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Greetings!
Some holidays are more fun to celebrate than others ... and St. Patrick's Day is one of them. And it doesn't take a lot of money to create some lasting memories for ourselves, our family or our friends. As a child, what I found fun about the day was picking out the perfect green outfit to wear (so I wouldn't get pinched!) and eating a special meal prepared by my mom. We often ate corned beef and cabbage with red potatoes on St. Patrick's Day (that's a pretty cheap meal!). I hope I can help you with some inexpensive and fun ways to celebrate the day with your family and friends.
But, first, how about some links sharing the history of this holiday?
:: from TheHolidaySpot.com - there's something here for everyone! Send a greeting card, make some Irish crafts, play games on St. Pat's Day, learn about St. Patrick's Day Around the World . . . and MUCH MORE!
:: St. Patrick's History for Kids - Who was St. Patrick? Read more about him here and check out the list of books on this topic to share with your children.
Then, it's time to plan your St. Paddy's Day Party!
:: Get all of the information you need at EHow.com to throw a family & friends party - get ideas for invitations, decorating, food and games!
If you will be having a more low-key celebration with just your close family, have some fun with a "green" theme. Dye your mashed potatoes green, eat a "green salad" as your side dish, serve green Jell-O or Kool-Aid with your meal, etc. Or maybe just sprinkle the dinner table with gold chocolate coins! Whatever you do, most of all, remember to have fun with your family (. . . but no pinching allowed, unless it's a little penny-pinching!)
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If you haven't visited my blog this week, you missed out on some great tips. Here are some of the items I posted this week:
- Attitude is Everything: keep an upbeat attitude instead of giving in to the "doom and gloom" so prevalent today
- get some tips on frugal dining out - and don't forget to read all of the great comments I received!
Check back daily for great frugal tips, menu plans, the Change One Thing Challenge post, Tutorial Thursday and MORE! |
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This Week's Recipe
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From About.com comes many wonderful ideas for celebrating St. Patrick's Day at home with the family. Included are centerpiece ideas, some links to coloring pages for children and even an Irish toast to make before dinner. There is a menu plan at About.com as well, but I want to share my family's traditional mean with you (this recipe is just like what my mom fixed and was already typed up at AllRecipes.com).
Corned Beef and Cabbage
3 pound corned beef brisket with spice packet
10 small red potatoes
5 carrots, peeled and sliced (or use a bag of mini-carrots)
1 large head of cabbage, cut into quarters
Place corned beef in large pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender.
Add whole potatoes and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender. Add cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove meat and let rest 15 minutes.
Place vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much broth (cooking liquid reserved in the Dutch oven or large pot) as you want. Slice meat across the grain.
. . . Family Fun also has lots of neat ideas here, even a list of dinners.
Molly's Money-Saving Digest
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This third edition of Molly's Money-Saving Digest is full of new, creative ways to provide for your family's needs while remaining within your budget -- just what you expect from Molly! In this issue she's rounded up lots of fresh inspiration and information, so don't miss this one! |
This Week's Tutorials
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Here are some crafts and cooking ideas to go along with our holiday theme:
A little bit of everything for the family at FamilyFun.com - games, crafts, yummy treats and more!
Maybe the kids could make homemade shrinky dink shamrock charms/keychains.That way you can wear a charm and not worry about wearing green. Plus, it gives you a great excuse to buy donuts or muffins! We made the charm above and found that items shrink to about 1/3 their original size. Also, Sharpies work much better than regular markers. If you do use regular markers, color one coat, let dry, and color a second coat. Have fun!
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A Few Words From Heart Of The Matter Online
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Join us April 6th through the 9th for A Woman Inspired
Online Conference!
An online audio conference uses the Internet as a conference venue. What this
means to you is that you will be able to access the conference from anywhere in
the world using standard browser software which we provide. This software is
compatible with all computers including Macs and it is provided by us, to you,
with the cost of admission. All you need is a computer, internet connection,
and speakers!
The conference
will happen in real time but it will be recorded so if you can't be there then
you can still download the sessions to listen to at your convenience.
No
traveling is required.
Makeup and fixed hair is optional.
No childcare needed.
Financially possible. Cost: $24.95
Register today!
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We Want to Hear From You!
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Molly needs your help! What are some ways you reach your financial goals? Have you furnished your home with thrift store and yard sale find? Have you paid off a bill earlier than planned? How did you accomplish that goal? How do you budget for larger-ticket items? Have you saved thousands on a home improvement job? What steps did you take to do that? No money-saving tip is too small. We feature these stories in our Molly's Money-Saving Digests each month, and our readers love them! Email Editor@Econobusters.com soon! If your story is featured in a future Digest, you will receive that issue FREE!

Until next week!
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Do you have something to share? Write to us at MollyGreen@Econobusters.com. All submissions become the property of Econobusters.com and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC ("TOS") and will not be returned. Making a submission constitutes full consent to the Econobusters' Submission Guidelines and Release, and a grant of unlimited permission and continuing, non-exclusive rights for Econobusters.com and TOS, to print, publish, broadcast and use all portions of your submission, including without limitation your full name, on Econobusters.com and other Internet websites owned or operated by TOS, in Molly's Money-Saving Digest and all other electronic, digital and print publications produced, created or published by TOS in accordance with the Econobusters' Submission Guidelines and Release posted at Econobusters. TOS will make reasonable efforts to withhold personal names if requested at the time of original submission. | |
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