September's Contest and Giveaway! {the details}

During the month of September, I am focusing on building the Modern Girl's Guide! Not only will I be introducing a five part series- The Working Girl's Guide to Proverbs 31- but I will also be doing a giveaway! The goal is to reach 100 followers, both here on the blog and on Facebook, but the giveaway still stands, even if I don't reach the goal! Nice and easy!

To enter the contest, you must become a follower here on the blog, and then like The Modern Girl's Guide on Facebook. For additional entries (increase your chances of winning!), leave a comment on each of the five posts in Working Girl's Guide series. There will be a post each Saturday in September, so keep your eyes open!

So, that's one entry for liking The Modern Girl's Guide on Facebook AND following the blog, and up to five additional entries for commenting on each post in The Working Girl's Guide Series. If you already follow the blog, and you already like us on Facebook, then you are automatically entered! Just make sure you do both things!

The prize: your choice of a Scentsy Plug In! I will tally the entries and pick a winner RANDOMLY (promise!). The contest will close at midnight, Saturday, September 29th, Eastern Standard Time. Then I will announce the winner on the blog the following Monday. You will have 3 days to message me claiming your prize, and choosing your Scentsy Plug In! Another winner will be chosen if you have not claimed your prize in 3 days. I will verify that the winner has followed the blog and likes The Modern Girl's Guide on Facebook. Additional comments/entries are not required to win, they just increase your chances!

Note: Your prize must be shipped to an address in the US; no international shipping!

Thanks so much for reading The Modern Girl's Guide to Proverbs 31! I am looking forward to getting to know you all better throughout September; I hope you enjoy the upcoming series!

The Working Girl's Guide to Proverbs 31 {an introduction}

I am excited to introduce this five week series for those of us who are out there in the workforce everyday. (Ladies who are full time wives and moms, or those who work at home- keep reading on! You are welcome as well; we will be talking about lots of useful things that everyone can apply!) 

I believe that it is reflected in Scripture that our home, whatever that looks like, is to be our top priority as women. Sometimes making your home a priority means bringing in a second income. In this economy and culture, that is very often the case. Some people and groups of people believe very adamantly that the role of a woman/wife/mother is to be at home full time. That's ok, if you believe that. Or if you don't. Or even if you are somewhere in between!

I think God lays it on some hearts to be at home full time, and some to work any number of hours, for a variety of reasons. I also strongly believe that just because you are at home full time does not mean you are building up your home. And vice versa: just because you are at work does not mean you build your home or make it a priority any less! 

The truth is, homemaking is hard work. Period. 

Somewhere, you will make sacrifices. You might have to sacrifice that extra income to be at home full time. You might have to sacrifice your time in order to be at work all day. And if you can stay at home without struggling financially, you may have to sacrifice having your spouse around more because he is working a lot for that income! Still some could stay at home without struggling, but prefer to continue in their career- and that's fine, too! So you see, no one has the perfect, ideal situation with tons of time for work, cleaning, cooking, husbands, children, and themselves. Everyone is struggling somewhere with their role as a woman, or wife, or mother. The female role is forever being defined and redefined. 

This five part series is going to be geared toward organizing your home, managing your time, and forgiving yourself for the things that take a back burner. (And we will talk about which things should take a back burner!) I will be sharing time saving, stress-reducing ideas, and ways to get more done in less time. Oh, and I will be preaching to myself, and learning along with you- I'm definitely not an expert! 

Finally, during September, I am making a focused effort to promote The Modern Girl's Guide! My goal is to reach 100 followers, both here on the blog and on Facebook. At the end of the 5 weeks of Saturdays, I will be choosing a random winner for a special giveaway, whether the goal is reached or not! Prize, entry, and contest details to be announced! 

I am so glad to have you join me, and I hope you keep reading The Modern Girl's Guide for all things homemaking!

What's On The Menu {8/26-9/1}

Here is what we are eating this week! I am super excited about my sister coming to visit me from Florida, and bringing with her our other sister's baby, who I have not seen in about 10 months! We have a fantastic week planned, and I am looking forward to cooking for my family!

Sunday- Eggplant parmesan, sausage and spaghetti Or get horribly sick and do nothing, make nothing, eat nothing. Poor hubs had PB & J. :)

Monday- Hubs has band; I'm eating leftovers. :) And then hopefully doing my freezer cooking!

Tuesday- Small group- We are bringing toppings for subs- Yay for using up garden tomatoes!

Wednesday- Freezer Lasagna Casserole (eating quick, then going to pick up the sister at the airport!) Think I will make a small eggplant parm on the side this night- we really have to use it before it rots!

Thursday- Chicken and lemon-garlic green beans with red potatoes

Friday- Chicken enchilada stuffed zucchini boats (Never did get to these last week!)

Saturday- Homemade pizza

Breakfasts- Pancakes and bacon, oatmeal and fruit, French toast and potatoes, zucchini bread

Lunches- Lunchmeat sandwiches and fruit, grilled cheese and soup, leftovers, salads

Make Ahead/Freezer Cooking- I confess, I did not blanch, chop, and freeze my tomatoes- so I really need to do that before they go bad! Same with shredding and freezing my zucchini. That's my main goal this week, because I am getting ready for company!




Linking up at: Money Saving Mom

Farmer's Market Trip= salsa and sauce

A couple of weeks ago, hubs and I headed out in the drizzling rain to go up to the local farmer's market. It's close enough to walk, but we were being babies about the weather. :)

Can I just say it is super easy to spend all of your money at the market??? I remind myself that I am supporting local farmers when I realize I am all out of my cash stash that I brought. It goes quick!

We did get some meat and dairy, so that ate into our little farmer's market budget quickly. So worth it! We bought this really yummy mozzarella filled pizza sausage from Green Vista Farms, and some drinkable yogurt from another grass fed farm. We were leery at first, but yum!!!!!

We brought home this beautiful haul, and got out everything to make tomato sauce and salsa. Some of this stuff is from the garden, too. I snapped the picture after we got out everything for cooking.

Then hubs made this beautiful, yummy salsa.(That's him in the background looking up recipes.) He has the patience to chop everything very tiny. My salsa would be a lot chunkier. I made some tomato basil sauce, and we ate it with our yummy, sustainably raised pizza sausage. De.licious.



Linking up at: Gastronomical Sovereignty, Sew Chatty, Skip to My Lou, Ninth Street Notions, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Frugally Sustainable, A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa, A Diamond in the Stuff,

make it. {don't buy it}

If you get on Pinterest for any length of time, you are likely to go down the DIY road. In fact, I just announced to my husband that everything someone could ever want was on Pinterest and it is the greatest place on earth. (I might need help!)

I am attempting to see which products are worth forgoing the coupon scene, and switching to the homemade version. I am not one to make everything from scratch, if I like the store bought version better. For example, I tried several DIY ideas for wet Swiffer pads- the washcloth version, the cut up fabric, etc. At the end of the day, I just really love buying them in the box. I don't like the trouble of making my own, or the results that I get. I know some people like them, I just think it's too much work. I like the convenience of Swiffer.

However, I discovered that I do love homemade fabric softener. Some folks think it smells to much like the vinegar that's in it, but I actually like that. The vinegar has been good for my towels. I've made it before, and so this attempt was a refill for me. I don't think I'll be going back to the store bought version. I really like the more natural, mild smell of this DIY. I used this recipe from One Good Thing by Jillee.

All it took was 3 cups of vinegar (I got a huge container at Buehler's for $2.50), 3 cups of water, and 2 cups of hair conditioner (about $1.00 or less for V05).

Mix it up, and you're done. So simple.

This made 6 jars (a great use for upcycling spaghetti sauce jars!), that held 2 cups each. That lasts in our house for a month or two. If you have kids, I might double the recipe. :) 

I also tried this recipe for homemade Febreeze. I've never made this before, so I'll have to let you know how I like it. I'll admit, I am skeptical. It was very easy and very inexpensive, so I hope I'm blown away. :)

This called for 1/8 cup of fabric softener ($4.99 at Geyer's), 2 tbsp. of baking soda (.59 at Aldi), and water to fill a spray bottle (I used a 16 oz. bottle, $1.00 at ACE Hardware).  I do not recommend using the homemade softener for this, as vinegar and baking soda don't mix. :) At these amounts for the ingredients, I could probably make countless batches of this. Bringing my grand total to $6.58 for dozens of bottles of Febreeze.

Do you make or buy your household cleaning products? What do you think is more cost effective?





{Linking up at:}

Sew Chatty, Skip to My Lou, Ninth Street Notions, Mad in Crafts, A Bowl Full of Lemons, A Diamond in the Stuff, Not Just a Housewife, Sugar Bee Crafts, Time Warp Wife
Crystal & Co., Ginger Snap Crafts,Trendy Treehouse, It's Overflowing
Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers,We Are THAT Family,Fireflies and Jellybeans,
Handy Man, Crafty Woman,Someday Crafts,Southern Lovely
52 Mantels, Delightful Order , Frugally Sustainable, Live Renewed,

{urban homestead}

I read this great article from A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa about the movement of urban homesteading. I thought she presented beautifully the balance between this busy life, living simply, and being good stewards of what God has given us. Check it out, I think you'll like it as much as I did!

What's on the Menu {8/19-8/25}

Here's what we're eating this week! I need to try to incorporate some garden goodness into the plan, since my fridge has been taken over my zucchini and tomatoes!

Sunday- Freezer Friendly Lasagna Casserole and garlic bread (We never got to it last week!)

Monday- Leftovers for me, and either leftovers or the drive through for hubs on the way to band practice.  :)

Tuesday- Small group...not sure yet what we are supposed to bring!

Wednesday- Friends are coming over for a camping planning meeting! Pretty excited! We are going to have Tator Tot Casserole.

Thursday- Chicken Enchilada Zucchini Boats and cilantro- lime rice

Friday- Homemade pizza and salad

Saturday- Sausage and chicken on the grill, roasted potatoes

Items to make ahead: Blanch, chop, and freeze tomatoes from the garden so that I can save up enough to make a big batch of sauce to can! Also, chop and freeze garden bell peppers. Make some more whole wheat rosemary pizza crust to freeze and have on hand.

{Linking up at:}

Money Saving Mom