Archives for September 2013

September 30, 2013 by: The Domestic Fringe

31 Days of Cheap Tricks – Introduction

Welcome to 31 Days of Cheap Tricks – Living for Less.

Do you want to save money?

Who doesn’t!

Given the state of our current economy and the cost of living, I’m not sure I know of a family who isn’t trying to save some money.

That’s why, over the next month, I am going to share all my best tips for living for less.

I’m not a financial genius and my bank account is not overflowing. Believe me.

I’m still learning how to handle money responsibly, how to save it for the future, and how to best help other people with the things I’ve been blessed with.

A long time ago, my husband forbid me to use “our” checkbook. He made me go open my own account. It screwed with head and sense of order every time I’d write on the balance sheet with pink, purple, or green pens. Thankfully, it’s all digital now and the bank adds and subtracts for me. I know I shouldn’t simply rely on their information, but if you were privy to my math skills, you’d agree. The bank does a way better job of balancing my checking account than I can ever do.

Over the years, I’ve learned what it means to live on a very tight budget. I’ve got a few tricks and tips for saving money and I want to share them.

I don’t know about you, but I want whatever money I earn to go further.

I don’t want to be satisfied with simply living well and meeting the needs of my family, because I want to learn to stretch my money enough to help others.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have an extra twenty, fifty, or a hundred dollars a month to use on blessing people?

Maybe you could support a child or a missionary family or give school supplies to children. Perhaps you can even go Hungry for A Day so someone else can eat. My kids continually teach me that love is an action word and they say that you can know where a person’s heart is by knowing where he puts his money.

This month is all about the little tricks and tips that will help save you money.

Pinching pennies is a priority for everyone and that’s ok. However, if you are in a situation where you need to save money, or you’d just like to cut back on your outgoing expenses, this month is for you.

Are you with me?

Do you want to save some money too?

1. Make Do, 2. Easy DIY Laundry Soap

Please note: It’s possible that this series will spill into the first week of November due to prior scheduled writing commitments. I hope you’ll understand if it does.

More Cheap Tricks – HERE

September 27, 2013 by: The Domestic Fringe

Playing Doctor

Last night we were in the doctors. My son has a sinus infection and we managed to get the very last appointment of the day.

When the nurse asked how long he’s had symptoms, I said, “It began on Friday.”

My son, the one who if I say the sky is blue must say it’s green, piped in, “I don’t remember it starting on Friday.”

“Well, grandma told me you began feeling sick on Friday night when I was away. Remember?”

Then my daughter, her own nose red from blowing and her eyes all teary from a cold, chimed in. “Besides, grandma’s a doctor. She should know.”

“She’s not a doctor.” my son said. “She’s deceived the next generation!”

Technically my son is right. My mother is no doctor; she simply likes to self-diagnose, just like everyone else in my family. You don’t even the Google doctor when you live with us. We’ve got it covered. It’s called doctoring without a license.

And less you think I’m picking on poor old dear mom, I too am guilty of dishing out diagnosises. I did come up with Eeyore syndrome. What? You’ve never heard of that??

You should of watched more Winnie The Pooh as a kid.

Ya, going to the doctors is always an adventure. Thanks to all the great doctors and nurses who put up with us.

Anywhoo…

In other news, I’m over at Fancy Little Things talking about writing and blogging and how sometimes it’s good to get out of our comfort zone and do hard things. Because, you know, discipline leads to accomplishment. It’s revolutionary. Go figure!

So, follow the link and I’ll meet you there.

September 26, 2013 by: The Domestic Fringe

Meet September’s Sponsors

In honor of the 31 Day series that will be starting on October first (with an intro on September 30th.), I decided to offer a special two for one advertising deal. If you’ve been considering an add space, spots are available.

Before October comes and I’m too busy writing the 31 Day series, I’d like to introduce you to my sponsors.

Meet Sara from Confessions of A Pastor’s Wife.

I’ve been reading Sara’s blog for a long time. She is a faith blogger who will encourage you, challenge you, and help you grow your faith.

Here’s what she has to say about herself.

I am a reading teacher by day, freelance writer by night. I currently author and review curriculum for a couple of online educational curriculum companies. I am developing a line of Biblical discipleship curriculum aimed at helping busy women grow deeper in their faith and find peace and freedom in God.

More importantly, I am a wife and mother. My husband is a United Methodist pastor. He is my soul mate, BFF, accountability partner, voice of reason, personal chef and emotional anchor. I very much believe that God joined us together for a reason, and I love partnering in ministry with him.

I am also a mother. I have two smart and ornery boys who have opened our lives to much adventure! It is my daily prayer that the Spirit of God will dwell within them, that they will love God, seek Him continuously, and live their lives in service to Him. I also hope to instill in them the importance of good hygiene and the ability to do laundry!

Go visit Confession’s of A Pastor’s Wife. You’ll be glad you did!

Our next sponsor is Tina from Christian Joy Creations. She is a speaker, writer, coach, and consultant who is offering her 30 Days to Joy e-course absolutely free.

Now that’s a good deal!

In this course, Tina defines joy as “a confident knowing that no matter what, you will be ok in the end. The best part, is that a LIFE OF JOY is open to anyone. With God’s help, each one of us can have it, even YOU.”

I hope you’ll take a moment to check out Tina’s free e-course and visit her blog.

Thank you ladies for sponsoring The Domestic Fringe!

September 24, 2013 by: The Domestic Fringe

Perspective Changes Everything

This afternoon a child came over to play with my daughter. She’s never been to my house before today.

After about ten minutes, she and my daughter had explored and conquered the entire space that we call home, all twelve hundred and fifty-odd square feet.

“This place is awesome!” She exclaimed.

I looked around and saw hundred year old floors with peeling paint and dirt so deep in the grooves no amount of scrubbing could get them clean. I saw a room with OSB on the walls. I saw the area rug in my living room. It was, shall we say, textured due to a vacuum cleaner malfunction. Basically, I saw the hot mess we call home.

This little girl saw the awesome.

We have a bunny named Charlotte who poops on our lap.

We have a super-old Ninetendo.

“The kind you can’t find anywhere!” She said.

We have deer antlers.

And the ultimate, we have a bright yellow bird-cage without a bird.

We also have warm cookies and cold milk.

We have laughter and love.

I mean, this place is really awesome.

That’s what I love about kids. They still see the awesome.

Perspective changes everything.

September 23, 2013 by: The Domestic Fringe

Let’s Talk Shoes

This weekend, my husband and I got away for twenty-four glorious hours. I’ll be honest, time really did kind of stand still. We never checked a watch, clock, or even the cell phone, and that was oh, so relaxing.

It’s the first time we’ve been away by ourselves in thirteen years. Yes, it was way over-due.

We’ve already got plans to do it again and we’re not going to wait another thirteen years.

I didn’t take many pictures while we were gone, but my husband snapped a shot of me and the majority of you girls on Instagram and Facebook talked about my shoes.

I can’t blame you, because I love them too.

So today, even though it’s not What I Wore Wednesday or Fashion Friday, I thought we could talk about shoes. I hope no one minds.

I’m also linking this post to Monday Mingle hosted by Mom Trends.

These are Miz Mooz Shoes, Lacey in Taupe. Unfortunately I bought them a few years ago and I can’t find them anywhere online now. They are sold out everywhere. I think I originally bought them on Amazon.

I love them though and I would definitely recommend Miz Mooz shoes. For heels, they are pretty comfortable. I did size up a 1/2 size on my shoes and I rarely ever do that. So I would definitely read the reviews and make sure the sizes are on target.

Here are some Miz Mooz shoes I love and I think you might too.

Miz Mooz Women’s Sundown Sandal

Miz Mooz Women’s Coco Bootie

Miz Mooz Women’s Fargo Platform Pump

Miz Mooz Women’s Sable Boot

Miz Mooz Women’s Throne Bootie

Miz Mooz Women’s Winona Ankle-Strap Sandal

I know it’s not sandal season, but I think these are really cute and they come in several fun colors.

Here are some others that I really like. I figured there were too many, so I made a slideshow!

Which shoes are your favorite?

Do you have any Miz Mooz shoes, and more importantly, do you love them? Disclosure: All Amazon links on this blog are affiliate links.

September 19, 2013 by: The Domestic Fringe

Love is An Action Word

Tonight my daughter told me that her friend is going to be evicted from her home. This girl’s parents don’t have the money for their apartment anymore. If they can’t find someplace to go, they are going to send this little girl to live with her grandfather in Tennessee.

Then my daughter asked if she could move in with us. You know, stay with us until her family could work out other arrangements.

Later my son said he saw that one of our neighbors had two bicycles they weren’t using. He said they once offhandedly mentioned he could use one.

It seems he’s been concocting a plan, a way to get a new boy a bicycle. By new, he means this kid is not only new to his school and the town, but new to the country. He’s from the Philippines. He thought maybe this neighbor with the extra bikes might let this kid use one for a while.

He said, “You know, I think someone should try and be his friend, so I thought it could be me.”

Love is an action word.

My kids remind me of this all the time. They wear their big hearts on their sleeves.

It’s like the time my son brought the boy down the street a bunch of food. It was not a forced “good deed” or a family project. It was him, a twelve-year old boy, seeing a need and doing what he could to fill the need.

I Corinthians 13: 1-3

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

I heard these verses preached nearly a year ago and that message is still on my mind.

If we have good deeds, faith, integrity, church membership…you fill in the blank…no matter how good it is, it’s nothing without love.

Faith, the stuff that moves mountains, is nothing without love.

God said it.

And though I bestow all my goods to feel the poor…but have not love, it profits me nothing.

That part gets me.

Does God mean that we can give and still not have love?

I thought giving was an act of love.

But, it’s not always, is it?

So, for the last year, I’ve thought about loving in a very real, tangible way, a way that hurts sometimes. It’s more than just writing a check (although sometimes that’s needed).

It’s about giving myself.

My kids teach me how over and over again.

September 18, 2013 by: The Domestic Fringe