Learn how to make homemade extracts and you will be able to add an amazing amount of flavor into your kitchen creations! Making your own extracts is easy to do, although you will have to be patient. Vanilla extract, mint extract, or citrus extracts are a great way to add natural flavorings to your homemade baked goods. How are extracts made? So, what is an extract exactly? As opposed to a flavoring? Homemade extracts use a solvent (the liquid itself) to 'extract' the flavor from something else (your flavoring … [Read more...]
10 Things To Do With Acorns for Loads of Fall Fun!
September 12, 2018 by · 5 Comments
I went for a walk yesterday and all along the ground I am starting to see more and more acorns. It got me wondering about creative things to do with acorns since they are so plentiful right now. My son always used to gather them up to use in his slingshot (target practice only of course!) but I figured there had to be a ton more ways to use acorns except for target practice. I started to do a bit of research and am honestly amazed at how many uses for acorns that I found.Creative Things to do With Acorns Wondering what to do with … [Read more...]
Waste Free School Lunch Tips to Save Money and Reduce Trash
July 17, 2018 by · 2 Comments
I know....you are in the middle of summer vacation and don't want to think about school lunches, right? Well, my kids go back to school in 3 weeks so I am thinking about what they will bring to eat this year. Sending a waste free school lunch is important to me but it definitely takes a bit of planning.One of my favorite tips to save money is to ditch the disposables. No sense throwing your hard earned cash in the garbage can, right? If you want to cut down on lunch costs this year, here are a few school lunch tips that might help. Check … [Read more...]
Creative Ideas for Reusing Aluminum Foil
April 19, 2018 by · 5 Comments
Every time I make a batch of nachos, I start trying to come up with ways for reusing aluminum foil. Why? Because I detest cleaning cookie sheets after something has gotten baked on and stuck. My lazy way of dealing with this horrid chore is to line my cookie sheets with aluminum foil. Of course, that leaves me with used used aluminum foil that I hate to throw away. I usually try to wash and reuse it whenever possible but if I can't it usually goes in the recycle bin. (Can you recycle aluminum foil? I just assume so....) I decided to do a … [Read more...]
How to Plan for Your Retirement When Money is Tight
April 9, 2018 by · 8 Comments
This post about how to plan for your retirement has been sponsored by GuidedChoice. All opinions expressed here are my own.When my husband and I first moved to Atlanta, we were in our late 20's. I was 7 months pregnant with our first child and we were broke. After 7 years as a graduate student, my husband had his first real job. Every single penny we owned went into our first mortgage. We also had a car loan, a home improvement loan for some required fixes, and all the costs associated with a new baby. Add in the fact that I was a stay … [Read more...]
Best Uses for Eggs Besides Eating Them For Breakfast!
March 2, 2018 by · 1 Comment
Do you have too many eggs this week? Eggs are amazing little creations. They can be scrambled, fried or poached depending on your personal preferences. The are packed with protein and incredibly versatile. When my husband and I found out that our city has decided to allow residents to keep chickens, we were thrilled. We have been looking at the best way to contain them, how to raise chickens in the suburbs, and the best uses for eggs that we might not have ever thought of. Why? Because the people I know who have their own chickens have a … [Read more...]
Tips for Saving Money on Laundry
October 17, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
These tips for saving money on laundry have been sponsored. The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.I have told my family multiple times that I really think we should adopt nudity as a way of life. I would save SOOO much time and money if we could just stop washing and drying clothes every day. Unfortunately, no one really seems like this plan. I guess we would get a little bit chilly in the winter, right? So, since I can't stop dealing with … [Read more...]
Tips for Saving Money on Clothing for Teens
May 3, 2017 by · 8 Comments
This post about saving money on clothing for your teens has been sponsored by Groupon. All opinions are my own.Last month, while planning our Florida vacation, my daughter came to me and told me that only three pairs of her shorts fit her from last year. Great. Three days before we leave and she has barely any summer clothes to wear! While teens tend to grow slower than smaller children, they still outgrow their clothes.Whether it is a growth spurt of a couple of inches or a broadening of the shoulders, my teens still need new … [Read more...]
What to Look for in a Financial Advisor Before Your Hire Them
April 26, 2017 by · 1 Comment
From the time my husband and I first moved in together after college, we have had financial goals. We started saving small amounts of money very early in life, even when we were struggling to pay the bills. We bought our first house at the age of 27 and when our first child was born that same year, we opened a college savings account as well. While we have had financial goals our whole lives, we have never spoken to a professional about our finances. We decided it was time to bring in a financial advisor and we have an appointment with one … [Read more...]
Creative Ways to Save for a Vacation and Why Your Family Needs to Take One!
April 14, 2017 by · 4 Comments
Family vacations aren't always cheap but they are a great way to relax and reconnect with your family. Vacations don't always need to be expensive to be one of the best times of your life. You don't actually need to go to a 5-star hotel and eat only in the most exclusive restaurants. Some of the best memories you can make with your family will be on a family vacation. Your child won't remember the quality of the hotel you stayed at but they will remember the card games, trips to the beach and all that togetherness that you enjoyed. That … [Read more...]
