Thursday, February 26, 2009

Living the good life: for cheap


I was just thinking today about how our little family really enjoys a comfortable life with many perks with not a huge income. In large part we do so because when I left my job as a School Psychologist a year ago I traded income for time. Now many days I don't have oodles of time on my hands, but I have far more than when I was working. Plus my stress level is way way down. :)

We enjoy and do lots more fun things and free perks than we did when we were both working! I have the time to request freebies, do more research on how to save money on basics, and just the time to think through things that I might have had to quickly decide in the past.

A few extras that make staying home this week fun, not deprived in any way:

Reading: 2 free books from Paperback Swap arrived today (Everyday home repairs and New McDougall Cookbook)


I found out I won a contest I entered at the Bargain Jargon for a Yoplait Gift pack (that makes 2 drawings I've won this month...should I buy a lottery ticket now or something :)

We're going to get fast food (Arby's free Roastburger with drink purchase and a free Quiznos sub) and get a free Redbox movie for a family treat.

Through various websites and offers I've gotten coupons in the mail (and printed off the internet) for free diet dr. pepper, canned tomatoes, gum, and a couple other fun things I can't remember.

I'm sure once our second baby girl is here my time to look and do these things will decrease, but for now... we'll enjoy the perks of time minus income:) Frugal Friday has more ways you can enjoy the good life for cheap:)

Safeway NW Deals for 2/25-3/3/09



This is a big week for Safeway...

4 days only (Wed-Sat.) take $10 off your purchase of $50 or more! This is after club card prices and supposedly Safeway coupon prices, but before manufacture coupons!

For a super good deal combine the above deal with the following:

Spend $25 on participating frozen foods (marked with a blue house tag) and receive $10 off your next purchase of frozen foods! Let me know if you want to know where to find a list of participating items. Edited to add: Here is a link to the list, its in post #70!

*Also, I've heard that you can combine the frozen food purchase with the Buy 4, Save $5 deal: buy 2 Gorton's Seafood Selections for $3.99 each and 2 Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes ($2.99 each?) you receive an instand $5 off your order total! The Ore-Ida Potatoes count toward the $25 on frozen foods, but the Gorton's Seafood Selections do not. Did that make sense?

*Plus if you do all of the above, you'll meet the $10 min. purchase so you can use your super coupons (see below) and get free Pepsi, super cheap butter and almost free cereal!

Good Deals (no coupon needed!)

Ranchers' Reserve Beef London Broil $1.89/lb

Lucerne Milk $1.99 each when you buy 2

Fresh Asparagus $0.98/lb

Fresh Express or Eating Right Salad Blends $1.98 each

Super Coupons (min $10 purchase)

FREE 2 liter Pepsi product!

Lucerne Butter 1 lb $0.99!

Raisin Bran or Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats $0.99
Use $0.70/1 coupon from last week's insert
Final Price $0.29!

I will definitely be shopping at Safeway this weekend!

For a meal idea using Safeway Sale Items this week (for under $5) see here!
What other deals or match-ups do you see?

For more shopping deals visit BeCentsable!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Bargain Meal of the Week for Safeway NW 2/25/09

Photobucket

Each week at $5 Dinners there is a huge gathering of bargain meals using ingredients at one particular store. Lots of stores are represented! I cover Safeway (the NW region)! Click on the menu items for a few recipe ideas.

This week's bargain meal:

London Broil
Baked Potatoes with real butter
Steamed Asparagus
2 liter soda-Pepsi products (freebie this week when you spend $10 at Safeway!)

Shopping List/Prices

Rancher's Reserve Beef London Broil $1.89/lb ~you will need 1 lb or 1/4 lb per person
Extra Large Russet Potatoes on sale for 2lbs/$1~ buy 4lbs or 4 potatoes $2
Asparagus 1 lb for $0.98
Lucerne Butter (on sale for $1 when you spend $10)~ 1 pat butter/each= $0.15
Pepsi (free when you spend $10!)

Total $5.02 (serves 4)

Bear Snuggles

"Mr. Bear" is giving M some cuddles


Reading to Mr. Bear


Pretending to be a bear!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Grocery Shopping Trip for the Week of 2/22/09

This week I went to Albertson's, Fred Meyer and Safeway (trip to Safeway not pictured).


Total of the above: $22.55

I will list the highlights, but not all because I don't want to type it all out!:)
28 cans of Progresso soup
14 cans of Pillsbury biscuits for $0.25 total (any recipes for me!?)
5 cans of del monte chopped no salt tomatoes (1 was free!)
2 liter Dr. Pepper (free!)
whole wheat hamburger buns for sloppy joes marked down to $0.79
asparagus $0.98/lb

My safeway trip included a huge package of ground beef for $1.49/lb which has already made lentil/rice/& beef meatballs (tasty!) and will make sloppy joes and hamburger gravy later this week with some to spare for the freezer. I also got red grapes for $0.88/lb there, a tomato, and salad in a bag (for $1.00). Total about $11.

Grand total about $34 this week. See my menu plan for this and pantry/freezer food here.

Visit Grocery Cart Challenge and Money Saving Mom for more money saving shopping trips!


Homemade Ketchup

Twice this week I've really wanted to run to the store for some essential ingredient. Or have the brave hubby pick up a forgotten ingredient for me. On Monday it was cottage cheese for baked spaghetti, and today it was ketchup because we're having turkey dogs and fries. How can you have hot dogs and fries with no ketchup!!!?? I say you can't! Twice this week I've found that by altering my recipe (or picking a new one entirely) I've been able to avoid a trip to the store. Here's a gem of a recipe I found on Hillbilly Housewife with ingredients I had at home! For cheap! Yay:)





Homemade Ketchup

And it tastes pretty good. A little different than the typical cheapo high-fructosey variety we eat, but different in a good, healthier way:)

Plus, hubby who doesn't normally like ketchup LOVES this stuff. And I don't feel so bad about the fact that my toddler is um--licking it off the homefries in large quantities:)

Kitchen Tip Tuesday

Monday, February 23, 2009

What to do with 13 packages of Biscuits?


During my shopping trip to take advantage of Albertson's most excellent deals (including rolling the $10 catalina over and over:) I realized that I could do an extra transaction and get 10 packages of Pillsbury Grand's for $0.25 with the coupons I found at the store. Although we're pretty much wheat flour only, it was too good of a deal to pass up. I had gotten 4 packages for free with a previous transaction...so 14 total! We ate one for a snack/dinner yesterday, but that leaves us with 13!

If anyone local would like some or knows of anyone who could use some, let me know! Or if you have any recipe ideas with these, please share! I'll be googling for recipes later today.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Menu Plan for the Week of 2/23/09



Breakfasts: Egg McMuffins or Biscuits with Jam/PB, Carrot Coconut Bread, Cereal, 60 minute cinnamon rolls

Lunches: Leftovers

Snacks: fruit, Cheerio Snack Mix, Banana PB smoothies

Dinners:

M: Teriyaki Meatballs over Brown Rice with cheesy broccoli/cauliflower

Tue: Crustless Ham Quiche with Asparagus

Wed: Hard Shell Tacos (with Pinto Beans, Beef, Cheese, Sour Cream, Lettuce and Salsa and leftover taco soup from the freezer

Th: Hamburger Gravy over Mashed Potatoes with cooked carrots

F: Homemade Pizza with carrot sticks or salad

Sat: Sloppy Joes, Home Fries and Peas

Sun: Clam Chowder, Whole Wheat Rolls, Mixed Veggies

Orgjunkie has hundreds more menu plans!

Friday, February 20, 2009

20 Free Photos at Walgreen's today only!

Because I love me some freebies, I thought I would share this one with you all. Today only, order twenty 4 X 6 photos at Walgreens for free! I just ordered mine online and it worked perfectly! Enter code ONEDAY at checkout at Walgreens.com.

As a side note this freebie is such a blessing since photos are something that really don't make it into our regular budget. I was thinking just yesterday how bare my photo albums for M are (although our computer is full of pics)! Now this freebie comes along and I can get a little further before our next baby girl is here!

Left-overs Soup in the crockpot


Its so nice to have a hot meal waiting for you after a day of shopping/work. Last weekend we went out with my birthday gift certificate to Red Robin, but I knew we'd need a meal when we got home. With a tiny bit of planning I had everything I needed to make a soup in the crockpot in about 10 minutes right before we left.

Chicken and Rice Soup

1 cup chicken (cooked/deboned from a whole chicken meal earlier in the week)
1 cup broccoli, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup leftover crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup dried lentils
6 cups broth (I used veggie broth because that's what I had!)
several tsps. spices to taste (pepper, salt, parsley, garlic powder)

Sautee onions and carrots in a TBS of oil or in a non-stick pan. Put everything in crockpot on low for high for 4-6 hours


At last minute I added several cups pre-cooked brown rice. We served this by itself because we were stuffed from our lunch out! It was very good with a little shredded cheddar on top.

Visit Frugal Friday for more ways to stretch your $$$$$!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Reading and Snuggling with Daddy

This is a favorite activity of our little one.

So cozy and so cute!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Safeway NW Deals for 2/18 -2/24/09



Good Deals (no coupon needed!)

80% lean ground beef $1.49/lb

Boneless Beef Roast $1.99/lb

Gold Pineapple $2.88 each

Red Seedless Grapes $0.88/lb

Lucerne Milk $1.99 each when you buy 2

Breyers Ice Cream $2.49 each

Safeway Apple Juice $0.99 each (64 oz)

Fresh Express Salad $1 each


Coupon Matchups

Hormel Chili, 15 oz $0.99
Use $0.55/2 coupon from 01-18 S
Final Price $0.72

Kraft Mayonnaise, 24-32 oz $2.47
Use $0.75/1 coupon from 01-18 S
Final Price $1.72

Hunts Manwich, 15.5 oz $0.99
Use $0.50/2 coupon from 01-18 S
Final Price $0.74

Progresso Traditional & Vegetable Classic Soup, 18.5-19 oz $1.25
Use $0.50/2 coupon from 02-08 GM
Final Price $1.00

Jif Peanut Butter, 18 oz $2.49
Use $1.00/3 coupon from 01-04 R1
Final Price $2.16

Kens Steakhouse Salad Dressing, 16 oz bottle $1.50
Use coupon for $1.00/1 found in 01-11 S
Final PRice $0.50

For a meal idea using Safeway Sale Items this week (for under $5) see here!

What other deals or match-ups do you see?

For more shopping deals visit BeCentsable!

Bargain Meal of the week for Safeway NW 2/18/09

Photobucket

Each week at $5 Dinners there is a huge gathering of bargain meals using ingredients at one particular store. Lots of stores are represented! I cover Safeway (the NW region)! Click on the menu items for a few recipe ideas.

This week's bargain meal

Cheeseburgers w/tomato or avocado slices
Golden Corn
Grapes

Shopping List/Prices


Hamburger 1 lb for $1.49 (on sale this week)
4 slices Kraft Deli Fresh cheese $0.90/approx
1/2 package Safeway Wheat buns $0.75
1/2 lb tomato ($0.99/lb) or 1/2 avocado (on sale for $0.99/each)
1/2 lb grapes $0.44
1/4 package golden frozen safeway brand corn $0.60 approx.

Total $4.68

27 Week Pregnancy Update and Sinus Tip

A sinus infection/pain relief tip that works for me when you can't take medicine (like during pregnancy or you just don't have access to meds!) is to utilize a homemade steam tent and to tap your sinus area.

After an almost sleepless night I found those two tricks that offered enough relief to get some sleep. First is the steam bath. Boil water on the stove and remove from heat. Hang your head over the steamy water and cover your head with a towel. Breath deeply for several minutes. The congestion will ease up quite a bit if you are lucky! I did this every couple hours when my sinues were at their worst. I also have TMJ disorder so the pain was compounded--this was a lifesaver. I did this in combination with tapping my sinus area rapidly for 2 minutes at a time (first the temples, then over and under eye area and the sides of your nose). The combo of these two worked for me! I've heard that irrigating the sinus area with 8 oz of water and a tsp. or baking soda/salt works well too.

Picture from Planning Family
Baby girl is at week 27 now! I'm heading into the dreaded third trimester now. Its hard to believe that in 3 or so months I will be holding my new baby! She's about 15 inches long now and over 2 pounds. Lungs can function now and the eyelids start opening at this point. She is kicking all the time!

My midwife apt. yesterday went well. So far, I have just loved the level of care you get from a midwife (even one that's part of an HMO) vs. an OB. She is so reassuring and helpful--and is super encouraging about my prospects of a successful VBAC. I am actually looking forward to this labor, whereas I was scared to death last time (unfortunately with good reason, but I didn't know that at the time:). HB was 150, and I am measuring right at 27 cm, which is the right size for 27 weeks. My blood pressure is still within normal range 120/70 and I've experienced no signs of PIH yet...praise God! Unfortunately it can sneak up at any time, so its just a waiting game to see at this point. My glucose test (to look for gest. diabetes) results come back today.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Grocery Shopping Trip Week of 2/15/09

I shopped at Rite Aid, Walgreen's and Fred Meyer this week. My grand total for everything was a little over $20 out of pocket. I needed more in the way of drugstore purchases than groceries, but was able to get those and a bunch of freebies with Rite Aid's $5/$20 coupon and the rebate gift card I recieved!

Groceries at Fred Meyer: $15

Whole Wheat Flour
Carrots
Onions
2 bags frozen peas
margarine
2 jars raspberry jam (use FM coupon for $1.25 each)
6 gala apples
bananas
whole wheat bread (day old...$0.79)

Side Note: we have a well stocked pantry and freezer-so no this is not all we'll be eating this week! If you want to see our menu for the week, its here!

Rite Aid (total $4.xx)

Reese's Whipps (free)
Nivea lip Care (free after SCR)
Bayer asprin (will be money maker of $7 after rebates)
Energy Smart Lightbulbs ($1.50 after coupons/rebates...we needed these!)
Bleach
Cinnamon, Dried Onions (sale 2/$1)
Dish Soap (needed this ...sale $.99)
Puffs ($0.74 after coupon/sale) need these for my nasty cold

Walgreens ($0 oop, but used giftcard and RR)

Free After Rebate Items:
Garnier Hair Styler
ThermaCare Heat Wrap
Zucol Cold Care (am using this now!)
Revlon Touch Up (used this yesterday:) on clearance for $1.79, used $1 off EasySaver Coupon
Perfect 10 Hair Color $5.69 on clearance, will send in for $5 rebate!

Visit Money Saving Mom and Grocery Cart Challenge to See more shopping trips!

Sweeping Beauty

I wish the "wanting to do what mommy and daddy do" would last forever. M spent a good 20 minutes "sweeping" yesterday. Yes, she's only wearing a t-shirt and cloth diaper..but we're having some rash issues that need to be aired out.




Just a little while after these pictures were taken she fell and got quite the shiner on her eye, including a nice gash...so I am glad I got these before that! :)

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Menu Plan for the Week of February 16th, 2009



Breakfasts: Zucchini Bread (More with less...already made this and its yummy!), pancakes, coffee cake

I made double chocolate scones for Valentines day and they were yummy! My sweet hubby walked to Starbucks with our daughter while I made them and bought me a Caramel Macchiato...my favorite! Unfortunately our oven is gets hotter than it should and the scones burned on the bottom:)

Lunches: Leftovers

Snacks: fruit, banana bread, cereal, crackers, cheese

Dinners:

M: Baked Spaghetti, homemade garlic bread and Peas

Tue: Turkey Dogs, Spicy Home Fries and Veggie sticks

Wed: Really Good Beans & Rice, Tortilla Chips, Salsa and broccoli

Th: Cheesy Bowtie Macaroni Casserole with leftover turkey dogs and peas

F: Homemade Pizza or Calzones made with this crust recipe

Sat: Butter Chickpea Curry (had curry on the menu for three weeks now, but haven't gotten to it!

Sun: Potato Soup in Crockpot with Whole Wheat Rolls and Mixed Veggies

Orgjunkie has hundreds more menu plans!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Playground with Punker


Inspired by Erin, I hauled M and my cabin-fevered, still suffering from a cold self to the playground today. Apparently I was slightly delusional. I thought that I could bring some envelopes to address while watching her casually from a park bench. What a dork I am...she's only 16 months old and the playground is made for "big" kids!

So instead of leisurely watching from a park bench, I chased her all over the playground and made sure she didn't join in the basketball game with the local home-boys nearby. She was WAY more interested in playing with them than the playground. It was still fun to get fresh air and to let her explore. Notice the nasty duck poo on her shoes below.

Not too fun parts: wiping duck poo off her hands (and keeping her from eating it!), hacking in the cold air and heaving M over my large belly on the slide and then misjudging how far it was to sit down. I think I probably jarred my unborn girlie pretty well!

Checking out the bball game...

Down the slide

Running to play with our neighborhood thugs...again (and mommy chasing)

Crockpot Meals: frugally timesaving

Three out of four nights this week (so far!) I've used our crockpot to prepare meals ahead of time. Not only have they been healthy, but have all been under $4 for 4 (or more) servings.

Things I love about the crockpot:

~Avoid the last minute dinnertime rush

~So nice when you're sick or have morning sickness and want to deal with the meal minimally

~Think beyond the traditional hunk o' meat in the crokpot. You can do that too, but some of our favorite crockpot meals are meatless or have very little meat. For example:

Perfect Baked Potatoes (for a potato bar)

Taco Soup (can be made meatless or with very little meat)

~Less processed than other last minute meals (can be quite healthy!)

~You can make them as inexpensive (or not!) as you want to. Think beans, lentils, soups, etc.

~Less mistakes with dinner: the slow cooking allows for a large margin of error with cooking skills! It is rare that any of my crockpot meals turn out poorly.

Leftovers become new with crockpot creativity! For example tomorrow we'll be going to use my Red Robin free burger certificate for lunch, so we'll want a light dinner with easy prep. I'll be putting some leftovers from this week: brown rice, leftover shredded chicken, broccoli, onions, with some broth and throw it in the crock for a healthy chicken and rice soup right before we leave.

For more frugal friday tips, visit Biblical Womanhood!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Sickie Survival

Colds are no fun. Sick enough to not want to do anything, but no so miserable that you don't feel like you should be getting things done. That's me today.

My previous ambitious to-do lists are pretty much out the window for today, and here's all I think I'll accomplish today:

1. put away load of diapers
2. fix dinner (teriyaki meatballs over rice...all I have to do is thaw out previously prepared meatballs and cook the rice and broccoli...yay for easy meals and prep work all done!)
3. take a shower and brush my teeth :)
4. care for my energetic toddler girl
5. anything else is bonus;)

Punker loves her huge stuffed bear and taking the garbage out. Here are some pictures of her hauling those two around our apartment...before the sickies hit:)




Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Safeway NW Deals for Feb. 11, 2009



Good Deals (no coupon needed!)

Foster Farms Fresh Whole Chicken $0.79/lb

Whole Boneless Pork Loin $1.99/lb

Organic or California Oranges $0.78/lb

Asparagus $1.28/lb

Coke fridge packs $2.49 (must buy 5 or more)

Lucerne Cheese (2 lb) $4.99

Lay's potato chips $1.99

President's Day 4 day Sale

All American Pie $3.99

Starbucks 12oz $5.99

Safeway Select Icecream $1.99

Organic or Washington Fuji Apples $0.78

Super Coupons (min. $10 purchase)

Listerine 500ml $1.99 limit 1

Red Baron Single Serve Pizza 2/$4
Use $1/2 coupon from 01-11 S
Final Price $1.50

Wesson Cooking Oil 48 oz 2 for $5.00 limit 2

Safeway Soda (2 liter) $0.49

Safeway Breads $1.59

Arm & Hammer 64 to 80 oz 2 for $7.00 limit 2

BC Fruit Snacks or Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats 4 for $6.00 limit 4
Use $0.75/2 coupon found here for Fruit Snacks or $1.00/2 for Frosted Flakes

Mission Tortilla Chips .99 Limit 1

Hormel Marinated Pork Tenderloins $4.99 Limit 1
Use $1/1 from 02-08-09 SS
Final Price $3.99!

For Two Meals Ideas using Safeway NW sale items this week, click here!

What other deals or match-ups do you see?

For more shopping deals visit BeCentsable!

Bargain Meal for 2/11/09: Safeway NW

Photobucket

Each week at $5 Dinners there will be a huge gathering of bargain meals using ingredients at one particular store. Lots of stores are represented! I will be one of those covering Safeway!

For this first week of Bargain Meals using Safeway NW sale items, I thought I would do one simple (and not-so-healthy) meal and one that's a little healthier and more time consuming! Click on the menu items for a few recipe ideas.

Menu #1

Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Asparagus
Artisan Bread
Baked Apples

Shopping List/Prices
Hormel Pork Tenderloin ($4.99 with super coupon) Use 1/2 for dinner $2.50
Asparagus ($1.28/lb) Use 1 lb $1.28
Safeway Select Artisan Filone Bread $0.99
4 Organic Fugi Apples
Total $5.55

Menu #2

Cheese Nachos
Baby Carrots/Dressing
Safeway Brand Soda

Shopping List/Prices
Mission Tortilla Chips (super coupon in ad) $0.99
Safeway Soda (super coupon in ad) $0.49
Baby Carrots (on sale for $1.99/2lbs) use 1 lb $0.99
Bernstein's salad dressing $2.99 (use 1/8 bottle or less $0.38
Lucerne Shredded Cheese (2 lbs $4.99) use 1/2 lb for $2.50
Total: $5.35

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Gettin' it in Gear: almost done!

My projects from yesterday are almost done! I finished the laundry (and put it away!), organized the home management area, and even did a few bonus things. Last night and tonight were both crockpot meals (baked potato bar last night and a whole chicken with leftover baked potatoes, carrots, biscuits and salad) so that helped to conserve time for projects.

Here are some pics of my progress:

Chicken/Carrots in the crockpot

Finished: home management area:
My current project-still working on those coupons! Notice my pretty flowers in the background from my hubby:)

What's outside: winter wonderland!
Not pictured: the laundry that's all done and put away! I even got a chance to go through the newborn baby clothes and was blessed in seeing that we are almost ready for our new baby girl to come!

Weekly Shopping Trip 2/7/09

My shopping trips for this week were successfully frugal. Unfortunately we had a couple additional trips that weren't really planned: one to the Asian food market next door to the V-day & B-day Japanese restaurant outing and one to Costco to pick up yeast, coffee and a pineapple. So those trips really should come out of the regular grocery budget and totaled almost $24!! But who can resist an excellent deal on curry and sesame oil and the husband who isn't ready to give up good coffee!?:)

Here is my trip to Fred Meyer and Safeway:

Although my receipt has run off, my total was just above $25 for the following:

Fred Meyer:
7 oranges ($0.38/lb!)
1 yellow onion
1 reduced salad $0.99
1 bag mixed veg
1 bag peas
2 4-packs cottonelle tp (used $0.50/2 coupon)
large bunch bananas
Coffee Mate Creamer (reduced to $0.50)
2 containers sour cream (used $0.40 coupon on each)
tomatoes (canned)
turkey hot dogs
Ocean Spray Cranberry juice $1.67 - $1/1 coupon

Safeway (total about $6):
Kraft Cheese (X2) $1.99 -$0.75/1 coupon on each)
2 Poptarts $1 - $1/2 coupon
Potatoes $1.48 10 lbs
Fritos Scoops $1.00

Albertson's (total $3.49):


Danimals Yogurt $0.50 (6 pack) (used $1/1 coupon on package)
Yo Baby Banana Yogurt $0.50 (used $1/1 coupon
2 Hunts Manwich $1.00 total after doubles
Dannon Activa Drink Yogurt Free after doubles
3 Coffee Mate Creamers (used 2 $1.50/1 printable coupons and 1 $0.50 doubled
Kens Ranch Dressing $3.00, used $1/1 coupon doubled
Albertson's Decaff $3.49 (used $3.00 off Albies coffee coupon)

Unfortunately I just noticed only one of my $1.50 creamer coupons scanned! My total should have been $2.00! We'll see if I can get the money back, but either way it was a good run:)

Visit Grocery Cart Challenge for more shopping trips!

Monday, February 9, 2009

Gettin' it in gear

Updated: here is my progress!

Yep, I officially sound like a hick. I guess I did sort of grow up in hick country, so maybe I am one. Must embrace the hick-ness:)

What I need to be "gettin' in gear" is my motivation for organization! Its a constant struggle for me. Last week I had several days where I was in sort of a cabin-feverish funk and didn't do much beyond the minimum. Today, I have much more in the way of motivation and am ready to tackle some small projects around the house.

Here are some pictures of what lays ahead of me and what I've already started:

Here are the baked potatoes in the crockpot, cooking away--ready to be topped with lots of goodies at dinnertime. Potatoes were $1.48 at Safeway this week so even topped with cheese, sourcream, beans, bacon bits, etc. and a side of green beans or broccoli, this meal will cost us less than $0.30/per person.


Here is the scary laundry room and my stockpile of laundry detergeants that I've gotten dirt cheap. If I run out someday, I am going to try to make my own.

Next up is my coupon pile and the newspapers I got yesterday-ready to be drained of their coupons.


And last of all...probably the most difficult area is my kitchen table/home-management area. I always let this get messy and unorganized and just need to clean, organize and find ways to make the system better. My brain is exhausted just thinking about tackling this area!
I am planning on posting pictures of my progress later today or tomorrow for motivation;)

Biblical Womanhood is hosting a Spring Cleaning for Normal People Challenge!