Things I have learned while Larry is in between jobs.

Hey ...I know it has been awhile...I have a hard time just sitting down and composing my thoughts.  Quick posts on FB/Twitter are easier to do on my phone.
But this idea....I needed a keyboard to capture all of my new found knowledge.
Here goes:

Larry resigned his job April 2014 due to many reasons including stress/health/company changes/relocation/etc.   He worked until July 3 2014 training his replacement and wrapping up his over 20 + years with this company.  From July - Dec we had a partial income since he was doing some contract work.  We quickly got on a tighter budget starting in July.  Sort of reminds me of when we first were married.....we had to LIVE on a budget for many years.

In Jan 2015, the income ceased.  We reassessed and found ways to tighten the budget even more.  Yes....Larry is ACTIVELY looking for a job and has had numerous interviews and sent out a boatload of resumes.  We are confident that God is in control and has everything in His timing.  He has sustained us in every area and our finances are holding pretty good.  Praise the Lord for our savings.

So....here are the biggest things I miss being able to do without thinking a 2nd thought:   treating our children/grands out to eat and buying for the grands when I see something cute.  I have had to restrain myself and just not go mindless shopping.  I am so thankful that my kids/grand kids love me and Pepaw for who we are and not for what we buy them.

So....here are the funny things I have done to help tighten our budget.  It was probably a good idea  to do these things....get rid of surplus and do some cleaning out.  Mind you....I have always been a careful shopper but in the last 10 years I never had to be on a budget.  I will break up my musings into several posts so you won't get bored.

1.  NO STOCKING UP!  I was the kind that always had spares of alot of essentials.  When snow predictions came I was prepared with the TP/paper products/etc.  Not now....I keep on hand just what we need for the week.

2.  REGULAR HAIR PRODUCTS:  My hair is so thin and hard to style that I started using volumizing products to help me get "that look".  That became costly so I scoured the house and found all bottle of shampoo/conditioner/etc and started using them.  I figure that my hair will have to suffer along with the rest of us.

3.  DETERGENT!   Laundry detergent is expensive when you are watching your pennies.  So....I found that I had excess of that on hand and between my home and the townhome I started using it up instead of purchasing the kind I really like.  We survived....and our clothes did have that BABY FRESH smell....since I had a surplus of Dreft and Baby Downy.

4.  DINING OUT!  Our eating out habits were one of the first things to change.  We were used to eating out whenever/wherever we wanted.  Now......it is only because of a coupon to keep our total meal under $10 or if someone else is paying.  Totally different for us....and a little humbling.  We really don't eat out more that once or twice a month maybe.  I have worked towards trying to cook more and keep ahead so that temptation to default to a restaurant is not there.

Well....that is enough for this post.  Stay tuned....there is more to come.
Thanks for tracking with me.

Traffic directions re defined

It has been over a year since I posted.  So.  Here's what is on my mind today. 

I think I have new definitions for how drivers interpret traffic directions.  This list is by no means official and is certainly up for debate.  These are just a few that I have come up with from my observing other drivers. 

STOP SIGNS should be renamed :  ROLL SIGNS. 

YIELD should be renamed:  GO FOR IT!  

MERGE:  Ready or not , here I come!  

Red light means RUN IT

Yellow light means SPEED UP

Green light means :  Wait til the car behind you honks before you go!  

I don't drive this way but I sure do see a lot of fellow drivers who do. 

My summer cut

I have been thinking about a new hair cut for the summer.  I haven't had short hair in a long long time.  So....I researched it on Pinterest and Erica helped me to figure out what style would work for me and that  I could manage and not look like a flathead.

Here is how much she cut off.

I didn't know I had so much hair....hahaha

Here is the front view

Now the back view.....

I think I am going to like it.
Thanks Erica.

Defaults are hard to change

About 2 weeks ago, I pulled into Wendy's drive thru and ordered my large unsweet ice tea, no lemon.  I cut out my Diet Cokes almost 1 1/2 years ago so now I drink mostly water and tea.  This day, I ordered the tea and drove to the pick up window.

 When I got to the window...I told the girl I needed 2 Sweet n Low packets.  She looked at me kinda puzzled and made sure I said what I said.  I said yes....2 please.  Then she asked:  " You add Sweet n Low to your Diet Coke?"
I was stunned....I had ordered tea.  I asked her what I ordered and she said a large Diet Coke.  I was shocked.....I haven't had one of those since Jan 2012.  I guess my default mode kicked in and I didn't even realize what I had said.  I cleared it up with her and got the DC for Larry and a tea for me.

Funny thing though....about a month prior to that incident, I did the same thing at the McDonald's drive thru.  That time, the girl asked me at the ordering window was I sure I wanted extra sweetener for my DC.  I was able to clear that one up before the pick up.
Oh well....I guess old habits are hard to break.   I don't even like the taste anymore for DC.
That is truly hard to believe for me.  But I am glad to be rid of that addiction.

Happy New Year 2013

Wait.  It is April. So I am behind.
I hope to stay on top of it and not get behind.
I have had a lot happen in this new year.
Blogs on that will follow hopefully.
PREVIEW:
Knee surgery
Chemical peels
Grandson born
Granddaughter turned 6
Back spasms.

Ok. Stay tuned if you like.
Deb

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2012

This year...I wanted to do Christmas a little different.  I am not sending Christmas cards nor a family update.
I am blogging!
So...here goes.

Larry and I have been talking about traditions and how to keep the spirit of Christmas but also de-stressing.  Along with that, we have been discussing finances and how to turn the spirit of Christmas into the spirit of giving.  We have always given to ministries and causes, but this year, we decided to give a little more.  So....instead of sending Christmas cards we will use that money to give towards a new ministry that we haven't given to before.  We are going to sponsor a child.

Since we send cards to family and friends.....You already know what's been going on in our lives.  You see it on Facebook/Twitter/Blogs/Texts and Emails.  Seems silly and redundant to send all of that to the very people who already know it.  So...in this blog...there will be pictures of this year's happenings.

Enjoy!
Merry Christmas from Larry and Debbie
Celebrating the birth of our Savior.

RANDOM ORDER

 Larry and I at the Lakehouse boat dock this summer

 Crab Boil night

 Ethan above at Aundrea's bd night

 Ethan on his church playground.

 I completed the Speed the Light 5 K in October

 Enjoying some homemade cupcakes

 I swam hard for Trey in the Sr Olympics April 2012

 My little Princesses Savannah and Rylie at the Y Princess Camp.  July 2012

 Ethan snoozing in my arms at Bay Springs August 2012

Savannah in her backyard

 Larry's parents finally got a boat ride.  Oct 2012

 Muffins with Rylie at her school

 Couch time with all 3

 I completed the Race for the Cure in Oct 2012

 Savannah at Disney Live Nov 2012

 Gymnast Rylie November 2012

 Halloween night:  Larry's mullet

 I completed the St Jude 5K Dec 2012

 Larry and I on the boat this summer

 Larry and I in our backyard.

 Our Sonic Trip

 Ethan drinking Dr. Pepper and watching Barney

 PBJ's at the Y.  Lunch break from swimming.

 Larry loves fishing on the dock

 Banana break

 Disney on Ice:  Baumer family

 Disney on Ice:  Mills Family

I completed the 5K  Sr Olympics April 2012

Hope you enjoyed our year in the life of the Mills Crew.  

Supper time creation.

Sometimes I am craving an original creation of mine.  And I am always looking for ways to make it low in calories and high in taste.
Tonight....we had quesadillas and english muffin mini pizzas.

Oh...and I also have it presented on my festive Christmas plates.
Quesadillas:  corn tortilla (2)=90 calories/salsa 10/turkey sausage 50/ cheese 20
I cooked them in a non stick skillet with non stick spray.

English muffin mini pizzas;  muffin 80/ turkey sausage 50/salsa  10/lowfat mozz 25

I toasted the muffin litely first....added the ingredients and then put them back in the oven to melt the cheese.
Very tasty.
170 + 165= 335.  Not bad for a tasty and filling main course.  I did add a fresh salad for another 100 calories.

Feel free to try it and let me know what you think.  It's a keeper for me.