Pepper in Some Flexibility

Sometimes, as much as you plan the day, it doesn't go like you had in mind. Not that it's a bad thing, necessarily. Friday was one of those days for me.

I blogged about JBF on Thursday. I had  to drop the clothes off on Friday (of course, the last day for drop off) which has also become Jon and I's coffee date morning with the kiddos. So there was 3 things on my radar...Drop off, Coffee & Run. What I did not have on my radar...Vehicle Maintenance Run, New Glasses, Mall & Dinner Out.

Sometimes life happens. Everything got done, and that is no small task!

When we're having a day like Friday, it's very hard to stay in budget. We actually ate out every meal, I am ashamed to say. While we had planned on eating breakfast out, we had not planned on the other two meals. So how did we do? Well, we spent about $15 for dinner and lunch.

Yumminess!

It's not easy, for sure, maybe it was a little luck even. Lunch was Chick-fil-a spicy chicken biscuits for Jon and I, while the kids had those mini-chick things. Chick-fil-a had advertised the Spicy Chicken was free with purchase. That was a great deal! $6 for lunch for 4 people. Or 3 if you figure the kids between the 2 eat about as much as 1 of us.

Unless they're a bottomless pit that day. Very possible.

When we were home for 2 hours while I ran and the kids rested, I grabbed bananas, oranges and crackers for snack. The kids eat only a small snack, but that day a big one was going to be necessary. I knew that dinner would be pretty far away with phone and glasses needing to be picked up. So they were happy and full until 6:30 when we had another phone pick up after an impromptu mall run followed previous pick ups.

We were right by Sam's and I happened to have a gift card from my mother in law that we decided to use on dinner. Pizza or hotdogs. Neither choice is healthy, but since we eat fairly healthy on a regular basis I don't mind for the sake of convenience once in a while. Total for 5 hotdogs, 2 drinks and a churro...$9.00!

Flexibility certainly helps. But one thing that you need with flexibility, is awareness. Try to know what restaurants where you'll be are kid and budget friendly. Try to throw a few pieces of fruit into your purse or diaper bag, just in case. I try to keep a pack of crackers and bring a bottle of water in the van. You never know when plans will change on a whim!

Clothing Woes

When you have a kid, you learn how expensive clothing is for kids. It is amazing how little humans a tenth of my size can have a pair of jeans that cost as much as mine! In-con-SEE-thable (Princess Bride for some reason is on my mind).

So what do I do? Of course I get the best deals I can.

One thing I've been trying to do is sell the kids' clothes, and use the money to buy them new ones. Here in Tulsa 2 ladies started a franchise called Just Between Friends. It's the biggest consignment sale you've ever seen and it's only twice a year for one week.

*Confession* Last time I sold at JBF, I used the money for new shoes for myself...EEK! Don't worry, the kids didn't suffer. And I have worn the shoes ALOT.

I'm not gonna lie, 2 things that I don't like about JBF is the amount of work it takes to consign your items, and in my personal opinion most people want too much for their items. But you have to realize the flip side as well, you get your money much faster than if you were to go to a regular consignment store. And if you don't sell it all, you have the option to donate the leftovers at the end of the sale without having to take them there. Also, the last 2 days are sale days. 25% for the first sale day, 50% for the last sale day. My favorite days!

There are pro's and con's to every situation.

I took a bunch of the girls' clothes to The Children's Orchard yesterday and they offered me $27 for half a bin. All of the Gymboree dresses and outfits, most of the Chilren's Place clothes and a whole lot more. Um, no thanks. I could make more than that having a garage sale for pity's sake! At least I know, now, about what they value the clothes at. I was thinking it would just be easier to sell it to them, not do any work and have my money that day.

Sure. For about 25% of what I can make. A little work can pay off.

So today, while it's raining outside, I'm tagging and prepping clothes.The above is but a small portion. If you don't hear from me in a few days, I've probably been buried by clothes.

Send help.

Frozen Milk

Have you ever bought a lot of milk because it was on sale, only for it to go bad before you use it all? Me too. I hate wasting.

My mother in law told me that I can freeze milk.

I was very skeptical. How would it taste once it's thawed out? Wouldn't it be bad? Would it spoil while thawing? Nevertheless, I gave it a try.

It tastes the same! It wasn't bad and it didn't spoil! And another thing that I found...I loved to drink the milk when it was still a little frozen. Of course, I like to crunch ice too. But this seems so much better for my teeth!

A tip, though. If you're thawing out whole milk or 2%, make sure you shake it up every so often while it's defrosting. The thicker part thaws last and shaking it helps it to have an even consistency.

We don't use a whole lot of milk, so one gallon will go bad unless I'm making biscuits and gravy. I like to rinse out and use my most recent milk carton to freeze half of the gallon I buy.

What made me think of this? The crunchy milk in my cereal! There's really no rhyme or reason. Have a great Wednesday!

A Little Time For Me and Good Earth Tea

Dear Good Earth Tea,

I love you.

Love, Carmen

To make a short story long, in November Jon and I fasted coffee and sugar for a week. That was hard business! Over that week, though, we started drinking more tea. Celestial Seasoning's Sleepy Time at night and Stash Green Tea during the day. I wasn't a huge fan of the green tea.

Then a couple of weeks ago Jon came home with Good Earth Ginseng Green Tea in Citrus. That literally rocked my world! It's amazing! I didn't even ask how much he paid for it. I usually don't when he comes home with groceries. All I know is I now love it.

Well....we're down to 2 bags. That can present a problem. But God knows I love it, and provided me an awesome deal. I told you before about Reasor's clearance cart. It had a box of Good Earth Chai Tea in it for only $.75...for the box!

Sure it was dented on the side, and had a tear that they taped up, but it's still the maker of the tea I loved so I bought it right away!

Let me insert here that I am not a fan of chai tea. Today I made it and I loved it. How can that be? I don't want to ask too many questions, I'd rather just go with it.

So this afternoon, when the kids were down for quiet time and I was having time to myself to recoup my nerves (they get a bit frazzled some days), I enjoyed a $.04 cup of tea from a brand that is now my favorite.

Don't forget to check your store's clearance sections! You never know what great deals you will find.

(FYI, Good Earth Tea doesn't know me. They didn't sponsor this plug, it's just something I loved and a great deal I wanted to share. )

$5 Starbuck's Gift Card Winners

And the winners are.........(drumroll playing inside my head)

#3 Dee

#5 Laura Mae

Wahoo! E-mail me at prizes.budgetista@gmail.com and let me know how you'd like your prize delivered, e-mail or snail mail! E-mail you can print and use, no waiting.

Congratulations!

"Four score and seven years ago..."

Abraham Lincoln was hands down my favorite president. What he stood for, what he came from and what he accomplished is amazing. I love me some Honest Abe!!!

Today is President's Day, which means Isabella doesn't have school. When we missed 5 days due to a blizzard earlier in the month, that wasn't a big deal. For some reason, probably only by God's grace, I had a fabulous time having her home. So much so that I started thinking about homeschooling her again.

I really love having my kids around. And watching them learn.

Today has not been like the blizzard.

I'm not huge on letting the kids play video and computer games and watch tv. I'm certainly ok with a little bit, but on days like today the temptation to let them do whatever they want all day is yelling in my face! If we had a family membership to the Jenks Aquarium I'd take them. But we don't. If it were warmer outside they'd play. It's not. So what can we do that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and is at home?

I think it's a question that lots of parents would like answered! Another question lots of parents would like answered is how do preschools do it?! Planning. They have curriculum, they have play ideas, they have the day structured and set up with activities. So maybe I need to plan a little more. That would mean that the stuff I want to get done will probably have to wait. For some reason, children like interaction. Especially when they're doing activities. Who knew?

Here are a few things to start us off this afternoon:
Color and Draw (crayons are under-rated!)
Make banana bread (the girls LOVE this, and the finished product)
Build a city with Konnor's blocks (they can each create their own buildings)
Cut pictures out of magazines and make a collage
Play with modeling clay

That should last us the rest of the afternoon. I have a feeling I need to restock my craft box!

Don't forget to enter my drawing! I'll be picking the winner tomorrow at noon! Have a wonderful President's Day!

Doubleshot Non Giveaway

I thought 'Wow, it would be so cool to give away 2 $5 Gift Cards to this local coffee shop that has great coffee'. So Jon and I brought our 2 kids to this coffee shop (I bought Jon a gift card to here for Valentine's Day) which he used and I bought the 2 gift cards. Here's a picture of my Americano.

Then Konnor went to the corner where there is a small chair and a little rug and a little box. Inside the box he found a vodka bottle. It still had a little vodka in it.

Yep.

So Jon gave it to the baristas that thought it was pretty hilarious.

Wow.

I'm glad that it's so funny to them.

So I decided I will not be giving away anything from there.

Sorry.

It's a moral issue.

Instead I'll give away 2 Starbucks gift cards for $5 each. My kids have never encountered a vodka bottle there.

So to enter, tell me something great, tell me your favorite drink!

*UPDATE* I'll draw the winner on Monday at noon! Happy Weekend!