Greetings!
© Alexshalam | Dreamstime.com
Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday of September each year since the 1880's. We probably recognize it best as the unofficial end of summer, sort of a last hurrah for picnics and parades, backyard barbecues and beach time. In my area several of the local labor unions get together to host a huge fair for thousands of families at a beautiful park, complete with very inexpensive carnival rides, circus performances, a giant flea market, a petting zoo, and much more. It's quite something!
The holiday is a tribute to the "working man." We honor the hard work and labor of everyday people--the backbone of our country. We recognize the dignity and value of honest work. Proverbs 14:23 says, "In all labor there is profit . . . "
So, how will YOU celebrate Labor Day this year? I'll be a volunteer face-painter at the fair for a few hours, but I'll also enjoy some great picnic food and downtime with friends--maybe even a fireworks display. Who doesn't love fireworks?
Thanks to all of you who responded to my question about natural beauty products in last week's newsletter. I'll be getting back to you individually soon. What a diverse and helpful readership we have! |
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Special Announcements |
Today is the last day of August. If you have not purchased your Digest yet on organization, hop on over to the store and get yours today! If you are one of the first five who order, you get Homestead Orginals' Homestead Simplicity: A Primer E-Book for free! This has been the most popular Digest yet, and they are only going to get better!
If you have a product you would like me to review and do a giveaway for, be sure and email me with the details to your product.
Also, if you have a website or a blog that you would like to cross promote with us, click on the email me link above with the link to your blog or website. |
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On the Blog Last Week
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I have so much to share from my blog this past week. If you missed any of the posts, here is a recap for you:
- If you are going to be hosting your own garage sale soon, you will want to read Weekend Wonders. I have some great advice to make sure you sell your items!
- If you are looking for ways to become a little more frugal where your dog is concerned, read about my homemade dog treats, flea spray, and shampoo.
- A couple of readers wrote in and shared their photos of their homemade solar ovens that I mentioned in my technology break newsletter. I must say that I am impressed with those ovens!
- If you have any tips for curing rosacea without using over the counter creams and prescription medicines, do you mind leaving a comment for one of our readers?
- Even tough my family doesn't care much for Sloppy Joes, they love this recipe. In this post, I have shared how to make a very frugal and delicious Sloppy Joe Sandwich.
- How do you stay frugal when dining out? I shared my secret during Thrifty Thursday.
- As always, my freebies are overflowing this week! There were some really good ones to share with you in this post.
- Be sure to read an update about my chickens and homemade trellis.
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Featured Website |
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This week's featured website is BeingFrugal.net. Lynnae has so many different articles on her site that have not only helped me be more frugal, but many of you as well. Each Tuesday, you can find her meme, Tightwad Tuesday, which we have been participating in for a while now.
Lynnae also writes very encouraging articles as well. This one here really spoke to me. I think you might like it as well. |
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Recipe of the Week |
© Nicmac | Dreamstime.com
Here is one of my favorite marinades that can be used on both beef and chicken with fabulous results. For picnics, the meat can be grilled ahead of time and then used cold or chopped up and placed in a salad or on sandwiches. The great thing about it is that the olive oil locks in the moisture so that the meat doesn't get dried out. It is also extremely savory, so enjoy to the fullest!
Keep-It-Moist Savory Meat Marinade
Ingredients
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (I use Star® brand. It has a really good flavor!)
1/2 teaspoon Rosemary, chopped fine or ground
1/4 teaspoon Thyme, ground
pinch freshly ground black pepper (more if you like a bit of a kick)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 clove garlic, pressed or chopped fine
Directions
Mix all together and pour over meat that has been pounded out for tenderness and poked several times with a knife (this creates pockets in the meat where the marinade can really sink in). Let meat soak in marinade for three to four hours and then turn over and let soak for another three to four hours before grilling.
I also use this marinade in my "Cheater's Chicken Cordon Bleu" in the colder months ahead. Use recipe with chicken as directed above, and then drain. Place into 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer with a really good smoked deli ham sliced fairly thick and then place thick slices of swiss cheese on top. Cover meat and cheese with cream of mushroom soup, and bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on thickness of meat. Delicious! |
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Weekly Tutorial |
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Picnic "Bags"ket
This week while looking for a tutorial to share with you, I came across this really adorable bag that you can use as a picnic bag. Sometimes, I like to take our really big wicker basket, but then there are other times that I just want something small to pack some sandwiches and fruit in.
I found this adorable tutorial on a website called Sew Take a Hike. You can find the directions to make this very crafty bag on her site. |
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Idea Center |
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Here are some ideas for you and your family to incorporate in your end-of-the-summer activities.
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Molly's Money-Saving Digest
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August means organization for many households . . .
Is your home looking dignified and grand?
How impressive are your organization skills?
The special feature for August is:
Organization for Busy Families
Get your busy family happily organized--buzzing like bees as you start to organizzzzze!
Month after money-saving month, Molly presents ideas to help families economize as she shares practical tips, delicious recipes, and helpful interviews with experts.
Guest author Martha Greene (Marmee), provides pages of tips and recipes for make-ahead mixes that will save you time and money.
Gain control of "the dirty dozen" working step-by-step through problem areas in an average home.
Here are the 12:
- Closets--How to Clean Out a Closet
- Garage--Clearing the Clutter From a Garage can become a reality.
- Recipes--Kudos to the Cook. Benefit from and follow a clear description of just how to categorize it all.
- Kitchen--Come Into My Kitchen! And discover welcoming ways to store and better utilize all your kitchen gadgets and necessities!
- Mail--The Mail Monster. Tame it with easy to implement changes in your home.
- Photos--Organizing Photos. Digital or physical--it is time to do something!
- Toys--The Trouble with Toys. Give yourself a little R&R by learning the acronym ROR.
- Clothing--Organizing Clothing. Take into account your lifestyle, do a little planning, and follow through with some purging!
- Finances--Organizing Finances. A few practical tips for you to stick to!
- School papers--Papers, Papers Everywhere! Get them under control and keep them that way.
- Bathrooms--Bathroom Organization. Tricks to quickly organize your bathroom and make daily tasks easier.
- E-Books--E-Books Everywhere! Learn of the options for E-Book storage.
Still not convinced this E-Book is for you?
Click to View a Sample of this Item HERE. |
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We Want to Hear From You!
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We have some great topics in the works for Molly's Money-Saving Digests, and would love to include your stories and ideas. September's Digest will be released very soon. You're in for a treat with this eye-candy issue on frugal decorating. October is our Great Depression issue. There's so much we can learn from families who lived through this difficult era. In November, just in time for the upcoming holidays, we will be talking about photography. If you have any stories, tips, or ideas that have anything to do with photography, email me. If I can use your contribution, you'll get November's Digest FREE.
We're always looking for "goal-getter" stories, examples of up-cycled or re-purposed objects, and frugal decorating ideas. Send me your story--Remember, if we include your contribution in a Digest, you'll receive that issue FREE.
Until next week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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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