Baby Food & Jars

Over the past few weeks, I have started my little girl on solids. Because fruit doesn't freeze well and doesn't keep long, I generally opt for jarred fruits. For veggies, however, I've been pureeing and freezing.

Not buying baby food means less waste in the form of the jars, plus I know what my baby is really eating and how fresh it is. It also becomes easy to adjust the thickness and consistency, so I can prepare it how she likes it best (at the time, anyway!).

When I do use jars, I wash them thoroughly when they're empty so I can use them for something else. Here are a few ideas:

• Storage for small amounts of paint/mixing paint samples
• Containers for small items, such as paper clips, push pins, etc.
• Candle holder - cover the outside with triangles of tissue paper and seal with watered-down glue. Place a tea light or small candle inside.
• Storage for small amounts of leftovers, such as sauces, gravies, chicken broth

Sophisticated Use for Six-pack Rings

I must say, I rarely buy six-packs that are bound together by the plastic rings. One, the rings just make me a little angry, and two, they're actually fairly hard to find these days (thank goodness!).

If you have any, though, there's a great way to use them. I was watching Martha Stewart yesterday, and someone on her team shared a way to make beautiful snowflakes out of them! Perfect for holiday decorating.

For instructions, just do a search for "six-pack snowflake" on marthastewart.com. The direct link has been down, but as its working, I'll post it. And should you want the how-to before then, post a comment!

And don't forget, if you choose not to use them for snowflakes, be sure you snip all the holes apart so animals don't get trapped in them.

UPDATE: link!
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=1cd4af6a77fcd110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&rsc=ts_Homepage_Homepage

FREE holiday songs from Oprah!

As part of her thrifty holiday show, Oprah is giving viewers free access to songs from her compilation CD for the next 48 hours (I'm not sure of the exact cut-off time. I'd go for 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday, to be safe)! The CD includes songs from Harry Connick Jr., Faith Hill, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett and more! Just go here to download: http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081118_tows_holiday/2
You can even download a CD cover and label. I'm downloading the songs right now!

Discount on Calendars at Snapfish

I've been considering making a calendar featuring my baby girl for my mom's Christmas present. For the past few weeks, I've been on the lookout for deals, and this seems like a pretty good one. On Snapfish, you can use coupon code FREECAL08 to receive a free 8.5x11 12-month classic calendar when you buy a calendar (or more than one; 12-months, any size). Good until Nov. 31! Now I might get one for myself or my mother-in-law.

Add Pizzazz with a Clear Glass Vase or Bowl

Because of its simplicity, a glass vase or bowl can provide numerous new decorating opportunities. Switching out what the piece holds gives it new life and puts other things you already have on-hand to another use. Of course, the size and shape of the container often dictate what looks best in it, so play around with it!

Try filling larger vessels with:
-Christmas balls - different colors or all the same (a more sophisticated look). Spice it up by attaching curled ribbons to a few.
-Faux fruit (lemons and limes work well in summer; try pears in the fall)
-Colorful fall leaves

Smaller pieces are great for:
-Layers of various types of nuts
-Cranberries (whether to fill about 1/3 of the container, or with a few floating in water with a floating candle)
-Various styles and colors of buttons

Always Infinity Sample

You can try Always Infinity (a super-absorbent pad) for free! And since these pads are rather pricey, trying them first is a good idea.

Just go to always.com to claim your sample. On the homepage, you'll see an "Always Infinity Free Sample" button. Click, fill out the short form, and wait 6-8 weeks!

FREE can of Del Monte tomatoes!

Check out this link www.delmonte.com/solutionto get a FREE can of Del Monte No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes. This is only for the first 50,000 people to respond, so hurry! You can also sign up for the Del Monte Dish e-Newsletter to get other offers and savings--plus some yummy recipes.

Growing My Own Produce

I was recently chopping some red and green peppers recently and thought, "Wonder if I could root some of these seeds and grow some bell pepper plants?" After all, bell peppers can be pricey--especially the red, yellow and orange varieties.

Right after I cut the peppers in half, I put the seeds in a cup of water. They started rooting within a week (to my amazement!). Once the roots were fairly well established, I transferred the best-looking ones (with a hint of green to them) to a pot of soil. Two took...we'll see how they do.I'm hoping I'll have a couple bell pepper plants come summer!

Speaking of, I'm determined to have a vegetable garden next year. To be continued...

Semi-Handmade Nursery Bedding

Before my daughter was born, my mom and I scoured baby stores for just the right bedding for her room. I didn't want a "theme;" certainly no princesses or teddy bears covering the walls. I was hoping for something serene and sweet; perhaps in lavender and light green. We looked for weeks on end and it seemed hopeless. Everything was either the wrong color or style, cheaply made, had too many unnecessary "parts" or was WAY too expensive. We went into a HomeGoods store one afternoon and happened upon a quilted pillowsham that was by far our best option thus far. We realized that if we could find a larger amount of that fabric, we could use it to create all of the pieces we wanted--and for a great price.

We searched that store high and low for more pieces to the bedding set. No luck. We checked other stores. Nothing. Finally, we looked online. We put in the information on the card with the sham and held our breaths. After a little bit of hunting, we came to Overstock.com. And there it was. In full, queen or king. We had options! We just hoped the colors were the same as the sample we had. It would be heartbreaking to order it only to find it was three shades darker!

We decided the queen coverlet would give us an ample amount to work with. I ordered it and anxiously waited for it to arrive. As soon as it did, I took it to my parents' house. We took it out and studied it. And compared it with other fabrics we had small cuttings of for which we thought we'd use for accents. It looked like it would work...and work really well.

As we were reminded, there are many uses for the bedding you see in stores, whether it's sheets, pillowcase or coverlets, etc. So the next time you are looking for a fabric-related item, or when you need a fabric, consider looking in the linens department. You might find exactly the style and color you wanted. And it certainly costs a lot less than buying from a fabric store -- and if it's anything that can be found in a boutique, such as baby items, it will certainly cost a lot less to make than buy pre-made!

And now the room is done! But it wouldn't have been (at least as beautifully as it is!), without my mother. She can do it all, and she certainly wanted to do whatever she could to help create the perfect room for her first grandchild.

She gave the pieces to me at a baby shower--bumper pads, changing table pad, window treatments, rocking chair cushions and even wicker hamper with a custom-covered top. It was by far the best gift I received. Now, everytime I go into my daughter's room, I think about the process of creating it. And the time and love my mom put into helping me bring my vision to life. I couldn't have done it without her.

Free coffee at World Market

To celebrate their 50th anniversary, on Sunday, November 9, World Market is giving away World Market Costa Rican Tarrazu Whole Bean Coffee (8 oz.) while supplies last (no purchase necessary; one per person per day).

Chill Out With Your Laundry

In general, using cold water for a load of clothes works just as well as hot. With a baby in the house, we're doing more laundry these days, so saving the energy by not using hot water helps in the utility bills department. And most of her clothes suggest cold water anyway! So unless the clothes you're washing are super-sensitive, give using the cold cycle a try. And certainly wait until you can do a full load. Doing so saves even more energy.

FREE resuable bag!

I'm all about reducing the use of plastic bags. So when I saw this offer on Target.com, I just had to share. You can get a coupon for a FREE Target Retote if you mail them 5 plastic Target shopping bags. You can either send via a folded up cover of the Oct. 27 People magazine (which has a Target ad on the inside front cover), or you can use an 8.5 x11 envelope. The ad method includes postage; with the envelope you have to add it.

If mailing an envelope, send it (with a return label!) to:
TerraCycle
121 New York Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08638

You have until Nov. 30 to send the bags in. You should receive the coupon in early January. Get more details here: http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/page.jsp?title=retote_offer

Free Morning Treats on Election Day!

Starbucks is giving away free tall cups of coffee to everyone who votes on Nov. 4 (tomorrow!).

Make it breakfast with a free Krispie Kreme donut (at participating locations only, so be sure to call first). It's star-shaped with red, white and blue sprinkles. Just wear your "I voted" sticker.

So get out and vote...and enjoy your free treats!

Gift Ideas on the Cheap

For my birthday, I received a refurbished GPS system. A great idea and very useful! It works just like new and has all the parts, etc. And since that's the case, I certainly don't need the more pricey brand new version. This would make a great Christmas gift for someone in your immediate family or a close friend. Otherwise, you might not feel comfortable giving a refurbished gift!

Also keep this in mind for yourself. Not missing turns and getting somewhere with a more direct route will save you time and gas!

Stuffing Stockings...for Mom & Dad

For the first Christmas after I got my first "real" job post-college, I wanted to do something special for my parents. Instead of buying more of the same, I decided I would make stockings for them. I have always loved going through my own stocking on Christmas morning and thought I'd return the favor. They enjoyed them so much that I have continued the tradition each year since. It's so much fun to see their faces light up as they pull out all of their goodies.

I try to make it a rule that no one item costs more than $5. And this year, I'm sticking with each item at $2 or less. So far, I'm exceeding my goal. Finding stuff for my mom is admittedly much easier than finding things for my dad. It's lots of fun to be on the lookout for items to include. And this year I started early! So far, I have a good jumpstart on Mom's: multiple free cosmetic products (mostly via CVS) and a Hershey's Cacao Reserve bar (which I got for $.20 with coupons and clearance!). I've yet to get anything for Dad's, but as a general rule, his includes home improvement-related items and his favorite snacks.

A tip to keep the cost (and need for finding items!) down: Include one or two larger items that will take up some space. Remember, bigger doesn't necessarily mean more expensive!

Kellogg's Rebate

In a publication available at Publix (name to come!), you'll find a form to receive a $10 rebate on certain Kellogg's products! This can be a great deal especially if you can get the items on sale. Last week, Publix had Frosted Mini-Wheats BOGO, plus, I had three $1 coupons. My total came to $5 for $16 worth of cereal...plus, I'll get $10 from the rebate! I'll make $5 on the deal! Keep your eye out for this magazine and sales on participating Kellogg's items.

Dinner for Two: Under $10 (for both!)

At the grocery store last night, we bought a package of ground beef (just under 1 lb. ~$1.50.), and I happened to have refrigerated pizza dough. I wanted to try something I don't usually make, so I decided on a calzone of sorts. Here's what I used:

Pizza dough
1/4 sweet onion
1 can diced tomatoes
1 clove of garlic (from a jar of minced)
S&P
Frozen spinach
Dried basil and oregano
Shredded cheese
Olive oil

And here's how it all came together:
I cooked the beef with the onion. After I drained off the grease, I added half a can of diced tomatoes and 1 clove of garlic (reserve the rest of the can and its juice). I had defrosted about a cup of frozen spinach, which I added to the mixture. Then I dropped in about a 1/4 teaspoon of each of the dried herbs and S&P.

I prepared the dough by greasing a cookie sheet and cutting it in half. I spread it out and piled some of the beef mixture down the center of each half, then topped with cheese. After I close it all up, I brushed a bit of olive oil on the top.

Bake according to the dough's instructions.

Marinara sauce:
For dipping, I mixed up a homemade marinara. I simply mashed up the rest of the can's tomatoes and its juice, adding a dash or two of basil and oregano, a bit of garlic, and S&P. I cooked it in the same pan I used for the beef to add some flavor. Let it simmer while the calzones cook.


They turned out great, and it's a recipe you can easily adjust to your likes. Just switch out the meat and vegetables (or skip the meat entirely)! For our meal, the cost was closer to $5 due to deals I had gotten on the dough ($.30!) and the cheese. Depending on what you put in yours, you could make your expenses even less!

Line It Up

If your plastic shower curtain liner is too dirty to clean (it's just not worth it) but still good enough for something, take it down and save it for a paint drop cloth. Most liners are a good size, so they'll cover most of an averaged-size room or a large piece of furniture. Here are more perks: The plastic is heavy duty so it won't tear as it's dragged around, and paint won't leak through. And since many of these liners have a slight texture to them, you and your ladder are less likely to slide on them.

Put Your Ice Cube Trays to Work!

Have ice cube trays left from the days before your ice maker? Or maybe they're on hand for when the ice maker decides to go on strike. Whatever the reason, if you're not using them for ice, don't toss them. Here are a few ways you can make use of those handy little sections:

1. To separate squirts of acrylic paint when you're feeling creative.
2. For freezing food/liquid items in small batches (such as chicken stock, tomato sauce, etc.).
3. To sort quick-fix essentials like buttons and safety pins.
4. As a jewelry sorter (nobody but you sees the inside of your drawers anyway. Why does it need to include a fancy jewelry holder?).
5. As a container to create mini frozen treats. Just add a stick once they start to get solid!

Get Your (Styrofoam) Peanuts!

You know all those annoying Styrofoam peanuts that get all over the house once you open that package? Gather them up and keep them in a box or plastic bag. Then, whenever you are planting flowers in a pot, stuff the bottom with the peanuts. Then cover with dirt (make sure you include enough dirt to get the plant in deep enough). This not only uses up the peanuts, it creates drainage for the plant in the pot and makes the pot MUCH lighter to carry around your yard or patio (not to mention that's less topsoil to buy!). Now that I regularly do this, I never seem to have enough of those peanuts around. Never thought I'd feel that way...

But to combat that problem, if I have other blocks of Styrofoam around, I'll break them up and use them the same way.

Standby Paint Can

If you ever buy the large canisters of coffee (such as the big plastic ones from Folgers), don't throw them out when the coffee's gone. Keep them handy for mixing paint colors, or just storing extra paint. They stay closed tightly and give you plenty of room to stir.

Biscuits and Eggs

Last night we had limited options for dinner. We had plenty of eggs, though, so I decided we needed to make the most of them. I cooked up some frozen broccoli, chicken strips and spinach, and mixed in some Laughing Cow wedges for a little bit of a tangy kick. Then I poured five beaten eggs (with a little milk and S&P) over it all to make a fritatta. That same pan went in the oven at 350 for about 40 minutes. About halfway through its cooking, I added some refrigerated biscuits to the oven. There's nothing like warm biscuits, even if they're not from scratch.

The fritatta came out great, and it's a meal that can use up whatever veggies and meats you have in the fridge. And this morning, I used some of the leftover biscuits for breakfast. I lightly toasted and buttered them. To make it at least somewhat healthy, I added fresh blueberries (which I keep in the freezer. They last forever!) and a drizzle of honey. Quite yummy!

And the last two slices of fritatta could make a mighty good breakfast tomorrow ...

Year-round Herbs

Herbs can make a good dish great--especially when they're fresh. Whether you grow your own or purchase them at the store, fresh herbs have a limited life. My basil is starting to wilt, so before it disappears in cooler weather, I wanted to figure out how to save some for later use. I added some to olive oil to create an infused oil. I'm also trying freezing it in storage bags. We'll see how that turns out!

No More Chicken Broth Waste

Whether you're using boxed, canned or homemade broth, if you have some left over, freeze it in ice cube trays or a freezer-safe container (smaller containers prevent waste and thaw quicker). Pull out whatever amount you need when you need it. You can quickly defrost it in the microwave, or even melt it directly into your dish.

Postcard Art

Since childhood, I've collected postcards. I try to buy a few from whatever new place I visit. I have cards from Europe, Hawaii, the Middle East and across the U.S. As I've seen the cards accumulate in a storage box, I decided I should get more use out of them. (Not much point in having them if they're stuck in a box!)


Now I use any of my favorites as artwork (those without words scrawled across them look the best). If you have several in the same style (such as these below, which are vintage posters), group them together in a frame, like this:

For one of your favorites, highlight it by scanning it at the highest resolution possible, enlarging it, and printing it on photo paper. Then add a complementary mat and frame, like this:

Pasta Saver

If you cooked more pasta than the sauce could possibly cover, put the non-sauced leftovers in a storage container and refrigerate. This pasta is great for cold pasta salad the next day--especially at lunch when you're short on time. Just toss with olive oil, S&P, some basil (or pesto, if you have it), chopped tomatoes or any other veggies you have on hand. And if you still want hot pasta, all it takes is a toss in warm sauce.

No More Tomato Sauce Waste
If you don't use all of the canned tomato sauce you opened, don't throw it out or stick it in the fridge to be forgotten. Pour the remainder into zippered storage bags and freeze (avoid putting too much into one bag or it will take longer to defrost). The next time you need sauce, just place a bag in hot water to defrost.

Getting to know this blog...

In an effort to help myself, and whoever else happens along this blog, I wanted to keep record of any ways I come up with to conserve both money and resources--and hopefully time, as well. This might be how to reuse parts of last night's dinner, how to make the most of zipper bags, or how to maximize $5 at the grocery store...plus whatever else I come up with as we go.

I hope this will someday become a resource to help us all make better use of what we have available to us., which means less waste and bigger returns. Of course, that will involve actually writing some REAL posts. Guess I better get started...