I chose to accept the frugal challenge this week!  Here’s a recap of my frugal week:

• No eating out this week
• Shopped at home first – only needed to buy milk, a few bananas, and some yogurt (for starter) this week
• mixed dishwasher detergent with Borax (1:4 ratio) to help stretch it further (works great)
• did not really have any outings planned this week, but it was nice so the kids played outside a lot (5 acres of yard!)
• I did not make any extra meals for my freezer, but I’ve got leftovers that will go into the freezer for future lunches
• I’ve managed to stay within my $300 grocery budget (my personal challenge), which is great!
• My “new-to-me” frugal idea is to try making homemade yogurt in the Crock Pot.  Check my blog tomorrow for an update.  It’s in the fridge now and seems to be thickening up.  We’ll just have to wait and see how well it thickens and what kind of adjustments I might have to make next time.

Don’t forget to check out Cents To Get Debt Free to see how everyone else did!

I love the Works For Me Wednesdays! Everyone has so many great ideas. Since I’ve not been reading too long, I’m sure that someone else has already covered this, but I wanted to share ours.

We have a small hallway that runs beside our refrigerator, and this is where I keep my magnetic white board, and the kid’s responsibility clipboards and my oversized calendar.

During the summer months, there’s not a whole lot on either one, but during the school year, I usually have at least 3 to 4 papers on my magnetic board (at least 1 per child per week – i.e. spelling lists, class news, etc.), copies of forms that have been signed and turned back in for field trips, in school activities, etc., several notes on the board and calendar, and lots of activities penciled (no pen used) in on the calendar. With one child in elementary, one in middle school, and one in high school this coming school year, this area will come in handy more than ever. I know that there were several times, especially at the end of the year, that if was not for my command center, there is no way that I could have kept up with everything. I fear that this next year will be even worse, LOL.

The Responsibility Clipboard idea came from Laura. Thanks for such a great idea! We had the kids helping around the house, but sometimes it was hard to remember who I had told to do what when we were all going so many different directions. This is great, and if they do well all week, they get a commission (no allowance here). I do still have to attach pencils, but I’m working on it! Brian finally got them hung for me the other day. Before that, they were on my white board.

Another item that I use my white board for is to keep a running grocery list. As I run out of something or think of something that I’m going to need to pick up next time I go to the store, it gets written on the right side of the board. Below that, I will write down the name of anyone that I know I need to bring eggs to next time I go to church. Our Sunday School class breakfast schedule is also kept in the upper right hand corner.

So, if you’re having trouble keeping up with everyone and everything, I strong recommend the use of a magnetic white board. I think I paid about $15 for mine, and it has paid for itself many times over! I only wish I’d bought mine a long time ago.

Don’t forget to check out We Are THAT Family for more great tips!

I have to tell you that, as much as I love the rain, I need a break. This is what portions of my yard look like:

It’s a sloppy mess.

And this is what my poor garden looks like:

A big mud pit!

At least my chickens are enjoying it! They’re finding lots of yummy bugs and worms to eat! They think we turned the soil just for them! Silly birds!

As for my garden, every time we’ve had a chance to plant, it’s been pouring! Yesterday, the lower quarter of the garden was completely under water for a while. Thank goodness our soil drains very quickly.

It’s supposed to stop raining by this weekend, but next weekend is VBS. I have no idea when I’m going to get my garden planted. Maybe my work load will not be too heavy next week and the kids and I can start getting seeds and plants in the ground. I’m just itching to get my hands (and toes) in the soil. I know God knows what He’s doing, so I’m going to leave my garden and my gardening time in His hands. I’m just praying that we don’t have a drought this summer or it’s not going to look too good for my garden this year.