It's a New Year - now what?

The holidays are finally over and reality has set in.  We're seven days into a new year and already I'm lost in a sea of indecision over what I should focus on for this upcoming year.  I have all these great ideas running through my head, but in true Wendy fashion, that's where they remain.  And when I do start something, I usually end up getting off task, so I have little projects sitting all over my house waiting to be finished.  I can't use my desk or my craft table because they're piled high with stuff. 

Today, I'm going to make a list - a list of everything that I can think of that I want to make, do, learn, read, eat - whatever comes to mind.  Then, I'm going to break that list down into categories and get busy.

Countdown to Christmas - Easy Beanie

Since I've been unemployed, the days tend to run into one another.  I don't really pay attention to my calendar because I don't need to be anywhere.  Imagine my surprise when I realized that today is November 22nd - Christmas is only 33 days away!!! What am I going to do?  Obviously, I don't have the financial resources that I had last Christmas, so this year, I have to put more time and thought into my gift giving.  The first thing that I need to do is take an inventory of my gift closet.  I am one of those people who shop all year long - for two reasons: 1) it helps to spread the cost of Christmas throughout the year and, 2) less stress running around looking for last minute gifts.  What I am not good at is budgeting for Christmas; because I buy throughout the year, I don't normally keep track of what I spend.  I know, I know, I just spent some time telling everyone that they need to keep a budget of everything they spend and here I am breaking my own rule.  Sorry!

But what if you don't have a gift closet and you don't have any money in the budget for Christmas?  What about  a homemade gift?  I love homemade gifts; it means so much to know that someone took the time to make something special just for me.

One of my homemade gifts this year is crocheted hats.  If you know how to single and double crochet, this is an easy homemade gift.  It takes me literally 15 minutes to crochet a beanie hat and it will fit teens to adults.

Easy Beanie

The original pattern can be found at http://www.allfreecrafts.com/crochet/accessories/beanie-hat/.

Finished measurements – length = 8″, circumference = approx 20″ unstretched.  One size fits most ages teen to adult. Repeat round 9 for a longer hat, skip round 9 for a shorter skull cap.

Gauge – using 5.5mm (US size I) hook, after round 4 your swatch should measure 5″ in diameter. Adjust hook size to obtain correct gauge.  You can use one color yarn or mix and match your colors.  I used Red Heart and I Love This Yarn for my hats.

Stitches -
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
*I modified this pattern; the original calls for crocheting through the back loops in some rounds.  I crocheted my hat by crocheting through the back loops throughout the pattern.

Pattern notes – this hat design is made crocheting in rounds, each round will begin with a number of chains which will count as the first stitch, and is ended by joining the last stitch with the top of the beginning chain creating concentric circles. “st” denotes the stitch of the previous round.

Begin – ch 3, join with a slip st to first chain to form a ring.
Round 1 – ch 3, 9 dc into ring, join with sl st to top of ch 3. 10 sts.
Round 2 – ch 2, dc into same st, 2 dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 20 sts.
Round 3 – ch 2, dc into same st, dc in next st, *(2 dc in next st, dc in next st), repeat from * 8 more times, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 30 sts.
Round 4 – sl st into back loop of same stitch, ch 2, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, *(dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st), repeat from * 8 more times, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 40 sts.
Round 5 – ch 2, dc into same st, dc in next 3 sts, *(2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts), repeat from * 8 more times, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 50 sts.
Round 6 – sl st into back loop of same stitch, ch 2, dc in next st, 2 dc in next
st, *(dc in next 9 sts, 2 dc in next st), repeat from * 3 more times, dc in last 7 sts, join with sl st to top of ch 2. 55 sts.
Rounds 7, 8, 9 – sl st into back loop of same stitch, ch 2, dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch 2.
Round 10 – ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beg ch.
Round 11 – ch 2, dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch 2.
Round 12 – ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beg ch.
Round 13 – ch 2, dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch 2.
Round 14 – ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beg ch.
Round 15 – ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beg ch.
Round 16 – ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch. tie off MC and weave in yarn ends with a tapestry needle.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License by OS Crochet and Laura Killoran of Croshay Designs.

Follow-up to the "B" Word

Roaming around on Pinterest I found a great site that gives you a breakdown to budget categories and I thought that I'd share it with everyone.  http://www.stay-a-stay-at-home-mom.com/household-budget-sheet.html.  Thanks to Rayven Perkins for this great information.

Spicy Baked Shrimp

I am always looking for easy, delicious meals for dinner and this recipe fits the bill.  This recipe can be prepared in under 30 minutes.  I don't remember where I originally got this recipe; I probably cut it out of a magazine.

Spicy Baked Shrimp

2 sticks (1 cup) butter or margarine, melted (I recommend butter)
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tbs. lemon juice
2 tbs. ground pepper
1 tsp. hot sauce (I used Texas Pete)
1 tsp. salt
2 garlic cloves (I used minced garlic)
2-1/2 pounds shrimp (I used medium peeled, de-veined white shrimp)
1 lemon, thinly slice (I was out of lemons)

Combine first 7 ingredients.  Layer shrimp and lemon slices in a 13" x 9" dish.  Top with sauce.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until shrimp turns pink, stirring once.  Remove shrimp and enjoy.  Yield 3 - 4 servings.

Since there are only two of us, I halved the recipe and it made more than enough for two people.  I served it with a baked potato.  There you go - easy & delicious.

Budgets & Debts

I was thinking about my last post and maybe I didn't provide enough detail.  I don't know, because, for me, it is as basic as determining what is coming in and where it's going. 

There was a time in my life when I was drowning in debt and I wanted to give up.  My husband left me and I went from a two income family to a single mom with two children working two jobs and no child support.  I had a mortgage, a small business loan, medical bills for my son and, around $44,000 in credit card debt.  My husband left it all for me to handle; that was in 2001.  I don't remember five years of my life because I was so tired from working all the time.  I know my kids suffered, but I did it for them - to keep a roof over their heads.  I paid it all off, a lot of it by refinancing my home and using the equity to pay off my other debt.  When the real estate market crashed, I almost lost my home, but finally, through a loan modification, I got a mortgage payment I could afford, and thanks to being hit by a garbage truck, I got a settlement that enabled me to pay off all my debts except for my mortgage.  So here I am today, without a job, but for right now, still in pretty good financial shape.

What's the moral of my story?  It's easy, so easy, to get into debt and to get in over your head before you realize it.  But with hard work and with a realistic budget, you can get out of debt.  Don't give up - you can do this.  It takes work and commitment.

The "B" Word

To a lot of people, the word "budget" is daunting; they don't want to know where their money is going.  It's so much easier though to have a budget because then, you are in control of your money; your money does not control you.  Basically, a budget shows how much money is coming in and how much money is going out. There are a lot of great budgeting work sheets available on the internet, but I'm an old-fashioned girl; I like using a notepad and a pen.

One rule of thumb to manage your money is the 80/20 rule; live on 80% of your income, save 10%, and tithe 10%.  Everyone's situation is different, so use whatever works for you.

Now that I'm unemployed, having a working budget is a must.  Fortunately, financially, I'm in a pretty good position and it allows me to take some time off and find the right job for me.

Here is my monthly budget:

mortgage
groceries
utilities
cell phone
health insurance/dental insurance
life insurance
cable tv/internet
credit cards
auto insurance
tithe
savings
retirement

Most of these are fixed costs, so my budget won't fluctuate that much from month to month.

I don't include miscellaneous items such as gas, clothes, or auto repair; my car is a 2012 Nissan, which is paid for, and is still in great shape.

I rarely carry a credit card balance, but sometimes, it happens, and I'll pay it off over a couple of months.

I consider cable tv to be my only luxury, but if I have to, I can cancel it and save another $100.00 a month.

I have an emergency fund equal to 6 months of my former salary.

Even though I'm not working, I'll still contribute to my retirement through my emergency fund.

The real point of all this is that usually there are ways we can cut back on our budget; it may require hard decisions on your part, but when you're faced with unemployment like I am, you'll be glad that you took the time to make a budget.

I've lost my job - now what?

On October 10th, out of the blue, I lost my job.  I had transitioned from my job as a church secretary to a full-time job as a human resources specialist.  It wasn't my ideal job, but it put food on the table and payed the mortgage.  Now what?  This has not been my year for jobs, that's for sure.

It happened the day before I was leaving for a camping trip to South Carolina.  I went camping and had a great time.  While hiking through the mountains of South Carolina, I was able to work through all the emotions of losing my job and the conclusion that I came to was "Thank You, Jesus!"

So, I feel good; I feel at peace; I'm ready for the next phase of my life, whatever that may be.  If you've just lost your job, take a deep breath, cry, get angry, whine, feel sorry for yourself, and then, pick yourself up off the floor, straighten your shoulders, and look unemployment right in the face.  It's not the end of the world; some days it just feels like it.

Here's my plan for prospering until my next job comes along.  Notice, I said, "plan."  If you don't have a plan, you're not going to get through a job loss, or any other economic crisis.

1.  Review your budget; if you don't have a budget, now is a really good time to find out where your money is going every month.

2.  Decide where you can cut back.  Take a hard look; cable TV is a luxury, not a need.

3.  Check to see if you are eligible for any benefits, like food stamps or unemployment.  This will be a last resort for me.

4.  Update your resume;  this is not something that I've done and I wish that I had.  My friend Amy says that your resume should always be up-to-date.

5.  Keep on saving and keep on giving - how?  I'm not sure, but I know that generally, we are more blessed than we realize and it doesn't just involve money.

6.  Figure out if there are ways you can make some money until you find a full time job.

7.  Christmas - losing your job right before the holidays doesn't mean that you have to cancel Christmas.  There are a lot of ways to cut back and still give gifts.

My Job Is What?

Going part-time.  But don't worry.  It's not effective until April 1st.  That should be plenty of time for you to either find another full time job or another part time job.  Oh, by the way, you're going to lose your benefits too.  Any questions?

Questions?  I'm still trying to process the fact that I'm losing half my income and my benefits.  This was supposed to be my "gold watch" and retirement party job.  Here I am, almost through February, and I'm still trying to figure this out.  Plan, I need a plan.

Why I Stockpile

A friend asked me, "why do you stockpile food?'  I replied, "I'm preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse."  But what I'm really preparing for is something that I didn't think I'd ever have to worry about again.  I found out recently that my full time job is becoming a part time job on April 1st.  I am going to lose half of my income and my benefits.  Problem is I still have full time expenses.  So glad that I have a stockpile - one less thing that I have to worry about.

Chili Dog Casserole

This is another recipe from Pinterest.  I made it the other night and it was delish!  If you like chili dogs, then you'll like this recipe and it's easy to make.

Chili Dog Casserole

2 (15 oz) cans chili with beans (I used one can Hormel Hot & Spicy and one can regular Hormel)
1 (16 oz) package beef frankfurters (I used angus beef Ball Park)
10 (8 inch) flour tortillas (the fajita sized ones)
1 (8 oz) package Cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Spread 1 can of chili and beans in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Roll up franks inside tortillas and place in baking dish, seam side down, on top of chili and beans. Top with remaining can of chili and beans, and sprinkle with cheese.

Cover baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.

Pepperoni Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

So I came across this recipe on Pinterest.  If you click through, it was featured on "Skip to my Lou."  It's a combination of two foods that I like - pepperoni pizza and spaghetti.  It's also easy to make.

 

Pepperoni Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

 

12 oz uncooked spaghetti

1/2 tsp salt

1 (1.2 lb) hamburger

2 ounces pepperoni, sliced in half

1 (26 oz) jar pasta sauce

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 (8oz) packaged shredded Italian three- cheese blend

 

Instructions

Cook spaghetti with 1/2 tsp salt in water according to package directions (cook to al dente). Drain and place noodles in a lightly greased 9X13 pan. Set aside.

Cook hamburger in a large skillet until cooked through, drain and set meat aside. Wipe skillet out with a paper towel. Add pepperoni slices to pan and cook over medium-high heat stirring occasionally, until slightly crisp (about 4-5 minutes).

Cover the spaghetti noodles with hamburger then pour pasta sauce over the top. Sprinkle half of the pepperoni slices evenly over the pasta sauce. Top with Parmesan and Italian cheeses. Arrange remaining pepperoni slices evenly on top of the cheese.

Lightly spray one side of aluminum foil with cooking spray and cover the dish with sprayed side down. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted and starting to brown.

 

 

The original recipe used whole wheat pasta, turkey burger and turkey pepperoni, but I used what I had in my fridge and in my pantry.  The only time you'll find turkey in my fridge is during the holidays or maybe after a trip to the deli.  I also will use more pepperoni the next time I make this, but it didn't stop me from digging into it.  It's another keeper.

Southwestern Burgers & Mud Pies

Last night for dinner, we had the most amazing burgers; the burgers were better than I have had in a long, long time.  Interestingly, it wasn't anything that I added to the hamburger.  It was the sauce - oh my, it was sooo good!  The recipe was cut out of a Spring 2006 "Cooking for Two" magazine.

Southwestern Burger Sauce

1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tbs. spicy brown mustard
1 tbs. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Prepare your burgers as you normally would; add cheese if desired.  Spread the Southwestern Burger Sauce on the two sides of your bun, and start eating.  Believe me, you won't need any other toppings.

For dessert, I made mud pies for two - so easy and so yummy!  The recipe is from "Taste of Home" magazine.

Mud Pies for Two

1/3 cup Nutella
2 individual graham cracker tart shells
1 cup of coffee ice cream
whipped cream

Divide the Nutella and ice cream between the two tart shells.  Add whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup (if you want to).

These were so cool and creamy after the Southwestern burgers.

Easy to prepare on a weeknight!

Crumb Coated Ranch Chicken

I found this recipe in "Taste of Home - 5 ingredient recipes" magazine.

Crumb Coated Ranch Chicken

2/3 cup ranch dressing
2 cups coarsely crushed corn flakes
1 tbs. italian seasoning
1 tsp. garlic powder
4 boneless chicken breasts

Pour the ranch dressing into a bowl.

In another bowl, combine corn flake crumbs*, italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

Dip the chicken in dressing, then coat with crumb mixture.

Place in a greased baking pan and bake at 400 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 170 degrees.

*I didn't have any corn flakes, so I used italian bread crumbs instead.  I still added the italian seasoning and garlic powder.

The chicken was very flavorful.  This is a recipe that can easily be halved for two people.

ENJOY!

So Here Comes Another Year

It's January 1st and a lot of folks are making New Year's resolutions.

So here are a few things I'd like to do this year, or at least in the next five years:

I want to drink more tea.  I love the simple taste of hot Lipton tea, but I'd like to experience the flavor and aroma of other teas.

I want to drink less diet soda.

Along with some friends from church, I want to train to walk (they're running) a half marathon.  Why?  can't explain it - it's on my bucket list.

I want to cook more and try new recipes.

Oh yeah, I want to fix up my dollhouse from my childhood.

I want to create more, craft more, and read more.  I discovered zentangles and art journals and I'd love to document this whole next year in a journal.

If I could make one resolution or one really big goal for this year it's this - I want to be a cross shaped person.  I want people to look at me and say, she is a true reflection of Jesus.  Oh, this is so hard, so daunting, but oh, so possible.

A Nation of Killers

After last Friday's tragic shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, I believe that the U.S. is a nation of killers. 

 

Take a look at these statistics.  In 2010, 12,996 murders were committed in the U.S.  That's around 1.5 murders per hour.

 

In 2011, 33 people were executed.

 

There are enough guns in the U.S. to average 1 gun per person (includes military and law enforcement).

 

If you believe life begins at conception, and I do, or if you agree with scientific evidence that a baby's heart beats at 18 days, add in 1.2 million abortions (2008) data.  That's the equivalent of 137 abortions per hour.

 

So everyday, in the U.S., 3,324 people are killed - sobering isn't it?

 

Did you know that 1.5 million married women between the ages of 15 - 44 are infertile?  How many abortions could be eliminated?

 

This is not an anti-abortion rant or a gun control rant.  I personally am against abortion, but I believe that each person is responsible for making this decision.  And I believe in the right to bear arms, having guns in my own home.

 

This is just data, but it makes me question the ramifications for our nation.  How can a country founded on christian principles hold life so cheaply?

 

Just my thoughts and opinions - I believe in free speech too.

 

 

Random Thoughts

How can it possibly be July already?  I mean, where did the first half of the year go?  Since my last post, I sorted through my kitchen and got rid of some stuff.  I have lots of plarn ready to be crocheted.  I've sorted through all of my Stumbleupon pages and I've finished a couple of projects that I've been putting off.

I've been thinking about Halloween and Christmas - thanks to Pinterest.  I need to make a list of who I want to get presents for and I need to start making gifts that I want to give.  I need to get into blogger and figure out this new format, but again, I'm just a casual blogger and it's not really a big deal as long as I can sign in and type.

Sorting Out

First off, let me say that it's a good thing that I'm not one of those bloggers that's trying to make money doing this because I'd fail.  I'm just a random blogger.  I blog when I want to.

So anyways, I've been busy sorting.  You should see my living room.  Since April 14th, almost a month now, my living room and hallway and foyer have been stacked with stuff left over from my yardsale.  I finally finished sorting and pricing it and my sister packed it away in plastic tubs for the next yardsale.  My living room is clean - yeh!

So, I decided I would sort through and organize some other things in my life.  I labeled everything in my craft room.  I have some recycled shoe organizers that I'm going to store my yarn in.  I am slowly making my way through all my plastic bags, cutting them up to make plarn.

I found all the slips of paper lying around by my computer with user names and passwords and wrote them all down in an old address book that was lying around.  Now, if I can only keep track of the address book!

I have (had) 21 pages of stumbles that I had "liked" - crafts, recipes, gardening, camping, etc.  I am going through them one by one and printing out the ones that I want or deleting them.  I'm down to 19 pages - woo hoo!  It feels so good to get rid of stuff - even if it's only virtual.

I hope to tackle all my digital photos and my kitchen.  After sorting through my kitchen, I'll ask my daughter and then my daughter-in-law if they want anything.  All this extra stuff has to go!

Homemade Febreeze

I can't believe how expensive Febreeze is.  My homemade laundry detergent works so well that I decided to make my own Febreeze.  It's a very simple recipe.



1/8 cup of fabric softener
2 tbs. of baking soda
hot tap water

Pour all ingredients into a plastic spray bottle.  Shake the bottle to mix.  Use anyplace that you would normally use Febreeze.  It works just as well as the real thing and I love how much money I'll be saving.

PS - always shake the bottle before spraying.

Easy Breezy Easter

Easter does not feel like a holiday to me.  We do not celebrate Easter, per se, at my church; instead we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus every Sunday when we take communion.  My kids are grown so there are no Easter eggs or Easter baskets - no jelly beans or chocolate bunnies.

When I got home from church, my sister and I went to the beach.  I've lived in Florida for 25 years and I only live about 10 miles from the beach, but I'm not a big beach person.  It was a beautiful day to go.   It was sunny and cool and relatively uninhabited.  I got some nice conch shells and a few pieces of sea glass.  Sea glass is tough to find; the pieces I found are small and I'm going to see if I can make a necklace out of them.  I also found my very first shark's tooth.  My sister has a knack for finding shark's teeth.  Anyways, we came home with a small handful of them.

Afterwards, we went to Dairy Queen and got a couple of large blizzards - yum!  After that, we came home and took a nap.  What a perfect day!

Pinterest

My daughter introduced me to Pinterest and I love it.  Some people think it's just an artsy fartsy site or a design wannabe site, but it's more than that.  Creating your own boards and pinning & re-pinning items allows your friends, family, and the world insight into who you are as a person.  It lets me be totally me and that is very cool.