How To Get New Clothes Inexpensively: Clothes Swap!

Here's part of the clothes swap group (sorry it's blurry!) - we are missing a few!

Here comes Janelle from Comfy In The Kitchen with her bag of clothes!

Each girl chose a section of the room to display their clothes.

Clare from Peak 313 Fitness scored my Easter 2009 dress!  It fits!  Hooray!

Look what I found!  Gorgeous!

Becky has on a new t-shirt, necklace and shoes (plus an arm full!)

Here's what I wore to church on Sunday - my brand new blue shirt and new necklace - free! (the skirt is from a resale shop - so this is a $6 outfit minus the boots - which are Payless!)  Everytime my friend Kelly wore this shirt I admired it - now it's mine!  Thanks Kelly!

I got some serious accessories! This matching new scarf, purse and earrings - JACKPOT!!

These are fun!  Some more accessories -  purse, shoes and necklace!  I did not take pictures of everything - but I had about 7 more shirts, 2 skirts, some flip flops and more!

Does your closet need a spring cleaning - clean it out and encourage your friends to do it too! Then invite them over for a swap!  We had SO much fun and lots of laughter!

We finished all our swapping out with 2 Chocolate Chip Pies that I made - but of course - they were Janelle's recipe!  It was SO fast, easy and delicious - you gotta try this recipe sometime!

Walk with the King!

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers, Titus 2sdays, and We Are That Family.


Today is Women Living Well Wednesday! It's a Link-Up Day!!!

Join the fun, do a little blog hopping and don't forget if you join below -please add the Women Living Well Wednesdays button to your post so your readers can find us here! (posts can include the topics of marriage, parenting, homemaking, finances, recipes, organization and more!)

<a href="http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/search/label/Women%20Living%20Well%20Wednesdays"><img border="0" src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq297/courtneylivingwell/LivingWell.png" /></a>

How I Tie My Scarf - Vlog

If you want to spice up your Christmas outfit, hit Walmart for a $5 scarf, put on a plain shirt and tie your scarf like this! Voila! You look festive with a whole new outfit and it was only $5!

Walk with the King!

I am linked to Raising Homemakers , Kelly's Korner and Works For Me Wednesday at WeAreThatFamily.com

Back-To-School Organization Tips and Link-Up

Are you ready for school to start? It's time to get organized!


If you Follow Me On Facebook, then you know that I have been working on a new school schedule. It starts with me rising at 5am - ugh! But it seems to be the only way to get it all done. I will post my schedule after I've lived it and tweaked it a bit.


But today I want to share some organizational tips from a friend I've known since high school (pictured on the right is Erin and her lovely family!). I want to invite other bloggers to link up any organizational posts they have below. If you do not blog - feel free to write in the comment box any good tips you have.


I'm looking to learn something here! Organization of stuff is not my forte.


Here's Erin's tips:

1) Cups - I was finding that some days there would be 10 kid cups in the dishwasher after one day at home. I bought cheap (3/ $1 at Flower Factory) stretchy bracelets, and the kids use those to label their cups. We have extras for friends/cousins. This way each kid uses one cup for water all day. Less to wash, and less mess!

2) Back of doors. I think the backs of our doors are great places to hide things and to keep organized. There are 3 pictures from doors in my home.


a. The backpacks/lunchbox are on the inside of our basement door. I bought heavy duty 3M adhesive hooks. They have been hanging for 2 years w/ no problem. This may not work as well with very heavy backpacks, but it's great for the lunchboxes, dance shoes bag, etc.

b. Costume jewelry is inside my closet door on a horizontal towel rack. Bracelets hang from plastic baby toy links. Works perfectly- no tangles, full view of everything, and in the same space where I dress.

c. Hairbows are inside my daughter's bedroom door. The flowers are attached to small 3M adhesive hooks. I hung strips of 1 inch grossgrain ribbon from the flowers and clip all of her hair bows to the ribbon.

Aren't those great!!! Now join me below in the link-up. There are no rules...link-up any post new or old below that has to do with getting organized. You do not have to link back to me. If you are not a blogger, share in the comment section below any tips you have. I simply want to have a good resource of organizational ideas.

Honestly, this is one of my weakest areas and my husband wishes I improved in this area. I am good at making schedules and keeping them, I am good at waking early, exercising, having a consistent quiet time, keeping a blogging schedule, homeschool schedule, loving on my man and reading the Bible to my kids BUT when it comes to managing stuff - well lets just say my closets are SCARY lol! Helpppppppp!


Walk with the King!

Thrifty Thursday: Homemade Crayons

For those of us surviving cabin fever in the northern chill, this is a cheap and easy craft for your little ones to do!

Take all the crayons you have that are worn out and have your children peel the paper off of the crayons. (This is great because it should keep your children busy for a long time while you get work done or read a good book - like your Bible!)


Once the crayons are all peeled, get out your metal cookie cutters (if you don't have these on hand you will need to purchase them - but they are usually quite cheap).


Break the crayons into pieces (the children should enjoy this part!) and pile them according to color (again another time consumer!)


Then put wax paper on a cookie sheet and foil around the cookie cutters (if you don't use the foil the crayons won't stay in the cookie cutters.)



Place the cookie sheet in a 300 degree oven for 8-10 minutes, or until melted, and then place them in a freezer to cool (or in our case, out on the back porch!). The crayons should separate from the cookie cutter just enough that you can pop them out easily!

Now give the children time to color with their brand new homemade crayons and enjoy their new works of art!

Though I have very few crafty bones in my body, Genesis 1:26 says God made man in his own image. We see in God's creation the ultimate artistic display. I believe that this is why we find such joy as women when we create a beautiful scrapbook page, a sweet smelling dessert, a new set of curtains, or a bouquet of flowers. God has placed in our hearts a desire to be like him and create. As your children create with their hands, remind them of who the ultimate creator is. Remind them to create for God's glory.

Walk with the King!


*I found this fun craft over at : Me and Lu

Thrifty Thursday: How to Make a 2009 Time Capsule

Are you looking for a way to make this New Year's Eve meaningful and memorable? Here is a cheap and easy way to bring the family together for a time of reflection on 2009. Every year on New Year's Eve our extended family gets together for sauerkraut, cabbage rolls, games and the making of a time capsule! Then we toast in the New Year with sparkling grape juice! This is our family tradition!

Here's how to make a time capsule:

First get a container - mine is simply a Quaker Oats can cleaned out. Then we decorate the outside of the can by covering it with white paper and allowing the children to draw pictures. Then we mark the can clearly with the date.


Before the party, I remind everyone to bring something for the time capsule. Every child from newborn up through the oldest grandparent comes prepared. Then we sit in a circle and we simply pass the can around and put something inside that represents what God did in the year 2009.


Over the years I have put in ultrasound photos, a Binky my daughter had just given up, a ruler representing growth in my life, verses and many more things. Some others have put in poems, verses, letters to the family, the deed to their house that was paid off that year, photos of children they were ministering to, a rubber ball representing the ups and downs of the year and countless business cards have gone in. The children have put in footballs, awards, school photos and sports photos.


As the capsule is going around, I write down what each person puts into the capsule and what it meant - so we do not forget the significance when we open it someday. Then I seal it with packaging tape and store it in a bin in the attic.


This year after we seal the 2009 time capsule we will open 2003's capsule. I can't wait to remember the great joys of the past and the faithfulness of God as he brought us through past trials. This is always a meaningful moment of sharing and thus far I have not done this without tears! Every year my soul is touched!


So if you want to start a meaningful tradition with your family, try a time capsule as a way to remember God's hand in your life and to draw your family closer together.

Walk with the King into a Happy New Year!

Thrifty Thursday: Inexpensive Christmas Gift Ideas

Are you looking for some inexpensive Christmas gift ideas? Here's a few fun ones!!

1. Put all the ingredients of a S'more in clear containers with a beautiful bow. Voila the perfect gift for a sweets lover. (S'mores can be safely made in the microwave - 10 seconds and you'll have a succulent dessert!)

2. Make a picture collage. My sisters and I made this collage for my dad on Father's Day and it proudly graces the hallway of my parents home. Each grandchild held a letter in grandpa's name. We made it black and white so we did not have to coordinate outfits or backgrounds or even be together. We each took our photos at home and emailed them to my middle sister who printed them and placed them in the frame.
3. Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Teachers, Pastors, and Sunday School workers.

• “Thanks for giving Sally a hand” tag with hand lotion.
  
• “Thanks a ‘latte’!” tag with a gift card from local coffee shop.
  
• A mug or bowl saying “You are ’souper’! - soup mix, custom decorated soup bowls or homemade soup.
  
• “You are out of this world” tag attached to a Milky Way candy bar.
  
• “You deserve an extra payday!” tag attached to a Payday candy bar.


• “There is no ’sub’stitute for you!” tag attached to a gift card for the local sub shop.
  
• “You are ‘extra’ special” tag with a pack of Extra Gum.
  
• “Thanks for helping Jimmy ‘bloom’” tag with a bouquet of flowers.

4. Make Cookie Jars. My friend Regina gave me these recipes and these are her cookie jars!

Country Oatmeal Cookies in a Jar Ingredients
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:Using a 1 quart or 1 liter jar, layer in the ingredients in the order given. Pack down the jar after each addition to make the ingredients fit. Put the lid on, and cover with an 8 inch circle of fabric. Secure the fabric over the lid using a rubber band, then cover the rubber band by tying a nice piece of ribbon or raffia around the lid.

Attach a tag to the ribbon with the following instructions:Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, cream together 3/4 cup of softened butter, with 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Add the entire contents of the jar, and mix by hand until combined. Drop dough by heaping spoonfuls onto an unprepared cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven.

Special Butterscotch Chip Cookies in a Jar
1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup high protein crisp rice and wheat cereal
3/4 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans


DIRECTIONS:Layer the ingredients in the order given in a one quart wide mouth canning jar. Firmly pack each ingredient in place. It will be a tight fit, but all ingredients will fit in the jar. Use pinking shears to cut an 8 or 9 inch circle from gingham, calico, or a seasonal fabric. Place the fabric over the wide mouth lid and rim and secure with a rubber band. Tie on a raffia or ribbon bow to cover the rubber band.


Attach a card to the ribbon or raffia with the following mixing and baking directions:
Empty jar of cookie mix into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. Use hands to mix the wet and dry ingredients together. When completely blended, roll into large walnut sized balls. Place on unprepared cookie sheets and use the palm of your hand to flatten each cookie ball. Bake at 350 in a preheated oven for 8-10 minute.

Other great links:

• More teacher gift ideas from a previous blog post on Women Living Well
  
• Kristi at Run the Earth, Watch the Sky with handmade gift ideas including a collage similar to mine.
  
• Craftbits shows how to make gifts in a mug! What fun!
  

Feel free to share your crafty ideas in the comments section. Hope these were helpful! Remember it truly is the thought that counts!

Acts 20:35 "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Walk with the King!

Thrifty Thursday: Clothes Swap

I Timothy 6:18b says "Be generous and willing to share."

Last Friday I had some friends (the Good Morning Girls) over and we had a clothes swap! It was so much fun!!! We all cleaned out our closets and collected lightly worn shirts, sweaters, pants, skirts, dresses, purses and jewelry. Then we spent the evening trying each others things on and chatting. In the end, I received a couple new pairs of pants, skirts, some workout clothes, a beautiful pair of earrings, a purse, and a whole bunch of new tops - FREE!


It's funny because we all are different shapes and sizes - I am 5'2" and the other two girls were over 5 inches taller. Our shapes and curves are in different places too - but it still worked out that we all were able to find stuff that worked and the extras went to a friend who couldn't make it to the swap.

This is a thrifty way to update your wardrobe - consider inviting some friends over who wear a similiar size and style as you and do a swap! Also, don't forget that you could do this with children's clothes, toys and even your husband's clothes. Often times it's easy to drop all of our stuff at Goodwill. This is my first time to share with my friends - and I must say it was delightful to see old things take a new life once again rather than being wasted!

Walk with the King!

Thrifty Thursday: How to Make Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent and How Much You Save!

This week I've been blogging about the the Proverbs 31 Woman. The Proverbs 31 woman is a DIYer - she's a do it yourself type! She plants her own vineyard, selects wool and flax, makes her own linens and coverings for her beds, and supplies the merchants with sashes to sell. So in honor of the Proverbs 31 lady - here's how to make homemade powder laundry detergent:


Ingredients:
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of Super Washing Soda
1 cup of baking soda
1/2 bar of Fels-Naptha


Directions: Grate the Fels Naptha laundry soap with a grater or use a food processor. Add the other ingredients. Shake and/or mix well. Put in an airtight container. Use 2 tablespoons of detergent per large load.


Now here are some answers to some questions you may have:
1. Where do I find these ingredients? The Fels-Naptha will be found in the aisle with all the other bars of soap like Dial and Ivory. The Borax and Super Washing Soda should be found in the aisle with all the other laundry detergents.

2. What if my grocery store does not have these items? Go to http://www.doitbest.com/ or http://www.amazon.com/ . (If you have found these ingredients cheaper elsewhere on the web - please share the link in the comments section!) If you live in my area - you will find the Borax and Washing Soda at Hartville Hardware.

3. How many loads will one batch do? 24 large loads

4. How much do I save using this homemade detergent? My friend Clare has done the math based on our local pricing - yours will differ if you can find these items cheaper.

The 16oz box of Baking Soda cost $0.60, so the price per batch was $0.30.

The 55 oz. box of Super Wash cost $5, so the price per batch is $.073.

The one bar of Fels Naptha cost $1.50, so the price per batch was $0.75.

The 76oz. box of Borax cost $5.00, so the price per batch was $0.53


Total cost per batch = $2.30 compared to normal brands that run from $6-$9 for equal number of loads. That's a big savings!!! Enjoy!


Walk with the King!

Thrifty Thursday: Free Summer Activities for Little Ones

So are you wondering what in the world you are going to do to entertain your little ones ALL summer long!! Well I found the most awesome extensive list of fun things to do over on Adventures in Diapering!

She has listed "100 Fun Activities" - I narrowed down the list to my favorite 50 but to see the entire list of 100 go to her site. My plan is to print this page, hang it up and mark them off as I do them. I know so many times in the morning the kids will whine "what are we doing today?" Now I'll look at the list and pick one fun activity to do with them and cross it out - this just helps me to be more creative and intentional about my time spent with them.

50 Boredom Busters!

1. Make a Dog House out of a Box
   


2. Play the "Hot/Cold" Game



3. Have an Easter Egg Hunt- Anytime of the Year!
   


4. Help Them Make a Letter/Picture to Mail to One of Their Friends



5. Have a Picnic in the Living Room (this is something we do regularly)
   


6. Make Cut-out cookies (share some with the neighbors or a Sunday School teacher)
   


7. Take a Walk Somewhere New
   


8. Make Sock Puppets
   


9. Create Your Own Movie
   


10. Plant Some Flowers or Vegetables From Seeds
    


11. Lie Down on a Blanket Outside and Name the Animals You See in the Clouds
    


12. Have an Indoor Pretend Campfire
    


13. Have a PJ Party (we do these regularly too - we all sleep in my sons room on the floor)
    


14. Play Restaurant (I did this as a surprise for my family one night. I made menus, transformed into a waitress and made the kids pretend to pay me - it's a fun twist for dinner - even my husband enjoyed this!!!)
    


15. Go for a Nature Walk
    


16. Have a Scavenger Hunt (my kids LOVE to make these for me and it keeps them busy hiding things for over half an hour - and it only takes a few minutes for me to follow the clues)



17. Make Collages (give them old magazines or ads - this will keep their hands busy for a long time - love it!)



18. Finger Paint with Chocolate Pudding (I've never tried this but we will this summer)
    


19. Have a Popcorn Movie Night (this is a regular in the winter time)



20. Write a Story Together



21. Act Out a Bible Story (this is an excellent teaching tool)



22. Play on a Playground- TOGETHER! (burn a few calories!)



23. Set up a Pretend Hospital (my husband loves this cause he gets to lay on the couch for an hour while the children dote on him!)



24. Count Your Blessings- Seriously, Make a List and Count them.



25. Exercise and Stretch Together



26. Have a Bike Wash



27. Go Pebble Hunting
    


28. Have a Color Theme



29. Look at Old Family Photos Together (my kids LOVE to see their baby photos)



30. Make a Fruit-Loop Necklace



31. Color Pictures to Send to Family Members that Live Far Away



32. Have a Reading Day- Check Out a Ton of Books from the Library, and Then Spend all Afternoon Reading (perfect for the next rainy day!)



33. Have a Tea Party



34. Set Up an Obstacle Course (my son does this regularly on the driveway for his sister)



35. Decorate Your Bikes and Have a Little Parade (we did this one year for the 4th of July with streamers and all!)



36. Play with Shaving Cream



37. Have a Pots and Pans Musical Band



38. Make Pet Rocks



39. Build a Fort Out of Blankets



40. Play Volleyball Using a Balloon



41. Create an Alphabet Book



42. Play Red Light/Green Light



43. Play Indoor Basketball Using a Laundry Basket and Stuffed Animals



44. Create a Mini-Salon and Give Each Other Funny Hair-Dos



45. Play Freeze Tag
    


46. Go Bug Hunting in the Backyard (another one of my sons favorite past times! Ick!)
    


47. Decorate Cupcakes and take them to a neighbor



48. Learn About a Different Country



49. Have a Backwards day
    


50. Play hide and seek (I love to count very slowly and then go from room to room uncluttering while I "pretend" to look for them - they are having fun and I get work done - is this wrong? Maybe I shouldn't have admitted this!!! haha!)

Walk with the King!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Thrifty Thursday - Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Teachers

I found the most FANTASTIC list of thrifty gift ideas - I just had to share them with you!!! These would be great to give to your children's Sunday School Teachers, Pastors, and School Teachers.

I found these on Skip to My Lou during teacher appreciation week...

“You are out of this world” tag attached to a Milky Way or Mars candy bar

“You deserve an extra payday!” tag attached to a Payday candy bar

“There is no ’sub’stitute for you!” tag attached to a gift card for the local sub shop

“You are ‘extra’ special” tag with a pack of Extra Gum

“Thanks for helping Blake ‘bloom’” tag with a bouquet of flowers

“We appreciate the ‘mounds’ of work you do!” tag attached to a Mounds candy bar

“Thanks for giving Blake a hand” tag with hand lotion

“Thanks a ‘latte’!” tag with a gift card from local coffee shop, special coffees or travel mug

“You are ’souper’! - soup mix, custom decorated soup bowls or homemade soup

“You are a ‘treasure’ tag with Treasures candy

“You really measure up” tag with a cool ruler, yardstick or measuring tape

“You are the apple of our eye” with a basket of apples (construction paper leaves with nice sayings—A+ teacher, you’re special etc. can be hot glued to the stems)

“You are ‘tea’rrific!” tag with a selection of teas

“You deserve a ‘break’ today! Thanks for your hard work” tag with a McDonald’s gift certificates

“You are a smart cookie” tag with homemade cookies

“Thanks for a ‘picture’ perfect year” tag with movie coupons or nice picture frame

“Thanks for making our school year bright” tag with a package of highlighters

“Thanks for helping Blake grow” tag with flower seeds

“You are o’fish’ally the best!” tag attached to Goldfish Crackers

“Thanks for lighting the way” or “You light up our world” with a nice candle

“We are your biggest ‘fan’!”with a cute desk fan, hand held fan or paper fan.

“Thanks for the ‘time’ you spend with Blake” tag on a cute clock, fun watch or pretty appointment book

“We are fortunate to have you!” tag with a Chinese take out box filled with fortune cookies

“You have been a ‘bright’ spot in our year!” tag with a package of highlighters

“You are a joy!” tag attached to an Almond Joy candy bar

“Thanks for giving Blake a hand!” tag attached to work or garden gloves filled with candy

“You have been just ‘write’ for Blake!” package of nice pencils or pens in a case or container

“You rock!” tag with pop rocks, rock candy, Rock Star soft drink or painted rock for a paperweight

“You have been ‘key’ to Blake’s success!” tag attached to a key ring, maybe a pretty handmade beaded one

“We are ‘nuts’ about you!” tag attached to some nuts

“You ‘float’ above the rest” tag attached to a balloon or a fun pool float for the summer

“You are worth more than a 100 grand to Blake!” tag attached to a 100 Grand candy bar

“Here is a ‘pat’ on the back for doing such a great job!” tag attached to a gift certificate for a massage

I thank the Lord for the outstanding Sunday School teachers my children have had this year. Teachers need to know that their investment in our children's lives is appreciated. Take the time to pick up something small and let your children write out the card to show show their gratitude.

Walk with the King!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/