ToWorkWithMyHands.com shows you how to make your own Christmas gift bags.
Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
2hr Cleaning Checklist
Classic View
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Do It Yourself: Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
WinsteadWandering.com shows you how to make homemade buttermilk ranch dressing.
Apply to be a part of my Book Launch Team!
*Applications are now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied to help us with the exciting launch!
I have some incredibly exciting news to share with you today! After months and months and months of effort on my part and the part of my fantastic team, my new book is done and headed to the printers.
Money-Making Mom: How Every Woman Can Earn More & Make a Difference will officially release on November 3, 2015. It’s packed with both practical ideas and big-picture perspective to help you increase your income and increase your impact.
I’m so very thankful and humbled to have the opportunity to share a message in it that I’m not only immensely passionate about, but that I also believe has the power to impact hundreds of thousands of families across the globe.
I’ll be sharing much more about the book in the weeks to come, but for this post, I’m writing to invite you to join me in an exclusive opportunity.
Join the Money-Making Mom Launch Team
We are putting together a special “Money-Making Mom Launch Team” — made up of people who are passionate about helping women and who want to join with us in helping to spread the word about this book.
As a launch team member you will get exclusive access to read a digital copy of the book in advance, the opportunity to interact with me and other launch team members as a community via a private Facebook group, and access to several other special resources (top secret stuff that we can’t share just yet :)).
To be a part of the Launch Team, we ask that you:
A) Read the digital copy in advance
B) Agree to help us spread the word in any way you can during the timeframe requested
C) Post a review on a retailer site
D) Interact with the launch team community by sharing ideas, etc.We’ll provide everything you need to help get the word out. We have an amazing group of folks in place who will be running the Launch Team and you are going to love working with them!
If you’re interested in being apart of this opportunity, just fill out the Launch Team Sign Up Form here by September 30, 2015.
At the beginning of October, we will select around 1000 people from all submissions and notify them via email. (I wish we could select everyone but in order to keep things manageable and enable us to interact one-on-one, we’ve decided it’s best to stick with just 1000 people on our launch team. However, even if you’re not one of those chosen, everyone who signs up will get a sneak preview download of the book!)
I’m so very grateful for each of you and the excitement you’ve already expressed about Money-Making Mom. Your support means more to me than words can express.
Sign up to be considered for the Launch Team today!
Shared Sep 28, 2015
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Want some encouragement to go through Make Over Your Mornings?
Want some encouragement to go through Make Over Your Mornings?
Want to go through the Make Over Your Mornings Course but wish you could have some accountability while doing so?
Crystal who blogs at Expressions By Red is going to be blogging through the course over the next 14 days and would love for you to join her. You can either just read her posts and be inspired or you can download the course and go through it along with her!
This is a great way to have accountability each day as you go through the course! Also, be sure to read her testimony of how Make Over Your Mornings impacted her life.
10 Freezer Meals to Give as Gifts
Jessica from Life As Mom has a great list of 10 freezer meals to give as gifts. This is such an easy way to bless families during all trials and seasons of life.
Shared Sep 28, 2015
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17 Crockpot Chili Recipes That You Can Freeze Without Any Cooking
17 Crockpot Chili Recipes That You Can Freeze Without Any Cooking
Kelly from New Leaf Wellness put together a great list of 17 crockpot chili recipes that you can freeze without any cooking ahead of time.
Shared Sep 27, 2015
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5 Things I’m Loving This Week: New colored pencils, leggings, & a girl’s night out!
5 Things I’m Loving This Week: New colored pencils, leggings, & a girl’s night out!
I’m SO grateful that I was finally feeling better and able to resume my normal pace this week! It felt good to jump back into life after being down and out for so long!
While everyone did so well at keeping things running while I was recovering, I did discover a few things that proved I’m still needed around here. 🙂 For instance, I found this pan (see above picture) put away in our cupboard.
We may have a slight misunderstanding in our home as to what constitutes “clean dishes”. Just possibly. And now I’m wondering if there was a whole load of dirty dishes from the dishwasher that someone put away trying to be helpful. I do not want to dwell on that thought, though.
This dirty pan discovery wasn’t the worst discovery of that day, though. Nope. I had been smelling a nasty smell in my car and I decided I should investigate further… only to discover a half-eaten frappe in the back seat cup holder.
For the record, if you leave a half-eaten frappe in a hot car for half a week, it will turn green and smell like a mix between skunk and sour milk and throw up. It’s really lovely… especially in your car!!
{I am nice enough not to take a picture of said moldy, green frappe ruins. I decided that might be taking the over-sharing just a little bit too far!}
It was a full week and I had trouble narrowing down the list of things I am loving this week to just 5 things. But here’s what I finally decided upon:
#1: New Colored Pencils
You all were so very, very right! Cheap colored pencils just don’t hold a candle to the more expensive kind.
A reader named Jennifer sent these new coloring pencils to me last week and they are AMAZING. Seriously! Watch this video here to hear me swoon over them.
You can see the ones Jennifer sent me here. Here’s my first coloring project with them (see above). {You can print this free coloring page here.}
One reader suggested getting them at a craft store with a 40% off coupon. Or maybe, if you’re as obsessed with coloring as I am, you could even ask for them for Christmas??
Y’all, I’m not sure what we’ve come to when colored pencils make me so giddy that I almost want to squeal. 🙂
#2: Loom Bands
We spent this morning cheering on Silas’ baseball game and loom-banding it up.
Currently, my kids have traded in their hours spent creating with Legos for hours making loom band creations. While it means that I’m constantly finding stray loom bands in odd places around the house, I love to see them exercising their creativity, making gifts for others, and learning new patterns together.
(Thanks to YouTube for the endless supply of new loom band creation ideas!)
#3: Leggings!
I celebrated the first day of fall this week by pretending that it was crisp fall weather outside. Thus, the wearing of the leggings.
Never mind the fact that it was actually 81 degrees outside. Please let me just stay in my little fall fantasy world, okay? Because it was a l-o-n-g summer!
{Please note that I wore said leggings in compliance with The Jen Hatmaker Rules of Legging Wearing. And if you don’t know what I’m referring to, please stop what you’re doing and watch this video. You’re welcome.}
#4: Getting Lost in a Story
I finally had a quiet afternoon to really get into reading The Bronte Plot! And I truly enjoyed it.
While I didn’t feel like the plot and story engaged me quite like Dear Mr. Knightley did, it engaged me enough that I wanted to keep reading even though I’d planned to take a break and finish a few other projects. 🙂
The Bronte Plot is a story of redemption in spite of past mistakes and a story of becoming a victor instead of a victim of our circumstances. It’s a lighter read and I got through it in one afternoon.
{I also enjoyed Lizzy and Jane and adored Dear Mr. Knightley — both by this same author. If you read only one book by this author, definitely read Dear Mr. Knightley.}
#5: A Girl’s Day/Night Out
I may have been a wee bit excited to get to have a completely kid-free 24 hours with some of my favorite people. No, we didn’t move to another country or go on a 4-week trip… I just sometimes like to channel my inner Boy Scout (i.e. “Always Be Prepared”).
I brought a few different outfits and multiple pairs of shoes (for real!) because we were planning a fun night on the town and I couldn’t decide what I wanted to wear. Plus, I kept finding more things to throw in my bag “just in case”. That often happens to me when I’m really excited about something.
{Taylor Swift was in town that night. We didn’t go to her concert — we just pretended like we were 12 and asked someone to take our picture next to her trailer! :)}
The night was filled with laughter, tears, deep conversation, and a whole lot of us being our crazy selves, too. We also stayed up entirely too late. But we just couldn’t help it! 🙂
I love these four women something fierce. They are part of our weekly Monday Group and they are some of my dearest local friends. They are women who will speak truth when you need to hear it, be a safe place to honestly share about struggles and triumphs, drop everything and bring you coffee when you’re having a hard day, and make you laugh so hard that you cry off all of your mascara.
What are YOU loving this week? Tell us in the comments.
Amazon.com: Work from Home Opportunities
Amazon is currently hiring for work-from-home positions. Here’s more information from their site:
Are you interested in eliminating your commute, reducing your carbon footprint, and working for an amazing company? Seeking more time to spend with your family and friends? Amazon’s VCC (Virtual Contact Center) has an amazing opportunity for those who said yes!
You may have seen and heard those ads on the internet, in the paper, and on the radio, promising great work from home jobs, but wondered if they were too good to be true. Well this one is good, it’s true, and we think you’ll really enjoy it.
Full time and part time opportunities are available in Arizona, Kentucky, Texas, West Virginia, Delaware, Minnesota, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Virginia for our seasonal customer service associate position.
- 3-4 weeks of paid training
- Seasonal and referral bonus opportunities $$
- Base compensation is $10/hour with the potential bonus opportunities
- Part-time and full-time positions available
Requirements:
In order to be considered for this position, your home residence must be in one of the following states; Arizona, Kentucky, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Delaware, Minnesota, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia
High School Diploma or equivalent
Basic typing, phone, and computer navigation skills
Ability to navigate the Internet, email, and Instant Messenger tools
1+ years in a service environment dealing with the public
Distraction free workspace
Read more about this opportunity and apply here!
Thanks, Shop the Hot Deals!
5 Fun & Free Ways to Enjoy Fall
Guest post from Pam of Be Healthy Be Happy Wellness:
The hot weather is winding down, and I am starting to feel a crisp bite to the air when I let our puppy out in the mornings. Fall weather is almost here!
I love, love, love fall. It is a fabulous time of year – it’s not too hot but still warm enough to be outside. We get to enjoy the beautiful fall colors on the trees. Plus, there are so many fun and free things to do.
If you’re looking for ways to enjoy this fall to the fullest, here are my top five FREE ideas:
1. Hiking.
With a new puppy in the house, this has become our favorite weekend outing.
He gets to go along, we wear him out (so we all sleep better) and we enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
We are lucky enough to live near several county parks with short (1-2 mile) trails. Perfect for little legs and a fun way to spend a few hours.
2. Bike rides to the park.
My littlest one is finally a proficient biker – yeah! A short trip to the park is just the right length for him. The kids play, the adults talk, and we all end up feeling refreshed.
With many neighborhoods having little parks, why don’t you give this a try after dinner one night?
No neighborhood park? How about your local elementary school playground? Top off the evening with ice cream cones after the ride home.
3. A picnic.
As a child, we went on picnics every month with my Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles. It was inexpensive (we all brought our own meat and a dish to share) and fun.
In the fall it’s especially pleasant as it’s not so hot that cooking over a charcoal grill sounds dreadful. Plus, there are still plenty of tasty watermelons available to consume after the meal is complete!
No family nearby? Ask a friend or neighbor you’d like to get to know better to come along.
4. Visit an apple orchard or pumpkin field.
If you decide to purchase fruit, you will spend a little money on this trip, but I can justify it as grocery money myself.
Younger kids especially get a kick out of picking their own apples from a tree. Some orchards also have farm animals and little markets to check out.
We’ve been going to our local orchard every year since the kids were little, and they ask me every year when it’s time to go!
5. Find Local Festivals.
In the Midwest, fall is the festival time of year!
When we were at the State Fair last month, I picked up a state festival guide and discovered there are a dozen festivals EVERY weekend this fall around the state. Many of them within an hour or less drive — and ALL of them are free!
Don’t know where to find any for your area? Check your local newspaper or do an internet search using the keywords “festival + your state.” Pick one, load the kids in the car and tell them you are off on an adventure.
How do you enjoy the fall?
Do you have any fun and inexpensive ideas to share?
Whatever you decide to do, I encourage you to plan to enjoy at least a few fun outings. Before we know it, the cold weather will have arrived and we’ll be missing these beautiful fall days!
Pam is a Certified Health and Lifestyle Coach specializing in helping frazzled working moms create a happier, healthier life. Reach her at Be Healthy Be Happy Wellness
4 Money-Saving Tips For Irregular Paychecks
Guest post from Lisa of FreelanceMom.com
Do you work in a career where your paycheck is unreliable?
Maybe you’re a freelancer. Perhaps you work on commission. Whatever your job, living without a regular paycheck can put strain on your budget, and it can be hard to determine how to save and how much to save to cover slow months.
Curious how to make your budget work efficiently like many moms before you? Check out these tips for saving your money when you don’t have a regular paycheck:
1. Automate Your Savings
Don’t jump to scheduling automatic transfers from checking to savings right away. If you’ve tried this before, you’ve likely found that this type of automation process doesn’t always work that well.
You may want to put $50 away in savings every week, but sometimes you simply don’t have the extra cash. Other times, you have plenty of extra to contribute to your savings… but keeping a constant eye on things and making manual transfers can be a pain.
The good news is that there’s an alternative! Digit is an automatic savings program that’s perfect for moms whose income varies from week to week.
This free program tracks your spending habits and monitors your checking account. Then, it stashes away a couple of dollars when you can afford it. It’s totally free and takes the manual guesswork out of savings!
2. Determine Your Average Income
As a mom without a regular paycheck, some months may yield twice as much money as others. It can be all too tempting to splurge during those months, yet when a slow month comes around, you feel the pressure.
That’s why it’s important to outline a budget for yourself. Your starting point is how much money you average every month. Take a look at your income over the last year and divide it by 12 months. You shouldn’t be spending any more than that in any given month. Ideally, you should be spending much less than your average so you always have something to put away in savings.
Decide on a budget lower than your average, and stash extra away. That way, you’ll have enough to cover slow months as well as emergencies and larger expenses.
As you’re looking over your income, take the time to evaluate your spending habits as well. If your monthly expenses are pushing your average income, look for ways to cut down so you have more to contribute to savings.
Don’t forget to calculate business fees into your monthly expenses (if you’re a freelancer). These would be things like office supplies, PayPal fees, and taxes.
3. Pay Your Own Salary – In a Sense
The strategy outlined above — tracking your spending and depositing extra into savings — works for some people, but for others, it seems like a backward process. So instead, take control of your income.
Start by having all of your paychecks deposited into your “business” account. Then, set up automatic payments to be made into your “household checking” account on a weekly or biweekly basis.
The total you transfer each month should not exceed your average income, since you still want money in your business account, particularly at times when pay is slow. You can also set up automatic transfers from your “business” account into your retirement or savings accounts.
If you use this method, you can better manage your money as if you had a regular paycheck, making budgeting for the month a lot easier.
4. Open New Bank Accounts
One thing that makes it easy to overspend is when your money feels accessible and spendable. If you have only a checking and a savings account, you may find yourself withdrawing too much because the money hasn’t been set aside based on your financial goals.
Instead, open up new sub-savings accounts so you can put a name to each dollar you earn. The goals for each account are up to you, but at least you know the money in that account is reserved for a specific purpose, which will help keep you from overspending all while promoting better savings habits.
Some reasons you might open sub-savings accounts include:
- Taxes
- New car
- Car maintenance
- Retirement (consider opening an IRA)
- Emergencies
- Rent/mortgage
Living without a regular paycheck isn’t synonymous to “living paycheck to paycheck.” It’s still possible to budget your money and do it effectively, even when you can’t accurately estimate your future income.
Are you struggling to save on an atypical paycheck?
Let us know what method you’ll try first to start growing your savings!
Lisa Stein Chang owns FreelanceMom.com, is a college business professor, and a mom to two growing daughters. Lisa is dedicated to playing a part in helping moms run a business they love, help support themselves and their family, and create a “flexible” lifestyle. You can find Lisa burning something in the kitchen, on her blog or fumbling around on Twitter and Facebook.
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
How do you stop feeling guilty about taking time to read?
I have been reading your blog since 2009 and have recently been loving your Periscopes!! I do have a question that I hope you can answer in a blog post or on a Periscope.
How do you not feel guilty about sitting down to read? During nap (I have two girls – 2.5 and 1.5), I usually have homemaking chores to do but if I have extra time during nap, I always feel guilty sitting down to read! It always feels like there’s something else I should be doing. Any advice? -Emily
This is such a great question, Emily! I think so many moms and women struggle with making time to do things that will replenish and refresh and refuel them.
Why? Because it can feel like there are so many, many more important things you should be doing with your time.
You Are No Good to Anyone When You’re Completely Exhausted
But here’s the thing: you are good to no one if you are exhausted. Read that sentence again and really think about it.
You are unable to be a good wife, a good mom, a good co-worker, a good friend — or whatever hats you wear right now — if you are feeling run over for dead.
When you are completely drained, completely tapped out, and completely burned out, you will not have anything worth giving to others.
Yes, You Need to Take Time for YOU
You need to be pouring into yourself if you want to be able to pour out to others. You can’t just give and give and give without replenishing the supply and expect that you’ll be able to keep going and going and going. That’s like assuming that you can live without food or drive your car without refilling it with fuel.
We try to do it as a person, though, don’t we? And it’s usually in the name of “not having time” or that “there are so many other more important things to do”.
But if you never make time for replenishing your supply, you’ll soon have to make time because you’ll be so tapped out that you’ll be forced to.
I’ve found that I’m so much healthier, happier, and energetic when I take time to refuel my tank. And I’m also able to invest much more in my marriage and my kids, as a result.
How to Get Over the Guilt
When I remind myself about how important replenishing my supply is, it helps me to feel less guilt over making time for reading and other things that refuel me. But I’ve found other practical ideas that help, in addition to just giving myself a good pep talk:
#1. Budget a Time Block For It
When you make taking time to read part of your daily list of to-do’s, you’re automatically giving yourself permission to make it a priority.
#2. Make It a Reward
Tell yourself that once you’ve cleaned the bathroom, or filed those papers, or finished that work project, or folded and put away the laundry, you get to set the timer for 15 or 30 minutes and enjoy a book.
#3. Remind Yourself of the Impact
Reading is one of the best ways to grow as a person, to challenge ourselves, to grow, and to stimulate our minds. Keep this in mind when you’re trying to talk yourself out of taking time to read.
#4. Find an Accountability Partner
Ask someone to hold you accountable for taking time to refuel and refresh yourself. Maybe they can text or email you a few times per week to check in and make sure you’re making it a priority.
#5. Get Creative!
Look for creative ways to fit reading into your life. I’m always on the hunt for nooks and crannies where I can fit more reading in. Check out my posts here on how I find more time to read.
What other advice and ideas do the rest of you have for Emily? I’d love to hear!
P.S. Watch my video from this morning on How to Make Time for You Without Feeling Guilty.
The Ultimate Aldi, Target & Walmart Price Comparison Chart
Passionate Penny Pincher put together the ultimate Aldi, Target & Walmart price comparison chart. Really helpful to know where to get the best prices on all of your staple items!
If you’re more of a warehouse store shopper, you can also check out the ultimate Aldi, Costco & Sam’s Club price comparison chart.
How to Make Your Home Feel Like a Warm Hug
So I’ve been scoping about our book club book this week, but I’ve not had a chance to actually get the thoughts in my head down on paper!
In section 2, I loved these two quotes:
“Decorating is not about making stage sets, it’s not about making pretty pictures for the magazines; it’s really about creating a quality of life, a beauty that nourishes the soul.” -Albert Hadley
When you look at your home, how do you feel? Do you exhale and relax, soaking in your blessings? Do you want to invite someone over for a cup of tea or coffee? A warm, inviting home doesn’t have to be a perfectly ordered home. It is just one that says, I value myself, I value my family, and I value relationships. Basically, when you walk into a nourishing home it feels like you’re walking into a hug.”
That inspired me so much! I want my home to be like a warm and welcoming to my family and all who walk through its doors.
And from section 3:
“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.” -Steve Maraboli
Whoa! That’s powerful stuff!
I want to be unapologetically myself — comfortable in my perfect imperfection. This doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t work on improving and growing as a person, but I want to embrace my gifts, quirks, and passions instead of being what I think maybe I “should” be or what someone “wants” me to be.
I’d love hear your thoughts on these quotes. And if you’re reading Nourished alongside me this week, I’d love to hear anything that is sticking out to you!
Why We’re Taking Our Kids to South Africa
Next Tuesday, Jesse, our friend and my manager (Brian), and our three kids will be getting on a plane with me to go to South Africa.
To say that I am excited would be an understatement. Honestly, I am ECSTATIC!
I left part of my heart in South Africa when I traveled there for the first time earlier this year and I’ve been hoping and dreaming about getting back there ASAP ever since I came home. I love the people, I love the food, I love the climate, I love the culture, I love the local team from Take Action that is serving and ministering there.
So, as soon as I got home, we started talking and praying and thinking about the possibility of our family going together to South Africa. I wanted to introduce Jesse and the kids to the beautiful country and people there.
Because the truth is, I could talk and talk until I was blue in the face about how amazing my trip was and how it had forever impacted me, but I knew that the only way they’d really get to understand why I fell so madly in love with South Africa was for them to actually walk on the soil, meet the people in person, and have firsthand knowledge of South Africa.
So we started talking about dates. We started seriously considering it. And we began looking into the costs and what a trip like this would entail.
We had some honest conversations with our kids about it because we knew it would be a big deal for them. It would require some major stepping outside their comfort zone and it would mean facing their fears of long flights.
While they are all apprehensive about the trip, we feel like the timing is right and this is going to be a life-changing trip for us and our kids. We’re leaving on Tuesday, September 29 and will be returning on Tuesday, October 6.
We’ll mostly be in the Pretoria area and yes, we are going to get to SEE THE CLASSROOMS THAT YOU ALL HELPED BUILD!!! {I’m not sure, but I might just be a wee bit excited about that part of this trip. ;)}
Many of you have asked for more details as to why we’re going as a family and why we’re taking our kids and I wanted to try to fill them in for you by sharing three of the reasons we decided to travel to South Africa with our kids…
#1. We Want to Challenge Our Kids to Step Outside Their Comfort Zone
I would be lying if I said our kids aren’t scared about the trip. They have a lot of fears going in — just like I did when I got on the plane earlier this year for that 18-hour flight.
They are scared of being in an airplane that long (gratefully, we’re taking a different route this time and the flight is only 15 hours instead of 18 hours!). They are scared of flying over water for so long.
They wonder what they people will be like. They worry they won’t understand what people are saying. They wonder if they will feel out of place or awkward.
We’ve been able to have a lot of great conversations as a result. We’ve talked about what to do when you can’t understand someone’s accent or don’t know what they mean when they use a certain word. We’ve talked about how to respond if something makes you feel awkward.
We’ve also worked hard to eliminate as many fears as possible: showing them pictures of South Africa and the people we’ll be meeting, talking about my experiences there, talking about the things I especially loved, having them watch YouTube videos of what international flights are like, and planning the trip in a way that we’re balancing out the hard stuff (like seeing poverty) with fun stuff (like going on an Elephant Interaction Trip — how cool does that sound??).
While I am quite certain there are going to be awkward moments for all of us, we are excited for our kids to have the opportunity to jump outside their comfort zones and face their fears. I think this trip will be something that will forever change them as individuals.
#2. We Want Our Kids to Experience a Different Culture
One of our greatest hopes is that our children don’t grow up being stuck in an Americanized bubble.
We can show them pictures of other cultures. We can read books about other cultures. We can watch movies about other cultures. We can even meet people from different cultures here in the U.S.
But I think there’s nothing that can quite help you break free from the American bubble then just actually stepping onto another continent, walking alongside the people there, and experiencing their life firsthand.
We don’t want our kids to think inside a box. There is so, so much we can learn from other cultures.
We want them to see that there is a very big world out there — of needs, of ideas, of different ways of doing things. Our hope is that this trip will help to expand their horizon and broaden their perspective on life.
#3. We Want to Inspire Our Kids to Be Givers
This is our biggest hope with this trip.
The first time Jesse and I traveled outside of the U.S., it was to go to the Dominican Republic. We came home from that trip forever changed.
We saw how money could make such a big difference — and how far a little bit of our money could be stretched there. We were inspired to dream big dreams and pray big prayers. Most importantly, we recognized that by continuing to live simply, it would allow us to give more generously.
Our greatest desire is to raise kids who are world-changers. We don’t want our kids to be content with the status quo. We want them to realize that their lives can make a big impact.
When I came back from South Africa, Jesse and I committed to pay for the operating expenses for the Take Action ministry in South Africa. It’s been such a blessing for us to give in this tangible way.
We want to make this giving real to our kids. We don’t want our giving to just be something that Mom and Dad do, but we want our kids to catch a vision for how their money and resources can make a difference, too.
Have you ever traveled internationally — especially with kids? I’d love to hear your tips and suggestions for us as we prepare for this trip. We would also so appreciate your prayers, especially that my kids would have peace, not fear, going into next week.
Good Cheap Eats — Dinner in 30 Minutes or Less
Readers who have been around here a long time will remember we used to live in the same town as Jessica Fisher from Life as Mom and Good Cheap Eats and her family. We loved getting to know the Fisher family during that year we were both in Kansas City together.
I especially enjoyed hanging out at their house! Not only because I learned so much from Jessica, but because she is an amazing cook. Every time we went to their house, she’d be whipping up some sort of magic in the kitchen. It’s her thing and she does it beautifully.
Me, Silas, and Jessica in 2010 when our family went to visit their family in California.
It was a sad day when their family moved back to California, but we will always be grateful for those many memories we have and for the gift of local friendship and community their family gave to us during a hard and lonely season of our lives. And I will always be thankful for all the recipe ideas, kitchen tips, and life hacks I’ve learned from Jessica.
I’m super excited about Jessica’s new book, Good Cheap Eats: Dinner in 30 Minutes or Less. I know that title almost sounds too good to be true. But it’s not!
Jessica shows you tricks, tips, and delicious recipes that can be made in a matter of minutes. Best of all, her recipes are budget-friendly and many are bursting with nutritious ingredients.
The first time I had fish tacos was when Jessica served them to us at her house. I fell promptly in love. So I was really, really happy when I saw that she included them in this cookbook.
If you are looking for a great cookbook for busy families with simple, quick, and inexpensive recipes in it, check out Good Cheap Eats: Dinner in 30 Minutes or Less.