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organizing | diy | frugal living

Do It On A Dime

DIY Velveeta Cheese and Holiday Hanky Pankies

by Filed Under: Recipes

In this Cooking with Carson segment, I’ll be sharing quick way to make your own Velveeta cheese and an easy holiday (hearty!) appetizer.

I stumbled upon this Velveeta Cheese dupe from MOMables.  We’ve used it for almost a year, and it holds up great in any Velveeta cheese recipe where you need a substitute!

One of our favorite Appetizers is HANKY PANKIES!  These are a family secret, and while they aren’t lookers (you won’t win any awards there), these are amazing on the taste buds.

*LOOKING FOR THE FREE DOWNLOAD OF THIS RECIPE?  CLICK HERE!*

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.*

 

 

Giving back with your kids! {Operation Christmas Child}

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Holiday

If you are looking for a tangible way to give back this holiday season, one of our favorite charity events is Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse.

Samaritan’s Purse is a wonderful non-profit I have enjoyed working with over the years.  Create shoeboxes filled with school supplies, personal hygiene items, and toys to send to a child in need overseas.  The best part of all is this kids will experience God’s love first-hand in a discipleship class and your give will have eternal impact.

See how Carson and I packed boxes this year, and I hope you decide to join us!

**US collection is Nov. 16- Nov. 23 of 2015.  Find your local dropoff!**

Connect to your child by sending information from your kids and family in this free printable!

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.  Images in video and post provided by Samaritan’s Purse.  Learn more about blogger impact here.*

Our Thanksgiving Table

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Holiday, Money Saving

Here are some easy ideas to get your table ready this Thanksgiving.  All of these items were either thrift store or Dollar Tree finds (given to me by the beautiful Barbara!…what a kind gesture).  ANYONE can create a beautiful look on a dime.  Hope you enjoy!

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.*

 

Is organizing worth it?

by Filed Under: Organization

Sometimes as a mom it’s hard to find balance and justify “getting organized.”  What is worth investing our time in?  What systems are here to stay for good?

Really, it all comes down to MACRO ORGANIZATION and MICRO ORGANIZATION.  Here’s my take on how you can get organized and STAY organized!  Yup, it’s pretty simple!

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are genuinely my own.*

Dollar Tree & One Spot Haul…plus a giveaway!

by Filed Under: Money Saving, Organization

Here are some favorite items I picked up from Dollar Tree and Target One Spot recently.  I love how everything is just $1!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules of Entry:  Giveaway ends November 5th 2015 at 12:00 am EST. Open internationally.  Winners must be 18 or older or have parental permission.  Winner will be selected randomly by Rafflecopter within a week of the giveaway ending and be notified by email. Winners have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is selected.  The product(s) offered for the giveaway is free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation.  Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Dollar Tree are in no way associated with this giveaway.  All prizes are purchased and shipped with my own money.  By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me and me alone.  I will use your information only for the purpose of contacting the winners and sending your name and address to the company to ship your prize.

DIY Fall Scents | All natural!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Holiday, Recipes

The scent of fall always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.  In this episode of “Cooking with Carson”, be prepared to fall in love with fall all over again.  Here is an easy (and all natural) way to make your own home fragrance or home scent.  Your kitchen will thank you.

 

Natural Fall Scent (for use in wax melt warmers)

  • 2 Tbsp of Coconut Oil
  • 1/4 tsp ground (or whole) cloves
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Melt coconut oil in warmer and mix in dry ingredients.  Let your home fill with fall goodness.  As the smell starts to fade, just sprinkle in a bit more of the ingredients and you please.  After letting cool, you will notice that the dry ingredients sink to the bottom and the oil stays on the top.  When you warm it again, mix everything up to help re-activate the smell!

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.*

 

BUDGET ORGANIZING | Small Girls’ Room & Closet

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Money Saving, Organization

I helped my dear friend organize her daughters’ shared bedroom.  She didn’t have a lot of space to work with, so we maximized what she did have in the closet.  She has some beautiful decor and some great ideas she came up with, too.  I knew I had to share.  Hope you enjoy!

If you are struggling with decorating and organizing small spaces, here are some tips that will really help you!

  1. Re-purpose old items.  You can create beautiful decor this way!  Check out the video to see a beautiful window DIY.
  2. Stencils make a big impact and give a custom look to a room on a dime.  We use them in our home, too and get so many compliments.
  3. Paint Light Fixtures that you don’t like.  Hello, pink!  This is a great way to save money and create a custom look in the room.
  4. Find furniture that has room for storage underneath, especially in small spaces this is key.
  5. Re-think storage spaces.  Who says you have to keep something where it is just because it has always been there.  Re-thinking systems can help you find space you didn’t know you had.
  6. Use cube shelves in the closet.  I can’t say enough good things about this!  It maximizes floor space in standard double-door closets.
  7. Use dollar bins and labels (from Dollar Tree and Target respectively!).  You know I love these, and they are just as good as the expensive guys.
  8. Have a no-fold system using bins.  Dollar Tree plastic bins are a great way to achieve this.  Throw in blankets, burp cloths, socks, etc.  They are contained, easy to find, and it saves you a lot of time when doing laundry.
  9. Make your own baskets using old boxes and jute twine.  You can see more on that here.
  10. Use Dollar Tree plastic shoe bins in drawers for dividers.  These make excellent dividers and they are so inexpensive.
  11. Use Dollar Tree trash cans to store hair bows.  I loved this idea Meredith had!  Girls’ stuff can get everywhere!

I hope you enjoyed these tips and I would love to hear yours below!

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.*

3 Easy Bathroom Refreshes!

by Filed Under: Cleaning, DIY Projects

Here are three easy ways to refresh your bathroom on a budget and combat annoying things like stinky toilets, musty towels, and matted down rugs. You’ll be glad you gave these a try!

  1. Toilet Fizzies! For this recipe you will need:

Mix together the dry ingredients. Slowly pour the wet ingredients over top (for as little fizz as possible). Form into balls and let dry overnight. Or just place powder directly into container and use a scoop to get it out. Toss into your toilet mid-week for a mini-refresh

2. Combat musty towels! For this recipe you will need:

  • 1 cup vinegar
  • 1/2 cup baking soda

Add vinegar to your detergent well. Run a cycle of JUST hot water. Sprinkle baking soda onto clothes immediately after cycle and run another of JUST hot water. Presto. Your towels will be SO fresh and clean. We don’t use laundry detergent, you can find out more about Crystal Wash here if you are interested.

3. Refresh your rugs! Wash your rugs and let dry. Spray with a 50/50 vinegar water solution and use a wire brush to bring back to life. Your feet will thank you. Alternatively, you could have a look at some high quality designer rugs and find yourself a new decor item for you bathroom.

Hope you give these a try!

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*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links contain affiliates.*

$20 Small Pantry Organization | DOLLAR TREE

by Filed Under: Dollar Tree, Money Saving, Organization

Organizing a tiny pantry can be challenging.  My brother recently moved into his first apartment on his own, and he has one of the smallest pantries I have ever seen.  The door is literally a half door.  If that.  Probably the right size for a hobbit?

In one trip to the Dollar Tree and spending only $17, here’s what we came up with.  I also share my favorite tips for organizing small spaces like a pantry in general and helping keep it that way.

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.*

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