99 Days

OK--I know. I mean it.  I really do know.   I have been more than remiss in writing and updating my blog lately. And that is putting it lightly.  Well, not anymore.  Today, as part of my Mom's Christmas present, I will start updating my blog daily.  Let me go back a couple of days and explain how and why this has come about.

My sister is very good about updating her blog (www.gigingio.blogspot.com) with great pics and anecdotes about her kids.  Me, not so much.  I know my Mom gets a lot of enjoyment of this--the pics of the kids and anecdotes, I mean.   As a matter of fact, I do, too.  That is part 1.  Now, for part 2.  My Mom has also asked that for Christmas this year, we give presents that were homemade or that we didn't pay more than $10 for.  Bargain shopper that I am thought...hmmm...$10...I can give a gift worth at least $40 and only pay $10, so no problem.  In fact, I am up for that challenge.

Then one of those feelings came over me.  You know the ones.  This time I was feeling that I was not living up to the spirit of the request.  So, I came up with a great way to celebrate the holidays with my mom on a daily basis and really not spend a dime.  It's just writing my blog.   This is, also, where the 99 days comes in.  Mom, I am giving you 99 days of blogs.  Your first no cost/homemade Christmas present of the year.

This should take me through the end of the year. I bet you thought I had to count the days to figure that out.  But, I didn't.  I will tell you why now.  I am a Christmas junkie. I mean an all out, obsessed, Christmas music listening, cheesy movie watching, cookie baking fiend. I knew that there were 92 days until Christmas today.  New Year's is a week after that, so 99 days of blogging.

Now, back to the Christmas celebrations.I am not afraid to share the joy.  In fact, I would also ask that you join me in celebrating the last 99 days of 2011.  Let's celebrate fall, Halloween, the first snow, every birthday, report card day, Veteran's Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve and every other day together.

Part of Day 99's celebrating is getting ready for the Harvest Party/Grayson and Garrison's birthday party in two weeks.  How did I begin the preparations?  By putting up a Christmas tree, of course.  There are no present going underneath it, but it is strung with lights and covered in fall foliage.  I just couldn't think of a better way to welcome our guest and bring warmth and color to the house.  I have a few more touches to make, but I think you will get the idea.  I may try and take a pic in the morning, too, to see if the "feel" of the tree comes over a little better.

It is 9:47 p.m. and my day should really be coming to a close now. I have a lot I want to pack into Day 98.  I have already got my cookie recipes picked out and tasks planned for the day, so don't forget to drop back by soon to check out what we are doing here.

(Mom-On a side note--I am still up for the $10 challenge.  You know I can't let that one slip by.  And, I hope this is like a grown up/low calorie version of an advent calendar for you.  I love those things.)

Clement Clarke Moore said it best in his poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas"..."Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

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Life well lived

If you've noticed I have been absent for a few days, sorry about that.  Life got in the way of my blogging.  We've had lots to do with mall scavenger hunts, bargain hunts and, ugh, yardwork. 

The girls are the life of the party

The peace sign-tie dye cake that embodies Maddie's style
Thanks Kelly!

Maddie's birthday party scavenger hunt was a huge success and the easiest party I have ever had.  Finally, a party I can enjoy, too.

Wearing hats and purple eyeshadow--what a sport

The kids had to really let loose and talk to people to get the most points. Thank goodness Maddie's partner, Brandon, isn't shy.

Clowning around with a salesperson named John-more points

Cole and Riley won the actual contest.  They did a great job.  Kelly and Lamyaa were a close second.

Maddie and Lamyaa-the hugging queens

To say the least I was exhausted from the party, but the day doesn't end there for any mom. Nope it was off to Target to get my deals of the day. I spent $35 for $68 worth of foods.

Not all the healthiest-but most were. The Pop-Tarts are hidden for a special treat one day.

Coupon clipping does pay off.  Plus, I ended up getting two more coupons I used the next day for dinner.  Buy one-get one free Target pizzas.  Four pizzas for dinner cost $9.  That is my kind of luxury.

Sunday we had tons of rain, but were able to get some of the yard work done.  I just had to include one of my morning glory pics.  These babies have taken over my front porch railing.

The week is pretty much over now.  It has been fun and I am sure there will be more excitement on the way as we get ready for back to school.  Maddie has a 28 page placement test awaiting her, and Riley has her open house August 31.  Fall is fast approaching and I am not sure if I am happy about that or not.  Cooler weather does sound great, though. 

Other key dates fast approaching

School starts-Sept. 7

Kahle is due-Sept. 10

Kahle, Moses, Grayson and Garrison come to visit--Oct. 8ish

Maybe Grandma, too!!!

Trip to Belvedere Plantation and Sesame Street Place while they are here.

My fortieth birthday-Oct. 30

Halloween Oct. 31

Not to mention a family vacation in November, plus a holiday cookie exchange and Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Busy, busy, busy.  I love it!!

Spilling the beans on saving

A few days this week, I decided I would cook with what I had in the kitchen.  Being a vegetarian means I have lots of staples, including beans.  What to do with beans, hmmm...used the dried navy beans Sunday to make baked beans...used the pinto beans Friday to make chili....still more beans, and lentils, and split peas, and some type of french green lentil.  Well, I finally decided I wanted to be a little lazy and I didn't have time to soak and cook the beans first, so it was off to the inventory of canned beans.  This is where I discovered the versatile garbanzo bean or chickpea.  I consulted my computer and  found a few recipes that used them and finally decided on Indian night.  I could use up almost all of my veggies with that.  Peas, potatoes, cauliflower, onions, as well as the kale that was two days beyond its best by date.  The results were great, and you can see my adapted recipe on the recipe tab. 

Purchasing dried beans is one of the most economical ways to replace meat in your dishes.  A one pound bag of beans is about $1.50 and makes about 10 servings.  A good thing to remember when and if you are questioning whether you can afford to go vegetarian.

Flipping for birthdays

Saturday morning started off with Jeff and I putting together Maddie's big birthday present...a trampoline.  If you have never put one of these things together, let me tell you, they are heavy and time consuming.  The directions say two people are needed.  I would say unless the two people are crosses between Hulk Hogan and Einstein, at least three people, if not four, are needed and a physics degree would be a plus.

Sisters, Friends

While we were struggling with assembly, Riley had the harder job of keeping her sister away from any windows and entertained.  So, she resorted to lots of picture taking.  Thank goodness for me, because I really got to see the loving bond between the two sisters.

The kids jumped and jumped and jumped some more.  In fact, Riley was so sore the next day, she could barely move.  Check out the videos of their stunts.  (I should probably insert disclaimer here--you know, the kind that says 'don't do this at your house'.)

The day continued on like this for quite a while, even with the summer sun beating down on the kids.  

We decided to wrap up the evening with a small backyard bonfire.  Of course, Cole wanted to light the fire. 

Again-Don't do this at home!

The excitement couldn't end there. Nope, right before the s'more marshmallow toasting got underway, the neighbors called out for us to come look in the front yard.  We couldn't believe what we saw.    

Cole tried to catch him to release elsewhere, but was unable to do it.  We checked the next morning and the snake had left the tree, but we did see that there was a bird's nest up there.  Maybe, he was just looking for dinner.  

That pretty much wraps up August 7, 2010.  My baby turned 12 and I got to spend a wonderful day with the family.  I don't think it gets any better than that.

Money well spent

The whole point of this blog was how to save money, right? There are times in life that you need or maybe just want to spend it. We had one of those days last Monday.  Jeff, Riley, Maddie and I, plus Riley's bff, Lamyaa, went to DC for the day.  The girls couldn't wait to stop by Georgetown Cupcake. Yep--it is the one from TLC's show, DC Cupcake.  I thought going to the newly re-opened American History Museum was going to be the best.  I can't really say what was truly the highlight of the day--it may have been the landing of Marine One, the President's helicopter, just as we were trying to get close to the White House--or--it may have been the twenty minutes we had in the park while waiting for the helicopter to land.  We did walk to the White House, but then were turned away or shepherded to another area, as I am assuming, a safety zone was created for the President's landing. We did have to wait, but when the deep resonating thuds of the helicopter blades broke the quiet afternoon air, it was hard not to get excited.

Reflecting on that afternoon got me thinking about the safety zone I had established around that day so I could enjoy it.  Again, I am talking about money...moolah...dough...the green stuff.  I wasn't stressed at having to eat a couple of meals out. I wasn't stressed about the cost of metro tickets.  Heck, I wasn't even stressed about the cost of the cupcakes (worth every penny, too).  All this because I had planned and budgeted and revised and did it all one more time.  If money had been tighter, I would have created a different plan, a different option, for our family day out.  But, I was able to enjoy all the items we spent money on and all the things that were free--cartwheels in the park, making faces at each other while waiting in line, laughter, excitement, love and togetherness.