Cupcake Tip

Yes, I am still alive.  Summer has been a bit busy and by the time I get a moment to hangout on the computer I'm too brain dead to write anything.

I have a free moment though and I've been wanting to share a few new tips so here is one.

When making cupcakes, use an ice cream scoop to put the mix in the liners.  If making mini cupcakes, use a melon scoop.  We make a lot of cupcakes and muffins around here and scooping this way has saved me a ton of time and mess.

Quick Tip: Save on Soap

Apparently this is a widely known tip but it was new to me so I thought I would share it with all of you.  To reduce the amount of pump soap used, wrap a rubber band around the pump.  This will allow you to only use about a half of a pump at a time instead of a full pump. 

That is more than enough soap for washing your hands and now your pump soap will last twice as long.

Jewelry Tip

I rarely wear jewelry but sometimes I like to have a trendy piece or two for those rare occasions when I get out of the house without kids.  In my search for affordable pieces, I've discovered the Juniors section at most department stores usually has better prices.  

When I'm buying trendy, I'm not looking for the highest quality because I know the trend probably won't last that long, therefore I can get away with a cheaper purchase.  The Juniors section tends to fit this description perfectly.  I came across this by accident but now it is the first place I look when I want new jewelry.

Quick Tip: Dishwasher & Dryer Fires

This has been on my list to post for a few weeks now but I'm just now finding a few seconds to post it.  

Several weeks ago, a friend had a fire in her dishwasher.  She posted about it on Facebook and I was surprised by the responses from others who had similar experiences or knew someone who had.

Through her status and some research of my own, I've learned that you should never leave your house or go to bed while your dishwasher or dryer are on.  Apparently fires are very common in both appliances.

I almost always have one of these appliances running while I am out running errands but I've changed my habits since then.  It is a bit of an inconvenience but I figured it would be more of an inconvenience if I had to remodel my house due to a fire.

Quick Tip: Cranberries

A lot of holiday recipes call for cranberries but I used to shy away from those recipes because cranberries can get expensive.  A few years ago an acquaintance told me a little secret - dried cranberries are only $1 a box (4.25 oz) at Walgreens.  They are kept with their other dried fruits and while I'm not a fan of the other varieties the cranberries are great.  My kids love them too so I keep a few boxes on hand year round.

Quick Tip: Carpet Cleaning

I cannot remember where I learned this tip but someone told me when steam cleaning their carpets they never use cleaner.  Instead, they pretreat any spots with a spot remover and then just put boiling water into the steam cleaner.  

Our dog sleeps in our bedroom and the carpet gets gross quickly so I've been doing this for months now.  Not only is it saving me money in buying expensive chemicals but it is cause less wear and tear on my carpet.

Quick Tip: Breakfast While Traveling

I always look for a hotel with free breakfast when traveling but sometimes I'm stuck at a higher class one and I'm too cheap to pay their high prices for breakfast.

While staying at a Disney Resort for the Tupperware convention this summer, I made my own breakfast in the room using oatmeal packets.  I can't remember where I learned this tip, but I heated water in the coffee maker and made the oatmeal in coffee cups.  It was a cheap, yet filling and healthy breakfast - something I know I would not be able to find at the cafe in the resort.