Girls' Day Out

On Sat. the girls (my sister-in-laws, mother-in-law, grandmother, and myself) headed out for a fun day together! We pampered ourselves by getting a manicure or pedicure and then enjoyed the soup and salad deal at The Olive Garden! What a nice treat.

Here are a few ideas for having a fun girls' day together:

- Pamper yourselves like we did with manicures or pedicures or get together and do it yourself at home!

- Head to the park for a picnic lunch and a walk to enjoy the scenery.

- Host a brunch and then head out to do something fun afterwards like watching a matinée or browsing your favorite bookstores.

- Have everyone over to work together on their current project. Whether it's knitting, scrap booking, needlepoint, or something else, it's probably more fun with company around!

- Get together to make something fun but unusual. You could try homemade ice cream, homemade pasta, or an elaborate cake you've always wanted to try to make. If it's a flop you'll have had more fun making it with friends.

Make sure to treat yourself once in awhile and spend time with your family and friends!

Prayers for Little Ones

Lord Jesus, prepare my heart today that
Thy word may be to me very sweet and
precious. Amen.

Lord, Let me in Thy holy name
My task today pursue:
Thy glory be my only aim
In all I think and do. Amen.


- Prayers for Little Ones compiled by Geo. L. Conrad, Copyright 1923

What is this Mom?

Today was our first real chance of the year to get out and crawl around in the grass and dirt. We looked at grass, bugs, sticks, and leaves! What fun!

Borax to the Rescue

Recently I bought some new adorable cloth diapers but found that after a few washes they just weren't smelling fresh after being washed.

I concluded that the multiple layers of fabric built into the Kushies diapers just weren't coming clean with my regular routine. That's when I discovered Borax! By soaking the diapers in water and borax, I'm back to having fresh smelling diapers. An added bonus is that Borax is just about the cheapest thing you can buy in the laundry detergent section! One box only costs about $2.00. It works for us!

Shoveling

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.

Phyllis Diller

Inexpensive Entertainment - Friends

Well once again it is Friday! Today is my last post in this series I've been writing on inexpensive entertainment.

Today I'd just like to say that the least expensive option for entertainment is just to take the time to invest in your friends and family! Spending some quality time with your good friends does not cost much but provides plenty of fun and memories. Can you think of times in the past when you had friends who you could do nothing with but still have fun? Find those friends and you will find plenty of fun for a good price.

I was just listening to a radio program the other day where they were discussing the importance of friends. If you don't have close friends it can be intimidating and hard to know where to find them. I suggest diving into a group for a cause that you love, where like minded people will be present. You just might find a good friend. The next step is to nurture your friendships. Friendships are a give and take relationship, and they do take time to develop!

A high school friend and I were just reminiscing recently about how we used to have a craft night where we would have a set monetary limit. We would drive to Walmart , buy our supplies and then head home to create the project. We had a lot of fun doing this, mostly because we were spending time with good friends. The project itself wasn't what was important, it was spending time with friends! I need to remind myself that just spending time with people is what makes "entertainment" entertaining!

So send an email, give someone a call, write a letter, or better yet get together with a friend! You won't regret it!

For more frugal tips visit Biblical Womanhood!

A Windy Chicago Day

This morning was just one of "those" mornings. I decided to begin vacuuming after my little guy went down for his morning nap. I managed to clean up the layers of cat hair from the floor and couch but also managed to get the vacuum extension stuck out. Just imagine a giant pole sticking out of the top of the vacuum and you will be imagining what I'm stuck with. I'm not sure how one even manages to do that, but I did somehow. In the process of vacuuming I woke Luke up.

Also while vacuuming, Chicago showed it's true self by blowing my recycling bin over repeatedly in my front yard. So as my yard filled up with newspapers, magazines and other miscellaneous objects I ran throughout the muddy yard (in my slippers and pajamas) trying to pick it up while yet again the wind would knock the bin over. I'm sure if the neighbors were looking they probably had quite a laugh watching me run around the yard.

Eventually the wind won and we brought the recycling inside to await a less windy week.