Note: Those of you who like LWSL on Facebook or Instagram probably already know that my family was in a serious car accident on Friday morning. I will be sharing more about the accident on Wednesday, after I’ve had a little more time to process it all, but for now I just wanted to let you know that we are all doing fine, and that we managed to walk away without major injuries only by the grace of God. Thank you all so much for your concern, prayers, & support. For today I am simply happy to share my first Ditto DIY project! Welcome to our first {ditto} DIY challenge! Once ... read more
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It has been an intense week and I am definitely ready for a day of rest. Thank you so much to everyone who linked up at Thrifty Thursday this week. If you haven’t had a chance, be sure to check out all of the fabulous recipes, projects, & tips on this week’s Thrifty Thursday post. Here were (just a few of) the things I loved. * * * This Orange Soft Scrub FAIL from Ang Says made me laugh. I could definitely relate! I also loved these Five Tips for New Mystery Shoppers from Moms are Frugal. She gives some great advice if you’ve ever considered earning a little extra pocket money as ... read more
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Summer is right around the corner, which for many families means one thing: Vacation Time! I don’t know about your family, but vacations have often been a budget-killer for ours. We think we’ve accounted for everything, and yet by the end of the trip we are find we’ve spent more than we planned for, whether it be on food, parking, or luggage fees. Those little things can sure add up! Whether you are just starting to plan your next trip, or you’ve had something on the calendar for months already, there is always time to minimize your trip expenses and to take the time to plan for how much you ... read more
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Happy Thrifty Thursday everyone! I hope your May is off to a fabulous start. This month I’m happy to introduce my featured site sponsor, BlissOnState.com, a darling (and affordable) online boutique founded by my sweet friend Alysha. And if you’d love a chance to win a hundred bucks to spruce up your spring & summer wardrobe, then be sure to enter the giveaway here! But now it is time to link up your favorite budget friendly posts! You are welcome to share any recipes, craft projects, decorating ideas, savings tips, or any other helpful household pointers. Linking up more than one article is fine too, just please don’t repeat any ... read more
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It’s MAY! With Cinco de Mayo just a few short days away, I thought it would be fun to share my new favorite chili recipe. This super easy meal whips up in less than 30 minutes using basic pantry staples. The key to the super fresh flavor is the green verde chili, so don’t skip that part! As usual, I used vegetarian protein crumbles instead of ground beef, but those of you who prefer REAL meat could substitute a pound of ground beef or turkey instead. Although I personally prefer things a little spicier, I make this version fairly mild so that it is still kid friendly. (My kids absolutely ... read more
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I am so thrilled to introduce you to our Featured Site Sponsor for the month of May, the tres fabulous online boutique BlissOnState.com. This gorgeous site is owned by one of my oldest and dearest friends, Alysha Ritter, who owns and operates the real-life Bliss Salon & Boutique in Bellingham, Washington. Having a BFF who owns her own boutique has some definite advantages, and for years now, Alysha has been my saving grace when it comes to style. What I love most about her shop is that it is not at all overwhelming. Every single piece is hand selected by Alysha’s amazing eye. She weeds out the fluff to pick ... read more
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Let’s face it. Sometimes it is just easier to do things ourselves! That said, there are often times where we find ourselves collaborating with others, whether it be friends or family, for big event or party. How do you mesh two (or more) sometimes conflicting styles in order to come together long enough to pull it all off? If you’ve ever found yourself in this situation (or will be in that situation soon), you won’t want to miss these 8 tips for successfully co-planning & co-hosting your next party over at P&G Everyday. Pin It
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This was not the blog post I had planned for this morning, but yesterday evening I happened to check my blog stats to see what posts people were reading. I was amused–and a little horrified–to see that, thanks to Pinterest, the most popular posts of the day were Why I Make the Bed: 10 Reasons I Keep My House Clean and Speed Cleaning. As I looked around my house, I couldn’t help but think to myself, wow, if they only knew….. Because in that moment every single room in my house was an absolute disaster, dishes piled in the sink, laundry overflowing from the hamper, clutter, sand, dust, and dog ... read more
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Another week–and month–down. Where does the time go? Thank you so much to everyone who linked up at Thrifty Thursday this week. If you haven’t had a chance, be sure to check out all of the fabulous recipes, projects, & tips on this week’s Thrifty Thursday post. It was SO hard to pick my favorites this week, but without further ado, here were (just a few of) the things I loved: * * * First of all, I am pretty much obsessed with the idea of having chickens, which is currently not an option in our deed restricted community. Until we can find a place in the country, I am ... read more
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I am so excited to announce that I will be speaking at the Becoming Conference in Asheville, North Carolina this coming August 9th-10th. I hope you all will join me there! This amazing, life-changing conference was founded by two fabulously frugal gals, Jenny Martin of Southern Savers and Jen Schmidt of Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. The purpose is to encourage all women to become creative, purposeful, and frugal. I was lucky enough to attend as a guest in 2011, and this year I am thrilled to be speaking alongside one of my dearest friends, the one and only Edie Wadsworth of Life in Grace, on the topic of hospitality and ... read more
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If you’ve been following this blog for any amount of time, you probably realize that we take parties seriously here in the Soukup household! Princess has been planning her owl party since last November even though her birthday isn’t until August. Trouble isn’t quite the obsessive-compulsive planner that her big sister is turning out to be, but she definitely has an opinion when it comes to picking her themes. This year, for her big 4th birthday party, she is ALL about mermaids. Here is our mermaid party inspiration: Photo Credits: {Be sure to check all the links below for many, MANY more amazing party ideas!} 1. Mermaid Party Dessert Table ... read more
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Happy Thrifty Thursday everyone! It is once again time to link up your favorite budget friendly posts. It can be a recipe, craft project, decorating idea, money-saving tip, or something else….the sky’s the limit here! Also, you are welcome to share more than one post, but please don’t share the same post more than once. Finally, just one more reminder that I am currently accepting submissions for guest posts. Please email me at Ruth@LivingWellSpendingLess.com for guest post guidelines if you are interested. After all the fantastic posts I’ve seen at this party, I know you’d all be amazing! Here are the most clicked links from last week: 1. Joyfully Thriving ... read more
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I don’t know how it works in your house, but around here, as soon as the weather starts to warm up, we start grilling as much as possible! Our favorite grill fare (by far!) is a good old fashioned cheeseburger (or veggie burger, as the case may be), and to me nothing goes better with a home-grilled burger than made-from-scratch coleslaw. I know coleslaw can be a pretty controversial–and highly subjective–topic. Some people prefer a creamy mayo-based dressing, while others insist the only way to eat coleslaw is with a vinegar base. And then there is the sweet versus sour camps….it is almost enough to make your head spin! Personally ... read more
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This is a guest post by Claire @ A Little Claireification Today I am so happy to introduce you to my adorable friend Claire. I first “met” Claire over two years ago when she discovered my goofy You Tube videos and became an expert coupon-user, regular blog reader, and frequent commenter. I was lucky enough to meet her in person this past January at the Beech Retreat, and then again at Blissdom, and she is a joy to be around. Be sure to check out all the amazing recipes and thrifty craft projects on her great blog, A Little Claireification. * * * Hi there! I’m Claire! I am so ... read more
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Have you ever looked at home decorating magazine or watched a design show on HGTV and wished you could make your own rooms look that good? Design is not always about expertise or even an unlimited budget, but more about taking inspiration and making it work for your own space. That is the philosophy behind {ditto} DIY. Once a month, beginning in May, nine very different bloggers will attempt to recreate in their own homes a project or design element inspired by a haute couture design selected by the (uber talented) Darlene Weir of Fieldstone Hill Design. As far as my own decorating style is concerned, I think I would probably ... read more
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