Slowly Learning to live DEBT FREE! January 31, 2010

I am bound and determined to live debt free!  I am really struggling trying to acquire this dream and knock a HUGE dent out our DEBT in 2010.  I did well in January but I could have been better; I just need to stay out of Walmart and stick to my list when I do go.  We have 5 consumer loans.  Now my goal is to have 3 them paid off in 2010. Yippeee! I got one of the smaller ones paid off this month.  I will keep it paid off.  I know it will take me longer on the others but I am determined to get them paid off. If all goes accordingly, I hope by this December to only have my Home and Home Equity payments and still be able to take the North western Bus tour.  It feels really good to have a loan paid off.  

I am learning to be frugal and adjust my spending habits.  I have lived a very spoiled life for the past 8 years.  If I saw something I wanted I bought it and still made my monthly payments.  But still had those monthly payments every month.  My weakness for the past three years have been Provo Craft and scrapbooking, before that it was my son and getting the lastest and before he was born it was getting the house furnished etc.  There was always a theme.   I know my weakness and where I need to start.  Now look I don’t have that much Credit card debt.  I was always taught the CC’s are the devil.  Yes, they can get you in some deep trouble but I have one and yes it has a revolving balance on it at this particular moment in time.  I have always managed to get it paid off but then I always built it back up.  Same routine.  So once I get it paid off this year, yes it is out of here.  My husband will carry his in case of an emergency on the road.  But only In Case of an Emergency. He rarley uses the thing and I swear he even asks me before he uses it.  I do have a great husband (most of the time) ;-)! HEEHEE.

In the mean time I will keep you updated on my progress! Maybe not weekly but at least monthly.  That way I have to at least TRY at it.  Right?

Until then

XO,

Becky

Field Trip Layout January 29, 2010

Little Farmer went to Natural Bridge, VA on a Field Trip.  He loved it. Well all except the caverns.  He was terrified.  He had a great time overall.  I love being able to go with him.  Again used Graphically Speaking cartridge and Old West cartridge for the letters.  Have I mentioned that I have the BEST SIL for getting me this…oh and the Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge that wasn’t on my list has now become one of my favorites too. 

XO,

Becky

Imagine Layout January 27, 2010

I had such a great time doing this layout.  I really love the papers, flowers and ribbon.  I have had them in my stack for months just waiting on the perfect design to come into my head.  I got to use all my Spiffy Prima Flowers too!  I used the Graphically Speaking cart to cut the words out.  Since I have gotten my E I have used my cartridges so much more!  I love that I can cut above 5 inches! 

This layout is a bit busy.  I haven’t found the right pictures for it just yet but I don’t see that being a problem.  I just put my order in for more pictures to be printed!  I can’t believe the ones that I have left to scrap for 2009. 

I am trying really hard to use up some of my scrapbooking materials before I go shopping again.  I really want to make room for some new ones.  January and February are my busiest months for Birthdays.  There is always a party on the weekend which ties into my scrapbooking/cleaning time so something gets put on the back burner.  I haven’t received an invitation yet (sometimes I get notified the day before or just a couple of days before URGH! and boy does that rub me the wrong way) (*Becky will not rant)  to one this upcoming weekend so hopefully I will get to scrap away!  I love the cousins but I love to scrap too. 

XO,

Becky

Meal Plan for Jan. 25th January 26, 2010

Well, I am in a slump this week. 

Monday Pizza

Tuesday Chicken and Rice

Wednesday Soup and Sandwiches

Thursday TBD

Friday Leftovers

I have like 9 jars of Chicken Stock that are going to run out in Feb.  Next week I will be trying to find a recipe to try and use the majority of those up.  This week as I plan the menu it was like chicken, chicken, chicken, and I seen that and said NO.  I will try to do something else besides Chicken hense the soup and sandwiches thrown in there.  Not an exciting week to put a menu up.

This post is linked to Meal Plan Monday.

XO,

Becky

Vinyl and Paper Tiles January 23, 2010

Here is the not so good LIFE IS GOOD TILE I did for a fundraiser silent auction.   I wasn’t happy with the way this tile turned out at all.  I guess it showed because it only brought $2.  I am in the process of doing some more so hopefully I have learned from my mistakes.

XO,

Becky

Baby Brag Books January 21, 2010

Here are some baby brag books I altered.  You can pick these up from Dollar Stores or Walmart for $1.00.  These turned out really cute. 

Enjoy! XO,

Becky

Meal Plan for week of January 18th January 20, 2010

Well being off on Monday you would have thought I’d been able to craft, clean and get the menu plan published at the beginning of the week but OH NO, things happen not really bad things just off kilter kind of things.  My kitchen sink stopped up, took the recyclables to the recycling center and yes 400 boxes flew everywhere trying to get them in the bin, then Farmer asked that I go and get oil and filters after picking up Little Farmer from school. URG!! Walmart your kidding right? NO he wasn’t.  At least my oil is changed now and I am back in business. 

So Meal Plan changed on Monday

Monday  Hoagies (bought bread, meat, toppings at Walmart this afternoon)

Tuesday Leftovers

Wednesday Pork Tenderloin with Green Beans

Thursday Baked Corn Dogs with Fried Apples

Friday Spaghetti with small salad and garlic bread

Saturday Leftovers

While Monday and Tuesday’s meal didn’t come from the pantry the rest will!  I am excited that my pantry is looking more organized and Farmer is glad that the pasta selection is getting lower.  I have kind of burnt him out on pasta the month of Nov and Dec I guess where we were so busy and everything that it was just a quick meal. 

XO,

Becky

Clipboard January 19, 2010

This is a clipboard I made and gave to my sister for her to use in her classroom. 

XO,

Becky

January Menu Plan January 14, 2010

Well, I recently decided to do the Eat out of the Pantry/Freezer Challenge.  Well it took a couple of days to get inventory and such to make my menu…Come to find out I didn’t have as much stuff out of date as one might have thought.  BUT I did find some kind of pickle relish from 2006 in the back of my pantry. 

Starting with:

Thursday    Back bones and ribs with BBQ Sauce

Friday          Sandwiches

Saturday     Soup

Sunday        Hot Dogs, Chili, Onion Rings      Went to the store to buy the hot dogs and buns…a couple of other little items to last the week $10.32

Monday      Turkey Casserole

Tuesday     Crock pot Brown Beans with Fat Back and Cornbread

Wednesday Leftovers

Thursday    Soup/Sandwiches have to run to Wally World.

Friday          Cowboy Beans with Cornbread

Saturday     Leftover Cowboy Beans

Next weeks Menu to follow.

I know that eating out of the pantry isn’t for all of us.  You see I have been married for 8 years.  I live 45 minutes away from a decent chain grocery store or a Wal-mart.   No Target in sight for many miles… When I first got married it was hard for me, yes I worked in a larger town but Farmer was on second shift and I hated being alone in the middle of no where or even coming in after it had gotten dark so I made no stops on the way home.  I learned to stock up on non-perishables when I made the dreaded stop at the store.  It has become habit now.  I don’t go every week to the grocery now but I think I am going to give it a try to stock up on the sale items.  Farmer isn’t on second shift anymore and I am finally after many years of praying, I am becoming more use to the quiet.  Growing up I lived on Main Street in a quaint little town.  There were eighteen wheelers throughout the night that went from one plant to another so there were noise most of the time. Not where I am now.   I am beginning to love where I live and the drive has never bothered me so to speak.  Let’s not talk about the 16 inches of snow a couple of weeks ago. 

So far for us the Challenge has worked out VERY WELL.  I always like to have a menu after I started doing it mid last year but things just weren’t going very well for me to Blog it every month even.  It made after school/work so much smoother when coming home from a bad/stressful/or just long day.  Things have lighted up a little I think and hopefully I will be able to send a post out every couple of days.  Little Farmer has given my thumbs up for great dinners all week long.  EVEN ON LEFTOVER NIGHT.

Until next time

XO,

Becky

Happy New Year! January 13, 2010

Well, I want to try to do better this year with this little crafty blog of mine.  I have all kinds of my little projects to post.  I got an EXPRESSION for Christmas YEAH.   My SIL got me Old West cartridge for Christmas, LOVE IT!!  My other SIL got me Locker Talk but being the spoiled wifey I am, I already had that one because of the 2008 Michael’s Black Friday sale.  So I returned it and got the Everyday Paper dolls cartridge.  Not one on my go out and get list but it looks like I can use it a lot with DS and school.  For whatever reason time truly flew by from November to December 31.  I only got to do one stinkin’ craft project all month long.  THEN on my time off I got to do one YES ONE layout for my scrapbook.  Discouraging I know!

Times are a changing let me tell you.  I am going to make time for the love of my life and craft!  I have all kinds of ideas in my head but I just don’t have time to get them done on paper.  I want to create magnificent layouts and projects like Monique Griffith’s does on her website.  I love her work.  I wish I was as talented as this lovely woman.  I might just have to order her kits seems that might be my only way of getting magnificent like she is.  Take a look at her stuff she is so awesome. 

Also I am taking the Eat from the Pantry/Freezer Challenge!  So far second week into it I am sticking to it and have only spent $10.32 at the grocery store.  Yay!  We are having a large variety of food and not eating the same thing over and over like if I didn’t do a menu.  But I have to go tonight and get the basics so hopefully it won’t be that much…

My menu will follow in the upcoming days!  It has been really yummy and have even gotten a great and a thumbs up from DS!  Impressive for ole mamma.  I don’t often get those from my little man.

I have to leave with that now. 

XO,

Becky