May 2017 Frugal Chatter thread

[Ciel]

The sun's been out this week but yesterday felt a little warm, while Mon and today feel like #spwinter. Glad to have cut some grass yesterday-new yard gloves provided excellent grip and padding during the activity.
Curried lentil stew was a quick recipe to make yesterday just because the week is frigid.

Noticed that Longos has brought in some veggies in pots, flower kits and hanging baskets or bowls of flowers for its sidewalk garden centre. I explored the selection for a few minutes as I was alone and it was like being Alice in Garden Wonderland.

[Frugalbigmama]

Took the day off to watch DS in a rugby tournament. Have a sunburn and raccoon eyes since I was wearing sunglasses lol. Cleaned out my car when we got home and had bbq'd burgers with ceaser salad for dinner. Just had a shower and watching game 7 now ☺

[Angela273]

@ momof5boys I'm sorry to hear about your mom's declining health and the family dynamics. I do not remember my grandma (dad's mom) in good health. She went into long term care the year before I got married, so 7yrs ago. She lived with two of her children for several years. It became unavoidable after grandma fell twice in one year, once while uncle was helping her up the two stairs into the house. I don't know all of grandma's diagnoses. She knows who we are, but she gets easily agitated and her mind can travel in time. Trust that you are doing your best under the circumstances.

[Angela273]

Well I spotted a ladies night event at the public library for this evening. Dh and I texted about it while he was at work and we agreed to reschedule our date night since the movie will still be playing on the weekend. I left the kids at home with Dh for 2hrs. Since I was going to the library, I took the opportunity to return books and update my daycare posters. The event included make your own icecream Sundays a DIY jewellery. I made this bracelets. The heads are a dark purple/blue colour with little silver beeads. It's on a paper towel because I put clear nail polish on the knots to try to make sure they don't come undone.



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[thriftygranny]

Just stopping by for a quick hello!! Home from our 3 week holiday to California, it was a fun trip and we got lots of rest and relaxation, saw a few Blue Jays games and did a lot of traveling by car to see different cities. San Diego was my favorite, people were so friendly and lots to see and do. Willie Nelson was doing a concert next to our Hotel and we could sit on our balcony and look out over the harbor and hear the concert perfectly!! that was a bonus!!

I see a few having struggles on here and it warms my heart that they can come here for the caring and support they need, because everyone needs to vent and let it out. We are so lucky to be able to share our ups and downs on here.

[Natalka]

@thriftygranny - welcome home; so glad you had a wonderful trip!

[SassyAshley]

@momof5boys anything involving the mind is extremely hard and difficult. My Great Grandfather had Alzheimer, he passed when I was 16 and it was extremely hard and I think more so on the family. Now my Oma (my Dad's Mom) has either Alzheimer or Dementia (I do not think we ever got a firm diagnoses) but she now has round the clock care as she cannot do anything for herself. We are extremely lucky the women we have taking care of her treat her like she was their mother and take wonderful care of her. You can see how hard it is on Opa but he doing everything he can do her.
@coupongirl I know the timing is off but sometimes something good can help everyone through the bad, congrats on becoming and Nana again. My cousin and his wife are also expecting their second around the same time (they are due early November, but this one may come early as their last one did so it might be another October baby).

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Life seems so busy these days.

I went with Mom on Tuesday to her specialist appointment to see what was in front of us. The specialist confirmed what we already knew from our family doctor but he wants to hold off operating at this time as he would like her to lose some weight first. Basically he said the condition is uncomfortable but not life or death so he feels he can hold off. Mom tossed around joining Weight Watchers but honestly I think it would be money spent without seeing a return so we are going to do this on our own.

Also Mom has changed her thinking when it comes to money but I think she thought once she started working Full Time everything would fall into place but still if she is not careful she will come up short. She is trying to budget things out but she still at times forgets about things like right now getting her snow tires taken off so she saving up for that. It is nice to see the change and we have actually gotten to a point where I have been able to set some money aside and we should be able to start doing some of the smaller renos on our house.

For Mother's Day I am going to take Mom shopping to get what she needs to make healthy meals to take to work. So far I have not seen a lot in the flyers we need so I am thinking we will just go to Costco and the local Chinese Market to get what we need. Even though Mom now pays for the groceries I have not re done my budget and I still set aside grocery money each pay which can cover anything I run in and grab or shopping trips like this where we just need to stock up. I mostly use this money to stock up meats or various things we purchase at Costco as they never go on sale and Costco has the best every day price.

Now I just need to find a restaurant for Mother's Day. Mom says she does not care and wants someone else to choose but also wants something different, I was hoping my brother who goes out to eat quite often and dislikes chain restaurants so he is always trying to new up and coming places would have a say but no he told me to just pick somewhere and let him know. So I will pick a restaurant and since I planned it he will pay.

Still trying to clean up around the house but my progress has stalled a bit, not sure why but I am not sleeping the best so I have been super tired this week. I have done what I can each night but have not gotten as far as I would have liked. I am hoping since I slept well last night I will have some energy tonight to tackle a few things.

Well I better get back to work and see how much I can get done before my appointment this morning. Have a wonderful day everyone.

[Natalka]

Safeway shopping today to pick up some essentials. The flyers I've looked at for next week so far don't have anything cheap or special!

[lizzie bargain]

I am still on the injured list and limping around on a sore hip-it seems perhaps I have sciatica or piriformis syndrome which is quite painful. Hopefully it resolves over time with physio etc. The good news is an Xray yesterday shows no arthritis in my hip so at least I don't need a hip replacement, as that is often a long and painful wait. Despite the fact that walking and standing are painful for me right now I am still able to drive with my sore right leg so at least I can get out. Missing my daily walks with DH but will try for a short cycle each day. Mostly laying low while still staying as active as possible.

[thriftygranny]

Hope you recover quickly Lizzie, It is so frustrating to get all these aging aches and pains that come on with out warning.

[Natalka]

Lizzie - sure hope things get better for you soon. I know what it's like to deal with sciatica - massage is pretty much the only thing that works for me.

[SassyAshley]

Hope you feel better soon Lizzie.

[lizzie bargain]

Thanks for the kind words!

[coupon girl]

lizzie take care -hope you feel better soon
-supper ham ,potatoes and corn on cob -did 2 loads of laundry today one is on the line but it is chilly and damp out
-my daughter got a bag of boys clothing from her sister-in-law on his side the other day size 3/4/5 for Sebastian -that really helps save when you get hand me downs -I remember a lovely lady from Germany on my mom's street years ago gave me a few bags of dresses for my daughter -I never got anything for my son handed down -as 3 boys were born the same year in my hubby's family but I came first with my son -lol