Another Busy Day

Friday, June 25, 2010

It's going to be another busy day today. I'm taking the kids to go bowling (with their friends), then we're off to the grocery store (super double coupons), Sam's Club, etc. to stock up on some good deals. We'll already be near those places so it makes sense to take care of those errands at once although the kids don't see it that way, LOL.

I got to clean out my attic yesterday morning (due to it getting to 97 degrees during the main part of the day, so wanted to get it out the way earlier), finally cleaned my bedroom although it's not completely done, cleaned the house, etc. I love it when things are organized and it really depresses me when things are not the way I like them.

I may take the kids to a drive-in movie tomorrow night with a friend. I grew up going to them, but my kids have never gone although we have two close to us (one literally down the road). Toy Story 3 is playing and I know they would love to see it although it means getting home around 11:30 pm.

  

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KISSFAN1 6/27/2010 8:32PM

Terri - We really enjoyed going to the drive-in and I hope we get a chance to go back again. It's definitely for those who can stay up really late (not me) because I had to leave after the first movie and we got home almost at midnight, LOL. There is no way I could have stayed for the second movie and drove home too. Toy Story 3 was cute, but I will always be partial to the first one. All I will say is there was a very weird baby doll in Toy Story 3, LOL. Report Inappropriate Comment

TERRYBUNZ 6/26/2010 8:24AM

Drive-ins are SOOOO fun! We found one a few yrs ago and go occasionally (really far and we get home around 2-3am...I'M the one who can't stay up that late! Kids never have a prob w/it!) Have a great time! Let me know how the movie is. My kids don't have THAT MUCH interest in seeing it. But I do! Enjoy the weekend. It is HOT,HOT,HOT here too! My plants/garden aren't looking so good :( Report Inappropriate Comment

KISSFAN1 6/26/2010 7:17AM

Thanks everyone. The kids are very excited about tonight (going to the drive-in). I hope the temperatures are not overwhelming since it has been super hot here lately. At least the sun will be down by the time the movie starts, but we have to get there early since I've been told it fills up fast. We have to be there 2 hours before it starts so it's a good thing we are meeting friends to pass the time. We've done the Lowe's workshop events before but Saturday mornings are always a challenge for me since I'm usually either yard saling or driving to Charlotte to get groceries at Trader Joe's, hitting my favorite thrift shop, etc. Today I'm stuck at home waiting on someone to pick up the dryer we're trying to sell as well as my husband is on call so I have to be here since he might get called out. The kids enjoyed it the few times we went though. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUZYMARC 6/25/2010 7:53PM

The drive-in movie is a GREAT idea, I really hope you guys go! I'd love to be able to share that experience with my son, since I too have memories of going with my family in the old station wagon and seeing LOTS of Disney movies. Great job on getting so much done! I do not envy you and the attic for storage space due to the cleaning out and re-organizing part has to be brutal in the summer and winters. Nice that you are finding ways to do fun things with the kids regardless of the temps. Don't forget to give LOWES a shot on Saturdays for the Build As You Grow free workshops. Report Inappropriate Comment

60SIXTY 6/25/2010 8:51AM

Keep having fun on your journey. Report Inappropriate Comment

Super Double Coupon Shopping, Etc.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

I went to my local grocery store for super doubles yesterday and did okay, but not as good as I normally do. Most of that was because I didn't have as many $1 and $1.50 coupons as I did before (the last time they had super doubles instead of triples so I used a lot of my $1/$1.50 coupons then). I still got a few things free and I saved a lot of money.

They had four buggies of clearance toiletry items and while they don't let you double or triple your coupons on clearance items, I still was able to use coupons on those items and saved lots of money.

Today may be our last day for horseback riding at least for the summer since it is supposed to get to 97 degrees. It's out in the open with not much of any shade for me and none for the kids. My daughter loves it so much, so I'm sure she will be a little upset with me, but it's just not that healthy especially since they are saying on the news that we are in a red zone today and to stay inside as much as possible.

I'm really hoping that my old dryer sells (someone has asked about it, but I never put all of my eggs in one basket since I've been burned before when someone says they want something and never follow through) this weekend. I've got other things that I need to sell to get some extra money but it is so much harder to do that with the economy the way it is. I used to be able to sell books, dvds, etc. that we no longer used with no problem, but not now.

I'm still trying to organize my little house better, but didn't get as much accomplished yesterday as I wanted to. I need to clean out the attic again but will have to do that in the morning time and/or evening since it is crazy hot.

  

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NEWHEARTSTART 6/24/2010 1:13PM

I too am a coupon queen. I use them, trade them, and have yard sales with the freebies to make some extra money. I am able to provide my family and friends with many extras they would not normally spend the money on. Report Inappropriate Comment

GAILRUU 6/24/2010 8:48AM

There is nothing wrong with watching your pennies! Good luck selling the dryer. Report Inappropriate Comment

POLARBEAR63 6/24/2010 8:22AM

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Organizing the House - Entertaining the Kids

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

I'm so excited because I just checked my email and the rumors about SUPER DOUBLES (meaning a $1.50 coupon will be doubled to $3 off, etc.) at my local Harris Teeter are true so I get to go today although the kids will hate it.

I've been trying to organize things around the house because so much has been neglected throughout this year due to us being so busy. I always got regular house work done, but it's the hidden stuff (closets, under the sinks, the attic, the shed, etc.) that I need to work on now. It's going to take some time since I'm trying to make sure the kids have fun activities this summer as well as we're doing a little bit of school (not much but enough to keep their brains working, LOL).

I took the kids to our local library yesterday and they got to take a free tie-dye class that was a lot of fun. I even got to tie-dye a cloth napkin the lady who was doing the program gave me, LOL. It was my first time ever doing that and since we use cloth napkins to save money on paper towels, I'm happy to add 1 more to the pile, LOL.

  

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KISSFAN1 6/26/2010 7:12AM

That is funny Suzy! I got the attic organized, under my kitchen sink, the laundry room, the carport shed and my husband did the outside shed. I'm hoping (crossing my fingers and toes) that the lady who said she wanted to buy our old dryer is coming this morning and doesn't flake out on me. That will free up even more space in the shed. My daughter's room needs to be decluttered, but she is not one who likes to get rid of anything. I still have to do more with my bedroom (where most of the things I am trying to sell seem to end up at), go through my shirts in my closet (and shoes), and then I think I'm done. I sold/got rid of a lot of things through the years so it's not as difficult to straighten up now (we also have a very small house), but it's just been neglected due to having no time, but I'm slowly accomplishing it now. Good luck to you on the same! Report Inappropriate Comment

SUZYMARC 6/25/2010 7:50PM

It is crazy how alike we are in finding things to do in keeping busy each day! I just started tearing through our home reorganizing to my husband's dismay. He never knows what I will be moving to a better spot or getting rid of. How far did you get with the re-organizing? I bow down to you Oh, Great Bargain Shopper with your wonderful saving skills at Harris Teeter! Report Inappropriate Comment

Cleaned Out My Closet, So Excited to be in the 140's Now!!!!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

I'm so excited! I got on my scales yesterday (digital ones) and it had me at 148!!! I can't believe that I'm in the 140's now. I am still slow at updating my weight on Spark People since I never know if my scales are correct or not, but that really made me happy since I've been in a little plateau for a while.

I decided to try on all the pants in my closet (didn't get time to try on the shirts) and I have a HUGE pile of pants that are too loose on me so they are going to go to Good Will. I refuse to keep all these fat clothes because this time around I don't ever want to get back up to 170 pounds or anywhere close to that again.

I hope to work on all the shirts in my closet soon (have way more of those since it was less stressful to try on shirts in the past than pants, since I'm bigger on the bottom half of my body) and get it organized. I see that I will definitely have to buy pants this winter to wear as all I used to live in were sweat pants (again, too depressing to buy pants in the size I was wearing) and since I'm a SAHM I didn't bother buying a lot of pants.

I want to be stylish this winter and hope that I'm near or at my goal weight so that I can spend money on new pants and not worry about them being too big in the future. I'll have to buy new ones regardless since there were only a few pairs of pants (that I couldn't get into before) that will work when it turns cold.

It's going to be so much fun buying a new wardrobe when I get to my goal weight. I avoided buying new clothes for so long because who wants to look at themselves in those 3-way mirrors and see how fat they have gotten? Who wants to buy big sized pants, etc.? I'm short on top of that (5' 4 1/2") and short waisted so those two things on top of being fat didn't work out well. I have a small waist so it was challenge finding pants that fit over my huge rear and hips and didn't fall off my waist.

I don't mind buying my clothes second-hand because I find awesome clothes for the kids and hubby (very nice name-brand clothes that look brand new) at yard sales and thrift stores. I am very picky about what I buy and when I get smaller it shouldn't be as difficult to get things to fit me correctly. I've seen such cute dresses and clothes at my favorite thrift store (expensive brands) for 99 cents, but I was too big to wear them.

  

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KISSFAN1 6/27/2010 8:35PM

Suzy - That's great that you're on your way out of the 140's! Wow, I wish I was as close to that number as you, but I'm glad I'm not at 170 anymore. I can't wait until you get there and I'm sure you will be there in no time. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUZYMARC 6/25/2010 7:58PM

I am so excited for you!!! It is such a wonderful feeling to break those darn plateaus and it re-motivates you to continue on with the daily efforts. I hear you on getting rid of the bigger clothes to keep your mindset of not going back. I am going to see if a friend of mine is interested in my really nice larger tops. I cannot wait to hear about how the shopping spree goes for the new clothes- I will be so proud of you when you go do so. I am on my way soon out of the 140s and I am so excited. I will probably do a huge dance scene the day the scale reads 139. Yet, I am remembering not to rush it, as you should too. We are on the right path, its just great that its finally happening for us both. Great job- keep moving forward you will get to your goal! Report Inappropriate Comment

KISSFAN1 6/24/2010 7:41AM

Hi Terri - Thank you so much. It's always so nice when you stop by, I hope you're doing well and that life is not as busy as it has been. I can't believe that I've already lost 20 pounds and I'm half way to my goal weight! Send me an email when you get a chance! Report Inappropriate Comment

TERRYBUNZ 6/23/2010 7:15PM

WOOOOWWWWW!!!!! SO, SO HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THIS H-U-G-E ACCOMPLISHMENT! Big cyber hugs to you! Enjoy splurging on the new YOU! Report Inappropriate Comment

KISSFAN1 6/23/2010 6:21AM

Thanks everyone, I'm excited because it seemed to take losing 20 pounds to finally get rid of a lot of clothes. I've been giving older clothes that were way too big to a friend of mine so she could take what she could wear and give the rest to other friends. It's very exciting to get rid of them because I don't want these bigger items in my closet anymore because I don't want any excuses for gaining weight again. Report Inappropriate Comment

DJ4HEALTH 6/22/2010 11:58PM

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BYEPOUNDS 6/22/2010 10:03AM

best to you Report Inappropriate Comment

OUBACHE 6/22/2010 9:46AM

Congratulations! Trying on clothes that used to be tight and finding them loose is the best feeling ever! And finding those nice, bargain-priced clothes is almost as good of a feeling. Report Inappropriate Comment

EATOMANY 6/22/2010 8:55AM

I'm a thrift store junkie too! I just bought my first dress in YEARS from a local thrift store and hadn't even really looked at dresses for a while because they never had anything fashionable to the larger sizes. But I love my new little summer dress! Hope you can head to the thrift store soon and treat yourself to something "new" for being in the 140's again. That's great! Report Inappropriate Comment

EPIPHANYANGEL 6/22/2010 8:41AM

Have you thought about 'reconstructing' some of your old clothes. I've seen a lot on Utube where people make other clothing items out of clothes they already have. Report Inappropriate Comment

Looking for Cheap Summer Events for the Kids

Monday, June 21, 2010

It's so hot here that it's hard to find activities for the kids and I to enjoy that don't make you pass out from heat exhaustion, LOL. I signed them up for a free event at our local library where they tie-dye a t-shirt (they have to bring their own t-shirt). My son has grown so much that I had to scramble yesterday to find him something at the last minute and I got lucky because they had t-shirts at The Dollar Tree (for of course a $1).

The reason it was last minute is because he had a plain shirt but when he tried it on it was too little so off I went looking for a bargain at the last minute.

We signed up for the free bowling at our local bowling alley (have to pay for shoe rental) so that was fun and nice since we had some of our home school friends sign up and meet us there too. I hope to visit our local museum which also has free admission two evenings a month and they are showing a pirate exhibit, so hope to visit that soon.

Between free bowling, library events, and other things hopefully we can have a low-cost fun summer.

I bought tons of fruit recently and I'm enjoying it so much. There's nothing like fresh fruit in the hot summer time. Which reminds me, happy summer as today is the first day of summer!

  

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KISSFAN1 6/22/2010 8:04AM

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We're planning so far to go swimming in the public pool, go to the drive-in theater (we have 2 near us), library events of course, bowling, skating, etc. Suzy - We did the Lowe's building thing a couple of times when the kids were younger and they loved it. I also signed them up in the past at Michael's (craft store) for a summer camp day of doing crafts and my daughter really loved that. We did the free movie at our local movie theater one time and they liked that a lot so may try going back and doing that this year. Comment edited on: 6/22/2010 8:35:26 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

MAMALAMA70 6/21/2010 6:55PM

I know that AMC theaters have movies for kids for $1.00 per ticket every Tuesday all summer long. You can go to the website and see what movies are showing each week and I think you can even purchase the tickets online. I've taken my kids for a couple of years now and they always love it. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUZYMARC 6/21/2010 11:54AM

Hey, do you have a LOWES near you? On Saturdays they offer a free building class for kids up to age 12. We take Daniel and he loves it and has made some pretty cool stuff as gifts. You should check it out. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUZYMARC 6/21/2010 11:29AM

Check with the libraries, local county museums,your local park & rec place might have a listing of summer events. We were thinking of signing Daniel up for summer camp on the MCB but I looked at the scheduled events and one is pool time. Daniel is still working on learning the whole swimming thing and I am just too uncertain to supervision at the camps. I am going to be sitting down with him this week and we will be making out our summer vacation wish sites list. So far we've done Fort Macon State Park and the Jacksonville Commons Park. He has shown an interest in fishing so I will be looking into the license issue and finding a safe area to attempt fishing. We have to be careful of snakes and alligators around here. I say you do a google search for your area looking for family/kid friendly free or low cost events. I understand about the heat! I am thankful we were given the small pool last year and with minimal cost having to be spent to update parts and keeping it clean. I plan on getting it in later with Daniel since its high 90s again. Report Inappropriate Comment

EATOMANY 6/21/2010 10:32AM

Not sure about where you are, but our local movie theaters often do an early show once a week that's either free or $1 a ticket. They are movies that are already out on DVD but it's still fun to have the experience of going to the movies. We're big fans of the library as well. They always have such great activities for kids. I also go to http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.co m/ for ideas of things to do in my area. You may have a link to the area near you and each event shows the price so I can go through and look for ones that are free in our area. Report Inappropriate Comment

SEWICKED 6/21/2010 9:54AM

You can also ask various businesses if they have tours. Places like restaurants and grocery stores have them. When I was young, we got to tour a catalog packing facility and the phone company's switchboard (yes, it was computer-run, I'm not -that- old). Around here we have a website parkgeek.com (it might be nationwide and I've simply narrowed it to my area & I don't remember). They list local museum & park events. Report Inappropriate Comment