Well Anna as your notices said there were lots of posts as I read them, posted myself and then poof the next day they were gone. But as Amanda sent out in an email it was a server problem.
I don't brave the day after crowds either. Sometimes I do shop but don't return things till the lines get shorter.
We had a great Christmas Day. The morning is reserved for our kids then we trudged thru the snow and sleet covered streets for my Mom's, by brother and sil were in from Tenn. and then my brother, sil and nieces came. The kids played out in the snow and sleighed down Grandmas hilly drive. Then in the evening we went to MIL's. Ate there also but much smaller.
Today went to church and then over to Mom's house as we were having open house for all the relatives. Did not have that many show up due to the still bad side road conditions. We had leftover ham and turkey from yesterday plus some new snack things.
So two days of meals that I did not have to make or buy, except for the sodas which I bought on sale.
Leignann - hope you are feeling better soon.
__________________
Post Card Angel
Children have never been very good at listening to their parents, but they have never failed to imitate them. Baldwin ~
I had a great Christmas Eve. A friend who had a stroke recently has open house every Christmas Eve. Her children are all grown and decided that as long as she did nothing, she would be ok. It was such a good time. My cabbage, onion, bacon and apple dish was good enough that my friend's brother who is a caterer said that I have to bring it again next year. I was happy.
When I got home, I was just too tired to do anything, so I popped a movie in the dvd player, curled up on the couch and did nothing.
Then, on Christmas, it was a little hectic. I had no gifts wrapped at all. So at 5:30 I was wrapping, washing clothes, peeling potatoes for potato salad, making stuffing for future lunches, and washing dishes. I was frantic.
I went to my nephew's to distribute gifts. Then next door to him, friends were opening their doors for brunch to my nephew, sister and myself. We had pancakes, egg and sausage casserole, english muffins, bacon, and peach cobbler. What a wonderful time. Then the man of the house insisted that we take a drive with him in his new "hybrid" automobile. As he is the president of the county wide re-cycling unit, he is "gifted' with a car. They bought the hybrids to promote them in this area of the country. I have ben interested for years, but there just aren't any here, and the couple that there are - are ridiculously priced.
Then I rushed back to finish dinner for my boyfriend. I cooked a ham, and made potato salad. When he got there, he didn't want anything else. He was getting off soon to go the local rescue mission with a bunch of his police officers and kiwanians to serve dinner. Let me make this perfectly clear - I did not eat with him, I was still full from brunch.
I got just barely a chance to catch my breath, and then I was off to my aunt's for dinner. She had shrimp ****tail, prime rib, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, carrots and coleslaw. I was stuffed. Particularly after brunch.
Later on we had dessert with her son and dil who had to spend time with the dil's daughter, some of my aunt's other neices and nephews, my sister and nephew made it from her best friend's where she always spends Christmas.
At 9:05, I was done - I excused myself to much teasing that I can't hang out. I got home with all the gifts, and crashed.
Yesterday, my girlfriend braved the impending snow to come from about an hour away to go shopping. Our after-Christmas tradition. We started out a small breakfast/luncheon spot we love. Then on to Walmart for a few things. I had to re-stock my supply of tissue paper and gift bags. And I only found one gift for Valentine's day for my nephew. There didn't seem to be the quantity or quality of items left as in past years.
On to Sears in the mall, where I always buy new undies the day after Christmas. They were 30% off - and a new wallet, in a color that doesn't blend in with my black purse.
Then we walked down to Macy's and neither of us found a single thing. Very disappointing as we had their shopping passes for an additional 20% off the already marked down items.
Off to Penney's where I did find a pair of dress pants for work, a pair of jeans, and two sweatshirts - one for my friend as her birthday gift in February. Last year I found several pairs of pants. Again, very disappointing.
Then we walked the entire mall, in and out of the candle stores, looking at the kiosks, but nothing.
On to Kohl's where I did a little better - 2 pair of pants, and 7 sweaters for work. I was only looking for white and off-white as I wear those colors the most, found 5. I also got a raspberry one and a peach sweater. And I found a chef's knife I have been looking for at a decent price, a new mandolin (I threw out my last one years ago when I cut my finger badly and had to have stitches), and two ties for my one boss's birthday on Tuesday.
We stopped at a local restaurant chain for lunch - needed to re-stock our fuel supply for the afternoon. We went to Target and Michaels, where I only found a laser for the cat and a pocket calendar for my boss for $.49. Michaels had 2005 calendars for $.30 if anyone is interested.
Then it was time to go home, and unload the car. My friend stayed long enough to have some cookies and tea, and then she was off to her parents to pick up the things she needs to exchange for them.
I got a nap, so sorely needed, before my nephew came.
My boyfriend came for dinner and to open the rest of our gifts to each other. I got a hand held shower. My nephew has agreed to put it on this evening. That should be interesting, as he is 16 and the only thing he puts together is the parts of his skateboard. But we will be fine, it looks easy enough for me, but I want to give him the experience, and the confidence to tackle the next job.
Well, better go for now, and get breakfast and ready for work. We did have some snow last night, overnight, and I have already been out to sweep and salt.
We've been out shopping today and had to go in to work this morning to give out christmas gifts we weren't able to last week with the snow storm.
Dh's watch bit the dust last week so we bought him a new one. Unfrugal I bought myself one too with my birthday money from mil. We did get a good deal though they were clearance priced and with each $50.00 purchase you got a $10.00 gift certificate. I was going to buy my yearly undies too but the certificates don't kick in till tommorow, so I'll go back later this week and use those instead.
I went to Bath & Bodyworks this afternoon... one of my bosses gave me a $10.00 gift certificate for there so I bought a lotion in a scent I can't make (yet) in my own lotions. It's Mango Mandarin... very yummy, the girls in my office love it. I also tried a scent there that I liked lemon but it didn't carry. I will try making my own in lemon scent.
Vickilynn
On the storm candles, I will probably make most with the scent but a few without for folks who don't want it. I tested a big one today and it worked out great. These should last for several days.
Leighann
I sure hope you are feeling better today. Did you get the scarf you were hoping to get?
Crochet
I envy you living in such a close knit community although our winter storm did at least temporarily bring my neighborhood closer. Several neighbors came to check on dh's mother to make sure she was alright and when her gas stove failed, she flagged them down with a flashlight and they came over and got us (they offerred her a ride but she couldn't get up in their truck).
Well ladies
I'm off to take a nap... I've shopped till I dropped today. Oh we also went to Staples to get labels for my new graphic CD for the candles, a new mouse pad and computer air stuff.
Talk again soon... everyone keep up the good work.
Anna
__________________ We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Thanks everyone, still feeling a little out of it but better than yesterday.
Yes Anna I did get a scarf. She called it eyelash material. Its looks good with my coat.
Just got a call about an hour ago, from mil friend mil had a pain in her forearm, so she took her to the emergency room. Dh is there now I hope all is okay. She had a quadruple bypass about 3 yrs ago.
Okay so if you guys want to talk unfrugal, I did a dumb thing. My brother and fiancee needed to borrow money for their ernest money on the new house. (Their funds had to stay in a trust for 10 days) anyway They repaid me on Christmas of course it was quite cahotic and I just threw in my purse, never looked for it today when I was going to send dh to the bank to deposit. I could not find it anywhere. I was frantic. Never found it however I called my brother so they could put a stop payment on it. Its all fixed now but I cant explain how scared I was! It did cost me 10.00 but believe me thats nothing compared to what I could have lost....
Oh What a day I am having. Hope everyone is keeping warm.
Leighann
Christmas is finally over!! My kids, as usual, made out like little bandits. Now, I don't have a living room! We did have a good time visiting my family, no tension!! That is very unusual for my family.
I have deposited our Christmas money into the checking account. For just in case, DH will not be working the rest of this week. And will not be working much this month. We will be fine financially though. As we have everything paid up until the end of January. And income tax returns will be here the middle of January.
Leighann, hope you feel all better soon. For about the last month someone in our family has has some form of a cold. Either coughing, sneezing, or snotzing!
Leighann, I know I you felt about the check. DH, got home from work on Thursday. Handed me his paycheck, and I was going to wait to deposit it until the following day. Than we both decided we didn't want it laying around. So, I went to fill out the deposit slip. I could not find the check!!! I had not even moved from the spot I was in when he handed it to me!! Here I filed it away with the check stub!! How scarey!!
Leasmom, glad to hear you got to enjoy the time with your mom!
HI Ladies! I dont post on this thread a whole lot because Im not as frugal as I should and want to be, but that is going to change in 2005!!!!Today was the start, its also DD's birthday and since SIL was home this week, he babysat and I took her to lunch and to do some after Xmas shopping, and we found some great BUYS!!!I got 2 quilted flannel shirts for DH(thats all he likes he hates bulky jackets) they were nice ones with hoods for $7 dollars in Walmart, flannel sheet sets for $8 and 12 dollars. Then we went to Sears and I got DD a sewing machine(sears kenmore)
for $69 (originally it was $139, so that was a great deal, as she wants to start to sew and its a perfect one for her.Gonna go out again tomorrow when the wrapping paper etc. will be 75% off!
Also can use my gift certificates at JC Penney , Home Depot and Michaels(I need alot there!!)Will stock up on stocking stuffer things too for next year.
Hugs Sandie
I didn't do much frugal today. We ordered pizza today, I ordered enough for lunch and dinner. I guess one meal that stretches to two. Yesterday we went to the in-laws for a late Christmas, so we didn't spend anything yesterday. The kids received some wonderful gifts. Lots of gift cards. I was explaining to them about how the card can stretch if they use it on sale items.
We have spent the last couple of days digging out the cars.
Picked up dh's replacement lenses in his glasses this morning the new ones they made about 6 wks ago weren't correct.
I'm working on clearing out my office so I can find the things that I know I have and sell them at my open house in a couple of weeks.
I called about my cell phone that has in for repair for 3 weeks and they are going to honor the warranty since I complained to the store manager that it wasn't being fixed under the warranty. That saved me $120! I would not have purchased the extended warranity but for what the employee said which wasn't true come to find out almost a year later. I should get my phone back this week too.
Dh is home now, they are doing tests on his mom and will keep her overnight for observation. He came home since 2 of his sisters are now there.
Karen,
I know what you mean by not having a living room. Its crazy. We were going to start getting together the playroom but life got in the way. Will try to restart later tonight or tommorow. I also told my brother we could sit at their house to wait for their washer and dryer to be delivered. (they have lots of things going on) I want to put something together to take over there to eat. Dh will be hooking up tv and all that good stuff hopefully the movers will have that done early. So except for gas expense tommorow should be fairly frugal.
Leighann
I had to buy a bigger container for dd's toys, we've already gone through it and with her new toys there isn't much room for the small container and I tried to find a better deal and searched over and over but couldn't get it cheaper than $14.95 for a larger container big enough for all of her toys. She's sifting through the rest now to separate it, that's if she can find one she wants to get rid of-
But Walmart was pretty empty today, there wasn't that many deals so I could see why. I then went to the Dollar Store for other containers and came home. That's all for today besides paying a bill.
We will be fine financially though. As we have everything paid up until the end of January. And income tax returns will be here the middle of January.
