Goodwill scores

Today is 50% off day at Goodwill.  I scored 4 pairs of pj's, 3 pairs of Children's Place pants, and 1 shirt for my son.  I also picked up a couple of cute ceramic pumpkins, 5 ceramic pots for the shelves in my bedroom, a Halloween costume for my daughter, a shirt for me, a couple of cute skirts and two shirts to go with the skirts for my daughter.  I got everything for about $30!  We are set for a while for clothing...except the socks that Jacob goes through like crazy...

Have a great weekend!

Today is car clean out day

Do you have a FREE vacuum car wash in your area.  There is one close to me and I love using it.  The vacuums are so nice...a lot less noisy, and more convenient that pulling out the shop vac every week.  The place I go to even has a mat cleaner...and FREE also!  I hear from my friend over at The Whimsical Princess that their washes aren't too bad either...$6 gets you a basic wash.  I don't wash my car all the time but that isn't a bad price.

I plan to get my car cleaned, gas in the tank, my purse cleaned out...and the mission of the day done.  Today that mission is (taken from my flylady daily e-mail)

Zone 1: Mission #1 Friday

Dear Friends:

Today is our only day in Zone 1. Today's mission is very simple!
Grab a broom and a vacuum cleaner. Set the timer! 5 minutes in each
area. Sweep the front porch and shake out the door mat. Next a
quick sweep or vacuum in the entrance area. Last dash around the
dining room with a broom or the vacuum. This is just a quick mission
that makes you feel so great. When there are no dust bunnies chasing
you or gritty floors your home just feels better! You do not have to
get overwhelmed by this. Do not move furniture around or get
sidetracked. Just a quick maintenance sweep and vacuum.

Congratulations on a job well done this week! We are always so proud
of you!!
 
What are your plans for today?
What are you cooking for dinner tonight?

Golf Date Night...on the cheap

Last weekend I planned a fun date night for Thomas and I.  We haven't been able to spend much quality time together because our business has been so darn busy and then when he gets home from working all day...I take off and go to my part time job for a few hours.

So, I got to thinking about something my husband would really enjoy...GOLF!  So, I sent him this invitation:

Now, when I gave him this he laughed.  I asked him what was so funny...he just laughed and said, he thought it was awesome!


Then I set up the Hole-In-One fun in the living room.  (Next time I think I will add some obstacles and other holes to putt at.  I used our putter thing that spits the ball back at you.

I used foam balls with golf tees to help the balls stand up (I also had to cut the bottom off to make it sit flat), then I glued each letter that I cut out with my Cricut to a skewer and stuck it into the foam ball.  Then I cut out the felt into putting greens and there is a sand trap there also.

I had some snacks for us before we were going to head out to play putt-putt...

but, we were both tired (I was starting to get a sore throat) and decided to see a movie instead.  We picked out our movie and headed out.  I packed my purse with snacks and made sure I had our movie coupons.  We enjoyed Inception and then came home for some more putt-putt practice.

I now have a tub started with our "future date night" ideas and I plan to add props to it so we can have "cheap date" nights at home.

This cost me about  $4.50 for the props, and then another $5 for his favorite "ginger beer" (he doesn't drink real beer).  The snacks I had at home.  The putt-putt would have only cost $7 because I had a coupon, but instead we saw a movie with coupons and that was $15.  So our date night cost a total of $24.50...a lot cheaper than going out to dinner and a movie!

I forgot...Use the Target Fresh Fruit Coupon!

On Targets website there is a coupon for $1 off any fresh produce.  I picked up a Free Avacado and $.13 bananas today using the coupons.  Just watch to make sure they take off the $1 as my coupon only removed $.46 and she had to adjust it.

Kraft Cheese at Target

Now that I have my weekly plan in place, I am working hard to get all my errand planning done on Tuesdays so that on Thursday I am ready to hit the stores while my kids are in school.  I have 2.5 hours to get it all done in...and today was my first success.  After 2 weeks of attempting to get it done...this week was it!

 I hit Target, The Bread Store, King Soopers, and Albertson's today in 2 hours without kids, and had enough time to get home and unload and scan my purchases (I scan for Homescan, and earn points for rewards).

I thought I would let you all know that Target has Kraft Cheese on sale for $2 and there were peelies on some of the cheese for $5 off any 5 Kraft participating cheese.  But, if you can't fine the peelies...you can print two of these puppies and get 10 7 or 8 oz. packages of cheese for $10!  Freeze it and use it later when cheese is not on sale!

Enjoy!

Family Pictures

My Weekly Plan...and our Menu!

I am cooking more healthy for my family for several reasons.  I LOVE Body For Life Recipes and I am following the diet and exercise plan.  I feel so much better, have a ton of energy, my brain is clear...and the best part is that my house has been clean, kids have fun activities to do, and I feel so much more relaxed!

Here is my weekly plan: I follow Fly Lady (check her out...she is AWESOME www.flylady.com)
Monday: Weekly Blessing (1 Hour of Cleaning)
Tuesday: Plan Day (I also water my plants this day)
Wednesday: Desk day (Bills/Budget, phone calls, appointments, estimates for our business, pull coupons, etc)
Thursday: Errand Day (Grocery Shop, and any other stops that I can make in 2.5 hours)
Friday: Car/Purse clean out day (I go to a free vacuum place and clean out my car every other Friday, and I fill up my tank while I am out...Clean out my purse and put away receipts that I didn't get done on desk day)

Each day I have a morning routine: Shower, get dressed, wipe down my sink and toilet, start laundry, make bed, take my medication (I have a low thyroid), empty dishwasher, feed dog and kids...then after all that I finally feed myself.  Then I check e-mail and may planner for any appointments.  I also pull out any meat or get my plan for dinner going).  I also do 15 minutes in each zone for the week.  So, for example this week is Living room/Family Room.  So, I have been doing short missions in both rooms.  Dust, declutter, vacuum furniture, etc.)  My life is less chaotic when I live like this and I have time to play...oh, and the hubby is happy that he always has clean clothes to wear!  :)

Here is our Menu for this week:
Wednesday: Baked Chicken Parmesean with Baby Spinach (spaghetti for Thomas...he is a vegetarian)
Thursday: Fish/Bean Tacos
Friday: It's homemade pizza night!
Saturday: Movie night with popcorn, fruit, nuts, etc.
Sunday: Chicken/Bean Fajitas
Monday: Spaghetti with Meatballs and Salad
Tuesday: Buffalo Burgers/Veggie Burgers, homemade french fries, veggie.
Wednesday: Leftovers

Tomorrow is my shopping day for all my needed items.  I don't need much, and I need to stock up on some more cereal.  How is it that last time I checked I had over 30 boxes, and now I have 6 in my stock pile???  I just don't get how my family can chow down on that much cereal???  I have a rain check for cereal at Albertson's so I am heading there tomorrow also!

Have a fabulous day!