Living Frugally

Saving money is something that I hear about all the time these days! With the way the economy is right now saving money is becoming a more talked about topic. I am always looking for ways to be a good steward of my money and save on necessary goods whenever I can. I subscribe to a practical and creative magazine for women called  all you and  I came across a few interesting tips on ways to save money in last month's issue that I  wanted to share with you. Try them out and see what you think. 

On Beauty:

*Use Epsom salts as a body scrub instead of more pricey exfoliating body washes. Mix and handful into your soap or face wash to slough off dead skin. ( I tried this and it worked well)

* Use baby powder instead of dry shampoo. Rub it into your roots and brush through your hair. If this doesn't work for you,  I have also found that many hair product companies are making dry shampoo (such as TRESemme) and they cost considerably less than salon quality styling products.

*Use conditioner  as shaving cream. It not only makes for a smooth shave but also moisturizes as you shave. I have tried this as well and loved the results.

Around the House:

*Use baking soda to deodorize carpets, clean your bathroom sink and tub and to freshen laundry (1/4 in the rinse cycle).

* White vinegar can also be used to clean. Use a 50-50 water & vinegar solution to clean windows and mirrors. You can also add a 1/2 cup to your laundry rinse cycle to brighten whites.

Groceries:

*Prepare a meatless meal 1 or 2 nights a week. Make creative dishes using rice, beans and veggies.

*Use coupons whenever possible. You can find coupons online (couponmom.com, coupons.com, smartsource.com), in magazines and the Sunday newspaper. I have found that if you go to the product website you can often find coupons there as well. Coupons used simultaneously with sale items save you even more. Be careful not to buy items you don't need or wouldn't normally buy just because you have a coupon though. Coupons save you the most money when you use them on items you would buy anyway.

Here are a few things I do to help me save money too:

*Follow a budget. This is crucial for me. I have a monthly budget that keeps me organized financially and helps me to see where my money is going. This keeps me from overspending.

*I also make a menu for the week by choosing some recipes to make for dinners. I make a grocery list according to my menu which keeps me from buying many random items that won't make a meal.

* I use cash as much as possible for groceries, gasoline, and spending allowance. Using cash instead of debit allows you to see how much you are spending as it disappears so you choose carefully how you spend that money.

Lastly...

* If I go out to lunch or dinner with a friend, I try to find a buy one get one free coupon or some kind of coupon for the restaurant we choose. A coupon book like an Entertainment book is great for this.

These are just a few of many ways to save money. I would love to hear from you. Please share with us the things you do to save money...we can learn so much from each other!

~Written by Julie

Change

I went up North for cooler air. In Phoenix you have to leave the city to see and feel just a hint of a new season coming. Six years ago I lived in Flagstaff for a year, it was short, yet long enough to leave an impression on my soul.

I knew exactly where I wanted to go, it was a park on the edge of town, with ponds and grass, trees and geese. This was the place I would come to and question the things unfolding in my life. Six years later I know what is true about me and whose I am and I am thankful for the beauty in the process, but this is still my place of solitude and quiet.

I feel my soul searching for a moment or perhaps it’s searching for more then just a moment. I feel like life is going to change much like these leaves, but it’s just a season and then on to the next. But do I feel a peace about the changing leaves, or is that anxiety? I am prone to anxiety over peace much like the rest of the human race, but I want this time in the park up North to be different from six years ago, when I was filled with anxiety.

I want this time to be peaceful.

So with no books to read, no iPod to listen to, not even a friend to talk to, I just stay quiet, because that is when I can start to listen. And I start to hear my shallow breathing and my heart beating fast....anxiety, and I can start to breath deeper and unclench my fists and let the wind carry it away.

Life is a process with many seasons and funerals and weddings and births and new jobs. In these moments I have a choice to make, do I stay, or do I go? Is comfortable just another way of saying I like the filth I’m sitting in? It’s time to move on.

Sex Trafficking in America

Today I went with a group of people to a place that will eventually shelter girls who were forced into prostitution at a young age. We were told the horrific stats and the sad stories of this very thing happening in the city I live in. I left there with a heavy heart, burdened by the pain these girls endure during their captivity and after they are freed. I want to do something I want to be a part of something like this. But I have cause to stop and ask if “doing” is the right thing for me, can prayer be more powerful then my volunteerism? Today I was made aware of something that I never knew existed around me, perhaps God is asking that I intercede and petition and have a conversation with Him on behalf of these girls and this ministry. How powerful can prayer really be when it feels like I’m not doing much. This is the challenge for myself, and I am now committing to talking to God on a regular basis about this very thing, with the faith that He will cause the change to happen.

So please join me in prayer for the many girls around the US and the world who are kidnapped, exploited, threatened, manipulated, abused and pimped out. They are our modern day slaves, they are still children. Please pray!

"What If's"

Do you ever think to try something new or different and then have an overload of "what if" thoughts go through your mind? What if this happens, what if that happens, etc. I don't know about you but I do at different times...sometimes daily. When the "what if''s" creep in  I have found that it keeps me from moving forward with my ideas or thoughts. It prevents me from "going out on a limb" by trying something new and experiencing all the that could be had in that moment such as new friendships, freedom, healing, joy, etc.
This makes me think of a woman who lived during the time of Jesus. She had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. Imagine bleeding ( like the kind of bleeding all of us don't look forward to each month) for that long. I can only imagine that she was weak and tired and just felt gross from this. On top of this, a woman who had her period was believed to be unclean and she made EVERYTHING she touched unclean. Well, this woman had spent everything she had on doctors with the hopes of being cured but wasn't. She happened to be in the midst of a crowd as Jesus passed through her town on His way to heal a man named Jariu's daughter. This woman gently pushed her way through the crowd determined to get close enough to touch Him believing because she had the faith that He could heal her. She got close to Jesus, reached for Him and touched the fringe of His robe. This was a huge deal....in this period of history and culture it was most inapporpriate for a woman to tocuh a man in public or to even interact with a man for that matter. As she touched the fringe of His robe her bleeding stopped and Jesus turned around to see what happened. He asked who touched him and one of His disciples justified it by saying  the crowd was  pressing into Jesus. He responded with "No, someone touched me for I felt healing power go out of me." The woman fell to her knees before Him and explained in front of the whole crowd why she touched Him and that she had been healed. Jesus lovingly responded with "daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace."
The thing that grabs me in this story is that this woman...despite her cultural beliefs or what others may think...she stepped out on a limb because she believed she would be healed. Now, I wonder what thoughts were going through her mind as she approached Jesus with a desire to be healed. I imagine she had a few "what if's" whirling around in there which may have stopped her from being healed.

So, what dreams or ideas are brewing in your heart? Are there what if questions keeping you from stepping out and pursuing those dreams?

By Julie

Welcome Colleen!

Hi my name Colleen and I am avid couch surfer, I love moving from place to place, meeting new people and I’ll stay on anyone's couch. Jesus is my treasure and I love to experience who He is through other cultures. I enjoy learning about people and building relationships all over the world and sharing with them what it means to me to live in the Kingdom of God. My desire is to meet women in different parts of the world and build lasting friendships through this blog where we can talk about what it means to live in this Kingdom.

Welcome Julie!

Hello, my name is Julie! I am a child of God, daughter, sister, auntie, elementary reading teacher, girly-girl who loves to travel, sing, socialize, learn about new cultures and to try my hand at new things! My hearts desire is be a wife and mother one day but  who I am goes far beyond that. I am a girl that lives life with purpose and a desire to see women of all cultures make connections and build friendships. I am excited to be a part of this blog and for it to be a tool in connecting women, building friendships and exploring the straight path to the Kingdom of God together!

Whats for dinner? Frozen dinner or a home cooked meal?

Hey Ladies, when was the last time you cooked a meal for yourself? For me it’s been a while. After a long day at work, the last thing I want to do is cook, especially when its 110 degrees outside! But tonight was the exception and let me tell it was well worth it! Fresh cooked meals taste better, it makes me feel better, it makes my home smell great and I have a sense of accomplishment. Here is what I ate tonight:

Summer Stir Fry - Jumbo shrimp, yellow zucchini, corn, cherry tomatoes and lots of butter. (recipe from www.thepioneerwoman.com)

-So what was the last meal you cooked for yourself?
-Was it worth the time?
-Will you do it again soon?

I plan on doing this more often, no more excuses about time! So I encourage you to do the same.

The Sweet Smell of Perfume and the Stench of Shame

The other day I was thinking about my career, I haven't been driven to move forward and the main reason is because I never thought I could. I had a major break through and got excited to step things up, but the next thing that came was another familiar feeling...shame.

The dictionary definition of shame is this; a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.

How many times have you felt this? For me, it's been many. I was humiliated by foolishly thinking I didn't have what it takes. Shame has kept me in a place of "stuck" with my shoulders slumped and my head down, I walk around with shame filled up to my eyeballs!

This got me thinking about Mary, There was just something about Mary. No, not that Mary. I'm talking about the woman who defied all rules of culture to show her devotion to Jesus. She knew He was special and different, she didn't care what people thought of her, and she only had her eyes on what she knew was true. She was deeply moved by who He was and poured expensive perfume over Jesus' feet to show Him where her heart was. She was devoted; her eyes were looking upward and forward. She didn't wait to do this until Jesus was alone, no she did this in front of a room full of men who had just eaten a big meal, their bellies were full and so was their pride. She didn't have to defend herself when the men ridiculed her actions, instead she let Jesus defend her cause. She was a risk taker. Mary wasn't ashamed, even when the men tried to shame her. Where did Mary's courage and strength come from? I think that's something we all need to tap into.

Shame is just one aspect of her story and mine, but it's a big downer in life when we let it run amuck. So think about it.

-Do you let shame creep in and dictate your life?

-Is there hope for this area in your soul?

-How do you move forward and learn from shame?

I would love to hear from you, please leave me a comment.