Weekly Spending Report: 05/08-14/2016

This week I really tried to keep my spending to a minimum; there just weren't a lot of deals to be had.  Basically I picked up the few things we needed at ALDI and Giant, and the rest of the money I spent went towards stocking up on the few deals I could find - like cheap sauerkraut!  We also all came down with a cold funk, so I needed to buy more cold medicines for Joe and I.  I was also SUPER excited that I was able to find the new washi tape at the Dollar Tree!!!  I cannot wait to use it in my planner!  So, even though the deals weren't amazing this week, I still managed to find a few steals, which you see below...

• Tuesday's CVS Trip: $3.29 oop, Earned $9 ECB's ($2 candy, $2 hand soap, $2 Ziploc, and $3 shampoo), and $1 Saving Star Rebate (shampoo)

• Tuesday's ALDI Trip: $33.92 oop (included, but not pictured are 8 gallons of H2O), Earned $0.50 Find and Save Rebate

• Tuesday's Giant Trip: $7.93 oop, Earned $1 Ibotta Rebate* (baby wipes)

• Tuesday's Dollar Tree Trip: $8.12 oop, Earned $0.25 Ibotta Rebate* (allergy medicine)

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $11.54 oop

Total OOP: $64.80
Total Earned: $11.75
Total Remaining for May: $265.02
 *Use this link to sign up for Ibotta and get a $10 bonus!

Linked to I heart Publix, and many more! 

Menu plan Monday: 05/09/2016

I hope that everyone had a wonderful mother's day!  Mine was less than perfect - Howard and I are both sick - but we did get to spend the day together, even if we both felt wretched.  This is the first time Howard has had a cold, so he's very confused along with congested and coughing, so he's been miserable, and miserable to be around.  Then on Sunday, I came down with the funk too - yay!  I am hoping that I will be on the mend soon since I have teas this coming weekend, but only time will tell.  I am hoping to get to the store tomorrow.  Usually I am there on Sunday, bright and early, but with being sick, I'm waiting until I'm at least mobile.  I also have a doctors appointment in the morning, so I'll already be primped - might as well make the most of it, right?  #reallife  But you all came here for a menu plan, not a whine session, so here it is...

• Breakfasts: Bagels with Cream Cheese/Yogurt/Fruit for Me, Fruit and Grain Bars/Mini Muffins/Yogurt for Howard, Pop-Tarts for Joe
• Lunches: Leftovers, Salads, Misc Frozen TV Meals, Waffles, PB and J/Tuna Salad Sandwiches
• Dinners: 
• Sunday - Pizza Hut (Mother's Day splurge)
• Monday - Leftover Pizza
• Tuesday - Leftovers (clean out the fridge)
• Wednesday - Crock-pot Pork Loin with Sauerkraut, Crock-pot Mashed Potatoes
• Thursday - Crock-pot Meatballs and Sauce, Pasta, Salad, and Garlic Bread
• Friday - Baked Fish, French Fries, Vegetable
• Saturday - Take out

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 05/01-07/2016

This week sped by before I knew it.  I only got out shopping on Sunday, and I'm glad I went then or I wouldn't have gotten out.  We have been so busy with event prep here at the museum, and then, Howard caught his first cold three days ago.  I figured we were due soon, since he's 2 and never been sick.  Needless to say, he's miserable, and we're miserable because he's miserable - it's a horrible cycle.  He hasn't been eating or sleeping right for the past two days, and now I'm catching it.  I just hope the germs go far away and stay there for awhile.  But enough about all that, here's how my shopping went this week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $12.87 oop, Earned $15 ECB's ($10 Schick, $1 Almond Joy, $1 Sure, and $3 Ziploc), and $9 Saving Star Rebates ($4 Centrum Multivitamin, $4 Centrum Gummies, and $1 Centrum)

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $29.73 oop

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $40.35 oop, Earned $2.25 Mobisave Rebate (Powerbar and Bananas), $0.25 Ibotta Rebate* (Bananas)

 *Use this link to sign up for Ibotta and get a $10 bonus!

Total OOP: $82.95
Total Earned: $26.50
Total Remaining for May: $329.82

Linked to Couponaholic, I heart Publix, and many more! 

Menu Plan Monday: 05/02/2016

This week I actually only work a couple of days - yay!  However, there is an event on the grounds this weekend, so we do have some prep work to do to get ready for that.  I am in charge of painting some new signs.  I like to paint and stencil, so I am enjoying that.  I am hoping that even with the rain that is expected (again), we can get to Hanover to do some thrifting on Wednesday.  Other then that, I am planning to get my coupons and email caught back up this week.  Since the week is rather laid back, I kept my meals fairly simplistic, and easy.  Why put forth extra effort when you don't have to?  Tasty food can be easy too.  So, here's what's cooking at the Rogers' house this week...

• Breakfasts: Bagels with Cream Cheese/Yogurt/Fruit for Me, Fruit and Grain Bars/Mini Muffins/Yogurt for Howard, Pop-Tarts for Joe
• Lunches: Leftovers, Salads, Misc Frozen TV Meals, Waffles, PB and J/Tuna Salad Sandwiches
• Dinners: 
• Sunday - Leftovers
• Monday - Chicken Filets Sandwiches, Baked Onion Rings, Salad
• Tuesday - Crock-pot Pork Loin with Sauerkraut, Crock-pot Mashed Potatoes
• Wednesday - Crock-pot Chicken Fajitas, Mexican Rice, Salad
• Thursday - Leftovers (Clean out the fridge)
• Friday - Pizza
• Saturday - Dinner in the Hearth Kitchen at the Museum with Friends!

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

April 2016 Budget update

I started April out with $22.69 extra in the grocery budget, which is always nice!  This rollover from March gave me $372.69 for the month!  I was able to stock up on SO many things this month, including frozen meals, produce, shampoo, and Benefiber, just to name a few.  We ate well, and saved a ton - I love it when that happens!  Plus we ended the month with an extra $62 to put towards May!  Below are the links to each week's budget break down with more pictures, and the links to different money-saving apps I have been using and enjoying in case you want to check them out.
Here's how the weeks broke down...

• Week #1: $103.38 oop, Earned $8.75 ECB's, $1.75 Ibotta Rebate*, $0.80 Mobisave Rebate, and $1 Find and Save Rebate

• Week #2: $59.30 oop, Earned $4 ECB's, $2 Saving Star Rebate, and $5.29 CVS Gift Card

• Week #3: $68.56 oop, Earned $20 ECB's, $2.50 Ibotta Rebates*, $0.50 Find and Save Rebate, and $4 Saving Star Rebates

• Week #4: $78.68 oop, Earned $6 ECB's, $0.50 Saving Star Rebates, and $1.50 Ibotta Rebate* 

*Use this link to sign up for Ibotta and get a $10 bonus!
 

Total OOP: $309.92

Total Earned: $58.59

Total Remaining: $62.77!!!

How did you do with your budget this month?  

Did you get any amazing deals?

Share in the comments below...

Weekly Spending Report: 04/24-30/2016

This week marks the end of April, and the end of this month's budget.  Since I had a good bit in the grocery envelope, I took the opportunity to stock up.  I was able to get some AMAZING deals, especially at Giant!  Even better, I have money leftover to add to May's grocery money -- yay!  So, without further ado, here's what I picked up this week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $4.12 oop, Earned $6 ECB's ($3 Gillette, and $3 Eye drops), $0.50 Saving Star Rebates ($0.25 Reese's, and $0.25 York), and $0.25 Ibotta Rebate (Dish Soap - any)

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $21.30 oop

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $53.26 oop, Earned $1.25 Ibotta Rebates ($1 Seventh Generation Dish Soap, and $0.25 any Shredded Cheese)

Total OOP: $78.68
Total Earned: $8
Total Remaining from April: $62.77!!!

Linked to Couponaholic, I heart Publix, and many more! 

Goals Update: April 2016

 

April has been a wild month -- school tours are in full swing, the museum's open season has begun, plus there is something happening on the grounds every weekend, and that's only the work related items.  We also now have a 2-year-old running around the house, Joe's grandfather has been diagnosed with dementia and has to have round-the-clock supervision, and Joe has dental appointments almost every week (note to self - make sure to take better care of your teeth).  So, needless to say, we have been busy as the bumbles swarming on our porch.  May is going to be just as bad, but that's okay, such is life as a caretaker's wife!  With all that being said, I didn't get a whole slew of things accomplished in April.  I have a plan in place so that I can be more productive in May, so I am hoping that I can make that happen.  But, for now, here's how things progressed in April...

Personal:

• Lose 20 lbs (about 1.5 lbs a month) -  I have lost 10 pounds!  Half-way!!!  The results from the blood work indicated that my triglycerides are high, and I should eat less carbs and sugar, um, yeah, shouldn't we all?  Anyway, that is going okay.  But I'm still feeling crappy.  I go back in a couple of months to see if the diet changes have helped.   I am really wishing that I would have taken measurements before I started losing weight.  Even though I'm only down 10 pounds, I can really tell a difference in how my clothes are fitting - yay!
• Exercise 292 days - In April I exercised 24 out of 30 days.  For a total of 97 for the year.  I'm right on track with this goal!  I feel great for the most part, a little sore, but great!  I am really starting to notice how much more limber I am, and that my back and hip pain have decreased.  These are definitely added benefits that I wasn't expecting!
• Drink at least 70 oz of water everyday - I did better with this in April, especially towards the end of the month. I can do 3-4 bottles pretty steady, it's the 5th one that's hard. 

 Financial:

• Coupon and deal shop to stick to my $350/month budget - I shared my budget update for April here.  If you click over, you can see all of the great things I was able to stock-up on while still staying under budget!  This included shampoos, Benefiber, frozen diet meals, and a variety of other items.
•  Earn at least 6 - $25 Amazon gift card through Swagbucks - No gift card this month, but I am on track to get another one in May.  2 Down, and 4 to go.
• List at least 10 things per month online or 120 for the year - I sold a desk this month, but that's really it.  I am hoping to sell a few sewing patterns this month on Ebay.  January - Check (23), February - no check (0), March - Check (43), April - no check (1)
• Set up at 6 Flea Markets/Shows to sell our wares - No shows this month, but we have one coming up in May.  Total for the year = 2

Household:

• Completely declutter the entire house - I still have 2 areas left.  I was waiting on these until I finished some other projects, but things aren't going as I had planned, so I started chipping away at one of them this month (bookcase).  I am hoping to finish the bookcase in May and move onto the cedar chest next, then I'm done!
• Finish my 2016 project list - I have my project list update posted separately.  However, I will share that I was able to sell a desk, purchase some new lamp shades, as well as accomplish a few other things.  I shared some pictures of my progress here. 

Blogging:

• Post at least 3 times a week - I posted at least 3 times per week again in April.  All totaled I shared 14 posts in April, which averages to over 3 a week!  I enjoyed being able to share my Spring decor with you all!
  
• Do a 31 day series in October - Not there yet.  I have been working on some ideas in my blogging journal though. 
• Set up a Facebook page for my blog - Still not done.  I looked into the process one night, and it was too much to do that close to bedtime.  I plan to get this done one day in May during Howard's nap time.  

How is everyone else doing with their goals?

Anything new or different you are trying this year?

Share some of your goals in the comments...

Household Project List 2016 - April Update

 

In April progress was very slow.  I managed to get a few things crossed off the list, and I am tortoise-ing my way through others.  Slow and steady wins the race, right?  I am planning to start either wall paper or paint in May.  I haven't decided yet.  I have all the supplies for both, so I guess I just decide the day I start and that's what I'll work on for awhile.  I am hoping that with yard sale season underway I can purchase a couple of shelves on the cheap, and maybe find some nice wall art.  So, here's how things went in April...

• Bedroom: 
• Declutter 2 Dressers, 1 Chest of Drawers, 2 Nightstands, 1 Closet, and Under the Bed -- Finished in February
• Steam off the crappy boarder
• Re-glue the wallpaper seams
• Change the wall art - In March I purchased the frames from the thrift store for just a couple of dollars, and then this month I decided to go in a different direction for the bedroom wall art.  I am going to use the frames in Howard's room eventually, so they won't go to waste.  Now I am on the hunt for a shelf at the yard sales and flea markets this Spring.  I am hoping to find one on the cheap so I don't have to buy one new from the craft store. 

• Hall: 
• Declutter Hall Closet, Desk, and Coat Closet -- Finished in February
• Sell desk, and move in a bench -- The desk is sold, and we are $40 richer!  I haven't moved the bench out yet, and I'm not sure I'm going to, but I am considering this project done!
• Build another shelf in the hall closet -- Unneeded, crossed off in February

• Bathroom:
• Declutter the Bathroom Cabinets and Drawers  -- Finished in February
• Touch up the paint (Joe and I might actually repaint the entire bathroom, as the color scheme is not great, so this will happen last, if at all - we might just wait and repaint in 2017)

• Living Room:
• Declutter 8 Cube Baskets, 1 End Table, and 3 Dresser Drawers -- Finished in March
• Finish adding pictures to our 'mural' wall
• Paint the letter 'R' on our 'mural' wall -- Finished in January
• Find new art for behind the futon

• Kitchen:
• Declutter 35 Cabinets, 1 Pantry, 1 China Cabinet, and 11 Drawers -- Finished in March   
• Get a new trashcan -- Finished in February
• Steam the wallpaper off our microwave table, and repaint it
• Paint the windows/sills/trim
• Clean out the chest freezer and defrost it -- Finished in March
  

• Nursery/Office:
• Declutter the Closet, Dresser, Desk, Chest of Drawers, Bookcase, Sewing Table, and Cedar Chest -- I've been chipping away at the bookcase, I am hoping to have it finished in May.  After that I'll move onto the cedar chest.  Slow and steady, right?
• Go through the CD 3-drawer organizer and combine into a large CD case 
• Install new curtain rods and tie backs; Hang new curtains
• Make a new curtain for the closet; Hang
• Buy new Lamp/Shade for the Dresser -- Done!  I also bought a new shade for Joe's lamp in our bedroom since the old one literally fell apart.

• Re-glue wallpaper
• Bring in new chest of drawers (#2)
• Build new shelf (or two) above the desk; Add books to shelves -- We won't be able to build shelves above the desk the way I wanted to, so I am on the lookout for a small, mostly decorative, shelf at the thrift stores and yard sales.
• Paint the windows/sills and the closet door frame 

• Laundry Room:
•  Declutter Desk, 3 Drawer Stand, Bookcase, and Closet (including stored Christmas decorations) -- Finished in March
• Touch up paint from renovation
• Hang art -- still deciding on if this is necessary
• Wash box of new-to-us toys  
• Newly added: We have decided that to make the best use of space, we are going to invest in another cube organizer from Ikea.  We need more storage, and this is the only way I can figure to get it.  We still have some measuring to do, but it will either be another 8 cube or hopefully a 16 cube if we can swing it.  We'll have to see.  

 Are any of you working on some household projects this year?

What are you getting accomplished? 

Spring Decor for our Home

Hi everyone!  I just wanted to quickly share some of the decor I'm using in the house this year for Spring.  Of course, with a 2-year-old running around I keep things super simple.  But there are some new things I made this year - it's nice to be able to craft again!  Without further ado, my Spring house decor...

This is beside our front door.  I made the wreath many moons ago with clearance flowers from AC Moore's.  I kept seeing these wreaths every where for $15 and up, I wanted one badly, but thought the price was ridiculous.  Well, I decided that it couldn't be that hard and I could probably make one - so I did, for around 6-ish dollars, and have had it for y-e-a-r-s.  The bucket was my Mom's, and the flowers in it are from the Dollar Tree - I love that place!

 This is one of my new additions this year.  I had some leftover flowers tucked away in my Spring decor bin, and thought that it would be nice to make something out of them.  So, I stopped at the Dollar Tree for a small grapevine wreath form and started hot gluing.  This is what I ended up with, and I LOVE it!  It turned out super cute!  This wreath hangs on the inside of our front door. 

This china flower vase decoration came from my Grandma's house.  I look forward to putting it out each year; it's so cheery, and makes me think of her.  The owls and floral tea/chocolate tins are out year round.  I love their bright colors, and enjoy searching for differently designed tins at yard sales and flea markets.  P.S. I made that shelf in the 7th grade.  I know, I was a mad carpenter, just sayin'...

The green boxwood balls are another new addition this year.  I purchased 3 for $1 each at the Dollar Tree this Spring.  I love how high-quality they are.  They are plastic-y, but that means for easy cleaning when they get dusty - just rinse with warm soapy water and let air dry.  I have a mistletoe ball that was my Grandma's, and it's very similar in material, and this cleaning method worked perfectly on it, so it should work for these balls as well.  The ceramic bowl I picked up at a flea market; it's handmade and I've had it for years -- I enjoy changing the fillings for each season or holiday.  You can also see my extensive stereoscope card collection in the picture below.

I found a use for the tin bowl I picked up at the Thrift store for just a buck!  It holds my candle/candle plate/candle ring perfectly on the kitchen table, almost like it was made for that job.  I plan to keep this out for the rest of Spring a well as thru the Summer. 

The china cabinet got a little Spring love as well.  I just placed a couple bunches of Spring flowers inside to add some color and sunshine to the dishes.

My Mom bought me this pitcher at a yard sale a LONG time ago.  Even though it broke in a couple of spots and has been glued back together, I still love it.  I change the flowers in it for each season or holiday.  I love the purple combination for Spring this year.  Please ignore the chippy window sills - I'm slowing painting my way through the house.

I hope that you all enjoyed this little sneak-peek into my Spring decor.  

Does anyone else decorate for the seasons?

Have you made anything new for your decor lately?

 

Menu Plan Monday: 04/25/2016

This week I only work a few days, but the days that I am off are rittled with errands and appointments.  Howard has his 2 year check-up, Joe goes to the dentist, and I have a doctor appointment as well - Yay!  I am experiementing with more crock-pot meals - last week I did taco meat, and this week is BBQ - I am hoping that this will give me more options on the days that I work.  Like usual, I kept our meals very simplistic.  I am more likely to cook something that doesn't require a lot of ingredients or time, and Howard likes more 'basic' food.  It's a win-win in my book.  So, without further ado, this week's menu plan...

• Breakfasts: Bagels/Cream Cheese, Yogurt, and Fruit for Me, Mini Muffins/Fruit and Grain Bars/Yogurt for Howard, and Pop-Tarts for Joe
• Lunches: Leftovers, Canned Soup, Misc. Frozen TV Meals, Salads, PB and J/Tuna Salad/Chicken Salad Sandwiches
• Dinners: 
• Sunday - Leftovers (Cleaned out the fridge)
• Monday - Crock-pot Chicken Breasts, 4 Cheese Pasta, Broccoli
• Tuesday - Chicken Filet Sandwiches, Baked Onion Rings, Salad
• Wednesday - Crock-pot Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy, Jasmine Rice, Steamed Broccoli or Green Beans
• Thursday - Crock-pot BBQ Sandwiches, Baked French Fries, Salad
• Friday - Take-out
• Saturday - Homemade Pizza

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!