Snow pictures

Here are some snow pictures that I had forgotten about. They downloaded with the shelf photos.
The camera date says it was January 8 but not sure if that is correct or not....but probably is.

New storage shelf

Here are the before and after photos of my kitchen closet. I love the new shelves. Such a good deal. They were a little bit of a splurge but I am so happy with them. They fit perfectly in the back of the closet. Just like they were made for it. Still haven't decided where the others are going in the basement yet.

The only problem I had were some of the stockpile items didn't stand up well on the wire shelving but the shoe box and baskets solved that problem.

Before: Had already started cleaning off shelves when decided to take pictures.

 

After: I purged a lot of stuff that didn't need to be in the kitchen closet so now there is room for the stockpots & paper towels/toilet tissue to be on the shelf.

My frugal ways 2010

I just watched the movie Julia and Julie...I really liked it even though I have heard mixed reviews about it. I laughed and cried plus learned alot about Julia Child's life. But most of all it made me think about this blog that I started and have since neglected.

I was thinking about what I could write about and decided since I am not keeping up with the frugal journal I planned for the year I could just do that here on the blog. I do enjoy it more than facebook and I am so addicted to blogs so why not be a little addicted to my own and track my journey here.

First, frugal accomplishments for 2009 (at least what I can remember right now)

No longer buy jar pasta sauce - make and freeze homemade marinara

No long buy yogurt except for starter - use the recipe from www.thefrugalgirl.com and totally love it! I even have Kyle & Lake hooked on it. Parker and I love it but Lainey won't try it. She has never been a big yogurt fan. Last Saturday I made two batches...one for me and one for Kyle. 8 quarts, 2 pints and 1/2 pint. Walmart's gallon milk makes more than 4 quarts of yogurt. Kroger's milk is exact...weird. Just found out that WM does not buy milk from farmers that use growth hormones. Haven't researched Kroger milk.

Started Couponing - I have sporadically used coupons but last year due to the economy which caused furlough days at work on top of no raise for two years I got serious. I researched the great world of couponing and learned tons! I went to a class given by a local woman at our extension office in November. I am doing pretty much what she is doing but I just try not to use as many processed foods. I embarassed the kids a few times in 2009 by getting so excited about the deals I was getting. Especially the day I was getting Celestial Tea for free! That doesn't happen too often.

Started CVSing - Was really diligent about it at the beginning of the year but my stockpile of toothpaste and deodorant was pretty full so I slacked off a little. Now the deals do not seem to be as good. Although they are starting a promotion of doubling bucks tomorrow. Not sure exactly how it works though.

Frequented Goodwill and consignments.

Utilized the library more.

Cut cable back to less than half the monthly bill but only had 20 channels. Now have satellite and have changed the phone/internet plan. Now saving $10 a month by combining satellite/phone/internet and canceling cable.

Sold books on amazon.

Come home for lunch most days. Don't order pizza....make homemade.

Started using Microsoft Money program - this has helped me track my money/bills better than any system I have ever tried. It has really helped me track my spending at the grocery store, ATM withdrawals and dining out.

Made homemade laundry detergent from thesimpledollar.com

Made lotion recipe that Mom's neighbor gave her. Made it possibly in 2008 and am still using it. Definitely good frugal lotion. Will probably make more next month. Going to use coupons for the baby lotion that goes in it this time.

Started a coupon book.

Grew a garden - even though it was small I didn't buy much lettuce at all this spring. Except from my favorite farmer at the farmer's market.

Clean my face using the oil cleansing method simplemom.net and it feels amazing! Using a lot less moisturizer.

Started canning salsa.

Gave a lot of homemade Christmas gifts.

Goals for 2010

- Implement one new frugal thing each month

- Keep a list all the books I read this year.

- List more items to sell on ebay & amazon

- Complete more craft/decorating projects

2010 is already feeling like it is going to be stressful.

5 more furlough days at work. 3 full-time people's jobs were eliminated on Thursday. One of my best friends that has been there the entire time I have been there. My back-up person that covers for me when I am gone no longer sits beside me. Already feeling the stress of how time off is going to work in our department. How will we be able to take a week off at a time? How will I like working there now that my friend is no longer at her desk? She is no longer there to laugh with, to meet at the coffee pot for a vent session....it just isn't right! This recession stinks and these people losing their jobs stinks!

Now I have the thoughts of how will I make it when my job is eliminated or the doors are closed for good. People keep saying it won't happen but two years ago I would not have believed the changes that have taken place in our office. Too many chairs are empty.

What would I do....a 42-year old single mom in a small rural town...what would I do?

This post turned long and sad.

Today's accomplishments

- Lainey found her prom dress. Green & yellow and short. 25% off a short dress is a lot less than last year's. It is on layaway so only $60 more to go.

- Made a big batch of granola to go along with the yogurt.

- Marinara batch.

- Cleaned out dresser drawers and found items to post on ebay plus more organized.

- Unclogged bathroom since with the baking soda / vinegar /Dawn method and boy did it need it!

More soon.....

Garden update

Kyle and I finished the landscaping project in the front of the house yesterday. You can see Lainey playing in the birdbath. It felt so nice to be finished and not have any big yard projects hanging over my head. This one has been in the works ever since we bought the house. I am so happy with it. I need a couple more bags of mulch since the end by the birdbath is a little sparse. But all the hard work is done!



I can't wait for the crepe myrtle to bloom! That end will be so pretty!

Lainey gave her thumbs up to the project. She slept thru most of the work. I started about 9:30 Saturday and Kyle came over about 10:30 or 11:00 and helped until it was completed.

Kyle and I started the day Saturday by walking in a 5K (3.2 miles!). He asked me Friday if I would walk it with him and I agreed. I did pretty good. I didn't keep up with "the lady in the pink hat" like he thought I could. I reminded him that this was my first time walking like that and she does it all the time! So much so that her business was probably the original sponsor and the one with the idea! Anyway, we walked about a 15 minute mile and our time stayed consistent. I jogged thru a few intersections and jogged across the finish line with my friend Misty cheering me on. Misty walked with Karen (the pink hat lady) and probably finished at least 15 mintues ahead of us. I could barely stand up in church this morning after I had been sitting so long but I finished the walk and have the shirt to prove it! One of the best accomplishments was that I was not the last one across the finish line. It was fun and a pretty morning. Had to take two extra showers yesterday after all the sweaty things we did but had a great day.

The lilies on the other side are so tall!

Chalkboard Paint

Lainey and I have had a couple of chalkboard paint projects in mind and we finished them plus a couple more.

I saw this idea in a magazine and had a frame that Kyle had given me that I thought would be perfect. I painted it glossy white and cut the board to fit then painted it. So easy! I'm really happy how it turned out.
Was going to hang it vertically but there were nails there and I haven't moved them yet.
It's not too bad hanging horizontally but not really how I want it. No notes yet since I keep forgetting to buy chalk.

Here is Lainey's project. We painted both of her closet doors. As you can see she had already been writing on her walls with chalk - it washes off but elbow grease is required. Any friends that have been over have signed the doors. They used sidewalk chalk.

Here is her second idea. We had both of these lamps out to sell in the yard sale. She decided to paint both with the chalkboard paint. The round lamp was light pink and so was the shade. She spray painted it and it turned out cute.

Here was the best idea we had! I had the poster sign in the garage from my 40th birthday when Michelle put it in my yard. We painted it and had an instant reusable yard sale sign. We had some staple issues so it got a little smeared.

Our garden

I've figured the photos out!!!! Now I'll see if I can type between them.
Here are our two pitiful little strawberry plants. I didn't put them in my square foot garden because they each needed their own square. I've decided to build at least one more for next year. Maybe two. It is really working out great. Took a picture of the tomato plants that are in the same size container to the right of the strawberry plants but the picture was too blurry.
Have little grape tomatoes on one plant. The Romas aren't doing much yet.


My lettuce has done so good! I have been just harvesting leaves but Thursday I pulled one head.
It's about time to harvest all of it before it gets too hot. You can see where Scott sprayed Round Up around the frame. I hate the way the brown grass looks!

Had to take a close up because I am just so proud of my first lettuce experience!

Just noticed the first broccoli head forming! Hope it shows up good.

My cilantro has gone a little wild. Not sure what I should do. Clip it back, just clip the blooms....just don't know. I clipped some of the lower sprigs last night for supper. Tried a new recipe....it was ok. Don't think I'll pass it on though.

Pepper plants in the background are doing good too. Jalapeno and bell pepper. There are little jalapenos forming.

Finally put my trellis up last night. Have been waiting on the beans to sprout up and trying to decide on the spot. I like the spot I picked for two reasons....1-the original spot I had in mind was too close the trees that have vines in them and 2- I can see it from the swing and from the driveway when I pull in. Lainey didn't like the spot but Parker thought I did good.

Here is part the straw that I had to rake up from the yard where they came and fixed it from the big truck running through the yard back in the winter. I think they put about twice as much as they needed too. There was a lot I couldn't rake up because it was so wet under the top layer. Parker just mowed over it. He mowed half the yard while I raked. I had to make pretty slow trips with the wheelbarrow so there wouldn't be straw all over the driveway. There was one little snake in it. Tried to get him out and he got away so I was pretty cautious after that.

Here is Parker in the swing enjoying an apple after the yard was done. He drank most of my Kool-Aid while I took pictures.

Hope you enjoy! Oh, I think I have mastered the photo upload process!!!!

Love, B

My garden & birthday

This is the squirrel that Parker shot from the back porch because he was getting into my garden.
Kyle said I should be proud of him because that is some sharp-shooting since he hit it from up on the porch. He called me while we were at the tanning salon and told me about it. He had it buried before we got home.


Here is the garden. It has a lot of mimosa petals in it in this picture from the rain. Cilantro is doing really good but you can't really tell in the photo. It is the second from the top on the left. Need to put in some pepper plants and I think I'll be done....maybe.

Here are the birthday flowers that Kyle sent me. The are so pretty and a surprise!

The new cabinet. It is on casters so I can move it if I want to. I'll probably leave it right there.

Haven't gotten used to what is in what drawer. Need to do some organizing.

The new dishwasher and cabinet. Still can't believe he bought it for me! It is really quiet. Ran it for the first time last night. Excited that the kitchen is almost finished. Scott has a few more things to do and I can finish the painting Saturday.