Mark is originally from Pittsburgh, so we have been busy preparing for the Super Bowl at the Deneen household! We created these cute puffed rice cereal treats: Made this awesome sun-catcher with construction paper, tissue paper, and some tape: And whipped up a batch of some frugal snacks including: air-popped popcorn, homemade pizza, and loaded […]
Super Bowl Frugal Snack — Make Your Own Pizza
January 31, 2009 by
Just in time for Super Bowl Sunday! I thought it would be fun to post this easy (and very frugal) recipe. Our family enjoys making homemade pizza together so much that we hardly ever order delivery anymore. A bread machine takes all of the labor out of kneading the dough, and I have frequently seen […]
Garden Planning
January 30, 2009 by
Even if you have never planned a garden before, now may be a terrific time to start. Our family just signed up for a garden plot through the local community center, and I think Emily will benefit from watching and caring for all our vegetables, herbs, and flowers. If you do not have the space […]
Fun with Felt – Play Valentine Mail Set
January 29, 2009 by
Emily does not know it yet, but I am going to surprise her with this homemade felt play mail set for Valentine’s Day! Isn’t it cute? I know, I know, 25 cent postage… those were the days, right? As a learning tool, the address labels and stamps can be moved around. She can practice placing […]
6 Tips for Handling Picky Eaters
January 28, 2009 by
Are your kids picky eaters? Are you preparing several dinners each night? Finding ways to handle picky eaters can be a huge help towards keeping a low food budget. Here are some tips that worked with our little picky one (who is not so picky any more!). Do not keep junk food in the house. […]
Preparing for Special Guests
January 27, 2009 by
Since we have made the decision to eat out less, we have been entertaining at home more often. Yesterday afternoon was spent preparing to get together with friends from college to celebrate Chinese New Year! We planned to get Chinese take out, eat with chopsticks, and spend some time getting caught up with one another. […]
Free Coffee and Breakfast Menu Samples at Panera Bread
January 27, 2009 by
Panera Bread is offering free coffee all day Wednesday, January 28th and free samples of some of their new breakfast items like the granola parfaits and grilled breakfast sandwiches! Yummy! Click here to find a Panera Bread near you. Photo by Samantha Celera
Create 6 FREE Valentine’s Day Cards
January 27, 2009 by
Stories by Everyone is running a special for 6 FREE Valentine’s Day Cards. You can upload a photo to personalize them — very cute! Shipping is also free. Enter code valentine at checkout. Offer expires 2/1/2009. Not valid with any other offer.
Frugal Meal Planning 101
January 26, 2009 by
For many households, food can be one of the highest monthly expenses (second to rent or mortgage). Fortunately, there are several tricks to slashing your grocery bill while still maintaining a healthy diet. Meal planning is one technique, and you may find it works well for your family. If you have never tried to reduce […]
Afternoon Play Date
January 25, 2009 by
Mark worked late almost every night last week, so the girls and I went into “survival mode”. In case you are not familiar with “survival mode”, it goes something like this: 1. Do the bare minimum to get by with housework, laundry, or cooking. 2. Leave piles of dirty dishes on the countertops. 3. Do […]
The Great Thermostat Debate
January 24, 2009 by
The Deneen household is kept at a fairly constant 66 degrees during the winter (sometimes lower if we leave the house for a long period of time). I have noticed that hardly anyone else seems to keep their thermostat set this low. We dress the kids in layers, and we wear sweaters this time of […]
Get a Deal on Disney
January 23, 2009 by
Disney is now offering a package to buy 4 nights, get 3 more nights with tickets free! Plus, when you travel between 3/1 – 3/9 and 3/17- 3/29, you’ll also get a $200 Disney Gift Card. Click here for details.
Top 10 Cheap and Healthy Foods
January 23, 2009 by
Epicurious has a fabulous article on some of the best money-saving ingredients (complete with recipes). This is a great resource, and you can find the list here. Do you use brown rice, potatoes, apples, eggs, beans, or any of the other ingredients listed in your everyday cooking? I would love to hear about it! Leave […]
The Day We Unplugged – Part II
January 22, 2009 by
This is something that has been on my “To Do” list for awhile – organizing the Learning Studio. Last summer, Mark and I (mostly Mark) created this fabulous space in the house for the girls to get creative. It is full of every craft supply you could possibly imagine, plenty of books, and a good […]
The Day We Unplugged — Part I
January 22, 2009 by
I thought it would be fun to outline what we call “unplugged day” in our household. Every so often, we try to have a full day where we do not watch any television or play video games. It amazes me how productive I can be on these days! This morning, I had a conversation with Mark […]
8 Tips for Healthy Eating on a Budget
January 21, 2009 by
You may be surprised to learn that eating healthy foods can be good for your waistline and your budget! Here are some of our favorite tips for eating healthy without spending a lot of money: Drink Water — Kick the soda habit. Not only is soda loaded with sugar and calories, it is also not […]
Weave a Placemat
January 20, 2009 by
This craft is so frugal, and keeps kids busy for a good while. Younger kids might need a little bit of help, but the older ones will have no trouble. Use these as a great opportunity to teach patterning! To make your own woven placemats, you will need: Two sheets of contrasting construction paper Scissors […]
20% off Online Solar Course
January 20, 2009 by
Are you considering installing solar panels to your home? You might want to enroll for an extensive 4 hour online course offered by Eco Achievers. Enter coupon code RENEW at checkout and you will save 20% off the $59 enrollment fee. Offer expires 02/16/2009. Click here for more details.
