March 2 & 3 | FREE or Low Cost Events for the Whole Family

Home Depot's FREE Kids Workshop

• Saturday, March 2, 9 AM - Noon | Build a Race Car

Michael's

• Saturday, March 2, 10 AM - 11:30 AM | NEA's Read Across America - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10AM - 11:30AM. See a store associate to join the fun!
  

Bank of America Museums on Us

• Saturday & Sunday, Jan, 5 & 6 | Each cardholder gets FREE general admission to 150 museums nationwide. List of participating museums.

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Batch Browning & Freezing Ground Meat and Sausage

For years, I've been buying the larger packages (3+ pounds) of ground turkey and sausage, because the sale price per unit is so much better than the smaller packages. I would divide the raw meat into 1 pound portions and freeze individually.

I'm not sure why it took me so long to figure out that browning ground meat and sausage in one big batch will save time in the future. I've changed my ways. Now, I'm still freezing in portions, but I'm browning the meat in one big batch first. This step is saving me so much time with meal prep. Lasagna, tacos, sloppy joes are all meals that I've recently made by using cooked meat from the freezer.

How to Batch Brown & Freeze Ground Meat and Sausage

1. Heat your largest pan (I used my big dutch oven) over medium heat and add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. Add the ground meat or sausage to the pan.  If cooking sausage, remove the casings before putting in the pan. If your package of meat is too large for the size of you pan, you'll have to brown the meat in several batches.

2. Cook over medium-low heat and break up the sausage while cooking. Allow the sausage to brown a bit on the pan and then scrape the brown bits on the bottom of the pan to add flavor.

3. Once the meat is cooked through (no pink), you can drain any fat if you'd like and then allow to cool.

4. Divide up and store in freezer containers or bags. Stretch your dollar and store in 1 1/2 cup portions, but approximately, 2 cups of cooked meat will equal 1 pound of uncooked meat.

Think about how you will use the meat that you just cooked. Personally, I divide bulk sausage into smaller 1 1/2 cup portions, because I know that I'll likely use it in spaghetti sauce, pasta dishes, and egg casseroles where the meat is not the main star of the dish. While, I divide ground turkey into 2 cup portions, because I use that for tacos and sloppy joes where the meat is the main ingredient.

Do you buy meat in bulk and then cook it in one big batch? Let us know in the comments.


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5 Real Food ebooks for Just $7.40

Is serving your family "real food" important to you? Would you like some tips on how to do it without breaking the budget or sacrificing taste? This week's bundle includes the resources you need to eat delicious, whole foods on a budget. Packed full of recipes and tips, it's sure to be a go-to resource in your kitchen.

And this week only, get all 5 ebooks for just $7.40 (a savings of almost 90%)!


Real Food on a Real Budget by Stephanie Langford
In this 280-page book, Stephanie provides a primer for families who want to learn how to save an average of 20-30% on their food budget ($100-$200 per month for most families), while at the same time serving better quality and more nutritionally dense foods. Based on 6 years of hands-on experience and hundreds of hours of research, Real Food on a Real Budget is packed with practical tips and suggestions to help you become a better a steward of both your finances and your health.

Real Food...Real Easy by various authors
With more than 70 recipes from 7 authors, Real Food...Real Easy is not only a cookbook, but also a handbook providing in-depth information about real food sweeteners, an introduction to soaking and sprouting grains, recipes for every meal of the day, a list of additional resources and more!

Real {Fast} Food by Trina Holden
Real {Fast} Food is a treasure trove of time-saving techniques and simply wonderful recipes that are custom fit for you and your schedule. You’ll learn everything from painless freezer stocking and bulk food prep to quick, healthy meals for day trips. Trina teaches you how to think about whole food prep in a whole new way, allowing you to make more real food in less time than you ever imagined, and even giving you the feeling of a “day off” once in a while -- all without sacrificing quality.

Sourdough A to Z from GNOWFGLINS
Learn to put sourdough to work in your kitchen to produce naturally-leavened foods of all kinds, including healthy and nutritious cakes, muffins, pasta, crackers, pizza, cookies and more. Sourdough A to Z is your complete sourdough guide, including 25 lessons to walk you through sourdough baking step-by-step, ingredient and equipment notes, a suggested schedule, the science behind sourdough, how to create gluten-free sourdough, dozens of recipes and more!

Treat Yourself by Kate Tietje
Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts is exactly what it sounds like: a book filled with delicious, sweet, tempting desserts that fit the real food model. The recipes in this ebook are full-fat, full flavor, and low-sugar. There’s no white flour, white sugar, or vegetable oil to be found. In fact, they’re all based on sprouted flour, soaked flour, or almond flour, if flour is used at all (yes, there are several grain-free and even GAPS-friendly treats!). This ebook shows you how to make delicious desserts with real food, so you can have your cake and eat it too…without the guilt!

The Real Food bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 3/4. Get yours today:


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Christmas Savings Club | February Meeting

On the 25th of every month from January to November in 2013, I'm holding a virtual meeting for the Christmas Savings Club. The goal for this monthly accountability meeting is to give updates on our progress, motivate one another and help all of us save for a cash Christmas. Today is the second meeting, but anyone can join at any time.

If you are new, please read more about the Christmas Savings Club in the first post and join us. I'm still offering a FREE Christmas Gift & Spending Budget excel spreadsheet, click that link for more information.

On with the meeting...

The Good News & the Bad News

The good news is that my husband is trying to improve his nutrition and health and in the month of February started a whole foods cleanse.

The bad news is that I didn't communicate my plan for a pantry challenge with my husband and his whole foods cleanse started in the month that I was doing a pantry challenge.

The good news is that my husband is trying to improve his health and nutrition.

The bad news is that I needed to plan our monthly meals from food that was already in our pantry and freezer to help me fund my January shortfall and hit my February savings goal. And my pantry was NOT stocked with a month's worth of fresh fruits and vegetables.

But the good news is that my husband is trying to improve his health and nutrition and that trumps my pantry challenge any day of the year.

So how DID I do in February?
My monthly goal is $100. That number includes gifts for our kids, extended family members, teachers, friends, neighbors, bus drivers, service people, our Christmas cards, stamps, and our donations towards the Salvation Army's Adopt-a-Family program.

As luck would have it, even though my pantry challenge was a bust, I did find this month's goal of $100 in a savings account that has been languishing in la la land for some time. Yes, I forgot about it and it happened to have $102 in it. I'm closing the account and moving that money to my Christmas Savings account. But I'm pretty sure my luck has run out, so I'll have to work extra hard from now on.

My husband and I started Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University Online course and have been very mindful of our spending. We just need to be mindful enough that we can make up that $40 on top of our $100 goal for March.

March's Assignments
1. If you have not done so, complete the Christmas Gift & Spending Budget worksheet.

2. If you have not done so, open up a separate checking account specifically for your Christmas Spending Savings.

3. Find your monthly savings goal for March and any shortfall that you have from January and February.

How did you do?

In the comments, let us know how you are doing so far with your Christmas Spending savings. You don't have to divulge your goal, but please let us know if you were able to save the money. Also let us know how you saved the money.

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Feb 23 & 24 | FREE or Low Cost Events for the Whole Family

Lowe's Build & Grow

• Saturday, Feb. 23, 10 AM | Monster Jam, featuring Grave Digger Kit

Michael's Kids Club

• Saturday, Feb. 23, 10 - 11:30 AM | Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10AM - 11:30AM. See a store associate to join the fun!
  

A.C. Moore

• Saturday, Feb. 23, 1 - 3 PM | Demonstration: Red Heart, Baby TLC- Crochet & Knit Baby Hats

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My New Favorite Pancake Recipe

I shared a new recipe, Banana Nut Pancakes, over at The Happy Housewife this week. These are my new favorite pancakes. I also offered a tip that intensifies the banana flavor and prevents the pancakes from being mushy.

If you love bananas, you're going to LOVE these pancakes!

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Financial Peace University | Marriage & Money

Are you a fan of Dave Ramsey?

Dave Ramsey is a financial coach, best-selling author, and speaker whose message of “cash is king and debt is dumb” is unrelenting. No IFs, ANDs, or BUTs about it. He doesn't sugar coat anything, but he does it with his southern charm and wit and he truly wants his readers to succeed. I love that about him. My husband and I have been following him for years.

Many years ago, I read his book, The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness, to help us deal with the shock of going to one income when I left my corporate job. The book is designed to help you design a plan for paying off your debts and saving for a secure future. It is also full of the inspiring testimonies of ordinary people who have become debt-free.

Last year, we both read Dave's EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches. As small business owners we quickly devoured it. Dave gives practical advice for business owners and entrepreneurs about building and growing a small business.

We also recently discovered Dave's EntreLeadership podcast. It's free and they have the most interesting business leaders as guests on the show. The first few minutes are snippets of Dave Ramsey speaking and then Chris LoCurto takes over the show and interviews that day's special guest. Some guests have been Michael Hyatt, Tony Dungy, and Rabbi Daniel Lapin, to name a few. The podcasts run about 40 minutes and I like to listen to them when I'm running. You can also find his daily radio program on a podcast, but his website also streams it live.

Finding Financial Peace
Friends of ours took Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University at their church and felt it helped their marriage. So we were very excited when our church announced that they will be offering the Financial Peace University course. Unfortunately, that excitement dissolved quickly when the day and time didn’t suit our schedule. Our friends suggested we try the online version.

Financial Peace University Online costs $69 and includes your 16 week membership, 13 video-based lessons, community forums, downloadable workbook, budgeting forms, and MP3 audio. After watching the free preview video, we registered for the online sessions.

We meet over lunch twice a week to work through the course. No excuses, it's marked in our calendars.

So, why are we taking Financial Peace University?
1. To get on the same page about our finances.
2. To help create an action plan for our family's finances, debt and our future.
3. To find financial peace within our marriage.

Why not save the $69 and just figure it out ourselves?
We both value Dave's experience and advice, so we have 'hired' him to help us devise an action plan for our finances. We have completed two sessions so far and we both feel very energized and motivated about our finances and our future.

I'll be sure to give you updates about our progress.

Have you taken the Financial Peace University course? Did you find it helpful? Let us know about your experience in the comments.

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Disclosure - This post is NOT sponsored or in any way connected to Dave Ramsey. However, this post does contain Amazon affiliate links to his books that I have noted. These links help support this site at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Family Balance Sheet! You can read the site's full disclosure here.

5 Homeschooling eBooks for Just $7.40

Whether you're just thinking about homeschooling or an experienced homeschooler experiencing the familiar winter homeschooling blues, this week's ebook bundle is packed full of practical encouragement, how-tos and resources to give you the confidence to homeschool your kids and actually enjoy it!

Get all 5 ebooks for only $7.40 (a savings of over 65%) for one week only.


Homeschooling by the Numbers by Angie Kauffman
Homeschooling by the Numbers is a 74-page collection of essays covering everything from toddlers to adolescents, from reading to science to art, and from formal studies to taking trips. Most of all, this collection offers homeschoolers encouragement no matter where they're at in their homeschooling journey.

So, You Think You Wanna Homeschool? by Tiffany Manley
So, You Think You Wanna Homeschool? takes you step-by-step through the processes of starting to homeschool and fine-tuning your approach, covering homeschooling styles, curriculum choices, and educational philosophies. You'll find information on homeschooling methods, curricula, finding a support system, how to use a scope and sequence, how to deal with the questions of others, how to overcome the feeling of complete inadequacy and more!

You Can Do It Too! compiled by Lorilee Lipincott
You Can Do It Too! is a series of interviews with 25 homeschool families answering questions of ‘Why do you homeschool?’ ‘What does it look like?’ ‘How do you find what to teach? ‘What do your kids think?’ and much more. This book is an in-depth look at the hows and whys of homeschooling from real families in the trenches.

Simply Homeschool by Karen DeBeus
In Simply Homeschool, Karen shares her own experiences as a homeschooling mom as well as the lessons she's learned along the way. With encouragement and tips for getting rid of physical and mental clutter, choosing curriculum, setting schedules, meal planning, avoiding the comparison trap and keeping God first, this ebook is sure to encourage you in your own homeschool.

ABC’s of Eclectic Homeschool by Amber Oliver
The ABC’s of Eclectic Homeschool is a hopeful, helpful read for new and veteran homeschoolers designed to encourage you to find your own eclectic groove and discover what works for your family in the face of so many options, choices, ideas, needs, requirements, methods and standards.

The Homeschooling bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 2/25. Get yours today:


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Chicken, Black Bean & Corn Tacos | Slow Cooker Recipe

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I LOVE LOVE LOVE tacos! In fact, it was this recipe for Chicken, Black Bean & Corn tacos that inspired me to make homemade taco seasoning. This slow cooker recipe has become a dinner mainstay during the busy and hectic work/school week.

Chicken, Black Bean and Corn Tacos

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken
• 1 (16 oz) can black beans, drained & rinsed
• ¾ cup frozen corn
• ⅔ cup homemade chicken stock (you can also use store bought) or water
• 3 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning or 1 store bought package
• juice from one lime
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch to thicken (optional)
• hard or soft tacos
• your favorite taco toppings, such as cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, avocados, and sour cream

Directions

1. Place the onions, chicken, beans, and corn in the slow cooker. Mix together the taco seasoning and cornstarch and sprinkle over the chicken. Pour in the stock and lime juice. Cook on low for 6 hours.

2. After 6 hours, remove the chicken and shred with 2 forks. Place the shredded chicken back in the slow cooker and stir everything together.

3. Serve on hard or soft taco shells and top with your favorite taco toppings.

Print recipe for Chicken, Black Bean & Corn Tacos in the Slow Cooker.

What is your favorite: hard & crunchy taco shells or soft tortillas? Let us know in the comments. I love hard shell tacos!

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This One Technique Helped a Single Mom Save $312 on Food

Guest post from Karen of MoneySavingEnthusiast.com.


You’re about to see how teacher, Jessica G., used my Receipt Reference Technique to save money on food and plan for her future purchases in three easy steps. And then I’ll explain exactly how she did it so that you can potentially get similar or better results.

1. Jessica posted the receipt on her fridge.
Jessica says, “We use it to figure out what we should be eating for the week. I also try to spend a set amount on groceries.”

Action Step #1: After putting away items from the grocery store, put the receipt right on the fridge. Place it in a spot where you will see it every time you open the fridge, so it can serve as a reminder.

2. She used the receipt to plan what she would eat in an effort to not waste her groceries.
Jessica says, “We are vegetarians and it's easy to forget what you purchased (since veggies go in the drawers of the fridge). Sometimes I take a bag of vegetables from the freezer versus the fresh vegetables which go bad a lot sooner. We try to use them and then cross off what we ate on the receipt. It’s a handy checklist. It helps us easily plan our meals and we eat healthier.”

Action Step #2: Refer to the receipt to remind yourself what to eat, especially if you have items that will spoil sooner than others.

3. Jessica checked off items she used.
Jessica says, “It helps us determine what we have left. It reminds me to go grocery shopping if I see that many of the items are checked off. We even keep the receipt and use it as our list. If I need to buy the same items, I don’t have to write a new list. Also, I like to vary our diet, so I can buy different types of vegetables. So rather than searching through the fridge and freezer to see what we have, we just look at previous receipts that serve as lists.”

Action Step # 3: Look at the receipt whenever you eat. Check off items you finish eating to determine what is left. This way you are sure not to waste what you bought and it will guide your meal planning to finish food before it expires.

It all adds up!
Jessica says, “I thought the Receipt Reference Technique by Money Saving Enthusiast was very useful. It helps us maintain a healthy diet and we no longer throw out food that we should have eaten. This saves us a great deal of money. A few dollars here and there may not seem big but it adds up over time. Avocados typically cost 1.50 each. I would buy four which is $6.00. That may seem small but if I were to throw out 6.00 worth of food a week, that would equal $312 a year. I could buy more groceries with that money or even save for college for my children. This was a quick and easy technique for a busy, single mom to do. I highly recommend this for those who want to save money. I know I will at least save $312 alone just by eating my avocados. That doesn’t even include other items that we throw out on a regular basis.”

Karen has been a lifelong Money Saving Enthusiast with an MS in Education. She shares her knowledge on her website and as a contributor to Mamiverse where she was able to interview Peter Walsh, the organizational guru. She was also recently featured on a Fox News Website. She also work as a tutor and freelance writer. In her spare time, Karen enjoys travel, photography, and reading finance books. For tips like this, check out her website www.MoneySavingEnthusiast.com.

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5 Natural Living eBooks for Just $7.40

From homemade toiletries to homeopathic remedies, this collection of natural living ebooks will help you make healthy, natural products at home…and save money in the process. Get all 5 ebooks for only $7.40 (a savings of over 80%) for one week only.


My Buttered Life {Baby Edition} by Renee Harris
From the founder of MadeOn Hard Lotion, the My Buttered Life {Baby Edition} ebook features recipes for baby massage oil, baby balm, creamy baby lotion, diaper rash cream and oatmeal milk bath, each with five ingredients or less. You'll also get access to how-to videos, plus tips on where to buy ingredients, how to do baby massage, troubleshooting and FAQs!

Homemade Health & Beauty by Sandra Calixto
In Homemade Health & Beauty, Sandra shows you how to make more than 21 health and beauty products at home -- everything from shaving cream and mouthwash to lip balm and face wash -- without all the toxic, irritating chemicals that are found in store-bought versions or the hefty prices of all-natural products.

Simple Natural Health by Nina Nelson
Simple Natural Health is your complete guide to natural living, with a holistic approach to health -- mind, body and soul -- plus money and time saving tips to help you intentionally pursue a healthy lifestyle. This ebook includes a comprehensive guide to creating an herbal medicine cabinet, recipes for simple herbal remedies, tips for saving money on nourishing whole foods, a full-body 15-minute workout and much more.

Herbal Nurturing by Michele Augur
Herbal Nurturing walks you through preparing basic herbal remedies for you and your family. Naturally prepare for cold/flu season, PMS, headaches, sunburns, postpartum, tummy aches, rashes, and more with over 30 recipes. Michele also includes additional homeopathic suggestions,healthy-living tips and fun learning at home activities to go along with each recipe plus urgent-care options for when you don't have the time or energy to prepare homemade remedies.

Simple Scrubs to Make and Give by Stacy Karen
Simple Scrubs to Make and Give is a comprehensive guide to creating simple, homemade scrubs that will nourish and exfoliate your skin. Featuring more than 20 recipes with names like Morning Coffee and Lavender Lover's, you'll learn how to make natural body scrubs for yourself or create luxurious homemade gifts that can be put together in just minutes. Plus, get an essential oil guide to help you make your own customized creations!

The Natural Living bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 2/18. Get yours today:


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Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Family Balance Sheet! You can read the site's full disclosure here.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

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Recently, I had a hankering for some tacos. I had all of the ingredients for leftover pork tacos, except for the taco seasoning, a crucial ingredient. What I didn't have a hankering for was to drive to the grocery store for one item.

So I did a quick search and discovered that taco seasoning is really easy to make at home, because the ingredients are most likely staples in your spice cabinet. It's also easy to adapt to your family's taste, heat tolerance, and what you have on hand. Try this recipe and once you have perfected it to your family's taste, make it in bulk and store in a air tight container.

Store bought taco seasoning isn't too outrageously priced at .50 - $1, but I made this recipe in bulk for zero cents, because I had all of the ingredients on hand. Another reason to make your own blend is that you are avoiding the fillers and preservatives found in store bought versions.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon sea or kosher salt - Use ⅛ teaspoon if using table salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes - optional, depending on your heat tolerance

Mix together and use in place of store bought taco seasoning with 1 pound of meat and ⅔ cup of water or stock.

You may add 1 teaspoon corn starch or flour to thicken the dish, but it’s not necessary.

If making in bulk, use 3 tablespoons per 1 pound of meat.

Print recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning. Also, try my Homemade Fajita Seasoning.

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Feb 9 & 10 | FREE or Low Cost Events for the Whole Family

Lowe's Build & Grow

• Saturday, February 9, 10 AM | Valentine's Day is right around the corner! Bring your child to Lowe's and they can build this Wheel of Love. FREE event

Michael's

• Saturday, February 9, 10 - 11: 30 | Kid's Club - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10AM - 11:30AM. Create a Valentine's Heart Party Love Bug Bag.
• Sunday, February 10, 1 - 3 PM | FREE Family Craft Time - Wood Heart Frame
• Monday, February 11, 5-7 PM | FREE Family Craft Time - Painted Heart Frame
• Tuesday, February 12, 5-7 PM | FREE Family Craft Time - Origami Bookmark

A.C. Moore

• Saturday, Feb. 9, 1 - 3 PM | Buy & Decorate - Buy a plasctic treat tube and decorate with new Duct Tape Designs FREE.
• Sunday, Feb 10, 1 - 3 PM | Demonstration - Make & Mold Marshmallow Filled Candy Hearts

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FREE Financial Advice with Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Do you have a question on retirement planning or other financial challenges? Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine is offering FREE financial advice during their annual Kiplinger's Jump-Start Your Retirement Plan Days on Thursday, Feb. 7 and Tuesday, Feb. 12.

This annual event sponsored by Kiplinger and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors offers people a chance to get free one-on-one financial advice. NAPFA members will be answering questions during online chats from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on those two days.

This year, Jump-Start Days will feature four separate chat rooms: Taxes in Retirement, Saving for Retirement, Income in Retirement, and Other Financial Challenges.

Click this link for more information on how to submit your questions.

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5 eBooks to Strengthen Your Marriage for Just $7.40

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, this week's BundleoftheWeek.com bundle is packed full of resources to strengthen your marriage! Whether you've been married for 6 months or 25 years, you're sure to find something new and fresh in this collection from top Christian marriage authors and bloggers. Get all 5 ebooks for only $7.40 (a savings of over 80%) for one week only.


15-Minute Marriage Makeover by Dustin Riechmann
15-Minute Marriage Makeover is more than an ebook; it's a plan designed to refresh your relationship, add sizzle to your sex life and bring more happiness to your marriage. And all of that in just 15 minutes a day! The exercises in this book focus on the four pillars of a happy marriage -- communication, romance, intimacy and finances -- with time management tools, mini lessons, couple time tasks and a weekly date night to review the topic of the week.

A Simple Marriage by Corey Allan, PhD
Written to help you experience more in your marriage, A Simple Marriage: The Path to Experiencing More in Marriage and Life is a compilation of Corey Allan's experience as a husband and counselor. Not only will it show you the foundational principles that are present in every marriage and an understanding of where you currently are in your relationship, but it also provides the encouragement, tools and steps to help you invest in your marriage today, whether your spouse is interested in participating or not.

Stripped Down by Tony and Alisa DiLorenzo
In Stripped Down: 13 Keys to Unlocking Intimacy in Your Marriage, this husband and wife duo show you how to create a solid marital foundation by placing God at the center of your relationship, establish family boundaries, improve communication, make your bedroom a sanctuary, have fun together and much more. With frank conversation and practical advice, this ebook will walk you through exercises to invest in intimacy and reconnect with your spouse.

Entangled by Amy Bennett
Through her own story, Amy gives readers an honest, detailed look into an emotional affair and how God restored her marriage. In Entangled: Recognizing Your Emotional Affair & Restoring Your Marriage, she shares what an emotional affair looks like, how to get out of one and -- most importantly -- how God can meet your deepest need for the love you’re seeking.

The Husband's Guide to Getting Lucky by Marla Taviano
With Marla's candid humor, The Husband's Guide to Getting Lucky clues guys in to the way their wives operate and gives them practical suggestions for being husbands their women want to make love to. Although it's written primarily to men, The Husband's Guide to Getting Lucky provides insight for both men and women into what makes their other half tick and how to achieve a fulfilling sex life.

The Marriage bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 2/11. Get yours today:


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Save Money & Celebrate Valentine's Day at Home | Date Night on a Budget

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day? My husband and I have celebrated the day ever since our first one together in 1992. In the early years, we both spent a lot of money on flowers, food, and gifts, but Valentine's Day can change with your spouse when kids enter the picture.

Now we avoid the busy restaurants and lavish gifts and instead we spend the evening in the comforts of our home. Yes, I'd love to eat out and have someone else prepare my dinner and serve me, but that would involve a babysitter and a food tab. Now we save money, but still celebrate our marriage and our family.

Our two daughters love the holiday too. Pink and hearts--it's the official holiday of 5-7 year old girls everywhere. So for us, they are included in our festivities. Of course, if you'd rather have an intimate dinner with just your honey then shuttle the kids to bed early and move your dinner to later in the evening.

7 Tips Celebrate Valentine's Day at Home

1. Unplug from the Outside World.
Turn off the phones and any form of social media. Don't invite or allow your Facebook friends into your special day/night with your sweety.

2. Use the Good China.
If you're like me, you'll have to wash it because it sits in a cabinet unused the other 364 days out of the year, but it sets a tone for a special night.

3. Create a Romantic Ambiance.
Create a romantic vibe with a candle lit table and your favorite music playing in the background. And tonight might be a good night to change out of that outfit you were wearing when you cleaned your house earlier in the day. I've made that mistake, take my word on that one!

4. Make an Ultra Special Dinner.
Does your sweetheart have a favorite restaurant dish or maybe a favorite ingredient, like shrimp or salmon?  Do a google search for recipe ideas. Here are some of my favorite recipes from the Family Balance Sheet archives:

• Grilled Salmon with Peach Salsa
• Pasta with Clams and Fresh Tomatoes
• Roasted Tilapia with Tomatoes and Olives
• Turkey Sausage, Arugula, and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
• Roasted Garlic and Herb Pork Tenderloin
• Grilled Garlic Lemon Shrimp
• Grilled Lime Chicken and Mango Red Pepper Salsa
• Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp

5. Make a Yummy Dessert.

• Chocolate Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping
• Blueberry and Peach Crumb Pots with Homemade Whipped Cream
• Homemade Brownies with Homemade Whipped Cream

6. Sip on Adult Beverages.
My husband and I like to indulge on a adult beverage (or two) when we are dining at home.

• Valentine's Day Cocktails

7. Watch a Romantic and Funny Flick.
Laughter is the best medicine and it's good for relationships too!

No matter how you spend the holiday, Have a Happy (& Romantic) Valentine's Day!

How will you spend Valentine's Day? Will you go out or have a date night in? Let us know in the comments.

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