First: Financial Purity by Jessica V. Psalidas

Financial Purity by jessica V. Psalidas is a book not only about how to handle finances but how to handle them the way God would have us handle them.  It's about more than finances, though; it's honestly about how we live our everyday lives.  Do we live under the Holy Spirit's direction, or do we live off our own whims and ideas?  When I first started reading this book, I thought it was a bit repetitive and redundant, but it does have many wonderful ideas and thoughts.  It doesn't go into really vast detail to where it confuses you; it's more about the everyday, common sense ways in which we can handle our finances.  Here's a look at the topics covered in this book, just to give you an idea:

• Develop a Vision
• Organization and Planning
• Tithing Purely
• Prayer
• Vices that Steal our Money
• Debt and Budgeting
• Your Credit Report and Score
• Saving Money
• Teaching Children About Money
• Why Have a Will?
• Your Financial Purity Porfolio

I like that it's written from a Christian perspective and that it covers things in a spiritual sense, not just in a worldly financial sense.  The chapter that covered why you should have a will was something that spoke to me, as I've been really thinking over this very thing for a couple of years now.  It's something to secure our children's future, in case that, God forbid, something should happen to us as parents.  That's not something I want to think about, but I also don't want to think about my children being broken up and separated because we weren't prepared.  It's a very scary thing.  Jessica explains how you can get a will and how the process works.  

You can purchase this book from Amazon for $15.95. To read more reviews, visit First Wild Card Tours.

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Jessica V. Psalidas

and the book:

Financial Purity

Infinity Publishing (June 8, 2009)

***Special thanks to Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessica V. Psalidas is the authority on purity and spiritual growth. She has impacted the lives of many and continues to do so through her bestselling books like Everlasting Purity (which also won the 2008 Christian Choice Book Award). Jessica is requested by all walks of life for coaching and the teaching on spiritual growth and purity.

Jessica is a cum laude graduate of the Inter-American University in Puerto Rico with a degree in Business. She also has completed studies such as Faith Foundations at the Institute for Christian Living with Charles Stanley and The Way of the Master at The School of Biblical Evangelism. Fueled with a passion to continue to study the Word of God and to serve the Lord, Jessica continues to have a daily commitment to learn as much as she can. Jessica also serves the Lord by helping younger women understand the importance of purity and how to apply it in their everyday life.

Jessica is a successful entrepreneur and President of two companies. A much sought after writer and coach, Jessica has over 17 years of experience working in the sales and business world and lives to reach out to people to impact their lives.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $15.95
Paperback: 263 pages
Publisher: Infinity Publishing (June 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0741453169
ISBN-13: 978-0741453167

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

This book will provide an in-depth look at what we spend our money on, why we should stay away from certain things that waste our money, and why we need to have a vision about money. I think money – the use and management of it – is very important in our lives. Once you develop a vision, you will have a clear idea of what you want in life and what action you will need to take in order to get there.


What is your financial purity portfolio? Many people have heard of a financial portfolio, but what is a financial purity portfolio, and why is it different? As we discover the answer to that question we will examine money in a different light, in a simple way that allows us to be clear about the use and management of our money. We will go beyond what we have in savings and investments and look into some of our day to day spending habits and frequent purchases, as well as why we save, why we tithe, why we should have a will, and what can happen when we spend our money on wasteful vices. Most importantly, in this book I will encourage everyone to develop a financial vision for themselves and their family.


Having a vision gives you clarity as to what you want and what you need to do to get there. It gives purpose and focus to your money management and to the outlook you have concerning your money. Many people that I talk to about money have a grim view of it because they do not have enough of it on hand at any given time or they do not earn enough of it. I encourage you to have a positive, realistic outlook and attitude toward money for your own financial welfare. It does you no good to be irritated or upset about your financial status right now, because with a great attitude and determination, you can change your situation.


Developing a vision for your finances is the first step in building your financial purity portfolio. Utilizing and managing your money purely and cleanly, meaning spending your money on necessary and wholesome things, is one of the most important steps in developing your financial purity portfolio.


Some people may think it is hard to focus on developing a vision due to their own difficult financial situation or, as some call it, the “financial crisis” we are experiencing in the U.S. at the time of this writing. If this describes you, please be encouraged! I would like to share with you some steps that I have implemented in my life to remain joyful and hopeful during any trying situation that comes along.


Everyone seems to be in a state of panic over the financial situation in the U.S. economy, and it both saddens and frustrates me at the same time. We are, to a certain extent, part of the reason why our country is the way it is. When our morale goes down, so does everything else. We are gripped by fear over temporary difficulties that will soon pass. This country has experienced many challenging situations before, and we have always gotten through them. We will get through this too. We need to remain positive, encouraged, and stimulated to find new and exciting ways to spur our economic growth. We need to be stronger in prayer, which will keep our morale high. If we all lifted our spirits up higher and kept a positive attitude, we would experience a change for the better. Nothing good will come out of us being depressed, upset, angry, or fearful. These emotions will not get us ahead but rather will only hold us back. Stay in prayer and remain hopeful in God.


Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7


Have I not commanded? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9


This is not the first time we have ever gone through a financial situation (or “crisis” as some may call it) in this nation. We will survive, and we will get through this. Do not corrupt your mind with negative thoughts such as, “Oh, no … the world is falling apart!” Thinking this way will cause much devastation to your otherwise positive mindset, and it will keep your fears very much alive. On the contrary, you will be amazed at what can happen to your morale and your spirits when you remain positive, jovial, and at peace about the situation. Because this is not the first time our country has experienced something like this, I know the situation will get better soon. We will get better. I believe that by changing our outlook, adjusting our lifestyles, and remaining positive, we will do a great service those around us and to ourselves. Stay in prayer, remain spiritually strong, and most importantly, remain happy.

Shame on Mead Johnson: Giveaway!

Wow, it was only two years ago that we were facing the fact that we had to buy formula yet again.  Oh don't get me wrong; having our second son was a true blessing....but I remember what it was like with our firstborn, Jacob.  You see, Jacob was colicky, and no matter what we tried, he spit everything up and was so gassy and fussy....well, it made a first time mom want to lay down and just cry right alongside her screaming infant.  And that I did, several times.  We ended up switching Jacob over to goat's milk, and he did so well after that.  The doctors definitely didn't recommend that, but we knew he was getting amazing nutrients through the goat's milk just because we knew how the owners were feeding the goats and what was going into that milk.  Jacob has since grown to be a healthy, strapping boy....and Jaden, well, he was able to tolerate formula. 

I do remember having to make the choice of what kind of formula to get, though.  Being a naive parent,  I remember not trusting the store brands to give him the nutrients that I thought other name brand formulas would give him.  (Keep in mind here that I am in no way endorsing formula over breastmilk; breastmilk is, hands-down, the best thing you can feed your child.).  Anyway, we ended up going with a name brand, not only because we trusted it more, but we were able to afford it with our WIC checks and even coupons.  It's also what the hospital started us with, so that's what we used. 

Recently, though, MomSelect sent out information about Mead Johnson, the makers of Enfamil Lipil.  Apparently, they have participated in false advertising by stating that store brands of formula are not as nutritionally valuable and do not incur the same developmental benefits as their brand of formula, Enfamil.  This has ended up in a courtroom case. Oh boy, could this upset a lot of moms who could have saved a ton of money?!  I'll let you read what MomSelect has to say about the matter: 

As many of you know, the core goal of MomSelect is sharing. We always jump at the chance to share something valuable with you, whether it's a cool new product, a savings opportunity, or an invitation to a fun event. And when information comes across our desk that's pertinent to you or your readers, we feel like it's our duty to pass it along.

Let us preface what we want to share with you with this- We are in no way endorsing formula over breastfeeding; however, we have learned that many moms are unnecessarily paying more for formula when they choose to bottle feed because of unfair advertising. We thought this information was important enough to share with you and hopefully your readers.

In a landmark federal court case, a jury verdict confirmed that Mead Johnson, the maker of Enfamil LIPIL Infant Formula, has engaged in false advertising by stating that store brand-infant formulas sold at Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens and other retailers, do not provide the same nutritional benefits as Enfamil.

The jury found that Enfamil advertisements were false and misleading, especially since store- brand formulas have the same nutrients at the same levels as Enfamil. In the process, they have exposed the truth about infant formula: store-brand infant formulas are nutritionally equivalent to, and confer the same developmental benefits as, the more expensive national brands like Enfamil. Buying a heavily marketed formula from a big pharmaceutical company does not get you any closer to breast milk.

So what does this mean to Moms? It means they could have been saving up to $600 a year by using store brand formulas, which cost half as much as Enfamil LIPIL and other national brands.

We want to be very clear that by sending you this information MomSelect is not suggesting that formula feeding is the best available option for infant nutrition; breast milk is best for babies. We just want moms to know that they don't have to spend money unnecessarily.

Here are some more links, so that you can study this more, if desired.

http://www.pbmproducts.com/press.aspx?ID=310

http://industry.bnet.com/advertising/10004868/a-desperate-mead-johnson-loses-135m-jury-verdict-over-false-claims/  

http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/esearch/e3i6328aaffeb014c13fbcc5dbedc3d4fd7

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/baby/2009/07/save-money-on-baby-stuff-cheap-formula.htmlhttp://blogs.consumerreports.org/baby/2009/07/save-money-on-baby-stuff-cheap-formula.html

This just goes to show, though, that research is what will benefit the consumer.....be ever watchful, and don't believe everything you hear, Moms.  If you want a resource that will help you navigate the world of baby items and products, consider reading the Consumer Reports Best Baby Products- An A to Z guide to everything you need for your baby. In fact, I'm giving away a copy to one lucky reader; all you expectant Moms, listen up for your chance to enter!  You can enter in one or more ways below; just be sure to leave me a separate comment for each way that you enter.  I'll draw the winner on Friday, January 8, using random.org. 

1) Leave me a comment, letting me know which baby product you would be interested in learning more about.

2) Follow my blog, or even subscribe to it (but only if you truly want to).

3) Follow me on Twitter; tweet about this giveaway!

4) Blog about this giveaway on your own blog, being sure to link back to Real Heart Prints in your post.

5) Digg or Stumble this post.

6) Place my blog button (located on my sidebar) on your blog (only if you truly want to).

7) Vote for Real Heart Prints on Top Mommy Blogs (just click the Top Mommy Blogs button in sidebar).

Good luck, and Happy New Year!

(Disclosure: I was provided this book, free of charge, in association with MomSelect.)

Coupon Chief

If you are an avid online shopper, then http://www.couponchief.com might be just the website to help you get a good amount of savings on your purchase.  With pages and pages of coupon codes, you are sure to find one for the store you are looking to make a purchase from.  How it works is that when you know where you want to shop, you head on over to Coupon Chief and search for either the products you are interested in or the store.  You can even go to their complete listing of stores and find the one you're looking for.  Once you click on that store, several different coupons will come up.  You choose the one that suits you, copy and paste the code into Notepad or onto your clipboard, and click on "Use It."  Once you click on "Use It," you will go to the store site, and you can make your purchase, being sure to paste the coupon code into the allotted box at checkout.  It's truly that simple.

Coupon Chief has several features that really make the search for a coupon easy and simple.  First of all, they have a rating system.  If you use a particular coupon code, you can then add a comment to that coupon, also letting others know if it worked.  This makes more efficient use of your time, as you can see if a particular coupon even works or not before going through the process.  (I did not see too many comments yet, but there are other features that help, as well.)  There are expiration dates in some instances, and you can even share the coupon with friends and family via Facebook or email.  

I decided to look for a few stores myself, since I've waited until the last minute to do my Christmas shopping.  Thinking I could maybe save a bundle, I decided to look for Michaels coupons.  There were 4 coupon codes for Michaels, ranging from 40%-75% off.  Expiration dates were unknown, so I would just have to try using them to see if they work.  Then I decided to look for Old Navy coupons.  There were around 46 coupon codes to choose from, ranging from $10 off a $50 purchase, to 15% off any purchase, to free shipping, to 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $50, etc.  There were quite a few with expiration dates.  All in all, there are several merchants to choose from when looking for coupons, and the coupon codes are readily accessible to anyone.

You can sign up for Coupon Chief for free.  This means not only can you use the coupons listed on Coupon Chief, but you can submit your own coupons too.  When you submit your own coupons, you can make a little extra cash.  Just sign up for their Pays2Share program, submit your coupons, and every time someone uses one of your coupons, you'll make 2% of their sales.

With coupons for travel, basic necessities, clothing, etc., you are sure to find some good deals to help make your spending this Christmas just a little bit lighter.  Honestly, with coupons for stores like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, as well, I will probably be using this site whenever I need to purchase online.  So next time you're about to order online, be sure to hop over to Coupon Chief first to see if you can save money on that purchase.  

(CouponChief.com invited me to peruse their vast supply of coupons in December.)

Our Advent Calendar- Cute & Frugal Project

Yesterday, I delved into Jenn's Advent Idea Box.  We had so much fun with it.  We did some regular school but incorporated this into our Bible time and Art time.  We made our Jesse tree and hung it on the door; pics will come later after all the ornaments are put on.  Our art project was especially fun, though.  In fact, Jacob said it was the "best art project" he's ever done....he and Jaden both had so much fun.  I did too, actually.  We all got in on the fun.  

We made our very first ever Advent calendar.  We used an idea from 4 Crazy Kings, using envelopes, only I had no envelopes for this.  So, I got out my handy dandy roll of brown paper, which has been such a life saver, ever since I bought it.  I cut out strips of the paper to fold and staple into envelopes.  I did all this beforehand and stapled the envelopes while the boys were decorating them.  I even got into decorating a few of them.  Jacob thought it was really fun to learn how to overlap the big stamp we had to make cool designs around the edges of his envelope.  He couldn't believe I was stamping the newspaper at first, until he saw what I was actually doing.:)  Jaden thought it so much fun to tear apart my ink pad at first, getting ink all over his little fingers, but it all went back together, and he wasn't any worse for the ink all over him.  Soap and water, right?  We dove into our stash of Christmas stickers and stamps, as well as markers to help decorate our envelopes.  

 

When we had all of them decorated, I used plain old twine and paper clips to hang them, as that's what we had on hand.  It actually turned out really cute.  

Now I just have to fill the envelopes with a treat for each day....seeing as today's the first day, I'd better get on that.:)  

Trick or Treat: Sharing Jesus

This afternoon Jacob and I got busy getting ready for trick or treaters tomorrow night.  I'm not sure if we'll have any or how many we'll have, but we got ready, just in case.  I've spoken a lot about our pastor's series right now on Razing Hell, and I just feel the Holy Spirit prompting me to really be a light....to really start perking up and being aware of what I can do.  

We had gone to New York City on a missions trip a couple of summers ago, and we had a bunch of tracts left over, really cool kids' tracts that we'd stocked up on for the trip.  Since candy is so expensive, I bought one big bag.  Then we went to the Dollar Shop and got their cute little Halloween treat bags for $1 a bunch.  While Jacob was filling some of the bags with candy and tracts, I made sugar cookies in the shapes of pumpkins, cats, bats, and ghosts....then I iced them (and we ate a few along the way:)).

Then we filled the leftover bags with a cookie and tract in each one.  All afternoon Jacob said how much fun he was having.  He had a job, and he went right to town on it.  I explained to him how we were sharing Jesus with the kids who came to get candy, and it was just neat to see him get so into it.  I don't know if we'll have enough, but we have a box full of bags ready to go.  I share all this, not to hype ourselves up, but to encourage you to think about how you can reach your trick or treaters tomorrow night.  It's time for us parents to start showing our kids what being a light really means....it's time to perk up, to wake up, and to reach out.....

Motivate Me Monday: Trusting God Through the Tough Times

It's so hard, not just as a mom, but as a human being, to trust God when all else around seems to be crumbling. At least it is for me. It's easy for me to trust Him when things are going great, and we are on top of the mountain....but girl, when that valley hits, let me tell ya, it's not so easy then. All my life I have leaned on the verses from Proverbs 3:5,6- Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Oh sure, I have used that as a life verse at times, but I can honestly say that I have also struggled with that same trust my whole life.

When we've been up on the mountain top, it's been easy to look around and just feel so blessed and trust Him because during that time, we are relieved of the many life pressures that assault us during the valley times. Not to say that life is necessarily easy during the mountain times, but it's just less stress/pressure. We've been through our share of valleys, though. Right now is a bit of a valley for us. Spiritually and emotionally, it's been one of the best times of my life....and I can say for Dan too. We have finally found a church home, we are making friends, our kids are growing and learning, and we are just happy where we are at. We're content.....At the same time, we're also going through a bit of a crunch, financially. With Dan trying to start up a new shop, it's been tight, and sometimes we have to get the bare bones at the grocery store. We are learning to budget more wisely, and we're doing ok; God is providing for us. But it feels like a bit of a valley right now, in the financial realm. Money does not make the person, I know, but it pays the bills....as we all know.:)

God totally slapped me on the hand this week, though. He honestly woke me up from what felt like a valley....and He turned my day into a mountain top.....I have to tell you this story because I'm just amazed at His provision and His love and His mercy to us, even when we are tempted to doubt....He's still there, even in the smallest of things. I went to make our grocery list and menu for the next week; it was my dreaded chore of the day. As I pulled up the grocery store ads online, I began planning out the menu, according to what was on sale, and at the same time I started to fill out the grocery list. As I realized things we were totally out of (our kitchen was depleted pretty badly), I started looking more closely at what was on sale, and just about everything on my list was in the ads....even diapers were on sale. I really couldn't believe it when I saw that milk was on sale. I just kept sifting through, and everything God knew we were out of, He was showing me His way of providing for our family......I think my mouth just dropped to the floor. When I was doubting, wondering how I could get what we needed, He gave me that slap on the hand and showed me Who He is....He is the Great Provider. He does care about even the little things in our lives.

It was just encouraging to realize that even when I doubt, no matter the circumstance, He is there....all I have to do is trust and lean into Him, instead of questioning and wondering. Trusting God through the tough times is what's going to build character in me, and it's what's going to build character in you. It's those refining fires during those valley times that will help us to grow.

For more Motivate Me Monday, link up with The Fifth Street Palace.

Love,

Motivate Me Monday: Making It Work

With things in such an economic crunch for a lot of people, I've really been thinking about a lot of things lately. It's so easy to get caught up in this whole organizational trend of needing to go out and get more stuff in order to get our lives organized in the chaos we call home. Believe me, I've been there. In fact, this past weekend, I was there.

I decided to dive headfirst into my boys' room this weekend and get it organized and cleaned up. At first, I sat down and looked around me and instantly became overwhelmed with thinking of things I was sure I needed in order to clean this messy room up. I thought I needed a hanging closet organizer, as well as shelves, maybe even more crates. As I sat there, though, knowing that we are in a crunch ourselves right now with rent coming up due next week, amongst other things, I told myself that I didn't need those things....what I needed was to make do with what I had and make the best out of what I had. I began to think of how hard my husband works to provide for us and of what Proverbs 31:11-12 says: The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life (NKJV). What hit me was that instead of going out and buying more stuff to organize the other stuff here at home, I needed to use things I already had, to get creative with what was already available here at home. So, that's exactly what I did.

The boys' closet really did need a shelf because I was taking the dresser out, since Dan will have our $10 bunkbeds in the room by the end of this week, and there will be more room. I was determined to put more clothes and toys in the closet, out of sight, so their room could stay a bit more organized. In our own closet, Dan and I had a shoe shelf that we didn't ever use because we keep all our shoes in the garage. So, he helped me take it off the wall, and he found a way to have it lay flat instead of tilted (as shoe shelves usually are), and now there is a huge, long shelf for storing toys and clothes in their closet.

For dress up stuff that they play with a lot, I thought I needed another crate, BUT I found an old suitcase, which is perfect for storing that stuff, plus it's small enough that it's easy for them to handle. As for finding more storage room for clothes (since Jacob will no longer have his bed drawers when the bunkbeds come in), I didn't really need to, because I put away clothes that were too small, and with the dress-up stuff being put in the suitcase, that gave us a whole other drawer in the dresser to work with.

A while back, I had found these cute fabric boxes at the dollar store for $1 apiece and was able to put a lot of their little stuff in these boxes, such as Jacob's ties and belts, diapers, portable dvd player with cords, smaller board books, etc. (Yes, I know what you're thinking, but our kids have 3 sets of grandparents, so they have no want for toys, let me tell you....we go through and purge every so often to give some away).

Now, their room looks so much less chaotic, and I didn't really have to spend a dime (besides those fabric boxes I'd gotten a long time ago). We took down the crib, and until the bunkbeds are in, Jaden is sleeping on his little mattress on the floor.

What I'm trying to get at is that you might think you need all the latest fads for organization, just as you've seen them on Martha Stewart or Oprah or any home makeover show.....believe me, I am easily persuaded that I need all this stuff too; but really, if you look around you, you probably have all you need to create calm out of chaos. It just takes a bit of creativity and ingenuity on your part. Find things you can use that you might not ordinarily think of as organizational tools, such as an old suitcase, an old trunk, old shelves in another part of the house, etc.

As moms, it's not only our job to organize and make our homes havens, but it's our job to protect that haven by making the most of what God has provided us with. We need to be careful stewards of whatever He has placed in our possession. After all, everything we have has come from Him....we're only borrowing these things while here on earth.... Make it work!:) Have a great day!

For more Motivate Me Monday, link up with Composing Hallelujahs.

Frugal Fridays: Homemade Jellies & Jams

Lately, I've been really trying to cut corners in order to save money, and I've been thinking of more ways that I can be more frugal when it comes to grocery shopping. It's such a struggle right now with the price of food on those grocery store shelves. Last week, I made a batch of homemade peach freezer jam, and I got to thinking about that a little more. If I were to buy a jar of specialty flavor jam like that in the store, it would probably be $3-4 for just that one jar. So, I got my pen and paper and started doing some figuring.

Our family is a family of 4 right now, meaning with jelly, we don't go through it that fast. I bought one carton of a dozen jars for $7. Sugar is about $2 a bag right now, depending on sales. The Sure Jell is about $1.45 for one box. The fruit or juice I would use to flavor my jelly would probably be between $2-4, also depending on sales. That comes out to about $8 for 6 jars of jam/jelly. Now, if you use bigger jars, each jar will last longer as well. The price comes out to a little over a dollar for one jar of jelly. That's a savings of around $10 for 6 jars of jelly.

Hope I didn't confuse you there....but I just wanted to show how much could be saved by actually getting in there and making your own jelly, not to mention you wouldn't be feeding your children all those yucky preservatives in so many of our foods today. You could reuse the same jars over and over, so you wouldn't have to buy more, depending, of course, on the size of your family. Plus, you can make just about any flavor you want (no need to stick with grape, since it's usually the cheapest). Freezer jam/jelly is super easy to make. I think it took me maybe 30-40 minutes to make my first batch. That's because I had to peel the peaches. If you're using juice, voila, it's easy as pie.

For more Frugal Friday, link up with Life as Mom.

Subscribe to The Old Schoolhouse™ Magazine for only $7.95!

Homeschooling is a Labor of Love, and The Old Schoolhouse™ Magazine is celebrating your hard work as a parent by putting their one-year print subscriptions on sale! For a very limited time, you can subscribe or renew for $7.95! (US only). International customers can subscribe to the digital edition for only 7.95!

You can buy a gift sub for friends, too! To gift a subscription:
1. Go to the one-year subscription page (US only)
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
3. Enter the name, address, email, and phone information for each recipient.
4. Click "Add this to my cart."
5. The information will display in your cart, and simply proceed to check out.

There are only 2000 of these available, and they are going quickly! Your subscription begins with their Fall Issue.

If you live in an international location, you can subscribe to their digital edition for only $7.95! It's the same great content as their print magazine, except it is instant and interactive!

Here are the two links:
http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_176_181&products_id=12261

http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_178_185&products_id=2330

Frugal Fridays- Wonderful & Free!

I owe a great amount of gratitude to Jenn for telling me about this site, so I thought I'd share it with anyone who reads my blog. The site is called The Baldwin Online Children's Literature Project, and they provide wonderful, free, children's classic literature, including such authors as Beatrix Potter, Jack London, Sir Walter Scott, etc., etc. It's such a great site; I was so excited to have this site as a resource. It's hard sometimes to find a lot of these books/literature at our small library here. Plus, we as the public, are granted permission to print these books right off our computers. How great is that?

Another great resource I'd love to share is Homeschool Radio Shows, and they have a free email list that you can sign up on to receive free downloads every week of some of the old, classic stories that were played on the radio in times past. We actually listened to one just today, and Jacob absolutely loved it.

Enjoy these great freebies!:)

For more Frugal Fridays, visit Life as Mom.

Expect Great Things

Today, we made a trip to Springfield for Jacob's dentist appointment, so we decided to just go for it and spend the day doing a little shopping and visiting the zoo, which the boys absolutely loved, and pictures will follow tomorrow.:) Anyway, we went to Kohl's, and I just had to share my awesome bargain findings with you. Kohl's has these amazing racks called the 80% off clearance. I found two pair of perfectly good pants, Sonoma brand, for $4.00 apiece. That's right, $4 apiece! Isn't that awesome? Who could resist that price? I was so excited! Right now is the perfect time to grab those clearance clothes for next winter; the stores are full of them....I'm thinking that if I go back in a couple weeks, and they still have a couple sweaters I was eyeing, I may not be able to resist them like I did today! Love it!:)

Frugal Fridays- Spring Time Is Here!

Spring time is here, and it's that time of the year now for starting our seeds and thinking of what all we want to have in our garden. Whether you choose to plant a huge garden, or whether you choose to plant in containers, or even if you choose to just plant a few things in your flower bed, having your own fresh veggies, fruits, and herbs can really save so much money, and it can be healthier for your family, especially if you choose to not use all of the pesticides so readily available today. I am currently getting a small order together from The Seed Savers Exchange. Their prices are really not too expensive, and they sell a lot of organic and heirloom varities, which really interests me. Now, I'm not sure if I'll have a huge garden; I may just have some containers, but I hope to learn how to can a couple of things this summer. Canning can also save a lot of money, especially in these uncertain times with the grocery prices going up and up and up. If you want to learn how to can, here is another great blog, The Simple Woman; Peggy has a whole section on learning how to can, filled with great tips and how-tos and encouragement. I'm excited to see what I can do.

Lastly, on the news this morning, I heard something interesting and actually encouraging for once, and I'm kind of excited that this is happening. First Lady Michelle Obama is breaking ground today on a garden on the South Lawn of the White House. This garden will provide fresh veggies and fruits and herbs to the White House kitchen. The exciting part to me is that local school children will be helping and working in this garden, learning the skills it takes to raise a garden. What a great resource and opportunity for learning. This could help encourage others in bigger cities to get out there into their communities, and start a community garden! Now, that's being frugal and green all at the same time! Happy Spring, everyone!

For more Frugal Fridays, link up with Life As Mom!

Frugal Fridays- Homemade Vanilla

Jacob and I have been reading Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder every day in school. He is really enjoying it, and I have to say I am too; there is so much to learn from the way they lived back then. They had to make so many things themselves, or they just didn't have it. For instance, I read the other day how Almanzo's mother made her own Wintergreen Flavoring by taking wintergreen leaves and putting them into a bottle and then filling that bottle with whiskey and letting it set. Then she had that flavoring for different baking projects.

Recently, I had also read about making your own vanilla by taking vanilla beans and putting them into a bottle of vodka. You can read about a couple of different ways of making vanilla on Tipnut.

I know that, as Christians, we don't want to buy alcohol, but this could be a frugal way to become just a wee bit more self-sufficient. And who knows, we may figure out a way to make the best flavorings that outdo even the best brands in the stores! I'm kind of excited to see what other kinds of flavorings I could make on my own. Have a great Friday!

For more Frugal Fridays, head on over to Biblical Womanhood!

Thrifty Thursday: Grocery Shopping In Your Own Kitchen

I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to overdo it when it comes to bargain shopping. My husband says I'm one of those people who just gets sucked right in when it comes to grocery sales. I agree; I am. If it's on sale, and it's something I use, you better believe it will be in my cart, whether or not I need it for that week. Which can be a good thing sometimes, but not all of the time, especially when you're trying to stick to a budget and actually save money. I also tend to buy groceries that I really don't need because I don't realize that my cupboard is already overflowing with that particular item. Today, I got an email from Heather over at CSAHM. She had an article by Sandra Jensen called, "Desperate Cooking for Tight Budgets." (Sandra has also written an ebook, Freezing It and Loving It). One part of the article talked about taking an inventory of everything you have in both cabinets and freezer. So, today I got my behind in my kitchen and started taking an inventory. It is truly amazing how much stuff can actually fit into 3 lonely cabinets; I never would have guessed. I haven't even made it to the freezer yet, but I'm guessing that I probably will be able to plan most of this next week's meals by just grocery shopping in my own kitchen. Sure, some things I'll still have to run out and get, but this could be an easy week on the wallet and the budget. For more great Thrifty Thursday tips, head on over to Thrifty Jinxy.

Stretching That Roasted Chicken

As busy moms, we are always trying to find ways to stretch our dollars, especially when it comes to the grocery bill. A few weeks ago, I had seen Cristina Ferrare on Oprah, fixing several meals with roasted chicken, and I have since tried three of the recipes. They were all very good and made plenty for our family to have, enough that I thought of sharing them on here. So, enjoy! Oh, and I usually only cook one roasted chicken and then use it for a couple extra meals; it just depends on the size of your family. Also, to stretch your dollars more, wait until these whole chickens go on sale, and buy more than one or two so you have for a later time; last week, Country Mart here had them on for $.69/lb, so I bought about three of them. Enjoy!:)

Roasted Chicken
Recipe created by Cristina Ferrare

This classic roasted chicken is great on its own and in countless other recipes. This recipe calls for two chickens so that you have leftovers!
Ingredients:

Roasted Chicken:
2 chickens , 4 1/2 to 5 pounds each
6 lemons
A poultry mix of fresh herbs: Rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley and oregano work well.
Marinade for one chicken:
1 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup juice from fresh lemon (don't discard lemon rinds)

To make marinade: Place all ingredients in a nonreactive bowl. Whisk with a wire whisk until ingredients are incorporated well—the marinade should have a smooth and creamy consistency.

To make roasted chicken: Preheat oven to 425°.Clean chickens well and pat dry. Place each chicken in its own baking dish.Stuff cavities with lemon rinds and fresh herbs. A poultry mix is fine, usually consisting of rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley and oregano.Pour marinade over chicken. Add cracked pepper and remaining herbs to the top of each chicken.Place an oven thermometer in each chicken and cover with aluminum foil. Place on the lower rack of the oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, then remove the aluminum foil. Baste with a basting bulb. Keep basting often, ever 15 minutes until the thermometer reads 180°.

Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust
Recipe created by Cristina Ferrare

This is a feel-good meal! It's traditional without a catch but very satisfying—not to mention easy and fast.
Ingredients:

Filling:
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 medium Onion , chopped
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups chopped Roasted Chicken
1/2 cup frozen sweet petite peas
1 potato , diced and boiled
1 1/2 cup chopped, cooked carrots
1/2 tsp. salt
Cracked pepper
Dash of Tabasco® sauce

Crust:
3/4 cup white or yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg
2 Tbsp. canola oil

To make filling: Preheat the oven to 400°. Spray a 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil and unsalted butter together. Add onion and sauté until tender, about 4 or 5 minutes. Add in flour until blended. Slowly stir in 2 cups of heated chicken stock, whisking well. Cook mixture over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, about 4 minutes. Stir in chicken, peas, potato, carrots, salt, pepper and Tabasco®. Pour into a 2-quart ovenproof casserole dish coated with cooking spray and spread mixture evenly.

To make crust: In a bowl, stir cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Stir milk, egg and canola oil until well combined. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Spoon the batter evenly on the filling. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 22 to 25 minutes.

Chicken Enchiladas
Recipe created by Cristina Ferrare

These chicken enchiladas make a great family meal—and they're simple to make!
Ingredients:
16 ounce bottle or can enchilada sauce
6 low-fat or fat-free tortillas
1 jar salsa
2 cans refried beans
1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup shredded sharp Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
1/4 cup kalamata olives , pitted
1 jalapeño , chopped and seeded
Roasted Chicken
Heat oven to 400°. Pour the can of enchilada sauce into a pie dish. Dip tortillas in the sauce to soften them.On a cutting board, gently spread refried beans on one side of each tortilla. Add enough diced Roasted Chicken to cover the beans. Sprinkle with cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Add olives, chopped jalapeño and salsa (optional).Roll up the tortillas and place seam-side down in a 9" x 13" baking dish.Blend the sour cream into the remaining enchilada sauce in the pie dish. Pour over enchiladas and sprinkle remaining cheese.Cover and bake for 25-30 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Ready for Christmas?

Christmas is almost here, and it's that time of year again with all the hustle and bustle of the shopping world. There are so many people spending money on all kinds of different things out there, but the key to this season is frugality. Why spend so much money, when you can come up with more meaningful and thoughtful ideas on your own? So, I thought I'd share some of my own gift ideas here, and if you'd like to add to the list, go ahead; the more, the merrier, truly.:)

One thing that I had read about and have kind of tweaked to fit my own style is scrapbooking pictures and framing them. I'm taking old pictures of family (wedding pics of my mom and dad and an old picture of my grandma and grandpa when they were very young) and scrappin them into frames. I'm also taking pics of our boys and making them black and white or antiqueing them and scrappin them also. Now, before you go on about how expensive scrapbooking supplies are or how you just don't know how to scrapbook, I want you to think outside the box. It just takes a little creativity and thought. I don't really know how to scrapbook either; I'm just winging it. As for supplies, there is a dollar shop here where everything is $1, and they are starting to stock all kinds of supplies, all unique and really beautiful actually. I was even able to buy a big scrapbook for $1. Your local craft store will also sometimes put the paper on sale at a really good deal, like 4/$1 or a similar price. Also, get out old greeting cards, buttons, ribbon, etc. You can also get pretty cool frames at the dollar shop or even in the cheapie frame section at Walmart (in the outside aisles).:) Use what you have; you can come up with some pretty unique creations. Here are a couple pictures of what I have so far.

Another thing you might try is homemade candy or cookies, etc. I'm actually making truffles this year, and I got the recipe from the free Kraft Food & Family magazine that comes in my mailbox. Then you can take that candy and put it in a cute little box you get at the dollar shop. You can find the recipe for the truffles at this website: http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/simply-sensational-truffles-107529.aspx.

Another idea is to get onto Craigslist or Ebay and just look; keep searching for things you're interested in purchasing, and don't let yourself be "taken" with high shipping costs. On Craigslist, you can find things in your local area, so you don't even have to pay shipping. It's pretty cool. Also, Amazon.com and Half.com have all kinds of books, cds, movies, games, etc. for really decent prices. Check out your local thrift store too; what may seem like junk can actually be turned into a treasure for someone. Think outside the box!:)

So, this Christmas, don't get caught spending all that money you've saved up; think outside the box, and save!:)