30 Uses for Coconut Oil

I’ve mentioned Coconut Oil in a couple of different posts this week, and it really is an amazing substance. So beyond Making Your Own Deodorant and oil pulling, what are some other uses for this incredible oil?

1. Coconut oil is great as a cooking oil. It has a high smoke point, and can be used in baking, stir frys, and deep frying.
2. It can be used as a dairy free replacement to butter/margarine.
3. It can be used in place of vegetable oil in any recipe.
4. It’s an immediate source of energy when eaten, and isn’t stored in the body as fat.
5. Coconut oil can be used to season cast iron skillets.
6. Soothe a sore throat and cold symptoms by dissolving a tablespoon in warm tea.
7. Consuming a tablespoon of coconut oil before each meal can help improve digestion.
8. It can be added to smoothies to give them a nutritional boost.
9. Daily ingestion of coconut oil can help alleviate allergy symptoms.
10. Rub it into your skin as a basic lotion.
11. As mentioned above, it can be used in homemade deodorant.
12. Can help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy when rubbed on the belly.
13. Coconut oil can be used as a night time moisturizer.
14. It can be rubbed on your lips as a natural chapstick and to clear up cold sores.
15. Coconut oil applied to the skin acts as a natural SPF 4 sunscreen.
16. It can help heal a sunburn (after the initial heat of the burn is gone).
17. It can reduce the itch of insect bites, chicken pox, or poison ivy.
18. It can soothe irritated skin caused by eczema or psoriasis.
19. It can improve general oral health through oil pulling.
20. Coconut oil can be used by itself, or combined with baking soda, as a naturally whitening toothpaste.
21. Mix a small amount with salt and rub on feet to remove dry skin.
22. Consumption of coconut oil can improve insulin levels.
23. It has been shown to increase the level of absorption of calcium and magnesium.
24. A tiny amount rubbed on hands, and then run through hair can help reduce frizz.
25. When mixed with an equal part of sugar it can be used as a body scrub in the shower.
26. Nursing moms can take 3-4 tablespoons a day to help increase milk supply.
27. Coconut oil can be used in place of lanolin cream for nursing mothers.
28. It can be used on mom, and in baby’s mouth to treat thrush.
29. It can be used as a cloth diaper safe diaper cream, simply rub on baby’s bum.
30. Coconut oil can help remove cradle cap – massage the oil into baby’s head, and rinse with a warm washcloth.

There are numerous other uses, but this will give you an idea of how truly versatile this oil is! Try it out for yourself!!

925 Ideas to Help You Save Money, Get Out of Debt and Retire A Millionaire So You Can Leave Your Mark on the World... - An eBook Review

925 Ideas to Help You Save Money, Get Out of Debt and Retire A Millionaire So You Can Leave Your Mark on the World...

By, Devin D. Thorpe

Amazon Kindle Price: $0.00

This book is large compilation of articles written by Devin D. Thorpe for Familyshare.com. The reviews on Amazon were mixed, some people seemed to love the book, while others seemed to find it useless. Since the book was a free kindle download, I didn't set my expectations high, but I figured for the price I had nothing to lose. After reading through the first few articles, I was impressed with the content of the book. The 177 pages of this book are divided into the following segments:

Your Family
Frugal Living
Your Home is the Centerpiece of Your Financial Future
Your Car is Just Transportation
Your Money
Managing Your Career
Increasing Your Savings
Entrepreneurship
Getting Out of Debt
Saving for College
Planning for Your Ideal Retirement
Investing Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Money
Leave Your Mark on the World


Each segment of the book is comprised of multiple articles relating to that segment. Some of the articles were pertinent to my life, and some weren't. The titles of the articles are clear and indicative of what you will fine within the text, and the content is concisely written. In many cases, the articles follow a progression, for example there are a series of articles written regarding saving for retirement; these articles are broken down by the age of the reader. If you're a 30-something, then the article about saving for retirement in your 30's is suiting, but you may not be interested in the article about saving for retirement in your 50's.

The author offers sound advice on a broad spectrum of personal finance topics. While I don't believe that you'll become a millionaire simply by reading the articles in this book, I do believe that there is helpful information in this book regardless of what your current financial situation is. I definitely recommend reading through this, and seeing what you can learn from the articles. I'm quite certain that there will be at least something of value in here for everyone, and since it's free you really have nothing to lose by checking it out!

365 Day Declutter Challenge - Week 5

Week 5: August 21, 2013 through August 27, 2013

Day 29: a tote full of baseball uniforms, returned to the rec department.

Day 30: A rocking horse, and a bouncy horse

Day 31: A diaper bag - given to a cousin that is expecting

Day 32: A cosmetic bag, and an insulated lunch box

Day 33: A stroller - given to the cousin that's expecting a baby

Day 34: A scented oil warmer

Day 35: My poor purse that finally decided to break beyond repair - trashed :(

A New Era Begins - My Daughter's First Day of Kindergarten!

Yesterday marked the first day of a new era for our family, my daughter is now officially a kindergartner! The past few weeks have been riddled with excitement and anxiety for me, my husband, and especially my daughter (my two year old has been quite oblivious to the whole matter, though he has declared that he will be attending college before he goes to kindergarten himself). My daughter's fears have revolved around things like riding the school bus, how to buy lunch in the cafeteria, and exactly how much homework she will be given as a kindergartner, oh... and the follow up question, "Mommy, what IS homework anyway?". My own fears have been more centered on adjusting work schedules to accommodate having one child in school and another in daycare, figuring out how the before care works at our school, how much school lunches cost, will she feel challenged enough by the curriculum, and the rest of the minutia that goes with sending your first born off to her first day of "real" school.

Adjusting our work schedules was the part of our first day of school preparation that took the most thought. My workday will be moved back an hour; rather than starting at 8am, I'll now be starting at 7am. This will allow me to get out of work, pick my son up from daycare, and hopefully be home in time to get my daughter off the school bus. Conversely, my husband will now be going to work slightly later, to allow him time to drop my daughter off at the school's before care program, and then take my son to day care (previously I've always been the one to do day care drop off). My son's day at daycare will be shortened, as he'll be dropped off slightly later than he's accustomed to, and picked up an hour earlier than he was before. Once our changes to our work schedules were approved, the rest took little thought on my part, it was just a matter of calming my daughter's tiny nerves.

She did amazing when we dropped her off for school, she was excited to see her friends, and start her new school year. She quickly gave us hugs, and said goodbye as she ran off to her classroom. Aside from a hiccup with the school bus and her drop off after school, she had an amazing day! She was excited to tell me all about her new friends, what she had for lunch, and how much fun she had at recess!

Unfortunately, I'm already "one of those parents", since after the minor mishap with the school bus, I stopped at the school office, and then called the transit company that buses the children to and from school to inquire/complain about the issue. At least she had a great day otherwise, and hopefully the bus situation will be resolved by this afternoon when she comes home!

Flexible Spending Accounts

Does your employer offer Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s)?  If they do, are you participating?  If you aren’t you should!  Let me explain what they are, and why they are beneficial:

What is a Flexible Spending Account? 

An FSA is an employer sponsored account that allows you to be reimbursed for qualified expenses on a pre-tax basis.

What are the different types of Flexible Spending Accounts?

FSA’s typically fall into two categories: Health Spending Accounts, and Dependent Care Spending Accounts. 

How do Flexible Spending Accounts work?

Signing up:  Enrollment in FSA’s is limited to the beginning of each calendar year.  Prior to the start of the calendar year, there is a period of open enrollment, during which time you can sign up to start your FSA.  Aside from this annual open enrollment period, you can only start an FSA if you have experienced a qualifying life event (such as marriage, birth of a child, divorce, death of a spouse, etc).

At the time of enrollment, you determine the annual amount of funds that you want held from your wages pre-tax to be applied to your FSA (For Health FSA’s the maximum limit is currently $2,500/year, and for Dependent Care FSA’s the maximum limit is currently $5,000/year).  The amount of the allocation that you choose will then be divided by your pay frequency (if you are paid weekly your allocation will be divided by 52,  if you are paid bi-weekly your allocation will be divided by 26, etc.).  This amount will then be deducted from your wages pre-tax, and applied to your FSA.

When you have a qualifying expense, you then submit a claim and documentation that the claim was paid out of pocket, and you are reimbursed from your FSA.

What expenses are considered qualifying expenses?

Dependent Care FSA:  Any expense incurred for the care of a dependent child under the age of 13, or a child of any age with a medical or mental challenge that causes them to be incapable of self-care, or care of a dependent adult in adult daycare.  In order to be considered a qualifying expense, this care must enable you to work, and the person receiving the care must be claimed as a dependent on your tax returns.

Examples: Daycare for child(ren), adult daycare, in home care of dependent

Health FSA:  Any medical expense that you incur that is not covered by your health insurance, and is an acceptable medical expense as defined by the Internal Revenue Service, may be counted.

Examples: Co-pays paid to doctors, dentists, surgeons, hospital fees, hearing aids, wheelchairs, prescription drugs (for a more detailed list, please see the IRS link above)

How do you know how much money to put into your FSA?

This is an important step to think about, because FSA’s operate on a “Use it, or Lose it” methodology.  If you contribute more to your FSA than you use, any remaining funds are lost.  It’s important to carefully consider your needs for the upcoming year before deciding on your allotment.

To determine the amount that you want to allocate to your FSA, make a list of all expected allowable deductions for you and your dependents as well as the costs associated with each.  Use this to gauge how much money you want to contribute to your FSA.  Always err on the side of caution, and if in doubt go with a lower amount.  You don’t want to lose funds by taking advantage of this program.

Dependent Care Example:  If you pay $100/week for your 4-year-old to attend daycare while you work, you would calculate out your annual expense as $100x52, or $5,200.  In this case you would want to take the full $5,000 allotment that you are allowed for a Dependent Care FSA.

However, if your daycare expense is subject to change because your child will be attending school, you’ll want to take that into account, and reduce your allocation accordingly.

Health Example:  If you pay $50/month in copays for prescription drugs, you would calculate your annual expense as $50x12, or $600.  You may know that you’ll also have other expenses for the year as well, like prescription glasses for your child, or dental visits that aren’t covered by your insurance.  You would then estimate those expenses and add them to your known expenses, and use that as a basis when deciding how much to allocate to your Health FSA.

How do you save money by having these expenses paid via FSA?

Let’s say that you have a household income of $50,000, and you pay $5,000 for daycare.  Of your earned $50,000, 25% [$12,500] goes to tax obligation (Federal Income Tax, Social Security, and State and Local Income Tax).  That brings your earnings down to $37,500, now subtract the $5,000 that you  pay for daycare, and you’re now at $32,500.

Using the same numbers, and allocating $5,000 to a Dependent Care FSA.  Your income is reduced to $45,000 by allocating $5,000 pre-tax to the FSA, your 25% tax allocation is now $11,250.  This leaves you with $33,750.  By allocating to an FSA, you saved $1,250!!

Now, when the open enrollment period for FSA’s comes around this fall, make sure you take advantage, and remember to err on the conservative side when you are estimating how much you want to allocate.  It doesn’t pay to lose money by over allocating.

Homemade Pickles from Garden Cucumbers

Making your own pickles is a relatively simple process, made even easier with help from a "Mrs. Wages - Dill Pickle Mix".

I started out with a sink full of cucumbers picked fresh from our garden.

I then cut them up into the sizes and shapes that I wanted. Some jars have spear pickles, others are whole pickles, and the remaining are pickle slices.

I then prepared the mix by following the package directions, pour the hot mix over my cucumber pieces, capped the jars, and processed in a hot water bath. The end result was 14 pints of freshly made pickles! Thirteen pints went into the cupboard, and one pint went directly into the refrigerator for use.

If you've never canned anything before, pickles are a quick and easy way to learn!

Supplies needed to make your own pickles:

9-11 lbs of cucumbers (the small pickling kinds work best, as their name implies)
Vinegar
Water
Pickle mix
Canning jars, lids, and rings
Canning pot
Lid Lifter (not necessary, but very helpful) - I have used a fork to lift the lids before, and it works, but the lid lifter works better
Jar grabber (not necessary, but very helpful) - You could also use tongs, but the hot jars are mush more easily handled with the grabber designed for the job

Adventures in Oil Pulling

I first heard of oil pulling a couple of months ago, when an internet search brought up the unrelated topic of oil pulling. Intrigued, I read the information that appeared in my search, and then thirsting for more information I searched for more information about this curious phenomenon. After much reading, I decided that there wouldn’t be any harm in trying it myself, but I was skeptical of the reported results.

A Brief History of Oil Pulling:
Oil pulling has been a practice in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, but became much more common in the United States after the 1992 report by Dr. F. Karach, MD in which he stated that the act of oil pulling cured him of a blood disease that he had been battling for years. During his study, Dr. Karach noted that oil has healing properties that can treat many medical ailments.

What is Oil Pulling?
Quite simply, oil pulling is the act of rinsing your mouth with oil. Various types of oil can be used effectively; the most common oils used in oil pulling are sunflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. Coconut oil has become a more common oil for use due to its naturally occurring anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties (and the fact that it tastes better than other oils).

How it works:
Bacteria build up on your teeth makes your gums more prone to infection and inflammation. Overtime if left untreated, this infection and inflammation can eat away at your gums and bone structure. This gum disease is known as periodontis. Periodontis has been linked with diabetes, heart disease, increased pain for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, worsening lung conditions (thought to be caused by the increase in bacteria in the lungs for those suffering from pneumonia or ailments such as COPD), and during pregnancy periodontis has been linked to low-birth weight babies.

Your mouth is teeming with bacteria, some of which are beneficial and some of which are not. While oil pulling, the bacteria in your mouth become trapped in the liquid oil. In the most basic sense, the act of oil pulling is done to remove bacteria from your mouth. Many sites state that other toxins are pulled from your body and become trapped in the oil as well, though I find that more difficult to believe.

Studies regarding oil pulling:
In a study published in 2008 that followed 20 adolescent boys, oil pulling was found to significantly reduce the bacteria Streptococcus Mutans (the primary cause for plaque build up and tooth decay) in as little as two weeks.

Another study, again using 20 adolescents, found that oil pulling greatly reduced all of the markers for halitosis (bad breath), and was just as effective as a chlorhexidine mouthwash.

How is Oil Pulling done?
The act of oil pulling is quite simple.
1. Put about a teaspoon to a tablespoon of oil in your mouth.
2. Gently swish the oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes, pulling it back and forth through your teeth.
3. Spit out the oil. (Note: if using coconut oil, or any oil that is a solid at room temperature, you will want to spit into the trash, and not down a sink drain. The oil can resolidify in your pipes and cause a blockage)
4. Rinse out your mouth and brush your teeth as normal.

My experience with Oil Pulling:
I’ve been Oil Pulling for a couple of weeks now. I do my Oil Pulling while I’m showering in the morning, it’s the part of my day where I’m least likely to be interrupted by the demands of my family. As I mentioned in the opening of this article, I was skeptical in regards to Oil Pulling. I went into this “experiment” fully expecting that it would fail, but I had nothing to lose by trying.

The results were almost immediate. After my first session of oil pulling I was amazed at how clean my mouth and teeth felt. The clean feeling lasted the entire day. My breath was fresher, and my teeth just felt cleaner. Having done it for a couple of weeks now, it’s become a part of my morning ritual. My gums feel tighter (not that they felt loose before, but they feel healthier now), my teeth feel clean all day, and flossing is not nearly as daunting as it had been.

While I’m still not convinced that Oil Pulling is capable of curing cancer, AIDS, or kidney disease by itself, I am convinced that it does have great benefits for one’s oral health.

365 Day Declutter Challenge - Week 4

Week 4: August 14, 2013 through August 20, 2013

Day 22: An old VCR

Day 23: A stack of children's books

Day 24: A make your own throw kit

Day 25: Two books

Day 26: Three more books

Day 27: A brand new book, somehow we ended up with two copies of this one

Day 28: Three sets of Baby Einstein learning cards

Make Your Own Deodorant

Did you know that you can make your own deodorant?  It's one of those things that I have never really thought about making myself, it's not overly expensive to buy, and it's readily available.  However, when I stumbled upon this recipe online, it seemed so simple that I had to try it!  I already had all of the ingredients, so there was nothing to stop me (aside from the fear that it wouldn't work, and I would have to endure a day of being a stinky mess!).

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
5-6 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil
1/8 Cup of Arrow Root Powder
1/8 Cup of Corn Starch
1/4 Cup of Baking Soda
Several Drops of Bergamot Essential Oil (for scent)

Directions:
In a bowl, combine the powders.  Add in the coconut oil, and mix to form a thick paste.  Add several drops of essential oil, until you've reached the scent level that you want.  Store in an air tight container.

To use: Simply scoop out a small amount and apply to your underarms.  If you have any remaining on your hands you can simply rub it into your skin as a lotion.

If you don't have Bergamot essential oil, you could use your favorite essential oil scent in place of it. Personally, I would probably forego the essential oil next time I make it, the coconut oil already gives it a light coconut scent on its own.

Admittedly, I was hesitant to try this out; who wants to spend a day stinking up the office in the event that this homemade concoction fails?!?! I mixed it up on a Thursday evening with the intention of trying it out over the weekend when the only people that would be witness to any offensive smells would be my loved ones. Friday morning, as I was preparing to go to work, the little jar of homemade deodorant was calling my name. Casting my hesitations aside, I tried it out (on a workday!). Having little confidence in the efficacy of this DIY deodorant, I tossed my regular deodorant into my work bag just in case I needed it.

I was pleasantly surprised by how well it actually worked! It worked just as well, if not better than my store bought deodorant, and it was entirely all natural! That was it, I was hooked!

My family was on vacation the following week, and I packed my little jar of deodorant, and again the back up store bought deodorant. I never once had to use the store bought stick, my homemade stuff served me well, even in the heat of the summer!

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The American Frugal Housewife - A Review

The American Frugal Houswife - A Review
By: Lydia Maria Francis Child

Amazon Prices: Kindle - $0.00, Paperback - $6.95, Hardcover - $8.96

Can a book written about life and frugality in 1832 America really be of use to us today?  That was the question I asked myself as I downloaded this book, and began reading it.  As it turns out, it can!  While there are many items that Child writes about that aren’t relevant on the whole to today’s times, there are many issues that are broached in this book that are still perfectly pertinent.

Written as a guide to women in the New World, this book offers many themes that are still common today.  Written anecdotally from her life and perspectives, Child embraces topics such as not trying to keep up with the Joneses, as she states, “No false pride of foolish ambition to appear as well as others should ever induce a person to live one cent beyond the income of which he is certain.  If you have one dollar a day, do not spend but seventy-five cents.  If you have but half a dollar, do not spend more than forty cents.”

She preaches of the frugality of doing things yourself, rather than taking advantage of having things prepared for you. “Make your own bread and cake. Some people think it is just as cheap to buy of the baker and confectioner, but it is not half as cheap. It is convenient, but those who are under the necessity of being economical should make convenience a secondary priority.”

Child offers guidance on teaching your children the value of money, “In early childhood, you lay the foundation of poverty or riches, in the habits you give your children. Teach them to save everything, — not for their own use, for that would make them selfish — but for some use. Teach them to share everything with their playmates; but never allow them to destroy anything.”

I could easily quote the majority of the book, and tell you how fitting it is to current events, and the movement towards self-sufficiency.  Granted, Child does offer up many household solutions and recipes that I will likely never require, such as how to wax cheese (though you never know, that may come in handy at some point), or what kind of straw works best for stuffing a mattress, however, there are many of her tips that are still valid today.  In Child’s section of the book entitled, “General Maxims for Health,” she asserts, “Rise early. Eat simple food. Take plenty of exercise.  Never fear a little fatigue.” A sound maxim for life, and one entirely as true today as it was in her time.

This book is entirely worth the time spent reading it, if not only to glean some advice from days gone by, but to also relish in the fact that we aren’t forced to worry about how to cook calf’s head so as not to waste it.

DIY Dish Cloth - Crochet Pattern

Dish cloths themselves are not a huge investment, but when you're trying to minimize your debts every dollar counts.  So when I found myself in need of new dish cloths, rather than buying commercially made cloths, I decided to try my hand at making my own.  I wanted something that was easily washable, and thick enough to withstand heavy use. 

While sifting through my sewing/craft room, I came upon some cotton yarn and was inspired.  A dish cloth need not be anything fancy, and I was quite certain that I could craft one from this cotton yarn that would meet our needs.  Seriously, a dish cloth is nothing more than a simple square of fabric, in this case, a crocheted square of fabric.

To make this dish cloth, I used cotton yarn, and a size H crochet hook.

To begin, ch 37.

Hdc in 3rd ch from hook, and in each remaining ch to end. Ch 2, turn.

*Hdc in each stitch. Ch 2, turn. Repeat from * until dish cloth is desired size.

In the one pictured above, I simply worked in the ends, and called it finished.  If you want a more finished edge, you could sc around the outside, working 3 sc in each corner.  It all depends on what your preference is, for my own personal use, I didn't see a need for the additional step, but if I were going to be giving them to someone else I would take the extra few minutes to do a finished edge.

We have been using these dish cloths for a couple of months now, and they have worked perfectly! They are just the right size, and have held up to daily use, and washing. Go ahead, give it a try!

I am not a runner...

I haven’t run “for fun” since high-school. In fact in recent years, the only time I run is because I’m chasing after a wayward toddler, or being chased by a big scary insect. For the past two years, my New Year’s Resolutions have included getting back into running, yet I haven’t. I even went so far as to buy some super comfy running shoes last summer, in hopes that they would inspire me to move. The shoes didn’t do it though, they just sat there looking at me longingly, and I ignored them.

I’m inspired now though. Unfortunately, it took a semi-scary diagnosis of pre-diabetes to inspire me. A visit to my doctor for routine blood tests revealed that my fasting glucose was borderline diabetic. I have a follow up appointment in three months to retest, and hopefully remove that diagnosis from my charts. In the meantime, I’m tracking my blood sugar levels, and trying to get more exercise. That’s where the latest attempt at running comes in.

Why running? Well, the weather is nice this time of year, and it’s free. I already invested in the shoes, and really, what more do I need (aside from the motivation to actually get out there and do it)? Running at home is near impossible; we live on a main route with traffic traveling between 50-70mph, and no shoulder to run on. However, since we spend the majority of our weekends during the summer at my in-laws’ camp, where traffic is a non-issue, I thought I would give it a try while we were there on vacation.

Admittedly, I had grand intentions of lacing up my running shoes and running every morning. It didn't quite work out that way though, and finally with only two days left of our vacation, I made myself get out of bed before the rest of the family and with much anticipation laced up my shoes. There is something amazing about toddler intuition though, since my son decided to wake up at 6:30 that morning, just as I was approaching the door to leave. My run temporarily thwarted, I snuggled with the little guy on the couch and watched an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. When my in laws later awoke, I pawned the dear boy off on them, and snuck out of the house quickly before another obstacle had a chance to get in my way.

My feet hit the pavement, and I was off! Granted, I wasn't breaking any land-speed records, nor was I able to run the entire two and a half miles that I set out to accomplish, but I did run nearly two-thirds of it, which I deemed a huge success!

I'm by no means ready to run a marathon, but it felt great to run again, and it makes me wonder why I ever stopped. It's unfortunate that it took a scare at the doctor's office to get me out there again, but I look forward to my next visit to camp, and the opportunity to work on my running. In the meantime, I'll have to settle for the stationary bike, and chasing my children.

365 Day Declutter Challege - Week 3

Week 3: August 7, 2013 through August 13, 2013

Day 15: A borrowed book, read and returned to its owner




Day 16: Another book...



Day 17: Yet another book...

Day 18: A bottle of mousse that I'll never use

Day 19: A cute wolf water fountain/music box thingy.

Day 20: A penguin halloween costume that no longer fits my children

Day 21: A cute baby outfit (that still has the tags on it) that won't fit anyone in my house

Make Your Own Almond Butter

A friend of mine posted this picture on Facebook, and I wondered, "Could it REALLY be THAT easy?" While I was out grocery shopping, I bought some almonds with the sole purpose of trying this!

According to the picture, all I would need was a food processor, and some almonds. Easy enough, so that's how I started. I simply dumped 2 cups of whole almonds into the food processor, and turned it on.

After 5 minutes it looked like this:

There wasn't much change after 10 minutes...

After 15 minutes of spinning around in the food processor, it started to turn into a grainy paste...

After 20 minutes the magic started to happen!! The ground almonds were suddenly turning into something that resembled almond butter!!

After 25 minutes, the almonds became ALMOND BUTTER!! A taste test revealed that this almond butter was lacking something (my daughter agreed), so we added less than a teaspoon of sugar, and it was perfect!

We poured the almond butter into a mason jar, and we were finished. Two cups of almonds yeilded about 8 ounces of almond butter.

Next time I do this, I'll warm the almonds in the oven a little bit before starting. I've read that warming the almonds helps to speed up the almond to almond butter process. My food processor is rather antiquated, so it may not be an issue with newer machines; however, I kept stopping the food processor, and stirring the almonds around with a spoon for fear that the motor on the food processor would burn out.

Overall, I declare this a HUGE SUCCESS!!

GardenMats - An Update

Do you remember my post about GardenMats? Well, I thought I should take a minute and update you about how our garden is doing this year.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature hasn't provided us the optimum gardening weather this year, but we've still managed to keep our plants alive. With the help of the GardenMats, weeding has been much less daunting, and also has the advantage of keeping our vegetables from sitting in the dirt as they are growing/forming.

So far, we are very happy with the performance of the GardenMats, and have no complaints. They have continued to perform exactly as they were described to by the company. I'm certain that they will continue to be a mainstay in our gardening adventures for years to come.

365 Day Declutter Challenge - Week 2

Week 2:  July 31, 2013 through August 6, 2013

Day 8: A book

Day 9: 6 WAHM made training pants

Day 10: A small basket

Day 11: A diaper genie refill

Day 12: A cute picture frame

Day 13: 4 Partylite votive holders

Day 14: A Partylite floating candle holder