Meals for Sept 5th-10th

We still haven't made the Mushroom Cube Steaks! So that goes up today!

Tuesday: Pesto Tilapia

Wednesday: Pan Seared Pork Chops and Mushroom Sauce

Thursday: Spicy Sausage and Rice Casserole

Friday: Salmon and Rice  (I've been craving this lately)

Saturday I'll be roasting one of the chickens I got on SALE (88 cents per pound!!!)


With a few of the meals I'll take pictures and put them up on Saturday :)

Frugal Friday

I know, I missed posting yesterday. Franklin is working on a new skill (pulling himself to standing...yes, I'm serious. Yes, I know he's not quite 6 months old) so he's been frustrated lately. The same thing happened when he wanted to learn to sit up by himself. He's also been a very Velcro Baby as of late. This keeps me from doing a lot of things around the house...


But I'll try to get some frugal tips in today!

Breastfeeding and Cloth Diapers/Wipes

Most Americans spend tons of money on formula and disposable diapers/wipes. With my son, it would have been extra expensive as he has a dairy sensitivity. The way we do it, I just have to avoid dairy. The formula route means buying special formula (special = expensive). I have a friend who's son is allergic to dairy AND soy...so if she's used formula it would mean the super expensive allergenic kind. That's crazy. Plus, all of the bottles and brushes and blah blah blah.
My son also has sensitive skin (another genetic gift from Mommy) We've done disposables a few times here and there and he gets a horrible rash each and every time. We even tried the "All Natural" kind only to get a bad rash. (We also can't use Johnson's anything...but I've heard that's normal for a lot of kids...apparently, it's bad stuff) The only time he gets a rash now is if I have dairy (food allergies cause diaper rash), if I have too many acidic foods (orange juice for example), or if he sits in a wet diaper too long (sometimes he'll have a slight rash for the first part of the morning). However, this is the exception and not the rule. I love that we don't have to spend money on expensive diapers AND creams.

Honestly, we save thousands a year just by making these choices...think about it.

Word For Wednesday Sept 30th

The theme today is breastfeeding...it's a topic that is VERY important to me.

Genesis 49:25 By the God of your father who will help you,
      And by the Almighty who will bless you
      With blessings of heaven above,
      Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
      Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

Right there it talks about breasts and the womb being a blessing.


There are numerous passages that reference breasts and nursing.


Why would I choose this subject? Breastfeeding is a very important topic to me. Most women choose to not breastfeed AT ALL, and most of the ones that do only do it for a short while. Breastfeeding for an extended period of time is beneficial to the mother and child.

Now, I'm not going to knock formula. For women that are unable to breastfeed, formula is a life-saver (literally).

However, I will say that I believe that pushing formula as better than breastmilk, downplaying the importance of breastfeeding, and making it shameful or wrong to breastfeed in public are tools of Satan. Yep, I said it. Anything that tries to take away your gifts is a tool of Satan. Think about it, if breastfeeding no longer happens there is one less thing to connect a mother and child; so why not let someone else raise him?
- Formula cannot totally replace breastmilk. Science cannot replicate the antibodies it provides. Science cannot cause formula to change its composition during a feeding. Science cannot do better than God!
- Breastfeeding for at least one year is recommended. Two years is better. It helps the mother with healing post-partum, it lowers her cervical/uterine cancer risk, and it protects the child against diseases for which they now require vaccinations.
- Nursing in public is a God-given right. I've heard people say that in Islam, breastfeeding is a child's birthright. I've also heard that in some Moslem communities where the women full cover breastfeeding in public is okay. So I propose this question: Why, in the land of tank tops and daisy dukes, is nursing in public viewed as trashy and shameful?

America has sexualized something that isn't sexual at all. It has taken something beautiful and made it dirty. We need to take it back and make it how God intended.

Tidy Tuesday Product Recommendation

I LOVE the product Bar Keepers Friend! It is the BEST cleanser and polisher I've ever come across. I don't have any personal before and after pictures...but I found some (and yes, I've seen it do this on my personal pots and pans)

Click

Amazing, right?


I only have a minute so this is a quick post. I'm going to send you here to read more!

Meals Sept 27th-Oct 3rd

This week is a fairly easy week because we were out of town the past weekend!

Sunday: Out of Town

Monday: Chili (my mom's recipe...sorry, can't reveal!)

Tuesday: Chicken Fried Steak (pretty basic)

Wednesday: (Stefan's Birthday) "Chinese Night" Oriental Pork, Rice, Patty's Green Beans (can't reveal that last one either...we're sworn to secrecy)

Thursday: Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Friday: Chicken Quesadillas

Saturday: Mushroom Cube Steaks (I'll give that recipe out if it's good...we've never tried it)

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for my beautiful son. :)

Sometimes I get nostagic because I didn't do something big with my life. I didn't become a model, I didn't finish the acting thing, I didn't get to go to medical school, I didn't travel the world (YET!), and I didn't get into the Air Force...

However...

I get to listen to baby giggles over the simplest things. I get to enjoy "hugs" and "kisses" (he doesn't "know" he's doing them but I take it anyway) I get to see his face light up when I come in after he wakes up from a nap.

That's when I realize that THIS is what I was meant to be doing; and THIS is where I'm supposed to be in life. Nothing is more fulfilling than watching my son grow up. Nothing warms my heart like thinking about him growing up and about us having more children. Being a doctor couldn't do that, being on stage (or back stage) didn't do that, and I'm sure that the Air Force wouldn't have either.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust the Lord with all your heart,
       and don't depend on your own understanding.
  Remember the Lord in all you do,
       and he will give you success.

Word For Wednesday #1

New Century Version (because it's easier to read and understand a lot of times)

Titus 2:4-5  Then [the older women] can teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,⁵ to be wise and pure, to be good workers at home, to be kind, and to yield to their husbands.

The King James Version puts it like this:


⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
 ⁵To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.



Quite different...hmm...


So, for the record, to live according to God's will we (younger women) are supposed to do the following:

1) Love your husband and children Not too hard, right? I hope not. Remember, even when they put you at wits end and you feel like you can't stand them anymore; you still love them.

2) Be discreet and pure Dress for success for God...not a nightclub. Some have different views on this point. Some women use this to show that we should be fully covered. I, however, think that your husband should make the call. If he is comfortable with you wearing a tank top out in the summer time than so be it. However, if the idea of your bare shoulders makes him uncomfortable put something on over it.

3) Homemaking A lost art! Throughout my life I searched for the PERFECT job for me. My mind went to everything. Lawyer, doctor, actress, model, hairstylist, etc... But the job that I've found most fulfilling? Being a stay at home wife and mother. Staying at home (especially before children) is looked down on by society. However, if you can afford it (and I understand many families cannot...or don't want to) staying at home is a great job.

4) Be nice :) Basically, that's it. Be kind to people!

5) Obey your husband Another lost art! No, I don't mean kiss his feet and jump when he snaps his fingers. If your husband is doing his job (loving you as Christ loves the church) you should have NO problem obeying his wishes.


Lets work on these this week!

Tidy Tuesday #1

From http://www.realsimple.com/

Daily Quick Cleaning Checklist

Kitchen

• 
  
  
  
  Clear out and wipe down the sink (5 minutes). No piles of dirty dishes! Move them into the dishwasher, and wipe the sink with a sponge.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Wipe down countertops and stove (1 minute). Clean splatters and spills with a damp cloth or sponge and an all-purpose cleanser.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Wipe problem spots on the floor (2 minutes). You can save a full-floor mop for the weekend, but use the same cloth (once you’ve finished with the countertops) to quickly clean any spills or sticky spots, which will attract dirt and get more noticeable if left alone.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Fold or hang dish towels (30 seconds). Even if they’re clean, a jumble of dish towels on the counter can look messy. Take a few moments to fold or hang them.
  
  
  

Bathroom

• 
  
  
  
  Wipe out the sink (30 seconds). If you use a premoistened cloth to wipe your face, swipe the sink bowl and faucet handles with it, too. Or use a washcloth, paper towel, or a product like Windex Glass and Surface Wipes, which don’t leave streaks on chrome or mirror.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Clean splatters off the mirror (15 seconds). Got foamy toothpaste spray on the mirror? Do a quick swipe with the same cloth you used on the sink.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Wipe the toilet seat and rim (15 seconds). Same cloth! Just do the toilet last.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Swoosh the toilet bowl with a brush (15 seconds). If you see a ring, give it a quick scrub.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Squeegee the shower door (30 seconds). Wipe down glass doors to remove water droplets that can cause spotting. No squeegee? Use a dry towel.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Spray the shower and curtain liner with a shower mist (15 seconds). A quick spray with a daily cleanser will reduce buildup of mildew and soap scum.
  
  
  

Bedroom

• 
  
  
  
  Make your bed (2 minutes). Even a fluffy down comforter pulled up over messy sheets will look polished.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Fold or hang clothes and put away jewelry (4 minutes). Even better: Resist the urge to toss them somewhere in the first place! Put them away as you take them off.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Straighten out the night-table surface (30 seconds). Take last night’s water glass to the kitchen, stow your reading glasses in a drawer, and straighten books or magazines.
  
  
  

Living Room

• 
  
  
  
  Tidy the sofa (2 minutes). It’s likely the focus of the room, so neaten it. Fluff the pillows and fold the throws.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Pick up crumbs with a handheld vacuum (1 minute). Concentrate on surfaces in plain sight: sofa cushions, coffee table, and rugs in the middle of the room. Look for dust bunnies, too.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Wipe tables and spot-clean cabinets where you see fingerprints (1 minute). Use a microfiber cloth or a Swiffer cloth to pick up dust. If the surfaces are streaked or sticky, use a moist cloth.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Straighten coffee table books and magazines (2 minutes). Toss old newspapers and corral the remote controls into one place (a drawer, if possible).
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Clear major clutter (5 minutes). Stash video games, toys, and anything else you might trip over.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I love this list! It's so useful when you only have a few minutes.
  
  
  

What to Expect...

I'm going to try to update more often. It's been set as a daily chore. I'm going to do certain things on certain days...it should help me think.

Mon: Meals for the Week (recipes included!)
Tues: Tidy Tuesday (Cleaning tips!)
Wed: Word For Wednesday (Scripture for your week)
Thurs: Thankful Thursdays (Something for which I am thankful)
Fri: Frugal Friday (Tips on how to save money!)
Sat: Everything else!
Sun: Day of Rest (no posts)


So keep checking back!


I have no meal plans for this week because we're headed out of town!