Making Cents Of It All

Youngest daughter will be going away to college this month. Life keeps changing. It will be a big adjustment for all of us.  Financial - Put 15% into retirement.  -  Grocery Budget  of $500 average for the year.  - Go over our budget with Hubby   - Go over the kid's budgets with each of them.   - Put all of my income in college savings Family - Bring YD to college - Celebrate my sister's 50th birthday - Visit OD - Talk with OD and YD at least 5 times a week. Personal - Go for walks every other day - Read 2 books  - Send 2 cards to loved ones - Go for more blood work Food - Do one meatless meal a day. - Do one day a week with no meat at all.  - Try 2 new recipes.    - Get another pantry item to 6 months.   - No food waste.    Cleaning - Scrub YD's room after she leaves - Clean carpet in YD's room after she leaves Garden/ Yard - Plant peas - Plant more lettuce ...

While we were visiting OD we went into some pop up stores. They had some cute items with cute sayings. I'm not going to waste my money on more coffee mugs (we have too many to begin with) but I did get a laugh from a few. I hope you enjoy them too.  These were my 2 favorites.  Hubby enjoyed this pillow.  YD loved this bag. We reminded her that she doesn't need another one.  We all thought this was the perfect bag for YD.  or this one. She is the youngest and she has some sass.  This has been many date nights for Hubby and me. Anyone else have date nights at Target or Home Depot?  I know several people that this mug is perfect for.  The girls say this is me.  And I am sure we all feel this way.  Have a great day!

The raspberries are ready. I have been picking about a pint + a day. Everyone has been eating them. I did manage to get some hidden in the freezer.  Hubby is having a fight with several birds. They keep eating the raspberries and he keeps spraying them with the hose. I finally put sheets on top of the raspberry plants.  I made french toast over the weekend and we had raspberries with it. YD loves raspberries in a cup with chocolate chips and whipped cream. Considering we got the canes free earlier this year, we are doing great. I can't believe how many we have gotten so far.  I picked my first zucchini. The weather is supposed to cool off this week so I might bake a zucchini pie.  The kale is huge. I keep giving bags of it away. I froze more too. It won't stop growing.  To be fair, the weeds won't stop growing either.  My lettuce is looking good.  The tomatoes are getting bigger.  I ...

The first week is already done and I am only posting this now. Sorry. Lets see what is happening in July hopefully.  Financial - Put 15% into retirement.  -  Grocery Budget  of $500 average for the year.  - Go over our budget with Hubby   - Go over the kid's budgets with each of them.   - Pay home owners insurance - Put all of my income in college savings Family - Celebrate YD's birthday - Visit OD - Go wedding dress shopping with OD - OD coming home for bridal shower  - Talk with OD at least 5 times a week. - YD go to Freshman orientation - Visit friends at their beach house - Make a movie basket for church party Personal - Go for walks every other day - Read 2 books  - Send 2 cards to loved ones - Volunteer at church party - Have physical and blood work done - ENT checkup Food - Do one meatless meal a day. - Do one day a week with no meat at all.  - Try 2 new recipes.    ...

 I have been in my house for almost 20 years and have been gardening longer then that. I always helped my dad since I was little. When I lived in an apartment I would help him and get veggies in return. This year, gardening has been very interesting. Every year is different and this year has been crazy different. I couldn't plant most things until mid June because of all of the rain. Even planting then, I lost a bunch of my tomato plants.  My herbs however don't mind all of the rain. They have been doing great. I have been drying lots for this winter and using loads fresh for cooking.  I grow all of the herbs from seed usually. My son saw mints plants so we are trying them this year. They are in pots on the patio far from the garden.  I am growing several different types of peppers, some hot and some sweet.  Some of the plants are very large with small peppers,  some are very small plants with large peppers,...

The peas are growing like crazy. I think this year is my best year ever for them. They have been loving all of the rain. I wish the rest of the garden liked it as much. I have been shucking them while I watch TV at night with Hubby. We have been using them in lots of meals.  My basil and parsley are doing great too. I have be running the dehydrator a lot lately. Building up my supply to get me through the winter. I  have givin several bags of kale away to friends as well as freeze more for us.   I earned a $5 CVS gift card from Lucky Day.  I got a coupon for free dog food in the mail.  I garbage picked a roll of wrapping paper. I don't remember the last time I bought wrapping paper. Why do people throw away full rolls?  My Dad gave me a baby aloe plant when he came for the graduation. His big aloe plant keeps having babies.  YD went to a graduation party and the mom sent cookies home for us. ...