Off to Betty Ford

I have 3 cubic yards of horse manure and 3 cubic yards of mulch sitting in my driveway. I spent all day yesterday working in the yard, and only found a home for half of the manure. This morning I woke with sore arms and legs, I rolled over to Kevin and asked, "do you think I'm a quitter if I quit blogging." (And, finally just yesterday I got a nice comment.) Of course his response is that he's been just waiting for me to realize it's a waste. Trust me, when Rachel Ray's people contacted me he was the first to ask if I blogged that day. It's always been a mixed message relationship. Funny, I like it that way. 

Seriously, it hasn't been all a waste. I've learned it's fun and easy to save money. I've learned that it's also fun to find free things to do with the family. One of the most important things I've learned is that it's really much healthier to cook for the family versus pizza and/or fast food. Kevin has learned that it's very difficult to run a household, be a mom, keep up with laundry and toilets, and also do free-lance graphic design on the side. We've decided I'm going to be an old-fashioned June Cleaver, okay Peg Bundy, and have dinner on the table every night. I'm also dreaming about having fresh baked cookies on the table for when the kids arrive home from school. Yes, it's possible. Remember I used to think boxed wine was for the homeless. I am officially a boxed wine drinker. Cheers!

Honey, Do We Have Rabbit Ears?

Why? I have to watch SNL prime time. Remember our cable no longer carries NBC. Just yesterday I paid $252.00 to Time Warner for last month's cable/Internet/phone bill. They are so gone! 

On the upside Kevin is a pack-rat and had rabbit ears and a splitter buried in the garage. What are we Amish? Can you believe we aren't getting NBC?  Bye, bye Time Warner!

One more thing I must share. Grace's cell phone spent some time in her backpack with an open bottle of water. I think she secretly tried to destroy her phone. She came to me with her last paper route paycheck in hand and begged for a new phone. She hasn't been able to text her friends for 3 days. "I can't live this way anymore."

She talked me in to taking her to the Sprint store. She wanted a Rumor. She researched it on their website and thought it was only $49. Not! It was $279. Because she has been with Sprint for over 18 months she was credited $75 to be put to a new phone. $200 - no way! Get this - if you stare at the salesperson long enough they begin to wonder about your next move. He caved first, and said he'd sell it to her for $99. She's in debt to us for $50 (again.)

GatoNegro

Cabernet Merlot (Hmm?)

Chile

3L

$23.99

$1.20 per glass

It's a cut above an everyday wine. Not deep, but broad palate of tastes. More complex than the normal box.

4 Boxed Rating

Newspaper Subscription

The Dayton Daily News arrives on our front porch every morning at the annual cost of $221. That's only 60.5¢ a day, but still too expensive. I decided that we'd have to cut 4 of the weekdays, and only subscribe Friday - Sunday to save $$$. This past weekend I was telling my dad how much I was paying for the paper. He began to chuckle and said he gets the very same paper everyday, but for much less. What??? He said that all I had to do was call and say I can't afford it anymore. They will in turn cut your rate to keep your business. Sure enough, that's exactly how it worked. The nice gentleman on the phone was able to cut the $221 to $129.74. That's $91.26. Only 35.5¢ per day. Interesting how that works.

I wonder if I should tell Grace's orthodontist that I can't afford her braces anymore. Or maybe I'll call our county tax department and explain that I can't afford our property tax anymore. Hmmm?

Next week I'm having the land line disconnected and changing Internet/cable service.  Just this afternoon my mom called to tell me to watch Oprah. The show was all about saving money. Guess what? Time Warner in Dayton no longer carries NBC. Yeah, I had to watch SNL Sunday morning via Internet. CRAZY!!

 

FYI - I got a $12 hair cut at Borics today (minus $3 coupon), and Kevin still hasn't noticed. Let me rephrase - I had 4" cut from my hair. Men?

Three Thieves Bandit

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

California

1L

$8.99

$1.80 per glass

Beautiful red color with spicy berry flavors.

3 Box Rating

Martha Stewart on the Cheap

When I was young and energetic (before kids), Martha Stewart was a quasi idol of mine. She had taught me to always have something on hand in the pantry for those unexpected guests. I was in CVS last week with $13 extra bucks burning a hole in my wallet. I also had a spend $25 save $5 coupon. To get up to the $25 I bought "party" peanuts that were on sale for $1.99 per jar.  The items in the photo below were procured for $7 out of pocket, and I have a stash of "party" peanuts for the upcoming holiday season. While telling a few friends around the firepit about my CVS trip, Dick got up and went into the house. I inquired about where he was going and Mirianna responded that he was off to find the peanuts.

VO5 shampoo 50¢ each • Campbell's soup 50¢ each • CVS brand cotton swabs $1.50 each • Softsoap 38¢ • "party" peanuts $1.99 each

Three Thieves Bandit

2006 Merlot

California

1L

$8.99

$1.50 per glass

One reason I love Three Thieves is that they have an amazing sense of humor. This just found on their website:

These mavericks believed that it did not take a fancy bottle to make a wine for real wine drinkers. There were everyday folks who needed a great wine to go with a drive-thru meal, a Sunday afternoon with NASCAR, or to celebrate the kids staying with their grandparents for the weekend.

They've definitely got my number.

Dry medium bodied with intense dark cherry and plum flavors.

4 Boxed Rating

Homecoming

Homecoming weekend was kicked off with a hot dog supper, parade, and bonfire. The kids loved the festivities, and I loved that dinner could consist of a hot dog, bag of chips, and soft drink for $1.50. I don't think I cooked once this past week.  

Yesterday after a morning and afternoon of 5 different football games, the family went out for Vietnamese. My good friend Connie introduced Mirianna and me to Linh's on Tuesday.  I've been there twice since. It's located on Airway Road near the Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum. It's one of those restaurants that lacks decor, but is crowed day and night.  On my first visit I had a spring roll vermicelli salad (so did Connie and Mirianna). Two days later I forced Kevin to take a break for lunch. He had the salad, and I had the chicken sate rice noodle soup. On the third visit Kevin ordered the salad again, Rebecca was a bit hesitant, but ordered the salad also, Grace had sweet n' sour shrimp (they also have a full Chinese menu), I had the beef and meatball soup (the chicken is better), and Eddie had ... what else? A bowl of noodles. We all shared a double order of pot stickers. The kids gave the restaurant a firm thumbs up, and the total check for a family of 5 was $40.

Vendange

Merlot

California

.5L

$5.99

$2.00 per glass

Robust nose with cherry and oak notes. Medium-bodied and dry with a bit of spice.

3 Boxed Rating

Braces Off

I know it's Wednesday, and I'm still on Monday. I am behind more than 72 hours. More like 1,000,000.

Monday morning Rebecca's braces were on, and by 10:20 they were off.

ON

OFF

Only $5,000. Well worth it!

Note to all - talk all of your children into becoming orthodontists. It's an incredibly well paying business.

Hardy's 

2007 Riesling

South Eastern Australia

3L

$16.99

85¢ per glass

Very refreshing, crisp intense lime and lemon flavors with a soft finish

I was always the first to say that a Riesling was for losers. I am now officially a loser.

2.5 Box Rating

Wax Worms

Grace and her friends played with and named all of the wax worms and then handed them over to be devoured by Bluegill.

Kevin, Grace, and Eddie went to our area's YMCA's Camp Kern with our community's Adventure Guides. It's a group to encourage the relationship of fathers and children. Kevin has been going twice a year since Rebecca was in kindergarten. I'll never forget when Kevin took all 3 kids. He was crazed and I had the most relaxing weekend. Sadly it only lasted 1 year. Now since Rebecca no longer goes, she and I have great times together. Our adventures usually centered around shopping. This year she and I attended a party to watch this past Friday's presidential debate. Might I add, she wore her Obama pin. 

Grace trail riding on Ellie. 

Eddie caught 6 Bluegill. Kevin none.

Eddie canoeing while Kevin taking pics on his camera phone.

Please note that the fathers were gone during the OSU/Minnesota game. Never fear - one father brought his satellite dish and 42" flat panel TV.

Bandit

2007 Chardonnay

California

1 L

$8.99

$1.50 per glass

Reasons to drink Bandit:  33% more wine; lower shipping costs = less fuel emissions; no cork; 96% wine - 4% packaging; made largely of renewable resources; and you can crush it on your forehead when you're done!

3 Boxed Rating - Nice fresh fruit taste, but expensive.