Weekly Goals Update: Week 8

1. Disaster Preparedness
Week 8 is emergency sanitation.  I will say that I always keep at least a 2 month supply of toilet paper.  Part of the reason is that it gives me time to search for sales.  I figure if we go longer than 2 months without assistance in an emergency situation I will be looking at a "Walking Dead" situation where we would be scavenging for supplies.  I keep an ongoing list of places (in my head) I would search first.  I was confused by the short term option of emptying your toilet of water and using a plastic bag.  Being out in the country we have a septic system.  When there is no water, we just manually refill the tank and flush as necessary.  For those of you on water systems, is that not an option?  I do keep trying to talk W into a solar powered composting toilet but no luck so far.

2.  Makeover the Garden
I will not get anything done with that this week.  The first thing I have on W's to do list for next week is secure the garden.  Then Toby and I will be spending plenty of time out there getting everything in order.

3.  Organize Recipes
As expected I spent too much time in the yard to work on this goal.  It will not be long before it is too hot to go outside, and I will work on it then.

4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
It did not happen last week.  This week I have to buy some things for a church dinner and a big breakfast meeting so I will be shopping some.  I expect many of these will get knocked out when the garden is in full swing.

5.  Focus on Saving
I have now gotten into the habit of stopping at two different grocery stores for our shopping trips.  Each store has items that are significantly cheaper.  I also bought some things from Amazon that were cheaper.  It takes a bit more time, but shopping around can net big savings.

6.  Have Fun
This past weekend I spent both afternoons watching college basketball.  I love, love, love college basketball.  This time of year I know that I have just over a month left before it is over so I tend to watch anyone and everyone.  Conference tournaments start this week so I plan to take time to watch as many games as I can.

Weekend Book Reviews

Pressing the Issue by Daryl Wood Gerber is part of the Cookbook Nook Mystery series.  I have read a previous book in the series, but it is not necessary to enjoy this one.  Jenna is busy running the Cookbook Nook along with the extra events for the annual Renaissance Fair plus keeping up with her best friend Bailey's wedding plans at a local vineyard.  When the vineyard owner is found murdered, Jenna jumps in to help solve the mystery and maybe save Bailey's wedding.  I am not a renaissance fan, but I enjoyed reading what a "ren fair" entails.  The mystery was strong with plenty of twists and turns.  The characters are engaging, and I enjoyed the interaction with all of the other shops.

Lillian Bell's A Grave Issue is the first book in the Funeral Parlor Mystery series.  Desiree has returned to the family business after her job as a journalist implodes.  Her hopes for peace and quiet are short lived.  While overseeing a funeral she ends up in the middle of a fight between two neighbors.  When the husband of one is murdered, the husband of the other is arrested.  Desiree has to pull herself together for her family and her friends.  This book was a strong start to the series.  The author did a great job of introducing the characters while still keeping the story line moving.  I look forward to reading more from this series.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Murder on the Rocks by Shawn Reilly Simmons is the fifth book in the Red Carpet Catering Mystery series.  Penelope is visiting her favorite local café with movie star Arlena and tennis star/movie consultant Nadia before heading off to a catering job.  The happy day is spoiled by an attack on the café.  When the troubles seem to follow her, Arlena, and Nadia to the movie set, Penelope is determined to get to the bottom of everything that is happening.  I enjoy this series.  This one was more focused on Penelope than Arlena which was a nice change.  Some of the supporting characters were annoying, but not every character can be likeable.  The mystery kept me interested until the end.

disclosure:  I received this e-book from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekly Goals Update: Week 7

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Terri made a great point on last week's post regarding this.  She pointed out that I could prepare for evacuees.  During the last hurricane while we did not host evacuees we did provide food and shower facilities for people who did not yet have power.  Week 7 was all about home security.  We do have security measures in place, but I will not be sharing those.  Take a few minutes to read the suggestions.  I like to think about home security on a daily basis too.  Living out in the country we not see the quickest response time to emergencies. 


2.  Makeover the Garden
I still need W to secure the garden area so Toby and I can work in there.  I did decide to grow some potatoes in containers.  I need to pick the seed potatoes up this week.  We have cleaning the shared garden so my parents can plant some potatoes there.  The rabbits and chickens are getting plenty of goodies.  The broccoli has flowered, but it is staying for now since the bees are thrilled to find some blossoms.


3.  Organize Recipes
The weather was too pretty this week to stay in - highs near 80 are unusual for February.  I am not complaining though.  I will save this for a day when the weather is not as nice.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I did not have one this month, but I have marked two off the goal already.  I am sure we will have more this summer when the garden is producing.


5.  Focus on Saving
I talked myself out of buying some wants that were not needs.  I opted to look at long term goals rather than short term wants.


6.  Have Fun
I spent some time this week just hanging out in the yard.  I was not working all of the time.  Toby loved just sitting in the yard and rolling in the grass too.

Weekend Book Review: Why I Hate Green Beans

Why I Hate Green Beans by Lincee Ray is a collection of stories from the life of the blogger.  I had never heard of the Lincee Ray or her blog before I started reading this book.  I am now a fan of both.  Lincee's writing made me laugh out loud several times, and I loved her honesty especially when describing her post-surgery adventures.  She shares her faith without being pushy or overbearing.  I already have a few friends that I plan to gift this book.  Lincee felt like the perfectly imperfect friend.  While I do love green beans and am not a fan of the Bachelor, I completely enjoyed this book. 

disclosure:  I received this book from Revell/Baker Publishing but was not otherwise compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Biscuits and Slashed Browns by Maddie Day is the fourth book in the Country Store Mystery series.  Robbie is extra busy at Pans 'N Pancakes thanks to all of the tourists in town for the maple syrup festival.  One of the visitors is a professor who makes enemies every where he goes.  He is found murdered, and the suspect list is large.  Robbie has to balance running the restaurant on her own while trying to solve the mystery.  I have read the previous books in this series, but this one easily stands on its own.  The characters are down-to-earth and fit well together.  The mystery was strong and kept me guessing until the end.  This is a strong series, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book.

Sarah Graves' latest book is Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake, part of the Death by Chocolate Mystery series.  Jake and her friend, Ellie, are owners of the Chocolate Moose, a chocolate themed bakery.  When the man who has been threatening to turn them into the health department is found dead in the bakery, Ellie is the only suspect.  Other people turn up injured and a big storm is on the way.  To make matters even worse, Jake has lost contact with her son.  This book has so much going on that it was hard to keep track at times.  On the positive side the story moves at a fast pace with several twists and turns.  While it was slightly unbelievable at times, I do not mind the fictional side being strong.  The action went right up until the end.  I look forward to seeing what happens to the characters in the next book.

Curses, Boiled Again! by Shari Randall is the first book in the Lobster Shack Mystery series.  Allie is an injured dancer who has returned home to recuperate and help her Aunt Gully at her Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack.  When Gully is invited to participate in a best lobster roll contest, it seems the perfect way to put her lobster shack on the map.  Unfortunately all four judges are poisoned by a competitor's lobster rolls, and one dies.  Gully soon becomes the only suspect.  Allie sets out to prove her aunt is innocent.  This is a great start to a new series.  The characters are fun.  Allie's quirky friend, Verity, is my favorite.  The mystery was fast paced and kept me guessing until the end.  I look forward to more from this author!

disclosure:  I received these books through NetGalley and St. Martin's but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Frugal Friday

I feel like this week was heavy on the freebies which is not a bad thing.


1.  I got a free 8x10 print from CVS.  I chose another print that will work well in my countertop frame.


2.  I got a free 90 subscription to "Shudder".  It is a channel through the Roku that has scary movies - my favorite.  I cancelled already so I do not forget and end up with a monthly charge.


3.  I found out about a $3 credit toward a rental through Fandango Now.  W has been wanting to watch "Guardians of the Galaxy" but did not want to pay to rent it.  I used the credit to rent the movie for free.


4.  The weather warmed up to highs near 80 degrees.  We opened the windows and cut off the central heat/air.  Thanks to our well insulated house the temperature inside only fluctuated two degrees.  We are still comfortable and will save on our electric bill.


5.  My mom found gallons of milk discounted to $1 each.  She called to see if I wanted any, and I asked her to get me two. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I should have titled this post "Happy Valentine's Day on a Budget".  W and I do not exchange gifts - no overpriced roses or expensive chocolates - but I do like to do a bit of baking.  I made half a batch of heart shaped sugar cookies.  Rather than doing any serious decorating, I drizzled royal icing over them.

The second treat I made just to prove that a homemade Valentine treat can be simple and frugal.  A local bakery is selling a dozen (12) chocolate covered strawberries for $25!  At this time of year the grocery stores always have deals on fresh strawberries.  I bought a package for $2.  There were 18 strawberries, but for comparison I will only count the 12 largest in the pack and call the others extra.  I had some chocolate on hand already and used about $2 worth.  I am up to $4 for a dozen large chocolate covered strawberries.  I have nothing against anyone spending $25 for 12 strawberries.  It is just not for me.

Then since I still had chocolate left over, I covered some pretzels and pecans.  

Hope you have a happy and thrifty holiday!

Weekly Goals Update: Week 6

1.  Disaster Preparedness
I struggled with week six which is evacuation preparedness.  The area where I live is normally where people evacuate so I have no idea where we could go.  I ended up not doing much at all with this.  I am more focused on being prepared to stay at home.


2.  Makeover the Garden
This past week Toby and I cleaned out the bee garden.  I was surprised to see that many of the flowers have already started to sprout back out.  This area of the garden should just need maintenance.  I purposely chose flowers that would self-seed and regrow each year.


3.  Organize Recipes
I went through a few more cookbooks this past week to determine if they were worth keeping or not.  This week is supposed to be rainy so I plan to go through at least one section of my personal recipe books.


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
We made a trip to a store we rarely shop at to stock up on W's juice and fruit cups.  I already have a list made for this week so I my no spend week will be later in the month.


5.  Focus on Saving
I mentioned in my Frugal Friday post that I seriously priced toilet paper last week.  While it was not an enormous one time saving over time little bits add up to a large amounts.  It pays to know what a good stock up price for your area is.  The toilet paper scenario is a good example of what I want to do this year.  It is all about the little things.


6.  Have Fun
I know raking in the yard is not most people's idea of fun, but I loved it.  That was the highlight of my week.

Weekend Book Reviews

Murder Borrowed, Murder Blue by Stephanie Blackmoore is the third book in the Wedding Planner Mystery series.  I have read the previous books, but it is not necessary to enjoy this one.  Mallory's wedding planning business and bed & breakfast is doing well.  Now she has the chance to plan a wedding for actress Dakota on a reality television show.  She also got coerced into hosting the Winter Ball for a nearby girls' boarding school right before the big wedding.  When a body is discovered at the ball, Mallory adds solving a mystery to her project list.  I adore this series.  Mallory is a great lead character, and the supporting characters (human and animal) only add to the charm of this series.  I enjoyed all of the twists and turns of the mystery and am already looking forward to the next book.

Niki Jabbour's Veggie Garden Remix by Niki Jabbour shares 224 new plants to add to your garden.  I am always on the lookout for something new - as in no one else I know is growing it - to include in my garden.  I loved that the author took plants you probably already grow and gave you options related to them.  I was happy to see some of my favorites included such as tomatillos, fish pepper, and cucamelons.  I was excited to find some new varieties of eggplant and spinach to try.  I got some good information on growing tomatillos which should increase my success.  This is a wonderful book for any gardener that likes to grow outside the box.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn't Quit by Nicki Koziarz takes a look at the book of Ruth in the Bible.  The author provides plenty of real life examples of times she has quit or life has been less than perfect.  I appreciated her honestly as life can be very trying at times.  The author related the five habits to Ruth, but the book falls a bit short if you are looking for in depth Bible study.  I did find it encouraging and worth reading. 

Ginger Bolton is the author of Survival of the Fritters, the first book in the Deputy Donut Mystery series.  Emily, once a 911 operator, is now the co-owner of a doughnut shop.  She works with her father-in-law who is a former police chief as well as her feline Deputy Donut.  When one of the shops regulars, Georgia, does not show up to meet with her friends, Emily goes with them to search the house.  Georgia is dead in her home, and Emily has a mystery to solve.  I enjoyed the premise of this book as well as the characters, but it seemed to drag on and on.  In addition to it being slow, the story was repetitive.  Emily would repeat herself.  I might blame the slowness of the book to the fact that it was the first and would read a second book.   

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Frugal Friday

Since I skipped last week I decided to go for ten frugal things this Friday.

1.  I picked a cabbage from my parents' garden.  While free cabbage is good, as a bonus the rabbits got to eat the extra leaves.

2.  I took advantage of a free 8x10 from Walgreens to get an Easter printable for the frame that stays on the kitchen counter.


3.  I checked the herb seeds I had left from last year before I ordered any.  It saved me some money since I did not order unnecessary seeds.  Most seed are good for more than one year so it pays to save any leftover seed.


4.  One of the fruit cups I purchased for W's lunch had molded even though the expiration date was months off.  I called the company to let them know of the problem and to tell them how much he enjoyed their product.  This past week I received a check to cover the cost of the replacing the product.


5.  I dropped the thermostat temperature two degrees thanks to the warmer February temperatures.  I hate, hate, hate to be cold so we keep our house a bit warmer than most people.  You have to choose where to save and when to spend a bit.


6.  Our oldest cat Lucy has taken to sleeping in the back bathroom since it is quieter there and generally puppy free.  I looked at getting her a cat bed to sleep in.  Instead I took an old pillow and old pillowcase for her to sleep on.  She ignored it for about a week but has finally decided to sleep on it.  I am happy that she has a soft, comfy bed and that it was completely free.

7.  I stuck to the menu plan this past week which also meant I stuck to my grocery list and budget.


8.  I started working on our taxes.  This is one of my least favorite chores, but it is easy with Turbo Tax.  Even though I do pay each year for the software, preparing our taxes myself is much cheaper than having someone else do them.


9.  I shopped around for the best price on toilet paper this week.  Lately I had gotten into the habit of buying it where it is convenient.  This week I seriously checked prices.  I saved nearly 20 cents per roll. 


10.  I earned enough Swagbucks for another Lowe's gift card.  That should cover the lumber for another raised bed. 

Pantry Challenge Aftermath

I do not want anyone to think that just because the pantry challenge ended that I went crazy with grocery shopping.  I did stick with my change of using cash for my purchases.  I increased my budget to $40 per week.  I am still focused on making good use of what is in the pantry.  I planned meals this past week around what was on hand. 


I did splurge a bit on some America's Test Kitchen cookbooks (*Amazon Kindle Daily Deals) this past week.  I am looking to cook healthier foods.  I got a vegetarian cookbook.  W is quite open to meatless meals, and I thought this would give me some more ideas.  I also bought a Mediterranean cookbook for some healthier options.  Finally I ordered a cooking for two cookbook.  If for nothing else, I can use the cookbook to make meals for myself while W is at work.  The cost of the cookbook was just over one frozen grocery store dinner.  The food I make will be healthier and tastier.

I did have some additional spending.  You see while most of America made resolutions to lose weight in 2018 I am trying to gain some.  I do not want to do it by eating junk food and empty calories.  I spent on better for me food - nuts, dried fruit, Larabars, and protein powder.  This was separate from my regular grocery spending.  I have tried eating just what we had around the house with no real progress so it was time to order some foods with additional calories.  I got better deals on Amazon than I could locally. 


Is anyone else dealing with health necessary food spending?  I know some people have allergies and intolerances that can make grocery budgeting a challenge.  Do you feel that eating healthier has an effect on your grocery spending?

Weekly Goals Update: Week 5

1.  Disaster Preparedness
Week 5 is pet care.  My focus is on having the supplies that I need to care for them as we are more likely to be stranded than need to evacuate.  I make sure to keep extra food on hand as well as water.  For the outside animals we have a water barrel that stays full of water.  The garden almost always has something for the chickens and rabbits to eat. 


2.  Makeover the Garden
I did not work on the garden this past week.  I expect very little will get done outside until March.  I did order the first set of herb seeds that I need. 


3.  Organize Recipes
I went through the appetizer, bread and side dish sections of my recipe books.  I want to work on a couple more sections this week.  My long term plans are to sort through my cookbooks and add any frequently used recipes to my binders so they are easier to find. 


4.  Have 13 No Spend Grocery Weeks
I did go grocery shopping this past week.  I do plan to skip grocery shopping at least one week this month.


5.  Focus on Saving
I used a coupon this past week to get a deal on treats for Toby.  We continued to go to two grocery stores in order to get the best deals.  I used some Amazon coupons to get a few deals that were better than anything available in local stores. 


6.  Have Fun
I am trying to remember if I did anything particularly fun this past week.  I guess I will just have to do better this week!

Weekend Book Reviews

Scone Cold Killer by Lena Gregory is the first book in the All Day Breakfast Café Mystery series.  Gia's life falls apart when she discovers that her husband is a scam artist.  She divorces him and moves south to Florida to start her life over.  She never bargained for the wild wildlife or finding her ex-husband dead behind her new café.  Now she must solve the mystery to prove her innocence and save her café.  I enjoyed this first book but would like to see the characters develop a bit more as the series progresses.  The setting was fun, and the twist on the café is a fun one.  I look forward to a second book in this series. 

Libby Klein's Class Reunions are Murder is the first book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series.  Poppy heads back to her 25th class reunion with her life having taking a very different path than she intended.  She uses the reunion as a chance to catch up with her aunt, Ginny.  Poppy receives an odd invitation from the high school bully, Barbie, who made her high school years miserable.  When Barbie ends up dead, Poppy is the top suspect.  Poppy is an unusual cozy mystery heroine, but I mean that in the best way.  Even though everything is going wrong, Poppy sets out to improve her life.  The book had a nice sub-plot that leads well into the start for a second book.  I am looking forward to more of Poppy and Ginny in book two of this series!

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!