Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Autumn Kids' Crafts
www.familycorner.com
Note from Lois: Parents, I hope you will use some of these ideas to create a special fun time with their children! My children used to love "Me and Mom" times! Now that I'm a grandma, I love to use these ideas with our grandchildren!
Note from Lois: Parents, I hope you will use some of these ideas to create a special fun time with their children! My children used to love "Me and Mom" times! Now that I'm a grandma, I love to use these ideas with our grandchildren!
- 10 Edible Play Dough Crafts for Busy Little Kids - If your
children are at the age of preferring to eat their art
supplies while you are trying to teach them to expand
their creative skills, you'll enjoy these perfect projects!
- 20 Fun Ideas That Won't Break The Bank - When the
kids get home from school, make some of these fun and
inexpensive crafts! Not ready to spend a fortune on
supplies? We've come up with some fun projects you can
make with recycled materials from around the house.
Here are some ideas to get you started!
- Bottle Pumpkin - Kids will love putting these super easy
pumpkins together. Make a whole bunch of them to
decorate for a Halloween party or to set out on the
porch!
- Bug Village - Here's a great craft for almost NO money!
All you need are a few sticks, some acorn tops, rocks,
and imagination! These darling little critters have a
home of their own in this cute craft.
- Cardboard Tube Scarecrow - This fun recycled craft
made from a paper towel roll and scrap fabrics and felts
is an adorable project for Fall. Gather the kids around,
pull out the craft supplies and get cracking on your own
scarecrows!
- Coffee Filter Sunflowers - Some of my favorite crafts are
ones created with items that are often found around the
house. This big, beautiful sunflower is a great example.
All you need are coffee filters, crayons, scissors and a
glue stick!
- Craft Stick Fall Tree - This simple craft is a great way to
celebrate the coming of fall, even for the younger set. No
patterns are required, just sticks, foam or felt and a little
imagination.
- Fall Crayon Craft - I love a clearance rack. After every
holiday, I am out hunting the bargains. In recent years,
Halloween has emerged as the second largest retail
holiday. That means lots of neat merchandise to amass
|and people are decorating earlier than ever. As I went
through my Halloween boxes, I came across a ghost cake
pan that was free with a purchase. Ghost cakes are
adorable, albeit a little on the large side. But who needs
cake when the trick-or-treat candy is so plentiful? So I
decided I needed a new idea to use the ghost cake pan.
- Fall Leaves Shirt - This adorable shirt can be made for
either a boy or a girl. So colorful and vibrant they are
definitely going to love it! Go even further and add their
name for a personalized touch. Make one today!
- Feeding Station For Birds - Make this Feeding Station
for Birds out of recycled plastic pop bottles. And don't
miss the simple pine cone feeder for the little ones to
make.
- Football Star Shirt - Is your child a budding football
star? Maybe you have big football fans in your family?
This shirt is an ideal gift and a really fun project for
game day. Whether a fan or a player, your kids will love
it!
- Furry Head Pencils - Terri of MakingFriends.com brings
us this great craft. Watch 'em wiggle when you write!
Makes a great party favor.
- Memory Collage - We all want to teach our children that
it's not the material things in life that are important, but
it's not always an easy lesson. One way we can begin to
teach this is to focus on family memories in the making
of a collage.
- Paper Bag Tree - Grab a brown paper lunch bag and
some Autumn colored tissue paper to make this easy and
fun tree that appears to be blowing in the wind. A fun
craft to make with your children this Fall season.
- Personalized Pencil Case - Personalize a pencil case for a
cool back-to-school accessory. Super easy for kids of any
age, get your kids started on this fun project today.
- Plastic Cup Crow - So many scarecrow crafts, but what
about the crows? As autumn rolls in and farmers work
on their harvest, the crows will be looking for free
goodies. Make this cute little crow to celebrate fall!
- Salt Dough Football - It's football season! Here's a fun
craft to keep your kids busy during the game. Make this
fun mini football into a magnet for the fridge or even a
good luck charm for watching the game!
- Salt Dough Pumpkin Patch - Salt dough is a great
medium for fun and creative crafting. Take this sparkly
pumpkin patch for instance! Salt dough recipes aren't
just for kids. Make these fun and festive pumpkins this
Fall for your holiday decorating.
- School Days Pin - These crafts are easy to make and are
ideal for back to school.
- Sukkah Plaque - Autumn is just around the corner. Be
ready to make these fun crafts with your kids. Share
these ideas with your child's teacher so the whole class
can join in the fun.
- Wreath of Leaves - Autumn is just around the corner. Be
ready to make this fun fall craft with your kids. Share
this colorful idea with your child's teacher so the whole
class can join in the fun.
Precious Gems
You know God has blessed you with a house full of little boys when to soothe your fussy baby girl, you find yourself humming the "Spider Man" theme song... ~ Elaine in Virginia
It's official. We are in trouble. I tell Mike (husband) we need to go to the P-A-R-K and Anna (4) says, "Yea, and I need to take my bike! Yikes! ~ Lauren in Virginia
It's official. We are in trouble. I tell Mike (husband) we need to go to the P-A-R-K and Anna (4) says, "Yea, and I need to take my bike! Yikes! ~ Lauren in Virginia
While visiting our daughter and hubby in Georgia, our "prophetic" grandson (4) asked me why his Papaw Jack and I were so old. I told him we were born a long time ago and each year, our bodies age. I did remind him that even though he was only 4, he was older than he was when he was born, to which he replied: "But my skin is still straight." ~ Jane (sent by Terrie in Virginia)
The following three quotes are from my niece, Bethany (3) ~ Julie in Washington
"Beth, do you want to go to the gym with me tomorrow?"
Bethany: "Who's Jim?"
"How old are you?"
Bethany: "I'm free!"
"Beth, do you want to go to the gym with me tomorrow?"
Bethany: "Who's Jim?"
"How old are you?"
Bethany: "I'm free!"
What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"Bethany: "Five!"
Years ago when our daughter was a waitress, a young family was about to order, when Joy reminded the parents that their little boy was "Free!" He looked at her with a scowl and said in no uncertain terms, "I'm four!!!" ~ Lois
The following three gems are from Nancy in Pennsylvania, after finding some quotes she had written down years ago when her kids were small:
Diane and Kevin were staying with Grandpa and Grandma Walker for a few days. While eating, Diane (6) kicked Grandma under the table. When Grandma asked why Diane kicked her, Diane said, "I just wanted you to look at me so I could tell you I love you!" ~ Nancy in PA
One evening my husband and I were playing around and he began to chase me. I ran into the bathroom and tried to lock the door. But he pushed it open and gave a gentle push. As a result, I fell back into the open clothes hamper! Later, Diane (6) called Grandma and told her that "Daddy was fighting Mommy and stuck her in the clothes hamper." ~ Nancy in PA
I was preparing to paint the living room so I removed all the photos, etc. from the walls in the room. Kevin (3 years) came in from playing and when he saw the room, he said, "Uh, oh, Mommy, you be in trouble!" You see, he had tried removing the picture from the wall above his bed and I told him he would be in trouble if he did so! ~ Nancy in PA
I got a good laugh tonight as the girls were in the bathtub and I heard Savannah (4) inform her daddy, "Dad, this generation (pointing to herself and sister) needs more bubbles." ~ Lauren in Virginia
Diane and Kevin were staying with Grandpa and Grandma Walker for a few days. While eating, Diane (6) kicked Grandma under the table. When Grandma asked why Diane kicked her, Diane said, "I just wanted you to look at me so I could tell you I love you!" ~ Nancy in PA
One evening my husband and I were playing around and he began to chase me. I ran into the bathroom and tried to lock the door. But he pushed it open and gave a gentle push. As a result, I fell back into the open clothes hamper! Later, Diane (6) called Grandma and told her that "Daddy was fighting Mommy and stuck her in the clothes hamper." ~ Nancy in PA
I was preparing to paint the living room so I removed all the photos, etc. from the walls in the room. Kevin (3 years) came in from playing and when he saw the room, he said, "Uh, oh, Mommy, you be in trouble!" You see, he had tried removing the picture from the wall above his bed and I told him he would be in trouble if he did so! ~ Nancy in PA
I got a good laugh tonight as the girls were in the bathtub and I heard Savannah (4) inform her daddy, "Dad, this generation (pointing to herself and sister) needs more bubbles." ~ Lauren in Virginia
Comment from my 3 yr-old granddaughter, Jocelynn, as I was struggling to open the top to a jar. "Nonnie, I think you have too many cracks in your skin and you aren't strong enough to do this. " (cracks = wrinkles) In other words: I am OLD! I have been avoiding all this for so long....leave it to a child to just spit out the truth! ~ Terrie in Virginia
My daughter, a part time Registered Dietitian, was giving a presentation on eating lots of fruits and vegetables to her daughter's Pre-K class. To begin she asked the children what they thought a Registered dietitian does in her job. "Magic tricks!" came the answer from one of the four year olds! She said, "No, but what I do has to do with breakfast, lunch and dinner, so what do you think I do? Another quick reply, "Wash your hands!" ~ Lois
My daughter, a part time Registered Dietitian, was giving a presentation on eating lots of fruits and vegetables to her daughter's Pre-K class. To begin she asked the children what they thought a Registered dietitian does in her job. "Magic tricks!" came the answer from one of the four year olds! She said, "No, but what I do has to do with breakfast, lunch and dinner, so what do you think I do? Another quick reply, "Wash your hands!" ~ Lois
I was giving Gracie (7) all-over face kisses when her daddy reminded her it's time to go to bed. She said, "Hold on, Daddy. I'm having a moment that I love." That made me laugh. ~ Penny in Virginia
A Ram Is on the Way
by Glynnis Whitwer
Reprinted with permission by Proverbs 31 Ministries and Glynnis Whitwer. Learn more by visiting www.Proverbs31.org and www.GlynnisWhitwer.com.
"So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.'" Genesis 22:14 (NIV)
Have you ever been in a situation so desperate that it looked hopeless?
Have you ever sat at the kitchen table wondering how you were going to pay the electric bill? Have you ever stood at a door that's been slammed in your face by an angry teenager and despaired at having a relationship with him again? Have you ever had your heart broken so deeply that you wondered if you would feel whole again?
Sadly, we live in a broken world where desperate situations happen every day. I know someone reading this devotion is wondering how she will make it through the day because her situation looks hopeless. If that is you, I encourage you to keep reading. I believe God has a message of hope for you today.
That message is found in the Bible, in the story of a man who was dealing with his own desperate situation. His name was Abraham and he faced the greatest testing of his life. After longing for a son for many years, God finally gave Abraham a boy, whom he named Isaac. Abraham never imagined God would test his faith by asking him to sacrifice his son. But it happened.
It had to have been the darkest day of Abraham's life as he trudged up the mountain, with firewood strapped to his son's back. Every step took Abraham closer to what he believed to be the sad ending of a "hopeless situation," the death of his son. Yet in spite of his sorrow, Abraham trusted God. His heart wasn't soaring with joy. He wasn't dancing up the mountain. But he put one foot in front of the other. Walking through the darkness of the situation; obeying His God's commands.
Unbeknownst to Abraham, something else was walking up that mountain. Quietly. Out of sight. On the other side of the mountain. Something else was putting one foot in front of the other. Only Abraham couldn't see it.
For every step Abraham took, a ram on the other side of the mountain took a step.
All Abraham saw that day was his solitary journey of pain. As he got closer to the top of the mountain, his dread must have increased. I wonder if he asked himself any questions. I would have. I would have wondered why hadn't God intervened? Why hadn't God stopped this testing? Couldn't God see that Abraham was a man of faith? Why test him in this way?
But there was no answer. There was no voice from heaven. And so Abraham kept obeying his God's command. He put Isaac on an altar and prepared to sacrifice his one and only son.
And just at that very moment, at the very last second, when it looked like the end had come, God spoke, stopping the sacrifice. Abraham looked up and there caught in the thicket was a ram. Abraham took his son off the altar, replaced him with the ram, and offered the sacrifice to God.
Abraham named that place "Yahweh-Yireh" or "The Lord Will Provide." And the story was written down for generations of God-followers to read. It was written so that you and I today would read it as we face our own hopeless situations. It was captured in print so that you and I would know that God is already planning for our provision. We don't see it. We don't hear it. But we can trust that our God is at work. On your behalf, and on mine.
I choose to trust God today. A ram is on the way.
Dear Lord, You know how desperate I am today. You know that my faith has wavered. Although I want to trust You, I'm having trouble doing so. I ask for Your intervention in my situation, and for an increase of my faith while I wait. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
The Character of God: Understanding His Heart for Us by Brian T. Anderson & Glynnis Whitwer
The Character of God: Understanding His Heart for Us by Brian T. Anderson & Glynnis Whitwer
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst
Visit Glynnis on her blog for more encouragement and enter to win a copy of Renee Swope's new book, A Confident Heart: How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live in the Security of God's Promises.
When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!
Application Steps: Read Psalm 91. List the promises God has for those who love Him.
Reflections: God's timing is not our timing. What are some reasons God might wait to answer our prayers?
Read the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22. What are some of the things Abraham did right that I can apply to my situation?
Power Verses: Psalm 91:14, "'Because he loves me,' says the LORD, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.'" (NIV) Psalm 22:5, "They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed." (NIV)
© 2011 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries, 616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Matthews, NC 28105, www.Proverbs31.org
Excerpts from "Unusual Uses for Your Hair Dryer
by Melissa Breyer from Care2 Green Living blog
Handheld hair dryers were introduced for the domestic market in 1920, and since then countless hairdos have relied on that combination of heat and air to achieve their coiffed perfection.
But the humble blow dryer has plenty of other services to offer around the house -- here are a handful of them:
If you need to quickly set the icing on a cake, the air and heat of a hair dryer can quicken up the process.
If your cake won't unstick from the cake pan, use your hair dryer on the bottom of the pan then invert it, it should drop right out.
Running an ice cream scoop under hot water helps, but you can also try using a hair dryer on the carton to soften ice cream for easy scooping.
Automatic ice-makers can get jammed with frozen ice; relieve that with a long blast of hot air to melt unwanted icebergs.
Remove contact paper from shelves by heating it with the hair dryer and gently working the edges up. Also works for bumper stickers and other rogue sticky things.
Use a hair dryer to dust hard-to-dust items; the air will blow the dust somewhere else, but hopefully somewhere else that is easier to dust.
Personally, I like my kids' crayon marks on my walls, but for the rest of you: Heat the crayon marks until softened, then scrub with hot water and detergent.
Old photo albums with magnetic pages can get stuck -- unstick them with a blast from the hair dryer.
Spot-iron wrinkles by lightly dampening the area and then heating the wrinkles with your dryer.
Wet boots, shoes, and sneakers can take on a terrible odor if left to dry slowly -- alleviate that by drying them with your hair dryer.
Winter can bring frozen windows and locks -- thaw them with a hair dryer.
Window screens collecting dust and pollen? Blow it back to whence it came.
Removing bandages can hurt more than the wound, so soften the adhesive with a hair dryer first to ease the rip.
Bonus: For wrinkled ribbons and fabric belts, employ a curling iron to straighten them out.
For Those Who Are Being Tossed in the Tempest
www.crosswalk.com - Selected
Stand up in the place where the dear Lord has put you,
and there do your best.
God gives us trial tests.
He puts life before us as an antagonist face to face.
Out of the buffeting of a serious conflict we are expected to grow strong.
The tree that grows where tempests toss its boughs and bend its trunk
often almost to breaking, is often more firmly rooted than the tree which
grows in the sequestered valley where no storm ever brings stress or
strain. The same is true of life.
The grandest character is grown in hardship.
Marriage Assessment
Excerpt taken from A New Day for Your Marriage, 21 Days to a Healthier Relationship, copyright © Chuck and Eileen Rife, 2003. www.guardyourmarriage.com
http://www.eileenrife.com - Used by permission
We have often viewed September as a month of beginnings. With the kids back in school and a new season right around the corner, we like to take a deep breath and assess where we are in our marital relationship, as well as other areas of our lives.
Perhaps you'd like to do the same. We've provided a 10 statement assessment you can use to evaluate where you are right now in your marriage. Take a few minutes to review the following list, placing your number (one, lowest and ten, highest) beside each statement.
This sheet would make a good conversation starter for your date night this week.
Rate yourselves on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest) in each of the following areas:
1. We include God in our marriage. ____
2. We talk about our expectations. ____
3. We write love letters to each other. ____
4. We practice effective communication. ____
5. We manage stressors the day they occur. ____
6. We have forgiven each other for past hurts. ____
7. We enhance our romance weekly. ____
8. We make time for each other every day. ____
9. We minister to others together. ____
10. We are kind to one another. ____
11. We treat each other to an occasional surprise. ____
12. We show love to one another in front of the kids. ____
13. We pray together every day. ____
14. We play and laugh together every day. ____
15. We show the fruit of the Spirit in our marriage. ____
16. We show honor to one another. ____
17. We speak the truth to one another in love. ____
18. We hold each other accountable. ____
19. We rejoice in our differences. ____
20. We are helping our remarriage flourish. ____
21. We enjoy a fulfilling sexual relationship. ____
Now choose ONE of the statements to focus on this week.
What will you do to raise your number?
Put your plan into action!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Precious Gems
Ladies, thanks for sending your kids' quotes to me to share in Heart to Heart, as well as giving permission when I ask. How do children keep coming up with all these quotes?
Living in a foreign country, we try to encourage Caleb (4) to be polite and say hello and good-bye, etc., in our adopted country's language, even though up to this point he doesn't know a lot of the language. Most of the time he just turns away without saying anything. However, one evening as we were leaving Burger King, Caleb turned to me and said very proudly and excitedly, "I waved good-bye to her in Turkish!" ~ Alyssa in Asia Minor
(At the beach) Gracie (9) says to me, "Daddy made me ride a wave so high on my board that it hurt my spleen!" I say, "Oh really?" Where is your spleen?" Her response, "I don't know. Where is it?" I show her the general location and then she says, "Wow! I guess it was my spine then." ~ Penny in Virginia
Savahhan (3): Gram-B, how many people do you know?
Gram-B: A bunch! How many do you know?
Savannah: 6
Gram-B: Can you name them?
Savannah: They're already named!
Outsmarted again by an almost 4 year old! ~ Marlene in Virginia
Me: "Sierra, what do you want to do while Sam (brother) is at school today?"
Sierra (4): "I want to eat chocolate and go shopping!"
Sounds good to me ;-) ~ Tiffany in Colorado
Andrew (6) came up to me one day and said, "I closed my eyes and turned them so they could see inside of me. Guess what I saw? Jesus in my heart!!" ~ Stacy in Virginia
While shopping with his parents, my grandson, Daniel (3), spotted a woman in the store and asked excitedly, "Is that Grammie?" His mom said, "No, it's not Grammie. She lives in Virginia." Daniel persisted, saying, "I think it IS Grammie and I think we should go ask her!! I miss her and she misses me too!" ~ Lois (So true!)
Driving through the little town where I grew up from infant to age 9, I showed my girls the playground and house of my childhood. We later passed the convenience store and then a cemetery. I told them how I would ride my bike through the neighborhood and sometimes my friends and I would go look at the neat tombstones to read the names or look at the pictures engraved on them. "And did you look at them with 'somber' faces, Mom? Coryn (8) asked. She's obviously been reading a lot lately to come up with that 10 cent word! ~ Alison in Ohio
Driving through the little town where I grew up from infant to age 9, I showed my girls the playground and house of my childhood. We later passed the convenience store and then a cemetery. I told them how I would ride my bike through the neighborhood and sometimes my friends and I would go look at the neat tombstones to read the names or look at the pictures engraved on them. "And did you look at them with 'somber' faces, Mom? Coryn (8) asked. She's obviously been reading a lot lately to come up with that 10 cent word! ~ Alison in Ohio
Kids' Comments after the 5.8 Earthquake in Virginia (8/23/11)
An earthquake-traumatized Aiden (5) looked at me a minute ago and asked if you could see earthquakes and it they are underground. I tried to explain that you could see the effects of an earthquake and that they are indeed underground. He then pointed out the window to the site that prompted his question and said he's found the earthquake. It was actually the remnant of a groundhog hole! ~ Ellen Rachel in Virginia
Micah (5) said, "Maybe aliens were trying to steal our house, but our house was too heavy for them to take!" Seriously--No more TV for him! ~ Elaine in Virginia
We started looking at the sky to see if there was a tornado. Andrew (6) looked at me and asked, "Is God destroying the earth already?" ~ Stacy in Virginia
It's such a comfort to know:
"When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm." Psalm 75:3
"Lord, YOU have been our dwelling place, through all generations." Psalm 90:1
Only God can turn a MESS into a MESSage,
a TEST into a TESTimony,
a TRIal into a TRIumph,An earthquake-traumatized Aiden (5) looked at me a minute ago and asked if you could see earthquakes and it they are underground. I tried to explain that you could see the effects of an earthquake and that they are indeed underground. He then pointed out the window to the site that prompted his question and said he's found the earthquake. It was actually the remnant of a groundhog hole! ~ Ellen Rachel in Virginia
Micah (5) said, "Maybe aliens were trying to steal our house, but our house was too heavy for them to take!" Seriously--No more TV for him! ~ Elaine in Virginia
We started looking at the sky to see if there was a tornado. Andrew (6) looked at me and asked, "Is God destroying the earth already?" ~ Stacy in Virginia
It's such a comfort to know:
"When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm." Psalm 75:3
"Lord, YOU have been our dwelling place, through all generations." Psalm 90:1
Only God can turn a MESS into a MESSage,
a TEST into a TESTimony,
a VICTim into a VICTory.
GOD is GOOD---all the time! ~ Unknown
We are praying for those on the East Coast who were in the path of destruction left behind by Hurricane Irene!
Dollar Stretcher Tips
www.stretcher.com - Readers' Tips - Used by permission from the Editor, Gary Foreman
Summer Teas ~ You pay a lot for those fruity delightful teas, but you can make your own that's even better by freezing crushed fruits in ice trays. I place fruit in blender with some water and then pour it into ice trays to freeze. When I want to serve fruity teas or even water, I just take out several squares of the frozen mixture and place them into a glass or pitcher. It's so yummy, all natural, and very refreshing on these sultry hot days. - S. Additional Dollar Stretcher Resource: More alternatives to soda.
Saving Summer Herbs ~ My garden has a lovely overabundance of basil this summer. I use as much as I can in salads, omelets, and sauces. However, I also keep some for the winter. Using my food processor, I pulse several cups of basil leaves with a couple of tablespoonfuls of extra virgin olive oil. Next I spoon the puree into ice cube trays and freeze until firm. Once the basil is frozen, I pop the cubes into a freezer bag to be enjoyed in soups and stews or with pasta and garlic during the long winter months. It's simpler than pesto, but just as versatile. - Rasa
Using Leftovers ~ Leftovers are great only if you eat them. In the past, I often forgot what I put in my fridge, especially if I put it away in a container that was not see-through. Recently, I came up with the idea of writing the contents on the side of the reusable plastic container with a dry erase marker. That way, I know what is in there, and the writing comes off in the dishwasher. ~ Dawn G. in South Bend, IN
Kids' Birthdays ~ When my children were young, they were often invited to birthday parties. We would spend about $15 on a gift but also had the expense of gift wrap and a card. I found an inexpensive solution to the cards. I went to a Michael's store and purchased a set of rubber stamps with pictures that appealed to kids, such as an ice cream cone, a couple of hearts, etc. The set also came with an ink pad. The total cost, as I recall, was $5 to $7. Then I purchased a set of 3x5 unlined index cards. I folded each card in half and stamped a picture on the cover to make a small card. On the inside, my child could write "To Mary from Joan" or any other short message. It took almost no time to create these. We used these for many birthday parties during the years and still use them now that my kids are teens (although there are fewer parties). I have also used them for baby showers and adult gifts, as well. ~ Dorothy
Free Stone Walkways ~ I recently made a stepping-stone path in our yard, absolutely free. First, I measured the area and estimated how many "steps" I'd need. Then, I drove around to various construction sites in our area. Wherever I'd see broken-up chunks of concrete, I'd stop and ask if I could take a few of the smaller pieces. I looked for pieces that had a flat side, and were roughly about a foot square. Within three days, I had enough chunks to start my project! Next, I laid the chunks out in the desired path. For each one, I dug about two feet down, so that the flat top was flush with the ground. It took a little patience to get each step level, but the results are rewarding. I finished the edges of my new path off with pea gravel and sprinkled it with pretty marbles and colored stones. Now I get comments all the time on my lovely, homemade path. Similar stones cost around $2 to $3 each, so I saved about $60! ~ Shaunna Additional Dollar Stretcher Resource: More on Inexpensive Landscaping.
Above Ground Repairs ~ My above ground pool had a large tear in the liner. The patch kits they sell for $9.99 have repair adhesive and a 3x12 piece of vinyl. We went to the Walmart® craft section and found a 54 x 1/4 yard piece of identical clear vinyl for 49 cents! And I purchased a tube of repair adhesive for $3 that will last a long time. I also like having the extra supplies close by in case it is needed quickly. If you curve the cut in the vinyl, it lays better than a square or rectangle. - S. in Rochester, NY
Jar Storage ~ I use jars from other foods to store leftover soups, veggies, fruits, gravies, etc. I just keep a few jars that fit my needs. I especially like the ones with wide mouths. I can see at a glance what I have, and they take up little space in the fridge. The same jars can be used to keep dry foods in the cupboard. I have large jars for rice, flour, sugar, powdered milk, beans, and pastas. They are a frugal alternative to Tupperware® and other plastics. They don't require plastic wrap to cover the food like when I use a bowl for storage. If I'm packing a lunch to take to work, I use a small jar or two to hold fruit, yogurt, etc. They can be washed and come with lids that fit. (If I'm taking liquids with me, I make sure the lid fits tight.) - K.
Plumber's Clogged Drain Secret ~ Many years ago, I met an old-timer who worked for the city sewage department. He told me a story about clogged drains in the city's buildings, as it was his job to unclog these drains. He had a sure-fire method and it only took a big bucket! When he went into the bathroom, the first thing he did was to run the hot water full blast and filled his bucket with the hottest water he could get. Then he poured the hot water down the toilet. He did this three times! Viola! This cleared the toilet slick as a whistle. I tried this and it works. The only difference is I boil my water to a rolling boil and it clears our drains quickly and easily. I live in a apartment building. Even though the other tenants are always calling for the plumber, we have never had to. We just pour three buckets of boiling water down the spout. Clears it every time. Try it and see for yourself. The cost is a lot cheaper than a plumber's house call! - John D.
Natural Hair Care ~ The best homemade beauty tip that is equivalent to any expensive hair treatment is to use warmed olive oil on your hair to repair, smooth, and hydrate. Just warm the oil, massage it into your hair, and leave on half an hour before washing as normal. Makes your hair luxurious and smooth. - E. Additional Dollar Stretcher Resource: More frugal help for controlling frizzy hair.
Research Shows that Xylitol Prevents Tooth Decay
Xylitol is a healthy alternative to sugar and can be used in cooking.
Xylitol mints and gum are available in health food stores. I know of the Spry brand, but there may be others as well.
To read details on how Xylitol prevents tooth decay, go to http://www.cda.org/popup/xylitol
Xylitol mints and gum are available in health food stores. I know of the Spry brand, but there may be others as well.
To read details on how Xylitol prevents tooth decay, go to http://www.cda.org/popup/xylitol
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