The Abundant Wife

Living Abundantly on Less

Freebie Friday! Swiffer, Woolite, Shout, & 7th Generation

September 28th, 2012

Jessica

Every day when I turn on my computer, I open 4 websites first: Gmail, Facebook, The Abundant Wife, and Money Saving Mom. When I go to Money Saving Mom, I open up any freebies that she has posted for the day, and apply immediately! Most ask for the same basic information: name, address, e-mail, phone number. Applying for freebies makes every visit from the mailman an adventure! My kids love to see what I will find in the mailbox too. Here is the round-up from the last few weeks!

Magazines: Working Mother, Ski, Babytalk, Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens, Horse Illustrated, Parenting, Family Fun, & Martha Stewart Living
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Baby Wipes (4 Packages of 3 Unscented Wipes)
Coupon for FREE Nivea Lip Care Product
Bath & Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint Stress Relief Body Wash & Foam Bath (2 oz.) and BOGO coupon
Bath & Body Works Cashmere Glow Body Lotion (2 oz.) and BOGO coupon
Woolite Detergent Extra Dark Care (2 oz., 1 wash load) and coupon
Perfume samples: Beyonce “Pulse” and Justin Bieber “Someday”
Kneipp Natural Skincare Body Wash and Body Lotion (Lemon Grass & Olive)
Pureology Serious Color Care Shampoo & Conditioner
Shout Color Catcher (2 samples)
2 Swiffer Wet Jet Extra Power Pad Refills with 2 coupons

What fun freebies have arrived in your mailbox this week?

FREE Greeting Card from Treat: TODAY ONLY!

September 26th, 2012

Jessica

Treat is offering a free greeting card (for any occasion) to everyone today.

Whether you need a personalized card for a birthday, boss’ day, anniversary, or for any of the hundreds of occasions on Treat’s site…or even just to say hello, you should check out this offer.

Head on over to Treat now and choose from one of their thousands of designs. Then personalize. You can change the text, the font, and the colors, add a picture or four, and truly make it your own. Then just use the code TREATXOXO at checkout to get it completely free (including shipping). You only have to pay if you choose to have Treat send it to the recipient ($0.45 for the stamp).

That’s all there is to it. The offer expires tonight at 11:59pm PT so head on over now.

Frosted Persimmon Cookies

September 26th, 2012

Jessica

Last fall Brad gathered, cut, pureed, and froze dozens of Persimmons from a tree in a friend’s yard. I didn’t even know what a Persimmon WAS, let alone how I was supposed to cook it. Thankfully Simply in Season had a recipe for delicious Persimmon Cookies. These are now a fall family favorite, and the kids love to help me bake them.

Persimmon Cookies (Simply in Season)

2 cups / 500 ml sugar
1 cup / 250 ml butter or margarine (softened)

Cream together with an electric mixer in a large bowl.

2 cups / 500 ml persimmon pulp
2 eggs (slightly beaten)

Blend in.

4 cups / 1 L flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves

Sift together then add gradually to persimmon mixture, blending well after each addition.

1 cup / 250 ml pecans or other nuts (chopped)
1/2 cup / 125 ml raisins

Stir in. Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets and bake in preheated oven at 375F / 190C for 8-10 minutes.

(Optional) Frosting:

3 cups / 750 ml powdered sugar
3 tablespoons butter (melted)
5-6 tablespoons milk

Blend together, adding enough milk to make a spreading consistency. Frost cookies while warm.

Enjoy!

What fall recipes does your family enjoy?

Fresh Tomato Soup

September 24th, 2012

Jessica

This week I was making a number of tomato-based recipes, so I decided to make this recipe too. We’ve only had it once before, but everyone loves it! This recipe would be a great way to use all those fresh tomatoes you’re harvesting from your garden.

Fresh Tomato Soup (Simply in Season Cookbook)

8 medium tomatoes (peeled and seeded if desired and chopped) (I didn’t peel or seed mine)
4 or more cloves garlic (minced)

Combine in saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are soft.

(At this point I pureed my soup in the food processor because no one in my family would be fond of a chunky tomato soup.)

3 cups / 750 ml water or vegetable juice (I used water)
2 chicken or vegetable bouillon cubes (I used chicken bouillon powder)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 sprigs fresh basil (chopped) (I used dried basil)

Add, bring to boil, simmer for 5 minutes and serve. (I garnished mine with parsley and sharp cheddar cheese, and served buttered bread on the side)

Bon Appetit!

What are your favorite tomato-based recipes?

Book Review: The Complete Financial Guide for Young Couples

September 22nd, 2012

Jessica

If you’ve been following along with the books I’ve read in 2012, you’ve probably noticed that I favor non-fiction and classics. I like reading books that have immediate real-life applications and those that teach me something new.

The Complete Financial Guide for Young Couples is no different. It is divided into four parts: Developing a Short-Range Plan, Critical Family Issues (Long-Range Plans), Children’s Finances, and 10 Keys to Successful Investing. I really enjoyed Burkett’s perspective on finances through the lens of faith and family. He supports his points with evidence from the scriptures, and discusses how to address finances in your marriage and with your children.

One of the things that I will take away from this book is Burkett’s emphasis on creating a budget and what to include in your budget. I have already rewritten our budget twice since reading this book. I still need to take more time examine our budget and include more items in it that I have neglected in the past. I also need to take the time to do some of the long-term planning that Burkett suggests.

If you are interested in learning more about Larry Burkett, you can read more about his involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ and co-founding of Crown Financial Ministries here.

What interesting books have you been reading recently?

Watermelon Shark Attack!

September 20th, 2012

Jessica

Monday night was my husband’s first youth “club” of the year, and so they kicked things off with barbecue in our backyard. Brad was already planning on hot dogs, soda, and marshmellows, so I offered to do a fruit dessert. One of my acquaintances had done a shark theme for her son’s birthday party, so I decided to make the same watermelon shark she had created.

All the credit for this art/food project goes to Rachel at Sun Scholars for her excellent tutorial! I found her through Pinterest, and was also excited to find out that she’s an expat living in China! Aside from adding blueberries to my jello jiggler “water,” and using chunks of watermelon instead of a melon baller, I did everything exactly as she instructed. It came out so well, that I just couldn’t resist sharing it with all of you.

Have you tried doing something that you’ve pinned on Pinterest recently? What fun projects are you doing around your home?

Toddler Tuesday: Butcher Paper Drawing

September 18th, 2012

Jessica

Naomi is very excited that she is now in the “Big Girls’ Class” for Sunday School. Since September 2, the kids at church have all moved up a level. This Sunday Naomi was doubly thrilled when the teacher gave her a giant sheet of butcher paper to bring home. They had already drawn flowers on the butcher paper, but there was still a lot of empty space left for drawing!

I used a roll of double-wide masking tape to tape the butcher paper to the middle of our dining room table.

I got out the crayons and markers and the kids got to work! I sat down with them, and Naomi gave me drawing assignments. Whatever I drew for Naomi, Oliver wanted also.

They had a great time! We left the butcher paper on the dining room table all week, enjoying its bright colors and designs.

What fun activities have you enjoyed with your kids this week?

2012 Goals: September Update

September 17th, 2012

Jessica

As many of you know, I like to follow Money Saving Mom, and I’ve noticed that every Monday she posts her weekly goals and every month she posts her yearly goals. As you also know, I am a big fan of goal-setting.

I’ve learned that one of the best ways to achieve my goals is to begin by writing them down! At the beginning of the year I typed up a list of goals, and pinned it to the cork board over my desk. Each month I cross off my goals as I achieve them. Many goals have gotten bumped to the next month (some more than once!) but I keep on plugging away at them in hopes that I will reach them before the end of the year.

So here are my goals for 2012, both those I’ve accomplished and those I hope to accomplish in the near-future:

January

~~All-Staff Conference, Meet My Sister’s New Baby, Substitute-Teach in Maryland, Find New Doctors/Dentists~~

February

~~Substitute-Teach in Maryland, New Driver’s Licenses, New Registration, New Auto Insurance, New Keys, Have Truck Weighed/Smog-Checked~~

March

~~Study for and Pass the CBEST, TB Test, Fingerprinting, Order and Install Blinds, Letter to Naomi, Letter to Oliver, Invite Someone Over, Visit Factory~~

April

~~Attend BSF Bible Study every Week (Complete All Homework), Visit Community Museum, Invite Someone Over~~

May

Attend BSF Bible Study every Week (Complete All Homework), Attend Sacred Marriage Couples Bible Study every Sunday (Prepare a Dish), Visit Fort Bragg with friends, Invite Team Over, Pay Off Citimortgage (2nd Mortgage), Apply for Refinance (1st Mortgage), Try Using Cash for Groceries and Gas, Weed Flower Beds, Transplant Bulbs, Make Mother’s Day Gifts

June

~~Attend Sacred Marriage Couples Bible Study every Sunday (Prepare a Dish), Attend My Sister’s Wedding in Maryland, Orioles Game, Take Kids Swimming Every Friday, Invite Leaders Over~~

July

Purchase Black-Out Curtains for Kids’ Room, Birthday Letter to Naomi, E-mail Landlord Photos of House, Renew Lease on our Rental Property, Apply to Substitute-Teach, Take Kids Swimming Every Friday, Invite Leaders Over

August

Sell Washing Machine/Grill/Books On-Line, Visit Lake/Park/California State Railroad Museum, Clean Out Garage, Install Kitchen Cabinet Handles, Repair Diaper Hamper, Make Toilet-Paper Holder, Clean Truck Interior, Mount Carbon Monoxide Detector, Mount Curtain Rods and Curtains in Kids’ Room, Hang Naomi’s Stars and Brad’s Schedule, Frame 8×10 Photo, Clean Fridge Interior, Take Kids Swimming Every Friday, Get Texting for Brad, Substitute-Teacher Orientation, Apply New Blog Theme, Link Blog to Facebook, Link Blog’s Facebook to Pinterest, Invite Leaders Over

September

Visit River/Old Sacramento Gold Rush Days, Create Blogging Masterminds Facebook Group, Re-Write English Curriculum, Invite Team Over, Swap Regular/Maternity Clothes in my Dresser, Purchase Tickets for Flight to Maryland in November, Renew Substitute-Teaching License in Maryland, Create Painting for Church, Decipher Substitute-Teaching Documents, Close on Refinance (1st Mortgage), Hang White Board

*These items seem to keep getting bumped from month to month: Find New Home-Owner’s Insurance, Investigate Long-Term Plans, Fix Oliver’s Dresser Drawer, Install Door-Stoppers, Sell Books/Etc On-Line, Drill 4 Holes for Handles in Bathroom, Spackle/Sand Bathroom, Cover Back of Medicine Cabinet, Paint Inside Bathroom Cabinets/Drawers, Paint Kitchen Cabinets, Install Child Locks, Paint Hallway, Brown Spot-Painting on Woodwork Around House, Learn to Use Sewing Machine, Attach Kids’ Dressers to Walls, Paint Murals in Kids’ Room, Babysit/House-sit/Pet-sit, Find Cheaper Auto Insurance, Hang Clock/Batteries, “Check Engine” Light, Apricot Preserves, Repair Lamp with JBWeld

October

Decorate for Fall, Attend Church Membership Classes, Attend Women’s Retreat, Make/Find Halloween Costumes, Visit Pumpkin Farm/Sacramento Zoo, Prepare for my Family visiting, Visit Fort Bragg/Chandelier Redwood Tree, Create More Detailed Budget, Try Crown Mvelopes..

November

Make/Purchase Christmas Gifts, Visit Family in Maryland for Thanksgiving, Visit Historical Society/Community Museum

December

Make Anniversary Plans, Brad’s Family Visiting, Prepare for Annual Christmas Party, Visit Museum/Lake Tahoe

Have you created a list of goals for 2012? I’d love to read an update on your progress in the comments below!

Freebie Friday! Pull-Ups, Nescafe, Tom’s, & McDonald’s

September 14th, 2012

Jessica

I decided recently to set aside a shoe box and let my freebies accumulate for more than one week. So here is the round-up!

Magazines: ESPN, Entrepreneur, Smart Money, Field & Stream, Clubhouse Jr., Babytalk, Parenting
Disney Pull-Ups (2)
Nescafe Memento (2) + coupon
Bath & Body Works Lotion (BOGO) + coupon
TriCalm Lotion
HerStyler Hair Serum
Eucerin Cream
Tom’s Deoderant + coupon
Small or Hot Iced McCafe from McDonald’s (Brad already used this one!)

What fun freebies have you received recently?

Apricot Chicken

September 14th, 2012

Jessica

When I mentioned on Facebook recently that I was cooking Apricot Chicken and Almond-Parmesan Green Beans, it turned out that a lot of people were interested in the recipes! In the photo above you can see that we ate them together with rice. However you choose to make them, this is now one of my family’s favorite meals. You should see my kids’ eyes light up when I set this meal out on the dining room table! It’s definitely more involved than my usual cooking, so you may want to double it and have it for two nights or simplify it for yourself. I actually attempted this recipe in hopes of cleaning out some of the bags and bags of frozen apricots filling up our freezer!

Apricot Chicken (Simply in Season Cookbook)

2 teaspoons butter

4 ripe apricots (halved and sliced) (I had to thaw mine in warm water first)

Melt butter in a frypan. Place apricots in melted butter cut side down and cook over medium heat until light brown, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook several minutes more. Remove to plate.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (whole or cut into strips) (I used leg quarters once, and now use legs)

salt and pepper

Roll chicken in mixture of salt and pepper. Saute in 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium-high heat for 3 minutes, then medium-low heat for 7 more minutes or until no longer pink inside. Remove chicken to plate with apricots.

1 teaspoon ginger root (peeled and minced) (I used ground ginger)

1 green onion or 2 tablespoons onion (chopped)(I used minced onion)

Combine in frypan and saute briefly.

1/2 cup / 125 ml dry white wine, apple juice, or water (I used water)

2 tablespoons maple syrup or apricot preserves (I used apricot preserves)

1/2 teaspoon lime peel (grated)

Add to frypan along with apricots and chicken. Simmer 10 minutes to combine flavors. Serve alone or over brown rice or couscous. Garnish with 1/4 cup / 60 ml toasted sliced almonds. (Oops! I forgot the almonds in these photos!)