Works for me Wednesday: My Cosmetic Caddy

For years I kept my cosmetics in separate places; makeup in one bag, lotions in the bathroom closet, and hair products in a basket, and so on...

I thought about getting a large cosmetic case, but they were expensive. I also wanted something nice-looking, something I could leave out on my bathroom counter.

So what did I do with all this stuff?

I put it in this Basket

It’s actually a Sewing Basket I bought from here

I like the way it looked, and all of my cosmetics fit in it :)

Many of those cosmetics were FREE from CVS or Samples!
Here are my links for Deals at CVS and Free Samples

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit We Are THAT Family

Works for Me Wednesday: Organized Shoes using a Recycled Gate

I have a small bedroom closet, and I usually have hard time finding anything in it. So I decided to clear out the things I haven't worn or used in awhile. I cleared out the clothes first, and actually found an old stonewashed jean jacket in there (no need to say how old that was - you know :). Also in there was a bunch of shoes.

Many of the shoes I had forgotten about. I had 5 pairs of black high heels in there - and I really never wear them! So I put several pairs in a donation bag, and realized I had to organize my shoes better.

In the past I tried using those hanging organizers, but none of them held up well enough in my small closet. So I decided to look for an alternative way to display them!


I looked around my house for something that would fit in my small closet. I found a small wooden gate, in our storage room, with shelf-like bars going across it! I stood the gate up against the wall in my closet, and now use it as a shelf for my shoes.

I know the thought of recycled wooden gate in a closet may sound a little bit junky, but I was happy to use the gate and it's working well for me :) I'm even thinking about hanging a small wooden ladder in another closet.



For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit We Are THAT Family

Works for Me Wednesday: Watch TV for Free

I don't watch a lot of TV, but there are a couple shows I look forward to watching each week. Whenever I miss one of those shows on TV, I watch it later for FREE at hulu.com.


Hulu is a website that offers TV shows and Movies from many networks and studios. In addition to current shows there's a bunch of old TV shows too.


Here's a funny SNL video for my Frugal friends:




For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit We Are THAT Family

Works for Me Wednesday: Easy Exercises

I don't have a gym membership, or a bunch of the latest workout DVD's. So to help stay in shape, I exercise in the privacy of my home. It takes a lot to motivate me to exercise, so I do a few easy exercises during the week to stay healthy. And to keep myself motivated; I try not to over do it, I do the exercises I like, and I have a little fun while doing it :)

I read magazines while walking

While walking on my treadmill I read magazines. I know that doesn't sound safe, but I dread the treadmill - I call it a "dreadmill" or "guilt machine". So it takes a lot of motivation for me to get on that machine. I encourage myself with one of my favorite things, and that is reading my Free Magazines! So while reading, I get my exercise too. I take breaks in between reading to speed-up the pace for a couple minutes at a time. *I wear good walking sneakers to help with stability, and I hold onto the machine's handle bars when reading. If you're looking for a treadmill, but it's not in your budget then you should check your local freecycle. I've seen treadmills posted on our local freecyle several times.



Be sure to check out my Mail and Freebies posts - there are many Free Magazines offers! My treadmill has enough room in the cup holder section for books, but I'm seriously thinking about getting a Stand Holder. This Stand Holder's not intended for a treadmill, but maybe with a little modification it could be attached. I like to read often, so if it doesn't work on my treadmill I'll use it on my desk.

I wear comfy shoes when I walk around the house

These FitFlop Sandals are my favorite shoes! I wear them around the house, even in the winter. They're so comfortable! The manufacturer mentions that they help boost leg and calf muscle activity when you walk in them. They can be a little expensive though, but I've had my pair for over a year and they're still in great shape.

And I sit around the house

When I'm not walking in my comfy FitFlops, I'm in front of my computer. And to get some exercise, I sit on one of these Exercise Balls. This ball was less than $20 and has been used so many times. I think it helps me stay in shape. And I actually like sitting on that silly looking ball. It keeps me aware of my sitting posture, and balance. Then when no one is around, I love to bounce on it to burn a few calories :)


I would never take one of these Exercise Balls outside of my own home office, because I know I look silly sitting on it. However, I have worked with a few brave folks that have. I don't watch a lot of TV, but I watch The Office on Thursdays. And here's a funny clip from The Office.

:)

The ideas mentioned are the exercises that work for me. I hope some of the ideas help, but please use caution and use your best judgment for a safe and healthy exercise regimen :)

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, check out Rocks in my Dryer.

A Few Cooking Time-savers: Pre-chopped and pre-packaged mixes

In addition to freezing pre-cooked meals, I find it helpful to pick a day of the week to pre-chop and pre-measure ingredients for later meals. I find preparing some of my ingredients in advance helps to keep things organized, plus it saves time and money. Below are a few cooking time-savers I find helpful when it comes time to preparing a meal.


Freeze onions: I add onions to many meals. But I don’t like chopping them, they make me cry :(. So I usually buy a bunch, chop them all at once, and then freeze them for later use. There’s no need to blanch them, just wash, peel, chop and store into freezer bags. This method can be used to freeze Bell or Sweet Peppers too. Just be sure to remove the seeds, wash, chop and store. *And of course there are many other veggies that can be frozen ahead of time too, just be sure to research food preservation for the appropriate details for freezing each vegetable. If the vegetables won’t be consumed within three months, they may require blanching before freezing.


Freeze Herbs: I love the taste of fresh parsley and the aroma when I chop it. So I usually buy a lot of parsley. It's easy to freeze. Just wash it, chop and store into ice cube trays. Each cube should be about a tablespoon of Parsley, and then top each cube with a little water to preserve your herbs. I like to keep the herbs in the trays, so I cover them with plastic wrap and store for later use. But if you prefer, once frozen solid, you can take the cubes out of the tray and put them into air-tight freezer bags. *If you’re freezing more than one type of herb, be sure to label your bags (since the herbs will all look similar when frozen). Some herbs may not freeze well, so be sure to do your research first.

Notes:

A quick option to traditional freezing is “tray freezing”. Before freezing your veggies and herbs, you could place a single layer of the items onto a cookie sheet, freeze, and then transfer into air-tight freezer bags.

Be sure to squeeze as much air out of plastic freezer bags before freezing, this will help prevent freezer burn.


Packaged Dry Mixes: here are a few easy Dry Mix Recipes from The Vegetarian Resource Group. Many dry mixes can be stored in air-tight containers or bags in a cool dry place. Be sure to label them, and place a date on them. Many dry mixes will keep well for a few weeks, but I like to use them within a week. *So be sure to research food preservation for the appropriate details for storing homemade dry mixes.



Related info: Here are a few tips to Keep Food Fresh Longer
For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, check out Rocks in my Dryer.

Homemade Holiday Cards

For years I've made my own holiday cards for my family - it's fun and frugal! Last year I made cards in memory of my grandmother for my family. I made copies of a few older portraits from my mom's photo collection. I saved a bunch of the pictures to my computer, and among them was one with my grandmother reading the Night Before Christmas to my mom and my uncles.

I printed copies of the photo onto 5 ½” x 8” white cardstock paper, folded the paper in half, and then simply glued on a few shiny decorative accents to add a little sparkle. Inside the card I included The Night Before Christmas poem by Clement Clarke. I enjoyed making those cards, and my family loved them. My Uncle keeps his card out all year long as a special memory from his childhood :)



Below are a few ideas for making Holiday cards.


Spruce up inexpensive cards with decorative accents. What items do you have on hand? I usually have all sorts of craft items stashed away, and sometimes I printout a few pictures from my computer.

Customize the cards with items each person enjoys. For example my mom loves dogs, so she might have a dog on her card. My son likes The Nightmare before Christmas movie, My sister likes elephants, and my Aunt likes cats...

Make vintage cards. I'm fond of vintage holiday themed decor and classic holiday movies. Some of my favorite classic holiday movies are Miracle On 34th Street, A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life. So I'm planning to makes cards with that theme and era this year.

Make cards on your computer and then print them out. Or order your personalized cards online. To save colored ink from running out, simply print images in black&white. The black&white images look nice on colored paper. If you're planning to order online, here's a Snapfish code CARD08 for 20 Photo Cards for .01 each. The code is valid until 11/23/08.

This year I ordered a few cards online, and I'm planning to make a few on cardstock. I enjoy making them, it gives me the option to personalize the individual cards.

What is your favorite classic holiday movie?
This is my favorite :)




For more Works for Me Wednesday's tips, check out Rocks in my Dryer.

A Couple Toys Worth Buying

This week at Works for Me Wednesday is the The Toys Worth Buying Edition .

I have a teenager, so we purchase mostly electrical gadgets and musical instruments these days. But over the years we went through many phases (Barney, Thomas the Train, Power Rangers, Giga Pets, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards). Those toys were a lot of fun, and we even saved some in a keepsake box.

In addition to the phases, there are the classic time-tested toys too. Here are a few toys we enjoyed for years; The Rubik Cube, Lincoln Logs, Lego's, Twister, Mr. Potato Head, Monopoly, and the card game UNO.

Those were some of the phases and a few classics, but how about publishing a book and saving a some loose change! Below are two items I couldn't resist mentioning :)

IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit
This kit allows kids to write and illustrate their own story. And once the story is finished, they can mail it in the prepaid envelope to be published. This is a great way to encourage children to write, and makes a nice keepsake to treasure for years!

Schylling Rubber Piggy Bank
This Piggy is adorable and durable too!! It's vinyl, so it's safe enough for kids to carry around without the fear of breaking it. This cute piggy bank is perfect for any age and a great way for kids to learn about saving money!

For more Works for Me Wednesday's Toys Worth Buying tips, check out Rocks in my Dryer.

A Few Tips to Keep Food Fresh Longer

Below are a few tips I follow:

I dry off my fruits and veggies before storing them in the refrigerator with either a paper towel, or salad spinner to remove the excess fluid. Then I store them in airtight containers. Sometimes I place a paper towel in the containers to help absorb the moisture.

I try to use the smaller Rubbermaid Produce Saver Containers to decrease the amount of air surrounding the produce, and then I seal them tightly.


I use simple clothes pins to seal bagged snacks! I try to remove most of the air out first, before sealing the bags.


When my snacks go stale, before the expiration date, I refresh them. Here's a link with a couple tips to refresh snacks!


Apples can cause fruits and vegetables to age faster. So I keep apples separated from fruits and vegetables.


I usually avoid refrigerating bananas, since the peel blackens. I find it’s best to freeze peeled bananas in airtight plastic bags, and then use them later for baking.

Here’s an easy Banana Ice-cream recipe!

I keep tomatoes and cucumbers separated, since tomatoes can cause cucumbers to age faster.


More Info:

Did you know that bay leaves can help keep bugs away from food? For continued results, change the leaves every 3 months. And cloves can help keep ants away! Spread the cloves in areas susceptible to ants.


Here's the salad spinner I use to dry my fruits and veggies.



Here's the Rubbermaid Produce Saver Containers I use.




For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, check out Rocks in my Dryer.