Review of Molly's Money Saving Digest November 2009

I was contacted by "Molly Green" at Econobusters and asked if I would like to review her latest November issue of Molly's Money Saving Digest.

I have been a fan of "Molly Green" for a few months now. I receive her free email newsletter updates, and have already purchased a few of her Digests.

Her digests are *filled to the brim* with awesome ideas and tips on how to save some extra money. The past issues I purchased was Molly makes $5 dinners and $3 dollars desserts, FULL of really tasty recipes. I also purchased October 2009 Money Saving Digest which was about Learning from the Great Depression; which I thoroughly enjoyed, and took away a lot of helpful ideas from that issue.

he November Issue is all about Photography. This issue really caught my attention, as I, within the last year really started to play around with becoming a better picture taker.

This digest covers:

Couponing continued from previous digests

Getting started with scrap booking your family photographs, and how to do it frugally. Scrap booking is something that I have done in the past, and it can get very expensive if you aren't careful! There are helpful links included in the digest that will help you find your supplies at great prices

Digital scrap booking is covered as well.

Digital Scrap booking is something that I have recently begun to play around within the last couple of years, and it is a super duper time saver.... and the end result is amazing! Especially when you get a hard bound book made from it.

Again, links are provided on where to get free or very inexpensive digital scrap booking downloads. I have only heard of website, but have never heard of the other Digital Scrapbooking sites.

There is also *really* cool photo craft idea using a photo collage room divider. And of course many links to other awesome photo crafts, that I am itching to try out!

Another feature in this issue are mouth watering slow cooker recipes. The photographs of these recipes are amazing and tantalizing; I can't wait to try one of them.

The Slow Cooker Lasagna looks soooo good!

An encouraging and practical article about distressing during the holidays is a MUST read for this time of year. It perfectly coincides with my "Simplifying Christmas" meme. (Pssst! Don't forget to sign up! CLICK HERE to read about it more)

There is another awesome article about turning old curtains into something cute and wearable.

My MOST favorite article in this digest was on how to take better pictures. It covered everything from different types of cameras, to different picture hosting websites, free photo editing software, Lighting, Shadows and proper holding of your camera, back drops and props, what to wear, and getting your kids to cooperate. This article was extremely valuable. There was also a piece on how to store your photos safely and properly. I will defiantly be using MOST if not all of these tips when I take pictures next time.

The ending piece of the digest was an inspiring story of one family that bought their house debt free at an amazing price and are slowly remodeling bit by bit debt free. Some amazing before and after pictures are included.

And there is just SOOOO much more in this Digest that I am having a hard time remember all the awesome things written in there.

The ending pages has a list of awesome links to help you save money as well.

This E-Digest only cost $4.95, and all the information in it well worth the price!

Molly is also running a special deal. Buy five previously written digests, and get 20% off the total, PLUS Get the November Digest FREE!

You can find out more information and details for this awesome offer by CLICKING HERE

And just for fun, here is a photograph that I played around with after reading about all the cool photo tips in this issue:

Before:

After:

Frugal Friday~Depression Era Cooking

A friend of mine a mom's forum posted this link to a 91 year old woman who has a series of YouTube Videos of her cooking Depression style meals. She also shares tidbits of wisdom, humor, and what life was like during that time.

I am sure that watching her will help with a frugal mindset ♥

Here is her Official Website:

Great Depression Cooking With Clara

And her YouTube Channel

Be Sure to Visit Biblical Womanhood for more Money Saving Tips!

Modest Doesn't Have to be "Frumpy"

Recently, browsing my favorite blogs, I heard of a semi-new home based business ran by two sisters, that sells modest clothing at "affordable prices". I checked it out, and I was *VERY* impressed with what I saw.

It really was very pretty, and very feminine, modest, clothing at affordable prices!

I ordered these two blouses:

And I spent $23 for the both of them. The first top was on sale for $6.99. You can't find a cute top with that kind of price in stores!

What I like about these two tops that I chose, is that they can be dressed down or up. A black skirt, and you got a nice going to church outfit.

Pair it with denim, and you are casual, yet stylish!

So give Bellissima a try. Not only do they have the cute tops, but they have accessories such as jewelry, purses, and jackets to wear over strapless formals. Plus a wide variety of cute, and stylish skirts; all at unbeatable prices!

Check them out at: http://bellissimamodestyboutique.com

Homemade Laundry Soap

So what is this mysterious pink stuff? Both guesses, while quite good ones, were WRONG! ;-)

To save some money I tried my hand at making Homemade Laundry Soap. The Pink stuff is a Laundry soap bar found at Wal-M*art in the laundry section. It is called ZOTE. It is a huge bar of pink soap. I took it and grated it with a cheese grater and it looked like this:

The night that I grated it; the little chilren' were soundly asleep in bed. It just so happened that we had Taco Rice that night. When Bean woke up the next morning she came bursting into my room and said,

"MOMMY, MOMMY! You left the cheese out last night, and didn't put it back in the refrigerator and it turned PINK!!! You shouldn't of left it out!!!"

I explained to the girls what it was. Then Tiny Boy obviously thought it was something good to eat; otherwise he wouldn't snatched some and stuck it in his mouth. You should of seen his face as he discovered that it wasn't pink candy, LOL!

A few days later, I cooked up a batch of the Soap. If you would like to try your hand at making the soap here is the recipe that I used:

1 Bar of ZOTE soap grated

1/2 Cup of Borax

1 Cup of Arm and Hammer *WASHING* Soda (not baking soda, but *WASHING SODA* I found a box of it at Pub*lix in the laundry section. Wal-M*art didn't have it. Shocker huh?

Boil 4 Cups of water on the stove, and add in the grated ZOTE. Do a little at a time; otherwise it will clump together in one big wad. You may have to add a little more water as you cook it. It took me about 30 minutes to cook it down.

Dump the melted watery soap in a five gallon bucket. Put in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir around. Then add Five Gallons of Hot Tap Water. Stir really well. Cover with a lid, and let it set for 24 hours.

And Wallah! You have Laundry Soap!! The consistency is *not* like normal liquid laundry soap; but it works really well! I like it better than the cheap stuff that I normally buy. It is estimated that it costs $0.01 a load to wash with this soap.

Here is a picture of what it looked like when I opened it up.

And here are the little people stirring the brew. :)

I have washed about five loads of laundry with this stuff. It comes out clean, and smelling really nice. Not bad for trying to save some $$$ huh? You use 1 Cup per load of laundry.

Now for the winner. Miss Bean drew Persuaded out of the hat! Congratulations!!! I'll be contacting you for your mailing address. :)

Thanks for playing ladies! That was fun. :)