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If you’ve never done Mary Kat Satin hands then you are missing out! It is my favorite hand moisturizing, exfoliating, skin softening scrub and I love it even more because you can make it at home! This is a copy cat way of making Mary Kat Satin hands which will cost you  just a few bucks. Also, these are PERFECT for gifts! Just grab a cute jar from the dollar store and a ribbon to decorate it!

Enjoy…..your hands are going to LOVE you after this!  😉

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of Dawn Olay Beauty Hand renewal soap
• Lots of sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons Coconut oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Fill your jar 3/4 full with sugar 
2. Slowly add in the dish soap and stir softly until it is all combined. Do not add too much soap because you want this to be the consistency of paste. 
3. (Optional Step) Add coconut oil and mix well (this needs to be room temperature so it is oil but very important, do not add hot coconut oil to the sugar mixture or it will melt the sugar and not be considered a scrub anymore).
4. Store with a lid and use whenever your hands need some TLC.  😉

Adapted from here

How To Clean Your Oven Naturally

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How To Clean Your Oven Naturally

Cleaning an oven can be a tiring and time-consuming task, especially when it’s only done once every so often. However, there is an easier way to clean your oven and it you won’t have to break your back trying to scrub in the corners. All this method needs is some dawn dish soap, baking soda and a few hours! Check out this easy way to clean your oven naturally:

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ Cups of Baking Soda
• 1/4 Cup of Dawn Dish Soap (The blue kind works best)
• Water
• Spray Bottle
• Rags
• Small Bowl

Instructions:

1. Combine dawn and baking soda in a small bowl and mix till it becomes a paste.
2. “Brush” on the mixture to the inside of your oven either using a paint brush or a rag to evenly distribute the paste. Make sure all surfaces are coated.
3. Now the waiting game begins. Let the paste sit for a minimum of 5 hours, if possible leave it to sit overnight.
4. Every few hours spray the paste with a spray bottle of warm water.
5. Once it has rested, scrub the inside of the oven to remove the paste and burnt on food and residue.
6. Finish off by wiping dry with a dry rag or towel.

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How to use walnuts to remove furniture scratches

When buying used and sometimes even new furniture you might notice some unsightly furniture scratches.  However, there is an easy and quick fix to make those scratches disappear by using Walnuts.  All you have to do is break open a walnut (or pecan) and rub the meat of the nut over the scratch several times. Once you have done that, use your finger and rub the scratch till it’s warm. By doing this you are helping the wood absorb  the nut and the oils that meat produces. This trick is meant for lighter scratches, if you have a deep scratch on your furniture it may not disappear completely.  Repeat this process until scratch is repaired!

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I spent some time…actually a lot of time at Dollar Tree and scoped out the “Good” and “Bad” buys. I also asked for YOUR opinions on the Raining Hot Coupons Facebook page and so many of you gave me some great tips on items you love and items you don’t really care for from Dollar Tree. Thank you all for your tips. Below you will learn what to spend your money on at Dollar Tree (this may apply to other dollar stores as well since they all kinda carry the same stuff). Enjoy…Also, I would love to read any other tips you have in the comments!  🙂

I am going to break it down into categories and different sections of the store. 

Household Cleaning:

Things to Buy:

• ANY of the L.A.’s Totally Awesome products – I had a TON of readers says that they are like magic. The spot remover works awesome and the oxygen power cleaner works as good as the other expensive brands. I recently purchased the Orange cleaners from them and it really is wonderful and quite awesome.  😉
• Fabric softener – believe it or not, this stuff smells great, comes in a big bottle for a buck and is perfect for refreshing couches, rugs, and even pets!
• The Works cleaner – I have not tried this but a lot of readers swear by it. I can’t wait to try it!
• Palmolive Dish soap – there are often coupons available for these so you will get a great deal.
• Sun detergent or dishwashing soap – again, these often have coupons so keep an eye out and if a coupon pops up, you will score a nice deal.

Pass on these:

• Brooms – the handles often break on these
• Garbage bags – a TON of readers had negative things to say about the garbage bags, the rip and tear easily.

Health & Beauty:

Things to buy:

• Pregnancy Tests – these work really well and have always worked for me as well as all the readers who also recommended them! 
• 3 pack loofah sponges (these are perfect for kid’s baths)
• Hair bows, ties, bobby pins, headbands
• Shaving Cream – this stuff really does work and smells pretty good! I love it for just $1!
• Close-Up mouthwash – this is the only brand I would recommend (the others are not so great)
• Triple Antibiotic ointment
• Hydrocortisone Cream
• Scotties tissue – these will often have coupons so you will get great deals
• Cotton pads
• Name Brand make-up – I have spotted Elf and Maybelline and once again Maybelline always has coupons!

Pass on these:

• Q-tips (this isn’t the brand but pass on them) they bend and are not strong and the cotton on the end is very fuzzy
• Off Brand Lotions
• Perfume and Cologne

Birthday Items:

Things to buy:

• Wrapping paper – I am shocked at how much wrapping paper has gone up in price so the $1 store paper is a great deal and you can get a few different designs!
• Gift Bags
• Cards
• Candles
• Streamers (these come with 2 so they are only $0.50 each!)
• Cups
• Birthday decor (party hats, balloons, invitations, favor bags, etc)
• Mylar balloons
• Tissue paper

Pass on these:

• Plastic utensils (they break easily although I do recommend the table liners which is in the same section)

Food and Candy:

Things to buy:

• Movie candy – stop by on the way to the movies and pick up the boxes of candy for just $1! You may be able to find these at Walmart for $0.97 but if you’re closer to a Dollar Store then you may want to stop there instead!
• Candy for Pinatas and Party favor bags – they have several bags of candy that have individually wrapped pieces so this is perfect for Birthday parties! For example, ring pops, suckers, avengers candy pieces and more.
• Popsicles – These have $1/1 coupons which makes them FREE!!
• Soda Pop – I love these, they are off brand but they are huge and perfect for Birthday parties. In my opinion they taste like Shasta.
• Popsicle Molds – a pack of 6 for just $1 – that’s awesome!
• Hormel Pepperoni – Once again, there are often coupon for $0.50 to $1 off which makes them only $0.50 or FREE!
• Drink mixes – these are fabulous, just add 1 to a water bottle and it flavors your drink…they even have sugar free.
• Seasonings – can’t go wrong for $1!

Pass on these:

• Check expiration dates on all the food items…sometimes they tend to have things that go past that date.  😐

Kitchen and Bath:

Things to buy:

• Tupperware
• Tubs and Bins for organizing
• Glass Vases
• Foil baking tins (perfect for Thanksgiving and way cheaper than other stores)
• 3 pack kid’s toothbrushes – there are often coupons that make the kid’s toothbrushes free and sometimes the come with travel cases and covers
• Bathroom Decor – for just $1, that’s a steal!
• Shower curtain – I have heard of people painting these and coloring them for the kiddos bathroom!
• Shower curtain hanging rings (not sure what they are called exactly but they hold up the curtain and are normally very pricey)
• Kid’s bubble bath – this stuff works great and lasts a long time!
• Hefty plastic bags – normally coupons for them which makes them a great deal
• Napkins – they come with a ton and work great
• Tupperware – can’t go wrong with these packs
• Mason Jars – you can do recipes in these, cookies jars, gifts, crafts and more!
• Plates, Cups, Mugs, bowls – this is great if you need to just get a few or want some variation in colors
• Kitchen Towels and Mits – look how cute these are in the picture above..I love the green and purple and for just $1!

Pass on these:

• Pie Tins (these are not good for baking because they tend to rust) ALTHOUGH, they are good for kids crafts and play.
• Candles – they don’t smell that good and even if they do in the store, the scent doesn’t last once lit in my opinion
• Coffee Mugs – I have heard from several readers that these leak and the lids don’t stay on
• Toilet Paper – this is usually very thing and doesn’t work all that well.  😳

Art and Supplies:

Things to buy:

• Large Activity Coloring books – these are very big and the kids will have a blast with them (some even have stickers)
• Teacher corner – there are great tools here for not only teachers but homeschoolers, preschoolers or just if you want to teach some fun stuff to your kids. They also have sticker books which would be great for chores!  😉
• Sewing kits with bags – $1…enough said!
• Pom poms, felt, foam board, craft supplies
• Safety pins – I hear these run out often so if you see them, snatch them up!
• Vinyl Decals for decorating and for kid’s rooms – these are SUPER cute and can totally change the look of room or bathroom for just $1…I say yes!
• Poster board

Pass on these:

•  Glue sticks – they tend to be dried out or dry out fast after opened
• Frames – these usually break when you are trying to even just put the photo in… see what I mean?
• Garage sale signs – I say no because you can easily look across the aisle and find the BRIGHT colored poster board priced at $0.69 then cut them in half and you’ve got 2 signs so just about $0.35 each instead of $1.
• Crayons – they don’t work… weird huh? No really, the color is super dull.
• Playdough – this stuff is usually dried out….if you find one that’s not, you’re lucky!
• School supplies – you can usually always get better deals from places like Staples, Office Max etc as long as you buy at the right time…starting in about July and August they offer $0.01 deals, freebies and more. Just watch Raining Hot Coupons and I post them all Summer long.

Miscellaneous:

Things to buy:

• 3 pack socks that makes each pair about $0.33 each!
• Disposal bags for when walking pets – you get a ton for super cheap
• Big bottle of Bubbles – lots of Summer fun with these!
• Flip Flops – now I can’t say these are going to last but I’ve found that most $1 flip flops anywhere you get them don’t last long. They are great for public pools, the beach, etc so you don’t have to worry about someone taking them.
• Puzzles – great for the kids or even party favors or Birthday party game gifts
• Pack of Littles Toys – I LOVE to use the packs of insects, glowing stars, dinosaurs, erasers, etc for Pinatas! They work out perfect because you get quite a few for just $1.

Pass on these:

• Toy Cars – these tend to be very cheap and break (the plastic is flimsy)
• Outdoor lights – this may seem like a great deal but they don’t last long at all
• Lighters – don’t really work long
• Goggles – the water seeps through  😐
• Batteries – don’t last
• Anything electronic – according to many readers opinions and my own, anything electronic never last long.

Hope that helps….do you have anything to add to the list?! I would love to hear….

Planning a road trip with kids can be a little hectic, but if you follow these simple steps you’ll be smooth sailin’ all the way to Memphis – or… wherever you’re headed!

Preparation

It’s a good idea to start talking about the road trip a few weeks before you plan on leaving. Always be positive when discussing the road trip. Call it a vacation, an adventure, whatever you need to, to get the kiddos excited! This will also help once you’re in the car. If a little one starts having a meltdown, you can remind them of how awesome this adventure is going to be, but everyone has to put on their happy face or it won’t be as fun!

Packing

Pack some surprises for the road. I like to call it a “Treasure Box”. We play “I Spy” for a little bit, and they get “coins” for each thing they find. After a few rounds of I Spy, let them cash their coins in for a prize. You can stock up on toys and coloring books from the dollar store, so the Treasure Box doesn’t break the bank.

Don’t forget to bring some special snacks – fruit snacks, bananas, or whatever tickles their fancy! Before you leave, be sure to grab some baby wipes and trash bags for messes and snack wrappers in the car.

Before you leave, check out Pinterest for printable road trip game ideas. There are tons! Pack a jump rope, and some other “active” toys to play with at rest stops. It will wear them out and they might even take a nap while you’re driving! Wishful thinking, perhaps, but one can dream…

Don’t forget music. Sing-a-longs can make the trip super fun!

Hitting the Road

To avoid such frequent stops, pack sandwiches or make your own Lunchables with cheese, crackers, and deli meat.

If possible, gas the vehicle up the night before so you don’t have to make a stop right away. If your vehicle has DVDs, consider renting a few new ones from the Redbox. You can return them at any Red Box kiosk, so you won’t have late charges.

Start your trip off on the right foot – bring some CDs and start a sing-a-long to set the mood.

Have fun

I think the most important piece of advice when going on a road trip is just to have fun! You’re building memories that your kids will cherish for years to come. After 100 “Are we there yet?”s, you may forget that you’re creating memories. Maybe you should write it on your hand. That always helps me remember things! 🙂

Okay now your turn, what are some tips you have for a fun road trip with kiddos?!

DIY Eye Makeup Remover 

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DIY Eye Makeup Remover 

Eye makeup removers on the market today can get expensive and for some once they have bought them they don’t live up to there promises. So sometimes the next best option is to try and make your own! The best part is that you will know exactly what goes into the solution and you will save money by using products from around the house. Check out this great recipe below to make your own eye makeup remover:

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Ingredients:

• 2 Tablespoons of Witch Hazel
• 2 Tablespoons of Oil (any kind will work)
• 2 Tablespoons of Water (It’s suggested to use filtered)

Directions:

Add all ingredients to your container of choice. Just make sure it can seal.
Shake well to mix all ingredients.
Then it is ready to use! Use on eyes to remove make up either with your fingers or a cotton ball.
This solution can last up to 6 months. But please use your own discretion on shelf life.

Tricks To Avoid Overeating  

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Tricks To Avoid Overeating 

Overeating can be easy to do. It might be that chocolaty dessert at the end of the night that you couldn’t resist or maybe an over sized pasta dish that was too delicious to turn down. Either way, it happens to all of us, but overeating can be avoided. There are a few simple tricks and methods to avoid eating too much, without depriving you of what you really love to eat and drink. Check out these tricks below to avoid over eating:

1. When it comes to drinks, taking smaller sips goes a long way. Research has proven if you take smaller sips you will consume less, where as if you take big sips you lose track of how much you have had to drink.
2. Choosing a different colored plate then your food can actually help you eat less. So the theory is if you are eating something like potatoes, avoid a white plate. This will help with portion control and help you take less when you fill up your plate.
3. Plate size also plays a big role in over eating as well as color. Always choose a smaller plate when you have the option, this will trick you into thinking you’re eating more than you really are and it will lower how much food you actually eat!
4. Dimming the lights and putting on music isn’t just for the romantics anymore. By doing those two things you will potentially eat less food and consume less calories.
5. Drink a full glass of water prior to eating every meal. This will help fill you up your stomach beforehand and help you eat less overall. Also, it is a great way to make sure your getting enough water intake during the day.

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15 Uses for Coca Cola

Coca Cola is obviously a cool, refreshing drink that is not only well-known but  has been around for decades has become a household staple. But did you know it has different uses other than quenching our thirst on a hot day? There are lots of great uses for Coca Cola; It’s a great tool for anything from cleaning to cooking to getting out a grease stain in your favorite shirt. Check out these 15 different uses for Coca Cola:

1. Remove Grease From Clothing: Empty one can of Coke into your washing machine along with your laundry detergent. Run on a regular cycle and you will have grease free clothing.
2. Clean Your Toilet: Pour one can of Coke around the bowl of your toilet, give it a scrub down and flush for sparkling results.
3. Laundry Smell Defender: One can added to your laundry can also get rid of a bad smell on clothing or linens.
4. Soft Skin: Adding one 1 tablespoon of Coke to your moisturizer can leave you with smooth and silky legs.
5. Gum Removal:  Managed to get gum stuck in your hair? Dip the area in a small bowl of Coke, soak for a few minutes and the gum should lift right out.
6. Marinating Meat: Next time you cook a steak or any kind of meat you are marinating, add  some Coke into the mix for extra flavorful meat.
7. Burnt On Food Cleaner: Soak your pans with burnt on food in a can of Coke and a small amount of water. Let soak and rinse to clean off the residue.
8. Slug & Snail Trap: Leave out a bowl of Coke to attract slugs and snails. The acid in the Coke will wipe them out once they get into the bowl.
9. Skunk Smell Removal: Been sprayed by a skunk? Shower with a can of Coke, attending to all the affected areas and let sit for a few minutes then rinse.
10. Jellyfish Stings: Coke is a great item to take to the beach in case of a jellyfish sting. Pour coke directly on to the sting to find instant relief.
11. Stomach Soother: Drink flat Coke when you have an upset stomach or nausea. It can be soothing and help calm things down.
12. Window Cleaner: Use Coke on your windows to get rid of grease and dirt build up.
13. Windshield Defroster: Pour a can of Coke on your icy window. Let it sit for a few minutes and the ice should remove easily.
14. Hiccup Cure: Gargling with Coke can cure nasty hiccups in no time.
15. Antiquing Photos: To create a sepia tone on photos or paper apply a small amount of Coke, pat with paper and leave it to dry.

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DIY Play Slime For Kids!

With the last few days of summer hanging around, there is still time to do a fun DIY project with the kids. We all remember what it was like to play with play dough and play slime way back when, so why not let our kids in on the fun as well? This homemade play slime is super fun and easy to make and the best part is you can include the kids in the creation and the play process.

Check out the great recipe below and start the fun by making your own  DIY play slime: