Saturday, July 31, 2010
31 Days to Build a Better Home
Our guiding verse here at Today's Housewife is Proverbs 14:1, "The wise woman builds her home..." To help us all be better "builders," we're issuing a challenge to all our readers. Let's take the 31 days of August to build our homes. Each day on the site we will present an opportunity to make us better wives, moms, homemakers and all-round wise women. Are you up for the challenge? Let us know in the comments! Grab our button to post on your site. And continue the discussion with us at Facebook and Twitter.
We're linked up to Raising Homemakers!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Date Night at Home
Originally posted February 27, 2009
My husband and I have celebrated anniversaries, birthdays, and Valentines at home. Yes, we would have preferred to be out, but we learned to make the best of our circumstances, rather than doing nothing at all. For most of our marriage, we have not lived near family and friends. So, we've never had the luxury of having free babysitters. During Heath's time in college and seminary, we usually did not have the extra funds to pay for a babysitter.
We began to intentionally carve out special time for our relationship. During the years of having small children, and my husband being in seminary and the ministry full-time, we could have grown apart. But, instead we grew closer to one another. It takes effort, and the ability to choose to have a right attitude about your current circumstances.
Here are some At-Home Date Suggestions
Movie Night
* Drag your mattress into the living room or cuddle up on the couch together
* Subscribe to an inexpensive home delivery movie rental service.
* Rent a movie or borrow a movie from a friend that you BOTH would like to see.
Bistro
* Transform your bedroom into a romantic bistro
* White Christmas lights, candles, romantic music
* Enjoy a romantic dinner by candlelight, right in your own bedroom (with the door locked).
* If you have a little extra cash…get something delivered or pick something up.
* Or cook a simple, but nice meal (together). It’s not fair for the wife to have to do all the work on this night.
Dance the Night Away
* Dim the lights, play some music, and dance the night away.
Water Date
* Do you have a hot tub, jacuzzi, or swimming pool?
* Spend some time together in the water.
Pampering Night
* Massage feet, back, face, torso, and see where it leads.
Game Night
* Playstation, Nintendo, Wii, whatever you like
* Board games
* Card games
Coffee Shop Night
* In our house, I like hot coffee, tea, or chocolate. My husband cannot stand coffee. He likes the smell, but cannot stand the taste!
* Plan a coffee shop night. Make each other’s favorite warm drink. Light some candles, play some music. Create a relaxing atmosphere. Snuggle up together, have conversation while you enjoy your mug of warm whatever.
* When the weather is nice go outside on your porch or deck and look at the stars together.
Pizza Night
* Get a pizza delivered after the kids go to bed. It’s just like going out to eat alone, without the kids. This has to be top secret though, since pizza is many children’s favorite food. Perhaps, you could order enough to make sure the children could have leftovers for lunch the next day.
Dipping Night
* Melt some chocolate and dip your favorite foods. Strawberries, cherries, bananas, pretzels, graham crackers, etc…
Book Club
* Choose a book to read through…meet and discuss the book.
* Perhaps this could be a fiction, non-fiction, biography, marriage, or parenting book.
Sport Events
* Football, Basketball, Baseball…these are the top sports to watch in our house. Maybe this will be an easy one for you both, or maybe one of you dislikes sports very much. The point is to spend TIME together. Make an effort to participate in things that your spouse likes. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up a sports fan too!
Star Gazing
* Put the kids to bed and go outside and sit on your porch and gaze at the stars together. Talk, cuddle, whatever….
Keep it Simple
Because of our society, we think unless we can do something huge, and spend a lot of money then we shouldn’t do anything at all. Do not allow time constraints or financial strains to prohibit you from enjoying intimate time alone with your spouse!
If you have children, get them to bed early so you can curl up in bed or on the couch together, and enjoy a conversation, game, or movie. Intentionally plan an evening together. Flirt with one another, like you did when you were dating. Take care of yourself, so you will have the energy you need to spend quality time with your spouse at the end of the day. Share household chores, and parenting duties. Invest in your marriage, now, so in the future when it is just the two of you alone again, you will not have to get to know each other all over again, or worse, continue to live distant lives. Because of your home date nights, you will already know each other’s likes and dislikes. Marriage is an awesome gift from God! The pleasure of marriage, does not, and should not cease while children dwell under your roof! Be an example to your children. Show your children how awesome it is to be married! I believe marriage is often looked at as drudgery, or the “old ball and chain.” Let’s be a different generation of parents. Let’s show our children just how wonderful and fun it is to be married to your best friend.
Nikki and her husband have been married for 9 years, and have enjoyed many At-Home Dates since the arrival of their three children. Nikki is a minister's wife, home-educator, and homemaker. She blogs a little at Joy in the Journey.
My husband and I have celebrated anniversaries, birthdays, and Valentines at home. Yes, we would have preferred to be out, but we learned to make the best of our circumstances, rather than doing nothing at all. For most of our marriage, we have not lived near family and friends. So, we've never had the luxury of having free babysitters. During Heath's time in college and seminary, we usually did not have the extra funds to pay for a babysitter.
We began to intentionally carve out special time for our relationship. During the years of having small children, and my husband being in seminary and the ministry full-time, we could have grown apart. But, instead we grew closer to one another. It takes effort, and the ability to choose to have a right attitude about your current circumstances.
Here are some At-Home Date Suggestions
Movie Night
* Drag your mattress into the living room or cuddle up on the couch together
* Subscribe to an inexpensive home delivery movie rental service.
* Rent a movie or borrow a movie from a friend that you BOTH would like to see.
Bistro
* Transform your bedroom into a romantic bistro
* White Christmas lights, candles, romantic music
* Enjoy a romantic dinner by candlelight, right in your own bedroom (with the door locked).
* If you have a little extra cash…get something delivered or pick something up.
* Or cook a simple, but nice meal (together). It’s not fair for the wife to have to do all the work on this night.
Dance the Night Away
* Dim the lights, play some music, and dance the night away.
Water Date
* Do you have a hot tub, jacuzzi, or swimming pool?
* Spend some time together in the water.
Pampering Night
* Massage feet, back, face, torso, and see where it leads.
Game Night
* Playstation, Nintendo, Wii, whatever you like
* Board games
* Card games
Coffee Shop Night
* In our house, I like hot coffee, tea, or chocolate. My husband cannot stand coffee. He likes the smell, but cannot stand the taste!
* Plan a coffee shop night. Make each other’s favorite warm drink. Light some candles, play some music. Create a relaxing atmosphere. Snuggle up together, have conversation while you enjoy your mug of warm whatever.
* When the weather is nice go outside on your porch or deck and look at the stars together.
Pizza Night
* Get a pizza delivered after the kids go to bed. It’s just like going out to eat alone, without the kids. This has to be top secret though, since pizza is many children’s favorite food. Perhaps, you could order enough to make sure the children could have leftovers for lunch the next day.
Dipping Night
* Melt some chocolate and dip your favorite foods. Strawberries, cherries, bananas, pretzels, graham crackers, etc…
Book Club
* Choose a book to read through…meet and discuss the book.
* Perhaps this could be a fiction, non-fiction, biography, marriage, or parenting book.
Sport Events
* Football, Basketball, Baseball…these are the top sports to watch in our house. Maybe this will be an easy one for you both, or maybe one of you dislikes sports very much. The point is to spend TIME together. Make an effort to participate in things that your spouse likes. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up a sports fan too!
Star Gazing
* Put the kids to bed and go outside and sit on your porch and gaze at the stars together. Talk, cuddle, whatever….
Keep it Simple
Because of our society, we think unless we can do something huge, and spend a lot of money then we shouldn’t do anything at all. Do not allow time constraints or financial strains to prohibit you from enjoying intimate time alone with your spouse!
If you have children, get them to bed early so you can curl up in bed or on the couch together, and enjoy a conversation, game, or movie. Intentionally plan an evening together. Flirt with one another, like you did when you were dating. Take care of yourself, so you will have the energy you need to spend quality time with your spouse at the end of the day. Share household chores, and parenting duties. Invest in your marriage, now, so in the future when it is just the two of you alone again, you will not have to get to know each other all over again, or worse, continue to live distant lives. Because of your home date nights, you will already know each other’s likes and dislikes. Marriage is an awesome gift from God! The pleasure of marriage, does not, and should not cease while children dwell under your roof! Be an example to your children. Show your children how awesome it is to be married! I believe marriage is often looked at as drudgery, or the “old ball and chain.” Let’s be a different generation of parents. Let’s show our children just how wonderful and fun it is to be married to your best friend.
Nikki and her husband have been married for 9 years, and have enjoyed many At-Home Dates since the arrival of their three children. Nikki is a minister's wife, home-educator, and homemaker. She blogs a little at Joy in the Journey.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Time in Toluca
Originally posted on December 18, 2008.
International missions is something that has always been
close to my heart. In high school, I took my first trip to Ciudad Acuna, Mexico for a week one summer. Pretty much every summer after that, our youth group was back in Mexico. I think this helped spur on my love of missions and the Hispanic people and culture.
I moved to Mexico completely alone with four 70 pound bags containing everything that was "important" to me. I remember them containing clothes, shoes, decorations for my home, books, Pop-Tarts, macaroni and cheese and various other comfort foods. When I stepped off the plane, waited HOURS through customs and stepped into a crowd looking for a family I had never seen, my journey began. My assignment was to reach college age students by doing English classes and having Bible studies.
I had just spent 2 weeks at home after spending 6 weeks in training with other people who were sent around the world as missionaries. I arrived in Mexico City right before Thanksgiving. It was quite a change to go from having family around to being with strangers during this holiday and Christmas.
I had some crazy times and some great times. One of my favorite days started out on a really bad foot. There was a group in from Texas working with me to meet students on a local campus and invite them to English night at a local restaurant. I must have eaten something bad the night before because I woke up very sick. After drinking half a bottle of Pepto Bismal, we got on the bus to go to the campus. Surprisingly, we made it without getting lost (since I had only been at my current location for a few weeks).
Upon arriving at the campus, we passed out flyers and tried to talk to the students. I then added a nice pink hue to the rose bushes at the front of campus and felt much better! We then walked over and met some more students who had watched me get sick. These students became some of my best friends in Mexico and started taking classes with me. I am still in contact with one of them and she plans to come visit me in Texas some day! I was amazed how God used this to bless me with friends.
I was able to go to Toluca and reach college students thanks to gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. The IMB does not require its missionaries to do fund raising, but they are fully supported through the offering. (Here is a little page I made about Lottie Moon.)
This was almost two years of my life that made me grow and change in so many ways. I am thankful for the time I spent in Mexico, now that I look back on what I learned. While I was in the process, to be honest, it was a very difficult time.
I love that I have friends all over the world who are doing mission work. If you're interested in praying for them, here are some of their names:
Russ
Lynn and Sandra
Kary
Trent and Lindsey
Erick and Colleen
Kevin and Brigitte
close to my heart. In high school, I took my first trip to Ciudad Acuna, Mexico for a week one summer. Pretty much every summer after that, our youth group was back in Mexico. I think this helped spur on my love of missions and the Hispanic people and culture.I moved to Mexico completely alone with four 70 pound bags containing everything that was "important" to me. I remember them containing clothes, shoes, decorations for my home, books, Pop-Tarts, macaroni and cheese and various other comfort foods. When I stepped off the plane, waited HOURS through customs and stepped into a crowd looking for a family I had never seen, my journey began. My assignment was to reach college age students by doing English classes and having Bible studies.
I had just spent 2 weeks at home after spending 6 weeks in training with other people who were sent around the world as missionaries. I arrived in Mexico City right before Thanksgiving. It was quite a change to go from having family around to being with strangers during this holiday and Christmas.
I had some crazy times and some great times. One of my favorite days started out on a really bad foot. There was a group in from Texas working with me to meet students on a local campus and invite them to English night at a local restaurant. I must have eaten something bad the night before because I woke up very sick. After drinking half a bottle of Pepto Bismal, we got on the bus to go to the campus. Surprisingly, we made it without getting lost (since I had only been at my current location for a few weeks).
Upon arriving at the campus, we passed out flyers and tried to talk to the students. I then added a nice pink hue to the rose bushes at the front of campus and felt much better! We then walked over and met some more students who had watched me get sick. These students became some of my best friends in Mexico and started taking classes with me. I am still in contact with one of them and she plans to come visit me in Texas some day! I was amazed how God used this to bless me with friends.I was able to go to Toluca and reach college students thanks to gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. The IMB does not require its missionaries to do fund raising, but they are fully supported through the offering. (Here is a little page I made about Lottie Moon.)
This was almost two years of my life that made me grow and change in so many ways. I am thankful for the time I spent in Mexico, now that I look back on what I learned. While I was in the process, to be honest, it was a very difficult time.
I love that I have friends all over the world who are doing mission work. If you're interested in praying for them, here are some of their names:
Russ
Lynn and Sandra
Kary
Trent and Lindsey
Erick and Colleen
Kevin and Brigitte
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Spiritual Intimacy
Originally posted June 24, 2009
The honeymoon phase of marriage is great. To take a quote from a movie my 3 year old loves, “…The sun is shining… Gasp. The tank is clean. THE TANK IS CLEAN!” -Peach from Finding Nemo. And THAT sums up the end of the honeymoon phase of marriage. Everything you think marriage is going to be (a lifelong honeymoon) comes to an abrupt halt and real life sets in.
JD and I were no different. I could list pages of things we’ve learned about each other and had to work through but there’s one area that seems to take a backseat many times, yet it is crucial to marriage. It is our spiritual past, present, and future.
For JD, his past consisted of growing up in a single parent home where he went to church every Sunday & Wednesday, prayed at meals, was taught the Bible, but almost all of that happened outside the home. His mom has always been guided by Christian principles and a love for Christ, but it wasn’t modeled daily at home because other things always kept them busy. He did not have a male spiritual role model to follow daily. As for me, I also grew up in a Christian home. Both of my parents loved the Lord. We went to church, like JD, every time the doors were open. Although I saw my parents study the Bible at home on their own, we did not ever incorporate a time of family Bible study and worship.
Like most couples, our pasts are different. Needless to say, it’s made our spiritual growth as a couple hard at times. I assumed that marrying a soon-to-be minister would mean this part of marriage would come natural and easy. It was easy to believe it would take the least amount of work, but we are learning that many times it is a struggle to keep Christ in the center of our family. To do lists, bedtime routine, and TV (gasp) get in the way. We must get out of the funk of life and sit down and talk about what is going on in our spiritual lives. I can’t assume JD can read my mind about what I want his role to be in our home. We must communicate with each other. We must ask each other what we learn each day, assuming we have had a moment with the Lord. We must pray for one another. We must confront one another when we see some slack in our time with the Lord.
We want to live out what we believe so that LilE will see our relationship with the Lord is not something that only happens at church, but it is a daily walk. As for our family, we must have a plan. What does spiritual growth look like in our home? We cannot rely on the church to grow her spiritually. Her teachers can only do so much in the 3 hours they have with her. We must make the most of the HOURS we spend with her each week to model and teach her about the love of Christ.
It is a daily challenge we face. It has been since day one. We must make a choice to keep the Bible on the shelf or to open it up and dive in.
How do you keep spiritual intimacy alive in your marriage?
The honeymoon phase of marriage is great. To take a quote from a movie my 3 year old loves, “…The sun is shining… Gasp. The tank is clean. THE TANK IS CLEAN!” -Peach from Finding Nemo. And THAT sums up the end of the honeymoon phase of marriage. Everything you think marriage is going to be (a lifelong honeymoon) comes to an abrupt halt and real life sets in.JD and I were no different. I could list pages of things we’ve learned about each other and had to work through but there’s one area that seems to take a backseat many times, yet it is crucial to marriage. It is our spiritual past, present, and future.
For JD, his past consisted of growing up in a single parent home where he went to church every Sunday & Wednesday, prayed at meals, was taught the Bible, but almost all of that happened outside the home. His mom has always been guided by Christian principles and a love for Christ, but it wasn’t modeled daily at home because other things always kept them busy. He did not have a male spiritual role model to follow daily. As for me, I also grew up in a Christian home. Both of my parents loved the Lord. We went to church, like JD, every time the doors were open. Although I saw my parents study the Bible at home on their own, we did not ever incorporate a time of family Bible study and worship.
Like most couples, our pasts are different. Needless to say, it’s made our spiritual growth as a couple hard at times. I assumed that marrying a soon-to-be minister would mean this part of marriage would come natural and easy. It was easy to believe it would take the least amount of work, but we are learning that many times it is a struggle to keep Christ in the center of our family. To do lists, bedtime routine, and TV (gasp) get in the way. We must get out of the funk of life and sit down and talk about what is going on in our spiritual lives. I can’t assume JD can read my mind about what I want his role to be in our home. We must communicate with each other. We must ask each other what we learn each day, assuming we have had a moment with the Lord. We must pray for one another. We must confront one another when we see some slack in our time with the Lord.
We want to live out what we believe so that LilE will see our relationship with the Lord is not something that only happens at church, but it is a daily walk. As for our family, we must have a plan. What does spiritual growth look like in our home? We cannot rely on the church to grow her spiritually. Her teachers can only do so much in the 3 hours they have with her. We must make the most of the HOURS we spend with her each week to model and teach her about the love of Christ.
It is a daily challenge we face. It has been since day one. We must make a choice to keep the Bible on the shelf or to open it up and dive in.
How do you keep spiritual intimacy alive in your marriage?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Long-While Friends
Originally posted on January 13, 2009.
When I was a kid I loved to read a book about a little boy named Orlando who was traveling all summer with his parents. He was scared about being lonely without all his friends, but he meets a little girl who explains that sometimes we make little-while friends. Those friends are only around for a short time to play with. At the end of the book that same little girl ends up moving next door to him and becoming his long-while friend.I think our friendships as adults can be exactly that way. God puts people in our lives in different seasons for different reasons. Some of those people are there to minister to us, others for us to minister to and often for both. A number of them are only going to be little-while friends. It sounds a little harsh to think that you won't always be friends with someone whom you loved and ministered to or someone who took the time to reach out to you, but often God sends you exactly who you need at the moment. Being a navy family who moves a lot I can name quite a few little-while friends that we've had over the last couple years. It's simply impossible to maintain a close relationship with that many people at the same time. Think of all the people you knew in high school or college that you were close to. Now, how many have you lost touch with (other than on Facebook)? It doesn't mean that you don't wish them well or want to know how they are doing, but you don't have that close relationship that you once had.
I believe that is how God designed relationships to be. As we grow we are able to minister in different ways and need ministry in other ways. New little-while friends meet those needs and we meet needs in them. Every once in a while though, God blesses you with a little-while friend who becomes a long-while friend. Those are the best gifts. They come out of nowhere and stick around for whatever comes along, across miles, through births, deaths, marriages, laughter and tears. Some of my long-while friends have been in my life for 20+ years. Others have only been my friend for a few years, but we have experienced enough life-living together that they also are long-while friends.
There are lots of ways to foster friendships, whether they are little-while or long-while.
- Making use of technology is the easiest way for me. I've already mentioned Facebook, but there's also blogging, emailing, inexpensive long distance on a cell phone, etc. Find the way that you can connect most easily with each friend.
- Support your friends with encouraging words and notes. It could be a text message or a comment on their blog, just let them know you are thinking about them and interested in what is going on in their life.
- Be realistic about your expectations with each friend. The friend who just had a baby won't be able to give you the time or energy she could before the baby was born. But seasons change and she'll have more time in the future.
- Be open to the friendships that God has given you in your current season of life. If you are always mourning the loss of an old friendship you could miss out on the next blessing God has for you.
- Be selfless. This is the easiest, hardest way to foster your friendships. It will do the most for growing them but be the toughest one to accomplish. We all want to "get" things out of a relationship and we often don't stop to remember to "give" to it as well. I'm not advocating being a doormat, but I am encouraging you to look for ways to serve your friends in a biblical way.
Most of all, I want to thank all my friends, little-while and long-while ones. Thank you for meeting needs in my life and being used by God to grow me more in the image of His Son. Thanks for putting up with me and all my idiosyncrasies. Thanks for all the great memories and all the ones left to be made. I encourage you to take the time today to thank at least one friend for how they minister to you. I'd love for you to leave a comment and let me know who it is and what you are thankful for.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Household Management Notebook
My husband and I are "stack" instead of "sort" type people. If we had a scavenger hunt and had to find our latest bank statement, our doctor's phone number, and the boys' social security cards, it would take us a while. So our household management notebook is really a necessity for us. As our family grows and our lives get more complicated (IRAs, college savings, buying a house, frequent flyer numbers...) we need a go-to place to organize and keep everything.
Here are the basics of our household management notebook:
- Information Sheets: doctor information, doctor visit chart, car maintenance record, on-line passwords, on-line purchases, party planning, gift ideas, gifts received, important contacts, travel/vacation information, housework schedule
- Menu Planning & Recipes: coupons (kept in zipper pencil pouch), shopping list, new recipes
- Money: Bank statements, receipts (another pencil pouch), budget worksheets, price comparison worksheet
- Family Worship: schedule for our family Bible study and prayer requests
- Monthly Calendars: from preschool and church
For our monthly and weekly schedules, I use a MomAgenda. I have been using the desk top edition (which I love), but since I really just need the calendar pages, I'm going to switch to the spiral refill and keep it with my notebook. It has five columns for each week that I use for my schedule, Lee's appointments, the boys' activities, blog topics, and our menu.
It really helps us to have a place for all the paper work that gets piled up around our house. Listed in resources are links to other family notebooks, scheduling pages, and inspiration for organization!
How do you keep track of your family's paper work? What has worked (and what hasn't worked) for you?
Resources:
Home Management Notebook by Simple Mom
Household Notebook
Christina's Lesson Plan Book
FlyLady's Control Journal
Weekly planner page I use from Mom Advice
MomAgenda
ListPlanIt (hundreds of lists and planning sheets available for members, and watch for membership giveaways and 1/2 price specials)
image pencil
Friday, July 23, 2010
Birthdays on a Budget
Originally posted March 13, 2009
Birthdays have always been special to me. Growing up, I remember having some awesome birthday parties. When I had kids of my own, I knew I wanted to make their birthdays equally special. But I also knew, as a stay at home mom, I would need to do that on a budget. I have successfully planned four birthday parties on a budget for my daughter and am already thinking about my son’s first birthday party in May!
Here are some tips to plan a great party on a budget:
Get creative – Think outside the box with decorations. Don’t spend a lot of money buying the pre-packaged decorations at the store. Instead, look around your house for what you already have or see what you can make to decorate your party venue. For example, this year for T$’s Cinderella party, I spent about $10 on fabric and an embroidery hoop. I hung the hoop from the ceiling w
ith fishing line and draped the tulle across it to create a canopy over the girl’s dining table. I also used my own silver chargers to make the dining table extra fancy. To complete the look, I bought a few packs of inexpensive balloons and blew them up with a helium tank and tied a grouping to each end of the table.
Bake your own – You don’t have to be an all-star baker to give your child a great birthday cake. Use a box cake mix to make a sheet cake, cupcakes, or layered cake. The frosting can be from the can, too. Use fresh flowers on top or just add some colorful sprinkles and candles. If you want to get fancy, buy a character cake mold and go to town. Even if you spend a few bucks on a cake mold and other tools, it will cost less than buying from a bakery. Trust me. I was going to buy a doll cake this year for T$. You know, the kind with a cake skirt and doll head. However, when I learned that would set me back $50.00, I decided to try my own. My cake version of Cinderella would never win an award, but T$ was delighted and it even tasted pretty good.
Two for one – I decided to make cookie pops this year to give as favors. I made them using a simple sugar cookie recipe and before I baked the cookie, I stuck in a lollipop stick. After the cookies cooled, I iced them and wrapped them in cellophane bags. They turned out so cute that I gathered the cookie pops into two “bouquets” and placed them in vases. Those vases became the centerpiece of my party table. Another idea may be to make a craft at your party that you can then give as the party favor.
Plan ahead – If you are able to decide on a party theme a few months in advance, you can watch for marked-down items to use as favors, decorations, or buy pantry items that you can use to serve on party day. This year, I knew I wanted to make felt mice in honor of Cinderella’s friends Jaq and Gus. After Christmas I found candy canes marked down 90%.
Get out cash – My biggest advice to planning a party on a budget, is to actually set a budget and get out cash. I don’t know about you, but I can burn through some dough, especially when it comes to spoiling my kids. In order to keep myself in check, I took out my allotted funds, kept them in an envelope, and made an extensive list of everything I would need for the party and the estimated cost. When I went shopping, I just took the envelope with me and kept all receipts inside. I actually came in under budget this year!
Have fun, get creative, and let your kids help out with the planning!
Birthdays have always been special to me. Growing up, I remember having some awesome birthday parties. When I had kids of my own, I knew I wanted to make their birthdays equally special. But I also knew, as a stay at home mom, I would need to do that on a budget. I have successfully planned four birthday parties on a budget for my daughter and am already thinking about my son’s first birthday party in May!
Here are some tips to plan a great party on a budget:
Get creative – Think outside the box with decorations. Don’t spend a lot of money buying the pre-packaged decorations at the store. Instead, look around your house for what you already have or see what you can make to decorate your party venue. For example, this year for T$’s Cinderella party, I spent about $10 on fabric and an embroidery hoop. I hung the hoop from the ceiling w
ith fishing line and draped the tulle across it to create a canopy over the girl’s dining table. I also used my own silver chargers to make the dining table extra fancy. To complete the look, I bought a few packs of inexpensive balloons and blew them up with a helium tank and tied a grouping to each end of the table.Bake your own – You don’t have to be an all-star baker to give your child a great birthday cake. Use a box cake mix to make a sheet cake, cupcakes, or layered cake. The frosting can be from the can, too. Use fresh flowers on top or just add some colorful sprinkles and candles. If you want to get fancy, buy a character cake mold and go to town. Even if you spend a few bucks on a cake mold and other tools, it will cost less than buying from a bakery. Trust me. I was going to buy a doll cake this year for T$. You know, the kind with a cake skirt and doll head. However, when I learned that would set me back $50.00, I decided to try my own. My cake version of Cinderella would never win an award, but T$ was delighted and it even tasted pretty good.Two for one – I decided to make cookie pops this year to give as favors. I made them using a simple sugar cookie recipe and before I baked the cookie, I stuck in a lollipop stick. After the cookies cooled, I iced them and wrapped them in cellophane bags. They turned out so cute that I gathered the cookie pops into two “bouquets” and placed them in vases. Those vases became the centerpiece of my party table. Another idea may be to make a craft at your party that you can then give as the party favor.
Plan ahead – If you are able to decide on a party theme a few months in advance, you can watch for marked-down items to use as favors, decorations, or buy pantry items that you can use to serve on party day. This year, I knew I wanted to make felt mice in honor of Cinderella’s friends Jaq and Gus. After Christmas I found candy canes marked down 90%.Get out cash – My biggest advice to planning a party on a budget, is to actually set a budget and get out cash. I don’t know about you, but I can burn through some dough, especially when it comes to spoiling my kids. In order to keep myself in check, I took out my allotted funds, kept them in an envelope, and made an extensive list of everything I would need for the party and the estimated cost. When I went shopping, I just took the envelope with me and kept all receipts inside. I actually came in under budget this year!
Have fun, get creative, and let your kids help out with the planning!
Miriam is the wife of a college minister and stay-at-home mom to two awesome kids. She loves baking, crafting, decorating, and finding a good bargain. You can find her at It’s A Mom Thing.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Ideas for Spoiling Your Husband
Originally posted on November 19, 2009
Here are some ideas of things you can do to spoil your husband (some of which I've done):
* Mow the lawn so he can have the weekend off
* Make his favorite meal to celebrate something great at work or after a hard day
* Write him a note and tuck it somewhere that he will find it while he is away
* Let him use the Special Plate and spend the meal telling him ways that he's special to you and the family
* Give him a guy's night out
* Do something he wants to do (I have gone to a few car shows with my husband because he enjoys them).
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Jesse Tree
Originally posted December 2, 2009--I wanted you to celebrate Christmas in July (or plan ahead)
A couple of years ago, after my grandma passed away, I was helping my parents go through her things. I found an envelope marked "Jesse Tree Banner Instructions-1998." I had never heard of a Jesse Tree, but opening the envelop I found that several ladies in the church got together that year (and other years from what I inferred) and made multiple Jesse Trees Kits--ornaments and devotional guides. The pattern for all the ornaments along with devotions were included. I thought it was a fantastic way to walk through the Bible with my daughter as we anticipated the coming birth of Christ.
Well, two years later, I am just now pulling it out. I did some research on what a Jesse Tree really is and why I would want to do it. During my search I found a set of devotions I liked even better than the ones my grandma had.
What is a Jesse Tree?
The Jesse Tree is based on Isaiah 11:1, "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." It is one way to teach my child the lineage of Christ, starting at the creation of the world until His birth. It also shows how all of God's promises have been fulfilled.
Each day an ornament, corresponding with the devotion (i.e. creation-earth or sun; Joseph-colorful coat; David-slingshot, harp or crown), is placed on a tree or banner (or however you want to display it in your home). The ornaments can be homemade or store bought.
Where can I find the devotions?
I did a google search and found 6-7 without much effort. I found several families who used these devotions put out by the Reformed Church of America. They are very family oriented. They also have patterns for the ornaments free online.
I found these devotions for parents. I skimmed through them and really like them! It is an in depth devotional for the parents that corresponds with kids/family devotion. The parent devos are online free right now. (They are also a way for me to get my heart into Christmas-like Alicia mentioned yesterday.) The family devos are sold here. I will say I do not like the last few days and therefore will tweak them to what I feel is important for our family.
Finally, I found this blog. I like that this mom took her daily plan and included readings from The Beginner's Bible and The Big Picture Story Bible.
What if I don't want to spend money and I want to do it this year? Is it too late?
It's definitely not too late. As I mentioned earlier, you can make your own ornaments (using felt) or cut out these coloring pages and punch holes and hang with yarn. Since I got such a late start, we are going the coloring pages route this year. Plus, my daughter LOVES to color. Hobby Lobby has their ornaments on sale this week for 50% off, so I may head over there and pick up a few that will meet our needs and then hit up some other stores after Christmas. And over the course of the next year I may find/make all that we need. (At least that is the plan.)
When I began reading the Parent's Devotional this jumped off the page:
When the resurrected Jesus met discouraged disciples who had not yet learned of the resurrection, he encouraged them with a lesson in christological interpretation of the Old Testament:
"Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?" Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself...Then he said, "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem; 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.'" (Luke 24:25-27, 44-47)
The Old Testament pointed forward to the person and work of Jesus Christ. And failure to read it that way is a failure that Jesus even calls "foolish" and a failure of faith (v. 24). We definitely want to teach the faith to our children, and we believe we can do that from all the scripture.
A couple of years ago, after my grandma passed away, I was helping my parents go through her things. I found an envelope marked "Jesse Tree Banner Instructions-1998." I had never heard of a Jesse Tree, but opening the envelop I found that several ladies in the church got together that year (and other years from what I inferred) and made multiple Jesse Trees Kits--ornaments and devotional guides. The pattern for all the ornaments along with devotions were included. I thought it was a fantastic way to walk through the Bible with my daughter as we anticipated the coming birth of Christ.
Well, two years later, I am just now pulling it out. I did some research on what a Jesse Tree really is and why I would want to do it. During my search I found a set of devotions I liked even better than the ones my grandma had.
What is a Jesse Tree?
The Jesse Tree is based on Isaiah 11:1, "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." It is one way to teach my child the lineage of Christ, starting at the creation of the world until His birth. It also shows how all of God's promises have been fulfilled.
Each day an ornament, corresponding with the devotion (i.e. creation-earth or sun; Joseph-colorful coat; David-slingshot, harp or crown), is placed on a tree or banner (or however you want to display it in your home). The ornaments can be homemade or store bought.
Where can I find the devotions?
I did a google search and found 6-7 without much effort. I found several families who used these devotions put out by the Reformed Church of America. They are very family oriented. They also have patterns for the ornaments free online.
I found these devotions for parents. I skimmed through them and really like them! It is an in depth devotional for the parents that corresponds with kids/family devotion. The parent devos are online free right now. (They are also a way for me to get my heart into Christmas-like Alicia mentioned yesterday.) The family devos are sold here. I will say I do not like the last few days and therefore will tweak them to what I feel is important for our family.
Finally, I found this blog. I like that this mom took her daily plan and included readings from The Beginner's Bible and The Big Picture Story Bible.
What if I don't want to spend money and I want to do it this year? Is it too late?
It's definitely not too late. As I mentioned earlier, you can make your own ornaments (using felt) or cut out these coloring pages and punch holes and hang with yarn. Since I got such a late start, we are going the coloring pages route this year. Plus, my daughter LOVES to color. Hobby Lobby has their ornaments on sale this week for 50% off, so I may head over there and pick up a few that will meet our needs and then hit up some other stores after Christmas. And over the course of the next year I may find/make all that we need. (At least that is the plan.)When I began reading the Parent's Devotional this jumped off the page:
When the resurrected Jesus met discouraged disciples who had not yet learned of the resurrection, he encouraged them with a lesson in christological interpretation of the Old Testament:
"Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?" Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself...Then he said, "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem; 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.'" (Luke 24:25-27, 44-47)
The Old Testament pointed forward to the person and work of Jesus Christ. And failure to read it that way is a failure that Jesus even calls "foolish" and a failure of faith (v. 24). We definitely want to teach the faith to our children, and we believe we can do that from all the scripture.
Powerful words! Is a Jesse Tree the only way to do this? Of course not. But this year my family is planning to use this method to celebrate the coming of the Christ child.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Cut Us Some Slack...
Originally posted December 30, 2008.
Why is it so hard to be the most forgiving and generous with the ones we love the most? A perfect stranger is rude to us and we let it slide off our back. Our spouse says something rude and we never let them live it down. A waiter gets our order wrong and we say, "That's okay." Our kids don't follow our instructions and we lose it. (I'm speaking in generalities of course. I never "lose it" with my children. wink, wink.) A business doesn't return our call and we simply call them, but a friend doesn't call us and we get angry. I can think of so many instances that I am gracious with people that I don't even know. How often do I extend that same grace to my own friends and family?
It's been a tearful few days around our house. Luke is crying "for no reason" and Mark is having meltdowns at the drop of a hat. But I'm working on being patient with them. You see, we are adjusting to life without Dad for a while. Tim left for his first patrol this weekend and although we are all doing fine, it's taking a little bit of a toll on us. But it has also gotten me thinking about how I treat my family and the expectations I have of them, especially of my kids. I'm not a perfect mom, why do I expect my kids to behave perfectly?
There are definitely still consequences for breaking rules and disobeying at our house, but I'm trying to make sure that I'm also seeing their behavior through the eyes of our circumstances. It makes it a lot easier to respond in love when I remember that their rebellion could be rooted in Dad being gone. I'm trying to maintain our routine and the stability of our expectations, but also balancing that with trying to give enough attention and hugs for two parents. Even when Tim is home, there are plenty of times that I could be a lot more understanding and loving in my discipline.
I know that not everyone has a spouse that's out to sea, but we all have people we love that we could cut some slack. Experiment with being gracious with your spouse. Ignore that habit that you hate. It could be your kids. School's out and they're driving you crazy. Try showing a little grace to them. Maybe it's your in-laws or extended family. The holidays don't always bring out the best of people but try a little generosity instead of animosity. After all, this is the perfect time of year to remember the grace that was extended to us when we least deserved it all those years ago in Bethlehem.
It's been a tearful few days around our house. Luke is crying "for no reason" and Mark is having meltdowns at the drop of a hat. But I'm working on being patient with them. You see, we are adjusting to life without Dad for a while. Tim left for his first patrol this weekend and although we are all doing fine, it's taking a little bit of a toll on us. But it has also gotten me thinking about how I treat my family and the expectations I have of them, especially of my kids. I'm not a perfect mom, why do I expect my kids to behave perfectly?
There are definitely still consequences for breaking rules and disobeying at our house, but I'm trying to make sure that I'm also seeing their behavior through the eyes of our circumstances. It makes it a lot easier to respond in love when I remember that their rebellion could be rooted in Dad being gone. I'm trying to maintain our routine and the stability of our expectations, but also balancing that with trying to give enough attention and hugs for two parents. Even when Tim is home, there are plenty of times that I could be a lot more understanding and loving in my discipline.
I know that not everyone has a spouse that's out to sea, but we all have people we love that we could cut some slack. Experiment with being gracious with your spouse. Ignore that habit that you hate. It could be your kids. School's out and they're driving you crazy. Try showing a little grace to them. Maybe it's your in-laws or extended family. The holidays don't always bring out the best of people but try a little generosity instead of animosity. After all, this is the perfect time of year to remember the grace that was extended to us when we least deserved it all those years ago in Bethlehem.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Garden with Your Kids
Originally posted May 4th, 2009.
Wendell Berry writes that for most of people, "....food is pretty much an abstract idea- something they do not know or imagine- until it appears on the grocery shelf or on the table."
I don't want this to be true for my kids. So, we have a family garden. It's not much, just a four by eight box, but it's enough for us to get dirty and have plenty of tomatoes to can. Here are eight reasons to roll up your sleeves and garden with your kids!
1. They need to learn that food doesn't come from the grocery store. It comes from the ground.
2. The more time outside the better!
3. They might be more willing to try a new vegetable if they "grew" it themselves.
4. We will pass on the extras from the garden, which helps them learn generosity.
5. It's fun to get dirty.
6. We learn patience. The day after we planted the seeds my son thought he saw plants growing. So, he will learn to patiently wait for the produce, and I will learn to patiently explain everyday that we must wait.
7. Gardening is hard work. And everyone needs to do a little hard work.
8. The hard work is more fun when done together!
Wendell Berry writes that for most of people, "....food is pretty much an abstract idea- something they do not know or imagine- until it appears on the grocery shelf or on the table."I don't want this to be true for my kids. So, we have a family garden. It's not much, just a four by eight box, but it's enough for us to get dirty and have plenty of tomatoes to can. Here are eight reasons to roll up your sleeves and garden with your kids!
1. They need to learn that food doesn't come from the grocery store. It comes from the ground.
2. The more time outside the better!
3. They might be more willing to try a new vegetable if they "grew" it themselves.
4. We will pass on the extras from the garden, which helps them learn generosity.
5. It's fun to get dirty.
6. We learn patience. The day after we planted the seeds my son thought he saw plants growing. So, he will learn to patiently wait for the produce, and I will learn to patiently explain everyday that we must wait.
7. Gardening is hard work. And everyone needs to do a little hard work.
8. The hard work is more fun when done together!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Saving Time
Originally posted August 28, 2009
Before I start, let me just say, I’m not a perfect wife by any means. I’m not mother of the year, either. A year ago, my father got sick and it felt like the world came crashing down around us, and it’s taken us the past few months since his death to crawl out from under the rubble. So I’m a little dusty and a little rusty on some things, but I’m stronger and I’d like to think, smarter.
I’ve had this blog entry running around in my head for weeks. When I read that one of the upcoming topics was “Saving Time,” I didn’t even think about it—the next thing I knew, my hands were typing away on an e-mail to Today’s Housewife, asking about a guest post. It must have been God, because I work in education and this is probably the busiest, craziest time of year for me. But maybe that’s exactly why He led me here—He does have a sense of humor, doesn’t He?
Here’s the thing: as I’ve gone around and around about this in my mind, I keep coming back to the same thing: for me, saving time is all wrapped up in being organized, efficient, and purposeful. So it’s not just one thing as much as it’s a mindset.
I try to find a balance being organization and chaos in our lives and home. Obviously, my home and life are not as organized as they were before James and I had kids. Seriously—if that’s your marker, girlfriends, let that one go. It’s not possible without letting something important slide (like time with your kids and husband, or being able to ENJOY time with them…and neither of those are up for grabs. So let the other go.) Here are some of the things that work for me, and my family:
--I always, always have back-ups in the cabinet for shampoo, toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, you name it…we don’t run out of anything. When we use one and get another out of the cabinet, it goes on the grocery list and gets replaced immediately so we (usually!) don’t run out. How does this save time, you ask? Well, nobody has to run to the drugstore at 7 AM on school days for toothpaste or hair gel. And that also saves stress, which means my whole day isn’t thrown off…you get the idea.
--One of the things that drives me nuts is mail…I hate to come home and see a stack of mail on the table. When I get the mail, I immediately recycle the junk mail and circulars and open bills, letters, etc. and file them or put them on James’ desk--basically, I put them where they GO. This takes all of 30 seconds every day. But, if I let the mail pile up, how much stress will that cause, and how much time will it take to move the mountain when guests come over…and then, to finally go through weeks’ worth of mail? Ugh—my blood pressure’s up just thinking of it! This works best if you actually have a system for filing bills, etc. Seriously, that saves time, too, because what you need is always at your fingertips…no digging through a ginormous box for that doctor bill from last March.
--Another little thing that makes a big difference is having a schedule, even if it’s an unwritten one. By that, I mean…do the same things on the same days every week if you can. Like, empty the bathroom trash into the big trash on trash day. That way, it always gets DONE. Go to the library on the same day each week (or whenever)…you see how this works. Feed the dog and the fish at the same time(s) each day, or they can get lost in the shuffle. Simply getting things done on a schedule saves time. Can’t explain it, it’s mommy magic.
--Another big stress: Laundry. Try not to let laundry pile up if you can avoid it…pick a couple days a week to run a load or four, depending on how many loads your family creates in a week. Or, if you’ve got the time, run a load each day. But here’s the kicker—fold/hang as things come out of the dryer (or washer, if you’re that awesome). It’s like the mail—it’s quicker to do it as it happens than it is to let it pile up somewhere. Seeing a pile of clean laundry sitting around is just as stressful for us women as a pile of dirty laundry…so avoid piles if you can. There are lots of weeks I don’t follow my own advice, but those are also very stressful weeks around here!
--I’m a big fan of night-befores. So, before we go to bed, my daughter’s backpack is packed and ready for school the next day, her clothes (from panties to socks and shoes) are ready and waiting, and we have a plan for her breakfast and lunch the next day. If she’s taking her lunch, we’ve decided what she’s taking…and if I’m really “on”, her lunchbox and various containers are already sitting out, waiting to be filled. When I’m really, REALLY “on”, my husband and I iron our clothes the night before--at the very least, I know what I’m wearing the next day before I go to bed. That totally saves time in the morning!
--Meals are a great way to spend time…and an easy place to save time (and money!). We have the best weeks when we have a menu and stick to it. What works for us is to go shopping on Sunday afternoon then spend an hour or so cleaning and chopping fruits and veggies so we’ve got a refrigerator full of ready-to-use fresh ingredients all week. This makes us eat healthier, too, because if you don’t use it, it goes to waste and that’s just annoying and, well, wasteful. There are lots of websites than can help you with menu-planning if that’s an area where you need help. Heck, don’t we all?
--This is kind of a memory and time-saving trick…it is SUCH a time-waster to get where you’re going, only to realize you’ve forgotten something and have to go home and start all over again. So, the night before when I’m getting everything ready, I put my car keys WITH whatever it is that I can’t forget. Whether it’s a meal in the fridge to deliver to a friend or my laptop…I know I won’t walk out without my keys, so I have to remember what it is I can’t forget!
--Efficiency is one of the best time-savers. As Moms, we spend a ton of time in the car running from errand to errand, dropping off, picking up, etc. I work from home, which means that I have to really watch the hours between kid drop off and pick up…so I plan errands for while I’m out dropping kids off or when I go back out to pick them up. Another thing that works well is grouping errands—if I need to go to the post office and pay the utility bill, I’ll do both in the same trip since they’re around the corner from each other. If I need to go to the card store, I’ll try to go when I need to go to the grocery store, anyway since they’re in the same parking lot. Yesterday I wanted to pamper myself with a pedicure but I had limited time and some things to pick up from Wal-Mart…so I got my pedicure there. It wasn’t as glamorous maybe as I’d envisioned, but the end result was the same and I only had to go one place. That was worth a lot to me!
--In general, taking a second to do something when it needs to be done makes a huge difference. Around here, if we put one thing on the dining room table, before I can turn around it’s multiplied at least seven times. So, if I notice something out of place, I just pick it up and toss it back into place as I go on about my business. That’s not always possible…but it’s nice when it works. Did I mention I have a toddler who leaves a path of destruction wherever he goes? He kind of kills the whole everything in its place thing…so I just make sure things are pretty much picked up before we go to bed each night. That way, I don’t have that to add to my list before my day even starts tomorrow.
--A few years ago, a speaker at our MOPS group recommended keeping a notebook. I thought it was silly, but I tried it…and now that’s what I give to ALL of my pregnant friends who are about to be mommies for the first time. I don’t have a set system for mine—it’s a place where I keep a running list of what we need at the grocery store, Wal-Mart, what I need to do that day/week…things to buy, gifts to mail…etc. etc. And theoretically, if I was a better Mom I’d jot down the memorable things my kids say and do. But that’s why I blog…
--This one’s touchy, I know…but I totally got sucked into a social networking site (that shall remain nameless) several months ago. Seriously—I’d sit down at the computer to work and think, oh, I’ll just check in real quick. And before I know it, it’s an hour later…so I save time by limiting my time on said social networking site. And I try not to get lost in the blogosphere more than once a day or so…it helps to have a set time, which for me is before the kids wake up while I’m having a cup of coffee, or after the kids go down at night. All things in moderation, right??
I know these things might seem totally random, but that’s just how it is around here. If you’re still reading, thanks for reading this and for supporting the ladies at Today’s Housewife! And thanks, also, to the wonderful ladies at Today’s Housewife or letting me play, too. Now, it’s your turn…what do YOU do to save time? Go on, leave a comment—we all want to know what works for your family!
Kristi says, "I enjoy the best of both worlds, as I'm able to live like a housewife but work as a consultant as well. I've been married to James since 1998, and we have lots of fun with our kiddos, Kayci Clara and Noble Orion. We live in a small town and work really hard to keep the first things first in our lives--faith, family and friends. If you want to know more about my family, visit our blog at The Adventures of the Family Pharaon. If you want to know all of MY secrets, you can visit me at Adventures of MommyGirl. I'm also on Facebook...but I try really, really hard not to spend a lot of time on there! :)"
Before I start, let me just say, I’m not a perfect wife by any means. I’m not mother of the year, either. A year ago, my father got sick and it felt like the world came crashing down around us, and it’s taken us the past few months since his death to crawl out from under the rubble. So I’m a little dusty and a little rusty on some things, but I’m stronger and I’d like to think, smarter.
I’ve had this blog entry running around in my head for weeks. When I read that one of the upcoming topics was “Saving Time,” I didn’t even think about it—the next thing I knew, my hands were typing away on an e-mail to Today’s Housewife, asking about a guest post. It must have been God, because I work in education and this is probably the busiest, craziest time of year for me. But maybe that’s exactly why He led me here—He does have a sense of humor, doesn’t He?
Here’s the thing: as I’ve gone around and around about this in my mind, I keep coming back to the same thing: for me, saving time is all wrapped up in being organized, efficient, and purposeful. So it’s not just one thing as much as it’s a mindset.
I try to find a balance being organization and chaos in our lives and home. Obviously, my home and life are not as organized as they were before James and I had kids. Seriously—if that’s your marker, girlfriends, let that one go. It’s not possible without letting something important slide (like time with your kids and husband, or being able to ENJOY time with them…and neither of those are up for grabs. So let the other go.) Here are some of the things that work for me, and my family:
--I always, always have back-ups in the cabinet for shampoo, toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, you name it…we don’t run out of anything. When we use one and get another out of the cabinet, it goes on the grocery list and gets replaced immediately so we (usually!) don’t run out. How does this save time, you ask? Well, nobody has to run to the drugstore at 7 AM on school days for toothpaste or hair gel. And that also saves stress, which means my whole day isn’t thrown off…you get the idea.
--One of the things that drives me nuts is mail…I hate to come home and see a stack of mail on the table. When I get the mail, I immediately recycle the junk mail and circulars and open bills, letters, etc. and file them or put them on James’ desk--basically, I put them where they GO. This takes all of 30 seconds every day. But, if I let the mail pile up, how much stress will that cause, and how much time will it take to move the mountain when guests come over…and then, to finally go through weeks’ worth of mail? Ugh—my blood pressure’s up just thinking of it! This works best if you actually have a system for filing bills, etc. Seriously, that saves time, too, because what you need is always at your fingertips…no digging through a ginormous box for that doctor bill from last March.
--Another little thing that makes a big difference is having a schedule, even if it’s an unwritten one. By that, I mean…do the same things on the same days every week if you can. Like, empty the bathroom trash into the big trash on trash day. That way, it always gets DONE. Go to the library on the same day each week (or whenever)…you see how this works. Feed the dog and the fish at the same time(s) each day, or they can get lost in the shuffle. Simply getting things done on a schedule saves time. Can’t explain it, it’s mommy magic.
--Another big stress: Laundry. Try not to let laundry pile up if you can avoid it…pick a couple days a week to run a load or four, depending on how many loads your family creates in a week. Or, if you’ve got the time, run a load each day. But here’s the kicker—fold/hang as things come out of the dryer (or washer, if you’re that awesome). It’s like the mail—it’s quicker to do it as it happens than it is to let it pile up somewhere. Seeing a pile of clean laundry sitting around is just as stressful for us women as a pile of dirty laundry…so avoid piles if you can. There are lots of weeks I don’t follow my own advice, but those are also very stressful weeks around here!
--I’m a big fan of night-befores. So, before we go to bed, my daughter’s backpack is packed and ready for school the next day, her clothes (from panties to socks and shoes) are ready and waiting, and we have a plan for her breakfast and lunch the next day. If she’s taking her lunch, we’ve decided what she’s taking…and if I’m really “on”, her lunchbox and various containers are already sitting out, waiting to be filled. When I’m really, REALLY “on”, my husband and I iron our clothes the night before--at the very least, I know what I’m wearing the next day before I go to bed. That totally saves time in the morning!
--Meals are a great way to spend time…and an easy place to save time (and money!). We have the best weeks when we have a menu and stick to it. What works for us is to go shopping on Sunday afternoon then spend an hour or so cleaning and chopping fruits and veggies so we’ve got a refrigerator full of ready-to-use fresh ingredients all week. This makes us eat healthier, too, because if you don’t use it, it goes to waste and that’s just annoying and, well, wasteful. There are lots of websites than can help you with menu-planning if that’s an area where you need help. Heck, don’t we all?
--This is kind of a memory and time-saving trick…it is SUCH a time-waster to get where you’re going, only to realize you’ve forgotten something and have to go home and start all over again. So, the night before when I’m getting everything ready, I put my car keys WITH whatever it is that I can’t forget. Whether it’s a meal in the fridge to deliver to a friend or my laptop…I know I won’t walk out without my keys, so I have to remember what it is I can’t forget!
--Efficiency is one of the best time-savers. As Moms, we spend a ton of time in the car running from errand to errand, dropping off, picking up, etc. I work from home, which means that I have to really watch the hours between kid drop off and pick up…so I plan errands for while I’m out dropping kids off or when I go back out to pick them up. Another thing that works well is grouping errands—if I need to go to the post office and pay the utility bill, I’ll do both in the same trip since they’re around the corner from each other. If I need to go to the card store, I’ll try to go when I need to go to the grocery store, anyway since they’re in the same parking lot. Yesterday I wanted to pamper myself with a pedicure but I had limited time and some things to pick up from Wal-Mart…so I got my pedicure there. It wasn’t as glamorous maybe as I’d envisioned, but the end result was the same and I only had to go one place. That was worth a lot to me!
--In general, taking a second to do something when it needs to be done makes a huge difference. Around here, if we put one thing on the dining room table, before I can turn around it’s multiplied at least seven times. So, if I notice something out of place, I just pick it up and toss it back into place as I go on about my business. That’s not always possible…but it’s nice when it works. Did I mention I have a toddler who leaves a path of destruction wherever he goes? He kind of kills the whole everything in its place thing…so I just make sure things are pretty much picked up before we go to bed each night. That way, I don’t have that to add to my list before my day even starts tomorrow.
--A few years ago, a speaker at our MOPS group recommended keeping a notebook. I thought it was silly, but I tried it…and now that’s what I give to ALL of my pregnant friends who are about to be mommies for the first time. I don’t have a set system for mine—it’s a place where I keep a running list of what we need at the grocery store, Wal-Mart, what I need to do that day/week…things to buy, gifts to mail…etc. etc. And theoretically, if I was a better Mom I’d jot down the memorable things my kids say and do. But that’s why I blog…
--This one’s touchy, I know…but I totally got sucked into a social networking site (that shall remain nameless) several months ago. Seriously—I’d sit down at the computer to work and think, oh, I’ll just check in real quick. And before I know it, it’s an hour later…so I save time by limiting my time on said social networking site. And I try not to get lost in the blogosphere more than once a day or so…it helps to have a set time, which for me is before the kids wake up while I’m having a cup of coffee, or after the kids go down at night. All things in moderation, right??
I know these things might seem totally random, but that’s just how it is around here. If you’re still reading, thanks for reading this and for supporting the ladies at Today’s Housewife! And thanks, also, to the wonderful ladies at Today’s Housewife or letting me play, too. Now, it’s your turn…what do YOU do to save time? Go on, leave a comment—we all want to know what works for your family!
Kristi says, "I enjoy the best of both worlds, as I'm able to live like a housewife but work as a consultant as well. I've been married to James since 1998, and we have lots of fun with our kiddos, Kayci Clara and Noble Orion. We live in a small town and work really hard to keep the first things first in our lives--faith, family and friends. If you want to know more about my family, visit our blog at The Adventures of the Family Pharaon. If you want to know all of MY secrets, you can visit me at Adventures of MommyGirl. I'm also on Facebook...but I try really, really hard not to spend a lot of time on there! :)"
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Useful Talents and Interests
Originally posted December 11, 2008
I learned Spanish in high school and have always felt that God has given me this love of the language so that He can use it to reach others. While I was a member at a previous church, I would regularly attend mission trips and community activities where I worked as a translator. I also lived in Mexico for a year and a half doing mission work through the IMB's JourneymanProgram.
God gives us different talents and interests so that we will use them for His glory. I believe that my love for Spanish and Hispanic people. I want to use this talent to reach others and introduce them to His love.
Ben and I also both have a heart for adoption. We plan to adopt children internationally and have attended 3 conferences at a local church about adoption where we learned how to form an orphan and adoption ministry. I think this is an awesome idea and something that every church should have!
Ben and I are currently seeking out a church closer to our new house. We are exicted to see how God will use us in the new church. Please pray that we will be open to be used in whatever manner God decides.
What talents and interests do you have that God can use in your church?
Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
image source
God gives us different talents and interests so that we will use them for His glory. I believe that my love for Spanish and Hispanic people. I want to use this talent to reach others and introduce them to His love.
Ben and I also both have a heart for adoption. We plan to adopt children internationally and have attended 3 conferences at a local church about adoption where we learned how to form an orphan and adoption ministry. I think this is an awesome idea and something that every church should have!Ben and I are currently seeking out a church closer to our new house. We are exicted to see how God will use us in the new church. Please pray that we will be open to be used in whatever manner God decides.
What talents and interests do you have that God can use in your church?
Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
image source
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Who Am I?
Originally posted September 30, 2009
Procrastinator.Lazy. Laid back. One who enjoys relaxing.
These are a couple of character qualities I possess. I remember back in my nursing school days I would have a month (or longer) to write a paper. Instead of using the entire month, I would research the week before and become a hermit the weekend before it was due and write the entire thing. (Who wants to spend four weekends writing when it really only takes one?) Well, the same thing has happened with this blog. I usually start thinking about my blog posts on Tuesday.
I also have realized that I work well with a deadline. I have all kinds of projects I want to do, but if there is not a deadline (ie company coming to town, hosting Bible study, no more clothes in the drawer, blog post to write), I am not johnny on the spot to get it done.
All this to say, I have started to get things done around my house and on my project list (last night I sewed my first pair of pants). Yes, most of the things I have done have had encouragement from an outside source (thank you Today's Housewife and friends), but they are still being completed.
Over the last couple of months I have really started to take a good look at who I am on the inside. Not exactly who I want to be, but I think that is the first step toward change--noticing that there is a problem. If you have been reading for some time, you have heard the steps that I have been taking this fall through Bible studies to become the woman, wife, mother, daughter, and friend I need to be. One who is not lazy, but one who focuses on Christ and others.
And during these times when I am down on who I am I remember that God still loves me--all the good and all the bad. I love the song by Watermark, Who Am I? Love it! Meditate on the words and feel HIS love today!
That You would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I
That You would speak to me so softly?
Procrastinator.
These are a couple of character qualities I possess. I remember back in my nursing school days I would have a month (or longer) to write a paper. Instead of using the entire month, I would research the week before and become a hermit the weekend before it was due and write the entire thing. (Who wants to spend four weekends writing when it really only takes one?) Well, the same thing has happened with this blog. I usually start thinking about my blog posts on Tuesday.
I also have realized that I work well with a deadline. I have all kinds of projects I want to do, but if there is not a deadline (ie company coming to town, hosting Bible study, no more clothes in the drawer, blog post to write), I am not johnny on the spot to get it done.
All this to say, I have started to get things done around my house and on my project list (last night I sewed my first pair of pants). Yes, most of the things I have done have had encouragement from an outside source (thank you Today's Housewife and friends), but they are still being completed.
Over the last couple of months I have really started to take a good look at who I am on the inside. Not exactly who I want to be, but I think that is the first step toward change--noticing that there is a problem. If you have been reading for some time, you have heard the steps that I have been taking this fall through Bible studies to become the woman, wife, mother, daughter, and friend I need to be. One who is not lazy, but one who focuses on Christ and others.
And during these times when I am down on who I am I remember that God still loves me--all the good and all the bad. I love the song by Watermark, Who Am I? Love it! Meditate on the words and feel HIS love today!
Who am I
That You would love me so gently?
Who am IThat You would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I
That You would speak to me so softly?
Conversation with the Love most high,..
Who am I?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Beautiful Feet
Originally posted on December 16, 2008.
Visiting with my friend, Sara, who serves with Innovista in Oxford, England
I have a confession to make. I used to both love and hate GA camp. For those of you who didn't grow up Southern Baptist, Girls in Action was a class at church in which you studied missions. We had a camp every year that was great. It was filled with swimming, arts and crafts, time with friends, learning about missionaries and of course, spending the night away from home. But I dreaded the evening services. I always felt so guilty that I didn't want to be a missionary. I always felt like there was something wrong with me that I didn't feel God "calling me" into missions. Fast forward to my 4 years at a Christian university and I felt the same way. There was always an element of guilt when we discussed missions in chapel and classes. Even among my friends, I often felt like an outsider because I didn't want to serve God full-time overseas.
I've come to understand that my guilt was completely unfounded and misplaced. God was not calling me to personally serve in the mission field overseas. Just as He places a definite call on the lives of some and prepares them to serve, I believe He prepares others to send. Paul teaches in Romans 10 that there are some definite roles in the spreading of the gospel. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" Studying this passage I realized that I am called to missions - in a different way! God has called me to support world missions.
I have several friends who are in various states of serving as missionaries both overseas and here at home. Some have completed their time, some are currently serving and others are in the process of preparing. One thing they all have in common is the sacrifices they make. They've given up certain comforts that we often take for granted. For some it's being far from family, having children overseas, missing weddings and funerals of loved ones or raising children in a different culture. Even small comforts like familiar language and food are sacrifices they make daily. That's not to say that these experiences are all negative, but they are sacrifices nonetheless. And even though I don't believe God has called me to serve full-time as a missionary, He has called me to make sacrifices for missions just the same. For me, it's sacrificing my financial desires to support missionaries and their organizations. It's giving my time to pray for them and write them notes of encouragement. It should be a natural response to the ultimate sacrifice paid for my salvation.
This time of year there are lots of financial obligations. And there are lots of people struggling in today's economy. But I want to challenge you to consider the sacrifices you are making for missions. Where does God want you to give and in what ways does He want you be those beautiful feet sharing the Good News of Christ's Love? If you need some resources for supporting missions, consider checking out the following sites or emailing me.
The International Mission Board and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
Voice of the Martyrs
Innovista
Monday, July 12, 2010
Time Saving Laundry Tips
Originally posted August 24, 2008.
I feel a little funny giving you time-saving advice. This summer we've done a lot of things the slow way.
It would have saved time to just go to the grocery store, but instead we're growing a garden and buying from local farmers. We're canning what we buy and grow, even though it would save time to just write "can of corn" on my grocery list. It would save time to use disposable diapers, but instead, during the week you'll usually find James in his cloth diapers.
The whole point of saving time in one area is to have more time in another area. My time saving tips this week have to do with my least favorite household chore- laundry!
You can see both of my time saving tips in the picture above. First, I don't fold sheets (or towels)! When I wash and dry them, they go right back on the beds. I never can get that fitted sheet folded right anyway! It's easier for me just to take them straight from the dryer to the bed.
My second tip happened by accident. I went to Carter's a few weeks ago to get the boys new pajamas. But Carter's already had their flannel and fleece pajamas out! They also had their shorts and tee-shirts on clearance. So I bought comfy athletic shorts and tees and those became their new pajamas! There are days the boys and I don't leave the house. If we do run a quick errand, they can wear the clothes they slept in when we go out and about. Also, I take a lot of pictures of my oldest David doing projects for our family blog. Now I don't have to say "let's put some real clothes on" before we do a project. I know this tip wouldn't work for everyone. But with all the outfits my boys go through in a week, anything I can do to decrease my laundry works for me!
I feel a little funny giving you time-saving advice. This summer we've done a lot of things the slow way.
It would have saved time to just go to the grocery store, but instead we're growing a garden and buying from local farmers. We're canning what we buy and grow, even though it would save time to just write "can of corn" on my grocery list. It would save time to use disposable diapers, but instead, during the week you'll usually find James in his cloth diapers.
The whole point of saving time in one area is to have more time in another area. My time saving tips this week have to do with my least favorite household chore- laundry!
You can see both of my time saving tips in the picture above. First, I don't fold sheets (or towels)! When I wash and dry them, they go right back on the beds. I never can get that fitted sheet folded right anyway! It's easier for me just to take them straight from the dryer to the bed.My second tip happened by accident. I went to Carter's a few weeks ago to get the boys new pajamas. But Carter's already had their flannel and fleece pajamas out! They also had their shorts and tee-shirts on clearance. So I bought comfy athletic shorts and tees and those became their new pajamas! There are days the boys and I don't leave the house. If we do run a quick errand, they can wear the clothes they slept in when we go out and about. Also, I take a lot of pictures of my oldest David doing projects for our family blog. Now I don't have to say "let's put some real clothes on" before we do a project. I know this tip wouldn't work for everyone. But with all the outfits my boys go through in a week, anything I can do to decrease my laundry works for me!
Friday, July 9, 2010
A Quiet Time Routine
Originally posted August 14th, 2009
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." ~ Psalm 19:14
Over the past few years I have had the privilege of mentoring about 15 women and each of them struggled with the concept of “quiet time” … making it work and feeling like it was useful. We all know we should spend time in the Word and in prayer but it sure is hard to know HOW to do it. The biggest issue most of these ladies have had is that they feel like they are not hearing from God … and they end up discouraged and ultimately they give up.
Perhaps you can relate to that frustration. I know there have been times in my life when I certainly felt like I was spinning my wheels spiritually. Beth Moore has said that we must base our lives on God’s truth not our feelings … and that may be no more relevant anywhere than in our quiet times with God. How often do we gauge the success or effectiveness of our quiet times on our feelings? Far too often, I’m afraid. But, how we feel isn’t the standard … God’s Word is. And Scripture is replete with admonitions to spend time in the Word and in prayer … of the necessity of knowing Scripture as a means of protection and blessing in our lives.
I usually end up sharing what I do and encouraging women to start from there. Not because what I do is the only way … but it is a starting point. So, here’s my general quiet time routine:
I get up before everyone else (at least during the school year … summer finds my rhythm out of whack!). I have a motto of sorts, “I never speak to anyone until I have listened to God.” There is something very peaceful and comforting about praying for my family and spending time with God while everyone is still asleep.
I journal first thing … whatever is going on. If I’m worried or happy or even just what is going on that day. I write out the things that are on my mind, which helps me get my heart and mind settled so I can be still and listen.
I read from a classic (preferably over 100 years old). This year I am using “Streams in the Desert” and have been greatly touched by this classic devotional. I prefer using something “old” because there is trustworthiness to these writings that have endured. I journal whatever stands out to me.
I read a chapter of Proverbs … correlating with whatever the date is. This is a Billy Graham idea and I have been doing it for about the last 10 years. Again, I journal what the Lord speaks to me. If you ever feel like you don’t understand what the Bible is saying … read a chapter of Proverbs! I can almost guarantee you’ll find something you can immediately apply.
Finally, I pray. I use my schedule for the day to lay out what each of us will be doing. I use my prayer list from church and I pray through the needs in my life.
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
Thanks to Teri Lynee for guest posting for us today! Be sure to visit her blog at Pleasing to You and connect on Twitter @TeriLynneU
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." ~ Psalm 19:14This verse is the foundation of my pursuit of Christ … that my actions (words) and attitudes (thoughts) may always be pleasing to Him. And, for me, that always begins with time spent in the Word of God. I crave that quiet time alone with my Bible and journal. I need it … just ask my husband or daughter what I’m like when I miss a day or two ~ it gets ugly quick!
Over the past few years I have had the privilege of mentoring about 15 women and each of them struggled with the concept of “quiet time” … making it work and feeling like it was useful. We all know we should spend time in the Word and in prayer but it sure is hard to know HOW to do it. The biggest issue most of these ladies have had is that they feel like they are not hearing from God … and they end up discouraged and ultimately they give up.
Perhaps you can relate to that frustration. I know there have been times in my life when I certainly felt like I was spinning my wheels spiritually. Beth Moore has said that we must base our lives on God’s truth not our feelings … and that may be no more relevant anywhere than in our quiet times with God. How often do we gauge the success or effectiveness of our quiet times on our feelings? Far too often, I’m afraid. But, how we feel isn’t the standard … God’s Word is. And Scripture is replete with admonitions to spend time in the Word and in prayer … of the necessity of knowing Scripture as a means of protection and blessing in our lives.
I usually end up sharing what I do and encouraging women to start from there. Not because what I do is the only way … but it is a starting point. So, here’s my general quiet time routine:
I get up before everyone else (at least during the school year … summer finds my rhythm out of whack!). I have a motto of sorts, “I never speak to anyone until I have listened to God.” There is something very peaceful and comforting about praying for my family and spending time with God while everyone is still asleep.
I journal first thing … whatever is going on. If I’m worried or happy or even just what is going on that day. I write out the things that are on my mind, which helps me get my heart and mind settled so I can be still and listen.
I read from a classic (preferably over 100 years old). This year I am using “Streams in the Desert” and have been greatly touched by this classic devotional. I prefer using something “old” because there is trustworthiness to these writings that have endured. I journal whatever stands out to me.
I read a chapter of Proverbs … correlating with whatever the date is. This is a Billy Graham idea and I have been doing it for about the last 10 years. Again, I journal what the Lord speaks to me. If you ever feel like you don’t understand what the Bible is saying … read a chapter of Proverbs! I can almost guarantee you’ll find something you can immediately apply.
Finally, I pray. I use my schedule for the day to lay out what each of us will be doing. I use my prayer list from church and I pray through the needs in my life.
Nothing amazing or mysterious. I usually spend some additional time during my day studying or going through a Bible study. But I start my day with Proverbs, a classic, and prayer.
Let me close with a word of encouragement and challenge from Psalm 119:10 - 11 …
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.”
Oh that we may be seekers of the Lord and hiders of His Word!!
Thanks to Teri Lynee for guest posting for us today! Be sure to visit her blog at Pleasing to You and connect on Twitter @TeriLynneU
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Coupon Queen
Originally posted July 10, 2008
My mom calls me the Coupon Queen. She has for a long time now. When I was in high school, I realized you could take a little while every week and cut the coupons and it would SAVE you money! I'm all about saving money. Last year, I asked for a coupon organizer for Christmas. My obsession with saving money goes far beyond the grocery store and coupons though. See mypost from last week of my recent trip to Brookshires.
Here is what I do. I started looking this year into "frugal" blogs. I found A TON and love them! I got some great ideas from them...like how to really organize my coupons. Here I am with my latest coupon book. It is a binder with baseball card holders in it. I organize the coupons into different categories on each page--baking, beverages, breakfast, canned, cleaning, condiments, dairy, deodorant, feminine, frozen, hair, laundry, make-up, meats, medicine, misc., oral, paper/plastic, pasta/rice, produce, salad dressing, snacks, soaps/body, and vitamin/bars. I am going to have to add baby soon. Some of these take up more than one card sheet.
I know the grocery store's policy on coupons before I go usually--or I call and check before hand sometimes. I know what they double, triple, and how many of each one they will do this with. My coupon book helps my trips in the store go relatively fast. The more organized you are, the faster it will go. Shopping the ads and making a list of sale items and coupons before heading into the store saves a lot of time! Sure it takes a lot of time to cut the coupons and organize them, but I think it is worth it. I don't cut them all, just the ones that I'll use.
Another place that I find great deals is CVS. I read blogs, especially moneysavingmom who always has deal ideas listed (I'm truly excited that she is our Guest Blogger tomorrow!!!). It takes a little while to get into CVS, but once you do, it is worth it. I have gotten TONS of free tubes of toothpaste, razors, etc. from here. You first need a card and then you can start using coupons as well as store coupons for $ off of $$. You will get ECB (Extra Care Bucks) for some items purchased. This is like cash on your next trip. You can use it on anything and if you use it on something that gives you ECBs, then you're not spending any money out of pocket. There are a lot of blogs that describe CVS 101, like the one above that I would recommend if you are a first timer! Walgreens is also a great place to save money, but it does require a little extra work too.
I also love to get freebies (or samples--they make great travel size things) in the mail. I have made a freebie page that I update regularly. I get coupons to other stores, like Bed, Bath and Beyond and use them too--these are stored in my coupon box which stays in the car. Most of the places we eat out we will have a coupon to and most of the time I won't buy something unless it's a deal or I have a coupon. I always try and get a good deal--shopping the clearance, using a coupon and making sure that I'm getting the deal I think I'm getting. I watch when the items are rung up and if I think it's supposed to be a different price or have a different deal, I will let the checker know. It never hurts to make sure!
I hope this has given you some ideas on how to save money at the grocery store! We'll see how it goes when our baby arrives!!!
This post was entered in The Coupon Binder Show & Tell at Keeping the Kingdom First.
Here is what I do. I started looking this year into "frugal" blogs. I found A TON and love them! I got some great ideas from them...like how to really organize my coupons. Here I am with my latest coupon book. It is a binder with baseball card holders in it. I organize the coupons into different categories on each page--baking, beverages, breakfast, canned, cleaning, condiments, dairy, deodorant, feminine, frozen, hair, laundry, make-up, meats, medicine, misc., oral, paper/plastic, pasta/rice, produce, salad dressing, snacks, soaps/body, and vitamin/bars. I am going to have to add baby soon. Some of these take up more than one card sheet.I know the grocery store's policy on coupons before I go usually--or I call and check before hand sometimes. I know what they double, triple, and how many of each one they will do this with. My coupon book helps my trips in the store go relatively fast. The more organized you are, the faster it will go. Shopping the ads and making a list of sale items and coupons before heading into the store saves a lot of time! Sure it takes a lot of time to cut the coupons and organize them, but I think it is worth it. I don't cut them all, just the ones that I'll use.
Another place that I find great deals is CVS. I read blogs, especially moneysavingmom who always has deal ideas listed (I'm truly excited that she is our Guest Blogger tomorrow!!!). It takes a little while to get into CVS, but once you do, it is worth it. I have gotten TONS of free tubes of toothpaste, razors, etc. from here. You first need a card and then you can start using coupons as well as store coupons for $ off of $$. You will get ECB (Extra Care Bucks) for some items purchased. This is like cash on your next trip. You can use it on anything and if you use it on something that gives you ECBs, then you're not spending any money out of pocket. There are a lot of blogs that describe CVS 101, like the one above that I would recommend if you are a first timer! Walgreens is also a great place to save money, but it does require a little extra work too.
I also love to get freebies (or samples--they make great travel size things) in the mail. I have made a freebie page that I update regularly. I get coupons to other stores, like Bed, Bath and Beyond and use them too--these are stored in my coupon box which stays in the car. Most of the places we eat out we will have a coupon to and most of the time I won't buy something unless it's a deal or I have a coupon. I always try and get a good deal--shopping the clearance, using a coupon and making sure that I'm getting the deal I think I'm getting. I watch when the items are rung up and if I think it's supposed to be a different price or have a different deal, I will let the checker know. It never hurts to make sure!I hope this has given you some ideas on how to save money at the grocery store! We'll see how it goes when our baby arrives!!!
This post was entered in The Coupon Binder Show & Tell at Keeping the Kingdom First.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
My Alphabet Book
Originally posted July 15, 2008
A few months back I realized I needed to be making more of my time as a stay-at-home-mom. Not that there was a lack of teaching, but it was not a focused and planned part of the day. What's a mom to do? I have zero teaching background. Definitely not an area where God has gifted me. I compiled a few generic ideas and created my own project:
Each week we will be studying a letter of the alphabet. We will incorporate crafts, snacks, a memory verse, etc. that coordinate with that letter. What I love about using paper lunch sacks is leaving the open end toward the outside edges of the book. Every activity/craft we do that is flat (or a picture of field trip/bulkier crafts) can slip inside for safe keeping. In the Big Book of Playtime Activities I found our first craft--a painted alligator. LilE LOVES to paint and thought this was the most fun!
We will also be making a collage of things that start with the letter of the week. I went though magazines, found clip art on the internet/Microsoft Publisher, and printed pictures of our friends. Throughout the day, we talk about different things we come across that start with that letter.
A few weeks back I mentioned scripture memory for young children. Here is my confession--we didn't do it in our home. No better time to start than the present. Simple verses have now become apart of my "curriculum". We also listen to Seeds Family Worship CDs. With the letter A I found a song on the Courage CD to play along as we painted on day (although the chorus isn't exactly found in scripture, it is a nice paraphrase of Psalm 34:10--which is what I used the first week). These songs are verses straight from the NIV. LOVE LOVE LOVE them!
This week we are studying the Letter B with the same general idea, but trying to add more activities such as reading books that begin with the letter B, maybe taking a field trip to the library to see the Books, or going to the pool to play with Balls, etc.
I have had to learn not to worry about getting messy. We have a bathtub. I make sure we use washable paints. This week I put my old painting shirt on LilE and she loved getting to wear Mommy's shirt. We also talk about how the glue stick is DIFFERENT than chapstick! :)
Here are some resources I used to formulate what works best for my family:
A few months back I realized I needed to be making more of my time as a stay-at-home-mom. Not that there was a lack of teaching, but it was not a focused and planned part of the day. What's a mom to do? I have zero teaching background. Definitely not an area where God has gifted me. I compiled a few generic ideas and created my own project:
Each week we will be studying a letter of the alphabet. We will incorporate crafts, snacks, a memory verse, etc. that coordinate with that letter. What I love about using paper lunch sacks is leaving the open end toward the outside edges of the book. Every activity/craft we do that is flat (or a picture of field trip/bulkier crafts) can slip inside for safe keeping. In the Big Book of Playtime Activities I found our first craft--a painted alligator. LilE LOVES to paint and thought this was the most fun!
We will also be making a collage of things that start with the letter of the week. I went though magazines, found clip art on the internet/Microsoft Publisher, and printed pictures of our friends. Throughout the day, we talk about different things we come across that start with that letter.
A few weeks back I mentioned scripture memory for young children. Here is my confession--we didn't do it in our home. No better time to start than the present. Simple verses have now become apart of my "curriculum". We also listen to Seeds Family Worship CDs. With the letter A I found a song on the Courage CD to play along as we painted on day (although the chorus isn't exactly found in scripture, it is a nice paraphrase of Psalm 34:10--which is what I used the first week). These songs are verses straight from the NIV. LOVE LOVE LOVE them!
This week we are studying the Letter B with the same general idea, but trying to add more activities such as reading books that begin with the letter B, maybe taking a field trip to the library to see the Books, or going to the pool to play with Balls, etc.
I have had to learn not to worry about getting messy. We have a bathtub. I make sure we use washable paints. This week I put my old painting shirt on LilE and she loved getting to wear Mommy's shirt. We also talk about how the glue stick is DIFFERENT than chapstick! :)
Here are some resources I used to formulate what works best for my family:
- Big Book of Playtime Activities
- Family Fun Magazine
- No Time for Flashcards
- Gymboree Play and Learn
- Seeds Family Worship
- Wondertime Magazine
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Don't Do What I Did...
Originally posted July 2, 2008.
Living across the country from family we find ourselves traveling back home at least a couple times a year. Since we have made a number of tactical errors while flying with our children I would like to share a few to help your family avoid some of the pain and suffering that we have endured. A few of these are similar to Sandra’s post below, but with my own twist.
1. If you plan on flying with a toddler, buy a CARES airplane restraint seat. Even if you have to bring the larger car seat for use at your destination– CHECK IT! Do not try and carry a regular car seat through the airport and onto a plane for your extremely active 22 month old by yourself, 7 months pregnant with the dog. The CARES restraint system is tiny, contains even the most active child and installs easily. It costs around $75 and is worth the price even if you only fly a few times. (Plus, I’m sure you could turn around and sell it on Ebay or Craigslist if you no longer needed it.)
2. Always double check that you have indeed packed the most obvious essentials.Diapers are great thing to have for your two children on an all day, cross-country trip. It keeps you from having to send your husband off the plane when you have a lay over to beg diapers off strangers who actually remembered to pack theirs. In case you ever need to know though, a 2 year old can wear a Huggies Supreme diaper for 12 hours without leakage. It never hurts to double and triple check the diaper bag.
3. Pack extra outfits. Notice that is plural. Onesies are small and don’t take up much room – pack 3 or 4. You could realize mid-flight that the new medication your 2 month old is taking makes him poop liquid explosions that escape the top of his diaper. Trust me, you do not want to have to make the call as to which outfit has the least amount of poop on it.
4. Preplan for going through security. If you have children with you at all, you will be “THAT” family, but you can minimize the wait for those behind you by being organized before you ever get to the airport. Don’t put shoes on anyone whose feet won’t touch the ground. Everyone must take their shoes off – even infants. You are allowed small travel sized liquids that will fit into 1 quart sized baggie – per person. Have your baggie filled on top of your carry-on before you get the airport. Clean out your purse before you fly so that you don’t miss your bottle of hand sanitizer or lip gloss way at the bottom that should be in your baggie. You don’t want to be waiting for security to search your bags while your 2 year old runs shoeless toward the terminal because you weren’t allowed to carry him through the metal detector and your stroller is still stuck inside the x-ray machine. (Did I mention that I was 7 months pregnant and holding the dog at that point?) One exception to the baggie rule is that you are allowed formula or breast milk for infants, but it needs to be kept separate to go through the x-ray machine out of your carry-on. You are NOT allowed to bring juice or water. Bring an empty sippy cup and plan on purchasing those when you get through security or asking for some on the plane. Also, it is worth mentioning that each airport is different, some require that you remove the DVD player from its case like a laptop computer and some don’t. Pack it on top of your bag, in case you are asked to remove it. Please check with the TSA website before you travel as the guidelines are constantly changing.
5. Here are few other things that I find helpful for traveling with small children.Special snacks like Larabars, goldfish, pretzels and peanut butter sandwiches are great to have. The Target brand Archer Farms have organic fruit strips that are like “healthy” fruit roll ups. Any food that is a treat or new seems to be especially helpful. I have found that my children rarely scream when they are eating. A portable DVD player or video ipod are lifesavers. (I highly recommend They Might Be Giants “Here Come The 123’s” available on iTunes in both video and audio form.) And a new small toy can occupy a two year old for a long time. A small baby blanket is also nice for chilly airplanes.
6. Plan on the trip taking twice as long as it is supposed to. Bring extra formula, snacks, diapers, etc. Hopefully it won’t happen, but you could end up stuck on an airplane or in an airport for a long time. Be prepared.
7. PRAY! I’m not kidding. Each time I have had to fly by myself with Mark I have prayed that God would bless me with fellow passengers to make the trip just a little easier. It’s come in the form of a business traveler with no luggage to help me load the stroller on the x-ray belt and kind strangers who don’t mind sitting next to us on the plane or helping us with our bags. I don’t know why, but each time I am surprised by God’s faithfulness to meet even my smallest needs. You can bet that I will be praying a lot when I have to fly to Hawaii by myself with two little ones!
Good luck and happy traveling!
1. If you plan on flying with a toddler, buy a CARES airplane restraint seat. Even if you have to bring the larger car seat for use at your destination– CHECK IT! Do not try and carry a regular car seat through the airport and onto a plane for your extremely active 22 month old by yourself, 7 months pregnant with the dog. The CARES restraint system is tiny, contains even the most active child and installs easily. It costs around $75 and is worth the price even if you only fly a few times. (Plus, I’m sure you could turn around and sell it on Ebay or Craigslist if you no longer needed it.)
2. Always double check that you have indeed packed the most obvious essentials.Diapers are great thing to have for your two children on an all day, cross-country trip. It keeps you from having to send your husband off the plane when you have a lay over to beg diapers off strangers who actually remembered to pack theirs. In case you ever need to know though, a 2 year old can wear a Huggies Supreme diaper for 12 hours without leakage. It never hurts to double and triple check the diaper bag.
3. Pack extra outfits. Notice that is plural. Onesies are small and don’t take up much room – pack 3 or 4. You could realize mid-flight that the new medication your 2 month old is taking makes him poop liquid explosions that escape the top of his diaper. Trust me, you do not want to have to make the call as to which outfit has the least amount of poop on it.
4. Preplan for going through security. If you have children with you at all, you will be “THAT” family, but you can minimize the wait for those behind you by being organized before you ever get to the airport. Don’t put shoes on anyone whose feet won’t touch the ground. Everyone must take their shoes off – even infants. You are allowed small travel sized liquids that will fit into 1 quart sized baggie – per person. Have your baggie filled on top of your carry-on before you get the airport. Clean out your purse before you fly so that you don’t miss your bottle of hand sanitizer or lip gloss way at the bottom that should be in your baggie. You don’t want to be waiting for security to search your bags while your 2 year old runs shoeless toward the terminal because you weren’t allowed to carry him through the metal detector and your stroller is still stuck inside the x-ray machine. (Did I mention that I was 7 months pregnant and holding the dog at that point?) One exception to the baggie rule is that you are allowed formula or breast milk for infants, but it needs to be kept separate to go through the x-ray machine out of your carry-on. You are NOT allowed to bring juice or water. Bring an empty sippy cup and plan on purchasing those when you get through security or asking for some on the plane. Also, it is worth mentioning that each airport is different, some require that you remove the DVD player from its case like a laptop computer and some don’t. Pack it on top of your bag, in case you are asked to remove it. Please check with the TSA website before you travel as the guidelines are constantly changing.
5. Here are few other things that I find helpful for traveling with small children.Special snacks like Larabars, goldfish, pretzels and peanut butter sandwiches are great to have. The Target brand Archer Farms have organic fruit strips that are like “healthy” fruit roll ups. Any food that is a treat or new seems to be especially helpful. I have found that my children rarely scream when they are eating. A portable DVD player or video ipod are lifesavers. (I highly recommend They Might Be Giants “Here Come The 123’s” available on iTunes in both video and audio form.) And a new small toy can occupy a two year old for a long time. A small baby blanket is also nice for chilly airplanes.
6. Plan on the trip taking twice as long as it is supposed to. Bring extra formula, snacks, diapers, etc. Hopefully it won’t happen, but you could end up stuck on an airplane or in an airport for a long time. Be prepared.
7. PRAY! I’m not kidding. Each time I have had to fly by myself with Mark I have prayed that God would bless me with fellow passengers to make the trip just a little easier. It’s come in the form of a business traveler with no luggage to help me load the stroller on the x-ray belt and kind strangers who don’t mind sitting next to us on the plane or helping us with our bags. I don’t know why, but each time I am surprised by God’s faithfulness to meet even my smallest needs. You can bet that I will be praying a lot when I have to fly to Hawaii by myself with two little ones!
Good luck and happy traveling!
Monday, July 5, 2010
DIY Beanbag Chair
Originally posted Nov. 2nd, 2009.
Ohdeedoh is one of my new favorite sites. A few weeks ago they featured this tutorial for a bean bag chair. The site said, "If you're even mildly handy with a sewing machine, it's quite easy to make your own." I'm mildly handy with a sewing machine, so I thought I'd give it a try!
I made a few adjustments to the instructions and layout. For example, I didn't make an insert and I just filled it with shipping peanuts. The total cost for my version was about $22 (three yards of fabric, some Velcro, and the shipping peanuts). It took me about three hours to make (and I'm a pretty slow seamstress). I don't expect it to last forever. I just wanted to make a reading corner for the boys!
I practiced first with a scrap piece of fabric before I started cutting the actual fabric for the bean bag. Here it is laid out with the pattern (here's a link directly to the instructions and pattern).
Sewing the pieces on top and bottom to gather it all together was the trickiest, but if I did it, you can do it too!
Here's the final product! I love how it turned out. The boys have jumped on it a few times and so far, it hasn't exploded! I had our church's best seamstress on "speed dial" just in case, but besides just a phone call to her when I was getting started (to ask what "selvedge" meant), I did it all by myself!
Ohdeedoh is one of my new favorite sites. A few weeks ago they featured this tutorial for a bean bag chair. The site said, "If you're even mildly handy with a sewing machine, it's quite easy to make your own." I'm mildly handy with a sewing machine, so I thought I'd give it a try!
I made a few adjustments to the instructions and layout. For example, I didn't make an insert and I just filled it with shipping peanuts. The total cost for my version was about $22 (three yards of fabric, some Velcro, and the shipping peanuts). It took me about three hours to make (and I'm a pretty slow seamstress). I don't expect it to last forever. I just wanted to make a reading corner for the boys!
Here are the fabrics I choose. Just basic cotton pieces, three yards total.
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