Inspiration...

This craggy old tree in my back yard inspires me somehow. I find myself creating stories in my head...of climbing into it's branches and reading, of the little fox family who lives in it's trunk, of children imagining mansions in it's branches...

Here's a picture of one of our trees...yellow. When am I going to get a red tree??? I like the red ones best!
I got this chipped aqua pitcher at a junk store and put my fall flowers in it. Doesn't it look cute? I just love seeing this out the window...sitting on the screen porch...so inviting to Fall!

Friday Fill-ins!

1. Follow the will of God for my life.

2. Sunscreen and bug spray are something I always take with me on vacation.

3. To achieve your goals, you must press on toward the prize.

4. I have an awesome, loving, helpful, thoughtful husband... is something I'd like you to know about me.

5. I have a great, gluten-free making, breadmachine.

6. Bubbles floats.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Ladies Game Night, tomorrow my plans include rest and mild housecleaning and Sunday, I want to take a nap after church!

LOOK LOOK LOOK
LOOK LOOK
LOOK
I MADE
A FALL
TREE
WITH
MY
POST!!!!!

Check out Friday Fill-in's Here.

Wordless Wednesday of the past...

Marriage Monday...

10 Tips for Frugal Living

"The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it."
Proverbs 10:22

This is a timely subject considering the current economy issues. I hope that people who weren't living frugally before will now read these posts and gain tips to help them turn their spending around. Praise God, I married a very frugal man. Trust me...I don't feel that way everyday...but I do see it as God's blessing. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that I needed a husband who'd track my spending and keep me accountable. The awesome thing is...that He also helped me embrace frugality and truly enjoy saving. He's placed friends in my path to give me tips and encouragement.

So, here are my 10 Tips...

1. Keep track and keep organized. Know where your money is going. We were extreme when we started this...saved receipts...but now we know and don't have to be so intense. I was encouraged to see where the money I was saving was going, etc. It's no fun to be frugal if you don't feel it's helping.

2. It may surprise some of my friends to learn that I shop at thrift stores but...IT IS SO AWESOME. I wear name brands (Claiborne, Hilfiger, Abercrombie, Gap, etc.) and never go outside the thrift store. Some of them still have their tags on them ya'll! I buy shoes and bags the same way. It is so stinkin' cool to me to carry Italian leather bags I'd never get away with buying full price (Darren'd kill me) but get for $2.99 at Goodwill. Same with shoes. I've become so accustomed to shopping this way that it really bothers me to have to pay full price for something.

3. Price matching. I am a huge price matcher at Walmart. You can take an ad from anywhere and if they don't beat the ad price they'll give you the competitor's price for the item. I make out like a bandit when Kroger does 10 for 10. I love this for a number of reasons. I don't have to shop all over the city at multiple stores with two toddlers. Even when I can't beat Walmart's price with an ad...I know I got the lowest price. FYI--this doesn't apply to BOGO deals. Don't ask me why. I'm a big generic fan...especially when I can read that the ingredients are I.D..denticle!

4. Use coupons ONLY FOR THE ITEMS ON YOUR LIST. I know there are some awesome couponers out there. I'm not talking about Dealies with CVS and Walgreens, etc. cuz that's a whole other method in and of itself. If you have the time and energy...go for it...it's worked wonders for tons of my friends. I'm talking about getting sucked into the coupons selling you stuff you didn't need to begin with. So, if you find a coupon for something on your list...use it but don't just use coupons to try stuff out...'cuz usually you're losing money.

5. Plan menus. This keeps you from eating out and helps you keep your shelves and freezer organized. My method is to create the weeks menu on top of my grocery list. Keep your calendar handy...so you plan appropriate meals for the day's activities. Then I walk around the kitchen assessing what I need to complete that menu. I then sit down and look at ads to find price matches and coupon matches to the created list. According to my calculations this has saved me about $40 some weeks.

6. Make your own fun. We don't buy the kids toys. We save all wrappings, bottles, etc. and create our own fun. I make my own playdoh, soap paints, etc. Our kids aren't deprived...they do have toys from grandmas and grandpas, etc. We feel this is not only frugal but also will hopefully ward off "little consumerism." We don't want them thinking they are owed toys...and we want them to develop good imaginations.

7. Darren and I make our birthday and Christmas gifts for each other. We usually write letters or poetry. We talked about it...and knew we wanted to pay debt off, etc...and missed those early courting notes anyway! It works out great. For example, just to brag on my man....for my birthday Friday he created a scavenger hunt for me...each verse of a poem took me around the house...until I found my gift. My gift was a bunch of "coupons" for special lovey things. He did sort of cheat this birthday though...and brought home a bag of Dove chocolates...my favorite. I guess, we'll go easy on him! We've decided to celebrate Advent with the kids at Christmas. We really want to emphasize Christ's birth...so each child will get only one gift. We will talk about the ONE BIG GIFT of Jesus', have Jesus' birthday party, etc.

8. One date night a month. Wait, this is money out...how is that frugal? Well, it's an investment. I heard a funny quip once, "Pay for dates now, or pay for counseling later."

9. I've made all Caleb's baby food (exception of Rice Cereal) mostly due to his allergies. I was calculating though...and that's saved us a lot of money. There are all sorts of great baby food making tips out there. I love my book, "Super Baby Food."

10. Bless others. I love doing meals for new babies, getting hot cocoa for the Salvation Army bell ringers, etc. I truly believe that if we give as we are able...God blesses this. "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you." Duet. 16:17 Don't hold onto the money so hard it screams. It doesn't belong to you. Be wise...but remember it needs to be used for Jesus' as we tell our quarter hoarding three year old. All those quarters you "found" on Daddy's dresser are going to Jesus' on Sunday!

Belated...Know & Tell Friday...

1. Do you play any musical instruments? If so, which one(s)? If not, is there one you always wanted to know how to play?
I play the piano. Played percussion in high school and college. Played trumpet for a bit...and can still do a weak and pitiful scale. I played the guitar for a bit and would really like to pick that up again and become proficient. I have also played dulcimers, vibraharps, and other Appalachian instruments. I was a music major for a few years...I've tried everything. Never could get a reed instrument to make anything but an awful honking noise though.

2. Do you sing well? Do you sing along in the car? Do you use head motions?
Well, I went to college on a full vocal scholarship. I love to sing...but my MomE life doesn't leave much room for singing these days, outside of occasional special music, car singing, and kiddie sing a longs. Head motions? I'm currently working on some sign language for a piece... does that count?

3. Who was your teen music crush?
I don't think I had one. New Kids on the Block and the Newsboys were popular but my family really never supported that kind of "crush" stuff. I wasn't in to it either.

4. What is your favorite type of music?
I enjoy everything. I'm truly eclectic in musical taste. I listen to a lot of classical, opera, swing, jazz, oldies, and veggie tales music. The only kind I struggle with is what I refer to as "trashcan" music...where it sounds like banging trashcans and I can't understand a word of what they're saying...well, except for the bad words. Sort of sets my teeth on edge. I'm also currently struggling with certain christian music genres where you can't tell if they're singing about God or a woman. Errr, use the BIBLE for lyrics when all else fails, dude!

5. Who are your three favorite musical artists?
Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, and Kathleen Battle

6. Does your church play traditional or praise songs, or a combination?
Combination

7. What is your favorite hymn?
Great is Thy Faithfulness

8. What is your favorite praise song?
The Potter's Hand

9. What is the strangest musician's name whose music you like?
Michael Buble's is sort of odd, I guess. I like Switchfoot...and that's sort of odd too.

10. Here's the bonus question that you get to answer with a question. What one question would you like for Heather and Reese to ask in a future KATF? Just DON'T answer it yet. It can be something random, something you'd just love to know about everyone else...just whatever floats your boat. Go for it!
Do you garden...grow things...inside...outside? OR Do you kill living green things?

To check out Know & Tell Friday...or join in the fun...click here.

Book Review 7

Fair Weather by Richard Peck

Okay, it is official. Richard Peck is the best juvenile literature writer I have ever read. Everything...everything...I've read by him just totally rocks! This book is no exception. If you've never read one of his books...sit down...you're in for a treat. My all time favorites are his award winners..."A Long Way From Chicago" and "A Year Down Yonder." I just get lost in these books...I MUST finish them in one day.

To check out my Fall Reading List just click here.

Know & Tell Friday...

1. Do you have fake plants in your house? Do you like them?

I am not a big fan of fake plants...although, I do have one. We got her when we got the china cabinet and needed something for the top of it. None of my real plants could hack that kind of sunlight deprivation so we got a nice silk ivy thing in a cast iron potter. Writing this, I am reminded that I really should climb up there and dust the poor thing.

I love real plants. I'm currently sprawling rhododendrons all over my house. My kids have never bothered them, PTL and I can't seem to kill them...even when I try. I just cut off a hunk from the ends and plunk it in water and "hydroponically" grow roots in my kitchen window. Makes me feel healthy...which is saying something since I have bronchitis right now! HA! The mother plant was a gift from one of my third graders my first year teaching. Sniff, sniff...now I'm getting all sentimental!

2. What is the oldest piece of furniture you have that is not an antique? Describe it.

I'm not sure if our piano or china cabinet is older but they are old and not necessarily antiques. My mother tells me that it isn't nice to consider furniture from her birth time antique! HA! The china cabinet was an important furniture purchase for us. We knew we'd be having kids but realized our china was in perilous danger stored on a rickety metal baker's rack. We'd have friends over with their kiddos and the thing would shake and sway....yikes!

3. Do you have any antiques?

I am slowly inheriting certain things. I've received beautiful dishes from one grandmother and great grandmother and beautiful chairs from the other grandmother. I have started "junking" with my mom and sometimes we come out with antiques too. I like antique kitchen stuffs. Recently, I purchased an antique flour sifter...my mom has my grandmother's and I bought one identical to it. I also get good deals on antiques at garage sales. I got an antique school desk for $5 and an antique book holder stand for $10. Sometimes, people just want them to go to a good home. One couple practically forced an antique chair on me. It's still in the garage waiting to be redone. I went to my first estate sale this year. That was sort of creepy...to see someones' life all laid out on the lawn...but antiquing is definitely something I think I'll do more of in the future.

4. What type of dishes do you use? China, stoneware, Corelle, Tupperware, paper plates?

Our everyday dishes are a mish mash of what we had in college...and yes, we've been married for five years and we're still using them. We do have nice cobalt blue and cream formal china (a wedding gift) but rarely use it. We have young children...enough said. I break out the cups and saucers when I have girlfriends over for playdates...just cuz I like to look at them. I LOVE cobalt blue!

5. What is your favorite thing in your house?

I've been sitting here trying to think of one thing...and I'm stumped. I'm not a real thing person...I have places in my house that I like...but a certain thing...hmmm. I guess, my bookshelves. We are booklovers and have packed full bookshelves...kid book bins and baskets...reading nooks all around. It is very comforting and calming to me.

6. Do you like to use lamps or overhead lighting?

We only have overhead lighting in the kitchen. Our house is one of those ones built 40 years ago when they didn't build houses with overhead lighting. Sometimes it's annoying...like when you have to find a lamp switch in the dark while holding an infant...but most of the time I like the softer light. They're great for bookworms.

7. Are you a pristine white wall person or do you love color?

I was always a beige wall type..which I guess means white wall but have attempted to break out of my shell. I painted our entry way bright yellow...color titled "Number Two Pencil"...and I love it! To see my two year old daughter's reaction...click here. My husband, who helped me greatly with the painting, admits that he was skeptical but now really likes the warmth it brings to the house. I've since painted a bathroom dark brown and plan to do something crazy upstairs soon...I'll keep ya posted.

To check out Know & Tell Friday...or join in the fun...click here.