Master the Art of the Frugal Lifestyle: Money-Saving Strategies, Easy Affordable Recipes, Stress-Free Meal Planning, and Family Celebrations. Spend Wisely, Live Lavishly

Month: May 2017

Bacon Lollipops – A thrill for your grill!

Bacon Lollipops – A thrill for your grill!

  Are you ready for Bacon Lollipops? Stick with me! (get it? stick? I crack me up.)  These little bites pack a big punch. It’s so flavorful; sweet, savory, smoky, crunchy and chewy. It’s all the things!  It’s also very attractive on the plate. And …read more

The Ultimate Chopped Salad Recipe with 7 Variations  

The Ultimate Chopped Salad Recipe with 7 Variations  

  As I write this I’m dreaming of summertime, which makes me think of the first BBQ’s and picnics of summer. Such a lovely time of year. As a result, here’s a meal prep perfect and picnic safe salad recipe to feed a crowd any …read more

Top 10 Summertime Boredom Busters for Kids

Top 10 Summertime Boredom Busters for Kids

  The kids get out of school this week and I’m in total denial about the whole thing. Seriously, I’m still thinking “what happened to April”?  I’ve mentioned before, our family homeschools but we take a break in the summer.   It doesn’t take long …read more

How to make a Bird Feeder out of a Toilet Paper Roll

How to make a Bird Feeder out of a Toilet Paper Roll

  Need something cool to occupy the kiddies? (Or the kids at heart?)   Make a bird feeder from a toilet paper roll!   Wait! Don’t go! Hear me out.   This is a great summer fun activity. It’s so cool to see the birds …read more

How to make Five Minute Baggie Ice Cream

How to make Five Minute Baggie Ice Cream

If you have baggies, ice and milk – you’ve got everything you need for an amazing culinary experiment!   It’s totally cool!   Get it? Cool . . . Because . . . ice cream . . .   Nevermind.   Here’s a great summertime …read more

How to make 3 Ingredient Puffy Slime

How to make 3 Ingredient Puffy Slime

    It only takes three ingredients and five minutes to make hours of fun.   This puffy slime is a highly tactile experience. What’s more, it’s oddly soothing. Subsequently, everyone who was around when we made this stuff couldn’t keep their hands off it! …read more

Afternoon Tea is perfect for Mother’s Day

Afternoon Tea is perfect for Mother’s Day

  To celebrate Mother’s Day and honor the influential Mother figures in your life, may I suggest serving Afternoon Tea?   Afternoon Tea is a most civilized custom and has many entertaining applications.   For example, it could be just you and a friend in …read more

Agua Fresca – a Crowd Pleasing Beverage for Cinco de Mayo and Beyond

Agua Fresca – a Crowd Pleasing Beverage for Cinco de Mayo and Beyond

    Agua Fresca, which translates literally to “fresh water” in Spanish, is a universally adored thirst-quencher during the warm days of  summer. Sold by street vendors in Mexico and all over Latin America, Agua Fresca is just the thing to enjoy all summer and …read more

Ten Thoughtful Ideas for Mother’s Day that won’t Break the Bank

Ten Thoughtful Ideas for Mother’s Day that won’t Break the Bank

Are you ready for Mother’s Day?   In other words, make Mom’s day truly special with this list of ideas.    Make something with your own hands You don’t have to be a little kid for this to be special. Honest.  Make a card by hand. …read more

Spice up your corn for Cinco de Mayo

Spice up your corn for Cinco de Mayo

    It’s almost Cinco de Mayo (AKA drink margaritas day) and we’re going to be seeing lots of themed parties over the weekend.   So, in honor of all the things we’re celebrating, the beautiful weather, the coming of summer and finally breaking out the …read more