Saving Families Money Since 2007
Today’s questions is from Colleen:
Lately I have been struggling to find good deals on car tires and patio furniture replacement cushions. Any ideas on how to save money on either? Thanks!
Do you have a question you’d like to ask Money Saving Mom® readers? Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
As you know, I recently traveled to Italy and Israel on a 10-day trip. And I only brought a carry-on suitcase and a backpack.
I wasn’t sure that I could manage to just take a carry-on. But I hate checking luggage.
Maybe it’s part of my control issues? Or maybe it’s that I lost my contacts and medicine and glasses on the trip to South Africa? {Yes, I’m a bit paranoid about losing luggage after that experience!}
I also love a good challenge. So I decided to plan ahead, research out what I should bring, and then make it my personal goal to pack everything in a carry-on and a backpack.
I knew that we were going to need some dressier options, but that we were also going to be doing a lot of walking. I also wasn’t for sure what was going to be appropriate attire — whether people would be dressed up or more casual.
I also knew that the temperature was going to be fluctuating quite a bit, we’d be outside a lot, and we would be gone from our hotels for long stretches of time. I also knew that we’d need outfits for during the day and then dressier outfits for the dinners at night.
With this in mind, I brought a lot of mix and match outfits — almost all that had multiple layering options. All totaled, I had around 16 outfit options. And I was so glad I had that many options, since I ended up wearing almost every single one… and I even repeated a few outfit in the evenings!
What I Packed
2 pairs of jeans (1 dressier, 1 more casual — I’m a huge fan of jeans from Stitch Fix.)
1 pair of slacks
1 denim tunic-type dress
5 pairs of leggings (to wear with longer shirts and under knit dresses)
3 knit dresses (I got mine from Stitch Fix, but they are sort of like these.)
1 cardigan
5 long-sleeved knit shirts (I got a few of these in different colors. They are so comfortable and cute!)
4 short-sleeved knit shirts
2 tank tops
2 camis
1 long black skirt
1 black dress
2 shorter skirts
1 sweatshirt
1 pair of shorts
1 tankini top/shorts — for the Dead Sea
1 leather jacket
PJs
4 scarves
5 pairs of shoes (Toms, dressier flats, Sketchers — I love these!, flip-flops, and KEEN sandals)
socks/underthings
curling iron/brush
jewelry
small purse-like backpack (so I didn’t have to lug around my big backpack most of the time!)In my backpack (here’s the backpack I have), I brought 4 books, my computer, my chargers/adaptors, make-up, contacts, hair/face stuff, an umbrella, sunglasses, sunscreen, medicines, essential oils, and my journal/Bible/notebook.
I ended up wearing everything I brought except the one black dress I brought, two knit skirts, and the Keen sandals. Here’s why:
The biggest thing I wish I would have brought was at least a few snacks. Granola bars, trail mix, or something like that. There were a few times when I was really hungry when I wished I had packed a few snacks.
Also, we did a LOT of walking, so most nights, my clothes were sweaty and I ended up hand-washing most of them and then hanging them in the bathroom to dry (that way, I wasn’t putting sweaty clothes back into my suitcase and could also re-wear the items later in the trip, if need be).
I found that hand-washing worked okay for most things, but I wished I had brought actual detergent instead of trying to just use bar soap or body wash that the hotel had on hand. It wasn’t as effective and it didn’t get all of the sweat smell out of everything.
But other than snacks and laundry detergent, there weren’t any other items that I really wished that I had brought. Which I was shocked by — especially since I felt like I had packed quite light and was sure I had forgotten something!
All in all, the decision to only bring a carry-on and backpack was a huge success and I’m so glad I decided to challenge myself to make it happen!
I know that many people have traveled for much longer time periods with less stuff, but I am happy that I brought what I did and ended up using almost every single item that I brought. I’ll definitely be packing in a similar manner on future international trips!
Related posts: 10 Things You Should Bring on Long Flights With Young Kids & Our Super Simple Method for Packing Our Kid’s Clothes for Trips
It’s so amazing and kind of crazy to have kids who are so self-sufficient! “Mom, I’m going to make burritos for lunch. Is that okay?” And then she proceeds to make lunch and set the table and then call us all to come eat.
Moms of littles, I know it’s hard right now. You feel like all you do is make food, clean up messes, change diapers, say the same things over and over again, do endless piles of laundry… And you wonder if these little people are ever going to figure out how to do anything for themselves.
Hear me out: it’s going to be worth it. Don’t give up!
The day is coming when you’ll wake up and realize those little people aren’t so little any more and they are capable of doing so much and are becoming such good help, are so fun, and that you just love being around them (most of the time, at least!)
It’s a beautiful thing!
If you missed my other trip posts, read the Day #1 recap, the Day #2 recap, the Day #3 recap, the Day #4 recap, the Day #5 recap, the Day #6 recap, the Day #7 recap, and the Day #8 recap.
Day #9 of our Epic Trip to Italy and Israel with the Museum of the Bible was a very exciting day — because it was our last full day in Israel. I was excited about what we had planned for the day… but mostly, if I’m being honest, I was excited about being home. I had missed my family so, so much!
We started the day by going to Nazareth Village. While it didn’t seem impressive from the outset, I quickly fell in love with this place.
Here’s more about what Nazareth Village is:
A first-century farm and village presenting the life, times and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth for all the world.
Two thousand years after the birth of Jesus, Nazareth Village opened its doors to visitors. Nazareth Village is located on a site that was remarkably untouched and unchanged since Jesus time. In fact, Nazareth Village preserves the last remaining fields worked by Jesus’ friends, family and fellow villagers.
The surrounding terraces and farm features did exist in Jesus’ time. Today, Nazareth Village features a carefully researched re-creation of Jesus hometown. The original farm has been restored with olive trees, terraces, ancient wine press, irrigation system and stone quarry. Exact replicas of first century houses, synagogue, mikveh and olive presses have been carefully built using the same methods that would have been used by Joseph the carpenter. The scenes are brought to life as “Villagers” populate the farm and houses, living and working with the same type of clothing, pottery, tools and methods that Mary and Jesus would have used.
Pilgrims to the Holy Land usually only see the dead stones of ancient ruins. And yet, the geographical and cultural nuances of Jesus’ teaching are often crucial for understanding his full meaning. At Nazareth Village, visitors can experience how a first-century audience heard and was impacted by Jesus’ words. Gifted and knowledgeable guides take visitors through a living representation of the parables. Visitors step into life as it was in the time of Jesus and learn from his parables in the context in which they were created.
I loved seeing the re-created olive press and hearing more about the three difference presses that olives went through to make olive oil. The oil was what was most valuable about olives, but it could only be obtained through putting immense pressure on the olives — splitting and breaking them so that they no longer resembled olives.
Olives would be put through the press three different times. The first press was the best oil and that’s what they would give to God. The second press was what they would use themselves. The last press would be the oil they would use for lighting their lamps.
It gave so much new significance to how we are to live our lives as Christians — completely poured out for God and others.
After we went through Nazareth Village, they had tables set up with a fresh snack for us. And it was SO good!
We had fresh fire-baked flat bread, Za’atar dip (ground hyssop, sesame seeds, and olive oil), Hummus dip, olives, and herbal tea. Yum! It was especially fun because they were making it in the traditional methods right there in front of us. I wanted to just sit there and watch them make it and keep eating it as the bread came off the fire!
I have fallen fast in love with the Israeli food! In fact, as soon as I got back, we had to find a local Mediterranean restaurant so I could eat these foods regularly and introduce my family to them!
Speaking of food, after we went to Nazareth Village, then we drove for a ways and stopped to get some Shawarma at a local restaurant. It reminded me of Subway… only Israeli style. 🙂
After lunch, we drove to Caesarea and saw the Roman theater and all of the ruins there. It was amazing, overwhelming, beautiful, and c-o-l-d!
Then we headed to a local school that is using really cool technology from Museum of the Bible to teach the students their Bible classes. The school was SO excited for us to visit… they had balloons, flowers, signs, a special music program, food, and even a guy serenading us on the accordion!
I wanted to get a picture with him and he was trying to get me to dance with him. It was funny and memorable!
And then we drove to Tel Aviv… and oh my! I was not prepared for how beautiful it would be here or how incredible our view from the hotel would be. It was breath-taking!
We had dinner on the roof that night and said goodbye to the people who had headed up the tour. And then I packed for the long flight home and went to bed.
The next morning, we headed to the airport and got on a 12-hour flight from Tel Aviv to Newark and then from Newark to Nashville. After 10 days of being gone, I was so, so, so ready to be home, to hug my husband and kiddos, and to sleep in my own bed!
I’m SO thankful for the opportunity I had to go on this trip… I will cherish so many of the lessons and memories for years and years to come!
Have Any Questions About the Trip?
Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing how I packed for 10 days in a carry-on. And then the rest of this week, I’ll be sharing some of the deeper lessons I took away from this trip.
If you have any questions you’d love for me to answer about the trip, you are more than welcome to ask them and I’ll either answer them here or try to answer them in a post. Thanks so much for joining me on this journey! It was fun to “bring you along” with me!
Guest post from Jane of JanesDish.com
I’m ready to come clean. I’ve wasted thousands of dollars in food over the years.
According to research, I’m not alone. A major study by the National Resources Defense Council claims that the average American tosses about 25 percent of food and beverages purchased. For a family spending $500 a month on groceries, that’s $1,500 a year in the trash can. Ouch!
Late last year, as I threw away rotten tomatoes, shriveled cucumbers, and slimy lettuce, I knew something had to change. The fresh produce drawer was not going to be a place salad went to die ever again.
I pulled everything out of my fridge and found a simple solution that cut down our family’s food waste to almost nothing.
So, what’s the trick?
More specifically, I organized my fridge shelves from MOST perishable to LEAST perishable.
The top shelves are reserved for produce, the middle shelves are for leftovers and the bottom “Crisp Produce” drawers are for beverages, condiments and all other items that can withstand a nuclear bomb.
By placing fruits and vegetables in clear view, I’m able to check their state of freshness every time I open the fridge. If an item appears on the verge of a rotten ruin, I’ll make arrangements to eat or freeze it ASAP.
Almost immediately, I noticed that I wasn’t throwing away rotten onions and potatoes by the bagful on trash day. But something else happened. Something fantastic. My family and I grabbed vegetables and fruit to eat more often when they were at eye level.
Any fridge arrangement that also encourages healthy eating habits is a winner in my book.
1. Your freezer is your friend.
We all know there’s an entire aisle in the freezer section dedicated to fruits and vegetables. That’s because produce freezes great! When you rearrange your fridge with produce at eye level, you’ll have a chance to freeze produce before it spoils.
Fruits and veggies will be in your face telling you “FREEZE ME.”
2. Only buy what you need for your menu plan.
Purchasing produce in bulk packaging is often cheaper than buying per pound. Of course, the exception to that rule is when you buy a large quantity of vegetables because it is a “better deal” then toss half in the trash because you forget to use it.
For ingredients I don’t use frequently, I will buy the exact quantity for several pennies more.
3. Be creative with leftovers.
Our family is not thrilled about eating leftover food. Except Pizza. (Isn’t pizza the exception to every food rule?)
We used to waste food at every single meal. Now, I’m very strategic about freezing leftovers immediately or planning two-part meals that use leftovers in a different way the following night, such as grilled chicken on Sunday and chicken pasta salad on Monday.
So, what are you waiting for? Save your produce today!
Jane is a wife and mother of two who recently left the public relations profession to blog at JanesDish.com. She’s passionate about growing and preparing good food for her hungry family as well as writing about everything from motherhood to frugal living.
In my office right now and making me so happy… Bargain flowers that I picked up for $1.25 and a canvas from our new line of products.
It was SUCH a beautiful day one day this week that we did our morning homeschool on the trampoline and the kids thought I was the Best. Mom. Ever. It’s often the simplest things that can make such a difference.
{Also, see that Carry On, Mr. Bowditch book? We are still just loving it! I scoped about it on Friday here.}
My mom sent the kids a box of goodies last week, including these pencils and Pencil Drawing book. They had so much fun drawing during our Read Aloud time during our morning homeschooling.
I love seeing them exercise their creativity in different ways — whether through building with LEGOs, writing stories, singing drawing, crafts, cooking in the kitchen, coloring, hand-lettering, or ice-skating. I love how each child is so unique and different and yet they are each creative in their own way.
I love it that my friends are so supportive of me. Brent Hodge is at the top of that list. And this text from him is clear proof of that. 😉
(Tip: Learn to laugh at yourself and then surround yourself with people who will join in with you. It makes life a whole lot more fun!)
So proud of this girl! Even though she didn’t place as high as she would have wanted to in three of her four events at the Knoxville Figure Skating Competition this weekend, she went out there and gave it everything she had, congratulated those who placed higher than her, and kept a smile on her face — even when feeling discouraged. (You can watch a clip of her skating program here.)
This makes it worth all the sacrifices and time and $$ we’ve invested. Because the character Kaitlynn is learning through all her practices and, now, through competing is priceless… And will impact her for the rest of her life.
What are YOU loving this week? Tell us in the comments!
My Homeland store is closing this week so this was the last time to shop there. It’s a sad day here!
1 Minute Rice – $2.19, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $1.19 after coupon
1 SuperPretzel – $1.79, used $04.50/1 printable (doubled) – $0.79 after coupon
1 Chobani Flip Greek Yogurt – $1.19, used Free text coupon – Free after coupon
2 Nabisco Premium Rounds – $1.25 each, used $0.75/2 coupon from the 3/20 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $0.50 each after coupon
Total after coupons: $3.41
1 Cantaloupe – $0.99
1 Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.69
2 Strawberries – $1.49 each
1 Baby Carrots – $0.99
1 gallon Milk – $1.79
1 bag Asparagus – $2.49
1 can Pumpkin – $0.89
1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19
1 bag Spinach – $1.79
1 pkg Celery – $1.29
2 Cucumbers – $0.59 each
1 pound Butter – $2.99
1 can Refried Beans – $0.79
Total: $21.05
1 Doritos Mix Chips – $1, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon
1 Cocoa Puffs – $1.88, used $1/1 printable (no longer available) – $0.88 after coupon
2 Cheerios – $1.88 each, used $1/2 printable AND $0.50/1 Ibotta rebate – $1.13 each after coupon
1 Superman Cereal – $1.88, used $0.75/1 printable – $1.13 after coupon
2 Bottom Round Steak – Marked down to $2.54 and $2.80
6 Horizon Mac & Cheese – $1 each, used 3 $0.75/2 printable AND $1 Natural Foods e-coupon AND $1 Shopmium rebate – $0.29 each after coupons and rebate
2 Grapefruit – $1.19 each, used $0.25 Checkout 51 rebate – $1.06 each after rebate
1 Lemon – $0.89
2.76 lbs Bananas – $1.63, used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate – $1.38 after rebate
2 Kroger Cheese – $2 each
1 Kroger Cottage Cheese – $1.88
1 Applesauce – $2.19
Total after coupons: $23.82
Total for all grocery items: $48.28
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfast
Cereal x 3
Eggs & Spinach x 3
Toast & Eggs
Lunch
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Carrot Sticks
Mac & Cheese, Sliced Apples
Baked Potatoes, Cottage Cheese
Salad Bar
Cheese, Crackers, Veggies
Cheese Quesadillas, Strawberries, Celery
Leftovers
Dinner
Out to eat with friends
Grilled Steak, Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes
Noodles and Beef, Tossed Salad
Bean Burritos, Rice, Grapefruit
Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon
Chicken & Rice, Cantaloupe
Leftovers
3-lb bag Fuji Apples – $3.99
Cauliflower – $1.99
Cantaloupe – $0.99
2 Pineapples – $1.98
Celery – $0.99
Bananas (2.69lbs @ $0.38/lb) – $1.02
32-oz box Macaroni Pasta – $1.45
8-oz Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.69
Romaine Hearts – $1.99
1/2 gallon Orange Juice – $1.69
1 pint Grape Tomatoes – $1.99
2 pkgs Hamburger Buns – $1.70
2 pkgs Hotdog Buns – $1.70
Radishes -$0.99
Baby Carrots – $0.99
Roma Tomatoes – $0.99
Strawberries – $1.49
Refried Beans – $0.79
2 cans Green Beans – $0.98
1 bag fresh Brussel Sprouts – $0.85
16-oz can Black Olives – $1.99
Sour Cream – $1.19
Mini Sweet Peppers – $1.99
Fresh Broccoli – $1.79
16-oz bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.69
Dill Pickles – $1.49
Dijon Mustard – $0.99
Kraft Singles Sliced Cheese – $2.69
Old Fashioned Oats – $2.39
Total: $45.46
2 cans Dole Pineapple – $2.58, used $0.75/2 printable (doubled), NLA, and $0.75/2 Harris Teeter evic – $0.33/2 after coupons
2 boxes Nabisco Nilla Wafers – $3.49, used $0.75/2 Nabisco Cookie or Cracker Products, exp. 4/23/16 (SS 03/20/16) (doubled) -$1.99/2 after coupons
1 can diced Green Chilies – $0.67
1 jar McCormick Dry Mustard – $3.39 (I needed this for a recipe…but I really need to look at cheaper ways to buy spices. Any suggestions?)
1 jar Salsa – $1.87
1 Luna Bar – $1.29, used $0.50/1 catalina printout (doubled) – $0.29 after coupon
Wholly Classic Guacamole – $2.99 (I need this for a recipe for company – and yes, it would have been cheaper to just buy avocados and make my own!)
1 pkg Blackberries, reduced – $0.99
1 large tub Country Crock – $1.87, used $0.55/1 printable (doubled), plus $0.35/1 Harris Teeter evic – $0.42 after coupons
4 16-oz tubs Cottage Cheese – $6.00
6 Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt – $4.62
2 pkgs Short Cuts Grilled Chicken – $4.45, used 2 $0.75/1 Perdue Simply Smart, Perdue Short Cuts or Perdue Breaded Refrigerated Breaded Chicken Product- 3-13-16 RP (doubled) – $1.45/2 after coupons
3 Oikos Crunch Yogurts – $3.00, used $1/3 Dannon Oikos Crunch Single Serve Cups, exp. 4/27/16 (SS 02/28/16 R), plus $1.00/3 Harris Teeter evic – $1.00/3 after coupons
Total: $26.01
Grocery Total for the Week: $71.47
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Oatmeal with Fruit x 3
Cereal x 2
Healthy Breakfast Muffins, Boiled Eggs x 2
Lunches
Veggie Omelettes x 2
Baked Potatoes with Cottage Cheese, Fresh Veggies, Apples x 2
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Bananas, Carrots
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
Hamburgers and Hotdogs, Macaroni and Cheese, Relish Plate, Fruit Salad, Chips and Layered Nacho Dip (Company for Dinner)
Chicken Alfredo, Homemade French Bread, Roasted Broccoli
Spaghizza, Olive Garden Breadsticks, Tossed Salad
Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Creamy Mashed Cauliflower, Pineapple
Date Night (Macaroni and Cheese for the Kiddos 🙂)
Leftovers x 2
If you missed my other trip posts, read the Day #1 recap, the Day #2 recap, the Day #3 recap, the Day #4 recap, the Day #5 recap, the Day #6 recap, and the Day #7 recap.
Day #8 of our Epic Trip to Italy and Israel with the Museum of the Bible was a very exciting day. We took a 2-hour helicopter ride over Israel. It was SO cool to see so many things from the air that we had seen up close and in person over the past few days.
Plus, it was so helpful to get a bird’s eye view of the lay of the land. Well, and it was also just plain cool to take a helicopter ride! The only other time I’d been on a helicopter was when I was a little girl.
I’m somewhat prone to motion sickness so I was a little worried that it was going to be a miserable ride. But I sat where I could see out of the front, drank water, ate some bars, and rubbed on some essential oils and was able to really enjoy the experience.
Flying over the Dead Sea was especially a unique experience because it’s the only place where you can fly BELOW sea level!
It was also fun to see Masada from the air — since we’d spent a lot of time there the day before.
I loved getting to meet Jeff on the trip. He’s an amazing writer who has written for some of my very favorite publications.
He also has such a beautiful heart and, even though he and I have very differing beliefs in some areas, I was so inspired and challenged by meeting him and will likely be impacted by our conversations for the rest of my life. (You can read all of his posts on the trip experience linked at the top of this post here.)
After we landed in the helicopters, we took jeeps to a nearby kibbutz and then to the Syrian border.
It was surreal to be so close to a war-torn area, to see the army encampments, to see the destruction, to meet the locals and hear their stories, to see all the land mine warning signs, and to feel such tension in the air.
And yet in the middle of the conflict and unrest, there was hope — the people from the local kibbutz have beautiful orchards right near the border and there are wildflowers growing in the land mine fields.
My heart left feeling heavy, but also somewhat hopeful. There are no easy fixes, but there is hope springing up — even in the middle of what might feel like hopeless situations.
I loved how Jeff described the experience:
On the last full day of our pilgrimage, I was sitting in the back of a Jeep, bouncing along rutted dirt roads in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. This is disputed territory. Everywhere you look, there are reminders of war— bunkers, barbed wire, and, in the distance, the abandoned remains of the Syrian city of Quneitra. At one point, our driver suddenly stopped. To our left, behind a sign that said “CAUTION: LANDMINES,” a meadow was ablaze with dozens of crimson anemones. “Beautiful flowers,” he said. “Beautiful flowers in the minefield.”
Those spring flowers remind me that, while heartbreak and hatred may seem so powerful in our world, beautiful things are more resilient than we can understand.
We ate lunch at the kibbutz and it was an amazing spread made by a local woman — many of the items were grown right there in the kibbutz.
Even though we were so close to the Syrian border, there was such a feeling of peace and quiet there. I fell in love with the people and the area. In fact, it was the first day that I felt like, “I think I’d like to buy a house here in Israel and come visit regularly!”
We then drove to Capernaum and visited the remains of a 4th-century synagogue. It is believed that Jesus preached at this synagogue.
The sun shining in on the synagogue was utterly gorgeous… this picture doesn’t do it justice!
I took my shoes off and stood on the ground. It was weird to think that Jesus could have walked right here.
Then, we went to the Church of the Beatitudes, the location where it is believed that Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount.
It was absolutely gorgeous weather there. Just beautiful!
And then we got on a boat on the Sea of Galilee and went to Tiberius. {It feels so weird to even write that after reading about both places in the Bible for so many years!}
It was SO gorgeous and peaceful and beautiful… the perfect end to a very full day!
I took this picture on the boat with many, many thoughts swirling in my head. Here’s what I wrote:
Believe it or not, I didn’t want to go on this trip… I tried to talk Jesse out of having me go four different times. It was scary and so far outside my comfort zone to be gone for 10 days from my family with a big group of people — almost all whom I’ve never met and who have done great and big and monumental things with their life.
I’m an introvert. I don’t like new situations with people I don’t know. And I have a serious fear of the unknown.
But I went, because I knew I was supposed to go. And making myself LEAP outside my comfort zone like this without any sort of parachute has been one of the best things I’ve ever done.
And I’m coming home forever changed. Humbled. Inspired. Infused with new courage. Ready to embrace life — and all that God has called me to — with more fervor and passion and abandon.
As the sun begins setting on this journey, I feel like something big is stirring in my heart… And the real journey is just beginning. This trip taught me much and, most of all, I learned anew that there is so much blessing that comes when I stop letting fear and unknowns hold me back from jumping out into the deep.
…To be continued tomorrow…
Y’all. My heart just might feel like it’s about ready to burst right out of my chest right now.
I get to share some news I’ve been sitting on for months… and I couldn’t be more excited!
As most of you know, I went to South Africa in January of 2015 and fell madly in love. In fact, I sort of wondered if maybe I had some South African blood in me, because it feels so much like HOME there. 🙂
I love the people. I love the food. I love the terrain. I love the sights, the sounds, the beauty… I love the warm hospitality.
Most of all, I was blown away by the work that Take Action Ministry in conjunction with Help One Now is doing to make a massive difference in some of the poorest and neediest areas there.
See that picture there? It’s one of my most favorite photos ever taken of me. Why? Because it felt like I had found my happiest place on earth. Truly. I cannot get enough of these beautiful children. I just wanted to hug and hold and love on each and every one of them for hours and hours and hours.
As a result of my trip, our family committed to pay for all of the operating expenses of Take Action Ministry. It has been such a joy to serve alongside them in the great work they are doing there and to have many of you join us in this through being part of the TenDollarTribe and through purchasing our products and helping to do amazing things like build classrooms there.
When I left, I felt like I left a part of my heart there. And I wanted to get back there just as soon as I could.
So, in October, for my 34th birthday, my dream came true: I got to bring my whole family back with me to South Africa!!
I can’t describe in words just how much it felt like HOME again to be back on that soil. And to experience it with my husband and kids was just beyond amazing.
This picture captures the joy and LIFE we felt while there. And we came back more committed then ever to be as much a part of the ministry and mission of our now-dear friends there who are investing their lives to make such a difference in these communities.
Many of you have expressed interested in being involved in the work we’re doing in South Africa. Many of you have even contacted me to ask if there was a way you could go and experience it firsthand because you are feeling the tug on your heart of wanting to be involved and make a difference.
We’ve been brainstorming, talking, and planning for the last few months, and I’m SO excited to get to invite you to join me in September for a trip to South Africa that I’ll be leading, along with the Help One Now team!!!
You can read all about the trip, how much it costs, what it entails, and how to apply here.
We are not interested in bringing people who are just looking for a cool trip experience. I can tell you that there will be many amazing things that you will encounter on this trip, but there will also be a lot of uncomfortable things.
You’ll come face to face with great need and poverty. You’ll probably feel a lot of exhaustion and jet lag. You’ll eat new foods. You’ll struggle with language barriers.
And you probably won’t ever be able to go back to your comfortable life with the same perspective again. There’s a good chance that what you’ll experience on this trip will mess with you in a way that you will come home forever impacted at a deep level.
Our vision for this trip is much bigger than a typical mission trip often is. We are looking for people who feel their heart being tugged at and pulled in the direction of being involved longterm in changing childrens’ lives and changing communities in South Africa.
If you are not seriously interested in having a long-lasting impact and being involved in the work in South Africa, this is not the trip for you. There won’t be any specific asks of you financially while on the trip or after the trip, but we are looking for people whose hearts want to be involved in a significant way on an ongoing basis.
We want to give you an opportunity to meet the local leaders, meet the children, hear and see firsthand the impact that Take Action Ministry and Help One Now are having, and to catch a vision for how you might be part of that, too.
I can guarantee you one thing: you will be personally impacted in a deep, deep way by going on this trip.
There’s a good chance that what you see, who you meet, and what you experience will shake you up in a profound way. You’ll likely come back home with brand-new perspective and inspiration that just may change the course of your life for the rest of your life!
Want to join me in September on this life-changing trip? You can find out all of the details and apply here.
I can’t WAIT for September — and will be sure to share lots of pictures and details about the trip here for those of you who can’t join us.
Note: There are only 10 spots available. Because of the limited amount of spots available, we are only taking applications through April 13, 2016. Those who are chosen will be notified that your application was accepted by the end of April. You will have until May 31, 2016 to pay the trip fee.
If you missed my other trip posts, read the Day #1 recap, the Day #2 recap, the Day #3 recap, the Day #4 recap, Day #5 recap, and Day #6 recap.
Day #7 of our Epic Trip to Italy and Israel with the Museum of the Bible started out really hard for me. I was tired. I was exhausted. And I was really homesick. I do travel fairly regularly, but it’s usually only for 1-3 days at a time. The longest I’ve ever been gone was 8 days — and that was SO hard.
So I was just missing my people, missing home, and missing our quiet life. Plus, I was plain T-I-R-E-D. We had been going, going, going, going for 6 days on little sleep and I just felt so done. So ready to be home, to be with my family, to sleep in my own bed.
I honestly considered staying back at the hotel that day. But I knew we were supposed to go to the Dead Sea and I just couldn’t bear the thought of missing that.
But I’m glad I went ahead and pried myself out of bed and got out the door, because this amazing view was waiting for me!
Yes, we went to Masada — and it was amazing! We took a cable car up to the top and the view at the top was pretty breathtaking!
I snapped this picture of Claire doing some stretching and yoga poses. Is that not the perfect location for yoga??
Even though there were quite a few people there, it felt so quiet and calming and peaceful! I went to some rocks and stood on them by myself and just took it all in. It was so soul-filling for me.
I was also incredibly impressed that even though it was hot outside, the buildings built were so cool because of how they were structured.
We took the cable car down to the base of the mountain and ate lunch and did some shopping. Well, I ended up not buying anything because you had to spend $100 if you wanted to get the 18% tax taken off at the airport. And I just didn’t find anything that I loved enough to bring home.
(I also had packed in a carry-on, so I had very little space to bring extras home. But I did end up buying a few things in Nazareth Village two days late — bracelets for the kids, Israeli candy bars, and a wooden Shalom magnet for our fridge. I had hoped to find some earrings, too, but I never found a pair that I really loved. I guess I’ll just have to go back and get those next time!)
After that, we drove to THE DEAD SEA!!!
Oh my goodness! This was SUCH a highlight for me on the trip! After hearing about this sea and reading stories about it for so long, it was thrilling to actually be able to experience it.
As you might be able to tell here, getting out into the water was a bit tricky — it was muddy and slippery and rocky and you had to be so careful where you stepped so that you didn’t trip in a pothole or cut your foot on a rock (I actually ended up slicing my foot twice — ouch!)
But when we finally made it out into the deep water, it was incredible. Not only could you literally not sink, but you could stand straight upright in deep water where you couldn’t touch and try to bob yourself under and you wouldn’t be able to.
We laughed so hard as we floated all around — even while “standing straight up” in water where we couldn’t touch. We covered ourselves in the thick, rich mud… we even sort of swam.
This picture was staged, yes, but it captured so well the joy that we all were feeling out there together. It had been a long trip. We’d experienced a lot together. And the water and mud and floating just seemed to wipe all of our tiredness from the trip away.
The laughter spilled into teasing and, out there in the middle of the Dead Sea there was such a sense of camaraderie. And it was so F-U-N and beautiful to experience.
I’m SO glad that I didn’t stay back at the hotel that morning like I really wanted to. I would have missed one of the greatest days of the trip… and one of the memories that I probably will never forget for the rest of my life.
…to be continued…
At dinner one night this week, my husband handed me something all wrapped up in tissue paper. It was this mug he had painted for me at a local ceramics shop while I was in Israel.
It’s my favorite style of mug, painted in my favorite color, painted with my favorite flowers (tulips), made by my favorite person in the world.
Talk about a perfect combination to put a smile on my face and make me happy… And probably one of the most thoughtful gifts he’s ever given me because I know how much love went into it.
I made these week and was really happy with how they turned out, how easy they were to make, and how they tasted.
They had a lot more texture than a typical chocolate chip, but for how healthful the ingredients were, I was really impressed with them! (They are from the Chocolate-Covered Katie cookbook — one of my favorite cookbooks for healthful and yummy desserts!)
Do you have an Amazon Prime account? If so, you must check out Prime Music!! It’s free — and I absolutely love it! You can choose radio stations, find new recommendations based on what you listen to, create playlists, and much more. (And if you use Amazon Music, I’d love to hear what your favorite stations are!)
If you’ve not read this book to your kids, I’d definitely recommend it. All three of the kids are really engaged and attentively listening when I read it and always beg me to read more when I’m done.
I’ve had this book on our shelf for a long time, but honestly, the cover just looked boring so I didn’t pick it up to start reading to the kids. I’m glad it was assigned reading in Sonlight, or we would have missed out on this gem of a book.
Yet another great example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover! (Are you enjoying any read alouds as a family right now? I’d love to know!)
After Silas’ baseball practice this morning, we went to Five Daughters Bakery to get doughnuts. They might be some of the most expensive doughnuts you’ll ever eat, but they are so, so yummy and worth splurging on occasionally!
I got a Chocolate Sea Salt doughnut… I wish I could show you a picture of it, but um, that baby is long gone. 😉 And I savored every bite!
What are YOU loving this week? Tell us in the comments.
Inspired by the recipe in my She Reads Truth study book this week, we made Unleavened Bread today.
Well, I say “we”, but it was actually mostly just Kaitlynn. I mentioned wanting to make it and she asked if she could see the recipe.
Once she saw how easy it was, she jumped right into making it — and she did an amazing job and needed very little help from me.
It’s pretty incredible to have kids who are old enough to read recipes and who love to cook… Because then my great intentions of doing fun projects with them in the kitchen actually happen most of the time — without a whole lot of effort on my part!!
We also had so much fun working on these huge coloring posters from Illustrated Children’s Ministry! My kids thought they were SO cool and we smiled and laughed together while listening to music, coloring, and talking.
Multiple times, my kids exclaimed, “I just LOVE these posters and it’s so fun to be lying on the floor coloring together!” And it made me so happy.
Even though Good Friday is traditionally thought of as a dark day, I’ve been thinking about how it is actually one of the most glorious days… Because it is through Christ’s death and resurrection that we have LIFE. Abundant LIFE! I want my kids to grasp a little taste of that.
Speaking of Easter, to me, these words above are the most powerful three words in the Bible, the most life-changing words for each of us who are followers of Christ.
He paid it all so that we don’t have to spend our lives carrying around the weight of our sins, striving for perfection, trying to be a better person, chasing after doing what is right.
Instead, we can rest in His finished work on the Cross. He didn’t come to give us rules and regulations to follow; He gave Himself… so that we might be free. Free to live in the fullness of joy that only He can give.
Let’s live our lives in gratitude and joy today because “it is finished!”
Homeland
2 Nabisco Ritz Crackers – $2 each, used $0.75/2 coupon from the 3/20 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $1.25 each after coupon
2 Mrs Butterworth’s Syrup – $2.50 each, used $1/2 printable (doubled) AND $0.50/1 store coupon – $1.25 each after coupons
1 Vlasic Pickles – $2, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – Free after coupon
1 Haribo Gold Bear – $1, used $0.30/1 printable (doubled) – $0.40 after coupon
1 GoGo Squeeze Applesauce – $2.69, used $1/1 coupon from the 3/6 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $0.69 after coupon
1 Pillsbury Muffins – $2, used Free text coupon – Free after coupon
Total after coupons: $6.09
Dillons
1 Kroger Frozen Hashbrowns – $1.99
1 Kroger Shredded Cheese – $1.77
1 Moms Best Cereal – $1.67, used $0.75/1 printable – $0.92 after coupon
1 Kroger Pecans – $2.57
1 Campbells Soup – $1
2 Pineapples – $0.99 each, used $0.25 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.86 each after rebate
2 Nabisco Wheat Thins – $1.77, used $1 Checkout 51 rebate – $1.27 each after rebate (I also had a $1/2 e-coupon that was supposed to come off but it didn’t.) 🙁
1 Green Pepper – $0.99
1 Ham Steak – $2.99
1 Kroger Sour Cream – $1
1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99
2 Annie’s Mac & Cheese – $1 each
Total after coupons and rebate: $20.49
Aldi
1 bag Apples – $2.99
2 dozen Eggs – $0.79 each
1 loaf Bread – $1.39
1 gallon Milk – $1.79
1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.29
1 bag Spinach – $1.79
1 Cucumbers – $0.49
1 pkg Frozen Tilapia Fillets – $2.99
2 pkg Butter – $1.99 each
1 Frozen Orange Juice – $1.19
1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19
2 pkg Strawberries – $1.49 each
1 lb Grass Fed Ground Beef – $3.49
Total: $27.14
Total for all groceries: $53.72
Cereal
Easter Brunch with family (I’m bringing Hashbrown Casserole.)
Eggs & Spinach x 3
Toast & Fruit x 2
Macaroni and Cheese, Fruit
Tossed Salad Bar, Crackers x 2
Cheese/Crackers/Fruit/Veggies
Peanut Butter & Jelly on Ricecakes, Carrot Sticks
Lunch with family
Leftovers
Grilled Chicken on Tossed Salad
Chicken & Rice, Steamed Broccoli (leftover from last week)
Chicken Burritos, Fruit Salad
Herb Roasted Chicken & Sides, Rolls
Cheesy Enchilada Casserole, Tossed Salad
Lemon Garlic Tilapia, Baked Potatoes, Steamed Peas
Leftovers
1 gallon Milk – $2.49
32-oz Spaghetti – $1.45
3-lb bag Fuji Apples – $3.99
3-lb bag Autumn Glory Apples – $2.99
10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $1.99
2 bunches Bananas – (4.03lbs @ $0.38/lb) – $1.53
2 5-lb bags Flour – $2.58
2-lb bag Lemons – $2.49
2 pkgs Sliced Pepperoni – $4.38
Mini Sweet Peppers – $1.99
3 pkgs Baby Carrots – $2.07
Pineapple – $0.99
Avocado – $0.69
Cauliflower – $1.99
Broccoli – $1.79
Romine Hearts – $1.99
24-oz Cottage Cheese – $2.29
1 pint Grape Tomatoes – $1.29
32-oz Nonfat Greek Yogurt – $3.89
Sunflower Seeds – $1.99
6-pk Raisins – $1.29
4 dozen Eggs – $3.16 (super excited about this price! 🙂 Anyone else get some great prices on eggs this week?)
Total: $47.36
7 pkgs assorted breads, bagels, buns, reduced (@ $0.69 each) – $4.82
Total: $4.82
2 boxes Superman Cereal (my boys will be beyond thrilled!) – $4.98, used 2 $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $1.98/2 after coupons
4-pk Minute Rice – $2.00, used $0.50/1 Minute Ready To Serve Rice Product, exp. 6/4/16 (RP 03/13/16 #2) (doubled), plus receive $1.00 back from Checkout 51 – FREE after coupon and rebate
1 box Tazo Chai Tea – $3.49, used $2/1 printable NLA – $1.49
2 boxes Mom’s Best Cereal – $4.98, used 2 $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $1.98/2 after coupons
4 boxes Jones Dairy Sausage – $5.98, used 2 $0.75/2 printable (doubled) – $2.98/4 after coupons
2 tubs “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” Olive Oil Spread – $4.00, used 2 $0.55/1 printable (doubled), plus $1.50/2 evic – $0.30/2 after coupons
1 dozen Eggs – FREE when you buy 2 “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spread”
Total: $8.74
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Cereal x 3
Oatmeal x 2
Toast, Eggs and Fruit x 2
Lunches
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Apple Slices x 2
Baked Potatoes with Cottage Cheese, Peppers, Bananas x 2
Scrambled Eggs, Sautéed Veggies, Pineapple
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad (for me), Leftovers (for kids) x 2
Dinners
Spaghetti alla Carbonara (back by popular demand!), Tossed Salad, Crusty Rolls
Egg Roll in a Bowl, Brown Rice, Fruit Salad
Grilled Chicken, Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes, Roasted Broccoli
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, Tossed Salad
Sausage Potato Breakfast Casserole, Fruit Salad, Muffins
Leftovers x 2
