Toddler Proof Your House

One of our readers posted this on our Facebook wall:

"I need a baby gate to go around our entertainment center...the problem is I don't want to spend 100+ dollars on it!!! Any tips?"

I wanted to share this will all of you. 

My husband got lattice from a home improvement store, heated up certain points to bend it to fit our entertainment center, then spray painted it black to match our decor and attached it with black zip-ties,

Make sure you don't tighten it too tight so you can still have access to your stuff if needed. We also have access to everything from the back of our entertainment center if needed.

-Lauralee

Foodie Tuesday recipe: Easy banana ice cream...using only bananas! It's true!

For today's Foodie Tuesday recipe I thought I'd share this yummy sounding and clever ice cream recipe!

 It's a great way to use up bananas that are looking a little punky (we like firm bananas at our house), and it's a healthy treat! 

Photo source

Recipe source HERE.

Source: Courtesy of A. Haas

I originally saw the idea for this healthy dessert on The Today Show. I'll admit, I was skeptical that blended frozen bananas could taste anything like ice cream, but believe it or not - they do! Once blended, they take on the consistency of soft serve ice cream. For a firmer ice cream feel, just pop the blended bananas in the freezer for 15 more minutes.

My favorite way to serve this tasty treat is with a touch of agave nectar (or honey) and peanut butter blended in and with chocolate syrup on top. But the sky's the limit - add in chocolate chips, toasted nuts, butterscotch chips, you name it, and enjoy!

Ingredients

4 ripe bananas
2 tsp agave syrup or honey (optional)
2 tbsp peanut butter (optional)
chocolate syrup or caramel (optional)

Preparation

Cut the ripe bananas into 1-2" pieces and freeze for at least 1 hour.

Place the frozen bananas in the bowl of a food processor, along with any optional ingredients you choose to use (agave nectar/honey, peanut butter, chocolate chips, etc). Pulse until the bananas start to break apart, then switch on and blend for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the bowl, if necessary. The bananas will first break down into a sandy texture, before taking on the consistency of soft serve ice cream.

Top with any desired toppings, such as chocolate syrup or caramel. Enjoy!

I don't know about you, but I'm excited to try this!

Will return soon...

Just FYI, today is day 1 of a little (much needed!) vacay for me. I'm back home in Oregon and loving it! My poor hubby is holding down the fort all by his lonesome...

anyway, forgive me for the lack of posting for the next few days. I will post when I can but my iPad isn't the best tool in the world for blogging!

Hope you all have an amazing week, see you when I see you!

Phil and Teds Stroller Deal/Sale!!

For any of you looking for a Phil and Teds stroller or accessories, you have to hurry and jump on this deal:

Orange Cocoon Carrier
$34.99
original $60.00

Orange Hangbag
$19.99
original $30.00

Blue Hangbag
$19.99
original $30.00

Navy Mini Diddie
$19.99
original $35.00

Apple Mini Diddie
$19.99
original $35.00

Blue Mini Diddie
$19.99
original $35.00

Diddie Bag
$64.99
original $100.00

Blue Cocoon Carrier
$34.99
original $60.00

Graffiti Cocoon Carrier
$34.99
original $60.00

Apple Cocoon Carrier
$34.99
original $60.00

Pink Cocoon Carrier
$34.99
original $60.00

Red Classic Twin Stroller Bundle
$399.99
original $750.00
 
Red Dash Buggy Bundle
$449.99
original $760.00
 
Red & Charcoal Cocoon Carrier
$34.99
original $60.00



Click HERE to check it out!

Super Savvy Saturday project: Tag blanket...perfect baby toy or gift!

For today's Super Savvy Saturday project I thought I'd show you how I used leftover ribbon and scrap fabric to make a cute tag blanket! 

Baby girl is too young to appreciate it just yet, but soon enough I'm sure it will be her favorite thing in the whole wide world :) Babies love the colors and all the fun tags to play with. 

(When babies get a toy all they want to do is suck on the tag anyway, right?!)

Here's how I did it:

Baby Tag Blanket

I had some soft fabric leftover from my rosette wreath and giant monogram P. I'm too cheap to throw anything away, so I just had it lying around and decided to use it!

I cut off the edges to make a small rectangle. (You could really do this any shape. A circle would be hard, but I'm sure it could be done!) You just need enough fabric to make two identical rectangles.

I also had a bunch of random ribbon from the bow-making station I had at the showers I threw, 

...and even used random ribbon I had from gifts people gave me. (Told you I don't throw away anything!)

Line up your two rectangles of fabric and pin one side of them together.

Next, cut varying lengths of ribbon. I did most of mine about this long (maybe 3-4'' or so...?):

Take your length of ribbon and fold it in half (so one end is a loop).

Open your fabric rectangles where they are pinned.

Line up the non-looped end of your ribbon so it is sticking out of the top of your pinned rectangles slightly. 

Secure it with a pin.

Repeat! So easy! 

When you open your pinned fabric it will look like this inside:

Do this to all 4 sides of your rectangle except for about 4 inches of one side. You'll need this gap to turn your blanket right-side out (like when making a pillow case).

Here's what it looks like when it's done. 

Notice the non-pinned gap at the bottom right of mine (the right-hand corner).

Next, sew it all together! Make sure you are sewing the ribbon to the fabric - you don't want to miss any spots.

Be sure to leave the gap un-sewn (see the bottom right of my rectangle)

Use the gap to carefully reach in and turn your fabric right-side out. Make sure to get the corners well!

I added some colorful ribbon to the front and back of mine using a zig-zag stitch:

And there you go! Make sure all the tags are secure, you don't want them coming out.

So easy, so cute, and a great gift for people!

Ta-DA! Your friends will be so impressed :)

Register for my class...and become a Fun Cheap or Free Queen too!

In my pile of mail the other day I got this baby...

The Fall community education catalog for Salt Lake.

I opened it up and saw this interesting-looking class... 

(click the picture to see it bigger)

 Looks like a blast to me! ;)

It's true! The time has arrived! My class is starting in October!

Don't miss your opportunity to be the first ever "graduates" of the Fun Cheap or Free education course. I'm so excited for it to start, it's going to be a blast! It will be interactive, cram-packed with tips and take-home materials, and will even include some fun contests and weekly challenges (yes, prizes are included). 

I'm still working on the curriculum so be sure to let me know what YOU would like to see from a class like this.

If you are in Utah and want to sign up for my class, or any other class for that matter:

Click HERE for the catalog, Click HERE to register.

It will be so much fun, I hope to see you there!!

Friend-Feature Friday: Friend tip, GREAT Down East sale in Utah!

My friend Rachel passed along this info to me and I thought I'd share...

Hey, I just thought I'd let you know that the Down East in the Layton Hills mall is having an awesome warehouse sale. The stuff is in boxes, so you just have to pick through it and they stock it with new stuff as they have time, but the prices are great: $2.50 for tank tops, half sleeve, and the other "core" downeast stuff. $5.00 for "fashion tees" the t-shirts that have more decoration. $7.50 for cardigans and skirts. $10.00 for dresses. I  just got back, I got a few things and spent $30 for what would have normally cost $100. The sale goes through Sept. 18.

Thanks Rachel!
Have you got a tip? Project? Idea? Question? Email me at funcheaporfree@gmail.com and you might be featured on Friend-Feature Friday!

Replay Thursday! Savings tip replay: Tips for shopping sales

Welcome back to Replay Thursday where we "replay" on oldie - but goodie - savings tip so you don't miss out on anything great!

Now is a great time to get all the summer inventory for GREAT prices, so I thought I'd re-post these tips about shopping sales. Enjoy!

See the original post here.

I'm currently on vacation in Oregon visiting my family (love the Northwest!!). Of course I had to do some major shopping in Portland with my mom. While shopping, I was reminded of a few great shopping tips that will save you mucho $dinero$ on clothing and shoes:

• ALWAYS start at the back of the store. That's where the sale and clearance racks are. ALWAYS. If there is a sale rack near the front of the store, it doesn't have the lowest prices - guaranteed. They do this so you'll have to walk through the entire store to get to the clearance racks, getting distracted by full-priced items on the way.
• Check your purchases, one by one. Items that have recently been marked down or are on clearance often times will ring up incorrectly. Don't get distracted at the register - watch each and every purchase get rung up. Be sure to question if the price doesn't come up as low as you expected!
• Take advantage of "the customer is always right". If an item is misplaced and was on the 40% off rack when it was supposed to be on the 20% rack, fight for it. Stand your ground that it wasn't your fault that it was misplaced and you feel it should be honored (and do it nicely!!) and they will often honor the 40% discount...if the store has good customer service, that is.
• Check the item for flaws. If you see a shirt on a clearance rack that you love, check it carefully. If you can find a snag, missing button, small mark, or other imperfection that doesn't bother you, you can get an additional 10-15% off.
• ASK, ASK, ASK. Remember the power of asking? It's imperative in sale shopping. Ask questions, "Do you have any other specials going on right now?" "Do you have this in any other sizes?" (there could be more stock that hasn't been put out yet) "Is there any way you could give me an additional discount on all these clothes since I'm buying so many?" The worst they can say is NO!
• Buy off-season. You can get skirts, shorts, swim suits, capris, and dresses for great deals right now since Summer is over. Stock up for next year, and buy them super cheap now!
• Try things on. LOTS of things. Often times things are on sale because they didn't sell well. Often times they didn't sell well because they look ugly on the hanger. Often times those ugly hanger items look awesome on your body. TRY THINGS ON! I can't stress this enough. Yes, you have to be in "the mood" to try things on. So get in the mood, and get in the dressing room! You'll find jewels in the clearance racks, you just have to brave the dressing room. Over. and over. and over. Worth it though, I promise.
• Don't give up. If you don't happen to find anything for you on the sale racks in the BACK of the store...and happen to find the perfect little black dress for way too much at the front of the store that's just perfect and you have to have it right this second because it's the best dress you've ever seen in the whole wide world...no worries. Simply ask the sales associate if there are any coupons that you can use toward the dress. At Macy's for example they always leave coupons behind the desk for people they especially like. No joke. Be nice and you might just get lucky!

Give it a try!
Happy savings...and shopping...to you :)

Great deals: $39 cut/color, and aerial dance classes! (Utah)

I just bought these two awesome (Salt Lake City) deals from Deals That Matter and thought I'd share! Can't tell you how excited I am about the dance classes...

Go to this link, go to Salt Lake deals, and you will see these along the right hand side o the page. Enjoy!

Today's Deal: $39 for $110 Ultimate Hair Package from Fresh Hair Professionals $39 $110 Value 64% Discount $71 Savings Fresh Hair Professionals 726 E. 12200 S. #F Dillman Square Draper, UT 84020 801-706-3682 share with friends         What you get Let the professionals take care of your hair!  • Cut, color and deep conditioning treatment • Includes a hot towel wrap, high end conditioner and a scalp massage • Color includes any type of color and highlights you want

Today's Deal: $25 for 5 Aerial Dance Classes ($79 value) from Pearl Adult Dance and Fitness $25 $79 Value 68% Discount $54 Savings Pearl Adult Dance and Fitness 7021 S Commerce Dr Midvale, UT 84047 801-561-1105 share with friends         What you get • 5 aerial dance classes from beginner to advanced • Try classes such as silks or hoops for a fun and exciting new work out • You will love the way your body starts to look and feel

"You're Welcome" Wednesday tip: How to stick a bow to a baby's head

Welcome back to "You're Welcome" Wednesday, where I share a creative tip with you that's bound to make you say "THANKS!"

With the birth of baby girl I'm becoming well acquainted with all-things-girlie. One of my favorites? Those tiny, cute, adorable baby bows!

I nearly died of cuteness when they brought her to me from the nursery with that tiny little bow stuck to her head. I had to know how they did it, so I got to investigating.

HOW TO MAKE THE TINY BOWS:

It's simple. Just take any thin ribbom - the thinner the better...

(you can get it cheap from any craft store, just be sure to use a coupon!)

 (here is how I organize my ribbon)

...and tie a tiny little bow. That's it! 

Secure the bow to itself with a tiny dab of hot glue so it doesn't come untied.

HOW TO GET IT TO STICK

Ready for this?

Use a blob of good ol' lubricant!

Embarrassing? Kinda.

Works? You bet!

The hospitals have it on-hand and that's what they use. It sticks well (just hold it in place and blow on the blob to get it to dry securely) dries clear, and is water-soluble so it doesn't hurt your baby when you go to take it off.

A nurse friend said you can also use Karo Syrup, though I've never tried it myself.

There you have it!

Enjoy making your baby look super cute with baby bows. 

You're welcome!