Frugal Choices this week:

- All meals and snacks homemade
- Cooking from scratch, cheaper than shopping with coupons for us
- Air dried as much as laundry as possible
- Lowered the thermostat by 2 degrees during the day
- Donated some goods and received a coupon worth $5 for the Thrift Store :)
- Started taking online surveys again, earned $5 for 2 surveys, time spent answering questions 35 minutes
- Bought 10 pounds of organic onions on sale for 39 cents/lb, chopped and froze them in small batches
- Received a nice loyalty discount and a free pack of soup bones  from our Rancher for our grass-fed/finished beef :)

Frugal Tip: Grow your own

Growing your one fruits and veggies is cheaper & healthier than buying them at the store.
The best part you do NOT need a large garden to grow them, many fruits and vegetables can easily be grown in containers on your porch, patio or balcony.
To save even more $$$ start your plants from seeds, it is easier than you think.
I always use heirloom seeds, since they are not genetically modified.


Here are my Heirloom Tomato Seedlings :)
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Frugal Choices this week:
- Air dry as much laundry as possible
- Replaced all "old-style" light bulbs with new energy efficient ones
- Turn off lights when leaving a room
- Used 1/2 recommended amount of laundry and dishwasher detergent, same results when using the recommended amount
- Cooked all meals and snacks at home, no eating out
- Stuck to menu plan
- Saved all spare change in January  & made a deposit $20.89 into our Change Jar account

Frugal Item of the Week: Coconut Oil

So many different uses and a little goes a long way:
-Baking
-Frying ( In olny use 1 teaspoon for a big pan when stir-frying)
-Hand Lotion
-Body Lotion
-Baby Lotion
-Facial Cream
-Chapstick
-Hair Conditioner
-Frizz Tamer
-Ointment for scrapes and cuts
-Smells Yummy :)
-Antioxidant properties

I keep one jar in the kitchen and one in the bathroom.
Make sure to buy Extra Virgin coconut oil!

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Frugal Friday 01/28/2012
 
Frugal choices this week:
- Air dried as much laundry as possible
- Used only the minimum of laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, dishwasher detergent etc.
- No eating out
- Cooked all meals at home and most of them from scratch
- Enjoyed some free story-time at the library (along with lots of books)
- Stuck to our menu plan
- Saved all the change and added to the Challenge Jar

Bargain of the week:
Our local Children's Consignment Store had all their Fall/Winter clothes from last year on sale
for $1 !!!! Including sets, dresses, sleepwear and shoes!
I had saved up $100 to buy 2012 Fall/Winter clothes  for Miss Munch, I was just waiting
for a good sale.
I walked out of the store with 10 pairs of shoes and 53 Outfits/Dresses and Sleepwear for the next two years for a total of $66.78!
Savings: $373.50



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Change Jar 01/15/2012
 
On January 1st we started, once again, our Change Jar Challenge. We save all of our change and deposit the coins once or twice a month into a bank account, which we opened just for the change deposits.
We have no checks and NO ATM card for the account to avoid the temptation of a quick withdrawal of the funds.
Our fund is intended for Birthday and Christmas Expenses.
Balance as of Jan 13th: $24

Frugal Choices this week:
- Air dried as much laundry as possible
- No eating out
- Lights off when leaving the room
- Turned down thermometer whenever possible
- Baked and cooked from scratch when possible
- Dried apples and made applesauce for a quick and healthy snack


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You can turn any corner of your home into a Reading Corner for your little ones.
These "shelves" are actually vinyl rain-gutters, we paid $5.99
for a 10 foot piece at Lowe's.
My wonderful husband cut the 10-foot piece into 3 shelves and screwed them to the wall, the third one is going in my sewing corner.
We will use the top shelf as our seasonal shelf and the bottom for Emily's favorite books.


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Top 100 Items to sell out during a disaster:


1. Generators
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Medication
4. Seasoned Firewood
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps
6. Coleman Fuel
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots
8. Hand-Can openers & hand egg beaters, whisks
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugars
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable oil (for cooking)
12. Charcoal & Lighter fluid
13. Water containers
14. Mini Heater
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders
17. Survival Guides
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc.
19. Baby Supplies
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder
24. Feminine Hygiene/Hair care/Skin products
25. Thermal underwear (Tops and bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets & Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum foil Reg. & Heavy Duty
28. Gasoline containers
29. Garbage bags
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towel
31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed
32. Garden seeds (Non-hybrid)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers
34. Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (canned)
36. Fire extinguishers
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. BIG DOGS (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches ( "Strike Anywhere" preferred. Boxed, wooden matches will go first.)
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime)
45. Work boots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHT STICKS & torches, "No.76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams
53. Duct tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry detergent (Liquid)
57. Backpacks & Duffle bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
65. Sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games Cards, Dice
68. d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils
71. Baby Wipes, oils, waterless & Anti-bacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillon/gravy/soup base
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. BSA - New 1998 - Boy Scout Handbook
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts
87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens
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_Don't miss this FREE event happening this weekend, for children and adults of all ages!
Your friendly neighborhood Catholic Church invites to see and hear:
The Nativity Story
Check with your local parish for times and "showings"
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For Personal use ONLY
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_
The Night Before Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister St. Thomas, B.N.D. de N

A more spiritual version of the famous Christmas story

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town,
St. Joseph was searching, walking up roads and down;
Our Lady was waiting, so meek and so mild,
While Joseph was seeking a place for the Child;

The children were nestled, each snug in their beds,
The grown-ups wouldn’t bother, there’s no room they said;
When even the innkeeper sent them away,
Joseph was wondering, where they would stay;

He thought of the caves in the side of the hills,
Lets go there said Mary, it’s silent and still;
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Made pathways of light for their tired feet to go;

And there in a cave, in a cradle of hay,
Our Savior was born on that first Christmas Day!
The Father was watching in heaven above,
He sent for His angels, His couriers of love;

More rapid than eagles God’s bright angels came;
Rejoicing and eager as each heard his name;
Come Power, Come Cherubs, Come Virtues, Come Raphael,
Come Thrones and Dominions, come Michael and Gabriel;

Now fly to the Earth, where My poor people live,
Announce the glad tiding My Son comes to give;
The Shepherds were watching their flocks on this night,
And saw in the heavens and unearthly light;

The Angels assured them, they’d nothing to fear,
It’s Christmas they said, the Savior is here!
They hastened to find Him, and stood at the door,
Till Mary invited them in to adore;

He was swaddled in bands from His head to His feet,
Never did the Shepherds see a baby so sweet!
He spoke not a word, but the shepherds all knew,
He was telling them secrets and blessing them too;

Then softly they left Him, The Babe in the hay,
And rejoiced with great joy on that first Christmas Day;
Mary heard them exclaim as they walked up the hill,
Glory to God in the Highest, Peace to men of good will!

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Here is a small selection from our Advent and Christmas books collection

Did I mention I collect Little House books :)

The book on the left is about 40 years old and passed from Oma down to me.
Right: I have several issues,  buy this one is my favorite

Head on over to Shower of Roses for more book collections!

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