Frugal Friday #13 #FollowFriday,

Welcome to my Frugal Friday #13. I love sharing the crazy and not so crazy ways I love to save money making something from something else. Recycle and reuse is the name of the game. I plan on getting a much better camera my husband has been researching so I'm excited. Hope my ideas inspires you.

                                       

Jewelry Holders

On the left-hand side is a simple soda bottle adding a little food coloring to it brings out the jewelry better than clear, I think at least.

This 'Jewelry Bottle Holder' is good for earrings that have no backings. You can use an anklet or bracelet, anything that is fairly small so it will fit your bottle. Hang your earrings and presto, you have a decorative  'Jewelry Bottle Holder' .

The jewelry holder on the right is for your earrings with backings. I choose for this project styrofoam from a shipment we received earlier. Keep the backings in a separate container.

I'm getting more creative in my picture taking loving that about life, it just keeps on getting better and better.

Do you love to recycle like I do?

Frugal Friday #9 (Held Over To Saturday)

Hello everyone that matters which you get my vote of your reading this post! Yesterday I went out nice and early, 10ish, to get some wall trim wallpaper to put on my homemade banana box bookshelf I had put together to hold our books.

It's not completely done but I took pictures anyway. I plan on glueing magazine pages in a collage type of look for the inside of the boxes. Here is what I have done so far.

Plain Look

With wallpaper wide screen

With wallpaper long screen.

There is a store I may of mentioned before called The Rusty Bucket where stuff is made out of other stuff a little pricey but a great place to get ideas from.

I hope this gives you some ideas.

Frugal Friday #5 How To Build Your Own Worm Bin Cheap #FixThePlus #FollowFridays

Good morning, welcome to Frugal Friday where I make you sit and read all about what I think about the state of affairs of our Planet Earth not to mention ways to use some of what we throw away into something useful which brings to when I made my own Worm Bin years ago.

Back when I lived in Maine of 2010 I had the summer off when I normally had two jobs going leaving me with all kinds of time on my hands so I started a garden so I wouldn't go bonkers. I loved the idea of making my own fertilizer sitting down one day to google HomeMade Worm Bins.

After hours of research, I found what I wanted on the internet having the stuff I needed around my duplex to start my worm bin. These are great for smaller gardens or if you live in a small apartment or if you don't have a big backyard.

Materials

• One 8-10 gallon rubber storage boxes (dark, not see through) as shown in pictures Cost: about $5 each
• 1 lb. of Red Worms
• Shredded moist newspaper
• 1or two cup of dirt, dry leaves
• Canadian peat moss, sawdust, (rinsed) horse manure are also great for composting.

Drill (with 1/4″ and 1/16″ bits) for making drainage and ventilation holes. If you don't have a drill try using a hammer and big nail but be careful. You can use the lid to let water drain down into after you have put all the materials in plus the worms. On the sides drill 6-8 holes. On the bottom drill around 20 holes for drainage.

Using about 50 pages, tear newspaper into 1/2" to 1" strips. Fill up to about 3/4 of the tub. A newspaper is biodegradable but don't use the colored pages. Before adding newspaper wring out the water. It's better to shred the newspaper first. I found that out the hard way. After adding the shredded damp newspaper, fluff it up throwing the cup of dirt (grit) on top so the worms can digest their food.

It makes quite the mess so make sure you cover whatever you are working on with newspaper getting to use in the bin when done. The white bucket I got from the pizza place right down the street, leaving it outside to catch rainwater. Make sure when you have added the materials and the worms you have a cover for the top that will come off easily in case the compost gets too wet. My favorite is place a burlap bag over the top fastened in place with a bungee cord. You might need two.

Adding The Worms
Estimate 1 pound of worms for every square foot of surface area
I went outside and placed an old blanket I wasn't using overnight making it easy to lift up the blanket for the worms were right on top of the soil. The kids loved that part. In fact, I woke up one day being in my kitchen I opened up my door and on the steps was a bowl of worms waiting for me from the kids. Now that was a first for me!

Now for table scraps of foods, NO Bones, Meats, Oils Or Dairy Products. Just fruits and veggie scraps cut up real small after all these worms are small. Bury the scraps under the bedding so the bin doesn't stink. Move the food around so the worms follow. Put a sheet of dry newspaper on top to soak up any excess moisture and/or fruit flies. If the top newspaper gets wet change over to a dry sheet.

Now you are ready to choose a place for your brand new homemade worm bin. Get 4 bricks to put in each corner of the bin's lid placing the bin on top leaving space for drainage. Keep away from windows and heaters finding a well- ventilated spot so the bin can breathe.

Feed, Water and Fluff to keep worms happy. Feed them about once a week. If bedding dries up, spray with water. (If bedding gets too wet, add dry newspaper strips.) Fluff up bedding once a week so the worms get enough air. There you are done and good luck!

The perks are the kids interest in what you are doing. One child made a worm bin for her school project and got an A+

How would you like a worm bin in your home?

Frugal Fridays#1 #FixThePlus #FollowFridays

Hi, and welcome to my new Frugal Fridays where you will find ideas, stories, tips, on how to be as frugal as you can be. I have always used an item until it can't be used any longer all the while thinking of what I can do to remake an object as in glass jars, plastic containers, paper, you name it.

A while back I threw my first and last Avon party. I told the friends I invited to bring 'recycled' stuff that we could use as prizes for the games. It was a total success. Then again, I had awesome friends back in Maine.

Again, back in Maine, I had started a garden wanting fertilizer and made a worm bin out of a big plastic bin. 

Even further back when I lived in California, where I grew up my first apt. held a big cable wheel for a dining room table. I just love getting something for free and fixing it up.

So my wish is that you like my new Frugal Fridays and be inspired by what I have to offer for ideas. 

Plastic Bags

To start off with I have a thing about plastic bags and the harm it can do to your environment and wildlife. I once read that small or even larger animals can get stuck in a plastic bag trying to get at any food bits that were left behind suffocating to death. Now I'm sure the land isn't littered with dead suffocated animals gasping for their last breath but just in case I tie used plastic bags in a knot then throw the bag away.

I have my Go Green cloth totes that I like to use with the wide strap it seems to make carrying my purchases easier which I desperately need. I have to stop having so much fun with the clerks at the stores I go to for if I'm not watching they are putting my purchases in their plastic shopping bags, then in my tote which defiantly defeats the purpose of recycling.

I reuse the plastic shopping bags I do end up with as garbage bags but it still bothers me about how long it takes for plastic to biodegrade.

Researchers fear that such ubiquitous bags may never fully decompose; instead they gradually just turn into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic. The most common type of plastic shopping bag is made of polyethylene, a petroleum-derived polymer that microorganisms don’t recognize as food and as such cannot technically “biodegrade.” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines. 

I just hope that a plan will be put in place to stop this plastic onslaught or the whole planet will someday be smothered.

How do you feel about plastic recycling?

MemoryLaneMonday

In honor of the holidays, my first Memory Monday post will be about my past Christmas holiday memories with the kids. I'm excited and I hope you are as well. If you didn't catch my past post about my experimenting just follow the link above.

The kids were young, preschool ages. My idea of Christmas was a huge real Christmas tree all decorated with bright shiny bulbs, Christmas lights, tinsel, that particular year I had made popcorn to string around the tree. And tons of presents.

The kids would sit with me and help while I made snowflakes out of white paper and tape them on the two windows in our living room with Christmas songs playing on the radio, telling them stories about when I was growing up and Santa Claus. I was pleased my daughter has remembered the snowflakes on the windows to this day.

We would watch all the Christmas specials in the evenings with the Christmas lights twinkling against the red, blue and gold bulbs hanging down from the tree. Baking and decorating cookies were a tradition, sugar cookies were hung from the tree branches as well.

The shopping never ended until Christmas Eve. I was a great fan of Christmas stockings often over filling them. Christmas Eve was for the stocking filled with candies and little-wrapped presents. Later on, I got the kids off to bed often letting them sleep together they were so excited.

Nice bright and early I would be woken up to Christmas morning and I don't know who was more excited, me or the kids, having my camcorder in hand filming our little family as the kids excitedly opened up all their gifts then we would watch it later on after Christmas dinner.

Do you have a favorite Christmas memory? I love stories so do tell.

I never thought in my lifetime I could...

"throw a name around." The subject of my excitement name is Ben Luna. There, I said it.>waiting for the applause to die down< I met Ben at where I used to work. Eastern & Main Deli/Market was my home for almost 3 years. I met tons of very remarkable people and one of those people was Ben.

He would come in the store where my ex-co-worker/friend would just light right up when he came in the store. So would all the women but she had dibs. He's a good looking man; very easy on the eyes; and super nice as well. He also went to the St. Johnsbury outdoor market and sold the biggest, tastiest, yummy beef burritos that took me 2 meals to eat.

He was also the D.A. at our Court House. I knew when he was leaving for he came in to say good-bye. Of course, we all were a little sad to see him go...especially the women>sniff< For more about Ben go here-

http://www.lcclex.com/attorneys.php

I remember I was out doing my laundry one day at least a year ago; turned around, and there was Ben doing his laundry! I was delighted and so was he much to my happiness; giving each other a hug. I think he's the most important person besides my friends and family of course; that I have ever hugged.

What has prompted this writing is I saw him on Facebook about his case and was so excited I just had to shamelessly brag about it. Here is the link if you are interested-

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/08/24/family-upset-fatal-bike-crash-investigation/32290827/

Brew'in in the Kitchen

Today will be about "homemade goodness". I was going through my photos and decided that today was Kitchen Time with Grandma Rose and weed out some of those photos of food and other strange ideas I come up with.
All has been tried and tested. Maybe these will give you some inspiration...or not. 

Inside my fridge after shopping more of a healthy way.

Homemade Mac & Cheese w/hamburger & tomato slices.

Homemade Mac & Cheese w/hamburger & tomato slices ready to go in the oven.

Mayo splat.

 Omg this picture was a mayo splat. There were 3 almost finished off Mayo jars in the fridge. I had a scoop on my spatula turning to tell hubbie that use up the old ones first...and SPLAT. I stood there a min. and we both started cracking up.

Homemade Quesadilla

The ingrediants for Quesadilla 

Serving Husband

The quick way to make Bacon Burgers & Fries. Takes 25 mins.

Sweet Potato to sweeten up Green Smoothies. 

Frozen Strawberries to make Green Smoothies or Daiquiris:) 

Because of back issues bacon and fries in the oven...bout 25 mins.

I was making the eggs when one of my eggs were twins!

The best way at least I think to thaw bacon or anything else. No more wet counters.

Tips On How To Make Egg, Ham & Cheesy Burrito #FixThePlus *

Last night I had breakfast for dinner. I love breakfast for dinner. Since I either sleep or don't have a regular routine nowadays we eat whatever and whenever. 

But since I was raised old school with the breakfast brunch lunch & dinner that's what we had. Breakfast for dinner. 

Although moving to the East there was some confusion as to how breakfast, lunch and dinner had turned into breakfast was the same, dinner and supper. Talk about confusing! And confusing others while I was at it!

                       Egg, Ham & Cheesy Burrito

• In a greased glass baking bowl stir up 8 eggs & milk to taste
• (I used Silk Coconut Almond)
• Shake in some grated parmesan cheese to taste
• Add pepper and salt
• I had some leftover ham so I diced that all up and threw it in the egg mixture.
• I also had some extra sharp cheddar left over from making grandma's macaroni and cheese so I cut up some slices and added to the egg mixture.
• You can add anything you like, but this is what I had made.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Put on the middle shelf and set the timer for 20 mins then check to see if fully cooked.
• Now I love El Paso products so I bought the big El Paso restaurant style burrito shells that came in a package of 6.
• Coat bottom of a baking pan with oil.
• Now I lay the shells on the oil and roll them up that way so the whole shell is coated. You have to stack the burritos at first until you do your 6th one.
• Spoon out the egg mixture into the open shell. 
• Sprinkle some grated cheese on top and fold.

Put in preheated oven and set timer for 20 mins

You will have some tasty dinner.

Here is a link how to fold a burrito http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/techniques/ht/burritofolding.htm

I love Mexican food and Margaritas, do you?

Grandma's Baked Mac & Cheese Recipe #FixThePlus*

I am going to be having dinner and wanted to share this recipe and the link you can find at the bottom.

A while ago I was missing my Grandma's macaroni and cheese recipe and I came across this. 

It's easier than grating up all the cheese so I don't have to stand on my feet as long. You can adapt it the way you like it. I also use hot dogs placing them on top so they will effectively grill.

GRANDMA'S BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE
 
1 pkg. (8 oz.) elbow macaroni
10 oz. grated sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. unsifted all-purpose flour
2 c. milk
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Cook macaroni as package label directs; drain. 

In a 1 1/2 quart shallow baking dish, alternate macaroni with 1 1/2 cups cheese (two complete layers).

Meanwhile, prepare sauce. 
Melt butter in medium saucepan, remove from heat blend in flour, gradually stir in milk, then seasonings. 
Bring to boiling, stirring constantly. 

Boil 1 minute. 
Pour sauce over macaroni and cheese in casserole. 
Top with remaining cheese. 
Bake 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and brown.

Sometimes I add cut up ham or hot dogs. You can even crack a couple of eggs on top. Got that from my 'munchies' era:)

http://www.cooks.com/recipe/110jr006/grandmas-baked-macaroni-cheese.html

Tip: For house plants you can water with plain pasta water, no oil added, when it cools down. The plants love it!

How do you make your macaroni and cheese?

My Green Smoothie Recipe For Popsicle's #FixThePlus *

My freezer.

1/4 cup peanuts
1/4 cup honey
1 cup apple juice
Put 1 handful of Kale in blender
Another cup of apple juice
2 Apple's cut and cored leaving skin on
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 cup Blackberries
1/2 Honey Greek God's Greek Yogurt 24oz.

Grind the peanuts up
Blend ground peanuts & honey until smooth
Pour in apple juice
Liquify Kale & apple juice mix.
Add Apples, Cinnamon, Blackberries and Yogurt.
Blend well until you have a smooth mixture.
Pour into Ice Cube Trays or whatever shape you prefer.

I like the texture as it melts in my mouth and this flavor is really tasty.

How do you enjoy your smoothies?

Green Smoothies #FixThePlus *

I love to try new things and experiment. One of my newest loves is Green Smoothies. 

They are so good going down. The only problem is since I had by-pass years ago my pouch is very temperamental and basically rules my system.

 The best thing about it despite the green color which is the vegetables, it tastes like whatever fruit you put in it.

Since when you have had a bypass you don't get all the proteins your supposed to eat I'm  despite my best efforts; not a fruit and vegetable eater on a constant basis. This way I get both!

Problem #2. Drinking it so fast I get brain freeze and feel sick having to lay down until it passes. I think that is defeating the whole tasty Smoothie experience.

I have a new Yogurt I'm enjoying now. It's Greek Honey and absolutely delish but the same problem as the Smoothie...I have a point I swear!

So I came up with the bright idea of spooning spoonfuls of yogurt into a plastic ice cube try and presto.

I have little frozen "clouds" my husband calls them. I empty the tray into a plastic bag and pop them in my mouth happy as a clam.

Finally...the point. 
I made a blender full of Green Smoothie and poured it into my ice cube tray. I'm waiting for it to freeze and then I will try them out. 

I will let you know later what I find out. Then I will make a post about the recipe .

What do you eat or drink to stay healthy?