Thrifty Thursday~Hobby Lobby Frenzy

I love when Hobby Lobby has their 90% off clearance sale. I have managed to hit it a couple of times this year and always have to be careful and not go extreme-crazy shopping. They had a ton of candle sticks and gold-ish decorator pieces. Here is sampling of the goods that I set all over the table when I got home.

Check out all these killer prices. It’s pretty cool to spend 2.50 instead of 25.00 and 4.00 instead of 40.00.

The crown was sitting by itself without a price. When I went through the check out, the cashier said the glass candle holder that the crown perches upon, came through and was sold earlier, so I could have the crown for $2.

I lined everything up on my work table outside and rapid-fire blasted them with Heirloom White spray paint. The next day, when the snow had melted, I blasted them a second time. I always miss spots, nooks and crannies on the first go around.

They were hauled into the dining room before the snow came back with a vengeance. The thing about Denver is that it can snow like mad one day and the following day the sun comes out and melts it all away with 60+ degree weather. Good thing because I am regularly painting something in the back yard.

I like to decorate with white so much more than the antiqued-gold-ish finish. I may shabby these up with some sand paper and antiquing glaze. Can’t wait to work these into a vignette but I don’t have a plan, yet. Sometimes it just comes together when I start playing around with the pieces.

All in all, I spent about 22.00 including the can of spray paint. For great inspiration, you really need to go over to Bloggaritaville for a list of participants that are showing their Thrifty Thursday treasures.

Christmas Library

I love my books. Even as a teenager, my hangout was the library. In the last couple of weeks 8 Christmas idea books have arrived at my door. They are presents to me and they didn't cost any $$. I am a member of Paperbackswap.com. People all over the country post books that they are finished with and people that are looking for books get to order. It is just like ordering from, say Amazon or Barnes & Noble. You search and browse for the books you want, click a button and it is on it's way.
Don't let the name Paperback Swap mislead you. Most of the books I received are hardcover in excellent condition. There are audiobooks, too.

Besides Christmas books, I have received gardening, sewing, painting,curriculum, and cultural stories.

If you'd like to start swapping, post 10 books and you will immediately receive 2 credits to choose books. After that, for each book you mail out to another member, you receive 1 credit.

You may be thinking: "Ackkkk, shipping books sounds expensive since they weigh so much!"

Actually, the USPS has a Media Rate, so the books cost , usually, under $3 to mail. Great deal!

Check it out. Perhaps it will contribute to a New Year's Resolution to read more.

Christmas Blessings Everyone!

Easy and Best Gift Ever!

It is 2 frigid-degrees out here which reminded me of one of my all time favorite things: the corn filled heat pack. I have sent these to many people; my sister and her girls, my mom, my son-in-law, who took it out to sea on a 4 month naval tour in the Middle East(the other sailors wanted it!), my niece and her room mate at the University of San Francisco (they said they are surprised their microwave hasn't exploded from non-stop use); some seriously ill friends, whom these gave non-stop comfort. This is,by far,the most used and appreciated gift I have given.

If you can make a pillow, you can make a corn filled heat pack. Use whatever fabric you desire or cut up an old sheet,towel or table cloth.I found the darling vintage-style Christmas fabric at JoAnn's for half price. Make whatever size you desire as long as it will fit in your microwave.I have often wished I could make a body-sized heat pack that I could lie on but I still haven't found a big enough microwave. Stitch right sides together and leave about a 1 inch hole to pour in the corn. Use a tight stitch to hold the corn in better. Turn right side out.

Haul over a 10 or 50 lb bag of feed corn and load up your "pillow". I pay under 10 dollars for a 50 lb. bag and I manage to use it all. You can get 10 lbs for a couple of bucks and the ability to carry it yourself. Don't use your Orville Redenbacher corn kernals; they will pop all over the place and burn up your bag. Don't accidentally take home dried corn cobs like I once did; not comfy. Be sure you ask for FEED CORN.
When your bag is pretty full of corn, yet flexible, whip stitch the opening to close.Sometimes, I sprinkle in lavender flowers for aroma-therapy.
Put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. You will learn just how long you can leave it in the microwave, to the second, before it gets too hot. My corn heat packs stay warm most of the night; better than a water bottle, better than a rice-filled bag.
Put it on your ice-cold feet, rather than putting your ice-cold feet on your hubby! This is a necessity for cramps; along with chocolate, of course.
I have never done this because I love the warmth and haven't yet needed an ice pack, but, put the corn bag in the freezer for a re-usable ice pack; works like frozen peas but better because it doesn't thaw and drip all over you.

Make a few of these for gifts. I guarantee you will have thankful and warm recipients!







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Powder and Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipes

Hi ladies,

Here are the frugal tips from the Mom's Workshop # 2 at our home school group.

The question many of us had about these recipes is :Do they work as well as the commercial products? The answer, without exception is "Yes!" and for pennies on the dollar. Make your own and save lots of $$$$

For Homemade laundry detergent you need: 1 bar body soap, 1/2 c. borax, 1/2 c. Arm and Hammer Washing Soda. Shred a bar of soap and mix in with borax and washing soda. Store in labeled container.
Home made laundry detergent powdered (version I use)one 14 oz bar of Zote laundry soap (Big lots and Walmart carry it in the laundry section.)2 c. borax and 2 cups of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (Both are in Walmart and King Soopers laundry section). Shred Zote soap and add borax and washing soda Mix well. Use 1 TBS per load. Store in a labeled container.
You can also cut the bar soap up into smaller pieces and mix all the ingredients in the food processor with the S blade.
I would recommend going to youtube.com and typing in home made laundry detergent and watch the videos. Jen at Frugal upstate and the hippees have the easiest videos to watch for powdered detergent. There are also videos on making liquid detergent as well.

Homemade Laundry Soap (2 gallons of liquid)
½ bar of Ivory soap (or any bar soap you desire)½ cup of washing soda½ cup of borax powder-a pot that will hold 2 gallons
Grate the soap and put in a large sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap dissolves. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Now add 1 gallon and 10 cups of water and stir. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours and it will gel. Stir after 24 hours until soap has the consistency of egg drop soup. Use ½ cup per load in a top loading washer, and ¼ cup in a front loading washer.

Here is another tip–Recycle as much trash as you can to cut down on your trash volume. Does your city have a recycle center? Combine trash with another family or families in you neighborhood and all families involved split the trash bill.

Healthy Frugal-ness

Our home school group has started a Mom's Workshop that has an emphasis on "healthy frugal-ness" There is a lot to be learned from this army of moms. Here are the notes from the first meeting.


Workshop 1 – 9/15/09
KITCHEN & HOME:

-serve homemade soup 1 day/week; gives your G.I. track and your budget a break.
-casseroles help stretch the food
-shop loss leaders at grocery store -stock up -freeze all you can
-freeze in a square pan – uniform size helps save space in the freezer, allowing more to fit
-buy blocks of cheese; cut or grate and freeze
-when cooking big meals; cook 2 – serve 1, freeze 1 -saves eating out when you’re in a pinch for time
-buy meat in bulk; -put in portion size bags & freeze -cook ground meat and put in smaller (snack size) bags for quick meals on the run -can also use in soups & sauces for quicker preparation
-onions at a great price; chop, bag, put in container & freeze -use in soups & sauces
-avocados on sale – make guacamole, place in snack size bags & freeze. Slightly thaw and break up to eat. Great in burritos
-overripe bananas in freezer – when enough for bread, thaw and make bread. Freeze extra loaves
-tomatoes can be frozen whole – thaw slightly remove the skin and make into a sauce
-keep spices in freezer to preserve them longer
-buy spices in bulk at Vitamin Cottage
-save jars & lids for storing & freezing things
-make soups, sauces, salad dressings from scratch. www.recipezaar.com
-save broth from roast and veggies – freeze and use for soup starters later
-make 1 loaf of bread a week (save a minimum of $100)
-learn to cut a whole chicken – 1/3 the cost of pre-cut chicken

-buy whole carrots vs. cocktail carrots; peel and cut them for your family to eat
-Sunflower, Sprouts & Liborio’s are great places to get produce inexpensive
-learn to can produce; you can control the amount of sugar & they are chemical free
-make your own jam & jelly from juice and/or fruit seconds
-get canning jars from the thrift stores or grandmothers that don’t feel they can can anymore
-plant a garden – use rain water drainage to irrigate -use herbs to control bugs, at end of season dry those herbs -can and/or freeze produce
-when planning meals; figure maximum of $2/person for dinner. Then each smaller meal cost should diminish accordingly.
-baking soda & vinegar are inexpensive and work well for several things – bath cleaner, sink scrub, spot remover and drain cleaner….

HEALTH & BEAUTY:
-be willing to try homemade facial care products
-use baking soda vs. Alka Seltzer
-vinegar & honey drink for flu
-sage tea for sore throats
-hairspray removes ballpoint ink
-cayenne pepper bath sweats out the lung & flu – wrap about 1T of cayenne in a rag, tie a knot and put under warm water while filling tub. Soak in this as long as you can stand.
-ginger tea with honey soothes the stomach
-almonds for migraines
-honey helps w/: allergies, acne/face blemishes, and energy boost
-garlic is a great anti-fungal & anti bacterial. Rub directly on warts. Garlic oil on feet of someone not feeling well. Eaten in foods.
-thyme for sinusitis, flu and as a facial toner
-mint & lavender for migraines
-chamomile tea is a great anti-inflammatory
-lavender tea – great for migraines, sun burn soak and muscle relaxant
-elderberry “tonic” – better than Echinacea because you don’t have to take a break from using it. Builds the immune system and promotes heart health.