Hey Canadians, Remember I’m an Epicure Consultant? Well, right now they have a HUGE end of season clear-out and the prices are unbeatable!

Almost everything from the Spring and Summer Brochure is on sale; some items up to 50% off!! Check out the SALE FLYER.

You can order directly online (use Jennifer VanderPloeg as your consultant) or you can email me with your order and I will call you to confirm (please include your phone number). I accept Visa, Mastercard, Paypal and personal checks.

Your order can be shipped directly to you anywhere in Canada. You can also order products as a gift and have it mailed directly to the Canadian recipient!

So if you want to take advantage of some of these AMAZING prices on these AMAZING products, you’d better hurry. They won’t last long.

Remember that Epicure is 100% Canadian owned company committed to giving back to the community by supporting charities as well as the Epicure Foundation. Also know that purchasing through me or online with me as your consultant means you’re giving back too; 20% of my profit goes directly to missions around the world!

So, have you ever tried Epicure? If not, what are you waiting for?

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Epicure End-of-Season Sale is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Still Burning

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Seems like a good day to talk about Green doesn’t it?

Our family isn’t the most eco-family in the city – or even on the block.  We’re just an average family; maybe like you? I want to do my part to care for our environment because it is my responsibility and duty to God, my family, future generations and myself! Last year, as I made this list, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we do have a substantial list! Most of our earth friendly practices were born out of a need for frugality or for the benefit of our family but they’re green none the less!

Cloth Diapers: We switched to cloth diapers (we use BumGenius 3.0 cloth diapers; a one size, all in one read more here). A bit of an investment but better for baby, more economical and better for the earth! I imagine flat prefolds would be even better since less production to make them however, the BG are a really convenient cloth diaper for me! Swim diapers are also a really cool alternative to disposable swimmers…they’re cute too!

Cloth Training Pants: We also use cloth trainers for my toddler.

Cloth Wipes: Recently I began using cloth wipes too. Since I am already using the diapers, why not use the wipes so then I can just put the wipes inside the soiled diaper and toss the whole think in the diaper pail rather than trying to figure out where to put the disposable wipes while I finish the job. I use Monkey Doodlez Wipes Cubes to keep them fresh longer (from going musty smelling).

Baby Food: While I still buy some baby food, I generally try to make my own. Less packaging! Less Cost! Better for Baby! {this was on my original list though now my little man is past this stage.}

Toys without Batteries: Too many toys these days require batteries and “entertain” the child. While some of these are fine, I believe that children should learn to entertain themselves and use their imaginations. Toys with batteries are also noisy and drive my dh crazy. Battery-eating toys are also not great for the environment either!

HE Washer: We have a high efficiency front loading washer which uses less water and requires less soap.

Cold Water: Unless I am washing some heavily soiled items (diaper etc.), I try to wash on cold. My clothes come out just fine!

Soaps: We use soap nuts which are compostable, and Nature Clean that comes in a box, lined with a bag and it has a little spout on the front. I only need 1 tablespoon of soap for a load (even heavily soiled diapers!). Recycle the box and spout and all you’re left with is the bag as garbage. It says it does 129 loads but I get more out of it that that.

Less Laundry:  Clothes worn once aren’t always dirty (by adults anyway). We also reuse our towels for the week before washing them. If you’ve done a good job in your shower then you should be clean and drying off doesn’t really dirty the towel! Try to wash full loads only and combine loads where possible.

Clothesline: Coming soon. We live in a new subdivision that had a by-law against clotheslines (imagine that!!) Last year they lifted it so this summer I’ll have a clothes line. Hurray!  I have a makeshift one right now and hope to build a proper one this spring. My aunt has a great wheelie one off her deck and I am going to make the same one!

Avoid Chemicals: Not good for you, your family or the earth. Avoid them when you can. We use e-cloths here and have been very happy with the results. Our lawn isn’t perfect and I pull weeds constantly (a lot of work) but I don’t have to worry about my little ones eating dirt & chemicals because our lawn is just dirt! (Fish Mama talked about Chemicals here and when it comes to spiders – I’m all for chemicals!!) We also try to use natural products, especially when it comes to our little ones skin! We like Dimpleskins baby products, as well as Fresh Organics. In the summer we use UV clothing and less sunscreen. Wondering how that is green? Every chemical you put on is either washed off, comes off on your clothing (which is then washed) or is absorbed into your body and comes out in natural ways. Chemicals always end up back in our water system.

Composting: We started last summer. Not hard but we don’t do it in the winter because I don’t want to shovel all the snow to get out to it. It’s an easy way to reduce the amount of garbage you put out and it’s good for your lawn!

Recycle: Recycle what you can but keep in mind that recycling still uses energy etc. to do so it isn’t totally earth friendly. It’s best to try use products with as little packaging as possible, regardless of if it can be recycled.

Packaging: Avoid individually packed items or convenience foods when you are able. We all take advantage of this convenience from time to time but try to avoid it on a regular basis. Thermos and Innate make some great stainless steel cups! Take them with you everywhere you go to avoid buying packaged drinks. Try to support companies who go the extra mile to use as little packing as possible or who use recyclable resources.

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs: This is my husband’s domain but I know we have them.  Make the last longer by ensuring that they are always turned off when not needed.

Turn your Heat Down a few degrees and your a/c up a few degrees. Doing it gradually will help you adjust and you’ll save lots too!

Plan Your Outings so that you can get all your errands done in as few trips as possible.

BYOB: Bring your own bags to the store when shopping. Most stores here sell them for $0.95 but dh saw them on for $0.37/each at Fortino’s. Epicure has some really great ones! Interested? Contact me!

Buy Second Hand: When we first had Chloe, I would have balked at this because we had the money, why buy used? Well, it makes better use of your money, there is nothing wrong with most used things (I have huge issues about having to be able to wash/disinfect things) and it is better for the environment. After all, if everyone bought new and discarded it when finished, our landfills would be overflowing with perfectly useable things and we would be creating a lot of pollution with excessive production.

Cloth Napkins: We switched a couple years ago. Ours aren’t actually napkins; they are small cotton dish towels in very cool bright colors. We got them on sale and love them!

No Paper Towel: Because we use the e-cloth for windows and we use cloth napkins, I was thinking we should eliminate paper towel all together. At first my husband balked (after all where would he de-grease his bacon?!) We started using cotton flour sacks and though we still have some paper towel in our stock-pile, we haven’t used it and we don’t miss it!

Unplug when Unused: Did you know that things that are plugged in use energy even when they are off? Eeek. DH takes credit for this one! I’ve been trying to pay more attention to this.

Quality vs. Quantity: Sometimes Most times finances have the bottom line but I am a big fan of quality vs. quantity. Cost alone isn’t necessarily the best way to determine the most economical choice. We live in a “throw-away” society. While I am a big fan of the dollar store, in many cases you get what you pay for. If you have to replace something multiple times because it breaks, it is costing you more and the environment suffers (pollution associated with manufacturing and then the products sitting in the landfill). Built to last, quality items are the way to go when we can!

Renewable Resources: When possible, we try to go with renewable resources or things made out of what would otherwise have been trash. Chloe loved her Christmas gift; a Tea Set made out of recycled milk jugs!

Buy Local: While I can’t guarantee that you will necessarily save money, if it doesn’t need to be transported, it is better for the environment. It is also good for your local economy. I like to support local businesses where possible and purchase locally grown/raised food. How about you?

These are a few things that Work for Me. After reading the article by Simple Mom, I could add to the list, but I won’t. You’ll have to go HERE for more ideas! Isn’t it amazing how going green can save you green $$?

   What are your number one Green Tips or favorite Green Products?

• More Green = More Green was originally published April 21, 2009
• Join us at Heavenly Homemakers for the little Green Project!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. More Green = More $$ Green is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Suggestions for Contacting Companies:

In Writing. It’s always best to do it in writing. You are able to think about exactly what you want to say and how to word it. In my case, it comes out much more professional on paper than verbally.

Manners. The first part of being minding your manners when writing  is spelling and grammar. Run spell-check! Nothing says “I didn’t put a lot of effort into this” or “You’re not worth the time”  like poor spelling. The other obvious aspect of manners is language. Make sure that you address your letter politely.

Positive. Try to be upbeat and positive. If possible, start your letter in a positive manner. Is there something about the company/individual that you really like? Start with that. Once you have dealt with your grievance, then try to end on a positive note as well.

Be Non-Confrontational. Once you have said something nice, gently bring forth your grievance in a non-confrontational way. Unless you are just writing them to blow off steam and don’t actually want to work out a mutually agreeable solution, avoid saying things like “you’ve lost my business”. The only reason that a company would want to work with you to rectify any problems is to keep your current business and to maintain a good image in word-of-mouth advertising. Instead, try to phrase it in a way that encourages the company to work with you, such as “I’m unhappy with ___ . I am contacting you to give you the opportunity to rectify the situation.”

Make Suggestions. If you have some suggestions or ideas, politely include these in your letter as well. Many companies, anxious to please, will consider anything that you take the time to suggest, though do not be offended if you do not get the exact solution you proposed. (examples: The car seat cover is torn so perhaps you can send me a replacement? If the exact pattern is not available, a light brown would match as well.)

End in Expectation: Write as if you are sure that they too will be anxious to work with you. Closing with something such as “Thank you in advance for your willingness to work with me in this matter” will encourage agreement on their part.

Do you have a letter writing tip? Or a sure-fire way to get results? Please, Please Share!!

Related Posts: Success Stories: Free Repairs, Replacements and More

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Get Results with Your Letter! is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Most companies are interested in ensuring customer satisfaction even after the sale is complete! If you have products that are broken, or need parts, try contacting them! Often they will repair or replace for little or no cost! It is a Finer Thing when companies still stand behind their products!

I purchased a wonderful bible organizer and cover in pink a couple years ago. I love this set. On Sundays it houses my wallet, tissues, notebook, bible and anything else I need it too. And it’s pink! I love pink! Anyway, the other day one of the handles broke on it. I was crest-fallen. I emailed Zondervan and they responded shortly after. They confirmed the type of case it was and mailed me out a new one no charge. I had it within a week! I was over the moon about it. Zondervan is a company that really stands behind it’s products! My likelihood of purchasing their products in the future just increased  because my opinion of their company just dramatically rose!

I have a Graco car seat and it had a tear in it under the edge at the top. I actually think that many of them tear due to the design and the sharp edge at the top. Anyway, I contacted Graco and explained the situation and they replaced it for me.

Chloe received TJ Bear for her 1st birthday from her grandparents. He’s a bear that “reads” to you and Chloe loves him. He stopped working just before her second birthday. I contacted Hasbro but unfortunately they don’t make him anymore however they were kind enough to send me out a free item of equivalent value. (And my dad was able to fix TJ bear anyway. No, I am not going to tell you what was wrong with it because then you would all wonder why I wasn’t smart enough to try changing the batteries. LOL)

I have several other letter writing success stories and my sister also has many success stories that she could share about the great customer service that some companies provide. Before you give up on something, contact the company!

Related Posts: Get Results with your Letter!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Free Repairs, Replacements and More is a post from Beautiful Calling.

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. You Don’t Need All That! (Soapnut Giveaway) is a post from Beautiful Calling.

I am blessed to have an assortment of aprons and all of them are beautiful in some way. Some are pink and girly, others are crazy, wild and fun, some are sweet, I even have a flirty, skirty one in lime green and pink that my girlfriend, Carm, gave me not too long ago.

How is all of this frugal? Well two reasons. The first is that an apron, above all else, serves a practical purpose. It helps to keep you clean which means less laundry which in turn saves you on soap, water and energy! See More Green = More Green $$ for more ideas. And the second reason that this post is in the Frugal Friday category? If any of you read my Ultimate Blog Party Post, you will recall I mentioned an apron giveaway. Well, it was postponed since a blogging friend had one happening at her place, but here is your chance to enter!

While Ann, of Ann’s Gifts and “Sew” Much More, doesn’t have her website up as of yet, she does have a retail location so for anyone who is local. Her Apron Emporium is located at 505 Queensway West in Simcoe, ON and you can reach her at 519-410-1742. You can choose an apron for yourself or she makes fabulous children’s aprons as well. Above is one of the great ones that Chloe owns. Double sided, one side has bight vivid farm print and the other a solid color with pockets made with the farm print fabric. Below is a picture of the most recent apron she gave me. I was overcome and the picture doesn’t do it justice! It has all sorts of ‘patchwork pockets’ with Proverbs 31:13 and sorts of neat things. It is double-sided and has my name, my husbands and children’s names and all sorts of other embroidery on it. It is the most special apron I own!

How can you win a fabulous apron? You have 4 chances to enter!

Entry # 1: Leave a comment in this post with something interesting about yourself. Just short and sweet! If you are posting anonymously, please leave a way to contact you!

Entry #2: Blog about the giveaway, come back and leave a comment with the link to your giveaway post.

Entry #3: Leave a comment sharing the name of a meme and the website who hosts it. I’m relatively new to the blogger community and would love to learn about the different ones out there!

Entry #4: Subscribe via a reader or email. Leave a comment letting me know you did.

So go ahead and do one, or all of the above for a chance to win. A winner will be chosen at random on May 1, 2009 @ 8:52pm+/-!

And if you haven’t already, be sure to enter the Soapnut Giveaway!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. The Overdue Apron Giveaway is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Now if you don’t have enough bones from one meal, I’ve always just bagged them, put them in the freezer and waited until you have a good amount. Simply thaw them, give them a quick roast in the oven (to maximize flavour) and put them in a pot. Cover the bones with water and add whatever else is handy. If you are a real frugaller (is that a word?), then you wouldn’t have anything needing to be used up in your fridge but alas, sometimes I have veggies in the fridge that are teetering on the brink. I toss them in the pot too. One day my husband came in while I was making stock and asked me why there was one lonely mushroom floating in the pot. I explained that I found it in the fridge and it was awfully sad-looking, so I decided to put it to good use

• Makes your dollar go further when buying meat on the bone
• Is Easy
• Healthier for you because you control the amount of salt etc.
• Good way to use anything up that is going bad (make a veggie stock)
• Recipes are more flavorful using stock rather than water
• Have you checked out the price of stock at the store?!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Making Your Own Stock is Easy! is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Today I want to share with you something that I feel has really helped me to get (somewhat) organized. My GraceWorks Planner!

A year+/- ago my E-friend Crystal of BiblicalWomanhood did a few posts on the importance of a planner. It was through her site that I discovered GraceWorks. I was so excited to find a company that designed planners for stay-at-home mommies and not just for women who were out in the ‘official’ workforce. The other important feature for me is that it is designed to keep your focus where it should be – on the Lord.

I excitedly ordered their Beautiful Life Management System (and far too many other things) and waited for my package to arrive.

My new BLMS package arrived with a basic binder, the pages, tabs, a package of tea and some tapes by creator, Jennifer Lamp Neef, who walks you through how to set up your planner and some practical ideas for starting. The whole package is 39.95usd and is a little pricey but it contains everything that you will need as well as a coupon for a free refill of your daily pages.

Over the next few days (or week depending on how my days are), we’ll dig a little deeper and I’ll walk through a little more about planners and what I use them for. (I have two : my home planner and then my menu/shopping list/coupon planner)

When we have completed our planner topic – we’ll have a great giveaway so be sure to follow along!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. GraceWorks Planner – A Real Blessing – Part 1 is a post from Beautiful Calling.

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. MINI LOAF PANS: Make your Baking Go Further! is a post from Beautiful Calling.

We had some with our dinners all week but my dh isn’t that crazy about cooked carrots. I peeled a bunch and made carrot sticks ready for snacking but my two year old doesn’t seem that interested

You can frost these with a basic cream cheese frosting but my husband prefers it plain. If you do not frost it, it’s a delicious and frugal loaf to make if you get a greal deal on carrots!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. The Best Carrot Cake – and frugal too! is a post from Beautiful Calling.