Sweet Pennies from Heaven

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Google
  • Home
  • Contact
    • About Me
  • Family
    • Health & Wellness
    • Entertainment
    • Kid Friendly
    • Product Reviews
  • Crafts
    • DIY
  • Holidays
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
  • Recipe Box
  • For the Home
    • Organizing
    • Thrifty Tips
  • Giveaways
  • Moms Check In
20 uses for peppermint oil

20 Uses for Peppermint Oil – Natural Remedy to Keep Mice Away and So Much More!

December 23, 2013 by Jenni 1,657 Comments

We live in the country and now that winter is here, the field mice are starting to visit more frequently than we like. Ew. They are cute and all…on TV. But not in my house! I found out that peppermint oil is a natural remedy to keep mice away! There are also several other really great uses for peppermint oil! Thanks to FamilyFrugalFun for sharing these with us!

20 uses for peppermint oil

Not only does the peppermint oil keep certain critters away, but there are also some nice health benefits to using it. Ahhhh….thanks peppermint for being more than just something to freshen my breath! AND thank you for being such a cheap and awesome product! You can find Peppermint Oil here on Amazon!

  1. Enteric coated pepperment oil capsules break down slowly, and are very good for numerous GI illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, and indigestion.
  2. When taken orally, peppermint oil is also great for morning sickness….wish I had known that when I was expecting!
  3. Rub peppermint oil on your temples to relieve tension.
  4. Peppermint oil on the temples is also an excellent natural remedy for migraine headaches.
  5. Treat motion sickness by rubbing peppermint oil on your abdomen and wrist for a few minutes.
  6. Looking for a natural way to get rid of mice? Soak cottonballs in peppermint oil, then lay them where you see “evidence” of mice. In a matter of days, your mouse problem will be solved because they can’t stand the strong smell.
  7. It is also an effective natural defense against mosquitos.
  8. Ants won’t cross a line of peppermint oil; for an interesting experiment, lay down a line of peppermint oil where you have seen ants and watch what happens…no ants!
  9. Peppermint oil can be combined with almond oil for a great muscle-friendly massage oil.
  10. Diffuse peppermint oil in the air; this provides both nausea and headache relief. Great for migraines!
  11. Add a drop to your favorite food or beverage for a minty twist (try it in hot cocoa this holiday season, YUM)
  12. Capsules of peppermint oil provide menstrual pain relief as quickly as most name-brand medicines.
  13. Mix a potion of half lavender oil and half peppermint oil to stop bug bite itch.
  14. The same lavender and peppermint mixture will also keep you from getting those nasty bug bites in the first place ;)
  15. Allergic rash? Help ease symptoms and make it go away faster by applying peppermint oil.
  16. 2-3 drops of peppermint oil added to hot tea or ice cold water after meals will make a big difference in your digestion.
  17. The next time you have trouble focusing put a drop on each index finger and massage your temples and below your nose.  The smell will perk you up.
  18. Applied to the back of your neck a few times during the day, peppermint oil works like magic to boost your energy level naturally.
  19. If you are fighting cough and cold symptoms, use a little peppermint oil in a vaporizer or in a pan of water steaming on the stove. Take a few deep breaths and you will notice an immediate clearing of your sinuses.
  20. Oral consumption of small quantities of peppermint oil helps with gas and bloating.

See…I told you peppermint oil was awesome!! I love when I can find a single item that does so many things. You can save a fortune by trying the peppermint oil vs. buying all of the products to remedy the problems mentioned above! Mouse traps, migraine medicine, PMS medicine, mosquito repellant…and on and on! Let us know how the peppermint oil works for you!!!

I posted an article the other day here (click here) –> 20 uses for Almond Oil. You wouldn’t believe how much money you could save by using almond oil in place of beauty and hair products! I love to share great ways to save money. Be sure to check out my other money saving ideas and thrifty household tips!

What thrifty tips do you use regularly? Don’t by shy….tell us about them! Leave us a comment below and share your awesome tips with everyone!

uses for almond oil

20 Uses for Almond Oil from Skincare to Hair Treatments

December 13, 2013 by Jenni 1,215 Comments

uses for almond oil

20 Uses for Almond Oil

Do you know that nearly half of the makeup of an almond is oil? Natural almond oil can be used for so many things so we’ve shared a nice roundup of uses for almond oil to make it easy! I love to use natural and thrifty products to replace more expensive and “chemical” ridden ones. The problem is, most people don’t realize that they could save so much money and have such healthier alternatives. That’s why I’m happy to share these tips with you!!

There are a couple of different types of almond oil. Bitter and then the sweet almond oil. All of the uses below focus mostly on the sweet kind of almond oil but bitter can easily be substituted if that’s what you already have on hand. This list below of awesome uses for almond oil is courtesy of Family Frugal Fun.

  1. Use a few drops on your skin before shaving to prevent cuts.
  2. Also, dip your razor blade in almond oil – this prevents it from rusting.
  3. A dime-sized amount in the palm of your hand rubbed through hair will tame flyaway curls.
  4. Massage almond oil on split ends.
  5. 2 Tablespoons a day administered orally act as a great natural laxative.
  6. A few drops on the skin gently massaged in the area under your eyes helps to soften and tone your face.
  7. Almond oil works well to nourish the skin without clogging pores.
  8. The high amount of Vitamin E protects skin from harmful UV rays.
  9. When taken orally in small amounts, almond oil also boosts your immune system.
  10. Add one teaspoon a day to your cooking; folic acid and potassium-rich almond oil helps regulate blood pressure.
  11. The folic acid and potassium content are also excellent for heart disease prevention.
  12. Sweet almond oil is considered “brain food” and is thought to aid in concentration.
  13. It makes a great substitute for olive oil, too – try it the next time you do stir fry at home for a wonderful flavor change that has lots of health benefits.
  14. Almond oil is also a good “base” for mixing with other oils. Add some peppermint oil and use it as an invigorating massage lubricant that also soothes achy muscles.
  15. It works well as a base with most any aromatherapy or essential oil for burning. Try lavender to relax, or peppermint or spearmint to get you moving.
  16. Mix almond oil and sea salt together for a terrific all-natural salt scrub. Who needs pricy spa treatments?
  17. Did you know almond oil is an excellent wood conditioner, and has been used for many years on musical instruments such as the oboe and clarinet?
  18. It’s a wonderful natural moisturizer for dry skin, thanks to the many anti-inflammatory vitamins in almond oil. You can use it topically or orally and achieve good results.
  19. If you make your own soap, add a 5% concentration of sweet almond oil and your skin will thank you for it!
  20. If you have dandruff or a very dry and flaky scalp, massage a few drops of sweet almond oil into your scalp for a few minutes, then let it sit for 45 minutes to overnight before rinsing with your regular shampoo.

So whether it is used topically, in food, or mixed with other things, almond oil can help your body in all sorts of ways. Do you have other uses for almond oil? If so, we’d love to hear about it. Leave us a comment below!!

fall decorating ideas

Thrifty Fall Decorating Ideas

September 20, 2013 by Jenni 45 Comments

fall decorating ideas

Can you smell fall in the air? I can! It’s my favorite time of the year. Pumpkins, changing leaves, the smell of spices. Yum! Have you seen all the pretty fall decorating ideas in all the current magazines? I check them out while waiting in line at the cash register and always get giddy when it’s time to decorate!

Decorating can get expensive without a plan. That’s why you should make a plan! Do you want your end result to scream “FALL IS HERE!” or are you more of a decorating “whisperer”? I’m somewhere in between the screaming and the whispering. 😉 There is no doubt that all the fall decor in the stores now are just too cute. But they’re also very pricey.

Here are some thrifty Fall decorating ideas that can save you a bundle.

1. Visit your local pumpkin patch or farm and buy a few different sized pumpkins and gourds.

2. Mums. Mums are so pretty plus they fill up a lot of space and add tons of color. Watch your local store sales ads for pricing and find the best deal on them before you buy. (P.S. Mums work great in pots, but you can also plant them in the ground before it gets too cold. They’ll come back next year!)

3. Use old containers that you have around your house to plant mums or artificial fall flowers in. For instance, the photo at the top…I planted some mums in an old metal bucket. I’ve got so many compliments on that pot of flowers!

4. Do you have sticks or dry branches in your yard? Bundle them together for a fun fall-ish centerpiece in a vase! You probably already own a vase, and hey…the limbs are FREE!

5. Visit your local farmers for cheap hay bales and foddershocks. Maybe even free!

 

fall decorating ideas

6. Make your own DIY fall wreath like this Fall Owl Wreath from Rose Knows Coupons. This is too cute and doesn’t cost much at all. Much cheaper than if you bought one at a store!!

7. Visit the Goodwill or local yard sales for other fall decor. They’re full of stuff like that right now and you can get a lot of bargains.

8. Burlap. Burlap is seriously cheap material and you can use it for just about anything. It’s cute wrapped around candles or as a table runner. It instantly brings about a sense of “fall”.

9. Pine cones are free if you have pine trees around your home. We use them for decorating all the time! Mixed in a bowl with oranges, apples, tiny pumpkins and poutpourri or cinnamon sticks makes for a very pretty centerpiece.

Fall Decorating IdeasPhoto Credit: ifood.tv

10. Cloves in oranges makes for a very frugal and yummy scented decoration. My mom used to do this all the time when I was younger and I always loved to help her. The smell is heavenly.

Do you have any thrifty fall decorating ideas?
If so, we’d definitely love to hear them!! Leave us a comment.


Reuse Diaper Wipe Containers

20+ Ways to Reuse Diaper Wipe Containers #Recycle

August 8, 2013 by Jenni 1,499 Comments


reuse diaper wipe containers

Over 20 Ways to Reuse Diaper Wipe Containers

Looking for ways to reuse diaper wipe containers? You’ve come to the right place! I still have tons of baby wipes containers. I never could “let go” of them because I knew that they would be so handy for so many things. How many times have  you thrown one away — and then the next day think, “Shoot! I wish I hadn’t thrown that container away!!” because you found the perfect use for it!

The size is great for holding different things and then of course there’s that glorious lid, right?! It makes some things handy to grab quickly. I just hate throwing containers away. So much so, that I even found a way to remove ink print from plastic containers so that I could reuse them. I love nice, clean and white containers!

There are so many things I reuse diaper wipe containers for, so I thought I’d share a bunch with you! Depending on what you’re using them for, you can always decorate them with Washi Tape!! I love that stuff!

1. Store baby items – Keep lotion, diaper rash cream, etc. at your diaper changing table just to keep things in reach and organized.

2. Roundup those crayons and markers – Let the kids reuse diaper wipe containers and make a DIY Art Box.

3. Kids tackle box – Kids love to fish…let them create their own tackle box. It’s a fun way to reuse diaper wipe containers!

4. Corral loose blocks or puzzle pieces – It never fails. I’m always finding loose puzzle pieces or lego blocks that go with a set.

5. Make a change bank – Keep loose change and store the container in the utility room! Mom keeps the pocket change. #1 Rule!!

6. Odds & Ends – Keep the hubby’s odds and ends like nuts, bolts, and super small tools. Label it DADS Stuff!

7. House batteries – We use a lot of rechargeable batteries around here. I keep them in a container and cycle them out!

8. Keep Condiments – Keep a container in the kitchen cabinet with packets of ketchup, sauces, and even plastic cutlery.

9. Sewing Box – Store your needles, thread, etc. in a diaper wipes container for a makeshift “emergency” sewing kit!

10. Yarn Dispenser – Keep your Yarn or thread work from getting pulled out or knotted up.

11. Car Organizer – Reuse diaper wipes containers to hold change for the car wash, restaurant coupons, etc.

12. Coupon Organizer – These are the perfect size for organizing your coupons!

13. Recipe Box – Again…the perfect size for a recipe box!

14. Hair Accessories – Keep hair bows, ponytail holders, bobby pins, barrettes, etc. in.

15. Family Suggestion Box – This is a FUN one! Let the fam makes dinner, dessert, movie suggestions!

16. Mani/Pedi Box – Reuse Diaper wipe containers to store files, buffers, polish, cotton pads and polish in!

17. Desk/Office Organizer – Organize your ink pens, paper clips, staples, post it notes and more.

18. Store Plastic Bags – I reuse plastic bags for lots of things! Read this post – 21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Bags for some great ideas.

19. Travel – Keep liquids/makeup in a container in bags when traveling! Keeps your clothes from getting destroyed if bottles bust.

20. Hold extra chargers/cords – Keep extras in a diaper wipes box. Just label what they go to before you put them in the box!

21. Cash Box – Having a yard sale? Keep your cash/change in a diaper wipes container…it’s the perfect size!

Do you have other things you reuse diaper wipe containers for? Let us know…we’d love to hear about it! Just leave a comment below.

 

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like some of these other thrifty posts.

Homemade Eye Makeup Remover with Only 2 Ingredients – Costs Just $0.32 Per Ounce

Homemade Laundry Soap | Only 3 Ingredients (Just 2 Cents per Load!!!)

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

17 Useful and Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans Now

13 Perfectly Useful Ways To Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

August Savings Guide – What to Buy, What’s on Clearance, What’s in Season

August 6, 2013 by Jenni 321 Comments

August-Savings-Guide


Here is your August Savings Guide! This guide will show you what to buy, what’s on clearance and what’s in season for the month of August. This guide is intended to help you understand how the monthly grocery and other promotional sales cycle. Always planning ahead is one of the best tips to use when trying to save!! I hope you find this helpful. Thanks to Family Frugal Fun for sharing this awesome guide!

 

Clearance-sale-sign (1)

Items you’ll find on clearance in August:

  • Gardening  supplies
  • Seeds for planting (they’ll last about 2 yrs)
  •  Summer apparel and summer toys & outdoor furnishing start to go on sale towards months end

 

Time-to-buy-sign

  • A good time to buy in August:
    • School supplies ( on sale)
    • Office supplies (on sale)
    • Juice boxes & pouches, lunch items like sandwich meats, lunch snacks, cereals bars, pudding cups, granola bars, fruit snacks, canned fruit, sandwich cheese slices
    • Breakfast foods like cereals, oatmeal etc
    • Tissues, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, sanitizing wipes
    • Ice cream, popsicles

Whats-in-season

  • Here’s a list of what’s in season in August:
    • watermelon, plums
    • strawberries, kiwi, plum
    • blueberries,  apricots
    • raspberries, radish
    • cantaloupe, apples
    • asparagus, avocados
    • basil, beets, cabbage
    • carrots, peppers, okra
    • lemons,   grapefruits
    • oranges, collards, pears
    • grapes, kale, onion
    • nectarines, passion fruit
    • peaches, potatoes
    • cucumbers, tomatoes squash
    • corn, beans eggplant, lettuce, figs

    Consider “pick your own” farms to stock up on inexpensive fruit and vegetables for summer canning & freezing

 

To-do-list-image-300x191

    • Sign up for newsletters & emails from your favorite restaurants and businesses using a separate new email address you create just for deals & savings
    • Keep coupons for dining out in your purse or wallet.
    • Build up a 6 month stockpile;
    • Buy enough  food & toiletries when on sale at their rock bottom sale price for each person in your family  so you don’t run out (when you “need” a product you’ll be wiling to pay full price – don’t let that happen)
    • •Many states offer a tax free holiday for back to school shopping  – check with your local Dept of taxation for your state
    • •Close blinds during direct sun hours to conserve on cooling costs
    • •Shop  with a specific grocery list based on sales & start meal planning for a busy back to school schedule (quick meals for busy nights, easy breakfast foods etc)

 

National-Holidays-image-300x118

Family Fun Month

    • National Catfish Month
    • National Eye Exam Month
    • National Golf Month
    • Peach Month
    • Romance Awareness Month
    • Water Quality Month
    • National Picnic Month

    Weekly Events in the month of August:

    • Week 1 National Simplify your Life Week
    • Week 2 National Smile Week
    • Week 3 Friendship Week
    • Week 4 Be Kind to Humankind Week

    Special Day in August

    • August 4 Friendship Day – First Sunday in August
    • August 10 National S’mores Day
    • August 14 National Creamsicle Day
    • August 18th – Maggie’s Birthday! Lol
    • August 30 Toasted Marshmallow Day
    • August 31 National Trail Mix Day

 

FREE-Picture

    • Museums on Us Bank of America
    • Saturdays at  Lakeshore FREE workshop for kids
    • Pottery Barn Tuesday Story Times
    • Saturdays Michaels FREE workshops (Scrap In small fee)
    • Saturdays  Lowes Build and Grow workshop for kids
    • Wednesday Sept 18th (plan ahead there is no free night in August)  FREE Entrance into the Philadelphia Franklin Institute (Science center)
    • Weekends in August FREE workshops with Home Depots
    • National Night Out (August 6th)
    • The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC)  FREE shows every day at 6pm
    • Kids Skate FREE
Back to School

How To Save the Most When Shopping Back to School Sales

July 17, 2013 by Jenni 1,210 Comments

Back to School


How to Save for Back to School

Yep. It’s that time of year again! Back to School time can cost a fortune, especially if you have more than 1 child. Between pencils and paper, shoes and clothes it can cost hundreds of dollars per kid! There are many very simple things that you can do to save a lot of money! It just takes thinking outside the box and a little elbow grease. Okay – maybe not elbow grease, but you get my drift. 😉

Set a Budget for Back to School and stick to it:

Creating a Back to School budget is a really important factor in saving the most money. You don’t want to overspend, but you still want to be able to get everything needed. With each child being in different levels of school, their needs will be different. Don’t forget to budget for the teenager’s track shoes or calculator! Keep those kinds of things in mind.

 

Back to School

How to Save on School Supplies:

School supplies vary upon the age of your kids, but they all need them. The best ways that I’ve found to save on school supplies are to watch sale fliers for sales and use coupons at places like Staples or Office Max. Buy bigger bulk packs of some supplies that get used a lot. Yes, you may be spending more up front but it proves to save quite a bit overall. This works great, especially if you have 3 or 4 kids in school at the same time.

Use printable coupons on supplies at stores like Walmart too or other big retail stores. If you’re shopping online for supplies, I highly recommend Amazon or Discount School Supply for your items. Both are great places to find great deals. If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get fast FREE 2 day shipping. If you don’t have it, you can get a FREE Trial of Amazon Prime now!!

Stick to practical and not CUTE. Cute can cost a fortune when it comes to pens, folders, notebooks, backpacks, and the like. Give the kids a limit on the cutesie things they are allowed to buy and then the rest…stick to practical. Check this blog post out too for lots of other great ideas for saving on school supplies!

 

Back to School

How to Save on Back to School Clothes, Shoes, and Accessories:

Clothing and shoes are your biggest chunk for back to school spending! Especially if you have teenagers! They want what their friends have so it’s always a battle. I know…I used to be a teen.

Rule # 1 is to never pay full price and always watch for sales! Keep an eye out for coupon mailers to help save a few extra dollars here and there.

Thrift Shop. Most of the time you can find really nice namebrand clothing in thrift shops that even still have the tags on them. You’ll get those goodies at huge discounted prices than you will off the retail store rack!

Shop Year Round. Every couple of months, head out and grab a few sales. Scope online deals out throughout the year and when you find a nice deal, snag it. It’s smarter than paying full price WHEN you need the actual item!

Shop clearance. That’s a no-brainer, I know….but sometimes people just need to be reminded. Most of the time you can still even use coupons or coupon codes on clearanced items. Think outside the box too. Don’t just look for clothes that are on clearance. Look for shoes, jewelry, accessories and other things that are generally clearanced too.

Think outside of the season. While you’re doing back to school shopping now, you’re looking for fall outfits. Hit the sale racks for the summer things that are on sale or clearance and buy the next size up. The kiddos can wear those things NEXT year and you won’t be paying full price next year for summer clothes.

Shop Online. I get my biggest discounts most of the time from shopping online, especially when I can score free shipping. I do the majority of my shopping at these spots, and often through Ebates for Cashback!

Amazon

Payless Shoes

Crocs.com

Walmart

 

What are your best tips for saving on back to school supplies and clothes? We all love to learn from others, so leave your best tips below in a comment! Can’t wait to hear them.

eye makeup remover

Homemade Eye Makeup Remover with Only 2 Ingredients – Costs Just $0.32 Per Ounce

July 14, 2013 by Jenni 2,679 Comments

 

eye makeup remover

 

Hey, hey, hey!!

What if I told you that you could make your own waterproof eye makeup remover at home…for just $1.28 a bottle?! AND…with only 2 ingredients!

The ingredients cost around $5.10 total. By the time I figure up the ounces and how much eye makeup remover this will make, it winds up being 32¢ an ounce.

Just to give you an idea of the amount of money you can save, I’m using my old Mary Kay eye makeup remover bottle. It holds 4 ounces, so it costs me just $1.28 to fill the entire bottle. Compare that to the $14 I spent every time I bought a new bottle.

 

eye makeup remover

 

You’ll want to make this homemade eye makeup remover for yourself, too! Why, you ask? Here are 4 reasons…

  1. It’s really good for your skin!
  2. it’s anti-aging!
  3. it’s super cheap and simple to make!
  4. it really DOES take all the eye makeup off, even waterproof mascara!

Click the NEXT button below to get our Homemade Eye Makeup Remover Recipe NOW!

next

 

Homemade eye makeup remover recipe. This DIY recipe saves so much money!

 

 

Pages: 1 2 3
Homemade Instant Oatmeal Recipe

Oatmeal Recipe – Make Your Own Homemade Instant Oatmeal

May 28, 2013 by Jenni 1,155 Comments

Homemade Instant Oatmeal Recipe


Ever considered making your own Homemade Instant Oatmeal Recipe? You should…it kind of makes you feel like Wonder Woman! I know that those boxes of single serve instant oatmeal packets are really convenient but they’re also really pricey if you break down what they cost per packet. Buying the ingredients and making your own is SO much cheaper! Thanks to the awesome Maggie at Family Frugal Fun for sharing her instant oatmeal recipe with us!

Homemade Instant Oatmeal Recipe

  • 1/4 Cup Quaker Quick Oats
  • 1  tblsp Domino brown sugar
  • 1 tblsp Carnation instant dry milk

Add approximately 3 – 4 tablespoons hot water or microwave as you would your instant oatmeal packs. I like to make my instant oatmeal ahead of time and pack in a hefty baggie so everything is all measured out. For a diet version of my instant oatmeal just omit the milk and switch to Domino light sugar. You likely won’t notice the difference.

If you’re helping a child start making their own breakfast in the mornings then you would just measure out the ingredients and place them in a bowl or children’s mug the night before with the tablespoon next to it for adding water.

*You can also add different things to make fun variations if you get bored easily. Add raisins, cinnamon, apples or whatever you like. I like a little maple syrup in mine with brown sugar. 🙂

*Be SURE to purchase quick oats and not a 3 minute cooking time oatmeal for this recipe.

I love to make things homemade as much or as often as I can! I never really considered doing that before but the older I get, the more frugal I get…and I also get some satisfaction out of it! Knowing that I made something vs. just buying it makes me feel all “Pioneer Woman-ish”.

 

Homemade laundry soap

My favorite homemade product that I make is my laundry soap detergent (<– click that link to check it out!). The detergent recipe only calls for 3 ingredients AND it comes in at around $0.02-$0.04 per load!!! My husband is a welder and it gets HIS stinky yucky work clothes clean – so I know the stuff works!

What kinds of things do you prefer to make homemade vs. buying? We’re always up for new ideas. Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear!!

how to get rid of bugs on roses and plants

How to Get Rid of Bugs on Your Plants and Rose Bushes – Natural and Thrifty Alternatives

May 26, 2013 by Jenni 1,542 Comments

how to get rid of bugs on roses and plants


Spring has sprung and my rose bushes are in full bloom. The leaves are also full of holes and brown spots from early buggy visitors and disease. The pests are more than likely aphids and the disease could either be from the pests or some type of fungus. This happens each and every year with my roses and some other flowering plants that I have. It absolutely drives me batty!!! Almost as much as mole hills in the yard!

how to get rid of bugs on plants and rose bushesI haven’t mulched yet so my flower bed is sort of bare under the bush. My favorite is red mulch!

I wanted to share some natural and thrifty remedies with you if you’re finding the same thing with your roses or plants. I have used Sevin Dust in the past and it works but it’s also a poisonous chemical and you really should be careful when you use it! I recommend wearing a mask when you dust it on your lawn or plants because you don’t want to breathe it in. I tend to get a little shake happy with the canister so I know from experience :). A friend of mine on Facebook (thanks Lori!) also said that she uses lime on her garden and plants. She buys it locally from Ace Hardware.

I have several different rose bushes and I am going to be trying some of the following methods below and will update through spring/summer with what has worked best for me. These methods below have been recommended from friends/family or found through different garden forums.

 

roses

How to Get Rid of Bugs on your plants and roses:

1. Drown those suckers…with a blast of water from the garden hose. This remedy seems to work well for most to get aphids or other little buggars off your roses and plants. You want to use the jet stream setting on your water hose sprayer. A regular spray from the hose won’t have enough power to knock them off. Make sure that you’re not knocking off blooms or breaking stems…you just want to put a good blast of water on them and work underneath too. Aphids like to hide UNDER the leaves!

2. Soap ’em up and shove ’em out! Mixing gentle soap (Blue Dawn dish soap or Ivory Liquid are the most recommended) and/or oil with water in a spray bottle and giving your roses a squirt will help get rid of the aphids and other bugs.

Spray Mixture:

In a quart of water, mix in a few drops (5-8) of dish liquid or other liquid soap (something gentle, even Murphy’s Oil Soap works well) and 1 teaspoon of oil (vegetable, canola, etc.).

Combine well and spray on your plants or rose bushes. Don’t’ forget the underside of the leaves because that’s where they like to hide! After it rains, give them another spray.

3. The ole’ vampire method! Aphids hate garlic. I wonder if they’re related to vampires?! 😉 Combine about a tablespoon or 2 of minced garlic with a quart of water and spray that mixture on your plants or rose bush.

4. ACV – The Cure All Solution! Mix 1 ounce of apple cider vinegar to 3 oz. of water and spray onto your roses or plants. Keep in mind some plants are not tolerable of vinegar. P.S. If you didn’t already know, you can get rid of fleas with vinegar too!

 

how to get rid of bugs on your roses and plants

5. Natural store bought insecticides. If these other methods don’t work for you, you can go with a natural grade insecticide from your local nursery or garden store. Always read and follow the instructions. This Garden Safe Insecticidal Soap has great reviews on Amazon and it says it kills all bugs on contact.

If you have tips or tried and true methods, please leave us a comment! We’d love to hear them!!

Save some Green Everyday Effects P&G Challenge

Ways That We Reduce and Reuse Everyday Things – Our #EverydayEffect Challenge

April 21, 2013 by Jenni 889 Comments

Everyday Effect


I’ve always been on the “frugal” side of life for the most part. Part of being frugal, naturally, includes finding ways to reduce and reuse things. I won’t say that I’m an avid recycler – because if I did…I’d be lying. I do try to green things up a lot around here though. I’m the one who wears my tennis shoes until the sole comes off (literally, TRUE story). I’ve been known to walk plum out of my shoes.

A lot of my kid’s clothes are hand me down (not too proud to admit) and I love to find good deals at the local thrift shops. I’m just always finding ways to get good use out of what we have until it’s flat not any good to use anymore. If Eli gets a hole or a stain on his shirt, it goes in his play clothes pile. From there it will eventually over time make it’s way to the “cleaning rags” pile. Just another easy way to reduce and reuse!

eli's paint and play shirt

 

P&G (Procter & Gamble) has an awesome Every Day Effect Conserve it All challenge going right now that I’m proud to participate in. This challenge is just one way to let others know that doing just simple, ordinary things daily can and DOES make a difference. P&G believes the most effective changes don’t necessarily start with grand acts and can start much closer to home, by changing the way we think about things like waste. Ordinary actions like washing your laundry in lower temps and doing the dishes with a more concentrated product can help allowing us to reduce energy and waste!!

Save some Green Everyday Effects P&G Challenge

For the Every Day Effect challenge, I wanted to challenge my family to leaving the lights off during the day. Our house is surrounded by trees so we have alot of shade during the day. I knew that this would INDEED be a challenge. Surprisingly enough…I’ve been the one having the most difficulty with it. It’s not that I don’t want to do it…it’s just a force of habit to turn the lights on in any room I’m in even when there’s plenty of day light coming in through the windows. Goes to show how much we just take for granted, huh?! I’ve posted sticky notes on all the light switches saying “Save some GREEN!” and it has been a nice reminder. Making a concerted effort towards something can create a habit, so that’s what we’re shooting for.

I also wanted to share a few other simple things that we do every day (simple things that YOU can do too) that makes an impact in greener and all around healthier living. Really, if it’s something I can do it’s something that you can do too! Reduce and reuse!!

Ways we reduce and reuse around our house:

  • Use cold water for laundry (except for whites and/or towels)
  • Make my own laundry detergent (much cheaper, plus I don’t have to throw out all the plastic bottles)
  • Let dishes air dry vs. using heated dry in dishwasher
  • We don’t have a compost pile, but you can add cut grass and food scraps to the pile if you have one (This is something I am interested in doing…need to do some homework!)
  • Reuse my coffee creamer bottles
  • Reuse my coffee cans
  • Reuse plastic bags
  • Use vinegar as my MAIN cleaning product…it does it all (awesome cleaner and all natural)
  • Turning TV’s and lights off when not being used (we’re working on the light issue)

 

flower

Doing these everyday things like I said DOES make a difference! No, you might not be saving the whales by re-using your coffee can for some awesome reason – but you have to look at it as a chain reaction. You never know – the next coffee can you throw out could possibly end up in the ocean eventually! Honest….just think about it that way. Over time your small efforts pay off.

We’d love to hear your comments…let us know how YOU try to make a difference. Leaving comments always gives others ideas as well. We can all definitely learn from one another! While you’re still here, make sure to head over and enter yourself to WIN an awesome prize. P&G #EverydayEffects Pinterest Giveaway! Some lucky person is going to win a washing machine!!! You can connect with P&G on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date in all the latest news!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks and P&G.

Coffee Creamer Bottles

13 Perfectly Useful Ways To Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

February 22, 2013 by Jenni 2,101 Comments

Coffee Creamer BottlesCreative Ways to Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

 

I’ve been on a lightning streak lately with ways to reuse some perfectly good containers vs. throwing them in the trash. If you use creamer in your coffee then you probably go through a lot of coffee creamer bottles. Here are a few really cool ways to reuse them instead of throwing them out! Here are some awesome ways to reuse coffee cans too!

 

Coffee Creamer Bottle

Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles In the Kitchen:

Makeshift sports bottle. This is another way I use mine. With the flip top lids, they’re easy to drink from and fit perfectly in my fridge!

Store dry cereal or the Baby Goldfish Crackers. These little bottles are great to throw in a diaper bag and the cereal or crackers don’t get crushed like they do if you just use a baggie!

Store sugar or cinnamon. Having the easy pour spout on the coffee creamer bottles makes it easy to add a little sugar to your coffee or cereal without having to drag the bag of sugar out. I keep mine by the coffee pot! Keep some cinnamon in another one. Great to pour out into a measure spoon when cooking.

Homemade Creamer. If you make your own coffee creamer, reuse your creamer bottles to store it in.

Homemade Dressing. Same as above…if you make your own dressings, add a label to a bottle and store your dressing. Easy pouring onto a bed of pretty greens!

Keep chocolate chips in. If you bake a lot, then you probably always have chocolate chips on hand. I hate when the bags tear, so you use a creamer bottle and pour them out as needed.

 

In the Bath and Utility Room:

Keep homemade laundry detergent. If you make your own detergent, use one of these bottles to store it in. It’s perfect with the easy pour spout and the smaller bottles will fit nicer on the shelf than a big ole’ bottle. If you’re going on vacation, this is the perfect size to take too. Just enough if you have to do your own laundry while gone!

Epsom Salt. If you add some Epsom salt to your bath water, keep a small creamer bottle full next to the tub.

Shampoo or Body Wash. A lot of people make their own shampoo and/or body wash. You can store yours in these bottles. Also, if you buy the bulk size containers, it’s much easier to refill these bottles than man handle the giant bottles in the shower!

 

Kids and Crafts:

Make Bowling Pins. Fill 10 creamer bottles up with water, sand, or gravel. Set them up and let them go bowling in the yard!

Music Shakers. Add rice or beans to a bottle. Perfect music makers for your little ones!

Store Glitter. If you use a lot of glitter when crafting, store your glitter in the smaller creamer bottles. This way you can have better control over how much is being used.

Store Glue. If you’re a major crafter or teacher, you might buy glue in bulk containers. Pour some over into a smaller creamer bottle for fun projects. Just label accordingly.

 

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful. If you have any other fun ideas about how to reuse coffee creamer bottles we’d love to hear them. Just leave us a comment below! Here are some other tips that you might find useful. Some reader favorites are:

17 Useful and Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans Now

21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags – Plastic Recycling

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers – Reuse Your Containers

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

Topic: Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

coffee cans

17 Useful and Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans Now

February 22, 2013 by Jenni 2,249 Comments

coffee cans

17 Useful & Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans

 

I don’t know about you, but we drink a lot of coffee at our house. I know we’re not the only folks that drink a ton of coffee so I can’t even begin to imagine how many coffee canisters are floating around out there! I’ve found a few creative ways to recycle containers – for instance – I learned how to remove ink from plastic containers so that we can reuse them! Coffee cans are a whole other beast!

Oh, and while I’m on the subject of coffee – my friend Alea wrote this post on how to use leftover coffee! Lots of great ideas and fun recipes! You know how sometimes you have that little bit left in the bottom of a pot? Instead of pouring it down the drain, use some of the ideas from her link above!

Ways to reuse coffee cans

Ways to reuse coffee cans in the kitchen:

1. Store table scraps and produce trash. Yes, it’s a less decorative use but still very useful. By keeping your table scraps and produce peelings in cans like this with a lid, it prevents the smell from lingering in the kitchen. It also keeps those pesky fruit flies away! One thing I tend to do is keep my canister with a lid in the fridge just so that the scraps don’t spoil so fast. When it’s full, you can dump it accordingly or add to your compost pile.

2. Make a set of Kitchen Canisters. Paint them and easily stencil or free-hand words like Flour, Sugar, Coffee, Tea, Cereal, Granola, Oats, or whatever you want. Or check out this idea…Organized Island shows how to use contact paper to decorate her coffee cans! The plastic lids keep everything airtight so whatever is inside will stay fresh! In order to be more “green” you can buy bags of coffee and simply refill your canisters. That’s what we need to do. I have to keep my eye out for some coupons though. It’s usually more expensive!!

 

Reuse Coffee Cans

Ways to reuse coffee cans in the bathroom/utility room:

1. Get rich in your utility room. Clean out pockets when doing laundry and place items in the canister. Usually my husband has tons of little metal screws, bolts and things from work in his pockets. Occasionally I’ll find money too! When he’s looking for something in particular, he always checks the cans!

2. Spare bathroom tissue holder. Get rid of that old tired wooden toilet paper holder that sits by your toilet!! Dress your canisters up and set them on the toilet tanks for cute decor!

3. Hold mani/pedi supplies. Add your nail files, clippers, remover, cotton pads and polish to a canister and when you’re ready to do your nails everything is all in one place.

4. Store plastic bags. I recently shared 21 ways to reuse plastic grocery bags. If you keep your bags, just cut a hole in the lid and you can pull a plastic bag out anytime you need it. These are great to keep in your bathrooms to quickly replace a small trashcan bag!

5. Store homemade detergent. I make my own homemade laundry detergent, but I currently store mine in a Huggies Wipes container. The next time I make it I’m going to make a double or triple batch and will store it in some of my coffee containers! They’re more airtight than the wipes container I’m using so less chance of drying out.

 

Coffee Cans Recipes

Crafty and creative ways to reuse coffee cans:

1. Use for gifting homemade treats or soup. You can actually bake bread in a metal coffee can. Tie a pretty bow on it and send as a gift to a new neighbor or friend! If a loved one is sick, send them some homemade chicken soup in a canister with a get well gift tag attached!

2. Make a bird feeder. This would be a fun project to do with the kids or make for a parent/grandparent! We live in the country so we love our bird feeders here.

3. Create outdoor lighting. Punch a bunch of tiny holes in several cans and string party lights through them to make a fun strand of luminary lights on your patio or along your sidewalk! I’m thinking of making some for my backyard!! Here’s a great tutorial for outdoor coffee can lanterns! These look like so much fun to make!

4. Turn into flower planters. Poke some small holes in the bottom of a can, fill with a few gravels and dirt and plant some pretty flowers. This is such a fun idea!

5. Decorate and keep craft/art supplies. If you’re already an artsy craftsy person you can easily find ways to doll up a canister and keep your drawing pencils, paints, markers, and other craft items in.

6. Keep yarn in. If you’re working on a knitting project, keep your yarn in the canister and cut a hole in the lid to let your yarn slide through. This will help in keeping your yarn from getting tangled and possibly the kids or cats from tearing up your work!

 

Ways to reuse coffee cans

Kid Friendly Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans:

1. Make a drum. You know how the kiddos love to beat on pots and pans! Give them a few coffee cans with the lids on and let them beat those drums. Throw some rice or beans in them and let them shake them up!

2. Make a Money Bank. Cut a slit in the lid big enough for kids to slide change through and they’ve got their very own money bank. When it fills up, take them to town and let them buy something fun with their money. It’s a great way to teach them about saving money and spending smart at an early age!

3. Coffee Can stilts. This is super cool, creative and looks like loads of fun! PlayCreateExplore has a nice tutorial on how to make coffee can stilts here. I can’t wait to make some of these!

4. Make a Time Capsule. Decorate and fill up a coffee can with all sorts of things like pictures, popular toys of today’s time, etc. Seal the lid nice and tight with glue or tape and hide it somewhere where someone through the years might find it. If you’d rather keep it so that your kids can have it when they’re older…keep it in a closet or somewhere you’ll remember!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips. We’d love it if you left a comment below! Let us know any other tips you might have to add to the collection of ways to reuse coffee cans!

Ways to reuse coffee cans

If you enjoyed these tips, check out some other fan favorite posts below:

21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags – Plastic Recycling

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers – Reuse Your Containers

Homemade Laundry Soap | Only 3 Ingredients (Just 2 Cents per Load!!!)

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

Topic: Reusing Coffee Cans

plastic recycling

21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags – Plastic Recycling

February 18, 2013 by Jenni 1,561 Comments

plastic recycling

Plastic Recycling – Reuse your plastic grocery bags!!

 

No. I’m not a master at plastic recycling or any other kind of recycling but I do try to find ways to make the earth a wee bit greener and cleaner. At our house, we do this by doing some plastic recycling and reusing our plastic grocery bags. When you have drawers and cabinets throwing up plastic bags you kind of tend to find ways to reuse them. Like I said, I’m not an expert recycler but I do try and I think that counts for something!

When I come home from trips to the grocery store, I keep all of my plastic bags. Well, at least the ones that didn’t have a leaky package of meat – yuck! I roll them all up and shove them into a drawer (which is slap full at the moment) and reuse them for many different things. If you find yourself overflowing with plastic bags, you might find these tips useful too. Plus you can maybe start your own journey to recycle with these plastic recycling tips!

21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags – Plastic Recycling

1. Makeshift plastic gloves – easier way to handle raw chicken or other meats. I have a serious issue with touching raw meat, especially chicken. I tend to use a fork to flip meat or move from package to skillet or pot. I use the plastic bags to pick up the meat, flip the bag inside out and pitch in the trash or the “scrap” bowl to be thrown outside. We live in the country so the wild critters appreciate the leftovers!

2. Produce peelings – While in the kitchen I also re use plastic bags to put produce peelings in. I just lay the bag flat on the counter and peel into the bag. Then I can either throw the bag into the trash or you can take to your compost pile outside.

3. Unmatched socks – In my utility room, I keep a plastic bag hanging from a shelf to keep unmatched socks in. When it gets full, I empty the bag and match any and leave the unmatched ones in the bag. Hopefully those will find their mates soon!

4. Quick pickup – Use a plastic bag to pick up trash through the house daily. Just make a quick sweep through the house and pick up trash and throw in the bag to pitch. Works great for toys too. Throw toys in the bag as you’re making a quick walk through the house and dump in the kids’ room! This is a super useful plastic recycling tip! I do this EVERY single night!

5. Plastic bag crafts – Did you know that you can make all sorts of fun things with plastic bags? Check out this book called Bags to Beads: Recycle plastic grocery bags into gorgeous beads. You can also knit plastic bags into AWESOME things!! Here’s a book called Eco-Friendly Knits: Using Recycled Plastic Bags (Twenty to Make). I also found this tutorial on how to make a reusable shopping bag from plastic bags!!

6. Fill flower pots – If you fill up flower pots halfway with plastic bags you’ll use much less dirt. I do recommend also using gravel, rocks, broken up bricks or blocks to partially fill them too. Water would have a harder time escaping if you use only plastic and could cause mold and/or water log your plant roots.

7. Knee pads – Wrap a couple or 3 plastic bags around each knee. It’s perfect padding for those DIY projects and garden work outside.

 

Reuse plastic grocery bags - plastic recycling

8. Wrap your paintbrushes – If you’re in the middle of a paint project, wrap your wet paintbrushes up in a plastic bag to keep them from drying out. I just open the plastic bag, stick the paintbrush into it and then twist the bag tightly around the handle It’ll stay moist for 2-3 days or longer depending on the humidity level outside.

9. Make a doggy bed – Fill a pillowcase with plastic bags to make your pooch a nice pet bed! You can put velcro on the end so that you can empty the bags out when the pillowcase needs a washing.

More plastic recycling tips…

10. PooPoo scooper – Keep plastic bags handy to pick up your pets doo doo from the yard. Stick a plastic bag in your pocket if you’re taking your dog for a walk in the neighborhood to clean up their mess along the way. You can also reuse plastic grocery bags to clean out your kitty litter pans to dump!

11. For dirty diapers – I know this is probably an obvious plastic recycling tip, but I’m sure there are some people who still use those diaper disposable bags from the baby section at the store. Plastic grocery bags and even bread bags work just as well and you don’t have to pay for those!

12. Car sickness and car cleanup – Keep some plastic grocery bags handy in the car. They’re great to keep hanging around your gear shift to throw fast food bags, trash, and bottles in vs. just throwing them in the floor board – like most kids do! Also, you never know when you or one of the kids might unexpectedly get car sick!

13. Packing materials – If you ship stuff out regularly or even once a year, reuse plastic grocery bags as packing materials vs. buying bubble wrap or packing peanuts. It works just as well!

14. Makeshift Umbrella or rain hat – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done this! Use a plastic bag to cover your head if you can’t find your umbrella. If you can find your umbrella, you can use a plastic bag to keep your wet umbrella in the car!

15. Trashcan liners – Here’s one more obvious plastic recycling tip but I just had to include it. Reuse plastic grocery bags to line your small bathroom or office area trash cans. This is a pet peeve of mine. I can not stand to see a bathroom trashcan without some kind of bag in it. Just grosses me out!

16. Winter shoe covers – If you’re going out in the show and don’t want to get your feet wet, cover them with plastic bags. It keeps your feet nice and dry. I usually pull the bags up to just under my knee especially if the snow is very deep. Obviously, if you have rain boots that would work too but for those who don’t…this is a great idea in a pinch!

17. Keep mud and wet grass out – This is one of my favorite plastic recycling tips!! Keep some plastic bags outside on your patio or porch. In the summer months, mud and wet grass tends to get tracked inside if you’re doing gardening or mowing the yard. If you have to run inside for a split second, throw some bags over your shoes to keep from tracking it all in. My husband HATES taking his shoes off and on in the summer when he’s going in and out. This trick works great for him!

18. Yard or Garage Sales – Keep some bags handy to put items people have bought into for them to easily carry. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a yard sale customer pay for something and walk off with an armload of stuff. Much easier for them if they have a bag to carry it all in. PLUS…as the day gets later you can pass bags out to customers and say, “Fill a bag for $3” just to get rid of what’s left!

19. Separate dirty clothes when traveling – If you’re traveling, pack a couple of plastic grocery bags to keep your dirty clothes separated from your clean ones. They’re also great to pack shoes in so you don’t get any dirt from your shoes onto your packed clothes.

20. Use to insulate old window frames – We live in a very old farmhouse. The windows are not the original farmhouse windows BUT they’re still OLD windows. We use plastic bags to fill the gaps to keep cold air from creeping in. Just use a butter knife to shove the plastic bags into the gaps. Works like a charm!!

 

reuse plastic grocery bags - plastic recycling

 

reuse plastic grocery bags - plastic recycling
Hold plastic bag length wise and use a butter knife to shove bag into the gap. You want it tight so no air can squeeze through.

reuse plastic grocery bags - plastic recyclingPush the plastic bags in as far as you can so they’re not so visible. I used a brown plastic bag so any extra wouldn’t be so noticeable. You can barely see it now and when I push my curtain back in place, it’s not visible at all. It’s February now and I can feel cold air coming in where I haven’t added the plastic bags. Where the plastic is, I feel nothing!! My dining room is the draftiest room in the house so I’m happy that this works!

21. Thrifty party balloons????? – Okay ya’ll. This was my husband’s idea. I know better than to ask him for ideas but I did anyway and this was the one he came up with. He also suggested adding cheap LED lights to them to make them fun for night time. I have to give it to him….that’s pretty original. He also mentioned using them as parachutes for  G.I. Joe action figures. What can I say? Boys will be boys and men will be boys – most of the time!

If you have any other ways to reuse plastic grocery bags or other plastic recycling tips, please leave a comment! We’d love to hear them!!! If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my other useful and thrifty household tips! Some reader favorites are:

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers – Reuse Your Containers

Homemade Laundry Soap | Only 3 Ingredients (Just 2 Cents per Load!!!)

Into Green Cleaning? Try the New Heinz Cleaning Vinegar!

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

Topic: Reuse plastic grocery bags – plastic recycling

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers – Reuse Your Containers

February 13, 2013 by Jenni 3,570 Comments

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers

Remove Ink from Plastic Containers

 

Don’t you hate throwing away plastic containers, especially those that you know would work perfectly to keep something else in?! I never did that because most plastic containers would have the ink printed labels on them and to use them for something else just seemed tacky.

I found out that you can use 100% Acetone (nail polish remover) to remove the ink from plastic containers and then you have a pretty white container, voila! Non acetone polish remover will not work nearly as well, so make sure you’re using 100% acetone!  Now you have a clean container that you can do anything with. I’m so glad this worked and I’m happy that I could add this tip to my Thrifty Household Tips section of the blog!

 

Need a printable and reusable menu planner for your fridge? We’re offering one for FREE right now! Just click below and I’ll send it straight to you!!


printable-menu-plan-offer-1

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers:

There are a couple of different ways that you can do this. I’ve done it both ways and either is fine. You can either use an old cleaning rag or paper towels. Just pour 100% acetone onto your rag or paper towel, hold it on the container until the ink starts to disappear and begin wiping working in one direction. Just as you would when removing finger nail polish from your fingernails. Side note: If you’re wearing nail polish, you should wear gloves unless you’re wanting to re-polish!

How to remove ink from plastic containers

The other way that you can do it is to wrap an old dish towel or a couple layers of paper towels around your container, using rubber band to hold it in place. Hold the container over a trashcan or sink and soak the paper towel or dish towel with the 100% acetone. Let it sit for several minutes and then take a peek. The ink should easily rub off. Remove the rubber band and towels and rub off any left over ink.  After you’re done taking the ink off, dispose of your rags accordingly and then use hot soapy water to wash the containers.

I like to use containers for different things. Acetone can break down the plastic so it’s not recommended to use for leftover food. Mostly, I reuse them for household cleaners that I make myself at home. I also keep them in my craft room (perfect for different color glitter, sequins, small stamps, etc. Some stray mini lego’s have found a home in one too. Any size container can be reused to hold something else! It’s better than throwing away the plastic and then later needing to buy a baskets or containers to hold and organize your things.

Keep your bowls and containers, remove the ink or plastic labels and store them somewhere out of the way. Most containers can be stacked into each other to save space so you can keep them neatly out of your way until you’re ready to use one!

What sorts of things do you keep and reuse?? We’d love to hear, leave us a comment!!

Topic: How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers


printable-menu-plan-offer-1

homemade laundry soap

Homemade Laundry Soap | Only 3 Ingredients (Just 2 Cents per Load!!!)

January 25, 2013 by Jenni 1,506 Comments

homemade laundry soap

Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe

I decided awhile back to try my hand at making our own homemade laundry soap. It’s cheaper than buying brand detergent and I know what’s going in it. Plus, it sort of makes me feel like Super Woman knowing that I can make my own!! 😉 I’ve tried a handful of recipes in smaller batches and I found one that I really like. I had always preferred liquid detergent and I’ve tried a homemade liquid detergent recipe BUT it didn’t clean the clothes nearly as well as the powder so this is what I’m sticking with! My husband is a welder and he has some pretty stinky and grimy work clothes and this detergent does a wonderful job! I’ve done the math and if I’ve figured correctly, it costs around $1 or so a batch which would give you 48 regular loads coming to about $0.02 per load.

WARNING: Make sure to keep all ingredients with your other cleaners – locked and away from children. Small kids like to imitate, so if they see you playing in it…they may try to play in it too.

NOTE: This detergent works perfectly in HE washing machines. From what I gather, powder detergents work better in  HE machines than liquid detergent. This is just what I’ve read on several other articles online.

Homemade Laundry Soap Ingredients:

All of these items can be found at your local grocery stores, Walmart, Target, etc.

NOTE: Previously, even when I made this post, I was using Ivory Bar Soap. I’ve found that I like Fels Naptha MUCH better! That’s why the photos below show white shaved bar soap instead of the yellow color of Fels Naptha.

  • 1 bar of Fels Naptha, shaved (I use an old cheese grater)
  • 1 Cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda Laundry Booster
  • 1 Cup of 20 Mule Team Borax (in the laundry aisle)

homemade laundry soap   homemade laundry soap

This is a really simple process. First, just shave the bar soap, I just use an old cheese grater and grate it into a bowl. Then in the same bowl combine the soap with the borax and washing powder. Stir really well until it’s all combined and in a course powder. Try to break up any clumps.

Another thing that I suggest is adding your powder and bar shavings to a food processor to make the powder really super fine. Use 1 to 1 and a 1/2 Tbsp. for a regular load or 2 to 2 and 1/2 for larger or heavily soiled loads. Depending on your water softness, you may need to use more or less. Just find what amount works best for your clothes.

Store your powder detergent in an airtight container with a lid. I personally use an old diaper wipe container to keep mine in. You can also use a coffee can or old baby formula can with the lid.

 

homemade laundry soap

I also add about a 1/2 to a whole cup of vinegar to my wash cycle as a fabric softener, plus it helps to brighten and whiten and take away any stinky smells in your clothes. It also helps to rinse any leftover residue from the powder on your clothes.

My friend, Alea from Premeditated Leftovers, also has some great laundry tips that you can check out. She mentions how to get rid of mildew, reducing night time allergies, and she has some great tried and true ways to organize, sort and put away your laundry!

 

Don’t miss these other fan favorite tips!

Rid your dog of fleas, the natural and thrifty way!

Make your own DIY Homemade Frappes – taste just like McDonald’s!

Save TONS of money on cleaning supplies, just use this ONE to do it all!!

Into Green Cleaning? Try the New Heinz Cleaning Vinegar! #HeinzVinegar #Cbias

September 24, 2012 by Jenni 1,415 Comments

You know, I never really considered the importance of natural cleaning or “green cleaning” in my home until after I had my son, Eli.  I always thought, the stronger the chemical...the better.  A few years ago, I had come to the realization that my mother, grandmother, and her mother knew back then what I would eventually realize as an adult running a household.  They used natural, chemical-free cleaning products, like vinegar for a reason!

 

I remember my mom and grandma filling the kitchen and bathroom sinks with warm water and vinegar.  I never understood the reason, actually, I never even gave it much thought at all…until I was a mom!  Vinegar is a miraculous liquid.  Really, if you think about it, it is.  You can drink it, you can make salad dressing with it, you can pickle and can foods with it.  You can mop the floors with it, you can sanitize with it, it deodorizes stinky places, and eat through hard water deposits, ohh – and it cuts through grease and grime like nobody’s business!  It’s the most versatile thing ever and makes for healthy cleaning!

Because it’s all natural and because it does such a fantastic job at cleaning…it’s the perfect all purpose cleaner to have especially if you have children and pets because it won’t harm them – at all!  I actually put vinegar in my dogs food daily to help protect her from fleas!  It works…promise!

 

Heinz has recently launched a NEW product called Heinz Cleaning Vinegar!  Don’t let the word “cleaning” scare you from using it.  It has no soap or chemicals in it at all!  It’s just vinegar, only less diluted than regular vinegar so that it does a better job at all things related to cleaning.  As a matter of fact, right on the bottle it says, “Safe for cooking, perfect for cleaning”. You can find it at Walmart in the grocery department.

*Look for it in the grocery section, right beside the other vinegar products…in the same aisle as the pickles and salad dressing.

I had never tried it until now and I bought some to give it a whirl.  It does work harder and quicker than regular vinegar and it was only $2.98 for a big ole’ jug!

Some things I personally like to clean with vinegar, and other uses:

  • Mopping wood floors, especially if you have older hardwood floors that need TLC.
  • Stove, countertops, cabinets, fridge, microwave, other appliances (makes the fridge smell fresh and clean)
  • Bathroom; toilets, showers, tubs, sinks (cuts through hard water deposits)
  • Toys and Eli’s Thomas the Tank table where he sits to eat
  • Mirrors (leaves no streaks!!)
  • Sticky stuff – removes anything sticky (stickers, glue, gum)
  • Coffee Pot – We get hard water buildup inside the coffee pot and I run a couple pots of vinegar through to clean it out
  • Give the dog a squirt or 2 from a spray bottle mixed with a little water before going outside to keep fleas from jumping on him/her
  • Vinegar makes a great weed-killer in flower beds/gardens

I tested a few of the tough spots in the kitchen with the new Heinz Cleaning Vinegar.  Here are some before/after photos.

 

I don’t know about you, but I could clean the refrigerator door handle 10 times a day.  That’s what happens I guess when you have a 6 year old who won’t stay outta the fridge!  There’s peanut butter on there to prove it! The Heinz Cleaning Vinegar cleaned it up in a snap, and even some of the stuck on stuff…plus it made it nice and shiny!

 

 

Then I opened the inside of the fridge.  I had noticed a “blob” of stuff in there earlier before.  With it being higher up in the fridge, I think this was something that my older 43 year old man-child did!  He’s good for that kind of stuff!  Whatever it was, was sticky and kinda stuck on.  Without the vinegar, I probably would have taken a butter knife to scrape it off.  Yes, I’m one of “those” who uses butter knives for things other than spreading butter!  With the vinegar though, it came off easily!

 

 

Remember the 43 year old man-child I just spoke of?  That would be my husband.  Said husband is also the cook of our humble abode.  When he cooks, he doesn’t care who or what is in his path!  He’s like a tornado in the kitchen.  The stove photo above, is the after effects of his night of “chili makin”.  Grease splatters from frying ground beef and then tomato sauce splatters from letting the chili boil too hard.  Utter chaos!  We made a pact years ago when we got married, he cooks and I clean!  So, within just 4 minutes of using the Heinz Cleaning Vinegar, the stove was sparkling clean!  It cut through the grease and splatters as if they were just drops of water!

You can see my complete trip to Walmart to pick it up, plus everything else I cleaned using the vinegar in my Google+ Going Green #HeinzVinegar Cleaning album.

Vinegar has always been a major cleaning supply of mine, well, at least since I’ve been a mom.  I’m happy with this new Heinz Cleaning Vinegar and it will remain the main cleaning supply in our household.  Make sure you give it a try and let us know what you think!  What other natural cleaning solutions do you use?  We’d love to hear those too!

I am a member of the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and HEINZ #CBias #SocialFabric.  All opinions are 100% my own, and honest as always.

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

May 23, 2012 by Jenni 1,913 Comments

Photo Credit:  Findavet.us

If you have pets that go outside regularly then more than likely, they have encountered a flea or 2…or 2000!  I have a Rat Terrier dog, named Pepper, who has had her fair share of flea encounters!  If you’ve had trouble with them, then you know how miserable it is for the poor pooches so I’m here to tell you how to get rid of fleas – the natural & thrifty way!

We live in the country where fleas are abundant!!  I usually associate the word abundant with GOOD things, but fleas are – well…the pits!! We’ve tried all of the medications, shampoos, pills, and sprays known to man to help us get rid of fleas, but they kept coming back.  I would even give her her monthly dose of “down the back” medicine a week early and it still didn’t keep them at bay!


I started doing some research and found that there is a little household staple that works in getting rid of fleas and I decided to give it a try. Within a week, she was FLEA FREE…literally!!!  Apple Cider Vinegar! Yep…that’s it!  Now, I will say that since we’ve been doing this (which has been for about 3 months now) I still see a flea or 2 every once in awhile when she’s been outside but they don’t stay on too long.

Fleas can’t stand the smell or taste of the Apple Cider Vinegar, however,  for humans vinegar is a natural remedy for many ailments…some even say for Cancer!

Side note: check out this Health book on the Benefits of Vinegar…it’s crazy what all vinegar can do for our bodies!!

Personally, I use about a teaspoon a day of Apple Cider Vinegar added to Peppers food.  You can also add it to their water, but I tried that and she wouldn’t drink it so I just started putting it in her food daily.  Also, I have a small spray bottle that I add a 50/50 mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar and water to.  I use it to spray her down sometimes before going outside to keep those little buggars from jumping on her.

The Apple Cider Vinegar is very good for many other reasons…check out how I clean with vinegar!  Getting back on track – if your dog has skin that is too dry or too oily, this will help in balancing the PH in their skin!  It’s also great for dogs who suffer from arthritis or even dust mite allergies.  When you give them a bath, put a drop or 2 in their ears and it dries up any excess water which can cause ear infections.

Extra piece of advice.  If your dog has fleas bad enough that you’re finding them on your couches, in your carpet, or in your bed – lightly spray those areas with the mixture I mentioned above. After the sprayed areas dry, vacuum really REALLY well. Take your vacuum away from the house immediately AFTER you’ve vacuumed and dump the filter/canister so the fleas don’t get back out and any eggs don’t hatch.  I recommend doing this EVERYDAY or even a few times a day until you see less and less, then eventually none!

If you’re tired of paying all those high prices for Flea medications and shampoos that just aren’t working…give this a try.  I think you’ll have success like I have!!  Be sure and let me know if this works out for you!

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2

Never miss another post, subscribe now for all the latest projects & simple solutions sent straight to your inbox!

Featured

100% Natural Baby Products Alternatives + 5 Things to Leave OUT of Your Diaper Bag!

100% Natural Baby Products Alternatives + 5 Things to Leave OUT of Your Diaper Bag!

How to Decorate the Rim of a Glass with Sprinkles + $25 Visa/Entenmann’s® Prize Pack Giveaway

How to Decorate the Rim of a Glass with Sprinkles + $25 Visa/Entenmann’s® Prize Pack Giveaway

Tagalongs Peanut Butter S’Mores

Tagalongs Peanut Butter S’Mores

Thin Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches

Thin Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches

Toasted SMores Bars | Simple and Decadent with Layers of Ooey Gooeyness

Toasted SMores Bars | Simple and Decadent with Layers of Ooey Gooeyness



Follow Me!

Visit Sweet Pennies from Heaven's profile on Pinterest.
Jenni @ Sweet PenniesI'm posting away onHometalk.com
My Topics: , Crafts, Bathroom Ideas
 

Sweet Pennies Archives

Double Duty Divas Mom It Forward: Contributor

the chick behind this blog! I'm your ordinary, everyday wife and mom to an incredible pair of stinky guys! I am a self diagnosed coffee addict with a ginormous sweet tooth, preferably baked goods!! My hope is to help you, teach you, and entertain you on your way to a more thrifty and frugal lifestyle! Along the way, you'll find awesome recipes, great tips, and tons of randomness! We have loads of fun, so ya'll come back now, ya hear?!

Quick Links

  • Amazon Deals
  • Coupons
  • Couponing For Beginners
  • Coupon Database
  • Drugstore Deals
  • Grocery Store Deals
  • Earn Extra Money
  • Freebies Deals
  • Stockpiling Deals
  • Thrifty Household Tips
Copyright ©2022, Sweet Pennies from Heaven. All Rights Reserved.
Custom design by Pixel Me Designs