3 MONTHS!

Has it been 3 months since my last post? REALLY? I'm such a BAD blogger! Life hasn doing its job again....running mr ragged! I'm so sorry. I have been so concentrated on running the daycare, getting things made for Grandbaby #1, and day to day stuff. A quicklime_ update!: * Grandbaby #1 is going to be a girl! We found out two days ago. Grandma is shopping, knitting and crochrleting like krazy! Only 20 more weeks to go! * My daycare has taken off. As of last night I am full! It feels so nice to say that.The latest addition is an adorable 4 month old little biy who starts tomorrow. Since the rest if the kiddies are toddlers I expect some jealousy over the next couple of weeks. *We (the daycare kiddies & I) started dome tomato and basil plants from seeds a few weeks ago for a science lesson. Ghey have enjoyed the process so much. And more plants have sprouted than I expected so we had enough to send home for parents AND Grandparents plus tons here to harvest! *My younest is getting ready for high school graduation in a few weeks.etc has ensued. She is also turning 18 the same week.Where does the tome go? I will update as I can. THAT is what I

Happy-Happy Day!

I just received a phone call from a friend of mine about child care! She has triplets sons who will be 3 in April and needs care 1 or 2 days a week, which is perfect for me since I usually do not have Luke on Tuesday's or Wednesdays. I cared for the boys up until a year ago when the Father stopped working and have missed them terribly. Luke and Sophia are going to be so giddy that their friends are coming back to daycare!

Now to plan a Welcome Back To Daycare party for Ashton, Bryce and Chase!

Decisions.....Decisions

After checking my yarn stash, I came to the conclusion that I don't have enough reds and pinks to do a Valentine's ripple. So, I can either go out and buy more yarn OR choose another color combination for my next Afghan. I have decided to just choose a different colorway Since I only give myself $20 a week for splurge buys and I would rather save it for another purchase. So, back to search the stash for ideas!
I haven't blogged much about my daycare yet. At the present time I only have 2 toddlers enrolled -Luke who is 3 and his cousin Sophia who is 2 1/2. We are in the middle of potty training right now and all is going well. They are both very smart, articulate toddlers who learn quickly and are a pleasure to care for. Luke has been in my care since he was 9 months old and Sophia since she was 2 months. Since the daycare is open for 24/7, they are sometimes here for 5-7 days straight (though, not very often). They keep me busy and keep me young...lol. Oh yeah, and the name of my daycare is Ms. Lora's Home Away From Home Childcare.
I will posting more about the daycare happenings in the future.

Recent Crafting!

Finding out I am going to become a Grandmother for the first time has my making all sorts of baby items! LOL. Even though we won't find out the gender for a while yet, I couldn't help myself! Here are the items I have completed this week:

White crocheted dress set:

Little Abigail Dress:

And a Blue Sweater Set awaiting buttons:

And I DID make a heart garland to dress up the daycare area for Valentine's Day! Got to make more and get the daycare dressed up!

My Blog Has Won An Award!!!

Yep...It's true! Linda from alottastitches has bestowed the Liebster award to my blog! Thank you SO much Linda!

Liebster is a German word meaning sweet, kind, nice, pleasant, cute, etc.
The award’s rules:

Rule #1. You must acknowledge the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
Rule # 2. Give this award to 5 other bloggers who have fewer than 200 readers. Please let them know through a comment on their blog.
Rule #3. Post this wonderful award on your blog.
Rule #4. Bask in the glory bestowed upon you and appreciate all the amazing bloggers out there.
Rule# 5. Enjoy and spread the good vibes around.


Here are my nominations to receive the Liebster Blog Award!
1. 3 Broke Chicks: Becky, Jamie, and Jessica are 3 Broke Chicks who refuse to spend a lot of time to save a lot of money on their grocery bill. Follow their tips, great deals, and more so you can save while still having time for the other things in your life.

2. Heart In Hand:
A Charity based Blog dedicated tocomfort so many simply by applying the skills of our hands to bring comfort to those who serve and those who suffer. Join them in making crochet and knit squares, blankets, and other needs we encounter to bring love and comfort to those who need it most.

3. The Spendwise Moms: LOVE this blog! Great ideas for saving money, menus, reipes, etc..

4. Peggy & Jessi....Crafting : two sisters sharing great patters for charity use!

5. Insomniac With A Hook : Neicee's adventures in crochet and knitting! She does such Beautiful Work, you GOT to see!

Afghan #2 Of 2012- I'm Singing The Blues & Some News

I've finally completed Project Linus Afghan #2 of 2012! This one I am calling "I'm Singing The Blues" because it has a little of every skein of blue yarn in my stash besides fingering weight. LOL Not one of my favorites but, still pretty in it's own right I think! Some little boy is going to love snuggling up with it!

I am already in the planning stage with Afghan #3. I've pulled all of my reds, pinks and purple yarns out. The next couple will be Valentine's afghans! I do not have enough of one color for an afghan so, we will see what interesting color combinations I come up with! Hopefully they will turn out.

Now onto the NEWS! I just found out...last Friday night...that my youngest son and his wife are expecting their first child in September! So, at 41...I'm going to be a GRANDMOTHER! I can hardly believe it! He is stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska for the next couple of years so I doubt I will be able to attend the birth or see the baby very much at all (which saddens me greatly) but, I can still spoil the baby from afar with plenty of hand knit & crocheted goodies! I mean, an Alaskan born baby NEEDS plenty of warm knits right???? LOL

So, you will also start viewing some baby items I am making! One item is, of course, going to be an afghan for the baby. My son & his wife requested a color combination of blue, orange and teal - definitely going to be an interesting afghan for sure! Not sure how I'm going to come up with that one LOL! But, since that is what they requested, that is what I will make (along with a couple of other afghans with more pleasing color combinations) lol. Anyone have some favorite baby patterns they would like to share?

2012 Project Linus Afghan #1- Shaded Green

This afghan makes me happy every time I look at it! It has to be the bright neon green stripes because I generally don't like green at all. I hope the bright stripes make a child smile!

More And More Crafting

Last night I went through my stash and got up ALL of my green yarns. There are some very interesting shades. Some are muted, muddier greens while others are bright, neon greens. I brought them out to the living room and started on Project Linus Afghan #6. I am not sure how this one is going to turn out with all of the different hues but, I guess since they are all shades of green, it should work right? I'll post pics when completed.

I think this is how I will be pulling the colors together for the next few Project Linus afghans, by color. I do have some variegated yarns but am not sure of how to incorporate those into afghans yet.


Also, when going through my stash (Hubby had a great idea of organizing the closet RIGHT before Christmas), I found some sock yarn I completely forgot I had bought (along with a LOT of other yarns I don't remember purchasing). So, I CO some socks for me! The yarn is Knit Picks Felici in the Martinique colorway. Green, blues, fuchsia and purple stripes! LOVE the colors! But why did I put it away never to be made into luscious socks? Who knows but already I am to the heel turn on the first sock, knitting toe-up of course so I can make them as tall as possible! I will also post pics when complete.

Hoping you all have a fun, festive and safe New Years this weekend! I know I will be home, getting tipsy with the Hubby and listening to my favorite 80's music until midnight (who knows, I may even decide to break out the old dance moves)lol! Can't wait for the wine and rum to flow (no, I am not a lush, just love to occasionally let loose)!

Project Linus Afghan #5....Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Just finished afghan #5 for Project Linus. This one the color combination worried me. That was until my teenaged daughter told me the colors go great together! So, I trusted her in this one. It reminds me of chocolate dipped strawberries hence the name. LOL

Been Crocheting Away!

After finding our local chapter for Project Linus, I immediately got busy crocheting some afghans! I got my inspiration from Linda of Alottastitches and all of her beautiful afghans she makes for charity. Mine are nowhere near as beautiful but I think they will be just as loved by the child that receives them! Here are the ones I made so far!

Afghan #1:

Afghan #2:

Afghan #3:

Afghan #4:

All four were made with yarn from my stash. I'm not sure if #3 or #4 is my favorite so far. I hope to be able to finish 1 more before December 31st!

SO Happy!

I have been crocheting for 30+ (gulp) years and knitting for about 10. And I have been looking for a local charity to donate to. After searching for a while I finally found one in my area!

Project Linus

Project Linus Raleigh Chapter


My son Phillip (who was stillborn in 93) and my daughter Summer were both born at Wake Med. Also, Duke hospital saved Summer's live last Dec 21. She was hemorrhaging internally from a ruptured blood vessel ( a blood vessel that wasn't supposed to be there) and they caught it in time! So, both hospitals are close to my heart.

I will be posting photos of the afghans I make for donation as Linus Blanket #1, Linus blanket #2, etc... My goal is to donate 12 afghans over next year. 1 a month! I hope I can accomplish it with everything else I have going on!

Thanksgiving Menu:

We did our shopping for Thanksgiving Dinner today. Here what is on our menu:

*Bacon Crescent Appetizers
*Cheese Ball With Crackers
*Deviled Eggs
*Roasted Turkey with Rosemary, Lemon & Orange
*Dressing
*Mashed Potatoes
*Green beans
*Gravy
*Cranberry Sauce
*Biscuits
*Pumpkin Pie
*Apple Pie


It just going to be the 5 of us so, I may be over cooking! But, the leftovers will be great! What is on your menu for Thanksgiving?

Week Of Crafting

Been having a lot on my mind lately. Marriage problems that we are working through, my children getting older, finding out that I have to have 2 root canals and a couple of Jeff's long-time friends passed away (1 was murdered, 1 passed due to cancer) both were in their 40's. So, what do I do when I need to straighten out my own thoughts? I knit and/or crochet! It gives me time to really think and sort through things. I don't know why, just seems to help if my hands are busy. Here is what I am working on at this time!

The BIG UGLY! Wide enough for a king size bed. Using whatever yarn I have!

A beanie for Jeff:

And Michael's Beanie:

What a Weekend!

Whew! What a weekend! Saturday we went to Ray Price Harley Davidson's open house. This was my first biker event even though Jeff has been riding a bike for over 20 years. I really enjoyed myself. I use to ride with him when we dated AGES ago but, just recently started riding with him again about 3 months ago. LONG story but... Ladies, if your man is REALLY into something, and I mean PASSIONATE about it, get involved too..if not, you will be missing out on some GREAT wifey points!

Once I decided to enjoy myself...it was a blast! Riding on the back of the bike was so fun. The other bikers were SO very nice. I have to admit, I WAS scared about all of the "rough" biker crap that is out there at first. But, it's SO not true! I think I have become a convert FAST! I bought some boots and a new jacket (the pink line of course). We had some really good BBQ, heard some great music, met some really nice people and bonded quite a bit.

Then we rode to the Fair Grounds for a car show. It didn't take long for Jeff to find someone who had a Charger in the show to strike up a conversation with. 2 hours later I had to drag him away, lol. His wife and I clicked and had conversations about the kids, cars, hobbies, etc... during that time. It was actually a good time.

Then we headed to our local tattoo parlor per Jeff's request. we have been talking about getting a matching tattoo for a few weeks now. Nothing with each other's name's or sappy crap like that but, something that represents our children. Something that would MEAN something to our family. We have decided that it has to include hearts and wings, perhaps even a halo to represent the son we lost. We found some things that were close to what we had in mind but nothing exact. So, we are going to ask our oldest son to sketch something for us. I think it would have more meaning. Now Jeff has to decide where he wants his put. I already know mine will be over my heart, I don't care how much it hurts. (I've given birth 5 times with no pain meds, the ink will be a breeze)! LOL

That was MY weekend, how was YOURS?

Re-Thinking The Bedroom

Yes, you read the title correctly. Here lately, I have been looking at my bedroom and it is REALLY starting to bother me. I have SO much in there that really should be addressed. Bins (and I mean HUGE bins) of yarn stacked half-way to the ceiling, my collection of dolls, an elliptical machine, play pens, a basket of clothes that need to be put away, my Hubby's desk, two sets of filing cabinets and ALL the paperwork that needs to be shredded. These are items that keep my bedroom from being a tranquil oasis for Jeff and I.
I REALLY need to tackle the problem, have for a LONG time, but where to start? That is what gets me every time. WHERE do I put all that yarn, my collectible dolls, the play pens, etc. The reason they wound up in my room to begin with is there was no where else to put them! But, I SO want my bedroom to be a romantic, relaxing environment! I would LOVE to walk into a room like the ones pictured below:

Don't they just look SOOOOO inviting? Now, how to get the junk out. I don't have the $ to go out and buy all new everything. I have to work with what we already have. I could swing new paint but, that is about it. The wheels are turning!

Bad, BAD Blogger!

I cannot believe it has been almost 3 months since my last post! BAD BAD BLOGGER!
Lots has been going on here at the Jenkins house. My oldest daughter moved out, then moved back home. Boy troubles with my youngest daughter had taken over for a bit and my Dad wound up in the ICU after a kidney stone surgery that went awry! Life is NEVER dull. But, things are calming down and my Dad is back home after a BIG scare for all of us.

I decided to re-name my blog. There is just too many other interesting things to write about besides couponing. So, there will be some changes. I plan to post a little of everything. Crafting I am doing at the moment, family things, daycare happenings and funnys, recipes I fall in love with and of course, couponing and managing the house. Maybe some marriage helps here and there too....who knows! (we know after a few years, we can all use some ideas there). I hope this rounds out the blog better also. Makes it a more interesting read for you. So, sit back and enjoy the ride, let me know what you think!

Menu Plan Monday

We are going to my youngest son Robert's Graduation from AIT this week in Fort Eustis, VA so, the menu will only be 3 days this week. We leave out Thursday morning and will not be back until sometime Sunday. I can't wait to see him!

Here is my SHORT menu:

*Monday:
-Breakfast: Eggs/Ham/Toast/Milk
-Lunch: Turkey and cheese Sammies/Carrot sticks/Grapes/Milk
-Dinner: Ham/Mashed Potatoes/Salad/Tea
-Snacks: Dry Cereal/Juice
Cheese Sticks/Juice

*Tuesday:
-Breakfast: Waffles/Banana/Milk
-Lunch: Ravioli/Salad/Applesauce/Milk
-Dinner: Leftover Ham/Pasta Salad/Green Beans/Tea
-Snacks: Rice Crispies Treats/Juice
Carrot Sticks/Ranch Dip/Juice

*Wednesday:
-Breakfast: Cereal/Peaches/Milk
-Lunch: PB&J Sammies/Banana/Milk
-Dinner:Rosemary Garlic Chicken/Rice/Salad/Tea
-Snacks: Cheese crackers/Juice
Oatmeal Cookies/Juice

Of course I don't indulge in the starches follow low-carb and have either coffee or crystal light to drink!

For more menu inspiration, go on over to Org.Junkie and get inspired!

Update on Low-Carb and Great Deal This Week!

Sorry it has been a month since my last post. Life has been crazier than usual.

Low-carb is still going strong. I have lost 27 pounds. I seem to have hit a plateau the past three weeks and that is ok. I found a bread by Merita that only has 5 grams of carbs per slice. It doesn't have much taste but beats using lettuce for sandwiches.

On the couponing side. It seems like the great deals I was finding are getting fewer and further between. I did, however, find a GREAT deal on playtex tampons this week at Food Lion. They are on sale for $2.99 for a box, I had $2.00 off coupons and got them for $0.99 a box! I stocked up with as many as I could get.

That is my great seal for the week! What was yours?

Week #2 Down and I Cleared a Shelf Shopping!

Week #2 low-carb down! I've lost a total of 16 pounds and have lost 8 inches off of my waist in two weeks! The cravings have completely gone. My appetite has returned to normal. and I feel great! I get to add berries and nuts this week! WooHooo! Only 31 pounds to go!

On th couponing front...I cleared my first shelf yesterday. Did I feel bad??? Not at all! Food Lion had the Bic Soleil razors on clearance for $3.99 each, and I had $3.00 off coupons! So, I bought all they had! I had been there week after week and someone else had cleared them out before I even got there so....I grabbed them up. With 3 women in the family, they will be used quickly.

I spent $65 total this week. Saved $125! Still sticking to budget!

Will post my Menu later after the daycare kiddies go home! Have a GREAT day!

Week #1 Of The Low-Carb Down!

Today marks the completion of week 1 on low carb! I have lost a whopping 10 pounds! I have shed the excess water I was having to take medication for and now do not have to take the meds at all! I have more energy and seem to be sleeping better. And the cravings have vanished!

I am eating more now that I ever did before! Seems like I am always putting something in my mouth where before I was skipping meals and snacks TRYING to lose a couple of pounds (never worked).

I found a great mock chocolate "pudding" recipe that has been a life saver for the sugar cravings! Here it is for you!

-2 Tbsp. whipping cream
-1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
-1 packet splenda
-1 or 2 drops of vanilla extract

Mix all the above ingredients until a "mouse" consistency is reached. Enjoy! Only 3 grams of carbs and SOOOOO good for a chocolate or sugar craving!

Menu Plan Monday

Here is the menu for the week. don't forget to head over to Org.Junkie for lots of new ideas!

*Daycare Breakfast Choices:
-cheerio's/banana/milk
-eggs/toast/applesauce/milk
-waffles/peaches/milk
-grilled cheese/pears/milk
-oatmeal/cantaloupe/milk

*Daycare Lunch Choices:
-PB&J/carrot sticks/dip/apple slices/milk
-pizza/green beans/pineapple/milk
-tuna salad sandwich/corn/fruit salad/milk
-hot dogs/fries/banana/milk
-ravioli/broccoli/peaches/milk

*Daycare Snack Choices:
-oatmeal cookies/juice
-popcorn/juice
-cheese and crackers/juice
-dry cereal/juice
-graham crackers with peanut butter/juice

I will post my Low-Carb Menu in a bit...the daycare kiddies are calling! LOL


LOW CARB MENU CHOICES:

*Breakfast:
-scrambled eggs/ham/coffee
-omelet made with onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese
-sausage with cheese and slices tomato
-egg salad stuffed celery sticks
-ham with swiss cheese and asapragus

*Lunch:
-Chef Salad
-chicken salad on lettuce cups
-hamburger patty with sliced mushrooms and swiss cheese/ side salad
-hot dogs no bun/ baked turnip fries
-leftover buffet

*Dinner:
-Chicken stir-fry without rice
-BBQ ribs/ green beans/ roasted broccoli
-meatloaf/ mashed cauliflower/ squash
-lemon-pepper chicken/ tomato slices/ side salad
-chicken alfredo served over spaghetti squash/ side salad

*Snacks:
-Hot & spicy pork rinds
-cheddar cheese and pepperoni slices
-celery stuffed with cheese
-pepperoni chips
-vienna sausages

5 Days In with Low Carb & Shopping Trip

Today is 5 complete days of my new low carbohydrate diet. And I must say that it is going better than I expected. The first 2 1/2 days I CRAVED my daily popcorn fix but nothing else. I did give in on Wednesday and had a snack sized bag (only 16 grams of carbs total), but since then the craving has seemed to disappear.

I have lost 10 pounds in 5 days! The swelling in my stomach,legs and ankles has completely gone away! I have lost 6 inches off of my waist so far! I feel so much better! It's hard to believe that removing high-carb foods has made such a difference!

We did our weekly shopping today. I made sure I bought enough for me to snack on if needed (one thing I learned this past week). Salmon and a lot of fresh veggies were added to this week's list.

We decided to not worry about too much couponing this trip. Mainly what we needed was fresh veggies, meats and dairy. here was our total for the week:

OOP:$115.92
Savings:$22.86

Not our usual savings but as I said, a lot of it was veggies. We stopped at the produce stand and I splurged on tomatoes, green beans, squash, celery, romaine, mushrooms, cantaloupe for Jeff and some onions.

We also picked up oxy clean, fabric softener, low-carb wraps,a variety of cheeses, chicken, ham, milk, heavy cream, eggs, pickles, pepperoni, creamer, splenda, oil, salmon, tuna, deviled ham, and crystal light. There were some snacks for the kids in there also that I got on-sale combine with coupons. All and all not that bad considering that I had everything I needed besides MY needs LOL

I will work on my menu plan tonight and have it posted tomorrow.

How I Plan To Do Low-Carb

I've been thinking about this whole low-carb diet. At first I was so bummed. I mean, I am not a sweets person at all so, going without cookies, candy, etc.. isn't a problem (I don't eat them anyway). But the bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, etc... is where I know I am going to have the problem.

At first I was just dreading it. Thinking about all of the foods I am not going to be able to have. Then I realized that I was looking at it all wrong! Instead of concentrating on the "forbidden" items, I should concentrate on the allowed items. And, maybe try to recreate some lower-carb versions of my high-carb favorites.

For example, this morning I was trying to figure out what I was going to have for brunch (I do not usually eat my first meal until 10am or later). The box of cereal was so tempting and would be quick and easy. But, a no-no now. So I started thinking about my options. I didn't feel like any type of eggs at all! I opened the fridge and pulled out some leftover grilled chicken breasts from last night. Hmmmm, what to go with? I spotted the tomatoes and knew! I made oven roasted tomatoes topped with garlic, basil and melted mozzarella cheese. It was SO Yummy! Like bruschetta without the bread lol. Even my youngest daughter had some and liked it (she is the only other person in the house that eats tomatoes).

Tonight will be easier. Hot dogs with chili, onions and mustard (no bun) and homemade low-carb coleslaw for me. Regular hot dogs with corn on the cob for every one else. Tomorrow I may have eggs for breakfast...may not. LOL

So, I am starting to switch my thinking about what to eat and when. There is no reason I cannot have dinner for breakfast! And by substituting some ingredients I may be able to still enjoy some favorite foods. We will see. I am searching the web for good low-carb inspiration now (:

Week #1 Of The Low-Carb On A Budget Challenge.

Starting the low-carb challenge today. This is going to be interesting. We did our weekly shopping yesterday and of course, I had to buy extra meats and veggies. Luckily shopping with coupons helped make it cheaper for us. What did I have to buy extra?
* Beef to add to my salads
* 1 package of boneless chicken breast
* Extra Eggs
* Bacon (usually only buy occasionally)
* Roma Tomatoes
* 1 head of cabbage
* Mushrooms
* Pickles (to replace my usual popcorn snack daily)
* 1 bag of stir-fry veggies

That is in addition to what I normally have to purchase. We spent a total of $75 for the week! And, here is the Menu Plans for the week (1 for me and 1 for everyone else). For tons of new menu ideas, please check out Menu Plan Monday's at The Org.Junkie!

Breakfast Choices:
*Cereal/milk/banana
*Banana Nut Bread/milk
*Oatmeal/peaches/milk
*Eggs/toast/applesauce/milk
*Blueberry pancakes/sausage/milk

Low-Carb Breakfast Choices:
*Cheese omelet/coffee
*eggs with swiss cheese, onions and mushrooms/coffee
*Bacon and Eggs
*Tomatoes toasted with mozzarella cheese and basil
*leftovers from the night before


Lunch Choices:
*Sweet & Sour Chicken/rice/milk
*Ravioli/fruit salad/milk
*PB&J/salad/milk
*Hot dogs/fries/apples/milk
*Ham & Cheese sandwich/carrot sticks/grapes/milk

Low-Carb Lunches:
*Grilled Chicken/Salad
*Cheese Steaks without the bun/salad
*Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo using Spaghetti Squash
*Leftovers from the night before
*Chef Salad

Dinner Choices:
*Ribs/Pasta Salad/Green Beans (no pasta salad for me)
*BBQ chicken/mashed potatoes/corn (chicken and salad for me)
*Spaghetti and Meatballs (using spaghetti squash for mine)
*Lemon pepper chicken/rice/green beans (no rice for me)
*Eat-out night

Week #4 Menu Plan & New Challenge

I am preparing for a new challenge next month. The doctor has put me on a low-carb diet to help treat my PCOS. So, I am going to challenge myself to stick to budget while eating low carb. I'm contemplating on keeping the budget $75 or bumping it up to $100 to cover the cost of the extra proteins and veggies that will be the bulk of my diet. I'm calling this challenge the Low-Carb On A Budget Challenge!

This week's Menu plan is going to be a usual for my family. Nothing really exciting or new. For TONS of more menu ideas, please check out the great site Org.Junkie!So here is the last Menu for the $75 a week Challenge:

Breakfast Choices:
-cold cereal/banana/milk
-omelet/toast/peaches/milk
-waffles/grapes/milk
-blueberry muffins/milk
-English muffins/applesauce/milk
-pancakes/eggs/sausage/peaches/milk

Lunch Choices:
-turkey sandwiches/green beans/apple slices/milk
-ravioli/salad/milk
-baked chicken/pasta salad/milk
-leftovers/milk
-PB& banana sandwiches/corn/milk
-grilled cheese/mixes veggies/fruit salad/milk

Dinner Choices:
-Italian chicken/yellow rice/green beans (Tonight's Dinner)
-Smoked pork tenderloin/macaroni salad/corn
-BBQ Chicken/potatoes/side salad
-Pork loin chops/rice/salad
-Chicken Fajitas/corn
-HM pizzas/salad/milk

Snack Choices (all snacks are served with 100% fruit juice):
-cheese and crackers
-popcorn
-chocolate chip cookies
-granola
-veggie sticks and dip

That is the plan for this week! Now to start preparing for my upcoming challenge!

Last Shopping Trip For the Challenge!

Today I did my last shopping trip for the month! We really didn't need much, just some meats, kitty litter, bread, lunch items for Kirstey, etc. Food Lion is having a great promotion going on right now and it's our one store we shop at every week, so I did buy items for my stockpile too.

Here is what I got:
-2 boxes of microwave popcorn (my FAVORITE snack)
-2 packages of Chips Ahoy Cookies
-2 boxes of Town House crackers
-1 package of English Muffins
-1 loaf of bread
-4 boxes of Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats (3 different varieties)
-1 box of Tetley Tea bags
-2 Hormel Complete's Meals (Kirstey's lunch)
-3 Hormel Completes Kids Meals
-2 lbs of long grain white rice (long-term stockpile in case TSHTF)
-1 lbs of dried pinto beans (long-terms stockpile in case TSHTF)
-46 Yakisoba Noodle meals (long-term stockpile in case TSHTF
-1 brick of Maxwell House Coffee
-2 bottles of A-1 Marinade
-1 jar of Vlasic Dill Pickles
-2 packages of brown gravy
-1 whole chicken
-1 whole pork loin
-2 Lunchables
-1/4 lb deli turkey
-1 1/2 pound fresh peaches
-1 1/2 pound bananas
-4 frozen burritos
-1 package klondike Crunch bars
-1 bottle of pine sol
-1 aluminum foil
-1 Tidy cats Kitty Litter (24 lbs)
-1 package of Scott paper towels (8 rolls)
-1 each Aussie Shampoo and Conditioner

Total Retail: $144.66
Total OOP: $74.61
Total Saved: $70.05


Here are the Month Totals:
OOP: $290.06
Retail: $596.37
Total Saved: $306.36

I spent in a MONTH what we use to spend a WEEK! And we have eaten just fine, maybe better than before. And my stockpile is growing too big for my cabinets! And, if you consider that I am use to spending $1,000 a month...it made a HUGE difference in being able to get caught up on our bills! I saved $700!

I plan on keeping this up! Maybe not $75 a week, but I think $100 a week is a great number for us. Now to celebrate!

What A Week!

My Hubby, Jeff, Was in a car accident Tuesday. He is fine, thank goodness. A woman ran a stop sign and he hit her at 55 mph. He then slid another 130 feet... hitting some road construction equipment and taking out a 6 foot cinder block pump house. His work van was completely ruined. But, he walked away without a scratch. Either that man has nine lives or extremely good luck!

Unfortunately the people in the other vehicle weren't as lucky. There were 4 people in the car. A woman driver - age unknown, her mother who is 50 and two children ages 5 and 2. All The were thrown from the car but the driver. No one had a seat belt on and the children were NOT in car seats or booster seats( even though there were car seat in the car)! The two children landed in the middle of the highway! We still do not know the conditions of everyone in the other car. I can only hope and pray that everyone is ok.

Please....anyone who drives a vehicle and is responsible for children.... remember that YOU have to make sure those sweet babies are safe! You as the adult...no matter what! They cannot do it themselves.

Week #3 of The $75 A Week Challenge

Since today was Sunday, we did our weekly shopping. We only went to our local Food Lion, we didn't feel like spending all day shopping and the deals weren't THAT great this week anyway.

I thought there would be no way I could meet the $75 this week with Kirstey moving back home and being TOTALLY out of meats but I came pretty darn close!

Total Retail: S250.29
Total OOP: $87.15
Total Saved: $167.14

Only $12.15 over budget for the week and $5 of that was a watermelon that Jeff HAD to have and with it being Father's Day I couldn't say no. LOL

Total for the Month so far: $217.45
leaving me with $82.55 for the rest of the month.

Next week is Super Doubles at our local Harris Teeter. I hope to hit the deals, buy our "needs" and still be under or right at budget! We will see how that goes.

Also, Robert will be visiting July 4th. He gets a 4 day leave from AIT! We are planning a cookout with the whole family coming. I hope to still keep budget. I have about 8 packages of hot dogs in the freezer so, I know 1 of the items I will be serving. Maybe a macaroni salad of some type since I have so much pasta in the stockpile. I have TONS of canned veggies thanks to this week's .33 cents a can sale.

So I KNOW part of the menu!
Hot Dogs
Sweet Potato Fries
Macaroni Salad
Fried Corn (a Southern Thing)

I'll add to the menu as I see great deals the next two weeks.

Another Weekend

Here it is, another weekend with Jeff being on call. I hate it when he works 70+ hours in a week. Not only do I miss him but, I worry. Since he works in commercial HV/AC, he can get injured VERY easily if he isn't paying 100% attention to what he is doing. And when you are exhausted, it's hard to give 100% of your attention to anything.

I ordered some new toys for the daycare yesterday. I had been wanting to get either a climber with a slide or some cozy coupes for a LONG time. I finally broke down and bought two of Fisher Price's version of the cozy coupes. One is pink and one is teal. I hope the daycare kiddies like them! I will purchase a climber/slide next month if I have the funds available. Luckily every toy I purchase is 100% tax deductible as a business expense!

I have already started planning this coming weekend's shopping trips. Again we will need a few basics. Sugar, bread, eggs, milk, juice, kitty litter, etc. This week we will definitely have to buy meats. I am down to only 1 package of ground beef, 3 packs of hot dogs and some ham in the freezer. And since Kirstey has moved back home I need to make sure I have things for her to pack for her lunch. I so hope there are some great sales! LOL Even if there isn't, I'll make it work. I am doing my best to stick to my $75 budget! Wish me luck!