Frugal Tip for Favorite Jeans

I have a pair of super comfy jeans that I purchased last year.  I noticed they were beginning to get weak around the corners of the back pockets.  I was concerned they might not last until I am ready to retire them or until I shrink out of them so I wanted to be proactive in extending the life of my jeans.  I remember as a child, my mother would occasionally use iron-on patches to patch my dad's overalls; however, I have never been a fan of patches on the outside of clothing (unless they are super cool, multi-colored and fun).  Neither have I been a fan of holes in my jeans.  I am definitely not enthusiastic of exposing the location these jeans were threatening to break open!  I also did not think this area needed additional attention with the super cool, multi-colored, fun style patch. The good news is that by being proactive I was able to use a simple iron-on patch on the inside to help prevent the early retirement of my comfy faves.  All for less than a "new" pair of jeans at my local Goodwill store.

Book Review: Here's Lily by Nancy Rue

Here's Lily by Nancy Rue is a children's chapter book written about a red-headed sixth-grader, Lily Robbins.  Lily has many ups and downs throughout the book.  She is the constant target of a school bully and her brothers are always picking on her.  She is hand-picked to attend a modeling class which her parents reluctantly agree to if she can identify how she can serve God in a modeling career.  Days before Lily's first fashion show a terrible accident occurs that has potential to keep Lily out of the show entirely. Throughout the book Lily learns that beauty and confidence is about so much more than fashion and make-up.

I thought it would be fun to request a children's book that I could read aloud to my girls from one of my blogging for books programs.  This was a stellar idea, except that we did not have a regular scheduled time to read together and I had to finish the book without them.  I'm sure we will return to it together someday in the near future, especially since I now know what a wonderful ending is in store for my girls.  It has been many years since I've read a children's book of this nature.  I was very pleased with the lessons in beauty, confidence and love for other people that the author wove throughout the story.  The back of the book includes an excerpt to the next book in the Lily Series, Lily Robbins, MD (Medical Dabbler).  I foresee that addition to our bookshelf soon after we finish Here's Lily.

Here's Lily is a good, wholesome read for the elementary girls in your life.