Not so Frugal: A New Car

I hate it when life happens and we are thrown curve balls.  About three weeks ago my car  started jerking and wouldn't pick up speed well.  Sure enough, it was the transmission.  After a quote of $3000, I  knew I had to get a new car.  Mine was paid off for two years (that was nice!) but had 115,000 miles on it.  I just could not see putting out that kind of money, which I didn't have anyway, to risk something else going wrong.  This is one of the times it sucks to be a single parent with no one around to count on. 

That very day I called Toyota and told them what I wanted and told them to start the paperwork because I would not have a lot of time after school to spend on the purchase.  I can't say I'm happy with a car payment again, but I have something reliable now:

Super Savings Saturday

I headed out to Publix this morning.  I paid $56.12 and saved $39.16 through coupons (13.95) and their Buy 1 Get 1 Free deals (24.66).  I already had meat in the freezer and some items in the cabinets, so this should last us (animals included) two weeks.)

Make Your Home a Haven: Laundry

Dear Monica (yes, she REALLY is THAT nice! and though I don't know her super well, she is a blessing to have in my life.) is hosting the "Make Your Home a Haven" Challenge.  I Do have some outside projects to work on, but first I need to tackle LAUNDRY.  I don't mind doing laundry, but it seems that it takes so long to put away.  Sadly, I end up washing and drying, and then I just take out of the clean pile to wear.  Consequently, few times do the clean clothes actually end up in the closet or drawers.  As a result, I tend to wear the same things over and over.   There really is no excuse because it's just my laundry.  My son has been doing his since sixth grade.   Since I was up at 5am this Saturday morning, I thought I'd tackle this:

It became this:

They are already put away in the drawers.  I didn't get a shot of the dresses on the hangers, but they are put away as well. 

**Later today I will head to the feed and seed to get started with spring planting.  Last year I used plants from Lowe's and just didn't have a whole lot of luck.  I am taking Monica's lead because 1) she had great luck last year and 2) if she says it's ok to start, it MUST be, right???

Cats on Tuesday

For more cat stories, go to Gattina's.

Miles has developed a new bad habit:

And, my girls, the bookends (Snowflake and Minnie)

(Oops...Minnie reminded me her name should come first, then Snowflake.)

Miles wanted to catch some rays in the dog bed while the sun was streaming in.

Below, another showdown between Thumper and Miles.  Notice Miss Snowflake watching the action.

Below:  Lovey playing with my lunchbox.

Below:  Minnie has her RESERVED stool.  Matthew always saves a bit of meat for her.  Here, it's chicken on Sunday.

Below:  For dinner she'll get a bit of beef from a beef ziti casserole.

Below:  I just think it's so sweet how they love each other.  This was Sunday afternoon after my nap.  When I awoke, I had Snowflake on one side and the boys on the other.  Look how little space they left me!

Thanks for stopping by and looking at the pictures of my babies (1 human and 6 furries)

Make Your Home a Haven: Papers and Filing

Dear Monica  has been hosting a Make Your Home a Haven challenge.  The one I had time to participate in was the Papers and Filing Challenge.

Like Monica, my kitchen is a problem area.  I have a huge island that has become the catch-all for papers.  I have this system:  put the papers in here:

until I can either file them or shred them.

However, it always seems they end up here:

I HATE this!  There is no counter space, and this is where we eat.  So, I had to get busy and get it back to this:

Thanks for the motivation, Monica. 

Cats on Tuesday

For more cat stories and pictures, head over to Gattina's.

I feed my six cats twice a day, in the morning and at night.  Now, the food is out all day, so there is usually always something for them to eat.  That's why Thumper is over 16 pounds and Humpty Dumpty is over 13.  I can't stand them not having access to food.  Since there are 6 of them, they eat at different times throughout the day.

Below:  Humpty is wanting to take Minnie's throne, but she is not about to allow THAT.

Poor baby---He will have to wait until she is out of sight!  (Scroll down to see if he won!)

Below:  Saturday night I had salmon.  These pictures are so cute because the cat on the LEFT NEVER CHANGES:  Minnie!!   Here, Lovey begs with her.

Oh, where did Lovey go?  Now it's Miles up to bat.

Oh, he must have given up.  Here's Snowflake!!

I posted pics awhile back with Humpty in Matthew's sink.  Here he is again.

Who is hiding behind the curtain?????

It's LOVEY!!!

Miles is the only cat who sleeps curled up this tightly.

Humpty got the throne when the Queen was down!

*And Minnie does NOT look happy to be dethroned!

SNOW in coastal South Carolina!

I awoke at 4:15 to find it has already begun to melt, but it was pretty Friday night while it lasted.