When Life gives you Lemons.....

Some might say make Lemonade, but in my world, we make just about anything! When lemons go on sale, I get excited. I buy as many as possible. In addition to using them on fish when I cook or to add lemon to tea, I try to use every last piece! This really isn't a new theory, my grandpa used to tell me about growing up during the depression. After hearing his stories, I often try and use everything and find uses for everyday items! 

After I use the lemon to cook, I take the leftover lemon and rub it on my elbows, knees and heels. It not only softens the skin but it helps to lighten as well. All you have to do is twist like you are juicing your lemon. I have heard you can add a bit of baking soda when you do this but I have never needed too.

After using the lemon, I like to make a mixture to help exfoliate my skin on my hands and or feet.
I create a mixture with sugar and oil. Any kind of cooking oil will work. Take the lemon and squueze some of the juice into a mixture of oil. There is no set recipe for this, just enough oil to cover your hands or feet, sprinkle in the sugar and gently rub your hands back and forth. Add two drops of soap, I prefer Dr. Brommer's castile soap, wash your hands like you normally would. You can use this as a body scrub as well.

If beauty is not on the agenda on a particular day, I like to use the lemon to clean my microwave.  Take a bowl of water and drop in half of a lemon, cook on high for 4 to 5 minutes. The steam helps to loosen the grease and the lemon gives everything a fresh clean smell.  Wipe the microwave with a microfiber cloth and you have a clean microwave but more importantly you have a safe cleaning product.

I have two more uses I commonly use, I drop them down the garbage disposal, it helps to clean it clean, have a fresh smell.

Lastly, if laundry is on the agenda chore for the day, I will use the leftover lemon to help brighten my whites. Juice the lemon and add approximately 1/2 a cup of lemon juice.

There are endless possibilites for lemons: you can use them for age spots, to whiten your finger nails, polish/clean cookware, get rid of ants, hydrate your hair. Real Simple Magazine has a list of things you can do with lemons as well as other household items. Cluebert also has a list of items to use lemons! To believe we spend money on different products to do all of these and all we need to do is buy a lemon or two. Grandpa would be so proud.

What are some everyday items you use in a unique way? I would love to hear!

BUBBLES!

Every year, my kiddos and I make our own bubbles and celebrate the start of the nice weather. This year was no exception, well maybe one, my memory card died! What a lovely surprise when I went to upload our bubble pictures and the card was not going to work. :(

Instead, you will just have to settle for some older but still fabulous shots from previous years.

There are many many recipes out there on how to make your own bubbles. I have tried a few of them but this one is my favorite for two reasons, one I have all of the items in my kitchen and the bubbles are nice and big!

In a big pot or bowl,

combine 1/2 cup water,

1/2 cup Liquid Laundry detergent ( I usually use method)

*you can also substitute 1/2 cup of dish soap*

and 1 Tbsp. Oil (I love Olive best)

for fun, add in a few drops of food coloring for fun colored bubbles!

The best part is that you can store whatever mixture you have left and the bubbles get better with time! Enjoy your bubble blowing days.

Wordless Wednesday: Easter Egg Hunt

We were Egged!

It is a standing tradition in our house, every Easter season we go on an Easter Egg Hunt. This year the weather was horrible and the hunt was cancelled. A great friend of mine, decided to take one of my own items on my Etsy shop and Egged US! 

What a great surprise. I promised my friend I wouldn't reveal who it was, but thank you for making our Easter Tradition alive this year!

Piggy Paint

You know how we all have our pet peeves, one of my biggest ones is unpainted toe nails. DRIVES ME CRAZY!!! This was the hardest things for me to try and convert to natural and environmental friendly. I found Piggy Paints and at first I was hesitant to purchase them because of the fact that they are a little more expensive than I usually spend. I found them for $6 a bottle.  I bit the bullet and bought the nailpolish on ebay (yes, and I used ebates and earned 6%).

Our piggy paint arrived today and I couldn't be happier! I love the color and it was fabulous. No, yucky nail polish smell!

 Love, Love, Love that there is no smell and it non toxic!  Even Pumpkin loved this stuff!

Before we painted our toes, we had pedicures. I know what you are thinking, oh pedicures are so wonderful but expensive. I couldn't agree with you more! I found a fabulous recipe for at home pedicures.

Combine equal parts Olive Oil and sugar crystals. (you can substitute sea salt for the sugar).
Stir together.
You can add essential oils for smell (I choose vanilla) (Sorry no pictures, it's hard with a 15 month old on your lap).

Fill a tub or bucket with warm water.
Soak.
You can also add marbles to roll and massage your feet.
Sit back and enjoy!

After we soaked our feet, we painted our toes! Mama and Pumpkin have "pretty toes"

photo credit: Peanut, not bad for a 5 year old

Have to love a day of pampering that fits the budget and is environmentally friendly. Going natural was easier than I thought and we still have more to share.

Happiness is?

In my house, happiness is spending the day at the beach.  I found the perfect quote the other day, now I just have to figure out what I am going to do with it and how to incorporate it into the house.  Any ideas?????

"At the beach, life is different. A day moves not from hour to hour but move from mood to moment. We go with the currents, plan around the tides...follow the sun." Sandy Gingras

Somehow I have to incorporate this quote and my favorite beach pictures of my kiddos into our new (yet to be completly designed) living room! 

One Proud *BIG* Sister



My beautiful and talented sister



My Sister and I have a very unique and fantastic relationship. You see, I am seven years older than her and when we were younger; I played the Mama Role. As she has grown up I have had many moments when I had to remind myself that I am her sister and she is at the point in her life when she needs a sister not a mother.  Today, was one of those days when it didn't matter what my role was, I can be proud in any capacity.

Many of you know that my sister is an Interior Design Major at LaRoche College, tonight was their Senior Portfolio show. Not only was the show designed to help graduating seniors network but also allow family to share in their success!  I was able to see my sister and her work, and I am truly amazed. Now, you might be thinking, well of course you are going to say that she is your sister, but the great thing abut our relationship is that I would never lie to her and vice versa. We use each other for our checks and balances. The majority of my ideas, I run by her (such as starting this blog) to get her opinion and sometimes a needed kick in the butt!

Receiving her award!

Not only did I have the privilege of hearing people speak so highly of her, being as little as I am, most people think I am the younger sister and often a teenager, you would be surprised how many people say things! Being the sneaky sneak that I am, I was able to  "overhear" such wonderful comments about her professionalism and her creativity. Go SA!  Not only was able to hear these things but she was presented with the Idea Award. What a wonderful way to be honored.

If you are looking for a talented, wonderful, dedicated, confident, Interior Design, my sister graduates in three weeks. (OK, that was my shameless sister plug). 

Congratulations to my *little* sister, I couldn't be more proud of you.

With her portfolio, resumes,business cards and giveaways!

I'm in LOVE!!!!!

Continuing with my April goal of going all natural (again not that type of blog), I wanted to find shampoo and body washes that not only work but are healthy, natural and Budget Friendly.  I tried four different body washes for my kiddos. I love California baby but it doesn't quite fit into my budget, my other favorite that fits into my budget is Method Green Squeaky Body and hair wash. Love Love Love this stuff. Not only can you use it as a body and hair wash but it is environmentally friendly! I also love that you can purchase it at Target, which means one thing: extra savings.


Rice and Milk scent= love!



$5.99 is the retail price for the body wash., although I have seen it for as cheap low as $4.29.  Target has coupons all the time for dollar off. If I shop through ebates, I earn 3.0% (approximately .14) off of my entire purchase and if I use my Target Credit Card, I qualify for 5% (approximately .24) off. Which means that when it is all said and done, I spent about 3.00. Now I know what you are thinking, it is only 14 cents off, but when you figure 14 off of everything I purchase and then an additional 5% really adds up.  I just cashed my most recent ebates check for $200. That is $200 that I normally would have spent and just said goodbye too!

Now, onto Mama's newest love for her hair. For many of you, you know that my biggest joke about my hair is that it is like spaghetti noodles onto of my head. I love my hair (it has taken me a very long time to say that). I have tried so many shampoos many of which after a few hours my hair not only fell flat but looked just blah! I saw an ad for WEN, and thought what the heck, lets try it!

Wen is not only all natural, using tree bark and almonds ( a few other things are in there as well) but it makes my hair so soft and gives it more body then I have ever experienced. I was literally bouncing all around after I first used it.


Wen is a little more pricey than I would ever would normally purchase but keep in mind two things, you can get a month supply (which I have been able to use for about a month and a half) but it is the only product that you have to buy.  Isn't there something about having beautiful hair and a happy mama? I think it's worth a little more. Happy Mama= Happy Life!

Easter Snack for Classroom

Every month my son has to take a snack into school. This month he wanted it to be "Easter themed." this I could do.. something easy and quick with items I already had at the house.  We came up with "Carrots" made out of fish crackers, since I had already purchased the crackers last month for his snack.

Finished Carrot

Now, you may say it isn't actually a carrot shape. I originally thought of buying the cake decorating bags from Michaels, but again the idea was to use things I had already had at the house. I had to make 20 of these and they took me 15 minutes. Can't help but love that!




My supplies

 I purchased the fish crackers last month when they were on sale, I used a manufactor coupon and a store coupon. By the time I was said and done the box of crackers cost .56 cents! (Insert little dance here!)
The ribbon was left over from Christmas (again purchased with a coupon) and the ziploc bags were a free item from Right At Home. 20 kids for 56 cents, I think this is a snack everyone can do and afford.

First thing, I filled the bag and eye balled the amount of crackers. Then I snipped off the zipper from the bag, before you ask, yes you could have kept them on but I felt it was easier this way.

Next filled tilted the bag and moved the crackers to form a carrot shape. Tie the bag closed and trim off a little bit more of the top. This entire snack was not only easy but I was able to do it while my children played at the mall. Have to love time saving ideas!

For added flair, you could also use a green marker and color the Ziploc bag above the ribbon. Peanut took them to school and he said his classmates loved them!

Happy Easter crafting!

Silly bandz?

Not a big fan of the silly bandz craze; for weeks now, Peanut has been asking me to get him some. I finally broke down and picked him up a pack. He was so excited, he counted them, sorted them, put them on, took them off for about 30 minutes. He eventually put them all on his wrists except for one, an orange crab. He handed it to me and said "Mama, since we love hanging out and catching crabs on the beach, this is for you. Wear it and you will remember our fun times."  Just have to love that my little guy looks out for me so.

My one and only silly band

Loving one doesn't make me a fan does it? Well maybe, but that's ok. I wear my silly band proudly!

All Natural

Whoa whoa don’t let the title fool you it is not that type of blog. For the third month of my 30-year, the goal is go all natural. After reading many articles about the amount of chemicals in the typical house and the toll it plays on your health, I felt this was a great way to start “spring cleaning.”  After researching and figuring out different ways to incorporate natural cleaners and money saving ideas, I decided that cloth diapers would be the first things that we do. I love the idea of not only helping my family have a healthy home but I am stretching the family budget. Go me! How can I not be happy?

adjustable snaps allow the diaper to grow with baby

I know what you’re thinking, but what about washing them, doesn’t that add more water usage. These are the old school diapers you are thinking about with the pins and the pad. These diapers have come a long way and they are now made with covers and snaps or Velcro. I can wash them right with the regular laundry. I choose the adjustable snaps, this way the diapers will grow with baby pumpkin until she is potty trained.  I purchased my diapers on ebay, through my ebates account (an online program in which you earn money back when you shop, sign up and start saving money, tell them I sent you lrpallone@gmail.com). I bought 20 diapers for $35.00 and earned 6% back!  I usually spend $40 a month on diapers, so I am already saving.

My pumpkin has adjusted nicely; she had no problems with the change in the diapers. I have also noticed that she hasn’t had as many diaper rashes since we switched. Another bonus! 

I would love to hear about your budget friendly tips to keeping your family home healthy!

pumpkin in one of her diapers, doesn't she just look too cute?