Frugal Friday Wrap Up 8/5-8/11 2017

 

   We still have smoky skies here but they are saying that it should clear out by tomorrow.  Between that and the record breaking heat, it has been a rough week healthwise for me.  This has led to me spending lots of time resting and even being afraid to try to work in the garden or get the watering done.  I have had 2 different times when my muscles have locked up and I have almost gone down.  So much for being able to pick the apples off our tree this week and make applesauce.  Hopefully, if the skies clear tomorrow, I can get to that.  On the days where I felt a bit better though, I did manage to do some money saving things so it is not all lost or bad news.  Life goes on right? 😉

~Saturday found us house bound due to the heavy wildfire smoke in the air.  It kicked my asthma in and I was worried about the fur babies breathing it also.  For the most part, we all stayed inside and made the best of it.  We watched movies on Netflix, ones we had borrowed from our son Jaysn  and had nachos for lunch and played some Scrabble.  I did venture out in the early morning to water the gardens and later to pick some tomatoes, but that was it.
~I was thrilled when a dear friend came to "shop my pantry" so that she did not have to make the long drive into town today with the horrible air quality we are having and then have to make dinner and rush to work.
~I made some iced tea with 4 teabags.  I'll compost the tea bags in my garden.

~I strained my homemade raspberry gin and now have the flavored gin plus 2 jars of boozy berries. One of those jars will be going to my cousin Jeremy since he loves them!
~Staples sent me a coupon for $10 of $10 or more purchase.  I was able to get lots of school supplies for .38 after tax with my coupon and 10% discount.  They also gave me a teacher appreciation gift since I work with the MOPS program.
~The Dollar Tree store had my hairspray back in along with Secret antiperspirant.  I got those, toothpaste, Hefty bags (at .50 a box after coupon), body powder, salami, coffee creamer and scrubby pads.

~Winco had lamb chops at half price.  I got 2 packages with 5 chops in each.  These were frozen for future special dinners.
~Jeff and I watched the movie "Trouble with the Curve" on Netflix.
~I made another tuna pasta salad to have on these hot days. I used green onions from the garden in it.
~Saturday night I made a big pot of rice.  We will use it throughout the week.
~I pulled out some shoyu chicken from the freezer to use this week.
~We watched some shows online and on Netflix.

~I harvested green onions, a cucumber and cherry tomatoes from the garden. Later in the week I also harvested some blueberries and raspberries.
~We stopped at a yard sale on our way home from town on Sunday.  I got 2 big boxes full of party supplies with plates, napkins, decorations, etc. for $3.  I also got lots of kids books for .25 each, and Jeff found some cds for $1 each.

~I froze 10 bananas to make banana bread with later.
~Jeff fixed the exhaust fan in the bathroom at Jaysn and Rachel's house for them.  It just needed a good cleaning and lubricating.
~I was able to find the last item that I needed for the craft kit I am putting together for the little boys at Walmart today.  I found a huge package of construction paper.  It was on sale so bonus!
~I washed some of my delicates and put them over the chairs on the porch to dry.
~My sweet mother sent home some Paul Newman's Lime Vinaigrette salad dressing (we can't get it here) and wine over for me with Chris and Heather.
~Jeff and I found a great deal on toilet paper so we bought 4 double roll 9 packs.  We figured that we saved about $16 right there.

~Heather brought us over a zucchini coffee cake.
~We sent half a watermelon home with Chris and Heather since it was too much for us to eat alone and we know they and the little boys will love it.  We also sent them home with packing boxes.
~A friend of my son Chris' who is from Hawaii made some Spam Musubi for him and I and also sent me some coffee.  I am looking forward to getting together with them soon!
~I ordered more cat food and two 40 pound bags of kitty litter online.  I get free shipping and they will be here in 1-2 days.  The products even cost less online than they do locally and I don't have to drive anywhere to get them.
~I line dried Jeff's laundry since it is his work clothes.
~I scored a free magazine subscription.

~There was some zucchini that needed to be used up ASAP so I made another squash casserole.  Comfort food.  YUM!
~Wednesday was another day at home with me keeping the fur babies inside due to the thick smoke and dust in the air.  I did not cook anything because we have so many leftovers in the fridge.  It is literally filled to overflowing at the moment.
~I cashed in at Swagbucks for another $5 Walmart gift card.
~I did some surveys for Pinecone Research.
~I won 55 pts at Mypoints in their absent apple game.
~I watched a lot of videos on YouTube as I try to learn more about CFS and Fibromyalgia and what I can do to help myself heal.
~I used our $30 Walmart gift cards to buy 2 packages of underwear for me (total of 14 pairs), a package of underwear for Jeff, a package of socks for Jeff, a cute outfit for Steven for Christmas and 4 bottles of glue.  I spent $6.64 in cash over the gift card amount.  Jeff and I are stocked up for awhile now on undies and socks.

~Friday I put everything on hold since I had a Fibro flare.  I did not go anywhere and did the bare minimum around the house.  I knew it was bad not only because of the pain but due to the "fibro fog" I could not even remember simple things like what year it is.  It felt like I was walking around with bricks all over my body.
~A box of Cheez Its that I had bought were stale.  I called the toll free number on the box to report that and they are sending me a coupon to get a free replacement of it.

~Friday I made a big salad for dinner with lettuce, avocado, cheese, bacon and some tomatoes from our garden.
~Jeff and I used our hot tub while it was a 90F to soak in to help ease out sore muscles and to cool off.

  After reading through my list again, I am feeling a bit more positive about what I WAS able to do and not so made about what I was not able to do.  It's all a matter of perspective isn't it?  This afternoon the company that Jeff works for is throwing a BBQ and then has rented out a waterpark for all the employees and their families.  I'm not sure if Jaysn and Rachel are going to make it because there is still smoke in the sky and they can't risk taking Steven out in this.  Chris, Heather and the little boys are coming down though when Chris gets off work.  Isaiah and I have a "date" to float on the Lazy River together and I am really looking forward to that.  I'm hoping to spend some time in the wave pool too but think I will skip the water slides since climbing those stairs will be difficult for me today.  Be blessed!