Happy Homemaker Monday

It's Monday and time for Happy Homemaker Monday hosted each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. 

As I look outside my window:::
We got snow today; about 2 1/2 inches! I really wasn't expecting it but it was fun to watch! The wind made it feel bitter cold:(

Right now I am:::
Watching Shark Tank on You Tube:) I love this show but didn't realize you could watch it on You Tube.

Thinking and Pondering:::
What I am going to do for the next three days while my hubby is gone. I have lots of ideas, just need to narrow it down:)

On my bedside table::: 
The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Read aloud--The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

On my TV tonight:::
I think I will watch a little more Shark Tank on the computer or read tonight.

Listening to:::
Just Shark Tank

On the menu for this week:::
Hubby will be gone most of the week so I won't be planning a menu; just eating whatever I feel like...staying within my Weight Watchers Points, of course. Hubby just went grocery shopping today so will have lots of great food to eat, especially fresh things.

On my to do list:::

• Laundry
• Log business expenses for January
• Package and deliver Stampin' Up! orders
• Mending
• Visit blogs
• Sign up for A to Z Blog Challenge

Plans for this week:::

Monday -- Bake bread; laundry

Tuesday -- Log business expenses; package Stampin' Up! orders; mending

Wednesday -- Deliver Stampin' Up! orders; make cards

Thursday -- Laundry; make cards

Friday -- Clean house

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

Cards...will post this week!

My simple pleasure:::

Looking at cookbooks and knitting/crocheting magazines. 

Lessons learned the past week:::

One worm CAN spoil the whole apple! Don't ask me to explain!!!

Looking around the house:::

• Dining room table covered with Stampin' Up! order
• Kitchen is good
• Livingroom looks lived in but good

From the camera:::

Our new snow today!

Prayer List:::

• My attitude
• Friends making a life-changing decision
• Sister's upcoming hip surgery

Bible verse; Devotional:::

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." -- 1 Peter 5:10

That's it for me! Have a nice evening and I will be back tomorrow with a card and an update on my goals for A Year of Joy:)

Kat

January No-Low Spend Challenge

Oh, my! I have MIA for so long!!! Vacation, Christmas, visit to my daughter's--fun is exhausting!!! But, I am back and ready to dive into Carla's January no-low spend challenge! You can check out Carla's January no-low spend challenge at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. She is from Canada, thus the picture of Canadian money:) 

I had planned to order some stamping supplies from the Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack before the Challenge started but...so now I am just not going to! I had also planned to sign up for Weight Watchers Online before January 1 but really, really needed to so went ahead with it! However, I already had the money saved for this expense so won't count it in the Challenge. I signed up for the $18.95 monthly plan. I will let you know periodically how I am doing with this. 

My plan for the January no-low spend challenge is to save as much of my $200 monthly allowance as possible. Hubby takes care of the household expenses and I don't really poke my nose into it much as he does such a wonderful job managing our money so will just work with my allowance. 

My allowance is intended to pay for:

• Gifts for family and friends
• Hair cuts and personal items such as make-up
• Trips to visit DD and DGD
• Clothes
• Miscellaneous such as lunch out, stamping supplies, a new book, Weight Watchers Online

So, technically, it is the 3rd of January and I haven't spent anything...yet! The only money I know I will need to spend is for stamping club supplies but will try to keep that expense to monies earned with Stampin' Up! That expense will hit about the middle of the month.

I will report on my progress each Friday throughout the month of January! Wish me luck!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Welcome to the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! For my picture I decided to use one I took of my son's dog Rocky (both of them live with us). He was sleeping on his back on the sofa so I went to get the camera to snap a picture but when I came back he had rolled over. He gets all self-conscious and embarrassed when I try to take pictures of him. It's really funny! Why do I have a sheet on my sofa? Well...English Bulldogs cannot lift their tails when they poop so we have to make sure he is clean. Just in case, we protect the sofa with a sheet. 

If you are new to the Sunday Night Chit-Chat, go to Carla's website My 1/2 Dozen Daily for directions and see what Carla's been up to!

I am...

Reading...Just magazines at the moment. My new Weight Watchers Magazine and the new Stampin' Success just came yesterday so am enjoying them:)

Watching...The Glades on Netflix while I was filling the food dryers with peaches.

Listening to...Rocky snoring and the air conditioner humming.

Cooking/Baking...Today I made Gazpacho and corn on the cob. Tonight, after it cools down a bit, I plan to make Russian Teacakes and Mini Pecan Tarts for a friend who dearly loves both.

Happy I accomplished this week...Everything on my "must do" list got done! None of the extra things but the needed things got done. That doesn't always happen.

Looking forward to this week...A social gathering on Tuesday and a visit with a special friend on Thursday. I am excited about getting some cards made for a swap I joined. Love making cards...especially when I get in the zone:)

Thankful for today...all the delicious fruit and veggies in our garden! It doesn't get any better than garden to plate:)

When it comes to shopping for clothes for myself, what item do I have the hardest time saying "no" to...SHOES!!! I love, love, love shoes! I have sooo many pair but still want to buy more! I need to get rid of several pair of dress shoes that I used to wear to work because I just don't wear them anymore. 

Thanks for stopping by to share the Sunday Night Chit-Chat with me:) I am always sooo glad you came!

Kat

Weekly Money Check-Up

The picture for the Weekly Money Check-Up looks sooo yummy! I wish my pies looked like that. Mine are a little anemic looking. My friend, Cary said to brush them with milk (non-dairy works fine) and then sprinkle with a little sugar. I will try it with my next pie.


The Weekly Money Check-Up is started each week by Ginna over at My Pretty Pennies. I enjoy playing along so let's get to it!


The most money I spent this last week was on...My Stampin' Up! order! Guilty pleasure of doing business?!!!


Today I am thankful for...Lots of good food to eat right from the garden:) Love all the fresh fruits and veggies!!!


Money can't buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was...There were actually several last week but the top two are: A day spent with close friends and a long telephone visit with my brother while he was driving home from the dealership in his new car (new car has bluetooth)!


I will consider this week a success if I...Stay on target with my Weight Watcher's Plan and walk on my treadmill 4 days. Trying to lose weight for my 40 year high school reunion in October!


I am most looking forward to the gymnastics in the Olympics. I am in awe of how hard each person has worked to get where they are. However, I am concerned about the rumors surrounding the size and weight of the participants. 


Thanks for checking in on my Weekly Money Check-up. I will try to have a card for you tomorrow. I found some really nice cards as I was blog hopping today and I am anxious to reproduce them. Also need to do the Thank You cards for those who ordered from me this month:) So, see you tomorrow! Kat