My husband, daughter, and I recently moved into a small apartment. We moved out of a house where there was anywhere from 5-10 people eating out of the same kitchen. Now, we are adjusting to planning meals for just the 3 of us – with one of us only eating small toddler size meals. Of course, there are some benefits. Overall, we are buying less food and it takes less effort to prepare meals.
However, there are also drawbacks to feeding a small family. It is a lot easier to waste …

How can you furnish and decorate a nursery for just $50?
1. Hand me downs
It takes a village to raise a child…and to fill their material needs. Start collecting early in pregnancy, so you know what to register for when it comes time for the baby shower.
2. Thrift stores
With a little time, you can come across some really great finds and save yourself a bundle! It helps to make a list of everything you will need, and then keep a lookout when you visit.
3. Craigslist
Never buy big ticket items new without …

Once and a while I take a step back and spend some time getting organized. It is usually when I feel like I am going to drowned in my to do list because I have stopped using any method of organization. Last August I started a home management notebook. A home management notebook is similar to a day planner, except it is so much more. You can put anything you want to in your notebook – recipes, bills, to do lists, calendars, important papers, etc. It is basically your life …

Have you ever attempted to make hard boiled eggs only to have the middle uncooked or have them crack?
Easter was last weekend so I was on a mission to find the recipe that would tell me how to make hard boiled eggs perfectly – cooked all the way through without cracking and easy to peel.
I found it! Our Easter eggs were both delicious and beautiful! Yes, above is a picture of our easter eggs. Here are step by step directions on how to make perfect hard boiled eggs, every time. …

It seems like you just brought your baby home and she is already growing out of the newborn clothing. Where do these articles of clothes end up? In a grocery bag on the floor? In a pile at the bottom of the basement stairs? Our little ones are going to grow out of everything you put on their little bodies and faster than you can wrestle a wiggly arm into a sleeve. Being the miserly smart parents we are, do you have a plan for those to little clothes?
5 ways …

There are many easy crafts that you can do with your toddler this Christmas. You can find Toddler Christmas Crafts and Kits on Amazon. And below are a bunch of ideas from snow globes to ornaments. Christmas crafts with toddlers is a fun way to get into the spirit and create unique décor that will be around for years to come.
Free Toddler Christmas Crafts Ideas:
Holiday Card Prints
Letting your toddler sign this year’s holiday cards in a unique way will spice up holiday greeting cards and get them involved in sending …

To follow up to the article on homemade, natural deodorant, we will be talking about homemade, natural toothpaste recipes. Below are several recipes that can replace your current toothpaste. There are many reasons why it is important to avoid the use of popular store bought tooth pastes. I won’t go into detail on that topic in this post. You can read this article for a detailed (and slightly scary) summary of toothpaste.
The ingredients in a natural toothpaste recipe are personal choice depending on the strength and flavors you prefer. At …

Recipe for Homemade, Natural Deodorant – Non toxic and effective!
Ingredients:

Baking Soda – For Odor Control
CornStarch – For Wetness Control
Coconut Oil – For a pleasant scent, antibacterial properties, and a great medium to combine baking soda and cornstarch.

Combine equal parts baking soda and cornstarch. Using a fork or spoon mash in coconut oil until you achieve the desired consistency. You will probably end up using the following: 5 Tbsp Coconut oil, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup cornstarch.
You can use empty deodorant containers to give your homemade deodorant …

Everyone wears clothing, but few know how to do laundry. It boggles my mind on a daily basis. The following laundry tips will keep your clothing like new and machines in working condition. Yes it may take a bit longer at first, but in the end you will save a lot of money. You clothing and machines will last longer and need less repair, you will use less detergent, and you will rarely use hot water.
Don’t Overload the Washer or Dryer: This seems to be a common problem. You want …

A large household can mean piles upon piles of laundry each week. Even small families can feel the heavy load of laundry day. In the past, I have tackled laundry without much thought. This often leads to a huge pile waiting for me! To get this under control, I’ve tried a few different approaches. I have listed them below. I recommend trying each one over the course of a few weeks to see which works best for you and what fits best into your schedule.
One day a week: Choose …

Hosting a holiday recipe swap just before the holidays is a great way to taste new recipes and get new ideas. To make your holiday recipe swap a success, follow these simple tips.

Set a time and date.
You can have a themed party, such as appetizers, deserts, or casseroles.
Use Evite.com to create a fun, eco-friendly invitation.
Invite fellow Moms and Cooks. Instruct them to bring one dish to share, a copy of the recipe for that dish, and a few of their favorite holiday recipes or cookbooks.
Supply Paper and Writing Utensils for …

I came across an inspirational site last night and because of it, I have spent the last 14 hours organizing changing my life. I’ve always had a vague idea of what home organization should be. Oddly enough, when I used to work in the office I was very organized. All of the files on my computer were organized into specific, easy to find folders, I always tried to remove the clutter on the desk, etc. However, now that I am home full time, I am noticing that I don’t take …

An article titled, “The Good Wife’s Guide“, was allegedly published in a 1955 issue of either John Bull or Housekeeping Monthly. Some doubt it’s authenticity but it’s an entertaining read none the less.
Click on the image for the full size.

Despite a few obvious pitfalls in the article such as, “remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours” or “don’t complain…if he stays out all night”, there are rules in this article I feel a wife should do (Forgive me feminists but I explain more below). So without …

Our dinner Friday Night was Salmon wrapped in Bacon with Pesto pasta on the side. It was delicious.This is how to make salmon wrapped in bacon.
Ingredients:

Two Pieces of Salmon
4 Pieces of Bacon
Butter
Parsley
Basil
2 toothpicks or other similar device

Directions

Preheat oven on broil.
Coat Salmon with a thin layer of butter and season with parsley and basil.

Lay the Bacon over the Salmon like the picture below and tuck the ends underneath.

Flip the Salmon over and use your toothpick (in this case all I had was paperclips =0 ) to hold the bacon around the …

Pollo Asada-itas are mini seasoned chicken tacos. I made these last night and they are easy and delicious.
Ingredients:

1.5 lbs pre-seasoned Pollo Asada
1 package Leaf Lettuce
1 Avocado
1 jar Fresh Salsa
1 package small Corn Tortillas

Directions

Cook Polla Asada stove top on medium heat in a frying pan until done (about 20 minutes). You can also cook on the grill/BBQ.

While the meat is cooking chop lettuce and avocado and heat corn tortillas. I heat them on broil in the oven, 1-2 minutes on each side.

Cut pollo asada into small slices and place desire portion …