Look what Frank (Shady) dragged in!

I'm in the midst of my morning rituals, the dogs wanted to go outside a second time. I let them out and got back to my normal routine. 

Ed started barking at the door, he was ready to come in. Weeshy was sitting there with him so I had to call Frank to come in the house. 

Frank came barreling in (as usual) and Weeshy started chasing him around the living room. He jumped on my chair and I could see something hanging out of his mouth... a very long tail!

OMG! OMG! OMG!  

Naturally, I started screaming as that is my instinctive reaction to rodents and snakes. I scared the shit out of Frank and he dropped it. It landed on the floor by my side of the sofa. Weeshy tried to grab it - so between the screams, I chased the dogs away. 

Now, Nuisance got a wiff of it and wanted to get it too.

Frank was scared shitless (from the screams), so he ran in my office. Weeshy was perched on Aboy's side of the sofa and I had to pick up Nuisance because he went into predator mode. 

First thought (after all that)... how the fuck am I supposed to get this nasty shit out of here?

Conversation with myself:

"You can pick it up with a C-Town Bag... EWWW!!!"
"Get a shovel!... Yeah, Yeah - a shovel!"

I am still holding Nuisance. Frank is still in freaked-out mode in my office and I chased Weeshy away. I walked outside to get a shovel (Nuisance under my arm), come back in the house and Weeshy has the fucking thing on my side of the sofa!  

Instincts kick in, so I start screaming again.

Weeshy got freaked out and ran.

I knocked the nasty fucker on the floor with the shovel (Nuisance is still under my arm). I then did a quick rendition of the heebie-jeebie dance. 

I put Nuisance down and scooped up the mouse, got it outside and put it in the trash (so no one else gets the temptation to bring it back inside). 

I sprayed everything within a 10 foot radius with disinfectant.

I guess after breakfast I'll put on my hazard gear and sanitize the entire living area because of the contamination!

This can't possibly be what life on a farm is supposed to be like!

New Year, New Me...

2014 will go down as a "ehh" type of year. I had many accomplishments, but there were also some disappointments that I should have had better control of.

2015 is going to be different, by design.

I think it's safe to say through adulthood, I've approached life as a journey. I hold on to lessons and try to get better. I really, truly aspire to be a better person today than I was yesterday - everyday of my life.

I also try to lead by example... I'm not really (and never really have been) a person that preaches "Do as I say, not as I do". It was a lesson I learned from childhood from simple displays of behavior from my parents. They would tell me not to do one thing, but were doing the exact things they instructed me not to do. It sends the wrong message and develops into trust issues and lack of respect.  Trust and respect are very important to me.

So, in saying all that - I am going to embrace 2015.

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It's actually taken me a long time to put my thoughts into this and to get it "on paper"... I've been all over the place in setting my "goals" (not resolutions) for this year. I started thinking about what I wanted for 2015 in November of 2014. I didn't make frivolous or impulsive decisions about what I wanted to happen this year.

I have some standing goals, that most of the time I do achieve. I renew them from year to year.

• Be more mindful of my words and actions
• Read at least 10 books this year (5 personal interest, 5 self-improvement)
• Learn a new skill
• Show appreciation professionally and personally
• Help others (write resumes for unemployed friends and family, donate time, share knowledge, etc...)

These are usually easy to keep, because they are who I am and what makes me get better as a human.

Then I have my variable goals that change from year to year (some samples would be):

• Say no to things I don't want to do (sometimes I really struggle with saying no to people)
• Straighten out some accumulated debt
• Lose weight
• Make healthier food choices

These are usually a little harder to achieve because:
1. They take you out of your comfort zone
2. Circumstances may not always be ideal to achieve them
3. Life happens

For 2015, along with my year to year standing "goals"... this year I've got a lengthy list of little goals that interlock with each other.

1. Manage my time & schedule more effectively. My career is very demanding and at times stressful. Although I work from home - I found in this past year, I was becoming a slave to my desk. I really had very little time or energy to do things for myself that I needed or just enjoyed doing. That will not happen in 2015.

2. Make time for me. This falls right into my first goal. I have committed to not working more than 10 hours in a day. I know there will be exceptions to my 10 hour rule... but for 2015 they will be exception, unlike 2014 where it was the rule.

• I signed up at the YMCA.
• Aboy bought me knitting needles, yarn and a sewing machine for Christmas - I am going to use them.
• I am going to have a bigger garden this year.
• I will be getting chickens.
• I am going to coupon at least once a week.

These things take time and a mental focus. Lucky for me (as yous know) - everything I do is with a passionate motivation... now I will have the time to achieve what I want to do.

3. 50 pounds by 50 years. I have been working on this since I was 47 and next year I will be 50. I have lost a few pounds over the past few years - but my weight has fluctuated up 10 and down 10 since I started that journey. I have come to the realization that I am venturing into middle age. I want to watch my grandkids have grandkids. This year I'm fully committed to losing it.

4. Build physical strength. This fits into #2 and #3 because 3 of the 5 things I have listed in #2 require a level of physical strength to perform the requirements of the tasks. As for the #3 part of it - why would I lose the weight and have flabby skin from the weight loss? It just makes sense to commit to this.

5. Take better care of my husband. So, these are not in any particular order because this would really be #1 on my list, but without achieving #1 through #4, I could not be any good at completing #5. Everyone knows how much we care for each other. As we enjoy the empty nest, I want to make sure as we journey through our golden years together - I make it as memorable and enjoyable as possible.

6. Cook and eat healthier. I am going to expand on my experimental recipes and try to eat a predominately plant-based diet. I love making my own breads and I am determined to accomplish consistent successful brown rice on the stove!

7. Eat out less. Last year I made a commitment that if I were to eat out - that I would eat at family owned establishments more often than corporate driven restaurants. I want to support our local economy and although I may pay a little extra to do so, it's worth it. I believe corporations are vital to our economy because they do provide jobs for many (me included) - but, living and buying local is helping someone that chose to live outside of that box. Most local businesses offer much healthier choices, anyway. It's something I enjoyed and I am going to continue for 2015.

8. Be more social. I work from home. Facebook is my social life. I am a social person. I need to get out more. Right now, the Y has become that outlet. I plan to build on that as I start to accumulate local friendships.

9. Blog more. Everyone has a story. I want to document mine. I am committing to at least 2 blog posts per month (this makes 1!!).

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I've got some other personal goals that I am working on (not for public discussion)... they also fall within and interlock with what I have listed.

2015 is my year; because I said so.

Fledgling Farmer: My latest passion

If you've been following my blog - it has basically been a diary of my thoughts, passions and paths I've traveled.

I'm open to doing new things. I do them with passion and I decide if it's something I like or a lesson learned. Some things I like part of the benefits or challenge and some things I keep and commit to because it has enhanced my life and brings me joy. If I don't like it, I ain't gonna do it.

Pretty simple concept.

In saying that, welcome to the next chapter in Terri-Town.

My latest path has been my attempt at growing a garden.

I definitely don't mention it enough but I truly appreciate Aboy and his acceptance and support when it comes to my schemes and dreams. I am so lucky to have someone that doesn't look down on my creativity or my need to stay busy and even now, with the gardening attempt - has really helped me in getting it off in the ground.

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So, in line with the "healthier lifestyle" concept, we thought it would be good to grow our own vegetables (and in a few years, hopefully some of the fruit trees and plants we planted will give us some fresh fruit). 

Since we've only lived here for a few months - there wasn't much time to prep the soil and till the ground, but we didn't let that stop us. Our garden is not as big as it will potentially get - but, it was a start and it's manageable - which was probably the better way to get our feet wet. 

We planted herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers (many kinds), yellow squash, watermelon, pumpkin, zucchini, green beans, beets, onions and lettuce. 

Potentially I would like to have all of the above PLUS, corn, potatoes, more kinds of onions, garlic, broccoli, kale, more herbs, collards, romaine, cabbage, carrots, eggplant and whatever else I find that will grow in our climate. 

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Since we didn't have a rototiller or a donkey (we will get both!), I started some of the vegetables in planters and hanging pots. We repurposed some salvage wood when our neighbor knocked down his deck and Aboy made some garden boxes. There was also a pole randomly cemented into the ground in the backyard- so we used it to hang some Topsy Turveys on. We also removed all the bushes from the front of the house and used those flower beds to plant vegetables, too. 

Every week I build up a list of things I want Aboy to build or move for me and every weekend, he knocks my requests off the list. 

It has been so much fun for us, we put off furnishing the inside of the house (we still don't have a living room set) because we have been outside so much - there really isn't a need for it. We figure once it cools down and we start staying inside more, we'll address it then. 

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The internet has been a fabulous tool to help us get ideas and get started with this latest passion. I always say... if Google was around when I was a kid... just the endless possibilities to do research and learn - oh man - it really stimulates my inner geek!

So, anyways - through Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, Google and magazines - we found ideas and instructions on how to do things. Many of the projects we've accomplished (as far as gardening and general outside enhancement) have been done with little or no cost - but have yielded some great results, not to mention the sense of satisfaction and achievement. 

And this is what we've accomplished so far:

Pretty cool, right?

I kinda wanted to blog about this too - so next year, I can look back and see what worked, what didn't and how we can improve what we started.

The Resume Question

To resume or not to resume, that is the question.

It seems like just recently I've gotten an influx of questions regarding resume submissions. 

Here are some questions you can ask yourself and identify if you require a resume.

1. Will you wear business casual or professional clothes to work every day?
2. Will employees report to you?
3. Is it an entry level hourly type position - like warehouse, retail, or service industry?
4. How long have you been in the workforce?

Based on the responses that you provide above will help identify if you need a resume or if you can fill out an online application. 

1. Office environment dictates a resume. If you are going to work in a position that you are required to sit at a desk and have intangible personal assets like organizing skills, customer interaction, coordination between departments - you need a resume. A resume allows you to elaborate on "wins" that you've had in previous employment that fall outside of the normal "I created and maintained spreadsheets", "Worked with customers daily", etc... You want to highlight what responsibilities the position covered, but you should elaborate in a short paragraph how your contributions in your position furthered the mission of the company (saved money, 100% customer satisfaction, "Attaboy's", etc).

2. Middle management and above dictates a resume. If you're seeking any type of position that "manage or supervise" is in the job description - you need a resume. Similar to #1 - you'll want to include how many employees you've supervised in the past, but you'll have to add in information that supports what made you a good manager (low turnover, high production, management style, etc). 

3. Entry level hourly type positions. If you are going to wait tables or load trucks, the trend has been you don't need a resume. Most companies recognize that entry level candidates or hourly types don't always have a resume. They address this issue by having a "long" application on their website that allows you to do a traditional type application - online. A lot of times they are asking you questions in the application process that are qualifying / disqualifying you to assist them in identifying the most qualified candidates before they even look at the application. Companies that cater to retail, warehouse & distribution, and entry level service industry jobs (like restaurants and hotels) are utilizing this trend more often because of the need to ramp up quickly due to high turnover. 

4. How long have you been in the workforce determines your need for a resume. This one is kind of a gray area. Based on the scenarios I've laid out above determines your answer. If you're trying to get a job as a file clerk in an office, you'll definitely need a resume. Your resume will not have a lot in terms of work history - but it can be a brag sheet of software or technology you are familiar with, volunteer positions you've held and intangible personal assets you possess (time management, people skills). If you're just getting started and you're trying to work at a restaurant - no resume needed. 

There are companies that have not made the technology commitment of an online application system yet - so, if you are in a situation like #3 and don't have a resume, but the job is saying "submit your resume for consideration"... write a cover letter expressing your interest for the job and just type out the name of your employer(s), your job title(s), dates worked and any certifications you acquired. It doesn't have to be fancy.

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Which ever way you are applying - above all be consistent. If you are saying in your resume "strong attention to detail" yet you have multiple formatting red flags and spelling errors - you're going in the bottom drawer archive. If you are submitting an online application, make sure you are using proper capitalization and grammar. You are representing yourself and things like that are HUGE when you are being evaluated. 

Right now the job market is considered an "employer's market". That means companies can cherry pick candidates. For every 1 job, there are at least 30 candidates. For every entry level job, there are at least 100 candidates. If you are seriously looking for work - be smart, be unique, but most of all, use common sense.

Working in HR has been a lot of fun for me. I kind of equate it with driving a cab. There are all types of people in the world, which is a beautiful thing... but the stupid ones - they make the hiring process quite humorous!

And one other thing - DO NOT EVER use texting abbreviations like BTW, IMO, LOL. I mean NEVER EVER, EVER. Kapish? 

An offer you can't refuse: Unintended Savings

Last night I had to run to Food Lion to pick up some cat food. One of the great things I love about shopping at Food Lion – they have a magic coupon machine when you walk in the store. You just swipe your MVP card and BAM! – it prints out a sheet of coupons.

For an extreme couponer, not only is it a welcomed surprise when all the coupons print out – it’s also a challenge to fit those coupons into that shopping trip. The store coupons expire the day they are printed.

Most of the coupons that print out are store coupons, meaning they are cents off on a product, but only for Food Lion. There are Manufacturer’s coupons too – which combined with the store coupon makes for some great savings (that’s called “stacking” in coupon lingo).

I didn’t bring my coupon binders in because I was only running in for cat food and I had $10 in my pocket. I didn’t want to swipe my bank card and the temptation of pacing each aisle is too much to resist if I have my binders with me. BUT, I did stop at the magic coupon machine!

Yup, you guessed it… BINGO! I hit the jackpot!

There were a couple coupons on there that I didn’t have a need for. I did take advantage of the $1.50 off fresh chicken (I picked up a whole roaster), $1 off fresh bagged garden salad (a 1lb bag), $1 off iced tea bags (a box of 40); plus I picked up some cucumbers, peppers and gizzards that were on markdown (the dogs have to have snacks too!). Oh yeah, and I got the cat food, on sale!

Now mind you – I only had $10 in my pocket and was determined not to swipe my bank card.

The cashier rang up my order and before swiping my MVP card and handing over the coupons my order was $25.14. After my MVP savings and coupons – I paid $8.20 out of pocket!

Not bad for an unintended coupon adventure! 

Sunday Rambling...

It was raining when we woke up this morning. The house was nice and warm. The coffee aroma seeped through the house and Aboy cooked our breakfast. 

Yesterday was a very productive day. Since Aboy went right on the road after we moved in - I had started to accumulate a "honey-do" list for him. I know the last thing he wants to do when he comes in off the road is repair this and move that... but, unfortunately - I lost some of my he-man strength somewhere after my trick hip and bad back took over. 

He hooked up the washing machine just before he left - but the drain pipe was rigged by the previous residents and my washer wasn't spinning out properly. Not to mention we had a 4-prong plug for our dryer in Denton and the outlet here is for a 3-prong (go figure!). So, I've been washing clothes - but, only a load here and there because I have to hang them up on hangers in the bathroom to air dry (and they aren't fully spun out). I could have went to the laundromat - but, it is a minimum 5 mile drive one-way to any type of retail outlet and the laundromat is 10 miles away from us. 

Mission accomplished yesterday! Aboy got some pallets to raise the washer and dryer off the floor (they're in the cellar). He fixed the pipe so it's draining properly and he put a 3-prong plug on the back of our dryer. I am in laundry heaven right now!  

Turtle (who has to take residence in the cellar till spring), was not impressed with all the noise and action that was going on. He was more concerned that his heater had to be turned off while Aboy was working. He propped himself right next to it when we turned it back on - to let us know, he likes his heater.

So, my Sunday has turned into a lazy Sunday. The rain has stopped. My clothes are clean. The house is clean. Souper Sunday is about to kick off.

This is the view from our back patio. 

This is where my laundry facilities reside (and Turtle!). 

An offer you can't refuse: Healthy Food

You guys know that I've changed up the way I eat. I have been staying away from products with High Fructose Corn Syrup and Monosodium Glutamate. Most of the food products that are promoted with coupons - have one or both of these ingredients in them. Needless to say - I don't use a lot of coupons while couponing for food... however, if there is a deal that I can't walk away from - I will still get it and donate it to the local food bank (if you're hungry, you're probably not reading labels). 

So, the question came up: "How do you get fresh produce with no coupons"

Produce does offer coupons from time to time; not often enough for me to base my grocery shopping or stockpile on it. I shop sales for my fresh items. Also, there may be cabinet food (rice, pasta, beans, etc) that rarely have a coupon; I have a strategy for that too. 

Some of the important things when shopping for whole foods (items that don't have chemicals in them) is:

1. Know your prices! Items that you need may go on sale "10 for $10"... but, if you are purchasing an item that normally sells for 79¢ and now they have it on sale for $1 - that's not a bargain! It looks good because the store circular has it on the front page with all kinds of glitter around it - but, when you know the cost of the items you purchase - you know that it would be cheaper to buy it when it's not "on sale".  Be careful of BOGO (Buy one Get one free) deals, too - a lot of times they increase the retail price of the bought one and you end up spending the same as if you bought 2 during a non-sales cycle. Another thing to be aware of is price variances by store. I can drive a 1/2 block to another grocery store and the same item is selling for $1.50 more (on sale).

2. Purchase Price vs Stock Up Price. Items generally go on sale every 6 to 8 weeks. If you are trying to Stock Up on cabinet or items you can freeze, know how much you will need to get you through until the next sales cycle. If you run out of something and it is not in it's sales cycle, only buy enough to get you through until the next sale. Know your price points. Understand what is a Purchase Price or a Stock Up Price.

  Price Point Example 1: Fresh Chicken Breasts normally sell for (about) $1.99 per pound. You see the sales for the week and you find it on sale for $1.19 per pound. STOCK UP! Buy as much as you can fit in your freezer or what you'll need until the next time it goes on sale. 
  Price Point Example 2: Fresh Broccoli normally sells for $1.19 per pound (or $2.00 a bunch). It goes on sale for 78¢ a pound or 10 for $10 (a bunch)... STOCK UP!

Both of these fresh items will store in your freezer! 
BTW, I coupon for freezer bags!

3. Shop the Clearance Rack. Because of laws that are in place to protect us - understanding your "Sell By" and "Use By" dates can help you land some great deals. Meat, produce and other items will go on clearance or close-out. Obviously meat and produce will go bad and the store wants to get some monetary return for their initial investment so they will reduce the cost to get them out the door. I inspect everything before I put it in my cart (look, smell, etc)... but, don't think because they have it reduced it's because it's going bad - they are just approaching the point that if they don't get it out the door, their store will take a loss on that item. This would be a STOCK UP too, if you can freeze these items or use them immediately.  

  Clearance Example: I was in the produce section at Kroger. They had fresh pre-packaged collard greens on clearance for 99¢ a bag (normally $2.49 a bag). They were set to "Sell by" the next day - so, they were trying to get rid of them. I cleared the shelf (8 bags), brought them home and put them right in the freezer! What would have cost me almost $20 - I only paid $7.92!

4. Price Match. If I'm out couponing, I may have items from 4 or 5 different stores in my car. Some of you may not have time to run to 4 or 5 different stores to get 2 items from 1 store and 4 items from another. Your salvation is Price Match. Walmart will match any competitor's price (<---Click that!) for the same item (size, brand, etc). They even match store brand stuff - so, if you find that a store is running a special on (let's say) their Store Brand sugar - you can purchase the Great Value sugar for the same price - as long as it's the same size & type. Target does price matching too - but, to me - it's a hassle (listen to me whine...) because you have to go to Customer Service to get your price matched deal overage refunded or if the deal was because you needed a rewards card, they won't honor it (it's some bullshit). 

5. Aldi. Yup! This (hardly) no-brand-name grocery store always has some phenomenal deals on produce and frozen items. AND... a lot of their products are not made with HFCS or MSG (like their bread)!!! They have a line of organic and Healthy Fit products that are cheaper (and IMO) taste better than some of your major chain grocery stores. Don't forget your quarter (to get your cart) or your own grocery bags to carry the stuff home... it is the modern day version of no frills - but they have some great stuff!

Those are the main ways I reduce the cost of my Fresh Food expenses. When I do that and pay next to nothing for my cleaning, personal care and other household items - it helps keep down the cost of running my house. 

Take a minute to think about this... with the convenience of everything we have access to (cleaning products that cut your cleaning time, food items that reduce your time in the kitchen)... we have really been conditioned to believe we have to spend money in order to live. I am debunking that thought process. I don't have chickens or cows in my backyard and if I grow a garden it's seasonal (although I can freeze or can things) - so there are things that I depend on from the grocery store (mostly) out of convenience. I am NOT going to pay a lot of money for items that just go down the drain or I am just going to throw out when I'm done with them. Knowing that - I am NOT going to pay a lot of money for anything else either. 

If I hit Powerball for a zillion dollars - I would still coupon and shop for deals. The things that we use and need to live should not dictate how we spend our money, that should be our decision.

Just like couponing - this takes time. It's really retraining how you think about shopping. Research, planning and strategy come into play. Once you train yourself and learn your prices, when the best time to buy something (summer is a great time to stock up on condiments, January is a great time for health related items...), sales cycles and how often you run out of something... you can really slash your grocery costs in half (or more)!! 

You will have to allocate space to store your items, but the first time you run out of something and all you do is go to your stockpile to "shop"... it makes it all worth it!