Works for Me Wednesday: Peeling a Banana

I recently read somewhere that if you peel a banana from the bottom up, you don't have to pull off those little strings that some folks find annoying. Well, I just tried it--it works!

WFMW: What To Do With ALL THOSE Coloring Pages!

My kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to color. I didn't like throwing their creations in the trash, so I started saving their works of art in a binder. When it's time for thank you cards (such as following birthdays or play dates), I pull out a generic piece (i.e, one without "I Love You, Mom! or something similar) and allow them to choose which work of art to pass along to the thank you card recipient. All we have to do is have them sign their names and add a sentiment such as "Thank you for the birthday gift!"

For more Works For Me Wednesday tips, visit Rocks In My Dryer!

WFMW: Reusable Worksheets or Checklists

When the little ones are practicing handwriting, addition & subtractions facts, or multiplication tables, print out a worksheet (such as these math worksheets or these handwriting worksheets), or create your own. Then, slide the paper into a page protector and give your kiddos a dry erase marker or grease pencil. You can easily wipe the page protector clean using a dry erase eraser or soft cloth once they are done and reuse it over and over! (They could also use a Sharpie and wipe clean with a bit of alcohol, but I'm not brave enough to allow my little ones to use Sharpies!) This is also a good way to reuse a shopping list or to-do list.

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WFMW: Saving Water

Although Rocks In My Dryer is not hosting Works For Me Wednesday this week, I thought I would pass along a little tip anyway for all two of you (thanks Mom and Dad!) who visit this blog. So, here it goes.

Sometimes I need to be motivated to make major changes. I am quite frugal by nature, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a long hot shower. To nip this non-frugal habit, I allow the tub to fill up while I am showering so that I can SEE how much water I am wasting. When the water level reaches a certain point, I tell myself enough is enough! Works for me. :)

WFMW: Frugal Eye Make Up Remover

The easiest and least expensive way I have found to remove eye make up (especially stubborn mascara) is to use a cotton ball with a bit of baby oil. I have had a large bottle of baby oil for a year or more and have hardly made a dent in it! The store brand works just as well as the name brand.

For more Works For Me Wednesday, visit Rocks In My Dryer.

WFMW: No Slip Dough Kneading

I wish I could remember where I read this, as I'm certain there were more great tips about bread making in general, but when kneading your dough on a cutting board or similar surface, placing a damp towel under the board will prevent it from sliding!

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit Rocks In My Dryer.

Easy Homemade Frozen Pops

It's summer and it's not getting any cheaper to buy frozen pops! So, when I open a can of fruit, I drain the liquid into a mold (or even an ice cube tray or a cup with a wooden stick) to make homemade Popsicles. Sometimes I'll add a bit of the fruit, too. Even if the liquid isn't 100% juice, I suspect it's a healthier alternative to the artificially colored and flavored ones you find in the frozen treat section. This works great with yogurt and pudding, too!

For more ideas to make life easier, visit Works for Me Wednesday hosted at Rocks In My Dryer.

Tip: Storing Cold Weather Sheets and Blankets

For those of us who are domestically challenged, we are just putting away our winter blankets and sheets (even though we live in Florida and it's been over 80 for at least the last month). Since we have more people than bedrooms in our house of six and I haven't yet mastered the art of efficient closet storage, I store these items under the mattresses of the beds to which they belong. If I arrange them just so, the princesses don't even notice the peas I've placed there! :)