The Parenting Files: Bringing Mt. Washmore to the Children

I learned how do laundry when I was 9.   My Dad would wash everything in hot water and it would shrink my clothes.  I loved my baggy clothes (no thanks to early onset puberty).  
So, I know full well that my children are old enough to start learning the basics of their laundry care. 

This excerpt is taken from a flylady email:

"The secondary payoff came several years later when first DS went to college. He held laundry classes in his dorm, because he was the only one of his friends who knew how to do their own laundry. I got one of those treasured phone calls in which he said, "Thank you, Mom, for preparing me. I can't believe these people don't know how to do their own laundry." "

When I was in college I worked part time in a laundromat.   A guy came up to the counter and asked me to quietly explain to him how to wash his laundry.  I came out and proceeded to show him the routine and the whole time he kept shushing me because he didn't want the other patrons to know that he was learning. 

My daughter was working on cleaning her bedroom (which I can almost walk thru now) this weekend and bellowed from her room that it was time for me to wash her clothes because her hamper was full.  I responded by telling her that she had better whisk her basket of dirties to the washing machine then if she wanted clean clothes.  

My children are babied entirely too much and I know this.  But, I am determined that they will know how to do their own laundry, how to do basic cleaning and how to cook a few simple meals before they leave my house. 

Cheap Lips

You would think that I wear cosmetics daily given the amount that I've blogged about them.  In reality, I only wear make up a few times a week and it takes me less than 5 minutes to do a complete routine.  Most days, I'm going around with nothing but Chapstick. 

My one daily essential is some type of lip covering.  Usually it's clear lip balm.  I put Soft Lips in Wildberry on after every shower.  Lately, I've wanted something a little more dazzling than clear balm.  I found a $2 tube of LA Colors Mood lip gloss in pink.  It's such a pretty sheer pink and it isn't tacky at all.  I don't always like LA Colors make up products.  This one is a winner. 

5 Things I Want And 5 Things I'm Happy About

I want

- A clothes line outside
- A compost bin
- An outdoor dining table
- An overnight date with my husband
- Less spiders in my basement


I'm Happy About

- Not having anywhere to be today
- A library book on hold for me to pick up today The Penny Pincher's Club by Sarah Strohmeyer (thank you to the Non Consumer Advocate FB group)
- The very loud sound of my bread machine making a loaf of what I hope is tasty orange spice bread
- The mini vacation we took this weekend where we got to swim in a hotel pool,  take the kids to George Washing Carver National Monument, The Precious Moments Chapel,  and for my aunt and uncle who put us up in a pop up rv and took us for a boat ride/swim on the lake
- An easy to please hubby who's happy with a $5 take out pizza or a quick spaghetti dinner

What Money Can't Buy

    This is my Mom on the beach in Galveston, Texas taking a break from her cancer treatments. 

     I wonder if she knows how much I miss her. 

Debt Free At last

Yesterday I wrote the biggest check of my life and paid off our mortgage.

Goodbye bank account, hello owning my own life.  Now, here's the fun part where I realize how foot loose and fancy free I've been the last few months with our money.  I just checked our credit card account and had a moment of clarity.  I shop too much and I eat out too much.
I signed up for the July rewards deal, picked out a gift card from our cash back rewards for my MIL's bday next month and put the balance towards what we owe.

Dollar Tree, thrift stores, and McDonald's sodas and ice cream cones- I will miss you.  But, not that much.

Ok, so there's more.

I've been bored with Netflix and since we don't have cable when I want to be lazy I turn to youtube.

Sometimes it gets lonely around here and I like to have voices in the background when I'm clipping coupons, doing dishes, etc. 

I like to look at people's Dollar Tree coupon hauls.  Did you know they take MFR coupons now?  I like to see how people organize.   I like to watch decluttering and cleaning vlogs. 
My favorite vlog of the day is about how to make your own Lean Cuisines.  I used to save my plastic  trays and use them to fill up a lunch of frozen leftovers for Hubby.  I am starting a new collection of plastic containers and never realized that I could use them for make ahead meals rather than leftovers. 

I have been a shopping fool at Dollar Tree lately.  I love buying the organizing bins and the cleaning supplies there.  My best find yet has been the LiteLife Black Bean patties I bought yesterday.  $1 for a four pack.  That's a steal when they are normally $3-4 a package. 

I also bought a SkinnyGirl tinted moisturizer in Sand.  I tried it for the first time today and it seems pretty good.  I hate wearing foundation and this isn't heavy at all.  It was weird at first because the applicator is a brush but it works pretty good.  It normally retails at Walmart for $10. 

Hi

Just popping in for a bit to say I am still alive. 

I have battled depression the last few months when I haven't been incredibly busy.  My entire life suffers when I am sad.  Anyhoo, feeling a bit more myself but I definitely haven't felt like I could write anything about frugality.  I am not going to be an inspiration to those who want to live on less.
Maybe soon in the future.

I can say we are this/close to being debt free.  We finally sold our old house last month and have enough to pay off our current house.  And then we can begin college/retirement savings. 
Most of that is due to inheritance and generous in-laws.  I wish I could take credit for the most of it.


Off to conquer Mt. Washmore.