Just Life

Mom and I went shopping yesterday evening with three objectives…

1) Purchase one last set of handles for the kitchen cabinets.

2) Return her shoes to Payless.

3) Find her a dress at Kohl’s.

Well, we did manage to return the shoes. The handles have apparently been discontinued, so half our kitchen cabinets are currently handle-less and we have to pry them open when we get forgetful and close them completely. I think we’re going to have to try an eBay search next.

And as for the dress shopping…well, between the two of us we must have tried on close to 40 articles of clothing…and not one thing fit! I think I need to tackle sewing again.

Our time at Target (where we were looking for handles) was not an utter failure, however. I purchased a set of bed linens on sale for $13.98. The set included a bottom sheet, top sheet, and two pillowcases. Since the only white sheets I have are flannel, it was nice to get a set of white 100% cotton sheets. These are 220 thread count and they feel quite nice. What’s even better is that they’re deep enough to fit over both my mattress and my feather ticking! Now it won’t be such a struggle for me to keep my feather bed on the bed.

Since Daddy’s been away for several days, we decided to pick up pizza on the way home and, when we got back, the three of us watched “The Shop Around the Corner,” the Margaret Sullavan/Jimmy Stewart movie that “You’ve Got Mail” was based on.

All-in-all a delightful day, even if our kitchen cabinets are still handle-less.

Freecycle

Have a jar of old buttons you’d like to give away? A computer that no longer works that you don’t want to throw in the landfill? Are you looking for a desk? Assorted craft supplies? Winter clothes?

Consider joining the Freecycle network. Freecycle is a non-profit, grassroots organization connecting local folks who can bless each other through sharing the items they no longer want or need. Sign up for your local group, post a couple of “offers,” and then you’re eligible to post “wanted” or “needed” requests. I’ve given away extra scrapbooking supplies, several dozen graduation caps and gowns, old magazines, etc., and I even lent out some table linens for a bridal shower. Through Freecycle I also connected with a girls’ shelter nearby that I often donate clothing to. On the receiving end, I’ve been blessed with stone pavers for my garden, extra film, a pair of dance shoes, and more that I’ve probably forgotten.

Because we live in one area, shop in another, and work in yet another, our family is actually part of three different Freecycle groups. With over 4000 groups across the country and more than 3 million members, chances are pretty good that there’s a group near you. And if there’s not - maybe you’d like to start one!

For more Frugal Fridays tips, visit Biblical Womanhood!

( I see I wasn’t the only one who wanted to share the blessing of Freecycle! Peggie also posted about this great organization! )

What are We Teaching Them?

I just sent this letter to Family Christian Bookstores. If you shop at their store (or if you’re just concerned with what’s being sold at Christian bookstores), I would urge you to consider looking into this and writing them yourself.

Dear sir or ma’am,

I received a new flyer for Family Christian Bookstore in the mail today and I must admit that I was shocked and disappointed by the ad for “tween and teen” cd’s that I saw inside.

This advertisement highlighted three cd’s - High School Musical 2, Aly & AJ: Insomniatic, and Jonas Brothers. All three of these choices seem in poor taste for a Christian store. While there is nothing inherently wrong with High School Musical 2, it’s a soundtrack to a secular movie and should be left in the secular music and bookstores, since there’s nothing specifically “Christian” or godly about it. This cd is simply irrelevant to Family Christian’s purpose.

The next cd, The Jonas Brothers is, again, a very secular cd. The boys in the band may profess to be Christians but there music is sadly lacking in anything spiritual. From what I have read in the lyrics to their new cd, they don’t even mention the Lord, much less sing about His faithfulness, love, mercy, or grace. Their songs are mainly focused on guy-girl relationships and they don’t seem to have a healthy view of those. “Hold On” appears to be their most positive song, encouraging a friend not to give up, regardless of what happens in life. But never is this friend encouraged to seek security and guidance in Jesus.

The most astonishing of them all, however, was the positive review of Aly & AJ’s new cd, Insomniatic. The write-up states: Aly & AJ’s newest release — the follow-up to their gold-selling debut album Into the Rush — features more of this sibling duo’s faith-infused positive pop. Includes the hit “Potential Breakup Song.”

Now, two things from that paragraph stood out to me. First of all, I have heard their first cd and was highly unimpressed, knowing that they are touted as a Christian band. To say that this new cd features more of their faith-infused positive pop seemed doubtful, but I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. Then I continued to the next sentence and my jaw dropped as I saw that the flyer for this Christian bookstore is highlighting the fact that this album (for tweens and teens) features a song entitled “Potential Breakup Song.” I was shocked!

In reviewing the lyrics from this new cd, I have become yet more disgusted. Not only does Aly (or AJ) threaten to breakup with her boyfriend because he forgot her birthday, but other songs mention having a boyfriend that says things that make her uncomfortable and yet encouraging him to keep doing it, saying it will be their secret, telling a guy that he shouldn’t be flattered by her attention because he’s not the first that she’s given it to, encouraging a boy to flirt with her to get her interested in him, asking him to move closer and “maybe try a little kiss” until she’s “into him crazy.”

It saddens me that this is the type of music that so many kids are listening to these days, but it sickens me that this stuff is now being peddled to them by those who should be encouraging them in their walk with the Lord. These sort of lyrics are the kind that will drag teenagers into relationships they’re not ready for, rather than drawing toward the One relationship that truly matters.

Page 19 of this flyer features a book titled “What Your Daughter Isn’t Telling You.” The write-up states: This book is filled with real-life emails from teen girls that will give parents a new perspective on issues like family relationships, trust, dating, sex, alcohol and much more.

Our society is corrupted and will continue to sink into depravity until Jesus returns but isn’t it just possible that this sort of book would less likely be needed if the church weren’t promoting secular ideas and essentially telling our kids that lifestyles that aren’t in line with the Word of God are okay?

I encourage you to please consider removing these cd’s, and other cd’s and books like them, from your product line, and to replace them with more worthwhile literature and lyrics. As it says in Phillipians 4:8 - “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

And, lest you think I am an 85-year-old grandmother who is simply “out of touch” with the times, I would like to let you know that I am only 23. As a dance teacher I’m well aware of what our kids are listening to these days, but I don’t believe they should be getting the “okay” on this sort of music from churches, Christian bookstores, and other places of “spiritual influence.”

Thank you for your time and your attention to this matter. I will be praying for your staff as you pray over this situation.

Blessings,
Rebekah Bentley

Frugal Fridays - free food and drink samples

It’s Friday, isn’t it!? I apologize for the late posting…this completely slipped my mind. Last Friday I didn’t post because our family was up in Baltimore. Anna and I were working as extras on a new Disney film and then we took a mini-family-vacation to the Baltimore Aquarium. You can see some pictures of our trip here (I’m the photographer reflection you’ll see in the first photo. The gorgeous ladies peeking around the blue columns…that’s my mom and my sister Anna).

And now, onto the freebies…

Old El Paso taco seasoning and recipe booklet

Folgers Gourmet Coffee sample

Sunsweet fruit snacks (limited number of requests filled each day)

Tetley tea sample and coupon

free Kashi snack

Honey Bunches of Oats cereal

Golden Harvest Toasted Chips

Nestle Carnation Breakfast sample

Homemaking Freebies

Sample of Reynolds parchment paper

Reynolds slow cooker liners

Pure Essentials products from Tide, Downy, and Bounce

Charmin Roll Holder Extender for mega rolls

coupon booklet - Cascade, Dawn, Febreze, etc.

Biz laundry detergent sample

Purex Ultra Concentrate Detergent & Purex Ultra Soft Fabric Softener

Check out more sample products as well as great tips and ideas for frugal living by visiting Crystal’s blog - the Frugal Fridays home!

Supermarket Savings course

Supermarket Savings 101

A note from Crystal Paine:

Just a quick note to tell you that our brand-new course, Supermarket Savings 101, is finished, edited, and ready to sell.

We had around 70 participants in the pilot class and it was a wonderful experience. And not only that, but the class participation and input was excellent and helpful in the writing of this course. After some further editing and revisions, the course is now available as a downloadable package.

This course expands a great deal upon my ebook, Secrets to Supermarket Savings, giving more in-depth and step-by-step help for you to reduce your grocery bill. In addition to the  large course handbook, this course package includes six audio lessons, six bonus money-saving ebooks, and access to a private members-only message forum.

Since I know all of you want to get good deals and stretch your hard-earned money as far as possible, my husband and I decided to offer a very special deal for this week only.

The retail price of this package is going to be $17.97, but we are starting it out at the rock-bottom price of $5.97 today, Monday, September 3, 2007. Every 24 hours until Friday, September 8, 2007, we will raise the price by $3.00 until it is up to retail price.

Click here to order.

Remember, it’s only $5.97 for 24 hours and then the price is raised! This is an incredible steal of a deal and even we’re still wondering if we were a little crazy for starting the price out so low!

So, hurry, and snatch up this deal while you can! I promise that you are getting a bang for your buck. And hopefully the things you learn in this course will benefit your wallet for, well, the rest of your life.