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Walmart Finds: Farmhouse Christmas on a budget
I adore going ALL out with my Christmas decorations, but buying new stuff each year can REALLY take a toll on my budget. That is why I was sooooo excited to see that Walmart had some AMAZING farmhouse Christmas finds this year…and all for VERY reasonable prices. BUTTTT I have heard from many of you that YOUR Walmart does not have the same selection. Lucky for everyone that a few of my favorites are available online. PLUS you can order them and then do FREE pick up at your local store. Just order what you love, and then pick it up a few days later at your own store…easy peasy.…
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Is the Downton Abbey Movie any good???
Well, I had well-intentioned plans of watching the new Downton Abbey movie the DAY that it came out in theaters, but darn it if life didn’t get in the way. So I am a couple of weeks behind schedule. BUT the only thing that matters is…WAS the DOWNTON ABBEY MOVIE ANY GOOD?? Let me just put it this way…if you loved the shows…GO SEE THE MOVIE!! Just so that we are all on the same page, you must know a bit about me. I believe there are only two types of people in this world…those who are mildly obsessed with Downton Abbey…and those people who I do not care to…
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The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey
I remember learning about the Holocaust as a young child and not being able to comprehend the atrocities of such a horrible event in history. And now, as an adult, I don’t think my mind is ANY MORE capable of comprehending it. But what draws me into books like this, is the feeling of HOPE…that even under the ABSOLUTE worst of circumstances, the human spirit can survive. “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” is hands down one of my favorite books of this year because of the undying hope and love…even through the horrors of WWII. The “Tattooist of Auschwitz” by Heather Morris is based on the the true-life experiences of Lale…
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How to survive a spending freeze
Today was our FIRST day of the October Spending Freeze and I already got lots of messages about…what do I do?? how can I last for a whole week??? What now?? SOOO I thought I would quickly go through and answer a few of the FAQ about HOW TO SURVIVE A SPENDING FREEZE. First things first: WHAT IS A SPENDING FREEZE?? And WHY?? A spending freeze or spending ban is simply choosing a period of time to go without spending money. You intentionally go without spending, then set the money that you WOULD have spent aside for savings, sinking funds, debt, etc. This is a great way to pay off…
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15 ways to find EXTRA money in your budget??
Last week I talked ALL about SINKING FUNDS and how to plan ahead for upcoming expenses like holidays, back to school etc. BUT what if you DIDN’T plan ahead and now it is nearly October and you do not have cash squirreled away for Christmas?? ORRR what if you still have some debt in the back of your mind that you would like to get a jump on?? Or better yet, what if you just want to add some extra cash to your savings?? Here are a few tips and tricks that will help you squeeze some extra cash out of your already tight budget. ORRR just help you start…
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Budgeting tips: What are sinking funds??
Budgeting. The dirty word that nobody wants to talk about, but EVERYBODY wants to excel at innately or learn through some sort of magical osmosis. But then month after month and then year after year we spend our hard earned money and have no clue where it goes. ORRRR we work really hard on our budget, and rock it’s socks off for a month until a holiday or birthday or field trip or soccer uniform pops up and throws a wrench into our perfectly laid plans. AND THEN we deviate from the budget a little…and then a lot…and then we throw the budget out the window and go back to…
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The Widow Of Pale Harbor–book review
I was given a review copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, but the opinions expressed are my own. Every year when the nights get cooler and the leaves start to fall, I get the urge to cuddle up with a cozy blanket and a good book. Honestly, I am READY for some good old fashioned winter hibernation right about NOW…See ya’ll in the spring. I lucked out and received my copy of THE WIDOW OF PALE HARBOR by HESTER FOX right before leaving to Roche Harbor…sooooo I got to read ABOUT a pale harbor AT the harbor…tricky tricky!! THE WIDOW OF PALE HARBOR…
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The Historic Davenport Hotel
The year 1914 was a big year in the United States. Baseball was forever changed as Babe Ruth began his record-breaking major league career, US politics was changed forever by the marriage of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, and the world was never to be the same as WWI loomed ahead and threatened to be the war to end ALL wars. But in Upper Left-hand Corner USA, Spokane, Washington was also moving up in the world with the opening of the opulent Davenport Hotel. In its heyday, The Davenport was a masterpiece of architecture, a benchmark of hospitality, and a front-runner for technology. And now over a century later, it is…
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The Things We Cannot Say
Although I have been venturing out into YA fiction and other genres lately, my true literary love is Historical Fiction. It appeals to my History teacher nerd side, and my English teacher literary side and makes both sides play nice together. Plus I always feel better about my reading if I come out of the book knowing more than I did when I went in. The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer is a story of the Holocaust woven into a modern drama of a mom struggling to raise an autistic son. The two tales are linked through the generations into a wonderful but heart wrenching book about love,…
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15 Ideas for BACK TO SCHOOL
We are coming in quick on Back to School over here, and THIS is the year I am going to be ready. OOOORRRR…. THIS is the year that I am REALLY going to TRY to be ready is probably more accurate!! I have been searching Pinterest for some back to school help, and thought I would share some of my favorite finds. I am loving this Back to school countdown from Simply Kierste. Just print and use a little washi tape to mark off the days…easy peasy. I think I missed it for this year, but instead of answering the HOW MANY DAYS UNTIL question, this seems like a great…
