If you’ve always thought eating healthfully had to be expensive, then you’ll want to check out the new Real Food Dollar Menu series from Heavenly Homemakers She’s preparing several recipes (with real food) that only cost around $1 per plate!
Summer Bucket List
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Snowman Cookies Before Breakfast? Yes, Please!
Silas woke up this morning and the first thing he wanted to do was make Snowman Cookies. I’m not exactly sure where he got the idea from… but he was really sold on it.
It was a busy day today, my to-do list was long in preparation for my trip tomorrow, and making Snowman Cookies — especially so early in the morning — wasn’t really on the agenda.
But I’m working on learning to say “yes” to the mess, so I agreed that we should make them. And we had a blast making them together.
Watching my little Silas roll the dough, intently cut the snowman, and carefully put them on the baking sheet warmed my heart on this chilly November morning.
These are the moments that matter most. These spur-of-the-moment times when I say “yes” to something that might seem a bit messy and inconvenient.
These are the memories I’ll treasure long after there are no more little hands eager to help me in the kitchen.
I may not have gotten everything done on my to-do list today, but making Snowman Cookies on a whim with my 3-year-old was a whole lot more important than most of those things anyway.
P.S. Sadly, I completely forgot to take pictures this morning while we were making the cookies… and every single last Snowman was eaten by tonight. But I thought you’d enjoy these pictures of the kiddos having a little afternoon tea party today. If you can’t tell, they have quite a bit of fun together. 🙂
4 Weeks to a More Organized Home {Simplified}: Day 13 Update
If you missed this morning’s assignment, find it here.
Today was a calmer day after two very busy days… and that was so nice!
I was excited to discover that the space above my cupboards was nowhere near as dirty and dusty this time around as it was in April.
But the top of my refrigerator needed some desperate organization!
Ah! White space! I love it! 🙂
How did you do on Day 13? I’d love to have you share your progress and success with us so we can be inspired. Either post a link to your blog post below or leave a comment with your update.
Ask The Readers: What is a realistic Christmas budget?
Today’s question is from Tara:
I am trying to scale back my Christmas budget this year as money is a little tight. I’m wondering, what would you consider a “realistic budget” for 10 immediate family members, including my two boys, ages 5 and 2? -Tara
Do you have a question you’d like to ask Money Saving Mom® readers? Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
A disciplined life is dependent solely upon you…
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12 Fun Busy Bag Ideas
4 Weeks to a More Organized Home {Simplified}: Day 13
Welcome back to the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home {Simplified} series!
From November 5 to December 7 (skipping the week of Thanksgiving), every weekday morning at 9 a.m. EST, I’ll be posting the day’s assignment and then every evening at 7 p.m. EST, I’ll be posting my progress and pictures, along with a link-up for you to share your progress and pictures, too.
Day 13 Assignment
::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life! Get your free copy of SarahMae’s ebook, Frumps to Pumps, if you need more motivation in this.}
::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, refer to your list of weekly goals, and make a list of no more than 5-7 specific things you want to accomplish today.
::Set the timer for 15 minutes and do a quick-clean of your bathroom. Need specific directions? Read this article on How to Clean Your Bathroom in 15 Minutes.
::Clean the top of your kitchen cupboards (if there is space between them and the ceiling) and the top of your refrigerator. If you have clutter on the top of your refrigerator, go through it and see if you can get rid of it or find a new home for it. Wipe down the outside of your kitchen cupboard doors.
Take pictures of your accomplishments and blog about them, if you’d like. And then come back here at 7 p.m. EST to share your progress posts or tell us about your accomplishments in a comment.
4 Weeks to a More Organized Home {Simplified}: Day 12 Update
If you missed this morning’s assignment, find it here.
Today was another big day — and it was exciting, too! As of this morning, we’re now the owners of our first rental house!
I thought that today’s project would be pretty simple… and the microwave and stovetop weren’t too bad.
I typically clean them thoroughly at least a few times a week so they never get too awful.
And, just as I thought, they were bought fairly simple to clean.
But the oven… oh my! It was bad, with a capital B. I had forgotten that my Thanksgiving Apple Pies had spilled over. And burned on the bottom of the oven. Of course.
{Brace yourself if you are OCD about having a clean oven. In fact, you might just want to stop right here and skip to the next post.}
This is just a sampling of some of the burned gunk I cleaned off the bottom of my oven. Gross, I know!
It feels so good to know that all of that is cleaned out. And the house will likely smell better when I’m baking now, too! 😉
How you do on Day 12? I’d love to have you share your progress and success with us so we can be inspired. Either post a link to your blog post below or leave a comment with your update.
It’s Just a Couch
She was working on a project for school. She was sitting on the fairly-new, suede couch. She was using scissors.
{You can guess where this is going already…}
Unbeknownst to her, in her concentration to get the project cut out just right, she also cut the suede on the couch.
Not once, not twice, but five times.
She didn’t even realize it until we were cleaning up the papers from the project. I saw the cuts firsts, then she saw them.
I wanted to get upset. After all, the couch wasn’t anywhere near free and it was something we’d purchased intending to keep it for many years.
But before I could become upset, a little voice whispered to me, “It’s just a couch.”
It’s not worth anger or frustration — especially since it was just an accident and she was immediately very sorry and upset about what she had done.
The accidental cuts she made on the couch can be mended with a needle and thread. Cutting into my daughter’s heart with my words can’t be undone.
It’s just a couch. It will fade, tear, and get stained with years and use, anyway. It won’t matter much in 25 years from now.
But my relationship with my daughter and how I respond to her — even in the little things like this? That will matter tremendously in 25 years from now.
photo courtesy of Big Stock Photo
Do-It-Yourself: Homemade Dairy-Free Chai Tea Latte
LiveRenewed.com shows you how to make Homemade Dairy-Free Chai Tea Latte.
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.
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
4 Weeks to a More Organized Home {Simplified}: Day 12
Welcome back to the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home {Simplified} series!
From November 5 to December 7 (skipping the week of Thanksgiving), every weekday morning at 9 a.m. EST, I’ll be posting the day’s assignment and then every evening at 7 p.m. EST, I’ll be posting my progress and pictures, along with a link-up for you to share your progress and pictures, too.
Day 12 Assignment
::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life! Get your free copy of SarahMae’s ebook, Frumps to Pumps, if you need more motivation in this.}
::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, refer to your list of weekly goals, and make a list of no more than 5-7 specific things you want to accomplish today.
::Set the timer for 15 minutes and vacuum the main living areas of your home.
::Clean your microwave, stove top, and/or oven.
Take pictures of your accomplishments and blog about them, if you’d like. And then come back here at 7 p.m. EST to share your progress posts or tell us about your accomplishments in a comment.
4 Weeks to a More Organized Home {Simplified}: Day 11 Update
If you missed this morning’s assignment, find it here.
Today was a busy day! Not only was it Cyber Monday — which meant more deals to wade through and post! — but I also had a meeting, phone calls, a walk-through of our rental house that we’re closing on tomorrow, a doctor’s appointment, papers to sign at the bank, and the usual homeschooling, among other things.
But I did get my goals for the week written down and my silverware drawer cleaned out.
Honestly, it wasn’t too messy…
…but there were some crumbs lurking in the corners.
It felt good to get it all wiped out! By the way, once again, we have zero spoons in the drawer… I promise we do use them at our house! 🙂 Some were in the dishwasher and the others were on the table that was already set for dinner.
How did you do with Day 11’s assignment? Leave your link to your blog post about it below or share about your success in the comments!
This week’s menu
We have a fairly busy week this week and I’ll be out-of-town for a quick trip to Arkansas on Thursday and Friday, so we’re having a pretty simple menu. Here’s the plan:
Breakfasts
Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets, Cereal, Toast, Eggs, and/or Fruit
Lunches
Lunch with extended family (Thanksgiving celebration — I brought pie, a turkey, and Sweet Potato casserole.)
Snack-y lunch
Mac & cheese, veggies, fruit
Cheese Quesadillas, oranges, carrot sticks
Cheesy Quinoa, fruit, veggies
Leftovers x 2Snacks
Fruit/Veggies
Cheese/Crackers
Hard-boiled eggs
Healthful Oatmeal Chocolate Chip MuffinsFreezer Cooking
Best Brownies
Healthful Oatmeal Chocolate Chip MuffinsDinners
Dinner with extended family
Thanksgiving Leftovers
Breakfast for dinner: Cracker Barrel Pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit
Corn, Bacon, and Potato Chowder, Bread Machine Buttery Rolls, veggies, fruit
Dinner out
Dinner with our young couples’ group: I’m bringing a salad.
Dinner with extended family
What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.
10 Goals For This Week
Last two week’s goals:
Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals
1. Read three chapters of A Way Through the Sea with Kathrynne, read at least five chapters of The Imagination Station: Book 8 with Kaitlynn, and read three chapters of Cameron Townsend aloud to the children.2. Write a love note to Jesse.
3. Go on a date with Jesse.Personal Goals
4. Finish Erasing Hell by Francis Chan, Anything by Jennie Allen,
Pinterest Power, and The Wings of the Morning.
5. Listen to one hour of Made to Stick.6. Do 5 days’ worth of the Couch to 10K program. {Do I get a pass because it was Thanksgiving?! Yes, lame excuse, I know! :)}
Homemaking Goals
7. Follow the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home plan & blog about it.
8. Finish 25 more rows of the scarf I’m working on knitting.9. Make at least two new recipes.
Business Goals
10. Launch my Christmas ebook!
This week’s goals:
Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals
1. Finish reading A Way Through the Sea with Kathrynne, finish reading The Imagination Station: Book 8 with Kaitlynn, and read two chapters of Cameron Townsend aloud to the children.
2. Write a love note to Jesse.
3. Close on our rental property.
Personal Goals
4. Finish Erasing Hell by Francis Chan, Anything by Jennie Allen, Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola, and The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury.
5. Listen to one hour of Made to Stick.
6. Do 4 days’ worth of the Couch to 10K program.
Homemaking Goals
7. Follow the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home plan & blog about it.
8. Finish 25 more rows of the scarf I’m working on knitting… and maybe even finish the scarf? {Finally!}
9. Make at least two new recipes.
Business Goals
10. Fly to Arkansas to spend time with my friend Tricia Goyer and do some radio recordings with FamilyLife.
How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!
You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.
Making small changes over time…
Need encouragement to set goals, live with purpose, and cultivate self-discipline? Be sure to get a copy of my ebook, 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life.