Marilyn Moll » Frugality

Moving to the Camp Kitchen

Marilyn Moll — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:03:04 +0000

I spent a large portion of my time last week moving kitchen essentials into my camp kitchen and boxing up the non-essentials from my “old” kitchen. The picture below shows my kitchen table, working counter top with a hot plate, electric tea kettle, and storage for silverware, mixing bowls, and pots and pans.

The right corner of the camp kitchen contains an old computer desk that I used for writing ebooks and newsletters when Duane was still living. Now I have my bible, laptop, home telephone and answering machine located here. To the right of the main eating table (outside the picture) is a very old set of file drawers that are doubling as a counter to house my microwave/convection oven combo, an airpot being used as a faucet for cold drinking water, and my beloved Bosch.

Along the left side of my camp kitchen facing the window is my entire family library with a banquet table set up in front for my cutting board, utensil storage, and dish washing station. The trash can is in front of the banquet table.

I now have my dining room, family library, kitchen, and desk area tucked into about a 10 X 12 foot space. It’s all very cozy but surprisingly functional.

Bosch Mixer and Nutrimill Combo now on Sale!

Marilyn Moll — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 02:02:44 +0000

I hope you all had a nice Easter with family and friends. Mary and I accomplished our Easter dinner without my beloved Bosch and grain mill. Instead, we invited a family friend to join us for dinner in our downstairs “camp kitchen/cabin”.

Demolition began in my old kitchen on Thursday so we had a simple dinner cooked on a hot plate in stages. Pictures will follow soon.

Now, through Mother’s Day, May 10, you can invest in a Bosch Universal Plus and Nutrimill and save nearly $200. The combination price is $549.99. With the tax deadline fast approaching, I know many readers are awaiting their return so they can invest in a mill and mixer. Don’t miss this once a year savings event!

Kitchen Remodeling Plans- Part Two

Marilyn Moll — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:27:29 +0000

The above picture is a rendering of my proposed kitchen remodel floor plan with window seats.

The most exciting development in the last week is that a Paonia, Colorado customer has asked if she could have my old cabinets and help with the demolition project. She came over, made measurements, took pictures, went home and called back a little while later saying she thought everything would work in her kitchen and is very excited and so am I.

I really am old-fashioned at heart, I believe in the old adage of “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”

So why am I no longer making do with these serviceable cabinets, then?

My kitchen remodeling project has several goals:

1. Replace/Update 35 year old appliances that are not repairable.

2. Re-do the kitchen layout so the kitchen can accommodate more people and add an island to facilitate traffic flow.

3. Expand the existing small kitchen space into the existing dining space to add a desk and get family paperwork off kitchen counters and move the dining room table into the existing sun room, a large space that is underutilized.

4.) Most importantly, I intend this “new” kitchen to be my future studio for producing instructional DVD’s.

In the last week I have been able to reduce the cabinet costs by choosing to use rustic alder (it’s on sale this month) instead of rustic cherry, making minor cabinet modifications that don’t take away from the original design, and identifying other cost saving options.

My plan is to order the new cabinets next week, and use the week-end to decide whether to keep the window seat cabinets (lots of extra storage and seating) or eliminate these cabinets from the project to cover other costs. An elder in our church who I consult when facing big decisions has encouraged me to give myself permission to waffle back and forth in the next few days, – yes, I want the window cabinets, no – I can live without them. So that is what I’m going to do.

The above picture shows a representation of the kitchen without the window seat cabinets. Whether I do with or without the window seat I will be putting a small bistro table in the space in front of the window for eating. The funny looking beams at the ceiling line represent beams going up to a cathedral ceiling in the new kitchen area. The existing kitchen area ceiling will have to stay the traditional 8 feet.

I’d love to hear from you with your thoughts.

Hero Moms Incarnating Proverbs 31

Marilyn Moll — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:23:32 +0000

Ed Note: Here is the recording of a recent phone interview with Kevin Swanson regarding the story of The Urban Homemaker.

Hero Moms Incarnating the Proverbs 31 Vision

The Urban Homemaker In a day of fragmented families and big-business oriented economies, one family’s vision took them on an amazing journey. The life of faith is not always pretty, but it is also not without its joys and triumphs! When Duane and Marilyn Moll took the trip all the way home in the early 1990s with home schooling and home businesses, they had no idea what would lie ahead of them. Marilyn Moll tells the inspiring story of Urban Homemaker on this edition of Generations.

There are many different ways that Christian families are incarnating the biblical model for home life, integrated families, and Proverbs 31 home-managers. But in a world of egalitarianism, socialist-driven economies, family disintegration, and institutionalized, non-discipleship oriented education, it is a huge inspiration to see a few families embracing the biblical vision and trying out a few incarnations of that vision!

http://generationswithvision.com/RadioShow.aspx?sid=1159

Winning the Credit Card Game

Marilyn Moll — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:25:18 +0000

When my husband was living, we made it our goal to live debt-free as much as possible except for our mortgage. Unfortunately, when he died, that goal had not been achieved. You can imagine the overwhelming sense of panic and fear that came over me when I was facing the entire debt load by myself.

With God’s help and you my loyal customers, a significant reduction in our family debt has been achieved over the past year. But I know that the burden of the economic downturn and the uncertain financial future everyone faces, there are many families wanting to get very serious about paying off their debts and staying debt free.

If you are one of those families, don’t miss this opportunity to get the Winning the Credit Card Game e-book for only $5 (reg. $19.95) today through Friday (March 16) only.

Tawra and Mike Kellum of Living on a Dime paid off $20,000 in debt in 5 years on $22,000 a year income by taking advantage of low interest rate credit card offers. In Winning the Credit Card Game, Tawra and Mike explain how they were able to do so and offer detailed advice on how you can get debt-free while saving thousands of dollars on interest charges. Here are some of the topics covered in Winning the Credit Card Game:

Are these deals for real?
Scripts to follow to ask for lower interest rates
What traps credit card companies set to keep you in debt
“What about those companies that can erase my bad credit?”
When to close extra cards
What to do if you are late on a payment

Winning the Credit Card Game is available as an immediate download, so you can get started lowering your debt today.

This is such a great value, I just had to share it with you! Check it out at:

http://urbanhome.livingonad.hop.clickbank.net/

VISIT MY BLOG:
http://www.marilynmoll.com

From the Heart of the Urban Homemaker is a complimentary newsletter published bi-weekly. Sign up at http://www.urbanhomemaker.com/subscriptions and obtain a complimentary copy of my free report Soups and Stews for Busy Moms.

Easy Economical Vegetarian Main Dishes

Marilyn Moll — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:08:14 +0000

Last week I printed the testimonial about a “poor” woman raised in a large family of 12 children who were fed beans, cornbread, and greens two meals a day most of the year. In her adult life, the doctors, and particularly the dentist, pronounced her extremely healthy.

I’ll admit it; at times I hesitate to serve beans and legumes as often as I could for fear I’m serving poor man’s food, and not pleasing the family. I need to remember, I’m the mom and I do know what’s best for the family’s nourishment and finances.

I hope you were encouraged to learn that this “poor” woman enjoyed vibrant health as an adult. I thought we could all be inspired if we shared with one another family favorite, tried and true recipes for beans and legumes.

New Blog Contest:
To get started I will publish one of my tastiest lentil recipes, Curried Lentils. It goes together quickly and easily, especially if you pressure cook the lentils first, which takes just 15 minutes.

Several months ago I asked readers to share their family friendly recipes that rely mostly on beans or legumes to encourage struggling homemakers who are trying to stretch their paychecks while adopting a healthier lifestyle.

My husband Duane passed away shortly thereafter and I am now, just geting to award the best recipes/creative/versatile recipes with a complimentary bottle of safe and effective Norwex Fresh Wash for cleaning fruits and veggies ($26.99 value), or Norwex Carpet Stain Buster ($26.99), a complete carpet cleaning solution used for shampooing, spot cleaning, and deodorizing effectively without harmful residues.

The winners have been notified by email and will receive their prizes shortly. The winners are:

Jenny, Amy, Jackie, and Hope. I hope you will read their winning recipes and try them out soon.
I liked Jenny’s idea for adapting basic bean recipes to Italian, Chinese, Indian, and Mexican seasonings. I loved Amy’s recipe for snack sprouts made with lentils dried in a dehydrator -this is a very unique idea. Hope gets the award for the most complete and extensive recipe collection of main dish legume recipes, and Jackie posted a recipe for Lebanese Vegetable Salad

Dr Denmark Said It – Common sense advise for home health

Marilyn Moll — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:23:57 +0000

Who in the world knows what’s best for my baby?’ You do!” says Dr. Leila Denmark. Dr. Denmark is a well-known pediatrician, who is considered the longest practicing pediatrician, who cared for thousands of children for 75 years! That is right she retired in her 90’s, and just celebrated for 110 birthday last month.

In our fast changing culture, moms can become thoroughly confused and frustrated by conflicting child care advise from doctors and the media. Some doctors recommend over-the-counter decongestants, others say, “NO! they cause more harm than good.” Some doctors say, “Give aspirin.” Others say, “Don’t give aspirin.” How do we sort out conflicting advise?

Madia Bowman, mother of eleven, wrote Dr Denmark Said It endorsed by Dr, Denmark to accurately reflect Dr Denmark’s realistic, down-to-earth philosophy and medical recommendations.

Her book attempts to condense the Doctor’s advice into a practical, well-organized book filled with time-tested, common sense treatments for infants and young children.

I am a firm believer, that armed with enough basic knowledge, a mother can save countless dollars on unnecessary trips to the doctor.

Moms need to know when it is time to go to a doctor and how to treat a self-limiting illness.

Please join us Thursday night and find out what a mom of eleven has learned medically over 28 years of raising children. Come prepared to take notes and have an enjoyable time of learning. You can email questions for Madia ahead of time to marilyn@urbanhomemaker.com.

Here is the contact information:

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2008

Scheduled Start Time: 9:00 PM EST, 8:00 CST, 7:00 PM MST, 6:00 PST (Adjust for your time zone, please.)

Dial-in Number: 1-605-475-4150

Participant Access Code: 209932

If you have never participated in a phone seminar before, here is how it works:

1. You dial in the phone number below to the seminar. (You pay only for the phone call.)
2. Key in the seminar access code.
3. Introduce yourself, it you wish.
4. Bring a notebook to take notes, a cup of tea, and have your questions ready.
5. Don’t worry about background noise, we will mute that out.

Top Frugal Tips for Busy Homemakers

Marilyn Moll — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:02:59 +0000

Contest winners are identified below along with over 30 excellent comments from moms like you!

Here is my top frugal post from contest winner Jill Ferris:

Dear Marilyn,

Many years ago when I was worrying about how to eat healthily on a very very limited budget I met ayoung mother who was raised in a poor family (12 children) who told me what they ate growing up.

Basically, they ate cooked dried beans, cornbread and some sort of cooked greens (like turnip greens) for at least two meals a day all year long. She said they got ice cream once a year for Christmas or Fourth of July. That was it.

When she married and moved across the country she went to a doctor and dentist for the first time in her life and was told that she was the healthiest person they had ever seen. The dentist had never seen teeth as strong as hers!!

I thought about her parents and wondered if they worried all those years about not really “providing” for their family and wondered if they realized what wonderful health their children had because of growing up without refined foods!

Meeting her was reassuring to me. I realized that good nutrition can be very simple and very plain. It can be very very inexpensive. It, of course, must be balanced (the beans and the corn bread compliment each other and the greens are a wonderful food if not overcooked).

I realized that we could get very, very poor and still afford GOOD nutritious food!

So that’s my money saving tip! Relax, trust in God to provide what you need, ask Him to teach you simple ways to make nutritious foods (sprouting seeds is one of those ways; they are very cheap but highly nutritious!) and have the confidence to know that you are providing the BEST for your family!

I wrote a few weeks ago:
Let’s all share our tips and wisdom with each other so we can learn together to be better wives, mothers, and homemaker’s! This contest will end March 18, 2008.

Here are a few tips to get your started!

You can save a lot of money buy making your own easy to make cream soups with four ingredients instead of many unpronounceable ingredients.

Cream Soup Alternatives

For one can of cream of “whatever soup” use the following simple, four ingredient recipe:

Basic Cream Soup
3 T Butter
3 T Flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chicken stock, water or milk

Instructions:

Melt butter in heavy saucepan. Blend flour and salt into saucepan while cooking and stirring until bubbly. using a wire whisk to prevent lumps, stir in liquid ingredient choice slowly. Medium thick sauce is comparable to undiluted condensed soups and makes approximately the same amount as a 10 oz can.

Variations:
Cheese Sauce: Add ½ C grated sharp cheese and ¼ tsp mustard

Tomato Sauce: Use tomato juice as liquid and add a dash each of garlic powder or garlic salt, onion powder or onion salt, basil and oregano.

Mushroom Sauce: Saute ¼ C finely chopped mushrooms and 1 Tbsp finely chopped onion in the butter before adding the flour.

Celery Sauce: Saute ½ Cup finely chopped celery and 1 Tbsp finely chopped onion in butter before adding flour

Chicken Sauce: Use chicken broth or bouillon as half the liquid. Add ¼ tsp poultry seasoning or sage, and diced cooked chicken if available.

CONTEST WINNERS

ED NOTE: What a challenge to pick five contest winners from all these great posts! Please read all the comments, but my prize winners of the two ebooks are:

Jody Courtney, Sharon Clark, Christine Jones, Jill Farris, Carly from AL

They are each winners of Fast and Healthy Menus for Busy Moms along with my ebook A Beginner’s Guide to Baking Bread. This is a $19.93 retail value! Congratulations to the winners. Your ideas have blessed me immensely.

The Meaning of the Christmas Wreath

Marilyn Moll — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:49:06 +0000

“A Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2: 11

Every Christmas wreath is more than just a decoration…it’s a special reminder of Jesus, the reason for our celebration. The circle of a Christmas wreath is a never-ending ring, a reminder of eternal love from our Lord and King. The Christmas wreath is a sign of welcome, inviting all to enter in…a reminder of Christ’s invitation for all to come to Him. The middle of a Christmas wreath is a bare and empty space, a reminder of what life would be without Christ’s love and grace. So each time you see a Christmas wreath hanging from a door, may your heart rejoice in the One that Christmas is truly for!

CLICK HERE For instructions for making a simple Christmas wreath.

Cleaning without Chemicals – Update

Marilyn Moll — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:16:48 +0000

I just learned that fabric softener (which I don’t use) has many toxic chemicals in it. Here is a list of just some of the chemicals found in fabric softeners and dryer sheets:

Benzyl acetate: linked to pancreatic cancer
Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant
Ethanol: On the environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) hazardous waste
list and can cause central nervous system disorders
Limonene: Known carcinogen
A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems
Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA’s hazardous waste list
Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders
Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic
Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders
Pentane: a chemical known to be harmful if inhaled

So how could products with pretty names like Soft Ocean Mist, Summer
Orchard and April Fresh be so dangerous?

The chemicals in fabric softeners are pungent and strong smelling–so
strong that they require the use of these heavy fragrances (think 50
times as much fragrance) just to cover up the smells!!!

Fabric softeners are made to stay in your clothing for long periods of
time. As such, chemicals are slowly released either into the air for
you to inhale or onto your skin for you to absorb.

Dryer sheets are particularly noxious because they are heated in the dryer and the
chemicals are released through dryer vents and out into the
environment. Health effects of fabric softener use include headaches,
nausea, dizziness, irritation of skin, mucus membranes and respiratory
tract.

Here are some effective alternatives: Static Eliminator.
We also recommend T-Wave Laundry Capsules .

I have used all these products with great success.