November frugal friends (2014)

[sweet sparrow]

I got rid of my 6.5 ft tree a few years ago. Had absolutely no room for it...got different living room furniture. I now have a 24" fibre optic that I love. It has white snowflakes on it that also light up. I added tiny gold balls that stay on. After Christmas I put a garbage bag over it and voila! next Christmas all I have to do is remove the bag and it`s ready to go.

This is my other dilemma. Larger trees just mean larger storage for 11 months of the year, or 10 if you really love Christmas. Hmm... Then there's more decorations, more lights, more, more, more. I think our home size is average for a starter home. Some might call it "cozy". Just enough to be livable, and the right amount of housework.

speaking of trees. finally finished putting up both of mine. next year..probably a 2 footer...too much work.
spent the day putting one up, fielding people taking items that were posted on kijiji for free, dh is cleaning out the basement.
i seriously need a clone.

MrsSunshine, the trees are beautiful. You would really consider a 2 footer? I think my brother has something under 4', and sets it on a table. In family photos, it gets the height he wants, while enough room for all the gifts to stack underneath during large family gatherings, without sacrificing space for people to sit and chat, kids to play, etc. I have to say thinking out loud with you all really helps. Thank you!

[sweet sparrow]

I will post with more detail a few things a little later in the day as my morning so far has been a bit insane trying to sort through what came in after I left the office yesterday (no I did not leave early) but emails do not stop when I leave as we still open until 5 pm and than so many people have lap tops and blackberries that they don't stop than either, plus different time zones.

<Hug> SassyAshley. I hope the only blackberries we come across this weekend are sweet and edible. DH has that issue too. Work offered me a laptop once and I gave them a big fat NO!

[MrsSunshine]

LOL Sparrow. well maybe a 4footer. after literally decorating the entire house this year. including two trees.
im done.. going away next year just may become my ultimate new plan/goal for next year.

believe it or not, i don't plan on packing any away. 95% of it i'll be donating anyway.
or so dh says. i actually saw someone on facebook post how they wrapped their tree in saran, completely decorated. then shoved it in the attic for storage. man that would save alot of time.

today is two free kijiji pick ups. and finally get the house back in order. anyone wanna come help. free wine

oh and were expecting freezing rain today on top of all the snow we've had.. yay.

[Natalka]

Tree number one in my dining room.
Attachment 264818

Tree number two in my living room.
Attachment 264820

Both are SO very beautiful! I quoted with them to get the pics bumped up!

Should be a nice Friday here, albeit a busy one.
Have some household things to catch up on, then I'm making borscht and nalysnyky for supper - and our son is coming over.

Bonus is that the weather is much nicer, it should hover around zero, maybe go a few above.
Downside - could be snow, and rain. Ick...

Enjoy the day!

[Frugalbigmama]

TGIF is right! Have to the work day out of the way and then bring on the weekend. Date night, Christmas gathering with friends tomorrow night. Hockey on Sunday. In between those things hope to sort Christmas presents I have and see what I can wrap. Plan meals for the weekend/week. Write out a shopping list and shop. Get laundry all caught up and put away. Post a million things for sale and then take back my dining room (clean up!) Hope everyone has a fantastic day!

[sweet sparrow]

Sigh. Our car was hit today in an accident. No one was hurt, but we really didn't need this. Not that anyone ever does....

[jasperandchar]

sweet sparrow glad no one was hurt but that's really is too bad, how's the car?

[jasperandchar]

MRs. S. love the trees, great job!

[list465]

Mrs S - beautiful trees!

Sweet Sparrow - glad no one was hurt (hope the car is okay?)

[SassyAshley]

Thanks Sweet, but actually it is funny you mention a work laptop as I just got mine today so this weekend is going to be learning how to access my work from home.

<Hug> SassyAshley. I hope the only blackberries we come across this weekend are sweet and edible. DH has that issue too. Work offered me a laptop once and I gave them a big fat NO!

Glad to hear no one is hurt hopefully your car is not too hurt

Sigh. Our car was hit today in an accident. No one was hurt, but we really didn't need this. Not that anyone ever does....

[sweet sparrow]

We're waiting for the estimate now. It doesn't look that bad, but my concern is that they'll find some internal damage to make the cost skyrocket.

The other driver said he swerved because someone came into his lane. DH saw him and moved over as far as he could but there was not enough time to speed ahead (they were already on the highway). The car is driveable, and hopefully, the other driver will make good on his promise that he'll cover the damages. I guess it depends on the bill.

[MrsSunshine]

my goodness Sparrow. hopefully the other driver sticks to his work. just glad your all ok.

thanks for the comments on my trees. much appreciated.

well only one last item to get rid of. thank goodness.
now just need to make my way through all dh's xmas boxes. almost hoping he'll just get rid of it all. .. ya right.

forgot it was Friday. not sure if we need anything. made turkey last night in the crock pot. and veggies just need to be prepped for dinner.
might throw together some banana bread while thats happening.
today's the last 'day' of dh's holidays. he's back Monday.
going to be a busy weekend.
funny thing he said the other day. he's like been home two weeks and didn't eat one 'lunch' item at all, no salads etc..
in my head that was frugal. i think we went shopping once. never out at all to a fast food place.
kinda nice. and cheap.
Sunday a Df is hosting us at her 'place'. can't wait.

well onto more work. enjoy your day all.

[Frugalbigmama]

oohh Mrs Sunshine you just reminded me of the turkey I want out of my freezer. It would give me lots of freezer space Think I will take a look at the hockey schedule and plan to make it next Sat or Sun night then plan the leftovers accordingly

[Angela273]

Last week I posted about receiving a phone call from my new specialist in London, ON. I sent him an e-mail and received his reply yesterday. He has been having problems with my Dr. office, which does not surprise me in the least. I plan on changing care providers, primarily because the ladies at the front desk are that bad. I went down to the clinic at 9am today in order to book an appointment for next Friday with my gp (they book exactly 1wk in advance for her, which is really inconvenient). Anyways, I had to interrupt one of the 3 ladies at the front desk from answering the phone and booking appointments because they were ignoring me...the only patient in the entire place. The specialist wants to get my gp to send me for tests and such in order to determine my options before he possibly gets me to travel and see him. So I replied to his e-mail and asked exactly what tests so that I can take a copy of the e-mail to my appointment next week. We are currently trying for baby #2, so I might not be able to do some of the tests, depending on what he needs done. It took an entire year to get referred to see this specialist, but whatever treatment is decided on may not be done until after our next child is born. We are not willing to further postpone having another child just to wait and see what and when a doctor might be able to help my condition.

I taught 2.6days this week. The Grade 3F (French Immersion) teacher booked me for Dec 2 & 3. I haven't taught for her before, but I'm looking forward to it. She knows that I don't have a French background, but I will have a French EA in the room to help. The Grade 4F teacher was there during this conversation and was quite enthusiastic about getting me to teach for her in the future. I taught her students Arts Ed. (I was subbing for another teacher) last week and she told me just how enthusiastic her class was about having me back. Always a good recommendation when it comes directly from the students to the teacher.

Today is a no school day. I have a dental cleaning this morning at 11:00am, good to get it done again before I get morning sickness again. I am planning on washing the living room carpets this afternoon while LO is at daycare. It is supposed to get up to +5 today, so it should help things dry nicely. I'll need to be organized. I guess I could start preparing the living room before my appointment.

[Crochetlady]

@ Sweet sparrow Glad no-one was hurt and hope the damages aren`t too great.

@ MrsS Your trees are beautiful. I sometimes miss having the big tree but not the decorating. We don`t have anyone in at Christmas so it seemed like a lot of work just for us. Neither one of us grew up with Christmas trees so its not that important to us.