Organized Simplicity- Tsh Oxenreider~ Book Review

Over the last few years I have read countless organizing/decluttering tips, books, blogs, articles and more.  I have clipped, saved put into practice several of these principles.

What I like about Tsh’s book is putting most of these principles into one book, into one mind frame.   Why do we crave a simple life?  Define what you think of as simplicity?  Is it your stuff neatly organized in all these boxes? Or does this stuff simply not need to be a part of your life?

The book is centered around the theme, “What is the purpose of your home/life/family”?  Its not just a home organizing book but a life changing commitment.  Is your life overwhelmed?  Is your finances out of order?  Does your home get neglected because your life is just too chaotic?    Tsh does not just tackle the surface (your home) but your life.

The book is divided into 2 sections.  The first being getting your goal in mind as well as some simple pep talk and soul searching, the second part is application.  Putting what you have thought out, written out, and applying it into a 10 day declutter/deep cleaning project.

I think that this book is a good useful book to have.   It was a simple and enjoyable read (I mean how many of us can really say that about organizing books?) .   It gave my husband and myself ideas, it put us in a good frame of mind.   Instead of being discouraged about all we want/need to do it was more of an encouragement that it is attainable.

Tsh Oxenreiders book is available in spiral book bound on Amazon (what I have and I love cause I can leave it open and write down with the page in front of me. ) or for Kindle (which I do not own. )

Tsh Oxenreider also has her own blog- Simple Mom.

Shopping this week 1/23

Today was kind of BLAH for me.    I had calculated a greater savings so I dont know what I did wrong or if I previously added something wrong. Sigh. Oh well.  The Cornstarch was my filler, it was clearanced to 24c a can.

3 Huggies diapers/pullups $9.49×3
used 3 $2/1 coupons
2 Cornstarch marked down to .24 can
used $9 RR that I had.
Spent $16.01 (included $2.06 tax )
earned $5RR
I’d say that makes the diapers about $5.17 each (not including the RR I got back) which is almost a 50% savings on each pack of diapers.

Creating a creative lifestyle….

One of the challenges I gave myself was trying to do a complete handmade year for gifts.  It will not always work out but by planning and thinking ahead I hope to have a really enjoyable time doing this and expanding my horizons… so to speak.

I attended the first “party” of the year on Saturday… a baby shower!  One of four to come.    It was a wonderful time of fellowship and getting to see other ladies that I havent seen in a while and rejoice over the birth of another wee one from the Lord.

It should be no surprise to those who know me that I made burp cloths!  I love these!  (And there was a gal there that was a recipient of another batch when her lil one was born and she was excited to see Momma-to-be receive them.  It kind of makes your day you know?)

I make them using a pattern my mom helped me create with Emma!  I use prewashed and dryer-dried flannel in whatever fabrics speak to me. LOL.  The prewash AND dryer create the softness, take out the chemicals, and preshrink it.  Flannel shrinks.  Sometimes quite badly.    I used a simple blanket stitch around the edge and while through many washings it does create a bit of a fuzz look, it never unravels too badly.

OF course, along with each gift comes a card.   I didnt have my paper cutter as it was out on loan but I did have a pre-card cut out and with a little creativity I came up with a simple card…

Unfortuntely, yesterday was kind of a hard day for me so the birthday party we attended I didnt even get around to taking pictures.

I had a cute peasant dress that I had previously made. Very full skirt so A+ on the twirl factor, a card that I had previously made and I included the 3 Nancy Drew books that I picked up at the thrift shop a few posts down.

Next up, nephew birthday!

The House is Beautiful~

The Crown of the house is Godliness.
The Beauty of the house is Order.
The Glory of the house is Hospitality.
The Blessing of the house is Contentment.
~Old Inscription~
(found in the book, “the beauty of motherhood” put out by Hallmark)

Nabisco Crackers as low as .83 ea

Walgreens has their Nabisco crackers on sale for $1.25 wyb 6 (til Saturday – tomorrow)
use the $1/2 printable coupon (will need access to 2 computers to get 3 coupons)
and pay .83 each!

Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Shopping Deals for 1/4-1/10

ALBERTSONS

Arrowhead Puffed Rice Cereal $2
Use $1/1 coupon + Twice the Value Coupon = Free

 Kashi Go Lean Cereal (check clearance Section too)  $3
Use $1/1 + Twice the Value Coupon = $1 ea

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks (Clearance section for $1.75)
use .50/2 coupon + Twice the value = $1.25 ea.

WALMART

All You Magazine $2.49 (Great for coupons!)
Use .50/1 = $1.99

$1/1 Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal

Leslie Samsone Walk Away The Pounds DVD Starting at $9.99
Use $3 off coupon = $6.99

Cheerios Starting at $3 a box
$1/2 cheerios cereal = 2/$5

WALGREENS

Ester C BOGO $6.99
use 2 $2 mfc printable = $1.50 ea.

I love good Thrift stores

I scored big time at our local thrift shop this week.

Book 1 and 2 of Nancy Drew .50 ea. ( normally see these at $1-$2 ea. lately)
3 Flat Stanley books .50 ea.
2 Boxcar Children at .50 ea.
1 Renaissance Activity book at $1
1 My First Ballet Book (for my ballet loving daughter) $1
1 very good condition diaper bag $1 (saw these at Wally world for $20!)
1 bag of clothing $5 ($5 bag of clothes sale! Woot!)
included was a new shirt for Stephen (of course it had a ball so he put it on right away.  Gotta wash it son!)
1 Brand new Maternity Jeans size XL (nope they didnt fit darn it! I must be really long in an area cause if I squat they are half off my backside. )
3 jeans for my sisters
2 fancier dresses for Euphemia for church/dress up
baby clothes for a girl (baby shower gifts)
1 Revlon Nail Polish holder .50 (saved for my sister’s birthday.)
3 bead bracelets for Emma for dress up .25

Grand total- $11.75 and a punch towards my free $10 in merchandise when you buy $10 or more in a shopping trip.

Sunday Coupon Shopping Jan 1, 2012

I started off this week with “only” a $5 UP reward for Rite Aid.  No register rewards at all for Walgreens.  I had $10 + some change in my purse and I prayed that I could do this.

First stop- Rite Aid
Oral-B Complete Action or 3D White Action Power Toothbrush, 1ct or 2ct refill $5.99
Use $3.00/1 Oral-B Power Toothbrush from P&G 1/1
Pay $2.99, And Submit for $2.99 Single Check Rebate

Carefree Pantiliners, 18-22 ct $1.00
Buy 2, Receive $1.00 +Up Reward
Use  2 $0.50/1 – Carefree Product, Any size – (carefree.com)
Pay $1.00, Receive $1.00 +Up Reward

2 Pantene Hair Shampoo/Condition 2/$7
Buy 2 recieve $2 + Up reward
Use 1 $3/2 Pantene coupon 1/1 P&G

After coupons and the $5 UP I paid $2.99
I have a $2.99 rebate coming to me from the toothbrush,  I have $3 in UP + rewards, and I saved $17.96 just in coupons and Rite Aid Wellness savings.

On to Walgreens~

First I did 3 seperate transactions for these

Muscletech Smart Protein Bar $1.99
Buy 1, Receive $1.99 Register Reward
Pay $1.99, Receive $1.99 Register Reward
So now I have 3 $2RR

Next I did 2 separate transaction of
1 Herbal Essence $2.99
used $1/1 from 1/1P&G
1 Christmas votive on sale for .20
paid .19 each transaction
earned $1 RR each transaction so now I have 2 $1RR and 1 $2RR

Next transaction
Triaminic Thin Strips, Liquid, or Fever Reducer $5.00
Buy 2, Receive $5.00 Register Reward
I used 2 $3/1 coupon from 12/4 SS insert.   I dont see it listed anymore so I dont know if its expired (I cant look now) or if its not allowed? Not sure.

3 Christmas votive candles .20×3= .60

used my RR’s = .60 total

Earned $5RR
Total spent at Walgreens $6.98
Saved with coupons and WAGS saving $26.33
RR for next week $5

Not to bad starting this year off.  I miss walking away with only spending pennies and bags of items.

Book List for 2012

~If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads but what he rereads.~ Francois Mauriac

January-  Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider
February- Professionalizing Motherhood by Jill Savage
March-  the Passion of Jesus Christ by John Piper
April- Letters to a Diminished Church and Are Women Human? By Dorothy Sayers
May- The Well Educated Mind- Susan Bauer
June-  A Life well Lived- Charles Swindoll
July- Schoolproof- Mary Pride
August- Catherine the Great by Henri Troyat
September-  A Chance to Die- Amy Carmichael
October- Depression: A Stubborn Darkness by Edward T Welch
November- St Augustine’s Confessions
December- I’m taking this month off to play catchup on whatever books didnt get finished.

I’ll try to share my thoughts and review on each book as I finish them. 

12 Things I’d like to acomplish in 2012

In no particular month order (it’ll be whatever we can afford)

1. make Sushi

2. Make a Plarn re-usable bag -http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2010/how-tuesday-how-to-make-plarn-crochet-an-eco-friendly-tote-b/

3. Make Gluten-free noodles (I want to make my own noodles just once. My mother-in-law does the whole wheat ones and lawd have mercy they are so delicious in chicken soup. YUMMM) since we’re gluten free I thought it might be a fun experiment to make them.

4. Make dishcloths or something out of old tshirts. I think you had a link on this at one time.

5. Knit a scarf using Alpaca wool. (I’ve started it and believe me, it’ll be an accomplishment if I finish this!)

6. Make re-usable snack bags
http://wewilsons.blogspot.com/2009/02/reusable-snack-bag-tutorial.html

7. Build a chicken coop. Have yet to find plans I like though.

8. Sew my children’s stockings this year.

9. I wanna learn to make cute kids bows

10. Zip it up coin purse.
http://www.craftpassion.com/2011/07/zip-itself-coin-purse-tutorial.html

11. Make plastic scrubbies using the sacks from avacados, onions, etc.
http://www.mooberry-farm.com/2011/05/cute-dish-scrubbies-from-recycled-onion_28.html

12. Make crocheted ornaments for ornament exchange this year.