1, 2, & 3

1) It's hard to believe we are nearly a month into our year long challenge. Time flies by when you're busy not buying stuff. ☺ I actually have found it surprisingly easy (with the exception of that one thing...well, two... ok, three items I have purchased brand new.) Truthfully, on a personal level, it hasn't t changed my life much as I wasn't a huge shopper to begin with. I almost wish that weren't true. It seems as though it would be a more noble endeavor with a broader learning curve had there been the need to drastically alter habits. Yet, it is what it is. I still find great value in doing this together, as a family. And, it does cause me think outside the box when something comes up that I would otherwise buy new and I hunt for it used. My hope is that there is much insight to be gained for our children who have been born into a sadly wasteful, consumer driven, disposable culture.

Last night while dining out with some girlfriends one of them was astounded that I don't shop at Walmart....ever. {Or very rarely Target, for that matter!} How do you go to Walmart without buying anything new? Well, I don't go there. So....I guess that really helps. ☺ Yes, perhaps contrary to popular belief, it is plausible in this day and age in the U. S. of A. to have 7 children and continue to clothe and feed them all in a cost effective manner, without a smiley faced superstore. The fact that we all continue to draw breath, wear clothes, and eat food is evidence of this surprising reality. ☺
In the spirit of full disclosure I will now share my slip ups:
a) new camera {must have!}
b) replacement pitcher for my blender that fell off the drying rack and broke into pieces {must have!}
c) a glass pitcher with a lid to hold rice milk {really wanted!} I mean, I'm making homemade rice milk. I think I deserve a glass pitcher. {Clearly, an entitlement issue!}

2) Speaking of glass, I had been wanting to buy glass plates and bowls for the kids in an effort to weed out most of our BPA laden plastic usage for years, and I finally did! Already-broken-in Corelle. Is there anyone on earth that does not love Corelle? Nope. Don't think so. It's unanimous love! See the {chunky, heavy} stoneware plates that we picked out before our wedding (at a time when we would have had a good, hard, laugh at the notion that seven human beings would one day call us mom and dad) next to our (new to us, used) {sleek, light} Corelle plates? Some of them are even the same pattern that my mom had when I was a kid. Nostalgia in a dish. What's not to like?

3) Yesterday I was scolding Jayla for doing something she knew she shouldn't. As I looked into her face, focused upon mine while she listened to me drone on and on in useless lecturing extol the virtues of admirable conduct, "I expect more from you...blah, blah, blah" I very suddenly became absolutely struck by her beauty. Oh my goodness. She just looked so pretty to me. Affection for her swept.over.my.senses. engulfing my heart, making it swell up, big and happy with unencumbered love for the girl and absolute wonder that she could be mine. I stopped dead in my tracks and gave her a hug. Try to do better next time baby, I love you. End of discussion. The way it should have began....
Thank you God for this child who tenderizes my soul. She makes me want to be a better person.

Dinner at Chick-Fil-A to celebrate the end of the school year at the kids' charter academy where they were given 4 free kids meals {which left a mere $40 tab for rest of the family. ☺)

I'm pretty sure since the day she was born,

Jayla wanted one of those individual cake making oven toys.

I could never bring myself to buy one. 

How long would it take to make 7 cupcakes, one by one?! 

The joys of thrift store shopping - you never know what you may find.

Perhaps there will be a recycled, brand new, never used, tiny cake making oven for $7

that will fill a girl's heart with joy

(while tying up countless hours slaving away to produce mini desserts for her siblings.)

Whatever makes you happy. ♥