Mi Corazon

Corazon is heart, in Spanish. Mi corazon is my heart. For a fun definition, watch this.

So, take care of your corazons. Not just the corazon inside you, but the ones outside your body; as well.

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your go heart walking around outside your body."

Elizabeth Stone

Today, Paco sang with the elementary choir at chapel. He has an eye ache and we're fixin' to get him to the "eye guy" later today to have it looked at. While he was dressed all up and singing his heart out, he would rub his eyes. I couldn't tell if he was nervous (he doesn't dig this kind of thing), scared (he doesn't dig this kind of thing), terrified (he doesn't dig this sort of thing) or if his eyes hurt. And the more it looked like he was going to cry, the more my heart hurt. It started out as a ping and turned in to a pang each time my corazon rubbed his eyes. OUCH!

And the more my heart hurt, the more my stomach hurt and the more my ears started to ring - not from their singing... no, from me trying not to cry! And then Elizabeth Stone's words were burned into mi corazon: my heart was walking around outside my body. And I couldn't wait to gather my sweet boy into my arms and kiss him and take away the pain. And I did just that.

We've lost Thanksgiving. It got smooshed between Trick-or-Treating and Christmas. And I think it's awfully sad. But I am endeavoring to keep it alive in our home. I'm not doing a post a day of thankfullness but... today I am thankful mis corazons. All of them.

Paco, front row, center.

Homemade Chili

One of my favorite books is The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. I read it all the time and it has been the inspiration to so many of my changes!

I've always known that homemade from scratch is the most economical way to cook - I was raised this way so I didn't have to be sold on that idea.

I was ultra-inspired to find this research for homemade chili... I can make homemade chili, using my canned tomatoes, dried beans and TVP for .07/cup! This is the most economical way to go with Wendy's costing .99/cup at the time this was written, canned chili = .53/cup, Homemade with dried beans and hamburger = .27/cup and dumpster diving for canned chili being free.

Here is the recipe I go by, using whatever beans I have in the pantry. I am sure mine costs a little more as I use organic but I am going to stick with these costs for your benefit:

1 chopped up onion
2 cups TVP
3 cups pinto beans, dried
1 cup black beans, dried
1 cup navy beans, dried
1 cup kidney beans, dried
chili powder
garlic, pressed
salt & pepper to taste
2 quarts home-canned tomatoes

Boil all the beans and TVP all day. Half-way through the day, add everything else and cook until beans are tender. Be sure to watch the water level so the beans are able to cook. Once they are tender, turn the temp down and allow the flavors to meld.

This makes a HUGE batch and you can then freeze into smaller portions to use on baked potatoes, nachos or for lunch time.

Using The Frugal Zealot's numbers, if this takes me an hour to make, I will make $10/hr tax free, for my time. My guess is I make a lot more since it didn't take me an hour. Win-Win situation.

Enjoy!

Economic Gift Ideas

DH and I have been having some great convesations over the reason we give gifts. Do we give someone a gift that they desire or do we give a gift that we want them to have? The answer we came up with... both. So, if both are okay, let's look at some gift ideas.

I believe I mentioned that DH and I enrolled in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. We are half-way through our first 13 weeks. Then, in January, we will be the coordinators for our church and will be able to go through it again, right away, which I think is going to be great for us!

That being said, we are not spending a dime over what we have saved for gifts this year. I'm not going to take my Pampred Chef commission, my funeral escort pay or Roy's vinyl collection to "make Christmas happen." We've been trying to incorporate the ideas in "Unplug the Christmas Machine" for a couple years now and we're very happy with the results so far.

We're unplugging the machine even more this year - and I'm so excited about it! It's what I have wanted to do for a long time.

This post is on economic gift ideas:

~ Grandparents: pictures. They love pictures of their children, grandchildren and grandanimals! Think collage or calendar that they will enjoy throughout the year! If the GRANDS live away and don't get to see you often, consider making a home-movie with your family doing regular things, in addition to the posed moments.

~ Children: Honestly, they could care less if it is brand new. They prefer things out of the box, anyways! Shop thriftstores, yard sales, craigslist and better yet, find a friend and swap toys for toys!

~ Grandparents - Consider making a movie of you reading stories to your grandchildren for them to watch at bedtime! How awesome for them to see the story with you, hear your voice, see your face. What a lifetime treasury!!!

~ Spouse: Look around the house at something they have wanted to get to and do it for them! Is it laundry? Dusting? A little remodel? Have they wanted the bedroom rearranged? Do it!

~ Teachers: They want coffee and chocolate. Really. Maybe tea. Find a mug that you haven't used that is "like-new" and fill with chocolate, coffee or tea. They want a jar of your home-made jelly and fresh baked bread. You don't have to spend money to make it special. Perhaps you could make them dinner one night for their family! How thoughtful a present is that?

~ All those family members.... hopefully, you can speak to them and ask that "family gifts" be encouraged this year. Then, make a basket of carmel popcorn, one of your families treasured favorite movies that has been replaced by a new favorite movie, home-made goodies and a picture of you all! Merry Christmas Family!!!

Raid your closets. Really. What have you bought and never used or maybe used one time? Do you know of someone who would just love it? Don't pretend its new, if it's not... say, "I used this one time and realized I'm just not a cake decorator, after all! I know you enjoy decorating and I hope this works great for you." Let your friends know it's okay to do the same for you. Do you have a closet with lots of candles in it? Give some away! Think outside the box. Everyone will be relieved by the pressure it takes off of them to find the "perfect" gift for you.

~ Your BFF (best friend forever, Mom): How about making her favorite meal and a spare for the freezer! I know I would love you forever!!!

Have we covered your gift giving list? More gift ideas to come.

What's it Worth?

We used to go to the barber to get these four heads of hair cut. Not some economical barber shop, either. No sirree! We paid a pretty penny for these fine specimens to have studly hair cuts.

Not anymore. You can thank Damn Ramsey, I mean Dave Ramsey, hereafter DM, for what you are about to see.

Troy cutting Roy's hair. Savings of $12
Roy cutting Paco's hair. Saving us $10.

Troy's haircut - again, $12 savings.

Who would possibly pay $11 to have this gorgeous boys' hair cut? Ugh, us. In our former lives. Now Roy does it and saves us...... $10.

What is this pile of hair worth on my kitchen floor? $44 of cold hard cash, my friends.

Checking Up on 2009 To Do List

This past January, I posted Living for Jesus in 2009 and several "bullet points" of other things I wanted to do this year. Areas I wanted to change, improve in...

It's October 10th and I think it's time I review. Want to join me? It might be scary...

My General Priorities:

Staying home.... yes and no. I had three HUGE trips this year - being gone a total of 45 days from home BUT when we were home, I think we did a good job of being home. I haven't felt the need to leave home just to go somewhere too often. Even this summer, we did a great job of being home and enjoying ourselves. So, I feel good about this one.

Hug the kids more. I think yes but will need to ask them if they have seen (or felt) any difference this past year.

Kiss the hubby. Again, I need to ask DH if he feels I've done a good job in this area.

Read more. Sadly, no. Maybe that will change with the cool weather.

Play with the dog. I've spent time with Zorro. Time he and I have enjoyed. Play? As in roll around on the floor? No.

Work outside. Clearly no. Pathetic, is all I can say.

Stay on our budget. Uhhhh. kinda? Let's say, we felt we needed some HELP in this area so we became lifetime members of Financial Peace University with Dave Ramsey and are SO glad we did. We're just starting week 5 but we're so glad we did this. We're going to be the coordinators at our church in January so we can not only take it again but give others the opportunity. Lifechanging. And that's exactly what we need.

I then went on and listed 12 items I also wanted to do in addition to the lifestyle changes above. I'm going to list the ones I have done by number and you can see what they are here.

#2 - YES!!!! Long ago in 2009 this happened.

#4 - YES! It's a process but I have most definitley improved.

#5 - Yes. Now. Thanks to Dave.

#7 - Yes.

#8 - I think so. I'd have to add up all the things I have done but I do believe this was accomplished.

#9 - YES! We have a temporary line up in the sun room and it's worked like a charm!

#12 - Amazing how we humans sometimes need tough times to help us stay focused on Jesus. Yes, I have grown in the Lord this year. I'd like to see it continue by adding #3 but just haven't done it. Just being honest here.

So, there you have it! Did any of you make a list for 2009? How have you done this year?

Feeling Poor-ly?

I thought it might be time to post some frugal tips since I'm feeling like I need reminded! Maybe you're not feely poor-ly but you don't want to, either! In any case, this post is for us. All of us:

Canning - If you're not and you buy canned fruits and vegetables during the year, you are throwing money down the drain! Seriously. You can find all natural, no spray tomatoes for as little as .45/pound! You don't have to pressure cook tomatoes so we're talking easy! I did a whole post last year on how worth canning is. And my wonderful tutorial on how to can green beans!

Freezing Eggs - When eggs are on sale or buying in bulk (like I do from Azure Standard) you can freeze them! Lightly mix 1 cup of raw eggs (about 5 large eggs) with 1 teaspoon salt and store in airtight container. Thaw overnight in refrigerator. Properly frozen, eggs will keep for up to six months! 3 tablespoons of mixture is about 1 large sized egg. They taste good scrambled, in omelets, or in baking.

Make your own food! While this may seem like a given, think yogurt, butter and granola...

Make Christmas gifts! I was surprised the first year I made our parents a photo calendar for Christmas that so many people wanted "just that" for themselves! So, I've thought about it and perhaps because it is personal, it does take time, and it's PERSONAL, it is more special than anything money can buy. As trite as that sounds, I believe it true. So, make whatever you can - knit, photos, sew doll clothes, cookies, bread, dinner, an apron, pet blankets, pet treats, and then make using things you have around the house! Old denim jeans, hole-y blankets. A coupon book for a married couple with kids! A bulletin board filled with things you know that person likes! A new paint job instead of a new bike - paint the old! Or their bedroom... or the bathroom....

Okay, that's it for today. My challenge today?

Write down all the people you buy gifts for at Christmas time. That's it. But write every single person down. From your family, to your kids' teacher, to your secret sister, to your neighbor. Write their name down. And then add a few lines for the people you don't remember you buy for but will suddenly remember them when they show up with a gift for you!

We'll talk about this list later. So make sure you do it. Great!

Lost Posts?

I'm sure I've posted since.... July?!?!?! How can this be correct? I think blog land deleted some of my wonderful posts I created with awesome pictures of my kids, trips and happenings.

Sigh.

I think I left us in Oregon. Well, we've been home and left several times since then!

Paco rode a mutton!

Paco rode a bike!

Nana rode a bike!
Nana did NOT ride a mutton!

We went camping with all our kids and family!

We got together with Roy's family!
(Only biological family in this picture!)

And more. Much more. From midwestern "English" lessons to crazy road trips, all ya'll better check back often!