Easier Measuring for Liquid Ingredients

Right now with a rattling cough, full sinuses, and eyes that burn, as well as two kids taking antibiotics, we are using medicine dosage cups a lot lately for their intended purpose.  However, my favorite (and most used) way to use medicine dosage cups is a whole lot more fun.

Although I love measuring cups and spoons (I have several sets of each), my favorite way to measure smaller amounts of liquid ingredients is to use all of those medicine dosage cups that come with all of the children's liquid medications. 

Most of the cups can hold three teaspoons (which is one tablespoon), and have lots of markings for a variety of measurements.  So, instead of having to use a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon three times for 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract (and worrying about overfilling) or dirtying both a teaspoon and the 1/2 teaspoon, I just use a medicine dosage cup and fill it to the 1 1/2 teaspoon line.  Not only do I have fewer spills, but it's also great for allowing the kids to put in these ingredients (and I know it will be easy for them to pour in).

If your household is like mine, you have lots of these little cups sitting around.  Every so often, we'll throw some in the recycling bin, but we usually keep them for an easy and frugal way to measure out smaller liquid ingredients.

Do you have any "odd" uses for everyday household items?










This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday and Frugal Friday.

photo by justmalia

Catholic Resource for Families

Guest Post by Brenda from The Tie That Binds Us.

Angie and I have been working together to create a resource for Catholic Homeschoolers like none other. It is a toolbar that sits at the top of your computer and guides you to some of the best Catholic sites and blogs available to Catholic families.

The toolbar itself has many components that are geared towards families, but it also has a huge homeschooling emphasis.

Take a look at all that you get when you download this resource:

• Family planning sites
• Sites on the sacraments and saints
• Web pages about the holidays and feasts
• Links to crafts for Catholic children
• Forums that you can join to meet other Catholic families
• A drop down menu dedicated to homeschooling - encouragement, curriculum reviews, email lists, suppliers, and magazines
• 50 Catholic blogs, plus more on the way!
• RSS feeds to daily readings, Catholic Icing, The Homeschool Classroom and more
• Email notification for all your email accounts
• A radio player that features Catholic radio stations plus your local ones too
• Weather updates

We are still adding sites daily to this free resource. If you download it and you would like to suggest an addition please email us @ hslifemedia@gmail.com

Did I mention that this resource is free?

To download this toolbar visit the page: http://catholichomeschoolingmoms.ourtoolbar.com/

Wait! There is a give-away!

Remember that pretty rosary that was at the top of this post? For your chance to win it you may leave a comment that you have downloaded the toolbar for a chance to win this beautiful rosary hand made by Angie. You may leave one comment (on the original post about The Catholic Family Toolbar at The Homeschool Classroom, comments on this post here at Catholic Mothers Online are closed) if you do any of the following:

• download the toolbar for one entry
• twitter about the toolbar for another entry
• blog about the toolbar for another entry
• leave 5 or more Catholic sites that are not included that should be on the toolbar for one entry

Entries will be closed on February 23rd.

Brenda can be found writing at The Tie That Binds Us.  She is also the founder of Curriculum Choice and Joyful Holidays, and co-founder of Homeschool Lifestyle Media.

My #Blissdom Recap

I have been home from Blissdom for over a week now, and I feel like I have probably put off writing this way too long.  So, in between horrible coughing that is making me have to cross my legs (you Moms out there -- I know you know what I'm saying), I'm going to try to write up some general thoughts on my trip.

1. The Trip -- I had a great drive to and from Nashville.  With almost all of the trip being interstate driving and having my friend Amanda with me, it was hard for it not to be a nice trip.  Well, that is until we both freaked out as we got to the Opryland Hotel and couldn't figure out where we were supposed to park the van while we checked in.

2. The Hotel -- Amazing!  But, overwhelming too.  Amanda explored while I was at the conference and then had to help me find my way around every time I needed to get somewhere new.  The staff at the hotel was also very helpful as well.  But, I do have to admit, I didn't think the rooms were worth the $125/night that we got as a conference rate, let alone their actual $200/night price tag.  Then again, I guess you are paying for a whole lot more than just your room.

3. The Attendees -- I wanted to write about everyone I met, but I just can't bring myself to do it.  I'm so afraid that I will skip over someone and that person will feel bad.  Maybe later this week I'll try to put together a little highlight of some people I met, because there really are things that I want to say in this area.  Let me just say for now, however, that meeting other bloggers and connecting with people you have already met online, as well as people that you are meeting for the first time, was by far the greatest part of Blissdom.

4. The Speakers -- I'll admit it, some of the talks were more useful to me than others.  (And I was really disappointed in one of the two Wisdom Workshops that I signed up for.)  But, that being said, overall it was great.  Sometimes it was things that I knew, but they sounded different coming out of someone else's mouth.  And, other times, I heard things that I hadn't even thought about.  Some ideas came up again and again, but that just cinched it to me that those were some of the things that were important takeaways.

5. The Food -- Yum-o!  The meals were just delicious.  And you know what?  Nobody said, "Mom -- can I get some juice?" at anytime during my meals.  That alone would have made them great.  Seriously though -- best food I've ever had at a conference.

6. Savvy Blogging Round Table (which was not an official Blissdom event, but happened on Friday night courtesy of Savvy Blogging)  -- It was worth missing Harry Connick Jr. for.  I didn't even feel bad. 

7. The Swag -- So much great stuff to bring home!  From coupons to snack foods to an Amazing Blissdom bag to gift certificates and so much more.  I filled my kitchen table with stuff when I came home.  It was crazy and fun!

8. Conclusion?  I've already got my eye toward next year's road trip to Nashville.

Later this week, I'll write up some messages that I took away from various sessions.  And, I'll try my best to get over my fear of leaving people off of a Blissdom people list.

7 Quick Takes: February 12, 2010 (Vol. 29)

~ 1 ~

I still haven't gotten caught up from Blissdom 2010.  I promise that it is my intention to write about it very, very soon.  But, here is a sneak peek of my Blissdom experience (one of the few pictures I got)...

 

That's me, George Duran (formerly of Food Network's Ham on the Street and now on TLC with Ultimate Cake Off), and Holly from Saving For Eight (who is super sweet and was a pleasure to meet).

~ 2 ~

In my quest to get caught up on life after Blissdom, I was almost relieved to have not one but two snow days this week.  I have a strong stance on taking snow days in our homeschool, although by the second day, I did ask the kids if they wanted to go ahead and do school anyway.  I was not surprised to get an immediate, "No," from them.

~ 3 ~

In all the busyness of getting ready to go out of town, being out of town, and then trying to get caught back up, I have over 800 entries waiting to be read in my Google Reader.  *gulp*

Have any great tips for working through it more quickly (short of just hitting "mark all as read")?

~ 4 ~

I have a confession to make.  I am 33 years old, and I bought my first pair of high heel shoes about two weeks ago, per Eric's request, after we went through and got rid of about 1/3 of the clothes in my closet.  They are about 2.5 inch heels, and that allows me to wear them and be a lot closer to looking Eric right in the eye.  Very fun. 

And then, after wearing them to church one evening, along with a dark pair of flaired jeans, a black blazer, and a red top, I got several compliments (including someone who noticed that I had lost some weight).  This was definitely a sign that we were right in trying to cull some of the things out of my closet and find better choices of what to wear.

~ 5 ~

Are you a Catholic homeschooler or Catholic Mom of children who are still at home?  Would you be willing to check out a cool resource that we've been working on?  If so, drop me an email.

~ 6 ~

I'll never be one of those women that can go to the grocery store and get $400 worth of groceries for $1.85.  It's just not going to happen.  But, I was thrilled this week to go to Kroger and get $300 worth of groceries for $200.  WooHoo!

Between some great coupons, Kroger plus card sales, and then a deal they were having where you got $5 off for every 10 items you bought from a certain list of items, I saved us $94 on our grocery bill. 

But, don't feel bad if you're not a great grocery shopper -- I'll spend way too much money next time I go, I'm sure.  So, it will all even out in the end.

~ 7 ~

A tiny little Blissdom take away message that really spoke to me (about why people come to your blog)...

They come to hear your voice.

 

 

 

 

 

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes and Weekly Wrap Up.

photos by: shoes mania  /  piggly wiggly supermarket