Save Money for Valentine’s Day – Skip the Card!
Have you bought your Valentine’s Day cards yet? If you are like me, you haven’t. Strolling down the card aisle with all of the pictures, jokes and sappy lines makes me a bit nauseous. It isn’t the silly sayings and bad jokes that turn my insides around. It is the crazy prices on the backs of the cards that always make me feel a little ill.
With greeting card prices on the rise, you can easily spend over $5.00 buying just one card. If you add music, pictures, embellishments the prices climb toward $10.00. Yikes! If you are a bargain shopper like me, you see that as enough money to buy another gift! Who wants to waste money on something that ends up in the trash hours or days later? I sure don’t. This thought of not wasting money on cards has sent me on a quest to find things to use when gift giving, instead of store bought cards.
Make your own card
I know it sounds a little bit like a trip back to preschool but it really can be fun and inexpensive. Use scraps of things that you already have around the house. Recycle old cards and pictures from magazines and ads. Use a photo and make a card that your someone special will love. Use anything you have around the house, just make it yourself without spending money on fancy supplies or embellishments.
Make a gift tag
Simple could be the answer. How often do we read a card and then toss it after the party is over. Do we appreciate the gifts with fancy cards more than those without cards? Cards are rarely important to me. I read them and then usually do not give them another thought. I have started to just make a simple gift tag for many of the presents we give. Quick, cheap and easy.
Think outside the envelope
I have really thought about cards and why we are so much in the habit of giving them. We usually use them to convey and idea of love or appreciation. Why not use something other than a card? One of my new favorite ideas is to use a children’s book. Picture books look cute on top of a gift, even when giving the gift to an adult. You can get a themed book and write a note or two on the inside cover, just like a card. For Valentine’s Day consider a book about love, families or friends; there are lots of cheap favorites at places like Amazon.com, Walmart or your local book store. Some great and super cheap books can be found in new condition at your local thrift shop.
It must be a store bought card
There are some situations when you may feel like you absolutely have to buy a card. Shop smart when buying a card. Check the dollar stores. Our local Dollar Tree has a great selection of cards and they are just $1.00. Stores like WalMart have $.50 and $1.00 sections for every occasion including Valentine’s Day. Look for card multipacks with a number of different greeting cards for a great price.
Have more ideas on ways to save when buying a card this Valentine’s Day? Let us know! We love to hear from you.
Stop sharing germs!
Yesterday I talked about my stuffy nose and the not-at-all fun cold that I have right now. I hate this so much but what I hate even more is when it starts traveling through the rest of my family. Having sick kids is no fun, especially when you are sick yourself. When I see a couple other family members starting to sniffle and cough, I immediately start to think about what I need to do to stop sharing germs around here.
I’ll admit it; I am sort of a germ freak. I try super hard to keep from sharing germs I have and I expect others to do the same. I try to remember all of the things we are taught to do to keep my germs to myself. Sometimes you can’t keep a germ from spreading around your family, but often there are things that can be done to prevent or lessen the spread of germs. I’ve been trying to drill these into my family members this winter. I want them all to stop sharing germs – especially with me.
Wash hands
This tip is the first and biggest of the stop sharing germs rules. Hands transfer germs at a surprisingly high rate. Washing your hands drastically cuts the spread of illness and germs. Wash those hands often and with soap – something that my little boys seem to forget. Use hand sanitizer when it is hard to wash your hands or as another step in stop sharing germs process.
Cover coughs and sneezes
This tip is also super big when you are trying to stop sharing germs. Lots of us were probably taught to cover our cough and sneeze by coughing into our hands. But after reading the tip above, why would you want to add more germs to your hands? Cough and sneeze into your elbow when a tissue isn’t available.
Don’t share drinks or kisses
This can be a hard one when you have kids – they always want to share your drink or give you a kiss. It can be hard to turn that cute little person, or spouse, away but keep those kisses and drinks to yourself in order to stop sharing germs.
Disinfect surfaces
This is another big way to stop sharing germs because some germs can live on surfaces for a long time. Remember things like light switches, telephones, computer keyboards and other things everyone touches.
Toothbrush cleaning
Stop sharing germs with yourself too! Your toothbrush is a big culprit when it comes to do this. Disinfect it between uses when you are sick. Toss it when you are better. Don’t let your own germs make you sick all over again.
Wash bedding and pillows
Remember to wash your bedding, pillows and other linens that you use when you are sick. Don’t let sick people share linens with others. It may be temping so snuggle up in the same blanket but if you want to stop sharing germs, you need to stop sharing linens.
Isolate the germs
It can be hard to stay away from others when you are sick but you have to if you want to stop sharing germs. Resist the temptation to snuggle and kiss. Keep siblings as apart as you can. Try to avoid public places and social gathering so you can keep the germs from spreading.
These are just a few of the things I try to stop sharing germs with others. Have more tips? Share them with us! We love to hear from you.
Stuffy nose? Join the club!
If you are like the rest of us, you will get a cold this winter. Maybe it will be your first and maybe it will be your second, third or even fourth! Whichever number cold it is this winter, chances are you will feel pretty miserable. I have been doing my best to avoid being sick this winter. I’ve escaped the misery of the common cold until now. Now it feels like my head is filled with bricks or cotton or a variety of other things that seem to change from minute to minute. The part I hate the most is the stuffy nose.
I have very little patience when it comes to having a stuffy nose. I really dislike it, you could even say I hate it. Doesn’t everyone? There is just something about having a stuffy nose that makes things seem downright miserable. I don’t really do well with the idea of staying in bed and waiting it out. I don’t have time for this cold. I have a few things I always try to do when I am trying to beat a stuffy nose. Do you? I took to the internet to find a few more. (I’m not a medical professional, these are just the things I have seen help.)
Cold medicine
This is often the first option for relief of a stuffy nose. There are dozens of companies out there marketing medicines to clear your head and send your cold symptoms packing. I’ll be the first one to say it; these don’t always work very well. When cold medicines fail, or sometimes even before cold medicines, I try other things.
Spicy food
This is a standby in our house. When I get a stuffy nose, I turn to spicy foods like Andy Capp’s Hot Fries. I’ve been known to keep a few bags on hand during cold season just in case the stuffy nose strikes. Hot mustards and a variety of other spices seem to help with a stuffy nose too. Relief might be sort of temporary but it helps.
Steamy showers
Another of my favorites, the steamy shower. It really seems to help with a stuffy nose. Anyone else take multiple steamy showers a day when a bad cold strikes? I love taking a good steamy shower when I have a stuffy nose.
Use humidifiers
A humidifier increases the humidity in the air in your home, breathing the humid air may help soothe irritated and swollen sinuses. Humidifiers can be found at most drug and discount stores. They range in price from fairly cheap to fairly expensive. Even the cheaper humidifiers can really help a stuffy nose.
Saline spray
Saline sprays are available over-the-counter and cost very little. Saline spray can help moisturize your nasal passages and relieve a stuffy nose. Remember don’t share saline spray with other family members and toss out the bottle of saline spray after you are better. Reusing or sharing saline spray bottles will spread those nasty germs.
Neti pot
I have heard a lot about using a neti pot and I read a lot online. They are supposed to work wonders for a stuffy nose. I haven’t tried this; I just can’t get ok with rinsing my sinuses out. If you’ve tried it and love it, let us know. Maybe you can convince me to try it for my stuffy nose, we’ll see.
Essential oils
I know a lot of people who use essential for everything, including a stuffy nose. I don’t know a lot about them but I do know I have tried a couple kinds that have seemed to help. Sometimes a good whiff of a minty smell opens that stuffy nose right up.
Have more ideas to share? Let us know. We love to hear from you!
Cauliflower Recipes – Yummy!
In the quest to eat healthier I’ve been looking at ways to add more vegetables and reduce the breads and carbs my family eats. I’ve been fascinated with all of the talk about cauliflower and how people are using it instead of potatoes or crusts. For years I have heard of having mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. I have even had it a few times. I thought it was pretty good but I never really thought about branching out and finding more recipes. I recently decided to do just that and I so far I have found a few winners. My whole family, even the picky eaters, loved these recipes!
Loaded Cauliflower
Ingredients:
1 large head of Cauliflower cut into bite size pieces (approx 6 cups)
6-8 strips of bacon cooked and crumbled (Cooked in oven at 400° for 20 mins)
6 Tbs chopped Chives
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup Sour Cream
2 cups Colby Jack Cheese ( may use cheddar)
8 oz container sliced mushrooms
Directions:
– Preheat oven to 425°
– In a large pot boil water and cook Cauliflower for 8 – 10 minutes, drain and let cool.
– In a large bowl combine sour cream, mayo, 1/2 of crumbled bacon, 3tbs chives, 1 cups of cheese, mushrooms and cauliflower and mix well.
– Place in baking dish and cover with remaining 1 cup of cheese and rest of bacon crumbles.
– Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted. Top with remaining 3Tbs chives and serve.
Cauliflower Pizza
Ingredients:
1/2 Head of cauliflower (mine was a smallish head)
2 C shredded cheese divided (I used mozzarella, but any medium/hard cheese will work)
Italian seasonings (I used oregano, parsley, fresh garlic and some onion)
Pizza sauce or marinara sauce of your choosing
Toppings (we used sausage, black olives and pineapple)
Directions:
– Grate your cauliflower. I used a food processor with the grater blade (cause you don’t want it to become pureed, just shredded). Place the grated cauliflower into a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 6-8 minutes (depending on your microwave). You want to make sure the cauliflower is soft but not mushy. Do NOT add water or anything to the cauliflower.
– While the cauliflower cools off (I put mine in the freezer to cool it quickly), preheat the oven to 450* and prepare a cookie sheet or pizza pan by spraying it with cooking spray. This is also a good time to prepare your toppings.
– To the cauliflower add 1 C shredded cheese and spices and combine. Add egg and mix well with your hands. Press the crust onto a pan and shape into a 9-12″ pizza (depending on how thin you want the crust). I did mine closer to a 12″ and it worked great! Spray the top of the crust with cooking spray (to help brown) or brush with oil.
– Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes (or until golden brown). It is really important to get it nice and brown so that it has a crispness to the crust otherwise, the texture isn’t a convincing pizza crust! When you pull out the pizza, turn your oven to broil.
– Add your toppings (we did 1/2 sausage and 1/2 pineapple/black olive) including 1 C cheese and put pizza under the broiler for 3-5 minutes. Just broil it long enough to melt the cheese and caramelize the toppings a bit.
Roasted Garlic Cauliflower
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large head cauliflower, separated into florets
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Directions:
– Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Grease a large casserole dish.
– Place the olive oil and garlic in a large Ziploc bag. Add cauliflower, shake to mix. Pour into the prepared casserole dish, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
– Bake for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Top with Parmesan cheese and parsley, and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown.
Have a good cauliflower recipe? Let me know! I’m looking for more good ones!
Attempting a Candy-free Valentine’s Day!
Thinking ahead to Valentine’s Day, I have been trying to find different ideas for my boys’ valentines that don’t include candy. Some of our dearest friends are cute boys who recently developed severe food allergies. I honestly had never thought about food and how closely it is woven into most of our holidays and their celebrations. I think children’s holiday parties are extremely dependent on food and treats both in school and at homes. When I started to watch our friends struggle and try to manage all of these parties, I noticed the treats in a whole new way. I began to see the value in attempting to have a candy-free Valentine’s Day.
I’ll admit it, trying to have a candy-free Valentine’s Day is a huge undertaking. Candy is EVERYWHERE for Valentine’s Day; after all, one of the biggest Valentine’s Day traditions is giving chocolates. I don’t expect everyone to stop giving candy for Valentine’s Day, and I won’t take away the candy my children get from others. I will just do what I can to try to have a candy-free Valentine’s Day. Some of the ideas I like are pretty easy and inexpensive to do.
Popcorn
Although this is still food, it isn’t candy. Act II has even made cute individual serving size microwave popcorn bags with the idea to use them for Valentines. They have Valentine’s colors, cute sayings amd a to/from section on them. It is yummy and a good idea for a candy-free Valentine’s Day.
Play-doh
This childhood favorite makes a fun Valentine. You can print mailing labels with a cute graphic and your child’s name and put them right on the jar of Play-doh. Super easy and fun to use for a candy-free Valentine’s Day.
Stickers
Stickers are always a hit with kids. They are another super easy and fun idea for a candy-free Valentine’s Day. Dollar stores and the discount sections of other stores are a great place to find bargains on fun stickers to use as classroom valentines.
Pencils, Crayons or Markers
Kids love doodling and drawing so pencils, crayons and markers make fun options for a candy-free Valentine’s Day. You can print mailing labels with a cute graphic and your child’s name and put them right on the pencil, crayon or marker.
Bubbles
I love the cute little jars of bubbles you can find in the holiday sections of discount store; they are perfect for a candy-free Valentine’s Day. You can also make your own using cheap, bulk bubbles from party or wedding supply stores. Again you can print mailing labels with a cute graphic and your child’s name and put them right on the jars of bubbles.
Craft Kits
Lots of retailers have small craft kits that would make great valentines. These are lots of fun and can be inexpensive if you shop around. They are another great idea for candy-free Valentine’s Day.
Small Toys
These can be found at online retailers and your local dollar or discount stores. Things like balls, whistles, tops, rubber ducks, rings, and more make great valentines when you are trying to do a candy-free Valentine’s Day. Watch for age appropriate sizing and choking hazards when picking the small toys to use as valentines.
Have more ideas on attempting to have a candy-free Valentine’s Day? Share them with us – we love to hear from you!
Super Bowl Snacks – Game Time Treats!
For the past couple of days we have talked about one of my favorite things – really fun Super Bowl parties. We talked about how much I like them and how we try to include everyone, making it fun for kids and adults. One of the ways we do this is with the food. It is fun to have fancy, adult party food; we usually get some very amazing catered food from a local Mexican restaurant. But it is also fun to have finger foods and snacks kids like too. Super Bowl snacks are all about fun, yumminess and going a bit crazy.
Some of our favorite Super Bowl snacks are ones that you have probably had before. Some may be new ways of making a familiar snack.
Chex Mix
- 3 cups Corn Chex cereal
- 3 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
- 1 cup mixed nuts
- 1 cup bite-size pretzels
- 1 cup bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces
- 6 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons seasoned salt
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.
Substitution: The original recipe includes Corn Chex, Rice Chex and Wheat Chex. You can mix and match to suit your taste, just use a total of 9 cups of cereal.
Get Healthy: To reduce the fat to 2 grams and the calories to 80 per serving, use 3 tablespoons margarine instead of the 6 tablespoons butter, omit mixed nuts and use fat-free bagel chips.
Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce Little Smokies
- 1 package Little Smokies sausages
- 1 12-ounce bottle chili sauce
- 1 18-ounce jar grape jelly
Use a slow cooker. Put the Little Smokies and the sauces in the slow cooker. Stir to combine. Place the cover on and cook on low for 4 hours, or high for 2 hours. Make sure the Little Smokies are heated all the way through. Serve on toothpicks or right out of the slowcooker.
Super Bowl Sunday Sundaes
No real recipe here – just make really awesome ice cream sundeas and call them this fun Super Bowl themed name. These are perfect Super Bowl snacks. Make them at half-time when it is more likely that everyone will be up and moving around.
Make Pizzas
Another of our favorite Super Bowl snacks doesn’t require a recipe. Make football shaped mini pizzas by using canned biscuit dough. Top with sauce and cheese, add some chopped olives or sliced pepperoni to make the pizza look like a small pizza. These Super Bowl snacks are party favorites.
Don’t Forget the Veggies
Having a veggie tray is a great way to keep a healthy option in your Super Bowl snacks. Keep the veggies cut to finger food sizes and serve with a fun dip or two. Party tip – putting a spoon in the dip discourages guests from standing too close to the tray and double dipping. Try it.
Want to share your ideas for simple and fun Super Bowl snacks? Let us know – we love to hear from you!
Kid Friendly Super Bowl Party – Part 2!
Yesterday we talked about the Super Bowl and how around my house the beginning of February doesn’t mean hearts, cupids and Valentine’s Day. Around my house the beginning of February means one thing – football and the Super Bowl! We have participate in a huge Super Bowl party every year. What started as a crazier party years ago has morphed and changed over the years to a super fun and kid friendly Super Bowl party.
We talked about how our Super Bowl parties have usually been big and crazy. We usually have a varied crowd – everything from lots of die-hard sports fans to lots of kids. We’ve learned a few things over the years about keeping everyone happy and having a kid friendly Super Bowl party. I shared a couple of our tips for things you can do before the game to help have a kid friendly Super Bowl party. I suggested you give the kids a separate space (an absolute must) and let them help make the decorations.
There are lots of things to do during your party to help make it a kid friendly Super Bowl party. Here are a few of the ideas we use:
Games during the game
Have games for the kids to play during the party. Play Football Pictionary or Football Bingo with words like cheerleaders, penalty, helmet, pass, bleachers, fans, safety, and touchdown. Make a game out of commercial counting. See who can find the most of certain things in the commercials or find commercials for certain products. There are always lots of word searches, crossword puzzles and printable games online. A simple internet search will give you lots of free options. Keeping the kids busy with fun activities is one great way to help have a kid friendly Super Bowl party.
Make-It Foods
Half of the fun of a kid friendly Super Bowl party is the food. Super Bowl parties always have LOTS of great food. Have some fun make-it foods for the kids. These make-it foods turn into small projects to help keep the kids busy. Think of things like cookies shaped like footballs that can be decorated. How about making Sunday sundaes? Half-time is the perfect time stay busy by making a fun treat.
Crafts
Make crafts in team colors – football necklaces, team flags, paper pompons. There are so many fun ideas. If you need ideas or patterns for crafts, a simple internet search will lots of great ideas. There are so many fun ones that are easy and inexpensive to make. Keeping the kids busy is another key to having a fun, kid friendly Super Bowl party.
Facepaint or make tshirts
These ideas for having fun and creating a kid friendly Super Bowl party are more expensive and more labor intensive than the rest but they are fun! If you want to really go crazy paint the kids’ faces in team designs or decorate tshirts with paints. These can be expensive and require a lot of supervision. Make sure all the parents are ok with this option before you plan and purchase the items.
Don’t want to be distracted, hire a babysitter
This idea may seem a little extreme but I know of people who do this. If the parents all want to watch with little interruption, consider hiring a babysitter or two for the kids.
Have an idea to share? Let us know. We love to hear from you!
Consumer Reports Magazine Just $15.76 for 1 Year!
Deal of the Day – Consumer Reports Magazine Just $18.99 for 1 Year!
January 28th Only! Take an Additional 17% Off with Coupon Code: 17OFF
Throw a Kid Friendly Super Bowl Party!
Are you ready for the big game? Around my house the beginning of February doesn’t mean hearts, cupids and Valentine’s Day. Around my house the beginning of February means one thing – football! We have been known to count down the days to the first Sunday in February, because, of course, that day always brings the Super Bowl! We love, love, love football here and we love, love, love parties. Super Bowl Sunday provides an annual time to combine our loves and to party it up! We have participated in a huge Super Bowl party every year for years and years. What started as a crazier party years ago has morphed and changed over the years to a super fun and kid friendly Super Bowl party.
I’m not kidding when I say our Super Bowl parties have been big and crazy. One year our host built stadium risers in his basement so everyone had a good view. We have multiple TVs and LOTS of good food. There are usually some friendly wagers and some good natured rivalries. We usually have a varied crowd – everything from lots of die-hard sports fans to lots of kids. We’ve learned a few things over the years about keeping everyone happy and having a kid friendly Super Bowl party. Here are a few of our best tips and ideas:
Ideas for before the game
Give the kids a separate space
This is the most important point when it comes to having a kid friendly Super Bowl party. Kids, at least the ones I know, are loud and restless by nature. This does not mesh well with the die-hard fans that are looking for a serious Super Bowl experience. Plan a separate area for the kids to play and party in that is still inclusive but lends other areas to be quieter for those other die-hard fans. We try to have kid sized table and chairs in their area. We also try to remove anything that is fragile or easily ruined. If the kids, especially the young ones, have a place to hang out and be kids the party will be so much happier. Having a successful kid friendly Super Bowl party depends a lot on planning to have a separate place for the kids.
Make Decorations
Another great idea for throwing a kid friendly Super Bowl party is to have kid friendly decorations. Have the kids make some of the decorations before the Super Bowl party. Things like paper footballs, helmets and jerseys will be cute decorations and fun for the kids to make. They can make paper chains out of paper the colors of the teams in the Super Bowl. They can color posters, place mats, signs and more. Have them participate in setting up and prepping for the party as well. Have them decorate the kids’ space and make it fun. This is a great way to help have a kid friendly Super Bowl party.
Stay tuned tomorrow for when we talk about what to plan for during the game! Have ideas you want to share? Let us know. We love to hear from you!
Big News – Amazon Prime on Sale – Just $72!
I know I’ve talked about Amazon Prime before but I just have to talk about it again to share this great news with you! On Saturday, in celebration of the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, Amazon Prime will be available for just $72, a more than 25 percent savings! This is big news! If you’ve ever thought about getting Amazon Prime, this is the time to do it! I love shopping on Amazon and I love having Amazon Prime.
I’ll admit it, I love shopping online. If I could just buy everything online and have it show up at my door, I’d be so happy. Sometimes it feels like going to the store is a huge waste of my time, especially when it is just for a couple of items. I also really dislike driving all around town to get good deals on the few items I need. Again it feels like I am wasting my time. If I can buy the things I need online, saving time and money, I am so happy. I started shopping on Amazon a few years ago and I love it. I shop the deals on Amazon a lot. I buy everything from electronics, to paper products, to toys, to groceries. I can buy almost anything on Amazon. This is one of the biggest reasons why I LOVE having Amazon Prime.
Amazon Prime gained popularity because of the free shipping it provides. When you have Amazon Prime all of your qualifying orders get FREE Two-Day shipping. I think this is an amazing bargain, especially if you shop online at least once a month. Amazon says it best, “Need a last minute gift? Can’t get out of the house? Realize you forgot to pick up something? With FREE Two-Day Shipping from Amazon Prime, your shopping problems are solved. You get unlimited deliveries with no minimum order size, and with 20 million eligible items, the options are practically limitless. From big to small, A to Z, home to office, and everywhere in between, satisfying that shopping itch —or need— is just two days away.”
Saturday only, Amazon Prime will cost just $72 a year – a savings of $27 from the regular $99 price. This $72 may sound like a big investment at first. If you look at it carefully, it is not much at all. $72 a year breaks down into $6 a month. Do you spend $6 a month in shipping from other retailers? Do you spend $6 in gas running after an item or two, running here or there? Is the time you spend running these errands worth $6 a month? My guess is that most people answer yes to all of those questions. Many of us probably spend much more than $6 in time, gas and shipping. When you look at these factors Amazon Prime would actually pay for itself.
Still thinking about getting Amazon Prime? This would be an awesome time to try Amazon Prime. I have not seen Amazon Prime at a lower than $99 price in a very long time! Who knows when we’ll see a sale price like this again! Signing up for Amazon Prime is easy! Just follow any of the links here in this blog. To sign up for Amazon Prime, your account must have a current, valid credit card.
Already have Amazon Prime? I’ll be watching Amazon to see if the gift memberships for Amazon Prime are on sale for $72 a well. If they are included in the $72 sale, buy yourself a gift membership and use it later to renew your Amazon Prime account when your current membership expires.
Stayed tuned and save big on Saturday with Amazon Prime!
Writing my kids notes – I love it! Do you?
If you were to ask me what some of my favorite things in the whole world were, you’d get the same answer over and over each time you asked. These favorite things are new boots, shiny jewelry or a new laptop. Some of my very favorite things are my kids! I bet all of you moms and dads out there reading this are shaking your head in agreement. Our kids are awesome and we love them. Sometimes, I feel like I forget to tell them that often enough. This is why I have made a habit of writing my kids notes to tell them.
I don’t care if your kids are boys or girls, young or old; I would say almost all of them like hearing how much you care about them. Sometimes our kids are stinkers and it is hard to say it but we still love them. Sometimes the kids act like they don’t want to hear you say it, but they still need to hear it. This is why notes are perfect. I think it is a great way to express my feelings to my kids. I love writing my kids notes as reminders of how much they are loved. I also remind them of the reasons I think they are great or how I am proud of recent accomplishemnts.
I know if you look around the internet there are gobs of ideas on ways to write your kids the perfect notes. You can find ideas about making your own paper or spending hours building the “just right” note cards. Honestly, those ideas frustrate me. Making something too hard is a sure way to discourage yourself from doing it. I try to keep writing my kids notes easy and keep it fun. Here are a few ways I like writing my kids notes:
On the mirror
This idea for writing my kids notes is so fast and so easy. I use a washable magic marker and just scribble quick notes on the mirror. I may draw a couple of hearts or a funny face but usually it is a simple, “I love you!” and that works well.
In the lunchbox
When my kids take a lunch to school it is fun to stick a quick note in their lunchbox. These are more quick notes, usually just written on the napkin or a small piece of paper. This way of writing my kids notes works better with the little kids who still take lunch.
In the pocket
Kids have lots of pockets and I love writing my kids notes and slipping them in their pockets. Sometimes it is in a jacket pocket or sometimes it is in a pants pocket. Again, it is not a fancy note, just a simple expression of feelings.
In the backpack
This way of writing my kids notes works great with my older kids. Their backpacks are always around and it is very easy to slip notes into them. I just do simple notes and slip them in places I know they will be found.
Do you leave random notes for your kids? Have any fun ideas to share? Let us know – we love to hear from you!
Take healthy snacks on the go!
Are you still hanging on to some of your New Year’s resolutions? I hope so! If we stick with them now, we’ve almost made them a habit. I keep reminding myself about that and I hope a couple of mine are easier and become habit soon! One of my New Year’s resolutions is to eat healthier all the time, not just when it is easy. As a busy mom with four kids that is harder than it seems. It seems we are always running from one thing to another. There are days when finding healthy snacks on the go seems like an impossible task.
My four kids always seem to need to go someplace or be somewhere. Times are crazy and sometimes I get hungry on the go. Some days it even seems impossible to stop home and grab a healthy lunch. I’m determined to try to keep a few healthy snacks ready for times like those when I need to keep to my New Year’s resolution of eating healthier.
Ice Water
I know this one may seem like a no brainer but not all of us always think about it. I have started to try to take a water bottle filled with ice water when I go out to do errands or run around town. This keeps me from grabbing a diet soda at the checkout counter and keeps me going and hydrated. I wish I’d thought of this tip earlier, water isn’t really one of my healthy snacks on the go but I think it goes hand in hand with them.
Nuts
I think nuts are super great healthy snacks on the go. They travel well because they don’t need to be kept cool and you don’t need utensils to eat them. Super easy! A quick handful of nuts will usually curb hunger and give me some good energy.
Cheese
At first this sounds like a strange thing to think of as a portable snack but it is really another of my favorite healthy snacks on the go. String cheese and wrapped wax covered cheese seems to be super easy to toss in my bag. I’ve even grabbed a slice or two of other cheeses and put them in a plastic baggie to take with me. It works great.
Power Bars
These healthy snacks on the go can be expensive and they aren’t always as healthy as they appear but if you shop carefully they can be good choices. Watch out for bars that are loaded with sugar or other hidden unhealthy things.
Veggies
Veggie slices make great healthy snacks on the go. Carrots and celery are always a good idea. Peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, even pickles can be put into plastic baggies or containers and taken on the go. They are yummy and a great way to get all of your veggie servings in your day.
Yogurt
I love yogurt so taking it with me on the go is a great idea. I like to take a yogurt with me when I know my errands will keep me on the go at lunch time. If I put a yogurt with another of my favorite healthy snacks on the go, I have a great lunch on the go. Yum!
These are just a few of the healthy snacks on the go I like to take with me. Have more idea? Share them with us – we love to hear from you!
Bring down that winter gas bill!
Brrrrrr! It is cold outside where I am! How about you? Most of you are probably a bit chilly. I like the winter weather but once I get cold all I want is to get inside my nice warm house. If you are like me you really love that nice warm house until you get the first big natural gas bill of the winter season. Ouch! That winter gas bill can really hurt! Every time I get that first painful gas bill I try to think of ways to make it cost less to keep my house warm. It can be easy to bring that gas bill down. Here are a few tips to help you do the same thing.
Thermostat
Check your thermostat. Chances are you can reduce your settings by a degree or two. I usually try to set the thermostat as low as possible without making the house too cold. This is a great way to bring your gas bill down and save money. Also check the placement of your thermostat. Thermostats in cold drafty areas can cause your furnace to run more than it needs to. Simple adjustments to your thermostat could bring down your gas bill and save you money.
Fireplace
I LOVE turning on my gas fireplace. I love the warmth and I love watching it. Using it too much will drive up my gas bill, I learned that the hard way the first year in my house. I try to limit its use and enjoy it for a small amount of time, not all day. It is a great way to cut your gas bill.
Drafts
Make sure you check your door and windows for drafts. This can be a quick, cheap and simple fix to a cold house. Don’t pay a higher gas bill because you are compensating for a draft house.
Clean your furnace
For years I didn’t really think of a clean furnace as a money saver but it is a great way to cut your gas bill. Make sure you change your furnace filters. Dirty, clogged filters can make a furnace work harder and cost you more money. A simple internet search for your furnace model will provide you with cleaning tips and instructions to improve the efficiency of your furnace.
Empty rooms and air returns
If you have room you aren’t using, close the air vents and close the doors. Make sure other vents and your air returns are not blocked. These are simple ways to make sure you are doing all you can to lower your gas bill.
Insulation
This is a bit more complicated than the other ideas but it is an important one. If there are places in your house that seem very cold, check your insulation. It can be surprising to learn that areas of your house are under insulated. Adding more insulation to those areas can really save you money on your gas bill.
Have more ideas to help cut that natural gas bill? Let us know – we love to hear from you!
More Dollar Store Favorites!
This week I have talked a lot about dollar stores. I mentioned how sometimes I think dollar stores get a bad reputation because of the kinds of stories people tell about shopping at dollar stores. We’ve all seen or heard of horrible purchases people made at dollar stores. Dollar store purchases have a bad reputation for being low quality. I mentioned that I believe not everything at the dollar store is low quality. I think there are lots of dollar store deals. I mentioned a few of my favorite party supplies and kitchen items can be found at the dollar store. We even talked about dollar store shopping strategies. I just want to take one more blog and mention a couple more of my dollar store favorites.
I have lots of favorites when it comes to the products I buy. I’ll admit that I am not always super adventurous when it comes to trying new products. I like to find something I really like and stick with it. It just makes shopping easier for me. I have been really surprised to find lots of my favorites at our local dollar store. I’ve also been surprised to find that trying some different products from the dollar store has worked out well and saved me some money.
Cleaning Products
I have found that many of my favorite cleaning products are actually carried at our local dollar store. I have even tried and liked some new products that surprised me. I was pleasantly surprised by the drain cleaner from my local dollar store; it has become one of my dollar store favorites. Drain cleaner can be really pricey so I decided a gamble on a bottle for only one dollar might be worth it. It worked great! Window cleaner, toilet cleaner, floor cleaner, disinfectant – there are all kinds of cleaners available at my local dollar store. I have been happy with all of the cleaner purchases I’ve made. Because cleaners are a disposable product, I really like saving money when I buy them. Spending too much on something that goes down the drain or in the trash is frustrating. It makes me happy to add cleaning products to my list of dollar store favorites.
Food Items
This is one of those areas of the dollar store that seems to vary greatly. Some food items at my local dollar store are pretty great while others just tend to look a bit questionable. I can find lots of my favorite food items for a great price at the dollar store. It is pretty easy to say food items are some of my dollar store favorites. Snack items can be a great buy at the dollar store. Candy is also usually a really great deal. When I make a treat basket for someone, the dollar store is often my first stop for snacks and candy. At my dollar store there are even lots of good prices on food items for meals too. I think it is a great idea to talk a stroll down the food aisles at your local dollar store and see if your dollar store favorites are going to include food items.
Dollar Store Shopping Strategy!
I’ve been talking about dollar store shopping this week. I’ve spent a couple of days sharing a few of my favorite dollar store deals with you. I was talking to a friend yesterday and she mentioned that she doesn’t dare shop at dollar stores. When I asked her why she said it was because she always spent WAY too much money or bought things that ending up disappointing her. I’ve actually heard that from other people at other times. Dollar store shopping is supposed to save you money, not cause you to spend more. I decided to take a break from talking about all of my dollar store favorites and talk a little bit about dollar store shopping strategy.
Dollar store shopping strategy is not hard to remember at all. In fact, most of my tips and dollar store shopping strategy ideas are common sense when you think about them.
Go with a list
Take a shopping list with you to the dollar store. It is easy to get distracted by all of the bargains and cheap items. You’ll spend only what you planned on spending if you stick to your list. Stick to your list – a great dollar store shopping strategy.
Impulse purchases add up
One of the money wasting traps of the dollar store hides in the same concept that makes it a money saver. Everything is only one dollar, what a concept! An extra dollar spent here and an extra dollar spent there can add up quickly. Before you know it, you’ve spent an extra $20-$30. Another dollar store shopping strategy is to avoid impulse purchases because everything is just one dollar.
Don’t shop hungry
Dollar stores have aisles and aisles of snacks, treats and other food. Treat dollar store shopping like grocery shopping, don’t shop hungry. If you follow this dollar store shopping strategy, you will spend less at the dollar store.
Read labels
Read the labels of the products you are buying. Items may look the same as your favorite product but they may be different. Check the ingredients and other labels on food, personal care products and medicines. This dollar store shopping strategy will save you from wasting money on a disappointing purchase.
Check expirations dates
This dollar store shopping strategy applies to foods, personal care products and medicines. If it can expire or go bad, check the expiration date. Usually products at the dollar store have ok expiration dates but I’ve seen expired products a time or two. Checking the expiration date is another good dollar store shopping strategy.
Compare sizes/weights
When buying something at a dollar store instead of a grocery or discount store, remember to compare the sizes and weights of the product. Sometimes packaging is deceiving and you are getting less than you usually get. Lots of products are the same but I have seen a few that are not. Be sure you are getting a bargain by using this dollar store shopping strategy.
Leave the kids home
I always spend less at the dollar store when I leave the kids home. They are impulse shoppers and want things just because they “are only one dollar.” Leaving the kids home is one more dollar store shopping strategy.
Have an idea to share? Let us know. We love to hear from you. Stay tuned this week as we continue the discussion about dollar store shopping.