A Quick Update

I got my domain name back. It was harder than I thought it would be. But there are lots of things happening so I am looking forward to telling you all about them.

I have just passed my 2 year anniversary of being a Stay-At-Home-Mom. It has taken that long to get comfortable with my new identity. We now have a puppy, new carpeting (yes, poor planning) revised budgets, new schedules and I am learning to have more fun. It has been difficult too but things are definitely moving in the right direction.

I am trying to give myself more time to read too. I have a new book that I am enjoying: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. The only thing better than a really long good book is a series of really long good books - and this is a series. This should last me for a long while.




Stay tuned, I am looking forward to telling you all about the new stuff that is going on.

Oops!

If you found me....Hi! I am overly involved in my iPad and loving it. With all the excitement I forgot to renew my domain name so I am back to the old one. It may take a while to get the other one it back. Maybe I won't. I will just have to see if I can life without it.

I am managing to get most of my normal things done and telling myself I will be more productive now that I have a new toy. I have to justify this somehow right?

So here is this weeks project. I am pulling out my list of birthday's and events for Spring and early Summer. I am making a list of who gets gifts and who gets cards and starting on the shopping and card making. This is my busy time of year. Add in a few weddings and graduations and it can get overwhelming if I don't start a list.

Super Project Girl

I am super project girl today. My iPad comes on Saturday and I am so excited that I have a ton of nervous energy. I have things on my list to do and I figure I should get them done now so I have time to play when it comes.

I am sorting through all of my sons closes for summer. Pulling out what will work from last year and ordering what I need for this year.

I went though the linen closet and pulled out all the expired sun screen and replaced that. I also got some alergy medication for when alergy season hits.

Just pulled about 10 expired salad dressings from the cupboard. I love a sale on salad dressing and then I just don't use it. I make my own or I just buy too much! I also peaked through the pantry and did some straightening there too.

I found a box that will hold all of my food processor blades. They have been all over the drawer. It does look a lot neater and I assume it will be a lot safer too.

Two dinners made: one to eat and one to freeze.

Oh and several returns by mail got taken care of today too.

I hand washed a shirt that has been sitting in the laundery room for over a week.

I upgraded to iTunes 9 so I am ready when the pad comes....

Paid the credit card to aleviate some guilt.

Filled a couple dozzen Easter Eggs (um, well Emily did that for me - Thanks!)

There is a ton more to do so I had better get back to work!

All Done!

Well, I finished. I have all the money for my iPad!! After the envelopes were counted, the returns were made I found all the cash I needed.

You know, my Mom taught me how to do this. I didn't realize it until I was talking to her the other day. She used to save for couches and window treatments this way, I however seem to buy electronic toys. I know she occasionally reads my blog and is probably sick about the amount I am spending on this but oh well. I have a 5 year old and I am not going to buy a couch that he can wipe his sticky fingers on.

Five more days! I can't wait.

Change Jar to the Rescue!

OK - I am still on my iPad thing. I need money!! I could get $50 from my change jar right now. My husband and I have a change jar that we use for vacations but I am taking what is there for the iPad. Yes, it is selfish but I am going to do it anyway!

We put our change in the jar everynight and before a vacation we cash it in and use it for fun money. Fast food stops, magazines, souvineers and even gas. It is nice - that way the money we save for the trip actually goes just for the hotel and the tickets. We have a pretty big jar but if we are planning a big trip, we have been known to get a bigger jar.

Where else can I find some $$ around here?

I Have to Have an iPad!!!

If you have been reading this blog or know me at all, you know I pay with cash and I use an envelope system. Well, I sometimes have a stash for me. An envelope with a little extra from coupon savings, eBay sales, consignment store income.... just in case something really cool comes along then I have a little money set aside to get it. Well something REALLY cool has come along (at least I think so) - the iPad.

I just have to have one! I already placed my order and after getting the one I want and all the extras it will be $919 (horrible I know, I don't usually spend this kind of money on myself but I love my iPhone sooooo much that I just have to have this). Needless to say my "Kelly Envelope" did not have that much in it so I have had to find some more money. Let me tell you how it is going.

After a few weeks of eating from the freezer and cupboards I pulled together a couple hundred dollars. (Truly, my husband doesn't know the differnce and is happy when I get my toys that it doesn't show up on the credit card!) I like to shop sales and use coupons, I freeze the meet in packets, I get frozen veggies when they are on sale as well as my sons chicken nuggets and the ice cream pops too. Frozen pizzas are sometimes on sale for crazy low prises and I get those for Saturdays. So at the end of the week any money left over from the envelopes can go toward my iPad! I do this too when we are getting ready for a vacation, birthdays etc.

I do sell things on eBay and I take items that I think will be too difficult to pack and ship to the consignment store. My husband sells some of my handmade cards at his office. Those are the ways I get extra money.

OK so, I need $385 more before the iPads are released on April 3rd (I want to have it paid for before I actually get it). That is 11 days! So I am scrounging a little to come up with the balance. Today I got a check from the consigment store for $60, I returned aluminum cans for $9, as a Spring gift my husband and I gave ourselves massages - I am going to keep the money for mine instead, I did some random returns today of items that I really don't need to keep...$44.

Updated total now needed for my iPad is $202!

Spring Organizing

The weather changed this week into the low 70's!! Yea!! No Rain, no dreary mornings. It has been so pretty each day. It has given me a lot more energy.

I have been on an organizing tirade this week. The garage is has been getting a work over (thank you Emily for your help!!). And I was able to pull out an antique buffet to use in the dining area to store homework stuff for my son. It looks very pretty and you have no idea that there is homework necessities stored in there.

I also changed the hall closet over from Winter to Spring and cleaned out the laundry room. Things are starting to feel light and airy inside as well as outside.