You had me at, 'Without Coupons'

It seems we are all looking for ways to slay the "no money at the end of the paycheck" dragon.  I, myself, have struggled off and on for years trying to find WORKABLE solutions to make the grocery budget fit within the household income. I always seem to fall just a tad short of the mark in doing great meal planning, price comparisons, pantry stocking...which makes no sense to me...I'm a list maker for crying out loud! You'd think these things would be easy for me!  How about you?

I am so excited to tell you that I have a blogger friend who has not only mastered the art of cooking on a shoe-string budget , she has written a book about it!! 

Kate was very gracious to send me an advance copy of her new  e-book to review. Her book, Cut It Out! How I Feed My Family of 10 for $500.00 a Month Without Coupons, is coming out July 30, 2012. 

Kate, I have to say...You had me at, "without coupons"!  Couponing has always been a bit of an on again-off-again affair for me...not a fan!  So when I saw the title, with those words, I was intrigued. I knew I had to read your book! 

I found the book to be easy to read, and packed with very user friendly information! She begins by applying the concept, "measure twice, cut once."  I have heard this old proverb used in carpentry, but never applied to meal planning.  If you are not familiar with the phrase, it's literal meaning is that you should double-check your measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, waisting time and material. In her book, Kate shows us how to apply this concept of careful planning and thorough preparation in order to feed our family within our budget, enabling us to be good stewards of the financial resources with which we have been blessed.

Kate spends $500 a month on groceries for her family of 10. She allocates an additional $50 a month for toiletries and paper products, but there are some months where that additional $50 is not available.  She'll teach you how to create a price book (includes a downloadable price book template), how to use your computer to help organize your meal planning and your shopping, and how to cut back on your grocery spending WITHOUT the hassle of cutting, sorting, and using coupons. 

You don't have a large family to feed?  No problem! Kate gives tips on how to make it work for even just one or two.  I think the appendix alone, with it's recipes and detailed instructions, is worth more than the price of the entire book. 

There is really quite a lot packed into this 34 page e-book! I highly recommend it!

Cut It Out! will be available for sale on July 30. The cost of the e-book is $3.99 but for the first 5 days of the launch(July 30-August 3) it will be available for half price-only $1.99!! 

Want to learn more?

Visit Kate's website at,  Teaching What is Good...a book giveaway.   You can also enter a chance to win a free copy of her book! She is giving away 5 copies! (giveaway has ended)

 Kate is a dear sister in Christ and she and I both share a passion for older women teaching younger women in the manner of  the Titus 2 model.  For Kate, this book is just one small manifestation of the outflow of that passion. 

How about you? What are you passionate about? What are you doing about it?  I'd love to hear what you are doing as you follow your passion and purpose!

 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.    ~Titus 2:3-5

Update on Kate's book...she's in her local paper's headline!  

Here's the link to the article:Mom knows how to pinch a penny...frugal shopping

What's So Magic About Mike?

Since I am still on sabbatical this week, instead of posting that 3rd article in my "worry" series, I thought I would share a few thoughts spurred on by seeing my daughter's blog post about the movie, Magic Mike. (Click here to read her post...Why I'm not watching Magic Mike).

I agree wholeheartedly with her assessment, and I, too, have wondered at seeing so many women talking about this movie as if it were the next, "Pride and Prejudice"...and no...there is absolutely no comparison to be made there.

I find it interesting that this seems to be a movie that women tout as 'one to watch with your girlfriends'...not your spouse, or boyfriend, or parents...you know other adults in your life. Just sayin'....

My intent in posting this commentary on Magic Mike is not to pass judgment on other women. In today's culture it is so easy to let things slide..."it's not really that bad" or "I'm a Christian so this won't affect me". It's easy to allow forms of entertainment into our lives that slowly erode the moral code that is so clearly written in God's word and on our hearts. We are told to guard our hearts and minds. Why? Well…because...it's easy to give into temptation and then try to justify our choices…it's easy to be carried away by our own desires...It's easy.

James 1:13-16 says, “…but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.”   When we give into temptation over and over again, we are putting a knife into the heart of our own intimate relationship with God.  That relationship is just too precious for me to willingly and defiantly take that risk.

We all need to be encouraged to be discerning about what we allow to enter into our hearts. You see...the things we see and hear tend to go straight to our hearts and lodge there only to manifest itself in one way or another(perhaps our actions or attitudes) at some time in the future. I just want to challenge you (and myself as well), to hold up all forms of entertainment to the lens of scripture to be judged whether or not it is harmful to your relationships... to your spouse, your children, and your God. Let's take every thought captive, that holds itself against the knowledge of God, so that we that we may be obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

I am one proud momma to be blessed with a daughter who knows what it is to view the world through the lens of God's Word!! She is wise beyond her years.

So if you haven't seen Lyndsay's post yet...grab a cup of coffee, click on the link below, and enjoy!

Confessions of a Disciple...Why I'm not Watching Magic Mike

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8

Linking up with...

Little Writer Momma

Lessons on Sabbatical...Mac vs. PC

I am  on sabbatical this month and won't be blogging much.

 I know... I am in the middle of a series on worry and some of you are checking back to see if the third article in the series has been posted.

So...worry has been postponed! ;-)

I am out of town without my own laptop and am having to use my husband's Mac to work from...arrrgghh!

I know...I know...all of you mac users are saying, "so what's the problem with that?"  The problem is that 'I'm a PC'... getting accustomed to this keyboard and several other differences are really difficult, especially when I know I will just go back to my PC when I get home.  Not to mention the fact that I like to use my own photos for my articles now and ALL of the photos I need are on my laptop at home.  My laptop is at home because the screen has been damaged and it is now 'toggled' to another screen, rendering it useless as a laptop but great as a desktop.

I  have a looming deadline on two book projects and long to get back to my PC at home. And yes! I do miss my kids and my puppy!

In the meantime, I am left to work with what I have and am thankful (she said, tongue in cheek).

Before this month I had been musing that my next laptop would be a Mac.  However, I am now seriously rethinking that, as I bungle around on my husband's Mac.

  So now begs the question...are you a Mac or a PC and why? I would love to hear your thoughts on the Mac verses PC war!

Update: 
 I made the switch to a mac. It took a little getting used to at first, just the way to copy paste, in the beginning was maddening. However, the photo drag and drop thing was AWESOME.  Now…not sure I would revert back to a PC.  I love my mac! (2014)