7 Quick Takes ... Sunday: Vol 8

1.
Sometimes life happens, and things don't get posted on time ... or even written. Friday was one of those days, but the reason why is kind of exciting. I was asked to give the keynote address at an awards banquet honoring the highest honor given to girls in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award. I earned a Gold Award in high school, and was asked (kind of last minute ... like Monday afternoon ... oops) to be the keynote speaker because of it (and according to the woman who called me, "because (I) wouldn't have a problem speaking in front of a large group on short notice"). It was a really good time. My speech was well received. I did not fumble around like a crazy too much, and I got a pretty yummy (and free!) dinner out of the deal. The downside, the speech was oh, a hundred or so miles from my house, in the early evening, so most of my usual Friday bloggy time was spent getting ready and driving (and putting the finishing touches on my speech ... who loves the last minute?! Em does.).

2.
I skipped church this morning so I could finish writing my group research paper, and although I've only been going to church regularly for ... oh, a month, I'm kind of sad I wasn't there. I know I can listen to the podcast and check the bulletin online, but really ... I just like being there. It's the highlight of my week, and I'm regretting terribly not getting up and going anyway. Now I have to wait another 6 days. (Wow, on 2nd inspection, I never ever would have counted myself in the category of people disappointed that they missed church ... something has come over me ... something not so awful, maybe ...).

3.
We added even more plants to the garden yesterday. There will be a garden post forthcoming in the near future, which I'm terribly excited about. We swung by the greenhouse yesterday and I fell in love with some clearanced kale and chinese cabbage plants. I mean, in love. They were calling to me. I looked at them longingly, walked away, perused the remainder of the section, wandered back to them, stood looking at them like a 2 year old, and finally decided to just bring them home. We don't have any greens growing since my lettuce didn't so much make it ... stupid paper seed cards anyway.

4.
The beloved Red Wings did not win the Stanley Cup. I should offer congrats and well dones to the Penguins, but I'm not that cool of a person. I'm pouting.

5.
We had a fabulous time Thursday at the minor league baseball game. Not only was my favorite band playing after the game, but it was as well "Thrifty Thursday" at the ball park. We scored $5 admission tickets (instead of $9.50i) by agreeing to bring our own chairs and sit on the lawn. A number of food items were marked down to $2 instead of the regular exhorbinant park prices or $4, $6 or more, and you could get hot dogs (which I don't eat ... ick, but other people do) for $1! Some friends joined us on the grassy knoll, and we had an all around great time. Not that I'm the biggest baseball fan in the world, but we may have to check out future Thrifty Thursday events there for some super cheap entertainment.

6.
The spring semester ends Wednesday. Yay! The bad news: the summer semester begins on Monday. Yikes. Ugh. Why in the world idd I agree to take spring AND summer classes? Am I a crazy person? I'm happy one semester is almost over, but I'm wishing for a much longer break than 4 days. These are the moments when I wonder to myself, "why in the world am I still in school?"

7.
"So the eye needs light to see, so the soul needs labor to comprehend." --Philo

I will try to remember this next week when I'm cleaning my house top to bottom in preparation for the party we're having Saturday.


For more 7 Quick Takes, probably posted on time, check out Jen's blog.

Simply,

Em.

Summer Fun! (on the cheap ...)

If you happen to be relatively local to me, there's a list of great stuff going on to fill your summer date book with below. If you aren't so local, check out your local chamber of commerce, library, or civic association for events calendars. Summertime is always full of pretty cheap or free community events, no matter where you live. Don't miss out because you aren't in the know. Just google your town and find some freebie fun for your family (hooray alliteration ... haha). Festivals, library reading programs, fireworks, and car cruises abound. I cannot wait!

On the Lakeshore ...

Brown Bag Film Series at the MMA
Grab your lunch and meet up at the art museum for a 30 minute film. Admission to the film is free, though I think they still charge for museum admission if you want to browse the galleries afterward, and there are cookies! Check out the downtown schedule for details.

Movie Nights at the LST
Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and head down to the Mart Dock for a free movie every Friday on the deck of the historic LST (Landing Ship Tank ... it's a boat ... a huge one, if you haven't seen it). The deck opens at 7pm, and the movie begins at dusk. You can bring a cooler and snacks, or purchase them on site for $1. A schedule of films can be seen on the downtown schedule. Although there's no admission cost, donations are accepted and all proceeds go to the Restoration Fund of the LST. Movies under the stars ... for free ...?! Score!

Parties in the Park
Live music (the link has the schedule), kids' games, and positively a ton of people you forgot you knew will be at Hackley Park in the middle of downtown every Friday from 5pm-930pm. Entrance is free, but food and beverages are a little on the pricey side so I suggest eating an early dinner at home before heading down there. I don't honestly remember if they let you bring food in or not, but I do know outside beverages aren't allowed. The best part, all proceeds go to the organization that is "sponsoring" each week. They provide the volunteers and the PITP organization compensates them according. Come out to the park, hang out with your friends, and support the organizations you know and love.

Summer Celebration
Most of the events surrounding SummerCel have some kind of cost associated, sometimes a rather significant cost if you're considering a night out with one of the live 'big name' bands. However, a number of the events going on around the Main Stage are free, especially the ones targeted at kids. Be careful to avoid the midway if you're not into dropping tons of cash on junk food and stomach turning carnival rides. Flip through the schedule, though, there may be something going on for free or pretty low cost that may interest you, like the Community Picnic where each food item costs only a quarter or the Safari-Me Petting Zoo. Also, scope out a free spot to park your car and catch the fireworks on July 4.

Star Gazing ... Inside
The Carr-Fles Planetarium at MCC offers free planetarium shows to the public on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7pm.

Vacation with Purpose
If you're so inclined, the Maranatha Bible Conference offers free entertainment on Saturday nights at 7pm. There are other free events as well mixed in with their admission required ones. You can check the summer program schedule here.

Tons More!
Events can be found here, here, here, and here. There are also library programs going on all over the area, so check out your local LLC library for details, or the Hackley Library which even has an Adult Summer Reading Program in conjunction with their kids' programs.

Surrounding the Lakeshore ...

Fishing Weekend
Don't have the cash for a fishing license?
(although, I would strongly advocate the purchase if you have the time, location, and fish population since it's ... free food that can easily recoup the cost of the year long license)

Join in the fishing fun anyway by participating in the Michigan Free Fishing Weekend. No license required, just grab your pole and head to the closest stream (in MI that's approximately 12 feet from anywhere you live) for some quiet time and hopefully some free dinner!

Anything Else?
Are there other sweet freebie events going on that I don't know about? Nation wide programs you want to tell me about? Great local programs in your community that you'd like to brag about? Let me know in the comments! I'm looking for freebie summer fun and date night ideas (remember, we need those date nights ... badly).


Simply,

Em.

Super Saver: Water, Water Everywhere Edition

I've been a little lax on the grocery shopping lately. I hit up the super deals (sometimes ... ), but I leave the rest alone. We have plenty of food in the house, and every so often I just get the urge to use it up rather than add to the stockpile. This natural downsizing inclination helps keep everything well rotated, and hopefully will create enough freezer space for fall butchering (fingers crossed ...). That said, Be and I hit up Meijer on Saturday evening because no matter my shopping aversions sometimes, the power of free things compels me back to the store.

6 Mrs. Dash seasoning mixes: on sale, $1.99 - $1/2 Meijer coupons - 50c/1 manufacture coupons = 99c each.
6 lbs ground beef: on sale, $1.59 - $1/1 wyb Mrs. Dash coupons = 59c/lb.
16 Crystal Light On The Go: on sale, $2.99 - $1/1 Meijer coupons - $1/1 manufacture coupons = 99c each.
2 Crystal Light Skin Essentials: on sale, $2.99 - FREE coupon = $0!
8 cases of Meijer bottled water: orig. price unknown, - Meijer promo for buying Crystal Light = FREE!
4 Nabisco Cookies: on sale, $2.50 - 55c/1 coupons = 1.95 each.
2 half gallons Meijer ice cream: orig. price unknown - Meijer promo for buying cookies = FREE!
2 pkgs Meijer bagels: on sale, $2 each.
10 2ltrs Dr. Pepper: $1.39 - B3, G2 sale - FREE 2ltr coupon = $6.95 + $1 deposit = 70c each.
2 loaves Meijer bread: on sale, 99c each.

Total after coupons: $46.05
- 15% off grocery catalinas earned by my brother when buying his girlfriend's birthday gift last week. I gave the cats first, so that they came off the pre-coupon total. Hooray little brother for thinking of me and not tossing the cats in the trash.

- 4 $2 catalinas for buying Crystal Light.

Final Total: $35.42

Total Saved: $127.00

78% savings! Yay! We don't buy bottled water, preferring to use the filter and a wide array of Nalgene bottles. However, with ummer coming and sweet coupon deals, I'm more than willing to take cases of the stuff home for FREE!

Want to see more totals? Check out Gayle's round-up at Grocery Cart Challenge.

Simply,

Em.

Gratituesday: 9 June

I'm grateful for ...

... absolute providence (I was worried about money last week, and now, a perfectly fabulous part time job offered without my application and a bit of a business upswing all at the same time).
... fast growing little green friends all over the garden.
... bountiful rain, the elixir of life.
... Sundays spent with friends, large groups and small.
... The White Bucket Project.
... the promise of in season strawberries, very soon.
... leftover spaghetti in the morning.
... new friends, laughing, in pajamas.
... an attentive Be whose love style is most clearly the gift of service. Thank you, love.
... Ed Dobson, again. Great words from a great man.
... that feeling that no matter the miles (to Greenland ... yikes!), no matter the time (years, unfortunately) that first hug is just as perfect and comfortable as the last time. My cousin (and former debate partner in high school) was home for his brother's wedding this weekend. He's a Cpt. in the USAF, and I count him among my dearest, closest friends. He likely knows more about me (even the nitty gritty dirty stuff) than anyone else in the world. Those stolen moments, even though he was busy with his Best Man duties, were fabulous. Now, back to Greenland he goes. I'll miss you, Reric.
... a journey that is just beginning.

What are you grateful for today? Please go check out Laura's blog for even more grateful posting.

Simply,

Em.

Menu Plan Monday: 8 June to 14 June

Note: Blogger and I had a bit of a disagreement about the scheduling of these posts, apparently, so they didn't go up when they were supposed to. For that, I apologize.




M: Baked Spaghetti Marinara, garlic bread

T: Firehouse Tortilla Pizza

W: Broccoli Cheese Soup with Bacon Grilled Cheese

R: Sausage Dirty Rice Florentine

F: Survivor Night (leftovers! yay!)

S: Chicken Stirfry with Herb Rice

U: Pork Chops, Au Gratins, Steamed Asparagus, Buttered Biscuits

That leaves ...

Cut pasta with Meat Sauce x2
Pasta with Meatballs
Fancy Mac & Cheese x2
Chicken Stir Fry
Ham and Cheesy Potatoes
Pork Chops x3
Corn Tacos x2
Grill Night x3 (Hamburgers x1, Hot dogs/Brats x2)
Crockpot Whole Chicken
Creamy Chicken Stew (from leftover whole chicken)
Tip Steaks and Potatoes
Broccoli Cheese Soup with Bacon Grilled Cheese
Chicken Kabobs a la Med
Pizza x2
Breakfast for Dinner: Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage
Sausage, Egg, and Potato Scrambles with Tortillas
Baked Ham Steaks with Au Gratins x2
Oven Beef Loin Roast
Sausage Dirty Rice Florentine x2
Leftover x2 (probably more, honestly, but we'll see ...)

What's on your menu? Need inspiration? Check out the Org. Junkie for ideas!

Simply,

Em.

Simple Sunday: June 7

Note: Blogger and I had a bit of a disagreement about the scheduling of these posts, apparently, so they didn't go up when they were supposed to. For that, I apologize.

Summer time is often busy for a lot of families with events and outings and the like. This Sunday was one of those days for us with two graduation open houses and a wedding. Sitting among the bowls of buttermints and half eaten pieces of cake (also, who only eats half of their cake ...?! ), I had a very 'Simple Sunday' moment. I love the unending smile of a new bride, surrounded by her friends, completely in love with this moment and the toothy grins of new grads, the whole world in front of them. They give me that oh how I love simplicity sigh. I remember those moments. I think that's probably why people attend these events in droves. They want to remember those same moments in their own history and recreate those feelings, if only for a few minutes or a couple hours.

This Simple Sunday I'm in love with rites of passage, community celebrations, and the love between family members that no matter their distance or time apart, can be almost immediately rekindled. It's just a party, just a cake that your mom insisted on putting your face on, just a group of people sharing a meal ... just that until the memories and feelings make it so much more.

Congrats to those whose snapshot (a moment you will always remember like a polaroid, still shot glimpses of a before) moments we got to share in this weekend. Thank you.


Simply,

Em.

7 Quick Takes: Vol 7

1.
I'm toying with the idea of another blog (as in, in addition to rather than in place of). There are approximately a million things I want to write about all around a common theme, but it is one that although linked to the thematic direction of this blog would likely overtake the parts that it is not so connected to. I don't really want that. GSF for me has been a place to be grateful, seek simplicity, and practice frugality. This new idea would be grateful and likely connected to the reasons for which I seek the simple over the complex and the frugal over the luxurious, but would be far less practically oriented (fewer GDAs, coupon breakdowns, recipes, etc). I don't think I want a replacement, just an alternate place to also write. You could read both if you wanted, but at least you'd still have options. Now, to decide the name (this part takes me the longest of anything ...).

2.
I'm learning that my body doesn't like commercially produced fruit juices. It used to be just orange juice, which I blamed on the ridiculous citric acid to actual soluable fiber ratio. Then it was anything orange juice made an appearance in ... Mountain Dew, for example. Now I'm also having problems with grape juice (and if that ... then, wine? noooo!). Before I call it quits entirely I think I may drag my juicer out of the cupboard as the fruit crops start to come in and give making my own a go to see if the problem is the juice itself or the commercial process (and assortment of unnecessary crap ingredients). Then the question becomes ... how to store already homemade juice for once the availability of fresh fruit diminishes?

3.
Remember my favorite thing about Sundays? Yea. Apparently not this week. My schedule (I even hate the use of the word 'schedule' in reference to a Sunday) consists of meeting a friend for church, then driving to our hometown for an early afternoon graduation open house, then driving across that town for a late afternoon graduation open house, and then making it to my cousin's wedding reception. Argh! That's pure craziness, but the prospect of eating cake three times in one afternoon/evening does have me a little twitterpated (I loooooooooove cake!).

Now, to figure out 2 frugal graduation gifts and a frugal wedding gift. I should consult my gift closet, but it's currently stocked only with plastic cups and Halloween candy. Hmmm. I have 2 days to figure this out, my lovely friends of the interwebs, and I would adore your help in the comments section. (pretty please ...?).

4.
Not that it's all that exciting to anyone but me, but the data for my summer research has been tabulated and analyzed. Those of you who've been involved in research projects like this know the sigh of relief I'm breathing right now knowing that all the (f)tests and ANOVAs are done and accounted for. The remainder of the paper still needs to be written ... the results and discussion portions, but really I'm just glad we only had a few data hangups getting to here (mostly involving spelling inconsistencies in responses ... which the computer does not like at all). I do need to write the rest of this paper before Monday (is it Friday already?! My word!). Also fabulous, the data analysis proves our hypothesis, which is way cooler than it not.

5.
I want to go here, please. I may have to start fundraising once I decide when exactly would be the perfect time to go. My initial thought is of course ... winter, because winter in MI is less fun than winter in Morocco and vice versa for summer since Rabat is in Northern Africa. I really want to volunteer abroad, and have for quite awhile. I just hadn't found the place that felt right. Just imagine ... Em walking down a tiny market street, eating the most amazing hummus and falafel purchased from a street vendor, speaking Arabic to cute little kids, and working with the local women's group on organizing actions. Beautiful. I am so in, as soon as I find $6,000.

6.
I am really hungry to lo mein thanks to a conversation I am having this very minute online while writing this post. I loooooove lo mein almost as much as I love cake. It's my first and favorite pick at every Asian resto we've ever been to, and the more I talk about it right now the more tempted I am to gnaw off my own left hand. I also haven't eaten lunch yet. Hmm. Now, to find some fabulous Chinese noodles ...

7.
The mailman was nice enough to bring me a $27 (and change) check this week from the good people at Inbox Dollars. This is the first time I've actually received money from them, so they finally get to go down in my "Absolutely Legit" column. I click through some emails, they send me some money. I am ok with that arrangement. Mostly, I was just excited to get free money in the mail. If you want in on the deal, feel free to click the link on my right sidebar under 'Places I Dig' (or just google it if you're not as comfy with referral links ... I care not either way).


For more 7 Quick Takes Fridays, check out Jen's blog.

Simply,

Em.

GDA: Free Krispy Kreme!

Tomorrow, June 5, head to your local Krispy Kreme for a FREE doughnut of your choice in celebration of Doughnut Day. I didn't know there was such a thing, but I like Krispy Kreme a whole lot more if it means freebie doughnuts all-around. You can go here to see if your local store is participating. I love the glazed sour cream ones, myself. Now, to think of a reason to go to that side of town so I can be close to the only store we have ...


Simply,

Em.

Gratituesday: 2 June

This week, I'm grateful for ...

... sunshine!
... most adorable little green shoots coming up in the garden, life embodied from my own hands.
... pajama Tuesday (We occasionally declare it Pajama Day! here. Love love love pajama day!)
... Mars Hill.
... good friends, and those time machine moments when we can all be together in a room, laughing like there aren't a whole world's worth of miles between us regularly.
... a hilarious family that enjoys being together, eating ice cream, and laughing until our sides hurt.
... our hometown, only 20 minutes from where we live now, where we can go and just breathe (the links are pictures ... share in the beauty).
... Betty Crocker confetti cake (the rainbow chip one). It's not scratch, and it's far from good for you, but it's sooooooooo tasty (and was requested by yesterday's birthday girl).
... great people, with big hearts (and the occasional extra Rolex ... which is a reference only one person will get ... haha).
... the kids I work with, amazing young adults who are looking like they'll turn into great grown-ups one day.
... a little bit of a cool breeze, refreshing after the humidity.
... every day I get to be part of this amazing world.


What are you grateful for today? Want to see what others are grateful for? Check out Laura's blog.


Simply,

Em.

Top 'O the Month: June

Summer is almost here, and I absolutely love how renewed everything feels. The trees have new leaves. The little green lovelies in the garden are starting to get new shoots. There are baby birds and bunnies all over the place, and the closest farm now has calves roaming in the pasture. I love the edge of summer, and it is speaking to me metaphorically as far as our budgeting is concerned. We've had some dark moments through the winter, and we will be moving toward correcting them in the near future. We aren't perfect, by far, even though I write about money and budgets and the adoration of the Dave Ramsey. We have been slipping, and although I don't count any of my explanations as really valid (everyone can rationalize a solid excuse, right?), I think they're probably at least a little true.

Be is jobless, afterall, and unable to even seek employment currently because of the ridiculous unfortunate circumstances of his at work injury. There are far more complicated details than that which I'm prevented from talking about because of attorneys and judges and the like. I wish I could lay it all out there so others, if there are any, could know they aren't alone in the nonsense complicated process that is dealing with workman's comp disputes. This job prohibition, as I've mentioned before, coupled with my already irregular income makes for a budgeting nightmare. I can write the numbers down all I want to, but they don't really matter when the money doesn't show up when it's supposed to. There are great methods for budgeting irregular income out there, but we're in survival mode rather than a place where we can sock away a ton of savings to compensate for later shortfalls. Every minute is a darn shortfall, I swear.

When your money doesn't have a plan, it wanders off. When you don't make a plan for your money because you don't know when/if it's going to show up, it also makes a run at wandering off once you get it. It's all a big gross mess, and I cannot wait until the day we can go back to real (budgeted) life instead of this wandering craziness. That said, wacky inflow/outflow is not a solid reason for not being super cautious about spending. We have not been super cautious this month, or the month before that to be honest. I feel pretty awful about it this moment, and I'm trying to embrace the 'lessons learned' philosophy and let go of the guilt I'm carrying around for not paying better attention for the both of us.

And now, the numbers ...

EFund: $924.00
(See, I told you we'd have to use it eventually.)

Dream Savings: $0
(At least I used this first ...)

Jeep: $0
PAID OFF! YAY!

GP: $3742.14

C1: $236.02
(It's going back down at least ...)

AV: $0
PAID OFF! YAY!

VSA: $112.92
(Ah, the curse of minimum payments ... back in the snowball it goes.)

*sigh*



Simply,

Em.