I'm Not Cheap...I'm Frugal

Currently I'm Reading....

2010-11-27T21:30:00.000-08:00

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

I've only completed the first chapter and already I'm wanting to move. Not out of this city, or this state; more like out of this country. Kingsolver writes a "year of food life" in where her family moves from Arizona to Virginia where things like growing your own food and eating within your region are possible without such drastic measures as in the Southwest. She mentions something that really peaks my interest called the French Paradox (which funny enough I just read about in Julie and Julia, also a great read): the French can eat and eat rich and heavy foods and yet stay slim without 24hr gyms and detox diets. Why? Well the claim is, according to Kingsolver, the French "consume many courses in a meal...portions of the fatty ones tend to be tiny...and they draw out meals sociably." She also discusses the freshness of their ingredients and the skimping on quality they refuse to do. I've never been to France (sad face) but I have been to Greece, and I find the same theory applies there as well. When we ate "out" in Greece, it was always with friends, the main course being coffee and tobacco with a little food thrown in. When eating at home, there seemed to be just enough food for everyone, which didn't tempt us into overeating. Snacks consisted of fruit from the trees outside, a piece of bread (bought or baked daily) with feta, or olives. My favorite indulgence was fresh chocolate milk, which came in a very small container like a delicacy. Even the soda, one liter bottles only, came as carbonated orange juice. And as I read this book, I wonder, why did I ever leave?

It makes me sad to think that not only could my poor eating habits be making me unhealthy (chubby), but maybe my government, my country, are contributing as well. It is very unsettling; a feeling that you cannot escape it. I'm hoping this read has a happy ending because the last thing my husband needs to hear is: "I changed my mind about the east coast, let's just hop the ocean while we're at it!"

Cloth Diapers...what was I thinking..

2010-10-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

So when you have a baby there are two things right off the bat that empty the wallet: formula and diapers. When people cringe and say, "We can't afford a baby!" they are most likely thinking of the ridiculous cost of keeping a kid full and the pee off the couch. When I told the husband I wanted a baby, my "business proposal" contained the stipulation that I would use cloth diapers, because my Mom used them on me, they are good for the environment, keep diaper rash at bay, and save you money if you diaper more than one child. He looked at me like, "you're gonna put poop in our washer?" But since I would be master-diaperer he thought it sounded good. I got a newborn cloth diaper stockpile from a friend who was in between kids; I didn't want to invest until I was sure I could do it.

Well baby came and those cloth diapers sat in a box. I had diapers as shower gifts and some earth-friendly ones I got on sale (for outings and road trips) and I got sucked in by how easy it was. Take it off, in the trash it goes along with the nasty wipes too. I was running on empty: the only laundry that got done was my husband's uniforms, and I was lucky to shower. So I convinced myself I would start cloth diapering once I had the time to actually wash them. Then D-Day arrived: Tabitha started sleeping through the night. We were rested and now I had no excuse. I pull out the box of cloth diapers and........none of them fit! I had waited too long. Oh well, disposables, welcome back! Well then my greenness kicked in...........

I knew it was awful to be putting all these diapers into the landfill, with poop in them for God's sake, and I'd read about all of the chemicals in the diapers and so on, and I just told myself that like it or not I needed to cloth diaper. I met with a mom from Craigslist and got a variety or cloth diapers to see which kinds I liked: all-in-ones, all-in-twos, prefold, pocket, I'm-an-origami-magician whatever. My husband waits in the car while I haggle; when I get in with my bag full-o-diapers and my pockets empty, he flips. He can't believe that I've just spent a buck fifty on cloth diapers that will require me to touch poop and pee, and even worse, require him to touch poop and pee. We get home and after initial stripping and washing, I begin.

What was I thinking? I can't get the stupid things to fit her right because she is super skinny, and the elastic doesn't get tight enough around her legs so there is pee everywhere, and I assume there isn't enough absorption going on so I pad it some more..nope that doesn't help. What sucks is that they really are beautiful things: they have cute prints, and the fleece wicks moisture away from the bum so it's like she is sitting on a fluffy cloud. But I am dunking poop-covered diapers into the toilet, and the stuff isn't coming off because thanks to starting cereal this kid is excreting glue. I am determined though, because as a wife I will not let my husband say, "I told you so." Tabitha spends her days in her colorful cloth nappies, covered by shorts or pants so I can easily tell when she has wet through...oh yea, and I have to warn people who pick her up. But I really do love not having to run to the store for diapers. Dear Earth, you'd better be happy.....

Damn you Morgan Spurlock!

2010-10-29T20:36:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been over a year since I've posted. A lot has happened since then, a lot of bad, and tons of good. Most importantly, I became a new mommy to a beautiful baby girl, Tabitha. So many things have changed for me. My frugal life has been turned upside down, and it's all your fault Morgan Spurlock.

A few years ago, a show aired weekly called 30 Days, where Morgan Spurlock (director) and other volunteers spent thirty days in the shoes of someone else, sometimes their complete opposite. My husband and I would watch together, me taking the PETA activist's side while he took the game hunter's side, me the commune hippie, him the city dweller. You get the idea.
A free trial for Netflix came up, and since the last 5 months I've been posted up in the house, waiting for the depths-of-Texas-hell-heat to die down, I figured I could use some moooovies. 30 days had been running episodes on Planet Green and I thought to myself that I had never seen Super Size Me (if you've never seen it, there's no time like the present.) I think, when it came out, I was afraid to watch it. Like most Americans, I am afraid of the truth. Ignorance is bliss let me tell ya. So there I was, baby in my arms watching a harmless documentary about fast food.

Damn you Morgan Spurlock! Because of your movie I no longer eat most fast food. Because of you I question every advertisement, every company, every school lunch program. A chain reaction began of documentaries, books, articles, research and a world turned upside down. Because of you I no longer "take their word for it." By the way, thanks Morgan.

Here is my current life in a nutshell: I've realized that things we hold to be truths are no such thing, and we are lied to so much we might as well be friggin North Korea. Having a baby has made me want a better life, a cleaner more sustainable life, on a budget, with a Texan husband who thinks Cinnamon Toast Crunch 'made with whole grains' is healthy food. Watch me squirm!

Daily Chores

2009-08-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

If you are like me, then you usually can only get to the necessities each day when it comes to chore; things like dishes, a load of laundry, and putting on a new roll of toilet paper. I used to save all of the cleaning for one or two days, and I would be exhausted in a stiff position on the sofa by the time I was done. My feet and back would hurt, and anyone who dare enter my home with shoes on would get a whooping. But then I found Motivated Moms. This site offers a downloadable chore list for every day (or in a weekly format) that makes getting little tasks done that much easier. Instead of worrying, "Should I wash the mirrors today or turn the mattress, oh wait I forgot to dust the picture frames and Shoot! did I take the meat out?" I just do a little bit each day.

What I love about the planner is that it contains tasks for an entire year, so daily things like TAKE OUT THE TRASH are included as well as CLEAN BOTTOM SHELF OF REFRIGERATOR. It also accounts for gift giving and self-pampering. The site does charge a small fee for the planner, and some people might think that they could make one of these on the own. I thought about that too, until I realized that I would let my assign 189 tasks for each day. Sometimes, it is better to let someone (or something) else run the show!

My Notebook

2009-08-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

I have forever been a clipper. I clip snippets out of everything - from magazines, to newspapers, to greeting cards, to flyers. I save everything. Whether it is a cool idea, or a pretty picture or saying, I save it. Most stuff ends up glued in my journal, for inspiration or for a laugh. Some stuff ends up in my scrapbooks. And the rest end up in my frugal notebook. I started a notebook a few years ago to keep all of the great money-saving ideas that I came across, didn't have time to implement, but didn't want to forget.

This weekend I realized that my little notebook was serving me no purpose because it wasn't very organized. I have OCD when it comes to notebook organization. In school, if I have to scribble my notes super fast because the teacher is hopped up on coffee, then I come home that night and REWRITE them. I blame it on the Catholic school military-style handwriting drills.

I decided to switch to a binder with dividers for all the different sections of my frugal life: Groceries, Household, Gifts, Holidays, Health and Beauty, etc. Then I transposed all of my tidbits! on looseleaf and stuck them into the appropriate sections. I feel so much better...Ahh the organizational itch has been scratched!

So, if you don't have one of these handy dandy notebook binder thingies, you should start one. When I'm feeling frisky, I flip through and try out a new idea. That is how I have come to where I am now, by doing one little thing at a time.

On another note, thanks to the hype of Julie and Julia, I decided to start reading the original blog that this movie is based on, called the Julie/Julia Project. It is a hilarious read, especially if you like food, alcohol, and curse words.

G'Day

The Woes of College Textbooks

2009-07-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

I am playing a bit of catch up when it comes to school, and this fall I will be taking 18 hours. That is six classes at the junior and senior level. And I have 21 required books! Insane yes, because not only is that a lot of dough out of my pocket, but I have to manage to read all 21 books in one semester. I figured I would start ordering now so I could get a jump start on the reading, at least the novels. I got on to my school's bookstore site to get the new and used prices of all the books I needed. Then I researched prices on the internet and found most of my books at exceptional prices on sites such as Ebay and TextbooksRUs. I did have a hefty order at AbeBooks, but they cancelled my order without explanation after all of that searching and comparing, so I won't be dealing with them again. A few suggestions I have for the college book bonanza are:

Always note the publisher, year, and edition: some editions have extra inserts that you might need
Don't buy from your school bookstore unless it is a new edition with an required online component; they will always be overpriced
Don't mind the condition of the books; I used a book that someone had dropped in the tub, but it was still readable and was dirt cheap
Look for books with notes in the margin; the previous owner might have made a good point that you didn't think of
Check Craigslist.org for students in your area getting rid of their books; they also are a great source of information if they had the same professor as you
When ordering from online sites, always go through Ebates to get some cash back
Keep all receipts in case it is the wrong book

Scrapbooking on a Budget

2009-07-14T06:02:00.000-07:00

I am a devoted scrapbooker. Every moment I get to myself I hide in my little corner of the house and work on the endless pictures and momentos that never stop accumulating. Lately, I have been working on our wedding album which has over 300 pictures. Because I am constantly scrapping and have zero room in my budget for a hobby, I do the best with what I have by frugally scrapbooking:

My little corner of the house, in the office, set up with a craft table and enough room to lay everything out. It is so much easier to make a plan when you can come and go as you please to your scrapping area. You're more likely to take your time and make good decisions.
Pick up supplies at garage sales and thrift stores. I always find tons of rubber stamps, whether they are name brand or children's sets from the toy store. I have a lovely Harry Potter set that was never meant to be used for scrapbooking. REPURPOSE!
The Dollar Tree is a goldmine for frugalness. You can get packs of paper, punch-outs, stamps, scissors, and stickers, all $1 a piece. My scrapbooks have even survived the dollar store glue.
Momentos are great substitutes for stickers and embellishments. For our wedding album, I saved the ribbon and tags from the favors, the silk flowers from the decorations, the menus, and greeting cards. I made a Cinderella page with a Happily Ever After card someone gave us. Think in 3-D!

silk flower used on a wedding page

Buy on sale, ALWAYS! Michael's always has sales on paper and stickers. They put coupons in the Sunday paper and I never shop without these. I know how low I can get paper, etc. and never shop until that price comes up.
Scrap with friends! I sometimes attend "Crop Night" at a local scrapbook store. You pay $10, get dinner and full access to the store's supply room such as the Cricut machine, paints, and cutters. You also get to see other scrapbooks and chatting time!Save all of your scrap paper! Leftovers are great for tags and mounting pictures. A bunch of small squares can be used to make a checkerboard design.

If I left the house to purchase specific items for every scrapbook layout I would be very behind and in debt. I make do with what I have because my goal is to show off my family and friends, not how much I spent on the album.

The Prodigal Cheapskate Returns

2009-07-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it has been a very very long time since I have blogged and now with the lovely invention of wireless routers it is a lot easier for me to do! So I'm back and hopefully for good. If you were a reader before, thanks for sticking around. If you are new, welcome!

My latest frugal craze has to do with dish sponges. I hate how they get smelly so quickly, so I just ditched them for a washcloth cut in half. Works just as good, I can wash it in the machine and disinfect it, and I can switch it out as often as I like and not have to hear the money going down the drain. Yay for saving pennies every day!

Cleaning the Microwave

2009-02-08T21:07:00.000-08:00

I noticed today that I have been neglecting my microwave, so I attacked it!

Take a rag soaked with water and place in microwave. Cook on HIGH for 2 minutes, intermittently checking to make sure it hasn't dried out. After 2 minutes, the steam should have loosened the food particles and make cleaning a whole lot easier!

Check-Your-Rate Day

2009-02-03T14:31:00.001-08:00

Take some time today to see if you can lower any of your bills:

Electric - what are you being charged per kwh?

Cell phone and home phone - are you using all of those features?

Auto insurance - do you need to raise your deductible? Do you have enough in savings to self-insure?

Credit cards - should you do a balance transfer for a lower APR?

Also check on internet service, water usage, gas and oil usage, etc. If you can't lower the bill by changing terms or companies, see what you can do to lower it on your end.

Tuning into Reality: A Look at TV Families

2009-01-29T08:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday while surfing the net I came across a story about a well-known TV family who had purchased a reported $1 million home for their brood. Having watched this family for a few years, noting their tips for living on a budget, I felt somewhat cheated. This whole time I thought they were "just getting by". But who am I to look down on people doing good for themselves right? Well, I felt like the image that this TV network portrayed was one of an average American family just trying to make ends meet. And here they were, living in an estate! I just couldn't shake it, knowing that all this time I felt inadequate thinking "well if they can manage to feed that whole family for $xx.xx and healthy, why can't I do it for two?" Then, it hit me. DUH! It's TV! It is not "reality"! These people are paid to do a program so that in itself makes them different from the average family.

There are other TV families that many Americans have become enthralled with. We watch their shows, follow their stories, and learn from their experiences. But we have to remember that it is just TV: no two families or situations are the same. Frugality for some of the nation has become the new fad, but television is a tricky business where not everything is as it seems.

For Today..January 26, 2009

2009-01-26T14:23:00.000-08:00

Outside my window...the sun is shining and the air is warm, but give it a few days and it will be freezing again

I am thinking...about how I would like to cook dinner tonight

I am thankful for...my husband and how each day I can't wait for the next

From the kitchen...dishes that never seem to end!

I am wearing...jeans and a t-shirt and my favorite Reef flip flops

I am creating...a baby blanket for my niece who will be born any day now! MUST KNIT FASTER!

I am going...to use my free Redbox code tonight to rent a movie

I am reading...I Love a Cop as part of the "spouse requirement"

I am hoping...that we have a successful garage sale next weekend

I am hearing...Gilmore Girls in the living room!

Around the house...the cats are napping way too much, they should get jobs, and the curtains are blowing!

One of my favorite things...our new fuel efficient car!

A few plans for the rest of the week... census bureau numerator test, birthdays, garage sale, super bowl!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

My beautiful sister Athena

Anatomy of our Pantry

2009-01-25T22:25:00.001-08:00

When we first stepped into the house that we currently own, we were overwhelmed at how perfect is was for us. It was cute and quaint and big enough to start a family. It wasn't until we were given the keys that we realized it had NO PANTRY SPACE! What were we to do?

Our dining room was formerly a 4th bedroom, so now it contains some oddly placed elements like a second light fixture, a window at the end of the wall, and a closet. We turned this closet into a pantry so we could store all of the food in one place and not sacrifice cabinets. We built shelves out of 3/4" plywood with supports. The closet is deep enough that we can fit practically anything in there.

I keep sugar, flour, and other large quantity staples in food-safe storage buckets. This allows for easy scooping into my smaller countertop jars. I also keep grain products such as rice and pasta stored in bins to keep them away from pesky weevils.

A shoe organizer hangs on the inside of the door for smaller items like gravy mix, puddings, snacks, and oatmeal packets. This makes it easy to see and I don't have piles on the shelves. I found this organizer at the Goodwill Oulet for 99 cents.

All of the canned goods are separated, with the first expiring towards the front.

I try to put most things in glass jars to keep away from pantry bugs. I SAVE ALL GLASS JARS from food because 1) they can't be recycled here and 2) they are effective and look pretty! I label the jars with name and expiration date, usually on the bottom.

So there is a peek into my pantry. I find that the more space I have to move things around, the less I forget about the items left in the back. Our pantry is quite sparse during these tough times for us, but we have enough staples and there are always new meals to be invented!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2009-01-19T22:17:00.000-08:00

For Today, January 19, 2009

Outside my window...the chill in the air is pleasant but I know it will be gone tomorrow morning when it hits 80 degrees

I am thinking...that tomorrow is a very busy day and I hope I can hold up

I am thankful for...meeting someone today who knows Dave Ramsey, it gave me hope

From the learning rooms...hubby is learning the Texas penal code, and by default so am I

From the kitchen...came a batch of pumpkin muffins and strawberry cupcakes for my meeting with the police chaplain tomorrow

I am wearing...a shirt that says duct tape won't fix the world; a lot of people don't get it, go figure

I am creating...a nursery for wishful thinking

I am going...to be very tired in the morning and will need coffee

I am reading...nothing right now; my goal is to pick out a new book tonight

I am hoping...that will power can work wonders

I am hearing...the sound of my I Love Lucy clock ticking away, drives me nuts

Around the house...its dead quiet because the kittens have knocked out finally

One of my favorite things...my new waffle maker we got for Christmas; I make a bunch and freeze them

A few plans for the rest of the week...inauguration!!!; meeting the police chaplain; having a garage sale

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...
This is a baby shower cake I made for a friend last week. Its supposed to be a Care Bear....yea right

Pulled Pork

2009-01-16T12:17:00.000-08:00

We had this for dinner last night. I tend to buy what meats are on sale and pork roast was only 89 cents a pound. Figured I had to try it. It was my first time cooking with Boston Butt so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I doctored it my way and it came out great. This recipe is for a smaller cut because there's only two of us, so adjust the recipe to accomodate a larger cut. Try it!

1-2 lbs. Boston Butt pork roast
1/2 large onion, cut as desired
1/2 bottle barbecue sauce
Spices - I used salt, oregano, basil, pepper, garlic powder
Olive oil

Turn Crock Pot on HIGH and add onion and enough water to cover meat (you can always add more later).

Rinse meat under cold water. Coat both sides lightly with olive oil. Rub in desired spices and broil each side for 5 minutes on a cookie sheet.

Place meat into Crock Pot. Make sure the water is covering the meat. Cook on HIGH for 1 1/2 hours then turn to LOW for 4 hours, or cook on low for 8 hours. The longer is cooks on low the more tender the meat will be.

* 1-2 hours before serving, scoop out most of the water and leave only half the meat exposed. Add half a bottle of barbecue sauce and mix. Let finish simmering, while turning the meat every now and then.

To serve, shred meat and serve on hamburger buns with sauce mixture.

Becoming a 9-5 Family

2009-01-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

So we are half way through Week 2 of our new lifestyle, and boy has it been a rollercoaster ride. We are still adjusting to this new schedule that we have never experienced before. Like I said in my earlier post, hubby is home EVERY DAY now. This means we can actually start buying fruit that won't go to waste, and that a whole loaf of bread (sometimes two!) gets eaten without wasting any. It means getting to eat at home every day and packing lunches. Very, very new to me. It seems as if things are getting more expensive right at the time that Murphy is visiting our house. After taking a long, hard look at the bank accounts today, I was slapped with reality and my frugal genes (yes, I have more than one!) kicked into TURBO POWER! or was it TURTLE POWER! ....anyway...

A few posts ago I showed off my 99 cent organic loot. In that lot was a bunch of flour, so I decided that I am done with buying ready-made bread. I actually made a list today and baking bread was on it. I had success thanks to a candy thermometer and the Good Housekeeping Cookbook from the 70s. That thing has never failed me, and if my Mom thinks she is getting it back, well she's just nutty. And because the job market here has been reduced to only two columns of non-nursing jobs, I will be baking all of our bread.

Another thing that I have been doing more of lately is hanging laundry in the house. Thanks to the crazy Arctic air sweeping the nation, I haven't really wanted to be outside handling cold wet clothes. I've been hanging them in open closets and the shower. My Mom started doing this when I was a teenager; we lived in an apartment and running the dryer meant skipping a meal.

I sometimes run the little heater in the bathroom to get things started. I usually leave the clothes overnight and fluff them in the morning.

Sometimes I kick myself for not doing these things all the time, thinking "Just imagine how much we could have saved!", but I've been trying to stay sane about it. I've realized that the ultimate way to be frugal would be living in an eco-village off of the grid somewhere peeing on our plants (I'm not knocking those that do). The rest of us are just doing our best with the mental capacity God gave us that allows for multitasking. Everyday I am trying to do better and realize my own strength,

and that's all I can do, is try. It's all any of us can do.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

A Frugal Bit from Paul Harvey

2009-01-12T20:22:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure what Paul Harvey's reasoning was for this piece, but it is definitely applicable to frugality here. Enjoy!

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, Id like better.
I'd really like for them to know about hand-me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches.
I really would hope you learn humility by being humiliated and that you learn honesty by being cheated.
I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.
It would be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your dog put to sleep.
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.
When you see a movie and your little sister wants to tag along, I hope you let her.
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town were you can do it safely. I
f you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.
When you learn how to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.
I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a girl, and you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove, and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I dont care if you try a beer once, but I hope you dont like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.
I sure hope you make time to sit on the porch with your Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.
May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holiday.
These things I wish for you- tough times and disappointments, hard work and happiness. To me its the only way to appreciate life.
Good Day!

Paul Harvey

An Alternative to Composting..for Now

2009-01-12T19:55:00.000-08:00

Well I have been daydreaming of starting a compost bin for the past few weeks. I had a compost pile once, but in my sand trap of a backyard, it was hard to march over there at night to drop scraps into it; not to mention I didn't feel like pitchforking that thing with Texas-sized critters running around. So after I saw Frugal Babe's Worm Composting article, I decided that this was a better solution because I can keep it in the garage or close to the back door. Unfortunately, these magical ideas land in my lap right when things are taking a turn for the worse. I just can't afford to get the supplies at this time. So I have been sticking to my can't-really-compost-but-I-don't-want-to-throw-it-away method: I just toss the stuff in the backyard.

Now this may seem icky to some people who actually don't want to share their backyard with "visitors", but not us. Our backyard needs an overhaulin', and since we can't afford to do that either, we only go out there to hang up the laundry. So whenever I have scraps I just open the back door and practice my baseball arm. And to show that this method works, and it makes me feel like I am part of the circle of life, here's a few pictures...

There he or she is..just a friendly neighborhood squirrel trying to carry some stale homemade bread up the tree. (You may wonder why I didn't make bread crumbs out of it, but hey, baby steps here.) I watched this squirrel for about a half hour trying to chew his way little by little to make the bread light enough to carry. When he finally achieved victory, he got to the top, got spooked and dropped the bread. Whoever says that squirrels can't look like "Oh crap!", they're lying. I left him alone and later that day the bread was gone. So yes I may not be inviting the best creatures into my yard, and I may have more luck with the worms, but this is working for now.

Blow Out Sales

2009-01-06T19:22:00.000-08:00

Today I was shopping at Sun Harvest for some fruits and veggies when I came across a table of baking goods that has been displayed at the front since Thanksgiving. There it was..a magical sign that said "99 cents Everything on Bake Table". YAHOO! Check out my loot!

I got all organic items for less than non-organic items. I was thrilled! This is why it is sometimes ok to shop without a definite list. I needed everything that I bought, but it wasn't a priority. At these rock bottom prices I just couldn't pass it up. So always keep at eye out for deep discounted items because they vary by region and store.

I also used a free Redbox code that I found over at Saving Sherry to get a free movie!

So thats my frugal day! Hope everyone else had one too :)

Switching to Less Pay?!?

2009-01-05T19:32:00.000-08:00

Today was my hubby's first day in the police academy. This is the first time that he has been home everyday in the four years that we have been together. It is taking some adjusting to our new found lifestyle, and it made me think about the pros and cons of his old job versus his new job, which is a list that we made before he decided to take it. Before the academy, it was the oilfield. Anyone who knows about that area understands me when I say that it is rough on the body, mind, and relationship. I don't want to lecture anyone on their career and family choices, but this is how we see it:

1. He will be home every day. We will get to see each other, eat dinner together, lean on each other, and stop our marriage over the cell phone! He can go back to college and get on a normal schedule. He won't have to miss big things like birthdays, first steps, and first day of kindergarten.

2. Even though the overall pay is less, he won't have to spend money for travel, doctor's appointments for work-related injuries, and extra wear on the car.

3. Within 14 months, he will be making more than he was at his previous job. In the grand scheme of things, 14 months is not long of a sacrifice to make.

4. This job has a better benefits package.

5. This job does not lay people off!

6. And the point that I am most excited and most nervous about: sometimes you have to get dragged through the mud together and come out on the other side to see what you two are capable of. I think that in the end we will be stronger and have more love for doing it TOGETHER.

So that's my little rant and justification. Keep your fingers crossed!

10 Guilty Pleasures

2009-01-05T19:19:00.000-08:00

I took this idea from Denise over at Sunflowers, Chocolate, and Little Boys, who claims she took the idea from someone else also. If it weren't for "copying", no good ideas would ever get spread around would they?

My 10 Guilty Pleasures

1. Ice cream...it can make any day better and you can always find a new flavor

2. Books...especially Harry Potter, Nicholas Sparks, and now Stephenie Meyer; I can get lost for hours and deny myself sleep over books

3. Frugality...I have to say that I am addicted to finding ways to save; the internet and library have becomes my drugs of choice when it comes to researching tips and recipes

4. Twister, Day After Tomorrow, Juno, and Superbad...movies that I HAVE TO WATCH if they are on, even though I can repeat them verbatim

5. Music...my favorite tracks can take me back to the time when I first heard them; I have found that the only way to "choose my feelings" is to put on certain music

6. My husband...this doesn't mean that he is 6th in my life, but no matter how crazy he makes me I always can't wait til he gets home to make me a little crazier

7. Crafts...I love to collect odds and ends and write down all kinds of crazy projects ideas in a huge notebook, then when I'm bored I pick one out!

8. Meteorology...I have wanted to be a research meteorologist since I was a little girl, and after applying to OU 3 times and getting turned down, I left that professional dream behind; I might be a quitter with that, but it doesn't stop me from running outside at the slightest hint of rain

9. Animals...We have found that going to the animal shelter when you're bored always ends up in a kitten or puppy that was just too cute and needy-looking to pass up

10. Babies...most people say that when I have my own they won't seem so awesome to me, but I highly doubt it

And the ball drops...

2008-12-31T14:57:00.000-08:00

New Year's resolutions...how many of us actually keep them? Well in an attempt to convince myself that it is possible...I'm going to share mine with you, which might make me a little more accountable.

1. Be a better Catholic - I'm not very good about keeping up with my holy days etc., so this year I plan on taking the time to do so.

2. Get healthy! - I've just let it all go these past few years and it's time to move on.

3. And of course, get more frugal!- there are so many things that I know I could be doing, so my goal is to focus on completely frugalizing my life the way I dream about.

I hope that if you have a resolution that you have luck with it! Happy New Year everyone!

Frugal Tip: Velveeta Boxes

2008-12-28T23:00:00.000-08:00

I have to thank my Mom for this one:

Save the cardboard base boxes from Velveeta and other similar block processed cheeses. They (usually) fit perfectly in kitchen drawers for organizers!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and/or a Happy Holiday and I look forward to getting back to posting!

Santa Claws

2008-12-16T14:17:00.000-08:00

I just had to share these photos of my crazy kitten Rory. She is almost a year old, and we brought her home, along with her twin Allie, from the Gulf Coast Humane Society. Hubby and I were bored one day and decided to stop by the animal shelter and look around. There they were, in the same cage, absolutely identical, and climbing the cages! Hubby always said that if he saw one that nutty, he was going to take it home; but we couldn't split them up. The house has been upside down ever since! So here are a few pics of Rory inside of the Christmas tree, which we hear jingling ALL NIGHT LONG! It's not Santa Claus, it's Santa Claws! ENJOY!

P.S. Any good recommendations for a camera that doesn't blur so badly without flash?

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2008-12-16T13:50:00.001-08:00

For Today, December 16th, 2008 (I'm always a little behind)

Outside my window....it is one of the coldest days that we have around these parts and I am utterly enjoying the dark clouds and freezing temperatures!!

I am thinking... that I don't see how universal healthcare can really work, but I am sitting, waiting, and wishing because it just costs too much

I am thankful for... today's weather; it makes me miss Yankeeland just a little less and happy where God has brought me

From the kitchen... Monkey Munch was made last night and I have been "munching" on it ever since. Just melt 1/2 c. peanut butter, 1 c/ chocolate chips, and 1/4 c. butter or margarine and pour over 9 cups of Chex; mix thoroughly; put into large bag with 1 1/2 c/ powdered sugar and shake shake shake! Refrigerate in airtight container...

I am wearing... one of two pairs of jeans that actually fit me, and an Old Navy pullover, because I swear by Old Navy sweaters

I am creating... a wine cork trivet for Christmas; to see how its done click HERE

I am going... to the bank this afternoon, a place that lately I like to avoid

I am reading... still Marie Antoinette, I wonder if I will ever finish that book; the librarians look at me funny because they have the look like "Renewing again??"

I am hoping...that Christmas is somewhat cold, that we make it through the beginning of the year, and that next Christmas will be better

I am hearing... Jingle Bell Rock courtesy of this blog

Around the house... Christmas presents are scattered all over because we cannot trust them under the tree thanks to Rory and Allie; kitchen items are piled up because a bunch of things were given to us and I have no idea where to put them; but I did get my gardenia planted and now its on the porch

One of my favorite things... a small ceramic Christmas tree that I painted as a little girl in ceramics glass, I will share it with you today

A few plans for the rest of the week... Wednesday nanny-ing and baking cornbread and mini pecan pies at the Boardwalk, Thursday baby again then FREE high school band Christmas concert, Friday buying police uniforms for hubby, and Saturday baking again!

A picture thought I would like to share with you

my ceramic tree