I’ve shown you guys this Cupcake Courier before. It’s been awhile, but I still love it and I wanted to show you a couple more ways you can enjoy it.
First and foremost, it carries cupcakes.
It can hold 36 cupcakes. Or 24 or 12 or any amount in between. Just remove the stackable trays to suit your need.
Perfect for larger batches of cupcakes or taking them to a holiday party or get together.
And if you remove all three trays…
Then you can use it for cakes. And pretty big ones, too.
But here is the best part. The real reason I have fallen deeper in love with this carrier. It allows me to do much more when it comes to carrying my baked goods.
I am talking specifically about cake pops here. Yep, because the courier is so tall, it triples as a handy dandy cake pop courier, too.
It serves multiple purposes. One… it simply allows you to store them upright without having to wrap them in treat bags.
And two… it allows you to carry them more easily to happy recipients. With or without treat bags.
Here … let me show you what I mean.
Tah dah. Perfectly protected pops. Of course you’ll have to imagine them made for full effect. I just used sticks and styrofoam to illustrate the idea.
If you use 6-inch paper lollipop sticks (8-inch sticks would be too tall) and some styrofoam, it will fit just fine in the base of the courier.
Styrofoam blocks come in many sizes and one of the common sizes is 4 x 12 x 2 inches high. Grab two of them and place them side by side on the base and then make 12 holes in each block. You can then easily carry 24 cake pops. And if you can’t find the styrofoam in that size, then cut down a larger piece of styrofoam to 8 X 12.
Either way it’s a great way to get more out of an already handy product. You can find them on amazon.com.
Hope that helps all you guys that are cake popping and cupcake making… and of course, carrying.
And to celebrate finding ways to do more with less, here’s a fun giveaway.
- This giveaway starts November 15 and goes until November 29, 2010. Time’s Up! Winner Announced below.
- To be entered in the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post and describe something you’ve found to be more productive or some way you do more with less. That’s it.
- One winner will be chosen at random using random.org and announced on this post at the end of the contest period following verification. See complete rules for details.
- The prize is one (1) Windows Phone 7 (all features and details of the phone will be determined by the Sponsor.)
Okay, here’s the winner, chosen at random.
Congratulations Wendy! Have fun with your new phone.
And thank you everyone for so many great ideas to do more with less. You guys are really resourceful. I’m impressed.
This giveaway is brought to you by the new Windows Phone 7. Less tech tired. More tech trendy: Learn about Windows Phone online and see it in person at local T-Mobile stores today.
I love the less sleep=more productive idea! there are so many hours that are wasted sleeping! The older I get, the less my body is on board with this concept, but I am still young at heart!
I use and reuse gift bags and tissue paper- I also donate them to churches at christmas time! I have a ton with three kids!
I used playdough mold to do my popcakes! they come out awsome!
I write everything I need to know down and than I won’t forget what I need to do!
I love this cake carrier! I am the moderator of a high school baking club, so hauling treats to school is something I do on a regular basis. I’d love to be able to show this to the students. When you don’t have a lot of cupboard space, one tool that serves several purposes is a life saver!
I find that sleeping a full eight hours every night makes me super productive the next day. It’s amazing the things you can do when you’re well rested :)
I reuse everything I can to store toys and hot wheels in!!
I use Sharpies to color in the nicks that my kids put in the kitchen chairs- works like a charm!
If I ever run out of muffin tins, I just fit squares of aluminum foil and it works like a charm!
Instead of just using my bookshelf for a not-too-big collection of books, I keep favorite shoes and other frequently used goodies on it so they’re close at hand.
I try to keep a notebook with me at all times, when I am in a waiting room, and read an article that has a website that want to check out, I write it down in the notebook for later use. Just one use for having the notebook handy.
The less television my kids watch, the harder they work in school
Lists and homemade – those two things make everything go farther and cheaper!
Where can I buy one of those carriers? They are awesome!
less sleep=crankier me haha
I have found that when the TV is on I am more productive at ironing! Crazy but it makes the boring task go by so much easier!
I try to be more productive by making daily lists on my phone to organize tasks for me and the kids.
I’ve found that techno/electronica works best to help me to clean house… and I’ve developed a way to use post-its to make a custom calendar, to help me keep track of bills and appointments.
I’m most productive when I’m listening to loud music and cooking.
I use my cupcake pans to make mini meatloaves they cook alot faster and i can do different sauces on each one
I like to make up batches of buttercream/creamcheese frosting and keep it in the refrigerator – especially around the holidays – it lasts for up to two weeks and I can bake impromptu mini-cupcakes or brownies and then pipe on the frosting for my High School students :-)
When I make a grocery list, I always list things in order by the store sections. I never miss anything or have to backtrack. Saves so much time! And if I have a coupon, I mark it on the list to help me remember.
I have recently discovered the joys of making my own chicken stock. Now I just want to buy roasting chickens or rotisserie chickens just so I can use the carcass to make stock! I am determined to make better stock each time!
I have found that washing the dishes after cooking, makes it so much easier for cleaning the house. which is hard for me because i am prego that it’s hard to reach with my belly sticking out.
We are more productive when it’s NOT daylight savings time, but we do more with less by taking advantage of our library museum passes (free) and our zoo membership. We make handmade gifts for the adults from the kids and this year instead of a gift exchange with our cousins, we are spending family time doing something meaningful.
I am totally in pumpkin goody baking mode so my do more with less is instead of letting my kdis carve halloween pumpkins we paint them. After halloween I scrub the paint off and bake the pumpkins. Once baked I puree them and bag them in 1 Cup baggies and place them in the freezer for future winter baking.
dental floss! always comes in handy when theres something stuck in my teeth, or when i need string!
when cooking stews or chili, I’ll double the recipe then portion the leftovers into indiviudal freezable containers. It makes quick and easy meals for nights when I’m to busy or tired to actually cook.
I bake & decorate cakes and love to make cute little fondant decorations. I could literally spend a bizillion dollars (is that a word?) on all kinds of cute cutters…but that stuff adds up $$$$. So instead of buying new cutters every time a cute cake idea pops into my head, I try to be creative. I look at the basic cutters I have and picture different ways to use them. It’s fun. Like the person who thought to use the butterfly cutter for flip-flops (which wasn’t me)…kudos to THAT person whose idea I love & have used :)
for more with less my friends and I have swaps…clothes, household items, anything that’s in good condition but you just don’t use it. bring it and a dish to share…and it’s a swap party. take home whatever you like. and with what’s left behind? we donate to a women’s shelter!
Ack! Seriously, you have a PHONE to give away?!?! That’s awesome!!! So how do I do more with less? Stay organized! I have my own papercrafting business, so I find that if I stay SUPER organized I can spend less money buying stuff I already have and more money on the new and upcoming things I want!
I know this is going to sound crazy, but I clean the tub/shower while I’m in it. Each time I shower, I wash a wall or the sides or bottom of the tub, so it simply never really gets dirty.
Also, I don’t know how I ever survived without my timer! I use it to help me tackle those household jobs I really hate (by working on them in small doses) and it helps my sons be more responsible as we play “beat the beeper”, trying to pick up all of one sort of toy (such as all the blocks) before the alarm sounds.
As for doing more with less, we planted a (very small) garden this year– the tomatoes and fresh herbs have paid for themselves several times over!
I had a plastic grid sheet and an embroidery hoop. I used my magical craft magic on them and shazzam! Instant earring holder!
I only allow myself to watch my favorite TV shows if I’m on my eliptical.
I save butter wrappers in the freezer so when I need to grease a pan it’s ready to use.
I pay bills online…not groundbreaking but still…..
I also make a big batch of cookie dough and bake it over a few days…for snacks and lunch treats….
Doing more with less is basically how I do everything. I think my favorite recent innovation was finding a way to store cakes in the fridge without them drying out — I don’t have a cake stand or a lot of money to buy new baking stuff. I’ve found that my huge glass mixing bowl makes a pretty good cake dome, though. It kept my spice cake with cream cheese frosting (you know who’s frosting recipe!) moist and delicious for days!
I’m an elementary school teacher so I never through odd things away…it’s remarkable how often I can find a use for two Happy Birthday plates or 6 clothes pins….anything to save money while teaching!
doing more with less is the trend now days, the one thing that i think that allows people to do more with less is a computer. it allows people to learn about something in an instant where as before people have to go to the library, it allows people to write without a pen or pencil, it allows people to watch tv, movies and just videos in general at a touch of a button, allows people to store memories of a lifetime in one simple device. but with technology advancing as it is a brand new phone that does exactly that would be handy :]
I find if I spend less time surfing the net for yummy baking recipes. I end up with more time in my day and alot less food. :)
I just find less is best……………..and local more better
Using biodegradable coffee filters for the kiddos snacks instead of bowls. Perfect for veggie chips, popcorn and such…….
When I am doing holiday baking, I start with one recipe for the kids only, so they are busy while I’m trying to bake. Also, they get their own space so that we don’t interfere with each other.
When cooking smelly food, such as fish (or burnt cupcakes!), I put a little vinegar in a kettle full of water, and not only does it bring the kettle to a sparkling clean, but it eliminates the odours from the air. When I’ve had a particularly bad kitchen day, I will do both kettle and coffee pot at the same time, haha.
Thanks!
Heather
Oh jeez.
Nail clippers. I use them for EVERYTHING!!
Life is more productive for me when there is music: mundane tasks are a little more enjoyable… and the dancing is a bonus!
To be more productive I make lists with check boxes so that I can get everything I need done. Being able to check the box helps me see what is done and makes me feel like I’m accomplishing my tasks.
I use all my old film containers (and I have alot now that everything went digital!) to hold small things like safety pins and bobby pins and keep them in the bathroom drawer.
Egg cartons – I use them to store my gumpaste and royal icing flowers and cut outs. They’re great for this as they’re not air tight but they keep the dust & cat off of them! I’m more productive since using egg cartons as storage as there’s always more RI in the bag and rather than waste it I use it up making more flowers that I’ll have for next time around.
We have had to do less with more. Last year my husband was laid off for most of the year, so we needed to stretch our money. I found out that spending time combining coupons with sales really makes a difference. While it isn’t as easy to do for food, it is pretty easy to stock my linen closet with essentials such as shampoo, bandaids and razors for practically nothing. It saved us a ton and really helped us through the lean times!
we bought secondhand furnitures like sofas and tables and refurbished them to look like a million bucks!
I have taught my daughters from a young age that “everything has it’s place” Toys all go away in a certain location, now at ages 2 and 3… clean up is a breeze!!
crunchygreenmom(at)gmail(dot)com
I find I’m more productive by waking up early and not staying up so late. My energy levels are higher and I’m able to enjoy more of the day with daylight saving time over.
Know those decorating ribbons you can run your scissors along to make them curl? Yeah. Do that and tape the bits to an old bit of stocking. Fun, quick wig for Halloween or whatever, and you can–of course–reuse the ribbon. :)
I save my butter wrappers and use them to butter my cake pans. I don’t dirty my fingers and usually has the right amount of butter before flouring my pans.
I love that carrier, I’ll have to get one of those for sure! I find that learning to be more content with what you already have is a great way to “do with less”. And I try not to waste anything, the freezer is your friend LOL.
Ice cube trays–I freeze everything! From that leftover summer basil to the last bit of tomato sauce, you never know when you can find a new use for something (Coconut milk ice cubes in a rum and coke? Yes please!).
Daily exercise is key to me remaining focused and productive!
I LOVE this site, it has inspired me to be a better baker, plus the compliments of the recipes I get here….I can’t thank you enough.
I have discovered when making pumpkin rolls for the holidays to make large quantities rather than just making one roll…they are easy to make, but so many steps and such a mess, plus thanks to my kitchen aid mixer I can mix 2-3 batches for the rolls at a time. My kitchen aid is a HUGE timesaver!! Plus the pumpkin rolls freeze really well, so I will have plenty on hand when we get invited on short notice or for friends and family “popping in”.
I’m most productive when I am listening to music…I have also found that my planner is my best friend…I write everything down and now I actually get everything done!
Cool carrier…
I’ve eliminated the bowl from the whole cake destroying step of the cake pop process. I just crumb it and mix it in the pan…saves me washing a bowl!
I am much more productive when I have be vigilant about my exercising!
Mason Jars. for lemonade,for Sangria, for cookie mixes!!!!
I learned a trick from one of my friends which I have come to do myself. She taught me to take a holiday card, birthday card, etc. that was given to me that I like, and save the cover of it. This means I cut off the other half of the card where someone wrote something personal to me, but keep the original cover of the card. I then use the part I saved as a new birthday card, holiday card, etc. but I use it more like a post card or I glue that cover onto a blank card I already have. It saves a lot of money and reuses a great card for a second time.
My husband (who is an excellent cook) has gotten me into eating leftovers which I always hated to do. This is not only doing more with less but also leaves room for dessert ;)
I’m most productive when i turn off the computer!!
i have found that a cake carrier(11X17x4). is perfect for 2 dozen
cupcakes! it has handles and keeps them fresh! perfect!!
I like to repurpose as much as I can…I just re-decorated/organized our office, and rather than going out and buying all new decor and organizational things, I looked around my house to see what I could use. I redecorated an old cork board and old white board with some acrylic paint and fabric that I found on a good sale. For pen holders, I took some mason jars and decorated them with some of the fabric. I spent maybe $20 or so redoing the room…and it looks great!
i purchased a cupcake stand at target and use it for my scrapbooking supplies. I place jars on the individual holders and it’s displayed nice and pretty.
My much-loved silicone basting brush has also become one of my toddler’s favorite toys. In fact, most of his favorite toys are either empty boxes, kitchen supplies, or something else that was never supposed to be a toy.
Wow! Close to 3,000 comments for this giveaway? I’ve never seen that many!
Anyhoo. I like parchment paper. Very versatile. Lining cookie sheets, rolling out pastry dough on, rolling into a cone and using as a funnel, cutting into strips or designs and using to make decoration on cake or desserts…
I have found my central vac to be saving my never ending battle with housekeeping. I love it.
Just invite company over, the house work always seems to get done faster when you know someone is coming!!
I try to limit my time spent surfing on-line…although I don’t do a great job of it…especially since there are amazing sites like this one!!!! yummmmm!!!!! :) thanks for the chance to win!
We buy lunch meat that comes in Gladware containers- so we have a million of them! They are great to have on hand for storage of a ton of little things- like toys, crafting and/or baking items, plus I can send leftovers or treats in them for friends and totally not care if they come back or not! : )
Cookie and ice cream scoops! I don’t know what I’d do without them. I use the smaller cookie scoop for (duh) cookies, but also for anything that requires many small, equal portions. This morning, it was batter for mini-cupcakes, but it works equally well for meatballs! (Egg dumpling dough too, but that kind of eliminates the rustic charm of a spoon-dropped dumpling.)
Love the carrier!
We used to love going out with friends for dinner and drinks – but with the current lack of funds all around we’ve been taking turns hosting dinner. Just as fun and we’re saving some cash. Less is more, right? :)
I had kids and trained them to help out!! hahaha
I have found the if I plan a weeks menu and shop for it on Sunday it makes the week of meals a lot easier. I also cook extra meat on Mon.. I use the leftovers in a casserole on Wed. I also do the same on Tuesday’s and Thursdays if possible.
coffee, coffee, then a little more coffee always makes me more productive.
I try to stretch out dinners throughout the week- roasted chicken for Sunday’s dinner= chicken salad sandwich for Monday’s lunch=chicken soup on Tuesday. It saves moneys and helps me to get creative in the kitchen! Yum!
Make a list, and do it! There are too many times that I walk around trying to remember what I needed to do. Have a list in a place where I can easily write what needs to be done, right then!
Recently, I wasn’t happy with my drapes the way they were hanging so I cut the liners out and rehung. Now reusing the liners for doggie blankets and a few pillows.
Rotary cutters, orginially discovered them for quilting, but the possibilities are endless.
I don’t have a rolling pin, so whenever I am making a recipe that calls for one, I use an unopened wine bottle instead! :) (Learned that one in college…)
With 3 kids, we don’t have much money, so a few ways we do more with less are: we rent movies from redbox instead of joining a monthly program, its only $1 a day. We use freebie sites, so we havent had to buy shampoo, or bodywash in months, the bonus is we get to try some high quality products for free! we go to restaurants where the kids eat free, so that cuts out more than half the bill. also instead of doing all of our shopping at once, we look for special sales all week long, clip coupons ( and search the net for them too). This leaves more money for us to put aside for big things that we want to do as a family, that might otherwise be unaffordable.
I make my own cake release. I save $$ by not buying it and only have to make as much as i need.
I am definitely more productive with MORE sleep, not less. I just can’t figure out how to get it.
Planning ahead…for whatever it is, always makes me so much more productive! And then while doing whatever it is, music always keeps me happy and going!
My family has recently begun looking for new ways to reuse some of the items that we already have in the house. Repurposing in our motto of the month.
I’m much more productive when I’m at home studying than when I go to the library! Probably because there aren’t as many tempting books to distract me at home.
I’m productive if I keep my shoes on…come in the door and just keeping plugging away. If I get comfortable on the couch, my evening is shot.
If I have a project I really want to finish, I make myself do all the unwanted chores first. It keeps me motivated and productive.
I save and reuse gift bows, ribbons, and name tags. Haven’t bought bows for YEARS.
Rock-n-roll music. I’m a terrible housekeeper, which means I procrastinate, which means at the last minute I’m trying to get it all together. Turn on some rock, and soon I’m in in the cleaning groove.
I have so many I use and can’t think of a one right now. Well, maybe one. I have gone back to using cloth rags to clean with and dumping them in the wash. I can use them over and over and nary a tree was harmed. I’m pretty “green” and “old school” which I have found by trial and error that it just works better. I would love this carrier! Been making a ton of filled cupcakes recently and had to transport in a roasting pan.
i can’t believe how much I LOVE my ipod touch. I thought I would just use it to listen to my music. Who knew it would have 1000 uses?
I work in TV news that’s all we do is more with less! hmm, true.
I have found that doing more with what I have around the house is always a fun and creative thing to do. I always find that If I really try to put something together with what I have in my house it turns out better than when I just go tothe store and buy things.
We try not to go overboard with toys for our baby. We only keep about 10 toys for her and only take out 2 or so at a time and rotate them out every few days when she grows tired of them. When she sees a “new” toy she gets excited about it again.
I find myself more productive if I just limit myself to three goals (at work and at home). If I have more than that, ADD kicks in and I am all over the place.
Less computer & TV = more time with my kids and hubby! :)
I find if I’ve had a good night sleep, it really helps me during the day!
I reused a tissue box to hold plastic grocery bags in the baby’s nursery. They are perfect for diapers and I don’t have to pay for diaper trash bags.
I am a college student and am on a limited budget. For the past couple years, as Christmas gifts for my roommates, I would go out and buy graham crackers, white frosting, and a
Canned Pumpkin – i use it in everything I bake and no one knows! It lowers the fat tremendously, adds some fiber and makes everything taste richer!
At Christmas we sign up with an website where each family member can put up there wish list. It has made it much easier to buy things for each family member (especially parents!) because you can connect the internet link to where you can buy it online or in a store. It also checks it off so other can see you already bought the gift so there is no duplicates! Yay for wishlist websites!
Waiting. If I wait for a bit of time to pass when I’m tempted to make a purchase, typically I find that either I can live without (shock!) or make do a little longer.
I have 2: replace oil with apple sauce to reduce the fat in baked goods. Cut dryer sheets in half to make them last twice as long. Great giveaway!
I use my Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat better know as the Silpat to bake my cookies and for the fondant. It won’t stick and it’s one tool for two different use.
I’ve found that taking my laptop to appointments is a great way to make use of “sitting around & waiting” time. I update my reports so there’s less to do at the office.
Clip weights that come with helium balloons from the grocery store double as chip bag clips for us.
I love using dental floss to slice my cinnamon roll dough, it works way better than a knife!
shop generic is all I’m coming up with.
I french braid my hair the night before so that in the morning, I have curly wavy hair without time spent curling or crimping!
I’m a big fan of my “gift closet.” I buy things when I see them on sale (after a holiday is obviously great for wrapping items or decor) or just happen to see something I like. Then when I need a gift, I often find I already have something or at least the makings of something good. I find Target and IKEA are great places to find little things that can be made special with the right decoration or packaging.
Use half a dishwasher tablet per load – it’s really all you need (even for particularly dirty dishes)!! Saves you money, prevents the dishwasher from clogging and getting damaged, AND helps the environment!!
I am in love with the $1 storage totes for my shoes (fits a pair comfortably) arts & crafts, even my jewelry!! It’s cheap & you can decorate them & know the stuff is safe!
Asking for help has made me more productive! I’m used to “doing it all” because I know if I do it, it will be done correctly but I am learning that things do not have to be “perfect” and it’s not worth killing myself. Plus, the extra time with my 1 year old is sooooo worth it!
I love to repurpose the plastic containers that food items come in. I peel off the sticky labels and reuse. It keeps me organized and I love that I can see the contents inside.
Ooops, I didn’t answer the question properly. My husband made me a Cake Pop carrier out of wood, so I reuse it all the time! I couldn’t find good Styrofoam that worked for me, so this was such a good present from him!
I use my potatoe masher for practically EVERYTHING that needs smashing, lol! from mashing potatoes, to crushing cookies, crackers or pretzels for crusts. The list goes on and on… :) :) :)
I really really love Windows 7 Phone! I want one so bad! And I really want to go get that cupcake carrier as well!
Baby wipes make great on-the-go pretreaters for life’s little messes. I carry them everywhere!
I’ve found that listening to audiobooks on my cheapo mp3 player while I’m doing housework or baking dog treats or running errands makes the time more pleasant. I don’t dread the endless chores because I’m anxious to hear the next chapter. Listening to Ken Follett’s PILLARS OF THE EARTH was good for about 40 hours of marathon dog treat baking. Audiobooks are available for free checkout at most local libraries so the price is right too.
I have all the cookie cutters my mom had when I was a child. Not only do I use them for baking cookies but many of them can make lunch time fun! I can make PB&J in the shape of something for every season as well as everyday fun shapes too. My son got a turkey in his lunch today!
ooh, i hope i win!
Less kids more peace haha
That carrier is so useful! Especially since I’m always taking treats with me to go!
I found that less stress means more hair (this mostly applys to guys)
I have found that if I keep a list of ‘good for me’ foods, I do not by ‘bad for me’ foods at the grocery store. It helps when you are watching your weight…
I am totally drawing a blank…but it seems like I am always using something in a different way than it was designed for. Mostly when teaching my preschool aged children. Ice cube trays for sorting, chopsticks for fine motor skills. I can’t even tell you how many ways you can use a clothespin. So I guess I am resourceful when it comes to teaching my kids.
One thing that I have found to be more productive is bathing both of my boys at once, rather than one after the other. Only one tub full of water scrub both quickly, dress both quickly.
loud music and the kids in bed makes me more productive… most days… today the music is blaring the kids are in bed… and i’m on the internet so i guess i should add turning computer and cell phone off!
We love aluminum foil in our house. We put it down on cookies sheets when we bake, use it in the oven to cook with, wrap leftovers in it to put in the fridge, we’ve been known to put a whole meal in it and carry it around like a lunch box, and my husband even wraps his toothbrush in it when we travel. He feels like it’s cleaner than a regular travel toothbrush carrier!
When I clean my apartment, I start at the entryway and clean each room as I get to it. Otherwise I get too overwhelmed and end up on the computer like I am now!
I’ve been trying to simplify dinners and I’ve found that having a couple versatile seasoning blends/marinades makes cooking dinner a lot easier!
I LIVE by my Google calendar!
I’m more productive when I accept help from others…but that’s not always easy to do!
We will be more sensitive to buying less “expensive” stuff for Christmas this year and focus more on meaning and sentiment in our gifts.
Having less stuff overall makes life simpler and easier to clean and organize. (which I love doing!)
I have a lot of those cosmetic bags from makeup deals and a lot of them work great as pencil cases or lunch/snack pouches.
A Kitchen Aid Mixer!!–love them and they are so useful for being organized while baking!
I use a to – do list – not only to get things done, but I write down things that I do that aren’t on the list – it helps me feel more accomplished at the end of the day and is great for when I have to submit my “accomplishments” for my review at work!
When I buy snacks, I put them all in portion-sized baggies right after getting home from the store. Then when I’m ready, I can just put it in my bag and go!
I try to schedule my time for reading emails and turn off the “new email” notices. Otherwise I get interrupted too much during the day and can’t focus on big tasks. Not an original idea, but it makes me much more productive.
Love love my kitchen aid, that carrier is really nice I just use boxes to transport my cupcakes.
i find that i am a wee bit more productive if i could just…. pry… myself.. away… from… the… computer….
I try not to throw away any food. For instance, I make bread crumbs out of bread left over or I put the green leaves of carrots in my soup!
A great plastic scraper for your pots and pans that won’t hurt them is expired credit cards. They are duable and perfect size for hands to hold. The rounded corners work marvelous in the bottoms of pots to get the icky bits out of the edges.
To get cooked on food off easier, put in enough water to cover the bottom, add a squirt of dish soap, and bring to a boil on the stove. Turn it off, let it cool, and wallah food comes off the pots and pan without much effort. Especially if using the old credit card as a scraper.
Ice cube trays – I freeze everything in them so I have premeasured amounts ready at a moments notice – buttermilk, broth, pesto, marinara sauce, leftover wine…
I use uncooked pieces of spaghetti to test cakes when I don’t have toothpicks handy. They work like a charm!
I’m more productive when i bake with my super awesome, creative, beautiful friends!
We used to pay a ton for mulch for my garden and when we decided to cut costs, we decided to start composting. We use an old trash can (compost bins costs a lot) and put a grate on top. Now, we have a plush, great garden without the additional cost!
I know this is an old trick but a college budget can’t afford the nice fancy schmancy piping bags and tools so I just use ziploc bags and cut a hole in the bottom.
I don’t know if this counts…but to make cake pops I think the easiest thing to melt the chocolate in is a coffee mug…it’s the perfect size!
I always use yogurt in place of sour cream or buttermilk — that’s my way of improvising with products!
I use old magazines for wrapping paper and make bows out of them too. Makes super cute gift wrap. And it’s so easy on oversize boxes, instead of fighting a roll of paper, just tape on pages like a collage.
When decorating my apartment, I use leftover fabric for everything. From some old sheets I made wall decorations and curtains! It’s fun to see something old reimagined : )
One of my children suffers from SPD (sensory preception disorder), which means I need to find ways to protect/put up the most simpliest of things–and I still want to look like a normal household. I have found magazine racks to be a life saver. I hang them up high on the walls (where they look like art–I use the nice metal ones) and toss in keys (because everything must be locked–like the pantry!), sponges, kleenex boxes, paper towels, soap, anything that might be appealing to him and wind up all over my house. It hides everything, looks good, and still keeps it within reach for the rest of us that need these things regularly.
I am productive when i play my music.. or blast it i should say. Love that phone!
I only keep a specific amount of my kid’s toys in the toy box. The rest go in the attic. That way when they get bored with the toys they have instead of buying new ones I just have to pull the “new” ones in the attic out.
The fondant smoother is a great tool to use when smoothing cakes with paper towels and saves lots of time when compared to using a spatula or knife.
Hmm…some way that I have done more with less. I don’t know if this qualifies, but my husband has deployed many times and I have learned how to make do and do what I can. I have learned that you do not always need a man around to kill spiders, as long as your vacuum extension is long enough! LOL! We women are STRONG, we just need the opportunity to show it!
I’m most productive when I’m under stress and have less time to prepare for an exam/test/whatever.I swear everytime that that’s the last time,but it never is!
I exchange magazines with the ladies at work: we get to read a good variety, copy the articles we like, and move on!
I reuse my dryer sheets – I remember making fun of my mom for doing it and now look at me!!
I don’t think I’d get through an entire day without Post-its. I have colored ones, various sizes, some with sassy little quotes on them. I’m so scatter brained these days my lists have lists.
I use gelatin to make my own blackhead remover strips!!
I’m most productive when I treat it like a work day. Here’s what I mean, I usually to take the day off work before an upcoming event I have to bake for, I get up at my usual time and shower and get dressed and start baking and work in the kitchen just like I would if I went to the office for the day. I used to sleep in and watch TV and start cooking after lunch and really didn’t get much accomplished, then I would get totally stressed out . This works much better for me and is much less stressful. My other tip is clean as you go. I wash bowls and utensils while I have food in the oven. It’s much quicker to to small sinks full of dishes and it keeps the counters clutter free.
when i paint i use old scraps of cardboard from food boxes, like crackers. you can just reuse them for a long time!
I’m essentially lazy at heart, so I’m obsessed with being efficient (who wouldn’t want to complete a task in as few steps as possible, right?)
I’m obsessed with parchment paper. It keeps me from having to clean large cookie sheets in my tiny apartment sink, which is awesome because I use them every day. It may not be the best thing for the environment because I can’t always reuse the parchment paper, but at least I save all of the water and soap that I would’ve used cleaning them!
I’m in to reusing Christmas jars for teacher gifts and putting recipes in the jar.
I read multiple blogs everyday and when they have cool promotions like this I enter at every site. And since the rules state that I can enter once a day, as long as my responses are not similar every day, I’ll be back tomorrow with a new answer!
I always wash glass jars or bottles and use them as flowerpots, to store leftovers @ the fridge, to arrange cheap gifts arranging layers of different colored candy, etc
I use my {America’s Test Kitchen} cookbooks for EVERYTHING!! I have made dinners, salads, desserts, sauces; you name it I’ve tried it! And, we love. every. single. one! I turn there for every question and quest for a new recipe!
I could not live with out keyboard shortcuts! they make my work so much easier :) and its a GOOD day when I lean a new one!
We use milk jugs to start seeds. We start the seeds indoors and come spring they are ready to be planted outdoors.
I’m more productive by doing things that can be done ahead of time in advance… otherwise I get too lazy to even start b/c there’s so much to do
Wax paper makes me happy! I love to bake mini loaves of bread…and once it has cooled, wrap the loaves in it and tie a ribbon on….I also use it when I’m baking large batches of cookies and don’t have enough cooling racks AND I use it to show my kids lovely old fashioned crafts like taking beautiful fall leaves, sandwiching them between the wax paper and ironing! A little piece of Fall preserved!
I love my Pampered Chef mini load stoneware piece! Not only can it be used to make small size meat loafs (for no leftovers) and some to freeze, but I can use it when making bread. I love to bake bread in it and it gives me the perfect sized loaves for sharing with others! I also baked a cake in for my son’s first birthday. I then trimmed down the loaves to make small vehichles for his cake.
I cut off the L-shaped “front end” from 2 of them and attached them to the other 2. We ended up with a dump truck and garbage truck (from the smaller 2) and a fire engine and school bus (from the longer 2). It was so much fun to make and I was inspired by all the great things you do! They were a total hit for the party!
I load up on things I’ll need in the future. I may not need new mascara, toothbrushes, or detergent right now, but I WILL!
Music keeps me going when I have a ton of things to do. Dancing and singing along keeps me from looking at the clock every minute.
We do more with less when we are more cautious with our grocery budget – it makes us more creative in our meal planning.
I always use the reusable bags when I shop instead of the plastic bags. I am thrilled not to deal with piles of plastic bags, and the canvas bags are more sturdy and hold more. I also use them to carry things to work or church. Goodbye plastic bags!
I like buying certain things on liquidation (50-75% off) for birthday gifts, Christmas etc…. I often have to buy a few months early but when the time comes, all I have to do is grab it, wrap or put it in a bag and voila. You save a ton of money and while giving a nice gift.
COFFEE!!!! I never liked it, but i made myself like it, and omg that a diffrence a cup makes! I got soooo much energy now :)
I do all my grocery shopping and 3/4ths of my meal making once a week. Saves a lot of time during the week. Lunches are already packed and all I have to deal with is making dinner! Easy!
The Kitchen Aid. Love it. Can throw in a bread dough and let it mix and knead and start something else. Just takes minutes for cookie doughs and frosting. They are kind of $$$,. got it at a dept. store and paid a monthly payment for a while, but well worth it and can’t imagine life with out it.
Thanks for the giveaways.
oh please Cupcake Fairy….please bring me a cupcake courier…
I am a list queen…lists lists lists….and my Blackberry helps keep all my lists in one place…at my finger tips, not at the bottom of my purse or on post its all over the house (although that is a decorating strategy..)
thanks!! good luck to me ;)
vinegar is my go for everything clean:) From my laundry to my windows!
OMG! I hope I win! I love that phone! I actually use a cake plastic carrier thing and use the top to cover food when I microwave. Its bigger than the usual microwave covers. It’s great!
I’m most productive when I have a clean house!
Simplicity………..enough said???
I ‘ve already have it!!! I guess i am the first in Greece.
I buy it from this site in Europe: http://www.deleukstetaartenshop.nl/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=cup+cake+courier&x=2&y=13
Hmm well i love my cookie spritzer. for spritz cookies of course..lol you can pump out two cookie trays of those badboys in minutes!
well my dogs get my shoes and leashes when i take them for walks. thats pretty prroductive! lol
For doing more with less, I’ve found if I have some chocolate bark or melts laying around, there really is no limit to what I can cover with chocolate… All kinds of fruits, cookies, pretzles, marshmallows, cheerios, graham crackers, and even spoons. I like to dip plastic spoons in melted chocolate and let it harden to use when stirring hot cocoa. Yummmmm!
More with less – I don’t allow myself to buy cook books. I find recipes online and store them in a folder on my desktop. If I am going to be cooking somewhere other than home I’ll print the recipe to take. The recipes I’ve printed I keep in a binder for future use or I give them away to the host/hostess if they ask for the recipe.
I have found that when you are done with something, put it back right away… helps keeps my life easier and things are always put back where they are suppossed to be!
I’m most productive when I’m snacking on something–believe it! Also, having the television on, as background noise, has helped me study for as long as I remember. It certainly has gotten me through college.