Easy Fun Piggy Bank

So I'm guilty of only having one piggy bank for all four of my kids. And then since it had a big hole at the bottom, it turned out to be a pretty useless. So to right all our child savings wrongs, I've decided to turn some juice containers into piggy banks. I have yet to do all four bottles since we still need to drink through 3 more bottles but here's the idea.

The hardest part was making a hole in the cap. I used an exacto knife, because I didn't think a knife would be strong enough. If you don't have one you can just use a knife or scissors to cut the bottle itself. So now its plain, but what my idea is, let the kids paint it with either craft paint (which I don't have, so we will use acryllic paints) this way its that much more special for them. Kids love looking at their own creations!
I can't wait to see the kids paint these!

Naturally Soft Lips

I bought coconut oil on my last shopping trip with absolutely no idea of what to do with it. All I knew was that everyone seems to love it and that it has many uses. It was $6 for a 16oz jar. And living in California, I'm sure you can get it cheaper in other states! So I decided to make a lp moisturizer out of it today, after id been dipping my fingers into the jar to use on my face, lips, hands and as massage oil. The stuff liquifies to the touch, but your body absorbs it faster. Something to do with the componants of it being similar to that of our skin... or at least moreso than other things. I reallly like to use it on my skin. But prior to this I wasn't using any kind moisturizer on my face... so that could be why I see a difference. (You know, something is better than nothing) ok, so here's what I used for the lip stuff...

Couple tsp Cocoa powder
Ten drops lemon balm
2 shakes of lavendar essence (about 4 drops)
About 3 TBS coconut oil
1-2 drops vanilla extract
I just mixed it in a bowl then scooped it into some emptied out old lip balm containers. Then I put it in the freezer.
The cocoa doesn't tint your lips, but your lips do have a natural healthy color it seems to bring out. (Probably from healthy moisturized lips)
Because it melts so easily, I wouldn't suggest putting it in you pocket. This stuff is good for putting moisture back into your lips... not giving you a lasting gloss. It seems to not last long but I've noticed that after two uses my lips were really healthy and not needing chapstick or anything else.
I used a little straight coconut oil in my palm for a back massage the other day, and loved the way it rubbed in. And as I mentioned earlier I use it on my face at night after I wash it, and my skin has been soo soft since I started doing that. (But like I said, how much of that is just because my skin was so dehydrated before??) Anyways, hope u can use this :)

Newspaper Clean Windows

I've heard of people using newspaper instead of paper towels before, but dismissed it because I don't get a newspaper, and I don't know, I thought the ink would smear on my windows. Well, after actually looking into it a little, I was suprised about how many people rave about it. So, although I didn't try it (because I still don't get a newspaper, and honestly I don't like cleaning my windows) I DID see a recipe to use with the newspaper, and it works farrrr better than my dollar store junk I buy.

2cups of water
1/4 cup of white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp liquid soap

Works best in a squirt bottle. Or the thing said you could even dip the edge of your newspaper into the solution and clean your windows that way. One thing I did not expect, when you use newspaper, the ink in it has anti glare properties to it. But I still have not tried it myself. But if I got a newspaper, I'd use that. It saves money (or maybe it at least makes up for the price of the newspaper) and from what everyone who has tried it says :it works better!

Vinegar, lots of vinegar.

Alright, so I've said how you can use vinegar with baking soda to wash just about anything. But. Vinegar itself is great for so many other things. When I cook bacon, which I hate doing. It gets grease on the floor,no matter how hard I try to keep it from splattering yet still get the crispyness I like.. it splatters, and before you know if my floors are covered in grease! I'm sure you know where I'm going with this. Mopping the floor with Mr. Clean doesn't get that grease off! Sooo I could A get a wash cloth and wash the floor by hand with dish soap or B I could endure the putrid smell of vinegar for a minute while I almost effortlessly mopthe floor with a vinegar and hot water mixture! Work great!


Now here's a little story to illustrate the need or vinegar in your house: when my son was about 3 years old we were going to a birthday party for his best friend. I was unloading my two year old and one year old as my mom helped get my oldest son, Elias, out. We opened the trunk of the car to get diaper bag and presents, after telling elias to back away from the trunk (he was sticking his head in to see something) well my mom didn't realize that elias was still peering into the trunk when sh went to close it. Sure enough the trunk hit him right on the top of his head scaring my mom silly, and blood gushing everywhere. Now, I may loose it and yell or panick about minor thing but when its big things... I'm instantly calm. I grabbed the nearest blanket or towel or shirt, I don't even know, and stuck it on his head as we briskly walked to the party. When we walked in, I honestly didn't know what to do since it cut to his skull. What do you use? What's safe? Come to find out use vinegar! Better than neosporin, and safer when you have big giant open wounds like that. It works as a natural antibacterial. Its what they use in other countries that don't have fancy medicine on hand! Elias was fine, aside from the initial shock and lots of crying, he does have a scar now (two years later) but his hair is so thick I. Can only tell because every so often I go looking for it.
And we used I think it was apple cidar but they said white vinegar is bettter (less sugar, I imagen) so there you have it... let me break it down for you

three things to do with vinegar

1.) Condition your hair, works especially nice on greasy hair
2.) Mop your floors, dilute with water. The smell will go away.
3.) Use in place of things like neosporin, on scrapes even on big open wounds.


Hope that helped... now off to mop my floors ;)

Lovely Lavender Essence

I bought some lavender essence oil for an all purpose cleaner that I sell, it was pretty expensive but I've found it to be pretty useful! I don't usually shower in the morning because if I do I wind up with a big blond fro! My hair gets pretty stripped with the cheap shampoos I use. (Thatts what I've been told anyways) but the other dayit was drizzly out and I had to shower that morning so my hair was especially poofy. I looked around for my sample of hair straightener that I havebut either I've used it all or I lost it, so I took two drops of the lavender essence oil rubbed it in my hands then worked it into my hair from the roots up. Not only did it take the frizz awayinstantly, it made it super soft and it smelled good! So I thought Id share. :)

before you toss the necklace!

What was once my favorite necklace, quickly became another piece of jewelry being tangled in with all my other necklaces, never to be worn again. I was missing one of the feather dangles. But even though I couldn't wear it, I couldn't bring myself to throw it away. Today while trying to find the right accessory for my outfit, I saw the beads on that necklace (the colors matched what I was wearing) and bingo, I had it! I took off the dangly feather things, and because the necklace could be sized, I wrapped it around my wrist a few times, and voila'! New bracelet. The feather dangles will become earrings once I get the stuff! Nice deal! Two accessories out of one, and if I loose an earring I a spare! :)

I've also seen and heard of using opera length necklaces as belly chains or belts. Pardon the picture... its from a cell, not the best example I have but it gives you an idea of what can be done with your opera length necklaces!

4 Chop quick prep chicken noodle

Try saying that 10 times fast (or even once!) Well, today was a hot day but I ha ingredients for chicken noodle soup, and you can't beat how cheap it is! I hate chopping things. Seriously! I really don't have time to stand there and chop twenty different ingredients, so most of my meals that I cook have as little chopping as possible, and as much flavor as possible! Here is what I've come up with for simple chicken noodle!

3 sticks of celery
4 carrots
1 onion
4 frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 32 oz box of chicken broth
3 cloves of garlic
(I love spices so its a bit lengthy)
2 TBS italian seasoning
1 tsp rosemary
2 bay leaves
2 TBS garlic salt
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 squirt (around the pot once) brown mustard
1tsp terragon
Dash of chili powder


*in large soup pot pour in the chicken broth,dump in your chicken breasts (whole And still frozen) add some water leave room to add veggis and remember you will put your noodles in there. Add all your spices.

*chop your first three things (carrots, celery and onion) add to chicken and broth.

*take out your whole chicken breasts and chop them up and put them back into the soup. (They should still be kinda raw)

*when the chicken has cooked through, add half a bag of egg noodles (I used 6 oz. Of dried noodles)

*serve once noodles are cooked. And u can salt and pepper to taste :)



Its a lot it looks like but for soup that's done from start to finish in under 50 minutes, that's pretty good!
Hope you can enjoy!