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Jun 25, 2012    |       3 comments

A proud moment…

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13-year-old DS went to his first day of soccer camp today.  As he recapped for me how things went part of the conversation turned to how a lot of the kids at the camp have really expensive soccer shoes.  I could tell right away that this wasn’t being shared in an envious way but instead with shock.  I asked how much he was talkinga bout and he said one of the boys we know from the neighborhood was actually wearing a less expensive pair than most…and his were $220!  Now, what DS said next really made me chuckle but really showed that he is thinking about money–he said he asked this boy, “is that WITH or WITHOUT tax?!” and then shook his head in amazement!  He went on to share that with the way kids grow he can’t believe parents would spend that kind of money on shoes.  Hey!  Great thinking there!  He is our naturally frugal child BUT that can sometimes cross over to TOO frugal and we are working on teaching him what is okay to expect from others and what is not…

Now…a real food update.  We are still going strong!  So far we’ve been able to stay within the budget but that has been helped by not having all of the kids home all of the time.  For the last 2 weeks I’ve kept groceries at $150 or under (under $125 this past weekend).  What I am most struck by is that there are fewer things on the conveyer belt at the grocery store register…but the food goes so much farther.  I haven’t had enough time with the two youngest (my two from my previous marriage) to say that they are on board with the change.  They’ve spent time with out of town grandparents and then with their Dad and food rules are pretty lax during those visits.  The youngest and only girl is by far the pickiest of the group but this blog I am following has some great tips on how to get your kids to eat real food.  I continue to be amazed by my energy levels and that I am not having dips in energy throughout the day.  I am sleeping better and am better able to focus.  I have lost 2.5 lbs and although I only want to lose 8-10 lbs, I am pleased to see tangible results.

I continute to coupon on houshold items but we still haven’t bought paper towels!  I feel these changes really taking root.

Jun 24, 2012    |       7 comments

All cleaning…no cooking

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Well…I shouldn’t say NO cooking b/c Steve and I did eat all real food meals from home Saturday and Sunday…but there was no “prep cooking” for the week.  I am once again met with the usual dilemma of getting a LOT done in one area but then another area suffers.  Flylady is not soaring high here although things are under at least SOME control.  We spent our Sunday cleaning this house!  It was so much work and we are very, very tired but I must say that the house looks and smells great!   That poor new vacuum was really put to the test today.  It did a great job!

So, that’s my frustration today–feeling like I can excel in one area and really get things done and in order….but then another area gets nothing done.  I want to find more balance because I know how much easier life can be when we live by a schedule and plan.  I probably need to just give myself a break and remember this is truly the busiest time of life for us and I am doing a lot of things well.

On a fun note, I did visit the resale shop where I had taken some of DD’s clothing awhile back.  I was fighting a slight retail craving so I remembered the good advice I got here about going cheap if I MUST shop.  While  it certainly wasn’t a “must” I did get an email from the shop about a one day sale–40% off of all clothing and shoes.  This is primarily a kids’ clothing resale shop so I was more than surprised to find a very random Ann Taylor dress in my size!  Ah Ann Taylor!  Oh how I love Ann Taylor!  No surprise that she is my only retail debt (not patting myself on the back there…just pointing out that I knew not to do retail but that rule didn’t apply to my beloved Ann).  With the discount the dress was $7.20 and I had a store credit of $7.80.  That gave me another little shot in the arm…and not b/c of the dress itself although I do really like it…but instead because I didn’t spend any money on it!

 

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