Have you heard of Color-Blocking?  I recently traveled with my savvy designer sister-friend, Denise who introduced me to Color-Blocking.  What is great is that she is the expert of Color-Blocking for Less!  This is a very trendy style that can be done to meet your budget.

Color-blocking is when a garment or outfit is composed of finite blocks of color.  There are three simple techniques to styling a color-blocked outfit:

Option A: Monochromatic = one color throughout entire outfit in different hues.

Option B: Separates = mix garments of contrasting (2-4) colors. (as shown)

Option C: Stand-Alone = one color-blocked garment or accessory where the designer has already done all the work for you.

The color-blocking technique is making a true style statement, so it is imperative to select pieces (and color schemes) that are flattering to you.  You don’t have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, just “shop” in your closet and pull things that you already have!  Adding accessories like a bold necklace or cuff bracelet and/or a colorful bag can also complete your outfit. Remember, simple is better!

Denise shares a breakdown of her color blocking for less.

Green Sweater: New York & Company $29

Yellow Top: New York & Company $19

White Capri Pants: Stein Mart $12

Blue Sling Heels: Payless Shoe Source $15

Total: $75

I am so impressed!  Not only is her style amazing she was able to create it for less!  I am motivated to start color-blocking myself.

So now I ask you – do you color-block?

This post was written by Denise Beardsley, Mother of 3 and Senior Interior Designer.  Denise and Melissa have been sister-friends since middle school and remain sister-friends today.  Denise’s creativity never ceases to amaze Melissa.

reference: www.corporatefashionista.com

Be sure to “PIN” this idea so you will have it when you are ready to make it. Please follow us on Pinterest and enjoy hundreds of recipes, crafts, party planning ideas, gardening, DIY and more.

I love this teacher appreciation gift idea! Colorful water bottles filled with lemonade & Snapple singles. Everything came from the Dollar Tree, and cost about $3.25 each (water bottles are BPA free & have a detachable strap).

• Add a cute note: Thank You for being a great “ade” for our class or Thank You for quenching my “thirst” for knowledge.

A great way to end the year is to let your child’s teacher know how much they meant to you. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune – just think outside of the box!

Thanks to our friend Darla for sharing her creative idea with us!

This post also has a some creative inexpensive teacher gift ideas – that are outside of the box.

There are normally a variety of Earth Day Freebies available each year. Do you celebrate in any other ways? If so I would love to know how! Here are some great posts and ways to celebrate Earth Day.

What are you doing with your extra newspapers?

Keeping Mother Earth Happy - Part 1

Keeping Mother Earth Happy – Part 2

How to make homemade laundry detergent and fabric softener

How to build a chicken coop

How to build an earth day bird feeder

Are you going to Target to pick up your freebie?  Check out this post for the details.

If you made a New Year’s resolution to stick to a budget, pay down debt, consolidate credit cards, or improve your finances this year, chance are you may have already broken it. A study shows 80% of people who make New Year’s resolutions break them throughout the year—44% have already broken them by the end of the first month. You buy something you shouldn’t, splurge on a shopping trip, or continue to avoid your credit card statements because they’re just easier to ignore.

Your financial resolutions, however, don’t have to be abandoned because you lost steam keeping up with them since the start of the year.  You still have eleven months to make big changes in your budget and your finances to get your household back on track. Here are three tips to help you get your 2012 money resolutions back on track:

#1: Set small goals to build momentum

Making a resolution to pay off your credit cards completely is a great goal, but if you have thousands of dollars of debt on multiple credit cards it’s also going to seem a bit daunting. To keep yourself motivated, set smaller goals that play into reaching your 2012 resolution. Decide to pay off one card first and set a plan with an end date to achieve that. Once you’ve accomplished that first step, make another, and continue to move forward.

#2: Stay practical – only do what is within reason

Let’s say you’ve resolved to create a budget to improve your monthly finances. Don’t go nuts and just start cutting everything out to save as much money as possible, because you may not be able to keep up such a limited lifestyle. Just like yo-yo dieting, yo-yo money management can end up putting you in a tougher situation, because you’re more likely to break your budget and splurge while shopping one day. Instead, start with a few cutbacks and give yourself time to get used to the changes before you make more.

#3 Find the right tools to make reaching your goal easier

Nobody ever said you have to accomplish resolutions entirely on your own, so seek help in keeping up with your resolutions. If you’re planning on saving money this year, you can set up a savings or a retirement account that automatically deducts the money out of your checking account each month, so you accomplish your resolution without even thinking about it.

If you’ve decided to pay down debts this year, don’t think that you have to do this alone either. There are a number of options that can reduce your monthly credit card debt payments by up to 50%, including enrolling in a debt management plan through a credit counseling agency. In addition to providing a debt management plan which can give you the relief you need now, they can also provide budgeting advice that can help you reach your financial goals in the future, too.

So, what do you think? Did I miss any obvious tips? Please share your comments and suggestions below!

This guest post was written by Teresa Dahl who is a blogger, writer and stay at home mom.  She enjoys biking and finding creative activities for her family.

We had the opportunity to tape a quick video for Birds Eye at Blissdom Blogging Conference last week. We would really appreciate if you could “like” it on YouTube for us (it is only 29 seconds long).

The video with the most “likes” will win a trip for two to New York to attend their launch party and interview their spokesperson. We would be thrilled with the opportunity!

All I need you to do is go is watch our YouTube video above and click on the thumbs up “like” button underneath the video. So easy!

The voting ends on 3/21/12. We would really appreciate your support. Our video give a couple tips on how to incorporate veggie into your kids diets.

Thanks in advance!!!

                                                                                                                                 Photo Credit Fox 19 News

As you know Tornadoes swept the state of Kentucky (as well as TN, OH, IN) and have left so many in devastation. We wanted to let you know that Shelley and I are fine.  Thanks so much to all of you who have emailed to check on us.  The tornado hit just 10 miles from our homes but we are luckily fine.  However many of our neighbors are left in devastation.  You may not have money that you can donate but there are other ways to help.  Right now you can donate from your Stockpiles and if you are local you can also volunteer your time.

There are many ways that you can give back by donating health and beauty items, bottled water, sports drinks, canned food items, blankets, packing tape, garbage bags and household products.

Ways to help: 

Volunteer or donate items at Piner Baptist Church, 15044 Madison Pike, Morning View, KY 41063 859-356-3222.  They have supplies, a warm place, food, water, boxes, tarps.  The Red Cross is there to help too.  They need all items except clothing.  In need of packing tape, Pillows, Pillow cases, Tarps, Nails, Boxes and Gloves.  No clothes.

Clothing Distribution Center:  Nicholson Christian Church, 1970 Walton-Nicholson Pike, Independence, KY  41051, 859-356-7770.

Call 1-800-Red-Cross

You can also make a $10.00 donation to the Red Cross. Text Redcross (one word) to 90999 and it will be billed to your cellphone bill next month.

Follow this Coordination of help for the NKY Victims of 3/2/12 Tornado on facebook

Kenton County Animal Shelter:  Help the tornado victims by providing for their misplaced pets. The Kenton County Animal shelter is taking care of the pets until they can be reunited. They need pet items. dry and soft dog food, toys, etc. They have two birds and several dogs.

You can ship items to: Lifeline Ministries, 4115 Dixie Hwy. Elsmere, KY 41018

The Bank of Kentucky has set up an account called the Piner Disaster Relief Fund. Any of The BOK branches are accepting donations.

Additional drop off locations:

Sprint Store – Independence, 2081 Centennial Blvd., Independence, KY 41051, Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, No clothing please

Granite World, 123 W. 14th St, Covington, They will be open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Jack’s Glass,  6 Park Ave. Elsmere, KY

Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 11969 Taylor Mill Road, Independence, KY 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rosedale Manor will also be a drop off site for any of the needed items – clothing, supplies, personal items, etc. It will also be serving meals to the family’s who do not have electricity all week. Lunch: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and dinner 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission is accepting donations of food, water, cleaning supplies and clothes at their neighborhood centers from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. The locations are:

• Boone County Neighborhood Center, 7938 Tanners Gate, Florence. Phone: 859-586-9250.
• Campbell County Neighborhood Center, 437 W. Ninth St., Newport. Phone: 859-431-4177
• Kenton County Neighborhood Center, 315 E. 15th St., Covivington. Phone: 859-291-8607

The Kenton County School District will collect donations for the tornado victims at Twenhofel Middle School at 1-3 p.m. Sunday. Twenhofel is located at 11846 Taylor Mill Road, Independence.

Hebron Kroger: A Girl Scout Troop will be accepting donations of non-perishable items 3-6 p.m. Sunday.

First Baptist Church in Walton is going to be a hub for disaster relief donations for the Northern Kentucky Baptist Association. If you have anything available to donate, stop by the church. The church will be open 7 a.m. to o7 p.m. Sunday and all next week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will continue to receive donations as long as they come in. They are located at 47 South Main, Walton, 41094.

Hampton Inn, Wilder, KY: They are doing laundry and need volunteers to help fold and sort the clothes. Stop by if you have a couple hours to spare. They are located right off the Wilder exit from 275.

Oakland United Methodist: 7867 Stonehouse Road, Melbourne, KY will be collecting bottled water and snack type foods for the families and workers there. You can drop your items off Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and Monday from 5-7 p.m.

The Durr Branch Library, Independence, KY will be a collection site for cleaning products, etc for the tornado sufferers (no clothes).

Florence Antique Mall 8145 Connector Dr. Florence, KY 41042 will be available as a “drop spot” for those wishing to donate items.we will deliver all items to those affected by the tornadoes..hours 11=6 daily.  Phone 859 250-9092.

List of needed items: Plywood, Roofing Nails, Tarps, Over the counter medicine, Duct tape/tape guns, Tarps and large sheets of plastic, Water, Non-perishable food, Undergarments, Clean, gently used blankets and towels, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Health and Beauty Items, Cleaning Supplies: Paper towels, paper plates, plastic utensils.

Mentor Baptist Church in southern Campbell County is accepting donations and making distributions all week. NO clothes, please. You can call 859-635-7300 for information or if you know someone in the area that needs assistance.

Victims in Crittenden and Pendleton County, KY also need your help.  Please reach out if you can!

By Paying It Forward with your Stockpile you are able to help those in need.  Please keep the victims in your thoughts.

Please leave comments here with additional ways to help.

Have you heard of the Crockin’ Girls? They are a fairly new Facebook page that started August 19, 2011, however it has EXPLODED literally overnight! They have recently announced that they are publishing a new Crock Pot Cookbook. If you like using your crock pot you may want to check it out!

Shelley and I love to use our Crock Pots.  In fact, one of my favorite Crock Pot Recipes is Mom’s Chicken and Noodles.  This is from Shelley’s Mom and they are so good!  We also love Easy Overnight Oatmeal and Crock Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken. A new favorite though is Crock Pot Buffalo Dip which is pictured above. In fact here it is on Pinterest.

We have lots of Crock Pot Recipes listed in our Recipes Archive and will be adding more soon!

Do you like to use a Crock Pot? What is your favorite Crock Pot recipe? 

Most everyone who knows me knows that I am a bit of an organization nut and a little bit of a clean freak. I have tenancies to label most everything that can be labeled and at most any time my house is ready for company. I have a few tips for eliminating clutter.

1.  Create a place for shoes – this may sound strange but once you decide on where your families shoes will “live” when they are not in use it will really keep your life less cluttered. For me that is on a shelf in our garage.

2.  Create a place for items you use daily – backpacks, coats, lunch boxes, keys, coupon binder, brief case, purse.  If these items have a “home” when not in use it will keep your life less chaotic.

3.  Every single day do a power clean – I do one for 15 minutes every morning while my son eats his breakfast before school and I do another one every evening before dinner (while dinner is in preparation).  Both of these times my son in engaged doing something else and it gives me 15 minutes to clean and straighten up.

4.  Before you go to bed make sure you are organized for the next day – lay out clothes, pack lunches, make your to-do list.  It will allow you to sleep better to make sure you are ready for your day.

5.  Every single day I purge 5 items.  I place at least 5 items a day in either the donate box, consignment box or the garbage.  This is a huge help in removing the clutter from our house. I also have a monthly pick up date with the Veterans which allows me to be prepared for them and remove unwanted items from my house. My advice is if you have not used it in a full year you don’t need it.

I hope this help s with eliminating the clutter from your life!

Check out more Tips and How To Posts.

We are often asked how many hours a week do we spend organizing our coupons.  I spend on average 1 hour a week.  Here are a few simple tips to keep your coupons organized.

1.  Use the binder method.  I can honestly say that by switching to the binder method I have saved far more than I would without.  I have all of my clipped coupons with me when I am at the store so I can get in on more deals – both unadvertised and manager’s specials.

2.  On Saturday I order coupons from clipping services.  This is a huge time saver for me!  I purchase quantities of coupons that I hope to stockpile.

3.  On Sunday I clip coupons from the Sunday paper.  I get 2 papers delivered to my house.  I clip on Sunday afternoon and file them on Sunday night – this process takes me no more 45 minutes to 1 hour (and often times less). Check out the Sunday Enquirer Deal.  I sort them and file them that night.

4.  On Tuesday I check the mail and file my coupons that arrived from the Coupon Clipping Service.

5. On Wednesday using the matchups here at Stockpiling Moms – I shop and SAVE big!  Visit our Aldi, Kroger, Meijer, Remke, Walmart, CVS and Walgreen’s Deals for ways to save at the store this week!

I hope these tips help you save big too!

Last week we discussed how much to pay the tooth fairy.  I loved all the responses.  I wanted to share with you this Tooth Fairy Reward offer from Chuck E Cheese.  It is valid for 10 FREE tokens when your children lose a tooth!  I think this would make a nice addition for the tooth fairy.  You can redeem 1 free token offer per visit per child.  There is a food purchase required but that can simply be a drink.

Check out the How much to pay the tooth fairy post.  Lots of great ideas!

Keeping your linen closet is simple if you know how to fold your fitted sheets.  This is always a team effort at your house.

Step One:  Take your fitted sheet and match the corners lengthwise taking your fingers and matching the corners together.

Step Two:  After you match the corners then it will be easy to form a rectangle making it easier to fold.

Step Three:  Fold in half

Step Four:  Then fold in half and then again.

After you have folded your fitted sheets check out how my Mom keeps her Linen Closet Organized. Another tip is to neatly fold the fitted and the flat sheet, and 1 pillowcase then tuck inside the other pillow case.  Then you fold the opening of the pillowcase over and put it in the linen closet.  This works well if you don’t have a large linen closet.

You can also check out Shelley’s Mom tip on how to keep your sheets smelling fresh.  We love our Moms!

Be sure to “PIN” this DIY so you will have it when you are ready to make it. Please follow us on Pinterest and enjoy hundreds of recipes, crafts, party planning ideas, gardening, DIY and more.

Recently I shared with you how to remove hair build-up and residue naturally.

From that post we got a tip that I wanted to share with you all on how to clean your drain naturally.

Put 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 2 cups vinegar.
Cover drain with a plate to force foam down.
Wait 30 minutes, then rinse with hot water!

Wow! What an affordable solution to chemicals!

Check out more DIY Ideas!

Thanks Jen for sharing this with us. If you have a naturally frugal tip please email us at stockpilngmoms (at) fuse (dot) net

I am sure many of you have noticed that there have been several new Gluten FREE recipes and tips and deals being posted on the blog lately.  In late September early October I was very sick and couldn’t get better.  After going to my general doctor 3 times in 2 weeks I was referred to a specialist.  I endured many tests and the end result came up with nothing is wrong.  Knowing that something was WRONG I turned to alternative medicine.

I started seeing a new chiropractor and turned to the support of good friends and the internet to figure out what was wrong with me.  In the end my Chiropractor suggested I may have a gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease.  I went back to my doctor who tested me confirmed what my chiropractor thought and then began my new journey  to eliminating gluten from my life.

At first I did 6 days off and 1 day “on” gluten to see if it truly was the gluten that was causing my problems.  I paid dearly for the “1 day on” gluten and finally made the decision to go completely gluten free on Black Friday 2011.  So the Gluten Free journey began.  I made a lot of mistakes at first (not realizing that a product had an ingredient that contains gluten) and it is still a learning process for me to say the least. At first we thought I had a gluten intolerance but I have since learned that I am Celiac.

What I can tell you is that I have never felt better.  Being “off gluten” for me has caused me to have more energy, sleep better and feel better.  Of course the downside to living a gluten free lifestyle is that it is harder to stockpile and find coupons for gluten free food.  However it is not impossible!  I plan to share my journey with you.  Of course the main focus of our blog remains the same and our mission is to help you save money to stretch your family budget and live a savvy lifestyle.  Adding Gluten Free to the blog I hope is just a nice addition for those of you who share the journey with me.

Check out our Gluten Free Resources on the blog from Recipes to Coupons and More!

I would love to know if you are Gluten Free or if you have a family member that is? Does saving money on Gluten Free interest you? I can’t wait to hear about your journey too!

This is a round of Valentine’s Day Ideas that can save you some cash this year!

How to make a “candy bar cake”

How to make a frugal candy vase

How to make recycled crayons

Batman Valentine Exchange Box

Handstamped Valentine Cards

Heart Photo Craft Using Cupcake Wrappers

Candy Cane Hearts

Frugal Handmade Valentine’s

I have been trying to figure out how remove hair build-up and residue naturally.  My hair has really had a major build up of chemical products and was really heavy and I was unable to style it even after washing it.  I asked my stylist and she gave me two great tips.  I love that they are both frugal and best of all they REALLY work!

She told me to mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda into my shampoo and wash my hair as normal with the paste.  She said I could also wet my hair and rub the baking soda in and then shampoo.  I chose the first option and it worked great!

She also mentioned doing a vinegar rinse.  I mixed up 1 TBSP of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of cold water and after I did the baking soda mixture shampoo I used the apply cider as a rinse.  I did not rinse my hair with water after I just left the apple cider on my hair and then towel dried and then blew dry my hair.

I was a little concerned my hair would smell like apple cider but after drying it there was no smell!  In addition not only was the hair build-up and residue gone my hair was left so shiny!  I am so happy with it!

I purchased a plastic condiment bottle after season and used that for my apple cider rinse.  It actually holds 2 rinses so I just leave it in the shower.  I do the baking soda/apple cider once a week and it is working great!

Have you ever tried either of these methods to remove hair build-up or residue?