I just had to share this totally awesome, FREE painting program for kids that beats Paint by a mile. Tux Paint is free to download (don't forget to download the additional stamps program - believe me, it's so worth it) and so easy to use, my three year old figured it out on her own. You can customize the game by age. If you have kids aged three to twelve, don't pass it up. I had it recommended to me and I couldn't be happier with it.

Check it out! http://tuxpaint.org/

Every year at the end of the day on Thanksgiving, I put my daughter to bed and spend the next hour breaking down the thanksgiving turkey. The meat is packed into the freezer, the bones are saved and frozen to add flavoring to soups and I strain the broth in the bottom of the pan and freeze it. Nothing is wasted. If you still have turkey meat left over from Thanksgiving, too, try this cheap, healthy version of my favorite turkey salad sandwiches.

Turkey Salad Sandwiches (healthy version)

Ingredients:

2 cups diced cooked turkey meat
3-4 tablespoons pickle relish
3/4 cup Spectrum brand vegan mayo (I promise you can't tell it's not Miracle Whip) yum!
1/2 cup diced cucumber, apple and/or celery (optional)
1-2 diced hard-boiled eggs (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Add more mayo if you like your turkey salad wetter. Eat plain or spread on HFCS-free, hydrogenated oil-free whole wheat bread.

(These sandwiches are 3-year-old-kid tested and approved!)



photo by dduchon

If you or your kids love Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, here's a super simple recipe to make its twin at home yourself using leftover Thanksgiving turkey. The best part is, you can put more noodles or turkey in if you hate the way they skimp in the canned stuff.

For the broth, I always strain the juices from under my turkey and store them in jars in the fridge. This coagulates into a jelly-like substance. You can use your "turkey jelly," as I call it, or use chicken broth. Also, I add some frozen spinach to mine. Not much, just enough to give it some added nutrients. There's no taste and my daughter doesn't even notice it.

Thanksgiving Turkey Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

5 cups water
1/4 cup "turkey jelly" or use chicken broth in place of the water above
1 cup cooked, diced turkey breast
1 tbsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 to 5 cups cooked spaghetti noodles, sliced or broken before cooking
1 small handful frozen or diced spinach (optional)

Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Serve hot.


photo by lusi

I happen to know the secret to buying kids' shoes and here it is. Are you paying attention? Good, because this is the great-granddaddy of all my favorite low-cost parenting secrets.

Ebay.

Yep, that's it. Ebay. I've found out I can hop on Ebay and purchase shoes for my daughter before she needs them. Now, just a quick glance at Ebay isn't going to yield great results. What you have to do is click over on the left on the little box that says "used."

"Eww!" you say? Read on.

Almost all of the used kids' shoes on Ebay are in fantastic condition. I've even gotten some with the tags still on. I don't waste my time with single pairs of shoes. I scroll down to the listings that have lots of shoes by size. It's easy-peasy to find used shoes in excellent condition sold by lot for next to nothing and I've not lost a bid yet so don't expect 50 people to be clawing their way over you.

I have been able to buy all of my daughter's shoes by lot size. I can get about 5 pairs of shoes at a time for around $10-15 including shipping. Yes, that's right. Including shipping. I can't even get one single pair of kids shoes at Payless for $10. I like to buy them in lots of various types such as one pair of sneakers, one pair of dress shoes, one pair of clogs and a couple of pair of flip-flops all in one size. One purchase covers all of my child's needs for about a year.

When the shoes arrive, I spray them inside and out with 90% rubbing alcohol and let them sit in the window to dry for a couple of hours. This effectively disinfects the shoes. If the shoes need any other cleaning, use a toothbrush and a bowl of warm water and soap (I use Dr. Bronner's) to remove dirt.

Here's a tip: Buy the shoes a size or two in advance so if some run small, your child can wear them now and if they're too big, you can just save them for when they do grow into them. You don't want to buy a bunch of shoes in your child's size only to find out half of them run small and won't fit.

And there you have it. Happy shoe shopping!

This is the best pancake recipe that I have ever had (but maybe your tastes run differently). Sorry, I can't remember where this recipe came from.

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour (I use 1/2 cup organic all-purpose and 1/2 cup organic whole wheat pastry flour)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 egg
2 tbsp vegetable oil

1. Combine dry ingredients in large glass measuring cup or medium bowl.
2. Combine wet ingredients in separate container, then add to dry ingredients and beat until smooth.
3. Pour onto greased griddle/pan and cook over medium-low heat until lightly browned on both sides.

You can also experiment by adding some frozen blueberries or other fruit to the mixture before cooking.

Here's assuming you get the same WIC items in your state that I do. In this case: lentils, brown rice, vegetables and cheese.

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups chopped fresh carrots
1/3 cup dried lentils
1/3 cup brown rice
32 oz chicken stock (approximately, or you can use plain water)
1/2 tsp garlic salt (or 1/4 tsp salt and one smashed garlic clove)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup grated cheddar
1/2 tsp olive oil (optional)
water

(I also like to sometimes add any leftover extra veggies I might have sitting frozen in bags in the freezer that were too small a portion to cook up for the family.)

1. Soak lentils at least 1 hour. Drain and rinse.
2. Boil lentils in plain water for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse. (This step is optional, but helps prevent gas.)
3. Add all ingredients except cheese and bring to a boil. Then turn to LOW and let simmer 30 minutes, periodically skimming foam off of top. (The foam causes gas.) Add water as necessary.
4. Remove from flame, add cheese and stir.
5. Let soup sit covered for 1 hour to allow the rice to puff and soften.

I thought I'd pass along this link to Grandma's Home Remedies. Hope it helps someone!

Ideas on Mommy Savers
26 Money Saving Tips From Depression-Era Elders
Depression Era Tips from Wild Hope and Stubborn Faith (check out their post on grocery store gardening!)
50 Lessons Learned From My Depression-Era Parents

Still want a Waldorf doll but can't sew a stitch to make your own and dolls for sale are too expensive? Here's a fantastic alternative. These Twin Dolls are handmade in Zimbabwe and not only are they FAIR TRADE, they support a wonderful cause!


"A purchase of this doll not only provides a gift for a loved one; its “twin” will be given to a child in a family affected by HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, most of whom have no other toys. The dolls are part of a unique project of Batsiranai, a women’s handicraft project that supports mothers with disabled children in Harare, Zimbabwe. Batsiranai, which means “helping each other,” was originally formed as a self-help group for these women. Creating the “twin dolls” has become a successful income generation initiative. Women work in teams to make the dolls, sharing tasks according to their ability.


The “twin” for your doll is distributed in one of a number of ways. Some dolls are shared through organizations working with needy families affected by HIV in the greater Harare area. Given a priority to distribute the dolls in rural areas, Batsiranai has also linked with an organization called Zvitambo, funded through Johns Hopkins University and other donors with the mission to reduce HIV transmission. Zvitambo promotes exclusive breastfeeding for babies of mothers who are HIV+ until age six months, as this has dramatic effects on reducing morbidity and mortality of babies. Zvitambo holds clinics in very remote parts of Zimbabwe to teach about prevention of HIV transmission campaigns from mothers to babies. The dolls are distributed to children during these awareness campaigns. Reports from Zvitambo of responses to the doll distribution are heartwarming."



For only $28 at Ten Thousand Villages, you can give one of these beautiful dolls to your child or a friend as a gift and make another child's day very special.

I am so inspired by these beautiful henna wedding cookies from Sprinkle Bakes. I think they would make a fantastic and heartfelt wedding gift for any couple. It's an inexpensive gift that is both affordable for the maker and would be beloved by the receiver. If you're really talented and have the time, you could even make them as wedding favors for your own wedding.