.

Save In Piggybacking

In all the changes that I have made this year I have been learning the importance of "piggybacking".  Piggybacking is when you butt one thing after the other and save because it is already heated up.  For example... to dry one load of laundry after the other and save because the dryer is already heated up.  Another way I have piggybacked my savings is when I roast my coffee beans.  I roast what I need for that week...one batch after the other. A third way that I can think of right off the bat is piggybacking while baking or cooking with the oven.  Get the biggest bang for your buck by baking several things together and right after the other.  In the winter time it is also a nice way to raise the temperature a little in your house.  I guess you can say it is like multi-tasking your energy use and save.   .

Now to join in the fun of Tightwad Tuesday....

.

  Link your TWT post click on MckLinky and give exact the URL of your post.   (each Tuesday that  you join in on the fun)  

.

example of a URL ...

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl/693425/

.

  Now go ahead link and read and comment on all these other's wonderful TWT's. 

.

 Lets save our pennies, nickles, dimes, and dollars  together !

.

"There are only a few big ways to save money but there are many small ways ....that all adds up."

I got this recipe from my friend Lyn, but I put my own spin on it.  We have it every Wed. for breakfast and often have the leftovers for a snack.  We make it up the night before and store it in the fridge to make our morning as easy (and as TASTY) as can be!

Baked Oatmeal

3 C. Oatmeal

1 C. Sugar (we use less than 1 C...  more like 3/4 C. of organic, unbleached sugar... I tried honey, but it didn't turn out as soft as we liked)

1 t. salt.  (I use kosher sea salt)

2 t. baking powder (I use aluminum free from Costco)

6 scoops of organic whey protein powder (we use the kind sweetened with stevia and xylitol and either chocolate OR vanilla tastes great)

1 C. milk (actually we use 1 C. of kefir and sometimes add just a little more than a cup since the kefir can be quite thick.  Rice milk also works well!)

2 eggs (organic, if possible)

1/2 C. oil (we use unsweetened organic applesauce instead)

I also sprinkle in a large amount (I never measure... maybe a scant 1/4 C.???) of organic cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into greased 8x11 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Serve warm topped with applesauce, warm milk, raisins, craisins, nuts, whatever you like.

We have also made this with eggnog instead of milk and it was yummy!

Oh, once I made it with choc. protein powder and added a couple heaping TBS. of raw almond butter and it was nice like that too!

I have decided after much prayer that I need to close Show and Tell Friday.  It has been wonderful connecting with so many ladies this way.  I feel like I need to scale back some in my life.  Thank you all who have joined in ALL on the fun over the last couple of years. 

   I know I'm loooooong overdue for an update. I'll try to get on soon, but there has been alot going on around here. Please pray for us as we deal with some situations in our life that are less than pleasant!

   In the meantime here is a sale that is going on at Currclick starting today! If you pop over please us the affiliate link box in the right hand sidebar as we get a small commision your your purchase at no cost to you - Thank you! - Deedee

Celebrating 19 Years !

.

.

I have to say  ...boy have we come a long way baby!   I had moved and  started a whole new life with Handsome in a different country from my birth, had four sweet boys, built a house and a life with my Handsome.   Do I regret any of it ???  No, God has blessed me through the thick and the thin and has shaped and molded us in so many ways. ( and still is !)  

Honey,

Happy Anniversary and may we have MANY more !  I am more in love with you now than I was way back then and I was head over heals in love with you then.

XXOOO

Hi as you know school is in and is going on for about ten more months to come i chose to go to a public school awhile back the school i'm going to is parkway public school the anamil that repasebs my sxchool is a dolphin i like dolphins and i'm in the biggest call room of them all i have quiet a lot of friends now i'll order them from best to worst friend okay 1st lorren (sits in my group) 2nd cloe (teams up with me whenever she gets a chance)3rd korra (frist one i met at school) 4th janie (asked me to be friends) 5th delea (cloes copy cat has to like me) 6th allisa (in grade six we are not so close) 7th sam (thinks i chose raindeer to be like him) 8th jaquy (says i'm the nicest girl she met)

.

.

Homeschool Swimming lessons are one of the biggest highlights of our school year.  At our local aquatic center they have accomidated us homeschoolers twice a year and organized  a chance to get all our kids in their levels to learn how two swim within a two hour slot.  That is huge for a homeschool mama and what a blessing that is.  This year I only have my two littles in swimming lessons and the two boys are both in the same level too.  That is great for me because they can have fun and learn together and we have been going a hour and a half early for them to have fun in the open swim too.  Gotta get the biggest bang for my our time.  While they are having fun in the water I am ....sitting and loving every minute while knit.  Ohhhh how I am enjoying this time. 

.

I have two October babies.  I didn't get pic's of my oldest's b-day b/c he was not with us for his b-day.  But I did get a pic of Luke and his birthday cake.  I cannot believe I have a 17yo and 15yo.  Boy do they grow up fast !  I also had to sneak in a pic of what it looked like this week when it snowed.  It has been snowing and melting several times in the last few weeks.  It won't be long before it decides to stay for the winter.

.

Now, if you want to join us in the fun of Show and Tell Friday  just....

.
~Make a Show and Tell Post and make sure it is wholesome.  It can be pretty much what ever you want to share.  It could be about you ...or your family ....or what is going on in your homeschooling.

~Some how link me ( Mary @ Raising 4 Godly Men or Canadagirl ) so others will know where to go to join S&T.

~Come back to me and let me know you posted your S&T by clicking on the MckLinky and using your exact URL to your Show and Tell Post.   ( I need you  to tell me each week that you want to participate, okay ?  )

.
~If you want the S&T button to put on your blog go HERE

~Then

" please go visit other gals wonderful Show and Tells !  Oh,  don't forget to comment.  EVERYONE  loves comments."

My husband is a GREAT husband and a wonderful father and while he is happy that I homeschool our children he leaves most of that up to me.  That's okay with me, but I sure am thrilled when he helps with one or more part! 

He has tried doing "bookwork" with the children, but he (and the children) don't enjoy that very much!  ;) He is happy to leave that up to me and the children prefer it that way too! 

What he is GREAT at is the hands-on stuff.  I am amazed at what my children are capable of...  stuff I don't even know how to do!  Let me list a few of the things I had NO HAND in teaching our children:

How to change a tire or repair it with fix-a-flat!

How to program electronic devices

How to hitch up an utility trailer to a vehicle

How to load all of our gear on the trailer and tarp it when we go camping

How to install and use a sprinkler system

How to replace a sprinkler head

How to put siding on a house

How to paint a deck railing or stain deck floorboards

How to install exterior lampposts/lighting

How to use power tools

How to repair quads

How to repair bicycles

How to repair anything woodent that breaks in the house

How to patch holes in sheetrock

How to read and understand owner's manuals to anything in our home or car

How to build a cement birm with bender board, quikrete and river rock

How to mow lawns and trim hedges

How to find small jobs in the neighborhood

How to clean out garages and organize camping/fishing gear

How to catch salmon

How to clean fish

How to roller blade and rock climb

How to use maps and GPS devices

How to use simple html and computer programming codes

How to use our DVD player and program our TV

How to use Consumer Reports, Kelly Bluebook, Carfax and other info

How to do a VIN search

How to find a great deal online

How to buy a used car

How to place a business phone call

How to bake the world's best cookies

And...

The names of all of the STAR WARS characters!

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my husband?  I DO! <3

.

I have to share a yummy frugal recipe that is wonderful for this time of year... Pumpkin Coffee Cake.  I would also like to to share some trivia about me.  I LOVE, love, love anything pumpkin.  I love foods made with it, pumpkins are my favorite things to grow in the garden, and I love how cute pumpkins are.   I like the shape so much I made a candle cast for my candles from a mini pumpkin.   So, in honor of pumpkins here is my recipe to share.

.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup of margrine or butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 Tblsp baking powder
• 1/2 salt
• 3/4th cup milk
• 1/2 cup mashed/or canned pumpkin
• 1/3rd cup flour
• 1/4th cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp. gr. cinnamon
• 2 bsp margrine or butter

In a mixer cream sugar, margrine/butter,  and beat eggs and vanilla.  Sift or stir together flour, baking powder,  and salt;  add to creamed mixture alternately with milk.  Blend pumkin with 2/3rds  cups of batter. Spread  remaining batter in a greased  8x8x2 inch baking pan.  Drop pumpkin mixture over batter by tsp's.

.

Mix 1/3rd cup flour,brown sugar, and cinnamon:  cut in 2 Tbsps  of margrine/butter.  Sprinkle over coffee cake.

.

Bake 350* over 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm.

.

I hope this is  a winner for you all.  I love baking and if you can make it frugal it is even BETTER.