For example, did you know that coffee cans can be turned into baking pans? They are the perfect size for making coffee cakes and breads. Plus you can bake several at once as they are horizontal and take up less oven surface space. The interesting shape will create a fancy feel, making the baked good even more appropriate for gift giving. Make sure to coat the can with plenty of cooking spray, and after you pour in the batter, tap it on the counter to remove air pockets. Then, bake as usual.

Margarine and butter tubs have numerous uses. Cut a slit in the top to create a bank for a child. Set them up with some construction paper, markers and stickers and you have a rainy day activity that does not require a television monitor. Another idea is to fill a clean tub with water, replace the lid and take it on your next road trip as a portable water bowl for Fido. Smaller tubs are perfect for paint touch ups. Each time you paint a room, add a bit of the leftover paint to a small tub and keep on hand for future nicks and scratches.

These helpful hints and more can be found in my book, “How to Beat a Tough Economy: A Mom’s Survival Guide to Living on a Tight Budget.” Please share with us how you recycle and upcycle common household items!

Going green will not only save your wallet, but it will save the planet! It can feel overwhelming to learn about the rainforests disappearing, overflowing landfills, and toxic chemicals whirling about in once pristine waters; we are often left thinking, what can I do? The problems seem so huge! But you can do something and that is to commit to a healthy home environment. The good news is that this can be done quite easily and inexpensively.

You have probably seen environment-friendly cleaners, but after checking out the price you may have placed it gently back upon the shelf. Good news! You can make your own cleaners – not only are they easy to make, but they use ingredients that you will not need to go to the end of the earth to find. In my book, “How to Beat a Tough Economy: A Mom’s Survival Guide to Living on a Tight Budget,” I share several recipes for all purpose cleaners, dishwasher detergent, drain cleaners as well as laundry soap for both front or top load and front loader machines.

Here is a simple window cleaner recipe to get you started:

Add ingredients to a clean spray bottle and you will have streak-free windows, without the use of any chemicals.

There truly is no reason whatsoever to waste your money on cleaning products. Nor do you need to rely on chemical concoctions to keep your home clean! Do you have any clean cleaning tips? Please share them with us!

 

 

Today I wanted to share with you a few more ideas and we start with leftovers; those fridge inhabitants that we forget about until they turn into science experiments – yuk! Don’t forget them, “upcycle” them instead. For example, let’s say you made up a nice big bowl of mashed potatoes to accompany your dinner. In the case of leftovers, and by the way, you may want to actually make sure you have leftovers for this recipe, here is a yummy recipe for you. This and many more ideas are included in the book.

Mash Potato Pancakes: To 3 cups of mashed potatoes add 2 eggs, 1 Tablespoon of flour, some minced onion and a dash of nutmeg. Spoon ¼ cup of the batter onto a hot griddle, flatten, and cook on both sides until lightly browned. Serve topped with crumbled turkey bacon and/or sour cream or applesauce and you have a meal.

How about substitutions? For time-challenged moms, having to make a last minute run to the store can really throw you off your game. I have listed several surprising substitutions that will carry you through to the next grocery store trip. Did you know you could substitute the oil in baked goods with equal amounts of no-sugar-added apple sauce? It won’t change the flavor or texture, and save you on calories – now that’s a good deal!

Stay tuned for my next blog where we will talk about easy to make mixes to have on hand (super easy, very inexpensive and no scary ingredients) for everything from brownies to crisp coating mix!

There is a way to feed your family, feel good about it and not have to take out a loan. In my book, “How to Beat a Tough Economy: A Mom’s Survival Guide to Living on a Tight Budget,” I share numerous ways to make this happen. Included is information on how to read those confusing labels, a list of healthier sugar alternatives, and eight pages dedicated to herbs and spices and their suggested uses. I also include information on how some of those spices can keep you extra healthy. For example, did you know that you can make a tea from 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds mixed with 1 cup of boiling water; let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes and use to relax tense stomach and intestinal muscles to relieve you of bloat.

I also include helpful charts for meal planning. These charts will soon be available at my website, so keep an eye out for them. I know that meal planning can seem like an extra step, but really it is a way to streamline your meal planning, meal spending and the time it takes to do it all. By planning out a week of meals, you won’t find yourself standing in front of the fridge on any given evening wondering what sort of ingredients you can throw together for dinner. This activity risks your making something less than satisfying (and healthy) or you may find yourself just throwing your hands in the air and heading out for fast food. A quick plan can save you a lot of frustration and time (and make you healthy!).

 

In the first chapter of the book I teach techniques that will wire you for success, get out of a funk, and learn how to become present.  These techniques are simple, mindful and timely. The set the stage for all your future endeavors; they allow you to create a smooth ride from rocky terrain.

I want you to be proud of who you are and the accomplishments you’ve achieved. I want you to become comfortable with speaking about your success. I want you to be able to focus on what is now and to confidently move into and beyond any challenge.  I bet you want the same for yourself. Am I right or am I right?

If you want to make it in these tough times, then pick up a copy of my book and beat that tough economy with your head held high and skyrocketing confidence. You can survive anything when you know who you and where you are going at a deep level. We are strong people, let’s show it off.

 

Being a good mom is no small task; add a tough economy on top of it and you are hit with a double whammy. As mothers we want everything for our children, we would buy the world for them if we could afford it. This past recession has made it especially difficult for many of us to buy groceries, much less the world.

It is for this reason that I wrote my book,  “How to Beat a Tough Economy: A Mom’s Survival Guide to Living on a Tight Budget.” I took my best ever lessons and tips, along with amazing recipes for everything from beauty care to home cleansers, and created a mom-friendly guide on keeping it real and natural without breaking the bank.

Over the next few blogs I will share more information about the book and give you some sneak peeks! Can’t wait? Then please stop by my website to pick up your own copy of “How to Beat a Tough Economy.”  Blessings to all you moms out there!

 

Are you still stuck in holiday mode? Eating on the go, grabbing whatever goodie comes your way, eating just because? I am here to gently give you a bit of a nudge and remind you that it is time to move back into healthy eating.

Okay, I can hear you groaning out there. Believe me, I really do get it; we are busy people, with demanding lives. We get home from a hard day at work and the work does not end as home presents even more to-do’s. Perhaps you are facing one of these familiar scenarios:

•  The laundry is stacking up and getting dangerously close to touching the ceiling.

 So, take a nice deep breath. I found a few amazing sites with super easy healthy recipes that can keep you going for years to come.

Lifehack.com provides a listing of over 100 quick and healthy meals; breakfasts, salads, fish, meat, vegetarian, even desserts!

CookingLight.com has a fantastic listing of simple 5-ingredient meals.

Delish.com offers up twelve healthy family recipes at under $3 per serving!

Enjoy and get back to your healthy diets!