May Giveaway Time!

I am way late this month getting around to the Giveaway(just a few things going on around here......hehehe) but it's finally HERE!
Yay!!!

Here's what you can win if you are selected this month.........

1 x Centrum silver women's vitamins
1 x Aquaphor lotion bottle sample size
1 x Suave shampoo
1 x Lysol toilet bowl cleaner
1 x Suave deodorant
1 x Cover Girl liquid face make-up
1 x Colgate Optic White toothpaste
3 x Oreo candy bars
1 x Trident gum
1 x Schick disposable razors
1 x Rite-Aid dry mouth lozenges
1 x Colgate toothbrush
1 x Wet n' Wild eye make-up palette
1 x Cover Girl mascara


Close up shots of the goodies..........

Around $50 worth of regular retail goodies(depending on where you shop for this sort of thing).
Lots of May necessities here--things to get you ready for Summer(razors, hair, deodorant, make-up, dental needs), vitamins for all that outdoor activity coming up, lozenges to keep your mouth from getting dry when you are yelling at your kids/grand kids, gum and chocolate to feed your soul and something to keep your bathroom smelling good. lolz

* This May Giveaway Box of goodies is open to any and all readers WHO HAVE NEVER WON A  GIVEAWAY. 

There is a limit of ONE ENTRY PER NON-WINNER YET PERSON PER DAY for this Giveaway.  Come back every day and enter though!

Please tell me in your entry what your big plans are for June...........if you can and what do you can........your best buy at the grocery store last week........your best money saving move.......or something random about yourself that we don't know.........that sort of stuff.
No boring "enter me, thanks" entries.  Be creative!

I'll leave these giveaways open until Friday, May 31st at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. On June 1st  I'll mark all valid entries on slips of paper and have Ex-College Boy draw the winner.

*Please note these rules*
I'll post the name/ID of the winner on this blog on June 1st and that person has 48 hours from the time stamp on that post to contact me privately via email(my email addy is listed on my "About Me" page, as well as on my side bar).

If I am not contacted via email, I'll attempt to contact the winner via the email they supplied with their entry(or gave me to add to the Giveaway Data Base)and if that email is not responded to within another 48 hours I'll pick another winner.

Disclaimer--This giveaway is open to those with mailing addresses within the US only.  As the cost of postage to foreign countries has gotten too high I am sorry to say I can no longer afford to mail boxes outside the US.  These giveaways are not sponsored by any companies.  I pay for it all(the cost of items given away and the postage to mail it all)out of my own pocket.

***PLEASE NOTE***

Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you in your comment.

If you're not a registered Blogger User with your contact information on your User page, please put your email addy in your comment or email me your email addy privately when you leave a comment so I can get a hold of you. If your Blogger associated user profile is a GOOGLE one with those Google Circles nonsense I CAN NOT CONTACT YOU as Google Circles doesn't show your contact info.

If I can't contact you then you can't win.  I am still having to disqualify entries due to this issue and I sure don't like doing that.  Thanks!

So let's get the MAY Giveaway started.  Good Luck to all you non-winners!

Sluggy

All Three are DONE!

My brother arrived on Thursday to attend Daughter's graduation.

On Friday Daughter said she was getting an award(she had told me about this a month ago)and the ceremony was that afternoon.  She had said before this that it wasn't a big deal and she didn't want us to go so I had just filed the info in my head.  Suddenly on Friday she said she wanted us there.

So we gussied up and went downtown to the school's theater.

There were three Chemisty awards and she won one!  She was awarded the Outstanding Research Award in the Chemistry department.  She is with her professors in this photo, Drs. Bradley and Mencer.

 Since there is no Master's/PhD programs at her school she was able to do research and attend and present at professional conferences as an undergrad.
One of those research papers she co-authored/presented was written up in a professional Chemistry journal and was also featured on the front cover of the journal. (That's what she is holding a framed copy of in her right hand in the photo.)

Here she is with her Uncle.
This Award also came with a check too.
Her "this isn't a big deal" thing turned out to be a big deal after all! lolz

We had some errands to run(and Daughter went out with her friends)then it was home to make dinner.

I picked this poster up at the Dollar Tree on the way home.  The only place we had wall space for it was in the front hallway(since the living room/dining room were a disaster with all her stuff packed in there.
Daughter's Boyfriend arrived late Friday night.

Everyone was up early on Saturday for Breakfast and it was a busy, busy day after that.

Here she is all dressed before leaving for the ceremony.
The BF had driven with Daughter and we met him outside later about half an hour before the doors opened.  The line snaked through the handicapped parking lot next door.  On the way to get into line my brother and I both spied a gold ring on the ground but he beat me to picking it up. lolz
We finally got inside about 45 minutes after waiting in that line so I got a bit sunburned as it was a gorgeous sunny day.

Program....check!

Row of family(and BF).....check!

The graduating class and professors processed in from the door right behind us but I couldn't get a picture of Daughter but I did get the school banner as it came in.

After awhile the six whole Chemistry students were degreed.  Daughter graduated Cum Laude.
I told her I was just so happy she graduated Thank de Laude! 8-)))

After 3+ very long hours on crappy seating it was finally over and we took photos outside.

Can you tell I am happy and proud(and also giddy at the thought of getting my house back?!)?

A pose with her Uncle. 

And her little brother.  Daughter use to torment and tease him mercilessly when they were younger.  But now, I reminded him that he can hold it over her that he got his degree at 22 while she didn't get one until she was 27.

And finally with  the boyfriend.

We hightailed it over to the Mexican restaurant for dinner as we all were starving.  I splashed out $10 for this fancy drink(Daughter drank TWO of these since we were paying. lol).
Dinner was low key and I don't remember much of it after drinking this on an empty stomach. lolz

Then it was home for ice cream cake and champagne and presents.  We gave her the requisite Graduation Check like both her brothers got.

Sunday morning it was leftovers for breakfast as Daughter and BF had a long drive to TN...........

I had her pose by the poster before leaving.....

All the goodbye hugs were done and it was time to get into the car.
Cinnamon was very excited for her car ride with mommy and daddy........

Checking the GPS and the song playlist before driving off..............

And then it was all over and Daughter and her dog were gone.

And a few hours later Chester was conked out and recovering along with all the humans in the household.

Then Monday morning my brother hit the road back to Virginia.
But not before posing with his new little buddy Chester..........

So now it's back to taking control of my house again.  Daughter and her dog(and the BF for awhile)were here one month short of the last 3 years.
Three years but for a good reason and now she's edumacated and onward to the rest of her life.
Will I miss her?
Yep.
But it's time for her to spread her wings and fly.

And Hubs and I are officially DONE with educating our children(and mostly paying for it too).
FAFSA can KISS MY LILY WHITE FAT ASS AS I NEVER HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM AGAIN......PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!

8-)


Sluggy

And So It Begins.....The Great Clean Out of 2019

The house is eerily quiet today.
No big neurotic dog and her owner.
No my big brother(he left yesterday).
Ex-College Boy started his new job yesterday afternoon(training stuff)and doesn't go back in until Thursday so he'll get up later today.

Tuesday, here is the plan for today(though some of it got done on Monday already).......

                 Not the mess in my house thankfully! lolz

* The garbage company picks up the second week of a massive amount of trash this morning. There were EIGHT black garbage bags of crap between Daughter's stuff and Ex-CB's garbage out there(not counting the broken furniture Daughter chucked out and our regular two garbage cans filled to the brim). ugh. CHECK

* Daughter's room is empty except for the furniture she left(some her's, some ours)and some belongings she is ditching.
On Monday I vacuumed the carpeting and emptied the canister FOUR times so far....this was after she vacuumed and emptied it SIX times before she left. 8-(  It has been mostly dog hair as far as I can tell.
Also on Monday I vacuumed the molding/trim at the floor and the edge of the carpeting on half the room(the other half is full of the furniture). CHECK

* All the boxes of stuff stored in her large closet were taken down Monday.  CHECK

* Today I will be going through every item in those boxes(did a bit of this already on Monday while I pondered what to do with it all). CHECK

* I'll empty other Rubbermaid tubs in the den and re-organize what gets saved into those today and continue to pitch out some of what was in those boxes. What was in the tubs(eBay stuff)will go into the now empty boxes as that eBay stuff will be gone this Fall(if not sold on eBay and/or locally, or donated if no one wants to buy it). CHECK

* Once Ex-CB is up and ready for the day he will help me wash down the walls in the bedroom and clean the ceiling fan/blades. CHECK

* Ex-CB will clean/wipe down the large desk and bookcase(plus the wall shelving in the room)his sister left him. CHECK

*  While Ex-CB is cleaning furniture/ceiling fan I'll put tubs/boxes back on the closet shelves. CHECK

*  Ex-CB will take all items to get rid of(whether disposing of or to be sold)downstairs into the living room/garage garbage cans. CHECK

*  I will shampoo the carpeting in half the room that is empty. CHECK

* While the carpet is drying I'll start in on their bathroom.  Daughter left half used toiletries/full toiletries under the bathroom sink and on the small bookcase for storage.  I'll also start in on the hallway closet where there are baskets of more opened toiletries plus unused toiletries shoved among the bed and bath linens.

* If I have the energy and time I'll start going through the bed/bath linens in the hall closet as well, to ditch what is worn out/no longer needed.

The above is certainly a full day+ of work right there.  Maybe I'll remember to take pictures today too. lolz

By the afternoon I'll be wiped out but at least the humidity is low today(no a/c up there yet).
If there is time after all this I'll go to Price Chopper in the late afternoon to buy lobsters for dinner.

So what are you up to today?

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Time to Party!" Edition....

After standing in the hot sun, then sitting in a too warm huge gymnasium/all-purpose hall on a rickety folding chair for 3+ HOURS and no food since breakfast it was off to the Graduation dinner for 6 at the Mexican restaurant the Daughter picked out.
This was my drink selection, a Champagne and Strawberry Margarita.
Needless to say I was a bit loopy after sipping on that on an empty stomach. lolz

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday--Daughter cooking dinner for me

2. Monday--Turkey Tenderloins, real Mashed Potatoes, Veggie

3. Tuesday--Soup and BLTs/Grilled cheese

4. Wednesday--Stir-Fry Shrimp/Veggies/Noodles

5. Thursday--?

6. Friday--?
7. Saturday--?

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Daughter cooking-Tempura Shrimp, Corn on Cob, real Garlic Mashed Potatoes

2. Monday--Leftover Sunday dinner

3. Tuesday--FFY(I had soup)

4. Wednesday--Chinese take-out

5. Thursday--Pork Tenderloin, Scalloped Taters, Tossed Salad

6. Friday--Ribs, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, Corn on Cob
7. Saturday--Dinner out for Graduation

Last week saw 3 nights of home cooked dinners, 2 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 2 nights of Eating Out/Take-Out. 

Only 2 of the meals planned happened(and I didn't even cook one of those lol).
Some many leftovers from Sunday that Monday was taken care of.  I didn't feel well on Tuesday so it was a Fend for Yourself night.  Only me and Hubs on Wed. for dinner so we got Take-Out instead of the big meal I was going to make(Chicken Alfredo Fettuccine).
I smoked the ribs  and my brother arrived Thursday evening so I served up one of those pork tenderloins I got really inexpensively at the Amish outlet with sides.  Friday the ribs happened with those sides after a quick trip to Weis(PMITA)Markets for corn, cole slaw mix, watermelon and an ice cream cake.
Originally Daughter was going to go out with her BF alone for her apres graduation meal but she changed her mind since her uncle came up from VA(we parents don't rate but the uncle does!)so we all headed out to that Mexican place and my bank account is a bit sadder for it. 8-)

What got put into the freezer last week.....

* corned beef brisket
* chicken Italian sausage

What got taken out of the freezer and used last week.....

* 1  pork tenderloin
* 2 lb. bag shrimp                                                           

Three trips to Weis and a trip to CVS brought the food/toiletries spending last week to $84.56(and that included a big ice cream cake splurge)and my May total to $303.83. 

My savings percentage last week was 51.91%(without Rite-Aid trips)and May's monthly savings total came to 51.05%(w/out R-A). 

I have 11 more food shopping/spending days in May.  

Leftovers going into this week.....ribs, beans, pork tenderloin, scalloped potatoes and rolls.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--T-Bone Steaks, leftover sides(beans, salad, rolls), Cuke in Vinegar

2. Monday--Shrimp Stir-Fry w/Noodles

3. Tuesday--Lobster

4. Wednesday--Chicken Alfredo Fettuccine

5. Thursday--leftovers or FFY

6. Friday--leftovers or FFY
7. Saturday--what ever Hubs cooks

This week will see 4 new meals cooked, 3 nights of leftovers/FFY, and 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.
I start my Elimination Diet this week so the menu plans will be quite different after that at least for awhile.

What needs buying for this menu?
Lobster for sure, besides that and potatoes I just don't know yet.
Price Chopper has a lobster special this week so we'll hit that for sure(and it's the only reason lobster is on the menu anyway). lol
With buying lobster(even on sale)this week won't be cheap so I'll probably hit my $400 limit for food in May.
rah.
team.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week? 

Sluggy  

Graduation Weekend

It's Graduation Weekend for Daughter here so that's why I've been MIA.

Thursday and POD was delivered and my brother arrived from Virginia.
Yesterday was the Awards Ceremony and other things and today is the actual Graduation ceremony.
Daughter's BF arrived last night and we had a big breakfast and now the packing of the POD has commenced.
It's bedlam around here with 6 people and 2 dogs and the house is all discombobulated this morning.
Tonight we party. lolz

I'll be back either Monday or Tuesday--Daughter and BF leave Sunday, my Brother leaves Monday and Ex-College Boy starts his new job on Monday and I'll get my very messy house back by Tuesday morning when all the garbage clogging up the garage gets hauled away.

Then it's back to real life and the work on the house begins.
I am tired already........

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Sluggy