DIY Cupcake topper

1. You will need: tape, adhesive of your choice, sucker stick, ribbon, and any paper shapes that you want to use. I used a scalloped punch, a smaller circle punch, and a number “1″ punch.
2. Using adhesive, I stuck the “1″ onto the small circle and then I stuck those onto the scalloped circle.
3. With a small piece of tape I taped the sucker stick to the back of the scalloped circle.
4. Then I tied a ribbon on the bottom. Easy Peasy. Now go find a cupcake.
 

DIY Recycled Crayon

1. You will need: letter molds, old crayons with the wrappers peeled off, a baking sheet.
2. Break the crayons into small pieces and fit them into the letter mold. Use more crayons than you think, they melt down.
3. With the molds on the baking sheet, put them into a 350º preheated oven for 15 minutes. After the crayons are melted take them out of the oven and let them sit for a minute. Put the molds into the freezer for 15-30 minutes so the crayon letters will harden faster.
4. When the letters are hardened, pop them out carefully. This isn’t as easy as it looks (sometimes the letters break). If a letter breaks you can just remelt that letter in the mold in the oven, refreeze, and try popping it out again.
5. There you go.
6. Bag them up, tie with a cute ribbon, and add an upcycled notebook.


This is a great and inexpensive gift to kids and teacher as well. Enjoy it. Xoxo

DIY Party Face Painting

Do you want to include some face painting in you little one birthday party? Well you dont have to be a professional or hire one.  Use a rubber stamp and some non-toxic ink to stamp a picture onto the face or arm of party guests. Then it’s just like paint-by-numbers–paint in the picture using face paints.

DIY Paper Pompom

http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/tissue-paper-pom-poms-how-to?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/kids-party-decorations#slide_9

You can go to Martha Stewart website for the tutorial. Its extremely easy to put together and I always make them for my own gatherings. Xoxo

Classic Cocoa Mix

Layer the ingredients for homemade cocoa in a jar, add a ribbon and a tag, and you have a simple but stylish gift. This mix will fill a 1-quart jar (12 servings), but if your containers are different sizes, just keep the ratio of ingredients constant. On the back of the tag, write: "Mix contents in a large bowl. For each serving, place 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Store remaining mix in airtight container."

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup powdered milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

Preparation

• Layer sugar, cocoa powder, powdered milk, salt, chocolate chips, and marshmallows.

Makes 1 quart or 12 serving hot cocoa.

Homemade Bath Salt

What You Need

2 cups Epsom salts
1 cup baking soda
Large bowl
Lavender-scented oil
2-x-4-inch scrap of white cotton fabric
Food coloring
Cookie sheet
Apothecary jar
Ribbon
Baby spoon

How to Make It

1. In a large bowl mix 2 cups Epsom salts and 1 cup baking soda. Dab a few drops of lavender-scented oil onto a 2-x-4-inch scrap of white cotton fabric and stir through mixture. Repeat with drops of food coloring. Continue mixing scented oil and food coloring until desired scent and color is achieved. If desired, make two colors of salts to layer in a purchased apothecary jar (available in thrift shops).
2. Spread salts mixture onto a cookie sheet for several hours, stirring several times. Wash and dry the jar. Spoon salts mixture into jar.
3. Tie a baby spoon onto jar with ribbon.
4. To use, dissolve several teaspoons of salts in bathwater.

Cookie mix in a jar

Cookie mix in a jar is a great gift for any occasion!!!

Here are the recipe I use for all of my cookie mix.

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups semisweet chocolate chip; m&m etc
1/2 cup brown sugar

• Another recipe I use

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
3/4 cup m&ms
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions : Empty contents of jar into a large bowl. In separated bowl add 1 slightly beaten egg

1/2 cup butter (melted slightly in the microwave)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Use the back of a large spoon to work it all together. You may even need to use your hands to get everything incorporated.

Then roll the cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, place on a parchment covered baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. I got about 26-28 cookies out of these.

To make your own. First layer ingredients and pack each level real thight or else it wont fit. If you decide to add pecans pack it last just in case they wont fit. I rather sacrifice nuts then chocolate.

To finish off decorate the lid with a piece of fabric and a ribbon.

You can change the color of the chocolate to give as a gift for Christmas, Halloween, Baby Shower, etc. Get them from your store when they are on sale right after the holiday.

DIY Hurricane Lamps

Make your own Hurricane Lamps that you can easily customize the decor based on the season.

On a quick trip to the Dollar Store you can gather all the items. You going to need.

Do you see where this is going?

First off remove all the labels and tags.

Glue the base of your candle holder looking down to make sure its centered.

Then its time to decorate.

I glued my ribbon so it wouldnt be coming off but the candles at the dollar store it so cheap that you can make a different one for each season.

Final touch decorate with rocks, glass pebbles or artificial flowers.

Its a great inexpensive gift!

5 ways to spend less on holidays!!!

Holidays and any other event in the year can be a budget breaker. I put together a list of 5 resourceful ways to spend less in the next Holiday.

• Make a budget.

Be honest with yourself and write down everybody that is getting a gift and how much you have to spend. Figure out how much money you are able to spend for each person. If money is really tight, start crossing people off the list.

• Buy your gift with cash.

Once again if you don't have the money to spend don't buy it. Most people get themselves in debt by trying to keep up with the Joneses. Once you run out of cash that it. No more spending. An evening gathering is not worth debtors calling!!!

• Shop smart.

Search your favorite store website and check out if they have any deals before you head out there. Most store now days offer good selections at clearance prices with free shipping. Do your research on big items as well. Never settle for the first.

• Be Creative

Off the list that you first created. How many of those can you make them a gift. Sometimes a homemade gift its better than an expensive store bought one. There are several gifts that you can make yourself. I always make gift baskets for my family such as: bath and body; popcorn and movie; pasta lover; etc as well gifts in a jar m&ms with the colors matching the specific holiday; kisses; cookie mix in a jar etc. Once I made my mom a calendar with picture of the family right out of my computer and she loved it. Gifts don't have to be expensive just thoughtful.

• Create a Secret Santa and spend only on the kids.

My family we do it every year. We agree on a budget for our Secret Santa and splurge on the kids. In my household we are very strict about gift giving to the kids. They know they are only getting gifts 2 times a year. Christmas and Birthdays any other day of the year its only needs and not wants.

Easy party favor!!!

Easy and creative party favor.

Get a candy car of your choice. I like the flat ones like the Hersey's Bar.



Get a double sided tape and pretty scrapbook paper of your choice.
Tie it up with a pretty ribbon and add some bling and you are all done!!!

You can create party favors, for Baby Showers, Bridal and Birthdays!!!

Good luck with your next event!!!

www.bpartys.com

5 simple ways to save money!!!

There are great sites instructing someone on how to save money. Well here is my updated list

• Track your spending and stick to a budget

It may not sound easy. Trust me it wasnt for me but when I decided to take time off from work and be a stay at home mom I had to learn real fast. My husband and I we write down on our kitchen calendar what needs to come out every week to pay off our expenses and from there we see what is left off. That allowed us to have a weekly allowance and pay ourselves first by putting money on a savings account.

• Create a Master Grocery List

I like to write down my grocery list by categorizing the items. Example: Breakfast- eggs, milk, cereal etc. Lunch- mayo, lunchmeat, juice, canned soda etc. Dinner- meat, rice, pasta, veggies etc. Others- shampoo, laundry detergent, toilet paper etc. You get the idea. This way I know what Ill be using for what meal helping me plan ahead on meal planning and cost plus saving me time walking thru the supermarket looking for the items.

• Pay Cash

I am still getting my husband used to this idea but it makes sense. If you dont have the money to pay for something dont get it!!!  Save it up, wait to make sure its a need instead of a want and then if you still want it go and get but only after you have the money to pay for it in full.

• Recycle reinvent and reuse

Before you throw things out take a second look at it. What can you do with it? I love  to save the spaguetti sauce jar and save them to make gift in a jar for friends and relatives. They cost less and you can create different combinations. What else can you reuse? I use old plastic chinese take-out container and I store my kids crayons and use as a wipes case for the car. Not counting the fact that they store leftovers pretty well. Always keep an open mind on the items you have laying around your house. You never know what they can be turned into.

• Borrow before you buy

Can you get away with borrowing before buying it? I cant remember last time I went clothing shopping for myself. Reason being its because I always shop my sister closet instead of buying a new outfit. We fit on the same size, live in different states just 40 mins away and honestly who cares if you spent $100 or next to nothing getting yourself ready for that party? This goes to everything else. If you have a kind neighbor and you have a good relationship dont be shy to ask if you can borrow her blender instead of buying a new one.

DIY Decorative HandSoap

What you need:

Liquid hand soap. Silk flowers. Ribbon. Cello gift wrap. Skewer stick. Scissor. Gift hang tag.

{We found our liquid soap and silk flowers at the Dollar Store.}

What to do:

Remove the liquid soap label from the soap bottle.{we soaked ours in hot water for awhile, and peeled it off. You want to have the bottle free of anything on it so the flowers will show through}

Take your flowers and start trimming them off from the main stem.

Open up your liquid soap and pour some off into another bottle or jar{that you can have for a later use}, so that there is enough room to put in your flowers.

Using your skewer stick, begin poking the flowers down inside the soap bottle until you are satisfied with the look. Replace the top and wipe clean.

Decorate the outside of the bottle:

Using your ribbon and a little clipping of your flowers, tie them around the neck of the soap bottle.

Time for gift giving:

Wrap up your soap(s) with the Cello wrap and ribbon. Remember to put your to~from hang tag on your gift!

Camp in your minivan!!!!

After researching around I discussed with my husband that we should give it a try and travel with our minivan. We see all the time people that actually live in those. Not that we are trying to take that "not so for everyone" step but I figured that traveling and camping in our minivan would beat the cost of  travel fare, such as airlines and hotel cost.

We have already planned for this summer to take our camping tent, minivan and 3 kids and explore the outdoors. Not the woods or anything but a nice family friendly campground. Our plan include attaching a good quality icebox to our trunk, taking our camping gear, propane stove bbq ( Make sure to do your cooking in a well ventilated area) Meanwhile stock your icebox with fruits and sandwich along with other food and snacks that wont spoil easily. We will also add storage under the seats of our minivan and get a inverter for our cigarette lighter so we can watch a movie in our portable dvd/ charge cell phones and whatever else life throws in our way.

If you are gonna try the same with your family I suggest researching for a campground that offers, showers, bathrooms, water, sewer and electricity so your family doesnt feel deprivated of those while you are away. Start slow with a long weekend in case things dont go quite as you expect. The campground we are heading off to charges $30 a day for a spot that fits a camper and a tent. We will be parking our minivan and setting up the tent we have. That beats any hotel deal and we will be staying across the street from beach. Make sure to take lots of blankets for cushion in the tent and in case it get cold at night. And entertainment for the kids while they are in the car and once they get over there.
Good luck with your outings... Xoxo

Here comes the summer again!!!!

Oh my! Kids will be out of school and if you are like me Hopefully you are already thinking of ways to entertain the gang. This summer we will have a new baby and my stepdaughter will be spending an entire month with us. Think ahead there are so many ways to keep the little crew busy.

I made a list resorceful ideas:

• Dust off your library card: I know its lame and you see on every financial planning website

Truth is the library has tons of book and activities plus dvds that you can order without paying the hefty prices of renting.

• Check out your town/county website.

Spring and Summer time it when most counties have their events and free concerts. I am fortunate enough to live near by 2 counties and I always check them out. We already have plans for movie in the park which they show a not so old and not so new movie in the park but offer free activities such as face painting and balloon for the kids prior to showing the movie.

• Take your kids to your local pool.

If you are not fortunate enough to live near the beach then this is another option. Most local pool have strict rules that you got obey and so others kids and families which will give a little bit piece of mind when sending off your little troops to the "unknown" waters. Our local pool is very strict about wearing a swimming cap and adults get 30 mins every 1hour or so to swim without kids splashing on them.

• Picnic in the park

Where we live at I have choices of park to take my kids. I have my favorite which is cleaner and has more options for the kids. We pack our picnic basket (If you dont have one it ok, they are a waste of money anyways you just got improvise). Pack snack for the kids, sandwich, cold meat cuts, salads, juice boxes, water, anything that you can fit in you bag and your lifestyle. Its a good idea to get a good insulated bag to keep the colds, well cold.

Think ahead and make your summer sane for yourself and enjoyable for your kids. Xoxo

Duck Splash Baby Shower!!!

I was fortunate to host a Baby Shower. The main thing was it had to be budget friendly. So there was a lot of diy. Here are some of the pictures and soon I will be posting some of the tutorial on how the process was done. Xoxo

Everything in this Baby Shower had to reflect what the momma to be wanted. She wanted a gender friendly to be able to accomodate her bundle of joy. Cake and cupcakes were homemades with lil duck peeps as a topper.

The diaper cake was made from huggies diapers size 1-2. ( I'll be giving the tutorial in future postings)

The water labels were made from my own printer at home. Later on Ill be posting the template so you can make your own for future gatherings. The guests loved it....

Favors were bakery bought cookies. ( A batch with 24 for $4) I got 2 different flavors and stuffed in the cello bags. Also I got from Dollar Tree (P.S. My favorite Dollar store) little favor containers that resemble chinese take out and stuffed them with candies.

There are several way to throw a great party without going broke. Do a little bit of research and gather your items with advance so you can search for better deals and get stuff when they are on sale.

Good Luck with your next gathering!!! Xoxo

Get rid of the Cable!!!!!!

My family and I are always seeking ways to live well and spend less. There are inumeral articles out there teaching you how to save money. Well no one can really teach you but instead guide you to have a better financial life. My family and I we cut the cable months ago and to be honest I dont miss a single bit. I figure that once I got home and surfed all the 100+ channel I had I couldnt really find anything interesting. What a bummer. So we now have what we call rerun tv... Netflix and Hulu offer great packages to suit your style and your wallet. Its something that every family trying to save a couple bucks at the end of the year should check it out.