Written by Erin Odom, Contributing Writer

My family operates on a tight budget. And since having children, there hasn't been much--if any--room in that budget for adding to mine or my husband's wardrobe.

But just over a year ago I discovered a way to increase my wardrobe--without spending any money: a women's clothing exchange. 

Image by agador

My Sister's Closet

A local church where I attend a weekly Bible study has hosted a women's clothing exchange called My Sister's Closet for several years. Although I never would have voiced that I didn't have the extra money for new clothes, the idea of the exchange excited me. It wasn't a program for a certain income level. My Sister's Closet is open to all women involved in the church's women's ministry--whether they be church members or Bible study attendees. 

And the atmosphere for the yearly event is like that of a girl's night out with friends. Women bring clothing a few days before and volunteers sort and hang the clothing. There are three rooms of clothing (sizes small, medium and large) and one room full of accessories and shoes.

Each woman is allowed to choose a certain number of items--depending on the amount of donations. There are even dressing rooms, so the ladies can make sure the clothing fits before they take them home.

I was so humbled and grateful after the first time I participated in My Sister's Closet. I was 9 months pregnant and felt very sure I wouldn't be fitting into my pre-pregnancy clothing any time soon. Yet, I knew I would need some clothes for the in-between stage. I walked away from the night with designer jeans, sweaters, blouses, a dress, and even some maternity clothes for my newly-pregnant sister-in-law. 

Image by shellgrand

Starting Your Own Women's Clothing Exchange

Are you intrigued by the idea of a women's clothing exchange? Why not start your own?! You can form one with:

• a group of friends
• the women's ministry at your church (or combine several local churches)
• a mom's group, or
• even your co-workers!

While developing a program that will truly help you increase your wardrobe--without spending any money, keep these tips in mind:

1. Decide on participation requirements (if any).

Must participants donate clothes in order to receive them? If so, will you require a certain number of donations? Must participants be church/group members, or will you open the exchange to the public? Must participants serve volunteer hours in order to benefit from the event?

Image by theswedish

2. Secure a location.

If your church women's ministry is hosting the event, then the logical location will be your church building. Other possible venues could be your workplace, a school gym, a community center or even at a participant's home.

3. Organize the clothing and accessories.

Part of what made me feel so special was that My Sister's Closet was very attractively organized. Donations weren't just thrown together or scattered all over the floor like in a garage sale. Think about consignment shops or consignment sales.

Make each women feel as if she really is spending a day with friends shopping. My Sister's Closet organizes the clothes according to size and season. Designate racks for dresses, skirts, blouses, pants, coats, maternity, pajamas, workout clothing, jeans, etc.

4. Provide a dressing room.

Since the clothing is free, there are no returns. There will only be so many clothes to go around, so ensure that each woman leaves with items that she can feel confident will compliment her body.

5. Determine what to do with leftovers.

Will donors be allowed to reclaim their items, or will you pick a local charity to receive the excess?

What are some ways you have increased your wardrobe without spending any money? Have you ever participated in a women's clothing exchange?

 Top image by jnnfrmarie

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Written by Natalie Klejwa, Contributing Writer

I'm not a child expert or anything. I've had a few babies. I've learned over the years that there is a lot of paraphernalia out there you could purchase or register for to get ready for your new family member, but most of it is completely unnecessary and a total waste of money.

This is my list of the good stuff that I have not regretted purchasing, and some of it I have only recently discovered. I wish I had read a list like this when I was starting out. I'm certain it would have saved me money, headache, and clutter.

Getting Ready for Mama

You need a few things to get through those first few weeks of nurturing a newborn! Here are the basic necessities for Mama:

• Lansinoh Lanolin This is the only thing that solves the cracked, bleeding nipples problem of a nursing mama in those first couple of weeks. The nurses will tell you that you won't have cracked, bleeding nipples if you "nurse right".   I'm fairly certain that's a lie. You very likely will, and for two weeks it will be toe-curling pain. But...just because it hurts to nurse the first couple weeks doesn't mean your nipples have to crack and bleed too. Just apply it to your nipples after every feeding. When I faithfully use lanolin, I avoid a lot of extra trouble. You really don't need it after the first month...but save it for the next baby!

• Wool Nursing Pads Don't bother with disposables. They are crackly and uncomfortable. (Who wants to put paper next to their breasts?) I used cotton pads for several babies, and it was better than disposable...but now I'm turned on to all wool pads. They are expensive, but you only need two pair, one to wear and one to wash, and they will last for all your babies. They soak up a lot of milk, are warm, naturally anti-bacterial, and very comfortable.

• Setting Their Hope in God by Andrew Case This is the book I use every day when I pray for my children. It is simply Scripture written into powerful prayers. Diapering them, feeding them, rocking them to sleep, stimulating their brains...all good things. But the most important time you will spend each day is the time you pray for them. If you want to raise young adults who follow hard after Christ...you'll need the power of God at work in their lives. Start praying now. It will change your own life too! (The Kindle version is only $.99!!)

Image by Caitlinator

Getting Ready For Baby

• White Noise Machine This seriously helps babies sleep better and longer. Think about it. They are used to the white noise inside your womb, and then all of a sudden they're exposed to the total quietness of large, empty spaces. Sudden noises can be very startling and unsettling. If you can make the transition from the womb to the world more seamless, you will be doing yourself and your baby a huge favor. In our home, our rambunctious kids make enough "white noise" to suffice during the daytime. But at night, both Baby and Mama sleep better with the sound of our white noise machine. A loud fan will also do the trick.
  

• Aden & Anais Cotton Muslin Swaddle Wraps Once I discovered these little lovelies, I threw out my hundreds of flannel receiving blankets I had collected over the years. These wraps are stretchy, light, and offer a bundled "feel" while still allowing the limbs to move slightly...as if they are in the womb. Because they are light material, they won't overheat your baby. I found three to be plenty, but I do laundry every day when I have a new baby. If you don't have much laundry in your life, you may find that you need a few more for those times when your newborn spits up and has blow outs on them. As I recall, this is a daily occurrence in the life of a newborn.

• Hanna Andersson Night Night Baby Sleepers Other than 10 white, onesie t-shirts, you don't really need any other clothes. I usually buy mine used on Ebay...but my babies have LIVED in these for the first year of their lives. They are soft, comfortable sleepers and adorable, cozy play suits all in one. This brand is by far superior to any other brand I've tried. The zippers are so much better than snaps as far as ease of diaper changing, getting on and off. I don't recommend buying things with snaps or buttons unless you are looking for things to do with your time. (Clothes with collars are also troublesome on a baby.) The cotton is super soft, high quality, and lasts for several babies. Other brands get holes in them or wear through...are thin...too fitted...etc. You can try to save money by going with an inferior product (believe me, I've gone that route more times than I care to remember), but you will end up paying the same price in the long run.

• Cloth Diaper Stash I realize not everyone is a cloth diaper mama.  That's OK.  I adore cloth diapers, and have had a lot of fun trying different kinds, but I've really settled on Bum Genius as my favorite brand.  I loved using the all-in-one pockets for a few years.  Now I'm using the Bum Genius All-In-One Elemental Organic with snaps.  It took a while to get used to the snaps concept, but now I like not messing with pockets and velcro.  I've found 15 to be the perfect number to last for two days.  You have to wash them every 48 hours anyway, so there's no need to be storing more than that.  These will not work for newborns.  I've just used disposable for those newborn days, but I did break down and buy 12 Fuzzi Buns x-small pocket dipes for this next baby while he/she is in the newborn stage.  Mainly because the right cloth diapers handle those newborn blowouts (you know...the ones that go all the way up the back and out the top...somewhat like a volcano?) more gracefully than disposables.

• Ergo Baby Carrier Everyone has their preference when it comes to these. There are some wonderful carriers to choose from!  I would not go with a cheap brand unless you want to ruin your back. Might as well get a high quality carrier, use it for all your babies, and be happy. I'm not as excited about the Ergo for the newborn stage, so for my next baby I'm planning to try a Moby Wrap for those first couple of months. I bought mine from Simply Nurtured (owner, Courtney Dunkin, in a contributor here!)

• Bouncer Seat.  You can't NOT have one of these. If you are trying to save money...skip the swing and just get the bouncer. (Some of them are actually a bouncer/swing in one!) I really like the vibrating bouncers...they usually put a fussy baby to sleep in a pinch. (Wish they made them for big people...)

• Lullaby CDs My personal favorites are An Angel In My Arms by Pearl and Serene, Hidden in My Heart: A Lullaby Journey Through Scripture 1 and 2, Bedtime Prayers: Lullabies and Peaceful Worship by Twila Paris, and Sleep Sound in Jesus by Michael Card.

Image by em 140

Planning for a Growing Baby

• Activity Jumper  I use this from about 4 months until my babies are almost 2! They love to jump in it...and it is a great place to put them when you are doing family devotions with the older kids...or when you want to "contain" them for a period of time (maybe when you are making dinner...)

• Gym Little babies LOVE these. They learn to reach, pull, bat, and grab. You can get cheap ones with no bells and whistles and just add your own toys to them with some links. I use mine every day from the time my babies are about 1 month until they are old enough to crawl away.

• Pack and Play We've gone through three of these over the course of 8 children, mainly because we use them every day until our children are into their toddler years. They are great for travel, playtime, visiting relatives, etc. We even use them as a toddler bed if our toddler type isn't quite ready to transition to a bigger bed when the new baby comes home. HERE is a link to a nice, big square sized one. I'm expecting our ninth baby in a couple of months, and since we are in need of replacing our older, very rickety model, we're planning to get the Graco Modern Pack-N-Play Playard with Changer and Bassinet.  I like to "hole up" in my room with a new baby for a few weeks, and because my current youngest will only be 21 months old and still in need of using our crib in the nursery, this model will enable me to have a changing table and "bassinet" in my room with me...with the added bonus of a future pack and play...all in one.

• Play Yard This is similar to a pack and play, but provides a much larger play space. Once my babies are crawling, this goes up in our family room. It enables the kids to play with the baby in an enclosed area, ensuring that the baby will not crawl off and get into danger. We put this up outside, at the beach, etc. It is one of those contraptions that we definitely could NOT live without. Right now, we have our old pack and play in the play room downstairs so our 19 month old can play "with" the other kids and be safe, while the Play Yard is currently upstairs in the family room where he is safely contained when the kids and family are up in that area.

While there are countless other fun looking, necessary sounding gizmos and gadgets all designed to collect your money and supposedly bring you and your baby happiness, I've found these to be the indispensable items that we use on a daily basis in our home.

You may have noticed a lot of things...like baby bathtubs and baby towels, bumbo seats and nursing pillows...are missing.  I've just found those to be more of a hassle than a help, and storing all the equipment can be tricky if you live in a small space.

Keep it simple on your budget, your storage space, and your sanity, and just enjoy that miraculous bundle of sweetness straight from heaven!

What are your "necessities" for a new baby?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

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As 2011 comes to an end, we’re sharing helpful lists to help you save money, stay healthy, get organized, creatively repurpose, frugally gift-give, intentionally celebrate and more in our “11 Things for 2011” series throughout these holiday months.

As I've been learning that less is more and working hard to purge and pare down the things that we own, I've been reminded of the beauty of having multi-purpose appliances. Today's post is a feature of the handy, inexpensive little gadget that we know as a coffee grinder.

But, oh. It's so much more than that.

I bought mine for $4 at a thrift store, about 4 years ago. It is used multiple times most weeks, and the majority of those uses aren't for grinding coffee.

One thing that I particularly love is the convenience of using a coffee grinder for fast jobs and easy clean up. It is the perfect size to tackle small tasks with efficiency and ease, and with a swish of a cloth, it's wiped out and ready for the next time I need it.

Here are 11 ways to put your little coffee grinder to very good use: 

1. Coffee

I know, it's painfully obvious, but it still had to be said. For the freshest, best-tasting pot of coffee, store your coffee beans in sealed bags or containers in the freezer, and grind the beans in small amounts as needed. To save time, I usually grind enough for several days at once, then store it in a container back in the freezer.

2. Spices

Spices are the most flavorful and aromatic when freshly ground. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, a coffee grinder stands in well as a spice grinder. I have used it to make Indian spice mixes, grind cloves or cardamom pods, and peppercorns, among other things.

3. Bread crumbs

Several weeks ago, I gave 11 ideas for using up your stale bread, and bread crumbs are one of my personal favorite uses. I hardly ever pull my big food processor out of the cupboard unless I have a lot of bread to go through.

If you just tear your bread into small pieces, a coffee grinder can handle it easily and it makes crumbs that are as large or as fine as you want them, depending on how long you keep it on. Just don't overload your little machine and keep the bread amount to about half of its holding capacity.

4. Small amounts of flour

For those who also grind their own grains, have you ever needed just a cup or two of flour and felt that it wasn't worth it to pull out your grain grinder? That was how I first discovered that, in a pinch, I could grind small amounts of flour without the hassle of the larger appliance.

It's also perfect for lesser-used grains. I have a pot pie recipe that uses millet flour in the crust, but I hardly ever use millet flour so I never grind it ahead of time to keep on hand. Whenever I make this recipe, my coffee grinder lets me grind exactly the amount that I need, no fuss, no muss.

5. Dry herbs

Whatever herbs I grow in the garden that aren't used fresh are usually dehydrated and then ground into dry herbs to use in my cooking throughout the winter.

As you can see with my parsley above, the coffee grinder is a winner for this simple job. You can grind it more finely if you desire, and this works for pretty much any dried leafy herb.

6. Herbs for teas

It's easy to make your own tea blends using dried herbs that you have purchased in bulk, as well dried flowers, spices, fruits, etc. Depending on the size of the ingredients, it can be helpful to grind some things just a little smaller so that all of the yumminess is equally distributed in each pot or mug of tea.

Last week, Mindy shared some simple homemade gift ideas, including homemade tea blends. Definitely worth checking out!

7. Powdered sugar

Although my blender is my preferred appliance for finely grinding unrefined sugars to make my own powdered sugar, the coffee grinder will work in a pinch, when all you need is a little bit.

8. Chopped nuts and seeds

For a quick sprinkle on top of yogurt, a salad or any other place where you enjoy chopped nuts or seeds, the coffee grinder works well. It can grind flax seeds (or any seed, really) into a nice, fine meal.

If it's chopped nuts you're looking for, it works very well with softer nuts like walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, peanuts. With soft nuts, don't grind for too long or you'll start to get nut butter, which may not be what you're looking for. For something a little harder like almonds, it will grind them, just not quite as uniformly as you may like. If you want to turn your almonds into more of a flour, then I would recommend using a food processor or high-powdered blender instead.

Image by izik

9. Garnishes

Want little bits of chocolate, coconut, orange or lemon peel, or other small edible bits to use as garnish? The coffee grinder can handle most of them.

Of course, if you're more of a perfectionist and want lovely little shreds instead of small chunks, you may want to hand grate them instead. For the less-gourmet among us, the grinder does the job well enough.

10. Potpourri

Use your grinder for dried flower or spicy, warm potpourri, if you need somewhat smaller pieces to get an evenly distributed mix,

11. Paper Confetti

Turn recycled white or colored paper into a quick and festive confetti with a few whirls in the coffee grinder!

How do you use your coffee grinder? What other multi-use appliances do you find most handy in your kitchen?

Top image by theogeo

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Cinnamon Raisin Walnut Bread

Written by Jaime G, Guest Writer

Whether you're on a strict budget, have a large family and many friends, or simply enjoy creating meaningful Christmas gifts, I hope you'll find a few Christmas gift ideas you'll enjoy making - and giving - on my list.

It's wonderful to create lasting memories, especially during the Christmas season. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

1. For the tea lover in your life, a homemade chai tea kit would make an ideal gift. Using an assortment of cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, and other spices you can easily create a special treat. It's easy to follow the directions I've shared here. Or, come up with your own unique Christmas chai by experimenting with a few of the 11 holiday herbs and spices Stacy shared last month.

2. The gift of food is always appreciated. Perhaps the most frugal of all food gifts is a beautiful, crusty loaf of homemade bread, wrapped halfway in brown paper and tied with a bow. Add a sprig of evergreen - or mistletoe! - for ornamentation. Might I suggest a loaf of authentic German pretzel bread or bagels made from scratch? If bread is not your preference, then homemade maple granola presented in a large glass jar is a unique and easy alternative.

3. For the bookworms in your life, consider homemade bookmarks. If you are skilled at crocheting, consider crocheting a bookmark, including a few beautiful beads near the top so they may drape from the top of a cherished book. If you are not skilled at crochet, you can make lovely bookmarks with an assortment of ribbon and then sew the beads onto the top.

4. Have you been making jams throughout Autumn? An assortment of homemade jams is a gift an entire family would be sure to enjoy. My blueberry jam recipe is a yummy, easy option.

5. If you have accumulated many pins and broaches over the years, consider turning them into elegant magnets by removing the pin segment from the back and hot gluing on a strong magnet in its place for display on a refrigerator.

Homekeeping Binder

6. For the homemaker or busy mom, consider putting together a homekeeping binder or recipe binder and customize it to their activities and needs. Be sure to use a durable, appealing design. Stephanie's homemaking binder is simple and functional; be sure to head over and get some ideas before you begin.

7. For the movie buff family, consider putting together a movie basket; include popcorn, a box or two of candy, and a Redbox movie code or two (there are often free movie codes going around). Or, if you are technologically savvy, include a video of the family from years past.

8. For children, consider giving a homemade craft box. Using a fun school box or wood box, fill it up with scraps of card stock, fabric, ribbon, buttons, etc.

9. Has your family recently experienced the loss of a loved one? Ask others to contribute a favorite story or memory and then compile a dvd or journal recounting each one. Interview and record each contributor on video, if you like. This gift would be treasured for many years!

10. Several years ago we made a wind chime as a family, and right now it's a fun addition to my son's room. Using an assortment of wire (even old wire hangers twisted into long spirals will work!), hang fun ornaments, art pieces, or collectible items from each ending. We used three-inch clear glass circles (look for these at a craft store) and painted various designs on them. The circles had holes at the top that made for easy hanging.

Looking for more homemade gift ideas?

• 9 Homemade Gift Ideas: Frugal and Fast
• Simple Holiday Potpourri
• 11 Simple, Homemade Gifts

What are some of your gift ideas? What have you done in years past? 

Jaime, a pastor's wife and homeschool mom, shares simple, homemade goodness on her blog, Like a Bubbling Brook. She enjoys photographing her "real" food recipes and is passionate about nurturing her family, living intentionally, and being debt-free. Join her conversations on Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter.

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Written by Mindy, Contributing Writer

I have always loved making, giving, and receiving handmade gifts.  There is just something very special about a gift that somebody takes the time to make themselves!

As much as I’ve always loved making gifts to give others, I do…ahem…have a history of not completing all of my handmade gifts on time.  I always have such grand dreams of crocheting everyone in my family huge blankets for Christmas, or making everyone a pair of matching pajamas.

If I would give myself more time, these gifts would be feasible for me to complete.  But since I usually wait until December before I start making gifts, I need to learn to keep it simple.  (Or plan ahead a little better, which is a goal of mine for next year!)

Stacy did a great job of sharing ideas for simple, homemade gifts last week and I want to continue on that theme today.  All of these gifts can be made quickly and easily, and they will be enjoyed by all who receive them!

The Gift of Tea

Source: theelliotthomestead.blogspot.com via Mindy on Pinterest

I love the idea of giving homemade Herbal Tea Blends as a gift.  You can customize these tea blends to your hearts content.  If you’re not sure where to start, here is a list of 10 different Herbal Tea Blends that would be very easy to put together in bags or jars for presents.  Who wouldn’t want that as a gift?

If herbal tea isn’t your thing, this Chai Tea Concentrate would also make an excellent gift.  I’ve made it for our family several times and it is delicious.  Better than any chai tea you can buy!

The Gift of Honey

Source: spain-in-iowa.com via Mindy on Pinterest

 

Raw honey in small glass jars is a great gift idea.  You can make it even more special by infusing the honey with herbs and spices.  Two of my favorite honey infusions are Chamomile Infused Honey and Vanilla Infused Honey.  Both are delicious and only take a week or two to infuse.

The Gift of Candles

Source: blog.kanelstrand.com via Mindy on Pinterest

 

I have never made candles before, but I am planning to try my hand at it this year.  Beeswax candles are my candles of choice since they don't pollute the air, and I have a wonderful source for affordable beeswax.  (Check this site to locate local honey and beeswax in your area.)

Both hand-dipped candles and candles in jars make beautiful gifts.  Here is a great tutorial on making hand-dipped beeswax candles and here is another one that shows you how to make beeswax candles in a jar.

If you're looking for something more unique than jar candles or pillar candles, how about making cookie cutter candles?  You can make practically any shape of candle you like by using cookie cutters!  You can find instructions for cookie cutter candles here.  I LOVE this idea!

The Gift of Jars

Gifts in jars are very popular right now!  There are so many great ideas out there of different baking mixes and goodies to include.  Here are a few that look really good.

• Cranberry Christmas Bread in a Jar
• Granola Bars in a Jar
• Chinese 5 Spice Blend  (or any homemade spice blend!)
• Six Bean Soup Mix (you can leave out the bouillon granules)

Gifts in jars can go beyond food gifts, too.  Be creative with coming up with different themes.  I love this idea for a Sewing Kit in a Jar.  There are also some very cute and unique ideas for gifts in jars here (such as Garden in a Jar!)

The Gift of Pictures

Source: crunchybetty.com via Mindy on Pinterest

 

I am very guilty of taking a million pictures, but never printing any out.  This is the day and age we live in, but I want to start working on intentionally printing pictures more often.  There is just something nice about having a printed picture to look at, and they also make wonderful gifts - especially when displayed in a unique way.

I love these DIY picture tiles.  They look very custom and professional, but are actually very easy to make yourself.  You can use family photos or art prints to make a stunning gift!

Another unique way to give pictures as gifts is with glass jar picture frames.  They are very easy to make and are practically free since you can just reuse old glass jars.

The Gift of Gardening

Source: everynothingwonderful.com via Mindy on Pinterest

 

These seed bombs would make the perfect gift for your favorite gardener.  Actually, they are so easy to use (no digging required!) that they would make a great gift for anybody.

They are equal parts seeds, compost, and clay, and you don't even have to plant them!  You just throw them wherever you want them to grow.  What a great idea!  Get the full instructions as well as a cute printable to include with your gift here.

The Gift of Baked Goods

It is tradition for my family to set aside a day each Christmas season to do nothing but bake goodies for others.  Everyone always looks forward to receiving our yummy treats.  Here is a list of healthy(er) baked goods to get you started on ideas.

• Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
• "Sugar" Cookies
• Chewy Gingersnaps (Grain-free, dairy-free)
• Apple Cinnamon Muffins (this homemade "muffin tin" is a really cute idea for packaging them!)
• Cinnamon Peanut Butter Granola
• Caramel Corn
• Pumpkin Cake (Gluten-free)

For more ideas on healthy(er) baked goods, check out the free ebook, Healthy Holidays, that I put together with several friends of mine!

The Gift of Play

Source: easiepeasie.blogspot.com via Mindy on Pinterest

 

Children love homemade gifts just like adults do.  Any child would be thrilled to receive any of these fun gifts!

• Playdough (all healthy ingredients in case it gets eaten!)
• Fingerpaints
• Moon Sand
• Oobleck (messy but fun!)
• Cloud Dough

The Gift of Time

Source: shannonbrown.typepad.com via Mindy on Pinterest

 

What more precious of a gift can you give somebody than your time?  It is so easy to get so busy with life that we forget to slow down and spend quality time with those that we love.  We have to be intentional about spending time with our loved ones if it is going to happen on a consistent basis.

That is why I LOVE this idea of a basket of date nights!  You basically just make an envelope for each month and include inside each envelope the plans for a special date and the funds (or gift cards) to pay for the date.  It is so clever and a great way to have a planned (and prepaid!) monthly date with your spouse.

I think that this would be a great idea to do for your kids as well.  Plan a monthly outing and include all of the details in the envelopes.  It doesn't have to be expensive, and most of the outings could even be free - a picnic at the park, a hike in the woods, etc.  Be creative and use your imagination!

There are many more wonderful ideas out there for homemade gifts, but everything on this list can be done without spending a lot of time or money.  I am excited about making most of the gifts that we will give this year, but I'm even more excited about giving them - because that's the fun part!

What homemade gifts are you planning on making this year?

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Although I think we would all agree that Christmas is a season for giving, we often restrict that giving to family and friends.

Yet this season offers us a beautiful opportunity to show the love of Christ in a very tangible way, as we give beyond our personal relationships.

Not only do we have the chance to reach out and bless others who might not otherwise receive anything, but we can also do it together as a family, teaching our children about generosity and showing kindness, and even by being thoughtful about the purchases that we already plan on making for family and friends.

On a Local Level

Food banks or soup kitchens.

Offer a monetary donation to help them provide families and individuals with meals at Christmas. Or, choose to volunteer and serve as a family.

A center local to us, packing up Christmas hampers.

Christmas hampers.

Many churches put together hampers for those in need in the local community. Our church has been doing this for years, and each small group within our church will take one family and purchase a large amount of food, dry goods and fresh items (including a turkey), as well as gifts for various family members.

A family that you know is in need.

You don't need to know of a Christmas hamper program to simply help a family in need. One year our family put together a hamper of sorts with about 3 other families from our church. The family in need were recent immigrants from Sudan and we had been trying to build a relationship with them, so it made sense to find a way to bless them in particular at Christmas.

With the state of the economy the past several years, you may also know of families that have been out of work or really struggling to make ends meet, and I'm sure they would be so happy to receive gifts for their children, special foods or Christmas treats, a gift certificate to a local grocery store or anything else you can think of.

Image by Keely Scott

On a Global Level

Compassion International.

Since my husband and I travelled with Compassion International to the Philippines this spring, and we were able to really delve into how they manage their funds, we feel very comfortable putting our money towards the support of this incredible ministry. Not only are physical needs being met, but the Gospel is going forth and lives are truly being changed.

Several ways that you can support the work of Compassion:

• Gift of Compassion Christmas Catalogue. Go through with your children and select specific gifts to give to families and communities in need, like goats or chickens, garden seeds, dental care, medical checkups or safe water for life (these filters are amazing!). Items range in price from $5 to $275, with a wide range in between.
• Donate to help meet specific and pressing needs, like disaster or famine relief, at-risk babies and mothers, or anywhere else that funds are needed.
• Sponsor a child. What better Christmas gift could you give than to choose an individual child and begin to build a relationship with them?
• Contribute towards leadership development of some of Compassion's brightest and most promising young people. We met some of their Leadership Development Program students and they blew us away. What a worthwhile investment into the future of a country!

Operation Christmas Child 

Although it's too late to make an actual shoebox gift yourself and send it in, you can still create one online and customize it, including personalized notes from you and your family members.

I've enjoyed learning more about this ministry at the Relevant Conference, and in addition to a child in need receiving a box full of gifts, lovingly packed for them, they also receive a live presentation of the Gospel message, and many of them receive further information in their own language, including a follow-up discipleship program. This is definitely something worthwhile to consider doing next year (boxes are usually due by late November).

Other Ministries and Development Organizations. 

There are so many amazing ministries and ways to give globally. Simply discuss it as a family and choose to make a donation to any organization or ministry that your family feels that they can stand behind.

Our family has recently discovered Hope International, which provides micro-loans and business training for qualified entrepreneurs in developing countries, and we're excited to decide how we will partner with them as an entrepreneurial family ourselves. Find something that really speaks to you, pray about the options and then just give.

Missionaries

Give an extra love gift towards the work of missionaries that you know of or already support. They may be in need themselves, or may have extra ministry needs at this time of year.

Image from Mercy House Kenya

Through the Gifts You Purchase

Buy fair trade whenever possible.

Whether it's coffee, tea, chocolate... there are so many fair-trade options out there, that are ensuring that farmers are being fairly paid for their work and their products.

Buy speciality handmade gifts.

Looking for unique gifts? There are many ministries, like Mercy House Kenya, where beautiful handmade products are available to help support the work of the ministry, and in exchange, you can buy a truly special gift for someone on your list. I recently bought one of their Large Funky Paper Bead Necklaces (in blue), and I love it!

Emily has a good list of links to ministries like this in her post on shopping green, where you can both shop and give at the same time.

If you're struggling with the cost of products like these, I have found one great way to be able to afford to support both fair trade and speciality handmade stores is to purchase vouchers from deal sites like Jasmere. They frequently feature vouchers for companies that are selling speciality handmade, fair-trade goods, or green and organic products from small business. The vouchers give me a great value for my money, and allow me to make my own Christmas gift shopping intentional without busting my budget.

How Do We Afford to Give Above and Beyond?

Simple. By buying less ourselves.

Keep the gifts exchanged among your own family minimal. Our children are receiving only a small handful of inexpensive gifts from us this year. We do have a minimal budget for purchasing other gifts, I use vouchers like the ones I mentioned above, and we just don't buy in to the mentality that expressing love has to mean spending a fortune.

When we make giving generously to bless those in need as much as a priority as giving gifts to our loved ones, suddenly it isn't that hard.

Lastly, when there is nothing to give financially, we can always give of ourselves. Loving service to others is a gift in and of itself. You may have not have the ability to give monetarily this season, but consider how you can serve those in need instead. Write special letters to your sponsored children. Visit an elderly care home. Invite someone lonely to join you for your Christmas festivities. The possibilities are endless.

What are some of the creative ways that you have given at Christmas? Is this important for your family and how do you make it a priority?

Top image by Impress Your Kids- filling Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes!

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Last week, we turned our house upside down. Almost literally.

In a matter of one morning, we uprooted everything in our family room (which housed all of our children's toys, DVDs, some books and random other things), our entire downstairs storage (boxes upon boxes, whose contents we had long forgotten), and our "messy" room (an office-like room that was a catch-all for things without a proper home). A week or two earlier, I had also dramatically cleared out our family closet, main bathroom, and kitchen in similar fashion, inspired by Organized Simplicity.

Next, we purged. And we were brutal. Didn't love it? Gone. Couldn't remember the last time we used it? Gone. Somewhat broken and not particularly important to us? Gone. None of the children were especially attached to it or used it regularly? Gone.

It felt like half of what we owned, though I'm sure it wasn't close.

We left the bulk of the furniture alone, that wasn't the issue. It was all the other stuff. 

Stuff.

When did we get so much stuff? Did we even know all the stuff that we had? If we took this box or that box from storage, would we even miss any of it?

I wish I had taken pictures to show you (but I was actually ended up sick with the flu during much of the process- my husband is truly amazing to have finished it himself!). We filled our entire minivan almost 1 1/2 times with things to bring to the thrift store and the dump. We don't think we're done, either. There are a few rooms that need some more attention yet.

Not to mention that once we started, it became so freeing to purge that we almost don't want to stop. 

Since everything vacated the premises 48 hours ago, we can't stop commenting on how peaceful the house feels. We've lived here for almost a year and a half, but only just this weekend it began to feel like our home, instead of just a place where we live and keep our stuff.

Bringing the Toy Clutter Under Control at Last

One of the best parts of it all? Our family/play room had been driving me batty since we moved in. I had such a hard time encouraging the children to keep it tidied and I often cleaned it myself after they went to bed, out of sheer frustration. It overflowed into our dining room and kitchen and toys were often scattered all over the house. It was discouraging to say the least.

Our solution for the toys? We moved the large oak shelves that held all of the children's bins and baskets of toys down to our basement storage area (where they are not allowed to play or go without permission). We got rid of the large toy box that held all of the odds and ends and contributed much to the mess.

All that we kept upstairs was their wooden play kitchen (empty), a wooden stroller/cart, a few stuffed animals, and our son's train table (in his bedroom). We put everything back into organized containers and baskets, downsized due to the purging. And we put them all downstairs on the shelves, out of site.

Several instantaneous results of doing this:

• We bring one bin up at a time, and rather than getting quickly bored, we've noticed them engaging more thoroughly and getting bored less quickly.
• Clean up is a snap. I simply say "put the toys back in the bin", which is infinitely less overwhelming to young children than "please clean up the playroom".
• There isn't much mess to spread, so it stays contained and the other parts of the house remain tidy. Ahhh.

Do We Own It or Does It Own Us?

What's the status of your stuff? Who really owns who?

Both images by Robert S. Donovan

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Outside the window, leaves of crimson and burnt orange shiver on the trees, and every once in a while, a cluster of them swirl to the ground as a gust of wind blows urgent. The seasons have shifted and I find that as the weather turns chilly and the sun hides its face and the branches become bare, I turn inward, physically and mentally.

Physically, I begin to look at my home as the lack of warmth and the steady drips of West Coast rain draw us inward, more home-bound than we have been for months. The time spent indoors causes me to open my eyes to my surroundings and in doing so, I become more critical. I notice the lack of organization, the need for deep cleaning, the clutter, all of the projects that have remained on my to-do list far too long.

Mentally, I begin to crawl inside my skin. The outer chaos that I notice in my home eats away at me. Words like failure, bad homemaker, undisciplined, disorganized, and messy begin to surface.

Realization of these outward evidences of my inward mess and imperfection eat away at me sometimes. I seem to go in seasonal patterns, and one such pattern is a sudden urge to remake my life, to purge, to re-organize, to get myself in order. I pull out stacks of how-to books, try to get myself inspired and motivated, and figure out just why it is that I can't get it all together.

I tend to overlook the obvious. The reason is simple.

I'm a mess.

And so are you.

We're all messy and that's ok.

Just because I run a blog called "Keeper of the Home" does not mean that I am an exemplary homemaker. Far from it. Would you like to know some of the things that I just cannot do?

• I can't tell you the last time I cleaned baseboards, windowsills, windows, or walls (aside from obviously needed spot cleaning).
• Though I keep the downstairs guest bathroom clean enough, our master bathroom is prone to fits of unsanitariness (yes, it's a real word now because I just used it and you know what I mean) every few weeks until I finally stop ignoring it.
• I just made bread again for the first time in several months. And it wasn't soaked or sourdough.
• My kids bathe once a week. When they're good and stinky and they really need it.
• My cell phone is never charged, the keys often disappear, the minivan is full of crumbs and random garbage from our various outings.
• I have to keep things I've borrowed from others beside my front door, in hopes that they might make it back to those gracious individuals at some point in time. It still usually takes a couple of months.
• Don't even ask my friends what a joke it is to leave me a message on the answering machine.
• As summer ended, I left the garden to its own devices. Just yesterday, I finally cleaned out one of the six garden beds, and only because I was getting dangerously close to not having my garlic planted in time before winter. (And no, I didn't manage to get the garlic actually in the ground before we needed to leave for my daughter's ballet lesson, but at least I tried.)
• We're mostly on target with homeschooling, but we're had many days where we just couldn't get through the more involved topics like history or geography or science, and had to resort to the basics... language arts and math. The 3 R's, right?

It needs to be said, so very often, that none of us can do it all. We're feeble. We're human. We're weak. We're imperfect.

We're all just such a lovely mess. Together. I think that there is something powerful that happens when we are willing to say out loud to each other that we don't have it all together and we can't keep up with everything and though one area of our life might look amazing there are others that don't look nearly so pretty if we were to throw open our closet doors and lift up the bedskirts and let others see our dustbunnies and cobwebs and dirty socks.

We need to give each other permission to be imperfect also, and then we can point one another in the direction of the ultimate Grace-Giver himself. Because he gives grace that covers sticky floors and laundry piled up and scrambled eggs for dinner (again).

So where do we go from here?

I don't think this means that we just give up, throw our hands in the air and surrender to our messy ways, our misplaced priorities, or whatever others areas in which we struggle. We acknowledge them, we accept grace for them, we love others (and hope that they will love us, too) in spite of them, and we rely upon the only perfect One for saving grace, and strength that we could never conjure up ourselves.

I don't know what you need today. A reader commented last week that when she reads posts encouraging her to be more efficient and productive, she feels burdened by this Martha mentality of doing, doing, doing, when what she needs is to be encouraged to be a Mary, to serve and praise and just be in the midst of the messiness. Perhaps that's you right now.

If you need to allow yourself that space to just be, you might appreciate some of these reads:

Unity of the Sisterhood (and how we tear down masks of perfectionism, embracing one another just as we are, in God's freedom)

Imperfection (sharing all the things we don't do)

2 Reasons Why You Might Feel Overwhelmed 

One Thousand Gifts (learning to name and be thankful for the gifts He gives is a powerful way to learn to live fully, in the midst of the mess)

Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try Hard Life (the next book on my reading list, for obvious reasons- also visit Emily's blog, Chatting at the Sky, for a breath of fresh air)

Or is it time to make some changes?

For some of us, although we need to recognize that we are messy and imperfect (and still accepted and cherished and valuable all the while), we also need to take responsibility for our weaknesses and pushing forward to make some changes, however small or simple they may be.

This is very much where I am at. Spending time reading and reflecting on the fact that I can't do it all and accepting grace for my imperfection. But at the same time, I know that I am the cause of some of my struggles right now (like a cluttered and disorganized house that is causing me unnecessary stress and work) and that by taking some simple steps, there can be positive change.

Here are a few resources that might give you a gentle nudge in the right direction, without overwhelming you:

21 Days to a More Disciplined Life (I'm really appreciating this series from Money Saving Mom, recognizing that as much as we might actually be the problem, there is so much hope when we realize that we are also the solution, and that we can take small, incremental steps towards positive changes and reaching goals that we set)

31 Days to Clean (this popular 31-day ebook encourages you to look makes changes in your home, but by balancing a Mary heart with some Martha challenges)

Organized Simplicity (this is what I will be working through over the next two weeks, because I've recognized that my unwillingness to take some time to de-clutter and rethink the purpose of the rooms in our home has led to unnecessary stress and time spent on maintenance)

One Bite at a Time (if you're looking for some simple, manageable steps that you can do one at a time, as you're ready, Tsh has brought together a great selection of projects and organizational tasks that can help you to streamline your home and bring more peace)

Can you relate to being a "mess"? In what ways are you aware that you can't do it all? Would you like to share some of them, just to join in collectively as we announce that we are frail, imperfect, messy women?

Top image by Ian Sane

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As 2011 comes to an end, we’re sharing helpful lists to help you save money, stay healthy, get organized, creatively repurpose, frugally gift-give, intentionally celebrate and more in our “11 Things for 2011” series throughout these holiday months.

Written by Stacy K, Contributing Writer

The holidays are a wonderful time to enjoy herbs and spices. There are so many opportunities to use them in baking and cooking as well as medicinally.

Today we are going to look at eleven herbs and spices and how they can be used during this busy time of year:

1. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is the champion spice of the holidays. It seems to be everywhere: in baked goods, applesauce, warm drinks and even ornaments!

Besides these popular uses, cinnamon is helpful in alleviating indigestion and nausea. To make cinnamon tea, simmer three or four cinnamon sticks in two cups of water. Sweeten with honey, if desired.

A few quick cinnamon links you might enjoy:

• How to Make Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments
• Nutritious Applesauce Cake
• Cranberry, Apple and Walnut Cake

2. Cloves

The little spiky, hard cloves that come out of our spice jars are actually dried buds of the clove plant. The sharp end of the clove bud is excellent for studding the outside of a ham.

Clove-studded oranges are also easy and can be included in a pot of mulled cider or used decoratively.

Chewing on a clove will take care of bad breath, too!

Image credit

3. Nutmeg

Nutmeg is another favorite holiday spice often used in cakes and pies. Nutmeg is is also a great digestive aid. To settle the stomach, add a small pinch of nutmeg to a cup of ginger tea. (Only use nutmeg in small doses. It can be toxic if taken in large amounts).

A glass of warm milk sprinkled with ground nutmeg is a relaxing bedtime drink. We use this when our kids are restless, to help them settle down and go to sleep. A nutmeg-milk night cap is perfect for when holiday excitement is keeping everyone awake.

Tip: One whole nutmeg is equal to 2 to 3 teaspoons of ground nutmeg.

4. Ginger

Ginger adds warmth and interest to a variety of foods. It is also has many wonderful medicinal uses such as: increasing circulation, reducing inflammation, and relieving congestion, nausea, gas and chills.

To make ginger tea: steep 1 to 2 teaspoons of fresh grated ginger root or ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger in 1 cup of boiling water for about 10 minutes.

Ginger is very spicy and hard to drink as a straight tea (at least for me). I’d much prefer to get my ginger via any of the following:

• Chewy ginger snaps
• Soaked flour ginger bread
• Blender gingerbread pancakes
• Grain-free orange gingerbread cake

5. Rosemary

Rosemary is a delicious culinary herb that is often used in roasts, soups and stews. It contains many wonderful health benefits such as rejuvenating the hair and skin, reducing headaches, and acting as a mild diuretic.

Rosemary is excellent with roasted chicken or glazed ham.

Did you know you can add shine to your hair by rinsing with an infusion of rosemary? It's easy (and it works).

A small, potted rosemary bush makes a lovely little Christmas tree or fragrant centerpiece.

Image credit

6. Sage

Highly prized for thousands of years, Sage contains many healing properties. It is an excellent anti-inflammatory and helpful in reducing irritations of the stomach and intestines. Sage is also thought to be a great memory booster and is one of the most effective treatments for a sore throat.

Some delicious ways to use sage:

• Turkey Sausage - my family loves this and eats it often. I make it is bulk and freeze it.
• Sage Rubbed Roast Turkey
• Medicinal Honey for a sore throat

7. Mint

Growing up in Australia, we often ate minted peas with our roast dinners. While I never cared much for the flavors or mint and peas combined, I have since learned just how beneficial mint can be.

Peppermint is especially helpful during the holidays since it stimulates digestion and relieves heartburn. An after dinner mint, made with real peppermint extract, is a good way to finish a meal. Alternately, a cup of freshly brewed mint tea will get the digestive juices going.

Peppermint also alleviates headaches (which can become frequent during the holidays if we are not careful). Rub a drop of peppermint essential oil onto the temples to help sooth an aching head.

8. Astragalus

Since the holiday season takes place during the winter months and we often find ourselves in confined spaces with lots of people, it is wise to build the immune system by taking astragalus regularly.

Astragalus can be taken as a tea, tincture or in a capsule. The dried root can also be chopped and included in soups and stews.

I heartily encourage you to add this herb to your families repertoire (if it is not there already). Studies are proving that astragalus reduces the frequency and duration of cold and flu.

Image credit

9. Echinacea

With all the activity of the holidays, it is likely we will get a cold at some point. To lesson symptoms and speed recovery, start taking echinacea as soon as you feel ill, but not before (it has been shown that echinacea is not overly effective as a preventative, but is best used to treat acute illness).

Now is an excellent time to make your own echinacea tincture. It is very easy, but does have to sit for a few weeks.  Starting a batch now will ensure you have some ready during the holiday season.

10. Lavender

I'm including lavender in this list because of it's ability to reduce stress. It is also a lovely addition to gifts of homemade body care.

To reduce stress, drop one or two drops of lavender essential oil on a tissue and inhale when needed. To infuse your home with a lavender fragrance, add three to five drops of lavender essential oil to a small amount of water in an oil diffuser.

Simple gifts made with lavender:

• Simple Lavender Salve
• Bath Bags
• Relaxing and Therapeutic Bath Salts
• Lavender Sachets

11. Chamomile

Chamomile is well-known for its calming properties. The holiday season is the perfect time to put chamomile to work. When the days get long and you feel tired or stressed, sitting down with a cup of chamomile tea before bed will help you relax and unwind.

To help the entire family settle down, spray this homemade calming room spray throughout the house or diffuse a few drops of chamomile essential oil in an oil burner.

Chamomile is also frequently included in homemade body care. Gifts made with chamomile are perfect for those who need a little relaxation and pampering.

A few simple homemade gifts with chamomile:

• Lavender-Chamomile Sugar Scrub
• Creamy Chamomile Bubble Bath
• Homemade Oatmeal, Chamomile and Rosemary Soap

God has created such wonderful herbs for us to enjoy. He not only made them flavorful, but also medicinal. The above eleven herbs are just a small selection of what He has abundantly blessed us with.

What are your favorite herbs and spices? How do you use them during the holidays?

Top image credit

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Have you met my friend, Kat? Allow me to introduce you...

• She makes a ball cap look great.
• She loves Tex-Mex food (me, too- except I live in Canada. Drat.)
• She actually has a chin-up bar in one of the doorways in her home, and every time she walks by, she does a chin-up.
• She is one of the coolest moms I know, and inspires me to want to be the same.
• She has a thing for teeny-bopper music, and at the same time, she held her own in a music conversation with my hubby and introduced him to artists he'd never heard of (truly, amazing).
• She was an incredible teammate in the Philippines and it was so beautiful to see her love on the children there and connect for the first time with her mother's country of birth and the relatives she'd never met.
• She helps me get out of bed in the mornings.

So that last statement isn't exactly literal. She doesn't pull back the covers, turn on the lights and pass me a steaming mug all the way from Texas. However.

Helping Women All Over North America Stop Pushing That Snooze Button

See, Kat realized several years ago that when she got up in the mornings, before her children, she had time to spend with the Lord. In quiet. In prayer. In the Word. Praying for her children. Prepared to begin her day well, and not just as a grumpy mom that had been rudely awakened.

She began to look forward to her time in the mornings, and found that it made her a better mom and gave her the time that she needed to cultivate her relationship with the Lord. She began to exercise as well, and enjoyed the time to quietly reflect and just be by herself, before the day really got going. She even wrote a free ebook on the topic.

About a year ago (I believe), she and Michelle put together the first Maximize Your Mornings Challenge.

They grouped women together according to time zone, what time they wanted to wake up at, whether they wanted to use Facebook, Twitter or email. And Hello Mornings was born.

Why I'm Passionate About This Challenge

I have known for so many years that when I get up early, spend time with the Lord, spend time exercising, prepare myself for the day... I'm a better mom. I'm more at peace. My days tend to run more smoothly and calmly.

The challenge that I've had is making myself do it, consistently. Sure, I can do it for a few days, a few weeks. Then I get tired and I started to give up. I wake up early less frequently and I fall out of the habit.

There is something about the accountability of a group of ladies, also getting up early along with me, that spurs me on.

I was a part of the recent Hello Mornings challenge this May-August. Although I had a few bumps in the road and wasn't consistent like I wanted to be (trip to the Philippines only a few weeks in, then getting pregnant and going through 1st trimester sickness and fatigue), I was so grateful for the group. I could tell that, in any other season of life, this group could actually help me to stick to my goals of making my mornings count.

None of us were perfect. We all had mornings where we slept in, or struggled to wake up early. We would get off track, then work hard to get back on track. We prayed for each other, encouraged each other, and we all just kept fighting for it, together.

I was so delighted to learn that a new challenge is starting up in September. I signed up immediately, and now that I'm through 1st trimester and have more energy again, I am fully committed to getting up early every morning and being accountable to my group. In fact, I can't wait for it to begin!

Want to Join Hello Mornings?

The fall session runs from September 15- December 15. You can sign up for it here.

I guarantee that you won't regret it. There are no requirements, such as everyone must wake up at 5:30 or if you miss too many mornings, you're out. It's about making your own personal wake-up commitment that works for you and your season of life, and then doing your best to stick with it, having the help and encouragement of other women trying to do the same.

I'll definitely be there. I hope you'll join us!

So, how are your mornings really going for you? Are they a challenge? A success?

Top image by gui.tavares

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