Happy Mother's Day!

May you all be treated like a queen for today - you deserve it!

Confession Time

I've fallen off the wagon this week.

No, I'm not an alcoholic or trying to steer clear from drugs. Well, actually I am trying to steer clear from drugs, but it isn't a difficult task. No, it isn't as life altering as those two things.

I've not been sticking to my grocery budget this week, nor have we stayed away from fast food. (Hanging head in shame.) I've been to the grocery store twice this week and hubby has made a grocery run once. Not a big deal, you say? Maybe not, but I can so see the difference in what we spend when we make multiple trips to the store as opposed to one well planned out one. My grocery budget goal each week is $75 and for the past couple months I have made that goal, and often beating it by coming in around $65. This week I estimate that we've spent around $100 to $115. It isn't going to break us, but we didn't need to spend extra. One run was for Parmesan cheese that we forgot and that hubby can't live without on his spaghetti. The run to the store, for that one item, ended up bringing home treats for each child, M&Ms for myself, salt & vinegar kettle chips and cookies for hubby. I didn't ask hubby for the receipt yet but I'm thinking that trip cost about $15...all for junk food. Yikes! That is where the truth lies...the more often you go to the store weekly the more unnecessary items you will pick up. I don't mind picking out the kids a treat on our weekly grocery trip, but I do mind picking them up a treat four or five times in one week.

Because of extra stress lately, and not having planned a good menu at the beginning of the week, we have also gotten take out more often than usual. Saturday we went shopping and stopped at Wendy's and spent $9. On Sunday we spent close to $20 on hamburgers and ice cream. On Wednesday I was stressed and spent $11 on hamburgers and fries for us. I won't count our anniversary dinner out for Chinese because I do consider that necessary. Close to $40 in one week on take out?! Not good...for the budget or waistline.

Which brings me to MY waistline. I have been gaining 1/2 a pound to a pound steadily for the past couple weeks. It's no one's fault but my own. Take out, junk food, and not enough exercise are to blame and I need to get back on track! I can fix all three of these problems by just planning a better menu and shopping list at the beginning of the week.

Here's to getting back on track this week and sticking to it!

Frugal Friday: Are You Frugal With Your Time?

It's been said that time is money. If you consider yourself frugal with money, are you frugal with your time?

I was thinking of this last week when I was wondering why I never have enough hours in the day. I should be able to accomplish housework, child rearing, homeschooling, and odds and ends with 16 hours in the day. Should is the key word here. Lack of time management, too much to do, or accomplishing damage control and nothing else in the day are all culprits of not being able to accomplish my to-do list.

There are ways that an overwhelmed mother such as myself can be more frugal with my time though. I've mentioned a way to save money at the grocery store before by stocking up on sale items at their rock bottom prices. It also saves time since I have a better stocked pantry and can therefore cook up a good meal when I am rushed for time instead of having to run to the grocery store or out somewhere to grab a bite to eat.

Making menu items ahead of time. For example, there are women who do once a month cooking who dedicate one weekend a month to shopping and preparing 30+ frozen meals at one time to stick in the freezer and pull out as needed. I've never done this but one can do this on a much smaller scale. When cooking lasagna, make an extra pan to stick in the freezer. When making banana bread, double the batch and stick the extra in the freezer. Doing this will allow you to have a little extra wiggle room when in a time crunch, thus saving you money on a meal as well as time on cooking.

Another example is preparing food ahead of time. For example, when making your weekly menu, think of your meals as more than one meal. Making a roast one night? Buy a big roast and plan to have a roast with vegetables and rolls one night and shredded beef bbq sandwiches another night. Last week I boiled potatoes and eggs for potato salad and put the leftover boiled eggs and potatoes in the fridge. The next night we had chef's salad (with boiled eggs) and another day for lunch we had hot dogs and fried potatoes. I cooked the potatoes and eggs once but was able to use them for three different meals, thus saving me money by reducing cooking three different times and also saved myself time.

Laundry piles up here faster than I ever thought possible. It also takes up a lot of my time and energy. Saving laundry from going into the dirty pile will save me a lot of time and frustration. So I have made it my goal to prevent the children from sticking their pajamas in the hamper after just one use. They are clean when they go to bed and clean when they wake up so why use a new pair of pjs every single night? Even just wearing them twice before washing will reduce my laundry pile considerably. I'm going to attempt that this week and see how much of a difference I notice.


These are only a handful of time savers out of hundreds but I hope it will give you an idea of how being frugal with money can also help you be frugal with your time. Any other hints that help you out greatly?

Need New Camera!

I don't own a camcorder. As a matter of fact, I have never owned one. I regret that. There are so many things that I wish I would have been able to catch on video and replay again and again...

...the first steps that each child has taken.

...their birthdays and other holidays.

...the kid's cousins, aunt, and uncle that they have only met once.

...and so much more.

Just last week I posted a request on my Facebook page for suggestions on digital cameras. My $15 Samsung garage sale find digital camera just isn't cutting it anymore. I received a lot of suggestions but didn't decide on anything yet.

Now I've heard about this camera... And I want it! A digital camera and camcorder all in one?! How great would that be? I'm going to have to casually mention what I "need" for this Mother's Day!

What favorite family moments have you captured on video that have become priceless treasures?

Canon has released the PowerShot SX210 IS, which combines the ability to take great photos & also shoot high definition video. Canon and JuiceBoxJungle sponsored me to write this post, and talk about what shooting video means to my family.

The Middle

I've written about television before and how unreal it can be. Of course, I watch my guilty pleasures of Desperate Housewives and Lost, but those are just as unreal (or more so) as all the other shows on tv.

One show that I've recently begun watching that I just have to recommend is "The Middle", which airs on ABC on Wednesday nights.

I'd compare it to being similar to "Malcom In The Middle" in many ways. It's a comedy so everything is way out there but it also shows the day to day life of a family, all from the mother's point of view. The house isn't perfect, there are money and family struggles, but it shows the good along with the bad. My husband even likes it, and he rarely likes the same shows as I do!

The episode that aired last night was hilarious! It was showing how different Mother's Day is for a mother compared to how Father's Day is for a father. And it got it right on the mark! I was laughing and nodding my head several times throughout the show.

Do yourself a favor and see if ABC has past episodes online or mark your calendars to watch next week's episode. If you are a mother, I'm sure you will get some laughs out of this program!

9 Years

Nine years ago today I walked down that aisle and married the love of my life. We have had our ups and downs but our love for each other today is stronger than ever. Happy Anniversary, Honey!

For all of you reading this, shall I start at the beginning? The beginning did not begin nine years ago, but more like eleven years ago. I was just 16 years old when I wrote an article about homeschooling for Countryside Magazine. My bio at the end of the article mentioned that I was interested in penpals. The letters poured in - I literally received over 30 letters but the majority were prisoners, whom wrote interesting letters but needless to say did not become my penpals!

One of the letters was from a young man three states away. We corresponded a couple times a month back and forth and realized that we had a lot in common. Our letter writing became more and more frequent until we were writing at least once a week. He finally asked me for my phone number but I'm not much of a phone person so declined several times. After almost a year of writing I agreed and sent him my phone number. I still remember the first time he called...I was brushing my teeth and getting ready for bed when my dad brought the phone upstairs and said it was for me. I remember my mind going blank and I couldn't think of anything to say at first but soon the conversation flowed and I felt right at home on the phone.

Soon we were writing as well as talking on the phone several times a week. After a year of writing and another year of phone calls we decided it was time to meet. The moment we met and hugged I felt like I was with a lifelong friend; someone I had known forever. It may sound cliche' but it was true. No awkwardness at all. Needless to say, five months later...nine years ago to this day...we were married.

I look back now and realize what little babies we were. I was 18 and Ben was 23. Immature? Of course! Naive? Probably. Unready for marriage? Apparently not. 9 years, three children, one apartment and two houses, several jobs, and lots of pets later our bond is stronger than ever.

How long have you been married and how did you and your spouse meet?

Dog Tired