Cookie Cutter Chirstmas frames

Let's face it, Grandma has everything. At least everything your seven year old can afford. The only thing she wants, the same thing every year, pictures. Pictures. This magically instant way to connect with those she loves so much; but have little time for her. It's OK, she understands, she was younger before she was older.
So, let's do something special this year, and make some uber-cheap, child skill-level perfect presents. This actually means easy enough for us; because, let's face it, these kids can figure anything out.
Get some 'spare' pics, or print some special. Buy a pack of cookie cutters at your local dollar store. Trace around the pics, then cut inside that trace about an eight to a quarter of an inch inside. This will eliminate the line you drew and make up for the 'wall' of the frame. Once trimmed, place inside and press the picture against the front of the cutter. gently work the picture up against the wall anywhere it might still be a little too large.
Using a high heat glue gun- parents do this part- trace the edges to seal in the picture. Poke a hole in the top and run twine, string, or ribbon to hang from your tree. You can even plan on using ones that are self standing to decorate your desk at work! Add flowers, glitter, tiny pine cones, whatever makes it especially perfect for your recipient.
If using older ornaments, you can spray a nice sanitary layer with spray paint, we're not eating off of these, but we could also hope not to get tetanus. Have fun and add as much fru-fru as you and your kiddos like, Grandma loves glitter!

Important Product Notice/Review

Ok, I know there are people out there with more money than sense. They are the target audience for 'gimmicks'. I love to be a (self appointed) gimmick tester. So yeah, I've tried Slow Cooker Liners. They are great. But I have more time than I have money, which are both pretty low. So I have dreamt of them each time I clean out the crock pot. Telling myself, next time you need to remember they're worth it.
And this affects what I might cook. I think, did I buy those bags? Never mind, we don't want homemade beans. Because I am a Mom, and I am already thinking about clean up before the meal is made.
Perusing the Dollar Tree, looking at Thanksgiving type items I saw the oven bags were out. And I thought, 'Hmmm..... A crock pot is like a tiny oven.' Opting for the four pack, as opposed to the one piece extra large, I figured, I have several size crock pots so whatever one it works in.
Of course I checked in in my most often used large oval crock pot first. I scrunched the sides like you're putting on pantyhose then pushed the sides to fill the space. It was almost as big!
I have since cooked a ham bone with beans and sweet and sour pork, with more plans on crock pot meals. I place my ingredients in, shake it so there is a top, twist and fold it over.
Ham bone soup:
Ham bone, hopefully with some meat on it
Bag of great northern beans, rinsed
a tsp each of salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes
Five bay leaves.
Fill water to to proper level on crock pot. Cook on High for six hours. Dredge fat and bay leaves off the top. Serve over corn bread or Frito's.
Sweet and sour pork:
Pork
Onion
2  Bell Peppers
Sweet and sour sauce
Can of pineapple chunks
1/4 cider vinegar
Cube pork, rinse and shake in a bag with 2 TBSP flour. (Optional step, grill on high to a nice color on the outside) Chop Onion and Bell Pepper. Throw full can of pineapple, pork, veggies and vinegar into bag. Cook on High four hours.

The season(ing) of gifting

Anyone who knows me knows the importance I place on gift giving, after all, it is my Love Language.
Also, anyone who knows me knows I love food. Seriously. Like to a sinful level. And people like my cooking. They love the Hubs cooking. It's all about flavor. So why not combine the two?
A seasoning shaker is like the gift that keeps on giving. Like four or five or ten meals worth.

To make a few jars of Beef seasoning buy the following ingredients
3 pack of gravy mix
'jars' of  red pepper flakes, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, minced onion, cumin, and pink salt.

Combine the full amount of paprika, garlic powder, minced onion, brown gravy.

All of this goes in.

Next add just two Tablespoons of cumin, pink salt, black pepper. 

2 TBS of these

Finally you will add just two teaspoons of the red pepper flakes.

Just a wee bit o' this one.

The end result is a very lovely rub/seasoning/mix in. 

Wow, look at the texture!

Place the mixture in two to three Parmesan shakers. Cut a tag from some rustic looking paper. Give it a name. Use a coffee filter before screwing on the cap. After screwing on the cap trim the filter to a more appealing length. Tie on the rustic tag with some twine. Voila!

The fully used seasonings account for four dollars. The minuscule amount of other seasonings may equal another dollar. The shakers are one dollar each. So we have seven dollars divided by two here, making each shaker 3.50. The more you make, the more value you get, as the unit cost can go down by shopping elsewhere. This is feasibly enough to fill three jars, increasing the number to eight dollars, but decreasing the cost by dividing it three ways. At two sixty-seven a jar this is a great gift for neighbors, work mates, and pastors!

Results are in!

An important element to any craft-ivity is authentic excitement. I wanted to create an air of seriousness, of importance, to what we were going to do, so I created the style box. When I broke down the cost of each style box it was 1.62 each. Of course, if doing bigger dolls, you would include two full sheets, which is one dollar on it's own, larger recyclables, like Pringles cans, and a longer piece of ribbon or tulle.
Some free things to include; mesh from fruit bags, toilet paper rolls, lids, round containers. And for pennies; plastic rings (the backs can be snipped off, or not), mesh tubing, tulle, plastic insects or animals, stickers, and of course the big money item, a variety of Skinz.
I called in my neighbor to hand letter the Style Box and challenge cards, because my writing looks like a two year-old. Cat. On Prozac. I am very happy with the end result, it looks like something that might excite me, if I was a young child. Ok, I am excited at this age.


                                         

Style Box

The boxes were presented, clothing was designed. Voting was done. In a terrible upset Mom was the only loser. I am inconsolable. However, the girls tied and were rewarded with a fun book of word games, puzzles and stickers! We discussed doing this once a month. sounds like fun to me!

Americas Next Top Monster

I don't know if the headlines will read, "Dollar Tree saves Skinz", but it might. I don't know if it's a bail out move, or a smart move for Skinz to get the word out on it's product (insert product research, blah, blah, blah). Either way it's awesome for me!Skinz, for most people who have never heard of it is a sticky backed fun fabric. You can make frames, or put it up in your locker or stick it to your headphones, etc.
I originally picked some up for the Monster Dorm we are working on, I mean it's already a rectangular fuzzy, pink carpet, a Pringles can later it's a set of stylish stools, you get the idea. Also for scrapbooking I saw endless possibilities (remember, I have a Sizzix); cutting frames, letters, shapes, FUN! Even using as a cover for a fun brag book!
But, I also have this other problem, with the Monster Dorm scraps. I play with those leftovers until they become something to. Hence, the creations Of Ichabod's Millinery. But with these leftovers, an idea forms.
A lot of families have a show they watch together, even we (I who do not watch television much), have bonded over The Voice, Project Runway, and Home Free. I have heard many stories about family bonding over American Idol. Seriously, like hundreds. And I don't have that many friends.
Know, take these completely random thoughts, barely passing each other. And BAM! I have just created a brilliant idea for craft time with the girls.
You will need, whatever doll you child does, size does not matter, you will just need more sheets of Skinz, each player needs a doll, even Mom. You will need a few different packs of Skinz (double for large dolls), mesh tubing (maybe multiple colors), lids and toilet paper rolls, be on the lookout from your daily garbage this week, scissors, work space. Each kid gets an equal package of items, mesh tubing, recycling, Skinz. The design challenge is announced, a stylish day in the park, lunch at McDonalds, whatever. And Mom or Dad must play, That's when simple seeds of confidence and gentle kindness are planted.
So here's my sample Model, and I will let you know more this weekend. Blessings to all!

Instant Sanity (later, not now)

An organized pantry not only saves time and frustration, it can actually have a calming affect to just stare at it. As what I consider a great shopper, I often stock up. The most important rule of stock up? Rotate. In order to do this better I write the expiration dates on the top of bottles. You may think, I am totally gonna' use fourteen bottles of ranch by next week, throw it all in your cart and soon what started as a bargain turned out to be one very expensive bottle of ranch and some trash. (Insert expiration date gurus commentary, that is not my forte).
Today I wasted a couple hours making magic, and I am going to share it with you.
I spent fifteen dollars at the Dollar Tree on bins. Quite nice sized, orange, bins. The lovely lady behind the counter asked, "What are you going to do with these?"
"I am organizing my pantry," I chirped happily in a totally uncharacteristic version of a Disney animal.
"With orange?" In an amazing fete she managed to raise her brows while lowering her lips. Seriously, I cannot do this.
"There's a door." I deadpanned. So much judgment.
Well, let me tell you I have good intentions when I go to the store. I am tired of the out there peopling and I think, I will finish organizing later. Then later I kinda' get it on the right shelf. And sometimes I don't even add the date, which helps later on.
So, you go looking for ketchup and there's none and you have ten kids showing up in an hour and run out for ketchup instead of putting batteries in the lamps and it's all just a mess. And pointless. Because there was ketchup. Behind the pasta sauce, because you didn't do it right.
Or, you plan a dinner with the neighbors and you know you have the ingredients, so you vacuum instead and lo and behold in the final touches you realize your dressing expired in July. 2013. Run to the store or ask them to bring some? You feel silly either way.
Finally, today was the day. It wasn't that I had nothing more pressing to do. No. Au contraire that is when I am at my finest. Working my way from the easiest shelf (cereal) I went nuts. Fifteen dollars and two hours of labor later, my bottles are dated (with some dressings rotated into the fridge now). The bonus I threw out less then three bucks worth of food, I know I should be sad, but really, It will be none by next year because I am organized! Plus, it was all candy. So that's bad for you anyway.
Cans were best fit on their sides, fitting a couple more per basket that way. Here you go, you read though all that and you deserve a peak:



I will be adding labels another day, I'm not Supergirl! Those smaller ones can be written on with dry erase markers, woohoo! Yes, I know you can do it better. So go. DO!

Auto fun.

Not automatic fun, like 'just add water!', but car fun. There's been a few great ideas I have used to make my car feel more like the home away from home it is.
There's a few that are easy to figure out, I love my fuzzy steering wheel cover, who cares if it needs replaced ever year, I'm tired of it by then anyway. There's an easy clean ash tray, that once you take the top off to dump it work great as a tiny trash can, for gum wrappers, straw wrappers, etc. It fits in the cup holder, how nice! They have wipees great for keeping in your car for emergencies. One trip I even found a tissue dispenser that clips on your visor. I surpassed this great deal, because that's just one car rides worth of tissue.

Smelly stuff, for sure, I prefer the good old fashion mirror hangers, but your dollar store has the vent doo-dahs, which work great but require changing like every month, and I am so lazy. There's the sprays, which my children can't wait to ge their hands on, so no go there as well. I have even made a handy smeller using a parmesan shaker with my scentsy cubes added. The Hubs loves his, and it smells sooooo good. It just doesn't work in my car, you know I need all my cup holders!

One extra idea is stickers, yes! I found the alphabet at the Dollar Tree with multiples of letters, and I was able to write my own message! I also have seen those handy balls in the windshield stickers and some really pretty fish! I have loads of leftover letters, so if one falls off or gets removcd I probably have a back up. These have not slippe doff or bleached from the sun in two months, and that's something here in the desert!





I love my eyes! You may have noticed a fixation with googly eyes, so when they got them in for your doors, or trees, or whatever spooky idea, I was excited! Well, I immediately saw what must be done with these peculiar peepers.



Tada! And no, I didn't think you'd want me to clean my car for these pics, lets just keep it real, kay? But, if I had it would be with dish soap, sponge and bucket bought from the Dollar Store.
How does the dollar store make your home away from home/parental taxi vehicle a better experience?

The Vanities of the Princesses.

It was an ordinary idea, brought on by Mom finding one vanity, that I thought was maybe too small. But we could totally make some that would be better.... and match. And cost less. And, you know, be fun.
So we started with two end tables from an online yard sale site (10.00).

And added (from the dollar store):

6 star lights                    (6.00)
2 mirrors                        (2.00)
a total of eight drawers  (8.00)
two four packs of bins   (2.00)
two waste baskets          (1.00)
touch lamps                    (2.00)
two packs of batteries    (2.00)
'trays'                              (2.00)
can be made from  platters or other types of trays at dollar store.

from Home Depot:

2 cans of spray paint      (8.00)

We sprayed the tables outside for ventilation. We set up the arrangement while at school on the last day of birthukkah, or Eve's birthday. We spent about two hours nailing up mirrors, lights, and gluing together drawers. We realized these were closer to the ground than imagined and that milk crates would make great seats, later we will spray those with the left over paint and perhaps make a cushioned board or just grab some couch pillows. Well, the girls are pretty happy. And that makes Momma happy.

we added to the finished project:

a brush mirror set from Walgreen's (2.00)
foam rollers                                     (2.00)
one nail file each                             (1.00)
one lip gloss each                            (1.00)
one nail grooming set each              (2.00)
a package of hair elastics   (split)    (1.00)
a set of barrettes                 (split)    (1.00)


I'm not great at mathing, but I think that's $55.00 and that's for two! Made of wood!

The girls added some personal touches right away, a Chubby Puppy, a Hello Kitty flashlight, only a girl knows exactly what extras she needs at her vanity.

Reusable Work Book



This is very handy if you have kiddos. When they need lots of practice handwriting, but you don't need piles of worthless papers. So see, it's also good for the environment.
What you need:
Workbook for child's skill level. We got some great Disney(c) ones at the Dollar Tree.
A binder or pronged folder that has a pocket insert in front.
Page inserts (20).
Dry erase markers.

For mine I would have preferred the binders you can simply add a picture to the front. I know the dollar store has carried them, but no luck this time. I happened upon some fifty cent binders at Walgreen's and used some laminate I had (try contact paper but be sure to rub it on well). I pulled out the staples and cut the pages in half from there (each whole page separated from it's partner).
After 'laminating' the front to the binder I simply added the twenty page protectors and inserted the pages in order. Easy peasy!

Three bucks for each folder!  Plus a buck to pick up some multi packs of dry erase markers! Woohoo!

*You don't have to worry about being organized and losing loose papers sent home by the              teacher.
*You will begin to build their confidence by allowing mistakes to be wiped away.
* They view it more as an activity than as a 'homework'.
*Get out the camera when they do really well and make a big deal of it.
*Re-usable for the next kiddo, or to pass along.

Best Dollar Store Find

I'm gonna' dub this one as such, because, really, I LOVE it!

This right here:

Chopping/craft/all purpose mat

As a crafty family each member has a set. Also, we have a set in the kitchen. 

These mats are cheap enough to risk crafting on. Made from some durable plastic, they have the feel of milk jugs. If they're not recycled from them, they should really consider it.
The girls use theirs for play dough, galaxy goo, magic sand. They come in handy as a surface protector anytime something messy comes up, which is a lot around here. Our motto: If it aint messy you aint learnin'. That's not really our motto. At fifty cents each they are even the cheapest place mat I can find. They wash off easy, and if they get super stained up we shuffle it to a messier craft. We haven't had to throw them out yet.
The hubster uses them with his polymer clay, as well as painting projects. The clay peels off neatly with a straight edge, and much paint washes off with the kitchen scrubbie.
I am the worst on them. With alcohol inks, cutting, taping, gluing, painting, mine are definitely the most worn looking. My motto is: if it aint messy it aint fun. Again, not really my motto. When using my tape runner for shapes I love to habve one of these underneath bnecause the adhesive simply rubs off with my thumb.


As  I said, you can also use them in the kitchen. They are a great surface to cut on or to work on, since they move right to the sink for a wash. I imagine this christmas I will be rolling my sugar cookies on them!

Advanced Spoon Theory

 

If you've been diagnosed with a debilitating illness, you may know about the spoon theory. It's a magical thought that we only have so many spoons (energy, effort, activity) to spend. If you've not heard of it, Google it, it's not mine and I won't do it justice.
The thing about this is that only you know how many spoons you have. It may fluctuate, and sometimes you know the reasons, and sometimes you don't. The idea I had isn't for others to understand, it's between you and your spoons. It's for you to understand, except, and make the most of your daily quotient. It's for you to allow yourself forgiveness on bad days, and celebration on good.
Here's what you need:
Two pringles cans (I cut about one and a half inches off the top).
Fun Duct tape.
The number of spoons equal to your normal tasks, plus one you can label 'other'.
Paper (I am lucky to have the perfect punch, but you can cut your own ovals or circles if you don't)

Cut the paper equal to the number of spoons. Write your common activities on each one. I have daily morning duty with my kids, since my hubs is off to work early. I do dishes daily. Things like that. Also, include things you do weekly. Have some extra blank spoons for times when you clean more than one room, you can drop a blank in every time you finish one. Or go to several stores. I have only one for pay bills, because I do that online it is less harrowing, but if you have to drive to each place do the same, drop one blank along with the 'pay the bills' spoon to equal the number of places you had to go.
Important: Know your number! This can help you learn your number, but do not compare, explain, or otherwise diminish the importance of your number. I have nine spoons. Someone might have three and someone else might have twenty (you might need a bigger container). I may have days where I accomplish three or days when I accomplish twenty. I can guarantee in my own case these days would be together. When I overdo a day, I pay for days.
                                                   
Tape the papers to the spoons:

                         
Wrap the Pringles cans in pretty Duct Tape. Place all your spoons in one and as your day gos on move spoons over. At the end of the day, feel better. Know you did your best. Don't explain it to anyone, don't make excuses. Just know you did your own 100%.

                               

P.S. I am totally moving a spoon over for this blog.

Jello Brains For My Zombies

I couldn't resist. Between Walking Dead for the big zombies and Monster High for the little ones, there was no passing it up. A brain shaped jello mold. Heck yeah! So I was ready to make a lot of mistakes, and surprisingly got it right on the first try.
Using two jello packs and three cups of water, it set relatively quick and plopped out of the mold after 'releasing' the edges with a butter knife. You have no idea how often I mess up jello, so seriously this was an unexpected win. I boiled the two cups, dissolved the jello powder and then added only one of the two more cups called for. And now we all know it works, we can all waste that buck.

Hanging Jewelry Storage

If you're anything like me you have a treasure chest of, let's just say, kitsch jewelry. Their value is not necessarily reflected in money. This can range from everyday jewelry to special occasions. From frequently worn to just in case anyone ever has a an alien luau themed wedding. Now, my earlier system; individually bagged in shoe boxes by type, was perfectly nice. However, it wasn't getting worn. Which is why I had to create a system to hold a lot, but still reveal itself off to me.
For volume I decided on the back of the under sink cupboards in the bathroom.
Because these are pretty thin I needed something that wouldn't screw or nail in. Because I rent I needed something that will come clean.
Enter the sticky backed hooks that really aren't strong or wide enough to hold much. Aside from running an electrical line along they aren't very useful. But the weight of a bracelet, or necklace has fared quite well. Now, when I grab my make up case I am reminded of all the fun jewelry I have, I put it on and feel better all day long; confidant and powerful like my elephant themed charm bracelets have become Wonder Woman's Bracelet's of Submission.

                             
I believe I spent about four bucks doing this. It can probably be done for less as I have seen larger packages of these at other dollar stores, before deciding I needed them.
Through the learning process I have encountered one necklace that is just too heavy. Other than that none has ever pulled off by itself. If I weren't renting I might squish some liquid nail and keep at that one. The secret is to put these on, give it twenty-four hours and one more nice press before hanging things on them.

A bit of whimsy in an extraordinary life

I have to say, the googly eyes are getting better. These ones from the Halloween section of Dollar Tree totally rock (if you put them on rocks that would be ironic, maybe even funny). In addition to some dollar store sea shells (yeah, I don't remember which one), and a bit of glue, I had to literally make my children stop.
I used Glossy Sccents (Crystal Lacquer, whetever name it comes in), as glue because these babies are on my little window sill at my tub. I am sure Elemer's would be sufficient, however with moisture I wanted to be sure. The only bottle I had left was sepia toned, so yeah, they all have a bit of pink eye. Oh well. They're still darling and I love the whimsy it adds to my peaceful tub time. By peaceful I mean I get a minimum of three interruptions, because heaven forbid....
Of course, with the Kawaii craze and Shopkins, the mini google eyes can (and have been) added to anything for fun, laughter, and amusement.
"Look Mom, my pencil has eyes!"
"Mom it's a live toy car."
"Mommy I put a face on one of your 'mommy diapers'."
The joy just doesn't end.

Surprising things you can totally buy at the dollar store.

This means I've tested it and was shocked to find it satisfactory.

5. Pregnancy tests. When you try twelve years to have a baby, you need confirmation, and not at sixteen dollars a pop. The only thing the brands offer over the dollar tree is earlier detection. Which costs even more. If it's been a month and you're like, could it be? Buy five of them suckers.
4. Nail polish. In addition to sometimes getting brand name the off brand product is just fine. When to beware; the twist won't twist, the ball doesn't roll. When too thick add pemover to the bottle and shake. When dry, let it go for Pete's sake. If you currently pay $30 a bottle you will not be satisfied by dollar store nail polish. You have a nuerological disorder and I cannot help you.
3. Children's socks. They are going to wine every time and outgrow them way faster than spending real money on them. Do not buy one pair. Okay, maybe those paw patrol ones, but generally, buy the three or more packs. Make them the same if you can. You will never have to worry about the other sock, because they're all the other sock. I really wish someone had yold me this trick sooner.
2. Seasonal kitsch. At the end of it all you only use it for how long. This gives a guilt free option of pitching them at the end (throwing away or sending to the thrift store). I am totally about recycling, but when I became frustrated with my window covers after last Halloween I felt so much better when I had to just tear them off (the plastic had kinda' melted to the window, eek!, I do live in the desert).
1. Books. Best selling books. Bad selling books. Books to make you cry. Books exposing lies. Books to help you cook. Books that tell you what to put in every little nook. Books that help you learn. Books you want to burn. Everytime you read a book, you could change your outlook.

What NOT to buy

This is a wonderful list. I should know because I LOVE list (and also I'm writing it, so, there's that). This list is not intemded to judge, only to assert a certain value. I obviously used all of these things, in order to learn it.
The idea behind value is generally monetary, so when I say Beef Jerky at the Dollar Tree is not a good value, that means something along the lines of, per ounce the value is not good. We've all been excited by a brand name at the dollar store, but as you load in five mini boxes of Cheese Nips, you could have had two large boxes at the store and that's 1 pound for five dollars, versus two pounds at the grocer. This is one good reason the 'brands' have begun to provide for these outlets.
If you are on your lunch break by all means, grab one of those boxes, a pot pie, and a chocolate milk. Definitely cheaper than other options for lunch. Plus, it's always a pain to explain to your co-workers why the fat girl always has a full box of Cheese Nips (and she growls when you come near). Only me there?
So on with the list (Let's go backwards, shall we?):

5. Femine products, if it's name brand the value is probably bad, if its not the product is crap.
4. Tissue products. While I must give a nod to Dollar Tree for upping rheir toilet paper game, the paper towels aint great, the napkins are abysmal, and the nose tissue. Just don't do it. But the get regular Kleenex sometimes, and then its stock up, however, this is not the cream of the Kleenex crop either. Confession: I buy the litle kiddie 6-8 packs here, for my purse, car, and oh, yeah, kids. Value, bad, but they're so helpful.
3. Meatballs.
2. Most toys. With the exception of getting brand cast offs; like last seasons, or 'well this didn't sell like we thought it would' product. Even in those cases consider, why is it here before buying. I mean a Hello Kitty pimple extractor seems like a great deal. (disclaimer, not an actual product, but I totally would have bought it).
1. Anything with artificial or 'flavored' in the title. This tells you two things. One, their biggest concern was to make it look like something else. Next they worried about smell and flavor. They never considered if it was 'good for you', because they don't have to. This is where you pick up your sword of justice and just don't buy these things. That's actually where change begins, in the wallet. (Like what i did there, change, wallet, eh? It's hopeless). The second thing it tells you is, it is not in fact, the product you are looking for. My two biggies: Artificial cheese and Honey flavored syrup.

$1 a day habit

I love my tea. And I can stop at McD's 3 times a day to help out my addiction. It's just a buck. Every time. Let's say you're not crazy like me; not everyone can be blessed in the exact same way. Let's say it's once a day. That's easy math. $7 a week, $30 a month, $365 a year. Ok. It's not terrible, at least I don't smoke, talk about expensive!
But here's the secret, my equally lazy friend (it's not really a secret), you can make that at home. spend an hour making four jugs, like me, still not as much time as the drive through this week. Yes, four jugs= one week. Don't judge me. In a jug is easily four mcdonalds cups worth of tea. Added to that the ice factor I drink half a jug a day.
What is the ice factor you ask? I am so glad you asked. The ice factor is that precious number of cubes that take up 75% of your cup, even if you say easy ice you'r gonna get 50%, ask for no ice (what is wrong with you?) for the correct ratio. So even though I can fill two mcdonalds cups with half it actually takes three or four as ordered to replace this much minus the ice. I assume you know how to make, or buy ice.
So here are my supplies, if you prefer sweet tea even better. Replace my packets with sugar or sweeteners, with sugars the cost increases, with sweeteners it decreases.  This should show the box (it had eight) but I had thrown it awat before realizing I could blog this.
                                  

Seriously, it takes twenty committed minutes. Continue boiling the same four bags until they reach a clear stage. After each pot distribute among your jugs, I keep mine in a sink full of cool water. You want to do it this way because the strong tea will be in all four and the weeak tea will be in all four. In between your first and second pan, add your drink mix (fruit punch is yum)and some cool water from the fridge if like mine your sink water doesn't get cold. For me the one packet per jug gives enough flavor and sweetness. You could try more if this isn't the case for you.

Here's the cost breakdown.
Flavor tea Four Jugs = .75
4 drink packs, .50
4 tea bags, .25

Sweetened with sugar Four Jugs =1.25
4 tea bags, .25
4 cups sugar, 1.00

Sweetened with dangerous chemical sweeeners = .45 (possibly cancer)
4 tea bags, .25
20 sweeteners .20

I reuse Arizona jugs that I paid 2.50 for full of tea. Really. So lazy.



                                            


*Addendums. I got a coffee maker the neighbor was abiout to throw out, ran vinegar through it and now use it for the tea! I bought a different brand of tea at Walmart that takes two bags per jug, but comes in 24 family sized bags for one dollar. The hubs like three packets of strawberry lemonade in his jugs and I have moved up to two packets of flavor because no one else liked it my way, lol.

New breakdown with those facts:

.38 for hubs
.25 for mine

continuation of the organized fridge

The dollar store item here is zip ties, sorry, you have to cut your own shapes from recycled products! I was lucky to find these inkadinkado stamps in my stash which went perfect, and yes I like to keep tuna cans in the fridge. Poke holes in your plastic shapes and run zip ties through the holes in the baskets, voila!Use either dry erase or permanent markers when labeling depending on if you foresee a change.

Eat Yer Heart Out Ikea- It's in my organized fridge.

Let me disclaim here: this is an itty, bitty fridge. I can't take a pic of my larger (still only apartment sized) fridge, because, it's...well....dirty. It's TOTALLY organized. But dirty.

Here I have created a system that only cost $7. The apartment size uses $10. Several tips I have when doing this:

1. Put like items together, this Summer it has been nice to pull out the 'condiment' or 'salad dressing' basket. If you store drinks in the garage simply fill up your 'beverage' basket for easy carrying to the fridge.

2. Use zip ties to ahdere labels made from recycled plastic. Any regular adhesive will fall away when cold.
3. If you are very persnickity buy a seperate color for your 'hands off items'. The conversation sounds like this,
"Child, where did you get this Babybel from?"
Inaudible shrugging.
"What color was the basket?"
Shuffling off to the fridge, "Well you never feed me anything good!"
I know at this point you can hear the fridge slam, pop back open, slam, pop back open. Shut.

Who actually wants to spend lots of money organizing the fridge? I will tell you it is well worth the effort, however to spend a little money doing it.

Old Faithful

Hack type: Recipe
Cost: $8
Feeds: 12

Aaah, the tuna noodle casserole. You hated, you loved it, you had to do it to your own kids. First there is the economy of it. Where else can you pack protein and vitamin for such a fair price? I dunno', pizza? But even that gets old. No it really doesn't I'm lying. Then there's the ease. Who doesn't need easy somedays?
I am going to try to do this a new way, bear with me. First, a photo of my ingredients:

All obtained at Dollar Tree, minus the peas, which I forgot, but the can is much larger that the dollar tree carries. Also to not in this instance they had in large tuna cans, 7 oz. so that is super. Aside from the case sale when Kroger has cans .50 each this is the best deal I know of (if you have an Adli's good too). The crackers are plenty but once in a while they get the noraml sized box, in which case I would not use a whole box.

Boil your noodles on the low side of the instructions.(7-9, do 7). Drain nicely and rinse if you prefer that (generally noodles should not be rinsed).
Stir in a very big bowl, drained tuna, cream soups, noodles. Add peas toward the end of the stirring so you don't mash 'em. Dump it in a pan, crush crackers and sprinkle over and cook for twenty minutes at 350. Mmmmm.... good.

• 1 package noodles
  2 different cream soups
  2 cans of tuna
  1 can of peas
  1 small box of crackers
  salt and pepper to taste

Some yummy stuff you can add:

Worcestire, yes it adds a nice ting with about a quarter cup, and is available at....I won't even say it.
Capers, Ohmyyum, they add somethign good to it! Very rare at the *ahem*.
Onions
Celery
Broccoli florets
Oh man sprinkle some cheese in with the crackers.... Make sur eif you buy Dollar tree cheese you are completely aware of what it is. Cheese can be, er, impeding, but fake cheese will send you to the er,eek!

Also carrrots. I do not care for canned carrots, but that would be the proper kind. Cooking them yourself would not only ruin the idea of quick and easy, they'd probably be too fresh and hard.

The (no longer) dreaded Custom Christmas Calendar

Hack type: Christmas gift


Ohmyword, I am so overwhlemed and everyone wants a homemade calendar for Christmas! I can't afford to do six seperate print ups from shutterfly (super site!) or Walgreens (yep, I like them too). Then, I cannot afford the time to actually create six from scratch! What ever shall I do? If only I could buy a calendar already made and insert photos randomly in clever ways.... But really cheap, because I am so poor.

What? You have a solution? But of course, I always have a solution (not always a good one, mind you). I went to my Dollar Tree, but all dollar stores will have these, and bought some very nice calendars. They may be on the flimsy side, but I am not playing frisbee with them. There are a couple ways to aproach the transformation: totally scrap each page, taking advantage of the month and dates but covering the pictures with paper. Work your photos into the pictures in a sensible manner. Or get ecclectic, mix and match sense and whimsy. I've done all three. I must confess number two wins these days, as I like to save time as much as money, and not everyone 'gets' whimsy.

If you're not blessed like me in owning a shape cuting machine (sizzix here), just trace shapes you see around you, tupperware lids are great. Remember to snip just inside the lines unless you are going for a wild and crazy look (NOT knocking a wild and crazy look.)

           Here's a full calendar:

Here are some of my faves from other calendars:

Bicycle tires!!! Perfect!








Heehee, they're coming out of the typewriter!




It's a frame, need I say more?