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.
Less internet for me means more time doing other important things… cleaning, cooking and catching up on re-runs! ;)
I think home cooking our meals helps me do more with less. I try to buy ingredients that I can use leftovers in the next meal
jam jars! for homemade jams,chocolate spreads, for storage and for tealights!
One way I have found to be more productive is to tell my 5 year old daughter when I have things I need to get done. Not only does she have a fantastic memory – which she certainly didn’t get from me – she also holds me accountable, and I just can’t resist that cute little face when she asks if I did something I said I was going to!
After cutting all my coupons from the Sunday paper, I pass the extras that I don’t use to my co-workers so we can all save a little any way we can.
The rule in our house is “if it’s not being used, someone else needs it.” We don’t hang onto things that we think we’ll use someday, because we realize that our someday is someone else’s today. We are able to do much more with much less. :)
Dry beans work great as pie weights….put them over foil and save them in an old quart jar….Perfect.
Best tip I can think of where I do more with less is that I don’t use any fancy spot removers for stains. I use a dot of Dawn on any greasy stain (which I am famous for) and that gets the grease right out when I wash it!
I go through all my kitchen utensils and gadgets. if they only have 1use and I can’t think of another way to use it, a unitasker,I throw it away.less clutter!
I’ve given up sleep. Haven’t done it in years. Who needs it, anyway?
Honestly, though, I’ve just found, that we really don’t need 7 sports and 5 arts in our lives. As adults we aren’t going to do 7 sports and 5 arts. That would be crazy. Now, my kids do piano, and if they want to choose one sport a year, they may, if they don’t want to, I won’t force the issue. I stress more time at home, and less time away from it. It has made my life more peaceful, less stressful, and theirs too. Grades have gone up, and so have the corners of our mouths. We’ve never been a screen-oriented family; I’ve just never let my kids watch TV or spend hours playing video games or on the computer, so they have never had to give it up. As a result, even though they don’t play a lot of sports, they are athletic from hours of playing outside. :) And tan, too! :)
Instead of re-buying or washing frosting bags, I will use a gallon-sized ziploc bag; I just cut across to top to remove the zip and and snip off a corner for the coupler. This comes in handy for small decorating jobs that just don’t require a lot of frosting!
I have a bunch of simple fabric bags in a variety of sizes. So instead of using wrapping paper, I use one of these festive bags. You never have to worry about the paper tearing, plus you can reuse them!
I set goals of what I want done and accomplished but a certain time frame. Keeping lists and staying organized helps make me successful
This Christmas like many people we are short on money. So I am making homemade pumpkin bread from my Grandma’s recipe for everyone. I make it every year anyway so I will just make several more batches!
I recently have been using a glade candle as a door stop.. haha, I needed the bathroom door to stay open and it was the first thing I grabbed, its been there now for a couple of weeks
I’ve tried locking the children in a closet, but they make a lot of noise. I now just turn them outside and tell them to play until it’s dark!
LOVE LOVE LOVE your site and ideas..thanks for sharing this one..seems to be a problem getting cute pops to happy smiling faces.. I have learned that an upside-down colander will hold the pops while they dry..IF you forget to get styrfoam.
Making a list and actually sticking to it helps me get things done and having a simple schedule and sticking to it keep things from piling up!
I too LOVE the cupcake courier!
I gotta get my hands on these! I’ve gone to making my pops upside down just for transport reasons. That limits what I can do:( This is FANTASTIC
I purchase a new empty ketchup bottle at the dollar store and use it for pancake batter. My daughter and I make all kinds of fun shapes and we love guessing what they are supposed to be.
This is especially true at this time of year, but I have found that when my family is running a little low on money each month and I can’t go crazy at the grocery store, we actually eat better because I have to get creative and find things to make from scratch rather than buying it premade or semi-made from the grocery store. So, I save money and it’s healthier too!
My husband loves to eat with chopsticks. I’m not only talking Chinese food, but spaghetti and salad and everything else. And no, he’s not Asian! He’s white. Anyway, so we’ve got a bunch of them and when they’re not being used for food, I use them as coffee swizzle sticks and the rounded end for leveling my measuring cups. Most of my knives to not have a flat part so the chopsticks work perfect for leveling.
I am more productive when I have a positive attitude. ;o)
prioritizing and making check lists!
I use vinegar and baking soda for cleaning a lot of things:fruit and vegetables, pans, the tubs and toilets, and my sink. Really the list is endless, It is safe, inexpensive and effective.
I have found that toothpaste is a great silverpolish! It is less expensive and takes way less rubbing to get the tarnish off.
Also soup is agreat meal when the cash flow isn’t flowing so much :O) It is filling , good for you ,it makes the house warmer and smells wonderful while simmering on the stove.
Stuffed Animals!!! My kids and I have an agreement – one in one OUT!
I have found with my three super involved and busy kiddos that bringing out the crockpot a few times a week have really saved me on dinners, time and from having to feed my kids fast food. Love it! :)
I do more laundry spending less money by making homemade laundry detergent!
How I am more productive…hmmm…that’s a daily struggle, but I would have to say that I am a hige list maker. Nothing gets done if it’s not on a list!! I’ve also found huge truth in the concept of having less clutter around you leading to less clutter in your mind!
Good Luck to me!! Love this prize!
Wow! Awesome prize and I LOVE that carrier! I love to use my crock pot to cook–dinner is so much easier and quicker after work. And I just could not survive without my Kitchen Aid mixer, especially at the holidays!
I get up really early, before the rest of the family, enjoy a hot cup of coffee and go through the PILES of paperwork!
Staying organized and having places for everything to be put away at. In the end, I know where everything is and can be more productive.
So many great ideas and tips here. Thanks for sharing!!
Mine have already been posted, lists, label maker, using zip lock bags to organize. Being a new empty nester, I find we are changing and simplifying our lives now,
I am an upcycler- nylons into headbands, juice pouches into purses, old t shirts into new dresses, the list goes on and on!
I LOVE this, I NEED this, I WANT this….
I love my cookie scoop!
I LOVE things that are multi-purpose, I think everything should do more than one task. I find it essential when buying items for my daughter (5) if it doesn’t have a minimum of 3 uses I don’t even want to bring it into the house, it’s just more clutter. Having less “stuff” makes me more productive.
i try not to buy too many 1 use gadgets… i love multipurpose kitchen tools :)
Having just started my own business, I recycle paper in my printer when I’m concepting ideas. I’ve also started using up the rest of that hotel soap by taking it home with me. A girl’s gotta eat!
I use a pizza cutter to quickly cut up pancakes, french toast and waffles for my kids, and large cookie cutters for sandwhiches for my kids who always eat around the crust.
I find using my crockpot saves me a lot of time & effort. Throw everything in in the AM and reap the benefits when you get home.
By the way – I’d love to win that carrier
Recycling containers. Old formula tubs hold my fondant cutters, old wipes containers hold my lollipop sticks, mason jars hold my melts, etc. That stuff is too useful to throw out.
I’ve found that I can be MUCH more productive if I elminate that silly thing called sleep. lol, ah the life of a college student. :P
I’m a menu planner type of girl – it helps with reusing ingredients or emptying out the fridge making nights more organized to do more events!
I’ve found that I’m most productive when there is no noise… so no tv, no radio. I think this is because I’m an audio learner mostly, so I’m easily distracted by sounds.
I try to cook from scratch as much as possible. I try not to use packaged food too much. It tastes better and uses less sodium. It’s time consuming though, but worth it.
I use gmail and have folders for each of my bills. I get and pay all my bills online, and keep both the email statements and the payment confirmation in my email folders. This reduces the amount of paper used, and I do not have to physically store it around my house!
I use baby wipes for so much. I always buy the unscented and they are used to..well wipe my son’s tush.
But I also use them to wipe his and his sisters’s shoes if they are dirty. A quick wipe around the toes makes them look like new.
I keep a container in the kitchen to clean my son after dinner, because he can get messy! And I can always use one to wipe off the table until I can clean it later.
I’ve used them to clean up spills on the carpet or tile. I’ve also used them to clean off his car seat when he secretly gets a snack and spills it. I was able to get caramel off his car seat last week with baby wipes.
So useful!
More with Less: We set a limit for christmas presents and that forces me shop around for the best price. I love visiting Target’s annual toy clearance and will stock up on gifts to give throughout the year. We just gave a Transformer Head normally priced (and still priced) at $40 for $9.98 that I got 75% off. I LOVE the cupcake carrier – we are the “baker” for my son’s daycare and are always transporting cupcakes and I have never have anything to bring them in except a plate and the foil sticks to the top :( This is great!
i have this carrier and it’s the best thing in the whole world! would love to have another one.
I guess my thing is mini cupcakes and decorated sugar cookies. If I do not have to make a lot for an occasion, I use my pie carrier. I have a double layer pie carrier that can be used as a wonderful mini cupcake carrier or cookie carrier!
I bake bread quite often and tend to keep my house cool. I found that I can fit my coered bread pans with dough for rising on top of my DVR. It gives off just enough heat that makes it a perfect proofing oven.
I use the onion/garlic chopper to chop up boiled eggs to make egg sandwiches….with 4 kids, it’s a lot of eggs to chop up!
this is a small thing but, i reuse the toothpick i use for testing cakes, muffins etc as well as reusing the parchment paper whenever i can…i usually bake several types of goodies on a given day…so i feel good about that….
thanks for including me in this fab giveaway!!
I use my crockpost for almost everything. It’s so easy to get dinner on the table during the week if I can set the timer on it, and have dinner done when we get home from work. More family time = much happieness.
I’m making at home natural soaps and cosmetics, cheap and natural ! Wonderful website.Chocolat.
I bought a steamer to clean the floors, but have found so many more uses for it than I ever thought! I haven’t touched a toilet since! I just blast it with my steamer and have my 7yo son follow me with an old towel to wipe up the water, and voila! Clean toilets in seconds!! My son has even asked if he could clean the toilets from time to time…can’t get much more efficient than that! :)
For productivity, I use the barter system. I do child care. But I always work 2 other jobs and 2 volunteer gigs. I’m always behind on getting work done. One of my parents has a before/after school child in my daycare. The pay for B/A kids is minimal but I do it b/c she’s a friend.
Now she is working as my personal assistant in exchange for free daycare. The help is worth way more than the tuition!
I make waffles on Saturdays and just double or triple my batch. Then I freeze them and have them for the rest of the week. All I have to do is pop them in the toaster. I have saved loads this way since most of my grocery money goes into breakfast foods.
My husband and I have recently dramatically downsized our living space from a large house to a cozy apartment. There is definitely more time to do whatever we choose to do now that we have less to clean and maintain, and no yard work!
I use vinegar to clean my hardwood floors! Much cheaper than any alternative.
I use an empty egg carton to stick my cheesecake pops while they dry.
More with less-I do wash my ziploc bags. :0)
More productive-I cook twice as much food at dinner time, place the extra “portion” in the freezer and serve the rest. When I need a meal in a pinch, I run for the freezer. :0)
More with less? I retired and now get to take care of my new grandson :)
I work early in the morning…to spend less money AND be more productive, I bring my own french press to work, so that I can have coffee without damaging the budget.
I clip coupons… but only for products I would normally buy.
I use a cake pan to make a deep dish pie. This was the first time I tried it so we’ll see how it comes out!
I would have to say a portable calender and my cell phone keep me the most organized. I keep all my contacts in the cell and make important notes in the calender throughout the day…keeps me very organized and prompt. I am loving the pictures from the book tour….looks like you are having the time of your life.
More with less…homemade laundry soap. Saves so much money and I scent it however I like. It’s great for the stacks and stacks of laundry my kids create.
make list, somehow I get more done when I can check it off.
my coupon book (and coupons)! it allows me to make our otherwise smaller income stretch for a family of 5!
I’ve saved the stickers that used to come in credit card applications for my little ones to use on “projects”. That’s the best I can come up with this morning. ;)
I’m currently using my paper clip holder dish as a Coke can holder instead. =) Keeps me from having to clean off the desk and I drink things more often than I use paper clips anyway!
I save my kitchen clean up until the morning, then while my tea water is boiling and coffee is brewing I scrub all the little details and put away all the dishes from the night before.
This multi tasking gives me more time with the family in the evenings, ensures that I rarely burn or over brew the breakfast beverages, and is a fulfilling, productive way to kick off the day!
I am most productive when no one is home…..turn on the music and get busy!! I have also found that I get much more done and have cut down on housework by decluttering my house.
I find out that if you write down what you need to do you are more productive than trying to plan everything from your head…
You are more likely to skip if you don’t have the list to stick to…
The notepad app on my phone–I make to do lists, grocery lists, send myself reminders via email. I love it!!
I have reorganized my kitchen for baking purposes. I now have a container that holds my baking soda/powder, vanilla, cocoa, and salt along with my measuring spoons since it helps to pull out one item rather than find the six items you need each time. I have also moved my flour and sugars from the pantry to be more conveniently located by my mixer. I also leave the measuring cups in these containers. Overall, this saves time, imagine that!
I take a trip to our local bread/bakery outlet every other week. I spend about $20 and have enough bread/rolls/donuts/bagels for the next 2 weeks! By freezing the bread and goodies, it saves me multiple trips to the store, and also the products are waaayy discounted.
One thing I do to be more productive and do more with less is clip coupons:) I seek out what is on sale and build our weekly menu around that.
I found some little plastic containers at the dollar store that work GREAT in my kid’s lunch boxes. They are the perfect size, the lids stay on tightly, and they come 10 per pack.
I watch TV less so I can read more!
I have started clipping coupons……….
I like to use tape to get the fuzz off my clothes!
Using ziplock bags not just for snacks and such but for filling cupcake liners w/batter when baking cuppies. So much easier, neater and cleaner than using a scoop/spoon. Not original but I love it!
I use my pampered chef food scraper to score my homemade cards…it was free and works a lot better than the “bone folder”! :)
Less TV is more family-time! Just shut the thing off and hang out with my kids!!
Baking/cooking ahead when I am feeling inspired. And then pulling it out when I am feeling less than inspired!
I know this is kind of lame, but I cannot live without my tiny apartment sixe dishwasher. I love to cook and am dirtying dishes constantly. Without my dishwasher (that cleans ANYTHING I put into it!) I would 1. never cook, and 2. always be washing dishes. I have been so much more productive because of my beautiful wonderful dishwasher! Oh, and by the way, thanks a million for the giveaway!
We use recycled tin cans and jelly jars to corral lots of bits and bobs.
Not original, but someone taught me to use a Pringles can to hold a piping bag while filling it. It’s a HUGE help!
As a Pampered Chef consultant I do lots of events throughout the year, with the cake balls on my table (on one of our beautiful platters), it brings more people to my table! Thank you =)
After the holidays, I buy the most generic looking wrapping paper I can find and use it for gifts all year. I get a great discount on it and have a great stash all year!
I make lists, lots and lots of lists!
I am most productive when my fiance plays with my daughter leaving me time to clean and cook, and be merry.
To be more productive, I have to be challenged! The more I have to do the more productive I am! Seriously, it’s weird! I’m a little competitive I guess!
I do more things by hand, from homemade meals to handsewn halloween costumes, thus saving more money in these tough economic times.
I find myself more productive if I schedule things.. even if it is when I need to make dinner or work out. If I have it scheduled I get more done.
I would put this to great use I am new to cakepops and my daughter and I like them alot! We made some to raise money for a local animal rescue.
i am more productive when I have a list in front of me of all that needs to get done, and MUSIC!!!!!
We have used white toothpaste to fill in holes in the wall from hanging pictures.
I am most productive when things around me are uncluttered and everything is put away.
I have baskets EVERYWHERE! I use them to carry anything and everything as well as storage. They are my help.
LOVE these things!!! awesome!!
I’ve found that I’m most productive when I’m listening to music. I have found that, unless there’s music on, I am physically incapable of cleaning. True story. :)
I’ve been making weekly meal plans for awhile now and it has helped us be more efficient with our grocery shopping. We know exactly what we need and we spend less money because we don’t have to go to the store multiple times each week because we forgot something.
I lay a cereal box down, and then cut into the face to make a flap opening and the kids transport cupcakes to school, for parties in the box. No worrying about getting my containers back!
Have taken part in two “swap parties” this year in order to trade trash for treasure with friends and neighbors- very successful! Have also learned to drill holes in the back of wine bottles and convert them into darling lamps – a fun way to repurpose an item and then delight someone else with a gift! Trade ya a wine bottle lamp for a cupcake carrier….I can even customize it with bling to say “Bakerella”! :o)
Sometimes I am lazy and don’t want to get an icing bag out where you have a hard time getting your tip out so I just use a siplock and cut a small hole in the end for all my circle piping needs. :)
I was hoping the giveaway would be the cupcake carrier – lol!
I’ve been really loving the reusable shopping bags that you can get at any store. I’m always using them to carry something, not just groceries.
Whenever i make dinner, i make a double batch and throw it in the freezer. When i’ve got extra time, i’ll bake up a bunch of desserts (that are freezer friendly of course) to freeze as well. This way, when there are days i have no time to cook or have unexpected company, i just pull things out of the freezer and viola! Wholesome and delicious dinners are served!
For general cleaning I make my own spray…for the counter top, cabinets and stove. Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and a little tea tree oil.
I love items with multiple uses, and hate to buy little gadgets with one use. Real Simple has so many good tips for “multipurposing” things. Now I use my tea ball strainer to add powdered sugar to cupcakes!
I saw the cupcake courier and thought you were going to give one of those away. :( Drats. Ah well…phones are good too! Then you can just call the bakery and have them deliver cupcakes instead of trying to figure out how to transport them.
Anyway…I’m more productive if I have a list of things I need to do, otherwise I’m all over the place and never finish anything.
I just LOVE to use my crockpot these day , busy running with the kids to some sort of practice or game put everything in & your done for the day !!! Easy cleanup too 1 pot !
I find that I can be more productive when I have a time crunch. I get way more done and do much better work when I have a deadline to meet.
Cookie cutters come in handy for tons of thing from tracing to cutting out crafts.
and, i would have been happy to have a chance to win such a cool cake-pop carrier! ;)
i am definitely a list-maker, but that doesn’t always mean i get things on the list done. so now, i pick one or two things on my list and mark the “DO TODAY”… it helps to whittle my list of to-do’s down :)
Well, when camping with kids, i use cupcake tins/mufin tins as plates (the 6 hole muffin tin), everything fits in its place…even a cup fits in the hole….and your beans dont run into your burger lol..
thanks for an opportunity to win big.
Melissa from Naches, WA
If I have neglected dusting for a week or so and have only a few minutes to dust before someone comes over, I place socks on my hands and can quickly dust all my surfaces before the door bell rings.
Love the Carrier. I will be eye-ing for it. I love re-purposing things.. I just cant get enough of those baby food jars.. using for everything.. and lately using it for all the *embellishments* to go on my cake pops.. Kids can pick and choose which ones they want and voila..
Have you ever tried using a Tide To Go pen? They’re AMAZING. Last spring, I was running late for an interview, so I grabbed my folder with my resumes, my portfolio, and a bag of popped microwave popcorn. Somehow the popcorn left a bunch of little grease spots on my shirt… luckily I had a random free Tide To Go sample in my purse. It got ALL of the stains out, and dried before I arrived for the interview!! I’ve used it hundreds of times since in a lot of different situations, and have success every time! (I swear I don’t work for Tide!)
Hi There! Great giveaway. I have one that comes to mind. I crochet a whole lot and use a empty tissue box that is decorative by my chair where I sit to put my scraps that can’t be crocheted with again..My ends! :-) Empty and reuse it again. I use them for lots of things..Toddlers love them if you put things in them and let them take out and put back in.. :-)
I have found that by getting more sleep I am more productive AND a happier person!
Hey there, Bakerella,
I just LOVE my handy dandy foo saver/sealer! Still finding more and more ways to use almost daily! Leftover individual portions plopped into small bags and right into freezer for mix n match lunches, sealing whole casseroles to tote to sick friends, keeping jewelry hidden safely for trips, cheese-keeper-longer, bottles sealed for trips, ice bags,,,you get the point! Let me win,let me win!!
I have missed baking terribly, but with a baby boy running around and a full time job, I just don’t have big chunks of time to dedicate to the art. So I’ve started doing everything in stages. I’ll mix dry ingredients when I have fifteen minutes, measure out wet ingredients and grease pans. Then in the evening or when the Hubs comes home, I throw it all together and into the oven. It’s nice to have little pockets of baking time throughout the day.
I’ve gotten into the habit of getting all my ingredients measured before I start baking keeps my counter more organized and I’m less likely to forget an ingredient. Plus, clean up is easier because I don’t have containers of flour, sugar, etc. to put away to start doing dishes.
I try to plan my to do list ahead of time and it helps memanage my time and be more productive
Using recycled jars for a host of things……dried fruit and nuts looks so beautiful in them, buttons and old wooden spools, etc.
I remember back in elementary school we used to do a bunch of crafts using empty gallons of milk. At Halloween we shook orange paint in them and made jack-o-lanterns, at Christmas we made them into Santas, and at Easter we cut them in half to make Easter baskets!
I’m doing some serious downloading of stuff I’ve accumulated in my 56 yesrs. My heart feels lighter with every box that goes out and I’m not bringing in more stuff to refill empty spots. And my hubby and I have been blessed this year in so many ways we decided not to buy anything for eachother for Christmas, rather help a family we know that needs it more than us. Doing for others helps us do with less and that is a good thing! Besides, I’m more creative when I have less! Thanks for opportunity to share.
I make bake goods for my co-workers and use them as my test dummies on different recipes. A carrier like this would be so helpful, I have never seen one like this before.
I have this courier and love it!
I’m always trying to “recycle, reduce, reuse”. Glass pasta sauce jars turn into pasta containers. Used dryer sheets get wrapped around my swifter sweeper to sweep my floors.
Writing a list helps me to get more things done, as each check mark is a sign of accomplishment that inspires me to do more.
I love the carrier. My one addition would be to be able to stack two pies in it. I have a tiered pie-rack that fits inside a standard cake carrier to carry two pies. It makes it so versatile! 36 cupcakes, 1 cake, 2 pies, or 24 cake pops!
I use a dry erase board detailing chores and tasks for the next few days so we don’t get too overloaded with last minute stuff.
getting the kids to bed early, gives me more time,… and having a lot of sleep is good for the kids too!
If it needs to be dusted I probably don’t need it. I think my house looks cleaner with less stuff. I love the Christmas tree pops.
This would really come in handy !!!
I am an old fashioned calendar girl. Everything must be written down on it or I won’t remember!!
I turn off the t.v. and limit my computer use when I have a lot on my to do list. It’s a miracle how much time I have when I do that!
I have this and I LOVE it! I decorate lots of small cakes so I use two of the cupcake trays in the carrier and leave the third one home. In the bottom tray I put my sugar flowers, ribbon, anything I need to decorate and assemble the cake when it arrives at its destination. On the second tray, I put a square flat plate with my cake on it! It works wonderfully because the lid is so tall! Cake and decorations, easily and SAFELY transported… what could be better? :)
Love love this carrier – i never have enough room in my carrier! i use my cake testing stick from pampered chef for everything – testing cakes, cleaning hard to reach places and also tricky crafts.
I use almost everything for several things, I mash potatos with my potato masher, but also ground meat while frying. I zest lemons with my lemon zester, but also garlic and frozen ginger root. I spin salad with the spinner, but also my silk blouses!
Cheers!
Canning jars work for so much – great storage and they look so good filled with good stuff. Easy to see and use inexpensive. Great in the sewing room. Terrific in the pantry. Great for storing leftovers. Supplies in the bathroom… oh the list goes on and on!
I like to use my icing tips directly on my cake to make designs. I’ll take a tip, put it over my finger (like a thimble,) and use it to create a design on my smooth-iced cake. It works great, and it gets my icing tips working double time.
i like to find uses for old things..i took my husband’s dog mangled winter jacket with broken zipper and cut it up and repurposed it to become a carrier for hot baking dishes~! :)
I come from a huge family and have learned a lot over the years on how to make due with what I have on hand and not complicate things. I’ve used onion bags as pot scrubbies, baggies with a corner snipped off as icing bags, bed sheets turned into a beautiful duvet cover.
My yoga mat – I use it to line my trunk when I take my baked goods, cake plates, etc. in the car. Everything stays in place and arrives unscathed.
I love the magnetic strip I have in the kitchen. I put the knives and select tool I use the most there. Knives are kept out of little kid reach and it makes me feel like a “real” cook when I pull the knives off of it.
I have learned that letting my children (9, 6 &4) help with cooking/baking doesn’t take that much more time. And, hopefully, it will help them in the future when they HAVE to cook.
This may not be a way to do “more with less” but I think it’s fun a creative…I use empty wine bottles as candle holders. So many wine bottles have beautiful designs, it’s a shame to let them go to waste! And you can really create a cool display.
I wake up an hour earlier than everyone else to enjoy the silence. The silence helps me set my mood for the day and allows me to think, work, make a crock pot dinner, read the bible, anything I want with no one yelling….MOM! to interrupt. What a difference for me and my family.
Something that’s made me much more productive is changing my schedule. I’ve found that getting the worst/more tedious bits of work done first (and first thing in the morning if possible) means it gets done a lot faster and gives me the entire rest of the day to work on the fun things I love about my business. :)
I use gift baskets for Halloween treats, to serve muffins at potlucks, etc.
I download audio books to my ipod — and find that when I’m engaged in listening to the book I can get my household chores done better and faster because I stay focused on the chore.
When I make extra food, I freeze it so there is something in my freezer ready to go.
I am most productive when I limit my “fun” internet time (blog reading, etc.) to my morning coffee time. It’s 100% my time to just surf around and relax.
Helps me be more focused throughout the rest of the day!
I’ve been making sure the dishwasher is completely full before I run it, and then as soon as it’s done, empty it, instead of letting the clean dishes sit in it for days. Then I can get all the dirty dishes out of my sink at night and into the dishwasher. It keeps my sink and counters less cluttered. That makes me feel productive, like I’m trying to keep my house cleaner.
Vinegar is amazing…I use it in the wash, to clean soap scum from the shower glass, get hairspray off the wall and for cooking. Another bonus is that it is cheap!!
P.S. Is that fondant or gum paste on the Santa cupcakes?
I put away my knitting! If I start I can’t stop and I get nothing else done :)
using baking soda to clean the kitchen, making my own laundry soap
I use infant medicine droppers from the pharmacy to measure out extracts.
I’m an art student, and every so often, I’ll need some bookcloth for a project. Instead of going and buying premade, I go to Goodwill and find a dress I like. Once it’s been snipped and resewn, I’m left with a cute dress and bookcloth material to spare!
I’m most productive when I turn off the computer and TV and put on some music.
I use my rolling pin instead of a meat mallet to thin out my chicken!
I carry my cake pops in a copy paper box with styrofoam in the bottom. It’s nice :)
I’m a list addict. If I make a list and stick to it, I’ll buy less, I’ll get all of my tasks done, etc. If I find something else I need at the store or if I come across something else I need to do while I’m doing stuff on my list, I’ll just start a new list for next time! :D
my beautiful pink kitchenaid mixer makes me more productive!!!!well, of sweet things to eat anyway!!!
Pizza Cutter. I use my pizza cutter for SO much more than just cutting pizza.
I use it to cut up waffles and pancakes for the kids (way faster and much neater), you can use it to cut scone dough into the right shape, to cut sandwiches in half (or 4th’s) etc. So useful.
I do flashcards while I walk-studying and working out at the same time:)
recycle! endless supply of crafting… and affordable :)
Good morning!
I’ve found the use of the rubbery textured shelf liner to be of great help to me… I use it under my cutting board so it won’t move, under my cake plate when transporting the cake in my not as high as your carrier and the other day, had a needle stuck in a project and my fingers kept slipping so I grabbed that liner and put it around the needle and pulled it right thru! It’s a great product which helps me be more productive!
Thanks for all the great blogs and all the great comments! Love the give away and hope I win as I’m in the market for a new phone! Deborah
I love those little hooks that you just stick up where you need it and just pull to remove it. I’ve used them to hang up cooking utensils on the walls around the stove. No more digging thru drawers to find what I need. I love having everything within easy reach. I’ve also used them in the shower to hang up scrubbies and sponges.
When my sleeve are to short or my kids pants are too short, I cut it off and use the material for other things. Like fabric flowers for my daughters hair or a bow tie for my son. I didn’t reinvent anything but I think that reusing those materials works out really nice, especially for matching purposes. My kids are still young so I can get away with it. :)
I love lists. I also love a baby carrier called a wrap – I can carry my kid in it. It’s a blanket. Hammock. Sun cover. Nursing cover. Toy (fort, chew toy, etc). Just a simple piece of cloth. Lovely! :)
Vinager
Does reading blogs on my phone while I workout before work count?
I have to say my KA mixer. I only just got one, but I’m in love already. Saves soo much time!
My friends say that I am the queen of multi-tasking and that my plate is always full! I find that I am most productive when I have a deadline, which I think is true for most people. I am always trying to find a way to work smarter, not harder. My latest jab at that was buying the Cricut Cake cutter to cut icing and fondant. Haven’t had time to try it yet, but hopefully will soon!!
I am in process of making slippers from old wool sweaters….
spare socks- store my Christmas ornaments, give them to my kids to dust with and hold ice for when they get hurt…
I use ziploc bags for everything! Food storage, piping bags, packing my delicates when traveling, toiletries bag, sorting crafts. What did I do before these things??!
How I do more with less, or be more productive with my time: When I cook I try to cook double the amount and then freeze one meal so that we have another meal waiting in the freezer later in the week…I put both boys in the bathtub at once rather than seperately (saves water, saves time)!
I know its Winter when I officially begin carrying around a used dryer sheet in my pocket Ü Dry Colorado air leaves your hair looking like you’ve been electrocuted. I combat this by tucking a dryer sheet that have been through a couple of cycles in the dryer in my pocket. Couple of quick swipes over your hair and you’ll calm down those flyaways in no time Ü
i make lists for everything, especially holiday baking. i make a list of what im making, who im making them for, a shopping list and even make myself a timetime for when i will make everything. everything gets done in a timely manner and i dont stress out
I try to limit the time I am on the internet… then I can get more done around the house!
The right tools! Whatever job you’re doing, having the right tools (rather than making something work), makes the process a whole lot smoother (and quicker!)
I store my grocery coupons and my re-usable grocery bags in my car, that way they’re always ready for an unplanned stop at the store (or a planned stop where I’d have forgotten them anyway!)
Since I have 2 little ones in diapers, and a really cute purse, its too much to bring a big huge diaper bag and and my purse and carry my babies! I have learned to consolidate only bringing a few things with us, so most of the time I can fit it all in my really cute purse. Can’t leave that behind! =)
One bottle of vinegar goes a long way with me. I use it for cooking, laundry, cleaning, and for other household uses. It is also safe to go down the drain!
I have a “purse-strap”, that makes my life MUCH easier. It straps my diaper bag to a shopping cart, or to my stroller, or straps multiple shopping bags together for easier transport. I also use it to attach carry-on bags to luggage handles. I bought a bunch for my mommy friends too!
i”ve been using my huge cookie cutters to make fun shapes for my son’s sandwiches. this way the crust gets cut and the sandwich gets eaten!
When I’m out of wrapping paper, I force myself to make creative use of resources I have to wrap that present I’m working on. It’s a little more work that way, but the results are usually beautiful, original, and affordable (especially when gift bags can go for more than five bucks!)
I would love to win the cupcake keeper, but a phone is nice too! I recently organized all of my cooking supplies and it has made life much simpler.
I love the carrier! I find myself with too much to do now that my husband is deployed and I’m raising to children and going to school full-time, while taking care of our household. I finally learned to prioritize and sometimes just say no. It’s so hard for me to say no because I love helping others, but sticking to what’s most important each day helps me feel less flustered and more organized:).
I have often used dental floss to cut cakes in half for a layered cake. It’s so easy!
i’m glad you showcased this item. I have been looking to buy one. Now you have showed me multiple uses. This will save me space and money.