6 things to do for back to school shopping

1. Consider spreading your clothes shopping out through the fall. A few weeks after the school year starts all the stores have much better sales on clothing.
2. Make a list of what you need. If your child has tons of t-shirts and no jeans then you will know what to put on your list.
3. All of us are stretching our pennies as far as they can go, so don't feel bad if you need to shop at the thrift-store. Savers thrift-store has 50% off the entire store on Labor Day, Sep. 7, and they have two locations in the Treasure Valley; one in Boise, on Fairview, and one in Nampa on Nampa/Caldwell Blvd.
4. You don't need name brands, although wouldn't we all like name brands. There are lots of great t-shirts, shoes and accessories available for discount prices.
5. To give your child a completely unique style try making your own t-shirts, shoe design, friendship bracelets, even a duct tape purse.
6. Your can even craft up some school supplies before you head back. Try this personalized binder, a pencil topper or any of these cool crafts at about.com.

Summer zucchini recipes

It's the time of year when gardens are offering up their bounty and the zucchini is ready to harvest. Boise gardens can yield gigantic zucchini and it's time to use them to your advantage. Below is a yummy Zucchini Dinner Menu:

• Beef Meatballs with BBQ Sauce
• Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
• Grilled Zucchini
• Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Beef Meatballs

2lb. of Hamburger,1-1/4 tsp. Salt, 1/8 tsp. Pepper, 1 c. Rolled Oats, 2 eggs, 1-1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 chopped onion, 2/3 c. milk

BBQ Sauce

1 c. brown sugar, 1/2 c. BBQ sauce, 2 Tbsp. Mustard, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce.

Directions:

Mix together the Meatball ingredients. Form into 2" balls. Put in casserole Pan. Mix together all the Sauce ingredients, heat it up and then pour over the meatballs. Bake for 30 Minutes at 350 degrees.

1. Mix all meatball ingredients together. Form into 2" balls.

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole - click on the link to get this recipe from Allrecipes.com

Grilled Zucchini

Marinate 1/2 slices of zucchini in Italian dressing, then grill until lines begin to appear and they are still slightly firm.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

1/2 c. of butter, 1/2 c. veggie oil, 1-3/4 c/ sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1/2 c. sour milk*, 2-1/2c. unsifted flour, 4 Tbsp. cocoa, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. cloves, 2 c. grated zucchini, 1 bag of chocolate chips.

1. Cream butter, oil, and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, and sour milk; beat with mixer. Mix together all the dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture; beat well with mixer. Stir in zucchini. Spoon batter into greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan; sprinkle top with chocolate chips.

Bake at 325 for 40-45 min. or until toothpick comes out clean and dry.

This really needs no frosting; it is moist and very tender

*To make sour milk, add 1 tsp. lemon juice to 1/2 cup milk. Let stand 5 minutes before using.

Skin softening oatmeal mask made at home

Your skin needs two things to look its best; oil and water. Your body makes its own oil, and you can hydrate your skin by drinking lots of water. But the summer months can be very hard on your skin; air conditioning and the sun can dry your skin out beyond your ability to internally hydrate it .

As a hard working Mom you deserve lots of pampering. But money and time can get in the way. A great way to pamper yourself is with an inexpensive home-made facial mask.

Oatmeal does wonders for the skin; it hydrates and softens, and its really cheap. To make your own oatmeal mask you will need:

• Old Fashioned Rolled Oats are the best, but instant also works.
• Coffee Grinder, Blender, or Food Processor.
• Washcloth to remove the mask.

1. For a full face and neck mask put 1/3 c. Oats into the Coffee Grinder, grind until a you get a soft, fine powder.
2. Add hot water until the consistency of oatmeal, about 3-4 Tbsp.
3. Microwave for about 5 seconds to "cook" the mask.
4. Apply to cleansed skin in light upward strokes, leave for 5-10 min.
5. Dip your washcloth into warm water and lightly lay on your face for 1 minute to steam and soften the mask.
6. Gently wipe mask away rinsing the washcloth often.
7. Apply toner and moisturizer as usual.
8. Feel your baby soft skin! Really.

Put On Your Makeup Baby!

Years ago, before the 2nd and 3rd child, I always wore my make-up. Back then I was a working Cosmetologist and I couldn't imagine a day without my make-up. When I saw women who didn't waer their make-up I told myself, "I'll never do that!" Yeah right. That was all to change with the 2nd and 3rd babies.

For the last 4 years I have been using the bare minimum of make-up. Many days I plan on staying home and somewhere an emergency occurs and I have to rush out of the house without make-up. I hate that feeling. I hate it because deep down I want to know I look nice. Don't we all. But I know I don't look my best when I rush to the grocery store red, blotchy and exhasuted looking. I am to old to think I look OK without makeup. Have you ever had a friend tell you that you looked tired, and you know you had plenty of sleep last night, you just didn't put on eyeliner today? I have, and it sucks.

Well, on Monday I put on all my make-up. All of it. I totally lined top and bottom of my eyes. I havent' done that for years! And what a difference in my attitude it makes!

I love it! I feel so nice. I am getting more done too, don't ask me why. Having your face done adds confidence to your attitude. I put my make-up on even if I am wearing grungy clothes. You should try it for a few days.

For and mental and emotional boost put on all your make-up before you leave the bathroom in the morning.

Cheers! Hears to feeling womanly!

My favorite line of make-up is Everyday Minerals. A full line of mineral make-up that doesn't contain bismuth oxychloride (that irritating ingredient in most of the name brand mineral makeup).

Get off the caffiene train

Have you often wondered why you need so much caffeine to make it throughout the day? Or why you always need more caffeine. If you haven't considered eliminating caffeine from your diet, you should. It is commonly known that caffeine is "bad." But do you know how really bad it is? According to Dr. Diana Schwarzbein, M.D., author of The Schwarzbein Principle, "Caffeine is a stimulant. All stimulants can cause insulin resistance and therefore increase the accelerated metabolic aging process. All stimulants are eventually depressants because they deplete serotonin."
So what can you do to reduce or eliminate caffeine from your diet? Just going cold turkey can cause a plenitude of symptoms including:

(a list from caffeinedependence.org)

Headache – (often described as being gradual in development and diffuse, and sometimes throbbing and severe)

Fatigue -- (e.g., fatigue, tiredness, lethargy, sluggishness)

Sleepiness/drowsiness -- (e.g., sleepy, drowsy, yawning)

Difficulty concentrating -- (e.g., muzzy)

Work difficulty -- (e.g., decreased motivation for tasks/work)

Irritability -- (e.g., irritable, cross, miserable, decreased well-being/contentedness)

Depression -- (e.g., depressed mood)

Anxiety -- (e.g., anxious, nervous)

Flu-like symptoms -- (e.g., nausea/vomiting, muscle aches/stiffness, hot and cold spells, heavy feelings in arms or legs)

So, how can you reduce or eliminate caffeine completely and minimize any symptoms? You can gradually reduce the amount you consume, and drink lots of water. Also, try Dandy Blend. Dandy Blend is a blend of roasted dandelion roots that can be mixed right into hot water, no brewing or steeping needed. It tastes a lot like coffee, so it can satisfy your cravings without the negative results of coffee. And the best part is that Dandelions are very good for you, they contain important vitamins and minerals for you body, and they gently detox the liver. I mix it up with cream and sugar, chill it in the fridge, then pour it over ice for a yummy treat.

How a SAHM Catches Up On The Cleaning

I wasn't feeling very well last week, so you know what happened in the cleaning department? Nothing. Is your home like this? Cleaning all day just to keep up. Here's how to get caught up without exhausting yourself.

1. Start the day with a load of laundry, do at least one load per day so you don't get farther behind.

2. Take breaks often. Clean for 45-50min. and then take a 10 min. break. Eat a snack and drink a glass of water.

2. Do one deep cleaning project a day. Be it decluttering a closet, or wiping around the backs of the toilets.

3. Decide whats for dinner by lunch time so you have everything you need.

4. Always get the kitchen sink clean and the dishwasher started before going to bed. And my son has the chore to empty the dishwasher every morning, school or no school.

A Cool Coat Hanger - JUNKMARKET Style

A Cool Coat Hanger - JUNKMARKET Style