Dear Frugal Upstate, Do you have any posts on canning? I had my first experience yesterday, with tomatoes, and the seals are popping up and down! Now I have 7 large jars that I need to use soon! Help!! Macy Macy- Yes indeed I do! I did an entire pictorial post! Tutorial: Hot Water Bath… Keep Reading
Sewing Skills: Hemming Pants
Having the basic sewing skills to do minor alterations and repairs is a fantastic way to save money. Here is a great video (about 5 1/2 minutes) I found on YouTube showing how to hem pants. Actually it’s two videos back to back showing the technique for hand hemming and then machine hemming right in… Keep Reading
Tutorial: Hot Water Bath Canning
Have you been wanting to try canning your own food using the hot water bath method, but been too intimidated to try? I know I was for a long, long time! Believe it or not, it takes me a while to wrap my mind around a new idea before trying it. I like to read,… Keep Reading
Tutorial: Easy Patriotic Spraypainted Doormat
My July DIY Challenge from Walmart was to do some patriotic decorating for the 4th of July. Since I had already purchased re-usuable bunting several years ago at Walmart, and always save those little flags they hand out at parades and such to stick into my planters, I didn’t really need much for the holiday. … Keep Reading
Tutorial: Patriotic Poke Cake
Need a simple, refreshing 4th of July dessert that packs a lot of visual “Wow!”? Why not try a red white and blue “Patriotic Poke Cake”! I know this colorful cake looks complicated, but I promise you it’s not! That’s one of the reasons I chose it when Walmart Challenged me to make a special… Keep Reading
Tutorial: Homemade Self Watering Planter
I love planters-they are a great way to take a bit of garden and put it anywhere! What I hate is keeping them watered. . . it is such a pain. But the soil in planters dries out so quickly that daily watering is usually a necessity if you want to keep your plants alive…. Keep Reading
Free Food: Violet Syrup
Yes, you read that right-Violets are edible! You can eat the flowers and the leaves of this beautiful little wildflower. Although I wouldn’t eat a big ol ‘bowl just full of violets, a few tender young leaves are a tasty addition to your spring salad mix. The flowers are so pretty-you can pick them and… Keep Reading
Free Food: Foraging Dandelion Greens
For years I have wanted to try picking & cooking dandelion greens. Despite the fact that I grew up in the country, and our yard was constantly full of cheerful yellow blooms, I had never eaten them. I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to get around to trying them–I guess the… Keep Reading
DIY Floor Lamp Remake
This month Walmart’s DIY Challenge was to do something to get ready for spring. Now, there are lots of great DIY projects out there to get ready for spring-gardening, spring cleaning, Easter, porch and patio decorations. . . but when it’s 30 degrees out and the kids keep having school canceled for snow days it’s… Keep Reading
Recipe & Video: Bourbon Chicken
Looking for a tasty meal your whole family will enjoy that doesn’t break the bank? Try this Bourbon Chicken! I recently used this recipe for my Walmart Mom Meal Challenge-and was able to make this restaurant style meal for just $2.21 a serving (see math & recipe below the video tutorial). $$$ Let’s talk money… Keep Reading
