Tip Tuesday: Homemade Dumplings

Well, since today decided to be Winter.... even though it's SUPPOSED to be Spring... grrrr.... I decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em... and I'll go ahead and show you how we make old-fashioned dumplings.

It's That Time Again... Garden Joy!

Oh yeah!
Time for starting some seeds!

This is all way simpler than you might think.

I'm gonna show you how I set up my seed starting operation.... and you've still got time to get the stuff you need and start your own!!!

How to Cut Girl's Bangs

Here's a few "professional" tips for the DIY salon mom!

Now, we all know that you can just comb them down and cut them off, right?  Pretty simple.

 But have you ever noticed that bangs cut by a salon always seem to turn out better?  There's just a few little tricks that make all the difference!  So, here's my basic how-to.  Sorry about the mess in the background... we had an extremely busy Saturday which just happened to end in a haircutting tutorial.  : )

Tip Tuesday: A Handy Egg Substitute

Well, apparently, Spring has sprung in our chickens' brains because they've started laying again.  It's funny, just about the time we were up to our eyeballs in eggs last Fall, they quit laying almost completely.  We didn't really mind.  In fact, I only bought a few dozen eggs all winter long... and now they're back up in production!

One of the reasons why we didn't really buy many eggs this Winter (besides the fact that they're gross and expensive) is because I use this handy substitute in most of my baking.

Tip Tuesday: Red Or White Wheat?

 Have you ever wondered what the difference is?  I have.  So, I thought you might have, too.

I've been using both for several years now.  And I can tell you from experience that neither one is red or white.

Handy Math Drills

Just found this really helpful FREE math drill online.  I've used Math-U-See curriculum for years, but haven't seen their website in quite a while.  This is pretty cool!  You can design your own drills and use them as often as you want for FREE!  You can also design and print out your own worksheets.  No bells and whistles (wasted ink) here.... just nitty gritty math practice, plain and simple.

OK, well, Happy Monday!

Tip Tuesday: Homemade Playdough

 Hi guys!  After much trial and error, I'm happy to report that we have found a winner!!

Because, you know that not everything you read on the internet is true.... and that also goes for recipes. But this one is super easy and turns out perfectly!

Tip Tuesday: Food Migraines

Now this tip is certainly not gonna apply to everyone, but if it helps one person as much as it has helped me then I'm a happy blogger!

Tip Tuesday: Cold Cereal Shake Up

OK, so I just realized that it's Tuesday.  Not bad, since it's only 6:30!  And there's two guys in my basement working on the furnace.  I'm glad because for the past several weeks it's been getting louder and louder to the point of breaking out the earplugs.  Me, not the furnace.  It sounds a lot like a deep growl going up the wall behind my head.  That's not a very comforting sound at night.  As you can imagine.  So, we're finally getting it the help it needs.  Aren't you glad you know that?

On another front.... I was mixing up the ole cereal this morning and thought you might like to know this little tidbit of tightwaddery.  We rarely buy cold cereal anymore, but when we do we always mix two different types-- sweet and plain.  Two boxes fit perfectly in these nice big pour containers that I got from Aldi a verrrry long time ago.  Then I just shake it up and whammo! Nobody can hog all the sweet cereal before everybody else wakes up.  We do this with cocoa or fruity/plain rice crispies, honey or cinnamon/plain cheerios, and frosted flakes/plain corn flakes.  Sometimes we dump a box of granola into a box of plain cornflakes (when we're feelin' really fancy).  Just make sure you hold the lid closed before you shake it up.  I'm just guessing that it might totally explode all over the kitchen if you don't.  Just guessing.

And that sums up my very exciting life.

Oh, and I got to go on a date last night with my incredibly manly, handsome SON.

 And I got a Smashburger and a movie out of the deal.... which is always good.

Oh, and I also came up with a new jewelry design.  It's an act of desperation really because I can't really go out in the garage and hammer right now due to the fact that I'm in so much pain that I can barely move my neck and I look like a robot when I turn my head.  It might help if I went to the doctor but I was raised by skeptics and I'm terrified to actually find out what's wrong in there.  So, when I say "pray for me" I really mean it because all this Aleve can't be a good thing.  But, you know how God causes all things to work together for the good?  Well, here's my latest project...

So, there ya have it...  Mix your cereal, eat a Smashburger and buy yourself a necklace.

Oh, and stay warm!  Brrrrrrr!

Tip Tuesday: Epic Thrifting

OK, so I lied.  I'm not gonna start the craft/gift idea posts until December 1st.  I'm just not quite there yet.  Don't even have the tree up.  But we are playing Christmas music and that's a good start.  And I have been doing a record amount of shopping...

On Monday my best friend from high school drove three hours--all the way to my house-- with her four adorable (well, the three girls are adorable... her son is cool)  children and she and I got to spend the entire day thrifting!  Yes, all day.  No children.  Every single thrift store in Lexington.  Noteworthy!

I didn't really find much until ---  the last stop.  And then I scored BIG TIME!  And the thing that I bought was so stinkin' big that I couldn't fit it in my ginormous van.  So, I had to come back the next day without the seats in my van and with a big, strong teenager to help me.  And while I was waiting for the goodwill guys to find some tools for us to take the huge thing apart with, I ended up buying more big stuff!  And then I had to call Captain, who was just getting off work, to come and help us.  So he bought us a tool and came and saved the day.  We also got some amazing Firehouse subs.  And I got a new (new for me) kitchen table that seats ALL of us comfortably, for only $30.  That's a major score!

And since it's Tuesday, which I just now realized, I'll leave you with a tip.  If you go to a thrift store and everything seems like junk... it probably is.  Just move on.  Every store is different and each has its own ebb and flow of treasures.  When you walk into a good one, you'll know because the prices will be really great on furniture and there will be lots of brand name clothes.  Since I spent roughly three hours at that last store, I got to talk to the employees quite a bit.  They told me that December is the best month for donations... and good, nice, BIG donations... because wealthier people want the tax deductions.  They also told me that the most donations come in on Sunday evenings after yard sales are over, but that's only during nicer weather.  So, there ya go!

Check out your thrift stores this coming month-- you might just hit the jackpot!

Oh, and I have a question for you guys... what do you think about thrifted gifts?  Would you be offended?  Or do you not really care where something came from as long as you know the giver really tried hard to get you something you would like?  It's been a big conversation topic around here and I'd really like your opinion!

Tip Tuesday: Cooking Beans For Later

So, I was having another one of those exciting homemaker-type conversations the other day... discussing the best and cheapest way to eat beans.  Everybody knows that they're a cheap and good-for-you and everything.  The problem is that canned beans are overpriced and you've got to plan waaaay ahead in order to cook dry beans for dinner.  Since I'm more of a thirty minute style cook, that just won't do.

Tip Tuesday: Dealing With Germ Season

It's that time of year again...everyone's sniffling and sneezing, we're passing around the hand sanitizer in the van with more enthusiasm than usual, and I actually remember to pass out vitamins on most days. Honestly, though, we are rarely ever sick. Our pediatrician didn't even know who we were when we all went in for check ups!  I guess that's unusual for a family of NINE.  I know lots of people want to chalk that up to our kids not being at public school, and that DEFINITELY helps, but here's something else that has made a real difference...

Tip Tuesday: Turning Flare Into Skinny

Do you have any perfectly good, great-fitting jeans packed away in the back of your closet... hiding there just because they're a little too flare-ey?  We do.  Lots of them!

Never fear!  With only a few simple steps and just a little bit of sewing know how, you'll be back up to fashion par in no time!

 All you really need for this easy project is a pen, pins, thread, scissors and your old faithful sewing machine.

And just so you know how really easy this was...This post took me longer than the sewing job!

Tip Tuesday: Inspect What You Expect

I recently read an interesting book called Large Family Logistics.  It was written by a mom of nine.  I figured that since I only raised eight, I could learn a thing or two.  ; )

Well, the book was really annoying...for the most part.

This lady is terribly organized and boring and not at all like me.  Except for maybe the boring part.  Maybe it was just her writing style.  I'm not sure.  But she also cleans her bathroom every single day.

Every.  Single.  DAY.

Yes.  I know.  What a freak, right?

Just kidding.  Sortof.

But one thing I did learn from the book is this:

Tip Tuesday: Homemade Taco Mix

Homemade mixes are one of my favorite cooking tips-- they not only save money, but also the annoyance of not having what you need on the spur of the moment.  You know, like at 4:30, when you're trying to decide what to make for dinner at 5:00?

Tip Tuesday: How to Jog...A Guide For Mommies

Who, Me?  Jog?

 Yeah, right!

I'm as shocked as you are.

It all started when I got this bright idea to exercise at least 20 minutes a day, six days a week starting in August...

Tip Tuesday: Taking Good Portraits with an Average Camera

Today's tip comes to you from my 17 year old daughter, Graci.  She is a total snapaholic.  She brings a camera everywhere and a good number of the pics on my blog come from her.  She doesn't have a fancy camera, so she spends a lot of time messing around with lighting and shooting angles to see what works best.  And she's gotten pretty darn good with her photography, if I do say so myself.

Today she's gonna show you how to use zoom to take a better portrait.

Tip Tuesday: Two Unusual Cleaning Products

Have you ever heard of this?
 I have my sister-in-law's mom to thank for this tip!

You know that weird, black grime that accumulates on the plastic floor of your walk in shower stall?  Well, this is the stuff that will get rid of it!

Tip Tuesday: Do What You Can

 Boy, it sure would be nice to own 100 fertile acres, a root cellar, a spring-fed well, a milk cow, a gigantic thriving garden, an orchard, 1000 canning jars, a windmill, a wood burning furnace, a tractor and a generator.  Oh, well, at least I have a flock of chickens. 

Yep, that, and a few other things.

 Like spam.
 And rice.

Tip Tuesday: Use Less

We're always trying to figure out ways of saving money for our family.  Most of the time we first think of how to spend less on the things we need.  How to get a better deal.  But one often overlooked method of saving money is to use less.  Here's where a little thrifty thinking comes in.  Did you know that a whole scoop full of detergent is enough for at least four loads?