10 BEST ITEMS TO BUY AT THE DOLLAR STORE

My 26 year old daughter Jill was the one who told me to start shopping at the Dollar Stores. When she lived on campus for college, she started shopping at Dollar Stores to stretch her impossibly small grocery budget.  She still shops at Dollar Stores now, and just had a World Cup soccer watching party with a Red, White and Blue decorating scheme all furnished inexpensively by the local Dollar Store.  I take my Mom to the Dollar Store to buy greeting cards.  It is the only place she uses to buy many different types of greeting cards for 50 cents each to send to all her friends, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

So let's get to the 10 best items worthy of consideration to purchase at your local Dollar Store:

1. Greeting Cards, Thank You Notes
2. Tissue Paper, Wrapping Paper, Bows, Gift Bags
3. Bread, Candy, Gum, Snack Foods
4. Party Supplies and Decorations
5. Cleaning Supplies
6. Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Mouthwash, Toothbrushes
7. Aluminum Foil, Plastic Wrap, Sandwich Bags, Plastic Storage Containers
8. Hair Bows, Hair Ties, Brushes, Combs, Hair Accessories
9. Paper Plates, Plastic Cups, Plastic Cutlery, Serving Bowls
10. Office Supplies, Pens, Pencils, Tape, Mailing Supplies

Do you have any items you regularly buy from the Dollar Store?

A BOOK REVIEW OF THE AMISH BLACKSMITH BY MINDY STARNS CLARK AND SUSAN MEISSNER

Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner have penned The Amish Blacksmith (Harvest House Publishers), a beautiful written and moving novel.  It is book two in the Men of Lancaster County series.  This insightful book is one to be treasured, not just for the well written story but for the inspirational message contained between its covers.  Brilliantly, the authors have used the male point of view of 24 year old Jake of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to tell the story.

Jake is an apprentice blacksmith working for the Kinsinger family, shoeing horses.  Jake is also known as a “gentler” of horses, someone who works with horses to help them be less afraid or skittish.  Jake’s boss, Amos Kinsinger, asks Jake to take his new to town niece Priscilla under his wing and help her make friends.  Priscilla is a 20 year old orphan that is not an easy person to like or get to know.  She is introspective, doesn’t like to make small talk, and likes horses more than people. She is considered odd by her peers for preferring animals to people.

Priscilla used to live in Lancaster County until her mother died six years ago in a tragic accident.  She had a terrible time accepting her mother’s death, so eventually Priscilla went to live with relatives in Indiana.  Now Priscilla is back and as odd as ever.  Jake needs to figure out how to get her to relax, socialize, and get over her standoffishness.  Jake’s girlfriend, Amanda, takes on the project of finding Priscilla a boyfriend and Priscilla seems to be making an effort to mix in with the community.

Priscilla has a rare gift of being able to read both horses and humans, to understand their needs and fears.  By discovering why a horse is fearful, she helps Jake with his “gentling” of horses.  And eventually she sees right through Jake.  Priscilla tells him what he needs to do to start feeling emotions, and that he needs to stop running away from anything that gets too close to his heart.  Jake thinks that is crazy, he is perfectly happy and ready to commit to Amanda.  Who will be right, Jake or Priscilla?

This poignant novel is richly spiritual and rewarding.  The character growth of Jake detailed though the pages is enlightening.  The heartbreaking insights and sweetly written romance contained within these pages are words that won’t soon be forgotten after the last page is turned.  The Amish Blacksmith is truly an exceptional Amish romance novel and not to be missed.  It will be published August 1, 2014.

SIMPLE FRENCH BREAD PIZZAS

Here is a fun recipe that the whole family can help make.  It is simple and easy to accommodate everyone's tastes.  My pictures depict only half of a loaf of French bread.

My husband said it was the best pizza he ever had.

Brown your ground beef, mushrooms, and onion.

Cut your french bread lengthwise, then in half, spread your pizza sauce on each half.

Add your pepperoni slices and the cooked beef, mushrooms, and onions.

You can switch up ingredients to suit your family.

Add shredded mozzarella cheese and sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top.

INGREDIENTS:

1 loaf of French bread, approximately 22 inches long

14 ounce jar of pizza sauce, I used Ragu Pizza Quick Traditional Sauce

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

TOPPINGS:

I used pepperoni slices, browned ground beef, sautéed onions and mushrooms, garlic salt.

I took approximately a half pound of ground beef, several thin slices of onion, and about a half pound of sliced mushrooms and sautéed in a frying pan, breaking up the ground beef until it was no longer pink.  I seasoned the beef with around a ½ teaspoon of garlic salt.

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Slice French bread in half lengthwise and place on a cookie sheet.

Spoon pizza sauce over French bread and spread to edges.

Layer pepperoni slices, browned ground beef, onions, and mushrooms over pizza sauce.

Top with shredded mozzarella cheese then sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.

Bake in 400 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes, until cheese begins to brown.

Let rest for a minute then cut into 2 inch slices.

Cut into 2 inch slices and enjoy the best pizza ever.

A BOOK REVIEW OF THE REVEALING BY SUZANNE WOODS FISHER

The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell) is the satisfying, well written conclusion to The Inn at Eagle Hill series.  The book really should not be read as a standalone as it is so much more interesting and meaningful to read the entire series in order.  The Revealing is filled with humor, romance, reconciliation, and mystery with a consistent message of forgiveness woven throughout the novel.

The book opens with Naomi King keeping secrets from her older brother, Galen, about who she has fallen in love with and how she has been sneaking out to visit him in prison.  Toby Schrock will be getting out of prison soon and Naomi vows to be his wife when that happens.  Just before Toby is released, a very strange, very pregnant Englischer girl, Paisley, comes to the Schrock farm and announces she is about to have Toby’s baby and she will be marrying him as soon as Toby comes home.

Paisley seems to know quite a bit about Toby but she is extremely interested in how much the Schrock farm is worth.  She is totally disinterested in doing any chores or helping out in any way.  When Toby’s sister tells Naomi what is going on, Naomi immediately makes arrangements to sneak out to the prison to ask Toby about Paisley.  Toby admits to knowing Paisley but denies that he is the father of her baby.  Upon reflection, he admits there is a slim possibility, but any time spent with Paisley had happened before he and Naomi had become a couple.  Naomi is sickened and filled with anxiety to think of her Toby with that Englischer girl, Paisley.  Within a few days Naomi becomes determined not to be afraid of Paisley.

Paisley goes into labor before Toby is released from prison.  Toby’s mother, Rose Schrock gets Paisley to the local hospital where she gives birth to a baby girl with Down syndrome.  Paisley has no interest in the baby, won’t hold her, she refuses to care for the baby.  Right before Toby comes home from prison, Paisley takes off in the middle of the night, leaving her baby girl behind with the Schrock’s.  Toby decides to get a DNA test done.  What will the DNA test results reveal?  Will Toby bond with the baby?  Will Naomi and Toby reconcile?

Suzanne Woods Fisher has given her readers several fascinating multi layered plots and subplots in The Revealing.  The book boasts thorough characterization as well as overflowing spiritual depth.  Readers can expect to be chuckling one minute and getting misty eyed over the sweetly written romance the next minute.  This book has it all and is highly recommended for all readers.  The Revealing was published July 1, 2014.

 

Make sure to enter the giveaway by Suzanne Woods Fisher by clicking on the contest button on the upper right hand side of this page.  The contest is open between July 1 - 20, 2014.  You could win one of three iPads!

 

 

 

A BOOK REVIEW OF THE RESCUE BY SUZANNE WOODS FISHER

Suzanne Woods Fisher has rewarded her readers with the novella, The Rescue, (Revell) continuing The Inn at Eagle Hill series.  This enjoyable short story definitely lives up to the quality readers expect from Suzanne.  The main character Will Stoltz returns to Stoney Ridge and the Inn at Eagle Hill after graduation from veterinarian school to open the Stoney Ridge Wild Bird Rescue Center.  Unfortunately he is dead broke.  He is staying at the Amish Schrock family’s Inn.  Young Luke Schrock, age 11, takes to Will and wants to be his assistant helping with the birds Will takes in.

There is another reason Will came back to Stoney Ridge.  He wants to find Jackie Colombo, a lady veterinarian that Will is enamored with since the last time he was in Stoney Ridge.  Jackie seems to have disappeared.  No one knows where she went after injuring her hand.

Time moves on and Will and Luke make their rounds, saving birds.  But without donations, Will doesn’t know how he will be able to keep the Wild Bird Rescue Center open.  His student loans are coming due, the power company will turn off his lights if he doesn’t pay the bill, and his credit cards are maxed out.  And he still doesn’t know where Jackie Colombo went.  When Will finally surrenders his life to God, he feels a sense of freedom and joy.  He feels reenergized about his job but will he be able to find any donations to continue his work?  Will Jackie Colombo ever show up?

The Rescue stands alone without needing to read the two books in the series that precede it, The Letters and The Calling.  However, the entire series is a delight to read.  The next novel in the series, The Revealing, will be published July 1, 2014.  The Rescue was published May 6, 2014.

WHAT IS COMING UP NEXT WEEK JULY 7 - JULY 11, 2014

I love summertime!  I love not having to wear a coat to go outside.  I love keeping the doors open and letting the fresh air in.  I love how it stays light until late at night.  And I love seeing the flowers bloom and the trees fill out with leaves.  It always seems to me that summer goes by way too fast.  I don’t want to let one day go unappreciated!

Make sure you click on the button on the right side of my blog so you can register to win one of three Ipads that Suzanne Woods Fisher is giving away!

Here is what you can expect to see next week on AmishReader.blogspot.com:

Monday:  A book review of The Rescue by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Tuesday:  A book review of The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Wednesday:  A yummy, easy recipe of Simple French Bread Pizza, my husband said this was the best tasting homemade pizza.

Thursday:  A book review of The Amish Blacksmith by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner.

Friday:  A frugal post on the 10 best items to buy at the Dollar Store.

FRUGAL POST ON LIVING WITH LESS

Relevant Magazine recently published a beautifully written article by Careese Rials who blogs at www.minimalistbeliever.com, that really struck me as I try to embrace simplicity.  You can find more information here - RelevantMagazine.com

A GUIDE TO LIVING WITH LESS

Ours is a world of excess. We have hundreds of cable channels. Super-sized meals and buffets abound. We even have stores dedicated to selling things in large quantities. If there is anything our society is addicted to, it’s more.

But a growing number of people are starting to question whether we need more and more electronics, clothes, shoes and everything else that fills our homes. People are rejecting the notion that wholeness and happiness can be bought at this weekend’s big sale. People are simplifying their lives and finding freedom in owing fewer possessions. All over the world, people are embracing simplicity as a way of life.

Living with less is not about going without. It’s about having only what is essential and eliminating the excess. A simple life is one with fewer material possessions and, often, more meaning.

So how can a person simplify? Embracing simplicity will require that we make changes to our physical environment. It will also require that we change some old habits and thought patterns.

LIVING WITH LESS IS NOT ABOUT GOING WITHOUT. IT’S ABOUT HAVING ONLY WHAT IS ESSENTIAL AND ELIMINATING THE EXCESS.

Disconnect From Consumerism

Simplicity isn’t just about owning less, it’s about wanting less. It is impossible to simplify if you keep bringing things into your house and into your life. You must stop the influx.

In our commercialized society it can be hard to disconnect from consumerism. However, there are some things you can do to root out consumerism. Stay out of the store. Avoid shopping online. Unsubscribe from store emails. Try to limit exposure to ads on television and in printed media. Companies spend billions of dollars to persuade us to buy what we do not need. Simplicity is about realizing that what you have is enough.

Conquer the Clutter

Take an honest look at what you have and ask, “Is this really essential?” Look at your wardrobe. Do you really need eight pairs of blue jeans? If not, the next step is to purge. Go through closets, drawers and purses to determine the essentials. If it hasn’t been worn in a year toss it, donate it or sell it. Determine what’s worth keeping for sentimental value—old family heirlooms might be, but the dress you wore to your junior prom probably isn’t.

Since it can be overwhelming to purge everything at one time. Some find it helpful to do a mini-purge, where you focus on one area, such as a drawer or a closet. It takes longer, but slow progress is better than no progress.

Finish It

Do you have several containers with only a small amount of product in them? Use it or toss it. Focus on one product at a time and use it completely. Instead of having several bottles of shampoo, pick one and use finish the bottle. If a product is unfinished because you dislike it then throw the rest away. Fewer containers will help to eliminate clutter.

Just One

Why seven pairs of boots when you only have two feet? Sometimes one coat, backpack, or tube of chapstick will do just fine. Having just one will force you to be mindful of where your things are and how you care for them.

Focus on Quality Not Quantity

More isn’t always better—and likewise, cheaper isn't necessarily better. Companies with inexpensive products make it easier to buy more, but their products are usually more cheaply made and won't last. It makes no sense to have more of an inferior product. One pair of good shoes is worth more than two pairs of bad shoes. Higher quality items sometimes cost a little more, which means that you may not be able to buy as much. That’s OK. A quality product will serve you well and will most likely outlast a cheaper alternative.

Challenge Yourself

Here’s a fun challenge: try to pare down your wardrobe to just 30 items and wear only those items for the next 30 days. This will force you to evaluate what is truly essential. At the end of your challenge you may find that you don’t need as many clothes as you once thought.

LIFE IS FAR TOO PRECIOUS TO BE SPENT CHASING POSSESSIONS AND PURSUING WHAT OTHERS HAVE DEFINED AS SUCCESS.

Simplify Decorating

Take a close look around the rooms in your home. Minimizing decorations is a way to eliminate clutter and create a simpler, more streamlined look. Start by removing one item per surface and see how things look. Take away a vase, picture frame, clock or figurine. Then take another. Often we allow things to clutter our shelves and surface space, simply gathering dust and taking up space. Remove anything that is not useful or adding to the feel of the room. You may like the streamlined version better. If so, donate or store the removed decorations.

Simplicity is really about being mindful of the things you allow in your life. It’s about focusing on the things that matter to you. Life is far too precious to be spent chasing possessions and pursuing what others have defined as success. Life is meant to be spent pursing the things that matter.

Living a simpler life can help us to lead more meaningful lives. It is about realizing that happiness and security aren’t found in possessions. Living the simpler life is about finding freedom in living with less.

A BOOK REVIEW OF ALWAYS IN MY HEART BY MARY ELLIS

Always In My Heart (Thomas Nelson), a novella by Mary Ellis, is a sweet tale of forgiveness given and reconciliation received within a family.  Mary Ellis has written a beautiful story about an Amish couple, Hope and Stephen Bowman.  Hope yearns to give Stephen a son but she has just given birth to their fourth daughter.

Hope feels depressed and thinks God is punishing her for giving up for adoption the son she had at age 16 as the result of a rape.  Her father forced her to go to a home for unwed mothers and sign papers to surrender any rights to her baby.  Hope has never told her husband about this child and the burden of carrying around this secret has caused Hope to feel blue and despondent.

Hope realizes she needs to expose this secret for her own peace of mind.  She starts by telling her husband what she has been hiding.  Then Hope decides she needs to forgive her father for coercing her into giving up her child.  With that out of the way, Hope feels confident that her prayers will finally be answered.  Hope is sure God will now send her and her husband a son.  The Lord doesn’t deliver exactly what Hope imagines. The Lord provides but with all the complications involved, Hope learns she needs to stand up for what she wants to get to that happy ending.

Mary Ellis has authored a faith driven novella that delivers a strong message of hope, love, and above all, forgiveness of ourselves and others.   Always In My Heart was published February 11, 2014.

BETTER THAN GRANDMA'S HOMEMADE MEATLOAF AND OUR GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

Our giveaway winners are:
Thursday's giveaway winner of the first four young adult books in Volume One by J.E.B. Spredemann is Margaret Stone of Commack, NY and Friday's giveaway winner of An Unforgivable Secret by J.E.B. Spredemann is Dawn Crawford of Sabina, OH.  Congratulations ladies, I have sent your addresses to Jennifer Spredemann.

Delicious Homemade Meatloaf

This meatloaf recipe comes from a lovely Southern lady, 96 years young Nel Beck, who is one of the best cooks I have ever met.  Everything she makes is perfection and years ago she gave this recipe to her daughter-in-law, who is my husband's sister.  I have never made this recipe for meatloaf myself, my husband is the one who makes it in our household.  Since it takes some time to bake, we usually have this on Sundays, then heat up the leftovers on a weekday night. It is so flavorful and delicious!  We always serve it with mashed potatoes and the gravy made with the meatloaf is so good poured over the potatoes.  This is real comfort food. Once you taste this meatloaf and gravy you will want to make it all the time!

Your ingredients

Your meatloaf ingredients before mixing.

Shaped into a loaf.

The sauce ingredients before mixing.

The sauce poured over the meatloaf before cooking.

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck - try to use 85% - 15% fat mix 
1 tablespoon minced onions
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
16 ounces tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons regular mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Add beef, onion, bread crumbs, egg, and 1/2 cup of tomato sauce.  Do not over mix.  Form into a loaf and put into a pan.

Mix salt, pepper, the rest of the tomato sauce, water,  vinegar, brown sugar, mustard and Worcestershire sauce together and pour over the meatloaf.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting every 15 minutes.

Take out of oven and let sit for 5 - 10 minutes before cutting into slices and serving.

A BOOK REVIEW OF CAROLINE'S SECRET BY AMY LILLARD

Caroline’s Secret by Amy Lillard (Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing) takes the Amish romance genre to new heights of excellence.  This novel is the first in the new Wells Landing series by Amy Lillard.  The series takes place in Wells Landing, Oklahoma and features the more liberal Beachy sect of Amish.  Amy’s writing in Caroline’s Secret is exquisite; she plots out an emotional and plausible storyline and gives readers more than one romantically inclined couple to root for.  In between each chapter, Amy includes letters written by the characters to their family members giving greater insight into individual development and adding to the narrative.

Caroline is a 23 year old unmarried mother of a 15 month old little girl, Emma.  They are living with Esther, an older widow who runs the local bakery.  Caroline grew up in Etheridge, Tennessee as the only child of a Swartzentruber Amish family.  When Caroline found herself pregnant, she left town and made it as far as the Beachy Amish community of Wells Landing, Oklahoma.

Andrew is new to Wells Landing.  He has moved from Missouri to work for his Uncle Abe who owns a furniture woodworking shop.  Andrew seeks to make a fresh start and get away from the memories of his girlfriend, Beth, who passed away six months ago after a long illness.  Caroline meets Andrew as he is delivering new furniture to the home she shares with Esther.  Soon she is captivated by his good looks but Caroline is not looking for a husband and Andrew is definitely not looking for a wife.  They agree to be friends.

Caroline and Andrew also agree to try to match Uncle Abe, a lifelong bachelor, with Esther.  A consequence of getting Abe and Esther together is that Caroline and Andrew must also spend more time together. As things develop, Caroline and Andrew begin to have more than just friendly feelings towards each other.  One of the best aspects of Caroline’s Secret is the character development of absent minded Uncle Abe and the lovable Esther.  Readers will be eager to see if their romance will bloom.

Just when all seems favorable for Caroline and Andrew, Caroline quickly departs Wells Landing to go back home to Etheridge, Tennessee leaving Andrew hurt and heartbroken.  At this point it just may take the whole Amish community to get Caroline and Andrew back together.  Readers will want to keep tissues handy as the conclusion to Caroline’s Secret is compelling, emotional, and convincingly portrayed.

The continuation of the Wells Landing series looks promising with Courting Emily due out January, 2015.  Caroline’s Secret will be published August, 2014.