Cloth Diapers

Since we have our second baby due August 1st. However, I will probably not carry him all the way. I am in search of cloth diapers, my daughter was allergic to almost all disposable diapers. I have decided to go with cloth diapers on our son. I feel like in the long run it will be better and healthier for him and I don't want my daughter to break out when she touches him.
I have heard safari diaper are great and work wonders. I just hope I can get some on discount as they are $14 a diaper. I have also looked into babyland/babycity diapers which has good reviews as well.

My new obession: Coconut Oil

I am absolutely in love with unrefined coconut oil.  I have started using it for oil pulling and am in the mist of writing an article about my experience with the product. I have been using it for my hair, skin, and brushing my teeth as well.This is a quick guide that tells you the Benefits of Coconut Oil click on the coconut oil for full article.

I am also gonna see if I find out if you can buy it in bulk for a cheaper price then $7.00 a bottle and I will let you know. .

Bible Verses Encourgement

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations

Psalm 27:1   The LORD is my light and my salvation;    whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life;  of whom shall I be afraid?

Matthew 17:20  He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Christian Kindle Books Free/cheap Author Ruth Ann Nordin

These are books by Ruth Ann Nordin.

I really enjoyed her books and a lot of her books are free which is a great way to sample an author writing style.

A Bride for Tom- Free Ebook
This is the first e-book I read from her and thought it was a cute and sweet romantic Christian book.

Having trouble with any and all females that Tom encounters; the town's beauty decides to help Tom find his one true love. Jessica Reynolds is engaged and feel bad for Tom because he can't find any woman that can overlook his shyness and clumsiness.

A Husband for Margaret- Free E-book
Follow up to A Bride for Tom

 When spunky Margaret posts an ad for a husband, she expects to find Paul Connealy  waiting for her at the station, instead she finds Paul's older brother, Joseph meets her with his 4 kids in toll. He is looking for a wife for his 4 kids but, can Margaret marry a man with 4 kids???

Loving Eliza- Free E-book
This was my Favorite book by Ruth Ann Nordin.

Ex-prostitute Eliza wants is to leave Omaha and became a real lady. John Evan unable to speak has never fit in with anyone in his town and when Eliza shows she treats him as a man not someone with a disability unable to learn. John hires Eliza as his housekeeper and is determined that he will one day make her his wife. Eliza never wants to get married and doesn't want anyone to find out her secret but, when someone from her past shows up, Eliza is in trouble.

Restoring Hope- Free Ebook
Book One- Can be read as a stand alone book.

Fleeing from a marriage she didn't want, Woape is caught by a Sioux Indian who abuses her. One night, she manages to escape and nearly loses her life when Gary Milton shows up and rescues her. Not knowing where else to go, she follows him home. In their time together, she falls in love with him and is determined that he will be her husband. But the Sioux Indian is not far behind, and he's going to claim her as his, even if he has to kill Gary to get her.

Brave Beginnings- $0.99
Book 2- You need to read book one first. Even though this one isn't free I loved it and would highly recommend it.

Julia Milton has said good-bye to two men in her life. Ernest who was a part of her safe and familiar world, a childhood friend who shared her background. Then there was Chogan who stirred her passion but came from the Mandan tribe—a man who lived a life foreign to her own. Will she choose the safe and familiar or embrace her passions?

The Wrong Husband- $0.99
Cute and Light Read

Owen Russell is in deep trouble. In order to save his aunt from poverty due to a bad gambling problem his uncle had, he wins back the money from the group of gamblers and returns it to her. Realizing that they want to kill him, he flees from Louisiana to Nebraska where he runs into the sheriff who mistakes him for Irving Spencer who signed up to be his deputy. 

Owen decides that this beats death because there are Wanted posters all over the place seeking his arrest. So he plays along and pretends to be Irving. What he doesn't realize is that Irving agreed to marry Jenny Larson. One look at her tells him that she is beautiful, so he agrees to marry her. But what will he do when the real Irving shows up?

Cheap Easter Crafts for Kids

Easter Egg Ornaments: 

What You'll Need: 

• 2 Clear Easter Eggs
• 1 Silver Glitter Pen
• 1 Gold Glitter Pen 
• 2 Six inch Strings 
• 1 Glue Gun 

Steps: 

1.  Plug in your glue gun making sure your younger children can't reach it. 
2. Take 1 of your Easter eggs and one of your pens and start my making designs with the pen. I made a straight line all around the egg and then made  loops around the egg. Be Creative!!
3. Take your string and turn it into a loop.
4. Put a small dot of glue on your egg.
5. Take your looped string ends on the glue and let dry 
6. Once it is dry you can now hang your ornament. 

Painted Cardboard Crosses: 

Print out 

What you'll need: 

• Print out the cross or trace one free handed.
• Brown Paint 
• Paint Brush
• Scissors
•  4" String
• Glue
• Cardboard

Steps: 

1. Print out cross, trace it onto the cardboard. 
2. Cut out cross.
3. Paint cross brown you can add lines to make it look more realistic.
4. Let pain dry.
5. Once dry flip over cardboard and put glue on each side of the cross to hang.
6. Put string on each side of cross on the glue. Let Dry 
7. Enjoy!!!

Free Christian Kindle Books

Paper Roses (Texas Dreams Book #1): A Novel
This is a free kindle ebook and a great read.

Mail-order bride Sarah Dobbs arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom--a man she has never met but whose letters, her paper roses, have won her heart from afar. But there is a problem--Austin Canfield is dead, and Sarah cannot go back East. As Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is drastically changed, Austin's brother Clay wants nothing more than to shake the Texas dust from his boots, but first he must find his brother's killer.

Book 2 and 3 are not free however, they are worth reading. Books can be read as stand alone books.

Scattered Petals: A Novel (Texas Dreams)

Longing for adventure, Priscilla Morton leaves Boston and heads for Texas, never dreaming that the adventure she seeks will leave her badly injured and her parents dead. Priscilla is determined to rebuild her life and make a home for herself in the beautiful Hill Country. But the bandits who took her parents' lives also destroyed her hope for the future.

Tomorrow's Garden (Texas Dreams Book #3): A Novel

Harriet Kirk is certain that becoming Ladreville's schoolteacher is just what she needs--a chance to put the past behind her and give her younger siblings a brighter tomorrow. What she didn't count on was the presence of handsome former Texas Ranger Lawrence Wood--or the way he slowly but surely claims her fragile heart. But can Harriet and Lawrence ever truly put the past behind them in order to find happiness?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ireland Rose
Baltimore-born Ireland Rose, daughter of Irish immigrants, must be married by her seventeenth birthday. Rose's father finds a suitable husband, Captain Camden Lovell, twenty-seven years her senior. Captain Lovell takes his bride to Charleston, provides her with a beautiful home on the Battery and good standing in Charleston Society. Three years later Rose is a widow. Captain Wyatt, her husband's trusted employee is now in charge of her affairs. Rose senses he does not like her. One day he brings a young woman with child to her - and a secret that must be kept. A little girl is born, and Rose becomes a mother. Captain Wyatt offers to marry her in name only to protect her from Charleston society gossip, but she is determined she will not marry a second time for protection. She will marry for love or live alone. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heiress (Daughters of Fortune)
Book One in the Daughters of Fortune series The beautiful heiress daughters of newspaper magnate August Price have been given everything their hearts desire. But what if they want only to be loved--without an enormous price tag attached? When one daughter pursues a desirable marriage, she secures for herself a comfortable and glamorous life. But among the duties of privilege, will she also find the happily-ever-after she seeks? Her sister rejects the trappings of wealth, choosing instead to build a new life on the still-untamed frontier. Will she find happiness in independence or discover that she's left her heart behind in New York's glittering society? Set in the opulent world of the Gilded Age, each woman discovers that being an heiress just might cost her everything--including the chance for true love.

I haven't read the other books in this series so, I can not recommend them and will not put their links in the page :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All About Grace
Celia, a law student in Philadelphia, discovers unconditional love as she works her way through her past. No father and a promiscuous mother lead her toward self-destruction, but a man's love and his mother's unselfishness give rise to a real future. Everything changes when she discovers she must make a decision that will change the course of her life.

Working for Humanatic

I have recently started working for Humanatic and am liking it. The pay is horrible though however, twice so far, I have gotten bonuses I received $4.77 and $7.17. The pay is $0.006 for incoming calls and $0.016 for outgoing calls. You can do the calls from about 10 seconds to 1 minute. I average between $2- 3 an hr which isn't the best but, the work is easy and I can be watching tv or folding clothes while I'm working. You get paid every Monday thru PayPal as long as you have earned $10.00 or more.

Update: 2/20/2013

I have been working faithfully with Humanatic since Novembor 2012 and am enjoying it greatly. I now have four categories and the pay for these two new categories pay  is $0.012 and $0.01. I now almost always have work, I still average between $2-3 an hr but, I make payout every week. Bonuses vary they were basing them on your WHIP score however, they recently stated that the bonuses would become random.                                                                                                          
The have reformatted the pages and our upgrading the site.

Pros:
Easy Work
Bonuses
Paid thru Paypal
Only need Headphones for work
Great Support from company

Cons:
Low Pay
Not enough work some days
Needs more categories for each person
Freezes every once in a while

Super Easy and Cheap way to clean you shower head

 image from http://frugallysustainable.com

Items Needed: 
-1/3 cup baking soda
-1 cup white vinegar
-1 plastic bag
-1 large bag twisty tie

1. Mix baking soda and vinegar in bag over a sink. Caution: Pour vinegar into bag slowly, there is an “explosive” foaming action that kicks in.
 2. Place bag over showerhead. Be sure it is submerged in the baking soda/vinegar solution.

3. Secure with twisty tie.

4. Let the showerhead soak in the solution overnight or for at least 2-3 hours.

5. Wipe off showerhead prior to use.

Crockpot Breakfast

Cheesy Creamy Hash Browns

Hash Browns

Items Needed:

Crockpot
Large Bowl
Spoon

Ingredients:

32oz frozen cubed hash brown potatoes
8 ounces shredded or cubed Velveeta
16oz container sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper (fresh ground)

Cooking:

1. Place potatoes in an ungreased crockpot
2. In bowl add butter, salt, pepper, cheese, and both soups
3. Pour over potatoes and mix well
4. Cover crockpot
5. Cook on low for 4-5 hours
6. ENJOY!!!

http://www.squidoo.com/cheap-crockpot-breakfast-recipes

Shopping after Christmas Tips

A lot of us know that shopping after Christmas gets us great deals but, did you know that returning a item that you got for Christmas right after Christmas gives you  the reduced cost. If you wait a week or two you will get the regular price for the item.

When buying children's clothes for next year remember to get them 6 months larger so, that way they will be able to fit in them.

When buying present for next Christmas make sure that  whatever you buy doesn't expire within the coming year. Many of us buy the hot cocoa mix or soup mixes and those can expire before you can give them as gifts so always check and when in doubt do not buy.

  Do not buy trendy items as they go out of style so fast and probably by next year they will not be in style.

Buy tons of lotions and perfume right after Christmas since they are going to be reduce a lot for quick sells.

DO NOT GOING SHOPPING DECEMBER 26th.

Homemade Laundry Soap

5 gallon bucket with a lid.

4 Cups hot tap water

5 oz of  Zote soap bar **

1 Cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (not baking soda) **

1 cup 20 Mule team borax.**

4 oz Oxiclean **

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water.  Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water, add melted soap, washing soda and borax.  Stir well until all powder is dissolved.  Fill bucket to top with more hot tap water.  Sitr, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

This mixture is a 2/1 mixture so when you put in a used container (used detergent bottle) only fill half way and fill rest with water.

Stir the 2/1 mixture before putting in smaller container.  Store with the lid on the 5 gallon bucket unless you have enough container to store otherwise.

You can also add essential oil to sent the detergent. 10-20 drops per 2 gallons is recommended. 

Each time you fill up another container I will add a different sent of essential oil just to try it out.

Favorite Christmas Song?

Mine is Silent Night

1. Silent night, holy night,
all is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin
mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.

2. Silent night, holy night,
shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

3. Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light;
radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

4. Silent night, holy night,
wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Craft: Christmas tree/ Snowman Globe

Who doesn't love decorating for the Christmas holiday but, with the economy the way it is many of us have to cut back on decorating. Crafting is a great and cheap way to decorate your house.



Snowman/Christmas Tree Snow Globe:
Items Needed: 

• Plastic clear container with a lid 
• Hot glue Gun
• Glitter/Fake snow 
• An old Christmas ornament/figurine
• Water

You will first need to get a cup of cold water, get 2 tsp of the glitter/fake snow and heat the glue gun up. Once hot glue gun is ready you will need to get the lid and your figurine. Glue the Figurine/ornament into the inside of the lid. While it is drying, get your cold water and your glitter/snow and pour it in leaving about 1 inch of air. Leaving container with water flipped up take the glue gun and glue all of the rim then slowly put the lid on it and screw it wait till the glue dries to flip the your snow globe.



More Craft Ideas:
http://www.listmyfive.com/b0a80b8a/The-Top-Five-Christmas-Crafts

http://www.squidoo.com/fun-easy-christmas-crafts-for-kids

Bible Verses on Money and Frugality

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24

Eccl 5:10
"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity."  

Haggai 2:8 All silver and gold belong to me, [says the Lord God]

Proverbs 13:18  All who refuse correction will be poor and disgraced; all who accept correction will be praised. 

Proverbs 31:16  A good woman knows how to buy land and how to plant a vineyard,

Proverbs 28:19  Work hard, and you will have a lot of food; waste time, and you will have a lot of trouble.

Eating out, and stretching your dollar

Everyone loves getting to go out to eat but, not everyone can afford to go out eat. I have several tips that can help everyone save when dining out.

    Places that offer specials

• Kids eat free
• Discounted price at certain time
• Coupons
• Offers 2 for blank price 

    Make sure they have free appetizers.

• Most Mexican places serve free chips and salsa
• Some Italian places give free bread sticks and or salads
• Some Chinese restaurants give you free soup

When you are going to leave make sure to get to go boxes for your appetizers

    Your food

•  Make sure you are getting big portions
• Cut up half of your food and get a to go box
• Try to get a plate that has all you can eat  so, you can refill it before you are ready to leave
• Get to go drinks
  

Being Sytlish and Frugal

Many people think you can't be stylish when buying used but, they are dead wrong.

Tips for buying Second Hand:
Buy  pieces that can be used to create more than one stylish outfit.

Go after they have restocked new seasonal items

After Christmas is a great way to start buying your clothes many people sell their unwanted Christmas clothes and most are brand new or worn once are twice for Christmas parties.

After each season you can get great deals on staple items that you can wear next year. To go with that years trends.
Staple items Examples:
For Women

Knee high black boots

Black dress preferred mid-length about an inch higher than knee *that way you can dress it up or down*
A white button down shirt one long sleeve and one short sleeve
Black pants are a must they go with everything
Blue jeans are never out of style and you get great deal at Spring for them
A long dress in a neutral color you can you belts and accessories to add color
A good neutral heel
For Men
A good boot black is best
A long sleeve dress shirt
A short sleeve dress shirt
Khakis pants
Blue Jeans
A dress jacket that can be dressed up or paired up with jeans
Dress Shoes

Consignment Shopping: is one of the best ways to start living frugally. We have a store here in East Texas that is called Hope's Closet and you can get most items between $2-$4 and a lot of the proceeds go to abused women.
Online Shopping: Usually a little bit more expensive due to shipping but, when you buy it in bulk you save so much.
Craigslist: Not the best place for clothes but, every once in a while you find nice clothes

Couponing! No, not extreme.

Couponing Tips:
That I have learned along the way.

1.  Online Coupons:  The easiest way to start couponing is go online and find  trusted sites. 

• Coupons.com  * clicking on link will open a new window*
• RedPlum.com 
• Smartsource.com
• Cellfire.com
• Couponsuzy.com 

     2.  Printers: 

• Buy a printer that will be cost effective: Canon I560 or I860 are two great ones to invest in.
• Always, printer in grayscale on draft or normal quality to save ink 
• Buy paper in bulk * Sometime you get coupons for printer paper*

    3.  Newspapers:

• Sunday papers
• Make sure you know when the paper will have the inserts and what inserts. Bookmark this site Coupon schedule
• Go early in the morning to get newspapers
• Get at least 2 newspapers. 3 when there are deals that you love 
• Ask your family and friends for their inserts
• Go to recycling newspaper binds

    4.  Notebook:

•  Have a larger binder at least 2 inches wide 
• Get Dividers 
• Baseball slip Covers 2 packs 
• Markers to write on the dividers to separate each category
• Use the Couponing Coach site to organize notebook

   5.  Planning your Shopping: 

• Always, get your local stores weekly or bi-weekly flyers 
• You can go to couponing 101 site again to find  matchups for coupons and the store
• Make a list of sell items
• Pull all coupons out of binder and paper clip together with your list
• Always, bring your binder just in case there is a deal not listed

  6. Shopping Day:

•  Go as soon as they are done stocking items *ask what time they stock*
•   Make sure you have your list and coupons together along with your binder
•   Only get items you can get a discount 
•   Do not get an item just because it's on sale or you have a coupon for it. 

I will be posting more tips as I get better at  couponing.
Best percent of savings: 42%
Best Deal: I was able to get 9 pizzas for 2.50 a piece and had two coupons for buy 2 pizzas get one half off.

 Where I learned to coupon:  Couponing Coach http://www.couponcoach.org/category/learning/couponing-tools/
Couponing101 site  Which is http://www.couponing101.com/