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Mason Jars-Glowing Monster Jars

**Thought I would re-post this now that it is getting close to Halloween!  This is actually one of my most popular posts on the blog, it does really well with search engines for some reason.  Let me know if you end up making these little monsters with your little monsters!

In this previous post, I told you about my love affair with mason jars.  Well, I’m still having the affair, and I said I would post about all the great things a mason jar can do, so here we go!
Here is a super cute idea for a Halloween craft using mason jars.  I have not made them yet, but I know the minute my daughters see them they will beg me to make them.  I found them here at Not So Idle Hands and they make me love my jars even more!
Crafts…I wouldn’t say I am a person who likes making crafts.  I think it is my impatience.  I like the idea of the craft, but I just want it to be done and do not really enjoy the process.  Still, I buckle down occasionally and just do it, mostly because I have 3 very crafty girls so it is a way to spend time with them, and I have found that being crafty is a frugal way to decorate my home, so that is also motivating.
These little light up monster jars get me a bit excited because I love anything that creates atmosphere, and I know these will. Maybe I can just start simple and make three of them representing my own three lovely, little monsters.  I think these would be fun in my sunroom at night, creating a spooky fun glow!
*update:  We made them today!  I used tissue paper that we had on hand which happened to be a goldish, coppery color.  They were really fun, my girls got really into it.  They look cute lit up with a tealight!
I’m happy to be linking to these parties

FUN/DIY

Art Bags-Revisited

My sister just pointed out to me that this blog, New Nostalgia, is about to have a one year anniversary!  I have so enjoyed sharing what we do around here with you all, and I am so very honored that anyone would care to read about it!  I thought, due to my health and my inability to post as often, that I would occasionally revisit some posts from the past.  It will give you all something to read, and I will enjoy the stroll down memory lane…
My girls favorite thing to do is art. All 3 of them do some type of creative art every day, it is just in them.  Ever since they were little, we have always made sure paper and colors are available for them to use whenever they want. As they have gotten older, I have worked hard to make sure they have access to age-appropriate supplies, so that they can create whatever their little art brains desire.
We have rolling carts with labeled drawers upstairs where we keep all their craft supplies, and use them a lot, but I also wanted to have basic supplies handy on our main floor that they could just grab and start creating with!
My solution was to make them each their own little school supply bag. I shopped for these at the beginning of the school year when all the supplies were super cheap. I found the bag at Wal-mart in the craft supply section. All of the bags are black, but I made them distinct with certain supplies that were all the same color (my youngest daughter likes blue so her scissors, pencil sharpener and pencil erasers are all blue.) This is how they tell which bag is theirs.
I keep the bags in a very central location (our dining room) right by the table, not only because they are in view and the girls will use them more if they see them, but also so I can make sure they take good care of their bags (even though the supplies were cheap, they add up when you times it by 3!) and put them away properly.  Our table is also where they do their homework so the bags are very handy for that!  I am pretty strict about keeping them in the dining room to use at the table.  I only allow them in the car for  trips that are longer than an hour, just because it seems like something always gets lost in the car!
Before, we had supplies on all 3 levels of our home and showing up in places where they didn’t belong! I grew weary of questions like “mom, where’s my little scissors?” and “mom, where’s my tape?” Now that they are in one area it has worked so well.  They know right where they are, and find them daily, sitting on a shelf waiting for little creative hands to grab and use them!

Added 9-19-10:
I had to share with you a story having to do with these art bags that happened just this week.  My husband trains volunteers to teach children to read as part of his job.  My girls often take turns going to help him, as he needs a “model” student during the training.   My youngest was so excited that she was finally old enough to help daddy with training this last week.  I made sure she took a snack and her art bag, to keep her busy while dad did the part of the training that didn’t involve her.  Her snack was a granola bar and a banana.
About 4-5 days after her “turn” we were cleaning up the house.  I picked up the art bags to dust underneath and when I picked up my lil’ ones bag, I was attacked.  By FRUIT FLIES!  So many, many disgusting little fruit flies.  Ugh.  The banana peel from her snack was sitting in the bottom of the bag getting nice and black.  It was covered in them! I ran the bag outside, but not before many, many fruit flies made their way throughout the house.  We have been battling them ever since.  We have about won the battle with the nifty little “vinegar in a jar with holes poked through the top” trick.  Hmm, I think that little trick may need a post of its own…anyone have any other great tips for getting rid of fruit flies?

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Cancer Journey/ FUN/DIY/ RECIPES/ Sides

Easy, Homemade Freezer Salsa

See the larger jar of salsa in the background?  My husband has just about finished off the jar, and I just made it 2 days ago!  This is a super easy & quick way to make salsa for the freezer.  If you like a chunky salsa, then freezer salsa is not for you.  Chunky salsa tends to get mushy in the freezer, but we prefer ours thick, but all chopped up, so this is perfect for us.

I have an abundance of little cherry tomatoes growing in my garden.  My larger tomato plant is slow to ripen, but that is ok since we are up to our heads in cherry tomatoes.

 

I saw this mix (Mrs. Wages Create Salsa Mix) when I was at the grocery store and I was happy to see that the ingredient list was short and familiar.  I wanted homemade salsa, but my peppers are not ripe yet, so this mix was the perfect answer.

There are 3 different options on the back of the package-Freeze It! Can It! or Serve It!  Love that.

I washed my tomatoes and threw them into the food processor.  I DID NOT skin and core my tomatoes.    Too lazy, plus they were so small…

 

Then I  dumped them in a pan on the stove (no pic, sorry!) and added the dry mix and 1/2 cup of vinegar, and then simmered for 10 minutes.

 

I let the mixture cool a bit, then poured it into jars.

We have not eaten the salsa that I froze yet, but like I said earlier, the one jar that was left out is almost gone.  It really is a tasty salsa, not too expensive (2.59 for the mix, tomatoes were free from my garden), made about 21/2 quarts, and took very little effort!

**I ordered the salsa mix on Amazon, but can also be found in the canning goods in most grocery stores and Walmart.

The easiest and best freezer salsa

{for your pinning pleasure}

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FUN/DIY

Bean Art

My daughters had some friends over yesterday, and I took advantage of them being preoccupied by cleaning out my pantry.  Just as I thought “how in the world did all these beans get in here!”my youngest girl came into the kitchen and asked if they could do an art project.  PERFECT timing. I said “Sure, how about some bean art?”
We grabbed 3 types of beans and some earthy colored paper.  Paint brushes dipped in Elmer’s Glue did the trick for sticking fun, and some popcorn to munch on was a must.  I encouraged the little artists to draw a picture with a pen first, then decorate it with beans.
Can you guess which one I did?  Hint..it expressed how I felt to see my girls create with beans! {Smile}
This project kept my girls and their friends busy for almost 2 hours!
I was so impressed with how they turned out, I thought they did a wonderful job!
*** I Am Pleased To Be Linking Up To These Wonderful Blog Parties. *** 
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FUN/DIY/ Healthy Eating/ HOME/ Homemaking/ How-Tos/ RECIPES/ Simplifying

My “Laid Back Method’ To Making Simple Meal Plans

One of my favorite things to do is to go to the library and look in the “new release” section for interesting cookbooks.  There always seems to be one that catches my eye, (this week it is Everyday Cooking with Organic Produce, great cookbook!) and it keeps me up to date with what is happening with food.

Ever since I was little, I love to sit with a cookbook and read it like a regular book, starting at the front and working my way to the back.  I remember when I was about 10 years old being so excited to find Amy Vanderbilt’s cookbook at a garage sale for ten cents.  I bought it and devoured the insanely thick book from front to back!  When I was 11, I made an entire Thanksgiving meal with very little help.  I loved cooking!
 I think I got my love of cooking from both of my grandma’s.  I remember my Grandma Thelma having us over and making us little snacks, commenting on why they were good for us.  I remember her telling me why whole wheat bread was better than white– she knew back then what Doc Oz is trying to tell us now!!:)  She always had something on hand to feed us, and to this day, even if our visit is unannounced, she loves on us with some sort of bite to eat.  She makes the world’s best sunny- side- up egg and toast!  Love her..
My Grandma Marian, who is in heaven now, was also known for her love of cooking.  She had a strawberry patch in her back yard, and was the first to introduce me the amazing freshness of homemade strawberry jam.  I remember watching her grate a potato when I was young, and making us the best potato cakes for breakfast. On Valentines day, she would send homemade candies in the mail to us, all the way from Michigan to Nebraska.  A box delivered in the mail, full of homemade goodies from grandma, was one of my most favorite childhood memories.  Under all the newspaper stuffing were tiny little chocolate peanut butter cups, wrapped with such love and care.  Now that I’m old enough to know the work that was involved, I would so love to tell her how much that meant to me as a child.

The Start Of A Plan…

Back to cookbooks and meal plans… what I have been doing lately is while reading a cookbook, I keep some post its and a pen handy.  When I come upon a recipe that sounds appealing, I write the name of the book at the top of the post it, *and list the recipe title along with the page number.  I keep the post it (or two) stuck to the front of the library book. Then, on the day I am going grocery shopping, I find the book, look at the post it, and pick a few chosen recipes to make for the week. I look at each recipe to jot down what groceries I need to buy, which is the start of my grocery list.
When I make a recipe and decide it is a keeper, then it goes on this blog.  My recipe tab on this blog is slowly becoming something that I have always wanted, — recipes that I use regularly, organized and easy to find.  If it is a week that I don’t have a new cookbook to inspire me, or time to browse the web for new recipes, I just click on my recipe tab and use my tried and true recipes here on the blog.
*I use the same method while reading magazines.

Things I consider when meal planning:

Dinner-
I usually only plan for 4 meals a week.  We have Bible Club on Tuesday evenings where we are served dinner,  and on a couple Saturday nights a month we have a bunch of young men here at the house for a “video game club,” so we order pizza to feed everyone.  On Friday nights we have Family movie night and order Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwiches–5 for $5.95, baby!  We have spaghetti with this sauce at least once a week, because it is so simple and everyone loves it. So really, that only leaves about 3 meals that I have to plan for.  I try hard to make healthy meals on those evenings, especially when we are eating fast food (pizza and Arby’s) on the weekends!
Breakfast-
We keep it simple.  Oatmeal, whole wheat bagels, cereal, toast, eggs, and whole grain pancakes are our usual choices throughout the week.

Lunch-
I choose a soup recipe (one of his favorites) and make a big batch at the beginning of the week, to put into mason jars, (use 1/2 pint mason jars to freeze in individual portions) for my husbands work lunch.  I pack my girls lunch all though the school year, again keeping it simple.  Usually a sandwich, vegetable, fruit and crackers.  Sometimes they will get hot soup or noodles in a thermos if I’m extra motivated!
Snacks-
I usually find some great snack ideas when reading through my cookbooks, so I refer to the post its!  I talk about some healthy snack ideas in this post.
Use What I Have On Hand-
Before sitting down to write weekly meal list and grocery list, I do a quick check of my pantry and freezer/refrigerator.  I take a mental note of what we have on hand and do my best to plan meals around those items.
Flexibility-
I usually do not assign meals to different days of the week.  Instead, I have a list of meals that I keep on the refrigerator for the week, that I’ve bought groceries for.  I am too fickle with food to assign an exact day.  I have to see what “mood” I am in that day as far as what I want to cook and what sounds most appealing from the list.  Because of this fickleness, I don’t think I will ever be one who has super organized & printed calenders on the refrigerator, with assigned meals for each day of the month, but I’m at peace with that.  I make a grocery list every week, go to the grocery store once a week, and have at least 4-5 meals planned for the week.  Simple, laid back, and good enough.
This post is linked to:
Tip Junkie
The Trendy Treehouse
We Are That Family

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FUN/DIY

Making Bead People

The first time I experienced bead people, it was at a booth at our local farmer’s market with my youngest daughter.  Not only were they selling them, but they let people sit down and learn how to make one.  You could buy the one you made, or leave it there and they would sell it, giving a percentage of the sale to a good cause.  The bead people booth at the farmers market is always very busy and popular, the lady that runs it is super gracious and her kids are great at walking through the process of how to make a bead person.

  My daughter had a great time making a bead person, and that very day we ran to Walmart to buy supplies to make our own at home.  Boy, am I glad I did!  It is amazing how many hours my kids have spent making these this summer.  It is a quiet project that takes some concentration, but even my 7 year old can do it with no help.  We have had every neighbour kid we know come over and make one, and even my adult friends are drawn to the table when the supplies are sitting out, and start making one.

I had to laugh when my sister, Kathy, started to make a bead person one evening when visiting.  She is so NOT the crafty type, but there she sat making a bead person.  The minute I saw her pick up a bead, I knew her person would have some sort of funny twist, and I also knew there was a good chance that twist would be in questionable taste, especially when she would not show anyone until she was finished.  I was right.  She somehow figured out how to make “bead bosom’s” on her bead person, which made my girls giggle.  Hmm, I wonder what she did with it…it is probably on her key chain.:)

We have done all  kinds of things with these little bead people.  We have made necklaces with chain or ribbon.  We have made key chains, bookmarks, and bead people earrings.  They are cute sitting on top of a gift box that is wrapped in brown kraft paper, and embellished with a bead person tied on with raffia.

How To Make A Bead Person
Here is what you will need:
~Large, medium and small beads
~Findings (see below)
~Round nosed pliers

These beads are at Walmart and cost $9.99.  They are the perfect size for bead people bodies and heads. 
These are at Walmart in the jewelry making/craft area.  They are $1.99.
This tool is a must.  You can also find it in the same section at Walmart for $9.99. 
You will need 3 of these findings per bead person, one with a loop at the top and two that look like straight pins.  Both types come in the package above.
On To The “How To” Part:
This particular tool has a wire cutter feature.  You will need to take that little flat head off the 2 findings that look like straight pins.  You could just use scissors.
Take one of the straight findings, hold it in the center with the round nose pliers, and use fingers to gently push down, making an upside down “v” for the legs.
For the arms, take the other straight finding, hold it a bit off center with the pliers, and loop it once around pliers to make a loop.

Now you have all wire parts prepared for you bead person
Now it is time to choose your beads.  The amount you need depends on the size of the beads, but you will need 2 medium or one large bead for the torso, a medium bead for the head, a medium bead for the hat (if making a hat), and 3-4 small beads for each limb.
Put torso beads onto the finding with the loop, pointing the loop downward.  Put “v” shaped finding through the loop.  Add arms on top of torso beads.

 Add small neck bead (not pictured above), head and hat bead above the arms.
Using the round nosed pliers, bend a loop above the hat.
Squeeze it closed with the pliers.
Add beads for leg and foot/shoe.  Make a loop with pliers to hold the beads on.  Repeat with other leg.

Add the arm beads, make loops to hold them on.

Then say hello to your new bead person!

This post is linked to:

11
Beauty/ Frugal/ HOME

Whiten Teeth For Cheap

I first heard about PlusWhite 5 minute speed whitening gel from a Kandee Johnson video (click here for video).  She always has the best recommendations, so I tried it.  I’ve done 5 applications and I love it.  The kit comes with the whitening gel, some pre-whitening rinse, and a mouth piece.

The first time I did it, I filled the mouth piece with gel, and it was way too much!  The directions say to squeeze the gel into the mouthpiece, and the opening of the tube is pretty large, so a lot came out.  It got all over the place, including my tongue which I noticed made my snack taste weird for awhile afterwards.

The next time I did it, I used my finger to spread some of the gel all over my teeth, (mainly the teeth that you can see), making sure I got between the teeth, then stuck the mouthpiece in.  Doing it this way will make the tube last a long time, so teeth whitening becomes ultra cheap!

I have used Crest Whitening strips, but they were messy, expensive, tasted nasty, and made my teeth sensitive.  PlusWhite gel does not taste bad, and I have not had any sensitivity.  It is super easy to use, and because of Kandee’s suggestion, I do it in the shower, so it just becomes part of my “getting ready” routine.  It is suggested that you use it twice a day at first.  I didn’t because I noticed whitening fairly quickly, so I have just done it once a day. I will continue a few more days, I have a feeling I’ll have to stop myself because it really is kind of addicting!

Some people on Amazon. com reviews have said the mouth piece is kind of uncomfortable for smaller mouths.  I have a super small mouth and it is fine for me, but if you would like something softer that molds to the teeth, you must watch the video that Kandee made.  It shows how she took a regular sports mouth guard,(at Walmart for a buck) softened it by boiling it, then she stuck it in her mouth and sucked in with her teeth together.  It molds to the teeth and–voila!  A custom mouthpiece for a buck!  That is impressive, but since my kit came with a mouth piece, I skipped the custom one.

Let me know if you try this and what you think.
Do you whiten your teeth?  What do you use?
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