How much should Organizing Cost?

How much do you think organizing should cost?  
I've seen many bloggers and vloggers go 'all out' and spend a ton of money on getting their homes in order.  While that might be fine for them, I don't have the expendable money to buy hundreds of dollars in organizer doo~dads even tho honestly I'd love to.  Sometimes it's dishearteing to watch those professional organizing videos because it leaves us with the impression that we have to have certain tools to be successful in organizing.  I disagree entirely.  I am not saying that I haven't spent any money on organizing but I am trying to be as frugal as possible. 
 I think that organizing can cost nothing or next to nothing.  
And I like a good challenge.  
The main purpose of being organized is to help us better manage life, our finances, and help identify potential savings opportunities.  Organizing should help us SAVE money, not SPEND it. Here are a few tips that cost nothing (or next to nothing) that will stretch your budget.  
Clutter~ get rid of it.  This is the biggest deterrent in having an organized home.  I can't stress how important it is to declutter!!!  It might take a year OR MORE to get your home entirely decluttered and after you are finished, it will be something that you have to work at on a daily basis.  Even 15 minutes a day working on clutter really works.  Clutter is equal to Chaos and getting rid of it really does so much for our well being!   I've been inspired by flylady to ask a few questions about clutter~    Do I love it?  Do I use it frequently enough to justify keeping it?   Have I used it in the past year?  Does it help me feel more peaceful?   I can't stress how much more I am at peace since the clutter is gone from my life.   It is completely liberating.  
Take a picture~  Another thing I do is take a picture of my rooms.  There are SO many things that I MISS when I look at my rooms because I am used to what I see in everyday life.  When I take a picture I see things through new eyes.  I recently took a picture of underneath my kitchen cupboard and wasn't aware of the water stain on the back of the wall.  Having that in a picture made it stand out and notice just how bad it looked.  Pull out your digital camera and take a picture of all the rooms in your home.  Even the garage, basement and wherever your 'stashing' area is.  A picture can really help us see things we wouldn't normally see and can even help give ideas for decorating.  
Reuse~  I've made my own homemade laundry detergent and could have bought a fancy schmancy container with a spigot on the end to easily pour it into a cup every time I do laundry.  Instead I chose to save that money and recycle the containers from the Dole Juice that we have purchased.  They are thick plastic and have lasted us over a year.  We've used them many times over for years.
Go Thrift Store Shopping~  There are some things that I do buy retail, but every time I go retail I am usually in sticker shock!  I have found wonderful things thrifting that are great in keeping me in my budget.  It takes determination, patience and sometimes just being in the right place at the right time.    Those gems are so worth it.  
Don't go Thrift Store Shopping~   I know, I know!  First I recommend going thrift store shopping and now I say don't go thrift store shopping.  In trying to be frugal and maintaining a clutter free home, I REALLY tend to be choosy in what I buy.  It's so easy to justify a purchase because it is a few dollars, but those little spends add up to a big dollar amount.  I feel quite a bit of accomplishment when I can walk out of a Thrift Store with nothing in my hands.  
So, there you have it!  In a nutshell I think organizing should cost as little as possible!

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The Country Cook

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Wonderful Korean Chili Powder! 고추가루

After living in Korea for a total of 11+ years I've grown to love Korean chili powder.  It's the best chili powder on the market and beats the American version in the spice bottles by far.  It's chunky,  flavorful and packs a spicier kick.

Whenever we go to the North Side of town I try to arrange a trip to the Joong Bu Market .  When I step into that place I turn into an emotional train wreck with all of the wonderful memories of living in Korea,  but that's ANOTHER story.  :)  

It makes wonderful chili beans, seasoning for all meats or a garnish over deviled eggs that is so pretty.  

Look at that lovely texture! 

I do hope you try some Korean Chili Powder!

                                           And if you do, I'd love to hear about it!  Please leave a comment below!

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Have a Lovely Day!!!

  

The Country Cook

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Get the Scoop!

This is an old post that, for some odd reason, never got published... so here ya go!  :) 

I purchase 25 pound bags of flour at quite a substantial savings since I bake my own bread.  Instead of lugging the entire container out of my pantry I've made a handy dandy scoop out of a recylcled plastic gallon jug, fill it up with flour and take it to my kitchen counter work space.  I had a brilliant idea with measuring as well!  Since my bread recipe calls for 5 cups of flour, I've scooped it in, and drew a line on the outside to tell me how much flour to use every time without measuring.   It works like a charm!

I can think of a few other places to use these~   

In the sandbox for kids, as a scoop for dog food,  for scooping sugar,  for scooping out salt to melt ice, feeding chickens, bailing water and the list goes on.....

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The Country Cook

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Cheesy Corn Dog Casserole (Low Carb and Grain Free)

I can't even remember the last time I ate a corn dog!  But the craving hit last week and I immediately got online and tweaked a recipe to make it my own version of a Low Carb Cheesy Corn Dog Casserole.  Frying wasn't an option for me so I resorted to baking it.  I like easy!  

The almond flour resembles corn bread batter and I was very pleased with the texture and results.  

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

1 cup almond flour
2 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
Freshly Ground Salt and Pepper
2 Tbsp Whole Whipping Cream
 2-4 hot dogs cut up in pieces
(all hot dogs are not equal so make sure to choose a lower carb count)
Shredded Cheese of your choice
Bacon Grease or Coconut Oil

Cut up hot dogs and grate cheese. Set aside. 

In glass Pyrex pan melt bacon grease in preheated oven.

Prepare Corn Dog batter.  Mix together almond flour, baking powder, baking powder and salt and pepper.  Make sure there are no lumps.
 

Whisk eggs into almond flour mixture until incorporated.  Add Whole Whipping Cream until just blended.  

Bake until golden brown and until knife comes out clean.
Top with grated cheese and return to oven to melt.   Slice and serve.

I made one of these for a recent trip,  cut it in serving pieces and wrapped each one in aluminum foil.  It traveled well and was an easy low carb/grain free meal.

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Have a Lovely Day!!!

The Country Cook

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

DIY Facial Toner

I've never been one to purchase high end facial products.  Paying upward of 40 dollars for a toner is just plain silly in my book.  I've been looking at natural options and, as an added bonus, the price is definitely right.  

This one uses witch hazel and essential oils.  Witch Hazel is an astringent (cleaner) that comes from the leaves and bark of the witch hazel shrub.  It shrinks pores and tightens skin.  Best of all, it's natural.

I did some googling and picked out a very famous toner that is sold in major chains around the United States.  The famous toner is deemed as 100 % natural but it has some good and bad ingredients.  

The good ingredients are Rosa Damascena Flower Water,  Citric Acid (found in fruit and adjusts the skin acidity), Citronellol (an oil found in roses and geranium),  and Geraniol (a natural occuring alcohol found in rose, palmerosa and citronella oils).  

Sounds good to me!  

And now for some questionable ingredients in this 'so called' 100% pure toner.

Butylene Glycol~  BG is a chemical based petroleum solvent causes reactions to very sensitive skin and could dry out skin.  Tetrasodium Edta is an acid that is widely used to dissolve limescale.   Sounds prett potent.  Methylparaben is a food and cosmetic preservative that prevents bacteria growth.

The benefits of Witch Hazel far outweigh anything store bought.  

It reduced puffiness,  soothes pimples,  loosens blackheads, and reduces wrinkles.  

So, how did I make the toner?  I took my handy dandy icing tip that doubles as a funnel and filled up my small atomizer with the witch hazel and added a few drops of essential oil.   Various essential oils have differerent benefits for different kinds of skin.  You can find more info here. 

After washing and drying my face I spritz it on.  That's it.  Easy peasy!

Witch hazel can be found at most drugstores next to the ispropyl alcohol.  It costs about 8ish dollars for a 16 ounce bottle and will last for a very long time!

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Have a Lovely Day!!!

The Country Cook

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Homemade Lotion Bars

This post has moved to my new blog home on the net!  

Please click over to find the recipe for Homemade Lotion Bars!

The Oily Amulet Diffuser Necklace Giveaway!

I'd like to say I never win anything but then it would not be true.   

When I signed up for a necklace diffuser I actually DID say to myself (grumble!) that I probably would not win.   So imagine my surprise when I was contacted and told that my name was picked out of quite a few entries!  To say I was excited is an understatement!  

It's a silvertone diffuser necklace that is very similar to a locket and opens up.  Inside is a black piece of rayon felt that you add a few drops of essential oil to.  The essential oils waft through the filigree and smell wonderful.  If you're new to aromatherapy you already know all of this wonderful info so please be patient with me as I share my lovely gift!

   

The diffuser is linked to the chain by some very pretty pink jade.

It came all wrapped up in vintagey newsprint wrapping.

Head on over to The Oily Amulet and check out their lovely store!  

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Have a Lovely Day!!!