How to Save Money on Makeup

Just shopping at Target the other day, I couldn’t believe the price of makeup! I’m afraid that it has been a while since I bought some. Sadly, I usually only remember to wear makeup for special occasions. As a work at home mom, it usually seems like more trouble than it is worth. Of course, I’d like to take advantage of makeup to bring out my features and make me look a little nicer. So, I’ve had to do some research and some brainstorming on how to get the most for my money and then make that makeup last as … Continue reading

Make Up Expiration Dates

This morning when I was getting ready for work I somehow managed to pull my makeup drawer just a little too hard and before I could catch it I had a bathroom floor full of makeup. Just what I need at 5:30 in the morning. As I stood looking at the mess trying to decide if I should put everything away or just kind of sweep it into a pile to deal with later, some stuff that I didn’t even recognize caught my eye. I consider myself pretty organized and by that I mean I have lots of bins to … Continue reading

Could You Make a Lasagna Garden?

I’d like to grow lasagna too. It would be much easier than making it in my kitchen, that’s for sure. But unfortunately, that’s not what people mean when they talk about a lasagna garden. What they mean is something even more amazing – if you’re a gardener. They’re talking about creating a garden without digging. Without digging, you say? But how would I make a garden? To many, the creation of a garden involves loosening and adding to the soil and moving large quantities of soil from one place to another. This is true for making raised beds, anyway. But … Continue reading

Safe Halloween Makeup

Halloween is almost upon us and some of you may even be dressing up for parties now. One thing you may not think about is the safety of the makeup you use on yourself or your children. While makeup is preferable to masks (it is not as likely to block your vision), you still have to use care in choosing your makeup. Just as beauty makeup can be unsafe, so can Halloween makeup. Here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe Halloween: – Don’t even use something as makeup that wasn’t specifically meant to be used on … Continue reading

Hurricane Food

Well, we made it though Hurricane Sandy, and while our area is still seeing some of the after effects of this historic storm, we are in good shape. and well fed. When you are in the middle of a hurricane or in its aftermath, the food you eat should be easy to prepare, comforting, and in some cases, assembled without the use of the stovetop or oven. Stock up on the following items and use these tips to make sure that you can feed your family when you shelter in place. Canned Soup and Stew Easy to heat and easy … Continue reading

How Not to Go Broke Celebrating Halloween

(All treat no trick) You don’t need to be a parent to know that celebrating Halloween is not cheap. These days dressing up as a naughty nun and gorging on 100 Grand bars can really set you back, and not just spiritually. The cost of costumes, candy, decorations and fillings for cavities caused by giving into your Laffy Taffy addiction is scary expensive. And, if you have multiple kids to costume and provide school treats for, the total cost of the holiday can be even more frightening. In 2011, Halloween surpassed Valentine’s Day as the second most expensive holiday celebrated … Continue reading

I Wouldn’t Miss This For The World

It really is the simple things in life that make it all worthwhile. There is nothing better than the sound of Hailey’s laughter. Ever since she was a baby if she laughs too hard she gets hiccups. Now that she is all grown up she still does that. I wonder if her father remembers that about her. The hardest part about being divorced is trying to explain to your child why her father isn’t there. I’ve tried so many times, made a million excuses but inside my heart breaks for her. How can he not want to be part of … Continue reading

Summer Birthday Fun

My birthday is at the end of August. Growing up I always considered it a curse to have a summer birthday. For many years I didn’t have a party with friends because they were either out of town on vacation or they were too busy getting ready to head back to school. Some twenty-plus years later, I’ve learned that having a summer birthday doesn’t have to be a bummer. Rather, there are plenty of ways you can infuse fun into an outdoor bash that makes the most of the season’s beautiful weather: Cupcake War: This year, my daughter is insisting … Continue reading

Have a Frugal Cinco de Mayo

Are you throwing a Cinco de Mayo party this week? Why not save some money at the same time? Here are some tips on how you can have a fun but frugal Cinco de Mayo. Buy Supplies in Bulk Skip the party store for most of your supplies and head over to a warehouse store, such as BJs, Costco or Sam’s Club to do your shopping. You can buy everything from paper products to appetizers in bulk and cut down on the cost to feed your crowd. Many times you can get a one-day pass to these warehouse stores in … Continue reading

Tips for Preserving Staples

You can extend the life of your staples, your food, if you just follow a few guidelines. Storing food the right way will keep it fresh. Making sure that your emergency food supply is good and ready to eat is important in any emergency preparedness plan. For a good overall tip for preserving staples is to store them in a cool, dark location, but make sure that this location is also dry. Basements are idea for storage, as long as you have a dehumidifier that can take the moisture from the air and prevent the growth of mold. Whenever you … Continue reading