January Frugals

[Stella]

Well I had forgotten until this morning that I had my women's group at church and I decided to brave the cold with the kids. I'm glad I did, it was good fun and an elderly lady who lives near me gave me her number and offered to watch the kids if I ever need it. Lovely!

I was going to make tomato soup with grilled cheese for lunch but the kids asked for tomato soup with popcorn, which is even less expensive. It was a nice lunch after driving home in the cold.

Zach had forgotten to tell me until last night that he made a doctor's appointment for me today. That's what I get for letting my aversion to the phone get in the way of scheduling my own appointments. I am kind of hoping we'll do an ultrasound at this appointment and I'll find out if I'm having a boy or a girl. I'm getting anxious to know. Anyway, my quiet day at home is rescheduled for tomorrow, but I'm OK with that.

[fidgiegirl]

Kelli I have been reading your links and really enjoying them. I'd love to see a thread on this.

Yes, it would be super. It could be something like the "experiential education" thread so that both adult learners as well as parents could write about their thoughts and, well, experiences. Of course, much of the forums is already one huge "experiential education" thread Gardening, cooking, etc. . .

[Stella]

That would be great!

I forgot to answer your question earlier. I don't work at the park anymore. I'd like to go back someday and they'd like me to come back, but I have to get these little guys a little bigger first.

[Stella]

Kelli what forum do you think the experiential education thread would be best in?

Fridays are kind of evolving into a choose-your-own learning activities day. The last couple of weeks have been heavy on dance lesson podcasts and cooking.

I decided to make a bigger lunch today and just have broccoli soup and popovers for dinner. I have the broccoli soup made and frozen, so that will be easy and frugal.

[mara61]

For you Stella and anyone else who home schools, I came across this and thought that you might like this

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/Mem...lResources.htm

[fidgiegirl]

Hmmmmm, experiential ed . . . . . . . I dunno!! Then I was riding in the car and remembered that the first time I mentioned a thread it was about the workshops! Oh geez, Kelli!!!! I think that one would go well in the frugals thread, since it's potentially about putting it together cheaply, or families & relationships, since it's about children and their activities and development.

Have managed to make meals the last several days with no additional purchasing needed, and have used up some things, which is good because we're moving in a few weeks. I was working on eating it down but then I filled up the freezer!! Doh! Oh well, we can still manage to eat a lot of it before we move. Will have to take a peek at what's in there.

[Merski]

Have been cooking and eating meals all week instead of dining out. We are getting ready for our annual soup party in early Feb. Will be defrosting 2nd locally raised turkey for meals and those lovely bones. This year will make Kapusta again (big hit last year) and turkey soup, a vegan winter vegetable potage and possibly one more veggie but not vegan soup if we get more rsvps. It hasn't been so far the kind of winter where people are getting cabin fever as we have had very little snow but we will celebrate candlemas (ground hogs day) as mid winter comes. DH ordered our seeds for this spring's garden. Yay!

[madgeylou]

i have finally put the damper down on my spending! the last few weeks have been all home-cooked meals and frugal good times with my friends and loved ones. and lots of WORK! wear the shift has been busy, and my contract job has gotten a lot busier than it was. i've been given more responsibility and possibly will be getting a raise to my hourly rate, which is great.

they mentioned last week that they wanted me to come on as a full-time employee once we've gotten through the current deadline, and i'm mulling it over ... it is a lovely place to work. but i really want/need to pour more time and effort into my business if i'm ever going to make enough from it to live.

i guess i'll just have to see what happens. maybe i can talk them into a part-time position, or maybe i can be available on an as-needed basis as a contractor ... we shall see.

in the meantime today is going to be spent sewing, drafting patterns, tidying up around the house, and drinking lots of tea! it's sooo cold!

[Azure]

Madgeylou, it's great that you are wanted as a full-time employee. Says a lot about your work.

The only driving I've done for the last 3 days is to the post office & library. Normally I would have walked but it has been very cold here. It's 3 right now. I know for some of you that's a mild winter day lol but we're freezing. Wish we'd gotten our insulation in this week instead of next!

Cooked dinners at home. Ate up the the last of some apple/cranberry crisp for breafast in my plain yougur. Ate leftover baked potato soup for lunch. Last night I tried a new whole wheat pizza crust recipe. Turned out nicely. Fed a couple of Tyler's friends. I'd bought a tub of sugar cookie dough for $1.14 on clearance after Christmas so I baked cookies last night so the guys could have a treat.

One of Tyler's friends spent the night. At 1:30 a.m. I woke up thinking I smelled burning popcorn. Got up and sure enough, Tyler had tried to make popcorn and was scrubbing the pan thinking I'd be mad. I haven't bought any microwave popcorn in months and he's trying to figure out how to make popcorn on the stove. We do have an air popper. I'll have to show him how to use that. It could save me money on pans lol Though I think I'll have him make some on the stove top today to give him some pointers. I have shown him before but it's been a while since then. Of course, he COULD read the instructions on the bag of popcorn. .... Nah, that would be too ... logical.

Drove down to Detroit last Sunday to visit Ian at the Detroit Auto Show. He was there with the solar car team. Going to try posting a photo for the first time. He is holding a part from the solar car and that is the solar car behind him. (if this works )



We were supposed to bring him home for this weekend but he ended up getting another shift at the auto show. So we'll save some gas money and he'll probably have more fun there.

Today I will be going to Meijer to pick up a few things. I should be able to get 4 boxes of cereal for $1.15 each between sales & coupons. I've been craving Cheerios, of all things, so this works out well. Tyler eats cereal for snacks too so this is cheap.

Got $10 in free itunes for buying DH's brand of razor blades. Yeah! Received a $6.93 refund from an over payment on a Dr. visit. That'll go back into the medical envelope.

Found out yesterday that on Monday Tyler's dream college will be evaluating his application. We really liked the vibe we got when we visited the school. Classes are very small, like under 15 usually, which would be great for Tyler. He wants to run for them & it has a great music program. If you pray, I'd appreciate prayers that his application would be favorably considered. And if he's not accepted, that he would be at peace with that. Thank you!

[mara61]

Very cool Azure! We won't make it to the auto show this year, it would have been fun to meet up.