September 7, 2007

Cheddar and Cream Cheese BallCheese balls are easy to make and are always a huge hit at parties. Give this recipe a try before you purchase one at the store.

 

Skinny PoppersI took a Jalapeno Poppers recipe from AllRecipes.com and made it low fat/low cal by exchanging the full fat ingredients with light or fat free ingredients. I call it Skinny Poppers.

 

Favorite Mac and CheesePreheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion for 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

 

Golden Cheese SoupSaute' carrots and onion in margarine until tender. Add flour and mix. Stir in remaining ingredients.

 

Spinach DipThaw spinach and squeeze until dry. Blend all ingredients well.

 

Keep Your Purse Safe When Dining OutLadies, be careful with your purses and wallets. Learn from my mistake! I had my wallet stolen right out of my purse while dining at the Rain Forest Cafe.

 

Teacup Candles For FundraisingHere's a great fundraising idea that my Relay for Life team developed. We purchased 60 small teacups and saucers off eBay. We took the cups to a local candle making shop and had them put a wick and scented candle wax in the cups.

 

Family Birthday PhotoMy husband is always being funny. It was my daugther's birthday and he wanted to be Big Bird, take a look!

 

Roast Your Own Green ChiliesThis is the time of year to purchase fresh roasted green chilies, but why have someone else roast something you can do yourself so easily?

 

Saving Money on TextbooksTips and ideas for saving money on textbooks. Consider not buying the book until you've been to the first session of the class. Sometimes you find out that the professor plans to use the book very little, or not at all.

 

Bandana BonnetsThis is a bonnet made from one bandana, a length of ribbon and some thread. I use a little fuseable web to help with the ribbon portion. (Tip: Hobby Lobby has tons of bandanas in many many different colors and themes. If you have a Hobby Lobby in your area.)

 

Turn a Tight Sweater Into a CardiganWhen your child's pullover sweaters become too tight to wear, turn them into a cardigan by cutting them straight down the front and binding the front edges with an attractive trim.

 

Making Your Own SauerkrautI love to have kraut for the New Year and this is a easy way to have delicious kraut if you enjoy canning. Cut your raw cabbage fine. Pack in your clean jars. Press down real tight with a wooden spoon.

 

Make An Offer On Last Day Of Yard SalesThe last day of a yard sale is a GREAT day to buy LOTS of stuff. Being an avid yard sale shopper, I have had it proven over and over that, on the last day of a yard sale, the person or group of persons are VERY motivated sellers.

 

Put a Tray Under Your MixerTry placing a plastic tray under your mixer when baking. It will make the mixer easier to slide across the countertop and the tray will catch any spills. Clean-up is so much easier when all you have to do is wash the tray under the faucet.

 

Making Wall Art from Your PhotosPeople are always asking about decorating walls - I just saw a great easy project at kodak.com. Search for "Digital Wall Art" at their website.

 

Oscar (Turkish Van)This is Oscar. We are guessing he is about 4 years old. We think he may be a Turkish Van cat. He certainly fits the description and had the loyal, dog-like personality. We took him in when he was about 9 months old.

 

My Frugal Life: Live Within Your MeansRaising three children as a single mother is never easy. But the key to contentment is learning to live within your means. I never owned a new car, a house of my own, and worked in trade for most of my furniture.

 

Use a Squirt Bottle for DishesTake a squirt bottle that you are comfortable using. Fill 1/4 liquid dish soap, then fill the rest with water. When you put a dish in the sink (to be cleaned later) squirt inside with soap mixture and leave it.

 

Take Good Care of Your Books!When reading a hard cover book, take the dust jacket off, so that it does not get damaged. To clean the dust jacket, use Pledge or other spray wax. Make sure it is spray wax, as other cleaners can damage the cover. Works on other book covers as well, but test first to make sure it doesn't harm the book.

 

Inexpensive Fall Centerpieces?Need more ideas for inexpensive, fall centerpieces.

 

Should I Let My Son Quit Football?My son signed up for Football. At first he went to all the practices and is doing great at it. Now that school has started (he stated junior high and new school) he is fighting that he does not want to go, that he is getting really bad headaches. He says it is to hard with school and Football. Do I let him quit, or make him finish the season? Any advise?

 

Frugal Nickleback Band Memorabilia?I love this band, Nickelback, but can't afford posters or anything. I have already covered a notebook with pictures I printed off the internet. Any other ideas on how I can make stuff?

 

Laundry Tips for Hard Water?Does anyone have any tips for doing laundry in hard water?