Living On A Dime

• Having a hard time doing the things you used to because money just isn't stretching as far?
• Having trouble figuring out what to fix for dinner that you can AFFORD, is healthy, AND will tasted great?
• Feel like you can't look great on your budget?
• Want to know how to clean on a dime?
• Want to get out of debt?
• In need of ideas for holidays and other special occasions that won't break the bank?
• Would you appreciate some new ideas for your low-cost ideas regarding children?
• Want to know how to make the most of your money at the grocery?

If you answered YES, to any of these...check out Living On A Dime and their comprehensive selection of ebooks. These great ebooks can teach you what you need to know about living more frugally - but, without having to give up the things you love - and, how to save money to do the things you've always wanted to do.

With these ebooks and a little careful planning, you could be on your way to living on a dime!

How to fold a Tshirt

Step 1
Lay down the shirt horizontally and faceup in front of you with the neck on the left-hand side.


Step 2
Pinch the shirt on the side opposite you at two points: with your left hand, at the collar; and with your right hand, halfway down the shirt, parallel with your left hand.


Step 3
While holding the two points, cross your left hand over your right, bringing the shoulder down to meet the shirt’s bottom hem, and grab the hem.


Step 4
Lift the shirt so that it hangs in front of you. Uncross your arms, without letting go of the shirt, and pull the fold taut as you do so.


Step 5
Place the shirt on the table. One sleeve should be sticking out. Fold over the sleeve, and fold over the side. Flip over the shirt.

*From RealSimple.com

Works for Me Wednesday

Not enough hours in the day? I feel the same way a lot of times. But, I've learned to multi-task...in a hardcore sort of way. LOL. And, it leaves me with lots of free time (well, sort of...but then I find something else to dive headfirst into).

So, here are a few tips!

Need to clean the bathtub? Use some of that body wash or shampoo you bought but didn't like to clean the tub/shower WHILE YOU'RE IN IT! Or - use some of your favorite body wash/shampoo and enjoy the smell! This saves me TONS of time. And, I'm not having to spend extra on cleaning supplies that are BAD for me!

Need to tidy up? Try picking up at least 3 things from a room as you leave to put them up. For example: I'm in the Living Room and I get up to get some water. I'll grab three things that are in the LR and either need to go to the kitchen OR to a room that is close to or on my way to the kitchen and then drop those off in those rooms. Then, when I leave the kitchen, I do the same thing. I'm constantly picking things up and taking things back to where they belong. Hey - I'm going that way anyhow! And, it saves more time than you could imagine!

Need to do laundry? Save your favorite TV show (on DVR or TiVo if you have it) and then wait to watch it when it's time to do laundry OR choose to do laundry when those shows come on. That way, you are doing a chore but it won't seem like because you are doing something you like as well! I also will save baby L's clothes to fold and put away for when she's in the mood to play. Then, we'll go to her room and she'll "help" by pulling clothes out of the basket (sometimes she runs off with them)...but I get to interact and play with her while I'm doing something that needs to be done.

What do you do to make your life a little easier?

Works for Me Wednesday

Today, I have a few tips. I just couldn't decide which one I'd like to share for Works for me Wednesday...and then I decided, why choose when I could tell you all 3?

So, here are a few things that work for me:

Tip 1: If you or the little one has an earache or ear infection, try using garlic - olive oil drops. To make, simply crush a clove or two of garlic and simmer in olive oil. I don't really time mine, just wait until the garlic is pretty much mush. Strain the garlic pieces out and wait for it to cool. Use a dropper to put the oil in aching ears. You can keep the oil in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks (warming it as you need by placing the jar in hot water). *Some people say this is a "remedy" for ear infections...and although I can neither confirm nor deny that (I don't know yet), I CAN say it makes them feel a little better - even if only temporary :)

Tip 2: Use used dryer sheets to dust.

Tip 3: Use waxed paper on a swiffer mop to pick up dust and dirt. Just put the waxed paper on the swiffer mop like you would the swiffer wipes. Easy and LOTS cheaper than dusting (collecting dirt) with the swiffer mop. Also, for a wet wipe down, you can use a wet dish cloth on the swiffer mop.

Ta -da!

Gal Pal - My new best friend

For some odd reason, people have it in their heads that MOMMIES = FRUMPY. What gives you that idea? You think that just because we try to entertain crying children on essentially no sleep every day and have become their personal maids - that now we have to be FRUMPY, too? I'm not sure where this idea came from - but let me tell you: having children does NOT mean that we no longer want to be sexy. I mean, we don't actually enjoy being spit up on, peed on, and having peas and bananas thrown at us...

In fact, we look forward to evenings where we actually get to go somewhere nice...and adult. Without. The. Kids. Truly. It's even more fun when we get to dress up - That is, until we figure out that the baby has been in your closet....again....this time, with peas.

Your beloved little black dress? Now has a little dark green patch. Peas. And, now...the world is ending. You simply can't go out with the peas and no other dress will do.

So, the way I see it, is you have 3 options, really.

Option 1: Throw a fit and lock yourself in the bathroom and refuse to come out. Unfortunately this never plays out well...so, I'm going to suggest you move along to option 2 or 3.

Option 2: Smear peas on the rest of your dress and hope for dim lighting. Make up a fabulous designer name and swear that it's a new overlay on your dress...and hope nobody touches you...or smells the peas.

Option 3: Use your Gal Pal. It will rid your dress of small crusty food spots, as well as that hideous line of deodorant that you didn't notice - until you were almost at the restaurant. I'm also loving the Gal Pal travel kit. These mini- Gal Pals are 2 sided and can do everything the bigger Gal Pal can do. Food, lint, deodorant marks, and hair don't stand a chance any longer.

And, you? Well, you no longer have an excuse as to why you can't go out and have a little fun.

Oh, rubber ducky!

We love rubber ducks. But, what do you do when you just can't get that extra water out? If you let it sit, it will mold, creating a nasty little problem.

I looked it up and all I could find for suggestions was bleach. Lots of bleach. That - and boiling or using the dishwasher.

Right. But really, how does adding MORE water (hot water) get rid of the water that is already a problem? It doesn't. So, this morning: I made it my task to figure out a way to get the water out so Baby L can continue playing with her beloved duckies.

Option 1: Poke an extra hole in it. I recommend using an ice pick or nail (or the corn cob holders) to poke a hole in its beak. It'll give an extra hole to squeeze water out AND provide a squirter!

Option 2: Squeeze it out. If the hole is in the middle on the bottom, as it is with ours, fold up the body so the hole is the lowest point. Now press the little bugger down until it can't be pressed anymore. Don't worry, ducky will get over it and will puff back out after a while.

Option 3: Try getting out most of the water and then either set it into a little puddle of rubbing alcohol OR use something to squeeze it into the ducky (like the medicine syringe for animals OR something similar).

Option 4: Try all of the above...together!

But, whatever you do...don't use bleach. Soapy warm water is plenty to get all the nasties off of the inside. They rubbing alcohol will take care of the germs on the inside and help dry it out (you can also use tea tree oil if it starts getting moldy). But bleach and other cleaners are a BAD idea. Because it will come out in your child's bathtime water and they will be taking a bath in tilex, bleach, or oxy water. Yuck. And, they may even try drinking that water (from the duck)...or get the water in their eyes.

self cleaning...sort of.

My carpet is clean (shampooed too!) and I got to rest while it happened. It felt nice for once... me sitting on my couch with my feet up while a man cleaned my house - a little different, but nice! Not only that, but I got to learn more about some of the best vacuums on the market. My living room was dusted, carpet was vacuumed, and then shampooed...all while I learned about a great new vacuum that can so much (without having to scroll through hundreds of pages online).

Want your own complimentary cleaning?
Give Rodney Hall a call: 270 -441-7793 and tell him Ashley sent you!