 This page may contain affiliate links. Many of you read The Velveteen Rabbit as a child. It may have even been a favorite book of yours as you grew up and appreciated the message even more. I'd like to introduce you to a very darling new book called Audrey Bunny. While it has a few similarities to The Velveteen Rabbit, it's also quite different. See below to enter the giveaway I'm holding for a brand new copy of Audrey Bunny! I've met so many children over the last 25 years (including my five years of teaching in a public school) who struggle with feeling inept, unloved, and often bullied. They are insecure, live with constant feelings of awkwardness and rejection, and just don't fit in well in their classrooms and other social situations. One of the blessings of homeschooling my children is that they haven't grown up constantly being mocked or bullied for their faith, their personality quirks (don't we all have some???!!!), or their appearance. In fact, I've noticed that many homeschooled youth in my area just have such wonderful, blossoming personalities that they aren't afraid to show the world, all because they aren't constantly being battered down by their cruel peers. I won't say my girls have been too sheltered, though. They've dealt with favoritism at church, because they don't attend a public or private school. They love to learn and aren't afraid to show it, so sometimes they are teased or ignored because of that. Audrey Bunny was written to show children the incredible value they have! They are so loved by God! I love the message of this new book, and I know you will, too. Audrey Bunny is a perfect book for youngsters to begin learning about their value with God, and the value of all other human beings, no matter how imperfect or different. You've got to watch this book trailer. The illustrations are so darling! About Audrey Bunny Also included: The Parent Connection (last page of the book) shares discussion questions and activities reinforcing God's love for us.
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| Maggie Brendan is the bestselling author of several books, including the Heart of the West series and The Blue Willow Brides series. She was a 2013 finalist for the Published Maggie Award of Excellence, a 2013 finalist for the Heart of Excellence Readers' Choice Award, a 2012 finalist for Inspirational Reader's Choice award, and a recipient of the 2004 ACW Persistence Award in Atlanta. She is a member of the ACFW; Author's Guild; Romance Writers of America; Faith, Hope, and Love; and Georgia Romance Writers. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, researching for her novels, and spending time with her family. You can follow her at her website www.MaggieBrendan.com, her blog www.SouthernBelleWriter.blogspot.com, and on Facebook and Twitter @MaggieBrendan. |
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
I received a copy of this book for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading this book.
I received a copy of this book for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading this book.
This page may contain affiliate links.
Over my lifetime, I've read a few books along similar themes in this new book: Alone Yet Not Alone.
Because it was a shorter read than some of the books I receive for reviews and giveaways, and it was geared toward upper elementary and middle school ages, I decided to let my 13-year-old, Brittany, read and review the book for us!
Book Reviews by Brittany:
"The Leininger family settled deep within America's new frontier, in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania. They were celebrating their blessings, their faith, and a bountiful harvest when their family was torn apart by the Penn's Creek Massacre. When Barbara and Regina are carried away and separated by Allegheny warriors, both sisters rely on their faith in God's truth, even in their darkest hour."
I really liked this book. Being only about 150 pages long, it's a quick read that was very interesting, even to non-book-fanatics like myself!
This book was very inspirational, and since it was based on a true story, that made it even more interesting. Seeing how the Indian tribes worked, and how the American girls had to adapt to the Indian lifestyle, was well written. I could almost feel how they felt in those hard times.
I really loved how God was a part of the girls' lives, even in the hard times they were going through. Barbara (the older sister), and Regina (the younger sister) had a very close relationship that was hard to break, and even though they were separated from their families, they still trusted in God for everything they did.
All in all, this is a good, quick read that I would recommend for all ages!
Thanks, Brittany, for helping out and writing the book review for us all to read.
This book was very inspirational, and since it was based on a true story, that made it even more interesting. Seeing how the Indian tribes worked, and how the American girls had to adapt to the Indian lifestyle, was well written. I could almost feel how they felt in those hard times.
I really loved how God was a part of the girls' lives, even in the hard times they were going through. Barbara (the older sister), and Regina (the younger sister) had a very close relationship that was hard to break, and even though they were separated from their families, they still trusted in God for everything they did.
All in all, this is a good, quick read that I would recommend for all ages!
Thanks, Brittany, for helping out and writing the book review for us all to read.
,Mom!
Alone Yet Not Alone was inspired by Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NIV)
What verse reminds you that God is with you and is always in control?
It's time for a fun giveaway for your own copy of Alone Yet Not Alone!
To enter this giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter widget below. If you can’t see it, try opening it in a different internet browser. If you still can't see it, you may need to update the Flash on your computer, here. (Hint: just make sure to uncheck the box that says, "Yes, install McAfee Security Scan Plus - optional", unless you want this on your computer.)
The Alone Yet Not Alone book giveaway runs through Sunday, October 26th, 2013 at midnight Pacific Time...
...and please read the requirements for entering, below, because if you're the winner, and you said you completed a step, but didn't, I'll be checking up on you! :)
Entrants must be 18 years or older; only U.S. residents are eligible to enter this giveaway.
I will select the winner of this prize using Random.org (via this Rafflecopter entry form, below).
I will be verifying the winning entrant's giveaway entry options to make sure they are valid. In the past several months, multiple potential winners were excluded from winning even though their names had been selected randomly as winners, because they said that they had signed up for email subscriptions but had not completed the process, which includes clicking on an email you will receive to confirm your subscription. An email subscription to Joy In Our Journey.com is not a requirement to enter our giveaways, but if you do use an email subscription option to enter to win, please make sure that you click on the confirmation email that you will receive. That will validate your entry. Thank you! :)
I received a copy of this movie for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based solely on my experiences while reading this book.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
This page may contain affiliate links.
Summary of "A Reluctant Courtship"
Honore Bainbridge has been courted by two men, one of whom turned out to be a traitor, the other a murderer. Banished to her family's country estate, where she will hopefully stay out of trouble, she finally meets the man she is sure is exactly right for her: Lord Ashmoor. Tall, dark, and handsome--what more could a girl ask for?
But he, too, is under suspicion because of his American upbringing and accusations that he has helped French prisoners escape from Dartmoor Prison. If he's to keep out of a British prison himself and secure his place in British society, Lord Ashmoor needs a wife beyond reproach--something the vexingly beautiful Honore certainly is not. Though they find themselves drawn to each other, family obligations may conspire to keep them apart forever.
For the sake of her heart, Honore determines to prove Ashmoor's innocence--even if doing so risks her own life.
From the first sentence in A Reluctant Courtship, award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes thrusts you into high drama amid the rocky cliffs of Devonshire, England, and keeps you suspended there until the final page.
But he, too, is under suspicion because of his American upbringing and accusations that he has helped French prisoners escape from Dartmoor Prison. If he's to keep out of a British prison himself and secure his place in British society, Lord Ashmoor needs a wife beyond reproach--something the vexingly beautiful Honore certainly is not. Though they find themselves drawn to each other, family obligations may conspire to keep them apart forever.
For the sake of her heart, Honore determines to prove Ashmoor's innocence--even if doing so risks her own life.
From the first sentence in A Reluctant Courtship, award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes thrusts you into high drama amid the rocky cliffs of Devonshire, England, and keeps you suspended there until the final page.
Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by Jan:
Once in a while, I come across a book that proves the statement that I "can’t tell a book by its cover."
A Reluctant Courtship by Laurie Alice Eakes is proof of that statement. It’s not that the cover isn’t very nice; it is! However, it gives the impression that here is just another English romance novel. Well, it is an English romance novel, but it is so much more! The main characters are: heroine (Honore), who is in disgrace and will try anything to remove that disgrace; and a hero (Meric), who has to prove his dead father innocent of a murder charge.
The time period is 1813, during the War of 1812. In this particular village, there are French men who are on the side of the Americans, British who are fighting the Americans, and smugglers. In addition, two Americans, Meric and his brother, Philo, are a part of the scene. Meric has come to England to prove his father innocent of a charge of murder, and instead has to rescue Honore from falling off a cliff to her death. He is attracted to this beautiful lady, but her tarnished reputation can only lead to friendship. He must first complete his mission and support his mother and other siblings. The conflicting emotions has both Honore and Meric at cross purposes. Then there is Miss Morrow, Honore’s companion, who seems to have missed out on a romance. Can she find that special man in this out of the way village?
I appreciated that this novel wasn’t just about dances, banquets, and tea parties, as so many 18th century English novels are, but had fast action and a believable lifestyle for the characters. I would recommend A Reluctant Courtship, the third book in the Daughters of Bainbridge House series by Laurie Alice Eakes for an interesting, fast paced, and somewhat somewhat complicated story line. It's a story that keeps your interest to the last page.
A Reluctant Courtship by Laurie Alice Eakes is proof of that statement. It’s not that the cover isn’t very nice; it is! However, it gives the impression that here is just another English romance novel. Well, it is an English romance novel, but it is so much more! The main characters are: heroine (Honore), who is in disgrace and will try anything to remove that disgrace; and a hero (Meric), who has to prove his dead father innocent of a murder charge.
The time period is 1813, during the War of 1812. In this particular village, there are French men who are on the side of the Americans, British who are fighting the Americans, and smugglers. In addition, two Americans, Meric and his brother, Philo, are a part of the scene. Meric has come to England to prove his father innocent of a charge of murder, and instead has to rescue Honore from falling off a cliff to her death. He is attracted to this beautiful lady, but her tarnished reputation can only lead to friendship. He must first complete his mission and support his mother and other siblings. The conflicting emotions has both Honore and Meric at cross purposes. Then there is Miss Morrow, Honore’s companion, who seems to have missed out on a romance. Can she find that special man in this out of the way village?
I appreciated that this novel wasn’t just about dances, banquets, and tea parties, as so many 18th century English novels are, but had fast action and a believable lifestyle for the characters. I would recommend A Reluctant Courtship, the third book in the Daughters of Bainbridge House series by Laurie Alice Eakes for an interesting, fast paced, and somewhat somewhat complicated story line. It's a story that keeps your interest to the last page.
About the author: Laurie Alice Eakes
| Laurie Alice Eakes is the author of Lady in the Mist, Heart's Safe Passage, Choices of the Heart, A Necessary Deception, and A Flight of Fancy, which won the October 2012 Clash of the Titles Award, voted on by readers. She won a National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007 for Family Guardian. Laurie Alice writes full-time from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband and sundry dogs and cats. Visit www.lauriealiceeakes.com for more about this author. |
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
I received a copy of this book for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading this book.
I received a copy of this book for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading this book.
This page may contain affiliate links.
 | I've always loved coffee-flavored foods, but would you believe that I didn't start enJOYing a cup of coffee until I was around 40 years old? Of course, that cup of coffee was probably half cream and sugar, by the time I added enough sweet and creamy goodness to make it not taste bitter. ☺ |
A couple of weeks ago, I introduced you to making your own Chocolate Extract. This week, it's time to learn how to make your own Coffee Extract! I love to use coffee extract in my favorite homemade ice cream: Low-Carb Homemade Mocha Ice Cream! It also works beautifully in mocha shakes, smoothies, and puddings.
This extract is one of the wonderful ingredients that is helping my family stay "on plan" with Trim Healthy Mama, a low-glycemic style of eating. We get to eat so many delicious desserts and continue to lose weight!
First things first: Coffee Extract will almost always contain some form of alcohol, used as a natural preservative.
If you prefer to make a non-alcoholic coffee extract, keep in mind that you'll need to freeze this if you would like to keep it on hand long-term. To replace 2 tablespoons of coffee liqueur or extract, use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of non-alcohol Chocolate Extract mixed with 1 teaspoon of instant coffee, which has been dissolved in 2 Tablespoons of water. Can also substitute expresso, non-alcoholic coffee extract; or coffee-flavored syrup.
 | For those of you who are ready to make regular Coffee Extract suitable for long-term storage without refrigeration or freezing, you'll need to decide if you'd like gluten-free Coffee Extract, or whether or not that matters to you. I prefer to make my extracts so they are gluten-free, for guests who require that as part of their diet. When out and about, shopping for gluten-free vodka or other forms of alcohol, look for products that have been distilled from potatoes. Yup, you heard me right. No grains, if you want this to be gluten-free. |
Coffee extract has two simple ingredients: coffee and vodka. How easy is that? !!!
(Note: you may also use white wine or gin, or even brandy or cognac.)
(Note: you may also use white wine or gin, or even brandy or cognac.)
 | What You'll Need:
|
 Grind up enough coffee beans to measure 1/2 cup. You may also use whole coffee beans in your blender, if it's powerful enough to blend those up well. If you'd like your extract really strong, add more coffee! |  Or, measure out 1/2 cup of instant coffee crystals. There's no need to be "exact" in your measurements, though. Different measurements will just adjust the strength of your extract. |
 | Measure 1.5 to 2 cups of vodka or other alcohol into your blender. Consider the size of the container you'll be storing this in. If you'll be using a pint jar, measure about 1-3/4 cups of vodka into the blender to allow room for the coffee beans/crystals. |
 | Add coffee beans or measured ground coffee to the vodka/alcohol in your blender. Blend for 5 minutes. |
 | If you blend too long and the mixture gets too hot, you'll lose some of the preserving benefits of the vodka/alcohol. In other words, if you have a high powered blender like a Vitamix or a Blendtec, you may want to shorten the length of blending time. You don't want to open up the blender and see the extract liquids boiling! |
 | My first attempt to strain the coffee extract was a big fail. I lined a funnel with a coffee filter, but even after 10 minutes of sitting, it had only strained a tiny amount.  |
 | I didn't wait 24 hours or longer to see if the coffee would continue to strain well with the coffee filter/funnel. I was anxious to finish this process! Instead, I grabbed a fabric jelly bag and poured the extract through the bag. After pouring off all of the liquid, I squeezed the bag carefully to remove any last bit of liquid extract. Next time, I'll line a quart canning jar with some muslin or similar fabric, fastening it around the edges of the jar with a strong rubberband, and pour the liquid coffee extract through the fabric. That will be much easier! |
If you're interested in a double extraction, pour this strained liquid back into your blender, add more coffee, and repeat the blending and straining process a second time. This makes the coffee extract even more potent and strong.
 | I'm thrilled that I no longer need to purchase expensive coffee extract! This was so easy to make, even with an inexpensive blender. If you'd like this to be flavored, you may also add some almond extract, peppermint extract, cinnamon, or other flavors of your choice, to the finished product. I would recommend avoiding extracts that contain propylene glycol. If you use cardamom pods or the powdered herb blended with the coffee, this will neutralize the effects of the caffeine (decaffeinate it). Some people will drink half a shot of the coffee extract to perk them up in the morning or before a big test. I don't know that I recommend doing that, but then, I'm not a medical professional - nor a coffee addict. Ha! Below, you'll see the recipe ready for you to print out. |
Coffee Extract doesn't need to be refrigerated, and can be stored indefinitely for your baking and cooking uses. After you have followed this recipe, it's completely ready to be used; there's no need to store this for months until it reaches potency. However, you'll want to store your Coffee Extract in a dark cupboard or closet.
The full recipe for Homemade DIY Coffee Extract:
Pour measured vodka or other alcohol into blender. Add ground coffee, coffee beans, or instant coffee crystals. Add additional extract flavorings, if desired, or ground cardamom or pods if you'd like the extract to be decaffeinated.
Blend for up to 5 minutes in your blender; for high-powered blenders like Vitamix or Blendtec, don't blend so long that the mixture gets too hot.
Line a jar or container with muslin or other straining/jelly bag type of fabric. Fasten fabric securely to the edge of the jar with a strong rubberband.
Pour blended coffee mixture into straining bag or fabric. Squeeze liquid from bag or fabric. You now have coffee extract! Repeat process a second time using strained liquid to make a double extract, if desired.
Blend for up to 5 minutes in your blender; for high-powered blenders like Vitamix or Blendtec, don't blend so long that the mixture gets too hot.
Line a jar or container with muslin or other straining/jelly bag type of fabric. Fasten fabric securely to the edge of the jar with a strong rubberband.
Pour blended coffee mixture into straining bag or fabric. Squeeze liquid from bag or fabric. You now have coffee extract! Repeat process a second time using strained liquid to make a double extract, if desired.
Ingredients and Supplies:
- 1-1/2 to 2 cups vodka (if needing gluten-free, use potato mash vodka or other non-grain alcohol)
- 1/2 cup coffee beans or ground coffee beans, or instant coffee
- 2- to 4-cup glass jar with tight-sealing lid
- blender
- muslin bag/jelly bag or fabric/rubberband (generally available at hardware stores)
Here's a free printable sheet of labels you may use to decorate your jars!
(Those of you receiving this blog post via email subscriptions may need to click through to the actual post to view and print off the Homemade Coffee Extract labels.) Click on the image, below, to open up the PDF document containing the Coffee Extract labels.
 | Coffee Extract may be used with any type of recipe you'd like! If you're using the Trim Healthy Mama way of cooking, you may enJOY taking a look at my new Visual Shopping Guide for Trim Healthy Mama...a virtual shopping list of ideas when you are grocery shopping. |
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In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Summary of "Under a Blackberry Moon"
Just a few days after she gave birth alone in the northwoods, a recently widowed young Chippewa woman stumbled into a nearby lumber camp in search of refuge from the winter snows. Come summer, it is clear that Moon Song cannot stay among the rough-and-tumble world of white lumbermen, and so the camp owner sends Skypilot, his most trusted friend, to accompany her on the long and treacherous journey back to her people.
But when tragedy strikes off the shore of Lake Superior, Moon Song and Skypilot must depend on each other for survival. With every step they take into the forbidding woods, they are drawn closer together, until it seems the unanswerable questions must be asked.
Can she leave her culture to enter his?
Can he leave his world to enter hers?
Or will they simply walk away from a love that seems too complicated to last?
But when tragedy strikes off the shore of Lake Superior, Moon Song and Skypilot must depend on each other for survival. With every step they take into the forbidding woods, they are drawn closer together, until it seems the unanswerable questions must be asked.
Can she leave her culture to enter his?
Can he leave his world to enter hers?
Or will they simply walk away from a love that seems too complicated to last?
Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by Jan:
Serena Miller has titled her new book Under a Blackberry Moon, and has succeeded in writing a story that is both fun to read and educational. I was interested to read her descriptions of the lifestyle of the Indians and pioneers of the 1860’s in Michigan and the problems they faced.
Even though this was book two of the series, I never felt like I should have read book one first. However, I will read it as soon as I can get it; Under a Blackberry Moon was that good!
The story is written around Moon Song, a beautiful Indian girl with a very young baby boy; and Skypilot, a young man from the South. Moon Song and “Skypilot” are traveling on a steamboat to take Moon Song back to her people after the death of her husband, when the boat they are sailing in blows up. They - along with a white lady, Isabella - are the only survivors. However, in order to save themselves, they must make their way many miles back to civilization. How are two white people who have never lived “off the land” going to survive? Only with the help of a native Indian girl who has spent most of her life learning the skills that will mean their survival.
Ms. Miller describes the plight of the Indian tribes of this area as they were tricked into selling their land, and thus their means of survival, to the white man to occupy and mine for copper.
This is a book well worth reading and keeping for both the story and the historical information it contains. Ms. Miller has done a superior job accurately portraying the problems that both the white and Indian people faced. Her research and attention to details of life for these diverse groups of people living more than a century and a half ago not only make the story more interesting, but also educational. The unusual title Under a Blackberry Moon, will help you remember this book by Serena Miller.
Even though this was book two of the series, I never felt like I should have read book one first. However, I will read it as soon as I can get it; Under a Blackberry Moon was that good!
The story is written around Moon Song, a beautiful Indian girl with a very young baby boy; and Skypilot, a young man from the South. Moon Song and “Skypilot” are traveling on a steamboat to take Moon Song back to her people after the death of her husband, when the boat they are sailing in blows up. They - along with a white lady, Isabella - are the only survivors. However, in order to save themselves, they must make their way many miles back to civilization. How are two white people who have never lived “off the land” going to survive? Only with the help of a native Indian girl who has spent most of her life learning the skills that will mean their survival.
Ms. Miller describes the plight of the Indian tribes of this area as they were tricked into selling their land, and thus their means of survival, to the white man to occupy and mine for copper.
This is a book well worth reading and keeping for both the story and the historical information it contains. Ms. Miller has done a superior job accurately portraying the problems that both the white and Indian people faced. Her research and attention to details of life for these diverse groups of people living more than a century and a half ago not only make the story more interesting, but also educational. The unusual title Under a Blackberry Moon, will help you remember this book by Serena Miller.
| Serena B. Miller is the author of The Measure of Katie Calloway and Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio, as well as numerous articles for periodicals such as Woman's World, Guideposts, Reader's Digest, Focus on the Family, Christian Woman, and more. She lives on a farm in southern Ohio. |
The whole concept of paying a membership fee for the privilege of shopping somewhere has bothered me over the years.
After you read about my family's experience with one year of Amazon Prime, I don't care if you decide to sign up for a free 30-day membership, or not. But here's how I've always felt about "paid membership" kinds of things:
It doesn't always sit well with me when people tell me how much money I'll save...if only I will pay some more money to earn the privilege of saving money.
One year ago, we signed up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime membership.
We're talking completely FREE.
I thought I'd take advantage of it for the 30 days we had in our free trial membership, and then drop it like a hot potato right before the 30 days were up.
Well, you can probably guess what happened next.
I began to realize how much I could save in shipping fees on the items we normally order, if we did actually have an Amazon Prime membership. I didn't realize how much money we would be saving on shipping fees, though.
So...a few days ago, our first year with Amazon Prime membership ($79) had finished. I was able to print out a list of all of the items I'd purchased over the last 12 months. After figuring out the shipping costs for each item, I was shocked to learn that we would have paid $269.36 in shipping fees last year, just based on our normal ordering habits online. I was so surprised! My husband agreed that we should go ahead and renew our Amazon Prime membership, so we did.
After you read about my family's experience with one year of Amazon Prime, I don't care if you decide to sign up for a free 30-day membership, or not. But here's how I've always felt about "paid membership" kinds of things:
It doesn't always sit well with me when people tell me how much money I'll save...if only I will pay some more money to earn the privilege of saving money.
One year ago, we signed up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime membership.
We're talking completely FREE.
I thought I'd take advantage of it for the 30 days we had in our free trial membership, and then drop it like a hot potato right before the 30 days were up.
Well, you can probably guess what happened next.
I began to realize how much I could save in shipping fees on the items we normally order, if we did actually have an Amazon Prime membership. I didn't realize how much money we would be saving on shipping fees, though.
So...a few days ago, our first year with Amazon Prime membership ($79) had finished. I was able to print out a list of all of the items I'd purchased over the last 12 months. After figuring out the shipping costs for each item, I was shocked to learn that we would have paid $269.36 in shipping fees last year, just based on our normal ordering habits online. I was so surprised! My husband agreed that we should go ahead and renew our Amazon Prime membership, so we did.
My family's purchasing habits:
Here are some details about my family's shopping habits, just so you can compare to see if you'd save this kind of money in your own family:
- 19 items we purchased were books, and most of these supplemented our homeschooling, so they were for educational use. Our town lost its last bookstore quite a while ago; there is one second-hand bookstore that can order some books for us, if needed, but we don't receive free shipping.
- 6 items were piano lesson books for my daughters' young piano students. She occasionally will get a new student suddenly, and need music books for that student in 3-5 days' time.
- 8 items were electronic in nature: a Kindle as a shared gift for a relative; a replacement light bulb not easily available in our small town; a Kindle Fire car charger since ours is used quite a bit in the car; a digital tablet my daughter bought for herself with her own money; a replacement battery for my younger daughter's DSLR camera (that no longer works - boo hoo); a Snowball microphone my daughters bought with their own money; a wireless clicker that my oldest daughter needed for her speeches and presentations (the local options were too expensive).
- 11 items were foods that we can't either purchase in our town, or the local price is too prohibitive.
- 6 items were gifts or decorations, either for birthdays or Christmas, or my parents' recent 50th wedding anniversary.
- 2 items were clothing and a purse. Neither of the two items we purchased online could be found in our local town.
- There were some miscellaneous items as well: natural air freshener I can only buy online or at Trader Joe's (75 minutes away from our house); glass test tubes for the girls' science experiments; a brand of mechanical pencils no longer available in our town; a student driver magnet to warn others that we had a student driver in our vehicle...ha! Just some odds and ends that aren't available where we live.
How do I decide what to purchase online . . . or locally?
The main point I want to make here is that I don't just randomly order items on a whim. Foods we order online come out of our grocery budget; I only order foods on Amazon.com that I cannot purchase in my town, or are 2-3 times the price in the store vs. buying online.
Everything we purchased over the last 12 months using Amazon Prime were items that neatly fit into our tight budget: groceries, parts to repair electronic items or make them useable; gifts for relatives and friends; and books for either our homeschooling or the small group women's Bible study I'm in.
We are a frugal family and generally stick to our budget.
The other factoid about my family, that might help you understand why we buy items online from time to time, is that several in my family have very sensitive skin. That means that I purchase special shampoo that is very expensive here in my town. We don't use the "normal" beauty and health products, because my family's skin just can't tolerate them.
We also eat a low-glycemic diet, so that requires us to purchase some items online if they can't be found in our town. For example, there were two types of crackers that we could eat, sold here in town, but then one was no longer available. So, we order that type of cracker (Finn Crisp Sourdough Rye Crackers) online.
When at all possible, I try to shop locally and put my dollars back into our community. It's just a great way to support local businesses!
Everything we purchased over the last 12 months using Amazon Prime were items that neatly fit into our tight budget: groceries, parts to repair electronic items or make them useable; gifts for relatives and friends; and books for either our homeschooling or the small group women's Bible study I'm in.
We are a frugal family and generally stick to our budget.
The other factoid about my family, that might help you understand why we buy items online from time to time, is that several in my family have very sensitive skin. That means that I purchase special shampoo that is very expensive here in my town. We don't use the "normal" beauty and health products, because my family's skin just can't tolerate them.
We also eat a low-glycemic diet, so that requires us to purchase some items online if they can't be found in our town. For example, there were two types of crackers that we could eat, sold here in town, but then one was no longer available. So, we order that type of cracker (Finn Crisp Sourdough Rye Crackers) online.
When at all possible, I try to shop locally and put my dollars back into our community. It's just a great way to support local businesses!
What are Amazon.com's normal shipping fees?
Yes, it's true that for some items on Amazon.com, you may spend $25 and receive free shipping on that order. We did this for a number of years, but we found that fewer and fewer items were qualifying for free shipping with a $25 order.
We also found that with Amazon's free shipping for orders over $25, the item might not be delivered for 2-3 weeks. While some people can plan far in advance to work with longer shipping times, it doesn't work for everyone. (My daughters receive new music students occasionally, so we don't want to make new students wait 2-3 weeks for their new music books.)
We also found that with Amazon's free shipping for orders over $25, the item might not be delivered for 2-3 weeks. While some people can plan far in advance to work with longer shipping times, it doesn't work for everyone. (My daughters receive new music students occasionally, so we don't want to make new students wait 2-3 weeks for their new music books.)
Will I automatically renew our Amazon Prime membership every year?
I really don't know.
For right now, this is working well for us.
If we were to suddenly move to a much larger city, where more purchasing options were available, we probably wouldn't find as much of a need to participate with Amazon Prime. But who knows?
If you decide to give Amazon Prime a try with their completely free 30-day trial membership from clicking through on this page, you'll be using an affiliate link. It won't cost you a thing, but I'll receive a small amount of $$ that will help support this website. Just so you know. That's not my purpose about telling you about Amazon Prime, though. I just wanted you to know how it's working for our family, in case you've been wondering if it's a good fit for your own.
And if you decide that Amazon Prime just isn't worth your hard-earned money, that's fine, too.
For right now, this is working well for us.
If we were to suddenly move to a much larger city, where more purchasing options were available, we probably wouldn't find as much of a need to participate with Amazon Prime. But who knows?
If you decide to give Amazon Prime a try with their completely free 30-day trial membership from clicking through on this page, you'll be using an affiliate link. It won't cost you a thing, but I'll receive a small amount of $$ that will help support this website. Just so you know. That's not my purpose about telling you about Amazon Prime, though. I just wanted you to know how it's working for our family, in case you've been wondering if it's a good fit for your own.
And if you decide that Amazon Prime just isn't worth your hard-earned money, that's fine, too.
I'm really curious about your experiences with using Amazon Prime, if you've subscribed to it in the past.
Would you mind letting me know in the Comments, below, if you've used Amazon Prime in the past - and how that went? Thanks. I always appreciate hearing from Joy In Our Journey readers!
Would you mind letting me know in the Comments, below, if you've used Amazon Prime in the past - and how that went? Thanks. I always appreciate hearing from Joy In Our Journey readers!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
 This page may contain affiliate links. |  My daughter, Brittany Wow. My daughter, Brittany, just made a super delicious vanilla-chocolate iced coffee! It may seem like a strange combination, but the chocolate isn't strong enough to overpower the vanilla, and it's the perfect marriage of flavors! Be sure to add your own creative flavors to your coffee to make it just how you like it. To make this into a frappuccino, put it in the blender with even more ice. For those of you following the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle eating plan, you'll love this frugal, yummy recipe! |
Perfect Low-Carb Mock Starbucks Iced Coffee!
Ingredients:
1. Make one strong cup of coffee in a French Coffee Press. (I like the quality of coffee made in French Presses. If you're not familiar with French Coffee Presses, you can find some here.) If you don't have a French Press and don't want to wait to order one, just make a very strong cup of coffee! Do not remove the coffee grounds. Pour a little under 2/3 of the coffee in a large cup that has been completely filled with ice to cool it down.
2. Remove about half of the ice once it is cold, and pour the coffee and remaining ice into the cup you'd like to serve your iced coffee in.
3. Back to the French Press: with the used grounds still remaining, grind one heaping scoop of coffee and put it in the French Press with the remaining coffee. Wait 3 minutes, then press down the French Press' handle and filter to make the coffee.
4. Pour that ultra-strong coffee into a syrup pitcher. Set aside. Then, add about 1/8 - 1/2 tsp. or to taste of chocolate extract, vanilla or vanilla syrup to taste, 4-8 drops chocolate liquid stevia, about 1-4 Tbsp. heavy cream to taste, and the ultra-strong coffee. Mix with a straw, stir stick, or spoon. Top with whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder.
Voilà! Perfect vanilla-chocolate iced coffee!
Now you can enjoy delicious cold, sweet coffee without paying an arm and a leg at Starbucks, or guzzling all those carbs! I know Torani has Splenda in it, so you may omit it and use vanilla extract instead, and add more chocolate stevia to make up for the Splenda. It would be just as yummy, if not better!
Thanks, Brittany, for sharing a homemade, frugal way to enjoy a Starbucks-type of iced coffee beverage in our own homes!
Ingredients:
- fresh ground coffee beans
- ice
- your choice of flavors:
- chocolate extract
- Torani sugar-free vanilla syrup (if desired) or pure vanilla extract or Totonac stevia-sweetened vanilla syrup
- chocolate liquid stevia, if desired
- heavy cream
- cocoa powder
1. Make one strong cup of coffee in a French Coffee Press. (I like the quality of coffee made in French Presses. If you're not familiar with French Coffee Presses, you can find some here.) If you don't have a French Press and don't want to wait to order one, just make a very strong cup of coffee! Do not remove the coffee grounds. Pour a little under 2/3 of the coffee in a large cup that has been completely filled with ice to cool it down.
2. Remove about half of the ice once it is cold, and pour the coffee and remaining ice into the cup you'd like to serve your iced coffee in.
3. Back to the French Press: with the used grounds still remaining, grind one heaping scoop of coffee and put it in the French Press with the remaining coffee. Wait 3 minutes, then press down the French Press' handle and filter to make the coffee.
4. Pour that ultra-strong coffee into a syrup pitcher. Set aside. Then, add about 1/8 - 1/2 tsp. or to taste of chocolate extract, vanilla or vanilla syrup to taste, 4-8 drops chocolate liquid stevia, about 1-4 Tbsp. heavy cream to taste, and the ultra-strong coffee. Mix with a straw, stir stick, or spoon. Top with whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder.
Voilà! Perfect vanilla-chocolate iced coffee!
Now you can enjoy delicious cold, sweet coffee without paying an arm and a leg at Starbucks, or guzzling all those carbs! I know Torani has Splenda in it, so you may omit it and use vanilla extract instead, and add more chocolate stevia to make up for the Splenda. It would be just as yummy, if not better!
Thanks, Brittany, for sharing a homemade, frugal way to enjoy a Starbucks-type of iced coffee beverage in our own homes!
 | |
This page may contain affiliate links.
Click to PIN this recipe!
I don't know about you, but I've been seeing all these delicious-looking photos and recipes on Facebook and Pinterest that involve pumpkin.
Unfortunately, they all also involve sugar and flour, which are no-no's for me.
I was starting to feel a bit sorry for myself.
Thankfully, JoAnna Schrock, a fellow Trim Healthy Mama follower, developed this divine recipe for Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake. Because this contains fats and few carbs, this is an S-style dessert (for Trim Healthy Mama users, S = Satisfying!)
Let me warn you: make this when no one is home. Clean up the kitchen, and don't tell anyone you have this chillin' in the fridge. Because you'll want this dessert all to yourself. Yes, you will!
Here's JoAnna's wonderful recipe, with a FREE PRINTABLE PDF version for your recipe binder:
Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake (S-style)
Let's applaud JoAnna Schrock for developing this delicious, low-carb, no-sugar Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake for those of us who have a hankering for something healthy and sweet at the same time!
Please comment below and let us know how you like this new recipe!
Crust:
Mix and press into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan.
Cheesecake:
In large bowl, beat together cream cheese, 1/2 cup sweetener of your choice, eggs, and vanilla. Spread 1-1/2 cups of batter evenly over the crust. To the remainder of the batter, add pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, 2 Tbsp. sweetener of your choice, and xanthan gum or glucomannan. Beat together well. Spread evenly on top of the other batter. Set the cheesecake into a pan of water so it won't crack while being baked. Bake at 325° F for 1 hour or until nearly set. Cool cheesecake on baking rack; chill in refrigerator for 2-4 hours until firm. Cut cheesecake into 12 servings.
Optional: you may add a squirt of Reddi Whip on top and a drizzle of Pumpkin Spice Latté Syrup.
Pumpkin Spice Latté Syrup:
In a small saucepan, heat sweetener of your choice, water, and salt on medium-low heat. Whisk in the rest of ingredients and simmer for 10 to 15 min. on low or medium-low, stirring occasionally until sauce has thickened. Syrup may be stored in refrigerator for up to one week. It thickens as it cools, so you may thin it with water to your desired consistency.
- 1 cup finely chopped almonds or pecans
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 Tbsp. THM Sweet Blend (or 1/4 cup Swerve Sweetener or xylitol or erythritol or Truvia)
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Mix and press into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan.
Cheesecake:
- Two 8 oz. packages "1/3 Less Fat" cream cheese
- 2 Tbsp. + 1/2 tsp. (divided) THM Sweet Blend (or 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. xylitol or erythritol or Truvia (or sweetener of your choice)
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (make sure this has no added sugars or sweeteners to the can)
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum or glucomannan powder
In large bowl, beat together cream cheese, 1/2 cup sweetener of your choice, eggs, and vanilla. Spread 1-1/2 cups of batter evenly over the crust. To the remainder of the batter, add pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, 2 Tbsp. sweetener of your choice, and xanthan gum or glucomannan. Beat together well. Spread evenly on top of the other batter. Set the cheesecake into a pan of water so it won't crack while being baked. Bake at 325° F for 1 hour or until nearly set. Cool cheesecake on baking rack; chill in refrigerator for 2-4 hours until firm. Cut cheesecake into 12 servings.
Optional: you may add a squirt of Reddi Whip on top and a drizzle of Pumpkin Spice Latté Syrup.
Pumpkin Spice Latté Syrup:
- 1/2 cup xylitol or erythritol or Truvia (or sweetener of your choice)
- 1/2 cup water
- pinch of salt
- 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
In a small saucepan, heat sweetener of your choice, water, and salt on medium-low heat. Whisk in the rest of ingredients and simmer for 10 to 15 min. on low or medium-low, stirring occasionally until sauce has thickened. Syrup may be stored in refrigerator for up to one week. It thickens as it cools, so you may thin it with water to your desired consistency.
 | JoAnna Shrock's Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake recipe contains 15.9 grams of fats per serving, and 2.7 net grams of carbs per serving. Yes! |
Free PDF printable recipe page for you!
Click on the recipe page, below, to download and print this recipe!
If you have a "sweet tooth" like me, take a peek at my
Trim Healthy Mama-inspired desserts! ☺
 Chocolate Cream Cheese Truffles (THM - S) |  Chocolate Topped Peanut Butter Squares (THM - S) |  Swirled Cheesecake Brownies (Low carb, THM-S, Gluten free) |
 If you're using the Trim Healthy Mama way of cooking, you may enJOY taking a look at my new Visual Shopping Guide for Trim Healthy Mama...a virtual shopping list of ideas when you are grocery shopping! |  |
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Hi! I'm Julieanne!
You'll find me in the kitchen
trying new Trim Healthy Mama recipes, loving God, and carrying out that love as I bless my husband and teen daughters.
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