Egg-celent Ideas

After spending months, literally, trying to figure out what to do with leftover egg cartons (it's a long story that I'll share another day), I stumbled upon an article at FrugalVillage.com where DOZENS of uses for egg cartons are listed – toolshed organizer, loose change holder, travel container for jewelry, seed starters, desk organizer. The possibilities really are limitless. 

Tell me more! What do you do with those pesky egg cartons? What about milk jugs and oversize tin cans -- how do you recycle those?

Build a Water Park in Your Backyard

I haven’t been to a water park since I was 10-years-old, but I remember it being one of the most fantastic places to vacation. I thought of going back this summer – a reunion of sorts – but was shocked by the ticket price to get in.

I’m not going to let that stop me (or you) from having a jolly ol’ time! I’ve tracked down the elements you need to fake a fabulous water park on your own lawn. All you need to add is water (and a few kids, so you don’t look like the big, grown-up dork in your backyard on the slip n’ slide alone). 

Small World Squirt 'n Spray Fire Nozzle, $12, Target.com

Finding Nemo Wacky Water Mat, $30, Amazon.com

Banzai Skimboard Surfer, $40, Toysrus.com

Take the Gourmet Foods Pop Quiz

Ritz crackers are good, but they just don’t compare to those gourmet crackers (ever-so-slightly seasoned with pepper and sesame seeds) that are laid out with fine cheeses at weddings and other fancy functions. If I could afford to snack on those crackers regularly, I would. Same applies with everything else in the gourmet aisle at the supermarket. Ever tried Das Caramelini Salted Caramels? Oh. My. Goodness.

I just got wind of The Nibble, a free online gourmet food magazine, that offers its readers the chance to win something that's normally reserved for special occasions – i.e. chocolate marzipan dusted with confectioners sugar, imported honey mustard...hmm, you get the point. Every week, take a four-question quiz (that you don't even need to answer correctly) and you could win that week’s gourmet gift. This week it's a box of 36 assorted bags of Popchips.

P.S. A little birdie tells me that since the contests are still an undiscovered gem, your odds of winning are quite high.

The Lost Art of Bartering

There’s a weekend flea market in the school yard across the street from my apartment. Vendors sit under umbrellas selling the usual fare – antique furniture, hand-crafted jewelry, homemade cookies.

Then there’s “The Lady in Red.” She is dressed in, well, red and sits cross-legged in the center of a large white sheet surrounded by a variety of baubles (cups, candy, mini-heart pillows). Her wares have no rhyme or reason (other than the fact that they're mostly red) and I recently found out why after trying to buy a cute pair of crimson hope earrings from her. “The Lady in Red” does not accept money for any of her items. If you see something you like, you trade her something of yours – as long as it’s red and/or white.

I ran home and scrounged around for something worth trading and decided upon a red and white popcorn bowl I’ve had lying around, but have yet to use. The Lady in Red was pleased with her new acquisition – as was I!


What’s the best barter/trade you’ve ever made? Click here to tell us about it!

Got Allergies? Try a Pair of (Free) Contact Lenses

My dad has always had the worst – and I mean the WORST – seasonal allergies. I remember being a little girl and laughing at him (out of love, of course) whenever he made that funny noise to scratch the back of his itchy throat, or when he wore sunglasses at the dinner table to disguise his puffy, watery eyes. Unbeknownst to me, I would grow up to develop the exact same allergies!

And, since I wear contacts, when my allergies kick in, the dryness of my peepers is ridiculous – it literally feels like little ants are crawling around on my eyes (sorry for the icky visualization!). A friend just told me about a free brochure from the American Asthma and Allergy Foundation that gives information about how to manage eye allergy symptoms.

The brochure is free (my favorite price) to download on www.acuvue.com/seasons/DD where I also downloaded a FREE Trail Pair Certificate to try 1-Day Acuvue Moist (single-use) contact lenses. I’m psyched to try them out, as they’re supposed to be one of the BEST contact lens options for allergy sufferers.