Squidoo Hopping--This Week's Theme is School

Yesterday was the first day of public school here in our city.  Today is the first day for high school.  Usually we start slow into our schoolwork on August 1, since that is the first day of the fiscal school year.  This year is different only because my daughter now has a boyfriend and today is his first day.  Therefore it's also our first day and time to get serious!

This is why I choose school to be this week's theme.  Please share a lens or two below in the linky that have anything to do with school. (I will be building a new lens later today to get us started for this school year.)
Don't worry...if you don't build lenses related to school, feel free to share 1 or 2 of your other lenses.

Also, share any blog posts you have done that have anything to do with squidoo!

 

WIP Wednesday--8/15/12

I couldn't think of a title today.  It's been a busy week!

I was able to complete 4 Halloween fabric bags at sit n' sew at the quilt shop.  I have 4 more cut and even some sewing done on a couple of them.  Here is just one of the prints that I made:

Here is the picture I took late last night of the prayer shawl.  I did get in to a movie afterwards and did get the rest of the fringe put on.  They have posted a need for more prayer shawls, so despite not wanting to start anything new until completing a lot of what I have started, I will be getting yarn and starting another prayer shawl.  I haven't decided if I will crochet it or knit it.

 Yesterday was sewing club at church.  I don't feel like I moved much on the quilt I am working on.  I put together some more of my larger half triangles, and started on all the half triangles for around those larger ones.  I am in hopes of laying the materials out on my craft table here at home and putting in some time each day on working on it.  Seriously this is going to take me over a year just to get the top done!

 Finally for today, here is my granny square a day 2012 blanket---day 228, August 15.   I did get more colors after finishing up the prayer shawl above, but I'm still nervous about having enough yarn to finish this project out.  I'm anxious to get all the squares made that I can to see if I do have enough yarn.  That's Ellie sitting in the middle of it---it's usually Molly in the middle of my pictures  LOL

 

I really need to get a list put together this week of projects that I have started and place it on the bulletin board in my craft room.  I didn't make any further progress on my craft room other than picking up some of the grandkids' toys.  I plan on just putting those in the garage.  They have plenty in the cabinet and drawers in the hallway to keep them busy while they are over here.  Their books will remain on the shelf in my craft room for now.

I am linking up with the following blogs:

Frugal Friday Link Up--Uses for Calamine Lotion

Wow! Another week has flown by....and another week that I have just been on the go almost constantly.
We did get some rain this week, which helps on the water bill. I've not done my usual amount of laundry this week due to time constraints, but I did have to dry one load in the dryer due to the rain.

I'm behind again on getting my coupons cut and into my binder, but I am working daily on it. I have a shopping trip with coupons planned this morning to Walmart. I'm hoping for enough items to be available with overage to cover some of the one item I need to buy without a coupon. Hopefully the shelves aren't emptied of those products once I get there. That has to be the most aggravating part of couponing.....making your list, getting your coupons ready, then getting to the store and finding that other couponers have already cleared the shelves.

This week I am sharing different ways to use calamine lotion from the 99 cent solutions book:

1. Calamine lotion is not only great to soothe poison ivy, but also a great relief for heat rash.

2. It's good to take an antihistamine for relief from hives, but you will get even more relief by also applying calamine lotion.

3. Use calamine lotion on blisters. The lotion draws out the moisture as it dries.

4. Think pink for Halloween. Dabbing a few layers of calamine lotion on your face and skin with a cotton ball will achieve that ghostly white pallor. Apply it evenly.


Your turn to share your recent frugal posts!

Squidoo Hopping--This Week's Theme is Wishlists

I have chosen wishlists for this week's theme.  People are already shopping for the holiday!

Wishlist lenses as well as gift giving suggestion lenses will be great to share in this week's linky.

As always if you blog about squidoo in any way, please also include the link to your blog posts in the linky as well.

 

WIP Wednesday--Let's Keep Busy!

This week I said to myself---"self, you need to complete all the projects you have started before starting something else! You also need to get things listed in the etsy store."

Well.....now, I did start that prayer shawl of granny squares for church. I had to do that to get some more colors of yarn, and more yarn to make the granny squares for my blanket.  This is how far I got on it, and now my yarn basket for the blanket is full again.  I just hope it's enough to finish the blanket....and the matching pillow.

I didn't get much more done as far as organizing my craft room.  I did empty 2 totes, one full box, and a partial box onto this shelf.  I also picked up some of the grandkids' toys.  I do believe they are going to the garage!

I also did get the squares cut and materials out for a quilt of my own.   I do need to always be working on a quilt for myself as well as the one I am working on for charity.

I debated on whether to work on the quilt for church.  In order to really get any work done on it, it needs to all be laid out so I can see what I am doing.  I chose not to.  I will wait until sewing day next week at church to work on it again.  Then, hopefully, I will lay it out to work on it again over the month until we meet again.

I also bought some cute Halloween fabrics at the quilt shop.  I have sit n' sew this Friday evening so I plan on making the bags there.  That is a new project, but I should be able to finish them all in that evening, and get them listed for sale in my etsy shop.

Now that I am done typing this post I need to get back to my WIP at hand, which is cutting and sorting this huge pile of coupons!  Must be ready for that shopping trip on Friday.

I am linking up with the following blogs:

Eco Orbies--What Fun!

For the past couple of years, I have seen these little balls at the state fair.  I wanted some.  How cool that you put them in water and they expand.  The ones I've seen at the fair are not Eco Orbies.  In fact, they don't last like Eco Orbies.

I was thrilled to receive 2 packages of Eco Orbies for the purpose of my review.  As much as I was thrilled to get them, I think my teenage daughter and my grandson were even more thrilled.   They had loads of fun taking photos and doing different things with the Eco Orbies, even making a video commercial which I will share at the end of my review.

My Eco-Orbies came in 2 tiny zip-lock type baggies.  Oh so tiny!  Here is one of them in the palm of my hand:

I didn't count how many were in the bag but it has to be around 50, if not more.   I wish I had counted as I was just amazed.

I rec'd a packet of blue and a packet of red.  Here the are soaking in the bowls to expand:

Amazing!  Each of the tiny bags contained enough to almost fill each cereal bowl we used to hydrate them.

Before I show you the rest of our photos, I want to tell you all about the Eco Orbies.

To expand the orbies you soak the contents of the baggie in 2 cups of water for 6-8 hours.  Drain off any excess water and rinse them.   Colors can be layered and the colors will not transfer or bleed.

To dry the orbies when you aren't using them, simply place them to air dry in a single layer.  This will take 3-5 days.  It's recommended to use a cookie sheet lines with wax paper for drying them.  Place them back in the baggie and store them out of direct sunlight.  Dry Eco Orbies will last 15-20 years!   Simply soak them again each time you want to use them.

Eco Orbies will fit even into the tiniest of vase openings.  You can hydrate them right in the vase too if necessary.   They can be mixed with the soil of your outdoor or indoor houseplants and will release moisture as the plants require.  They will pull bacteria away from the plant giving you a healthier and hardier plant.

You can grow most all plants in them  and even start seeds such as Wheatgrass and Indoor Herb Gardens.  They can be used over and over again, just add more water.  They will not discolor the water or bleed.

After a month or tow your orbies will shrink down as they release the moisture to your plants or fresh cut flowers.  Just rehydrate them!

If you want your Eco Orbies scented just add a few drops of essential oil, or even perfume to fully hydrated Eco Orbies and you will have a wonderful light scent in any room of your house.  When they shrink, you can rehydrate them and add a different scent if you choose.

Eco Orbies can be used with soil for all outdoor or indoor house plants, growing wheatgrrass, transplanting trees and shrubs, cuttings, garden vegetables, farming and agriculture.   You can even use them for a relaxing hand or foot massage!

Eco Orbies are non-toxic and environmentally safe.  You can light them up with submersible LED lights.   Each 5 gm packet makes about 2 cups.

The kids liked the idea of the submersible LED lighting.  Since we don't have any of those, they experiments on what the orbies would look like lit up but putting them in a glass and shining a flashlight through the bottom.

Ok....my grandson is having too much fun running his fingers through the hydrated Eco Orbies.

Beautifying my vase of artificial flowers.

And here is their commerical  :)





 


I can't wait until I am able to order more of the Eco Orbies! They have so many different colors available.
You will want to like their facebook fan page. There are going to be some specials coming up in the month of August, and I'm sure more to come. Don't miss out! Eco Orbies Facebook Fan Page

Find their homepage HERE.

Here is another review with some awesome photos that you will want to check out: Eco-Orbies Review

Disclaimer: I rec'd 2 packages of Eco Orbies for the purpose of my review. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are my own.

Frugal Friday Link Up--Uses for Bath Oil and Bubble Bath

Happy Friday!
We have finally been getting a bit of rain here and there. Sunday morning we actually got an inch! By the looks of the sky this morning, we should be getting more rain today. I do hope so! Kansas, as well as most all other states, are suffering from drought. Besides, my water bill will be less too :)

I have stayed motivated using my coupons and show a total savings last month of $416.92. That's more than I had saved January-June combined. I do hope to keep it up! It's nice to be seeing the cabinets fill back up too.
When stocking up using sales and coupons it takes some time to get a good variety in your stock, but if you are patient, you will get there.
I've also been able to share with my family.

Moving on, this week from the 99 Cent Solutions book, I am sharing uses for bath oil and bubble bath.

Bath Oil:
1. Leave shower doors sparkling. Soap scum builds up fast on those glass shower doors. Simply pour a little bath oil straight on to a sponge and swipe it over the glass. The scum will wipe right off. Rinse the sponge and wipe the doors lightly.

2. Tell the insects to buzz off. You don't need any particular brand of bath oil to repel mosquitoes, flies or other biting insects. A strongly scented oil, especially one with citrus, will do the same job. Rub it on exposed skin and the insects will find some place else to feed.

3. Use oil to clean off oil. Rub a little bath oil in to your hand, then wash them in warm water with soap. The grease from working under the hood, or working on the chain on your bicycle, or anything else, will disappear.

4. Protect your patent leather. Moisten a clean soft cloth with a few drops of bath oil. Gently rub the oil into the patent leather and polish the area with another dry cloth or towel. You will see new life in your old accessories as this will get rid of scuff marks.

Bubble bath:
1. Give your car a bath. Stop buying those expensive products to wash your car. Add one or 2 capfuls of bubble bath to a bucket of water and wash away. You vehicle will have a beautiful shine.

2. Shine on! Bubble baths aren't just for kids, or adults. Dilute a little bubble bath in water and wash your plants leaves with clean cloth dipped in the bubble bath solution. The leaves will shine and the plant will look healthier.

3. Replace your hand soap. Pour bubble bath into the hand soap containers that need to be refilled. Bubble bath is an effective inexpensive replacement for your regular soap.

Your turn :) Share away.

Team Flo - Rally Cry Flo

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Progressive.

Squidoo Hopping--This Week's Theme is 10's

Whether it's top 10, latest 10, or any 10.....share your lenses about 10's in this week's linky.

I am seeing blogs about squidoo around and about the blogosphere.  Please share those in the linky too.  



 

WIP Wednesday-A Granny Square Week

I actually did make it in to my craft room for some sewing 2 days this past week.  I had bought my daughter a small tv with built in dvd player at a yard sale.  I put that in her room and took the tv with built in vcr and put it in my craft room.
I realize that most of you would prefer to not have a tv in your craft room, but here is what I did.  Also while going to yard sales one day I was able to buy 20 VHS movies for just $1 at one sale.  These added to the full shelves we already have, and what we can still check out from the public library will keep me busy in my room.  I found it worked really well for me to turn on a movie and sew until it was over. (I watched Michael and Charlie's Angels).

I was able to finish the flower quilt, which you can see in my TGIFF post (right under this post if you are on my home page) I also finished my first block for the sampler I am doing at the quilt shop.  We are doing Every Barn Tells a Story.  This block is the Ohio Star.  This is my first time doing a sampler, it's a 20 month one, and this is the first block:

I completed a fabric bag that was for an order.  I also worked just a bit on my new quilt for sewing club at church.  I didn't work on it enough, however, to warrant taking a photo.  I have to get all of the materials laid out for it and really get back in to the groove.  I hope to get that much done this evening.

I had gotten behind on my granny square a day challenge.  Well, not really, I had the squares done, just didn't have them on my blanket.  I am now caught up on putting squares on the blanket up to July 31, day 213.

I have a bit of a dilemma now.  I am down to just a few colors of yarn left, and only small balls of those.  I am going to have to start crocheting on a prayer shawl for church so that I can see if I have yarn left from that for my granny squares.  I have 110 more granny's to crochet to complete the blanket, plus the squares needed for a pillow.

Here is what my blanket is looking like so far:

 

I am linking up with: