Still Picking up the Pennies

My family used to enjoy going out to eat. We used to do it once or twice a month. With the kids getting older and having a busier schedule, it was usual for us all have the time, at the same time to sit down and enjoy a meal. Of course we picked restaurants and food we enjoyed, but what we really enjoyed is family time. Family time, looking at the people we love the most in the world and having conversations with them. Conversations were light and whimsical, with out the drugery of cooking and clean up looming over anyone's head.  Over the years we tried many different restaurants, and foods.I remember paying top dollar for meal of spaghetti and meatball, that my child refused to eat. Said child loved spaghetti and meatballs, and of course being a frugal parent, I tried to coax him to eat it. I used his fork to cut the meatball; I could not cut the meatball. I was horrified and needless to say we did not bring the food home. After many of alike experiences, we found a style of rest...

I have been following the Money Saving Mom for a number of years. She has been an inspiration over the past decade or so to me. This past year she and her family fostered a newborn and had their own newborn. They have three older children, three teenagers! Anyhow she picks a word for the New Year, this year she chose two Show-Up . Show-Up is perfect for her, and if you read the post I linked you will understand why. I am once again inspired by her so I am thinking of a word or a phrase of the year that is suitable for my new year.  The last year 2020 rocked the world, and my world. The CORONA virus, working from home, uncountable ZOOM meetings, job loss all weighed heavy on me. I am notorious for coming up with great ideas and getting all inspired and excited. I have so many projects started, all started with good intentions and life has gotten in the way, or I lost interest. I make plans and never follow through, hence my phrase for the year 2021 is going to be 'follow-through...

 Living in the country it is normal to see wildlife in our yard on occasion. It is normal to see three or four turkeys on the side of the road a few miles down the road from the house. We have lived in this house for 18 years (as of today, a matter of fact) and we have never seen what we did the other day.  We counted 28 turkeys, but we could have missed a few at the beginning. The turkeys were like a family of ducks following each other. They came from the far side of the garage across the driveway, through the front yard, and into the parcel of pine trees next to the house. I hope we see them more often. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my home to yours. Also, by the way, we are having ham for Christmas dinner. What are you having for Christmas dinner?

Ispy is a $12 per month subscription bag. You get 5 deluxe size samples of makeup, skin, or hair care. Sometimes you get full size products and makeup brushes. Every month you will receive a different makeup bag.  Ispy is one of my favorite subscription boxes.  From the ipsy site:        HEY HONEY Good Morning Honey Silk Facial Serum There’s nothing sticky about this honey-infused serum. Luxurious, lightweight and smooth—it almost feels like an oil. A natural healer, honey speeds up cell growth and leaves our skin soft, bright and glowing. Honey and propolis are super-potent antiseptic and antibacterial ingredients, which help keep breakouts in check while nourishing sensitive skin too.  Not only do hyaluronic acid and silk amino acids deeply hydrate, they work to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles while increasing radiance and firmness.  My Review: It Goes on smooth, it has a light soft scent that I liked. My face soaked it up. I will ...

Now that I have more time on my hands to cook and bake for my family, I am enjoying trying new recipes. My husband loves cherry pie. I had hoped to try to make my first cherry pie. I sent my oldest son to the Dollar Tree for cherry pie filling. There was none in stock, but there was apple pie filling, I told him to get 5 of them.  This week I had my menu plan all set, but there was a bit of excitement lacking. I was in the mood for something sweet and I had 5 cans of apple pie filling so I searched the internet. I found this recipe . I have never made apple crisp, I wanted a simple recipe, and the fact that I had all of the ingredients in the house was a bonus. I wish I would have taken a photo before my family devoured it. This recipe is simple and so incredibly yummy. We had it for dessert while it was still warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I will defiantly be making this recipe again.  Have you made anything using a new recipe lately?

  The Loneliness Solution, a book about how, despite the connectedness of our world, we're lonelier now more than ever.  You are not alone. We are lonelier than ever. As countless students travel home for the holidays, many may feel especially isolated and lonely, even while "keeping up" with friends on social media. Social media tricks us into thinking that we are engaged in genuine friendships. Yet instead of intimacy, we get little more than what amounts to digital small talk. But there is a solution. With plenty of good humor and practical advice, Jack Eason invites you to discover the benefits of doing life together with other brothers and sisters in Christ. Grounding his message in Scripture, Eason helps you · learn the obstacles to real community · reimagine what real friendship looks like · discover a place of true belonging · and more If you're tired of feeling lonely, this encouraging and community-building book is just what you need. My Review:  During thi...

  Hello everyone, I wanted to do a quick post to wish everyone a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. I got a blessing in disguise this past week. I am not ready to talk about the details yet, but I will have a lot more time on my hands. I will begin posting here more regularly. I will be getting back to my basic frugal lifestyle so be ready for that.  I made chicken enchiladas last night for dinner. I used this recipe  but I used can sauce and I tripled it. My oldest son is working the midnight shift and he likes to take leftovers from dinner with him. He works from 10pm to 6am and there is no place to get food at that time locally. And he is very frugal (this makes my mamma's heart smile). I will write again soon.