Baby Step 3 Update

It's been awhile since I've provided an update on our Total Money Makeover goals. We are currently on Baby Step 3 (building an emergency fund representing 3 - 6 months of expenses). To date, we are over halfway to our target number and should reach our savings goal by the end of July! BUT with storm clouds on the horizon surrounding Dave's job, we might find ourselves in budget crisis mode. I would like to reach our goal before anything happens, but am thankful for what we have set aside already. It certainly puts us in a much better situation than we would have been pre-Dave Ramsey, when a job loss would have most certainly sent us into credit card debt.

One of the challenges we are facing in Baby Step 3 is maintaining the focus on our larger goals. We've become a bit relaxed in our spending in some areas, particularly eating out. It has left me wondering if we (mainly I) would have the discipline necessary to get us through any impending rough patch. It's easy to say I would cut back on affordable luxuries, but could I really do it? Would I be able to rise to the occasion with a spirit of frugality and resourcefulness?


Money Saving Mom - Monthly Financial Check Up

A Summer of Gratitude & Prayer

St. Monica

Patron saint of Wives & Mothers

As summer draws near, I've been thinking about my summer project list (I love lists!). Just things I want to do - some practical, some spiritual in nature, over the next few months.

First and foremost, I want the summer to be marked by a renewed sense of gratitude. I know how very important it is to give thanks for our daily blessings both big and small. But I don't consistently make the effort to do so each day.

I also want to begin a more prayerful existence. When I entered the Catholic Church back in 2002, I took Saint Monica as my patron saint. To me she epitomized what I wanted to become - a godly wife and mother entrenched in prayer. That's what I want to become, but most often, I find myself only going to God in prayer when trouble arises. When it's for certain its a situation I can't control. And through the years, I feel a distance has grown between me and Christ. I desire the close, personal relationship I once had, but find myself fearful of taking the steps towards that. But I'm continually hearing "Seek ye first" being whispered to my heart, so I know prayer really is the first step I must take.

With the kids, I'd like to relax and say yes more. Make sure we get plenty of visits to the library in this summer (and make sure we get our books back in time!). And to help keep Ashleigh occupied, replenish the craft supplies so we can work on some of the projects at No Time For Flash Cards.

I need to go ahead and get our garden started. I've been not so patiently waiting for the peppers and tomatoes to do "something" before transplanting them. But I realized they're in toilet paper rolls with only a small bit of dirt, so there's not really much they can do in their present environment. So I'll be moving them to a bed/containers in the near future. And if the tomatoes really take off (which I'm hoping they will), I'd like to learn how to can/preserve them. That would really help the grocery budget!

I'd like to make sure I get some good reading in this summer. I love to read but find myself constantly picking up books then putting them down unfinished to start another book. On my reading list is Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. An old favorite that I've read parts of for many years but have never read completely through. I'm still trying to digest Nourishing Traditions, but I think I might take a break and pick up Nina Planck's Real Food: What to Eat and Why. I need to pick up a good book on gardening and either read or return a book about the history of Muscle Cars a co-worker lent me.

A few things to do around the house. Finish painting the dining room and current play room (future family room). We're almost done with the priming. The ever present project of decluttering and organizing the house. I'm also working on a simple, more flexible home caring routine ala Simple Mom.

I'm working on a new blog called The Working Home Keeper. I feel there's a need for an increased voice/presence for mothers who balance both home and working outside of the home among Mommy bloggers. I do find it funny that before starting the new blog I felt like I had alot to say on the subject. But now, I can't think of anything to say LOL! That's why there are all of three posts on the blog.

Other things on the list - enjoy some lazy summer days, sip lemonade, eat watermelon, see the fireworks on the 4th, peruse the shabby treasures at the flea market, catch fireflies in the backyard and hopefully make our way down to Wrightsville Beach.

Those are my summer plans, what are yours?

Kyle Busch Is A Rock Star!

But he raised a few eyebrows after smashing the Sam Bass designed Gibson guitar trophy following his Nationwide Series victory Saturday night in Nashville.





My other bad boy driver Robby Gordon won out in the desert at the Tecate Baja 500. And Tony Stewart captured his first points victory as an owner/driver at Pocono! I had a feeling Tony would do well this year despite going out on his own.

Can I Do It?

In the past six years, I've managed to grow three beautiful, healthy and happy children. But can I grow an entire symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast? I don't know but I'll give it a try!

Food Renegade - How to Grow A Kombucha SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast)

Good Music

Jamie Foxx is so funny and talented! I loved his rendition of this George Strait song. Goes to show good music is universal :)

Weekend Festival

Weekend festival at the Fairgrounds


Feeding the animals

My handsome little man

My handsome big man

Ashleigh & Clayton going for a drive

The big Super Slide

Ashleigh went down all by herself!

1910 Nichols-Shepard

30 on the draw bar

120 on the belt

12 plow

1 of 5 left

Another antique tractor

Clayton's favorite - lawnmower racing!

Dirty Rice with Pork Sausage

With all the buzz about swine flu, one might be hesitant to feed their family any pork products. But thanks to our local farmer's market, I know exactly where my meat is coming from. I know how the animals were treated, the conditions in which they lived and what they were allowed to eat because I can actually speak to the person that raised my food!

The pastured pork sausage I buy at our farmer's market is not only delicious, but provides an inexpensive way to incorporate quality pastured meats into our diet without breaking the bank. Because pork sausage crumbles easily when cooked, you can use less and stretch your meat further. One of our family's favorite sausage dishes is this adaptation of the Hillbilly Housewife's Dirty Rice with Fresh Ingredients.

1/2lb local, pastured bulk pork sausage (I use a mild, sage flavored ground sausage from the good folks at Pine Knot Farm)

1 organic green pepper, diced

1 cup diced organic yellow onion

3 cloves minced garlic

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 tsp paprika

2 tbsp organic soy sauce (I use Eden Organic shoyu sauce)

1-2 tbsp water

1 -1 1/2 cups organic brown rice, cooked

Cook and crumble sausage in skillet over medium heat until brown. Drain fat if needed. Add diced green pepper and onion and minced garlic to the sausage. Cook until peppers and onions are tender. Add cooked brown rice to the skillet along with red pepper flakes, paprika and soy sauce. Add 1-2 tbsp of water to the skillet to keep the rice from sticking to the skillet. Mix well and heat for a few more minutes.

We like to have this dish with steamed, organic corn on the side (which we usually mix in) and shredded, raw milk cheddar cheese on top!

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam - Tasty Tuesday