savings on saturday

You're probably wondering why I can be talking about saving money when I just recently pitched a three-dollar loaf of artisan bread. People, it is because of those little mishaps in life that make it all the more necessary to watch our Washingtons and Lincolns! (President's Day is coming up.)

Run, don't walk, to the nearest Target and get one of these. Not the dog! The card! While I do not advocate going into debt, I do advocate saving money. Using our Target credit card has saved us money. Here's how.

For every purchase at Target that we make with our Target credit card, we get 5% off.

Right away.

No waiting.

Not points or coupons.

No making calls to Peggy.

As soon as you swipe your card, it takes 5% off your purchase.

Five percent doesn't seem like much, but all those little amounts add up over a year.  Say you spend an average of $100 a month at Target (then you have more self-control than me). That five percent savings translates into $60 a year. That's a pair of shoes ~ or two on sale.

That being said, you have to be diligent about paying it off or else your savings will be eaten up with interest, which I am certain is more than 5%. Every time we use the card, we immediately allocate that money for the payment when the statement comes. We never carry a balance on the card from month to month. Greg is awesome about keeping track of all that!

Also, did you know that if you bring reusable bags they take 5 cents off your purchase for every bag? I don't think it matters what kind of bag, just as long as it is reusable.

P.S. I am not an affiliate of Target and my opinions are my own. They did not pay me to say this. Although if they'd like to pay me, I'd be ok with that. 


P.S.S. Before you get your Target card, be sure to read all the fine print and make sure you are ok with their terms. I am not a financial expert.

 

 

instagram time

My instagram week only has three pictures this time. That does not indicate that this week was any shorter than the others. 

Besides, three pictures is more than none. 

I worked briefly on crafty items last weekend. There's a spring craft show I'm getting ready for. I spent the whole of  Saturday working on the yearbook instead of crafty things ~ which coincidentally is due the same weekend as the craft show. Can you see how I might be conflicted about how to spend my time?

Do you ever drink these? I only buy them when they are on sale. And only two flavors. Pina colada and strawberry daiquiri. So, so yummy.

This one reminds me of summer. Not that I spend my time sitting on a beach sipping umbrella drinks or anything. But still. Summer.

Which we might have in a couple of weeks if the weather keeps behaving the way it is. Yesterday and today we have temps in the 70s instead of the usual cold, windy, crappy weather. Lunch duty with 70 degrees is pretty nice.

See this? This was a good idea gone all kinds of wrong. The other day Greg complained mentioned that we eat the same thing all the time. I'm pretty sick of our repertoire too, but I haven't felt especially culinary lately. Actually I've been feeling who-cares-if-we-eat-dinner lately.

So, I was thinking I'd make these gourmet grilled chicken sandwiches on ciabatta bread. With chipotle mayonnaise. And provolone cheese. Tomatoes. Lettuce.

So fancy.

Here's a kitchen tip for you ~ when you buy fancy three-dollar artisan bread on Sunday, it will be as a hard as a rock when you finally get around to making those delightful sandwiches on Thursday. Buh bye three dollars in the trash can.  Good thing we had some hamburger buns ~ with sesame seeds.

And while I was making the chipotle mayo, I put a between a quarter and half a cup of mayo in a ramekin and was getting ready to put the chipotle pepper seasoning in. I grabbed the half teaspoon and got it all filled up. At that point Greg inquired whether or not there was a recipe ~ did I know how much to use. No, silly boy, I'm winging' it here. He tells me that looks like an awful lot of spice. I think for a minute about the word "pepper" on the can and reconsider. He's probably right. So I only put a quarter of a teaspoon in. Good thing too, cuz that was borderline too spicy.

And.

Yes, another and.

When I grilled the chicken I didn't think about the thickness. We ended up with really thick pieces of chicken! Next time, I'll have filet the chicken into thinner pieces.

Next time? With a dinner full of errors as this, you think there will be a next time? Yes! They tasted delicious! We just need to work out the kinks ~ with different bread and thinner chicken.

What did you cook this week?

Now, I'm off to craft, work on the yearbook, craft, work on the yearbook do something.


Linking up with Life Rearranged.

the curse of the dvr

I love our DVR.

I enjoy being able to watch shows when I have time rather than when the networks say I should have time. I love season passes so I don't miss an episode of my favorite shows because I can't ever remember when it comes on. I {big puffy heart} the pause and 8-second rewind features.

We've had a DVR since before the kids were born. We are partial to the one that begins in Ti and ands in Vo. They have never experienced life without one, except the early years and Grandma & Papa's house. They'd tell Papa to pause because they had to go to the bathroom only to find out that they had to actually utilize the commercials!  They were offended that they couldn't watch their favorite shows on demand, but had to wait until they were actually aired. Spoiled much? Grandma and Papa finally saw the light and got their own, much to the relief of my children.

But.

There's always a but.

What should take less time to watch a 30-minute show with fast forwarding through the commercials, can sometimes take upwards of 30 minutes. Sometimes forever.

Because people talk.

Little people have questions about the show, about whether or not they can have an after-dinner treat, about anything on earth. Greg and I pause to have a discussion about something ~ sometimes not even related to the current show.

How did our parents ever watch a complete show with all the interrupting? Where we only allowed to talk on commercial breaks? Probably.

So at our house, unless you are watching all by yourself, it is likely that it will take you longer to watch a show on the DVR than live t.v. because we've always got something to say.

And if we are watching live t.v., we will pause it.

   

tales from a schoolyard

I've started a new blog that will chronicle the classroom a little more than my tales from the schoolyard posts on this blog do.  I will still post a few schoolyard tidbits here ~ you know, the funniest and cutest ones. But if you want to more of the day to day teaching story, you can find me at Tales from a Schoolyard.

See you on the playground!