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When my email newsletter, Simple Times, was switched to a new server last year, I lost all the back issues and the online archives. Trying to make sure I have a back-up archive in place this time, I just finished uploading the past year’s worth of Simple Times’ issues to a new online archive.
Check out this issue from last year that has a very helpful 12 Week Holiday Countdown. Yes, I know it’s a little scary but it’s already time to start thinking ahead to the upcoming December celebrations. 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesimpletimes/message/2
(The holiday countdown article starts about halfway through the newsletter so keep scrolling if you don’t see it right away.)
The Simple Mom’s Idea Book
While starting life as a new wife and then mom to three children, Deborah Taylor-Hough always wished for a personal mentor. Someone who could take her under their wing and show her the ropes of being a stay-at-home mom, live on a single income, survive in a tough economy, educate her three lively kids, and rais children who grew to be successful adults with character and integrity.
Well, that mentor she’d hoped and prayed for never appeared.
Not to be deterred, Debi kept plugging away. She also kept notes as she went about her day-to-day life, convinced that someday she may have opportunity to be that mentor she’d always longed for in her own life; a friendly guiding hand for someone else just starting out a similar life path. Following her husband’s diagnosis with a rare degenerative brain disorder, she also learned firsthand about the special challenges of single parenting.
Now that two of her children are grown and a third is starting high school, Debi’s beginning to see the fruit of her labors over the years; a loving family with kids who truly have grown into wonderful young adults. And she even learned a thing or two about cooking and cleaning along the way.
The Simple Mom’s Idea Book contains tips and suggestions for everything from cooking, saving money, celebrating the holidays, and just generally raising a family.
So if you’ve been looking for some simple ideas for life and homemaking … from someone who’s been around the block more than once or twice … look no further.
Have no fear, the Simple Mom is here!
Table of Contents
Section One – Homemaking Ideas
- Simplifying Phone Calls
- Saving on Home Heating Costs
- Keeping Your Summer Organized
- Simplifying Party Planning
Section Two – Seasonal Ideas
- Valentine’s Day on a Shoestring
- Frugal Easter Basket Ideas
- Teacher Appreciation Ideas
- Make Ahead Apple Pie Filling
- Successful New Year’s Resolutions
Section Three – Family Ideas
- Friendship Bags
- Cheap Thrills! – Family Entertainment on a Budget
- Frugal Family Field Trip Ideas
- 200+ Summertime Fun Ideas for Kids
Section Four – Kitchen & Cooking Ideas
- Emergency Cooking Substitutions
- Vegetable “Hide-and-Sneak”
- Building a Better Burger
- Healthy and Inexpensive Meat Substitute
- Beating the Breakfast Rush Hour
- What a Crock! The Joys of Crockery Cooking
Section Five – Healthy Ideas
- Setting Simple Exercise Goals
- Avoiding Mosquito Bites
- “Shoo Fly! Don’t Bother Me!”
- Striving for Balance … One Habit at a Time
Section Six – Grocery Savings Ideas
- Using Up Leftovers
- Crisis Meal Planning
- Low-Budget Meal Planning
- Winning the Grocery Game
- Simple Ways to Save on Groceries
- Super Simple, Super Cheap Recipes
This book is currently only available on the publisher’s website and not through regular retail channels (yet!). To order your copy of The Simple Mom’s Idea Book, simply click here.
A friend of mine shared this recipe for make-ahead apple pie filling that I plan on using when the apples ripen later this year (actually, it should be any day now!). You might want to keep it in your recipe files until apple season in your area, too.
Make-Ahead Apple Pie Filling
- 18 cups peeled apple slices
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 10 cups water
In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice; set aside. In a Dutch oven over medium heat, combine sugar, cornstarch. cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Add water; bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add apples; return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until the apples are tender, about 6-8 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes. Ladle into freezer containers, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Cool at room temperature no longer than 1-1/2 hours. Seal and freeze; store up to 12 months. Yield: 5 1/2 qts. (enough for about five 9-inch pies).
~Debi
Just thought I should probably let my regular blog readers know that I’ve recently started publishing my eNewsletter, Simple Times, again. Due to life’s ups, downs and crazy circles, I had to cease publication for several months this year. It’ll probably be going out about twice-a-month again, but I don’t have any specific publication dates set … the idea of looming deadlines just sounds like an additional stress I don’t need at the moment.
If you haven’t subscribed yet, it’s really easy. Just click on the following link and it’ll open an email window. Just send a blank email to the address that comes up, and voila! You’re a Simple Times subscriber. 
join-simple-times@hub.thedollarstretcher.com
Simple Times is a free email publication dedicated to the pursuit of simple living – providing inspiration, encouragement, motivation and practical help for those who (for whatever reasons) are choosing to simplify their lives.
Regular topics included in Simple Times are things like:
- saving money on everyday expenses
- simple parenting tips
- cooking for the freezer
- spiritual simplicity
- … and just generally simplifying daily life
There will definitely be an added focus on simple ways of surviving in the current tough economic climate. With my current bout of unemployment, I’m definitely attuned to what’s happening in that arena right now. :::sigh:::
~Debi
Those of you who frequent my personal blog (Life: The Journey), may remember how I was going to put together notes from some of the classes I’d taught at church this past year. Well, I finally finished one of the booklets!
The booklet was basically put together from my teaching outline for the “Introduction to Bible Study” class.
Feel free to take a peek at:
http://www.lulu.com/content/basics-of-inductive-bible-study/7642225
There are several more of these books/booklets based on my classes and workshops in the works … so stayed tuned!
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