Talk About Tuesday-- A Big Bar of Bubbly Bliss

Well, this post is kind of a combo post...it's "Talk About Tuesday", but this post is also very much in the spirit of our group  of "American Frugal Housewives", chartered by my dear friend, Joanne Heim at The Simple Wife .  So with that said, I'm filing this post in both categories.

Ever tried to find the perfect bar of soap? If you are a female (and like me) you have tried every kind of soap in every kind of scent under the sun. You've tried bars and you've tried bottles...from fruity scents to herby scents, all in hopes of finding the perfect brand in the perfect scent. Well, I am not looking any further! While in World Market with my Mom (we LOVE that store), she introduced me to the "South of France" brand of French milled soap. The brand comes in every scent under the sun, but the one that Mom had used was the "Green Tea" scent. It is DIVINE! It's has a really fresh, clean scent, but best of all, it's a vegetable soap, so for me, that's great. I have REALLY sensitive skin, so my search for the perfect soap is always centered around trying to find one that won't burn my skin off! The bars are HUGE (8.8 oz.--the size of 2 regular bars put together)and will last a long time. As much as I love World Market though, I knew that I (in the spirit of my bloggy bud and fellow American Frugal Housewife, Joanne) could probably find my new soapy treasure at a cheaper price than $5.99 each. And, I WAS RIGHT! Amazon has them in multi packs for about $3.99 per bar, and most of them are eligible for "Super Saver Shipping", so that makes them a real bargain. I am going to try some of the other scents, because they all smelled wonderful.  A few that I liked were the Shea Butter, Lime Basil, Verbena, Honey and the Rosemary Mint.  There are actually some online that I didn't see in the store, such as Acai Pomegranate.  I think I have finally found my "soapy resting place"....try it out!  I hope you like them as much as I do!

For more great Talk About Tuesday posts, visit Lara Gallagher at The Lazy Organizer.

Talk About Tuesday-- Open Season for Open Toes

Alright ladies, it's that time of year once again!!! I think we need to
be reminded of a few things. So my sisters, PLEASE, raise your big toes
and repeat after me below...


The Open Toed Shoe Pledge
As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules

when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over
and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the

sides and tops of my feet will not purge out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and
chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.


I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.


I will shave the hairs off my big toe.


I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker,
mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I
tuck it there.


If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into
place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.


I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr.
Scholl's if my feet need him.


I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low
price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids'
sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others.
No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would
hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.


I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell
and begin to look like Vienna sausages.


I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she
asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell
her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy
feet look good.

I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they

actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I
will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.


I will promise to go to my local nail salon at least once per season and
have a real pedicure (they are about $25 or $35 and worth EVERY penny).

I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs
of wear... nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals.


Don't keep this to yourself

For more great Talk About Tuesday Posts, please stop by and see Lara Gallagher at The Lazy Organizer

Talk About Tuesday-- They ARE a Girl's Best Friend

This post is dedicated to my SWEET husband. Why, you ask? Because today, I got a very special present from him. Recently, I had an allergic reaction, which caused me to have to get my wedding band cut off. I was SOOOO upset! I was able to get my engagement ring off just in time, but the wedding band bit the dust. So, my husband took me to our favorite jewelry store last weekend and showed me the diamond ring guard bands that he had picked out. I couldn't have looked myself and found anything I liked better. They were SO beautiful! I just got them back today from being sized. This picture was taken quickly, and isn't the clearest one, but you get the point. Thank you Baby!! I love you!! I will treasure them forever!

For more great "Talk About Tuesday" posts, visit Lara Gallagher's blog, The Lazy Organizer.

Talk About Tuesday--A Sweet Little Laugh

We all need a sweet little laugh every now and then. I thought that this was too cute not to share. I have always loved to hear Carol Burnett belt out the song "Little Girls...Little Girls" in the movie version of "Annie". But, this cute little piece lends the spotlight to some "Little Boys". Happy Tuesday! 

(In case you are wondering about the precious boys in the picture, they are my handsome nephews, The Transformer and The Entertainer)

Two Little Boys

After a hearty rainstorm filled all the potholes in the streets and alleys, a young mother watched her two little boys playing in the puddles through her kitchen window. The older of the two, a five year old lad, grabbed his sibling by the back of his head and shoved his face into the water hole. As the boy recovered and stood laughing and dripping, the mother ran to the yard in a panic. 'Why on earth did you do that to your little brother?!' she asked as she shook the older boy in anger. 'We were just playing 'church' mommy,' he said.
'I was just baptizing him...in the name of the Father, the Son and in...the hole-he-goes.'

For more great "Talk About Tuesday" posts, visit Lara Gallagher's blog, The Lazy Organizer.

Talk about Tuesday--The Housewife of 1832

(I know that this is a day late, but I was REALLY tired last night and didn't get a chance to do this post...so I know it's a Tuesday thing....but this week, it's on a Wednesday!)
 
With the horrendous state of the economy and all of the talk from day to day about what is or what is not going to happen, I have found myself jumping on the bandwagon of "frugality" lately. What really prompted me was a post that my friend Joanne Heim did at over at her blog, The Simple Wife.  Her post was sparked by a book called "The American Frugal Housewife", which was written in 1832 by Mrs. Lydia Child.  The post was an encouragement to others of us to become "American Frugal Housewives"...all in an effort to bring economy back into our homes.  Out of all of this, "Frugal Friday's" was born.  As of late, we have all been contributing posts each Friday about our plights to return to frugality in our homes.  


I decided that in addition to making my contributions through the blog that I also needed to read Mrs. Child's book.  WOW!  was I stunned!  I wasn't able to find an original print, but I did locate a 12th edition that was in really good shape from Amazon.   I have been reading through it almost every night.  You would not believe the wisdom and insights that are contained in the very simple but very direct writings of Mrs. Child.  What's even more striking about this incredible little book is that even though it was written in 1832, there are so many topics that are relevant to us in the year 2009.  It's a shame that we have gotten so commercialized that we have missed out on some of these very simple and frugal ways that Mrs. Child has presented in her book.  She has covered everything from money, cooking, child rearing, home remedies to roasting your own coffee.  Obviously, some of her methods would be considered very extreme in this day and age, but I really find her sense of "basics" to be very refreshing.  


I could certainly write for many more pages about this most interesting woman, but for time's sake, I will just encourage you to get a copy for yourself.  I hope you will find the thoughts and insights contained in the pages as interesting and refreshing as I have.  I have really learned quite a bit from her already.  There is truly something in it for everyone.  With that said, I will leave you with the opening paragraph to the book:

"The true economy of housekeeping is simply the art of gathering up all , the fragments so that nothing be lost.  I mean fragments of time, as well as fragments of materials.  Nothing should be thrown away so long as it is possible to make any use of it, however trifling that use may be; and whatever the size of a family, every member should be employed either in earning or saving money." (taken from "The American Frugal Housewife", by Lydia M. Child)

For more great "Talk About Tuesday" posts, visit Lara Gallagher's blog, The Lazy Organizer.
 

Talk About Tuesday-- Matthew's Corner

While Rob and I were in North Carolina for Christmas, we got the opportunity to spend a lot of time with our twelve year old nephew, Matthew. As it turns out, Matthew has taken up a new hobby of writing poetry. As we were talking with Matthew about his writing, he asked if I would "publish" him, since I have an active blog. Well....how in the world could I say no to that sweet face and that brilliant poetry? So, Matthew turned over all of his precious writings for me to post to my blog...and I am quite honored to do so. Matthew is a very smart young man and it is my pleasure to pass on some of his writings to you for your reading pleasure! With that said, I give you the first installment of "Matthew's Corner"!!

Matthew, On Cheer

The amazing feeling of a great accomplishment that you have made can put another brick on the foundation of something you can call an ego.

But this is not a good thing, although accomplishing something is a good thing, an ego can cause several problems in your life, especially in the life of your cheer.

Cheer is a wonderful thing, it is also what keeps us happy, and even healthy. Being very cheerful can really help you accomplish things, and it will even help get rid of an ego.

So, in all you do, be cheerful in what you do, live, say and feel, so that you, even you, can stay happy, healthy and ego-free.

by Matthew R.
"Matthew, On Cheer" copyright A Pair of Bartletts, 2009 All Rights Reserved, Cannot be reproduced without approval of A Pair of Bartletts

For more great "Talk About Tuesday" posts, visit Lara Gallagher's The Lazy Organizer.

Talk About Tuesday-- A Prayer For Me Today

I draw countless truths and treasures from one of my favorite books, "The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions". I keep it within fingers reach on the bedside table.  The Lord always uses these most meaningful and heartfelt Puritan prayers to remind me that I need to scrape away all of the fluffy pomp and circumstance and get back to the basics....just like the Puritans who penned these beautiful prayers to the Lord. This is my prayer for today, taken from this work:

CHRIST IS ALL

O LOVER TO THE UTTERMOST,
May I read the meltings of thy heart to me
in the manger of thy birth,
in the garden of thy agony,
in the cross of thy suffering,
in the tomb of thy resurrection,
in the heaven of thy intercession.
Bold in this thought I defy my adversary,
tread down his temptations,
resist his schemings,
renounce the world,
am valiant for truth.
Deepen in me a sense of my holy relationship to thee,
as spiritual bridegroom,
as Jehovah's fellow,
as sinners' friend,
I think of thy glory and my vileness,
thy majesty and my meanness,
thy beauty and my deformity,
thy purity and my filth,
thy righteousness and my iniquity,
Thou hast loved me everlastingly, unchangeably,
may I love thee as I am loved;
Thou hast given thyself for me,
may I give myself to thee;
Thou hast died for me,
may I live to thee,
in every moment of my time,
in every movement of my mind,
in every pulse of my heart.
May I never dally with the world and its allurements,
but walk by thy side,
listen to thy voice,
be clothed with thy graces,
and adorned with thy righteousness

For more "Talk About Tuesday" posts, visit Lara Gallagher's The Lazy Organizer.

Talk About Tuesday--"Expresso"

I am a very big advocate of Women's ministry in church. Women have the exceptional task of "holding it all together--all the time".  Our church has a really neat Women's Ministry, which was one of the visions and loves of Tammy, the late wife of our precious Pastor.   Since Tammy's death a little over a year ago, it just didn't seem to me that the Women's ministry would ever be the same without Tammy.  But, because the Lord is SO good (all the time!), He has blessed our Women's ministry with some precious ladies who have gained Tammy's vision and love for this special ministry and have truly blessed scores of women in the process.  This event on Sunday will be just one of those blessings that I'm talking about.  This is going to be "a night for women to 'express' over a cup of coffee while indulging in chocolate and having great conversation about a topic relevant to women's lives."  

If you are anywhere remotely close to South Alabama/The Mississippi Gulf Coast, you are invited to come an share in this event with us.  Please leave a comment on this blog if youwould like further information on registration for Sunday's event.  I have never been to a Women's Ministry event yet that I didn't leave blessed, changed and renewed. 

If you are not in our area, I would strongly encourage you to also see our dear, sweet Tammy's vision and love for Women's Ministry and start one in your local body of believers, if you do not already have one.  If you do have a Women's ministry...maybe you can all get together soon and "Express" at an "Expresso" event of your own!

(This post has also been submitted to the weekly "Talk About Tuesday" column at The Lazy Organizer (by Lara Gallagher).  For more Talk About Tuesday posts, please visit her here.)

Talk About Tuesday--A Southern Treat

Since we are in the midst of the Christmas season, I thought this recipe would be a great one to pass along on  Talk About Tuesday at The Lazy Organizer. 

This recipe dates back to my great grandmother, Ella Ruth, and possibly even before her.  I'm not much on regular fruit cake, especially if it's dried out.  But, this fruit cake is very moist and yummy....and is a refrigerator version.  The bourbon is optional, of course--it's good either way.  Old southern women have always put bourbon in fruitcakes....it's just an old southern lady thing (I'm by no means promoting the purchase of liquor, but if you have some that you cook with and like the bourbon flavor in recipes, it's good).  And no, it's NOT fat free....but for pete's sake, it's Christmas!  Enjoy!!

NANA'S ICE BOX FRUITCAKE
1 Box Honey Graham crackers, crushed
1 lb. pecans
1 lb. walnuts
4 sticks butter
1 lb. mini marshmallows
1 lb. red candied cherries
Raisins (5 oz. golden and 5 oz. dark) - (approximate)
1 can condensed milk
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup bourbon (optional)

Heat butter and marshmallows until melted. Add condensed milk and pecans; stir well.  Pour over other ingredients that have already been mixed. Mix well and pour into pans and refrigerate. Will keep several months. This will make approximately 8-10 mini loaves or 2 large. Also, candied cherries can be substituted with Maraschino cherries (drained & halved).