Winter weather is always so dry–and all of our skin suffers because of it. That’s why some of these super moisturizing, Simple Homemade Lotion Bars are a great homemade gift for everyone on your list! I’m sharing this Simple Homemade Lotion Bar tutorial today as part of the Walmart Mom’s program. Why make lotion in… Keep Reading
Meal Plan 12/9
It’s meal plan time here at Frugal Upstate. The holiday season is as crazy as ever, so having this plan will help to keep me on track and make sure we eat inexpensively and well with a minimum of chaos. These are the considerations for this week: 1. We’ve got the regular full schedule of… Keep Reading
$500 Holiday Cash Giveaway!
Do I have something awesome for you today–a giveaway. Not just any giveaway, but a giveaway for a $500 Visa gift card! That’s right one lucky person will win a $500 Visa giftcard! Who couldn’t use that during the holiday season? This giveaway isn’t being sponsored by some big corporation. Nope, it’s straight from us… Keep Reading
Meal Plan 2/12
Welcome to December, and happy Advent everyone! The chaos of Thanksgiving week (kids home, family in, 2 Thanksgivings to attend but none to host thankfully) is over and it’s time to get organized for the holiday season. And being organized this week starts with having a meal plan! Here’s what I’ve got to plan around… Keep Reading
Thinking About Holiday Traditions
What is a family tradition, and why are they important? It’s funny. Human beings seem to crave being part of a group, of something bigger than themselves. All through history people have organized themselves into tribes, villages, cities, regions, teams. . . and within each of those they have created customs and visible signs of… Keep Reading
Meal Plan 11/12
Welcome to winter here in Upstate New York! Today is our first real snowfall of the season, so it’s got me thinking about warm comfort food for this week’s meal plan. Here’s what I’ve got to plan around this week: 1. It’s a weird week. Yesterday was Veteran’s Day and everyone was home, Saturday kicks… Keep Reading
Meal Plan 11/5
Welcome to a late starting week. Yes, I know it’s not Monday any longer, but even though I haven’t had my plan up I promise I’ve actually been feeding my family home cooked food! Here’s what I’ve got to plan around this week: 1. Last week there were changes to the meal plan–which frequently… Keep Reading
Using Up Halloween Candy — 8 Ideas and 12 Recipes
We rarely have leftover Halloween candy. Seriously, we get around 300 kids a year ringing our bell, so there isn’t a lot left over. But I know many of you wind up with some leftover candy, or can pick some up for a great price on sale after the holiday. Here are 8 ideas to… Keep Reading
Bulk Applesauce Canning Session
This year was a stellar year for apples in Upstate New York–so this fall it was time to do a big bulk applesauce canning session! Whenever apples are plentiful, several girlfriends and I make sauce. The last couple of years we’ve done it at my house, but to be honest my kitchen isn’t really set… Keep Reading
Reader’s Question: Do you have to remove sooty blotch from apples before making applesauce?
Dear Frugal Upstate, I was reading your post from a few years back where you made applesauce at your Cooperative Extension’s Open Canning Day. I was wondering–when you made your applesauce, did you take the skin off the apples first? I am trying to find info about canning with sooty blotch apples and can’t seem… Keep Reading
