Today.......

We are having our Family Thanksgiving.  This is a new tradition we have decided to start.  Two of our kids are about to be grown.  Kid # 1 will be getting married next year and Kid # 2 will be graduating high school and starting college.  We are also a blended family with many other parents and family for the kids to be pulled to go to for holidays.  My parents were divorced when I was growing up and I remember even after I became an adult I was always torn about who to spend holidays with.  I don't ever want my kids to feel that pressure or guilt.   So this year we decided to start a new tradition for Thanksgiving and we will start celebrating our Family Thanksgiving on the 2nd Saturday in November every year from now forward.  All of the kids thought this was a great idea!  We will also be inviting friends and family when they want to come.  My parents have already said they would definitely like to start attending next year.  We plan to do something similar for Christmas starting maybe next year, we just haven't figured out what exactly yet. 

Hope you all are having a great Saturday!  I need to get back to cooking :)

Update on Christmas Plan # 2

Here is where I stand as far as completing my Christmas shopping.  I am hoping to have all but maybe a few stocking stuffers done by the end of November.  I think I am doing pretty well!  Oh and I have manage to pay only cash for all items or use Swag Bucks and points from Mypoints!  Go me! :)



Photo for Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards ordered

Stamps for Christmas Cards

Christmas Tree

Kid # 5 picture with Santa

Husband - I don't really do a set number of gifts for my husband but we do have a set amount we get to spend on each other :)

1 gift  - $30
2 gift - $ 58.32
3 gift - $7.49


Kid # 1                                                                   

gift # 1 -$15.64
gift # 2 - $25.00
gift # 3
gift # 4

Kid # 1 Stockings Items

1-something I bought a long time ago

Kid # 2                                                                    

gift # 1 - $3
gift # 2 - $5+$3.49 + $19.99 = $28.48
gift # 3 - $ 13.17
gift # 4

Kid # 2 Stockings Items

Kid # 3                                                                                       

gift # 1 - $5
gift # 2 - FREE with Swagbucks
gift # 3 - FREE with Swagbucks
gift # 4

Kid # 3 Stocking Items

1- FREE with Swagbucks
2- FREE with Swagbucks

Kid # 4

gift # 1 - $ 28.94
gift # 2 - $ 3.00 + $19.99 =$22.99
gift # 3 - $ 14.00
gift # 4

Kid # 4 Stocking Items

1-$0.50 at a yard sale
2-$2.99 Hobby Lobby find

Kid # 5

gift # 1- $60
gift # 2 - $ 14.91
gift # 3 - $30.86
gift # 4

Kid # 5 Stocking Items

1-$2.99 -Hobby Lobby find
2-$9.99


Future Daughter In law

gift # 1 - Free
gift # 2 -$3
gift # 3
gift # 4

Mom - $12.98 +1.19 +1.99+0.52 =$16.68
Step dad - Free using my points from Mypoints
Family gift for nieces and nephew - Free
Sister
bro in law
Grandma - $12.98 +1.99+1.99+0.52=$17.48
Mother in law - $12.98 +1.99+1.99+0.52=$17.48
Father in law - Free using my points from Mypoints

Postage to mail Parent in laws gift

Roger

Jenna - $4

Game Gift  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Teacher gift for Kid # 5 -$2

5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Sold some of Kid # 5 out grown clothes for extra money

2.  Went on a very frugal lunch date with my hubby to the all you can eat drink, soup and salad for $5 place :)

3.  Bought Kid # 1 a Christmas present using my 30% off coupon from Kohl's

4. Planned, made a list and got the shopping all done for our menu for the next two weeks.  So far we are under budget!

5.  I made a Christmas ornament as a wedding present for a reception we attended of some friends. Post to follow about said present!  It was totally frugal though!

5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Found Kid # 1 a shirt at Goodwill for $3.49 to wear for his engagement pictures.

2. Finally got my peg board put up in the office/craft room and purchased the peg board hooks etc on sale at Harbor Freight for $5.99. 

3. Went to lunch with a friend that has all you can eat salad and soup for $5.  Not only was it a frugal lunch but also a great visit with a good friend!

4.  Had my BFF take Kid # 1 and FDIL's engagement pictures and she was nice enough to do it for FREE!!!

5.  Bought some clearanced candy to use for stockings at Christmas

What A Busy Week........

Ewe I am so glad it is Thursday!  This is the first day I have had to just stay home and not have much to do!  I have planned Stuffed Green Pepper soup for dinner tonight which will be perfect since it is cold and rainy here today.  I have a few loads of laundry I should get done but if I don't get to them it won't be a huge deal either.

We had a nice Halloween.  We did not have nearly as many trick or treaters as we have had in past years.  Kid # 1 and Future Daughter in law came over and hung out with me while Kid # 3 and her boyfriend took Kid # 5 trick or treating.  We also had Future Daughter in laws Sister's family over too.  So our Halloween candy did not go to waste even though we did not have many trick or treaters.

Tuesday, I took Kid # 1 and Future Daughter in law shopping around at all the local Goodwill's looking for some shirts for each of them to have their engagement pictures done in.  We found Kid # 1 a nice brown dress shirt right away.  Did not have any luck with FDIL's.  She ended up getting one at Gordman's.

Wednesday, I went with them to have their engagement pictures done.  One of my very best friends was nice enough to take their pictures for them and edit them all for FREE.  The pictures turned out wonderful and I am hoping that I get some for Christmas from the kids :)   Here is one of the shots taken and I love it!

My husband finally got his new shed put up and we have slowly been cleaning up and preparing the yard for winter.  Yes, I realize it is now the first week of November but we have had nice and fairly warm weather for this time of year here.  I am hoping we will have it done by the end of this weekend.  We actually made it to November 1st without turning on the heat!  I am so glad we made the investment to purchase new windows last yr!

I have to sit down and do my banking tonight.  I believe we will be able to completely pay off the credit card after I look over everything.  This is gonna stretch us alittle but I am willing to do that in order for it to be gone!  Then we will concentrate on finishing up our Christmas shopping.  Once that is completed we will put all our extra funds towards the car payment!

Hope you all are having a nice week!

Whats for dinner.........10/31 - 11/6

Little late with this post but oh well..........

Monday- Quesadilla w/ left over Spicy Chicken meat

Tuesday- Pizza Pasta Bake, Green Beans and Salad

Wednesday - Ribs, Baked Potato and Salad

Thursday- Stuffed Green Pepper Soup and Rolls

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Hawain Roll Sammies

Sunday - ???? undecided


Snackes - Halloween Candy :), Brownies, Popcorn, Cheese and Crackers

Today I have ............

1. Helped my hubby make a big batch of pizza sauce for tonight's homemade pizza and also to use for a different dinner later in the week.

2. Shredded a 2 lb block of mozzarella cheese for the same reason as above

3. Sliced black olives to use for the above mentioned dinners ( I have a post about this planned for my Tuesday tip )

4. Whipped up homemade pancake/waffle/french toast syrup because we were out.

5. Did several loads of laundry using my homemade laundry powder and dryer sheet.

5.  I still plan to make some granola to use for breakfast's before the day is over :)

Doing all of this saves me some money and also helps my week run more smoothly!  What have you all done today?