Black Friday Fun!!!

I LOVE Black Friday. I like being out with all the nutters waiting for that deal. I rarely HAVE to have something but I will still go, help friends get their must haves and enjoy the insanity.

It's practically a party, and if it's a party there should be a goody bag,
or at least a prepared for crazy bag!
A few things I know I need for waiting in lines and dealing with the crowds and crazy folks:

Most importantly is my charm and patience ;)
Gloves/Mittens
Chapstick
Mug for Coffee
Chocolate

Coffee
  Pen and paper

If you WERE going to make it a party you could put all those things in a cute mug as a favor!

The other thing that could be fun is a after shopping breakfast!  I know that I would have NO energy to actually make anything after shopping on no sleep.
But I could probably pull off a pre-prepped brunch with the crock pot.

 French toast bread pudding in the crock pot would be easy and delicious. I've made one similar, I rarely use a recipe but this one looks closest! I use a little less milk add some OJ.

A prep ahead fruit salad and some oven cooked turkey bacon!

You could decorate the table with these CUTE little carts!

 

This Black Friday I am working OVERTIME!

I don't know if I said what I was doing for work, but once I tell y'all it will be clear why I have had the chance to do all this OT!
I'm working at our state's Health Insurance Exchange, yes we are in the news all the time, and no things haven't gone as planned. I still love it! I work with amazing people!

I'm still going out to be with my crazies for a while in the morning!

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Keeping it real.. didn't get it all done!

And by not all, I mean hardly any!

Sometimes that is just the way it works.

 

 We (by we I mean hubby) got the tub and toilet re-caulked.
Shelf built
wood trim re-caulked
and I cleaned out all the drawers and cabinets, no idea how I collect so much stuff in there!

I could not find a table that fit in this little nook, ended up snagging an IKEA plant stand a couple months ago, just getting around to using it.

 

So we did get some stuff done, it wasn't a total failure for the week. In spending additional time in there I realized we needed to change some things.

I've always hated our tp holder, it was just never right, it's getting replaced!

And I feel like there are far too many lights for this smallish room,
alternate light fixture coming up!

And while I spent 80% of my cleaning time just in the bathroom this is what happens

 

 Beds not made, laundry all over, yeah the whole rest of the house is like this. Dishes are done though that is about it. I really stuck to just the bare minimum everywhere else.

I don't know if I will ever really get this whole balance of work and home to match my previous standards. Stuff just gets to me when it's messy!

Not making a special trip into town for a light fixture or tp holder, but those will get done soon.
This week I am working on our bedroom, and if I finish it, our sweet girly's bedroom.
 



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Fall Cleaning.. almost too late!

I realize we are not far off from this being Winter cleaning but I am hoping to get it all done before Winter, then it counts, right?!

 

Usually I follow the routines here, it's worked great in the past. This year is different, I am still a homemaker but I am not HOME nearly as much.

 

I am going to try and really buckle down before Thanksgiving and get it all done!

No tidying, no vacuuming, those happen anyway.

Just the stuff that always gets pushed to the end of the list.

I am starting with our 2 upstairs bathrooms, they both have a few things that need dealt with.

A new shower head

Some kind of storage for a small area,

 

the window sills need the paint touched up,

the cabinets might need some touch up

and I need to get rid of some stuff.

 

I started Monday by making the list, starting at the top of what needs to be done.

Decided who was doing what.

Giving all these kids each some little jobs, they are old enough to pitch in.

Hoping to finish these by Sunday!

 

Who else does Fall cleaning? Are you done this year, just starting or somewhere in between?

 



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Goals for the year, only 2 months left!

I almost forgot about this entirely! We have had so much going on with Halloween and sports and life but here it is, just a few days late. Thank you for all the kind words and encouragement. I don't think we would have stuck with some of this as long as we have without them!

  

 

HOME

I don't think we made any major changes last month. Still keeping on track with my bag a week of stuff that has to leave, either to donate or resell. We need to do a big toy purge this month. Kids will be playing inside more and to reduce the frustration and chaos we need make sure we only keep what they are playing with.
 

I have still been sticking to my weekly cleaning schedule. It doesn't take as long because a lot of things just don't get as dirty. But it's not ideal either. I feel like all I do is stay on top of things and if I wanted to get to real deep cleaning or any projects I would have to do the cleaning first and then there is no time for the project. Something has to change, I have floor boards that need touched up and organizing to do. I think I will start with basic tidying of the main places and then focus on 1 room per week. Deep cleaning and projects might have a better chance of getting done then!

First up will be our Master Bathroom!

 

BUDGET

Starbucks and I broke up! Less than once a week and not missing it at all, I had one yesterday and I didn't even enjoy it. I think my 2014 goal will be cut it out entirely!

I have already grocery shopped for the main stuff this month, and still have $60 left of that budget for milk, fruits and veggies a few times!

I intended to keep ALL of our receipts but tossed the Trader Joe's one, where I bought frozen artichoke hearts, 2 packages of tortellini and mini cookies. $12. I also spent $20 at Costco on string cheese and clementine's. $16 then $4 on yogurt at another store.

I have had the opportunity to work some overtime, taking advantage of it here and there when I know it won't interfere with anything else. We were able to pay off another big chunk of a credit card. So far this year, between budgeting, sacrificing and a little overtime we have paid off $37,000 + in debt!
 Not out yet but closer and closer every month!

 

SELF

Our building at work has a gym and it's free!

 Working on kicking my pop habit, hoping I can break it over the next 2 months and be caffeine free in the beginning of 2014!
Super excited for Black Friday!

 

FAMILY

 

 We have been spending lots of time with our chosen family, they might not be blood but they feel like family! Lego kids fest, Disney on ice, trick or treating all helped October fly by.
We have family photos today, unless they get rained out.
November is full of chances to make fun memories, we don't plan on letting those go to waste!

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