Friday, December 23, 2011

Scary, scary morning

I'm in the kitchen, getting ready to bake banana bread. I have 3 pounds of overripe bananas and I'm ready to use them. Then, I started to smell something burning. It smelled like a rug that's been in the dryer too long, please don't ask how I know that smell. Okay, I confess, I melted a rug in the dryer. Anyway, it smelled like that times 10. I searched and searched. I felt walls and got the fire extinguisher. I searched the attic and all rooms. I only smelled it in the kitchen.

Turns out there was a wire melting in our electrical panel. I called hubby and fell to my knees to pray. Oh, please Lord, save our home. Please let us be okay. Then I thanked God that my kids weren't home alone. Would they know what to do? I think I'd better make sure that they do.

Hubby's home now, the power is off and we are awaiting the arrival of the electrician. (yes, it's 23 degrees outside) Could it have caught fire? I don't know, but I do know that the electric panel door was really hot!

I'm praying for a happy ending.

I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas! (especially my kiddos!)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

new budget

Since we basically failed on our current year budget, we are going to have a budget meeting and re plan! As previously discussed, we are going to be short of our 2011 debt repayment goal. It's a bit of a bummer, but with patience, discussion and prayer I think we will get back on track. I will most likely get to keep my part time seasonal job, so that will help.

We are going to add in an allowance for both of us. We are going to discuss what amount that should be. I kept track of all expenses this past year, so we will use that as a guide. We will use an envelope for this same as all other expenses.

For me- I plan on requesting $50 per month. This will include: $20 for hobbies and crafts, $20 for treasure hunting and/or buying used books and $10 for any fast food or coffee cravings. {yes, I make coffee at home, but sometimes I get together with friends and have breakfast or coffee. I don't want to miss out on that} If I come across something that I really want, it would come out of my allowance, which means I would need to readjust my totals. If I really want a pair of shoes, then there won't be any crafting this month etc. {I go to monthly scrapbooking crops that cost $8 to just to be there} We can do this!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

finishing my Christmas crafts

As promised, here are the final pictures of the gifts that I made for Christmas.



Firstly, these are the supplies for candle making. I saved baby food jars this year, planning to make candles. I already had a glass measuring cup {from the thrift store, of course}. I purchased wicks, coloring and wax over the last few months, using coupons. I found the scent in a clearance bin at Michaels and I used chopsticks and popcicle sticks to hold the wicks steady. I spray painted the lids with paint also bought with a coupon.{no big surprise there!}




This is the finished product. The candles and soap look so pretty together. The candle is scented with mulberry and the soap is lavender. They will go into baskets along with baked breads. {banana and zucchini}

Monday, December 12, 2011

making gifts today!

Today, I am making soap and candles. This soap recipe couldn't be easier, but packaged in a very pretty way, it looks like you spent a lot of time making it. {it's all in the packaging, I'm told!}



I used an olive oil suspension soap base {found at Michaels} home grown lavender flowers, purple soap coloring, lavender oil, a silicon cupcake pan and a spray bottle of alcohol.

You simply melt the soap base in a double boiler,{1 pound at a time} remove from heat and add: flowers, 2 t oil and 2 t color. Pour into mold and then spritz with alcohol, to prevent bubbles.

Let cool and remove! Viola! A beautiful gift.{I'll take pictures after all of the gifts have been made.}


I bought the soap with a 50% off coupon, I already had the essential oil, I found a 3 pack of soap coloring on clearance a few months ago, found the muffin pan for $1 at Goodwill and I grew the flowers. It really isn't an expensive gift to make. The pan, oil and coloring will last for a very long time.


Yes, I planned to have all of this made weeks ago. Oh well, the best laid plans.....

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

this is my 200th post!!!!!

This my 200th post! WOW!!!

I can not only believe that I have blogged 200 times, I am so amazed that you kind people have read my musings! What a blessing you are!


If you don't mind, can you please let me know where you are from? I can see my stats log, and can see the general area where readers are located. Im just curious.


Many stop by for a visit, but only a few participate in the conversation. I would love to say hi and follow your blog as well!


Whaddaya say? Let me know where, on this amazing Earth, you are when you are reading this silliness that I post?


Thanks and have an amazing day! ♥



Sunday, December 4, 2011

Year end wrap up

All year, I've kept running totals of the debt that we were trying to eliminate. This is located in my side bar. I've also logged our savings goals.

Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to reach our 2011 goals. I was pretty bummed over this. I had this amazing scenario planned, where we would wake up, on Jan 1, 2012 and have no debt beyond our mortgage. {happiness, merriment, confetti...}

We have had A LOT of unplanned expenses. Auto repairs, vet bills, careless spending, home repairs etc. We are most likely going to be about $2000 short of the projected goal. {if only the trees didn't need work....}

I want to throw a tantrum. I won't.

I will pull up my big girl panties and move on.

We will plan a new budget for the new year. We will rejoice in all that we have accomplished.

God is good. We are blessed.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

what to do with all of these recipes?

I have read quite a few blogs, where the author has a small repertoire of recipes. It has been said to make menu planning easier on them.

I have said several times, both out loud and in my head, that I consider this to be restricting. I just know we'd get bored of eating the same thing over and over again. Hubby disagrees. He would happily eat about 5 recipes repeatedly. Oh geez.

I was recently going though my recipe file, to prepare my menu and grocery list, and was overwhelmed. I have quite a few recipes. I think that I may just go through them all, and remove anything that I've either never made or haven't made in a long while. I'll set them all aside, and if I don't use them in a month or so...off they will go to the recycling bin.

I'm beginning to appreciate the simplicity of a smaller recipe box.

Friday, December 2, 2011

a paper- free Christmas morning

That is my goal! I planned to make gift bags, but I am slowly running out of time.

My plan was to hit the thrift stores and yard sales in search of fabric. I have the patterns for the drawstring bags at the ready. I just have many gifts left to make, as well as my Christmas cards.

The alternative? I did hit the thrift stores and the dollar store and found bags, in different shapes, for about a dollar each.

After Christmas, I will start making the bags. I can use them for birthdays etc, before Christmas rolls around again.

I will still have a wrapping paper free holiday, they just won't be homemade. I'm okay with that.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

one perk of a doctor's visit

I had to visit the dermatologist today. Living in the "Mile High City" will require regular skin check ups. I did require a few skin biopsies today. {ouch} The reason I'm happy about that? They gave all of this to me!!! SAMPLES!


This is like Christmas morning! There were actually 19 samples. I forgot to add one before I took the picture. {By the way, it was a total coincidence that the bottles on the left were lined up green-white-green-white! ha ha} This is a frugal gals' idea of happiness!