Monday, November 7, 2011

We moved... again... and we have no stove!

So, we moved again. This time to a place with a much nicer vibe(landlord-wise) but we are STILL downsizing. We are still struggling to make ends meet. I think it doesn't help that I drive 40 minutes to and from work each day. Gas prices are killing us! Maybe I should get a moped! lol

Our new place is a 2 bedroom apartment in what used to be an old folks home... it has been converted to regular apartments. It is nice to have 2 actual bedrooms. We got bunkbeds for DS17 and DS11 so they can share a room. DS18 is in college now, and he gets the couch when he is home. Each bedroom has a bathroom. Ours has the shower. The living room/dining room/kitchenette is all one room. We have access to the laundry room and that is included in the rent along with all utilities, which makes it very nice. We do not have cable/satellite, but we did buy a $14.00 antenna for our tv and we get several broadcast channels, and we are very happy with that! We also do a lot of free codes for Redbox and BB Express, so we can watch movies. We don't have internet yet, so we are using our cell phones as mobile hotspots until we can decide what internet to get, because there are very few options out there, and none of them seem good enough for the money.

Anyway, the kitchenette has a little sink, a fridge, and a microwave. No oven... no stove... so we are working on improvising. We have the following: big electric skillet, big crockpot, one of those GE 3-in-1 crockpot things, a 2-burner hotplate, a toaster, a toaster oven and the microwave.

So, I will try posting some recipes soon to show what I have been doing without a stove/oven!

I am also trying to figure out how to get Christmas done this year. DS11 wants a turtle, so that should not be too hard. DS 18 wants gift cards to various clothing stores... anyone know of how to get reduced price gift cards? lol And DS17 NEEDS a new computer. His died and he is using mine!!

I am planning to make gifts for everyone else. Probably going to give people our family pictures framed, and then I am also going to crochet hats for the boys. I got DH's gift ordered already, but I don't know if he follows this blog, so I don't want to say just yet!;)

Anyway, I will try to keep up with this blog!