How To Save That Expensive (Or Inexpensive) Purse

Like many women, I LIVE in my purse.  It holds everything I need to survive in the course of a day:  money, ID, insurance cards, tissues band-aids and make-up.  But no matter now expensive or inexpensive the purse is, it always gets scraped up:

My scuffed-up purse

Here's how to fix that scuffed-up purse!

Just run the nearest store that has a LARGE selection of nail polishes and pick one that matches the color of your purse.  Dab some on the damaged spots, and voila!  Your purse will look like new!

My purse looks brand-new!

 

I found a color to match mine at Claire's and you can't even tell that I've repaired this handbag SEVERAL times!  This technique is especially frugal if you have many purses of one color, like basic black, and it works on stains as well as scuff marks (depending on how dark the stain is). 

Give it a shot and tell me how this worked for you!

As always, thanks for reading!

  

Are Organic Products Worth The Money? THESE Are!

Disclosure Statement:  This post wasn't supposed to be a promotional post. Yes, I was given a few products by a friend, but was not asked to blog about them specifically. That decision was my own. Similarly, all opinions here are mine and I do not feel in any way obligated to render favorable judgment on those products.

JJ's Wellness Products which she handed me today

I am not an “organic mom.” Kids who come over my house after school for snack get pretzels, chips, and probably a handful or two of grapes. “Where are all the organic foods?” a child may ask. “Back at YOUR house,” comes my cheerful reply. Still, if I can sooth a cough without over-the-counter drugs or take my make-up off with coconut oil, I will, more because those remedies are cost-efficient, rather than organic. 

My friend, JJ, IS an organic mom who goes out of her way to make sure her family is exposed to only the purest ingredients in all that she buys. The really cool thing about JJ however, is that she doesn't preach this stuff. She quietly lives it by example. Oh, she'll give you advice if you ask, but she isn't OBNOXIOUSLY organic. So when JJ quietly showed up at my car window during school pick-up today, handed me a bag containing a few products, and asked if I'd give her my opinion, not only did I say, “yes,” but I offered to blog about them for two reasons: 1) I was suffering from writer's block 2)  I like JJ and it would give her company some exposure. I only hoped, before I opened the products, that the exposure would be GOOD (oh yes, I have written quite a few honest, but unfavorable reviews, people, friendship notwithstanding!).

Calming Salve - clearly she knows my children

JJ's Wellness offers materials and seminars which, she says, enhance her client's health. The first product I tried was her Calming Salve; it's 100% non-toxic and boasts ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil, Vitamin E, and lavender/tangerine/orange oil. I dipped my finger in and spread some of the salve on my lips. The consistency is of thin wax, meaning you could kiss someone after putting this on and not be worried about leaving a big mess on the recipient's cheek. It smelled like tea and my nose picked up the hints of citrus. Part of me wanted to dissolve it in water since it smelled like herbal tea.  Because the salve is so airy, it goes on nicely over your lip stain. This product is something I WANT to put on, as opposed to other lip balms I HAVE to put on after my lips get chapped and bleed. JJ said her price point for a one ounce sample of this product is $6; I like that because again, with the lightness of this balm, a container will last at least a season or two.

One of JJ's Lotion Bars - Calming (ahhhhh...)

Product Number 2 is JJ's Handcrafted Lotion Bar. She gave me two samples of “Calming”, which are gluten and preservative free and made with, of course, only organic ingredients. The bars came on a lovely silver-looking tray and look more like white chocolate candy than lotion. The feel, as with the salve, is light. I rubbed a bar on my hand and, once more, a gentle tea-like fragrance wafted up my nose. Because the lotion is not greasy, it was easy to resume typing on my keyboard without making my computer slippery. JJ told me she designed these lotion bars for mothers who wanted to moisturize their babies without having to dip their fingers into jars of lotion or squeeze goo into their hands. Unlike other lotions which, after using them, have me frantically searching for the nearest piece of cloth to wipe my hands on, JJ's product makes moisturizing self-contained. I'm keeping one in my kitchen for use after washing dishes and on my bureau to use as part of my morning routine. 

JJ's price point for the lotions is $6 for the set which is good.  I can see one bar of the lotion lasting a month easily.  If you were to nab a pretty soap tray from the Dollar Store and combine it with her package of lotions, it would make a really nice teacher's or coach's gift for the holidays, as would the salve on it's own. These products would also be great, practical stocking stuffers.

For more information on JJ's products, visit jjswellness.com. I'm bookmarking her website because not only are her products great, but honestly, the site contains a lot of cool information from a woman who knows all about wellness but doesn't make you feel stupid or inadequate if you don't.



Again, for FTC Purposes,  Disclosure Statement:  This post wasn't supposed to be a promotional post. Yes, I was given a few products by a friend, but was not asked to blog about them specifically. That decision was my own. Similarly, all opinions here are mine and I do not feel in any way obligated to render favorable judgment on those products.

Thanks for reading!  Happy Thanksgiving!

9 Unexpected, Delightful Uses For Epsom Salt

Everybody is always touting the magic of white vinegar and baking soda. And while I'm a HUGE fan of both because of their versatility...

 I'd like to call your attention to one of my favorite, frugal substances with a MULTITUDE of purposes: Epsom Salt.

Save your pennies by using Epsom salt

 At under $2 for a 16 ounce bag of this stuff, you'll find it does so many things, such as:

Foot Soak – Sure, this is probably the most well-known use for these amazing crystals and as the mother of a gymnast, I've become well-acquainted with this use because sometimes Lily comes home with achy feet. Just add ½ cup of Epsom salt to a large pan of water and soak for 20 minutes or so.

Hair Volumizer – Mix equal parts of Epsom salt with water and work the mixture through your hair. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse. 

Face Cleaner/Exfoliant – Mix ½ teaspoon into your cleansing cream and massage into the skin. Rinse afterward with cold water. It's also great for fighting blemishes.

Splinter Remover – I recently got a splinter on the bottom of my foot. After a 20 minute soak in Epsom salt, the splinter was drawn out. Amazing!

Epsom salt is so cheap, too!

Relieve Itchy Skin or Bug Bites – Dissolve a tablespoon of these crystals in a ½ cup of water either apply as a wet compress or spritz onto itchy skin.

Fertilize Houseplants – Your houseplants will thrive by adding 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts per gallon of water and using it monthly.

Fire Starter – I LOVE this recipe, courtesy of Martha Stewart, for making a fire starter. 

Fabric Softener Crystals – Mix one cup of Epsom salt and 10 drops of essential oil to make fabric softener crystals. Use ¼ cup per load and add it at the beginning of your wash cycle.

Sea Salt Texturizing Hair Spray – Wish I'd known about this one BEFORE I spent $4 on texturizing spray! Mix one cup of hot water, 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt, 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel and ½ a teaspoon of conditioner in a spray bottle. Spray the mix into your hair and scrunch for beachy-waves.

One thing I didn't mention is using Epsom salts as a laxative. Honestly, I've never tried it, so I personally can't recommend it. PLEASE check with your doctor before ingesting anything.

As you can see, Epsom salts are one of those incredibly cheap, multi-purpose substances that people have been using for hundreds of years.  Give the uses above a try and let me know what you think.  Now excuse me. It's time to grab my carton of Epsom salts and cater to my houseplants! 

THANKS FOR READING!  

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Sources for this post included: /www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com; http://wellnessmama.com;  www.care2.com; www.treehugger.com;

8 Fun, Frugal Hanukkah Ideas

I don't get it,” said one of my son's friends. “How come I usually see a Hanukkah menorah at your house along with Christmas lights and Santa decorations on your lawn?” Gather around, my friends, and -

 Welcome To The Wonderful World of Interfaith Families!

You can celebrate Hanukkah without having to take out a second mortgage!

My husband is Jewish; I am not. We are raising our children Unitarian Universalist (or, as my husband calls it, the “I'm okay, you're okay religion” where children are encouraged to develop their own belief systems). We celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas, with Hanukkah being what we call, The Literary Holiday. The kids get books the first night we light the menorah and then they get additional presents for Christmas. 

For us, giving books keeps the cost of the holiday down and reminds the children of the value of education. Still, we're a one-income family and don't have a lot of money, so I've come up with these 

8 ideas for a fun, yet frugal Hanukkah:

• First , resist the urge to succumb to the pressure of having Hanukkah compete with Christmas. According to my husband, this is a minor Jewish holiday, so keep it in perspective. Focus on the love and togetherness instead of how much money is spent. Start traditions like “A Night In Front Of The Menorah” where you read books to each other or listen to music while enjoying each others company.  In other words, give the technology a rest.

•  Make a Family Collage to help kids remember loved ones who have passed. Purchase a large, inexpensive frame (Ikea has some great ones) and print out photos; add stickers, ribbon, etc. Tell stories of your loved ones as you make the collage. Or make a Memory Tree by writing the names of loved ones on card stock, punching a hole through the card, and adding a ribbon. Hang from any tall plant in the house.

• Agree to make a small donation to a worthy cause in lieu of gifts - what a mitzvah!

• Shop clearance, online sales, thrift stores, and at the local dollar store. Also look in Big Lots, Amazing Savings, and even drug stores.  A gift is whatever a person might want, not what retailers tell you to buy.    
  
  
  
  

  

  Hanukkah can be a frugal holiday!

  
  

• Check out websites that offer free Hanukkah gift and decoration printables such as Examiner.com;  DLTK-Kids.com; and    Torahtots.com.

• Make a Coupon Book good for things like “taking out the garbage on an extra cold night,” "doing one load of laundry," or "getting up to feed the cat."  People appreciate someone else doing their less-than-favorite jobs.

• Look for free, local Hanukkah celebrations in your neighborhood.  Even if you're not associated with a temple, these events are often open to the general public.  Check your local newspaper or JCC for details.   
  
  
  
  
• Go to your local library and rent some Hanukkah-related movies.  My favorites include:  Lambchop's Chanukah And Passover Surprise, Chanukah On Planet Matzah Ball, and Eight Crazy Nights.
  
  

May your Hanukkah be filled with happiness and peace! 

10 Ways To Have A Fun, Yet Frugal Hanukkah

I don't get it,” said one of my son's friends. “How come I usually see a menorah at your house along with Christmas lights and Santa decorations on your lawn?” Gather around, my friends, and welcome to the wonderful world of Interfaith Families!

This year, we won't have that overlapping of religious traditions, but we will be celebrating Chanukah at the same time we're celebrating Thanksgiving. In our family, the kids get books the first night of Chanukah (prompting my husband to call it The Literary Holiday) and the rest of their gifts come for Christmas. Since my hubby is Jewish, he's in charge of choosing the tomes, wrapping them, etc. Then, each of the eight nights of The Festival Of Lights, he says the prayers as we screw in a light bulb. Honestly, after all the extended malarkey of the Yule, I welcome the simplicity of Chanukah!


For us, giving books keeps the cost of the holiday down and reminds the children of the value of education.  Still, we're a one-income family and don't have a lot of money, so I've come up with these suggestions to have a fun, yet frugal Chanukah: 

1. First , resist the urge to succumb to the pressure of having Chanukah compete with Christmas. According to my husband, this is a minor Jewish holiday, so keep it in perspective. Focus on the love and togetherness instead of how much money is spent. Start traditions like “A Night In Front Of The Menorah” where you read books to each other or listen to music while enjoying each others company.  In other words, give the technology a rest.
2.  Make a Family Collage to help kids remember loved ones who have passed. Purchase a large, inexpensive frame (Ikea has some great ones) and print out photos; add stickers, ribbon, etc. Tell stories of your loved ones as you make the collage. Or make a Memory Tree by writing the names of loved ones on card stock, punching a hole through the card, and adding a ribbon. Hang from any tall plant in the house.
3. Re-gift what you have. Is there a gift card for a store you don't go to that someone else would
   appreciate? Does one child have toys they've outgrown that they can give to another?
4. Agree to make a small donation to a worthy cause in lieu of gifts - what a mitzvah!
5. Shop clearance, online sales, thrift stores, and at the local dollar store. Also look in Big Lots, Amazing Savings, and even drug stores.  A gift is whatever a person might want, not what retailers tell you to buy.   
   
6. Check out websites that offer free Chanukah gift and decoration printables like:
      - Examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com/article/free-hanukkah-printable-coloring-pages-activities-word-searches)
      - DLTK-Kids.com(http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/jewish/hanukah.htm)
      - Torahtots.com  (http://torahtots.com/holidays/chanuka/chanfng.htm)
7. Make gifts from items found in nature. Sea shells make lovely jewelry, spoon rests, or loose change holders. Family Crafts (http://familycrafts.about.com/od/naturecrafts) shows some great gifts you can make from twigs, seeds, sticks, and more!
   
8. Make a Coupon Book good for things like “taking out the garbage on an extra cold night,” "doing one load of laundry," or "getting up to feed the cat."  People appreciate someone else doing their less-than-favorite jobs.
9. Look for free, local Chanukah celebrations in your neighborhood.  Even if you're not associated with a temple, these events are often open to the general public.  Check your local newspaper or JCC for details.  
10. Go to your local library and rent some Chanukah-related movies.  My favorites include:  Lambchop's Chanukah And Passover Surprise, Chanukah On Planet Matzah Ball, and Eight Crazy Nights.  

May your Chanukah be filled with happiness and peace!

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