Tips from the Holiday Survival Handbook -Giveaway!

Pin itI picked up this great little book on sale one day. It’s called The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Holidays, by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht. I was not familiar with the Worst Case Scenario series before reading it, and I was an instant fan. The authors give a lot of practical advice, as well [...]

Works for Me – Teacher Gifts

Pin it I just finished my gift baskets for teachers, and I thought I’d share what I gave this year. These are super easy and inexpensive, and show a lot of appreciation to those who impact your kids. I got the mug and basket at the Dollar Tree. You can give it just like this, [...]

Works For Me – Easy Inexpensive Dinner Idea

Pin it What do you do when you get home from (insert childhood activity which you shlep the kids to and from) at 5:00 and you haven’t thought about dinner yet? Come on, I know we all can’t be perfect menu planners like I am! (Right!) Here are some of my favorites. Shannon beat me [...]

Cheap and Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas

Pin it I realize I have been more utilitarian than philosophical lately at Real Life. Well, this is “Real Life”, right? A girl’s gotta eat, a girl’s gotta shop, a girl’s gotta make cheap decorations! What can I say? First, I’ll show you my grapevine wreaths that can be hung on the wall or door, [...]

Protect Your Marriage With a Spending Communication Policy

Pin itA few days ago, an upbeat young woman called while my husband was out at a school concert. She mentioned that she had talked to Judd about an exciting vacation opportunity (time share pitch) on a coastal island. He had been very interested, but it was during dinner, so he had asked her to [...]

Real Life Cleaning Tips

Pin itI think it’s very helpful that we moms (and dads) give each other tips and tricks that work for us.  But sometimes I get that “June-Cleaver-Martha-Stewart gag-me-with-a-spoon” feeling when I share all the wonderful things(all three of them) that we do here at our home. I mean, this is Real Life, right? So today, [...]

Yadsendew-Em-Rof-Skrow

Pin itNo, I am not speaking Kling-on. It’s Works-For-Me-Wednesday…BACKWARDS! I have an important question today, folks! I am about to do something drastic, and it’s up to you to stop me! I’m not talking about packing up and moving to Europe. (Heavens, no) I’m not talking about making Hamburger Helper for dinner tonight. (Oh, my, [...]

Works For Me ~ Cheap Lip Gloss

Pin it My favorite lip gloss is really called “Love My Lips“, and it is $1.99. $1.99!!!! This is a cheapskates dream, because it is great lip gloss. Forget the $20 lip gloss behind the make-up counter at Macy’s. Go into W*lmart (or T*rget if you’re in the anti-W*lmart crowd), and get you some cheap [...]

Dust Busting – What Works For You?

Pin it OK, I must have missed the housekeeping genes. I do alright, but my arch enemy on the home front is dust! I swear I could dust everyday, and I’d still have a veritable snowstorm on my furniture! My piano students are always saying, “Gosh, your piano is dusty!” Somehow, I don’t think they [...]

Works For Me ~ The Safe Side Children’s Video

Pin it My Mother-in-Law gave the video “The Safe Side” to our kids one Christmas. I was a little apprehensive, because while I want to talk to them about stranger safety, I don’t want to scare them. I watched it with them and I was blown away by how well done it was! In this [...]

Works For Me – Organizing Toys

Pin itAfter you read this, leave a comment and head over to Rocks In My Dryer for more Works-For-Me Wednesday A while back, I was constantly struggling to keep the house from looking like a tornado had come through the gir*ls’ rooms. There were always so many toys all over the place. I tried putting [...]

My Recipe for Homemade Tomato Sauce + A Few Tips

Pin it I’ve noticed that lot’s of visitors arrive at this post via Google Search. If you like what you see here, please leave me a comment so I know it was helpful. This week’s post will earn you the “Homemaker of the Year” award from your family! Last week, a good friend offered me [...]

Works For Me – Harris Teeter and The Grocery Game

Pin itIt’s time for the Brand-Loyal edition of Works For Me Wednesday, hosted at Rocks in my Dryer. Mine is not really a brand, but I am oh so loyal to Harris Teeter grocery stores, here’s why: True confession: I usually get my groceries for half-price or less! My weekly budget is about $75 for [...]

Works For Me- The Nightly Routine

Pin itWe will soon start back to school. I actually have to get up and get my three children ready and out the door by 7:30. I am anything but a morning person, so for me to wake my not-morning-people kids is a bit of a challenge. I’ve found that sticking to a nightly routine [...]

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