Responsible savings and oils to the rescue!

We had hoped to go to Hawaii with the kids this summer, but we made the responsible decision to put the money toward a vehicle to replace our truck we have had for nine years. I am sooo happy to have that beast of a truck out of my life and garage! 

We wanted to invest in something that will last and will hold more passengers, so we got a 2013 Durango. It has very low miles and great features.  With the truck trade-in and down payment, we still have a steep payment, but it will fit into our budget nicely because we won't be paying tuition for Austin next school year. 

My other savings:

*Did a massive stock-up at Costco and Winco to fill the pantry and keep us out of the stores. Also stocked up on Capri Sun drinks for 99 cents at Smiths. These will be good for our summer pool trips. 

*Baked whole wheat bread and buns. I used the double recipe but took 3/4 of the dough to fill my huge bread pan and it finally produced a good sized loaf. I was able to make 6 buns with the leftover. 

*Made more pancake mix and pancakes to freeze for the week

*Made granola bars 

*Ry cut Austin's hair

*Made a batch of homemade tortillas 

*The windy weather kept us indoors most of last weekend, but it calmed enough that we could take the kids out to fly a kite I bought on clearance a few years ago. The kids had a great time. 

*I had 2 workshops last week for my side businesses. I did a card class and lip balm class. I had a great turn out and am excited to keep growing!

*I fought my allergies and cold last week with the doTERRA oils and did not have to use any medications. Lavender calmed my sneezing, Breathe helped my wheezing, and I added honey and 3 drops of lemon essential oil to hot water to soothe my throat. I experimented and added a drop of On Guard protecting blend to the mix and it added a nice little spice flavor and will help fight the germs. 

*The baby had a bad diaper rash from overnight BMs, so I added a few drops of lavender to a tbsp of fractionated coconut oil in a container and rubbed some on.  It cleared right up! I wish I started doing this a year ago when I was spending a fortune on various creams. 

*Took Austin to his last dermatologist apt for his wart issue. The oregano/melaleuca blend I have been using made a huge difference. There was one last little bit that needed removal so now I need to be diligent with the oils so I can save the gas and co-pay in the future. 

*My friend gave me some lettuce from her garden! Yum!!

*Ryan is getting ready to paint the exterior of our house.  He is doing the work with his dad's help which will save a ton. It's hard to believe we have been in this house for 9 years!

*I have been diet soda free for over a month! I confess I did sneak a sip last week but it was disgusting! I drink sprite if I am out with the kids so we can all share. That way we are all only having a small amount. 

Spring Break and Easter savings

Had all sorts of fun ideas planned for this week, but for the first five days, someone in the house was sick! Amilia had a fever again and had no appetite and was very cranky. I had a horrible stomach bug, then hubby got it, then Austin!  Mid-week I was feeling better, so I cleaned the whole house with DoTerra Purify and On Guard, changed all the sheets and did multiple loads of laundry.   I made a flu bomb treatment in a veggie capsule to take using 2 drops of each: lemon, melaleuca, on guard, and frankensense to fight off my sickness. 

This whole time the weather was absolutely gorgeous, so finally on Thursday the kids were well enough to go to the park and enjoy a nice picnic. The water play area was on and they had a great time!

Savings:

*Made Easter crafts with things on hand at home

*Made several loaves of bread

*Registered the kids for summer swim lessons with City of LV. They have the most reasonable prices for quality lessons. I was able to find a time when Austin could do a lesson while I did a parent-child lesson with Amilia so I only have to make one trip. This will save plenty of gas $!

*Made two pans of lasagna and froze one for a future meal. Had some leftover ingredients to make 2 lasagna rolls for work lunches. 

*Made breakfast muffins and pancakes for the week. 

*Made crepes from scratch for Easter breakfast and put strawberries on them that were 97 cents a lb at Albertsons. 

*Used a $10 off coupon at Kohls to get some denim capris that were also on sale. 

*Waxed my brows and did my own nails. 

*Worked on designs and prep for my Stampin Up workshop. 

*I'm now making 2 meatless meals a week.

*Made homemade spaghetti sauce and placed in mason jars to freeze. Was able to get 6 pints for the price of a #10 can of tomato sauce from Costco plus a few other ingredients on hand. 

Dinner menu:

Monday: chicken enchiladas (these were frozen ahead from the last time I made them)

Tuesday: baked potatoes and veggies

Wednesday: lemon Parmesan penne with chicken and broccoli 

Thursday: ground beef tacos 

Friday: cheese pizza and veggies 

Saturday: crockpot chicken and noodles

Cute and Simple Easter gifts and crafts!

Here are some super simple, inexpensive, and cute Easter crafts or gifts for the kids!

1. Wax crayon eggs

Draw an egg shape on wax paper and fill with shavings of used crayons. Place a piece of wax paper on top and then sandwich the wax papers between some cardstock and then lay a towel on top. Iron on high for a few seconds until crayons are melted. Cut out the egg shape, punch a hole and add yarn or ribbon. 

My little guy had fun with this!

2. Egg shaker people

Place some rice or beans in a plastic egg and glue it closed. Draw a funny face with permanent markers. 

3.  Pipe cleaner bracelets

String pony beads on a pipe cleaner and then string the excess sides back into the beads to form a circle. 

4. Stick puppets

Use whatever you have on hand to decorate animal faces on felt circles. Cut a circle out of thin cardboard for the middle and glue the felt on both sides with the stick tucked inside. 

Survival

This was me today. It's been a rough few weeks! Ryan has been working major OT and has been out of town working for the past week. Took the baby to the ER with a high fever last weekend and had to keep her home so I called in sick at work which means I am no longer in contention for earning 4 personal days. But I can still get 2 days if I use less than 5 sick days in the year, so I took today off and went to the chiropractor for an adjustment that's been about a year over due! It was so nice to be alone after being a single mom all week!!  Four more work days until Spring Break!

I have also been busy with my little business ventures with DoTerra and Stampin Up!  My first event was a great success and tomorrow is my first paper craft workshop. 

We drove to where Ryan is staying Saturday night so we could visit him. I took care of his grocery shopping and laundry and we got to do a little swimming. The place we went also had an awesome Dollar Tree nearby so I stocked up on some great finds!

I made these amazing homemade peanut butter eggs and took some to Ryan. They were unbelievably delish!!  

Link to the recipe here  The only thing I did differently was add coconut oil to the chocolate instead of shortening.

Savings for the past few weeks:

*Baked pancakes, muffins, wheat and French bread

*Made granola bars, dry soup mix, and pancake mix

*Trimmed my bangs, forget saving $, I don't have time for a hair cut anyway

*Austin has been wanting sack lunch 3 days a week now so that saves $9 per week on hot lunch

*Made sugar scrubs and gave them to some of my coworkers. 

*Made lip balm with my new lime and citrus bliss oils

*I gave up diet Pepsi and have been off it for three weeks!

*Made homemade tortillas 

*Friday nights have become pizza and movie/Wii dance party night

*Made a big pot of potato soup and froze some in jars so I have some decent lunches at work this week

*Ryan bought some jeans and work shirts before he left town at Kohl's.  He earned $30 in Kohl's cash which I used to put toward his birthday gift.  He is getting ANOTHER wedding band since the original was lost in the ocean last summer and the one he got for Christmas is too big.  This time he tried a few on so they fit and he will be surprised with which one I chose for him.

*Been using a blend of oregano and melaleuca essential oils diluted with fractionated coconut oil for Austin's wart on this thumb.  Hoping it will finally get rid of it!

*I have been rubbing Breathe essential oil blend on the kids every night and diffusing it in their rooms while they sleep and have not needed to break out the allergy meds.  For me, a dab of lavender on my nose keeps the sneezes away.  Much cheaper than Allegra!

*I have been diffusing On Guard blend in the house afterschool and Purify on the weekends to clean the air in the house and support our immune systems.  

*For myself, I put 2 drops of each: oregano, On Guard, and Melaleuca in a veggie cap every night because I cannot afford to get sick right now!

Menu for the week:

Last week was a bit of a disaster with being on my own, so nothing was organized.  However, I am back on track so that my kids don't get too attached to mac and cheese and chicken nuggets!

Monday: tonight we had italian casserole and I froze half of the ground beef

Tuesday:  we are eating out so that my clean house is not destroyed for my Stampin Up workshop

Wednesday: tacos with the frozen beef

Thursday:  one pot pasta with chicken

Friday:  pizza

Saturday:  chicken and noodles with vegetables in the crockpot, I use the same chicken and dumplings recipe but use whole wheat egg noodles instead and it is equally as good

Sunday:  we are going to visit daddy and start our SPRING BREAK!!