Tips Tuesday! Sticky Notes

I got this quick tip from Good Housekeeping, December 2010 issue.

Double Duty Sticky Note

Before you toss one of these paper reminders, run the sticky side between the keys of your computer's keyboard to collect crumbs and other grime.

Frugal Friday! Entertain on the Cheap

I found a few of these nice tips on "Entertaining on the Cheap" in my AllYou magazine, March 25, 2011 issue.

Entertain on the Cheap: Make your parties the best on the block--without overspending

All year long, entertaining should be on your mind. When the clearance signs go up, be on the prowl for napkins, paper plates and any holiday-themed items such as tablecloths. The cost is often a fraction of the original.

Use what you own. Pretend you have no money in your account and look around your house for ideas. A reader, for instance, used hydrangeas and magnolia branches from her yard as the decor and the party favors were jars of jelly that she got in a combo pack!

Make your menu as flexible as possible. The day before the party, go to the grocery storea nd see what meats are on clearance. Usually, you can pick up some quality cuts at low prices. A reader, for instance, often prepares fajitas becasue the vegetables make the meat go further. She can entertain 10 couples with about $4 worth of meat.

Another reader, always keeps chickpeas, black beans and tortilla chips on hand. In a pinch, she can make an inexpensive and easy hummus or bean dip to serve with raw veggies, chips or pita bread, Dips are not only fun and easy, they are satisfying too.

Have guests bring the dinner ingredients! Do either a pizza bar or a build-your-own stir-fry. As guests arrive, put their "topping" in a dish and place it out on a table. When everyone is present, start cooking. You can also do a waffle bar, omelets or fondue. You're limited only by your imagination.

Things to Make Thursday! Colored Sand Vases

Found this cool craft for adult or tween on familyfun.com!

Here's a super-simple way to recycle assorted jars and bottles into colorful vases that'll look great lined up on a sunny windowsill.


Materials:

Newspaper
Tacky glue
Plastic cup
Paintbrush
Clean glass bottle or jar
Spoon
Colored sand (sold at most craft supply stores)

Instructions:

Cover your workspace with newspaper (this will make it easier to clean up later). Pour 1/4 cup or so of tacky glue into a plastic cup and dilute it slightly with a teaspoon of water.

Show your kids how to use a paintbrush to coat the outside of a clean bottle or jar with the glue solution and then sprinkle spoonfuls of colored sand over the glued surface, rotating the bottle to spread the sand evenly.

Allow the glue to dry completely. Once your kids get the hang of it, encourage them to experiment with multicolored designs. Or they might apply the glue in swirls or other shapes to create interesting patterns.

What the Heck? Wednesday

This week, I googled the word "spoon" for my What the Heck? Wednesday and found this interesting photo. Here is the story behind it.


A young Australian woman, 26, accidentally swallowed a teaspoon in a laughing fit while eating spaghetti during a dinner conversation. She laughed so hard that the 15-centimeter spoon lodged in her throat at the top of her stomach. The Sunday Telegraph newspaper reports that the doctors at Canterbury Hospital had sedated the woman and taken out the spoon “with great difficulty” during the 90-minute operation.


Crazy!!!

Top Ten Tuesday! Parenting Emoticons

I found this funny "Parenting Top Ten" page in Parenting magazine and thought I would share it. Be sure to pick up your copy of Parenting magazine to get more reading like this!

Parenting Emoticons

Smiley and sad faces? Puh-leeze. Moms and dads need their own special shorthand for online chatter.

@ :( 
The bubblegum ended up in his hair

UU UUU
She lost her first tooth!

$--> * * * * *
I just spent a week's salary on Koosh balls

( . ) ( . )
Time to breastfeed

% >--O
Seesaw accident at the playground

____8_____
Anyone seen a superhero mask?

.......
Vaccination Day

--+-
Found the lightsaber!

Z8^)
He's still wearing the Harry Potter Halloween costume

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How many games of tic-tac-toe can one play during a layover?