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.
Pizza cutter – I use it to cut dough, sandwiches, noodles – everything….including pizza!!
those spongie drawer liners are great as drawer liners, drying areas, stacking china and most of all transporting cakes! i lay a small piece down on my turn table to keep the cake from moving, i lay i piece down in the box to keep the cake from sliding in the box and i use a large piece to keep the box from moving in a car! works great and reusable!
now if i only had something for cupcakes and cake pops…
;o)
I love multi-taskers–no uni-taskers for me! Too many gadgets just clutters up the kitchen. The fondant smoother makes a great icing smoother, as well as something to press a cheesecake crust down with. I call it the “iron” since it looks like one and works like one!
this little scraper that came with a baking stone I purchased years ago. It is so durable and I use it all over my house for cleaning.
We pass kids clothing around our circle of friends- once it is outgrown it gets passed on, and someone is sure to bring us something their kids have outgrown for our kids to wear!
I try and optimize my time “down” time- like balancing the checkbook or clipping coupons -while waiting for my daughter’s ballet class.
Parchment paper! I use it for everything when I’m baking! For making and rolling fondant, letting candy molds dry and making patterns for things I need to cut out of fondant so it doesn’t stick. I recently made Hello Kitty faces out of fondant for cupcakes and you’d be surprised how impossible it is to find a simple cookie cutter! I looked online everywhere! So I drew it on parchment paper, cut it out and then placed it on rolled fondant and cut away! They were super cute!
This was not my idea I saw it in Nate’s Show. But I tried it with my sister and it’s working very very well… We ask each other what we need for the month and make a list.We take turns going to Cosco,Sams Club, other grocery stores and we divide the stuff it saves us money, gas and time.
Wow…cool cupcake carrier. That would sure make life a lot easier. One time I poked holes in a shoebox to carry cupcake cones to my daughter’s birthday party at a remote location. Of course, it was disastrous and the cupcakes leaned into each other…but they still tasted good :) I love items that help make life easier. If you have the right tools, you’re never limited by what you can do!
I refill my airwicks at home with scented oils it works wonderful and i dont have to buy the expensive refills anymore
PS. I wish your book was in spanish to send it to my mom in South America
I clean the shower while in the shower, just before I take a shower. :) It is much easier than trying to stretch and reach and not get cleaner on me and my clothes!
I’ve found that using writeordie.com helps me reach my word count goals during NaNoWriMo :)
Speaking of phones, a great way to save on minutes is to get a Skype plan for $30/year. You can make unlimited calls through skype and it won’t count against your minutes…it will count against your data plan, but doesn’t use much.
We use Microsoft OneNote and its great shared notes features to stay organized.
I make my grocery list & menu while browsing through the grocery ads based on sales. I also know when my meat dept. marks prices down & stock up & freeze whatever is on sale.
I dont have a lot of cabinets in my kitchen so I look for things that can stack and nestle inside each other. That way I can store 4 things in a space meant for one!
I do situps while watching tv… if the tv is on, no being a couch potato for me.
Thanks for doing this contest Bakerella!
Geez! You weren’t kidding when you said it had tons of uses!!! My lil sis is an aspiring pastry chef and this would be fab for a Christmas gift for her! Thank you!
I found if I just do not look at face book….Im acutlaly more productive!
For sure having two storage drawers for Tupperware. One for bottoms and one for tops!! So convenient.
i’ve got in the habit of making my lunch for work everyday. It saves lots of money in the long run :)
A huge timesaver is having an established system for where kitchen equipment goes. For years, I just threw things into a drawer, whichever was convenient at the time. It took me a long time to find that one spatula I needed or the measuring cups–lol! Knowing exactly where the types of equipment are organized helps soooo much when you have a wedding cake deadline.
Listening to Xmas music helps me gets things done faster for some odd reason!
I use plastic store bags for a lunch bag.
Hmmmm. Calendar. I have to have my weekly and monthly calendar updated. With kids going to a thousand different activities on different days…I have to know where I’ll be headed!
I am more productive after I work out and when my husband is at work.
One way I do more with less is when it comes to my crafting, I find I would rather make something than buy it if I am able. I have taught myself how to make cards, home decor, clothes, and many other things cause it helps my family out financially.
If you don’t have a cupcake holder and you need some way to hold your cupcakes in place, just take a shirt box (you know the kind you get when you buy shirts at the store and need a box for wrapping), put it together and cut big X’s in the top. Not too big just big enough to snug you cupcake into. It should hold either 8 or 6 cupcakes.
Coffee and to-do lists make my world go round for sure! without them i would be utterly lost…PS LOVE YOU BAKERELLA!
I love antiquing, and I always try to think of out of the box uses for things… like using an old small cupcake tin as a jewelry holder or for office supplies (tacks, paper clips) etc.
My most productive thing is to line almost all of my baking dishes with foil or parchment paper. Cleanup is so easy after, it saves me LOTS of time!
I can’t think of anything extraordinary, but I clip coupons every week and organize them in a binder. I get a lot of strange looks at the grocery store, but I don’t care. I just smile and think about how much money I’m saving!
In preparation for holiday baking, I measure out and put together all my dry ingredients in a zip lock and mark it so that when it’s time to bake, that parts already done.
I use lingerie bags for washing my kids’ socks. That way they don’t get lost or left in the washer or dryer. It makes mating them a ton easier!
I am most productive with music and my dogs barking
I use the flat rectangle zippered pencil cases sold at office supply stores to hold all those coupons that the department stores mail out. This way it doesnt use up my wallet space and I always have them with me. Not to mention they come in really cute designs.
I think I find myself wanting to make more soup, but with warm weather in the summer it doesn’t go well, so I end up making more treats. I also love the fall time to make all the great pumpkin recipes. I find myself looking at all the wonderful things to make with it.
love that cupcake carrier!!!!! I like to purge the house of any unneccesaries whenever I can. Goodwill must love me! :-) it’s amazing how much we acummulate that we don’t actually need. I like to keep it simple and only keep things around that have a purpose, I especially like multi-purpose items.
grocery store bags – there are a million uses for reusing them for other things – to make carmelcorn, car garbage cans, etc etc
I am more productive when I have music playing on my ipod or music blasting through my house. This helps with being more productive at work, and also doing household chores, which I hate doing but music makes it more bearable to do :)
MAKING LISTS!!!! Those are a huge help…. but sometimes you loose the list and then it doesnt help so much anymore LOL
My hubby is an actor so we recycle his scripts to use in our printer (the backside of them are always blank)…So when we want to print a one sided document we just use a sheet from his old script pile….saves ALOT of paper, money and TREES.. just keep a tray of used one sided paper in a tray next to your printer….
Found this blog through the WP7 contest. I just wanted to point out, very cool info on it. I’ll be visiting regularly (despite the overwhelming pink, which I need to get used to if I have a daughter!).
I use a turkey baster to remove the fat from my ground beef :)
I would say I’m more productive when I work alone while listening to music!:)
I save money at the drug store buying generic OTC drugs rather than name brands. I pick up the brand name product, and compare the active ingredients on the back with that of the generic — 99% of the time, they are the same, and far cheaper!
Viva paper towels are great to help you ice a cake evenly! =)
I have these little brown scrapers that come with my PC stoneware. They can be used for a lot of stuff not just cleaning your stoneware. Like removing something stuck on the counter or spreading caulk, etc..
I have a feeling this will get me a one-way ticket to the looney bin, not a new phone. But I cloth diaper my child (which isn’t that weird) and use disposable wipes. I use the Target kind. And I wash them. I know, right? They’re disposable! That’s nuts!! But I haven’t bought new wipes since June. Seriously. I make my own diaper wipe solution and reuse the washed wipes. Wipes are expensive!! But this way, they just get softer and softer, and when they’re really worn out, I pitch them. And the real bonus: You can use them as diaper liners to help with the really icky didies. By the time i use a used wipe for a diaper liner, I’ve already gotten twice the use out of it that I would’ve if I’d treated it as a disposable wipe!
Nuts-o, eh?
I try to double or triple the recipe when making dinner and freeze the extra portions so I always have a few easy back up meals on hand. If you are going to make the mess, make it once and eat 3 times!!! Asian chicked filling for lettuce wraps, enchiladas, lasagne, Mexican soup, pulled pork all freeze so well.
Making lists – they make me a better person I think! I even draw a little box to the left so I can get the satisfaction of checking it off my list. (Sometimes I will check it off AND mark it out when I’m feeling extra productive!)
It’s a no-brainer–but when I make things like Chili, Spaghetti, Soup or other wet stuff–I make 3 times the amount we need, freeze the other two- and wa-lah–dinner for another day! I also try and cook up several pounds of ground beef at once with onions, salt and pepper–then I freeze them into usable portions and saves me about 20 minutes of cookings and mess on another crazy, busy night–like TONIGHT!!!
My All Clad Panini Pan with Press. I used it to grill vegetables, meat and even fish. It is also very handy to toast bread and great for grilled cheese too. By the way, I went to your book signing in NY and you were the most accommodating book author I have ever met. Congratulations!
I buy a $15 spiral cut ham and freeze the left overs. It gets my family of 4 at least 4 nights worth of different meals!
I also make my son homemade baby food. I get a lot more baby food for a lot less money. Not to mention a much healther baby food with no addatives!
Neat phone! I love using cling film to roll out piecrust. No need to mess with adding extra flour, and you don’t even have to wash the rolling pin afterwards :)
I participate in a food coop for fruits and vegies. I make myself use every single item in as creative a way as I can think up. Since I never know in advance what is coming my way, it forces creativity, its productive because I never have to clean out the fridge to rid it of those old leftovers, and its fun amusement!! FOR CHEAP
LOTS of to-do lists, lots of coupons, lots of making things work for a purpose other than the one they were intended for. My favorite is vinegar. We use that for EVERYTHING, making “buttermilk”, freshening laundry, washing windows… it’s the best. I’m a huge dessert maker, but have no way of transporting any of it. We always wing it, but it would be nice to have an actual carrier!
I download my outlook calendar into my phone and that way I always have it with me. I don’t always have to run to find my calendar.
I am most productive when I know I have my favorite candy bar waiting for me when my kids go to bed!
I use my cake pan to double as my cupcake holder for transporting them. I keep wanting to get a nifty carrier like that but have just not found one when I have the extra cash.
I plan all my menus for the whole month at one time, and I like to buy my groceries for the whole month, too. This way makes it easier to change dinners aound if I run out of time to make what’s planned for the day. If I already have all the ingredients for everything, I can switch stuff around as needed. It also helps us to not eat out so much, if I have a plan made in advance. And the kids always know what’s for dinner, and I don’t have to field the “what’s for dinner” questions anymore. :)
Thank you for all you do…
Idea: Koolaid for dying playdoh… it changes the color and makes the playdoh smell goooood.
:O)
I find I am more productive when I pull myself away from my latest project and get a good night’s sleep. It’s hard to quit working but in the morning I’m in a much better mood and everything is easier.
I love that carrier so versatile. I used plastic store bags to fill my curtain valances. tie ends in knots and pull out for easy cleaning. Yeah cheap and green
All you have to do is put the biscuits in the basket.
If I have leftover sauerkraut after cooking with it, I call up my pal Saul, and we make ruben sandwiches. Great way to do more with less with Sauerkraut Saul!
My attitude!!!!! Sometimes life is so crazy, and we worry to much about having everything coming out perfect….some of the best goodies come from chaos…having my kids help..jamming to the radio…a little imperfection , with a lot of love is what keeps me productive!
Well, my uterus is is over productive…. It recently gave me twins. I guess in that way I’m completely an over achiever.
I purchased a clutch size file organizer at an office supply store. I keep all of my coupons in it broken down by category…groceries, restaurants, stores, etc… I have saved hundreds, or more like thousands of dollars, keeping my coupons handy and organized so I remember to use them!
I also make a daily to do list…do not always get everything done, but it does help to keep me on track! Especially this time of year!
Your blog always starts my day with a smile! Thanks for such an awesome giveaway!
I recently found a container with a gel freezable insert. I love this thing for taking food to work. I feel like I save so much money taking leftovers to work instead of buying lunch, and don’t need a fridge to keep my food fresh till lunch.
I used photo albums as cook books. Everytime I find a recipe i want to keept I write it on an index card which fits perfectly in a photo album, and keeps them covered so they don’t get all messy when i’m cooking/baking. If they get messy you can just wipe off the plastic! :)
I’ve recently learned to sew and I find that I can make more crafts with less time than I previously could as a knitter.
I re-purpose old clothes i don’t use anymore. I take my sewing machine and turn pants into skirts, and modify shirts to be different.
Spaghetti sauce and veggies!
When I buy my weeks worth of groceries, I like to put pureed veggies into spaghetti sauce for my daughter who is 2 and a half and the pickiest eater I know. With my left over veggie puree, I put them in ice cube trays and freeze for my son who is just beginning to eat solid food. Nothing goes to waste, and the whole family is fed!
I use the lid of a buscuit tin to stand cakes on and then when i want to transport them i simply place the base of the tin over the top so an upside down bucuit tin becomes a cake plate and cover
I rip dryer sheet in half…. the box lasts twice as long, and I still have static free clothes.
One year I ran out of Christmas ornament hooks and used paper clips instead. The work just as well and you can bend them to any length you want!
Turning off the computer makes me more productive…but it’s obviously not working as i’m on here now!
I’m most productive when my son is sleeping… that hour after he goes to bed accounts for 90% of my responses to emails, laundry, dishes, and of course baking :)
It’s also when I get a chance to read bakerella <3
I’m most productive when I get to be by myself. Without my SO or son around to bother me. I can clean the house top to bottom, bake and cook up a storm, and do laundry, in no time at all, AND listen to music as loud as I want while doing it. :o)
I couldn’t function without my planner or the crockpot. They both make life a little bit easier since I’m a nursing student!
Making my own groceries on the weekends, breads, granola, sauces, etc.
I listen to motivational audio books when in my daily jog. I can be motivated and lose weight at the same time! ; )
When preparing to clean house…I pull my hair back, put on the running shoes, crank up the classic rock and GET BUSY!
My computer! Bit of an obvious one but it’s exposed me to so many great opportunities, mostly from the internet. But it has also allowed me to learn html/php/css/etc which has even got me jobs :) xx
Using my freezer really helps me have more home cooked meals in less time overall.
I found that I’m most productive when I make a list and stay off of FB for most of the day! :)
With a Windows phone I could do more with less!!!
The best way to do more with less is learning how and when to say “no”.
I had no idea vinegar had so many uses! I only use it to clean out the coffee maker once a month..hard water stinks..
I save tin cans of every size and glass jars, take off the labels, wash ’em up really good and resue them for all sorts of things..
In my daughter’s room, I covered them with colorful scrapbook paper and put in all her crayons, markers, pencils..etc..and in my restroom, glass jars hold q-tips, cotton balls, toothbrushes..
I sometimes add a great big bow and use them for cake pops!
In the kitchen, I like to use a pie dish to make cornbread. Lame-o, I know, but it works.
I’m the most productive when things need to be done in a certain amount of time, yes I’m a procrastinator
One way we’ve done more with less is to do things ourselves. My husband and I just bought a fixer upper. By doing most of the work ourselves, we have been able to do more with the money we have!
Great contest!!!
I use my pizza cutter to cut pancakes, french toast and brownies. I also use my small cheese grater to “grate”
garlic.
I have a rubbermaid drawer chest, 6 drawers tall, the drawers are about 2 inches tall each, in each drawer I have my recipes printed out to correspond to a holiday or special meal I cook. I always host a Halloween and Thanksgving dinner, so I also keep track of people invited, what they bring etc. Makes holidays and meals a snap, no hunting, and when I find a recipe that would make a good addition, I just print and add to the drawers.
I’m more productive when I get to work and hour and a half earlier than all the rest of the faculty/staff at the college I work at. GO STATE!
Improvisation in the kitchen. There’s always 50 different uses for things in your kitchen. I surprised my Culinary Arts professor by using a pastry tip to cut cookies out, because it was the only thing small enough for the size he wanted.
Having a little girl who loves to get purses, I use all of them to help organize her toys and papers she loves to collect.
Keeping a simple calendar of all events in my life helps me stay focused, organized and productive!
As a law student, time is a premium so I have found that ear plugs are a lifesaver! On the life side, I think I got this trick from Martha Stewart, but I put all the sheets for one set in it’s pillowcase, that way you don’t have to spend anytime hunting for matches. My husband was very impressed!
When my boys were very small, I made my own diaper wipes from paper towels, and kept them stored in a tupperware container…they were GREAT, and very inexpensive. I may need to find that recipe again and put a batch together…they make great clean up wipes, too!
my crock pot is my favorite thing in the kitchen. i cook everything in it. i dump the food in it in the morning and go about my business. wonderful meals in the evening. quick, easy, yummy. i also use it just to warm things. i use it as a serving dish and also to transport food to a party or get to gether. and only one dish to clean. cant beat it!
I uses an old styrofoam cooler and tore it apart the first time I made my cake pops! It actually worked great and lasted a long time for several attempts at making pops.
I make hundreds of cookies during the holidays and assemble them on trays to make gifts. It satisfies my need to bake and makes for lots of happy people throughout my neighborhood.
I have a small kitchen and a big collection of cake platters… and people never know quite what to do with that space that’s above the cabinets so I decided to kill two birds with one stone by displaying my cake platters up on top of the cabinets! They look beautiful & fun & I save much needed cabinet space! Yay!
The best way I can stay productive is make lists and stay off of facebook!! Also during the holidays when I’m making my homemade pies I find it easiest to roll the pie dough out between two sheets of parchment paper… no struggling with the dough breaking while trying to place it in the pie plate! :]
Cardboard boxes are so underrated and go beyond their usual storage and shipping uses. When moving into my first apartment, I used a giant cardboard box as my temporary desk/coffee table/nightstand. Cardboard boxes are collapsible so they can be stowed away easily. They are lightweight but sturdy. Plus, children cannot get enough of them (and cats too).
when i prepare big meals for dinner parties or holiday dinners, i re-type and print my altered versions of the recipes i am using as well as a detailed shopping list so i don’t miss a beat! when the meal is a huge one, like thanksgiving dinner, i also create a schedule for prepping and pre-baking/cooking and staple them all together to make a custom recipe book for that one meal! it sounds like a lot of work but it keeps things running smoothly day-of! : )
making do with less internet time, gives me a nice clean house!
more with less? never go to JoAnn’s Crafts without a coupon!!
I always try to buy only what I need and think of how many ways I can maximize use and avoid cluttering my kitchen. Like my set of nesting, stackable Pyrex bowls that are great for prepping food, as mixing bowls, for melting butter or chocolate in the microwave, to store food in the fridge and easily clean in the dishwasher. Because they are clear I can easily see whats in them. Pretty and inexpensive too. Love them!
Hmmm, well we used to use lots of brown paper bags in crafts. Does that count? And a little sad that the cupcake carrier wasn’t the prize. But just a little!
this is great
I’m a sucker for reusing materials that are laying around the house and when I found old paint swatches in my desk drawer I went to town.
Not only are they great for there original purpose but I have used them to detail my business cards, making party favor purses, and holiday ornanments!
My time is so valuable and I can’t afford to waste a minute these days. When I find the time to cook, I always make double (sometimes triple) batches of whatever I am cooking. I freeze the extra for future meals. Yeah, it takes a little time but helps out so much for the busy times. So worth it!
I love my mini cupcake tin!
I obviously bought it originally to bake cupcakes but I’ve since discovered that the little sucker works for mini 1-bite cheesecake, pop-able quiche bites, and even tiny meatloaf muffins!
I recently got a KitchenAid hand mixer as a housewarming gift. I love that thing! It’s perfect for the small jobs when I don’t need my stand mixer (which I love), and is faster clean up.
My husband is a great motivator for me. He keeps me focused on a task, such as putting away my clean laundry (my nemesis) and gives us each a goal to work towards when doing tasks we don’t like. And like a lot of people, listening to music helps me get the job done!
saves me time….lol, when i kick my husband out of the kitchen! Sometimes it’s faster and easier when he DOESN’T help! haha
Keeping a checklist of things to do be done throughout the week keeps me productive. I work 45+ hours and sometimes my head is just spinning by the time the weekend comes. I keep the checklist right by my calendar in my kitchen :)
I used to buy pastry bags to use for piping frosting but then I started using freezer zip lock bags and I have found that they work so much better and it’s cheaper too!
I love brown craft paper! I usually don’t need to buy different kinds of wrapping paper for different occassions anymore.
I use jars for absolutely everything! Holding pencils, storing ingredients, making jam. The list goes on. My favourite use is filling them with candy, tying a ribbon round the top and giving them away as gifts! And they’re so cheap too!
During the holiday seasons, I make my own mint hot chocolate or mint coffee by crushing up candy canes! Every year, I get so many candy canes and I used to just toss them but I don’t like to eat them. I also noticed I spend tons of money on favored coffee mixes or drinks at Starbucks! This easy creation is a cheap way to get the same peppermint taste during the holidays (which is expensive as it is)!
One daughter made a cake for the other who just finished nursing school. I was happily surprised to see the cake in our cupcake holder, as shown on your website! And that was before you posted that idea :) It made me feel good to see that she was being innovative.
As for double-use of items, of course when called on I can’t think of an answer, but I am a paper crafter and have used my hair straightener to straighten ribbon and fibers. I love using things for more than one purpose!
When I want to save up for something specific, I quit spending $5 bills. Any fives I receive in change from purchases are put into savngs. I recruited my husband in August this year to save for Christmas. Since he uses cash for practically everything, the fives are adding up a lot more quickly than when I do it myself.
Don’t know if this counts but i’ve turned my babies old glass bottles into cool containers for sprinkles etc… they look quite neat! With proper lids, ofcourse ;)
I’m more productive by getting ideas from blogs or learning new things from blogs or even the internet in general. I was at a bookstore and I realized I longed for a blog because I could get continuous feed from the author instead of being done with the material printed.
Whenever I eat in my dorm diner, I get extra food to last me at least one more meal :)
My productive ‘thing’ comes in the form of homemade beauty products: I use sugar and vegetable oil as a facial scrub and follow up with rubbing a halved lemon over my face as a cleanser. Rinse with warm water and apply olive oil (or any kind of oil you prefer) as a moisturizer.
All ingredients can also be used in desserts
How sweet!
Love you Bakerella!
This has nothing to do with baking, but google calendar is my life saver. I have color coded calendars based on what type of event/appointment it is – and my phone alerts me a few days ahead of time so I remember. It has really helped me stay on top of things and not forget important dates!
I use vinegar as my go-to air freshener.
I found that with fondant work for cake decorating instead of using and needing different size cutters and different shaped cutters i can do a lot with circle cutters! it saves time from finding the right cutter, and money since some cutters are so expensive. And it gives me the opportunity to be creative with what i have!
smashed strawberries=homemade toothpaste (for whitening your teeth) ;)
For the past few years I’ve been making holiday candies as gifts along with coffee & teas. It’s a great way to make gifts for 30 + for around $200. This year I’m making peppermint bark, vanilla marshmallows, and chocolate dipped pretzels & dried apricots.
listening to upbeat music keeps me going and I get more done!
I don’t have an electric mixer, so I put a spoon in my power drill! It works fantastically :-)
Carpool. Definitley saves us money and helps the environment!
Music! That is all I need. If there is some kind of music playing in my kitchen, I get more done.
I’ve been able to use a sweater for normal use and then I transformed it into a toy for my friend when the sweater didn’t fit me anymore.
LOVE IT!
I make my own fondant. Store-bought is yuck. My homemade is easy, yummy, and cheap. More flavor with less price.
I always make sure to never buy single use cookware. Everything must have multiple functions to take up less space and to make sure it won’t get shoved in the corner of the cabinet!
Two things make me more productive doing the things that really matter – 1) I quit offering to plan all the parties and do the shopping for work parties and 2) I quit Facebook.
Making list and post it reminders all over the house helps me stay organized and productive. Thank you for the awesome giveaway!
I like to use post-its for just about everything! From marking pages in my cookbooks to reminding me of daily errands-
Couldn’t fly across country for my 25th year high school reunion. So I sent cookies! They all knew I was there in spirit and I have enjoyed catching up with class mate via tons of thank you e-mails! Sometimes less can be more!
I have found that being laid off for almost 2 years now, has my creative juices flowing on how to save more money (coupons, coupons, coupons) and to teach my 2 teenage children that they CAN live without the next new thing! we have a cap on spending and are going homemade for a lot of presents this year.
I make lots of fresh pesto sauces, like basil, cilantro and spinach then put them in ice trays and freeze them for when I need them.
My current cake carrier is a mixing bowl turned upside down and taped to my cake stand! ;-)
Nail polish remover gets out permanent marker!
I love kaffir limes. I use them to clean my stove, deep clean my hair, in curries… amazing
I have found taking more time to do things correctly helps. Follow through and use the recipe and directions. Also, I really really love disposable pasty bags! They make things so much easier, I just can live without them.
I try to stay away from the computer…… I get so much more done, if I am not cooped up sitting………
Luckily, my sister and I wear the same size…so I have twice as many clothes for half the price. Lucky for me, she has great taste! :)
I use two square dowel rods on either side off my rolling pin when rolling out cookie dough…that way all my cookies are the exact same thickness! It’s great!
MUSIC!
i do everything with music!
I use the top of my large cake carrier as a giant mixing bowl. It’s great when you are trying to stir a huge batch of chocolate popcorn! :)
I use toothpaste to clean cd’s or dvd’s when they skip, sometimes helps with the scratches too!
I find I’m most productive when I work by myself, and when I have a deadline. I’m a bit of a procrastinator but I always seem to get the most done at the last minute!
Your baking ideas motivates me on my kitchen journey! Thank you for sharing!
Love the cupcake holder. I never knew something like that exist. I would love to get one.
I’m more productive after my 3 little ones are tucked away in their beds!
For me it’s menu-planning a week at a time. I have all the groceries I need and spend too much time wondering what’s for dinner.
My favorite more efficient way of doing things is to cook or bake extras that I can freeze. It saves me on the days I don’t want to be in the kitchen.
It doesn’t make sense to me, but since we brought baby #2 home 3 weeks ago, I’ve been making better use of my time. No more endless time wasting online…when I get 3 minutes to spare, I rush around the house picking up or doing dishes or folding laundry. Let’s see how long this lasts!
I’m sure I’m not original here, but I use the cardboard rolls from toilet paper to keep extension cords, plugs from other appliances and other items that need to be wound. It keeps them really handy and I can write on the tube what appliance the cord goes with.
I’m more productive when I get sleep and have the energy to be productive :)
That phone sure would make my life easier. I am constantly fussing with mine and it is so frustrating.
Post-it notes. I use them to level my desk at work. Classy, right?
I love repurposing my cookie cutters. Looking at them upside down, on their sides, making other shape cookies than the original intention of the cutter.
I love large scarves not just to accessorize or compliment an outfit but for it’s alternative uses at home like a unique window treatment or as throw pillow cover. Sometimes to wrap gifts too.
Hummmmm… I really haven’t found anythin tat makes my life more productive… MAybe thats way I’m running around all day ..Like a chicken with its head cut off….
I’m trying to think really….I use shoes boxs for kids art supplies… I use old cheese balls buckets for scrapbooking ribbion and dtr polly pocket toys.. Thats simple……
I found i am most productive when I turn off my computer:)
If I stay away from the comfy couch I seem to get more done. Momentum.
Regarding productivity, to-do lists have become my new best friends. I tend to be really scatterbrained in a “put something down and walk away from it” kind of way, so I find that making a list of what I need to do helps keep my focused.
I am more productive when I kick the kids and husband out of the house so that I can think and be creative. When my house it silent and no one is asking me a million questions I can work alot better.
put a worn out (but clean) old sock over your hand to collect dust that’s gathered on the ledge and tables.
I’m most productive when I’m reading Bakerella posts.
I am in college so I have learned to be very crafty in the uses of things. I have found that a silverware organizer work wonders to organize a messy desk.
I use leftover craft materials and things that would ordinarily go in the trash and make little dolls out of them – for example, one had the head of a bottle cap, another was made from an old buttonholer, and one was part of a discarded corporate seal – it really opens up the creativity and makes something out of nothing.
I LOOVE ziploc baggies. I use them when I’ve bought 5 lbs of fresh ground hamburger that I need to separate and freeze. Saves a few bucks, and lasts longer! Win-win.
Dryer sheets have so many uses for me. First, making my clothes smell good and taking the static out of them (the obvious one). After they’ve gone through the dryer, I can use them to rub on either my brush or straight onto my hair to remove static. I can take them with me to work to rub on a machine that we have that builds static and gets jammed with paper, or I can put them in pillows or under cushions to give a faint fresh scent :)
I love double and triple purposing cookie cutters. I have one that’s supposed to be a head stone (from a Halloween set). It works as intended, and as cookie place cards.
I would have to say zip lock bags!
Save left overs, pack it full of frosting and pipe away. Need gloves to pick of any messes… zip lock bags are my go to for most stuff LOL.
Jars. They can be food containers, vases, candle holders or, with vintage ones, decor on a kitchen window ledge.=)
Crockpot cooking is the way to go. So easy and so simple! Thanks for the giveaway!
I gave up a great and profitable career in Convention/ Event Planning to give me more time for my son. Figured with him being more likely to be my only son, mommy needed to cut back and enjoy life a bit. Haven’t looked back!
Me with coffee in my system = more productive :)
It’s a tried and true fact of life.
Not very brilliant but I always make a little extra for dinner and take it for lunch and that makes my day so much more productive and cheaper. All I have to do is throw the tupperware into my lunch bag and go out the door
Instead of using those expensive (and often hard-to-clean) dog beds for my Standard Poodle, I use cheap comforters from Wal-Mart folded into quarters and covered with some even cheaper flat sheets. Easy to just swap the sheets out or even throw the whole lot in the washing machine on those days the pooch decides to walk through every puddle on the way home…and all for a fraction of the price of a dog bed. :)
This might sound silly, but my roommate taught me to put sugar and creamer in my coffee cup before I pour myself my morning coffee to avoid having to use an extra spoon. It’s the little things :)
I hang cute plates in our kitchen as decorations – saves space and shows them off!
I’ve recently noticed how many different ways I can make toast for breakfast! Being in an early 6:50 AM class, I have little time to eat in the morning (but I LOVE eating breakfast; it’s my favorite meal of the day usually). So, I’m trying out different kinds of toast toppings – butter, peanut butter, almond butter, Nutella… just experimenting every morning with toast. :] Keeps things interesting!
I feel like I am most productive when it comes to meal planning and budgeting. I mean, I based my blog around how productive I’ve become in life just from learning to be frugal in finances and food. We do more with less every week and we feel like we are richer than we ever were.
I’ve learned that good vanilla extract is the best secret ingredient ever and instead of spending $14 an ounce, I make my own with good vanilla beans and vodka. If I weren’t so tired I’d recreate the math I did to prove how much cheaper it is to do it yourself.
Nothing major but…. I write down the cute things my kids do on sticky notes with the date and stick them in “their” tote, so I can fill in their baby book sometime before they graduate high school.
I’ve found that baking soda has so many uses besides just baking… cleaning/deoderant/toothpaste… it’s awesome and $6 for a massive bag at Costco! :)
Join as many reward programs, good stuff for free at places I already eat and shop!!!
One word: blackberry!
I’ve found that using those ziplock reusable containers as part of my assembly line for icing is a lot quicker and less messier than using my regular bowls in the house. I usually use around 5-6 for flooding and icing, so this method is more practical.
Use Coupons at the grocery and eat dinner at home! Huge money saver!