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The Power of Comfort Food

On Friday, when my children arrived home, safely, it was all that I could do to not to gather them all up and never let them go. After recent events, I know I am not the only parent out there that felt that way. We’ve all been shaken up. Anyone who has ever loved a child, a sister or a friend has had to face this harsh new reality. There was no way, that night, that I was going to deny my children most anything. It is a good thing that no one asked for a pony. Instead, they asked … Continue reading →

Hot Cocoa Part II

Once the milk is at the correct steamy temperature, which is complete guesstimation, we (my son and I) whisk in the chopped chocolate. My son in particular really enjoys watching the chocolate melt into the hot milk because it “turns (translation: swirls)” the chocolate into spider webs. It takes a few minutes of whisking for all the chocolate to melt. My son is more than happy to assist in the chocolate melting, by “turning” it as he likes to say, which means stirring. While all this is going on, daddy is trying to entertain our daughter. She, however, wants in … Continue reading →

Valentine’s Day Gifts with Heart

According to the National Retail Federation, the average American will spend approximately $125 on Valentine’s Day gifts this year. What the… A hundred twenty five bucks on high-calorie chocolate that will force you to spend even more time in the gym and overpriced flowers that probably won’t live to see the weekend? I barely have enough money to fill up my car now that gas prices have jumped 20 cents in less than 10 days. Believe me; no one in my house is spending or receiving Love Day gifts that exceed $5… if that. Just call me the Valentine’s Day … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Groceries and Save

Did you know that you can make your own homemade chocolate syrup, pancake or muffin mix and instant pudding and instant oatmeal packets? It is true and can save you a lot of money in the kitchen. Plus when you know how to make your own, you won’t have to run out to the store to replace something when the need arises. Just keep your staples stocked and then whip up the item yourself. You can make most of these items ahead of time, such as on a weekend or when you have yet another snow day. Pancake Mix/Cookie Mix/Brownie … Continue reading →

Frugal Homemade Seasoning Recipes

Forget the entire expensive spice rack where the spices expire before you can even use them all. You can save money and space, too, just by making some of your own seasonings. It isn’t as hard as you might think. You just keep a few basics on hand, and you can make up your own personal collection of spices for a lot less than buying those little bottles at the store. I am a big fan of seasonings because you can do so much with them to make inexpensive food very tasty. Here are my favorite recipes for frugal homemade … Continue reading →

Caffeine Linked to Underweight Babies

Here is one more reason to avoid caffeine, especially if you are pregnant. A new study published in the British Medical Journal found that even a little caffeine during pregnancy can put your baby at risk for being born with a low birth weight. In fact, the study examined the consumption of caffeine from multiple sources, including tea, cola, chocolate and even prescription drugs. Even a little use of caffeine is linked to slower fetal growth. Underweight babies are subject to a number of problems, including some that occur later in life, such as heart conditions, high blood pressure and … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Stuff and Save

If you want a great way to save money, try making your own items instead of purchasing them. From growing your own food and making your own mixes to creating your own laundry detergent and sanitizing wipes, there are so many ways to save. Plus, it is nice knowing that you don’t have to rely on expensive commercial products if you don’t want to do so. Check out this round up of “Make Your Own” articles. Try one recipe or instructions, or try them all! Frugal Food: Make Your Own Granola Bars? Make Your Own Yogurt Make Your Own Fabric … Continue reading →

Getting Out Ketchup Stains

Good evening master stain fighters! Let’s talk about getting out those hard to handle ketchup stains. With summer comes a lot of hot dogs and hamburgers and fries, and as a result, ketchup stains! Okay, in my house, the ketchup stains usually come from my Thanksgiving Meatloaf, but I am sure you can relate anyway. By the way, have you seen that commercial that features the talking stain? In it, a man goes to a job interview and cannot be heard over the rattle of the stain that is on his shirt. I think it is the funniest commercial, while … Continue reading →

Removing a Cooking Oil Stain

Cooking oil can find its way into the strangest places. The most obvious place is clothing of course, but I recently had a run in with cooking oil on our playroom couch. A little imp got into the lazy susan where I keep all of our spices and oils for cooking and baking. He proceeded to open up a jar of olive oil, which inevitably spilled. With oily hands, he moved on to the couch. Yikes. I mentioned in an earlier blog that chalk can sometimes be used to help get out oily stains including cooking oil. Here are some … Continue reading →

Getting Out Stubborn Ink Stains

In my house, I have to hide all of the pens. This is because if I don’t, my two-year-old tends to create ink drawings all over himself and occasionally on a casual tan couch that we have in the play area. That isn’t all. Once school starts, my oldest son is bound to come home with stray pen marks on his clothes. it is just inevitable (sigh). Fortunately, I have a few tricks up my sleeve for getting out the stains. As with any new pretreatment or stain removal, you should test the fabric in an inconspicuous place, if you … Continue reading →