Interesting links about frugality, thrift, hospitality, home decorating and more. Although I bookmark these items for my own reference, maybe this food for thought will encourage you, too. Proverbs 31 says that the ideal woman “is like the merchant ships, getting her food from afar.” You can read about my family’s creative adventures in thrift at the archives of http://likemerchantships.orgTumblr (3.0; @merchantships)http://merchantships.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/3667d397315c466d321c3cbc2d3ed4e9/tumblr_mol8l5HsDB1qzbwhho1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p> <a href="http://www.ordo-amoris.com/2013/06/blue-plate-special.html" target="_blank">Ordo Amoris: Blue Plate Special</a> </p> <p>Cindy discusses metabolism, cooking, and Hidden Art of Homemaking.</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/53272339936http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/53272339936Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:12:41 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/fa06eb9fcb0401c35ca0462618bfa7be/tumblr_moe7pkkpMv1qzbwhho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2013/06/diy-wood-floors-and-upcoming-project.html#more" target="_blank">The Shabby Creek Cottage | Decorating | Craft Ideas | DIY: DIY wood floors (and an upcoming project sneak peek!)</a> </p> <p>wood plank floors for 75-cents a square foot, great for a rustic setting</p> <p>If you think about it, most old homes had plain plank floors before finished hardwoods became available.</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/52956543626http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/52956543626Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:10:32 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/3380ecc0eddd15c290b2bd3b3571784d/tumblr_mo8kzjPZVE1qzbwhho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p> <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/duke-grad-student-secretly-lived-in-a-van-to-escape-loan-debt-194021112.html?page=all" target="_blank">Duke Grad Student Secretly Lived In a Van to Escape Loan Debt - Yahoo! Finance</a></p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/52714331889http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/52714331889Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:11:43 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/1745c07de8be5b5743cc2d02f5086d76/tumblr_mo1vj2Kjw31qzbwhho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p> <a href="http://simplemom.net/how-we-stopped-living-less-than-paycheck-to-paycheck/" target="_blank">Stop living paycheck to paycheck | Simple Mom</a></p> <p>Kara employed blackbelt tightwad strategies like air-conditioning only one room in summer in order to get out of debt. Encouraging!</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/52422754774http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/52422754774Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:16:14 -0400“In his speech, the pope also warned that a “culture of waste” and consumerism have dulled the moral sense of humanity to the point that when “some homeless people die of cold on the streets, it is not news. In contrast, a 10-point drop on the stock markets of some cities, is a tragedy.””<br/><br/> - <em><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/pope-francis-wasting-food-is-like-stealing-from-the-poor/2013/06/05/d4dc167c-ce13-11e2-8573-3baeea6a2647_story.html" target="_blank">Pope Francis: Wasting food is like stealing from the poor - The Washington Post</a></em>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/52255427409http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/52255427409Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:14:19 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/f257ba4c9c7374ac2f812b68a27c4735/tumblr_mnw3sp7vk91qzbwhho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p> <a href="http://momadvice.com/blog/2013/06/how-to-make-a-candy-bouquet-gift-for-fathers-day" target="_blank">How to Make a Candy Bouquet Gift for Father’s Day | The Motherload</a></p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/52171418032http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/52171418032Tue, 04 Jun 2013 18:29:13 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/35781e3030a5e2683ad627cc047c3277/tumblr_mnptoqwSka1qzbwhho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>(via <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/mermaid-cake/ce8f9a21-88b3-4407-b7ba-d4f0d01b7d89" target="_blank">Mermaid Cake recipe from Betty Crocker</a></p> <p>Wrapping a doll with fruit roll-ups is a cheap, easy way to make a mermaid cake.</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/51878969268http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/51878969268Sat, 01 Jun 2013 09:05:14 -0400<a href="http://www.assortmentblog.com/assortment/665-sq-ft.html">665 sq ft - Assortment</a>: <p>Not many tiny home stories include 3 kids. Here are the details of this one.</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/51820797940http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/51820797940Fri, 31 May 2013 15:20:23 -0400<a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/carmellas-solitude-shelter-small-cool-contest-189841#contest-widget-9119">Carmella's Solitude & Shelter Small Cool Contest | Apartment Therapy</a>: <p>a cabin for 5</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/51820705301http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/51820705301Fri, 31 May 2013 15:18:58 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/d2b9d1d55820c2895ceeb4345b302559/tumblr_mn6my8pTCt1qzbwhho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>(via <a href="http://livingchiconthecheap.com/chattanooga-staycation-enjoying-the-scenic-city-on-the-cheap/" target="_blank">Chattanooga Staycation: Enjoying The Scenic City on The Cheap – Living Chic on the Cheap</a>)</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/51048389111http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/51048389111Wed, 22 May 2013 00:25:19 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/26d67972c6e78e7cba4dd42e67616d52/tumblr_mn467yR1tH1qzbwhho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p> <a href="http://anhistoricallady.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-18thc-tea-arbor-table-project.html" target="_blank">AN HISTORICAL LADY: The “18thc. tea-arbor table” project~</a> made from free materials</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/50930143370http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/50930143370Mon, 20 May 2013 16:28:46 -0400<a href="http://stuffparentsneed.com/how-to-print-pictures-from-your-phone-for-free-2/">How to Print Pictures From Your Phone for FREE - Stuff Parents Need</a>: <p>I might be the last mom without a smart phone, but this looks like a great money-saver on photos if you do.</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/50874238968http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/50874238968Sun, 19 May 2013 22:11:10 -0400<a href="http://gogingham.com/2012/04/meal-planning-for-campers/">Meal plan while you camp | Go Gingham Stylishly Frugal Living</a>: <p>great video on camping meals with a frugal, simple approach</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/50060253310http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/50060253310Thu, 09 May 2013 22:21:49 -0400<a href="http://www.practicalhacks.com/2008/08/04/homemade-energy-bars-cheap-delicious-and-surprisingly-easy/">Homemade energy bars: cheap, delicious, and surprisingly easy!</a>: <p>DIY Clif Bars</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/49683955474http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/49683955474Sun, 05 May 2013 09:33:39 -0400<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/-good-question-10-145778">Great Make-Ahead Foods for a Camping Trip? Good Question | The Kitchn</a>: <p>resources and strategies for no refrigeration</p> <p>We are taking our first multiple-night camping trip this summer.</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/49683822878http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/49683822878Sun, 05 May 2013 09:31:01 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/b089c1f16eca1fe64d7c1e5e0fbfc2eb/tumblr_mlxz6zZRaw1qzbwhho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p> <a href="http://frugalgranola.com/2013/04/wardrobe-style-from-the-thrift-store/" target="_blank">Wardrobe Style from the Thrift Store | Frugal Granola</a> </p> <p>Michelle demonstrates how she’s refining her thrift store wardrobe. Great strategies! I think she looks great and love her teal base color!</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/49053589793http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/49053589793Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:37:00 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/f17d87b2a933b464b1c2ba5eb6bd0c98/tumblr_mll1ynAHj51qzbwhho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p> <a href="http://www.minted.com/julep/2013/04/19/reversible-cardboard-necklace-for-kids/" target="_blank">Reversible Cardboard Necklace for Kids | Julep</a> </p> <p>as the post says, “practically free”</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/48488206523http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/48488206523Sat, 20 Apr 2013 22:08:46 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/9e158fd194864fb70ca0e321c947084d/tumblr_ml5ds2uUFT1qzbwhho1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://reluctantentertainer.com/2013/04/ribbon-stocked-kitchen-crafts-decor/" target="_blank">Keeping Ribbon Stocked in the Kitchen for Crafts and Decor | reluctantentertainer.com </a></p> <p>Love this easy note.</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/47783609611http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/47783609611Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:02:25 -0400<a href="http://abigails-alcove.blogspot.com/2013/04/shocking-confessions.html">Abigail's Alcove: A Shocking Confession</a>: <p>Could your family get by with a mini refrigerator?</p> <p>Interesting shift of food buying and consumption for an American family of 7.</p> <p>To me, the benefits would be measured against gas for extra grocery trips and how little you could take advantage of sales on staples and meats. </p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/47539131486http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/47539131486Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:07:06 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/a6f95c37f1fb2a23fe044c0dcd5115dd/tumblr_mkyz9coqyE1qzbwhho1_250.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://theinspiredroom.net/2013/04/02/kitchen-remodel/" target="_blank">Kitchen Remodel {The Reveal!} - The Inspired Room</a></p> <p>Melissa remodels a kitchen on a real person’s budget. Even if your budget is smaller than hers, we can learn from her strategies and colors.</p>http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/47516221990http://merchantships.tumblr.com/post/47516221990Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:03:11 -0400