Frugal Photo Display-Repurposing Plastic CD Cases

Do you have a stash of cd cases laying around? Check this out.I love this idea! I've seen a couple other ideas to repurpose cd cases.  What's your favorite?

Frugal wall art!  For the instructions you can go here

Art of the Chicken Coop Review

Art of the Chicken Coop by Chris Gleason

Keeping a small flock of backyard chickens is becoming more and more popular.

In Art of the Chicken Coop there are easy to follow construction plans for seven different coops, four of them for flocks of six chickens or less. The perfect size for a backyard flock. One coop is a space saver, only using 2 ½ x 3 feet of space! Each coop includes a complete supply list and lots of pictures!

If you will be keeping over six, up to fifteen, three of the coop designs will accommodate such a flock. The author also includes instructions on how to increase the size of any of the coops in the book.

What I really liked was the use of salvaged materials. Both my coops used salvaged materials. I’m sure my new coop will be no different.

There are also 3 profiles of chicken keepers who offer some great advice and tips, a whole chapter on building coop runs, advice on everything you’ll need in your coop, a characteristic chart of popular backyard breeds (with each breed pictured), and egg recipes.

From beginner to veteran this book has great information for anyone!

Zucchini Candy-In honor of National Sneak Zucchini On Your Neighbor's Porch

National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day is today!  Have any of you dropped any off on your neighbors?
It always happens.  The zucchini that hides until it is soooo huge!  I've had a couple of them so far this year.  How about you?  What do you do with your bat size zucchinis?

This year I've been making candy.  That's right, zucchini candy!  I have a batch in the dehydrator right now.  They taste a lot like gummi worms. 

I have two recipes.  The one I am trying right now is one my mother gave me.  I think she found it on the internet but not sure where:

Ingredients:
A large zucchini
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 pack Kool-aid
8 cups water

Peel the zucchini.

Cut it into 1 inch chunks, be sure to cut off the center part with seeds (as uniform as you can so they dry evenly).

Add Kool-aid, water, and sugar (recipe can be doubled) in a large pot and bring to a boil.

Add zucchini chunks and turn down to a simmer,  stir occasionally. Cook until zucchini turns translucent, about 20-25 minutes. Drain using a colander.

Place them on the food dehydrator racks making sure no pieces are touching each other.  Use a fruit leather mat if you have one. This makes clean up easier. I only use mine for about the first hour then remove.

Let it dehydrate until it feels squishy but firm,  about 18 hours.

When they are done, put 3 Tbs of powdered sugar, and 1 Tbs corn starch in a bag and toss candy pieces in with it. This keeps them from sticking together in the bag or jar.

I'll let you know how we liked this recipe once it is done.

Another great recipe is:

10 cups peeled diced zucchini 1/2 inch cubes or  "worms" about 3 inches long and 1/2 inch thick and wide.
3 cups water
2 pkgs. unsweetened Koolaid (Everyone says black cherry or cherry is best, all I had was strawberry)
2 1/2 cups sugar

Peel zucchini,  dice/slice, removing seeds. Mix the liquid syrup together. Add zucchini. Bring to a boil and them simmer for 25 min. Drain. Put on dehydrator trays. Dry 14
hours at 125 degrees. Turn pieces over and dry another 4 hours. They will
feel dry and not sticky when done. Store in jars or other tightly sealed
containers. If you dip in sugar when you turn them, they will be more like
"gum drops" on the outside.


Next I will be trying these two recipes to use up large zucchini:

Zuke Chips
Take the large size zukes and slice them 1/8 inch thick, blanch them for 30 seconds, pat dry, and sprinkle salt (use Kosher or french fry seasoning) and onion powder on them. Dry them in the dehydrator until crispy like potato chips.

Zuke Burger
Take a large zuke, slice 1/2" thick, brush with olive oil, season with salt & pepper, (or any hamburger seasoning you use) and  grill.  Serve on potato roll buns.

So you still have too much zucchini and are going to sneak some on your neighbors porch, be sure to include a few of these recipes for them! lol

Coupon Preview 7/31/11

COUPONS FOR 7-31-11
SMARTSOURCE
Allegra 24 hr, 30ct, 45 ct, 90 ct $2 (9/10/11)
Allegra 5 count Rebate up to $7 (mail-in) (8/31/11)
Aveeno Sun Care $1.50 (8/31/11)
Band-Aid Adhesive Bandage .50 (12/31/11)
BestLife Buttery Spread, Buttery Spray or Buttery Baking Sticks $1 (10/9/11)
Bic Stationery Products $1 on 2 (9/30/11)
Bic Razor (Hybrid, Soleil Bella, Flex 4, Soleil Twilight, Comfort3 Advance) $2 (9/11/11)
Blink Tears or Blink GelTers Lubricating Eye Drops $1 (9/30/11)
Clean & Clear $1 (9/30/11)
Complete Blink-N-Clean Lens Drops or Blink Contacts Lubricant Eye Drops $1 (9/30/11)
Complete Multi-Purpose Solution, 12 oz+ $1 (9/30/11)
Eatsmart Naturals Snack, 5oz+ $1 (10/31/11)
Energizer Batteries or Flashlight $1 (8/31/11)
Ensure Multipack $1 (10/31/11)
Extra, Orbit, Eclipse, Juicy Fruit, Doublemint, Spearmint, Big Red or Winterfresh, 3 packs $1 on 2 (10/31/11)
Finish Quantum $1 (9/11/11)
Finish Powerball or Gelpac .75 (9/11/11)
Glade Plugins Scented Oil twin refill $1.50/1 or two single refills (8/20/11)
Glade Plugins Scented Oil Lasting Impressions Holder $3 (8/20/11)
Glade Fabric & Air Odor Eliminator $1.25 (9/10/11)
Glade Automatic Spray Refill $1.50 (9/10/11)
Icy Hot Naturals $2 (8/31/11)
IcyHot, Aspercreme, Flexall, Capzasin $1 (10/31/11)
LALA Yogurt Smoothie, 8.1 oz. B1G1F up to $1.59 (9/30/11)
Listerine Mouthwash, 500ml+ or Reach Toothbrush or Reach Floss or Reach Access Flosser .50 (12/31/11)
Listerine Mouthwash, 500ml+ or Reach Toothbrush or Reach Floss or Reach Access Flosser $1.50 on 2 (12/31/11)
Listerine Mouthwash, 500mo+ AND Reach Toothbrush AND Reach Floss or Access Flosser $3 on 3 (12/31/11)
Listerine Total Care Mouthwash, Total Care Plus Whitening Mouthwash, 32 oz.+, etc. 1L+ $1 (12/31/11)
Listerine Smart Rinse Mouthwash or any Listerine Agent Cool Blue or any Reach Kids Toothbrush $1 (12/31/11)
Listerine Smart Rinse Product or Reach Kids Toothbrush $1 (12/31/11)
Mitchum .75 (9/4/11)
Nature Sweet Cherry Tomatoes (2 pkgs.) AND Fresh Eggs $1 (10/31/11)
Neosporin AND Band-Aid Bandages $1.50 (9/30/11)
Neutrogena Lip or Eye Makeup $1 (8/31/11)
Neutrogena Face Makeup $2 (8/31/11)
Purell, 8 oz+ $1 (10/31/11)
Purell $1 on 3 (10/31/11)
Revlon Color Silk Products $1 on 2 (9/4/11)
Rubbermaid TakeAlongs $1 on 2 (910/11)
Schiff MegaRed $3 (10/31/11)
Schiff Mega-D3 $2 (10/31/11)
Schiff Glucosamine $2 (10/31/11)
Schiff Vitamin or Supplement $1 (10/31/11)
Scrubbing Bubbles Active Scrub Cream Cleanser $1 (9/11/11)
Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaners $1 on 2 (9/11/11)
Scrubbing Bubbles Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner .75 (9/11/11)
Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Bathroom Cleaner or Daily Shower Cleaner $1 (9/11/11)
Scrubbing Bubbles Antibacterial Bathroom Wipes .55 (9/11/11)
Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer $1 (9/11/11)
Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Brush FREE up to $6.99 wyb Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel (9/11/11)
Snackwells Bars $1 (11/30/11)
Windex $1 on 2 (9/24/11)

RED PLUM
AXE Shower Gel or Detailer B1G1F up to $5.99 (9/24/11)
Caress Tahitian Renewal, Cashmere Luxury, Daily Silk, etc. Body Wash, 12 oz.+ or 6-bar pk.+ .75 (8/28/11)
Degree Men or Women PREMIUM Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant or Body Mist $1 (8/28/11)
Degree Men or Women Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant .75 (8/28/11)
Domino Light or Amber Organic Agave Nectar, bottle .75 (9/30/11)
Dove Men+Care Antiperspirant, 2.7oz or Deodorant, 3 oz FREE up to $5.50 wyb Dove Womens Deodorant (Ultimate or Clinical Protection) (8/28/11)
Dove Beauty Bar, 6-bar pk+ (no Men+care) $1.25 (8/28/11)
Dove Body Wash, 10oz+ (no Men+care) $1 (8/28/11)
Dove Treatment FREE up to $6 wyb Dove Shampoo or Conditioner, no 40 oz. trial or travel size (8/28/11)
Dove Men+Care Body and Face Wash, 13.5oz+ OR Active Clean Shower Tool $1 (8/28/11)
Dove Men+Care Body and Face, 6-bar pk.+ $1 (8/28/11)
Hellmanns Product, 16.5 oz+ .40/2 (8/28/11)
Jimmy Ds Product $1 (9/30/11)
Lipton Tea Bags, Lipton to Go, or any Lipton Iced Tea Mixes .60/2 (8/28/11)
LOreal Excellence or Excellence to-Go Shade $2 (9/25/11)
LOreal Root Rescue Product $2 (9/25/11)
Magnum Ice Cream $1 (8/28/11)
Q-Tips Cotton Swabs Product, 170 ct+ .30 (8/28/11)
Ragu Pasta Sauce, jars .40/2 (8/28/11)
Skippy Peanut Butter Product, 15oz+ $1 on 2 (8/28/11)
TRESemme Shampoo or Conditioner, no trial $1 (8/28/11)
TRESemme Styling Product, no trial $1 (8/28/11)
Vaseline Product, 3.1oz+ $1.50 (8/28/11)
Wish-Bone or Western Dressings $1 on 2 (8/28/11)

RED PLUM #2
Bengay $3 (11/30/11)
Boost Nutritional Drink or Drink Mix, multipack or canister $1.50 (10/02/11)
Carnation Breakfast Essentials Product $1 (10/02/11)
Centrum Silver, 60ct+ $2 (10/2/11)
Johnson & Johnson Red Cross Products $1.50 on 2 (11/30/11)
L.A. Looks Product, 20oz or 26oz $1 (10/31/11)
Nestle Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss $1 on 2 (10/30/11)
Nestle Pure Life Multi-packs,.5 liter 20-pack+ $1 on 2 (9/11/11)
Nestle Pure Life Multi-pack, 8 oz. 24-pack+ $1 on 2 (9/11/11)
Nivea Body Lotion, 8.4-16.9oz $1 (9/11/11)
Nivea Body Wash for Men, 16.9oz $1 (9/30/11)
Nivea Body Wash for Women, 8.4-16.9oz $2 (9/30/11)
Nivea Face Care $1/1 or two Shave Gels, .5 to 7 oz. (9/30/11)
Nivea Good-Bye Cellulite, 2.5-6.7oz $2 (9/11/11)
Nivea Lip Care, 0.17oz stick -.35oz tube $3 on 2 (8/15/11)
OXY $1 (10/1/11)
OXY Clinical Product $3 (10/1/11)
Rimmel Mascara or any Rimmel Product $1 (9/30/11)
Skinny Cow Chocolate Candy, 4.65-6oz Multipack $1 (10/31/11)
Skinny Cow Chocolate Candy Singles, .77-1oz B1G1F up to .99 (10/31/11)

PROCTER & GAMBLE
Always Pantiliners, 30ct+ $1 (8/31/11)
Always Pads, Clean or Feminine Cleansing Cloths .50 (8/31/11)
Always Infinity, 14ct+ $1 (8/31/11)
Bounce Dryer Bar .50 (8/31/11)
Bounce Dryer Sheet or Dryer Bar refill .25 (8/31/11)
Bounty Towels or Napkins .25 (8/31/11)
Bounty Napkins .25 (8/31/11)
Braun Curzer Trimmer $5 (8/31/11)
Braun Series 3, Series 5 or Series 7 Shaver $10 (8/31/11)
Cascade, any $1 (8/31/11)
Charmin .25 (8/31/11)
Clairol Hair Color $2 (8/31/11)
Covergirl, any $1 (8/31/11)
Crest 3D White Professional Effects or 2 Hour Express Whitestrips $10 ((8/31/11)
Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid, Vivid, Stain Shield or Gentle Routine Whitestrips $5 (8/31/11)
Crest Toothpaste, 4oz+ .50 (8/31/11)
Crest Rinse, 946ml+ $2 (8/31/11)
Crest Toothpaste, 4oz+ or liquid gel .75 (8/31/11)
Dawn, any .50 (8/31/11)
Downey Fabric Softener or Dryer Sheets .50 (8/31/11)
Duracell Coppertop, Ultra, Advanced, Photo Lithium or Specialty Batteries .75 (8/31/11)
Duracell Rechargeable Batteries or Charger or 6pk Hearing Aid Batteries $1 (8/31/11)
Fixodent Adhesive, 1.5oz+ .50 (8/31/11)
Fixodent Cleanser, any .75 (8/31/11)
Gillette Body Wash, excludes trial size $2 (8/31/11)
Gillette Deodorant, excludes trial size $3 on 2 or one Clinical Deodorant (8/31/11)
Gillette Fusion Skin Care $2 (8/31/11)
Gillette Fusion ProGlide Shave Prep FREE wyb Fusion ProGlide Cartridge (8/31/11)
Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor $4 (8/31/11)
Gillette Satin Care Shave Gel FREE up to $3.99 wyb Olay Body Wash, Bar or Hand and Body Lotion (8/31/11)
Head & Shoulders, excludes trial size .50 (8/31/11)
Iams Naturals Dry Dog or Cat Food $1 (8/31/11)
Iams Premium Protection Dry Dog or Cat Food $1 (8/31/11)
Iams ProActive Healthy Dry Dog or Cat Food $1 (8/31/11)
Iams Canned Dog or Cat Food B3G1F (8/31/11)
Ivory Body Wash or Bar or Safeguard Bar or liquid hand soap .50 (8/31/11)
Metamucil $1 (8/31/11)
Metamucil Fiber Singles Capsules or Wafers $1 (8/31/11)
Olay Pro-X Facial Moisturizer or Pro-X Clear $5 (8/31/11)
Olay Regenerist Moisturizer $3 (8/31/11)
Oral-B Battery Toothbrush $3 (8/31/11)
Oral-B Floss or Oral-B Floss Picks, 30ct+ .75 (8/31/11)
Oral-B Stages, Zooth or Crest Kids Manual or Power Toothbrush .50 (8/31/11)
Oral-B Stages, Zooth or Crest Kids Toothpaste .50 (8/31/11)
Oral-B Replacement Brush Heads, 3ct+ $10 on 2 (8/31/11)
Oral-B Replacement Brush Heads, 3ct+ $3 (8/31/11)
Oral-B Pulsar, CrossAction Advantage .75/1 or 2 Indicator or Cavity Defense Manual Toothbrushes (8/31/11)
Pampers Diapers or Pants $1/1 box or two bags (08/31/11)
Pampers Sensitive Swaddlers, Cruisers, Limited Edition or Extra Protection Diapers $2 (08/31/11)
Pampers Diaper or Pant diaper AND one Pampers Wipes, 60ct $2 (08/31/11)
Pantene, excludes trial size $1 on 2 (08/31/11)
Pringles Fat Free Cans, 165g+ $1 on 2 (8/31/11)
Pringles Snack Stack or Stix .50 (8/31/11)
Pringles Super Stack Cans, 180g+ $1 on 4 (8/31/11)
Puffs .25 on 3 boxes or one 3pk (8/31/11)
Scope Mouthwash, 710ml+ .75 (8/31/11)
Secret Flawless, Scent Expression or Fresh Effects Deodorant Twin Pack $1 (8/31/11)
Secret Body Spray FREE up to $5 wyb two Secret Scent Expressions or Fresh Effects, no trial (8/31/11)
Swiffer Wet Jet or Sweeper Vac Starter Kit $5 (8/31/11)
Swiffer Sweeper or Swiffer Dusters Starter Kit $1 (8/31/11)
Swiffer Refill or Dust & Shine .75 (8/31/11)
Tampax Pearl Compak B1G1F up to $3.99 (8/31/11)
Tampax Pearl or Tampax Pearl Compak, 18ct+ $1 (8/31/11)
Tampax, 18ct+ .50 (8/31/11)
Tide Detergent, any $1 (8/31/11)
Tide Stain Release .50 (8/31/11)
Tide Stain Release, 26-50 powder, 15-34ct Duopack or 36-68 oz liquid $1.50 (8/31/11)
Venus Razor AND Venus Refill $5 (8/31/11)
Venus Disposable Razor $2 (8/31/11)

Is it possible to have a zero waste package free grocery store?

Brothers Lane Company of in.gredients thinks so!



According to Earth911, shoppers bring their own containers the first time, weigh and label the containers with its tare weight, which will be deducted at the cash register. The store will also provide compostable containers for customers who don’t want to transport their own containers; shoppers will be encouraged to reuse the containers before eventually composting them.

How cool is that? I hope we can get one here in the Kansas City area.