Wednesday, January 6, 2021

An Idea or Two - From Me to You

 I love anything that makes life easier.  I know I am not alone in this boat!  I also like things that save me money.  No sense in just throwing good money away.  If you have more dollars than you need - then donate!  Don't just waste it.

I am sure you have all seen those little terra cotta disks that you buy to put in brown sugar to keep the brown sugar soft.  They are pretty darn pricey to buy.

They come in fancy designs and in all shapes and sizes.  The cheapest I have seen is about $5 and going up into the teens of dollars.
 I came up with my own solution for pennies!  And yes it works!!!!!!!!

Yep - a tiny clay pot!  This has an opening about the size of a half dollar.  When I got it, I was looking for a 3" clay saucer and the store was out.  This cost me way less than a $1.
Wash it - then soak in a glass of warm water for 15-20 minutes - take out and dry off - place in your brown sugar.  THAT IS IT!  It will keep it soft for about 3 months - then you just repeat the soaking and drying and start over!  Will last forever.
Super practical and thrifty in more than one way!!!!! 
***************************************************

When purchasing lettuce at the grocery store - during those times you can't grow your own - buy "living lettuce".  My goodness does it stay fresh.  This is what I get now.  It lasts so much longer than those baggies of lettuce mix.  I often find it marked down and get it for a cheaper price.  It has flavor as well - not like ice burg lettuce.

          The lettuce is packaged as a whole plant.  You pick off leaves as you need them.
     This is the bottom - that is where it was cut and the roots are wrapped around the base.

 This is also easy to re-grow in your home.  Place the base  (after using all leaves) in a shallow container of water - keep base wet - and you will start to re-grow your own leaves.
This lettuce lasts for a long time in the frig without spoiling or getting dark and slimy.  The picture was taken 2 weeks after purchasing and it was perfect. (I bought 2 at the time of purchase).
***************************************************

Last TIP:
If you have trouble sleeping at night (I do) here is a little tip to help you get back to sleep.
I can't remember the last time I slept more than 2 hours without waking up.  Generally I look at the clock every hour or less.  I used to have a lot of trouble going BACK to sleep.  Now that is easier.
ALMONDS - I eat about 4 roasted almonds before going to sleep.  There is a chemical in them to help you stay calm and return to sleep easier. (any almonds will do - just no sugar coating).
I still wake up a lot - but return to sleep easily.  I find that I dream more as well!!!
This sounds silly, but it really does keep my body relaxed and makes falling back to sleep peaceful.  
I had read about this before and decided to try it.  It works for me - and YAY no chemicals.

(Another tip when waking a lot - PRAY).  I start praying every time I wake - I know I fall back to sleep before the prayer is finished - but God knows my heart and mind.


So there you have some ideas from me.  Hope maybe one or more will work for you.  Love saving money and finding new ways and things that helps make that happen!!
FROM ME TO YOU!



23 comments:

  1. Wonderful ideas! Will look for a small pot and/or saucer when I'm at the garden center. My brown sugar is always getting hard as a rock. I've not heard of or seen the Living Lettuce. Where do you find it? Being a household of 1, bagged lettuce still gets slimy, and head lettuce, while it lasts longer, gets boring. Would love to be able to plant the roots and let it grow. I love planting romaine in my balcony planters in the spring. Almonds ... going to give that one a try. I can use all the sleep help I can get right now. Sun is shining here, going to be a good day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to have such trouble with brown sugar going hard - this really works.
      I get my lettuce at Kroger along the area that they have bunches of Romaine and other lettuce in those little boxes. This would work perfectly in your balcony planter. Same here - being alone the bag stuff goes nasty before I eat it all. This does not. It generally cost around $4 a box - but no waste and can regrow!!! I see that as a win!
      The almond trick has really calmed my body at night.
      GOOD LUCK!

      Delete
  2. Great ideas Cheryl! I'm looking forward to getting some of the living lettuce and trying to grow more leaves from it. Never heard of the sleep and almond trick, so thank you for sharing. Chamomile tea is also great to drink before bed or during stressful times. I can drink half a mug of it and it relaxes me quite quickly. Take care and I hope you have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have never been much of a hot tea drinker - but I do need to try that as well. Anything natural that helps is great in my book.
      Thanks for the tip!

      Delete
  3. I have one of those discs for my brown sugar, I can't remember when I got it but it was probably a gift or I got it on sale. The little clay pot is a great idea.

    We don't get living lettuce here either but it sounds like a good idea. I grew my own in a container last year and enjoyed it for a good part of the summer.

    As for sleeping, I'm fortunate not to wake more than once or twice a night to use the facilities. But if I'm having a hard time going to sleep, I count backwards from 400 by 3's...397, 394, 391....if I find myself drifting into other thoughts I start again. Doesn't take me long to go to sleep most nights.

    Take care, stay well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is wonderful that you sleep well. I have never really known how that felt. Good idea on the counting.
      I grow my lettuce in the summer - but this is a nice gift to find in the winter.

      Delete
  4. Even more frugal way to keep brown sugar soft---put a bread heel inside brown sugar container. Lasts forever! I got this tip from my grandma (born in 1900). It REALLY WORKS.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I was always afraid it would mold (the bread). Good to know it works.

      Delete
  5. Love the way the clay pot works and I use a piece of bread in my own and that works great. I have not seen living lettuce here but I will look for it now. I am so tired of those bags of lettuce that go bad so quickly. xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bread seems to be a good choice!
      I know those bags spoil so quickly. I just happened to notice it one day at the store and I was hooked.

      Delete
  6. I have never heard of living lettuce, but will look for it when I go out tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I stumbled upon it myself, and really glad I did.
      I hope you all can find it.

      Delete
  7. I had never heard of almonds letting you get back to sleep. The funny thing is my hubby and I eat almonds every single night as a snack. I do sleep pretty well and when I do awaken I usually fall back to sleep pretty quick. Maybe there is something to eating almonds. I have never seen or heard of living lettuce but I'm going to keep my eyes open for it next time I go grocery shopping which won't be for awhile since we try to go only every 3rd week or so. Thanks for all the tips. Stay safe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like they work for you!
      I guess I was lucky to notice it - I am surprised so many haven't heard of the lettuce. I am usually the one behind on new things!!
      You are very welcome.

      Delete
  8. I always fall asleep praying, I hope Heavenly Father knows my intention is good.:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. The small clay pot in the brown sugar is genius! Same way with the living lettuce. I have purchased it in the past and may go back to it since you showed how fresh yours looked at two weeks. Have to try the almond trick also. I usually wake up around three and then no more sleep. On one of the prayer blogs I follow, the writer likened going to sleep while praying as falling asleep in your Father's arms while talking to Him. A good story always seemed to put my girls to sleep.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. Yes, the lettuce really does last a long time. Such a money saver even though it is initially a little pricier.

      Oh I love that - "falling asleep in your Father's arms while talking to Him" That is beautiful and YES that is what we are doing.

      Delete
  10. I have gotten the Living Lettuce at Walmart before. If I had the window sill room, I'd get it now and pot the roots. We buy romaine heads and if I cut off the stem and wash the leaves, and wrap them in a tea towel, then a terry kitchen towel and then store in a grocery plastic bag, it'll keep for a good 2 weeks. Bagged salad always goes bad for me within days of purchase.
    4:30 a.m. is our time of waking (using the bathroom) and trying to get back to sleep. I agree with the praying. I do that when I first go to bed and always fall asleep before finishing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bagged lettuce is good, but it sure doesn't last. I guess there is a method to their madness! Gets people to buy more. I do that with romaine or even leaf lettuce I grow. Clean and I add a paper towel or 2 to bag and smoosh out air. Lasts great that way.
      Praying just calms everything!

      Delete
  11. Great post, Cheryl! Thanks for the ideas :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Since I started (about 6 years ago) making my own brown sugar from granulated sugar and molasses (I usually make a 5 pound batch at a time and keep it in a canister), I haven’t ever had my brown sugar get hard the way the brown sugar from the store can!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I don't know where I have been...I did not know about the terra cotta disc...I will be looking for the alternative.

    ReplyDelete