| Concert and Book Recommendation |
Hi guys. Wanted to let you know that there will be a great concert at CLBI on Sunday night - 7:30pm. I don't know how many readers live in the Camrose/Edmonton area (I imagine there are some unknown lurkers), but this post is for you.
Our friends Sheree and Jeremy (and band - include Kenton, who drummed on Lance's album and is a friend too) are on tour from Vancouver and will be playing a show at CLBI on Sunday. Lance will be opening for them.
So if you like folky/thoughtful/playful/profound/beautiful music and you don't have absolutely unchangeable plans for Sunday, perhaps you would consider coming.
As a side bonus you will get to see the cutest almost 8 month twins around (and their mom too).
And for all you thrify types out there I am pleased to let you know that the show is FREE! What a treat.
Check out Sheree's myspace for a taste of her music: http://www.myspace.com/shereeplettmusic
And now I am very excited to recommend to you my latest reading adventure:
This book is compilation of the newletter called the Tightwad Gazette. The newletter was published for 6 years in the early to mid nineties. I ordered the book by interlibrary loan from the library and I was not disappointed. The author, Amy Dacyczyn aka the Frugal Zealot, writes with wit and creativity. She shares detailed tips on how to save money, stretch resources, meet goals and enjoy life while doing it. She shares real life stories from her family on how they use the strategies she presents in her book. The book includes hundreds of ideas from the readers of her newletter on how to be frugal -- some are quirky and clever, some seem ridiculous. The book is full of alternate uses for things you'd usually throw out (airlplanes from styrofoam meat trays, mini greenhouses/cloches from milk jugs) From housecleaning to cooking to morgages to funerals to clothing to smash hit frugal birthday parties -- the book seems to address every area of life.
Amy includes many "philosophy" articles in her book. I really appreciated these. She challenges our culture's materialism and the view that new is better. She encourages readers to evaluate their paradigms. She shares how frugality and ecology go hand in hand. She encourages creativity. She includes an article on how to evaluate how much a second income really brings home (after costs such as commuting, business wardrobe, eating lunches out, daycare, and taxes are factored in) and concludes that in most cases families can survive on one income if they use some frugal strategies.
Now I tend towards frugality as it is, so this book was totally up my alley. What got me the most excited was hearing how with some concrete changes Amy's family, as well as hundreds of readers, were able to reach large financial goals (paying off debt, buying land/houses). What I love about the concept of frugality is that savings can be accumulated without more hours worked or a second income. Of course many ideas in the book take time, but when you factor in how much you save in relation to the time you spent on a given task, some things are definitely worth it (throughout the book Amy includes complex - well complex to me anyway -- equations on how you can actually figure out things like this).
I also liked the many creative ideas for kids in the book. I'm keeping a notebook and writing down kids craft and gift ideas.
Lots of tips for eating frugally -- which usually ends up being healthily too.
Lance and I differ quite a bit on our natural spending/saving tendencies but he is quite open to hearing about what I'm learning and putting some of the ideas into practice. I need to accept the fact that we won't change completely overnight and need to be gracious as I hope/push for changes. I need to resist the urge to be a frugal zealot.
I need to go to bed. I wish I had little exerpts from the book and could list some of the fun/crazy/creative ideas. But my brain isn't drawing them up right now, and it makes more sense to get a little sleep in.
Our nights have been a bit better. Please keep praying. Eva is still waking quite frequently.
Hope you are well.
Aimee |
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| 10 Comments: |
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A fabulous book review Aimee. I enjoyed having you read some of your favorites while I was visiting and reading the book for myself. Great fun. I think Steven would like one for Valentines Day (that's the next occasion). He's moving out and will need tips on stretching his dollars!!
Sleep well. Love,
Mom
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The book looks exciting! And your writing Aimee so enticing...I love the idea that you're keeping a book of activities to do for the little ones, very smart!!!
Have a great sleep~
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Another book/website you might want to check into is Debt-Proof Living by Mary Hunt. www.DebtProofLiving.com She is a Christian lady and has published several books along with a monthly magazine she puts out. I always look forward to the first of the month when this 14 page magazine arrives in my mailbox, I read it cover to cover that day! She also has a lot of stuff on the website special calculators, free daily email sign up.
PS- I found your blog through Heidi's...I am married to Andy's cousin. Your twins are so cute!
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I just listened to that gal's my space, as well as lances, and i really enjoy both of their music! I think that will be an excellent show and i hope lots of enthusiastic, encouraging listeners show up to support the show!
I like the sounds of that book. I think i will check it out of the library and learn more frugality! Neat.
peace,
Janie
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I hope that the concert was good last night! I had every intention of going (since we are relatively in the neighborhood) and then my hubby got the flu. I'm gonna have to check into that book that you described!
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We have that book too, and love it! Amy Dacyzyn had a fantastic idea. It always makes me laugh when she has very "90's" tips in there - for example saving money on keeping in touch by using email. HAhahaha! But yeah, still a pretty good book, pretty applicable.
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Hi Aimee, I can't remember if I've commented here yet or not. I enjoy reading your thoughts and stories of mothering and the rest of life. My babe is just a few weeks older than yours and I often think of you as I go about my day. I'm so thankful for God's provision of an incredible support system for you. Today I posted about something I hope you know about - the Baby Safe Feeder. It's super handy for when baby needs food and an activity at the same time. Perhaps you already know about it but I thought I'd pass it along anyway. Have a good day.
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HI Aimee,
I loved the tightwad gazette ... she is fairly open-ended in saying: each reader needs to decide what is important to them, what they value - for some it might be a large house, for others travel. For us it is living on one income, not going into debt (except for mortgage) so I can be home with the kids. One thing about Amy D. is that she isn't into simplicity - she does amass stuff ... but that is her value & she has a large house to do it in. I heard her in an old interview on the internet & I quite liked her there too. I think we would be friends.
She is the reason I go to yard sales, second hand shops, etc. She legitimized this for me - I grew up in an environment where that was taboo. The latest idea that I'm doing as much as possible is buying groceries when things are on sale & keeping a pantry of stock ups. I think it will save money in the end. I heard someone call it being a "commodoties broker" which legitimized it to me as worthwhile work. I've learned too that Monday mornings is the time when bread is reduced to 1/2 price & last weeks veggies with just a little bruising are reduced at my grocery store.
I have read her book about 6 times & pick up new ideas every time.
I liked the VARIETY of ideas - from people being frugal from all different walks of life.
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Hi, Aimee, I haven't talked to you in ages, and thought I would drop a HI. I recieved my CLBI newsletter in the mail today, and have had CLBI on the brain today. Umm still haven't finished that B of ACS, I'm not even going to school anymore actually...
So, HI and I hope to come to Camrose for a visit sooner then later
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Hi Aimee,
SOmething that I used to do with Rebecca when she couldn't sleep (and sometimes I still do) is to warm her bed up before she goes to bed and during the night... she used to sleep on a heating pad covered with about 3 blankets so it didn't get too hot, but just warmed her up. That made the difference between waking up every 2 hours to sleeping for 7-8 hours at a time. Just a thought.
Ange
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posted by Aimee at 
A fabulous book review Aimee. I enjoyed having you read some of your favorites while I was visiting and reading the book for myself. Great fun. I think Steven would like one for Valentines Day (that's the next occasion). He's moving out and will need tips on stretching his dollars!!
Sleep well. Love,
Mom