OK, maybe not bliss. More like, "stink I'm glad that's done!".  I just finished our budget for 2013.  Yes I realize it's Feb.  Yes, I realize I'm late, but let's look at the bright side, I don't have to do it again until Feb 2014!!  Silver Lining Baby!



If you are interested in doing a budget for the year and discovering where your money disappears to in a puff of smoke... trust me it's not ACTUALLY flying out the front door every time you open it like your Dad used to tell you. And now that the Canadian money is all plastic it really DOESN'T grow on trees!!

Anyway.  A few great resources for budget starting:

Dave Ramsey has got some great downloadable forms to use: http://www.daveramsey.com/tools/budget-forms/

I LOVE Gail!!  She doesn't sugar-coat it!! :
Here is an article on how to go about doing  a budget: http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/resources/guide_to_building_budget.html
Here are a bunch of online forms etc. to help you:
http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/resources.html

Good Luck! 

You might remember that I posted one of Sierra Noble's video's way back in 2009.  You can see that post HERE.  Well she has a new one and I love it too!  So here it is....

When I saw this on Pinterest I really didn't think it would work.  How can something be so simple, and SO exciting.  I love popcorn.  Love It.  I tried this with 1/4 cup of popcorn & 2 minutes in a lunch size paper bag. Presto, pop-o!!  I'm not sure how much money this could save in microwave popcorn but I'm guessing I might be able to afford some new moccasins a lot sooner than anticipated!

Ok, I have made some progress in my wool AND fabric stashes!  First I went through all my yarn and gave away a large bag.  I figure less is more when getting organized!  I also went through SOME of my fabric and I have a tote full to give away.

I managed to get a few projects done as well!

Dave's new hat:




Quilt top finished:

SO to summarize:

YARN: 1 project completed, 9 to go!
FABRIC: 1 project completed, 9 to go!

First I had to figure out how to get into it.  Thank you youtube!

http://youtu.be/QPvhxeg_PUA  this video was helpful!

Then I had to decide what to DO with it.  We all tasted the flesh raw on it's own to get an idea of the flavor.  Then I blended the flesh, the water and some bananas and frozen strawberries to make the best smoothie I have ever tasted!

A few crappy pictures (my bad):

I know it seems wrong to be picking out seeds when it's below zero but I already have a bunch of my seed catalogues AND the seed sales have already started!!  To see if you have one coming up in your area check out the Seeds of Diversity website for events!
http://www.semences.ca/ev/events.php  (Canadian Events)

In the USA check out:
http://www.seedsavers.org/

Just before Christmas I came across this recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares on Pinterest.  They are awesome!  SO Easy! I must have made them at least 10 times over November and December.  All they require is a microwave and a pan!

OK so here's a final resolution for this year... and it's a food related one!  I want to try one new food every month!  Shouldn't be too hard to do!
Any suggestions on unusual foods I can try... and maybe how I would prepare/eat said food??

Well I liked the first Resolution so much (see here) I'm reinventing it with a small edit...

2. FABRIC STASH!  I have to organize my fabric stash and NO buying more fabric until I have completed 10 projects. (Deja Vu or what!)  I will NOT be posting a picture of what my stash looks like now.  The last thing I need is to be  nominated for the next episode of HOARDERS. But, this is what I would like it to look like.....

Every year I try to make some ATTAINABLE resolutions for the new year.  You know, clean my bathroom, give the dog a bath at least once... don't break any bones (seemed so easy but 2012 was a bust on that one!  Here's hoping 2013 is more successful).  I'm posting a few of my more challenging resolutions, not because I think you care, but because if it's in print I can't pretend I never made it.


1.  Deal with my yarn stash and DON'T buy any more until I've completed at least 10 projects. I realize 10 seems like alot but I'm planning on counting pretty much anything as a project.  Dish cloths, hats, pinkie rings... you get the idea.

I've declared a New Year's do-over at my house.  My youngest got sick on the 1st, followed by my oldest, followed by my usually sexy man turned whiny-pam-can-you-call-my-mom-dude.  SO, on Monday, January 14th I'm re-starting 2013.  Odd I know, but psychologically I need to start this year off on a better note and I choose to make my own rules.

So, if your toilet backed up, your mother-in-law showed up, your computer crashed or any other ~ "crap that's not how I wanted to start a new year" has occurred... join my in saying, "oh, well.  Let's try that again!"