My garden gave me a nice crop of butternut squash this year, and it made me wonder…
what butternut squash recipes am I missing out on?
I’m sure there are a ton of ways to use this squash that I’d never thought of before.
Then I thought….well heck. If I’m collecting these recipes, why not make a nice list of them for everybody?
So here we are.
If you’re looking for good ways to use affordable, nutritious butternut squash in your meals, read on!
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Honestly, we all need more winter dinner ideas for those cold nights. Get ready for some new comfort food recipes!
To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of winter weather.
But these meals are something to look forward to on those cold, short days.
As a busy Mom, I really only have the patience for meals that are simple, cheap, and not a lot of fuss.
So here are some of our family’s favorite winter dinner ideas.
(more…)I managed to remember to leave the house a little early so we could shop for a leotard before dance class started.
My teenage daughter has the nerve to continue growing on me, despite me trying to shrink her back to her cute little twirly mini self. 😉
She and the instructor looked through the rack to find something that might fit her, when her teacher remembered that they had a small bin of hand me downs she could search through for free.
Well, guess who found one in that bin that fit?
Gotta love a kid who helps you stay frugal!
I told her thanks for making the 5 ways post for this week. But since I’m using this idea up here, I guess it’s a bonus!
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The best large family freezer meals are easy to make, with simple ingredients. Get the recipes here.
You know those days when you get out of bed late, and everything that happens next seems to snowball until your day is one big mess?
By suppertime, you’re ready to throw in the towel and call for pizza. (Again.)
Well, you can make everything much easier on yourself with just a little prep work, and this list of large family freezer meals.
This list is gonna come in handy over and over, so make sure you bookmark it or pin it!
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If you dream of homesteading but can’t even imagine how you could afford to begin, here are some ideas that will help you fund your dream.
Walking into a local feed mill and choosing chick breeds the way some people choose donuts might be just a dream for you right now.
But that dream can totally become a reality!
One of the most important personality traits for a homesteader is knowing how to live frugally. And you don’t have to be surrounded by corn fields to become a savvy frugal thinker.
In fact, it’s waaay better to learn how to live frugally before you ever think about purchasing that old farmhouse.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could learn some homesteading tricks right where you live now…and also save enough money for that down payment?
Let’s do it!
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A good apple crisp recipe is one of those simple desserts that instantly drums up memories of Grandma’s house in the fall.
For some reason, it gets overlooked as an easy dessert recipe idea, but I don’t even know why.
It takes hardly any effort to make, you probably already have the simple ingredients on hand, and everyone loves it.
If I’m totally honest, I’ve even served it for breakfast! Hey, it has fruit and oats in it. What’s so different from a bowl of oatmeal?
Today is definitely the day to give this apple crisp recipe a try.
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Should I just ignore the fact that I haven’t shared a post in this series for months and months? Or should I talk about it?
Your life is busy, my life is busy. Excuses, excuses.
Who cares about the reasons, right?
Whether I’ve written about it or not, the quest to save money in an economy that makes regular living nearly impossible continues. Because of course it does.
Just in case anyone finds help in the ways I’ve managed to save my own family some cash (even in really trying times), I thought I would do my best to get back to sharing ideas here.
And as always, everyone here would love to see your ideas, too! So if you have any good suggestions, leave a comment. But be nice about it. 😉
(more…)When you breathe a sigh of relief that your friend can’t come over tomorrow after all, that might be a sign that the mess is a little out of control.
Raising kids ain’t for wimps, you get that. But you didn’t think you’d be taking your life in your hands every time you walked across a floor in your own home!
If the chores around the house aren’t getting done the way you thought they would, do NOT worry!
The solution is actually a lot easier than you’d think.
You don’t actually need long chore charts or systems you’ll only remember for 2 days before you quit.
For our family of 8, it was really a few simple tricks that made all the difference in our home. And I’m gonna give them away to you right here!
That is, if you are looking for a little less stress in your life…
(more…)Sink your teeth into these refreshing summer lunch ideas. They fill you up while keeping you cool!
When the heat is up and your house already feels like an oven, the last thing you want to do is cook lunch.
Heck, you probably don’t even have an appetite!
But you gotta eat, right? And so do the kids.
So use this list of easy, light summer lunch ideas to keep everyone filled up (without overheating).
(more…)Get a daily summer schedule for kids that’s simple, doable, and will create the simple summer you’ve always dreamed of.
Whether you love summer or hate it, one thing is for sure…
when the daily routine meets a sudden a dramatic shift (like when school is out), everyone feels just a little crazy.
(Or a lot crazy, maybe.)
That’s ok.
Look, finding something to keep everyone occupied doesn’t have to take a lot of brain power from a tired parent. And you don’t have to scour Pinterest for every creative craft, elaborate bucket list, or new trip idea to have the best summer ever.
All you need is the right, REALLY GOOD ideas. (Check below.) And a routine that’s just the right mix of predictable but flexible.
Ready to start?
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I'm Jamie, and I want to help you afford a beautiful life with your family. Learn more. 
