I wish I was there...
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
How hard it is to find a good purse...
In light of a category 5 hurricane barreling down the Gulf toward our general vicinity, this seems trivial but my subject is purses. It is so, so, so hard to find a good purse. They need to be the right size, color, material, print, shoulder length, pockets, no pockets, style! It is to much! I have looked for quite some time and I just have been unable to find the perfect purse! So I found one at a Fossil store, located here..........................................
but it is 148.00 dollars and I know and understand about quality and how long it will last blah, blah, blah I just do not have 148.00 dollars
but it is 148.00 dollars and I know and understand about quality and how long it will last blah, blah, blah I just do not have 148.00 dollars
so I found this at Target for 22.99!. It isn't leather of course but it fits the bill pretty well! So I got it and I am very excited
about it!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Menu Monday...
I got a postcard from Kroger's it was for beef lettuce wraps. I made them the other night and my dad and daughter really liked them a lot. It was very simple to make.
ground beef 1lb
hoisin sauce 1/2 cup
peanut sauce 1/2 sauce
You cook the ground beef, than add the mix of sauce.
You put about 2 tbs of the mixture on a lettuce leaf and add one slice of cucumber.
It is delicious!
ground beef 1lb
hoisin sauce 1/2 cup
peanut sauce 1/2 sauce
You cook the ground beef, than add the mix of sauce.
You put about 2 tbs of the mixture on a lettuce leaf and add one slice of cucumber.
It is delicious!
I am going to add shredded carrots, bean sprouts and maybe a few chow mein noodles for crunch. Yum Yum.
Just to keep giving this recipe away on the up and up, I am putting a link to Kroger's website which has a TON of recipe's by the way!
Just to keep giving this recipe away on the up and up, I am putting a link to Kroger's website which has a TON of recipe's by the way!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Cousin Circus Night...
We chose not to spend the money to all go to the circus this year, but we decided to have a cousin circus night! I ordered the Ringling Brother's Circus DVD and we got cotton candy, had clown noses, ate sausage on a stick, the kids did color circus pages, wore funny wigs and had a few games! They had a great time!!!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wants and Needs
Okay, Brenda from the Family Revised posted the other day and a few commenter's were like I should post my thoughts on that too! So Brenda set up Mr. Linki so here is my post to link to Brenda's posting!
I feel like in this day and age those things get so intertwined and swirled into one large untrue, greedy lump! Wants and Needs are two very different things, VERY different. I need food, but I need a healthy balanced diet or fruits, veggies, meats, dairy and grains. I do not need Rema Noodle soup everyday or to learn to exist on hot dogs out of necessity because of finances. We might get to that place (we have many times!) but truly the NEED in the food area consist of the healthy food groups! I need shelter, but I do not need a 2500sq foot house with a double garage, a swimming pool and a massively built in surround sound system? I need a roof over my head, I need "enough" room for everyone to be mildly comfortable and a clean atmosphere (this includes a safe atmosphere as well) and I need to be able to make the mortgage payment without putting everything else I "need" on a credit card. I need transportation (let me clarify) the breadwinner of the home needs transportation (MOMMY could stay home), I don't need to be a two car household. I need a phone ( I believe with children and being home that this is a need for safety reasons -just lay off the call waiting and long distance and extras they throw in. I do not Need a cell phone (It is a wonderful thing to have but there are cheaper ways to go about it if you feel this is a need). I need clothes (trust me, you don't want to see me in the birthday suit!) but I can shop wisely and not spend very much or have less items and just in general be wise about it.
So Needs and Wants are sometimes squeezed until they look like one! This is not true. My kids have of course wanted things. But I don't think they are like most children (in this I have been blessed greatly). Of course selfishness rears it's ugly head and we deal. WE teach them to save up for, or to work for it or just plain forget about it that because "that is so not happening". Whatever the situation calls for!
I on the other hand I am the problem in our family. I love to buy things, I think nothing of it sometimes, I plan a budget and go over it a million times, sometimes there is of course a reason (an actual need arose) but mostly it is just plain ol' me! I do stick to the budget a lot of time (lest you think me completely irresponsible and I might add we pay in cash 100% for everything)
Brenda talked about perspective and it is true. We don't want things until we know they exist sometimes! Isn't that like saying the place you found something is the last place you looked??? DUH. Of course we wouldn't want it till we knew it existed so how do combat this? How do we not want after we see? How do we stop the "Gimmies"???
I think number one, we shop less! Number 2 we memorize self control verses and teach them to our children and out of our heart will come self control verses reminding us whether or not we NEED that item. Finally number 3 I think we allow our self the once want every once in a while because we are allowed to enjoy our self and we are allowed to have fun and as long as our heart is right and our pocketbook allows buying something you want every once in awhile shouldn't hurt anyone!
But there are times and seasons for everything. There have been seasons that we lived on rema noodle soup and the phone was turned off, and we didtn buy anything, and we didn't go on vacation and we didn't do much of anything. But we Made it! We didn't die! We did hurt our self. We survived and we will again- whatever God sends our way we can survive it because He gives up strength and wisdom to do so.
I just have to listen to his Voice, I have stated I need to do that more right!
Thanks Brenda for bringing up this subject, it puts me in the frame of mind that I should be in, remembering need not want! I really needed that!
I feel like in this day and age those things get so intertwined and swirled into one large untrue, greedy lump! Wants and Needs are two very different things, VERY different. I need food, but I need a healthy balanced diet or fruits, veggies, meats, dairy and grains. I do not need Rema Noodle soup everyday or to learn to exist on hot dogs out of necessity because of finances. We might get to that place (we have many times!) but truly the NEED in the food area consist of the healthy food groups! I need shelter, but I do not need a 2500sq foot house with a double garage, a swimming pool and a massively built in surround sound system? I need a roof over my head, I need "enough" room for everyone to be mildly comfortable and a clean atmosphere (this includes a safe atmosphere as well) and I need to be able to make the mortgage payment without putting everything else I "need" on a credit card. I need transportation (let me clarify) the breadwinner of the home needs transportation (MOMMY could stay home), I don't need to be a two car household. I need a phone ( I believe with children and being home that this is a need for safety reasons -just lay off the call waiting and long distance and extras they throw in. I do not Need a cell phone (It is a wonderful thing to have but there are cheaper ways to go about it if you feel this is a need). I need clothes (trust me, you don't want to see me in the birthday suit!) but I can shop wisely and not spend very much or have less items and just in general be wise about it.
So Needs and Wants are sometimes squeezed until they look like one! This is not true. My kids have of course wanted things. But I don't think they are like most children (in this I have been blessed greatly). Of course selfishness rears it's ugly head and we deal. WE teach them to save up for, or to work for it or just plain forget about it that because "that is so not happening". Whatever the situation calls for!
I on the other hand I am the problem in our family. I love to buy things, I think nothing of it sometimes, I plan a budget and go over it a million times, sometimes there is of course a reason (an actual need arose) but mostly it is just plain ol' me! I do stick to the budget a lot of time (lest you think me completely irresponsible and I might add we pay in cash 100% for everything)
Brenda talked about perspective and it is true. We don't want things until we know they exist sometimes! Isn't that like saying the place you found something is the last place you looked??? DUH. Of course we wouldn't want it till we knew it existed so how do combat this? How do we not want after we see? How do we stop the "Gimmies"???
I think number one, we shop less! Number 2 we memorize self control verses and teach them to our children and out of our heart will come self control verses reminding us whether or not we NEED that item. Finally number 3 I think we allow our self the once want every once in a while because we are allowed to enjoy our self and we are allowed to have fun and as long as our heart is right and our pocketbook allows buying something you want every once in awhile shouldn't hurt anyone!
But there are times and seasons for everything. There have been seasons that we lived on rema noodle soup and the phone was turned off, and we didtn buy anything, and we didn't go on vacation and we didn't do much of anything. But we Made it! We didn't die! We did hurt our self. We survived and we will again- whatever God sends our way we can survive it because He gives up strength and wisdom to do so.
I just have to listen to his Voice, I have stated I need to do that more right!
Thanks Brenda for bringing up this subject, it puts me in the frame of mind that I should be in, remembering need not want! I really needed that!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Belated Blog Anniversary...
I missed my 100th post, I am so sad. I am officially belatedly celebrating my 100th post! Thank you readers, I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy posting on it!!!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Personal Status Update...
Physical: The family as a whole is supposed to be eating healthier! Well we are a little and in our world that is big! I believe it is an every little bit helps situation! We are having Brazilian Skirt steak and baked potatoes for dinner. Sounds expressive but at last it isn't! I am determined to at least one day this week make it to the YMCA- hey once is good. I will go from there! I went up and down the stairs 14 times just so far today. That is more than usually, I just didn't ask the kids to get something for me, I got it myself.
Educational: We are finished with school today although we got a very minimal amount done, we might do some this evening. Kate has art today for the first time. They are doing realistic pet sketches. She took pictures of a a parrot and a Chihuahua. She didn't know what she would want to draw when the time came. We did our Bible and we are doing the New Testament but we are working our way very basically through Old Testament stories showing how God promised us a Savior. So today was David so for copy work we did Psalm 23. I did a very simple translation only half the verse, they will finish it tomorrow. Than on Wed and Thursday I am going to have them copy New King James version and we will discuss! We started our Olympic unit today and that is all the School work done today! That is seriously minimal!!!!!!!!!!!
House: I guess all is good, we borrowed a steam cleaner from a friend and it helped a lot. It isnt perfect but you can definitely notice that some stains are gone and some stains are lighter! It was worth doing. I got some frames on sale at Michaels and I have great plans to do another picture montage on my wall. We have to work on cleaning out the storage and attic this month or the beginning of next month and than we are having a garage sale! Yuck but neccesary!
Financial: We blessed. It is hard to remember that when we "WANT". I can decide to be frugal, we can give up extras, eat out less (a lot less), drive less, do less, have less...We are still blessed. If we don't have the vacation, or the extra spending money, or a new car...we are blessed. We have health, we have a roof over our home, we have a car that gets us where we need to go, we have food, we have extras, we have our needs met. The rest is gravy. Oh but homemade gravy cuz I can make it cheaper than buying a mix!
Spiritual: God is waiting for me to listen. I really just am not good at that. I need to be quiet. I have nothing else to say but once I have been quiet and get my answer I will let you know.
Family: my family is good. Healthy and Happy! We have my other sister and my niece and nephew coming in August for a 10 day visit. It will be fun and I cannot wait to see them! My Grandpa is turning 90 in September and we are throwing him a party. Emily is changing Gymnastics, more on that in another post! Matt wants to start swim team ( we are discussing the possibility), I am trying to think of other updates but cannot think! Hope I didn't miss anything important!
How are things in your world? Join me for a Status Update! Just leave me a comment and I'll go check yours out on your blog! Or, leave it in the comments!
Educational: We are finished with school today although we got a very minimal amount done, we might do some this evening. Kate has art today for the first time. They are doing realistic pet sketches. She took pictures of a a parrot and a Chihuahua. She didn't know what she would want to draw when the time came. We did our Bible and we are doing the New Testament but we are working our way very basically through Old Testament stories showing how God promised us a Savior. So today was David so for copy work we did Psalm 23. I did a very simple translation only half the verse, they will finish it tomorrow. Than on Wed and Thursday I am going to have them copy New King James version and we will discuss! We started our Olympic unit today and that is all the School work done today! That is seriously minimal!!!!!!!!!!!
House: I guess all is good, we borrowed a steam cleaner from a friend and it helped a lot. It isnt perfect but you can definitely notice that some stains are gone and some stains are lighter! It was worth doing. I got some frames on sale at Michaels and I have great plans to do another picture montage on my wall. We have to work on cleaning out the storage and attic this month or the beginning of next month and than we are having a garage sale! Yuck but neccesary!
Financial: We blessed. It is hard to remember that when we "WANT". I can decide to be frugal, we can give up extras, eat out less (a lot less), drive less, do less, have less...We are still blessed. If we don't have the vacation, or the extra spending money, or a new car...we are blessed. We have health, we have a roof over our home, we have a car that gets us where we need to go, we have food, we have extras, we have our needs met. The rest is gravy. Oh but homemade gravy cuz I can make it cheaper than buying a mix!
Spiritual: God is waiting for me to listen. I really just am not good at that. I need to be quiet. I have nothing else to say but once I have been quiet and get my answer I will let you know.
Family: my family is good. Healthy and Happy! We have my other sister and my niece and nephew coming in August for a 10 day visit. It will be fun and I cannot wait to see them! My Grandpa is turning 90 in September and we are throwing him a party. Emily is changing Gymnastics, more on that in another post! Matt wants to start swim team ( we are discussing the possibility), I am trying to think of other updates but cannot think! Hope I didn't miss anything important!
How are things in your world? Join me for a Status Update! Just leave me a comment and I'll go check yours out on your blog! Or, leave it in the comments!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Butterfly Release...
We released the butterflies today, we kept waiting and waiting- they could not be released in the rain you know! We went outside and Kaitlin tried to get them to land on her finger. She finally did it and was so excited to handle a butterfly!
My camera was foggy from the heat! I was so bummed the picture did not turn out better but what can you do!
Emily really, really wanted one to land on her to but it was a no go!
This butterfly landed on a nearby plant and stayed for quite a while. Kate left some fruit outside to tempt him to stay forever. I personally think he will fly off to see the world! We will see in the morning!
A Butterfly Hovers Closely
A butterfly hovers closelyAnd then quickly moves away,Swiftly going where so everHer heart may freely say.A butterfly lowers and risesWith the winds's gusty breath,As if coupled within a danceOf a loving tenderness.The butterfly only knowsHow it feels to have wings,To kiss the petals of flowersIn such elegant flitterings.To have but one momentOf such an exquisite flight,Would be like a dreamWhere all seems so right.Author Unknown
My camera was foggy from the heat! I was so bummed the picture did not turn out better but what can you do!
Emily really, really wanted one to land on her to but it was a no go!
This butterfly landed on a nearby plant and stayed for quite a while. Kate left some fruit outside to tempt him to stay forever. I personally think he will fly off to see the world! We will see in the morning!
To be frugal or not to be...
That is my question for the day. As I look at a dwindling bank account, which everyone I know has one. See if this scenario fits your world. The shining day, the beacon of light (cash) that streams into your checking account balance, and moves the number (out of the red :)) into black. An impressive black number that has no idea what is about to happen. The computer screen turns on and that beacon of light is slowly filtered away, sent on an never to seen from again journey through cyberspace to places with name like YMCA, StateFarm Insurance, United Healthcare, piano classes, art classes, Krogers, Chevron, EZ Tag, Target and of course the big giant Reliant Energy! Familiar story???
Every two weeks I see the same thing happen... so I asked myself! (drum roll) How can I Carrie Thompson, wife of hard worker Dave Thompson be more frugal? So I turn to the Internet, I type in Frugal living... I see squash and my hopes plummet. Is squash my only means of being frugal? Oh wait, it is only a recipe to cook your squash! Okay, Carrie keep reading, so I scroll down the page. A FRUGAL CHALLENGE... these words are exciting, I like a challenge. So I click on it and the challenge is... maintain your house! The premise being if you take
care of your stuff
it will last longer! I know that but I want short term frugal living ideas, not if I clean the vent to my dryer it will last me longer. So I keep reading (after reminding myself and DH that the air conditioning vents to need to be changed- it said so on my calender a month ago!)
Reading more, reading more all stupid ideas. Yes I understand if I grow my own squash (yes it some home wound up being about squash again!) It will cost me less and I will save money. Plus I will make money off my book entitled 1001 to use squash! Yeah good idea ( will work on later!) Okay, so all the ideas seem to me long term. I understand that if I grow cotton, next to the squash) I can pick the cotton and make it into cloth and than I can sew my own clothes! But I am not going to do that! I understand that if I attach a hose to my washer with a bucket behind it that I can capture my own water source ( go green!!!reuse water!) and use that to water my garden ( did you get I am back to squash) but I am not going to do that.
So what is a girl to do... I guess all I can do is get used to squash???
What do you do???
Every two weeks I see the same thing happen... so I asked myself! (drum roll) How can I Carrie Thompson, wife of hard worker Dave Thompson be more frugal? So I turn to the Internet, I type in Frugal living... I see squash and my hopes plummet. Is squash my only means of being frugal? Oh wait, it is only a recipe to cook your squash! Okay, Carrie keep reading, so I scroll down the page. A FRUGAL CHALLENGE... these words are exciting, I like a challenge. So I click on it and the challenge is... maintain your house! The premise being if you take
care of your stuffit will last longer! I know that but I want short term frugal living ideas, not if I clean the vent to my dryer it will last me longer. So I keep reading (after reminding myself and DH that the air conditioning vents to need to be changed- it said so on my calender a month ago!)
Reading more, reading more all stupid ideas. Yes I understand if I grow my own squash (yes it some home wound up being about squash again!) It will cost me less and I will save money. Plus I will make money off my book entitled 1001 to use squash! Yeah good idea ( will work on later!) Okay, so all the ideas seem to me long term. I understand that if I grow cotton, next to the squash) I can pick the cotton and make it into cloth and than I can sew my own clothes! But I am not going to do that! I understand that if I attach a hose to my washer with a bucket behind it that I can capture my own water source ( go green!!!reuse water!) and use that to water my garden ( did you get I am back to squash) but I am not going to do that.
So what is a girl to do... I guess all I can do is get used to squash???
What do you do???
Saturday, August 16, 2008
How can Death live so close to Life
I was amazed when I saw this. These trees were like 10 feet apart, one is full of life and one is obviously dying. How can this happen? It is the same soil, the same air, the same rainwater, the same sun and the same type of tree. I guess it possibly got struck by lighting but it doesn't really look like it besides the branch breakage? So why is one living and one dying?
I heart half price books!!!!
So me and the fam went to Half Price Books today! I just love that store! Sometimes things are over priced but usually I feel like I am getting a good deal- not thrift store deal or garage sale deal but "I can walk into the store and it is alphabetically listed by authors so I can find the book" deal! So I went with my reading list for the year and the list of books I had on my wish list on Amazon and CBD online and started the treasure hunt. DH didn't hunt he just stood there with his arms open to catch my "finds" and smiled at me and my giddiness! He loves me!
So anyway, I am happy with my purchases and my amazon and CBD catalog order went down about 70 dollars! I will do the whole THE HOME SCHOOL STORE (for those unaware The Home school Store has an amazing used section and it rocks. You must go ready to hunt but I usually end up feeling like I won a battle!) thing, than I place the orders online. I might move the two order lists to Rainbow Resources since there are two thing I want there also and I would have only one shipping cost, I will put my trusty ol' calculator to work and crunch some numbers and go with the cheapest route. My determination to buy books is that I am incapable of using the public library system. I personally keep my entire cities library running with my late fee charges. So I am taking that stress out of my life and ordering the books! I wont have to worry about getting them when I want, or how long I keep them! I cannot order all my books this way but I plan to do what I can! I saved money on some other home schooling aspects so I am using that fundage to pay for my books, plus trying to get them as economically as I can!!!
So anyway, I am happy with my purchases and my amazon and CBD catalog order went down about 70 dollars! I will do the whole THE HOME SCHOOL STORE (for those unaware The Home school Store has an amazing used section and it rocks. You must go ready to hunt but I usually end up feeling like I won a battle!) thing, than I place the orders online. I might move the two order lists to Rainbow Resources since there are two thing I want there also and I would have only one shipping cost, I will put my trusty ol' calculator to work and crunch some numbers and go with the cheapest route. My determination to buy books is that I am incapable of using the public library system. I personally keep my entire cities library running with my late fee charges. So I am taking that stress out of my life and ordering the books! I wont have to worry about getting them when I want, or how long I keep them! I cannot order all my books this way but I plan to do what I can! I saved money on some other home schooling aspects so I am using that fundage to pay for my books, plus trying to get them as economically as I can!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
We have butterflies!!!
Yesterday all 5 butterflies were "hatched", is that the right word???
Kaitlin noticed 3 when when she woke up, one during our school work time and one when we got home from a meeting. We fed them their sugar water and Kaitlin also gave them some fresh watermelon at lunch! I just found this whole process facsinating! It was really, really cool and moms who have not done this with thier children please make it a point to! It is so cool! I loved it! I think we might do lady bugs next. We will have a butterfly release party on Sunday.
Kaitlin noticed 3 when when she woke up, one during our school work time and one when we got home from a meeting. We fed them their sugar water and Kaitlin also gave them some fresh watermelon at lunch! I just found this whole process facsinating! It was really, really cool and moms who have not done this with thier children please make it a point to! It is so cool! I loved it! I think we might do lady bugs next. We will have a butterfly release party on Sunday.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Some questions for me...
What were you doing at 11:00 AM?
I was doing school with the kids
Do you have a friend that you talk to 24/7?
Um do you mean my online, blog friends that I communicate via blogs with???
Are you ticklish?
I refuse to allow tickleing, it makes me feel physically sick!
How is your hair?
shorter than it was two days ago, but not as short as I usually keep it, dirty blond becasue I seriously need some highlights!
How's your life?
Usually good, everyone has ups and downs but we are safe, healthy and our needs are met.
What do you spend most of your money on?
Unfortunately not everything I should but I am working on it!
How long does it take for you to take a shower?
10 minutes.
Do you have plans today?
I have school with kids, a daunting laundry pile and an American Heritage Girls planning meeting at one.
What did you do Saturday?
We went to the Animal Planet expo, it was great.
Would you make a good parent?
I am already a parent, so I guess I can only hope for the best.
Morning or night person?
I prefer to stay up late but I get up early when I have to!
What were you doing an hour ago?
I was supposed to change my laundry over but havent gotten back to it yet, I keep telling Kaitlin to turn it back so it will keep fluffing!
Where were you friday night?
We went out to dinner and than had a family game night!
Send me your answers to my questions...
I was doing school with the kids
Do you have a friend that you talk to 24/7?
Um do you mean my online, blog friends that I communicate via blogs with???
Are you ticklish?
I refuse to allow tickleing, it makes me feel physically sick!
How is your hair?
shorter than it was two days ago, but not as short as I usually keep it, dirty blond becasue I seriously need some highlights!
How's your life?
Usually good, everyone has ups and downs but we are safe, healthy and our needs are met.
What do you spend most of your money on?
Unfortunately not everything I should but I am working on it!
How long does it take for you to take a shower?
10 minutes.
Do you have plans today?
I have school with kids, a daunting laundry pile and an American Heritage Girls planning meeting at one.
What did you do Saturday?
We went to the Animal Planet expo, it was great.
Would you make a good parent?
I am already a parent, so I guess I can only hope for the best.
Morning or night person?
I prefer to stay up late but I get up early when I have to!
What were you doing an hour ago?
I was supposed to change my laundry over but havent gotten back to it yet, I keep telling Kaitlin to turn it back so it will keep fluffing!
Where were you friday night?
We went out to dinner and than had a family game night!
Send me your answers to my questions...
Monday, August 11, 2008
Week in Review
Well I did school last week, we got all the main stuff done! Today however, we rocked. The kids did homemaking, they made zucchini bread. We did math (checked Friday's math and fixed any problems) and Math lessons for today, spelling test for Matt and Kate, Kate did level three FLL which was Plural nouns and singular nouns. Matt and Emily did Explode the Code. Emily rocked it by really doing 4 sheets by herself after I'd given her instruction! It was great. Kate did copywork from last week and than Matt and Kate did copywork for FLL. Matt read a story to Emily, which went well today for the first time! Emily did puzzles while I worked with the other two! We did Bible and read a story from Shakespeare. We also watched a few Shakespeare plays on Youtube, some were WEIRD! BTW did you know Animaniacs does a Hamlet and a Midsummer Nights Dream. They are weird but funny. We swam after lunch for PE and are having quiet time right now. It was a very productive day!!! Yeah!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Our day with Animal Planet...
Yesterday we went to Animal Planet Expo. It was so much fun! We had invited some friends of ours and besides the heat we had a great time. The entire event was free, there were giveaways, games, big ol' jumpin' things! The kids got to see reptiles, take pictures with cardboard Jeff Corwin and a tiger, and slide down a crocodile's mouth! Here are some shots of our day!
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