of spring daffodils, you can start making a simple and fragrant kitchen windowsill potpourri. You will need a large clean jar, and scissors to cut an assortment of coloured and fragrant flowers as they appear in your garden.

Shown here is a jar of homemade potpourri packed with daffodils, lily of the valley, violets, bleeding hearts, roses, geranium, sweet william, pansies, viola, veronica, lavender, lemon balm leaves, citronella leaves, phlox, clover, and, just to add tang to the pot, the cut up dried peel of oranges and lemons. If you have some sprays of eucalyptus that is past its prime, wash off the dust, pull off leaves, and add these leaves to your potpourri flower jar as well.

I simply cut a few blossoms off each flower when they arrive in the garden and add to the mason jar. The drying process is simple...you just let the blossoms dry out in the jar with the aid of the sun shining through your windows.

As you add more blossoms, you should stir the lower layers of potpourri with a kitchen fork or spoon, and add the new blossoms on top. Don't pack the blossoms and leaves down too tightly- you want plenty of air space to encourage quick and complete drying.

By July, you could have several of these potpourri flower jars starting to fill to capacity; it is up to you whether you continue to add the August phlox or the fall asters. You might like to have one jar of predominantly roses, or another packed with mostly lavender; the fun is in experimenting to find the one you like the most.

I chose to add lots of citronella and lemon balm, as the smell was so fresh and pleasing that I couldn't resist it. It also had the added benefit of not requiring the addition of essential oils; the fragrance was aromatic enough to stand alone, although I did add some chopped up orange and lemon peel, after I had used the fruit. I might add an essential oil later, to refresh the potpourri when the first natural fragrances begin to fade.

That's it: a kitchen windowsill homemade potpourri of spring and summer flowers from your garden. What could be easier?

Thursday Blog Hops!!!

What to do Wednesday! Draw a Family Picture

Want to bring out some creativity in your child? Have them draw a photo of the family :) It is a great way to see how your children describe the other family members.

Tips Tuesday! Bathroom Miscellaneous

Here are some tips for the last few things that need cleaned in your bathroom.

Miscellaneous

To remove hair spray film from mirrors, wipe with rubbing alcohol.

To create a fresh, clean aroma in the bathroom, toss a sheet of fabric softener in the wastebasket. Or dab a bit of perfume on a light bulb. It floods the room with scent when the light is turned on.

Save those soap slivers! Mix them in the blender with some water and make your own liquid soap. Or collect them in an old nylon stocking and hang near an outside faucet for fast outdoors cleanup.

For clogged drains, use 1 cup baking soda, then 1 cup vinegar. As this solution foams, flush with at least 1 pint of boiling water.

Must Have Monday! Matchbox Cars

Who hasn't loved Matchbox Cars since they were children? Well, I have an extra love for them. Within my six children, 4 are boys. Matchbox Cars are an absolute lifesaver when it comes to an inexpensive reward for your child behaving while browsing the store. Selling at only 94 cents per car, you don't ever have to worry about emptying your wallet! It is also a nice way to begin a collection for your young one :)

Special Time Sunday! Fun with Fondue!

Our family visited The Melting Pot, our absolute fave restaurant that just happens to deal with fondue. This place is definitely for a special occasion as the prices are on the higher scale. So, how can you do fondue on the cheap end?

Most department stores (Walmart, Target, K-mart) sell fondue pots. Purchase one of these and have wonderful time with your loved ones.

For your appetizer, cheese! Melt some cheddar, etc... Dip raw veggies, tortilla chips, cubed bread and granny smith apples.

For dessert, chocolate!! Dip bananas, strawberries, marshmallows, graham crackers, pound cake, really anything that you love with chocolate!

A fun day with friends or family :)

Swap a Recipe Saturday! St Patrick's Day Pot of Gold

Found this adorable St. Patrick's Day goodie on familyfun.com :)

St. Patrick's Pot of Gold

Surprise your favorite little people on March 17th with these wee emerald pots filled with sweet, edible gold.

Ingredients:

3-ounce box of lemon-flavor gelatin
6 limes
Sugar
1 teaspoon of whipped cream

Instructions:

Line an 8-inch square baking dish with plastic wrap, leaving several inches of overhang on each side (this will make removing the gelatin easier). Combine a 3-ounce box of lemon-flavor gelatin and 1 cup of boiling water in a medium bowl, stirring until the gelatin is dissolved. Stir in 1 cup of cold water, then pour the mixture into the baking dish. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and chill the gelatin for 4 hours or until firm, then slice the gelatin into 1/2-inch cubes.

Cut off the top quarter of each of 6 limes, then, without cutting into the fruit, slice a thin layer of peel from the bottom of each one to help them stand upright. With a small knife, cut around the inside of each lime's rind to loosen the pulp, then spoon it out to make a shell.

Place a pinch of sugar and 1 teaspoon of whipped cream in the bottom of each shell, then fill each lime pot with gelatin gold. Makes 6.

Saturday Blog Hopping!

These are the blogs I am following this Saturday:



Hop on over and meet new bloggers!

Frugal Friday! Scoop Up Online Coupons

It's "Frugal Friday", time for some savings :)

I found this small article in AllYou magazine, December 17, 2010 issue.

Scoop Up Online Coupons

Stop at these websites before heading to the checkout page.

KEYCODE.COM : Shop for bargain offers, discounts, coupons and more.

COUPONCABIN.COM : Search for consumer e-mail alerts, online forums, blogs, merchant sites and the Sunday newspapers for exclusive coupon codes that online retailers release to their special customers. The site also has a section for local coupons.

RETAILMENOT.COM : Find coupon codes for your favorite retailers, including local grocers.

SIMPLYBESTCOUPONS.COM : Browse product categories, deals, holidays, favorite stores and more for outstanding prices.

REDPLUM.COM : Hunt nationally and locally for coupons, prom codes and specials. The site also offers savings tips and strategies.

Things to Make Thursday! Homemade Garden Stepping Stone

Spring is moving right along...time for some more spring fun! Sorry, I am a day late on this posting.

Homemade Garden Stepping Stone

Mix a batch of cement and make your own homemade stepping stone to welcome visitors to your garden.
Copyright © 1999-2009 Susan Spatone All rights reserved.
Published with permission from CraftAtHome.com

Craft Supplies:

Cement
Patio Paint
Screening mesh
Mold (No need to buy a mold, a cake pan, large dish, etc., will work fine)
All purpose Craft Glue
Cooking Spray


Craft Project Instructions:

The amount of cement you need to mix will depend on the size of mold that you choose. This project needed about eight pounds of cement. The first thing you need to do is cut a piece of plastic or wire mesh in the shape of the mold.

To do this, place your form on top of a piece of mesh and with a craft knife or other cutting utensil, cut around the form. This is very important! Cement doesn't hold up as well as plaster when it comes to cracking and you need this extra support. Place your mesh over the mold to make sure it fits without any overhang.

Prepare your mold for filling by cleaning with a little dish soap, dry completely and spray with cooking spray or wipe cooking oil over the entire inside of the mold. This will allow for easy removal of your finished piece.

Now begin mixing the cement - first, add cement to a deep bucket or container, then gradually add water until the cement reaches a consistency that is not syrup but can be poured into your mold. Once you have completely mixed your cement, add some craft glue (about 1 tablespoon for every 2 cups of cement). The glue helps the mesh to bond better to the cement. Mix completely.

Pour the mixed cement into the mold until it is half full. Place your mesh on top of the poured cement and press the mesh gently into the cement. Now add more cement on top of the mesh until the mold is full.

VERY IMPORTANT!! Now that your mold is poured, do not move it! Moving it will cause the cement to crack. It's not maybe it will crack... It will!! Allow the cement to dry completely (follow package instructions for drying time) and then gently remove your piece from the mold.

Run a little warm water over your mold to remove any cement dust and oil that is sitting on the surface and allow it to dry.

Though you don't have to use patio paint... it's the best one for this project. Paint the finished stone. Allow to dry. This project was painted with grey paint and then a stencil was used to paint the design and the writing was done free hand (you could also use a stencil for the lettering). Allow to dry completely.

(this craft was found on allfreecrafts.com)

What to do Wednesday! Teach your child some clapping games

Looking for things to do today? Try teaching your child some clapping games. Here is the original origin of and ways to play clapping games.

Due to the communication skills and coordination required, simple clapping games are age appropriate for children age 24 months and above.[1] In many cultures clapping games are played by both sexes and all ages, but in many European and European-influenced cultures, they are largely the preserve of young girls.[2]

Claps commonly included in patterns are clapping one's own hands, clapping both hands of a partner, and clapping one hand of a partner, generally across such as the right hand of each player. The clapping may include other activities such as thigh slapping, or a final move such as touching the ground and freezing.[3]

Clapping patterns may be used with only specific rhymes, generically with most rhymes, or improvised. Children in different areas may be more or less strict about which claps accompany which rhymes but generally different clapping patterns may be used to accompany different rhymes. The rhymes are generally very similar to a jump-rope rhymes. Some games are played without a rhyme, such as 'Slide', and not all require the players to clap each other's hands, such as 'Sevens.'

Clapping games are a part of oral tradition. As such there are a variety of distinct clapping games or families of games. A game may be performed or played in various versions found in different areas and times and often according to ethnicity. For example, 'Hello, Operator' may be called 'Missy Susie' or 'Miss Lucy' and may contain, omit, or vary verses or specific lines. Clapping patterns and actions may also vary. There is no canonical version of any game though children often fight over whose version is "right" or "real".

As per Wikipedia.

Tips Tuesday! Toilets and more...

Moving right along spring cleaning the bathroom...

Toilet

To remove toilet rings, flush to wet sides and apply a paste of borax and lemon juice. Let sit for 2 hours, then scrub. Or rub with a fine grade sandpaper (wet the sandpaper if the rings are very old).

For all-purpose cleaning, add 1/2 cup chlorine bleach to the bowl and let stand for 10 minutes. Scrub and rinse.

Ceramic Tile

Before you clean tile, run the shower at the hottest setting. The steam loosens the dirt and makes cleaning easier.

For light cleaning, mix 1/2 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup light vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 gallon of warm water.

For heavier cleaning, make a paste of baking soda and bleach. Scrub with a stiff brush and rinse thoroughly.

Lemon oil keeps tiles shinier longer and helps keep water stains from building up.

Fixture Cleaners

Try equal parts non-sudsing ammonia and water in a spray bottle.

For chrome faucets or fixtures, try rubbing alcohol for a super shine.

Grout

Dip an old toothbrush or nail brush (reserved only for this purpose) into bleach and scrub.

Or mix 3 cups of baking soda and 1 cup of warm water into a paste and brush.