Poor Andrew....

Murphy's law... things happen in three's.... bad things happen to good people....

Andrew is doing great at his job (just got his second raise in two months!) and is taking three classes and doing really well.

Unfortunately other things have been going wrong. He had to put about $800 into car repairs, his '09 tax bill is over $500 (oops - withholdings were too high :) and then last night someone drove by and shot out his car window.

But doesn't that mean things will start getting better now?

Frugal Challenge - February 2010

I never had an actual "piggy" bank.
What kind of childhood was that!!!
I think I need therapy.

February seemed to last quite a while... probably because I was laid up for much of it :) But Spring is coming and life is good!!

THE NUMBERS

Grocery budget: $297.10 The fun part of raising my budget from $200 (how on earth did I do that for 7 months???) up to $300 is that I usually have a good bit left the last week and can stock up or splurge a little.

Mortgage: paid down 1.25% for a total of 92.35% to go. I wonder when this number will stop depressing me. Wish I had started years ago on this one!!!

5 weeks. one day. 16 minutes.

Until Kayla comes home!!

(not that I'm counting)

Lack of pictures....

Kayla sent me the memory card from her phone a while ago, but the pictures were locked and even the camera store wasn't able to retrieve them. I sent it back to her... and she has someone there trying to get the photos out. So frustrating!!!!

I was visiting Elder Rose's blog and was able to snatch this photo....

Isn't she beautiful!!!

The many faces of Braden....

Braden recently had to do a project for English... they are reading Romeo and Juliet and the teacher asked them to make a mask representing on of the charecters. Braden chose Mercutio. The mask turned out great! (a bit of help from dad, of course:)

Down, but not out!

I'm not supposed to drive for another week... but was getting a bit stir-crazy so Andrew graciously agreed to take me to Target and CVS. I definitely felt like a nerd sitting in the motorized car and only ran into things a few times :) But it was worth it!!!!

I was able to buy $86 in groceries, cat food and health and beauty things for a whopping $6. I think that's a record even for me! And to think I used to consider couponing a waste of time. Crazy!

3 Iams cat food - $13.17
3 Oil of Olay body wash - $16.50
3 Keebler cookies - $5.29
3 ladies Razors - $20.97
1 men's razors - $8.99
2 Crest pro-health - $7
2 Aussie shampoo - 5.98
2 PopTarts - $5.00
1 pkg Hoagie rolls - $2.39
1 pkg Valentines Hearts - $1.29 (for andrew :)

family. flowers. friends. food.

I spent a few (awful) days in the hospital last week after a bit of surgery. I'm doing much, much better and have been very touched by the flowers, food, cards and love from my family and friends.

thank you.
life is very good.

Shea and I already took apart the other flowers to dry,

but this one still looks beautiful from Tammy & Kristie.

Uncle Bill

My mom has a very small family, so when my favorite Uncle Bill recently passed away (he was her cousin, but "Uncle" to me) she asked me to meet her in Kansas to help go through his things. I'm so glad I did! I was able to spend time with my Aunt Helen, Aunt Susan and Aunt Sheila (again - all cousins :) and it was wonderful. I didn't take my camera with me as it was starting to have problems, and now I really regret it.....

We worked like crazy to go through and clean out his things. I feel very blessed to have brought back a few special memories. My Uncle Bill was a fabulous person to me growing up. He always called me "Blissy" and taught me how to play cribbage. His BBQ's were the best and he supported my teenage years by purchasing whatever silly fundraiser I was involved in and coming to many dance and band performances.

Love him.

Bill's mother's (my Aunt Ling) collection

of L.M. Montgomery books.

thank you, Susan!

My uncle collected liquor memorabilia -

so I picked out a Yukon Jack Canadian Whiskey box.

Doesn't every good mormon have a whiskey box in their living room?

My mom is moving here in two years,

so she shipped her box with mine.

Don't they look great together? Sorry mom, they are both mine now :)

This is a beautiful hand-painted Alaskan piece.

I love it!

Kindly ignore the inch of dust and dirty Ulu knife.

I'll clean more in my next life.

My uncle was an artist, and I have always loved his work.
I brought home quite a bit and will show more as I get it framed.

There were quite a few pewter pieces,
so I picked out one for each of the kids.
Love the ribs sticking out on the dog.

My uncle had the most amazing collection of ivory pieces.
I was grateful to bring home a few tie tacs,
a bracelet and a few other trinkets.
(awful picture taken with my awful backup camera)
Most of all, I am grateful for the time I spent with family. Nice.

Cinnabons... with love.

On Sunday evening, Robert, Braden and Song went to a Priesthood meeting at church, so Sophia, Shea and I had a girls night and made Cinnamon rolls. Of course they were Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls. I was a bit nervous as my history of cinnamon roll making hasn't always been a success.

But they were DELICIOUS! Shea even said they were (almost) as good as Grandma Sawyer's. Now that's a compliment.

While they were cooking, Shea designed this on the computer:

Shea and Sophia posing. Shea is wearing an apron she made a while back.

Before cooking...

Before frosting....

Before we ravenously ate them all...

January Frugal Challenge

Another month.... and it feels like time is flying! (Kayla will be home in April!!!!) I haven't taken many pictures lately and now my camera is in the hospital. Again. I have an older one I can use, but I miss my baby.

I remember a friend of mine asking if I thought I would keep up with my frugal-ness after my trip to AK. I told her I wasn't sure, but hoped I would. I think all it takes is for me to have a BHAG and then being frugal is EASY.

My current Big Hairy Audacious Goal is to pay our house off by 10/2014 (five years from when I started). I'm motivated and I really don't miss all that shopping I used to do. The challenge to live on less is great!

On to my numbers for January...

Food: I spent $285.60 (goal is $300)
Mortgage: paid it down .85% and 93.6% away from my goal. OK - so that one's not great, but hopefully the momentum will start building soon.

I have been craving Ceviche again, so hopefully I have some room in the February budget for this. Yum!