Friday, December 31, 2010

Let me explain...

When revisiting my goals from last year I mentioned that I was no longer using my reusable bags when shopping as the plastic bags had now become our main source of trash bags.

(FYI... I hate using plastic bags as trash bags for the mere fact that they are horrible for the environment, but trash bags are also horrible for the environment right? And if I'm going to use something horrible for the environment it might as well be free... just saying)

When we moved into our new house we had a small cabinet near the kitchen sick which didn't have alot of options as far as how it could be used. We had originally decided to store baking sheets vertically there, but as I was unpacking I had a great idea :) It was just the right size for a small bathroom trashcan. And small bathroom trashcans are just the right size for the plastic bags you get when grocery shopping.

So in my kitchen we have both a small trashcan and a traditional somewhat larger trashcan. We use the larger trashcan for larger things and the smaller trashcan for the majority of our trash. With our garbage can being right out side the kitchen door it works really nicely to use a small bag and immediately take it outside when it is full. This has helped tremendously with the number of garbage bags I have had to buy lately and therefore helping on the road to save money :)

For more frugal tips visit Lifeasmom.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

2011 Goals

With a new year upon us here are some things I would like to accomplish in the new year...

1. More slowing down when reading the Word of God. With the hussle and bussle of life if I'm not careful my quiet time can all so quickly become something to check off on my to do list. This year I want to take time and meditate more than what I have been when reading my Bible.

2. Learn to make my own yogurt/butter. Preferably I would like to do this with things I have on hand. No fancy equipment to buy. I've tried to make my own yogurt before and it's been horrible. So this year I'm gonna figure it out :)

3. Learn how to can veggies from the garden. We always end of having more than we can eat so this year I would love to learn how to store some away for the winter. I would also to plant some fruit trees/bushes so we could have fruit to freeze. Do you freeze fruit?

4. Complete Baby Step 3 in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Steps. This step is to save up 3 - 6 months of living expenses. I can testify first hand why this is important. We had completed this step back in 2008. In 2009 when my husband was between jobs I was so glad we had this money to fall back on when needed. But, we also came close to depleting it. It's time to start saving away again for a rainy day!


Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Blast From the Past

Today at Works for me Wednesday I'm going to repost to something I wrote earlier in the year. Check it out here.

And don't forget to check out the link at the bottom of the page. It's a mans perspective on modesty.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

2010 Goals Revisited

As 2010 winds down and 2011 approaches I thought it would be a good time to look back at how I did on my 2010 goals

1. Complete The Bible in 90 Days study with the ladies over at momstoolbox - Sadly to say this didn't happen. When I would touch base with the other moms about how they were able to get all their reading in on during the day their response was to underline things in your Bible you wanted to come back to and keep going. To be truthful, this isn't how I process things. If I come across something that I don't understand I immediately want to research it. So underlining and coming back to a passage so I could finish an assigned reading was not for me.

2. Use reusable bags when shopping - This went well. I used my reusable shopping bags for the majority of the year. When we moved into our new house I began using plastic bags as they became our main source of trash bags. On a strict budget buying trash bags when you don't have to seems crazy to me.

3. Make my own kitty litter - Check! This actually worked... my cat didn't like it, but it worked. As an update, we had to surrender our cat as he needed to be in a home with no small children.

4. Become better with my cash system - This went well, but I would love to improve where we are at this point. I used the cash system well, but the budget we had set was off and will be changed for the new year.

So there you have it... my 2010 goals. Keep an eye out my new goals will be posted sometime this week :)

Monday, December 27, 2010

What's on our plates

If your new to menu planning this can be a great way to save money! To start make a menu based around things you have on hand and then determine what you need from the grocery store. Stick only to that list for an easy way to save money :)

For some reason coming up with a menu this week was hard... here's what I've got

Monday - Broccoli and Cheese soup for me/Turkey Sandwiches with mac and cheese for the hubby

Tuesday - Beef Stroganoff - I've never made this before, it should be interesting :)

Wednesday - Cheeseburger Soup made with sausage instead of ground beef - Oh so yummy!

Thursday - Potato Soup

Friday - Eggs and Toast

We also have things on hand to make Chili and Fried Rice as back up meals incase we change our mind one night.

For more menus check out OrgJunkie.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow





As promised... her are pictures from our snow experience yesterday. On a different note my little one is feeling much better today!


Sunday, December 26, 2010

All things new

Just an FYI... this is a lengthy post, but lots have happened in the past few days.

Christmas at our house was great... for a little bit, then sickness set in.

To back up a little bit, Thursday my little one came down with a low grade fever and a feeling of pitifulness. Friday there was more low grade fever and the hope was that Christmas morning she would feel better. And she did. For a little bit.

This was the first year that our little one really got into opening presents. Every time she would open a present she would save "Mama I wuv it". Actually she enjoyed opening presents so much that she opened mine for me and my husband's for him.

Our Christmas tradition usually consists of Christmas at our house, breakfast with my family and Christmas there, and lunch or dinner with the hubs family and Christmas there. This year at my parents house the sickness returned. For quite a while she did nothing but cry. After a while she finally feel asleep only to wake up as we returned home and sleep some more. Four hours later she woke...

As a mom that was kinda scary for me. Even when my little one is sick she doesn't act sick. But this time she could barely stay awake. We considered an ER visit as all other options were closed on Christmas, but praise The Lord, she started feeling better after she woke up.

Christmas afternoon it started snowing and I mean really snowing. Where we live we barely get a dusting every year, but yesterday it started snowing and continued until around lunch today. Here I was torn, we never get this much snow and my little one is to sick to enjoy it. Should I let her play in the snow knowing she might not get this chance again for a while or leave her inside since she wasn't feeling well? We ended up waiting until the Tylenol was making her feel better and took her outside for just a few minutes. She LOVED it. She kept throwing snowballs at us :) We took lots of pictures which I'll have to upload later.

One things about the snow... It was absolutely beautiful!! I am always amazed at just how beautiful God's creation is! Thank you Lord for being such an amazing God and thank you for taking such good care of my little one!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas All!

Merry Christmas!

May you take this opportunity to reflect on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. His birth was the start of the greatest event in history!


Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Worst Mom of the Year Award

So... I totally get The Worst Mom of the Year award.

But before I tell you what happened let me start by saying my daughter can be a bit dramatic when she gets hurt if you let her and with having a high pain tolerance she is rarely ever hurt.

A few days ago at a Christmas party with some co-workers my little one was running around like a wild child. As she turned the corner in the kitchen she ran SMACK into another little boy. She whimpered, I proceeded to tell her she was OK, and sent her on her way to play.

2 or 3 minutes later I got a good look at her and WOW she had a huge knot on her head. I mean this thing was already black and blue and completely sticking out about 1/2 an inch. I tried really heard not to cry when I saw it. It had to hurt.

Yeah... the Worst Mom of the Year Award!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Ever wonder what to do with all of those wonderful art and crafts your children do? How about the beautiful pictures that they color in Sunday School?

One quick and easy way to preserve them forever would be to make them into Christmas ornaments.

To make an ornament take a picture that they have recently colored (make sure to write the date on it) and laminate it. Then hole punch a hole in the top and lace with ribbon and viola! There you have a homemade ornament of your little one's artwork!

Not only will it be a nice trip down memory lane when setting up your Christmas tree, but they look great in the bows on top of presents for grandparents!

For more great tips visit We are that family.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Parenting with a Purpose

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 NASB

As a parent, I have a responsibility. My daughter is constantly taking in and learning from everything that I do... from the words that I say and how I say them to the way she sees me interacting with others as well as my interactions with her.

Everything that I do should point her to The Lord. Every action and word should come only after thinking about how what I am doing and what I am saying will affect (or is it effect?) her.

This can be extremely hard! My little one is two. She is constantly pushing the boundaries. How I react to her actions will be extremely important to her as she grows. Do I scream and loose control easily? Do I talk to her in a way that is pleasing to The Lord? How about how she sees me interact with others. Do I show God's love to others that I meet or do I hurry about in the business that is life?

My prayer is that God will use me in a way that leads her to him.

Monday, December 20, 2010

What's on the menu?

OK.... Here's what on our plates at our house this week

Monday - Mac & Cheese

Tuesday - Dinner with coworkers :) I'm bringing chips and dip as well as sausage croissant rolls

Wednesday - Homemade Pizza

Thursday - We're having our family dinner at my house and I'm brining Mac and Cheese, but it will be a good Christmas dinner with all the fixins

Friday - Christmas Eve!!! We'll be eating Chili

Saturday - Merry Christmas!! We're eating with family again :)

For more menus this week head on over the orgjunkie.com

Saturday, December 18, 2010

I'm back :)

Oh My.... Where have I been???

Everywhere! That's where!

Hopefully I'm back for good now, but while I was gone we've...

1. Started a new school year with new middle schoolers at my job and new youth at Rusty's work
2. Moved into our new house
3. Began potty training our oh-so-cute two year old
4. Started a new school for our little one
5. Had some great family time!