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!

Monday Menus

Monday: Pizza
Tuesday: Toasted Cheese Sandwiches
Wednesday: Lasagna
Thursday: Something with the hamburger meat left over after making lasagna lol
Friday: Peanut Butter Chicken
Saturday: Pancakes
Sunday: Possibly going to the church Super Bowl party and potluck...

Vegas... here we come, and other things

I haven't checked in for a few days. Let'e see, what has happened:

1. I got a job! I don't know when I am starting and it will be Monday, Tuesday, and Fridays. I will be scanning patient files. I love busy work so this is perfect for me!:)
2. I made a headband yesterday and then I took it apart... stupid pattern! LOL 
3. After the spring show, the boys will no longer be doing CYT. Huge issues there, we have decided that at least in Kansas City, it has really lost the Christian aspect of the organization. DS16 did get the lead in his school play, so he is happy about that! Quitting CYT, aside from missing a lot of friends, will save us about $3000 a year! WOW1
4. DS17 got accepted to the college he wanted, so we will be working on scholarships starting this week!
5. I am starting school for my MFA in photography on Monday, DH is starting for his BFA in photography at the same time!
6. Weight loss: eh... I am going to buy some Alli tonight and try that! I just need something to keep me honest, and with the negative side effects of that stuff if you eat poorly... yeah, I think it will keep me on track!

The weight loss leads me to this: Ok, so I am a photographer. I am trying to make it a full time business... I filled out a form for a free pass to WPPI, Wedding and Portrait Photographers International convention in Las Vegas, and guess what?? I won!! DH and I will be going to Las Vegas from Feb 20th to the 25th! We will be staying at the MGM Grand! We will be flying! I'm so excited! We have some money coming in from our income tax return to help pay for airfare/hotel. And I think I will be checking a bag so that I can throw food in there for us to eat! LOL I need to come up with some snacks that would be good for the trip. Anyway, back on the weight loss... I lost a lot of weight last year doing hCG, only to gain it all back and more when I quit hCG. So, most of my clothes are too small... because when I lost the weight I got rid of my fat clothes and bought(mostly from thrift shops) smaller clothes. Well, nothing fits! I have NO jeans that fit, and have a couple of pairs of athletic pants that fit and one pair of dressier pants... this weekend we will be going to a couple of thrift stores to get a few things, but I think if I lose some weight before the trip, less than a month away, I might be able to squeeze into a few things.

Oh, and I thought I might make this fun for me... like have a goal/reward system to really make myself do this... I was thinking for every pound I lose, I can spend $2.00 towards yarn/patterns. I have about 70-80 lbs to lose, so total that would be $140-$160 worth of yarn/patterns, and I would use those to sell on Etsy, so I would make money in the long run too... lol I am a yarn addict!;)

Wish me luck!:)

Crocheted Hood/Cowl

Made this cowl/hood for myself yesterday! So pretty!!

Used Charisma yarn that was on sale for $2.00 a skein at Michaels and so it only cost $4.00!! Woot!:)

Stuff I Want from Etsy!

Lol, I thought it would be fun to have a weekly post on Stuff I Want from Etsy! Not that I will ever get any of it, but I can just stick it here and look at the pretty pictures, right?! Like I always tell the boys, "It's good to want things, it builds character!"

So, here goes! Isn't this the cutest own bank ever!!?? I wuv it!!:)

I would totally hang this print in my home!:)

Oh my gosh, I am in LOVE!!! :)

Aww, how sweet!:)

And when I finally get my iPad, I want to get one of the following for a case:

Ok, that's it for today! LOL I will stop drooling over the owls and will go crochet something!:)

Monday Menus

Monday: Bacon Stuffed French Toast
Tuesday: Baked Potato Bar
Wednesday: Biscuits and Gravy
Thursday: Hawaiian Grilled Cheese
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Chili
Sunday: Leftovers

Shopping, continued

No pictures this time... too tired lol

Dillons:


Spent $87.67, saved $41.18 (32%)

Duncan Hines brownie mixes($1.00), Duncan Hines yellow cake($1.00), Kraft Shredded cheeses($1.99 -$1/2 coupon = $1.50 each), Kroger Creamer big($2.45), Hazelnut syrups(these were orginally $2.35 each, on clearance for $1.19), Kroger Whipped topping($1.15 :/) Fortune cookies($1.59), Colgate toothpaste($1.00 - $1/1 = FREE!), Kroger cinnamon rolls($1.00), 6 pack ramen noodles(88¢), Grands Biscuits($1.00 - 60¢/2(coupon is 30¢/2, but Dillons doubles every day) - 30¢/2CF = 55¢ each), Kroger spaghetti sauce($1.00 jar), Kroger tomatoes(95¢ - for chili), Kroger apple juice($1.50, DS10 loves apple juice!), bread(99¢), Texas toast($1.49), Kroger deluxe shells and cheese($1.50), Green Giant Steamers($1.99 - $1.00/1 = 99¢... yes, I could have bought more and got the deeper discount, but didn't have enough coupons to buy the 10 products for the discount... I am starting over on couponing, so just now starting to stockpile coupons. I bought 4 papers today though!), Velveeta($4.99 - I hate paying this much for Velveeta, but I need it for Spaghetti Pie!), Farmland Bologna($1.25 - $1.00/1 = 25¢), Softsoap(88¢ - 70¢/1 = 18¢), Peanut thai noodles($1.00), Thai peanut sauce mix($2.95), Coconut milk($1.89), Kashi Cereal($2.99 - $1.00/1 = $1.99 I don't usually spend over $1.50 for a box of cereal, but I love Kashi and it is a treat for ME!), Hunts ketchup($1.00), Kroger diced tomatoes(60¢ for chili), Kroger peanut butter($1.25 each), Kroger brand Nutella($2.79), Angel Soft($1.00 each), 3 lbs oranges(on clearance for 99¢!)

Walmart:


Total: $34.99

Yes, we already went to Walmart once... however, Walmart is usually our last stop, because if nobody else has it cheaper, we get it at Walmart!

Pepperonis($2.00), Jimmy Dean Sausage Crumbles(for pizza - $2.98), Pizza Crust Kits($3.77 each) sour cream($1.38), another thing of Ricotta cheese($1.83), hamburger buns($1.38), vegetable oil($2.84), Bacon pieces($1.64), jiffy yellow cake mix(the other store only had 1, so we had to do some looking, this is the cake mix we use for our Chapple Dump Cake, 66¢), gallon milk($3.03), bakery breads, all reduced(90¢, 90¢, and $1.80).