DIY Fruit and Vegetable Wash

Avocados were recently found to have listeria and salmonella on their skin.  I read a long time ago that rats crawl all over the bananas as they are transported.  So that is gross.  I came up with a few washes to keep our family safe.  Here is one wash, an easy spray you can make with items you have right in your pantry.  

DIY Children's Christmas Gifts!

I wanted to re-share with you a few of my DIY gifts that I really love.  So today here is one from last year:   Bath Tub Paint!   You can use you imagination to make this a perfect personalized gift for someone you love!

I just made a Christmas Gift! This one is for my three year old, and his cousins that are the same age!

I made Thomas Engine Paint!

I used his kid's tear free shampoo that I get at Wally World. I used this because it is tear free and I know it won't irritate his sensitive skin.

I used corn starch, hot water, blue food coloring, a container that will shut tight and you can keep in the bathroom, and paint brushes if you want.

The recipe is easy:

Bath Tub Paint

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 cup corn starch

1 cup liquid soap (I used the shampoo/conditioner that my son uses)

food coloring

I also used a Christmas Pail that comes with a lid that seals tight. I got those at Wally World two for $2 and some paint brushes that I bought at the Dollar Tree nine in this pack for $1!

In a sauce pan mix boiling water and corn starch with a wire whisk until all the cornstarch is dissolved and it looks like paste. Add soap and mix until there are no chunks. There will be more and more bubbles as the soap mixes in.

Heat just to boiling on medium heat stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add the food coloring and keep mixing until it is completely mixed through.

It should have a consistency of paint. Add to your container. If it separates just mix it a bit before use.  I should warn you at this point to check to make sure your paint does not irritate their skin and test on a small patch for 24 hours before use. Oh another disclaimer would be to check to see if your paint will stain your tub on a small patch too. You are a smart one so you figure it out.

Now here is where I added a few touches to make this even more special.

All of these boys love Thomas the Train so I made the color the same as Thomas' engine, blue.

I put the container in a cute little pail and put "Their Name's Engine Paint" on the side with Modge Podge so It will be water proof. I poked in on little paint brush too. This is fun because it was cheap and they will love it.

These little boys love Thomas the Train but you could make this pick and slap a Dora on the pail too or Princess Paint! Anything would work use your imagination.

On the back side of the pail I stuck on a picture of Thomas and the recipe for the paint, so Mom's can make more and have endless fun.  (To really seal the deal once all this dries you can spray paint with a clear gloss that is waterproof.  )

I have to take advantage of this age because these boys still love to take a bath! Sadly that stage will end and they will become stinky boys. So I am enjoying this stage while it lasts.

Paper White Flowers ~ Beautiful Christmas Gifts!

If you want to give this very nice Christmas gift, you must plan ahead now. This is super easy and super cheap! 

All you need is some paperwhite bulbs (Narcissus tazetta), some kind of container, and some rocks or glass beads. Paperwhites unlike other bulb flowers you might be familiar with don't require a chilling period so this is easy.

*You can find the paperwhites bulbs (Narcissus tazetta)in your local garden center, or Wally World.

*You can find the rocks in your local craft store or at the Dollar Tree!  (or your yard)

*You can find the containers to put them in everywhere! Be creative! Try a pail, old terracotta pot, try in your house or at Grandma's. Old jars are free and work fine. Thrift stores and yard sales have perfect containers because you can score them for dirt cheap! (oh you don't need dirt for this project! LOL)



These take about 6 weeks so start today.

Simple Instructions:

Add rocks to your container, put the bulb on top, pointy side up. Then add water to just touch the bulb, keep water level as it grows. Now you just have to water it and keep it in moderate light. Once Christmas comes slap a bow on it and call it a day!

If you use a low top container use the stunt growth method below so they don't fall over.

If you need more instructions you can go over to The Greenbacks Gal's site where she has put together a handy video tutorial. CLICK HERE Thanks Greenbacks Gal!


I am planting these for teachers, neighbors and some of my red aunts. (We all have red hair! LOL)

Christmas list is getting checked off everyday, the cheap ahem...frugal way!

OH here is a easy tip too...Paperwhites can grow quite tall and depending on the container they may become top heavy and will require some support, or once you see roots and the top shoot is about 2 inches tall drain your water and replace it with 4-6% Alcohol and the rest water any alcohol will do (whiskey, vodka, tequila, or even rubbing alcohol) just make sure you don't use too much.

I guess the little bit of alcohol will stunt their growth from 1/3 to a 1/2. They will still bloom and be pretty but not so tall they will fall over. I have not tried this but I am going to with half of my bulbs just to see.

(Up date...These are absolutely BEAUTIFUL!  But they have a stinky bad breath odor.  They are SUPER easy to grow, anyone can do it!.)

DIY Gifts Child's Bathtub Paint!

I have been very sick with some kind of kick my butt cold/flu and I have not been posting as I normally would but I wanted to re-share with you a few of my DIY gifts that I really love.  So today here is one from last year:   Bath Tub Paint!   You can use you imagination to make this a perfect personalized gift for someone you love!

I just made a Christmas Gift! This one is for my three year old, and his cousins that are the same age!

I made Thomas Engine Paint!

I used his kid's tear free shampoo that I get at Wally World. I used this because it is tear free and I know it won't irritate his sensitive skin.

I used corn starch, hot water, blue food coloring, a container that will shut tight and you can keep in the bathroom, and paint brushes if you want.

The recipe is easy:

Bath Tub Paint

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 cup corn starch

1 cup liquid soap (I used the shampoo/conditioner that my son uses)

food coloring

I also used a Christmas Pail that comes with a lid that seals tight. I got those at Wally World two for $2 and some paint brushes that I bought at the Dollar Tree nine in this pack for $1!

In a sauce pan mix boiling water and corn starch with a wire whisk until all the cornstarch is dissolved and it looks like paste. Add soap and mix until there are no chunks. There will be more and more bubbles as the soap mixes in.

Heat just to boiling on medium heat stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add the food coloring and keep mixing until it is completely mixed through.

It should have a consistency of paint. Add to your container. If it separates just mix it a bit before use. I should warn you at this point to check to make sure your paint does not irritate their skin and test on a small patch for 24 hours before use. Oh another disclaimer would be to check to see if your paint will stain your tub on a small patch too. You are a smart one so you figure it out.

Now here is where I added a few touches to make this even more special.

All of these boys love Thomas the Train so I made the color the same as Thomas' engine, blue.

I put the container in a cute little pail and put "Their Name's Engine Paint" on the side with Modge Podge so It will be water proof. I poked in on little paint brush too. This is fun because it was cheap and they will love it.

These little boys love Thomas the Train but you could make this pick and slap a Dora on the pail too or Princess Paint! Anything would work use your imagination.

On the back side of the pail I stuck on a picture of Thomas and the recipe for the paint, so Mom's can make more and have endless fun.  (To really seal the deal once all this dries you can spray paint with a clear gloss that is waterproof.  )

I have to take advantage of this age because these boys still love to take a bath! Sadly that stage will end and they will become stinky boys. So I am enjoying this stage while it lasts!