Molly's Money-Saving Digest for July

Molly's Money-Saving Digest this month features how to save money on clothing, landscaping, and decorating. There were several ideas dealing with thrift stores and sewing, and hints on how to build a classic wardrobe on a budget. My favorite section was "Parenting that Pays." It focused on gratitude and teaching that trait to our children. I think that is especially important when money is tight and our initial response may be to complain or focus on the problems instead of the blessings. Molly's digests are a great resource for families new to the frugal lifestyle. It is helpful to glean ideas from other frugal moms and to know you are not the only one pinching pennies.

I've also found that when I regularly read something about saving and taking care of finances, it keeps my focus on that aspect of my life and helps me avoid impulse purchases. I think of it like scripture reading. When I keep the Lord in my life everyday, my spiritual body is nourished and spiritual things are at the front of my mind. While finances are not as essential in the eternal perspective, they are important temporally and keeping my priorities straight is a blessing to my family.

Molly's digest can be purchased as a e-book through The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

Stealing Home by Allison Pittman

Stealing Home gets a thumbs up from me for being a sweet, well written romance story without all the shady scenes found in many romance novels! I enjoyed reading this story and would be completely comfortable sharing it with my 16 year old sister or having someone pick it up off the table to read a few pages.

It’s 1905 and the Chicago Cubs are banking on superstar Donald “Duke” Dennison’s golden arm to help them win the pennant. Only one thing stands between Duke and an unprecedented ten thousand dollar contract: alcohol. That’s when sportswriter David Voyant whisks Duke to the one-horse town of Picksville, Missouri, so he can sober up in anonymity. He bides his time flirting with Ellie Jane Voyant, his unofficial chaperone, who would rather hide herself in the railway station ticket booth than face the echoes of childhood taunts.

Ned Clovis, the feed store clerk, has secretly loved Ellie Jane since childhood, but he loves baseball and the Duke almost as much–until he notices Ellie Jane may be succumbing to the star’s charm. Then there’s Morris, a twelve-year-old Negro boy, whose only dream is to break away from Picksville. When Duke discovers his innate talent for throwing a baseball, Morris might just have found his way out.

I have 2 copies to share, so if you would like to read it, email me or post a comment and I will choose 2 lucky readers. Please make sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you comment. Drawing will be 2 weeks from today. I'm noticing a 2 theme, so please share your 2 favorite summertime books as well!

Saints in Limbo by River Jordan

Saints in Limbo is an easy, gently moving novel for summer. Written with descriptive language and imagery, it's a relaxing book to read on lazy days.

Ever since her husband Joe died, Velma True’s world has been limited to what she can see while clinging to one of the multicolored threads tied to the porch railing of her home outside Echo, Florida. When a mysterious stranger appears at her door on her birthday and presents Velma with a special gift, she is rattled by the object’s ability to take her into her memories–a place where Joe still lives, her son Rudy is still young, unaffected by the world’s hardness, and the beginning is closer than the end. As secrets old and new come to light, Velma wonders if it’s possible to be released from the past’s deep roots and find a reason to hope again.

I have one copy to giveaway. Please post a comment or email me if you are interested. The winner will be selected 2 weeks from today.