Friday, January 27, 2017

Frugal Friday Wrap Up 1/21-1/27 2017

   




   I'm feeling a bit beat up physically and mentally after this week.  I pushed myself way too much and am paying for it.  Tuesday morning I worked for MOPS, Wednesday I had Bradley here for the afternoon, Thursday afternoon and evening I went beyond just delivering food to shuts ins but also went back and helped for the rest of the time at the food distribution since they were short volunteers so that made for 6 hours of work there while my back and neck were screaming.  Thursday Bradley came down with an awful virus that landed him at the doctor with a high fever and Friday morning he had to be rushed to the emergency room because he was having trouble breathing since he was coughing so hard.  Poor guy is miserable.  I am praying that he heals quickly and that no one else comes down with it.  He was extra cuddly with me on Wednesday when he was here so I am wondering if he was just at the start of it then.  The whole political climate and all the ugliness being spouted is really getting to me.  Jeff suggested I stay off facebook for most of the weekend to give myself a break.  It hurts to see some of my family and friends spreading untruths. The attacks on Christians and homeschoolers have really cut deep for me.  My family and friends know that we are Christians and that we homeschooled our kids.  They also know that I love them unconditionally and that I will stand up against people who would try to bully them due to their religious beliefs, choice of lifestyles, pigmentation of their skin, etc. .  I believe in treating people with kindness and respect.  We do not have to believe the same way on every issue, but we can  still be respectful to one another.  I realize that I may never be able to change their minds about something as important to me as not taking the life of an innocent unborn child and they will never be able to convince me that having someone who glorifies the sexualization of women to make her living (Madonna) can be truly outraged about about men then viewing women in that same exact way.  It's just exhausting and fruitless to even try.  Stepping down off my soapbox now and onto the savings...



~Saturday my hubby cleaned out the big walk in closet.  He found lots of things that we had been looking for including gift bags and wrapping paper, baby gifts, 2 amplifiers (we need to check with Chris and Josh since they belong to either one or both of them), our Disney movies on VHS (I will try to sell these) and lots of clothing and linens along with other miscellaneous stuff.
~I mended a pair of pants for Jeff and a quilt that our dear Grandma Ann made.
~Leftover ziti and cheese casserole was lunch of Saturday.
~Saturday night I cooked up 5 nice elk steaks and some baked potatoes.  We had 2 of the steaks, along with some of the potatoes and a nice salad for dinner.  I used the other steaks as part of meals later as the week went on.
~Sunday I was in need of some comfort food since I was having a really bad CFS flare and crash.  I made some quick homemade mac and cheese that hit the spot.


~Monday I made some homemade syrup, a pasta salad, and some English Muffin Bread to use throughout the week, and in the case of the syrup, beyond.
~My breadmaker decided that it would mix the dough but not cook the bread.  I took the dough out and finished cooking it in the oven.  I do have a back up breadmaker somewhere in this house.  I'll have to find it.
~I made Lo Mein with one of the leftover elk steaks, some veggies and some garden delight noodles.
~While Jeff was cleaning out the closet, he found one of my large but shorter woven baskets.  It works perfectly as a laundry basket for our bathroom because it slips under the shelves and out of the way.
~Since I have found that I only need half a sheet of fabric softener sheets per load, I cut all the sheets in half to use.


~We are back to using the big heavy duty plastic bags that our pellets come in as garbage bags.  They work great and don't break open.
~I pulled 2 weekend newspapers out of the recycling bin at the post office so I could get the coupon inserts.  I also get 2 free papers this way to read and later to use for cleaning.
~I usually stop by the thrift store after I work in Tuesdays but decided to just skip it and come straight home and have some leftovers for lunch.  It's not like I needed anything there and since we are trying to save money and not eat out as much I behaved myself...today. 😉
~After I pour myself a cup of morning coffee I put the rest in a thermal carafe. It keeps it hot for hours so if I want another cup later, I can have a nice hot cup and it is still pretty warm by the time my hubby gets up so he does not have to zap it in the microwave as long.


~I dug out some glass containers with locking airtight lids that I bought on clearance 2 Christmas' ago and used one of them to put the dried powdered milk in that I picked up for making English Muffin Bread.
~Jeff replaced the filter on our PUR water filter that fits right on the kitchen faucet.  I am now back to drinking more water because it tastes good again.
~I signed up for a bunch of freebies this week including dog treats, pain relief patched, vitamins, food products and lotions.
~Menu planning is once again going on in this house.  I'm trying to do it on Saturdays so that my hubby and I can do it together.  I am being flexible realizing that there may be days when we don't want what is planned for that day, so we can substitute something else in or just switch days around.


~I took advantage of an offer I got in the mail for Chewy.com.  It is a company that sells pet supplies online.  They had a $15 off you order code.  I looked through the site and they have the expensive cat food that Doofy needs for a few dollars less that we get it for here.  They also offered free shipping if you order is over $49.  I needed more kitty litter so I searched their site and found a great deal on a 40 pound bag of unscented kitty litter for  $9.92.  I placed an order for 2 bags of the cat food and 1 bag of the kitty litter.  I got the $15 discount plus free shipping.  They will deliver it right to my door so that saves me on gas money too!
~Tuesday night I made a big pot of veggie and potato chowder for dinner and served it with homemade garlic and cheese biscuits.  Yet another man pleasing and filling meal for very little money.
~I was super sore Tuesday after working in the morning with the little kids so Jeff and I hot tubbed and I also took some ibuprofen.  It was much needed.
~Wednesday I made 2 loaves of Whole Wheat Oatmeal bread.


~My grandson Bradley recently took a bad fall and got a concussion.  His doctor wants him to stay calm and not "get wild".  Trying to get a 4 year old boy to not run around is like trying to nail jello to a wall.  His mommy had to work at the daycare this afternoon and trying to stay calm when there are all those kids to play with would have been torture for him.  He came to spend the afternoon with me instead.  We put together the puzzles I got at the thrift store, made really cool laser guns out of egg cartons (to fight off the droids that we coming to get us...he is on a Star Wars kick right now 😉), watched 1 episode of "Autobot"s on Netflix and had lots of cuddle time.
~We did our volunteer work today and came home with 2 cases, yes cases of chicken fried steaks (we had enough to give out complete cases to 50+ families who wanted them, boxes of apples and pears, bags of potatoes and onions, eggs, breads, bagels, donuts, pasta, canned goods, lamb chops, juices, milk, and snack items.  I would say that retail value this time was over $200.  Seriously!  I had to get our high school football player neighbor to bring in some of the boxes for me and sent him home with as many pears as he wanted.  I will be sharing the wealth with friends and family because all this is way too much for just Jeff and I. Oh, this is random but one of the ladies that also volunteers with the program brought in some coloring books to give away.  I picked out an Autobot one for my grandsons to share. :)


~I was so sore Thursday after helping with the food distribution for 6 hours that I came home, ate leftovers for dinner and then took some ibuprofen and soaked in the hot tub hoping to ease the swelling in my lower back and pain in my neck so I could sleep.
~Some of my free magazines came in the mail.
~We borrowed the movie "Sully" from the library.
~Friday I stayed home.  I was really tired and still sore so I made it a jammie kind of day. :)  I didn't even cook.  We had plenty of leftovers to use up so that made for very easy meals.

   


   So as you can see, there have been a lot of savings this week.  I was able to cross everything but 1 item off my grocery list after all the blessings we got while volunteering.  We had been eating down the contents of the freezers and now they are full again.  I had to laugh when Mason, our neighbor who helped carry in the heavy boxes of fruit for me, looked around my front bedroom that I turned into a pantry and said I had an entire store in there.   He is right!  He now knows where to come if he needs anything. ;)  I love that wonderful young man and I will miss him as he heads off to college next year.  Here's to a great and restful weekend for us all.






32 comments:

  1. Sounds like another frugal week, Debbie. Hope you are feeling better and hope little Bradley is feeling better, too. Hope you have a peaceful weekend. Take care of yourself.

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    1. Thanks Bless! Bradley is feeling better now and we are so glad that he is. :)

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  2. You had a busy week! And your cooking sounds good...esp. mac and cheese! I just saw a t.v. ad for Chewy. (My dog died last summer so I have no need for it though).

    I hope you can distance yourself from all that negative stuff you've been exposed to. Sometimes you just need to hide from certain people I think! Just to keep your own peace of mind. But some day, I'm sure your good example will rub off on them! So all is not in vain. Andrea

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    1. Andrea, I am so sorry to hear about your dog. I have been trying to hide posts on facebook that are negative and have not spent much time there this weekend anyway. I'm just trying to focus on as much good as I can. I hope you had a lovely weekend. :)

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  3. Howdy. Sounds like you had a really great week on the frugal front. Wow, on all the chicken fried steaks!!!!

    I hope you are feeling better health wise. I totally understand the negativity on FB - I have a couple people I just had to hide notifications from. I didn't unfriend them, but now I do not see their posts. That has helped my stress level.
    You are a good women and are loyal to your faith and beliefs. God bless you and yours.

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    1. HI Cheryl, the chicken fried steak is really good! We had some for dinner tonight. :)

      Sometimes we have to take a break from all the negativity. I just can't deal with it all. I'm glad you took a break from it too. :)

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    2. I did the same thing as Cheryl, had to hide notifications on some FB friends. I honestly don't mind if others express opinions, as long as it's done civilly. But so often now, it is rude or crude or sarcastic and not the least but helpful to their cause.
      I'm glad to hear the chicken fried steaks are good.

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    3. HI Rhonda, I am with you on this too. No need for any of that is there? Be blessed!

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  4. Hope your grandson is on the mend, Debbie. I'm in total agreement with you about your soapbox writings,especially the part about Madonna. :) Hope you are finding rest!

    Hugs
    Jane

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    1. Thanks Jane, he is finally doing better and we are so thankful! I've enjoyed my break from the negativity and I think I am going to continue to be selective about what I read and who I allow in my bubble for awhile. ;)

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  5. So so sorry to hear you crashed. I, too, had a bad week health wise. I had gone swimming the week before and didn't bounce back. Today is better & I'm staying in the house for a few days.
    What a haul from your volunteering!! Isn't God amazing. You two are on such a tight budget right now but look at His providence.
    Years ago I ended up with bags of very ripe pears. I made 'pear butter' just like you'd make and use apple butter. Gotta love the free stuff. And those chicken fried steaks - yea for free protein.
    My biggest accomplishment was unearthing some homemade beef stock and I made a lentil, barley and veggie soup. Enough for the next few nights. Cheers, hope this posts....SJ

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    1. HI SJ, must be something in the pair if you and I both crashed huh? ;) I'm sorry you had to go through it too but am glad you are doing better now.

      God is good! We have been able to share with friends and family and spread the blessings around. Right now the pears are still really nice and crisp and we are enjoying them that way but I love your idea about the pear butter. Thank you! Your soup sounds really good! Be blessed!

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  6. For someone with CFS you really don't get the concept of 'taking it easy', do you?
    I hope little Bradley is feeling better. There is nothing more frightening than finding it hard to breathe. I feel for him but more so for his terrified parents. I hope the whole family is in a much better space.
    The amount of food you were able to bring home from your volunteering just shows that not only do you give, but you receive in return.
    I hope that it's not being too cold for you. We are still hoping for some rain and a bit of cool relief. The garden and lawns are now brown and crunchy. We have a bore9underground water) that we pump from for the garden. Even with this going everyday(our electricity bill is going to be awful), we are losing the fight. Bluey and I have decided that we can live with brown grass but we really need to keep the fruit trees alive. This is where the water is mostly going.
    Take care and for goodness sake take it easy!
    big hugs
    Jane

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    1. LOL Jane, no I don't. ;) I tend to overdo it when I have the energy and pay for it later. I have yet to learn to pace myself. Thank you about your wished for our Bradley. He is doing much better now and we are all so thankful. It was a nasty virus that hits fast and hard.

      We were so blessed this month with our volunteer work, above and beyond anything we could have ever imagined. It has been wonderful to be able to share this blessing with friends and family too!

      YOur comments about your lawn really hit home with me. Jeff and I tend to try to keep the water on the gardens that provide us with food and just let the lawn do what it will. YOu can't eat your lawn. ;) Praying that you get some much needed rain soon my friend. Be blessed!

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  7. I hope Bradley is doing much better. Great frugal week as always. Hope you are resting and feeling better also. I agree with turning off the notifications of certain people on Facebook (including relatives). Still friends, I just don't see their posts, which for me is the people that do nothing but name call and put down everyone that doesn't believe the same way they do.

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    1. Thanks Jess, he finally is! I did get a lot of rest this weekend and will try to take it easy tomorrow also. You are wise to turn off your notifications Jess. It just gets to be too much sometimes doesn't it? Be blessed!

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  8. Sure hope Bradley gets to feeling better, that sounds like a miserable dose! You had a great frugal week! It is hard to say no to things, but you need to work on that, I think {smiles} I understand how hard it is to do that. I am glad that our family is not on FB. It has been a real blessing. I choose what I want to listen to or read. Life is more peaceful that way :) Hugs to you today!

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    1. Thank you Marilyn, he is now and so far no one else has come down with it praise God! YOu are right, I do need to learn to say no but sometimes it's hard when it is something that means a lot to me. ;) Sometimes I want to just leave facebook, but it is one of the ways that our family and friends stay connected and share pictures and things with each other. Be blessed!

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  9. Sending Get Well to you all...I stay away from FB and such, I don't read news websites. I hold true to this verse the Lord gives us and it helps me through my days. whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

    You had some wonderful saving, what a blessing you are to you home.
    Have a nice day, and take it easy.

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    1. Amen my friend! I love that verse. :) I am trying to take it easy for the most part. I'm catching up on laundry today and praying that we do not get the 6 inches of snow they are calling for starting tonight through tomorrow. I have my MOPS work to do tomorrow and I am looking forward to seeing those sweet kiddos. Be blessed!

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    2. Did you get the 6 inches of snow? How is everyone today?

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    3. Nope....but we have more coming down today. :)

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  10. Cheering you on for taking it easy today so you can get to your job and the kiddos.
    I think I had the flu over the weekend. It always surprises me when I get sick like everyone else around me and it has little to do with CFS. Feeling better.
    I, too, have had to unfollow a few people on FB. When I want to see what they're doing, I can. But their posts don't drop onto/into (?) my timeline. Cheers, SJ

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    1. Hi SJ, I'm sorry you had the flu over the weekend but I am so glad you are feeling better now. ((((((HUGS))))) I made the mistake on commenting on a post today about the Challenger Disaster and how it badly it hurts to see the video of those amazing people dying because I knew one of the crew members and his parents and the absolute heartbreak that the family suffered and has to relive every time the disaster is aired or reshared is horrible. Let's just say that I was shocked by the total lack of compassion that was shown in the replies to my comments. What is wrong with people when they can't even acknowledge when someone is hurting and chooses to attack them instead...especially when that someone has been there for them time and time again? I just don't get it. I'm going to have to unfollow them too...I just can't deal with the constant barrage of negativity. Be blessed!

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  11. How are you? And Bradley? I hope better.

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    1. Hi Chrissy, I'm doing better, just tired and coming to grips with a few things. Bradley is over that virus thank God! He still has to be careful and not get rowdy for awhile though since he is still healing from his concussion. Thank you so much for checking. Be blessed!

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  12. So so sorry that you're dealing with negative comments.
    Glad to hear your grandson is doing better - hard to get those really active kids to slow down. Oh, how I wish I had some of their energy!!
    Cheers, SJ

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  13. Hi, I recently started reading your blog and want you to know how much I enjoy it. I also use coupons and take advantage of any that I find anywhere-- saving money is a hobby and part of the frugal lifestyle I have chosen. I would suggest that you limit any negative exposure that you can as studies have found that negativity has a tremendous impact on our health. By the way I envy you your hot tub. That is a oh lucky you not the green eyed monster envy-- ha ha! God bless you for your volunteer work --if more people exerted energy on helping their mankind instead of bashing them- what a better country we would have.

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    1. Welcome and thank you for your sweet comment. :) I am trying to limit negative exposure but sometimes the German Scottish blood get to boiling and I do tend to vent. ;) LOL about the hot tub...we are very blessed indeed. It was actually given to us by my husband's more than generous boss who was just looking to get rid of it. Oh how we enjoy it. :) And yes, I agree on helping others...that was even part of a post on facebook that I did today. : Be blessed and I hope you will continue to read and comment and maybe leave your name or initials next time. Be blessed!

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  14. Hi, I am just learning all this blog and stuff so didn't know how to use any name except anonymous. My niece called and she is great with this stuff so I remembered to ask her.
    I am Delorise and I live in the middle Ga. area. We have had a capri and sleeveless shirt day here--but we aren't expected to hit 60 this weekend. Looking forward to following your blog. Have a great weekend.

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    1. NIce to meet you Delorise! I am jealous of your warm weather. It was -4 F when I got up this morning and made it to the mid 20's today. I hope you have a great weekend as well!

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