Dont just re-heat, re-invent!

I can easily define myself as a picky eater. I dont eat much meat, i cannot stand the sight of cottage cheese and i dont eat leftovers...well, until now!
    I found that if i just re-heat the food from last nights dinner than i just cannot eat it. But if I use the leftovers to make something "new" than i have no problem! It is amazing how much money i save by doing this and with a few quick fixes i still enjoy evey meal. Im gonna give you a few ideas that i have come up with and i will add some more recipes as i come up with them.
    Leftover chicken breast that we had grilled out got shredded and mixed with taco seasoning, black beans and corn. I rolled this mixture in a flour tortilla and added some shredded cheese and salsa. This could easily be done using leftover ground beef too.
    Leftover chili gets re-used in all kinds of recipes at our house. I toss it with leftover mac and cheese and add some shredded cheese on top and bake. I fry a flour tortilla in oil and top with chili, cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, guacamole, olives, salsa, etc. How about an all time favorite? The chili dog served with homemade fries!
    Any leftover vegetable (corn, peas, carrots, celery, green beans, etc.) gets tossed in a tupperware container and put in the freezer. We use these in soups and stews.
    Leftover spanish rice gets tossed with leftover hamburger and taco seasoning. Put that in a casserole and top with crushed up doritos (use the bottom of the bag that would usually be tossed) and then add shredded cheese and bake. I also add black beans, or red beans, and corn sometimes. The rice is also good to mix with onions, peppers, and ground beef and stuff a bell pepper with it. Top with cheese and bake.
    The list of ideas could go on for miles. I basically check my pantry and see what i can add to what ive already got. We have come up with some really tastey meals doing this. Be creative! Have fun! Save money and time! Now go re-invent last nights meal into tonight meal!

You dont have to depend on Mr. Clean!

Everytime i pick up a bottle of store bought cleaner i fret at spraying it around my little one. When i cleaned the shower and tub or the toilets all i could smell was the fumes from those cleaners. I decided it was time to experiment with making my own so i knew what i would be breathing in and not have to worry about the chemicals around the baby. I also had to make sure that what i was using was gonna do the job and do it well. Being a new mom and also working full time, i didnt have hours to spend scrubbing.
My findings: Baking soda and vinegar rock! To clean the tub, toilets, and sink i simply wet the surface with water, shake on a little baking soda, and then spray on some vinegar that i have stored in a spray bottle. The vinegar makes the baking soda fizz and thats when you know its working its magic. Then just use a rag and wipe the surface clean. I was totally amazed at how clean my tub and shower came without all the elbow grease!
    For a multi-purpose cleaner (this does well on windows, countertops, faucets, etc) i use 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water mixed in a spray bottle. If you dont like the smell toss in a few drops of lemongrass oil or perhaps lavander oil. I dont care for the smell of the vinegar but it is much better than that of bleach or other chemical packed cleansers, and the smell doesnt stick around! And make sure you use a washable rag for clenaing instead of a papertowel. It costs less and better for the environment!
HAPPY CHEMICAL FREE CLEANING!

 CLOTH DIAPERS....THE WAY TO GO!

"you are crazy!", "you will not have time for that", "you will not last a week washing out those poopy diapers", "that is gross!" "Eeeeeeeewwwwww!". Thats the comments i got when i told people that i was considering using cloth diapers with our baby girl! I have never been one to follow what others do but instead i like to jump outside the box! So when i found out i was pregnant i decided cloth diapers was something i wanted to try. And when i was told that i would not ever be able to keep up with cloth it made me want to succeed at using it even more! I am from a very small town. I had nobody to talk to that had any knowledge of using cloth diapers other than the old flat white ones that you pinned with a huge diaper pin. So the computer became my best friend for awhile while i researched and chatted with other ladies who could fill me in! I had never even seen a cloth diaper let alone tried using one! But i skimmed pictures and read reviews and decided on a hybrid diaper known as the Flip. It is a diaper shell that is water proof and has inserts that you can change out as needed. After purchasing some used diapers of various brands off of a diaper swap my favorites are still my Flips. I have found that it is all trial and error. I suggest trying differant ones before making a large purchase. And laundrey routines are also trial and error. What one person finds that works for them has not worked for me and vise versa. But as far as keeping up with the laundrey i honestly havnt seen much of a change. I do about 2 more loads a week. Baby seems more comfortable and we have less leaks when using cloth, not to mention all of the money that we have saved!. I have gone back to work and baby goes to daycare where she uses disposable but we use cloth at home and even when we go out! And all i have to say to all those who doubted me using cloth... CLOTH ROCKS!