Tiny Tip

In place of scissors in my sock beading kit, I use nail clippers.  They fit in the tiny spaces and they work for the job.  I originally placed them in there thinking I'd buy a pair of those foldable scissors that fold down compact.  But after a while I realized how very handy the nail clippers were.

I use them in a sewing kit when I have to sew a button on something.

I have a pair in my hat knitting bag.

I used to have a pair on my key chain.  I'm not sure what happened to it though.

Yesterday I used nail clippers to trim the embroidery floss after sewing eyes back on a couple bears on my tree skirt and trim the thread after patching a stuffed animal for Peach.  Then I folded them and put them in my pocket without worry of stabbing myself.

They're handy like that. 

What little tip do you have that's old news for you but new to me?

How to make your own homemade cereal on the cheap!

Disclaimer:  This is not a serious post.  I am certain that Fiber One cereal would whole-heartedly disagree with the way Danny describes how cereal is made in this slideshow.  Any resemblance to any worms living or dead is coincidental.  No royalties are being collected from this presentation.  Please make any charitable donations and comments directly to There's a Hole in the Earth blog. 

In an effort to not get diabetes and to ward off obesity, I've taken up eating Fiber One cereal on the days I'm not eating oatmeal with nothing tasty added to it (aka oatmeal ala bland). 

Danny has found much amusement in this. 

He made a spoof about making your own Fiber cereal.  You can witness this in its original form at his blog There's a Hole in the Earth by taking this link directly to his post.  Or just watch it here.  I have his permission to post it.

Click on MENU in the lower left corner and then View Fullscreen.

Homemade cereal

This post is linked at WFMW.

How to make each link open in a new window

This was a potential WFMW post that has been on my mind for some time.  Nothing exciting, just useful, and delivered on a Saturday.  no extra charge.  :)

Why is it important to make each link open in a new window?  Well, without your reader having to right-click which doesn't always work (like if they have it disabled so you don't steal images or something), but you don't want them to leave your blog when following a link, this comes in handy.

I like to right-click and open a new window if I'm not done reading something but don't want to forget that I want to read that new thing too.

On my blog, I have been manually entering in target="_blank" for each link in every post under the Edit HTML tab to make my links open a new window for you.  But sometimes I forget and then go back and add it in.  Attempting to explain this to you, not in person, just threw me for a spin.

But someone much html smarter and gads more creative than me figured it out in such a way to make it simple.  And you don't have to do it for every link like I had been doing.  Enter the html code ONCE in the right place, and you're all set!

Okay, maybe it is a little exciting.

Here's her link.  I did it on my blog so you needn't worry about accidentally leaving me.  I get worried too about you leaving me.  Now we'll be together.  always.  And I didn't even have to take any online classes to find this out!

Homemade Gatorade

Just before our vacation, I read someone else's Works for Me Wednesday post about making your own Gatorade.  I actually read a couple different recipes.  But this particular one they got from Children's Memorial Hospital.  I figured, since I have the ingredients for that recipe AND it comes from a reputable source, I'd try it. 

Since you all know that we've been flying through baby wipes and toilet paper the last two weeks, this recipe has certainly come in handy. 

We have tried Cherry, Grape, Pink Lemonade, and Tropical Punch Kool-aid flavors to make homemade Gatorade.  They all taste like "The real thing."  I don't care for the Pink Lemonade one as much as the others.  But then again, I never liked the lemon-lime Gatorade either.

The weather has also been quite warm and this has been keeping the little people hydrated sans high fructose corn syrup.

Try it yourself!  It works for us!  It's Frugal!  Toss it in the Tip Jar!

To make a 2-quart pitcher for about 25 cents:


1 packet of Kool-aid (unsweetened)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 quarts of water


Mix.  Chill.  Serve.

Toothpaste, a handy thing to own.

This blob needs no introduction.

I do it myself!

I loathe handing over the tube of toothpaste to my children.  But eventually they will learn how to use it properly.  And by properly I mean not squeeze it from the middle and accidently (or was it an accident) get it on the wall.  "Properly" also means not filling it with water and intentionally squirting it all over the bathroom.  So, as of now, they are grounded from kid toothpaste.  The only kid toothpaste they will come into possession of is from the dentist. 

Now I buy them AIM toothpaste for 80¢ at the commissary.  It's too minty for them to want to eat.  And if they're going to paste everything in the bathroom, it's not going to cost me a fortune.  Did you know, toothpaste can help clean up scuffs and scrapes?  Of course, I won't tell my kids that I'm going to use the wasted toothpaste to buff and shine the bathroom. I DO make them clean up the majority of it themselves.

Toothpaste is also fabulous for shining up the gold and diamonds on my wedding ring.  That's especially handy since I can't get it off my finger to save my life.  Toothpaste works for me! 

By the way, the pictures are from the master bathroom in our old house.  I've been meaning to post it for a while. 

No Gremlins were harmed in the making of this post.

What's better than a scooter and a Lego Star Wars hat?

The candy bar poster!

An easy birthday present for children from 5-95 is a candy bar poster.  For just a few dollars, a sharpie, and a hot glue gun you can create memories for your birthday boy that he'll never forget.  And who doesn't love candy?

Tomorrow is Bun's fifth birthday.  It was originally going to be a big friend birthday, but I kinda got pregnant and sidetracked.  And he doesn't remember, so shhh.  We're going bowling.  And yes, we don't normally have big friend birthdays at five.  We have them at 4, 8, 12, and 16.  But I was hospitalized with twins on his fourth birthday.  Poor kid.

In case this picture doesn't get bigger when you click on it, here's what the poster says:

Dear Bun,

Just be-TWIX you and me, I hope you have GOBS of fun on your birthday!  I just know you'll SKOR big with WATCHAMACALIT?  oh yeah, BOWLING!  The REISEN I wanted to tell you to ignore the NERDS, is because you are worth more than 100 GRAND!  Just some friendly advice from a couple of LIFESAVERS. 

Love Always,         

Mommy and Baby Ruth 

Cheap, easy, and memorable works for me!

I am no longer under your control.

So, um, we let our kids watch movies and pre-recorded approved television shows via Netflix.  But there are a few, that when we have particularly inconsolable littles, we pull out.  Baby Einstein is up there among the "soothing movies" choices.  And for these occasions, we turn on the DVD player and put the DVD in. 

And then... instant show.      not.

We watch FBI warnings and what-not.

We pick from the next screen to watch it in English.

And then we'll suffer through watch the reviews and testimonials from the other happy parents that have purchased and viewed the DVDs.

We watch the previews that cannot be fast-forwarded.

The screaming continues as the show is still not ready to watch and work its magic.

 

Then we pick something like "theater" or "wide-screen" or whatever crap annoying thing that is keeping me from the actual show.

Then we finally get to the screen that says PLAY or PLAY ALL or REPEAT PLAY.

And . . . breathe (I know you're worked up to at this point) . . . we watch the show.

I have three simple words for you to memorize that will change all this.  It will get you directly to the "PLAY" screen or menu screen.

Ready?

Stop.  Stop.  Play.

 

You got that?  Next time you pop in a DVD and it starts up, press STOP.  STOP (again).  and then PLAY.

You can show your thanks by becoming my Follower.  No donations are necessary. 

TTFN.

This post is linked to WFMW and Tuesday's Tip Jar.




Psst.  Baby Galileo is our favorite one.  It's soothing and educational and has classical music throughout.  Well, they're all pretty much filled with classical music and have some level of education.  But we ♥ Baby Galileo.

*I am an Amazon Associate and will receive a 4% referral reward when you buy through this link.

I have a brand-new FAVORITE summer treat.

The ingredients?  Frozen blueberries and milk.  Did you get that?  Go ahead, jot it down.  I got the idea from this post from That Girl at Pensievity.  And I thought hmm, that could be good.  I have to give her MUCHO THANKS and a big shout out!  Stop by her blog and stay a little while.  You'll fall in love with her and her family. 

picture from here

So the perfect summertime treat?  Breakfast, snacktime, lunchtime, after-the-children-have-gone-to-bed-and-you're-watching-a-movie-time:  frozen blueberries and milk.  I'm hooked.  I had three mugs of frozen blueberries doused in milk yesterday.  No extra sugar.  Nothing else.  Just blueberries and milk.  I'd take a picture but that would keep me from eating it.  I'm too impatient.  I'm trying to grow a baby here!

I'd love it if you shared YOUR favorite go-to food with me.  It may be "same ole same ole" to you.  But it might be new to me. 

This post is linked to Tuesday's Tips, Tuesday's Tip Jar, and WFMW.

Knock-knock Who's there? Banana. Banana who?

Bananas are a wonderful fruit filled with potassium.  The best way to absorb it is with a glass of milk. 

Milk and bananas are my 3 year old's favorite foods.  But if you have a banana addiction like my little Gremlin does, you may find it difficult to wait for the bananas to ripen. 

Putting your green bananas in a paper bag helps them ripen faster and hide them from the banana-addict in your home.  This works for me!

Did you also know that you can freeze bananas?  When the bananas go on sale for 25¢ a pound buy as many as your freezer will hold. 

They are great for milkshakes, banana bread, and banana muffins.

If you're using them in a recipe for bread or muffins, you can even freeze them in the peel.  The peel will turn black, but the banana inside will be fine.  Warm it in the microwave for 30 seconds and cut or open the end and squeeze it into a bowl like a tube of toothpaste.

If you're using frozen bananas for milkshakes, it's easiest if you break apart the bananas in small sections about 1 to 1 1/2 inches.  Freeze in a freezer container or ziploc bag.  Label, date, and freeze.  When it's milkshake time you can have a richer milkshake without adding ice by using your frozen bananas.

Also bananas fix your problem.  If you're um... stopped up, they unstop you.  And if you are a bit too um... free-flowin', they help reverse that too.  So, pick a bunch of bananas today to take home!

If you're new here at and don't want to miss out, please subscribe to my RSS feed!

If you have some advice on how to deal with a bully, please click on this post to leave your comment.

If you want an awesome whole wheat banana bread recipe, come back Friday. 






There are no affiliate links in this post. But if any banana companies would like me to sing their praises again in exchange for say a year supply of bananas, I'd be more than happy to do so.

Zapping Germs

When I was cleaning the kitchen after preparing the easiest lunch ever (thick slices of cucumber and veggie dip and yogurt) I rinsed out the washcloth and tossed it in the microwave for two minutes on high like I always do because it works for me!

After washing dishes, or counters, or table and chairs and high chairs, or messy kid faces, what-have-you,

rinse your washcloth well, 

wring it out,

and toss it in the microwave for 2 minutes on high.

That will kill 99.9999% of bacteria on it. 

Afterwards you can hang it to dry on a towel rack or the handle of your oven door and reuse it.

Or hang it on the side of the laundry hamper, bag, basket to dry and throw in with your load of towels.  If you used it to clean up raw meat juices, definitely do not reuse until you launder it.

Please don't throw your wet towels in with other laundry or towels waiting to be washed.  They will mildew.  You may not see it, but you can smell it.  And even after they're washed, the mildew is still there.  It's so gross to go to someone's house, dry your hands on a seemingly clean dry towel to discover then your hands smell like sour mildew.






This post is linked at Tuesday's Tips, Tuesday's Tip Jar, and http://www.wearethatfamily.com/.

Raise your hand if you've found a nicer way to get the dishes done.

If I use rubber gloves when I wash the dishes, I get a lot more done.  Why?  Because I can handle the super hot water and the prolonged time with my hands in the dishpan.

I'm a bit fanatical about getting the dishes really clean.  So lukewarm, bubbleless dish water with an orange hue is not going to work for me. 

I need fresh piping hot soapy water to get my dishes clean.  And if I'm going to commit myself to running a dishpan of hot soapy water, I'm probably going to wash all the dishes. 

Bonus: my hands have less hang-nails and rough cuticles this way.

This simple tip Works for me so I'm tossing it into the Tip Jar at Blog Mommas and sharing it also at Couponomic Stimulus Package's Tuesday's Tips.

Helping kids learn how to spell their names

When I started homeschooling my oldest when he was just under three, I decided that I wanted him to learn to spell his name.  I had already been singing his name to the tune of Bingo since about birth.  But I wanted him to recognize what it looked like as well.

So we started to label everything. 

Sock & undies bin?  Check.

Outdoor bin that holds sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, swim goggles, winter hat and mittens?  Perfect.  Then the kids wouldn't fight over their belongings. 

We sing songs spelling their names.  This is pretty easy with five letter names.  We get pretty creative with how many syllables the song BINGO can have.  One of our kids has nine letters, 2 have seven letters, 2 have six letters, and one has five.  Then we started singing their middle names too.  But we don't put labels with middle names around the house.

There was a Mama loved a boy and Tater was his name-oh!
T-A-T-E-R
T-A-T-E-R
T-A-T-E-R
and Tater was his name-oh!

This can work with numerous letters, not just five, with the right timing.

Or you can find a song that works better.

The Winnie the Pooh song works well for seven letter names.  Natalie. 
Fur Elise works for nine letter names.  Elizabeth.  Gabrielle.  Nathaniel.

London Bridge:

N-A-T-A-L-I-E Natalie, Natalie.
N-A-T-A-L-I-E Nat-UH-lee-ee.

M-E-L-I-S-S-A Melissa, Melissa.
M-E-L-I-S-S-A Muh-LIS-uh-uh.

Frere Jacques for eight letters or four.
A-N-N-A-L-I-S-A
That's your name.  That's your name.
Annalisa, Annalisa,
Sing your name.  Sing your name.

R-U-B-Y!   R-U-B-Y!
That's your name.  That's your name.
Ruby-dooby-dooby Ruby-dooby-dooby
Sing your name.  Sing your name.

Photo from PotteryBarnKids.com

Wood letters painted on their wall.  Or the foam ones so you don't have to paint.  Either way, they work for me!






This post is linked at Tuesday's Tip Jar, Tuesday's Tips,  WFMW, and Thursday's Tips.

No-frills FAST meat!

Last night as I was getting ready to brown close to 6 lbs. of ground beef and 4 cups of chopped onion I realized my stoneware bar pan would overflow with grease when it started cooking down.  So I took out a little more than a quarter of it and put it in my round stoneware pan.  The plan was to alternate the two pans between the racks in the oven.

But then I had a lightbulb moment.  No not that kind of lightbulb moment.  An AHA! moment.

I put that round stoneware pan (I think it's called the Deep Dish Baker) in the microwave with three coffee filters on top to prevent splattered microwave carnage, and nuked it about 5 minutes. 

When both pans were done, I just kept thinking, why have I NEVER done this before?!  Holy moly that saves time! Hurray I have my Works-For-Me-Wednesday post!

A long time ago, when baby number 4 was in utero, I posted about how I cook large quantities of meat at a time.   Feel free to read it.

I'm going to hit on the main points here and if you have questions, just leave a comment.

Why cook a lot at once?  Isn't that a pain?

1.  Usually, you can buy meat at a better rate per pound when you buy large packages. 

2.  After cooking up a 3-10 lbs. or so at a time and dividing into approximately 3/4 lb. baggies, you will have your meat ready when you need it.  This makes dinnertime so much easier having skipped the step of browning the meat (and we add onion) and washing the skillet, spoon, and collander.  And your hair doesn't smell like hamburger grease that night.

3.  Cooking a lot at once means sticking it all in a pan with edges and in the oven or now I know, the microwave-- if it's microwave safe of course. 

4.  It's hardly any extra work than cooking a single pound.

What kind of pans work for this?

Bar pans (cookie sheet with edges), 9 x 13 pans, loaf pans, muffin pans, mini-loaf pan, circle, ovan, square casserole dishes. 

1.  Glass are more likely to burn.

2.  Metal and non-stick pans work great in the oven.

3.  Stoneware is my personal favorite because it helps it season the stoneware as it cooks and it's also microwave safe. 

Use a pan with edges.  You do not want the grease that comes from cooking down meat to flow off the edges and all over your oven.  or microwave.  So, use a pan with edges. 

My totally organized, artsy, and  frugal coupon-queen sister, Leslie, told me about a woman she knows who couldn't stand the smell of meat cooking when she was pregnant.  Sound familiar?  This woman was able to benefit from the loving efforts of her hubby.  He went to his mom's house, cooked it all up, divided it, and brought it home to freeze.  How freaking awesome is that?!

What kind of meats are you planning on cooking in the microwave?

Ground beef and ground sausage (Jimmy Dean) come to mind.  I'm still thinking I'll use the oven for mass cooking chicken.  And I am not a fan of microwaved bacon.  So I'll stick to cooking that in the oven chopped up in the bar pan and saving the grease of course. 




This post is also linked at Tuesday Tips and Tuesday's Tip Jar.

If you clicked "No" on my poll, read this.

I am a wee-bit embarrassed to admit this, but here goes.  I only just recently, like within the last month, discovered how to read blogs in a reader.  I have gmail for my blogger sign-in and so I use the Google Reader.  I was already following a couple dozen blogs that I would check at least once a day-- some of them more than once.

Using Google Reader has saved me probably more than an hour every day by not having to check the actual blog.  It lets me know when someone has updated.  I can choose to read their post right then, or if it sounds interesting or like something I want to comment on, but can't right then, I check the star.  When I log in later I can choose the starred items to read as well as any new updates. 

I can click right through and go to the blog to comment.  Or I can read it, take note of the nifty advice, and go on to the next.  Or laugh at someone's misfortune (ahem, FluffyChicky.) 

You can even view someone's stats on how many subscribers they have.  Be careful though not to be consumed with jealousy.

You know how when you read someone's blog at the top it says, "Get [blog name] delivered to your inbox?"  They're serious.  You really can get updates delivered right to your inbox.  How much cleaner would my home be if I had discovered this four years ago?  Or was it even invented then?  Doesn't matter.  I have it now.  And I'm loving it.  This definitely works for me. 

Thanks to Google Reader, and I'm sure there are others just as great, I have the ability to keep up-to-date on the current 72 blogs I'm following.  Though, I do forget to check Rachel, Marcy, and Amy's blogs sometimes because they're private and don't appear in my reader.  Any thoughts about those?  Remember, I'm s-l-o-w sometimes.  Only recently have I learned that scrunchies are not cool.

This post is linked at WFMW and Tuesday Tips and Tuesday's Tip Jar.

The PERFECT sunblock for double strollers.

The shades on the carseat do not block the sun during the middle of the day.  The twins shut their eyes tights and toss their heads back and forth trying to hide from the brightly glaring California sun. 

A receiving blanket draped over the edge of the shade doesn't stay put.  When the wind picks up, as it usually does here, the blanket flies right off and the shade is likely to collapse. 

Clip on umbrella courtesy Google images

I have even tried this contraption where the umbrella clamps on to the side of the stroller.  It broke barely into the second use.

I thought maybe a large receiving blanket would be big enough to cover the two carseats.  It wasn't.

Then a stroke of genius came to me while folding laundry one afternoon (as I like to do about once a month when I've exhausted every single piece of clothing we own including the maternity pants that haven't made their way out of my closet and my children have been seen wearing Christmas sweaters in February! in California!).

Crib-size sheets.  We have two toddler beds, a playpen, and a crib currently in use in our home.  These crib-size sheets don't work perfectly for the playpen requiring some extra tucking around the edges.   But since we have a need for them, I pick them up whenever I see them on sale or at a thrift store.  I've even made a few for the playpen.  But the crib-size sheets, well, they are the PERFECT size for the double stroller.  Crib-size sheets work for me to block out the sun and protect my babies!

The first time I took it out I was a little nervous.  I knew in my head what their thoughts were going to be:

There's that crazy lady with all the little kids hanging on her stroller.  What on earth?  A sheet?  How tacky.  How sad to be her. 

Boy was I wrong!  Instead:

Is that a crib sheet?  You should market that!  You could be rich.  Wow, that sure beats buying those expensive covers!  They probably don't even make a cover for a double stroller.  You're one smart Mama!

*Nikki returns home patting herself on the back and indulging in a little afternoon blog-reading.  Not quite famous and still semi-crunchy, she continues to live her life, undiscovered.*






This post is linked at Tuesday Tips, Tuesday's Tip Jar, and WFMW.

Cutting costs with paper towels

Is it just me or does my left pinky look freaky weird in this picture?

You can still save money when you're using paper towels.  (Albeit, you can save a lot by switching to cloth napkins and cleaning cloths).  Sometimes though, like when it's OAMC day and you're preparing RAW CHICKEN, paper towels come in handy. 

Make your own select-a-size paper towels.  So easy.  Just cut your paper towels in half with a non-serrated knife.  I mean it.  Use a NON-serrated knife.  Or you'll have a fluffy mess on your hands. 

Come back Friday for my Frugal Friday post on how to cut your baby wipe cost in half by making your own wipes with paper towels.  the GOOD paper towels.  Bounty.  Does it really need saying?



This post is linked at Tuesday Tips and WFMW.

No more unloading dirty dishes.

Are these dishes clean?  Is this something you say or hear in your home in regards to the load of dishes in the dishwasher?  I know there are magnets like this:

This is a great magnet for your dishwasher if you don't have a gremlin who loves to collect magnets, run around the house and accidentally leave them hiding in obscure places like under your pillow (consequently also leaving crumbs in your bed).

But...


If your dishwasher has a plastic door panel ----> put it on your fridge.
If your dishwasher is plastic and your fridge is too far away ----> just look for the clean or dirty dish clues. 

clues

All the dishes are shiny and the door is clean. 

If you're a bit fanatical, like myself, and rinse all your dishes, tell yourself and your family you are doing them a favor by checking the door. 

It is so gross to find out you've just put away all the dishes and they were dirty.  I know how to look for the clues.  But I'm not sure if Danny does.  or the kids-- not that any of them are prone to just start putting away clean dishes.  They are likely to reach in and grab a spoon for a cup of applesauce or yogurt though.  Danny brought to my attention that this sounds like he's not prone to putting away dishes-- which is absolutely not the case.  I meant that I'm not sure he knows about the clues of the dirty door.  And I was referring to the kids not putting away dishes. 

So what do I do?  I purposely drip orange juice, cranberry juice, chocolate milk, what have you, on the inside of the dishwasher door while I'm loading dishes.  So, despite the rinsed dishes, you will find a speckled door if they're dirty.  And that works for me! 

Go to Kristin's site to see what works for other people.  This post is also linked with Tuesday's Tips at Couponic Stimulus Package. 






Here are a handful of my previous WFMW posts that still get hits (according to Stat Counter):

Reusable Nursing Pads

Cake Mix Cookies

Migraine Relief

3 Easy Baking Tips

Preschool Flip Binder

Teaching Kids in the Car

The Mommy Store- a Disciplining Lifesaver!

I'll have my people call your people and we'll do lunch. WFMW

This week's theme for Works-For-Me-Wednesday is "Blogger tips."

My tip is:  Scheduling your posts. 

How to do it (in Blogger):

When you are writing your new post you will see at the bottom a link that says "Post Options."  Click on it and you will see some options like:

• Reader comments
• Edit HTML Settings
• Backlinks
• Compose Settings
• Post date and time

 Post date and time is what we're looking for.  Click on "Scheduled at" underneath the Post date and time and you can schedule when that post will show.  You can make it say any time you want!  If time doesn't matter to you, leave it at 12:01 AM and just change the date.  But if you want it to appear as if you just spur of the moment wrote it, you could schedule it for say 8:07 PM.

So say you're feeling particularly chatty one day and you want to show all the pictures you took over the weekend and all the thoughts you had breaking them down into separate posts but don't want to overwhelm your 33 followers with THREE POSTS IN ONE DAY but you just HAVE TO POST THEM ALL ie.  Pookie's birthday party, Twins update pics, Rude things people said to me at the store, etc., you can schedule them.  This makes your readers happy to see posts coming in at a regular rate; versus going a week and then BAM! four posts at once. 

Some posts I really want responses to.  I want to know your advice on things, like when I needed a blog name for Tater. Sometimes I want to know that you think I'm funny.  Those posts I do not post on the weekends.  People don't seem to comment much on the weekends.  And some posts, like journal entries, I don't really care if people comment; so those are more likely to appear on the weekends on my blog.  But I feel like you are thinking, Oh my that's boring.  Moving along now.  when you don't comment.  Comment dangit.  If you took the time to read it, couldn't you possibly bring yourself to leave a smiley face or SOMETHING?  ahem.  Anyways, I digress. 

Sometimes I get inspiration for like three WFMW posts at the same time.  This is rare.  But when it happens, I grab my calendar and see what the dates are for the next three Wednesdays and enter them in individually in scheduled posts or drafts if incomplete.  But usually, it's Tuesday night and I go, oh yeah, Works for me Wednesday is tomorrow........... umm......hmm....tumbleweed.... what should I post about....there must be ...errr... umm...diapers.... what can I offer? ......  do I know stuff? ...... I must know something......  On those days, I am SO GLAD when I already have a prescheduled post.

And sometimes when I'm feeling particularly frugal and wise, I break up those WFMW posts into WFMW categories and Frugal Friday categories.  Then I can post one on Wednesday and another scheduled for Friday.  But if I don't start typing it up when it comes to me, it may as well never have happened.  I have severe post-partum twin mommy brain and it empties frequently.  I've got to at least get the thought started on a saved draft in Blogger.

So, if you're still with me, if you schedule your posts you feel ahead of the game.  You can provide a regular update and increase your subscribers.  When your last post shows your baby's birth picture and now she's on her way to Kindergarten, your followers start to drop off.  Scheduling works for me!  Visit Kristen at her site to view more WFMW entries from hundreds of other smart folk. 

Belly Buttons- more useful than you thought. WFMW

Look!

This is SuperHam.  He has belly button powers.

I bet you didn't know that happy belly buttons are powerful enough to turn Gremlins into SuperHams.  I am so relieved to find that out before it's too late.  You see, next week I'll be potty-training SuperHam.  I would not be so calm and able to blog if I thought I'd be training a gremlin.  No ma'am.  That's why Belly Buttons work for me!

You clicked on that picture to make it bigger.  Didn't you?  Gross huh?  What is it with boys and belly button lint?  I always thought it was an urban legend until I got myself a houseful of boys.  Personally I think the banana yogurt milkshake he had as a bedtime snack the night before helped in the accruing of button lint.  That's the danger of running around half-nekkid.

Here's another fun pic. 

Send my child outside to play nudied in the wintertime?  No way!  He's got his sister's shoes on.  Seriously, what kind of mother do you think I am?

Please visit Kristen at We are THAT Family.  This post is linked directly to her WFMW post this week.  Go there to read lots more ideas from smart ladies around the world.  And that one dad. 

WFMW-- Stuffed Potatoes

Yesterday, my good friend Denay blogged about the greatness of potatoes with some handy tips in her Kitchen Tips Tuesday edition. This reminded me of a yummy recipe I got from my Aunt Freda. I can't remember now if my aunt fixes up her potatoes exactly this way, but this is how we do it:

5 lb. bag of potatoes scrubbed and rinsed

8 oz. sour cream

1/2 lb. cooked bacon crumbled

1/2 cup chopped green onions

8 oz. cheddar cheese or Colby jack cheese grated

Bake the potatoes in a 350 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes. Let cool.

Cut potatoes down the middle.

Being careful not to tear the skins, scrape the insides of baked potatoes into a bowl. Scrape within 1/8-inch from skin. Set the skins aside on a bar pan (cookie sheet with edges).

In same bowl that the potato insides are in, dump the rest of the ingredients. Stir until well combined.

Spoon potato mixture bake into the skins.

Put the two halves of each potato back together and place on the bar pan.

Freeze until firm and place in individual baggies and altogether in a gallon-size Ziploc.

To serve: take stuffed potato out of freezer and nuke in microwave about 1 1/2 minutes.

This is a great recipe to add to your Once A Month Cooking plan. But sometimes, it's better if your family isn't home when you make them, and possibly doesn't know about these for a while after they're made. They seem to disappear fast.

P.S. The main appeal to this recipe, other than the yumminess factor, is that you can FREEZE them ahead of time. :)