About

Hi, I’m Maggie, a headcovering, homeschooling, modest dressing Christian lady. I have 2 grown daughters, 2 teenage sons, 1 baby granddaughter, 4 fat cats, 2 fat dogs and 1 beloved husband. Fred and I have been married for 20 years. I used to own Hillbilly Housewife but felt the Lord telling me it was time to let it go. Now I own Frugal Abundance and feel it suits me better these days.

I’ve written extensively on homemaking, modesty, biblical submission and headcovering over the past decade. I’ve been published in magazines, both print and on-line. I’ve done a radio interview and been approached by half a dozen different producers about appearing on TV. So far I haven’t found a show I was willing to associate my name with, but if it ever happens, I’ll let everyone know.

I’m 38, have Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a metabolic disorder that makes one gain weight and makes it especially difficult to lose weight. I’m on an eternal quest to reach a healthy weight and God willing, I intend to reach my goal.

8 Comments

  • Amanda Coers
    February 25, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    I just wanted to tell you how much your site has meant to me. Currently I work full time as an office administrator, I’m the mother of three children and a wife to a wonderful, but often neglected husband.

    I have been led to become more - thank GOD! In June, I will leave the workforce and begin homeschooling my children. I am striving to be a better mother and a better wife. These are huge steps for me and your site has inspired me to fully realize my glory as a woman living for God and serving her family.

    I am just now learning how to budget money, prepare weekly menus, and manage my household. It’s intimidating, but extremely rewarding. I’m even looking at raising chickens and sheep! This is a true make-over for this ditzy city kid.

    I know you must be terribly busy, but I felt I needed to let you know that you are helping so many moms and wives with your wonderful website. Thank you for sharing your blessed knowlege and insight!

  • ella jones
    April 9, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    Dear Miss Maggie,
    I recently refound this site ,as I was slightly unsure with your ‘old’ wesite. . not been same.I am homeschooling Mom of four living in U.K. I was glad to see you are still ,handing out message of how to be frugal. With everything happening we need as many more like you.
    Here in U.K I think we are on verge of recession..Gas is ten dollars gallon , electricity and gas have gone up 80 and 90% in last two years. Food prices have gone up about 15 % in last six months. We have called ‘credit crunch’ as banks will not lend to each other. Things look similar to early 1990’s. But jobs are not been lost yet.
    I am lucky my house is mine so is all my cars,no credit cards or loans. Well blessed, unlike so many. My Mom grew up in Canada during depression before returning to u.k before WWII. So between rationing , depression both my parents were Phd in how to stretch budget and food. so much knowledge has been lost in this instant world, .. I was taught to cook at home and in school alongside basic nutrition.
    Now we are hearing of malnutrition alongside record levels of children been obese. During late 1980’s I came across book on how to feed family for £4.00 a day .
    Even with all thing I knew could still learn many more ways to extend and feed family for less.This started love of frugal cookbooks . Odd thing to collect I know. But it is my special intrest .All are British with exception of articles from yourself and others on web.If you are intrested in anything let me know as it easy to convert british imperial to american measures. Please keep good work and God bless you and your family for your effort.

  • dzitterbart
    April 25, 2008 at 5:46 am

    Miss Maggie,

    Good Morning! I just wanted to take a moment to tell you what a blessing you are. My husband and I are Independent Fundamental Baptists, I wear only modest dresses every day, I am very convicted about headcoverings and have been praying about that part of my Christian walk. I found you first when you were running Hillbilly Housewife, what a blessing, we have used your emergency menu on more than one occasion. It is so encouraging to see other Christian women living modestly both in dress and financial matters. My daughter will be 2 Saturday and we are getting our homeschooling material in order, I figure if I start now then I won’t have so much to do when she actually “officially starts” school. Your new blog is great as well as Frugal Aundance. My only question is whether or not you will move some of your Hillbilly Housewife Recipes over to your new site or are you laying all of that aside? I know it takes a lot to run a website but Hillbilly Housewife is so eaten up with advertisements that it is very distracting, but that is very superficial, I know. I still frequent it quite a bit in spite of my disappointments.
    Thank you for being so eager to offer your words of wisdom and plethora of knowledge through your websites, it is a blessing to have solid information from a Christian lady.
    God Bless you and your family Miss Maggie!
    Donna

  • frugalabundance
    April 25, 2008 at 10:33 am

    Hi Donna,

    I won’t be moving any of the recipes from there to here, I’m sorry. I hope to add new recipes and articles to this site over time. The new owner of HBHW owns the recipes there until January 2013. At that point she’ll still be able to use them, but they’ll also revert back to me.

    It’s so nice to meet another IFB who dresses modestly. We’re a small group, but we’re growing. :-)

  • Shoshana
    May 1, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    I am an old convert from HBHW days who finally found this new site. Thank you so much for all the work you do. I love all the recipes and love to get inspiration from your life.

  • frugalabundance
    May 1, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    My pleasure Shoshana, happy to oblige :)

  • other daughter
    May 5, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    Please help me find a pattern number. I know it exists and is still in print.

    It’s the Simplicity fitting pattern. I have the McCall’s and the Butterick fitting patterns. Each pattern company makes all of their patterns from their individual slopers. The fitting pattern is in reality their sloper and when I alter it to fit me, then I can use that to make all patterns of that brand to fit without going to the trouble of individually altering each pattern. A great time saver and it always gives good results.

    And if anyone wants to have good results in sizing patterns to fit her, then look for an old, out of print book by Nancy Zieman called “The Busy Woman’s Fitting Book”. I would try Abes Books on the net. It is the simplest and the most easily understood method of fitting patterns I’ve ever found. I’ve been using it for about 16 yrs and I love it. So very much easier than slashing and spreading paper patterns.

    And, Maggie, it must be something in the air, because I’ve been going through my fabric stash this spring pulling out cotton to make summer pajamas. They are so comfortable. For years I’ve worn tricot gowns and they are so hot and sticky in the summer, so I decided that this summer I was going to be cool and comfy in cotton. So far I’ve made 3 pr. and I’ve not bought a single item. Just pulled out fabric, thread and patterns from my stash and have been so pleased with the results. And you know cotton, the more it’s washed, the softer and more comfy it becomes.

    And if you have a favorite pattern that you want to keep using, then use a warm dry iron and fuse interfacing to the back of the pattern. This will strenghten it for many, many more uses. (You might want to protect the ironing board cover with aluminum foil so you don’t fuse the interfacing to the cover). Just trim the interfacing from the pattern after it’s cool and you may be able to reuse the scraps of interfacing for small pattern pieces.

    Hope this helps someone.

    And please, if anyone knows the pattern number for the Simplicity fitting pattern, please let me know. I have a Simplicity’s Simply The Best Sewing Book and there’s a coupon to send in for a free Simplicity pattern but I don’t know the number and it’s required.

    TIA

    OD

  • frugalabundance
    May 5, 2008 at 1:06 pm

    Hi Other Daughter, I haven’t seen Simplicity’s Basic Fitting Pattern. I’ve used Butterick’s but I didn’t even know Simplicity makes one. I hate to seem redundant, but have you looked on E-Bay? That’s the only place I can think of. Sorry I couldn’t be more help, but delighted that you’re enjoying your sewing. :-) Maggie

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