Where Saving Money is Making Money!
Halloween is often filled with all sorts of sugary sweets and treats. While it is fun to indulge, I love to have healthy food options on hand as well. I find that the more my frig and pantry are stocked with healthier options, the less likely I am to reach for sugar-laden snacks. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to roundup a list of creative healthy Halloween snack ideas.
↓↓↓ (Click on “Read more…” below to view the rest of this post) ↓↓↓
Here is a roundup of deliciously wicked Halloween cupcakes ideas with recipes and step by step instructions. There are all sorts of creative concoctions including candy corn cupcakes, Reese’s Frankenstein cupcakes and my personal favorite, bloody eyeball cupcakes. Halloween most definitely allows for imagination to run wild and I am always tickled to death to see what people create in the kitchen for this holiday. Enjoy!
↓↓↓ (Click on “Read more…” below to view the rest of this post) ↓↓↓
Here is a fun list of easy to make diy kids Halloween costumes. This is a roundup of homemade Halloween costumes for kids of various ages and there are all sorts of cool ideas. All of the costumes are relatively easy to make and to put together, so this list will come in especially handy if you find yourself short on time and you would just rather make your own Halloween costume. I know I never seem to have enough time and am usually rushing about at the last minute on just about every holiday. Personally, I think it is super fun to see what kind of costume a person can come up with with whatever items they have around the house. I just love all of the fantastic ideas people have come up with for all sorts of creative kids costumes. It is simply amazing how far imagination can go, isn’t it?! 🙂
Felt Monarch Butterfly Wings Tutorial from Buggy and Buddy.
Make a Paper Doll Costume from Instructables.
DIY Toy Army Soldier Costume from Wild Ink Press.
Easy to Make Homemade Lego Costume from Wine and Glue.
DIY Candy Box Halloween Costumes from MayDae.
Homemade Mermaid Costume from Mama.Papa.Bubba.
DIY Cookie Monster Costume from The Chirping Moms.
DIY Disney Frozen Elsa Costume from a Pumpkin and a Princess.
DIY Disney Frozen Olaf Costume with free templates from East Coast Mommy.
Last Minute Kids Owl Costume from Alpha Mom.
No Sew DIY Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Costume from Crafts by Courtney.
Lil’ Painter Costume from Delightful Order.
Last Minute Despicable Me Minion Costume from Make and Takes.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid DIY Halloween Costumes from Living Locurto.
You may also like…
Here we have a roundup of 12 absolutely ingenious Easy to Make DIY Paper Hats. All of these DIY paper hat crafts are simple to make with easy, everyday items like construction paper, cardstock, popsicle sticks, glue and tissue paper. I just love the creativity of these projects, all of which the kiddos (and adults) are sure to get a kick out of.
DIY Paper Dinosaur Hat from Cutting Tiny Bites with tutorial. Super cute Dinosaur hat that kids will no doubt love. And the great thing is it only involves construction paper, a glue stick, scissors and tape. Totally clever!
DIY Paper Chef Hat from PBS, includes a free printable label for the front of the hat.
Tea Party Hats from Just One Mom Trying.
Despicable Me DIY Minions Hat from Craft Passion with full tutorial.
Easter Bonnet Tissue Paper Hat from Zing Zing Tree. Includes easy to follow instructions.
DIY Holiday Paper Plate Hats for every occasion from Alpha Mom. All sorts of cool ideas!
Jester’s Hat with free printable template from First Palette.
Paper Plate Millinery Bonnets from Almost Unschoolers. Made with paper bowls and plates together, very creative!
Monkey Hat via Kix Cereal, how cute is this hat?!
DIY Shark Hat from Mod Cloth.
Handprint Reindeer Antler Hat from Meet the Dubiens, includes full instructions.
Homemade Medieval Princess Hat Tutorial from Childhood 101, absolutely beautiful!
Here is a handy list of 25 different ways to use borax. A smart and easy way you can cut costs is by using what you already have on hand around the house. Borax is one of those items that most of us already have in our pantries, so why not get as much use out of it as possible? While borax is most commonly used in the laundry room, there are a surprising number of other ways borax can also be utilized. Borax is generally very inexpensive to purchase as well.
1. Hairbrush Cleaner. Use a 1/4 cup of borax with a tablespoon of dish soap in a small tub of warm water. Soak the hairbrushes and rinse well. The borax works great at getting off any residue.
2. Rust Remover. Make a paste of equal parts lemon juice and borax. Rub the paste on the rust stain and let sit for a few minutes. Rinse with water.
3. Drain Cleaner. Pour 1/2 cup borax down your drain. Follow up up with 2 cups of boiling water. After 30 minutes, run the tap water until the drain flushes out.
4. Ant Deterrent. Mix 1 tablespoon of borax with 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of water. Mix together and add the mixture to a very shallow bowl. Personally, I found a lid worked the best. I also found soaking a cotton ball and putting the cotton ball on the lid worked better than just putting the water mixture in a lid by itself. I was very skeptical of this method until I tried it out for myself. I went into our bathroom one morning and a line of ants had made their way onto our bathroom counter, making breakfast out of our mouthwash of all things. UGH! I immediately tried out this solution and much to my delight, it totally worked. It takes time, but I found it to be very effective.
5. Floor Cleaner. Use a solution of 1/3 cup of borax, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 gallon of hot water.
6. China Reviver. If your china is starting to look a bit dingy, soak in warm water with 1/2 cup of borax for about 30 minutes. This will brighten your china right up!
7. Candle Wick Treater. Do you like making your own candles? Treat the wick with borax to get more life out of your handmade candles. Soak the wick in a solution of 3 tablespoons of borax, 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 cup of water for 24 hours. Let the wick dry completely before using. Treating the wicks this way will make the wick last longer and reduce ashes.
8. DIY Cleaning Slime. Now here’s something I never thought of. Make your own cleaning slime to help clean items in hard to reach places like car vents. You can check out these Diy Slime instructions from Budget 101 for step by step details.
9. Cookware Cleaner. Sprinkle your aluminum or porcelain pans or pots with borax and gently clean away with a damp sponge.
10. Trash Can Refresher. Soak your trash can with a mixture of borax and warm water, let soak, rinse and dry thoroughly. Not only will it freshen up your garbage pail, but it will keep bugs away too.
11. Porcelain Sink Cleaner. Make a paste with 1 cup of borax and 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Apply the paste on the sink with a damp sponge or cloth and rinse with warm water.
12. Make Your Own Bouncy Ball. Yep, you can actually MAKE your own bouncy ball, how cool is that? Check out this helpful DIY Bouncy Ball recipe from The 36th Avenue with step by step instructions.
13. Flower Preserver. Dry out flowers while maintaining there shape and petals by using a mixture of 1 part borax to 1 part cornmeal or sand. Either works well.
14. Dishwasher Cleaner. Sprinkle borax in the bottom of your dishwasher and run as usual. This will banish odors and clean your dishwasher at the same time.
15. Pest Control. Ants aren’t the only critters that do not like borax. Sprinkling on baseboards is said to keep away mice, fleas and roaches (keep out of reach of pets and kids though).
16. All Purpose-Cleaner. Borax is mild, so you can use it as an all-around cleaner. Mix a solution of 1/4 cup of borax, 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap to 1 gallon of water. Add to a spray bottle and you’re ready to go.
17. Mattress Deodorizer. Sprinkle borax on mattress. Let sit 15 minutes and vacuum.
18. Laundry Helper. Of course, you can always use borax for what it’s traditionally for and that is a laundry helper. It can make clothes brighter and smell fresh longer. Add about 1/2 a cup of borax with a regular size load of laundry.
19. Carpet Stain Remover. Make a thick paste of borax and warm water. Apply to stain, let sit for a few minutes and sponge off. While borax is generally considered to be very mild, it is always a good idea to test for colorfastness beforehand.
20. Oven Vent Cleaner. You know that oven hood air vent that always seems to get nasty and greasy? Soak it in a solution of borax and water for a few minutes and voila, sparkly clean vent!
21. Carpet Deodorizer. Use a mixture of 1 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of borax and about 20 drops of your choice of essential oil (lavender is a great option). Sprinkle on carpet and vacuum.
22. Mold Remover. Use 1 cup of borax per gallon of warm water, wiping up any excess moisture as you go along.
23. Make Your Own Crystals. I really like these borax crystal shapes instructions from Club Chica Circle. Their instructions are very clear with great pictures to illustrate the whole process. Very cool!
24. Soap Scum Remover. Sprinkle borax in your shower or bathtub and wipe with a damp sponge to help remove soap scum.
25. Adhesive Remover. Remove those gummy labels with a paste of 2 parts borax to one part water.
Note: This post is part of my “Use What You Have” series where I regularly take a look at a common household product and list 25 ways to use each one. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house?
25 Ways To Use Honey – everything from hiccup reliever to lip conditioner.
25 Ways To Use Vinegar – everything from washing machine cleaner to creating a fruit fly trapper.
25 Ways To Use Baking Soda – everything from DIY modeling clay to making fluffier omelets.
25 Ways To Use Lemons – everything from making your lettuce crisper to diy grout cleaner.
25 Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide – everything from toilet bowl cleaner to seed germinator.
25 Ways to Use Old Magazines – everything from making gift bows to reshaping wet shoes.
Here is my take on a classic pea salad recipe. I call it my “Zippy Pea Salad” because it is a traditional pea salad with just a little extra kick. We like things zesty at our house, so I just spiced up the ingredients a bit. Let me first start off by saying that I LOVE pea salad. I love it so much, I could probably write a whole series of different variations of pea salad and never get bored with it. And every time I make it, it always disappears very quickly, not matter what version of it I prepare. Beyond loving the taste, I love that it is super simple to make and that the ingredients are generally cheap to purchase. For example, you can pick up 1 lb bags of frozen peas for less than a dollar at many stores (or even less on sale or when paired with coupons).
Ingredients:
Frozen Peas – 16 oz package (thawed in the refrigerator overnight)
Mayonnaise – 2 Tablespoons
Greek Yogurt – 1 teaspoon (optional)
Red Onion – 1/2 Cup Diced
Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese – about 2-3 ounces (to taste), crumbled
Black or White Ground Pepper – 1/2 teaspoon
Directions:
Drain any excess water from the thawed frozen peas. I find it works well to pat the frozen peas with a paper towel to completely remove any excess liquid, preventing a soggy salad. Believe me, a soggy salad is an unappetizing salad indeed. Add mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, red onion, cheese and ground pepper and mix well. Chill, serve and enjoy quickly because this one will not last long!
Notes: If you don’t have any Greek yogurt around, no worries. I make my zippy pea salad all the time without it and it is still awesome. I find the Greek yogurt just adds a little extra zing. You can also use yellow onions instead of red onion, but I like the extra color the red onion brings to the salad. Also, if you want to add an extra richness to this classic salad, you can also throw in 2-3 pieces of crispy bacon, finely crumbled, very yummy!
Here is a list of 25 ways to use baking soda. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house? This will be part of my “Use What You Have” series of posts. In each post, find out about different ways you can use common everyday items you are likely to already have around the house. You are probably familiar with the standard everyday uses for baking soda like deodorizing the refrigerator, so here are some not so common uses that should come in handy for future reference. See any uses not on the list? Please feel free to share your tips in the comments, thanks!
1. Flower Freshener. Keep fresh cut flowers longer by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to the water.
2. Antacid. The sodium bicarbonate in baking soda acts as a stomach acid neutralizer. The Mayo Clinic recommends adults take 1/2 teaspoon in a glass of cold water every two hours to reduce stomach upset or heartburn.
3. Hand Deodorizer. Make a paste with baking soda and water. Rub your hands with the paste, rinse well and presto, no more odor!
4. Itch Relief. Make a paste of baking soda & water to help relieve insect bites. It is also said to bring relief to sunburns.
5. Deodorant. Mix 1/2 teaspoon with a bit of water, making a paste, then rub on your armpits. Or, use a mixture of one part dry baking soda and six parts cornstarch and dust your pits with a powder puff. I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to try out this tip, but I love the idea of using a natural product for a deodorant. In the past though, I haven’t had much luck with any natural deodorants.
6. Skin Softener. Add a cup to your bath water to relieve skin irritations. You can make a body scrub out of it as well when paired with essential oil.
7. Nail Whitener. Make a paste with two parts baking soda and one part hydrogen peroxide. Massage into your fingernails (or toenails) and rinse.
8. Fire Squelcher. Put out small fires using baking soda.
9. Produce Wash. Clean your fresh fruits and vegetables with it. Add two tablespoons of baking soda to a gallon of water.
10. Fluffier Omelets. Add a pinch of baking soda for a fluffier omelet.
11. Grease Remover. Remove grease from your pots and pans.
12. Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda in your toilet bowl. Let set a few minutes, scrub and flush. Not only will it clean your toilet, but it will absorb odors as well. Good for hard water stains too.
13. Drain Cleaner. Keep your drains flowing by adding a few teaspoons weekly.
14. Modeling Clay. Yep, modeling clay! Be sure and check out I Can Teach My Child’s tutorial and instructions for homemade modeling clay, she does an excellent job of explaining it.
15. Garden Helper. Sprinkle around your garden to help deter rabbits. Apparently, they hate the stuff.
16. Insect Deterrent. Roaches and ants aren’t fans either, use baking soda to repel both of these pesky critters.
17. Seed Preserver. Keep by seeds dry by storing with a packet of baking soda. Helps absorb humidity.
18. Rain Repellent. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain.
19. Label Remover. Need to get a pesky label or tag off of a jar or glass? Make a paste with one part baking soda and two parts cooking oil to remove a stubborn label. Just don’t use this on any item that might absorb the oil. It works great on glass though.
20. Stain Remover. A thick paste of baking soda & water will remove unsightly stains from your plastic containers.
21. Sponge Reviver. Soak your kitchen sponges to help freshen them up.
23. Stuffed Animal Cleaner. Put a stuffed animal in a sealed plastic bag with baking soda and shake well. The baking soda helps remove dust and dirt.
24. Sneaker Refresher. Sprinkle in your shoes after a particularly strenuous day. Just don’t forget to tap the baking soda out of your shoes before you wear them again.
25. Jewelry Cleaner. Spiff up your sterling silver jewelry by making a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Apply with a cloth and rinse.
Note: This post is part of my “Use What You Have” series where I regularly take a look at a common household product and list 25 ways to use each one. If you want to reduce spending and cut down on things you really don’t need, why not utilize what you already have around the house?
25 Ways To Use Lemons – everything from making your lettuce crisper to diy grout cleaner.
25 Ways To Use Honey – everything from hiccup reliever to lip conditioner.
25 Ways To Use Vinegar – everything from washing machine cleaner to creating a fruit fly trapper.
25 Ways To Use Borax – everything from DIY cleaning slime to making your own bouncy ball.
25 Ways To Use Hydrogen Peroxide – everything from toilet bowl cleaner to seed germinator.
25 Ways to Use Old Magazines – everything from making gift bows to reshaping wet shoes.
You may also like…
I am a big coffee-drinker and it got me wondering about all the coffee grounds that just end up in the trash day after day. It turns out, there are a number of easy ways to reuse coffee grounds and some of them may surprise you!
↓↓↓ (Click on “Read more…” below to view the rest of this post) ↓↓↓
