Bringing Spring Inside...Amazing Tip!

What do you do when you want to open the windows to let in fresh air, but it's to cold outside and looks like this?

You duck!

Okay, after you dodge the snowballs, why not bring a little Spring inside too? I saw this tip the other day and had to try it. If you have a forsythia bush you can try it too!

Friday, when it was so pretty outside, I decided to trim some bushes. My forsythia bush was needing a good trim. I trimmed some of the limbs and brought them inside. No blooms...yet. We are going to force the blooms to grow! It is so cool.

First, take your cuttings you have inside...

Next, take a hammer and start pounding the end of your cutting.

Until it looks like this....

Then, fill up a vase with warm water and add your cuttings. Put your vase by a window...

Spring clean your kitchen and make the Fly Lady proud of your shiny sink!

Three days later....

You have BLOOMS!

I LOVE IT!

It will brighten up any room in the snowiest of SPRING days.

Free Magazines!

I had several requests on how to get free magazines subscriptions from my previous post. I am getting yearly subscriptions to a lot of magazines for FREE! One I had to pay 1 cent...yes I sent in a penny! Ha!

The key is to follow a few frugal blogs and watch for the opportunities. I will try to post some in the future since there was quit a bit of interest.

If you are fixing to get married....you will not want to miss out on a free subscription to
"Get Married". Click on NWA Deals ...you will be on your way to a free magazine!

Have a wonderful day!

Boring....to.....Spectacular!

I am so excited! I just wanted to share a little treat I do with my water to make it "special". I've been wanting to drink more water. A lot of us in blogland are wanting to lose weight, get fit, and become healthy. One way to help is to drink more water. The newest idea to come along is to try to drink 1/2 of your body weight in water per day. Wow! That is a lot of water for me! How can I drink that much water in a day? Water is boring, right? Since I am staying away from all artificial sweeteners...no Crystal Light for me. What is another option?

I have a solution:

My sister and niece surprised me with a gift for teaching her preschool this past year. It is something I have been wanting to help in my quest to drink more water! Thank you sis! I LOVE IT!! Here it is!

They bought me a drink dispenser! I fill it up in the morning with ice and water. I slice up some fruit and toss it in. My favorite is lemon and strawberries. I let it sit for about 1/2 hour and then stir it up real good with a woden spoon. I leave this pitcher sitting on my counter all day long. It looks so pretty and refreshing and makes me drink even more. Since it's sitting out, it's a constant reminder to drink. And the ice keeps it cold all day. I do not sweeten it. So it's not sweet but has a hint of flavor. It is so good and refreshing!

I got in all my water but one day since I've had it! It is wonderful! I'm craving it every day! My boys even love it and couldn't wait to try it!

Well that is it....that is how I am able to get my water in every day! Boring water to spectacular water! Try it...you may even enjoy it too!

Tricks and Tips!

It is MONDAY!! That meansis here!

Did you know sweet Kasey just hosted a great giveaway from Heidi's Friday Freebie...and guess what...I WON!!! If you want to check out the fun pampering stuff I won or join FMM go here.

Today's task is to share as few or as many everyday, little tips that you use to make your lives easier. You know- all those special tricks you might have to cook, clean, raise kids, work in the yard, and on and on!

My Tips:

* Blogging: Anyone find yourself spending too much time being in blogland? Anyone addicted to blogging? I was at first. I was spending way too much time on the computer. Not enough time and attention to being in the Word, my family, and my home.

I tried a timer...I just restarted it...So, I began to pray about it. This is what I came up with. I do not get on the computer until my morning routine is completed. That is it. I have a list I do every morning. I cannot get on until that is completed. I then try to limit my time to no more than 1 hour per day.

*Making my bed: I do it as soon as I get up. I have not always done this...let me tell you it makes a huge difference on how your room looks and feels. If you don't do this...start tomorrow. It only takes minutes...for a huge payoff.

*Grease stains: Do you ever take a shirt out of the dryer to find a grease spot on it. (Not car mechanic type grease...food grease spots.) Don't throw it out...Dawn takes the grease away...yes even in clothes! I could not do without my Shout and Dawn. I try to catch all stains before going into the wash. Just squirt a small amount of Dawn on the grease stain and rub. Throw it in the wash...it works every time!

*Gift closet: I have a closet in my office that is a gift center. It holds, bows, ribbon, wrapping paper, bags, and gifts! I buy sale items throughout the year of things I know I can use as gifts. It has really helped me when things are tight, and we have to birthday parties to go to. Or last minute gifts... I just shop from my closet! I will be adding some organizing feature to the inside of the door soon and baskets.














*Yard sale items: I keep a big bin in the bottom of the linen closet. Anytime I come across clothes/shoes that don't fit, or a toy the boys are ready to let go...I stick into the bin. When the bin gets full I transfer it to the shed where I put it into a big barrel. When the barrel gets full...I'm ready for a yard sale! It's full!

*Water: I'm so excited! I will be sharing how I can drink 1/2 my body weight in water every day. (Post coming soon)

*Laundry Soap: Make your own...saves tons! (Post coming soon)

*Ivory soap: If you have a garden and don't want animals eating everything in it... shred some soap and sprinkle it around your garden. Or you can drill a hole in the soap and hang in a fence on all sides.

*Green Smoothies: Trying to get my family to eat more greens. My DH and I drink the smoothies. However, the boys love my green smoothie popsicles. No you cannot taste the spinach!

*Kids over scheduled: Michael and I realized soon after we had kids that running around everywhere all the time was not what the Lord wanted for us. We allow our boys 1 activity at a time. For instance Cameron had to make a choice of either soccer, gymnastics, or baseball...since they run at the same time. Cameron decided for now to play baseball...spring/summer and basketball...fall. He also takes swimming lessons, but only after baseball season is over. We go enough with baseball as it is. I can't imagine being in baseball and soccer like some people we know. Quality family time at home is a priority! (We have to keep this in check as some times are more hectic.)

*Dinner: We choose to eat dinner as a family at the table. So many families do not do this simple, but important thing for their family. Make time to have a least one meal, if not two with the whole family! Your family will grow closer for it!

*Clothes Organizer: I have a clothes organizer in Cameron's closet. We pick out the clothes for the week on weekends, and stick them in. Then we are not looking for a pair of socks at the last minute on a school day. He gets up and gets dressed on his own.

At the beginning of school I had clothespins on every day for activities. You can see one is left. Tuesday...P.E. that way I would remember to put tennis shoes instead of sandals that day!

*Laundry- In an attempt to cut down on the amount of laundry I do...I pondered why am I washing the boys pj's all the time. I sat them down and explained to them one pair for all week. (Actually I have to give my sister credit here) They have hooks in their closets to hang them up each morning. It's not like they get dirty while they are sleeping. However, I was washing ~ 10 pair or more a week...CRAZY!

*Cherry/grape tomatoes: As seen on Rachel Ray...don't want your little one to choke on the tomatoes. How long does it take to cut up 15 cherry tomatoes? Take two round plastic lids. Place the tomatoes on top of one lid. Then, take the other lid and put it on top of the tomatoes. Hold the top lid with one hand a slice your way through a bunch of tomatoes in seconds. Works like a charm! Thanks Rachel!



The boys each have there own laundary bin. That way they can be responsible for putting up their own clothes. I still do it with them because I like neat drawers.


I have a picture of the boys playing in the dryer when they were younger. I plan on putting those pics on their baskets too. (hmmm...maybe 5 years of 'planning on it' has been long enough!!)







I hope you were able to find at least one tip you liked and can use! Have a terrific week!

HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE...Home Economics High School Text Book, 1954

*Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.


*Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.


Be happy to see him. Greet *Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.


*Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

*him with a warm smile and be glad he is home. Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.


*Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

* Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first. Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.


The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.


Challenge: Who wants to join me in trying this out on our husbands?

I've tried a few, but definitely need to be more consistant... This might even be fun.

I think I'll try this. After all, my DH is the king of this castle.

Love you honey!

Maybe if home was a little more stress free,
there would be less gray?