Jinger Duggar, Jeremy Vuolo married already! Molester brother Josh Duggar attends "Counting On" quickie wedding

Here comes the bride! Jinger Duggar is now officially Mrs. Jeremy Vuolo after a brief 4-month courtship and engagement. A special guest appearance was made by sex molester brother Josh Duggar, his wife Anna and their family. Jinger and her husband Jeremy are ecstatic but questions remain on how the reality show parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar feel about their daughter's whirlwind romance. Were they "#Counting On" such a speedy courtship-to-altar relationship?   Jinger Duggar, Jeremy Vuolo marry in quickie wedding, molester brother Josh Duggar attends

Kitchen Utensils Wedding Presents and Bridal Shower Gifts Under $10

Good food depends on quality cooking utensils. Here is a list of must-have kitchen tools. Give these gifts to your favorite chef this holiday season. These kitchen utensils make ideal wedding gifts and bridal shower gifts. Each is priced at $3-$10 and easy on the budget.

mesh dipper: large scoop used to separate foods from hot water or oil. Also called a "spider"  in Asian cooking.

bamboo cooking utensils: Bamboo, unlike wood, is a quickly-renewable and great cooking. Use in place of wooden spoons; bamboo resists stains and food contamination.

silicone or rubber scraper: Scrapers made of plastic are useless. To cleanly scrape, the paddle must be made of silicone or rubber. Choose sets with several sizes, including a small, narrow scraper for getting inside containers with small openings.

palm chopper: Sharp crescent cutting blade works great for fine chopping nuts, vegetables, onions, tomatoes. Sheath keeps blade sharp and prevent cuts.

silicone/wire whisk: Whisks make excellent kitchen tools for mixing. Silicone whisks are easier to clean and don't rust. Wire whisks do a better job of thoroughly mixing.
 
 

cook's knife with honing case: These knives are sharpened by squeezing the sheath or cover and pulling the knife through. Available from The Pampered Chef in three sizes: paring, utility and chef's knife.

IKEA utility "slitbar"--Swedish for "knife"-- IKEA's products organized by Swedish name--mine's stayed sharp for four years!

Chop and scoop cutting board I have two sizes of these remarkable cutting boards. For the cook who likes portable cutting boards, they are ideal. Edges are curved up to prevent spills. The cutting board has a silicone handle and a narrowed edge for pouring chopped foods into cooking pan. To clean and sanitize this nylon cutting board, soak it in bleach water.


 Extra large stainless steel mixing bowl: Extra wide is good too--diameter of 18- 24 inches. Extra diameter provides plenty of work space. Dollar General sells a basic large stainless steel mixing bowl for $5.


For more on food and food preparation, visit my blog at www.greatfood4u.blogspot.com.

Digital Receipts for Wedding Budgeting, Savings, Returns

Picture this, brides and grooms: the wedding flowers aren't right. You paid a bundle and need the receipt to return them. Annddd, you can't find it. Here you are trying to save money, keep in budget, not go into debt. But for lack of a tiny piece of paper (in the ocean of paperwork), that refund might be lost. Commence panic attack, argument, blaming over whose job it was to organize the receipts...in short, chaos! Well, with digital receipts, accessed from your smart phone, that crisis can be averted. I first used them at Menard's.  Read on  Digital Receipts Help with Returns, Book-Keeping

How I Lost 100 Pounds With Mind, Attitude and Habit Changes

I've lost almost 100 pounds. It's taken about two years. That sounds like a long time. But don't let that daunt you, fellow dieters. It took me longer because I didn't "crash" diet. Also, I lost weight faster the longer I stuck with it. Ergo, I learned to diet effectively. Losing weight meant changing several things. Here's how.  How to Lose 100 Pounds With Mind, Attitude and Habit Changes

Our Under $800 Wedding Reception, Frugal Yet Memorable

My husband and I paid for our own wedding and reception. Grandparents paid for food, but we covered everything else. And even though they bought food, we kept costs frugal. We paid everything off in advance, incurred no debt and charged nothing. Our cheap wedding reception cost under $800 for 150 people, including food, cake, decorations, music, flowers, equipment and hall rental. This was 27 years ago, but I could still do it today and so can you. Just follow our penny pincher example. My Cheap Wedding Reception Under $800

Host a Coed Bridal Shower; Gender Neutral Party for Guys and Gals

I'm a party girl! I've organized kids' parties, receptions, open houses, theme parties and showers. Currently, I'm hosting a different kind of event: a coed shower. No, you don't bathe together; it's a gender-neutral bridal shower with men and women guests. It's a little outside the box and not all guests maybe comfortable with it. Most importantly, throw a coed shower only at the bride and groom's request. They're the ones you have to please, first and last. Here's how to throw one. Host a Coed Shower; Unisex Wedding/Bridal Party

Free Printable Check Transaction Register, Financial Organizers, Wedding Planners

Brides to be, one of the biggest mistakes married couples make is to start out in debt. A good way to keep wedding costs in check (no pun intended) is to record purchases. Whether you purchase with debit card, checkbook, credit card or cash, keep a balance sheet of wedding expenses. Here are free printable checkbook and debit card registers to help keep wedding spending under control. Keeping a balanced checkbook, including ACH and debit card transactions makes financial sense and cents. If you note down every check you write, ACH purchase you make and debit card transaction you complete, you will keep better account of your wedding finances.  Printable Check Register, Financial Organizers 

Planning a Wedding Rehearsal Dinner on a Budget

The rehearsal dinner allows you to thank your wedding party for helping to make your big day special. Typically the groom's family pays for the rehearsal dinner. However, not everyone understands this protocol (my in-laws didn't). If your in-laws aren't forthcoming about whether they will pay for the rehearsal dinner, proceed under the assumption that they aren't. It's not worth creating drama over (weddings usually cause enough drama to go around!). Plan your own rehearsal dinner and consider these budget friendly options.  Planning a Wedding Rehearsal Dinner on a Budget 

How We Paid Off Our Wedding Without Incurring Debt

My husband and I are celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss this year. When we got married, we paid for the wedding, honeymoon and most of the reception ourselves. We came back from our honeymoon debt-free and I'm glad we did. Money woes are major relationship-killers. We have friends who were in divorce court before their wedding was paid off. Here are ways to avoid wedding debt.

* Prioritize. Pick which wedding elements are important to you. Cake, attire, alcohol, location, accommodations, flowers, food, music, decorations--decide which of these you want to splurge on and go light with the rest. If you want it all, set a manageable budget for each aspect and don't deviate from it. Read more at  How We Paid Off Our Wedding Without Incurring Debt

Niagara Falls, Canada: Honeymoon Paradise

Niagara Falls, Canada: Honeymooner's Paradise is Worth the Trip
No matter what the weather, Niagara Falls is a sight to behold. In clear weather Niagara roars majestically to end in a cloud of mist. In foggy weather, the Falls are lost in a land of raging water, mist and mystery. Here's how to get the Niagara Falls honeymoon. Read more...

Cheap Wedding Gifts, How to Save Money

Wedding Gift Giving FAQs
Wedding gift giving can be a really touchy subject. What is protocol? What is tacky? How much do I have to spend? How can I save money? Here is your one-stop wedding gift FAQ guide. We Hollanders are known for having excellent taste, a generous disposition as well as a frugal nature. Here are tips for wedding gift giving from your Dutch auntie! Includes ideas,stores and shopping strategies
Read on...

50 Regularly-Priced Wedding Gifts Under $10 (Nice Ones!)

50 Wedding or Bridal Shower Gifts Regularly Priced Under $10
Gift list for wedding gifts priced under $10 from most any local retailer.
Can you find nice, useful wedding gifts regularly priced under $10? Absolutely! But that's being cheap right? No way! These are attractive, useful gifts! What's more, many of these gifts go on sale for even less! Check it out...

Bridal Shower/ Morning Wedding Brunch: Edwardian Tea Party Theme

How to Host an Edwardian Tea Party
Planning a bridal shower or morning wedding brunch? Consider this delightful Edwardian tea party theme. Compleat guide to hosting the perfect Edwardian-era tea party, including tea service, dress, flowers, music, atmosphere and of course food and drink!
Read on...

Blue Flowers for Wedding and Spring Gardens

Best Blue Flowers for Weddings and Spring Gardening
Blue is the new white for wedding colors. But it can be difficult to find blue flowers for wedding decorations. Here are eight different blue flower options to consider for your blue themed wedding. A primer on blue flowers for wedding bouquets and decor, gardens and planting.
Read on...

Free Printable Wedding. Bridal Shower Invitations and Cards

Free Printable Wedding Cards and Invitations
Want beautiful bridal shower and wedding invitations on a budget? How about free, yes I said free printable bridal shower invitations, wedding invitations, wedding cards, thank you notes are more! Save money and send beautiful invitations! Save money on a lovely wedding card by printing free from your computer! Includes links to many vintage and Victorian images and artwork. The bride and groom need the gifts and cash more than they need a $5 wedding card! And brides, it's not tacky, but rather practical to save money on invitations!
Read more...

Vintage 1930's British Wedding Theme: Elegance Extraordinaire!

Winter Wedding Themes
How to plan a winter wedding using the theme of a 1930's British supper party.Complete details for vintage apparel, decor, flowers, food, wine and design details. But why wait for a winter wedding to use this classic theme?
Read more...

Romantic Dinner Date

Best Spot for a Romantic Dinner in Any City
A recipe for romance that you can use wherever you are and regardless of your budget! A do-it-yourself romantic dinner with tips to make it your most memorable date ever! Perfect venue to pop The Question!
Read more...

How to Propose in the City

How to Propose in the City!
Perfect places to pop the question in lovely Grand Haven Michigan! Or any city! A travel city guide for lovers! Read more...