Monday Message

Enjoy summer with your kids! Build skills and work on your storage. This is a good time to organize and be sure that you rotate.

Baking bread is a great skill to build, check out a few recipes here and here!

“The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.” Ezra Taft Benson – Prepare Ye – Ensign, Jan. 1974, 69

http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/a-list-of-foods-that-i-recommend-you-have-in-your-storage/#.U3y4GJUU9jq - this is a helpful list to spur ideas. No one wants exactly the same thing but maybe things on this list you have not thought of.

http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/a-list-of-foods-that-i-recommend-you-have-in-your-storage/#.U3y4GJUU9jq - if you're just starting to put in your storage this is a good place to start.

http://preparednessadvice.com/food_storage/a-list-of-foods-that-i-recommend-you-have-in-your-storage/#.U3y4GJUU9jq here is another list to give you other ideas.

You start your own list what your family likes.

You start finding from scratch recipes and try them out, the ones you like put in a notebook. This will be a valuable part of your storage.

Learn new skills and build on skills you have.

Learn all you can. Never stop learning. It is free, you can choose what you want to learn. Sure you won’t get a diploma but it is worth a lot to you and your family.

http://eatingfoodstorage.blogspot.com/ you might want to read what others have learned, not that this is perfect but it is someone willing to learn. I will mention that I disagree with the old myth that spices don’t have long shelf life. I think that was created by sellers of spices as I have learned that spices keep indefinitely as far as none of mine have ever gone bad. 

http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/p/12-monthly-food-storage-lists.html here is a neat way to gather storage.


http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2013/08/pictures-of-my-food-storage-room.html sometimes it is good to see what someone else’s storage looks like to get inspired.

http://momwithaprep.com/how-to-get-started-in-food-storage/ I can not say it enough that I like her method of storing food and knowing how much you need. She is just a great resource.

http://momwithaprep.com/101-dehydrating-recipes/  this has tons of ideas on dehydrating.

http://momwithaprep.com/?s=build+a+better+pantry this has terrific ideas.

http://www.restlesschipotle.com/2013/10/buttermilk-bread/  this shows how to make bread. It is good to know this just as good as learning to tie shoes only better tasting! :p Stretch your knowledge, Learn to make many breads. Variety is what one wants to be able to do.

If you are intolerant to wheat then I suggest that you start in right away to learn to make breads without gluten. It can be done but along with this I suggest then that you start storing what it will take to do so.

 http://www.thekitchn.com/want-to-bake-bread-at-home-start-with-one-of-these-3-recipes-189535 this has a variety of breads on it. If you do not have a mixer do it by hand. This is all about making do and learning. You do not have to wait till someday to start learning.


http://everydayfoodstorage.net/2012/05/22/how-to-make-your-bread-look-like-store-bought-bread/food-storage-recipes this is a great idea if your kids don’t like the idea of homemade. I personally like to make my bread to look very pregnant I say, looks much like the buttermilk bread above. But this is an idea that is an angel food cake pan sounds versatile.

http://everydayfoodstorage.net/wonders-of-bread I love this gal, she does much in the way to help you understand using your storage.

Keep working at building skills. Bread-making is a skill so is sewing, now is the time to build it up.

http://thesewingloftblog.com/2014/01/06/sewing-essentials-the-basics/

http://thesewingloftblog.com/2014/01/06/sewing-essentials-the-basics/

http://thesewingloftblog.com/2013/06/17/calculating-continuous-bias/

http://thesewingloftblog.com/2014/04/25/understanding-pattern-markings/

Knitting is a skill and crocheting https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL472F6039135FB1FA

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=beginning+knitting+tutorial

Also learning to be frugal is a skill http://baconandeggs-scifichick.blogspot.com/2013/04/114-frugal-money-saving-ideas-tips.html

Keep working on your storage and grow food, can food, dry food, put away what you can.

Monday Message - Yard Sale Season

Yard sales are a great place to look for pressure canners, water baths, vacuum sealers and a ton of other things!

Provident living classes will start up again two weeks after school starts in the fall to give you time to adjust to your new schedule. I will announce as we get near there. For now just enjoy your families, drop me suggestions for what you want a class on, work on your SKILLS and your STORAGE!

"[The pioneers] were taught by their leaders to produce, as far as possible, all that they consumed, and to be frugal and not wasteful of their substance. This is still excellent counsel. Joseph Fielding Smith, "The Pioneer Spirit," Improvement Era, July 1970, 3.

 We can begin with a one week's food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months.  I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs." Gordon B. Hinkley, "To Men of the Priesthood," Ensign, Nov. 2002, 5.

http://verypink.com/2012/08/08/worlds-best-kitchen-scrubbie/ - this link works, last time it didn't so this even has a YouTube to show you how to make it - very nice scrubbie!

http://www.theyummylife.com/Natural_Room_Scents these are wonderful and frugal all in one - a good thing to save the site.

http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2012/07/copy-cat-recipe-homemade-bisquick/ scroll down, it is cheaper to make your own and some recipes call for bisquick so I always have on hand my own.

http://thefrugalfreegal.com/frugal-gift-idea/ this is a very handy thing to have.

http://www.firsthomelovelife.com/2013/12/budget-paychecks-differ.html this an idea for budgeting when you have irregular pay.

http://bargainbriana.com/save-money-by-freezing-food/  this is a good way to be frugal provided you have the freezer and space, something to think about.

YARDSALING....tis the season! So while you are out looking, you should look for (if you do not already have).........vacuum sealer, dehydrator, pressure canner (don't worry about if this gauge is accurate, they are easy to replace the rest never goes bad and if it has a gasket easy to get up and running with a new one), water bath or steamer canner, canning jars canning equipment... you get the idea. Finding them at yard sales saves so much money and yes you can find them.

If you already have an item and you see it for cheap at a sale and know of someone who needs one, pick it up or give them a call to see if they want you to get it. Always check dehydrators by plugging in to hear fan and a fan one is what you want. Have them show you the vacuum sealer too,.. pressure canner - just grab it.

The vacuum sealer, you want it to have a port for the hose. Often you do not find the whole set up but you can obtain it through the internet or sporting stores. If they do have the equipment to go with by all means get it, i.e. hose, jar attachment and hose and any canisters.

Living within our means is our goal and yard sales can help with clothing and things that would be costly like blenders, and other kitchen things and household and gardening stuff etc.

You can find yarn and knitting supplies and fabric and sewing machines (though make sure to test that machine before purchasing it).

If you think the price is too high you can ask if they will take less. If you think it is a good price already I feel fair in not asking if they will take less.

It is good to know prices. Also check out those free boxes. I used to get lots of adult jeans with broken zippers that were in good shape. I would make little jeans for the children from them of course, if you are that size and know how to replace zippers that is good too.

So make a list of what you need and carry that list with you to every sale. It will keep you tethered to reality when you are in there looking at everything wishfully...

http://artandbytes.com/2014/05/back-basics-homemade-liquid-laundry-detergent-for-only-pennies-load/  I love being able to make my own laundry soap. That is one huge savings when I found the recipes! I have friends who have allergies and they have benefited greatly by being able to do this. They cannot even walk down the isle of laundry soap without having terrible problems - saves on two fronts!

http://www.marthastewart.com/267317/salad-table this is a fantastic way to have salad for an extended amount of time.

http://benziecd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Salad-Table-Instructions.pdf  this has different plans.

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/frugalliving101/tp/60-Frugal-Skills-Everyone-Should-Know.htm you know I have been pressing you to build your skills, well here is a great idea. Either use her list here which is a link to how to do what she has on her list and you could make a list of your own with sites and that would be your go-to for learning your skills or renewing skills you have not worked on for a while. This is a good jumping off site to get you started. Scroll down and see all the good things she has here - great ideas!

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/01/06/survival-skills-101-frugal-liv/ okay, I like the first one. I hate to window shop. I do like getting ideas to do my own but not to window shop. So here is a list you can read what she has here. Some things won't apply like the coffee, so pick and choose.

http://www.pennilessparenting.com/p/frugal-kitchen-skills.html another list of frugal kitchen skills to build on.

https://www.quickquid.co.uk/quid-corner/2013/09/13/take-the-frugal-living-challenge-step-8-learn-new-skills/ this has some helpful clips, you might enjoy the garden one right now. If you have a dog, how to groom it is on there, cleaning furniture, just a nice way to learn.

I have given you a lot to work with here. Refer back to it and enjoy your summer and learn skills and build your storage!

Monday Message

Provident living: May 13th is our hands-on gardening (weather permitting). I think that the weather won't cooperate but we can talk about gardening anyway. Class is 9:30 a.m. at the Shook's.

Use up Zucchini with Zucchini Mock Apple Pie. Click here for the recipe! It's delicious :)

"The best place to have some food set aside is within our homes, together with a little money in savings.  The best welfare program is our own welfare program. Five or six cans of wheat in the home are better than a bushel in the welfare granary. ... We can begin with a one week's food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months.  I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs." Gordon B. Hinkley, "To Men of the Priesthood," Ensign, Nov. 2002, 5.

"[The pioneers] were taught by their leaders to produce, as far as possible, all that they consumed, and to be frugal and not wasteful of their substance. This is still excellent counsel. Joseph Fielding Smith, "The Pioneer Spirit," Improvement Era, July 1970, 3.

Remember to work on your skills this summer. Always learn something that can help you, help your family... that is a good education without too much cost.

This is a great recipe to have on hand. Store in a canning jar use when needed - http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2009/07/12/food-storage-recipes-homemade-rice-a-roni/

http://tipnut.com/baking-mixes-seasonings/ - this site has lots more mixes on it which would make summer meals easier to prepare!

http://heart-hands-home.blogspot.ca/search/label/Mix%20recipes - more mixes.. I have shared this before, warrants another search through!

http://heart-hands-home.blogspot.ca/search/label/taco%20seasoning - it is good to have your own on hand. I cannot remember when I last bought a package of taco seasoning mix. Store it in a jar and you are set. Remember to write on the jar what it is and how to use it.

http://heart-hands-home.blogspot.ca/2011/06/corn-bread-mix.html - no more little box mixes, make your own.

http://heart-hands-home.blogspot.ca/search/label/brownie%20mix - keep plenty of this on hand for summer months. The kids could even make it!

http://heart-hands-home.blogspot.ca/search/label/Cinnamon%20graham%20crackers - try your hand at these.

http://rikkisnyder.com/blog/13510966/fudgesicles  these look yummy, you can make for hot summer days.

Skills:
http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Toothbrush-Travel-Bag-Easy-Sew.jpg - this would be a great thing to make with your daughters for girls camp and for your scouts as well.

http://shwinandshwin.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-color-block-dress-free-pdf-pattern.html - easy to sew!

http://www.howdoesshe.com/a-real-arm-saver-diy-infant-carrier-handle-cover/ for those carrying baby carriers this is a great idea (sewing).

http://www.gracelaced.com/blog/2011/03/08/spring-is-in-the-hair - crochet project

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/151503974938969867/ - symbols for crochet

http://www.lululoves.co.uk/item/crochet-pattern-granny-square-pincushion.html those who did the granny square class will enjoy this.

http://verypink.com/2012/08/08/worlds-best-kitchen-scrubbie/ - knitting for young and old. This is a good project but will require knowing how to knit as it is a bit different to knit on netting.

http://thepinkcouch.blogspot.com/2010/11/cute-easy-fabric-bandaids.html - cute but extra work I say. But I will tell you that my sister used to stamp on bandaides that always made them cute :)

A few tips that have worked for me...

If you sew and have all those patterns, this is what has tamed mine -- Once you get it all done it is so easy to use  ......  I take the patterns out of the envelope and place in a brown five by seven envelope. On this I write the number and, for me, I put kids in one area and adult in the other. So I use file cabinet drawers for the brown envelope, make make sure you have that number on with who i.e. McCalls and the number. I put my numbers in the right top corner.

They are filed in numerical order the envelope that the pattern came in. I put in page protectors in a notebook. I have one for kids and babies and one for adults. This notebook can go with you to the store when you need to have the info on purchasing items to do the pattern.

The other tip is Children....I put together a box like a photo box and in there I throw old Christmas cards, crayons, glue, pipe cleaners, stickers, just anything you can think of to fill the box. I put one color ink pad and some stamps, some paper, you get the idea this is a special box when our granddaughter comes to visit. She calls it the scissor box. So there you go, it helps them to be creative. Let your imagination go.. you can target each box to your children's interest.

http://www.notwiddletwaddle.com/2013/08/how-to-make-a-boo-boo-bunny.html this is a no sew project and one must always have one of these in the freezer at all times for those boo boos little ones get. You can do the ice cubes but I use those plastic ice cubes that you can reuse. If you have several children you might want several in the freezer. When the boo boo is better you throw back in the freezer for next time.

http://www.budget101.com/frugal-living-articles/1-chicken-5-meal-challenge-4211.html - this will get you thinking on how to stretch your meals.

http://www.hgtv.com/gardening/how-to-grow-salad-greens/index.html - this is a good thing to do if you have a garden or not. You can walk out and pick your salad.

Keep working hard on your storage.

Keep working on your skills. I also am working all the time on mine as well so I am working right with you :)

I am so proud of all of you!

Anadama Bread

Anadama Bread is such a good bread and relatively easy to bake. Delicious!

Anadama Bread

2 c. boiling water

1/2 c. yellow cornmeal

2 tbsp butter

1/2 c. molasses

2 tsp salt

Proof:

2 tbsp yeast

1/2 c warm water

1 tsp sugar

8 c. flour (I did not use all so don't just dump in 8 cups)

Mix the top together and proof the rest and put together and mix and knead.

 

Let raise 1 hour then punch down and shape two loaves. Cover and let raise for the bread to get one inch to one and a half inches over rim. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven bake for 45 min.

Monday Message

Provident living: Our last class till fall will be hands-on gardening. Let me know if you are planning on attending. It will be 9:30 at the Shook's on May 13 (weather permitting).

Frugal cuteness = pillow case dress!

The time will come that gold will hold no comparison in value to a bushel of wheat." (President Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p.298.)

“No one knows the time of His coming, but the faithful are taught to study the signs of it and be prepared for it…We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming” Oct. 2007 VT Message in Ensign, Dallin H. Oaks

"For over 100 years we have been admonished to store up grain. ‘Remember the counsel that is given,’ said Elder Orson Hyde, ‘Store up all your grain, and take care of it!... And I tell you it is almost as necessary to have bread to sustain the body as it is to have food for the spirit.’ (Ezra Taft Benson, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, p. 17)

http://homemakerschallenge.com/grandmas-budget-trending-zero-balance-budget/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Homemakerschallenge+%28Homemakers+Challenge%29  interesting article on keeping your budget

http://notquiteamishliving.com/2013/03/20-ways-my-grandma-saved-money/ - this is a great thing to read. I remember working at ISU in the food area and we had one lady who would get after us if we did not scrape the bowl. "That is one more cookie," she would say. I learned and applied it to my life. Also, while Brother Shook was in school and we had daycare in our home, he made signs at the grocery store and for a dollar we could get produce that was not perfect to put out and I would can it up. But all in all I think these are good ideas to spur on new ideas.

http://thehomesteadinghippy.com/4-ways-quality-clothing-cheap-free/ - some useful ideas I am sure you all already do.

http://lechaimontheright.blogspot.com/2013/11/frugality-how-to-from-greatest.html?m=1 - interesting what they did for nylons, I tell you we could learn a lot this is a fun read.

http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/01/14/minimal-effort-freezer-cooking/ - now with summer coming on this would be great to have some things done up ahead!

http://www.firsthomelovelife.com/2013/12/budget-paychecks-differ.html - if your income varies this could be helpful.

http://hubpages.com/hub/101-Frugal-Living-Tips-You-Need-to-Know - should be something here to help.

http://acultivatednest.com/category/money-management/ - this has many ideas as you scroll down.

http://www.carriesbusynothings.com/2013/02/defining-need-payoff-step-2.html - frugal

http://bornfreenorthernvirginia.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-to-create-budget-complete-one-step.html

Now I have given you many different budget ideas that you may find something that could help you do better - a great collection of ideas here on being frugal as well :)

Summer can take a chunk out of our budgets too...

http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/06/4-weeks-of-frugal-family-fun-edible-peanut-butter-playdough-day-2.html

http://www.theidearoom.net/2009/08/reward-points-system-and-home-store.html saying "I am bored" there was always a chore in site....this is a great idea making happy helpers.

http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/06/4-weeks-of-frugal-family-fun-marshmallow-toothpick-structures-day-5.html - great fun I could see a FHE here building Tower of Babel or King Benjamin's Tower... let your ideas run!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/157696424424739019/ - scroll down for tons of ideas. I love the water balloons! We used to have many FHE nights with those and water pistols. One night we armed dad with a small water pistol and the rest of us had large soda bottles, we put squirt tops on and those were our guns. Don't have to tell you who had the upper hand there! :p

http://laughingkidslearn.com/2013/10/diy-chalk-rake.html/ so cute

http://www.thebudgetdiet.com/frugal-family-fun-10-ideas-for-a-family-fun-night

http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=frugal%20family%20fun

http://www.thethriftydino.com/2012/04/frugal-family-funspy-training.html

This should give you lots of ideas to stay frugal and have fun doing it!

Keep working on your storage. Keep learning and working on skills. Try to plant a garden or container gardening!

You all inspire me I say :)

Monday Message (on Tuesday)

Provident living: Our last class will be May 13 until fall again to give you time for your gardens and families. The class will be hands-on planting in the garden (weather permitting) 9:30 a.m. at the Shook's.

Summer is just around the corner! Scroll down to check out a list of fun ideas to do with the kids :)

The Lord has warned and forewarned us against a day of great tribulation and given us counsel, through His Servants, on how we can be prepared for these difficult times. Have we heeded His counsel?" (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, November 1980

"When the economies of nations fail, when famine and other disasters prevent people from buying food in stores, the Saints must be prepared to handle these emergencies." (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 264.)

“Noah heeded God’s command to build an ark...that they might be saved from the floodwaters…Yet there was no evidence of rain and flood…His actions were considered irrational…The sun was shining and life moved forward as usual. But time ran out…The floods came, the disobedient were drowned… When God speaks and we obey, we will always be right” T.S.Monson Ensign 10-07

We need to develop skills we do not have and we need to improve on the ones we have

http://thesewingloftblog.com/2014/02/24/simple-steps-improve-sewing-skills/ improve your sewing skills even though at this time we can buy clothes, even used ones fairly cheap, we should know how to make the clothes ourselves and have supplies on hand to do so.

http://thesewingloftblog.com/2014/01/20/pressing-and-ironing/ brush up on the basics of pressing here

http://amandafarquharson.com/blog/the-8-most-helpful-hand-sewing-stitches these are basic and good to know

You should be watching the weather, when it is dry enough you should be getting ground tilled if you do not already have a spot cleared off ready to go if you do.

Planting season is just a few weeks away.

FHE is a good time to draw pictures of what will be planted where and involve everyone let them plant their own little section.

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/7-ways-plant-potatoes? - preferred method potatoes

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/331085010076140022/  celery this is the part you would not keep so why not make more? This does work, actually I have some in water now that are waiting to go out and they already are doing this just in the water alone but I want to put them out.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/331085010076132065/ I showed this with onions before just wanted to tell you that mine are continuing to give me green onions. I put on baked potatoes or in anything that needs onions. You just keep cutting the top like you would chives.

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/containergardening/herbveggie_containers.cfm no room to have a garden? Here are great things about container gardening

This is something the Prophets have said for us to do. Believe me I hate gardening but I push on through. What I don't like and am rewarded for the grocery budget that it saves....plus through all the years of doing this I can tell you what not to do...as I have done them all, yep maybe I should write a book of failings in the garden.... naaaahh :p

http://naturalthrifty.com/how-to-mill-flour.html  this might be something to try in a Goodwill blender, not so sure how much the motor will take but if you get a used one at a good price this might be an option. If you do not have a grinder it is a good thing to know what you can do.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259449628503563967/ this has a lady show you both ways of grinding. I am not familiar with the brands but the prices seem close. Yes, the electric grinders are that loud, my only add to this is that the tupperware she is mentioning that she gets ahead must be stored in the freezer.....  One more tip is like her it is good to have both types

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWOJovFzWfw  she walks you through making bread pretty well. You also could put it in loaf pans instead of free form loaves like she shows. I like the more narrow bread pans as opposed to the wide ones that one might put meatloaf in and then I spray my pan and I put the dough in so that when I push on it so that the dough touches all four sides, it is half full in the pan. I spray and cover and let raise till you have one to one and a half inches above the rim and bake.

http://giftedkids.about.com/od/nurturinggiftsandtalents/qt/cheap_fun.htm

http://www.carolinaparent.com/articlemain.php?12-Ideas-for-Summer-Fun-on-a-Budget-833

http://www.pinterest.com/tgilbert1/summer-picnic-ideas/

http://www.watermelon.org/Carvings/CarvingsDetail.aspx?ID=10

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/201958364513147798/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/201958364512278637/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/201958364510375294/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/201958364510374206/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/201958364510348294/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/201958364510341602/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/201958364510250998/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/201958364510023419/

http://spoonful.com/recipes/whatta-melon-pop

http://easybaked.net/2011/06/11/nutter-butter-flip-flops/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/201958364510004537/

These are the things from our class. I particularly love the idea of the gummie bear popsicle. I hope you all enjoy with your kids or grandkids what is gathered here to have fun and yummy at the same time, too neat!

Keep working on your storage, keep working on your skills. I know that it is harder to do in the summer with kids home but you can have them help and teach them and make gummy bear popsicles - yum! And you can have fun while doing them. I remember sewing and Laura would stand with one foot on each side and leaning over me while I sewed... :)

Spend time together, prepare together and work on a garden - do what you can do.

Monday Message

Provident living... Next class is April 22nd at 9:30 a.m. at the Shook's. Since it is the second to last class till fall we will do fun inexpensive summer foods for kids, camping and picnics. Be sure to bring your favorite recipes to share with the class! The last class will be basic gardening where will actually have hands on learning!

"How on the face of the earth could a man enjoy his religion when he had been told by the Lord how to prepare for a day of famine, when instead of doing so he had fooled away that which would have sustained him and his family." George Albert Smith, Deseret News, Mar. 4, 1868, 26

"Too often we bask in comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord or they do not believe them.  Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they will somehow be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion.  The Lord has warned and forewarned us against a day of great tribulation and given us counsel, through His Servants, on how we can be prepared for these difficult times.  Have you (we) heeded His counsel?" Ezra Taft Benson, Jun. 1980.

http://www.yourownhomestore.com/first-aid-quick-guide/ - click on the little blue page in the article to print. It would be a good thing to have on your frig and on this frame of thought how many of you have a first aid book in your first aid storage?

I thought this was interesting for those who have infants http://preparednessmama.com/infant-72-hour-kit/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/3166662211317723/ good idea for one of those #10 cans

http://www.examiner.com/article/stock-the-pantry-and-cupboards-make-menu-planning-easier-spend-less-money - if you notice the blue highlights there are recipes to do your own.

http://wonkywonderful.com/1/post/2013/12/gingerbread-spiced-hot-cocoa-mix-recipe.html - here is a gift mix idea. Yes, we need to start collecting gift ideas and gifts for the holidays so that it won't be such a drain all at one time.

http://simplyfrugallifestyle.blogspot.com/search/label/Mixes  I want to have you try at least one thing of making your own mix. You can choose then expand once you like using your own mixes to save money and time.

http://momskitchencooking.blogspot.com/2009/01/homemade-shake-bake-chicken.html - if you like shake and bake try this one to see if it is as good as the one you like.

Whenever you are not sure if you will like a recipe or not that is a mix one, just half it or quarter it just to try. You do not need to make a whole bunch. If you like then go crazy and make a bunch!

Life is busy and let me tell you when the kids grow up and leave, it gets busier! But if you take the time to try new things now, it really can help.

Once you get your food storage up then when you go to the store you go for replacement and then remember to rotate. When you do, it gets a whole lot easier.

http://foodstorageresource.blogspot.com/2012/01/make-your-own-rice-mixes.html  - it would be convenient to have a rice mix on hand if not this one, type in one to your liking.

http://rainydayfoodstorage.blogspot.com/2013/04/homemade-febreze.html  - thought this looked way less expensive

http://rainydayfoodstorage.blogspot.com/2013/04/hamburger-helping-mixes.html - how inexpensive are these?????  Try and see if something in here strikes your family as a keeper. That is how good recipes are found. Take a vote and if you are not so sure what the response is gonna be, well... that is the night chocolate cake is offered, right? :p

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/10/homemade-shake-and-pour-pancake-mix.html - it would take no time at all to get these made up ahead or even for camping. How cool to add shake and make! The kids could have a great time shaking while you are getting ready.

http://www.livingonadime.com/homemade-tootsie-rolls-4-ingredients/  - family nite fun, make tootsie rolls!

http://www.tomandlisatomlinson.blogspot.com/2011/12/as-promised-homemade-mix-recipes.html - mixes make meal time prep faster. Make them up when you have more time, use them when you have less time = a good thing!

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/FN_Cooking&Baking_2011-02pr.pdf  I put this in again as it is the best thing yet to have on hand. I printed off the recipes and have them on a ring that I keep near the SOS mix.

How are you coming on building your skills?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMqK-fNrCrM - different ways to hem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdHnrlrQ6RE - this gal gives you some good tips no matter what machine you use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmaFROQ8dBk - if you are afraid to machine sew, this will show how easy to make a baby dress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnsR-by7kKk - how to sew an elastic waist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TxwfCWGUkY - how to make your own bias tape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAIfrCViTBY - how to make a t-shirt.

These are some sites that will get you started on sewing. Build that skill and you will never regret it!

Keep working on your storage which includes more then food.

Look for sales stock up.

Practice these skills!