38 Ways I Save Money

Put shampoo & conditioner in pump containers so it doesn’t flood out into kids’ hands.
Use cloth napkins.
Use more rags than paper towels.
Make our bread.
Pack kids’ lunches.
Keep milk to one glass at meals, refills are water.
Grow lots of goodies in our gardens.
Advocate simple fun when kids are bored.
Keep a good supply of board games and puzzles.
Save [...]

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Today is my birthday!  I love birthdays and think everyone should live it up on their birthday!  I would love to tell you about my wonderful day, but I am really busy enjoying it right now.  I’ll be back around tomorrow to fill you in.
Also, my birthday will kick off a week of posts that [...]

Cookies!

Yesterday I decided that I could whine to myself about not having started my holiday baking, or I could do something about it.  So at nap time I tried to get the gingerbread cookie dough mixed up, only to find that I didn’t have enough molasses.  Determined not to let that get me down, I [...]

Kindness

Kindness.  This world of mommies can get tough.  It’s easy to find yourself on the receiving side of judgment from other mommies but it is also not a stretch to catch ourselves passing judgment on those other mommies out there.
If you’ve been here much you know that I run a daycare in my home.  I [...]

Making Ice

Making ice is a big deal around here.  As soon as the rifles are cleaned and put away, and the camo clothes have been washed and hung up, the people around here start talking about the weather and how conducive it is to makin’ ice.  At the cafe I have no doubt the small talk [...]

November Goal: Challenges

As I’m thinking about this new routine I want, I’m trying to keep the challenges in mind.  Maybe planning for those ineveitable road blocks will help.  While  anything unexpected can turn into a “challenge” for a planner like me, I am trying to look at the main challenges I see.
Separating work and personal lives. Working [...]

November Goal: Expectations

To make this a more thoughtful process, I suppose I should look at my expectations for a new routine.  What is it I truly want to accomplish?  What is important to me?  Really, what are my goals?
I want to feel some sense of control. Do you ever have that feeling like you are bouncing from [...]

Caroline Ingalls, June Cleaver & Mrs. Jones

When I feel a pull to simplify I sometimes reread the Laura Ingalls books.  Flipping channels on TV can sometimes land me on Leave It To Beaver, wondering how I’m going wrong to not have my act together like June.
While it’s certainly OK to feel drawn to another era, I think it is also important [...]

November Goals

A new month is here and I have high hopes for a great start to the Holiday season.   This month, I hope to get a new routine established for myself.  I enjoy my role as home-maker and I enjoy working with the kids in my child care, but I’ll be honest…sometimes it is crazy having [...]

Frugal Friday: Wait

The question asked?  How do you save money.
I have two answers…both of them simple.  At least on the surface.
Using cash for daily/regular expenses like groceries, gas and household items has saved us tons of money!  I talked about it here.
Today though I would have to say waiting is on the top of my list.  Let’s [...]