Non-Consumer Mish-Mash -- Code Names & John Prine
Life here at Casa Wolk-Stanley has been busy, so today's blog post is going to lean heavily into a little bit of this, a little bit of that.
My sister thrifted this game as a hostess gift and we've been playing it at the end of the day as it's super fun. It seems to be the perfect combination of luck and skill.
The oatmeal breakfast buffet has made a second appearance and is the ideal compliment to a pair of rich restaurant meals from yesterday.
We took our 83-year-old mother to the Goodwill Outlet bins, (her favorite place on earth) although we only stayed for a few minutes as she tuckered out pretty quickly. I bought a couple pieces of American Girl doll clothing, but didn't bring home this John Prine prayer candle.
I never knew he had such creepy yellowed fingers.
We've also been watching an episode here and there of the Great British Sewing Bee, which is made extra enjoyable by the hilariously incorrect subtitles.
Umm . . . I'm pretty sure it's Leopard skin," not "leper skin!"
I sadly broke my Clark Howard mug, which was a gift from the Clark Howard show from when I wrote for them. I reached out to see if they have any extras laying around the office, but all of my contacts no longer work for the company.
I try to reframe dish breaking as "decluttering," which puts a nice spin on the inevitable loss of dishware.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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Some little tings here as well
1. Boiled my dish rags (learned that either here or from The Frugal Girl) to refresh them. Once boiled in soapy water on the stove I’ll run them through the wash first extra refreshes.
2. Eating things out of the freezer for lunch. Hubby had potato leek bacon soup, pear sauce and cheese bread. I’m having cheese bread and some still to be determined random soup from said freezer.
3. This is the second day in a row I haven’t gone anywhere. No $ spent, no gas used.
4. Organizing, decluttering, and putting stuff away to keep life simple.
5. Didn’t use the “F” word or threaten to annihilate a whole county because I didn’t get my own way.
1. I walked today with a friend for free exercise for me and the dog.
2. I sold five items on Ebay. I packaged them with some purchased and some recycled materials.
3. I picked up a couple items at an estate sale to resell.
4. I also didn't threaten genocide because things didn't go my way.
My condolences on your mug!!
1. Brought my own coffee and breakfast into the office yesterday and, as always, sipped on filtered water all day. The office water is colder and tastes "fresher" than other water - who knows how? But those who drink a lot of water know the difference.
2. Have been perusing new shoes as my ankles and feet need more support and my professional shoe collection is down to zero. There is a pair of dansko sandals that I've been lusting after for a year. I went on DSW's website and turns out they had a buy one get one 50% off sale going. I reined myself in - paying for 1.5 pairs of shoes is still more than not buying new shoes - and closed the window.
3. Alternately, I got a really great top off my facebook swap group and I love the brand, WAYF (stands for Where Are You From?) It's a pricey brand to buy new but I'm glad to know that their stuff fits me well and that I like the style. I'll keep an eye out on poshmark and other thrifty spots in the future.
4. Traveling again! Staying with friends to avoid hotel costs and carpooling around. It'll be a more frugal trip than most, but also: this is what I save for and I'm excited to go.
5. I am in favor of my local congressmember calling to invoke 25th amendment. Enough.
You could still use your Clark cup as a pencil holder. Esp. if you have some gorilla glue around the house. Great conversation piece...I did not know you ever wrote for Clark.
1. Instead of paying for real Rx eyeglasses, I've been making do with "cheaters". Some have broken and they were all from our store...it sells cheap stuff but the glasses had flimsy frames. So I got a couple of sturdier pairs from Walmart. For just about the same price.
2. Didn't like the plain curtains that came in the same package with my floral print bedspread, so I gave the window treatments to the cleaning lady. She was thrilled with them. She's hanging them up in her new apartment. It has insulated windows so it doesn't matter if the curtain fabric is thin.
3. Gave the Killing Patton book that I got from a LFL to the yard man, who is a fellow history buff and didn't care if the book had a bit of water damage.
4. The store where I work raised the price on its large cans of tomato juice -- so I bought the last one that had the old, lower price on its price sticker. We honor what is on the price tags. So I paid $2.14 instead of $2.30.
5. Used Gas Buddy, drove halfway across town, and paid $3.65 a gallon when I filled up. Ouch! But it could be worse: Nearer my house, gasoline is $3.75 to $3.99, depending on where you go. OUCH!!!
My family loves Codenames. It does seem like the ideal game for a group.
I put a few more things on eBay. I find myself roaming around the house, muttering "What can I sell next?"
I made tuna salad for lunch, but too late I realized I was out of sweet pickle relish. I made do with chopped celery and a little sugar/vinegar combo. It wasn't the same, but at least I didn't rush out and buy the relish. I did put it on my list, though.
I made appointments for physical therapy, which are so far out, I might be healed by the time they roll around.
I forgot to mention earlier that I gave my grandson an Easter box instead of an Easter basket. The box was in a very cool springlike pattern, and I found it in the alley several years ago. It's been tucked away all this time, waiting for a purpose, which came this Easter! I filled it with Cadbury eggs, which I got in a BOGO offer. He also got some cash, which my other grandkids got as well, but no candy, since they are all far away.
Too bad about the mug!
1) I walked to and from the bus stop today, instead of having my partner drive me down (it's a bit more than a mile each way, down a one lane country road). The sun was out and it was a beautiful day, so the walk was exercise, a pleasure, and didn't require using up any gas.
2) If I can do it, the (20 year old) kids can, too! They've been informed that we'll only drive down to pick them up if the weather is nasty, since our road tends to flood every time it rains. We drive an ancient Prius, and the last fill-up was $50, so every bit saved is a good thing.
3) I brought my lunch with me to campus and did not give in to the siren song of an iced coffee. Water is fine, and its free.
4) We had leftover lentil stew for dinner last night. There was a bit more than a bowl left, so this morning I put it in the freezer. I have a night next week when I get home late, so I will extend it to being two bowls with a bit of broth and I'll serve it with grilled cheese so a fast, stress-free dinner. A gift for future me!
5) I'm making a peanut noodle stirfry tonight, and I will toss in the last of the Asian sesame salad kit I got on clearance at Fred Meyer's on Friday. It's mainly cabbage and carrots, so perfect for stirfry.
1. My sister cleaned out her closet and offered it to me before she donated it. I took a pair of black flats, a wallet, a purse, a top and 2 pairs of pants.
2. I ran to Aldi before work. I needed milk, eggs and OJ. They had Reece's PB Bunny cereal on clearance for 99 cents a box. I bought all 3. My son loves it.
3. Wendy's had a free fries and frosty today because of some basketball thing. I go past 2 on my ride home so I got 2 of each. Made hotdogs at home to go with them.
4. My friend gives me her receipts so I scanned those in.
5. On the way to work, my friend asked me to stop at CVS to pickup a prescription for her mom. I take car of her mom. I looked at the Easter clearance but didn't buy anything. I did get a $4 off my next purchase so I will use that before it expires.
I sat on my doorstep and wept this afternoon. The evil is unspeakable.
And my dearest mother-in-law is dying in a horrific way.
All the rest just seems pointless.
But it rallied myself to plant some seeds for flowers (given to me by a friend). This seemed a hopeful activity.
I made a simple dinner, sold a bedframe for my daughter, and watched soccer on TV.
I agree, the evil is unspeakable. And will continue, I believe.
I'm sorry about your mother-in-law
Kara, I understand. I'm glad you rallied with a few activities. We will get through this. I don't know how, but we will.
Kara, I'm sorry that your MIL (and you) are suffering. As for the other thing, I add my vote to LB's for invoking the 25th Amendment.
Kara, I'm so sorry about your MIL.
I'm so sorry your mother in law is dying in a hard way. I hope she gets some relief. Thinking of you all.
I am so sorry about your dear mother in law’s suffering. I agree that there is much to cry over. I pray it will all change but each day seem worse than the day before. Planting seeds is positive. May your mother in law find sone peace. And you too.
So sorry for your dear mil... may she have some peaceful times. I too find that planting anything helps the "blues"...reminded that I am going to plant some tiger lily bubs for the first time. Even if not successful lifts my spirits. (And frugal ).
Aww Kara, when it all piles up and feels hopeless, sometimes sitting and weeping IS the appropriate response, even if only for a moment.
Planting the flowers for "future you" is an action that will get you moving, often what we need to pick ourselves up for the next few steps. In the summer when they are blooming I hope they remind you of your Mother In Law during the good times.
Big hugs
Walked 2 doors down and played cards with 3 neighbors.We do this every other week,trading houses, hostess makes light lunch.Enjoyed a free lunch today of quiche,broccoli salad and grapes.STAYED ON MY FOOD PLAN and avoided the nuts,chips and cookies! A WIN!! Health= frugal!!
Came home and made liniguini and clams,for supper, a surprisingly inexpensive delish meal we love.. canned clams, tomatoes,etc.. used last bits of greens from the big tub, had to hand pick it so as not to eat the slimy ones left at bottom, but with some shaved carrots, chopped zucchini, a bit of the arugula, it came together as a salad for 2. My new FAMR BASKET comes tomorrow so I am using up the bits and bobs of veggies in refrig.
Read my new LIBRARY BOOKS..had a zero cost library date with husband yesterday and we walked around the lake while there for free exercise (and fun!)
Planning a whole lot of time AT HOME this week.Menu planning, some art projects, clean the bathrooms, read read and read, and I might bake a pie if strawberries are on sale tomorrow at WiNCO ( a piece of pie is on the food plan once in a while! If I’m gonna eat sugar I want excellent homemade pie, not COSTCO dry cookies!)
I did NOT start WW 3 or destabilize the world economy with any of my actions today.
The greeting card is getting some interest on eBay, but no bids yet. Fingers crossed that someone bites. I am also looking around my house to see what I can sell next.
My hubby, who works at the transfer station in our town, has had a bumper week. He has brought home a large dresser, small dresser, and two bed side tables - all matching, Amish made, for our daughter’s house. Two outside storage cabinets - also for daughter. A router - goes to our son. A shovel and brand new rake. A kayak and a canoe.
He turned last night’s chili into baked chili with a cornbread topping.
I’ve challenged myself to mail 30 pieces of happy mail this month. I’m doing pretty good so far.
Working overtime every chance I get.
Alice, I love your "happy mail" challenge!!!
"I try to reframe dish breaking as "decluttering," which puts a nice spin on the inevitable loss of dishware." You missed your calling for working in corp america marketing department.
George Orwell would call it "doublespeak."
I signed up for signsofjustice.com. It's a website that encourages writing to your representatives and sells yard signs and t-shirts promoting equality and democracy, etc. They designed postcards and do a coordinated wave at the first of every month where we all send postcards to our reps. The theory is that the reps will get a ton of mail at the same time with the same message. Instead of printing off new postcards every month, I handwrite the message the group is focusing onto upcycled pasteboard. Cereal boxes, granola packaging, cake mix boxes--anything that is cardstock weight and has a blank spot for writing. I cut them up to postcard measurements. Usps.com lists the dimension you can mail with postcard postage. I have a lot of gifted stamps to use up so even the postage is free! This month, I handwrote over 50 postcards to my state reps and every single one who voted to fund the war in Iran according to a Newsweek article.
eBay sales have stayed steady at about one a week. Like Alice and Beth W, I am looking around my house for things to sell. I had only purchased one of the items I've sold. The rest are all gifts or hand-me-downs I didn't use so they're off to their new homes. Every one in scrounged, repurposed packaging.
Got a Too Good to Go bag of groceries from a locally owned market in an historically underserved neighborhood near my job. The app has been pretty good to me lately. I got a full gallon of milk, a single steak, cup of rice pudding, and three large muffins for $6. I grabbed a few other items for all near Wal-Mart pricing.
Lifting my spirits about the dearth of humanity from the US govt by watching videos of the Artemis II astronauts.
Thanks for the tip about Signs of Justice, BelleStar. I've signed up for the newsletter. I confess that I burned out on 5calls.org after a while, simply because I dislike making phone calls, and the postcard approach appeals to me more. (And I've got postcards and postage coming out my ears!)
Good for you for all your postcard writing, and I love the reuse of cereal boxes and the like. The occasional crafter that lives in my body got itching with the idea of applying a modgepodge collage to the printed side - a way to glue the slogans that make you laugh on the 'wrong side' while you write your message on the 'write side' (see what I did there). However, modgepodging 50 postcards, oy vey
In Canada we can send mail to our members of Parliament (Federal) for free. Still costs to send to our Members of the Legislature, though (Provincial)/
1. I noticed my 14 year old son had taken the lid off his almost-empty shampoo and mixed it with water to get out the last drop. I've trained him well!
2. My husband just renovated the basement closet using only lumber and supplies he already had in his workshop. He did a phenomenal job and spent less than $100!
3. We are working on encouraging our 14 year old to not be so picky. He used to turn his nose up at off-brand Cola, but since that's all we have in the house it's amazing how it is getting consumed. (He only has 1-2 per week!). Since Coke is close to $10 per 12 pack here in Ontario there is no way we are paying that!
4. The freezer deep dive is still underway and we could probably eat another 10-12 days out of it. We are working on using our freezer more efficiently so nothing sits in there too long.
5. We have opted out of creating our own vegetable garden this year. My dad's garden grows mountains of tomatoes and basil and other herbs so we're not going to dig up our yard this year.
Made son‘s birthday cake today from a gluten-free chocolate box mix and then made frosting for said cake with chocolate chip chips. Balloon from the dollar store found two candles that matches age, 29.
Used leftover fajita chicken to make enchilada casserole for lunch
Tomorrow is our daughter’s birthday so we’ll make cupcakes to take to bowling. Another dollar store birthday balloon.
Going through closets, linen closet, and bathroom supplies. Realize I never have to buy hair conditioner again in my life time. Using body wash that my kids were gifted and don’t use. Getting rid of all the old stuff that has been squirreled away.
Wrapped presents for the kids, birthdays and whatever bags I had. My daughter‘s new crocs are in an oversized box packed inside a Christmas bag with a happy birthday ribbon.
With the bombing taking out certain factories, I think that birthday balloons will be a thing of the past really soon. Whatever the gas is, the world has just lost the supplier of a goodly portion, and it is also used medically... Sigh
Sorry about your mug. I think of breaking something as decluttering too, but why do I only break things I really like?