Both Erik and Tommy are off of school this week for Spring Break.  That means I need to be home during the day with them each day this week.   I am going to go into work later this afternoon when my hubby gets home from work.  I am hoping to be at the office by 5:00 and work until about 10:00 tonight.   I am lucky I have an employer that is so flexible with me.  I made a real point of getting my work done so they now know they can trust me to get it done. 

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GOALS FOR MONDAY -

Wash, Dry, Fold and Put Away - 4 loads of laundry - COMPLETED 5 Loads

Clean out the Upstairs Freezer

Clean out Plastics cupboard

Mop Kitchen Floor - Waiting on this - Silly Putty and Play Doh mess. 

Do a project with Tommy - (today he wanted to make silly putty) - COMPLETED - it was fun!

Have supper made by the time I leave for work - COMPLETED

Pets to the Vet - COMPLETED - Baby has gained weight.  She now weighs 2.5 pounds. 

Work 5 hours this evening at the office. - At The Office Now - Eating Supper!

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SILLY PUTTY RECIPE

Mix in one bowl:

3/4 cup of water
1 cup glue (such as Elmer's)

Dissolve in separate bowl:

1 cup water
1 tsp. borax

Add both mixtures together and add any coloring you might want if any. You  get a great shiny plastic like silly putty that is really fun! Should be stored the same as play doh. Hope you enjoy it.

*** Do you know that if you squish silly putty into a skinny tall cup, it makes a farting noise.   If you were the mother of three boys you would!!!   ****

Even Erik had to join in the fun!   Tomorrow I think we will be making play-doh.   Though play-doh doesn't fart, but you can build with it!

I haven't updated recently about how we are doing with sticking to our financial goals.  We have had some ups and downs.  One thing I have realized is that we have to have planned splurges.  They give us the motivation to keep going.  Meaning.....we follow our debt prepayment plan and any extra money even beyond what should go to the debt repayment goes to our debt.   This year with the extra we bought a new TV - paid for in full.  Could that have also gone to our debt repayment??  Sure...but it makes it worth all the saving through out the year to get one thing you want! 

So far this year, I have paid off the Blazer Loan - paid off one year early.
Paid for the new TV in full.
Rolled the Blazer Payment over to the next debt.  Starting this month the money that would usually go to the blazer lona payment will go to our credit card bill.  That credit card should be paid off in one year or a little less.  It seems that each year we have one less bill and are closer and closer to being debt free!!

The one things that has really helped is I run the household within a weekly budget.  I set aside an assigned amount for Grocery, Household, Allowance, Church, Gas and Fun each week.  We stick to that pretty close every week.   I have found that I spend less money each week if I get groceries every other week.   So I plan my meals two weeks at a time.   The other must do is menu planning.  I save so much money by only buying food that I know I will need for the next two weeks.  I also buy very few processed foods, unless they are at Aldi. 

Technically my food budget for the family of 5 is $320.00.   But now I have added into that budget also some of my household items. etc.  I use cash for Aldi of course, but I use gift card for Cub Foods as we get money back on Tommy's tuition for school by ordering the gift cards.  They only come in $25.00 cards, so I have to get that amount.  So each month I usually have $340.00 to spend each month, but I always have money left over.  

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I have two shoping trips a month for groceries and I spent the following in March.

Shopping Trip # 1 3/9/08 = Aldi - 72.10 and Cub Foods - 27.50.  Bread Thrift Store - 6.09 = 105.69

Shopping Trip # 2 3/16/08 - Aldi - 92.88 and Cub Foods - 65.24  = 158.12

Total Groceries for March = $263.81

I could even decrease this by an additional $5-10 each shopping trip as I do usually buy one or two 24-packs of pop each shopping trip.   But it is a splurge we can afford and that makes me happy!!!

We usually use the left over money to treat ourselves out for supper once a month or something.   It pays to be frugal so you can enjoy the things you really want to in life!!

Menu for the Weeks of
3/16/08 - 3/30/08

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SUNDAY - Slow Cooked Beef Stew (Crock Low 6-8 Hours)

MONDAY - St Patty's Day - Slow Cooker Corned Beef  & Cabbage
LUNCH - Sandwiches

TUESDAY - LEFTOVERS
LUNCH - Hot Dogs/ Chips and Dip

WED  Baked Ranch Chicken - (Bake 325 - 45 min)
LUNCH - Stuffed Pizza

THURSDAY - Slow Cooked Pork Chops -  Pasta - Green Beans (Crock Low 6-8 Hours)
LUNCH - Mac and Cheese

FRIDAY - Sandwich Ring - Chips and Dip
LUNCH - LEFTOVERS

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SATURDAY - Spaghetti -3-Cheese Garlic Bread  (Prep/Total Time: 15 Taste of Home S&D - pg 22)
LUNCH - Sandwiches

SUNDAY - Out with Family for Easter
LUNCH - Soup - Grilled Cheese

MONDAY - Roasted Chicken/ Stuffing and Veggie

TUESDAY - Chicken in Cream Sauce - Mashed Potatoes

WEDNESDAY - Crab Alfredo

THURSDAY - LEFTOVERS

FRIDAY - Pizza Loaf

SATURDAY - Easy Crockpot Meat Loaf with Carrots and Potatoes

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FRIDAY NIGHT  IDEAS

Mushroom Bacon Burgers

Basil Burgers

WANT TO TRY

Chicken Casserole

Our Furry Babies......

My life has been touched with sadness lately.   My life is being touched by cancer in many ways.  My good friend and bookgroup member has just finished radiation.   My unit is actually going out for Breakfast tongether this week to celebrate her completion of radiation.  Another co-worker was diagnosed with a rare fast moving cancer.  She is doing Chemo and has returned to work.   Seing her each day, reminds ya that life is too short.   The other day another social worker's 23 year old son was diagnosed with cancer which has spread to his lungs and brain.  It isn't looking good for this young man.   So sad...his parents have withdrew him from college and brought him home and continue to fight the battle against the cancer.

Lastly, this morning I recevied an email that Pastor Mahan is now with the Lord.  He was the senior pastor of our church.  He last preached last Easter.  He informed the congregation at that time that he had CJD disease, which is incurable and terminal.   He was such a kind and loving man.  I was always struck by the amazing love in his voice when he spoke of his wife.  He had the passion and vision to start the christian school at our church.  This is the school that my son, Tommy attends.  The students of the school have been asked to sing at the funeral.  Pastor Steve loved hearing the students singing.   Our entire family will attend the funeral and Tommy will sing with the children of the school. 

“Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.” ~Author Unknown

Site To Check out Later.....

The Mom Blogs

Online Magazine - http://heartofthematteronline.com/

Menu for the Weeks of
3/09/08 - 3/17/08

This week we will be having alot of crockpot recipes.  I am working so many hours that by the time I get home I am too tired to cook.  Between working many hours and illness in the home, it seems good meals are not being made.  Hopefully starting in April my work life will calm down and I won't be working so many hours and weekends.  

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SUN -Roast Chicken - Stuffing/Gravy and Corn

MON -  Ravioli Casserole - 3-Cheese Garlic Bread  (Prep/Total Time: 15 Taste of Home S&D - pg 22)

TUES - LEFTOVERS

WED - Slow Cooked Beef Stew (Crock Low 6-8 Hours)

THURS - Slow Cooked Pork Chops -  Pasta - Green Beans (Crock Low 6-8 Hours)

FRI - MOVIE NIGHT - Chinese Appetizer Buffet

SAT - Slow Cooker Night: Chicken Delicious (Low 5 Hours)

SUN - LEFTOVERS

MON - St Patty's Day - Slow Cooker Corned Beef  & Cabbage

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For more menu plan Monday fun, head on over to Laura's at I'm an Organizing Junkie!  Save time and money.   You will not believe now easier life is with a bit of planning.  Give it a try, You won't be sorry!

Menu for the Weeks of
2/17/08 - 2/30/08

This week we will be having alot of crockpot recipes.  I am working so many hours that by the time I get home I am too tired to cook.  At least that is how this last week worked.  So if I can throw supper in the crock pot in the morning I will have less to do when I get home. 

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SUN -  Easiest Crockpot Chicken and Biscuits (Crock Low 4-6 hours)

MON -  Slow Cooker Night: Italian Veggie & Pasta Soup & Bread Sticks (Crock 7-8 Hours)

TUES - Taco Macaroni - (Prep/Total Time: 30 Taste of Home S&D - pg 11)

WED - Grilled Cheese Sand/  Soup

THURS - Potluck Ham and Pasta (Prep/Total Time: 40/Bake 25 Taste of Home S&D - pg 37)

FRIDAY -Mushroom Swiss Burgers (Prep/Total Time: 30 Taste of Home S&D - pg 27)
Super Nacho Appetizers (Prep/Total Time: 15/ Bake 20 Taste of Home S&D - pg 45)

SATURDAY - Slow Cooker Night: Chicken Delicious (Low 5 Hours)

SUN - Creamy Potato Soup (Prep/Total Time: 25 Taste of Home S&D - pg 30)
            Onion Cheese Buscuits (Prep/Total Time: 30 Taste of Home S&D - pg 48)

MON -Working Late - Slow Cooker: Sticky Chicken **Refridgerate Over Night** (Crock Low 6-8 Hrs)

TUES - Baked Ranch Chicken - (Bake 325 - 45 min) (CARRY OVER FROM LAST WEEK)

WED - Ravioli Casserole - 3-Cheese Garlic Bread  (Prep/Total Time: 15 Taste of Home S&D - pg 22)

THURS - Slow Cooked Beef Stew (Crock Low 6-8 Hours)

FRI - Frozen Pizza's

SAT - Slow Cooked Pork Chops - Rice & Roni - Heart Shaped Brownies (Crock Low 6-8 Hours)

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For more menu plan Monday fun, head on over to Laura's at I'm an Organizing Junkie!  Save time and money.   You will not believe now easier life is with a bit of planning.  Give it a try, You won't be sorry!

It's opening day for the group home I have been involved in developing.  The Licensor is out there today.   I hope the house gets a go ahead.   I need to move on to my next project at work! 

They had a little news story about the house last night on our local news.   Check it out!!

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S370363.shtml?cat=1