Monday Message

“From President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor, we hear: "Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food . . . and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free."
“We call upon priesthood bearers to store sufficient so that you and your family can weather the vicissitudes of life.”

Now he is the Prophet, are we listening??

This is a good thing to think about. This time of year think how you will feel when bills start coming in.

http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/ways-save-money-christmas/

http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/6-ways-to-have-an-old-fashioned-christmas/

As I write this I have been sick for almost two weeks, my immune system isn’t good with fibromyalgia so I must be careful. But this warrants asking, what is your sick plan? Because we are heading into that season as well.

-Stick a few casseroles in the freezer
-Get lotion loaded Kleenex (as my nose gets sore)
-Plan on easy fix meals
-Stock up on overcounter meds

Next time you make chicken soup freeze some just for sick days.
I like what I call my sick drink - orange juice mixed with diet squirt, in my case seven up can be used too.

Time to start a book you have set aside. Chocolate is always nice and a few magazines free from the library, there is also free books there too. I am a cozy mystery book person but there are others. If you have something you want to learn, put up YouTube videos and learn without really trying cause sometimes you are just too miserable. This would also work with of course movies and a sick blankie is good too. What would be bad is being sick and having to load up kids to go get food. And when you are sick making more expensive choices at stores will happen.

So give your sick plan some thought.

http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2007/07/peasant-blouse.html - put your skills to use, this is great. 

http://theprudenthomemaker.com/blog?view=entry&id=18544 - here you can see what you can do, plus she gives you info on how she made one for her older child measuring off her other shirt to get the size.

http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/how-to-stretch-ground-beef-using-oats/ - great ideas to stretch your meat.

http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/easy-slow-cooker-chili/ - tell me you're not wanting this now. I love the cheese and corn chips in the picture.

http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/homemade-chili-seasoning/ - this is where her chili spice is.

http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/recipes-grandma-knew/ - revisit cooking from scratch.

http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/30-items-can-make-home-save-money/ - did you know you could make these?

http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/15-homemade-christmas-treats-to-give/ - inexpensive.

http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/25-christmas-activities-for-kids/  ideas with kids.

http://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/living-on-one-income/ wise thoughts. 

http://www.beingfrugal.net/50-frugal-christmas-ideas/ - you don’t have to spend money and you do not have to keep up with others.

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/giftstomake/tp/HomeMadeGiftIdeas.htm? - gift ideas

http://www.dummies.com/crafts/knitting/knitting-projects/how-to-knit-a-cowl/ knit a cowl

I want you to not go in debt for your gifts. Shop thrift stores and fix up and make things to go with. Like one person got a free dresser, it needed help and they turned it to a doll house. Think what you can do be creative. Find frugal ways.

I want you to think outside the box, change it up and have fun. Help kids start collections, help to learn their talents. I always think a kit of some kind is fun. Our granddaughters are getting French knitting kits, totally forget the hottest things and go for the funnest things.

Share your ideas on the blog.

Hunt for good things from sales to build storage.

Do the best you can, you will thank me later.

Monday Message

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Shooks!

I saw this and thought it sounded like a good idea so passing it on to you http://www.foodstoragemoms.com/12-christmas-meals-bags/

http://www.foodstoragemoms.com/need-want-christmas-gifts/ - good to read

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/11892386491999982/ - a great food storage gift, you can see the tutorial.

http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/candy-cane-snack-mix/ - snack for family

http://christmas.organizedhome.com/crafts/christmas/blessing-mix  - nice to remember our blessings and tastes great too!

http://foodstorageandsurvival.com/making-evaporated-sweetened-condensed-milk-powdered/ - this is helpful info.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Basic-Sewing-By-Hand-Tutorial/ - this is a good tutorial to teach our children.

http://www.loveofknitting.com/instructions.html - knitting

http://crochet.about.com/od/crochetstitches/tp/basic-stitches.htm - crochet

http://theartofsimple.net/back-to-the-basics/ - this looks good but I wanted you to see the video clip, scroll down. I think you will find something you can relate with.

Remember, it is not about who has the best decorations. It is not about comparing yourselves against someone else who seems to wake up and walk out of a magazine, whose house is like a page from a magazine. These images are not the real picture. Every house has a kitchen sink for dirty dishes, so if you really live in your home things really are not like the magazine page.

I once looked at a magazine thinking hmmmm that is soooooo nice then looked closer and in the different pics was the same stuff used over again taken so you would not notice, plus someone who did have their pic of their house put in a magazine said not much was hers and that they moved out her stuff and put in their stuff just for the pic.

So what I am saying is sometimes we don’t see the whole picture. What might look like the perfect family with the perfect kids is not that way at all but yet we have a tendency to beat ourselves up for not being as perfect. If you do that you only end up with boo boos.

I one time asked my grandmother how she was doing and she said well I can't clean the closets as well as I use to... I responded for her not to worry about them, no one looks in them anyhow. Many years later I get it. I know just what she was saying as I have arrived.

Life is hard enough without adding unnecessary stress. Enjoy life so there are toys all over the floor. I actually love to go to a home with toys all over the floor, it says fun happens here!

Christmastime can get out of hand stressful .

When our kids were little we would read aloud The Little House on the Prairie series in order from beginning to end.

Even now my tradition is when we get the first really bad winter storm I will read The Long Winter from that series. Nothing will make you want your food storage in more except to live it perhaps.

So pick up a copy and join me in reading it this year when we get the first real bad "stay indoors" storm!

So if you are feeling overwhelmed you can cut back on everything, you have permission!

Keep your eye out for someone who isn’t feeling well or doesn’t have the Christmas spirit this year. You don’t have to look far. The economy is pinching all and bring them some of your cheer. Opportunities are out there to brighten..…

Maybe there is someone who is ill in your family circle or have had hard times fall on them. Start there and work your way out. There is plenty of suffering all over, even a kind smile will warm a weary heart.