Holiday Bucket List on a Budget

Around the holidays, there are so many fun activities to do with the family. This season, our budget is tighter than before to spend on special events and outings. I know many families are in similar positions as well. To help us all out, I've created a holiday bucket list of 13 activities to do for free or just a few dollars. I'm so looking forward to doing each one with M2 and B so that we can create all kinds of awesome holiday memories together!

For simple tips on how to save on holiday spending, check out this post.

1. Christmas lights
Even if Clark Griswold  doesn't live in your neighborhood, nothing says, "Christmas" like driving around admiring all the lights. It's a great time to sing carols with the family and spend time unplugged from technology simply enjoying the season.

2. Christmas festivals, craft fairs and tree lightings
Many towns and cities have tree lightings the first week of December. Everyone gathers together to watch the town Christmas tree and decorations be lit. Christmas festivals and craft fairs are also plentiful this time of year. Even if you don't buy anything at craft festivals, it's fun to wander to see the different gourmet foods and handicrafts people are selling. Our area is no exception. Over the next few weeks, there is lighting event after lighting event. Parades, Santa, lights, hot chocolate, mittens, scarves, oh my! A few of the local churches are having bazaars I want to hit, too. Last year we missed them all so I can't wait to finally take M2 and B to have some fun!!

3. Walk the mall
I love all the decorations that go up at the mall each year. Walking around to see them all then stopping by to see Santa is a favorite of mine. It also burns some calories so I can sneak in a couple gingersnaps when we get home along with a cup of hot tea.

4. Decorate the house
This year, decorating is going to be interesting. With a toddler and a baby on the prowl to destroy anything they can touch, I'm going to have to put everything up high or not put it out at all. Our tree is going to go up later than usual because I'm not looking forward to worrying about it crashing down! As for outside, we have a larger-than-ever light set up planned. I stocked up on clearance lights last year after the holidays so we an add more to our display.

5. Take a nature walk
The outdoors are beautiful this time of year, despite the cold. When there is snow on the ground it's even more breath taking. We'll be doing family walks to enjoy it all!

6. Watch Christmas movies
It's no secret that I have a good-sized collection of Christmas movies, from the holiday black-and-white classics like It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street to National Lampoon's Christmas, Home Alone, The Santa Clause, Rudolph and Frosty, we'll be watching them all. Come Christmas, we'll have an A Christmas Story Movie marathon. It's a family tradition (and one of M2's and my favorite movies)!

7. Walk Through Holiday Light Display
A park near us has a light display each year that you can walk through at night. We've never been. This year, that's going to change!

8. Crafts, crafts and more crafts
I'm planning to make: Two wreaths for our door, one with ornaments one with bells. Painted and salt dough ornaments. A felt Santa. A felt Christmas tree. Hand print decorations. Plus, anything else I can think up!

9. Holiday baking
My holiday baking list has been in the works for about a month. I've already started on the gingersnaps and a new cookie recipe I've created. Next up are peanut butter blossoms, chocolate cookies, sugar cookies using my family's secret recipe, gingerbread Colonial Williamsburg style and ricotta cookies. Yum! They'll get packaged up and given out as gifts to friends, family, mail carriers and more this season.

10. Christmas music
The whole family loves music in our house. We usually have Pandora going. During the holidays, Christmas songs take top priority. Carols delight our ears and get us into the Christmas spirit daily all through Christmas.

11. Ugly sweater shopping
I've already seen so many ugly Christmas sweaters at different stores. While we're out, I'm going to be wandering around to scout out the absolute worst one I can find, while being thoroughly amused as I go! No, I won't be buying one -- just admiring the garish holiday attire.

12. Hot cocoa, cookies and board games
Game nights with A are something I want to start doing. What better time to start than now? Throw in some hot chocolate and homemade cookies and the nights get even sweeter!

13. Library time
The local library has special holiday story times and activities we plan to take M2 and B to this year. Totally free and fun!

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Back-Yard Edibles

For this post, I'm welcoming back guest-blogger Lindsey. You can read her previous article about life with Asperger's here. She's my go-to person on gardening, plants and living off the land and is going to share some of her edible plant knowledge* with this article.
 
The recent movement toward local and sustainable farming practices has seen a wonderful uptick in the breadth of available resources for people concerned with the sources of their nutrition. New product labeling, local farmers’ markets, and home gardening and canning have all had a revival of interest as effort is paid by the consumer to make ethically- and environmentally-conscientious diet choices. However, I’ve found one aspect of this resurgence rather under-appreciated – the wild edible.*

For a long time, and not without just cause, there has been a stigma over foraging wild plants for food. Misidentification of species, harvesting the wrong part, or failing to prepare them in a certain way, has led to serious illness and death for many well-intentioned people. Outside of the legal and potential health ramifications, there are also longer-term sustainability concerns when a particular species is over harvested. A well known example is wild American ginseng. It was once a common plant through forested regions of the country, but its popularity has led to severely reduced numbers in the wild from indiscriminate harvesting.



Given awareness of these issues, I believe it is possible to legally and sustainably add wild edibles to our diets. And the best part is that we often need look no further than our own backyards. Since most public land is protected by anti-poaching legislation, starting your search on private property presents the smallest legal risk. Additionally, caretakers usually know what chemicals have been used on the property and if there are any serious biological concerns such as pet waste. My own small backyard here in Maryland is free of applied chemicals and is surrounded by a six foot fence that discourages casual interference from neighbors and outdoor pets. Thus far I have identified and harvested three wild species in addition to the efforts I put into my cultivated garden plot.

Mulberry branch

Morus sp. – Mulberry
Mulberry trees, of which there are many species, are relatively widespread in milder climates. The tree in my yard might be the native Red Mulberry (M. rubra) or the invasive White Mulberry (M. alba), and unfortunately mulberry species often hybridize where ranges overlap. Mulberries are much loved by many bird species, who perform some interesting acrobatics to get to the more inaccessible ripe berries. Because of this, I have not yet been able to collect enough fruit for a large recipe from my young tree.

The berries ripen in the spring, and are culinarily similar to raspberries, blackberries, and other small, soft fruits – mulberry pies, tarts, jams, and even wines are popular delicacies. This last spring, my consumption was mostly opportunistic, sneaking a few ripe berries while I was out weeding the garden or removing invasive vines from my hostas.

Wood Sorrel

 Oxalis sp. – Wood Sorrel
A relative new-comer to my personal list of backyard edibles, “sorrel” describes hundreds of species in the Oxalis genus. Often mistaken for clover, the heart-shaped leaves are distinctive once you know to look for them. The raw flavor is bright and lemony, with a little bit of tanginess from the oxalic acid in the plant. Because the oxalic acid content can exacerbate kidney stones and similar maladies, excessive consumption is not recommended.

Thus far I have added washed raw wood sorrel leaves to salads made with lettuces from my garden, as they add an additional intricacy of flavor. I plan to try wood sorrel tea, and if possible, dig the roots for wood sorrel tubers to cook.

Pokeweed seedlings

Phytolacca americana – Pokeweed 
 The most divisive plant on this admittedly short list, pokeweed is toxic. Pretty much the entire thing has some level of toxicity, from the highly poisonous roots and berries to the slightly less poisonous stems and leaves. Special preparation is needed to reduce this toxicity before consumption, and even then I would not recommend feeding prepared pokeweed to high-risk groups like young children. So why do I bother with this toxic wild edible? Three reasons: Pokeweed is otherwise nutritious. Pokeweed is delicious. And pokeweed is quite prolific. I’d been removing it from my yard as weeds for years before I realized I could put it to use.

Because pokeweed toxicity increases with the plant’s age and size, I only harvest seedlings as a food source – those plants that are less than a foot tall. After harvest, I carefully cut each leaf from the plant, discarding the roots and stems. The leaves I boil for a few minutes, drain the water, and immediately add clean hot water from another pot to continue boiling. This boil I let go for at least 15 minutes before draining well. This parboiling removes the majority of the toxic substances from the leaves, and will substantially alter the smell. After the parboil, I fry the greens in bacon fat. One of my favorite uses is to add eggs and cheese to the fried greens for a complex and wholesome scrambled egg indulgence.

Blackberry cane

 BONUS: Rubus sp. – Blackberry
While not truly a "wild" edible for my own backyard, I include it here since I do not specifically cultivate blackberry canes. Quite the opposite, in fact – I vehemently remove it whenever it pops up in an unexpected place in my yard. Any gardener who runs into an unseen cane or hopeful berry-lover trying to pick the fruits can sympathize with what an absolute nightmare blackberry brambles can be. If you haven’t experienced brambles, count yourself fortunate to have avoided a plant that is a paragon of “death by a thousand cuts”. This particular invader creeped under the fence from my next door neighbor’s yard, where he was trying to eradicate established canes used in landscaping.

All the grumbling aside, blackberries are delicious treats. I’m considering moving a few errant canes to an out-of-the-way portion of my yard for an attempt at pseudo-cultivation. As with mulberries, birds adore the ripe fruit and make off with a good portion of them before I get to harvest. Bird netting would decrease the loss, but as I’m a rather lazy gardener who enjoys the wildlife, I don’t bother. So the blackberry canes stay in the gray area between wild and cultivated.

These wild species have become an occasional part of my diet, supplementing my small gardening efforts of vegetables and herbs. Even though I live on a small lot inside a developed neighborhood, nestled in one of the largest cities in Maryland, these ‘weeds’ are abundant and persistent around me. With a little research, there’s a great chance you’ll find edibles around you, too, to add nutritious variety from plants not readily available for purchase.

*DISCLAIMER: This article touches briefly on sensitive and potentially dangerous topics regarding nutrition. I am not a botanist or medical doctor, and any knowledge I describe here is based solely on my own experiences and research, and should not be taken as informed advice or recommendations.
 
Author Bio
Lindsey is a graphic designer who lives, works and plays in the D.C. metro region, and has known and loved Melissa, A, and their kids for years. She is currently available for freelance design work and is interested in full-time graphic design positions as well. Find out more about her services and experience.

Delicious Restaurant-Style Pizza Crust

I've spent years trying to create a homemade pizza crust that is as good as a restaurant's. Usually, I end up with something that is too dry, crumbly, flat, puffy, mushy, tastes funny or some combination of those. Finally, I came up with this recipe and it is perfect! The edge is exactly like restaurant pizza, it has the perfect thickness of chewy edge crust, gets golden on the bottom while not being dry under the toppings and tastes delicious. I add flax seed to make the crust a bit healthier. The flax adds omega 3's, fiber and protein while not changing the taste at all. M2 LOVED the pizza, making it toddler approved.

It can be made in a bread machine if you have one so it's even easier to make. Recipes for making the crust with a bread machine or without are below.

Delicious Restaurant-Style Pizza Crust

Yield: One large pizza crust

Ingredients

1 cup warm water

2 Tbsp olive oil

3 Tbsp salted butter, melted

2 3/4 cups bread flour (must be bread flour!)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp white sugar

2 Tbsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp ground flax seed (optional)

1 packet fast rising yeast

Directions Using Bread Machine

Add all wet ingredients to bottom of bread machine pan

Add flour over wet ingredients

Pour salt, flax seed, sugar and garlic powder into corners of bread machine pan

Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in yeast

Set bread machine to dough cycle and put in the pan

Cover dough and let rest for 10 minutes outside the bread machine once

Preheat oven to 350 while dough rests

Spray non-stick spray on pizza pan, cookie sheet or use a pizza stone  

Spread dough out to desired size and thickness on the pan; make edges thicker so you get a good edge crust

Bake crust for 10 minutes

Slather on sauce and sprinkle on toppings

Bake until crust is golden and cheese is starting to brown slightly, about half an hour depending on thickness of toppings

Cut into 8 slices

Directions Using Stand or Hand Mixer

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water for about 10 minutes

Combine wet ingredients until well blended

Add salt, flax seed, sugar and garlic powder, mixing well

Slowly add in flour, mixing continuously

Pour in yeast mixture, mix well

Knead dough with bread hook or by hand

Cover and let dough rise for an hour in a warm spot

Preheat oven to 350

Spray non-stick spray on pizza pan, cookie sheet or use a pizza stone  

Spread dough out to desired size and thickness on the pan; make edges thicker so you get a good edge crust

Bake crust for 10 minutes

Slather on sauce and sprinkle on toppings

Bake until crust is golden and cheese is starting to brown slightly, about half an hour depending on thickness of toppings

Cut into 8 slices

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Delicious Restaurant-Style Pizza Crust

I've spent years trying to create a homemade pizza crust that is as good as a restaurant's. Usually, I end up with something that is too dry, crumbly, flat, puffy, mushy, tastes funny or some combination of those. Finally, I came up with this recipe and it is perfect! The edge is exactly like restaurant pizza, it has the perfect thickness of chewy edge crust, gets golden on the bottom while not being dry under the toppings and tastes delicious. I add flax seed to make the crust a bit healthier. The flax adds omega 3's, fiber and protein while not changing the taste at all. M2 LOVED the pizza, making it toddler approved.

It can be made in a bread machine if you have one so it's even easier to make. Recipes for making the crust with a bread machine or without are below.

Delicious Restaurant-Style Pizza Crust

Yield: One large pizza crust

Ingredients

1 cup warm water

2 Tbsp olive oil

3 Tbsp salted butter, melted

2 3/4 cups bread flour (must be bread flour!)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp white sugar

2 Tbsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp ground flax seed (optional)

1 packet fast rising yeast

Directions Using Bread Machine

Add all wet ingredients to bottom of bread machine pan

Add flour over wet ingredients

Pour salt, flax seed, sugar and garlic powder into corners of bread machine pan

Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in yeast

Set bread machine to dough cycle and put in the pan

Cover dough and let rest for 10 minutes outside the bread machine once

Preheat oven to 350 while dough rests

Spray non-stick spray on pizza pan, cookie sheet or use a pizza stone  

Spread dough out to desired size and thickness on the pan; make edges thicker so you get a good edge crust

Bake crust for 10 minutes

Slather on sauce and sprinkle on toppings

Bake until crust is golden and cheese is starting to brown slightly, about half an hour depending on thickness of toppings

Cut into 8 slices

Directions Using Stand or Hand Mixer

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water for about 10 minutes

Combine wet ingredients until well blended

Add salt, flax seed, sugar and garlic powder, mixing well

Slowly add in flour, mixing continuously

Pour in yeast mixture, mix well

Knead dough with bread hook or by hand

Cover and let dough rise for an hour in a warm spot

Preheat oven to 350

Spray non-stick spray on pizza pan, cookie sheet or use a pizza stone  

Spread dough out to desired size and thickness on the pan; make edges thicker so you get a good edge crust

Bake crust for 10 minutes

Slather on sauce and sprinkle on toppings

Bake until crust is golden and cheese is starting to brown slightly, about half an hour depending on thickness of toppings

Cut into 8 slices

Ways to Slash Your Grocery Spending

I've shared easy ways to stretch your grocery budget before (check them out if you haven't already). Now, I'm sharing even more ways that you can slash your grocery budget. None are complicated or too painful. They'll even help you eat healthier while you save.

1. Add a salad. Adding a simple salad of carrots, cucumbers and lettuce with a sprinkle of cheese and dash of dressing to each meal is healthy and helps you cut your budget. Rather than having more meat, you fill up on salad which is much cheaper. Buy the big bag of uncut carrots, a head of lettuce and a large bag of cheese for real savings. Skip the toppings that up the cost and take away from the health factor.

2. Buy fruit based on sales. Rather than simply buying what fruits look good to you that week, look at what's on sale and make that your fruit purchase for the week. The sales vary week to week so you'll end up with a good variety as well.
3. Skip the starch. This goes along with adding a salad. Pick a few meals a week to skip the rice, potatoes, etc., and have the side salad or more veggies instead.
4. Homemade pizza. Ordering out for pizza can be expensive and isn't at all healthy. Instead, make your own crust, add pizza sauce (or make your own), top it with cheese from a bulk bag and throw in some veggies to finish it off.

5. Deep freeze. Invest in a freezer so you can stock up on sale meats and freeze leftovers for in-a-pinch meals when you'd be tempted to eat out.
6. Skip the soda, juice and sugary drinks. They'll make your waistline and your budget grow. If you do drink juice, water it down.
7. Skip bottled water. The refrigerator filter or a Brita pitcher works just as well and is much cheaper.
8. Avoid buying drinks and snacks on the go. Little treats when you go out add up. Instead of splurging, bring a water bottle (not plastic if you'll be leaving it in the car) and a few healthy snacks, such as protein or granola bars or an apple. These goodies you can buy in bulk and keep on hand to grab and go.

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Ways to Slash Your Grocery Spending

I've shared easy ways to stretch your grocery budget before (check them out if you haven't already). Now, I'm sharing even more ways that you can slash your grocery budget. None are complicated or too painful. They'll even help you eat healthier while you save.

1. Add a salad. Adding a simple salad of carrots, cucumbers and lettuce with a sprinkle of cheese and dash of dressing to each meal is healthy and helps you cut your budget. Rather than having more meat, you fill up on salad which is much cheaper. Buy the big bag of uncut carrots, a head of lettuce and a large bag of cheese for real savings. Skip the toppings that up the cost and take away from the health factor.

2. Buy fruit based on sales. Rather than simply buying what fruits look good to you that week, look at what's on sale and make that your fruit purchase for the week. The sales vary week to week so you'll end up with a good variety as well.
3. Skip the starch. This goes along with adding a salad. Pick a few meals a week to skip the rice, potatoes, etc., and have the side salad or more veggies instead.
4. Homemade pizza. Ordering out for pizza can be expensive and isn't at all healthy. Instead, make your own crust, add pizza sauce (or make your own), top it with cheese from a bulk bag and throw in some veggies to finish it off.

5. Deep freeze. Invest in a freezer so you can stock up on sale meats and freeze leftovers for in-a-pinch meals when you'd be tempted to eat out.
6. Skip the soda, juice and sugary drinks. They'll make your waistline and your budget grow. If you do drink juice, water it down.
7. Skip bottled water. The refrigerator filter or a Brita pitcher works just as well and is much cheaper.
8. Avoid buying drinks and snacks on the go. Little treats when you go out add up. Instead of splurging, bring a water bottle (not plastic if you'll be leaving it in the car) and a few healthy snacks, such as protein or granola bars or an apple. These goodies you can buy in bulk and keep on hand to grab and go.

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10 People You Encounter in Facebook Yard Sale Groups

Every house with kids is full of stuff. Dolls played with twice then tossed to the side. Random stuffed animals stuck under the couch never to be cared about again. Boosters, strollers, Boppys, Bumbos, and other gear galore. Clothes that looked so adorable yet were outgrown after being worn twice. That random thingamajig that promises it's the "must have, latest gadget for a newborn" that doesn't ever even get used. All of it sits taking up space in some closet you can't even fit anything else in because of all the kid junk. Then there's mom's stuff. Gadgets and gizmoes a-plenty, filling up the dark recesses of drawers. All the clothes you hoped to wear again post-baby that don't fit because your shape, weight, or both changed too much. They hang there doing nothing but mocking you, taunting you with the body of yore.

With all the stuff lying around, crowding you out of your house, Facebook yard sale groups are like a shining beacon. A promise of organized, cleaned-out closets, drawers, and rooms. A ray of hope to get some cash to help make paying those all-too-plentiful bills sting a little less this month.

Unlike your traditional yard sale, there's no hassle of putting stupid little tags on everything, no days spent trying to find tables to put all the stuff on, no hours spent in the hot blazing sun turning into a lobster as you hope people actually show up and buy stuff (and not pilfer anything). Just take a picture, slap a price on it, list the pick-up location, and voila!

If you've ever sold on these Facebook groups, you know that amidst the great people and easy sales lurks something more sinister. We've all dealt with it. We've all gotten annoyed and pissed at it. The Facebook Yard Sale Wreckers. These wreckers destroy the experience for everyone. They are most likely to employ these annoying tactics, which give them their names:



1. The "Give it to me for nothing." Don't low ball. It's just plain rude and insulting. If I list the item at $50, I'm just going to look cross-eyed at your $5 offer while snorting then click the little "x" in the upper corner of your PM.

2. The "Will you drive an hour each way so I can buy your $1 onesie?" Umm, no? That won't even cover my gas. Let's be realistic here, people. And no, saying it's for your niece/cousin/sister/dog's uncle's brother isn't going to make me change my mind.

3. The "I only want half the lot. Only the items worth the most. But I'm not going to pay anything more than 1/4 of your price for them." That's nice. Too bad I'm not going to agree to it.

4. The "I have no money." If you don't have the money for it, don't say you want it. Don't ask me a billion questions when you're not going to be able to get it anyway. Especially, don't say set up a time to get it then back out five minutes before saying, "Sorry, I don't have the money." This should be self explanatory. If you don't even have the money, why are you wasting my time? And yours, for that matter?

 

5. The "Where is that/How far is it from XYZ?"The pick-up location is listed clearly in the ad. Not familiar with  it? There are these things called Google and Mapquest -- use them. A bunch of messages asking me where the place that is listed on my ad is located or how far it is from your town ends up to be annoying. I sure as heck am not going to Mapquest is for you.

6. The "I can't decide on my own/want to be first in line but probably won't take it anyway." Don't say you need to check with your husband/fiance/whoever and then fade off into the ether. Either admit up front that you really don't want it or have the manners to come back and say you don't want it after talking it over with whomever. Oh, and no, I'm not holding it for you while you ask. I know that trick -- 10 to 1 I'll never hear from you again.

7. The "Give me a sob-story discount. Or better yet, give it to me for free." Please, oh please, don't give me a long sob story trying to get me to give you something for way less than it's worth or for free. I'm not kidding when I say every other person I hear from tries this. I've got my own sob story. If I could afford to give it away or sell it for less, I already would be.

8. The "I'll come to your house." Really? Are you joking? I have kids. You think I'm going to let a random stranger come to my house? Then open the door? Sure! Let me get right on that -- never.

9. The "No Show." If you say you want it, set a time to pick it up -- show up. Don't be a special snowflake of flakiness. Seriously, just show up. Don't cancel when you're already supposed to be there and I've already wasted the gas to get there. Don't cancel 5 minutes before as I'm walking out to door. Just. Show. Up.

10. The "Now that I have you here, how about a lower price?" No. A world of no. We agreed on a price. You pay that price. Or I'm taking my stuff and driving off, as I give you the finger. It's ok, my kids are still rear-facing. They won't see.

What annoying as heck entertaining characters have you encountered on Facebook yard sale group?

Find out how to be a good online yard sale buyer and seller.

Top 15 Items for New Parents

Having two kids in two years, a boy and a girl, I've learned what items are
important to have during the first year. These are items that I use, LOVE, and simply couldn't do without as a mom.

1. KinderGlo portable nightlight
These are awesome. You can get different animals and shapes (elephant, dragon, bear, moon, owl, hippo, T-rex, brontosaurus, and angel) that change colors. It's not too bright or too dim, either. The light-up part comes off the charger base so you can move it around the room at night when changing diapers or doing checks. Or, your child can sleep with it closer to the bed when needed. 

2. American Baby mattress cover
The best mattress cover I've found, and I've tried a bunch. It's plush and soft without being too thick, keeps the bed a bit warmer in winter without being hot in summer, is organic, and holds up well. It actually fits over the mattress to cover the whole thing without having that annoying edge where it's the sides rather than the top covering. I recommend line drying, if you can.

3. Davinci Kalani crib
We've had one of these for each kid, plus my sister has one for her two. It's sturdy, look nice, and don't break the bank. Even better, it converts to a toddler bed, day bed, then full-size bed. M2 has jumped up and down on hers endlessly and it still stands without issue.

4. Emily mattress by Davinci
The mattress works perfectly with the Davinci cribs. Without being too pricey, it's good quality with an infant and toddler side.

5. Graco changing table
I know some people say to skip the changing table, but I love it. It's so much easier than bending over a bed or crib, plus it offers extra storage. When B is older, we're going to turn his into a bookcase. The Graco ones are stylish, sturdy, and affordable.

6. Playtex ventaire bottles-- 6 oz. and 9 oz.
I'm not a fan of the glass bottles that are heavy, hard to transport, expensive, and could break. We've used these for both kids, as have a number of family members. The new design has made them even better. Just be sure to hand wash (as you should with all baby items anyway). B has reflux and these bottles work great for him. You can even get a starter gift set.

7. Graco swing and bouncer
The three-in-one swings are AMAZING. Since it plugs in, you don't have to worry about going through tons of batteries. It can be used as a swing, swing and vibrating seat, vibrating/bouncy seat, or just bouncy seat. Really, a four-in-one. M2 and B both have loved it. We've had the same one for both.

8. Graco travel system
I love, love, love our travel system. We got it for M2 and are now using it for B. For me, it's easiest to be able to take the car seat in and out, rather than baby when they're so little. Being able to snap it right into the stroller comes in handy, too. You can also get just the car seat or just a stroller. Graco strollers I found to be the sturdiest, easiest to put up and collapse, easiest to maneuver, and best bang for your buck. Even at 8 months pregnant, I could still easily fold and pick it up. We're using M2's for B now and it still looks brand new.

9. Britax Boulevard convertible car seat
This seat is consistently rated as one of the safest out there. It fits easily in our sedans. M2 finds it really comfy. You can use it for infant all the way up to front facing. If you don't want to have to get an infant seat then convertible, you can just get this one from the start.

10. ERGO baby carrier
I love, love, love our ERGO. It's easy to put on, doesn't hurt by back or shoulders at all, feels supported, and supports baby ergonomically.

11. Medela Lanolin
Lanolin is a must for breast feeding. It's also great for diaper rashes since it's gentle and natural. The Medela brand is my favorite as it's not overly thick and hard to use like many other kinds. It's nice and smooth, ready to use.

12. Huggies Little Snugglers, Pampers Swaddlers, Pampers Baby Dry or Luvs diapers
These are the best diapers for babies. I like the Huggies and Pampers ones equally for wee babies and go by which is cheaper. When baby is crawling, I go for Luvs or Pampers Baby Dry over the others. The Baby Dry ones can take you from newborn to walking. They're equally soft, absorbent, and even have cute characters on them. The wetness indicator lines come in handy with small babies. Start out with some size newborn and some size 1. Amazon subscribe and save combined with Amazon Mom saves you even more on these brands. Check for coupons on the listings as well, there's often the option to clip and save. I have yet to find cheaper in store, even with coupons.

13. Huggies Wipes
So many wipes rip, aren't big enough, wet enough, or thick enough. Huggies are great and you can get them for even cheaper than some store brands when you use Amazon Mom.

14. Baby Oil
Baby oil is perfect for getting the icky cradle cap off of baby. Put some on during bath time, comb over it repeatedly and gently until it comes off, then wash baby's hair twice to get the oil out.

15. Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
We have two of these, one for each kid. Whenever the kids get a cold or cough, the humidifier gets pulled out and put to use. The Crane ones are adorable and fun. They hold enough to run all night, even on high, doesn't leak, has a good out put, isn't huge, and is easy to clean. There are lots of cute ones to pick from -- elephant, tiger, penguin, owl, frog, cow, pig, monkey, duck, panda, Hello Kitty, dragon, hippo, and dog.

Don't forget
Amazon offers a baby registry where you can add items from any store online. It helps keep everything together on one list rather than having to have so many different ones to keep track of (and your gift givers to get confused by). Amazon even offers a completion discount of 10 percent, 15 percent if you have Prime.

Sign up for Amazon Mom for lots of monthly savings on diapers and wipes. Get a free 30 day trial.



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Easy Ways to Stretch Your Grocery Budget

For me, going to the grocery store is one of the few things that I (usually) get to do alone. It's my break from the kids for some time alone. Lately, it's been getting more stressful. Every month, the grocery prices seem to just go up and it gets harder to stick to my budget (read how to set, determine, and follow a budget in seven easy steps).

How are we supposed to feed our families without going broke in the process? Here are some ideas to make your grocery budget go farther, without buying a ton of processed foods. These tips are helpful whether you're trying to build up your savings, stay on budget, or cut back so you can stay on budget.

1. Have a meatless meal once a week or more. We incorporate salads, roasted veggies and quinoa, beans, and various pastas to achieve this goal. Simple black beans and rice or an even healthier version is a great way to do this.
2. Stretch your meat. Make the meat you do eat stretch by loading up on veggies, fruits, and beans either by using them as fillers or as the meal's focal point. Check out my apple carrot turkey burgers and Southwestern taco salad to get an idea of how to do this.
3. Buy clearance meat. Stores usually mark down meat that's close to it's sell by date. Scout out the stores and stock up. Pay attention to price, though, as sometimes even clearance meat is still pricey (especially beef). Watch the quality as well, sometimes the meat is really fatty of off color so not worth the price even on clearance.
4. Buy in bulk. Often, the larger packages of foods, such as beans, rice, potatoes, cereal, etc., are cheaper when you buy a larger bag. If you're able to use it all before it expires, buy the larger bag. Buy whole chickens when they're on sale then use the leftovers in other recipes or freeze it. If it'll just go to waste, though, skip it.
5. Look for sales on items you usually buy and work your shopping around them. Avoid buying things that aren't on sale when possible. Though, never buy meat that isn't on clearance. Shop for fruits and veggies that are in season to save more. Often, bigger bags of fruit rather than picking out of bins saves you money. Around holidays, scout out the meat that's popular for that holiday and stock up the freezer.
6. Stock up when you do find items on sale. You can freeze many foods, such as meat, butter, and bread for later.
7. Plant a veggie garden. Growing your own is a great way to save money. Focus on the staples you eat regularly.
8. Buy frozen veggies. Canned is also cheaper, but not as good. Frozen veggies have all the same nutrients, taste as good, last longer, and are cheaper than fresh.
9. Look for the dented fruit and bread bins at the grocery store. Not all stores have them, and even then it's hit and miss (some can even be more expensive) but it's worth a look.
10. Price compare. Keep an eye on the items you buy most at various stores and see what store has it cheaper. Remember to factor in how far the store is and figure out if it's worth it to drive for just a few items that may be cheaper at the other store.
11. Make extra food to have for lunches through the week and to take to work. That way, you're not eating out and spending more or buying pre-made foods. Be sure to use up the leftovers, though, or you'll waste money instead.
12. Buy store brand. The off brands, except on rare occasions, are cheaper than name brands. Often this is the case even when using coupons.
13. Cut back on juice/soda/chips/cookies. Those items add up and cut into the money you have for other foods.
14. Buy fish in bags rather than fresh. If you're a seafood eater, this one cuts your costs. I buy 2 pound packs of individually frozen salmon and tilapia portions. The individual portions also help me track how much we're eating and not make too much.
15. Avoid pre-made or prepared foods, like roast chickens, baby carrots, and other convenience foods that just eat up your budget.
16. Bake your own bread. Unless you buy the regular white or wheat store brands, which aren't as healthy, you can most likely save baking your on bread. Plus, it'll be healthier and fresher.
17. Cook at home. This is a big one and really the most important of all. Eating out costs more than cooking your own at home and it eats up your budget faster than anything. If you eat out often, none of the other tips matter as you'll still be spending lots on food each month.

Check out more ways to slash your grocery spending in my follow-up article here.

5 Simple Ways to Make or Save Money

Making and sticking to a budget can seem daunting. Especially sticking to it. (A more in-depth post on budgeting is in the works.) It's helpful to look at new ways you can save --and make-- money in order to make it easier to accomplish. I've rounded up a few articles from various blogs to help on that quest.

Before starting the round up, here are some of my own tips and tricks:
Easy Money Saving Tips Parts 1, 3, and 4
Saving Money on Kid's Clothes
Easy Money Saving Tips Summer Edition

1. The Penny Hoarder suggests mystery shopping as a way to make extra money and even lists the best companies to work for from someone who has done it for many years.

2. Have you ever considered coupoining but didn't know where to start? Cook Craft Love teaches you how to be successful at couponing, starting with couponing 101.

3. Kids' toys are so expensive now. I'm always amazed at prices when I go into the stores. Momless Mom shares tips on how to save on toys.

4. Often, but not always, owning your own home can help you save money and stay within budget. More than a Coupon Queen helps you figure out if buying a home is something you can afford.

5. As as stay-at-home mom, finding new ways to make money seems to be a never ending quest. What Mommy Does has some great suggestions.


Thank you to all the bloggers who let me share their great tips!

How to Determine, Set, and Follow a Budget in 7 Easy Steps

Family accountant is one of the many jobs I have. This means doing the taxes each year, paying the bills each month and --you guessed it-- figuring out and setting our budget. A new budget needs to be set every year. Determining, setting, and following a budget actually sounds much scarier than it really is.

I started from scratch for our new budget last year after I left my office job to be a freelance writer, editor, and proofreader and a stay-at-home mom. There are different ways to budget and some people do things differently. It's a trial-and-error to see what works best for you. Here is a step-by-step on what works for me. A handy printable is included.

Step 1 Take a look at a few pay checks and figure out how much money you bring in each month after taxes, pre-tax deductions (like health care and flex spending), and 401k contributions. This lets you know the amount you can't go over for your budget.

Step 2 Figure out how much you want and/or need save each year, in case of emergencies, future goals (like buying a house), unplanned expenses, etc. This fund also helps determine what trips and fun activities are possible. Set a savings goal for the year. Divide this amount by 12 months and subtract that from the number in step 1. This is how much you have to spend monthly.

Step 3 Follow your spending for a few months. How much is going to groceries? Household items? Cell phones? Electric? Student loans? Internet? Mortgage? Gas? Water and sewer? How much is spent over all? Once that is done, you  look at everything again to see where you can cut back. (For tips, check out my Easy Money Saving Tips series. Part one, with links to the others, is here. A full list is at the bottom of this post.) Figure out a final number for your usual monthly expenses. It should be the absolute lowest you can go, with a bit of padding for incidentals. It's always better to have padding than to set yourself up to fail.

Budget for the holidays.

Step 4 Figure out your non-monthly expenses and their amounts. Vet bills, insurance payments, property tax, house repairs, car repairs and maintenance, new appliances, holiday and birthday meals and gifts, etc., are included here. I find it's better to estimate high and pad it a bit. I'd rather figure we need more here and have money left over than run short. Divide the total by 12 and add it to your total from step 3. It shouldn't be above your number from step 2. If it is, you need to adjust your spending and/or saving. If it is under, you have more to spend or save.

Step 5 Once you have all the above info together and are confident that your categories, spending, and saving is mapped out well, start a spreadsheet budget tool. That is your tool to track each month's spending and saving so not only do you know where you stand month to month, next year you'll be able to make any needed budget adjustments. After all, what good is a budget if you don't make sure you're following it?

Your tool should look something like this. You can use this printable to help you with your own, or use it as a hard copy. Your exact categories will vary depending on your expenses.

Budget tool

If anything changes during the year, update the budgeted amount category. For us, I did that when our internet bill went up and water bill went down with a new washer. When food prices went up, I came up with some more ways to save in order to compensate for that.

Track your spending each month.

Step 6 Throughout the month track what's being spent in each category. That way you'll know when you're in danger of going over in a category. You can cut back other places if possible to make up for it. Maybe you can put off or skip buying household items that aren't must have, tighten up on gas use, or skip treats). 

Step 7 At the end of the month, enter in the final amount you spent in each category in the tool. In the other--non-monthly category you won't have an amount each month for these. Just note the amount budgeted for the year and put in the amount(s) in the proper month as you spend it. As you aren't spending it every month, you should be putting extra in savings so you have it when you need it.

Add everything up then mark whether or not you broke even, went over, or saved extra. If you went over, that overage needs to come from somewhere else whether it be the next month's budget or savings. Savings should be a last resort. Some months we have slipped up. No one is perfect. It will happen. Having the budget and tracking it let you see that it's happening so you can address it before it gets too bad. Remember to plug in what you saved that month (your total spent minus your total income for the month) to track you progress with your savings goal.

Next year,  take a look at the spreadsheet and see how your budget worked. Take into account anything that you need to change when setting your new budget. Hopefully, you'll be right where you planned financially, if not better.

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More money saving tips
For tips on how to save money, check out my previous posts:
Easy Money Saving Tips Parts 1, 3, and 4
Saving Money on Kid's Clothes
Easy Money Saving Tips Summer Edition
Easy Ways to Stretch Your Grocery Budget
Ways to Slash Your Grocery Spending


This post is featured in The Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: Resources for Living on One Income


Disclaimer: I am not a tax or financial expert or advisor in any capacity. This is simply how I do our budgeting and what has worked for us. For professional advice, contact an accountant, financial advisor, tax advisor, or other professional. Every situation is different. Your finances and experiences may vary.