Another great site!

Home Ec 101

This is a great site for tips and info
on everything pertaining to homemaking!

Tidy-Up Tuesday: freezing method

Yesterday I went to Albertson's and they had ground beef on sale $2.79 each so I grabbed three! Now I obviously need to freeze this meet but I wouldn't want to freeze it as is because it's not very accessible.

So instead I unwrapped each "log" and divided them into thirds. Took each third, flattened it and covered with saran wrap. Now I have a family serving size available
when I want to make burgers, sloppy joes, etc.


This method can work for bacon, chicken, fish. I also use this freezing method with cookie dough and bananas (cut into slices, freeze on a baking sheet, then dump into a bag - perfect for smoothies!)

Tidy-Up Tuesday: gaining more time!

Ten Tips to Gain 30 Minutes a Day
Courtesy of Buttonedup.com

1. Be Email Fabulous

Set up email filters to keep from wasting precious minutes trying to sift though loads of unwanted emails. Also, cancel your “sign-ups” to daily emails you no longer read or care about.
A good rule of thumb: if you skip over a particular blast almost 3 or more days a week, you really don’t need it clogging up your inbox.

2. Ditch Perfection

Do the bed sheets really need to be tucked in perfectly when you make the bed? No. If you children make their own beds, resist the urge to remake them. Do you have to clean the whole living room before you go to bed? Probably not.

Pick one or two tasks a day that soak up more time than you’d like and “imperfect” them, such as vacuuming quickly instead of making perfect lines in the carpet.

3. Unplug

This sounds simple, but if you have a cell phone, the thought of turning it off for thirty minutes or an hour may cause a little heartburn. But we urge you to try it. Your Blackberry can wait 30 minutes. It’s not a long period of time, but it is long enough for you to regroup and figure out how to tackle the rest of your day. Even turning it on silent during your lunch break is okay. Literally, 30 minutes is not the end of the world, it’s liberating.

4. Do It Alone

Normally we don’t advise this, but if you have something you really want to get off your plate, like scrapbooking pictures or reorganizing the file cabinet, do it alone and when no one else is home if possible. Otherwise you’ll be interrupted and frustrated that a 30-60 minute task takes you all day.

5. Do It With Others

Many hands do make light work. Cleaning the garage, doing laundry, washing & drying the dishes are tasks you should try not to do alone. With your hands washing and your son’s hands rinsing, a 20 minute task can take you 5 minutes instead.

6. Stop Multi-tasking

Focus on one task at a time. If you were trying to do three things at once it would probably take you an extra ten minutes for each task resulting in 30 minutes of wasted time. However, if concentrate on one task, you will get it done faster and more efficiently.

7. Learn to Say No

This one’s simple. You don’t have to do everything and saying no is a great way to get more time back in your day.

8. Get Others to Say Yes

Your kids and spouse are probably really good at finding excuses to say no. First of all use the term “would you please”. “Could you” triggers a thought process of “Well I could, but I am going to make an excuse because I don’t want to” However, the phrase “would you please” triggers that you really need and would appreciate help. Try it.

9. Delegate

Whether it’s a chore board or having your spouse take over more errands will certainly take more tasks off your plate. Just remember to fully relinquish the task at hand. If it isn’t done exactly how you usually do it, that’s okay.

10. Stop Procrastinating

Have a vacation in two weeks? Start packing now. Does your daughter have a long school project due next month? Get cracking. When your mind is always scrambling at the last minute, even your other simple tasks become overwhelming. If you can schedule ahead, you can avoid the overwhelmed rush that wastes all of your free time.

Buttonedup.com is an awesome site,
I urge you to swing by when you have some time,
they have wonderful organizing and time-saving tips
as well as resources you can buy at Target!

Tidy-Up Tuesday: cleaning supplies

I realize I'm posting Tidy-up-Tuesdays Tip on Wednesday...sorry my Tuesday came and went faster than I could blink.

If you're anything like me, having a clean house is so important but with two small kids, hubby, part time job, cooking, and running errands, I fall behind quite often. So I'm realizing I can't always curb the chaos, instead I need to be creative within my chaos.

Here's a way I'm being creative when it comes to cleaning my bathrooms:

I was at Big Lots this week and they had large spray bottles for $1 each :) So I stocked up! I filled them with my everyday vinegar solution and my window/glass cleaner. Then I put two spray bottles in each bathroom along with a roll of paper towels under the sink; when I have 2 sec. to spare, I spray down my counters, toilets and floor, and wipe my mirror clean!

Since my supplies are right at hand, it takes me literally 2 min. to do everything and then my bathroom is shiny again! When the kids are taking baths, I use that time to clean their bathroom, since I'm in there with them anyways!

I used my Dymo Label maker so the bottles look purdy. :)

Swiffer Socks

I have a Swiffer Mop and I love it, it makes cleaning my floors so easy, but the the Mopping Refills can be pretty expensive. My alternative: an old sock!! It actually works really well; And I know we all have spare socks laying around, why not put them to good use!

I later found these helpful hints off Tipnut.com, it's better than paying for something you're just going to throw away!

I then mix up some vinegar and water and enjoy an eco-friendly cleaning, when I'm done I toss it in the washer. Give it a try!

Frugal tips for your home!

Here are some Helpful Household Tips.

Remember being frugal is a way of thinking
that can change your way of living!

Cheap Chip Clips: Those special clips used to keep food bags closed and fresh aren't really necessary. Instead, keep a jar or bag of clothespins on hand and they do just as great a job!

Hillbilly Ice Chest: Having a party and need a big tub of ice for drinks? Fill your washing machine with ice, then stack cans and bottles inside. Since washing machines are deep, you can layer ice and cans if needed. After the party remove any drinks left over, let ice melt and then turn on the drain cycle. This Hillbilly Ice Cooler provides lots of room, easy cleanup, and lots of comments, lol. (courtesy of tipnut.com)

Remember Coupons: I seem to forget which coupons I have when I go shopping, so I've started writing my list on the back of an envelope. I write the Letter "C" next to the items that I have a coupon for. Then I place all the coupons that I'll be using inside the envelope - so easy; then when I'm shopping, I have my list and coupons in one easy tote!

Plants & Coffee Filters: Jeremiah and I were planting seeds today and a great idea to keep the soil from draining out of the hole when you water is to use a coffee filter. Before filling a plant container with soil, first lay a coffee filter on the bottom inside of the pot and then add the soil on top. If it's a planter for the outside, you may also lay a small layer of pebbles then the soil, this can also help ventilate the pot!

Baby Powder & Rubber Gloves: I don't clean much with gloves anymore, but I when I do I dust my hands lightly with baby powder before putting on rubber gloves (flour works well too). This helps remove the gloves easily!

Baby Powder & Beach Sand: When you leave the beach and you or your kids are sandy, the best way to get the sand off is by dusting your arms or legs with baby powder then wiping with a dry towel, the sand (be it wet or dry) comes right off. When the inevitable sand gets in their eyes, I dust a thin layer of baby powder on a dry towel and wipe their face (eyes closed of course)!

Laundry Bag & Sand Toys: Since CA is full of sunny days, we're at the park A LOT! Sand toys are a favorite must-have for our family. The best way I've found to tote them around is with a laundry bag (The 99 Cent Store has them), fill it up with the toys, when you leave give the bag a shake!

Cleaner Car

What do you do with your plastic bags?

Well I keep about two or three in my car and I use them as trash bags.  It's amazing how much trash that can accumulate in our cars with cups, lids, wrappers, ect.  So I have a trash bag in my car and it makes my car less junkie, plus it's another great way to reuse those bags!

Couch Time

The couch can quickly become a catch all and really clutter up the living room.  Take a few minutes and rearrange the pillows, fold up the blankets, or put toys, shoes, books where they belong, you'll be amazed the difference a clean couch can do for your living room.  1 - 2 min. tops, and things can look and feel cleaner!