I raised 4 children on my own and did more than my share of volunteer work with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, schools and church groups. I chose to live as frugally as possible, in order to have more time with my kids, and I don't regret a moment of it! I still enjoy saving money every chance I get, and hope to pass that on to my beautiful granddaughter.
There's always the option of cutting off your cable. You can watch most of your shows online at sites like hulu (http://www.hulu.com) also, most networks have their own websites also, where you can watch their shows. ( http://www.abc.com for example) ... View related article.
I am using the Low Carb diet, like Atkins, and I lose an average of 2-3 lbs a week. You can check out the science behind why this works by reading Dr. Atkins' books, or by checking out http://www.Atkins.com there are a lot of great recipes on the website.
Be sure that whatever "diet" or better yet, "eating plan" you chose, you do it in a healthy way, and drink plenty of water, get your exercise and take a multi-vitamin every day.
Chose the plan that you will have the least trouble sticking to, no diet is right for every person. Good luck! ... View related article.
You probablly need to combine the above solutions. You need both to kill the growth, and to deodorize. (Furniture polish doesn't clean or disinfect, it only shines)
The bleach solution or a Pinesol like product to kill the mold/mildew -- when you are cleaning, be sure that you don't just wipe down the surfaces, do the undersides and the backs, inside any drawers or cabinets etc. The mold/mildew could be anywhere. Don't forget the underside of the entire piece, as the entertainment center might have gotten wet from sitting in water.
After you have used these to kill the mildew and clean, then you might want to put in the charcoal to absorb any left over odors, especially inside of drawers or cabinets. Good luck!!! ... View related article.
Hadn't thought about these. Good idea. I always used the bigger boxes of wipes, and reused those containers for storage -- mostly of the kids' stuff. They're great for crayons, legos etc. ... View related article.
For lo carb, check out Atkins.com. Now, if you have diabetic problems, you will want to read the recipe through carefully, but for the most part, they are great! ... View related article.
I have a pretty plastic basket that I use. I clip jaw clips and such around the edges and hang hard plastic headbands over the edges, or lay them in the bottom of the basket. I put all my scrunchies, elastics, hair clips (the ones that are like quilters clips), barettes, fabric headbands etc. in seperate ziplocs by category and place the baggies in the basket. I even put my brushes, combs and hair-trimming scissors in the basket as well. Hope this helps! :) ... View related article.
My kids always thought it was cool to mix the pasta shapes in any kind of dish, no matter what kind of sauce or whatever we were using.
Also, if you are making a pasta salad, it looks "fancier" if you use different shapes; you look more creative! :)
One of my fave pasta salads is this one (also VERY easy to make):
We usually use tri-color rotini, but you can use whatever you have onhand, and yes, I've done it with the combination of several different kinds of pasta, and it's always been delicious and well received.
Boil the pasta til it's done (Al Dente)
To the prepared pasta, add diced tomatoes, diced cucumbers, diced onions and cubed cheddar cheese.
Add the contents of an entire bottle of italian dressing (fat free is great too). Toss to distribute the dressing throughout and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, and preferablly overnight. Serve chilled.
Optional: You can add green peepers and other diced veggies that your family likes. Yum Yum -- enjoy! ... View related article.
I work in a retail store, and the reason, as some have stated before that some stores do not accept the coupons from the internet is because it is difficult for the cashier to verify if they are fraudulant or not.
As for thriftyboo's comment:
"I know some stores refuse to accept internet coupons as there are so many fraudulent coupons circulating. I would ask for the store manager and tell him/her to visit the site to verify the coupon's validity. If he/she refuses, speak to the owner or regional manager. (10/10/2006) By thriftyboo"
this may not be a plausable solution. They won't have time to verify each coupon, and just because your "35 cents off on Green Giant Corn" coupon is valid, Joe Blow behind you might have a photocopy that is not. Also, often, this decision is made at the corporate level and managers are bound by this policy.
However, due to changing times, policies change often. Our store has never allowed us to accept internet coupons (and this was a corporate level policy), however, as of March 1 we will be doing so.
Keep checking back with any stores that do not currently accept them, as their policies too may change. ... View related article.
When my kids were little, I used to make them what I called a "stovetop chicken casserole." I used 2 or 3 packs of chicken-flavored ramen noodles and boiled them up then drained off all the water. I then added a bit of butter or margarine and the seasoning packet, along with a little extra garlic powder and mixed it all together. Then I added a small can (6-8 oz) of peas and carrots -- you could also use a can of mixed veggies. Also, add a can of chunk chicken or an equivalent amount of leftover chicken and about a tablespoon of Miracle Whip and some shredded cheddar cheese. Stir to mix and heat on stove top until cheese is melted and veggies are warmed through. My kids loved it, and I thought it was quite yummy myself. Cheap, tasty, and healthy! ... View related article.
