CLEANING ROUTINE

    I was reading an article about establishing a daily routine to get it all done and stay on top of things.  I try to stay on top of things but like with any "normal" mom/wife I fall behind quite often.  Let me get a headache or toothache and have to sit down for a little while.  Everything I thought I had accomplished starts to come undone.  As I sat here reading others blogs and ideas on this I realized I guess I do have a somewhat routine and never even thought about it I just get up and start in and try to get to that point (I am sure all women know exactly what this means) where you feel like you are over the hump and can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The point where you start following people around and tell them to put there glass away when they are done and put the laundry by the washer not on the bathroom floor.  My family seem to have a problem with using 25 glasses a day.  I have threatened to get rid of all but 8 glasses so they have no choice but to use the same glass over and over in one day.   Also the glasses are always on end tables, mantel,dressers, floor, table, counter, etc. never in the sink (unless I put them there).

  When I get up I never leave my room without pulling up my comforter's and straightening the pillows.  Even if my bedroom is a mess it feels like the bedroom is ok as long as the bed is made.  I like to then go in and wipe down the bathrooms with either lysol cleaner or  bleach cleaner right before my shower.  I have to of course put away daughters makeup, lotion, hairspray, brushes, hairbands, and curling irons first and aside from the once a week deep cleaning of the sink and counter I take the towel after my shower and wipe sink and counter down with the damp towel.  Once a week it gets the works!  After the shower I whip up my hair so I feel put together, no makeup unless actually going to a Dr. or something important.   I then scoop up the laundry out of the bathroom (sometimes I light a candle)  and take to the washer.  

  Kids get woke up for breakfast and homeschooling (not always so easy, lol) at this point.  I strongly suggest to them that I want them to make their beds (not perfectly) and at least brush hair so they feel good and awake.

  When I get in the kitchen I unload the dishwasher (if I didn't do it the night before) and load it.  I never put pans in the dishwasher so if there are any I wash them and whatever else didn't fit and then put it away and wash off all the surfaces and spot clean the fronts of the appliances ( thorough cleaning with lysol once a week).  I always run a half sink of hot soapy water and leave it so as things get dirty I wash them so most times the dishes won't get built up.  I feel on top of things if I keep them up and counters clean even if I am cooking.  If I am baking I stick to one bowl when mixing and I wash it right away and use it for the next thing I am making.  If I dirty mixing spoons, spatula's, beaters, knives or anything I rinse it and throw right into soapy water and wash.  I keep a folded towel next to the sink so I can dry anything little that I need to.

  Next if I need bread made or something thawed for dinner I start the breadmaker and sit out what I need thawed.  Next I sweep (always)  then I take the bare floor vacuum and quick vacuum too cause I have dogs and I want to get the little bit of hair that sweeping doesn't get.

  Next (my washer is in a closet in my dining room with bi-fold doors) to the washer to fold clothes from the dryer from day before and go put them on everyones bed.  Put towels in the bathroom too.  I keep a sock basket in my room and thats where all the socks go unless there is a def. match then I match it and give to the right person.  I do not take the time daily to match socks.  I figure if I get them all in one place then its not hard for everyone to just grab a pair when they need them.   I then go and throw a new load in the washer.

  I head to the living room which I had probably already asked one of the kids to pick up the babies toys and get that vacuumed.  I do not feel like I can sit down and be relaxed unless these things are done.  It just feels like if I do not vacuum after sweeping that all the stuff on the carpet or vice versa will end up traveling as people walk around the house.   

  After this I just keep throwing laundry going  and go with the flow of whatever needs done.  I keep picking laundry up from bathrooms, grab cups left everywhere and wash right away.  If I feed the babies in the high chairs I make a point to never leave the trays dirty.  It for one is easier to wash them when they just used them so never leave them.  I sweep whatever they drop up right away and take them out.  I think my routine is to just try to keep on top of everything by doing it little  by little as the mess happens.  

  These steps are what I do everyday so I don't I feel off for the day!  I guess I never realized it has became a routine for me.  

  Whats your routine?   Always happy to learn something new!  Comment and let me know!

 

BIRTHDAY BOY and SPICE RACK TURNED NAIL POLISH HOLDER!

  Change of plans today, Grandbaby supposed to go to daycare for the day to share cupcakes for his birthday (3 years)  but he decided he did not want to go so he stayed home with Grandma for the day.  He was treated for an ear infection 1 week ago and it was questionable whether it was going away fast enough, so I took him to the Dr. for a recheck and it is going away slowly but surely.  I promised to take him to the store to pick out his birthday present so we did!  He walked in like he owned the store and picked out a bunny on a tricycle that was holding a sucker and said he wanted one for him and one for his sister.  He then ran down the isle and grabbed a big "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" ball and then turned around and grabbed a candy filled small tube of candy for easter that had a bunny on top  of it holding a fishing pole.  Last but not least he grabbed a small bag of miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and then he ran to the register and that was it he was done and wanted to leave.  So we did!

 Home to make spaghetti and meatballs (Bryce's choice), chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles, chocolate ice cream, and cookies.  Yum!  He blew out his candles, was sang to and opened lots of presents.  Of course what is he playing with now?  Balloons!!  LOL

  Tomorrow needs to be bread making day cause we are very very low!  I want to make a couple pumpkin pies but need to make a run to store for shortening to make my crusts.  I want to make 6 and freeze 4.  I am going to make then freeze in the pie tins lined with parchment paper and then pop out of pans and put in freezer bags so when I want to make them I will drop them back into a pan and bake.  Need also to decide which meals to make and  freeze ahead cause we are running low.

  I found a very cute idea the other day on  the internet to turn an old spice rack into a nail polish holder for my girls.  I happen to have a very old spice rack that needed something done to it.  Here's a picture.  This is going to be my weekend project then I will post pictures of mine.

   Excited to make this for my girls, they have tons of nail polish and this is a great way to display it so they can clearly see what they have.  And I was just letting this shelf sit in the garage!  So glad I found this good idea.  Love it when I find a way to make a place for something to get it organized.  So much easier to keep things put away when it has it's own place!

MY NEW OPEN PANTRY, POPCICLE RECIPE

  Still recovering from the two teeth being removed.  Should be better but somethings not right.  I am still in pain 4 days later.  Got a message into the dentist, just waiting for an answer back.  Pain meds till then I guess.

  I bagged up a bunch of water bottles today and marked them as drainage  bottles for my large containers that have no drainage holes.  They are marked and in their waiting spot in the garage.

  I bagged up and marked all the containers that were cut down to size for planters and put them in the garage too.  I had bought my kids a couple bottles of sparkling juice and washed those bottles to use for putting water in and inserting upside down into the soil to slowly release the water as needed.  Love this idea, I do this with all my indoor plants!

  I went to the super doubles sale at Harris Teeter (doubles up to 2 dollars) and spent 32 and saved 75 dollars.  Here's a picture of my book shelf that I converted into an open pantry.

 The pantry is getting full too!

When I left Harris Teeter I got in the truck and noticed we parked in front of a tree that was in full bloom with these really pretty pink flowers.  Needless to say I went home with a pretty little "FREE"  bouquet of flowers!

   I found a cute way to make popcicle's for kids on the internet to and thought I would share it on here for whoever would like to try them.  Sprite with gummy bears!  How easy and fun is that!  I saved all the sticks from the corndogs I bought with coupons this weekend to make these.

   Spent most of the day doing laundry and it was ziploc bag washing day so my window has a large cup with lots of utensils in it with all different ziploc bags upside down over them.

  My dad gave me a rotisserie a long time ago and I cannot believe how easy these are to use.  I stuck the chicken I paid 3.00 for (caught them on sale for .67 cents a pound and bought all 4 that they had there) in the rotisserie and turned the knob to 90 minutes and that's it.  In 90 minutes it dings and its done and tastes really great.  I also got to the store when they marked Masterpiece BBQ sauce to a closeout price of .55 cents each!  I bought all that they had 29 bottles.   I use BBQ sauce for so much.  Its cheaper to buy it made at that price then to make it.  I paired the chicken with Loaded Mashed Instant potatoes that I got for .50 cents a box (which has two packets in each box) with double couponing.  Cheap dinner and tasted like restaurant food.

  Tomorrow I think I will rotisserie the other 3 chickens and debone and freeze for later.  I do not usually buy boxed meals but the store had Hamburger Helper 10 for 10 and I had 1 dollar off 3 so that makes a cheap meal.  I am going to replace burger for chicken and that would be delicious if the chicken was rotisseried.  Yum!

  Well back to laundry  and picking up the house so do not have to wake up to it.  Be back tomorrow!



 

CONTAINER GARDENING~SOIL INFORMATION~ONLINE SEED DEALERS

  Well I have spent 4 days in alot of pain from a couple bad teeth.  I went in today and they pulled one no problem but the next one took about 1 and 1/2 hours to get out.  It had a round root and it just would not come out easy.  I needless to say have a very sore jaw tonight but I am very happy to have gotten that over with.  So now I have to heal up.  You know how they say no bending down, no overdoing it, Ha!!   Go home do the dishes, pick up the living room, vacuum, make a fruit salad, and much more.  Just another day being a mom.  lol

  My oldest daughter came home from work and made a salad and sloppy joes so that was good.  My younger daughters babysat so I could get my teeth out so I appreciate all of that.  Now its feet up and medicated for pain.

  I found a really good idea on the internet today for my container gardening.  It was one of those "why didn't I think of that moments".   The idea is to cut the very bottom out of plastic bottles and bury them bottom side up level with the dirt in the middle of your container so that if it rains the container fills with rain water and it slowly seeps into the soil as the plants need it. When it is empty you just go out and fill it and you don't have to worry so much.  I am so excited about this new idea that I have already started a collection of small bottles to do this with.

I LOVE LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  I am going to spend this weekend searching the internet for good deals on seeds.  I have never grown anything here in North Carolina yet so this will be a learning experience for sure.  I had a beautiful garden in Michigan.  We had bought black dirt and I made a large fenced in garden right off my kitchen.  I could see it from my kitchen window, so cool!!!  I made my own tomato cages and I had 53 tomato plants that got taller than me the ground was so rich.  Miss this so much but life goes on.  I am going to research this to death before I start so I know all there is to know about it cause I want to learn from everyone elses mistakes so I have a good growing season.

  I want to make an herb garden too.  Once you use fresh basil and cilantro you just don't want to use dried again.  When I make the herb garden I want to make it in containers that I can bring in for the winter so I have herbs all winter.

  I found another idea that I just have to do also.  You take an old metal pasta drainer and hook chains to it and make it into a hanging basket for flowers.  I found a couple of them at yard sales for 1 dollar each.  I have seen them at Goodwill for cheap.

  Another great idea and cheap is using a  shoe organizer that hangs on a door for plants. You could hang this on the outer side of your deck also.  That's what I am going to do.

 I found the cutest idea for a little bird house.  You hang a teapot without the lid bottom side against an outside wall or side of fence and the birds build nests inside.  ADORABLE!!!

  Everybody has old shoes or workboots that you end up tossing.  Well fill them with potting soil and plant plants in them and sit them on the porch.  When I met my husband 28 years ago his mom would do this because my father in-law went through workboots so fast in his line of work.  She filled hers with chicks and hens (the plants, lol) which was adorable!  Here's a picture of what it looks like.

  Here's another really cheap idea for a unique container for planting.   These would fit a couple tomato plants or a bunch of flowers  or whatever you want.  What an interesting garden you'll have if  you just use your imagination and think outside of the box!

Great idea for drainage in non-draining containers.  Plastic bottles in the bottom of the pot and newspapers layered over that and then soil over the newspaper. Such a good recycling idea!

  You can roll newspapers into a tube and tape or tie with binder twine, place them in a box or container and fill with soil and plant your seeds in each tube.

  I didn't think I would be able to plant corn but I found a really good idea for planting something like corn or beans. Tote's work perfect!  If planting beans this way you could take tall branches from the woods and stick them in and the beans would climb the branches.  Free and awesome looking!

  The more I find the more excited I get!  Here's a couple other idea's I found.

 You can search the web for soil recipes for vegetable container gardening but everything I found says that Miracle Grow Brand Potting Soil for Vegetable Growing is good, some people swear by Happy Frog too.  I am going to start now buying a large bag of Miracle Grow a week and start stacking it on my deck so I have plenty.  The one thing I seen the most said that you have to make sure it says its for growing vegetables and to squeeze the bag and make sure it doesn't clump.  It needs to be light and non clumping.   If you are more experienced than me then maybe it will be cheaper for you to make your own.  I am not that experienced right now and I want to make sure what I plant grows so I am going with the sure thing.

Vegetable Seed Dealers:

http://www.ruppseeds.com/divVegetable/default.htm

http://www.southernstates.com/catalog/c-1043-vegetable-seed.aspx?gclid=CJHq7cSiybUCFQ6ynQodYEAAQw    (free shipping right now)

http://parkseed.com/Category.aspx?c=vegetables&gclid=CILs2_CiybUCFQmxnQodsHkA2Q

http://www.edenbrothers.com/store/vegetable-herb-seeds.html?gclid=CI_w0oGjybUCFRA6nAodsUQAYQ

http://www.jungseed.com/

http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/?cid=PPC&gclid=CKXfw7SjybUCFQ4GnQodJGgA8Q

http://www.gurneys.com/Default.asp?

  I am sure there are a million other places but here are a few that I found that had deals if you ordered from them.  Some have free shipping and some have an amount off of your total.  Usually buying online is cheaper than going to the store and you have a better selection.

  If you find a super deal or if you have had really good luck with a certain place let us all know and leave a comment.  Thanks!

COFFEE HAIR RINSE RECIPE

I do not drink coffee but I do love the smell of coffee and this is a really cool way to enhance your color!

Enhance your dark brown hair color with a homemade recipe!

What you’ll need

• 1/2 cup triple strength black coffee (cold)
• 3 tbsp non-alkanized cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup leave in conditioner

30 MONEY SAVING FRUGAL TIPS

30 TIPS I USE TO SAVE MONEY! (FOLLOW TO CATCH THE NEXT LIST!)


1.  Wash out and reuse all ziploc food bags.  Chicken Nugget, Chocolate Chip, Shredded Cheese, Splenda, etc. also when freezing leftovers use a straw stuck into the bag a little ways to suck the extra air in the bag around the food out then quickly seal.  Your food will last longer in the freezer.

2.  Cut your 2 or 3 liter bottles, juice bottles, milk jugs, tin cans (all sizes), etc. to 5 or 6 inches in height and use them to do container gardening on your porch or deck.

3.  If you don't have a clothes line put your clothes on hangers while still wet from washer and hang on your deck rail or on backs of your patio furniture to avoid using dryer.

4.  Use the cleaned out covers off laundry detergent or fabric softener to start your seeds indoors for early planting.

5.  Use old glass wine bottles, glass sparkling juice bottles to fill with water and insert upside down into your outdoor planters to keep your plants hydrated so you don't have to water so often.

6.  Take a wet dish towel with cleaning liquid on it and put one end of it (leaving 3/4 of it hanging loosely) over the handle end of your mop and place a rubber band tightly over it a few times and use it to flop over your ceiling fan to clean the dust off the top of each blade.

7.  When you clean the filter on your vacuum put a drop of vanilla on it and your house will smell wonderful.

8.  Use your store plastic bags in your bathroom garbage cans.  Put a couple in the bottom of the can before you put a new bag in so when it needs changing you pull out the bag and a new one is readily available.

9.  Keep a pair of scissors (just to use in kitchen) in the kitchen to open bags, cut pizza, cut your plastic bottles down, cut up chicken, etc.

10.  Cut an old sheet into one very long 1-1/2 inch wide strip using the whole sheet and then crochet it into a rug using a very large hook.  Soft and washable.  Don't have an old sheet?  Go to Goodwill and get one for a couple dollars!  Fun use for an old sheet.

11.  Always cook double and freeze one meal then you always have a meal on hand to toss in microwave or oven when you don't have time to cook.  I line a baking dish with parchment paper so I can lift casseroles out and freeze in ziploc or aluminum foil to keep my dishes freed up.

12.  Open your blinds on whatever side of your house that the sun is shining in to warm your house so you do not have to use heat but if you are trying to cool leave the blinds or curtains shut on the sunny side and windows open on the side that is shaded.

13.  I use white vinegar mixed with just enough cheap conditioner to make it smell good for fabric softner  in my laundry.  It also keeps your washer clean and fresh.

14.  Save old vitamin, medicine, spice bottles of all kinds to use when making homemade bath salts for gifts or just for yourself.  You can also use them to carry shampoo and conditioner when traveling.  Great for carrying dressing for salads also.

  Homemade Bath Salts Recipe:

                                                    3 cups Epsom Salt 
                                                    2 cups Baking Soda 
                                                    1 cup Table Salt 
                                                   Food or soap coloring (optional) 
                                                   Scented Essential Oils (2-4 drops)

If you want more than one scent and color, separate into different bowls before adding the color and scent. Then you can have 2-3 different choices to choose from. Let the bath salts dry for 24 hours before placing them into your decorative jars.

15.  When you have grease spots on your t-shirts and they won't come out after washing take dish soap and squirt it on all the spots and wash in warm.  Most times they come out the first time but if not try it one more time.  I have never had it not work.

16.  Make your own decorations for holiday's and birthdays.  Kids love to help.   My kids get their color books out, color and cut out pictures to hang.  Take permanent markers and write or draw on balloons at birthday's.

17.  Make your own cake at birthday's and save money.   I have had my kid's friend parties be a cake making and decorating party.  They all make the cake together and while its baking they make homemade frosting and they all decorate it together then all eat it.  Very frugal party.  You could get aprons at goodwill for each party guest.  Lots of possibilities.

18.   Put all your pet friendly scraps in a bowl daily for your pet and you will save alot in dog food.

19.  I run about 6 inches of hot water with dishsoap in it in the sink every morning and we all wash our own dish from each meal right away to reduce how many times we have to run dishwasher.

20.  Send for all the free things you can and use snacks in snack bowls. Perfume, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and makeup samples add up quick in a basket in your restroom.  Its a nice treat to be able to use all the expensive things at no cost to you.  This is what I got just today.  All the green coupons are each for 1 dollar off  1 jar of Mt. Olive Pickles.  They end up being under 1 dollar a jar.  This is one of the smaller amount of things I get in a day.  I got 50 toothbrushes and 50 samples of toothpaste not to long ago!

21. Rip all the perfume samples out of "FREE" magazines (look up free magazine subscriptions, there are always some that you can get from 1 to 4 free issues then cancel and not get charged) and fold and keep in your purse so you always have a high end perfume to put on when you go somewhere special.

22.  Borax can save you a ton of money.  Here is a site with 10 uses for Borax:
http://www.essortment.com/ten-uses-borax-15865.html
(copy and paste into search bar)

23.  Wash clothes in cold water instead of warm or hot.

24.  Take cooler showers.

25.  Put night lights in bathrooms and hallways so you do not have to use lights.  I was given those lights that look like candles with the Christmas bulb in the end and I started using them for night lights in bathrooms.

26.  Turn off your outdoor lights at night and save a bundle.

27.  Buy thinner towels so it takes less time to dry them.  Hang your towel to dry after a shower and use more than once.

28.  Use coupons!  Match coupons to sale prices and save big.

29.  Make one errand day a week to save gas.

30.  Save the foam trays that your meat comes in ,wash well.  These work great for serving macaroni salad, potato salad, etc. at picnics or family gatherings.

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COUPONING DEALS!

  Well its sunny here in North Carolina today, helps Monday not feel so Mondayish!  I spent the weekend couponing which I got ready for all last week.  I am by no means an extreme couponer but I do set out to only get what I have a coupon for.

    I went to the websites of each store I was going to shop at and I copied off their coupon policy and went over it a few times so I knew it well.   I checked every clearance spot in every store and matched up coupons.  I found meds that were supposed to be 6 dollars on clearance for 2.83 and I had 2 dollars off each.  I paid .83 cents for each!   Because the coupons for Gold Bond lotion did not state which kind and didn't say it couldn't be used on trial size I was paid to take Gold Bond Trial size Lotions.  I found a whole end cap with hair dyes clearanced for 3 and 4 dollars so I got out the coupons and got them for 1 and 2 dollars a box for colors that me and my daughters would use.  

   I am transforming a book shelf into a open pantry in my kitchen for overflow from the enclosed pantry I have that is not very big.  I actually like the looks of a neat open pantry.  For a wife and mother its a good feeling to gaze over all of your stockpile!

  I took a picture of all my finds to put on here (don't look at my dishes I put off to go to the store, lol).  Well I got 40 dollars worth of just shavers for 12 dollars!  I was excited about that because I hate when its time to buy razors because they cost so darn much.  My 3 store total was (and this included some non coupon items such as milk, meat, pop) 229.94 and I saved 153.00 in coupons and store rewards.  The next day I went to Lowe's and used 20 more coupons that all doubles and spent 29 and saved 57.  Since you can only double 20 coupons a day at Lowe's I decided since its only 10 minutes from my home I could go there a few times a week and use 20 coupons each time and really stock up my cupboards for not alot of money at all!

 

These are pictures of the first shopping day when I saved 153.00!   Lots of stuff and we will use it all!  I didn't get anything we wouldn't use.  All the new sale ads here start Tues. and Wed. so I will be matching sales to coupons starting tomorrow again.  My great deal on toner (52 dollar a piece toners if bought at office store) where I got two toners for 13.50 a piece on ebay, new, unopened, free shipping from someone who has sold 101 of them with no complaints should be here tomorrow so I will be up and running for printing all my online coupons. Gotta get the laundry and cleaning done today so I will have the time to do that tomorrow!  Have a great Monday!