Monday, December 31, 2012

Natural Face Bleach

Natural Face Bleach

This bleach is good for repeated use and gentle enough for the delicate skin on your face.
Equipment:
  • Measuring cup
  • Mixing bowl
  • Mixing spoon
  • Measuring spoons
  • Pint jar with cover
Ingredients:
  • Colloidal oatmeal
  • Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution)
  • Lemon juice
  • Tincture of benzoin
Yield: About 11/2 cups
Measure 1/4 cup of colloidal oatmeal into a mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup of 3 percent solution hydrogen peroxide and stir well; be sure the peroxide is fresh and at full strength. Add 1/2 cup of lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon of tincture of benzoin to the mixture. Stir to blend the ingredients thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a pint jar and cover it tightly.
Apply the bleach weekly; let it dry before rinsing.



Oily-skin Mask

Oily-skin Mask

Get a deep cleansing with this fresh, natural mask recipe.
Equipment:
  • Paring knife
  • Blender
  • Measuring spoons
Ingredients:
  • Cucumber
  • Yogurt
Yield: Enough for one application
Wash a cucumber thoroughly. If the cucumber skin is waxed, remove it; if possible, however, leave the cucumber unpeeled. Slice the cucumber into the container of a blender; add 1 tablespoon of plain unsweetened yogurt and blend to a liquid. Apply the mask to your face, being careful not to get it in your eyes or on your hair. Let it dry for about 20 minutes, and then rinse it off thoroughly with warm water. Splash your face with cool water and blot it dry.


Dry-skin Mask

Dry-skin Mask

Enjoy the scent of this natural mask while moisturizing your skin.
Equipment:
  • Paring knife
  • Blender
  • Measuring spoons
Ingredients:
  • Banana
  • Honey
Yield: Enough for one application
Wash a banana thoroughly. Slice the banana and half of its peel into the container of a blender; add 1 tablespoon of honey and blend to a liquid. Apply the mask to your face, being careful not to get it in your eyes or on your hair. Let it dry for about 20 minutes, and then rinse it off thoroughly with warm water. Splash your face with cool water and blot it dry.


 

Normal-skin Mask

Normal-skin Mask

Use this mask for normal or combination skin types.
Equipment:
  • Small bowl
  • Wire whisk
  • Measuring spoons
Ingredients:
  • Egg
  • Honey
  • Brewers' yeast or cider vinegar
Yield: Enough for one application
Beat an egg in a small bowl, using a wire whisk to blend yolk and white thoroughly. Add 1 teaspoon of honey and 1/4 teaspoon of brewers' yeast -- or, if you don't have brewers' yeast, 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar. Whisk again to blend. Apply the mask to your face, being careful not to get it in your eyes or on your hair. Let it dry for about 20 minutes, and then rinse it off thoroughly with warm water. Splash your face with cool water and blot it dry.




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Frugal Philly Presents : My Resolutions - By Frugal Sally

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Frugal Philly Presents : Macaroni Kid

Frugal Philly Presents


My Resolutions
By: Sally Pyle (aka Frugal Sally)



top image

Friday, December 28, 2012

monthly guide to the best bargains.

Here is a monthly guide to the best bargains.


January
Food:
Chocolate (Christmas clearance)
Soda
Diet foods
Frozen finger foods

Non-food:
Linens
Electronics
Computers
Small appliances
Air conditioners
Carpeting and flooring
Furniture
Winter clothes
Toys (on clearance after the holidays)
Bicycles
Christmas gift wrap
Christmas decorations
Athletic shoes
Exercise equipment
Motorcycles
Houses
Boats

February
Food:
Chocolate (post Valentine’s Day)
Steak (post Valentine’s Day)
Seafood (post Valentine’s Day)
Oatmeal

Non-food:
Big screen TVs (before the Super Bowl)
Boats


MarchFood:
Frozen foods

Non-food:
Boats

AprilFood:
Candy (Easter clearance)
Eggs
Ham
Cheese
Mustard
Ready-made dough
Dinner rolls
Frozen pies
Cake mix
Cake frosting
Pie crusts

Non-Food:
Electronics
Vacuums
Cookware
Tires and other car care supplies

May
Food:
Hotdogs
Ground beef
Hamburger and hot dog buns
Condiments (ketchup, mustard, barbeque sauce, relish)
Salad dressing
Chips
Ice cream
Popsicles
Frozen pies
Soda
Bottled water

Non-food:
Party supplies (disposable plates, cups, napkins and utensils)
Grill supplies (charcoal, lighter fluid)
Vacuums
Cookware

June
Food:
Ice cream
Popsicles
Soda
Bottled water
Iced tea mix and bags

Non-food:
Tools (around Father’s Day)

July
Food:
Hot dogs
Ground beef
Hamburger and hot dog buns
Condiments (ketchup, mustard, barbeque sauce, relish)
Salad dressing
Chips
Ice cream
Popsicles
Soda
Bottled water
Iced tea mix and bags

Non-food:
Grill supplies (charcoal, lighter fluid)
Party supplies (disposable plates, cups, napkins and utensils)
Furniture

August
Food:
Cereal
Breakfast bars
Peanut butter
Jelly
Lunch meat
American cheese
Yogurt
Chips
Snack cakes
Cookies
Ice cream
Soda
Bottled water
Iced tea mix and bags
Drink boxes

Non-food:
Pool supplies
Outdoor toys
Outdoor furniture
Bathing suits
Summer clothes
Summer shoes

September
Food:
Cereal
Breakfast bars
Peanut butter
Jelly
Lunch meat
American cheese
Yogurt
Chips
Snack cakes
Cookies
Hot dogs
Ground beef
Hamburger and hot dog buns
Condiments (ketchup, mustard, barbeque sauce, relish)
Salad dressing
Canned fruits and vegetables
Soups
Broth
Frozen pies
Soda
Drink boxes

Non-food:
Grill supplies (charcoal, lighter fluid)
Party supplies (disposable plates, cups, napkins and utensils)
School supplies
Large appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers)
Cars
Lawn mowers
Grills

October
Food:
Canned fruits and vegetables
Dried fruits (raisins, apricots, cranberries)
Soups
Broth

Non-food:
Large appliances
Lawn mowers
Grills
Tires and other car care supplies

November
Food:
Turkey
Butter
Cheese
Baking supplies (flour, sugar, yeast chocolate chips, baker’s chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, cooking oil)
Pie crusts
Ready-made dough
Dinner rolls
Frozen pies
Cake mix
Cake frosting
Pie filling
Spices
Nuts
Dried fruits (raisins, apricots, cranberries)
Oatmeal
Candy (Halloween clearance)
Marshmallows
Soup
Broth

Non-food:
Aluminum foil
Plastic wrap
Disposable baking pans
Cookware
Electronics
Tools
Carpeting and flooring

December
Food:
Ham
Butter
Cheese
Baking supplies (flour, sugar, yeast chocolate chips, baker’s chocolate, sweetened condensed
milk, cooking oil)
Pie crusts
Ready-made dough
Dinner rolls
Frozen pies
Cake mix
Cake frosting
Pie filling
Refrigerated cookie dough
Spices
Nuts
Dried fruits (raisins, apricots, cranberries)
Oatmeal
Soda

Non-food:
Disposable baking pans
Aluminum foil
Plastic wrap
Electronics
Computers
Carpeting and flooring
Tools
Toys
Winter clothes
Cars
Motorcycles


Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/shopping-consumer-products/542928-best-time-buy-things-month-furniture.html#ixzz2GOeByUhu

Waving Lotion

Waving Lotion

Add some spring to your curls with this gentle lotion.
Equipment:
  • Measuring cup
  • Mixing bowl
  • Measuring spoons
  • Mixing spoon
  • Pint jar with cover
Ingredients:
  • Rose water
  • Tragacanth gum
  • Glycerin
Note: Buy the ingredients at a pharmacy.
Yield: 1 pint
Measure 2 cups of rose water into a mixing bowl and add 2 tablespoons of tragacanth gum and 2 tablespoons of glycerin. Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Pour the lotion into a pint jar and cover it tightly.
Use the lotion as you would a commercial preparation.


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Scented Setting Cream

Scented Setting Cream

Make this cream to help your hair hold a style longer.
Equipment:
  • Measuring cup
  • Mixing bowl
  • Mixing spoon
  • Measuring spoons
  • Small jar with cover
Ingredients:
  • Powdered karaya gum (Buy karaya gum at a pharmacy.)
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Perfume or cologne
  • Borax
Yield: Enough for one application
Measure 1/2 cup of powdered karaya gum into a mixing bowl. Add just enough rubbing alcohol to give the mixture the consistency of thick, heavy syrup; mix well until the mixture is free of lumps. Add 1 or 2 drops of perfume or cologne and mix thoroughly.
To mix enough lotion for future use, double the ingredients and add 2 teaspoons of borax as a preservative. Spoon the mixture into a small jar and cover it tightly.
Use the cream as you would a commercial preparation.


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Liquid Hair Bleach

Liquid Hair Bleach

This gentle liquid hair bleach is easy to mix and use.
Equipment:
  • Measuring cup
  • Small saucepan
  • Eyedropper
  • Mixing spoon
  • Bowl
Ingredients:
  • Vegetable oil
  • Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution)
  • Ammonia
Yield: Enough for one application
Measure 1/4 cup of vegetable oil into a small saucepan, and heat it gently over low heat until it's warm. Remove from the heat. Add 1/4 cup of 3 percent solution hydrogen peroxide and 20 drops of ammonia; stir to blend. Pour the bleach into a bowl.
To use the bleach, swab the mixture into the hair with absorbent cotton. Leave it on the hair for about 20 minutes; rinse thoroughly and shampoo.


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Hair Dressing

Hair Dressing

To keep unruly hair in place, try this lightly scented conditioning dressing.
Equipment:
  • Double boiler
  • Measuring spoons
  • Small saucepan
  • Measuring cup
  • Mixing spoon
  • Small jar with cover
Ingredients:
  • Beeswax
  • Castor oil
  • Anhydrous lanolin
  • Vegetable oil
  • Oil of bergamot
Note: Buy beeswax, lanolin, and oil of bergamot at a pharmacy.
Yield: About 3/4 cup
In the top of a double boiler, slowly melt 1/2 ounce of beeswax, about 1 tablespoon. In a small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup of castor oil, 1/4 cup of anhydrous lanolin, and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil; stir to blend the oils. Add the melted beeswax to the oils and stir well; then add 2 teaspoons of oil of bergamot and stir again. Pour the mixture into a clean jar and let cool.
To use the dressing, place a small dab on one palm and rub your palms together to spread it; run your hands through your hair to distribute the dressing evenly. Use only a little; more than a dab will make your hair greasy


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10 Ways to be Happy

Dandruff Treatment

Dandruff Treatment

Troubled by dandruff? This dandruff treatment should work wonders.
Equipment:
  • Measuring cup
  • Small saucepan
  • Measuring spoons
  • Mixing spoon
  • Small jar with cover
Ingredients:
  • Mineral oil
  • Anhydrous lanolin (Buy lanolin at a pharmacy.)
  • Tincture of iodine
Yield: About 6 ounces
Measure 1/2 cup of mineral oil into a small saucepan and warm it over a low flame. Empty a 1-ounce tube of anhydrous lanolin into the warm oil and add 2 teaspoons tincture of iodine; stir to blend thoroughly and remove from the heat. Pour the warm mixture into a small jar and cover it tightly.
Massage the lotion into the scalp daily.



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Cream Shampoo

Cream Shampoo

For a natural, gentle, effective shampoo, mix this simple cream formula.
Equipment:
  • Measuring cup
  • Saucepan
  • Mixing spoons
  • Quart jar with cover
Ingredients:
  • Water
  • Soap flakes
  • Glycerin
  • Borax
  • Perfume
Yield: About 1 quart
Measure 2 cups of water into a saucepan and heat it. Add 1 cup of soap flakes to the hot water and stir to dissolve. Remove the pan from the heat and add 11/2 cups of glycerin and 3/4 cup of borax; if desired, add a few drops of your favorite perfume. Stir the mixture thoroughly. Pour it into a quart jar and cover it; let it cool completely before using.



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Protein Shampoo

Protein Shampoo

Mix this high-protein shampoo fresh whenever you need it -- it does the job at least as well as store-boughts.
Equipment:
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer or egg beater
  • Measuring cup
  • Measuring spoons
  • Mixing spoon
Ingredients:
  • Egg white
  • Water
  • Gelatin
  • Ammonia
  • Cologne
  • Rubbing alcohol
Yield: Enough for one shampoo
In a small mixing bowl, beat the white of an egg until frothy with an electric mixer or egg beater. Soften 1 packet of gelatin in 1/4 cup of warm water and add the mixture to the egg white; mix well. Add 3 tablespoons of ammonia and mix thoroughly. Add a few drops of your favorite cologne to mask the ammonia. Finally, add 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol and mix thoroughly.
Shampoo the mixture thoroughly into your hair; only one application is necessary. Rinse your hair thoroughly and apply a standard conditioning rinse as directed.

Bronze Henna Shampoo

Bronze Henna Shampoo

Henna, a centuries-old favorite, won't damage your hair the way dye or bleach can. To give a bronze or reddish cast to dark hair, try this gentle henna shampoo.
Equipment:
  • Measuring cup
  • Saucepan
  • Measuring spoons
  • Mixing spoon
  • Pint container with cap
  • Funnel
  • Coffee filter
  • Sharp knife
Ingredients:
  • Water
  • Powdered henna
  • Borax
  • Liquid laundry bluing
  • Castile soap
Yield: About 1/2 pint
Pour 1 cup of water into a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Remove it from the heat and add 1 teaspoon of powdered henna, 1/4 teaspoon of borax, and 1/4 teaspoon of liquid laundry bluing. Stir the mixture and strain it into a pint container through a funnel lined with a clean coffee filter. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan.
Cut a small, hand-size cake of castile soap into quarters with a sharp knife. Cut one quarter of the soap into shavings, and add the shavings to the mixture. Heat the mixture over a low flame until the soap dissolves, and strain it again into the pint container. Cover it tightly.

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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Best Bathroom Cleaner Ever! - Fabulesslyfrugal.com

 The best DIY Shower/Tub cleaner, White Vinegar & Original blue Dawn 
~
12 oz. Vinegar (heated) 
10 oz. Blue Dawn
Heat the vinegar for 2 minutes and add to a spray bottle. Add the Blue Dawn and shake gently to combine. Use to clean your sinks, tubs and showers. 

tub shower cleaner

A Simple Solution For Better Smelling, More Absorbent Towels | One Good Thing by Jillee

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A Simple Solution For Better Smelling, More Absorbent Towels | One Good Thing by Jillee



help for smelly towels

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Candy Cane Playdough


Earth to Glass Canning

Candy Cane Playdough 
3 1/2-4 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon cream of tarter (
found with the spices on the baking isle)
2 1/2 tablespoons oil
2 cups of water
food coloring (1-2oz. bottle for red batch)
1-2oz. peppermint extract
directions

1. Heat water to boiling in a medium saucepan.
2. Measure a generous 3 1/2 cups flour into a medium-large mixing bowl (one that holds at least 8 cups.) Reserve extra to add if the dough is too sticky. Mix in the salt and cream of tartar.
3. Once the water is boiling, whisk in the oil and food coloring. Remove from heat and add peppermint extract. Remember that it will smell strong now, but will be diluted greatly once mixed with the flour.
4. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the water mixture in. Stir with a spoon until flour is incorporated, then turn it onto the counter or a cutting board and knead until smooth.
5. Layer each color in mason jar, pressing down gently (You don’t want to smash them together too much, so they are easy to separate and play with.)
6. Print tags below and attach with twine, yarn, or ribbon.

Homemade Gift Wrap - Kids Craft

Homemade Gift Wrap

Leave it to the kids to turn household materials into cheery holiday gift wrap. Let them doodle on shopping bags, paper towels, old phone books, and calendars, and top with a festive bow.


Photo: Victoria Pearson

Martha Stewart.com
 

Reindeer Cookies - Kids Crafts

Reindeer Cookies 

Kids love to help make these easy cookies. 


http://www.speckledfreckle.com.au/blog/?cat=19



The Speckled Freckle Party Place
 

CD Ornaments, Kids Crafts

Here is an idea that comes from Sassy Sites.  If you have some old scratched up CD's you can make these really cute ornaments.  You can decorate with glitter or other odds and ends, or just put the picture in the middle and add a ribbon hanger.  The kids will think they are rock stars!

Kids Holiday Wreath - Kids Crafts

Kids Holiday Wreath
http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/2008/12/make-it-kids-holiday-wreath.html

Thursday, December 13, 2012

DIY Monogram Mugs - Design Mom

DIY Monogram Mugs

November 22, 2010

DIY monogram mug
Friends! I’m so pleased to share our first gift DIY of the season. Maude made these fantastic monogrammed mugs over the weekend. Don’t they look terrific? The idea came when we saw these fun initial cups at Anthropologie and remembered our kitchen was lacking in hot cocoa mugs. We decided to create a whole set.
It’s a very doable project. Inexpensive. Eco-friendly. And family-friendly too — these mugs are dishwasher safe. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

1) We started with a trip to Goodwill, where we collected 8 plain white mugs. Enough for the entire family. There was even a little one without a handle that we thought would be perfect for baby food for June. Mugs were 50 cents each and we had dozens and dozens to choose from.
DIY monogram mug
2) Then we gathered supplies. Scissors, pen, tape, graphite transfer paper, Black Pebeo Porcelaine Pen in Fine Point ($4 at Michaels, also available here) and a print out with the family’s initials.
For the font, I had something very specific in mind. I love the look of this Sketch Block Font and had it mentally filed away as the sort of thing a kid could replicate well — because it’s inherently imperfect. For this project, it worked like a charm! Since we were adding our own sketchiness, I started with a similar, but non-sketchy Rockwell font. Look for any slab-serif font (with names like Egyptian or Glypha) and they should work equally well.

3) Cut out an initial and a piece of transfer paper. Tape the initial and the transfer paper (dark side down) to the mug.
DIY monogram mugDIY monogram mug
4) Trace the initial. Any pen or pencil will work and you’ll want to experiment with different pressures to see what’s best. You’ll just need a light outline. If you want, you can make your own transfer paper by rubbing a graphite pencil all over a sheet of plain paper.
DIY monogram mugDIY monogram mugDIY monogram mug
5) Take your Porcelaine pen and trace over the lines of the initial. Get the edges nice and thick then fill in with diagonal sketchy strokes. A few notes:
- The sketchy strokes look best if they’re all one direction.
- The pen didn’t produce very smooth lines for us — which was fine because of the sketchy nature of the lettering. But later, I tried a red Porcelaine pen and produced very smooth strokes. So, I’m thinking my black pen was an old, dried out one. Who knows? This was my first experience with Porcelaine, so I’m not sure.
- It helped to have a blank paper handy where we could test the paint pen.
- We definitely got better at it as we practiced. So plan on it. Until it’s baked, the paint will scrub right off in soap and water. We redid mugs at least 4 times.
DIY monogram mugDIY monogram mug
6) Once the lettering is done, let the mugs sit for 24 hours. Then bake them at 300 degrees for 35 minutes. It’s fine to bake them with graphite residue. The graphite will wipe right off even after they’re done baking.
DIY monogram mugDIY monogram mugDIY monogram mug
7) And that’s it! Once they’re baked, they’re done. We pulled them from the oven, wiped them up and they were ready to go. For fun, we filled cellophane bags with hot cocoa mix and marshmallows and put them in the mugs.
DIY monogram mug hot cocoa packagingDIY monogram mug
The project turned out so well that it has my mind spinning with other possibilities. Maybe we’ll make a monogrammed mug for their teachers with a Starbucks card inside. Or a matching 2-cup set for Grandma and Grandpa. Fun for Christmas, but equally fun for other events too.
What do you think? Is this a project your kids would enjoy? Are the mugs cool enough that you would buy one in the store if you saw it for sale?
P.S. — You can find links to gifts we’ve made in past years here.

Thanks Design MOM

We Wash You a Merry Christmas! - How Does She?



I love giving this gift {just ask my neighbors} ;) Heck, I’d love to receive this! :) This no calorie gift is practical and fun to receive. Attach tag “We wash you a Merry Christmas, We Wash you a Merry Christmas, We Wash you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!” Use any type of soap {hand soap, dish washing soap, bar soap, WHATEVER!}

Gift Idea - "A Little Extra Dough"

Give a roll of cookie dough with tag “We could all use a little extra DOUGH this time of Year” . This one makes me smile. Hopefully it will your neighbors too!



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Personalized Tote Bag

Martha Stewart Living, May 2006

Instead of carrying pictures in your wallet, why not put them on your tote bag? Choose an image of a pet, child, or just about anything for a personalized fashion accessory. To make this bag, we printed a black-and-white photograph on transfer paper (available at crafts stores) and cut out the photo with a utility knife. Then we transferred the image to a canvas tote bag with an iron, following the manufacturer's instructions

0506_msl_picture_2.jpg
Martha Stewart Living

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Reindeer Hot Cocoa Cones Recipe

Reindeer Hot Cocoa Cones Recipe
 
What you'll need:

12 inch icing bags
goggly eyes
red pom pom
brown pipe-clearners
hot cocoa mix
marshmallows
mini chocolate chips
glue

Start with your piping bag and add 1/2 or 1 cup cocoa mix.

Top with a handful (or two depending on how big your hands are0
of marshmallows.

Sprinkle a few mini chocolate chips
by Cynthia Costa

Christmas Lights Necklace, Bracelet or Earrings - Gift Idea

Christmas Lights Necklace of Bracelet



Posted originally(?) by Upcycling