A Problogger Mom

Yes, I have been very very bad. I have done the biggest blogger no-no and not posted in forever. I apologize to all those who have checked in and noticed.

 I don’t really have a good excuse. I did pick up my Ebay selling over the winter, and that just kind of took over. It seems spring rolls around, the sales slow down, and that is when I get the blogging bug again. Sorry to disappoint.

Michelle Gartner from Smart, Not Cheap, tagged me awhile ago to participate in the Moolanomy My One Piece of Money Advice Meme. Sorry it’s so late, but here it goes.

 If I could offer one piece of money advice, it would be to PAY YOURSELF FIRST! I’m sure you’ve all heard it before, but how many of you actually do it? To the max? Maybe you contribute a bit to your 401K, but do you contribute enough to get your full company match? That’s free money! Do you have any going into savings as well?

Did you get everything done you wanted to this summer? I know that we are WAY behind! We wanted to refinish the decks, put in more garden beds, add Garden Lighting and way more. I am putting at least the smallest deck on my to do list this week when the kids go back to school. Luckily, it is the one that faces south and needs to be done way more than the big deck we have out front. I’ve already scraped, and I’m going to pick up sanding paper for my husband’s sander shortly, so wish me luck!

We just got back from our last scheduled camping trip of the season and had a blast. The car is unloaded, the laundry is going, I’m about to run out and pick up something for dinner and hit Home Depot for a few things we need for projects around here tomorrow.

 We had a blast at the fair, I promise to post an update on how the girls did soon. I also have been tagged by Michelle and Dana, and promise I’m not neglecting you! Just been a crazy two weeks here! Only one more day until school…..WHOO HOO! I feel like I have so much I’ve put on my list to do when the kids go back, I’m not sure where to start first! Hope to be back here posting regularly, now that our crazy end of summer routine is over.

Summer is here, and the summer fruit is ripe. Now is the time to dig up those Blackberry Cobbler Recipes or perhaps you prefer Peach Cobbler Recipes. These are perfect for those summer picnics, potlucks and BBQ’s, or just as a summertime treat for the family. I have linked some Cobbler Recipes here, but please be sure to share if you have a favorite! Or maybe Peaches and Cream is your favorite summertime desert? I personally am a blueberry fan and love all Blueberry recipes, but I love all the berries and like to mix them up as well. If you can’t decide which to use, try these Mixed Berries Recipes to give you some ideas.

We have been a 4-H family for 3 yrs now and raise chickens to show in the summer fair. Our oldest Emily is an intermediate in 4-H this year (turns 12 tomorrrow!) our middle daughter Shannon is still a Primary in 4-H this year, and our youngest Megan is just turning 6 in August, so she will become an official 4-H member this fall.

Emily, Shannon & Megan inside our newest bird pen4-H has been a great project for our family. Not only have the girls learned resonsibility, record keeping, and a ton about poultry, but they have made some wonderful friendships. It’s great fun to see the poultry kids come together and share their knowledge.

I just read a great post on the Get Rich Slowly blog titled You are Your Own Worst Enemy. It was like a glimpse into my past, right before I had my “lightbulb” moment. I was Gillian in that post, so dead tired of always being broke all the time, but looking for a quick fix instead of truly working on the problem, because it does require work, and lots of it.

ACK! Yes, the kids finished school last Friday, and I am trying to establish some sort of “routine”, but chaos seems to be winning here. I find I am most productive with my “work” in the late evenings, after the kids are in bed. Hopefully, they will all learn to sleep in soon. :D My oldest would sleep in if givin the oppurtunity, but the younger two generally wake her up early to entertain them, and once they are all up, I am too. I am sure by the time we establish a “routine”, it will be time to alter it again to get us back in school mode. I hope all you other WAHM’s, can find some time to enjoy the summer as well as continue to be productive.