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Pennies from Heaven

Growing Up, Pennies from Heaven

Mom’s Secret Homeschool Book Weapon

one homeschool mom's secret to filling her homeschool with books, audio and e-books. Find books on popular book lists for classical homeschooling, Charlotte Mason, and more.

We are unabashed book lovers.  This home is FILLED with books of every sort.  And we are approaching our homeschooling situation with a sort of mash-up of literature-based, classical, and Charlotte Mason learning.  (I love a good homeschool book list!)  That means we

READ.

A. LOT.

While I will never leave my first love (in regards to reading): physical books; I  have discovered a secret book weapon.  And it is ROCKING my world lately.

You see, with 4 kids in our house (all under the age of 7), I read a lot of books.  Check out some of our favorite books here.  The books we read just aren’t always books for me.  I read picture books, chapter books, living books.

Books, books, books. Continue Reading

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Pennies from Heaven

Dreaming of Disney – Planning the Perfect Trip

Disney World - planning the perfect trip - when to book your trip

I have a case of serious Disney FEVER!!  I don’t really know what has come over me in the last few weeks, but I just cannot stop thinking about and planning for the ultimate family vacation to Disney World.  The only problem:

We have to wait over a YEAR before we get to GO!!

Currently our girls are the perfect ages for a trip (6 and 4), but our little guy (almost 18 months) is still figuring out the walking thing.  But the big obstacle is the baby in my tummy!  So, we are shooting to take a big family trip to the World in September of 2018 – when baby is about a year old and the kids are all mobile (for the most part).

I have heard through my research that Disney believes it takes the average family 3 years to plan and save for a trip to Walt Disney World.  So, I figure I am not too early in the process.   Even though it does feel like this is WAY too early to be thinking of a vacation! Continue Reading

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Pennies from Heaven

What To Do When Your StitchFix Is WRONG

What to do when your StitchFix goes WRONG. Simple solutions to make it right.

The convenience factor for StitchFix is sky-high.  The looks they send in their Fixes are super chic.  And the service they provide is so WORTH it!

But…

What if your Fix goes completely WRONG?  What do you do?  Do you chalk it up as a loss?  Or do you complain?  And if you complain, how do you do it?

I have been using StitchFix to help out my wardrobe woes for about a year and a half.  I don’t get a Fix every month.  Just when I know there is something missing in my closet.  And I have had an incredibly positive experience with their service so far.

But last month, I was as specific as I have ever been in the comment section they ask you to fill out when you schedule your Fix. I thought I was going to get exactly what I had always been dreaming of!

The result: really WRONG!

So, I worked through the process of returning the items and had the difficult email conversations that come as a result of shopping on the internet.  And I came up with some tips to make it easier for you, while making it absolutely fair to the company I LOVE, StitchFix.  And I thought I would share with you what to do when your StitchFix is wrong.  Continue Reading

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Pennies from Heaven

How to Create a “Mom’s Emergency Fund”

3 simple ways to create a Mom's emergency fund

When I was growing up, finances were always tight.  There was often too much month at the end of the money.  And the paycheck to paycheck living thing was a reality in our lives.  I learned a lot about God’s provision being always what we needed and always on time.  But there is one other thing I always remember.  Something that gives me a chuckle even to this day.

My mom always (and I mean always) had a secret stash in her purse.

It wasn’t a lot of money.  It wasn’t where you could find it easily.  It was her own private emergency fund, tucked away for when the month was too long for the money or a splurge was in order.  It was usually about $10.  Sometimes, it was $20!  And it was somehow always there.

Mom was a wise one, she was!

And now that I am a mom and wife myself, I have a tendency to have a little something for a rainy day in my purse, too!  Continue Reading

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Pennies from Heaven

How NOT to Sell a Home (& the Simple Way to Get it SOLD)

Living Room makeover - big change!

This post has been sponsored by National Association of REALTORS ®.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Selling a house is HARD!  It is a huge undertaking even in a “good market.”  And it is, honestly, not my favorite thing to do.  It has been 9 years since we sold our first home, but the lessons we learned in the process have been seared into my memory.  Because we did it wrong the first time we tried to sell it.  We learned the hard way that there are a number of things that one can do wrong when selling a home.  And we discovered that there really is only ONE way to sell a home.  Let me share with you what we learned along the way in a list entitled How NOT to sell a house (and the ONE thing to get it SOLD!)

Here’s what NOT to do when you are trying to sell your home: Continue Reading

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Pennies from Heaven

5 New Mama Freebies You’ve Never Heard About

the best Freebies for new moms - the very best freebies (not coupons). This list includes things I had never heard of before!
This entry is part 28 of 33 in the series Baby Days

I am not crazy, I LOVE a good deal!  Who doesn’t?  And right now it is a great time to be a new mom because there are a TON of new mama freebies to be had!  Lots of companies want to congratulate you on your status as a new mom.  And they want you as a new (and loyal) customer.  So, they are offering lots of great things just for being you!  But not all the freebies/deals are all that great.

Here’s a rundown of the really great ones.  The ones I think are really worth your time.  And just so you know, most of them involve paying shipping and handling for the product (you know what they say about no free rides).  These freebies are ones I haven’t seen on the myriad lists of new mom freebies and giveaways.  And my list is not a bunch of coupons you don’t have time to cut or the ability to remember to bring to the store.  Continue Reading

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