My Frugal Ways this Past Week 12/15/19!

I had such a interesting week with the field trip to the capitol of Michigan, Lansing. It's such a beautiful restored building.  I've been there a few times before but it's been a long time since I've had a guided tour.  It was nice to know some facts that I hadn't heard before, like Michigan's first governor was just 24 years old!  Imagine that. 

The kids were a lot of fun and so smart.  Very well behaved.  

I made bird suet this past week.  I used the leftover lard I had from a new recipe I tried, frying chicken without flour.  It didn't turn out the best but we ate it anyway.  

I reused a large shopping bag for a trash bag,


We bought a ham at Meijer's for 88 cents a pound for Christmas.  I believe they are on sale again this week.  We also bought the grandson a new winter jacket with their santa bucks coupon this past week for 30% off.

I reorganized the pantry.  You wouldn't think that was a frugal thing but now I know that have plenty of chicken soup and I won't need to buy more.  Saves money on groceries!  

I was able to get a free candy bar that JCPenny was handing out with a 30% percent off the total purchase coupon in it. They were already on sale so this made the gifts I was buying very affordable.  As we walked out of the store a church had a table and wrapped the gifts I had bought for free.  Such a nice time and I got my mall walking in that day too.

I forgot last week to say that we went through our local historical village with our car to see the lights.  We all piled in the van and only paid $5.00 to drive through.  It was so pretty and fun.  


My Goals this week:  

Finish wrapping presents (just a few more coming in the mail).

Clean out the spice cupboard and fridge.

Keep walking (the capitol had 91 steps in it so I considered that and one mall walking enough exercise last week)!  

How did you save this past week?  


**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden!   Here is my link:  https://amzn.to/2JNeMqO

**Have you tried Swagbucks yet?  It's a great way to earn free gift cards!  

**ThredUP has great prices on gently used clothes.  If you shop with my link you will get a credit of $10 for your first purchase and I will too!  

 
You can read my  full disclosure policy  and privacy policy here.

Be sure to sign up for my daily email list and never miss a post!  You can also follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!

Free Kindle Books for Today 12/14/19!

Free Kindle Books for today 12/14/19!  Make sure you check the price before you buy, Amazon prices can change frequently. If you don’t have a Kindle you can download your favorite Kindle Book on any tablet or smartphone with a free Kindle app


Charity's Cross

Finding Joy in Sugar Plum: A Kentucky Christmas

Corner Booth

Wrap with Love: Holiday Gift Giving with Less Stress and More Joy

Coffee Cup Cozies (Christmas Crochet Book 1)

The Best Advanced Paper Aircraft Book 2: Gliding, Performance, and Unusual Paper Airplane Models

Jake & The Gingerbread Wars (A Gryphon Chronicles Christmas Novella)

**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden!   Here is my link:  https://amzn.to/2JNeMqO

**Have you tried Swagbucks yet?  It's a great way to earn free gift cards!  

**ThredUP has great prices on gently used clothes.  If you shop with my link you will get a credit of $10 for your first purchase and I will too! Get 20% off your entire order with code THRIFTY20

You can read my  full disclosure policy  and privacy policy here.

Be sure to sign up for my daily email list and never miss a post!  You can also follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more

Book Review: Secrets of a Pastor's Wife: A Novel by Christina Ryan Claypool

Secrets of the Pastor’s Wife: A Novel by Christina Ryan Claypool

Wherever Cassandra Martin goes, her secrets go with her. And hiding her past is beginning to take a toll.

Cassie lives in a small white parsonage in the village of Maple Grove. For 15 years, the beautiful and talented artist has appeared to be the perfect wife for Rev. John Martin, the new pastor at Maple Avenue Community Church.

The couple has moved frequently, and Pastor John is too busy with other people’s problems to notice Cassie’s distress. She has no close friends to confide in, fearing her secrets could jeopardize her husband’s position.

That’s until Maple Grove coffee shop owner Katherine “Katie” Montague embraces Cassie as if she were the daughter she never had. Sensing her pastor’s wife is haunted by something tragic, the caring widow begins praying for her. Will Cassie trust Katie with the pain of her past or will she let the secrets destroy her?

Secrets of the Pastor’s Wife features discussion questions for women’s book clubs, church small groups, and recovery ministries. Entertaining and inspiring fiction, this compelling storyline will encourage emotional healing, forgiveness, and restored faith.

My thoughts:

Forgiveness, love, true friendship, secrets, and a glimpse of small town living, were all within the pages of Secrets of the Pastor's Wife.    

Katie is such an outstanding character to me.   A true friend and confidant to Cassie.  She knows when something is bothering her friend and she listens.  In her own life I love that she owns her dream, Maple Grove coffee shop. 

This is a different book for me.  A little slower reading than I was used to but yet it was very interesting.  It reminds me that we all are just human, even the pastor's wife can have secrets. 

Just to let you know, I so wanted to know what the neighbor just had to tell the pastor and his wife.  I guess I'm as bad as the neighbor and always wanting to know everything! 

**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden!   Here is my link:  https://amzn.to/2JNeMqO

**Have you tried Swagbucks yet?  It's a great way to earn free gift cards!  

**ThredUP has great prices on gently used clothes.  If you shop with my link you will get a credit of $10 for your first purchase and I will too! Get 20% off your entire order with code THRIFTY20

You can read my  full disclosure policy  and privacy policy here.

Be sure to sign up for my daily email list and never miss a post!  You can also follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more

Free Kindle Books and Deals for 12/13/19!

Free Kindle Books for today 12/13/19!  Make sure you check the price before you buy, Amazon prices can change frequently. If you don’t have a Kindle you can download your favorite Kindle Book on any tablet or smartphone with a free Kindle app

A Better Plan

Whiter than Snow (Finding Love in the Blue Ridge Mountains Book 4) 

Grandma’s Pies: The best authentic pies recipes from my grandmother for any occasion

Camping Recipes – 2 Cookbook Set: Over 200 Easy Recipes to Take Camping 

Christmas Elf: Christmas Stories, Funny Jokes, and Amazing Christmas Activities for Kids!

Great Deals!  

The Amish Christmas Matchmaker (Indiana Amish Brides) -Just $1.99!  

A Changed Agent (The Adirondack Pinkertons) -just .99!  

The Heart of an Agent (The Adirondack Pinkertons) -is also Just .99!

**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden!   Here is my link:  https://amzn.to/2JNeMqO

**Have you tried Swagbucks yet?  It's a great way to earn free gift cards!  

**ThredUP has great prices on gently used clothes.  If you shop with my link you will get a credit of $10 for your first purchase and I will too! Get 20% off your entire order with code THRIFTY20

You can read my  full disclosure policy  and privacy policy here.

Be sure to sign up for my daily email list and never miss a post!  You can also follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more

Free Kindle Books for Today 12/12/19!

Free Kindle Books for today 12/12/19!  Make sure you check the price before you buy, Amazon prices can change frequently. If you don’t have a Kindle you can download your favorite Kindle Book on any tablet or smartphone with a free Kindle app

Christmas at the End of Main Street (A Nestled Hollow Romance Book 2) 

Innkeeper: The Gift of Hospitality 

Christmas Treat Recipes: Christmas Cookies, Cakes, Pies, Candies, Fudge, and Other Delicious Holiday Desserts Cookbook

17 Easy Crafts With Yarn: Make Accessories, Decor and More with Lion Brand Imagine Yarn

A Gift For Santa

**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden!   Here is my link:  https://amzn.to/2JNeMqO

**Have you tried Swagbucks yet?  It's a great way to earn free gift cards!  

**ThredUP has great prices on gently used clothes.  If you shop with my link you will get a credit of $10 for your first purchase and I will too! Get 20% off your entire order with code THRIFTY20

You can read my  full disclosure policy  and privacy policy here.

Be sure to sign up for my daily email list and never miss a post!  You can also follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!