October 4, 2011

Making a Mad Scientist CostumeThis is a page about making a mad scientist costume. Being a mad scientist for Halloween is a great costume because it has so many possibilities. It's easy adapt for children or adults and can be as crazy or frightening as you like.

 

Making Homemade Ice CreamThis is a page about making homemade ice cream. Making your own ice creams gives you endless flavor possibilities. There are a number of different methods and devices for making homemade ice cream.

 

Making a Playing Cards CostumeThis is a page about making a playing cards costume. The playing card costume is great for wearing as an individual or with a group. This fun inexpensive costume is sure to be a hit at a Halloween party or trick-or-treating.

 

Organizing Craft SuppliesMaterials for crafts can take up a lot of room, it is best to have an organized system so you can find what you want when you want it. This is a page about organizing craft supplies.

 

Homemade Vanilla ExtractThis is a page about making vanilla extract. Vanilla extract has many uses, especially for baking. Making your own will allow you to have fresh vanilla extract whenever you need it.

 

Making Homemade JamThis is a page about making homemade jam. The abundance of fresh fruit either from your own trees or the market almost demands making jam. Homemade jam is easy and delicious and allows you to create your own flavors and combinations. It also makes a wonderful gift.

 

Mashed Potato RecipesThis page contains mashed potato recipes. Mashed potatoes are a delicious side dish. There are a number of ways to make mashed potatoes and many flavorful variations.

 

Blueberry Layer SaladLove the fresh blueberries and cream cheese in this recipe!

 

Easy Pumpkin SquaresThis is so quick and easy to make with ingredients we usually keep in the pantry. I buy the cake mix when it is on sale for a dollar or less.

 

Baked ChickenLove the jam in this recipe. Very easy and fairly inexpensive to make.

 

Tuna CasseroleAn old standby. Very good, easy to make, and cheap!

 

Veggies and Rice with SausageI created this recipe to use up leftovers, as a sort of ratatouille. Well, my family loves it and we try it in different variations. There is never any left over.

 

Sriracha DipI recently learned how to make a true Thai sriracha sauce instead of using store bought. It turned out to be a wonderful blend of spicy heat and garlic flavor!

 

Baked PineappleA favorite of my husband. Very sweet and yummy!

 

Crockpot Cabbage and MeatballsI love the flavor the cabbage gives this meal. Instead of making cabbage rolls, when my children were little, I would just make it this way and just not give the cabbage to the children.

 

Marshmallow FondantPlace butter in a bowl and set aside. Place marshmallows in a large microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on High for 30 seconds to 1 minute to start melting the marshmallows.

 

Peach Cream PieI first had this when a friend made it years ago. Very yummy!

 

Grilled Pineapple with Coconut SorbetThis low fat, refreshing dessert is perfect for a summer evening. It is easy to prepare and totally addicting!

 

Wrap PincushionWith the computerized machines today we are told not to have magnetized pin cushions close so this was a handy solution I found on Martha Stewart.com.

 

Hard Boiled Egg TestTo test if an egg is hard boiled or still has a way to go in the pot, try this: Remove from hot water and lay gently on it's side on the counter top. Spin it; if it spins nicely it is boiled.

 

Store Shoes In ShoeboxesGo to Dollar Tree and buy plastic tub size shoe boxes that they have. The bottoms are see through and the plastic lid helps keep shoes in good condition.

 

Preparing Your Soil in Spring for a Bountiful GardenIn order to have a bountiful garden, I leave all my bug infested fall produce and rotted produce in the garden for the winter. Or, I dig it in. Where I live, winter is harsh, and it is composted over the winter months.

 

Hummingbird Hovering For A MealWe see the Anna's hummingbird daily at this time of year. I had stepped out on the garden patio this morning and saw the hummingbird at the Hot Lips sage plant in our east garden. That is a new plant that we obtained this week.

 

Scrabble - Cooking EditionIf you like word games and you like food and/or cooking then you're really going to love Scrabble Cooking Edition! I am asking for one for Christmas. Oh, and if you know other word loving foodies your Christmas gift is solved for them too :-)

 

Photo: Dancing Like a PrincessI took this picture of my daughter dancing and spinning "like a princess" in our yard.

 

Incense Stick in Flower ArrangementI love the smells of Fall. I have a decorative bouquet of flowers that I bought at a garage sale for $4. And a table for $10. I might bring it in once it freezes outside so it won't break.

 

Hang Ribbon SpoolsI hung 2 chains from my ceiling 2 3/4 feet apart and 3 feet long. Then I took a 1/2 inch pole that is 3 feet long and filled it with the ribbons that were on their original cardboard spools.

 

Freezing Cut LemonsI love lemons, if for nothing else other than for a facial astringent and putting down my garbage disposal. I also like to use them on my salmon (fish) and in water. Once they get too ripe, that's what I use for cleaning.

 

Removing Adhesive Labels from Glass JarsI paint glass jars and find at times the labels are nearly impossible to remove without using chemicals. I found a much easier way and it's far less frustrating.

 

Vinegar Dish Washing SystemHow many of you use vinegar to augment your ordinary dish soap? The idea is simple. Find a large pump squirt bottle and fill it half and half with vinegar and water.

 

Wildlife: Lonely Roe DeerThe little Roe Deer was all alone, so cute all by itself

 

What to Wear While GardeningThe best clothing to wear while gardening is the kind that feels comfortable while you are reaching, bending, crouching, and sitting.

 

Thrifty Scouring PadWe can get a little extra use from aluminum foil before we discard it by wadding it up to make a scouring pad. This will even work to polish steel sinks and aluminum ware.

 

Halloween Costume: Mad ScientistI put this homemade mad scientist costume together so I could play "Host" to my son's Halloween themed birthday party.

 

Reuse Pictures On Address Labels As StickersMany address labels have a small picture to the left of the address. By carefully cutting between the picture and address, we salvage strips of picture stickers that we give to our young grandchildren.

 

Store Arts and Crafts In Ziptop BagsI use Ziploc bags to organize my arts and crafts. I put my stickers, ribbon, scissors, markers, tape, and glue in the bags. You can even label them and a box of Ziploc bags doesn't cost that much if you buy a box at a dollar store.

 

Making a Homemade Playing Cards CostumeHere is a site with an excellent set of step-by-step instructions for making a homemade playing cards costume. The materials are easy to obtain and inexpensive, making this a great frugal option this Halloween.

 

Shelf Unit End StorageI have a lot of these shelf units. The cool thing about them is the support rods have holes in the shelves themselves.

 

Scenery: High Surf at the Jetty (Bastendorf Beach,...Two friends and I went out on a photo shoot yesterday. These are photos that I took at Bastendorf Beach during the high surf period on Sept. 27, 2011.

 

Toasting Coconut in the MicrowaveThere many recipes that call for toasted coconut. It is easy to toast your own coconut at home in the microwave. Just follow these simple instructions:

 

My Frugal Life: Food Enough for VisitorsIn my small community there are many traditions including having enough food for people that visited around a meal time. It was important to feed them, so this was done by taking out a few more things than was needed for our family.

 

Product Review: Magic MeshAnyone who watches TV has seen the commercials for the Magic Mesh screens. Well, I was trying to come up with a doggy door of some sort without cutting a hole in my glass door.

 

Getting Coupons in the Mail?How do I receive coupons in the mail?

 

Homemade Fly Repellent?Does anyone know of a homemade spray to get rid of flies?

 

Canning Butternut Squash?I would like to know if you can, can butternut squash.

 

Determining Value of an Old Book Box?I have a dove tailed wood box that is labeled "The National Encyclopedia", P.F Collier and Son Corporation. This box obviously held their books. I am wondering if the wood box has any value due to it's age.

 

What Can I Make for Dinner with These Ingredients?What can I make using ricotta cheese, linguini, ground beef, butter, cream, pancake mix, bananas, apples, garlic, and green onion?

 

Wasp Sting Remedies Not Working?I was stung by a yellow jacket 2 days ago and have tried all the home treatments I know of. I got the stinger out, applied ice, baking soda, vinegar, antihistamine, OTC itch cream. Nothing is working. The itch is horrible and there is a good deal of swelling and redness.

 

Hiding Valuables?Any ideas on where I can hide jewelry so it would be difficult for a thief to find, but still convenient for me to get to on a daily basis? I used to keep things in my bathroom medicine cabinet in empty makeup and face cream containers, but when we had a break-in, those items were taken.

 

Pop Tab Art Book?Are there any books on pop tab art? I'd like to get one.

 

Getting Rid of Asian Beetles?Every fall, when the soybeans are picked, we are swarmed by Asian beetles. They come inside through the tiniest crack around windows and doors. They smell terrible when they are crushed. How can we keep them outside?

 

80qt Gott Cooler Replacement Lid Latch?I have an older 80qt Gott cooler and need a replacement latch for the lid. I know that the company is now Rubbermaid, but I have looked all over the internet and can't find replacements. Where can I get a part?

 

Sears Garage Door Remote Won't Open Door?I have a double garage, each with a 2003 Sears opener. Prior to going away for 9 months, both remotes worked on the doors. Now, I cannot get one of the remotes to work on the second door. I tried both remotes on the one door and I am able to get both to function on one door.

 

Home Grown Pineapple Plant?How do you know when to pick a pineapple? We live in Florida.

 

Where Can I Buy Pop Tabs?I would like to buy pop tabs for some crafts I'm doing. Any suggestions?

 

Cat Incontinence?We have a beautiful kitty that has feline herpes and it has come to the point that he is incontinent. He does not know he is peeing or pooping when it happens. We have purchased puppy training mats to put over his beds so we don't have to wash them everyday.

 

Canning Tomatoes?I canned tomatoes and I didn't put lemon juice into the jars. Is that going to create a health issue when I open the jars? The tomatoes were boiled, then put into sterilized jars and have sterile lids. I also put them into a boiling water bath for ten minutes.