The Wife at Home

A Time and A Place

2010-01-05T20:15:00.000-08:00

I don't talk in church anymore.

For the record when I refer to "talking in church", it is exclusive to theological discussions during church service or Sunday school.

Young Peasant Women Talking, Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Palazzo Pitti, Florence

Lately, I've begun noticing that my attention was being drawn away during service. Just little whispers or giggles made by fellow church members. I would look in their direction briefly, only to return my attention to the pastor realizing that I had missed what he had said.

I too, have been guilty of whispering to my daughter and husband during service. I realized how much of a distraction I must have been to others. When we are distracted we miss things.

Have you ever noticed that women, generally speaking, use more words then a man, to convey the same idea?

This is the exception not the rule...but generally speaking, we'd all have to agree that even in today's sitcoms, we see the exasperated looks of husbands toward wives when the wife gets to making a long winded point.

By no means am I saying that we ought to consider this just because it is the idea that has been perpertrated upon us in main stream media. Much rather we should take heed lest we stumble head first into to disobedience. Even the scriptures give us instructions on where it is appropriate to speak. (I Corinthians 14:34 KJV)

I listen to women in church who correct, debate and ultimately usurp the leadership of not only their own husbands, but also proceed to impose their theological prowess upon any other men in the discussion. Teaching a man is considered shameful and is clearly scripturally forbidden. (1 Tm 2:11-12 KJV and 1 Corinthians 14:35 KJV)

I personally have a natural tendency to talk. I consider myself well versed in scripture, literature and a variety of other topics. I am an avid reader and life long learner, however I want to use that knowledge at time when it is appropriate and edifying to the hearer.

Why is this important?

Words are so powerful. (Proverbs 18:21 KJV) For that reason, I have chosen to be very careful about how and when I use them. (Proverbs 17:27 KJV)

Do you want to read more good stuff like this? My good friend Mrs. Parunak wrote an interesting posts called "A Parable About Serving God in the Church" here's an excerpt;

God told men to be leaders in the Church and gave them shepherding and preaching roles. He gave women a lot to do as well. In 1 Timothy, in a discussion of the kind of widows the Church should care for, we get a picture of the life a godly woman should live.
…having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. –1 Timothy 5:9-10
We can find another assignment for women in Titus 2:3-5, where they’re commanded to teach younger women

…to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Click here to read the rest.

Saferbrand is Social Networking

2010-01-05T19:56:00.000-08:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Safer® brand. All opinions are 100% mine.

Saferbrand.com recently launched their Safer brand's facebook page. If you are an organic gardener or are interested in learning more about organic gardening, head on over and become a fan of Saferbrand.

Who is Saferbrand?

Saferbrand.com sells products that are designed to treat garden problems from and organic approach. I support this site because I grow my own vegetables in addition to the produce I purchase from the store. I also make my own compost and would never knowingly treat my gardens with a non organic pesticide. I am hoping to grow at least ninety percent of my families produce by 2011 and with a bigger garden I'll increase the number of hungry pest in my garden.

Growing my own vegetables comes with it's own set of problems such as infestations. Choosing the best products to spray and treat my gardens is important. I want a product that can live up to their name. This summer will quite possibly be my first experience with the companies product. My gardens suffer from Japanese Beatles. They can eat through a crop in no time. Saferbrand provides a lot of helpful information in their "Organic Gardening" resource section on how to deal with these pests.

Want to learn more?

If you want to learn more about strating a garden or caring for your existing garden visit Saferbrand.com or click the following link to learn more because Safer brand is officially on twitter.

Bonus

When you become a fan of Saferbrand on Facebook you'll score a coupon code for 25% off your total order.

The Protective Veil

2010-01-04T18:09:00.000-08:00

To my dearly beloved sisters, sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints through the will of God.

Grace and peace be unto you from our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I received a letter recently from brother Paul. It was originally addressed to the church of Corinth yet it has managed to make it's way through time and space into my hands.

In the 11th chapter and the 1st verse brother Paul began by telling me to follow him as he follow Christ, and I was overjoyed to hear that brother Paul was continuing steadfast in the Lord. I had read countless letters of his trials and triumphs in his writings to the Romans, the Galatians, the Ephesians, the Phillipians, the Colossians and the Thesselonians. I have read of his love for Our Lord and Savior and his diligence in spreading the gospel.

In Pauls letter he talked about a very specific way in shich I could demostrate honor to God and my huband by doing one simple thing. He admonoshed me to hold fast to the teacheings given to him by Christ in that a women must choose to wear a head covering as an outward demonstration of her inward commitment to accept of the order, headship, and the authority of God.

I admit that I stopped several times and reread Pauls letter to be sure of what I was reading. I analyzed his words over the last few months to dicern whether this was a matter of a message specifcally for the Corinthian women or for all women. I also needed to be clear on what Paul meant by headcovering. Some studies stated simply long hair while other argued a literal shawl or scarf for the head.

With much dilligent study and prayer for discernment, I have concluded that Paul meant that I should wear a physical scarf or shawl for my head as a symbol of my agreement with Gods given order and "chain of command. I have been covering my head for three month now and have become very comfortable.

If this is something that you are struggling with continue in prayer asking God for guidance.

I am a wife and mother...now what?

2009-12-22T17:59:00.000-08:00

I am blessed to have discovered God's plan for my life early on. Since I was a child I have always desired to be a wife and a mother. These descriptions don't fully characterize all of who I am but they can give you a general idea of what I was predestined to do in life.

What does it mean to be wife and mother based upon the Bible?

We are called to help our husbands (Gen 2:18) and our children (Titus 2:3-5; Deuteronomy 11:18-21; Proverbs 22:6 ) to fulfill the vision that God has for them and our family.

As a wife we are called by God to love, respect, and be faithful to our husbands (Ephesians 5:22,23; Titus 2:4,5).

As a wife and mother we are to model of godliness and do our best to meet the family’s needs (Titus 2:4,5; 1 Timothy 5:14; Proverbs 31:10-31).

We are to model purity in our dress, speech and behavior. We are to strive to possess a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:1-7).

We are commanded to manage her homes (Proverbs 31:27; Titus 2:5). We should also strive to cultivate a joy of doing so, by visiting websites of other homemakers and growing from the experiences that they share.

We should do our best to speak with wisdom, and demonstrate prudence (Proverbs 12:4; 31:26,27).

This is not an all encompassing list of what it means to be a wife and mother. There are many more biblical commandments and principles available throughout scripture to help us to familiarize ourselves with God's idea of a wife and mother.

All of the answers can be obtained through communication with your own husband, prayer and reading of the Bible.

My Mission Field

2009-12-16T04:13:00.001-08:00

The Old School Room 1895

Courtesy of Photoanswers.co.uk

People often suggest that I become a teacher as a result of either watching me educate my children or hearing me talk of our experiences.

I am flattered by their vote of confidence since teaching would have been my first career choice, had I not subscribed to spending my life as a wife and mother.

When people suggest that I become a teacher, I reply "I am a teacher".

I understand what they are implying when they use the word "teacher". They are suggesting that I obtain a degree from an accrediated college or university that would allow me to teach in a state run educational facility.

The thought has crossed my mind on several occasions, that maybe my talents would be better utilized teaching more than just my own children.

That would be true if my sole mission were to educate their minds. The intellectual educating of my children is secondary to teaching them the wisdom of God.

By starting our days with Bible reading and prayer, I am teaching them our relationship with Christ is not only a priority, but our most important relationship.

I could never teach that in a state run school.

If any of the members of our family have an internal disagreement or a family crisis within or outside of our family unit, we first encourage one another using scripture. Secondly, we endeavor to help each other get through personal struggles by listening, guiding and steering each other back to God's word. We are teach our children how to cultivate peace, patience and dependency upon God. (Proverbs 6:20-23)

I could never teach that in a state run school.

My daughters and sons are learning the importance of modesty in their speech, dress and actions. They are learning the importance of being humble rather than ostentatious. (Luke 14:7-11)

My daughters are learning to be women, wives and mothers. (Titus 2:3-5 & Proverbs 31:10-31) My sons are learning to be men, husbands and fathers. (Titus 1:6-8 & Proverbs 31:1-9) They are learning that differences between the responsibilities of a man and a women. They are accepting the responsibilities of their roles and learning to refine their skills as they mature.

This is my mission field. These are my students. I am their teacher. (Deuteronomy 11:18-20) I love what I do and I would not have it any other way. Teaching my children how to live lives that mirror the word of God, is my career. It is what I was made to do.

Teacher's deask in an old school room on the grounds of Henderson Hall just south of Williamstown, WV

Do I love other children? Yes. I love children, which is why my volunteer to work is with children. However, for this season of my life, I am called to the mission field of motherhood.

She Rises While it is Yet Night...

2009-11-30T12:39:00.000-08:00

1. Time to Pursue God: I get to spend quiet quality time alone with the Lord. I use this time to pray, read my bible, talk to the Lord and receive instruction and encouragement. After taking this time alone I feel calm and ready for the day.

2. Begin Dinner Prep: Getting a jump start on preparing for dinner makes dinner time so much more manageable when 5'oclock rolls around. I choose at least one thing that can be done from my dinner to-do's. If dry beans are on the menu, I let them soak overnight. This way all I do is drain off the water and pop them in the crock pot in the morning. I also defrost meat in the freezer overnight and season it in the morning. Making a habit of doing at least one thing in advance makes life easier at dinnertime.

3. Quiet Time to Plan your Day: Planning my day give me direction and a measurable set of goals. Having a plan allows me to manage my home and care for it effectively. I use this time to schedule not only my responsibilities, but to also organize skill building chores for my children.

4. Get Started on Home Keeping Tasks: I like to begin homemaking tasks early in the day, rather than cleaning in the evening when I could be resting and relaxing with my family. My husband once told me that as a stay at home wife, I was my own boss. He also said that if I am still working in the evening when the rest of the family is relaxing then I need to fire myself. Planning my day, getting started early and setting a quitting time helps me to keep a cheerful disposition.

5. Make Breakfast for my Family: When my children were younger I made their entire breakfast for them daily. Now that they are getting older, they each take part in preparing our breakfast meals. I am training them to manage the kitchen by guiding them and and instructing them on how to work together. Our children will remember the things that we do for them and with them. Meal preparation is a very important bonding time for our family.

6. Personal Grooming Time for Myself: This is one of the tasks that is beneficial to myself and my husband. Taking the time to get dressed, style my hair and put on makeup really makes my husband feel special. When I initially made a commitment to get dressed each day-- as if I were going to be leaving the house, my family would look at me strangely. They'd ask "Mommy are you going somewhere?".

They had gotten so accustomed to me wearing PJ's or sweatpants and uncombed hair that they were puzzled by the change. After some time, not only did they respond well to this change in my morning routine, but I began to feel better about myself. I would smile throughout the day when I would catch glimpses of myself in the mirror throughout the house.

These are just a few beneficial reasons for getting up a little earlier than the rest of the family.

Do you have a morning routine and what time does your day start? I'd love to hear what works at your house.

Pre-Thanksgiving Cooking

2009-11-24T12:44:00.000-08:00

Sweet Potatoes were .25¢ a pound are Walmart and Aldi, which is a fabulous price. It's the lowest price you'll find all year in my area. I bought about 30 or so pounds which will be cooked up and frozen to use throughout 2010.

In an effort to prevent feeling overwhelmed on Thanksgiving I pre-prep some of my dishes in advance. I know from experience that their is no obvious difference in taste if the sweet potato pie filling is made on Thanksgiving or a few days before. I did not have to cook dinner yesterday since we had leftover lasagna in the fridge, so I used this time to work on sweet potato's.

This is the filling for the pies.

All bagged up to bake on Wednesday night.

This is my candied yam casserole. It's smothered in butter, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, sweet milk, vanilla and concentrated orange juice. This will marinate and be baked on Thursday morning.

I hope that your holiday plans are coming along well.

Modestly Fashionable Clothing

2009-11-23T15:46:00.000-08:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Talbots. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was offered the opportunity to write about Talbots clothing line and I must say that I have been exposed to a line that I had not been familiar with. Talbots challenged me to share with my readers what I would buy with a $500 Talbots gift card.

The thing I enjoy most about reviewing companies is that I get to learn about product I would not have most likely found on my own. I had heard of Talbot before, but never considered it as a store that would suit my needs. I do not know where I acquired this notion, but when I visited the site I knew immediately that Talbot's was the store for me.

If you are looking to dress modestly and have been having a hard time locating fashionable skirts and dresses that would sit below the knee or longer Talbots may be the place to look.

I will be the first to say that Talbots is not inexpensive, by any stretch of the imagination. Their skirts range $34.99 - $189 each, however I am a firm believer in the saying " you get what you pay for". I don't shop often, but when I do I like to invest in quality pieces that will last a long time when properly cared for.

If I had a $500 Talbots gift card I would buy several foundation pieces upon which to build a stylish, classic, modest wardrobe.

$159

$69

$51.99

$61.99

$34.99

$159

I went a little bit over $500 by $36, but as you can see Talbots has some really fashionable long skirts. I spent about three hours just last week searching the web for knee length or longer skirts only to log off frustrated. Most of the sites were families, mostly Amish, who were selling hand made dresses with styles more closely related to the styles found on the show Little House on the Prairie. I want to dress modestly, but I don't want to sacrifice fashion. Talbots is just the resource to meet my needs.

To stay up to date with Talbots you can subscribe to their blog RedChairConfessions.com.

Mary or Martha?

2009-11-22T14:59:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season fast approaching some of you may be beginning to feel the pressure to make everything perfect before Thursday arrives. Let us bring to remembrance the lesson of Mary and Martha.

You know the story right? Mary and Martha have Jesus into their home. Martha fusses around making food and cleaning while Mary sits with the guests. Pretty soon Martha is upset with Mary and tells Jesus to tell Mary she had better get up and help.

How surprised was Martha when Jesus told her that Mary had chosen what was right.

In an effort to plan and host the perfect gathering this year, keep in mind what's improtant this holiday season. I will be sharing my home and food with my guests this season, but more importnatly I will remember to share my time.

Unwanted Holiday Guest

2009-11-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Victor® Rodent Control. All opinions are 100% mine.

As we prepare their homes for the holidays, we want to be sure to make presentable the things that our guest sees and perhaps the things they do not see. Some of us may have family coming in town to stay between now and Christmas, and if you have a bug or rodent problem, there is no better time than now to address the issue.

I do not have a rodent problem, but I can remember growing up in NYC and rodents being a part of everyday life. The purchase of snap traps, glue traps, mouse bait and pellets were a regular part of my family’s household maintenance expenses.

Just a week ago, I advised a friend on how to get rid of an annoying rodent he had at his place. I gave him some De-con which he place inside of a piece of bread rolled into a ball. He set the ball out before bed, hoping to rid himself of the problem. He awoke only to find the bread gone and the pellets sitting on the counter top.

After calling me back to say that the plan did not work, I advised him to crush the pellets into a fine powder and to mix them into to bread. He set the bait out again and headed off to bed. He awoke to find a dead rat a few feet from where he had set the bait.

Whether you have a bug or rodent problem this is the time to get a handle on it. The bad part about using a poisonous product like De-con is that it is not safe around pets and children. The other drawback is that you will need to dispose of the rodent carcass if it dies before making it out of your house.

I had never heard of ultrasonic rodent repellents before and came across a demo that explained how ultrasonic repellents work. The makers of Victor Pest products claim that the repellents emit high frequency sound waves designed to repel rodents from entering your home. The website a variety of repellent coverage ranges based upon the size of your home.

The main reason for rodent problems is due to homes that offer them food and shelter. Some tips on how to rodent proof your home found at Victorpest.com are…

Keep your house clean. This especially includes the areas that you cannot see such as under the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher.

Put away food. Do not leave any food or water out over night. If you have, pets be sure to clean out their dishes each night before bed. If you have a pantry, consider repackage certain items in plastic or metal containers.

A Good Thing

2009-11-15T11:19:00.000-08:00

"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord. "

Proverbs 18:22

We, at times forget how much our husbands need us. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our children, our home, our blogs and life in general that we forget to get around to being his "help meet".

We often have good intentions when we fill our days with this and that. We may even believe that if our calendars are filled with activities and our to-do lists are a mile long that we are being good wives.

However, it is just the opposite. A good wife is sensitive to her husbands needs above everyone else's. She is concerned even to the point of clearing her schedule when he needs her, if possible. She purposely schedules time in her day for her husband.

She does not put her children’s desires, requests or agenda before her husbands. Fear not ladies, your children will no that they are loved and cared for even if they don’t receive 100% of your energy and attention. A godly husband will never put himself before his children.

When we place our husbands as a major priority in our lives we are teaching our children biblical family order. A good wife seeks to please her husband and adhere to her husbands wishes above all other earthly beings.(Ephesians 5:22-24)

One of the major drawbacks of neglecting to make our husbands a priority, is withdrawal. How many times have we all mis-prioritized and found that our husbands had withdrawn from us? They sought us but we were too busy. (Song of Solomon 5:2-6) They needed us, yet we were not there.

Because they are so strong, we forget how much my husbands need us. Because they rarely, if ever cry, we forget that they are vulnerable.

In an effort to be that “good thing’’ referred to in Proverbs 18:22; let us make a conscience effort to make our spouses a priority this week.

My Marriage, My Idol

2009-10-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

To my dearly beloved fellow sisters in Christ,

One of the biggest strains that I have ever placed on my marriage was the unspoken demand for my husband to be my Lord and savior. It wasn't something that I verbalized, but it was an unattainable, internal standard that I had set for him.

I expected my husband to be perfect and without fault. With this expectation came disappointment and bitterness. When the Bible alluded to the husband being "like Christ" in regards to his relationship to his wife, I took this to mean perfect.

I expected the PERFECT CHRISTIAN HUSBAND.

I charged him with filling the needs and completing tasks that only the Lord could. I expected my husband to know how I was feeling even when I was to hurt and stubborn to verbalize.

I expected him to know what to do to make me happy. I wanted him to meet all of my needs. I demanded that he figure out what it required to make me feel secure.

This kind of thinking began to take a severe toll on the strength of my marriage. It was not until I realized that I had set up an idol. This idol was a detailed mental list of the type of husband God wanted for me. This list transformed from the type of husband God wanted for me into the type of husband I demanded that I have.

I had built an image of my husband, based upon every righteous aspect of the scripture, and then turned it into an idol of worship. If ever my husband did not meet the standards I had formulated, I would become frustrated, resentful and bitter. This showed up in my speech, behavior and attitude.

It wasn't until God began to show me how far away I was from being a Proverbs 31 or Titus 2 mentor that I finally humbled myself.

It amazes me how easily something good can turn bad when we get our hands on it. Needless to say, that I stopped demanding that my husband be perfect and begun the work of allowing God to perfect me. Not only have I grown in the process, but God has molded my husband into the perfect man for me.

I no longer worship who he could be, but I accept and encourage my husband for who he his and where he is. I let God's grace handle the rest.

If you have a husband that you believe is coming up short, be prayerful, focus on the Lord and encourage your husband often. Ask God to help you focus on your husbands goodness. Allow God to use you to be the helpmeet he needs to become the man God predestined him to be.

May the Lord greatly bless you with the reading of these words.

FOCUS ON THE CROSS

2009-09-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

Everything that you are going through right now is bringing you closer to the foot of the cross.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: I Peter 4:12

Christ is not dead!

He hears your prayers...

He sees your tears...

He knows your pain...

He understands your struggle...

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

HE IS YOUR ANSWER!

Take your eyes off of your problems and Focus On The Cross. Be encouraged as you go about your week. God cares for the things that concern you. Psalm 138:8

A Time to Pray

2009-09-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Luke 18:1 "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"

Luke 21:36 "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

I have found that key to dealing with difficulties within the home is through continual prayer. Whether it be the immaturity of our children that can sometimes frustrate us or the challenges of marriage, we should always utilize the gift of prayer in order to see the situation from the correct perspective.

Romans 1:9 "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers"

Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints..."

Praying is something that can and should be practiced at all times. It may seem a daunting task but, contrary to popular belief, is very easy to accomplish.

Philippians 1:4 "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy..."

Colossians 1:3 "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you..."

I learned a little trick that helps me to pray at all times. While folding my families clothes, I will pray for each family member as I come to their article of clothing. I say just a short sentence or two regarding their needs, struggles or anything the Holy Spirit leads me to pray.

Colossians 4:12 "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

1 Thessalonians 1:2 "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers..."

I do the same thing while reviewing my daily to do list. As I assign and review each of their daily tasks I say a quick pray concerning each family member.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power..."

Philemon 1:4 "I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers..."

This can also be carried out while making plates for meals or while dressing a child or fixing their hair. You can pray for them while you are tidying their room or returning one of their books or toys to it's proper place.

If you are seeking more time to pray for your family begin to look for all of the opportunities that are available and take advantage of them.

With Your Whole Heart

2009-08-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

I am often amazed and yet saddened by some of the comments I hear so called believers make. I do not intend to stand in judgment of any ones walk of faith. We all must "work out our on salvation with fear and trembling". Each of us must determine what we will believe and in who we will place our trust.

The question of whether or not we believed that we trusted God with our whole heart was presented myself and a group of believers. Out of the group of 20 or so I was the only one to eagerly answer "I do!"

It felt awkward to look around and see my classmates ponder the question as if they had only considered the question for the first time at that very moment.

It had seemed all to obvious an answer to me...but what if it weren't obvious?

How do you know if you trust God with your whole heart?

Trusting God means relying on His integrity, strength, ability, commandments and promises.

When things go right in your life do you give God the praise?

When things go wrong in your life do you seek Gods direction?

Before you make decisions do you commune with the Lord?

Are you focused on pleasing God above all else?

All of these and many more are indications of a person who trusts God with their whole heart. Trusting the Lord with your whole heart is not determined by finding the difference between the number of times that you have listened to the Lord and the number of times that you didn't.

Trusting the Lord with your whole heart is making a decision to follow the Lord no matter what.

While you are trusting the Lord you will still mess up and make wrong decisions. You will think you heard God say do this and you did that. Nevertheless, continue to trust Him. Be strong and courageous and TRUST HIM. Be bold in your faith. Stand fast upon his word and TRUST HIM.

Be encouraged!

Taking the Leap

2009-08-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of Blogger.com and many of the other free sites available. I have been using blogger for over two years now. However, I realize that in order for my two blogs to have the capability to offer my readers the functionality that I am looking for, I will need to switch to a website hosting company.

Some hosting companies offer very basic services such as standard web hosting where you don't get any technical help, and others offer everything from web design to dedicated server hosting.

I really do not know much about the html. and template codes so I will need a reliable host to be able to offer easy to use templates at a reasonable price. There are many site who offer referrals to some of the best web hosting services but I really like the functionality of WebHostingGeeks.com

The list that the site provides is very informative. Each of the listings include information such as the name of the host company, their ranking and pricing. I never expected for my blog to become a resource for information but now that it is I'd like to make sure that the information is stored somewhere other than blogger and my hard drive.

Many of the pricing plans are very reasonable. Prices range from $1.99 up to $12.95 for web hosting. These are price ranges for hosts who were ranked in the top ten. I would like to merge this blog with A Proverbs Wife sometime down the line, but in order to do so I will need much more functionality that what is offered for FREE through blogger.

I am prayerfully considering the direction that God wants to take both of my blogs and patiently waiting to see how it all come together in a final package.

The Christian Wife

2009-08-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

She has a responsibility...

To Submit to Her Husbands Authority

Ephesians 5:22
Colossians 3:18

**This includes unsaved or unbelieving husbands

I Peter 3:1

To love her husband

Titus 2:4

Submission is not...

...obedience like a child obeys a parent.

I Peter 3:7~ Dwell with your wife with understanding, grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of Jesus Christ.

The way that the husband treats the wife is how he treats himself, because they are one in the eyes of God through marriage.
Gen 2:23-24

...is not something to be feared.

A man of God has a responsibility to love his wife the way that he loves himself which includes his actions toward her.
Ephesians 5:28-29

...is not her losing her personality or uniqueness in place of her husbands.

Submission is...

...supporting your husband by accepting his leadership.

...seeking to listen to his direction concerning the family and direction for the family.
I Peter 3:6

...assisting him in carrying out the vision for the family.

...becoming his "helpmeet". Genesis 2:18

Condiment Coupon

2009-08-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

The next time I go shopping I am going to look for NAKANO Seasoned Rice Vinegar on the condiment isle.

My family has recently become non-meat eaters and are slowly transitioning to removing animal based dairy products from our diets as well. As we do so, I found that we are eating more salads, grains and pastas. With the lack of meat I have had to become more creative in my seasoning techniques.

I've recently purchased Terryaki and Tamari sauce to use in Asian recipes and was very pleased with the flavor. I am excited about trying NAKANO Seasoned Rice Vinegar on some salad recipes I have planned for the future.

To learn more about the NAKANO brand of products visit their site. While you are there you can also sign up for the Splash Recipe Club after which you will receive a FREE recipe booklet, coupons and more. While you are waiting to receive your coupons in the mail, print a coupon to save $1 off Nakano Rice Wine Vinegar.

This is a great coupon especially for those of us who are trying to eat healthy. Many companies are now recognizing that and are offering discount coupons as an incentive to buy their products. The coupon is good until 12/2009.

Return Unto the Lord

2009-08-14T03:12:00.000-07:00

In a misguided quest to be the perfect wife and mother, we have become blindsided to the true purpose of our calling. We are called to demonstrate a Christ-likeness in our behavior and speech.

Our ability to be perfect is unrealistic and unobtainable.

We cannot be perfect but we can be loving, kind, patient, faithful and obedient to God. What do people see in you?

Do they see you as loving, honest, patient and forgiving person? Do they see fairness in your stern judgment?

Perhaps they see hypocrisy and bitterness.

Are we demostrating a true image of who Christ is? In order to be a true example of Christ we must have a true relationship with God. Our end goal cannot be worldly ideals of perfection.

A true relationship begins with time spent daily in the presence of the Lord. Our relationship with God is unlike any other we will ever experience. We need to spend time with God to become better people. There is no other relationship that is able to refresh, strengthen, direct and encourage us like our relationship with God.

We can seek these benefits in our relationships with our spouses, or in the hours on the phone with our friends. We can imagine that we have grasped those benefits of time spent with God, in the time we spend staring into the eyes of our infant children. However, what we get from these experiences can never replace what we gain from time spent with God.

What are we seeking when we spend time with HIM?

1~Knowledge of who He is
2~Knowledge of who we are
3~Understanding of the purpose and plan for our life
4~A mirror in which to view our actions and thoughts
5~Direction for discipling our children

I remember when I used to nag my husband about not reading any books other than the Bible. I would read Christian self help books, devotionals, study guides and commentaries. I would read novels, literature, historical fiction and non-fiction alike. I thought that due to his lack of literary knowledge that my husband would grow old and not know a thing about the world.

But oh..that God was so mindful of me to bless me with such a wonderful and wise husband. I have come full circle only to learn that if there were only one book that I could have in the world, it would be my bible.

The holy text holds the answers to everything that we need. Therefore we must spend daily quiet time in Gods word. We must carry on a continual conversation with God.

It’s o.k. to talk to God while you do your homekeeping or while you are at work. We must store His word in our hearts by meditating on scripture. Finally, we must put away they busyness that keeps us from pursuing a relationship with God.

If you were to ask my children what is the most important relationship in my life they will tell you that “nobody comes before God”. There should be nothing more important than your time with God. It has to be a priority. I could never be an example of Christ without spending time with God.

No amount of time spent with God will make me a perfect Christian. What the time does do, is grants me to humbleness of mind to admit when I have sinned and fallen short of Gods glory. It reminds me that I am not my children’s Lord and savior. It reminds me that I am a joint heir to the throne of Christ with my children. It reminds me of my desperate need for a relationship with the Lord.

Make a commitment today to renew your relationship with Christ. Take the steps needed to clear your plate and re-prioritize your focus. Desire not be perfect but to be HIS.

HOPE is in the LORD

2009-08-11T12:02:00.001-07:00

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Psalm 42:5

Do you know that the joy of the Lord can be your strength? Do you not recognize the power that comes from unfettered obedience to God?

He desires that we flourish, yet we sit trapped in the bondage of despair and depression. We fail to see the hope in dire situations because we have taken our eyes off of Him.

What is it that sets us apart from the unbelievers, but our hope that the fact that God's words are true. Why do we give up when the storms of life come, Knowing that "If God be for me, who an be against me?"

The storms are for your good. Do you not know that we ought to glory in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations bring about patience?

So how then should we react during the storms?

1~Stand firm on the word of the Lord knowing that everything that He has promised you shall come to pass. (Hebrews 10:23)

2~Continue to surround ourselves with other strong believers that will encourage us to think and to do good during this time.
(Hebrews 10:24-25)

3~Continue in prayer for strength and obedience during this storm.

4~Maintain a joyful countenance and mind frame. (James 1:2)

Do not despair when troubles come. Don't believe that you are the only one going through what you're going through. Trust God and know that he has already worked the situation out for your good. Take your eyes off the circumstance and place it on the only true solution which is God.

Children...A Gift from the Lord

2009-08-06T16:16:00.000-07:00

As a mother I have a responsibility to teach my children to love the Lord with all of their heart, mind, body and soul. This love cannot be forced, but must be allowed be accepted willingly.

God does not force himself upon us and has given us the free will to decide whom we will serve.

In order for me to help my children choose wisely, I have to show them a true representation of who God is. There are a few things that we must remember when leading our children to the Lord.

We cannot make them follow God with their hearts. Just because our children follow our family rules whether they be our preferred way of doing things or our Biblical rules, we must endeavor that they learn to be obedient out of love.

They must see that our relationship with God is a priority.
They must see that spending time with God is of the utmost importance to us. Our children should know that we pray for them and their father. They must know where mother gets her strength, hope, peace and joy. Teach them that your relationship with God comes first, then husband, children, home and then the church (friends). Teach them that when the relationship with God is balanced all the rest will balance out as well.

Teach them to overcome the sin in their lives. Are we holy on Sunday and hellish Monday-Saturday? I am not referring to striving daily to grasp the patience to mother calmly and lovingly. What I am referring to is the evil that can fester in our hearts and minds. The thoughts of bitterness and anger towards our children can be seen in the way that we speak to them and interact with them.

In order to overcome the challenges of parenting we must be an open book. This takes humility, prayer and repentance. Do not be afraid to share with your children how much you need their help. Tell them how much it helps you when they, for example...do their chores the first time they are asked.

Let them know that you are working on the Fruit of the Spirit "patience". Tell them how they can help you. Ask them to pray that anger be taken far from you each morning. To hear a child pray for the salvation of mother is such a humbling sound. I have overheard my own children pray for me many times. I have been brought to tears over the sincerity of their desire that I be holy and acceptable in the sight of God.

We cannot be hypocrites. We cannot fool our children no matter how we try. They know who we are when we take off our public face. We cannot be a hypocrites, for if we do we will run the risk of misrepresenting God to our children. We must be the light of the world for our children. We must strive not to put on a show for friends, but should endeavor to be our best for our children. Let us restructure our loyalties. Let us concern ourselves more with the face that we put on for our children first and our face for other believers will follow suit. Let our behavior at home be that of which we profess to believe.

No one of us will ever be perfect, but we can seek the will of God in our daily lives that He may perfect those things in us which are imperfect.

She Does Him Good...

2009-07-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

I have found that society has done no justice in teaching women how to properly care for her husband. Some of our mothers, grandmothers and aunts may have not done a superb job of it either. However, I'd like to try and shed a little light on the subject of caring for the delicate needs of our men.

If your husband is anything like mine, he is a provider and protector. He the strong. He is courageous and he is always willing to shield his family from the storms of life.

He is everything we want in a husband, but do you know what his vulnerability is?...

YOU!

Our husbands are quite vulnerable to us as wives. We have the POWER to keep him or push him away. We have the POWER to build him up or tear him down.We can use that ability to make him better or to make him worse.

The POWER of our words can cause our husbands to want to cleave or to leave. If we are the argumentative type that always has to have our way, then you will surely drive him away. He may not be gone today but with each argument, you will slowly wear away at the bond that holds you together.

Foolish Wife~ Proverbs 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

Wise Wife~ Proverbs 31: 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

The POWER of our behavior can cause our husbands to trust or distrust us. Are we honest and upfront about what we spend out if the family budget? Are we honest about what we do with our time? Do we hide things from our husbands or lie to them? This includes what some call little lies like sneaking an ingredient into a meal that he said he does not like?

Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

It does not matter if he knows or not. When our children watch us do things that go against our husbands wishes we are teaching them that it's o.k. to disregard authority as long as you don't get caught. Dishonesty destroys bonds. How can you be made ruler over the greater tasks when you cannot be faithful with the little tasks?

Proverbs 31:10-12 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

The Power of our appearance can influence or husbands to be better men of God. Our husbands are very much influenced by our carnal; appearance but I want to bring to light a more eternal appearance. Let us put on the apparel of obedience to our husbands.

We must choose to put this on each day. It is not a once and for all choice for most of us, but it is none the less...a choice. It is one that is made out of love and a willingness to yield to the will of God.

A husband can be encouraged in his personal walk with Christ to see his wife put on the characteristics of holiness, mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience and forgiveness in our interactions with him and your children.

We all have areas where we are still learning and growing in Christ. Let us encourage one another towards excellence through the word of God.

Proverbs 24:3-4 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

What Do I Do Before the Storm?

2009-07-21T04:02:00.000-07:00

Facing the storms of life can be one of the hard, yet they have the potential to empower us. In order for us to become successful at exiting the storms with our faith still intact, we must train during the times when we are experiencing peace in our lives.

Make it a habit to read the Bible daily. Find a time during the day or night that you can devote to reading a minimum of one chapter of the Bible each day. The word of God is a weapon and not reading the Bible leaves you defenseless.

Meditate on Gods word daily through memorization of scripture. Choose verses of the Bible that encourage you and think on them daily. If you are bold enough write them on your bathroom mirror and windows throughout your home. Use a dry erase marker which can easily be wiped clean. Imagine being able to meditate on His word while you wash your face and brush your teeth. How much more peace would you have reading his word on the window above the kitchen sink? If you store His word in your heart during times of peace, they will be easier to recall during life's trials.

Learn how to pray with power and faith. To obtain prayer that brings about resolution you must have faith in God. Your faith must lie in the belief that God is able to do what He promises in His holy scripture. You must also pray the will of God and not your own expectation. God will not operate outside of His will. In order to pray the will of God, you must have a relationship with God. This relationship is developed by reading the Bible, meditating on scripture, being obedient to the word and praying for an outcome that glorifies God. You must pray for Gods will even when the outcome is one that you do not desire.

Pray constantly and consistently. Prayer is not just for bedtime. Satan is banking on you not praying. He is hoping that you look at prayer as a redundant chore rather than an ongoing conversation with God. Please do not be fooled. It is Gods desire that we communicate with Him all of the time.

If you have been struggling in any of these areas pray and ask the Lord to remove those things that are drawing your attention away from Him. Make your desire to rekindle the relationship known to Him. God loves you and is waiting for you to come back to Him.

Your Labor is not in Vain

2009-07-20T02:29:00.000-07:00

I sometimes find myself cringing at that messages that I believe God sometimes asks me to convey. For one I, like most people, on some level fear rejection and persecution. However, the fear does not run deep enough for me to refuse to be God's messenger.

Not only does the thought of rejection and persecution make me apprehensive but, so does the feeling of not being worthy. Nobody knows more clearly than oneself all of the sinful and reproachable things that they've done yet to still have God look at you and say "You are the one that I have chosen" is beyond comprehension.

Paul says it like this "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and HIS grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain...I Corinthians 15:9-10"

My spirit was burdened this evening with the thought of how passive we have become as believers. We have become passive in regards to Gods standards. We have brushed aside many fundamental Biblical principles by labeling them "Old Testament Legalism". We have strayed so far from the will of God that we have the audacity to scowl at God's word whenever it infringes on our acceptable status quo.

For instance, why do some "Christian" women become defensive when the word submission is spoken aloud? Is this not a biblical principle found all throughout scripture?

And why do some "Christians" give you the death stare at the mention of Halloween being a holiday that does not glorify God. I've had some "Christians" try to convince me of how they are not celebrating Halloween but, that they are celebrating "All Hallows Day" or "All Holy Day". Nothing I've seen in the way that "Christians" celebrate Halloween differs from the way in which unbelievers celebrate Halloween.

What if an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven and told you that the reverencing of the "day of the dead" is repulsive to God, would your family fore go Halloween this October?

We, as believers, have formed some habits over the years which I will refer to as "worldly customs". These habits have become so normal for us that we are not even disturbed by there existence.

I flipped through the channels this evening and landed on the J.K. Rowling's special. The reporter stated that the first three Harry Potter movies grossed somewhere around 4 billion dollars. I silently wondered how many "Christian" dollars were included in that number.

The reporter then went on talk about the hours of research that went into choosing the spells, sorcery and witchcraft material included in the books and movies. I hear some "Christians" talk of how they must get the latest book for their children and I wonder if they've overlooked the fundamental biblical principle that says:

"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.There shall not be found am long you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer". Deuteronomy 18:9-11 (KJV)

"When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in a fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead". Deuteronomy 18:9-11 (NIV)

We must get past the lure of worldly pleasures and get back to the "Good Works" of God. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies...of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-20(KJV)

We are in a dangerous place as believers when we read the word of God and not be compelled to conform to it. This is an indication that we have accepted the ways of the world as normal. Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

That good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God is what I desire, so much so that I am willing to die for it I Cor 15:31. I mean that both physically and spiritually. I pray that I don't have to experience a physical death for my faith however, I do understand that in order for me to grow and change into the image of Christ that I must die spiritually.

If you are upset by what I have written and refuse to change, don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger. The word of God is what it is. I will tell you that, I am not concerned with your hurt feelings. I am more concerned with your salvation.

God has given us the power to be victorious over the sin in our lives. If you realize that there are some habits that you have picked up that do not glorify God, begin by telling HIM that you have messed up. Next, tell him that you want to do better and that you need HIS help. Finally, implement and accountability partner. It could be your spouse, a friend or family member. You will need to surround yourself with support and encouragement.

This subject matter may be a touchy one for many believers and unbelievers alike. You may not all agree with what I have written however, this is my blog and if what I write is offensive to you in anyway feel free to disagree in the privacy of your own home.

I am not open to any confrontational comments or debates. I will not participate in vain disputes over faith. Either you agree or you don't. I will on the contrary, address civilized questions and or comments.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Children...Mama's Helper's

2009-07-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

When our children were younger I devoted countless hours to their care and comfort. I attended to their cries and was readily available to shower them with attention.

As they grow older they learn to care for themselves more and more. My children range in age from 5-15 are able to operate the mechanics of our home short of the financial aspects.

From the first time that I see my children demonstrate a desire to take responsibility for themselves and their surroundings, I've taken advantage of that desire.

I have always raised my children as though I may not be around tomorrow.

I cultivate a desire in my children to be responsible for their property and areas.

I teach them how to make basic meals for them selves. The (2) younger children should know how to pour drinks, set a table setting and prepare a simple snack like crackers and peanut butter. They are taught to clean up after eating. The older children learn to prepare side items for meals and then the main courses.

The benefit of allowing children to take responsibility for the day to day operation of their home life gives them a sense of responsibility. The best part is that it gives mom a reprieve from caring for the basic needs of the entire family.

Spiritual Warfare

2009-07-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 9:26-27

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

This is a passage of scripture intended to encourage warriors. Oh...did you not know that a warrior is one of your duties as a woman of God?

Yes, you are a warrior...one who is willing and able to do battle. However "we fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places".-Ephesians 6:11-12

In other words our battle is against satan. Satan wants to steal your hope, your joy, your peace and your salvation amongst many other blessings given to you of God.

Not only does satan desire to take from you, he also wants to destroy you, but God in His infinite wisdom has already made a way of escape. -Luke 22:31-32, I Corinthians 10:13

Paul uses the phrase "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection" as a way of describing rigorous training and discipling of the flesh. The spirit can be willing yet the body weak which is why we must study the word of God daily. In order for us to win any battle in our lives we must be prepared for spiritual warfare. The only way to be prepared is to be equipped with the word of God.

One of the most powerful weapons a women of God can posses is faith in HIS word. When satan tries to burden you down with financial woes, speak the word of God. As a result your outlook on the situation should improve. If it does not than you must consider whether or not you believe that God is able to perfrom. When we speak God's word in our circumstances we allow God to fight our battles.

That is the result of faith in God's word. Arguing with your spouse over troubles is not going to defeat satan. Choosing discord as a response to trouble gives satan the victory over your life. You must learn to speak the word of God into your life until it becomes alive.

God's word is a living word and it has the power to overcome any trial.

Ornaments of Meekness and Quietness

2009-07-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

I Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Have you ever found yourself doing the very thing you vowed you didn't want to do anymore?

You said you wouldn't fuss at your children any more. You said that you'd be more submissive and less argumentative towards your husband from now on.

All would go well...for a while and before you knew it you were back to yelling and rebelling.

You desire to have a meek and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4) yet somehow the ability to perform it eludes you.

Why is it that no matter how many times we vow that these are the characteristics we desire do they still evade us?

When we yell at at our children and argue with our husbands it is not good for us or for our families. It causes everyone physical, mental and emotional damage.

It is not so much the raised voice when speaking to our children, or the fact that we may disagree with our husbands that is the problem. Calling a child in a loud voice from one end of the house to come and clean his room is not damaging to his metal and emotional health. Telling your husband your opinion regarding a pressing decision is not what causes cracks in the foundation of your marriage.

The yelling and rebellion that cause the damages are the one motivated by frustration, irritation, disdain and malice.

When we go beyond sharing our opinion in a situation to nagging we begin to wear away at our husbands focus and ability to lead.

When we use yelling as a form of discipline we begin to tear down the fibers of our children's metal and spiritual health. We require that our children show self control yet we lose control of ourselves with every shriek and shrill.

We are the rebellious and riotous ones. (Exodus 4:1, 16:2, I Sam 15:23, I Cor.. 6:10). This behavior that displease the Lord.

How do we begin to become better......?

10 Tips for Biblical Womanhood

2009-06-18T02:41:00.000-07:00

1~ Love God with a passion and show it. It should not be a mystery that you have a love relationship with God.

2~ Love your husband and show it. Encourage him and use your talents to help him be his best. A strong women is not described by how little she makes her husband look. A strong women is described by her ability to use what talents God has given her to make her family unit a success.

3~Make your home a priority. Work towards making home a haven for every family member. Keep the natural order of the family in focus God, husband (marriage) and then children.

4~Respect and consider your children. Encourage them to do and be their best. Raise them up to make God the primary focus of their lives.

5~Learn to communicate. Start by talking less and listening more.

6~Teach your children life principles such as integrity, money management, academic excellence, self confidence, self control and dependence on God.

7~Learn to do right--James 4:17 "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

8~Be a friend.

9~Win your children's friends for Christ--encourage them to choose good friends and allow those friends to spend time with your family. (I Corinthians 15:33)

10~Learn wisdom--Pray and study scripture

Just Enough

2009-06-16T00:36:00.000-07:00

I am not the kind of Home Maker that sits at home watching daytime television while the laundry goes undone. Dinner is always made and served around 5'ish, and the kitchen and common areas are spotless by 7'ish.

I am quite sure that it's the same way at your house or some similar resemblance of an organized home.

However in the midst of keeping my home running like a well oiled ship, I have noticed that some areas have fallen by the wayside.

One thing in particular that seems to often get placed on the back burner is ME.

Now, please don't jump to any conclusions. I am not about to advocate a girls weekend away at the spa for some pampering. Nor am I going to indulge in the idea of a week long woman's retreat to get me pumped up and back on track.

What I am talking about is something much simpler.

I have noticed that I haven't been going that extra mile in caring for myself as much as I normally would. Some days I am just TOO TIRED to wash my hair, put on make-up or shave my legs.

None of these things are done everyday, but if I am in a crunch for time or energy, I am quite sure that something from my pampering routine will be neglected.

Are these things going to place an emotional strain on my marriage? I quite sure they won't. I do however believe that once we stop doing something long enough, it becomes normal.

I don't desire for unshaven legs, disheveled hair and chipped nail polish to become the norm. Often something such as a week of caring for a sick child will throw me off of my beauty regimen. This is quite understandable. And so, I shaved my legs, applied my make-up, washed and styled my hair and put on my lotions and perfumes.

Guess what???...

He noticed!! My husband noticed...He is such a sweet man.

He rubbed my legs while we watched a movie and all of a sudden he asked, "Did you shave your legs?".

I answered "Yes", and he continued to stroke my smooth legs.

I am so looking forward to my beauty routine tomorrow.

You can read about my daily facial routine here.

Tour of my Home Making Binder

2009-06-15T05:19:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make a video but still have not been able to get it to upload. I have instead created a pictorial tour of my HMB.

Section #1: Schedules

The first page of my coupon binder can be found here. I use both sheets found on page (2).

I slip the pages inside of a clear sheet protector and write on them with a dry erase marker. Each morning I date the sheet and begin filling in the days menu and home~keeping tasks.

The sheet has (3) section dedicated to Morning, Afternoon and Evening routines. There is space to write in the meals and boxes to check off the tasks as they are done. The thing that I love about this sheet is that it has the very same verse that I quote to myself and my children when we are having a tough morning.

Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

The sheets wipe off easily every night and is ready to be filled in the next morning.

The next sheet in my HMB is a calendar. I have a few throughout my binder. This one is the easiest to access.

The next page is my workout schedule at the YMCA. I have the monthly schedule and I've highlighted the classes that I'd take for each day.

Section #2: Home-Making

This is a reference guide of our daily tasks. It has everything listed here that needs to be done each day. This sheet was downloaded and edited using the Donna Young, Housework Document

Here is a closer view of the sheet. These are the basic tasks that should be completed each day. Things such as making beds, brushing teeth and tidying rooms. This sheet does not include community chores.

This sheet works especially good if I am not at home, my husband can just refer to this sheet to have a quick reference guide of my expectations.

Next I have the weekly at a glance schedule.

Here is a close up.

In the center of this form is our monthly home-making chores at a glance.

And just beneath are the quarterly tasks such as winterizing the lawn, washing the house sorting and donating clothes, etc.

Sometimes my children will forget that they are supposed to be working and not playing during chore time. I use the next few sheets with biblical reminders of the importance of diligent workers.

Here is one that teaches Godly attitude toward parents.

and here's one that promotes peace at home with family and siblings.

These can all be found at doorpost.com, however these sheets are no longer FREE. They do have a great sheet for mothers that is FREE and a Courtship Checklist if you are in that stage of life with your children.

The next page is a handwritten documentation of what I mean when I say "Go and do your kitchen chores". Everyone's standard is different as to what they consider as a job well done. I have written a specific out line of what a clean kitchen looks like according to mom's standard.

I wrote this sheet after hearing one too many "Well it looks clean to me" from my children.

Below is a handwritten checklist that the children can refer to anytime they'd like to go and play. If its a Saturday morning I'll ask "Did you do your morning chores?" . They can quickly refer to this page to answer the question as to whether or not they can play the X-box. If they see that they have not done a chore then they will go do the chore and then get permission to play.

Section #3: School

I keep awards, statewide test scores, report cards, weekly schedules and doctor's excuses in the section. I have a page with the contact info of all of the children's classmates and teachers. I have a school calendar in this section. I also have each of the children's class schedules in here. If I need to pick them up fro school I'll know exactly where they are supposed to be.

When I am homeschooling this section is used for my children's lesson plans/ I use page (2) of the fullpagedaily.

Section #4: Menu

There was a time when I would make menus every week. I began keeping those menus to use as a spring board for future menus. Whenever I am making my weekly menu I just refer back to old menus and pick meals from them. I have about 15 pages worth of meal ideas. Just like the one below.

In the front of my menu section is a Food Storage cheat sheet. I use this to determine the shelf life and freezer life of any food. I found this at Publix last year on the publication rack.

I write my weekly menu in here on a sheet protector and erase it at the end of the week.

I also keep a copy of the Hillbilly Housewife $45 Menu and the $75 menu in my binder just in case. Proverbs 31 states "she has no fear of the snow for her household is covered in scarlet".

I am very resourceful a have learned to hope for the best and plan for the worst.

Below is a daily kitchen work sheet that helps you to prepare the kitchen the day before for the following day. This sheet accompanies the menus above. I have used the same idea to stay on top of meals in my kitchen.

In the menu section you'll also find a pantry checklist.

This section helps me stay on top of activities the children are involved in at church.

The final section is for household rules and rule for living. Below is the fist from in the rules section. It covers a general outline for our lives according to the King James Bible.

I hope that you are able to grasp a general idea of how helpful a Home Making Binder can be to managing a home and family.

This post is proudly shared at Kelli's place.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-06-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

This is my menu for the week which can be found in my Homemaking Binder.

Monday

Beef Stew with diced potatoes & carrots
Steamed rice
Corned Bread

Tuesday

Fried Pork Chops, Steamed Rice and Spinach

Wednesday

BBQ Meatloaf, Steamed Rice & Fried corn

Thursday

Chicken Enchiladas, Red beans and Rice

Friday

Tacos & Salad

Saturday

Sloppy Joes or Chicken Quesadillas

Sunday

Pork Tenderloin, steamed rice, gravy, green beans and cornbread

Enduring the Struggle

2009-06-07T10:11:00.000-07:00

Job 2:10...Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

How do you react when life deals you an ugly hand? Do you pout? Do you blame others? How about God?...Do you find yourself asking God how could you do this TO ME?

How many times have we thought to ourselves...why do "I" have to go through this? Or why couldn't "I" do such and such? When we focus on ourselves in the midst of our struggles we lose site of the bigger picture. Focusing on "I" can mean the difference in us becoming bitter as a result of our circumstances instead of better.

We believe that we know what's best for us. We forget that His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are His ways are ways (Isaiah 55:8).

So how should we respond to struggle in a way that brings Glory to the Lord. Let us look at Luke 22:41-43

"And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him."

Jesus was drawn away from where he was and from who he was with- There will be some situations in which spouse, family, friends and neighbors won't be able to help.

Jesus kneeled down- Kneeling is an indication of humility and submission. Certain situations undeniable bring into perspective our limitations. Jesus demonstrated His respect and reverence for God's authority over His life by kneeling before Him.

Jesus prayed-Jesus wanted God to consider a Plan B of sorts. Jesus asked God to reconsider His plan, however Christ was confident that God had his best interest at heart. Jesus knew what God had told Jeremiah "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." When we rely on God's word we can pray knowing that He will answer. We can rest assured that God has a good plan for our lives even if it does not appear to be so during our struggle.

Knowing how God felt about him and what God desired for his future allowed Jesus to resign himself to God's plan even if He may not have completely wanted to endure it. Have you resigned yourself to God's plan for your life? Have you said to God in the midst of your struggle "Nevertheless, not my will but thy will be done"

Once Jesus surrendered to God's will concerning his fate, He received a supernatural strength. Supernatural strength can be described as "being enabled , endowed or equipped to achieve, endure or accomplish something that one would not have under any other circumstances be able to achieve, endure or accomplish." God gives us the power to overcome our situations and emerge victoriously.

This is the glory and power of God that is upon our lives. We don't have to be prisoners of circumstance. God has already made a way for us to escape. (I Cor. 101-13)

Summer Routine

2009-06-04T01:42:00.000-07:00

As a mother of four children ranging in age from 5 to 15 years old, I find it beneficial to construct a daily schedule for my children. Having a written out daily routine gives the children direction, goals and responsibilities.

Morning Routine

Bathroom- This is mostly a reminder for my 5 year old.
Make Beds
Tidy Bedroom

BREAKFAST

Kitchen Chores
Hygiene- Brush teeth, Wash face, Groom hair, Moisturize skin

Family Devotional Time- Click Here for the Elementary Lessons I use. My 15 year old rotates between Beth Moore's "Beloved Disciple" Bible Study Workbook and Heart Connex

Cartoons/Indoor Activities-~XBox, ~Card Games, ~Board Games, etc.

Outdoors (group activities)- YMCA, FREE Bowling, Backyard Play

(2) School Subject- Math & English (including Literature & Language Arts)
Monday-Spelling Words 5x's ea., Tuesday-Sentences, Wednesday- Reading Comprehension, Thursday-Reading Comprehension, Friday-Handwriting/Narrations

My children believe that summer should resemble one continuous day at Disney World, but in the real world Daddy still has to go to work and Mommy still needs to care for the home.

LUNCH

Weekly/Daily Jobs
Kitchen Chores

(1) School Subject- History

Free Reading
Quiet Time/Naps
Dinner Helpers
Outside

Having a daily routine helps keep the children busy doing productive things to help around the house. It allows me to incorporate their skills and talents into my daily routine.

DINNER

Kitchen Clean-up
Showers/Brush Teeth

Bible Reading- Proverbs/Psalms reading plan

T.V time- Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy
Prayer
Bedtime 8:30 PM for younger children...9 PM for older children

A schedule allows me to carve out time to teach each child new skills and work with them to improve others. I am looking forward to a peaceful and productive summer.

Are you Vashti or Esther?

2009-05-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

As I walked the track at the YMCA with a friend the subject of Jon and Kate came up. "Jon and Kate plus 8" isn't a show that either of us have watched more than once or twice, however the details of their rocky marriage have been revisited night after night on prime time news and entertainment television.

I remember the things that stood out for me when watching the two episodes of the show. The first was how Kate spoke to Jon in a condescending tone regarding what she viewed as his faults. The other was when Jon was slapped across the cheek by Kate after making a comment that she didn't like.

I decided then and there that this show would not get my ratings.

Is this what we now consider entertainment? I find no humor in a wife degrading her husband on national television or in privacy of ones own home. I am not here to judge Kate, however what I am here to do is shine a light on God's perfect plan for our lives.

I am not here to debate whether or not a husband deserved a wife's respect. I only intend to reiterate Gods perfect will for the marriage covenant. One commandment concerning my marriage covenant states "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." Ephesians 5:33

God did not make any loopholes for me such as reverencing my husband only when he loves me as he loves himself. He gave my husband a commandment and he gave me a commandment. I am accountable for upholding it to the best of my ability and where I fall short, God's grace will be sufficient.

God has designed two distinct roles for my husband and I. He did not make us the same nor did he call us to operate in the same office. God has endowed me everything I need to fulfill my purpose in the marriage relationship.

One of my callings as a wife is to willingly submit to my husbands leadership, which includes him having ruler ship over me.

^Genesis3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

At one point in time I viewed this in such a negative light that I was a rebellious wife. I was irreverent and conducted myself in a way that did not glorify God. I was a wife like Vashti. You remember Vashti, the wife who refused to come to her husband when he called, resulting in his public embarrassment.

I am not Vashti. I do not have thousands of women who look up to me in my kingdom, but I do have two daughters who are watching me. They are observing how I interact with their father. They are looking to me to see how I deal with someone in authority over me. I have a responsibility to^{Titus 2:3}demonstrate behavior that is holy....being a teacher of good things. I am to teach my daughters to ^{Titus 2:4} love their husbands....^{Titus 2:5}To be discreet, chaste...good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. I am to show them ^{Titus 2:7} a pattern of good works which includes ^{Titus 2:8}Sound speech, that cannot be condemned.

As fellow believers in the body of Christ we are living examples of who Christ is and if we neglect to consider the impact that our behavior has on those around us than we will never truly be able to understand God's master plan for our lives. My marriage is not about just meeting my needs, it is my opportunity to demonstrate Gods perfect relationship between Him, Christ and the church.

God has a perfect order of authority for His Kingdom and for my family.
^{Ephesians 5: 22} Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

^{Ephesians 5:23}For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

^{Ephesians 5:24} Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

So, what shall I do when I disagree with my husband. I must choose to submit. God has reminded me so many times when I have wanted to rebel. He always whispers ever so softly to me "You chose this man as your husband. You prayed for me to bless this marriage covenant".

When wives do not revere our husbands we run the risk of hurting the entire family unit.

In the book of Esther, queen Vashti refused to come when her husband called...^{Ester 1:16} And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.^{Ester 1:17}For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.^{Ester 1:18} Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

^{Ester 1:19}If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

^{Ester 1:20}And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

It is not entertaining for me to watch an irreverent wife. I don't find it humorous for a wife to chastise, belittle or over talk her husband. ^{Proverbs 18:22}Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Let us be mindful of what we consider entertaining. Guard your hearts and minds against the little foxes that try to creep in and spoil your vineyards. A virtuous women is not one who wears the proverbial pants in the marriage.

^{Proverb 12:4}"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband" the one who wears the pants is the one that "maketh ashamed and is as rottenness in his bones."

One-Income Living

2009-05-26T03:12:00.000-07:00

One of the key factors in successfully living on one income is to learn to live below your means. Doing this may be easier said than done, however I will share some tips that have helped my husband and I along the way.

1. Reduce all of your discretionary spending until you no longer need to spend the families second income. This statement speaks for it's self in saying that anything not essential to living may be the culprit in shifting from a two income family to a one income family.

2. Begin reallocating one income to an investment or savings account. It is wise to begin building an emergency fund reserve as a safe guard for the unexpected expenses that will arise.

3. Keep track of everything you spend. You will be on a tighter budget than what you may be used to. In order to maintain the new budget you must remain transparent and accountable to one another concerning where the money is going.

4. Communicate your financial goals regularly. Be sure to focus on the positive reasons for transitioning to a one income family. There may be some financial tension initially. You are both implementing a new habit, therefore, this is the time when you should cut one another the most slack. Stay positive and encourage each other.

5. Reward yourselves for achieving each financial goal. Discuss some possible rewards for achieving your financial milestones. My family gave up vacations for three years. Once we met our goal of staying below budget for 1 year, we rewarded ourselves by taking the family to Orlando.

You may be considering becoming a one income family or may already be a one income family. Whatever your situation is remember to be patient with yourself and your spouse. This could be one of the best decisions that you make but also a very challenging one.

Memorial Day Outdoors

2009-05-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

Today was a convenient day the write a mosquito magnet review. There was enough heat in the earlier part of the day and then enough rain later in the day.

The southeast has been plagued with rain for the past week. The wet land in the south lends itself to the perfect mosquito breeding conditions. My biggest concern with the large concentration of mosquito's in this area are the chances of contracting the West Nile virus. I have tried using bug repellents and bug lights, but I have not had much success at spending an afternoon outdoor mosquito free.

I don't know if I am ultra sensitive, but one bite from a mosquito is enough to keep me up at night. The littlest contact with the stung area causes me to go into a fit of scratching that leaves the area burning.

I have heard about products like the "Mosquito Magnet" which is designed to trap thousands of mosquito's throughout the summer months. But are products like these worth their weight in gold?

Mosquitos are definitely on my list of things that spoil a summer day. I would love for you to share ideas on how you deal with mosquito's?

Bathroom Cleaning

2009-05-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

I was asked a question regarding my bathroom cleaning routine a while ago that I did not get a chance to answer. The question was, "Do you deep clean your bathroom everyday?"

I'd like to make it clear that my home is not always in tip top shape. Nor do I spend my days wiping and tidying. If you stop by at the wrong day of the week you may find clothes sitting in a basket waiting to be folded from 2 days ago.

I do however have a set cleaning routine that helps me stay on track with keeping my home neat and clean. I also have a general routine that I follow after returning from a vacation, after a couple of days of attending to a sick child or any situation that takes me away fro my normal homemaking routine.

I don't deep clean my bathroom everyday. I do however disinfect something in my bathroom almost everyday. I am able to do this very easily and it's almost as quick as pouring a glass of water.

I keep small homemade cleaning clothes, cut from a large beach towel that was stained, under the bathroom sinks in my home. I also keep a spray bottle filled with 80%/20% mix of Lysol and water under there as well.

Whenever I get the urge, I just spray one item in my bathroom and wipe it off. I try to remember what I wiped last but, sometimes I just look around for visible dirt. I look for signs like food stained hand prints or the layer of lint that settles on the toilet bowl tank from our bath towels.

On the days when I don't see any visible dirt, I spray the toilet bowl and swish.

I choose to clean frequently because I don't like to wait until I see evidence of human life in my bathroom. I don't like to see yellow stains on my toilet or floors, nor do I like brown circles under the toilet seat. I don't like toothpaste splatter on the bathroom mirror and I definitely don't like a bathroom that reeks.

If you like a clean bathroom and don't want to hire a maid you'll need to come up with a bathroom cleaning routine that works for you. I would love for you to share some of your tips for keeping your bathroom clean.

Overcoming Debt Together

2009-05-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

My husband and I began getting serious about being debt free in 2007. We've paid off our vehicle and only have the mortgage left to pay.

It has been a lot of work digging ourselves out of debt but it was all worth it. We are so thankful to our friends and family who supported us through the years of us declining the dinner engagements, date night invitations and request to vacation together. We refrained from those things and others today, so that we could secure financial freedom for tomorrow.

Here are few tips that have helped us stay the course to becoming debt free.

1. Have a plan for paying down debt. Whether you choose to follow the principles of Dave Ramsey or any other financial guru, be sure to have a clear cut destination in which you will have arrived after all of the hard work and sacrifice.

2. Don't pay anyone to become debt free. I cringe when I hear that people tell me that they've paid X amount of $$ for some company to help them reduce their debts. You can do what you are paying these companies to do. Get on the phone and begin negotiating a payoff.

3. Fight through the pain of self deprivation. I order to pay down debt you'll either need the make more money or spend less. If you cannot make more or the more that you make still is not enough, then you will have to get used to doing without.

Doing without what?...You must do without anything that is not a necessary element to living. We reduced our spending to the bare minimum. For us the cable, landlines, luxury items and vacations were the first to go. The hardest to let go was the little things like picking up a bucket of $5 ice-cream every week.

4. Make a vow not to argue about money. You must support each other through any bad money decisions. It was bad money decisions that got you into this predicament and they don't stop just because you decide to become debt free. It takes time to change bad habits and learn new ones. So when he/she accidentally overdraws the account and it throws everything off track...fight the urge to blame. Be the support that your spouse needs to build up the courage to break free of the grips of debt.

Becoming debt free is hard work but not impossible to achieve. Be prayerful and seek the Lord for guidance in your situation.

She looketh well the the ways of her home and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:27

6 Changes That Will Save You Money

2009-04-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

Eliminate one item from your expenses~

Some of you may say "I can't cut back in any other areas of my spending". My reply to is "You must". There are no if and or buts about it. There is at least one thin in your budget that is not a need but a want and it has to go in order for you to survive what we may possibly be in store for economically.

Reduce current expenses~

Look for ways to get what you need cheaper than what you are currently paying. Ask for deals, look for deals and invest time in creating deals for yourself.

Utilize coupons and free after rebate offers~

Rite-Aid offers free after rebate items just about every week. If you focus solely on buying free after rebate items that you can use this is just another way that you can stretch your budget dollars.

Cook from scratch~

I cannot emphasize this point enough. Cooking form scratch was one of the first things that I began doing to reduce our budget. Not has it allowed us to reduce our budget from $550 per month to $300 per month, we also feel so much more healthier and energized in our daily lives.

Make it yourself~

In addition to cooking form scratch you can begin by identifying one item that you could make at home, such as laundry detergent or dishwasher detergent. You could make clay for your children versus buying it.

DIY (Do-it-Yourself)

Before paying for repairs do some research to see if you could possibly make the repair yourself. There are many resources that can be accessed free at your library and on the internet.

Toddler Learning Time: Dolphins

2009-03-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

Today I watched an awesome video with my son. We used the video as part of our home school learning time. The animal that we chose for this week is the dolphin. We talked about where they live. We also talked about what they eat. In addition, we learned about an interesting phenomenon happening with the dolphins at Sea World.

The Sea World aquarium exhibit featuring the dolphins has been transformed into something ground breaking. The dolphins have begun doing the most amazing thing. We watched them in action through the YouTube link but I am thinking how amazing this would be to see it in person.

We already have plans to travel to Orlando in April and this might be the perfect attraction to add to our itinerary. I have never been to Sea World and am really interested in aquatic animals.

The exhibit is called dolphin bubbles and a video can be accessed by following any of the links in this post.

This is a very short video and it's the perfect length for a toddler. It is a great resource to incorporate into home school learning. My son was amazed that the dolphins were able to blow bubbles.

Coupon Workshops

2009-03-23T07:04:00.001-07:00

Spaces are limited and seats fill up fast. Once all tickets are exhausted this page will be updated stating Registration Closed under the event.

March

Workshop: Grocery 101 & CVS 101
Date-Saturday March 21, 2009
Place-My Home (Closed to the Public)
Time-10am-12pm
Registration Closed

Workshop: Grocery 101
Date-Wednesday March 25, 2009
Place- Columbia's First Church if the Nazarene
Time-6:30-8:00pm
Registration Closed

April

Workshop: CVS 101
Date-Wednesday April 1, 2009
Place- Columbia's First Church if the Nazarene
Time-6:30-8:00pm
Registration Closed

Workshop: Grocery 101 & CVS 101
Date-Saturday April 11, 2009
Place-My Home (Closed to the Public)
Time-10am-12pm
Register Here (must have password)

Workshop: Grocery 101
Date-Wednesday April 15, 2009
Place- Columbia's First Church if the Nazarene
Time-6:30-8:00pm
Register Here

Workshop: CVS 101
Date-Wednesday April 22, 2009
Place- Columbia's First Church if the Nazarene
Time-6:30-8:00pm
Register Here

Coupon Workshops

2009-03-23T07:04:00.000-07:00

Spaces are limited and seats fill up fast. Once all tickets are exhausted this page will be updated stating Registration Closed under the event.

March

Workshop: Grocery 101 & CVS 101
Date-Saturday March 21, 2009
Place-My Home (Closed to the Public)
Time-10am-12pm
Registration Closed

Workshop: Grocery 101
Date-Wednesday March 25, 2009
Place- Columbia's First Church if the Nazarene
Time-6:30-8:00pm
Register Here

April

Workshop: CVS 101
Date-Wednesday April 1, 2009
Place- Columbia's First Church if the Nazarene
Time-6:30-8:00pm
Register Here

Workshop: Grocery 101 & CVS 101
Date-Saturday April 11, 2009
Place-My Home (Closed to the Public)
Time-10am-12pm
Register Here (must have password)

Workshop: Grocery 101
Date-Wednesday April 15, 2009
Place- Columbia's First Church if the Nazarene
Time-6:30-8:00pm
Registration Not Open Yet

Workshop: CVS 101
Date-Wednesday April 22, 2009
Place- Columbia's First Church if the Nazarene
Time-6:30-8:00pm
Register Here
Registration Not Open Yet

Organic Tomato Gardening

2009-03-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

I was really excited to see that the weather had warmed up and it got me to thinking what a great day to start preparing the garden beds. So I grabbed my gardening gear and headed out doors.

We started by lining the garden beds with newspaper and hosing it down to keep it in place. Then we raked up most of the pine needles and used them to mulch and cover the newspaper.

While pulling some weeds, I managed to get ants onto my glove just in time for my hair to begin tickling the back of my neck. Next thing I know is that I have ants crawling down my back biting me.

That was the end of gardening for the day. Later this week I will continue by pulling up old tomato plant shoot. I'll need to purchase a few organic tomato growing kit products such as the Tomato and Vegetable Insect killer. I had a time last year pulling off the caterpillars and shooing away the daddy long legs.

I'll also need to get some new stakes like the "Stake it Easy" tomato support system offered by Safer products. I tend to choose organic resources in my garden to prevent contaminating my environment or my fruits and vegetables with harsh chemicals.

Combining the Safer products with some make-at-home solutions is a inexpensive way to
grow your garden the healthy inexpensive way.

To-Do-Today

2009-03-18T04:55:00.000-07:00

I have a busy day today and I really can't afford not to complete my To-Do's.

Call the church secretary regarding using a room for April's coupon workshop (ME)
Vaccum all carpeting (ALL KIDS)
Sweep the laundry room (ME)
Sweep the kitchen (5 year old)
Sweep the lower level stairs (15 year old)
Sweep the deck (5 year old)
Quick wipe kitchen floor (15 & 5 year olds)
Clean MB toilet (ME)
Schedule remaining parent teacher conferences (ME)
Cook dinner (ME & 15 year old)
Relax 15 year olds hair (ME)
Wash and Style my hair (ME)
Wash a load of laundry (ME)
Dry a load of laundry (ME)
Fold laundry (6 & 5 year olds)
Put away laundry (6 & 5 year olds)

There you have it. I need to get all of this done before 5:00 pm. This evening we are taking the children to Chuck E. Cheeses to celebrate the end of the district quiz year. Next we are on to regional quizing in Atlanta and World Quizing in Orlando. As you can see I have a full day today. If you get a break in your day be sure to dop me a comment.

Safer Pest Control Solutions

2009-03-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

Anyone who gardens even a tiny bit knows that with a garden comes bugs. Since I began gardening two years ago, I have run across bugs that I never knew existed. There are the bugs that love to eat your tomato's and ones that eat away at the leaves in my flower bed, leaving behind an unsightly mess.

I have tried many homemade solutions like planting garlic in the garden as a repellent. This did repel some bugs but also invited others.

We are currently looking into some comericial option such as the Safer brand of products which claims that it's organic bug patrol kills over 40 insects.

My goal is not to kill every insect in my garden. I do however, want to rid my garden of bugs that come to destroy the all of the fruits of my labor. When I wake up to see my basil plant has been eaten while I slept I get really aggravated.

The reason that I use organic pest control in my garden is because I am concerned about what I spray on or around my vegetables. The products that I choose to use in my garden will be absorbed into the soil and eventually into my food. I try to make wise choices concerning my family which includes choosing the safest products to use in my garden.

This Week

2009-03-14T13:39:00.001-07:00

I am really enjoying my daughters first semester using the online public school available in our state. She has transitioned well from homeschool, and is maintaining all A's.

In addition, I am anxiously waiting for the school year to end so that I can homeschool my three youngest children who are currently attending a brick and mortar public school.

Our family has been abundantly blessed this year to keep food on our table and our bills paid on time despite my husbands income decrease.

This week I am looking forward to hosting a coupon workshop for some of my friends. It has really been stressful trying to encourage people to participate. I know the benefits of couponing and would love to share it with as many people as possible.

Finally, it is gardening season at my house again. Time to plant the seeds and prepare for a beautiful garden full of veggies and flowers.

I'd love for you to share something that you are looking forward to this week.

Getting Your Own Domain

2009-03-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

I have been contemplating whether or not to become a dot com. I've asked for the advice and expertise of some of the bloggers that have gone from free web hosting to fee based web hosting and they have assured me that it is very easy.

I stumbled across a site that rates web hosting sites all in one location. The site has a comprehensive list of web host including pricing. They also include some good information that will help me to make a more informed choice.

If you are looking to begin a website or blog be sure to check the link in this post.

YouData.com

2009-03-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

Each month on my "Monthly Earnings", post I list ways that I make money working from home. I have found some very creative ways to be rewarded monetarily that do not take away from my role as wife and mom.

I have been using YouData for several months now and have been paid by them every Friday. YouData is by far one of the easiest ways to earn money. YouData income is not enough by itself to pay a bill, but it very sufficient in covering the out-of-pocket cost from my CVS trips.

With You Data there are no surveys to complete or product reviews to write. They simply recommend websites that they think you'd like to visit. For each site that you visit you will be compensated. You can stay on the site for one second or for one hour. It does not matter, you will be compensated for visiting.

The recommended sites are selected based upon your preferences. I have visited some very nice sites that I have archived in my favorites.

Signing up with YouData is really easy and so is getting paid. Use anyone of the links here and you will taken directly to the sign-up page where you can register for FREE.

Baby Shower Gifts

2009-03-06T04:30:00.000-08:00

When Threadsmith.com asked me to write a review for their website I jumped at the opportunity. They are a newly fromed company and have already made an impact in the baby product reatil market due to their custom embroidered products.

They have some of the cutest things that would make great personalized baby gifts for a babyshower.

However, they don't just stop there. They also monogram fleece shirts, t-shirts and button down shirts. If my Coupon Workshop's become succesful, I will definitaly consider getting some personalized shirts made to wear when I am shopping or teaching classes.

Guest Post: Frugality Without Fretting

2009-03-06T04:26:00.000-08:00

Who isn’t inspired by the Proverbs 31 woman? She is the personification, first, of faith and, second, of hard work and frugality. Because she manages the family’s resources so well, her husband confidently takes his place as a community leader (vs. 23), her children are well-taught (vs. 25) and well cared for (vs. 21), the servants in her home benefit (vs. 15), and she even has enough to give to the poor and needy (vs. 20).

If we set out to be excellent wives after her example, we will be frugal without being fretful. This is a big lesson for me. Frugality does not come naturally to me, and I can become insecure in my efforts to improve.

By contrast, the Proverbs 31 woman sets her hope fully in the Lord (vs. 30). I can’t picture her being caught up in insecurity or worry. Can you? Her prudence and her industry proceed from a heart of faith.

Today, many people are anxious about money. Some families have experienced layoffs. Others have watched their homes decline in value or have labored under heavy mortgages. Others are doing well right now, but daily hear some bit of alarming financial news.

This year, we’d all do well to take a two-pronged approach to the management of our household’s assets. We need to 1) replace any temptation to worry with trust and 2) adapt our frugality to changing economic conditions.

Regarding the first prong, here are 5 reasons not to fret over finances:

1) Yes, earthly treasures are uncertain. This is true even in times of prosperity. Yet, the Lord invites us to place our hearts and our real treasures in heaven. We can rest secure that heavenly treasures will never be destroyed. Matthew 6: 19-24.

2) Our worth and our security are not measured by the abundance of our possessions. Luke 12:15. God, and not the size of our bank account, is the sure foundation for our times. Isaiah 33:6

3) If we are generous and give freely, God will take care of us. Luke 6:38

4) Blessings come when we seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first in our lives. Matthew 6:30-33

5) God knows our needs. Matthew 6:32.

Our second prong is good stewardship of the Lord’s money. We must be wise in adapting to the current situation. Here are five things we can do along that line:

1) Evaluate carefully the cost and quality of products and services. 2009 is a whole new ballgame as far as these things are concerned. Some goods will become better deals than they were last year, while others will increase in cost and/or decline in quality.

2) Establish a six-month supply of non-perishable goods. Work this into your budget one item or so a week. This stash will come in handy in the event of a financial emergency.

3) Jump on the do-it-yourself bandwagon, if you haven’t already. In order to cut costs, many women are taking up the old-fashioned arts of homemaking again. Now’s the time to save money by creative home keeping.

4) Remember, our country has survived many economic crises and will likely do so again. Perhaps, our nation’s troubles will be short-lived; perhaps they will last for a decade; perhaps -- though it is unlikely – the U.S. economy will never recover. Whatever happens, the best thing we can all do is to stay calm, to work prudently toward our financial goals, and to place our security in the Lord and not in wealth.

About the author Elizabeth @ A Merry Rose: Blooming as Keeper of my Home

I adore being a wife to my dear hubby, as well as a mother to two grown children and their wonderful spouses. I have loved reading and story-telling ever since childhood. In college, I majored in Journalism and minored in French and English literature. Since then, I have been a part-time freelance magazine writer and public relations writer. I also dabble in fiction, and I won an award for a novel proposal. I look forward to growing as a disciple of the Lord and as a keeper of my home.

Getting Ready for Spring

2009-03-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

The spring is one of my favorite seasons. It is the season when curb appeal is most important to me. The spring is when the bulbs and plants from the previous years begin to peek out from below the mulch to remind us of their former glory.

During the month of March I will be tending to my returning buds, and making minor repairs to the outside of my home. The screws on the exterior shutters will be tightened or replaced. The house will need pressure washing. The trim will get a touch of paint and the flower beds re-mulched.

The grass will probably get it's first weed treatment and a quick edging application this month. I will be sharing pictures soon of some of my maintenance.

Are there any traditional things you do to add curb appeal to your home? I'd love for you to share.

I AM SOULED OUT

2009-03-02T03:30:00.000-08:00

I watched Friday's episode of Oprah and I was struck by the hope shared by those who had proclaimed that it was their faith in God that had brought them this far.

I am often drawn to learining more about how people deal with lifes challenges. What I have learned in my own challenges is that there is no place that I'd rather be than with Jesus in times of trouble.

It is not what we do in the good times but what we do when times are hard. The question I pose today is "Are you souled (sold) out for Jesus?"

Has your faith wained in response to these tough economic times or has it strengthened?

Is God still your resting place? Is He is still your strong tower? Are your eyes fixed on Him or on the economic crises?

Some may reply to my questions saying, "It's easy for you to be joyful in these times you don't have to deal with...(insert your own excuse here)".

I have a list of excuses too...like my husband lost his full time job the end of January and is busting his butt working two part-time jobs. Or I could tell you that our only vehicle has over 450,000 mile on it and is in desperate need of repair.

Nevertheless, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For (Christ's) sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter....(however) in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

Put your trust in God and say to Him "O God, my heart is fixed...", as King David did in Psalm 108:1

Know, trust and believe that God is concerned for you.

Gardening with Children

2009-03-02T03:25:00.000-08:00

The children are really looking forward to this years gardening season, so to kick it off I will be using today’s snow day to let them plant vegetable seeds.

I enjoy the fact that my children have a desire to garden and have come to grasp the notion of how veggies get from the seed to the dinner table which makes the opportunity to talk about a environmentally conscious company Safer Brand all the more important.

My children are very comfortable in the garden. They will jump at the opportunity to eat ripe fruits and vegetables immediately from the branch or vine. Which is why using the safest products around my plants is important. Keeping my children safe is one of the benefits of organic gardening.

We make our own compost and use bio-degradable resources for our choice of mulch. The children enjoy laying down layers of newspaper and pine needles in the spring. We want our plants to grow big and strong and that takes keeping away insects and enriching the soil. We have made many insect repellents and fertilizers using basic household ingredients, but for those who don’t have the time many organic products are available to meet your gardening needs.

Safer Brands has a wide selection of pesticides such as organic bug control. Having any type of garden will attract it’s fair share of bugs. In order to keep children safe from ingesting harmful chemicals, choosing organic alternatives in the garden is always a wise choice.

Showing my children that I not only want to keep them safe, but also the environment is a habit that will cultivate in them a sense of environmental responsibility.

I am looking forward to sharing our gardening experience with you throughout this year.

I AM A WIFE

2009-02-28T02:22:00.000-08:00

I enjoy being my husbands wife and I wouldn't have it any other way. When I accepted his hand in marriage, it was not a decision that I took lightly. I was very apprehensive in accepting because I did not believe that I knew what it took to be a wife of Godly character. I wanted to be more than just a title.

I wanted to understand and emulate what God believed a wife should be when He said in Genesis 2:18 "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him".

When I read that passage I felt a great responsibility to become something and someone that my husband needed. I am the first to admit that we started our relationship on rocky terms and I certainly did not believe that I was anywhere close to being a suitable "help meet" for my husband.

I believed that with time that I could become mature enough to be what he needed but I did not feel that I was "ready yet".

Oh...but God...in His infinite wisdom, had placed us under the direction and counsel of an awesome man and women of God who, when I had expressed to them my concern regarding my preparedness for marriage they replied, "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing... " Proverbs 18:22.

They asked me where I had gotten the notion that was not already "a wife". Their understanding of Proverbs 18:22 was that when a man finds the women that he wants to spend the rest of his life with he knows it and she is already what he needs.

"And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man, and Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman", because she was taken out of Man." Gen. 2:22-23

Song of Solomon 6:3 says it so eloquently... "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine..." What an awesome love story God has written for our lives.

If you believe that have wained a bit in your love and commitment to your spouse why not commit your marriage to the Lord today. Admit that you tried to take the reigns and that you've failed miserably. Begin to study all that the Bible says about LOVE, HUSBANDS & WIVES. Pray daily that God will restore again the oneness of your marriage covenant.

The Independent vs. The Dependant Wife

2009-02-25T01:53:00.000-08:00

The Independent Wife...

:: may feel that she must earn her own income in order to prove that she is a vital contributor to the marriage

:: would never dream of sharing one family vehicle with her spouse

:: does not ask her husbands permission before making financial decisions or purchases

:: shows disrespect to her husband in front of her children and/or her friends

:: feels the need to prove to herself and or others that she doesn't need or want a man to do anything for her

The Dependant Wife...

:: understands that what her husband earns is her income as well as his

:: admires the fact that her husband schedules his life accordingly in order to make time to take her to run errands

:: honors Gods divine order for the family by seeking direct from her husband regarding spending

:: reveres her husband. She edifies and elevates him through her speech and her actions

:: desires and expects her husband to do for her those things that are strenuous, difficult or just plain undesirable

Not Just Diet and Excercise

2009-02-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

Being in shape today is defined by a number of things. It is also obtained in a number of ways.

You have some who simply diet to stay in shape. Then you have some that exclusively exercise. You also have those who do a combination of the two including taking supplements such as hydroxycut, protein, creatine, weight gainer, muscle milk or other health supplements.

Supplements are meant to be used as a tool to help the body be it's best. If you are looking into using supplements be sure to research, research and then research some more.

My husband and I both take supplements and have for many years now. They are a normal part of our daily intake and overall health regimen. Used correctly they can help your body to operate at it's peak performance.

Spaghetti for Dinner

2009-02-17T17:38:00.000-08:00

Let start with the sides.

Cheese filled crescent rolls.

For dessert walnut and double chocolate brownies

My spaghetti sauce must begin with beautiful spinach form the garden....

Just kidding...frozen is fine

Toss about a cup of frozen spinach into the blender.

Next, one jar of spaghetti sauce.

Yummy

Now add 1 tablespoonful of ....

and 1 can of....

You can add you favorite seasoning here. I like to add garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Sometimes crushed red pepper or Parmesan cheese.

Using a 1 cup measure...

get some of this...yes the pasta cooking liquid and pour it in the blender. Set an additinal cup aside.

Pre-cooked ground meat already cooked as part as my freezer cooking routine makes this meal a super time saver.
(more about that at a later date)
Reheat

Blend everything on puree or low setting.

I like to still be able to identify the spinach. When I first began making this sauce I would puree until the spinach turend the sauce green. Either way taste great.

Drain the noodles. Add the meat noodles and sauce to a large pot. Mix well and serve. You could also omit the mixing of the meat, pasta and sauce and simply serve the sauce over the meat and noodles.

Served with bread and dessert.
The perfect kids meal without the toy.

Great Glasses for Less

2009-02-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

Zenni Optical comes highly recommended not only by me but also by the New York Times for their amazingly low prices on eyeglasses. Zenni Optical has cornered the market on helping families find affordable prescription eyeglasses.

Zenni Optical has a wide variety of frames to choose from. They have so many styles a colors that you are bound to find many pairs to love. Zenni Optical sells prescription eyeglasses starting at $8.00 a pair. They offer a wide variety of children and adult lenses. You can choose from many frame upgrades such as titanium, steel, memory titanium and aluminum. They also offer rimless, half rimmed and full rimmed fames.

How is Zenni able to offer eyeglasses as low as $8 a pair?

Zenni Optical sells directly to the customer which eliminates the need to pay a middle man. They make it possible for the uninsured, underinsured and the average American to afford eyeglasses.

What does a pair of $8 prescription eyeglasses look like?

I'm glad you asked. An $8 pair of prescription eyeglasses at Zenni Optical look just like a $58 or $108 pair of prescription glasses at any other eyeglass retailer.

These glasses are no different form the ones that you'd normally buy except in savings. You won't find a better deal on lenses anywhere else.

Thank Goodness It's Friday

2009-02-06T04:48:00.000-08:00

The term TGIF was started in the United States, and has become a common expression of relief at the end of the work week. The acronym carries with it an anticipation of relaxation or rejuvenation over the weekend.

The phrase is also also associated with the promise of freedom from work and the liberty to play. For me there will be no playing this weekend just relaxing and rejuvenation.

My husband has lost one of his A.M. work routes and has resorted to working later into the night at his part-time job. Although he tells me to go to bed, I wait up for him to get in from work. I just can't seem to allow myself to sleep until he returns home.

I am an early bird in terms of bedtimes, therefore I must implement tactics to keep myself awake until he arrives. I do things such as use the computer, organize coupons and drink caffeinated tea. All this in an effort to allow his face to be the last image I see before I close my eyes.

I don't know...I'm just sentimental like that. Some would call me a "sentimental fool", which indicates that one is influenced more by emotion than reason; acting from feeling rather than from practical motives.

This description fits me to the tee. It is more practical for me to go to bed at a reasonable time so that I am not waking up tired and ending my weeks exhausted. Logically this is the wise thing to do...now if only I'd do it.

Starting Monday I will return to my normal bedtime. It will be better for me and for my family, seeing as though no one enjoys a grumpy, sleep deprived wife or mother.

Everyone, please enjoy your weekend.

Incorperating Game Time in Learning

2009-02-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

My newest favorite website is MEGA Brands Kids Zone. This site gets a thumbs up for variety and graphics. The games are simple to play and the website is easy to navigate.

The games are based on the Mega brand toys, with names such as King Arthur, Struxx and Neo Shifters. My favorite game happens to me "Legend of King Arthur" which takes you through different realms of King Arthur's kingdom. You must fight battles in order to gain shields.

The controls are designed for young players ages four through eight years old. What makes this site great as well is the "Family Fun" tab. Under this tab you can search for activities by type, category and age group.

As a home school mom to elementary students, I am often at a loss for good educational games. Resources such as this one is invaluable in keeping a fresh variety in our home school curriculum.

Each activity under the activity finder tab comes with a printable sheet that tells you a theme for the activity as well as the values being taught. In addition, there is a easy to follow step by step guide included with each activity.

One of my favorite is the activity for age group 3-5 which is called "How Tall Are You?" In this particular game, you have your toddler stack blocks until they reach his or her height. My son and I have played that game many times.

If you are looking for fun, educational site for your children ages 3-9, I would higly recommend that you visit the Mega Brands Kid Zone.

A Day in the Life Of...

2009-02-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

We are five days into February and if you haven’t done so yet, begin purging any expired coupons form your coupon organizers. The key to not becoming overwhelmed with couponi-ing is to schedule a time for coupon maintenance just as you would any other homemaking task.

Today is my day to volunteer in my 1st graders class therefore, I will be away from my computer for most of the morning. When I return it will be time to start dinner and begin morning chores. I am looking forward to working with my 9th grader on some of her school subjects. She is already doing an outstanding job of setting up her own learning schedule.

I would love to hear about what’s going on in your day, so leave me a message.

School Dayz

2009-02-04T03:36:00.001-08:00

I am so...ready for the school year to end. I am counting down the days until my two middle children are back at home for their education.

They wanted to go to public school this year, and we allowed them to do so, however; they are very desirous to be back at home.

My 15 year old is really enjoying ilearning/virtual school. I am as well. We have the access to highly educated teaching professionals in addition to the benefits of our home environment.

Next school year I will have three elementary aged students and a 10th grader to educate. Knowing that I have the resources available to properly educate all of my children without having to sacrifice learning opportunities is such a relief.

My 5 year old will be an official kinder gardener next year. We are so amazed to see him reading, writing and spelling. I believe that he was our earliest reader, beginning to sound out words at age four. I am so excited to see what this next school year holds for our family.

I am considering using Connections Academy for my 2nd-4th grader. Does anyone have experience with them? I'd love for you to share.

Historical Happenings

2009-02-02T18:05:00.000-08:00

Ever since that historical moment in time, when the numbers were in. It was official America would finally have it's first African American President of the United States.

The news spread like wild fire and many manufacturers went straight to work on making items to commemorate the days ahead. Well, the Barack Obama gravy train still chugs on. Even Walgreen's and CVS have hopped on board, selling cheesy commemorative ceramic plates with an image of President Obama encased in Plexiglas.

Some have resorted to framing the newspaper that was printed on January 20th 2008 and other have turned to other outlets to remember this historical time. Outlets such as having a hand crafted Obama portrait painted. You can have a hand painted portrait of Obama made by visiting the site BarackObamaoilpainting.com

Keep in mind that I am in no way endorsing this site or it's products simply sharing a link to products and services that I find noteworthy. You must so your independent research before patronizing any company endorsed by the Proverbs wife.

Virtual Public School

2009-02-02T04:11:00.000-08:00

My 15 year old daughter is a student at a new virtual high school in our state. This is actually one of the first ever allowed in our state. I am very excited to be a part of such a ground breaking opportunity.

So far we love it. The flexibility is awesome. She has a teacher for each subject just like a brick and mortar school. There are other students in her classes who she is able to communicate with.

The school tracks her grades, attendance and participation through a sophisticated array of software programs. Just so you can get a better idea of her school week I'll share her schedule below.

Monday- 11:30am to 12:30am Spanish & 2:00 pm-3:00pm Algebra
Tuesday- 9 to 10 am Economics
Wednesday- Physical Science 5pm-6pm etc....

These are the hours where the teacher is actually teaching the class live. If she misses her assigned classroom hours she can do one of two things.

*Listen to the recorded class session and answer specific questions for a participation grade.
*Attend another class that the teacher is teaching (ie, later time that day)

All of her assignments are given for the entire year. She has access to her on-line textbooks at anytime. She can complete and submit her classwork, homework, quizzes or test anytime before or by the due date.

So far we are really enjoying the school and the fact that they supplied her with a laptop and flatbed printer, copier, scanner doesn't hurt either.

Here are the pro's
-small student to teacher ratio
-the teachers work from home and can still spend time with their families
(one teacher gave the students a 10 minute break during class while she attended to her baby)
-materials are supplied by the school, laptop, pedometer and resistance band for walking fitness classes, printer, etc.
-Local office available to meet with the Guidance Counselor, Principle and other staff.

Here are the con's
-none as of yet. This is her 1st semester which has only been one week so far.

If you have any questions about Virtual Public School, feel free to leave me a comment.

DVDXpress Coupon Code

2009-01-26T11:18:00.000-08:00

Rent 1, Get 1 FREE
Check out with Coupon Code "LAKEVIEW" with 2 movies in your shopping cart.
Expires at midnight 01/26/09. Forward to your friends!

Canning Jars

2009-01-26T03:00:00.000-08:00

I purchased a jam making kit last summer while at the Goodwill for $3. I have yet to use it for jam but I do put the jam jars to good use holding things such as apricots, raisins, yeast, sugar, milk and coffee.

These jars are the perfect size for holding small amounts of leftover sauces.

Sell Your Stuff on ArtFire

2009-01-26T02:58:00.000-08:00

There is a site that I'd like for you to check out where you can buy and sell handmade gifts. It's a cross between ebay and etsy but better since it's less expensive for smaller sellers. ArtFire already had some really neat listings up and the site looks great.

It's designed to be an outlet for artisans to showcase their work to buyers. Check it out and tell me what you think. If you are selling on etsy or ebay would you switch to ArtFire.com?

Rejoice...

2009-01-23T03:15:00.000-08:00

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

It's 6:15 a.m. and I am dressed and the children are eating breakfast. I have been up since 5:15 a.m. and have used that time to read Ruth 1:1, shower, put on make-up and brush my teeth.

The van is warmed and is in good working condition...Praise God! If you know anything about my van, you'll know that after paying it off in August 2008 it was diagnosed with a terminal illness and was sentenced to the grave.

In September 2008, we were told that the van would not make it through the winter; however...God is faithful and He keeps His promises.

God has truly been good to us. That is just one of the many things that I rejoice about this morning. As we go about our day let us remember that it is in God that we put our trust.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Genesis 50:20
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

This Sums it Up

2009-01-22T16:51:00.000-08:00

There has been so much going on at A Day in the Life Of.

First, thank to everyone who participated in my Monday blog carnival Working Willingly. I have really enjoyed visiting your blogs and taking a peek into your week.

Your comments have been such an encouragement to me and have inspired me to work more willingly at the tasks that I have been given. Did you miss the fun!??

Don't worry...join me next Monday for my "Working Willingly" blog carnival, inspired by Proverbs 31:13

In addition, beginning Tuesday of this week at A Day in the Life Of... I began posting a 5 day series on "Freezer Cooking". We are on day 3 and the freezer is stocked with breakfast and dinner. Head on over to see what you've missed.

Be sure to come back tomorrow when will look how to cook one meat that can be used in over 5 different dinner's. You all can add to that number by sharing meals that they would make with tomorrow's meat. In addition, for those of you follow the grocery deals than click here to see what's on sale at Publix this week.

Finally, be sure to stop by A Day in the Life Of next week. I will be posting a Coupon 101 series that will be a step by step guide to help anyone interested in shopping with coupons.

CVS: Try it...You'll Love it

2009-01-19T08:54:00.001-08:00

Using Extra Bucks to earn Extra Bucks is the way in which I shop at CVS. I buy more than just Extra Buck earning products; however when I shop my primary goal is to never pay more than $2 out of pocket per purchase.

Extra Bucks are just like cash at CVS. They are coupons printed by the CVS cash register that can be used towards select purchases. In order to mulitply your EB's you must match them with EB items and then reduce your cost by matching the EB items with coupons.

If you are new to shopping CVS using Extra Buck, below is a really simple scenario to get your feet wet.

Transaction #1
Children's Throat Cooler Ice-Pops 6ct. $4.99 ea. (limit 2) Get $4.99
Buy 2 boxes & print a buy-one-get-one FREE printable coupon exp. Jan 31,2009
Total after coupon: $4.99+tax

Get back $9.98 EB's ($4.99 per box)

**stop here or move on to the next transaction**

Transaction #2
Naso Gel spray $7.99 (limit 2)
St. Ives skin Care $2.99
.33 candy at register

Balance: $11.31 + tax

Pay in this order
-$9.98 Extra Buck
-$2 off St.Ives

pay remaining tax out of pocket
Get back $7.99 EB's

**stop here or move on to the next transaction**

Transaction #3
CVS 24 hr. Allergy Relief $3.79 (limit 2)
buy 2 $7.58
add add a filler item...I usually get a roll of Toilet paper .89

balance $8.47 + tax

Pay with $7.99 EB
Pay the tax with cash
Get back $7.58 in EB's

**stop here or create your own Transaction #4 **

When you become more comfortable with grouping items to maximize your EB's savings you can combine many more items.

To see more scenarios on how to use $5 cash to earn more EB's visit Alyssa's blog by clicking the image below

$0.99 Movies Tonight

2009-01-19T07:49:00.000-08:00

Need a movie to go with your free Jiffy pop-corn from Publix? Then check out 2 movies for the price of one at your local DVDXpress kiosk. With two movies in your cart, enter the code "JIGSAW" and you'll get two movie rentals for only $0.99 + tax. Hurry because this coupon code expires at midnight 01/19/09

Inexpensive Shampoo at Publix

2009-01-17T11:25:00.000-08:00

Publix has Garnier Fructis on sale 2/$5 good till Jan 30th. I am going to use (2) Walgreens $2/1 (competitor coupon)

Final cost for two will be $1.00

Frugal Stocking Stuffers

2009-01-16T02:30:00.000-08:00

I really look forward to getting my mail each day. It is usually filled with free items and samples of many of the products that I use. Proctor and Gamble was especially generous this week.

(3) $1/1 mfq's for Tide lanudry deteregent

(3) pouches of (1) load Tide laundry detergent
(2) $20/$30 purchase at Firestone
(1) sample of Pantene shampoo & conditioner

Last week I received the newest issue of my son's free Lego magazine subscription, (5) children's exercise dvd's, (1) Geo Trax dvd, a bible story activity kit (Noah),

a free book for a girl age 7-12, lip gloss and a science poster and the free P&G samples from today.
Many of these freebies will be donated and a few will become birthday filler and stocking stuffers.

I'd love for you to hear about your frugal tips for aquiring birthday and Christmas gifts.

CVS Deals Week of Jan 18th

2009-01-15T04:59:00.000-08:00

These deals are compiled by Mommy Snacks.net. For a more complete list please visit her site.

$1.89 Dawn Dish Liquid B1G1 FREE
$.25 in the 12/28 P&G Insert (exp 1/31/09)
$.50 in the 12/14 P&G Insert (exp 1/31/09)
$.50 in the Homemade Simple Mailer (request only)
$.25 in the 12/28 P&G Insert (exp 1/31/09)
Net Price $.45 - $.70 each

$1.99 Crest Toothpaste (assorted varieties)
$.75 and $.50 in the 12/28 P&G Insert (exp 1/31/09)
Net Price $1.25 - $1.50

$2.99 Herbal Essences Hydralicious Shampoo/Conditioner: $1 ECB. Limit 5.
$1 in the 12/28 P&G Insert (exp 1/31)
Net Price $1.99 - $.99 after ECB!

$3.79 CVS 24-hour Allergy Relief 5 ct: $3.79 ECB. Limit 2.
********************************************************************
Additional deals compiled using the deals listed at HCW and Slick Deals

Excedrin (20 - 24 count) $1.99, use $2 coupon (or 10/19 SS) = FREE

Roc skincare - prices start at $4.99, use $3 coupon

Children's Throat Cooler Ice Pops (6 ct.) $4.99, buy two, use BOGO coupon (or 12/7 SS) and get back $4.99 EB for each (Limit 5)

Listerine Smart Rinse or Agent Blue (8.5 - 16.9 oz) $3.99, use $1 coupon and get $3 EB (Limit 5) = FREE

Soy Joy specially marked 6 pack boxes $6 and get back $6 EB (Limit 6 - reported being Limit 10!) = FREE

Kotex pads (16-20 ct.) with bonus pantiliners (16 ct.) $4.99 mine rang up at $3.27 use $1 coupon and $0.75 off printables
get back $2 EB (Limit at least 6) = $0.27-$0.52

CVS card scanner is located at the front of the store. It's a red machine that spits out coupons and you can also price check there. If you don't see it just ask an employee. You should scan your card every time you go in just in case they give you another good deal!! note courtesy of Mummy Deals

Drug Store Scenarios

2009-01-15T04:57:00.000-08:00

I have about $28 in ECB's that I'd like to flip. I challenged myself not to spend any money out of pocket at CVS this month which means that I need to stick with 100% free after ECB deals and Free after coupon & ECB deals in order to make this happen.

Here's what I plan to purchase this week from CVS and Walgreen's

CVS

$1.99-$3.29 Colgate Toothpaste B1G1 FREE - Limit 6

*I have some coupons for $1.00/1 and some for $0.75/1 that I’ll use.

$6 Soy Joy 6 ct: $6 ECB. Limit 5

*The buzz is that these have a confirmed undisclosed limit of 10. I’ve already bought 5 and my receipt does not say limit reached.

$4.50 Dove Shampoo, Conditioner, Styler: $3 ECB (upon purchase of 2). Limit 1

I have some Dove cpns. that I've been waiting to use

Kotex pads 16-20 ct with Bonus panty liners 16 ct $4.99 get $2 ECB limit 5

*I bought 1 so I have 4 more to pick up this month. I’ll use a few $1/1 cpns. To reduce my oop cost

Walgreen’s

$2.79 Colgate Total or Regular B1G1 FREE w/ Walgreens Weekly Ad Coupon

$1.39 ea. - $1.00/1 cpn=$0.39 ea.

$3.79 Oust Air Sanitizer B1G1 FREE
B1G1 FREE Oust in the 1/4 SS Insert (exp 2/28)

$2.99 Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner B1G1 FREE
$.75 in the 1/4 SS Insert (exp 3/2)

$2.99 Aquafresh Toothpaste: Advanced, Extreme Clean or White N Shine
$2 January IVC (page 17) and $1 Printable here

$14.99 Contour Meters/Breeze 2 (x 3 cpns)

(3) $30 in the 10/26 RP Insert (exp 7/31/09) = FREE + possible overage

$.89 Kleenex Facial Tissue w/ Walgreens Weekly Ad Coupon
$.50 on 3 in the 12/7 SS Insert (exp 1/31)
$.50 on 3 in the 1/4 SS Insert (exp 2/28)

$0.72 after cpn.

Walgreen’s deals courtesy of Mommy Snacks

The Kitchen Cabinets

2009-01-14T01:06:00.000-08:00

This lower cabinet is positioned between my refrigerator and stove. It hold all of our plates, children tea mugs and plastic tumblers. There are about four of every item. We have a 1-2 extras in case of guest. I began paring down my dishes to 1. make more room for food storage and 2. minimize the amount of dirty dishes that were being accumulated throughout the day. The top shelf hold recycled food storage containers for left overs.

This cabinet is somewhat of a catch all for useful day-to day items. The top shelf is my charity storage area. So far there's 2 cans of soup and 1 box of cereal. Once it's full will donate it to our church food pantry were they'll use it to feed the less fortunate in the community.

The next shelf is our mini office area. On the left you'll find yellow pages, the church directory, Christmas card in the process of being addressed and mailed. To the right on the middle shelf is my homemaking binder and the white thing beside my binder is our updated homework helper.
The bottom shelf has medicine on the left and school/craft supplies on the right.

This is the weirdest cabinet in my kitchen. It is set of in the corner of my kitchen and has a lot of space way in the back but no lighting . This is the opening to the cabinet.

and below is the back, which is so awkward to get to. I store food and kitchen gadgets in here.

The cabinet below holds glassware, china (in the back) and cake pans.

The cabinet below holds baking items and spices. The white canisters hold rice, flour and homemade cocoa mix. They are recycled Whey Protein containers like the one you see on the middle shelf. When the protein is done I wash the container and use it for dry ingredients. One the lower shelf you'll find the spices to the right and the baking itms to the left.

The cabinet below is directly over my stove. I keep my cookbooks and a few of the the children's reading books on the right. On the left is exra cereal boxes, pasta sauce and paper towels.

This is the dry goods/breakfast cabinet below. You'll find pastas, grits, cereal, oats, sugar, powdered milk, dried fruit and tea.

All 16 of these cereal boxes below are inconspicuosly stored behind all of the items I just showed you. I keep a pantry list in my HomeMaking Binder. It help keep track of what I have since I am prone to things away out of sight.
I hope that you've enjoyed this little glimpse into my kitchen. Thank you for dropping by.

DVDXpress Cupon Code

2009-01-12T11:34:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have access to a dvdxpress kiosk I will be posting a coupon code here weekly for 2/$0.99 rental. This weeks rental code is "FUSION". This will allow you to Rent 1 and get 1 FREE

Check out with Coupon Code "FUSION" with 2 movies in your shopping cart.
Expires at midnight 01/12/09. Forward to your friends!

Working Willingly

2009-01-11T16:07:00.001-08:00

I had been faithfully participating in Tiany's Monday Meanderings until other obligations caused her to discontinue hosting it. I really miss it.

I continued to post my own weekly duties but miss the aspect of visiting the blogs of other mom's and (dad's) to see how the were prioritizing their weeks. Therefore I have started a meme that will allow me to keep my priorities in order. I am hopefully that you will join me in an effort to share and encourage each other as we work willingly to care for our homes. With that said here is the button which you can save to your computer. Please add a link back to my blog within your post so that others can share their posts as well. This meme will be hosted at "A Day in the Life Of..."

Walgreen's Deals for the Wife at Home

2009-01-11T04:36:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Lori from Moms By Heart again this week for her help in compiling all the great deals at Walgreens. For a complete list of all the deals at Walgreens with coupon match ups please visit Lori at Moms By Heart.

Oust Air Sanitizer $3.79 B1G1
Use B1G1 free coupon from 1/4 SS insert
Final price: FREE

Colgate Toothpaste $2.79 B1G1 with insert coupon
Use $1.50 from September All You magazine or $1.00 coupon from 1/4 SS insert
Final price: 2/$0.79 or $0.21 overage

Aquafresh Toothpaste $2.99
Use $2.00 EasySaver coupon
Use $1.00 printable coupon or $0.75 coupon from 1/4 SS inser
Final price: $0.24 or FREE

Glade Air Freshener Spray $0.89 with insert coupon
Use $1.00/2 coupon from upcoming 1/11 SS
Final Price: $0.39 each

Bounty Basics Paper Towel $0.89 with insert coupon
Use $0.25 coupon from 12/28 PG insert
Final price: $0.64

Mitchum Deodorant $1.99 with insert coupon
Use $1.00 printable coupon
Final price: $0.99

Halls Cough Drops $0.99 with insert coupon
Use $1.00/2 from 12/7 SS insert
Final price: $0.49 each

How do you Celebrate?

2009-01-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

I must admit that I have not given any of my children and birthday party since my fifteen year old turned one. That's right...fifteen years ago I was a new mother who had no friends who had children. I decided to jot down some 1st birthday party ideas and perused the party stores for the perfect decorations. I poured so much time and effort into the party and hardly any children were there.

Many of my friends, who like I said just did not have children at the time. Since then I swore of birthday parties. Don't get me wrong...three of my four children have had birthday parties in their life times, they were just not hosted by me.

My mother in law throws the parties and gets all of her friends to bring their grandchildren. It blows my mind.

Fifteen years later and many of my friends are parents and I'm thinking of hosting a birthday party this year for at least one of my children. It will probably be my five year old since he has never had a birthday party. Plus his birthday will give me till December to plan.

I haven't a clue where to start. I'm not good at decorating or planning social gatherings and as a wife I am totally lacking in the area of hospitality. So I will be soliciting advice, and scouring the web in an effort to learn all that I can about how to host a frugal birthday party without losing my mind.

Suggestions welcome.

Rite Aid $5 off $25 Coupon

2009-01-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

Some of my favorite coupons are the ones that I print online. They offer a higher dollar value than many of the ones found in the inserts. Thanks to The Freebie Blogger we can now begin printing off a great coupon to use at Rite-Aid.

Print a $5/$25 Rite Aid Front End Purchase coupon courtesy of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coupon expires 3/31/09.

This coupon is a pdf and can be saved to your desk top for easy access. Print it as many times as needed.

Make Me Feel Beautiful

2009-01-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

I have struggled for a long time with the idea of having plastic surgery. I struggle with being able to accept some of the physical features that I consider to be abnormalities.

Since I am bringing up this topic then should take the opportunity to be candid. I have bunions. Huge ones that make wearing many shoes and sandals out of the question for me. I long to wear a strapless shoe but would not dare to offend anyone with the sight. In addition to that, my feet have no arch...completely flat which makes for an unsightly display in strapless sandals.

The description that I've given may be blown out of portion from my personal point of view however; the opinion is one that I live with. Would having a doctor break the bones in my foot to reconstruct it to my specifications make me a better Christian, wife or mother?

Definitely not.

Why then do I want to have the surgery. Simply because it's available. Probably so that I can feel normal when I take me shoes off at the beach. I have a friend who has had the surgery. She spent six weeks in a boot shortly before the summer, but by the summer those toes were freshly manicured and fabulously displayed in a stunning pair of strapless sandals. Ohhh...the envy.

I was even more motivated to have the surgery. Deep down inside it's just a superficial desire to fit in. Who wants to stand out, but I guess it's what keeps me human. The knowing that I am not perfect helps keep God in perspective in my life. It reminds me that only He can make me perfect both inside and out.

What Motivates You?

2009-01-07T07:17:00.000-08:00

I spend a good deal of time on the computer and consider the time that I spend valuable.

When I come away from reading blogs my goal is to come away inspired to do something for my self, my family or my home.

Earlier this week I was inspired to do a top to bottom deep cleaning of my master bath.

This weekend it was getting the children's school clothes ironed and h ung. This is something that I've been doing since they started public school in August.

Here are all of the clothes ironed lined up along the deep freezer, dryer and washing machine. Now I need to match up some outfits.

Here's a few choices.

After the clothes are matched and placed on hangers (as full outfits) they're hung on a wardrobe hook outside of the children's closets.

We take down one outfit each night.

I would love for you to share a link or the name of the blog that inspires you.

Website Monitoring

2009-01-06T14:42:00.000-08:00

When I first began my blogs "A Day in the Life Of..." and "The Wife at Home" network monitoring was one of the last things on my mind. However when I became serious about building my reader base, I learned that knowing what's going on with every aspect of your blog is a very crucial component to building a successful website.

I knew what I wanted to write about when I began blogging but was not sure if anyone wanted to hear about it. I began website monitoring in an attempt to learn what was working and what was not, I was able to fine tune my topics.

Website monitoring services help me to determine what days I have the most visitors, so that I can plan very important posts for those days. I can even track the time of day when my visitor count is highest. By monitoring your blog you can see if your blog is reaching national or even international readers.

If your blog readership is not growing, load testing may be the solution you need. Knowing what is going on behind the scenes of your blog will really help you fine tune your niche.

There are many free and for fee services to help you gain a better perspective in managing your blog. If nothing else, it is just plain fun to see what's going on with your blog when you're offline.

MY BIG GIVE

2009-01-06T14:40:00.000-08:00

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Each week my mailbox is filled with free items such as coupons, recipe books and samples of everyday products. I get more items than I could ever use so what I plan to do is donate some of to a women's shelter in December. The perishables I will use but the non-perishables will be donated. Who couldn't use maxi pads, tampons, trash bags, pamper, laundry soap and shampoo.
I will keep adding to the box below each week until it's full. After that we'll begin again filling another box, and another all the way up until December. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Do you agree or disagree that giving opens up opportunities for us to receive?

A Restful Sleep

2009-01-06T12:47:00.000-08:00

This year at my house is the year that we will begin doing a bit of remodeling and redecorating. If you've read my list of 2009 goals you'll know that re-painting all of the bedrooms is major priority this year. In addition to painting the bedrooms we would like to begin buying some matching furniture for our master bedroom.

Right now we have a super soft Serta mattress but that is where the luxury ends. We have this comfortable mattress with no headboard. I have tried to dress the bed up by adding two nightstands and a picture over the bed, but the room is in dire need of a makeover. One of the obstacles to buying a headboard and foot board has been cost. The other is agreeing on one that we both like. I like the leather divan beds and my husband likes that traditional wood four post bed.

I am hoping to find a happy medium soon that would incorporate both of our wishes so that when we lay down to relax we can enjoy the surroundings and have a restful sleep.

CVS Deals Jan 4th - Jan 10th

2009-01-06T06:45:00.000-08:00

Colgate Total 2/$5 (limit 3)
Get $2 ECB's

Garnier Fructis shampoo or conditioner $2.99 (limit 1)
Get $2 ECB's

Ziploc Freezer Bag Twin Pk. quart or gallon $5.99
Get $2 ECB's

Moist Cottonelle Wipes $5.98
Get $3 ECB's

Glade Plug-ins scented oil refills of candles $5.49
Get $2 ECB's

Spend $20 on Johnson & Johnson products from page 14 & 15
Get $10 ECB's

CVS vitamins BOGO Free starting at $2.75 Use -$3/1 CVS Pharmacy item

Palmolive Dish Liquid 10-11 oz. $.97 (limit 6)

Loreal Vive Pro shampoo & conditioner $2.99
mfq in 1/4 newspaper

Birthday Getaway

2009-01-06T06:39:00.000-08:00

With Christmas gone and my birthday on the horizon, my husband and I have begun making plans for my birthday slash Valentine's day getaway. He is leaving the destination place up to me. Some options that we are looking at are Orlando, Florida and Branson, Missouri .

My best friend and her husband will be traveling with us which is a treat within itself. We always have a great time when our families travel together or when we travel together as couples. Between my best friend and I, we have 8 children total. We both have two boys and two girls. We both are around five feet and married men well over six feet.

For the Bransom, Missouri destination I am considering to places. The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is my first choice and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is my second. Both locations are beautiful and offer top notch accomadations at an affordable price. The Romance Package for a couple starts at $139 a night. This package is dubbed " The ultimate in "do not disturb" getaways... " and that is exactly what I am looking for in a romantic getaway.

The package includes in room sparkling wine or cider once we arrive...ooo! la! la! The rooms are fitted with a specially made Serta mattress called the Hilton Serenity Bed. It has a Suite Dreams mattress and box springs, Super Topper mattress pad, down-filled comforters, Touch of Down pillows, 250 thread-count sheets and duvet cover, along with custom decorative bed throws.

One night on this mattress and you'll want to purchase your own. I know from experience, that's why I own a Serta now.

Even the amenities are top notch. Each suite is filled with items from Crabtree and Evelyn's La Source bath amenities."

While in Branson we will probably spend most of our time relaxing at the hotel during the day. Our evenings wil be spent dining and at the local theaters. With four children and the price of movie tickets we have really fallen behind on what's new at the box office.

If you've ever been to Branson or live in Branson I'd love to hear about some good places to visit while there.

Walgreen's & CVS Jan 4-10

2009-01-06T03:22:00.000-08:00

Please vist Lori at Moms By Heart for the full list of deals and coupon match ups for Walgreen's this week.

:: Walgreen's

Flintstones Vitamins $5 each
Get $10 RR wyb $20 (before coupons)
Use (4) $1.00 coupon from 1/4 SS insert or printable coupon
Use (4) $1.00/1 from Walgreens coloring book inside flap
Final price: $.50 each

Palmolive Dish Liquid $1.79
Use $1.00 instant coupon
Use $0.25 from 1/4 SS insert
Final price: $0.54

Softsoap Hand Soap $0.99 (I'll hold out for the Kroger 10/$10 sale where my cpn. will double)
Use in-ad coupon to get this price
Use $0.25 coupon from 1/4 SS insert
Final price: $0.74

Quaker Instant Oatmeal $1.99
Use in-ad coupon to get this price
Use $0.70 from 1/4 RP insert
$1/1 Print Your Coupon (print limit 10)
Final price: $1.29 or $0.99

********************************************
:: CVS

Colgate Max Fresh Toothpaste 2/$5.00
Get $2.00 ECB

Use $1.00 CVS Beauty Book coupon

Use (2) $1.00 coupons from the September All You

Final price: OVERAGE
(Limit 3)

Colgate Total Toothpaste, buy 2/$5
Get $3 ECBs (limit 3)
$1.50/1 Colgate Toothpaste printable
Better than FREE after coupons and ECBs!

Speedstick 24/7 Anitperspirant/Deodorant 2/$6.00
Get $3.00 ECB on 2
Use B1G1 coupon from 1/4 SS insert
Final price: FREE
(Limit 1)

Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner or Styler, $2.99
Get $2 ECBs (limit 1)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner, or Treatment, exp. 5-1-09 (RP 1/04/09)

What Are They Interested In?

2009-01-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

As a mom of four children toddlers to teenagers I feel like it is important for me to stay abreast of the movies, television shows and music that is constantly being marketing to our children.

I find myself viewing movies, television shows and music now as a critic, not only on behalf of my family but others as well. I have submitted over fifty movie reviews online in November and December alone.

I often check websites that offer music reviews before allowing the children to even listen to many songs. These days with a fifteen year old I find myself heading over to the Pop Music Reviews section to see what the latest music artist spewing out.

Music, movies and television shows are a big part of our society, however, I think that it is an important practice to become familiar with what is being marketed to our youth. With the information that I gather I am able to help guide them in choosing entertainment that will encourage them to be better and to do better.

There are many sites available that will give you detailed information regarding movies, music and television shows. With internet access we can access the information at a click of a button...or hyperlink.

What means do you use to educate yourself on the content of youth music, movies and television?

$5 off $25 CVS Coupon

2009-01-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

Be sure to check your email for your $5/$25 CVS coupon. Mine was sent 2 hours ago. It cannot be shared since it has your name is on it. The coupon reads as follows:

Your Name Here,
Print this coupon to use at any CVS/pharmacy store.
Save $5.00 on any purchase of $25 or more with your ExtraCare card.*

Offer valid only for intended recipient.

Hurry!!! Coupon expires 1/4/2009

Walgreen's Deals Jan. 4th

2009-01-01T05:23:00.000-08:00

$2.99 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner or Stylers
$2 January IVC (Page 14)
$1 in the 10/5 (exp 1/31) and 11/9 RP Inserts (exp 2/9)
$1 in the 1/4 RP Insert (exp 5/1)
Net Price: FREE

$1.25 Progresso Soup w/ Walgreens Weekly Ad Coupon
$.50 on 2 AND a $1 on 4 in the 11/23 Smart Source Insert (exp 1/17/09)
$.50 on 2 AND a $1 on 4 in the 12/7 Smart Source Insert (exp 1/31/09)
$.50 on 2 in the 1/4 SS Insert (exp 2/28)
$1.10 Printable here
Net Price: $.15 - $1 each

$.33 Hunts Tomato Sauce w/ Walgreens Weekly Ad Coupon
$1 on 2 Printable here
Net Price: FREE

$3.49 Electrasol Gel Pacs 20 ct
$2.50 in the 11/4 SS Insert (exp 2/1)
$1.50 January Easy Saver Rebate (#31)
Net Price: $1 - money-maker after Rebate!

$.99 Reynolds Aluminum Foil w/ Walgreens Weekly Ad Coupon
$1 in the 11/9 Red Plum Insert (exp 1/4/09)
$1 in the 11/16 Smart Source Insert (exp 1/10/09)
$1 in the 12/7 Smart Source Insert (exp 5/31/09)
Net Price: FREE

CVS ECB Deals for January

2009-01-01T05:07:00.000-08:00

In an effort to continue to increase my savings I will be making some modifications to my spending habits. Up until now I have divided my income in three parts 10% Tithe, 50% savings, 40% spending. Starting today it will be divided as such 10% Tithe, 70% savings, 10% my spending money, 10% hubby's spending money.

During the month of January I will only spend my 10%, ECB's, RR's, Gift Cards and any other non-cash means of purchase. That is a 40% reduction in spending from last month.

This will be tough at first especially since I am hard pressed to pass up any good deal, however, in order to pull this off I'll need to do two things.

1. Leave my debit card at home
2. Leave my checkbook at home
3. Only carry my 10% cash, ECB's, Gft Card and RR's

Here's what I have to spend so far $11 Walgreen rebate card and $6 ECB ($4 & $2). The best way to hold on to my ECB's is to use them for free after ECB items only.

Here is my plan for this week:

Buy 1 (+ one free w/coupon)
Children’s Throat Cooler Ice Pops 6 ct., $4.99
Get $4.99 ECBs (limit 2)
BOGO Children’s Throat Cooler Ice Pops printable
Better than FREE after coupon and ECBs!

NasoGel Drip Free Gel Spray 1.52 oz., $7.99
Get $7.99 ECBs (limit 2)
$2/1 NasoGel Drip Free Gel Spray printable
Better than FREE after coupon and ECBs!

Preparation H wipes 10 ct., $4.19
Get $1 ECB (limit 5)
$2/1 Preparation H printable
$1.19 after coupon and ECB!

Transaction #1
Buy 1 NasoGel @ $7.99
-$2 MQ=$5.99+$0.55 tax=$6.55
use $6 ECB to pay (roll over from last trip)
$0.55 OOP
Earn $7.99 ECB’s

Transaction #2
Buy 1 NasoGel @ $7.99-$2 MQ=$5.99
Buy 1 Prep H $4.19-$2 MQ=$2.19
Total $8.18
pay with $7.99 ECB from trans. #1
Pay $1.02 OOP
Earn $7.99 & $1 ECB

Transaction #3
Buy 2 Throat Coolers @ $9.98/2 (get 1 free per purchase w/Q)
use $4.99 BOGO Free Q
ECB’s ($7.99 & $1 from trans #2)
Pay $1.68 OOP
Earn $4.99 & $4.99 ECB’s

Total value of items $30.15
Total OOP $3.25
Total ECB's earned $9.98 ($4.99 & $4.99)

or

Trans #1
Buy 2 Throat Coolers $9.98
Buy 1 $0.33 candy filler
-$4.99 use BOGO free coupon
-$4.00 ECB (from last week)
-$2.00 ECB (from last week)
-$.02 OOP
Earn $9.98 ECB's $4.99 & $4.99

Trans #2
Buy 2 Naso Gel $15.98
1 Prep H $4.19
Total $20.17
$20.17-$3/$15 CVS Q=$17.17
$17.17- $9.98 ECB from trans #1=$7.19
$7.19-(2) $2/1 Naso Gel Q's ($4)=$3.19
$3.19-(1) $2/1 Prep H Q=$1.19
$1.19+ tax on $20.17=$2.33 OOP

Total OOP $2.35 cash
Started with $4 & $2 ECB's & $3 cash=$9
ECB's rolled $4, $2 & $9.98
Total ECB's earned this trip $7.99, $7.99, $1, $9.98=$26.96
otal used from this trip $9.98
Profit of $17.96
Over $30 worth of items for $2.35 cash oop
ECB's remaining $7.99, $7.99, $1

For additional deals visit Deal Seeking Mom

Goals for 2009

2009-01-01T01:53:00.000-08:00

Below is a list of some of my goals for 2009 in order of importance.

Spiritual/Personal Goals:

Read my Bible Everyday
This is so easy to do when I am homeschooling. Incorporating it into my lesson plan keeps me accountable and consistent.

Bible Study
Continue in Proverbs 31, Colossians 3, Titus 2 and Psalms

Develop the discipline to to pass up a deal.
To many trips to the store during the week adds additional wear and tear on our (only) vehicle.

Determine set work hours for freelance assignments

Determine new computer/blogging time frames
I have been wasting way too much time on the computer lately

Choose two-four reliable sources for weekly deals
I spend way too much time researching every available deal option

Commit to going to the gym again 2 days a week with my family
I always fall off of the band wagon when it gets cold out. This will be an easy goal since I enjoy working out with my family. In addition, I received some cute new gym clothes and sneakers for Christmas

Homeschool Goals:

Get 9th grader registered for virtual public school
She was accepted to our state virtual high school. Yippee! Re-learning Algebra was killing me.

Begin working on Lesson plan for the children in May 2009

K-5
2nd grader
4th grader

Get all three computers serviced and in working order

Homemaking Goals:

Crochet Dishclothes for 2009 Gifts

Decide on two-four main sources for finding shopping deals

Narrow my shopping route down to 2 grocery stores and 2 drug stores
Kroger, Publix, CVS & Rite Aid (Done)

Begin gardening in March 2009
veggies and flowers

Repaint all bedrooms
budget for paint, primer and brushes $130.oo

Donate clothes and food Quarterly
Salvation Army, GoodWill, Hannah's House, Church food pantry

Redo diningroom floors
Budget: (TBD)

Purchase a Dining Room Table
Budget: $300 (Craigslist)

Financial Goals:

Get Emergency Fund Fully Funded
~PLAN~
Increase savings funding from 50% of (my) income to 70%
70% Emergency Fund ~*~ 10% Tithe~*~ 10% / 10% me & hubby's pocket money

Begin keeping a detailed record of spending vs. savings in 2009 while using coupons, rebates and ECB's

Free Coupon Stash

2008-12-31T14:19:00.000-08:00

Megan over at Saving our Cents' is hosting a great giveaway. For those of you who are looking to start the year off shopping with coupons, this is your chance to win a free coupon stash.

One lucky winner will get a coupon packet worth $115.00 and two lucky winners will each receive a coupon packet worth $70.00.

Here is a breakdown of the packets:

$115.00 packet will total... $42.00 in grocery coupons, $12.25 in pet related coupons, $13.00 in household related coupons, $13.25 in beauty coupons, and $34.50 in health related coupons.

$70.00 packet will total... $55.00 in grocery coupons and $15.50 in miscellaneous coupons

Head on over and enter for a chance to win.

Print Your Kellogg's Coupons

2008-12-31T04:36:00.000-08:00

Yippee! Kellogg's has released their printable coupons again. Hurry! up and print them from my coupon bar on the left they go fast so stock up now. Many stores are running sales on Kellogg's cereal. They are priced at $1.99 a box. The $1/1 Kellogg's coupon will make them $0.99 a box. If you don't see the coupon just click the coupon bar and you'll be directed to the Coupons.com site

Giveaway

2008-12-30T15:44:00.000-08:00

The Consumer Queen is hosting a great giveaway...read the details below

Ages: 6 - Adult

Players: 2 or more

Original edition is available at your local retailer.

Original Edition

Game includes

1 DVD, Flextime Game Board, Party Play, 4 Collectible Metal Tokens, 160 Trivia Cards, 30 Buzz Cards, 4 Reference Cards, 1 Six-Sided Die, 1 Eight-Sided Die, Set of Game Rules

To enter visit The Consumer Queen

Contest ends 1/17/08 and will be chosen at Random by Random.Org and posted on our blog!

CVS Scenerio Dec 28th

2008-12-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

Visit Southern Savers for the full details of this weeks sales including available links.

Here is what I plan to buy...

Trans #1

(2) Pantene Products $7.00 Limit 5

(2) -$2/1 Pantene Products (-$4)

Final $3.00 oop get back $2 ECB

Final $0.50 ea.

(2) -Colgate Total $2.99 ea. 2 at $5.98 Limit 2

(2) -$1.50 Colgate Total (-$3)

Final $2.98 oop get back $2 ECB & 2 ECB

Final $0.49 ea.

(10) CVS Life Fitness Vitamins $0.49 ($5)

-5 $1/1 CVS Q’s (-$5)

Final $0.10 overage

Final FREE

Olay Wet Cloths 30 ct., Cleanser, Scrub, or Makeup Remover 4.2 - 6 oz. B1G1 50% 2/$10.50

(2) -$5 Olay Regenerist Facial Moisturizer, or two Olay Regenerist Facial Cleansers PG 12/14
(2) -$1/1 Olay Facial Moisturizer or Cleanser

Final: unknown (will compare prices at the store) (no ECB’s)

Assuming $6.99 x 2 = $13.00 - $5 Q= $8 final

$26.00 - $4/20 CVS Q= $22.00-$17 MQ= $5.00 OOP + tax

Total Due: $5.00 OOP + tax

Get Back $6.00 ECB ($2, $2, $2)

Trans#2

(4) -Dawn 10.3 oz BOGO free ($0.75 ea.) 2 at $1.49

(3) -.50/1 any Dawn printable (-$1.50)

Final $1.48 for 4 oop (no ECB’s)

Final $0.37 ea.

(2) -South Beach Cereal Bar, 5 ct. $2.50 ea

(2) -$2/1 South Beach Living Cereal Bars printable (-$4)

Final $1 for 2 oop (no ECB’s)

Final $0.50 ea.

(2) -Aveeno Baby Lotion 8oz. or Cream 5 oz. $3.99 ea.
(2) -$2/1 Aveeno product (-$4)

Final $2 oop for 2 (no ECB’s)

Final $1 ea.

(10) Blistex .99¢ ea
(5) -$1/2 Blistex Lip Care Product, any SS 11/16 (-$5)

Final $5 oop for 10 (no ECB’s)

Final $0.50 ea.

$20.96 - $4/20 CVS Q= $16.96- $14.50 MQ= $2.46 - $2 ECB

Final OOP $0.46

The Linen Closet

2008-12-25T01:40:00.000-08:00

On the top shelf in the far right corner you'll find a bag filled with bed linen and another filled with curtains. On the immediately left (see the picture below) you'll find all of our surplus and unopened hygiene items.

On the shelf beneath the hygiene shelf you'll find the hygiene items that are open and in use. I am also using this shelf to store surplus household items such as laundry detergent ingredients, air freshener and dish soap.

The next shelf is for hair care and bathroom tissue. I use a medium sized rectangular basket to keep these items neat and organized. I use a plastic peanut butter jar to hold combs. Another rectangular compartment is inside of the basket to keep bulky items such as brushes and the flat iron organized. Shampoo and conditioner are in the rear of the basket while beads are stored in ziploc bags nestled inside the basket.

The next shelf is the shelf for linen and towels. Only my husband and I keep our towels in this closet. We have two each and 7 wash clothes each. There is always one towel in the bathroom and one in the closet. Towels are washed every other day along with dish clothes, dish towels and any unplanned bed linen washes. To the right of the towels are baby blankets for the children to use while watching television on the couch.

The final shelf is for my shoes, sneakers and sandals. This area holds 12 size 7 1/2 shoe boxes.

On the floor beneath the shelves are where my husband stores all of his non-work shoes and sneakers. With a a size 13 foot he can only store about 6 boxes or as you can see three pairs of shoes and one sneaker box.
It was so much fun organizing this closet to make the best possible use of space. Be sure to come back tomorrow. I'll share with you how I organize my kitchen cabinets.

Blogger Must Have

2008-12-24T05:33:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about the $50 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred software. It is the latest in voice recognition technological advances. I have included two video for those of you who have never heard of Dragon Naturally Speaking. I believe that this is the newest version and it is the best I have seen. The software allows you to speak directly into a headset while your words are automatically transcribed onto your screen.

You can eve use a recorded when you are away from your computer and then download your recorded word onto your computer later. This is so mid blowing for me because I cannot type fast. I type about 35 WPM and it takes quite a bit of time to get my posts typed, edited and published.

The publishers Dragon Naturally Speaking have supplied Coupon codes for 10-25% off. These codes expire on 12/31/08 and for you professional blogger's that are buying the software for business, you can still write it off for 08 taxes if they buy by 12/31.

$50 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred

$25 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Standard

$25 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -MacSpeech Dictate