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?