Fire Safety Reminder

Just a gentle reminder -- daylight savings time change is almost here.  Check your smoke detector batteries.

March's Top Ten (and a quick review of February)

February went by in a blur.

1. Do the once a month shopping again complete with menu plan (still clearing out the freezer.)
2. Finish the skull shawl — coming over from last month.
3. Get a couple of pinto recipes tested and shared — coming over from last month.
4. Continue utilizing the journal and print some of my own customized stickers.
5. Make a concentrated effort to work a few more food storage items into our meals.
6. Find black out curtains for my bedroom.
7. Finish up my final projects for my courses a week before due.
8. Do my yoga exercises twice a week...three would be ideal, but for now I’ll be happy with twice.
9. Find the perfect birthday present for my grandson.
10. Bake a loaf of gluten free bread

As you can see, there were a few things I didn't get accomplished.  I still haven't baked that loaf of bread.  Sigh!

Life has been busy.  

(I can have partial credit on the skull shawl.  It is almost finished, but is to the point one row takes a while.  I have to work on it when I have an uninterrupted time block, which hasn't happened a whole lot this month.)

March Goals

1. Finish the skull shawl.
2. Film one of my grandmama's recipes.
3. Spend a week with my grandson.
4. Rotate spring clothes out and update.  I got rid of a lot in a major purge last fall.
5. Plant flowers to go by the front entrance.
6. Clean out and organize my coat closet.
7. Read one good book that isn't associated with school work -- a pleasure read.
8. Work on a give away.
9. Have a girls' night
10. Catch up on all my correspondence.

Small Grocery Haul

This is a small grocery haul of those items I cannot find locally.  

A Fun $7 or less Wreath with a Frugal Bonus

This is a fun and easy craft I made.  My cost was less than $7 out of pocket.  The frugal bonus, it comes apart so you can store the towels for using the next year.

Woohoo!

I managed to get my utility bill down to $177!

That's all!

(However, we are already having days that are hitting 80 degrees! So much for 6 more weeks of winter!)

Casserole Recipe

This recipe is such an easy recipe.  It is really versatile.  I've used canned goods, home canned goods, rehydrated dried goods, and/or a variety of leftovers in the past.

School Work

I finally finished the management presentation.  Next week is the last week of classes for me.  If I could figure out to film myself doing a happy dance I would LOL

I've got two 4 chapter exams left, 2 chapters of material, and my usual quick papers for that week.  I'm getting there.

My presentation isn't perfect.  I struggled with whether to record it again, but I decided against it.  I figured if I was in class there wouldn't be a do-over.

Frugal Spring Floral on a Budget -- DIY

I participated in a floral DIY challenge.

This was super easy to make and all the supplies except for my pliers came from Dollar Tree.

I try to show how I made this in simple steps.

I'm really thinking I may make a second one or something similar for a Mother's Day present this year.

I bought some floral wire but ended up not using it. 

I'd love it if you guys would check it out and let me know what you think.

Sunday Afternoon Update

It feels like it has been forever since I have just taken the time to chatter away about life.  I'm sorry.  Things have been busy.  I'm finding I can do videos because I am recording while I am working.

On the frugal front -- I've done the usual being careful about waste, watching my electric usage, and only traveling when necessary.  I did pick up some ground beef at a great price, and I prepped it for some freezer meal.  I also cooked a whole chicken today, and I have four quarts of chicken broth going in the canner.  We ate a meal, packed a nice lunch for my husband for tomorrow, and still have enough left for quesadillas this week.

On the food front -- We have done surprisingly well at eating what is on the menu.  However, we have just picked from the list rather than stick to any days.  I do find I am feeling stifled by it.  I am seriously considering doing one week at a time next month to change up the rhythm.  I did add some more meals to the freezer, and I also added a spice cake.

On the school front -- I have made the executive decision to not take classes for mini session B.  It was a long drawn out process, but I feel like this is what is best for me right now.  I'll revisit the courses closer to time for the summer session and see where I stand then.

Now that I've summarized the week, I'm wondering what I did to make up 7 days of life.  LOL  Actually I've taken 4 quizzes, written two papers, finished a term paper, filmed a presentation, and still met all my other obligations.  It just doesn't show up on paper.  I also finished a crafting project that I'll share tomorrow.

I hope you are all having a great week.

Freezer Cooking

I found ground beef on mark down this week at almost half off.  I decided to prep it for freezer meals.  Not bad for about 30 to 40 minutes work.  Plus I’m ahead of the game for some future meals.

Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

I finally found an enchilada recipe that got the thumbs up from both my husband and my daughter.  This recipe made enough for two meals for the three of us.  

Camping at the Sheraton

In keeping with my efforts to keep life real -- I share one of the realities of food allergies.

Meals, Chatter, and General Life

On the meal front — I think we are getting the hang of the menu plan.  We’ve actually managed to stick to it pretty well this week even with me not feeling well.  I didn’t really photograph any meals because they were the same things we eat over and over.  I did much better at not cooking too much this week so that was nice.  

Chatter and General Life — My classes are kicking me.  I’m doing school work, housework, and handling the phones/scheduling for my husband.  My only sanity break has been dragging the camera along for videos.  I always handle stress better when I have a creative outlet.  

I am supposed to have 3 classes next mini session.  I’m questioning the sanity of it.  I still have a chance to drop one, and I am seriously considering it.    I’m off next week with my husband, school work in tow, for a conference. It is really weird because I feel like I should be able to do it all, but I logically know I am human and only have 24 hours in a day.

 I’m looking forward to the change of scenery.   I think it will give me a little time to reflect and mull over some options.

Thursday's Errands

I'm finding it much easier to carry the camera around with me than sitting down with the computer to type.  By the end of the day, I just don't seem to have the energy.   Today wasn't my most frugal day, but everything was on my list.  Fortunately, all the items should last me a while.  My thrift store decor finds are included.

Best Laid Plans

You know what they say about them.  I had plans for a couple of posts and plans for a pinto bean recipe.  Sunday afternoon I noticed I was feeling tired and looking at the video I see how tired my eyes were.  Apparently that sluggish feeling was the beginnings of a migraine.  I kind of pushed through and did as much as I had to do this week, but not much more.  That translates to I did my school work, answered the office phones, and did the minimal cleaning.  I’d have loved to have been in bed, so I consider that much pretty good.  Tonight on a scale of 1 to 10 I’m aching at about a 2 so totally tolerable at this point.  Tomorrow I have to go out and run some errands so it is just as well.    

Planning Block Style

I thought I would share how I am using my block planner.   I have to do hour by hour for work, but for me personally I am a more fluid person.  This planner is from In the Leafy Tree Tops, and I am in no way associated with them.  Just a happy customer.  The format they use helps me in my attempt to juggle a lot of balls at once.

Frugal Happenings Week 5

(I know some of these items are repetitive, but this is my personal record. I’m focusing on “watch the pennies and the dollars will follow.”) Sunday

• Hung laundry to dry.
• Used two pressure cookers to cook lunch.  Pork loin in one which was divided in half for two meals.  If I hadn’t been dividing it I would have done a one pot meal, but I didn’t want flavors melded.  The second one cooked enough root veggies to eat on during the week.  While I was cooking I fixed some extra cornbread as well.
• I saved a quart of broth from the pork.  
• I opened a dehydrated food storage item to begin rotating it in.
• We spent half an hour working on some office supply set up that would have normally been hired out.  
• I cut my husband’s hair.

Monday

• I paid bills online, but had to mail 2 checks.
• I used the broth I saved from the pork to make soup in the pressure cooker.  I ended up with a pint of the soup left.
• I filled out February's menu on the board and placed our Sam's Club order.  I still have to go to Walmart to fill in a few gaps, but I'm pleased we have a few items from last month's shopping rolling into this one.  
• It was cold and damp, and I really would have loved to turn up the heat.  Instead I looked like a bum all day in my sweats, but I stayed warm.
• My husband needed a specific door knob, which we were having trouble finding locally.  I researched online and found the best deal.  It will be here this week.
• I didn't have a no spend day.  I ordered a mop.

Tuesday

• I printed out a coupon for Hobby Lobby.  I want — not truly life essential need — some stickers for my planner, but the cold weather kept me from going out unnecessarily.  Saved LOL
• I did go out long enough to pick up our Sam's Club order, but we came straight back.

Wednesday

• Did the Aldi run.  They had a good selection of gluten free products out so we picked up some items for my cabinet.  Not a no spend day, but their GF products are far cheaper than the other stores.

Thursday

•  Went to Lowes to buy blackout curtains for my bedroom and a new recycling can for the kitchen.  Saved $15.00.

Friday

• Took advantage of a coupon to get 50% off of some stickers from Michaels.  I also went to Dollar Tree and picked up some flowers for a small arrangement.  I shared what I picked up in the video.  

What We Ate Week 5

Sunday —

• Saturday afternoon I baked some GF cinnamon muffins, and we had part of those with coffee for breakfast.
• Lunch was my planned pork loin, root veggies, peas, and cornbread.  This was supposed to be supper, but my husband asked me to do a large lunch instead.  Dessert was a raspberry crumble.  (I saved half of the pork for BBQ sandwiches for Tuesday.)
• Supper was a scrounge about in the fridge.

Monday —

•  Breakfast was scrambled eggs and waffles.
• I cooked chicken noodle soup in the pressure cooker using the “broth” from the roast.  I added about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of leftover steamed veggies to bulk it up and used GF pasta from my stash.
• 
  

Tuesday

Breakfast was coffee and a protein shake.  Despite not sleeping well I was up well before the sun, and I just didn’t want to eat.

Lunch was every person for herself.  Supper was BBQ pork (the second half of the loin) over rice for me and on bread for my daughter.  Raw veggies for a side.

Wednesday

Breakfast was waffles, apple slices, coffee, and a protein shake.  Lunch was egg and bacon wraps. Supper was hotdogs and chips.  Nothing exciting.

Thursday

Breakfast was bacon, eggs, and toast.  Lunch was leftover hot dogs.  Supper was veggie burgers and tater tots.  Was on the menu for next Thursday but my daughter asked me to switch....such is life.

Friday morning we just grabbed waffles.  Lunch was the extra burgers from the night before. (I had cooked 4.). Supper was pancakes, sausage and eggs.

Saturday was a fend for yourself kind of day.  I had a protein shake and my daughter had cereal.  Lunch was pepperoni quesadillas.  Supper, which is in the crockpot now, is hamburger steak in gravy.  I’m cooking mashed potatoes and green beans to go with it.

Video Introduction — A little about me.

Black screen is gone.

Lighting isn’t perfect, but this is amateur hour. 

Haha!

February’s Top Ten

I cannot believe 1/12th of the year is already gone.  Measuring my goals this way seems easier, but it makes me painfully aware of how fast time really goes.  January was a good month, and I am hoping for the same from February. My goals are:

1. Do the once a month shopping again complete with menu plan (still clearing out the freezer.)
2. Finish the skull shawl — coming over from last month.
3. Get a couple of pinto recipes tested and shared — coming over from last month.
4. Continue utilizing the journal and print some of my own customized stickers.
5. Make a concentrated effort to work a few more food storage items into our meals.
6. Find black out curtains for my bedroom.
7. Finish up my final projects for my courses a week before due.
8. Do my yoga exercises twice a week...three would be ideal, but for now I’ll be happy with twice.
9. Find the perfect birthday present for my grandson.
10. Bake a loaf of gluten free bread.

(I know number 10 sounds odd, but every week for January I  said, “I’m going to bake myself some bread.”  Every week I ended up putting it on the back burner.  By adding it to my list I am hoping I will actually get it done.

Do you have any goals for February?