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Featured Website
Freebie of the Week
Blog Highlights
Weekly Tutorial
Recipe of the Week
Idea Center
Book of the Week
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Molly's Money-Saving Digests

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Garden seedlings
© Elnur | Dreamstime.com

The first day of March and I can already see my seedlings sprouting through the dirt of my makeshift greenhouse. Each year, before the last frost, my children and I pull out our recycled containers that we got from the local hardware store and plant our seeds, waiting for that first green sprout to appear. We then cover them with plastic and put them in a warm area of the house until time to transplant them outside.

Gardening is so much fun! I get excited this time of year because I am planning how I want my garden to look, the vegetables that will be grown, whether I am going to use raised beds or just plant straight into the ground. I know that in just a few months, my family and I will be eating healthier and my budget will feel lighter since those items will homegrown and not purchased from the store.

I hope that you love this newsletter. While you are at it, if you are looking for some wonderful gardening help, why not purchase my 2009 Digest on Gardening Basics? You can also read a past newsletter on gardening as well.
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More Molly-Less Money!



Molly Makes

Each monthly Digest costs $4.95, but when you subscribe to a Molly Membership for only $3.95 a month (cancel anytime!) you receive not only my monthly Digest, but a whole lot more. For instance, if you sign up now, you'll get the March Digest. The theme is "Spring is in the Air - Frugality Everywhere". We have info on gardening, outdoor furniture, grilling, and lots more.

Now, when you log on to your special member pages, you'll not only find the Digest link, but also a main page of resources and links that we'll add to over time. Then . . . you will have a link to a page of free downloads and links to articles and resources appropriate to that month's theme. We several free downloads in March including a 50+ page sampler of my new Molly Makes $7 Slow Cooker Suppers cookbook, The Green Spring Clean (homemade cleaning supplies),  a Vegetable Gardening Encyclopedia and Herb Guide and some healthy grilling recipes! In addition to the downloads, you'll find all kinds of fun and helpful links.


Become a Molly member and save like never before!

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Featured Website 


From Val's Kitchen is a new website I came across recently. I love everything I have found here--from coupons, reviews, recipes, and more!

Here is a little bit about how Valerie describes herself:

Someone emailed asking me my name. My name is Valerie. Online I go by valmg, which is a combination of my first and last name. I've been online for so long that it is what everyone knows me as and I like it too. But for those that wish to address me otherwise, Valerie is fine. Or "o wise one". LOL. I will be sharing recipes, coupons, and deals as well as product reviews.

Be sure and stop by and check out her website
. While you are there, tell Valerie that I sent you.


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Freebie of the Week
Special Report: Gardening

Special Report:
Gardening

I found this great site that has tons of free downloadable books on gardening. This one is a 38-page special report on gardening--how to plant, garden diseases, lawn care, landscaping, all about gardening and cultivation.

You can get your free copy by
clicking here.

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Blog Highlights
Tips and Ideas From Econobusters 

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Weekly Tutorial
How to Plant a Strawberry Pot

Molly Makes
Photo courtesy of My Garden Guide

For those of you who live in a city or suburb area where planting a garden is not possible, you can always tackle container gardening. While looking for a tutorial, I found a wonderful website that offers not just one tutorial, but many on different aspects of gardening.

This one today is on how to plant a strawberry pot. You can find the tutorial by
clicking here.

You can find other tutorials on their website at
My Garden Guide.


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Recipe of the Week
Field Greens With Hot Bacon Dressing

Salad
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Sikora

I love growing my own greens in the garden. I usually grow a large variety. This salad was one that I made using field greens that I purchased from the store, but I plan on growing these kind of greens in my garden this year if I can.

The dressing is what really makes this salad though. The warm gooey taste and the bacon together give it a sweet and salty wonderful combination!


Hot Bacon Dressing

Ingredients:
8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 and 1/2 cups of sugar
3 tablespoons of cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1/ cup white vinegar

Directions:
In a saucepan, mix together the sugar, cornstarch, salt, water, and vinegar. Bring all the items to a boil until it thickens.

Mix in cooked and crumbled bacon. Drizzle over salad greens and enjoy!


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Idea Center
Tips for Gardening



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Book of the Week 


I am so excited about this new section that I added to the newsletter! Each week, I will share with you a book that I have found helpful that goes along with our newsletter topic.

Since we are talking about gardening basics this week, I decided to share with you about this little gem of a book I recently discovered. Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.(information obtained from Amazon.com)

You can purchase a copy of this book through Amazon by
clicking this link.

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Molly's Money-Saving Digest
Spring Is In the Air~Frugal Choices Everywhere!
 
 
Mar 2010
 
Life is too short (and sweet) to spend it indoors-
Be encouraged that it doesn't take much money to enjoy life in the great outdoors . . .

March brings us a most wonderful time of the year! You do have a welcoming, colorful, and happy backyard don't you? If it needs a little work, keep reading!

As the good weather arrives, slip out the door and enjoy the warmth and smells and delights of that fresh spring air-in your own backyard or on your deck, balcony, or porch. You'll find plenty of ideas for thrifty fun, food, and other "fixins" right here!

Spring is the season of anticipation. Start a few seeds, try a new recipe, make a fresh start, and enjoy every minute. This is a prime season for you as a "keeper at home" to refocus and define your priorities as you realize just how much you can do with what God has
given you.

Take a quick glimpse at the features and what you'll learn in the newest Digest:


Monthly Feature: Spring Is in the Air-Frugal Choices Everywhere!

Eating Alfresco: This is the way to really enjoy your food . . . though some of you may not know what this means. Grab some no-frills ideas for everyday, alfresco eating!

Make Rich Memories in Thrifty Times: Included are a variety of wonderful suggestions for some frugal fun and catalysts to learning (bringing the family together) that you'll want to try now that the weather is warming!

Backyard Living: Take a close look at a number of fresh, money-saving ideas to help brighten your mood and your life!

Trying to economize? At $4.95 for each downloadable E-Book, you can apply just one tip from each issue to easily save the cost of the Digest! Still not convinced this E-Book is for you?
Click
HERE to view a sample of this item.
 
Each month, take the wonderful opportunity to learn along with Molly (and her special guests and experts), and make the most of your time and money in 2010.


Better yet, subscribe to a Molly Membership and receive each month's Digest AND additional bonus resources for only $3.95 a month!

Don't forget, you can download a free Molly binder cover from the Schoolhouse Store! 

 
 
Until next week!
 

Molly Signature
MollyFebArt

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