Locks Of Love Donation Tip

Today's tip is for anyone who wants to donate hair to Locks Of Love, but does not want to (or is unable to) donate the 10" they require to make a wig from the hair.

My sweet Clara Rose was in desperate need of a new 'do, and she was hooked on the idea of donating her hair to help a sick little girl somewhere (she has such a heart of gold). But if we were to cut 10" off her hair, it would have been much shorter than either of us wanted her hair to be (she still wanted to be able to do "twists").

While I was researching LOL's frequently asked questions, I learned that hair that is shorter than 10" will NOT be thrown away. Short hair is usually sold to offset wig manufacturing costs, or for short hair wigs (boy wigs maybe).

So we had her hair cut with the pony-tail holder, and we got about 5 inches. We're donating her hair to help sick kids...even if it's not necessarily made into a wig. All Clara knows is that she's helping a sick child somewhere...and that worked for her (and me!).

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A Great (Free!) Game For Kids

For most of you, I'll bet this idea will be more of a reminder than a new tip. Did you play this game as a kid? We sure did, and I loved it! The name of the game? "Grocery Store" (I know, I'm so creative). It's a great game for days when it's too hot, smoky, cold, rainy, etc. outside.

The general idea goes like this:

1. Grab "groceries" out of your pantry and encourage the kids to set up the living room/play room like a grocery store. Remind them that they'll need a place to pay for and bag the groceries as well.

(the canned and boxed foods isle)

(the produce section)

2. Encourage the kids to assign roles or jobs and then rotate after a bit so everyone gets a chance to be the checker, the shelf organizer, the shopper, and "the baby" (my kids' favorite role).

In this picture, Ben is the guy working the store. He met the girls at the "door", invited them in to shop, and then gave them a tour so they knew where to find what they needed (dang...can I shop at a store like that?!). The girls did their shopping, and then Ben bagged the groceries and they exchanged pretend money.



3. Some great ways to make this game age appropriate for older kids:
- Have the kids write out shopping lists (maybe even based on a particular meal or recipe)
- Put price tags on the "groceries"
- Teach them to stay within a budget
- Use real money to "buy" and make appropriate change (after doing the adding, of course).
- It might also be a good time to teach about sales tax...what is it, how much is it, and sales tax is used for (you know... senator parties, fancy airplanes, important business meetings at the local pub, etc.)

4. My only other suggestion when playing this game, is for the parents to stay out of the way as much as possible! I made some general suggestions, "Maybe you'd like to....", and they were off to the races! I didn't interfere when Ben said a zucchini was a "gazillion" dollars, and I didn't offer my advice when they were trying to figure out if it was appropriate to put canned stuff next to boxed stuff. Just let their imaginations run wild and have fun watching!

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A Frugal & Simple Way To Hang A Quilt

This is my baby boy...

And this is his room...
It was just a couple of months ago (he's 10 months old) that I decided I was tired of the bare walls in his room. I had purchased this cute quilt with the bedding set, but I never got it hung on the wall as intended.

One day I headed in there with a hammer and some good ol' straight pins. I was determined... and I was thrilled by how easy it was (and how well it turned out)! The tiny hole made by the straight pin did not damage the quilt (or the wall) either, and it's very securely hung. Give it a try!

Here are some tips:

- Find the top, center (approximate is fine) of your quilt.

- Holding it by that point, tap a straight pin through the quilt and into the wall at the height you want it.

- Next, do the corners to make it level.

- Add pins until the top edge looks straight as well.

P.S. Did you know that you can use straight pins to hang almost any light to medium-weight item on your sheet-rocked walls? They're amazingly strong, and they do minimal damage to your walls.

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Are Debbie Meyer "Green Bags" Worth It?

I'm a sucker for a good infomercial. I've spent way too much money on fantastic looking products on TV, only to get them home and realize that they're junk and that I've just wasted my money. So I've been skeptical of Debbie Meyer "Green Bags". The commercials claim that they'll keep your produce from spoiling over really amazing amounts of time.

I finally broke down and bought a box of 20 for about $12. I found them in my grocer's produce section (not by the other ziploc bags and such).

Before taking them all out of the box, I decided to do an experiment. I took two bananas off of a bunch that I'd just purchased. One went in the bag, and the other didn't. I put them aside in the same corner of my kitchen so they'd see the same light and temperature conditions. After 3 days, I compared them, and here's what I found:


You can see in this following picture that the banana in the bag looks like it just came off the bunch. The stem is firm and still green. The other banana...not so. The banana is starting to show signs of aging and softening.


Interesting, but compelling? Not really. BUT THEN....

Then, I cleaned a bunch of grapes that I planned to bring on the airplane for our vacation. I couldn't fit them all in the carry-on, so I put them in a green bag to see what would happen.

You know how grapes practically whither in 30 minutes once you take them off the stem? And how they get a bit soft and slimy even if you leave them in the fridge?

Well, take a look at these beauties:

Folks, these grapes have been off the stem for 15...FIFTEEN...days. That's more than two weeks! And these grapes were still crunchy!

That did it for me. I am completely and totally sold on these bags. I'm going to do some shopping and try to stock up before my garden produce really starts coming ripe. I'm so thrilled to have found these things!

Now, if Miss Meyer and her people could come up with some sort of facial cream to take care of my signs of aging. I'm tempted to poke a few holes in a green bag and sleep with one over my head tonight! :)

Give 'em a try, they definitely work for me!

BTW...I did a post last week Wednesday, but never got around to linking it to WFMW. If you'd like to read about the Best Parenting Tip Ever, click on over.

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A Great Baby Shower Idea

This baby shower idea has become very popular with my group of (very fertile) girlfriends. I can't remember who gets credit for this idea...the first time I did it was as my own baby shower hosted by my sister, Tiffany. But I've done this project at countless other showers too, and it's always a hit.

Supplies: Baby onesies in a variety of sizes, "puffy" fabric paints, a little imagination (if you're short on imagination, you might want to have some children's books on hand for ideas).

Activity: At the shower, have each guest grab a "blank" tshirt or onesie, and use the paints to decorate the onesie.

As you can see from the tshirt my Thomas is wearing, you can get some pretty fun little shirts out of this project for the mommy to be. The shirts below were done by my two oldest kids when I was in the hospital having Thomas. They were so proud of their creations!

Tips:
- You might want to put a piece of waxed paper or foil on the inside of the shirt, in case the paint goes on thick and bleeds.
- Have a place available where you can lay the shirts out flat for about 24 hours while the paint dries.
- Encourage guests to put thier initials somewhere on their shirt so the mom can know who made it (or take pictures of guests with their creations).
- Have some pencils and scratch paper available for people to plan their design and maybe practice using the paints.
- Have a straight pin on hand to clear any clogs in the paints.
- If you're really feeling ambitious, you can use fabric dye to pre-color the shirts before painting for some really unique creations.
- A twist on this idea is to do a tie-dye project with the shirts (instead of painting)...I thought it was a strange idea at first, but it turned out so cute!

Design Ideas:
- Bugs: butterflies, caterpillars, lady bugs, grasshoppers
- Vehicles: trains, airplanes, cars, buses, motorcycles, backhoe, bull dozer
- Sports: baseball, basketball, football
- Symbols: stars, hearts, polka dots, smiley face, cross
- Phrases: "Daddy's Girl", "I Love Grandpa", "Jesus Loves Me", "What Smell?", etc.

The sky's the limit! Have Fun :)





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WFMW: A Fix For Cracked Heels

Yes, Heels. I'm actually writing a post about Heel Balm. My life is just so glamorous!

I feel a bit strange writing about dry feet after flying high on cloud nine today. All of your sweet comments on my "Miracle" post did my heart good...thank you :)

But now, on to Heel Balm. Heels. You know, heels... of your feet. The part that gets all dry and cracked and ugly and sore in the summer months. Or is it just me?

I'm betting it's not just a problem for me, so I just had to tell you about this stuff:

It's called "Heel Balm", and the manufacturer is Flexitol. I found it at my local Fred Meyer store, but you can also find it HERE.

I've tried every kind of lotion and potion and scrub and loofa available to feet. Nothing helped my cracked heels until I tried this miracle stuff! It's more than a lotion or cream...you just have to try it to believe it!


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Recipe: Southwest Chicken & Bean Pasta - YUMMY!

This is an awesome, fresh tasting dish. It makes a TON, so it's a good choice for your large family or for a potluck (also great left-over). Loaded with fresh veggies and lean protein, it's sure to please both your tongue and your tummy!

It's also super simple to make.

You'll need:

4 chicken breasts, cooked and sliced (I cooked ours on the grill - fantastic!)

12 oz pkg of large elbow macaroni, cooked per package

1/2 red onion, chopped

2 bunches green onion, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1/2 medium red pepper, chopped

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 small can sliced black olives

1 cup corn (I use frozen corn, cooked in micro for a couple minutes)

1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

1 cup sour cream (low or no fat would work fine)

3 Tbs lime juice

2 Tbs olive oil

2 Tbs taco seasoning (or one packet) powder

- Combine all the produce (fresh and canned) with the pasta, and toss until mixed.

- You can finish one of two ways:

- OPTION 1 (sort of a creamy sauce): Combine the sour cream, juice, oil, and spices, mix with pasta and produce mixture, stir over medium heat until warmed through, top with chicken and serve

OR

- OPTION 2 (more of a tangy sauce): Combine juice, oil, and spices and combine with pasta mixture. Serve with the sour cream on top or on the side.

My family loved this dish...I hope yours does too!

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A Quick Tip: Getting Picky Kids To Eat

(Just look at my tiny little 2 year old Clara!! She is such a doll :) She was also notorious for taking a bite of food, and immediately spitting it back onto her plate. Little stinker!)

My bloggy friend, Amanda at The Stumbling Christian, does a "Mommy Tip Tuesday" carnival...I thought I'd join in this week with one of my mommy tips.

This one is for all you parents who have a hard time getting your picky eater to do the impossible: put food in their mouth, chew, swallow, repeat.

I have two words (or should it be one??): TOOTH PICK.

This tip is especially useful for 2-3 year olds. I cut their food into bite sized pieces, put a little dollop of "dipping sauce" (we use lots of ketchup, ranch, and pizza sauce around here), and serve it up with a toothpick. The kids have such fun poking the food with their new utensil and choosing which sauce to use, their food is gone before they realize that they actually ATE FOOD :) Give it a try!

UPDATE: This post has been modified for submission to Works For Me Wednesday.

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How To Make A Homemade Bulletin Board

I wish I could say that I came up with this clever idea, but the credit has to go to my handy hubby.

I'd been searching for reasonably priced bulletin boards for my kids for quite a while, but anything that was a good size also carried a hefty price tag ($20-$30 each). So my genius husband came up with the idea to use some carboard, an old sheet, and some duct tape...of course!

We used a king size sheet that we haven't used in years (we're flannel sheet snobs now that we're used to them). Hubby cut the cardboard, and I cut the fabric. Then I taped the edges down on the backside of the cardboard (sort of like wrapping gift wrapping), and hubby hung them in the kids' rooms.

I was a bit skeptical, but normal tacks work beautifully! It was free, simple, fun, the kids love them, and it works great. Now THAT works for me!

BTW...I'm hosting a new weekly carnival starting this week. Come see what it's about!

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Help Me, People

Well I am just tickled that Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer is hosting a twist on her typical "Works For Me Wednesday". Today it's "What DOESN'T Work For Me". I sure have one, and I'd love your help.

I like to keep a wreath on my front door, but the birds keep trying to nest in it! You'd think that with as many times as our front door is opened every day, the darn birds would take a hint. Instead, they just fly to the nearest shrub or tree when the door opens, and proceed to twitter angrily at any person coming close to their intended nesting place. Bird brains.

The first thing I did was to hide little pieces of aluminum foil in the wreath, thinking the shiny metallic stuff would scare them away. DIDN'T WORK.

Then I tried a different wreath...one that is totally synthetic with no hint of anything in it that was actually ever alive...all fake flowers and plastic. DIDN'T WORK.

Then I was really consistent about going out there and picking all the nesting stuff out of my wreath. Those birds are quick and persistent builders....I was removing 2 to 3 nests per day! DIDN'T WORK. (Although is was fascinating to see all the little pieces of whatever they used to make their nests.)

So I finally just took my wreath off the front door. I'm guessing that nesting season will be over in a couple of weeks (???), and I'll put it up again.

Here's where I need your help: How, how, HOW do you keep our feathered friends from nesting where they shouldn't?

WFMW: No Mess In My Spice Cabinet!

I love my fresh pepper grinder, but I hate the mess it makes in my spice cabinet! I don't remember where I got this idea, but it works like a charm. I kept the lid to a can of cake frosting, turned it upside down, and use it as a place to store my pepper grinder. I just grab it and tap the mess into the sink from time to time...no more pepper spreading all over my spice cabinet.

Give it a try, it works for me!

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WFMW: Vacuuming Made Easier

Here's a simple way to make vacuuming a little easier...add an extension cord to your vacuum's cord. I added another 12 feet to my cord, so now I can vacuum my whole lower level without stopping to plug-in somewhere else once I run out of cord. Isn't my little Sammy a doll? I'm pretty sure she thinks that this was her idea :)

Give it a try, it works for me!

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Quick Tip: Keeping Spaghetti

Open spaghetti packages always end up a mess in my pantry. To keep the noodly noodles tidy, I have a simple trick: I wrap a rubber band around the outside of the package after it's opened. The pasta stays put and I keep my sanity! Give it a try, it works for me!

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**By the way- I'm hosting a giveaway right now. Come see me HERE if you'd like to get in on it :) **

Recipe: Homemade Hot Fudge

You MUST try this! Right. Now!

2 sticks butter

2 oz semi-sweet chocolate

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 pint whipping cream

1 capful vanilla

• Melt the butter and chocolate over medium heat
• Mix the sugar and cocoa together in a bowl
• Once the butter mixture is melted, add the sugar mixture and stir.
• Add the whipping cream, and stir until blended.
• Stir and heat until mixture comes to a boil.
• Continue to stir and heat for about 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla.

Keep refrigerated when not using it. It will solidify...just pop it in the microwave to heat it back up. Also good by the spoonful right out of the fridge ;)

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P.S. Thanks to my hubby's dad for this awesome recipe

A Great Craft: Homemade Pillowcase

I just had to show you pictures of my latest craft project!

My mom makes homemade pillowcases for my kids, and they just LOVE them. She uses really cozy flannel material, and she customizes it with their names. Their "Grandma pillows" are such a special thing for them.

I decided to give it a try. I didn't want to make them for my own kids though, since it's my mom's special thing to make for them. So I made one for my friend's daughter. It was so much fun to make! And Karissa really loves it (so I'm told).

The hardest part was choosing fabrics. I really lucked out with the puppy fabric...she's a fanatic about puppies! But it didn't seem like a very "pretty" pattern, so I prettied it up with the flowered fabric for the hem. I'm happy with how it turned out.

Isn't it cute?! :)
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Teaching Kids: Which Foot? Which Shoe?

Does anyone else's kiddos have a tough time trying to figure out which shoe goes on which foot?

I came up with this simple idea to help them. Using a permanent marker, I drew a small smiley face on the inside of each shoe.

When they ask me "Mom, is this right?" I just remind them that the smiley faces should be facing each other..."smiling at each other." It works every time!

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Breast Feeding Tip: Nursing Bracelet...It Works For Me!

My advance apology to any of my male readers out there...might want to skip this one!

Any nursing moms out there?

It's especially important when you first start nursing to be sure and nurse equally from each breast to help develop a good milk supply on each side.

Whether you're a nurse-on-both-sides-for-each-feeding mom, or a nurse-on-one-side-per-feeding mom...it helps to keep track of which breast you're supposed to start with at a given feeding.

I'm on my 4th breast-fed baby, and this system works the best for me.

I made myself a simple bracelet, which I wear on the wrist that corresponds with the side I'm supposed to start with at the next feeding. When I sit down to nurse, I have the same routine each time: note the side, position baby, switch bracelet to other wrist, and ready...set...latch!

It is especially handy for those bleary-eyed middle of the night feedings. Thinking clearly is just not on my agenda for a 3 AM feeding!

Some tips for making a bracelet:
1. Use a variety of colors or a single color that matches anything...you'll be wearing the thing every day (or you could make more than one...that's an idea!)
2. Use small beads or stones. Since you'll be sleeping with it on, you'll want something that's not very bulky.
3. Use an elastic material - no clasps needed (clear elastic band type material found in the beading section at craft stores).
4. Tie it off with a square knot to ensure that it will not come loose.
5. Keep an eye on it. If it seems that part of the elastic is getting thin over time, re-string the beads on new elastic.

Give it a try...it works for me! And swing by Rocks In My Dryer for more great ideas.

Sink Fun: It Works For Me!

Yet another tip from me this week about entertaining the kiddos on the cheap! I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I'm sure it's been around since the beginning of water, kids, and sinks...so I guess you could consider this more of a reminder.

There is just nothing that entertains my children more than water. For my older kids, I let them fill up the sink and choose their toys from my kitchen utensil drawer. For my smaller ones, I do those things for them. However they get there though, they just love playing in the water! They scoop, they pour, they "measure", they experiment. And of course, they get to wipe down the bathroom with towels when they're done.

For a little extra fun, add some soap or bubble bath to the water. Or let them use a bar of soap to see how slippery it gets. Ice cubes would be fun too. You can also challenge them to a game of "sink or float"- choose a few things from around the house, have the kids guess if the items will sink or float, and then let them find out for themselves.

Sink fun keeps them busy for a good hour. It's cheap. It's educational (sorta). It's not too messy. But most importantly, IT'S NOT TV!

Thanks so much for stopping by! For lots of other great tips and ideas, go visit Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer.

A Pizza Picnic: It Works For Me!

This is my first contribution to "Works For Me Wednesday". Yahoo!!

We are a busy family with 4 small children. It's TOUGH to enjoy a dinner at a restaurant with all of our little munchkins these days (you relate, I know you do!). This idea is a great way to enjoy a special meal with the whole family while saving some money (and sanity) too.

We call it a "Pizza Picnic" around here. I pop a frozen pizza into the oven, and the kids race to the drawer that contains our vinyl "picnic blanket" (table cloth). They spread it on the floor in the living room and take their places. When the pizza is done, I put pieces on paper plates and fill up plastic straw cups with lids for the kiddos. They think it's such a wonderful adventure to have a pizza picnic.

And we grownups think it's great to have such fun without spending a lot of money or leaving the house! Give it a try!

Thanks so much for stopping by! For lots of other great tips and ideas, go visit Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer.