I had a gallbladder attack in the middle of Thursday night through Friday morning. I was not sure what it was until it was over. My stomach is still uncomfortable and I have had a headache since Friday morning.
I feel slightly dizzy too. Since I cannot sleep well from the headache, it is causing me to feel anxious and overwhelmed - like seriously overwhelmed. Have to clean the kitchen - OMG - Mount Everest!
It will pass once I get some sleep - this crazy weather with all the high and low front are not doing much to help me. The crazy busy starts again and I think I just have not recovered from the last batch enough.
We are doing an open house for all our friends, co-workers, neighbors, basically every one we know. It is a come and go thing and honestly, I am not too stressed about the actual day - I am stressed about getting the house ready. Of course, I want everything exactly so, and it never will be. The age ole problem o' mine.
I am going to make a list - organize the importance and just go until there is no time or I pass out from this freaking headache! UGH!
This party is tomorrow BTW. Then, I have to get a tooth capped or possibly a root canal. Sigh. At least the permanent cap can be put on the same day, so just one day out. My sister, her husband and little boy are coming this next weekend. My nephew is staying with us for the week, then we are taking him back to my sister's 5 hours away the next weekend. Theater starts back up. My in-laws are going to come at some point as well this month.
My husband commented this morning that we have not had our alone time. He's right - still no alone time with getting the house together. It has either been about the house, the business or the kids - not us. Still. We are trying though. We did grocery shop together as well as shop for Christmas together and alone. Not exactly good for romance, but it was us together.
I also decided to join a workshop for developing habits. Ditching bad ones and enhancing good ones - start good ones, etc. Maybe too much right now, but when is ever a good time?
Ok, I am going to get moving - get this list started and trying to get going. I hope you have something either fun or relaxing for New Year's Eve! We will probably pass out before midnight. LOL I am thankful people do not shoot fireworks so badly out here! There is too much worry about fire.
one husband......four kids......debt......sewing...... saving......cooking......yoga......sweet......chaos......life......
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Thursday, December 28, 2017
EOM - December Numbers
Yes, I checked out for a while. I relaxed, spent time with my kiddos and husband and did nothing, but cook from time to time.
It was a great Christmas - peaceful, happy. The best in a very long time.
Down to the numbers.
There is a big change. Due to an inheritance that came in a couple of days before Christmas, we were able to pay down a large chunk of the debt. It is all pulling up the bootstraps from here on out!
Debts:
401(k) loan for land
October 2017 Start - $42,627
Current - $0
CC#1
October 2017 Start - $30,400.81
Current - $0
CC#2
October 2017 Start - $13,943.95
Current - $0
CC#3
October 2017 Start - $17,279.17
Current -$16,790.73
CC#4
October 2017 Start - $32,855.22
Current - $35,294.16
Truck
October 2017 Start - $21,753.52
Current -$21,277.58
Car
October 2017 Start - $7,013.68
Current -$6,896.78
Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $332,480.00
Current - $332,480.00
Total Non-Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $165, 874.09
Current - $80,259.25
Total Debt
October 2017 Start - $498,354.09
Current - $412,739.25
No more 401(k) loan debt! That feels so amazing! I hated the stress that it put on us for staying at this job (not that we were planning on leaving), and stupidity of it! Done, Done, Done and so help me, we will NEVER take out a 401(k) loan again.
We paid off 2 credit cards as well. Whew! Unlike Dave Ramsey, we are going to tackle Credit Card #4 next. For a couple of reasons. 1) it has the highest interest rate 2) it affects our monthly cash flow the most and 3) we are wanting to pay it off so we can refinance and get away from the bank that gave us the loan - they are a hot mess! They still have not closed our construction loan - threatening us, even though we have converted to a permanent loan. We paid our 1st mortgage payment, but it is on hold - just a mess and it has been like that with them from the beginning. Plus, we feel our rate is slightly too high - 4%. But that is what is standard for a construction loan I hear.
We can get a lower rate and a 10 to 15 year mortgage instead of the 30 year mortgage. We just need to get the debt down a little first. Probably by the end of 2018.
Christmas was done without adding to debt. I am excited about 2018. We are getting back on track! Are you looking forward to 2018?
It was a great Christmas - peaceful, happy. The best in a very long time.
Down to the numbers.
There is a big change. Due to an inheritance that came in a couple of days before Christmas, we were able to pay down a large chunk of the debt. It is all pulling up the bootstraps from here on out!
Debts:
401(k) loan for land
October 2017 Start - $42,627
Current - $0
CC#1
October 2017 Start - $30,400.81
Current - $0
CC#2
October 2017 Start - $13,943.95
Current - $0
CC#3
October 2017 Start - $17,279.17
Current -$16,790.73
CC#4
October 2017 Start - $32,855.22
Current - $35,294.16
Truck
October 2017 Start - $21,753.52
Current -$21,277.58
Car
October 2017 Start - $7,013.68
Current -$6,896.78
Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $332,480.00
Current - $332,480.00
Total Non-Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $165, 874.09
Current - $80,259.25
Total Debt
October 2017 Start - $498,354.09
Current - $412,739.25
No more 401(k) loan debt! That feels so amazing! I hated the stress that it put on us for staying at this job (not that we were planning on leaving), and stupidity of it! Done, Done, Done and so help me, we will NEVER take out a 401(k) loan again.
We paid off 2 credit cards as well. Whew! Unlike Dave Ramsey, we are going to tackle Credit Card #4 next. For a couple of reasons. 1) it has the highest interest rate 2) it affects our monthly cash flow the most and 3) we are wanting to pay it off so we can refinance and get away from the bank that gave us the loan - they are a hot mess! They still have not closed our construction loan - threatening us, even though we have converted to a permanent loan. We paid our 1st mortgage payment, but it is on hold - just a mess and it has been like that with them from the beginning. Plus, we feel our rate is slightly too high - 4%. But that is what is standard for a construction loan I hear.
We can get a lower rate and a 10 to 15 year mortgage instead of the 30 year mortgage. We just need to get the debt down a little first. Probably by the end of 2018.
Christmas was done without adding to debt. I am excited about 2018. We are getting back on track! Are you looking forward to 2018?
Thursday, December 21, 2017
the Goals I ponder..
In a rush late one evening, I just HAD to write a list of goals that were swirling in my head for the upcoming year. With how crazed we feel - out of control and putting out fires rather than proactively living our lives, I feel the urgent need to get on top of things again.
Before we decided to move, we were busy, but had time to sit and talk, go out as a family, send thank you notes, etc.
But since we embarked on the build, and the subsequent move to the "country", we have yet to find that new norm. It did not help that we released the builder before every little thing was done on this house (to save money and reduce our stress), and we all got sick for a LONG time, my back went out (and is now good to go!) and boom, there were the holidays. Whoever said, "Be in by the holidays" was a masochist. Not being here would have made the expectations lower. But whose expectations? Mine, of course.
Yes, I put all the pressure on my self, then fail under the weight - and so it goes, I fall short of perfection, and probably very close to the exceeded expectations of my family and friends. Such a silly game I play with myself.
Back to the original topic - Goals for 2018. I say goals because resolutions are a sure fire way to not make any of it happen and even goal is a little iffy. This is more of a focus. If I don't meet them all, then it is not as big of a deal as if I actually spent the time working in these areas.
So, in effort to bring a little silliness to it - I have 18 for '18. In no categorization or particular order:
1. Exercise for all. Since the build, we just stopped. Stopped moving, stopping caring about it, stopped. I can get us back there though.
5. New Chore Chart that includes adults. I feel the kids think they do all the work (snicker), because they have a chart and we do not. Maybe I am off my rocker, HOWEVER, we have more "things" to take care of here. So, writing it down for us as well, may motivate the majority. We will see how it goes.
6. 15 minute clean ups. In addition or along with the chores, I would like to do a morning and evening 15-minute clean up. Literally, set a timer and straighten up, wipe the toilets and sinks, throw away trash, put away dishes, etc. You can do a LOT in 15 minutes and that goes well, I will cut it down to 10 minutes. I really need to show everyone in the family how to develop a habit of personal organization and understand how beneficial it is. (we used to do this and it was fabulous!)
7. Threaded Lines - 2 posts per week. Ideally, it would be one completed customer order and one small thing I made - key fob, pouch, stuffy, etc.
8. This blog - add pictures to 2 blog posts per week. I love to take pictures and I used to post a lot more pictures than I do.
9. Send one "I'm thinking of you" note per month. It can be either mailed, emailed or messaged on Facebook. I have lost touch with almost everyone and I need to make contact again.
10. Send Birthday greetings to all parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and close friends. Something I used to do, but that fell away. It was not time consuming either - we keep a bunch of birthday cards, I write them all during the last week of the month and write the date to send in my planner. I stamp them all at the same time and they just go out the date I wrote down. There is on average 2-3 a month - so nothing major.
11. Facebook - Birthday greetings. It takes less than 1 minute to write Happy Birthday on Facebook and there are not even birthdays every day. I know it does not mean a whole lot, but after going one year with getting no Happy Birthdays on Facebook, it really does mean something. This is me, trying to rejoin society a little.
12. Ah, the infamous lose weight. Yep, I am going for 18 pounds this year. Hopefully, with the diet changes and the exercise that will come more naturally.
13. Use planner daily. During the build, I got out of the habit because things changed so much, but it is a lifeline to me! I love lists and I tend to function better with an idea of what it supposed to happen. Sure, I just take some days off (like today), but then I can see what is important and HAS to be done, and what can be put off one day.
14. Bring more "fun" to our family. Oh boy, this year was so serious. We all forgot to be fun.
16. Stick to a monthly budget. We need to do this more than ever! No more impulse buying anything!
17. Respond M-F to at least 2 blogs and 2 Facebook posts of friends. I become a lurker if I am not careful. I know it seems canned, but I will put thought into it. It may be morning, it may be evening when everything else is done, but I will do it.
18. Call my Dad monthly. Since my grandmother died, my Dad has been trying to make a connection with me. We don't talk much. However, neither he or I can understand on the phone very well and have a problem with our speech (as Linda noticed on my last post). What we write or say is not always the same as what we think and sometimes we cannot come up with the word at all. My family is riddled with it. Anyway, I may have to text, but I need to communicate with him more frequently.
That's it - it is really about the connection this year - we became so internal - all of us that we need to bring people back into our lives.
Before we decided to move, we were busy, but had time to sit and talk, go out as a family, send thank you notes, etc.
But since we embarked on the build, and the subsequent move to the "country", we have yet to find that new norm. It did not help that we released the builder before every little thing was done on this house (to save money and reduce our stress), and we all got sick for a LONG time, my back went out (and is now good to go!) and boom, there were the holidays. Whoever said, "Be in by the holidays" was a masochist. Not being here would have made the expectations lower. But whose expectations? Mine, of course.
Yes, I put all the pressure on my self, then fail under the weight - and so it goes, I fall short of perfection, and probably very close to the exceeded expectations of my family and friends. Such a silly game I play with myself.
Back to the original topic - Goals for 2018. I say goals because resolutions are a sure fire way to not make any of it happen and even goal is a little iffy. This is more of a focus. If I don't meet them all, then it is not as big of a deal as if I actually spent the time working in these areas.
So, in effort to bring a little silliness to it - I have 18 for '18. In no categorization or particular order:
1. Exercise for all. Since the build, we just stopped. Stopped moving, stopping caring about it, stopped. I can get us back there though.
- As a family, walking is great, hiking even better, canoeing, etc. We may even set up a calisthenics area here as well as a basketball goal. Make exercise a family fun time.
- With homeschool, I need to give them a 2 credits - so I was thinking a couch to 3K thing, culminating in a 3K run. Then maybe a self defense class, with yoga on the off days.
- We need to plan out all meals, not just dinner.
- We need to all get breakfast and lunch together (me and the kids) If they see me preparing a meal, they will be more likely to do the same or we can all eat the same thing. I did this when they were young, we just got out of the habit when the got in school and never started back up when I homeschooled.
- Bunch errands and appointments so we go out less. Leave most for the weekend.
- Homeschool is morning, TL is afternoon.
5. New Chore Chart that includes adults. I feel the kids think they do all the work (snicker), because they have a chart and we do not. Maybe I am off my rocker, HOWEVER, we have more "things" to take care of here. So, writing it down for us as well, may motivate the majority. We will see how it goes.
6. 15 minute clean ups. In addition or along with the chores, I would like to do a morning and evening 15-minute clean up. Literally, set a timer and straighten up, wipe the toilets and sinks, throw away trash, put away dishes, etc. You can do a LOT in 15 minutes and that goes well, I will cut it down to 10 minutes. I really need to show everyone in the family how to develop a habit of personal organization and understand how beneficial it is. (we used to do this and it was fabulous!)
7. Threaded Lines - 2 posts per week. Ideally, it would be one completed customer order and one small thing I made - key fob, pouch, stuffy, etc.
8. This blog - add pictures to 2 blog posts per week. I love to take pictures and I used to post a lot more pictures than I do.
9. Send one "I'm thinking of you" note per month. It can be either mailed, emailed or messaged on Facebook. I have lost touch with almost everyone and I need to make contact again.
10. Send Birthday greetings to all parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and close friends. Something I used to do, but that fell away. It was not time consuming either - we keep a bunch of birthday cards, I write them all during the last week of the month and write the date to send in my planner. I stamp them all at the same time and they just go out the date I wrote down. There is on average 2-3 a month - so nothing major.
11. Facebook - Birthday greetings. It takes less than 1 minute to write Happy Birthday on Facebook and there are not even birthdays every day. I know it does not mean a whole lot, but after going one year with getting no Happy Birthdays on Facebook, it really does mean something. This is me, trying to rejoin society a little.
12. Ah, the infamous lose weight. Yep, I am going for 18 pounds this year. Hopefully, with the diet changes and the exercise that will come more naturally.
13. Use planner daily. During the build, I got out of the habit because things changed so much, but it is a lifeline to me! I love lists and I tend to function better with an idea of what it supposed to happen. Sure, I just take some days off (like today), but then I can see what is important and HAS to be done, and what can be put off one day.
14. Bring more "fun" to our family. Oh boy, this year was so serious. We all forgot to be fun.
- The kids love board games, I do not, but I can suck it up every now and then.
- Start High/Low again at dinner. We did this for years and some days are sad, but we were much closer for it. We start with low and end on a high. Sometimes, one person's high brought us all up.
- Cook together - 2 fold benefit - they learn and we tend to have fun in the kitchen. Probably this is a weekend thing.
- One family out per month - camping, movie, concert, bowling, henna, etc.
16. Stick to a monthly budget. We need to do this more than ever! No more impulse buying anything!
17. Respond M-F to at least 2 blogs and 2 Facebook posts of friends. I become a lurker if I am not careful. I know it seems canned, but I will put thought into it. It may be morning, it may be evening when everything else is done, but I will do it.
18. Call my Dad monthly. Since my grandmother died, my Dad has been trying to make a connection with me. We don't talk much. However, neither he or I can understand on the phone very well and have a problem with our speech (as Linda noticed on my last post). What we write or say is not always the same as what we think and sometimes we cannot come up with the word at all. My family is riddled with it. Anyway, I may have to text, but I need to communicate with him more frequently.
That's it - it is really about the connection this year - we became so internal - all of us that we need to bring people back into our lives.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Chaotic Life in Full Swing
I did finish the customer's quilts - they loved them, I was paid. Deep breath.
We finished up Christmas shopping on Sunday - or so I thought. We completely forgot about our son's girlfriend! It needs to be small, as we have not met her yet, but I am making a hooded towel for her son, so I feel like we need to get something - any ideas? We know nothing much about her. We give all our kids personal care products for Christmas - so I was thinking of giving her exactly what we give our older kids - body wash, a toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream and a couple of gift cards - to starbucks and whataburger maybe.
Anyway, I still need to do that.
I am working on the top secret quilt that I can only do during the day. I should be done by Wednesday.
We sat down and made the decision that we would stop school at the end of this week and not start it back up until January 8th. There is a lot going on that first week of January, so it is pretty much a wash anyway. I will not start the business up until then either. I have 2 quilts waiting for me at that point, but they are not difficult.
In between, I will work on my Nana's quilt for my cousin, Ellen, who took care of her. It is going to be a queen size with 11 - 12 x 12 blocks that will have birds and flowers embroidered on them. There are smaller pieces as well, but they will not have embroidery. It is going to be a lovely quilt, but will take some time.
Also, there are the wolves to get done. This break is not a chance to slow down, but catch up.
I have also made a list of 18 goals for 2018 - cliche, but I was in the mood. Not resolutions, because some can be accomplished quickly and others will need a LOT of work. That will be another post.
Cookies probably will not be done until Friday or Saturday. I don't want them all eaten before Christmas. ;)
Today, DD has to get 2 cavities filled. She auditioned for Must To Do About Nothing, hopefully we will hear the casting before Christmas, but it was not a given. This semester studying Shakespeare lets her go on a summer Shakepeare festival trip. She is very excited!
Ham and Potato Soup for dinner tonight - it is the kids' favorite and college boy is coming home today.
OK, gotta get everyone going - they are moving slow.
We finished up Christmas shopping on Sunday - or so I thought. We completely forgot about our son's girlfriend! It needs to be small, as we have not met her yet, but I am making a hooded towel for her son, so I feel like we need to get something - any ideas? We know nothing much about her. We give all our kids personal care products for Christmas - so I was thinking of giving her exactly what we give our older kids - body wash, a toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream and a couple of gift cards - to starbucks and whataburger maybe.
Anyway, I still need to do that.
I am working on the top secret quilt that I can only do during the day. I should be done by Wednesday.
We sat down and made the decision that we would stop school at the end of this week and not start it back up until January 8th. There is a lot going on that first week of January, so it is pretty much a wash anyway. I will not start the business up until then either. I have 2 quilts waiting for me at that point, but they are not difficult.
In between, I will work on my Nana's quilt for my cousin, Ellen, who took care of her. It is going to be a queen size with 11 - 12 x 12 blocks that will have birds and flowers embroidered on them. There are smaller pieces as well, but they will not have embroidery. It is going to be a lovely quilt, but will take some time.
Also, there are the wolves to get done. This break is not a chance to slow down, but catch up.
I have also made a list of 18 goals for 2018 - cliche, but I was in the mood. Not resolutions, because some can be accomplished quickly and others will need a LOT of work. That will be another post.
Cookies probably will not be done until Friday or Saturday. I don't want them all eaten before Christmas. ;)
Today, DD has to get 2 cavities filled. She auditioned for Must To Do About Nothing, hopefully we will hear the casting before Christmas, but it was not a given. This semester studying Shakespeare lets her go on a summer Shakepeare festival trip. She is very excited!
Ham and Potato Soup for dinner tonight - it is the kids' favorite and college boy is coming home today.
OK, gotta get everyone going - they are moving slow.
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Christmas
We went a little overboard for Christmas this year. We still cash flowed it and mostly it was budgeted for, but I wanted to get a little more, so I used my business money. It was only 1 quilt worth, so I am ok with that.
For 2 of our siblings, we got them a Harry and David tower - just a small one during the black Friday events. Cost - $19.99 each
For 7 families, we bought them GreenMarket Purveying Co. Reed Diffusers on Black Friday as well. These are wonderful! A little pricey, but they last about 6 months and it smells wonderful - not perfumey like so many candles and waxes. My favorite is the lemon and cucumber, but we got them a holiday scent. We got them at $16.00 during the sale.
Oh, we also got the kids under 15 gifts, but I made them from my stash, so I am not counting the cost as it was absorbed last year. It is stadium blankets personalized with their names.
For our mother's, I wanted to get them something special - the dad's were honored last year. I LOVE Plum Paper and having been using their planner for 4 years now. They have a new notebook, that is perfect bound and about 5 x 7, so perfect to slip into a purse. I had them personalized and could choose the design. I am putting a Frixion pen with it (they are erasable). Something really nice and personal for $10 each!
DS #1 - Since he is 21 now, he gets what he needs needs more than what he wants because needs are so high. My husband likes to set them up with gift cards - gas, oil changes, food, groceries - about $200 worth. I would like to take him shopping for some jeans and shorts for work - he has lost a lot of weight recently and all his pants are falling off of him. I will spend about $75 more.
DS#2 - He is almost 20! He has lots of needs and very little wants as well. He gets the gift cards - same as above - around $200. But we also are getting him a couple of wants - a graphite pencil, a book and a DVD - Magical Creature and Where to Find Them. Total for wants - $40.
DD - She is 14. She wants so many things, but only asked for one thing. Itunes card. So, that is what she is getting - an itunes card and a Hot Topic gift card - both $100 each. She buys bottoms at Kohl's, but I let her get fun tops from Hot Topic. We are also getting her a really good heating pad. $45 for the extra.
DS#3 - He is 13. Although I am not thrilled he is a gamer, he programs games as well as plays them, so that helps. He is good about it though - never complains when we ask him to get off. So, we got him a Nintendo Switch with 1 game - that was around $350. He is also getting a usb microphone and usb SD card converter. $35 for the extras.
Yes, DS#3 costs more. The others get more throughout the year than this one does, just because his wants and needs are so low. He never asks for anything. My daughter gets all year. She will be thrilled with her Christmas and no one has to know the disparage between the prices.
We have not bought stocking stuffers, but it usually consists of their favorite candy, a flash drive and socks.
Total $1,427. We budgeted $1,200 and I supplied rest. Next year, we are cutting back the Christmas budget to $800. I will have more time to make gifts and we are cutting back on the kids. This Christmas is the biggest they have ever had. Like I said on an earlier post - I think some of it is our guilt for this being such a hard year on our family - losing 2 close family members, living in an RV. It was a lot.
Oh the stocking stuffers, we already have the socks and usb - they were absorbed in the grocery budget (I know, but there was a great sale!). We will get the candy from the grocery budget as well.
I cannot wait to see their faces Christmas morning. We still have the magic of Christmas is our home!
For 2 of our siblings, we got them a Harry and David tower - just a small one during the black Friday events. Cost - $19.99 each
For 7 families, we bought them GreenMarket Purveying Co. Reed Diffusers on Black Friday as well. These are wonderful! A little pricey, but they last about 6 months and it smells wonderful - not perfumey like so many candles and waxes. My favorite is the lemon and cucumber, but we got them a holiday scent. We got them at $16.00 during the sale.
Oh, we also got the kids under 15 gifts, but I made them from my stash, so I am not counting the cost as it was absorbed last year. It is stadium blankets personalized with their names.
For our mother's, I wanted to get them something special - the dad's were honored last year. I LOVE Plum Paper and having been using their planner for 4 years now. They have a new notebook, that is perfect bound and about 5 x 7, so perfect to slip into a purse. I had them personalized and could choose the design. I am putting a Frixion pen with it (they are erasable). Something really nice and personal for $10 each!
DS #1 - Since he is 21 now, he gets what he needs needs more than what he wants because needs are so high. My husband likes to set them up with gift cards - gas, oil changes, food, groceries - about $200 worth. I would like to take him shopping for some jeans and shorts for work - he has lost a lot of weight recently and all his pants are falling off of him. I will spend about $75 more.
DS#2 - He is almost 20! He has lots of needs and very little wants as well. He gets the gift cards - same as above - around $200. But we also are getting him a couple of wants - a graphite pencil, a book and a DVD - Magical Creature and Where to Find Them. Total for wants - $40.
DD - She is 14. She wants so many things, but only asked for one thing. Itunes card. So, that is what she is getting - an itunes card and a Hot Topic gift card - both $100 each. She buys bottoms at Kohl's, but I let her get fun tops from Hot Topic. We are also getting her a really good heating pad. $45 for the extra.
DS#3 - He is 13. Although I am not thrilled he is a gamer, he programs games as well as plays them, so that helps. He is good about it though - never complains when we ask him to get off. So, we got him a Nintendo Switch with 1 game - that was around $350. He is also getting a usb microphone and usb SD card converter. $35 for the extras.
Yes, DS#3 costs more. The others get more throughout the year than this one does, just because his wants and needs are so low. He never asks for anything. My daughter gets all year. She will be thrilled with her Christmas and no one has to know the disparage between the prices.
We have not bought stocking stuffers, but it usually consists of their favorite candy, a flash drive and socks.
Total $1,427. We budgeted $1,200 and I supplied rest. Next year, we are cutting back the Christmas budget to $800. I will have more time to make gifts and we are cutting back on the kids. This Christmas is the biggest they have ever had. Like I said on an earlier post - I think some of it is our guilt for this being such a hard year on our family - losing 2 close family members, living in an RV. It was a lot.
Oh the stocking stuffers, we already have the socks and usb - they were absorbed in the grocery budget (I know, but there was a great sale!). We will get the candy from the grocery budget as well.
I cannot wait to see their faces Christmas morning. We still have the magic of Christmas is our home!
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Working, working
Today is all about work. Because you know, I am working like a fiend - seeing how I am blogging and all.
I really wore myself out yesterday. I worked from about 8 am to 11 pm. It was not all my job, but working with the kids, cooking, running errands. I was wiped. I had to get up early this morning to take K to the ortho. I met with 2 customers while we he was getting adjusted. Then I had my chiro appointment. He told me my lower back was locked - worse he has seen with me - I am not surprised, I have been hunched over and in a lot of pain. After that, we delivered a couple of nightstands to another Harvey victim.
The 2 remaining quilts have been started - one I am laying out for approval today. On the down slope now!
I really wore myself out yesterday. I worked from about 8 am to 11 pm. It was not all my job, but working with the kids, cooking, running errands. I was wiped. I had to get up early this morning to take K to the ortho. I met with 2 customers while we he was getting adjusted. Then I had my chiro appointment. He told me my lower back was locked - worse he has seen with me - I am not surprised, I have been hunched over and in a lot of pain. After that, we delivered a couple of nightstands to another Harvey victim.
 |
| This is what I delivered today! |
The 2 remaining quilts have been started - one I am laying out for approval today. On the down slope now!
Monday, December 11, 2017
Weekly Meal Plan
This week is the last really crazy week. Homeschool, work deadlines, vet appointments, Christmas errands, photo projects, etc, etc.
This morning, the kids had to finalize their A-Z photo project. Let's just say, with a lot of my help, they finished 2 minutes ago. Lost lists, formatting issues, printer issues, you name it. We leave in 20 minutes to turn them in.
I have to make 2 quilts this week with all this - no idea how I am going to do it, but I have to. We will see!
Anyway, here is our menu this week:
Monday - Roast, potatoes and carrots. This was supposed to be yesterday, but we forgot to thaw the roast, so we had today's meal yesterday - tacos!
Tuesday - Mustard Chicken, lima beans, salad and beer bread.
Wednesday - Cajun Pork Loin, yellow rice, tomato-cucumber salad
Thursday - Sausage, potatoes and green beans
Friday - Pizza at home
Saturday - Steak, Baked Potato and salad
Sunday - Ham, corn, Mac and cheese w/ berry crisp for dessert.
With leftovers from ham, I will make ham jambalaya and ham and potato soup. I know lots of potatoes this week - for some reason, we are all on a potato kick!
I am off - have a wonderful day!
This morning, the kids had to finalize their A-Z photo project. Let's just say, with a lot of my help, they finished 2 minutes ago. Lost lists, formatting issues, printer issues, you name it. We leave in 20 minutes to turn them in.
I have to make 2 quilts this week with all this - no idea how I am going to do it, but I have to. We will see!
Anyway, here is our menu this week:
Monday - Roast, potatoes and carrots. This was supposed to be yesterday, but we forgot to thaw the roast, so we had today's meal yesterday - tacos!
Tuesday - Mustard Chicken, lima beans, salad and beer bread.
Wednesday - Cajun Pork Loin, yellow rice, tomato-cucumber salad
Thursday - Sausage, potatoes and green beans
Friday - Pizza at home
Saturday - Steak, Baked Potato and salad
Sunday - Ham, corn, Mac and cheese w/ berry crisp for dessert.
With leftovers from ham, I will make ham jambalaya and ham and potato soup. I know lots of potatoes this week - for some reason, we are all on a potato kick!
I am off - have a wonderful day!
Friday, December 8, 2017
I'm dreaming of a WHITE Christmas...
First a few decorations in our home. This is MOST everything, I did not take a picture of the nutcrackers. I have not really found a spot for them.
This is the view I have from my chair! I keep a pillow on my lap all the time. Such a cozy fireplace - It got cold yesterday and it was the first time we had to turn on the heat. We did run the fireplace all day - it is on the lowest level, so it is not burning too much propane. It heats the house up about 1 degree. I am not in love with our stockings - eventually I want to make them for us. Even though one child has moved out, I just cannot stand to only hang 5. He is with us on Christmas morning anyway.
This is the White House ornament for this year! It is gorgeous - two-sided and actually the eagle is heavy! This is one of my favorite ornaments from the White House collection.
Yes, we keep 3 trees! This is the White House ornament tree. I want to make a burlap or textured skirt. All the ones in the store are way too big for this thin tree.
This is our family tree - the big one. It has all the kids' ornaments from them growing up - some from our childhood as well and just ornaments we liked and picked up over the years. The skirt was appliqued by my grandmother and I think it is at least 30 years old. We have used it for as long as I can remember and she used it on her tree for years before me.
This is the other thin tree. We use this one to display the ornaments from all the states we have been too as well as state and national parks.
A different day, but you can see the fireplace, the bookshelf where we put our nativity that my D's father gave us at our wedding. It is a gorgeous porcelain set.
I love how cozy it feels. We did not buy hardly anything except the red lanterns on the hearth. Not only did I not want to spend a lot of money, but I wanted to get a feel for how we move in this house and what we wanted. I don't buy decor every year, we use what have over and over, so I am a bit picky when it comes to decorating for Christmas.
BUT the real news of the day! IT SNOWED IN HOUSTON!!!!
After L was done with her play (which, I have to say, she was fabulous!), we went to eat as a celebration. It started snowing really hard while we were in there and it covered our car, so we had an impromptu snowball fight. I nailed everywhere and got nailed in the eye! LOL It was a lot of fun.
Here are some pictures this morning from around our house. It was already melting, but amazing! It looked so Christmasy and festive!
All the snow is already gone, but it was beautiful while it lasted! We get it so infrequently and usually, it does not stick like this. Made me just want to sit in a hot tub and drink coffee all day!
This is the White House ornament for this year! It is gorgeous - two-sided and actually the eagle is heavy! This is one of my favorite ornaments from the White House collection.
This is our family tree - the big one. It has all the kids' ornaments from them growing up - some from our childhood as well and just ornaments we liked and picked up over the years. The skirt was appliqued by my grandmother and I think it is at least 30 years old. We have used it for as long as I can remember and she used it on her tree for years before me.
This is the other thin tree. We use this one to display the ornaments from all the states we have been too as well as state and national parks.
A different day, but you can see the fireplace, the bookshelf where we put our nativity that my D's father gave us at our wedding. It is a gorgeous porcelain set.
I love how cozy it feels. We did not buy hardly anything except the red lanterns on the hearth. Not only did I not want to spend a lot of money, but I wanted to get a feel for how we move in this house and what we wanted. I don't buy decor every year, we use what have over and over, so I am a bit picky when it comes to decorating for Christmas.
BUT the real news of the day! IT SNOWED IN HOUSTON!!!!
After L was done with her play (which, I have to say, she was fabulous!), we went to eat as a celebration. It started snowing really hard while we were in there and it covered our car, so we had an impromptu snowball fight. I nailed everywhere and got nailed in the eye! LOL It was a lot of fun.
Here are some pictures this morning from around our house. It was already melting, but amazing! It looked so Christmasy and festive!
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| The forest beside our house off the patio. |
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| Our shed - the roof is green! You can also see the deer blind. |
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| Our home with a snowy roof! |
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| All the bushes were covered with snow! |
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| This is a tree we cut down - I thought it looked cool all frozen! |
All the snow is already gone, but it was beautiful while it lasted! We get it so infrequently and usually, it does not stick like this. Made me just want to sit in a hot tub and drink coffee all day!
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Taking a deep breath
I have a few minutes before I have to get my teens up. I let them sleep in today. D took a 1/2 day off from work today, originally to deliver furniture, but that fell through, so now it is just to take a deep breath.
Both of us are SLAMMED with work. He has projects that have to close out before the end of the year and I have 2.5 more quilts to make really before next weekend.
L (DD) has opening night tonight. I am not sure Sunday could come fast enough - she has 4 full length shows of Little Women. She is nervous and stressed, so I am letting her sleep as much as she wants - let her body heal itself and let her have a clear mind. She is a teen after all.
My back has pretty much been out all week. I am just starting to come out of it - slouched over and cannot stand up straight yet, but the pain is a bit less.
We got a barn cat last night! He is a teen - only about 1.5 years old. Very black - not one hair a different color with yellow eyes. He will not come out of hiding just yet and runs away from us. We are just letting him get comfortable with his surroundings. It is WAY different than a forest. He is in our 30 x 40 shed, so he has LOTS of space though. He ate last night and used the litter box, so that is a good start. His previous owners overfed him, so he is on the chunky side. They gave him people food like pizza! Um, no. I may give him some pumpkin to flush him out a bit before his surgery. He is getting neutered in 2 weeks, so he will be in the shed for that whole time and probably for another couple of weeks when he gets back from surgery.
I am mostly done with Christmas shopping - my nephew I am struggling with and I want to get my husband a little something. I cannot say here because he reads the blog. So, if you do read this sweetie - it is small - like stocking small! Maybe socks! LOL
We kind of splurged on the kids this year. We don't usually - they are maxed at $100, but this year I think we went up to $200. I think it was the rough year and the first Christmas in this house. We just are excited!
I will post more about that when I get these quilts done.
I hope you are enjoying some Christmas music, cookies and decorations!
Both of us are SLAMMED with work. He has projects that have to close out before the end of the year and I have 2.5 more quilts to make really before next weekend.
L (DD) has opening night tonight. I am not sure Sunday could come fast enough - she has 4 full length shows of Little Women. She is nervous and stressed, so I am letting her sleep as much as she wants - let her body heal itself and let her have a clear mind. She is a teen after all.
My back has pretty much been out all week. I am just starting to come out of it - slouched over and cannot stand up straight yet, but the pain is a bit less.
We got a barn cat last night! He is a teen - only about 1.5 years old. Very black - not one hair a different color with yellow eyes. He will not come out of hiding just yet and runs away from us. We are just letting him get comfortable with his surroundings. It is WAY different than a forest. He is in our 30 x 40 shed, so he has LOTS of space though. He ate last night and used the litter box, so that is a good start. His previous owners overfed him, so he is on the chunky side. They gave him people food like pizza! Um, no. I may give him some pumpkin to flush him out a bit before his surgery. He is getting neutered in 2 weeks, so he will be in the shed for that whole time and probably for another couple of weeks when he gets back from surgery.
I am mostly done with Christmas shopping - my nephew I am struggling with and I want to get my husband a little something. I cannot say here because he reads the blog. So, if you do read this sweetie - it is small - like stocking small! Maybe socks! LOL
We kind of splurged on the kids this year. We don't usually - they are maxed at $100, but this year I think we went up to $200. I think it was the rough year and the first Christmas in this house. We just are excited!
I will post more about that when I get these quilts done.
I hope you are enjoying some Christmas music, cookies and decorations!
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Big Push Week
This week is a BUSY one - lots going on. Where to start...
On Sunday, we delivered furniture to Harvey Victims in the morning - mostly it went ok. We had 5 stops, and one gave us the wrong address, but I will drop it off when I go back down there next week. It is really sad the dire straights some of these people have been in.
Also, the lack of general knowledge they have. I never understood the disparage between the income with education. I am not talking about math or understanding scientific reasoning, just basic household maintenance and repair. Specifically, one family - the parents were in their late 40s, early 50s and had never heard of a L-bracket. They did not know what a wrench was. It was incredibly sad.
Anyway, DD's theater production of Little Women is this week, so we are in the throws of tech week. Also, in photography class, they had an assignment to take pictures representing each letter of the alphabet. They are a few letters short, so that should be fun trying to get along with long theater days.
Oh, she is also a part of a Secret Santa with her theater troop. Only they told us the rules yesterday evening - 4 days of gifts! Wednesday thru Saturday. Geez - when did it get so complicated? Her person is very picky and gluten-free, but does not like candy. So, we are thinking about lavendar sachet on Wednesday, Starbuck's gift card on Thursday (her favorite drink), chocolate covered strawberries on Friday, and a stuffed puppy with reindeer ears on Saturday. Not sure if I will make the puppy or not at this point, but hopefully I can to save money. We will make the sachet as well.
As for work - SLAMMED! I still have 3 quilts and a pillow to make. I made one pillow already and 101 police fobs and one quilt. The person that picked up the quilt ordered a pillow, but it is simple, so I can do it in 20 minutes or less. The hand closing will take the longest.
I am going to try to get 2 quilts done this week. It will be a stretch, especially with everything going on. But that would leave next week with 1 left and then I can work on family things until the new year. I have 2 already in my possession for the new year and the list for graduation quilts is piling up! I am not advertising either! Word of mouth ONLY and most are repeat customers.
Well, I am still feeling pretty good - even with all that is going on, I have been able to sleep until I wake up, which is awesome - it helps tremendously.
Already - grabbing a cup of coffee and getting to work! Have a great day!
On Sunday, we delivered furniture to Harvey Victims in the morning - mostly it went ok. We had 5 stops, and one gave us the wrong address, but I will drop it off when I go back down there next week. It is really sad the dire straights some of these people have been in.
Also, the lack of general knowledge they have. I never understood the disparage between the income with education. I am not talking about math or understanding scientific reasoning, just basic household maintenance and repair. Specifically, one family - the parents were in their late 40s, early 50s and had never heard of a L-bracket. They did not know what a wrench was. It was incredibly sad.
Anyway, DD's theater production of Little Women is this week, so we are in the throws of tech week. Also, in photography class, they had an assignment to take pictures representing each letter of the alphabet. They are a few letters short, so that should be fun trying to get along with long theater days.
Oh, she is also a part of a Secret Santa with her theater troop. Only they told us the rules yesterday evening - 4 days of gifts! Wednesday thru Saturday. Geez - when did it get so complicated? Her person is very picky and gluten-free, but does not like candy. So, we are thinking about lavendar sachet on Wednesday, Starbuck's gift card on Thursday (her favorite drink), chocolate covered strawberries on Friday, and a stuffed puppy with reindeer ears on Saturday. Not sure if I will make the puppy or not at this point, but hopefully I can to save money. We will make the sachet as well.
As for work - SLAMMED! I still have 3 quilts and a pillow to make. I made one pillow already and 101 police fobs and one quilt. The person that picked up the quilt ordered a pillow, but it is simple, so I can do it in 20 minutes or less. The hand closing will take the longest.
I am going to try to get 2 quilts done this week. It will be a stretch, especially with everything going on. But that would leave next week with 1 left and then I can work on family things until the new year. I have 2 already in my possession for the new year and the list for graduation quilts is piling up! I am not advertising either! Word of mouth ONLY and most are repeat customers.
Well, I am still feeling pretty good - even with all that is going on, I have been able to sleep until I wake up, which is awesome - it helps tremendously.
Already - grabbing a cup of coffee and getting to work! Have a great day!
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Numbers for month ending
I am slammed with getting quilts and such done.
BUT, finally getting some energy back - I am able to sleep until I wake, which is doing me more good than anything AND my allergy meds are finally kicking in - I only do a nose spray, so it takes just a little longer, but I like it better - I cannot handle ingesting the meds. Side affects are killer for me. I cannot take much (violently sick).
Anyway. We are working hard to pay down debt and getting a bonus this month helped!
Debts:
401(k) loan for land
October 2017 Start - $42,627
Current - $42,227.50
CC#1
October 2017 Start - $30,400.81
Current - $11,660.90
CC#2
October 2017 Start - $13,943.95
Current - $13,646.72
CC#3
October 2017 Start - $17,279.17
Current -$17,020.17
CC#4
October 2017 Start - $32,855.22
Current - $35,905.07
Truck
October 2017 Start - $21,753.52
Current -$21,753.52
Car
October 2017 Start - $7,013.68
Current -$7,013.68
Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $332,480.00
Current - $332,480.00
Total Non-Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $165, 874.09
Current - $149,227.56
Total Debt
October 2017 Start - $498,354.09
Current - $481,757.56
Ok, when I say we started October - it was mid to late month, so that is why I did not do a Nov. 1 update. Couple of things - so much was paid off due to what we had saved for the closing. Once we closed, we out aside $1,000 and paid down debt with the rest. We also do not have a mortgage right now AND we received a bonus.
The increase in CC#4 is college tuition. Sigh. We will be back to a cash basis with that soon. We cannot log on to see our truck payment (we have to call them on Monday), so I just left it, but I know it went down a couple of hundred. Car payment has not been taken yet, but there will be a payment on the next check in.
The large payoffs will slow down in January, but a large chunk will be paid when I get my inheritance. Come on 2018 - let's get out of debt (non-mortgage)! It is unlikely that we will be able to get completely out debt in 2018, but we are going to try as hard as we can!
I am working, working this weekend to catch up. My energy is mostly back - YEAH!!! I am feeling so much better - sleeping is the best thing.
Hope you all are having a great weekend!
BUT, finally getting some energy back - I am able to sleep until I wake, which is doing me more good than anything AND my allergy meds are finally kicking in - I only do a nose spray, so it takes just a little longer, but I like it better - I cannot handle ingesting the meds. Side affects are killer for me. I cannot take much (violently sick).
Anyway. We are working hard to pay down debt and getting a bonus this month helped!
Debts:
401(k) loan for land
October 2017 Start - $42,627
Current - $42,227.50
CC#1
October 2017 Start - $30,400.81
Current - $11,660.90
CC#2
October 2017 Start - $13,943.95
Current - $13,646.72
CC#3
October 2017 Start - $17,279.17
Current -$17,020.17
CC#4
October 2017 Start - $32,855.22
Current - $35,905.07
Truck
October 2017 Start - $21,753.52
Current -$21,753.52
Car
October 2017 Start - $7,013.68
Current -$7,013.68
Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $332,480.00
Current - $332,480.00
Total Non-Mortgage
October 2017 Start - $165, 874.09
Current - $149,227.56
Total Debt
October 2017 Start - $498,354.09
Current - $481,757.56
Ok, when I say we started October - it was mid to late month, so that is why I did not do a Nov. 1 update. Couple of things - so much was paid off due to what we had saved for the closing. Once we closed, we out aside $1,000 and paid down debt with the rest. We also do not have a mortgage right now AND we received a bonus.
The increase in CC#4 is college tuition. Sigh. We will be back to a cash basis with that soon. We cannot log on to see our truck payment (we have to call them on Monday), so I just left it, but I know it went down a couple of hundred. Car payment has not been taken yet, but there will be a payment on the next check in.
The large payoffs will slow down in January, but a large chunk will be paid when I get my inheritance. Come on 2018 - let's get out of debt (non-mortgage)! It is unlikely that we will be able to get completely out debt in 2018, but we are going to try as hard as we can!
I am working, working this weekend to catch up. My energy is mostly back - YEAH!!! I am feeling so much better - sleeping is the best thing.
Hope you all are having a great weekend!
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