Spring Fling Quick Tips


Budgeting:

*Favorite Deal Websites: Amazon, Woot.com, Pinchingyourpennies.com, groupon.com, socialliving.com, ksl.com deals, grocerysmarts.com

*Easy keep track of your bills on a hand drawn grid, keep them in open sight (front & center) until they are paid…don’t put them away or under anything!, make a spreadsheet with all your monthy expenses, including tithing, so you know exactly what you have, then total it all and put ½ away each pay day, then you have it set aside already.



Cleaning:

*Finding Time to Deap Clean: At the beginning of the year make a schedule of when you will deep clean what, when no one else is home but me J

*Family 10 minute room rescues: Set the timer for 10 minutes, everyone helps to clean the same room



Gardening:

*Easy gardening: Grow boxes, drip system works well and saves water (Habor Freight has a good one); live by the parks, plant marigolds, give kids an area to be responsible for, use ground cover.

*3 plants: asparagus (it comes back each year.  Plant in a grow box and it will spread); tomatoes, egg plant (use in place of meat), summer squash…use all 3 to make meatless spaghetti; red potatoes, yellow potatoes, tomatoes, peas, green beans, onions, broccoli; zuchinnis, tomatoes, cucumbers



Beauty:

*Favorite beauty products: lotion (Cetaphil, Kirkland, Vanacream), Burt’s Bees lip balm in guava, Purminerals, Aveeno Lotion, Chapstick, Garden Girl Face/Skin Products (They don’t contain sulphates), Mary Kay Pressed Powder, Mary Kay Eye Makeup Remover, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, lipgloss, bobby pins (simple hair do’s for both dressing up and casual)

*Quick tips: eye lash curler = fake awake; use lipstick on lips, cheeks, and sometimes a light touch on eyes (right below the brow)



Exercise:

*2-3 minute exercises: Throw your kids up, chase your kids, jump off a box or stairs…do each 12 times for 3 sets; jumping jacks, planks (stomach & side), body weight squats; punch the air like your boxing, turn on radio to fast song and dance, stretch; walk up and down the stairs, at the bottom alternate between 10 sets of squats or 10 sets of leg abductors (10 each leg)…gives both cardio and toning; do 50 crunches each day or every other day

*Fitting exercise in: Leave the car and walk, a good run only takes 20 minutes, wear ankle weights while you do housework…try to be “inefficient”, exercise in the morning, schedule your workout on your calendar



Spiritual Growth:

*When to read scriptures & talks: before church, before bed, when I am feeling sad or in a bad mood, read the ensign then read the scriptures that are related to or mentioned in the talk/story; order and extra copy of the Ensign conference issue, keep it in your car or purse and when you are waiting for the kids at car pool or lessons pull it out and read it, read it at appointments instead of gossip magazines

*Quick tips: wake up to church music, just pray, read scriptures and play as if talking to Heavenly Father, write in your journal what you learned in your scripture study, sing church songs around the house and in the car, listen to the Primary CD, set a goal of how much you will read each day and stick to it



Cooking:

*Quick Snacks: celery and peanut butter, hard boiled egg, yogurt, Kashi bar (Coconut Flavor), Raw large carrot, apples, mandarin oranges, cucumbers, dip strawberries in sour cream then roll in brown sugar, handful of almonds or apples with a small tablespoon of peanut butter, home made salsa and string cheese

*Must Haves: music, scissors, ninja, large cookie scoop, large cutting board, cheese slicer, knife, frying pan; olive oil, garlic, onions are great bases for just about everything.

*Quick tips: cook ground beef and store in freezer so you don’t have to brown hamburger at each meal; get a lot of meat and cook in all up, freeze into portions.  Cook chicken in the crock pot and beef in a big pot on the stove; keep it simple, ¼ carbs, ¼ protein, ½ fruits/vegetables, clean up as you go



Dates

*Easy Date: walk to Café Rio and walk home, biking, walking, make dinner together, art therapy, home movies, air hockey, temple square, hiking, go to the temple and get ice cream afterwards, rent a movie from redbox and cook a frozen pizza or get Little Ceasars, go on a walk or drive...allows you to relax together

*Tips: Plan a date and do not tell your spouse/date what you are doing, plan in advance,


Family Home Evening:

*Easy: scripture, treat, pictures; use the Behold Little Ones Manual and do the same lesson that they did in nursery; Use the Gospel Art Picture Kit

*Resource: mormon.org, strength of youth pamphlet, Ensign

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