Tip # 11: Cupcake carrier

It's about time. For years we have been taking our kids' cupcakes to school in cardboard boxes as they sway to and fro in our car. Not anymore. Check out this cupcake carrier. It almost makes me sad to see the product and to know that it exists. I mean, this should be on the school supply list when your kid starts kindergarten. How has this escaped me?

Ode to a Cupcake Carrier (an original by nap mom)

You held my perfectly primped cupcakes as we traveled to school

so that the other kids would think that my kid was cool.

The cupcakes nearly fell off of the car seat.

Icing all over the car floor? That wouldn't be neat.

Through rain and through snow

to the classroom you would go.

Halloween... Christmas parties... and Valentine's Day

no relaxing for you on this holiday.

Always playing second-fiddle to the real treat

the gooey icing cupcakes that the kids would eat.

But things would get worse at the end of the bash

when you would be tossed away into the trash.

Wilton and Tupperware tried to upgrade you

but their carriers held several cupcakes too few.

Now you have been given your rightful look.

Oh carrier, my cupcake carrier, you're #1 in my book!

Tip #10: cinnamon and sugar pancakes

These pancakes reminded me of cinnamon buns. All my husband did was make regular pancakes and then add cinnamon and sugar to the top.

They were so yummy and much healthier than store bought cinnamon rolls. I was amazed at how much a little cinnamon and sugar can really change the flavor of the pancakes. This is a great fun way to add some flair to your pancakes, in a pinch, when you need to do something special for the kids!

If you try this then send us a comment and let us know what you think!

Tip #9: Improvise in the kitchen

What do all of these items have in common? They are being used in my kitchen for purposes other than what they were designed.

I used a baby bottle to measure out 10 ounces of couscous. I'm thinking that a baby bottle should be a staple in every kitchen. It has all sorts of measurements on it. Everyone should have one. You could give them out as housewarming gifts.

I'm kidding... about the housewarming gift part.

Aluminum water bottle as a rolling pin!

Don't throw out that large worn out pan. Keep it and use it as a top to the new pan for the occasions when you need to cover and simmer your food.

Tip #8: easy jungle pull-apart cake

Look at this cute pull apart cake that was at a birthday party that we went to recently. Isn't this the cutest cake for a first birthday? All it is is cupcakes on the bottom and then they are topped with green icing. This particular person used piping bags to pipe the "grass" onto the cupcakes, but you could easily just smear on some green icing. Then, she just added some jungle creatures to the cake as decoration. I thought that the upside-down ice-cream cone in the corner (meant to look like a tree) was great. Don't know where she got the tree topper though. You could make this for any number of guests.

This is such a creative and easy idea.

Tip #7: Drive slower to save gas money

Welcome to another frugal Friday.

Did you know that speeding costs (and all of that fuel use is bad for the environment as well)?

Decrease Your Speed. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 mph. Analysts estimate that each five miles per hour over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents per gallon for gas.

GASP!!!!

Check the drive smarter challenge website for other GREAT money saving gas tips!

Tip #6: Creative ways to share photos online

I recently discovered Smilebox. You can create amazing greeting cards, scrapbooks, and slideshows using your own photos and videos. You sign up for free. You can e-mail your creations to your friends and family or attach them to your blog or even print them (a small extra fee to print).

Plus, you can buy a year subscription to the service and give it as a gift to that special someone who you know who has tons of pics and likes to share them. It would be a great gift for that new mom in your life. She will love it!

I created a small slideshow in a matter of minutes. This is very creative and very easy! If you try it and add it to your blog then let me know where it is so that I can view it too! Try it!

Tip #5: socks as swiffers

No way! Why didn't I think of this?

Check out blissfully domestic's idea of using a sock as a swiffer sheet on your swiffer broom things (for lack of a technical term). She is so right. Grab that spare sock that has a hole in it. Attach it to your swiffer. Clean floors. Throw in the wash and use again. What?

In my family, we have a long tradition of wearing socks with holes in them. It's too painful to throw them away. This is wonderful! Brilliant actually!

Tip #4: Back-to-school book covers

Save yourself lots of time by adding one item to your back-to-school supply list... book covers

Remember to buy the extra large book covers with your school supplies. Those first few days back to school are crazy busy. Who has time to cover the textbooks, especially during those first few weeks back? Not me. The book covers are only a few cents and are well worth the time saved. Add them to your school supply list. Buy them when you buy your school supplies. Don't wait. Don't think that you can go out and get them when the books start coming home. Just go ahead and get them now. You'll thank yourself when the books come home and you just break open a pack of book covers, slip them on, and your finished. Voila!

Easy peasy!

Tip #3: Back to school

The following three items are must haves to place on the side of your refrigerator. You never knew that 3 small items could make your life so much easier. Think of that space as your mini office. Best of all, it is right at your fingertips - so convenient!

1. Refrigerator Calendar. See my pic below. I found this calendar (More Time Moms) at my daughter's book sale and have ordered one every year since. It has large spaces to write in. The pages are not glossy (no smears from the pen ink). It covers the entire school year (no need to find a new calendar in December). Add it to your refrigerator and update it with your family events. You will thank youself.




2. Important papers clip frig magnet. See pic below. Buy a frig magnet that is also a clip. Use it to hold the most important of school papers. Mine holds: class schedule, permission slips, textbook site passwords, and the monthly lunch calendar.




3. Pencil/pen holder frig case/magnet. See pic below. I found this item at the back-to-school sale and it is for school lockers. I added it to our home refrigerator and it holds pens, sharpies, and post-it notes. Note, in the pic below, that it also hangs right next to the calendar. Now, all of these items are right at your finger tips when you need them.

Easy peasy!

Tip #2: Bag lunch

Welcome to Frugal Friday. A day where we discuss all things that save money - a favorite for me!

Bag lunches. Since the birth of my new little prince, I have been brown bagging it to work. Let us not be afraid to pack a lunch that tastes great too. The best part is that I have actually LOST weight on this new plan.

This is what I had for lunch yesterday. Well, not for lunch, but throughout the day as I was grazing (which is supposed to be healthier for you).


Why/how packing a bag lunch has helped me to lose weight? ?

• I am not buying junk at the fast food places.
• I am not starving myself to save money, which causes me to "inhale the contents of my kitchen pantry" when I get home.

Really, look at what I ate yesterday. Ham sandwich ont he way to work. Granola and yogurt for mid-morning snack. Salad for lunch. Carrots and oreo sweet treats in the afternoon. Wa-la!

Don't believe me? Here are some others who think that bagging it is a great, healthy, and frugal way to go!

Frugal lunch by Clever Dude
Zenhabits claims that you can save $3000 by bagging it
And here are some creative ideas for brown bag lunches for the minis who are off to school in the fall.

Easy peasy!

Do you have a great brown bag lunch idea? We'd love to hear about it! Please leave us a comment!

Tip #1: Conversation Starters

Do you ever tire of the same old dinner conversation? At my house the conversation starters are limited to: How was your day sweetheart? Did you do your homework? How was band practice today? And, then my husband and I inevitably start talking about work.

Conversation starter cards are great for the family. We have the Family series, shown in lime green below from Table Topics, but the cards are also available for teens, couples, and even for the book club. Great!

Here are some other great choices that I have found.

Family Time Fun Dinner Games and Activities

Sports Talk Conversation Cards (also available: kids talk, art talk, career talk, and science talk)

Do you need something super easy peasy! Don't want to wait for your cards to arrive in the mail? Here are some other choices!

These cards to download from blogger Summertime Designs.

Or sample more questions at these sites.

• Homebasics
• Dinner Table Conversation Starters
  Start Family Discussions Your Kids Won’t Want to Stop Talking About
  © Diane Lane Fitzpatrick
• Stouffers mealtime conversation starters

Easy-peasy fun for the family and a great gift idea as well!