Best. Shave. Ever.

This is easy and SO worth trying. When you shave, use Nair instead of shaving cream, soap, or even conditioner. Though I'm not a fan of using it for hair removal, it will give you the smoothest, softest, closest shave. You may just get addicted. ;)

Tuesday: How to Get into College- And What to Expect in College Once You Get There

The basis of this post is to explain how colleges and universities work- all those random details that everyone assumes you already know but you just might not. A skim through this article will help you in tackling the challenges ahead if you are, indeed, college bound.

What, exactly, IS a college? What is the difference between a college and a university?
In the U.S., we refer to both colleges and universities as simply 'college', but they are not actually the same thing. A college is a higher level learning institution that may award Associates, Bachelors, and sometimes Masters degrees. A single college will only offer degrees under one umbrella; that is to say, a social sciences college will only offer social science degrees, psychology, sociology, and the like. A slightly larger college may actually be comprised of several 'colleges' or schools, meaning that they might have a school (also referred to as a college) of social sciences and a school of mathematics, so then they could award degrees in psychology, sociology, mathematics, and accounting but NOT degrees in law, medicine, etc., because they don't have a school for them. A university is made of several colleges, allowing them to award degrees in many areas. A university will also almost always have schools for Master's and PhD degrees.

Associates? Bachelors? What do these MEAN exactly?
Degrees are awarded for learning that has taken place; when a certain number of credits in a certain area have been completed with sufficient grades, a degree will be given.

*Associates* Usually 2 years or 4 semesters of full-time school and around 60 credit hours
*Bachelors* Usually 4 years or 8 semesters of full-time school and around 120 credit hours
*Masters* Usually 2-3 years or 4-6 semesters of full-time school and ranges between 60-90 credit hours on top of a bachelors degrees
*PhD* Usually 4 years or 8 semesters of full-time school and about 120 credit hours on top of a bachelors degree

What is a PhD?

It means doctor of philosophy.

How do semesters work?

There is some variance, depending on the school you attend, but there are typically 2 full semesters each year that are required for full time students and 1or 2 additional semesters/terms that are optional. Your typical school wants you to get in, get your study on, and get out, so without some kind of special arrangement, you will be required to attend 2 semesters out of the year. These semesters are usually fall and spring, with fall running from the beginning of September to December and spring running from the beginning of January to the end of April. From May to August, the school will offer classes for students that are looking to get extra credit hours between the main semesters.

How long is a credit hour?

A basic required class (history, math 101) will run about 3 credit hours. That means that each week, you will have about 3 hours in class, for example, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, one hour each day. Classes that require less effort may only be given 1 credit hour, for example a lecture series where you attend class Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but are required only to be present and no homework is required. Many physical education classes offer only .5 or 1 credit hours, even though more time is spent in class.

What does it mean when they say 'History 101' or 'Math 250'?

Depending on your degree, there is a huge variety of classes that are both required and optional. There are so many different history classes that they need to be numbered so as to avoid confusion. Most courses that are in the 100s mean that they are first year classes and less complex. Most 200s are second year classes and slightly more difficult. 300s often require a previous class to be completed before you can enter it, for example, Math 350 may require you to have completed Math 110 before so that you are prepared for the coursework. 400s denote classes that are fourth year or the graduating year for bachelors degrees. 500s and 600s are intensive classes for students working on their master's degrees.

Sophomore? Senior? What?

First year students who are working on their 1st or 2nd semesters in school (or who have 0-30ish credits) are called freshmen. Second year students who are working on their 3rd or 4th semesters in school (or who have 30-60ish credits) are called sophomore. Third year students who are working on their 5th and 6th semesters in school (or with 60-90is credits) are called juniors. Fourth year students who are working on their 7th and 8th semesters in school (or with 90-120ish credits) are called senors.

How many classes for full time?

4-5 classes or 12-15 credit hours each semester is usually considered a full time student.

How do you get into college?

You apply. Each college or university can accept a certain number of students each year. Depending on the popularity of the college, it may get more applicants than there are spaces, just enough, or fewer applicants than there is room for. Each school looks for different things in their students and you should research the colleges that you are interested in to see if you meet their criteria. Simply go to the school's website, find their application, and start working on it.

What are the applications for college like?

Again, each school is looking for something different, but they will normally want to know a few of the same things.

Most universities will require:

*A transcript of your high school grades or your GED

*Your test scores of a standardized test, either ACT or SAT

*Extra curricular activies you have done- either clubs and extra activies in high school, or else programs and community events that you have done as an adult (plays, fundraisers, etc.)

*An essay- if this is required, the school you apply to will let you know what kind of information they are looking for in the essay

*Application fee (anywhere from $50 to $500)

Most small colleges will require:

*A transcript of your high school grades or your GED

*Your test scores of a standardized test, either ACT or SAT

*Application fee (usually less than a university)

Most universities have more applicants and are more difficult to get into than a college, which will typically have fewer applicants and are easier to get into.

SAT or ACT?

Some colleges/universities will accept either or, but generally, they will prefer one over the other. The following map is not true for every case, but generally if you attend a school in an orange state, the school will want you to take the SAT. If you attend school in a blue state, they will generally want you to take the ACT.

Is college worth it?

The answer to that depends on your reason for attending. If you want to go to school solely to become better informed about the world and to educate yourself, then the answer is certain yes. If it is merely for financial gain, then the answer is maybe. Some schools are 40,000 a semester, making the overall sum for a bachelors degree well over 160,000, not including books or housing. If your degree is not in a field that has the capability to earn that kind of a sum over 5-10 years time, you may want to consider a different degree or a different school.

College takes time, money, and energy, but is a worthwhile endeavor for the knowledge that you accrue IF you have the will power and means to finish.

College will

*increase your earning potential (no, not a guarantee)

*increase your understanding of the world

*increase gratitude as you realize how much you have received through the study of history

*decrease ignorance and prejudice

As a college graduate, there is very little that I would trade my time in school for. It certainly has assisted and increased my earnings, my knowledge, my interests, my social group, and my self worth. Would I recommend it whole heartedly? Yes. Is it for everyone? No. Not everyone will enjoy or appreciate what college has to offer- but I believe that nearly everyone should take a class or two to at least try it out.

How do you get started?

1- Figure out how much you can afford for school.

2- Decide where you want to go to school- in state, out of state, out of country, etc.

3- Search the Internet for schools that are in your budget and in the area you want.

4- Look at what kind of students each school wants and try to find the ones that seem to fit you best. 5- Apply to these schools and wait to see where you are accepted.

6- Once you have received acceptance letters to schools, think about where you feel like you will be happiest.

7- Inform the school you like best that you want to attend.

8- Meet with a school counselor/advisor. There are many counselors/advisers at each school- ones for each degree and ones for new, incoming students. Make an appointment with the counselor/advisor for incoming students and they can start to advise you on what classes are good to take.

What is a major?

A major is a set program for a certain degree. Depending on what you want to do with your education, the degree you want will be different. If you want to be an accountant, you will likely require a mathematics degree, so you will want to major in math. If you want to be a teacher, you will likely want a teaching degree, so you will to major in education. You don't need to decide your major when you first start and many people even change majors throughout school.

Can you do school with kids?

Answer: Yes. Is it easy? No. Many schools, especially state universities and smaller, local colleges offer so many online classes that it is possible to apply and get into their school but then take most of your classes 1 and 2 at a time online. Some classes will require you to attend the school itself, but these can be done at night and on the weekends. This method is perhaps the easiest for anyone who has children at home but wants to attend school.


How do you pay for college?

Like it or not, college is not free. If you are worried about expenses, a state college may be best, as the costs and fees are typically lowest there.

Colleges costs
*Tuition (paid each semester)

*Books (paid each semester)

*Housing (paid monthly)

*Food, transportation, etc.

Methods for paying for college

*Savings

*Cash from part-time/full-time jobs

*Grants (typically given/awarded when you apply for financial aid)

*Scholarships (typically awarded based on merit)

*School loans (normally they have generous pay-back plans)

Other questions about school/college/university? Post them as replies to this post and I will add extra paragraphs. Hope this helps anyone thinking about or just starting their college career.

Monday: Baby on the Go: 3 Ways to Slim Down Your Diaper Bag

Today's post is dedicated to moms (and dads) with kids in diapers. There are special considerations necessary for when you are on the go with your kids that are, let's face it, expensive, bulky, and ABSOLUTELY necessary.

So, to help alleviate some of the annoyance associated with getting everything together to take your little tike out, here are a few ideas to help you get out on the go- without weighing you down too much. It'd be nice to know this when packing your first diaper bag with your first kid or even when going on vacation and packing a diaper bag for the airport.

1. Stinky Diapers
It's gonna happen. 'Nough said. However, you sometimes may not be garbage-can adjacent when this occurs. Easy solution? Have a handful of plastic grocery sacks on hand to contain the unpleasant odor. Great way to haul them around?
*Cut an clean, empty plastic bottle in half around the middle
*Stuff the bottom bottom half with empty plastic bags
*Now, force the bottom half inside of the top half of the bottle and voila'! A compact container to carry plastic bags. Plastic bags are also great for blow-outs, so you have somewhere to put those dirty little onesies until you can get home to was them.

2. Diaper Rash Cream
Know what was fabulous? All those free samples of diaper rash cream when the baby was born- they were perfect for on the go! Now that they are gone, however, I needed to get creative to be able to get my own.
*Take a snack-sized zipper baggie and cut into 1/4ths. Next, use an iron to melt the opened sides together. Place a piece of paper over the area that you want to be sealed and just barely touch the iron to that area.

Diaper rash cream to go

*You now have a custom sized zippered container. Squeeze a small amount of diaper rash cream into it and you are ready to go!
3. Formula
1 hour. If you mix up a bottle, you have one hour until you're supposed to dump it or refrigerate it. Not a very large window. Make bottles on the go simple.
*Fill up a bottle with the amount of water you need for your normal bottle size (4oz, 6 oz, etc.)
*Using the same method as the diaper rash cream above, cut a snack sized zipper baggie in half and seal the open end, then put in a pre-measured amount of formula (2 scoops, 3 scoops, whatever)
*Now, when you're on the go and need a bottle it takes about three seconds and you're good to go!

*

Extras: Hollister...

You only laugh because you hate going to that story with all the trendy tweeny boppers, too.

Thursday: My Thoughts on Eating and Harvesting Artichokes

My thoughts as I prepared and ate my first artichoke:

1- Who would have ever thought, when looking at that plant, that it would be edible?
2- Who figured out HOW to eat the very small amount of edible artichoke off of it?
3- Who named an artichoke an artichoke?

And most importantly:

WHO would eat an artichoke a second time after eating it once? TOTALLY not worth the effort. But that's just me.

BUT, if like me, you got all curious and want to know how to make and eat your own, try this website.

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_cook_and_eat_an_artichoke/

It helped me. Good luck, have fun.

Extras: Those Ecards....

Seriously.... so many sarcastic ecards....

Wednesday: DIY Brown Gravy Packet

Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaat to easiness! Why waste money on packet brown gravies when you can make one up in seconds and it costs just a few cents?! Answer: You didn't know you could! Well, neither did I and, judging by the numerous packets of brown gravy in my cupboards, I could stand to save some money with DIY! Then, once you're done with your brown gravy packet, pour on to of
PIMP: Perfectly Incredible Mashed Potatoes, also known as the best mashed potatoes you will ever eat in your life.
Ingredients
1/4 cup flour
1T beef bouillon granules
1T onion powder
1T garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
Dash of dried parsley

This makes 2 cups of brown gravy mix. Put the dry mix into a plastic baggie for future use.

To Prepare:
Mix the dry gravy mix with 1 cup of cold water in a saucepan. Whisk until smooth. Heat at medium until the sauce thickens, then add another cup of water and whisk once more until smooth. Then.. nothing! You're done! Serve over potatoes, rice, or whatever floats your boat.

(To make a large amount for storage)
2 cups flour
1/4 cup beef bouillon granules
1/4 cup onion powder
1/4 cup garlic powder
2 tsp black pepper
1T dried parsley

Mix all together, then portion out into 1/3 cup amounts into plastic baggies. You're done!

Tuesday: How to.... DIY Blush

My normal blush on the left and my
DIY blush on the right (both go on about
the same color)

This is a pretty neat DIY trick. It costs just a few cents (Literally, maybe 1?), and leaves a very smooth, even color that blends incredibly well.

Materials
*water
*baby powder (buy it from the dollar store.....)
*red food coloring
-1-2 drops for light pink
-3-4 drops for medium pink
-5-6 drops for red/dark pink

In a bowl, mix your desired amount of food coloring with 3 tablespoons of water. Next, squirt baby powder in, 1-2 teaspoons at a time, and mix until smooth. Continue to add baby powder until the consistency of the mix is almost that of a soft clay and it is no longer all together, but breaks up easily into several pieces. Now, using your fingers, pat the mixture into an empty make-up container (I had one already empty from an old blush) until filled.

Ready to be stored!

To use: You can use it right away, but for best results, allow the mixture to air dry, then press a make-up sponge into the blush and apply to your cheekbones, blending until smooth.

If you feel creative, try mixing in a little yellow for a peachy color or a tiny bit of blue for a bit of a purple hue.
*Note: The color of the blush is MUCH darker wet than dry, so don't be worried if it looks red when you mix it.



UPDATE!
Thought I'd add some extra pictures with their corresponding recipes to help you figure out what works best for you and give you a better idea of how it turns out when finished (since the color is so much lighter dried than wet).

Blue Spoon	Pink Spoon	Yellow Spoon	Green Spoon
8 drops red ¼ cup water baby powder (until as paste)	6 drops red ¼ cup water baby powder (until as paste)	5 drops red 1 drop blue ¼ cup water baby powder (until as paste)	3 drops red 10 drops yellow ¼ cup water baby powder (until as paste)

Right after mixing- notice how dark they are?

After air drying for about 8 hours

Colors on my hand; in order, right to left
Pink spoon, green spoon, blue spoon, yellow spoon

Looking for more ways to S-T-R-E-T-C-H your beauty budget? Check out 5 Ways to STRETCH Your Beauty Budget!

Extras: Easy Chip Substitute

Do you have an awesome and delicious dip? But don't want to spend the calories on chips to dunk in it? Well, BOOM! Here's a win for you- and crazy easy. Buy a pack of uncooked tortillas, slice into 1/8s (little triangles) and fry them on both sides in a frying pan using just a bit of spray grease until crispy. A lower calorie (and arguably more delicious) alternative to plain old tortilla/potato chips.

Monday: A Word or Two on Failure

Failure. A word associated with:
*stress
*sadness
*depression
*heart break

The list can go on and on. However, I would like failure to be associated with
*success

Success: understanding love and being able to give something meaningful to your community while living a life that you can be satisfied with. If you have this, you can consider yourself a success.

The enemy of success is pride.

Pride will rob you of your understanding of love and your ability to improve yourself. If you believe, pridefully, that you are without flaw in any given area, you will cease work to improve yourself. If you stop trying to improve, your success will dwindle away and vanish.

If you fail something, really and truly, a harsh blow will be taken to your pride. Being left without pride, you have the choice to
*wallow
or
*press forward

Those that press forward will inevitably find themselves strengthened and ever-closer to success. If you allow your true failures in life to motivate you to change and strengthen yourself, then every failure will bring you to success.

Failure is not fun, enjoyable, pretty, cute, or any number of light-hearted words. It is, however, useful and necessary in becoming a success.

Do not wallow in your failures; instead, use them to elevate yourself. Learn to understand this, and then teach it to your children.

You will not regret it.

Extra EASY!

How's this for easy and up-cycle-ish? Put your plastic grocery bags in an empty tissue box to use it as a compact dispenser? I'm all over that!

Extras: SHUT UP!

One bird is really giving it to the other- SHUT UP!!!

Friday: DIY Garbage Can Freshener

Garbage STINKS! No doubt about it. But, as I previously mentioned, I'm all about a nice-smelling place. I do so much to try to have a nice smelling apartment... but that darn garbage can... it gangs up on me! So, what do I do? An easy, DIY air freshener for my garbage can.

Materials


*1/2 sponge (cheap ones are fan-freaking-tastic)
*1 tbs vanilla
*1 tsp cinnamon
*1/2 tsp all spice
*paper towels

To DO?
Easy! Just put the sponge, vanilla, cinnamon, and all spice into a bowl and use your fingers to press the vanilla and spices into the sponge. Next, put a few paper towels down on the bottom of your empty garbage can, then put the scented sponge on top of it. throw your usual garbage bag on top and use as normal.... and every time you empty your garbage, enjoy a sweet, homey, cinnamon-apple smell.

All done on the bottom of the garbage...

Friday: Simple Frosted Lantern

Have you ever finished a jar of homemade raspberry jam and wondered, "Hmmm, there must be something more I could do with this jar...." Well, with a few minutes and the spare change in your pocket, there is!

Materials
*Pint (or quart) size glass jar
*A flexible wire (11/2 feet in length should be sufficient)
*Pencil
*Spray frost (like spray paint, but it comes out as a frost)
*Star, circle, or other sweet shape of sticker
*Wire cutters

Step 1:
Apply the stickers you have chosen in a desirable pattern on your jar.

Step 2:
Using wire cutters, cut your piece of wire into a 6 inch length and 1 foot length. Wrap the 6 inch piece of wire loosely around the mouth of the jar. Next, wrap the 1 foot piece of wire around a pencil, giving it a loop shape, and then wrap each end around the piece of wire that you have twisted around the mouth of the jar. Twist the ends securely so that the piece of wire around the mouth of the jar is now tight and no longer loose.

Step 3:
Holding the wire handle you have attached, spray a fine, even coating of frost on your can. Allow to dry.

Step 4:
Remove the stickers; put a little tea candle in your jar and voila! Cutest lantern ever. Fun craft, too!

Extras: Challenge Accepted

Turtle Challenge Accepted: Via my hubby

Thursday: Awesome Garlic Cheese Crostinis

Ok. Look at these delicious cheese crostinis... wouldn't you say they look restaurant grade? What if I told you tasted restaurant grade? What if I told you they required no butter/margarine? Pretty good, right? Now what if I told you I made them at home.... out of HOT DOG BUNS?!?! Because I did.

Ingredients
*4 hot dog buns
*1/8 cup finely grated mozzarella cheese
*1 1/2 tsp minced, fresh garlic or crushed garlic
*1 tsp garlic powder
*1 tsp onion salt
*1 tsp Italian seasoning

Step 1
Spread the hot dog buns open and use a spoon/finger to spread a very thin, fine layer of the fresh, minced garlic on the inside of each bun.

Step 2
Sprinkle all seasonings on top of the buns evenly, then gently sprinkle a small amount of mozzarella on each bun.

Step 3
Lastly, put all of the buns onto an ungreased cookie sheet and put in the oven on broil for 2-3 minutes or until just toasted brown.

Step 4
Enjoy! Eat! Edible! Etc. Great for mopping up pasta sauce.

Wednesday: Need a Chuckle? Seems Legit...

Found this one while driving up the canyon today....

Tuesday: How to.... DIY Taco Seasoning

Know what's fun? WASTING MONEY!!! Wait.. no, that's not fun at all. Not unless you're a bajillionaire.... so for those of us who are NOT bajillionaires, here's a DIY taco seasoning that you can use to replace those taco seasoning packets.... save 1.19! (if you normally buy Ortega, anyhow....)

Ingredients
*2 tsp chili powder
*1 1/2 tsp onion powder
*1 tsp garlic powder
*1 tsp ground cumin
*1/2 tsp oregano
*Salt, pepper, cayenne pepper to taste

Add LOTS of cayenne if you like it spicy.... Each batch here will replace 1 taco seasoning packet in your recipes. Make a lot and then just add 5 tsp each time you make a batch 'o' tacos! And, just for a little bit of extra zesty/deliciousness, throw in a can of mild diced chilies. YUM! Enjoy!

Monday: Miss Out

Did ya'll miss out on my Monday post for this week? Yeah, I didn't think so. Know WHY I missed out on that post? Because I was busy translating Japanese texts, loving my little baby girl, cleaning out my house, and getting ready for girl's camp. Did I mention I love girl's camp? Because I do. I am a sub-in leader (and for those of you not familiar with it, girl's camp is for girls from ages 12-18 who go up into the forest/woods/desert wherever and learn survival skills, both physical and spiritual) and get to go up her and there during the week. SO, yes, I missed out on my blog post. But do you want to know what? I didn't miss out on anything. Because girl's camp is exceedingly superior. (no offense, MyAmConf...) Because if you really understand the meaning in life... I was right where I was supposed to be. ;)

Extras: A, You're Adorable

I sing this to my baby all the days of her life....

Thursday: Oreoception. That Is to Say, an Oreo within an Oreo Cupcake

Are you ready for... OREOCEPTION?! Good. Because that's what we have for you. Not sure if I like Double Oreos, Oreoception, or Cupcake Oreos best, but... you can pick the name. (PS. Remember my hubby's favorite cookie is an Oreo? Sure hope he loves this....)

Ingredients
*Box white cake mix
*Box chocolate cake mix
*Chocolate frosting
*Oreos
*Eggs (as required by your mix)
*Oil (as required by your mix)
*Water (as required by your mix)




Step 1
In separate containers, mix up your white  and chocolate cake mixes, respectively, according to their instruction labels.

Step 2
Thoroughly grease muffin tins or line with cup cake papers

Step 3
(this is where the magic happens...)
-Spoon a very small amount of chocolate cake batter in the bottom of the cup- just enough to cover it
-Smush an Oreo into the middle of this cake batter (1/4 an Oreo if using mini-muffin tins)
-Spoon enough white cake batter on top of the Oreo to cover it and the chocolate cake batter completely


Step 4
Bake at 325 for 13-18 minutes (depending on pan size)

Step 5

I cut the Oreo in half on this one
and it makes it look like a very
angry cupcake..

Frost your cupcakes with chocolate frosting after your cupcakes have cooled (I made mine using milk chocolate and it was freaking delicious), then garnish with Oreo pieces, if desired.

GET IT? Chocolate cake bottom (Oreo cookie bottom), white cake middle (Oreo cookie frosting) and chocolate frosting (Oreo cookie top)- plus an Oreo inside.

No fail, fun, and (for my hubby's sake, I hope...) yum, yum, YUM!

Wednesday: DIY Rich n' Zesty Barbecue Sauce

Let me ask you a question: Why BUY barbecue sauce when you can make one, to your specifications, at home? Answer? Because you didn't know you COULD DIY a good barbecue sauce. SO, lucky for you, here is a simple and yum DIY barbecue. I'd call it Emily's Rich n' Zesty BBQ Sauce if I were marketing it for the masses....

Ingredients:
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 tsp cumin (awesome. I love this spice!)
1 tbs garlic powder/onion powder, mixed
Salt and pepper to taste

Step 1:
Mix it. Eat it. Braise with it. Broil with it. Baste with it. Bake with it. Fry with it. Grill with it. Whatever.

I have made this barbecue sauce a number of times for a number of different types of meat. This one is best for chicken and pork; if you are making a barbecue sauce for beef, I'd recommend taking out the cumin and putting in a teaspoon of crushed garlic instead. Whatever you make, enjoy!

Tuesday: How to Save Money on Groceries

I am a bargain hunter. Let's be honest. That 10 cents might make all the difference for me. Be it for good or for bad, I love a good deal. And since I have to go grocery shopping  so often, saving money grocery shopping can be an AWESOME money saver. But, I'm a little lazy and not willing to extreme coupon. These are what I do that helps my dollar to really stretch at the grocery store.

-Every extra trip to the store will cost you $20 and up-
Understand this. In shopping, minimize the number of trips you take to the store by:

*Making a List of What You NEED
Regardless of what you end up buying, if you come home without something you are actually in need of, you will end up going back to the store and spending another $20 on random stuff you find. SO, whatever you DO get, just make sure to follow your list of things you HAVE to have.

*Stocking Up On Freshies
Do you drink a gallon milk every week? Buy two. Do you eat 2 loaves of bread each week? Buy 4. If you keep a little extra on hand of the things you need fresh, you'll be less likely to go to the store again to replenish your stock. If you are out of cardamon, it's not likely you will run to the store that night to get some. IF, however, you run out of milk, you probably will.

*Plan Meals
This one is more time consuming and you really might not love doing it, but if you know exactly what meals you need to shop for, you will not buy extra things that you don't need- and it will save you big week to week.

-Get It Cheap-
Food keeps. It really, really does. Canned food is good for months and years. Cheese, unopened, is usually good for 4-8 months from when you buy it. Milk, meat, and many veggies/fruits can be frozen and then keep for months. You don't have to use everything you buy within a week from purchase. SO-

*Buy it Cheap, Stack it Deep
This is an old saying from when I worked at a grocery store- and it really works. Every store you shop at has sales. Do you need one can of green beans? It can cost 1.19. Get it on a really good sale, 2/1.00 or 3/1.00 and buy a dozen. Then, when you need green beans, just turn to your cupboard and retrieve that .33 cent can of beans, rather than running to the store and spending that 1.19 (plus the extra 20 you are liable to spend)

*Pick a Speciality
Divide up the groceries you buy into a few groups- this will be different from family to family
*Meats/cheeses
*Breads
*Canned goods
*Cereal
*Non foods (cleaning supplies)
*Baby (diapers, wipes, formula)
Use these groups one at a time to employ the 'buy it cheap, stack it deep' adage. Each time you go shopping, based on the sales at your grocery store, stock up 1-2 months worth of one of these categories, and then buy bare minimum for the rest of them. For example, if cereal is a $1 a box one week, buy a dozen boxes of cereal, but only the meat, cheese, bread, canned goods, and cleaning supplies (and, of course, fresh fruits and veggies) that you need to last you for a week. Do this for 2 months and compare it to the amount of money you spent for the 2 months before starting it. You will be surprised at what you save.

Shop Around
This doesn't take long and is not time consuming- just pull up an ad or two for local stores before you head out to the grocery store and then price match their front pages. The front page of any grocery store ad will most likely be where all the best steals are posted, so by price matching these few deals from local stores, you will be able to maximize your dollar by getting the best deals from each one.
(PS: Wal Marts and many other stores price match)

Many of these might be common sense, but if you haven't tried them before, I do hope they help!

Ariel Just for Fun



Favorite. Disney joke. Ever.

Need an EXTRA Disney laugh? Check out Lessons from Disney 1!

Monday: Waking Up in the Morning

Know how babies cry when they wake up? THAT is what I feel like EVERY morning.
And maybe it's just me- but mornings and I are not best friends.

Thursday: 5 Unbelievable Graham Cracker Crust Substitutions

There are literally thousands of recipes that require a graham cracker crust- and if you are like me, I would bet that there has been a time or two when you needed a graham cracker crust but didn't have one on hand- so here are a few substitutions for graham cracker crusts when you just need it for dessert.

The recipe methodology for each is the same, only the ingredients differ.

1/ 1/4 cups of __________, crushed (put in a double Ziploc bag and crush with your hands, a mallet, or a rolling pin until the consistency that you want- I recommend pea-size or smaller)
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 stick butter/margarine, melted

Mix the three ingredient together in a mixing bowl and then form into a pie pan (or glass dish, if you are making lemon bars, etc.)

Your five options?

*Pretzels: almost ends up with a caramel flavor
*Saltine Crackers: ends up very close to shortbread
*Ritz crackers: also ends up similar to shortbread
*Chips-a-hoy: kinda ends up tasting like a cookie-dough crust
*Ramen noodles: yes, dried ramen noodles crushed up (VERY finely) turn out great. Also shortbread-esque, but worth trying just to be surprised at how well it turns out.

Wednesday: DIY Air Freshener

Sometimes you live in a basement apartment. And sometimes that basement is over 100 years old. And sometimes even when the entire place is clean, fresh paint and shop-vacced carpet, it smells old. And if you are me, this 'sometimes' is my daily reality. So, I have been on a constant mission to make my apartment smell nice!

This week's addition? A DIY air freshener. Not tough, and all made with what I already had at home.

Materials1 tsp essential oil (or 2 parts scented extract (vanilla, lemon, almond, etc.) to 1 part olive oil)
Cereal box/mac-n-cheese box etc.
2 print outs of the same cute image
New dish sponge
Glue
Needle and thread
Scissors

Step 1
Glue cute print-out (I did a lemon, since my air-freshener scent is lemon) onto the inside of a cereal box/mac-n-cheese box and cut it out.

Step 2
Cut your new sponge to the same size as the printout and then use your glue to apply the printout to both sides of the sponge (for this, I recommend super glue or a glue gun)

Step 3
Thread your thread through the top middle of the sponge/air freshener and tie the thread together to make a loop

Step 4
Using a dropper (or a small baggie with a tiny hole poked in one end), add your essential oil/scented oil to the sponge portion of your new air freshener.
Hang in your car/office/kitchen/baby's room wherever and just add a few drops of scented oil whenever the scent starts to fade!

All done!

BOOM! Easy! As always....