The week in review

The last week has been pretty busy for this SAHM seeking OOHE. I used last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as guilt free vacation time. Took the boys to their first day of school. I've never been so fortunate to do that. I got up made them breakfast and all that jazz!

On Friday though, the story changed DRAMATICALLY! I was lucky enough to get out there and do some real manual work with Keith. It's been a long time since I went out and did tile with him. Actually, it's been about 6 years. Since we got married as a matter-of-fact. Coincidence, I think not. Here some photos of what I did that Friday and Saturday.

It was a nice reminder that although I am able to do almost anything, manual labor just really isn't my forte' when it's 110 degrees outside. Certainly a moment when you realize just how hard your husband works!

On Sunday, it was just another usual day. However, I have learned that working in a casual environment has certainly led my wardrobe down a jean and t-shirt path. So, I set out to spend a little green to get me a few things to get by. I don't require name brand clothing and I am almost proud to a point of gloating sin when I can tell you that I bought the following for $91.36:

1 Skirt and Button up teal blouse

2 Nice Rayon blouses

1 pair of black slacks

1 black camisole with ruffle chest

1 brown camisole with lace edging

1 Crop Sweater

The only thing I regret is not getting the black heels I wanted. I didn't see it necessary however, I already have black heels, plus these were 4". Nice to have, but not when your toting yourself around on concrete, uncertain of just how far your walk might end up being!

So, on Monday, as expected it was time to hit the ground running! However, this is kinda difficult when your 4 year old only goes to PreK for 2 1/2 hours. Anytime I spent had to be spent wisely! I did manage to get my resume done, and found lots of help on the Internet. I must say, the Internet is a big help now-a-days. Definitely more so than what it was 10 years ago when I went out into the working world after being in the Navy for four years! I actually still have the books I used to help me write my resume in 2003 when I moved out to Arizona.

On Tuesday I attended a JobSeekersAZ meeting. There was much beneficial information to be had! Should I still be seeking a job when their next meeting comes about, you can count on me being there!

Also Tuesday was Keith's 32nd birthday! To be completely honest here, which later that night I explained all this to Keith as well, I hadn't really even planned on doing anything for him (of course in a loving manner). For a couple of reasons. Primarily being, I wanted to extend him the same courtesy he extends to me on my birthday, Mother's Day, our anniversary, even Christmas! It is his mother I have to thank for any real celebration of my birthday out here. If it wasn't for her, I would be cooking myself dinner and desert, making sure there were candles on my cake and all that good stuff. But, since he had mentioned that he would be back int time for his birthday dinner, So, I made a last minute trip to Autozone and the grocery store to get his gift and card and went ahead and planned dinner and his mom was nice enough to bake a giant cookie for him - YUMMY!

Wednesday - Oh what fun! As you can see in the above picture from Keith's birthday, he obviously needs a haircut. So in an effort to cut our expenses, I began cutting Keith's hair. I will also be cutting Wylie and Jacobs when the time comes. I think for my first haircut, I did a pretty amazing job! Luckily for Keith, he always wears a hat, so it wouldn't have been to big a deal, had I really fudged it up! As for Jacob right now, he says he doesn't want a haircut, which is FINE by me! As long as he keeps it combed and washed.

In regards to the job search on Wednesday, I received some follow up information regarding a job lead which is also in the construction field! Its always nice to hear one someone from another company, besides the one you worked for, wants to recommend you to someone else! So, I forwarded my resume to the lead given and crossed my fingers in hopes of an interview!

Wednesday nights are also nights for boy scouts. I (and Jacob was) an active member of Troop 451 out of Mesa Arizona. So that is how I wrapped up my Wednesday evening.

So, here we are on Thursday, went the grocery store, made my menu, did some laundry (all that housewife stuff) and plan on spending the rest of my afternoon, job searching!

So - Until I get another free morning -

Laura L Robinson

Robinson Household

Wife, Mother and General Honey Do'er

Getting the most out of your grocery green

During the past six months, I have had the chance to "hone" in on my money saving strategies. One of the most important for our household was to save money on our grocery bill without skimping on taste and variety.




To do this you need just the following:
-Grocery Ads
-Weekly/Monthly menu template (here's a link to the one I use
The Family Homestead Monthly Menu )
-PATIENCE
Our grocery ads come on Tuesday and Wednesday and I usually have the chance to go over them on Friday night or Saturday morning before my "day trip". Keep in mind that living in a metropolitan area has given me the opportunity to "price shop" even on my food. Within a 3 mile radius, I can shop at Safeway, Albertsons, Fry's Food, Bashas and Wal-Mart I start with planning my dinner meal around the meats that are on sale throughout the five stores I frequently shop at. When I see a sale on things such as Rice-a-Roni, Mac N' Cheese, Spaghetti Sauce, etc, I try to take advantage of that as much as possible. These items generally have fairly long shelf life. After I figured out my meat portion of our meal, I start to plan around it and before I know it, I have a wonderful meal planned for each night. Ranging from 20 minute preparations to one to two hours. I save those longer ones for the weekends.
Until I learn how to perfect my summer and fall garden, I will have to continue to purchase our frozen veggies at Sam's Club. There I can get LARGE bags of Broccoli Florets (not those cheap cuts), corn, peas, green beans and I usually go for their fresh bags of carrots.
On a good shopping trip, when I have stuck to my list and ONLY my list, I can get by with spending only $120.00 for TWO weeks of meals (including snacks, staples, breakfast lunch) which to me, is a job well done.
Additionally, never ever ever, underestimate the power of leftovers! Check out The Leftover Chef to get more wonderful ideas if you don't have any of your own.
Our dinner menu for this week was/is
Sunday - Country Fried Steak, Mashed Potato's and Corn
Monday - for obvious reasons, went with Hamburger Helper (Crunchy Taco), Watermelon and Cantaloupe
Tuesday - Frozen Pizza, Tossed Salad and Green Beans
Wednesday - Beef Hot dogs, Chips, Corn, Watermelon and Cantaloupe
Thursday - Chipolte Chicken Sandwiches, Pasta Salad and raw baby carrots
Friday - Tacos, Spanish Rice, Corn and Tossed Salad
Saturday - Grilled London Broil, Baked Potato, Tossed Salad and steamed Broccoli.
Now, this is where patience and time come in. It takes some devotion to the "cause" to sit down and plan this out and actually hit all five stores and get it done in one day, but if I can do it, so can you!
Happy shopping and many savings,
Laura L Robinson
Wife, Mother and General Honey Do'er

How to Make the Most of Being Laid Off | eHow.com

How to Make the Most of Being Laid Off eHow.com

D Day or should I call it U Day

Times are hard... Don't we all know that.

It started out as a typical Monday. Busy morning, rushing to get me, my husband and our two boys out the door on time. On a good morning, getting out the door by 7 am is ideal. Especially when it is my turn to drop off the boys. This morning, I was free of that responsibility so, I took my time, put together my breakfast and lunch, 32 oz bottle of water, and of course, that 12 oz can of Coca Cola. No matter how hard I try, I just can't steer clear of it.

Today's work Monday was to be relatively easy, it was my week to work Friday, so that meant I got to leave at 3:30 and it was L.A.'s turn to do payroll so that gave me the opportunity to sort out papers, follow up on some past due notices sent out and read over a contract or two. My boss came in around 8 asking about our receivables and we decided to go over them at two. No problem.

It was relatively quiet there on Monday, not much going on. I brought my lunch so I could easily update my sheet regarding receivables while chewing my cud. L.A. left for lunch and before I knew it, it was already 2 pm!

My boss and I went over the receivables feeling somewhat satisfied with the answers I had received from our customers regarding payment. That's when those 7 dreaded words came.... Some of you have heard them in the past, and some of you are fortunate not to have heard them. But no matter, when you hear, "I've got some bad news for you." you instinctively know what is coming. Or, at least I did. I am not oblivious to our current economic situation and the downfalls which come with it. The funds to keep me employed was just not there. And that was that. I know it was hard for them to let me go and I can appreciate the sincerity behind the tears I saw when I was told.

I had planned to carry on the rest of my day, as it was now 2:30 and my day was over at 3:30, with business as usual. Unfortunately, as I sat at my desk, trying to ready things for L.A., I just couldn't do it. I told my boss that I had decided to go ahead and take my leave and he graciously told me that is okay with him.

So, at this point, you might be saying one of two things to yourself. "Why even bother staying? Why not just go ahead and go?" The reason my first decision was to not tuck tail and run is because I feel a loyalty to my employer. You may or may not know what it is like to work with someone for the length of time I did or ever understand the friendship(s) that can grow while working beside someone. My employer(s) were and will always be wonderful people. This decision I know was hard and given the economical downfall, I am just thankful they held onto to me as long as they could.

So, I came home, cried my eyes out, pulled myself together and went to get my boys. Of course I immediately told my husband what had happened and we tried to carry on a normal evening as originally planned. (as normal as one could expect for a Monday with one small child and one "tween")

Amy and I talked about when one door closes, another one opens. I told her to pray that hopefully it is not a revolving door, as I am blond and I just might get stuck in it.

Many ideas popped into my head as soon as I laid down to go to sleep. I could do this, I could do that, so on and so on. I recall reading an article fairly recently about how most people will have had 3 careers by the time they are 35? Hmmm, well, I am now 32 and I consider myself to have had two careers at this point. The US Navy being one, and administration being the other. Perhaps school counts as one career? I hope so, because I'm really not interested in changing career paths at this point.

So - until I decide what direction I am going to go and before I start my job search again (which I decided will be on Monday) I'm just going to blog about what it's like to watch four walls. (because that's not me!)

Until later,

Laura Robinson

Robinson Household

Current position - Wife, Mother, General Honey doer'