Wednesday, March 31, 2010

EMPTY NEST SUPPER

Being an empty nest couple does have it's advantages. This was supper Sunday night, past. Fresh strawberries that smelled like strawberries, smashed, sprinkled with sugar, a chunk of angel food cake and fat free topping. Fat free, yes, calorie free, not hardly, yum.


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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

REDUCE YOUR PHONE BILL

As you know, we are on a quest to reduce our expenses by 50%. The quest continues.

We were customers of Charter Communications for over 12 years, had a great one year bundle rate but when the year was up, so was the cost, UP, I mean. After conversing with Charter, we went with DishNetwork for TV, keeping phone and Internet with Charter. The bill kept going up. We called twice, same response, we cannot offer it any lower. We have been customers over 12 years, never late, never missed a payment, etc. Nope was the answer. Funny thing, when I called to cancel, the man was very apologetic, said he wished we had let them make an offer. We did, I said, oh, sorry to hear it did not go well, wish you had spoken to me, etc. I took their equipment back the next day, unplugged it myself, did not even dust it, teehee.

When the quest began, we received a letter from AT&T for cheaper rates on home phone and Internet service. Beware of this letter. It did offer very low monthly costs so we signed up, canceling Charter.

The first two months were low but month three was high. It costs $116 for phone and Internet. I called them. We went through a long but I didn't order this, this is not what you offered me, we are going to try to retire, we cannot afford this, I'm going to go to another company, song and dance. The agent was very nice and put me in contact with her super. The super was very nice. After all, they did not want me to leave the company, both of them said so.

Apparently I had been signed up for all kinds of services that I did not sign up for originally, call waiting, three way calling, long distance, etc. Plus the fastest high speed Internet that was offered. I cancelled it all!

Because I am about to go on Social Security, there is a plan they offer to 'us folks'. The local phone service runs just over $17 per month but if you are on SS, you can get a lifetime reduction, making your phone bill $3.50 per month. I also cut my Internet service to the slowest, most basic offered. It should be around $18 per month. I also dropped all the extras, including long distance because we will use our cell phones for that service or have the kids call us on the land line from their cell phones. Either way, we do not pay AT&T.

AT&T also charges for the modem/router equipment, which they did not tell me. Don't ask, don't tell? hummmm. Anyway, I am looking for equipment to purchase, will be returning their little white box asap.

So, I am waiting to see what the next bill will be. If it is as they have promised, it will be a huge reduction in our monthly expenses. If not, I will be posting and calling the company again. Be sure and get confirmation numbers although they do know what you were offered and what you actually signed up for with them.

Are you on SS? Getting ready to go on SS? Do you know of someone on SS? Ask and see if you or they can get a reduction in your phone bill. It just might be worth the call.
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Monday, March 29, 2010

CARPET CLEANING DAY

My life is so full of adventure. I'm having the carpet cleaned today. Pictures to follow.

Are we excited?
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UPDATE....This is the company that cleaned our carpet. It's so clean and even soft now! I was going to post before and after pictures of the house but they are pretty embarrassing because everything is piled on the beds, etc. So, I'll just give the company some free advertising on my free blog.

All Seasons Chem Dry, Decatur, Alabama....thanks for doing a great job!




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Saturday, March 27, 2010

EASY BUNNY CRAFT

It is Spring.

It is not Spring.

Either way, Easter is on the way. It's next Sunday, just so you know.

This is an easy paper bunny craft, something that one of my children was given years ago at church, I think, maybe school, don't remember. It's old.

It is made out of construction paper, do they still make that stuff?

The first picture is what it looks like flat, on the scanner.


The second picture is the pattern, drawn by hand, as you can tell.


The third picture is how it should look with fake grass or candy or both placed in the pocket. There are shadows because it is a scanned copy of the original.


On my computer, you can click the image and it enlarges, can be printed. It depends on your software.

It's a fun little craft you can do for a child, many children, or the child can do it with an adult helping with the cutting out part.

Who else would enjoy this cute, easy paper craft for Spring? The cafeteria lunch ladies, the school janitor, people in the rest home or hospital, neighborhood children, home school group, the ladies in your Sunday School class? Go ahead, it's easy, cheap and handmade.

Happy Spring, when it gets here for good, wherever you might be!
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OH! I'm leaving this post up until Monday and will not be posting tomorrow, if I can stand not posting. This is a fun habit, this blogging stuff.
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Friday, March 26, 2010

GUMBALL MACHINE MINUS THE GUM

No bells, no lights, no whistles but they sure were fun and exciting in their day!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

FORTUNE COOKIE FORTUNE

You will overcome difficult times.
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

IT IS TIME

It is time. Time to go to the Social Security office and register. How can that be? Only old people draw Social Security. You know, the ones with no teeth, gray hair and walk with a cane?! Old people, not me.

Alas and forsooth, it is time. I was born in 1948. I am as old as Israel, the new one, not the original.

As far as Social Security, please, it's another government program that has been threatened with going bankrupt for as long as I can remember. It is a program that I had no choice to participate or not participate. I have been working a real job, meaning paid by the hour and taxes withheld, since I was 15. Babysitting since I was 10, making $.50 per hour, did not count.

I started working at a T G & Y store. It was brand new in Houston, Texas, a long time ago. I was one of the crew that was hired to open the store, starting with bare walls, windows, doors, only flooring and paint made it look like a room and not a storage locker.

We did everything, unloaded trucks, priced every item in the store, no bar codes or shelf labels back then, set up every display, put up shelving, used the glass dividers to keep product separate, we did it all.

What did I make per hour? $.90, yep, that's 90 cents. I thought I was in hog heaven, another Southern term, meaning, I had arrived. I even have some of my pay slips left. I should post them someday.

So, if you do the math, I have been paying into this system for close to 50 years. It's the same system that I am now being blamed for bankrupting and I have yet to draw out one dime or even $.90 for that matter.

The truth is, it is not me, but the generation ahead of me that has drawn out, wasted money because maybe their hobby was going to the Doc or they would meet friends there to socialize and see the doc while they were visiting with their friends. The greatest generation turned to the gimme generation. IMO. Not everyone, not every Social Security recipient but some. I have personally known these older folks that admitted paying in only a small portion compared to what they have drawn out.

I have one friend that is well into her 80s. She has never worked a job, never paid in a dime but is mad at the government because when her husband died, she now only gets his check, not hers and his. How does that make sense?

Oh, well, I'm up and out to the Social Security office. I hope I have all my ducks in a row. I'm waddling on my way, quack, quack.

---picture copied from free internet source
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

GROUND CLOVES

Today's tip is also a money saver because the expensive spice is on sale. It is something that some might enjoy around the Christmas holidays. I enjoy it all year long because it smells so delicious. It is a homemade simmering potpourri. A friend gave it to me years ago. It is natural and does not contain any chemicals.

I am posting it because ground cloves are on sale this week at Kroger. Normally, they cost $4.49 per small tin spice can, now $2.24, which will last for a long time because you only use 1 tsp. At Christmas, it will be full price unless you can find it cheaper somewhere else between now and then.

Here is what you will need:
1 old pot, I use this only for potpourri because I have it, does not use one of my daily cooking pots and I burned something in it, did not want to throw it away.
1 apple, cut into quarters
1 orange, sliced in thick slices
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp. ground cloves (cloves bottle in this pic is not the one on sale)
2 dashes nutmeg
cover all with water




Simmer on low, keep adding water until you want to drain, dispose of it.

If you have a garbage disposal, put it all down the disposal, make it smell fresh.

For a gift...measure the spices into a small plastic Ziploc bag, put with fruit in a white paper lunch bag, decorate bag with a stencil or stickers, fold the top of the bag, punch with hole puncher, thread through a piece of ribbon, tie in a bow. It makes a great neighbor gift, thank you to the teller at the bank, etc. Enjoy.

Don't forget to print out the ingredients and instructions or type them up on your own color paper, add to the bag before making the bow.

I will publish this again later in the year.
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Monday, March 22, 2010

MONDAY BLOGGING FUN

Blogging is great fun. It is a great diversion from reality, too.

I was denied disability this past week. Some say I should try again. I think I'm just going to apply for my Social Security, which should start in July. If you are involved in a disability claim, your Social Security account is tied up, not even available online. I think this is a sign.

Social Security is neither. It has nothing to do with being social and it certainly does not make a person feel secure. Afterall, I have been forced to pay into the system since I started working at age 15. Now, that I am within weeks of drawing what I've paid in, I am being told I have bankruppted the system. How is that possible when I have not drawn out a penny of my own money? There is a rant that could follow this but I will restrain myself.

Today, I am spending the day with The oldest Son, my one and only DIL, and the GRAND baby. They are on Spring Break so spending a couple of days at our house. We are doing nothing. It's great to do nothing some days. We are all too busy.

So, we will have a laid back, easy breezey day, doing nothing.
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Sunday, March 21, 2010

GOD BLESS AMERICA

God bless America, land that I love.

Stand beside Her and guide Her through the night with the Light from above.

From the mountains to the prairie, to the oceans white with foam.

God bless America, my home sweet home.

God bless America, my home sweet home.
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Friday, March 19, 2010

THIRTY-ONE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

I Facebook do you? This is a post from a friend of a friend of a friend that I found on Facebook. It's a business that SAHMs, others just might love plus there are beautiful products to purchase. I have posted this with the owner's permission. You will need to type in the website in your address bar.

www.mythrityone.com

Six years ago I was working full time in corporate America, trying to live life with my husband and our two children, managing work, home, church, kids’ activities and still trying to find time for myself. On top of all that, I am a girl, and girls must shop, right? My busy lifestyle made it so difficult to find time to visit all of those cute little gift boutiques where the really great products are. I decided it was time for working mom’s, single women, and even grandmothers to get a chance to shop on their terms. I had a great experience with direct selling and knew of the potential behind owning your own business and prayed diligently about offering something that would help women contribute to their lives financially and the lives of countless others. It is from this passionate resolve that Thirty-One was born.
Our mission is to celebrate, encourage and reward women through offering quality products and an outstanding opportunity to become successful business owners. We have seen this mission played out across the years in the individual lives of so many women who now have their own “Thirty-One Story”.

Our products are exclusive to Thirty-One and provide style and convenience at an amazingly affordable price. From our key product line, to our “direction” line for teens, or our uniquely crafted “31kid” line for children and moms, you will find so many options to fit every personality type and every situation. We continue to develop new products built on the idea that our products must be stylish, functional, affordable and easy to give as gifts to encourage someone special.

Six years later, our Thirty-One family has grown to nearly 10,000 consultants nationwide. With production facilities in two states, we are still seeing thousands of women find their place in this world through owning their very own Thirty-One business. Many work full time jobs and use their Thirty-One income to help pay for those extras in life like vacations, cars, and shopping sprees. Others have seen Thirty-One become a lifeline to their families in difficult economic times. Despite all the bad news we hear today, our Consultants are selling at record rates. Maybe you would consider owning your own business through Thirty-One. The doors are wide open. Ask your Thirty-One Consultant how easy it was for her to get started. To find out how easy and affordable it can be, CLICK HERE to find a Thirty-One Consultant.

God bless you and please enjoy your Thirty-One experience!

Cindy Monroe
Founder and President

RUN, JUST RUN


--copied
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Thursday, March 18, 2010

THINKING ABOUT STARTING A NEW BIZ?

Yep, think about it.

As the readers know, I am constantly looking for something to make money to help my wonderful Hubbie retire. He was in ministry for 30 years, had a small retirement in the stock market, need I say more? Anyhow, he has a small 401K at his present job. It is no where near what the norm to retire is suppose to be. Plus zero pension, yep, zero, nada from the 30 years in ministry, another long story.

I recently tried another network marketing company. When we decided to cut our outgoing money, it was cut. We were paying for the services ourselves so the cost was too much.

Since that time, I have searched several other opportunities. This new biz came to me thru an email newsletter that I get on a monthly basis, from a mystery shop scheduler in Plano, Texas. I love Texas.

I spent over two hours with the owner of this company. I grilled him up and down, asked every question I could think of, and am going with it. The company is barely 90 days old so now is a great time to jump in with me. He excepts it to double in the next 90 days and just keep going. Cha-ching.

The company is a forced matrix, multi-level, set up. The cost is ONLY $10 per year and $5 per month!!! Go back, read that over, yep, only $10 per year and $5 per month.

There is no selling, no videos to watch, no services to buy, all you do is spread the word about the company, sign up at least five people (got grown kids?) and you are good to go.

When you sign up five, their $5 fee PAYS your $5 fee!! Yep, read it again. The monthly fee is FREE after you sign up your five friends. So, it's $10 per year. This is the administration fee. There is also another $5 admin fee for a check to be issued. This covers the cost of hiring two ladies to process all of the checks, mail them out, envelopes, stamps. It's the cost of doing business as I was told several months ago. If you do not have enough to issue a check, the balance is rolled over into the next month then the $5 is taken out when the check goes out.

There is a statement on the web page that says you can make over $3,000.00 per month. Don't get scared by that statement, please. It is a reality. When all of your levels are filled by you or the computer, you will, in the end make that much money.

My goal is to ignore that amount for the present. I told the owner that it makes it look like it's too good to be true. I want to focus on making enough money to pay our health insurance. We are at an age where we must have insurance, absolute must.

Here is my website, tour it, then email me with questions. Or go ahead, sign up!

http://www.caroltuttle.freeway2success.net

My email is, caroltuttlebiz@gmail.com, I will get back to you!

THINK ABOUT THIS......IF YOU ONLY MAKE $100 PER MONTH WITH THIS BUSINESS, WHERE ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE $100 PER MONTH WITH ONLY A $10 INVESTMENT PER YEAR??????$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

50% TIP

As you can tell by the late time of this post, I have been busy. Actually only completed about half of my to do list but the list was very long.

Here is my money saving tip for this Tuesday, the picture shows my favorite body deodorant.

As you know, we have cut our life style by 50%, rid ourselves of 50% of the junk we own, cut back our expenses by 50%, etc. The hint is about this expensive deodorant. It's a good one and worth the extra price because it works.

Take the cap off, use the dial at the bottom of the container to roll the product up, ready for application. You will notice that there are four slits, each with a bit of deodorant. I take my finger, remove two lines of the deodorant, use only two per armpit rather than the four available.

Years ago, there was no roll on deodorant. It was all put on with your fingers. It's not gross.

Be sure and place the deodorant only on the area under your arm that has hair. Do not put deodorant on the skin area around the hair area. You do not sweat in that area but you do in the hair area.

Also, as a possible medical warning, do not apply deodorant after you have shaved. If you shave at night, apply it the next morning. I have heard for years that if you apply after shaving, the chemicals seep into the open pores, possible being a cause of breast cancer over time. I don't know if it is true but why take the chance? My mother died of breast cancer, a horrible death.

This will double your use of this wonderful product by 50%, cutting your cost by 50%.

See, I told you it was going to be a good money saver.
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Monday, March 15, 2010

Me Me Me Me Cookie Dough

Yep, it's Monday again, already, time to say something about Me. I wonder if that series of me me me me really is a way to warm up the vocal chords before singing or if it's just a way to pump up the singer, giving them courage and pushing out the nerves. Oh well, I've never been a singer, cannot carry a tune in a bucket although I would love to be able to sing with The Hubbie, but I was just wondering.

Today, hummm, I need to dig out the house clutter, start some Spring cleaning, run errands, make calls to doctors, too. Remember the post about the clean oven? Friday I made half a batch of Toll House cookie dough, baked half of the half, put the other half of the half in the frig for the Saturday evening snack.

Well, People, guess what happened Saturday? I baked the cookies, as I was pulling the pan out, I goofed, hit the corner of the pan on the edge of the stove, bang, it fell out of hand, onto the open, hot, oven door, on the racks, on the floor, splattering on the floor face down. There was hot gooey chocolate chips on the floor, the oven, the cabinet doors, what a mess!

I was so frustrated, nothing lasts, what a mess, calling myself some unkind names, no cursing, just referring to my intelligence level. The Hubbie told me to calm down. I was very frustrated. What's the point, I thought, just live in a mess. What's the point, don't even try to do stuff like that with the right arm, silly, you're left handed now. Get the picture? Ugly scene.

Well, I did not try to clean it up, just left the door open, let it all dry, harden, then used the broom to sweep out the oven, the door, the floor. What was stuck, I used a cold wet rag to remove. The mess was gone and so were the cookies.

So, what is the moral to the story? Here's a list:

1 - don't take Me so serious
2 - clean what you can, when you can, move on to the next thing
3 - nothing cleaned stays clean forever
4 - be thankful you had flour, butter, chocolate chips, etc., to clean up
5 - any mess made by the cookie crash was so much less than the whole dirty oven mess
6 - there are only two of you living in this empty nest, any job done will last longer than others with a house full of people living in it (I miss my house full of children)

Here is the plan for the Spring cleaning assault:

1 - clean one room at a time
2 - clean everything in that one room that has not been done yet
3 - do not pass go, do not collect $200 (I wish), do not move to the next room until the present room is completely done
4 - do not go back to the present room to do something else, it's done, over, finished, conquer the goal of the next room
5 - realize so much in the house has already been done, curtains are clean, windows are clean, new roof, inside is painted except for closets and two bathrooms
6 - get it all done soon, very soon, so 'Me' can have some reading time in the swing on the patio and do some sewing for Me and the GRAND baby
7 - the closets are going to be the hard part, kitchen cabinets, too
8 - you've got a good life, Me, don't pout

Guess that's it.

Oh! My camera is back, the humming sound is gone but now, it will not shoot a video, the read out says the memory is full and there is nothing on the camera, sending it back, yet again.

Look for my Tuesday Tip. I have several that you may be able to use to save some dough, not cookie dough, real cash dough.
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Sunday, March 14, 2010

SWEET PUPPY PIC

This is a picture of the dog next door, not the one that attacked me four times, but another one. The dog is so sweet and longs for human intereaction. I would love to have a puppy if they did not go on the floor, shed, cause allergies, have to have shots, be fed, jump on furniture, need a fence, smell like dogs, bite little children or die. But since they do, I don't.

Still I love petting this puppy. It tries to get thru the fence to me but the fence is too strong so we just talk between the slats.


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Saturday, March 13, 2010

FLOW CHART

Democrat or Republican....do you feel like this? I do.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Thursday, March 11, 2010

HEALTH

Today is suppose to be a serious day, a serious blog.

I have been North of our little town, helping take care of The Son and the GRAND baby but today I woke up sick. I quickly called my dr, secured an appointment, showered, loaded the car and rushed back to make it to the doctor on time. I have pink eye, a sinus infection and cold sores.

On the trip back, following a black Mercedes, (I thought it was a BMW, but realized it was a Mercedes), traveling at a higher rate of speed than allowed, thinking if someone gets stopped maybe it will be him, I started thinking about my health.

Health is one of those priceless things we are given in life. Without good health, nothing else comes close to comparing it, to wanting it.

We can have many things in the world, money (that would be nice), fame, houses, lands, but if we are sick, dying, we would give all of it to live, usually.

I have a young friend, father, husband, who is in the battle of his life, fighting cancer. He needs good health to survive this battle.

If you are well, be thankful, think about it, contemplate life and enjoy having 'it', health.

It's great to be alive, living, breathing, stuff like that, having good health.
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

WEDNESDAY ALREADY

WEDNESDAY IS THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK IS ALL I CAN SAY AT THIS POINT.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

DONUT HOLES

Do you like donuts? Yum, melt in your mouth, sweet irresistible donuts? I do as you probably guessed.

The tip for this Tuesday is stop buying donuts, yep, it's what I said. Instead, buy donut holes. The holes are actually the center of the donut cut out, deep fried and drenched with sugar. The holes are actually sweeter than the donut to me.

Why buy the holes?

1 - cheaper by the dozen, usually about the price of two regular donuts
2 - bit size, or maybe two bites, just depends
3 - they are the best part of the donut, like the center of a steak or some other delicious food

Donuts are a real treat, delicious, sweet. We only buy them a few times a year. When we do, it's like a party for your mouth!! Enjoy and save money at the same time, skip the donut, eat the donut hole.
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Monday, March 8, 2010

MONDAY ME, REALLY?

Today is Monday and I was going to blog about a completely different subject but the day has gone a completely different direction so why stay on the beaten path?

Church use to be a main focus in my life. The Hubbie was in ministry for 30 years, as you know. Now, since my on the job injury, I barely make it one hour per week. I come home, hit the aspirin bottle and the heating pad. I'm such a wimp. Yesterday, the body required a pain patch and the heating pad and the aspirin. Bummer.

My little voice said to me several times, better do this and that or the other today. Did I listen? Why should I? Tomorrow is Monday, I can do it tomorrow. After all, you have 12 triple the coupon coupons, you will do good.

Well, the store is out, the coupons expire tomorrow and I am enjoying a different plan for the day, as well as tomorrow.

My point of this blog is, do you listen to your little voice? Everyone has one, women more than men. When I follow mine, it usually works out. When I don't, there is usually a different plan that would have gone much smoother if I had listened to the voice.

Oh well, it's okay. This is a good deal, too. So what if my triple the coupons expire? Some things in life are way better than triple coupons.

But still I am wondering, I talk to myself enough, why don't I listen?
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Sunday, March 7, 2010

NEW BORDER

It is feeling like Spring in Dixie!

I thought I would try out a new border for this blog, free, of course.

Not so sure it will stay because it takes longer to download, open my page.

It is colorful and celebrates the soon to be warm weather.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy.
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Friday, March 5, 2010

CUTE SERIOUS QUOTE

Today started late for me, very late. I woke up early, saw the time and headed back to the nice warm bed. I slept late, which was wonderful. Being 'retired' is a good thing.

I decided to post this. It is copied from several other blogs but still makes me smile.

be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says, oh, crap, she's up

Although I do not claim to be that much of a threat to the devil, I do like the quote. (The word crap was a four letter word when I was growing up so it's not something I normally say now.)

Still, it's something to think about. I lived under a system that was made up of rules rules rules for years, so many were man made rules and had nothing to do with what God thought of me or how He loves me. I am free from that system today.

Sure, we do not have to claim to be perfect but it is important to live a good life, treat people as you would want to be treated and respect others. This alone would be much more than most of the world does and may just upset the boogey man.

It's a good life goal, a good Friday goal, and a good way to enjoy a nice smile along the way.
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Thursday, March 4, 2010

THINKING

This is Thursday. It's time to think about something. Nope, been too busy. The GRAND baby and Son came for the day. We had a great time just keeping up with the GRAND baby.

The day is almost over so I'll catch up tomorrow or the next day. It's the good thing about having a blog, you can do it yourself, when you want to do it.
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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

LIST OF BLESSINGS

Today is a quiet day at the house in the small town. So, I'm thinking about how blessed I am, we are, in America.

Here is part of my list, not in any necessary order of importance.

My hubbie - what a wonderful man he is, hardworking, honest, man who loves God.
My family - 3 kiddos, all healthy, all love God, all go to church, 2 are college graduates +++, the young is working on it, not giving up.
My married into our family kiddos - both have only added to my joy.
My GRAND baby - he makes life worth living and is going to be a big brother, be still my heart.
My church - it is now a place where love, joy, peace, exists. If you go to a church that doesn't have these things, well, may be time to find another church.
My country - in spite of it's present problems, still I am proud to be an American.

There are things that I have now, things that many assume they will have simply because they want them, that I never thought I would have.

Here is part of my list, not in any necessary order of importance.

A brick home, with a garage, paid in full.
A laptop.
A desktop, although it is over 6 years old, it's still going. It's an eMachine.
A little Honda with a sun roof, it's the closest thing to my 64 Corvair convertible.
A cell phone.
A brand of stick on nails that work on my fingers.
Brown hair at 62, almost 62, slowly morphing into gray but don't look in the mirror and you won't see it.
Loosing weight again, finally.
High speed Internet.
A digital camera that also takes videos that is also still at the manufacturer's....hummm....how much longer?

There are more 'things', too, not worth much to others, probably would not even make a profit if sold in a yard sale, but to me they are dreams come true.

Just this week, I was emailing a friend about stuff we have today that we would not have if we would have lived in past generations.

Here is part of my list, not in any necessary order of importance.

Indoor plumbing, not an outhouse.
Air conditioning in the house and in the cars.
Internet.
Three phones in one house, one land line, no party lines, no rotary dial.
FAX machine.
Ready to eat food that is actually good for you.
Wash and dry clothes, permanent press is so much better than permanent iron.
Carpet on the floor.
Curtains on the windows.
Dishwasher.
Washer and dryer.
Microwave, 24 years old but still works, so I'm keeping it.
Color tv, old, too, but still works, so I'm keeping it.
Cell phone, old, too, 2001, trading it for something cheaper when the time is up.

So, life is good, not perfect, there are dips, but still good. I think I've posted a similar post on this blog but, hey, it's my blog and I do repeat myself these days. What was that?
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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

TUESDAY TARGET TIP

Tuesday is almost over. The Hubbie just called and said he is just now leaving the job. He has a 45 +/- minute commute so I thought I would post a money saving tip really quick. Today was full of stuff to do. I was home briefly this afternoon, on the laptop, fell asleep in The Hubbie's chair, woke myself up snoring. hahaha

Please notice the link posted on Tuesday, too. It's a great blog that I am following.

The tip is this, do you shop Target? I do, not as much as I would like because it is in the near by town, which I go to once a week. I try to keep it at once a week because gasoline is continuing to go up.

Target has a great ongoing deal. It's the end caps on the backside of the aisle. Usually, there is one end cap display of clearance items for each department. It varies, of course, on the season, what is being reduced, etc. I have shopped these end caps for years and years. We are originally from Texas, where Targets are quite common, wonderful, the whole nine yards.

On these end caps, I find all kinds of good deals. My motto for a deal is buy it ONLY IF you cannot make it cheaper. This is what I found a few weeks ago. It is a stretch couch cover. It fits perfectly over our pink and burgundy couch that is now in the black, white, taupe, gray bedroom. We were able to get a new couch and lounger so we moved the pink one to the master bedroom. I love it being in there even though it takes up room.
This deal was originally $94.99 American dollars, plus tax. It was on the bottom shelf with several other colors. The price was ONLY $23.74 American dollars, plus tax. Hallelujah! I could not buy the fabric for that price! I scooped it up with the idea that I could bring it back. I'm keeping it. It's washable, too!

I love saving money and getting what we need cheap! Try shopping the Target endcaps but don't buy everything because I'll be looking, too. ;)
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Simply Sweet Home: Quilted Cabinet Cover

Simply Sweet Home: Quilted Cabinet Cover

Monday, March 1, 2010

TIME TO CLEAN THE OVEN

Okay, if the smoke alarm keeps going off, it's a good sign it's time to clean the oven. It's one of my 'I hate doing this' jobs.

It would not be so bad but the cheese slid off of a home made pizza awhile back and puddled up on the bottom of the oven. I forgot to wipe it out before the next time I turned the oven on. When I did remember it, the kitchen was filling up with smoke and the alarm was blaring. It was too late, the puddled cheese was ash, stuck to the bottom of the oven.

Here is how I do it:

1 - take out the wire racks, put them in the bathtub, cover with very hot water, squirt in Dawn dish washing liquid, or Tide, whatever you have, let them soak overnight.

2 - spray the entire oven with Easy Off oven cleaner, being careful with the heating elements, cover your mouth with a towel or mask to keep from breathing in the fumes.

3 - close the door, soak overnight.

4 - next day, wipe the goop off with wet paper towels, wear gloves, please.

5 - wipe the wracks and put back into the clean oven.

6 - done.

It is a messy job for sure! But, letting it soak overnight eliminates the need of working with a warm oven, loosens the burnt on food because it turns to goop, it is so much easier than scrapping with a knife or other tool which could damage the oven surface.

To protect the floor, lay down newspapers. There will be drippings out of the oven because the cleaner is melting the grime.

My camera had to be returned to the manufacturer so there are no pictures, which is a good thing. It's messy to look at and do.

The best thing is, #6.
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UPDATE....It was just about an all day job, working left handed, you know. I would like to change one thing. Instead of paper towels, which kept falling apart, I used two old towels, wet them, wipe off the oven goo. It worked much better than the paper towels. My next house is going to have a self cleaning cook top!
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