Saving Money and Being Happy

Moving locations!

2012-01-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

So, my big news is that I'm moving over to a new website: Be Happy Be Healthy Wellness. It's a website related to my training at IIN. I'll continue to blog there about ways to save money and be happy, but the focus will be a bet more wellness centered (as that is where my interest lies). I've had a lot of fun blogging here - it's been a great virtual diary for me too - who knows, maybe I'll come back to this one some day too. In the meantime, check it out!

Preparing for the New Year - Day 5

2011-12-31T11:25:00.001-08:00

Well, hopefully by now your house is looking great and you are feeling ready.

Day 5:

Do a quick clean up. Today, spend an hour (or less) picking up, running the vaccum, dusting and cleaning the kitchen floor. This way you will wake up tomorrow to a nice clean house - with an organized pantry and fridge and hopefully a bit less clutter! Perfect way to start the New Year.

Come back next week for some exciting changes - I'll be posting something new I've been working on early next week. Until then, enjoy the night, and Happy New Year!

Preparing for the New Year - Day 4

2011-12-30T07:16:00.000-08:00

Are you enjoying your clean frige? I know I am. In fact, we decided to try something new this year for the freezer. We are lucky enough to have a freezer in the basement, so we decided to keep the upstairs freezer strictly for food we will eat in the next two weeks. Things tend to get lost in it and I end up throwing them away, so hopefully this will help. Downstairs will be storage, and upstairs will be food to be eaten quickly.

Day 4:

Clean out your pantry. Bet you knew this one was coming! I almost always do this on New Year's Day - I'm not sure why, it just happens that way. Same as the fridge, start at the top and work your way down. Pitch anything that is expired, organize by category (baking, snacks, breakfast, etc.) and consider throwing away (or giving away) anything you deem as unhealthy.

I have been slowly eliminating processed food from our diet, so this will be my final removal of most of it from the house.

I know my pantry is a mess, so I'd better get downstairs and get started now! Good luck!

Preparing for the New Year - Day 3

2011-12-29T06:41:00.000-08:00

How much did you clear out? I took a bag of items to Goodwill and listed about a half dozen on Craigslist. I also filled up a rubbermaid container with items for our next garage sale (already tagged and ready to go!). Felt great and the house looks much cleaner without as much clutter!

Day 3:

Clean out your fridge. Today, we'll jump into an area that I know needs cleaned out regularly at my house - the fridge!

This is how I'm going to do it: First, I'll take everything off of the top shelf - check expiration dates and toss anything that is expired. Then I'll clean the shelf and put the items back on that shelf (if they belong there - otherwise they stay on the counter). Next, I'll move on the the next shelf and so on until the shelves are finished. Finally I'll do the door. If there are items that can be combined (i.e. two jars of mustard), I'll combine them.

Once the fridge is finished, I'm going to move on to the freezer and follow the same process. As I'm checking items, I'm also going to make a note of things that need to be used up (literally make a note on a piece of paper). Then, when I plan the menu for next week, I'll be sure to include those items.

Stand back and admire your clean fridge!!!

Preparing for the New Year - Day 2

2011-12-26T19:08:00.001-08:00

Did you get through all your returns? We were done by noon and it was such a GREAT feeling!

Day 2:

Clean out some stuff! Today, my suggestion is to do a quick survey of your house and see if there is anything you can eliminate - take to Goodwill or sell. I wouldn't spend hours going through your whole house, but I bet if you walk through each room and look around, you can get rid of quite a few things you are no longer using, don't really like or just don't need.

Then, bag them up and take them straight to Goodwill (or at least put them in your car for the next time you head that direction), immediately tag them and store for a future garage sale, or list on Ebay or Craigslist.

A little less clutter and a little more cash (or at least one more tax write off for 2011) is a great way to prepare for 2012.

I won't have a post tomorrow, but I will have a few more suggestions Thursday - let me know how much you were able to clean out!

Preparing for the New Year - Day 1

2011-12-26T04:58:00.000-08:00

With just a week left until next year, it is a great time to get yourself ready. With just a little bit of work each day, you can start off 2012 feeling ready to go!

My philosophy is why wait until January 1st to start fresh? Why not get a head start now? So most days this week, I'll be posting a tip with a project to work on that should help you feel ready to meet 2012.

Day 1:

Put away the Christmas presents. While you are doing this, determine if you (and your kids) will really use each gift. If not, return it today (or at least put it in a bag in your car to return later in the week). I know it's a hassle to get out and do returns, but the stores tend to be a bit more liberal this week, and instead of waiting until it's too late to do any returns, you'll feel great to have it finished!

My plan for the day is to make myself and my hubby a nice cup of coffee, put away the gifts, decide if there is anything we need today while it's on sale (wrapping paper for next year, birthday presents we'll need in the next few weeks, etc.) and then go out to conquer our returns and a little bit of needed shopping - we'll have a list which should keep us from purchasing unneeded items and by the end of the day we'll only have the new items in our house that we want or need.

Holiday Gift Card Promos Save YOU money!

2011-12-23T07:33:00.000-08:00

This tip is really from my hubby - he is the king of this one . . .

You know how there are so many gift card offers right now? Buy $25 in GC, get $5 free and the like? Well, even if you don't need gift cards to give as gifts, you can use these deals to your advantage.

Next time you are out to dinner and the restaurant you are dining at has this promo, check it out - if it's a good deal, I'd suggest heading to the bar and picking up enough to cover your dinner that night. Then, use the gift card you just purchased to pay for your meal.

You were going to pay for dinner anyway right? So you've spent the same amount of money, and now you have $5 (or whatever the deal is) to use later!

Here is a great example:

We had dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings Wednesday with some friends and we knew our bill was going to be $30 - $40. So, my husband went to the bar, purchased two gift cards for $25 each and received two mystery cards (guaranteed to have at least $5 each on them). When our bill was due, we paid with the gift cards. Now, we have about $20 left on one gift card, plus at least $10 with the free card. So, we'll be able to come back for dinner in January and have our meal paid for!

A few caveats so you don't waste your money:

1. make sure you like the restaurant and would want to return

2. don't do too many of these deals - most of the bonus cards are only good in January or January and February, so you could easily get yourself into a situation where you can't use them all

3. don't buy the deal just to save money if you can't afford it, often you will purchase more in gift cards than your bill - great if you can just use them later, but if you can't afford the extra cash now . . .

4. don't lose the gift cards or bonus cards!!!

5. keep track of what you have purchased and make sure you use the bonus cards before they expire

Enjoy your holiday season!

My favorite gift!

2011-12-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

I often talk about how much I like "doing" versus "buying," so this year I decided to create a special gift for my family in that vein (even my hubby doesn't know about this one).

I saw a similar idea somewhere on the internet (if I knew where I'd post a link!), but it was more for dating - I tweaked it for my family.

I took 12 envelopes and wrote the month on each one. Then, inside each envelope I wrote a note to my family outlining a fun family event we would do that month. Included in the envelope are also gift cards, cash, tickets, etc. - whatever is needed for the outing. I put the envelopes in a pretty basket (recycled from my closet) so it will be something we can leave out in plain view. My plan is that on the first of each month, we can sit down over dinner, dessert, whatever, open the envelope and then schedule the event.

I'm hoping it will become a fun activity the kids look forward to and encourage more fun family times. It's been a fun project for me coming up with new ideas and gathering the supplies for each month. The daily deal sites like Groupon, Living Social and Eversave have been invaluable!

So, here's to one fun thing planned for 2012: A Year of Family Fun!

Share the Christmas Spirit!

2011-12-12T06:36:00.002-08:00

Something I like to do each year is share the Christmas Spirit with the people that help out my kids daily - but maybe don't have daily interaction with them. I'm talking about the school office staff, nurse, principal, etc.

Most people do something for the teachers, but without the office staff, the schools wouldn't run - so make it a point to do a little something for them. They really appreciate it!

A few ideas:

1. Make some coffee cake and pick up a Starbucks (or local coffee shop) traveler with all the fixings - a nice little breakfast is always welcome!

2. This year, I made sugar cookies (with homemade buttercream icing) and am dropping them off this afternoon with a Starbucks traveler - who wouldn't love a little afternoon cookie and coffee break! Total cost: $14 for the coffee as I had already made the cookies for our family.

3. Pick up an inexpensive plant (Poinsettia's are nice this time of year) for them to place on the desk - they can enjoy it all month! I saw them at Meijer for $3.33 yesterday - very affordable.

4. Have your child make a card thanking them for everything they do - this can be very meaningful as they often don't feel as appreciated as the teachers.

5. A jar of candy for their desk - use all the great drugstore deals right now to fill it up!

Another thought on this - if you take food in, I'd suggest taking it the week before Christmas break starts - often the school will do special treats or breakfasts the week of break, so it's nice to spread it out a bit for them.

Don't let the Holidays pass you by!

2011-12-12T06:36:00.001-08:00

How to decide what to do this season? There are so many fun events going on that it can be hard to narrow down what to participate in. It seems like every year there are more parties, events and visits to add to the list. To help you out, I have a few holiday planning suggestions:

1. Ask your family. Just because it sounds good, or because you've always done something, doesn't mean you should do it. So, ask your kids and spouse what they would really like to do this month. It might surprise you. We've made a list for each of us of "must do's" and then we have another list of "if we have time" outings. This way, I'll ensure we each do what is most special to us, and if there is extra time or we end up with a free night, I'm not scrambling for ideas.

2. Put it on the calendar. This is another biggie. I've found that if I don't make specific plans (at least for the "must do's"), odds are good we'll get busy and before we know it, the month is over and we missed out on something special. Putting it on the calendar also helps with scheduling - you can see at a glance if you have too much planned for one weekend but another is light. Then, if need be, you can rearrange things before you get in the thick of it!

3. Take it easy. I can't stress this tip enough. Yes, there are a lot of fun and good things to do this season, but sometimes a lazy day at home watching a Christmas movie and snacking on popcorn and hot chocolate is just as memorable for your kids. Plus, planning a few low key days will keep everyone healthy and stress free!

4. Enjoy yourself. Remember, these are memories you are making, so you want them to be good ones! So what if everything doesn't go as planned or if you miss out on something. If you take the time to enjoy your family and your time together, you are going to get what you want out of the holiday season. It's just not worth it to get upset or panicked if things don't go perfectly - in fact, sometimes the "bloopers" in life become the best and most memorable parts of your family history!

So, before it's too late, make some cocoa for the family, sit down with the calendar and plan out the rest of your month!

Preparing for the New Year!

2011-12-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm thinking ahead!

I love the new year - it's another chance for a fresh start. I like to plan (as you all know!), so I've started thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2012. Some things I had planned for 2011 didn't happen, so those will roll over - others are new.

I'm also starting to think of a theme. I often create "theme's" for my year - it's a fun way to plan, reflect and add new experiences.

A couple of examples:

2011 was the year of completions and adventures

2010 was the year of the weekend getaway

In 2008 I had monthly goals - I liked that one and may try that again this year

So, expect to see posts on this topic in the next few weeks. I've found that by thinking about it ahead of time, I'm not stressed on the first - I can go into the new year with a plan of attack!

Advent Calendar

2011-12-01T06:46:00.001-08:00

I have seen so many cute Advent calendars on the internet this year - how to decide??? Since I've been fighting this cold, I haven't had the energy to do much, but I didn't want to miss out on the Advent fun, so I decided to use our normal Advent calendar (that my SIL made for us) and I've tucked little notes in some of the pockets with activities we will do on the day the note is pulled.

For instance, today was day 1, so I tucked a note in with the ornament that said "family game night - play a game together". Some of the notes involve a craft or cooking (like make cards or make fudge), some are an activity (decorate the tree, go look at Christmas lights) and some are service oriented (take dinner to friends, bless a neighbor). I looked at my calendar and placed the notes based upon our schedule - so for instance I know we're getting our tree Sunday - hence the tree note goes in on Sunday. I put the "make cards" note in a few days before teacher gifts will be delivered, etc.

The kids were super excited to find the note this morning - they had already been looking forward to the tree itself so this was a real bonus!

Maybe next year I'll get all crafty, but in the meantime at least I'm making this year special!

Ebay = Christmas!

2011-11-28T10:56:00.000-08:00

Whew! It was a crazy and fun weekend. Sadly I ended up with a bad cold, so moving slowly today. I did manage to list a bunch of ebay auctions last week, and they close today through Wednesday, so hopefully that will be a little extra Christmas cash! Plus, hopefully others will get some good deals on Christmas gifts or clothing for their little ones!

More to come later this week when I'm back up to speed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T08:22:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has a blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving. I'll be at the in-laws tomorrow, then out shopping Friday!

This year will be a breeze as I have very little to purchase. Still, I'm one of those crazy ones who love to be out in the excitement. My husband and I head out with a couple of friends and we cross everyone off our list. Then, Saturday we wrap everything, hide it in the basement and I am done with shopping and wrapping for the rest of the month. It is always a crazy (but fun) couple of days, but SUCH a relief to be able to enjoy the Christmas season without the stress of holiday shopping

I'll be back next week with some tips on how to schedule your holiday season, and some thoughts on fun Christmas activities!

Amazon's Black Friday List

2011-11-21T12:23:00.000-08:00

Want to pass on the craziness of the stores (or going out in the middle of the night or even on Thanksgiving this year!!). Then check out Amazon's Black Friday deals - your gifts can be shipped right to your home and you can shop in your jammies!

Shop Amazon's Black Friday Week

Starbucks B1G1

2011-11-18T11:50:00.000-08:00

Don't forget that through the 20th, you can get a free Holiday drink at Starbucks when you buy one between 2:00 EST and 5:00 EST.

This is a great deal - I stopped by yesterday and picked up two. I put one in the fridge with a little note for my hubby - I knew he wouldn't see it until this morning so it would be a nice surprise.

As a FYI, these drinks heat up beautifully!

The Happy Day Project - Recap

2011-11-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

What a fun and inspiring project to be a part of. I am so grateful I read about it and decided to participate. Although it was sometimes crazy to try to "fit in" each act, I was very glad after that I had done so.

Of course the many darling printables made it so easy - and what terrific ideas from everyone else who participated.

My favorite was taking the gift to my neighbor - that definitely had the most personal connection for me. Plus, it is so easy to do!!!

My kids loved selecting a gift from the Compassion Christmas Catalog. My daughter has decided that next year she wants to give a cow - because you know they always have milk!

I definitely felt grateful for the many wonderful blessings I have in my life - my children, my health, my ability to do these small things for others.

Thanks to this project, I've been inspired to try to keep going. I plan on making a monthly goal to do one small act of service each week. For the next few weeks it will be easy - there are so many opportunities around the holidays. But, after that it gets harder. So, my plan is to come up with a list of things I can do and just put them on my calendar in 2012. Hopefully that will help me keep on track - and I hope it can become something I look forward to each week!

Happy Day Project: Day 7

2011-11-16T13:12:00.000-08:00

Another great idea by Life Rearranged! Put together bags to keep in your car to hand out to those in need. Things we take for granted like toothpaste, snacks, a warm hat, gloves, socks, etc. would be so appreciated by someone who doesn't have any of that.

My kids are I are going to work on this one together. My plan is to put together a few kits for each car and keep them between the front seats - that way, if I see a homeless person on the side of road, I can just hand it over - along with a giftcard.

I hope it blesses someone!

Happy Day Project: Day 6

2011-11-15T12:51:00.001-08:00

Today is all about blessing those who serve. There are all sorts of people out there - firemen, mailmen, crossing guard, etc. who help our lives go smoother.

I decided to bless my daughter's teacher. She has made a transition to a new school much easier for my daughter and is truly one of those teachers who LOVE their kids.

So, I ran a Chai Latte over to her during her prep hour - I knew this was her favorite drink. It definitely made her smile.

Visit Life Rearranged for more ideas!

Happy Day Project: Day 5

2011-11-14T06:55:00.000-08:00

A bit behind on posting these, but I'm still participating (although I did take a break over the weekend!).

Friday the project was all about water. We take water for granted - it's easily accessible for all of us.

However . . .

For many people, it is not so easy to get clean, fresh water. So, take a look at the following link and consider donating just $10 to Charity Water will give someone clean water for TEN years. The main page for the campaign is at this link: Charity Water. That's just a few bottles of water if you still buy bottled water. Wow. So, get out your reusable water bottle and use it for the next few weeks (or forever if you can make it a habit) and put that $10 you would have spent on bottled water to better use.

Locally, give out water to someone who looks like they could use some - the crossing guard at my child's school is the one I'm sharing with. I know this goes against what I just said about not buying bottled water, but this is a gift, so I'll make an exception. Or, give them a reusable bottle full of fresh cold water - that way maybe they will start using the bottle over and over too! Check out the post at Life Rearranged for her ideas and the super cute printable by Living Locurto to use!

Go share water today!!!

Happy Day Project: Day 4

2011-11-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

Books, books, books - we have them in EVERY room in our house.

I love books, I love to read and I love that my kids both love it as much as I do. My husband . . . that's a different story. I often say I wonder how I ended up married to someone who doesn't like to read - craziness!!!

This day's project touched my heart. Please go look at the post to learn more about it. There are two parts - one to give a book to a friend, and the second to donate a book to The Joyful Life Library. I was very excited to see one of my local hospitals on the list, so that was an easy donation - Mike Mulligan went out to them. I remember reading it with my brother as a kid and loving it, and my son loves it as much as I did. Hopefully my little donation will help other kids get as much enjoyment out of story time with this book as our family has.

The Joyful Life Library has made it so easy to stock the PICU of various hospitals - they have links to wish lists on Amazon, so it's just pick a book, pay and it will end up right where it is needed.

I have to say, midway through I am really enjoying this project. It is a great way to practice gratefulness and giving. Also a terrific example for our children. I think this is something that would be a good weekly goal - pick a project each week and donate/ share/ etc. I'll be thinking more on that!

Happy Day Project: Day 3

2011-11-10T11:14:00.000-08:00

Following along on the Happy Day Project from Life Rearranged . . .

Yesterday was the day to give a gift card to a homeless person. I think this is a great idea. I've always been hesitant to give money to homeless people, but since I've had kids, I have a snack bag in the car and I'll sometimes hand out a granola bar or piece of fruit. The thought of keeping a few $5 gift cards to McDonald's or someplace similar never occurred to me.

Since I don't see homeless people often, I couldn't actually pass out a card. What I could (and did) do however was purchase a few to keep in the car.

The other suggestion for the day was to shop the Compassion Christmas Catalog. I love this and I'm going to participate, but I'm going to have my kids help me select what to buy - so this part will happen tonight instead of yesterday.

Please check this out - what an easy way to spread hope without even leaving your home. And at least think about the gift cards - imagine how good you feel when you receive a gift card from a friend. Now, imagine how you would feel if it meant you'd get a warm meal and you hadn't had one in quite some time . . .

Happy Day Project: Day 2

2011-11-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

This was a fun and super easy project!

Thanks to Life Rearranged and Hope Ink, I printed out these cute little cards and sent them off in the mail. One went to my nephew who is away at college and the other to the family mentioned in Life Rearranged's post. My heart just goes out to them - to be battling Stage 4 cancer with three little ones . . . wow.

I hope the family was blessed by everyone participating in this project. Can't wait to do Day 3!

Day 1: The Happy Day Project

2011-11-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

I'm following Life Rearranged's Happy Day Project - join in!

Yesterday's project was treats to a neighbor. My next door neighbor recently had an accident and has been home recovering for a few weeks. It was a very rainy and dreary day, so I made up some Mexican Coffee Mix, printed out the tag from Mique of 30 Handmade Days, wrote the instructions on the back and ran it over.

She loved getting the little surprise and was deep into a book I had loaned her a few weeks ago. I told her to make up a cup of coffee and settle back into the couch.

What an easy and fun little project - I'm inspired to do something like this every month.

Goals for the Week

2011-11-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

Last week I didn't set goals or use my daily to do list, and I suffered. I found myself spending too much time aimlessly browsing the internet, rushing to figure out dinner and not getting much actual work done. It was also very hard to get myself motivated.

I did get some things done - I ran every morning (which was GREAT), I made some meals for the freezer (something I've been wanting to do for a while) and I had some fun times with the kids. So, it was still overall a good week, just not a GREAT week.

So, back in the swing:

This week:

Super clean both bathrooms
Buy CD's to start backing up photos on my computer
Make photo book for Grandma's for Christmas
Participate in The Happy Day Project
B-day party Sunday for my little guy!
Clean up work emails
Post ebay items for the month
Organize paper piles in office
Menu plan for the week

Doable I think, and enough to get me feeling on top of things! Notice I didn't post my exercise or yoga? I think I can (fingers crossed) consider those habits - I've been very consistent for a few months now. If I fall off the wagon, they'll go back on the list as a to do item.

We'll see if this helps me feel more accomplished come next Monday!

Chocolate??? Oh Yes!!!

2011-11-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

Love chocolate? Me too! And amazingly enough, this post isn't about Halloween - what to do with that candy is a whole other post!

We just got back from a fun weekend getaway in Hershey, PA. So, yes, we had plenty of chocolate. I thought I'd give a quick rundown on the fun things to do as well as ways to save money at this location (and really any others as well).

The town of Hershey is all about chocolate - Hershey chocolate that is. Even the light posts are Hershey kisses! That being said, there is a lot to do, but a lot of it is pretty expensive!

Before the trip, I did a bit of research online - this definitely helped us save some money. I went to the Hershey World website and clicked on the coupons page. I was able to print off some very valuable coupons! I also checked my Entertainment membership (the online version of the Entertainment book) and found some additional B1G1 free coupons.

We stayed at the Bluegreen timeshare (courtesy of one of my ebay timeshare purchases).

The first day we were there, we visited the Hershey Museum - this was very pricey, but we were able to save $10 by using Foursquare on our phones - we each could take $5 off admission. There was an exhibit called the Chocolate Lab where we made our own candy bars - the kids loved this. After a day at the museum, we hit the grocery store to stock up on breakfast and sandwich fixings for our condo. Our evening entertainment was a swim in the condo pool and a movie and popcorn in the comfort of our living room (with a fireplace!!!).

The next day we decided to head to Easton, PA to visit the Crayola factory. I am so glad we did as it was my favorite part of the weekend. Although it isn't much of a factory tour, there were so many fun crafts and activities, we spent two hours just playing and creating. Very fun!!! When we arrived I asked if they had a AAA discount. They did, but they had a better "walk up" deal which was $2 off per admission. So, scored another $8 in savings! We ate lunch at McDonald's - not fancy but the kids loved it, and sandwiches in the room for dinner.

That night we went to Hershey Park in the Dark - the kids got to ride the rides, trick or treat and just have a blast! Once again, tickets were expensive, but before we left the condo I called the park and asked if there were any discounts (AAA or other). They didn't have an AAA discount, but the lady I spoke to told me that if we bought our tickets ahead of time at Giant grocery we could save $4 per adult ticket and $3 per kid. So, a quick 5 minute stop at Giant and we saved another $14 (plus didn't have to wait in line to buy tickets at the park).

We woke up Saturday to SNOW - lots of it!!! After a hearty breakfast in the room, we headed over to Chocolate World. Once again, a very pricey day, but my research at home paid off here. We used B1G1 free coupons for the Chocolate Tasting ($20 saved) and would have used my B1G1 free Trick or Treat Trolley coupons except it was canceled due to the weather - oh well, next time! I also had printed out a coupon for 20% off at the Dessert creations. They had a cute cake pop creation for only $3 - really a great deal - it included two cake pops, a bowl of chocolate syrup for dipping and a topping. Plenty for the kids. I used the coupon (saved $.60) and then I had another 20% off coupon so we passed that on to a family heading upstairs.

After all that chocolate, we moved on to the outlet mall for a bit of shopping - first stopping at the management center to show them my AAA card. That scored us a coupon book. We didn't spend much, but did save at least 20% on everything we did purchase thanks to the booklet. Once we were done, we gave the leftover coupons to another family - hopefully they were able to use some of them too!

So, we had a great time, did a lot of fun things, and also saved a little money in the process. I estimated I spent less than an hour researching savings, making phone calls, asking questions and printing off coupons and we saved $52.60 not counting our outlet mall savings - pretty good return on investment!

Need a new planner? A pretty one?

2011-10-26T07:07:00.000-07:00

What a fun deal! Today (and probably for not much longer) Plum District has Erin Condren products on sale $25 for $50. Just scroll through the Everywhere deals until you find it. Use the code FABULOUS at check out for an extra 10% off. Then, if you are new to Plum District, use this link and you'll get $5 - so you can end up with $50 of products for only $17.50 - $22.50.

The planners are expensive, but so nice - and at $17.50, well I can afford a pretty planner for 2012!!! If you don't need a planner, there are holiday cards, stationary, etc.

Plus, right now on the Erin Condren website, if you order a 2012 planner, you'll get the remaining 2011 months for free!

Note: this is my link to Plum District, feel free to go straight to the site if you are more comfortable with that route.

Daily Deal Tips

2011-10-19T07:32:00.000-07:00

I know we all love to save money - who doesn't. And those daily deals are so exciting! 50% to 75% off! Hold me back!

However.

If you don't use the deals, or don't need the deals, you aren't saving money - in fact you are WASTING money. So, before you jump in, I'd suggest the following:

1. Keep a running list of the deals you have purchased and when they expire. That way you won't be scrambling at the last minute to book an appointment or use up a Groupon. I've found that a simple list by date of coupons purchased sitting on my desk works well. Then, when I plan out each month's goals, I check over the list and see what I can/ want to use that month. Just make sure to keep your list up to date.

2. Think before you purchase. That $10 may not seem like much, but if you purchase one a day, it really adds up - $70 by the end of the week! Ask yourself the following:

- do I need this?
- is it something I've wanted to try or do?
- would I purchase it without a coupon?
- can I afford it? If you can't afford an extra $10 now, DON'T spend it!!!

3. Don't buy right away. Wait a few hours to give yourself time to get over the excitement. Yes, you may miss a deal or two, but that's pretty rare.

4. Talk with your spouse and/or friends. Just because you find something exciting or fun, if it's a group deal, they might not. Then you end up with no one to go with (been there, done that!).

By keeping these things in mind, you can easily purchase only the best deals for YOU and YOUR family and feel good about letting the others get away.

Even with a few mistakes here and there, overall I've really enjoyed these daily deals and had some really fun experiences I wouldn't have had without them, so I truly am a fan!!! Just proceed with caution and you can add some fun and money saving measures to your life.

In addition to Groupon, my other favorite site is Living Social - click on the link and you'll get an automatic $5 on your next deal for signing up!

Note: signing up through the above links is through my referral - please feel free to go directly to the site if you are more comfortable with that option.

Great magazine deal for little ones!

2011-10-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

Does your little one love getting mail? Mine does and every day he asks me if he got anything in the mail. Today's deal on Savvy Source (another daily site) is a magazine subscription for $9 to Turtle. We've gotten it from the library before, and it's quite cute.

To save even more, like the deal on Facebook and they will take another $1 off. So, I picked up a subscription for my little guy for $8. Well worth the excitement for him a few times a year when he actually gets his own mail!!!

Check it out: Savvy Source

Holiday Fun on a Budget

2011-10-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

With the holiday's coming up, it's time to start thinking about how your family will spend their time. Although Christmas is a biggie, for many families Halloween, Thanksgiving and even just the Fall season are also times to celebrate. In addition, there are SO MANY events going on - how do you pick which ones to do? How do you decide how much of your entertainment money to spend? Well, here is what we do:

1. Talk as a family about which things you really want to do this year. You might be surprised at what your kids tell you. When I asked my kids, they mentioned Pumpkin Day as a must do. Pumpkin Day is a day I made up for the kids one October (changes each year as it depends upon when I have the time) where we make pumpkin pancakes for breakfast, cut up a pumpkin for seeds and have pumpkin bread for our after school snack. Cost is the price of one pumpkin! I really didn't realize they looked forward to it until I asked.

2. Once you've made your list, decide when you'll do each thing and how much it will cost.

3. Finally, try to take a few family walks or bike rides while you still can. Even a picnic at the park - those are the events you'll remember this winter when it's cold and dreary!

A few ideas of places to look for seasonal activities:
- the newspaper
- online - do a search for your location and "festivals or events"
- nearby churches and schools often offer no cost or low cost events
- check with any local museums, zoos, etc. (especially if you have an annual pass)

Enjoy the season! I'll post later this month about some of the Fall adventures we've had!

Start each day with balance

2011-10-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

How often do you wake up frazzled, start your day off in a bad mood, and just feel out of kilter before the day even gets going?

I know I used to feel like this many days. I'd wake up with my mind already racing through my to do list to figure out what to do next. I also had a lot of neck and shoulder pain on a daily basis.

Well, this summer, when I couldn't run for a while due to some health issues, I decided to try daily yoga. Nothing crazy - just a few minutes each morning stretching, relaxing and slowly wakening my mind. After my yoga I brew my coffee and move right into my current bible study (or if I'm running late, get the kids off to school and then come back to coffee and bible study).

I have to say, my experience has been astounding! I have much less pain, I tend to start each day feeling blessed and centered, and if I miss a day (which is really rare), I feel a bit off all day and I MISS the yoga.

So, how to start? It's really so simple. At first I just did a few sun salutations - as little as 10 minutes, not even bothering with my mat. I still do this if I'm traveling. Then I progressed to a guided 20 minute session DVD. The DVD I use (and highly recommend) is A.M Yoga for Every Day of the Week. Each session is 20 minutes long, perfect for a beginner, and still a great early morning warm up for a more advanced yogi.

I encourage you to give this a try - try it for a few weeks or a month and see if it makes a difference in your attitude!

This is my affiliate link, but if you aren't comfortable using it, you might try ebay or Gaiam as other ordering options - I really love this DVD and hope you will too!

New Month - New Goals!

2011-10-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

September went very well for me (although I'm not sure where it went!).

My goals were for the most part met!!!

I didn't do well at going to bed at 10:00 - that is continually a struggle for me. I know that when I go to bed late, I'm just stealing from the next day. So, that one is going to be a priority - I'd really like it to be a habit before the holidays.

So, on to October:

Health
1. Go to bed by 10:00
2. Daily yoga (definitely a habit by now - more on this later)
3. Exercise 3 - 5x a week (need to add in more cardio)
4. Do a snack experiment (look for this post later this month)

Business
1. Send out 6 agent proposals
2. Work on book platform
3. Ebay - week 2
4. Complete 2 health histories (for IIN classes)

Family
1. Date night 1x week
2. Family fun 1x week (usually we do many more!)
3. Individual time with son 1x week
4. Individual time with daughter 1x week

House
1. Finish laundry room (almost done!)
2. Clear out two shelves in basement storage closet
3. List all big items for sale on Craigslist

Faith
1. Daily devotions
2. 1 hospitality act per week

If I can get a few of these items to be simply a routine (like my yoga), I will take them off the calendar for next month so I can focus on something new.

Here's to a great October!

Running behind . . .

2011-09-29T07:21:00.000-07:00

Woke up late this morning - I guess I'll have to start setting the alarm. I like to wake up with the sun, but today there was no light at 7:00!!!

Typically when I wake up late, I feel panicked for the rest of the day. Today however, I vow to do things differently. I've looked at my to do list I created last night and I'm going to cross two things off of it. If I get them done, great, if not, no sweat!

I also made a nice breakfast (at 9:30, but still!), I'm getting my work done - one thing at a time and I'm planning on taking a 15 minute devotional break before lunch since I didn't get to it this morning.

We'll see if these small changes can turn a crazy, rushed day into a normal, relaxing day. I may even go light a candle!!!

My ebay auctions end today, and normally I'd make sure and get them all boxed up and ready to ship tomorrow, but we'll see how the day goes - some of that might happen tomorrow. A few don't have any bids yet, so it may be a small month.

New Ebay auctions!!!

2011-09-26T06:52:00.001-07:00

Well, for the third month in a row I've posted some new ebay auctions - amazingly I've had 18 - 20 items to sell each month!!! Great way to clear out the clutter and make a little cash on the side. Some already have a few bids - with days to go!!!

This month I listed some cute boys and girls clothing, shoes and some Halloween items! I also have a few oddball auctions. We'll see how they do!

Packing your own food while traveling - crazy?

2011-09-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

So, what do you think? Is it crazy or over the top to pack your own food while traveling?

I'm off on a business trip this week, and before I left for the airport I packed myself a sandwich, grapes, packs of instant oatmeal, and several baggies of dried fruit.

I did feel a little silly at first, but by packing my own food, I was able to pass up the unhealthy (and expensive) airport food. I arrived at my destination full and without that sick feeling of eating a bunch of junk.

Plus, all this week I've been enjoying my dried fruit for snacks and oatmeal for breakfast instead of resorting to the stale M&M's in the vending machine or the sickly sweet cinnamon rolls on the hotel breakfast buffet.

So, even though it might feel a bit odd, try it - packing some of your own food and snacks will save you money and save your health!

Earn Rewards and help the environment

2011-09-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

A really cool program that I have enjoyed for some time now is called RecycleBank

Just sign up and do various tasks such as recycle, take quizzes, learn about environmental issues, etc. and you earn points. It is very easy to earn enough points for some pretty cool rewards. For example, right now they have a back to school promo where you can quickly earn over 100 points. This is enough to get a few valuable rewards - $2 off a Kashi product or a free Oatmeal from McDonalds for example.

If you are lucky, your community's recycling program has joined forces and you can REALLY rack up the points quickly.

Check it out - it's a great way to earn neat rewards while helping out the environment!

Whole Foods Deal!!!!

2011-09-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

Wow! This is an amazing deal if you have a Whole Foods nearby. Today, Living Social has $20 at Whole Foods for $10. I shop at Whole Foods regularly - they have some great specials and buying my bulk items (spices, oatmeal, flour, etc.) there has often been a good deal. Plus, I love their cheese section. If the link doesn't pop up for you, search under Indianapolis, IN for the daily deal.

Don't miss this one - it's only available for a short time!

Setting Goals

2011-09-12T08:30:00.001-07:00

Often I post about goals I have set - typically for a year or month, although sometimes I'll do weekly goals also.

I've found that setting goals really helps me stay accountable and accomplish much more than if I just let life happen. What works for me is breaking my life down into a list of various roles/ categories that are meaningful to me and then setting 1 - 4 goals for each category.

At the beginning of each month, I'll create my goal list for the upcoming month (based upon my annual goals), then at the beginning of each week, I'll break those monthly goals into smaller steps. This keeps me moving along each week, meeting my goals, without being overwhelmed.

Do I accomplish everything on my list? Nope, rarely. However, I do accomplish most of the items and definitely more than I would without my goal setting.

Here's an example of a few of the categories and goals for September:

Health
- go to bed at 10:00
- yoga daily
- exercise 3-5x week

House
- deep clean/ organize laundry room
- create new/ updated budget

Faith
- daily devotions
- 1 hospitality act each week

and so on for the other categories. Then for the next step, this week I have on my list:

Health
- schedule an additional workout session (already have 2 on the schedule for the week)

House
- clean linen closet in laundry room (2 shelves a day)
- track spending and upload into budget (which was created last week)

Faith
- get up at 6:00 and begin day with bible study
- take cookies/ tea to teachers at daughter's school Monday afternoon

So, you can see how I am slowly pegging away each week and day at my monthly goals.

This works for me because I love organization and lists. However, even if you don't go into the daily detail that I do, I encourage you to at least list out your monthly and weekly goals - just by committing to them on paper, you are more likely to be reminded to act and will likely achieve more!

Free Photo Card

2011-09-08T09:02:00.001-07:00

This is a cool little freebie from Shutterfly. Just log in (or sign up), create a card (uploading a picture) and during checkout use the code CARD4U. You will have to pay shipping - I made a cute Birthday card for my husband with a picture of the kids on the beach during one of our recent vacations. After tax and shipping I paid $1.06. Much less than a card at the store and much more memorable.

This would be great for grandparent's, thank you cards, etc.

Oh, and don't forget to go through Ebates - if you purchase more, the rebate is currently at 16%!!!

Do you like to learn?

2011-09-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

It feels like fall this week - we actually had a 40 degree difference in temperature from Saturday to Monday. I love fall, so although that is a bit drastic, I don't really mind.

In addition to the cooler weather, fall makes me think about back to school. I love to learn, and in the past year I've really made it a point to try some new things by taking classes. Often they are only for a day or a few hours, but they really give me a chance to learn, be creative and have fun. Plus I have something new to talk about and share with my friends and family. Some that I've done just this year: jewelry making, cooking, painting, various exercise, wine tasting and now nutrition (IIN).

There are so many resources out there for new ways to learn at a low cost - I buy coupons off of Groupon, Living Social or Eversave. Often local stores offer free or low cost classes too. For instance, today I got my weekly email from Michaels craft stores and it contains a link to classes and events. Even joining a bible study or book club is a great way to learn something new!

So, in conclusion, I encourage everyone to challenge yourself to try something new this fall - maybe you'll find a new passion or hobby - but regardless you'll enjoy the novelty of learning and experiencing something different!

Is Fall Here????

2011-09-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

Wow, September 1st - how did that happen? I've been trying to get up earlier this week and it has been so nice to be ready and have breakfast for the kids before they wake up. Zucchini Waffles today - they were delicious, but the kids couldn't get past the bits of green, so I just added a few tablespoons of cocoa and told them I changed theirs to chocolate waffles. They gobbled them up!

Heading to my parent's house Saturday for their annual neighborhood garage sale - it's a big one. We typically make a few hundred on our stuff and buy a few things at the others. Nice way to start the month.

I love Fall - it feels like a great time to start fresh - and we are doing a lot of "starting" new things this month.

Goals for September:
1. Work on publishing my book - finally getting momentum on that!
2. Get up by 6:00 to have time for daily yoga, bible study and be ready before the kids.
3. My hubby and I are back in our savings mode - we've taken out $200 each cash for the month for spending. When it's gone, it's gone!
4. Starting my classes at IIN - so excited about this!!! I get to go back to school too!!!

Hope everyone else has a great start to their fall!

Free Yankee Candle!!!

2011-08-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a great gift - would make a nice little present with a cup of coffee or tea for your child's teacher.

For a limited time, through shop at home, you can get the WILD deal (on the front page) of a yankee candle votive for $1.49 with free shipping and get the $1.49 back as a http://www.shopathome.com/?IAFCG=3+UMz3yoOuuKhqxXSSCplA== rebate. There are only a few scents available, but still a fantastic deal!

I love shop at home. It's a lot like ebates, but the rebates tend to be a bit higher.

Great deal at Chili's!

2011-08-29T06:43:00.000-07:00

Here is a great offer at Chili's for joining MyPoints. I love MyPoints - just by clicking on emails each morning I easily earn enough points to get a giftcard or two a year - I typically use it for giftcards to Rainforest Cafe/ T-Rex - expensive meals at a place our kids love to visit when we are in FL.

Check it out! $10 for a $20 Chili's gift card!

Busy weekend ahead!

2011-08-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Well, soccer is starting in full swing this weekend - three games between the two kiddos!

Last year I was dreading soccer - I had memories of the boredom endured at my brother's games. However, with your own kids playing, it's a whole different story!

It's so fun to watch them and I'm excited to see how they do with a season under their belts and a half a year of growth.

The weather is supposed to be perfect too - we may have to fit in a picnic between games Saturday and something fun Sunday evening to kick off the third week of school.

I typically search out a few fun things to do each weekend - we may or may not do them, but at least if there is time and desire I have a game plan. So, I'm off to the web to see what's going on!

Auctions end today!

2011-08-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

My ebay auctions end today, some have bids, some don't, so hoping for some last minute action!

Today is a beautiful day out, so I've treated myself to a cup of coffee and some fresh air at Paradise Bakery - oh how I love being able to work from anywhere!

This is my favorite time of year - the humidity drops, but it's still lovely and warm. This week I'll be starting to plan for some of our annual fall fun family outings! Stay tuned for some fun ideas!

Ebay week!

2011-08-18T03:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I've listed my monthly ebay items - quite the variety this month, some Gymboree, some Vera Bradley, some Fisher Price Story Reader books, etc. Hopefully I'll do as well as last month!

Clean Eating Deal!

2011-08-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

Back to my normal healthy eating . . . (after those Cheryl's cookies!). Tonight, Tanga has a hidden deal on Clean Eating magazine. Right now you can get a one year (8 issues) subscription for only $5.99. Just enter the code EAT when you checkout. This is a great deal on a great magazine. I've gotten a few months of it and really enjoyed it.

Just a warning that prices on Tanga change as more and more people buy, so go there early if you want in on this deal! Also, read the fine print carefully to make sure you are fine with what you are purchasing.

More freebies!

2011-08-16T13:35:00.001-07:00

Okay, not totally free and definitely not healthy, but yummy! Go to this link and choose the Try Free cookie deal at Cheryl's cookies. Six of their yummy cookies and you only pay the $6.95 shipping. This would make a great little gift for someone also!

Wow! Free cheese or butter!

2011-08-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

This is a deal!!! Take this survey from KerryGold and get a coupon for free cheese or butter.

As an aside, I LOVE KerryGold and in fact it's the only butter I buy. I like that the cows are pastured - most butter is from factory cows. It is expensive, but worth it in my mind.

Go to the link quickly - this won't last!!!!

What did you do for yourself today?

2011-08-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

Did you take time to do something for yourself today? If not, I encourage you to do so - even if it's just 15 minutes of reading before bed, or a quick walk after dinner.

Today the humidity was down for the first time in a while, so I grabbed my bike and went for a ride - it was fabulous! I felt so energized and refreshed afterwards!

Enjoy this beautiful day and try to start your week off on a high note!

Daily Deelz

2011-08-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

Check out this cool new site - it's a group buying site but works a bit differently than others. You get $5 credit now for signing up, so I'd suggest signing up now while it's launching and keeping your eyes out for great deals - I'll share any I find!

Daily Deelz

Health and Nutrition

2011-08-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

So, what did I decide to do? I decided to combine several of my passions and take some courses in Health and Nutrition. Specifically I signed up for the Institute of Integrative Nutrition Course designed to give you certification as a Health Coach. I'm excited because I love to be a student and I love to learn. Even if I only use the information for my friends and families benefits it will be a win in my book. If I decide to branch out and offer Health Coaching to others, all the better.

Instead of just waiting and thinking about doing something new, I'm glad I stepped out an did it! It's a pretty intensive program - about a year long with hundreds of hours of coursework - but very interesting (at least to me) content.

I'm sure I'll come here with plenty of healthy tips and suggestions as I embark on this new adventure! But of course, I'll still be saving money and having fun along the way!!!

Ideas

2011-08-02T14:23:00.001-07:00

What were my ideas? I had lots of them:

- working at my church (they need a part time education director)
- personal trainer or yoga instructor
- writing a cookbook, cooking blog
- writing a saving money book/ blog
- wellness or health coach
- personal organizer

I thought hard about all these options and even did a bit of research into most of them. I have a lot of (what I think) are terrific ideas and I can see ways to make some money doing any of this, however I didn't think it would be enough to replace (or even make a dent into) my current job. So, I sat on it for a while (like a year) until this week things seemed to fall into place for me . . . to be continued.

What's stopping you from pursuing your dream?

2011-08-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

I often post (and talk) about this topic - life is short, and I truly believe we should make the most of it.

However, it's easier to talk about it than to do it. So, this week, I made a big leap of faith. As I've often mentioned, I have a good job that pays the bills and gives me a lot of flexibility, but I'm not passionate about it.

So, what to do? Just look at it as a job? Or take a risk and try something new? For the past few years I've tried to convince myself to just do the work, love the benefits and focus on the rest of my life. But . . . I wasn't energized, I dreaded working and I was always wishing for that "out."

I decided to look at my passions and see if there was a way to earn a living with them.

First, my passions:

My faith
My family
Saving money
Having fun
Health and nutrition
Reading and learning

Most of the opportunities that encompass these topics I came across didn't pay well - and maybe that isn't the most important thing, but if I'm going to get my family on board, I have to at least make enough money to cover most of my current job. So, I started brainstorming around these passions . . . what did I come up with? Stay tuned and I'll continue this LONG post later this week.

$162 profit!!!

2011-07-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

Yeah!!! After paypal and ebay fees, I cleared $162 this month - very exciting! And I got rid of a pile of items just sitting around in my office waiting to be cleared out. A few outfits didn't sell - I'll try them again next month along with a few toys and things I've gathered. Some of my best auctions were a lot of 11 Junie B. Jones books (my husband picked them up at a garage sale for 50 cents each) that we had duplicates of - sold for $18!!! My other great sell was a wallet (Vera Bradley) that I used for a season and sold for $23. Granted it was double that new, but I wasn't using it anymore and it was still in great shape, so better $23 than $3 at a garage sale!

It was fun and easy thanks to tips from Yard Sale Mommy! If you are interested in selling items on ebay, I highly recommend her site!

So, what's left?

2011-07-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

Well, in the last three weeks of summer (really 2 and a half . . .)

1. Indiana Beach - another local amusement park
2. Gaming center (video games/ tokens)
3. Bounce Planet
4. YMCA Pool
5. Art class
6. Pool playdate - wait we did that today! Cross it off!
7. Campfire (waiting for a below 90 degree day)
8. Camping (ditto from #7)
9. Bike ride to park (still need cooler temps)
10. Summer party with neighbors
11. Splash pad
12. Pet store
13. Make ice cream
14. Cooking class
15. Picnic (cooler temps!)

I better get the calendar out eh?

Our Summer List

2011-07-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

How can summer be almost over??? Crazy! In early June, the kids and I sat down and created a list of things we'd like to do this summer. Will we get to them all? Probably not, but even doing half of them will make for a fun, memorable summer!

Here is what we've done so far - tomorrow I'll post what's still on our list.

1. Holiday World (nearby amusement park - SO MUCH FUN!)
2. Putt putt - thanks to Groupon, we went twice!
3. Chuck E Cheese (I got out of that one, hubby took them while I worked).
4. Play with friends (multiple times!)
5. Library Story Time - we've been regulars this summer
6. County Fair
7. Swimming class
8. VBS
9. Children's museum

Ebay Auctions Ending soon!

2011-07-26T11:08:00.001-07:00

Well, my ebay auctions end tomorrow and Thursday. Some have bids and some don't, although most of them have a number of watchers! Hope to have a flurry of last minute bidding!

It was fun to list some things - I have some more toys and such I may try next month. I think if I can keep it to once a month and list them all on the same day it might be a fun little vacation fund project - we'll see!

Garage Sale Update and Ebay

2011-07-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Well, so far, VERY successful - in 3 hours we sold almost $400 - and it is HOT!!! My daughter made a little profit on cookies and water, so she is quite happy.

Now it's time for a pool break with my son!

Along with the garage sale, I've listed some of the better items on ebay - take a look!

Garage Sale Season!

2011-07-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

Wow! We are clearing out the garage and having one mega sale this year!!!

No kidding we will have something like 20 tables of stuff to sell. It's super hot around here - close to 100 degrees everyday, but hopefully that won't stop traffic - we need to move this stuff out of the house!

Wish us luck!

Menu for the week!

2011-01-17T10:21:00.000-08:00

Back to menu planning - I've been doing it, just not posting it. It's such a habit for me, I'm not sure what I'd do without a plan for the week!

Monday - hamburgers, spinach dip, corn (from the summer - yum!)
Tuesday - fish tacos, refried beans, canned salsa (from summer)
Wednesday - roast, sourdough bread
Thursday - chicken fried rice
Friday - homemade pizza
Saturday - out
Sunday - ham and beans, cornbread

Easy and all family favorites!

Yogurt - not a success

2011-01-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

Well, my yogurt was a failure. Bummer I know. I'm not sure what went wrong - it smells and tastes like yogurt but it's just liquid - it never gelled up. I even tried straining it - no go. I may save part of it to add to smoothies, but I'll have to give the actual yogurt making another go I guess.

Next up - working on my photobook - I know I can't mess that one up (hopefully I didn't just jinx myself)!

Completion and Adventures - 2011

2011-01-11T08:35:00.001-08:00

I know it's been a while - what can I say, the holidays happened! Then starting off the New Year on the right foot, etc.

But today I'm back and going to update you a bit on what I've been doing.

Instead of specific "resolutions" for this year, I've decided I want it to be the year of "Completion and Adventures". I often plan a "theme" for the year - for example last year was the year of "The Weekend Getaway".

So what do I mean by that? Really two big "goals" and hopefully many of the things I do will help guide me towards them.

First - completion. There are so many projects and ideas I have started and never finished - or maybe just thought about but never took the next step. I made a list of them and will start chipping away - one a month or so until they are finished. These tend to be concrete items like:

- create a blogging plan
- publish my book (yes, I have written a book on saving money)
- complete my Fall 2010 photo book (woefully behind - this is typically done in Nov)
- get through some of my reading list
- clean up and organize the household (tackling a bit at a time)
- organize my groupons/ eversave/ etc. deals (don't want to miss any)
- take on more responsibility at work and increase my annual rating (and bonus)
- analyze and best manage my timeshares/ airline & hotel points/ etc.

You get the idea. I just made a big list and am "scheduling" one or two for each month of the year. Some of them will appear multiple months (like reading and cleaning), but many I will be able to just do and then check off.

On the list for this month are the fall photo book, get through some reading, clean and organize the kitchen (half finished) and organize the coupons.

The second part of my "theme" is "adventures." This is also very broad - it encompasses many of the things I've always wanted to try (mild adventures though they may be) as well as taking advantage of new opportunities that come my way. I started this one with a list of things I've always wanted to try and have tentatively "scheduled" at least one a month. I'm also taking advantage of groupons or other deals for unusual things that sound like fun but I wouldn't normally try. For instance I just bought a deal for an "art and wine" night - you take an art class while enjoying a special related cocktail for the evening.

A few items on the list:

- making homemade chai mix
- making yogurt
- running a 5K
- go snowshoeing
- take a wine class

and on and on . . . right now I have some milk in the crockpot to make yogurt with. It seems simple but I've always been too much of a chicken to try it. Isn't that silly? Afraid to make yogurt?

So, look for more posts on these topics and join me on some of my successes, failures and adventures in 2011!

A week of meals in one day - review

2010-12-14T10:45:00.001-08:00

So, here are my thoughts on the week of cooking in one day so far:

1. It was a lot of fun, but probably not the thing to do on a Monday evening. It took me about 3 hours of cooking (on and off) and cleaning to produce five almost complete meals. If you had a lazy Sunday afternoon, it would be perfect. I am hopeful though that my effort last night will make the rest of the week easier.

2. Use recipes that go well together. Although you could probably do this with any recipes, using the TV show guide was helpful to me - one of the meat items was used for two meals (and this seems to be a theme on the show), most of the meals used similar ingredients (less shopping/cost) and the meal variety was terrific. I'm sure I could put this together on my own, but it would add to the time.

3. Watch your cost. I didn't do any substituting of ingredients (although I could have with the recipes involved), and I already had two of the cuts of meat on hand, so my grocery bill wasn't bad - I spent $60.12 at Meijer, but that also included bread, yogurt, a few staples I was out of, etc. Cheese and crab meat were the most expensive items but if I'd had more time I could have gotten them for less by going to another store.

4. Start with a clean kitchen and empty dishwasher. My kitchen was clean, but my dishwasher was half full and I had to run it halfway through my cooking marathon.

5. If the dishes make more than you need, go ahead and freeze the rest. The mac and cheese dish made a TON - I ended up making one for the adults, a small plain container of mac and cheese for the kids and still had a decent dish that I just put in the freezer - enough for my family another night!

So far, I have to say that the food from this episode appears to be excellent. The pork tacos were amazing! I would make these again for guests in a heartbeat. They were so easy and so flavorful. Adding the pickled onion and cabbage was genius. I also added a bit of sour cream but it wasn't needed. We had enough for dinner last night and lunch for my hubby and myself today. If they are too hot for children, you could just pull some of the meat out and serve it alone to the children.

I'll comment on the other dinners next week. But so far, so good!

Menu Plan Monday and Monday musings!

2010-12-13T06:21:00.000-08:00

First snow day of the year - so early! I can hear the kids downstairs playing together while my hubby keeps an eye on them so I can work. It's fun to hear them negotiating their play ("How about you be Robin and you can save me . . .").

I have lots of last minute Christmas things to tie up this week, so I'm going to try something new for dinners. Rachael Ray (I know, you love her or hate her) has a new show on the Cooking Channel called "A week in a day" where she makes five meals in one afternoon/evening. I've taped a few of them on the DVR and finally watched one the other night - looks like some great recipes and since I have nothing going on this evening - I'm going to give it a try. Best part is that I have most of the ingredients on hand - thanks to our cow and pig in the freezer all I have to buy meat wise is some crab. So, this week's meal plan is courtesy of Rachael Ray - I'll post next week on how it went:

Monday - pulled pork tacos

Tuesday - Crabcake mac & cheese (I'll make a small dish plain for the kids), spinach

Wednesday - Date night

Thursday - Ratatouille

Friday - Meatloaf & Couscous

Saturday - Christmas Party

Sunday - Pork Ragu

Sounds yummy right? Plus a nice variety of meals - since I love to cook, I'm eager to try this out. All the recipes can be found at The Cooking Channel

For more great menu ideas, check out Organizing Junkie!

Step 3 - the life you've always wanted

2010-12-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

Look back at last week's list - anything jump out at you? Sometimes taking a few days break can really make a difference in your feelings about something.

Okay, pick one item and do it this week! Write it on your calendar, block time out, whatever you need to do, just do it.

By this time next week you'll be one step closer!

Next step toward the life you want

2010-12-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

So, now that we've thought a bit about what we would do, let's take some steps toward getting there!

I'm a list maker, so I always like to start off with a list. Take a look back at the first question I posed:

What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail?

If you haven't already, write down your "answer." It may be a list of jobs you think you'd enjoy, it may be a new sport or hobby you'd like to try, it might be a way of raising your family, or living day to day. Doesn't really matter as long as it's what is important to you.

Got your list? Pick out one or two items and re-write them each on their own page. Now, take some time and brainstorm things you could do today or this week to get started on your journey.

Here's an example:

Learn to play the guitar

1. Research local classes
2. Look online for workbooks
3. Talk to friends to see if any of them play

These are all easy steps that could be taken immediately that would eventually bring you to your end goal. Plus it's so much easier to say "today I'm going to research some local guitar classes," than to just say "I'm going to learn to play the guitar."

No need to actually take action yet, just make your list of action items and think about them overnight. If you are really fired up, go ahead and start doing a bit of work. If not, wait until next week and we'll get back to them.

Menu Plan Monday

2010-11-29T10:17:00.000-08:00

Well, lots of leftovers - we hosted Thanksgiving Sunday. So, I'm going to make the most of them this week. We also picked up our hog Saturday morning, so my freezer is bursting with meat - yeah!

Monday - Bennihana (free meal for my B-day month)
Tuesday - date night (free kids meals for the kids that expire today)
Wednesday - turkey pot pie (using up most of the leftovers)
Thursday - beef roast (gymnastics night, so need something ready when we are)
Friday - spaghetti/ bread/ salad
Saturday - leftover buffet
Sunday - pork chops, applesauce, salad

Not much to pick up at the store, some bread, milk and that's about it!

I might make a peach cobbler with some peaches I have in the freezer - we'll see how it goes.

For more great menus, check out Organizing Junkie

Remember the big picture

2010-11-23T12:28:00.001-08:00

So, back to my post last week about making our lives more fulfilling . . .

As I mentioned, I do a good job of taking things in stride. It's pretty simple really - if I feel myself starting to get really stressed out or worried about something, I stop and ask myself a simple question:

Will this matter in 5 years?

Guess what? Almost every time, the answer is no. So simple, and yet so calming. This really helps keep me thinking about the big picture and about what is really important to me.

This got me thinking - how could I apply this same principle to my other "big" question:

What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail?

Well, maybe by thinking about it in the same context - if it's something I'm afraid to do, just ask myself if it will matter in five years - in other words even if I royally screw up, is it really going to matter? I bet the answer is probably not.

I'm going to challenge myself to think this way for the next few weeks and see what happens - anytime I stop doing something I want to try, or think about something I'd like to try but am "afraid" to, I'm going to ask that question - and keep track of the results. Should be an interesting experiment!

Menu Plan Monday

2010-11-22T13:39:00.000-08:00

Wow - how can it be Thanksgiving week already?

Crazy but fun week for us:

Monday - shrimp with creole sauce (didn't get to it last night)
Tuesday - Chicken noodles
Wednesday - fried rice
Thursday - Turkey dinner at my SIL's
Friday - out shopping, so some restaurant with hubby and friends
Saturday - probably out for sushi as kids will be at Grandma's
Sunday - Turkey dinner at our house

Not really much cooking this week, so almost like a whole week off! Sunday I'll just handle the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberries and pie, everyone else brings a dish. Most of that I'll probably pre-make Saturday so Sunday is a quick put the turkey in before church and then cook up the rest after.

Wishing everyone a terrific Thanksgiving! Check out Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas!

If you knew you wouldn't fail . . .

2010-11-18T11:58:00.000-08:00

As I sit here enjoying my Starbucks Peppermint Mocha (yes, I did the deal and gave the free one to my MIL), I'm pondering this question.

What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail?

So often I feel like we just live through life doing what is expected of us and not taking steps to make our lives more meaningful or fulfilling.

I know I do.

I do a good job of not getting stressed out or worrying about the little things, but I also don't take action to make any significant changes.

So, over the next few weeks, you'll see a series of posts on this topic - we'll discuss things like how to focus on the positive and the big picture, how to determine what it is we enjoy doing most, and some small steps on how to achieve the type of life we really want to live. I'm going to be participating right along with the posts, so I'm really looking forward to it.

I suppose this is more "January/ New Year" type stuff, but why wait? Why not get a jump start on things now so you can be even more focused come 2011!!!

Woo Hoo - B1G1 Starbucks!

2010-11-16T09:40:00.000-08:00

Yeah! Starting Thursday through Sunday, Starbucks will have B1G1 beverages from 2 - 5. I think we all know where I'll be heading Thursday! A nice warm Chai will be the perfect afternoon treat.

Check your local Starbucks to make sure they are participating and then enjoy!

Might also be a nice treat if you plan on any holiday shopping this weekend.

Menu Plan Monday

2010-11-15T09:47:00.001-08:00

Fun week of dinners planned - and mostly things I already have, so the shopping trip should be light this week:

Monday - dinner for my son's birthday, so wherever he picks
Tuesday - spaghetti, broccoli, bread
Wednesday - date night
Thursday - pizza (my daughter is reading a book on pizza in school this day)
Friday - burgers on the grill/ potato fries/ green veggie
Saturday - chipolte BBQ chicken/ mashed red potatoes
Sunday - shrimp with creole sauce and brown rice

Lunches will be leftovers, tuna sandwiches, and maybe a soup one day

Breakfasts will be eggs, pancakes, oatmeal and some pumpkin muffins

Snacks will be fruit, veggies and dips, and whatever is in the pantry - not buying any more processed snacks, so once they are gone, they are gone!

For more great menu plans, check out Organizing Junkie!

Almost the weekend! Fiesta Friday!

2010-11-12T10:11:00.000-08:00

So glad it's almost the weekend - it's actually been a fun week, but very busy. This weekend we have my little guy's Birthday Party Sunday - he's going to be 4!!! Not so little anymore I guess.

I'm in the mood for kicking off the weekend early, so I'm declaring tonight Fiesta Friday. After work I plan on making up some tacos with some of our yummy grass fed beef and my first attempt at sourdough tortillas - I often make tortillas myself, but these should be much healthier. Hopefully they'll be as tasty.

I picked up a couple of avocados for guacamole and I have a bag of limes for margaritas - should be a fun evening - sometimes just declaring a special day and deciding to have fun creates a great time - give it a try!

Using Birthday deals wisely

2010-11-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

Well, as promised, here is my post on how to efficiently use your birthday freebies. If you are like me, you actually ended up with many more than you could (or should use). To get the most bang for the buck, I followed a few "rules" when I redeemed many of them:

1. Only print out the ones you know you'll use - goes without saying that you'll save on ink and paper (plus create less clutter).

2. Evaluate if it is truly a good deal - for example, a free dessert is nice, but if it's with the purchase of an entree and you wouldn't normally go to that restaurant without the freebie, you've just spend $10 - $15 for a "free" dessert you don't want or need.

3. If it's a $ off deal, try to stay very close to the free dollar amount - saving $10 on a $50 purchase isn't a great deal (unless you were going to buy that item anyways), however $10 off a $10 purchase is a great deal - free!

4. Try to map out your shopping so you don't waste time and gas driving all over town.

5. Don't feel obligated to purchase more - this is a tough one for me, I always feel I should "repay" the free item, but I'm working on reminding myself that I only cash in freebies for places I visit throughout the year and do spend money at.

So, how did I apply these principles? Here's my day:

I started out at Starbucks for a free birthday month coffee. I got a Carmel Macchiato - an expensive drink I don't normally treat myself to. I ate an english muffin from home before I left, so didn't need to make an additional purchase.

After Starbucks, I ran a few errands, and near where I was headed was one of the stores that sent out a $10 gift card (Occasionally Yours). I used it to purchase a $12 Vera Bradley coin purse that matches my beach bag (place for id's, money, etc.). So, it cost me less than $3 out of pocket - which I was pleased with since the resale on Vera is great so when I tire of it, I'll sell it for about what I paid for it.

Next stop was JCPenney's as I had a $10 off $10 coupon (not birthday) and I purchased a clearance top and a sale pair of pants for my son. $2.93 out of pocket and he needed the dress shirt for church.

It was getting close to lunch, so I went to Moe's Southwest Grill and used my free birthday entree coupon. I ordered water to drink - which is what I would have ordered even without the coupon. Cost was $0.

After lunch I went back home, and later that evening after we put the kids to bed (with my MIL watching them), my DH and I went out to Bonefish Grill for a drink in the bar. While enjoying our $5 cocktails (special in the bar), we had a free order of Bang Bang shrimp using my birthday freebie. This is a place we go regularly for drinks and appetizers, so it was a nice treat to keep it under $15 including tip for a change.

There are still a few coupons I'll use, although many of them I won't - if I used everything I was sent I'd spend a lot of unecessary money out of pocket (and be eating a lot of dessert). The few left I plan on using are:

Free coffee at Borders Bookstore
Free dinner at Benihana - my husband will get sushi, my daughter a kids meal and we'll still have food to take home!
$10 off $10 at World Market - I'll probably use this to buy coffee next Wed on their double stamp day since I need coffee anyway!

Disposable Lunch Kit $19

2010-11-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

Jasmere has a fantastic deal today - Jasmere is kinda like Groupon except that as more people purchase, the price goes down. Right now, you can purchase a $42 Kids Konserve lunch kit (includes cotton sack, cloth napkin, stainless steel beverage bottle, reusable sandwich wrapper and two 5 oz. stainless steel food containers) for only $19! If enough people buy by noon EST tomorrow, the price will go down even more. This is super cute and would make a great Christmas gift for a kid (or their mom!).

Shipping is $7.95 per kit.

I'm planning on picking up one for my daughter - she takes her lunch most days and we could definitely get our use out of this deal!

Check it out! Jasmere

(the links go to my referral page - if you aren't comfortable with that, please feel free to go straight to the main site and sign up that way)

Green Tomato Casserole

2010-11-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

Well, this turned into a winner - it's a great way to use up some of those green tomatoes sitting on your counter. I'm not sure where I originally got the recipe - a magazine or website, it's been in my "to try" folder for quite some time. I did make quite a few changes for our tastes:

Green Tomato Casserole

3 strips of bacon
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
4 - 6 green tomatoes, sliced
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan or mozzarella
1/4 cup dried bread crumbs (or Panko)
1 T. butter, melted
handful fresh thyme
salt and pepper to taste

1. cook your bacon in a skillet, reserving some of the fat
2. Carmelize the onions in the same skillet, then crumble up the bacon and add it back to the skillet.
3. Place a layer of tomatoes in a baking pan (8x8 is about right), add a layer of onions and bacon, tomatoes, onion and bacon and then one last layer of onions.
4. sprinkle the bread crumbs, cheese and melted butter over top.
5. sprinkle on the thyme and salt and pepper to taste

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Cover with foil if it starts to burn on the top.

I didn't need to add much salt due to the bacon, so season carefully and enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday

2010-11-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

Some yummy dinners on the menu this week - lots of comfort food, and we got our 1/4 cow on Friday, so a bit more meat than usual for this week:

Monday - chili, cornbread
Tuesday - roast chicken, green tomatoes/cheese casserole (if it's good I'll post it), biscuits and homemade apple butter
Wednesday - out for my birthday!
Thursday - mexican chicken soup, apple pie
Friday - steaks on the grill, salad, veggies and dip
Saturday - birthday party for friend - I'll take some type of appetizer
Sunday - fish, veggie, sourdough bread (whatever is on sale and looks good at Whole Foods)

Pretty balanced, and I should get some good chicken stock from the chicken which will be nice as I'm starting to run low. If the casserole and the mexican soup turn out tasty, I'll share the recipes later in the week.

Check out Organizing Junkie for more great menus - and check my previous post for some inexpensive organic food - today only!

Nature's Prime Organic $75 for $35 today only

2010-11-01T06:52:00.001-07:00

Great Groupon today - for only $35 you can get $75 worth of Organic food delivered to your door. Sounds like a great way to try out some new items, or stock up on the things that never go on sale! You can't use it until November 6th and it expires May 5th, so plenty of time (I'm thinking about my holiday baking).

Check it out!

Which Birthday Freebies to enjoy?

2010-10-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

Well, as I mentioned yesterday, many companies send freebies for your birthday if you sign up for their email list, "club", etc. So, how do you decide which ones to partake in?

My suggestion is to make a list of your favorite restaurants/ stores and then look them up. No point it getting a bunch of "free" stuff you'll never use, so make it useful - make it companies you like and would visit anyway!

Freebies on your birthday!

2010-10-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Well, since my birthday is next week (and it's a big one ending in a zero!), I thought I'd start sharing a few fun extras you can enjoy the month of your birthday.

Many restaurants and stores offer freebies and/or coupons if you sign up with their e-club and share your birthday. Today, I'll share a few of my favorites and later in the week a few ideas on how to best utilize them!

Starbucks - since I love me some coffee, this is a no brainer - with a registered card, you'll receive a card for a free coffee the month of your birthday. Even just a measly little $5 card will work as long as it's registered online.

World Market - if you have a world market nearby this is a great offer - they will send you a coupon for $10 - yep, just a free $10 for anything in the store

Coldstone Creamery - free ice cream - what's not to love about this? The way their coupons work they are good for two weeks, and since my son and I have birthdays a few weeks apart I can usually make it work so we can both get our free cone on the same day!

These are just a few, but they are goodies, so I encourage you to go sign up right now!

I'll share some more later in the week!

Menu Plan Monday (short week)

2010-10-25T12:53:00.000-07:00

Short week of menu planning around here as the kids are heading to Grandma's for Fall Break and DH and I will probably go out or make a few of our standby's that the kids aren't fans of (Thai Peanut chicken is always on the menu when they are gone).

Monday - lemon pasta with shrimp and arugula/ salad
Tuesday - homemade pizza
Sunday - chili with all the fixings (cheese, onion, sour cream, jalapenos, cornbread

I'm also going to finish up with canning apples and a I have a counter of the last of the tomatoes to deal with - I think salsa is my best bet.

Be sure to check out Organizing Junkie for much longer and more detailed menus!

Great deal on your Christmas Cards

2010-10-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

Start digging out your best picture, because Mamapedia has a great deal going on to help out with Christmas Cards. You can buy $40 worth of photo books, holiday cards, etc. for $20 at Kodak Gallery. I purchased one and will make up my Christmas cards this week - that's one item off the to do list, paid for and completed! Go to Indianapolis as your city to see the deal.

Hurry though, you only have a day left to purchase!

Oh, and one of the best parts is you can designate 5% to go to your child's (or any other) school!

Earn Free Groupons!

2010-10-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, I think it's obvious how much I love Groupons so I was excited to hear about a new contest via Real Simple. Click on the link and you can enter a contest to win $500 in Groupons - that will go a LONG way! Plus, if you get 5 friends to sign up, you will earn $10 in Groupons (note they do say while supplies last).

Plus, another bit of good news. When I clicked on today's deal, I noticed that my city is going to start a Saturday and Sunday deal of the day - check your city to see if they are also.

Have a fun weekend - we are up to all kinds of Halloween parties this weekend, so hope the weather holds for us!

Use your memberships wisely

2010-10-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

Since I started talking about memberships yesterday, I thought I'd continue in the same theme today.

If you do decide to purchase a membership (or annual pass), make sure you use it wisely. What do I mean by that? Well, aside from ensuring you'll get your money's worth (i.e. visiting the place enough times), there are some other things you can do.

A few ideas:
- Check online or call and ask about member specials - for example, one of the museum memberships we own allows for free entrance into special events, another offers member only early entrance hours

- See if you can save money on other local attractions with your membership (I touched on that yesterday, but often even non-related attractions will offer a discounted rate)

- Ask if you can get friends/ family members in for a reduced price

- Check to see if there are discounts on classes or workshops - several places we've been members of offer children's programs at a discount for members - the kids have loved attending those!

- When you do visit, pack your lunch or a snack and remind your kids that you aren't buying items in the gift shops. It kind of defeats the purpose of saving money by going frequently if you pay an arm and a leg for concession food or toys. Our kids are so used to bringing our lunch they don't mind at all - it's like a "picnic" for them. As for gift shops - I'm not sure they know they exist as we avoid them!

Finally - use them! If you are on a limited budget consider asking for a membership for a Christmas or Birthday gift, and then GO!!! If you can only afford one a year, rotate locations for variety each year. To me, the best part of having a museum membership is I feel like we can go for a few hours, enjoy ourselves and then leave - it doesn't have to be an all day event and I don't have that pressure of "getting my money's worth" by staying all day!

Check out Frugal Friday at Life as Mom for more ideas!

Save Money on Entertainment

2010-10-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

As you probably all know by now, I love to go do things with my family, but I also love to save money, and let's face it - events, museums, etc. are EXPENSIVE!

One of the ways I save money is by purchasing memberships. If there is a place we want to go, I always check the membership price and do a cost analysis to see if it makes sense to buy a membership. For example:

Membership to nearby Science Museum: $65 for a year
One day entrance for our family: $28

So, if we will go more than 2x in the next year, the membership is a better deal. Typically, once we purchase the membership we end up saving lots more because we'll go to that location when we are looking for something to do since "it's already paid for." But, sometimes, we pay full price or find a B1G1 free coupon and use that instead - depends upon if I think we'll visit the place enough times to make the membership worthwhile - don't spend extra money on a membership if you won't really use it (been there, done that!).

These days, if you keep your eyes open, you can score even better deals on memberships! For example, yesterday the membership for the example above was on sale on Groupon for $30! Of course I purchased it, because not only do we only have to visit twice, but this particular membership included free or reduced admission to 250 other science museums. Since I know we'll take several long and short vacations this summer, I've paid for a number of admissions to various fun museums - including some of the biggies in Chicago like the Field Museum! What a deal - thinking ahead will really save me in the long run.

I'll try to remember to add up our savings over the year - it will be fun to check back next year and see how much we really save!

I'm such a fan of Groupon - if you haven't checked it out yet, please do so - and remember to check nearby cities or places you will vacation in the near future also. These links take you to my referral page, but if you aren't comfortable with that, just go to the main page - it's a great place to find a fun bargain.

Menu Plan Monday

2010-10-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

Some fun, easy dinners this week:

Monday - homemade pizza
Tuesday - date night
Wednesday - linquine with shrimp and arugula (I'll post if it's good)
Thursday - chx enchiladas
Friday - burgers/ potatoes/ caprese salad (last of the tomatoes I suspect)
Saturday - local fundraiser dinner
Sunday - roast chicken

Breakfasts will be cereal, eggs & bacon, bagels and pumpkin pancakes!

For more ideas, visit Organizing Junkie

Midwest Skiing

2010-10-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

How fun - one of my goals for this month was to write and publish a travel article. It's just Associated Content, but still, I did it - very fun! So, here it is - all about skiing in Michigan (place of our annual ski trip):

Skiing Article

A Healthy Success!

2010-10-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

So, since July I've been trying not to drink any Diet Soda. I had my last one at Harrah's casino in early July. It was wonderful, but I'm convinced the Aspartame isn't good for me and really, Diet Soda is just a bunch of chemicals overall, and since I don't allow my kids to drink pop I felt like I was setting a bad example. I thought I would never be able to do it, but now it's 3 months later and I think I've succeeded in kicking the habit.

At my SIL's Friday night, we ordered pizza and she served us Diet Pepsi. Not to be rude, I took a few sips, and I can honestly say I didn't like it! I gave it to my husband and switched to water. I don't drink tea or regular soda, so eliminating diet soda has substantially increased my water intake (a secondary goal).

In fact, I'm sitting at Paradise Bakery right now enjoying a cold glass of ice water with a slice of lemon. Truly refreshing.

I have found one time when I've "missed" diet soda. That's when I'm out shopping - often I would be thirsty and grab a soda to carry around while I shop. I could do coffee, but that tends to fill me up. I don't feel comfortable asking for an ice water without buying something else (that I probably don't need or want) and I don't like bottled water. I try to remember to bring my stainless steel bottle but sometimes forget. For now I'm going without, but this is a problem I need to solve - any suggestions would be appreciated!

Menu Plan Monday

2010-10-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

Easy week mostly from the freezer!

Monday - shrimp linguine with pesto (had to use up the basil before a predicted frost!)
Tuesday - pulled pork, cornbread (with honey butter), potato salad
Wednesday - out with the family (probably pizza)
Thursday - beef stew
Friday - sausage and broccoli slaw
Saturday - fish tacos, chips and salsa/ guacamole,
Sunday - roast chicken, veggies (whatever looks good at the farmer's market), sourdough bread

I might switch Friday and Saturday around - we'll see how the week goes. Breakfasts will be oatmeal, eggs and toast, sourdough pancakes, and muffins and fruit.

Visit Organizing Junkie for more great menu plans!

A new place to relax

2010-10-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

We have a screened in porch on the back of our house. When building we went back and forth on adding it on as it was quite expensive and completely unnecessary. I have to say that it has constantly been one of our favorite "rooms," and my husband and I have often said it was "well worth the money."

As soon as the weather is nice, we start heading out there for our dinners. When the kids finish, they can swing on the playset and we can easily see them while we relax over the rest of our meals. I often take prep work (snapping peas, peeling apples, etc.) out there to do while the kids play.

However, after a few years of use, things were looking a little sad. I didn't want to spend a bunch of money because, well, it is a screened in porch - all the elements hit it. And, I'm not interested in running out there every time it rains to bring everything inside. So, instead of a big overhaul, I made a few small touches that made all the difference!

My table and chairs are old (eleven years old). However, they still work just fine, so I don't want to rush out and replace them. The cushions (blue and white striped) are pretty sad. So, I just turned them over! On the backside is a nice chambray blue - still in great condition. I purchased a clearance circular placemat at Kohl's for less than $1 and used it in the center of the table to cover the hole for the umbrella. On that I placed a simple candleholder I had on hand and filled it up with shells. I think I'll change the centerpiece to something more fall like this week when I do the rest of the house.

In one corner is a chest to hold the cushions in the winter. I left that there as it's useful and weather resistant. The other corner is bare, but I think I'll stick a simple small table to hold drinks or condiments while we eat. On the wall connected to the house, I'm on the lookout (on Craigslist and garage sales) for a baker's rack. I can use it to house all the kids sand and outside toys in a few simple boxes. That will clean up the toy clutter while keeping them handy.

I strung up some decorative lighting and in the evening we can use that to eat by. Finally, I cleaned up my herb garden (which is right out front of the porch), put stepping stones made by the kids in it and new plant markers (made with free paint, paint sticks and sharpies).

Eventually I'd like to tile the porch and add a rug under the table, but I'm waiting until the kids are a bit older and not running through the room constantly with dirty feet.

So, aside from a few items I need to purchase when I find a good deal on them, it's done and looks great. Oh, and so far I've only spent $1!

Week 2 & 3 of September Goals

2010-09-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

Well, I struggled last week with meeting my goals - not really sure what happened, and I don't like to make excuses, so instead of beating myself up about it (which defeats the point!), I just moved them to Week 3. No biggie - I'm really only doing this to focus on what's important to me and to keep myself moving in the directions I want to move. Thanks to letting myself off the hook, I've made good progress:

Family/ friends - implement weekly family night done - it's Thursdays!
Health - increasing exercise - done! signed up for three weekly classes
Personal - create a master to do list - always ongoing, but the list is in my notebook
Work - travel article - complete and submitted to associated content
Home - clean up my herb garden and porch - in process, I'll post about what I've done there tomorrow

So, pretty successful overall!

Dinner and a Movie - $20!!!

2010-09-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

Today you can get a great deal on dinner and a movie:

At Citydeals do a search for Buca di Beppo/ movie deal. Right now, you can get a $20 gift card to the restaurant and two free movie tickets! Since I love to go to the movies for free, I snapped this deal right up. Buca often has $10 off $20 coupons in the paper, so I'm going to keep an eye out for those - if this is truly a gift card, no reason we couldn't use the coupon also. That would easily cover dinner for two and a movie!!!

Check it out - I see a fun date night coming up soon. If Eat,Pray,Love was still in the theatre that would be a fun night - Italy and Italian!

Menu Plan Monday

2010-09-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

It's Monday - I'm on time this week!

Monday - Subway sandwiches (not the best, but not the worst fast food)
Tuesday - grilled fish, fresh green beans, homemade chutney
Wednesday - date night (pizza for the kids)
Thursday - sausage and cabbage (didn't get to it last week)
Friday - SIL's house
Saturday - chili, cornbread
Sunday - pulled pork in crockpot, cornbread, pickles

Check out more menu plans at Organizing Junkie

Where did the week go?

2010-09-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a busy week. I had plans everyday to post about:

- my weekly goals and the progress (or lack thereof) that I've made
- our mini vacation to a nearby city
- fall outings on the cheap
- some fun new recipes

So, next week I'll try to catch up. In the meantime, one fun fall idea is the apple orchard. We go EVERY year and buy up a ton of apples for baking, storing and just plain eating. The weather was perfect today - sunny and seventy - so we spent the afternoon wandering the orchard and trying a wide variety of apples! I'm even going to try my hand at canning since I'm out of freezer space. We'll see how it goes . . .

Menu Plan Monday

2010-09-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

A day late, but better late than never right?

Tuesday - fish tacos (my favorite and since Alaskan cod is on sale at Whole Foods!)
Wednesday - date night
Thursday - chicken noodle soup (w/ homemade broth); sourdough bread
Friday - hamburger zucchini stir fry (from Family Feasts for $75 a Week)
Saturday - out or sausage & cabbage (from same cookbook)
Sunday - chicken stir fry over brown rice

Often if I need some inspiration for my meal plans, I'll sit down with a cookbook or two and select a few new (or old favorite) recipes. That's what I did this week. It's actually quite fun for me - I love reading (and collecting cookbooks). I haven't made either of the recipes from this cookbook yet, but I love the style of writing, they sound delicious and I have all the ingredients on hand!

If you'd like more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday!

Yummy "healthier" chocolate cupcakes!

2010-09-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

Well, my daughter asked for chocolate cupcakes. Being the nice mom I am I told her I'd make some. I pulled a box from the shelf and took a look at the ingredient list - uh oh - goes so against the way we are trying to eat these days. So, I pulled out my cookbooks, looked at a few different receipes and came up with the following . . . and WOW, they are better than I thought they would be! I even ate one with my morning coffee for a mid-morning treat. The only thing I wasn't thrilled with was the white suger. I would normally substitute honey, but I didn't have enough on hand.

Chocolate cupcakes

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 T flaxseed
1 and 1/2 cups sugar (or try honey if you have it)
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (best quality you can afford)
2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
3 large eggs (lightly beaten)
3/4 c. coconut oil (melted)
2 cups finely shredded zucchini

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour cupcake tins (made 18 normal sized)
2. Combine all dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Add eggs and beat in, then do the same with the oil. Fold in zucchini. The batter will be a bit "chunky."
3. Spoon into prepared muffin tins. Bake about 25 minutes - until fork comes out clean.

Cool and eat plain (as I did) or ice with your favorite frosting.

Tees for Change - $13 or less

2010-09-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

Today Jasmere has a great new product - but just until noon! Sustainable Tees for Change! You can purchase a $13 (or less if more people purchase them) voucher which will net you a free tee. I really like the message tees! I may purchase a voucher for a friend - it would be a cute gift.

Mini Vacations

2010-09-16T07:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy first few months of school - more so for my husband than myself I think. We've decided to take off for the weekend with some friends to a nearby city. This is a trip that we take as a family every fall and they've decided to tag along.

Although the city is only an hour and a half away, by staying in a hotel (sharing an affordable 2 bedroom suite at a Staybridge), doing "vacation" things - festival, restaurant meals, local zoo, this trip always feels like a real getaway. In past years we've come home very relaxed.

We joke with our friends that this is the "year of the vacation." And, truth be told, it has been. We've managed at least a weekend away almost every month. We've made some fun memories without spending a fortune.

I've shared some tips in the past, but since this trip is with friends, our spending patters will be different. I'll be sure to share some cost saving ideas next week when we return!

Oh, and tonight is our first "official" family fun night. We do family stuff all the time, but I thought the kids would enjoy a weekly tradition, and Thursday is typically our light night - plus, it will make the weekend feel like it's starting earlier. If the weather is nice we are going to play putt putt (thanks to a great Groupon deal I purchased a few weeks ago). If it's raining, it will be board games and popcorn!

Week 2 September goals

2010-09-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I was pretty successful last week on my weekly goals. I completed everything except for weeding out my pantry. I'll continue to work on that as I have time.

Family/ Friends - implement weekly family night
Health - schedule regular exercise
Personal - create a master "to do" list
Work - write a travel article
Home - clean up my herb garden and finish off the porch

Some of these are items I informally do already (family night, exercise, to do list), but am not super consistent with. Others are things I want to get done, but never seem to get around to . . . so this is my week to get around to them!