Fwd: Simple Times - 2/05/09 - Words of love; a frugal Valentine's Day

[Guest guest]

 

 

 

 

 

dsimpleTo: CyndikrallSent: 2/5/2009 1:10:02 A.M. Pacific Standard TimeSubj: Simple Times - 2/05/09 - Words of love; a frugal Valentine & apos;s Day

Simple Times________________________________Vol. 11, No. 3 -- February 5th, 2009http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/ DSimpleCopyright 2009 Deborah Taylor-HoughISSN: 1527-1269 ________________________________Subscribe: join-simple-timesUnsubscribe: leave-simple-times________________________________Celebrating more than a decade of saving your time, money and sanity!________________________________IN THIS ISSUE:-- "Dear Readers"-- Simple Living Quote-- Celebrating Valentine's Day on a Shoestring-- Loving Words Transform Us-- Letters to the Editor / Reader Tips-- Assorted Information (archives, etc.)________________________________< < < O.U.R S.P.O.N.S.O.R > > > "What the heck... I'll give it a try!""I have to say I'm so glad I purchased your DebtIntoWealthSystem! I was skeptical at first, so I went to the website.It sounded good, so I figured "what the heck," I'll give ita try. My goal was to pay off $5,000 in credit card debt anda car loan so I could buy a new home, and get me and my 4girls out of our 2-bedroom apartment. It worked! It's now 9months later and ALL of my debt is paid off, and I justsigned a contract on a new 5-bedroom house! There is nobetter feeling than to have NO debts, and a savings accounttoo! Thanks to your system, my family is going to have abetter life by not being enslaved to debt."--Katrina S. in Houston, TXWhat the heck ... Give DebtIntoWealth a try, today!Click:http://www.debtintowealth.com/simpletimes.html________________________________Dear Readers,I'm frequently told by friends and acquaintances that nothing says "love" like chocolate. Well, if your personal love language is fluent

chocolate, you'll absolutely adore this latest issue of the Betty Crocker

email recipe newsletter I just received. And even though this probably

seems like an ad, it really isn't. I don't receive any sort of kick back

from them ... I just wanted to share these delicious-looking free recipes

with other chocolate lovers out there. :-)

 

http://snurl.com/yummydesserts [recp_mkt32_net]

Don't drool on your computer keyboard. ;-)

 

Simply Yours,Debi(Deborah Taylor-Hough)Editor, Simple Times Email Newsletter--Author of the popular Frozen Assets series; A Simple Choice: Apractical guide for saving your time, money & sanity; and FrugalLiving for Dummies®--Editor, Simple Times and Bright-Kids email newsletters________________________________Visit my simple living blog!http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/________________________________SIMPLE LIVING QUOTE"If you have it [love], you don't need to have anything else.If you don't have it, it doesn't matter much what else you have."--Sir James M. Barrie________________________________CELEBRATING VALENTINE'S DAY ON A SHOESTRINGCopyright Deborah Taylor-HoughUsed with permission. All rights reserved.http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com

 

 

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. And just in case you've forgotten,it's always celebrated on February 14th. Now you have no excuse forignoring it again this year. ;-) But if you're thinking, "Well, I have no excuse ... except for the fact thatI don't have much money to spend on an elaborate gift or dinner out ata fancy restaurant right now." No worries. Here's a list of inexpensive -- and often free -- ideas forspending some quality romantic time with your Valentine. Outdoor Ideas If the weather outside isn't frightful this time of year where you live,nature's a romantic spot to spend some snuggling time together. You could always have an exercise date if you're both fitness nuts:a brisk walk on a tree-lined lane, a game of Frisbee in the park with our favorite view, bicycling along the waterfront, a hike to a localdestination. One of my favorite things to do is rent a canoe andmeander slowly around the local waterways. For a less physically demanding outdoor idea, slow the pace downand stroll leisurely through the park rather than power-walking. Holdhands, look at the flowers, watch the birds, listen to the sounds ofnature. Go somewhere you haven't been for ages ... maybe a localarboretum, beach, game reserve, or Japanese gardens. And don't let a bit of rainy drizzle stop your plans. A romantic strollunder a shared umbrella followed by a cup of coffee or tea in a localcoffee shop is definitely a romantic alternative to the typically moreexpensive dinner and a movie. Plus, most parks are less crowdedon rainy days, so you'll have more privacy for your romantic walk. Even in the winter, it can be fun to wander through the local zoo.Many times the animals are more active this time of year ratherthan in the summer when they're all hiding in the shade, escapingthe summer heat. Your local newspaper is always a great resource for inexpensivedate ideas. Check out the "What's Happening" section for informationon local heritage festivals, film showings, street fairs, home tours,fireworks displays, musical events, and county fairs. Indoor Activities If it's too cold or wet to spend Valentine's Day outside, try taking aromantic drive together into the countryside, perhaps stopping forcoffee and pie at a diner along the way. Mmm. Spend the afternoon browsing through antique stores together.Talk about the things you remember seeing in your grandmother'shouse when you were a child. It's amazing the memories that cancome back looking through things from long ago. You might discoverthings about your loved one you never knew. Museums are often a fairly inexpensive way to spend time together.Check around for history and art museums you've overlooked in thepast. Many of them have free days, too. If it's winter in your area and winter consists of sunny skies and palmtrees, you might want to consider going ice skating together at thelocal skating rink. The change in temperature is invigorating, and it'sfun to bundle up in a scarf and gloves if it's not something you dovery often. Plus, it's always appropriate to hold hands while skatingtogether. Instant romance. Stay-at-Home Ideas Breakfast in bed is a fun wake-up on Valentine's Day morning. Maybecook some heart-shaped pancakes to complete the theme? You could also have a tea party, just for the two of you with a selectionof delicious gourmet teas, a variety of cakes and cookies, romanticmusic, and of course some fragrant flowers. They can just be onespicked from the yard ... you don't have to go overboard -- and over-budget -- with a dozen long stemmed roses. Try having a picnic in the living room by the fireplace. Spread a blanketor tablecloth on the floor, light some candles, pack traditional picnicfood items into your picnic basket, turn on some soft music. Maybefeed each other fresh strawberries. If you have a series of movies you both enjoy, a movie marathon canbe a fun way to spend the day. Stock up on snacks ahead of time,cuddle under a blanket on the couch, and watch a day full of Lord ofthe Rings, the Matrix, or a variety of romantic comedies). Turn off theringer on your phone and just spend the day getting lost in the storiestogether. Have a happy Valentine's Day! ABOUT THE AUTHOR:--Deborah Taylor-Hough (free-lance writer and mother of three) is theauthor of several popular books including Frugal Living For Dummies®,Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month and ASimple Choice: A Practical Guide for Saving Your Time, Money andSanity. Visit Debi online and read articles about simple living, frugality,parenting and much more: http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deborah_Taylor-Hough________________________________O.U.R S.P.O.N.S.O.R Simplify The Way You Manage The Papers In Your Home ~ With EasyFile Home Filing System ~EasyFile's eye-catching colorful labels & tabs make filingand retrieving simple. A big help for folks with ADD or anyonevisually oriented. Our full color labels (not just a 1/8" bandacross the top) eliminate the need to purchase expensive colorfolders & hanging files as less costly manila folders & standardgreen files will suit your needs perfectly & save you money. EasyFile Home & Homeschool Filing Systems & Garage Sale Kitwww.easyfilesolutions.com/AIDLink.php?BID=11911 & AID=36265Also from Simplified Solutions * * FishTales Fishing Logs* *www.fishtaleslog.com/AIDLink.php?BID=11319 & AID=36645________________________________ LOVING WORDS TRANSFORM USCopyright Mimi DoeUsed with permission. All rights reserved.http://www.SpiritualParenting.comRemind your children how much you love them, even when itmight be a struggle. They need to regularly hear words ofencouragement from their parents.Brianne, age 16, who recently broke her wrist, received somemuch-needed affirmation at just the right time. "I know thatmy parents love me because they keep encouraging me throughthis tough time. It's so hard to get my work done at school butthey never force me to do homework when I'm not feeling well.They tell me to do it later or to rest when I feel like resting. Theother night my Dad said how proud he was that I was trying sohard."Words of love can seem like such a small thing, easily overlookedin the daily hustle. Over a lifetime, they make all the differencein the universe. I was blessed to be with my father when deathwas drawing near. Not a day goes by that I don't think of hisdescription of moving towards the light. He said, "I see now thatall that truly matters in life is love. We just need to love eachother."As we strive to move ahead in life, to get it all done and to raisesuccessful kids, think of the parting words of my dad: "Love eachother." Love your children, love your partner, love your parents,love your friends, and you will deeply nurture their spirits whileenriching your own soul.Words have the power to transform. Celebrate your love bypracticing the following ideas:1) Be thoughtful with your word choice, tone, and timing.Author Christopher Morley wisely stated that, "If we alldiscovered that we only had five minutes left to say all that wewanted to say, every telephone booth would be occupied bypeople calling other people to tell them that they loved them."September 11, 2001, proved Morley's point.Tell those you love how much you love them -- often. 2) Remain attentive to the words you use as you part in the morningsand last thing in the evenings.3) Ask your child what helps him to feel really loved.This is easier with a young child. If yours is a teen, he will probablybe embarrassed by the questions, but the simple effort of askingreminds him you care. Our teens are multidimensional, fascinatinghuman beings and, by knowing their likes and dislikes, we learnmore about their unfolding personalities.Maggie, age 15, says, "My dad asked me the name of my favoriteice cream. I was pretty surprised he didn't know but he's a busyguy. It made me feel so special when he came home the other nightwith Mississippi Mud. He nailed it."4) Offer lots of words of praise when appropriate. The appreciatedchild is far less likely to have an attitude problem.ABOUT THE AUTHOR:--Mimi Doe is the founder of Spiritual Parenting.com and the award-winning author of "Nurturing Your Teenager's Soul", "Busy ButBalanced", "10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting", and co-authorof "Don’t' Worry Get In". Mimi's free newsletter, Spiritual Parenting,has more than 30,000 rs from around the world. Sign upon her website: http://www.SpiritualParenting.com________________________________Feel free to forward this newsletter to your family and friends. :-)________________________________LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / READER TIPSWe'd love to hear YOUR tips and ideas for simplifying daily life.Send your simple living comments/tips to: DSimple Re: Glove and mitten organization This winter I got tired of picking my 7 year old daughter's hats,gloves and scarves up off the floor everyday. Her coats hang onpegs that are mounted behind the kitchen door so there reallyisn't room for a basket or box to hold these things. Then I remembered that I have a couple of mesh drawstringbags. So I hung one of those bags on one of her hooks and putall of her hats, gloves and scarves in it. Now when she comes infrom playing in the snow the wet gloves can go right in the bagand will dry in there since the bag is mesh and they don't endup all over the place. Since she has several hats and a numberof pairs of gloves even if she leaves her currently in use pair outall the others are corraled in the bag. The bag actually tucks right under and below her coats sincethe drawstring is long enough so it doesn't even add the to the bulkbehind the door. When it's time to wash them I can just tie a knot in the drawstringand throw the whole bag right in the laundry and not worry aboutlosing a glove or mitten! I found the package of several mesh drawstring bags at our localdollar store, they work great for this sort of thing!--Jennifer Daggswww.kerensamere.com

Re: Children learning to cook Living on a tight budget for many years, we have developed lots ofskills for saving money but one of the fun ones is letting the childrencook -- not necessarily a main meal but perhaps the pudding -- asimple sponge or mousse is child's play. It allows the child to learncooking skills and you remember what it was like to learn to cook.Some supervision is required to start but as your children grow olderthey learn to contribute to the household and have got great skills forwhen they leave home. My youngest is now 16 -- if she likes a meal, the next time shecooks it - her repertoire is quite impressive -- weiner schnitzel andchocolate mousse are 2 dinner party favourites and she can cookthem with great skill. We hope that by the time she leaves home,she will not have to rely on ready meals or take out. Food isn'tscary -- ignore the TV chefs who complicate simple ingredients,and cook what you enjoy.--Alison M. Re: Energy costs Debi, thanks for the piece on energy. Our electric companyraised their rates by 25% starting in January. We are making lotsof changes, including many in your piece, to keep our bill where itwas at before the increase. It takes staying energy conscious allthe time. [To read the article: http://snurl.com/winterenergycosts ] Thanks also for sharing your own challenges along the way. Iloved the story about your learnings from taking the bus. Have aterrific week. Take time to breathe in the beauty of today.--Marci M.www.innergized.com________________________________SIMPLE TIMES RECOMMENDED BOOKSBook list for frugality and simple livingGo to: http://snurl.com/simplebooks_______________________________< < B E . O U R . S P O N S O R > >Would you like to place an ad in this newsletter? ContactLaura at marketing Subject line: simple-timesDiscover the modest rates for reaching this targeted market.________________________________As always, a special "Thank you!" goes out to Gary Foremanand the friendly folks at The Dollar Stretcher for making thismailing list possible!== http://www.stretcher.com/ ==________________________________EDITOR'S BOOKS AND AUDIO RESOURCES:Books and resources by Deborah Taylor-HoughEditor, Simple Times Email Newsletterhttp://snurl.com/debisbooks________________________________DEBI'S ON-LINE RESOURCES:Personal Blog: http://dsimple.wordpress.com/Frugality/Simplicity: http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com

Cooking Ahead: http://frozenassets.wordpress.com/

Bright-Kids: http://brightkids.wordpress.com

Tupperware®: http://snurl.com/DebiTupperware

Kids' Books: http://snurl.com/books4kids________________________________NEWSLETTER INFORMATIONSubscribe: join-simple-timesUnsubscribe: leave-simple-timesPlease feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested. This is a private mailing list which isn't sold or shared with anyone else. Tips and articles are printed for entertainment purposes only. This free service is brought to you by www.SimpleMom.comCopyright 2009 Deborah Taylor-Hough. .3930 A Street SE, Ste 305-119, Auburn WA 98002Contact us at: DSimple

---

You are currently d to simple-times as: Cyndikrall

To http://hub.thedollarstretcher.com/u?id=3503451.60696484ec9b77a0c50800fa74be268d & n=T & l=simple-times & o=3382201

(It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken)

or send a blank email to leave-3382201-3503451.60696484ec9b77a0c50800fa74be268d Great Deals on Dell Laptops. Starting at $499.