31 Days of Thankfulness: October 24th 2015

Today I am thankful for tiny closets. When Joe and I got married, and I moved into the museum with him, my closet space was more than halved.  We have organized things a variety of ways in the 8 years we have been married -- we've used an armoire, an extra dresser, and a chest of drawers for extra clothing storage, but basically it came down to the fact that we both had too many clothes!  We share one tiny closet, and I do swap our clothing out seasonally, but I am finally getting to the point that I have plenty of space in my half of the closet for my clothes.  Joe's side is still a work in progress, but we are getting there.  Because I have gotten rid of so many clothing items, I am really trying hard to only keep and purchase things that I need, but more importantly, truly love - as in would wear every day love.  So today I am thankful for tiny closets, as they have given me the limits that I need, as well as shown me the kinds of clothing I really love, and look good in.

31 Days of Thankfulness: October 23rd 2015

Today I am thankful for good doctors. When I was pregnant the first time, I was so very nervous.  My mom had just died earlier that year, and my husband and I hadn't been trying to get pregnant, so we were both caught off guard by it.  Needless to say, it was a first for both of us, and I didn't have a mom there to ask the many questions I had.  So, I called my primary care, who listed a few Obstetricians I could try.  I called the first name on the list, no answer, then the second, they were at lunch, and lastly, the third, who did pick up and I was able to schedule an appointment.  God knew exactly what he was doing when he made the first two unavailable.  The doctor I ended up with was SO AMAZING!  She has a very mothering bedside manner, she will answer any question you have, and take as much time with you as necessary.  I ended up having a miscarriage with my first pregnancy, but I went back to her again when I had Howard.  I was very clear that I did not want to have a C-section, or be induced.  She let me go a full 11 days past my due date before she induced, and she let me labor for 22 hours before she asked if I was ready for a C-section, and said she would let me go longer if I wanted.  She let me be in charge, or at least feel like I was, which is so important when you are pregnant and about to give birth.  I would have trusted no one else as much as I did her when I said to go ahead with the C-section.  And, as luck would have it, the pediatrician who was there when Howard was born is the same one he visits today.  We hadn't really researched a doctor for Howard, so, since he was there, we just went to him.  Turns out my husband and him have a similar sense of humor, so there is never a dull moment at Howard's appointments.  Maybe by luck, maybe by God's divine intervention, but we have been so lucky to have such amazing doctors, and for this I am truly so thankful!

Weekly Spending Report: 10/18-24/2015

This week I was able to stock up some great deals, including toilet paper, and body wash.  I also grabbed a few things to round out our menu plan, and some snack items.  Overall it was a good week, there isn't much left in the budget for the month, but next week is the last week anyway.  Here's how the shopping went this week...

• Monday's CVS Trip: $20.03 oop (included, but not pictured is a York Peppermint Patty), Earned $18 ECB's (includes $5 Pharmacy Rewards, and $5 from a rain check)

• Monday's ALDI Trip: $37.30 oop (included, but not pictured is 4 gallons H2O, and a 1/2 gallon Organic 2% Milk)

• Monday's Giant Trip: $29.05 oop

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $3.48 oop

Total OOP: $89.86
Total Earned: $18
Total Remaining for October: $52.41

Linked to Couponaholic and I heart Publix!

31 Days of Thankfulness: October 22nd 2015

Today I am thankful for auctions.  Today we unloaded SO MUCH STUFF to be sold at auction this weekend.  Between cleaning out a room at Joe's grandfather's house, and my constant purging at our house, old toys we were given but didn't need, stuff we have had out to several flea markets and hasn't sold, stuff Joe fervently cleared from his work room, and other miscellaneous things we found in the basement, we had TWO box trailer loads of junk to get rid of.  I love yard sales, and they can make you some serious cash, but sometimes it is nice to just unload your crap and have someone else deal with it and send you a check.  So today I am thankful for the sweetness that is an auction!

31 Days of Thankfulness: October 21st 2015

Today I am thankful for washers and dryers.  I feel like ever since I had Howard, I am constantly in the laundry room.  I did not realize when I got pregnant, the vast amount of laundry a small person can create.  I cannot even imagine how long I would have to spend washing and drying clothes if I had to do it all by hand.  And sometimes, baby laundry is totally disgusting.  Also, whoever invented programmable washers with a delay feature is a genius!  This one feature has made all the difference in my ability to get the laundry done, and stay caught up on it.  So today I am so thankful for the technological advancement of clothes washers and dryers.

31 Days of Thankfulness: October 20th 2015

Today I am thankful for my ability to listen.  I'm not sure if I have an imaginary sign above my head, or I just have an empathetic face, but I attract talkers.  I have always worked with the public, but even so, everyone always seems to want to give me all their life details.  They tell me about their husband who just passed, their kids, their grand kids, the test results they are eagerly awaiting, or the doctor's appointment they have on Tuesday.  I always listen, I'm not always interested, but I make them feel as though I am.  I have always thought that listening was the polite thing to do, but maybe it's a gift, because there are plenty of people in the world who are not good at it.  So today, I am thankful for being a listener, and I suppose I am thankful for the talkers too, for without them I would have nothing to listen to.  

31 Days of Thankfulness: October 19th 2015

Today I am thankful for thrift stores.  Thrift stores have always been fun to look in with so many amazing things to find there.  However, since I've been married, and money has been tight, they have also been a wonderful resource for clothing, and other household needs/wants.  Howard has been pretty much exclusively dressed in hand-me-downs and thrift store purchases; it is very rare for us to have to purchase something new for him.  I also get a lot of my clothes from the thrift store, mostly skirts, tops, and sweaters, as jeans are something for some reason almost never fit me right used.  My husband is big and tall, so items for him are harder to come by at the thrift stores, but we still look, and sometimes can find great deals.  I have found him a couple of coats, two brand new pairs of shorts with the original tags still on them, and quite a few shirts.  I have also purchased frames and books for $0.50 a piece on several occasions, and even a nice lamp once.  Shopping at the thrift stores is fun, but it has also saved us a LOT of money over the years, and for that I am truly thankful!

31 Days of Thankfulness: October 18th 2015

Today I am thankful for sisters.  When my mom died a few years ago, the only people who really understood what I was going through were my sisters, because they were going through it too.  My sisters have always been there for me.  They are a good bit older than me, 13 and 17 years, so I have always benefited from their wisdom and coolness.  They also taught me how to stand up for myself and not let what others think bother me.  They are two very independent women who have been through a lot, and are stronger because of it.  Today my one sister, her husband, my niece, and my niece-in-law came to spend the day with us, and it was wonderful.  I got to hear about everything going on with them, we got to share lots of cool stuff Howard has been doing recently, and we all really just got to enjoy being in each others company, which is always nice.  So, today I am thankful for my sisters, and everything they have taught me.

Menu Plan Monday: 10/19/2015

This week's menu plan is fairly simple.  My work schedule is really crazy for the next few weeks; I work almost every day straight thru.  Also, I am trying out a few 'new to the crock-pot' recipes this week, that I am hoping will work well in my new 14-day menu plan I'm working on.  Here's what's cooking this week...

Breakfasts: Waffles, Yogurt, Fruit

Lunches: Leftovers, Soup, Sandwiches

Dinners: 

Sunday - McDonald's (there was an event here at the museum, and this is what Joe felt like grabbing while he was already out)

Monday - Out (We're running errands tonight after work, since I worked all weekend.  I'm thinking a salad and pizza)

Tuesday - Crock-pot Chicken Fajitas

Wednesday - Alfredo Tortellini, Broccoli, Baked Chicken, Garlic Bread

Thursday - Crock-pot Pork and Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes

Friday - Clean out the Fridge - Leftovers

Saturday - Crock-pot Meatloaf, Onion Rings, Salad

Snacks: Pistachios, Popcorn, Apples with Peanut Butter

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

31 Days of Thankfulness: October 14th-17th 2015

With everything going on this week, I have gotten behind in my posts, so I am going to lump the rest of the week together here...

October 14th - Today I am thankful for coupons.  Several years ago, my husband lost his job, and we had to survive exclusively on my part-time salary.  That is when I discovered coupons and deal shopping, and I have never looked back.  I learned that I could get just about anything that we needed for free or very close to it.  Since then, deals have gotten fewer, rebates aren't as prevalent, and stores have changed their promotional programs a couple of times each, but every week, I still coupon and deal shop.  Without coupons, there are many times we would have probably gone hungry, or had dirty clothes.  Coupons allowed us to purchase what we needed, and even surplus that we were able to give away to others less fortunate.

October 15th - Today I am thankful for Joe's grandfather.  I grew up not knowing either of my grandfathers; they had both died before I was born.  When I got married, I got a whole new family in addition to my own, which included a grandfather.  Of course I was 21 when I got married, so a lot of the fun things you do with your granddad, I had already missed out on.  But, he still manages to build me up and make me feel good about myself and my decisions.  He also spoils Joe and I, and now Howard any chance he gets.

October 16th - Today I am thankful for cleaning.  Okay, now before everyone reaches thru the computer screen and smacks me, hear me out.  I LOVE cleaning, or more accurately I love being in a clean house.  Cleaning and decluttering relaxes me.  Being in a clean and organized house actually makes me calm.  Maybe it's because I grew up with my Grammie, who was always cleaning, and it's just what I'm use to, or I might be OCD, or both.  All I know is that when I am stressed out, or upset, I clean.  It calms me down, sometimes even cheers me up.  It gives me time to think things through, and solve problems, plus it leaves me with a clean house, and for that I am so thankful!

October 17th - Today I am thankful for humidifiers.  Let just say that everyone in the house is congested, and having a huge humidifier going all day is the only thing allowing us all to breathe.  And Howard has discovered boogers - for which I am not thankful ;-)

What are you thankful for today?