frugality. money-wise. saving.

The last month has been pretty fun I guess. Kind of boring on my part since there as been no luck on a job. Of course, I've almost given up of trying. Poor, pitiful me. I hate job searching... more than being unemployed apparently. I've been crafting the last few days. I transformed a beautiful star for Jackie and Adam, then Leigh-Ann and I transformed some kitchen canisters for Jackie, and I will soon transform a few of Jackie's pictures to make them worthy for her wall.

I finally finished Liz's kitchen gift. Now I must be strong and wait for her to come up here in April to give it to her. I'm too poor to mail it. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

Lately Derek and I have been entertaining ourselves with Lord of the Rings. We finished the Two Towers last night (even though we were supposed to be doing homework).

Now I'm just counting down the days to my final Jury before my recital, the Opera Scenes performances, and my Recital. I'm excited for them all... more nervous about the Juries though. I'm afraid they'll ask a question about my music or composers that I don't know the answer to.

Next weekend Derek's dad and possibly his mom are coming up for a visit and to see the Opera Scenes performance. I'm excited for guests. I've been putting off cleaning too long. I need to mop...and vacuum...and clean the bathroom.

Lately I've been browsing the internet for coupons and money-saving ideas. It is now time to incorporate them into my every day schedule. One idea I've been reading about is to take The Pantry Challenge. Pretty much, eat out of your pantry and stop shopping for more food until your pantry is practically empty. Well, there is not much in my "pantry" but there is enough for at least two weeks I think. So my goal for the next two weeks is to center my meals around the food I have in the pantry and spend little to no money on extra ingredients for the meal. Hoping this will save money, I'm going for it. I spend too much money on groceries. I think it's because I love to shop. Derek probably trusts me too much. But, hey... I'm learning.

Fun, informational sites to check out:

moneysavingmom.com

thecouponbasics.blogspot.com

couponmom.com

New Projects and Past Events

As I looked through my pictures on my phone I remembered that I wanted to mention some projects I've been working on for Liz AND I wanted to mention our fun weekend in Ogden.

First, I saw some pictures of some cute kitchen things and decided that I wanted to make a recipe box and a decorative sign thing for Liz's kitchen, so I got started. I've finished the recipe box (except for maybe a few more recipes to add). The sign is still in the making. So far I have the utensils and hooks painted. If you see the picture, you may be able to see what I have in mind. On the spoons with have the phrase "my Nook." It'll be pretty darn cute. Also I'm making a board on an easel to place her recipe card when she's cooking. I'm making that out of the cutting board in the 3rd picture. So, here are those.

So for the long weekend this January we went to Ogden to see family, and we were lucky enough to spend Saturday evening with the nieces and nephews. We played Cowboys and Indians with both a fort and a tee-pee made by yours truly. We also gave baths, ate food, and watched a movie. It was all fun. Here are some pictures.

relief, distress & noodles

The past two weeks have been filled with job-searching, cleaning, cooking, quilt-tying, organizing, and building. Derek has been going to school and working non-stop. I'm so grateful for him.

The job-searching has been useless. I went to Quizno's today, and I think he was annoyed

and slightly insulted that I came in for a job. A couple weeks ago Jackie went in to get

an application and ask if they were hiring. An employee said he might be hiring a part-time day person in a few weeks. So, I went back today. "Who told you I was hiring?" One of your employees. As if I'm starting a horrible rumor that he sucks his thumb at night.

My mother-in-law and mom have helped me stay busy these past few weeks. Miss Melanie taught me how to make noodles over Thanksgiving,

so I'm becoming a better homemaker.

My mom sent a kitchen table and bookshelves. That helped me to stop flipping out over lack of organization and that "home" feeling I so needed. Now I can eat and do crafts at a table instead of hunching over

on the floor. My 'stuff' is now stacked high and organized instead of in bins. And I'm a little more sane.

The ties from the quilt/comforter Derek and I got for our wedding came out, so I'm spending any bored moment re-tying the quilt. It's a BIG quilt. I may be halfway done now.

Jackie and I have finished most of her home projects. Her apt is looking really fun.

I've been cooking more soups. Last week it was homemade chicken noodle (with homemade noodles) and taco soup. Mmmm. I was sure to store some in the freezer before we ate it all in one weekend.

No big adventures for the Wilcox family... at least not any time soon. I'm just preparing for my recital and opera scenes. Derek is oh so busy with work, but luckily for him he likes it. He's getting pumped for March Madness already. It was a very swift but smooth transition from college football to college basketball. For a while I didn't realize that when he said 'BYU' he was referring to basketball. What's the difference between BYU and BYU? The time. The season.