Well, today turned out to be just as enjoyable as I'd hoped.

DD1, GD(6mo) and GS(23mo) all showed up. We romped and played. GS helped 'Papa' and I load a cord of wood onto the truck..then he pulled his wagon at least a mile circling the property (we are on 2 acres)...he fell asleep singing his 'abc's' to gramma (he cant say all the letters, but gramma knows what he's trying to say )

...DD1 and I ran to Costco and stocked up on some pizza supplies and a few other things we needed....oh, and found an adorable outfit for GD ($6.49)

Made 6 large pizza for 4 families to dine on tonight (cost of all, under $10)

And now I am home alone...enjoying some P&Q before I start on my last 10 round trips on the staircase....ugh.

All in all...a great family kinda day!

Today is sure to be a busy, fun day. DD1 is coming out with her baby (6mo dd) and bringing my other grandbaby (23 mo GS)...DD3 is out of school for spring break...

All us girls are going to make homemade pizzas for dinner tonight...this will feed my family, DD1s family and my parents for about $7...and I will have plenty of leftovers for lunch/dinner tomorrow...and we have so much fun doing it!

GS always loves coming out here so he can pull his wagon all over the property.

I better go get dressed and ready...Everyone have a great day...

As I mentioned earlier, I needed to come up with a formal, dark green dress for DD3 by tomorrow night....

The first store we went to had the most beautiful dresses...in just about every pastel shade you could imagine...PASTEL...I need DARK GREEN

So we go to the back of the store..and find a clearance rack...and what do I see??? a beautiful dark emerald green dress...but what size...I quickly look...size 8 PERFECT...and DD3 is not saying 'yew" with that look all teenagers have perfected (you know the look)...

So I look at the price....gulp $120...
oh boy...well, let's try it anyways...after all, it's on sale...must be around $50-60...she tries it on...with her red hair she is GORGEOUS...

We get to the register and the grand total....$20.39 OMG!!!!!!

Well, the dress is strapless and she has to have something on her shoulders (youth group rules) and so we look at a simple black shawl...$14.99....on sale for $12.74.... Shoes...$14.99 (and she can wear both the shawl and shoes with her pink and black 8th grade graduation dress that we got on clearance long before I knew we would need a dark green one.)

Grand total.....$48.12!!!! I am smiling here!!!

I used to rebate years ago when I was newly out on my own. I did pretty good...then after a twist in the road of life..I became a single mom (with 3 babies) and between work and home and no time, the rebating became a thing of the past....until today.

Thanks to this site- I am sending off my first two rebates in 20 years!!! I am doing the Colgate rebate and the Venus Razor rebate (about $12 between the two).

My 14 yo daughter was baffled how we could get them for free...so we had a nice chat about it. Hopefully, she will experience LOTS more of this and become a frugal/rebating young woman too.

I have to say, I am feeling 'bit' by the rebate bug....

Did you have a chance to catch Oprah today? Her show was about poverty in America....and the differing circumstances that put folks into poverty. I was really touched by those stories...and It made me think how wonderful it is that a site like this was created for all to share and keep our families from suffering the fates like those on the show.

Clearly, we have all different income levels and spending habits...but we share a common goal of wanting to do it a little differently...for the better of our families.

Sure was an eye opener...I appreciate even more the tips you all share- Thank you!

Ima Saver...Im at 20...5 more to go before bedtime!

Can I just share a great day with you all?

Today I am watching my GS (23 months)- The sun has actually popped out from the clouds a few times...and my daffodils are all in bloom. DH, GS and I took a nice long walk while GS pulled his wagon. GS splashed in puddles, petted the kitty, pointed out an airplane and thoroughly enjoyed his self.

While DH (aka PAPA) bar-b-qued, GS and I went up to the 'big bed' and layed down til GS fell asleep- where he is right now.

DH had to go to work...and stopped to have taxes done on his way - He just called and we are actually GETTING A REFUND this year (as opposed to paying through the nose when I was working outside the home) WOO HOO!!!

Now the house is all quiet...GS is soundly napping and I am so relieved about the tax news...

This, indeed, is a good....no GREAT day. Happy St. Paddies!!!

In my past life (work outside the home mom) I thought nothing of picking up a mocha an my way to work, eating lunch out everyday, going out to dinner almost nightly, etc.

But now... I went to dinner with two friends last night ~ one of them had picked the location. I planned to spend $11 tops, but there was nothing on the menu that was under $10.

I got there early and the restaraunt was cold so I ordered coffee ($2.60!!) For dinner I had a half order chicken fetuccini($11) and the 3 of us decided to split a dessert...but since I asked the waiter for it, he put it on my bill ($6) gulp... with tip I spent as much on that ONE MEAL as I can feed my family for 4-5 nights (with leftovers!!) (My goal is to keep the cost of dinner with left overs under $5)

We had a great visit- but I am struggling with the cost of the meal...I guess somewhere in the past year that Ive been home, Ive made a transition 'cause there was a time I wouldn't have thought twice about it.

My DH and I spent the day cutting (he)and splitting (me) a cord of madrone firewood that we are delivering on Wednesday. This is one of our little side businesses that we use to suplement his income now that I am not working outside the home. (I just have to chuckle when I compare wood splitting to sitting in the board room in a business suit last year...what a difference!)

We made homemade dough for pizza's last night and had enough left over to make more for a late lunch today...so eating was really cheap this weekend. (I made sure he assembled them, so he could see how much fun home cooking can be....he had a blast!)

We live 13 miles outside of town on 2 acres. To earn extra money, we do the firewood and I breed labradors. To stretch the money, I cook from scratch as much as possible ~ quite a feat for someone whose daughter once said "mommy, sometimes I like to eat with a fork" (obviously too many burger pitstops! when I was working those long hours)

Keep smiling!

I found this site about a week ago and have read so many helpful blogs!

I became a WAH wife and mom after making a tough decision to leave a well-paying (but stressful) job in 2005. The primary reason for the transition was that my elderly parents, who live in a small home on our land, needed more assistance than I could give while working/commuting 50+ hrs a week. My DH supported the decision and the serious lifestyle changes needed- and the reward for giving up the 'things and stuff' has been a much richer, fulfilling life.

I am enjoying your blogs and knowing that there are others out there who have made the hurdles we struggle with regularly.

Ray