Unplanned Weekends

A few words that would describe me is predicable, planner, control freak, list maker but something I like to do that might shock people is to have at least one unplanned weekend.  God has full control on what happens and I am never disappointed.  This past weekend was unplanned; I was needed for support this weekend for the good times and bad.  I am glad that I was there for the good and bad without looking at my watch thinking about the next schedule event.  Unplanned weekends are also busier messier weekends but not more expensive!  Just because your day is unplanned doesn’t mean you need to spend more money, just take a little time preparing to save big bucks; pack a cooler of snacks, fruit, and water bottles (just need to add ice packs before you leave the house) and a clean house (this way you can invite people back to your house for dinner, drinks, or dessert instead of going out to a restaurant.  Some of my favorite “to-go” snacks are muffins, whole apples, and cookies (it’s a good balance).   I have gone to my nephew’s football game and peel an apple for Monkey in the stadium, people look at me like I am crazy bring an peeler to a game but what am I going to do Monkey doesn’t like apple skin and I refuse to pay money for junk food.  Thursday night I prepare for my unplanned weekend, happily though on Monday morning the diaper bag is empty, the house is a MESS, and no more snacks.  So we all know what I am doing tonight cleaning and resting.   

Where I get idea's for Monkey Lesson

I would like to give credit to my favorite preschool websites
1. I go to preschoolexpress, first-school and alphabet-soup to help find our themes
2. Monkey loves to color so I get free coloring pages for each theme
3. dltk-kids has a lot of arts and craft ideas
4. and I love abctwiggles to get activives for his ABC's
5. and me ;)

I don't spend alot of money on Monkey Lesson either; before I thro something out I look at it twice and see if I could use it. I save toilet paper and paper towel tubes , the cardboard to a empty cereal box, egg cartons, coffee cans with lids, shoe boxes ,waxed cardboard milk cartons, mismatched socks, you get the idea.

Staycation

Staycation is when your are on vacation but you stay home. I have been on staycation all week and it's been nice. I got to spend tons of time with my nephews and my Monkey and it made me realize that DH and I are done working crazy overtime and spend more time together. So we need to trim our budget and I need to realixe that it is just money it's not that important, not more important that family time. This fall I am going to give it my all and try to reduce my food bill by $75 making it $425 a month. It is going to be hard since I stress that I give my family a well balanced diet.  I need to review my receipes and see where I can make cheap subsitutes. I already started my making my own chicken stock (I use alot of chicken broth) last week but what else can I do? It's going to take me a few months but I think I can do it. Any tips?