So, it’s September 6th (one week into September) and I have spent $311 on groceries. Do you THINK I need to rethink the budget?
The good news is for the rest of the budget, I’m doing great. Not shopping for things I don’t need and not going out to eat.
I don’t expect to spend $311 every week (we can’t) but this sure is mind opening for me!
* photo by Stephen Rees
Many people followed along as the brave souls over at Small Notebook did a “No Spend Month” in July. Apart from necessary bills such as rent and such, they only allotted $250 for the month. This included all food, dining out, gas, fun money; etc.
I’m not up for some kind of crazy person challenge, and I do have two more children than they do (ok, one is nursing, but he’s in diapers!) but we have decided to do something similar. We’ve never been on and stuck to a budget. Beginning Sept. 1st, we will start a budget. We are using Simple Mom’s idea and going with Pear Budget as a tracking and managing tool. We’re also using the envelope method. (And if you know where I live, don’t rob me and my envelopes. Chad’s got a big golf club under our bed. Ha.) We’re giving ourselves $450 for the whole month to spend on food, toiletries; etc. Basically, that’s $115 per week at Target and the Grocery Store.
I have no idea if this is big or small, but for someone like me that goes to the grocery store and Target and pays no mind to what’s in her cart, this is a great place to start.
We have started this budget because I was laid off of my job 2 weeks ago. And yeah, I made 65% of our income. And I ain’t goin’ back to work.
Get ready people, this blog is about to get exciting 
I am only saaa-lightly crafty. I emphasize the slightly because it’s ever so slightly. I get most of my ideas from magazines, books and blogs.
Here is what I did with some twine, leftover ribbon and some small binder clips.
I strung this from the top of the basement steps to the bottom. I had leftover ribbon from another project so I tied some bows at each end to up the cute factor. My kids LOVE hanging their artwork here and being that art projects are their favorite thing to do besides playing outside, it fills up quickly! And, the blessing? My fridge stays nicer looking and I’m all good with that.
you dig?
I definitely need to paint that table but I’m pretty nervous because I can’t decide on a color that would go…thoughts? My sofas are taupe and chocolate, walls are a peanut butter, tv armoire is red and there are dark brown/black small pieces.
I never was crazy about pink. I think because it got so trendy over the years for every girl to love pink, I wanted to refuse it out of my life. My son would say “Mommy, your favorite color is pink too, like sissy’s, right?” I would say “no, I really don’t care for pink, I like green the best”.
Well, now Mommy loves pink.
Pink, GLORIOUS PINK!!!!!! I don’t know what’s come over me. But the following things have inspired me to love the color more and do a little redecoratin’ of the digs. Pictures soon. (well, it depends on what you call soon).
*photo used with permission from Susannah Conway photography, I’m thinking of ordering this one!
* Pin from The Pleated Poppy Store. I’ve ordered from her before. I can see putting this on a jean jacket, a white dress shirt, in my hair or on a black pillow!
* And this pillow. Mercy! Need I say more? It’s a must have for me. I’m hoping to snatch this up on Etsy. It’s by “Hettle”.
I purchased this picture of Pink painted mums and a cute little bird by Artsy Orange on Etsy and the next one of the two birds as well. I’m going to love having a little bit of pink popping in my house soon!
This is such a great idea from Real Simple. They sent me an email with “20 Creative Tips for Kids’ Rooms” and in it I found some super cute ideas.
Here is one I’d love to do in the toy area. Wouldn’t you like to know where my toy area is going to be? You’ll just have to wait and see the big reveal. It is going to be a combo of a toy area and my office. It might be a while so don’t get too excited.
*photo hijacked from RealSimple.com
Amazon is offering this sweet summer deal for $5 for an entire year of Country Living! I love this magazine!
*it looks like it’s $10 but when you put it in the cart it shows $5
* photo hijacked from the Weight Watchers site
Seriously, this is the best salsa I’ve ever tasted. It’s pretty easy to make, too. The best news? It’s a Weight Watchers recipe, so it’s low fat as well. You must try this!
WW suggests using it as a “salad”. It’s far too runny for a salad. I suppose if you left out the water and either lime juice or Olive Oil, but I like it much better as a salsa to eat with tortilla chips.
Here’s the recipe:
| 1 large mango(es), diced, divided* (about 1 3/4 cups) | |
| 3 tbsp fresh lime juice | |
| 3 tbsp water | |
| 2 tbsp olive oil | |
| 1/2 tsp ground cumin | |
| 1/2 tsp table salt | |
| 15 oz canned black beans, drained and rinsed | |
| 1 cup(s) tomato(es), diced | |
| 1/2 cup(s) onion(s), sweet, diced | |
| 1/4 cup(s) mint leaves, or cilantro, fresh, cut into thin slivers | |
| 1 tbsp canned jalapeno peppers, or fresh, minced (if using fresh, do not touch seeds with bare hands) | |
Danielle took some great pictures the other day and I wanted to post the link for family and friends that may not see Danielle’s blog (her new photography blog).
Isn’t he so cute on our bed sleeping?
It was almost 10 pm on a weekday evening. I was bone tired and knew that the last thing I needed to do was to empty and load the dishwasher. One of the tasks I so loathe is unloading the dishwasher and I find myself having to do it daily these days! I looked behind me and saw that my dog had left slobber all over the floor from his last gulp of water. I looked at my white kitchen cabinets and saw goop by the knob. I then peeked around and saw my husband falling asleep on the couch. I started to cry. I cried and said to God “I can’t do this” “I shouldn’t have all of this on my shoulders”. The stress. The newborn infant. The 4 and 6 year old. The house to clean. The breast infection I was getting over. The 170 lb dog that dirties up my home the second I clean it. I felt worthless. I felt like all I did was the same thing over and over. If I wanted to get anything accomplished above the norm, there would have to be more hours in the day. Surely, I could be more productive than just keeping the family fed and a home that’s remotely sanitary.
As I stood there by my sink unloading the dishwasher for the 5th time that week, it hit me. I am doing this unto the Lord. Everything I do, I do it for Him. He is worthy of all of it. Cleaning up these dirty dishes, the massive and messy dog, the midnight feedings to my infant, the refill of the goldfish to the 4 year old, the trip to the pool, the conference call from work….it’s all a blessing and a privilege.
You see, no one knows how hard I had worked that day. All of that work was totally unseen. In this season of simply maintaining, it wasn’t just “maintaining” to Him. It’s a way that I can honor Him. It’s my labor of love.
While some may find their labor of love in the mission field, or teaching a class full of unruly teenagers, I found my labor of love right there at my dishwasher.
God, thank you! Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to die on the Cross for my sins. This unworthy person that could never do anything “worthy” of my ransom. But you’ve called me and I’m here doing these little things to bring you honor and glory.
This song “You are my King” by Chris Tomlin is a great song to remind me of His love for me and my desire to honor Him in all that I do.
I’m forgiven because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well
Your spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
I’m forgiven because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well
Your spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
Amazing love, how can it be?
That you, my king. would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
Its my joy to honor you
Amazing love how can it be?
That my king would die for me
Amazing love I know it’s true
Its my joy to honor you
In all I do
I honor you
I’m forgiven because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well
Your spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
Amazing love how can it be
That you, my king would die for me
Amazing love, I know its true
It’s my joy to honor you
Amazing love how can it be?
That you, my king, would die for me
Amazing love, I know its true
Its my joy to honor you
In all I do I honor you
You are my king
You are my king
Jesus, You are my king
Jesus, You are my king
Amazing love, how can it be?
That you, my king, would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
Its my joy to honor you
Amazing love, how can it be?
That you, my king would die for me
Amazing love I know it’s true
Its my joy to honor you
In all I do I honor you
In all I do honor you
