Changes

Wow! I cant believe I went that long without updating this! Oops!

So many things have happened in the last three months.

1. Vegas.

Planning is going extremely well. I have a binder FULL of things. Its all color coordinated- really organized. I love it. I actually booked the trip last week. It only cost me $575. for three nights at the Stratosphere and airfare for us both. SOOO... that means I came in 25.00 under budget for that category! Woohoo!

I also budgeted $80.00 total to go to Coyote Ugly while we were there. I had read entrance would be about $20 for us both- BUT I got two tix on Ebay for only $1.00. Yeah. And I highly doubt we will need to spend no $79.00 on alcohol! So hopefully I'll be under budget there too!

2. Started a New Class

I got accepted into a new class at Purdue. Its for Clerical Staff and its PU's own degree called ACE 31. Ive been going to classes for two weeks now- and it's pretty interesting stuff. I like it! And everyone in there are all organized and crazy ppl like me! LOL.

3. Our cat ran away.

Yup. We had him about 5 years now and he up and left while we were in TN. No clue where he went- but he's been gone 3 weeks now- so we gave up hope on finding him :( We did go get a new lil Kitten today so that Rebel would have a new friend.

4. Coupons

I am at a crossroads. I dont know if I want to keep couponing or not. I feel like even though we use $20-$30 in coupons every week- that I should be able to do better- and Ive tried. Hard. I dont know.. I thought about taking a couple weeks or even months off and see how we do. IDK.

Well I decorated for fall today! So exciting. But now I have chores I have to finish up before dinner time.:)

Vegas Baby!

So after MUCH debate I have finally decided, thought through, made up a budget, and came up with an AMAZING plan to go to Las Vegas (again) next Spring! We went there in July of 07 for our Honeymoon and I fell in love with the place. There were SO MANY THINGS we wanted to see and didn't get to- and John said it would be several years before he went back ....but since he threw me an amazing Birthday this year and our second anniversary a few weeks from now isn't going to be lavish- I decided I am taking him next Spring (so its not TOO hot) to Vegas to see more things we didn't get to! I'm planning on keeping this a secret from him until maybe Xmas. It will be his Bday/Anniversary gift in one.

See I get an "allowance" of roughly $70 a week to do with what I want..so I sat down and made a budget and should be able to purchase the airfare and hotel package I'm eyeing in November for $600. I want to pay all expenses including food. I'm even looking at a show to take him to that I KNOW he will like, ecspecially being a guy and all! LOL! I haven't settled on whether I will do the two days or the three days yet. There is literally $33 difference for us to stay that extra night. So I don't know. It all depends on what all I plan for us to do there! This is SO EXCITING! I LOVE planning trips! He said no more trips til we get to build or remodel our new house- BUT- its my allowance and I can save quite well for something like this. I think he will be nicely surprised :)

I'm hoping to leave on a Sunday- and get back either Tuesday or Wednesday.

A1 Anyone?

$2/1 A.1. Steak Sauce coupon before the print limit was exceeded last week, it's been reset and you can print it here!

http://www.youtube.com/a1

Men's Clothing SEARS Deal

This is an EXCELLENT deal that I am sure Hubby and I will be taking advantage of this weekend. He's a mechanic who goes through work jeans like CRAZY- and usually has to pay full price per pair too. It can get expensive! Sears has this wonderful deal going on as we speak and I mentioned it to Hubby last night and he is pretty excited about it too!

Purchase $50 worth of men's pants or jeans from Sears by June 21, 2009, and you'll receive $50 in Sears Reward Cash. This Reward Cash can be used on any men's apparel in through the end of October.

Menu Plan Thursday!

I'm going to try to make every Thursday "Menu Plan Thursday." We've been trying to cut back on grocery shopping since we have been trying to save all of the money we can for bills lately! So after looking through the cupboards last night i figured we have a good week left of groceries AT LEAST! Although, it would be GREAT if we could go longer! (Last shopping trip I used $30 worth of coupons! It was AWESOME!)

Tonight:

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken

(Started marinating last night)

Green Beans

Friday:

Homestyle Bakes Lasagna

Garlic Bread with Cheese

Saturday:

Lunch only:

Chili Cheese Dogs

Homemade Fries

Dinner-

Out with friends for Dinner

Sunday:

Lunch only:

Sloppy Joes

Chips

Dinner with inlaws

Monday:

Breakfast Bake with Bacon and Cheese

Tuesday:

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Cheesy Biscuits

Wednesday:

Jumbalaya

Thursday:

Mini Meatloaves

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Revamping

I am refreshed and decided to revamp this blog! I really need to keep up with it- because there are so many things I save and then forget about! Hope you like the new look!

Yesterday I trudged through probably 30 blogs online and got SO MANY new ideas! I am so excited to try out all the new things I gathered up! Baking, recipes, crafting, Apron making. It REALLY inspired me to put together a binder- a "Household Bible." I love organization and crafting and trying new things, so I am really excited about my new project. I'm using THIS: (as inspiration.)

Is this not GENIUS and TOTALLY ADORABLE! I can't wait to start mine! I put a few projects into documents yesterday and prettied them up- but I need to remember to get some page protectors and a binder on my next grocery trip!

I was so inspired and full of energy when I got home from work yesterday that I swept and mopped the bathroom floor, cooked dinner and even prepped dinner for tonight- AND dusted my living room! I felt so motivated! Then I sat out at the fire with my hubby from about 8:30-10:15. It was so beautiful out!

Grocery Shopping Gone Wrong...

Usually I am a stickler at planning meals, grocery budgets, approximate costs and lists when I'm grocery shopping. SOMEHOW I made a short list of meals, made a list of groceries but didn't bother finding out how much it would cost! Bad deal. I ended up spending $150.00 on groceries yesterday! My mouth hit the ground when it came out to that AFTER coupons! SO.. here is my plan...

30 Days with no grocery shopping (besides milk) :)

I think if I work HARD and put my mind to it, I can do it. And that will be a huge savings for us! So today is day 2 officially.

Day 2...

Breakfast

John- Cereal
Me- Leftover Potatoes from dinner a couple nights ago

Lunch-

I did not bring my lunch today, so I will probably find something for a couple bucks to eat for lunch

John Im not sure about. He usually goes out (i know its bad)


We dont usually factor John's lunches into our budget because they are very random. I usually try to use leftovers for my own lunch- so they pretty much are factored in.

Dinner

tonight.... will be....

**Chicken Pot Pie**


So far so good!