When the kids were little, Tom started the Saturday "Date with Dad" tradition. Each Saturday morning, he takes one child to the restaurant of his/her choice for breakfast, just the 2 of them. This has become a great tradition, with all looking forward to when his/her "date" will be.
Some of the places the kids have picked for "Date with Dad"...
Krispy Kreme
Dunkin' Donuts
Chick-Fil-A
Flying Biscuit
Silver Skillet
Waffle House
The Olde Hickory House
IHOP
The Bagel Palace
Occasionally if a Grandmother is in town, the date will include Grandma. Occasionally a sibling might join in. Ocasionally "Date with Dad" will be "Golf with Dad."
I tried to start the tradition of "Movie with Mom," but it just didn't seem to work out.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Friday- Pizza Night
One of the things about living on a budget at our house is dining out is an occasional thing; we just don't dine out as often any more. In the beginning of "the budget" this was quite difficult for me! I can't tell you how often I just didn't feel like cooking...now I'd rather (usually) cook at home than eat out.
In March 2011, I stumbled across a Pizza Dough recipe in the Food Network Magazine (my friend, Laura, gave me a subscription as a present! Great idea!) Just about every Friday since, we have pizza night. This dough is super easy to make. My oven has a "proof" setting, so the dough rises easily. I typically have shredded cheese in the freezer from when I buy it on sale, and I have cans of petite diced tomatoes in the pantry. I do have to get started making the dough around 5PM to give it enough time to rise, but that usually fits into our routine.
Pizza Dough:
Whisk 3 3/4 cups flour and 1 !/2 teaspoons salt. Make a well and add 1 1/3 cups warm water, 1 Tablespoon sugar and 1 packet yeast. When foamy, mix in 2 Tablespoons olive oil; knead until smooth, 5 minutes. Brush with olive oil, cover in a bowl and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Divide into two 1-pound balls. Use 1 pound per pie.
How to make a pizza:
Step 1: Place a pizza stone (I have a pizza stone. It lives in the lower oven.) or an inverted baking sheet on the lowest oven rack and preheat to 500 degrees.
Step 2: Stretch 1 pound of dough on a floured pizza peel, large wooden cutting board or parchment paper. (I use parchment paper...this changed my pizza making life!)
Step 3: Top as desired, then slide the pizza (with the parchment paper, if using) onto the stone or baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes.
Our Favorite Pizza? Onion!!
This is Vidalia Onion season in Georgia, and we love them on our pizza. This is what I do...
On parchment paper, I stretch out 1 pound of dough.
I then spread one can of petite diced tomatoes over the pizza. I sprinkle the tomatoes with kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, drizzle with olive oil and toss on some dried oregano.
Next I sprinkle on shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz. or so).
Slice vidalia onions thinly and layer on the cheese. Drizzle with more olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and more oregano.
Bake as directed above.
My kids love this one!
In March 2011, I stumbled across a Pizza Dough recipe in the Food Network Magazine (my friend, Laura, gave me a subscription as a present! Great idea!) Just about every Friday since, we have pizza night. This dough is super easy to make. My oven has a "proof" setting, so the dough rises easily. I typically have shredded cheese in the freezer from when I buy it on sale, and I have cans of petite diced tomatoes in the pantry. I do have to get started making the dough around 5PM to give it enough time to rise, but that usually fits into our routine.
Pizza Dough:
Whisk 3 3/4 cups flour and 1 !/2 teaspoons salt. Make a well and add 1 1/3 cups warm water, 1 Tablespoon sugar and 1 packet yeast. When foamy, mix in 2 Tablespoons olive oil; knead until smooth, 5 minutes. Brush with olive oil, cover in a bowl and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Divide into two 1-pound balls. Use 1 pound per pie.
How to make a pizza:
Step 1: Place a pizza stone (I have a pizza stone. It lives in the lower oven.) or an inverted baking sheet on the lowest oven rack and preheat to 500 degrees.
Step 2: Stretch 1 pound of dough on a floured pizza peel, large wooden cutting board or parchment paper. (I use parchment paper...this changed my pizza making life!)
Step 3: Top as desired, then slide the pizza (with the parchment paper, if using) onto the stone or baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes.
Our Favorite Pizza? Onion!!
This is Vidalia Onion season in Georgia, and we love them on our pizza. This is what I do...
On parchment paper, I stretch out 1 pound of dough.
I then spread one can of petite diced tomatoes over the pizza. I sprinkle the tomatoes with kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, drizzle with olive oil and toss on some dried oregano.
Next I sprinkle on shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz. or so).
Slice vidalia onions thinly and layer on the cheese. Drizzle with more olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and more oregano.
Bake as directed above.
My kids love this one!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Being a BzzAgent
What is BzzAgent Anyway?
Started in 2001, BzzAgent is the leading social marketing company. Viral marketing, buzz marketing, social media marketing ... whatever you call it, we help people find, try and share cool products, brands and websites. It’s really as simple as that!I became a BzzAgent (go to www.bzzagent.com) a couple of months ago. I filled out a few surveys and now I'm working on some campaigns.
Currently, I'm trying out some...COVERGIRL NatureLuxe.
(Luxury make-up made with carefully-chosen natural ingredients for flawless coverage and light-as-air-feel — now that's luxury touched by nature!) The BzzAgent folks sent me a regular size thing of foundation and lipstick to try out. I've really liked both so far. They have sunscreen! They match my skin tone (I picked the color from on-line swatches....) Longlasting...
Well now, I'm waiting for TRESemmé® Color Revitalize.
(Shampoo and Conditioner that Protects vivid, salon-fresh color for up to 40 washes*)
I'll let you know all about it soon.
Anyone can sign up to be a BzzAgent. Give it a try.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Envelopes
Part of going on our budget beginning in 2003 was (and still is) "the envelopes." With certain categories within the budget, I actually get cash and put in envelopes. The envelopes are regular all-purpose no. 6 3/4 size from the drugstore. I replenish the money in the envelopes twice a month. It is amazing how using cash curbs your spending.
My friend Mike asked, "Does one of your envelopes have a credit card in it?" I only use credit cards for gasoline (pay at the pump!!) and on-line purchases.
When the envelope is empty, no more spending in that category, however, I am flexible and will borrow from another envelope if needed and if there's money to spare there!!
I know that Dave Ramsey has a lot to say on this topic. Total Money Makevoer
One of the most important parts of our budget is our "walking around money." Tom and I have money (an allowance) that we use for whatever we want, when we want, where we want...
Here is the breakdown of the envelopes we use:
My friend Mike asked, "Does one of your envelopes have a credit card in it?" I only use credit cards for gasoline (pay at the pump!!) and on-line purchases.
When the envelope is empty, no more spending in that category, however, I am flexible and will borrow from another envelope if needed and if there's money to spare there!!
I know that Dave Ramsey has a lot to say on this topic. Total Money Makevoer
One of the most important parts of our budget is our "walking around money." Tom and I have money (an allowance) that we use for whatever we want, when we want, where we want...
Here is the breakdown of the envelopes we use:
| Envelope Money for the 1st of the Month |
| Tom-"walking around $" |
| Marcy-"walking around $" |
| Kids |
| Med |
| Dining Out |
| Target |
| housekeeper |
| date w/dad |
| Groceries |
| Envelope Money for the 15th of the Month |
| 10 yr old trip |
| Auto |
| Dry Cleaning |
| Clothing/Shoes |
| Sports |
| Kids |
| Med |
| Date Night |
| Recreation |
| Christmas |
| Gifts |
| Haircuts |
| Postage/Parking |
| Film/Dev |
| Household/Yard |
| Pest |
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Living on a Budget
In 2003, Tom and I went on a real budget. I had been keeping track of our expenses since we'd been married: I had an idea about what we were spending, but we did not have a real budget, assigning every dollar to a category each month. Being on a budget put us (Tom and me) on the "same page." We had an answer to ,"Where does all our money go to each month?!"
Here are the categories we use to figure our our budget:
What's left over goes to savings.
Here are the categories we use to figure our our budget:
| Pay |
| Tithe |
| Allied Home Insurance |
| NWML- Life and Disability |
| USAA- Insurance rider |
| Allied Auto Insurance |
| Mortgage |
| Additional Mortgage |
| Scana Gas |
| Taxes—DeKalb Co. |
| College Savings |
| New Car |
| TV/phone/Internet |
| Cell |
| Electricity |
| Termites |
| Water |
| Car |
| Date Night |
| Clothes/Shoes |
| Date with Dad |
| Dining Out |
| Dry Cleaning |
| Film/Dev |
| Furniture |
| HsHold/Yard |
| HsHold repairs |
| King Green |
| Gasoline |
| Gifts |
| Giving above tithe |
| Grocery |
| School Lunch |
| School PTA/Misc |
| Haircuts |
| Kids |
| Marcy Misc. |
| Marta |
| Med |
| Newspapers |
| Ortho |
| Pest |
| Pool |
| Postage/Parking |
| Recreation |
| Vacation/camps |
| Washington, DC |
| Caroline's 10 yr old trip |
| Extracurricular/sports |
| Philmont |
| Soccer |
| Target |
| Tax Prep |
| Tom Misc |
| school fees/books |
| Xmas |
| Housekeeper |
What's left over goes to savings.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Working Out
If you haven't incorporated exercise into your daily routine, you really should. (preach, preach, preach)
I've always enjoyed getting out and exercising. I was always a member of an exercise place before having children. Not any more, it costs too much money. Now it is a good thing my friend Fran comes over about 3 times a week to my house to be my exercise buddy. Mondays/Fridays we lift weights and on Wednesdays we power walk the neighborhood (with buddy, Collyn), otherwise I might not work out as hard or at all. On the other days when Fran doesn't show up at my door, I might powerwalk, do something on Exercise TV (AT&T U-Verse) or nothing.
For about 9 1/2 years I've included weight lifting in the exercise routine. I think that's made all the difference in my overall health. My guide in the weight routines is the Body for Life program. Get the book Body for Life from the library and give it a read and implement as much or little of the program into your routine. I do the weight lifting part with dumbbells. The dumbbells were purchased, as needed, from Play It Again Sports. One Christmas, Tom gave me a weight rack to hold my dumbbells. I use the ottoman in the back room as my "bench press." (I did give Tom a bench a few Christmas ago. Alas, it is still in the box in the basement.)
Of course, when out and about running errands, I park far away from the entrance of wherever I'm going. I often park by a cart corral, so I'll remember where I am. I also take the stairs wherever I might be.
I count yard work and house work as exercise, too.
I've always enjoyed getting out and exercising. I was always a member of an exercise place before having children. Not any more, it costs too much money. Now it is a good thing my friend Fran comes over about 3 times a week to my house to be my exercise buddy. Mondays/Fridays we lift weights and on Wednesdays we power walk the neighborhood (with buddy, Collyn), otherwise I might not work out as hard or at all. On the other days when Fran doesn't show up at my door, I might powerwalk, do something on Exercise TV (AT&T U-Verse) or nothing.
For about 9 1/2 years I've included weight lifting in the exercise routine. I think that's made all the difference in my overall health. My guide in the weight routines is the Body for Life program. Get the book Body for Life from the library and give it a read and implement as much or little of the program into your routine. I do the weight lifting part with dumbbells. The dumbbells were purchased, as needed, from Play It Again Sports. One Christmas, Tom gave me a weight rack to hold my dumbbells. I use the ottoman in the back room as my "bench press." (I did give Tom a bench a few Christmas ago. Alas, it is still in the box in the basement.)
Of course, when out and about running errands, I park far away from the entrance of wherever I'm going. I often park by a cart corral, so I'll remember where I am. I also take the stairs wherever I might be.
I count yard work and house work as exercise, too.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
My Drink of Choice
I must make Citrus Tea for any special occasion, dinner etc. I got this recipe from my good friend, Laura. Yummy!
Citrus Tea
Steep 3 family size tea bags in 4 cups boiling water about 20 minutes.
In gallon container, mix steeped tea with 1-1 1/2 cups sugar.
Add 6 oz. each of limeade and lemonade.
Stir and chill. Serve with ice.
Citrus Tea
Steep 3 family size tea bags in 4 cups boiling water about 20 minutes.
In gallon container, mix steeped tea with 1-1 1/2 cups sugar.
Add 6 oz. each of limeade and lemonade.
Stir and chill. Serve with ice.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Games! Games! Games!
We love games at our house. Here's a list of our favorites.
- Settlers of Catan
- Quiddler
- Dutch Blitz
- Uno
- Uno Attack
- CharaDoodles
- Clue
- Monopoly
- Scrabble (This is really my favorite. I play with my mom and my sister. My kids and sweet hubby don't love it.)
- Rumicub
- Scattergories
- Sorry
- Life
- Pit
- Cadoo/Cranium Family Fun
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Easter Brisket
Yes, I know, brisket is for Passover, but you all know that Jesus celebrated Passover. I got this recipe out of the Atlanta Journal Constitution March 21, 2002. I think I've made it each year since. It is called Reba's Never-Fail Brisket, and it is just that! It is delicious. (I double/triple this recipe...great left overs.)
Reba's Never-Fail Brisket
Makes 6 Servings
Prep: 10 minutes, plus overnight refrigeration
Cooking time: 3 hours.
1 3-pound brisket
2 tablespoons granulated garlic (I use garlic powder.)
1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika (I use regular. I actually saw Hungarian paprika for the first time at Kroger yesterday.)
1 package onion soup mix
1 12-ounce can regular Coke (do not substitute another cola!)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a 9-by-13 pan, place brisket and sprinkle with garlic, paprika and soup mix. Pour Coke into pan, preferably not directly on the meat so as not to wash the seasonings off. Seal pan very well with foil and bake for 3 hours.
After brisket has cooked, place entire pan in refrigerator overnight. Remove any congealed fat from the pan, then place brisket on cutting board. Slice the meat in thin slices across the grain. Reheat the slices in their juices.
I buy my brisket each year from the Oak Grove Meat Market on LaVista Road. Tom usually is the slicer of the meat the day of Easter. This job takes forever when you have a 7-8 pound brisket.
I hope you all enjoy.
Reba's Never-Fail Brisket
Makes 6 Servings
Prep: 10 minutes, plus overnight refrigeration
Cooking time: 3 hours.
1 3-pound brisket
2 tablespoons granulated garlic (I use garlic powder.)
1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika (I use regular. I actually saw Hungarian paprika for the first time at Kroger yesterday.)
1 package onion soup mix
1 12-ounce can regular Coke (do not substitute another cola!)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a 9-by-13 pan, place brisket and sprinkle with garlic, paprika and soup mix. Pour Coke into pan, preferably not directly on the meat so as not to wash the seasonings off. Seal pan very well with foil and bake for 3 hours.
After brisket has cooked, place entire pan in refrigerator overnight. Remove any congealed fat from the pan, then place brisket on cutting board. Slice the meat in thin slices across the grain. Reheat the slices in their juices.
I buy my brisket each year from the Oak Grove Meat Market on LaVista Road. Tom usually is the slicer of the meat the day of Easter. This job takes forever when you have a 7-8 pound brisket.
I hope you all enjoy.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Some of My Favorite Websites
Here are some of my favorite websites:
www.iheartpublix.com
www.couponmom.com
www.southernsavers.com
www.hip2save.com (thanks, Kelly!)
www.theKrazycouponlady.com (this one helped me set up my coupon binder)
I must say that I Heart Publix can be a life changer.... go here for all the deals. Love this one!
www.iheartpublix.com
www.couponmom.com
www.southernsavers.com
www.hip2save.com (thanks, Kelly!)
www.theKrazycouponlady.com (this one helped me set up my coupon binder)
I must say that I Heart Publix can be a life changer.... go here for all the deals. Love this one!
Online Credit Card
A while back, my sister, Amy (love her!), advised that I should have a credit card dedicated to online purchases only, so if any monkey-business happened, I could close the account ASAP and still have a credit card. (By the way, I try to only use my credit cards for online purchases and gasoline "pay at the pump," otherwise, I'm a cash kind of person--envelopes and everything...more to come on that topic.)
So...the online credit card I chose is the LL Bean Visa. With this card, I get free monogramming and can earn coupon dollars. (and LL Bean offers free shipping all the time on any amount now.) This works for me because I like their clothes for the whole family, they have great camping stuff (we like to camp...more on that to come, too), and a super return policy. They also run great sales all the time; a sale with coupon dollars equals GREAT prices.
Yesterday, I bought the cutest summer dress from LL Bean. Typically I wait for a sale, but I KNOW I will wear it all the time (see NR262566, deep lime/medallion) and I had $20 worth of coupon dollars to subtract from the price. That along with FREE SHIPPING every day, I feel like it is worth it. If I get it and I don't like it and it doesn't fit, I'll just send it back (free shipping back) and get my money back.
So the point is, get yourself a dedicated credit card for online purchases and choose one that will give you some perks!
So...the online credit card I chose is the LL Bean Visa. With this card, I get free monogramming and can earn coupon dollars. (and LL Bean offers free shipping all the time on any amount now.) This works for me because I like their clothes for the whole family, they have great camping stuff (we like to camp...more on that to come, too), and a super return policy. They also run great sales all the time; a sale with coupon dollars equals GREAT prices.
Yesterday, I bought the cutest summer dress from LL Bean. Typically I wait for a sale, but I KNOW I will wear it all the time (see NR262566, deep lime/medallion) and I had $20 worth of coupon dollars to subtract from the price. That along with FREE SHIPPING every day, I feel like it is worth it. If I get it and I don't like it and it doesn't fit, I'll just send it back (free shipping back) and get my money back.
So the point is, get yourself a dedicated credit card for online purchases and choose one that will give you some perks!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Never Pay Too Much
So on Saturday, my 12 year old and I went to Target to exchange a cute shirt that GranMary had given her. I just love Target! Well, of course we started in the shoe department and found some CUTE sandals. ME bought a pair and so did I...really great prices at $15 and $14.99. Well, in the Sunday paper, in the new Target circular were the sandals and, lo and behold, they were on sale...$12 and $14.
Of course, every penny counts for me, so I went online and found this about Target--
• If Target advertises a lower price either the same week or the week following your purchase, bring in your original sales receipt to Guest Services for an adjustment.
• Exclusions: Price adjustments are not made for clearance prices or Target.com prices.
So on Monday, I scooted into Target, receipt and add in hand, and got $4.27 back!! Thank you, Target!!
Of course, every penny counts for me, so I went online and found this about Target--
Target Stores Price Adjustment Policy
• If Target advertises a lower price either the same week or the week following your purchase, bring in your original sales receipt to Guest Services for an adjustment.
• Exclusions: Price adjustments are not made for clearance prices or Target.com prices. So on Monday, I scooted into Target, receipt and add in hand, and got $4.27 back!! Thank you, Target!!
I'm a BzzAgent
I'm trying out some CoverGirl products- NatureLuxe Silk Foundation and NatureLuxe Gloss Balm. I got them for FREE by signing up to be a BzzAgent (www.bzzagent.com)! They both have SPF of 10 and 15 respectively. Can't wait to give you a report.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)