Baking Powder

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon corn starch (optional) put in if not going to use right away will prevent from caking and going bad.

Combine and store in air tight container.

Times by 6

2 Tbsp Baking Soda

4 Tbsp Cream of Tartar

2 Tbsp Corn Starch

Christmas Crafts- Wrapping

I got crafty!  Okay, I found the idea on the internet and copied it, thank you all you creative crafty people who share.
Here's the wrapping.  I even made what went inside of it, but I will post those pictures after Christmas since it was a gift.

Take a square paper.  Roll it, tape inside to secure. Tape the outside edge.  Tuck top into cone and secure closed.  I finished it off by tying a cute ribbon around it.  It looked much better than the picture, but hey, you get the idea and I'm sure you can improve the wrapping.

I also wrapped a box.  To make a reusable gift box cut a large piece of wrapping paper, enough for all edges of your box and some overlapping.  Glue wrapping paper to box- stick glue works best.  Cut wrapping paper at an angle for corners.  Make sure you keep the lid separate so you can open and close the box without ruining the wrapping.

Toasted S'mores

Indoor Toasted S'mores

Graham Crackers
Mini Marshmallows
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
A toaster oven.


Make s'mores to your liking.  Broil until the tops of marshmallows are a golden brown.  Fold together and enjoy your indoor s'mores.

Thrift Stores

When looking for seasonal clothes for growing children, secondhand stores can save you a lot of money.

My growing toddler needed a coat- since she outgrew last years.  I went to the store to find one on sale- $30! At fifty percent off.  No way, not for a coat that she was going to wear for only one season before outgrowing it by next winter.

To the local thrift store.  Coat, Jacket, and shoes- for a total of $2.40.  A little washing and a lot of saving!

Welcome!

Welcome to the new sight.  Not only will recipes continue to be posted, (Cheap meal ideas coming in January) but other everyday tips to help you save money and live more simply.

Enjoy the blog and expect more blog updates in the near future.  Thanks for stopping by.

Pot and Pan Drums

Lay out various sizes of pots and pans, and a few of the lids too, hand you toddler a couple of wooden spoons and let them have fun experimenting with the different sounds each item makes.

I did different sizes of spoons too as that changes the sound.  Fun activity that your kids are sure to love.

Gratitude

Recently I have been so full of gratitude.  Yes, I'm sure a certain holiday this month has helped bring blessings to my mind.  We have been given so much.

My husband is finishing his last semester in school.  Finances have been stretched, and I have learned so much by learning to stretch along with it.

One day I was frustrated by feeling like we has so little.  God sure opened my eyes. I realized that though this semester, by finding cheaper ways to do/make things than just run to the store, I have learned things that will save our family thousands of dollars in the future.  They are not that difficult of things either.

 I  also began to look around at all of the blessings and things we did have. Technically, because of our student income we are considered "poor".  We have everything we need and a lot of our wants too. We are so blessed, we have plenty of food, housing, clothes (a lot of them), transportation, entertainment, and no debt. None of the things we own or do are particularly fancy, but it works and we are happy to have them.  Poverty?  This is not.  A one room shack with three families living in it, with no oven or running water, that's poverty.  Access to only two or three types of food and never enough to fill your belly. That's called poor. And I hear when people travel to impoverished countries they find people who are happier than us with all our stuff.

Sometimes we live such inflated lifestyles, needed all the latest gadgets the day they arrive on the store's shelves, stuffing ourselves at all-you-can-eats, buying new clothes every season,  and entertaining ourselves with things that suck away our paychecks.

I am grateful for the many blessings we do have.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody.