{Tip} Replacing DVD's!

Wow! Wow! Wow!

is all I really can say. 

But that would be a super boring post...

So I will share some details!

Our Ellie adores Frozen, I mean who doesn't?

Fun Fact: it premiered on her first birthday at El Capitan theatre!

Anyways, she adores it. And when a two year old adores a DVD they normally scratch it, am I right?

Well, Love is an Open Door was more like a remix version as it skipped, stopped and restarted.

I was getting desperate, and knew the library had a DVD cleaner so I asked if they could help me out.

Well, I probably should have just lived with the remix, because after being cleaned the DVD would no longer play at all!

This is when panic started to set in. 

I looked at just buying a new one, and felt silly.  That is when I remembered I had seen Disney actually replaces DVD's! I couldn't believe it, is it true? So I asked my facebook followers. No one had heard of it, or done it. So I was a little skeptical. But I thought, for $6.95  and a stamp it was worth a shot.

Best $6.95 spent EVER! 

To replace your Disney DVD's: click here.

We printed out the form, put it in an envelope and mailed it out January 15th.

The site says give them 4-6 weeks, well business must have been a slow because we had our 

NEW Frozen DVD in hand on January 31st! AMAZING! 

And if for any reason we need to replace Frozen again, hopefully we don't, we can send it out again next January. You can send any DVD once a year! 

Now, I haven't had an experience or sent any DVD's to them but you can also send in your Universal Studios DVD's too!

To replace your Universal Studios DVD's: click here

It looks like it's better for you to send multiples to Universal, as the first is $7.95, then $2.50 for each additional DVD.

What DVD's do you think you might send in for replacement?

For us, Disney may see our Toy Story Movies!

And Despicable Me, and Despicable Me 2 could use a trip to Universal Studios! 

Cleans: REUSABLE Bleach Wipes

Yes, you read that right!

REUSEABLE Bleach wipes, not just DIY Bleach wipes.

I love bleach wipes. With three little ones,it helps keep me sane. 

See a spill, Grab a wipe, clean it up. So Easy.

But I hate how expensive they are. Even the "knock off" ones add up.

So after thinking about it. Why not make reusable ones?

So I can use, throw in the washer, reload into the container, and reuse!

Now, I'm shaking my head thinking why didn't I do this sooner?

To make your own Reusable wipes you need:

A container 

Bleach Solution

Wipes

For my container, I just reused one of the store bought wipes came in. 

I also thought about using a giant  canning jar, plastic baby wipes container or tupperware.

For my bleach solution, I used 1 cup bleach to 3 cups water and a squirt of dish soap.

Just like when I made a bleach solution for my dried out wipes, or DIY bleach Spray.

For the wipes, I originally thought about using flannel squares. If you have the patience to hem your squares, go for it. I didn't! If you have knit fabric, cut yourself some squares and your good to go! 

But I went the easiest route! Baby washcloths! We have a huge pile of washcloths so I decided to weed through it in an effort to Purge. Organize. Clean. Repeat. (January's motto!) And I noticed we had a large amount of these thin baby washcloths. They were the perfect size, and took no extra time to whip up, like the other options would have!

So far I am loving them! I've been cleaning things just to be able to use them! 

Once I use one, I rinse it off and throw in my laundry pile. 

When they come out of the dryer I just put them right back in the container.

As the container needs it, I add some more solution.

Foaming Soap Refill

As I continue to Purge. Organize. Clean. Repeat. I came across an empty foaming bottle that I had put under the sink for when the second one was empty.  I got them cheap with coupons when they were on sale, or else I would not have bought them honestly. Holy expensive, and my kids will use an entire bottle if no one is looking!

So before I threw them out I looked to see if I could refill it, and low and behold I can.

All you need to do is put 1/5 of the bottle full of soap, I would get even less because if its too thin you can always add more. But if its too thick, you will clog up your foaming nozzle.

I used baby soap, and its been great having it in the tub for the kids! 

I have also done my second one with dish soap, and love it!

Add water. 

I would say use water from a bottle or fill a cup, just so that it isn't pressurized from your tap. 

If you try from the tap, it will bubble up and make a mess.

Pour your water in slowly. Add your top, mix it  up a little. Don't shake, just swish it around.

What Household Hacks have you figured out lately?

Revisited: DIY Laundry Soap

Now that I have finished using my first batch, I thought I would let you all know just how it went!

Here's what I mixed up this time:

(Note: Not all quantities pictured, just one of each item)

1-4lb 12 oz box borax

1-3lb oxyclean

1-3 lb 7 oz Washing Soda

2-14.1oz zote soap bars, shredded

4-1lb boxes baking soda 

** I didn't want to grate the Zote by hand, so I sent it through my Salad shooter with the shred blade!**

I've got to say, I love it! 

As you can see,  this time I didn't add the Purex Fabric Softener Crystals.

I didn't feel like they added much to the mix. My clothes didn't come out as smelly as I thought and I wasn't 100% sold on the scent. So back to the downy ball I go, at least for this batch.

 Maybe I will try Downy Unstoppables next time?

If you have sensitive skin you should definitely try making a batch! 

My husband is so sensitive that most anti-bacterial hand soap affects him, so I was a little worried when I wanted to make it before. And now with baby girl, I was hesitant too but we have had no issues!

My last batch lasted from July 1- February 1! 

(I have enough for two more weeks before I have to crack open the new batch)

So I am guessing this batch will last until September!

Do you make your own laundry soap?

Is your recipe different?

Meal Plan: 1/21-1/26

Underneath each day is what I buy/plan for each day.

M: Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Rolls/Tortillas, Veggie of Choice, Potato of Choice

T: Chicken Parmesan

Veggie of Choice & Pasta

W: Sausage and Peppers

Rolls, Veggie of Choice

Th: Greek Chicken

*New Recipe!* Veggie of Choice & Rice
(Will let you know how it is!)

F: Pizza & Wings

Homemade Pizza: Dough, Sauce, Cheese & Additional Toppings. Chicken Wings. Celery & Carrots

Meal Plan: 1/14-1/18

Earlier this week, I asked over on facebook if anyone was interested in what our weekly meal plan looked like. And typically you see Meal Plan Mondays, but around here I plan on Fridays.

I know, I know backwards as usual. 

But here's my rationale. We grocery shop every Friday/Saturday. It works for us.

So without further adeu, here is NEXT week's meal Plan!

*Note: I typically make a big green salad that we each throughout the week with meals* 

M: Chicken Stir fry

Chicken, Frozen Oriental Stir Fry & Rice

T: Stuffed Cabbage Cassarole

I'm using my Stuffed Pepper Cassarole Recipe but substituting the Cabbage for the Peppers.

W: BLT's

Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato on Toasted Bread. Served with Veggie Of Choice

Th: Chicken Soft Taco's/Quesadillas

Chicken, Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese, Sour Cream, Black Beans & Rice

F: Stuffed Shells

Frozen Stuffed Shells, Sauce & Veggie of Choice

As you can see our dinners are pretty easy and straight forward. Every now and again I get "fancy" and make something different/more difficult. But thats normally on the weekends. Also, I don't plan for the weekends because there are normally plenty of leftovers, or places to be.

To make my grocery list for the week I start with my meal plan, and go day by day. 

For example this weeks would start out like this:

Chicken Breast

Frozen Stir Fry Vegetables

Rice

Ground Beef

Rice

Sauce

Peppers

Onions

etc.

And I make it this way no matter what. Then I go through and cross off what I have in the freezer or pantry. So my list then becomes this:

Chicken Breast

Frozen Stir Fry Vegetables

Rice

Ground Beef

Rice

Sauce

Peppers

Onions

etc.

Next, I go through and mentally plan out what I need for breakfast and lunch.

Lastly, I add in household items. Soap, Shampoo, Toilet Paper, etc. 

How do you plan for the week?

Do you make a detailed grocery list or fly by the seat of your pants?

Crafts: Crayons

I've done crayons before, but this time with much more success.

And, I am happy to say that this is off my to do list, and my WIP pile.  My sister and I tried to make crayons last year ( maybe even longer than that) and we didn't do so great.

Here's what I had to start with. You can see our failed attempted at letters!

This time, I stuck the tins in a pot of water and brought (water) to a boil.  

Once melted, I poured into a candy mold.  I've used a silicone mold before but they broke coming out.

I put them in the freezer to speed up the cooling process.

  

Repeat until your out of crayons to melt. Put in a bowl, and color away!

.Note:  some of the "clear" looking crayons don't work well, its the cheap crayons. But, if you pour them "clear" off and then use the remaining crayon wax and your fine!   

Got Drafts?

Do you live in a climate that it is getting cold this time of year?  How about living in an older, not so perfect home with cracks, and uneven doors?   Do you use draft snakes ( the ones with rice or something else in there?) Me too.

In an effort to prevent some drafts, I have started to use these:

Yup, that foam stuff you wrap your pipes in.  It slides right under the door filling in the gap between door and floor!  If your going to go out and buy some foam insulation, you may want to measure your gap first.  I used what I had on hand and it worked out ( luckily) and then got some hand me down foam thats a little thinner, it still worked for a different door but if you have a big gap, and buy the thin stuff your still going to have a gap!

Mmm! Iced Tea!

To some people this is a no brainer. And it was for us for a while, but now I am sort of insisting that we made our own Iced Tea.

Now, I used to put it in this giant glass jug out on the back steps in the sun, and then bring it in. But then the jug didn't fit in the fridge. Ugh. So. I stopped making it, because when it was left on the counter, it would get gunky.

So here's what I do! I fill my pitcher ( that fits in the fridge perfectly) with hot tap water, then I add my teabags. This pitcher takes five, and sit it in the pantry until the color is changed from clear to tea colored. Then into the fridge it goes.

Here's the reason for insisting, COST!  We used to pickup a gallon of green tea, at least once a week, and that was 3 dollars or so, then we would also buy a case of bottled tea to take on the go or for lunch and that only lasted a week or two, at about 15 dollars a case. So...  Let's say I was spending about twenty dollars a week in tea! I know. Silly.

Now we spend about three dollars a week in tea!  Ahhhh. Tastes better to!

Oh no! Wet Cell Phone!

Have you ever dropped your cell phone in a puddle? Toilet? Sink? Or, like me have your 15 month old dunk it in a drink! Ugh.

So, I had heard of the rice trick, but never tried it. And I was desperate! We don't have a house phone just our cell phones, and if I didn't get this to dry out... I would have to buy a new phone..

So...

Here's what I did to dry out my phone, I opened all the doors and covers ( for the charger, camera card etc) and took the back off and battery out.. Then I took all the parts and pieces and dropped them into a bag of dry rice.  I even took my blow dryer on low and warmed the rice up.  And within a couple hours my phone was back to working!

Ballons for a Bargain!

So, I wanted some nice specialty balloons for my son's birthday since I could not tape anything on the walls, so I thought balloons would be the best thing to spruce up the hall we rented.  So I did a quick google search and could not believe that people pay $5 per ballon, and they are not even full of helium... So.. I kept searching.

And then I found the greatest site ever! 

bargainballoons.com

I was able to buy $60 worth of very large balloons (24 inches to 32 inches) for $25 and that included shipping! The shipping is a little steap I thought but then when I got the order in less than two days, it was well worth it!

So, for your next party you should definitely look into these.. The quality is there, and the price is right! And, our party was last Saturday, and its Wednesday. The balloons are still floating, and look great.. So you could probably get away with filling them with helium the day before, to save time the day of the party!

Plastic Favor bags

Have you ever priced Clear Plastic Favor bags? Wow! For what they are, they can be a little pricey... Especially if you buy them in the craft stores... But then, while in the Party store I found 25 bags for 1.99! I was so happy with the price but not the size.. I knew I wouldnt fill them and that I would cut them down, but all that waste...

So I got thinking, is there a way to seal the top, and then cut it in half? YES! The Foodsaver!  Now, if only I had one! Well... I know someone who does, so a quick phone call just made my 1.99 for 25, 1.99 for 50! Score!

Here's how I did it!


Take your bag and place in Foodsaver's heat element ( no need for vacuum) and seal the top closed. So it looks like this...

Then, fold in half and cut! 

Sorry for the bad photos! Plastic is not very easy to capture especially at night!

Now, I am off to fill these with some Ocean Themed Goodies... Any ideas?

A Cricut Dilema!

I was borrowing a friends Cricut (Such an awesome product!) to do some scrap booking... And my paper started to not stick so well, and was crushing the letters instead of cutting them nicely.. Ugh. How frustrating too, as I was just getting into my groove!

So what to do??? A quick google search came to the rescue! Instead of going out and purchasing a new cutting mat, I found the answer for much cheaper!

After the search, I ran to my local Michael's store and purchased Krylon Brand, Easy Tack Repositionable Adhesive. This stuff is a life saver, well not really but in a scrap booking incident it was!

First, you need to peel any paper that may still be stuck to the mat off, and give it a quick hot soapy scrub. Then, you mask off the non sticky edge of your Cricut Mat and spray an even coat across. The information from the search said they left theirs overnight, but I didn't know why, and I am impatient. So I used it a couple hours later. It is pretty sticky, for the first few pages but then works like new after that.

Gotta love money saving tips! So for a couple bucks I can reuse my friends mat over and over!