Going Generic

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generic

When I started using Emeals, I was on the clean eating plan. My husband was not a fan of this approach to eating (we stopped eating clean when I was pregnant) so I switched the meal plan over to Walmart Classic. The great thing about the menu’s shopping list is they search the store for the cheapest ingredients and most of the items were Great Value.

Before I might have considered myself a label snob. I mean nothing tastes better than Philadelphia Cream Cheese right? PHILADELPHIA-Cream-CheeseWRONG. One of the recipes (beef chimichangas)called for the GV and I honestly could not tell a difference.gvcc I was a changed woman. Now I was buying GV rice, pasta, veggies and cheese! Suddenly my refrigerator was taken over. Everything was becoming generic and my meals were as tasty as ever. The only major difference was my food spending was going down.

After a month on the Walmart plan I switched to the natural and organic plan. My husband decided he did like the slow cooked beer brats, but wanted to eat healthy again.

Oh, Walmart we had a good run! The problem is, many super healthy natural and organic items aren’t sold in the Great Value brand. I have had to switch to shopping at other stores to find the products, but whenever I can, I do buy generic.

I put most of my products in my Tupperware containers and once it is there, no one knows what brand it is. They just want to eat it! No toddler is deterred by labels alone. If you don’t believe me, check out the label and in most cases, the ingredients are the same.

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(excuse my background I screen shot this!)

Generic also works in other areas too! I cloth diapered my oldest until we moved into a little Japanese home that I couldn’t figure out how to change the washing machine settings (I don’t know how to read kanji). Looking at the price of a box of diapers reminded me why I clothed in the first place. It was so expensive. So I bought the generic brand (Exchange brand for you military folks) and it held poop and pee just fine. Sure I might have felt cheap shopping with my (token) Coach purse with a basket full of generic wipes and diapers, but I was saving money on a need so who really cares. That is what it all boils down to anyway. While I will say, there was one brand of generic wipes that really sucked and were super thin, I switched to another small label and they worked just as well as Huggies

So don’t judge a generic before you try it! You may end up saving a ton of money in the end!

 

Happy Shopping

-Krissy

Homemade Stain Remover

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Is store bought stain remover just not working for you?  Are you like me and get a rash on your hand when you use it?  Then I have a solution for you, make your own!  I use this all the time and it gets everything from blood to grass stains to grease!  It does it all, and with barely any effort.

1pt blue Dawn dish soap

1pt baking soda

2pts hydrogen peroxide

Simply mix together, adjusting the amounts according the to the size of the stain and apply.  If it is a particularly bad stain you can use an old soft bristled tooth brush to work it in a bit.  Let it sit for 10-30 minutes, rinse, reapply if needed or simply wash the garment.  Could it be easier than that?

~Kara

Easy Morning Makeup

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I normally spend between 5 and 10 minutes a day on my makeup (the amount of time is directly opposing to the amount of coffee consumed).  I don’t have 30-45 minutes a day, I am lucky to have the time I do, so I make it count by doing just what needs to be done.  This video take a lot longer than it really takes me (again, I had barely half a cup of coffee before I made it, so I just not quite awake yet), I am not used to talking and taping quite yet.

Enjoy

~Kara

Vitamix the Product Review

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vitamix

So for Mother’s Day my phenomenal husband bought me a Vitamix.  It is the 5200 series and comes with the recipe book.  I took it our of the box, washed it, put it straight to use, and have not stopped.

I will post a video or two later about it, but for now let’s just say that I have used it no less than 3 times  day.  I make morning shakes for the whole family, all at once (this is a big deal for me because I was using a hand blender and would have to make each shake individually….. For four people, it took me a good 15-20 minutes), so I have the whole family’s breakfast drinks done in about 1 minute.  I have also been making veggie smoothies for my lunch, and I cannot say enough about how yummy they are!  They actually keep me full longer, I feel better, and I can just dump them in a glass an go….. No more speed eating my lunch and getting a tummy ache!  I also made a few marinades, some sauces, and some soups.  I have not tried ice cream yet, but the Commissary was out of cream, so I have to wait a bit.

So far, I have to say I like it almost as much as my KitchenAid (give me five years with it as well and I may like it more), and if you know me, you know this is a big deal.

The Vitamix 52oo runs about $489, so it is a bit pricey.  It is an investment though, and like my KitchenAid, it is built to withstand the constant use and still work like new.  It also comes with a 7 year UNCONDITIONAL warranty…. That means that even if YOU mess something up, they will replace it….. As far as warranties go, it doesn’t get better than that!

5 Stars all the way!

~Kara

Quick 25 Minute Meal- Easy Chicken Dinner

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There are a few essential items every housewife must have in her kitchen to make a fast meal when dinner time is quickly approaching. I can’t say what everyones family needs because I don’t know how you eat. When I am in a time crunch, I do chicken! My deep covered baker is almost my best friend and she treats me well. dcbHere is how to do it.

  1. Boil the water for rice or quinoa (I eat the quinoa, husband eats the rice)
  2. Season the chicken- In a pinch I use Tonys Cajun seasoning. This stuff is amazing on practically everything and I like the kick!20130515_200142
  3. Put the chicken in the deep covered baker and microwave for 20 minutes.
  4. Put the rice/quinoa in the water and cook for 20 minutes.20130515_202350
  5. Rinse salad and transfer to serving bowl. salad spinnerTop with sunflower seeds, feta, cranberries, bacon bits, and tomatoes (or whatever you like).done salad
  6. Set the table and make sure the rice/quinoa is doing good on water.
  7. Take the chicken out of the microwave.ckn
  8. When the food is done, set the plates and enjoy a super quick, healthy and painless meal!meal

Items needed

- chicken

- rice or quinoa

- seasoning

  • salad
  • salad toppings
  • beverage
  • Deep covered baker or microwave cooker

Yum!

 

-Krissy

Getting Clean the Green Way

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So cleaning is a particular pet peeve of mine.  I love having a clean home, but don’t want it to be filled with cleaning chemicals.  I tried the “green” cleaners at the store, and they just don’t work as well.  So what do I do?  I learn how to make all my own cleaners from simple household ingredients (and a few essential oils mixed in), and they work even better than the regular store bought stuff.  I have pretty severe mold allergies, so keeping mold out of my home, in humid climates, meant I was using bleach to scrub things down all the time, and often getting sick from inhaling too many fumes even with proper ventilation.  But, now I have cleaners that I don’t even have to worry about opening a window to use! I am going to post a few of the essential recipes now, and then more and more as I continue to experiment and find better options for store bought cleaners.  Hope you like my recipes!

First you will want to gather a few supplies together, with the below list you can make just about anything:

Spray bottles (you need these to put most of your solutions in for use)

White distilled Vinegar (I buy the big, cheap gallon size ones)

Baking Soda

Hydrogen Peroxide

Witch Hazel

Rubbing Alcohol

Dawn dish soap (the old style plain blue one, and yes, it does makes a difference)

Lemon Juice (fresh is better, but bottled will work too)

100% Essential Oils (I use mainly Lavender, which is anti-bacterial, and Tea Tree oil, which is anti-fungal and anti-microbial)

All-Purpose Cleaner:

This is one I use on EVERYTHING, my kitchen counters, spills, bathrooms, anywhere!  This not only disinfects (without the antibacterial agents that have been shown to help create “Super Bugs”), does not leave residue behind, and smells heavenly!

1 cup water

1 cup white vinegar

2 tbs lemon juice

10 drops tea tree oil

10 drops lavender oil

Pour ingredients straight into spray bottle, shake to mix and you are ready to clean.

Window Cleaner:

This is homemade Windex, except your kids or pets could go and lick the surface right after you use it and not get sick (not that my kids have done that….. you believe me, right?)

2 cups water (I use distilled for this because the minerals in tap water can cause mild streaking.  Using distilled water means there will be absolutely no streaking)

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

Pour straight into spray bottle, shake to mix and go clean those windows!

Tried and true, my husband was cautious at first since his desk has  large glass top, but now he won’t use anything else.  I even had to make a batch for him to take to work!

Scrubbing Gel:

This is better that the Soft Scrub, and a lot cheaper too!

1pt blue Dawn dish soap

1pt baking soda

Mix together and apply to surface using just like the store bought kind.  Clean off with water.

Make sure you rinse it well, but this gets the “ring around the tub” off better and faster than anything I have used before.  It also rinses off cleaner with no residue.

Shower Spray:

We get mold in the grout of our shower in less than a day if I do not clean it after every use.  This is very tedious, and I really hate doing it, but commercial shower sprays have all sorts of ingredients I really don’t want touching me, especially when I am taking a shower or bath.  So I made my own.

1 cup hydrogen peroxide

2 cups water

mix in spray bottle and spray after each use.

It really doesn’t get easier than that, and there is no mold in my shower now.

All of these recipes cost less that their commercial counterparts, are 100% green, and are safe to use around pets and kids.  Plus, they take very little time to make.  If you keep the ingredients on hand, you never have to worry about running out of a cleaner mid cleaning, you just make up another batch really quick.  Have company coming over and need to clean the bathroom fast?  The last thing you want at that point is to have to run to the store to buy more cleaner.  Don’t just take my word for it, try it yourself!

~Kara

What do you do with your time?

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There is but an hour a day between a good housewife and a bad one. – English proverb

Every now and then I used to enjoy a great long nap. Now I can only accomplish this if both of the kids are asleep or the house is clean. If I take a long nap and the house looks a mess, my husband is entitled to use the “lazy” card. I hate the “lazy” card so I stopped taking naps! Lo and behold, it made all the difference!

-Krissy

Granola Bars

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For Some reason Youtube is stopping the video at the 6 minute mark, just click on the Granola Bars title at the top of the video to continue to my Youtube channel to watch the rest :)

I make homemade granola bars all the time.  They are better tasting, less expensive, and just all around better for you that store bought ones.  My kids often help, and get excited to help choose what flavor we are making next.  Hope you enjoy my video!

~Kara

To Moms with love,

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I have never been a fan of spending only one day to appreciate someone. My mom didn’t mother me once a year. She did it every day, year after year and even now that I’m a grown woman. In return, I don’t let Hallmark decide when or how I let her know how much I appreciate and love her. I think Mother’s day may be a reminder to some to call their mother and thank them, but not to me. I am reminded of what all my mother did for me on a daily basis.

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I never expected to walk in her shoes and become a homemaker with kids. I never realized how much work taking care of a little person is and still managing a house. I never realized how many diapers one must change, or how much snot one truly has to deal with. I never knew how much she had to juggle to make each one of us kids feel like we were the most special person on earth. And I probably will never know all the sacrifices and things she gave up to make us happy.

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She enjoyed being a mother of 4 and taught me practically everything I know. Now that I am a mom I’m starting to see what all it takes. Trust me, mothering is no joke. Once you have dealt with kids pooping on you, and wiping noses with your shirt when you have ran out of tissue you have officially joined the mom league. Or maybe when you have perfect attendance to every play, game, fair or activity in your kid’s life…the list is endless.

Everyone says that it is a thankless job. Why not change that stereotype? Let’s thank our Mothers around the clock. Can you honestly hear thank you enough? Do you think you have said it enough?

I encourage you this Mother’s day to break out of the box. Stop letting corporations dictate what they want you to buy for your mother. You know what she likes. Sometimes a good conversation tops all the flowers and chocolate in the world. Also, you are blessed to have a mother. Not everyone does. In closing, Happy Mothers Day to all the mom’s. I wish sleep to those with small children who refuse, patience to those who are dealing with adolescents, and wisdom to Mom’s of adults. And I wish the same for you tomorrow and the day after that x infinity!

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-love you mom!

Krissy