Livin Life 13 Weeks At A Time

Giveaway

2011-01-06T11:53:00.001-08:00

Life with 4 Boys is giving away a Tassimo T20 Brewing System. This is such an easy way to make your morning hot chocolate, coffee or latte! Go check it out!

Sweeps4Bloggers is giving away FitKitHome (choice of color) and 1 year club membership to **2** of you (ARV $50)
Sweeps4Bloggers is giving away Earthsource Organic Righteously Raw Chocolate mmmm

Money Goals for 2011 and review from 2010

2010-12-31T10:56:00.000-08:00

2011 Money Goals

Well, with 2 babies on the way and me being out of work for about 5 months this year is gonna be a tough one. Lets see what we can do!

Debt

Pay off Medical Bills from Dr. Guerreri, Lake Health, Dentist, Pediatrician appointments, Labs

Keep paying Adams Big Loan-I would like to get this to $28,000 at the end of this year

Save

Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000
Start college savings accounts for the kids, goal of $100 each this year?
Save for a new car for winter 2011 probably :(

Frugal

Make Homemade baby food
Breastfeed
Use recipes with less ingredients
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores with coupons from newspaper

Home

We did so much in 2010! I am not sure what we have planned for 2011...

Drywall Office
Paint office
Floor in office
Carpet Living Room
Get closet doors
Install counter top in bathroom

Organize Accounts

Call Fidelity about CCF 403B rolling into Roth

Budget
I have to sit down with adam for this part...

Review of 2010 Goals
Overall I think we did well. Our house took up most of the money, but we have done so much around here! Heres a review:

Goals 2010

pay one fund at a time and get to the goal of the emergency fund $5000 first
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone-
Save $40 in HSA fund
Get bank account to $10000 pay off medical bills and then pay off adams small loan
Buy a boiler
Consider Refinancing our House---4% 15 yrs! Plan to payoff in 12 yrs
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000
Close Huntington and move money to northwest saving--2/10
Pay $450 more for basement plumbing done 3/5
Buy Cavs season tickets...make a fund next year!--bought 3/10---did not start for next year
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- used them! 5/10
Opening a Schwab 2% Cash back card--will use all cash back for Adams loans 5/10
Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--PAID OFF!!! 6/10
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000--5861.43!! 6/10
Once we get the Schwab card, get rid of Citi---done with citi! 6/10
Get Baby Fund to at least $5500(we have changed this goal to $10000 due to bedrest)- currently at $10002.00--GOAL MET!!! 9/10
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)- went on our shopping spree :) 9/10
Look into different mutual funds for Roth...--done 9/10 will check back 12/10
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $3000-- Got the boiler installed, about $6000
Pay off Adams Small Loan by March done!
Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund--used up all of our HSA :(

Home in 2010

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet and plumbing downstairs done 5/10
Get window treatments for bedrooms done 5/10
Put in new toilet upstairs done 5/10
Install toilet and sink done 5/10
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor--floor boards are down! 3/10 installed 8/10!
Paint Guest Bedroom--Base Coat and Closet are painted! 2/10
Buy carpet for guest bedroom--done 8/10
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom--bought 4/10
Redo electrical box- done 3/10
Get all downstairs plumbing done--done 3/10
Get Drywall done in downstairs bathroom-- done! 3/10
Put downstairs bathroom floor in done 5/10!
Paint Bathroom done 5/10!
Buy bathroom sink- done 4/10
Install dryer--done 9/10!
Install cabinet in bathroom--done 9/10
Buy upstairs carpet for guest room--done 8/10
Paint upstairs guestroom--done 7/10
Take a trip to IKEA to furnish guest room before babies come--done 9/10
Put shelves up in blue room done 10/10 and babies room
Set up babies room with cribs done 10/10 and gliders and decorate
Get chimneys inspected done 11/10
Get a new boiler done 11/10
Get babies dresser organized and sheets on the cribs kind of done 12/10

Money Goals for December

2010-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Debt

Pay of Medical Bills from surgery- currently $277.06 for lab and $226.96 10/1 Dr Guerreri $530.96 will pay minimum right now because thats all we can afford...

Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone-- no extra this month due to other expenses. Currently at 32,169.55

Save

Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000-- 2010 roth-currently at 4,411.00 added $416
Start a new carpet fund-- started with $10--on hold :)
Start saving for baby stuff that we dont get at the shower--no savings right now, just trying to pay bills

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries--spent $207 will continue with monthly meals, its hard to get to the grocery store together more than once a month!
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores- I got some stockups on diapers,wipes and cleaning stuff

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet and plumbing downstairs done 5/10
Get window treatments for bedrooms done 5/10
Put in new toilet upstairs done 5/10
Get closet doors
Install toilet and sink done 5/10
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor--floor boards are down! 3/10 installed 8/10!
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room
Paint Guest Bedroom--Base Coat and Closet are painted! 2/10
Buy carpet for guest bedroom--done 8/10
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom--bought 4/10
Redo electrical box- done 3/10
Get all downstairs plumbing done--done 3/10
Get Drywall done in downstairs bathroom-- done! 3/10
Put downstairs bathroom floor in done 5/10!
Paint Bathroom done 5/10!
Buy bathroom sink- done 4/10
Install dryer--done 9/10!
Install cabinet in bathroom--done 9/10
Install countertop in bathroom
Buy upstairs carpet for guest room--done 8/10
Paint upstairs guestroom--done 7/10
Carpet Living and Dining rooms
Take a trip to IKEA to furnish guest room before babies come--done 9/10
Drywall Office
Paint office
Floor in office
Put shelves up in blue room done 10/10 and babies room
Set up babies room with cribs done 10/10 and gliders and decorate
Get chimneys inspected done 11/10
Get a new boiler done 11/10
Get babies dresser organized and sheets on the cribs

Organize Accounts

Pay off Credit Card biweekly--paid!

Budget
$200 mo groceries spent about 276
$280 mo gas $172/mo--got a new boiler and new gas company, wonder if it will make a difference
$600 year auto repair 87 oil change, 400 insurance
$50 mo electricity --$33

$50 mo clothing--none!
$100 fast food/dining--$200---went out every wednesday for broomball and to melt with elise...

$40 Water quarterly--1/10 $31.41 8/10- $82.00

Added Goals

pay one fund at a time and get to the goal of the emergency fund $5000 first DONE!
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone--started this!
Save $40 in HSA fund-I will be put on hold until medical bill is gone
Get all funds done then make emergency fund 6 month savings
Get bank account to $10000 pay off medical bills and then pay off adams small loan---kinda switched this. 1/3 to medical/boiler/student loan
Buy a boiler in August---or september... or october... or november...

Completed Goals

Consider Refinancing our House---7/16 it will be final!! 4% 15 yrs! Plan to payoff in 12 yrs
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)--paid 1/7 and 1/21
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000--Maxed 2/8
Close Huntington and move money to northwest saving--2/10
Pay $450 more for basement plumbing done! done 3/5
Buy Cavs season tickets...make a fund next year!--bought 3/10
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- used them! 5/10
Opening a Schwab 2% Cash back card--will use all cash back for Adams loans 5/10
Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--PAID OFF!!! 6/10
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000--5861.43!! 6/10
Once we get the Schwab card, get rid of Citi---done with citi! 6/10
Get Baby Fund to at least $5500(we have changed this goal to $10000 due to bedrest)- currently at $10002.00--GOAL MET!!! 9/10
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)- went on our shopping spree :) 9/10
Look into different mutual funds for Roth...--done 9/10 will check back 12/10
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $3000-- Got the boiler installed, about $6000

Goals not completed

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March
Talk with Wells Fargo, they want to refinance our home--ill wait til they call again, havent had time to meet with him
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney-We decided that its not a good idea to go due to my surgery costs :( We are sad about it.
Opening a Chase checking because they are giving away $150
Publish Post
Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund--used up all of our HSA :( once medical bill is paid we will continue to contribute
Save $40 in HSA fund--will look into a new HSA next year and how to maximize...
Start Cavs fund when our first fund reaches its goal and small loan is paid off--will not be doing this for 2011
Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010--still didnt do this--did you jeannie??

Money Goals for November

2010-11-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

Debt

Pay of Medical Bills from surgery- currently $277 for lab bills and $286 from Dr Guerreri...plus whatever anthem is going to charge us...

Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone-- $753 extra to the loan this month!! Currently at $34,441.56

Save

Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund--used up all of our HSA :( once medical bill is paid we will continue to contribute
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000-- 2010 roth-currently at 3,995.00 added $416
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $3000-- currently $3,621.37 Got some estimates last month--another one coming tomorrow...hopefully will have it installed this month and will be withdrawing from our emergency fund for this
Save $40 in HSA fund--will continue to do this once medical bill is paid off
Start Cavs fund when our first fund reaches its goal and small loan is paid off--just started with $10---will be rethinking this for next year...
Start a new carpet fund-- started with $10--on hold :)
Start saving for baby stuff that we dont get at the shower

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries--spent $276--tried doing 1 month shopping..will try again this month
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores- I got some stockups on diapers and wipes!

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet and plumbing downstairs done 5/10
Get window treatments for bedrooms done 5/10
Put in new toilet upstairs done 5/10
Get closet doors
Install toilet and sink done 5/10
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor--floor boards are down! 3/10 installed 8/10!
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room
Paint Guest Bedroom--Base Coat and Closet are painted! 2/10
Buy carpet for guest bedroom--done 8/10
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom--bought 4/10
Redo electrical box- done 3/10
Get all downstairs plumbing done--done 3/10
Get Drywall done in downstairs bathroom-- done! 3/10
Put downstairs bathroom floor in done 5/10!
Paint Bathroom done 5/10!
Buy bathroom sink- done 4/10
Install dryer--done 9/10!
Install cabinet in bathroom--done 9/10
Install countertop in bathroom
Buy upstairs carpet for guest room--done 8/10
Paint upstairs guestroom--done 7/10
Carpet Living and Dining rooms
Take a trip to IKEA to furnish guest room before babies come--done 9/10
Drywall Office
Paint office
Floor in office
Put shelves up in blue room done 10/10 and babies room
Set up babies room with cribs done 10/10 and gliders and decorate
Get chimneys inspected
Get a new boiler

Organize Accounts

Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010--still didnt do this--did you jeannie??
Pay off Credit Card biweekly--paid!

Budget
$200 mo groceries spent about 276
$280 mo gas $172/mo--tried sending our gas bill to carla guerreri, will look forward to hearing from her
$600 year auto repair none this month
$50 mo electricity --$87

$50 mo clothing--$247---$150 for a tux for daves wedding...
$100 fast food/dining--$130

$40 Water quarterly--1/10 $31.41 8/10- $82.00

Added Goals

pay one fund at a time and get to the goal of the emergency fund $5000 first DONE!
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone--started this!
Save $40 in HSA fund-I will be put on hold until medical bill is gone
Get all funds done then make emergency fund 6 month savings
Get bank account to $10000 pay off medical bills and then pay off adams small loan---kinda switched this. 1/3 to medical/boiler/student loan
Buy a boiler in August---or september... or october... or november...

Completed Goals

Consider Refinancing our House---7/16 it will be final!! 4% 15 yrs! Plan to payoff in 12 yrs
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)--paid 1/7 and 1/21
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000--Maxed 2/8
Close Huntington and move money to northwest saving--2/10
Pay $450 more for basement plumbing done! done 3/5
Buy Cavs season tickets...make a fund next year!--bought 3/10
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- used them! 5/10
Opening a Schwab 2% Cash back card--will use all cash back for Adams loans 5/10
Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--PAID OFF!!! 6/10
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000--5861.43!! 6/10
Once we get the Schwab card, get rid of Citi---done with citi! 6/10
Get Baby Fund to at least $5500(we have changed this goal to $10000 due to bedrest)- currently at $10002.00--GOAL MET!!! 9/10
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)- went on our shopping spree :) 9/10
Look into different mutual funds for Roth...--done 9/10 will check back 12/10

Goals not completed

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March
Talk with Wells Fargo, they want to refinance our home--ill wait til they call again, havent had time to meet with him
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney-We decided that its not a good idea to go due to my surgery costs :( We are sad about it.
Opening a Chase checking because they are giving away $150
Publish Post

Money Goals for October

2010-10-04T22:50:00.000-07:00

Debt

Pay of Medical Bills from surgery- $410.00 from surgery, new lab bills $795

Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone-- so we redid this plan again...splitting any extra to medical/student loans/boiler So we were able to put $510 extra to the loan this month!! Currently at $34,441.56

Save

Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund--used up all of our HSA :( once medical bill is paid we will continue to contribute
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000-- 2010 roth-currently at 3,579.00 added $416---Adjusted some of my funds this month
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $3000-- currently $2240 didnt get to get the boiler last month. Hopefully this month!
Save $40 in HSA fund--will continue to do this once medical bill is paid off
Start Cavs fund when our first fund reaches its goal and small loan is paid off--just started with $10---will be rethinking this for next year...
Start a new carpet fund-- started with $10--on hold :)

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries--spent about $300 but we didnt go out to eat at all!
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores- I got some stockups on diapers and wipes!

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet and plumbing downstairs done 5/10
Get window treatments for bedrooms done 5/10
Put in new toilet upstairs done 5/10
Get closet doors
Install toilet and sink done 5/10
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor--floor boards are down! 3/10 installed 8/10!
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room
Paint Guest Bedroom--Base Coat and Closet are painted! 2/10
Buy carpet for guest bedroom--done 8/10
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom--bought 4/10
Redo electrical box- done 3/10
Get all downstairs plumbing done--done 3/10
Get Drywall done in downstairs bathroom-- done! 3/10
Put downstairs bathroom floor in done 5/10!
Paint Bathroom done 5/10!
Buy bathroom sink- done 4/10
Install dryer--done 9/10!
Install cabinet in bathroom--done 9/10
Install countertop in bathroom
Buy upstairs carpet for guest room--done 8/10
Paint upstairs guestroom--done 7/10
Carpet Living and Dining rooms
Take a trip to IKEA to furnish guest room before babies come--done 9/10
Drywall Office
Paint office
Floor in office
Put shelves up in blue room and babies room

Organize Accounts

Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010--still didnt do this--did you jeannie??
Pay off Credit Card biweekly--paid!

Budget
$200 mo groceries spent about $300 but no eating out
$280 mo gas $172/mo
$600 year auto repair none this month
$50 mo electricity --$161! Hot summer??

$50 mo clothing--$90 for some maternity clothes
$100 fast food/dining--$56 starbucks and jimmy johns due to working days

$40 Water quarterly--1/10 $31.41 8/10- $82.00

Added Goals

pay one fund at a time and get to the goal of the emergency fund $5000 first DONE!
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone--started this!
Save $40 in HSA fund-I will be put on hold until medical bill is gone
Get all funds done then make emergency fund 6 month savings
Get bank account to $10000 pay off medical bills and then pay off adams small loan---kinda switched this. 1/3 to medical/boiler/student loan
Buy a boiler in August---or september... or october...

Completed Goals

Consider Refinancing our House---7/16 it will be final!! 4% 15 yrs! Plan to payoff in 12 yrs
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)--paid 1/7 and 1/21
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000--Maxed 2/8
Close Huntington and move money to northwest saving--2/10
Pay $450 more for basement plumbing done! done 3/5
Buy Cavs season tickets...make a fund next year!--bought 3/10
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- used them! 5/10
Opening a Schwab 2% Cash back card--will use all cash back for Adams loans 5/10
Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--PAID OFF!!! 6/10
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000--5861.43!! 6/10
Once we get the Schwab card, get rid of Citi---done with citi! 6/10
Get Baby Fund to at least $5500(we have changed this goal to $10000 due to bedrest)- currently at $10002.00--GOAL MET!!! 9/10
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)- went on our shopping spree :) 9/10
Look into different mutual funds for Roth...--done 9/10 will check back 12/10

Goals not completed

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March
Talk with Wells Fargo, they want to refinance our home--ill wait til they call again, havent had time to meet with him
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney-We decided that its not a good idea to go due to my surgery costs :( We are sad about it.
Opening a Chase checking because they are giving away $150
Publish Post

Money Goals for September

2010-09-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry I missed August :)
Debt

Pay of Medical Bills from surgery- $768.06 left!---getting alot more though :(
Get Baby Fund to at least $5500(we have changed this goal to $10000 due to bedrest)- currently at $6523.16
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone-- currently putting all extra into baby fund, we will get back to this when we reach our babyfund goal. at 34,712.07 down $349.65 will be paying $160 extra each month plus cc rewards!(will start again after babyfund at $10000)

Save

Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund--used up all of our HSA :( once medical bill is paid we will continue to contribute
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000-- 2010 roth-currently at 3,163.00 added $416
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $2000-- currently $1200.56 will be getting a new boiler this month
Get Vacation fund to $1000--currently $0- nothing added this month
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)- currently at $542.97
Save $40 in HSA fund--will continue to do this once medical bill is paid off
Start Cavs fund when our first fund reaches its goal and small loan is paid off--just started with $10
Start a new carpet fund-- started with $10

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries--August was bad, we went over on everything...I wasnt feeling well the whole month so there was alot of eating out because I never knew what I wanted to eat. September will be better I hope!
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores- I got some stockups on diapers!

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet and plumbing downstairs done 5/10
Get window treatments for bedrooms done 5/10
Put in new toilet upstairs done 5/10
Get closet doors
Install toilet and sink done 5/10
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor--floor boards are down! 3/10
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room
Paint Guest Bedroom--Base Coat and Closet are painted! 2/10
Buy carpet for guest bedroom--done 8/10
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom--bought 4/10
Redo electrical box- done 3/10
Get all downstairs plumbing done--done 3/10
Get Drywall done in downstairs bathroom-- done! 3/10
Put downstairs bathroom floor in done 5/10!
Paint Bathroom done 5/10!
Buy bathroom sink- done 4/10
Install dryer
Install cabinet in bathroom
Install countertop in bathroom
Buy upstairs carpet for guest room--done 8/10
Paint upstairs guestroom--done 7/10
Carpet Living and Dining rooms
Take a trip to IKEA to furnish guest room before babies come

Organize Accounts

Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010--still didnt do this--did you jeannie??
Pay off Credit Card biweekly--paid!

Budget
$200 mo groceries spent way too much
$280 mo gas $172/mo
$600 year auto repair none this month
$50 mo electricity --$108.00! not sure why
$50 mo clothing--$too much
$100 fast food/dining--$way too much
$40 Water quarterly--1/10 $31.41 8/10- $82.00

Added Goals

pay one fund at a time and get to the goal of the emergency fund $5000 first DONE!
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone--started this!
Save $40 in HSA fund--will be put on hold until medical bill is gone
Get all funds done then make emergency fund 6 month savings
Get bank account to $10000 pay off medical bills and then pay off adams small loan---kinda switched this. Paid off loan and now working on the medical bill
Buy a boiler in August---or september...

Completed Goals

Consider Refinancing our House---7/16 it will be final!! 4% 15 yrs! Plan to payoff in 12 yrs
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)--paid 1/7 and 1/21
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000--Maxed 2/8
Close Huntington and move money to northwest saving--2/10
Pay $450 more for basement plumbing done! done 3/5
Buy Cavs season tickets...make a fund next year!--bought 3/10
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- used them! 5/10
Opening a Schwab 2% Cash back card--will use all cash back for Adams loans 5/10
Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--PAID OFF!!! 6/10
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000--5861.43!! 6/10
Once we get the Schwab card, get rid of Citi---done with citi! 6/10

Goals not completed

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March
Talk with Wells Fargo, they want to refinance our home--ill wait til they call again, havent had time to meet with him
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney-We decided that its not a good idea to go due to my surgery costs :( We are sad about it.
Look into different mutual funds for Roth...--i still dont know what i am doing with this..
Opening a Chase checking because they are giving away $150

Money Goals for July

2010-07-01T05:25:00.000-07:00

Goals

Debt

Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--currently at: $0--we paid it off!!!
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000-- currently $5861.43--added $1347.11 this month, we reached our goal!!
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone-- currently at 35,643.72 down $363 will be paying $160 extra each month plus cc rewards. Hope to get this paid off by the time we are 30 yrs old

Save

Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund-- total surgery bill $2600. dont even know where to start with this. I think I will take whatever I can put into our funds and split it in half. Also use up everything in HSA funds.
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000-- 2010 roth-currently at 2123.00 added $416
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $2000-- currently $970.66 no change this month
Get Baby Fund up to $5500 at least--currently at 3870.84 added $485.15 this month!
Get Vacation fund to $1000--currently $60.20-added nothing this month
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)- currently at $541.48
Save $40 in HSA fund--currently we have two HSA balances: 220.01 and 446.59---will be using for medical bill
Start Cavs fund when our first fund reaches its goal and small loan is paid off--just started with $10
Start a new carpet fund

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries--June $202...a little over
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores- I will be getting a big check from Rite aid next month I think!

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet and plumbing downstairs done 5/10
Get window treatments for bedrooms done 5/10
Put in new toilet upstairs done 5/10
Get closet doors
Install toilet and sink done 5/10
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor--floor boards are down! 3/10
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room
Paint Guest Bedroom--Base Coat and Closet are painted! 2/10
Buy carpet for guest bedroom
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom--bought 4/10
Redo electrical box- done 3/10
Get all downstairs plumbing done--done 3/10
Get Drywall done in downstairs bathroom-- done! 3/10
Put downstairs bathroom floor in done 5/10!
Paint Bathroom done 5/10!
Buy bathroom sink- done 4/10
Install dryer
Install cabinet in bathroom
Install countertop in bathroom
Buy upstairs carpet for guest room
Paint upstairs guestroom
Carpet Living and Dining rooms

Organize Accounts

Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010--still didnt do this--did you jeannie??
Pay off Credit Card biweekly--paid!

Budget
$200 mo groceries spent $202
$280 mo gas $172/mo
$600 year auto repair none this month
$50 mo electricity --$56.63! not sure why
$50 mo clothing--$64, got some new summer dresses
$100 fast food/dining--$278--Dawn came home and we went out
$40 Water quarterly--1/10 $31.41

Added Goals

pay one fund at a time and get to the goal of the emergency fund $5000 first DONE!
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone--started this!
Save $40 in HSA fund--will be put on hold until medical bill is gone
Get all funds done then make emergency fund $10000
Get bank account to $10000 pay off medical bills and then pay off adams small loan---kinda switched this. Paid off loan and now working on the medical bill
Buy a boiler in August

Completed Goals

Consider Refinancing our House---7/16 it will be final!! 4% 15 yrs!
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)--paid 1/7 and 1/21
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000--Maxed 2/8
Close Huntington and move money to northwest saving--2/10
Pay $450 more for basement plumbing done! done 3/5
Buy Cavs season tickets...make a fund next year!--bought 3/10
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- used them! 5/10
Opening a Schwab 2% Cash back card--will use all cash back for Adams loans 5/10
Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--PAID OFF!!! 6/10
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000--5861.43!! 6/10
Once we get the Schwab card, get rid of Citi---done with citi! 6/10

Goals not completed

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March
Talk with Wells Fargo, they want to refinance our home--ill wait til they call again, havent had time to meet with him
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney-We decided that its not a good idea to go due to my surgery costs :( We are sad about it.
Look into different mutual funds for Roth...--i still dont know what i am doing with this..
Opening a Chase checking because they are giving away $150

July Goals in my life

2010-07-01T04:45:00.000-07:00

July-
Fun
Take Zak to the Little Cooks
Sean and Mandys Wedding
BBQ Party Hopefully
Meet Meghann for coffee
Go on a walk with Carolyn and Landon
Go to Wintergreen Hill Summer Picnic
Hangout with Sarah and Kevin
See Tom Green
Relay for Life
Read a book
Have a fire with friends
Take scooter ride to kent
Go on a hike to the waterfalls with adam

DIYing/Crafting:
Scrapbook 2 pages
Meet up with Lorina and help her scrapbook

Gardening:

Continue to water flowers
Pick raspberries

Home:

Finish painting guest bedroom
Get dryer hooked up
Get towel rack up

Cooking:

Make one new recipe every week!
Make a new dessert

Wellness:

Ride bike twice a week
Yoga twice a week

Work:
Work a contract at hillcrest
One day a week at Tripoint
Look into RNC

June Review-
Fun
Grandpas Party June 12--Grandma and Grandpa got sick :(
See Dawn when she comes home and get pedicures
Jeannie and Adams MCdonalds party
See Sarah and Kevin again-- Went to sushi with Sarah but no kevin :(
Read a book--Started
Have a fire with friends--still havent done that!
Meet up with sean and mandy to give wedding gift didnt get to!
Take scooter ride to kent---not yet...

DIYing/Crafting:
Scrapbook 2 pages, just got to do one...
Meet up with Lorina and help her scrapbook

Gardening:

Weed the raspberries
Plant watermelon
Plant strawberries

Home:

Get bathroom floor in

Wash our comforter once the washer and dryer are in--not in yet
Put up bathroom mirror, toilet paper roll and towel rack--still waiting on towel rack
Buy cleaning supplies for downstairs bathroom

Cooking:

Make one new recipe every 2 weeks--made Stuffed Eggplants and Cheesy Lasagna Roll ups! Both were great!

Wellness:

Run twice a week!--I was doing good until this week, been working 9 nights in a row, only ran once, no energy

Work:
Work a contract at hillcrest--did it!
Interview at tripoint--got hired and started!
Go agency at rbc--no positions, I quit

Rayovac summer giveaway!

2010-06-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

The exciting, new Rayovac Powers Your Summer Promotion started yesterday, June 21st and runs through July 20th. There are many ways you can win. Rayovac is offering giveaways and summer fun tips at the promotion website. Simply tell them how you'll power your fun this summer each day for a chance to win prizes ranging from Cameras and Bikes to Camping Supplies and a Summer Supply of Rayovac Batteries! No trick questions here! There is no correct answer to how you and your family add the Power of Fun to your summer! Must be a US resident and 18 or older at the time of entry to enter this Promotion, the Twitter Event or the Blogger Promotion.

For example, here is today’s question:

13 million Americans go camping each year. What is your camping style? Backyard, adventurous, roughing it?

I told them we will rough it in denver in August!

Giveaways for fathers day

2010-06-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

Giveaways for Dads day!
PennyPinchinmom.com $100 Home Depot card!
Saving Cents with Sense $100 Home Depot Card

Money Goals for June

2010-06-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

Goals

Debt

Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--currently at: $3245.22---we will use the rebates from our cc next month
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000-- currently $4514.32--added $960 this month, we have a new strategy of rolling all the money into one fund at a time and getting it to our goal.
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone-- currently at $36,006.85, paid off about 500 this month including our thankyou rewards check

Save

Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund-- waiting on the surgery claim...paid $87 last month
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000-- 2010 roth-currently at $1,707.00
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $2000-- currently $969.76 added $182.90 this month
Get Baby Fund up to $5500 at least--currently at $3385.69 added nothing this month
Get Vacation fund to $1000--currently $60.69-added nothing this month
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)- currently at $540.98
Save $40 in HSA fund--currently we have two HSA balances: 220.01 and 446.59

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries--May $246...a little over
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores- got $3 from surveys in May

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet and plumbing downstairs done 5/10
Get window treatments for bedrooms done 5/10
Put in new toilet upstairs done 5/10
Get closet doors
Install toilet and sink done 5/10
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor--floor boards are down! 3/10
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room
Paint Guest Bedroom--Base Coat and Closet are painted! 2/10
Buy carpet for guest bedroom
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom--bought 4/10
Redo electrical box- done 3/10
Get all downstairs plumbing done--done 3/10
Get Drywall done in downstairs bathroom-- done! 3/10
Put downstairs bathroom floor in done 5/10!
Paint Bathroom done 5/10!
Buy bathroom sink- done 4/10
Install dryer
Install cabinet in bathroom
Install countertop in bathroom
Buy upstairs carpet for guest room

Organize Accounts

Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010--will look into this 5/10, forgot to do that...try this month
Pay off Credit Card biweekly--paid!
Opening a Chase checking because they are giving away $150
Once we get the Schwab card, get rid of Citi---one more bill to pay for citi!

Budget
$200 mo groceries spent $246
$280 mo gas $172/mo
$600 year auto repair 450! adam got in a fender bender...thank god for emergency fund
$50 mo electricity --$44.12!
$50 mo clothing--spent $41 on scrubs!
$100 fast food/dining--$200... from chicago
$40 Water quarterly--1/10 $31.41

Added Goals

Start Cavs fund when our first fund reaches its goal and small loan is paid off
pay one fund at a time and get to the goal of the emergency fund $5000 first
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone
Save $40 in HSA fund
Get all funds done then make emergency fund $10000
Get bank account to $10000 pay off medical bills and then pay off adams small loan

Completed Goals

Consider Refinancing our House---not worth it with our mortgage company
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)--paid 1/7 and 1/21
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000--Maxed 2/8
Close Huntington and move money to northwest saving--2/10
Pay $450 more for basement plumbing done! done 3/5
Buy Cavs season tickets...make a fund next year!--bought 3/10
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- used them! 5/10
Opening a Schwab 2% Cash back card--will use all cash back for Adams loans 5/10

Goals not completed

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March
Talk with Wells Fargo, they want to refinance our home--ill wait til they call again, havent had time to meet with him
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney-We decided that its not a good idea to go due to my surgery costs :( We are sad about it.
Look into different mutual funds for Roth...--i still dont know what i am doing with this..

June Goals in my life

2010-05-19T15:56:00.001-07:00

June-
Fun
Grandpas Party June 12
See Dawn when she comes home and get pedicures
Jeannie and Adams MCdonalds party
See Sarah and Kevin again
Read a book
Have a fire with friends
Meet up with sean and mandy to give wedding gift
Take scooter ride to kent

DIYing/Crafting:
Scrapbook 2 pages
Meet up with Lorina and help her scrapbook

Gardening:

Weed the raspberries
Plant watermelon
Plant strawberries

Home:

Get bathroom floor in

Wash our comforter once the washer and dryer are in
Put up bathroom mirror, toilet paper roll and towel rack
Buy cleaning supplies for downstairs bathroom

Cooking:

Make one new recipe every 2 weeks

Wellness:

Run twice a week!

Work:
Work a contract at hillcrest
Interview at tripoint
Go agency at rbc

May-

Fun
Britt bday dinner--went to Texas Roadhouse, enjoyed seeing everyone!

Sarah and Kevin Housewarming--Didnt get to go due to work :(
Have a fire with our friends--havent had a nice day off yet
See Vicky and Jeremy- saw them twice and went to icecream
Chicago for 5 days!!--It was not what i expected but still nice to get away!
See Trish and Linda- never going to happen
Meet up with Sean and Mandy for wedding gift--maybe this month?
Read a book- Read Fade Away by Harlan Coben, pretty good. Also listened to dave ramsey on cd in my car
If adam and I have a day off: take a scooter ride to kent or hike cuyahoga valley national park--were supposed to may 24, then they scheduled adam to work.

DIYing/Crafting:

Scrapbook 10 Pages, hopefully I can do this in chicago!--I did 7 close enough.

Gardening:

Buy some mulch and top soil for the flower beds--adams dad is gonna give us some multch soon

Home:

Start painting bathroom??--its grey!!

Go through pantry this month and clean out kitchen cabinets-- I got that done!

Cooking:

Make 2 vegetarian recipes--white bean skillet, it was good. Gonna make some white bean chili outta the beans also made this citrus fish, it was ok...dont plan on making it again
Citrus fish was good

Wellness:

Having surgery on may 18--it hurt but no endometriosis so thats good
Preadmission testing May 4--did that too!
Run 4 miles at least during one run and run every day in chicago and once a week at home except the surgery week--ran everyday in chicago and did run once a week at least! I hope i can do the johnnycake

Work:
Work a contract at hillcrest with one day a week at rbc--rbc kept cancelling but i got overtime at hillcrest

Money Goals for May

2010-05-04T05:44:00.001-07:00

Goals

Debt

Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--currently at: $3295.88.20---we will use thank you rewards this month to pay it
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000-- currently $3553.87--added $182.90 this month
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone-- currently at $36,562.34

Save

Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund-- just paid the first one $107.00...
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000-- 2010 roth-currently at $1,291.00
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- currently have $28,897--getting $225 in student loan rebates!
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $2000-- currently $969.76 added $182.90 this month
Get Baby Fund up to $5500 at least--currently at $3385.69 added $182.90 this month
Get Vacation fund to $1000--currently $193.32-added $182.90 this month, I am sure we will use this up in chicago next week. Then we will save for our anniversary
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)- currently at $540.98
Save $40 in HSA fund--currently we have two HSA balances: 80.01 and 617.89

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries--April-$370...I dont know why its so much
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores- got $28 from rebates and surveys in April

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet and plumbing downstairs
Get window treatments for bedrooms
Put in new toilet upstairs
Get closet doors
Install toilet and sink and fan
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor--floor boards are down! 3/10
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room
Paint Guest Bedroom--Base Coat and Closet are painted! 2/10
Buy carpet for guest bedroom
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom--bought 4/10
Redo electrical box- done 3/10
Get all downstairs plumbing done--done 3/10
Get Drywall done in downstairs bathroom-- done! 3/10
Put downstairs bathroom floor in
Paint Bathroom
Buy bathroom sink- done 4/10

Organize Accounts

Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010--will look into this 5/10
Pay off Credit Card biweekly--paid!
Opening a Chase checking because they are giving away $150
Once we get the Schwab card, get rid of Citi---one more bill to pay for citi!

Budget
$200 mo groceries spent $370
$280 mo gas $172/mo
$600 year auto repair none this month
$50 mo electricity --$32.59!
$50 mo clothing--spent $116 at old navy!
$100 fast food/dining--$200...
$40 Water quarterly--1/10 $31.41

Added Goals

Start Cavs fund when our first fund reaches its goal and small loan is paid off
Once our first fund is up to the goal, get the small loan paid off! Then $60 a month to a different goal
Look into different mutual funds for Roth...--i still dont know what i am doing with this..
Opening a Schwab 2% Cash back card--will use all cash back for Adams loans
Keep paying Adams Big Loan--extra payments once small loan is gone
Save $40 in HSA fund

Completed Goals

Consider Refinancing our House---not worth it with our mortgage company
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)--paid 1/7 and 1/21
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000--Maxed 2/8
Close Huntington and move money to northwest saving--2/10
Pay $450 more for basement plumbing done! done 3/5
Buy Cavs season tickets...make a fund next year!--bought 3/10

Goals not completed

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March
Talk with Wells Fargo, they want to refinance our home--ill wait til they call again, havent had time to meet with him
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney-We decided that its not a good idea to go due to my surgery costs :( We are sad about it.

April 26 Giveaways!

2010-04-26T08:52:00.001-07:00

Some new giveaways!
-Alice.com $100 Giftcard at EADFL blog!
-Seventh Generation Starter Pack Giveaway at Money Saving Mama in Michigan!
-$10 Target Giftcard Giveaway at Couponing to be debt free!
-$100 Amazon giftcard giveaway at EADFL blog!

May Goals in my life

2010-04-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

April-

Fun

Go to Sarah and Kevs new house--went to visit, they are having a housewarming in may
Go see Dawn when she comes to town--went to coffee and dinner :)
Kelly and Jasons wedding--April 17! Fun time with the family
March of Dimes Walk--Great time with Logan, i was so happy my whole family came
Zacharys Bday Party--Lots of people. Fun times!
See Vicky and Jeremy--went to dinner at their house before work...not very long but it was fun!
Go to a cavs game with Lorina and one with Adam--went to both plus a playoff game!!

DIYing/Crafting:

Scrapbook 2 Pages--I think I just did one...

Gardening:

Take meme to Gails Garden with me to figure out flowers--Got a bunch of flowers and planted
Try to figure out flower beds again---finally did it!

Home:

Declutter basement for 15 minutes every time I am off work--did some...went to jeannies and had a recycle day it was great!

Wash all windows this month at some point--our window screens get stuck so it is hard to do...we need a fund for new windows. But i did vacuum out all the screens this month!

Cooking:

Make 2 vegetarian recipes--we made homemade pizza, not veggie...and I forget what else we had...

Wellness:

Go running at least 4 times this month--I did it! and I went with Jeannie it was a good run

Work:
Work part time at Hillcrest and Full time at Rainbow until April 24---Got called off a few shifts this month...

May-

Fun
Britt bday dinner

Sarah and Kevin Housewarming
Have a fire with our friends
See Vicky and Jeremy
Chicago for 5 days!!
See Trish and Linda
Meet up with Sean and Mandy for wedding gift
Read a book
If adam and I have a day off: take a scooter ride to kent or hike cuyahoga valley national park

DIYing/Crafting:

Scrapbook 10 Pages, hopefully I can do this in chicago!

Gardening:

Buy some mulch and top soil for the flower beds

Home:

Start painting bathroom??

Go through pantry this month and clean out kitchen cabinets

Cooking:

Make 2 vegetarian recipes--I gotta try this again
Citrus Fish is gonna be made tomorrow...

Wellness:

Having surgery on may 18
Preadmission testing May 4
Run 4 miles at least during one run and run every day in chicago and once a week at home except the surgery week

Work:
Work a contract at hillcrest with one day a week at rbc

April Goals in my Life

2010-04-01T02:00:00.000-07:00

March Goals

Fun

Go to Chicago for 3 Days---it was amazing! Nice getaway. Makes me miss city life
Go to the Monsters Game with Sarah and Kevin--didnt have a day off work :(
Have Dinner with Family or Friends--Digorno Pizza party!! It was awesome

DIYing/Crafting:

Scrapbook 2 Pages--did one, which i am surprised I had time to do!

Gardening:

Look into what we want to do with the flower beds in front of our house--still didnt do that

Home:

Declutter basement for 15 minutes every time I am off work (not very often lol)--did it once.

Cooking:

Make 2 new recipes from everything we have already--I made
grilled-lemon-pepper-halibut-and-squash-packs
and
Sausage and Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Asparagus mm mmm

Wellness:

Go running at least 4 times this month--squeezed the last one in yesterday!

April-

Fun

Go to Sarah and Kevs new house
Go see Dawn when she comes to town
Kelly and Jasons wedding
March of Dimes Walk
Zacharys Bday Party
See Vicky and Jeremy
Go to a cavs game with Lorina and one with Adam

DIYing/Crafting:

Scrapbook 2 Pages

Gardening:

Take meme to Gails Garden with me to figure out flowers
Try to figure out flower beds again

Home:

Declutter basement for 15 minutes every time I am off work, let try that again.

Wash all windows this month at some point

Cooking:

Make 2 vegetarian recipes

Wellness:

Go running at least 4 times this month--we will try this again...

Work:
Work part time at Hillcrest and Full time at Rainbow until April 24

Goals Reviewed for April

2010-03-20T11:09:00.001-07:00

Goals

Debt

Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--currently at: $3546.20---we will make a $100 extra payment this month---we want this thing gone!
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000-- currently $3343.50--added $227.40 this month

Save

Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund-- just went to the doctor on march 22, we will see what that bill is....
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000-- 2010 roth-currently at $667.00
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- currently have $24,361 need $31,400 for $250 student loan rebate
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney-- part of vacation fund $741.43--Added $227.40 this month
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $2000-- currently $785.43 added $227.40 this month
Get Baby Fund up to $5500 at least--currently at $3196.84 added $227.40 this month
Get Vacation fund to $1000--currently $741.43--have to deduct $247.72 from chicago trip...and $484.77 for next chicago trip...the hotel so we are down to about nothing...-732
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)- currently at $347.44

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries--March-$222 ($20 over :()
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores- got $23 from rebates and surveys in March

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet
Get window treatments for bedrooms
Get closet doors
Install toilet and sink and fan
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor--floor boards are down! 3/10
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room
Paint Guest Bedroom--Base Coat and Closet are painted! 2/10
Buy carpet for guest bedroom
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom
Redo electrical box- done 3/10
Get all downstairs plumbing done
Get Drywall done in downstairs bathroom

Organize Accounts

Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010
Pay off Credit Card biweekly--paid!
Opening a Chase checking because they are giving away $150
Once we get the Schwab card, get rid of Citi

Budget
$200 mo groceries spent $220
$280 mo gas $172/mo
$600 year auto repair oil change on my car $79.68
$50 mo electricity --$40.04!
$50 mo clothing--$80--shopping in chicago
$100 fast food/dining--$190 we went to chicago and ate out alot, it was awesome!
$40 mo HSA fund- $40
$40 Water quarterly--1/10 $31.41

Added Goals

Start Cavs fund when our first fund reaches its goal and small loan is paid off
Once our first fund is up to the goal, get the small loan paid off! Then $60 a month to a different goal
Look into different mutual funds for Roth...
Opening a Schwab 2% Cash back card--will use all cash back for Adams loans

Completed Goals

Consider Refinancing our House---not worth it with our mortgage company
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)--paid 1/7 and 1/21
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000--Maxed 2/8
Close Huntington and move money to northwest saving--2/10
Pay $450 more for basement plumbing done! done 3/5
Buy Cavs season tickets...make a fund next year!--bought 3/10

Goals not completed

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March
Talk with Wells Fargo, they want to refinance our home--ill wait til they call again, havent had time to meet with him

March Goals in my life

2010-03-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

March Goals

Fun

Go to Chicago for 3 Days
Go to the Monsters Game with Sarah and Kevin
Have Dinner with Family or Friends

DIYing/Crafting:

Scrapbook 2 Pages

Gardening:

Look into what we want to do with the flower beds in front of our house

Home:

Declutter basement for 15 minutes every time I am off work (not very often lol)

Cooking:

Make 2 new recipes from everything we have already

Wellness:

Go running at least 4 times this month

Goals Reviewed for March

2010-03-04T07:53:00.000-08:00

Goals

Debt

Pay off Adams Small Loan by December--currently at: $---i cant log in right now..
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000-- currently $3354.50--added $419 this month but had to take some out for adams car repairs of $550

Save

Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund-- met with HSA guy, I need to submit my target receipt now and Transfer my old HSA. Found out our fertility testing is not covered under insurance so that will not be good...who knows what the bills are gonna be in april...
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000-- 2009 roth-MAXED OUT!! Woo hoo! 2010 roth-$208
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- currently have $20,097 need $31,400 for $250 student loan rebate
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney-- part of vacation fund $514.33--Added $419 this month
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $2000-- currently $558.03 added $419 this month
Get Baby Fund up to $5500 at least--currently at $2969.54 added $419 this month
Get Vacation fund to $1000--currently $514.33
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)- currently at 130.04

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries--February-$295.26 we bought Filet mignon and lobster tails for valentines day :)
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores- got $29.98 in rebates and amazon/ebay in February

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet
Get window treatments for bedrooms
Get closet doors
Install toilet and sink and fan
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room
Paint Guest Bedroom--Base Coat and Closet are painted! 2/10

Organize Accounts

Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010
Close Huntington and move money to northwest savings--did it!!
Pay off Credit Card biweekly--paid!

Budget
$200 mo groceries spent $295
$280 mo gas $172/mo
$600 year auto repair $550 this month haha oops
$50 mo electricity --$40.04!
$50 mo clothing--$0
$100 fast food/dining--$130--lots d/t meme being in hospital
$40 mo HSA fund- $40
$40 Water quarterly--1/10 $31.41

Added Goals

Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)
Paint Guest Bedroom--adam started that today
Buy carpet for guest bedroom
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom
Buy Cavs season tickets...make a fund next year!
Talk with Wells Fargo, they want to refinance our home

Completed Goals

Consider Refinancing our House---not worth it with our mortgage company
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)--paid 1/7 and 1/21
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000--Maxed 2/8
Close Huntington and move money to northwest saving--2/10
Pay $450 more for basement plumbing done! done 3/5

Goals not completed

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March

New Giveaways this week! 2/16

2010-02-16T06:27:00.001-08:00

-Paintless Design Giveaway at Cool Canucks
-Green Pan Giveaway at Cool Canucks
-Rockin Baby Sling Giveaway at In the Know Mom
-Crockpot Giveaway at Upstate Ramblings

Giveaways this week! 2-8-10

2010-02-08T16:57:00.001-08:00

-$25 Cracker Barrel Giftcard at Go Graham Go
-Evenflo Breast Pump Giveaway at Go Graham Go
-$50 Walmart Giftcard at Sage and Savvy
-Zooper Bolero Stroller Giveaway at Two of a Kind Working on a Full House
-$50 Walmart Giftcard at A Nut In a Nutshell
-$10 Starbucks Giftcard at The Frugal Kennedys
-Kolcraft Jeep Playard Giveaway at Two of a Kind Working on a Full House

Goals reviewed for February

2010-02-01T12:41:00.000-08:00

Goals

Debt

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March--currently at: $3645.78 we are not making extra payments now due to trying to get our funds up!
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000-- currently $3445.15--added $85 this month

Save

Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund-- need to meet with HSA guy this month
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000-- 2009 roth-$4,835.00 2010 roth-$0
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans-- currently have 17,215
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney-- part of vacation fund $95--Added $85 this month
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $2000-- currently $258.61 added $85 this month
Get Baby Fund up to $5500 at least--currently at $2548.04 added all of that this month, got my PTO paid out
Get Vacation fund to $1000--currently $95

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries--January-$259 over by $59 oops
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores- got $79 in rebates and ebay in January!

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange-- bought paint 1/10
Put in new toilet
Get window treatments for bedrooms
Get closet doors
Install toilet and sink and fan
Paint downstairs bathroom-- bought paint 1/10
Install bathroom floor
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room

Organize Accounts

Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010
Close Huntington and move money to northwest savings--still gotta do this
Pay off Credit Card biweekly--paid!

Budget
$200 mo groceries spent $259
$280 mo gas went on budeget plan now paying $172/mo
$600 year auto repair none this month :)
$50 mo electricity --$43.08!
$50 mo clothing--$25!
$100 fast food/dining--$97!
$40 mo HSA fund- did it!
$40 Water quarterly--1/10 $31.41

Added Goals

Pay $450 more for basement plumbing
Start IKEA fund so we can go on a shopping spree haha ($1000 goal)
Paint Guest Bedroom--adam started that today
Buy carpet for guest bedroom
Buy floor for downstairs bathroom

Completed Goals

Consider Refinancing our House---not worth it with our mortgage company
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)--paid 1/7 and 1/21

Giveaways 1/19/10

2010-01-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

New Giveaways this week
Saving Money Plan- $50 Giveaway
Suburban Jungle- Good Health Natural Foods Giveaway
MomStart- $50 American Express Giftcard
BudgetMommy- Cloth Diaper Giveaway
Dealicious mom- Pom Wonderful

New Giveaways for week of 1/5!

2010-01-05T10:42:00.000-08:00

Giveaways this Week!
- The Frugal Fine- $100 Target Gift Card
- Tea and Thee- Old Orchard Healthy Balance Giveaway
- Mom Saves Money $10 Starbucks Giftcard
- Rave and Review Oreck XL Halo Vacuum Giveaway

Giveaways this week!

2009-12-27T08:56:00.001-08:00

Here are some giveaways this week that I entered. Check them out:
-Smart Money Babe- CVS Gift Card
-Frugal Shopping with Julie- Save a lot Giftcard
-Saving Money For a Wedding- $25 Macys Gift Card
-Becca's Backyard- $10 Whole Foods Giftcard
-Piece of Me- Epson 710 all in one printer
-Lets Just Give it away- $10 Walmart Giftcard
-Sage and Savy- $30 Walmart Gift Card for Holiday Meals
-Simply Being Mommy- $100 JCPenny Giftcard
-The Not so Blog - $40 Walmart Giftcard

Goals

2009-11-22T05:53:00.000-08:00

Debt

Pay off Adams Small Loan by March
Get Emergency Fund Back to $5000

Save

Pay all medical bills etc with HSA Fund
Continue to contribute the max to my Roth $5000
Use Thank You rewards for Adams Loans
Save at least $300 for Sean and Mandys wedding in Disney
Consider refinancing in 2010
Start Boiler Fund and buy a boiler this year with tax credit Save $2000
Get Baby Fund up to $5500 at least
Get Vacation fund to $1000

Frugal

No More than $200/mo on groceries
Free/Cheap stockups at drugstores

Home

Paint upstairs bathroom orange
Put in new toilet
Get window treatments for bedrooms
Get closet doors
Redo downstairs plumbing ($1100)
Install toilet and sink and fan
Paint downstairs bathroom
Install bathroom floor
Paint computer room
Install Floor in computer room

Organize Accounts

Move 401k from Principal to Fidelity in may 2010
Close Huntington and move money to northwest savings
Pay off Credit Card biweekly

Budget
$200 mo groceries
$280 mo gas
$600 year auto repair
$50 mo electricity
$50 mo clothing
$100 fast food/dining
$40 mo HSA fund

Accomplished Goals From 2009

Eat out no more than once a week
Use coupons as much as possible
Furnish house with garage sale/thrift store items until we redo the room with no more than $1000 new goal 2/09
Research water heaters new goal added 5/09
Research Cable/Internet packages...possibly AT&T new goal 6/09
Move 401k to Fidelity new goal 6/09

Frugal:

Try to get enough CFL lightbulbs to replace all of the lights when we move in..using coupons of course
Keep entering giveaways for gift cards to home depot for our house
Savings: Save up 6 months of emergency savings
Max out Roth by April 2010 new goal added 2/09 continuing to contribute...
Adam to get a full time job by August
Save $2000 for washer and dryer fund...maybe less I dont know new goal added 5/09
Biweekly Payments plus Principal on house
Sending our taxes away to get done by professionals
Applying for the New Home Buyer Credit $7500 to repay in the next 2 years

Completed Goals

Pay off scooter by February balance=done January 10
Pay off Jeep done! 2/1/09
$1000 in Emergency Fund done January 16
Emergency Fund $5000 done March 27
Save some of every paycheck for Roth so I can max out next year($5000) done March 27
Start contributing to my Roth this year and max out by April done March 13
Buy a washer and dryer for house on sale with coupons! Got it from Sears Outlet 30% off $1400 total done June 5
Buy a bed when we get home We got it from Levin furniture outlet good deal done June 10
Continuing Job searching and have something set up by early may hopefully June 15th I start my new job!
Save up a downpayment on a car brand new Hyundia accent
Make a budget list
$208 at Roth every 2 weeks to max out by April
Have Adams loan down to $4000 by Sept
Pay off Credit Card Each Month (do biweekly payment)
Build a stockpile of food, try to spend no more than $50/week on groceries
Get only free stuff and essentials at the drugstores
Continue to use Swagbucks, Surveys and Youdata for extra money
Buy furniture

Focus Friday

2009-10-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Ok heres the recap from last week:
THIS WEEK!

Sunday- Work Rainbow 7p-8am---worked it.
Monday-Dentist at 9am, Paint bedroom closet, Adam to put down floor, plumber?, Call insurance co about my eye exam not being covered??, Do laundry, pick up some deals at target and giant eagle Went to the Dentist, adam and I both have cavities to get filled...yay. Adam wasnt able to get to the floor yet. The plumber is coming on Wednesday and our bathroom will be done! Adam did laundry that was awesome. Didnt get to paint the closet, got busy at night.
Tuesday- Watch Logan 7-2ish, plumber? Clean out fridge, find water heater receipt for taxes, Adam Cavs game, buy dads iPod touch I am watching Logan Wednesday instead. Cleanned out the fridge, raked leaves for 2 hours, and didnt finish before dark! Plumber coming tomorrow. Found the Water Heater Reciept! Got Dads ipod. went to giant eagle...chicken, soup, icecream and eggs were on sale, thats all i got haha
Wednesday- Trish and Rob? Maybe Hillcrest? Maybe pickup treadmill. Logan, Hillcrest 11p-7a, Trish and Rob had to reschedule. Pick up treadmill Thursday or Friday.
Thursday-Rainbow 7p-8a worked it!
Friday- Mentor skating Party with zachary--it was so much fun! We also went to dinner with friends
Saturaday- Halloween! Hungout with Sarah at her party

This week:
Sunday- Run 5 mile race, work hillcrest 7p-7a, make tilipia
Monday- work rainbow 7-8
Tuesday- dr guerreri at 2:30, interview for new job, clean out freezer, buy a hamper
Wednesday- Logan 7-3pm, meme surgery, grocery shopping
Thursday- Rainbow 7-8
Friday- Rainbow 7-8
Saturday- Rainbow 7-8

Lots of work this week!

Focus Friday--on saturday?

2009-10-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

Ok heres the recap from last week:

Sunday- Hillcrest 7p-7a, catch up on my thursday shows while scrapbooking, Look up a dentist and eye doctor, figuring out my HSA plan to pay my urgent care bill---I scrapbooked my page at the top! I paid my urgent care bill with HSA fund and found doctors!
Monday- after work buy some pumpkin spice and make applesauce, Make appointments for dentist and eye doctor for adam and I.---AppleSauce was good and pumpkin lattes were a nice treat for the night. Made appointments too!
Tuesday- Make applecrisp or applesauce for mom dad and meme, have trish and rob over for dinner possibly...Clean out upstairs closet, clean bathrooms--Sent applecrisp to my parents and meme, Trish and Rob never responded, went to the eye doctor!, planted my mums outside, the green room is done being painted! Our bathroom is also done being painted!
Wednesday- Watch Logan 7a-2p work rainbow Got "flu-like" symptoms so i did not watch Logan but did work at rainbow
Thursday- Work Hillcrest yep! It was good
Friday- Work Rainbow, Adam out of town Worked...
Saturday- Work Rainbow and go to Veterans park, Adam out of town, all the fixures are now in our bathroom! Went to get our new CFL lightbulbs today and going to work in a little bit!
The Plumber did nto stop by this week because the bathroom wasnt done yet and we didnt grocery shop!

THIS WEEK!

Sunday- Work Rainbow 7p-8am
Monday-Dentist at 9am, Paint bedroom closet, Adam to put down floor, plumber?, Call insurance co about my eye exam not being covered??, Do laundry, pick up some deals at target and giant eagle
Tuesday- Watch Logan 7-2ish, plumber? Clean out fridge, find water heater receipt for taxes, Adam Cavs game, buy dads iPod touch
Wednesday- Trish and Rob? Maybe Hillcrest? Maybe pickup treadmill
Thursday-Rainbow 7p-8a
Friday- Mentor skating Party with zachary
Saturaday- Halloween!

Focus Friday---on sunday?

2009-10-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

I am getting back into this...
THIS WEEK!

Sunday- Hillcrest 7p-7a, catch up on my thursday shows while scrapbooking, Look up a dentist and eye doctor, figuring out my HSA plan to pay my urgent care bill
Monday- after work buy some pumpkin spice and make applesauce, Make appointments for dentist and eye doctor for adam and I.
Tuesday- Make applecrisp or applesauce for mom dad and meme, have trish and rob over for dinner possibly...,Clean out upstairs closet, clean bathrooms
Wednesday- Watch Logan 7a-2p work rainbow
Thursday- Work Hillcrest
Friday- Work Rainbow, Adam out of town
Saturday- Work Rainbow and go to Veterans park, Adam out of town

We will also be working on painting and putting the floor in the bedroom and finishing up our bathroom. The plumber should also be by this week. Busy busy busy! Also, we are gonna try not to go grocery shopping this week so no new meals!

Meals for this week

2009-10-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

I just prepared a meal by $5 dollar dinners called apple-cranberry french toast bake! I have never tried it but it sounds so good! Also going to make Chicken and Dumplings in the crockpot this week. I have made this in the past and its sooo good! With the weather getting so cold now it cant sound any better!

Last week the Easy Baked Tilipia came out as good as always :) and also the Foil Packet chicken was really good! We still have leftovers because i made 6 of them :)

Giveaways this week!

2009-10-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

Here are some giveaways I found this week on the web! Enjoy!

Mommy has to work Resnackit bags
The Bargain Jargon $20 Walmart Giftcard

Meals for this week

2009-09-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
I am back! We are finally moved back home and kinda settled into our new home in Ohio. Here are the meals I am making this week. We still have leftovers to eat too! I am shopping at Giant Eagle this week. They have Tilipia for $4.99/lb, thats a good deal! I might stock up a bit. Also I have left over frozen chicken so heres what ill make:
Easy Baked Tilipia I dont have Old Bay Seasoning, so I will substitute for a little basil and garlic salt. We have a couple bags of various assorted veggies that I will use. I have made this before and its so good!
I am also going to make Foil Packet Chicken & Broccoli dinner This is Adams request. Its so good!

Financial Review For July

2009-08-03T13:24:00.001-07:00

Financial Review For July

2009 Personal Finance Goals
This first part I got the idea from Green Panda Treehouse check them out!

Debt:

Pay off one of adams loans We would just like to make sure it is paid at this point...

Spending:

Eat out no more than once a week--We have done pretty well, the only thing we eat out is icecream with friends...
Use coupons as much as possible-- Its workin out well, i want to get a printer for our house so I can print more coupons. We need internet fist...
Furnish house with garage sale/thrift store items until we redo the room with no more than $1000 new goal 2/09 We have not bought any furniture. We are going to an antique barn tomorrow!
Research water heaters new goal added 5/09 Got it as cheap as we could, couldnt get a tankless one, but it was just installed yesterday!
Research Cable/Internet packages...possibly AT&T new goal 6/09 We are going to get AT&T but I would like Adam to have a fulltime job first...we will see

Move 401k to Fidelity new goal 6/09 Still gotta do that...havent had a chance

Contribute 6% of my paycheck to my 401k new goal 6/09 I cant contribute to it like a IRA, so I am contributing that to our FSA until I get enough built up for healthcare expenses

Frugal:

Try to get enough CFL lightbulbs to replace all of the lights when we move in..using coupons of course --no sales on these lately, still lookin!--thanks for the tip jeannie
Keep entering giveaways for gift cards to home depot for our house have not done this yet...no time since we got home :(---ditto once we get internet i will get on that again
Savings: Save up 6 months of emergency savings currently at: $5,316.49--not contributing now...not enough money
Max out Roth by April 2010 new goal added 2/09 continuing to contribute...
Adam to get a full time job by August--currently getting some work here and there and working on our house!---no changes yet...is getting alot of hours though, no paycheck yet
Save $2000 for washer and dryer fund...maybe less I dont know new goal added 5/09 our fund is now at: $901.36 -- pay off by December!

So Here we are in July. I have saved NO money this past month, it really sucks. I am not used to having such a small paycheck! I am making the best of it though. I am still able to pay the bills thanks to our savings, but thats going down fast! I hope Adam can help contribute soon!
My Short Term Financial Goals by June
Heres what we got:
Last month= blue
This month= red

Our HouseFund: $12,389.26--$10,678,68(this month we finished our bedroom, paint, wood floors. Got our water heater installed and a thousand other things!)
My Checkings (high interest): $6183.27--$2,735.43(i want to cry..)

My Checkings (no interest):$3104.67--$1047.84(I hope adam gets a job soon... )
Roth: 13,524.65--$13,389.22(so i contributed to it...you cant tell though)
Credit Card debt:-$1,532.76 I just paid that...

401k: $1765.43--1,661.53---i guess the stock market isnt doing well...
other 401k--$3,504.32-- 4,567.29--I will stop contributing at the end of this assignment :( then I will just have my Roth to contribute to until I get matching at my job

Goals Initiated this year

Biweekly Payments plus Principal on house
Sending our taxes away to get done by professionals
Applying for the New Home Buyer Credit $7500 to repay in the next 2 years

Completed Goals

Pay off scooter by February balance=done January 10
Pay off Jeep done! 2/1/09
$1000 in Emergency Fund done January 16
Emergency Fund $5000 done March 27
Save some of every paycheck for Roth so I can max out next year($5000) done March 27
Start contributing to my Roth this year and max out by April done March 13
Buy a washer and dryer for house on sale with coupons! Got it from Sears Outlet 30% off $1400 total done June 5
Buy a bed when we get home We got it from Levin furniture outlet good deal done June 10
Continuing Job searching and have something set up by early may hopefully June 15th I start my new job!
Save up a downpayment on a car brand new Hyundia accent

Looking Ahead:
Goals for the next 3 months until September:

Make a budget list
$208 at Roth every 2 weeks to max out by April
Have Adams loan down to $4000 by Sept
Pay off Credit Card Each Month (do biweekly payment)
Build a stockpile of food, try to spend no more than $50/week on groceries ---spending more than that right now because we started off with no food...
Get only free stuff and essentials at the drugstores
Try to get $25 in Chacha money
Continue to use Swagbucks, Surveys and Youdata for extra money
Buy furniture

Financial Review For June

2009-06-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

2009 Personal Finance Goals
This first part I got the idea from Green Panda Treehouse check them out!

Debt:

Pay off one of adams loans Up to date with payments...

Spending:

Eat out no more than once a week--this month sucks, we have no food at our house. Just went shopping yesterday

Use coupons as much as possible--Jeannie and I are getting together to do this now
Furnish house with garage sale/thrift store items until we redo the room with no more than $1000 new goal 2/09 Havent bought funiture yet...we got a free loveseat from a friend
Research water heaters new goal added 5/09 we havent bought it yet...by next month we will because ours is leaking
Research Cable/Internet packages...possibly AT&T new goal 6/09

Move 401k to Fidelity new goal 6/09

Contribute 6% of my paycheck to my 401k new goal 6/09

Frugal:

Try to get enough CFL lightbulbs to replace all of the lights when we move in..using coupons of course --no sales on these lately, still lookin!

Keep entering giveaways for gift cards to home depot for our house have not done this yet...no time since we got home :(

Savings: Save up 6 months of emergency savings currently at: $5,316.49--not contributing now...
Save up a downpayment on a car brand new Hyundia accent have $12,700 saved, I am gonna go get a car tomorrow possibly...I might have a small payment to make.

Max out Roth by April 2010 new goal added 2/09
Adam to get a full time job by August--currently getting some work here and there and working on our house!
Save $2000 for washer and dryer fund...maybe less I dont know new goal added 5/09 our fund is now at: $901.36 --we have 6 months to pay $1400 off

So Here we are in June! Life is crazy I dont even have time to update this! We are home and trying to get our house ready to move into. Spending a ton of money doing it...also things we didnt expect---like tearing up every room of carpet because of the former owners. I got my job back so thats good...adams still looking. Lets hope next month I get the bills paid and possibly save something!

My Short Term Financial Goals by June
Heres what we got:
Last month= blue
This month= red

Our HouseFund: $15898.08--$12,389.26(bought a washer, dryer, hardwood floor, carpet etc...and still have to get gutters)
My Checkings (high interest): $4914.77--$6,183.27(that will be down soon...to pay the credit card)
My Checkings (no interest):$3211.11--3,104.67
Roth: 12,042.96--$13,524.65
Credit Card debt: 2,607.25 will be paid off by the end of this month
401k: $1624--1,765.43
**NEW 401k--$3,504.32-- 4,567.29--I will stop contributing at the end of this assignment :( then I will just have my Roth to contribute to until I get matching at my job

Goals Initiated this year

Biweekly Payments plus Principal on house
Sending our taxes away to get done by professionals
Applying for the New Home Buyer Credit $7500 to repay in the next 2 years

Completed Goals

Pay off scooter by February balance=done January 10
Pay off Jeep done! 2/1/09
$1000 in Emergency Fund done January 16
Emergency Fund $5000 done March 27
Save some of every paycheck for Roth so I can max out next year($5000) done March 27
Start contributing to my Roth this year and max out by April done March 13
Buy a washer and dryer for house on sale with coupons! Got it from Sears Outlet 30% off $1400 total done June 5
Buy a bed when we get home We got it from Levin furniture outlet good deal done June 10
Continuing Job searching and have something set up by early may hopefully June 15th I start my new job!

Looking Ahead:
Goals for the next 3 months until September:

Make a budget list
$208 at Roth every 2 weeks to max out by April
Have Adams loan down to $4000 by Sept
Pay off Credit Card Each Month (do biweekly payment)
Build a stockpile of food, try to spend no more than $50/week on groceries
Get only free stuff and essentials at the drugstores
Try to get $25 in Chacha money
Continue to use Swagbucks, Surveys and Youdata for extra money
Buy a washer and dryer
Buy a bed
Buy a hot water heater
Buy furniture

Focus Friday

2009-05-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

Last Weeks Goals:

find an animal shelter to donate our animal food to--doing that today!
Make Lemon Basil Pasta with Summer Squash and cut up strawberries--it was good!
Scrapbook a page for me and jeannie-check them out
Go out to eat with uncle dan--did that, good food!
Read some of my magazines so i dont have to pack them :)--read 2 of 4!
Follow up with Rainbow about my job--meeting with the manager on the 26th when I get home
Talk to Megan about doing homecare with Logan--it seems like a long process but we are working on it!
Chacha $1.50!--2--154.37 currently $155.41--made $1.04
Hopefully work some overtime before we leave!!--was able to get 16 hours last week..nothin this week though

THIS WEEK!
Finish reading magazines
PACK PACK PACK!
Leave on Wednesday morning to go back to Ohio
Stop in Yellowstone National Park

Giveaways this week!

2009-05-13T22:37:00.001-07:00

Here are some giveaways for you!

Lisas Reviews- Bright Green Giveaway
Saving Money for a Wedding- $25 Outback steakhouse Giftcard
One Project Closer- SKIL Lithium Ion Combo Kit (This would be great for our new home projects!!)
Mamas Review- Simple Green Giveaway
Pajama Mommy- Scotts Natural
What Mommies Need- Maybelline Pulse Mascara
The Last Blog on Earth- Ecostore Giveaway and Skoy Cloth Giveaway
STL Mommy- Scotts Natural
Your Mama Reviews- Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker for Food Allergy Awareness week!

My first Blog award!

2009-05-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

I received my first blog award From Saving the Family Money!! Thanks you! How exciting! Now I want to share it!

Here are the rules:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I love to save money so those are most of my blogs I read!

Save a Nickle, Save a Dime
It's Hip To Save
Thrifty and Chic Mom
STL Mommy
Saving Money For a Wedding
Prissy Green
Priscilla Bakes
Penny Pinching Diva
One Day One Dollar at a Time
Never 2 Late 2 Save
Moolanomy
Money Saving Methods
Money Saving Mom
Mom's By Heart
My Life ROI
Budgets are sexy

Financial Review For May

2009-05-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

2009 Personal Finance Goals
This first part I got the idea from Green Panda Treehouse check them out!

Debt:

Pay off one of adams loans Adam is doing great with this!

Spending:

Eat out no more than once a week--we went over our restaurant "budget" AGAIN! We had our friend come out and visit so we ate out more often :(

Use coupons as much as possible-- walgreens no more rebates :( and rite aid $1.00 rebate--free gum, cheap diapers and wipes and binkis for vickys baby shower, free body wash, shaving cream, chapstick, mouthwash...lots of freebies.

Watch our spending when we come home for good--we have to watch our bills and also reevaluate our cell phone plan when we get home

Buy a washer and dryer for house on sale with coupons! new goal 2/09

Furnish house with garage sale/thrift store items until we redo the room with no more than $1000 new goal 2/09 We will be buying a bed and start using garage sales/craigslist for furniture
Research water heaters new goal added 5/09
Buy a bed when we get home...have to research this too new goal added 5/09

Frugal:

Try to get enough CFL lightbulbs to replace all of the lights when we move in..using coupons of course --no sales on these lately, still lookin!

Keep entering giveaways for gift cards to home depot for our house won some green cleaners for the house! Some more BBQ sauce and $20 Target Giftcard! entered some more...

Savings: Save up 6 months of emergency savings currently at: $5,309.77

Save up a downpayment on a car brand new Hundia accent or Nissina versa(about $10,000) currently at: $11,624! want to save about $3000 more, if possible...

Max out Roth by April 2010 new goal added 2/09
Continuing Job searching and have something set up by early may hopefully(!) new goal 4/1 ---I got a job! Back home at Rainbow. I will also be talking to one of my former patients who is talking about me being his home care nurse...we will see where that goes. Now Adam has to get a job!
Save $2000 for washer and dryer fund...maybe less I dont know new goal added 5/09 our fund is now at: $700.38

So Here we are in May! We are heading back home this month! I cant believe it. I am really going to miss traveling...im gonna have to go on a lot of vacations or something. I have made so many good friends that I will miss alot! I am looking forward to seeing everyone back home. I hope Adam finds a job quickly and it doesnt cause him too much stress. No overtime available at work lately, so that sucks. I am hoping Adam and I can have at least one more day off together to go to Mt Rainer. I will have to redo this whole setup next month! I also want to plan to get a budget set...but i dont know where to start with that...

My Short Term Financial Goals by May
Heres what we got:
Last month= blue
This month= red

Our HouseFund: $16,318.17--$15898.08(had to pay $720 for bee spraying our house and possible mouse killing...and water and gas bills..and the mortgage too!)
My Checkings (high interest): $5631.45--$4914.77
My Checkings (no interest):$1911.66--$3211.11--just got paid today
Roth: $10,957.64--12,042.96 (thats finally up!)
Credit Card debt: $292 will be paid off this week
401k: $1462.64 --$1624 yay!
**NEW 401k--$2703.32--$3,504.32--I will stop contributing at the end of this assignment :( then I will just have my Roth to contribute to until I get matching at my job

Ok so heres the goals until May 19(the end of this assignment):

Start contributing to my Roth this year and max out by April:: 5000.00 for year 2008!! $833.00 for 2009 so far

Make 2 payments to Adams loans (on top of what he pays) : Currently -$7001.87--now $5903.00! from Direct Loan Service and -$40,538.50--$40,268.15 from First Resource Federal I did not contribute this month because we paid for our house stuff (spraying for bees and bombing possible mice)

Split paychecks every 2 weeks into Mortgage payment, Roth IRA, Checking Account, and Emergency Fund and Washer and Dryer Fund

Get $1750 for our apt in Seattle and bank at least $100 each month--I have just used this in with my paychecks

Continue to pay off credit card each month doing well with this

My meal plans have worked out pretty well. We go shopping once a week and have not spent over $100.
April 1 $50
April 8 $41
April 16 $26
April 23 $35
Stayed under $50 a week!

Continue to get the deals at walgreens for a garage sale this summer with my sister!---got lots of free gum, shaving cream and chapsticks. Also got Vicky some diapers and wipes for her shower
I am still going to use as many coupons as possible. Still tryin!

I am also going to try to get $50 or more in Chacha extra money Currently at $154.37
I have done a bunch of surveys with pinecone research. Current total at $29.08. Also got another $5 amazon card from Swagbucks. If you havent signed up you should! I bought 3 sports bras off amazon and just paid shipping! I also signed up for 4 gift cards worth over $100 for $4 and received them all!

So theres the update! Any thoughts are helpful. I think this month was a good one, mostly because of our tax refund! Lets hope next month is a good one too!!

Goals Initiated this year

Biweekly Payments plus Principal on house
Sending our taxes away to get done by professionals
Applying for the New Home Buyer Credit $7500 to repay in the next 2 years

Completed Goals

Pay off scooter by February balance=done January 10
Pay off Jeep done! 2/1/09
$1000 in Emergency Fund done January 16
Emergency Fund $5000 done March 27
Save some of every paycheck for Roth so I can max out next year($5000) done March 27
Start contributing to my Roth this year and max out by April done March 13

Looking Ahead:
Goals at the end of this assignment until September:

Make a budget list
$208 at Roth every 2 weeks to max out by April
Have Adams loan down to $4000 by Sept
Pay off Credit Card Each Month (do biweekly payment)
Build a stockpile of food, try to spend no more than $50/week on groceries
Get only free stuff and essentials at the drugstores
Try to get $25 in Chacha money
Continue to use Swagbucks, Surveys and Youdata for extra money
Buy a washer and dryer
Buy a bed
Buy a hot water heater
Buy furniture

Focus Friday

2009-05-01T04:01:00.000-07:00

So I missed last week oops heres a recap

Last Weeks Goals:

Do one ceu for California Nursing License--did a 0.25 CEU credit...better than nothing
Finish the lucky one book--finished twilight this past week!--finished it!
Make asaparagas pasta--it was good!
Pack up ebay items and send out--did it!
Look for a new sports bra--anyone have a good old navy coupon for me???--got 3 for $10 off amazon, waiting for them in the mail!!
Work out everyday!--got sick took a few days off but ran 3.6 miles wed and 3.72 yesterday
Shop for a gift for brittys bday--any ideas jeannie?--she wants me to help pay for her dress for the wedding
Call my cleveland ohio nicu manager on monday to figure out my life--did it! I am coming home and starting work in June
Go to a seattle mariners game thursday and go out with our friend--it was fun!
Get hoh rainforest pictures on facebook--did it!
Scrapbook one page--here it is:
Watch the office--did not do it...but watched the new one anyway :)
Chacha $2!154.37 total ($2.19!)

THIS WEEK!
Do another CEU
See if I can pick up overtime...
Scrapbook a page for Jeannie
Chacha $2
Talk to Human resources about my job
Continue reading Long Lost and be done by 5/8
Make Chicken and Dumplings
Post Financial Review
Save Beckys Pictures to my computer!

Whats for Dinner Wednesday.

2009-04-29T05:06:00.000-07:00

Crunchy Zucchini Boats

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate.

INGREDIENTS
2 medium zucchini (6 to 8 inch each), parboiled
1/2 cup finely chopped mushrooms
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped tomato
2 tsp. oil
20 PREMIUM Unsalted Tops Saltine Crackers, finely crushed, divided
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. margarine or butter, melted

DIRECTIONS

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Cut zucchini in half lengthwise; scoop out centers, leaving 1/4-inch-thick shells. Place shells in 9-inch square baking dish; set aside.
CHOP zucchini pulp; mix with mushrooms, onion and tomato. Heat oil in small skillet on medium heat. Add vegetable mixture; cook and stir 3 min. or until onions are crisp-tender. Remove from heat; stir in 1/3 cup of the cracker crumbs and the seasonings. Spoon evenly into zucchini shells; sprinkle with combined remaining cracker crumbs and margarine.
BAKE 20 to 25 min. or until heated through.

How to Parboil Zucchini: Bring 2 qt. unsalted water to boil in large saucepan. Add zucchini; cook 4 to 5 min. or until fork-tender. Drain. Make it Easy Save time by purchasing the vegetables already chopped from the salad bar of your local supermarket.

Giveaways this week!

2009-04-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

These are some of the flowers at pikes place market right now, so pretty!!

Hey Everyone,
Sorry I have been MIA this past week, we had a friend come visit and didnt get to get on the computer at all. Heres giveaways for this week!

Mommies with Cents- Skoy Cloth Giveaway
Jolly Mom- Mystic Wonders Giveaway
to save a penny- $20 Starbucks Giftcard
Melissas Bargain Blog- $10 Target Giftcard
Green Mama's Pad- Ecostore USA Giveaway
Your Mama Reviews- Bumkins all-in-one Diaper Giveaway
Bargain Briana- Expectant Parent Giveaway
Your Mama Reviews- Drybees AIO Diaper Giveaway
Confessions of a Psychotic housewife- $25 Fred Meyer Giftcard
Sweeps4Bloggers- Ted Dekker's The BoneMan's Daughters Book Giveaway
Tricias Dish- Melt Bar giveaway
The Household Helper- $50 HomeDepot Giftcard
Goodies for Mom- Lands End Giveaway
STL Mommy- Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues and $50 Visa Gift
Sandier Pastures- Rolling Luggages valued at $150 or less!
One Day One Dollar at a Time- $10 Giftcard
I Never Grew Up- Baby Sling Giveaway
Is it Monday Already?- $20 Starbucks Card

Whats for Dinner Wednesday.

2009-04-22T05:04:00.000-07:00

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate.

Campbell's(R) Turkey and Broccoli Alfredo

INGREDIENTS

1/2 (16 ounce) package linguine*
1 cup fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets
1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups cubed cooked turkey

DIRECTIONS

Cook the linguine according to the package directions. Add the broccoli for the last 4 minutes of the cooking time. Drain the linguine and broccoli well in a colander.
Stir the soup, milk, cheese and black pepper in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the turkey and linguine mixture and cook until it's hot and bubbling. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

Serving Suggestion: Serve with a Caesar salad and sauteed broccoli rabe with garlic or broccoli flowerets. For dessert serve your favorite fresh fruit.

Giveaways this week!

2009-04-18T15:33:00.001-07:00

Fiesty Frugal and Fabulous-Rain Co. and Abby Roo
Sage and Savy- Grow Green Baby
STL Mommy- Mary Kay
Mamas Money Savers- Simple Green
Alternative Consumer- Black and Decker Hedge Trimmer
Green Your Decor- Ecoflow ShowerHead and Great Green Giveaway
Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls- Preserve Giveaway
Sweeps4Bloggers- Natures Path Organic Giveaway
Mom Fuse- Motorola GPS
MomMostTraveled.com is a family travel blog with great giveaways and product reviews!
Melinda Joy- Starbucks Giftcard
MomDot.com- Cloth Diaper Outlet Giveaway
Chefdruck Musins- Seventh Generation
5 Dollar Dinners- $50 Home Depot Gift Card
DkMommy- POM giveaway
Go Graham Go and Mom Central - Evenflo Comfort Select Performance Breast Pump

Focus Friday--on saturday?

2009-04-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

Last Weeks Goals:

Clean out purse--done!
Send out Ebay items-done!
Clean out the filebox-done!
Look to see when our car insurance needs paid again-done May 26!
Coupons-done!
Watch office and Greys from this week-Greys was not new and STILL have not watched the office!
Go to the Olympia national park rain forest-done--it was awesome!!
Chacha 5 dollars-done! $152.18 total!
Scrapbook one page for me and one for jeannie-done--hope you like them!!
Buy bra for wedding-done, finally! I got one from target. An adhesive bra and i used a giftcard!

THIS WEEK

Do one ceu for California Nursing License
Finish the lucky one book--finished twilight this past week!
Make asaparagas pasta
Pack up ebay items and send out
Look for a new sports bra--anyone have a good old navy coupon for me???
Work out everyday!
Shop for a gift for brittys bday--any ideas jeannie?
Call my cleveland ohio nicu manager on monday to figure out my life
Go to a seattle mariners game thursday and go out with our friend
Get hoh rainforest pictures on facebook
Scrapbook one page
Watch the office
Chacha $2!

Whats for Dinner Wednesdat

2009-04-15T05:01:00.000-07:00

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate.

Foil-Pack Chicken & Broccoli Dinner

Ingredients

1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1-1/2 cups water
6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.), 1/2 inch thick
4 cups broccoli florets
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup OSCAR MAYER Real Bacon Bits
1/2 cup KRAFT Ranch Dressing

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Combine stuffing mix and water; spoon evenly onto centers of six large sheets of heavy-duty foil. Top each with one chicken breast and 2/3 cup broccoli. Sprinkle evenly with cheese and bacon bits, then drizzle evenly with dressing.
BRING up foil sides. Double fold top and both ends to seal each packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside. Place foil packets in single layer in 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
BAKE 30 to 35 min. or until chicken is cooked through (170°F). Remove packets from oven; let stand 5 min. Place one packet on each of six dinner plates. Cut slits in foil with sharp knife to release steam before opening.

Footnote

To prevent stuffing from sticking to foil, spray foil with cooking spray or use nonstick foil.

Giveaways this week!

2009-04-12T03:36:00.000-07:00

This is a picture from Tiger Mountain in Seattle. Its so pretty! Heres the giveaways this week!

MudBug Hoover Vacuum
Eco-Office Prize Pack worth $400!
Babes and Kids Ipod Shuffle
The Island Life $25 Outback Steakhouse Giftcard
Alternative Consumer Cordless Lawnmower and Sweeper

Focus Friday

2009-04-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Last Weeks Goals:

Got new makeup this week, gotta clean out the old stuff--done!
Move money back to account from smarty pig--done!
Get financial review updated--should be up tomorrow!--did it, read it! :)
Buy a bra--i just gotta do it.--ok still didnt haha, i am saving up my swagbucks!
Renew Ohio license--need the paperwork for it, Jeannie, did you get anything in the mail yet??
Look into California license renewal--I need 5 more CEUs...i just did one this week
Fix up the scrapbook page from last week, here it is
And I made this for Jeannie
Coupons!-done
Make a grocery list with meals!--chicken and broccoli foil bake mmm, spinach lasagna and pasta and asparagus!

THIS WEEK!
Clean out purse
send out Ebay items
clean out the filebox
look to see when our car insurance needs paid again
coupons
watch office and Greys from this week
go to the Olympia national park rain forest
chacha 5 dollars
scrapbook one page for me and one for jeannie

Whats for Dinner Wednesday-Lemon-Chicken Rigatoni with Broccoli

2009-04-08T06:32:00.000-07:00

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate.
Lemon-Chicken Rigatoni with Broccoli

Lemon-Chicken Rigatoni with Broccoli

INGREDIENTS

2	tablespoons butter or margarine
2	cloves garlic, finely chopped
2	cups uncooked rigatoni pasta (6 oz)
2	cups Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
2	cups Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers™ frozen broccoli cuts
2	cups chopped deli rotisserie chicken (from 2- to 2 1/2-lb chicken)
1 1/2	teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/4	cup shredded Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

1.	In 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic; cook about 1 minute, stirring occasionally, until softened.
2.	Stir in uncooked pasta and broth. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer 11 minutes. Stir well.
3.	Spread broccoli and chicken over pasta. Cover; cook 12 to 14 minutes longer or until pasta is tender.
4.	Stir in lemon peel. Top with cheese.

Home Depot Tool Rental Giveaway!

2009-04-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

The guys over at One Project Closer are giving away a $200 Gift Card to Home Depot for Tool Rental. With all the projects Adam has lined up for our house, he could really use the 12″ Compound Miter Saw. One Project Closer is a great blog to follow! Great tips daily!!

Financial Review For April

2009-04-04T05:53:00.000-07:00

2009 Personal Finance Goals
This first part I got the idea from Green Panda Treehouse check them out!

Debt:

Pay off one of adams loans Adam is doing great with this!
Emergency Fund $5000 (new goal 3/09)--thanks to our tax refund we made our goal!!!!

Spending:

Eat out no more than once a week--we went over our restaurant "budget" AGAIN! Its so hard and its getting harder living downtown with no oven. One more month...

Use coupons as much as possible--we haven't spent more than 60. March- $49
March 24- $55 walgreens $5.99 rebate and rite aid $2.00 rebate--free deodorant and free body wash

Watch our spending when we come home for good--well our gas bill from feb was really high, and we arent living there. We are already starting to think of ways to improve that, but wont know anything for sure til we get home

Buy a washer and dryer for house on sale with coupons! new goal 2/09 going to start saving in the housefund for this...have not started researching yet because things will change--same as last month, we know we want a front loader!

Furnish house with garage sale/thrift store items until we redo the room with no more than $1000 new goal 2/09 We will be buying a bed and start using garage sales/craigslist for furniture
Sending our taxes away to get done by professionals ($250) but I couldnt do them on my own this year, too complicated! Lets hope we dont owe anything! it costed more than we thought ($390) but it was definitely worth it!
Applying for the New Home Buyer Credit $7500 to repay in the next 2 years Got our tax refund!

Frugal:

Try to get enough CFL lightbulbs to replace all of the lights when we move in..using coupons of course --no sales on these lately, still lookin!

Keep entering giveaways for gift cards to home depot for our house won a $5 barnes and nobles card, thats about it! but still entering giveaways!

Savings: Save up 6 months of emergency savings currently at: $5000! Gonna cut back on depositing money into here so we can save for a washer and dryer

Save up a downpayment on a car brand new Hundia accent or Nissina versa(about $10,000) currently at: $10,000! want to save about $4000 more...

Save some of every paycheck for Roth so I can max out next year($5000) new goal added 2/09 2008 is done! finally :) now for 2009 currently i have: 208.00
Continuing Job searching and have something set up by early may hopefully(!) new goal 4/1

So Here we are in April! I cant believe it! Time in flying! We are only here for one more month, then i am not sure what is going to happen. That topic has caused us a lot of stress this month. March. So work is slow again this week, so no overtime. But I did pick up some the last 3 weeks so thats awesome. We also got our tax refund! That made a huge difference in our finances this time! Lets hope I can find a job ethier in Ohio or Alaska!! We finally get to go see our house next month too!

My Short Term Financial Goals by May
Heres what we got:
Last month= blue
This month= red

Our HouseFund: $6642.39--$16,318.17(We got our tax return! I put our $7500 credit in there)
My Checkings (high interest): $3907.50--$5631.45
My Checkings (no interest):$993.06--$1911.66
CD at huntington (EXPIRED) will deposit into checking or house--or car!:$5,935(I deposited this into my car savings
Bank of America: $0 --I HAVE FINALLY CLOSED THIS ACCOUNT :)
Roth: $9230.30--10,957.64
Credit Card debt: $280--will pay this on friday when i get paid
401k: $1325.90 :(--$1462.64
**NEW 401k--$1,838.61--$2,703.32

Ok so heres the goals until May 19(the end of this assignment):

Start contributing to my Roth this year and max out by April:: 5000.00 for year 2008!! $208 for 2009

Make 2 payments to Adams loans (on top of what he pays) : Currently -$7001.87 from Direct Loan Service and -$40,538.50 from First Resource Federal I put $200 and $145 from 2 of my paychecks and we have enough thank you rewards to get $250 again!

Split paychecks every 2 weeks into Mortgage payment, Roth IRA, Checking Account, and Emergency Fund and now adding, a washer and dryer fund!

Get $1750 for our apt in Seattle and bank at least $100 each month--I have just used this in with my paychecks

Continue to pay off credit card each month doing well with this

My meal plans have worked out pretty well. We go shopping once a week and have not spent over $100.
March- $49
March 24- $55
I wanted to stay under $50 oh well haha. Oh and good news, i havent blown any fuses this month. Oh and i bought chicken to make those foil wraps jean!

Continue to get the deals at walgreens for a garage sale this summer with my sister!---got free gum, shaving cream and some glade candles!
I am still going to use as many coupons as possible. Still tryin!

I am also going to try to get $50 or more in Chacha extra money (went up $$142.50--$11 this month!) I am actually chachaing right now...we are at
I have done a bunch of surveys with pinecone research. Also got a $5 amazon card from Swagbucks. If you havent signed up you should! I also signed up for 4 gift cards worth over $100 for $4!

So theres the update! Any thoughts are helpful. I think this month was a good one, mostly because of our tax refund! Lets hope next month is a good one too!!

Goals Initiated this year

Biweekly Payments plus Principal on house
Sending our taxes away to get done by professionals
Applying for the New Home Buyer Credit $7500 to repay in the next 2 years

Completed Goals

Pay off scooter by February balance=done January 10
Pay off Jeep done! 2/1/09
$1000 in Emergency Fund done January 16
Emergency Fund $5000 done March 27
Save some of every paycheck for Roth so I can max out next year($5000) done March 27
Start contributing to my Roth this year and max out by April done March 13

Focus Friday

2009-04-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

My goals this week:

Start reading a new book--read Skinny Bitch it was good now reading the secret life of bees
Make a scrapbook page, or two :)--I did 3 but I am gonna redo the one so heres the other two:
Keep looking for a bra--still didnt get one
Keep looking for shoes---still cant find any...
Call Citi to get the $250 student loan rebate--I gotta still call them...
Do the IVH CEU this week--did it, got 4 hours! Done with my CEUs for ohio!
Pick up OT if possible, if not chacha--not possible. I am up to $143.55 I also did a $12 mystery shop this week, it was fun!
Buy Zaks gift--sent out to him!

So heres this weeks goals!

Got new makeup this week, gotta clean out the old stuff
Move money back to account from smarty pig
Get financial review updated--should be up tomorrow!
Buy a bra--i just gotta do it.
Renew Ohio license
Look into California license renewal
Fix up the scrapbook page from last week
Coupons!
Make a grocery list with meals!

There has to be more but who knows...

Easy Baked Tilapia

2009-04-01T02:56:00.000-07:00

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate.
My favorite Tilapia recipe!

Easy Baked Tilapia

INGREDIENTS

4 (4 ounce) fillets tilapia
2 teaspoons butter
1/4 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning TM, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, or to taste
1 lemon, sliced
1 (16 ounce) package frozen cauliflower with broccoli and red pepper(you can get any kind of veggies you like, it still tastes great!)
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees F). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Place the tilapia fillets in the bottom of the baking dish and dot with butter. Season with Old Bay seasoning and garlic salt. Top each one with a slice or two of lemon. Arrange the frozen mixed vegetables around the fish, and season lightly with salt and pepper.
Cover the dish and bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until vegetables are tender and fish flakes easily with a fork.

Giveaways this week!

2009-03-31T00:40:00.001-07:00

Here we are with some more giveaways this week, check them out!

Sandier Pastures Shi Shu Style Baby Blanket
One Day One Dollar at a Time Natural Source Giveaway
Feisty Frugal Fabulous Peanut Shell Sling
Fractured Toy and Haagen-Dazs® Icecream!
Everything in the kitchen up close ONE giveaway
Mamas Money Savers Banana Peels Diaper Giveaway
Living as Mom $25 Gift Card & $25 in Coupons
Amanda (A stay at home moms point of view) Seventh Generation Living Home Starter Kit
Coupon Princess Seventh Generation Cleaning Giveaway
Green your decor Natura Organic Cloud Pillows
Salad For Breakfast $50 Amazon Giftcard
STL Mommy $25 Giftcard to Target
LookWhatMomFound 2 products from EcoStore
Frugal and Fabulous EcoBrush Giveaway
Choyster Cash $100 giveaway!
Mud Bug Epson Printer
The Mom Nerd $30 Cash

Salmon Fillets with Creamy Dill

2009-03-25T02:45:00.000-07:00

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate.

This is my favorite recipe for salmon!!

Salmon Fillets with Creamy Dill

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1/2 cup prepared mustard
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets
2 teaspoons dried dill, or to taste
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a bowl, stir together mayonnaise and mustard. Stir in thyme, oregano, and basil. Place salmon fillets on a baking sheet, and spread with the mayonnaise mixture. Sprinkle with dill weed.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the salmon is easily flaked with a fork.

Focus Friday

2009-03-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

Heres my progress from last week:

Make one scrapbook page--Here it is:

Try to work 12 hours on friday and pick up saturday OT--if not chacha 30 times that night. I was not able to pick up OT til Sunday-my current chacha total is $136
Make a grocery list and checkout the walgreens/rite aid deals this week--short list this week and nothing good at walgreens/rite aid
look for a strapless bra for my dress I bought for my cousins wedding
look for shoes for my dress--i still cant decide, please go down on my posts and help me choose!
Finish book and start a new one!--Just finished The Choice and now im reading Eat, Pray, Love. Just got some new ones from the library

My goals this week

Call Citi Bank about Thank you Rewards on my credit card...we are gonna cash some in for adams student loans
Fax the rest of the tax forms in and be done
Shop for zacharys other bday gift
Buy a bra for the wedding
Look into how to renew my Nursing license for august
Call Bank of America to close account
Finish book Eat Pray Love and start new book
Try to pickup tuesday as extra at work--if not chacha 5 dollars.
I still want to try to make one scrapbook page
Adam and I are off work next thursday together so i would like to try to plan something to do

Home Depot Tool Rental

2009-03-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
I wanted to make you aware over at Home Construction Improvement they are giving away a $200 Home Depot Tool Rental Giftcard. They always have great Home Improvement Advice!I know Adam would like to rent the 12" Compound Miter Saw. Theres a lot of variety that you can do with this! So Check out the Home Depot Rental Center!

Giveaways Week of March 18th!

2009-03-19T05:38:00.000-07:00

Heres just a random scrapbook page I made :

Giveaway time!! Heres the ones for this week:

Savinthefamilymoney 3 $10 Giftcard giveaway
Two Monkeys in a Washtub $10 Starbucks card
KatyDid and Kid Earthlust WaterBottle Giveaway
Just another new blog Country Bobs BBQ Sauce
SWEET SAVINGS $15 Starbucks Giftcard
Alternative Consumer Eco mist Giveaway
Contest Corner Nature Source Cleaners
Living as mom $10 Giftcard
Prissy Green Delight Giveaway
Alice IPod Shuffle Giveaway
Choyster Cash $100 Giveaway!
Never2late2save $20 Target Giftcard
Momma's Review JVC Camcorder

Manhattan-Style Clam Chowder-CrockPot

2009-03-18T02:40:00.000-07:00

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate. Today I am making Manhattan-Style Clam Chowder . I made this and had a ton left over the last time, we froze it and ate it for a while! I love crockpot recipes!

Manhattan-Style Clam Chowder

The "red" clam chowder

Ingredients

* 5 to 6 sliced bacon, diced
* 1 cup chopped onion
* 2 carrots, thinly sliced
* 3 ribs celery with leaves, thinly sliced
* 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, or 1 teaspoon dried
* 1 large can (28 ounces) tomatoes, broken up, undrained
* 1 1/2 tsp. salt
* Black pepper
* 1 bay leaf
* 1 tsp. dried thyme
* 3 medium potatoes, diced
* 2 or 3 cans (6 to 7 oz each) minced clams with juice
* 1 bottle (8oz) clam juice
* 1 tablespoon flour blended with 1 tablespoon melted butter or a little of the bacon grease, optional

Directions

Fry diced bacon until crispy; drain and transfer to 3 1/2-quart or larger slow cooker/Crock Pot. Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker/Crock Pot; Stir to blend. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

Help me, i cant choose!

2009-03-15T06:40:00.001-07:00

I am trying to find a pair of shoes to wear to my cousins wedding. Heres the dress I will wear:

Help me choose the shoes! I have 4 pairs I cant decide.
Heres the shoes I am trying to choose:
#1
#2
#3
#4
Comment to help me out!!

Focus Friday

2009-03-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

Wow its friday already?? Heres my progress from last week:

Get Paperwork Done for First Assist agency faxed in on Thursday

Run with Adam hopefully the weather is good--the weather is so cold! Have not ran this week,

Go Hiking on tues if the weather is nice, if not we are going to go shopping--we went to the underground tour of seattle, it was awesome. We also went to University district and shopped at the vintage stores!

File paperwork into the filebox--did it..i need a bigger file box

Go through coupons and get to walgreens--got 2 free glade sense and spray and 4 free garnier shampoo

Make one scrapbook page--I made 2 here they are

My goals this week

Make one scrapbook page

Try to work 12 hours on friday and pick up saturday OT--if not chacha 30 times that night

Make a grocery list and checkout the walgreens/rite aid deals this week

look for a strapless bra for my dress I bought for my cousins wedding

look for shoes for my dress
Finish book and start a new one!

Eggplant Parmesan

2009-03-11T02:36:00.000-07:00

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate. I love this meal! I made it for my family when I was home this last time. They all loved it!!

Eggplant Parmesan

INGREDIENTS

3 eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
6 cups spaghetti sauce, divided
1 (16 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried basil

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes on each side.
In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top.
Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

Giveaways Week of March 10th!

2009-03-10T07:18:00.001-07:00

This is a picture from Twin Falls, we visited 2 weeks ago. So pretty!! We were gonna go hiking today but its so cold here in Seattle, so we are postponing that. Ok on to the giveaways!

All in a moms life $20 Giftcard to Starbucks or Target
5 Minutes for giveaways Wonder Bumpers
Cheapskate Mom Seventh Generation Home Start kit
Robyns Online World $100 Amazon Giftcard
Frugal Mommy of 2 girls EcoStore USA giveaway
Mommy Making Money $10 Amazon Giftcard
Budget Savvy Momma $10 Starbucks Giftcard

Focus Friday!

2009-03-06T04:42:00.000-08:00

Wow its friday already?? Heres my progress from last week:

Get 3 references this week from work to apply with new travel companies (for more jobs)--did it and filled out the paperwork needed!
No eating out at least until St Patricks day---did it!
Chacha at least 10 times a day again- My total this week $131 and I picked up 19 hours of overtime at work! Cant wait for the paycheck!
Run 3-4 times this week with Adam--it has rained alot and I havent had a day off..i suck this week
Get financial review done for Feb--go read it!
Finish Book and bring it back to the library on Sunday--I started a new book and returned the others!
Scrapbook 2 pages this week: Here they are...I actually did 3!

My goals this week

Get Paperwork Done for First Assist agency
Run with Adam hopefully the weather is good
Go Hiking on tues if the weather is nice, if not we are going to go shopping
File paperwork into the filebox
Go through coupons and get to walgreens
Make one scrapbook page

March Financial Review

2009-03-05T10:14:00.000-08:00

2009 Personal Finance Goals
This first part I got the idea from Green Panda Treehouse check them out!

Debt:

Pay off one of adams loans Adam now has a good job and is contributing most of his paycheck to his loans! Way to go Adam :) His goal is to get it to $6000 by the time we leave Seattle
Biweekly Payments plus Principal on house called citimortgage, this is all up to date and has started!
Emergency Fund $5000 (new goal 3/09)

Spending:

Eat out no more than once a week--we went over our restaurant "budget" this time. We used coupons but went all out for valentines day. It was awesome seafood though! No regrets :)

Use coupons as much as possible--we had some good grocery shopping trips this month. One week we didnt go because there were no good deals. Used alot of coupons! I am also getting $28 in rebates from walgreens and $6 from rite aid this month!

Watch our spending when we come home for good--well we found out that the tenents have left our house a disaster...so we maybe spending more than expected for improvements when we get home---spent $320 this week getting the carpets cleaned

Buy a washer and dryer for house on sale with coupons! new goal 2/09 going to start saving in the housefund for this...have not started researching yet because things will change

Furnish house with garage sale/thrift store items until we redo the room with no more than $1000 new goal 2/09 we came to the conclusion that we will be buying a bed when we get home so we will start looking!
Sending our taxes away to get done by professionals ($250) but I couldnt do them on my own this year, too complicated! Lets hope we dont owe anything! new goal 3/09
Applying for the New Home Buyer Credit $7500 to repay in the next 2 years new goal 3/09

Frugal:

Try to get enough CFL lightbulbs to replace all of the lights when we move in..using coupons of course --got 7 so far, rite aid was doing a refund on some, picked up 2 for $.50 each!

Keep entering giveaways for gift cards to home depot for our house won a blackjack phone! That was exciting! But now it might increase our phone bill, I wanted email at some point though! Also won an ipod shuffle (using for a gift!) no home depot cards though...

Savings: Save up 6 months of emergency savings currently at: $2647.20!

Save up a downpayment on a car brand new Hundia accent or Nissina versa(about $10,000) currently at: $2202.75

Save some of every paycheck for Roth so I can max out next year($5000) new goal added 2/09 currently have contributed $4,039.00

So Here we are in March. February flew by, probably cause its a short month? We went over budget on eating out this month. Not really sure why but we did. Oh well we told ourselves no eating out until St Patricks Day. Its just so hard to not eat out when you dont have an oven and there are a million restaurants out our window. Adam is liking his job here its nice that we get to stay. On friday it was supposed to be our last day here, now 3 more months! Its weird not leaving. Work has been a bummer lately. Our census is so low they cancelled me 20 hours out of 36 one week. That paycheck sucked, so didnt save as much as I wanted this month. Lets hope it gets better this month. I am starting to get some things together to apply with new travel companies in hopes of getting a job in June!

My Short Term Financial Goals by May
Heres what we got:
Last month= blue
This month= red

Our HouseFund: We added $4000 in there because our mortgage gets directly withdrawn and we get more interest with more money so I took from my checking $2970.50--$6642.39(We had more than usual come out this month because we signed up for biweekly payments and there was a $300 charge :()
My Checkings (high interest): $9493--$3907.50
My Checkings (no interest): $2252--$993.06--I get paid tomorrow...
CD at huntington (expiring in march) will deposit into checking or house--or car!:$5,909--$5,935(I have decided to deposit this into my car savings so I wont have a car payment when we get home it expires on the 19th)
Adam Checkings (high interest): $745.00--$49.91 (he moved money to his other checking for extra loan payment)
Bank of America: $79--$79 --I have to close this account when I get the time...
Roth: $8071--$9230.30
Credit Card debt: $158--we havent paid rent yet...
401k: $1518--$1325.90 :(
**NEW 401k--$1,294.78--$1,838.61

Ok so heres the goals until May 19(the end of this assignment):

Start contributing to my Roth this year and max out by April:$472 for December $674 January for 2008 contribution so I can max out(hopefully!) currently contributed: 2,737.00 for year 2008

Make 2 payments to Adams loans (on top of what he pays) : Currently -$7996.96 from Direct Loan Service and -$40817.35 from First Resource Federal will plan this paycheck to contribute something to it!

Try to get someone to rent out our house while we are away for extra money for our mortgage. I think I am going to cancel this goal if theres nothing promising by next month...

Split paychecks every 2 weeks into Mortgage payment, Roth IRA, Checking Account, and Emergency Fund

Get $1750 for our apt in Seattle and bank at least $100 each month--Used any extra for the Roth

Continue to pay off credit card each month doing well with this

My meal plans have worked out pretty well. We go shopping once a week and have not spent over $100.
Feb 17- $55
March 1- $41
I made some good pasta the other night but since we live in a tiny studio, I blew a fuse 3 times because I plugged in the hot plate and the crockpot oops.

Continue to get the deals at walgreens for a garage sale this summer with my sister!---still doing that! We got cheap deodorant, candy, free makeup etc!

I am still going to use as many coupons as possible. Joined new trains and got lots, now we just need cheaper grocery stores.

I am also going to try to get $50 or more in Chacha extra money (now $$131.43 went up $16 this month! wow...)
I signed up at Pinecone Research and got a $12 so far this month! I like this company! It takes no more than 15 min to complete a survey and you get paid quick! I also got some samples in the mail

So theres the update! Any thoughts are helpful. I think this month was a good one, mostly because of this job. Lets hope next month is a good one too!!

Completed Goals

Pay off scooter by February balance=done January 10
Pay off Jeep done! 2/1/09
$1000 in Emergency Fund done January 16

Baked Swai in Foil

2009-03-04T09:06:00.000-08:00

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate. Today I am making Baked Swai in Foil.

Baked Swai in Foil

Ingredients

• 16 oz raw tilapia or swai
• 4 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup canned tomatoes
• 1 cup zucchini
• 1/2 cup onion(s)

Directions

Cut Swai (or other white fish) into (2) 8oz servings. Use 2tsp olive oil to brush front and back of each serving before laying in a large square of foil.
Meanwhile, saute 1 zucchini thinly sliced and 1/2 of an onion, chopped in other 2 tsp olive oil. Sprinkle fish with salt, pepper, paprika to taste.
Spoon minced/diced tomatoes on top, then divide zucchini/onion saute on top of each serving.
Close foil packets and bake @ 425 for about 20 minutes. Next time, try adding garlic, or a more robust seasoning. Can even sprinkle fat-free feta on top

Giveaways for the week of March 2nd

2009-03-02T00:16:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,
Looking back at my "Focus Friday" I wanted to make 2 scrapboo pages, well so far I made one this week. Here it is, Enjoy :)
Now on to the giveaways!

The Farm Chics Mystery Grab Bag
The Techie Diva Economic Stimulus Gadget Giveaways
Bargain Briana Eco Store Giveaway
EightyMPHmom Simply Green Natural Review
Saving Money For A Wedding 100th post giveaway
Mamas Money Savers Country Bobs BBQ sauce
Living as Mom $5 Giftcard
Sage and Savvy Eve Organics
PrissyGreen Pevonia Giveaway
ChefDruck Musings Honey Kix Sweet and Simple Giveaway
Momsavesmoney $10 Barnes and Nobles Giftcard
Never2Late2Save $10 Victoria Secret Gift Card
The Giveaway My Baby Modern Combi Coccoro Car Seat

Focus Friday!

2009-02-27T06:18:00.000-08:00

Wow its friday already?? Heres my progress from last week:

Fax our tax to the tax preparers--done they are currently reviewing them! Still need to send one more w2--total of 12 all together!!
Go on a hike to the falls and eat out at IHOP for free pancake day--did that! it was rainy but alot of fun! I should post some pictures...
Go to walgreens and get some deals---did awesome this week! Paid $2 for a whole bunch of stuff including 12 candy bars, gilette razor, lipgloss, foil etc!
Work a bunch of days--no cancelling me this week thank god...tonight I work 8 hours then not again til monday
ChaCha 10 times a day--I didnt do as much as i should have but definitly more than usual!
Run at least 4 days a week with Adam- I ran 3 days this week, which I was happy with because we went hiking too!

My goals this week

Get 3 references this week from work to apply with new travel companies (for more jobs)
Scrapbook 2 pages this week
No eating out at least until St Patricks day...i need some recipes
Chacha at least 10 times a day again
Run 3-4 times this week with Adam
Get financial review done for Feb
Finish Book and bring it back to the library on Sunday

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

2009-02-25T21:02:00.000-08:00

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate.

INGREDIENTS

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons butter
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 onion, finely diced
2 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into pieces

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the chicken, butter, soup, and onion in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover.
2. Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 30 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center

Giveaways for Feb 23 week!

2009-02-23T16:19:00.000-08:00

Hey!! Hows everyone doing this week? I had a good one, other than being cancelled from work :( We are going to Twin Falls and Snoqualme Falls tomorrow, that should be fun! I did some scrapbooking this week. This is one of our wedding this past august. Theres lots of giveaways out there. Here we go!

Never2Late2save Harbor Freight Tools Giveaway
Chef Druck Musings $25 Giftcard to Outback Steakhouse
Living as Mom $5 Chevron GiftCard
$aving makes cents $25 Amazon giftcard
Frugal Freebies and Deals $50 Walmart Giftcard
Another MMO blog is giving away $50 cash or an Ipod Shuffle--hosted by Making Money Online , DatMoney.com ,iBlogtoBlog.com ,Ahnternet.com ,BloggerStop.net and CreateBanner.com
Bella Casa Honey Kix Giftpack
STL Mommy $25 Target Giftcard
Gormeted.com MixMyGranola $25 Giftcard
Green your Decor Fabricadabra Pillow

Dairy Queen is giving away a gift card to the first 250 bloggers to write about their sweet deals value menu! Adam and I are often found at Dairy Queen, especially at home with our friends! This is our place to meet! I would love to try some of these sweet deals!! I want 4 ice cream cones for $5! haha That would be awesome!

Focus Friday

2009-02-21T02:34:00.000-08:00

My goals this week

Fax our tax to the tax preparers
Go on a hike to the falls and eat out at IHOP for free pancake day
Go to walgreens and get some deals
Work a bunch of days
ChaCha 10 times a day
Run at least 4 days a week with Adam

Ravioli with Sauteed Zucchini

2009-02-16T20:57:00.000-08:00

Whats for Dinner Wednesday

Thrifty and Chic mom does a topic every wednesday to plan your meals, I am going to participate. Today I am making Ravioli with Sauteed Zuccchini.

Ravioli with Sautéed Zucchini

Ingredients

1 pound cheese ravioli (fresh or frozen)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 small zucchini, sliced into thin half-moons
Kosher salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces)

Directions

Cook the ravioli according to the package directions. Drain them and return to the pot.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until just tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
Add the zucchini mixture and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan to the ravioli and toss gently to combine. Serve with the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan.

Footnote

NUTRITION PER SERVING CALORIES 492(39% from fat); FAT 22g (sat 9g); CHOLESTEROL 75mg; CARBOHYDRATE 52g; SODIUM 853mg; PROTEIN 22g; FIBER 4g; SUGAR 5g

Giveaways Feb 15

2009-02-15T01:47:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone had a great valentines day!
Here are some giveaways this week!

Shh Im Reading Winners choice of 6 books
The Giveaway Top it Off Accessories
$avings makes cents $25 Amazon Giftcard
Mom Saves Money $5 Starbucks Giftcard
5 Dollar Dinner $25 Walmart Giftcard
Pays to Live Green $25 cash or $25 to your favorite green store!
Romanian Escapade BananaNut Cheerios Giveaway
What Mommies need Chicbuds Giveaway
The Not-so Blog Blog ChicBuds Giveaway
Feisty Frugal Fabulous ChicBuds Giveaway
Barefoot Mommy Rockin Baby Sling
Johnstone's Vin Blanc Country Bobs All Purpose BBQ Sauce
Thrifty and Chic mom Cmarchuska Giveaway
The Way it is Romantic Giveaway
Christian Frugal Mama $5 Chevron Gas Card
Momma in FlipFlops 2 Diaper Style RMD Giveaway
Extraordinary Mothers Hoover Windtunnel Vacuum Giveaway
Sweet Savings $50 Giftcard

Giveaways Feb 10

2009-02-09T23:43:00.000-08:00

An Island Life $50 Home Depot Giftcard
Frugal Finds From Your Frugal Friend Rainx Giftpack
STL Mommy Seventh Generation Free & Clear Starter Kit Giveway
To Save a Penny Giftcards and PG giveaway!!

2009-02-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

Menu Planning Monday

Go graham Go does a topic every monday to plan your meals, I am going to participate. Today I am making Spinich Lasangna. I love this recipe! Although, since we are living in a studio apt with no oven, I am attempting this in the crockpot, i am nervous about it...

Easy Spinach Lasagna

1 15oz fat free Ricotta cheese
1 10oz frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained)
1 4oz can mushroom stems and pieces (drained)
1 Large egg
2 cups fat free shredded cheese (Use your favorite kind)
1 jar chunky mushroom spaghetti sauce
9 lasagna noodles (uncooked)
1/4 cup water

Directions

Preheat oven to 400. in a big ole bowl dump Ricotta, spinach, mushrooms, egg, 1 cup grated cheese and mix well. In a 9 x 12 baking dish dump 1/2 jar spaghetti sauce, place 3 noodles, top with 1/2 cheese mixture, three more noodles, rest of cheese mixture, last three noodles, dump last of sauce on top. rinse jar with 1/4 cup water and pour around edge, cover and bake 45 min. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cup of grated cheese return to oven for 10-15 min till cheese is melted and just a little brown. Let stand 10 min before cutting.

Footnote

Thaw spinach in microwave 3 min on high and separate with fork. Use your favorite grated cheese, don't let the traditional mozzarella be your only choice. If you want more garlic add more garlic. Be bold make it your personal recipe. Add a can of sliced olives just for the fun of it.

Giveaways this week

2009-02-05T05:04:00.000-08:00

Bargain Briana $50 Home Depot Gift Card
Go Graham Go Gorilla Pod!
JollyMom NYX Cosmetics
PowerMax Ipod Shuffle!
Mommy and Daddy Ipod Touch!
Frugal Mommy of 2 girls Babysteals.com Giveaway Ju-Ju-Be ~ BeChanged!

Our valentines day

2009-02-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

So this valentines day Adam and I are going to eat at the Space Needle. We have been in Seattle for about 2 months now and have not gone up it yet. We are only here until May so we have to! To make it cheaper we are going to eat breakfast instead of dinner and you dont have to buy a ticket if you eat in the space needle! Also we are doing this on Sunday instead of Valentines day because #1- Our 6th month anniversary :) gotta celebrate
#2- We are both working on Valentines day
I cant wait :)
Check out Momgenerations Ipod Touch Giveaway

Also,go try to win a wii fit, among other prizes! Over at Wii Fit Mommies Twitter Bling Party!