Saving Energy and Money in Your Home

It's no surprise that most people are trying to save money anywhere they can these days! People are driving less to save money on gas, eating at home more often to save money on food & using less power at home to conserve energy and save on the ever increasing energy bills! Because my energy bill is so high, especially in the summer, I thought it'd be a good idea to provide families with some useful and easily applicable energy saving tips for the whole family! In looking for tips online, I came across Texas Electricity Providers .

According to Texas Electricity Providers, families spend the most amount of money cooling their home. In the summer months, turning your air conditioning to a higher temperature can save you hundreds. TEP suggests keeping your AC at 78 degrees to keep your home at an optimal temperature. In order to help keep it at this temperature, you may want to keep curtains or shutters closed, especially when no one is home, to keep the heat and sun out.

Another great tip TEP provides is turn your ceiling fans off when you leave the room. My husband and I are guilty of this energy wasting habit! We forget to turn them off because the light is off so we don't see that they're still on. Ceiling fans serve no purpose unless you're in the room to feel the cool air so remember to turn them off before you leave!

When cooking in the kitchen, try to defrost and preheat items in the microwave to reduce cooking time in the oven. This will keep your house cooler because the oven will not be on as long. Better yet, make cold dinner plates such as pasta salad, sandwiches, salads & other yummy summer dishes.

If you'd like more money & energy saving tips, including some on saving energy in the laundry room, bedroom, garage, office and the rest of your home, visit Texas Electricity Providers for a complete list of their energy saving tips. You'd be surprised how much you can save by making a few small changes around your home!

FREE Online Resources for Teaching Your Kids!

Here’s a site that’s not only a great tool for moms & dads but for teachers & home schooling parents too!! The site has a HUGE database of worksheets, assessments, e-books, writing tools & more for kids. The handouts are in color, easy to print & cover every topic you could imagine including the alphabet, auditory processing, visual discrimination, letter/word awareness, phonics, gross motor skills, social development & much more. I’ve spent hours online looking for educational tools for my daughter to use at home and this is BY FAR the best site I’ve found so far! Check it out at http://www.schoolsparks.com/

Get Your Kids To WANT To Do Their Chores!

Check out My Job Chart & Motivate Your Kids to Do Their Chores!

Ok parents, here’s a subject most of you will be very familiar with….getting your kids to do their chores!! Not only does this help you out around the house but it also teaches them responsibility, organization & how to take care of themselves and their belongings. I recently came upon a website that provides parents and kids with an amazing tool to motivate your kids to do their chores!!! My Job Chart is a free, easy to use, online chore chart and reward system. It motivates your kids to get organized and teachers them first hand how to save, share and spend. And it does ALL of this for FREE!! It makes it easy for parents to assign chores and more motivating and meaningful for children to complete them.

All you do is register with the site and get your family registered as well. Then you assign jobs, set the rewards you desire and encourage your kids to get started! You can set morning and evening tasks for each of your kids to complete and designate a point value for each one. Tasks can be as simple as "Brush my teeth", "Eat my veggies", etc or "Clean my room", "Take out the trash". etc. After they’re completed, kids earn points to either save, give to charity or buy more rewards you set! You can keep track of what they accomplish and get notification of when chores are done too! My daughter is still a toddler so we are working on chores but she’s too young for this technology on her own. I am doing it with her so that, when she’s old enough to get on the site on her own, she’ll be used to it and loving it by then!

Check it out at http://www.myjobchart.com.

We're baaaack!

Hello again!! My apologies for not posting for months! Yes, months! In blog land, this is one of the worst crimes you can commit! Excuses, excuses, excuses but lately, life has been quite chaotic. We were in the process of trying to buy a home, move and sell a home in this crazy housing market and, to top it off, the home we lived in didn’t sell so we then had to find renters…ASAP before being late on a mortgage payment! Needless to say, after a hectic 3 month escrow, it’s over and we’re all settled in! So, it’s back to posting!! And we will be posting at least once per day, if not more often, to keep everyone up to date on some cool new mom & dad news! My favorites are the Freebie Fridays where I’ll be looking anywhere and everywhere I can online through blogs, facebook pages, store sites and more to find you the best freebies out there! So, check back tomorrow and suggest us to your friends!

Thanks for following J
Ellie at The Parent Center

Fun Frugal Money Saving Sites for Families!

Save $$$, Get Free Stuff & Connect with other Moms!

Saving money is something every family could benefit from and the internet is a GREAT way to do that. There are countless blogs & websites that post money saving tips, daily freebie deals and some even post deals on the hour every hour. With social networking sights such as Facebook & Twitter, you can find out about tons of different ways to save your family money from your PC or your mobile device. Below are some of my favorite frugal sites. I check these sights regularly and also follow them on Twitter and Facebook to make sure I’m up to date on the latest ways to save my family money! In the past few weeks, I’ve received 4 free photo books, had 3 free meals & gotten tons of coupons for items such as detergent, cereal, shampoo & meals. I have saved at least $100 simply by logging onto the internet for a few minutes a day! Thanks to these wonderful ladies & gentlemen for providing fellow moms & dads with such great ways to save money!

Freebies for Mom

Heather at Freebies4mom.com can help everyone save money by spoiling you with the hottest freebies!

http://freebies4mom.com

http://facebook.com/Freebies4Mom

The Frugal Girls

The Frugal Girls is all about serious money savin’ fun as they put it! They feature stylish crafts, DIY projects, recipes, freebies, coupons, giveaways & more

http://www.TheFrugalGirls.com

http://www.facebook.com/thefrugalgirls

Passion for Savings

I love to post the best deals, and the best products. Anything to make life a little easier!

http://www.passionforsavings.com

Debras Dollars

Debras Dollars is a blog dedicated to help others save money. You will find Coupons Samples Reviews and Giveaways and More!

http://debrasdollars.blogspot.com/

Frugal Fabulous Finds

A NC Wife & Mom of 3, Helping you Spend Less, Make More & Live Wisely with deals, coupons, freebies, giveaways and personal finance tips!

http://www.FrugalFabulousFinds.com

Zearly: Revolutionizing Kids Clothing!

How would you like a FREE wardrobe for your child?

Ever heard of Zearly? If you haven’t, you have to check them out! They’re a kids’ clothing site where you can literally get a whole new wardrobe for your kids for FREE! And they’ll help you clean out their closets at the same time! Zearly works like this! First, you sign up on their website and they automatically send you out a huge, postage paid bag to fill with all of your childrens’ gently used clothing. You don’t even have to take the bag to the post office because Zearly arranges for the bag to be picked up right from your front door. Once the bag arrives at Zearly headquarters, our staff goes through the clothing, tallies up the points and credits your account with points for each item you send in. When your points appear on your account, it’s time to start shopping. There are clothes ranging from 0-3 months all the way up to 14/16 on Zearly. We even have shoes! There are gently used clothes AND brand new designer apparel too! If you spend over 150 points, your order ships to your house free! That means the entire transaction will cost you nothing, not even the time or gas it takes to get to your nearest consignment store.

AND if your kids have outgrown these sizes and you no longer need to shop for kids’ clothes, you can STILL send in your clothes because, at Zearly, you can also use your points towards gift cards to Target, Walmart, Amazon & other retailers. So, you can actually get yourself some clothes in exchange for clothes that no longer fit your kids. How can you not like this site? So far, the reviews are all 5 stars! Moms and dads are raving about it so check it out!

Zearly also has a Facebook page where they post tons of links and articles related to family life such as recipes, family activities, freebies, giveaways and more! There’s even a chance to win 50 Zearly points each week! Like them on facebook and follow them on Twitter for more information!

Below are just some of the reviews from their Facebook Reviews page! See what other moms and dads have to say about Zearly!

• Tiara Fletcher

  "" LOVE IT! I spent about 192 points, and got my sons entire summer wardrobe. And the best part was, i didn't spend a dime. If i would've bought everything i got brand new, it would have been close to $300 dollars, if not more...love, love, love saving money anyway i can!!

  
  

  Laura Sokol

  "" If I could give you 10 stars I would... This is an incredible store! I just received my 1st bag of 36 clothing items for only 196 points... and they are all perfect! Thanks SO much Zearly! I will definately be buying MANY more!!

  
  

  Ciara Thomas Castañon

  "" Love the whole concept of your business! I have really been impressed with the items we have received from you. Thanks!

  
  

  Courtney Stewart Winters

  "" I LOVE Zearly!! Excellent idea and excellent service. I've received two shipments already :-) We'll be customers for a LONG time!!

  
  

  Carissa Wooten Fulkerson

  "" Got my first shipment in! Awesome stuff and awesome concept. This mother of 5(all 6 and under!) approves! Two thumbs up!

There Are How Many Uses for WD-40?

WD-40

Known as "the can with thousands of uses," WD-40 is truly one of the most versatile, multi-purpose problem solvers on the market! The formula remains a secret but the product definitely isn't. It can be found in virtually every household in America! With over 2,000 excuses collected to date more and more are added to the list each day. The "water displacement 40th Attempt" does anything from protect metal from rust and corrosion, penetrate stuck parts, provide a great moisture barrier and lubricates just about anything. Below are some ways to to use WD-40 at home! If you think of any more, feel free to comment!

- Erases marks caused by chair backs on running boards of wall

- Cleans piano keys

- Lubricates screws on lawn furniture

- Removes grime from grout on bathroom floors (be sure to wipe floor clean after using WD-40)

- Removes crayon from carpet (be sure to test WD-40 on low visibility area of carpet before using)
- Removes scuff marks from ceramic tile flooring (be sure to wipe floor clean after using WD-40)
- Removes marks from floors left by chair feet (be sure to wipe floor clean after using WD-40)

- Clean grease off kitchen hoods
- Take the squeak out of door hinges
- Remove glue residue left beyond by stickers, labels and contact labels
- Remove permanent marker from hard surfaces
- Remove crayons from wallpaper chalkboards, brick, dryer drums & many other surfaces
- Clean and lubricate garden cutting & digging tools

There are thousands more uses on the WD-40 website! Check it out and see all that you can do with it!

Tips for Getting Around Exercise Excuses

No Excuses! You Can Always Fit Exercise into Your Day! Here are some tips for getting around the typical excuses why not to exercise!

Excuse: My child is too young to do much and I can't always just take her for walks.
Fix: Look for local yoga or gymnastics academies in your city. Many offer classes geared towards toddlers or have open gym times where you can join in and have fun too. Get a child trailer for your bike and go for bike rides. Look for strolled friendly walking trails or get a baby carrier. You'll increase the intensity of your walks with the extra weight and your baby will out of the sttoller. Look for gyms with child care. Most accept babies 6 months or older and are only $2-5 each time you drop them off.

Excuse: I don't have time to exercise and after a long, crazy day, I'd rather just grab fast food.
Fix: Squeeze it in before your kids get up or after the go to bed. Pop in an exercise DVD or tune into FitTV. Both are available around the clock, mo matter when you're ready to workout. There are also several websites available with free online workouts. Go for a quick run in the morning or squeeze a brisk walk in at lunch time. As for dinner, get a crock pot, prep it, put it in the fridge and turn it on before you leave for work. When you get home, dinner is all set to be served. Forgot to prep the crock pot or didn't have time? Buy a cooked rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store & serve with baked potatoes, corn or steamed veggies (microwaveable in minutes).

Excuse: I'm tired and don't have the energy.
Fix: if you start making the time to exercise, you'll realize that working out actually helps you gain energy. It seems counterintuitive but the endorphin release from exercise improves mood and alertness and reduces fatigue. Drag yourself to the.gym & start...if you're there, you're bound to get something accomplished.

Fast & Easy Pasta Sauce

Looking to make some fast & easy pasta recipe but don't have tons of prep time? Try the semi-homemade version below! It makes enough to save & freeze and take out for future dinners too! Hope you like it!

Use one jar of pre-made pasta sauce (Prego, Ragu, etc). Add 1 can stewed tomatoes, 1 lb cooked ground turkey, browned chopped onions & 2 chopped garlic clove. Spice with your choice of spices (basil, oregano, rosemary, etc). Simmer & serve over pasta. It takes like homemade spaghetti sauce but it's much easier to make. The turkey adds lean protein too! The recipe makes plenty to save & use throughout the month. Divide the leftovers in freezer bags or tupperware containers, air out the bags or containers, seal them and freeze them. This way you'll have pasta sauce ready to go at a moments notice. You can pull out a bag, thaw, hear and serve. Do this for soups, sauces and stews too.

5 Recipes Using Cornflakes!

Believe it or not, there is lots you can do with the corn flakes your kids eat every day for breakfast! Incorporate them into dinners, snacks, desserts & more. Try any of the recipes below and see what your family thinks!

Honey Mustard Chicken Fingers

Preheat oven to 450. Place wire rack in large jelly roll pan. In pie plate, crush 3 cups cornflakes, with 1 Tbsp honey, ½ tsp finely grated lemon peel, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper until blended. Coat 1 lb chicken tenders or breast with 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard. Dredge each in cornflake mixture. Place on rack. Bake 12 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the center. Serves 4. Double or triple recipe for larger families.

Chocolate Clusters

In large glass bowl, microwave 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips and ¼ cup peanut butter on high for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat until melted. Mix in 2 cups of cornflakes, ½ crushed potato chips & ½ cup unsalted peanuts. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Refrigerate until hard. Makes 3-4 dozen.

Lemon Butter Broccoli

In 12 inch skillet, heat 1 inch water to boiling on high. Add 1 lb broccoli florets. Cook 3 minutes or until tender. Drain and sprinkle with 1/8 tsp salt. In skillet, melt 2 Tbsp of butter on medium. Add 1 cup of cornflakes and cook 2 minutes while stirring. Add 1 tsp grated lemon peel and 1/8 tsp pepper. Sprinkle over broccoli. Serves 4.

Apple Pear Crisp

Preheat oven to 400 f. Cut & peel 3 lbs apples and pears into ½ inch chunks. In buttered 13 by 9 inch baking dish, toss apples, pears, ¼ cup packed brown sugar, ½ tsp apple pie spice and ¼ tsp salt. In a bowl, crush 3 ½ cups of cornflakes with 5 Tbsp butter, 1/3 cups of brown sugar and ½ tsp of apple pie spice until blended. Sprinkle over fruit. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Serves 8.

Mini Salmon Cakes

In a food processor, pulse 1 lb skinless salmon fillet, 1 ½ cup of cornflakes, 1 tsp of grated orange peel, 2 Tbsp of cilantro, ½ tsp of salt & ¼ tsp of pepper until finely chopped. Form into 9 patties. Cook in a 12 in nonstick skillet on medium heat for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Combine 1 orange, peeled and diced, 2 Tbsp of chopped cilantro and ¼ tsp each of salt and pepper. Serve it as a garnish with the cakes and serve. Serves 9

Via Good Housekeeping March 2011