I have been feeling like it is time to start paring down much of my belongings. To much of everything. I found this blog on being a minimilist. I have taken the following from there on working on my closet. The idea is to get down to 33 items not including certain items.
Original rules are as follows
When: October 1 – December 31 (It’s never too late to start so join in anytime!) I need to get started since it is December 26th already.
What is included : 33 items including clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoes. ( the jewelry boxes will be the hardest for me even though I rarely wear jewelry. Time to pick my favorites and wear.
What is not included : these items are not counted as part of the 33 items – wedding ring, underwear, sleep, in-home lounge wear, and workout clothing (you can only wear your workout clothing to workout)
Outline your 33 items, by the 1st of October ( too late for that for me box up the remainder of your fashion statement, seal it with tape and put it out of site.
What else: consider that you are creating a wardrobe that you can live, work and play in for three months.
If you purchase items for project 333, stick with the one in, two out approach. Consider the essentials and stick to 33.
How to Make Space .. I will start with my closet and pare down my clothing to 33 items as suggested. Hopefully I can continue to other areas of my home after that.
Here is the process that is recommend:
Start making piles of clothes and be ruthless.
Pile One: I love these items. They fit me well and I wear them frequently: Keep
Pile Two: I want to keep this but I don’t know why
Pile Three: These items don’t fit me or my style: donate.
Pile Four: These items aren’t in good condition: trash.
Next:
Take Pile Four to the trash.
Box up Pile Three and put in your car before you have time to re-think.
Put the items from Pile One back in your closet.
Box up all items from Pile Two and put the box in the back of your closet for 30 days.
If you didn’t miss the box after 30 days, DO NOT OPEN IT, donate it.
After you make some progress, if you love that feeling of empty space in your closet, join hundreds of us in minimalist fashion Project 333.
Take a peek at her site... you will find others that are involved. I am now off to start my clothing declutter project will be back to let you know what I am keeping. ... Grace
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Watergate Salad Perfect Buffet Party Food
I really love Water Gate Salad ... my step son calls it the green stuff but it is Water Gate Salad and I am told they served it at the Water Gate Hotel.
My mother would make this for holidays and special occasions so when I make it I always think of her.
It is easy and so tasty... here are the ingredients
1 package of Pistachios instant pudding
8 to 9 oz cool whip
1 can of crushed pineapple juice and all
1/2 package of miniature marshmallows... white or colored..
to the cool whip add the pudding and combine good. Add pineapple with the juice and then marshmallows. Let sit in refrigerator for at least one hour before eating.
Pretty in my glass bowl and a sure winner at our Christmas Eve party..
thanks for stopping by.. I will be sharing this on these blog party sites
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Grocery Shopping Wrap Up
I have headed to the grocery stores a couple of times this month as we needed items. I think it went fairly well. Most of the items I bought I did not have coupons for but with buying on sale or priced best we had a good week
Cub Foods trip 1 for needed paper products ( toilet paper and paper towels plus my need coffee cream plus a treat of a magazine total cost was $22.35 ( toilet paper not in pictures I had put away already)
Cub Foods trip 2 for the majority of groceries final cost of $26.58 with a savings of 20 percent by buying sale and reduced price items
Super One trip 3 needed to buy items to make Water Gate Salad for Christmas Eve. We bought off brands or items on sale costing us a total of $3.58
Total for the week $52.51
Total for the month $147.33
Balance remaining of monthly budget $52.67
I am linking this at
Thanks for stopping by... lets keep saving together and please remember Never Under Estimate The Value Of A Small Amount Of Money.. Grace
11 Ways to be Weird in 2011 by David Ramsey
I am a huge David Ramsey fan and today he has a great posting on 11 Ways To Be Weird.
Here is what Dave says in this post.. please click on the link to read other great postings by Dave Ramsey
Everyone has their own definition of what “weird” means. To us, it means having some—or actually a lot—of money, because so many people are broke! If you could keep hundreds of extra dollars a month instead of paying credit card bills, car payments and your alma mater, would you want to become weird?
If you’re tired of being normal (aka broke) like everyone else, here are some ways to get started on your journey to weirdness!
1. Set a solid foundation.
Without a proper start, big plans will eventually crumble. We are here to help you along the way during this weird year that will carry through the rest of your life. Find out how to set a solid foundation.
2. Bring out your inner bookworm!
According to The Literacy Company, 90% of learning is based on reading. You would think that Americans would read a lot, right? Well, about 27% of adults read no books at all in the past year. Set yourself apart from the majority by reading a few beneficial, nonfiction books this year! Here are some suggestions from Dave’s library.
3. Take baby steps with meal planning.
Food often costs more than you think. Plan your meals ahead of time to eat healthier and avoid hitting up your favorite fast-food spot five times a week. It’s not a daunting task when you get help from eMealz for just $5 a month!
4. Compare yourself to the Joneses—really!
The Joneses are broke. They’re in debt and don’t have money for emergencies, retirement or college. Do you really want to be like them? Doubtful. So compare yourself to them and determine what you need to do so you aren’t like the Joneses.
5. Practice saying no!
There are so many good things to do, but you can’t do it all. Learning to set limits in your life will actually allow you to do more, whether it’s with your time or money. Plus, you’ll be better at those things you do since you aren’t rushing around trying to cram a bunch of stuff into your schedule.
6. Surprise!
Who says giving to others only has to take place at Christmas? Challenge yourself to continue giving like no one else throughout 2011. You’ll be amazed at how much better life is when you give to others!
7. Dream.
Just because you’re a responsible adult who’s all grown up doesn’t mean you have to stop dreaming. But don’t just be a dreamer; do something about it! Determine what’s stopping you from making your goal a reality, and challenge yourself to overcome it.
8. Sacrifice.
Most people cringe at the “s” word. But sacrifice doesn’t mean you have to live in a cave and never have fun. Maybe you need to pick up an extra job or cut out a monthly treat from your budget to get closer to achieving your goal. Think of something you can give up, and commit to following through this year.
9. Get a will for real.
About 60% of Americans die without a will. So what’s the big deal? That means that when you die, everything you owned is either left to the government to divvy out, or your relatives will fight over your belongings. Avoid that heartache by creating a will. Stop procrastinating and just do it! USLegalForms.com makes it easy for you to leave this legacy for under $30.
10. Quit your J-O-B.
Don’t love your job? Then quit it! Find your passion and do work that truly matters to you. Yes, even in this economy you can quit your job—just be smart about it. Think it through. Have a plan, and be wise about your decisions. Consider this.
11. Pass on the weirdness!
It’s cool to be weird! Tell others about your journey to weirdness and how you’re changing your life for the best. Send them our weekly email challenges, pass along your budgeting knowledge, or invite them to a free Financial Peace University class. Dave has so many resources available for you and your friends that there’s definitely something for everyone.
Okay what will I do this year to improve myself by being weird?
I already do number 3 .. meal planning this does help us to eat more at home which saves us big $.
I have started to do freezer cooking which I think is the way to go. Having meals of Chili and Spaghetti sauce in my freezer makes some nights so easy.
We already have our Wills #9 could use a small update probably.
What I think I need to do is take more time reading # 2.
I will have to take a look at what Dave has on his reading list. I want to read more American history books. I into my family genealogy and this goes along with this perfectly.
# 7 Dream and goals ..hubby and I have been working on that the last few days.. we know what we need to do just have to get going...
What do you plan to do to make next year better?
Thanks for stopping by... Lets keep saving together .. and please remember Never Under Estimate The Value Of A Small Amount Of Money... Grace
Here is what Dave says in this post.. please click on the link to read other great postings by Dave Ramsey
Everyone has their own definition of what “weird” means. To us, it means having some—or actually a lot—of money, because so many people are broke! If you could keep hundreds of extra dollars a month instead of paying credit card bills, car payments and your alma mater, would you want to become weird?
If you’re tired of being normal (aka broke) like everyone else, here are some ways to get started on your journey to weirdness!
1. Set a solid foundation.
Without a proper start, big plans will eventually crumble. We are here to help you along the way during this weird year that will carry through the rest of your life. Find out how to set a solid foundation.
2. Bring out your inner bookworm!
According to The Literacy Company, 90% of learning is based on reading. You would think that Americans would read a lot, right? Well, about 27% of adults read no books at all in the past year. Set yourself apart from the majority by reading a few beneficial, nonfiction books this year! Here are some suggestions from Dave’s library.
3. Take baby steps with meal planning.
Food often costs more than you think. Plan your meals ahead of time to eat healthier and avoid hitting up your favorite fast-food spot five times a week. It’s not a daunting task when you get help from eMealz for just $5 a month!
4. Compare yourself to the Joneses—really!
The Joneses are broke. They’re in debt and don’t have money for emergencies, retirement or college. Do you really want to be like them? Doubtful. So compare yourself to them and determine what you need to do so you aren’t like the Joneses.
5. Practice saying no!
There are so many good things to do, but you can’t do it all. Learning to set limits in your life will actually allow you to do more, whether it’s with your time or money. Plus, you’ll be better at those things you do since you aren’t rushing around trying to cram a bunch of stuff into your schedule.
6. Surprise!
Who says giving to others only has to take place at Christmas? Challenge yourself to continue giving like no one else throughout 2011. You’ll be amazed at how much better life is when you give to others!
7. Dream.
Just because you’re a responsible adult who’s all grown up doesn’t mean you have to stop dreaming. But don’t just be a dreamer; do something about it! Determine what’s stopping you from making your goal a reality, and challenge yourself to overcome it.
8. Sacrifice.
Most people cringe at the “s” word. But sacrifice doesn’t mean you have to live in a cave and never have fun. Maybe you need to pick up an extra job or cut out a monthly treat from your budget to get closer to achieving your goal. Think of something you can give up, and commit to following through this year.
9. Get a will for real.
About 60% of Americans die without a will. So what’s the big deal? That means that when you die, everything you owned is either left to the government to divvy out, or your relatives will fight over your belongings. Avoid that heartache by creating a will. Stop procrastinating and just do it! USLegalForms.com makes it easy for you to leave this legacy for under $30.
10. Quit your J-O-B.
Don’t love your job? Then quit it! Find your passion and do work that truly matters to you. Yes, even in this economy you can quit your job—just be smart about it. Think it through. Have a plan, and be wise about your decisions. Consider this.
11. Pass on the weirdness!
It’s cool to be weird! Tell others about your journey to weirdness and how you’re changing your life for the best. Send them our weekly email challenges, pass along your budgeting knowledge, or invite them to a free Financial Peace University class. Dave has so many resources available for you and your friends that there’s definitely something for everyone.
Okay what will I do this year to improve myself by being weird?
I already do number 3 .. meal planning this does help us to eat more at home which saves us big $.
I have started to do freezer cooking which I think is the way to go. Having meals of Chili and Spaghetti sauce in my freezer makes some nights so easy.
We already have our Wills #9 could use a small update probably.
What I think I need to do is take more time reading # 2.
I will have to take a look at what Dave has on his reading list. I want to read more American history books. I into my family genealogy and this goes along with this perfectly.
# 7 Dream and goals ..hubby and I have been working on that the last few days.. we know what we need to do just have to get going...
What do you plan to do to make next year better?
Thanks for stopping by... Lets keep saving together .. and please remember Never Under Estimate The Value Of A Small Amount Of Money... Grace
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Not Your Every Day Sloppy Joe's ... Whats For Dinner Tonight Totally Yummy !!
I have shared this recipe before but never added to the food blogs so since it is on the menu for this week I am sharing again.
Tonight for dinner I am making one of my favorites. This is full of childhood memories. As a young girl in gradeschool my best friend was Patty D. Her mother would invite me and my sister over for lunch once in awhile and would make us Sloppy Joes. This is not your normal tomato soup Sloppy Joes. The taste is amazing and you really should give it a try.
Okay I have to admit I love Sloppy Joe's. Big Sloppy Sloppy Joe's . The meat sauce hanging out of the bun Sloppy Joe's. So here is my recipe...
Brown one pound of hamburger, spoon the grease off.
season to taste with pepper and salt.
To this I add 1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup ( Mrs. D also added a can of Chicken Gumbo soup but the thrifty side of me ignores this and they are still great).
After mixing this up real good I squirt a good amount of mustard and ketchup into the meat mixture. Continue to let simmer till nice and bubbly. Makes 4 Sloppy Joe's This will give us each 1 for tonight and 2 for another meal later in the week)
I am posting at
Sunday at One Feature
Saturday Party at Recipes of a Cheapskate
Hunk Of Meat Monday
Monday Mania
Home Maker Monday
Delicious Dishes at It's A Blog Party
Tuesday Night Supper Club
Tasty Tuesday at Beautiful Mess
Tuesday At The Table
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Dr Laura's Tasty Tuesday
Take A Look Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
Real Food Wednesday
Works For Me Wednesday
Pennywise Platter Thursday
Life At Mom's on Thursday
There you go easy, thrifty and so tasty...
Thanks for stopping by.. Grace
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Things I Do And Can Do To Save Money
While I was drinking my coffee this morning ( at home ) and wandering around looking for new blogs (to me), I came across the Nourishing Cook and her blog post from yesterday. I have found that the best way for me to find new blogs is to become part of a blog party and then choose a few to read.
Here is a plug for one of my favorite blogs to find new people to read Real Food Wednesday
Well I am always on the hunt to look for ways to save money so off to her site I went to see what she had to say. 25 Things I do to Save Money over at the Nourishing Cook.
1. We have already gotten rid of our land line and bundled cable and Internet connection # 9 on her list.
2. We cook at home a lot more and eat out less which of course saves us a lot of money # 6 on her list. I agree it is a lot healthier than eating out. There portions are way to big.
3. We also brew our own coffee and rarely go to a coffee shop. Hubby does not like the fancy blends ( Folgers for him) and I buy my flavored coffee creamer on sale. I do have to admit while Christmas shopping yesterday I did buy a medium Mocha coffee using white chocolate. My goodness what a treat but a $4.00 treat. #10 on her list.
4. We do not go out shopping unless it is something we really need and then we price compare and if possible by used.. #5 and # 7 on her list.
5. We are cutting back on meat, instead of 1 pound of ground beef we are cutting back to 3/4 pounds. (not noted on her list but I guess it is part of her eating at home savings)
6. We buy our books at used bookstores or thrift stores and garage sales.
We sell books on eBay, amazon and on our own site.
These we have to find in good condition and mainly at thrift stores and estate sales.They have to be specific books and not the common titles.
I do not have a kindle and will not get one. They are the killer of the used bookstores plus the economy is hurting the used bookstores also. Support the independent business owner by shopping there once in awhile. # 5 and #11 on her list of saving money.
Other ways we save money
7. We do not use cash machines unless they are hooked to our bank. I hate ATM fees and would only do so in an emergency.
8. We use cash only no credit cards so no finance charges other than our car payment. We use our debit card if buying something or paying something on line.
9. Using coupons when possible but I do not buy something just because of the coupon. We price compare products.
10. Drive a used car rather than buying a new car. Drive off the new car lot and money is thrown out the window immediately. Would of been perfect if we had been able to save up the money and paid cash for the car. I did buy used from my nephew Brett who buys and sells cars in Houston so I did get a good deal.
11. Hubby pays the majority of our bills on line which saves postage costs.
12. We no longer drink Alcohol or smoke that saves us a ton of money and is improving our health.
13. We rarely go to the movie theater and mainly watch movies on no additional cost cable tv or buy at garage sales. We do not have HBO etc.
14. I do register my coke rewards that gives me some free coke, but I have not bought any coke to bring home in a month or more which is saving us $30.00 a month. I get my rewards when I buy it as a special treat or from sons.
15. We buy our gasoline from independant gas stations that can save us 02 cents to 10 cents a gallon. Plus we attempt to consolidate our shopping trips to cut down on gas.
16. We shopped for car insurance and saved $ this year.
What we can do to save money that we have not as of yet.
1. Start making my own refried beans, Nourishing Cook had a posting on Tips for making of Beans, but no recipe for her refried beans. I have never made refried beans. I never ate them till about 2 to 3 years ago, when we lived in southern California and the Houston Texas area. I have slowly fallen in love with them and now on the look for a good recipe.
Now guys please do not laugh. I grew up in northern Minnesota with lots of white colored food. Mash pototos, Mac and Cheese, Chicken gravy and even lutefisk ( never ate it ) My idea of Mexican food was Chi Chi's until then.
2. We plan to look for ways to cut our health insurance cost after the first of the year by shopping for a new policy and upping our deductible.
3. Start using swagbucks for searches more than the other big name search engine. I would love to work towards get gift cards
Here is a plug for one of my favorite blogs to find new people to read Real Food Wednesday
Well I am always on the hunt to look for ways to save money so off to her site I went to see what she had to say. 25 Things I do to Save Money over at the Nourishing Cook.
1. We have already gotten rid of our land line and bundled cable and Internet connection # 9 on her list.
2. We cook at home a lot more and eat out less which of course saves us a lot of money # 6 on her list. I agree it is a lot healthier than eating out. There portions are way to big.
3. We also brew our own coffee and rarely go to a coffee shop. Hubby does not like the fancy blends ( Folgers for him) and I buy my flavored coffee creamer on sale. I do have to admit while Christmas shopping yesterday I did buy a medium Mocha coffee using white chocolate. My goodness what a treat but a $4.00 treat. #10 on her list.
4. We do not go out shopping unless it is something we really need and then we price compare and if possible by used.. #5 and # 7 on her list.
5. We are cutting back on meat, instead of 1 pound of ground beef we are cutting back to 3/4 pounds. (not noted on her list but I guess it is part of her eating at home savings)
6. We buy our books at used bookstores or thrift stores and garage sales.
We sell books on eBay, amazon and on our own site.
These we have to find in good condition and mainly at thrift stores and estate sales.They have to be specific books and not the common titles.
I do not have a kindle and will not get one. They are the killer of the used bookstores plus the economy is hurting the used bookstores also. Support the independent business owner by shopping there once in awhile. # 5 and #11 on her list of saving money.
Other ways we save money
7. We do not use cash machines unless they are hooked to our bank. I hate ATM fees and would only do so in an emergency.
8. We use cash only no credit cards so no finance charges other than our car payment. We use our debit card if buying something or paying something on line.
9. Using coupons when possible but I do not buy something just because of the coupon. We price compare products.
10. Drive a used car rather than buying a new car. Drive off the new car lot and money is thrown out the window immediately. Would of been perfect if we had been able to save up the money and paid cash for the car. I did buy used from my nephew Brett who buys and sells cars in Houston so I did get a good deal.
11. Hubby pays the majority of our bills on line which saves postage costs.
12. We no longer drink Alcohol or smoke that saves us a ton of money and is improving our health.
13. We rarely go to the movie theater and mainly watch movies on no additional cost cable tv or buy at garage sales. We do not have HBO etc.
14. I do register my coke rewards that gives me some free coke, but I have not bought any coke to bring home in a month or more which is saving us $30.00 a month. I get my rewards when I buy it as a special treat or from sons.
15. We buy our gasoline from independant gas stations that can save us 02 cents to 10 cents a gallon. Plus we attempt to consolidate our shopping trips to cut down on gas.
16. We shopped for car insurance and saved $ this year.
What we can do to save money that we have not as of yet.
1. Start making my own refried beans, Nourishing Cook had a posting on Tips for making of Beans, but no recipe for her refried beans. I have never made refried beans. I never ate them till about 2 to 3 years ago, when we lived in southern California and the Houston Texas area. I have slowly fallen in love with them and now on the look for a good recipe.
Now guys please do not laugh. I grew up in northern Minnesota with lots of white colored food. Mash pototos, Mac and Cheese, Chicken gravy and even lutefisk ( never ate it ) My idea of Mexican food was Chi Chi's until then.
2. We plan to look for ways to cut our health insurance cost after the first of the year by shopping for a new policy and upping our deductible.
3. Start using swagbucks for searches more than the other big name search engine. I would love to work towards get gift cards
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
What's For Dinner .. Hubby's Rich "Sloppy " Burgers
I have been married to my hubby for over 20 years and early on he won me over with some of his recipes.
His beef stroganoff is fantastic and usually on the menu New Years Eve if we are staying in town. I would rather be in Vegas but with living on a budget and no longer spending money on credit cards that has not happened in a couple of years.
The other item he cooked for me early on were what he called rich burgers and boy are they rich in taste.
That is what we had last night.
Ingredients ( he does not measure so this is a guess)
3/4 pound of ground beef
about 1/3 bottle of ketchup
handful of brown sugar
Lawry salt and pepper
He browns the hamburger then spoons off the grease.
Next goes all the ingredients.
Simmer for 15 to 30 minutes
Once done this is spooned generously on hamburger buns where he has placed a slice of Velveeta cheese.
His beef stroganoff is fantastic and usually on the menu New Years Eve if we are staying in town. I would rather be in Vegas but with living on a budget and no longer spending money on credit cards that has not happened in a couple of years.
The other item he cooked for me early on were what he called rich burgers and boy are they rich in taste.
That is what we had last night.
Ingredients ( he does not measure so this is a guess)
3/4 pound of ground beef
about 1/3 bottle of ketchup
handful of brown sugar
Lawry salt and pepper
He browns the hamburger then spoons off the grease.
Next goes all the ingredients.
Simmer for 15 to 30 minutes
Once done this is spooned generously on hamburger buns where he has placed a slice of Velveeta cheese.
This serves 4 .. for us it gives us 2 meals.
Served with chips, dip and maybe some beans and you have a easy, very tasty meal.
Thanks for stopping by... Grace
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