Practical Tip Tuesday!

Well I don't know if any of you love flowers as much as I do but here is a little TUESDAY TIP!!! Over the years, I have developed a real passion for flowers.....and I have decided during that time that investing my time and money in perennial flowers, the ones that come up every year, was the way to go.......Just last year I discovered that if you look closely during the spring and fall time you can find "plant sales". These sales are so fantastic for getting perennial starts at a low cost. I found several last year that sold plants for $1 for each start...now the first year they didn't do much...but this year they are all doing great and I am enjoying their beauty this year!!! So keep that in mind if you are wanting to spruce up your flower beds and keep it budget friendly at the same time.

These are few I scored this year (I think I got 27 starts in all).....at $1 each I just couldn't stop myself :)

So are any of you flower lovers??? What are some of your favorite perennials??? Where do you normally get your starts???? LEAVE A COMMENT and let me know!!

Practical Tip Tuesday!

It's Tuesday!! My tip for this week is....get outside and play!! I have found over the years raising my boys that "Boys need to be outside and play!! Well I think we all need that, but especially the little boys in my life!! So here are some shots of the boys "playing" outside this weekend....

Lance stopping for just a second so I could snap this picture..

Caleb with his famous "thumbs up" pose...there are just some things in life you can count on...this thumbs up pose is one of them!

The boys have such fun playing around together on their "big boy toys"!

Practical Tip Tuesday!

This week's tip is such a clever and fun tip...though I can' take credit for coming up with the idea. Lance said that last week at soccor practice one of the kids had a water bottle that he had poked hole in so he could grab the bottle and squeeze it in his mouth....instead of taking of the cap.
So Lance decided that would be a great idea for watering the flowers!! Clever isn't he...so he made one yesterday...he took a regular water bottle and then poked holes in the top of it with a nail....then they went around sqeezing the bottle and watering all my flowers for me....Lance even rubber banded three of them together to cover a bigger area at one time.
Here is what they look like...

My two proud water boys!! (Caleb and Lance)......what good helpers they are for mom!

HAPPY TUESDAY!!!

Practical Tip Tuesday!

Well it's Tuesday again, so here is my little tidbit for the day....Around here the Gaertegang has been very busy with "Spring Projects". Here are a few things we are up: Changing oil in the van, truck, and lawn mower, mowing for the first time, hanging out at soccor games, remodeling the bathroom, tilling up our new spot for our garden (!), taking care of our two new kittens (more on that in another post), weeding the flower beds, transplanting perennials, planting annuals, and planting my potted flowers for the season, fixing edging in my flower beds....okay you get the point we've been busy!!!!!
So my tip today is "STOP TO SMELL THE FLOWERS....AND HAVE SOME FUN!!!!!"

Here is a shot of my creeping phlox....This tree/ bush blooms these wonderful flowers each year...does anyone know what it is??? I just have never taken the time to figure it out...Here is an up close shot of my magnolia tree..I just love the hot pink color of these flowers!!!!

Here is my sweet Julia having some FUN with her mama!!! I just love this little dress she has on.

Here is my lovable Caleb getting a smooch from Midnight..I just love seeing Caleb smile!

Here is another shot of Julia giggling so hard she can't hardly stand it!!! I just love her belly laugh...it's makes me laugh too.

Practical Tip Tuesday

This week's tip is pass the kindness forward!!

Julia is so happy to pass on her clothes to another little girl!!

In our family of 3 boys and 1 girly girl we have been so incredibly blessed by others who have passed on their gently used clothes to us when they are done with them!!!! I just can't tell you how that has warmed my heart as thoughtful people have just given us their things with no money exchanged or accepted, no strings attached, nothing expected in return...(Thank you God for these wonderful, selfless families!!!) Now I am having a fantastic time doing the same to others I know...passing on my little boys stuff when my Zach had out grown them, and now Julia's little girly clothes as well.. This photo was taken a few months ago when we passed on 0-3 month through 18 months clothes onto another mommy expecting to have a girl after two boys. What is crazy is that these are not even all her clothes....we still have more to pass to my sil who found out she is also having a girl (she has a boy already). I can tell you I have bought my children hardly any clothes because of the generosity of so many.....maybe you should consider doing the same for someone you know.....Maybe having a garage sale just doesn't make sense for you and your use of time...maybe you'd rather give them to someone who can use them instead of making a little money from them????? You decide what is right for you and your family.....

Practical Tip Tuesday

Happy Tuesday everyone!!! My tip this week is fun and yet soooo practical! About three years ago I asked for a laminater for Christmas. I was getting all geared up to embark on the homeschooling adventure and thought a laminater would be a great tool to have on hand....BOY WAS I RIGHT!!!! I love mine and have used it for so many things. I laminate all my flashcards, game cards, my new cookbook, and a host of other fun things. It makes these things last so much longer and I don't have to worry about one of my "little ones" getting a hold of the flashcards and ripping them (or when they where littler chewing on them).

Here it is in action....you should able to pick one up for about $20.00....you might be able to get one cheaper. The laminate pages you buy to run through the machine are about $8 a pack. I think it is well worth my time, effort and money....maybe you would too???After I laminate my flashcards I usually wrap a rubber band around them to keep them together...they don't fit back in the box. Laminating them makes them nice for traveling too..they are more durable and the kids can even use dry erase markers to write the answers on each one and then I can go through and check them if for some reason I am not doing the cards with them......Maybe something you should consider....Maybe not.....

Practical Tip Tuesday

My Practical Tip this Tuesday is about getting coupon inserts!
Okay so I have already told you about "Big City coupon inserts" and how there are always a ton more in these papers than in my small town Sunday papers. Well I used to be able to get the Chicago paper and that option is no longer an option....then I thought I could start getting the Indy star then that didn't happen as well!! Then Megan let me in on a website she found that we can purchase just the inserts from the "Big City" paper!!! I ordered my first batch of coupons you see here on Friday afternoon around noon or 1p and I got them in the mail at my house on my Monday mail!!!! I'm not sure they will always be that speedy...probably depends on the time of day you order and if that is a shipping day for her...keep that in mind! I just so happy that thanks to Megan we have discovered a way to get those inserts and have them delivered to US!!!! At Dede's site you can order coupons inserts and you order individual coupons also....I didn't check out anything else on the site yet. Her site is http://couponsDede.com
Just a little FYI, you need to become a member....which only means put in your mailing address and email address then you can look through the available items she has......also FYI if you would be so kind as to put my name (Danielle Gaerte) in the "how you found this site" box and my email address which is jdgaerte@hotmail.com then the next time I order I can get 10% off......I would be very thankful to you :)
Have a GREAT Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Practical Tip Tuesday

Friday, Caleb, Lance, and myself enjoyed an afternoon at the roller skating rink!! They had a home school skating party from 1-3pm. My boys just LOVE to skate. I think this was the second or third time we've been skating..they just have a great time...no matter how many times they fall :)

Besides skating they also love getting a fun snack about half way through. They get to use $1 of their allowance to get some goodies to eat!! A great time was had by all, and I think next time I need to get out their in the action...I love to skate :)

Even though Megan isn't doing the whole link up on her blog for Practical Tip Tuesday anymore I still am having such fun with it....so I'm gonna keep going with it until I run out of things to share!!! So my tip this week is doing something out of the ordinary...like skating!!!!! It's fun, it breaks up the routine of the "still cold" months and gets everyone laughing......

So what are your ideas for doing something out of the normal routine.....Let's hear it!!! Leave me a comment and let me know what you are doing at your house!!

Practical Tip Tuesday

It's Tuesday and time for me to give you some tip worth while......This week I think it's "Put the Kids to Work!" All my kiddos have a chore chart of the things they need to do each day. At the end of each week they are given allowance for helping out and completing their work. FOr each item not completed for the week they loose a quarter. (lance get $4, Caleb $3, Zach $1) As you can they don't start with much so a quarter is a big deal and a good incentive to get their chart completed. The charts are of course different for each kid because of age and ability....Julia doesn't have a chart yet, but as you can see I still put her to work!!! I figure since she loves being on my table (although she isn't aloud on a normal basis) I will make some good use out of it! She loves being "Mommy's little hepler" and since we are usually connected at the hip I need her "help" just so I can get things done.

Happy Tuesday and yes time for yet another life altering, money saving, divine vision of truth....okay so maybe not all that but another tip anyway!!!! Well I had given up having a cell phone about 2 years ago. I got tired of paying almost $50 a month for a phone that I rarely used just for emergencies....more for social time...... After adding up that cost for a year that's $600 for a phone of convience!!!! So I decided when my contract was up, so was my paying $50 a month!!! Okay so I am not knocking you if you are spending that much money each month or more, I just want you to consider this "TIP". Ask yourself do I really need it...I know we all use the "I need in case of emergency" as a reason we have to have a phone....but really we all know that the number of times we use it for that reason is usually rare and far between. I also used my phone for long distance calls as well as to have in case I needed it. So when I got rid of my cell we signed for a unlimited long distance with our phone company and it only cost us $15 a month! As our family continued to grow and circumstances seem to change I found myself really wanting a cell again......but I didn't want the whole contract thing....didn't want to huge expense....and I really did only want it for die needs....not social calls......so I did some research and this is what I came up with......

First know I am no plugging this company I get nothing from it, just wanted to simply pass on information I have to maybe help out someone else!!!

I found out about virgin mobile (they operate of the Sprint cell towers) and found out I could get a phone for $10.69 (that is with tax and shipping was free) and then pay $20 every three months (which gets me 100 minutes). So that is $6.66 a month for a cell.....not bad I thought???? Also no contract, no roaming, and my minutes will roll over. I can purchase "minute packs" if I want more time each month......like for $20 a month I can get 200 minutes...and so on. If you want more info try calling their toll free number 1-888-322-1122 and request to talk to a live advisor. All my calls with this company so far have been pleasant and the process was very easy. To make things even easier for me I have my $20 every three months automatically taken from our checking.....so I don't have to remember :)

Not an option for everyone....again take it or leave.....

To link up to see more tips go see MEGAN at http://dailyessentialsanddeals.blogspot.com

Practical Tip Tuesday

Another week.....another tip.....Since you all know what a frugal zealot I am, this tip will probably not come as a surprise! TIP: Use your left over plastic bags from your groceries as trash bags in your little trash cans. Long ago I stopped spending money on little trash bags for the bathroom, laundry room, office, and bedroom, when I realized those to numerous to count bags will do the same job for FREE!!!! I do recycle most of my plastic bags but I always have a few around for all my little trash cans. I also have found that since it is a chore for my boys (the 6 yr. old or 3 yr. old) to empty the trash cans several times a week, those bags have handles and are really easy for the boys to pull out and put in a new one. Well that is my insightful wisdom for the week...take it or leave it!!!!!

For more tips head over to http://www.dailyessentialsanddeals.blogspot.com

Practical Tip Tuesday

Well Megan over at http://dailyessentialsanddeals.blogspot.com is doing Practical Tip Tuesdays, I thought I would chime in when I get the chance...plus I love hearing time saving, money saving, make my life easier, and cleaning faster kind of tips (who doesn't???) So head on over to her blog to check it out.

My tip is "wear your shoes". Okay I realize this is a mighty weird tip, but let me explain!!!! Awhile ago (like maybe even last spring or summer) my sister-in-law was telling me about this book she was reading and one of things the woman said that made her more productive was putting on her shoes first thing in the morning after getting dressed. When I first heard this I thought "how weird" (just like you thought I'm sure). For some unknown reason I thought I would give this theory a test.....and it works.... I stay moving...if I need to step outside to throw some trash in or run to the mailbox, or the basement....or whatever I can do that without hesitation of putting on shoes and all. At first I thought this will never work because at our house we take off our shoes when we walk in the door. I find this helps to keep dirt and other yucky things from tracking up the floors and all. I have found that since I do most of my work here in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room each day I don't fret about wearing my shoes because all those floors are wood or laminate.

Another bonus is that we live in an old farmhouse so the floors are always cold...so wearing my shoes keeps me warmer too!!