I may just have a little diva or two in the family . There are a lot of pretty, sparkly, and girly necklaces and bracelets for church, dinners out, or important play dates hanging around. For awhile I had them tossed in a basket where they inevitably got tangled or we couldn't find the one we were searching for so I needed a better solution. One that was cute, easy, and of course FRUGAL! This Rustic Jewelry Hanger that I threw together was pretty much free- I had all the supplies at hand and even if you don’t you could gather them for just a few dollars. It is also easily done for a little girl or a grown woman- that means momma gets one next! DIY Rustic Jewelry Hanger You are going to need... a weathered board- mine is 6” x 22” but you can use any size clear push … [Read more...]
Stockpiling 101: Maintaining It
Now that you’ve started building your stockpile and you’re well on your way to building a solid one for your family, you’ll want to watch out for one big issue that a lot of stockpilers have. Waste. Stockpiling 101: Maintaining It There is no reason to stock something only to have it go to waste. Aside from the food waste, it’s also a waste of your hard earned money and I think I’m safe to say that wasting money is something none of us can afford. To avoid waste, you’ll need to maintain your stockpile in a way that cuts down on it. It may seem like a huge task, but I can assure you, it really isn’t. To start, make sure that you’re not buying anything that won’t be used. If you aren’t sure? Skip it until you know for certain. Buying items that you won’t use is a HUGE way to … [Read more...]
Finding New Roads After Your Service Member Retires or Separates #ChevySalutes
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Chevrolet via MSB New Media. The opinions and text are all mine. When your service member retires or like my husband separates from the service things can be daunting! You have to find a new place to fit in. Many times this means yet another move and having to find your way around again and many new roads to travel down. Did you know May is Military Appreciation month? Yep! No more a day here or a day there Military gets a WHOLE MONTH! There is so much going on for the military it might make you head spin so I want to make sure you don't miss amazing offer! Did you know? During Military Appreciation Month Chevrolet has the best military discount program of any car company. True story. Yep your read that right. This … [Read more...]
Stockpiling 101 – The Budget
In the first post of our Stockpiling 101 series, I showed you how to prepare yourself and your home for getting ready to build a stockpile. Now, I want to show you how to maximize your savings while you stock up. Stocking up doesn’t have to be a budget buster, but it can become that very quickly if you let it, trust me I've made that mistake! Stockpiling 101 – The Budget When you sit down and do your grocery budget each month, try to account for a few extra dollars to use only for stocking up. If you don’t have that kind of play in your budget, that’s okay and you can still stock up. To start, sit down with the list you made from our last post and your grocery ads. Working from your list, add the items to your shopping list that are on sale. If you would normally buy 5 to make it … [Read more...]
Stockpiling 101: Getting Started
Stockpiling is one of the best ways that you can save money. It isn’t one that will save you immediately, but it will save you big in the long run. It doesn’t have to be some complicated event that forces you to go broke right from the start. That would defeat the purpose. Instead, follow the tips here in our Stockpiling 101 series this week and build yourself a nice, solid stockpile that stays within your grocery budget. Stockpiling 101: Getting Started To really be successful at stocking up, you need to understand why you’re doing it. Yes, some of you may have other reasons, but the biggest one is likely to save money. Now you need to understand how it saves you. The most basic explanation I can give you is this; by stocking up on things when they’re cheap, you can avoid having to … [Read more...]
Washington DC Homeschool Activity
Washington D.C. is an extremely kid friendly city, with a parade of sights, free museums, national monuments and plenty of parks for kids to run through. If you are planning on a family trip to our nation’s capitol, there are several things that kids will want to take note of. Try some of these fun activities with kids to get them excited about what they are going to be seeing and doing, and to learn more about Washington D.C. Wvwn if you aren't planning a trip anytime soon this makes a great learning activity and great addition to any curriculum. Learn About Washington D.C.’s Flag Washington D.C. is not a state capitol, but the capital of our country and therefore considered a District. The flag is actually based on George Washington’s family coat of arms with repeating red … [Read more...]
Tips for Homeschooling a House Full of Boys
If you have chosen to homeschool your house full of boys this school year, you are in for a wild but fun ride. I feel as though homeschooling a house full of boys is unlike anything you’ll ever experience in your lifetime. Here are some tips to help you along: #1. Mornings May be Best Keeping your boys focused may be one of the hardest parts of homeschooling. Try working on schoolwork in the morning, right after your boys have a chance to wake up. Their brains will be focused and ready to commit to schoolwork. You could also switch this around. If your boys work best in the afternoon, wait to homeschool until then. You know your kids they best and what makes them tick. #2. Rewards are Key You may have to do a lot of persuading and a lot of rewarding, when it … [Read more...]
Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
I love this time of year. Grilling out, watching kids play at night, and as things get warmer watching kids catch fire flying from the porch. All this is done with a nice refreshing drink in hand. One of our family favorites is Lemonade. I LOVE strawberry lemonade, I like it fresh and sometimes frozen. Here is my favorite recipe! Homemade Strawberry Lemonade This recipe is easy and refreshing, at the bottom I give you a few different ideas or add a twist to it! Strawberry Lemonade Beverage Ingredients - 2 C. of freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately 15 lemons) 1 C. of strawberries, sliced or diced + a few extra for garnish 1 ½ C. sugar 5 C. cold water Directions - #1. Squeeze your lemons and set aside the lemon juice in a large pitcher. #2. Puree the 1 cup of fresh … [Read more...]
How We Are Saving $50 a Month With No Extra Income – And How You Can Too!
Hubby and I were sitting down at one of your budget meetings.... Ok we were sitting on the couch and I had just finished paying bills and was telling him where the money went. Somehow we got on to the topic of saving money he we decided we should try to save $50 a month in addition to what we already put into savings. My eyes narrowed, I won't lie the thought of screaming 'Are your INSANE' crossed my mind. The reason being we already budgeted down to $0 EVERY month. Every penny was accounted for! So how I was going to find an extra $50 a month without taking on an extra job, which I didn't have time for? Well I like a challenge so I started to think about it. The more I thought the more I was at a loss. Then one day I was walking through our garage and TRIPPED over my idea. No … [Read more...]
Make Your Own Fridge Magnets
I am always look for great crafts and fun things to do with my kids on bad weather days! So for summer when we get those rainy days where there is no chance of getting out of the house i have a few crafts stucked away to pull out. These DIY magnets where one of them recently when we had rain for a 3 day period. The kids were antsy but we had fun and I got my fridge redecorated. Here is how you too can make your own fridge magnets! Make Your Own Fridge Magnets These Magnets are really easy. They also make great gifts for the grandparents so I keep the supplies in a small box for rainy days. Supplies: Clear Accent Gems (Dollar Store) Magnetic Buttons (Walmart) Scrapbook Paper Mod Podge Gloss Foam Brush Hot Glue Gun Scissors Pen or Marker Instructions: To start … [Read more...]