Grocery shopping. Blech. I don’t think I know anyone that doesn’t hate grocery shopping. I’m sure there are some people out there who enjoy it but I’m certainly not one of them. [Read more...]
Online Grocery Shopping – Is it really part of a Frugal Family Life?
October 5, 2010 By 12 Comments
Secrets of the Mountain – The Music
April 15, 2010 By 8 Comments
Earlier I wrote a review of ‘Secrets of the Mountain’ which airs tomorrow night (April 16, 2010) on NBC and I mentioned that Randy Jackson produced the soundtrack for this movie. The movie is filled with songs from up and coming artists that Randy Jackson hand picked for this project and I’m sure you’ll be hearing big things from all of these talented performers very soon.
Here’s a sneak peak at some of the music in ‘Secrets of the Mountain’. I’ve included links to the songs when I could find them.
Track list – Soundtrack – Secret’s of the Mountain
- Paper Tongues – Trinity (Official video)
- Alisan & Ilsey -This time
- Jordin Sparks – Reflection (this link goes to Jordin’s performance of Reflection on American Idol)
- Lona Hines- The Lessons We All Learn
- Brooke White – Change (this links to Brooke White’s vocal performance of Change – no video, just audio)
- The Afters – Never Going Back To Ok (official video)
- Ashlyne Huff – Trippin it up (amateur video recorded at a Walmart Store concert)
- Josh Kelley – More Than Love
- Kevin Hammond – Just Believe
- Tom Leonard – Your Never Alone
- Alisan & Ilsey – Tomorrow’s a better day
Randy Jackson discusses the soundtrack for ‘Secrets of the Mountain’
Deviled Eggs – 12 Deviled Egg Recipes for Leftover Easter Eggs
April 4, 2010 By 2 Comments
Easter Eggs photo by Dystopos on Flickr
One of our favourite ways to use up leftover Easter Eggs is to make deviled eggs.
Deviled eggs are always a favourite around my house. My kids love them for picnics, potlucks, parties and snacks. Deviled eggs are quick and easy to make and there is an endless variety of recipes.
Tip: You can make any of the mayonnaise based recipes lighter by using light mayonnaise or mixing mayonnaise half and half with low fat (or no fat) yogurt.
12 Deviled Egg Recipes
- Special Deviled Eggs
- Classic Deviled Eggs
- Dijon Deviled Eggs
- Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs
- Spinach Deviled Eggs
- Spicy Deviled Eggs
- Tarragon Deviled Eggs
- Curried Deviled Eggs (my personal favourite)
- Hummus Deviled Eggs (no wait – this is my favourite!)
- Sun Dried Tomato and Chive Deviled Eggs (who says I need just one favourite?)
- Deviled Ham Deviled Eggs
- Scotch Eggs with Sausage (not eggsactly deviled but close)
Related post: Looking for another way to use up those leftover Easter Eggs? Check out 12 Egg Salad Sandwich Recipes.
Where The Wild Things Are – Movie Review (or why I wouldn't take young kids)
October 16, 2009 By 10 Comments
Where The Wild Things Are book
I remember when I first got the book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I was 7 years old and I’d ordered the book through the Scholastic Monthly book newsletter that my teacher would hand out every month. I took one look at the cover of the book, with that monster sitting on the shore and just knew I wanted to know more about that monster.
The book Sendak wrote and illustrated in 1963 had only 10 sentences but it stuck with me clearly for 33 years and I know it’s stuck with many of us over the years. When I heard that Spike Jonze was bringing Max and the Wild Things to the big screen I was excited to see what the film would be like. This afternoon I found out.
Where the Wild Things Are movie
I loved the movie. I’d see it again in heartbeat. But… now that I’ve seen it I would not even consider taking young kids to see it at the theatre. I will explain why but if you don’t want any spoilers than you might want to stop reading now.
Still with me? Great… here we go…
The movie begins with young Max at home. We see a friendless boy who is lonely, feels neglected by his older sister and his divorced mother. He is by turns lonely, sad, angry and then destructive and even violent as he acts out. Max (played by Max Records) brings out a range of negative emotions through his actions as he destroys a gift for his sister, jumps all over his sister’s bed with snow covered boots, bites his mother and then runs away.
Once he reaches the land Where the Wild Things Are we see loneliness, jealousy, violence, threatening behaviour, friendship, companionship, love, anger (SCARY SCARY ANGER), feelings of betrayal, disillusionment, sadness, loss.
The movie is beautiful. It’s wonderful in every way. The creatures are everything I imagined they’d be and so much more. But it’s an emotional rollercoaster with some very scary moments that I just don’t think would sit well with most young children – at least not without some conversation about what was happening as things go along.
Personally, I’d not take kids younger than 8 or 10 to see it at the theatre. There are long stretches of the movie that would be boring for young kids and other points which are SCARY monster scenes and a lot of emotional turmoil. Without the ability to pause the movie after a scene and discuss why Max or the monsters are acting out and the underlying emotions I think there will be a lot of frightened children exiting the theatre before the movie concludes.
Where the Wild Things Are is more a movie about a child but not really for a child. I’d possibly consider buying the DVD (when it comes out) to view with younger kids, where you can control and pause the movie if you need to and discuss why Max (or the monsters) are feeling sad, lonely and especially why they feel angry and violent.
Where the Wild Things Are was truly a breathtaking film and it really brought Max and the Wild Things to life in a really realistic way but it’s not what I’d consider a kids film at all. My heart is still racing and I’m emotionally exhausted. We all have the Wild Things in us somewhere.
Lunchbox Builder (+ Contest!)
August 27, 2009 By
A few days ago I announced a Back-to-School Giveaway and Lunchboxbuilder.com – I played around with the Lunchbox Builder this morning and thought I’d share my results.
Once I created my Lunchbox I printed it out.
Print out the Lunchbox
I carefully cut it out …
Carefully cut out the Lunchbox
… and glued the edges to make the lunchbox.
Tada! The Lunchbox!
How cute is this?
There are several different Lunchbox styles, even a pirate’s treasure chest, and you and your kids can have fun customizing it with stickers, etc. then print out, cut out and put it together. While you’re on LunchboxBuilder.com make sure you add your lunchbox creation to their gallery – you’ll have a chance to win a great Back-to-School gift package there (just like the one I’m giving away here) and after that make sure you print out your free coupons from Mott’s, Pepperidge Farms Goldfish and Smuckers.
Don’t forget to sign up for the Frugal Family Life Newsletter for your chance to win …
…and head over to my first post about the contest for more chances to win.
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Lunchboxbuilder.com and Back-to-School Contest!
August 24, 2009 By
Back-to-School time has always been a big yearly milestone around my house. When I was kid I couldn’t wait to go get my school supplies. Coloured pencils, cute erasers, crayons. Crisp new notebooks and colourful binders. A new lunchbox. My favourite lunchbox ever was my Wonder Woman lunchbox with matching thermos.
Over the years even when I wasn’t in school myself and I didn’t have school aged kids I still saw September as a new start to my year. Summer was over and it was time to set new goals for the year.
I was so excited when I learned that Motts, Smuckers, and Pepperidge Farms Gold Fish have launched the Lunchbox Builder, a fun tool, where users can design their own lunchbox, add it to the gallery of lunchboxes, and view and rate other people’s lunchboxes. You can even print out and make your “lunchbox” to decorate your room!
Users who design a lunchbox are entered to win a lunch-inspired prize pack worth $150!
Walmart, Smucker’s, Motts and Pepridgefarm Gold Fish, have given me the opportunity to give away the same $150 lunch-inspired prize pack to one lucky Frugal Family Life Blog reader!
The prize pack includes an iPod Shuffle, an insulated lunchbox, an assorted pack of Sharpie pens, Crayola colored Pencils, a Smuckers Uncrustables sandwich container, a Logitech Optical Mouse, a Smuckers belt pack, combination lock, a Motts Reusable Shopping Bag, a squeezable Smuckers strawberry, scented pencils, a Walmart Gift Card, and a pedometer.
How to Enter:
You must be a Frugal Family Life/Frugalous Newsletter subscriber (enter your Name and Email below) and you must comment on this post telling me what you or your kids look forward to most about Back-to-School shopping.
Extra Entry (worth 1 entry): Tweet about this giveaway and leave an additional comment linking to your tweet (how to link directly to a tweet).
Extra Entry (worth 1 entry): Write a blog post on your own blog about this giveaway and leave an additional comment linking to your post.
Extra Entry (worth 1 entry): Link to this giveaway on Facebook and leave an additional comment linking to your Facebook post.
Contest ends August 28, 2009 at 11:59pm est.
Contest is open to residents of Canada and the USA.
Announcing Fridge Foragers Blog
August 20, 2009 By 1 Comment
This has been in the works for a while now but we finally have it up – Fridge Foragers.
Over on Fridge Foragers we’ll be talking about quick, easy, healthy family meals including breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks that the whole family will love.
We’re all busy and often meal time gets pushed aside while we try to bounce from work and school to hockey practice, swim lessons, book club and gym and back home again.
Fridge Foragers will have lots of recipes, ideas, how to’s and more as we try to rescue meal times from the drive thru. Come check it out.
Frugal & Green: Make Your Own Reusable Shopping Bags
July 22, 2009 By 10 Comments
On June 1, 2009 the city of Toronto passed a law meaning that all stores (including restaurants) must charge a minimum of 5 cents for each plastic bag that customers take. The idea it to reduce the amount of plastic bags going into our waste. I’m sure more and more communities will begin this practice and I know many large retailers are now charging for bags even without the by-law.
Mountain of Plastic Bags
I’ve gathered up a bunch of links for free shopping bag patterns located around the web. There are patterns for sewing, knitting, crocheting and there’s even a macrame pattern. I hope some of these patterns inspire you to make your own bags. I’d love to see them!
- Two crochet tote bag patterns using old plastic shopping bags – how much greener can you get? I’m sure these would be super durable too!
- Very simple shopping bag made from a T-shirt – this one is super simple. As long as you can sew in a straight(ish) line you’ll be fine. You don’t even need a sewing machine. You can hand sew this one!
- Knit Mesh Tote Bag – this is a relatively simple knitting pattern without too many complicated twists and turns.
- Shopping Bag Made from a Pillowcase – again only very basic sewing skills needed for this one.
- Wallet-sized Fold Up Shopping Bag – this one’s a little more complex and you’ll need intermediate sewing skills but I love how it folds up so neatly
- Crocheted Shopping Tote – a pattern for a shopping bag with pocket – intermediate crochet skills required.
- Knit Shopping Bag – this pattern is for the intermediate knitter among us
- Macrame Shopping Bag – Yes! Macrame!
Frugal Food: Safe Meat Handling
July 21, 2009 By 1 Comment
Nothing seems to strike fear into the hearts of most of us these days quite like the fear of food poisoning and food born bacteria does. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that every year about 76 million people in the United States become ill from harmful bacteria in food; of these, about 5,000 die. Bacteria grows rapidly on meat and fish – beef, lamb, chicken, pork, salmon, etc. – at room temperature so all meats, poultry and fish must be stored in the fridge or freezer.
raw meat
Keep raw meat away from other foods as it’s very easy to cross contaminate. I’ve seen it recommended to use separate cutting boards at all times. One for raw meat that is never used for any other foods and one for fruits, vegetables, etc. It’s also very important to disinfect any surface or object that the raw meat has touched.
A simple, inexpensive and non-toxic method is to spray surfaces with vinegar, then with hydrogen peroxide. No rinsing is necessary. Produce and meats can also be sprayed in this manner to disinfect. Here’s some more information on the use of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to disinfect both foods and surfaces. (Note: do not use this method on counters or surfaces made of calcium-based stone such as limestone, marble or calcite as the vinegar may etch or dissolve the stone. Use soap and water instead.)
All meats should be cooked thoroughly and it’s recommended that you use a meat thermometer to be sure that meats are properly cooked. Here’s a guide for safe temperatures:
USDA Recommended Safe Minimum Internal Temperatures
- Steaks & Roasts – 145 °F
- Fish – 145 °F
- Pork – 160 °F
- Ground Beef – 160 °F
- Egg Dishes – 160 °F
- Chicken Breasts – 165 °F
- Whole Poultry – 165 °F
Once food is cooked it should be consumed at once or packaged into a container and stored in the refrigerator. Remember to wash your hands frequently before, during and after handling raw meats and wash all cooking utensils, pans, dishes immediately in hot soapy water after use. Follow up with another spray of the vinegar and then the hydrogen peroxide to kill up to 10 times more bacteria than just soap and water alone.
