Hitting the sack early tonight to read.  Nothing major happened tonight.  I was home from work early, which was nice.  Hubby made a wonderful supper of pork roast, tater tots and corn.  I will be taking left overs for lunch tomorrow!

Tommy decided to start signing again.  He signed "eat" and "more" numerous times during supper tonight.  he is a funny kid.  I gave him a bath and he is tugged in bed.  I still hear him chatting to himself though.  He had a late nap so he probably won't fall asleep right away.  

I have to get a book ready to mail...then off to bed.  NIGHT!

Hitting the sack early tonight to read.  Nothing major happened tonight.  I was home from work early, which was nice.  Hubby made a wonderful supper of pork roast, tater tots and corn.  I will be taking left overs for lunch tomorrow!

Tommy decided to start signing again.  He signed "eat" and "more" numerous times during supper tonight.  he is a funny kid.  I gave him a bath and he is tugged in bed.  I still hear him chatting to himself though.  He had a late nap so he probably won't fall asleep right away.  

I have to get a book ready to mail...then off to bed.  NIGHT!

I didn't get home from work tonight until about 9:30.  YAWN!!  I have to be up early at a meeting at Children's Hospital by 8:00am.  ARGH!!!  That will be fun during peak traffic time.  I hate when people schedule meetings at that time.  ARGH!!!

So I think I will just respond to a couple of comments and head to bed.  I get to start my new book tonight as I finished mine during my supper break at work!  I did splurge this month and I bought a book.  I always rely on the library system, but I was so far down on the list for this book and my book group was reading it.  

RESPONSES TO COMMENTS

Zvanoizu - I work in a gov. building.  I put my 24-pak of pop under my desk in my cube and no one ever takes any.  It is a security building so the only people that have access to the area where the cubes are employees.  Though one comedian likes to take your family picture off your desk and trade it with someone else's occasionally.  So some day I sit at my desk and wonder "who's kids are these??"

my3lilmen - I haven't really figured out the couponing life style.  I do clip coupons and use them weekly.  But I do it a bit backwards.  I write my menu, trying to use up meat in my freezer, then I make my grocery list, then I look if I have coupon for any of the items I need.  So a lot of my coupons I don't even use as I figure I saved money in not buying extras I wouldn't normally buy.  Does that make sense??  Check out Celle's Couponing page, quite impressive!!

PhotoQuilter - Yes...take your pop to work.  I think it is worth it!!    Hmmm...great tip on the cheese.  I will do that!  I usually buy large packs of cheese slices at sams'.  I also buy large bags on shredded cheese at Sam's and transfer into smaller zip locks.  And cheese freezes well!  I also stopped buying a bottle of pop at the gas station when I fill up...I can wait until I get to the office and grab one from under my desk!

Thanks for the great money saving idea....anyone have anymore??  I find it very thrilling to save money,  it is like a game to me...I know I am weird on well....I could find a lot worse things to find fun!

I am off to bed to start my new book.  LATER!

Hmmmm...what is up with xanga - I tried to edit a post and it said that link didn't exist.  Hmmmmm  Oh well....

Well about time for me to take my supper break at work before heading to my night meeting.   I don't mind doing night meetings once in a while. 

I did get some of my to do list done this morning before heading in to work.  That was nice.  Then hopefully I won't have much to do when I get home tonight! 

MONDAY TO DO:

• One load Laundry
  
• Change Sheets - Ours & Tom's
  
• Dust Living Room
  
• Sweep - Kitchen, Baths and Entryway
  
• Vacuum Living Room and Hall
  
• Mirrors & Doors
  
• Put Laundry Away - 1/2 done this morning
  
• Practice Spanish with Josh
  
• Finish my book!!!  Need to start new one!
  

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  Focusing our attention - daily and hourly-not on what is wrong, but on what we love and value, allows us to participate in the birth of a better future, ushered in by the choices we make each and every day.  - Carol Pearson

TODAY IS MARCH 10th: Great Lent - Eastern Orthodox Christian

I am now at work and enjoying my lunch, (leftovers for last night!)  I am totally into this month's flylady and cutting debt.   I personally won't be cutting debt, but just making it a bit longer till hubby finds a job.   So I have been looking at my expenses.  We have learned to live so well within out means, that I think we will be debt free shortly after hubby starts working.   He just has to find a job and that is so very difficult right now!

A while back I started buying a 24-pack of pop to keep at work.  As I was spending 65 cents every time I wanted a pop.  That really can add up!!  So how much would you save a month if you just brought a 24-pack of pop to work???  I was surprised at how much I am saving!! 

If I would buy 24 pops out of the machine at work it would cost me $15.60.   That is a lot of money on pop a month!!  I usually buy one 24-pak a month for work which I pay anywhere from 4.99 to 3.99 for.  So I have been saving, around 10.61 a month or 127.32 a year.  Cool!!!  I need to keep pointing out these things to myself so I keep making the effort to save money!!!  Now I know the best thing for saving money and my health would be to give up pop!!  ARGH!!   I never drink more than 2 cans a day and I do try to drink more water too.   It is my only vice...so leave me alone!!! LOL!!!  I need the caffeine to function!

Ok....what is your best money savings idea???  How frugal are you??   What is the most frugal thing you have done and don't want to admit to??  

I hope everyone has had a nice weekend.  Our was very busy, but good.  I feel like I have accomplished a lot.  I feel pretty caught up for the week to start! 

It was freezing today when we headed out to church.  I stayed in the house the rest of the day after that.  I accomplished a fair amount today.  Hmmm...what is it I actually did?? 

Josh and I worked on setting up to move my web page to a new server.  I have it hosted on geocities right now, but will be moving to tripod as it allows frontpage publishing.  Plus I don't care for the look of my web page anymore and want to revamp it!  So I will slowly be doing that.  I think I will concentrate on moving my recipes first.  Of course my blog will remain here for the time being. 

I straightened the kitchen up today.  What is up with the cupboards where you keep like your plastic bowls and lids???  About every 2 months I have to take everything out of the cupboard and reorganize it so things don't fall on your head when you open it.   I will match up all the bowls and lids.   Every time I do this, I end up with extra lids with no matching bowls.  Where in the world are these going???  I can't figure it out!   ARGH!!

I also put way all the miscellaneous items that find there way to the top of the fridge.   Hubby puts things up there that he takes away from the kids etc.  I was getting junky looking.  So the kitchen is in good shape for the week.  I have the dishes done and the counters all wiped down. 

I made Chicken Ham Casserole for supper tonight.  Everyone liked it, so I will be added it to my website very soon!  I cooked up some extra chicken breast and chopped them up for Quesadillas that we like to eat throughout the week.  YUMMY!!  My new favorite snack!  I also had extra ham so I chopped that up and made three containers of scrambled eggs and ham.  I froze two containers and left one out for Tom's breakfast for the next couple of days.   He loves eggs for breakfast!

I also managed to do about 3 loads of laundry today.  I have gotten out of the habit of doing a load every morning so I need to start doing that again.  Maybe tomorrow!!

I have a late meeting tomorrow (7:00pm) so I think I will take Tommy to daycare in the morning and come back home and do my one hour of cleaning, then head to work.  I need to be at work by 10:30 for a meeting.  That should give me plenty of time to get some things done in the morning.  I just have to get up and get ready right away! 

I think I will make my to do list and head to bed to finish my book! 

MONDAY TO DO:

• One load Laundry
  
• Change Sheets - Ours & Tom's
  
• Dust Living Room
  
• Sweep - Kitchen, Baths and Entryway
  
• Vacuum Living Room and Hall
  
• Mirrors & Doors
  
• Put Laundry Away
  
• Practice Spanish with Josh
  
  
  

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  Form the habit of making decisions when your spirit is fresh......to let dark moods lead is like choosing cowards to command armies.  - Charles Horton Cooley

CrazyMomma this is for you!  My menu with a couple of links!  I linked to a couple of the recipes that I have tired and liked.  I only add the ones to my site that we like.  So as I try the new ones, I will link to them if my family wants to eat them again!!  

AAAAh........the day is done for me and I am ready to curl up under my heating blanket with my book.   BRRRRRR....it is cold in Minnesota!!

Today was a good day, everything seemed to go ok.  We took Tommy for his First haircut.  He looked so cute sitting there in the child size barber chair.   At Kids Hair  they have little TV's at every stations with Clifford Playing.   So that was a hit.  He sat very nice for his haircut until right at the end.  The stylist accidentally cut his ear!  OUCH!!  Poor little man started crying and crying...he had been so good about the haircut until then.  She felt terrible and gave us the cut on the house.  I am afraid that Tommy will be afraid of haircuts now.  I sure hope not!  He looks so much older with his curls cut off.  But he is still a Cutie!!  But I am a bit biased!

He must be going through a growth spurt soon as he is eating a lot and taking two naps a day again.  During his first nap of the day I was able to get everything ready for the church Dinner and tidy up the kitchen.  

In the afternoon Erik came over with his Mom to pick up some snow pants and boots as he forgot his at school.  He also borrow some snow boards as they were going to Wild Mountain tomorrow.  I tend to have extra things here for Erik for when he is with us. 

Then it was off to Church!  We got everything set up at church for the Dinner.  The dinner went fine, but we had only 5 couples come.  It was a nice gathering and we ended early.  I hope things will increase with the committee, this was our first event so we will see what the plans are for future events. 

Tommy was very happy to have me home.  He walks around saying "mom" now all the time.   He will just say "mom" and want me to say what???   He is a goof. 

Josh will be coming home from his Dad's early tomorrow since he has to be at church early to sell cinnamon rolls for his mission trip and needs to stay at church through all the services.  He has two fundraiser he needs to participate in. 

Well that is my day in a nutshell.....have a great night!!  Chat at ya tomorrow....hmm...what do I need to do tomorrow????

LEFT TO DO:

• E-Bay Pics
  
• Work on Tommy's Learning Poster
  
• Write Check for Daycare

ZONE:

• Plastics Cupboard
  
• Clean of Top Of Fridge

Tomorrow I plan on taking Tommy outside and pulling him around the yard on the sled.  That should be fun if he will stay on it!!

Finally I have update my menu.  There is a link on the side bar as well.  I really hope to keep up with making a weekly menu!

AAAAh....the weekend!!  Today is a busy day.  We are suppose to take Tommy for his first haircut, but it is snowing again.  We have had 4 inches already and it is suppose to snow for two more hours.   I am not sure we will driving to Woodbury for the haircut. 

I do *Have to be at church though.  Luckily church our church is not even a block from our home.  I think I have everything ready for the New Parents Dinner.  I have the name tags made, table decorations, door prizes and a door prize drawing box.  Our children's minister was called out of town unexpectantly so I need to MC the dinner.  ARGH...I hope that goes ok.  I don't really like to speak into a microphone much.  But, I can do this, it is a small group so it should be too bad. 

I bought groceries last night after work.  I had refused to buy groceries until I had my menu made and coupons clipped.   Last month with me in the hospital we had spent so much money on groceries!!  This month I am really trying to spend less, alot less!!!  I did very well last night.  I bought groceries for the next week, which included the stuff to make the appetizer for church tonight.  I spent a total of only $55.00.   I did stock up a bit on frozen vegetables.   The store had a 10% off everything that would fit in the bag sale on frozen items.  So I bought all the frozen vegetable that I had coupons for so I could also get the 10% discount.   But I only bought things I had coupons for, unless it was something I needed. 

Bad news.....thanks for all your thoguhts on my hubby getting the job at where I work.  He received a email yesterday that he wasn't in the top 20 to be intereviewed.  I was really disappointed.  I knowthe job market is very difficult right now, but we can't go on forever like this either.  So needless to say my frugal ways will continue!!   I actually have always been frugal or cheap...LOL!!  I find it fun!!!!  It is like a game to me!  How little do I need to spend the month.  Now hubby has made the game even more fun for me, he downloaded Quicken for me.  Now I can itemize my checks and see how much I spend per catagory.  I truly believe in being in control of your money and expenses, which generally I am.  Not the case in my first marriage, but my 1st hubby didn't let me near the finances.  He had control and didn't do well either.   I actually think I live on less income now than we did then, and we are much better off!   1st hubby didn't have good sense about a number of things.  I say being frugal is all in the attiude, I have fun with it. 

So my money saving tip of the day:  Make a menu you SAVE a ton on your gorceries when you do.  Only buy what you will be needing in the next two weeks at the store.  And make plans to eat things that are in your freezer.  I bet I could live for 2 months on what is in my freezer.  LOL!!  I going to try anyways...another fun game for me!   

Planning sure saves money!!  Now if I can just keep it up!