How to Make an Easy Gift Container

I recently made some bath teas to give as gifts (more about that later), and I found myself in need of containers for them. Rather than using a ziploc bag or something similar, I thought I'd reuse a few plastic containers from our cabinet to create something pretty (and airtight!).

What You'll Need:

-Plastic container

-Paint (I used spray flat enamel for the white and tinted wall paint for the border)

-Ribbon or other decorations

-Sharpie / Marker

-Glue

This was what I started with - it once held cheese. It isn't recyclable in this area, so it feels good to dress it up and use it for something nice.

All you have to do is paint the lid, glue on your bow or other decorations, then write the recipient's name on the lid using the marker. I chose the font I mentioned in this post to fancy it up.

That's it! I filled it up, gave it, and the recipient loved it!

Another Easy Valentine's Day Dinner

Heart-shaped meatloaf, cooked in the crock pot. Just use your favorite recipe, but shape it into a heart. Doing this also gives you a good excuse to use a lot of ketchup.

A Creative and Easy Valentine's Day Dinner

Mashtinis!

These were so easy and fun to make! I used the following ingredients and layered them in a martini glass:

-Mashed potatoes (I microwaved potatoes until soft then seasoned and mashed with butter)
-Frozen peas (cooked in a bowl in the microwave with a little water)
-Gorton's Classic Grilled Shrimp, prepared in the microwave
-Frozen meatballs, prepared in the microwave
-Sweet Potato Chips

I garnished the shrimp mashtini with cocktail sauce and the meatball ones with barbecue sauce. I topped them all with a fresh cherry tomato. So easy!

I used extra large, plastic martini glasses, and they were more than enough for a meal. The plastic made them a bit top-heavy, though, so be sure to hold them steady if you use plastic.

Happy Valentine's Day!

What to Expect at The Price is Right Live Stage Show

Like most everyone else in America, I have always been a huge fan of The Price is Right. When I heard that they have a stage version, it's touring, and it was coming to a town near me, I couldn't have been more thrilled. I jumped on it the morning tickets went on sale, picked up a couple for my husband and me, and thus began my dreams of hearing my name followed by, "...Come on down!"

The big day finally came yesterday, and as the clock ticked down to show time, our excitement grew. Our tickets listed show time as 7:30 p.m., but registration for prospective competitors started at 4:30. Logistically, we weren't able to get there until almost 6.

That didn't matter, though, because we parked, we were able to quickly find the registration line, jump in, and proceed toward the doors.

The line was outside, so you'll want to dress for the weather if you want to get your chance on-stage. Luckily, the line moved quickly, so we never stood still for long. Our queue time came in right at 35 minutes, not too bad at all.

Once we got to the door, an usher asked how many were in our party, then directed us to a venue staff member seated at a table (there were plenty of tables and plenty of staff, which was why the line had moved quickly). We were given a form to complete and a blank, yellow name tag, and told that pens and markers were at the tables behind us. We proceeded there, where we placed our first and last name and DOB on the form, wrote our first names on the name tags, then dropped our name forms into a basket on the table.

We were directed back out the doors, where we re-entered the venue through the main doors to have our tickets scanned.

Note that the Disclaimer at the bottom of the show's official website includes the fact that no purchase is actually necessary in order to play, but you do need tickets to watch the show. So, if TPIRL comes to your town and you want to potentially play, but you don't want to buy a ticket, you should still be able to register to play but won't be able to watch the rest of the show.

Once inside, we found our seats and I noticed that most of the venue (an arena that is normally used for college basketball games, concerts, and other shows) had been curtained off, leaving one of the narrow ends available for seating. This made me feel much better about my chances for getting picked as a contestant! The host later said that 2,400 were in attendance, so those are pretty good odds.

When I first saw it, I was less than impressed with the stage, but thankfully first impressions aren't always lasting. While we waited for the show to start, most everything was hidden behind a large black curtain. Contestant row (4 slots) was visible in front center, and a Jumbotron sat on each side of the stage.

The announcer came onto the stage to introduce the show, pump up our excitement, and bring out the host.

The pace was great: the announcer helped the crowd practice our Ooooohs and Aaaaaahs, showed a few clips that demonstrated (from the televised show) the most entertaining ways to, "Come on down", and showed a video intro of our host.

No photos or videos were allowed after this; the curtain is pulled back. The colorful stage pops out and looks just like the one on TV!

The host came out, and the show was on! The announcer called down the first four contestants, and they made their way down with the house lights on.

From then on, the show was surprisingly similar to the televised show, with a few exceptions. Those in contestant row bid on items, and whoever came closest got to go onstage. The remaining three went back to their seats and received a T-shirt on the way back. If anyone bid the exact amount, he or she received an extra prize. This actually happened on the first bid: the winner received an iPad Mini for an exact bid!

The games played were like those on the televised version and included:
Cliffhangers
Hole in 1 (or 2, just like on TV!)
Plinko
Punch a Bunch
Any Number

4 new people were called up to contestant row each time, a change from the televised version of the game. But that's great for those of us in the audience, because it means we have more chances to compete! Also between games, five names were drawn and announced for a free T-shirt.

Like the TV version, there were two chances to spin the big wheel: one at mid-point and one before the showcase. Unlike the TV version, though, the wheel wasn't tied to the showcase. Three new people were chosen to spin the wheel each time, and highest without going over $1.00 was awarded $250. The winner received a $100 bonus and and additional spin if he or she got $1.00, and even more money awarded if the additional spin landed on the $.05, $.15, or $1.00.

Finally, at the end of the show, it was time for the Showcase. Unlike the TV version, one person was chosen to go onstage for a chance at winning the big showcase. It was a surprisingly nice group of items that included a Leapster, Xbox 360 with Gamefly subscription, HD TV, popcorn machine, and (of course) a car. Rather than ask the contestant to guess the total amount of the showcase, she was presented with the Price is Right game, "10 Chances", in which the price of each item must be unscrambled (and there is always an extra number thrown in to make it harder) in order to win each.

The Showcase contestant was able to guess the correct price for the Leapster and PS360, but she fell short when it came to the television, which meant she didn't win it or the car.

At the end of the show, the audience was given the opportunity to get in line to spin the big wheel and take a photo for $20. The host mentioned that this wheel had been used as a backup on the televised show, so it was indeed the real thing. We opted to not stay, though it would have made great photo!

Winners had to stay after the show in order to complete paperwork and prove eligibility, so be sure to take a photo ID with you if you plan to play!

Showtime was 7:30. It started around 7:40, ended around 9:20, which was the perfect amount of time to keep everyone excited about the games before they started to get tired of clapping and yelling, "One dollar!!"

All in all, it was a fantastic time. Even though we weren't called to, "Come on down," I had an incredible time just being there. While the prizes aren't always as glamorous as those on the televised show, and the tickets weren't free, expect a fun time if you go. Even if you don't get a car, a trip, or even a T-shirt, you'll come home with one of these fancy name tags. It's an awesome souvenir.

The Price is Right tour schedule can be found here. Don't miss it!

New, Improved DIY Powder Laundry Detergent

For quite a while now, I have made my own laundry detergent. I have been fine-tuning the recipe, and wanted to share my new, improved process.

Rather than grate the soap, I have found that if you turn it into a fine powder, it dissolves, mixes, and cleans much better. To do this, start with 1/2 bar of Ivory soap.

Unwrap it and place it into a microwave-safe pie plate or casserole dish (you want something wide).

Place it into a microwave and set the timer for 1 1/2 minutes. Watch it closely while the microwave is on - the soap will grow and expand, much like volcanic lava. When it stops growing, stop the microwave (mine usually goes for a little more than a minute).

Remove the soap from the microwave and let it cool. Once cooled, you'll be able to pull off pieces and crumble it into a fine powder, which you'll be able to easily mix with your Borax and washing soda.

It's also a fun project for kids - my daughter loves to watch the soap while it's in the microwave, and she helps crumble it afterward. Just don't let your kids inhale the fine powder, keep it down near waist level while working with it.

An Easy Way to Clean Out Your Shower Drain

I have really thick hair, and my shower drain tends to clog fairly frequently. It's always best to keep it clean regularly, before it becomes a problem (unfortunately, I speak from experience on this). I used to struggle with bent wire clothes hangers, fancy plastic tools designed for cleaning out showers, plungers, and Liquid Plumr, but in my experience, none of these work as well as a thin barber's comb.

That's right! Remove the drain stop (or even work around it if yours doesn't easily come off), then use the skinny end to grab the clumps of hair (and slimy stuff) and pull it out. 

See? Yuck. But it works great. Be sure to dispose of the gross stuff in either the toilet or trash can - don't just wash it down the shower drain (again, I speak from experience). 

An Easy iPad Stand

I'm in the process of Ebaying quite a few supplies from  my Etsy shop. I like to sometimes have Netflix or Hulu running in the background while I work, and up until now I'd been leaning the iPad against boxes or stacks of things.

While preparing my plate stands for sale, I realized I was looking at the perfect iPad stand.

Awesome. I'm keeping this one for my iPad.

Creating Things is Essential to my Happiness

This is the single most inspirational piece I have read about the importance of creating, doing, and making. It doesn't really matter what I'm doing, creating, or making, as long as it adds value of some sort, for some one...anyone.

This is why it's always important to, "Make it your own," to quote the American Idol judges. Don't just sing it note for note. Don't just follow the instructions. Modify whatever you're doing to put your own spin on it: create something of your own. You'll be rewarded.

This is why household activities drive me crazy. Most often, they're a waste of time. What satisfaction can anyone possibly get from washing the same dishes every meal, making the same bed every single day, and washing the same clothes over...and...over? None. Zip.

If you perform a task or chore regularly (daily, weekly, etc.), ask yourself, "Can I do this less frequently, and still be just as happy with the results?" If you're mopping just because you've always mopped every other day, you're spending too much time mopping. If you're mopping because you can see dirt on your floor, then it's time well spent.

Sure, it's nice to have a clean house, and a filthy house is not an option, so I always go with the happy medium - and it is happy for me - I spend as little time and energy cleaning as possible. Which means I have more time and energy to create and do. And that is what makes me, and keeps me, happy.

Low Calorie, Yet Satisfying Banana Pudding (With Pineapple!)

I'm from the south, and down here, we just love our banana pudding. Few desserts are as comforting and sentimental for me. Now that I'm an adult and have to worry about adult things like my weight and health, I don't get to indulge in my beloved banana pudding as often as I'd like. So I went in search of a healthier alternative. This version is sugar free and gluten free, and believe me - it tastes divine and is oh so satisfying.

Pineapple Banana Pudding

Ingredients: 
2 fresh bananas
1 - 8 ounce can crushed pineapple (no sugar added)
1 1/2 tablespoons corn starch
1/3 cup sugar substitute (I used Erythritol)
2 large egg yolks
1 1/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup pineapple juice (drained from canned crushed pineapple)

Directions:

1. Open can of pineapple and drain the pineapple and reserve 3/4-cup of the juice.

2. Slice the bananas into 1/4" thick round slices.

3. In a large, lidded glass bowl or glass baking dish, slice one banana to create a layer of bananas.

4. Then add 1/2 the pineapple to create a pineapple layer.

5. Slice the second banana to create a second banana layer, then top with remaining pineapple.

6. Separate the eggs, being careful not to nick the yolks.

7. In a large sauce pan, mix corn starch, sugar substitute, and egg yolks until well blended.

8. Mix in milk slowly, stirring constantly.

9. Stir in pineapple juice.

10. Place pan on the stovetop and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.

11. As soon as mixture reaches boiling point, reduce heat to medium, stirring constantly until desired thickness is achieved. Filling should be thick but pourable. Thickening will happen quickly. Due to the pineapple juice, the filling may or may not thicken before it reaches the boiling point, so pay close attention! I stirred mine on the stove top for a little less than 10 minutes before it thickened but everyone's results may differ.

12. Remove from heat as soon as desired thickness is achieved.

13. Immediately pour over banana/pineapple layers, moving the dish to ensure that filling covers all layers and there are no air pockets. Chill in refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours before serving.



Makes 4 - 1 cup servings

Nutrition Facts Pineapple Banana Pudding
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories		178.0
Total Fat		2.8 g
	Saturated Fat	1.1 g
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.5 g
	Monounsaturated Fat	1.1 g
Cholesterol		93.5 mg
Sodium		45.6 mg
Potassium		483.8 mg
Total Carbohydrate		59.5 g
	Dietary Fiber	26.2 g
	Sugars	24.6 g
Protein		4.9 g

Make Your Own Bows from Gift Wrap

Out of bows but still want to dress up your gift? It's easy to make your own using strips of gift wrap!

 First, cut a few strips from the end of the sheet of paper.

If the strips are more narrow, they'll be less bulky and easier to loop.

Start on one end and make stacked loops using the paper. Make a final loop on top, then secure everything using tape through the top loop. Use the tape to secure it to your package.

Make several of different sizes and place next to each other for a great three-dimensional look!

An Inexpensive, Easy Gift for a 60th Birthday

We'll soon attend a 60th birthday party, and everyone has been asked to bring 60 things as a gift. This could work for any birthday, but for some reason, 60 seems to be the popular number to do this sort of thing. Sure, we could take a jar of 60 jellybeans, a bag of 60 buttons, 60 postage stamps, or any number of other things. But what's the fun in that? I chose instead to make a custom, framed print of 60 words that describe the birthday girl.

Luckily, I was able to pick up a brand new float frame from our local thrift shop. I have great luck with frames there and got this one for only $7. The best part of the gift is that if she doesn't like the print, she can just replace it with photos and it's still a nice birthday present.

To make your own, here's what you'll need:

-Poster board
-Markers or pencils (I used three complimentary colors and alternated them)
-Straight edge
-Razor or scissors for cutting a straight edge

First, you'll want to decide on the size of your print. I Chose to keep the print's edges a couple of inches from the frame because I used a float frame. If you have a mat, you may want to fit it to that, or you could fill the whole frame. It's really up to you and the size of your frame.

Once you decide on the size, measure and mark your poster board accordingly. I left the poster board width as is, so I only needed to measure up each side.

I then used the straight edge to draw a line to connect my marks.

I used my razor knife to cut across the line. You could also use scissors, just ensure that you're cutting right on the line.

Once my paper was ready, I searched for an easy-to-draw font that would look good in the print. This page has a wonderful font that I found easy to use and I liked the way it looked on my page.

I came up with a list of 60 words. Thesaurus.com is an excellent resource for this, but you don't want to forget others like Mom, Daughter, Grandma, etc., as well as the person's name, when you're making your list. I kept the font list and the word list open on my screen while I worked.

I found it helpful to lightly write each word in pencil before I wrote it in marker. Since my marker colors weren't all dark, it worked best when I erased most of the pencil prior to using the marker. If you're using dark colors, you may not need to worry about that, though.

I wrote 59 of the words around the page, then saved the center area for her name, written much larger. There you have it! I framed it, and now it's ready to give. I think it turned out great, and I enjoyed doing it.

I have to warn you, though - the fancy writing took more time than I'd originally expected. I spent about 8 - 9 hours total on it, but I spread it out over the course of a few days so that it wasn't too tedious.

How to Look Younger - Instantly!

Smile. No, really...a big smile. With your lips open, show some teeth. You'll look more youthful, vibrant, and happy. It's a no-lose situation.

That's it! Works every time.

How to Look 5 Pounds Thinner

Put on heels and stand up straight.

That's it! Works every time.

An Easy Gift For Your Man

It's always hard to find a good gift for a man - all the men in my life buy something the minute they want it. My husband was in need of a small box to place the items from his pockets at the end of each day, though, and I was lucky enough to find this pretty wooden box at a local thrift store.

It was in great shape but had a couple of nicks and scratches in the wood. I wish I'd taken a before picture, so you could see how easy those were to fix using Restor-a-finish by Howard. 

I can't say enough good things about this stuff - it rocks. I use it for any real wood - on our bedroom furniture, dining room table, wooden trim on the stairs...it really just works great, with no sanding or refinishing. 

I cleaned up the inside of the box using a lint roller, and I added a photo of my daughter and me to the little indented spot in the lid, for a personal touch.

We gave it to my husband for his birthday, and it was a big hit!