Life Simplified
Summer Activities: Enjoying our First Juicy Watermelon of the Season
Thanks Daddy for the Yummy Watermelon! Yes I made the girls eat it outside, we know how messy they can get with this juicy treat! As a special treat Jake brought home a watermelon recently! It was our first watermelon of the season so we were super excited to dig into the juicy melon. The last watermelon I purchased wasn’t great but this one was AMAZING!!!! Maybe the key is to have dear hubby pick them out in the future.
Eating watermelon brings back memories…..the first few watermelons the girls ate were the sweet yellow watermelons because we got a bunch on sale at the local Farmer’s Market. When we gave them the regular “pink” watermelon for the first time they didn’t believe us at first that it really was watermelon because it wasn’t yellow! Every summer season we enjoy sharing our first watermelon together, this year we kicked off the season with a traditional seedless pink one. Maybe we’ll have to head to the local Farmer’s Market and get yellow to enjoy soon.
Brina munching away on the sweet watermelon! Too busy eating to even look at the camera! 
Karlie licking off her sticky fingers! Ummm.....Mom where's the napkins? She was more concerned about the mess she was making! Thanks babe for the delicious treat, it hit the spot on a hot day! All of us enjoyed eating our first watermelon of the season and are already looking forward to the next one!
Book: “Living in Love” by James & Betty Robison
I recently read the book “Living in Love” by James and Betty Robison who are Co-Hosts on TV’s “Life Today”. Having a healthy marriage is important to me so I thought this book would give new insights or provide great reminders on ways to strengthen our marriage relationship. I enjoy having a chance to read a chapter or two of a book each day and was excited to check this one out.
James and Betty Robison grew up in very different family environments, James was the son of a single Mom and Betty grew up in a church going family. In the book they discussed their backgrounds and how they met. The book has a unique layout and more conversational. It shows Betty’s insights and James’ viewpoints by putting a headline at the top of each section.
Although I have never watched their show I appreciated that they encouraged couples to work on their own hearts first and stop trying to “fix” their spouses. Both James and Betty recommended praying for your spouse, marriage and family. Each family member brings a variety of dynamics to the relationship. They discuss topics that we don’t hear a lot about in our culture when it comes to marriage – selfishness, commitment, trust, communication, and confrontation. When married couples have solid God centered foundations in place we have more opportunities to grow and work together as a cohesive team. James and Betty do not claim to know everything but are thankful for God’s hand working in their lives as individuals and as a couple.
A couple of my favorite quotes from the book:
“An unhealthy self-focus can show up in marriage in many ways, but the one I observed most frequently is people trying to shape their spouses according to their own expectations. This is always a mistake. Instead of trying to change your mate it is best to allow God to shape you.”
“Trust is built on the foundation of commitment – first and ultimately, to God and then to each other.”
At the end of each chapter they added a few questions for each couple to answer separately or together. Overall the book is a great resource to read for those going into marriage or for couples wanting a gentle reminder of ways to build a healthy foundation in their marriage. If you cannot purchase the book I would recommend checking it out at your local church or community library. It is a pretty quick read and it never hurts to be reminded of ways to keep the communication open between you and your spouse.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher through the Waterhouse Multnomah. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Fresh & Healthy: Our Garden – A Variety of Fresh Leafy Lettuce, Summer Squash, Cherry Tomatoes, Snow Peas, Pepper, Spinach, Zucchini, & More…Oh My!
We are loving the fresh vegetables from our garden!
Here are some of the fresh veggies we were able to eat and share this week:
Our very first picks of Fresh Snow Peas, Cherry Tomato, Summer Squash and Banana Pepper! Even though it is only a handful of items (including our first tomato of the summer, ha) hopefully we'll have some more coming soon and throughout the rest of summer. 
Fresh Garden Vegetables - at least 5 Varieties of Leafy Lettuce, Summer Squash, Zucchini, another Cherry Tomato, Snow Peas, Spinach, Sweet Basil (bagged), and Dill (bagged)! What are you eating out of your garden this week?
Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (May Update)
May is my fourth month tracking my Creative Cash. What is Creative Cash? Creative Cash is finding ways to come up with extra cash to share with others as well as work on our current goal. I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day, however, I feel that it is important to save money for our family by using coupons and buying items on sale but to earn a little money to help with the extra expenses and to share with others. The extra amount I bring in on top of the work is what I call “Creative Cash” which means finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already. I have tested this goal over the last couple months as I am challenging myself to make my life more simplified. I plan to continue this goal for the remaining months of the year. Despite the many financial obstacles that we have faced as a family we have been blessed with so much. We believe it is important to be accountable with our finances and give to others.Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire month through various endeavors. As it comes in the money is placed into our savings account and withdrawn at the end of the month so it can be split. It is my goal to make at least $100 extra a month to help with our goals as well as share with others. At the end of the month the money will be split 50 / 50 with half going towards our current goal we are working on (which at the moment is paying down debt) and the other half going to charity.
May was a good month even though it was extremely active in many other areas of my life. Thankfully I was able to save some extra cash however, I did not reach my my goal of $100. I want to share with you the ways we did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully we can be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:
- $23.11 – Items sold on Ebay (after fees): The all the items sold were coupons. I encourage you to look around at some of the coupons you get the mail, newspapers, magazines, in your stockpile, or other places and if you will not have the opportunity to use them then consider selling them for a little extra creative cash.
- $9.51 – A portion of the proceeds from the Upstate Women’s & Home Consignment Sale
- $29.50– A portion of the proceeds from the Taylors & Friends Consignment Store.
- $14.90 – Other miscellaneous amounts earned (rebates, returns, cash back, extra money, etc…) that was added to my stash for the month.
It was a harder month to set the extra aside because it was very busy and I was not able to participate in as many extra creative cash activities. May’s “Creative Cash” total was $77.02 which means $38.51 extra that goes towards our current goal (paying down debt) and $38.51 goes towards charity. May was the first month I didn’t hit my $100 goal but I am happy that I was able to get close to the goal and every little bit helps us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way. I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash in June so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another month where we can get closer to our goal and share with others. Each month I do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically in May. I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.
I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help our family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to us. I hope that we have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well. Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it! Do you know of another way to earn creative cash? I would love to hear your idea!
Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances. Life doesn’t always go as planned. We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given. Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life. A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others. There is so much more to life than having all the stuff. We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.
Photo by StopNLook
Life Simplified: Old Boots Transformed into Flower Pots
Boots transformed into a decorative Flower Pot! I love being able to creatively recycle items that have been around our house for awhile. My husband used to wear these boots! Now that they are worn out (and covered in specks of paint) I have found another use for them on my front porch….as a flower pot. The boots are a unique decoration to have on the front porch. I love seeing peoples reactions the first time they see them! I get a lot of comments like “That’s a great idea! Honey can I use your old boots once your done with them!”
Flowers Planted in Jake's Old Boots! It’s super easy to do! Find an old pair of boots, fill them with potting soil, and add a couple plants to each one and you has an inexpensive masterpiece that will be a colorful welcome to those visiting your home. I typically do seasonal flowers so I can give a fresh look to the boots in the Spring and Fall. Do you items that you recycle within your home?
Fresh & Healthy: Downtown Farmer’s Market (Saturdays) Fresh Produce & More!
It is the beginning of produce harvest for a lot of local farmers which means the Farmer’s Market is opening. Many local communities will host Downtown Farmer’s Markets to help connect the farmers with the local people who want to purchase fresh fruits and veggies for their family.
Families in the Greenville area who are looking for some fresh in-season vegetables, fruit, local honey, gourmet foods, seafood, fresh flowers, diary products, coffee, nuts, baked goods, handmade crafts, woodworking and a wide variety of other goodies from more than 50 vendors can come to downtown Greenville on Saturday mornings starting May 7th through October 29th.
Downtown Greenville Farmer’s Market Details:- What / Where – Downtown Greenville’s Saturday Market (Main Street at McBee Avenue, Greenville, SC 29601 )
- When – Saturdays from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM ( May 7 to October 29)
- Cost – Free Admission (the only cost is for the items you purchase from the local farmers / vendors)
- For More Information / Activities – Saturday Market Live / 864-467-4494
Downtown Greenville has music and special events during the Saturday Farmer’s Market. Please go to their events section for more information on upcoming musicians, cooking demonstrations, and special events.
Easley just started a Downtown Farmer’s Market a few years ago. It is smaller than the one in Downtown Greenville but for a small community it has a lot of amazing produce to offer. Each year it has grown bigger with more vendors offering their fresh produce and goods to the local community.
Downtown Easley Farmer’s Market Details:
- What / Where – Downtown Easley Farmer’s Market (205 North 1st Street, Easley, SC 29640)
- When – Saturdays from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (April 9th to End of Season)
- Cost – Free Admission (the only cost is for the items you purchase from the local farmers / vendors)
- For More Information / Activities – Easley Farmers Market / 864-855-7900
2011 Special Calendar of Events – Easley’s Farmers Market:
- May 7 – Smoke House & Sparky
- May 14 – Parent Magazine & Fun Kid Activities
- May 21 – SunLit Moon Entertainment
- June 11 – Parent Magazine & Fun Kid Activities
- July 2 – 2nd Annual Pie Baking Contest & July 4th Celebration.
- July 23 – Square Root Entertainment
- More activities being scheduled check back often
Photo by Natalie Maynor & Swami Stream
Family Outings: “Moonlight Movies” Series starts Tonight at The Peace Center Amphitheater
Looking for a fun family activity tonight and you live near Greenville, SC? The “Moonlight Movies” Series Starts TONIGHT at The Peace Center Amphitheater sponsored by Fidelity Investments!Event Details:- When – 8:00 PM (at sundown) on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
- Where – The Peace Center Amphitheater & Wyche Pavilion (300 North Main St., Greenville, SC 29601)
- What’s Showing – “Father of the Bride”
- Cost – FREE
- Who – All Ages / Family Friendly Activity (movies will be rated G or PG or family friendly Not Rated)
- Food / Drink – Bring Your Own Beverage and Food or you can buy a wristband
- What to Bring – Your Family, Lawn Chairs, Blanket, Picnic, Drinks, and Snacks
- Not Allowed at the Event – No Pets / No Smoking
- For More Information – Greenville Moonlight Movies / Phone: 864-467-5741
If you cannot make it out to the movie tonight there will be more “Moonlight Movies” events coming!
Future “Moonlight Movies”:
- Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 8:00 PM – “Batman”
- Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 8:00 PM – “Winchester”
- Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 8:00 PM – Viewer’s Choice
Even if you do not live in the Greenville area I encourage you to check out events in your local city. Many towns offer free events that your family can enjoy.
Photo by Metromix Greenville
Save A Lot: Deals for the week of May 4 – 10, 2011
The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!
Meats and Seafood
Fresh Bone-In Split Chicken Breast – $0.99 per pound
Pork Spare Ribs – $1.79 per pound
Sugardale Bratwurst (14 oz) – $1.99
Bone-In Assorted Pork Chops – $2.49 per pound
Sugardale Super Dogs – $3.99
Hillshire Farms Sausage – $1.99
Use $1/1 coupon from Hillshire Farms
$0.99 each after couponHolten Beef Patties – $3.99
Hillshire Farms Lit’ Smokies – $2.59
Use $1/1 coupon from Hillshire Farms
$1.59 each after couponPick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).
Fridge and Freezer
Fudgsicles or Popsicles – $1.00
Borden Singles or Grilled Cheese Melts (12 oz) – $1.50
Wylwood Mini Corn on the Cob – $1.69
World’s Fair Ice Cream (1 gallon) – $4.99
World’s Fair Round Top Sundae Cones – $2.49
Crisp Premium Orange Juice – $2.69
Take & Bake Pepperoni or Supreme Pizza – $5.99
Take & Bake Cheese Pizza – $5.49
Stouffer’s Party Size Lasagna (90 oz) – $8.99
Use $1/1 coupon from Nestle Family
$7.99 after each couponHousehold
Colortex Bath Tissue (12 double rolls) – $2.99
Wrightware Foam Plates (100 count) – $2.00
Solo Plastic Cups – $0.99
Wrightware Napkins – $1.55
Kindle Charcoal Lighter Fluid – $2.49
Royal Oak Charcoal (8.3 pounds) – $2.99
Produce
Fresh Strawberries (1 pound) – $1.50
Extra Large Green Peppers – $0.33 each
Grocery
Gatorade (1/2 gallon) – $1.69
Cowboy Billy’s Pork & Beans (16 oz) – $0.50
Senora Verde Tortilla Chips – $1.29
Senora Verde Mild or Medium Salsa – $1.49
Senora Verde Taco Dinner Kit – $1.99
Senora Verde Refried Beans – $0.79
El Monterey Steak & Cheese Taquitos – $2.99
Kurtz Yellow Mustard – $0.69
On the Side Pasta Salad – $0.99
Kurtz BBQ Sauce – $0.99
Portmann’s Real Mayonnaise – $2.29
Kurtz Ketchup – $0.87
Kurtz Sweet Relish – $1.29
Save A Lot Brand Soda (12 Pack) – $2.29
Crystal 2 0 Drinking Water (24 pack) – $2.49
Frosty Flakes, Circus O’s or Captain Choco’s Cereal – $2.99
Toast Em Strawberry or Brown Sugar – $0.99
Malt O Meal Cereal – $0.99
Ralston Crisp Crunch Cereal – $1.99
Ralston Essentially You with Red Berries Cereal – $2.49
Pebbles Cereal – $1.79
Velveeta Cheesy Potatoes – $1.99
Kraft Homestyle Mac & Cheese – $1.99
Use $1/1 coupon from insert 4/17 Smart Source (Expires 5/17/11)
$0.99 each after couponBakery
Bakery Fresh Cherry or Apple Pies – $2.99
Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals! Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.
For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here. If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.
Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (April Update)
April is my third month tracking my Creative Cash. What is Creative Cash? Creative Cash is finding ways to come up with extra cash to share with others as well as work on our current goal. I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day, however, I feel that it is important to save money for our family by using coupons and buying items on sale but to earn a little money to help with the extra expenses and to share with others. The extra amount I bring in on top of the work is what I call “Creative Cash” which means finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already. I have tested this goal over the last couple months as I am challenging myself to make my life more simplified. I plan to continue this goal for the remaining months of the year. Despite the many financial obstacles that we have faced as a family we have been blessed with so much. We believe it is important to be accountable with our finances and give to others.Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire month through various endeavors. As it comes in the money is placed into our savings account and withdrawn at the end of the month so it can be split. It is my goal to make at least $100 extra a month to help with our goals as well as share with others. At the end of the month the money will be split 50 / 50 with half going towards our current goal we are working on (which at the moment is paying down debt) and the other half going to charity.
April was a great month even though I was out of town for half the month. Thankfully we started the month strong and I was able to go over my goal of $100. I want to share with you the ways we did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully we can be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:
- $23.11 – Items sold on Ebay (after fees): The all the items sold were coupons. I encourage you to look around at some of the coupons you get the mail, newspapers, magazines, in your stockpile, or other places and if you will not have the opportunity to use them then consider selling them for a little extra creative cash.
- $64.70 – A portion of the proceeds from our family garage sale the first weekend in April.
- $26.20 – A portion of the proceeds from the Upstate Kids Consignment Sale
- $28.85 – A portion of the proceeds from the Mothers of Multiples Club Consignment Sale.
- $3.87 – Bag of Aluminum cans taken to the Recycling Place.
- $18.99 – Other miscellaneous amounts earned (3 rebates, returns, cash back, extra money, etc…) that was added to my stash for the month.
April’s “Creative Cash” total was $165.72 which means $82.86 extra that goes towards our current goal (paying down debt) and $82.86 goes towards charity. It was exciting to go above the $100 goal again and to know it helps us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way. I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash in May so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another month where we can get closer to our goal and share with others. Each month I do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically in April. I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.
I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help our family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to us. I hope that we have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well. Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it! Do you know of another way to earn creative cash? I would love to hear your idea!
Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances. Life doesn’t always go as planned. We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given. Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life. A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others. There is so much more to life than having all the stuff. We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.
Photo by StopNLook
Heart Reflections: It’s Not About Us
As Moms, wives, and friends we get involved in so many activities. It is easy for our lives and schedules to quickly fill up to the point of bursting. When our lives, hearts, and schedules get packed full we don’t have the flexibility to spontaneously help and encourage others.A month ago I had the blessing of taking a quick road trip with friends. It was encouraging to spend time with a friend, another Mom. We have been richly blessed with amazing people in our lives. Also, we have a lot to be grateful for yet we often get too busy and don’t take enough time to focus about what’s really important. We forget that other Mom’s are going through many of the same struggles that we go through. We are not alone.
As Moms we want to allow our children the freedom to grow while at the same time protect them from danger and harm. There are many mistakes we make as Moms which can often lead to the feeling of guilt. Even though we make many mistakes in our lives and as parents God is much bigger than us. The focus really isn’t on or about us at all. Not only that but we are not called to raise “perfect” kids, the goal is to raise godly kids with the help of our spouse, extended family, church leaders, friends, and most importantly Christ. No one is perfect and to expecting our children to be that way is setting everyone up for disappointment.
- The first step is reflecting his love, grace and mercy through our lives in our words and actions starting first in our homes. We will continue to make a mess of some situations, but He forgives and helps point us back to what really is important. God has the power to work in our lives and family despite our failures. He is not surprised by those bumps in the road nor do they slow Him down. When we are relying on him for strength we will have more energy to focus on helping our children each step of the way.
Having the opportunity to raise and watch my girls grow has been a truly amazing adventure. As Moms we need to pray for our children, families and those our lives touch. We don’t know the path before us so we need to trust in His faithfulness and promises for today. While I was on bedrest for weeks the phrase that I repeated continually was “Day by Day”. Getting through the tasks and plans that are to be accomplish today, not tomorrow or yesterday, just today!
- Therefore the second step is praying for our kids. One of my prayers for our girls is that they will grow up to know Him and have a soft heart willing to soak in His teachings as well as listen to His guidance. I hope that my girls will be able to see past their Moms shortcomings and have a direct relationship with a heavenly Father who loves them even more than their Mom and Dad. No person or family is perfect. I am thankful for a husband who plays an active role in the lives of our children and for a God who loves, heals, and protects our family. It’s okay to loosen my grip a little regarding my children because I know I can hand my concerns about my children and their lives over to Him knowing He has their best interest at heart.
We often get wrap up in what we need to get done that we miss some of the beautiful moments we have with our children. Our girls are growing up quickly and I have to constantly remind myself that it’s not about us. Our calling is so much bigger and better than just our schedule and agenda. We have to continually remind ourselves of what truly matters and to purposely take the extra few minutes each day this week to really spend quality time with our families.
“Heart Reflections” is a series of thoughts and encouragement that come directly from my heart. Life has a way of throwing us extra challenges and when our focus is pulled away from what is truly important we tend to feel the pressure of stress in our lives. This series is created to remind us that we are part of something so much bigger than ourselves. We don’t have to face the pressure of life on our own. We can trust that our prayers are being heard. He alone knows what’s best for us and gives us the appropriate strength to get through each day as it is set before us.
Photo by Seattle Municipal Archives
