Greetings!
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I love apples. I think the reason why I love this fruit more than any other is because apples to me signify the beginning of the fall season--which happens to be my favorite season.
This week's newsletter is FULL of recipes, decorating tips, lesson plans, and more regarding apples. In fact, one of my readers sent in a link to a delicious sounding Apple Crisp recipe that she found at the All Recipes website (thanks April)!
If you have recently decorated with apples, or made a delicious dessert with apples, email me with those photos and information. I would love to post some apple recipes and tutorials next week on the blog as well. |
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Special Announcements |
Goal-getter Stories Needed! Many of you may not know what a Goal-getter story is. In each Digest, I like to post stories from my readers. These stories usually refer to a goal you have set, such as saving money for a certain item, going on vacation frugally, or any story similar to this. In the story you get to share what your goal is, how you managed to meet that goal, and possibly what you learned from this experience.
If you have a story like this, I would love to hear it. If you have something you would like to share, email me. Remember that if your story is included, you will get that Digest for free! |
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On the Blog Last Week
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I shared tons of helpful tips and resources on the blog this past week that I don't want you to miss! Here is the recap:
- In my Weekend Wonders post, you just have to see what I found! For $15 THIS was a steal.
- If you have an alternative to tomato sauces, would you mind sharing yours with this reader?
- The September Digest is now available. You can read all about it AND a new item in the store in this post.
- Has your husband ever asked you to organize his tackle box? Mine did and I shared my organizational tips in this post.
- Are you a newbie at breadmaking? Read about my breadmaking experience, as well as how you can also learn to make bread.
- Are you short on funds sometime and need an emergency menu plan? Read how I accomplished this in Thrifty Thursday.
- As always, Freebie Friday is chocked full of freebies! I even think there is another Borders coupon in the midst this time.
- Bargains Rock is a new money-saving website I found that I shared on Saturday. Be sure and read my post about them. You might find some coupons and freebies on this site as well.
- My friend Lisa dropped by to offer some canning tips and a recipe to boot!
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Featured Website |
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This week's featured website is Homemaking 911. When you first get to the Homemaking 911 site, you are asked to sign up for their newsletter. I think their newsletter is awesome! It is full of great tips and articles. They will also send you a free E-Book with their Ten Favorite Freezer Cooking Meals. I am just learning about freezer cooking meals, so this freebie has come in really handy!
At Homemaking 911, you can read articles on homemaking, homeschooling, parenting, and inspiration. Every now and then, they send out a coupon code for a free audio download. I have listened to these, and they are really inspirational. |
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Recipe of the Week |
© Thephotogu... | Dreamstime.com
As fall approaches, we are all looking forward to the bumper crop of fall apples along with the lower prices on those little beauties that come along with this time of year.
Every year, when the first good prices appear on apples, we have a tradition in our home of making homemade apple butter. It is so delicious and makes the whole house smell like fall. It's cheaper than buying a candle to do the same and lasts for longer, too! Have the children help you peel, core, and slice up all those apples and put on some fun autumn music (whatever reminds you of fun times in the fall), and make apple butter to your heart's content!
Spiced Apple Butter (for the slow cooker)
Ingredients:
2 pounds Macintosh apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into small pieces
2 pounds Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into small pieces
1 cup apple cider
1 1/2 cups sugar (white)
2 TBSP lemon juice
2 TBSP cinnamon
1 TBSP allspice
2 tsp cloves
2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup water
(All seasonings listed above are to my family's liking. You may adjust however you please without messing up the recipe!)
Directions:
- Place all into slow cooker and turn on high. Cover and leave it alone for about three to four hours.
- After three hours, take off lid, stir, and turn down to low setting. If apples are falling apart, then it is time to leave the lid off and stir occasionally until nice and thickened to a speading consistency. If the apples are not soft and "mushable" (as my daughter likes to call it), then cover and leave on low until they are softened enough to stir into apple butter consistency (this may take another hour or so).
- When it is done, let it cool, and then you can place it in freezer jars or plastic zipper bags in one pint serving sizes.
- Freeze thoroughly and use as needed on breakfast toast, English or regular muffins, in oatmeal, etc.
Enjoy the tastes and smells of autumn! |
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Weekly Tutorial |
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This is the cutest lunch bag I have ever seen. Valerie made this adorable lunch bag out of an old pair of blue jeans! There are so many uses for old, ragged, worn out jeans.
You can find the tutorial for this bag at her blog, Frugal Family Fun. While you are there, be sure to check out some of her other posts and tutorials.
Thanks for sharing this with us, Valerie! |
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Idea Center |
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Here are some really neat ideas I found this week while searching the Internet about apples.
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Molly's Money-Saving Digest
September--Frugal Decorating
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Is your home a beautiful, cozy nest and shelter?
Start weaving your own attractive love--and dream-filled nesting place!
Make your home and décor a pleasing, personal, frugal reflection of you--with Molly's help.
"A lovingly decorated home is not about high price tags, debt, or keeping a set of design rules. It's about pulling together pieces that work for your family, at a price you can afford, in a way that makes you smile. . ."
--Molly Green
There's so much packed into this special issue--ideas to express creativity and enjoy beauty; inspiration for daily living; and gentle wisdom and encouragement shared by real, contemporary families. Check out the fabulously frugal topics you'll find in Molly's September Digest:
- Begin with the Basics: Are you couponing yet? Maybe you're not convinced that it's worth the hassle. Listen up with a sensible, step-by-step introduction to why and how coupons really can help your family's budget. This is the first part in a series by Amy Howard that takes a good, close look at how a real family uses coupons for real savings. If you are tempted to shy away, you need to read this!
- On Sale This Month: Every little bit adds up! What items are usually discounted? What should you stock up on? Find out now.
- Keeping it All Together: Creating a Home Décor Binder-Learn from Kris how to create and maintain your own three-ring binder that will save you time and money, and keep all of your pertinent decorating information in one place! Get organized to ensure that you have what you want when you need it and go on to acquire the fabulous results you envision.
- Feather Your Nest Frugally: How did Virginia help her son find and refurbish a solid wood dining room set for only $135? See this photo transformation!
- Pull up a Chair: There are plenty of interesting reasons to celebrate in September! What should you put on the menu? Get the recipes for Black Bean and Sausage Soup, Paul's Cornbread, and easy-but-tasty 1-2-3 Cheesecake!
- Parenting that Pays: Todd Wilson, the funnyman of Familyman Ministries, shares a cartoon, and Molly shares some brief, but sound, advice on keeping your family's decibel level lower. You can have a more peaceful home-within minutes! This advice alone is worth the price of this E-Book!
- Something Old-Something New: What do you have in your home right now that's just screaming for a li'l update? One of Molly's favorite bloggers, Tracey Buxton from A Cottage Industry, takes an old calendar frame and gives it a charmingly new 2009 look. Sometimes it's all in the paint!
- Monthly Feature: Frugal Decorating: With the word count down and the picture count high, you'll hear from three special guests then go on a "blog walking tour" visiting a dozen additional favorite décor bloggers. These are real women with real families living in real houses and creating lovely home environments on a realistic budget.
That is just a taste of what you will get in this Digest! You can preview a sample when you click this link. |
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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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Molly's Money-Saving Digest March 2009--Make Money From Home
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Molly's Money-Saving Digest June 2009--Frugal Family Vacations
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| Molly's Money-Saving Digest: July 2009--Frugal Fashion |
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My newest E-Book is now available! Click the photo for more details.
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Molly's Money-Saving Digest February 2009--Gardening Basics and Natural Cleaners
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Molly's Money-Saving Digest
August 2009--Frugal Organization |
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Molly's Money-Saving Digest January 2009--Let's Get Organized for Fiscal Fitness
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Molly's Money-Saving Digest April 2009--Making a Frugal Fresh Start
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Molly's Money-Saving Digest May 2009--Learning for Life-Your Child's Education
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