Spending our tax return...

We are trying to decide how to spend our tax refund. Luckily we have enough deductions that we won't be too effected by not getting the child tax credits that were given in the stimulus check earlier in 2008. That really sucked for my younger sister and her family. They had forgotten about the stimulus being more of an early return, and that it would come out of the returns now being filed. UGH...
When you expect to get a few thousand, it hurts to find out you aren't getting that.
We will have to pay off our recent washing machine and dryer purchases and Jordan's braces too. Then we hope to set aside some money for camping fees and gas this summer. We also will be doing a huge canned food shopping trip. I hope to put away a bunch to spend out over the next few months. That should help that paycheck to paycheck living situation.
Hoping that we both continue to keep our current jobs, but also feeling like we are a little more set for possible economy effects. UGH!

I wish we could get a savings account started, but it just NEVER happens. We already feel so strapped and broke all the time. We get to do little things, spending here and there, but it just isn't fun to feel bored, depressed, and what not.

I pulled out my scrapbooks the other night and it helps to browse them; looking at all the things we are grateful for, enjoy in life, and the time spent with our kids. I just wish we could get the kitchen remodeled, the house enlarged, the yard re-fenced... LOL

job cuts dodged...

Yesterday, yet again for the michaels company, job cuts came down from corporate. I keep thinking, "What if it was my job?" "What would I do then?" "Are there jobs out there for me?"
It down right freightening to think about it, and yet I can't stop thinking about it. Our world is in change, and yet crumbling. How did our ancestors get through it. How would I pay my credit cards, my MORTGAGE, my car payments... or simply FEED MY KIDS. I am scared of the next year!!
Thank God we should have a good tax refund. But alot of it is spent, just catching up from things owing and things needing done. It's not about the wants anymore, its about the need-to-dos. The oddest thing, is going to work or on the net; seeing the money being spent. It seems like so much money is out there, but it is just heading into the leaders pockets are getting more full. While I also watch co-workers struggling to buy veggies, not just food. They already stopped buying meat, months ago.

Then I have such an abundunce of STUFF around me. Stores and homes full of things we bought and buy. Nobody needs half the stuff made and bought, yet we can't get enough. Did we do something wrong?

A layout finally produced...

I have been clearing off my craft space, to find the table. Here is the finished layout. I think it has been 3 or 4 months, since my last layout was produced. I am really needing to put effort into bringing memories out of my head and onto paper. I have too many ideas, and not enough production lately. Meghan and I finally took a few moments to scrapbook together. We did a simple sanded-edge cardstock mat look. Then we used a rubber stamp pad, rubbed over thin wood letters, for the title. Meghan picked flowers and glittered brads for embellishment too. Put together, it made a simple layout.

Jarod opened a couple birthday gifts tonight. He turns 11 tomorrow. He got gummy sharks (which he nearly ate the entire bag already). He also got the massage neck pillow that was on his Christmas list. Being the frugal shopper I am, I waited until it was on clearance after Christmas and bought it for his birthday. My pocketbook has always liked that the boys were born just after the holidays. :)
>
Now, I just need to figure out when I will be baking two cakes (one for each of the boys) over the next two weeks. Jordan will turn 14 on Feb 2.

What a great start to a weekend...

I woke up yesterday to the urgent notion that I was infected with a UTI. Fun - fun! I called my doctor and by the late afternoon, I was able to leave work and get my antibiotic. So that is healing now. I am on a new medication, that I have not used before... and not only will it be done in 5 days (twice a day), but I felt it working after the first dose! WOOHOO!
So... then last night, I realize that my kids and husband have so kindly given me their cold. So far, it is staying in my head, but making me a bit woozy! I don't want to take meds for my cold, that might effect the effectiveness of my antibiotics.

So... My fun-filled weekend plans are off to an interesting start. Jarod's birthday is on Monday. We took him out to dinner (his restaurant choice) at Sweet Tomatoes last night. Meghan and I hit Biglots and Goodwill this morning. I found a pair of work pants for $2.99!! SCORE!!! I also bought these cute jars in the christmas clearance at Biglots for $1.25 each! They are about 5" tall & I plan to dump the candy and use them for storage. Just to cute to pass up, RIGHT!! (The candy is a decent bonus too!)
I could put these jars in my kitchen, to match my red "Coke" decor. I could stick them on my scrapbook table, with Ribbon or something in them. Humm... the possibilities!

I got this from an email...

Email to me, sharing it too. I can't get the coupon to load to print, so I just c/p'd it to a new email, and printed. Hope you can get it to print too. :)
The coupon is supposed to print from
http://seattlesbest.com/media/special/SBC_buy1_get1.pdf I am just printing the pic and the info for the cashier (under the pic here) :)
Happy coffee break!!



+Expires 3/3/09. Purchase a medium (16 fl. oz.) or large (20 fl. oz.) beverage and receive a complimentary pastry or a second beverage of equal or lesser value on us. One free pastry or drink per person, per visit with coupon. Coupon may be redeemed only at time of purchase. Offer good only at participating U.S. Seattle’s Best Coffee cafes in Borders and Western WA company (non-Borders) cafes. While supplies last. Void where prohibited. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Cash value 1/20 cent. Not valid if reproduced.

Cafes use discount code 216.

Borders Cashiers: Select S1 (Modify Item), highlight drink or pastry, select S4 (Coupon $ Off), scan coupon, enter $ amount of drink or pastry, proceed with sale.

Note: If a customer adds a syrup flavoring or extra espresso shot to their complimentary beverage, the additional items will have to be manually modified to $0.00 (S1, S3, S1, 0).

++Receive one medium (16 fl. oz.) handmade drink with the purchase of any 12 oz. or larger bag of whole bean coffee. Offer valid at participating U.S. Seattle’s Best Coffee stores. Redeemable only at time of purchase. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted. © 2009 Seattle’s Best Coffee, LLC. All rights reserved. W08-19-013

WOW! Clark Photo review!!

I can't give a more glowing review of the photos I got from Clark photo today. I paid 8 cents a photo (free shipping!), and got the order just 6 days from the date of sending the order. NOT BAD! I had forgotten that my last photos were also from Clark Photo Lab dot com. They are printed on Kodak paper and packaged SO WELL!!
I have used other online and in-store printing. I am rarely happy with getting more than the paper sleeve for my prints. These today, came in a cardboard pizza style box. Just large enough to fit my prints and the 8 x 10 I also ordered, along with a bubble air bag to protect the dead space in the box.

A+ for Clark photo!! :)

There is always some sort of sale going. I even got a card in my box with another coupon code! Just google "(company name)(comma)(space) coupon code" and you will get sites that list coupon code for the company you are ordering from. From % off, to even free shipping! It's a frugal girls dream evening, to sit and google for the deals. Hee-hee!!

frustrated times?

Do you ever find yourself frustrated with government? The hold they have, in a FREE country. I know we are so much more free, and have many more things, than other countries... but I am still frustrated. I am still upset at so many things.
I hear the news reporting about the cost of repairs. I understand the roads need repaired, yet the people that choose the repairs to be made; report about having to choose what things to NOT do now. Which roads to not make, not repair, etc. Well... maybe, just maybe... we are beyond our means in this country.
Maybe just maybe, we can't afford to pay for it all. We can't allow everyone to come from other countries, other places, and still think that we will just raise taxes, charge more, and pay for it all.
Maybe mother nature is saying... "You didn't listen when my smaller storms said "no more, it's too much!"

But than, I am being selfish when I think "I was born here, I was here first." Why should do I get it all? But than again, why not? I don't make millions, I barely making $50,000 in my household. Yet we have ALOT. I know we do. I just don't want to share what I make by force. I want to CHOOSE to share, and choose to volunteer vs. pay dollars from my pocket.

Oh, I am just frustrated. What I do have, I want my kids to have. I just don't see that happening anymore.

Clark Photo

I have only used Clark Photo once before. I was happy with the quality. Not the best, not the worst... worth the .08 a print. You get what you are willing to pay for. I think I would want true achival photos to be printed in higher quality, but for day-to-day scrapbooking and memory keeping... these prices are PERFECT.

Here is my subtotaled order...***NOTE*** "truedigital print", are simply cut to a 4" x 5.3" size, instead of trimming the photo to print it to a 4" x 6" standard size.

3 4x6 print(s) 0.24
547 4x5.3 trueDigital print(s) 43.76
1 8x10 print(s) 2.99

cost of prints: 46.99
*****(COUPON CODE)***** 20SHIPSFREE = Free Shipping!!

subtotal: 46.99
Shipping & Handling: 0.00

There is also a code for getting your first 75 prints at 4 cents, instead of 8... but only one code works on each order. Free shipping saved me $22, a better deal for 550 prints.
If you aren't familiar with coupon codes, they are coupons. Some have to be put in after putting in your payment info. You should always be able to put in the code, before agreeing to purchase. It just may take your info, then give a screen for submitting the order (which will have a spot to put your coupon code in).
Almost any site online, will give out coupon codes. I don't shop online without having one valid.

Simply google (site name)(comma)(space)"coupon code"

Especially in this economy, we need every penny and companies need every deal. :)



I am not an employee for this company, just a customer, and I thought I would pass on the coupon code I found working.

Resolutions... do you have one?

I hate to think of a new year, and the whole resolutions thing... BUT... I was just thinking (after nearly 90 minutes of cleaning after removing the Christmas decor from the house).
I truely need to put more effort into cleaning my house on a more regular basis. I tend to clean for a whole day, in one big sweep... and then I let everything be as it may. I am not one for dusting and keeping up with the spotless look. I honestly just don't see the need to spend more time cleaning than living life.
However, I realize just how lazy I have been getting with it all.

SO... my resolution is to get off my butt... (off the computer) and clean a bit more each day. My kids and I are going to make a chore chart again. We have done them in the past, and they do work. We just have to get back to the idea again. :)

I think it will be simple...for the kids... I think.

Daily
Dishes-
--DW loaded (Jordan)
--DW un-loaded (Jarod)
--Clear the table (Meghan)
Garbage
Recycling
Teeth Brushed twice!
Shower!

Weekends
Cat Litter
Clean Rooms
Laundry downstairs
Bathroom Toilet
Bathroom Counter
Bathroom Garbage

Then for dh and I...

Hand dishes
Laundry
Dusting
Vaccuming
Cooking
Help with Homework
Help with Kids Chores
General Pickup

More snow... more RAIN... Flooding all around.

The weather is just different this year. It seems like every year brings a harsher winter to this area. Mother nature seems to be more upset, and ever changing. I can't shake the feeling that this world just continues to change, and not in the best way. I am scared, yet frustrated. I am finding it difficult to not stress about LIFE. The meaning of it. The whys and why nots.
Travolta and his wife lost their son today. So sad! Not because it is Travolta nor his wife. But so sad that he was just 16 years old, so little life lived. I pray that my kids get to experience a full-life... many more years long.

Well... what else? I have the weekend off. I think it is time to pull out the 'ol dustmop and find my scrapbook table!! First though... I should make dinner for the kids. LOL

Hugs to all... hope you are safe, warm, dry, or atleast getting there soon. :)