Still Picking up the Pennies

Today I am alone in the house for the first time since May 28, the last day of school. I feel so refreshed and content. This is how I spent my 5 hours, cooking dinner for my menfolk. First I made crock-pot pizza. It is a fancy version of goulash, with a ton of mozzarella cheese and peperoni. Next is homemade bread and breakfast pie. The breakfast pie is for Sunday morning. DH's cousin is spending the weekend and the man can eat. And most importantly I was able to get in a nap and a new blog post. What a great day.

We love summer time with the great warm weather we are having. We would so love to go on a real vacation, but instead we have resorted to day long trips and excursions this year. We were all in the mood for a day trip to Copper Harbor, MI. If you have never been there, go! It is one of my very favorite small towns in the world. Copper harbor is about 2 hours from where we live. We stopped at every little site seeing opportunity along the way. This is a snow-o-meter measuring the local area's record breaking snow fall in one year 390.4 inches. Can you imagine!? It still snows a lot up here but I am glad I have never seen that much snow. Our next stop was at Fort Wilkins' State Park. There is a ton of history at this fort. My boys really enjoyed seeing how and where the soldiers of that time lived and worked. Joel setting off the cannon. Noah shopping getting supplies for making cookies, he is my cookie monster!! The ammo depot. Then to Mount Brockway, it sure do...

Today Joel and I went to a fundraiser for 4H. It was a bake sale, hot dog & pop sale and a car wash. We raised funds to help pay for a trip to Lansing next summer. We had fun, spent time with great people and raised money for Joel's trip. I came home and had the urge to start planning, so I made up a quick financial and food plan for most of August. Sunday Pizza Monday egg drop soup and some type of Asian chicken Tuesday Spaghetti and meat balls Wednesday Breakfast for dinner Thursday tacos Friday Pizza Saturday filet minion for grownups and hot dogs for those under agers. I have received in the mail two items that I will be using to give a review on and will have a giveaway in the next few weeks.

I have to admit I took yesterday off from blogging so I am a day late. Please forgive me! We had such a wonderful weekend, we hosted a small family BBQ on Sunday, only 38 people attended, and that was just immediate family. My darling husbands family is BIG, and so fun. But the plan for the week is very simple, we are in complete summer mode around here. Monday - was leftovers. Tuesday - Lasagna rolls and veggies. Wednesday - something chicken. Thursday - Meatloaf, potatoes and a veggie. Friday - We are having a picnic at a park near my parents house with $5 hot and ready pizzas. The park is named Chutes and Ladders, the name says it all, and it is so much fun. Saturday and Sunday - I am not sure about. I am working on a post about frugal father's day presents and birthday party prep, so stay tuned in for those. I also want to remind everyone to enter my Sunny Saturday give away that ends June 1 that is TOMORROW :) Good luck everyone! For more yummy menus visit orgju...

I can not believe that April is nearly over!! Although we were lucky enough to enjoy very wonderfully warm weather today. The kids and I with Grandma went to the park and had a wonderful time. The boys and I had such a busy day today but we did sneak in some fun. But Noah had his eyes checked. A doctors appointment, she said she thinks he has aspergers instead of the autism that this school thinks he has, so the ride with that is not over. Joel had a dental appointment. I did a mystery shopping. It is my step-dad's birthday today so the boys and I brought subs and cupcakes over to eat with my parents. After we had the 68 miles drive home, the boys rode the mini-bike and four-wheeler around the yard. In the house just in time for showers and bed time for school in the morning. So if I sound like I am out of breath that is why, I am. But we had a wonderfully productive day. The meal plan for this week is Monday - sandwiches Tuesday - Ham and potatoes Wednesday - Burgers T...

I feel so refreshed after this weekend/spring vacation, after all I got to spend my time with my three favorite guys, which always does my soul good. We took a night away from the rest of the world on Friday. I booked a room at a local resort - hotel casino about 20 miles from here. We swam and sat in the hot tub for hours. I put $50 in our spring break vacation fund. By Thursday night I had not spend one dollar, and I knew the hotel had a special going on. So for $46.35 we got our room, and each adult got a casino package($5 cash to play the slots, and a free drink coupon). We all enjoyed the pool and hot tub. But as a special bonus - DH and I had a "free little date!" After the littlest was fast asleep, we had Joel practice calling the cell phone from the room, just in-case he needed us. We turned the TV on for him. DH and I went to play our $5 each in the slots and had a drink together. It has been years since we were able to do such a simple thing, but we sure enjoye...

This is the first time to join in the fun for Full Plate Thursdays at Miz Helen's Country Cottage. It looked like so much fun and since she personally invited me, here I am :) Our dinner plates looked like this tonight. Pork sirloin, noodles with a bit of gravy and roasted veggie blend. My low-carb version did not have the noodles, but with such a nice blend of vegetables, I did not even miss them. Our lunch looked like this which is homemade egg drop soup, with our yard-fresh eggs and homemade rolls. I did not have the rolls. That is was on our plates today. To see more Full Plates .

I like fancy post titles. So today is Monday which means I post my menu plans for the next week: Monday chicken Alfredo Tuesday chicken sandwiches on homemade rolls Wednesday Polish sausage and something Thursday roast beef with gravy over potoatoes Friday is home made pizza Saturday is out, we are staying in a hotel to celebrate my birthday. Sunday is TBA. We are still sick and have no taste buds that work but, this is the plan. For more yummy menus pop over to Orgjunkie.com

This weekend fly by way to quickly. We were able to spend a relaxing day at home on Saturday. The boys and I did a sand art project, as part of our prep for the county fair this summer. I love doing craft projects with them. I also did a lot of baking; I made strawberry cake balls, banana bread, brownies and a bundt cake. All the goodies were brought to a memorial we attended on Sunday. It was great to see people we don't get to spend much time with, we just wished it was under other circumstances. Fast-ward to this week, the meal plan looks like this: Monday- Pasta bake Tuesday: Lunch -sloppy joes Dinner -Beef barely soup Wednesday- Fajitas Thursday - BBQ Chicken Friday - HM pizza Saturday roast Sunday TBA If you notice I planned lunch only for Tuesday as there is no school. The Juniors are taking the ACTs and the rest of the kids are off. I think I may take the boys sledding. Also do a bird identification lesson. Have a great week everyone. For more yummy menus, po...

I am about a week late or a day early depending on how you look at things. I am joining the Zero Food Waste Challenge hosted by pennilessparenting , and I am so excited. I have been practicing no food wasting for some time now, but happy to have found a place where this type of idea is common. My closest friends in real life look at me like I am nuts when I recycle food into other meals. It is so common now-a-days to pitch everything that is not eaten at a meal time. I will post my last week's effort, after I tell a bit about my situation. We are pretty broke, but living well, due to frugalness in most areas of live. My DH just got a full time job after 18 months of unemployment. His job come with good points and bad points. It is wonderful that is he employed and will be getting full time hours with benefits. The bad news is that he was maxing his unemployment benefits and taking the job he will be losing about $250 a month, but a job is a job and unemployment can't last fore...

I cannot believe that is has been two weeks since I have written. Today I am joining Laura from Heavenly Homemakers for Gratituesday. I have spent most of the day putsing round the house. I enjoyed my DH's company before he had to go to work, he made me an excellent omelet. Then he went to work, I made fresh bread and cookies. It was just in the nick of time that I finished the cookies that the bus pulled up and dropped off my two boys. I got to spend snack time talking about their days, then help with homework. So what I am trying to say that I am very thankful for my sweet men that I get to share the life with. I would not trade any of them for anything.

Gratituesday Today I am grateful for my Gram, today is her 79th birthday and she is in pretty good health and strong. Also, I think I have mastered bread making. Today I made 4 yummy loafs of onion, garlic bread. As you can tell from the photo, only 3 loaves remain. For more Gratituesday posts pop over to Heavenly Homemakers to visit Laura's site.

So here it is Saturday morning! I feel pretty inspired. Last night after I picked the boys up from school. We went to pick up my Mom and Great niece who is 4 months old. We hit the library for a few books and videos. Then we all went out to eat. I really feel pretty frugal in doing so :) I did a survey for a $15 gc that I used and it was also a mystery shop :D So I will get ALL of the money I spent back and had a great time. The boys and I finished up the gift for my Gram's birthday. It only cost money to mail it to her. She loves flowers and can NEVER find a pen. So this is what we made. I am thinking she will love it. DH is out of town for the night completely the first of the bus driver education class. He took the school van, so no cash spent there, maybe even over time :) OH yeah also in the picture is a cookie jar that I got Friday night from a garage sale for 50 cents. There is a tiny chip in the lid that I colored with an orange marker.

Menu Plan Monday ~ Nov 1st Can you believe that it is November 1, 2010? I CAN NOT! but it is so there. I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween. My family and I sure did. The kids were so excited to go trick or treating and on the 9th house my youngest Noah asked if it was time to go home. In total I think we T or Ted at 18 houses and got way more candy then all 4 of us will eat ever. So the Menu Plan for this week is: Monday Turkey, mashed taters, candied carrots. Tuesday Turkey rice, veggies soup and HM dinner rolls. Wednesday skillet tacos. Thursday breakfast, pancakes. Friday pizza Saturday tba Sunday meatloaf, and something. to see more awesome menu plans go to orgjunkie.org

The plan for the next week is this- Monday Hamburger helper-steamed green beans Tuesday-leftover spaghetti sauce over noodles, hm garlic bread with salad Wednesday-TBA Thursday-TBA Friday-TBA Saturday-TBA Sunday-Halloween-frozen pizzas I will update as I plan the TBAed (To Be Announced) days. For more great menu plans hop over to orgjunkie.com.

This week we have another crazy week planned so I am sticking to easy things for dinner all week. Monday- spaghetti with meat sauce, HM garlic bread, with salad Tuesday - brats Wednesday - meatloaf with baked red potatoes Thursday - chicken sandwiches Friday - Out Saturday - pork roast. to see more yummy menu plans hop over to orgjunkie.com AND for my Money Making Mondays, I am doing all my coke points for the week and click thru emails. and requesting freebies.

Here is my menu for the next week. Monday-nuttin' Honey Tuesday-sweet and sour chicken Wednesday- pork tenderloin Thursday-soup& grilled cheese Friday HM pizza Saturday burgers Sunday-brats and hot dogs. Been so busy but with a plan I do much better. For more yummy menus hop over to orgjunkie.com Have a great week everyone!!

It is about 9pm here and I am just out of the shower and ready for bed. Today was my first day of being the baker for 55 students and teachers at work. I am working (for now at least) Monday-Friday 7:30am-1pm. I am the baker, today I made onion-dill dinner rolls, peanut butter-butterscotch cookies and zucchini bread. I helped with lunch cooking serving and clean up. And I am completely beat! The boys entered 4 of the chickens in the county fair and all of them won 1st place, the boys were so proud. Busy fun, crazy weekend.I am very happy to report beside the crazy admission fee, we spent NO money. We did make sure we got every cent worth also, enjoyed the horse riding, dog show, music, exhibits, mud bog, and my families favorite the demolition derby. Every day we went, I made sure the cooler was full of cold refillable water bottles, sandwiches and fruit. My youngst with his prise winning chickens. My oldest with his chicken,also award winning.

27th Fish, baked taters and fresh steamed green beans from the garden 28 Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas 29 steak stir fry(need to find simple recipe) 30 meatloaf and........... 1 fried rice( left over make over meal) 2 P epperoni pizza wheels 3rd hot dogs and watermelon with veggie plate so there is the plan, let's see how well I can stick to it! For more yummy menus head over to orgjunkie

I am having a Money savings Monday. I have stayed home all day with no plans to leave the house, it is crappy weather out there anyhow. All eating and cooking with food from home. I hung a load of towels and a load of jeans to dry on the lines in the basement with a fire in the wood stove. My DH is cooking a big turkey today, and all meals for the week will be planned around using it up. It is a 21 pound turkey and our family consists of 2 adults and two young boys. I am clipping coupons from inserts my DMom saved for me. My DH is changing the oil in the truck himself. My DH is in charge of snow management today, saving a ton of money not hiring some one to do it. My Dkidlets and I are going to make up some healthy snacks for the week, using food stuff we have already at the house. I am thinking of hosting a Money Savings Monday here every week, but not sure how to go about the linky thing and how well it would go over, so if you have any advice, thoughts or ideas please leave a commen...