Quick Tip: Cleaning Supplies

Heather says:

Many people are gearing up for Spring Cleaning.  If you are among them, please do not run out to the store and invest in the latest and greatest cleaning supplies.  Take a good look wherever your store your supplies and use what is on hand.  You may be surprised by how many half empty bottles are lurking under your sinks.

If you run out in the middle refill an old bottle with white vinegar and water.  You may also be shocked by how much can be accomplished with a little hot water, dish soap, and elbow grease.  Challenge yourself to not buy any more cleaning supplies until you have run out of everything on hand.  Pocket that five or ten dollars and use it toward something else.

Quick Tip: Easter Eggs

Heather says:

While the stores have been ready since February 15th, Easter will soon be here.  This year instead of hard boiling two dozen eggs the day before, I’m blowing out the eggs and saving the shells as I use them.  I have not had a lot of practice with the technique, so mine aren’t perfect, but I have a few years before my kids are old enough to care.  I have the feeling most will be crushed and broken before the season has past, but that’s the nature of preschoolers.
To blow out eggs use a large, clean needle or tack to pierce each end of the egg.  I find it easier to hold the egg rather than resting it on the counter where the pressure may crack the shell.  Use the needle to pierce the membrane surrounding the yolk.  The hole in the bottom of the egg will need to be wider than the top, unless you have a syringe to draw out the white and yolk. Give the egg a good shake over a clean bowl.   Cup the egg in your hand, use your finger and thumb to form a seal around the top and blow into your hand.  Please do not put your mouth all over the egg shell, that’s a good way to get salmonella.  Some people use a bulb syringe (the nose sucky thing for babies) to force the contents out.  Rinse the eggs until the water runs clear and allow to dry.

The hole can be covered with tissue paper, ribbon, or positioned out of sight.  By starting early I can deal with the inevitable failures without stressing out.   What are you doing to prepare for Easter?

Quick Tip: Free e-Book

Heather says:

Don’t worry, I am resting. I just could not resist passing this along. Head on over to Oprah.com to download a free copy of Suze Orman’s Women and Money. It is available until 5pm PST tomorrow, February 14th.

Enjoy.

Quick Tip: Frugal Menu Find

Heather says:

If you are on the look out for some extra frugal menu plans Milehimama has a great round-up.

Super quickie!

Ivy says:

Remember I wrote that my grandma had saved thousands of peanut butter lids?

Now I know what she must have been saving them for.

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