(NEW) SMART SPENDING CHAT THREAD

[Sharon]

We had snow showers today but it did not stick. It has been cold all day and my feet are freezing. I need to be frosting the cutout sugar cookies that DD and I baked last night. Somehow I am just not in the mood tonight.

[marvholly]

Had a biyt of snow flurries on Tue but nothing stuck.

Theotherme
My forecast is about a day behind you – as per usual. Snow storm ‘may’ pass south of me but we are supposed to get the horrible winds.

Our overnight low is supposed to be 18 - forget whether it is Thur or Fri.

[motherto2]

Evening folks! Crazy busy week so far, but tomorrow is my last day working until 1/2! Cannot wait. I think it's going to be very tough for me to go back to work this time. All of the things that have been backed up at work is starting to break loose, of course right at Christmas. I have actually noticed a pattern of that = always right before Christmas. But good news is, my boss' boss has said if we have to come in, so do the rest of them. I've actually had to cancel my leave plans years ago to get some work done, and was calling people at home for information. And then found out no one was particularly worried about it when they came back, and changed a lot of the particulars about what they truly wanted. Imagine my happy moments that January. Never again.

DS came home from college last night and surprised me. Scared me is more like it. He had said he was going to stay at school and come home today. Then I heard someone open the back door a few hours later.

He and I are going to see that new movie called Guild trip with Barbara Streisand. I told him that would be he and I in about 20 years ;D

We are supposed to turn cold and windy starting tomorrow. Rain tomorrow night. I'm a little worried about DD flying home on Friday night. I don't think we are supposed to get any snow or anything, but they sure have been wrong before!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Motherto2, glad you're getting a break from work stress!

I saw on the national news that the whole middle of the country may get blizzards ... brrrr!

Another nice day with my wonderful DH, running errands and doing around the house stuff. 33 last night, 34 tonight. We're chilly, too. Made dinner plans with some friends for Saturday night. Kittens at Petco on Saturday, too!

The new night side tables look great, but they're bigger than the old ones and I keep smacking into them at night... must learn to adjust. (OK, maybe I am just a klutz?)

[TheOtherMe]

Snow has started, but I can't tell if the winds have started. Schools are already cancelling in anticipation of the blizzard. It's now been upgraded from a winter storm to a blizzard. Our small airport's 4 flights to O'Hare are canceled and flights out of Cedar Rapids are canceled for tomorrow. Glad I'm not trying to travel.

DS's school district is closed tomorrow as is school where GN attends school. Both have scheduled make up days for Friday. DS doesn't work on Friday and, living in the country, won't be able to make it if the predicted 4 to 5 ft drifts become a reality. Not looking forward to this one at all.

[marvholly]

I suspect many of our schools will close for Fri. It is the last day before winter break anyhow & NOTHING (academic) actually gets done.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful:
I woke up VERY early (12:30 am CST) to the sound of either belly gusher rain or 50 mph driven rain. As of the Wed evening news the expected snow has changed path again & the city (I am nearby) is expected to get 5-6 inches starting about 5 pm tonight into at least Fri am. That means:
1) I have to park on the odd side today as snow plows will be coming on Fri
2) I need to do essential errands today vs. my usual stay home on Thur. Who knows if I will want to go anywhere Fri.

[TheOtherMe]

We are in the midst of a major blizzard. Can't see outside from my living room as it's snow covered. Have drifts of 3 to 4 ft in front yard and on deck. Travel is Not Advised by State Patrol in most of the state of Iowa. Some counties are pulling plows off the roads as the winds have gotten worse making it dangerous for them to be out. Main road to the two towns where I travel are both closed due to accidents.

Very happy and thankful I can just stay inside and wait for neighbors to plow my driveway.

[Sharon]

DD and I finally got the Christmas cookies frosted tonight. Tomorrow DD is going to make peanut clusters and homemade peanut butter cups. She also wants to make peanut butter blossoms and chocolate crinkle cookies. Whatever is leftover is going to be sent back to college with here. I am sure someone there will eat the cookies.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I spent an hour or so this afternoon sitting in the sunshine (shorts/t-shirt) in my front yard ~ it was about 60, but nice in the sun. I also watered the grass and filled up the bird bath, too. We've got a "California" winter storm coming ... rain (for us) (snow in the mountains) ... cold overnight: 36 degrees.

[marvholly]

The ‘storm’ hoopla we have had here in close to Chicago for 2 days is a BUST (thank heaven) so far.

The wind is howling. Some electric is down (not me-yet). We just have a dusting of snow on the lawns & cars but nothing on streets or sidewalks – again yet. Per the news, snow is pretty much over.

[TheOtherMe]

It was not a bust here: 14.2 inches of snow officially, with huge drifts. My wonderful neighbors have plowed my driveway and I am heading out on a couple of errands I have to do today as soon as my dryer stops.

I will drive very slowly and cautiously.

It was so wonderful to wake up to sunshine, even if it is very cold.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Meow. The World didn't end, so I need to feed the cats

[TheOtherMe]

Lucy has totally enjoyed the sunshine today. It melted the snow off my windows and then she took sun baths! Happy cat.

[marvholly]

With the wind it was miserably cold yesterday so I just stayed in. Going to be nearly as cold today but less wind. I have to go out today because i need to get a sale item at CVS for my Dad AND

I have a 30% off mail coupon from Kohls PLUS an email for $10 off and they CAN be combined. I will make a couple other stops too and 'treat' myself to lunch (BK Buy one, get one FREE coupon).

Forgot to defrost the chicken I planned to make today so dinner will be..............?

[mrsdutt]

Good morning to all. I assume the winter storm has passed by this time. I'm glad everyone involved stayed safe and warm. Molly, our winter storms are like yours. For which I am thankful. I think I'd set into depression if I had to see one more snow storm close off my home to civilization.

I think I'm ready for Christmas. Everyone will stay here the night and the kids will wake up to Santa gifts at grandma's house. We each have all the ingredients for recipes and a bottle of wine to drink while wrapping up the gift wrapping on Christmas eve. It's tradition that we act stupid (I can use that word under these conditions) wrap and drink! I'm being very sentimental about DH. It's different than last year and the year before. I just feel he's watching us and getting excited with us. The tears are soothing this year. Kind of hard to describe.

DD3 is expecting a little one in May. She's half laughing and half crying when she tells me she may have been a bit nuts to want a third child so close to the other 2. Each of the daughters have said that's it. No more kids. There's only our son who can't seem to find a girl like dear old mom.

Off to watch GS@ at marshal arts. Stay safe. God bless. (OH did I say that out loud???)

[Sharon]

It is a cold blustery rainy day today. These kind of days always make think of Winnie the Pooh and his Happy Windsday. This morning Mom took DD and I out to breakfast. We then had a family field trip to buy butter on sale. ;D The store is practically across the street from the restaurant and this week butter is $2.50 a pound. This is as low as it ever goes so every time we go near the store we stop and pick up two pounds (they have a limit of 2).


I finished the last of the Christmas shopping today. Everything is now wrapped and ready to go. I just need to shove the wrapping paper container back under the bed until next year.

[motherto2]

Theo I'm glad your snow is finally over. We've had some wind, and rain a couple of days ago, but yesterday and today were sunny. DD is officially a college graduate!!!!!! She made all B's this semester. It was a tough several years, but it's all good now ;D. She had all B's this semester, which is amazing, since it was the senior courses, plus 300 hours for clinicals, plus getting up and working at 4:30 in the morning. She did cut back a few hours at work about half way through the semester because it was getting tough to keep up that schedule. She is now back from her trip, and both kids are upstairs asleep (it's 8 PM here).

I started with a sore throat this afternoon. I did some baking this morning, went and picked up her gluten free graduation cake at noon, and went to the . And sheets/towels. After I sat down for a few minutes is when I felt it. I did take a nap this afternoon, and am now drinking a hot toddy and watching the Wizard of Oz. Hot toddy's are awesome, and for whatever reason can kick something out of your system. We are headed out tomorrow morning towards DC for DD's graduation celebration, and I surely don't want to be under the weather for that.

[Sharon]

Mother congratulations on your DD's graduation and enjoy your celebration tomorrow.

My DD has been asleep all afternoon. Yesterday evening and this morning she kept talking about an ear ache but didn't act sick, just tired. This afternoon she disappeared and I saw she was sound asleep on top of her bed. She has been there about 4 hours now. I am just going to let her sleep it out.

[TheOtherMe]

The news is still talking about horrible road conditions. I ran a short errand in town during the day and the roads were wet. No problems with where I traveled.

I do get depressed during winter when we don't have any sun for days but especially when it stays foggy for days. I do like to be able to see the homes of my neighbors and see lights. I don't live on a farm all alone in the country.

My sister has made noodles for Christmas. Took several phone calls to mom. I hope they taste like mom's noodles as they were so delicious.

[Jaguar]

This is the newest Simon's Cat video



Many Blessings to Everyone.

[marvholly]

It was actually HARD to find something I wanted/needed at Kohl’s. Finally got 2 kitchen towels for $3.00 out of pocket. That is a pretty good price here 7 I have several towels that have had it.

Sharon
At this time of year I have 1-2 stores where butter gets down to $2. I think they do it again around Easter. I generally throw 1-2 lb in the freezer.

I plan to stay in today, do some laundry/house chores, prep for Christmas meal, do a BUNCH of paperwork I have been putting off, watch the political talk shows & the Bears game (if I can stand it).

[mrsdutt]

SUGI That was cute. Thanks for the video. A stay home day for me as well. I need to clean and finish wrapping a few gifts. Among other things. The strangest thing happened at the grocery store yesterday.

After I purchased a few items I got a coupon for a free soda (2 L) So I went back and got the soda. Out comes a coupon for free eggs. I got the eggs. To my surprise I got a coupon for a free lettuce. This happened 9 times! I went home with 6 sodas, lettuce, eggs, paper towels without spending a cent! Merry Christmas from Food Lion! Go figure!

[grits]

We;ve had crazy weather. Some days it gets below freezing. The next week, it'll be 75. The flu is in epidemic proportions here. It makes me not want to go out of my apartment. Today, it is supposed to get up to 73. Christmas day is supposed to be major rain, and 60. The day after Christmas it is supposed to be cold. Go figure.
I am on vacation this week. YAAAAAAAY!. It took over 27 years to get enough seniority to get it. I pounced on it.

[grits]

I live on the upper Texas coast. I'm right in the middle of hurricane alley.

[mrsdutt]

Dec 23, 2012 8:32:24 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Dec 23, 2012 8:22:37 GMT -5 grits said:

We;ve had crazy weather. Some days it gets below freezing. The next week, it'll be 75. The flu is in epidemic proportions here. It makes me not want to go out of my apartment. Today, it is supposed to get up to 73. Christmas day is supposed to be major rain, and 60. The day after Christmas it is supposed to be cold. Go figure.
I am on vacation this week. YAAAAAAAY!. It took over 27 years to get enough seniority to get it. I pounced on it.

My goodness. Freezing one day, 75 the next? Where do you live that the weather is like that?
We, up here in far N. California, are getting blasted right now with snow.

SNOW??? LONE, I live 10 minutes from the NC border (think last coastal city in VA) and we are mild. What's going on???

[TheOtherMe]

I'm looking at a lot of snow from my window right now. This is a stay at home day for me also, as was yesterday.

I need to wrap my Christmas presents and do some paperwork for my rep payee clients. I'm going to visit the elderly lady who lives in an independent living apartment tomorrow. She called yesterday and has "something" for me and could I please come before Christmas. I need to go when the bank is open as I think she wants me to make a deposit for her in to an old-fashioned passbook savings account. These have to be teller transactions.

I talked to my mom last night while dad slept through the WGN news. My sister had called her about how to make mom's noodles, so she had talked to her several times. Mom is worried about DS, her shingles and what happens when school starts after Christmas and the regular teacher is back 1/2 days and the sub 1/2 days because they have two totally different approaches to teaching. My sister is usually pretty calm, but mom is worried about her. I know last Sunday at the annual cookie baking, she was very worried. Not to mention that one of the kids hit her and the teacher thought a 10 minute time out was sufficient punishment. Principal had been out sick and she hadn't been able to talk to her.

Mother, congrats on your DDs graduation. A proud accomplishment.

[Sharon]

The holiday baking is almost done, although DD and I were talking about adding in homemade caramel corn as a last minute addition. This would mostly be for the neighbor gifts. She and her fiance are going to make peanut butter blossom cookies tonight. Tomorrow will be cook the neck and giblets for stuffing and to make broth to use in the stuffing and for the gravy. I will also make the stuffing tomorrow. I have also decided that we need homemade dinner rolls for Christmas. We are so ahead of the game with house cleaning that I should have time tomorrow to play making bread.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

We have rain, which is completely normal for this time of year as winter is our rainy season. Our 10-day forecast has highs every day in the mid-50s, with lows overnight ranging from 37 to 49 depending on cloud cover. 2/10 days have rain forecast, the rest of the days are a mix of partly cloudy, mostly cloudy, and the forecast has one "sunny" day (Jan 1). I think our plan is to get the lawn refertilized this week (we have some leftover fertilizer), so maybe that will be our "after the gardeners have come and gone" Friday project. (Yes, we still have to mow and edge our lawn, and rake leaves and trim bushes, etc. in the winter.)

We had 9 kittens adopted yesterday at our Petco adoption event ... which was just amazing! I posted a blind fuzzy black older kitten on Facebook this afternoon and it looks like he's getting a new home for the holidays, too, woo hoo! Otherwise, this is prime time fundraising season for nonprofits like ours, so I'm busier than ever with things related to that. And starting Monday Dec 24 (through midnight Dec 31) we're doing a special promotion with one of our local tv stations ... for every new LIKE on Facebook that we can get them, they will donate 50 cents to us! I'd love to get them 5,000 new LIKES which would = $2,500 for The Cat House on the Kings! (I'll post a link so you all can LIKE them once it starts, lol!)

I ordered myself the new Les Miz movie soundtrack from Amazon and have been enjoying it. Only problem? Russell Crowe really cannot sing, LOL ... so I just went and ordered one of the Broadway soundtracks to listen to in the car. (Which keeps me from wincing and yelping during all the songs that Russell Crowe's trying to sing!) We will see the movie, of course, but on an uncrowded weekday in late January after school's back in session as I do not not not do crowds. (Which also means I'm not going anywhere near stores this time of year!)

It's so nice to have my wonderful DH home. We went out to a welcome home dinner last night with friends, and it was nice. (And the food was scrumptuous ... shrimp scampi with bacon-wrapped filet and fresh mushrooms! How could that be anything but amazing?) He's been spending a lot of time just decompressing on the couch, and commenting on the various HGTV shows I tend to watch throughout the day. (He does seem to prefer them to my listening to Les Miserables over and over, lol!) He also really likes his new exercise bike!

Looks like the military got most of his pay issues updated and resolved, but there's still no sign of his family separation pay ($250 a month for about 3 months) and it doesn't look like he'll see that before January. Oh well, it will spend (or get saved) just as well then ... just one more thing to follow up on, I suppose.

[marvholly]

Molly
I also HATE stores this time of year. Only hitting my fav fruit/veg market & 2 grocery stores whose ads end today or Wed. I will NOT go near any other stores (TJ, Marshalls, Target, Kohl’s…..) until the return craziness is over & they do heavy duty clearance. That s/b between Jan 7-15.

[Sharon]

I was in the grocery store yesterday but went at 7am, it was nice and quiet then. My main reason for going to the store was to return my bottles and cans. I added $4.05 to my little stash of money. While I was there I also picked up two more pounds of butter. I know have 8lbs of butter in the freezer.