Living on a Budget. . . .

     Have you ever actually written down a budget?  Have you ever followed a budget?  I ask these questions not to judge anyone, because I had never sat down and made a budget myself until two years ago.  I wish I had approached this concept much sooner.  The word budget seems to bring forth many emotions;  fear, panic, anger, and a thought of restraint.   I learned two years ago, when I took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class, that budget is not a dirty word.  I also learned that by making a budget I am telling my money where to go instead of wondering, at the end of the month, where my money went.
    The first budget I set up was crazy because I did not know what I was doing but I learned the budget is not set in stone.  It is a living organism changing as life changes and little things come up.   The first few months I had to go back and adjust our budget several times.  Now that I have been doing this for the past two years I rarely have to change it up or re-adjust it during the month but, I know that I can if I need to.
     I was so afraid of setting up that first budget.   I set it up and filled it out and then dear hubby and I went over it.  If you are married it is important to include your spouse in the process.  I am the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of our family but, hubby and I both make major decisions together.  A major financial decision for us  is anything over $250.   When I set up that first budget I found where a lot of our money was going.  We spent a lot of money eating out.  I am sure there are a lot of folks that do the same thing and don't even realize how much they spend.   It made me sick to my stomach when I realized how much money we had wasted eating out.
     Dave Ramsey also explains his envelope system.  I love the envelope system and use it for our cash only items.    When you set up the envelope system you set aside a certain amount of money to be spent on certain items.  My envelopes are:  groceries, restaurant, clothes, entertainment, hair cuts, vacation, pet supplies, and home repairs.  Each time my hubby gets paid I put a certain amount in each envelope, the amount comes from how much I had budgeted for each item.   When we go out to eat we use the envelope money and if the envelope is empty then we eat at home.   My kids know this now and realize that we cannot go out to eat 5 times a week.  I am not saying this is easy because it is not.  Our first run with the envelope  system met great resistance from my kiddos and we had to stand firm on the decision to stick to our budget.  Using the budget, every dollar has a name and restaurants only get a certain amount.  We give, save and spend a certain amount each month and we do not exceed our income.
     I am amazed at how much we have saved  and given in the two years we have been doing this.  I wish I had known about this when my dear hubby and I were first married.   We are older and wiser now and live on a budget and that is not a dirty word.  It is our plan to save money so that we will be able to do the things we have always wanted to do.   We also do not use credit cards, debit cards yes but not credit cards.  We are paying off our car and house at a rapid pace.  I want to be debt free!! That is for another post.
    For more information on Dave Ramsey I highly recommend you google him and check out his site.   You don't have to do everything he says, you can pick and choose what works best for you.  Try out some of his recommendations and see what happens.

Cucumbers everywhere. . . .

We were over-run with zucchini and now we are being over-run with cucumbers.   I love them but I am about the only one in the family that truly loves them.  Hubby will eat them soaked in vinegar but I like them raw with some dressing, on a sandwich, and  in vegetable spread (I will share that one with you in minute).

When I was little my Mom used to host Bridge Club and she would make all of these tasty treats for her guests.  We got to eat what ever was left over and sometimes she would make extra just for us.  One of my favorites was the vegetable spread.  So here is her recipe:

3-4 cucumbers shredded
2-3 carrots shredded
1 onion shredded
a block of cream cheese softened
a dash of Worcestershire
a dash of Tabasco
a dash of garlic powder

squeeze all of the excess water from the shredded cucumbers, carrots, and onion then add to the cream cheese with the Worcestershire, Tabasco, and garlic powder.   Cream this together and let sit for a couple hours in the fridge.  You can use it as a dip or spread it on bread for a sandwich.  Yummmm.

Here are the other recipes I have found for cucumbers in my recent search:

2-3 cucumbers peeled and sliced
1/2 onion sliced
1-2 garlic cloves whole
1 cup of white vinegar
4tbsp sugar
2/3 cup water
2 tsp salt

I put all of this in a mason jar.  They are good for 2 weeks in the fridge.   All of the liquid did not fit but these are great!!  Hubby loves them.

I have not tried this one but I am sure I will since I have a surplus of cucumbers.

1-2 cucumbers chopped
2tbsp balsamic vinegar
dash of lemon juice
Italian seasoning
Let chill and serve.

One more before I go:

4 cucumbers peeled and sliced
1 onion chopped
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayo
2 tsp vinegar
a dash of lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp dill
dash of cayenne pepper
dash of garlic powder

mix sour cream with all ingredients below then toss with cucumbers and onions.  Let chill in the fridge for at least two hours.

I have also been putting a couple of slices in my water throughout the day along with a sprig or two of fresh mint.  Let us not forget the spa trick of a slice over each eye too.  I have been doing that as well.  Never hurts to try, right?

Happy crunching. . . .

Graden cooking. . .

Our garden is goung crazy!!  I have zucchini and cucumbers coming out of my ears.  I have been searching for recipes for them both.    I have my one tried and true zucchin casserole that I absolutely love.   I have added a zucchini bread recipe I found on pinterst that is really good.   So far I have 4 zucchini casseroles in the freezer, one zucchini bread, and one mountain stew ( ground meat, carrots, cabbage, and potatoes in tomato base).  Cabbage and potatoes out of the garden too.
Here is my zucchini casserole recipe:
4 cups shred zucchini
1onion chopped
2 eggs beaten
1 box jiffy corn muffin mix
3 jalapeno peppers chopped or a can of green chiles.
4 oz cheddar cheese grated in casserole
4oz cheddar cheese grated to go on top
Mix everything together and top with cheese.

Bake 350 for an hour.  If you are going to freeze bake 30 minutes then cool completely and then freeze.
One of my faves!!!!

I will share my cucumber recipes next post.  Stay tuned.

Summer work outs. . .

I have decided that if Big T is to survive in middle school he is going to have to be on top of things.  I have also decided that for my kids sake I am going to be teaching them a few things at home this summer.  Big T is all for it, Sprat is a little reluctant.  They both had good years in test scores and grades but I still feel there are some things they are not getting.   Big T and I have been working on Spanish and math.  Sprat is working on his honors English book that he has to read and  take notes on for a test the first day of school.   We are all looking into History from a Christian perspective.  So I guess we are all getting a little work out this summer to keep our brains sharp.  I would love to hear from those reading what they are doing with their kiddos this summer to keep them sharp for next school year.
I do have some field trips planned to some different places in the area also.

Only Four Years Left. . .

Oh my goodness!! I only have four years left with my sweet Sprat before he will be heading off to college.  Yikes!!!! So much to do.  Where do I start?
I feel a little crazy right now.  His days are going to be so busy these next years.  School,  football,  and maybe even girls.  Where has all of my mommy time gone?  I feel like there is so much I need to teach him about dealing with peer pressure,  drugs, alcohol,  driving, and girls.   This is not to say that we have not touched on these subjects because we have.
I guess I am just worried I am going to forget to tell him something important.   I want to spend as much time with him as I can and of course no teenage boy wants that.  Oh,  if I could turn back the clock just a little or just revist those special little moments.   Like, when he took his first step,  learning to talk,  playing baseball for the first time, or his first day of school.  I know I have pictures of all of these special times and I will cherish them. 
It just seems like yesterday all of these things took place and now he is a freshman in high school.  Wow!!!

Our little Garden. . .

I call it our little garden, in fact, it is my dear hubbys' garden.   I have to brag on him today.  He has the green thumb in our little family.   I am so proud of him.  He takes very good care of his little garden. 
Every year we have some volunteer plants that come up.  Last year it was watermelon this year we have pumpkins.   We threw all our pumpkin guts in the garden last year including the seeds and plowed it under at the end of the season.  That is how we have pumpkins this year.   We don't mind the volunteers,  it always makes things interesting.
Our "on purpose" crops this year are: zucchini,  sweet peas, cucumbers, onions, cabbage,  broccoli,  lettuce, tomatoes,  peppers, and last but not least potatoes.    Right now our biggest producer is the zucchini.   The lettuce is fading and the peas are finishing up, our cabbage and broccoli are done. 
My dear hubby is most excited about the pumpkins.  He cannot wait to carve them for Halloween.  I am very proud of my hubby and his ability to do and grow anything he sets his mind to or that volunteers.   I must give the good Lord above credit also for our little garden because he has blessed it tremendously this year.   My hubby prays over our garden as he prepares for planting  and each time he plants something new.   I love this man more and more each day.   He  has been out of town a lot this year due to work and I have been left in charge of the garden.  Quite a daunting task for someone with the not so green thumb.   He comes home today and I cannot wait.  He will be so surprised when he sees his pumpkins.  I just hope they will be ready for Halloween.  They sure are pretty.

The Good Ole Days . . .

What are the "good ole days" to you?  I remember eating dinner as a family every night without fail at 6pm.  Mom always had a spread; fresh bread, veggies out of the garden, and some type of meat (baked chicken, roast, or pork chops).  My sister and I helped set the table and we also helped clear the dishes.  We all sat down together, ate and talked about what all happened to everyone during the day.  We rarely ate out and if we did it was a big treat.
  I also remember going to Church on Sunday, Mom getting lunch in the oven before we left so it would be ready when we came home.   After lunch and after the kitchen was cleaned up we went downstairs and watched TV together.  We watched Ma and Pa Kettle, Abbott and Costello, Frances the talking mule, and sometimes the Little Rascals.   We relaxed on Sunday afternoons and enjoyed time with family. 
I try to keep my own family on a routine like this but these days we are running crazy just like everyone else.  My sister and brother and I were all involved in sports but some how my Mom kept us fed and on time to all of our practices and games.  
I think times were so much simpler then, goodness,  I sound like I am 100 years old.  I am not that old but, I do miss those times.  I will continue to try  and keep our family eating together because I know how important that is.  We do discuss the days events as we sit around our cluttered table.   I hope my kids will have good memories about our time spent as a family around the table.  We also try and have some quiet time before the kids go to  bed. 
I have introduced my youngest to Frances the Talking Mule,  thanks to my sister sharing some videos she had.  He also likes Andy Griffith.   Here's to the good ole days.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's day to all the dads out there.  I am fortunate that my dad is still living and that I still have access to his knowledge and experience.  He has helped me out so many ways on so many different days.  Dad is 83 and still works.  He works because he loves what he does and loves talking with people.   It took 22 years before I realized my parents we always right.  I wonder how long it will take  my kids to realize I am always right?  Ha ha ha. 
My dear hubby is also a great dad.   He is very involved with the boys and all that they do.  He encourages them whenever they need it and he punishes them when they need it.   He works very hard but he always makes time for the kids and me.   Hubby also likes to garden and is teaching the boys about gardening.  Sprats favorite thing out of the garden is potatoes and Big T likes the fresh lettuce.  One of my favorite things about my hubby is his faith.  We pray together, and with the kids at night before bed.  He also prays over our garden each time he plants something new.   I must say we have been blessed beyond measure  when it comes to our crops. 
To all the Dad's.  . . Happy Father's day.

School's Out for Summer

School is out for us all and it would be a huge understatement to say I was happy.  They boys are both moving on, Jack to high school and Thomas to middle school.  They both ended with A/B honor roll.  Thomas had a really hard year.  He was sick with the flu and missed many days.  He had to do after school make up lab to take some days off of his absences.  Thomas struggled with anxiety that caused tummy issues.  All of the testing mess stressed him beyond a level a 5th grader should have to endure.  Jack has 0 stress over testing and some days I wish he did so I knew he cared.   At least two of the days Thomas had tests he either threw up before school or after he got there.  I want get on my soap box about the meaningless testing today. 
I am very proud of my boys for finishing strong this year.   Our summer will be centered on fun, some football,  and some learning so we stay ahead of the game.  
On another note, I ended my two classes with an A and B.  I was really hoping for two A's but my criminology final was a bear.  I am taking the summer off this time so I will be fresh in August to get back to work.  Stay tuned to see what the wild boys get in to this summer.