Frugal Passions

So, I have a new passion in life. Being frugal. I love saving money as much as I love getting stuff. This is kind of weird coming from me. My mom and I used to argue about shopping. She is the "bargain table hoarder" and I am the "buy only when you need it" type of person. Once we went shopping together and I bought only what was on my list and she bought only things that were on sale and our final bills were both between $70 and $75.
Now that I have found a new found love for saving I have not turned into my mom, but what I think is something better. I still only buy what I think I need, but I do wait for sales or do bulk or other helpful things.
Recent things I have done include:
1. Making use of my library. I did not renew the magazine subscription I know the local library carries. I deleted almost all the books off my amazon wish list and either put them on my library wish list (most books have to be ordered from another library) or looked up the authors and are following their blogs instead of buying their books.
2. Reducing clutter of cds, books, and dvds, etc. I put all these items on amazon and ebay AND I put a sell shelf by the door in our house. Some people ask why I have a shelf with prices on it by the door but I have sold so many things from that shelf in the month it has been up, I could not be happier with the idea. I sold to my sister-in-law, mommies group, friends at Bryce's birthday party, even the energy inspector.
3. I am using the internet to learn how to fix things myself and how to shop. For example, I recently watched a shared video on how to shop sale cycles at the grocery store. I started a spread sheet and am starting to see some patterns. By the time Spring is over, I should know most rock bottom prices on groceries.

Gasp, Splash

I am writing from the kitchen counter while Lincoln joyfully splashes away in the sink with his dinosaur squeeze toys. Another development in Lincoln's world, besides his ever-growing love of waving, includes gasping. He makes the most hilarious noise while breathing in. Can't type and no word for it, so I'm calling it a gasp, but he does it all the time, just for fun.

Sister Cities

I was elected to Sister Cities Board a few years ago. Kathy, the President at that time, was having meetings about every other week to tell us about all the things "she" was doing. I got burned out and bored. We all did. So at a meeting at the end of the year Frederique was elected to President in somewhat of a conspiracy. Since his election over a year ago we have had one meeting, definitely not enough. Of those meetings they were only cat fights between Frederique and Kathy. Then Ed, the creator of Sister Cities passed away a couple weeks after Link was born. I was alone with the two and it has been a mess. Although one less meeting is nice, I have some ideas I want to get together (Algerian Labyrinth, Grants) and I want the program to work. The state rep came this month asking for us to get it together.
Later that week Ed's widow, Ruth, stopped me at the pharmacy and asked that I consider running for President. I am honored and excited to do it. The only thing is, we need to have a meeting. And with Frederique's leadership it is not going to happen. So I am calling the meeting and hopefully Frederique will not be upset. So we will see what becomes of my role in Sister Cities. Tonight my family went to dinner at our pastor's home where we talked about the meeting, I am planning on nominating her to the board. Bryce could probably post and tell you about the food. It was good.

I've been doing a lot of hanging out with friends and big jobs these past few weeks.
I don't really feel like writing at the moment.

At the coffee shop

Listening to old ladies talk about the movie "Dear John" and how it compares to the book.

One said something like, "I went through World War II, I know what that's like."

Another said that a family member won't read books by Nicholas Sparks because they're all sad.

They are very entertaining.

Now they are discussing whether to pronounce the 't' in 'often.'

Put it out there

I am having one of those weeks were everything I am putting out into the world is coming to fruition, quickly and without much thought. Yipee.

Recent Happenings

Link got two new teeth (top)
Joy and Chris spent the night Friday as a stopping point between here and Des Moines
The Hoskins came home to snowmobile. Lewis met Link for the first time. (He has been stationed in Iraq since before Link was born.
We had a fabulous lasagna dinner at Amy and Rex's home.