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Grilling on a Budget

With Memorial Day on its way and summer not far behind, you may be thinking about dusting off that grill and getting the party started. Here is how to spend less on grilling this season. Skip the Paper Products If you will be entertaining more than once, skip the paper products and invest in some pretty plastic pieces that can be reused. This will make a lot of financial sense. If you score thrift stores and clearance racks, you’ll probably wind up spending less than the paper products even for just one use! Go Light on the Meat Make sure … Continue reading →

Keeping The Grill Clean

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I love to bbq in the summer time. Not only is it a change of pace from the way we usually eat, it also keeps the house from heating up. As a bonus there are no pots, pans or casserole dishes to clean. My grill gets a good workout all summer long so I need to clean it frequently. The grates on your grill should be cleaned after every use. When the grill has cooled off a little but it still warm, take your brush and scrub the grates clean. After this wipe them down with a paper towel covered … Continue reading →

Save Money on Window Air Conditioners

The summer after we put all new windows in our home we found that our existing window air conditioners no longer fit. This meant that we had to get all new ones, and of course that came with an expense for the units. I did learn a few things along the way, though, that I can pass on to you to help you save money on your window air conditioners. Say Farewell to Freon Unless you plan on upgrading your air conditioning units to central air conditioning any time soon, avoid buying units that contain freon, even if those air … Continue reading →

Green up Your Memorial Day

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Memorial Day is a day to honor all those that have served in the military. It is also a day when a lot of people will have family and friends over and grill out. (This image is from MorgueFile.) But, you can still be green while doing all of this. If you are going to visit a loved one’s grave, take real flowers. I know a lot of people tend to purchase plastic flowers because they last longer, but real flowers will naturally decompose, whereas plastic flowers will eventually have to be removed by the groundskeepers and who knows when … Continue reading →

Simple Summer Fun

In just a few weeks, schools across the country will be out and kids of all ages will be looking for summer fun. For many parents that means draining their wallets to pay for expensive overnight camps or organized sports’ activities, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Keeping kids entertained doesn’t have to put a strain on your household budget. After all, activities such as hiking, biking and picnicking are extremely affordable if not flat out free. Just take precautions so that your outdoor fun doesn’t turn into a summer disaster. For example, there are tens of thousands … Continue reading →

Labor of Fun

Labor Day is such a bittersweet holiday for me. Whereas I love the extra day of play, I hate that the weekend is the unofficial farewell to summer. Still, there’s no better way to bid the season goodbye than with an end of the summer bash for all your family and friends. Picnics: Whether you are entertaining a small group or a huge clan, picnics are a great outdoor activity. Grab your checkered tablecloth and plan a seasonal menu complete with fried chicken, watermelon, potato salad, grilled corn, and lemonade. Don’t forget to bring along some sports equipment to work … Continue reading →

Enter the Sandra Lee “Bakeover” Sweepstakes – Win Plenty of Pyrex

Sandra Lee is a well known author of the Semi-Homemade series of cookbooks. Clearly, this is a woman who loves to cook and bake. Pyrex is the name of a brand of glass bakeware, that is durable, affordable, and stain proof. You can enter the Sandra Lee “Kitchen Bakeover” Sweepstakes, and win a whole lot of Pyrex bakeware. Walk into any major bookstore, and you will find several cookbooks by Sandra Lee scattered throughout the cookbook section. Her Semi-Homemade series of cookbooks includes more than one general cookbook, and also several that focus on desserts, slow-cookers, grilling, cooking light, or … Continue reading →

Family Reunion Planning: Types and Themes

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I may have gotten ahead of myself in this family reunion planning series, since technically this post should have come before my post about budget, venue, and food. Considering the type of reunion you will have, and any theme you may want, will help tremendously when determining your reunion budget. TYPES Small, intimate gatherings are probably the easiest and most inexpensive family reunions to plan. These often include just a few of your closest family members, and may be held in celebration of a special event, such as an anniversary, birthday, graduation, baby shower, etc. Medium-sized family reunions can also … Continue reading →

Presidential Chili

Make that Presidential Hopeful Chili. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama just wrapped up a weeklong vacation to his boyhood hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii and while he was in paradise he dined on a local favorite—-Hawaiian-style chili. Not once, but twice, according to news reports. I don’t blame the U.S. Senator from Illinois. Like Obama I was born and raised in Hawaii and it’s no secret that the Islands are home to some of the best chili in the world. (And unlike here in the Midwest fast food chains don’t yank the hearty dish from its menus during the summer months.) What … Continue reading →

Summer Travel Deals in Paradise

Lodgings across the 50th State are offering spectacular summer savings to try to compensate for the sky-high cost of airfare to Hawaii. The following properties located on two of Hawaii’s most beautiful islands are currently offering special package deals to entice you to make the trip to the “Land of Aloha.” Take a look: MAUI The Old Wailuku Inn at Ulupono, Maui is offering a special $150 rate through fall on all of its “green” rooms. The environmentally friendly lodging features water heated 100 percent by solar power; on-demand gas in the main Inn and rooms fitted with CFL (compact … Continue reading →