WIP Wednesday 9/28/11

I admit that I've not found the time to work on much at all this past week.  In fact, I jammed things in this morning just to be able to do this post today!

I've been getting some orders in, which is great.  One order is for 24 purple dishscrubbies.  I've done nothing more than buy some of the netting.  I will be starting on those here in a bit.

Here is a picture of the strips I am sewing together  for another jelly roll type quilt at church.  I hope to have the top done before the next sewing club meeting Oct. 11.

I have the material out to work on finishing up the lap quilt I am making.  I have worked further than the picture by ironing and laying it out.  I found my bottom piece wasn't the right size so I have it cut to sew to make it fit.  I also had to piece together the blue for the middle.  My goal is to complete this quilt by Saturday morning so wish me luck please.

I have the back cut and pinned for the Christmas table runner.  It won't take me long at all to sew around and get it finished to list in my etsy store!

It's so sad how many things I see around in my boxes and on my shelves.  Projects that I am hankering to get started on.  So many that I don't even know where to start!  I have an online party coming up the week of Oct. 3 so I am in hopes of completing a couple more things for my shop before the party.  Again, wish me luck.

I am linking up my post with:

Homeschool Week in Review

Last week I wrote about my frustrations of being away from home so much and feeling like we weren't getting much schoolwork in.

The week ended up better than I thought as I did end up getting to stay home 2 days of the week.  Both of those days we did get in all subjects.  That is such a nice feeling!

One of the other days when I had running to do, we took schoolwork in the car with us.  I have to take my mom a lot of places, so Jasmine and I can work on schoolwork while she is inside different places.  That actually ends up working out quite well.

Let me explain a little bit---I do a lot of reading out loud to Jasmine.  Yes, she is almost 15, and perfectly capable of reading to herself.  However, I enjoy reading out loud to her and learning along with her.  Also, her learning style has proven that she gets more out of being read out loud to than reading it herself.

On one of our trips away from home Jasmine took her laptop along.  It seems she is writing a story that I didn't even know about.  She was up to chapter 3.  I will ask her to share her story with me once it's done....and I plan on sharing it online as well.

For the weekend Jasmine went off to a youth convention with the youth group she attends.  Those are always educational, but also physical.  They played lots of games, did lots of walking and swam too.  This is helpful for our PE time.

Lesson learned---rant all I want, but in the long run, learning is going on all the time regardless of whether I feel it is or not.  Relax, have a good time, and don't sweat the small stuff.

This week is looking great and it's only Tuesday, but I will be reporting on that last week.  I'm hoping to start getting some pictures taken.  I have done squidoo lenses with our journals.  This year I'm doing just one lens but haven't taken the time to get it started yet.

 

Mailbox Monday 9/26/11

I kept the mailman pretty busy this week.
I got my usual plethora of magazines: 2 issues of Ok!, Entertainment Weekly, Businessweek, Sports Illustrated, People, and Time
Several other pieces of hausernet mail
Coupon booklet from Dillon's
coupon inserts to cut from a gather friend (guess what I'm going to work on the rest of this day while on the computer)
Texas travel guide, accomidations guide and state map (I will use this as part of Jasmine's schooling)
The Christian Zombie Killer Handbook for review from booksneeze.com (I joined a long time ago then never did anything with it)
Subway Every Day Fit Kit which includes a calendar/activity book with reward stickers, a poster, and 2 pedometers (the kids lost one of the pedometers already and this too is going to be used with Jasmine as part of her schooling)
Coupon train
10% off order PetCo coupon
The only thing in my paypal this week was .06 from pecomail (she sold the website)

Just Over 50% Savings at Wal Mart

I know that 50% savings doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but it was great...and fun too.
If we had bought only items with coupons we would have had about an 85% savings!

We bought these items without coupons:
All You Magazine (there were several coupons in my home issue that I knew I wanted more of)
dry cat food
canned cat food
fish food
lunch meat
shredded cheese
2 ltrs of soda
bread and
netting

Here are the deals:
Carnation Instant Breakfast--$4.96 - $1 coupon
9 Cascade Complete 3 pack trial packs at .97 each.  I used 6 $1 coupons for a total of .18 overage.  I also used 3-.50 coupons.   This made each one just under .14 each.
3 Degree travel size deoderants at .97 each--used 3-$1 coupons for .09 overage.
2 Head & Shoulders travel size at .97 each.  Used 2-$1 coupons for .06 overage
2 Schick disposable razor 12 packs at $2.97 each.  Used $6/2 coupon for .06 overage
3- Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioners at .97 each.  Used 3-$1 coupons for .09 ovrage
Ben Gay Ultra Strength at $5.98--used $5 coupon making it .98  (I needed this for sore muscles!)
2-Oxy Clean Sprays at $2.77 each.  Used $3/2 coupon making them $1.27 each. 
Crave Cat treats at $1.47--used free coupon
Activia French at $1--used free coupon

In total we spent $30.73 and I used $32.97 in coupons.   $4.75 of what we paid was sales tax.

By my calculations if we had just bought the items with coupons we would have spent $11.74--however when I add up the items without coupons and their sales tax I come up with we would have only spent $9.59.  I know for some reason some of the sales tax comes off when you use coupons.  So I will be happy saying we would have spent $10 on just the items with coupons.

Happy Shopping!  I can't wait to get to go coupon shopping again.

Lots Going on in My Business World--Shop Hop Saturday 9/24

I'm still working on getting myself prepared for my presentation spots at the Spoooky Celebration with the Online Craft Mall. I have my spots set. You will find me presenting on Monday Oct. 3 from 8-8:45 pm CST and on Friday October 7 from 3-3:45 pm CST. Spots are still available but must be purchased by Monday, September 26 to get in on the action. This is truly a fun time. I just ended a giveaway here on my blog to give away a free spot. I only had 2 entrants. I think the online parties are something that not many know about, but I do know that hundreds, or even thousands of my connections online sell their wares online.



I added another set of the Country Yellow washcloths to my etsy store as well as a set of 3 in Cream.

Cotton Crocheted Washcloth...

marsha32

$6.00 USD

I am in hopes of completing a lap quilt and a Christmas table runner for my new listings next week.

I move 3 more items over to my Zibbet store giving me 17 listings there now.  I still have several more items to get moved over this next week. 

I put up 3 new listings on Listia today:

25 Box Tops for Education 

Cute Autumn/Fall Bookmarks--Set of 5 

Cute Halloween Bookmarks--Set of 5 

If you aren't a member listia, it's a really neat website.  Use your points to buy things that you want and need from others.  It's a bidding site with your points.  You can use this link to sign up and receive  100 bonus points for signing up.  You can easily earn points to bid on items even if you don't "sell" anything yourself by sharing auctions, logging in etc.   Over my time as a member I have filled goody bags of small items for 4 of my grandchildren, I've gotten a movie, 7 or 8 music cd's, a quilt book, 2 shipments of fabric, thread, and a lot more!

I believe that is it for my report today.  I am linking up with the Shop Hop Saturday over at abitosunshine.  Come hop along with us!

 

Frugal Friday Link Up--Uses for Dried Beans

It's Friday and we are heading in to the weekend.
I did get caught up on my mailbox posts by putting 2 weeks in to one. That post will be linked up today.

I've been entering more blog giveaways and hey I've actually won a few things along the way. Last night I made up the 250 flyers that I won in a UPrinting giveaway. Of course I made them to advertise my blog. I got word last night that I won $25 in Del Monte fresh fruit and veggie certificates.

Moving along in the 99 Cent Solutions book, we are up to uses for dried beans. Dried beans aren't near as cheap as they used to be that's for sure, but they are still relatively inexpensive whether you buy them at the grocery store or at the dollar store. In addition to being cheap and a great source of protein, they are great for other things too like:

1. Train a dog. Most dogs hate the sound of dried beans rattling in a can. Put a handful of dried beans in an empty soda can and seal the top with tape. When your dog misbehaves, shake the can a couple of times.

2. Make a close fitting hot pad. Soothe aching muscles with a custom fit hot pad. Fill a long sock with beans and tie the top tightly with a sting or ribbon, Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds and place it right on the painful spot. (I could use one of these this morning on my aching neck) You can drape it around a stiff neck or wrap it around a sore wrist (hey, I need one for my wrist too). It will mold to you, providing faster relief.

3. Prevent a scorched pan. Have a lot of pans on the stove? Toss a small handful of beans in the bottom of a double boiler or a steamer, and as the water boils down, the beans will rattle. This trick only works when you are boiling water for less than 30 minutes as any longer and the beans will start to cook. (I assume this is just to remind you that you are cooking??)

4. Make a beanbag. Put 1 cup of beans in the toe of a cotton sock, and tie a knot in the remaining material, pushing it down till the know is close up against the beans. Make two more and you have a great juggling set or start of a bean bag toss for kids. Set your kids up with a few beanbags and a clean wastebasket and they are ready for hours of fun. (I've made tons of beanbags over the years and the kids do love them. I made them with material sewn over a sock though. I have numerous bags of beans in the cabinet. Beanbag games is a great though for Christmas gifts!)

Now it's your turn. Please link up any frugal, money saving, simple life, cheap menus, etc type posts that you have posted this past week (or today)

Darius Lux--Time is Now Album Review and Giveaway

Darius Lux's official website states that his music is soulful, thoughtful, rockin', urban, and pop. I can see all of this in the 6 songs on his album Time is Now.

The 6 songs include:
No Problem
Way That It Goes
Best Day
What I Feel
Time is Now and
World Keeps on Turnin' Live

If I have to pick a favorite of the six I will choose World Keep on Turnin', but all of them have a good beat and are enjoyable to listen to.

If you live in the Los Angeles area you can RSVP for a free live show on Sept. 30, 2011 at the Good Hurt Club. They will also be performing in Northern California on October 2, 2011 at the Castro Street fair at 2 pm on the Red Rock stage.

Check out their first music video ever--"Best Day" (I love this video!)



Enter below for your chance to win the album!!

Disclaimer: I was sent the digital download of the album from LaFamos for the purpose of my review. I was not compensated in any other way, all opinions are my own. LaFamos is providing the album to be given to the winner.

Squidoo Blog Hopping 9/22/11--Linky

Good morning and welcome to this week's squidoo blog hop! This blog post marks my 1000th post since I started this blog!!

I love squidoo and have so many lenses that I need to take the time to get built.

A lot  of this past week has been working to promote the Spoooky Celebration that I will be participating in coming up soon.   Since it's an online party, I went in last night and updated my Online Parties lens.  This lens lets you know more about what an online party is and I've added an announcement box to put in info on any online parties that I am taking part in.

A couple of weeks ago I built another book review lens--  Finances Without Fear.  I think I forgot to mention it.  Boy do I have tons of other book review lenses that I can build!

In looking at my comments this morning, I found out that my My Toothbrush Rug lens is highlighted in Bonnie's 50 Crafts I Want to Try lens.  How cool is that?  Now I'm going to have to spend the rest of this day checking out the other lenses she has highlighted and get inspired to keep on working.

Time to get busy so I hope to see many of you link up this week!

WIP Wednesday 9/21 (and 9/14 catch up)

Last week was so busy away from home, mostly with the Kansas State fair in town, but also it was sewing club week.
Since last Tuesday I've not working on anything but finishing up the rest of the cotton washcloths that I had yarn for. I'm happy to say that I did finally get all of those crocheted.  I also worked on the baby bibs but they won't be completed until I find time to get my sewing machine out again.

I have other projects that I hope to complete over this next week. Wish me luck time wise. I also have order for dish scrubbies that will have me making a total of 36 of those at the moment.




Here is the top of the jelly roll quilt that I was putting together for sewing club at church.

Once I got to sewing club last week I sewed edging material on to the jelly roll to make it a larger size.  I found a bottom material and a middle and pinned them all together.  In this photo one of the other gals in club is working on tieing it.

I just had to share our clubs completed quilt that we are sending to Global Missions.  We also were to choose a 2nd one to send.  We  sent the strip quilt that I did the top on and the other gals finished it up with an edge and brown backing.

This is a Christmas table runner top.  It won't take me long to get the back on it and sewn, it's just a matter of getting it done.

That's it for my report this week.  I can always hope that the busiest of my days is over now for awhile.


I am linking up with the following blogs:

How Do You Handle a Busy Life and Finding Time for School?

Just how you handle the stress of having a very busy life outside the home and trying to find time for schoolwork??
Maybe the real question is how NOT to have such a busy life outside of the home?

Last week the Kansas State fair was in town. we were so busy away from home I didn't even do a bolg post here about our homeschool! But, let's go to the week before that.

We are early in to the school year and I'm already feeling major stress over lack of time at home and the lack of "book work" that is getting done. I keep weekly notes of what we get done. This year Jasmine is in high school. This means that not only am I jotting down what we do, but I am also keeping track of how much time is spent on each thing. The week of September 4th was a holiday week. Labor day meant no school for the grandkids. With them home all day, doing school work with Jasmine is virtually impossible.

Here is what I have down in my notebook: Church 60 minutes---Bible study 90 minutes--Guideposts devotions a total of 17 minutes---reading in book for history a total of 75 minutes---math 60 minutes--Home Ec reading 15 minutes---English 120 minutes----Science 22 minutes----Reading on her own 15 minutes----youth group 120 minutes, (When I type it out this way it doesn't look so bad I guess, and it is early in the school year---maybe I just need to relax??)

This past week of Sept 11 was horrible for me. We spent endless hours at the Kansas State Fair. Four of those hours was with the Headstart class, the rest on our own. I have made myself a list of different education things we did at the fair such as visiting the petting zoo, the animal birthing center etc. I've also included a lot of the walking time as PE time. But man, with those trips to the fair we only did most subjects just ONCE for the entire week (as far as working in our stack of books)

This is the week of Sept. 18---didn't start well when I have to be gone yesterday almost 5 hours with my mom to a dr. appt. I wasn't prepared to be away and all I asked Jasmine to do was to work on cleaning her room! Once home all I thought about was a nap. Wait!! I want to talk about this week next Tuesday so I'm going to stop.

This is more of a rant than anything else......a way for me to get my stress and frustrations off of my chest. However, I do want to know how many others are out there like me and having this time problem.

I am now linking up weekly (or attempting to) with: