The offer works for a variety of products, but for this post I thought I’d hone in on hair conditioner.  In addition to being able to make your hair super-soft and smelling fantastic (if you haven’t ever smelled Pantene conditioner, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a sniff the next time you’re in the Health and Beauty Aids section), Pantene can also be used in a lot of extremely unhairy ways.  I dug around online to find some untraditional uses for this product that we always have on hand, just a shower away.

1.  Substitute for Shaving Cream.  This is the use we’ve probably all heard of, and I’ve actually tried myself with success.  As an added bonus it leaves your legs feeling extra-moisturized.

2.  Temporary Tattoo Removal.  If you have kids, then there is a good chance you are extremely familiar with the unfortunate appearance of a degrading temporary tattoo.  Before your kid’s tattoo takes on that “is that a giant scab?” look, rub some conditioner on it, let it sit for a minute, and then rinse/wipe it off.  Much easier than fierce scrubbing with a washcloth covered in baby oil.

3.  Pain-free Bandage Removal.  While we on kids, we can also talk band-aids.  For a super-sticky one that will undoubtedly yield tears, try rubbing some conditioner where the adhesive meets the skin, and then wait a few minutes before gently peeling it off, adding more conditioner if needed.

4.  Removing a Stuck Ring.  Warmer weather is coming, and with it swollen summertime fingers.  Try a glob of conditioner to get that too-tight ring off.

5.  Remove Make-up.  This one was news to me – instead of using expensive make-up removers, just put a bit of conditioner on a cotton ball to remove eye makeup.  A great tip for traveling, too.

6.  Use as Fabric Softener.  Apparently conditioner and fabric softener are close-related cousins.  One user says she just squirts some conditioner on a washcloth, rubs it together until it’s not gloppy, and tosses it in her dryer.  Each washcloth can be used for 3 or so dryer cycles before needing to be washed and “refilled.”

7.  Unshrink a Shrunken Sweater.  Put a tablespoon of conditioner in a sinkful of warm water and soak your too-small sweater for 30 minutes, then take it out and gently stretch it.  After it dries it should be back to its former size.

8.  Wash Delicates.  Instead of pricey special laundry detergent, you can use a small amount of hair conditioner in warm water to wash delicate fabrics, and then hang them to dry.  They’ll smell great too.

9.  Clean and Shine your Houseplants.  People do this?  Oh, the things you learn on the internet.  If your dull houseplant leaves are giving you anxiety, try putting a little conditioner on a dustrag and wiping them down.  The conditioner will add shine and provide a barrier from additional dust and grime accumulating.

10.  Condition Leather.  Use conditioner as a gentle conditioner (ha!) for leather products.  You can also put a thin coat on boots or shoes in the winter to keep them from getting that attractive white line from the combination of snow, salt, and slush.

11.  Ease the Slide of your Shower Curtain.  Rub a little conditioner on your shower rod to make your shower curtain rings slide along more easily.

12.  Moisturize Super-Dry Feet.  Instead of expensive creams, slather on some hair conditioner and put on a pair of white cotton socks before bed.  Your feet should feel nice and soft by morning.  (Note: no flower will grow between your toes, though.  Sorry.)

Ever tried one of these solutions yourself?  We’d love to hear the results in the comments!

Sources: DIY Life, The Soul Stepford, Thrifty Fun, Readers Digest, Talking Dollars and Sense, and FamilyZip.  Photo credits: runrunrun (bandage), vierdrie (sweater), netkarma (houseplant), bigevil600 (foot with flower).

Can’t go wrong with pizza, right?  The universal crowd pleaser.  But if you’re bored of plain cheese and pepperoni, here are some, shall we say, more daring pizza options… including a few that are definitely more sweet than savory.  Enjoy!

1.  Creamy Spinach Artichoke Pizza.  Take the inefficient chip-dipping step out of the equation and go handheld. (Original source: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2012/07/chicken-spinach-artichoke-and-asiago-pizza.html)

2.  BBQ Chicken Pizza.  A favorite of mine from college.  (Original source: http://www.food.com/recipe/california-bbq-chicken-pizza-131163)

3.  Breakfast Pizza.   Make it easy to serve a crowd, even on the go.  (Original source: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/03/breakfast-pizza/)

4.  Brownie and Banana Split Pizza.  Leave it to Paula Deen to make pizza that much more unhealthy.  (Original source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/banana-split-brownie-pizza-recipe/index.html)

5.   Sweet Potato Pecan Pizza.  Works in regular pies, so why not a pizza pie? (Original source: http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2011/03/silly-sweet-potato-pizza-kids-will-love.html)

6.  Cherry Cobbler Pie.  Another sweet take on pizza-as-dessert.  (Original source: http://www.you-made-that.com/cherry-cobbler-dessert-pizza/)

7.  Chili Pizza.  Two comfort foods combined into one masterpiece.  (Original source: http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Chili-Pizza-Food_com-181692?columns=4&position=1/36)

8.  Mac and Cheese Pizza.  Your kids may never ask for any other dinner again.  (Original source: http://www.food.com/recipe/nikkis-mac-n-cheese-pizza-391242)

9.  Peanut Butter and Jelly Pizza.  A classic combo in a new medium.  (Original source: http://www.heatovento350.com/2011/09/peanut-butter-and-jelly-pizza.html)

10.  Pizza Cake.  Looks can be deceiving – this one’s actually a cake!  (Original source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pizza-cake)

11.  Spaghetti Pizza Bake.   I’m a little confused too, but it does look surprisingly good, doesn’t it?  (Original source: http://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2012/03/pizza-spaghetti-bake-crazy-cooking.html)

12.  Spinach Salad Pizza.  A healthy pizza option to balance out Paula Deen’s creation from above.  (Original source: http://www.bakeyourday.net/spinach-salad-pizza/)

13.  Taco Pizza.  Winner winner taco dinner.  (Original source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/taco-pizza-2)

14.  Wonton Pizza Bites.  Homemade pizza rolls!  (Original source: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=609012)

15.  Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Pizza.  I’m not so sure about serving it with a side of pasta like the photo shows, but the pizza looks fabulous.  (Original source: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/caramelized-onion-goat-cheese-pizza-10000000226734/)

Get 43 awesome recipes for pizza on our Not-so-Ordinary Pizza Recipes board over on Pinterest.

I’m sure at least one of these has you hungry… which one is it?  Let us know in the Comments!

Ah, Spring Break is upon us.  If your family is not one of the thousands Orlando-bound over these next two weeks, then chances are you may be in need for some kid diversion techniques to help you and your children alike make it through spring break with minimal casualties.

Luckily, the internet abounds with tons of kid-friendly project and activity ideas, ranging from super-simple to may-require-a-trip-to-the-store.  Here are 11 that caught my eye.

1.  DIY Temporary Tattoos using a gel pen.  Nice and cheap and much more creative than just slapping on one from the dentist’s office. (Original source: http://www.wikihow.com/Create-Your-Own-Temporary-Tattoo)

2.  Color-by-Number printables for the older-kid crowd.  Or maybe their parents.  Coloring is incredibly relaxing.  (Original source: http://www.reading-with-kids.com/color-by-number-coloring-pages.html)

3.  “Paint” with crayons on hot rocks.  You have to be a bit careful with this one, but the final result is pretty cool.  (Original source: http://naturalmommie.com/2012/09/how-to-paint-with-crayons/)

4.  Lego Maze.  Much, much better to have the legos on a board in maze form than on the floor waiting for you to step on them barefoot. (Original source: http://de-tout-et-de-rien-caroline.blogspot.com/2013/02/creer-un-jeu-bagatelle-pinball-et-un.html)

5.  Nature Scavenger Hunt in the backyard or at a park.  For bonus points, use the found objects for a follow-up collage or art project. (Original source: http://www.thetaylor-house.com/2012/03/30/nature-scavenger-hunt-for-kids.html)

6.  Trampoline Man Hand.  Could it get any simpler? (Original source: http://fairieslove.tumblr.com/post/30499192391)

7.  Jellyfish in a Bottle.  Also a nice “soothing” tool to hand to a kid who was put in time-out. (Original source: http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2011/09/jellyfish-in-a-bottle.html)

8.  Gel Glue Batik.  Admittedly the most involved of the bunch, but look at the end result!  (Original source: http://ourcreativeday.blogspot.com/2011/08/rainbow-batik.html)

9.  Tension Rod Hallway Tent.  I’d cut some corners and just throw an old sheet over the rods, sans extra decorations, and call it a more rustic “fort,” but hey.  (Original source: http://www.ikatbag.com/2012/03/house-in-hallway.html)

10.  Small-scale Catapult made with items from around the house. Set up some targets and hand over some pom-poms or mini-marshmallows.

11.  Miniature 8-page book from a single sheet of paper.  Once you’ve mastered this, stock your purse with a stack for restaurants, too.  (Original source: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=single+paper#/art/Single-Paper-Book-296608805?_sid=6e014930)

Happy Spring Break!  Now go draw that Trampoline Man on your hand… you know you want to. (To see and easily repin these ideas all in one place, head over to our Kids’ Activities board on Pinterest.)

You may be less familiar with some of the great ways you can use frozen fruit, so we’ve gathered 10 of our favorite recipes for you.

Quinoa Salad With Mango Chunks

Blueberry Smoothie

Angel Food Cake With Strawberry Glaze

Banana Raspberry Smoothie

Mango Chocolate Shortcake

Strawberry Lemonade

Banana Blueberry Coffee Ring

Fruity Smoothie

Peach and Blueberry Parfait

Island Shake

Grab all 10 of these recipes along with 12 more including Mango Maple Ginger Daiquiri and Blueberry Cinnamon Muffins on our Pinterest page for DOLE frozen fruit recipes. Which one will you be making?

While the quest for an immaculate, organized kitchen may never be achieved in my house, I am still just delusional enough to continue searching for ways to try to get there.  I’m guessing I’m not the only one.  And so, I hereby offer to you some relatively simple, small steps that I’ve gathered up to start a journey toward Kitchen Utopia.  (You can also see and easily repin all of these by hopping over to this board on Pinterest: Handy Kitchen Tips & Tricks.  Or just click on each image to be taken directly to that pin.)

1.  Tension rod under the sink = easy place to hook all those spray bottles and free up the bottom of the cabinet.  (Original Source: http://www.littlebitfunky.com/2012/07/feeling-smart.html)

2.  Control your spices by putting them in magnetic tins and using the inside of a cabinet door.  (Original source: http://practicallyfunctional.net/2012/08/organize-your-spices-with-a-magnetic-spice-rack/)

3.  Or, if you want to avoid the hassle of transferring into the tins, just buy a few broom racks and you can still save space while keeping the spices in their original containers.  (Original source: http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/wordpress/everyday-items-everyday-organizing)

4.  Chances are you’ve dedicated an entire drawer to plastic wrap, tin foil, zipper bags and the like.  By adding this clever underhanging shelf to an upper cabinet, you can free that drawer up… (Original source: http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B000KKMNGY/?index=1&ie=UTF8&ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_1)

5.  … and perhaps use it to better organize your awkwardly large kitchen utensils, diagonal-style.  This is a custom drawer insert shown here, but you could do it yourself with some cardboard, tape, and a few minutes of your time.  (Original source: http://www.thekitchn.com/make-the-most-of-your-drawers-by-organizing-diagonally-165563)

6.  Another way to deal with wooden spoons and spatulas is to keep them out and visible – we’ve all seen the good old “pitcher on counter” approach to this.  Take it a step further and hang a mason jar on the wall, and you can not only have your wooden spoons easily available, but also keep the countertop clear.  (Make sure you hit a stud when you attach the bracket.)  You could also skip the spoons and put fresh flowers in this to brighten up your kitchen.  (Original source: http://thecreatedhome.blogspot.com/2011/08/homeschool-classroom-makeover.html)

7.  Moving on to the fridge… it’s amazing how quickly things like yogurts, string cheese, and other grab-and-go snacks can manage to separate themselves from their original packaging and take up camp at the very back of the shelf, cleverly hiding until they are discovered later, weeks after their expiration.  Fridge bins help keep like things together, easy to see, and easy to grab.  (Original source: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/fridge-bins-and-organizer-and-tray/f44087)

8.  And while we’re in the fridge, let’s talk condiments.  Inside-the-fridge-door storage never seems to be enough.  Corral the overflow jars with a snazzy lazy susan, so you can always find the sauce you’re looking for. (Original source: http://fridgebutler.com/)

9.  Who doesn’t love chalkboard paint?  I bet your dry goods would appreciate a little chalkboard paint love.  After you wall-mount your mason jar spoon holder, take a few more jars and paint their lids with chalkboard paint, and use a deep drawer to organize your sugar, oatmeal, chocolate chips, and other baking stuff.  The sealed jars with keep everything fresh, and the clear containers mean you can see exactly how much is left. (Original source: http://indulgy.com/post/2WuHgSfxG1/take-a-mason-jar-and-spray-the-lid-wit)

10.  And finally, if you are lucky enough to have a pantry with a full-size door, you can use an inexpensive plastic shoe rack (hooray, dollar store) to reign in all those small, annoying things that are hard to keep on shelves.  Clear pockets make everything easy to see.  (Original source: http://www.moneysavingqueen.com/January-2011/Couponing-101-Quick-Tip-for-Pantry-Organization/)

These little tricks may not turn your kitchen into June Cleaver’s, but maybe next time you find yourself stepping over one child coloring on the floor to put away the box of cereal that another child left on the counter, while responding to repeated how-do-you-spell-X? requests as Justin Bieber plays in the background, you can open the cabinet door and say to yourself, “Damn, my spices look good.”

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1. Shoebox dioramas: Everyone always makes shoebox dioramas for school projects, but what about just for fun? Whether you help your kid make a beachy paradise for Barbie and Ken to go on vacation, or a deep-space odyssey for the Transformers to travel back to, a diorama is a great way to get your child’s imagination roaring. It’s like a mini-vacation without going anywhere (a la “Total Recall”)!

2. Doll clothes: When I got my first American Girl doll as a child, I was so excited. Her name was Samantha, just like mine, and I got her as a holiday gift from my grandmother (my cousin got Molly the same day). Unfortunately, the clothes and accessories are outrageously expensive, and were even back then. One day I was playing at a friend’s house, and we spent the day using her mother’s sewing machine to create great new clothes for our dolls. It was so cool to get to pick the colors and designs! Now there are tons of sewing patterns online, so take your child to a fabric store to get started!

3. Colored flowers: I always wondered how some florists had bright blue roses or other colors that I knew weren’t made in nature. It’s actually pretty simple! You just put some food coloring in the water, and dip the stems in. The more food coloring, the darker the color! Even cooler? Using white roses and making the petals all different colors!

4. Your own story: What could be more creative then writing your own story? Using either paper that you will later bind, or a blank scrapbook, help your child create his or her own bedtime story. It can be fantasy, a memoir, or instructional! Anything from the history of dinosaurs to the tale of your last adventure will be interesting, just make sure to include lots of photos and colors. Or try doing a simple rhyme!

5. Throw Rug: I used to love doing hook rugs when I was a kid, especially on cold, snowy days. While looking for some cool examples online, I came across this fantastic and original idea to use strips of fabric to make a throw rug.

6. Raising butterflies: This isn’t exactly arts-and-crafts, but one of my favorite memories from my childhood was when my brother and I raised butterflies. There are many kits out there, but we got a kit with live larvae, and watched them go through metamorphosis into fully grown butterflies before freeing them outside. It takes about three weeks, and is best done in the spring before it’s too hot out.

7. Rainbow fish: Sometimes getting kids to read can be difficult, especially with so many other things to do in today’s world. Well, try reading “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister to your child — it’s a fantastic book with wonderful colors — and help them create their own rainbow fish with colored construction paper, glitter glue, and pom poms!

8. Glow jars: Are your children afraid of the dark? Instead of buying a nightlight, check out these awesome glow jars I found through Pinterest; they’re beautiful and easy to do, and look like firefly jars! It may be winter, but that’s not a reason to miss fireflies! (According to a comment from the blogger, charging them for two to three hours leads to six to nine hours of glowing. Also check the comments for places to buy the paint. For a simpler method that doesn’t glow as long, try using glow sticks, but keep in mind you’re using chemicals in this case, so the kids may have to just watch.

9. Custom bubble bath:  I know how hard it can be to get a kid to wash their hands, let alone shower or bathe, so why not help them make their own bubble bath to make the experience more fun? You can pick any smell your kid likes — let him or her pick the scent/essential oil — and help with the fun craft before the bath. You can also make home made bath salts and mix with a scent-free bubble bath.

10. Snack time: Use that Easy Bake Oven! When I was young this was one of my favorite toys, and I still love to cook today. It’s great to follow the recipes that you can buy for the oven, but my friends and I would concoct our own meals with whatever we could find in the kitchen, and instead of a lemonade stand we’d sell our snacks on the corner. I loved coming up with new, yummy things, and it was definitely a good use of creativity. Make sure your boys know this is not just a girly activity!

Which one of these do you think you’ll try?

1. Winkflash, Snapfish, etc.: Before I give you some ideas for making your own photo collection, make sure to check out the many sites that create albums for you. The nice thing about this, especially for a gift, is that instead of using an album with plastic photo covers, the photos are turned into pages of a bound book. It comes out really nice. (Original source: winkflash.com)

2. Instagram: Spice up the pictures in your album with Instagram! The many filters provide another layer to your memories to emphasize your favorite parts of the photo—whether it’s the sunny day, the bright neon lights, or the old-timey classic-ness—before you print it out. (Original source: instagram.com)

3. Stickers: The benefit of doing a scrapbook instead of a photo album is that you’re not limited to remembering an event from photos. Whether you want to add stickers related to where you were and what you were doing, or want to use markers to draw your own decorations, include some spice in your book. (Original source: michaels.com)

4. Glue, Glitter Glue, and Sparkles: Looking at thirty horizontal photos can get pretty tedious, so instead glue the photos on the pages at different angles. Some pages can have multiple pictures chopped up, others can be a collage of photos and other moments, and others can be a simple photo in the center, but always add some excitement. Other ideas are glitter glue borders or swirls of sparkles. (Original source: memorymixer.com)

5. Ticket stubs, Maps, Receipts: It’s hard to get a picture of every moment, or for a photo to always explain the location your remembering. So make sure to save your tickets for the plane or train, for museums and shows, and the maps you used to get yourself un-lost and include these in your scrapbook. (Original source: http://forum.wakarusa.com/showthread.php?12115-Ticket-Stubs-What-do-YOU-do-with-them)

6. Scenery: Sometimes a simple landscape picture can be inspiring. Include these pictures as is, or cut them up to include on pages with photos of you and your co-travelers for context. (Original source: http://sharescenery.blogspot.com/2012/11/mountain-scenery-background.html)

7. Flowers, Shells, and Nature: Whether your significant other picked a flower off of someone’s lawn for you, or you walked along the shore and saw a magnificent shell, sometimes the smells and colors of the nature around you are as unforgettable as the event. Try to include these natural elements in your scrapbook. For flowers, dry them in a book for a few days before including them. (Original source: http://pearlmaple.blogspot.com/2010/09/pasted-violets.html)

8. Postcards: Let’s face it—most of us aren’t professional photographers. And that’s okay! But sometimes it’s nice to get one official, stunning shot of a monument, city, or other point of interest. So make sure to pick up some cheap postcards at the local visitor’s center or convenience store to show people the spectacular places you visited. (Original source: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/nycdreamin/5032339531/) 

9. Notes, Articles, Entries, Cards: Did something groundbreaking happen wherever you were while you were there? Do you have a memory that was impossible to commemorate on camera? Don’t forget to remember these things! Try clipping out articles from the local newspaper, or writing your own travel journal entries on some of the pages. If you’re remembering a year or special event, include some greeting cards you received, a recipe you cooked, or a receipt from a great restaurant you celebrated at. (Original source: http://blog.journalcraft.co.uk/index.php/workshops/travel-journal-workshop-slides/) 

10. Long Road/Train Trips: If you’re reliving a vacation on which you traveled to many places, try making the cover or first page a zoomed out map of the region, and then pin-point all the places you went. Sort of like a graphic table-of-contents. (Original source: http://quefabulosa.blogspot.com) 

11. Other Items: Were there items from your experience that can’t be glued on a page? Try gluing an envelope instead, and putting the items inside for safekeeping. It’s like a little memory pocket! (Original source: http://www.chicaandjo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/pocket_baby_shower_pink.JPG) 

Do you have any other scrapbooking tips?

1. Origami: When I was at the Museum of Natural History in New York City a few weeks ago, they had a beautiful Christmas tree decorated with amazing origami shapes. There were dinosaurs, people, and animals that looked like the real deal! This is a great project to entertain your kid on a cold vacation day, and will be a cool, original gift for one of their friends. Check out the video at this site for instructions: (Original source: http://www-v1.amnh.org/calendar/event/Origami-Holiday-Tree/)

2. Homemade Jewelry: Having a plastic box with dozens of spools of brightly colored string was a requirement when I was in elementary school. My friends and I would constantly make string bracelets, or “friendship bracelets.” From “candy stripe” to “Chinese staircase,” there are tons of designs to individualize each bracelet, and add some beads for variety! For a younger kid, a bead bracelet is a great, simple idea. (Original source: http://webzio.net/en/how-make-friendship-bracelets-different-designs.html)

3. DIY Memory Game: I was recently babysitting, and rediscovered the crazy fun memory game, where you have tons of cards flipped over and have to find the most pairs. Help your kid create their own, self-produced game with some index cards and crayons. Cut the index cards in half, and help them draw a dozen pairs on one side, and they can play the game with their friend after giving the gift! (Original source: http://mariasupermom.blogspot.com/2012/06/free-summer-memory-game.html)

4. Tree Ornaments: Ornaments should always be personal and have a story to them. There are tons of ways to make your own ornaments, but a fun idea is to go for a walk with your child and find pinecones. Take them home, and decorate them by gluing pom-poms/cotton balls, glitter, and other crafts. Also try decorating an old clothespin—you can make them look like angels or fairies with a little twine and markers. (Original source: http://www.parenting.com/gallery/diy-crafts?pnid=447735)

5. Snowman Pillow: It’s hard trying to stay up waiting for Santa, so help your child make a pillow for their friend to be comfortable while they wait! Take a white pillowcase and stuff it with cotton stuffing (available at craft stores) and then tie a festive ribbon a quarter way from the top. Add more stuffing on the top before sewing the top of the pillow. This can also be done with a white pillow for easiness. Glue some felt eyes, nose, and mouth on the smaller top part. Add a Santa hat to top it off! (Original source: http://pinterest.com/pin/263531015666990089/)

6. Custom Blocks: Sometimes wooden blocks can get pretty boring—they’re not awfully attractive. Make a set of blocks for your child’s friend! Start with either wooden blocks or make your own cardboard blocks. Then check out Ollibird.bigcartel.com. They have sets of downloadable PDFs for blocks, which you print and paste on. Voila! (Original source: http://ollibird.bigcartel.com/product/olliblocks-animals-pdf)

7. Snow Globes: These turn out really beautiful. Start with a glass mason jar, and remove the lid. Paint the outside of the lid with a pretty silver, and let dry before flipping over and super-gluing miniature Christmas trees and snowmen to the bottom. You can find these at a crafts store, or use a cotton ball to make snowmen. Fill the jar with fake snow and glitter, and twist the cap back on. (Original source: http://tidymom.net/2011/waterless-snow-globes-tutorial/)

8. Personal Puzzles: Puzzles are tons of fun on a cold, snowy day. There are two ways to approach this. Take a large piece of white construction paper, and have your child paint a picture, before cutting the paper into different shape pieces. Another approach is to make a collage of photographs of your child and the friend they’re giving the gift to, glue them to a large piece of construction paper, and cut up. (Original source: http://www.athomewithali.net/2012/02/making-picture-puzzle-as-gift.html)

9. Natural Lip Balm: This project will take a bit more help from mom and dad, but it’s also pretty special. Mix 1 ounce of apricot kernel oil or almond oil with 1 ounce of coconut oil and ¼ ounce of beeswax in a double boiler over medium heat. When the beeswax is melted, remove from the stove and add 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix with an electric hand-mixer until creamy, add a few drops of vanilla flavoring oil, stir, and pour into small containers with screw tops. Let cool. (Recipe courtesy of Care2.com; Original source: http://ilovebeautyandmakeup.blogspot.com/2012/10/are-you-using-right-lip-balm.html)

10. Bookmarks: Whether or not your child’s friend enjoys reading, they certainly have to for school. Make colorful bookmarks to make the reading experience more fun! Buy large, colorful paper clips and fun-patterned ribbon, and tie a long swath to the top of the paper clip. Quick, easy, beautiful! (Original source: http://pinterest.com/pin/274930752221691223/)

11. Toy Soap: Washing hands may be pretty boring, so spice it up with fun soap! Help your child pick a small plastic figurine to use. Wrap the toy in saran wrap. Buy glycerin at your local craft store, and follow the directions to melt some in the microwave. Add your kid’s favorite color food coloring to the mix and stir, then pour 1/3 of the liquid into a mold (any reusable plastic container will work). After 5-10 minutes of cooling add the toy upside down before pouring the rest of the liquid. Let sit for an hour until it’s ready. (Original source: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/treat-soap/)

Secret Sandy: Whether or not you live in the Northeast, you heard about the hurricane that hit the area Halloween weekend. Two women launched a charity service that allows you to give gifts to children whose families were affected by the storm. The affected children write to Secret Sandy, and you can register and receive those wishlists to make a donation. You can also donate unwanted wrapping supplies, toys, and gifts – so why not have your child pick a new toy he or she thinks someone else will enjoy more? (Gift exchange ends December 15, but the foundation will continue to accept money donations)

Broadway Cares: Do you and your kids enjoy going to musicals, or singing along to showtunes? Give your child a Show Logos Snow Globe to watch the snowfall over a pseudo-Times Square! A portion of the proceeds goes to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Also check out the ornaments for shows like The Lion King, Mary Poppins, and Wicked!

She’s the First: One of my favorite charities, She’s the First is an organization that fundraises to sponsor and send girls in developing countries to school, which can change their lives forever. This year buy your little girl a pack of three lip glosses from jane. cosmetics- 100% of the proceeds will go to She’s the First! There are also bracelets, t-shirts, and gift cards for dorm room décor that donate part of the proceeds to the organization.

Footwear for a Cause: Sometimes the best gifts are practical ones, something your child needs anyway. I always asked for clothes for the holidays, and I’m sure I’m not the only one! There are multiple organizations that donate one-for-one shoes, so buy a pair for your kid! ROOZT Roma Boots are durable rain boots that “Buy One, Give One” to a child living in poverty. And they come in kids’ sizes! Another, better known brand is Toms, which makes canvas shoes that have become a huge trend. Toms also donates a pair of shoes for every pair bought.Make a Wish: A great foundation to introduce to your child is the Make a Wish Foundation, which bucket-list grants wishes to terminally ill children. I remember first learning about the foundation in a Brownies meeting in first grade. A designer named Gorjana has created a leather bracelet with a gold star in honor of the foundation, and will donate 50 percent of the proceeds to Make a Wish.

Plant a Tree: We all appreciate the gift of clean air to breathe, so help plant more trees for a better future. At American Forests, every $1 donated plants another tree. Since 1990 American Forests have planted more than 40 million trees! (In fact, you can donate your SavingStar savings directly to American Forests when you request a payout from your account).

Serve Food: There are many ways to introduce your child to neighborhoods that are less fortunate than your own, and one of the best ways is through visiting a soup kitchen. Take your child to your local soup kitchen to help serve food this cold, holiday season to those who may not have a warm meal to eat. Even celebrities have jumped in to help: last year Bon Jovi opened his Soul Kitchen, a restaurant with no prices that asks customers to either donate to pay for their meal or volunteer work in the kitchen, in New Jersey.

Pledge Your Holiday: One of the biggest epidemics worldwide is a lack of clean drinking water to over 800 million people. Charity: water, is one of the leading organizations that works to provide water to as many people as possible through gifts, direct donations, and its “pledge your birthday” campaign. Although meant to donate for one’s birthday, why not introduce this to your child and see if they want to receive pledges instead of presents this holiday? If not, check out the organization’s store, where there are some great gifts like water bottles and decks of playing cards.Give the Gift of Reading: Literacy is the only way to make a better life for one’s self, and I’m sure your kids have been taught the value of reading. However, we all outgrow some books, so why not go through your home library with your child and choose some books to donate to kids worldwide to improve literacy through Better World Books – they’ll even pay for you to ship the books to them! You can also replace the books with new books for your kid, and Better World Books will donate a book for each one you buy.

Dental Care For A Cause: I’ve babysat many families over the years, but all the kids have had one thing in common: they hate brushing their teeth! Make bedtime fun by preordering this sleek toothbrush for your child. Made from bamboo, it is 100% biodegradable, and for each one sold another one will be given to one of the 80 million people in America who does not get proper dental care.

Do you have any suggestions for gifts that give?

1. Mix CDs: two-year-olds and fifty-year-olds alike share a love for great tunes, so why not help your child come up with a list of 10 of his or her favorite songs and compile them to give to the kids. You can even play a sample as background music at the party!
   

   http://www.cameradave.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/mix-cd.jpg

2. Original T-shirts: I always had themed birthday parties as a young child, so in the weeks leading up to my special day my mom and I would spend weekends using fabric paint to create t-shirts with the theme painted on! She would outline Minnie Mouse, Barney, or whoever my favorite character was that year on a white shirt, and I would help her color them in.
   

   Samantha Schoenfeld

3. Snapshot Cookies: I came across this fabulous company recently that takes any photo and imprints it on a batch of square cookies. They encourage Instagram-ing and adding filters for fun, so take a picture of your kid’s face! They also sell cookies in various shapes, which can be perfect to match the party’s theme.
   

   http://bakingforgood.com/system/item_images/files/8841/normal/snapshot_cookies_2.jpg?1342394466

4. DIY Favors: Throwing a low-key party at home for your kid can be stressful. Make it a little easier by coming up with activities that leave the party-goers with something to take home! Some fun ideas can include spin-art, sand art castles, or tie-dye shirts! 
5. Hot Wheels, Headbands, Lip Smackers: Buy an assortment of all different colors of one of your kid’s favorite tchotchkes so that each kid has a unique gift to leave with that reminds them of your child.
   

   http://www.doobybrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/hot-wheels-crystal.jpg

6. Candy Bags: If you must resort to candy, have a table with cute plastic bags and different colored ribbons from a crafts store and a bunch of bowls with different candies for the kids to choose from! A make-your-own candy bag is way more fun than a pre-made one.
   

   http://www.chickabug.com/blog/2012/06/superhero-party-favor-bags.html

Doing a special type of party this year? Incorporate the party into the favors!

1. Pool party: Such a fun theme, and so many favor options! From sand castles and shovels to visors the kids can design with fabric paint after swimming, there are great options available! You can also go with something the kids can use at the party, like towels silk-screened with your kid’s name or another cool design or beach balls.
   

   http://www.sears.com/toy-connections-beach-pails-shovels-9-inch-assorted-colors-6-pkg/p-SPM214212385P

2. Cooking party: This was always my favorite kind of party to go to; my best friend had one when we were in first grade, and I had one for my 16^thbirthday. And party favors can be so original! You can stick with the obvious and have kids make cupcakes and design the tops with frosting and candy, or you can think outside the box and give away cookie cutters that fit the time of year or birthday child’s favorite things!
   

   http://funkidivagirl.zippykidcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/cookieprincesscutters.jpg

3. Sports party: Giving away sports balls can be fun and easy, but why not try something totally different? Make jerseys for each kid with their name on the back! It can be as simple as white Hanes t-shirts and fabric paint, or something as elaborate as silkscreened shirts in the color of your child’s favorite sports team.
   

   http://shopping.yahoo.com/861242168-personalized-sports-jersey-and-romper/

4. Princess party: I’m sure your little princess is shaking with anticipation for her party, so make it fun by designing princess hats and/or tiaras and wands for each of the little girls, and prince hats/crowns for the little boys. Now every kid can feel like royalty!

Have you seen any other great party favors? Let us know in the comments!

Check out more great party favor ideas on our Pinterest board!

About SavingStar:

SavingStar helps you save money on your groceries with no hassle eCoupons. There’s nothing to clip or print and we feature new deals each week from your favorite brands. Don’t leave money on the table. Join over 2 million SavingStar members today for free!

So where do you start? You begin by choosing the right
chocolate for your crafts and melting it.

As you will primarily use it for coating, make sure you get chocolate that melts easily. True chocolate might taste better, but it can be difficult to melt, so you might want to buy
coatings that contain vegetable fats and are fairly easy to melt as well as harden up after you have finished creating.

If you choose to buy proper chocolate, however, the taste will be thicker and certainly better. Chop your bars into pieces and melt them either in the microwave or in a small pot which you will have placed above boiling water. Remember to never add water, as this spoils the taste and thickness of the chocolate, making it practically unusable. Stir regularly while it’s melting and only stop when you have gotten an even, smooth, creamy
mixture.

Now you’re ready to do millions of things — you decide the shape and form that your chocolate treats will take! You can even make your own chocolate room to live in.

If you’re not that ambitious, here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Make chocolate-dipped pretzels. Prepare a baking sheet with
tin foil and start dipping your little pretzels into the melted chocolate. You
can either dip them in entirely and use a fork to take them out of the blend,
or just dip half in and use your hands to hold onto them.

Always work on one pretzel at a time and ensure that you
shake it a few times after dipping it, so that any excess chocolate is removed
and just the right amount is left on. You can also drizzle sprinkles onto the
chocolate for a more decorative look. Place all the pretzels carefully onto the
tray and put them in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set.

Make chocolate cake pops in no time! Kids are going to love
these. Get any chocolate cake mix from the stores and follow the instructions
to create a thick texture which you can later turn into small cake balls that
will stick together, without crumbling. Shape your mixture into balls, making
sure that are firm enough to dip into your chocolate cream without falling
apart.

Dip a stick into the chocolate and then press it into the
center of each cake ball. Wait a few minutes for the chocolate to harden and
then take each cake pop and dip it into the chocolate cream. Sprinkle anything,
from coconut to candy, on top of your pops and wait for them to set.

Melted chocolate on top of marshmallows works well too!

Get your kids to eat fruit by dipping it into the chocolate cream!

Place an entire banana or even whole strawberries and berries on sticks
and then dip them into the melted chocolate. Freeze for 30 minutes and get the
kids to eat more fruit than ever before — without chasing or begging them!

 Tell me these chocolate fruit on a stick don’t look amazing!

Want to mix things up quickly? Get a collection of crazy chocolate molds for simple chocolate pieces like these musical instruments or snowflakes.

How about some unusual ideas? First up, make your own Pucko!

What is Pucko? It’s a popular Swedish drink made from milk, sugar and chocolate – basically cold hot chocolate. Here are directions for how to make your own with Oreo’s and chocolate/vanilla ice cream!

Speaking of hot chocolate, have you tried a frozen hot chocolate yet? Here’s how to make it!

How about making chocolate bowls using balloons! We know this sounds weird, but anything with balloons is going to be fun for kids!

Here’s step-by-step instructions for how to create pictures that can look as good as the one below using chocolate!

Here’s a recipe for Hershey’s Kisses Chocolate Chip Cookies that everyone is sure to love!

Of course, when you need a quick fix for your warm chocolate chip cookie craving, nothing beats popping some Pillsbury Cookie Dough cookies into the oven. 10-15 minutes and you’re done. And you can even save $1 with our Pillsbury eCoupon this month!

Get the family together this weekend and spend a few hours at home, melting chocolate and having fun! Which of these ideas do you think you’ll try?

Repin all of the ideas and more on our Fun With Chocolate Pinterest board!

About SavingStar:

SavingStar helps you save money on your groceries with no hassle eCoupons. There’s nothing to clip or print and we feature new deals each week from your favorite brands. Don’t leave money on the table. Join over 2 million SavingStar members today for free!

Just in time for the Holidays, SavingStar and Yipit have teamed up to give away an iPad Mini, A Kindle Fire, and an iPod Touch!

About Yipit:

Yipit gathers the best local, travel and e-commerce deals from across the web and filters them based on your preferences. Just tell them what you like (and what you don’t) and Yipit will select only the most relevant offers for you from Groupon, LivingSocial, Fab, Gilt, Jetsetter and hundreds more. Every deal in one place! You can join Yipit by clicking here!

About SavingStar:

SavingStar helps you save money on groceries with no hassle eCoupons. Nothing to clip. Nothing to print. Save right now on Cheerios, International Delight, Lean Cuisine, Wisk, Pillsbury Cookie Dough, and much more. New deals each week. Don’t leave money on the table. Join over 2 million SavingStar members today for free!

How to Enter:

Login to the Rafflecopter widget below using your email or Facebook account. You’ll be prompted to enter your email again so we can contact you if you win. Follow the steps to give yourself optional extra entries! 3 winners selected December 1 to win 1 prize each.

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In the comments, tell us what your favorite gift was as a kid!

Join SavingStar and Yipit for free and start saving money!

(iPad Mini and iPod Touch are trademarks of Apple, Inc, and Kindle Fire is a trademark of Amazon, Inc. Neither Apple nor Amazon are official sponsors of this sweepstakes).

1. Animal Leaf Art

Take a walk outside with the kiddos to gather leaves – lots and lots of leaves. The more variety of leaves, the better. (Original source: http://charlottesfancy.com/2011/10/03/when-is-a-leaf-not-a-leaf/)

2. Acorn Frame

A fall craft you’ll treasure for years to come, the acorn frame is super-easy to assemble and would look great on the mantle holding a fall-themed family picture. All you need is acorns, a photo frame, and some glue. (Original source: http://crafts.slides.kaboose.com/310-quick-and-easy-fall-crafts/2)

3. Owl Pine Cone

Making this owl is a hoot! Dress your owl up or keep him (or her) casual depending on the eyelash trim you choose.  Once finished, use it to decorate the mantle, or place outside on your porch. (Original source: http://www.freekidscrafts.com/wise_guy_owl_pine_cone_craft-e46.html)

4. Pine Cone Bird Seed Holder

Chances are that you made this craft when you were a child. Share the fun with your kids. The easy craft will have birds flying into your yard before you know it. (Original source: http://therapyfunzone.com/blog/2011/09/pine-cone-bird-feeder-and-spreading-with-a-knife/)

5. Corn Cob Glow Lantern

Don’t you wish you had come up with this “bright idea”? Recycle plastic bottles to make an a-maize-ing craft that’ll keep you bathed in light for hours. (Original source: http://familyfun.go.com/magazine/familyfun-magazine-archive/familyfun-november-2010/a-maize-ing-lanterns-940451/)

6. Chalkboard Pumpkins

There’s no need to limit this craft to Halloween. Keep the pumpkin on your porch throughout fall and change its message from “Happy Halloween” to “Happy Thanksgiving,” or even something fun like “Autumn’s Here!” (Original source: http://ashbyfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/csb-update-pumpkin-craft.html#axzz1ZkdDUyay)

7. Pom Pom Trees

Grab a stick from outside, and then just start gluing colorful pom poms onto a Styrofoam ball. I dare you to find an easier kid-friendly craft. With a large enough family (or by letting kids make two or three trees each), you can quickly have your own miniature forest in your living room. (Original source: http://www.oneartsymama.com/2011/09/trees-pom-poms-and-playdohoh-my.html)

8. Leaf Wind Catcher

If you love to see leaves blowing in the wind, keep the sensation going long after the leaves have left the trees with this easy craft that uses fabric leaves instead. (Original source: http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2009/09/whimsical-autumn-leaves-windcatcher/)

Grab all 8 of these easy crafts along with a couple others on our Fall Crafts Pinterest Board!

So, with my heart set on taking a step back into the world of the sane, I decided that our morning routine needed a new twist.  The chore chart idea is one that I’ve executed before, with varying degrees of success, and I knew it was the approach I wanted to take – but this time I had some past lessons to consider…

When my older two were younger, I got these magnetic responsibility charts made by Melissa and Doug.  I loved how clear they were, and that they could last a whole week.  I hung them up low on a wall where my girls could reach them.  All went well for a week or two, and then I started to realize the folly in using magnets, at least in our family… they’re moveable.  Very quickly it became clear that the girls were moving magnets around on their own and their sister’s board, and sometimes removing them completely, as I’d discover them in random places around the house… like in the bottom of the washing machine after they had found their way into somebody’s pockets.  Awesome.  So, my first lesson learned: no removable pieces.

Last year I made a morning routine chart using a dry erase board – I wrote a list of morning steps and made a column for each daughter using a permanent marker.  Then, each day, they could check off what they did with a dry erase marker as we made our way out the door.   At the end of the day, wipe off the checks and you’re ready for tomorrow.  (I’ve since seen an even easier way to do this, if you have a laminator – just make a chart on a regular piece of paper, then laminate it – it will work just like a dry erase board… see the picture at left.)  But this year I have my youngest daughter to figure into the mix, and I know that 3 kids fighting over a dry erase marker to check off their list in the morning is likely to result in more than a few scuffles.  Plus, my little one can get a little marker happy, and I don’t want to tempt fate. So, my next consideration: no need for markers.

My other chore chart adventure involved all 3 of my kids.  I made a template in Excel for a weekly chart for each kid and printed them out and put them on the fridge.  Every time a task was completed, I gave a simple orange circle sticker to be plopped on the chart in the box.  At the end of the week, for each orange sticker they had earned, they got a dime for their piggy bank.  This system works pretty well for “big” tasks, like cleaning up rooms and putting away laundry, but I didn’t include simple daily things like brushing your teeth and putting on your shoes.  Also, it requires that I physically be by the chore chart to hand over the stickers, which is fine sometimes, but not during morning rush hour.  And hence, my third consideration: the kids needed to be able to “check off” their tasks themselves, without my help.

Here’s where I landed: a daily magnetic flip chart.  I found this one on Pinterest.  The magnets are attached, so no pieces to lose.  When your child completes a task, they flip up that flap and move on to the next one; at the end of the day flip them all back down and you’re ready for tomorrow.

The example one I found used two magnets for each task, but in my own version I tried to simplify things and taped my kids’ charts to the fridge, so that I only needed the bottom magnet.  (I bought a roll of magnet tape at Staples for $6 – if I had some vendor magnets lying around, I would have just cut those up into pieces.)  Since my little one can’t read yet, I drew some pictures on her chart to help her figure things out.  I also color-coded morning tasks from afternoon/evening tasks, because I’m a nerd.

I have to say, in the week since these puppies made their debut, morning life has definitely gotten easier.  The girls love racing to the kitchen to flip their completed steps, and once all three kids are done with the morning routine, the TV can go on until it’s time to head out the door for school.  No removable pieces, no markers, and no need for me to stand guard by the charts.  Ding ding ding!

We’ll see how long the magic lasts… probably the biggest lesson learned from past responsibility chart endeavors is that nothing works forever.  But if I score a month or two of (relatively) calm mornings in exchange for the hour it took me to make these, then I’ll consider it a success.

Have any secrets for keeping your house calm in the mornings?  Share them… please. 

September is National Coupon Month and to celebrate we’ve teamed up with CafeMom to give away 6 months of free groceries to one lucky winner.

How to Enter:

Login to the Rafflecopter widget below using your email or Facebook account. You’ll be prompted to enter your email again so we can contact you if you win. Follow the steps to give yourself extra entries including a chance to win 1 month of free groceries for a friend!

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You already know that SavingStar is the easiest way to save on groceries, but are you familiar with CafeMom? CafeMom is the largest and most vibrant meeting place for moms online. Millions of moms come to CafeMom for friendship, conversation, advice and entertainment. If you’re not yet part of the community, come join today — they’d love to meet you.

If you’re not a SavingStar member yet, click here to join 2 million people who are saving money on their groceries with SavingStar eCoupons. Nothing to clip. Nothing to print. Save right now on Yoplait, Cheerios, Pillsbury Cookie Dough, Bisquick, Totino’s, and much more. Don’t leave money on the table. Join today for free!

In the comments, tell us which friend you would like to win a month of free groceries for! (if your friend is on Facebook, you can tag them in your comment)

(Facebook is not an official sponsor of this sweepstakes. Winner chosen October 1, 2012)

The great thing about Cinnamon Toast Crunch is that you can make a ton of breakfast and dessert recipes with it. Check out our Pinterest board with 28 awesome recipes!

Here are some of our favorites! 

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes

Pumpkin French Toast With Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Krispies

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Brownies

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Pear Cheesecake Bars

White Chocolate Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cookies

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Fried Ice Cream

Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal With Crunch Cinnamon Crumbles

Hungry yet? Grab your favorite recipes from our Pinterest page.

Which one of these looks the best to you?

Did you know that Marie’s website has over 100 recipes to use its dressings in creative ways?

We picked 28 of our favorites for our new Pinterest board, so head on over to repin the ones you think will tickle your tastebuds!

Update: We are no longer accepting entries to this sweepstakes.The winner will be contacted on August 3. Be on the lookout for a new SavingStar giveaway soon.

If you are not a SavingStar member yet, click here to join 2 million people who are saving money on their groceries with SavingStar eCoupons. Nothing to clip. Nothing to print.

In the comments, tell us what your kids’ favorite movie is or what your favorite movie is from when you were a kid!

(Kindle Fire is a registered trademark of Amazon, Inc. Amazon is not an official sponsor of this sweepstakes)

Here are 5 of our favorites:

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

Banana Cream Pie

Reduced Sugar Banana Bread

Blended Iced Coffee

Tiramisu Mousse Cake

Check out all of the other recipes you can pin!

Have you tried Truvia yet?