I started a small herb garden this year. Very small. But I love it. Instead of buying herbs, I can now just get them from my yard!
But what can I do to dry them and preserve them for winter?
Freezing: Some herbs are best preserved by freezing. Specifically, basil, cilantro, parsley & chives. I'm going to just put them in ziploc bags and put them in the freezer.
Air Dry: More specific instructions for air drying are to cut them at the stem, tie a string around them and hang them upside down until the leaves are crumbly. (Avoid crumbling the leaves, though as they hold more flavor before crumbling. Don't take them off the stems or crumble til you're ready to use them.) Store them away from heat and light for up to a year.
Frugal and yummy.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Time Savers
-Keep the same glass all day. Saves time & dishwasher space. Mark it with one of those oil pencils used in chemistry labs if necessary!
-Use a few different laundry baskets in your room. One is for whites, one is for colors, and one for delicates.
-Put your junk mail straight into the trash instead of setting it on the counter.
-Buy birthday cards in bulk. Address them while you're thinking about it. Put them in a stack, and send them out once a month.
-Put a piece of bread into your brown sugar container. This keeps it moist and helps it not form small rocks (you know what I mean!)
-Brush your teeth in the shower. I used to do this in college. It saved me time!
-Moisturize your cuticles with baby oil. Cheap and easy and makes your nails shiny.
-Do bicep curls with large cans of soup while you wait for water to boil in the kitchen.
-Use a few different laundry baskets in your room. One is for whites, one is for colors, and one for delicates.
-Put your junk mail straight into the trash instead of setting it on the counter.
-Buy birthday cards in bulk. Address them while you're thinking about it. Put them in a stack, and send them out once a month.
-Put a piece of bread into your brown sugar container. This keeps it moist and helps it not form small rocks (you know what I mean!)
-Brush your teeth in the shower. I used to do this in college. It saved me time!
-Moisturize your cuticles with baby oil. Cheap and easy and makes your nails shiny.
-Do bicep curls with large cans of soup while you wait for water to boil in the kitchen.
Sweet Potatoes for Babies
My little guy loves sweet potatoes. I found it is far cheaper to make them myself from whole yams than to buy them in the tiny packages already pureed.
I used to peel, steam, and puree the sweet potatoes.
WOW ... I was wasting my time. A lady @ my MOPS table clued me in:
1. Rinse sweet potatoes
2. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork
3. Bake in 350 degree oven for 60-80 minutes.
4. Cool for 20 minutes.
5. The skins peel right off.
6. Mash with a fork or potato masher*.
7. Freeze.
*One would likely want to puree with some water in a blender
for younger babies or for babies who dislike lumps or the stringiness I've found to be typical of sweet potatoes.
I used to peel, steam, and puree the sweet potatoes.
WOW ... I was wasting my time. A lady @ my MOPS table clued me in:
1. Rinse sweet potatoes
2. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork
3. Bake in 350 degree oven for 60-80 minutes.
4. Cool for 20 minutes.
5. The skins peel right off.
6. Mash with a fork or potato masher*.
7. Freeze.
*One would likely want to puree with some water in a blender
for younger babies or for babies who dislike lumps or the stringiness I've found to be typical of sweet potatoes.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Foaming Hand Soap
I love foamy hand soap. I just found out that you can make it yourself!! Since it is more expensive, I don't usually buy it.
First, you're going to have to buy the foamy soap so you can save the bottle (you need the nozzle for the foam).
Next, you'll need your regular liquid dish soap or liquid hand soap. In the empty foamy bottle, combine 1-2 Tablespoons of dish soap and fill the rest of the bottle up with water (leave a little space at the top). Shake it slightly, not too much or it will overflow.
First, you're going to have to buy the foamy soap so you can save the bottle (you need the nozzle for the foam).
Next, you'll need your regular liquid dish soap or liquid hand soap. In the empty foamy bottle, combine 1-2 Tablespoons of dish soap and fill the rest of the bottle up with water (leave a little space at the top). Shake it slightly, not too much or it will overflow.
Shopping for Clothing
I have a love/hate relationship with shopping. I used to love to shop. That was back in high school & even college, when my mom bought me clothes and would patiently wait while I tried on 10 different items and found out that no jeans fit my 5'10" frame and all the skirts were too short to wear to school. When something did fit, it was often purchased at full price. (I have a generous mother.)
That changed when I got married and started spending my own money. I can't remember the last time I purchased something at full price, let alone a whole outfit or a dress at full price. Heck, I can't remember the last time I went shopping at a mall!
A few shopping secrets that help me keep my family's clothing under budget each year:
1) Shop toward the end of the season. Things are often on sale or clearance. Try shopping after things have been returned after Christmas.
2) Start with the back of the store. Check out the items on clearance.
3) Shop often, but rarely buy.
4) Buy basics. I have very few patterned clothing in my closet. I wear a lot of black & white or other solids. That way I can wear them year after year and they don't look 'trendy'.
5) Don't buy something you don't LOVE. You won't wear it.
6) Don't buy things that don't fit. You'll be sorry.
7) Don't be afraid to return things. I usually don't wear a purchase right away. I let it sit in my drawer (ok, on TOP of the dresser, because I hate to put things away) for about a week to think about it. I change my mind a lot. Save your receipt. See my tips on sticking to a budget.
8) If you are going to order online, make sure you order from somewhere that grants free shipping. Also, make sure you can return it to the brick & mortar store or ship it back for free. Sometimes I order multiple sizes of a certain item. I return what I don't want.
And this is off the clothing topic, but while we're thinking about the mall, if you're going to buy something at Bath & Body Works, PLEASE don't pay full price! Just wait and buy what you want during their semi-annual sales in June and right after Christmas! They practically give things away during these times.
That changed when I got married and started spending my own money. I can't remember the last time I purchased something at full price, let alone a whole outfit or a dress at full price. Heck, I can't remember the last time I went shopping at a mall!
A few shopping secrets that help me keep my family's clothing under budget each year:
1) Shop toward the end of the season. Things are often on sale or clearance. Try shopping after things have been returned after Christmas.
2) Start with the back of the store. Check out the items on clearance.
3) Shop often, but rarely buy.
4) Buy basics. I have very few patterned clothing in my closet. I wear a lot of black & white or other solids. That way I can wear them year after year and they don't look 'trendy'.
5) Don't buy something you don't LOVE. You won't wear it.
6) Don't buy things that don't fit. You'll be sorry.
7) Don't be afraid to return things. I usually don't wear a purchase right away. I let it sit in my drawer (ok, on TOP of the dresser, because I hate to put things away) for about a week to think about it. I change my mind a lot. Save your receipt. See my tips on sticking to a budget.
8) If you are going to order online, make sure you order from somewhere that grants free shipping. Also, make sure you can return it to the brick & mortar store or ship it back for free. Sometimes I order multiple sizes of a certain item. I return what I don't want.
And this is off the clothing topic, but while we're thinking about the mall, if you're going to buy something at Bath & Body Works, PLEASE don't pay full price! Just wait and buy what you want during their semi-annual sales in June and right after Christmas! They practically give things away during these times.
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