How Spending $10 Saved Me $60!

Hey now GFFs!

We used to buy and use paper towels for everything. Paper towels and money, rolling into the trash can every week girl! That adds up year after year for our landfills and also for our pockets!

The solution for us: cloth napkins! We got ours at BED BATH & BEYOND, 12 for $8 (using a coupon). I looked at other stores but I needed black and they were the only store near me that carried them. My husband loves Siracha and would have stained any other color.They have held up well, I love them! They usually have a coupon available for 20% off if you sign up for their email list. Cloth napkins cost the same as the average 8 pack of paper towels, and you won't be throwing them away! 

Now, don't get me wrong, we still buy paper towels. We have kids, dogs, chickens, ducks and a cow, some messes you just want to throw away... or hose off! 

The first-day making mud pies this year =)

This has been a very easy transition for our family. Over the past year, we have saved at least $60 plus trash going into our landfills... and that is just in one year! It's the little things in life, right? What are some of the ways you have found to save money or reduce waste around your house?

Purim!

Hi GFFs!

Purim is right around the corner, on March 23rd and 24th and we are so excited! This is a holiday for all who believe in the Bible! You can read all about it in the book of Esther. If you Google the holiday, you will probably find it described as a Jewish holiday. We believe the whole bible is true and the canonized Bible is made up of the Tanakh and the Brit Hadashah, or Old and New Testaments. Our Jewish bothers and sisters do not generally believe in the New Testament. That is one of the differences between the Jewish and Christian religions. I would love to answer (to my best ability) any questions you may have for us in the comments below!

This holiday is really important! The bottom line is, there was a man who wanted to wipe out the Jewish people. If all of the Jewish people were to die, our Savior Yahshua (Jesus), would have never been born! Queen Esther, the brave cousin of Mordecai, stepped up and convinced her husband (the king) to put a stop to this genocide.

We will celebrate by reading the book of Esther with our children... I think this year we will probably let them dress fancy like Queen Esther! Last year was the first year we celebrated and it really blessed our family. We enjoyed a great dinner and wine on our small patio together with our kiddos... Blaxican Style by eating tortas! Lighting a few candles, enjoying the sunset and just being together made the night really special for us! 

Some people choose to celebrate by dropping off gifts to their friends and families or donating to a cause that is close to their hearts. My sister is an illustrator and has a fabulous blog! She has created a coloring sheet of Queen Esther that you and your littles can download and enjoy any day of the year!

We hope you enjoy Purim and that it brings you closer to YHVH!

The Free Stuff Jackpot... Craigslist!

Everyone loves some free stuff! Am I right? Okay... maybe not everyone, but I do!

I frequent the Craigslist classifieds for "Free" stuff at least once a month, because you never know what you are going to find! If we are looking for something specifically, I usually start there. We have found so many free things over the years. For example: a ton of greenhouse glass, wood, and compost. Recently, I feel like I hit the jackpot! I ran across a "Must Take All" ad not too far from my house and was curious, so I texted. About an hour later I walked away with things that were on my "Wants" page in my bullet Journal... for FREE! I cannot believe I walked away with the letter "G" that I've been wanting, from a random craigslist pick up.  I think I saved myself over $200 for home decor in that one trip!

I have been longing for a large wall clock. I wanted one that was around 2 feet and I got it! I googled it and this clock is sold out at $72 on Amazon but you can find it on Ebay for $80 + $40 Shipping. I cant believe I got mine for $FREE.99! I also needed (and got) a large, coffee brown frame with a white mat for the art I want to put behind my coffee bar cart (pictures coming soon). I got a large silver mirror, a real copper hurricane oil lamp, a couple of pretty vases, and a pair of sweet book ends that I really love.

I also received two, round, brown lamps that weren't my favorite. However, I really liked the narrow, oval lampshades. We had two lamps in need of shades. One lamp I received from Chilo's mom about 4 years ago and I think it is feminine and darling and the other is a solid, masculine lamp that we've had for a while too. So the shades now have a permanent home pulling the two mixed-matched lamps together. They are now flanking our bed as our his & her lamp set.

I was able to give the lamps that didn't match our decor to Chilo's Stepmom, as well as a charming hand painted bowl that was in the loot. The other things that do not really fit with us, will soon be dropped off at Goodwill to hopefully find a new forever home.

I urge everyone to be cautious while meeting up with anyone online, be it dating, Craigslist pick up, or whatever. Use common sense. Meet during the day in a public place and let someone know exactly where you are going and any information of the other person that you may have... bring someone with you if possible. If you are uneasy for any reason: ABORT MISSION!

Let me know if you have found any treasures online please! Happy hunting and be safe!