2012 Yearly Goals-May Update

1. Continue working on blogging. Blogging definitely fell by the wayside in May while I worked on cleaning out my Grandmother's storage unit, but hopefully, I'll get back on track

2. Explore income possibilities for myself. I'm not wanting to make a fortune, just some fun money. Still selling items. I have enough saved up for my half of Thing 1's cheer fee(she has to come up the other half). I also started saving aluminum cans again, took 6 walmart bags full a week ago and made $3.

3. Continue decluttering. Ongoing also.Who would have guessed that a 900 square foot house could hold so much, yikes!

4. Continue to learn new things: this is the year I take that cake decorating class. And learn to sew.  And dive into gardening. I haven't looked into one yet but since I have Thing 1's cheer fee covered, Im going to check local schedules for July

5. Read for 1 hour every day. This means a book, not blogs, magazines or newspapers. I get so far behind! Working on it! I got behind a bit the first half working on the storage unit, but I finished the month with a decent list of books read. 

6. Work with Thing 1 on driving. I can't believe I just typed that! My first born turns 15 in March and can get the coveted learner's permit.She's had her permit for almost 3 months now :) She's ventured into driving other vehicles now.

7. Work on my weight and health. We've already discussed it and we will be purchasing a membership to the local Y for the family. Still only going sporadic.

8. Save for an actual vacation. I don't know if we will take it this year, but I want us to start working towards that goal. Still haven't done this!

9. Purchase Silver Dollar City and White Water season passes. The crew are old enough to enjoy both of these places and we live close enough for weekend jaunts. Done, now waiting for a decent weekend to go to White Water. 

10. Become more 'homemade" on things(laundry soap, soap, cleaners, food, gifts, etc) Still making homemade laundry soap. I've made homemade jam, cleaned the bathroom with baking soda, and made my first ever batch of vegetable stock a couple days ago. 

11. Reduce unnecessary spending, save more, and pay down debts Still ongoing! We got the storage unit cleaned out, saving $35 a month and I redid our Netflix subscription, saving $5

12. Get more involved with the kids at school. It's easy to slide by on the bigger 2, but Baby Girl will start Kindergarten in the Fall and I want to support her(I worked full time with both of the Things :() School's out for the summer so we all get a break!

Who needs money?

I've had my eye on a rice cooker for awhile. It is definitely a want, not a need. I can easily make rice on the stove. With a price tag of at LEAST $40, it looked like one of those items that would stay on my want list for a long time. 

After cleaning out my grandma's storage shed and listing a bunch of stuff online, a lady contacted me she was interested in a figurine that I had listed for $10 and if I was willing to trade for it. I took a look at her album(online Facebook sale group) and found this:

She wanted $10 for it. 

Squeee!

So I traded. And I've used it twice already. 

It's also a steamer for veggies. Double squeee! 

When I was looking online for the manual, I found out this particular cooker costs almost $60.

I have to  admit, it is nice not to have to stand over the rice in order to make sure it burns or cooks correctly.

Would I have paid the $60 for it? Prob not. 

Don't be afraid to trade.

This is posted to Works for Me Wednesday, Frugal Fridays, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways

Honey Bunches of Oats review and a giveaway!

We love cereal around here. 

Especially if it doesn't have milk on it.

Weird, right?

Well, since Baby Girl is picky with a capital "P", I'll take her eating anything, anyway she wants it(if I knew before she was born, I would have bought stock in Ranch dressing....)

Now, we are no strangers to Honey Bunches of Oats. It makes our cereal rotation quite frequently.  As a member of Purex Insiders, they recently sent me a box to review.

Yes, please!

Baby Girl eats this stuff by the handfuls. With 10 grams of whole grains, 9 essential vitamins and minerals, and only 6 grams of sugar, I have no problem letting her eat the crispy flakes and crunchy granola bunches(cookies as she calls them). 

What's even better, with 10 different combinations, you will never get tired of them! Our #1 favorite is the Honey Roasted. Throw some in a to go bowl for a crunchy snack or even sprinkle on top of some yogurt. 

Yum-o

Try it with almonds, or pecan, or my second fave, Cinnamon Bunches. 

I think I heard my stomach growl.

Before I go grab me a bowl of cereal, Purex Insiders has provided me with a coupon for one lucky person good for 1 free box of any Honey Bunches of Oats. 

To enter, simply tell me in a comment, tell me which variety of Honey Bunches of Oats you would like to try. 

For additional entries

"Like" Honey Bunches of Oats on Facebook

Subscribe to to my blog(button on the left)

Leave separate comments for each to increase your chances!

This contest runs until June 8, 2012.

Happy eating!

Disclaimer: Post provided me with a free sample of Honey Bunches of Oats-Honey Roasted so I could review them. My participation was voluntary and my opinions, as always, are my own.

Remember the Fallen

Menu Plan Monday

With the kids out of town most of the week, I honestly don't have much of a plan on dinners.

Bad, I know. 

I plan to clean out the refrigerator and freezer to keep shopping to a minimum.

Here's some of the ideas

Leftovers- we have spaghetti and pork roast left

Veggie stir fry with rice(a good chance to try out my new rice cooker!)

Grilled steaks, potatoes on the grill

Cheeseburgers and fries

 

When the hooligans get back:

Country fried steaks, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans

 

Smoked sausage and rice, carrots

Weekly goals

Ahhh, the hooligans are at my mother in law's until Friday(brave lady!) so I have the entire week to play catch up. I thought about cleaning the Thing's room so we could get ready for a set of bunk beds but quickly decided against that(after all, they are out of school)

So, I plan on tackling things that are begging to be done(like cleaning out my bedroom closet) or that I'm behind on(cutting out coupons). Today is sort of a goof off day since Joseph is still home but starting tomorrow, I'll get down to business.

Ongoing

Declutter

Stay caught up with library books

Go to the Y to workout

Weekly

Cut and organize coupons

Work on my closet

Make veggie stock

Organize DVDs

Clean living room from top to bottom

Put laundry away

Continue to list things for sale

Take Baby Girl to go get a pair of sandals when she gets back

Take Thing 1 swimsuit shopping when she gets back

Menu Plan Monday

Almost to the end of May!

The Things have their last half week of school and then they are out to torture me for the summer, lol.

Here's the plan

Breakfasts

Cold cereal

Oatmeal

Eggs

all served with fruit

Dinners

Country fried steaks, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn

Onion soup with cheese and bread

Beef fajitas, rice, green beans

Turkey pot pie

Spaghetti with meatballs, cheesy bread, salad

Leftovers