HAPPY HOMEMAKER

Monday was a happy day. I went in to work and wasn’t on the schedule, so I was able to go back home and be a homemaker!

Here is a list of things that I was able to accomplish. I did them in a more relaxed state of mind than coming home from work and feeling tired and rushed.



Laundry (Hung my freshly washed sheets out--Oooo, I love the smell!)
Made breakfast (14-grain cereal)
Figured the bills
Made a green smoothie

Julian drinking one several weeks ago...



This version of my green smoothie (they vary depending on what I have on hand) contained these healthy ingredients:

Spinach
Strawberry yogurt
Vanilla yogurt
A large juicy sweet apple
An orange
Frozen green grapes
Frozen banana
Quinary
Spirulina
Flax seed meal
Coconut oil
Skim milk
Ice cubes

You can find a rough recipe for green smoothies here. The great thing about them is that you can put in whatever and however much you choose!

I also...

Changed my bedding
Swept the laundry area
Went thrift shopping
Turned the compost
Made dinner (Hillbilly Spaghetti Pie—again ;) We love it!



You can find the recipe at Aunt Ruthie's Sugar Pie Farmhouse.

I made some great thrifty finds that day. I purchased two lipsticks (Estee’ Lauder) and five pair of earrings for $2.55! I LOVE second-hand stores!

Here is a skirt I got yesterday during another thrift-shopping spree…



My outfit rundown…

Pink Lipstick
(Thrift-Store, Unused)
Earrings
(Wal-Mart)
Necklace
(A gift from my daughter)
Blouse
(Given to me by my mom several years back)
Belt
(Mom and Dad bought clothing for everyone for family pictures in 1988. Yes, I have had it that long! Styles do return)
Skirt
(Thrifted)
Baby Doll shoes
(Bought a few years back when I worked in an office and had to dress every day)



Total cost of my outfit without the shoes (I don’t recall what I paid for them)…

Earrings $3.50 (Approximately)
Lipstick $0.20
Necklace Free
Blouse Free
Belt Free
Skirt $5.49

Total cost $9.19



This is another beautiful peachy flowered dress that I purchased during yesterday’s shopping…





Though I don’t know if I’ll wear these earrings with it (they are more of a country peach color than a light peach), I got them for just $1.00…



We closed out the day with a down-home-southern-goodness Buttermilk Pie! Mmmm…mmmm…good!

You can find the recipe on this fun you tube video with India Galyean



Have a blessed day!

THRIFTY FINDS

One of my dear daughters, the three little men, and I went thrift store shopping the other day. We were able to hit two of them before one little man’s patience wore thin. Oh, it was so fun, though! Both of us love the deals we can find second-hand. It’s like finding a hidden treasure!

My camera takes less-than-desirable pictures. I would just as soon go back to the old fashioned kind. But, here are some I was able to snap...

A cute double-heart country Welcome sign for my kitchen...



An adorable Country-Hearts pitcher to match my napkin holder and salt and pepper shakers. I'm working on a set. :O)

Reminisce is a wonderful little magazine about the good ole days. Oh, how wonderful it is to take a cozy afternoon and just get lost in the past! I picked up both copies for just a few cents a piece.



One of the Few: Toward Christian Womanhood tells the story of a young woman who chose to follow the right path in life unlike so many her age. Throughout the book, which is styled for homeschoolers, her grandmother counsels her on the different avenues of life. I read it one night while sitting with a patient.

Polly’s Pointers: Hints for Homemaking is a cute vintage booklet, which contains all sorts of homemaking tips.



And this beautiful rose plate stole my heart! I adore roses and have a small display of them in my bedroom, including a couple of handkerchiefs that were Grandma's.

Although the mug wasn't made to accompany the plate, I had to grab it as well!



A stop at the playground and a trip to the health food store to obtain the needed ingredients for our homemade toothpaste and deodorant completed our day. Ahhh, how wonderful it is to have daughters…and better yet, someone who loves to shop thrift stores as much as I do!

A FUNNY FOR MONDAY

FRUGAL WAYS

I think that I’ll start posting a listing of ways to save money and would love to hear what anyone else has to offer also!

As I have mentioned before, I followed the Tightwad Gazette quite religiously in trying to save money while I stayed at home with my children. I am now returning to those roots, as I have a renewed desire to conserve and to continue to find new ways to do so. My goal is to be totally self sufficient as far as the necessities of a sustainable life for my family. I have had this goal for some time and have worked on it off and on. The current state of affairs of the country have given me the extra kick that I needed to get back to this important matter.

We have at least a year’s supply of food, but I am quite concerned about the water. We have very little, probably just a few days’ worth. In the past, I had found five-gallon containers with a polyurethane lining that could double as a toilet. I don’t know where I can get them currently. Does anyone know of a source? I also desire to build on my very small stock of toiletries, water purifier drops, first-aid items, etc.



I finally broke down and ordered my Fels Naptha soap online. I have been searching high and low for it but couldn’t find it locally. I wasn’t going to have it shipped, as that would defeat the purpose of its low-cost. However, I ordered a few Christmas items from Lehman’s, which I needed anyway, and this justified the shipping. As soon as it comes, or maybe after we use our current bulk detergent up, I’ll make the homemade washing soap. I am looking forward to it!

I have plans to start my garden again but this time do an efficient and healthy container garden. My son said that he would help me build a compost bin, which I’ll use for mulch. I can’t believe it but my husband suggested building a greenhouse! I could have bounced off the walls! He doesn’t have the fever that I do, as far as storing and growing our own wholesome food. So, for him to mention this was a shock. He also has been saying that we need to get a wheat grinder. We have pounds and pounds of wheat but no grinder—go figure! Again, he isn’t one to ruminate on things like this, so I was a bit caught off guard that he would bring it up two or three times recently. Hmmm…makes me wonder. You know how sometimes you’re lead to prepare for things unknown?



Well, my long-ago-started preparedness and frugal life took a back burner for the past 10 years, and its time has come to move to the forefront!

Any ideas that you would like to share on ways to store, what you store, and ways that you live frugally are welcome. :p)