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!