Review of The Money Saving Mom's Budget Audio Book

Throughout the month of March I had the opportunity to listen to and review The Money Saving Mom's Budget Audio Book. Overall, I enjoyed the book. There are wonderful tips for both those who have been couponing, using a budget, controlling debt, etc. for years, but it is especially for those who just do not know where to begin. 

Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom gives her tips for taking control of your finances NO MATTER WHAT your income level. She gives tips to live simply, become debt free, slash your grocery bill, controlling clutter, and more. If you have been following her blog for very long, you will find tips she has shared on her blog as well as new ones which she is sharing from readers who contributed. This book is an awesome resource for everyone who needs to take control of their finances as well as those who need a little motivation and/or encouragement! As we were listening to the book (I listened to it with my children), my children kept saying, "We already do that." Then, there were points which came up and they said, "Mommy, I think we can work on that one!" I agreed! There is always room for improvement and continuing to learn to be better stewards of our Blessings from God including finances and all aspects of life! 

If you have never followed her blog, all of these things may be new to you, but will also be very beneficial. She is a follower of Dave Ramsey (not a favorite of mine, I prefer Mary Hunt of Debt Proof Living, AWESOME!), and many of Crystal's principles are the same as Dave and Mary and other debt counselors mention. However, it is great to hear how a stay at home, homeschooling mother makes things work. Crystal uses common sense principles for tackling the most difficult times financially. It is real life and her way of life! A true testimony! I hope you will enjoy listening to the book too! 

You can also watch some helpful videos via Youtube from Money Saving Mom!

Check out more reviews and the blog tour from Litfuse. 

You can purchase The Money Saving Mom Budget Audio Book too! 

About Crystal Paine: 

Crystal Paine is a wife and homeschooling mom to three young children who has been writing on topics related to frugality for the last five years—and living a frugal, simple, and debt-free life since she was born. Her blog, MoneySavingMom.com, is one of the top personal finance blogs on the web averaging over four million pageviews per month. Crystal has contributed to articles in Woman's Day magazine and All You magazine, as well as being mentioned on National Public Radio and CNN.com, in USA Weekend, and Real Simple magazine and numerous other local newspapers and radio and television stations. www.moneysavingmom.com

"What I love about the audio edition of The Money Saving Mom'®s Budget is that I can listen to it on the go - on my run, in the car, or while I'm folding laundry. AND ... I love that it comes with the downloadable workshets. I am able to work through those while listeing to Crystal speak. So helpful. Perfect for my busy schedule." --Anne, blogger (and reformed budget breaker!)

Celebrate with Crystal by entering her iPad2 Giveaway (a GREAT tool to keep track of your budget!) and RSVPing to the Live Webcast Event on 4/5!

One savvy winner will receive:

• A Brand new iPad2


• The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Cyrstal Paine, audio edition

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 4/4/12. Winner will be announced at The Money Saving Mom's Live Webcast Event on 4/5. Crystal will be hosting an evening of chat, laughter and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll share tips and advicde and her husband will be joining her to share how the prinicples Crystal outlines in her book have dramatically impacted their family life. She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more!

So grab your copy of The Money Saving Mom®'s Budget and join Crystal and friends on the evening of April 5th for an evening of fun of learning, sharing and encouragement.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

Want more info about the MSM?

Click here!

I was given this audio book in exchange for a review. All opinions are 100% my own! Thank you! 

March/April Month of Garden Chores

Living in Michigan is much different for gardening than Tennessee. Tennessee has had warm weather since February! There was somewhat of warm weather for a week or so in Michigan, but I am cautious about planting anything as there can be killing frosts for over a month! In fact, I have been told most around here do not begin their gardens until around Mother’s Day! WHEW! That’s a long time to wait to garden! In Tennessee, I am already harvesting some cooler weather crops by Mother’s Day. In fact, it was such a warm weather in Tennessee this past winter, there are many things in our garden which overwintered! Yes! Annual plants which are still there and growing strong! We had Swiss Chard, kale, greens, and turnips which were still there and/or had re-seeded and were growing hardy! Gardening in Michigan will definitely be interesting. Below are some things you can possibly begin doing if it is not too cold or too wet! I realize many things my not apply to you, but do what you can! You can also add in the comments sections the things you are doing in your gardens! Happy Gardening!

Garden

• Prepare your beds if you have not done so!
• Turn or till in “green manure” or compost at least two weeks before direct seeding.
• Cut down cover crops with a scythe or mower.
• Direct seed: Peas, beets, carrots, onion sets, leeks, radishes, turnips, potatoes, greens, spinach, arugula, leaf lettuces, oriental greens, collards, chard, cilantro, dill, parsley, white Dutch Clover in pathways.
• Start seeds indoors: tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, eggplant, basil, annual herbs.
• Transplant: Broccoli, Asparagus, Garlic, Fruit Trees, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Head Lettuces, Summer-Flowering Bulbs.
• Harvest: Asparagus, Spinach, Kale, Chives, Parsley.
• Prepare Beds for: Beans, Corn, Lettuces, Root Crops, Perennial Herbs, Strawberries
• Make Compost
• Feed Birds
• Take a soil sample to see where you are nutrient deficient. You can go through your local extension office.
• Remove Mulch from Strawberries.
• Spread Compost on beds before direct seeding. Add compost to hole when transplanting.
• To protect transplants and seedlings from pests and frost, cover with row covers.

Farm Chores

• Lay Plans for the coming season. If possible, think of every important thing, and keep a memorandum of whatever is deemed most essential and the order in which it should be done. In case of necessary absence, these plans will allow whoever takes your place to accurately work without supervision if a definite plan is made and talked over beforehand. “He who works with a steady aim attains the greater success with much less labor!”
• Working Stock should be fitted for hard labor by increasing their grain and accustoming them gradually to severer demands upon their strength and endurance. Horses shoulders are apt to gall, and oxen’s necks will become sore if they have done little work in the winter. Look for such troubles and bind on wet cloths at night, greasing the spots when the yoke or harness is again put on; but above all have well fitting yokes and harness.
• Milk Cows- Now is the time to make sure your cows are being fed well! They are getting ready to calve and will need the extra energy from the feed to have a healthy delivery and great milk production upon calving.
• Calves- Be sure to check for newborn calves if this is calving season for your cows. Make sure they are nursing and being taken care of by their mothers. If you are going to castrate the bull calves, it is best to do so while they are young and easier to handle, than waiting until they are older and you have to catch them!
• Sheep- Watch for early lambs. If they are chilled, bring them into the house and keep them warm. You can also keep them warm by rubbing them and keeping a blanket on them.
• Swine-Breeding sows should be places isolated, in war, well-litters pens several days before farrowing. Keep sows well fed and in the best health!
• The Currycomb, card, and Brush, are among the best friends of the farmer and his stock, especially when the young animals are shedding their coats. Every horse young and old should have good grooming daily, dairy cattle twice, and hogs once a week. If you show your beef cattle, it is best to groom them once a week as well! Carrots have a remarkable effect upon the coats of cattle and horses!
• Buildings- It is a great time to work on outside painting or any repairs which need to be made.
• Manure- That not intended for immediate use may be forked over and laid up in good sized heaps well trodden down to undergo another fermentation before its use in May or later in teh season. Manure that cannot be plowed under, harrowed in or in some way immediately incorporated with the soil, should not be spread in the field, but left in heaps until it can be incorporated with the soil. Ashes, phosphates, fish manure, bone meal, etc,, if purchased at reasonable rates are economically applied at this season. Be sure and take a soil sample to know what amendments must be added to your soil.
• Pick Up Stones- As soon as the surface is thawed, the stones will be loosened and may be picked up and laid in heaps or at once loaded into wagons or boats and removed. Children are great helpers to pick up stones! My children love making little campfires with them. We also will put larger ones in the flower beds to keep the cats from digging it up!
• Work for Odd Times- The weather and other things will cause unavoidable delays, but few compared with our own improvidence or thoughtlessness. As with any farm, there is always something to do during odd times! Here are a few things you can do during odd times; work over manure; prepare composts of hen manure for corn, or for top dressing grain or grass; collect chip dirt where old wood piles have stood; make ditches to spread the wash of highways over the grass; get out pea brush and bean poles, trimming and sharpening them ready for use; and clean out the well and cistern if necessary and applicable.
• Think about stocking your dry goods and non-perishables for emergency situations. Get some more ideas from the Weekend Homesteader.

Sunday Coupon Preview April 1. 2012

Check out tomorrow’s coupons at Sunday Coupon Preview which are in the Sunday Paper. Below are my favorites!

From Smart Source:

Birds Eye Save $.50/2 C&W varieties (4/29)
Birds Eye Save $.50/2 Steamfresh varieties (4/29)

From Red Plum:

Nature’s Bounty Save $1/1 B Vitamin (5/1)
Nature’s Bounty Save $1/1 vitamin or supplement (5/1)
Newman’s Own Save $.50/1 pasta sauce (5/12)
Newman’s Own Save $.50/1 salad dressing (5/12)
Newman’s Own Save $1/1 Complete Skillet Meal (5/12)
Newman’s Own Save $1/1 Thin & Crispy pizza (5/12)

 

Please see my disclosure policy as there are a few links above which are affiliate links. Thank you!

Reminder! Print Your Coupons!

Today is the last day of March which means it is the last day to print your coupons before they reset! Below is a list of where you can print them!

Coupon Network

Coupons.com

Red Plum

Smart Source

Mambo Sprouts

Swagbucks.com (Yes they have coupons and if you print them from there and use them, you can get more swagbucks!)

Health-e Savers

Stonyfield

All You

Eat Better America

Please see my disclosure policy as there are a few links above which are affiliate links. Thank you!

Mega Swagbucks Day!

Have you joined Swagbucks? If you haven’t you should! Swagbucks is a search engine where you earn points to redeem for prizes! Some of the prizes include store and restaurant gift cards as well as clothing, toys and much more. You can even get Pay Pal cash!
I have been using Swagbucks for two years now, and I am hooked! If I am going to be searching the internet anyway, why should I not be rewarded? I have purchased many things including groceries, toys, apparel, and much more all for FREE using Swagbucks.
It is FREE to sign up and very easy to use! You can either search from theirSwagbuckspage, or download the toolbar and search from there. Each search has the potential to winswagbucks. You useSwagbucks.com just like you would any other search engine to search for things. As you are searching occasionally you will get a banner that pops up and says you won a Swagbuck which are points. You keep earning them and then turn them in to get free stuff. The more you save them up the larger the stuff you can get. You can also get Swagbucks by reading the Swagbucks site on their blog, on their Twitter page, or on their Facebook page.
Every Friday they give away more swagbucks, so your chances of winning are increased. Every time you search you have the chance to win 1, 2, 5, 10, 50 or 100 bucks.
Remember, it is totally free to search and the prizes are great!
You can also earn Swagbucks by watching videos, participating in offers, and even printing AND redeeming coupons from their website!
Happy searching with Swagbucks!
Please see my Disclosure policy. While this link is NOT an affiliate link, I do earn swagbucks when you sign-up for swagbucks through my referral link. Thank you!

Gardening Freebies

• Free Spider Identification Chart
• Free Hydro Rush Hydroponic Water Treatment Sample
• Free 2012 Wildflower Reference Guide
• Free Backyard Spaces (Free Backyard and Garden Woodworking Plans)
• Free Beautiful Outdoor Spaces Book
• Free 2012 Gardener’s Idea Book
• Free Subscription to John Deere Magazine
• Free Seeds of Change Catalog
• Free Shed Plans
• Free 1 oz. Sample of Sun Frog Deck Dealer

$0.50/1 Hormel Natural Choice Deli Meat Coupon!

 

Coupons.com just released a new $0.50 off HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE Deli Meat coupon! One of my personal favorites! Print it while you can!

Please see my disclosure policy as there are a few links above which are affiliate links. Thank you!

Vision Forum Spring Savings Sale

Save 40-70% on 300 items at Vision Forum through March 28!

Just a Few of Our 300+ Spring Savings

Thoughts for Young Men

 

Queen of the Home

 

A Final Farewell

 

Joyfully at Home

The Bible Lessons of John Quincy Adams for His Son

 

Five-in-One Survival Tool

 

Western Six-Shooter

Nerf Compound Bow

Please see my disclosure policy as there are a few links above which are affiliate links. Thank you!

Organic Soup $1.39 at United Grocery Outlet!

Be sure to check out the awesome deal on Muir Glen Organic Soup which UGO has available this week! You can get a can of Muir Glen soup for only $1.39 each! Let me and other readers know what other wonderful deals you are finding at UGO! You can check out the other deals for this week at my UGO post!

Gluten Free Coupon Round-Up

 

$0.75 off two Silk Half Gallons or Larger

$0.75 off one box of Lipton Green Tea

$0.55 off one Silk Soymilk or Almondmilk

$0.55 off on NEW Almond Plus almond milk

$1.00 off one Silk Pure Coconut

50¢ off when you buy any TWO 11 oz. or 15 oz. Cans of DOLE® Mandarin Oranges

$1.00 off when you buy any THREE 20 oz. cans of DOLE® Pineapple

$1.00 off when you buy any THREE Jars of DOLE® All Natural Fruit in 100% Juice

75¢ off when you buy any TWO All-Natural DOLE® Salad Kits

55¢ off when you buy any TWO Uncle Ben's® Long Grain & Wild Rice

Save 50¢ on any one (1) Baby Mum-Mum® or Toddler Mum-Mum™ product in the USA only

SAVE 55¢ Off Any Florida Crystals® Natural or Organic Sugar Product

SAVE $1.00 When you buy any TWO 16oz. Bottles of Skinny Water®

$1/1 Nature’s Path Granola Cereal

$1/2 Van’s Natural Foods Products

$0.75 off  any 1 box Lundberg Farms Family Brown Rice Couscous

$0.55 off one San-J 10. oz. Gluten Free Tamari Soy Sauce or Asian Cooking Sauce

$1/1 Any Organicgirl Brand Fresh Produce

 

Please see my disclosure policy as there are a few links above which are affiliate links. Thank you!

Homeschool Freebies March 20, 2012

 

It’s Free!

• Free teaching tools from The Wall Street Journal
• Free Microbiology Posters
• Free Sun-Earth Day Kits
• Free Fire Safety Coloring Book
• Free Animated Christian DVD The Adventures of Donkey Ollie
• Lots of Great Freebies from Mixminder on Facebook

Annie’s Organic Pizza Review and Giveaway

As a member of Mom’s Meet, I was selected to review Annie’s Organic Rising Crust Pizza. Even though these pizzas are not Gluten Free, I was very excited about getting to try an Annie’s product. My family LOVES every Annie’s product we have ever tried from fruit snacks to salad dressing.

Last night I prepared the Four Cheese Pizza for my family. It was very easy to prepare and ready in only 18 minutes! Cook times will vary depending on your oven. We opted for a crispy crust which took less time to bake. We LOVED the pizza. My children we especially excited about getting to eat something NON-Gluten Free! We do have those treats from time to time. Honestly, this pizza was better than any I have ever had! The best part about it is the pizza is ORGANIC! It uses 100% real cheese and there are NO preservatives. Unfortunately, one pizza will not feed our family alone as our family is larger than most, but I served the pizza with a salad and some potato salad we had left over from the weekend. If I am in the market for a pizza, I will definitely choose Annie’s. There are four flavors from which you can choose; Four Cheese, Pepperoni, Supreme, and Spinach and Mushroom. You can find out more information about Annie’s Organic Rising Crust Pizza on the Annie’s website or Annie’s Facebook Page (you can print a $2/1 Annie’s Organic Rising Crust Coupon to use at Whole Foods).

Now for the giveaway! Mom’s Meet has given me THREE coupons for Annie’s Organic Rising Crust Pizza to giveaway to my readers. The giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. You also must have a Whole Foods nearby as that is the only store who sells the pizza at this time. It is easy to enter. Just leave a comment telling me which Annie's Pizza you have tried or which one you want to try. Please make sure you leave an email address to contact you. Also, please answer the question, or your entry will be disqualified.

For bonus entries you can do any or all of the following. Be sure to leave an additional comment for each action you take below, so you will have additional entries.

• Visit Annie’s Website and leave a comment telling about the contest which starts in April.
• Like Annie’s on Facebook
• Like Frugally Farming Family on Facebook
• Follow Frugally Farming Family on Twitter

Contest ends at Midnight on March 31st. Maximum of five entries per household. Open to U.S. residents only who live near a Whole Foods. Three winners total.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of
the Moms Meet SM program, May Media Group LLC, who received
it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet SM blogger, I
agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My
opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media
Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

United Grocery Outlet Deals Through March 21

I am so excited! We are going to Tennessee this weekend. It is a short visit, but I cannot wait to go and see what deals are at UGO. I am definitely going to stock up on ALL non-perishable items I can use as the prices where we are now are outrageous! I thought I would share this weeks UGO AD with you! The deals I list may or may not be gluten free!

Deals $1 and Under

• Large Baking Potatoes 3 pounds for $1
• Firm Green Cabbage 4 pounds for $1
• Sweet Onions $0.79/pound
• Green Snap Beans $0.99/pound
• Red Potatoes 2 pounds for $1
• 14.5 oz. Famous Brand Name Diced Tomatoes 2/$1 (Look for organic and natural)
• 4 oz. Tilapia Fillets $1
• 6 oz. Famous Brand Name Yogurt 4/$1
• 9-16 oz. Assorted Frozen Vegetables $1
• 24 oz. Famous Brand Name Chocolate Chip or Sugar Cookies 3/$1
• Assorted Health and Beauty $1

Why We Eat Gluten Free and Tips for Helping Children Transition

Shortly after I began this blog, I wrote a post about our family eating a Gluten Free diet and Tips for Eating Gluten Free. In that post, I mentioned we chose to eat a Gluten Free diet as we have not been diagnosed with Celiac or even gluten intolerance. Our choice to become gluten free was made after much research I did when our first son was colicky and my father-in-law (a diabetic) had some test results which did not come back good.  My husband and I already observed we had sensitivities to wheat, and after my research we were further convinced to eliminate all wheat from our diet which led us to follow a gluten free diet. You can read more about my research for eating Gluten free in the post Tips for Eating Gluten Free. That decision was made over ten years ago and just after our oldest child began solid foods. Our children have known no other way of eating which has made it “easy” to get them to eat “non-traditional” foods for kids. They have not grown up on chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, corn dogs, etc.

Over the weekend while I was grocery shopping, I was looking at the ingredients of a particular product. Another customer in the store asked me if it was gluten free. I told her yes it was. She told me she had a friend who had a daughter who ate gluten free and she had such a difficult time finding something to have in her house for the little girl to eat when she visited. She said the little girl is Autistic, but her Autism has greatly improved since eliminating gluten from her diet. She went on to say her son was also autistic, but she could not get him to eat gluten free foods. He will eat a very few vegetables, almost all fruits, and hamburger which are all gluten free. Their goal is to just let him eat whatever he will so at least he is eating. I often forget how difficult it must be for children to abruptly change their diet. I suggested a few tips to help her son transition. She admitted she saw a definite change in him on the days he had no wheat, artificial colors, preservatives, etc. in his food.

Here are some of the tips I gave her for helping her child transition to a gluten free diet. Feel free to add more suggestions if you have experience. I have never had experience with my own children as they have always eaten Gluten Free!

• Make a list of foods your child likes which are Gluten Free. Remember most all fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables are gluten free. Start from there.
• Offer the Gluten Free foods first and insist he/she take at least one bite of the food before eating any foods with gluten.
• Try a new food at least once a week and insist on he/she trying at least one bite of the good before eating any foods with gluten.
• Ultimately, the best thing to do is to eliminate ALL foods with gluten from your house. From my research, I have learned Gluten is an addiction. As long as you have gluten in your house, children who are addicted can and will detect these foods and continue to want them.
• Put the entire family on a gluten free diet so that the child with the gluten sensitivities does not feel out of place or neglected or treated unfairly or as he/she is being punished.
• If your child will NOT eat any gluten free foods, it is definitely important he/she eat. Therefore, try to make your own gluten free versions of their favorite foods. We love macaroni and cheese at our house. However, I always purchase gluten free noodles and make my own sauce using gluten free flour. I have served this macaroni and cheese to children whose favorite dish is mac and cheese, and they have devoured it never knowing it is gluten free! Try breading your own chicken pieces with gluten free flour and frying or baking them . I do not have a good recipe for corn dogs, but I do for pizza. I make a biscuit dough using gluten free flour and spread it thin on a cookie sheet or pizza pan and top with our favorite gluten free toppings. Pizza sauce, cheese, meats, and veggies are typically ALL gluten free!
• Be patient!
• Reward your child with a trip to the park or a piece of gluten free candy or stickers, etc. for every day they eat without complaint the gluten free foods you prepare.
• It is normal for children to have food aversions. Most all of my children have at least one food they do not like. I do not force them to eat that food. For instance, one of my children has trouble eating any and all fish no matter how it is prepared (tuna or salmon which is canned he usually does ok). He gags and vomits if he tries to take one bite. However, fish is a favorite of most everyone else. I always fix something else for him on the days we eat fish and never make him eat it. I also have foods which I just do not like or I may be allergic. I am highly allergic to bananas and also allergic to peanuts. However, my children LOVE these foods. I just avoid them and allow them to eat them from time to time. Unfortunately, my allergy to bananas and peanut butter has become so bad, they either have to prepare it themselves or have someone else prepare it as I recently have had trouble breathing just from the smells!
• It can be a long road. Get help from other moms who are going through the same things. There are hundreds of bloggers out there who blog about Gluten Free lifestyles. Search for Gluten Free blogs. You can also see if your community has a Celiac Group. I have learned many things about gluten free foods and lifestyle just by being in the Knoxville Celiac Group.

Are You Gardening Yet?

We are now in the North where the weather is cold, dreary, and apparently will be for a while! Last year at this time, I had nearly half or more of my garden planted in the beautiful Tennessee weather. I have not even begun to garden here. There is nice weather this week, but still way too early to do anything drastic! Someone told me yesterday that it is safest to wait until MOTHER”S DAY to begin my garden! Mother’s Day? Really? How sad! A man at the grocery store told me a few weeks ago to start my garden with root crops only on Good Friday, then nothing else for at least a month later which would be around Mother’s Day! Whew! That’s a long time to wait! I do not have a safe place to start many indoor seeds at this house. By “safe” I mean a guaranteed place where NO children or Dog will get into them. I am starting some. Anyway, I did want to share some gardening tips with you! Once it is warm enough to start tilling up land around here, I will try to start sharing our garden progress! I am ready to be digging in the dirt!

You can also see all garden posts under the Gardening Tab above as well as Gardening 101! Below are a few tips I mentioned about this time last year for Starting a Small Garden.

• Start Small!

The first thing to do is to start small! It is so very easy to become discouraged when you are planning big and do not have any success.

Decide how large you want the garden to be. Then, choose a location. Remember you want a sunny area preferably going from North to South so that it will get the most amount of sun.

• Amend the Soil

You can get a soil test from your local extension office and check the soil to see what you need. You want a nice loamy soil which is rich in organic matter. You can order mushroom compost and till it into your soil. However, remember there is a lot of nitrogen in the mushroom mix and peppers and other plants do not do as well in a lot of nitrogen!

• Prepare the Beds

One of the best ways to prepare the beds for a small garden is to put down cardboard as a weed barrier. Then, you can add your compost or other soil on top of the cardboard. Plant directly into the cardboard which is easier to do if you water it in first!

• Begin Planting

Some seeds can be planted directly into the soil while others need to be started indoors from seeds and transplanted later. You can get an update each month on which plants to directly seed and which ones to start in doors from my Monthly List of Garden Chores Post (I have not been dilligent with keeping these up lately, but plan to get back to it soon!)

• Remove Weeds Early

By removing weeds early, you will prevent having monstrous weeds and not being able to tell where all your crops are! You can use a hoe or your hands or even a tiller. We have a manpowered cultivator our children LOVE to run through the rows as the little weeds start sprouting!

Free Sample Pack from Nordic Naturals

I love Nordic Naturals Products. Right now you can get a FREE Sample Pack from Nordic Naturals. You can choose a Wellness Essential Pack, a Sport Essential Pack or a Pet Essential Pack.

 

Please see my disclosure policy as there are a few links above which are affiliate links. Thank you!

Free Sample of Lipton Tea and Honey

You can get a Free Sample of Lipton Tea and Honey! This tea is sweetened with honey and made from real tea leaves and real fruit flavors! I am anxious to try it! Have any of you tried it yet?

Please see my disclosure policy as there are a few links above which are affiliate links. Thank you!

Free Travel Alaska State Guide

The Free Travel Alaska State Guide is back! These guides are great for homeschoolers and geography class! Whether you are planning a trip to Alaska or not, Travel Alaska is a great resource for homeschoolers or anyone who is studying Alaska!

Please see my disclosure policy as there are a few links above which are affiliate links. Thank you!

Save $15 on a $50 order at Vision Forum

For Four Days Only get $15 off your $50 + order at Vision Forum. Enter Coupon Code: SAVE15 while viewing your shopping cart to save $15 on your $50+ order! Offer Ends March 16, 2012.

Please see my disclosure policy as there are a few links above which are affiliate links. Thank you!

Gluten Free Surprise Muffins (Substitute for Fun Da Middles)

 

This morning for my fifth born child’s fifth birthday, she requested Surprise Muffins for breakfast. We love these muffins and have been making them for years. Recently, Betty Crocker came out with Fun Da Middles. When my children first found out about them at a friend’s house, they said, “Oh, our mom makes these all the time! They are surprise muffins!” Below is our recipe for them. You can substitute the filling for anything you want! We typically use homemade strawberry jam, but you can use chocolate, peanut butter, cream, or whatever you desire!

Surprise Muffins

Ingredients:

1 egg, beaten (use two eggs if using gluten free flour)

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup oil

2 cups flour (I use rice flour.)

3 tsp. baking powder

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

Filling of choice (jam, chocolate, cream, etc.)

Directions:

Pre heat oven to 400 degrees F. In large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly. Line muffin tins with paper liners. Fill the muffin cups half full. Put a teaspoon of jam or filling on top of batter, then cover with more batter. Bake muffins for about 15-20 minutes or until they are golden brown. We made 16 muffins this morning with this recipe.

Gluten Free Sour Dough Bread Starter

Recently, someone asked me if I knew a recipe for a GLUTEN FREE Sour Dough Bread Starter. I tried making one about ten years ago when we first began the Gluten Free diet. It was a failure. After about three or four attempts, I stopped trying. Ten years ago, there was not a specific recipe to my knowledge for a Gluten Free Sour Dough Starter recipe, so I just used a wheat flour recipe and tried to convert. It never worked. I am hoping this recipe will work. We also avoid yeast, and I am looking forward for having a substitute for some of my favorite yeast bread recipes.

The picture above is step one. Mix 1 cup of gluten-free flour with 1 cup of water in a plastic or class bowl. Stir thoroughly with a plastic spoon (I used a wooden spoon, as I do not have any plastic ones). Cover the bowl with a cotton cloth. Place the bowl in a warm place to let the fermenting process begin. The starter will bubble and grow in size over the next few days.

You can see the entire recipe for How to Make Gluten Free Bread without Yeast on the ehow website.

At-home e-vents: March Means Free Creation E-vents at HSLDA

March Means Free Creation E-vents!

HSLDA’s @home e-vent team and New Leaf Publishing Group proudly present this free series on creation studies.

• Why Can’t a Day Mean a Day?—Dr. Tommy Mitchell
• The Foundation of Genesis in Today’s Culture—Bodie Hodge
• Current Events in Creation Studies—Dr. Don DeYoung
• Why I Abandoned Evolution—Dr. Carl Werner

From the truth about the days of creation, to the truth of God’s salvation found in Genesis, to the truth of the book of Genesis found in science, these four e-vents will build a well-founded knowledge of creation studies—and they are all presented free by New Leaf Publishing Group. We hope you enjoy this March workshop series as you learn new and exciting things about our Creator.

Dr. Tommy Mitchell

Was the world literally created in seven days, or is there more to the biblical account than the text itself suggests? Dr. Tommy Mitchell of Answers in Genesis will explore this controversial question in the e-vent “Why Can’t a Day Mean a Day?” on Thursday, March 15, @ 9:00 p.m. (ET). Learn the alternative theories on the story of creation and which of them lines up with God’s truth. (Space for the live session is limited, so register before it’s too late!)

Bodie Hodge

Genesis doesn’t just contain the truth of the beginnings of man. With the origin of man came the Fall and with the Fall came death, but from God’s grace comes the covenant of redemption. In “The Foundation of Genesis in Today’s Culture” on Tuesday, March 20, @ 9:00 p.m. (ET), Answers in Genesis’s Bodie Hodge will reveal how the book of Genesis shows clear traces of the Gospel and how a book written thousands of years ago is relevant today.

Dr. Don DeYoung

How else is Genesis relevant today? Over 150 years ago, Darwin’s On the Origin of Speciespresented the theory of evolution. But evolution is just that—a theory. Dr. Don DeYoung of Answers in Genesis will give several examples of how scientific evidence proves the Genesis creation account in the e-vent “Current Events in Creation Studies” on Thursday, March 22, @ 9:00 p.m. (ET). You will also discover how you can teach scientific concepts to your children in many different hands-on activities.

Dr. Carl Werner

During a 30-year quest to solve the controversy created by evolution, Dr. Carl Werner found stunning answers. In “Why I Abandoned Evolution” on Thursday, March 29, @ 9:00 p.m. (ET), he will share his story of studying thousands of fossils and discovering that evolution cannot be proved … and why he ultimately deserted his belief in evolution altogether.

Don’t have an @home e-vent account? Follow these simple steps to register for an account and start signing up for our live and on-demand e-vents now!

• Go to the @home e-vents homepage and click the Log In link
• On the next page, click the Register link
• Fill out the registration information, and you’re good to go!

As always, if you sign up for the live session and then can’t make it—we have you covered! As a registrant for the live e-vent, you will receive automatic access to the on-demand version for 30 days. Sign up now and listen multiple times to ensure that you get all you can from these incredible @home e-vents.

If you have any questions, please visit the @home e-vent website or contact the @home e-vent team by emailingathome@hslda.org.

Gluten Free Coupons and Deals

 

$2/1 Any Rudi’s Gluten Free Product (Via Facebook, not a new link so it is possible you may have printed it)

Organic Valley Coupons ($0.50/1 off Yogurt, $0.50/1 Flavored Half and Half)

$1/1 Any Single Serve Kettle Cuisine Soup

Free Sample Nescafe Taster’s Choice Coffee

Free Gluten Free Recipes ebook “Easy Gluten Free Recipes from Around the World” when you subscribe to ezine

Updates

 

Obviously, it is passed March 1, and I do not have my new website up yet. We have come upon some technical issues, but hope it will be up soon!

Also, I did not get to watch the USDA Know Your Farmer Know Your Compass Webinar. I have contacted to see if I can get a video link or a transcript, but have not had a reply at this time. My computer would not allow me to watch the video. I have a relatively new computer, and new updates, so I am not sure if that was the problem or what happened, but there were errors when trying to watch the video. Hopefully, I will hear something soon.

Thanks for reading!

March Month of Garden Chores

 

 

Garden

• Prepare your beds if you have not done so!
• Turn or till in “green manure” or compost at least two weeks before direct seeding.
• Cut down cover crops with a scythe or mower.
• Direct seed: Peas, beets, carrots, onion sets, leeks, radishes, turnips, potatoes, greens, spinach, arugula, leaf lettuces, oriental greens, collards, chard, cilantro, dill, parsley, white Dutch Clover in pathways.
• Start seeds indoors: tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, eggplant, basil, annual herbs.
• Transplant: Broccoli, Asparagus, Garlic, Fruit Trees, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Head Lettuces, Summer-Flowering Bulbs.
• Harvest: Asparagus, Spinach, Kale, Chives, Parsley.
• Prepare Beds for: Beans, Corn, Lettuces, Root Crops, Perennial Herbs, Strawberries
• Make Compost
• Feed Birds
• Take a soil sample to see where you are nutrient deficient. You can go through your local extension office.
• Remove Mulch from Strawberries.
• Spread Compost on beds before direct seeding. Add compost to hole when transplanting.
• To protect transplants and seedlings from pests and frost, cover with row covers.

Farm Chores

• Lay Plans for the coming season. If possible, think of every important thing, and keep a memorandum of whatever is deemed most essential and the order in which it should be done. In case of necessary absence, these plans will allow whoever takes your place to accurately work without supervision if a definite plan is made and talked over beforehand. “He who works with a steady aim attains the greater success with much less labor!”
• Working Stock should be fitted for hard labor by increasing their grain and accustoming them gradually to severer demands upon their strength and endurance. Horses shoulders are apt to gall, and oxen’s necks will become sore if they have done little work in the winter. Look for such troubles and bind on wet cloths at night, greasing the spots when the yoke or harness is again put on; but above all have well fitting yokes and harness.
• Milk Cows- Now is the time to make sure your cows are being fed well! They are getting ready to calve and will need the extra energy from the feed to have a healthy delivery and great milk production upon calving.
• Calves- Be sure to check for newborn calves if this is calving season for your cows. Make sure they are nursing and being taken care of by their mothers. If you are going to castrate the bull calves, it is best to do so while they are young and easier to handle, than waiting until they are older and you have to catch them!
• Sheep/Goats- Watch for early lambs/kids. If they are chilled, bring them into the house and keep them warm. You can also keep them warm by rubbing them and keeping a blanket on them.
• Swine-Breeding sows should be placed isolated, in warm, well-litters pens several days before farrowing. Keep sows well fed and in the best health!
• The Currycomb, card, and Brush, are among the best friends of the farmer and his stock, especially when the young animals are shedding their coats. Every horse young and old should have good grooming daily, dairy cattle twice, and hogs once a week. If you show your beef cattle, it is best to groom them once a week as well! Carrots have a remarkable effect upon the coats of cattle and horses!
• Buildings- It is a great time to work on outside painting or any repairs which need to be made.
• Manure- That not intended for immediate use may be forked over and laid up in good sized heaps well trodden down to undergo another fermentation before its use in May or later in the season. Manure that cannot be plowed under, harrowed in or in some way immediately incorporated with the soil, should not be spread in the field, but left in heaps until it can be incorporated with the soil. Ashes, phosphates, fish manure, bone meal, etc,, if purchased at reasonable rates are economically applied at this season. Be sure and take a soil sample to know what amendments must be added to your soil.
• Pick Up Stones- As soon as the surface is thawed, the stones will be loosened and may be picked up and laid in heaps or at once loaded into wagons or boats and removed. Children are great helpers to pick up stones! My children love making little campfires with them. We also will put larger ones in the flower beds to keep the cats from digging it up!
• Work for Odd Times- The weather and other things will cause unavoidable delays, but few compared with our own improvidence or thoughtlessness. As with any farm, there is always something to do during odd times! Here are a few things you can do during odd times; work over manure; prepare composts of hen manure for corn, or for top dressing grain or grass; collect chip dirt where old wood piles have stood; make ditches to spread the wash of highways over the grass; get out pea brush and bean poles, trimming and sharpening them ready for use; and clean out the well and cistern if necessary and applicable.