Secrets of Success

Cut the bottom off the pumpkin instead of the top.

When you are about to begin carving your pumpkin I suggest you try cutting the bottom off instead. That way all you have to do to light the candle or turn on the battery candle is lift up the pumpkin off it's base. No more shoving your arm into a wet and slimey pumpkin. EW! The pumpkin lasts longer, too.
Happy Halloween!

Replanted the rooted ends of the scallions....th
ey
grew again!

I bought a nice banded bunch of scallions ( green onions ) at the grocery store this past spring. Instead of tossing the rooted ends that I cut off into the compostor I replanted them in a planter outside of my kitchen door to see if they would actually regrow again. I waited to see if this would actually work and it did. LOL I have another entire bunch of scallions for FREE!
Last year I planted the 'eyes' from a sweet potato and from a Yukon Gold potato and ended up with a nice little crop.

Replant the rooted ends from scallions.

One day while prepping store bought scallions for a meal I decided to save the rooted ends I had just cut off.
Later, I stuck them in the soil out in my garden and then proceeded to forget all about them.
It had to have been more than a week or so before I walked by and lo and behold new scallions were growing from those rooted ends. WooHoo!
I replanted all the ends from two bunches of scallions and jump started the season.
Talk about getting a bang for the 'bunch'. LOL

I AM WORTH IT! And so are you.

I AM WORTH IT!

I repeat this over & over to myself to give myself a boost, to get back up and get back on track, to stay on track.....whenever.

W
hen
someone says something negative to me I tell them, too.
"Hey! I am worth it!"
Just hearing it out loud not to mention the look on their face reaffirms that I AM WORTH IT.

I am worth the effort it takes.
I am worth the time it takes.
I am worth the energy it takes.
I am worth the planning it takes.
I am worth the scarifices it takes.

Purchasing Restaurant Gift Card For Ourselves.

For Christmas we purchase a $100 gift card from our favorite restaurant for ourselves.
That way our money is already budgeted for a couple of nights out in advance.
The best part is that when we buy this size gift card the restaurant gives us a bonus card of $20!
We spend $100 and get $120.

Easy liquid/fat separation.

Don't have time to chill it and remove the solidified fat?

Pour the liquid into a heavy duty zip-lock type baggie. Place the bag in a tall slim container and allow the fat to rise to the top. Very carefully lift the bag from the container and hold it over a bowl. Snip a small hole in one corner to release the liquid. Pinch the hole closed before the fat can pour out.
No muss. No fuss. No mess!!!

Easy liquid/fat separation.

Don't have time to chill it and remove the solidified fat?
Pour the liquid into a heavy duty zip-lock type baggie. Place the bag in a tall slim container and allow the fat to rise to the top. Very carefully lift the bag from the container and hold it over a bowl. Snip a small hole in one corner to release the liquid. Pinch the hole closed before the fat can pour out.

Bartering for gym memebrship.

There was a very exclusive gym where we used to live. There was no way I could afford their prices. But I really wanted to go there.
So, I approached them with the idea that I would babysit in their childcare room on Saturday afternoons for a few hours in exchange for full membership priveledges.
They jumped at the idea!

Infant Spoon

We always hear that we should use smaller plates and bowls.

Well, I eat my yogurt and anything else that is soft and yummy with my grandaughter's old infant spoon.

Go a head and laugh. I don't care.

It is so small that it forces me to slow down, to pay attention to what I am eating and I end up enjoying it far more than if I just gobble it up mindlessly.

My Survival Kit

On my SparkPage you'll find a photo of a very small blue zippered case (3"x6") that I got at a yard sale for only 75 cents.
I call it 'My Survival Kit'.
In it I can pack all the pre-measured conditments I may need while eating out. Yes, I take my own to restaurants, to BBQs, to parties and even to the homes of friends & family.
For many of us going out to eat is a major challenge whether it be food alergies, high fats, high sodium, unknown ingredients, etc. and end up feeling so deprived.