Sunday Shopping

My mother-in-law, Kyle and I went shopping today.  We stopped by Ross and Costco.  I bought a trash can and shower liner for our bathroom.  I also bought dress socks for work.

While at Ross, I wanted to look for ceramic planter pots.  I have been wanting a ceramic pot since I have only used plastic pots in the past.  I found a really cute ceramic pot that was two or three different colors.  It is shaped like an over sized tea cup!  I was going to get two but decided to get only one for now.  I am still wanting to get potting soil to transplant my plants. 

At Costco, I ended up getting Spray ‘n Wash for laundry stains and AAA batteries.  Every time we go, we always get the samples!  Kyle eats about half of them and I end up eating his.  I saw a really cute hooded zip up sweater that was $20 but passed on it.  Now I regret not getting it.  It was light weight but looked like it would keep me warm. 

The mountain of laundry

I couldn't stand our mountain of laundry anymore.  I decided to do two loads of laundry today!  Kyle helped me along the way by carrying the laundry detergent, the basket or the keys.  He loves helping and he loves going on walks, so it was perfect. 

Our washer and dryer are supposed to be delivered tomorrow!  I am so excited. I also earned over $60 in cash back just from shopping online. 

I ordered them online

 

This afternoon, I did something I never thought I would ever do.  I ordered a washer and dryer online!  They will be delivered on Thursday!  I am so excited and can't wait for them to get here.  We have a mountain of laundry to do too.

I ended up getting a front loading washer and both appliances are Energy Star rated. 

When I asked Shannon for his opinion on what type of appliances to get, he said it was up to me.  I went with front loading because we discussed the benefit of using less water with each wash.  

Buying the big appliances online

Shannon and I were talking about what washer and dryer to purchase.  I would love to get an "energy star" washer and dryer.  I also asked him what he thought of the front loading washer vs the top loading washer.  We decided the front loading washer uses less water and our clothes would get a better wash with the front loading because of the way it spins.  With the top loading, you would have to fill the water level all the way to the top and there is no guarantee that the clothes at the very top will get washed. 

Plus, with the front loading washers, it sounds like you can really stuff them and they have a huge capacity.  That is helpful with bed comforters, sheets and other big loads.  

We're hoping to get a front loading washer.  Although, I do hate that I would have to stoop very low just to load the washer.  I could get the stand but those are usually an extra $300 or so, each. 

Also, Shannon is finally open to the idea of buying the washer and dryer online through the shopping site that I use to earn cash back on online purchases!  I told him that I would need to go to the store first to look at the models and then decide which ones to buy and make the purchase online.  Hopefully we can go later this week. 

Our washer will no longer connect to our kitchen faucet so I have been hand washing our clothes for the last few days.  We did use the laundry facilities at our new apartment earlier this week.  I am really wanting to get a washer and dryer for our apartment quick! 

Washer and Dryer

We still need to get a washer and dryer.  We tried looking at used appliances but realized we really don't know what we are getting with used.  We don't know the history of the appliance.  Plus, we don't have the protection of a warranty that comes with a new washer and dryer. 

We just feel more comfortable buying new from a reputable store. 

For the first few day or weeks we are in our new apartment, we may need to use the laundry facility in our building.  I definitely don't mind and it's not a long walk from our apartment. 

I would love to get a front loading washer because of the energy savings and the use of less water.  I would also love to buy "made in America" appliance.  However, both front loading and "made in America" are usually expensive.  We looked at washer and dryers a few weeks ago just to get an idea of prices. 

So much done!

It isn't even noon and I have done so much today!  I am doing my last load of laundry (I did two loads earlier).  This morning, right after I put Kyle on the bus, I threw away all of the boxes that were taking up our kitchen.  As a blogger, I get a lot of packages.  I also cleaned our floors and washed our mats.  Our sheets have been changed and our towels are being washed. 

In between all of that, I wrote two product reviews.

This weekend, I received a frame and my two salt lamps that I purchased from Walmart.  My poster is now in a frame and it looks gorgeous! 

Since we are moving in May, I am saving every big box we receive.  So far, I have three boxes from Walmart orders that I am saving. 

Shannon called to let me know that he will be working until 8:30pm or so tonight.  There was a call off so he's going to cover another site after he finishes his 8 hour shift. 

Home Alone today

It was a long weekend!  We kept Kyle home on Friday because he wasn't feeling good.  Which left me with him for three very long days.  I was really looking forward to Monday because it would give me some quiet time. 

Shannon is working this morning.  He's working 7am until 3pm or so.  Kyle gets home around 2:40pm or so and Shannon should get home about an hour later. 

Since I am home alone, I am taking advantage to get things done!  I also plan on turning in our notice with the apartment office to let them know we will not be renewing our lease at the end of our lease.  Hopefully, we will hear back from the other apartment that we have been accepted!

I scheduled my certification test for this Thursday morning at 9am!  I am nervous, but definitely want to get it over with.  I plan on studying my notes here and there. 

Still sick or sick again...

Kyle is still sick or sick again.  He pretty much stayed in bed all day today.  His daddy came home around 7:30am or so because he worked the graveyard shift.  Shannon stayed up with us until about 9am-9:30am.  Kyle went to lay down with him and ended up staying in bed/sleeping the entire time.  Kyle was coughing throughout the day.  He won't drink water or take medicine.

Since Kyle was sick in bed, I was able to get a lot accomplished.  I was able to post several reviews and do two loads of laundry. 

I hope he's better by Monday morning because I would hate for him to miss more school.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

This evening, I made homemade liquid laundry soap.  I already had my powdered homemade laundry soap, but I made a cup of it into two bottles of liquid laundry soap!  I am trying to stretch our laundry soap a little further. 

Snow!

It ended up snowing yesterday evening and all throughout the night.  The school district decided to close the schools for Friday and let everyone know yesterday evening.  I found out on Facebook from a local radio station's status update!  There were other people who commented saying they received phone calls (we never received a call).  I was planning on watching the local news station's website for updates if I didn't hear anything.  We do not have local TV, so I have to depend on the internet for news and updates. 

Since Kyle was home all day today, I did get a few loads of laundry done.

I am not sure what I will be doing this weekend.  I'm thinking about making soy candles!  I still have 3 more batches to make!  I am still burning candles from the first two batches I made in December.  I just love soy candles!  I also have a plugin tart warmer, which I use for any leftover wax from burned candles or from my tarts that I make from the leftover wax from when I make the actual jar candles.  I have the plugin tart warmer right next to my desk, so I turn that on while I am online.  It's nice to add scent to the room. 

Laundry and Cleaning

Shannon is off from Best Buy tomorrow but has to work his security supervisor job from 11pm until 7am.  He worked all this week at Best Buy.  Next week, he's working at least 60 hours total from both jobs.

I did several loads of laundry and cleaned the floors.  I also put our shower liner/curtain through a laundry cycle but it still has the moldy look.  I washed the shower liner/curtain in with a load of towels, as recommended since it's supposed to help remove mold and mildew during the wash. 

Since I cleaned the floors, I also washed our bath mats and kitchen mats. 

Working like crazy

Shannon has been working both jobs for the last few weeks.  He's working at least 60 hours a week!  He's getting over 35 hours a week with Best Buy, which is to be expected with retail, especially around the holidays!  He has to work a 12 hour shift on Black Friday!  I remember I had to work a 9 hour shift on Black Friday at Walmart a few years ago. 

We plan on closing our Wells Fargo accounts this week and establish ourselves with our credit union.  We received our "welcome kit" the other day.  It included a few checks and our "membership cards."  I can't wait to get rid of Wells Fargo!  He currently has direct deposit going to his own account at another bank.  He's going to have his other job direct deposited into our credit union.  We still have to order checks and we will receive our debit/credit cards within 2 weeks.  In the meantime, we will have to pay any bills with his checking account that he has with the other bank. 

With Shannon gone, I am trying to stay busy with cleaning, laundry and taking care of Kyle when he's not in school. 

Thanksgiving is coming up this week.  I would have liked to make a nice dinner but we're still in between banks.  Plus, Shannon's work schedule is so erratic.  Shannon and I decided we're going to go out to eat on Wednesday since he is off of work and Kyle is home from school.  We also talked about going out to eat on Monday or Tuesday while Kyle is in school, just the two of us! 

32nd Birthday

I had a good day.  I did laundry and realized we are almost out of homemade laundry soap.  We ended up going to Walmart for a few things, including the ingredients to make the laundry soap.  I ended up getting a new houseplant, called Pink Arrowhead Plant. I bought the smallest, most compact plant on the shelf.  I love the pink color on the leaves. 

We also bought a Snickers ice cream cake and another dessert. 

Tonight, I made a big batch of homemade laundry soap, so we should be good for several months. 

Good to be home

It is so good to be home.  Nine days is too long to be away from home.  I started feeling homesick and I think Kyle did too.  I was ready to return home after only 4 or 5 days. 

I have a few obligations at home that I want to keep up with. 

Today is our first full day home.  I am caught up on laundry!  I woke up early to update my blog.  I also did yoga and pilates after nine days without it. 

Our dryer

While I don't mind doing laundry, I was starting to hate our dryer.  I realize we have a stackable washer and dryer, but it would take several hours to dry one load of laundry.  I should preface this by saying that when we first moved in, we had to call customer service because we needed someone to show us how to hook up the washer to our kitchen sink (we rent the washer and dryer).  Also, we asked about the screen and how to remove it to remove the lint.  The lady on the phone told Shannon that we don't have to, since it's connect to the hose. 

It would literally take 4-6 hours to dry one load of towels.  Let's say I was doing 6 towels, I would have to split the load and dry 3 towels at a time and each load could take 2 to 3 hours to dry!  I really didn't look forward to drying jeans, which is why I started hang drying them! 

Just today, Shannon was playing around with the dryer and he found out that there is a screen and it does need to be cleaned.  It was filled with at least 3 inches thick of lint!  I was in the middle of drying our bedsheets (for a second round in the dryer) and who knows how long that would have taken to dry.  I also cut that load in half so I was only on the first half.  After Shannon cleaned the screen, I couldn't wait to try our dryer.  My second load of our sheets dried so quickly!  I didn't even have to do a second, third, or fourth round in the dryer. 

Walmart after Black Friday

We ended up going to Walmart today.  We wanted to go yesterday but Kyle was still feeling sick, coughing and throwing up.  Today he's a little better.  I hope he'll be ready for school on Monday, either way, I hope to send him! 

We bought the usually groceries.  I plan on making a green bean casserole and banana nut muffins this week.  We also bought 2 pumpkin pies!  I also decided we should buy a small bag of potatoes to have baked potatoes and any leftovers can be re-heated the next day or I can add them to soups or as a side for dinner. 

Walmart wasn't as busy in the grocery section.  Shannon and I figured that everyone has plenty of leftovers, so they don't need to be shopping for food. 

I also bought a few cleaning supplies: sponges, dishwasher tabs, baking soda (to clean), and zote laundry bar (to make homemade laundry soap).

Kyle behaved at the store.  I think he was so distracted looking all around the store and he never got bored.  If he gets bored, he'll start to whine.  I think there was too much going on for him to get bored. 

I've been a busy bee!

It's been a productive day for me!  I woke up and did my 55 minute workout (I always seem to put this one off by taking an extra rest day from working out).  I am also catching up on laundry today since I realized we were almost out of clean clothes.  I am doing at least 4 loads of laundry (darks, whites, and two loads of towels & bath mats)! 

Kyle starts Kindergarten on August 25th and I am looking to get him more clothes for school.  His school district doesn't not require school uniforms, but we're going to stick with the same theme.  Kyle will also be attending 5 days a week, which means I will need to have more clothes for him, plus extras when I need to do laundry.  He's still the same size as last year - 5T, which I can only seem to find at JC Penney. 

Mini-Getaway

We just got back a little while ago from a mini-getaway!  We decided to stay two nights in Cherokee, NC.  We stayed one night at Fairfield Inn & Suites and then stayed the second night at Harrah's.  Our hotel at Harrah's was comped.  We were also able to comp our breakfast from this morning as well as a few other purchases. 

On our first night, I ended up finishing a book I had already started and was able to write the review the same day.  Our second night, I didn't have internet access because Harrah's charges their guests to use their Wi-Fi, so instead, I started reading a new book and already over half way done!

On a whim, we decided to get away.  Thursday afternoon, we just decided to go.  While Shannon made the hotel reservations, I packed our stuff.  Kyle was easy to pack and I packed my clothes pretty quickly.  The "hardest" part was gathering our toiletries.  We were able to fit all of our stuff into one suitcase!  It only took us 45 minutes to get packed, make hotel reservations, and out the door. 

Now that we're back, I am catching up on laundry and just trying to get back into our normal every day schedule.  Thankfully, I only have 2 loads of clothes to do! 

Waking up early

This entire week, I started waking up early (usually around 5 AM - 6 AM) so that I have some time for myself in the morning before Kyle gets up.  I wanted some peace and quiet while I workout and maybe do some reading.  It's been really nice and working out for perfectly to get some alone time.  This morning I woke up around 4:15 AM. 

I am doing two loads of laundry today and will slowly try to catch up on all the other things I need to wash (sheets and towels we don't absolutely need right away). 

Shannon took our car in for it's 60,000 mile "check up."  Our car needs it bad too.  We are hoping they can fix the A/C and heater.  When it's winter and we turn on the heat, it fogs up the car.  The A/C works fine but when it's time to use the heat (for the winter time) it may not work properly.  Hopefully they can fix that for us.  So far, this will cost us around $1300 as of this morning.  We're hoping it won't be more than that. 

I found a recipe to make "mocha frappe" and "caramel frappe" like the ones at McDonald's.  Shannon and I love the frappes.  Shannon likes the caramel frappe and I like the mocha frappe.  Instead of spending about $3 for each, I decided to search for a "copycat" recipe of both coffee drinks.  The recipe is really easy too! 

We went to Walmart yesterday for a few more groceries and other things.  I finally found Borax there!  So I made a batch of homemade laundry soap today. 

Washing machine works!

Shannon finally called the place where we are renting out washer and dryer from and they said they would send someone out to look at it.  He literally showed up about a half hour later, maybe even less than that.  Well, our washer is now working!  I am so excited!