Weird Things to Do with Food

PEPPER

Everyone knows Clorox's catchy ditty about keeping clothes bright, but all you need is pepper. Add a teaspoon of pepper to the wash before you add in your clothes and it will keep the colors from fading.


WHITE VINEGAR

Deodorant stains can ruin a perfectly good shirt. Save your whites by spraying white vinegar (no need to mix with water) onto the underarm areas. Then you can wash per usual.

SUGAR

At your next BBQ don't spend money on anti-pest candles that never work. Simmer 2 cups of milk, a 1/4 pound of sugar and 2 oz. of ground black pepper for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour the mixture into bowls and put them where the flies will be attracted to them and then drown. You can also place around the house. No more buzzzzzing at the windows.

SODA

Next time your drain is clogged and you don't have time to run to the store for some Drain-O just look in your fridge! A 2-liter bottle of soda will do the trick. Just pour it down to clobber the clog.

SHORTENING

For a natural solution to diaper rash, try coating the area with a thin layer of shortening. It will act as a moisturizer.

SALT

Grease stains can be a huge pain when it comes to doing laundry. Before you wash, work a generous amount of table salt into the stain and then launder as usual.

POTATOES

Too much to drink last night and now you have puffy eyes? Apply a thin slice of cold potato to your eyes and leave on for five minutes. Then splash with cool water, put on your makeup (or just some moisturizer -- this means you, too, guys!) and head to work!

ORANGES

Don't you hate it when you have to start a fire and little bits of newspaper are flying everywhere? Next time, air-dry orange peels, which contain flammable oils that burn longer, and use those instead of the paper. The delicious smell is a bonus.

OLIVE OIL

Does it seem like nothing is working for your bad skin? Use 4 tablespoons of salt and 3 tablespoons of olive oil to create a paste. Leave it on your face for 2 minutes and rinse with warm water. Then wash your face as normal. Use every day for a week and then cut back to 3 days a week and you should notice an improvement.

MUSTARD

It may make you smell like a hot dog, but rubbing a thin layer of mustard over your chest and covering with a hot towel can relieve a stuffy head and chest.

MILK

Oh no! You forgot to put the cap on your pen and now there is ink seeping into your shirt. No worries -- just grab some milk and soak the area. Depending on the type of ink, this process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours. Patience is a virtue.

MAYONNAISE

It's one thing when your child draws on the wall with crayons, it's quite another when it comes to your wood furniture. Rub some mayonnaise on the crayon mark and let it soak for ten minutes. Then take a damp cloth and wipeaway the mayo AND the crayon!

LEMONS

Dandruff can be an embarrassing health problem, but the special shampoo often smells yucky. Try massaging 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into your scalp and rinsing with warm water. Follow with a leave-in rinse of 1 teaspoon lemonjuice in 1 cup of warm water. Use this daily until your scalp is healed.

FLOUR

You have an ant problem but are worried about the poisonous ant traps around your pets. Just sprinkle flour wherever you see ants entering the house and along the pantry shelves, since they are most likely after your food.

EGGS

No time to hit the salon before your big event? Get your hair super shiny and conditioned with eggs! Take two beaten egg yolks and massage into hair. Start at the scalp and work in small sections. Then gather all of the hair in a shower cap, wrap in a warm towel and wait 30 minutes (you could cook the kids' dinner). Rinse with cool water and shampoo as usual.

CORN STARCH

Your child just learned how to tie their shoes and the knots are impossible to undo. Stay calm and sprinkle a little cornstarch on the laces to help you work out the knot.

CLUB SODA

There's no more worrying about drinking red wine on white carpet. Soak up as much wine as possible and then pour club soda over the area, making sure to blot and not rub. Repeat the process until the wine is no longer visible. You can also do the same for urine stains.

CASTOR OIL

While most of us associate castor oil with constipation or childbirth, did you know it can also help get rid of pesky moles in your yard? Just mix a 1/2 cup of castor oil with two gallons of water and pour the mixture down the mole(s) hole(s). Don't worry, the solution is animal friendly and they will likely relocate.

BUTTER

A jewelry box can help you organize, but sometimes those thin-chained necklaces just want to get tangled and you can't stop them! Rub some butter into the knot and lay on a flat surface. Then take a sewing needle to untangle. When finished just run under hot water to rinse off the butter.

BREAD

Next time you drop a wine glass or break a plate, grab a slice of bread to help you clean up. After you pick up the larger pieces, press the bread over the area and it will pick up all the itty bitty pieces you can't see. Bread can also help clean fingerprints off walls and wallpaper. Just rub and voila!

BANANAS

Before you throw your banana peel in the compost pile, remove any stringy pulp and use the peel as a buffer. This works with silverware as well as leather shoes and leather furniture. Just rub the peel over the object and buff with a soft cloth. Be sure to test a small section of your furniture first!

APPLES

Sick of waiting for your green tomatoes to ripen on the windowsill? Stick up to five tomatoes in a brown paper bag with a ripe apple and seal for a few days. This will speed up the ripening process.

Please watch this short, beautiful film to have a donation made to
Autism Speaks. The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating
$0.49 to Autism Speaks for *each time* the video is viewed. The
funding goes toward research studies to help find a cure. When you
have a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video and
pass it along to your friends and family. They are aiming for 10,000
hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal.

Click & Watch Please

How Would You Handle This?

I am making a gift for a friend's birthday - using items on hand - 3 beads, and a length of wire. Would you could this as one item (the ring) or 4 items (beads & wire) when counting the items leaving the home?

Goals Suprassed

In December, Hubby thought that 208 items would be a more realistic goal. We met that and changed our goal to 1008. Well, Ladies and Gents, we've now surpassed that goal as well. Looks like the original challenge amount of 2008 may just be something we can accomplish. At the VERY least, I will continue with my goal of 7 things per week for the year.

Here is this week's list (week ends on Saturday):

1	book - The Note	Mom
1	Mensa Puzzle Book	Gwen
1	Hello Kitty Kit	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	Star light	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	thread type yarn	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	bug	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	stuffed cat	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	faeire crystal	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	poodle grows	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	orange candle	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	Angel Book	Freecycle - Tepeza
3	cinderella stamp markers	Freecycle - Tepeza
4	boy toys	Freecycle - Tepeza
5	magazines	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	Candle	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	Candle holders	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	oil candle holder	Freecycle - Tepeza
1	shadow box	Trudy
1	basket	Freecycle - Tepeza
25	plastic hangers	Gwen
1	basket	Gwen
3	snow globe dragons	Freecycle - Cheryl
2	shampoo	Freecycle - Cheryl
1	toothpaste	Freecycle - Cheryl
1	hair inhibiter	Freecycle - Cheryl
9	razors	Freecycle - Cheryl
1	cologne	Freecycle - Cheryl
2	hair glitter gel	Freecycle - Cheryl
1	hair wax	Freecycle - Cheryl
1	travel bottle	Freecycle - Cheryl
3	bathsalts	Freecycle - Cheryl
2	sample shampoo	Freecycle - Cheryl
1	plastic box	Freecycle - Cheryl
1	tooth mirror	Freecycle - Cheryl
3	bath fizzies	Freecycle - Cheryl
2	plastic drawer things	Mom
1	IGIA Hair Straightner	Freecycle - Cheryl
4	massage tools	Freecycle - Cheryl
2	pks of watercolor pencils	Freecycle - Cheryl
1	Book on BiPolar Disorder	Freecycle - Cheryl
1	Sword	Freecycle - Cheryl
2	sets of curtains	Freecycle - Jean
8	pillow cases	Freecycle - Jean
2	sets of sheets	Freecycle - Jean
15	books	Freecycle - James
4	Makeup Items	Mom
31	Makeup Items	Freecycle - Jackie
1	Cat Door
1	Swiffer Mop	Gwen
1	Large Dry Erase Board	Freecycle - Audrey
2	Downy Fabric Softener balls	Mom
1	Tide Detergent sample	Mom
1	Reclining Chair	Dad
4	drawer organizers	Mom
1	wooden chess/checker game	Freecycle - Yolanda
68	Music CDs	Freecycle - Yolanda
71	Blank CD cases	Freecycle - Yolanda
5	Music CDs	Mom
2	Music CDs	Kes
1	Discovery Toys Mosaic Mysteries	Freecycle - Donna
1	audio cassette	Freecycle - Yolanda
1	Stick Vac Hoover	Kayla
4	Books	Courtney
6	Books	Freecycle
17	Coke Caps	Freecycle - Donna
1	Gap Sweater	Kayla
2	Swiffer Wet Pads	Gwen

This weekly total is 350 (two additional items added to last weeks items). This brings our grand total to 1133. WoooHooo!!!

Going...Going...Gone!

This week has been crazy! I gathered and got rid of SO many things. I know my list looks crazy and I'm sure it will slow down drastically soon. By October, I'm sure I'll be getting tired of this!

Here is this week's list:

2	Kiddie Swimming pools	Freecycle - Susan H
1	Pooh backpack	Freecycle - Shawn
2	shirt	Freecycle - Shawn
2	robe	Freecycle - Shawn
1	"Dreams" Jar	Freecycle - Shawn
1	man's watch	Freecycle - Shawn
1	bedside lamp	Freecycle - Shawn
1	nokia phone	Freecycle - Shawn
1	shower head	Freecycle - Shawn
3	bathroom hooks	Freecycle - Shawn
1	makeup brush holder	Freecycle - Shawn
1	Samsung Charger	Freecycle - Shawn
1	knitted shawl	Freecycle - Shawn
1	scarf	Freecycle - Shawn
1	hankie	Freecycle - Shawn
1	shrek	Freecycle - Shawn
1	shower curtain clips	Freecycle - Shawn
2	bathroom facuet	Freecycle - Shawn
1	stuffed bunny hang on	Freecycle - Shawn
3	small bag	Freecycle - Shawn
1	Set of Jerry Garcia pics	Freecycle - Shawn
2	Sets of handles	Freecycle - Shawn
2	Set of shower rings	Freecycle - Shawn
1	Glade plug in	Freecycle - Shawn
1	package of snore clips	Freecycle - Susan H
1	bathroom bag	Freecycle - Susan H
1	cat mit	Freecycle - Susan H
1	blue basket	Freecycle - Susan H
5	shirt	Freecycle - Susan H
1	cell phone case	Freecycle - Susan H
1	space bag	Freecycle - Susan H
2	Skin So Soft	Freecycle - Susan H
1	mouthwash	Freecycle - Susan H
1	shaving cream	Freecycle - Susan H
1	Robe	Freecycle - Susan H
2	Candle holders	Freecycle - Susan H
1	Sunglass Clips	Freecycle - Susan H
1	men's watch	Freecycle - Susan H
1	jewelry finding	Freecycle - Susan H
1	lotion	Freecycle - Susan H
2	Tshirts	Freecycle - Susan H
1	thermometer	Freecycle - Susan H
1	qtip container	Freecycle - Susan H
6	lotion	Freecycle - Susan H
1	cologne	Freecycle - Susan H
2	stridex pads	Freecycle - Susan H
15	scrunchie	Freecycle - Susan H
8	perfume	Freecycle - Susan H
1	doll	Freecycle - Susan H
3	small bags	Freecycle - Susan H
1	flosser	Freecycle - Susan H
3	hair clips	Freecycle - Susan H
1	face toner	Freecycle - Susan H
1	hair gel	Freecycle - Susan H
1	candle	Freecycle - Susan H
1	nail file	Freecycle - Susan H
1	pen	Freecycle - Susan H
1	shampoo	Freecycle - Susan H
1	face scrubber	Freecycle - Susan H
1	bar of soap	Freecycle - Susan H
1	deo ball	Freecycle - Susan H
3	clippies	Freecycle - Susan H
5	makeup brushes	Freecycle - Susan H
1	lanicane	Freecycle - Susan H
1	baby lotion	Freecycle - Susan H
1	batch of samples	Freecycle - Susan H
1	set of combs	Freecycle - Susan H
1	lipgloss	Freecycle - Susan H
6	ties	Freecycle
1	coat	Kayla
33	Shirts	Kit, Russ, & Freecycle
1	jacket	Kit
1	3 Hole Punch electric	Freecycle - Teacher
2	porcelain doll stands	Freecycle - Libby
1	pk of gift tags	Beth
2	magazine	Beth
1	homeschool book	Beth
2	organizers\	Beth
1	drink bottle holder	Beth
1	pumpkin carving kit	Beth
1	paintable statue	Beth
1	pair of boxers	Beth
3	paintable signs	Beth
1	picture frame	Freecycle - Doti
1	box of crayons	Beth
1	coupon book (McDs)	Freecycle - Doti
2	lanyard straps	Beth
1	lipstick holder	Freecycle - Doti
3	Hello Kitty Stamps	Beth
1	Mary Engelbreit teapot	Freecycle - Doti
1	mini notepad	Beth
2	decorative boxes	Beth
12	Greeting cards	Beth
1	bag of balloons	Freecycle - Doti
2	organza bag	Freecycle - Doti
47	pages of stickers	Beth
1	pk of picture frames	Freecycle - Doti
1	pk of die cuts	Freecycle - Doti
1	pk of cut stamps	Freecycle - Doti
1	Set of Stress Tapes	Freecycle - Shawn
1	GW Cassette Recorder	Freecycle - Shawn
1	paint brush	Freecycle - Doti
1	wooden ball	Freecycle - Doti
1	set of plastic drawers	Freecycle - Doti
1	note paper caddy	Freecycle - Doti
4	felt bags	Beth
1	pk felt bats	Beth
1	dirty words game	Beth
3	pk of sticky felt	Freecycle - Doti
1	pk of little wooded spools	Freecycle - Doti
2	mini notepads (matchbooks)	Freecycle - Doti
1	stapler	Freecycle - Doti
1	staple puller	Freecycle - Doti
1	barette	Freecycle - Doti
1	swatch watch	Freecycle - Doti
1	pill holder	Freecycle - Doti
1	post it sticker	Freecycle - Doti
1	box of fae note paper	Freecycle - Doti
1	small fishbowl	Freecycle - Doti
1	stack of consturction paper	Freecycle - Doti
2	coloring books	Freecycle - Doti
1	box of crayons	Freecycle - Doti
1	stamp pad	Freecycle - Doti
2	decorative napkins	Freecycle - Doti
2	roll of film	Freecycle - Doti
1	pk of dowel rods	Freecycle - Doti
1	keychain	Freecycle - Doti
1	letter opener	Freecycle - Doti
2	tatoos	Kit
2	big stickers	Kit
1	hand made box	Kit
1	small wood box	Kit
1	black ribbon	Beth
1	fabric bit	Beth
3	new boxes of crayons	Freecycle - Teacher
1	spool of elastic thread	Beth
2	magazine	Freecycle - Doti
12	pens	Freecycle - Doti
1	spool of ribbon	Beth
1	set of nail stickers	Beth
2	small paint brushes	Beth
1	black stamp pad	Beth
1	Ann Rule book	Freecycle - Doti
1	bottle clenaer	Beth
1	scrunchie	Freecycle - Doti
2	anticeptic wipes	Freecycle - Doti
1	pk of misc beads	Beth
1	herb recipes	Beth
1	hair gel	Freecycle - Doti
1	magnet	Freecycle - Doti
1	razor holder	Freecycle - Doti
1	barette	Freecycle - Doti
1	large metal basket	Freecycle - Doti
1	pedometer (slimfast)	Freecycle - Michelle
2	boxes of jello	Freecycle - Lani
1	box of pudding	Freecycle - Lani
2	bags of chicken	Freecycle - Lani
1	box of steakums	Freecycle - Lani
1	pk of sausages	Freecycle - Lani
1	can of peas	Freecycle - Lani
1	box of oats	Freecycle - Lani
6	pks of koolade	Freecycle - Lani
1	pk cheeseburger mac	Freecycle - Lani
3	pk frozen cookes	Freecycle - Lani
2	bags of veggies	Freecycle - Lani
4	Jenny Craig Bars	Freecycle - Lani
2	pks of linguini	Freecycle - Lani
1	cornbread mix	Freecycle - Lani
1	box of cookie mix	Freecycle - Lani
1	set of cookie cutters	Freecycle - Lani
2	page size tattoos	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
2	3 ring binder	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	gift bag	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	2' section of ribbon	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
3	bags of scrapbook die cuts	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	necklace	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	card	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
2	rainbow note pads	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	halloween bag	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	pr of scrapbook scissors	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	boning	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	fuseable webbing	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	2002 pooh calendar	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	small origami kit	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	stencil	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	pk of hello kitty gift bags	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	bunch of eucaliptus	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
2	large spools of curling ribbon	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	black note book	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	white pad of paper	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	set of rings for circles	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	small frame	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	large pile of clipart	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	paint brush	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	folder	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
4	3 ring binder	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	magazine	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	vice	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
1	paint kit for sencils	Freecycle - Laura (toomanycats)
9	Shirts	Mom
1	Skirt	Mom
1	Pair of Pants	Mom
1	sweater	Mom
3	vintage books	Freecycle
3	educational books	Freecycle - Michelle
11	mystery/horror books	Freecycle
6	learning books	Freecycle
12	Romance/Other Books	Freecycle
15	Chicken Soup Books	Mom

SO...if you have gotten this far, you see that I've managed to rid my house of 469 things THIS week! This brings our current total to 783!

783/1008
425 items left for my 1008 in 2008 goal

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words...

I took some pictures of the items leaving our house for this Project. I'm not good at getting pictures for each and every item but I'm trying. Anyway, December 2007's total was 314 items.

Here is a picture of a few of the items before they left our home for the last time!

Clearing the Way to Simplicty

Our adventures into simplifying our surroundings seems to be going quite well.

Today I had 2 freecyclers come by to pick up stuff. A few hours later my parents came by and picked up even more stuff. We're left 25 items lighter (not to mention some other re-freecycled stuff that I did not count) and it feels nice.

This Weeks List:

1-5 5 teen purses
6 pig bank
7 stuffed bear key chain
8 belt
9 gorilla
10 pooh purse
11 Game of Life
12 Battleship
13 Pottery Wheel
14 Pefection Game
15 Visible Man
16 Bopit
17 big bear
18 popison chair
19 large sticker
20-22 3 sets of beads
23 mini blinds
24-25 rugs
26 books
27 Compaq CD
28 7 Coupons (Nicoderm)
29-30 2 magazines
31 Sunshine Felt
32 pair of sweat pants
33 sweatshirt
34 Bag style purse
35-36 2 candles
37-40 3 candles (angel)
41 teddy statue
42 little lamb
43-44 Crystal S & P shakers
45 pin
46-48 3 wire statues
49 clip on sunglasses
50 Journal Jar
51 star box
52-55 3 coats


I'm not finding it hard to get rid of 7 things each week. It seems pretty simple now but I can just see us counting out 7 toothpicks by next November!! Seriously though, since December 1st, we're down 314 items. This is a great thing right??

I was thrilled to find a card reader (new) on Freecycle this week. This means I can upload photos soon so stay tuned!

Project 55 Week Fling is Underway!

I have my items for this week all gathered up. Funny how you can't just stop at 7 items.


1. Set of lantern style lights
2 - 6. 5 small picture frames
7. New Drink koozie
8. New set of markers
9 - 12. 4 dragon statues
13 - 14. 2 dragon frames
15. Dream Kit (a new item purchased a while ago. will be used as a gift
16 - 17. 2 bunny pot hangers

So 17 items out of the house this week. I call that a successful week. Photos coming as soon as I locate the camera cord.

It Is Just Stuff - Project 55 Week Fling

The Shopping Sherpa left a comment on my blog telling me about The Seven Things Spring & Summer that they are doing. It is based upon the The Original Seven Things Project but took into account the items that are being brought into the home.

This is a great project and one that we definitely want to undertake. That being said, I guess I should start with some personal guidelines. Please note that if you decide to play along, you should make your own guidelines to fit your family.

1. Items will be sold, bartered, or given away. Only as a last resort will items be sent to a landfill. The only exceptions to this are items such as shredded paperwork or personal clothing items (panties, bras, etc).
   
2. I will track my weekly progress in my blog and will add photos or information about the items if I have any attachment to them whatsoever.
   
3. If something new comes into our home that is meant as a replacement for an existing item, the original item needs to leave the home ASAP.
   
4. If something new comes into our home as an addition, other items may or may not be removed at the family's digression.
5. Gift items coming in to our house do not necessitate removal of an item.
   

My plan starts this week (December 15, 2007) and will end on December 27, 2008.

Ridding My Life of Stuff

Hubby thought my idea of removing 2,008 items from 12/1/07 - 12/31/08 was too lofty of a goal. He thought a more realistic goal of 208 items may be better. I agreed, knowing that if surpassed, the goal could be adjusted.

And with that, we began December and I started purging.

Here we are, 12 days into the month and already I've met the goal. In fact, I have surpassed it. I will be honest here and say that I was clearing out a room and got rid of a lot of items that the children had outgrown or had never used. I thought it was important for another child to have a happy holiday season and donated items to both a friend of my mom's and to families on our local freecycle board.

Without further adieu, I give you my list.

Item Number	Description	To
15	Elmo Collection	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
4	Clown pics	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	Baker's Rack	Freecycle
1	Stationery Kit	Freecycle
1	monkey beaded curtain	Freecycle
1	Yamaha Recorder	Freecycle
1	Kid toy	Freecycle
1	Spinning circle disk	Freecycle
1	Sunglasses	Freecycle
1	Sunglass cord	Freecycle
1	Perfume	Freecycle
1	passie	Freecycle
20	baby clothes	Freecycle
1	Lunch Bag	Freecycle
1	Set of Checkers	Freecycle
3	Books on CD	Freecycle
1	log for internet	Freecycle
1	key chain	Freecycle
1	kid toy keychain	Freecycle
2	small jewerly box	Freecycle
1	travel alarm clock	Freecycle
1	butterfly necklace	Freecycle
2	toe ring	Freecycle
1	digital organizer	Freecycle
1	Reading glasses	Freecycle
1	Glasses Case	Freecycle
1	Sunglasses	Freecycle
1	Bug massager	Freecycle
1	heart lock	Freecycle
1	monkey beaded curtain	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	frog beaded curtain	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	jacobs ladder	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	mokey full of hair bands	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	gel pen jounal	Freecycle
1	set of kids paints	Freecycle
1	Ello Kids Set	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	Set of fuzzy dice	Freecycle
1	LOTR Collector Set	Freecycle
1	candle & holder	Freecycle
1	candle & holder	Freecycle
1	picture frame	Freecycle
1	black paper notepad	Freecycle
1	set of headphones	Kit
1	FLUKE multimeter	Freecycle
1	27" TV	Shamron
3	puffie tail pieces	Kit
1	box of mini dolls	Kit
1	small bag of beads, etc	Kit
1	Roly Kit	Freecycle
1	Stuffed Raccoon	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	Gift Box	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	ottoman (air filled)	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	Cabbage Patch Kid	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	wine glass w/candle	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
3	bath products	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	large batch of hair ties	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
2	posters	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
3	stuffed animals	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
3	books	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
2	paintable drums	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
4	hat	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
2	misc dolls	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	set of hair clips	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	heart box	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	set of baby doll clothes	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
2	Coloring posters	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
6	sweatshirts	Russ & Beth
5	Nice Sweaters	Freecycle
6	pairs of shoes	Freecycle
1	Scientific Calculator	Freecycle
50	Books (or more)	Kayla
1	Mushroom Chair	Kit
6	pairs of pants	Cheryl - Freecycle
3	pairs of capris	Cheryl - Freecycle
4	pairs of shorts	Cheryl - Freecycle
1	skirt	Cheryl - Freecycle
14	Shirts	Cheryl - Freecycle

This totals 218 items!!!

I found, via a reader, the "7 Things" Project. I am going to be looking into that today. It may be a nicer way to go about this. Who knows, perhaps I could start my own project - "The Ten Things Project" because I love a challenge!

December!

Wow, we are already 5 days into December! I have had a busy couple of days helping friends move. We've also done some rearranging around here as well.

My friend gifted me with a nice armoire. We are going to use it in the "Whimsy Room" (what I call the bedroom that I use as an office and artspace where the children also sleep while visiting here) to hold the girls' clothing. They had a long buffet in there that I purchased for $30 back in June. I was able to re-sell it for the same $30 to another friend of ours.

As some people are thinking about holidays and spending tons of money, I am trying my hardest to have a lean December. My husband's family has decided to have a gift exchange where we draw names. The gift should be in the $10 price range. I am going to put together a small basket for the girl whose name I have (my nephew's 17 year old girlfriend). Jack has to get a gift for his nephew and I'm unsure what we can do for him. If you have any ideas for a 17 year old boy, please let me know.

My family is pretty simple. I buy for my mom & dad. Dad already has his gift - a TomTom. My mom? I think she is going to get something hand made by me. I may draw something for her and frame it nicely.

My goals for December - Spend as little as possible on gifts. Remember that it is the THOUGHT behind the gift, not the gift itself. Get my finances back on track. Cook meals at home every night. Plan life and make it wonderful!

Relaxation Has Its Price - FREE (or nearly)

I'm sure that many of you know that I suffer from Fibro. This winter has been extra hard on me. It is not yet truly cold out but what cold there has been is burrowing deep into my bones.

The past few days, after I take my evening medications, I have been spending around twenty minutes in my hot tub. This allows me to relax beyond any shower or bath ever could. After soaking, I snuggle into my terry cloth robe and settle into the couch for a little computer time. By the time I'm ready for bed, my body is so relaxed and I am able to fall asleep more easily. Believe me...this is a huge feat. I currently take 3 medications just to aid in sleep.

You may be asking how a hot tub can be frugal. If the extra sleep and as a result, the better health is not good enough, I also got the hot tub for free and the chemicals for quite a bit below cost.

The hot tub was one I found on Craigslist for free. It needed a small bit of work which my husband, a certified pool and hot tub person, gladly did for me. The chemicals were bought off of someone on one of the local yahoo groups. Her hot tub died so I got the chemicals for 1/2 of the price. I offered her 25% below her asking price with a guarantee of picking up that evening. She agreed and we were both happier.

It really helps to surf around on the web. I found the hot tub by being at the right place at the right time. I found the chemicals the same way.

Compacting in 2008

We are planning to participate in The Compact for 2008. Our initial goal will be 6 months. I have talked to hubby about this and we are in agreement that this will be our year to simplify our home and our lives.

We will also be taking on a crazy goal of getting rid of 2008 things in 2008. I am not sure if we will be able to achieve this goal but it will definitely be a fun challenge!

I've started my simplification already. I've removed a lot of 'friends' on my Live Journal and a few communities as well. I feel that a smaller, more intimate group of readers over there is for the best. This blog is my 'public' forum and as such, I know I have a potential for a larger reader base here. **Though right now, I wonder just how many people read this!**

Anyway, I think I will start planning my holiday gifts tomorrow. This weekend is when I need to get down to business and get started. There isn't much time left and I want to have a mostly homemade holiday. So, if you have suggestions for homemade items that don't "look" homemade, please leave me a comment!

Have a great day

"Free" Money

Hubby replaced an a/c pack unit at work. The old one worked fine, it was just too small for the home owners. They gave it to Hubby to dispose of and rather than toss it, he brought it home. I put it up on Craigslist and today it sold for $400! That makes me so happy. Not only did we save it from the landfill, but we also made some money off of it. Horray!

What are you thankful for?

Another Year Older

Saturday brought my birthday and nice gifts from my thoughtful mother, grandmother, and husband. I truly love that my mom allows me to pick out the gift she will be getting for me. I'm allowed to pick out something that would be truly useful.

This year she purchased a very expensive set of artist quality colored pencils for me (120 count Prismacolor Premiere) that is valued at $110 or so. We got a brand new set on ebay for $63 with shipping. These will allow me to create a lot of nice artwork!

Hubby got me a toy & a new stove! He was able to do this because he got a nice side job. I'm grateful for all of my gifts. It makes me happy to know that my gifts, while expensive, did not come from our household budget.

Working for a Living

On Monday I started my new job. Who would have thought that 4 hours sitting at hubby's desktop coter would make me so exhausted? I would much rather be on my laptop all day. Once we get my computer hardwired for internet, rather than using the wireless connection, I will definitely consider using the laptop.

Hubby has been working so much that when he finally gets home we just grab fast food for dinner. Our spending habits HAVE to change and soon. We're eating too much junk food.

Back. on. task. is the word of the day.

November is a new month and we will be making some changes in this household!

We were out at a local park camping for the weekend at a festival. I came home sick and am trying my best to recuperate before I start my job training on Monday. I'm getting excited about the new job. It is going to be nice working from home and working with others who have chronic illnesses and/or a disability.

Eating to Live

I seem to focus much of my time on my financial diet, yet my time may be better spent on my food diet. To put it plainly, I eat too much, eat the wrong things, or eat at the wrong times. What is wrong with me? I know better. For my health, I am better off eating mini meals. I have done this in the past with great success. I must get my butt in gear.

I know that I will never be skinny. My physical limitations and genetic makeup make things harder for me. I have accepted this and will move on. However, I would like to FEEL better than I have lately. My entire system has been really messed up lately. Something is going to change.

Starting today, I will try to eat mini meals every 2 hours. I will also do my best to drink more water (I love water, I just forget to drink sometimes). Wish me luck!

Finding myself spending W-A-Y too much money on JUNK this week. My goal for this upcomming week is to curb ALL spending. I have to get groceries and I'm sure I will need gas this week since I'm taking my neighbor to the hospital for her surgery on Monday but other than that, I'm freezing my personal spending. No sodas out, no junk food runs, no fast food because we are too lazy to cook. It is all gone.

Today is going to be all about getting the kitchen back in order. My kitchen/dining room area is one BIG long room. At one time there was carpet in the dining room and paneling on the walls (ick) in an attempt to define the spaces. However, the previous owner flipped the house and put in ceramic tile throughout and we covered the paneling with the wallpaper that you can paint and painted the two areas the same color. I do have a roll around counter with storage under it that I use to define the rooms a bit.

Anyway, I said all that to say that when the kitchen is a mess, I cannot be creative in the dining room. My crafts are housed on one wall in that room. I need to do yet another load of dishes, clean the countertops and do a bit of rearranging. I also need to do a few loads of laundry.

Other than these tasks, I have little to do this weekend. Yay for the simple life!

19 Days til Halloween, Halloween, Halloween

Bonus points to those of you who remember that jingle! While I hated the Halloween movies, the jingle from the 3rd movie has stuck with me all of these years.

Wow What a Week!

It has been a pretty busy week. I'm ready for some relaxation but I am not sure I will get any before Sunday!

This week I had to complete all of the paperwork for my new job. Telecommuting makes doing paperwork a little more challenging (to say the least) so it took a while to get it all ironed out. It looks like I will be starting my training the first week of November.

I was supposed to babysit for KK and her little brother on Monday & Tuesday while school was out for fall break. KK ended up getting sick over the weekend so she was here most of Monday before going to the doctor with her mom at 2:00. They had a scare there & had to go through more tests on Tuesday (including an ultrasound of her kidneys). Thankfully KK received a clean bill of health on Wednesday.

Monday afternoon, while I still had KK's little brother (age 4) with me, my friend S called to see if I could take her to the ER. She has been having some ovary issues (one remaining ovary is now enlarged to 5 times the normal size) and the doctor sent her to the ER. We were there until after 7.

On Wednesday, my friend G & her teenage daughters decided that we would help with the local Jaycees' haunted house. It begins tonight and is Friday & Saturday nights until Halloween week when it is all week leading up to the BIG day!

Yesterday, I went to G's house to pick up her daughter and take her to fill out an application for a job. That took most of the day but hopefully C will get the job and all will be good.

Today looks like it is shaping up to be another busy day. I'm up early to take S to get her blood work done in preparation for surgery on Monday. When I get home, I need to get household work done and rest before going to get G's daughters. We have to be at the Haunted House at 5:30 to prepare for tonight. It should be fun!

I just joined Pay Per Post!

This week my blog was approved for Pay Per Post. I had joined a few months ago but never finished getting my blog listed for approval. Frugal Disney Mom posted a few days ago that she had joined and that spurred me into action. I went over to their site and after a few minutes, I had myself all set up and had submitted my blog for approval. Imagine getting PAID for blogging? I knew that I would LOVE making extra money by writing about things. Obviously I have a lot to say!

The basic premise behind Pay Per Post is that you post about the ideas presented to you by the sponsors. After your posts are approved, you are paid either via check or paypal. Of course, I chose paypal since it will allow me to accurately track my earnings.

I hope that I will be able to use the money I receive from Pay Per Post to supplement our income. All funds will be divided in half. Half will go to credit card bills immediately. The other half will be put into our savings account so that we can once again build up our security buffer.

I am really looking forward to this opportunity. Having the extra money will be nice however, for me at least, I can use this opportunity to learn more about products and services that are being offered. Who knows, I may be able to learn about something new!

If you have not yet joined, I recommend that you head over to Pay Per Post and get paid to blog!

Good News

I got a job! I am thrilled to say that I have been offered a position working from home (not as a contractor, but as an employee). I will be working for NTI. They only hire people with chronic illness or disabilities to do work on various contracts that they maintain.

I will be making pretty decent money working part time seasonal. If I'm very good, I may be able to get one of the year round slots.

I am so grateful to have been able to get this opportunity! When I lost my job as a direct result of my medical issues, I was determined to find a legitimate work from home job. It took 5 months but it was SO worth it!

I'm doing the paperwork today. Training should be starting soon!

Digital Photos

Who do you use to print your digital photos???

Technorati

I set myself up with Technorati today. ( Technorati Profile ). I am not 100% sure how it works but it seems like a good way to get some traffic on my blog.

No Good Deed Goes Unnoticed

It has always been my belief that one should always do what they can for those around them. I am a true believer in Karma. I always do my part to help out those around me. While I don't get immediate repayment, I do get the satisfaction of knowing I helped someone in need and that, when the time comes I will get the help I need.

In the past few weeks, I have taken a neighbor to the hospital, pharmacy, and doctor several times. She is dealing with some pretty severe medical problems right now and will be having surgery this month.

I have also helped a dear friend through a financial crisis. While I won't divulge the situation, I will say that she is now on the road to financial recovery.

I have lent out a spare computer to a friend so that she could get on the internet (borrowing another friend's connection) while she is without cable/dsl at her house.

I don't really think about what I do really, I just do what needs to be done. It isn't until someone brings it to my attention that I notice. It appalls me to know that my behavior is not the norm.

Shopping Online

The holiday’s are coming. Before you know it, you will be surrying around looking for gifts for the kid’s (and big kids) in your life. This is where the people at Shopping.com come in.

Their electronic toy selection is quite large and they even have some obscure items. I’m pretty sure that Hubbyman would love to have a De Fib Ulator Portable Lie Detector! Can you imagine how fun that would be at parties?


Another great item that I found was Kid’s Computer Desk. I love the bright colors and the sturdy construction.

Shopping from home is so important for me. Having FMS makes going to stores some what taxing on my body. Using the computer and going to companies like Shopping.com makes life much easier!

Selling Myself

I'm am going to start selling my art. I am sure that I will be able to sell them. I was set up at a local festival last weekend and I got a lot of interested parties. We are going to another festival the weekend of October 20th and I plan to sell out there!

Green Thinking

From time to time I will do something that I consider to be normal and then when analyzing it will find that it is quite abnormal.

Today I spent 15 minutes watching television and cutting up 5 t-shirts into various sizes of rags. I used the discarded neck bands to tie them into 3 bundles. It is quite normal for me to grab a rag from under the sink to clean up most any mess, even the icky ones.

For example, our Husky threw up yesterday after eating more than his share of grass. I scooped up most of the mess in one rag and threw it away (after all, I have nothing invested in them). I used a second one to clean up the floor more thoroughly. The second one was rinsed and placed in the dirty clothes hamper.

In our family, one roll of paper towels will last for months. Paper napkins will too as we use cloth 99.5% of the time. I don't find this to be odd but apparently it is not the norm. When company comes over, they ask for paper towels or napkins and when I say we don't use them, I get the strangest look!

Back on Track

Hubbyman started a new job last week. This means we will have an income coming into our household again soon (pay is bi-weekly). It is going to take us a while to catch up and feel financially stable again.

Getting a Routine

I really feel that I need some sort of routine. Since hubby has been home, it has gotten even worse. I have not been getting up on time or doing anything on any sort of schedule.

I think that hubbyman is getting stircrazy and that is making me on edge as well.

I don't know if I've mentioned this here before but I have a chronic illness. Invisible illnesses are far more common that one may think. 96% of the chronic illnesses are invisible. Mine is. FMS (Fibromyalgia) is a debilitating illness that slowly robs me of my energy and in essence, my life.

If you have a friend with an invisible illness, I encourage you to support them however you can.

September Already?

We are 1/3 of the way into another month and I have not yet posted. It isn't that I don't want to post, it is merely that I haven't much to say about my life. We're moving along at a snails pace around here. Our bills are paid for the month and we're hoping that hubby will get a job before this month is out. I'm grateful for this.

I'm going to concentrate on being frugal and on filling my blog with tips & tricks that I have learned over the years.