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 [...]

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 [...]

Family Balancing Act

When we moved to SmallTown we decided to only travel every other year.  It was not a decision we made lightly.  We love our families and miss not being there for all the celebrations.
The first year we decided to stay home for two reasons.  First we owned two houses.  ’nuff said.  Second, we didn’t want [...]

Cooking Lessons

I remember being in the kitchen a lot as a child.  Sometimes my grandma’s kitchen,  most the time at home.  My mom and dad both cooked.  My mom is a great cook…one of those people who doesn’t really have recipes, just knows how to add some of this, a little of that…that type of thing.  [...]

Christmas Cards

This year I am trying to get my act together early in hopes of a more relaxed holiday season.  I am going on a scrapbook retreat the weekend before Thanksgiving and that has kind of become my “done by” date in my head.  Not done with everything, mind you.  But I would like to have [...]

Tator Tot Hotdish

Monday you may have noticed the tator tot hotdish on my menu.  We had the yummy comfort food for supper that night.  Today Grace had me heat some up and pack it in her lunch.  My daycare children also enjoyed it for lunch yesterday.  We think it is that good.
About ten years ago I stopped [...]

Venison

My man is an avid hunter.  He bow hunts, rifle hunts and takes in the black powder season here.  He taught gun safety for years and just generally has a love of hunting and fishing.  When we lived in HomeTown he would hunt deer, pheasant, duck, goose and doves.  Now we are a little too [...]

Small Town

After a trip east with my mom, which I loved, and a trip to HomeTown that was really fun, I’m ready to be in SmallTown for a bit.  This month marks 4 years since the moving truck delivered all our stuff to our new home.  It’s been a wild ride but I find myself more [...]

When Less is More.

Looks like less time home means more time between posts.
I spent several days in HomeTown last week into this week.  It was my man’s class reunion.  Being his high school sweetheart and just a year younger, I knew most of the alum in attendance.  It was a fun weekend.  And the rest of this week [...]

A Variety of Chore Charts

Yesterday I listed some different ways to set up chores.  The most important thing is to figure out what works for you, keeping in mind that we’re all growing and changing so the program may need tweaked every so often.
In my house, I have to take into consideration how I set up each child’s chores.  [...]