by Kati Kiefer | Mar 15, 2026 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
They say “judge not, lest you be judged”… so please remember that when you look at my “before” pictures of using my DIY wood furniture cleaner. You see, my name is Kati Kiefer, not Martha Stewart. I do not have a cleaning crew nor a maid....
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 14, 2026 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
You know that I love to use old jars but I needed to find the best adhesive remover to get those sticky labels off the front. Spaghetti, salsa, and jelly jars are prime examples of jars that I love to save and reuse. After my kids kept breaking the good drinking...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 13, 2026 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
It was cleaning day and I ran out. I simply ran out of stainless steel cleaner and polish and I didn't want to run to the store again. I was going to have to make my own homemade stainless steel cleaner and polish if I was going to get my cleaning done. I'm sure you...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 12, 2026 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
Does your laminate floor cleaner work well? The floors throughout my entire house look like wood, but they are actually a laminate. I love them because they are so strong. They don't show scratches and they are easy to clean. You know that I am a crazy cat lady and I...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 10, 2026 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
I had just peeled a second orange for James to take with him for lunch at work and I was lamenting about throwing the peels away when an idea popped into my head – Why can't I make some kind of vinegar citrus cleaners with these peels? You see, I've been on a...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 8, 2026 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
With six people in our house, we were in desperate need of the best toilet bowl cleaner around. Plus we have guests…lots of them. I wondered why the toilets were always in bad shape, but then I counted how many times the toilet is used in just one week. Over one...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 7, 2026 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
While it's a fact of life that we all go poo, my toilet time is not something I want to share with the world. But it happens… the smell… no matter how healthy you eat, it's there. The one thing you don't want to happen is for your toilet time smells to...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 6, 2026 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
I was in need of the best shower cleaner to keep my shower clean. Desperate need. You see, I kept forgetting to clean it. I know, it's gross and I realize the reason it got so gross because I kept forgetting about it. You know that “out of sight, out of...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 5, 2026 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies, Reader Favorites
I have been on a quest to make cheaper things for my house and it was on my list to learn how to make Castile soap – the liquid version. Just in case you didn't know, Castile soap is natural and free of toxins! Plus, it's environmentally friendly. Now, who...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 5, 2026 | Cleaning and Organizing, Meal Planning
I hate wasting food. How about you? I can remember a time in our lives where I used to spend more than $1,000 each month for groceries. I told myself that I had a big family, so the cost was justified. We easily dropped $250 or more each week on groceries without...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 4, 2026 | Spend Less
How do you feel about pet ownership? A few years ago a Mommy friend of mine posted this Facebook Status Update on December 26: “Survived another Christmas without giving in to getting a Wii or another animal. Whew! How long can we make it?” And she is...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 4, 2026 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies, Reader Favorites
12 hands that need washing several times a day requires some kind of natural soap. I'm a couponer, but I was so tired of trying to find the latest deal on a natural soap. Trying to figure out if I had the coupons or not and how many I could actually buy, even with the...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 3, 2026 | DIY
Living in the sunshine state sure can cause some serious sunburns, and a secret trick to hurry up and make them turn that sunburn into a suntan is to make a spray using essential oils for sunburns. In seconds your sunburn will have some relief. During the summer, we...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 2, 2026 | Spend Less
You have kept your home warm all winter and may have run up the electric and gas bill to keep that furnace going. Now that the summer heat is arriving, let's talk about ways to summer-proof your home to keep your family comfortable and keep some money in your pocket....
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 1, 2026 | DIY
{First of all, let me just say that to those of you who hate feet like I do… I apologize in advance for this post. There is just no way to show you my secret method for removing the dead skin cells off my feet without showing my feet, and the disgusting...
by Kati Kiefer | Feb 13, 2026 | DIY, Recipes, Trim Healthy Mama, Valentine's Day
Have you ever enjoyed biting into your own creation of DIY Chocolate Covered Strawberries? The hard outer chocolate exterior melds with the sweet juicy strawberry on the inside. It's a little bit of heaven right here on earth! Years ago my Mom and I would take the...
by Kati Kiefer | Feb 11, 2026 | Spend Less, Vacations
It's hard to find cheap spring break trips for families…but I've got the best ideas to get your spring break trip started! Spring break is right around the corner so it's time to break out the bathing suits and sunscreen! And you might be looking to do something...
by Kati Kiefer | Feb 9, 2026 | Spend Less, Vacations
If you are looking at how to save on your spring break vacations, then I've got some tips for you! Spring break is one of the largest travel seasons of the whole year. With students ranging from elementary all the way up to college age off all at one time, competition...
by Kati Kiefer | Feb 3, 2026 | Budgeting
We’ve all used the excuse of “I don’t have enough money” when creating a personal finance strategy. I've been there myself, so I know where you’re coming from. It feels like no matter how much we plan there is never enough time or money to do all the things we want to...
by Kati Kiefer | Feb 2, 2026 | Budgeting
The thrill of the new year might be starting to wear off, and now you might begin to question those SMART financial goals that you set back in January. Those extra hundreds you were putting into savings might not last much longer, and you might start to feel like the...
by Kati Kiefer | Jan 31, 2026 | Meal Planning
If you're wondering should you pay for a meal planning service, let me help you decide. It’s more challenging than ever to find the time and the money to prepare healthy and tasty meals. We are all so busy during the week that when we get home, having to decide what...
by Kati Kiefer | Jan 30, 2026 | Meal Planning
If you've heard what’s for dinner for the last time, then it's time to find the best way to meal plan. If I had a dollar for every text message or request I got asking “what’s for dinner?” even before 5 o'clock, I’d be rich! I’ve been planning my meals for years now....
by Kati Kiefer | Jan 29, 2026 | Meal Planning
Looking for a meal plan that works? The average American will spend $2,625 each year at restaurants; this doesn’t even include the amount spent on unused groceries! Whether you are trying to cut back on eating out or just pay less overall, meal planning can help you...
by Kati Kiefer | Jan 28, 2026 | Meal Planning
Now that you've been meal planning, how do you take your meal plan to the next level? Our family has been meal planning for years now to cut down our food waste, make mealtime more manageable, and save money. But after years of planning meals, sometimes things can get...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 20, 2025 | DIY
After making this DIY organic lip balm for my family as a creative (and wildly successful) Christmas Present, I thought it would be fun to share with you how easy and inexpensive it is to make your own Organic Lip Balm (aka chapstick). You can whip up a batch in about...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 18, 2025 | Christmas
Despite our best planning and intentions, by the time the Christmas season rolls around, our bank account is squeezed just too thin. If you are on a tight budget this holiday season, you can still create an enjoyable and even a magical Christmas season for you and...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 17, 2025 | Christmas
Is your house holiday celebration central? Our house is too! Everyone always gathers at our house for all the holidays. The holiday season can be a time of unexpected events and expenses, instead of being very merry and bright. They can also leave you and your wallet...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 17, 2025 | Christmas, DIY
Are you looking for a DIY holiday centerpiece vase project for Christmas? One that also is very cheap to make? You're in the right place! With Christmas right around the corner, we're sure you’re preparing your home with all the Christmas decor, Christmas trees,...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 16, 2025 | Christmas
Hanukkah and Christmas are two very special holidays. Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday, and I look forward to the holiday season each and every year. Just a few short years ago was the first year I'd ever celebrated Hanukkah with friends who are Jewish. Our...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 16, 2025 | Christmas, DIY
Are you needing some cool Christmas gifts? It’s getting down to the wire for Christmas shopping, isn’t it?! And I honestly think the closer it gets the less creative my brain gets also! Thankfully for both of us, I wrote this article when I was of sound mind before...
