If you have a long Christmas list this year, consider giving the gift of homemade goodies. Your bag, basket, or box can be filled with your special baked goods, candies, and cookies. The nice thing about this basket is that you can make it as frugal as you need it to be. Breads and cupcakes are less expensive to make than fudge and candies. Find a combination that fits your budget and start baking. I made eight goody boxes this year for the families in our Bible study. I used shirt boxes lined with tissue paper, but in years past I used paper plates, Christmas dishes, tins, and baskets. It usu ..read more

Many people I meet think they are spending too much on groceries every month. Years ago I was in the same position, spending over $800 dollars a month to feed a family of six. My biggest problem, lack of planning. I would go to the store each week with a small list of essentials- milk, diapers, bread and come home with hundreds of dollars worth of food we didn’t need. This food would then sit in my fridge and pantry for weeks because I didn’t have a plan to use it. Then one day, when we decided to get serious about our finances, I realized that even though I didn’t have an income, I could help ..read more

By contributing writer Tessa Green bean casserole was one my very favorites growing up. When our focus on eating turned allergy friendly and real food based, I knew this was a casserole I had to reinvent for our holiday celebrations. I was shocked at how much better the made from scratch, gluten-free green bean casserole tasted! WOW! It is infinitely tastier and full of real, pronounceable ingredients. Just once, give this homemade version a shot and let your taste buds thank you! Be warned, you will want to gobble all the crispy onions up, so try and save some for the casserole! Save Pr ..read more

Do you have a friend who seems to be able to get more done than anyone else you know. That person who is super efficient, always one time, and never seems frazzled? Either that person has unlimited wealth and no children… or they know how to get more done because they make lists. I’ll admit I’m a list person, so this comes easy for me. However there have been times when I’ve been super overwhelmed and I thought lists were just one more thing I had to do. I was so wrong! When I don’t write down (or type- it is 2019) the things I need to do each day I simply don’t get as much done. This also go ..read more

Instead of spending money on expensive bath bombs you can make them yourself in less than 30 minutes. I just checked the price of the popular LUSH bath bombs and they are $8 each! How fun would it be to make your own for a fraction of the price? They are great to give as homemade gifts and you can create your favorite scents for each season. This lavender lemon scented recipe is one of my favorites. However, customize the recipe with a your favorite essential oils. Remember to change the colorant to match your scent. You will need to spend a little money initially for things like soap colorant ..read more

Love cupcakes but want a paleo, grain free version? This paleo chocolate cupcake is delicious, moist, and grain free! You don’t have to ruin your paleo diet for the next celebration with these cupcakes.  I am always striving to sneak some healthier foods into my kids’ treats. Until now the paleo chocolate cupcake had been a work in progress. As I have gained more experience working with these flours, I learned some of their unique traits and needs.  However, I finally figured out how to create a lovely moist crumb that I so adore! Who doesn’t love a crumbly chocolate cupcake?  When I was young ..read more

Making your own glass tile serving tray is simple. Not only does it look elegant it is also inexpensive. Recreate this Pottery Barn inspired tray in an afternoon. What I love about this DIY project is that you can use items you probably have sitting in your garage. Currently I have leftover glass tile from our kitchen remodel in our last home. There’s also a bag of grout from a recent bathroom remodel. The only thing I need to make a gorgeous glass tile serving tray is the tray. A quick trip to the Dollar Store and I’ll be ready to make another tray to give as a gift or keep for myself. How t ..read more

Do you need to tighten the budget a bit this month? Here are some simple ways to save money. Remember the way to save a lot of money is to save a little money every single day. Sometimes in life it’s the simple things that have the most impact. Simple Ways to Save Money Stay home. The more you are out the more money you will spend. Not only will you spend more in gas, you’ll increase the wear and tear on your car. You are also more likely to make stops and purchase things that you don’t need. If you are home it’s much easier to save money than to spend it! Shop Smarter. Never pay full price f ..read more

No more diapers. When Cora made the transition into “big girl panties” my potty training days were over. Can I get a high five, fist bump, spirit fingers? There was no sadness in my house when Cora stopped wearing diapers. I don’t miss them at all. After changing diapers for almost 18 years and I don’t know how many diapers that adds up to, but I’m sure it’s in the thousands or tens of thousands. Now that all seven kids are out of diapers, I’m going to tell you a little secret. After the first two kids I decided potty training didn’t work for me or my kids.  I’ll save you the painful details ..read more

A soccer birthday cake is very easy to make. Even a beginning cake decorator will have this cake finished in under an hour. If you have a child who loves soccer (and who doesn’t have this year’s USWNT) this cake is perfect for a soccer themed birthday. When my children were young, I make many of their cakes using Legos or Playmobil. The “toys” would double as a gift for them and it make decorating the cake so much easier and faster. If your child isn’t a soccer cake fan, you could create a similar cake with hockey, football, basketball or baseball. The most difficult part is the “grass” but w ..read more