Now before you start thinking I’ve been in rehab, let me clarify:  no drugs, alcohol, or other dangerous activities were involved. I simply lost control of the schedule, meal plan, routine, and the LAUNDRY. (Okay, now that I think about it…..it was pretty dangerous.)

Things started unraveling when I had to pull a few all-nighters to complete research papers and projects for my graduate class. I quickly learned that I am no longer capable of the schedule I maintained in college. In my defense, I am wiser…..I never meant for it to happen…..but unlike college, I now have a full-time job and three children who demand my attention up until bedtime. It seems that night is the only time I’m available. The lack of sleep became a downward spiral, and I was weak. Take-out is so alluring. There was a seemingly endless stream of Chinese take-out, pizza, even hot subs. And then there was the sickness.

The sickness, in all truth, probably started when all that junk food pulled down our immune systems. It started with everyone getting an awful cold, including the husband, which REALLY throws the system out of whack. He never gets sick, but when he does, he gets SICK. Or at least that’s what he tells us (wink, wink). The little guys got it too, which meant late-night breathing treatments and constant monitoring. And more loss of sleep.

And then there was the puking. Oh, the puking. Puking all the way to school (we live out of district, and the other boy had to go to school), puking into a trash can out in the hall while Mom called Pappaw, puking in a trash bag all the way to the grandparents’ house. Thank You again, Jesus, that my parents live close by and can help out.  The saddest part was Kindergarten Registration day. I took the day off to make a special day of it for the little guy; we planned lunch out, a day with just him and me. But that morning he woke up puking, and now we have to go one afternoon to register. So disappointing.

So after a long, rainy weekend of cleaning and washing laundry (I never even mentioned Laundry Mountain!) we are back on schedule. No more take-out. Real bedtimes. Routine. Ahhhhhhhhhh. And summer is on the horizon. I think I can, I think I can…..

2) I just finished my second graduate class with an A. I am resisting the urge to put my report card on the refrigerator.

3) I am mentally counting down to the end of the school year. I miss summer in a way that most people don’t understand.

4) I’m supposed to speak this Sunday for Mothers’ Day at church, and the thought makes me feel a little dizzy and nauseated. My topic? Obedience. God has such a sense of humor (please do not read that as an indication of my current disobedience…..more as an indication of how far I’ve come!).

5) The amount of puke I have cleaned up in the past two weeks is maddening. Dog puke, kid puke. Puke and more puke. I’m sorry if you have a sensitive stomach. Actually I’m not……toughen up.

6) I prefer the company of my children and husband over pretty much any other humans on earth. My sister and parents run a close second. Total bliss is all 7 of them together.

7) Aside from praying for Merle’s good health, my second obsession is searching for a house with a good-sized piece of land. In my price range, secluded but not too far away, in the school district I work in, with a good balance of pasture and forest, preferably with a barn. I’m starting to feel like I have a better chance of meeting Merle.

8) Good friends are the kind that if you call them up, stranded on the side of the road in the middle of the night and ask them to come get you they reply, “Okay. Where are you?” I think I probably have 3 of those. I consider them part of my family.

9) I could really use a glass of chocolate milk right now.

10) My baby starts kindergarten next school year. It pains my heart. However, since it will be the first time in 13 years that I haven’t paid for child care……my heart leaps a little at the same time.

Our church garden is devoted to donating 50% of our harvest to local charities providing food assistance. The other half is for garden members. It’s a great endeavor, although it doesn’t supply all of our produce needs as a family. We still have a garden for ourselves. This year we decided to go in with some friends to make the garden bigger and share the work. We got permission to use land from someone else, so we were able to go much bigger than we normally would.

Our own garden isn’t faring quite as well. The cool temperatures and general sogginess have kept things from growing very well. Out of a 100-foot row of potatoes, only a few sprouts have popped up……we’ll be lucky if they don’t all rot. We’ve had consistent and sometimes torrential rains for the past week or more, with even some localized flooding. Usually by this time of year we’re ready to set out the tomatoes and wearing shorts! Not this year. It still feels like very early spring.

At least the irises and azaleas are looking pretty…..wet, but pretty!!

Praying for warmer, drier weather!

We initially talked about swapping women’s clothing, and then kids’ clothing, but it ended up being a “bring-whatever-you-want-to-get-rid-of” party. I use the term “party” loosely…..there was no food, no entertainment, only an email invitation to some others we thought might have good stuff. We organized the date and one day after work, brought our wares and laid them out on a big table. There were lots of gifts from our mother-in-laws (I hope she never reads that!), shoes we never wore, clothing from two babies ago, toys, candles, etc. etc. etc.! We decided that for each item you brought, you could take another item. There was lots of trying on and modeling in the workroom and next-door bathroom! And the best part? It was like real shopping!

What about the items no one wanted, you ask? Not a big issue, actually. We knew enough other women in the building who were similarly-sized, or with the same taste, and we called them. They could take whatever they wanted! They were thrilled to be invited, and made us promise to include them in the next “swap.” There was actually very little left over, and those items were dropped off at Goodwill on the way home.

We cleaned out our closets and got a little of the “retail therapy” we had been missing. We even blessed a few people with gifts who weren’t in on the original party! We now organize two swap parties a year, one in winter and one in summer.

Have you ever hosted or attended a swap party? Any other creative solutions for retail therapy on the cheap?

How do I get the most out of my clothing budget?

1) Shop end of season clearance.

I never buy new clothing in season. Never! If I buy new clothing, it is always at the end of a season or well into the next. I’ve gotten awesome deals on flip-flops and sandals in the dead of winter, and my best scores on winter coats came in the summer when no one else was looking. In my area here in the southeast, I’ve found great end-of-season sales at Belk and independent outdoor clothing stores, and always in the clearance sections of my favorite online stores. I also try to buy anything “within range” if it is a good deal. For instance, my “range” right now is boys sizes 5 through 16 (clothing) and boys 10 through mens 8 1/2 (shoes). If I find a great deal in my range, I buy it and put it in the Rubbermaid tub I have assigned to that size. If I discover I have more than enough in one range, I put a sticky note on the visible side of the tub and write “FULL!”. I keep an index card in my wallet letting me know what ranges I have plenty of, and which I need to build up. Usually the bigger sizes need more inventory. My boys look forward each season to seeing what treasures each tub has to offer.

2) Shop for used clothing.

Some people turn up their noses at the thought of wearing second-hand clothing. Pssssh! That’s silly. The first time you wash a piece of clothing, it is used. I have found plenty of quality, brand-name, gently used clothing at consignment shops, thrift stores, and (my personal favorite!) Goodwill. In fact, most of the brand-name clothing we wear was purchased second-hand.

There are businesses and organizations in some cities that have annual consignment sales which are worth checking out. Search online to see if this is available near you (some local consignment sales: Greenville, SC – Greenville, NC - Raleigh, NC – Asheville, NC – Charlotte, NC - Wilmington, NC). I’ve gotten great deals at these sales as well, and most are very selective about the clothing they take.

Some people swear by yard sales, and I too used to make the rounds each Saturday trolling the local yard sales. However, with my busy schedule and the price of gas these days, I don’t do much yard-sale shopping unless it is within walking distance of my house. It’s just too hit-or-miss lately with yard sales, and I can’t justify the gas wasted or time spent if I come home empty-handed. If yard-sale shopping is your thing, it can be a great way to find second-hand clothing at great prices (often better than consignment shops!).

3) Accept (and give!) hand-me-downs.

More than likely, you have a circle of friends with kids at school, church, within the family, and/or in your neighborhood. If there are same gender children that are older than yours, they can be a great source of gently-used clothing. I’ve found that the best way to get the giving cycle going is to donate some yourself. I constantly look for younger boys in our circle of friends who might benefit from some passed-down clothing, and break the ice by asking, “so what size is _____________ in now?” and then follow up with “I think I may have some clothes in that size, would you be interested in having them?” Most people respond with a yes, but it’s always best to ask. I have had people respond with a gracious “no,” and that’s fine. Most families with more than 1 child and any kind of a budget will be open to accepting clothing, though!

If you’re so-inclined, you can also host a “swap party” with a children’s clothing theme at the beginning of each new season.

Within our group of friends, there’s a constant flow of clothing. Sometimes a shirt just shows up on my desk, and I know that someone was cleaning out that weekend! I also keep my eye open for my friends when I go to Goodwill and find a great deal on something not in my range, but in the range of friends’ kids!

I know some people who consign or yard-sale their clothing to make extra money. That’s a great strategy for making some extra money on the side, especially if you don’t know anyone who could benefit from the clothes. I just operate on the “you-reap-what-you-sow” principle (some call it karma), and have found that I benefit most when I give things away. It comes back exponentially!

4) Shop eBay or other online sources.

If you live in a more rural or isolated area, shopping for clothing on eBay or other online sources (ThredUp, Moxie Jean, Seams Karmic, and others) can be a good deal if you’re willing to invest the time looking. I haven’t done much of this but have friends who’ve had great success. You can also sign up for email notifications from your favorite online stores to get information on sales, special promotions, exclusive offers, etc. Knowing ASAP when clearance is 40% off, for example, gives you the best selection on great deals.

What are your tips for the best ways to save money on kids’ clothing?

I’ve done meal swaps in different ways. I’ve swapped with people I didn’t know, organized by a woman who knew all of us. I’ve swapped main dishes with a group of 5 friends. This week the same group of friends is doing a “soup swap.” Everyone has made enough of their favorite soup for each other person to get 2 quarts of soup. I’ve made taco soup, and I hear that potato and sausage soup and butternut squash bisque will be coming my way. Yum! Can’t wait to find out what the other two will be!

So how can you organize a meal swap? You could start with a small group of friends, or even recruit a group at church or work. Keep it small, no more than about 5 people. Otherwise you’ll be making so much of your item that it will be a chore (and expense) that you’ll never want to repeat.

You’ll want to establish some ground rules. For instance, exactly how much food constitutes one meal? That might be 2 chicken breasts for one family, but 5 for another. You want to make sure it’s equitable so set the expectations up front. Also, be clear on any preferences you have or allergies in your family. If your family can’t or won’t eat the meals that are given to you, it’s certainly not going to be a worthwhile exchange. In the past we’ve traded pans of chicken enchiladas, casseroles, and fajita kits with great success. Also, package the meals in easy to freeze, disposable containers. You really don’t want to worry about getting your dishes back! Just be sure to talk about all of it up front.

Then arrange a get-together for trading. My friends and I like to do a playdate and bring a cooler with ice. However, with the group I didn’t know, we dropped off and picked up meals in a parking lot one Sunday afternoon. Make it work for you!

My family loves when we trade meals……they get to try new recipes, most of which they love and want me to make again. I love the convenience of a freezer full of easy-to-reheat dishes available for those hectic nights when I don’t want to cook. I also love getting a text that says, “My family loved the taco soup! Can I get the recipe?!” Definitely a win-win situation!

Have you ever organized a meal swap? If so, how did it go? Any other tips I forgot to mention?

1) FIRST AND FOREMOST: Cut out time-wasting activities.

Seriously, this one changed my life. TV, surfing the internet, Facebook, video games…if you spend countless hours on any of these activities, you have little to show for that time once it’s gone. You can literally free up HOURS of time by cutting these activities out or at the very least, restricting them to a bare minimum. If you feel that you need one of these activities to unwind, decide how much time you can allot to it and set a timer. Once the timer goes off, turn it off and walk away. With TV, I watch the morning news as we get ready for work and school, again at6:00, and on Sunday nights (if I’m home) I watch Downton Abbey. If you have a program you love, record it on the DVR and watch it later, skipping the commercials. You can easily save fifteen minutes from an hour-long program this way. My children watch a program once in a while, but they’d so much rather do other things that it’s rarely an issue. And video games? My boys are allowed 2 hours on Saturdays. That’s it.

2) Always bring along an activity in your car or bag.

I would never have a chance to knit, crochet, read a book, or make grocery lists/meal plans if I didn’t do them while I wait or listen to something else. Confession: I knit or crochet during church (I can hear the collective gasp!). It’s always something easy so that it’s really a mindless activity; I am perfectly able to listen while my hands are busy. But I was able to finish an afghan in about two months simply by working on it during sermons. I bring along books for the doctor’s office waiting room, sports practice, car rides, etc. (and some for the kiddos too).

3) Check your email once in the morning, and once in the evening.

You can waste a lot of time checking emails constantly. Establish two set times for reading, responding, and trashing email.

4) Cook once, eat twice.

One of my favorite ways to save time is by doubling a recipe, and freezing the extra for another day. I stock my freezer regularly and therefore have lots of healthy frozen options on nights when I’m too busy to cook or just need a break.

5) Evaluate relationships.

I’m a little hesitant to bring this up, but it is worth mentioning. I say quite often, “I hardly have enough time in my life for the people I enjoy being with, why would I choose to spend what time I have on people who stress me out?” Obviously, we want to reach out to the needy, counsel those who need us, be the hands and feet of Jesus….BUT….are there people in your life who are toxic? You know the people I’m talking about. They drain you and leave you feeling stressed, without adding much to the relationship. You don’t have to cut them out entirely, but navigate toward people and friends where the investment is worthwhile. If time is limited anyway, spend it in ways that are good for you and your friends/family.

I’ve been so frustrated with the lack of blogs for working moms. I’ve struggled to even connect with working moms who parent and cook from scratch like I do, or  who sew, knit, etc. So I thought I’d create my own blog to fill the void. Reach out to working moms like me.

What have I learned? Well, first of all I’ve learned that we’re definitely in the minority. Most moms who cook from scratch, knit, sew, watch almost no TV (except the news and Downton Abbey, ha!), grow/can/freeze their own food are mostly of the stay-at-home variety. Oh, to be so lucky. Only in the summers for me. And quite a few homeschool. (Still not sold on that one, though I think if done well it certainly has merit.)

So why no blogs for thrifty/whole foods/natural leaning working moms? Newsflash (apparently only to me!): BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO BLOG!!

Seriously, I feel like smacking my head and saying, “Duh.”

It looked deceptively simple. I can write, I told myself. I’ve read up on ways to drive traffic to my site. I figured out the technical aspects. But I think I forgot how full my plate is right now. Full time job, middle school Sunday school class, graduate class, assisting my youth pastor husband, and oh yeah, constant scheming for ways to supplement our income. Blog-writing seems to get pushed aside.

But I do think it’s a valuable pursuit. So I’m not giving it up. I think there are more of us out there, and we need resources and support. A blog is the best way to disseminate information, because we certainly don’t have time for another meeting.

Here’s to carving out time. We’ll see how it goes.

I generally post a loose meal plan each week, with a little wiggle room based on what we’re in the mood for each day. This week I’ll be posting our breakfast menu, a loose lunch menu (kids’ and adults’ likes/dislikes vary, but I’ll give you the basics), and our dinner menu.

It is important to note that we have quite a bit in our pantry, because I do a lot of canning and freezing in the summer and fall when foods are plentiful and cheaper. I have an ample supply of canned tomatoes, green beans, preserves, applesauce, peaches, and relish, plus frozen corn. I have about 10 butternut squash in cool storage. I also have frozen venison (my dad’s a hunter) and other meat bought on deep discount (one free turkey bought with “turkey points,” and 4 frozen hams bought after Christmas at 98 cents a pound). I also have chickens, so we have a steady supply of eggs. My meal plan would look a lot different (and sparse, frankly) if I wasn’t properly prepared for leaner months.

MONDAY

• Breakfast:  French toast (frozen leftovers from our last “Breakfast for Dinner” night)
• Lunch: Choices of Greek pasta salad, leftover ham or salmon patties, yogurt, grapes, string cheese, and milk
• Dinner: Leftovers from Sunday lunch – Ham, corn on the cob, green beans, and deviled eggs; plus rolls and garlic cheese grits

TUESDAY

• Breakfast: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins (frozen; baked a double batch last weekend)
• Choices of Greek pasta salad, bagel with cream cheese, yogurt, grapes, string cheese, tangerines, almonds
• Dinner: Venison steak and cheese subs, baked potatoes, peaches (home-canned)

WEDNESDAY

• Breakfast: Cinnamon toast
• Lunch: Choices of Greek pasta salad, Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup, PBJ sandwich, yogurt, tangerines, almonds, hummus with tortilla chips
• Dinner: Grilled cheese sandwiches, peaches (home-canned), carrots with ranch dip (church night; gotta keep it simple!)

THURSDAY

• Breakfast: Breakfast pizza (sausage, egg, and shredded cheese on homemade crust)
• Lunch: Choices of Slow Cooker Vegetable soup, PBJ sandwich, tangerines, hummus with tortilla chips, peaches
• Dinner: Pancakes, bacon, applesauce (home-canned)

FRIDAY

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with cranberries
• Lunch: Choices of Slow Cooker Vegetable soup, PBJ sandwich, apples with peanut butter, hummus with tortilla chips, carrots with homemade ranch dip, peaches, applesauce
• Dinner: Homemade pizza with venison sausage and green peppers (frozen) on homemade crust

SATURDAY

• Breakfast: Biscuits with gravy, scrambled eggs
• Lunch: Cheese quesadillas with pizza sauce (home-canned), peaches
• Dinner: Slow Cooker Venison Roast, baked potatoes, squash casserole (frozen from last of the summer squash in September)

SUNDAY

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with cranberries
• Lunch: At the grandparents’ house
• Dinner: Leftovers