Frugal Village Forums - Blogs - Travelling on the frugal path to Freedom by mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/ Frugal Living Forums, a frugal living community with emphasis on debt reduction, responsible spending, consuming less, recycling and helping each other bridge the gaps for a sustainable future. en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:38:12 GMT vBulletin 1 http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Frugal Village Forums - Blogs - Travelling on the frugal path to Freedom by mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/ Taking time to refocus...life and money http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/5242-taking-time-refocus-life-money.html Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:27:37 GMT We fell off track a little, but we have a plan.

We do have 2 debts to pay off. That said we do have savings :) and have maintained savings for the last 2 years. We do dip in on occasion but it's great.

We did lots of renovations, more than we thought we'd have to do some just weren't optional... windows, roof repairs(ughhh).

So we'll be tackling those really hard, all while continueing to build savings :) I know, DR would say debt first. But we have to find a happy medium between dh and my difference of opinion.

I have a check in my pocket right now, that is going straight to savings :) I'm working toward 1 year living expense in that account. Very exciting to see it grow, even with the set backs. I will have 2 more checks that will go straight to debt repayment by tomorrow. Plus dh payday, so more to savings and debt.

That said, we are complete in the black for every thing else. Debt #1 should be paid off in February. The next one by October/December, depending on our summer income. And our savings will have grown very very nicely. We'll be just shy of a year of bare bones expenses, no extras. We'll continue to build it, as I'm planning to go to school in a few years.

It's taken some time to really decide. I was looking at my income for my life time. The most I've ever earned was 20k. While we have life insurance, if dh died, if he were injured and can't work, we're sunk. So once my youngest is ready for jr high(4 years), I'm heading to work.

I'm going into trades. I'm looking at electrician. There are grants for woman returning to work force, and schooling. So my costs would be minimal. I want to take a course first, and it's pretty costly, and there would be no income for those 4 months and what ever time it takes to get a job. There are grants for that, but I'm not sure we'd qualify for full, so I want that tuition saved. It would be a great claim on the incometax return.

So, on top of that, I'm working on getting fit and healthy. I've become some what dumpy. I can't do that in trades. I want to be at the top of my game. I have approx 35-40 pounds to shed.

I've joined weightwatchers on line and LOVE it. The new program is sooo good. Fruit are 0 points, so when hungry, grabbing an apple or orange, is sooo great. I starved on the program before. They have more activities in their list, it's still not as comprehensive as it should be IMO, but it's better. I am able to eat what I'm cooking for the family, it's more of a planning and portion control. They look at me funny, a huge portion of salad or veggies and just a little meat. I weight it. I was SO far off on portion size. In less than a week I have lost 1.6 lbs. That is the best weight loss I've ever done with ww. It's all good.

I also am getting more active. I am walking 3x a week in the AM before the dayhome comes. I started with 1 km. Today I increased to 1.5 km :) I am working up to 5km. But there is limited time in the morning. I walked 5km to Jan1 in a row in 54 minutes in -20ºC weather, I should be able to do so in no snow mild weather. I might try this weekend.

I'm working at a solid 1-2 lbs per week weight loss. I hope to add some gym time too. I was doing good when I first started this, but our schedule changed and it got messy and I didn't make it.

Now it's not quite as busy, we'll see how it goes. ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/5242-taking-time-refocus-life-money.html The love Affair continues.... http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3879-love-affair-continues.html Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:58:38 GMT With my Vitamix that is! Today, after deliberating for a week, I picked up the dry blade with container. This container is able to do marvels as well, but different ones. Tonight I ground some organic hard red wheat into flour. Time involved.... 60 seconds. And I had 3 cups of flour at my... With my Vitamix that is!

Today, after deliberating for a week, I picked up the dry blade with container. This container is able to do marvels as well, but different ones.

Tonight I ground some organic hard red wheat into flour. Time involved.... 60 seconds. And I had 3 cups of flour at my disposal.

SO.... I made organic whole grain banana muffins! They smell divine.

I blended the eggs, applesauce, buttermilk and bananas in the vitamix wet container. So no chunks in the batter, no one here cares for that.

This unit can not only grind the grains to flour, but can knead the bread too! How cool is THAT!

Grains can be turned into various things. Cracked grains for hot cereals, finer for grits. I'm very excited! One more step into healthier eating. Not to mention it is way cheaper to start with the raw basic ingredients!

Now I'm sourcing for wheat....

Here are the whole grain muffins. They are dark, as I used apple butter that I made instead of apple sauce, and the whole grain flour.
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]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3879-love-affair-continues.html I must be getting OLD! http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3878-i-must-getting-old.html Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:53:37 GMT As I have posted I started Karate 2 weeks ago. I Love it! The first Monday I was so sore after, but by Thursday it was a dull ache, and Thursday work out didn't make it worse.

SO last Monday I go back. My stomach muscles were really sore, leg raises were next to impossible, we'd done 100 the week before, and I hadn't noticed that they were sore... but I wasn't using them that way.

So we move to sit ups. That was SO hard. I was barely able to do it. Well, on the last one... I went to sit up and I felt like I had been stabbed. It hurt front to back, and it was a white flash in my eyes it was so intense. And after that it didn't stop. It felt like the pain of a contraction while in intense labor. Maybe even worse since there was no reprieve. It didn't go away. I went to sit out,and watch everyone do yoga(I LOVE yoga) before moving on to technique. It hurt to sit, so I went home. It hurt to drive the standard, it hurt to breathe, sneezing made me cry. I was in so much pain. SO I get home, take advil, a hot water bottle and laydown. I couldn't roll over to the left, sit up.

Ends up I tore an abdominal muscle! SITTING UP! I must definitely be getting old. So, the treatment for a torn muscle is rest it, don't use it....lol. How do you not use a stomach muscle? You use it to breathe, sit stand. So it's an injury that takes long, not like a leg, that you can avoid walking on, or an arm you can sling. Thankfully, I am healing. I can sneeze without crying now, I can roll over at night without waking. But to sit up, it still hurts, so I will not be doing sit ups or crunches or leg raises any time soon. I took Thursday off from Karate, but will return tomorrow. I will speak to my Sensei and we will modify my work out, and maybe next week start using them a little more, if the pain is gone, don't want to re-injure, not something we want to need surgery on. But i feel so weak now.

BUT, that said, I am down 3lbs since starting Karate, and THIS week is the first that I've been altering my eating habits.

This is going off a little, but speaking of WeightLoss... has anyone been watching Dr. Oz? I am NOT a talk show person. In truth, I watch 2 shows all week, Grey's anatomy and House(there's just something about the crabby persona that is appealing). Everything else, take or leave it. And of course BOTH are on my karate nights..lol

But anyway. I absolutely LOVE this show! Some of it take it or leave it, but his advice is so natural. Healing foods, things to avoid, exercises to try. AND HE DEMONSTRATES! He thinks nothing of laying down and showing a crunch variation to help a woman lose a tummy "pooch"(her words).

I so wish more dr. were as common sense.

I'm following his weightloss challenge with the football moms. I am doing the whole thing. This is a promise to me. I am even booking a physical, which I have been putting off for about 6 years. I know BAD. But I am doing it.

I need to get in shape, and I need to drag one of my daughters with me. Poor gal is my carbon copy. From hair, facial shape, and now build. And she is gaining weight.

At the end of October, I'm taking a running clinic. I will start getting her to train with me. Get her doing the run/walk 2 times a week with me(for company) will help her out. She is in sports, but is a goalie, so doesn't get near as much cardio as she needs.

And... believe it or not, I'm taking a Ringette coaching clinic. It is only a weekend, but when my youngest starts, I'll be able to be a coach for her. So I am also looking for adult skating lessons since my skating ability is limited.

This is the year I am getting physical. *Maybe* next year, I'll play ringette shinny with the ladies. Then I won't need to focus as much as how much I take in, quality is still important, i want junk out of my house, but not have to measure everything so carefully. But when you barely move, it is VERY important.

I'm going to be come that mom that I admire and envy. The one that bounces in a class room, glowing with energy and looks great in ANYTHING. I'm tired of being the cute but dumpy mom and tired mom.

It's coming together. ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3878-i-must-getting-old.html Re-Thinking... http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3866-re-thinking.html Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:12 GMT We had plans for me to go to University. With the pending move, that will be post poned a year or two.

But at the same time, I'm looking around and thinking ....uh-oh. My younger girls school is laying off. That doesn't bode well for the teaching profession. Do we want to invest 4 years tuition plus the childcare costs, to find out I won't get a job?

Also, I took a personal day a couple weeks ago, I wasn't feeling 100%. And I SO enjoyed doing my own thing. SO much got done, errands and cleaning, and it was very relaxed. I really loved it. I could have a spotless house, I LIKED cleaning when I wasn't juggling 4 kids, 4 sets of parents and toddlers. It was relaxing and got accomplished so easily.

I have played with an idea lately, well a couple years. For less than a semester tuition, I could start a business that has a lot of potential. There are only 2 places in this area(of about 3 million) that do it. And one is so unprofessional it's not even funny. Not to mention the condition of their product is sub standard, imo.

I'm doing some research into launching a business, it would be home based, but it would bring me out of the house some, but allow me a lot of free time to be at my kids schools, sports, etc.. I have a name picked out. And with some careful thinking, and marketing I will be able to get my share of the market very easily. To earn what I'm working 50 hour/week now. I would need 7 sales a week. Those 7 sales would be an average of 1.5 hours each. So 10.5 hours a week, plus marketing time, which is easily done around a daily schedule.

If I were to invest $2000, I would be able to earn it all back within 1-3 months depending on my timing, which would include trade fairs, welcome wagon, internet, donations to some silent auctions. And then grow from there.

Yes there is a recession going on. But I have called both businesses, and both are very busy. Everyone in the industry has said they haven't really been that affected. In fact a couple gals started their businesses DURING the recession and are still having problems keeping up despite the down turn.

Is it a guarantee? No. Nothing is. Is their risk? Yes there is, but from my research it is quite low.

But it is something I would love to do, it could provide income to my family. It *could* employ my children through their college years, it *could* be something that supplements our income for our retirement.

So I really need to find the information to put together a business plan and do the leg work to see if it's something we want. Then decide how much we want to invest into it. And go from there. ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3866-re-thinking.html I survived! http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3838-i-survived.html Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:21:39 GMT Tuesday, I was very sore from the Karate workout. However Wednesday was excruciating!!! So what did I do?? I went back tonight. I will give the sensei credit, he totally focused on a different area. He worked all sections of the body, but the main focus was another muscle group. Although my... Tuesday, I was very sore from the Karate workout.

However Wednesday was excruciating!!!

So what did I do?? I went back tonight. I will give the sensei credit, he totally focused on a different area. He worked all sections of the body, but the main focus was another muscle group. Although my whole body is still sore from the first workout.

We did some very hard things. My upper body strength SUCKS. So I really need to do some work on that. But overall I can keep up pretty good. I only did 80 leg lifts instead of 100. And my shoulders were too sore and weak for day one to do a proper bench dip thingy. I did a modified, and only managed 3 sets instead of 5. I ran alot slower than everyone else, but I ran the full 2 minutes. But when they did the side shuffle, (we did 5 minutes of that the first class), my legs would take it, so i just jogged. So it's ok.

Muscle pain is good, and as the sensei predicted it started to fade on day 3, so it wasn't over doing it, it was building and toning.

Hopefully it's not too bad this time. But I figure, if those poor souls on Biggest Loser can survive Jillian 7 days a week being morbidly obese, I can manage karate with a kind Sensei who tells us to listen to our body and modify if we have to, twice a week. Suck it up buttercup :rose:

Hopefully the weight will start coming off. Will weigh in tomorrow, I was down .6 last week. So a good start. With any luck there will be another neagive number :)

Good night!! ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3838-i-survived.html Getting back on track. http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3831-getting-back-track.html Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:36:34 GMT Last night I did my first session of Karate. And as sore as I am, I feel really good. I need to bring a water bottle.

I also am back on track with the weight watchers. So hopefully this will start to all come together.

Was I some sweaty! I was of the opinion I didn't sweat... well, my clothes were all soaked, my hair was soaked. My face was red. I worked hard. Today, my muscles are sore, and I'm sure tomorrow they'll be worse! But it's all good. In time, I'll recover faster and just have tenderness.

I am also planning on taking a running clinic starting end of October. Then I have SOMETHING I can do anytime to keep in shape. I don't have time for the gym. With running, I can get kiddo ready for ringette practice and run 20 or 30 minutes where ever we are. I don't need to block off a couple hours for drive to and from gym and exercise. So between Karate and running, I should lose the weight!

I heard something the other day, that I thought was cute "I'm not getting nicer, so I better get sexier". LOL

Here's to losing 30-40 lbs by Christmas!!! ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3831-getting-back-track.html First craft sale coming fast! http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3816-first-craft-sale-coming-fast.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:20:13 GMT I have my first craft sale on the 19th! And I'm NO where near ready!

I wanted to share 2 new displays!!

On I bought ready made. That is the chain display one. It is sitting on a black box. The box gives vertical height to the display. And will double as a tote to bring things in. Double duty, no box to hide away. I needed to solidify to top, so I used a velvet covered piece of styro foam from Home Depot..lol.

The other one is just that, a velvet covered piece of styrofoam. I have 2 to display that way, and 2 to top the boxes.

I am still working on 2 more, they are tiered stands for the pendants. I'll share that when I get it covered. I have one mostly covered and have added the picture. Tomorrow it's housekeeping day, so after that is done, I'll finish the displays. They are turning out pretty good!

That will allow me to easily display about 150 pendants! After this sale, I'll likely make 2 more of those. This sale I have only a 6' table, the others are 8'.

off to work i go!
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]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3816-first-craft-sale-coming-fast.html I might have found a sandwich dd5 will eat! http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3811-i-might-have-found-sandwich-dd5-will-eat.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:53:09 GMT DD5 is into the 2nd week of school and is almost not eating anything. Including at home. Hot dogs have been a success. But I refuse to have her eat hotdogs 4 days a week. SO... I tried something new today. The details. Trim the crust off the bread(save to make croutons or bread crumbs).... DD5 is into the 2nd week of school and is almost not eating anything. Including at home.

Hot dogs have been a success. But I refuse to have her eat hotdogs 4 days a week.

SO... I tried something new today.

The details. Trim the crust off the bread(save to make croutons or bread crumbs). Use a rolling pin and flatten the bread.

Filling

  • shredded cheese with pasta sauce for a "cheese pizza". Add ham if desired.
  • 1 tbsp cream cheese with 1 tbsp pureed berries mixed together.
  • 1 tbsp cream cheese or may with 1 tbsp tuna(or sardines)
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter with 1 tbsp sweet potato puree(can't taste it!)


And any other fillings that you can think of. Spread on tbsp of desired filling on a slice of flattened bread, staying about 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the edge. Top with another slice, and crimp edges with a fork. You can freeze them and take them out, pop into the lunch box and it will be defrosted by lunch.

For sandwiches with cheese: If eating at home, pop it in the toaster over for a melty cheese sandwich.

I *think* I'll be able to get dd to have the cheese and pizza sauce kind. I fed the rental kids the peanut butter and sweet potato and it was a huge hit, each one ate a full sandwich, then a banana and a glass of milk. If only I could send peanut butter to school.

Will be thinking on some other possibilities... ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3811-i-might-have-found-sandwich-dd5-will-eat.html This kid is going to be the end of me. http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3798-kid-going-end-me.html Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:06:32 GMT I have a 15yo boy. I would say as a whole he's not to bad. But he has me on ignore. He will be asked to do something, and say "yes mom" and walk right past me. Or it "after ____________ is done". He will even go to dh to see if dh has something for him to do before completing what I have asked him to do. And it's really p!ssing me off!

He also is defiant with me, and ... not sure what the word is. This morning we had a blow up. I had some fruit loops, just a little box, that I brought home from camping for the youngest. She is going to school not eating. (whole other story here), so at this point anything in her tummy is better than nothing, we are working on it. So I here ds pouring them. He KNOWS that he's not to have them he was told(he's a sugar addict I swear), So I tell him no, he says he just wants a few, his bowl is 3/4 full. I tell him no, he knows he's not to have it. So he grumbles and puts it back in the box. I start up the stairs, and instincts told me no, wait. So he's quiet, he's not pouring the cereal he can have(I get all the kinds he asks for except high sugar ones, I don't any of the kids to have them), he's listening for me. About a minute passes, and he pours another cereal, then I hear the other box open and I peek around the corner and he has the fruit loops. I ask him what does he think he's doing? He gets all mad at me.

So I have my shower come back down, and he's still pouting. I look at him and he's glaring. I said that he and dad JUST had a talk about trust, and earning it back, how is blatantly disobeying me 2 minutes after being told no, earning that trust?

He goes on a rant that he never ever gets anything good. These was frosted flakes that he ate the WHOLE box in 4 days on his own, last week. THe girls never got any, if they did it was 1 bowl. I told him that oh, poor kid, a second rate citizen who never gets ANYTHING he wants. No mp3, no games consoles, no movies. no stereo. I told him point blank that this attitude had to stop. That he was gettign NO allowance or treats from me as he doesn't respect me. When asked to do chores, he does it shoddy, doesn't do it or hides it to make it look done. I told him he was fired and I'm not paying him a dime. He could go to dad.

I also told him, or reminded him, that dad has said if he can't get his carp together, he was out when he turns 18. I told him that I have NEVER supported that, but the way things have been lately, I'm leaning that way too. He slammed the door and left.

Now I feel like sh!t. I don't know how to get him to be respectful. I asked him to weed a 4x4 raised bed. With a shovel as he was instructed, it would have been a 15 minute job. Know what he did? He took dirt from one bed and buried the weeds!

I don't know what to do with him. I'm in tears cause of him so often. I just can't reach him.

He is good at school, he's not into drugs, he's not shop lifting.

But lately I can't stand to have him around. He stresses me out so bad, it's not even funny. ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3798-kid-going-end-me.html A few more pictures. http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3760-few-more-pictures.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:18:31 GMT We put up all but 2 of the doors today. Got distracted with working on the deck.. . well not really, I was multi tasking staining the deck and sealing doors. We were tired after working since 9:30 am on every thing. THe deck is now completely built, needs the last bit stained, and a little sanding.... We put up all but 2 of the doors today. Got distracted with working on the deck.. . well not really, I was multi tasking staining the deck and sealing doors. We were tired after working since 9:30 am on every thing. THe deck is now completely built, needs the last bit stained, and a little sanding.

Here is the cabinet pictures. Lower renovated cabinets compared to untouched uppers.

Tomorrow I start on a section of upper cabinets. These are being divided in 3 sections. That way the whole kitchen isn't ripped apart. Lots of hard work, but it is beautiful!
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]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3760-few-more-pictures.html A few before and afters http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3758-few-before-afters.html Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:46:33 GMT I forgot to take pics of the lower cabinets, so some are the completed lower doors compared to the untouch upper doors, but it shows the contrast! And the drawers are the exact same drawers but all were in similar condition. Worn out I have another coat of varathane to put on the lower doors... I forgot to take pics of the lower cabinets, so some are the completed lower doors compared to the untouch upper doors, but it shows the contrast! And the drawers are the exact same drawers but all were in similar condition. Worn out



I have another coat of varathane to put on the lower doors in the morning and in the afternoon they will be in place. Then onto the top.... lotsa work left to be done.

We are putting in alot of sweat equity..lol, some $$ for sure, but far more sweat. That said, it looks so much better!
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]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3758-few-before-afters.html Making progress!! http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3754-making-progress.html Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:33:16 GMT We are continuously working on things around the house.

My kitchen cabinets are 1/2 sanded now. I'm doing one section at a time. So the lower ones are all sanded(except for a single cabinet that is on it's own), the cabinet themselves are finished and I have put up 2 of the doors with the new hardware and am working through sealing the rest now! It is a tiring and lengthy process but it will look so nice when it's done. We will soon be ordering new counter tops too! And new flooring...whoohoo! The kitchen will look fabulous.

Our deck is about 2/3 complete. Dh miscalculated and had to get more wood. So the section that is all done, is now sanded and stained. And the new wood is stained for the bottom and dh is working on it tonight, so in all likelihood I will be sanding and staining tomorrow.

It's all time consuming, and it does all cost us, but it's being done a little at a time, all cash :)

Can't wait for the cabinets to be done so I can move onto other projects. This one I can't really set aside as it looks horrible with no doors on..lol ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3754-making-progress.html I just about flipped out! One thing after another http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3736-i-just-about-flipped-out-one-thing-after-another.html Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:17:13 GMT Yesterday I registered dd12 at her new school. Grade 7. We get in, and find out, the registered her in grade 6! AGAIN. So they say, be sure to speak to the ladies at the computers and they'll get it straightened out. First lady, says sorry I have no idea as this other one. So I go to her, we get her info updated, but she can't figure out how to correct the grade. So she makes herself a note and sends me to pay the school fees.

Get to the billing area, and again, have to explain that they put her in the wrong grade. And they hand me the bill, it was $750!! AND, they wanted me to prepay for the bus!! I couldn't believe it. I did refuse to prepay for the bus, that didn't make sense to me. I'm not impressed that when I registered they didn't give me the fees upfront. It wouldn't change where she went to school, I'd have just budgeted better for it. Going from $100 to $400+ is a shock! I had to use my VISA to pay. I'll be clearing that next week when I get paid. And I gave them a hard time about the busing. The elementary does it monthly, they prefer it. I leave 10 postdated checks for the passes, and the girls are given a pass every month. the new school will not accept checks, must be CC or cash. Guess dd is bringing cash every month. I asked if we could set up the CC monthly charge. Nope have to come in every month. Like I can bring 4 toddlers monthly to an older school with no ramps.

ANyway, I wasn't impressed. When ds went to Jr. high, we got his fees upfront. This is silly that it was a hidden thing until registration day. Even the mom infront of me with 3 kids in Elementary there, was surprised, she paid for her 3 younger kids and it was less than what I paid for one, AND SHE GOES THERE already. ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3736-i-just-about-flipped-out-one-thing-after-another.html I win!!!! http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3718-i-win.html Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:12:06 GMT Tonight at 10pm dh says, "come show me what the problem with the kitchen is...."

So we go to the kitchen. And I show him the counter top. He agrees, it needs to be replaced. Done deal. Agrees that with it being a small kitchen, it needs to be nicer, so the flooring will be redone, with new lino. Ok, done. Now the cabinets. I pointed out all that I don't like. So a little piece of a cabinet had come off, he says, lets see if we can sand it, we know we can sand the doors, they are solid wood, but the cabinets themselves are laminated. Sure enough,, we can do a light sand to the cabinets! So, at midnight, dh is sitting on the floor, sanding a door to see what it would look like..lol.

We are sanding and sealing the cabinets to natural finish! Cost? Sand paper, and sealant, maybe another sander. Flooring and counter top, considerably more, but STILL, it'll bring the value of the house up considerably.

I WIN! ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3718-i-win.html General updates http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3705-general-updates.html Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:45:37 GMT Paid taxes today. I was late filing, dumb me. Should have taken care of it sooner. But was busy and just didn't want to do it. So got the notice MOnday, and mailing it out today. Done.

Dh got paid, paid 1/2 of one utility(due end of august) will pay the other 1/2 next week. Paid another utility in full today, due end of month. I developed a new system for me. As we are doing what we can to NOT use my income, I keep a sheet with my check register that has all of dh pay dates, he is paid weekly. So as a bill comes in, it is put next to a pay date that is 1 week prior to the due date, unless there are too many, then it's put the week prior. On average we only have 1 bill a week, but power/gas this month was high(gas wasn't billed out last month), so it was divided in 2. It's a big change compared to paying all of them on the 1st. I need to double check that things were paid.

As of Sept 1, we will be at.... about 45% of our FFEF!!! Dh has been getting OT, that is an extra $200/week going into savings. So it's going a little faster. Summer has been tight, with my income at less than 1/2, dh also was injured(sports) tore his quad, so there was no OT, so what was going into savings was not on target, and we are doing some renovations to get house ready for sale.

By Friday, our new deck should be done!!! All the frame work is up. I need to buy more stain again. The front flower beds are rock beds with planters. IT's coming along.

Today I'm tackling my den/craft space aka dumping ground. I realize about 85% of the problem is PAPEr! I dont' have any filing happening. So hidden away, I had a file cabinet. Brought that out, had some hanging files, set those up. So today, I create a filing system. That way paper coming in or being printed has a home. I think with that dealt with, it would free up ALOT of space.

I am also "freeing" 2 older computers. Dh will be perturbed, but the kids don't use them. They are too slow for what they do online, heck it won't even load webkinz world. So it's time. That will free up my desk, leaving work space for me ON the desk, meaning I could possibly take out a table. With filing system, I could even take out a storage shelf or 2.

Oh, this week I went to a staging workshop. It was very informative. I learned alot. We will possibly be renting a storage unit when it comes time to stage the house. We are looking into pods. They bring the pod(like a sea container), you load it up and then it can stay on your property, be moved to new location or stored at their warehouse. Now before any one says just toss it! This is to give the house a very streamlined look. Less is better. We need to de-personalize the house. It is no longer our home at this point but a product to sell. For example, dd10 loves a double bed. But it makes the room look uber tiny. That would be a down side, many people can't see beyond what is in the room. So one of dd12 bunks will be put in dd10 room, her bed stored, as well as the student desks in both dd10 and dd5 room. We will be down sizing our table. It is i 4x9. Makes the eating area small. It will be stored to go into the new house. Most of homes we have looked at have a nook and a dining room, so a new(to us) table will be needed anyway. We have personal papers, and pictures, etc that will need to be stored away, anything that can be stolen(yes, unfortunately lots of things go missing), games, dvd's. will need to be stored. Leaving only the basics. Also, the pod will be delivered same day, and brought back on day called, so really, 1/2 of our packing/moving could be done, and so easy to have it unpacked with it's on the front drive way :) sure beats 50 trips with a little truck and utility trailer.

I need to convince dh to update the kitchen. It is 1980's through and through. I don't think we need to replace them all, but I think a refacing. We could pay someone to do it.... for about $1000! However, in looking at the brochure, they do a paintable mdf. DH is more than capable to do this. So for about $90 in lumber, and another $90 in hard ware, and $30 for paint. And we could have a nice fresh modern looking kitchen. We'll get some other tasks complete before I approach him. Once a good part of the decluttering is done, and other indoor projects complete, then I think he'll see the wisdom in it. We have had to glue 2 doors back together, some are scrathed, and most of the lower cabinets have the finish ruined. He seems to think they are ok, but from a woman's perspective, with the kitchen being small as it is, cabinets in that condition is enough to say NO.

He conceded that we may redo the floors. I found some really nice flooring for cheap. And FIL has told us he can get ceramic tile for even better price with the contractors he works with. So that might be happening. It would give the kitchen a really nice lift, bringing up the value over all.

So much happening!!! ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3705-general-updates.html <![CDATA[I'm so relieved!]]> http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3694-im-so-relieved.html Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:43:35 GMT My home daycare is once again full :)

I have 1 starting today, and just got word from the family I interviewed last night, that they'd like their little one to come to me as well. It'll be nice to have my full income back :) Even though I have no plans to spend it, it'll be nice to see the savings balance GROW!

What a relief!:whistle: ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3694-im-so-relieved.html Shaving down the list. http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3686-shaving-down-list.html Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:13:52 GMT We have been working hard. Lots of yard things are being accomplished. On monday I removed the old edging on the flower beds and replaced them with a simple brick style edging in a charcoal grey. It looked good. This weekend, dh took out the dirt and we added some rocky mountain lime stone(has... We have been working hard. Lots of yard things are being accomplished.

On monday I removed the old edging on the flower beds and replaced them with a simple brick style edging in a charcoal grey. It looked good. This weekend, dh took out the dirt and we added some rocky mountain lime stone(has tans and browns in color as well as the typical grey), and we picked up some garden mums and planters. The beds look fantastic.

In the back yard, dh moved some sidewalk blocks into the dog run as they dogs had killed the grass and were always muddy, and being small dogs that are in the house, it means alot of baths, meaning alot of work for mom. There is a small corner of grass left, this is where they are doing their business..lol. Make clean up very easy. THey seem to enjoy the cool concrete as they a stretching out on it relaxing.

Also, where the sidewalk blocks were, si where we are building our deck. Dh has put the first support up. And Wednesday we are building the deck.

Next weekend, we may be doing more to the front yard. We have an large area with shale, that looks pretty sad. We will move the shale out of that area, and put it around the raised gardens in the back yard, it needs something interms of mulch, since we are moving the shale anyway, we'll make just repurpaose it rather than give it away. And in the front we'll get more of the limestone and properly edge the areas. We use part of it as a parking pad. However when we sell, that area will have planters put there. So I will take pictures this fall as when we list I think it'll be still under 2 feet of snow.

Oh, we are getting a company in to remove some stumps in the front too. So the yard is about 50% complete now. And in 2 weeks I imagine will be done!!! ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3686-shaving-down-list.html Migraines in children? http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3671-migraines-children.html Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:00:12 GMT Lately dd10 has been getting headaches. Nearly daily for the last 10 days, and a little less frequently before. She has been known to be a chronic complainer. So often we tell her that she needs to laydown in the dark, and it does seem to help.

This last week, on 2 occasions, she's had vicious headaches, so much that you can see her eyes are glazed over. Then out of the blue she says she feel sick to her tummy. Within 15 minutes throws up, the headache subsides and she sleeps 4 or 5 hours, regardless of time of day(or all night if it's night). I'm suspecting migraine as this does fit the profile.

From what I've read, foods are often the triggers. So I need to keep her a food journal to see what it might be. Chocolate, caffeine, red food dies and nitrates(as found in some hot dogs, ham and other deli meats) can be triggers.

In her past she'd have bologna and with in 24 hours throw up, but only once then it was done. In younger kids, migraines don't necessarily present the same as when older, but unusual vomitting that is written off as a stomach bug, can be a sign of migraine. So she hasn't had bologna once i connected the 2 together, I assumed an allergy to it. Now I'm wondering if there were nitrates and it was triggering it. Now she is older and having headaches. When camping there are lots of hotdogs, sausage, etc, so I wonder if that is where it is all coming from?

Would love to hear from others that have kids with migraines. In her age group they are estimating 8% of kids get them, so it wouldn't be impossible. ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3671-migraines-children.html The battle of the picky eater http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3666-battle-picky-eater.html Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:51:07 GMT I think i'm gaining a little ground with her.

She wouldn't eat the cookies. Well, I asked her if she wanted chocolate cupcakes - secret weapon, blue berries, spinach, wheat germ, wholewheat. I put the flours in the vitamix to see if I can make it more powdery. We'll see. She ate the raw batter and didn't balk at the texture. Good start. And I made an icing.THe icing is skim milk powder, 1/2 cup icing sugar, 2 tbsp cocoa and 1/4 cup water. It's still very sweet, so I think I'll cut the sugar in 1/2 next time and see what happens. She loved it. Since the cupcakes weren't ready, I asked her if she wanted to put them on the cookies I made. She said oh yes! So She took a choco chocolate chip one, and put a THIN layer on and ate it with relish. I told her if she made a cookie sandwish, then it would kinda be like an oreo. She was excited. I took a regular choco chip cookie, and a thin layer of icing. I made a big to do on how good it was, she was watching wide eyed. So I offered her a bite and she said it was delicious. Secret weapons in that combo: whole wheat, wheatgerm, pinto beans, blueberry, spinach and skim milk. (depending on which cookie). So that was a great hit.If I can reduce the sugars in both cookie and then icing, it'll be even that much better for her.

We'll try something new today again. Not sure.

She did have 2 magic meatballs yesterday, bite size. Secret weapon in there -wheatgerm, broccoli, spinach, peas, tomato paste. So while not much, and "only meat" she did get veggies. I'm going to try brown rice with her. She likes white rice... so it's worth a try.

Gaining a little ground.. not a LOT, but a little. ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3666-battle-picky-eater.html Dealing with a really picky eater.... http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3663-dealing-really-picky-eater.html Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:19:31 GMT It's a battle many parents face. I have been stressing. She will be in school fulltime this year, in a peanut free school. So that eliminates one of the few things I know she'll eat.

This month is dedicated to new things to try for her.

Today we tried a piggy in a blanket. She is liking it, she won't share with me(good sign..lol). It consists of a home made pizza dough(white, whole wheat flours and wheat germ 1:1:1 ratio). A chicken hot dog, a slice of kraft cheese and a hidden tbsp of pureed yam and carrot. It might not be much... but that's 1 tbsp more veggies than she's been eating. So it's a start.

I have made cookies, dumb me, she doesn't eat home made cookies, but the choco chip cookies have pureed beans in them, and the chocolate chocolate chips have pureed blueberries and spinach. I know... very weird sounding. I have never made such a soft cookie in my life! The rest of the family is devouring them. I haven't told them. Again, maybe not alot of veggies in them, but that much more than they are currently eating. And a tbsp of blended spinach is nearly 1/2 3/4 cup of spinach salad, so it is condensed.The beans in the cookies actually make them more satisfying. Don't know, the kids raved about them, but stopped after 2 or 3. Not a dozen.

I won't be buying cookies anymore so i think dd5 will come around and eat the ones I make. I have another recipe that she does love, that i'm going to see if I can't enhance some how to make them a little more nutritious. Wonder if I get the wheat germ to powder find so it's not as detectible?

Tonight it's a baby meatball night. Tiny 1 bite meatballs. I'll see if she'll eat those.

I'm working on adding veggies in all the family diet. And hopefully find more recipes that she will try and like. Today was a success though

That she ate the piggy in a blanket with the whole wheat, wheatgerm yam and carrot is a great start. I'll see about changing it up to a ham roll up, and maybe a something with lean ground beef. If i put it through the food processor so it's not too chunky, I think she might be ok with it. Also possibly tuna.

I worry so much about her diet. But she does like raw veggies and eats some fruit everyday, so that keeps me from insanity.

I think all the kids will enjoy this style, most aren't fond of sandwich. This just might be something we do Sunday and Wednesday nights for all of them. I'm ok with that. Better than the canned stuff or the pizza pops from the "cafeteria". ]]> mommy4ever http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/mommy4ever/3663-dealing-really-picky-eater.html