Frugal In Florida

I really like doing this post as it keeps me accountable and makes me think twice about some things ... It's been a few weeks since I've done this update ... between being sick and just not having ANY motivation, not much more to say ;-) We have been somewhat frugal lately ... in some areas ... other areas, not so much ... so here we go, our Frugal Activities for the past few weeks: 1.  Utilizing the health insurance and getting to the doctor with our co-pay of $30 (that does NOT seem inexpensive at all!) ... Hubby was given a z-pac, steroids and something else ... I'm still dealing with this cough and some chest congestion ... I'm going to have to go back to the doctor as I don't think I'm in the clear just yet.  Antibiotics and steroids cost $10 each. 2.  Staying out of the grocery stores for the most part. Did make a stop at Costco the other night on way to see dad for a few things he needed and I picked up some stuff too. Used my rebate check of $107

Let's be honest, sometimes you have to make an effort to be happy. Yeah, I get it, the car wouldn't start, the sink clogged up, the air conditioning bit the dust, you got behind the biggest jerk on the interstate ... and all those things just make for a pretty shitty day and attitude. I get it. Believe me, I really do. BUT ... everyday, there is SOMETHING out there that makes you happy. Sometimes, you don't even realize it as everything else just takes over. Real Life is difficult, I know. So. I propose to do 100 Days of Happiness.  Basically, just post something (most likely just a picture with a little caption as I don't think I can dedicate the time to do a whole post daily!) and most likely, that picture taken with the cell phone ...  Some things will be materialistic (sorry), other things will be nature, animals, doings, people, etc. It just depends on what pops up in my day to day happenings :-)  I am honestly hoping that I have more than ONE thin

Let's be honest, sometimes you have to make an effort to be happy. Yeah, I get it, the car wouldn't start, the sink clogged up, the air conditioning bit the dust, you got behind the biggest jerk on the interstate ... and all those things just make for a pretty shitty day and attitude. I get it. Believe me, I really do. BUT ... everyday, there is SOMETHING out there that makes you happy. Sometimes, you don't even realize it as everything else just takes over. Real Life is difficult, I know. So. I propose to do 100 Days of Happiness.  Basically, just post something (most likely just a picture with a little caption as I don't think I can dedicate the time to do a whole post daily!) and most likely, that picture taken with the cell phone ...  Some things will be materialistic (sorry), other things will be nature, animals, doings, people, etc. It just depends on what pops up in my day to day happenings :-)  I am honestly hoping that I have more than ONE thing to cho

Let's be honest, sometimes you have to make an effort to be happy. Yeah, I get it, the car wouldn't start, the sink clogged up, the air conditioning bit the dust, you got behind the biggest jerk on the interstate ... and all those things just make for a pretty shitty day and attitude. I get it. Believe me, I really do. BUT ... everyday, there is SOMETHING out there that makes you happy. Sometimes, you don't even realize it as everything else just takes over. Real Life is difficult, I know. So. I propose to do 100 Days of Happiness.  Basically, just post something (most likely just a picture with a little caption as I don't think I can dedicate the time to do a whole post daily!) and most likely, that picture taken with the cell phone ...  Some things will be materialistic (sorry), other things will be nature, animals, doings, people, etc. It just depends on what pops up in my day to day happenings :-)  I am honestly hoping that I have more than ONE thin

Whew ... what a week it was last week, and then some. I was pretty sick and then the Princess and Hubby started up with it ... uggg. Didn't even plan anything last week, everyone fended for themselves, I pretty much skipped out on dinner each night. Not good but when you feel as bad as I did, it's the way it is. This week, however, I'm focused and planning on getting back on track ... need to take care of those who are sick and relying on ME to take care of them. A mom's job just never ends. I stayed out of the grocery store for over a week ... and no one starved to death. I did cave in and stopped at Whole Foods Saturday afternoon (just for a few things) and came home with a bunch of produce, milk and such for $106. Yikes!  I am going to try and stay out of the store this week and avoid Costco too, even though it's calling me ... I can do it! Here's what I'm shooting for this week: Saturday - meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy. Yes, I added

Growing up, I HATED meatloaf ... my mom would make it probably once every few weeks, using, I'm sure that 70/30 ground beef ::shudder:: ... and serve it up with the boxed potato buds mashed potatoes. Ick. There was just something about the whole baked meat thing that made me want to gag every time. Then of course, you got Hubby, the big meat dude who LOVES meatloaf, and again, he would make it and I would just look at it, thinking to myself, it's just a solid piece of ground beef cooked to death. Ick. At least he made REAL mashed potatoes, lumps and all ;-) So with the sickness making its way through the household, Hubby and I were laying in bed Saturday morning discussing how we felt and what we wanted to make for dinner. He said "meatloaf". I said "ick". But then I said, fine, I'm sure I have every thing on hand to make it and if it makes him feel better, so be it, I will make meatloaf ::shudder:: Thankfully, Pinterest is still the love o

Let's be honest, sometimes you have to make an effort to be happy. Yeah, I get it, the car wouldn't start, the sink clogged up, the air conditioning bit the dust, you got behind the biggest jerk on the interstate ... and all those things just make for a pretty shitty day and attitude. I get it. Believe me, I really do. BUT ... everyday, there is SOMETHING out there that makes you happy. Sometimes, you don't even realize it as everything else just takes over. Real Life is difficult, I know. So. I propose to do 100 Days of Happiness.  Basically, just post something (most likely just a picture with a little caption as I don't think I can dedicate the time to do a whole post daily!) and most likely, that picture taken with the cell phone ...  Some things will be materialistic (sorry), other things will be nature, animals, doings, people, etc. It just depends on what pops up in my day to day happenings :-)  I am honestly hoping that I have more than ONE thin

Let's be honest, sometimes you have to make an effort to be happy. Yeah, I get it, the car wouldn't start, the sink clogged up, the air conditioning bit the dust, you got behind the biggest jerk on the interstate ... and all those things just make for a pretty shitty day and attitude. I get it. Believe me, I really do. BUT ... everyday, there is SOMETHING out there that makes you happy. Sometimes, you don't even realize it as everything else just takes over. Real Life is difficult, I know. So. I propose to do 100 Days of Happiness.  Basically, just post something (most likely just a picture with a little caption as I don't think I can dedicate the time to do a whole post daily!) and most likely, that picture taken with the cell phone ...  Some things will be materialistic (sorry), other things will be nature, animals, doings, people, etc. It just depends on what pops up in my day to day happenings :-)  I am honestly hoping that I have more than ONE thin

I really like posting this somewhat weekly as it keeps me accountable and does make me think twice about some things! I've been sick. Like REALLY sick ... didn't menu plan ... didn't do anything for Hubby on Father's Day ... lucky that I was able to get to work and at least push papers around every day ... it's been a long time since I've been that sick. Needless to say, being sick can make you very frugal, but it can also bring out bad habits ... Here's a few of the Frugal Activities that we did around here this past week: 1.  Stayed out of the grocery stores ALL WEEK long. It's been one week since I've stepped in a grocery store. I'm not dying yet either. Miracles! 2.  Made more foaming soap for the kitchen. I wasn't up to doing dishes so just threw a batch together and told the kids to either use the dishwasher or use the soap but DO NOT LOAD UP THE SINK with dirty dishes. 3.  Opted to do a walk in clinic at CVS instead of the do

Let's be honest, sometimes you have to make an effort to be happy. Yeah, I get it, the car wouldn't start, the sink clogged up, the air conditioning bit the dust, you got behind the biggest jerk on the interstate ... and all those things just make for a pretty shitty day and attitude. I get it. Believe me, I really do. BUT ... everyday, there is SOMETHING out there that makes you happy. Sometimes, you don't even realize it as everything else just takes over. Real Life is difficult, I know. So. I propose to do 100 Days of Happiness.  Basically, just post something (most likely just a picture with a little caption as I don't think I can dedicate the time to do a whole post daily!) and most likely, that picture taken with the cell phone ...  Some things will be materialistic (sorry), other things will be nature, animals, doings, people, etc. It just depends on what pops up in my day to day happenings :-)  I am honestly hoping that I have more than ONE thin

Let's be honest, sometimes you have to make an effort to be happy. Yeah, I get it, the car wouldn't start, the sink clogged up, the air conditioning bit the dust, you got behind the biggest jerk on the interstate ... and all those things just make for a pretty shitty day and attitude. I get it. Believe me, I really do. BUT ... everyday, there is SOMETHING out there that makes you happy. Sometimes, you don't even realize it as everything else just takes over. Real Life is difficult, I know. So. I propose to do 100 Days of Happiness.  Basically, just post something (most likely just a picture with a little caption as I don't think I can dedicate the time to do a whole post daily!) and most likely, that picture taken with the cell phone ...  Some things will be materialistic (sorry), other things will be nature, animals, doings, people, etc. It just depends on what pops up in my day to day happenings :-)  I am honestly hoping that I have more than ONE thin

Let's be honest, sometimes you have to make an effort to be happy. Yeah, I get it, the car wouldn't start, the sink clogged up, the air conditioning bit the dust, you got behind the biggest jerk on the interstate ... and all those things just make for a pretty shitty day and attitude. I get it. Believe me, I really do. BUT ... everyday, there is SOMETHING out there that makes you happy. Sometimes, you don't even realize it as everything else just takes over. Real Life is difficult, I know. So. I propose to do 100 Days of Happiness.  Basically, just post something (most likely just a picture with a little caption as I don't think I can dedicate the time to do a whole post daily!) and most likely, that picture taken with the cell phone ...  Some things will be materialistic (sorry), other things will be nature, animals, doings, people, etc. It just depends on what pops up in my day to day happenings :-)  I am honestly hoping that I have more than ONE thin

I am itching to go somewhere, anywhere ... I just need a little escape! Alas, I don't see that happening too soon since Hubby started his new job and honestly, I'm not going to pitch a fit about that!  I was banking on Nashville again for the big 5 0 birthday in May but will have to hold out for a later visit (Besides, Jupiter Island Resort was a quick drive and very very fun and relaxing!) ... Oh. Wait. You stopped by for the Happy Hour Friday drink, didn't you? Sorry. Sorry. I got sidetracked. Having never been to Birmingham Alabama, let alone the 'famous' Bottega Restaurant , I couldn't tell you if this really compatible to the "Orange Thing" they serve ... but for an Orange THANG, I'm quite pleased ...  Here's what you need to make yourself a few yummy, orangy martinis: 1/4 cup good vodka (seriously, spend a few extra dollars and buy the good stuff ... I used a bottle left over from some party of Kettle One Oranje) 2 tbs o