What's new here

Hello everyone, 

That list from last week kept me so busy and somehow it all got done or at least started.  Whew!w

We've had lots of much needed rain.  Our rose bushes are all blooming and look so pretty.  

Can you see the fresh cypress mulch on the flower beds? Our son did that.  I am so glad, it should mean lots less weeding this summer.  And it smells wonderful! 

Our 5 grands last Sunday - they are all thriving and healthy and happy 

My current big project is reorganizing and slightly downsizing the stuff in my craft room-this is what it looked like when I started last week. I'm still working on and hope to finish it up this week.

I am thankful to have so many supplies but they've got too messy- makes it very difficult to work in there.  This room has a big closet that wasn't being used to its best potential and that big set of industrial shelves takes up so much room.  It will be leaving and everything else is getting sorted and stored neatly with as much in closet as possible. 

I've started my list for next week and it is much shorter than last week's - I'll share it tomorrow when I finish it. 

Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Monday's list

Good morning everyone! This week's list is full and I just noticed I DO need to mow the front yard so will add that to this list and I need to go buy one thing at Lowes so I will add that too. 

I just decorated this week's list with a few bees because I will need to stay busy as a bee to get it all done. But that's OK. 

There has been a lot going on at our home and I hope to do another post this after, heavy on photos. 

Hope you all have a good Monday! Let's get stuff done, OK?

This week's list and a before and after

Hello everyone,  I was able to complete most everything on last week's list except the some of the sewing and I wasn't able to plant the flower bed.  But those tasks will get done, if not this week, then eventually.  

My list is on old school notebook paper, designs are made with rubber stamps that I've had for years.

I did get some new Pilot Frixion pens and wrote this list with them, they do write nice, but I don't plan on rebuying them.  To me, they are not as great as some of the fancy planners say.  

I finished a few of my tasks today but I got sidelined by a much - needed organization project.  I started to clean our bathroom and saw 2 bottles of OTC meds on the counter.  I went to put them away and it bugged me that we had first aid things stored in several places.  So I gathered up all SIX baskets of medicines and first aid items.  I spread them out on our long kitchen cabinet, started looking for duplicates and very past their dates items and products we don't use anymore.  

It took me more than an hour and I discarded so much.  

When done, the items we need to keep only filled 3 smaller baskets.  

One is adult OTC medicines.

One is first aid items like bandages. 

The 3rd holds current prescription bottles and some assorted approved children OTC medicines like fever reducers, Mucinex and cough drops. 

I hope you have all had a nice Monday.  It is unseasonably cool here and we are getting some much needed rain. 

Thank you sweet readers if you tried out Schoola.  I've got a couple of notifications from them today that I earned more credit from them because some of you used my link.  You all know I like bargain shopping! 

Almost free children clothes

I read about Schoola on another blog and tried it.  I used her link and got a $15 credit and free shipping. For just $1.04 I ordered 2 hoodie jackets for my grands.  They will especially be nice to keep here so they have a warm jacket to play outside if they didn't bring one.  

If you want to try Schoola,   you can use my link and you will also get a $15 credit as well as free shipping.  I will also get another $15 credit.  

http://www.schoola.com/stitch/rf239759

These are the hoodies I just ordered. 

Items are previously owned and come with description about their condition.

Schoola has sizes from 1 year up to teens.  

I paid with PayPal, Schoola also accepts credit cards. 

Another Monday- another list

Fast and Easy supper

We were away from home most all of today.  Once we got home, We wanted some supper but I hadn't planned anything and didn't want to go out.

So, I made an old stand by meal- our version of nachos

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with a release spray like Pam (unless you don't mind scrapping melted cooked-on cheese and you can skip that step.) 

Put down a layer of tortilla chips. Then top with small scoops of refried beans, taco meat and grated cheddar cheese. (I almost always have small containers of taco meat and homemade refried beans in the freezer- made just for times when quick meals are needed)

Bake this in a hot oven, maybe 10-15 minutes at 400 degrees F, until everything is hot and the cheese is bubbly.

While it is baking, dice up some onion, tomatoes and lettuce, set out some salsa, sour cream and peppers, or whatever you like on Mexican style food.

Each diner can top their nachos with whatever they like. 

If you've got some basic ingredients in hand, this meal can be ready to eat faster than driving to Taco Bell.   Clean up is very fast if you use foil on the baking sheet.  

Shopping highlights

A small trip to CVS - I just used newspaper coupons and coupons from the CVS red box. 

2 body wash, 3 bars of soap, 1 toothpaste, 1 Almay eye shadow and 2 bags of clearance Easter candy (already opened and put in the candy dish) 

I spent $6.68 cash. I didn't use or earn any CVS extra care bucks on this transaction but I'm still happy  with it. 

At Dollar Tree, I found these cute little snack cups. They come 2 cups and 1 spoon in a package for $1 and are in the baby care section.  I got turtles and foxes. They had other animals too, zebras and  lions and maybe others.  

I found these paper - cardboard eggs at Walmart when their Easter clearance was 90% off,  I got 4 packs of 12 eggs at 19 cents each.  I know the grands will have much fun decorating them next year.  

I can't share his photo but my brother found 9 egg decorating sets on clearance in his town for $1.56. 

This was a big shopping week here, we also went to the commissary and Sprouts in Oklahoma City. 

Our home is pretty well stocked now and I don't expect to do much more shopping for awhile,  the exception being if I go to CVS for great deals next week. 

The grandchildren's room - much better now!

My big project for this week was getting the grands room in our home back to some kind of organization.  It is a nice sized bedroom with a good closet, but it has to house stuff for the 5 grands and some stuff for the future 2 grands, and it also holds some of my shopping stockpile.  

It took 3 evenings to go through everything.  It was sorted- some stuff was thrown away and some stuff went to the grands homes. 

Mid-sort  Scary, right?

AFTER

I am happy to say the grands room is done for now!  All sorted and organized and easy to get to anything. 

I changed out the bed cover and put toys on the shelf. 

Stuffed toys fill that storage tub. 

I put the organizers back in the toy cubbies- looks much neater, Right? 

The shelf over the changing table holds stacks of diapers by size and changing products. 

The bins underneath hold clothes for the 2 youngest grand sons as they are very close in size. 

The closet got the most work.  

The top shelf holds the wwipes stockpile and assorted toys. 

Most clothes are on hangers now.  

The shelves are labeled as to who the clothes belong to and one shelf is just for assorted pajamas.

The other end of the closet - the clear tub holds future clothes, the black tub is shoes. 

For months, I've been buying diapers at good deals. Moving them out of that closet really helped with making more space there.  I moved them all to the bottom shelf of a large cabinet on the hall bathroom,  the packs are stacked in there 2 and 3 deep and I think there are 33 packs of assorted sized diapers.  

I'm really thankful I've been able to stockpile so many but they sure take up a lot of space!  

It was a lot of work but I am so happy it is done!  I still want to shampoo the carpet, maybe next week.....

I've gone back in that room at least a dozen times just to enjoy the order and neatness :)

I spent nothing on this room re-do except $5 for clothes hangers.

Monday List

This week's list is not bad, I did the laundry and some cleaning this weekend.  

Designs are made with rubber stamps, colored with map pencils and the paper is just old fashioned lined notebook paper.  

My big project this week, at least I hope to get to it, is to some organizing in the grandchildrens room.  The winter clothes need switched out for summer clothes and all the toys, books and clothes just seem to be a mess. 

BEFORE

     

Hope to have some much better AFTER photos soon

CVS - 3 trips this week

I went to CVS 3 times this week and spent about $18 cash on 3 transactions.

I used some newpaper coupons, some internet coupons, coupons from the CVS scanner and some discounts CVS emailed me.  

***Linking up with Financial Savvy Saturday's at Vickie's Kitchen and Garden***

I learn about the CVS sales from their ads and I learn how to combine coupons with CVS deals from several online sources. 

A YouTube channel called LASavings8 has great match ups. 

There are several Facebook groups with lots of deal match ups too - couponing at CVS seems to be the most active.  

If you are interested in shopping at CVS, first go to a nearby CVS and get an ExtraCare card.  Then scan it in the store for CVS coupons.  Also register that ExtraCare online either at CVS.com or use the CVS app if you have a smart device.  Also sign up for CVS beauty bucks club and if you fill prescriptions there, sign up for those rewards too.  

2.77 for this trip

$12.46 for this trip

$2.96 for this trip. Plus, I have $13 in ExtraCare bucks for my next trip to CVS.

I live just a few miles from CVS and go by it just doing about any errand so getting there is very convenient for me.  

You may notice there is no sales tax on my receipts, my husband is a disabled veteran and our state gives us exemption.  

I've managed to build up some stockpiles with CVS deals.  We have at least a years supply of toilet paper, hair and oral care products, skin care and bath soaps and shower gels, laundry products and make up.  We've got lots of diapers too but it is hard to gauge how long they will last as 2 grands are still in diapers and 2 more will be born soon. 

This does take some time and organization and a little frustration when a deal doesn't work like I expected or the items are out of stock.  Still, I have fun doing it and it really helps our budget. 

Monday list

Hello! Things are kind of getting back to normal after a whirlwind of busy days.

I wrote out this list in a hurry last night and I will probably add to it as the week goes on

Images are made with rubber stamps and colored pencils on old fashioned notebook paper - my redneck version of a fancy ErinCondren or Filofax planner :) 

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Easter decorations 2015

These have all been out for several weeks but I am just now getting around to showing the photos. 

I didn't really feel like decorating this year (I'll explain later ) but the grandchildren have enjoyed all the bunnies and eggs so much, I'm glad I did.  

Nothing new- everything has been used before.  

No pretty list this week......

This is a particularly busy time with some not everyday things going on.

My husband will have rotator cuff surgery this week, he has been very uncomfortable since the injury a few weeks ago so we are glad it has been scheduled.

Also, grandson JJ turns 2 and will celebrate with a party,  and Easter Sunday afternoon will be a family lunch and egg fun. 

On my to do list th last 2-3 weeks was this flag quilt.  I was very happy to finish it and deliver it to the birthday son - his birthday is a few weeks away but I may not see him that actual day.  He saw this quilt online and requested it months ago and was very happy to see it.

My list this week is not a pretty one.  I wrote it up Sunday night in the notes section on my iPad.  Thr things with multiple x's have been done.  

This is a very pared down list- I may get more things done but I may not.  

I'll be back after our family visits and once my husband has recovered,  have a good week everyone! 

Monday to do list

Good morning everyone!

My list is shorter this week,  I did all the laundry and some cleaning last night.  We are waiting to hear when my husband's shoulder surgery will be scheduled so I mainly plan to be flexible and to keep things done up at home as much as possible, 

My main goal is get that flag quilt finished!

Images are rubber stamped and colored with pencils, old fashioned notebook paper on a clipboard.

Have a good week everyone. 

If you do stuff, stuff gets done! 

Special Days

We celebrated St. Patrick's day a few days late with a play day for these 4 sweet cousins and siblings.  My daughter made this rainbow fruit pizza.

It was delicious and was enjoyed by the little ones as well as the adults.

My husband and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. He ordered this beautiful bouquet straight from Hawaii and it arrived a few days early.

I just love them.  We first saw bird of paradise flowers when we were newlyweds and stationed in Southern California and have liked them ever since.

Fancy vegetables

We found these varieties of fresh produce at Sprouts, a chain grocery store sort of like Whole Foods.

One night I cooked some of the fresh green beans with some of the whole tiny potatoes - just delicious!

Another night, I oven roasted some the tiny potatoes with just a little olive oil and coarse salt.  

The rainbow organic carrots are good too, I am not sure they are any tastier than regular orange carrots, but they are pretty.  

I peeled the whole bag and chopped them and some celery.  They are great with a little dip for a snack or side dish.  

A prayer in honor of St. Patrick

Jane Snead sampler stitched by mom around 1970 

Monday list

I am up and at 'em this morning, how about you?

My list is just old fashioned notebook paper on a clipboard. 

Designs were made with rubber stamps and colored pencils. 

Pie for Pi Day, a day late

I had some homemade pie crusts in the freezer so it was easy as pie to put together this dessert.

The peaches were also from the freezer, really good Arkansas peaches that my dad got at a fruit market straight from the orchard.  

Yesterday was the official Pi Day but I seem to running late on most everything these days.  

Pie tastes good though, late or on time, right? 

Monday to do list

I liked my decorated list so much last week that I did this week's list the same way.
You all liked it too, thank you for all the sweet comments.

Use what you have! 

Have you made your list yet?  I hope you all have a pleasant and productive week.