Month End Money Recap

As it always seems to do time marches on and we are now at the end of January which is the first chance I get this year to analyze my New Year's Resolutions. How are you doing? Given up already or going strong? I guess I fall somewhere in the middle since I missed a few weeks of organization.

Here's how I'm doing so far:

1. Organization. Pretty good though I did miss a few weeks - oops. May miss this week too due to company but here out I have high hopes for getting some things done. I'm certainly happy with what I've accomplished thus far.

2. Decorating. I did not get to this at all this month. I'm hoping we can at least re-do a bathroom in February.

3. Spending less and saving more. Um, not sure on this one. Hoping we did but I'm not totally sure. The way our budget is working February will be a better budgeted month.

4. Do a little more deal hunting. This I did. I picked up a few deals through Swagbucks like a $20 Amazon gift card for $10 and quite a few more gift cards through Swagbucks which will allow me to get some free stuff in the weeks to come - huge budget help!

5. Monthly meal planning. Did it for January and am working on February now.

Like I said, I did okay but I'm very much hoping to do better in the months to come.

The Miracle of Mercy Land Book Review

I have been so excited to be involved in Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program. I love blogging and I love books and as a Tightwad I certainly love getting books for free so this program is literally MADE for me!

I recently received my second book to review. The book is "The Miracle of Mercy Land" by River Jordan. The book was received as a gift but the opinions are all mine.

Here are my thoughts on my most recent book:

I wanted to read this book because the premise seemed fascinating. The writing in the book was excellent. The description was great and feeling like you were right there with the main character, Mercy was very well done.

That being said I thought the book started slowly and it was very hard to get into. While the character was great and her situation was believable the action was slow to begin. The "book" that came to Doc Philips happened early in the book but then just sort of sat there. I had expected more interaction or more story of what happened while they were “in the book”. The foreshadowing was excellent, the wondering what was going on kept me reading the book.

Once the character, John Quincy was introduced, the book took on a new level of wondering who he was and what would happen. I very much enjoyed the building up of this character and the relationship between John and Mercy. All of the characters questioned if the book they had could change the past and how their choices affected one another.

Since I often like suspense novels I enjoyed the overarching sense of something evil or that something bad was going to happen. The author is very good at portraying that eerie feeling that something isn’t right, that something awful has happened or will happen. However, the “evil” didn’t seem fully realized. The premise was so good but not fully drawn out. I kept waiting for something awful to happen based on what I had been presented with but nothing really did.

Having completed the book I still have questions. There are things I still don’t understand and would have liked to. I believe the book is very character driven which is good but leaves the plot wanting. It is written well meaning it has “pretty prose” and a great Southern charm but my overall impression of the book was confusion.

If you enjoy character-driven books you will like this book because you will love Mercy and her relationship with Doc and her Aunt Ida but if you prefer plot-driven action this wouldn’t be the book you would enjoy. Because of that I have to give this book just 3 stars.

Book (and above image) can be found at Amazon.com

Menu Planning Monday: The End of January

I know this is a broken record but really is January about over? Seems like another year will be over and it hasn't even started! Of course my girls are already counting down to their 5th birthday which is 10 months away - I guess they have already figured out that time does fly.

So to end our month this is what we will eat :)

Sunday: Chicken and Broccoli Fettucine

Monday: White Bean Chicken Chili

Tuesday: Chicken Quesadillas

Wednesday: Chicken 'N Peppers Pasta Skillet

Thursday: Taco Bake

Friday: Leftovers/eating out/spaghetti - not sure because we're expecting family for a week and they may be in town or they may not so it makes it hard to plan so I'd rather avoid cooking if I can :)

Saturday: Mini Meatloaves

Sunday: Alea's One Pot Chicken Dinner

Monday: Layered Enchilada Bake - this is actually a repeat from earlier this month but because we are feeding company again, it's a family favorite and I already have the meat for it for this month I'm going with it again :)

Organizing 2011: Week Two (er, Three)

I know I'm behind. Not only did I miss posting organizational pictures last week but I am also late on getting them up this week! What can I say? Fridays are usually hectic around here - read: date night or family night so blogging gets pushed aside. Maybe it counts that I did double organizing the first week :)

This week's project: The Hall Closet (yes, I had hoped for the dining room but right now I'll take what I can get)

I'd say it needed it!



The hall closet has been our place to throw shoes and obviously coats but then eventually stuff gets lost in there and we just end up jamming it in.

Now I'd say it looks better:



Time spent: maybe 45 minutes - really it was quite quick - I did it pretty fast this evening - what in the world was I waiting for?!

Cost: Zero though eventually a few dollars for a shoe rack at the bottom of the closet - for now I have to deal with stacking them...

Made: Right now zero but I did find a few things for an upcoming consignment sale - I also found my CVS "green tag" that has been missing for quite a while so that will earn me $1.00 for every 4 visits so that's something! I've hated shopping without out (now I just have to remember to bring it and the bag it's attached to with me!)

Cleaning out the closet meant about 6 jackets to donate (plus another 3 to give to a friend) plus at least 10 pairs of shoes to donate - also found the "mate" to some shoes that I had been missing so I guess that saves me the cost of buying more shoes. All kinds of good from organizing!

Again, I'm not fully participating in Org Junkie's 52 Weeks of Organizing but I still recommend you check out her site - I have ordered her book "Clutter Rehab" for my Nook and am enjoying that plus she has a great giveaway going on right now for a Monthly Menu Planning Board - awesome!

Today Only Amazon Deal

There is an awesome deal going on at Living Social for today only. You can order a $20 gift card for just $10!! That's $10 of free money and who doesn't need free money??

In case you don't already know you can order just about anything from Amazon and whenver you spend $25 you get free shipping - so combine this gift card with a $5 free one you earned from Swagbucks and you're talking a lot of FREE.

You are on Swagbucks right?

If not, follow the link below and once you sign up be sure and set Swagbucks as your home page so you can earn Swagbucks every day when you search. Once you reach 450 Swagbucks you can "buy" a $5.00 Amazon gift card. Essentially this means you are earning just slightly more than a penny for every swagbuck you get. Most of the time when I search I earn 9, 10 or more Swagbucks so just for typing in "Gymboree" in the search line rather than my tool bar I'm winning "money".



If you love Swagbucks be sure and tell your friends. When you get referrals you earn every time they earn from searching. This means your Swagbucks can add up incredibly fast.

I think this year I may just start my Christmas shopping this month - see what I can get for free :) Of course, I have to get through Valentine's Day first...

Rite Aid Videos

I feel very behind this week, this month, heck, it's January this year! Yikes, not a promising way to start. I have my spots to organize but last week had way too many late nights to get things finished and posted and this week has started off with snow days meaning the kids have been home from school. I'm hoping tomorrow gets me off to a better start!

However, I haven't missed watching videos at Rite Aid . Talk about a money maker! Watching the videos means earning money to spend at Rite Aid. Coupons sure but also $4 off of $20 and a few $1.00 off any product coupons. Along with some +Up Rewards that's a long way to free products at Rite Aid!

The best way to use these coupons is to purchase items at Rite Aid that earn you more +Up Rewards as well as on offers that you can combine with Manufacturers coupons. If you haven't started shopping at Rite Aid I highly recommend it! It's a great way to stretch your dollar - even on food.

I'm slowly getting back on track and part of that is to make sure you all are heading to Rite Aid for come coupons :)

Menu Plan Monday

Being flexible this week! I have my whole months menus printed out and taped to my calendar, however, from one day to the next I change my mind about what sounds good so I make changes. But that's just another thing I love about monthly planning - it sounds like you have no flexibility but the reality you have lots. Not in the mood for spaghetti tonight? Try making Mexican, after all you already have all the ingredients for that meal too.

This is another month we expected company for a week and once again we had to make changes and push off the visit so I had planned for a large number of *big* meals so instead of having a ton to eat next week and lots of leftovers I'm moving some bigger meals around the calendar and inviting friends and family over for different meals :)

Our menu this week:

Sunday: Ravioli Lasagne

Monday: Quick Chicken and Dumplings

Tuesday: Mac Chicken Caccitore (left over from last week - didn't get to it)

Wednesday: Burgers 'N Fries Pot Pie

Thursday: Layered Enchilada Bake with rice(shared with company)

Friday: Broccoli Chicken Casserole Recipe

Saturday: Pizza Sloppy Joes (shared with LOTS of company because these feed a crowd)