Make something else with Kool Aid this summer...
This is always a hit at my house:
Kool Aid Play Dough
1 cup Flour
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 pack Kool Aid
1/4 cup salt
2 Tbsp. cream of Tartar
1 Cup water
Mix Flour, salt, cream of tartar, and Kool Aid in Medium pot. Add water and oil. Stir over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. When mix forms a ball, remove and knead.
Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Our Family School...putting some purpose into summer...
We are having a summer of life skills. I want my kids to learn how to clean, cook, ride a bike, swim...you know, just the basics of life. Sugardoodle.net has some great summer lesson plans that have helped us have some structure to our summer and given me the chance to help my kids with some math and reading skills. Of course we have hours of free play and run around and play time, but it's nice to make something meaningful happen this summer.
We're also trying to be more active as a family. We've found city walking trails, we've taken the kids to the high school track and let them run and ride to their hearts' content, we've gone swimming...all for very little-to-no cost.
At the beginning of the summer, I had the kids pick something they wanted to learn how to do. My little guy wanted to learn how to make pancakes, my little gal wanted to jump off the high dive. We've tried to have learning and teaching moment everyday.
We're having a great summer!!
We're also trying to be more active as a family. We've found city walking trails, we've taken the kids to the high school track and let them run and ride to their hearts' content, we've gone swimming...all for very little-to-no cost.
At the beginning of the summer, I had the kids pick something they wanted to learn how to do. My little guy wanted to learn how to make pancakes, my little gal wanted to jump off the high dive. We've tried to have learning and teaching moment everyday.
We're having a great summer!!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Another Favorite...
www.disneyshopping.com is another favorite kids' clothing website.
They have an outlet as well. Look for their free shipping events...
They have an outlet as well. Look for their free shipping events...
Kids Activities...
Gotta love the public library for free summer fun.
We get movies, books, and attend activities for free all year long.
Love it.
We get movies, books, and attend activities for free all year long.
Love it.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Children's Clothing for Less
I have a rule: never spend more than $5 on a piece of clothing for my kids. I know of people that have a $3 limit. I always check with thrift stores first...but I've heard that yard sales are the way to go for the cheapest prices available.
For new clothing items, I have found the The Children's Place has incredible sales. Check out their outlet online...just go to www.childrensplace.com and click on the outlet icon.
Do you know of any other great websites with great discounts?
For new clothing items, I have found the The Children's Place has incredible sales. Check out their outlet online...just go to www.childrensplace.com and click on the outlet icon.
Do you know of any other great websites with great discounts?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Homemade Baby Wipes
Try to buy a good roll of paper towels for less than a dollar and you'll get a batch of these baby wipes for about $0.50.
Making your own baby wipes will not only save money, but you will know that no harsh or drying chemicals are touching your baby's bottom.
What You Need:
· Round plastic container (Rubbermaid #6 or #9 works well)
· Thick, strong roll of paper towels
· Sharp knife to cut paper towel roll in half (Be Careful!)
· 2 cups hot water
· 2 Tablespoons baby shampoo or baby wash
· 1 Tablespoon baby oil
Here's How:
1. Cut the roll of paper towels in half with a knife.
2. Mix liquid ingredients in container.
3. Place the paper towels in the container with the cut side facing downward.
4. Secure lid tightly and allow to sit until all liquid is absorbed into the paper towels.
5. Turn the container upside-down and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
6. Open container and 'start' the roll by removing the cardboard center and pulling a towel from the inside of the roll.
7. Wipes are now ready to use.
Tips:
1. Save the other half of the roll for use next time you make wipes.
2. Make sure the container is closed tightly after each use to prevent drying out.
Making your own baby wipes will not only save money, but you will know that no harsh or drying chemicals are touching your baby's bottom.
What You Need:
· Round plastic container (Rubbermaid #6 or #9 works well)
· Thick, strong roll of paper towels
· Sharp knife to cut paper towel roll in half (Be Careful!)
· 2 cups hot water
· 2 Tablespoons baby shampoo or baby wash
· 1 Tablespoon baby oil
Here's How:
1. Cut the roll of paper towels in half with a knife.
2. Mix liquid ingredients in container.
3. Place the paper towels in the container with the cut side facing downward.
4. Secure lid tightly and allow to sit until all liquid is absorbed into the paper towels.
5. Turn the container upside-down and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
6. Open container and 'start' the roll by removing the cardboard center and pulling a towel from the inside of the roll.
7. Wipes are now ready to use.
Tips:
1. Save the other half of the roll for use next time you make wipes.
2. Make sure the container is closed tightly after each use to prevent drying out.
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Use your kitchen for more than just food preparation!
Once you get the hang of this, it's sooo easy. One batch costs me about $1.50 and lasts a couple of months. And that's doing a load or two everyday. It works great with front loading washing machines as well. For me, this works as well as Tide...try it and let me know what you think.
Here’s what you need:
- 1 bar of soap (I use Fels-Naptha because I feel like it cleans the best)
- 1 box of washing soda (look for it in the laundry detergent - it comes in an Arm & Hammer box and will contain enough for six batches of this stuff)
- 1 box of Borax (contains enough for lots of batches)
- A five gallon bucket with a lid (or a bucket that will hold more than 15 liters - ask around - these aren’t too tough to acquire)
- Three gallons of tap water
- A big spoon to stir the mixture with
- A measuring cup
- A knife
Step One: Put about four cups of water into a pan on your stove and turn the heat up on high until it’s almost boiling. With a knife, start shaving strips off of the bar of soap into the water. Keep the heat below a boil and keep shaving the soap. Eventually, you’ll shave up the whole bar, then stir the hot water until the soap is dissolved and you have some highly soapy water.
Step Two: Put three gallons of hot water (11 liters or so) into the five gallon bucket. Mix in the hot soapy water from step one, stir it for a while, then add a cup of the washing soda. Keep stirring it for another minute or two, then add a half cup of borax. Stir for another couple of minutes, then let the stuff sit overnight to cool.
And you’re done. When you wake up in the morning, you’ll have a bucket of gelatinous slime that’s a paler shade of the soap that you used. One measuring cup full of this slime will be roughly what you need to do a load of laundry.
Once you get the hang of this, it's sooo easy. One batch costs me about $1.50 and lasts a couple of months. And that's doing a load or two everyday. It works great with front loading washing machines as well. For me, this works as well as Tide...try it and let me know what you think.
Here’s what you need:
- 1 bar of soap (I use Fels-Naptha because I feel like it cleans the best)
- 1 box of washing soda (look for it in the laundry detergent - it comes in an Arm & Hammer box and will contain enough for six batches of this stuff)
- 1 box of Borax (contains enough for lots of batches)
- A five gallon bucket with a lid (or a bucket that will hold more than 15 liters - ask around - these aren’t too tough to acquire)
- Three gallons of tap water
- A big spoon to stir the mixture with
- A measuring cup
- A knife
Step One: Put about four cups of water into a pan on your stove and turn the heat up on high until it’s almost boiling. With a knife, start shaving strips off of the bar of soap into the water. Keep the heat below a boil and keep shaving the soap. Eventually, you’ll shave up the whole bar, then stir the hot water until the soap is dissolved and you have some highly soapy water.
Step Two: Put three gallons of hot water (11 liters or so) into the five gallon bucket. Mix in the hot soapy water from step one, stir it for a while, then add a cup of the washing soda. Keep stirring it for another minute or two, then add a half cup of borax. Stir for another couple of minutes, then let the stuff sit overnight to cool.
And you’re done. When you wake up in the morning, you’ll have a bucket of gelatinous slime that’s a paler shade of the soap that you used. One measuring cup full of this slime will be roughly what you need to do a load of laundry.
Financial Defense 101
Welcome to Financial Defense 101!
One of the best parts of any Financial Game Plan is the Financial Defense. What is Financial Defense? In a quick definition, Financial Defense is getting the most for your dollar. It’s using what you have and coming up with new solutions to get what you want. It’s stretching your dollar and getting you the best deal.
I’ve taken a personal challenge this year to be the best financial defensive player on our financial game! I want to keep our life-style, but for less. I don’t want to give up the family vacations, but I do want to spend less for them. I don’t want to live off beans and rice and rice and beans, but I do want to spend less on what we eat. I can’t forgo the disposable diapers, but I do want to spend less on baby care products and stretch my dollars so that one day I can pay for my kids’ education. Raising a family on less is a challenge! And that’s my challenge to you: become a Financial Defensive Player and spend less on what you want most!
In this blog, I want to explore different ways to make and save money. For the last couple of years, I’ve been experimenting with new ideas and concepts and I’ll post my best finds on this blog.
For your best Financial Game Plan, please join me on my way to Financial Independence through Financial Defense!
One of the best parts of any Financial Game Plan is the Financial Defense. What is Financial Defense? In a quick definition, Financial Defense is getting the most for your dollar. It’s using what you have and coming up with new solutions to get what you want. It’s stretching your dollar and getting you the best deal.
I’ve taken a personal challenge this year to be the best financial defensive player on our financial game! I want to keep our life-style, but for less. I don’t want to give up the family vacations, but I do want to spend less for them. I don’t want to live off beans and rice and rice and beans, but I do want to spend less on what we eat. I can’t forgo the disposable diapers, but I do want to spend less on baby care products and stretch my dollars so that one day I can pay for my kids’ education. Raising a family on less is a challenge! And that’s my challenge to you: become a Financial Defensive Player and spend less on what you want most!
In this blog, I want to explore different ways to make and save money. For the last couple of years, I’ve been experimenting with new ideas and concepts and I’ll post my best finds on this blog.
For your best Financial Game Plan, please join me on my way to Financial Independence through Financial Defense!
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