Tips: How to Depill Clothing (The Impossible Lint)!

Have you ever heard of fabric pilling? I hadn't, but I sure have experience with it! It's the mysterious fuzz that appears on your clothing during washing, but cannot be removed with a lint-roller. It usually happens after accidentally washing a new towel or fuzzy robe with your regular load. It seems nearly impossible to fix unless you have the time and patience to pluck the fabric like a fresh chicken. lol. Neither do I...

As luck would have it, there are two tricks that can tame this furry mess. One being this funny tool called a Fabric Comb, Sweater Comb or Clothing Depiller. These can cost around $5.00 and are great for sweaters, cashmere, etc., but I wanted an easier, cheaper, "it's already laying around the house" kind of option.

Disposable razor??

Yup, under the right conditions, you can remove pilling from your fabrics easily with a simple disposable razor. The cheaper ones are perfect, in fact you'll want the ones that have a single blade if you can find them. Since you'll only use one or two, this should cost mere pennies to fix your garment (or sofa pillows, stuffed animals, etc.).

What you'll need:

• Disposable razor
• Lint roller
• Ironing board

1. Pull your garment over the ironing board like you would if you were planning to iron. This will give you a flat and taught surface to work with. Some suggest using a table or your lap, however this will not hold your item in place and cause potential snags. For delicate fabrics, you're best bet is using a board made for clothing.
2. Try finding a hidden or inconspicuous spot to start. It's best to test! Gently pull the razor over your garment, much like shaving your legs, lol.
3. Be cautious around buttons, hems and seams. These can easily snag and you may find it's better to work around them.
4. As you go along, use the lint roller to remove the lint you've trimmed. The lint roller will reveal stubborn or missed spots along the way, plus keep your project tidy.

And here's an after photo... The lighting in my hallway changed the color of the dress, but I promise, it's the same. As you can see, good-bye lint!

I also used this trick on my sofa cushions / decorative pillows. They had reached the point of "fix it or ditch it" and honestly, I wasn't sure about finding a matching pair to replace them. The razors worked well on the upholstery fabric, but I couldn't use an ironing board for this. I was simply careful to pull the pillow taught and the results were great!

Do you have other sewing tips? I'd love to hear them! Share with us in the comments below...

Printicular: Giveaway - Win 1 of 10 Prizes!

Have you been looking for photo deals?? I just posted a FLASH GIVEAWAY on the Janie Girl Facebook page from Printicular! Head on over to JG's Facebook page and comment on the giveaway with your plans for who or what you'd like to get prints of. The first 10 to comment on Facebook will receive an exclusive coupon code for 5 FREE PRINTS!

If you're new to Printicular, it's a fun and easy to use smartphone app that let's you upload photos from your mobile device or even social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Shipping to your mailbox is available, but what I love is that you can also choose to pick up your order at Walgreens. It's so convenient!

Printicular is special because it works on so many devices! Download the FREE Printicular app, here.

• iPhone
• iPad
• Windows Phone
• Windows Desktop
• Android
• Kindle
• Blackberry

 This giveaway is exclusive to Janie Girl fans, so share and tell your friends!

And Don't Forget!!!

The eBook giveaway for the 'Chronicles Series' ends tonight!!!! Get your entries in!


*This post expresses my personal opinion and I have not been compensated in anyway. Prizes are provided by Printicular. Please see my disclosure policy for more info. Thank you!

9 Big Misconceptions Shopping at the Dollar Stores!

Last night, I was reading one of my favorite bloggers when I saw her most recent post, 7 Reasons You Should Never Shop the Dollar Stores. What? Never?!? I was shocked. Y'all know I'm a big advocate for the dollar stores. It has saved my family a small fortune over the years! I love walking in to the 99 Cent Only and getting items on my weekly shopping list. As a coupon blogger, I would have believed other extreme couponers would love the dollar stores as much as I do, but as I have found, it's not usually the case.

I understand shopping at stores like the 99 Only or Dollar Tree have their own ebb and flow. You can't shop there like you do a "regular" grocery store, but there are some simple ideas that anyone can easily follow to get more savings on their grocery bill (all without coupons).

1. Sizes are smaller. Sizes might be smaller on some things, but that doesn't mean you're getting more for your money when you buy a bigger item at another store. Visually sizing up a item can be misleading. This is why you must know your products and compare. For example, I'll often find a 7 oz bag of chips at the dollar store for $1.00, but 9 - 12 oz bags at other stores for $2.00 to $3.00! The bag often looks bigger, but in this case the dollar store is a better buy. To know if you're getting a good deal, it's easy to find the price per ounce. Simply, divide the price by the ounces printed on the bag. The smaller the price per ounce, the better the deal.

2. You impulse purchase. This is a bit silly. I'm going to be frank; if you're likely to "impulse buy" at the dollar store, you're going to do it at any store. I never go shopping without a shopping list or budget in mind, even at the 99 Only! It's important to stay on budget, so make sure everything you buy has a purpose in mind.

Activity: Free Dr. Seuss Day Crafts and Printables!

March 2nd is Dr. Seuss' Birthday and an unofficial holiday of all things Seuss, Cat in the Hat and rhyming 'til your heart's content. What fun! Here are some ideas on how to make a day of 'Suess' after all the books are read and the kids get restless :) Find more ideas on my Pinterest board too!


Truffela Tree Craft from See Vanessa Craft

 
 Lorax Puppet from Laly Mom


Handprint Fish from Vanessa Dewey

Cooking with Janie: My All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour Mix!

As you probably guessed by now, I am 100% gluten free. In fact, my house is a gluten free zone (none of our dishes have ever touched gluten, I don't own a toaster, I live off of Udi's, etc.) Hahaha. It's just a way of life around this House of Janie. But I don't have time to mess with these crazy GF recipes that float around Pinterest and Facebook. If I can't use a regular recipe and sub. my GF flour for wheat flour, or GF pasta for wheat pasta, I'm on to the next thing!

If you're GF too, you'll know that one of the hardest things to do when preparing a meal is substituting an ingredient in a recipe. Why? Most gluten free flours aren't "cup for cup"., That means you can't use one cup of GF flour when a recipe calls for one cup of wheat flour. Sounds crazy, but the reason is quite simple. Many GF flours are quite heavy. Since cooking and baking is essentially chemistry, not only does the portion need to be correct, but so does the weight. When this balance is off, GF recipes simply fail, are dry or extremely heavy.

But who has time to compare weight for weight on a food scale? And what about the portion?

Printables: Free Laundry Labels

I realized that I only made a half batch of my all natural laundry detergent back in December, so I was due for some quality sitcom time - just me, my soap grater, and Betty White, lol! To tell the truth, the more I sat there with my canister, the more frustrated I became. I am so happy that I found a solution for hypo-allergenic soap, but my canister didn't exactly match. It was blah and looked temporary. I love to recycle, but I also love it when my re-purposed item looks like it belongs.

I mean, this doesn't exactly scream clean clothes:

Anyone else feel this way? So I spent a bit of time playing with my graphics editor and I thought I'd share. These PDFs include directions and my laundry recipe plus a cute quote. I hope you like them and can use'em too!

Download JG Laundry Printable:
(works with a 34.5 oz Folger's canister)

Laundry Label in Blue

Laundry Label with Banner

Activity: More (Free) Chinese New Year Fun - Printables!

Happy Chinese New Year! It's the year of the Goat. Doesn't that sound like fun? :) I decided to do a round up of worksheets and coloring pages your little ones can do at home in addition to the 10 Chinese New Year Kid Crafts I posted earlier. These themed activities will keep your kiddos entertained and offer learning opportunities on this fun cultural holiday. Enjoy!

Chinese New Year Lantern Craft and Math Activities from Teachers Pay Teachers

Goat Chinese zodiac box from KutChuk

Chinese New Year Coloring Pages by Public Wallpapers

Year of the Goat poster from Teachers Pay Teachers

Chinese Zodiac Mask: Year of the Goat from Education.com

Activity: Fun Things to Do for Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is this Thursday, February 19th. If you have little ones at home, you know having themed activities for the kids is a great way to keep their attention and little hands occupied while encouraging them to learn about other cultures. I put together a list of ten fun DIY projects that you can do at home with your children. There's something for everyone, from simple crafts to coloring pages!

Hand Drum from Gift of Curiosity

Red Envelopes from Sun Scholar

Simple paper lantern from Planet Forward

Chinese New Year Snake craft from Craftiments

Year of the Goat Coloring Pages from Activity Village

Chinese Dragon Paper Plate Puppet from DLTK Holidays

Ming Vases by Arteascuola.com

Asian Fan Folding from First Palette

Chinese Coin Tree from First Palette

Easy Fortune Cookies from I Save A 2 Z

Tip: 5 Fun and Tasty Uses for Nesquik

Mmmm, Nesquik is one of those handy comfort foods to keep for a rainy day. Plus with the great deals we've been finding (especially the powder packs at the 99 Cent Only Stores), now is a great time to stock up! But did you know that you can do more with powdered Nesquik than adding it to milk? Here are some sweet treats that are easy and affordable to make on the fly.

Make a "Better Than Starbucks" Mocha at Home

• Coffee, brewed
• 3 Tbs. extra Coffee-mate extra sweet & creamy creamer
• 1 Tbs Nesquik chocolate powder

Brew coffee to taste. In the bottom of coffee cup, add Coffee-mate extra sweet & creamy creamer and Nesquik. Stir. Add coffee and stir again. Can be served with cool-whip topping!

Easy 2 Ingredient Chocolate "Mousse"

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 Tbs Nesquik chocolate powder

Carefully fold ingredients together until blended. Makes a sweet chocolate dessert. Serve cold.

Copycat Wendy's Frosty

• ⅓ cup Milk
• 2 tbs. Nesquik Powder
• 2 cups Vanilla Ice Cream

Let your ice cream soften a bit, or place in microwave for 10 seconds. Add Nesquik and milk and stir or mix in blender if the consistency is too thick.

DIY: Three Steps to the Perfect (At Home) Pedicure

I'll admit, pedicures aren't my thing. Even though they are considered a pampering session and adored by both women and men, it still feels like just a "necessity" for me. That being said, I like to hurry it up, get it done and move on to other things, like, well, blogging, lol!

Here are some boiled down, easy and sure fire ways to have a soft beautiful pedicure, without the visit to the spa.

Stay Healthy

Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day has several benefits, yada, yada. we've heard it all before. But your skin cannot look luscious and luxurious without the basic moisture it needs. If you want that natural glow, try increasing your fluid intake, use fruit infused water bottles or trade a soda for a flavor enhanced water. Just a little change can go a long way!

Vitamins: In our prepackaged, "everything is convenient" world, it's easy to find we aren't getting the nutrition we need. Vitamin deficiencies can cause a wide range of symptoms from poor skin and nails to paralysis and brain fog. No joke. If you don't take a multivitamin, start. (Hey, y'all. I'm not a doctor, but I'm speaking from my personal experience. Talk with your primary care physician before starting a new routine).

Get the Right Tools

Clippers: Have you ever noticed nail clippers come in two sizes? Many people assume these are sizes for men and women, but they're actually for your hands or feet. Make sure you grab toe clippers for your pedicure. You'll have an easier time grasping them and getting an even cut.

Nail Brush: I like to use a nail brush with an Epsom salt bath or while I exfoliate my tired feet. I use this for my whole foot, not just the nails. It does a great quick job of brushing away old skin and leaves my skin feeling smooth and refreshed.

Tips: How to Affordably Fill Your Kindle Book Library

My friend Elli just messaged me about this great service from Amazon called Kindle Unlimited. Have you heard of it? It's just $9.99 per month which can save you a bunch if you read on a regular basis! Check this out:

Kindle Unlimited is a new service that allows you to read as much as you want, choosing from over 700,000 titles and thousands of audiobooks. Freely explore new authors, books, and genres from mysteries and romance to sci-fi and more. You can read on any device. It's available for $9.99 a month and you can cancel anytime. You can even try it out FREE for 30 days!

There are even more ways to enjoy Kindle books and eBooks. If you have Prime AND own a Kindle, you are already set up with the Kindle Owners' Lending Library; a free service from Amazon that lets you borrow a few Kindle books every month. There are thousands to choose from. See a list of eligible books for borrowing, here.

The local library also has some great digital content online. As I mentioned earlier this week, you can borrow from the library itself, or it's content partners by simply entering your library card. These eBooks are free to borrow and expire when "due". So no more "mad-dash" to the return bin or late fees. Check out Hoopla Digital, Comics Plus​ or the Greater Phoenix Digital Library.

Want even more FREE resources? Justen English has put together an exhaustive list of free (and legal) sources to download literature. You can find plays, textbooks, classic novels and more; choose from more than 100 websites!

UPDATE: Fran just introduced me to BookBub, a free daily email that notifies you about deep discounts on acclaimed ebooks. You choose the genres you'd like to get notified about — with categories ranging from mysteries to cookbooks — and BookBub alerts you to limited-time offers matching your interests. It's more than a book club, it's BookBub!

(Thank you Elli and Fran!)

Do you have a Kindle, Nook or eReader? Where do you like to go for great reading material? 

 

Cooking with Janie: Make it at Home Chipotle Recipe

Chipotle is one of the cheapest places I have found that I can easily eat gluten free and fairly healthy on the go. Granted it's not certified GF, but it's better than a bun-less burger from McDonald's :) Even though my hubby and I can eat Chipotle for about $16, eating out adds up and really cuts into our monthly budget. If I think about it eating the chicken n' rice goodness twice a week can cost up to $200 a month! For a frugalista, that's 2 1/2 weeks of groceries... or more than my cell phone bill! Yikes!

So to cut back, I started cooking my own version of the chicken rice bowl that is mouth-watering-goodness on a plate, lol. It's surprisingly simple and completely customizable (just like Chipotle!).

First off, I make my shredded crock pot chicken. I have 2 versions I make on a regular basis - this is the spicy one I use in fajitas, tacos, chili, etc. This will make lots of extra chicken, but it freezes great and will give you at least 2-3 extra meals that you can thaw later in the week! If you want to cut this recipe down for just this meal, you really only need 1 lb of chicken. Adjust the rest accordingly :)

Here's what you'll need:

Shredded Chicken:

3 lbs chicken breast, boneless, skinless (this is a regular frozen bag from Fry's, WinCo, etc.)
1 Bell pepper - your choice of color
1 Tomato, roma or small
1 Can Chicken Broth
1 Pkg. Taco Seasoning (or half - depending on preference)
 

1. Place chicken in crock pot. Cover with seasoning and broth.
2. Dice bell pepper and tomato. Add to crock pot.
3. Cook on high for 3 - 5 hours or until chicken easily "flakes" apart with a fork.
4. Divide out. Set aside 1/3 or 1/4 for this Chipotle recipe.

As you can see, once the chicken is done, the broth fully absorbs and I'll say it really makes the flavor savory.

Making the Most: 5 Services You Don't Have to Pay For

Sometimes we don't have the resources we need to get things done - or we don't know they are already at our disposal. This is the main reason I started Janie Girl; to share resources, encourage and build each other up to Make the Most and live fully. I've posted services that were free in the past, but I wanted to share some others that are more basic and meaningful.

Have you ever needed a service and thought, "Ugh, I wish this was free"? Or did you have an outage and desperately needed an alternative? Here are five services you don't need to pay for... at least in a pinch!

Fax without the machine

FaxZero: Have you ever needed to fax a document from home? It's last minute and too late to mail. It's an urgent time-sensitive form and you need it there now? But who has a fax machine? Check out FaxZero. It's a free internet faxing service that lest you send faxes to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, up to three pages per fax and five faxes per day. The best part, you don't need a secondary phone line! Go to FaxZero.com

Text from your computer

Joopz: I know many of my readers don't text or don't have the option with their phone service. Offers come often that require texting, but that doesn't mean you can't participate! Check out Joopz, It's a free web-based text messaging service that enables two-way communications from the Web to any mobile phone in the U.S. and Canada.. and back! That means you can text with friends, family or even companies for coupons and offers - all for FREE without using your cell phone! All you need is an internet connection (desktop computer, laptop or tablet). Go to Joopz.com

Make a call from your email

Gmail: If you have a Gmail account, did you know you can make calls directly from an email that you send or receive. When you open an email with a phone number in the text, the number will be in blue. Click the phone number in the email. On the keypad that appears, click Call. Make sure you have speakers and a microphone installed prior to using this feature. If you want to have inbound calls, you can also sign up for Google voice. This requires a bit of registration, but offers several features and integrates your current phone. Go to Gmail.com

Use Your Smart Phone to Browse the Internet

Tethering: I'm not talking about using your smartphone to browse, I mean use your phone as a hot spot so you can see the internet on your home computer. It's called internet tethering - the method is different for each smartphone, but there are so many options, and most are FREE! This is a great option to have if your provider is known for going down from time to time. PC Advisor has some great tips on how to set this up for your devices.

Free Media Borrowing

Hoopla: We all love reading books on Kindle, which is cheaper than purchasing a hard copy. And getting DVDs from Redbox or even having a Netflix or Hulu subscription is a huge money saver over cable... but did you know there is a free service that lets you digitally access the resources from your local library online? For FREE?! Introducing Hoopla: instantly borrow digital movies, music and audiobooks by simply being a library cardholder. Titles stream instantly and are automatically returned at the end of the lending period. It's that simple! FYI: Your local public library must have an account set up with Hoopla Digital before you can use the Hoopla app. Check to see participating libraries. Go to HooplaDigital.com

Greater Phoenix Digital Library: And if you were looking for eBooks, the local Phoenix Public Library doesn't disappoint. Add in streaming video and audiobooks, here are thousands of titles to choose from without leaving the comfort of your home. PDL likely offers more than Hoopla, but is (unfortunately) regional. Check your library website, or ask your local librarian if your region offers digital borrowing. Go to The Greater Phoenix Digital Library.

And I want to throw an extra in. It's not really a service, but this is a awesome learning tool that I just had to share...

Tumble Books: While we're on the subject of reading, here's a great resource for your little ones! Check out Tumble Books: an online collection of animated, talking picture books that help children learn to read in a fun way. TumbleBookBiblioteca, a collection of Spanish books, is also available. Go to TumbleBooks.com

DIY: Eight Uniqe Valentine's Day Crafts

Valentine's day is fast approaching and I wanted to share some fun and simple craft ideas the whole family can enjoy. Here's a quick round-up of unique paper crafts you can do on a budget. Many just require household items you have on hand and can easily be paired with candy or a hand written note. It's something sweet that special someone will appreciate :)

Valentine's Day Kisses by Craftaholics Anonymous

Heart Bookmark by How About Orange

Collapsible Heart Card by Say Not Sweet Anne

Guest Post: Buying Produce on a Tight Grocery Budget

I am very honored to network with other bloggers! Today, we have a guest post by Nathana from The Engaged Home:

A couple years ago, my husband and I woke up to the realization that we were putting a lot of heavily-processed and sugary foods into our bodies. We noticed the effects most in our weight and energy levels. I had gained an extra 20 pounds and we felt frequently fatigued. Enough was enough. It was time to invest in healthier foods and more fresh produce. But could we afford to? After all, I loved using coupons, but fresh produce coupons are hard to find!

Since married in 2010, we’d kept our grocery budget between $100-120 a month. We wondered if people living on a modest income really could afford to eat healthy. There is a reason why so many low-income families struggle with obesity: unhealthy food is often cheaper (and addicting). But we knew for the physical well-being of our family, we needed make changes. Without much wiggle room to increase our budget, we became more resourceful in how we shopped for produce.

Guess what? It worked! We changed the way we shopped and discovered ways to both make our money stretch throughout the month and eat healthy. Our budget continues to work now that I am pregnant and eating more dairy and meat than before. The biggest change we made was that we replaced many of our sugary and salty snack foods and side dishes with fresh fruits and vegetables.

How did we afford to do it? Here are some shopping tips for finding deals on fresh produce:

1. Price Match: This is probably the most obvious. Walmart will price match on produce (as long as Walmart has the same produce to buy). Janie Girl does a great job keeping you updated on price-matching deals here in Phoenix. You can also use the Walmart Savings Catcher app or website. While Walmart is not my favorite store, price matching not only saves money, it saves time. Who can put a price tag on time?

Tip: Clean Kitchen Appliances with less Elbow Grease

I love cooking with my crock pot. It's a great option for a not-so-busy morning - There's something relaxing about "set it and forget it!" I thought I would share my recipe on Janie Girl today when I realized a common problem. I try to keep clean surfaces, but the grime that appears on my small appliances is a challenge. Tons of scrubbing and experimenting with different cleaners... Does anyone else have this issue? My crock pot never looks as clean as the day we brought it home. Yuck!

I put so much effort in scrubbing, but achieve so little. Then I realized one small detail: this baked on crud was cemented on by heat during the baking process. So what if I cleaned with heat instead of blood, sweat and tears?

Turn it on!

Either after serving dinner or before the next - while the crock pot is warm but not too hot - use basic dish soap and water to scrub your appliance surface. I like to use my padded cloth scrubby because the pot can get super hot if it's on high and scold. Be cautious! Only clean when the crock pot is first warming up or cooling down. 

That's it! Do you have cleaning tips for the kitchen?

Making the Most: Citrus Trees and Recipes

A few days ago I got a call from my mom; she asked if I wanted to go pick citrus with a friend. You see our dear (and sweet) Mrs. C has this beautiful mini orchard in her yard and she had an over abundance this year. It's a common site in Arizona. In fact, many charities will collect your extra citrus and donate it to the hungry if you have too much. Even the Boy Scouts of America will harvest your fruit for you as a service project. It helps them earn hours toward merit badges and reach goals. Citrus is a way of life here in Phoenix.

Isn't that stunning? The trees were just thriving and the aroma was absolutely amazing. It carried all the way to the street! I was more than happy to set a little time aside and "pluck" away. Fresh from the tree is nothing like purchasing from the store.