Successful Living...Simplified

My Life Goals...

"To laugh often and much; 

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; 

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; 

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; 

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; 

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. 

This is to have succeeded."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

BOOKS: "How Frugal is the Chariot that Carries the Human Soul"

"It is an ancient art.  Its practice has been recorded as far back as the time of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates (about 399 B.C.).  Its nurture or neglect has influenced the rise and fall of nations and civilizations.  Abandoning it has been the ruin of fortunes.  Embracing it amplifies wealth and can dispel the state of poverty."

"What is this mysterious seemingly elusive art of which I speak?  Frugality.  A humble word, it is derived from two ancient Latin words, frugalis and frux, both meaning... "success".

You may also call it by other names such as prudence, spariness and thrift.  

Whatever your choice may be, it always means the unwillingness to squander goods or spend money unnecessarily.  It is the careful use of materials or resources."

"The quality of being frugal is one so powerful as to change lives and affect history.  Each of us possesses the ability to exercise it.  Frugality allows you to govern your destiny and produce in your life a lovely, fertile garden of material and intangible wealth.  Without it, you may be tossed upon the waves of circumstance, at the mercy of your unorganized whims."

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http://www.thriftbooks.com/viewdetails.aspx?isbn=0553378864

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THRIFT BOOKS

A Frugal Reader's Dream Realized!

(An UNsponsored Post.)

My favorite online bookstore is Thrift Books.  If you're not yet familiar, Thrift Books is a used bookstore !  To quote their site...

"Innovation in processing and selling used books has allowed for Thrift Books to provide the internet’s cheapest prices without sacrificing our commitment to providing quality used books. Its entire process of selling used books was developed internally using the latest technology and supply methods.

Thrift Books has been featured in many publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Seattle Times, Puget Sound Business Journal and The Software Development Times for their pioneering methods in online used book selling. 

Thrift Books’ commitment to using technology in used book selling is based on the desire to fulfill their motto to customers: Spend Less. Read More. Just seven years after its founding, the dividends are already apparent. Today, you can purchase Charlotte’s Web from Thrift Books for even less than the day we started our company: $3.95 with free shipping anywhere in the USA.

"Thrift Books has emerged from its modest beginnings to become the nation’s largest online seller of used books with a growing international presence. The Thrift Books’ marketplace has grown to include third party vendors such as Green Earth Books, Motor City Books, the Atlanta Book Company, Books Squared, Yankee Clipper Books, Blue Cloud Books, Silver Arch Books and Free State Books. A national presence and anticipated future growth will ensure a continually growing selection of used books and even faster shipping to Thrift Books’ customers."

Stocking the Holiday Gift Pantry: Easy Candied Grapefruit

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Have the holidays been on your mind lately?   I gave them some thought the other day as I was peeling two large grapefruit we found at the farm stand.  The peels were so pretty ... and such a nice solid thickness for making candied grapefruit ... within minutes I had them bathing in a homemade simple syrup (about 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water) gently simmering them for about thirty minutes.  After removing the peels from the syrup with a slotted spoon, I set them to dry on waxed paper and sprinkled them with granulated sugar.  The finished candied grapefruit will be used in homemade granola to be included in a Breakfast Gift Basket as well as prettily packaged in small, parchment paper lined boxes and given as token gifts alone...or included in other gift baskets.  Judging from your blogs, it's my guess you all are way ahead of me!

Sending love and good thoughts to all, as always.

Warmly,

Tracey and Family x0x

Note:  I forgot to mention that I like to use organic granulated sugar whenever I can ... also ... I save the leftover simple~syrup and use it to flavor and sweeten tea...iced and/or hot!
 

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Note:  I put some of the thicker (already candied) peels into the dehydrator for a few hours to  encourage complete drying.

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