Spring Break fever

Oh my goodness, and actual post!!

I've had a wonderful spring break. True, I was sick for the first couple of days, but Tuesday I went shopping on the coast with my closest friend Maggie. Of course it isn't a coast trip unless we get lost, so we spent an extra hour looking for a cafe, but that's just part of the fun. The food was worth the extra wait as well.. I buy pants about once a year, and so a trip to an outlet was in order. I got some great deals, and have jeans that will last a good year. Yay coast trip and good shopping deals.

Wednesday I went hiking with my favorite dog Zoomy, and other friends. I forgot that the hike I chose was basically a steep hill and I over did it. Ihave blisters on my heels and was exhausted but it was so worth it. It also showed me it's time it get back in shape and more hiking will be, coming.

Today, Maggie and I decided to make Chicken Makhina. This is my absolute favorite Indian dish.

Here's the recipe we used http://www.indobase.com/recipes/details/chicken-makhani.php.

It didn't exactly taste like the dish I normally have at the restaurant, but for a first attempt, it wasn't too bad.

Next time I would blend the sauce using an immersion blender, and add more spice. Possible more butter since butter makes everything better!

I served it with rice and had a spinach salad on the side, overall a tasty well-balanced meal.

The ingredients were easy to get and I had most of them so there wasn't many high cost in making this.

If I had to guess I would say this meal totaled 7 dollars! It made a huge amount, and I will definitely be making this again, with a few minor changes.

Thank you's for all!...kind of

I'm trying to write about my goals, but it's not coming out how I want it to. Sorry it's taking so long, but I do have things to say. Hopefully this week will be less busy and I can get it up. I've been consumed with cooking, and writing our wedding thank you notes.

I feel bad that's it's taken us so long to get them out, but I found I really creative way to do it.

This can be applied for any sort of note as well. I found card stock that is used for scrap booking. Every three sheets is a different pretty pattern or color scheme. I just folded them in half and BAM instant cards! I found them at Fred Meyer. The price was unbeatable. It was 10 dollars for 72, and I had a coupon for 2 dollars off. 8 bucks for all my thank you. True this does not include stamps and envelopes, but how can you beat the price.

Little savings make all the difference I'm telling ya!

Canning Success!

It's late and I'm tired, but I wanted to know you know that I used my pressure canner today and nothing exploded! It was amazing to know that I can make my owe soups(at leats ones without dairy) and safely can them. Very empowering!!

I'll write a more involved post soon, as well as an update on how my goals are coming along. Tonight I'm fried, and in the hundred or so words I've written, I've needed to correct about half of them. Bedtime I do believe!

Money Tip

I don't remember if I talked about this or not, but Josh and I are wanting to buy a house. I know it's a little counter-productive in the whole saving money game, but stay with me here.

About six weeks ago we decided that our rent was too high and we wanted to be proud home owners. We knew NOTHING about home buying, so i made a phone call to my mom's realtor, and she pointed us in the directions of a first time home buyers class. The class cost 45 dollars, but folks it was worth every last penny! It was terrifying to be talking about mortgages, insurance, APR rates, the list goes on. It felt like a very adult topic, and one I wasn't hundred percent sure we would be ready financially for. I honestly thought that after our first class we would be told, "what are you doing here you stupid children, house buying is for grown ups". Luckily, the instructors didn't shame us back to childhood, and happily answered questions we had.

Today, we went for our first financial counseling to see what our credit scores are. No, I won't tell you what they were, btu I can tell you that I was TERRIFIED to hear mine. I thought that it was going to be rock bottom, and our dreams of home ownership were light years away.

The news was good, and the counselor talked about our next steps. At one point I laughed and had to mention this blog. She said "This may seem obvious, but keep saving money. It's not rocket science, just put money in the bank." This is were the blog was mentioned. Hehe. It does seem obvious, but she's right. Just put money away.

The other great tip is offered was keeping track of every penny. I simply created an Excel spreadsheet. I am color-coding the categories by; fuel, groceries, clothes, rent/bills ect... Hopefully, this gives me an idea for where my money is going and where I can cut back. I recommended it to all.