I use quart or gallonsize freezer bags for nearly everything, because they are so space efficient. I’ll do turkey tetrazzini, chicken currry, Kung pao chicken, Salisbury steak, cottage pie (filling and mashed potatoes in separate bags, assembled later), pot roast, white chicken chili, etc. I thaw in bag and dump in a dish when ready to heat (oven or stovetop, depending).

Bathroom ceiling and walls cleaned. Discoloration is gone. Scrubbed the bathroom floor grout and mopped up. Cleaned up and mopped back porch. Dinner made and eaten.

Jean, you’re on fire!

Dishes done, kitchen done, Dd helped me scrub grout, I made some blackberry applesauce and divvied it up into individual jars. Pantry staples and cooking cupboard purged, cleaned and organized. DH is no help. He’s decided to spend the day learning Cricut with the kids. Cup of coffee and then I tackle the bathroom. Laundry is going.

There are some calculators out there on the net, but I’m a CPA so maybe I have my finger on the new tax law a bit more than most? Apply the new provisions and the new rates and I have an estimate. We usually aim for no payment or refund, but it wasn’t possible this year with unemployment and uncertain tax law. Having a refund coming is a huge relief though.

We’ll be getting a big refund. Woot!

Going through the house and squirreling away things for a spring yard sale as we find them. There’s really not a whole lot to get rid of, either worth selling or not. If I don’t end up with enough for a yard sale people will stop at, I might try to find a friend that will set up shop with me. As far as a no spend January, I think we’ll be doing that without trying, unless we see a really good sale on wire shelving units to replace the nasty wood ones in the basement. Oh and I’ll be spending some on supplies for a project to make a former kitchen/laundry area upstairs into a more useable room (junky cabinets are out already.) This house used to be a tiny upstairs/downstairs duplex. Skim coat and paint.

Happy New Year! I’m ready! ✅Clean kitchen (also tidied pantry items in cabinet and on shelves) ✅Scrub grout in kitchen/dining room, mop floor. ✅Soak beans for dinner. ✅Clean up back porch ✅Clean walls and ceiling on tiny bathroom. (Done -yuck!) ✅Scrub grout in bathroom ✳️Regular bathroom cleaning ✳️Office tidy/filing (dh is now working on this) ✳️Instruct kids on washing windows and floorboards. ✳️Tidy, dust and mop bedroom and living room. ✳️Laundry. ✳️Plan a weeks worth of meals. I have dh all day today, so this is a doable list. 😁 Tonight: chili and salad

We do New Years cleaning in lieu of Spring cleaning. Nobody wants to be stuck inside cleaning on a beautiful spring day. Basement we finished today. Tomorrow is the ground floor (but I already cleaned the fridge inside, out and under.) I think mostly tomorrow is going to be cleaning grout and filing for me. Wednesday will be the upstairs.

I took it in my 20s and it gave me horrible nightmares. I’m giving it another go as of a few months ago, about 13+ years later, and so far so good. Honestly, if you don’t feel like you need it, I would’t take it. Your Dd is more of a conundrum.

Something that has been working for us are what we call honey beads. We have a honey jar full of those little glass filler beads (the kind you find in the floral section of craft or dollar store) sitting on the kitchen counter. Each kid has a glass canning jar next to it, and each time they put something (anything) away, they move a bead to thier jar. So hang up you coat, bead, put away a dish from the dishwasher, bead. And on and on. The point is that satisfying little “clink” they get from moving the bead, and beating their average that daddy tracks. Daddy thinks of rewards on Saturday if all kids have beat thier average. But we stress how good the clink feels most of all.

First year ever we’ve ended the year with credit card debt. 😕 that’s because of the $1200 car repair. DH says his bonus will pay for it, but this is the first year end he’s worked for this employer, so we have no idea what to expect. I pray he’s right.

I used to, not now that we won’t itemize.

I didn’t get anything with any wow factor, but that’s okay. I got a hairdryer (to replace my sparking one), measuring cups and spoons (to replace the vanishing ones), some paring knives (to replace the broken ones). My in-laws gave me a random mug, alpaca insoles and the annual (not picked by me) clothes. 😕 Kinda hope mom and dad come through!

Thank you for your help AM. My face tends toward oily. The ingredients in that Kjaer Weis look great! I don’t see a place around here that carries it.

My poor makeupless face. 😕 (without glasses -I feel like my glasses hide my horrible eyes)

I treat my eyes with Shea butter and a prescription ophthalmic ointment. I only use the ointment when it really flares, because it has steroids. A lot of moisturizers sting. I do wear drugstore mascara with no problem on a fairly regular basis, but no other makeup.

I can’t see myself paying more than $20 for a single item.

It’s possible that it’s mold derived (cheaper) citric acid that sets me off, not citrus itself.

Ladies, I have allergies and super sensitive skin. I have eczema around my eyes almost on a permanent basis, but I would really like to start wearing makeup. I look old, and I’m really tired of looking like the used up daughter in law next to the other daughter in law of my DHs family. I’ll never attain her level of style, but I still want some self respect. Can you recommend anything for me? Most important, it needs to be preservative free, particularly citric acid free. Non drying. Thanks!

I don’t know about favorites, but we gave oldest a laminator, middle a couple of sweaters disguising a Fitbit, and youngest a Calico Critters Tree House set. All were delighted, so it’s a win!

Fear not.

Cinnamon rolls and frittata.

Hello Presby sister! (OPC, ARP, PCA here) My church is about 200 members and pushing 300 in attendance each week. We are building a church building with a big beautiful atrium, with a fireplace and dedicated coffee and donut area. The point is a comfortable place to encourage people to hang out. Our building was purposefully built to max out at 500. At which point, if we were consistently maxing out, we’d plant a new church. I believe that’s the majority mindset of our denomination (PCA). We can sometimes be brainiacs, but our jail ministry sometimes brings people in who ask the questions everybody else might be afraid to. 😂 Can be very grounding.

Honestly, I don’t like ladies bible studies. Too much “I feel like.....” so often not enough depth. 😕