Everything Else

Feeding my book habit

August 6, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

I love to read. Devour words. Learn. Memorize. Read!

I am currently reading four books at the same time and that is just how I roll.

Reading voraciously can be an expensive habit. But, it does not have to be! Here are some ways I feed my book habit, frugal style:

Frequent the library. I visit the library A LOT! What in the world is better than free books? You do have to remember to return them on time {my kids are the bane of my existence in this area} or you will fund the library through your late fees. And, you are not limited to the public library. Many churches have great resource libraries!
Buy books online. I never pay full price for a book, whether it is a text book for college classes, a book for a Bible study or a novel. Amazon is my favorite place to shop for books but Ebay is good as well. There is no shame in buying a used book that is in good condition, particularly when it is $3.00!
Book swap. My friends and I like the same fiction and non fiction genres. So, we book swap. Make sure that you put your name/address in the front of a book that you own so that it eventually makes it’s way back to you. You can even do this with friends that live far away by requesting the book rate at the post office {wish that was the rate to ship everything!} My friends and I even swap magazines!
Peruse yard sales and consignment/thrift stores. I love buying a good book for .10 or a quarter! Sometimes you have to dig to find a treasure but it is worth it in the end.

For tips on organizing books you can visit this archived posts here.

This post is linked to Frugal Friday.

Filed Under: Everything Else, Frugal Friday, Frugal Living, Home & Family, Office & Business, magazines Tagged With: cheap books, Frugal Living, organizing books

Good times with S’mores..

August 4, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

[#7: Edit Options>MightyAdsense>Adsense Code]

Tomorrow I will be heading to a blogging conference in NYC and my transportation is courtesy of Hershey and Kraft. Once I get to BlogHer I will also be visiting the S’more Snacktivity Suite for s’more goodies {ha!}.

Thinking back on my favorite memories that involve s’mores I had many to choose from. S’mores are ALWAYS part of our camping trips. But, then I found this picture in a photo album from way back in 2005. It is my sweet friend, Kenya and my hubby. We were hosting a harvest party, complete with hay rides and a bon-fire at our home but…it rained!

So Kenya saved the day by making s’mores in the microwave!

Do you have a favorite s’mores story? I would love to hear it in the comments!

As part of the S’mores Road Trip to BlogHer I
                   received a round trip ticket on Amtrak to the
                   convention and Hershey branded items. Any views
                   expressed in this post are my own.

Filed Under: Everything Else, Reviews Tagged With: BlogHer, camping, smores

Want S’more?

July 31, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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I am so pumped to be going to BlogHer ’10 in New York City next week. Even more excited to see my blogging friends! And even more exited {can you tell yet that I am excited?} to be riding to NYC on a train with 30 other awesome DC area bloggers courtesy of Hershey’s and Kraft.

I will be sharing tweets and blog posts about my trip, and most importantly, our family’s S’more traditions. Do you like s’mores?

Filed Under: Everything Else

As of late…

July 15, 2010 By admin 8 Comments

I came across this meme and love the premise…I hope you enjoy it too!

Lately, I have been turning my Bible study about finances into an e-book (for sale August 1st).

Lately, I have been spending precious time with my middle son as he healed from a nasty leg infection.

Lately, I have been learning about the “in-between” times and what God wants us to learn while we wait.

Lately, the heat has kept me from having a lot of energy (thanks to MS) and I have been quite the couch potato.

Lately, I have been asking God to change my heart about some things.

Lately, I have been excited about launching CWA TV.

Lately, I have been tired of waiting, even though I know there are lessons here in the wait.

Lately, I have been irritable.

Lately, I have been rediscovering my love for all things hot pink, including watermelon sorbet.

Lately, I have been thankful that I have frugal systems in place because our finances have taken a beating.

Lately, I have been wondering what God has in store for us.

As of late…I wait.

Other as of late posts can be found here.

What have you been up to lately?

Filed Under: Everything Else, Personal, organizing style

Grill Set Giveaway Winner

June 7, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

Random.org picked commenter #4 Crystal as our winner. Congratulations to our winner and thanks for entering!!

Filed Under: Everything Else Tagged With: giveaway winners, grilling

Decluttering your mind from expectations

June 7, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

One of the areas I have struggled the most with expectations is in parenting. I have expectations of myself as a parent, of my husband as a father and of my children and their potential.

Let’s begin by defining expectations. According to dictionary.com:

–noun 1.

the act or the state of expecting: to wait in expectation.

2. the act or state of looking forward or anticipating.

3. an expectant mental attitude: a high pitch of expectation.

4. something expected; a thing looked forward to.

5. Often, expectations. a prospect of future good or profit: to have great expectations.

6. the degree of probability that something will occur: There is little expectation that he will come.

7. Statistics. mathematical expectation.

8. the state of being expected: a large sum of money in expectation.

I put the definitions in bold that lept out at me. An expectant mental attitude…hmmm.

What are we, as believers, supposed to be expecting? Anticipating?

Are we called to expect as much accomplishment out of ourselves as possible? Are we called to expect our best in our own strength? Are we called to expect what our children should enjoy, desire or be talented at?

The answer to those questions is a resounding “no”. Yet I struggle with those expectations on a daily basis. I allow them to clutter my mind.

Then I read Isaiah 55:8:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For the sake of today, let me paraphrase. For My expectations are not your expectations, neither are your plans My plans…

The best way I know to declutter our mind from the bondage of expectations is to give them over to God. Ask Him what He expects from you and what you are expecting from others that He would like you to give up.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Throw off the expectations of your kids, your hubby, your friends and most importantly yourself that do not match up with the Word and God’s call on your life. Change your focus to the expectations God has and you will find your mind so much less cluttered.