Summer Wardrobe

All this for Ella from the thrift store for $7.50!

Twenty Questions

The sofa was still in the kitchen tonight - We didn't get a chance to move it back yesterday. By the way my carpets look AWESOME. Having your carpets professionally cleaned maybe frugal blasphemy but it was so worth it to me.

Anyway, after dinner we continued to lounge -and we sat and played twenty questions for the longest time.

Kyle and I laughed our heads off. The kids are not so good at asking broad questions in order to narrow it down.

Category: Thing

Ella's first question "Is it a beard?"

Category: Person

Ella's first question "Is it Eleanor Roosevelt?"

Category: Animal

We have narrowed down that it lives in caves, eats insects, flies, and uses echo-location

when Benjamin blurts out "I know, I know-- its a spider".  

In case you were wondering, it was superman

the battery died in my camera

Why I am passionate about frugality

I have a very scattered brain and therefore I am pretty sure I have a very scattered blog.  I went to bed last night thinking of Chystalee's post and how she was able to put into words what I am not good at explaining.  I laid there wondering if people think I am just a nut making her own laundry detergent to save a few pennies. My adventures in being frugal are so much more than that.

Kyle and I have been blessed with a natural desire to be good stewards with our money. But the desire has not always translated into knowlede or more importantly behavior.  Because of our decisions and various trials we have learned a lot the hard way.  I have the ache in my heart that almost everyone has at some point in their life: I WISH I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW.

I worked very hard at being frugal from the moment I knew I wanted to be a stay at home mom. When I did become a full time homemaker we still found ourselves not completely adjusting our lifestyle like we should and we fell prey to bad decisions: late car payments, a payday loan, debt consolidation, etc.  We worked so hard to overcome these problems and buy our first home all while I stayed home with the kids.  Living within our means became a challenge that I thrived on instead of  just a depressing fact of life.  

Then I read the tightwad gazette and I became even more jazzed about being frugal.  I started to change how I looked at spending money and I did save in many ways.  But it was kind of haphazard frugality. We didn't budget the right way. We didn't pay down a lot of debt. It was more frugality in the "wow look how cheap these groceries were" camp. Not purposeful.

Then one day I heard this guy on the radio.  I was in the parking lot of Sam's club on 121 - see how clearly I remember?  A woman caller described her financial situation. It was almost identical to ours. I waited with baited breath to hear what he would tell her. I thought it would be like what I had heard in the past - you know the "pay the lowest interest rate first..... yadda yadda." but NO what I heard was beautifully simple and immensely true. Dave Ramsey answered her with what I now know are the Baby steps, and he started with the most true statements ever. 

Finances are not just about the numbers its about behavior. You need to live like no one else so later you can live like no one else. You need to eat beans and rice and rice and beans and get out of this DEBT!

By the next day I was trying to find his book at any library or half-price books. I quickly found out that he is so popular that his books are almost never at any of those places. But eventually I did get it and since reading the Total Money Makeover our lives have been completely changed.  

I am frugal for a purpose. We have a plan - together.

I'd like to say that since then we have been exactly on track. That is not the case! But I have a firm testimony that had we not been following the baby steps and had we not paid off as much debt as we did, that this period of unemployment would have been extremely devastating to us!

Since first reading the book and starting the steps we have had many, many blessings. We have had trials too and we have needed help. But even with what we have gone through lately we still have a plan and most importanly HOPE.

One of the hardest parts for us was actually cutting up and getting rid of the credit cards. When we first started we did get rid of all of our credit card debt. But we didn't cut them up or cancel them. Then somehow we ended up with a $7000 balance again. (I am embarrassed to say some of that includes camera equipment - picture me red-faced)  So if you decide to start the baby steps, don't make the same mistake we did and secretly keep the credit cards  - do it right -- CUT THEM UP!

We finally did it, Ella did the honors - she cut up our Capital One and Sears. And we did it during unemployment. Talk about scary!!! It was the best decision- really!

The kids ask every friday when Dave Ramsey has people call in to scream they are Debt free -

"When will it be our turn to scream 'We're DEBT-FREE!!!!!!!!!!"  I can't wait for that day either!

I can't wait to be like this guy!

NOW the really, really, really HARDEST part is real life budgeting. We have been working hard on our zero-based budgeting. And boy is it hard. You only think you are on budget if you are not zero based budgeting.  I could write several posts on zero based budgeting and I could talk your ear off about it too. Maybe I will write more on it. But if you need any resources just ask me! - I am no expert but I do have a lot of resources. And lest you think this is only about Dave Ramsey, The church has been teaching zero based budgeting for years and years and years.

If you are curious about why Kyle and I remain so passionate about our finances- I will let you know about our financial Goliath.  I am an open book so I will not hestitate to tell our debt details. She has a name. Her name is Sallie Mae. She lives with us and up until we listened to Dave Ramsey we thought she would live with us forever. But now we have very hardcore plans to kick her out of our lives as soon as possible!  So without further ado here is our Debt Snowball. It is a short list with a hefty price tag:

Capital One - 6912.01

Sallie Mae - 68,686.02

Bet you feel a little bit better about your financial situation don't ya

I plan to keep living for as cheaply as possible. I am curious to see how little we can live on so that we can pay this HUGE, GINORMOUS, OUT OF THIS WORLD BIG debt off.  

I figure some people keep up weight loss blogs. I'll keep you posted on our debt loss on my blog. Hopefully some will be inspired by my honesty of our Debt Snowball goals. And before you think I am crazy for homemade detergent, cloth diapers and thrift store purchases you can remember my friend Sallie and how much I hate her!

If you are interested in borrowing any of my Dave Ramsey stuff let me know. But if you want your own he is having a huge sale on his website right now - EVERY BOOK HE SELLS IS ONLY 10 bucks!!! And even bigger news in September he is going to do his Live Total Money Makeover show via webcast at locations all over the country - So people can attend all over, even in places that he usually doesn't travel to. I figure if I start talking about it now all the people I love and care about can make plans to go!

Seriously the stuff he teaches is so common sense, but so valuable I wish I could gift the knowledge to everyone I love. I also think what he teachers applies to everyone, small debt, big debt, no debt and any size income. That one book has all the stuff they should have taught us in school from budgets to investing!

I wish I could go back in time and give it to myself.

Videos for Grandma and Nana (this should be a series)

Ella's school had a "garden party" where they unveiled the garden all the first grade classes planted. They also released 4000 aphid eating ladybugs. - It was very cute watching a bunch of first graders pluck ladybugs off of themselves.

Sometimes I am so impressed with all the progress Maiya made with speech therapy. Its hard to remember that there was a time when I worried all the time that she would never talk. Now she doesn't stop talking.  But this video shows me that she still has a few issues. But I mean who cares -- how cute is she! To translate the video she is saying she is "free" = three and "us bought a movie called adventures of duckie" and "thanks for watching us interview"

Ella spent the day organizing the play kitchen. Cora spent the evening unorganizing it.

Garage sale was a success

A modest success but still a success. 

Now spring cleaning continues with a vengeance. I have found a really, really good deal on Carpet Cleaning and they come 10:30 tomorrow morning.

So I should not be on the computer today.

I have help though - Benjamin is home with pink eye! ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH 

need your carpets cleaned? check this company out:

Dougs Mighty Clean

I love "one price" promises. I have been lead down the track of many carpet cleaning coupons only to be killed by the add-ons.

Come on over

Garage Sale

TODAY

mi casa

8-2

Kitchen stuff, baby gates, exersaucer, cloth diapers, kids toys, dog bed, DVD's, 

and more.....

I have been wanting one of these forever!!!

Well not forever, but a for a while now I have wanted a cruiser.  There is one at Target that Kyle and I have taken off the rack every time we go - but we haven't let ourselves get it because it was not in the budget.  

disclaimer  - this is a pic of the bike new, not mine, although its the same make

Then I went to Goodwill to look for a yoga mat which they usually have like twenty of (no luck this day - but that's ok Sarah saved the day!) but they had a cruiser! In decent shape for 35 bucks!!!!

I was like a kid waiting for Kyle to come home from work and get it out of the van for me. I have no idea how the guy at Goodwill got it wedged in there.  One tube of slime and a few pumps later and we were cooking with gas.  I was very afraid that I would not be able to do it, but maybe its true that you don't forget how to ride a bike. So last night and tonight Benjamin, Ella, and I have been ALL OVER the neighborhood.

IT HAS BEEN SO MUCH FUN.

Downhill I feel like I am 10 years old again. Uphill I feel like I am 100 years old.

the best part is reconnecting on some level with Benjamin and Ella - not like we were disconnected or anything, but they seem to be getting so much older right under my nose. Benjamin was OK with me selling the majority of his "little kid" toys at the yard sale. - Although I am most happy to de-clutter it did make me a little sad.  Ella keeps wanting to watch crappy teenage shows - thats a fight everyday. Where did my babies go?  

Oh yeah they went on a bike ride - WITH ME

ps. I may not be able to walk in the morning.

Here is a good article about cruisers: One speed is enough

I miss Sarah

Dang stupid economy and ward splits disrupting my lifestyle.  You see Sarah and I walked a few days a week for a while. Her faster than me most days and me wanting to stop sooner than her all days, but we did it.

Then I got pregnant and switched to throwing up everyday - its good for the abs I tell ya.  Then life happened. We still walk every once and a while. Sarah still walks a lot because she is awesome like that. We mostly walk together when we need to exercise our mouths more than our butts.

Now she works, and Kyle works ALL THE TIME so I can't leave my crew as easily.  IT SUCKS.

Did I say I miss Sarah? Oh yeah I did. But I also miss the walking - I know, no need to comment I can walk without Sarah... I do some, but not enough.  Our ward does a workout thing too that sounds awesome - ask Chrystalee. But alas that is when Kyle has his second job. And I am not good about exercising at night.  His second job is at home but... I like to be with him - I am totally smitten like that.

So through the grapevine I found out about a chick that does a free aerobics class at one of the Mckinney church buildings. You can bring your kids with you.  So I went today. I left with the prayer that every fat girl has in her heart when exercising in front of skinny chicks:

 "Please Lord don't let me make a fool out of myself - and if willing help me finish the workout - 

alive"

So I went, I DID IT - it was great and I am excited to keep up with it.  Now I am on the hunt for a yoga mat for the post aerobics crunches and what not.  So anyone know of the best deal? I assume the $10 one at walmart unless you all tell me it sucks.

And next workout I think I am taping down my boobs. Those things are a pain. If I could check them at the door I'd work out a lot more I believe. Can you imagine that? Yes I am done working out can I have my boobs back - yes they are the double D hangy ones...

I still miss Sarah though. I used to call her the second something popped into my head. Now I have to try to remember what I was going to tell her. Not so easy. My head has a natural "mom of four" limit to it. Its sad really...

I am going to bug her so much this summer. 

Frugal Failure

I am throwing in the cloth diaper!

I had absolutely no problem with the dirty work. The stuff that makes most cringe about cloth diapering didn't bother me. My problem was the number of times a day I needed to change Cora's diaper.  In comparison to how often I change disposables it was a pain the butt.  When I would wait too long with the cloth - everything got wet! Her clothes, sheets, furniture. Washing diapers saves money, washing everything does not.  And for the record it was my fault not the cloth diapers - they are remarkably good at holding a lot - I just tested their boundraries way to  much.  

You see when I was a younger mom I heard an older mom say that she doesn't use that many diapers. She figures if one can hold all night - one can do the same all day. So barring poops her (older) baby wore 2 diapers in a 24 hour period. I thought to myself - "ewww I will never do that" ...........................ummm ....well guess what

drum roll please.... 

Now I do.

Maybe not always as extreme as 2 per 24 hours - but as soon as the pooping all the time stops - constant diapering does too. So in my frugal mind the cost of disposables (I never pay much more that 15 cents a diaper) is totally worth it.  It also helps that my babies suffer from constipation and only poop once a week or so.

So how about you? 

Cloth vs. disposables?

How often do you change your baby's diaper?

Do you change your younger children less often than you did your first? I don't think Benjamin ever knew what a wet diaper was - and surprise surprise he was the hardest to potty train!

Are you stuck on a certain brand or are you like me and stand with the calculator in the diaper aisle EVERYTIME?

PS. My cloth diapers on are craigslist - email me if you want the posting - i'd prefer not to link

Lookie what I made

 I saw the Duggars do this and I was very intrigued. This lady's video was perfect. 

I ran the costs and boy is it cheaper - unbelievably cheaper!

Fels naptha - 1.19
Borax - 3.36
Washing Soda - 2.69
but you only use 1.5 cups of the borax and washing soda and all that makes 5 gallons of detergent!!!
it smells sooo good and I will let you know how effective it is - I am doing laundry today!

PS. Where to get the supplies - Walmart has Borax, Kroger has the washing soda and fels naptha - you can get the 5 gallon bucket from walmart or any hardware place or if you are more frugal than even I am you can hose out your kitty litter bucket. - actually I would have done that too if we didn't use the bag stuff :) - I just stole Benjamin's twilight bucket - I'll have to get him another one soon!

one more thing - I didn't wear a mask - mine didn't get that powdery

UPDATE:

WORKS GREAT!!! 

I LOVE SAVING MONEY

Thunder Thighs on the move

A video for Grandma and Nana to see Cora crawling - Maiya plucking her wedgie is just a bonus

Just got off the phone

With Aunt Hazel, she is a relative of mine who I am not sure if I have had the privledge of meeting. If we did meet I was too young to remember. Aunt Beth was working on getting us in touch with each other when she passed away. I am so glad she did.

It was the coolest conversation!

I picked her brain about family history. Dates and full names and such. I heard cool stories - like how she met her husband on a trek to the next city over to see "Alexander's Ragtime Band". How it took a long time to save up money to get married during the Depression. She told me about how she had 65 years of marriage and she knew every single day that her husband loved her - even if he was grouchy.  We both share a love of being frugal and staying busy.

Now I am going to figure out how to make a little trip to Arkansas and continue the conversation in person one day.

maybe if I put in on here

my mom will get it for me?

I can't believe its Food Storage

took that post down

because I came across witchy 

but I am going to put the links back up so as not to confuse anyone:

maybe its you and not your baby

Germ-a-phobes let it go 

saw a mom today be totally mean to another mom because she set down her kids drink and the other womans son picked it up and drank from it. - It was an unnecessary freak out IMO - the kid wasn't sick and it ended her son's trip to the park because he started crying about his drink that she had thrown away. I would have wiped it off and gave it right back to my kid. Guess I'm the wierdo - Cora enjoyed sitting and eating some sticks.

and AMEN Texas

I didn't get to particpate in the Tea parties yesterday, but I wish I could have. Dang pinewood derby

Hysterical Blog

It deserves its own post - The Peeps of Mormon

The Pinewood Derby is going to be the death of us

Kyle and I are up at 11:00 assembling a pinewood derby track in our living room to make sure it might work.

If you have every done this before:

1. I am sorry

2. Can you help us?

Wordless Wednesday?

Yeah I can't blog without words...

Benjamin has lost two teeth this week, both with no help from Dad!!! 

Look at those curls Maiya has - my mom cried when I cut my hair for the first time - it embarrassed me, but I might cry if we ever cut hers.

Cora got a tooth this week!! It must be a sweet one because that is a picture of her enjoying an Oreo on Easter.

Ella was in the first grade production of T-E-X-A-S! She did an amazing job, even though the kid behind her kept accidentally knocking her hat off - she maintained composure! - that's my girl

what's going on...

here is what is up - I am super busy, but I feel like Grandma and Nana had a bunch of questions when we called to say happy easter, which really meant "why have you not blogged?"

• Kyle got the new job after all. The FBI raid made for a draining week we didn't think he would get the job and were even wondering how much damage it would do to the company, but they got their stuff back and hired Kyle. Much better pay, more expensive insurance - we just can't win :( 
• so I am still considering going back to work - maybe fulltime over the summer and Meg can watch the kids 
• Cora is crawling, pulling up, and is completely on table foods (still do the rice cereal and applesauce too) She is on a eating schedule with us and two naps a day - wow she has become such an "older" baby all of sudden to me - She is still breastfeeding good though - with the other ones breastfeeding became a hassle when they were completely mobile and all of them self weaned despite my best efforts by 10 months - I am really, really hoping I make it to a year + with her. I won't really let her have sippy cups or bottles too much at all. Once something quick like that is common, waiting for my milk to let down is so not fun.
• No teeth yet which is really, really late compared to the other kiddos - 
• Ella went and got bangs back. I know, I know - it was a pain in the butt to grow them out, but I just didn't like it. Her hair grows forward and it always seemed like there was hair in her face and she just looks to old without bangs.
• I brought back an antique dagger from my Aunt's house and I told Benjamin it was his and we would hang it on his wall. But before that after much begging I let him walk around with it for a little bit.
  Then without me knowing he went to show his friend across the street. NICE - "Hi its me Benjamin - want to see my knife" - bet that kid won't come play at our house much now
• Maiya needs to learn to wear one outfit a day - like NOW second to swinging on the swing upstairs her #1 activity is changing outfits.
• That is about it right now, other than the regular upload screen for downloading my picture into the computer is gone, just gone and it is making uploading pictures a REAL BIG PAIN IN THE BUTT. Which is unfortunate because I have a lot of pictures to upload and work on for people. 

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ

I am almost, maybe, kind of, a little bit sure

that I am going back to work. The emotions are strong in so many ways, but most of all I am grateful that I have an excellent degree.

I just need to fork over the money for my continuing ed credits to get re-licensced.  

I am going to give myself the weekend to think about my attack plan.

Like full-time, part-time, PRN close to home, drive to dallas, child-care.

If you know me well I don't do anything without pounds and pounds of research. -- shoot by time I interview I'll probably have more questions for them than they do for me.

Despite the economy - healthcare remains stable, you see funny thing is people always get sick and hurt no matter what is going on.

A few places are even offering sign on bonuses for Occupational Therapists.

BUT for the rest of the day I am not going to think about it - there are bluebonnets calling me...

If you are interested in coming with me...

The North Dallas Photography Club that I am a part of is hosting this meeting Thursday night, if you want to come with me just let me know:

"Digital Scrapbooking"

7:30 pm at the Mckinney Performing Arts center - $8.00 per person

Greetings Fellow Digital Imaging Enthusiast,

I am excited to announce to our April meeting will be Digital Scrapbooking hosted by one of our own members, Lisa Laxton. Scrapbooking has been an expanding industry and pass time for many years. However, with the recent explosion of affordable digital cameras, this industry has taken on a whole new direction known as Digital Scrapbooking.

Lisa will demonstrate how to create layouts, collages, and multi-page spreads with the creativity of a Scrapbooking influence. She will be demonstrating her talents using Photoshop Elements, but these techniques can also be used in the full Photoshop CS versions as well.

Even a Child Can Understand

In the few moments that I could tell the kids were actually listening to General Conference - I could tell that Benjamin was very moved by the sad story Pres. Monson told of the woman burying her four children.
Since I can remember going to conference with my mom and sucking on coffee flavored nips with her (yeah she has a wild streak) - I have loved to hear Pres. Monson tell stories. He just sucks you into the story line, his words weave a picture, then the Spirit of the message punches you right in the face.
I imagine its similar to hearing the Savior tell a parable.
Simple and amazing
Amazing in its simplicity

Janette YOU ROCK

Just imagine she is a happy baby

That place is beautiful Janette and and the bluebonnets are perfect!

It is next to a cemetary and I have decided I want to be buried there.

Please, Please come

A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth - Luke 12:15

Prosper ward is restarting PENNY PINCHERS, I am working very hard to prepare the first get together. But the success of the group will depend on its members. It will be similar to book club, except we get together and sustain each other in the effort to improve our finances. I found this in a talk by Victoria Romney:

Have you thought of your family as a corporation?:

1. Where are we now?

2. Where are we going as we are?

3. Where do we want to go?

4. What may get us there?

5. When can we expect to arrive?

6. Who is responsible for the work?

7. What resources will it take?

8. Can we do it?

To be of any value, these questions, especially the first two, require bluntly honest answers.

so come with ideas and we will plan the topics of further meetings -- we all need encouragement from each other in these difficult times.

Want more? read this article about surviving unemployment

See you there:

April 7th, 7:30pm AT THE BISHOP's HOUSE email me if you need directions

I am on the hunt for Bluebonnets

what true Texan photographer does not want to take pictures in a field of bluebonnets? So this morning I hit the road shortly after the bus pulled away to find some -- I found these

oh the stress, do I make do? keep searching? wait a little longer to let them mature? what if they get stomped to death, mowed over?, freeze and die?

Aren't they just waiting for some cute kids plopped down in them and and some awesome family portraits?

but what do I do with the ones with the crappy background, avoid it painfully the entire photo shoot - call on the photshop gods afterwards?

I call on my blog friends that's what I do - what you you think of said bluebonnets? do you know of any better ones? I need details and opinions  

PS - these were "drive-bys" is there a secret field somewhere I can reach by foot, by hiking, by sneaking on to private property...

This is not an April fools joke I promise...

I am soooo proud of Benjamin and Ella! They both had GREAT report cards

so we had a fancy pants dinner to celebrate that!

Then I was invited to the awards assembly to watch Benjamin receive an Enthusiastic Learner award.



'

while there he also got recognized for the honor roll



then when I got home I was devastated to get this picture in my email : 

 (yes that is Ella wearing a Doors T-shirt -cuz she's cool like that)

Ella had also received an Enthusiastic learner award in her grade's assembly but I had not been told about it. (well actually I got a generic email from the principal saying that each grade was having an assembly and that my kid was getting an award - I thought it was another reminder about Benjamin - but it must have been about Ella.) So I wasn't there and I felt terrible about it, so after lunch I went up to the school and checked Ella out early saying she had an appointment.

She did have an appointment after all. One with me to go get slurpees. I mean was there anything more fun when you were in school to get the call over the loud speaker to "come up to the office prepared to go home"

AND THEN, because my heart is already about to explode...

BENJAMIN got his TAKS results back for reading (for those of you not in Texas, its like SOL's in Virginia, and you have to pass to go to the next grade level.) 

He got a Commended Performance - meaning he scored significantly above the passable level!!