Shoe Holder over entry hall door
Hang a shoe holder on the back of your hallway door to store hats, gloves, and other small items.
Dryer Sheets
Keep dryer sheets in (stored) shoes that have a tendency to smell.
Notepad by bed
I hardly ever have trouble going to sleep. However, when I do, it is usually because there is something on my mind that I don't want to forget to do the next day. For times like this, keep a notepad and pen next to your bed. You don't have to get out of bed to get it off of your mind. Once you write it down, you go to sleep much easier.
Ginger Snaps in the car
Ginger has something about it that soothes an upset stomach. It works well for morning sickness as well as motion sickness. I carry a bag of ginger snaps in the glove compartment of my car. It really does help when you start to get that queezy feeling.
Shake clothes out before drying
If you will shake your laundry out as you take it from the washer to add it to the dryer, it will do 2 things. It will save energy as it dries the clothes a bit faster, and you will have less wrinkles.
Message to yourself: answering machine or email
When you are away from home and think of something that needs to be done, either call your house and leave yourself a message on the answering machine, or if you have computer access, email yourself.
Left over list
Keep a running list of leftovers on a wipe-off board on the refrigerator. Be sure to put the date. As you eat something, cross it out or wipe off the item. You will always know what you have inside and how long it has been there.
Christmas Shopping
Before starting your Christmas shopping, have a list of names and sizes in your purse.
Donate Items with Sites Mentioned
One way of giving to help out in needy areas is to donate used items. This will also help get rid of clutter around the house. There are many local organizations, as well as these national ones.
· Coats - www.onewarmcoat.org
· Used sports gear - www.soccer.org 1-800-872- 2976
· Old cell phones- www.calltoprotect.org (Domestic Violence) 1-888-901-SAFE
· Children's Books - Half Pint Library - www.halfpricebooks.com 1-800-883-2114
· Adult Books - www.prisonreader.org 1-212-349- 6741
· Old Computers or Printers - www.cristina.org 1- 203-869-9100
· Worn out Tennis Shoes - Resurface athletic fields - www.nikereuseashoe.com
Towels instead of Napkins for Picnics
If you picnic this summer, try using inexpensive hand towels instead of napkins. They are larger, they won't blow away in the wind as easily, and they are easy to wash.
Spray Grill
Always spray your grill grate with cooking spray before using it. It will keep your food from sticking and your grill from being so hard to clean.
Saving Water
Several years ago, I read one of Emilie Barnes' books which talked about saving water. She told how much water was wasted just by letting the water run while you were brushing your teeth. Since we are in drought conditions, I decided to test it out. I found that by letting it run when I wasn't using it, I collected 1 gallon. When you take that amount and multiply it just by 2 times a day, then by 7 days a week, you get a wasted 14 gallons. Keep in mind that is for only 1 person in the house. Just for my family alone, that would be 56 gallons! Turning the water off when we aren't using it is an easy way to save water and money on our water bill.
Credit Cards - Pay off & Interest Rate
If you use a credit card, try to pay off the charges each month. When you do this, you have no finance
Charges.
If you have a credit card with a balance, find out what the interest rate is. There are too many cards
out there with a 0% interest rate to pay any amount of interest.
Gift Ideas
*Wrap homemade bread of choice in saran wrap. Fold a
colorful dishtowel around the center and secure with a ribbon and tag.
*You can make a nice serving tray by framing a piece of children's artwork
or a photo collage in a large picture frame. Add decorative handles from the
hardware store to 2 sides of the frame, and 4 drawer knobs to the bottom of
each corner. If you want to make it water-proof, you can go around the edges
of the glass with a clear caulk.
Organizing Tip:
Go through your closet and make sure all of your clothes hangers are facing
the same direction. After you wear something this year, hang it in the
opposite direction. At the end of the year, you will be able to tell what
you have worn and not worn. At that time, take the items you did not wear to
a donation center. This serves several purposes: 1) You get your closet
cleaned out, 2) It helps others who are in need, and 3) These donations are
tax deductible.
Coupon Tip:
As many of you know, I am a big coupon person. I absolutely hate pulling all
of my expired coupons and throwing them away; such a waste. I just ran
across this information in the latest issue of "Quick & Simple" magazine.
Expired coupons are still good up to 6 months past the expiration date on
military bases. Here are a couple of addresses to send your expired coupons
to that will help out our military families:
Alison Thompson-Hall
PSC 2 Box 10421
APO, AE 09012
Navy Marine Corps
Family Services Center
MCB Camp Butler
Unit 35026
PO AP 96737-5026
Goal-Setting Tips
I would like to share some tips that I found that should help you in not
only keeping your New Year's Resolutions, but in achieving all goals in
general. First of all, try to be as specific as you can when setting your
goals. For example, instead of saying you are going to lose weight, set a
specific amount to lose, or instead of "more time with the Lord," set aside
a specific time for each day, etc. Write down your goals with any steps you
plan to take to achieve them, and set a time limit. Be sure to post this
where you will see it daily. Lastly, share them with a friend. Enlist
friends to either help where they can, or use them as accountability
partners. It is harder to blow something off if someone is holding you to
it.
Organizing Tax Tips
Starting out a new year is the best time to get
organized with your tax information. Instead of waiting until the end of the
year and gathering it up, keep spreadsheets updated on a regular basis. Keep
all tax deductible receipts in a large envelope, and use file folders to
keep receipts for any monthly bills. Once you have this completed, the
following years are easy; just remove the contents and reuse the folders
each year.
Pet Tips:
*If you have to give your dog pills or capsules, slide them into a 1/2 inch
piece of a hot dog. I have also found that left-over macaroni & cheese works
well.
*I also discovered a system to keep up with the medicine if more than one
person in your family is administering it to your pet. Lay out the amount of
pills needed for the day, first thing in the morning. There will be no
guessing if someone has already given the medicine if you see it still
laying on the counter.
Gardening Tip:
If you have rose bushes, February is the time to prune and cut them back. It
is easy to remember from year to year if you think about Valentine's Day and
roses.
Organization Tip:
I subscribed this month to a weekly ezine called, Home and Family. It has
some really great ideas in it. Click on the link below and it will take you
directly to one of her free ebooks on organization. It is a 12 page
downloadable ebook that covers organizing every area of your home. To get
the ebook, click below.
http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com/Organize_Your_Home.pdf
Top 10 Reader Ideas for Valentine's
Day
In a previous mail-out, I asked for inexpensive ideas for Valentine's Day.
Here are the results:
1. Either alone or with children waiting on you, have a fancy "restaurant"
meal at home with music & your finest china.
2. Spread a blanket in front of your fireplace; have candles and
non-alcoholic drinks in fancy glasses and read the Song Of Solomon to one
another.
3. Write poetry or a love letter to your husband on fancy paper.
4. Attend a community play together.
5. Search the web for local churches who are hosting Valentine Banquets.
6. Go for a drive, maybe to a special place for the 2 of you. Bring along
dessert, candles, and nice music as you enjoy each others company.
7. Take a bubble bath together with candles & music.
8. After dinner, watch an old black & white movie that you would both enjoy
such as Casablanca.
9. Take everything for a picnic, including a blanket to a friend's deer
stand for the evening. Again, include music, candles, and this time maybe a
portable heater.
10. Make heart-shaped brownies and decorate them.
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Homemade Ice Packs
Jay's back has been out this week, and he had to keep
it iced frequently. We really only had 1 good ice pack. I thought I
remembered hearing that you could make one by mixing water and rubbing
alcohol. I tried this using a freezer bag and it works great. I cannot give
you specific amounts. He ended up having to double bag it, but the mixture
turned out soft and pliable.
I just guessed at the proportions. If anyone knows how much water to alcohol
you should use, please email me and I will share in the next newsletter.
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Ministering During the Time of a Funeral
As many of you know, my grandfather passed away this week. My mom's office
was very generous and brought out several different things. Everything was
helpful, but one thing that I had never thought about giving in this
situation is a case of storage containers. These are very useful when
dividing up the food among family members.
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Toothpaste Frustrations
If the way people squeeze the toothpaste is a source of conflict within your
home, the easiest solution is to get everyone their own tube. The cost
should come out to be the same in the long run, but if you use coupons
correctly, you can usually get tubes for 25 cents or free!
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Money Saving Tip
One of my ex-students stopped by to see me the
other day. Since he is on his own and going to school full time, he is
struggling financially. He shared a very wise money saving tip. When
deciding if he wants to spend money on an activity or item, he calculates it
into his hourly pay. At this point he is making $10.00 per hour. To spend
$20.00 at the movies, he sees it as 2 hours worth of labor. He said this has
helped him save his money.
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Organization Tip:
For about 3 years I have been wanting to get my attic organized and
under control. Emilie Barnes has a great system and yesterday turned out to
be the perfect time for me to do it because of the coolness of the rain.
Supplies Needed:
Sturdy Boxes
Permanent Marker
Index Cards
Index Card File Box
Pen
The idea is that at any time, when you need something, you can go right to
it. All items are placed in boxes and the boxes are numbered. Make an index
card for each box with the number of the box at the top and list the
contents. Keep all of the cards in the index card file box. When you need
something, look on the cards and you can go directly to the correct box.
Emilie even suggests making a 2nd card with the contents listed on it and
taping it to the box. I did not do that, but still feel good about being
able to walk into the attic now.
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Free or Inexpensive Ideas to Keep Your Kids
Entertained This Summer
Cook with Parents
Go to Parks for a Picnic & Play time
Library Reading Programs
Vacation Bible School
Swim
Ride Bikes
Start a Friendship Club (No exclusions)
Camp out in the back yard
Build Things
Make Hide Outs
Play Games
Set up a Lemonade Stand
Have a Garage Sale w/ Parents
Start a small garden
Go exploring
Fishing
Crawdad Fishing
Play Restaurant
Create Secret Codes for Friends
Play in the Water Hose
Use Walkie Talkies & Steno Pads for Playing Detectives
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Money Saving Tip:
I love to go to Major League baseball games! One way to save money at these games is to take along your own food. My husband prepares lots of hotdogs and wraps them individually in foil. They stay nice and warm this way. The entire family can eat for less than the cost of 1 meal at the stadium! To be safe, you need to call ahead to see what is allowed at each stadium.
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Reopening an envelope:
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to
include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for
an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.
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No More Mosquitoes:
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away. ****************************************************************************************
Kid Tip:
Read, read, read! Begin reading to your child before they are even born.
After they come into the world, read to them everyday. Books and stories on
their level are great, but throw in higher level readings as well. When they
begin Kindergarten, their vocabulary will already be very large.
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Home Building Idea
I know this will only apply to a few, but I have heard of several
subscribers who are currently building homes. When we built our home, my
father-in-law gave us the wonderful idea of leaving Sharpie markers in a
baggie at the door. We told everyone we could think of to come out while the
house had all of the studs exposed. We had an instruction sheet asking
everyone to write their favorite scriptures all over the studs of the house.
Before the sheetrock went up, our house was covered in scripture! I do not
think about it all of the time, but when I do, it is nice to think about
being surrounded by God's Word.
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Christmas Preparation
Go ahead and make a list of people you will be buying gifts for. You can set
your budget also. I keep this in a spreadsheet on my computer so that each
year I just have to make a few minor adjustments and print. By doing this,
not only will you get things done before the crowds show up, but you can see
what you need when you find items discounted or on clearance.
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Place Settings
I saw a familiar idea in this month's issue of Real Simple that is worth
sharing. To help teach your children how to set the table, make place mats
with an example (drawn) of where the plate and each piece of silverware
should be. They even have a diagram you can download from their site.
http://www.realsimple.com/placesetting
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Cat Litter
*Use cat litter to soak up oil in the garage.
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Gardening Tips
*For a beautiful garden next Spring, plant your Fall bulbs now.
*If you use garden clogs, insert small dowel rods into the ground to hang
the shoes. This allows them to dry before you need to wear them again. Just
a tip from experience check for wasps or other insects before putting them
on!
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Baked Potato Bag
Subscriber Craft Idea
Dear Susan,
The baked potato soup recipe sounds wonderful--am anxious to try it. I
wondered if you and your readers know about microwaveable bags to bake the
potatoes in.
Using either prequilted fabric or two layers of fabric with quilt batting
between, I cut mine about 12" x 24" or use remnants about that size. After
sewing three sides with right sides of fabric together, turn and sew
remaining side by turning edges under 1/4". Fold rectangle so about 2-1/2
inches remains on one end. Fold the 2-1/2 inches down and sew seams on both
sides (sewing through 3 layers until you reach the 2- 1/2 inch piece edge,
when you'll be back to 2 layers. The 2-1/2 inches is the flap.
Wash potato(es) and DO NOT pierce with fork. Wrap in paper towel and put in
bag. Microwave for same length of time you ordinarily would. Potatoes are
moist, can be cut with a fork, and the potato doesn't stick to the skin or
get crusty. IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE FABRIC WITH METALLIC THREAD.
Jan Lutz
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Magazine Website for Prices
From Make-a-Note Website
BETTER MAGAZINE DISCOUNT SITE "Sheila Y. sent us this great magazine
discount site, we knew we had to share it with our readers. At this website,
you can look up a magazine and find where it is offered for the lowest
amount."
http://www.magazinepricesearch.com
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Christmas Gifts
Make meaningful family Christmas gifts this year by compiling old & new
family recipes, along with family stories. You can add pictures and make it
any length you wish. Almost any office supply store will be able to copy and
bind them for you.
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Thanksgiving Journal
Start a journal of blessings this month. Each day write about 1 way you are
blessed. Reflect and share on Thanksgiving Day.
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Gift Boxes
Every time you purchase something (even non-gift items), ask for a box. This
will save you from having to purchase them later.
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Rebates
Keep a spreadsheet on your computer for all rebates. List the date it was
mailed in with any contact information. Be sure to keep copies of all
paperwork also.
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Coffee Grounds
Throw your used coffee grounds into a flower bed instead of the trash.
Coffee adds nitrogen to the soil, so it is especially good for acid loving
plants.
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Movie Rentals
If you need help deciding on a movie to rent, go to Live Plasma.com for
ideas. Type in a movie that you like and it pulls up several similar movies
to give you ideas.
http://www.liveplasma.com
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Address Labels
*Use address labels to label everything from books you will loan out to
dishes that will later be returned to you.
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Candle Holders
*Use cooking spray in votive candle holders before adding the candle.
This will allow the melted candle to slip right out when you need to dispose
of it.
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User Name & Passwords
*Keep a spreadsheet (in a secure place) with user names & passwords to the
different websites and web accounts that you have. I keep a printed copy by
the computer of the accounts that are not really a security issue.
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Envelopes
*Use clear fingernail polish to reseal an envelope.
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Reminders
*When you are away from home and something comes to mind that you don't want
to forget to do, call and leave yourself a message on your answering
machine. I do this on my home and my school phones.
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Money Saver
*Anytime you go out to eat, order water instead of a drink. Several places
charge up to $2.00 for a glass of tea. With a family of 4, that is $8.00
just for drinks when water is free of charge and calories.
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Organizational Tip
*When you write an appointment in your planner, include the phone number
as well, just in case your plans change.
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Money Saving Tip
*When you go out to eat, order from the children's menu. There is usually
plenty to eat and the prices are great!
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Family Tip
Some time ago, I was told of a study/survey that was taken among death row
inmates. They were given a survey with around 200 questions on it. Out of
all of the questions, there were 2 things that almost all of the inmates had
in common. First, they did not grow up eating meals as a family, and
secondly, they did not play games together.
I have looked for the documentation or research, but cannot find it. I know
that the person who told me was with Homemade Gourmet, but I still have not
been able to get my hands on it. If anyone has heard this or knows where I
can get the information, please email me.
Whether I have the documentation or not, the idea of eating and playing
together is still a good one. It all comes down to spending time with your
family!
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