Molly's Money Saving Digest - My Review

I have had several people tell me over the years that I should be a salesperson because I'm so convincing when I talk about something I love. I don't know how convincing I am, and I can promise you I will never go into sales (you never know what kind of financial situation people are in and I'll never push people into parting with their money for something they may not really want or need), but when I find a product that really works, a product that does exactly what it says it will do or something that goes above and beyond my expectations, then I just HAVE to tell about it! Before I buy anything on-line, and sometimes even before I go to a store to purchase something, I always search for consumer reviews first. I highly depend on the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of others before dishing out any of my dear hubby's hard-earned money.

So, all of that to say that I couldn't be happier to have been given the opportunity to review the January 2010 edition of Molly's Money Saving Digest. I first learned about Molly and the Econobusters website a few months ago and was intrigued. I'm all for any help in being frugal and finding ways to be a better steward of all God has blessed me with, be it our finances, my family, my home, or even myself!

The first thing that caught my eye with Molly were the fun, colorful illustrations that the website and digests are made up of. So inviting! But in the January 2010 edtition I found much more than I ever expected could be contained in a monthly publication!

First of all let me start off by saying that I'm no pie-maker. I love the IDEA of baking pies... my home smelling all 1950-ish, and of course I'm in my heels and apron in this fantasy! But alas, I've never made my first pie, from scratch or otherwise. No-bake cheesecake? That I've got covered. But after reading Martha Greene's easy step-by-step instructions on homemade pies I'm feeling an overwhelming urge to get all domesticated and try my hand at making my own pie crusts and filling them with something yummy! My family will wonder what in the world has gotten into me! Speaking of my family, we have been in a bit of a breakfast funk for a while, eating the same things over and over, so I think I'll also try Ms. Green's recipe for fruit-filled turnovers. What a great excuse to eat (mini) pies in the morning!

A large part of January's Money Saving Digest is all about organization, complete with printable forms to help us organize our time, our money, and our stuff! One thing that has made the biggest difference for me as far as organizing and time-saving goes (and helped take a dreaded task and turn it into not so big of a deal) is writing out a weekly menu and making my grocery shopping list straight from that menu. In January's digest Molly has also included a week's worth of meal ideas complete with a printable shopping list so you can just print and go! How much easier could it get?!

One thing I really appreciated, and I believe is a new addition to Molly's digest (although I could be wrong), is her Kid's Corner where she addressed a couple simple financial issues just for kids. It's never too early to start teaching our children how to be financially responsible!

While all of this is really good I have to say her ideas on how to frugally decorate our homes has to be my favorite. I love her suggestions! They couldn't be easier, cheaper, or prettier and I plan on copying her nearly to the T! They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so Miss Molly should consdier herself flattered!

Whether it's help with organizing, decorating, menu-planning or one of the many other things Molly covers in January's Money Saving Digest, you'll find lots of good ideas and great advice that make the monthly cost of $4.95 for each digest very much worth it. When your family is treated to yummy made-from-scratch pie for breakfast that $4.95 will quite possibly be the best money you've spent in a while!

Wherefor Art Thou, Dear Blogger?

Hello! Long time, no blogging!

Since I joined the Facebook phenomenon it seems I gave up on blogging. It IS much quicker and easier to say a few words and stay in touch with friends and family there, but I realized that my blog provided a way for me to put to words all the memories I didn't want to forget over the years. There are so many things I would have normally came here and typed up a quick blog entry about that I have now forgotten about and that makes me sad.

So, my goal is to get back to blogging, the one thing that I truly fell in love with and now treasure because it holds memories my feeble mommy-brain has so easily forgotten.

It feels good to be back!

Since It May Snow This Weekend...

I guess it's time to get back to blogging! (You know, since my blog is STILL decorated all snowy and such?)

YAY!!! It's so good to be back! Hopefully lots of updates from throughout the year to come soon.

I miss blogging. I really, really, really do.

But it's all snowy here! How in the world can I blog in this? Sigh... I really don't feel like taking the time to change it. Maybe I'll just pretend it's not here until it really is winter?

Productive Day

(This picture is for my fellow FIAR gals.)

Look! See my microwave? And that crockpot... it has a nice yummy, juicy roast in it just waiting for my Sweetie Pie when he gets home from work, which I will happily and lovingly serve him as he unwinds from a long, hard day!

In Honor of the Super Bowl

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.

He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - - he had a different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona, where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his Cardinals in the hunt for a possible appearance in the Super Bowl. Is this a surprise ending or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person.

It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Daddy's Biggest Fans

Sweetie works for WazooSports, which is a very cool job (all sports, all the time... how much cooler can it get for a guy?) and this was from last night when we went to a big event they were putting on. I just love it and wanted to put it on here so daddy can see it and show it off!