Gramma Ray's Blog

I got up early (for me) 6am...and got going on the laundry before it got really hot.

So, by 11 this morning I had washed and hung SIX loads of laundry. Funny- but the last load I hung out, I got about half hung and needed to come in and take care of a call....I was in the house about 3 minutes...and wehen I went back out, some of the clothes were dry enough to come back in!!

Tonight we will bbq burgers on the grill. Our house is so hot after several days of this heat, that there is no way I am turning on the stove or oven in here.

But after hearing the news of the power outages back east, I am just grateful that we have power to run the fans and coolers here!!

Nana and I went to Meier and Frank yesterday and hit a 75% + 15% + 15% sale on some beautiful jewelry.

I was able to get a few gifts for birthdays and Christmas.

For instance, a beautiful opal and diamond bracelet...originally $80, I paid $15. (and several other good deals)

Got some great pieces...and am going to enjoy giving these as gifts.

Then, went to Costco and restocked on some things and bought DD3 a great glitter pen set and GS a couple of books. (again, Christmas gifts)

It is still way too hot here...so will stick close to the fans today.

I was sitting real close to my fan late yesterday afternoon, perusing some websites, when the work phone rang.

Normally I dont answer after about 2 on Sat...but I figured, what the heck...So I took the call and sold a $200+ job!!, it rang again...and another +100 job, and again....and a $149 job... so just about $500 for 3 phone calls between 4:30 and 6pm...

Dont you think I should get (at least)50% comission since it was on my free time??? I did, but DS said no...lol

Oh well, its all good. Just happy to be selling!! The bugs just want to get inside out of the heat too!...but when the bugs are wasps and black widows, people tend to have ZERO TOLERANCE.

Ok- this is exciting...at least for me.

A couple of days ago, I bought a package of batteries for all the battery operated things around here.

Rayovac had the best price, so I went ahead and bought a big pack for $4.87.

TODAY, Im perusing online coupons and find a $3 rebate for the batteries!!!

So, I got the UPC and found the reciept and I will mail the rebate off tomorrow...

Totally unexpected $3--- HOORAY

Which makes me wonder....do you serious rebaters save receipts and UPC codes incase a rebate comes along??? And do you recommend???

Doing the $3 happy dance here!!!!(of course, this will go to the Challenge money- so I will go ahead and deposit tomorrow...which, by the way, throws me over $500!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh boy.

Nana and I braved the heat and hit the yard sales today.

I got 3 things.

1 Hardcover Steven King book that DD3 wanted.

1 Small purse with long strap...super cute, looks new... $.75 and inside were at least 100 tickets for our family fun center that DD3 can turn in for a prize of somesort, plus a couple of free tokens. I asked the girl if she wanted these out of the purse and she said, "No, consider this your deal of the day"!!

And what I consider my true FIND OF THE DAY...a lovely Rosina China Co, Ltd. tea cup and saucer that I will give to a friend for her b-day next month (she collects tea cups).
I paid $8 for it, and got home and looked it up and it is valued at $42-48 online. It is beautiful!!

Nana got a few deals- her best, a looks-like-new windbreaker for one of the kids $.50 (it is a really cute pink and yellow)

We only made it till about 1pm, and it had hit 105 and was expected to hit 110 so we headed home, very happy with our finds!

Do any of you have a Kohls? Do they have good deals? What store would you compare them to?

We are getting one this Fall...it is replacing our Mervyn's (sniff R.I.P.).

We are also getting a Macy's...that has replaced our Meier and Frank (which is Robinsons May in other places).

Opinions?

Ok, so the weatherman was wrong at least for today.(good thing!)

Cloudy and about 88 here...which is way better than the 103-5 that had been predicted...but talk about muggy!

DH and DD3 are doing 'their' weekend this weekend. They are leaving early am to go to the lake and water skiing. Tonight will be getting them ready...and then tomorrow and Sun will be me and me alone~ while they are off to bond.

I am looking forward to the time. I have several things Id like to do and I hope I can find some 'cool' time and place to do them. (Read, craft, watch movies, clean are those that come to mind.) Cool thing- I have all those things here, so it wont cost me any money.

I am watching my clothes out on the line...it truly does look like it may rain today!! (hope, hope, hope)

Here is what is in my immediate future:
Friday 106
Sat 109!
Sun 107
Mon 103
Tue 105

I guess my clothes line will get a break...all Ill have to do is walk outside, give the lothes a good *snap* and theyll be dry...

My bedroom, which has its own little air conditioner and 2 fans, didnt cool down under 80 until about 10pm last night...

Happy, joy.

Well, before I learned about the oak tree and the dog house...I was having just one of those wonderful days!

DD1 was running the office- so I ran some errands, stopped and got my fav burrito (carne asada, yum!) and had over an hour to spend at the BIG library in town. This library is new, 2 story with a GIANT selection of books.

I browsed and found some promising looking non-fiction books + an Excel book to brush up on some skills. Paid my $1.20 fine for 3 late books x 2 days.

I just love going to the library. I could literally spend hours just browsing all those wonderful books.

Now to find the time to enjoy them.

A pretty near perfect kindof day.

Spent: $5.25 for burrito, soda
$1.20 library fines

Also, hung laundry on the line and have leftover burrito for dinner.

and DD3 is off to the fair until late tonight...so I am home alone for a few hours!!

Poor Anna, Jake and Bear. They are homeless today. Luckily they are still alive to be homeless...but homeless none-the-less.

We have about 40 black oak trees on our property and one of them decided to keel over last night....took out the dog house and part of the dog kennel fence.

Those oak trees are so unpredictable. I have one that is dead, one half dead...and both of those are still standing tall. But one of the live ones just snaps in half with no warning signs.

The dogs still have plenty of shade and have a soft place to sleep until DH can get them a new one built.

Makes me a little leery of all these HUGE oaks around my house...they definately could do damage if they fell.
I guess thats why we maintain homeowners insurance.

Time to look into some major tree trimming.

I was planning on having one more no spend day today...meals are made, no plans for going anywhere, have everything we need...

and then I went online to check my reseves at the library only to find:

"Patron has exceeded the number of overdue items allowed"

At my library this means one or more...

So I look, and sure enough, I missed taking one back on the 18th. (And I stopped by the library to pick DD3 up that day!!) DUH!

So, I will pay my fine and have a spend day at my own forgetfulness. (At least it is to the library, where I have no problem 'donating' once in a while )

Two in a row. I just love it!

Grilled a london broil and a pack of chicken for meals this week. Should last at least 3-4 more meals.

Mail included free Dove Shampoo samples. I was looking at the stash when I put them away and I have enough samples for at least one week.

DD3 is going to the fair today and tomorrow. She is at that age where she and her friends just want to walk around, ride a few rides and enjoy each other...(maybe boy hunt) I am glad to see her having a good time.

The kids and I met this morning about winter business finances. I will continue to get 1/2 pay through winter...and so I will be able to use the puppy and wood money without having to get a pt job. This is a good thing, since DD3 is going to be involved in several school activities and I am committed to seeing her get to do them.

I am just going to budget carefully.

DH sold a cord of wood this morning, so we need to get that processed and ready to go.

I watched 'In Her Shoes' last night...just as all of you predicted, it was really cute. Enjoyed it even with the blasted headache.

That's it for now.

Had a delightful no spend day today. Although I really thought about it...Martina McBride is in town for the county fair tonight and Id loved to have gone...but I decided to just stay home and watch a movie.

All meals homemade today. Hung all laundry outside for about 30 seconds to dry. (Oh, how I wish I were kidding)

Got to see both GS and GD for a while.

and took care of all of the bug calls.

Received a sample of Fibersure in the mail.

and aside from a nagging migrane-wanna-be headache, that was my day.

I remember a time when my continuous answer to "how are you" was...SUPERBUSY AND STRESSED- with a definate edge to my voice.

Today someone asked me how was life and after thinking a sec, my answer was "blissfully uneventful and occasionally bored".

and for me, that's just the way I want it! (at least for now)

g'nite!

I ran some errands last night to pick up a couple more good deals.

On the rounds was a stop by B-buster to return a movie and get the next freebie. I have a little over a week to take advantage of the freebie trial (or so I thought).

The manager checked me out and asked how I was enjoying the trial offer...I said it was great and that id enjoyed all the free movies this month...but that in honesty, I would be cancelling next week...to which she replied that if I had a second email address at home, I could take advantage of the offer again.

Hmm...I thought the offer was off my account # or home address?? but she said that it was just necessary to have a different email (which I happen to have) and so....I will see after this trial if this is so...

Then, I stopped by Safeway for another Purex soap BOGO and had a $1 coupon...so only $2.08 per.

I also went by WalMart and got the Purina One dog food...I ended up using quite a few coupons...the bill came to $62 and I only paid $30..(pretty good for WalMart!!)

So, some good deals and possibly more free movies on the horizon. But if not, thats quite alright as I have figured out the library option!!

Movies I have right now:
Little Women (I just love this movie)
Life is Beautiful
In Her Shoes (havent seen this one yet)

Coming soon:
Mr. Hollands Opus
Seabiscuit

and not one war scene in any of them.(well not the type DH enjoys anyways)...lol...movies to watch when DH is golfing...

I havent updated my challenge account in a while.

But here goes:
current balance: $470.56
+ tape rebate 2.99
+ valvoline rebate 11.50

new total: 485.05

I am holding off on taking from this account to pay all those bills from last week.

DH is working some overtime and we sold 2 cords of wood to be delivered this weekend...so I am HOPING, HOPING that there is enough between the two that I do not have to take from my challenge account that Ive worked so hard to accumulate.

I have planned all meals at home this week and am making several today to have on hand...the weather is supposed to hit the 100+ mark again as of Friday....ugh.

So, I will be splitting in the evenings after it hopefully cools off a little!!

Today has been a busy bug day (Mondays always are) So far Ive sold almost $500 in jobs...nice!

Ive read numerous posts on here about checking out movies from the library...but the library that I frequent has all of about 3 to choose from.

And I can never think of movie titles to look up when I am on the library site.

So, I got an idea to just put 'DVD' in the search field and see what came up....and I hit the jackpot!

Every movie in the library catalog was there for online perusal...I finally stopped after looking through 500 titles and reserving about 5 movies.

Funny, but most of the movies were checked out already, but there were no waiting lists---which means, that people are getting them off the shelf as they see them, but not necessarily using the online reserve system.

I am all too happy to find this method of reserving. I have about 10 days left for my free B-buster trial, and then I am cancelling..(cant see spending $17.99 per month on it.)

Anyways...the library search worked for me, maybe itll work for a few of you!!

This is just for my rocords, so I remember dates.

(Anna and Bear finally figured out the puppy thing this afternoon.)

Due Date:
63 days= September 17.

+8 weeks= Nov 12th

Cant wait to see if we have chocolates, yellows or blacks!!

I think it is the hot weather...and my lack of desire to turn the stove one...or something. I am scratching my head this morning trying to determine what has happened to my frugal brain.

We ate out TWICE this weekend. Once at Burger King on Friday...I was out and about with DD3 and we decided to take DH some dinner to work. (He had left before I got home from that mornings grocery shop and had just taken a few hot dogs, no buns for dinner---yuck) So, we got his dinner, and DD3 was hungry so she got something as well. $9.50---

Then, DD2 called and asked if Id keep GS overnight...so I went and picked him up...and he hadnt ate yet (geeze, it was now 7:30pm and I was hungry too)...so another $9+ pop into burger king...YIKES.

Then, last night we ended up by Little Ceasars and decided on pizza instead of cooking when we got home (DH and I were both starved as it had been a very busy day and we hdnt ate)...another $12...

long story short, ended up taking the pizza to DD2s and playing cards...and picking up some margarita makings as well...another $24...

Ok, all sins confessed...and I can start climbing out of this financial hole that I dug this weekend.

Like I said, until my next good excuse, Ill blame it on the heat.

There are 11 of us who participate in what we call the "Stocking Exchange". The kids, their SOs, nana and papa and DH and I.

The rules, each person picks a name and is then responsible for filling that persons christmas stocking.

What goes inside the stocking? Well, anything off the provided list, fun or gag stuff, unique things, home made things, edible, non-edible...It really is all about being creative and having fun.

Each year, the names are drawn earlier- as everyone wants to bargain shop as much as possible.

So, we are drawing names tomorrow.

I can't wait to see who I get this year!!!

I forgot to mention that I got a $2.99 rebate check for Stretchy Tape, a sample of Tide + Febreeze laundry soap and a 3 pouch sample of Jergens lotion yesterday. (Best of all, NO BILLS!)

Also, I used the free Purina One cat food coupon...but I am waiting on the free Purina One dog food...because the free was only up to $10.49 (I think) and the dog food at Safeway was priced at $11.98...pretty bad when its not free afterall because it is so overpriced! So Ill get the dogfood somewhere else!

Having a gramma slumber party with GS (age 2) tonight.

We went for a walk, had some milk, took a tubby, fed the kitties, played, got into our jammies and finally laid in bed talking about our day until one of us wore out and went night-night.

DH has made another contact to get more wood for a very reduced cost. (About $200 for loads that normally run $800) Woo-hoo... So he will start working on those loads in the next couple of weeks...boy, this is adding up to ALOT of splitting...which is my job. ugh.

But I wont complain at all...this is what will hopefully get us through the winter months this year!

Well, gramma is pooped. Night night!

I bundled up the coupons and headed off to Safeway this morning.

When I got there, I had a receipt from last week and the sale ad. They had charged me regular price $8.99 on something that was on sale for $5.99- this was 3 lbs of hamburger patties...and I felt it was a good deal at $5.99, but never would have paid full price. They happily returned my $3

Then, I stopped and talked to the manager about a couple of BOGO offers that I also had by two get 'x' off...and i wanted to make sure I could use both. He was really nice and said that I could, so long as it didnt go over the actual cost of the one item.

They also had a great sale on London Broil's $1.79 lb.

So...after about an hour and a half, I checked out. Luckily, I got a very experienced checker...and the whole process flowed smoothly.

End result...I paid $76 and saved $98 off the bill!!!

Best Deals:
I got two boxes of Nice n Easy that were clearanced for 3.99 each and had a $5 coupon with an extra double of .50 cents...end cost $2.98 for two boxes!

I got 2 boxes of Hamburger Helper at clearance of .67 each - .50 coupon + .50 double...so, 2 boxes for .17 each. I never buy this stuff, but for this price, I felt it would be a great 'in a pinch' meal sometime.

The had large jars of Nalleys pickles on sale BOGO at $3.79. I had a $2 coupon plus .50 double. So, two large jars for $2.29.

And finally, Purex laundry soup, BOGO- $5.19, $1 off + 50 double or $3.69 for both.

then...5 free 2 liters coke..(Thank you Flash)

And, I saw a little old man on oxygen putting cleaning supplies in his basket so I offered a few $1 coupons...he was very appreciative!

All in all, a great shopping experience!

We enjoyed free fun today.
GS, age 2, and a water hose with a nozzle.

That's all it took.

He chased grammma...he watered the tree..he watered the lawn and flowers...he was all powerful and made gramma scream...and run...He got "Aunt Ninny" (Wendy) (DD1)

He washed his wagon, slide and little tykes bike...

He even watered his hands, nose and hair... (Princess Perky, that counts as learning doesnt it??)

It was at least 90 minutes of uninterrupted fun...

and tonight when he called me on the phone before bed..."I wuv ou gramma"...
free fun, and a great time.
Priceless indeed.

Errrr...somedays the mail sucks.

First, the insurance denied the claim for DD3s prosthesis...so $215 to come up with...

Then we just get a bill from our tax man and apparently I forgot to pay back in April...so $165...

And all of DHs leg expenses went to deductible...so about $300...

DH wants to attend his HS reunion...another $75...plus expenses while he is there...so probably $150 on top of that...Then there's his annual trip to the coast with his family...another $100+

and I just finished juggling everything from the last few weeks and was hoping to start rebuilding savings.

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!

or is that WAAAAHHHHH.

Either way, it is just plain frustrating. About $1000 all at once and mostly unexpected. I have a little over $400 in my challenge account...and about $150 saved for car repairs...so I have to figure out another $450...I have a feeling I cant solve this one with cans and bottles...

Oh boy...

Off to bang my head against the wall.

Well, make that $8 instead of $50...

What is that saying about taking the tomboy outof the.......but you can't make her dance?

So much for my little tomboy learning to jazz dance...in her words, "it's dumb" and "you cant expect me to do that for 2 hours each week!"

Oh well. Hopefully she can learn to twirl the flag without benefit of these classes....otherwise, I see some sort of ROTC in her fututre (wont her military obsessed dad be proud?)

all I can do is shake my head and smile...That's our girl...

I spent a little time today looking at online coupons and rebates and ended up with a nice little stash for things we use often.

I signed up for a few deals, clicked some my points links, and basically focused on improving our budget.

We got another truckload of wood delivered...we will get close to 15 cords of madrone...which means a little over $2000 profit for the winter...which will come in handy now that we know the bug business wont be paying salaries for a few months. I am hoping between the wood and the puppies, I will make enough to cover my lost salary...and that if I do get a PT job, that money will all be extra.

I am stocking up on lots of things and will probably be able to cut our grocery budget back in the winter too.

And since we heat the house with a woodstove, out heating bill is nill since we get our wood for basically free.

I really appreciate all of the tips that are shared on this site. I almost always sign up for the freebies and coupons that are mentioned.

I enjoy the days that my shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, deodorant, laundry soap, etc, etc...are free.

I also enjoy getting to try things I would never actually buy...I feel so pampered!!

I guess I am just a grateful blogger.

Some days, you think you are enjoying a nice, quiet no-spend day...and all of a sudden *splat*, you get hit with an uinexpected curve-ball...

Yep, no spend day today...right up until DD3 came in and announced that she would like to join a dance class to help her with her flag routine for the team she is on at her new HS. $50 for 6 weeks- 1 night per week...and the class is about 35-40 miles away. $$cha-ching$$ Just like that...the no spend day is a blurred dream...

But DD3 is entering the all important HS years...and I am happy to see her do this. How I wished I could have had my other kiddos in this kind of stuff back when...but I was working too many hours and did not have the time or opportunity. However, I learned my lesson of how quickly it goes by and when all is said and done, it is no fun to say, if only....

I have offered to share the travel every other week with another mom...so I only have to make the trip 3 times in all.

And so ends another almost, but not quite... no spend day. And that's ok with me

I have been taking advantage of the one month free trial at B-buster. We are enjoying the 3 movies at a time, anytime + 1 free in-store per week. For a family who rarely rents...it has been an adjustment and a treat!

Last night, DD3(14) and I had a 'chick-flick' night- compliments of our freebies. We propped lots of pillows on the bed, had the room nice and cool and watched two movies together. Fried Green Tomatoes and Riding in Cars with Boys.

When DD3 was younger- I started calling her "Tawanda"- a pseudoname used in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes...and she loves to watch it and hear the name yelled out...(Funny, she has grown up deserving of just such a nickname )

Tonight, we have a couple more movies to enjoy.

At the end of the month, I will call and cancel the membership. But I can honestly say, this is one trial we have really enjoyed!!! And I really love the F*R*E*E piece of it!

I love drugs.

Well, not all drugs...but today I very much appreciate the vicodin and muscle relaxers that we have on hand. My Back, neck, arm and head are not quite so bad today. I took all the advice from the responses to my post- and tried a combination of them...and it is working. I think the biggest help was rolling on the floor and doing a natural-type chiro adjustment. Natural = my bones against hard floor with a little pressure. (pop, pop)...and, although it is not perfect...I am able to move without sharp pains everytime.

As far as spending, no spending since I am doing good just to move about the house. I did cook up chicken and pork for several days worth of meals.

Thanks again for all the advice...i am trying to use better posture, hot & cold packs, home-chiro- ing, and resting the muscles....and it seems to be helping!

Ok, I know its something when 2 vicodin and 2 muscle relaxers later, it still hurts.

Right under my right shoulder blade...my neck keeps spazzing and it shoots down my right arm every time I move...cant turn my head side to side without discomfort.

No, I havent gone to the doctor...and Ive never been to a chiro...

But is ifs not considerably better by tomorrow, I am flipping a coin!

Ouch.

No spend today...not much housework, frozen pizza if anything for dinner...just a whole lotta whining from an irratable mom.