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Frugal Fridays: Beauty on a Budget - Part 5: Hair care and accessories
 Finally I'm getting around to finishing up this series on Beauty on a Budget with the last installment on hair care and accessories. This is by far the very least frugal post of all and it's probably more about simplifying your life and being more efficient than anything.First off, as I usually say, keep it simple. As busy wives and mothers, most of us probably don't have a lot of time to spend on our hair and yet, if you're anything like me, you dislike sporting the perpetual pony-tail or bad-hair-day look either. So, what's a girl to do? My advice: Find something which works and stick with it. Yes, it's boring to have the same hairstyle forever, but if it looks nice on you and is easy to take care of, why try to change? I learned this lesson the hard way. I spent years trying to find the "right" hairdo. One that was simple, easy, and looked decent. Even if something was working pretty well, I always thought I could find something better, easier, and more decent. To no avail. Instead, I usually ended up with hair disasters that took me way more time to try and fix everyday than I wanted to spend. Oh well, at least hair grows! After having Kathrynne, I realized that my time in front of the mirror had to be quick and so I finally landed upon a simple hairdo that requires little maintenance, my husband likes, and I am happy with. And I've kept it and probably will keep it for who knows how long. **Non-frugal content warning**I've found that, for me, having a good stylist really makes a huge difference. I tried cutting my hair myself for a few years or having my mom cut it and that worked alright but I was never completely satisfied with the results. I went to various cheap hair places, but I always felt like the experience was similar to cattle being herded through and the end result was always rather dismal. I finally realized, just in the last few years, that a good stylist who gives a good hair cut can mean much headache, frustration, and bad-hair-days relieved. Not to mention, it also means spending a lot less time in front of the mirror. And so, this is one of the only areas where I actually do fork over more money than I probably want to divulge to have my hair highlighted, cut, and styled every few months. So, there's my nonfrugal confession of the day. I hope you will forgive me. Since I do spend quite a bit to have my hair done by a good stylist every few months, I've tried to reduce or eliminate any other costs involved in hair care. I use name brand shampoo and conditioner, but get these free at Walgreens or CVS. I've learned not to be terribly brand-specific, but to just stay away from the cheapie shampoos that are regularly $1 or so at the grocery store. Using high quality shampoo does make a difference for me. I also don't really use other hair products on my hair except sometimes a spray-in conditioner or shine (also which I've picked up free, of course). And I only get my hair done every three months - I can't imagine trying to carve out time or money to have it done more often! My goal is to be able to be presentable in less than 20 minutes - including showering, dressing, make-up, and hair. I know that might sound like a long time for some of you who can somehow accomplish all of that in five minutes, but I'm happy to keep it closer to 15 minutes. Sticking with a simple hair style has helped tremendously to cut down on "primping" time. I only wash and blow dry my hair every three days and the other days I can pretty much wake up, brush it, sometimes do a quick run-through with the straightener, and I'm done. So, there you have it. Yes, I spend money on my hair, but the time and frustration saved has been worth every penny to me. And my husband loves my hairstyle - so that's one of the main reasons I don't feel badly spending money on it. I also don't feel badly spending money on it because it doesn't come out of our household budget. You see, I pay for my once-every-three-month trip to the stylist with some of the money I earn from blogging (some of the Blogads revenue and Associated Content blog post submission revenue). So, I guess I have you all to thank for that. :) There are perks to blogging - some which I never would have guessed when I started out two years ago! As far as accessories and jewelry go, you will probably think me very boring, but, once again, my mantra is to keep it simple. I've found that wearing the same pair of earrings everyday makes things so much simpler and saves money, too. I have a few nicer pairs which I pull out for special occasions, but other than that, my everyday earrings are just that - one pair that I wear everyday until they wear out (usually every year and a half or so) and then I get a new pair. I usually try to buy a nicer brand reduced to $10 or less. For a year and a half worth of wear, I think it's a good investment. I don't wear much other jewelry besides my rings from Jesse (wedding ring/engagement ring and promise ring) as my skin is rather sensitive and I've also found most other jewelry to be a hassle when you're cleaning, cooking, and taking care of babies. As I said earlier, this is not the most frugal post by any means, it's more about efficiency and what works for me. I'd love to hear what works for you and any great money-saving tips you have for beauty on a budget.
Enduring to the finish line
Pregnancy does such weird things to one's body, doesn't it? I used to have nosebleeds all the time when I was a child. I had forgotten all about these regular episodes until the past two weeks when out of the blue, I started having nosebleeds routinely again. Like everything else weird in my life right now, I just chalk it up to being pregnant. Don't ask me what the correlation is, but I'm sure it's there somewhere! I've hit 35 weeks and along with that comes the "my-body-feels-like-it-is-falling-apart" stage. Though it means that the days and the nights are a bit longer, it also means that the finish line is looming a lot closer - for which I am grateful. As much as I love being a mama, I'll readily confess that pregnancy is very hard for me. But the reward at the end is so worth every ache and pain. In these last few weeks while enduring to the finish line of this pregnancy, I can't help but think of heaven and our Eternal rewards. Life on this earth is not easy. There are difficulties everyday - some which seem insurmountable, many which are overwhelming. But, we press on because, as Christians, we have so much to look forward to. "...Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13-14
Devastating consequences
It's not often that the mainstream media mentions abortion, let alone mentioning anything like the devastating and lasting consequences it can have on a woman's life. All of that just gets shoved under the rug in the name of "freedom of choice." That's why I was quite surprised to see this heart-wrenching video from CNN. Though they did seem to try to focus more on the "horrible morning sickness and pregnancy" part, the fact that CNN even covered a woman's immense regret over having an abortion and that she was not given other options or more information was definitely out of the ordinary. My heart goes out to this woman and I am grateful she is standing up and sharing her story.
Pre-publication special - save 60% for three days only!
What My Parents Did Right and What To Do While Waiting for Prince CharmingCDs by Crystal Paine Available the third week in June - order your copies today and save!After many requests that we sell the audio workshops I recently recorded on CDs as opposed to just MP3 downloads, we finalized the details and are currently working on getting these produced onto CD and will have them ready for shipping the third week of June, Lord-willing. The beautiful covers that my graphic designer is working on for these aren't even finished yet, but I couldn't wait to let you know since I'm rather excited about actually producing CDs - something I've long hoped to do! And just because I'm so excited about these, through the end of this week, you can order your copy of the CDs at the pre-publication price of 60% off! After the end of this week, the pre-publication price will be 50% off the retail price.
Click here for more information. The Centrality of the Home in Evangelism and Discipleship (CD)
by Dr. Voddie Baucham This is one of the most powerful and stirring messages on our responsibility as parents I have ever heard. After listening to it, I knew I couldn't keep it to myself and have since shared it with many, many people. I wish every Christian could hear this message. It will very likely change your whole outlook on the home, the family, and the church. Highly recommended. Click here for more information. The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentmentby Jeremiah Burrows This book is one I would consider to be among the top ten books that have had the most profound impact upon my life. Written by a Puritan preacher, Jeremiah Burrows, who lived from 1599-1646, the message of contentment given in its page is just as timely and needed today as ever. If you read only one book outside the Bible on contentment in your lifetime, read this one.
Click here for more information. Classy Flared Blouse Pattern (Ladies' 6-14 and Maternity)My sister's latest pattern design and one I've already gotten a lot of use out of and highly recommend as she made me a few maternity shirts from this pattern and I've practically lived in them the last few months!
Click here for more information.
The New Brigade of Nursery Rhyme Police
From The Daily Mail: Parents of babies and toddlers will be expected to record their child's progress in new 'learning diaries' under a £9million Government scheme. They will be encouraged to log details of every activity attempted by their children, ranging from stacking play bricks to singing nursery rhymes. The diaries will be scrutinised by childcare experts to check that parents are doing all they can to prevent their offspring falling behind. Read the full article.
While I'm all for parents investing time and energy and love into their children, whatever happened to parental responsibility? And who are these "childcare experts" anyway?
Which reminds me, maybe we've not gone so far with the government nanny thing in the U.S. yet, but look out: MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton is proposing a $10 billion federal program aimed at providing voluntary pre-kindergarten for all 4-year-old children in America.
"Our educational system needs to be strengthened from start to finish, but we have to start where it all begins," Clinton told an audience of children, teachers and parents on Monday.
Clinton said she would pay for the program by closing tax loopholes and eliminating Bush administration programs she disagrees with.
"There are so many places to cut the money that is being spent in this government. Let's start by cutting 500,000 of the private contractors the Bush administration has had who don't do a job that is held accountable in any way," Clinton said, adding that ending the Iraq war will also provide money for investing in programs.
She said quality pre-kindergarten programs will more than pay for themselves because children will be less likely to enter special education programs, drop out of school or enter the welfare system. She also said preparing children for school also reduces behavioral problems.
Read the full article.
Less likely to enter the welfare system? And did anyone bother to realize that this program in itself is a welfare program? Hmmm. First it will be voluntary, next it will be involuntary.
Better than potato chips
 Kathrynne and I made Puppy Chow this morning for a quick treat for some guests we're having later on this week. I haven't made it in years and it was probably not the best idea since I'm trying to stay away from chocolate (it aggravates my reflux) but boy oh boy is that stuff addictive! I'm just sure that it's got to have some sort of good nutrition in it, don't you think?! Um, yeah. I've hid it in the freezer for now so that it's not sitting out on the countertop calling out, "Just one more piece." Like potato chips, you can't eat just one!
Input requested: Potty-training
I would love to hear some potty training advice, ideas, and suggestions. I have a 2-yr-old little girl and just wondered if anyone could share. I think you even said your daughter was potty trained. Also, what sort of timeline am I looking at? Thanks a bunch! -Shelley Well, Shelley, I don't profess to be any sort of potty-training expert. I think all children are different and will learn at different times and in different ways. From what I've heard, some are much easier to train than others. Kathrynne is "almost completely potty-trained" by my definition. By that I mean, she consistently tells me when she needs to go, only has an occasional accident, and only wears diapers to bed or when we are going to be out for a long period of time with no access to a restroom. However, she was definitely not one of those "very easy to train" children. I started taking her on the toilet when she was around 6 months old because she would cry when she was wet (thanks to wearing cloth diapers - she was much more sensitive to being wet). She got the basic concept down, but for months that was it. She would go almost every time I took her, but she didn't have a lot of dry diapers in between me taking her unless I took her every 10-15 minutes and that was just a bit too much to try and do if we weren't making any progress. And once she got old enough to be able to communicate to me that she needed to go, she couldn't seem to understand how to do that. She always proceeded to tell me after she went, not before. After some months of being at a stand still in the potty-training department, I was rather discouraged. But, I decided not to stress over it and to just keep encouraging her in it, asking her if she needed to go often during the day, and taking her multiple times throughout the day as well. We made it something exciting and I praised her a lot when she was successful to stay dry or to tell me she needed to go. I would give her a small treat (like an animal cracker or chocolate chip) for telling me she needed to go and then going or for successfully keeping her panties dry and then going. I also found that putting her in panties as opposed to letting her wear diapers or even cloth training pants made her much more aware and seemed to help her be able to figure things out more easily. Finally, in the last few months that she's started telling me consistently before she needs to go and we've had very few accidents. It's amazing how a little victory like that can be so exciting and encouraging to a young mom like me! We've still not made any progress with night-time training and I've decided to wait on that until she's a bit older. (Any suggestions on that, by the way? I've tried a lot of things and nothing has seemed to work - all that it seems to end up with is both of us not getting a lot of sleep!) I was just hoping to have her trained during the day by the time the baby gets here and - wonder of wonders - that has actually been accomplished! All this to say, those are a few things which have worked for me and mostly things which haven't. I certainly have not landed upon any foolproof potty-training method, so I'd love to hear suggestions, ideas, tips, and advice from other moms. And maybe, just maybe, I'll glean some advice so that this next time around, it won't be such a long-drawn-out ordeal.
"You Don't Know Feminism"
 I get emails all the time from feminists or supposed "Christian feminists" (which I believe is an oxymoron in itself - but that is a discussion for another time!), who say I don't understand feminism. They proceed to explain how it's all about women's rights, not about selfishness as I believe (Hmm, what is the whole concept of my rights if it isn't rooted in selfishness?). The thing I don't get is that if it truly is all about a woman's right to choose what she feels is best - as they so passionately tell me it is - why are they so upset by my blog? If their main agenda is to support a woman in whatever she chooses for her life, why don't they support the fact that I have chosen to submit to my husband - to love him, to serve him, to honor him? Why don't they support my choice to be a stay-at-home mom? Why are they constantly belittling me, mocking me, and berating me and my family, my lifestyle, and everything I write on this blog? Why do I get large amounts of flame mail on an almost daily basis? This article on Townhall.com summed it up perfectly for me, especially the closing paragraphs:
So if feminism is not an ideology that encourages women to be strong and independent - no matter what their political persuasion - what is it? With few exceptions, most self-described "women's rights activists" have no intention of encouraging women to think for themselves. Instead, they aim to mold all women into loyal, obedient liberals who demean dissidents as "female impersonators." I don't particularly care if feminists hate me. I don't even care if they want to promote only fellow liberals. Just don't tell me they're fighting for "my" rights.
And for those feminists who want to argue otherwise, I say that instead of pointing fingers at me saying I don't know feminism, I submit to you that maybe you don't know feminism. As Mrs. Jennie Chancey closes her brilliant, must-read article on the subject: Both male and female together make up the image of God. Humanity is not complete without one or the other. Both are needed to display the full-orbed beauty of God's design. "He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created" (Gen. 5:2). It's that simple. "Mankind" is male and female. You don't have to be a feminist to affirm this. To then proclaim that man and woman were designed for complementary roles--not competing roles or overlapping roles--is not to say that one role is less important than or inferior to the other. We aren't talking about "yin and yang" here -- opposites locked in an eternal struggle. We are talking about mankind, male and female working in a beautiful union and communion that creates nourishing families, hospitable homes, genuine care for the poor, help for the widow and the orphan, justice for the truly oppressed. We cannot achieve this if we build upon socialistic foundations that insist all human beings must be treated the same no matter what. That kind of "equality" always tramples underfoot those who cannot keep up and ends up supporting the very tyrants who claim to want the best for the rest of us.
Feminism isn't the answer. It never was. Occasionally it has pointed out real evils. Every now and again it has done noble things. But, on the whole, it is built upon a foundation of radicalism that hurts the very women it claims to want to help. This doesn't mean every feminist is an evil man-hater. We've never painted feminists with that broad brush. But it would behoove those who want to claim the title of "feminist" to look carefully into the history of a movement that has done real damage to women and families in the name of "equality." It also wouldn't hurt to consider that the woman who chooses to reject feminism and remain at home is not a mindless doormat who has been robbed of her "core of self."
Graphic from Art.com.
Reaching out to the hurting
 The subject of grief and loss has been on my mind much this past week as little Marielle's earthly life was slipping away from her. One thing I've especially been pondering is how God would have me reach out to this family in their grief. For those, like me, who have never been through something like this before, it is hard to know how to respond, how to reach out, how to show how much you love them, how much you care. It's often much easier to rejoice with those who are rejoicing, than to weep with those who are weeping. Words are inadequate. The pain is so deep. The loss is so great. You don't want to in anyway cause further pain by saying or doing the wrong thing. Yet, you want to do something. How do you minister to a family who has experienced great loss - like the loss of a young child? For those who have been there, I would so appreciate hearing from you. What can those of us who haven't experienced this kind of pain do to in some way comfort, reach out, and minister to those who are hurting so deeply? Any thoughts or personal experiences would be much appreciated. There are hurting people all around us and sometimes I think we don't reach out because we don't know how to reach out.
Simple Nacho Dip
 Here's a very simple and yummy layered nacho dip recipe I made for company a few weeks back. My family's been making this for as long as I can remember and it always gets rave reviews. Layered Nacho Dip16 oz. can refried beans (or use homemade) 1/2 (1.25 oz) package taco seasoning mix (or make your own) 8 oz. sour cream (or use plain yogurt) 4 oz can chopped green chilies (if you don't like spicy things, you might cut back on this or omit) 2 large tomatoes, diced 6 oz carton avocado dip (or use fresh ripe pureed avocado)* 4 1/2 oz. chopped diced black olives* 1 small onion, chopped* 1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese Combine beans and taco seasoning mix. Spread bean mixture in a glass 9x13" dish. Layer remaining ingredients in order listed. Serve with Nacho chips. Serves 8-10. *Depending upon who I am making this for, I will often omit the onion, olives, and avocado. This is a very versatile recipe and one you can't mess up! For some great kitchen tips, don't forget to visit Kitchen Tip Tuesdays at Tammy's Recipes.
Cherish each moment
Yesterday morning, a dear 8-year-old girl named Marielle, daughter of one of the elders in our little church, was freed from the shackles of her cancer-ridden body to live for Eternity in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though we've only known this family since the beginning of last year, we have been thoroughly challenged to observe this Godly family soldier through such a difficult, heart-rending journey with their daughter's neuroblastoma. There are many emotions right now, as are often in these situations. As only a 2-year-old can, Kathrynne has been going around saying, "Marielle went to live with Jesus." What a beautiful picture this brings to mind! Marielle is now free from the pain and suffering she has endured for so many months. She will never again have to face the sorrow, hurt, and heartache which is on this earth. But, there is also great grief at the emptiness this once bright-eyed spunky girl has left behind. And she leaves a stark reminder of the frailty of life. We never know how much time we have with our children or with our loved ones. Sunday night, Jesse and I were up multiple times with Kathrynne. For some odd reason, she wouldn't sleep and was extremely fussy and needy and we all faced the morning yesterday exhausted from our marathon night. Nights like these can test your patience and endurance as a parent. But, I couldn't help but think through my fog of exhaustion yesterday how blessed I was to still have the opportunity to be a parent, to have those sleepless nights. Each day God allows me as a parent is a precious opportunity to invest in these little lives God has given me. As I wrote a few years back when a 19-year-old friend of mine was killed instantly in a tragic car accident: While you still have it, take the time to invest in the lives of your children and those around you. Cherish each moment. You may not have many left.
You may be thinking, "But I just don't have the time." Make the time. Evaluate your life: What activities are you currently involved in that are not going to matter ten years from now? How about 100 years? Simplify your life. Get rid of clutter and make room for joy. Someday when your children are grown and gone, they are probably not really going to remember the presents you bought for them or the opportunities you allowed them, but they will remember the time you spent with them.
There are a lot of good things in life for one to devote time to but only a few of those things are the best things. Don't let another priceless moment slip through your hands because you are "too busy." While you have the time, take the time. Related: Amy writes poignantly on the sudden death of her friend.
Inexpensive formal gowns
I just found out that a modest clothing site, Sabrina Nicole, is going out of business and has all of their formal dresses marked down to $50. For those of you with weddings coming up shortly who may be looking for bridesmaids' gowns or those of you needing a formal gown for an upcoming occasion, this is definitely worth checking into.
Frugal Fridays: Wedding gowns and gardens
 I still have at least one more post to do in the Beauty on a Budget Series, however, I am going to wait on that and instead post two tips sent in to me by readers.
By the way, don't forget to check out Living on a Dime's Frugal Ebook Extravaganza if you've not already done so.
Wedding GownsI just found out Target offers wedding gowns by Isaac Mizrahi, for VERY affordable prices. I thought you might like to know, since you recently did a post on it...obviously the most affordable way is to use a dress you have (like your mother's) but if that's not an option, this might be! Here's the link. -Jordan
GardeningMany people love to flower and vegetable garden, but it can be quite expensive going to a regular nursery or garden shop, especially if you are unable to start your plants and vegetables from seed. In my area, we have a vocational high school that offers a horticulture class for students and they in turn sell the plants and flowers to help with the program. The items are really inexpensive, less than half of what you would normally pay and I have had great luck with them.
Although the selection is not as great, there are also many churches and gardening groups that hold plant sales as fundraisers in the spring and they also have great deals. And then if you are very patient, you can always wait until after Father's Day to go to your nursery or garden shop to get almost everything half off or less. The selection again will be limited however you can get some great deals.
I have also split packs of vegetable plants with a friend to save money as well. Gardening is a very relaxing thing for me to do, I really enjoy it, and I don't have to go into debt doing so! -Stephanie from Maine
Another great resource on the subject of frugal gardening is the ebook we sell, Momma's Guide to Growing Your Groceries. -------------- To join in Frugal Friday, just post a frugal tip or post on any subject of frugality on your blog, link to this post in your post, and then post the direct link to your Frugal Friday post below. Any link or post which does not adhere to these rules will be deleted at my discretion. If you do not have a blog, but have a tip to share, please post your tip in the comments section. And, remember the rules: Must be family-friendly. Thanks! I can't wait to read your tips!
She's got that right...
Kathrynne, like many healthy toddlers, has a plump little belly, somewhat similar to her mother's only Mommy's is quite a bit more plump. Since we've been talking a lot about the baby in Mommy's tummy, she thought for some time that she had her own baby growing inside of her. We got some giggles out of it, but I, being the straightforward parent I am, explained to her that she didn't have a baby in her tummy because she has to get married and have a husband before she has babies. I thought that simple explanation from some weeks back went straight over her head. It obviously didn't, though, for when a sweet older woman poked her belly last night and asked if she had a baby in there Kathrynne looked her squarely in the face and said matter-of-factly, "No, I'm not married yet."
You should have seen the woman's eyes pop out of her head at that response!
Resting when you have small children underfoot
 In response to this post, a reader asked: Crystal, How do you sit down with Kathrynne awake? Any tips on how to do that? I have a busy 17-month-old boy and I literally cannot sit down if he is awake. Maybe I need to cater less to his every whine? To give an example, let's say I sit down on the couch with the intent to read for 15 minutes or write a quick card - he will inevitably knock something over, spill something, cry to go outside, etc etc - so I just give up. I spend all day chasing after him. Am I catering to his every whim too much or do you have a trick that allows you to sit still with a 2-year-old afoot? Thanks! -Anonymous Great question and don't worry, we definitely have our share of spills and whines around here. However, we've tried to early on teach Kathrynne that life doesn't revolve around her. Yes, she is very important and very loved, but Mommy and Daddy make the rules at our house. We don't cater to her every whim. For her to grow up expecting she gets everything she wants when she wants it, is not preparing her for the hard knocks of real life. Our goal is to raise responsible adults, not spoiled children. Training and instilling this into a child takes time - lots of time! - and a two-year-old (or 17-month-old like you have) can in no way be expected to be perfect. But they can be learning to have patience, to be respectful, to play quietly, and so forth. I've mentioned this before, but one thing I do is to use the timer. This is a very "visual" way to teach patience. If I'm resting and Kathrynne comes up asking for a drink or something to eat or wants to go outside, etc., I lovingly tell her that she needs to wait until the timer beeps off. If she asks again, I ask her if the timer has beeped off yet. When she responds "No" then I gently remind her that I will get whatever it is that she is asking for as soon as the timer beeps off. Of course, if it were some emergency or if she says she needs to go potty, I don't make her wait. But otherwise, this works really well for us. For a child who is not used to waiting at all, I would start out really small maybe setting the timer for only two or three minutes and gradually working up. I also highly recommend you have a quiet time every afternoon. Children need to learn from an early age to be able to occupy and entertain themselves quietly for short periods of time. And Mom needs some time of quiet, too! We have a two-three hour quiet time every afternoon. Kathrynne usually naps during this whole time (I know, I'm blessed with a good napper - believe me, she wasn't always this way!!), but I also give her a few books to look at and toys to play with in her playpen during this time as she'll sometimes play for awhile before or after she wakes up. Depending upon how the morning is going, I'll also often put her in her playpen for 45 minutes or so during the morning and have her play with her toys, read books, and watch her video from Grandma (I've mentioned this before, but for those who may have missed it, this is a video my mom made for Kathrynne reading books to her, teaching her fingerplays, singing to her, and teaching her basic counting, letters, etc.). This works especially well if I'm quite tired, she's antsy, and she's gotten up rather early in the morning. Again, with quiet times, if this is something you haven't done in the past, start out small and work your way up. If you hope to eventually have a two-hour afternoon quiet time, start with 10 or 15 minutes. Keep lengthening the time a little bit until your toddler is used to the routine. If Kathrynne is awake, before I go to sit or rest for 15 minutes, I always try to make sure Kathrynne has something productive to do and I tell her "Now it's time for Mommy to rest." I also have trained her (for the most part - it takes some reminding sometimes!) to stay in the same room/in my sight at all times. Different things I will give her to do to keep her busy: -Crayons and paper. She loves to draw! I'll often encourage her along as she's drawing and ask her to draw specific things. -Her dolly and stroller. -Legos. -Books to read. -A snack to sit in the kitchen and eat. -Child-safe scissors and my leftover coupons for her to cut. By giving her a project to do in the same room as me, it keeps her occupied so I can rest, but it also allows me to keep an eye on her. I will also often sit her next to me and we'll read books, sing songs, review her ABC's, read the Bible, talk, or - for a special treat - we'll watch a few episodes of ENN on my laptop. Those are just a few ideas of things which work for me. I know that it will be much different when there are more children underfoot, but I'm also hopeful that some of the ways we're training Kathrynne now will help things go smoother in the future. I'd love to hear from other more experienced mothers on this subject as well. What works or has worked for you? I'd love to hear! By the way, in the next day or two, I'm also planning to answer another question asked recently asked about how to accomplish cleaning and homemaking with a toddler. Stay tuned.
What do you think? IVF and "playing God" through modern medicine
Well, she wasn't Sarah exactly, but she was pretty old - especially to give birth to twins.
Frieda Birnbaum, 60, gave birth to twin boys Tuesday, becoming the oldest woman to give birth to twins in the United States. The babies were delivered at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, N.J., by caesarean section. "Baby A" weighed 4 pounds, 11.4 ounces, and "Baby B" weighed 4 pounds, 11 ounces. Birnbaum said she felt great after delivering the two boys. "This is so wonderful, I feel so relaxed. It has been a great experience," she said. Early Wednesday morning the boys were already breathing on their own and getting ready for a bottle feeding, doctors from the hospital said. Mom rested well all night, and doctors described the morning as "a normal postpartum day one, without a hitch!" Birnbaum, who is a psychologist, and her husband Ken, a Manhattan attorney, have three other children - a 6-year-old son, a 29-year-old daughter and a 33-year-old son. Read the full article.
With the seeming increasing popularity of in vitro fertilization, I'm wondering if having babies at an older age will become more "in vogue" in the not-too-distant future?
Although I'm not personally opposed to IVF when used within proper bounds,* I think that we have to be really careful that we do not start "playing God" through modern medicine. I don't have any clear-cut answers at this point, but it's something I've thought about a lot and will probably continue to ponder for years to come.
What are your thoughts on this? What do you believe is Biblical and God-honoring? I'd love to hear!
*Update: Thanks to all the thoughts shared on this, I'm reconsidering my stance from yesterday on the subject of IVF. MM has a thought-provoking post on the subject here. Also, see the comments for more of my mulling over it... I'm thinking, thinking, thinking...
Homemaking during difficult seasons
 I wake up every morning with great intentions and then by 10:00 I am so sluggish and tired. -Chrissy T Chrissy - a pregnant mama to three who is due around the same time as me - left the above comment yesterday and after I read it, I wanted to share some things on the subject of homemaking during difficult seasons. As homemakers, we all go through various seasons of our lives. Some seasons are easier than others, but we all face seasons which are invariably difficult. So, how do we manage to keep our heads above water during these difficult seasons? This is something I've been learning myself right now. With my energy levels at an all-time low, a busy two-year-old, a husband who works long hours, and a business to run, juggling everything without losing my head or my sanity has been a challenge. I don't have it all figured out, by any means, but, with God's help, things have actually run pretty smoothly inspite of all this and we been able to function without drowning in the process. Here are a few tips I've learned during this season which have helped me tremendously and I share them in hopes it might help or encourage some of you who feel you are near-drowning in a difficult season: 1) Keep it super simple. You knew I was going to start with this one, didn't you? My main priorities right now are getting my health back, nurturing my baby in utero, helping my husband, caring for Kathrynne, and keeping up with the basics of our home. In order to keep up with those things - basic as they might seem - at my current energy level, I've cut out almost everything else which can be cut including almost all outside activities and all outside commitments. I've also completely lowered my expectations for myself and for our home. Now is not the season for volunteering, home decorating, elaborate meals, crafts, hobbies, or extracurricular things. I asked Jesse what things are most important to him and he, being the great husband he is, said that he wanted me to first take care of myself (getting adequate rest, taking all my pills, eating all my protein, drinking enough water, etc.) and then make sure that Kathrynne's needs were met. As far as him, all he really cared was that he had clean clothes to wear and food to eat. How simple is that and what a relief to me! Sometimes I think we wives can get so worked up on having things "just so" when probably our husbands could care less about us alphabetizing our spice cupboard, sewing a coordinating bedroom set, or square foot gardening. There's nothing wrong with doing those things, but if you're stressing out and not meeting more basic needs in your home first, save those extra things for another season. 2) Have a plan. Even though I've cut back so much and lowered my expectations for myself and our home, I still have a plan for each day. Honestly, I'd be lost without a list! However, I remember to keep it simple. I may have 10-12 things written down on my list, but if only a few of them get done, that's okay. I can always move them to the next day's list. I try to only plan a few projects which take more energy and require me to be up and about and then I plan things I can accomplish while sitting or resting.
3) Do what needs to be done first, preferably first thing in the morning. Many days recently, like Chrissy, around 10 a.m. or so, I'm wiped out and spend much of the rest of the day doing things which don't require a lot of effort. So, I try to tackle the basic things first, before I run out of energy. These things include: -Make Jesse's lunch -Kathrynne and I shower -Make a simple dinner (I usually throw something in the crockpot or make up a simple one-dish type of dinner. We'll add a bagged salad or some frozen veggies and often some homemade bread - the dough made in the bread machine of course!) -Clean the kitchen and wash dishes. By doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen once a day, it stays under control. -Run a load of laundry. I try to spend at least 15 minutes on the laundry every day. I'm usually a little behind, but by spending a little bit of time everyday it guarantees we have some clean clothes to wear! -Quick general pick up of the house. 4) When I start running out of energy (usually very early on in the day), I resort to my "timer method" - 15 minutes up working, 15 minutes sitting/resting. Or, if I'm really tired, 5 minutes up working, 15 minutes sitting/resting. I wrote more about this here. While sitting or resting, it's a great time to read my Bible, read to Kathrynne, work on writing projects, organize coupons, and so forth. Just because I'm sitting on the couch with my feet up doesn't mean I have to be unproductive. I've found that there's a number of simple things I can accomplish while not overexerting myself. And so I plan for these. I often divide my daily to-do list into things I can do while sitting/resting and things to do while I'm up. I usually number these in order of priority and then tackle the list in order with the timer. 5) Practice hospitality frequently. Okay, so this might seem like a strange point when I just said to keep it simple, but it has really helped me. I pared down to the minimum in almost every area, including hospitality, but we still open our home up at least once a week and often twice a week. I've found that this is a good motivation for me to keep up with the basics mentioned above. This also guarantees that I'll get basic vacuuming and mopping done, along with a quick clean of the bathrooms every week. And in practicing hospitality, I'm learning to keep it really simple, too. It's a warm and welcoming spirit towards others that matters more than a spotless home or a six-course dinner. I'm not up to undertaking big dinners for lots of people right now, but we can have a few families or couples over for some dessert or snacks and drinks. This week, we're hosting a church gathering tonight and financial peace class tomorrow night. I'm making some simple snacks of chips and dip, cheese and crackers, and apples and peanut butter dip. 6) Last but not least, have an attitude of gratitude. Focus on the positive, not on the negative. Live your day with a thankful heart to the Lord. Even if you accomplished nothing on your list and your home is in disarray, if you had a loving spirit towards your children and invested time in them, if you were a blessing to your husband, that's what really matters. Your children will remember your love and kindness towards them much more than they will ever remember dirty dishes in the sink. Simple? Yes, most definitely. But during this difficult season, it works for us and our home.Related: Mrs. Wilt has a great post here on Creative Time Management for the Home which you'll also not want to miss.
Spring cleaning: In the Kitchen
 Mrs. Wilt has been challenging us all to join her in her spring cleaning adventures. Since I'm still moving rather slow around here and trying to take it easy - per midwife's and husband's orders - I'm going to join in but at the turtle pace. After all, isn't something better than nothing? :) So, for my kitchen Spring cleaning, here's what I'm planning to tackle this week: - Dust above cupboards
- Clean window and blinds
- Wipe down front of cupboards
- Clean out baking cupboard
- Deep-clean microwave (inside and out)
- Deep-clean stove (inside and out)
- Deep-clean refrigerator (inside and out)
Anyone else want to join me in Spring cleaning your kitchen? Feel free to share a link to your list or your list in the comments section. I'll try to post pictures and a progress report later on in the week. Speaking of kitchens, don't miss Tammy's Kitchen Tip Tuesday! Off to tackle some kitchen cleaning and hopefully some baking, too - even if I can only work in 15 minute increments and then lie down to rest for awhile!
Modest clothing link
A blog reader recently passed along this link for another great website which sells modest clothing: A New Creation Apparel. They have a lot of great skirts and the prices are very reasonable as well.
Living on a Dime's Ebook Extravaganza!
 I first met Tawra Kellam and her family, owners of Living on a Dime, at a homeschool conference last year. Since then, I've enjoyed getting to know her more and gleaning many useful money-saving tips, ideas, and recipes from her wealth of knowledge. After seeing some of Tawra's published books, I highly encouraged her to create some ebooks as I thought her information would be perfect in ebook format. She decided to take the plunge and over the past year she's published a number of ebooks - all of which are packed with frugal ideas, information, encouragement, recipes, tips, helpful hints, and more. Since she struggles with a number of physical problems, she and her family are in the process of looking for a home which is better set up for her needs. In order to help raise the necessary funds for their move, they put together a special package which includes all of their ebooks for an incredibly low price! I know many of you are penny-pinchers like me and you also love to get great deals, so you will definitely want to check this one out.For only $35, this package includes the following eleven ebooks with hundreds of pages of money-saving helps on a variety of topics: Menus On A Dime Plan Ahead Leftovers Quick Dinners Ditch Your Debt Grocery Savings Cleaning Cents Kids Cents Moving On A Dime Debt Free Holidays Gifts In A Jar Pretty for Pennies Sound like a good deal? Well, wait, there's more. When you order, you will also get 8 free bonus ebooks - one of which is my Simply Centsible Suppers! And, since I want this ebook package extravaganza to be a smash hit for Tawra and her family, I decided to throw in two extra ebooks from our store for every one of my blog readers who orders. Just forward on your order receipt to me after you place your order and let me know which two ebooks you would like me to send your way. Click here to find out how you can order Living on a Dime's Ebook Extravaganza for yourself - over $130 worth of information for only $35!And don't forget to email me after you order so I can send you two more free ebooks!
Pregnancy update: 33 weeks
I skipped out on the pregnancy update last week because I had too many other things to post instead. At any rate, there wasn't much new to say besides the fact that I was still experiencing a lot of dizziness, nausea, extreme exhaustion, and all that jazz thanks to low hemoglobin and platelet counts, and multiple daily blood sugar crashes. After a number of weeks of this, it was getting quite taxing on me, but I dutifully kept taking my 25 or so different pills and potions, and continued eating like a horse and trying to get in those 80 grams of protein a day whether I felt like it or not. Just a few days ago, I started seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Friday, I actually took a shower and got myself ready and got Kathrynne ready to go and walked half-way to the library and felt really close to good the whole time. I didn't "collapse" after the shower like I usually do and I felt so good that I had to call Jesse and tell him about it. Of course it didn't last for much longer, but the fact that it had lasted so long in the first place was a very good sign. The past two days, I've had more time of feeling "normal" than I have in a long while. I'm thinking coherently and having energy and drive to tackle a few things instead of just doing the basic of basics and then crashing for the rest of the day. So, maybe guzzling all those pills and food is really making a difference? I go back in to be tested in two weeks, so I'm certainly hoping for some major improvement. Thanks for the many of you who have prayed for me and encouraged me along in this. I know many other people going through much bigger trials and this is so insignificant in comparison so thank you for the many of you who have taken time to pray for me and encourage me. God blesses me so very much through you. In other pregnancy news, overall I'm feeling pretty well - no major aches and pains besides just the general uncomfortable feeling - and I'm still able to sleep rather comfortably, which is a huge blessing. I'm continuing to grow and grow and grow - outgrowing some of my maternity wardrobe and definitely looking bigger than last time around. After I had Kathrynne, I saw some pictures of myself at nine months and was completely shocked at how huge I looked. I remember thinking, "I'm never going to let myself get that big again." Well, nice try. Don't ask me what I was thinking! No more are people saying, "Wow! You're so tiny! I can't believe you're only X months along." No, instead I'm getting the, "Now, when are you due?" and "Wow! You're really getting big!" remarks. That's quite alright, though, as I'm nearing the finish line. I try to remind myself that getting bigger is a sign of a healthy pregnancy. Even if I don't recognize myself in the mirror much anymore, it's for a very good cause. I still can't believe it's getting so close, though. I should definitely have had this baby in less than 10 weeks and at this point 10 weeks doesn't seem like a very long time. I might very well change my mind on that, though. :) This pregnancy has most assuredly gone by more quickly, even if it there were weeks when it felt like it was dragging by. Is that how it has been for the rest of you - that your first pregnancy seemed the longest of all? Nine months is still a long time, but this time it hasn't felt like 19 months. However, I probably shouldn't speak too soon, as I remember that the last six weeks were what seemed to drag on for forever and forever!
Frugal Fridays: Beautiful weddings on the cheap
 I will be getting married in the spring of next year, and, needless to say, I am very overwhelmed by the exorbitant amount of money that can be shelled out for a wedding. We have a very limited budget, and I am adamant about not going into debt to have my "dream wedding." While most people tell us that we'll never be able to afford a wedding with so little money, I am determined to do so. I was hoping that you would be able to provide some tips on planning a wedding with a limited budget, on being frugal without looking cheap. Thank you for any help you can give, and thank you for the daily encouragement that you give through your blog! -Angel Hi, Angel! First off, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Wedding planning and preparation for life as a wife is such an exciting time. Also, I'm very impressed with your desire to stay within budget and not go into debt for your wedding. Starting off a marriage with wedding debt is just plain unwise in my estimation. I'm no wedding expert, but I have helped plan a few weddings on a budget - one of which was my own. From those experiences, I'll share with you a few thoughts. Take them or leave them as they are useful to you in your situation. 1) Plan ahead and start looking for deals now. We had 5 1/2 months to plan our wedding and this afforded us the necessary time to get everything we bought on sale - mostly at least 50% off. By planning ahead and figuring out what we needed and how much of it we needed, we were able to capitalize on the deals and sales over the next few months leading up to our wedding. Instead of buying everything all at once, we patiently waited until the item went on sale (which most items do over the course of a four month period) and bought it at a discount. I bought a lot of things at Hobby Lobby on their 50% sales. Every week, I'd check the ad online and then check it against my list. They also often have 40% off coupons which you can print out online and use on any item which is full-price. We bought all of the tulle and fabric for the dresses when it was on sale at 50% off or using the 40% off coupons you can get in the JoAnn's fliers. We were able to get dozens of yards of tulle and all the fabric and notions for very, very inexpensive this way. Also, be sure to shop around when it comes to anything you need to purchase or any service you are going to pay for. Check at least three different cake decorators, florists, etc. before picking one out. The prices can often vary quite a bit and many of them will work with your budget if you ask them to. Instead of saying, here's what I want, tell them your budget upfront. "I only have $150 to spend on personal flowers, what can you do for that?" Etc. For supplies you need to buy, think outside the box a little here and check around for places which might have very inexpensive prices - you'd be amazed at what you can find at dollar stores, BigLots, and so forth. Don't overlook these places. Also, check online. I found that some things - even when paying postage - were much cheaper to buy online than I could get anywhere else. Since it seems like you have quite a bit of time to plan your wedding, you have a great advantage there in many respects. 2) Put your money where it matters to you. Just because someone else thinks it's important you have a really nice dress or some elaborate cake, doesn't mean you need to. Focus on what is most important to you and invest the most time and money there. Since I'm a very simple person, many of the traditional wedding things didn't matter to me. Jesse and I didn't really care whether or not we had albums of all sorts of incredible pictures, we just wanted to have a few pictures of us and our families on our wedding day, so we chose the least expensive photography service we could find. We saved a boatload of money on photography this way. Having beautifully-arranged personal flowers, on the other hand, were more important to me, and so we spent a bit more there (even though it was still quite inexpensive by most people's standards!). 3) Keep it simple. As I alluded to above, I like to keep things simple. I like things to be efficient and streamlined and organized. And our wedding was no different. We cut costs in a lot of ways because of this. Just a few areas: -I wore my mom's wedding dress. No it wasn't any incredible dress and yes, it was dated, but it fit and it was special for me to be able to wear. Best of all, we saved a chunk of money and headache by me doing so. -We didn't have a flower girl or ring-bearer. I know some people think these are absolute essentials, but since I didn't have any little nieces and nephews to fill the part, there was no point for me to have to try and come up with little people to fill the part just so that we could have them. So we didn't have them and we didn't have to worry about whether little Suzie cried all the way down the aisle or not. -Instead of a fancy multiple-tiered cake, we opted for sheet cakes and a simple little two-tiered cake for the center of the table. Sheet cakes are much cheaper and as for the fancy tiered cakes, people are just going to eat them, so does it matter whether they're all fancy or just a simple sheet cake. -We only had a cake reception. I know that in some parts of the country, only having a cake reception is like a travesty, but in the Midwest it's quite common and much more frugal than serving a big dinner to all your guests. -We kept our wedding party small. Simple is good, remember? We were actually going to just have one attendant each, but we changed our minds halfway through in order to include our younger sisters as bridemaids. So, we had three each. -In addition to me wearing my mom's dress, my sister made the three bridemaid's dresses. By doing this, we were able to get all three dresses for less than $100 - the normal starting cost of most bridesmaid's dresses. 4) Borrow things from others. If you're only going to use it for one day, why go out and buy it if you know someone else you can borrow it from? We borrowed lots of things for our wedding - many of which were actually offered to us and we gladly accepted. Some friends of ours had recently married off two of their daughters, and had had very large weddings for both. They asked if we wanted to borrow any of the leftover decorations and tulle they had from those weddings and that's where the majority of our decorating supplies for the reception hall and the sanctuary came from. It saved us another big chunk of money and no one could tell they were "recycled." 5) Utilize friends. If you know someone who is great at cakes, or decorating, or flowers, or photography, don't hesitate to ask them if they might be willing to help out with your wedding. Either they could do it free of charge as a gift, or give you a great discount. You also could consider bartering with people for some of these services. It never hurts to ask. Just be sure ahead of time that they really are experienced in the area and not just someone who has no clue but offered anyway. Otherwise you might have a major headache on your hands and that's the last thing you want to deal with the week of your wedding. There's so much more I could say, but that is a start. I'd love to hear input and suggestions from others, as well! ------------------------------ To join in Frugal Friday, just post a frugal tip or post on any subject of frugality on your blog, link to this post in your post, and then post the direct link to your Frugal Friday post below. Any link or post which does not adhere to these rules will be deleted at my discretion. If you do not have a blog, but have a tip to share, please post your tip in the comments section. And, remember the rules: Must be family-friendly. Thanks! I can't wait to read your tips!
I think I've had my head buried in the sand
 For years, after I started driving and paying for my own gas, I was constantly monitoring gas prices. When gas prices rose to close to $2.00/gallon, I cut back on driving as much as possible and combined trips and errands as often as I could. However, since being married, my wonderful husband takes care of keeping the car in running order and the gas tank full. And since I don't pump my own gas, I've noticed I don't keep up with gas prices either. So, a couple nights back when we were out and about town I happened to see a sign with gas prices. I seriously had to look three times to make sure I was seeing it correctly before I gasped loudly, "$3.20 a gallon!!!"My husband gave me this look like I just emerged from the Dark Ages and said, "Yeah, that's actually not too bad. In some states it's up to $4.00."
I don't know where I've been recently, but I've obviously not been looking at gas prices. $4.00/gallon!!! People, I remember when it was $0.89/gallon or less. And I'm not even that old. Well, I mean, at least in my perspective. Even though I wasn't aware that gas prices had gotten so high, we haven't had to raise our gas budget by much, which is a good thing. I guess that after a few years of living on a very tight budget, you learn to be frugal as a lifestyle so things like high gas prices don't affect you as much. Here are a few no-brainer things which work for us to help us save money on gasoline: 1) I am always trying to make sure we drive the most efficient route and hit the closest stores in the best order to save on time and mileage. I've found that if we have a lot of errands to do, planning what order we will do them in ahead of time really helps with this, too. 2) We try to walk to places whenever we can. Not only do you get great exercise and fresh air, but you save a lot of wear and tear on the car. I know this might not be feasible if you live out in the country or in a very unpopulated area, but many of us could walk more than we do, especially those of us in the US. I think we're just about the laziest country around. 3) And my best tip of all to save money on gas: Stay home more. Yep, this one really works. You also save a lot of money in general because you aren't out at stores seeing things you "need" to buy. If you don't need to go somewhere, stay home. A quieter, simpler-paced life would do us all good anyway. Just for fun: How much is gas in your area? Have you changed your lifestyle at all with these high gas prices? And am I the only woman who rarely pumps her own gasoline and thus has been completely out of the loop with the high gas prices? By the way, what great money-savings tips do you have to add to my little short list? We'd all love to hear!
The bestest Mother's Day ever!
I'm a little late in posting this, but I couldn't help but tell you about what a wonderful Mother's Day I had. Jesse and Kathrynne decided Saturday afternoon that they were going to treat me to a special Sunday lunch. So off to the store they went to buy the necessary ingredients. They returned with everything to make some of my current favorite cravings: Barbecued Meatballs, Twice-Baked Potatoes, and Strawberry Shortcake. Jesse bought an extra large package of strawberries and fresh whipping cream just for me. Yummy! Finally, after seeing so many mouth-watering pictures on Tammy's blog, we had some strawberry shortcake of our own:  Jesse and Kathrynne also proudly presented me with, what else? Haagen-Dazs icecream. I haven't tasted that stuff in years and boy it is good! No wonder the price tag is so high for the tiny little container. They had also gotten me a special loose tea brewer - something I'd had my eye on for a long time but didn't want to buy because, well, you know how frugal I am. I was so surprised that Jesse even knew I'd been eyeing it and then that he had gone to the trouble to buy it for me. After church on Sunday, I was relegated to the couch while they prepared lunch and served me. Talk about getting the royal treatment! I felt completely spoiled! But the two best Mother's Day gifts of all didn't come in the form of tangible gifts or food. The first gift was from Kathrynne on Sunday morning. We had gotten to church early to help with set up and, after that was taken care of, I sat down and started reading Kathrynne's Bible verse book to her. When we got to her favorite verse page, for the first time in her life, she quoted all of Ephesians 6:1. Usually she has only said, "Children obey..." But Sunday morning, she quoted every bit of the verse to me! How it warmed my heart! And the second gift was from my husband and happened Saturday afternoon. Jesse and Kathrynne had brought home some fresh corn on the cob from their shopping venture. They had both gone out on the deck to shuck it and while I was working in the kitchen I heard the most beautiful father-daughter conversation taking place. Not only was Jesse teaching Kathrynne the proper way to shuck corn, but he was explaining to her Who made the corn, how it grows, and the spiritual significance of reaping and sowing. Then he got out his Bible and started reading and sharing with Kathrynne verses on planting corn and reaping the harvest.  He didn't know that all the while I was listening in to their conversation. He was just being the great father that he is. Having these conversations with Kathrynne is not something that is out of the ordinary, this is just part of how he lives out Deuteronomy 6 every day of his life as a dad. As I listened in, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. Gratitude that God has blessed me - unworthy me - with such a wonderful husband. A husband who takes time to bless me - even in little ways like Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Who takes time to pray for me, love me, encourage me, feed me with the Word of God. Who is so kind and compassionate when I struggle, who loves me inspite of my many short-comings, and who constantly gives to me again and again. And not only that, but a husband who is such a wonderful father to our little girl and baby on the way. Who is never too busy to take time to just enjoy and make the most of the little moments in life - moments like shucking corn on the deck.  So this Mother's Day, like never before, I realized how incredibly blessed I am. I don't deserve to be a wife and mom. I don't deserve the wonderful husband I have or the beautiful daughter I have. I don't deserve to be carrying another precious child in utero. But God, in His mercy and grace, has seen fit to bless me with this calling. How I desire to be faithful. In my own strength, I am unable. But through God's strength, He can enable me to be a wife and mother who brings glory to Him.
Summer is almost here - 20% off sale!
Just a quick post to let you know that you can save 20% off any order from our store placed in the next 48 hours when you use coupon code Summer at checkout. Make sure the discount is calculated before you check out. This is a great time to purchase some of our new products. Also, this will very likely be our last sale for quite some time as we will have plenty of other things to keep us busy for the next little while - things like having a baby! :) Click here to start shopping.
A fun family project and other new products
 Are you looking for a fun project your whole family can be involved in this Summer? I have just the solution: hatch and raise chickens!Growing up, we almost always had chickens - many of which we had hatched and raised ourselves. What fun memories I have of seeing our efforts pay off after 21-days of turning the eggs and anxiously waiting and finally hearing those little peeps and seeing the chicks start to crack open their shells! My younger brother was the one who took charge of most of the incubating and chicken-raising responsibilities. Now, at 17, he has been successfully hatching and raising chickens for over 10 years. After much encouragement, he finally compiled all of his personal recommendations, tips, and techniques in an easy-to-follow book titled: Simple Techniques for Successful Hatching.This full-color 56-page book gives detailed instructions and information on where to purchase the simple supplies needed and takes you on a 21-day journey through the development of a chick. Includes many full-color photographs, diagrams, fill-in-the-blank reviews, suggested projects, interesting facts, and much more. Perfect for families looking for a fun and very educational project that the whole family can join in on, this book gives you all the nuts and bolts you need to successfully hatch and raise chickens. Look no more for a great Summer project, click here to order your book today. Only $8.97! Also, for those who have trouble finding feminine modest nightgowns, we just added a lovely new Prairie Rose Nightgown Pattern which comes in both Ladies' and Girls' sizes. And don't forget, if you are looking for modest swimwear this summer, our very popular modest swimwear pattern is available in three sizes now.
The notion of "readiness"
 This was a great post by Sherrin: I often hear Christians saying things like "she wasn't ready to have a baby", or "I'm not ready to have a baby" and I wonder what constitutes readiness to them. I wonder if they have unconsciously and unquestioningly taken on worldly ideas about having children, which don't even necessarily make sense.
How would one discern readiness? Perhaps you would wake up one morning with a sudden overwhelming desire to have a baby. If this is all there is to it, you'd better hope your husband or wife feels the same thing at the same time! Or perhaps having the house and job in perfect order would qualify. A fabulous relationship with your husband or wife? A sense of inner peace . . .
Personally, I think we'd be best to give up the idea of "readiness". God tells us it is good to prepare to do a good job of raising the next generation. A starting point for doing this well is to be married before having children, of course! Thinking about how to marry someone who will be a good parent is also very helpful. After marriage, being ready to raise children only depends upon one main thing: a willingness and desire to do God's will in training children to serve and glorify him. As usual, God's ways are simpler than the world's.
We don't need to buy a house, have a perfectly new car, have travelled Europe, or wait for a sudden rush of maternal or fatherly hormones. We just need to trust God that children really are blessings, and that he will provide all we need physically, economically, spiritually and emotionally in order to do a good job of raising them. Phew, that means all of us can be qualified! It simply requires a choice to believe God!
Read the whole post.
We've bought into the lie in this day and age which says a couple should wait at least a year or two (or often much more!) before having a baby so that they can make sure and have a "strong and stable marriage" before adding children to the mix. Where do we find that notion in Scripture? Why would we want to prevent the blessings of God upon a marriage? As I always say, if you're not ready to have children, you're not ready to get married.
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Finally I'm getting around to finishing up this series on Beauty on a Budget with the last installment on hair care and accessories. This is by far the very least frugal post of all and it's probably more about simplifying your life and being more efficient than anything.
