this wasn't in the plan |but life is still pretty good

I wanted some super cute big brother shirts for my boys. I didn't want to pay a whole lot of money for them, so I made my own using stencils made from freezer paper. Freezer paper can be found at your grocery store, and in addition to that all you need is some paint, a brush, an x-acto knife, shirts, and an iron. I had a friend show me the process, but you can find a nice tutorial here. So easy, and so much fun. It would be a great way to get some more use out of a stained shirt - just arrange the stencil so that it covers the stain.

Have you blogged about something you made recently? Leave me a link in the comment section. What to join in next week? Send me an email and I'll be sure to link to you in next week's post.

This article was originally posted on June 12, 2008.


Dear little brother,

Congratulations! You've graduated from high school! Welcome to the real world.

First, let me say that when one of the speakers at your graduation ceremony said that the people around you, the people who had spent the last four year with, will always be close friends - chances are he lied. You may think otherwise, but you will probably grow apart and choose different paths and it will be sad but it will be okay. I'd venture to guess that the best friends you'll have are people you've never met yet. My one bit of advice here is to find friends who really and truly share your values and beliefs.

The world is like an open book for you, a book that you don't know the ending to. You may think you do, but you don't. And that's okay. You don't have to have all the answers now. You don't need any of them actually. But I encourage you to do something out of your immediate comfort zone. Go on a mission, move to a different city, something that scares you just a little bit. Staying at home all day and all week and getting really good at Mario Kart and eating Mom and Dad out of house and home is not scary, so don't do it. But living at home for awhile is fine. Mom'll make sure you know how to do your laundry and whip up some mac and cheese, if she hasn't already. But don't quit your day job.

You're older than you think you are, yet still so young. You're not too young to start saving for something big - like a house or your retirement. But you're young enough that there's no need to go out buy things you can't afford. Start living within your means now and before you know it you'll be able to afford everything you want and more.

Enjoy life now. Enjoy being a college student. Enjoy being a single working guy. Enjoy whatever it is you choose to do. Someday you'll look back and realize what a wonderful time it truly was.

Love, your big sister

photo by ? Wim

I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our family.

He was born on May 20 at 2:08 am. He weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz and was 19 inches long. He and I are both doing well.

And now, a few links for your reading enjoyment:

Create a "Stop Doing" List


Improve Budget System with a Second Checking Account

50 Pasta Salads...just in time for Summer


CSA Produce: Worth the Cost?

Beware of the Left Digit

While scrambling for paper and a pencil to write down a phone message, I thought of how nice it would be to have a special pad and paper by the phone at all times. The I realized that I've tried that before and they both tend to disappear. I thought that maybe if the notepad was a bit special, it might stick around longer.

I raided my stash of picture frames that aren't being currently used and found one about the size of a pad of post-it notes. I removed the glass and glued the pad onto the cardboard that was behind the glass.

I attached a piece of string to the back of the frame and tied it to a pen.

Now we just wait and see how long it stays there!

For more What I Made Wednesday Fun, visit Emily at Remodeling This Life - she made a camera strap cover! Have you blogged about something you made recently? Leave me a link in the comment section. What to join in next week? Send me an email.

When I pulled out the baby clothes, I was sad to see that some stains had popped up on a few of my favorite outfits. Instead of tossing them, I tried to save them. Some people swear by Oxyclean, but I've never had good luck with it. Instead I relied on the power of the sun and some bleach. I put some bleach in the washing machine and, instead of putting the clothes in the dryer, I hung them out in the sun to dry. The result? No more stains and the outfits look as good as new. Well, as new as five-year-old clothes can look, at least!

Here are a few posts that I'd like to share this week:

Don't Forget To Live Today While Planning for the Future

Take Advantage of Teachable Moments

No One Cares About You

Lying to Ourselves is the Worst Lie Of All

On Being Blessed

The Tall One and I have a good habit of keeping track of our spending, but a bad habit of not regularly reviewing it, updating it, and learning from it.

So I decided to do just that. The two categories that sent up red flags are groceries and ever ambiguous household category. Last month I spend a ridiculous amount at the grocery store (I'm trying to stock the pantry and freezer for after the baby is born, but still...) but actually, on average, I'm right on target for the most part. The household category seems to be a bottomless pit. As the temperatures outside rise, so does the amount we spend on our backyard. We're finishing a landscaping project and then there's all of those gardening supplies. I kept the grocery numbers the same. Despite last month's failure, I had other months where I spent under enough to mostly make up for it. I upped the household number though.

So now it's on to the learning part. We have not saved as much money so far this year as we should have. I'll spare you my mile-long list of excuses, but they include a certain gift, a baby, and our state wanting lots of money from us (much more than last year). But hey, that's why we save, right?

Also in the area of learning comes the fact that I need to pay more attention to what's already been spent in a given category. Most of what goes into the household category (the only one where this is really a problem) is either not completely necessary or can wait for another month. If I (and I say I and not TTO and I because I do most of the day to day spending) pay more attention to that at least things might balance out nicer. And, if I wait, I may decide it's not really something we need.

I  found a great deal on strawberries so I couldn't resist picking up a bunch.  I sent The Tall One to get them and he really couldn't resist and bought two flats instead of just one. What is one to do with so many strawberries?

We made some freezer jam - which sounds a lot harder than it is.  Simply purchase a box of pectin at the grocery store (you'll find it near the canning supplies, like the mason jars and such, which will probably be near the baking goods) and follow the directions. Just follow the directions exactly (you know measure everything correctly and such) and don't double it because for whatever reason it won't set up correctly. If you want more, you'll have to make a separate batch.  After it's all firmed up, you can refrigerate it for awhile or keep it in the freezer for um, a long time (we had last year's batch for almost a year). I filled the containers with approximately 2 cups of jam and we figure each container's worth cost between $1 and $2 - definitely cheaper than the "good stuff" at the store.

For more What I Made Wednesday fun, visit Emily at Remodeling This Life

What did you make recently? Leave a comment and let me know. Did you blog about it? Leave me a link, I'd love to check it out!

I've been perusing Craigslist a lot lately for bunk beds and outdoor toys and whatnot.  I've always thought that a lot of the items are probably overpriced (I paid $20 for this, and it's five years old, but you can have it for only $15!), but lately things are getting downright ridiculous.

I pay most attention to the outdoor toys and recently saw a Little Tykes swingset advertised for $350. The seller pointed out that if you bought this brand new, with tax and shipping, you'd pay close to $600. Which you would, if you bought it using the link provided, which would be purchasing it straight from Little Tykes. If you head over to Toys R Us, you can purchase it for $349. Granted when you tack on tax, you'll be paying more than what the seller wants for it, but the whole thing is just a bit too deceiving for my liking.

Moral of the story? Don't assume that just because you are buying something used you are getting a fabulous deal.  Do your own research and find out what you'd pay for a brand-new version, don't necessarily trust the research of others.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there!  I hope you have a wonderful day.

Here are some links I've enjoyed recently:

What Drives You to be Frugal

20 Pocket-Change Date Night Ideas

Inspiring Idea: Creative End Table with Storage

We Don't Believe in Debt


Free 'Get Organized' Forms Available for Use in Google Docs

Yes, Warehouse Clubs Really Can Save You Money

Recently, I packed up a box of perfectly fine 0-3 month baby boy clothes to give away. Not the type of thing you'd expect from someone who is expecting to give birth to a baby boy in the next month, right? We were very lucky to know many generous people who definitely "showered" us with a lot of baby clothes nearly five years ago when our oldest was born. We received a few more outfits three years later when Monkey was born. We've been so lucky to get so many gifts, but on the other hand, it means I haven't had the chance to buy hardly anything!

When people find out we are having a third boy, they often say, "how great that you already have everything you need!" and it's very true, we do have all the clothing and blankets and whatnot that one would need. But I wanted some new things for my new baby.

So, although it's most definitely a want and not at all a need, I've picked up several new baby outfits.

Don't you just love alliteration?

For this week's edition of What I Made Wednesday, I've got these bookbags that I made for my boys to use as part of their gifts they will get when the baby is born (gifts "from" the new baby, more or less).  I will fill them with some new books and their big brother shirts.

I was inspired by this post at Diary of a Quilter (found via Design Mom), but I didn't follow her instructions at all. I had some curtains that I had made to use in an old apartment (and they don't fit any windows in our current house) so I just cut off a strip, folded, sewed up the sides, and added the strap.  No need to sew the white to the patterned fabric because they already were that way for the curtains. It was a big reminder to me that I actually do have a lot of "stuff" lying around that can be made in some great things.

For more What I Made Wednesday fun, visit Remodeling This Life.

What did you make this week?

Paying yourself first (putting money into savings right away) is a no-brainer for most people who know anything about personal finance. I know it's important, but it isn't the way our budget works. And it's probably something I should change.

Currently savings is not anywhere in the budget.  Yes, money is left over most months and that money does go towards savings, but that's actually pretty backwards.  Savings should be one of the first categories. As soon as The Tall One gets paid, an set amount should be put into savings right away. I know this, but I don't do it. There's nothing keeping me from starting though!

Is there anything money-wise that you know you should be doing, but you aren't?