Easy and healthy treat that also is 'safe' for vegans and gluten-sensitive people.
One of the first places a budget can be cut is the grocery list. Eating more healthy foods can actually cost you less if you make a few simple changes. From Scratch Beans are extremely nutritious and can be prepared in many ways to add...
Preserving leaves Autumn leaves are one of natures most colorful and prescious gifts. The reds, yellows oranges and greens are vibrant and beg to be gathered. Leaves from maple trees, especially Sugar Maples, offer the widest color...
When I was first married and had two babies, I made all of their clothes and mine. This was a while ago and fabric was quite inexpensive and so were patterns. Over the years fabric has become more and more expensive but I believe you can still...
This is a fast and easy fish recipe that is crisyp and tasty. You get the crispyness of fried, without the frying and use only a little coconut oil. You may substitute other fish (Talapia, white fish, etc.) I use organic coconut and oil...
A nutritionist once said we should shop only around the edges of the grocery store. I thought this kind of odd until I realize what he was getting at. All of the food around the edges, or fringe food, were fresh vegetables, fruits, bread, dairy,...
Most states do not recycle green glass, so here are ways to repurpose it and keep it out of landfills.
Planting vegetables in rows is the best way to make the most of your garden space. Here are some tips to make the job a little easier and your garden a success. Make certain that you have good soil and that the planting area receives at least...
This stuff is amazing for helping you maintain your proper nutrition, fight hunger and gives you energy.Making your own fruit and veggie juice is an excellent way to stay healthy and make delicious drinks to help you feel full and satisfied. Ten...
Boo, our rescued Havanese, loves to play outdoors! Most of us who have dogs in our family love to take them with us wherever we go. This is sometimes difficult when going on vacation because few hotels or resorts welcome our fuzzy friends....
A Clock Salad Garden For Tiny Spaces You might wish you could grow your own veggies but live in a condo, apartment or have a tiny lot. Well, your wish is granted. All you need is access to six hours of sunlight (a south-facing space is best),...
One way to have a more successful vegetable garden with less work and chemicals is companion gardening. Companion gardening is a method of grouping plants together that help each other. Native Americans knew that corn, pole beans and winter...
If you're looking for more economical and eco-friendly choices for making coffee, take heart. When we decided to replace our old electric, drip coffee maker we did a bit of research in an effort to find a coffee maker that was non-electric and...
Healthy snacks for folks on the go are often very easy to grab and cheap too! FRUIT Bananas are very healthy, filled with vitamins and minerals and are also filling. They are high in natural sugar, so to keep things in balance take a...
The hardest thing to do when you are worried about a friend is to do nothing. Sometimes that's all you can do, but often you can. If you can gather with your friends family in a non-threatening atmosphere, like a restaurant or a park, this...
I discovered Quinoa when searching for a gluten free product to use instead of noodles. Quinoa is a grain or cereal that was first eaten as a staple by the Aztecs. Legend has it that because is has to be hulled and rinsed to remove it's bitter...
Some foods have gotten very expensive and not as healthy as they should be. Peanut butter, for example is up to nearly four dollars a jar for the 'natural', which means it's basically peanuts and some salt. There have also been more than a couple of...
Container gardening is easy and practical. You can grow veggies, herbs and annuals with very little space or effort. Sunlight: Most plants need at least six hours of sunlight a day, so a southern, eastern are best, but a western exposure will work...
I used to get horrible migraines. Usually on the weekends after a hard work week. One night I was literally biting my own hand trying to get some relief from the excruciating sharp pain in my head! It's a long story, but I ended up with...
Fifteen Kitchen Gadgets is a tall order, but I love my gadgets, so here goes! 1 A counter "Slice." It's a thin, flexible cutting mat that comes in a wide variety of designs, colors and even football logos! It is very handy as you can leave it in...
Many authors come to mind when someone asks me about my favorites, but here are some that come immediately to mind.. Andrew Suzanne - "The Towers of Adrala" He started his trilogy at age 13 and finished it his freshman year in college at age 18....
1. Friends and family - guess that's a given, but couldn't live without them, even though they drive me crazy sometimes. 2. Pets and animals. I guess they are almost up there with friends and family. 3. Photos - all those memories...
After a winter of sub-zero temperatures and more than a foot of snow, my husband and I decided to become short-term "Snow Birds" and take a Florida vacation. My job was to make the reservations. I chose the St. Petersburg area on the west coast...
Shortly before my mother died she purchased a gold ring with three large diamonds. She purchased it at JC Penny about ten years ago. My father gave it to me, and since the ring had no sentimental value I decided to sell it. First, I took it...
A fun and memorable way to celebrate St. Valentine's Day or to surprise a loved one!
All ages can have fun at the beach! My husband and granddaughter in Florida I love this question because I love the beach! We go to the gulf coast of Florida for a family reunion every March and to Grand Haven, MI on the beach on Lake MI a couple of...
Can't figure out what your woman wants or how to make her happy? Here are a few suggestions that I hope help. When I have a problem and share it with my husband he immediately wants to jump in and 'fix it'. This is often not what i want -...
Dogs can live up to twenty years, so choosing a name you both can live with is an important step. There is a joke about a woman who had the police at her house quite often because she named her dog 'Help'. So, choose carefully. I am a foster...
Respect is the key. Many times adults are overwhelmed by worries; bills, their job, their health, their kids, and so many other things that the worries of a child or teenager don't seem to be important. So, when their teen seems upset because...
Our Homeopathic MD took me off all grains and dairy, so preparing meals is a challenge. Here is a healthy and easy-to-prepare salad that fits any diet! For diabetics limit the fruit.
Tough cookies may not be a favorite among people, but pups love them! They're easy to make, as the consistency is the key. This makes a huge batch. I bake these every year and give them to the dogs in our family and freeze the rest for our...
If you're out of money and low on ideas for gifts for folks on your gift list, take heart! Here are a couple of ideas for gifts people will love and you can make them in your kitchen in less than an hour! Even if you don't cook - you can do...
Best friends are like family, and that can make gift giving complicated.
GIFTS for kids $10 to $25 dollars Finding gifts for the children on your list doesn’t have to put you in the poor house. Here are some ideas to help you make the kids on your list happy and not break your bank. Babies and Toddlers If...
Traveling with your dog can be great fun for both of you. Here are some tips to insure he will remain safe and happy. IDENTIFICATION Many pet owners have their dog's ‘chipped'. Your vet will inject a tiny microchip about the size of a grain of...
All you have to do is gaze out your window the day after Christmas to realize that all that wrapping paper is taking a toll on our landfills and planet. Here are some of our more durable and earth-friendly gift wrap ideas. Reusable Gift Bags ...
This is the twenty-first century and there are really fun high-tech holiday or birthday gifts out there! Here are some fun and affordable ideas: GelaSkins - Removable Art Prints Skin Your Mac or Laptop PC The artwork ranges from Anime to Van Gogh....
It is often hard to find a gift for some of the men on our list. Here are some ideas that have worked well for me over the years. These are ideas are ten dollars or less. 1. A box of good chocolates is a good idea. Men like chocolate too! It may be...
Senior Corps > RSVP When most of us watch the news, read news online or read a newspaper we often feel overwhelmed by all the pain and violence in the world. We wonder why we should bother to help the world when there are so many problems. The...
Waitresses earn very little in the way of 'wages' and depend upon tips for much of their income. Here are some tips about how to earn more. (no pun intended) 1. Be clean. Nothing turns a customer off than dirty fingernails or food stains on your...
Why I Love My Cordless Hand Blender Our Holistic M.D. told me to stop eating SUGAR, ALL GRAIN and ALL DAIRY. What? That sounded impossible, but I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, so decided to do it. THIS is where preparing many of the...
I grew tired of the high fat, expensive and unhealthy pizzas available from pizza shops or frozen. Then I discovere flat-bread (we use Flatout brand) and decided to make my own pizza. It is eash, fast, delicious and very healthful. This recicpe...
Kitchen gadgets can make cooking tasks faster and more fun. I inherited a few from my great grandmother and still use them, others are brand new and I love using them just as much! Here are some of my favorites: Egg Slicer: I think they still make...
I know quite a few people in their eighties and nineties who are very active, healthy and happy. They all seem to have a number of things in common which I believe keeps them that way. 1. HOBBIES OR INTERESTS: Every one of them has interest in a...
When we first started looking for a recliner for my husband they all looked pretty much the same to me. I wasn't fond of them, but I wanted him to be comfy and our sofa had died a sudden and mysterious death. I think kids jumping on it might have...
Surprise friends and co-workers with fun Yankee Gift Swap items!
Board games are a great way to laugh, learn or spend time with your kids or grandkids. We have four grandchildren and some of the best times we've had were in situations where there was no electricity, such as power failures and camping. Four games...
My daughter was born when I was twenty and my son when i was twenty-one. This made for many exhausting days and sleepless nights, but it was one of the best times of my life! My husband worked long hours, six days a week, and both my mother and...
When our two babies were born a year apart, we could not afford commercial baby food. I've also always been kind of a 'health nut' and preferred fresh food to pre-prepared. The first thing to do is invest in the highest quality blender you can...
A little planning and purging will help you avoid unhealthy snacks.
GIFTS FOR MEN $25 For some reason the man on my list are always harder to shop for than the kids or women. When I ask my husband or my Dad what they want they always mumble something like, "Aw, I don't need anything." Which may be true, but I tell...
Gift exchanges can be worrisome, especially when you don't know the person well enough to have a clue what to get them!
When we first started looking for a recliner for my husband they all looked pretty much the same to me. I wasn't fond of them, but I wanted him to be comfy and our sofa had died a sudden and mysterious death. I think the fact that it was ‘cheap'...
Start at the top and work down when trying to keep warm. Head We've all seen people in old movies wearing night caps (not the liquor kind). This is because much of the body's heat escapes through the top of our heads. So, the first step is to...
CHEAP CHRISTMAS STOCKING STUFFER CRAFTS The opening of the Christmas stockings is a big deal in our family. Fun, handmade gifts are always a hit and I enjoy making them. Buy plain switch plates and cover them with printed out photos, pictures from...
Competition for home buyers is fierce these days and anything you can do to give your home an edge is helpful in selling it.. OUTSIDE: First impressions are very important, so start outside. Patch bare spots in your front lawn, clean out the...
Light, Water and Food!
Eating healthy on a limited budget is easier if you plan ahead. 1. Write down seven dinners and incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into each one. Make a weekly grocery list from these menus. This way you'll be less likely to become...
A White Elephant swap is traditionally an American or "Yankee" game. Here is the basic game, however, I've played several variations which I'll explain later. Each person brings a rather useless or odd item, wrapped with the white side of the gift...
GIFTS FOR EVERYONE: Finding a gift for everyone without going broke is a tall order. For some folks the list contains only a few people, while for others the list reaches the floor. I worked in an office that had a tradition that I started...
Decorating for the holidays can become routine and rather boring. I try to do a little something different every year. Nothing super dramatic, just a little touch here and there. Wall Art If you have framed prints or paintings on your wall, try...
Flying is not fun, but you can make it more enjoyable for your fellow passengers and yourself if you follow some rules of common courtesy and etiquette. 1. When in line to board the plane, avoid wearing your combat boots that take a day and a...
I rarely carried cash in the past, but lately I find I use it more and more. For instance, yesterday I saved two dollars by paying cash when I filled my gas tank. This may not seem like much, but two dollars a week for a year is a hundred and four...
When I first moved out on my own, a budget became a necessity and helped me avoid disaster and save money for unexpected emergencies. Here are a few tips to help make it a little easier to get started. 1. Make a list of all your expenses; rent,...
Living on a budget isn't easy, especially for a single parent, but there are ways to save money in nearly every area if you know where to look. Food: The best way to save money on food is to plan ahead. My mother-in-law taught me her method and...
Winter squash grows well in our veggie garden, so we end up with about two dozen at the end of the season. We also have vegan friends and family, so I make a similar dish using 'vegan' sausage. Because of this, and because we love Acorn squash, I...
I returned to my home town several years ago to discover it was missing. The family-owned drugstore that had been in business for three generations had a FOR SALE sign in the window. The small department store, where you could order just about...
Coffee tables make living spaces comfortable and add convenience and beauty to any home provided they 'fit' the space and lifestyle of the people who will use it. Size, style, materials, placement, even safety are considerations. SIZE & SHAPE:...
Popsicles sticks are inexpensive (or free if you eat a lot of popsicles) and make excellent craft supplies.
Fall crafts for kids are great fun and there are many natural and/or free materials available. Bird-feeder wreaths and bird houses made with dried gourds are two of our favorites. BIRD-FEEDER WREATH You might want to take a trip to the country...
I was a dental assistant for several years and learned a lot about kids and dentists. There are dentists who specialize in pediatric dentistry and they are very expensive, but they specialize in helping kids who are extremely fearful receive dental...
My Dad made the best tuna casserole I've ever tasted. It's a really simple recipe and I've seen some similar ones, but there was just something about his that makes me want to share it. Prep Time: 20 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients 4 Cups cooked...
At one time I had a small antique business in an antique mall. I was always on the lookout for finding bargains at garage sales, thrift shops, estate sales and flea markets. Flea markets seemed to have more to offer at affordable when it came to...
One of the first places to start when saving money on laundry day is with your appliances. The new Energy Star will pay for themselves over time. You'll be amazed when you see the drop in your energy bill. I purchase Dr. Bronner's Holistic soap...
Kick Kids Clutter out of your home!
My doctor suggested that I add more bananas to my diet to increase my potassium intake. I'm not a huge fan of bananas, so experimented with making breakfast smoothies. This is my favorite and hope you enjoy it too! I make coffee ice cubes which are...
Another view from one of the hiking trails The view from the deck of our cabin One of the cave paintings that were created thousands of years ago. Hiking through huge rock formations is amazing. Are you looking for a beautiful place to get away...
Choose your pet's caregiver carefully!
Four Kids, Two Parents, Three Dogs - pack for the road! Are We There Yet? Our Road Trip to a Family Reunion in Arkansas Another Road Trip Got Us to Destin, FL from Michigan A long family road trip to Grandma's can range anywhere from fun to...
Decorating your home on a budget is fun and easy. Really, it is, I've been doing it for years. I assume when they use the term ‘budget' they're talking little to no money. Billion dollar corporations have budgets. The photos are of items I found...
We spend up to a third of our life in bed, so why not make it as comfy as possible? The feel of a soft, smooth, clean sheet against your skin is one of life's true pleasures. It's better to have only two sets of really great sheets than a half-dozen...
Basil is one of the most untritious and flavorful herbs and is easy to grow!This is one of my favorite seed companies. High germination and healthy plants. Herbs add extra flavor to foods, but also contain a very high amount of nutrients that can...
Eating healthy can start with baby steps. Several years ago I decided to replace several red meat meals a week with fish, but I wasn't sure which fish to start with. I knew the breaded and fried fish I'd been used to was not the best nutrition...
My friend invited me over to see her newly-built home and warned me to wear the tallest, toughest pair of boots I could find. When I saw her yard I under stood. I probably should have worn fisherman's waders. Surrounding her lovely new Victorian...
Many of us have them. Those corners in the lawn, spaces between the sidewalk and the street, or strips of dessert along the driveway that never get water and are fried by the sun on a continual basis. You can cover them with rocks, but there are...
I'm always looking for ways to cook meals that are cheap, easy and healthful. Soups is one of the best ways to do all of these. I cook mine in a 6-quart slow cooker and freeze it in batches of 2-quarts each. I try to include veggies that are in...
It started so innocently, like most manias I guess. My husband and I were at a Kite festival, well he was, I was just hanging around. I spied a stuffed Bullfrog on a display. I am not normally a stuffed animal person and my kids and most of my...
Too bad about the tea roses, not being able to reroot, they are my favorites. Lots of good tips here - thanks. I love gardening so much I've been known to pull weeds at midnight under the light of a full moon. I'm also always looking for a...
Lily-of-the-Valley and Vinca Bishop's Weed Thrives in Shade Primrose blooming in full shade with Pulmonaria and Astilbe Eco gardener Bishop's weed/goitered is an invasive plant in new england and should NOT be planted! Some plants are not allowed...
Here are some ways to avoid the pitfalls and mistakes I've made growing tomatoes!
Green beans are tasty and nutritious and easy to grow. Raddishes take up little space and are packed with nutrients Green peppers sweet or hot add flavor and nutrientns to any meal and are easy to grow Sugar Baby and other varieties of...
Cimifugia (Ligularia blooming at it's base. These get practically no shade and tolerate dry conditions. Ligularia Desminoides Cinnamon Stick Fern Corydalis Japanese Painted Fern Woodland Poppy The photo above this add was taken in my shade...
If you'd like to grow your own vegetables, but worry about the pests eating them before you do, consider attracting birds, especially Wren's to your garden. Wrens eat many times their weight in insects on a daily basis, or feed them to their babies....
These are wonderful for making the most of your carry-on luggage. I take one for the dirty clothes and throw them in and ask housekeeping to use their vacuum to suck out the air for the return trip.Purchase a quality carry-on bag that allows the...
I've been growing tomatoes for decades and have learned a few tips along the way. I hope these help you either grow better tomatoes or keep the ones you buy tasting fresher. THE DREADED BLACK WALNUT TREE! This is a sort of 'secret' that took me...
Heavenly Blue Morning Glories and Hyacinth Bean Vines Nelie Moser Clematis Akeba Vine - Grown For Foliage - tolerates shade. Vines are among the most versatile, interesting and independent plants on earth. Indigenous people in every part of the...
We've all seen the ‘family vacation' movies, and most of us could probably write our own scripts. With the high cost of gas and environmental concerns, there are a few things to consider when planning a family road trip. Planning and a good...
Quality and Comfort are key in purchasing sheets!
One thing y garden never runs out of is shade. I'm not complaining because the huge old trees that provide them are worth it, but it makes finding perennials a bit tricky until you learn about growing Hostas. There are about twenty different...
My front flower bed. I'm not much of a planner . .. another part of the front yard.I'm having trouble finding Cedar Mulch locally, so it's good to know that I can get it on Amazon! Back when I thought RoundUp was safe, I used it all over to rid my...
I~ ~© Universal Republic // Photo credit: Mishca Richter 've been listening to "Back to Black" by Amy Winehouse for about three days now. I must confess I bought the ‘Clean' version, just a personal preference. It doesn't diminish the music one...
Store-bought salad dressings can be loaded with unwanted sugar, salt and chemicals - so make your own - it's easy!
These versatile gourds are easy to grow and can be made into bowls, art and bird houses!
If each one of us reused just a few things more than once - gave them a second life - we'd help ourselves save money and help heal the planet.
Having the essentials can help you eat cheaper and healthier.
Few improvements make a statement and make a room look better than the floor. One of the nicest ways to find cheap flooring is by removing existing carpet or linoleum and discovering a hard wood floor was under there just waiting for you. In the...
Several families of wrens have nested in our yard every year for as long as I can remember. They usually prefer bird houses and often build more than one nest. They build decoy or 'fake' nests to mislead predators. The average size bird house that...
Choosing the correct location and time of year to hang bird houses is the key!
Landscaping on a budget depends on your dreams and your size budget. Also, think about if you want to become a ‘gardener' or if you just want your landscape ‘decorated' and be done with it. There's a huge difference. If you're fond of...
Here are a few places where you can cut back on your expenses so you'll actually have money to put away for that new car or for retirement. 1. If there are four people or more in your family, consider joining a food co-op. We did this for years...
My friend has it figured out, she married an avid gardener and she just picks the flowers and harvests the fruit. But that means she's not technically a gardener. I am lazy and so devised a few short-cuts that keep me from procrastinating to the...
SENIORS - GIFTS Dad is eighty-nine and Aunt Margaret is eighty-five and both of them have more ‘stuff' than they need. It's always a fun challenge to find a gift they'll enjoy. My Dad and Aunt live hundreds of miles away from us, but if they...
A series of sound warnings teaches most dogs to avoid the actual 'shock' and it's better than having your dog lose in traffic!
Billions of plastic grocery bags are dumped into the environment world wide each year. You've probably seen many of them blowing through parking lots, stuck in trees and cluttering up the landscape. You can help rid the planet of this plastic blight...
Mom's can be tough to buy for. They often have all the 'stuff' they want or need, so a gift has to be speical and meaningful. Here are a few ideas that I hope will solve your 'What can we give Mom?' dilemma. If your Mum is older, you worry about...
Japanese Painted Fern - Loves moisture and shade Hardy Hibiscus survived zone 5, has enormous blooms and loves wet feet! Ferns love damp soil - this is a cinnaomon stick fern. Pink Bleeding Hearts. Water will rot the roots of most plants and...
EAT 'GET PREGNANT' FOOD If you want to get pregnant and you're overweight, you may have a problem. Women who are overweight are often low in the important nutrients required for their reproductive system to run efficiently. B vitamins and Zinc...
Planning a weekly menu and shopping and cooking from it is a great idea. It saves you time and money and will lead you to less 'take out' meals, so better nutrition. Someone mentioned this is too much turkey for one week - and they're probably right...
"You can't always get what you want And if you try sometime you find You get what you need " Rolling Stones Sometimes what we want isn't really what we 'need', we just don't know it. Several seemingly tragic and painful things have ...
Maybe You're Just 'hangry' or dehydrated . . .
Decorating your home on a budget is fun and easy. Really, it is. I've been doing it for years. I assume when they use the term ‘budget' they're talking little to no money. Billion dollar corporations have budgets. Places to find the best deals...
Get rid of expensive household cleaning products and other toxins by replacing them with simple, inexpensive ones!
Tanya, a Havanese, was rescued from a puupy mill. Otherwise she'd be doomed to a life of misery. Frankfurt is Waiting for a new home on petfinder.com Let me tell you what happens in a puppy mill. Most of the dogs are pure breeds. My group...
You may not have heard of some of these movies (or films) but the are very worthwhile and I've even given some of them as gifts. These are in no particular order - they'll are great. Ghost Dog - The Way of the Samurai - 1999 I never thought I'd...
Sunflowers are easy to sprout and grow and the seeds are a favorite with birds! Zinnias are among the easiest annual flowers to sprout and kids love the bright colors. Zinnias make lovely cut flowers. Make a teepee with three tall plant stakes and...
We feed our cats twice a day. In the morning and at dinner time in the evening. Some people leave dry food out for cats to eat as they wish, but we ended up with furry bowling balls when we did that. They ate way too much! I think a combo of dry...
Saving money every day is easy once you make more conscious decisions. It sort of like changing your eating, and one good way is, indeed to change your eating habits. Do you really have to have that gourmet take-away coffee every day? You might save...
I've been working on reducing our energy bills as well and have discovered some really simple ways that really help. I don't know how old your fridge is, but ours was about fifteen years old. We replaced it with a new energy star rated one and our...
Having a yard sale is a lot like throwing a party - the more planning and work you can do ahead the better. Location is the first consideration. If you live on a back road in the middle of nowhere (like we do) you may want to consider asking a...
When I was first married and had two babies, one after the other, I made all of their clothes and mine. This was a while ago and fabric was quite inexpensive and so were patterns. Over the years fabric has become more and more expensive and the...
Saving money while making something fun or useful is good for the soul.
Some of my suggestions for conserving water may seem extreme and make people go 'eeeeewwww', but I'm hoping some folks will at least think about them or try them. Do you really need to take as many showers as you do? Sometimes we shower like we...
Delicious Traditional Polish Wedding Cake Recipe
If you ask a group of kindergartners how many of them can draw and paint, all or nearly all of them will raise their hands. Ask a class of high school kids and maybe a few. Ask the same size group of adults and you'll be lucky to get one or two...
Zender's Splash Village - Frankenmuth, MI USA, an indoor water park is right next to Bronner's the ‘world's largest Christmas store." I took my daughter and our four grandkids there this summer and it's wonderful! The water park is open all year...
Perennials (plants that come up year after year) add beauty and color to your garden with a lot less work than annuals. Can be expensive, so planting them correctly is important.
The Destin area is one of our favorite places in Florida. I discovered this gem while searching for a state park where our daughter and her family could camp and we could rent a cabin near them. I found Topsail Hill Reserve State Park and loved...
Gerbera Daisies are beautiful and easy to grow as long as you know they need LOTS of water and sunshine. Gerbera Daisy photo taken by the author Annuals are plants that live only one season or year. The are a great choice first-time gardeners and...
Tanya - my 'foster' Havanese George was abandoned by the side of the road by a hunter. He's part of our family now. Gracie (Lab/Great Dane mix), Lucy & Lani Golden Retrievers - all rescued pups. Serving as a dog rescuer is one of the most...