A chip off the old...?

Getting ready for your holiday guests with a fresh coat of paint?  Check out 
Sherwin-Williams' online tool at www.letschipit.com.

This site allows you to instantly generate perfectly matched paint chips from any image on the web (and, yes, it's free!).

Father's Day Treat?

So here's a cool (pun intended!) treat for Father's Day - "special" freezer pops (don't share these with the kids!).  Redbookmag.com has some great recipes for adult freezer pops with just a touch of alcohol.  Pina colada looked amazing:
 
Takes 5 minutes to make and 24 hours to freeze so think ahead!

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh sweet pineapple chunks (about 12 oz)
1 (15 oz) can sweetened cream of coconut (i.e. Coco Lopez)
1 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup light rum or coconut rum (and this is optional if you want the non-alcohol version!)
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
pinch of salt

Directions:
Puree ingredients in a blender until smooth and transfer mixture to a large pitcher.  Pour into ten
3 oz. freezer pop molds and insert sticks.  Freeze at least 24 hours before unmolding.

Check the website above for other fun recipes! (Where were these on Mother's Day?!)

Here's to your health!

Good Housekeeping (5/12) provides a list of reliable sites and apps to find answers and info regarding health issues you and/or loved ones may be facing:
breastcancer.org
diabetes.org
healthyminds.org
cdc.gov/physicalactivity.org

Visit goodhousekeeping.com for others that may help you get the answers you need!

Sachets to pack the winter sweaters away

By now I hope we've all said farewell (or good riddance!) to winter!  If so, now is the perfect time to pack your winter clothes away (woolen items, especially sweaters) until the snow flies again.

You can make your own sachets to store along with them in your closets and drawers - they will keep them fresh-smelling and fend away the moths. (Thanks go to marthastewart.com - April '12)

Use cotton muslin bags - small ones like those used to mull spices.  Fill each bag with fragrant dry ingredients such as thyme, cloves, lavender, mint or cedar.  Tie the bags shut and place them in closets and drawers to keep your wardrobe fresh.  (Personally cedar reminds me of my grandparents' attic - I'd say go with lavender, thyme or mint!).

Baby Showers Made Simple

So admittedly, I won't be having another child (phew!) and I'm quite a way from being a grandma, but for those who are expecting or know someone who is this link could be your answer to all things baby shower:  www.realsimple.com/babyshowerideas.

They give you ideas for themes, invitations, decorating and refreshments, so relax!  It will be easier than you thought!

Some lavender for your honey!

A close friend of mine used to adore lavender honey in her tea. In her later years, I was forever trying to find someplace that carried this specialty item (in AZ you can find prickly pear honey, but lavender...that's another story!). I wish I'd found this recipe years when I needed it, but for anyone interested in this here you go:

Lavender Honey

Bring 1 cup mild honey and 1/4 cup dried lavender flowers (available at Sur La Table stores) to a boil,
stirring frequently. Reduce heat; simmer for 30-45 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Gently reheat to pourable consistency and strain through cheesecloth into a heatproof container.

Relax and enjoy - you deserve it!

Gifts from the heart!

"The best gifts come from the heart. Being thoughtful doesn't have to be expensive." -- Alice Wood (Wealth Watchers founder and author).

A sweet way to help end childhood hunger!

Are you looking for a great project for your club, Girl Scout troop or other group? Consider holding a "Share Our Strength's Great America Bake Sale!" Visit www.chsugar.com/bakesale to register and also to find easy recipes for treats to sell.

Free online home planner!

In a daze from trying to redo a room in your home? Check IKEA's website for a free online planner to help you use a selection of their furniture to try out sizes and scale before you do something "drastic"!

Gardening with a historical twist

OK, my family will swear that I am the worst person in the world to talk about gardening tips. I have killed a wide variety of houseplants including a cacti (not kidding!) and don't get me started on planting flowers outside!

But for those of you with a greener thumb than mine, these seeds sound like a unique addition to your garden this Spring. Check out www.monticellocatalog.org to order seed varieties that Thomas Jefferson would likely have grown at Monticello. Seeds are only $3 per packet! If you try it, post a photo of the results on the blog for us to see!

Spring is springing!

When Spring arrives, I want to bring flowers inside, but I never seem to have enough vases and don't want to break my budget buying lots of them! Here's a great idea that you can check out at Facebook.com/HomeMadeSimple:

All you need to make stylish, colorful vases is: assorted clear glassware (bottles will work fine), a drip tray and latex paint in spring colors (try lavender, white, green or yellow). Clean glassware and dry it completely. Pour paint (over tray) down inside walls of the glassware and swirl to coat it (add more as needed). Once done, hold it upside down and drain off the excess paint. Set vessels upside down to dry for about 30 minutes and then turn upright and let dry for 24 hours. Don't fill with water or drinks as paint may wear away. Use these as vases for dried or silk flowers/green or fresh ones without water.

Celebrate your ancestry!

Visit The Peopling of America Center in New York to experience the view from Lady Liberty's torch via webcam (a site not seen in-person since 1916)! And, if you can't visit the exhibit in-person, trace your family history on the museum's website at EllisIsland.org. Happy hunting!

Light a single candle...

Hart Main, a 14-year-old from Marysville, OH, has designed a line of candles in "man scents" including "Sawdust," "New Mitt," "Grandpa's Pipe," and so on. His candles are made in cans recycled from his donations to a local soup kitchen -- over 10,000 sold so far at $9.50 each!

Check out the selection at man-cans.com and support this young entrepreneur!

A taxing situation!

The Penny Pincher is admittedly a fan of lists, color-coded files and cute post-its. But for those of you who are not "Type A," here are some organization tips to ease the pain of tax preparations! (courtesy of Avery Dennison Corp.):

• Categorize: create separate files for each type of tax document (income, expenses, deductions, etc.)






• Color code: within each category, sort using colored tabs (i.e.: within deductions - pink for healthcare; green for charitable donations, etc.)






• Keep a checklist: track all documents that you receive in the mail.

For more tips, check http://www.avery.com/.

Instant amplifier!

Have an iPhone or iPod, but you don't really want to fork over even more cash to get speakers for the pricey little gadget? Here's a cool trick - increase its volume by placing it in an empty bowl. The concave shape acts as an amplifier! Who knew?

Last minute party idea!

Let the countdown begin! No doubt if you are hosting a party where family and friends are planning to bring children, you probably have the food options well in hand by now. But what about something other than the TV to entertain the younger set? Martha Stewart suggests getting plain plastic top hats (the ones pictured are from Oriental Trading) and setting out all sorts of basic craft supplies (easy to get at Michaels, Jo-Ann's or Target if you don't already have some) - glue, stickers, child-safe scissors, pom-poms, streamers (left over tinsel?) and double-sided tape. Soon you will have your own New Year's "mad-hatters" creating their own party hats! (Personally I'd recommend more tape and less glue and stay away from glitter!).

Have fun and be safe out there!

After the holiday clean-up tricks

The gift wrap is still laying around the tree, guests have finally departed and it's time to get your house ready for New Year's Eve. Here are a few hints to help you make clean-up a cinch:

* Use wire to make arack against the ceiling in a closet to store rolls of gift wrap - keeps them from taking up space and getting ripped in the process.

* Use a walnut (out of shell of course!) to rub over scratches in wood furniture to disguise dings and scrapes.

* Use egg cartons to separate and store your holiday decorations.

* And that earring you lost during the party? Put a nylon stocking over the vacuum hose and use it to gently pick up tiny items like that before you do the full cleaning.

Nuts about the holidays!

Looking for a last minute gift for someone and minimal budget remains for your holiday list? I came across a recipe that is simple and can be used as a holiday gift, hostess present, midnight snack (for Santa?) or even a great game day munchie! Here you go - you can thank me later!

Spiced Nuts

3 cups pecans

1 cup shelled pistachios

2 cups almonds

1/2 tsp. ground coriander

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

3 Tbsp. butter

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 and 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 and 1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 325 F. Place nuts on a rimmed baking sheet. Place in oven, shaking the sheet several times during baking, about 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small skillet over low heat, add coriander, cumin, butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne and salt. Stir until the butter melts and the sugar is dissolved. Place nuts in a bowl and drizzle with the warm, spiced butter; stir until well-coated. Let the nuts cool completely. Store in an airtight container. Makes 6 cups.

You can certainly substitute peanuts (not great idea for a gift in case of recipient having allergies), cashews or other favorites in the recipe. Play with it and make it your own signature holiday gift!

Everyone has a little "elf" in them!

Struggling to think up new gift ideas on a budget? Check out one of the Penny Pincher's favorite sites on this subject:

www.learnvest.com/living-frugally/guerrilla-guide-to-the-holidays

They have suggestions and complete instructions for 8 "DIY" holiday gifts sure to cheer even Scrooge himself!

The goodies include:

Home- baked biscotti
Homemade bath salts
Infused vodka
Photobooks
Granola

...and more! Fun to make and great to give!

Here comes Santa Claus...

Now my regular readers may recall, I am always early in my Christmas preparations - particularly cards and gifts. (This is NOT to insinuate that I like Christmas decorations and music the day after Halloween in my grocery store!). But, in case you are wondering, yes, my shopping is done, all out of town gifts have been shipped (I detest lines at the post office) and I will mail my already addressed cards out on December 1st.

But for the more normal holiday shoppers out there, here are some ways to sparkle up your wrapping for very little expense (way to go Martha Stewart!):

• Use silver garland to create pom-poms for bows.
• Layer colors of tissue paper when wrapping to give a unique look.
• Use knotted paper "rope" to make really easy, stylish bows.

Check out more at marthastewart.com and start wrapping!