Waste Less, Give More...Enjoy Your Local Library!!!!

These past couple of years our family has really tried to be more frugal and waste less resources when we can. Obviously we're not perfect and yes we still blow money on things we deem "important," but we have drastically cut back in other areas so we feel good about it! :) We have also tried to donate items we no longer use, recycle, and buy in bulk in order to keep our trash going into the landfill to a minimum. If you would like to read about how we've removed our disposables, please go here!

One trip we make every week is to our local library. This is such a fun time for our family! They have a variety of classes/programs for our children to attend, tons of books, magazines, movies, music, and so much more....and guess what!!! It's all free, let me repeat that again...FREE. All you have to do is get a beautiful little card, (your kids can get one, too--makes them feel very independant) and then you can check out all of these lovely little goodies to take to your own home to enjoy! I LOVE the library! And if we have a late fee to pay, I feel even better, because it is supporting such an amazing community resource!!! Check out what we found this time!

Here's the list if you want to check them out for more info:

Building Green

The Conscious Cook

More Vegetables, Please!

Raising FreeThinkers

Mommy Loves Her Bunny

Cheaper By The Dozen

The Sandlot

Race to Witch Mountain

P.s....although the hot cocoa wasn't something I got from the library, I do highly recommend it while cozying up to a good book! :)

Not only do we borrow items from the library, we also frequently donate books, games, and puzzles as well. It feels so good to know that our house is less cluttered and not only do we, but the whole community, will have access to it. The kids really enjoy feeling like we're not just getting rid of stuff...it really is bettering the community by allowing the library to share it with others. Makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside! And not only is it teaching our children generousity and clutter control, it is also teaching them frugality. *LOVE*LOVE*LOVE* this!

I can't wait to dig into my books...especailly the two cookbooks...we love food and after watching Julie and Julia I'm seriously thinking about incorporating more veggies into our daily meals and sharing it with you! What do you think?

Well, I've got to finish wrapping a gift for an adorable little nephew that lives in Alabama so that he will hopefully get it by Christmas!

Hope everyone has a beautiful day!

Jes

I am pleased to share this with:
Frugal Fridays
Thrifty Thursday
Penny Pinching Party Wednesdays
Coupon Teacher's Thrifty Thursday

Comfort Food and Homemade Sled

Well, here in Northern Illinois it has gotten quite chilly rather quickly! Whenever the weather drops like this my body just naturally craves warming foods. Check out some of the lovely dishes we've shared together...

Hot Green Tea with Gingered Oatmeal topped with Oranges...Heavenely!

Homemade Vegan Split Pea Soup with Herbed Cream Cheese Crackers--Yeah, my food choices are totally mixed...just go with what sounds good and try to make it from good ingredients!

And of course vegan hot cocoa...

What is it about winter that makes me cry for hot chocolate? Do any of you have that problem? I love chocolate, but boy hot chocolate is the bomb when it is freezing outside!

Last year when it snowed we found ourselves in a bit of a dilema...the kids wanted to go sledding, but all the good ones seemed to have been sold out. And since I'm a penny pinching fool :) and couldn't see spending so much money on a rinky dink plastic sled that wasn't going to hold up one season....we found a frugal alternative... I bring you...the new and improved pull behind sled!!!

Review: It worked great until Daddy got high centered on a snow drift within the first few seconds of them on it and then they went bottoms up! hehehhhe! Yes, that is a wheel barrel body with a U Bolt screwed on with some rope attached! :) Total spent was probably $15. Okay...so it was more a stretch of the imagination, but it is something that will last for years...and can be reused for other purposes! :) And when us bigger kids got to playing with it, it was just down right fun! I hadn't had that much fun since we were kids! Loved it!

So I tend to think outside the box! hehehe Don't mind me! And no, it doesn't take much to entertain us! :) But I think that is a wonderful thing!

Oh and before I forget, if you are like me and have untamed hair...head over to Ohana Mama's website for a chance to win a Hana Ceramic Flat Iron from Misikko.com. Hurry, giveaway ends December 25th at 11:59 p.m. Hawaii time... Oh, wouldn't that be nice for Christmas! :)

Sara over at Walk Slowly Live Wildly is having an amazing giveaway of organic hemp clothing from two very talented mommas: Indigo Inspired and One Love Creations! Check it out! I've never wore hemp but it sounds like a wonderful fabric to work with! :)

Have a beautiful day!

Jes

I'm pleased to share this post on:

Frugal Friday

Thrifty Thursday

Homemaker Mondays

Pure2Raw Vatiety Pack Bakery Giveaway (12/15)

Michelle & Lori over at Pure2Raw  are doing their first giveaway!!!  In honor of the Holidays and Twin Cakes Bakery  coming up on it’s 2nd year anniversary they are offering a variety pack of some of their top sellers. Everything is gluten free, vegan, soy free, corn free, peanut free, and a few items will be raw.

So what is in the variety pack? One lucky person will be getting a sample of the following items:

• Raw brownie bites
• Raw rosemary cracker
• Raw pumpkin kale cracker
• Raw collard green fiesta flatbread
• Raw spinach flatbread
• Chocolate chips cookies
• Cranberry orange scone
• Lemon blueberry scone
• Pumpkin chocolate chip muffin
• And their holiday raw gingerbread macaroon

This giveaway will go till December 15th!!!!

Goodluck!  This will be a tastey treat!!!

Jes

Unconditional Love: Set Aside Your Differences

It never ceases to amaze me how much my dear animals understand me.  I haven't been feeling well this week, but they were certain to make sure that every second of ever day I was surrounded by Love.  So sweet....   Keep in mind, that these two pets actually don't care for each other.  That's the ironic part!  They really put their differences aside to be by my side! 

Soup...nourishes the soul....

Feeling a little bit better...my nose was running away from me though, hence the half gone tissues in the backdrop!  :)

My husband grabbed this shot when he got home from work at 6:30 am...apparently they insisted they both needed to be there!  :)  Sorry for the sleepy eyes...

So if the cat and dog can play nice for almost a week, we should have no problems setting aside our differences and showing more unconditional love! 

Happy Holidays!

Jes

RAW Natural Beauty, RAWMinerals 7-Piece Discovery Kit {$180 Value} Giveaway (12/20)

Leslie Loves Veggies is giving away a RAW Natural Beauty RAWMinerals 7-Piece Discovery Kit {$180 Value} to one of her lucky readers!

The Discovery Kit includes:

• 2 Mineral Foundations
• Mineral Glow
• Active Veil SPF 18
• Maximum Coverage Foundation Brush
• Concealer Brush
• Multi-Tasking Retractable Brush

This skin-perfecting kit includes everything you'll need to perfectly cover skin imperfections and achieve a flawless, luminous and even complexion.

If you don't win, Leslie Loves Veggies Readers can take advantage of Promotion code "DISCOVERY50" for 50% off at Checkout. Free ground shipping on orders over $50.00!!!!

Hurry, this giveaway ends Sunday, 12/20/09!!!  Goodluck!

Jes

Chocolate and Coconuts = YUM!!!

Can you really get anything better?  The kids and I had been meaning to try a particular recipe and when we found these lovelies for only only $3.99 for a 16 oz bag we knew it was time to pull out the recipe card!  I honestly have to say this was one of the easiest desserts to make!  Our family has issues with sweets, but it felt good knowing that we were consuming something that was healthy!  :)  And alot of fun to roll out for these two little helpers!!!!! 

Who wouldn't love to work in the kitchen with these two around?  Here is a close up of their amazing work...I love all the different sizes!  Great job guys!!!

We tried the Fudge Babies, but so far have liked it better with these additions to the original:  We used 3 T. Cocoa Powder, then we added 1 T. Coconut Oil, 1 T. Chia Seeds, and after processing and rolling in coconut flakes, we threw it in the fridge to set up better.   These were sooo good and sooo energizing!  The Chia Seeds really gave it a nice crunch!  Love it!!!  Thanks Katie for inspiring us!

If you run over to Chocolate-Covered Katie's you can enter to win a lovely Artisana Nut Butter Giveaway!  :)  Hurry, her giveaway will end soon!  Goodluck!

Jes

Winner of the Chia Seeds Giveaway

Congratulations!!!!

Phyllis

I have sent you an email and you will have 48 hours to respond.

10:00 pm Central Time 12/03/09

Thank you to all of you who entered!

Jes