There are so many different ways to live a frugal  lifestyle. . . this is a great place to learn new things and encourage one another! Below you can share the link to a post on your own blog, share a little about your frugal life and encourage others. Be sure to come back each Friday and link-up to this great community of frugal followers!

If you get my Friday newsletter, you most likely read Midge’s question about my favorite appetizer to serve at parties (if you don’t get my FREE newsletter be sure and subscribe via the sticky note in the upper right corner). Read below to see my response.  Molly

Dear Midge,

I have to admit, I used to enjoy making appetizers or fancy hors d’oeuvres more before having children. This is ONLY because it seems I had more time and I needed less of them! Now whenever I bring food to a party I find myself thinking quantity over appearance- LOL! One of my favorite appetizers to make (or bring to a party) are chicken wings. Who doesn’t love chicken wings? It’s a fairly inexpensive food to purchase and prepare and they’re yummy (and messy!). It’s true chicken wings aren’t very fancy but they’re almost always a hit! You can choose many different flavors and sauces to coat your wings, what about GARLIC AND PARMESAN? BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS are one of my personal favorites! Maybe you’d like to try baking your wings, HERE’S a yummy recipe. Looking for something a bit different? ROASTED ASIAN CHICKEN WINGS may be your new favorite.

Ok, I know that was a bit of a chicken wing rabbit trail. . . I’m back to thinking about your love for different kinds of dips. Have you ever tried serving them in a bread bowl? Check out THIS RECIPE, you could totally do this and impress the crowd! Remember that punch bowl you bought last year when we were garage sale shopping? A pretty and tasty punch is sure to steal the show! Check out THESE YUMMY PUNCH RECIPES.

Now I’m thinking we need to plan a family get-together so we can make some of these foods! Grab your calendar. . .

Love ya, Molly

To share a link to your post about frugal living, use the Linky below. But first. . .

1. We’d love for you to share your links that include anything  related to DIY projects, saving money, frugal living, made from scratch cooking, cleaning products, sustainable living, gardening, organic, and anything else related to homemaking! You can also  include your struggles while trying to live a frugal lifestyle (like  Midge!)! Show us about how you are thriving while surviving on a smaller budget!

2. Please, no link-ups to giveaways or blog topics in which you are just selling a product.

3. Link directly to your frugal post, not to your home page.

4. Grab our linky graphic (from the sidebar) and put it on your blog or on your linky post.

5. If a linked up post does not meet the above guidelines, it will  be removed.

6. If you link-up, please click on other’s links as well. Our frugal followers have a lot to share!

Living frugally means living, learning, and growing from each other. We can’t wait to see what you are going to share (to see other blogs who have linked up, click the link below)!   Ready, set, link!

CLICK HERE TO LINK-UP!

There are so many different ways to live a frugal  lifestyle. . . this is a great place to learn new things and encourage one another! Below you can share the link to a post on your own blog, share a little about your frugal life and encourage others. Be sure to come back each Friday and link-up to this great community of frugal followers!

If you get my Friday newsletter, you most likely read Midge’s question about her gift giving idea for Mother’s Day (if you don’t get my FREE newsletter be sure and subscribe via the sticky note in the upper right corner). Read below to see my response.  Molly

Dear Midge,

What a great idea to write little love notes to your daughter! Notes of your hopes and dreams for her throughout the years is such a sweet keepsake. . . my mind automatically went to a little book/journal where you can write a small note each year. Maybe something along the lines of “This year you blessed me as a mother by….”

What a great gift to give your child when she is grown and how special to look back on those memories. I think choosing a small book/ journal may hold up better than individual notes but if you do choose to go with individual slips of paper, you could maybe place those in a scrapbook later on. That would be a neat look too!

If you do ever come across a heart shaped rock, you could add it to your handwritten “Mama notes.” This is such a neat idea, I may need to go in search of supplies and do this myself!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Love ya, Molly

To share a link to your post about frugal living, use the Linky below. But first. . .

1. We’d love for you to share your links that include anything  related to DIY projects, saving money, frugal living, made from scratch cooking, cleaning products, sustainable living, gardening, organic, and anything else related to homemaking! You can also  include your struggles while trying to live a frugal lifestyle (like  Midge!)! Show us about how you are thriving while surviving on a smaller budget!

2. Please, no link-ups to giveaways or blog topics in which you are just selling a product.

3. Link directly to your frugal post, not to your home page.

4. Grab our linky graphic (from the sidebar) and put it on your blog or on your linky post.

5. If a linked up post does not meet the above guidelines, it will  be removed.

6. If you link-up, please click on other’s links as well. Our frugal followers have a lot to share!

Living frugally means living, learning, and growing from each other. We can’t wait to see what you are going to share (to see other blogs who have linked up, click the link below)!   Ready, set, link!

CLICK HERE TO LINK-UP!

Take a sneak peek into my Molly Saves! In the Garage and Shed magazine today!

Are you cleaning out the shed, organizing a garage sale, or mowing the lawn this month? Wouldn’t a tall glass of cold lemonade be the perfect thirst-quenching, pick-me-up treat for any of these outdoor activities?

All lemonade recipes have three main ingredients: a simple syrup made with water and granulated sugar or sugar substitute, lemon juice, and water. Preparing a simple syrup several hours before making a cold beverage such as lemonade or tea is a valuable step. It prevents having a layer of gritty, undissolved sugar that settles to the bottom of the pitcher or glass. A simple syrup is made by dissolving the sugar in hot or boiling water, allowing it to cool, and then refrigerating it before adding it to other ingredients.

Extracting the juice from the lemons is the hardest step in making lemonade. Whether you use a juicer or squeeze the lemons yourself, two methods for preparing the lemons will make the job much easier. The first is to roll each lemon on a hard surface while pressing down on the lemon with the palm of your hand for about 30 to 40 seconds before cutting it to squeeze. The other method is to microwave each lemon for about 30 seconds before cutting and squeezing. The squeezed juice should be strained to remove the seeds and most of the pulp before measuring and using it in a recipe.

There are a variety of lemonade recipes, some sweeter or tarter than others. The amount of sugar or sugar substitute and/or lemon juice in all of them can be adjusted to taste. It would be fun to buy a large bag of lemons at a discount and experiment with making a small portion of each recipe to see which one you and your family like best.

One of the easiest lemonade recipes I’ve used calls for 1 cup of sugar, 5 cups of water, and the juice of 6 lemons (approximately 1 cup). To first make the simple syrup, bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a pan, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cup of sugar until it is dissolved. After this mixture has cooled, add it to a glass jar or pitcher with the lemon juice and the remaining 4 cups of water. Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving over ice.

For more specialized lemonade recipes (such as Mint Lemonade and Cranberry Lemonade), CLICK HERE to purchase Molly Saves! In the Garage and Shed as a single issue.

Molly members already have this magazine in your member page! Simply click the “Molly Members” tab above, log in, and search out May 2011.

If you’re not a Molly member, sign up now on our SUBSCRIPTION PAGE! 

There are so many different ways to live a frugal lifestyle. . . this is a great place to learn new things and encourage one another! Below you can share the link to a post on your own blog, share a little about your frugal life and encourage others. Be sure to come back each Friday and link-up to this great community of frugal followers!

If you get my Friday newsletter, you most likely read Midge’s question about my most treasured keepsake(s) (if you don’t get my FREE newsletter be sure and subscribe via the sticky note in the upper right corner). Read below to see my response and discover what special craft I did when each of my children were little.  Molly

Dear Midge,

My treasured keepsakes also involve my children’s hand prints! However, they are plaster imprints or molds. I imprinted my firstborn’s hand/foot print into a round, plaster disc. I included the date and shaded in the imprints to help them stand out a bit more.

With consecutive children I was able to find a kit that allowed me to make a mold of their entire hand. I then poured the plaster mixture into the mold and the result was an exact replica of that tiny hand. I had to be sure to complete this project when each child was less than a month old (and sleeping!) because they had to be completely still in order for the project to be successful.

I really enjoy looking back at those tiny hands, I’ve placed each one next to that particular child’s newborn picture. What sweet memories!

Love ya, Molly

To share a link to your post about frugal living, use the Linky below. But first. . .

1. We’d love for you to share your links that include anything  related to DIY projects, saving money, frugal living, made from scratch cooking, cleaning products, sustainable living, gardening, organic, and anything else related to homemaking! You can also  include your struggles while trying to live a frugal lifestyle (like  Midge!)! Show us about how you are thriving while surviving on a smaller budget!

2. Please, no link-ups to giveaways or blog topics in which you are just selling a product.

3. Link directly to your frugal post, not to your home page.

4. Grab our linky graphic (from the sidebar) and put it on your blog or on your linky post.

5. If a linked up post does not meet the above guidelines, it will  be removed.

6. If you link-up, please click on other’s links as well. Our frugal followers have a lot to share!

Living frugally means living, learning, and growing from each other. We can’t wait to see what you are going to share (to see other blogs who have linked up, click the link below)!   Ready, set, link!

CLICK HERE TO LINK-UP!

I don’t think there’s one among us that enjoys weeds in our gardens or flower beds.  Weeds seem to be the topic of discussion and how to get rid of them.  Mulching is a super simple way to not only keep your plants healthy but cut down on weeding time as well.  Mulching benefits your gardens by:

• inhibiting the grown of weeds from the very beginning.  Not only do weeds look bad, they steal nutrients away from the plants.
• holding moisture in the soil.  The hot sun wont’ dry out your plants as quickly.
• keeping your plants cooler.
• protecting the plant from harsh winter weather.  Fall mulching is important to protect the plant’s roots from extreme frost.
• possibly adding a little nutrition back into the soil (depending on the type of mulch you use).

There are many types of mulches, see which kind works for you and works well in your geographic location.  A little research goes a long way.  Some are free, some are more costly. Some are colorful, others are nature friendly.  Whatever mulch you decide to use, your plants will thank you!

Here’s a list of possible mulching options:

• grass clippings
• wood/bark chips
• decaying leaves
• compost
• peat moss
• straw
• hay
• pebbles, gravel or stone
• landscape fabric
• coffee bean shell

Mulching works for me! What kinds of mulch work for you, do you have a favorite?

Mulching flowerbeds works for me! For more Works For Me tips, visit: WE ARE THAT FAMILY.

Welcome to our very first Frugal Friday Link-Up!

There are so many different ways to live a frugal lifestyle. . . this is a great place to learn new things and encourage one another! Below you can share the link to a post on your own blog, share a little about your frugal life and encourage others. Be sure to come back each Friday and link-up to this great community of frugal followers!

If you get my Friday newsletter, you most likely read Midge’s question about making salsa (if you don’t get my FREE newsletter be sure and subscribe via the sticky note in the upper right corner). Read below to see my response.  Molly

Dear Midge,

My tolerance for spicy foods must have “evolved” over the years as I never used to like anything hot. Mild salsa used to warm me up! Not now. . . I REALLY enjoy spicy foods and a little “kick” in my salsa. Salsa was one of the first foods I figured out how to make! For some reason I thought I always had to buy it in the jar as it looked so complicated. Not so! I really do enjoy the “real deal” now days and it’s SO simple to make. I’ll share my favorite salsa recipe with you but first I have to tell you about the peppers I grew in last year’s garden.

The kids and I bought a few young plants from the greenhouse and planted them in the “salsa” section of my garden. I grew tomatoes, onions, hot peppers and cilantro all near each other. Anyway, as the summer went on my hot peppers grew like crazy! I kept picking them and tossing them into a freezer bag. Before I knew it a gallon size freezer bag was full, then two! I threw quite a few of the peppers in my freezer as I knew I could only use so many of the fresh ones before they went bad. They were tiny peppers but BOY WERE THEY SPICY! It didn’t take me long to decide I should remove some of the seeds before using them to cook with, that tamed them down quite a bit.

Ok, on to my favorite kind of salsa. Years ago, I got my hands on some homemade green salsa. I was convinced that green salsa was my new favorite (maybe because I had spent years eating the red salsa in a jar). The first time I made it, I was shocked at how easy it was. Give it a whirl and see what you think, HERE’S A GREAT RECIPE. I think there’s a few of those peppers left in the freezer, guess what I’m making tonight? Happy cooking!

Love ya, Molly

To share a link to your post about frugal living, use the Linky below. But first. . .

1. We’d love for you to share your links that include anything  related to DIY projects, saving money, frugal living, made from scratch cooking, cleaning products, sustainable living, gardening, organic, and anything else related to homemaking! You can also  include your struggles while trying to live a frugal lifestyle (like  Midge!)! Show us about how you are thriving while surviving on a smaller budget!

2. Please, no link-ups to giveaways or blog topics in which you are just selling a product.

3. Link directly to your frugal post, not to your home page.

4. Grab our linky graphic (from the sidebar) and put it on your blog or on your linky post.

5. If a linked up post does not meet the above guidelines, it will  be removed.

6. If you link-up, please click on other’s links as well. Our frugal followers have a lot to share!

Living frugally means living, learning, and growing from each other. We can’t wait to see what you are going to share! To see other blogs who have linked up, click the link below!!   Ready, set, link!

CLICK HERE TO LINK-UP (and to locate other blogs)!

About a week ago, I shared with you (on FACEBOOK) that the children and I were beginning a new project. A science experiment, really. This has been something I’ve wanted to do for a LONG time but it seemed like too big of a project. Alas, this is the year we begin our journey and learn how to make maple syrup!

Before I begin showing you what we’ve been up to, let me tell you that you don’t need acres and acres of land to make your own syrup. We are beginning this year by tapping just 3 trees. They happen to be large enough that we can get more than one tap per tree. I quickly found out that it’s hard to identify maple trees when there are no leaves. Upon researching syrup making, I also quickly learned there are different kinds of maples that result in different grades/types of syrup. Hmmm, time to call in the reinforcements.

A family friend stopped by and helped us take a look at the maple trees that just so happened to be right in our yard. We ended up having 2 soft maples and 1 hard maple tree (much to my surprise)! I also learned that the hard maple trees produce the best sap with the highest sugar content, they make the yummiest syrup.

This is just after drilling the hole(s), inserting the tap and waiting to see if it would begin “dripping.” This is a HUGE tree, one of our soft maples.

Here comes the sap! I can almost see (and taste) the syrup now…almost.

We went in search of some BIG buckets! When the days warm up and especially when the sun hits the trees, watch the sap flow!

Have you ever tried making your own syrup?

Be sure to come back next Wednesday to see all about the cooking process!

If you get my Friday newsletter, you most likely read Midge’s question about my “standard meal plan” and cooking with kids (if you don’t get my FREE newsletter be sure and subscribe via the sticky note in the upper right corner). Read below to see my answer.  Molly

Dear Midge,

My meal plans look a bit different during the cooler months than in the warmer months. I tend to make more hearty fare (heavier meats and root vegetables) when it’s cold or damp outside. My meals have also changed a bit based on the age of my children (and if they were picky eaters!). This past year I’ve done more “themed” meals on specific days of the week. It’s been quite a busy season, this method has helped me greatly! For example, Monday nights are our soup and fresh bread nights. Tuesdays are “meatless” dinners and Wednesday nights are tacos or Mexican food. Thursday nights are for leftovers and Friday nights are homemade pizza nights. Sometimes I make a plan for weekends, sometimes not. It usually depends if we’ll be home or out running around (errands or certain activities).

Cooking with children always seems to be a messy (and sometimes disorganized) ordeal. I try to keep a sink full of soapy water and have everyone clean up as we go along. I’ve come to the conclusion that messy in the kitchen is good as we’re not only creating yummy meals but meaningful memories as well. After dinner I also try to have everyone pitch in and help with dishes and clean-up. I also have the kids wipe counters and sweep floors, the youngest child assists with the dust pan and puts silverware away. I figure there will be plenty of years (after they’re all grown) that my house will be perfectly clean and organized. Do you think I’ll miss the chaos and fingerprints everywhere? I’m thinking I will. Thinking of things in that perspective helps me when the mess feels overwhelming!

Happy meal planning!

Love ya, Molly

Guest Blog by: Midge

In my recent check-ins on Pinterest and throughout the Internet, I keep running into the term “Bento”. And the term has confounded me. What in the world is a bento and would using a bento really benefit my family?

I found this great link ~ CLICK HERE which helped explain the term bento.  According to this article, ["Bento" originates from the Southern Song Dynasty slang term 便當 (pinyin: biàndāng), meaning "convenient" or "convenience."] It can be traced back through history possibly as early as 1185 AD. So, a Bento would basically be a convenient lunch box.

Personally, bento boxes remind me of a “Lunchable” with a bit more pizzazz! They certainly are a clever way to dress up your child’s or husband’s lunch and hopefully bring a smile to their face. I have seen a baby harp seal themed bento with the seals shaped out of sticky rice, a Perry the Platypus sandwich bento, a pretend kid’s sushi bento, and many more. The point of the bento is to create a clever design with your food or shape the food into animals, characters, or something fun. The sky is the limit when it comes to creating these “convenient” lunch bentos!

Midge’s Definition of “bento”:  A small plastic container with a lid containing a cute assortment of cleverly designed food products with the main purpose of sharing a bit of love and happiness with the recipient while they eat lunch or a snack.

So, I started to think about this concept. Would this help my “picky eater”? How creative could I get with a Bento yet still stick to a frugal budget?

First, I had to chose a bento box but I did not buy a box specifically called bento, or just for use as a bento. I ended up picking a plastic container with a lid for about $6 at the local “mart of many discounts”. I also discovered I already had a great separated tray Tupperware container in my cupboard with a lid so it is now also labeled “For Bento Use”.  Click here for some more TIPS ON CHOOSING THE RIGHT CONTAINER FOR YOUR BENTO BOX

I made three different boxes in order to test my bento box theory.

#1 Brontosaurus Bento:

One Word ~ Awesome! This was the first bento design I tried and it worked! It solved the picky eating issue! I merely used a Brontosaurus sandwich design cutter and cut the PB & J sandwich into two pieces. I did not get too creative with the decorations but I merely tried to do something cute then added loads of grapes and carrots. The end result  was that my picky eater ate everything except the four pieces of cucumber I tried to put in for the look of grass ~ lol. (This sweet child also liked the fact that Momma made the dinosaurs talk!)

#2 Bento with a Heart (see 1st picture)

Well, this bento was definitely more of a miss than a hit. I ended up eating it for a snack myself because the wee one just wasn’t too hungry during our recent road trip. But, on the upside, I am now thinking I need to pack my own bento for road trips! It was healthy, delicious, and frugal. It deterred my need to stop off for a quick snack at the gas station. Bonus!

#3 Chocolate Covered Bento

Oh yes, of course, I had to try making one for my husband. I made him a snack bento which actually ended up being a before dinner chocolate appetizer by the time it was completed. I dipped strawberries in melted chocolate and then also did the same with crisp bacon. Mmm . . . yup, say it again . . . chocolate covered bacon. This is a “must try” kind of food item for those of you who may be questioning my taste buds’ logic. Super Yum!

I suppose in retrospect, any time you can pack your own snacks and lunch you will end up saving yourself money. And my wee one definitely loved even the small things I did to make the bento more personable. You don’t need to invest a lot of money but a little bit of time and creativity is required in order to dream up your next bento box theme. And for me, just seeing my little one smile at the small Brontosaurus heads peeking out of the bento was enough motivation to try again!!!

And next time, I may just add a Mento to my bento . . . seriously, couldn’t resist adding this sentence in.  lol

Oh and look… my picky eater’s lunch is almost ALL GONE! Score one for the Bento!

 What is your favorite way to serve lunch to your kids or husband at home or in a lunch box? Have you tried a themed lunch bento? Weigh in with your opinion ~ Is a bento a great frugal choice?

It seems spring is a time of planning . . . plans to garden, plans of fix-it projects to be completed and plans involving a family vacation. Vacation can sometimes be an intimidating word to families. You might hear the word vacation and think “expensive”. You might hear the word vacation and know you can never get a big chunk of time off from work. Whatever you think about family vacations, they don’t have to be long or expensive. Doing a little investigating now can help your vacation planning go much more smoothly.

Have you ever considered camping? A series of short, weekend camping trips spread throughout the summer can offer a vacation-like feel and you might get around to some places within your state you haven’t seen yet.

The NATIONAL PARK SERVICE has a great site with a lot of information. You can search out parks BY STATE and even get your children involved in the National Park Service’s free, on-line Junior Ranger program (WEBRANGERS). RESERVE AMERICA is another great site to get information on camping (and other great tidbits!).

So while you’re planning things to accomplish this spring/summer, why not add in a camping trip or two? Do some of the preparation now and you can enjoy some fun (and frugal) family time. Did you know I wrote an entire E-Book devoted to camping? Check it out HERE if you’re interested in more frugal tips and hints to help make your future camping trips fun and successful!