Weenies Potato’s and Cheese (oh my!)

This is a family favorite and easy and inexpensive!

So you take a pack of Hot Dogs and boil them. Get about 3 cups finished dehydrated mashed potatoes. And ½ lbs of grated cheddar cheese. Put the hot dogs in the backing dish and cut them down the middle lengthwise (but not all the way threw) and spread it open. Then scoop up some potatoes and fill the middle of the hot dogs. Now evenly cover the mashed ‘tatoes with the grated cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 mins at the min to melt the cheese and for crispy cheese about 30-40 mins. Add frozen microwave green beans and poof dinner is done.

This is really a kid pleaser!

10 Suggestions for Successful Parenting

1. Take time to always be at the crossroads in the lives of your children, whether they be six or sixteen.
2. Take time to be a real friend to your children.
3. Take time to read to your children.
Remember what the poet wrote: You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be— I had a mother who read to me.
4. Take time to pray with your children.
5. Take time to have a meaningful weekly family nights. Make this one of your great family traditions.
6. Take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible.
7. Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family.
8. Take time to do things together as a family.
9. Take time to teach your children.
10. Take time to truly love your children. A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love

-Ezra Taft Benson

Making your own Jewlery

OK this is so on the wants only list - but anything to help save money on the wants is a good thing! I warn you that while this can save money - you can also get addicted, so keep your spending in check. I could easily spend $100 in a bead store in under 10 mins. And since I don’t have $100 for beads - it takes me about 1 hr to pick which ones are going home with me! :)

If you want to start up jewelry making it will cost a bit to get the tools that you use and some good storage for the beads and findings that you don’t use. You will always have leftover’s (that is better then being one short on a project!)

Why I like to bead for myself. #1 I get to make it and for some reason this just makes me happy. #2 I get exactly what I want. #3 I pick every color and shape #4 It matches what I want perfectly! Also my FAVORITE reason for making my own jewelry, I can make matching earrings, necklace and bracelet all at the same time. I feel like a million bucks when I wear it! "I love it when a plan comes together" - Hannibal Smith

Depending on what type of beads you buy it can be cheap or expensive. I recommend the middle ground. Its nice but won't break the budget.

Here is what I have made so far this year, for me to keep anyways - the stuff for others has already gone to its new home(s).
One night a church we had an activity to make some bracelets, and that is where I got the above and below bracelet. It was a wonderful activity!

I actually made this bracelet first for my grandmother for Christmas, but loved it so much made on for me with the leftovers. :)

I Made this to go with an awesome pair of shoes I own that needed something to match it! The shoes are an awesome metalic green pair of flats that match the center bead.

I found a black and white dress with one small line of red that looked good on me, and needed to be altered to be perfect. I figured if I was going to all that trouble with a dress I might as well make jewelry to match. I call this my custom dress outfit.

The Find

I added a link to the right side ... its a web site called "The Find" Its pretty neat you go there and type in your keyword and they bring up that search in TONS of stores ... so you shop a lot of stores at once. I found it on accident shopping for jewelry findings and google keeps pulling up THERE results and sending me there. I figure if that is where google is sending me, why don't I try it? And it has some stuff I didn't find on google. SO next time you are online shopping try it - you may get what you are looking for faster!

Instyle.com's Insider (secret) Cheapies

I was going to post the link, but I am not sure how long they will keep the info up ... So here it is.

Tight times demand smart moves, right? So we asked three bargain-hunting beauty experts to show us the best drugstore choices for our dollars

Ken Paves, Hair Stylist
When given the task of stocking his kit with inexpensive styling essentials, Ken Paves hit the ground running -- straight to beauty emporium Ulta. "Some of my favorite products I discovered as a result of lost luggage and my tools not getting to a shoot," says Paves, who works with Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Simpson. Before you shop, he suggests taking inventory and making a list. "If not, you might waste money on things you don't need."
Paves's Picks1. VO5 Hot Oil Treatment, $4 "A cheap treatment that has always screamed luxury to me. It guarantees a great hair day."
2. Vidal Sassoon No Crimp elastics, $3 "They give you just enough hold without damaging your hair."
3. Ulta Ultimate Size travel blow-dryer, $25 "Enough abusing your hair with a dryer that's professional grade! This is lightweight and gets the job done."
4. DCNL Organics Natural Wood hairbrush, $9 "It gives lift and volume without creating static."
5. Woody's Big Stick Style Stick, $18 "Great for defining layers and adding texture to your blowout."
6. Ken Paves Healthy Hair Try Me kit, $34 "The perfect travel sizes for your weekend getaways."
7. Karina small claw clips, $5 each "I find these tiny ones are easier to use than pins when securing updos."
8. Bellissima headband, $10 "This gives a chic, classic look that can instantly transform limp hair."
9. DCNL Porcupine Cushion hairbrush, $25 "Works just as well as other mixed-bristle brushes that are far more expensive."
10. Göt 2b Defiant Define + Shine pomade, $6 "A little goes a long way to smooth flyaways. One tub will last until you're 115."
Doesn't Scrimp On…
Shampoo: "Some inexpensive ones give that squeaky-clean feeling that isn't always best for your hair. Look for sulfate-free formulas; they are less aggressive."
Conditioner: "This is the foundation of your hairstyling. The best products make hair smoother but don't coat it with heavy silicones."
Defrizzer: "Anything that contains a high amount of dimethi-cone is worth the splurge. Otherwise, you end up with a watered-down version that doesn't perform as well."

Kristofer Buckle, Makeup Artist
Kristofer Buckle, who works with Lindsay Lohan and Renée Zellweger, isn't shy when it comes to declaring his love for drugstore products: "The packaging isn't fabulous, but that doesn't mean you won't get a fabulous lipstick or mascara inside." Shopping the Wal-Mart beauty aisles, he stocks up on old standbys and new favorites.
Buckle's Picks
1. Johnson & Johnson Lavender baby oil, $5 "Gives skin a gorgeous high-gloss look. I love that it doesn't smell tropical."
2. Maybelline N.Y. Colossal Volum' Express mascara, $8 "Gets right to the point, making lashes thick, black and long with just one coat."
3. Max Factor Color Genius Mineral bronzer in Sun Kissed, $9 "Not heavily pigmented, so you can really layer it without turning the color of a penny."
4. L'Oréal Paris Infallible lip gloss in Dulce de Leche, $10 "I can use this on everyone, from Christina Aguilera to Mary J. Blige."
5. Dove Deep Moisture Foaming Cleansing cloths, $7 "Perfect for removing makeup at night."
6. New York Color Cheek blush in Riverside Rose, $2 "This shade creates a natural-looking flush."
7. Max Factor Lipfinity 3D in Midori Glam, $9 "The color stays put but doesn't dry like house paint on your lips."
8. Cover Girl Eye Enhancers 1-Kit in Shimmering Onyx, $4 "It's iri-descent, so you can do a charcoal eye without it looking too harsh."
9. Alcon Naphcon A eye drops, $9 "They make you feel like you've slept hours, even when you haven't."
10. L'Oréal Paris True Match Blendable makeup, $11 "A versatile formula with a wide range of shades for every complexion."
11. Burt's Bees Beeswax lip balm, $3 "I love a balm that's not shiny. This one is moist and nourishing—and there is a bonus: It tastes like peppermints."
Doesn't Scrimp On…
Makeup Brushes: "The first thing you should do when you buy a blush or shadow is toss that little nylon brush. It's too small and won't blend well."
Translucent Powder: "A finely milled formula gives even the quickest makeup job a professional finish."
Eyelash Curler: "I've never found a cheap one that I love. Either the shape is wrong or the mechanism doesn't apply enough pressure."

Doris Day, Dermatologist
With all the ritzy ingredients turning up in skin-care jars (diamonds to brighten; gold to stimulate collagen!), most women think they have to spend a fortune to clear up their complexions. Not so, says New York City dermatologist Doris Day, who likes to stock up at CVS and gives her patients a shopping list that doesn't require a platinum card.
Day's Picks1. Olay Pro X Hydra Firming cream, $42 "It contains retinol, pentapeptides and niacinamide. I wish I could dip my whole body in it!"
2. Neutrogena Healthy Skin SPF 30 Glow Sheers, $13 "Two steps in one: sun protection and light coverage."
3. Aveeno Positively Radiant cleanser, $7 "Cleans skin without drying it. And it has soy, which helps even out skin tone."
4. Nature Made Vitamin D liquid soft gels, $11/90 "Vitamin D has been shown to be important in helping to prevent sun damage and calcium loss."
5. Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting serum, $22 "Its amino peptides and humectants improve fragile skin around the eye."
6. Revlon Colorstay Undereye concealer, $10 "With SPF 15 it assures adequate daytime protection for delicate skin."
7. Cerave moisturizing cream, $15 "The ideal texture: rich and creamy. But it sinks in very quickly."
8. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Rejuvenator, $42 "Exfoliation is an essential step in an anti-aging regimen. I like the consistency that using a device provides."
Doesn't Scrimp On…
Scrubs: "Exfoliators with natural particles like nutshells can be too abrasive and cause microscopic scratches that make your skin look dull."
Peels: "The problem with buying a peel at the drugstore is that you don't know what concentration you're getting. Chances are it will be too mild."
Mineral Makeup: "Check the ingredient label for talc -- some products use it as a filler, which makes it less expensive but can clog pores."

My verdict on Stenciling t-shirts

OK I had fabric spray paint that I tried on the turquoise shirt and I thought it might have bleed because the fabric was too stretchy, so I tried it on a regular t-shirt. NOPE it bleed again. I say 100% do not waist your money on fabric spray paint it doesn't work!

Notice how light the black gets after just one wash (the actual design!) the shirt on top has only been washed once!

This is after one washing too. The turquoise shirt has a stencil by paint brush on top (I don't like the looks that much) and the fabric spray paint on the bottom. ICK ICK ICK!

This is the Krylon indoor/outdoor flat black spray paint, after one wash! PERFECT!
This is the Krylon indoor/outdoor flat black spray paint, after two washes! STILL PERFECT!

And this is the whole reason I started this journey ... I wanted to make this t-shirt. And after all that I messed it up! LOL its OK it was a good lesson. Because the stencil is so intricate the plastic is thin. I needed to spray MORE adhesive to the back of the stencil so it would stick better to the t-shirt AND it was windy when I was taping off the shirt with newspaper and it got folded and wasn't flat and that pulled the t-shirt just enough to lift the stencil and allow the over spray that you see instead of a crisp line. So I am OK with this boo boo cause I learned a very good lesson! And the t-shirt is a craft one, so its not totally expensive! I will remake it right the next time!

The moral of this story is use indoor/outdoor spray paint, take your time with the adhesive and make sure that all you paper lays flat while you are taping it down. Be patient with the many coats you have to do .. and then it will come out alright!

To Buy Real or Fake’s?

OK I am assuming that I am talking to people who are struggling to pay for the things in life that they “want.” I will start this out by saying that most of us think we need things that are really wants, myself included.

I live in SoCal, that is snobbish fancy talk us Southern California-ners call ourselves. I live in a city where we have down on 1st street homeless shelters, and government housing/section 8 housing. By 30th street getting closer to the beach the houses start going for close to a million depending on your lot size and view. And with in 5 miles up the coast houses, check that … town homes, in a golf course on a cliff next to the ocean are “starting at the low 2 millions”.

So I see the whole spectrum of income levels around me. Before getting my degrees in firefighting I was pursuing a degree in fashion design (huge switch I know). So I have a better then average knowledge of fabric/clothing and the industry.

And I observe the people around me. Do you want to know what I see? I see the poor people saving up to buy really nice name brands. I hear them in the discount stores saying, “Oh that is an expensive name brand, you should get it” Then on the isle over I see some people with quite a bit more money, also shopping for discount name brands.

Also a lady I used to work with would bring in catalogs of her moms for me to look at. Her mom has TONS of money and VERY rich snobbish person and I always admired her jewelry. Well one day one of the catalogs she brought in was her jewelry catalog, I was overjoyed to just look at it. Guess what?? It’s all FAKE! I asked her about it and her mom always buys fakes whenever she can find it and it doesn’t LOOK fake.

So I want you all to think about that thing you want. Name brand – sometimes they are good because you will get quality. Sometimes you are just paying more for a label. On day I bought something from Victoria’s Secret (a sweater) that night I went to Target and saw the exact same sweater for 50% less at Target! Even the brand label was the same! SHIESH!

Also consider that in down town LA we have the clothing factories that make the clothes. And it’s not for special brand, the shoppers for that brand go around and pick out what they want, buy it take it to there business and sew there label on it and then sell it to you! So a big name brand (VS) and a cheaper company (Target) will be buying the same thing and selling! Every company is different but do some research on the brands you are buying; know what you are buying and where it made

I know a jeweler, he was telling me that most couple are buying CZ’s for there big stone in there wedding rings. Then on a later anniversary they replace it with a real one. Then on the other hand I know a few friends who have spent big money on nice rings … then after a few years of abuse being a stay a home mom they hit it just right and the lost the stone. And what did they do? Replaced it with a CZ because its just too expensive to replace.

So think about it the next time you “want” something. First do you really need to buy it? Second can you get the same thing/ quality some other way? Know how the “rich” people could afford it? Because they hold onto there money too!

Home Made PJ's

Well I am not sure if this is time saver or a money saver. But why I made home made PJ pants is because #1 I think they are much higher quality then store bought ones (I hate it when the fabric start to pill) and will last threw more then one kid (have you notice how thin the fabric gets after a few washings?) or at least a lot longer on that one kid and #2 I think they look a lot better and #3 they are more comfortable then store bought PJ's (the seams always feel to tight on me for some reason – PJ’s are supposed to be super comfortable!)

So our family likes Snoopy/Peanuts fabric and that is what I used on this lot O PJ's. That fabric is sort of expensive even with the 40% off coupon. But you can find 100% cotton fabric on clearance and make it a deal. Then I buy the craft t-shirts in matching colors (on sale naturally) and use the left over fabric from making the PJ's to appliqué something on the front to match the theme of the pants. And I always make the pants bigger, like 3 sizes bigger, then the person, this makes them extra comfy - even if I have to shorten all the pants cause they are too long. I do the elastic at the right length and they will fit just fine. Same with the t-shirt we go bigger for comfort. Also I look for the PJ patterns that make each leg out of one piece of fabric (instead of 2) ... So I only have to cut 2 pattern pieces out of each pair of pants (instead of 4!)! Less work for me! If you need more help on how too, just comment and I will do another post about it!

My Stenciling Journey!

Well the other day I saw a stencil that I loved in my favorite magazine. Altered Couture. (I know you have heard that one before!) LOL Anyways ... So I found the exact stencil I fell in love with but didn't want to do it on the shirt I wanted on the first try .... I wanted some practice.



Ok the teal shirt is try #1 and try #2 neither of which fared very well. The flor de lit on top was done with a stencil brush. It came out dark in places and lighter in others with a thinker line around the edge of the stencil. Not even at all. So try #2 is the row of Flor de lit's with a fabric spray paint and 1) I don't think it works with super stretchy t-shirt 2) i sprayed too close to the fabric and didn't let it dry enough between sprays. So it didn't work out. I will be trying the fabric spray paint again on a different kind of T using better coverage with more time in between sprays. See how it comepairs to my next try ........
Try #3 is this lovely design. I looked all over the web to fine what people use to make there own t-shirt. I was very surprised to find that most people used reg spray paint. And why not ... you have to wear grubbies when you work with it because it doesn't come out! But how to make it look nice! Well i was patient this time and used a regular T-shirt. I think that helped. I will post again when I try with the fabric spray paint one more time.

Upcycling - your kids cothing

OK I saw this upcyced or altered jean jacket in my favorite magazine called "Altered Couture". I fell in love with the swirlies on the sleeves. I have a jean jacket like that an I never wear it becuase its not on the favorites list. I firgured I would enjoy wearing it more if I tried this. Only problem was that I had never really painted much freehand stuff before on any medium. But I was determind.
So I went to the thrift store with my dad one evening and he bought my 2 year old these overalls. I figured - what better way to try it out then on a 2 year old who doesnt care one whit what they look like - so I was under no pressure to be perfect. I did my own desing and just went for it. And I really like it.

and the back .....

So $1.25 for the overalls. $2.00 for the paint. $3.50 for the brushes. Viola! Chic Baby! What do you think?

An Easy Budget to make.

Well some of my friends and I were talking about food budgets. And most people said they didn’t know. They didn’t know because they don’t have a budget. We are in some tough times and over 1 year ago I made this budget, it’s not down to the penny – but its close and it works for us.

First thing we did that I strongly suggest, we have 2 bank accounts. One where we receive our paychecks and one we transfer the money into and pay the bills out of that one only. What is left in the first bank account is what we have for food, car gas, house hold supplies, clothing and entertainment and everything else. We do this so that if we forget to write down a purchase and our account goes negative (when you live paycheck to paycheck this happens unfortunately) non of our bills will bounce.

Second thing we have done is pay a partial of every bill on each paycheck. We get paid every week. So I divided all our bills by 4. Each paycheck I deposit ¼ the amount of the bill into the household account. We used our taxes to pay 1 month in full on all our bills and from that point on we put ¼ into the account each time. Its hard to do the switch but worth it in the end. That way you don’t pay rent and have no money left on that paycheck – every paycheck is the same.

Third I round everything up. If a loan payment is $45.15 a month, I pay $50 every month. I am not overpaying so much my family looses food, but I feel good paying more then the min and I am sure it helps a teeny tiny bit. It’s also easier to track in my check book. I find with whole numbers I make mistake’s less often. I round up the amount I transffer into the household account for monthly bills too, and the extra just sits in the Household account, but when we have once a year things come due we have some padding in the account and it wont hurt us too much. An example of a yearly bill is a Costco or Sams Club membership, AAA auto club membership, Car registration and even if you owe on taxes.

Also we never take the household debt card or check book out of the home. So we are never tempted to use it, because it almost always has money in it – since we deposit so often saving up for the due date.

I made up a chart in word … very simple just columns, don’t even need to know excel! Here is what one column might look like … I changed the $ amounts of what we pay, so this is only an easy to follow example.

3/15/09 $1000 Date and check/deposit amount
$100 Tithing
$250 Rent
$30 Water and Power
$25 Phone/internet
$30 House Gas
$25 Car/house insurance
$25 Hubby’s Credit Card
$25 My Credit Card
$50 Hubby’s Student Loans
$130 My Student Loans
$150 Car Loan
total transfer to household account = $840

$25 Co-pays into savings account

Leaving = $135

So with this budget I transfer $865 every time we get paid into the Household account and savings, and then when a bill comes due I sit down and write out the check and I keep the balance in the check book added up correctly. Sometimes it takes people and business awhile to deposit the checks, but I know exactly what I have paid for.

This leaves $135 for food, car gas and any other things we might want.

Most people would not consider putting aside extra each paycheck for co-pays. We have a very high co-pay and would not be able to afford them when they come up if we did not. Also we use the co-pays section for eye and dental exams since we do not have this kind of insurance. Be sure to tell your doctors you are paying cash for the visit and often they charge you less for the visit then they would charge the insurance for the same exam. I don’t put the co-pay money into the household account so it sits away from bill money and we just transfer it back into our food account when we know we are heading to the doctors office. This makes it easy to see what we can afford medically – with out having to subtract it from the household account. There is no money available to save at this time, so it’s a good place for it to wait.

Also if you do not make a lot of money contact your insurance company and see if there is an assistance program to lower your co-pays if you make less then a certain amount. This is usually biased on how many members of your family there are and income.

When we had our 2 year old the insurance paid for everything but $2000. When we got PG we looked at the insurance and how much would be out of our pocket when we went to the hospital. It was $300, but 9 months later they had changed and we were now required to pay 20% of the total hospital bill. This was a shock as we had only been prepared for the $300. We talked to the hospital and had to submit papers for a review board to look at with our finical info, and they chose to write off our 20%. And if they don’t write off because they think you can pay for it, talk to the billing department and they will often work with you up to 6 months worth of payments.

If my easy budget wasn’t easy for you to understand and you really want to know, please comment and I will try again to describe it in a different way. You really need a budget, and this is the easiest one I have ever used.

Lets talk about credit card debt.

I got a sheet in college about credit card debt with a few examples, to get “us” college kids to start thinking about finances and money. It was a real eye opener and I have never gotten rid of this piece of paper, so I can look at it every so often and try to not buy anything on credit cards anymore.

Say you owe $1,500 on your credit card and pay the $25 a month min on time all the time. How long would that take you to pay off at that rate? How much more would you end up paying in interest charges?

If you had a 10.8% interest rate (yea right what college student gets that kind of rate?) It would take 7.3 years to pay it all off with a total cost of $2,300!!!!!

If you had a 13.8% interest rate (again, yea right what college student gets that kind of rate?) It would take 8.5 years to pay it all off with a total cost of $2,700!!!!!

If you had a 16.8% interest rate (still not a normal rate) It would take 11.0 years to pay it all off with a total cost of $3,500!!!!!

If you had a 19.8% interest rate (yea this is more where I was at back then and I notice more CC are going to now.) It would take 23.5 years to pay it all off with a total cost of $7,800!!!!!

If you had a 22.8% interest rate (this is where most of the younger generation would be) It would NEVER get paid off!

Did you ever imagine that? I sure didn’t. It also says that a “general rule of thumb” is that your monthly payments on your debt should amount to no more then 20% of your income. Debt in this case would be cars, appliances, furniture, credit cards, bank loans and student loans.

So that was scary and quite honestly depressing for me. But its good to know. Stop buying on credit unless you pay it off every month. And always pay more then the min due, even if it’s a few dollars. We have started paying every week a ¼ of our monthly payments and have seen a huge improvement in just under 4 months. By paying weekly or bi-weekly you are cutting down on the amount of interest you accrue.

Crock Pot Salsa Roast

The name says it all! Some time in the morning (around 8am) put a pot roast in your crock pot. Turn it to the low setting. Get a 1 lb jar a salsa and dump it on top, covering the roast. (Mild for kids but if your family is more adventurous get a hotter jar!) Put the lid on the crock pot and leave it until about 5pm. Serve. The roast just pulls apart doesn't even need a knife, it comes out almost shredded! And to add to time savers ... microwaved peas and rice made in the rice cooker! How easy it that?

Is there enough sleeping going on in your home?

As I sit here totally wiped out at 3:30pm in the afternoon, I began to ponder why? I am not designing my schedule with enough time in it to sleep. I say design because a mother chooses the day. We set the tone and the schedule. And when I am tired, I am more cranky and the tone I set isn’t as good as it could be. Also my youngest isn’t sleeping as well as she should be, again I ask why? So what to do?

Well first I remembered an article I read given to me by my doctor. Most adults need 8 hours of sleep every day. That means in 24 hours 8 of those hours should be dedicated to sleeping. You may need a bit more or a bit less because it’s an average. If you are tired consider that you may not be allowing yourself enough time to sleep.

So what could you cut out to get yourself more sleep? I would say the first thing is some of your TV watching time. I am sure it will be hard to give up those shows, but maybe just start with ½ hour and go to bed ½ hour earlier. If you are able to, when you lay your kids down for a nap take a nap yourself. This one is hard for me to do because nap time is when I get things done. Recently I have tried napping and it has helped a bit in my attitude in the evenings.

Are you KIDS getting enough sleep? My pediatrician told me that kid should be waking up on there own, if they need an alarm clock or you to wake them up, they need more sleep. (unless they are like my brother who just would rather stay in bed for days then get up …… LOL teenagers!) Smaller children need 12 hours in a 24 hour period. So add up nap time and night time sleep and see what you get. If its less then 12 and you are having to wake them in the mornings, start putting them to bed a bit earlier. Also when kids (this is until they stop growing) may need up to 14 hours of sleep during times they are growing. WOW! That is a lot of sleep. But hey if it helps them grow up healthy and strong … its worth it. And just think of those 6 hours you could be getting NOT driving them everywhere! Naps for everyone!

How to fold a t-shirt in 2 seconds!

I promised time savers ... How about this one?

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-fold-a-t-shirt-in-2-seconds-explained

Renew Reuse Recycle – its called Upcycling!

I have mentioned that I love recycling. I truly believe we need to start taking better care of the Earth, the environment, and our communities. And I believe that it starts with me. If everyone had this belief I think we would be in a lot better place(s). Something I hear is “but what can I do?” like just one person wont make a difference. Well you probably wont go down in history for it – but you can make an impact in your life and the lives of those around you.

You don’t have to do big things. You can do small things that maybe no one will notice, but you will. OK so what am I aiming at? I got to thinking today as I was rummaging my local thrift store that I need to help teach people how to use a thrift store. There is so much to be found there that is still useable, albeit with a little effort. There is a new term for this and its called Upcycling.

Clothing – LOVE IT! I get a lot of my kids and my clothing from thrift stores. My Husband is a brand snob and wears larger sizes that I just cant find there, so he gets his clothes new, and we can afford that because we save on other clothes! When you see something in a thrift store, don’t just see the item and think of using it how it is, maybe you can alter it in a way that will be pleasing to you! On of my favorite magazines is “Altered Couture” every issue is jam packed with ideas on how to make something from something else! Maybe just dieing it – will make it new again! Maybe there is one stain on an otherwise awesome shirt, how about an appliqué to cover the stain? There is some much you can do. Also in the fancy dress section, I look at color and textures and amount of fabric in the dress …. I can take it apart and make something completely different from one or two dresses for a fraction of the cost of buying the materials new! This is call upcycling.

I don’t buy used socks, undies or swimsuits. Sometimes shoes but only if they look barely worn. And check out the home goods section, a chair that sat in a little old ladies room and barely used would be a great addition to your house! And if the kids ruin it – no biggie…..

I have kids – I see no point in buying a huge set of matching dishes that will get chipped (that doesn’t bother me in the least) or cracked or just plain broken. A thrift store is a great place to buy pieces …. Not whole sets. I have also found lids to my corning wear that had gotten lost over time. Glasses to drink from. My two favorite stirring spoons are giant old silver spoons – yup you guessed it, thrift store finds! Take them home, run them threw the dish washer with the sterile cycle … and poof! No worries about the germies!

Bedding – honestly I don’t buy that in thrift stores, I can go to discount stores and buy it new for just a few dollars more.

So the lesson is – go try out your thrift store and if they don’t have what your looking for, is there some way to get what your looking from pieces of what you can find?

How to make Tostadas

OK another easy on the budget – yet delightfully tasty dinner! This has been a staple in my family since my mom was a kid. My grandmother was a 6th grade school teacher at Jackson School in Phoenix Az. Back then and she got this recipe from one of her students grandmothers, a little old Mexican lady named Mrs. Leon. You won’t find this kind of food even in Mexican restaurants!

Pinto Beans:
2 cups beans* (or more) cover more then 2 inches of water and let sit over night in the pot your plan to cook them in. Soaking overnight will reduce the gas the beans give you the next day! Then drain and rinse and refill to 1 inch above the beans.

*You must sort the beans. Measure your two cups, and then take a few at a time and inspect them and put the good ones into a seperate bowl. Any broken bits you toss, some beans are shriveled up toss them too. The most important reason to sort is sometimes the packages have small rocks that have accidentally gotten in the bags and you don’t want to chomp down on those!

Add:
cut up 1 med white onion
2 chicken bouillon cubes (or for vegetarian use vegetarian bouillon)
bring to boil then let simmer for 1 hr or more till the bean smooshes softly when you pinch it between your fingers, when close to done, let some water boil off – helps to enhance the flavor

Poor remaining water (now brown) into a cup/bowl and set aside
Place beans in a larger dish and use a metal potato masher and mash up the beans … if too dry add some bean water. Go slowly you don’t want it too runny. Keep the bean water in the fridge if you have leftovers – add some of the water the next day when reheating and they are just like fresh!

Mrs. Leon’s Hot Sauce:
1 can crushes tomatoes (15 oz)
¼ teaspoon crushed red peppers (more for hotter)
1 teaspoon prepared garlic (more for fun!)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon onion salt
1 teaspoon ground oregano
let sit over night – the longer it sits the hotter (and better) it gets.

Tostadas:
1 tostada shell
layer of beans
layer of lettus
layer of hot sauce
layer of grated yellow cheese (fresh grated is the only way to go – pre-grated just doesn’t taste as good)
sliced of olives (buy then whole and slice yourself to save money)
(one of my daughters also likes a layer of sour cream)
(you could also add some chopped green onions or chopped red onions, but we never have)

Great as leftovers … if there is any!

Where to save money on store bought clothing

This depends on hard you are willing to work at finding a good deal. I have a discount store that sales last years department store leftovers, at a discounted price. I have found many a deal there, but the problem is they really only have a few of each item, you might see something you like and it’s not in your size. Also there are times you will not find anything nice at all. You need to be willing to walk out without buying anything. And since there is only a few of each item you have to go threw every item of clothing in your size to find something for you. The hazards of this kind of store is you could be drawn to something you don’t need just because it’s a good deal. You have to learn shopping control in these stores.

Another place that I find good deals is on eBay. But again I have to work and consider the price of shipping. eBay can be dangerous because you get into the thrill of bidding, and when you are out bid you up your bid past the point where its reasonable. What I do to prevent this is “snipe” the item. I use a snipping program where I put in my top bid and the program bids in the last 10 seconds, and if someone out bids me – then that is it and that is OK. It keeps me from bidding higher then I need to.

Thrift stores are also awesome ways to save money on clothes. Especially if you are buying play clothes for you kids – why should you buy new clothes for them to run around outdoors in? Learn what the more durable brands are and skip over the brands that you don’t know. This will help your money go farther if the clothes last longer.

Places I don’t cheap out on are shoes, underwear and socks. Buy good brands of these, because when those items are uncomfortable you are uncomfortable.

Also never put clothing on credit cards. You may have gotten a deal at the time but unless you pay it off immediately it will cost more then full price in the long run.

Orange Chicken and Rice Casserole

In an un-greased backing pan (9 by 13) put 2 cups uncooked rice. Put 2 cut-up chickens (or parts – they are cheaper) skin side up on top of the rice. Mix together 1 can cream of mushroom soup and 2 cups of orange juice. Pour over the chicken and rice. Sprinkle one envelope of onion soup mix on top. Cover with foil. Bake 2 ½ hours at 325 degree F.

Serve with a salad, remember your veggies!

*Note: I made this with boneless skinless chicken because that is all I had. Don't do it, it really needs the fat drippings from the skin to balance this dish out. Also next time I may stir the liquid and rice mixture first then put the chicken on top and pour a little bit on top of the chicken and then the soup mix ..... Still tasty as ever!

What to do with your left over fabrics?

Ok so you have made an outfit, what do you do with all those leftover’s? I know people who just toss them in the trash and I shudder! But what you can do with the leftovers depends on the fabric and the size.

One of the first thing I do I make doll clothing for my daughters. I refuse to make Barbie clothes - just too tiny, but I have friends who do that. I do make them for my daughters Cabbage Patch Kids and American Girl Dolls, both of which has patterns you can buy in today's pattern catalogs.
Then from the scraps of dolls clothing, I cut out 3 different sized squares. I went into the quilting section and then found different sized squares so you can easily cut them out. I am planning on making a scrap quilt just like my great grandmother used to make. But if you don’t want to make a scrap quilt - you could match the colors of the scraps and sell them on eBay to a quilter. I will add that quilters are picky and you need to cut very carefully and only on the bias if you plan to sell them, you wont get rich but you will be keeping the landfills from being over full with useable items. But seriously, just make a quilt for your spare room or for those super cold winter nights. When the lights are off the person only cares that it is warm, not what it looks like.

Cotton fabrics are good for quilting, all other fabrics I would save for doll or baby clothing. And consider if you make something for your daughter, make it for her doll too, you will be the best mom on the block! Other craft ideas to consider are covering a photo album, accessories like a purse or head wrap, belts, vests or maybe clothes for you pet? Just look through the pattern booklets you may be inspired!

Can you save money by sewing your own clothing?

Ok this question has confused many a person lately. In the olden golden day's, the answer was unequivocally yes. In fact if you didn’t sew or know someone who did, your wardrobe was severely impaired (unless of course you were rich).

But what about today? In the days of super discount stores, mass production in third world countries and eBay? The answer is still yes you can save by sewing your own clothing, but its conditional. Its conditional on what you are making, how much you are spending on fabric/patterns and who you are sewing for.

What are you making? Well don’t sew things like t-shirts or underwear, you just cant make them as cheap as you can by them at some superstore. (unless you get the fabric for free – but who wants to sew underwear in there spare time?) What you can save money on is expensive items of clothing. A wedding dress is much cheaper if you make it yourself. The same with the special occasion dressed like, proms, dances, and church functions. Its very hard to learn to tailor men’s suits but if you are patient enough to learn you can save a lot there too.

How much does your fabric and patterns cost? My fabric store constantly mails me 40% off coupons, and I use them diligently. Every time I get one I use it. I have built up quite a fabric stash because I have noticed that most outfits use less then 4 yards of fabric. So I buy 4 yards of a fabric I like and then when I have time I go to the fabric store when there patterns are on sale for .99 cent/each, 1.99/each or 3.99/each (for Vogue that is the cheapest I can find them). Then I just pick and choose what pattern for what fabric. Beware cheep fabric, there is no easy way to teach you this over the internet, but you will learn by experience, as you handle the fabrics before you buy them.

Who are you sewing for? Baby clothes are so cute and there are so much out there you can probably get what you are looking for cheaper then making it. Unless you want to make that baby dress … go buy it! Now if you want a mother daughter matching dresses and your daughters are sizes are 6 months, 4T, size 7 and size 14 – along with your not so youthful size 16W, there is no WAY you could find matching dresses in mass produced clothing. In this case buying your own fabric and sewing it is the only way to achieve your hearts desires!

Also – plan ahead if you know you are going to be making an Easter dress then watch the sales after Christmas untill what you want is on sale. Find the dress pattern you want first. Then find the fabric. Buy it all on sale and then you should still have plenty of time to sew leisurely instead of staying up all night the night before finishing, at that point you are too tired to look your best anyways!

The benefits of sewing your own clothing?? Well first if you sew it well and correctly it will last longer then almost all store bought outfits. Take a look at store bought clothing, it really isn’t sewn with much care – the focus is on getting the largest numbers sewn and out the door to sell. I also like that whatever I make is almost always one of a kind. I have really never seen anyone sew the exact same pattern I used and the fabric I chose. Also when you are cutting out your pattern pieces, you can tailor them to fit your body – give you a better looking wardrobe and you will look better in your clothes. And when you sew it yourself, you can get exactly what you want!

Note: If you are serious about sewing clothing for you and your family I highly suggest getting a serger as well to finish off all seams – this adds durability to your outfit, and a more professional look too.