All My Eggs

Living Simply and Frugally

Progress – Part I. Getting the House Ready….

I have been so busy doing things, and not writing here on the blog!  I know that I told you that I would be posting our progress on our quest (I guess you might call it that) to move back into the Northwest.  I have been so immersed in getting everything done to sell the house, find another house, do taxes, etc. etc.  that I haven’t shared any of it. Shame on me for not getting back here! There is so much going on that I thought that I would write it in sections.  That way I can also share some things that I’ve learned along the way.

So here is where we’re at…..still working on the house.  We have made some excellent progress here.  We hired out some of the things we wanted to get done, to make sure that they were done the way they should be.  That included a new kitchen sink and faucet, new faucets in the master bath sinks, tub (needed to take apart the marble surround on the tub to get to the plumbing!) and in the master shower.

Master Bath Roman Tub Faucet

Master Sink Faucets

Also some new faucets in the sink and tub in the second bath.  We had a new door put in to the back patio, which included doing some rough-in work.  The doors here are custom made because of the height of the ceilings and doorways on the house.  We also replaced the triple-section door from our bedroom out to a courtyard, which is in the front of the house.  This also included some rough-in work, the door was slightly different in size.

Bedroom Courtyard Door

We had our old tile torn out of the master bath, and new tile installed.

Master Bath Tile

I absolutely love how it turned out!  There is also a new sink and faucet in the laundry room.  And we had some windows repaired that didn’t open right, or the seal was gone in them.  Here you have the sun and the heat to deal with, and it seems to be hard on everything!

I know that it sounds like the house was totally falling apart when you look at everything that we have been working on.  Really, we have lived in it for 12 years, and some of this is just the everyday wear.  We also live in an area where the snowbirds that come in for the winter own homes, which are only lived in for part of the year.  This puts us in direct competition in a market where a house the same as ours, is not as ‘lived in’.

I think that I’ll stop here for now.  I will be back to share the parts of the remodel/upgrading that we are tackling ourselves right now!

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing this journey with me.!

Cheryl

March 3, 2010 Posted by inonebasket | Home Improvement | , | 1 Comment

Quick and Easy Oatmeal

I started making my own ‘instant’ oatmeal, when I got tired of buying those instant oatmeal packages in the store.  If you read the labels, they are loaded with sugar and expensive!

Quick and Easy Oatmeal

Here is my substitute:

1/2 c. quick oats (regular will work if you cook longer. Note: this is not instant oatmeal)

1 tbsp. oat bran (you can use raw or toasted)

water

raisins, dried cranberries or other dried or fresh fruit

milk

microwave oven

I put the oats and oat bran in a microwave safe bowl.  Add the raisins or other dried fruit.  Cover with water, stir to make sure that there is enough water for the oats to soak up while cooking, the oat bran soaks up a fair amount of water.

Place in the microwave and cook on high for about 30 seconds.  Take the bowl out and stir.  If you need to add more water, do it now.  You can make it as creamy or thick as you like.  Place the bowl back into the microwave and cook on high for 30 seconds more.

I then stir it up, sprinkle about 1/2 tsp. turbinado sugar and add milk.

Variations:  add any dried fruit you prefer or cook and then add chopped fresh fruit.  You can also substitute apple juice for the water, and add brown sugar, or cinnamon.  Use your imagination!

If you take your breakfast to work, pour the dry ingredients into a small plastic bag or container.  Use a mug at work to cook your cereal in.

Eat healthier and save money at the same time!

Enjoy!

January 28, 2010 Posted by inonebasket | Food | , , , | 2 Comments

The New Year and Resolutions

Every time a new year rolls around things look fresh and new, and it seems like a great time to make some resolutions, to set some goals!  I’ve spent several days now thinking about the year ahead of me, and what goals I should set for myself.  The more that I thought about it, the more I realized that every day I am already working on things, trying to improve things, that would be my resolutions.  Instead of setting goals I’d like to accomplish for the year, I just need to keep doing what I’m doing now, on a day-to-day basis.

Financially:  I’ve been working consistently to put more money in my savings account.  I’ve also increased my 401K contributions so that I am contributing the maximum amount and have also been paying extra each month toward my vehicle.  It will be paid in full by this summer.  I’m accomplishing this by tracking my spending closely, trying to only purchase things that I need, although an occasional want does creep in there, and getting the best buy (both in quality and price) on anything that I purchase.

By increasing payments on my vehicle by just a small amount at a time, setting up automatic payments from my checking account into my savings account (and both accounts earn interest), and increasing my 401K contributions a small amount every couple of months,  this has made it easier to do.  By doing this I am hoping  to be debt free, and have a comfortable amount of money set aside in my savings and for retirement.  (Next I need to tackle the school loans!!)

I cook from scratch, I only shop sales, I use coupons, and I try to use leftovers!  I also try to not waste things and reuse, reinvent and recycle what I can. Of course there is always room for improvement here!

Personally: I constantly watch my weight (go up and down these days) and try to eat healthy.  The new year won’t be changing this.  But it could give me a little more of a push.  Staying healthy is important to me.  Improving my eating habits and getting exercise makes me feel better, gives me the energy to do the things that I like to do, and will in the long run, improve my quality of life.

I also constantly strive to be a better person.  I try to treat others, the way that I would like to be treated. Every day I try to be a better mother, friend, wife, co-worker.  With God’s help, I know that I’ll get there.

I also try to learn something new every day.  I have found that trying new things and learning to do things for myself has made me more self-sufficient in many ways.

So I guess that my resolution for this new year is to continue doing what I am doing now.  And to strive to improve what I can, and accept the things that I can’t (I know there’s a saying out there like this, hehe).  I am looking forward to a year full of adventures as we put our house up for sale, perhaps move, and maybe changing career paths, (something I am lookin into. Iit all depends upon the house selling!)

I’ll be back sharing more with you about the house, how I am saving, and what I am doing to prepare for the possibility of a career change. And of course there will be more recipes!  I especially love to bake!

I hope that you have had a wonderful beginning to the New Year.  I look forward to hearing from you and I’d like to know your thoughts about what you hope to accomplish throughout the year, what you do to save.

Thanks for stopping by!  Cheryl

January 4, 2010 Posted by inonebasket | Family, Frugality, saving | , , , | 1 Comment

Spinach Dip

I made this recipe up after failing to find one that sounded reasonable healthy.  I like to try to make a recipe as healthy as I can, and still has a lot of flavor.  I love how this turned out!

1 10oz. package of frozen chopped spinach – thawed

4 oz. low fat cream cheese – softened

1/2 cup low fat mayonnaise

1 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1 8oz. can of sliced water chestnuts, chopped

small amount of  onion chopped very finely

Squeeze all water out of the spinach and add to a bowl.  Add the chopped water chestnuts and onion.

In a separate bowl mix together the mayonnaise, yogurt and cream cheese until well blended.

Add to the spinach mixture and mix until well blended.

Cover and refrigerate.

This goes well with cracker or vegetables.

I hope that you enjoy!

 

December 31, 2009 Posted by inonebasket | Family, Food | , , , | Comments Off