No Sew T-Shirt Ribbon Scarf

Grab an old tshirt and lets get started!

Supplies:
XL cotton tshirt *without hemming up the sides
Scissors

Directions:
1. Cut the tshirt straight across just below the armpits
2. Cut the seam off at the bottom

 3. Stop now and stretch <----> for a thick scarf
4. For a ribbon scarf, keep cutting 1 inch strips then stretch to finish.
5. To wear, gather all the pieces and wrap twice around your neck. You can also make a chain-link with two sets if ribbon then wrap the loop around your neck wearing the chain in the front.

Hand Warmers - Simple Photo Tutorial

These Homemade Hand Warmers are the perfect size for chilly hands to snuggle with. Just pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute then slip them in your coat pockets on your way outside to play in the snow. (They also work as mini-ice packs for kids when you put them in the freezer)

 

Supplies:
1/2 cup to 1 cup long grain rice (not minute rice!!) PER set of 2
1/4 yard of flannel (makes 10 sets)
(sewing machine)

Directions:

1. Fold fabric in half with wrong side facing out. Cut fabric into 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch squares. You will end up with 40 squares. Sew pairs together wrong-side facing out on three of the 4 sides, leaving one side open.

2. Turn them right-side out and fill each warmer with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of rice.

 

3. Fold over a 1/4 inch seam and sew together, keeping as close to the edge as you can.

 

 

 4. Trim thread and you are done! :)



Fool's Toffee

This fast and easy toffee is always a hit - one batch makes enough for 6-10 gift tins. :) I purchased tins and holiday liners from the dollar store plus the ingredients for 10 small gifts for less than $20.

 

Ingredients:
1 box Saltines
3 cups butter
3 cups packed brown sugar
3 bags semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 bags chopped nuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a jelly roll pan with tin foil. Place a single layer of crackers on the pan. Meanwhile, boil sugar and butter stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes.

Pour hot caramel over crackers and spread evenly. Bake crackers for 5 minutes. After removing from the oven, sprinkle chocolate chips over hot crackers immediately.

Once they have started to melt, spread evenly over crackers and top with nuts. Allow to cool for at least 12 hours for chocolate to set. Once chocolate is firm break into pieces and place into tins.

Magnetic Frames

These magnetic frames are such an easy way to dress up your fridge! Just attach extra strong magnets to the back of frames from the dollar store with a hot glue gun. Then place over you favorite kids drawings, Christmas cards or pictures. You can also use the glass to write notes to your love with a dry erase marker. ;)

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

Pair this creamy homemade cocoa mix with chocolate dipped plastic spoons, a plain white mug & a sharpie for a complete DIY gift.

Ingredients:
2 cups sifted Hershey's cocoa powder
2 cups dry milk powder
1 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup powdered coffee creamer (try seasonal favorites like egg nog, pumpkin spice, or peppermint)

Recipe yields 1qt jar. Stir 3 heaping spoonfuls of cocoa mix into hot water or milk. Enjoy topped with whip cream or marshmallows!!

**Use the sharpie to decorate your own mug them bake at 180 degrees for 30 minutes to make it permanent.**

Freezer Meals: Breakfast Buritos

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
1 pkg large flour tortillas
1 dozen eggs
1 lb sausage
3 cups frozen diced potato, thawed
2-3 bell peppers (any color)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium yellow onion
16 oz green or red salsa

Directions:
In a large skillet cook eggs and sausage (scrambled). Add diced onions and peppers, cool for an additional 3-5 minutes. Combine with potatoes, salsa and cheese in a large mixing bowl. Spoon 3/4-1 cup into warmed tortillas. Roll up turning in ends to enclose completely. Wrap with parchment paper, then a second time with foil. Freeze individually in a ziplock bag for up to 2 months.

To prepare: Remove foil from frozen burritos. Microwave for 5-7 minutes on high turning halfway. Or bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. Top with additional salsa, cheese and sour cream.

More Freezer Meal Breakfast Ideas:
Waffles
Cinnamon Rolls
Sweet Breads
Muffins
Breakfast Sandwiches
Biscuits & Gravy

Freezer Meals: Baked Macaroni

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
16 oz uncooked macaroni
16 oz sour cream
16 oz cottage cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup milk
2 cups sliced hot dogs or cocktail wieners (optional)

Directions:
Purée sour cream, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese and milk. Combine with macaroni and hot dogs. Freeze until ready to cook.

To prepare: Defrost overnight. Bake for 1-1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees F. Or in the crockpot for 3-4 hours on low.

More Ideas for Pasta:
Lasagna
Baked Pasta
Manicotti
Stuffed Shells
Minestrone
Pesto

Freezer Meals: Meatballs

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 cup dry stuffing mix
2/3 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup diced onion
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed and moisture rung out well!

Directions:
Crumble spinach into the beef mixture and combine ingredients well. Using a melon baller make small 1 inch meatballs. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet or other non-stick baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool to room temperature. Freeze in a single layer on a cookie lined with parchment, then store frozen in a ziplock bag for 1-2 months.

To reheat bake frozen meatballs for 30 minutes or in the crockpot with sauce of your choice at least 3-4 hours.

More Beef Freezer Meal Ideas:
Pot Roast*
Shepherds Pie*
Taco Filling
Enchiladas
Burritos
Meatloaf
Sloppy Joes
Chili
Lasagna

*Raw potatoes do not freeze well, make sure they are cooked for several minutes before freezing. Milk should be added to mashed potatoes after thawing to avoid runny potatoes.

Home Finance Notebook

Having all of your bills and account information in one place is so helpful and is one of the best ways to reduce stress in your home. We have tried using an expanding file in the past but have found that it is bulky and easily becomes disorganized. One solutions is to use a binder to keep everything together!

Using a 1 1/2 - 2 inch binder and a set of dividers organize your bills in one of two ways based on your preference, either by billing company or by date/month. Another helpful tool that I keep in the front of my binder is the {Account Information Spreadsheet}. I use this to keep track of all our family's bills - - - their contact information, as well as our bill informations such as amount and due date for budgeting purposes. The other resource I love is the {Bill Pay Tracker}. This helps me make sure everything gets paid each month and allows me to easily see the payment history for each account.

For more information on creating a family budget and getting out of debt I highly recommend Dave Ramsey and his program "Financial Peace University".

Calendars

Welcome back to another exciting week at Dirt Don't Hurt! This week is all about getting ogranized and I have some awesome tips for you and of course more free printables! :) Enjoy!!!

I have found that calendars can be extremely helpful or equally stressful - - - it is importnat to find a balance that will work for you so that you know what is coming up but don't feel completely overwhelmed. Here are a few free printables for you to download that may help you - {Daily Calendar} {Weekly Calendar} {Monthly Calendar} and {Celebration Calendar}

Homemade Chip & Salsa

I had an extra cup of coffee this morning so you get two homemade recipes instead of just one. :D

Homemade Tortilla Chips
Cut small tortillas (flour or corn) into wedges and place on a greased cookie sheet. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-15 min or until crispy.

Homemade Salsa
28 oz canned diced tomatoes
1 small yellow onion, peeled
1 clove garlic, peeled
1-2 jalapeños
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp liquid smoke
- - - Roughly chop the onion and place in a blender with the garlic, cilantro and liquid smoke. Slice the jalapeños in half and add one half to the blender. Add the canned tomatoes with juice and pulse till combined. Taste and add additional jalapeño halves until desired heat is reached. Store refrigerated in a 1 quart jar for 1-2 weeks.