Repurposing Soup Cans

Don't throw away your soup cans (or other tin cans)! There are many different creative ways you can repurpose and upcycle them, instead of tossing it in the trashcan.

Go to http://savedbylovecreations.com/2012/04/60-recycled-can-craft-projects.html to learn more ways to repurpose tin cans, including soda cans.

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Organizing your Budgets: Idea 1

There are many ways to organize your monthly budgets. Here is ONE great way to keep organized and know how much your are spending each month on your budgets.

Using HARD CASH is one of the best ways to budget and allows for better money management. 

The Budget Envelopes

1. Name each envelope with your budget topics:
• Week 1 Groceries, Week 2 Groceries, Week 3, etc.
• OR if you only grocery shop once a month, just make one envelope for groceries.
• Entertainment
• Includes movie theaters, renting movies, bowling, taxi ride to the bars, concert, dance hall/club cover, golf tournament, lake day-pass, etc.
• Gas
• Eating out/Restaurant
• Includes fast food, donuts, snacks at the convenient store, etc. 
• Clothes & Misc. Shopping
• Everything from home decor, to socks, to headphones, to books, to ink pens, to jewelry, to gifts and birthday cards, etc etc. 
• Drinks (if you spend a lot here and need to budget yourself)
• It could be coffee, alcohol, gas station drinks, soft drinks at restaurants, etc.
• Utilities
• The main expenses are gas, electricity and water. 
• Auto Maintenance
• Includes oil changes, car repair, car payments, etc.
• And whatever else you need a monthly budget for...
2. Insert the amount of money you are budgeting each month into the envelopes. Example below:
• Groceries: $200 (for 2)
• Entertainment: $30 (each)
• Gas: $250
• Drinks: $20
3. To make customizable DIY envelopes that fit in your wallet, go to: http://kelleighratzlaff.com/featured/free-envelope-template-and-a-tutorial/
• OR you can keep your envelopes in your home and only take out money when you are about to go grocery shopping, to happy hour with some friends, about to fill up your car, etc. 
4. If you need the money in your wallet, but don't want to make envelopes to take up any room or make your wallet bulky, do this instead:
• Separate the money you want in your wallet with sticky notes, with the budget topic stuck to the bills. For example, you have $35 in your wallet. $12 goes for dinner tonight after work, $2 for a cup of coffee, $6 for buying your friend a drink on his 25th birthday, $10 for putting gas in your car to get home, and $5 extra just in case something comes up. Label each sticky note in front of each budget for the day to make sure you don't spend any of your other budget money for the wrong thing.

FYI: Doing this requires you to plan ahead your day (for the sticky notes option), your week, and your month (for putting the envelopes in your wallet). You have to know how much you are willing and able to spend each month on specific things before you can separate money into the envelopes. 

First and foremost, you must budget how much money you spend on the necessities (utilities/bills, auto and other monthly payments, and groceries). Then once you know how much of your salary is used up on these necessities, you can budget how much you are able to spend on entertainment and leisure topics (non-necessities). 

Also check out Dave Ramsey's tips on the envelope system: http://www.daveramsey.com/article/dave-ramseys-envelope-system/lifeandmoney_budgeting/

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Upcycling Wine Bottles, Corks, and Bottle Caps

These repurposing ideas may give you more of a reason 

to drink heart-healthy wine! Remember to drink responsibly 

and that these corks should be saved over time to create such crafts...

not to be made all at once. (That would be a lot of wine!)

WINE CORKS

WINE BOTTLES

BOTTLE CAPS

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13 Miraculous Uses for Cucumbers

Cucumbers are not just for eating...      

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day. One cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and  Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a  cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that  quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror  fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a  cucumber slice along the mirror, it will  eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give  off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or  two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten,  firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B Vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in  equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for  quick meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and  you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a  quick and durable shine that not only looks  great but also repels  water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

WHO KNEW?

Learn hundreds of ways to SAVE MONEY on a tight budget: www.themoneysavinggarden.com

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Just Keep Swimming

We have our sixth broken bone in six weeks...

This little guy is so cute.

I am counting each one of my fractured vertebrae separately to sound dramatic, but poor Linus just broke his arm last week as he dove off the changing table when the babysitter turned her head. I think he felt inspired by all of our Olympics watching. It was very sad. And the babysitter felt very bad.

But now he remains as happy as he can be, hobbling around on his splinted arm. What I cannot believe, is that he is going to be ONE YEAR OLD in just 2 weeks! That is crazy.

It has been quite an interesting 2 months, but my back is healing well, and the summer is coming to a close. Here are some pictures for all to enjoy!

Eating the one block Calvin would let him play with. Calvin has gotten a little more generous with his sharing over the last month or so.

He began pulling up a few weeks ago! He is very proud of himself.

I love love his blue eyes.

At the Fiesta Days parade. Calvin requested a green cat face painted on him.

Our pumpkin patch! Tyler is afraid it is going to take over our yard. I can't wait for all of our pumpkins in October!

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