I added some of my recipe posts, from my other blog, over here today.  They start about 4 down with the Cinnamon Apple Rings post.

Recent Light Bulb Moment about Verizon Wireless Plans

We currently have a cell phone family plan with Verizon Wireless, and have for many years.  Only recently when money has been looking a little tighter, and the boys growing up and getting out on their own, have I actually REALLY looked into what we have been paying for these past 6 years or so.

On a Verizon PLAN they tell you (or at least they told us) that we are actually SAVING MONEY by going with a  family plan and "sharing everything".  Currently we have 1 smart phones, 2 basic phones, and a mobile hot spot, all with 2GB  shared Data and unlimited talk & text. We are also paying for a prepaid basic phone (long story). Gasp! it is expensive, but Verizon knows what they were talking about on saving money, right?

Come February we will have 1 smart phone, 1 mobile hot spot, and 2 prepaid phones.  This saves us about $60 on our "plan", but because the prepaid phones are minimum $50 a month for minutes, we really aren't saving any yet,  HOWEVER if you don't have the money buy more minutes you're not going to be having bill collectors knocking at your door, you're just without a phone until you can buy more minutes.  One of the prepaid belongs to our son.  He still lives at home and works for us, so paying for his minutes is part of his salary. :-)  For that matter hubby and I could probably share the smart phone since with it he could get on facebook and message me or call me at the shop.  Hummmmm nice thought to remember.

Back to the Verizon PLAN.......I'm going to talk about the Smart Phone, because that's what most people I know have, and what I have.  The phone I have is about a  $500 phone if I were buy it outright (which is silly because the really only cost a few dollars to produce), but with a 2 year contract it's a special price for about $200  BUT we pay $40 a month just to have the smart phone on our plan.  If I'm figuring correctly that's $960 more that I'm paying for the phone after I've already purchased it with a plan (so over $1000 for the phone?  Seriously?).  If I had bought it outright I'm guessing I would still be charged the $40 a month additional for the line on our plan.

We have 2GB shared data plan between my phone and the mobile hotspot (which we hardly ever use).  That is $60 a month (same as it is for a $60 prepaid smart phone with 2GB data).  I have to watch my data usage so I don't go over because it's $15 per GB (which I'm sure they round up) over the 2GB we already pay for.

I know that the prepaid smart phones have a limited selection, but that's not a big problem for me, as long as I can text and chat with my friends on facebook.  I already know which one I want when my plan expires, unless we decide to go with a basic phone, which I would be fine with also.   I won't bore you with the details of our plan come February when 2 of the 4 devices are able to be cancelled without penalty (which that is a whole another thing and is stupid what they want to cancel). We do plan on cancelling the plans as they "mature" and go prepaid just because the economy is so insecure it's scary to think of not being able to pay my bills when they come due.

With a prepaid Verizon smart phone, once you buy the phone there are no additional charges other than your monthly minutes card.  Minimum is $60 and that is for 2GB data that you don't have to share.  When you use up all your data, you just have to buy another card.  :-)  So it is actually a savings of $40 a month to go prepaid with a smart phone.



I don't think Verizon isn't being completely honest with their customers who actually commit to a plan for 2 years. It's more of a trap than a "cheaper way to go".

This is completely my own opinion, I'm not unhappy with Verizon service, it's the best coverage for our area, I just wish I had looked into this a lot sooner. 

Happy Homemaker Monday ~~ 12/9/13

You know, even though I'm not a SAHM I'm still a homemaker.  I have a family to take care of and a home that should be kept it neat and clean.  I do also have the responsibility of 2 businesses to keep neat and clean, and a multitude of customers to care for as well.  Wow!  So....I've decided Happy Homemaker Monday,is all about my home AND my businesses.  They are where I spend my time, with my family none the less, 24 hours a day.

The weather.....   It is COLD out there!  Last night when I checked the weather we had no precipitation in the forecast for at least 10 days and the temps were supposed to be slowly climbing into the low 40's.  About 3:00 this morning the weather alert on my phone went off and we were issued a winter storm advisory for noon today through midnight with the possibility of 1-4 inches of snow.  Right now (about 1pm) it's 22* feels like 13* and it's not doing anything.  I'm ready for 80 degree weather and rain. :-)

Right now I am.... I'm sitting here eating cold Burger King french fries and a cold original chicken sandwich.  It was hot when i brought it back, but customers came in.  It's not an uncommon thing to eat a cold lunch.  I'm cold as well.  I've been back roughly 30 minutes, but was out running errands for about 45 minutes and it's cold outside!

On my Kindle.... I am still reading Ruth's Dilemma (The Zook Sisters of Lancaster County).  I haven't been in the reading mood lately.

On the Radio.... We are listening to some christian radio station via the internet.

TV on my Computer..... Probably not much until January when ABC's Switched at Birth comes back on.

What I found while surfing the net.... Seed Balls!  I seen a post on my facebook timeline for them.  They would make awesome gifts.  

On my to do list this week.... [at the lock/incense shop this week:]

1. sweep
2. dust
3. clean the glass cases
4. I have dome a little with that pile of paperwork, but I still have a ways to go. 
5. work on my webpage, finish adding the sticks for sale and possible start adding other things too.

[ for Cosmic Castle this week:]

1. We are closed on Monday's, and open regular hours the rest of the week
2. Tonight (Monday) we will make the Chicken N Noodles (from scratch to serve Tuesday evening)
3. Tuesday I count inventory
4. Thursday is truck day
5. Friday is Hot Beef night.
6. I need to make homemade chocolate chip cookies too.

[at home this week:]

1. work on laundry, I made the dryer a lot safer to use, so we will be using that.  It will help laundry get done a lot faster.
2. try to do a little each night to keep place clean
3. keep dishes washed
4. start thinking about Christmas?

In the craft basket.... I have been thinking a little harder about homemade Christmas gifts since i have like 2 weeks!  I have a couple homemade crochet dishcloths/pot holders that I could give, but I was also thinking about making some homemade soap, homemade baked goods, and maybe sew an apron for someone special.  I only feel obligated to give 4 maybe 5 gifts this year other than to my hubby and boys.  At this point my gifts to my immediate family will be home cooked food and goodies unless I can come up with something more.

Looking forward to this week....  I AM looking forward to tonight!  Maybe the snow we are supposed to get.  I like snow, it's pretty, but I don't like having to be out in it or hubby having to work out in it.

Looking around the house....
The kitchen needs a little clean up.  We ate lunch at home yesterday and I just have a few dishes to wash up before the cooking begins tonight.  We obviously have a mouse.  One of our cats has been hunting here lately.  She has caught 2, one we took away from her because she was playing with it, the other was in the middle of the night and she played with it too,  *sigh*  I keep telling her to kill not play.  LOL!

From the camera.......

our 2nd snow of the winter.  It fell between about 5am and 9am yesterday

Our 1st snow was a couple days ago, it was about the same amount, but was gone by the time we got the 2nd one.  What we get today will be on top of what you see in the picture.

The Menu this week.....
We are going to try and eat at home a little more on our "off days", and we always have leftover castle foods to eat.
Sunday -- Spaghetti
Monday -- Not sure yet
Tuesday -- Chicken noodle dinner at castle
Wednesday -- castle leftovers
Thursday -- castle leftovers
Friday -- hot beef at the castle
Saturday -- castle leftovers

My Christmas Eve Menu.....
Wanting to for sure make some Atomic Buffalo Turds  (that's what they are really called!)
Possibly Dorito Crusted Chicken Strips
Possibly some jalapeno poppers
and there will be more depending on how much time I have/want to spend cooking

On my prayer list.....

• My grandpa (he's 94 years old)
• My sister
• Business decisions
• Tuesday night to be successful
• Friday night to be successful

  This post linked to Happy Homemaker Monday over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

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Our First Snow of 2012/2013

We didn't get much. The streets were covered and parts of the sidewalks.

(I love this....Don't know how google did it, but it was in my album this way along with the original picture)

Most of the sidewalks were mostly clear though.

There was a little drift in front of the shop when I got there this morning.

 I pushed snow away from the back door and front door.

We maybe got 2 inches, but I'm thinking it was less than that overall.

So since our first snow was on the 6th.....is that 6 snows,  6 total inches this winter, 6 weeks of winter, or 6 weeks with snow on the ground?  Those are all old wives tales I've heard about the first day snow falls for the winter.

Why I'm Glad We Have Cats

The picture is kind of weird, but if you can't tell what that is, it's a mouse.  No it's not albino, it is just how my camera took the picture.  Our cat Fuzzy caught this one, then decided to play with it.  Hubby caught it in a cup and took it outside, away from the house and let it go.

this post linked with 5 Minutes for Mom Wordless Wednesday

Safer Drying

When we moved into this place the dryer was vented, with this water lint catcher thing, into the water heater closet. We have a gas water heater. :-(

I opted not to use the dryer and asked hubby to get me a big wooden drying rack.  I've been using it for almost 3 years.

Our oldest son has a 2nd job and has to wash his uniform. He can't wait 24 hours or so for it to dry.  So, I pulled the hose out and it is just long enough for the lint catcher thing to sit on top of the dryer.

Its messy but we can dry clothes faster and it helps heat the place a little.  Come this summer we wont be using the dryer. :-)

Happy Homemaker Monday ~~ 12/2/13

You know, even though I'm not a SAHM I'm still a homemaker.  I have a family to take care of and a home that should be kept it neat and clean.  I do also have the responsibility of 2 businesses to keep neat and clean, and a multitude of customers to care for as well.  Wow!  So....I've decided Happy Homemaker Monday,is all about my home AND my businesses.  They are where I spend my time, with my family none the less, 24 hours a day.

The weather.....   61, cloudy and foggy, today and tomorrow then the bottom drops out of the thermometer and a light wintry mix along with freezing drizzle and snow is promised for the end of the week.  It's already been bumped up a week (originally it was forecast for NEXT week), so I wonder it we will make it to Wednesday before it comes.

Right now I am.... I'm drinking some homemade cappuccino.  I'm hoping hubby doesn't have a hard time generating the key for the 2000 blazer he is out at.  I am thinking I WILL actually get to that paperwork today that I need to get taken care of before the end of the year.  I am thinking I want to add more items to my web store and maybe do some site remodeling. I'm mentally going over my shopping list and writing it down on paper this week, tonight is shopping night.  I'm thinking I should plan something for the crockpot for Sunday dinner.  There is no place decent to eat out around here, and we're tired of our own food.  LOL!

On my Kindle.... I finished  reading Angels Watching Over Me (Shenandoah Sisters Book #1) , and also read Whisper My Secret and Mail Order Husband (Truly Yours Digital Editions) (I know that looks like a LOT, but we had some slow days and and Thanksgiving day off so I've had extra time to read)  I currently am reading Ruth's Dilemma (The Zook Sisters of Lancaster County) .

On the Radio.... I WANT CHRISTMAS MUSIC!  I need to get my TSO cd's out.  I think we are listening to some christian radio station via the internet.

TV on my Computer..... Probably not much until January when ABC's Switched at Birth comes back on. I have watched a few Restaurant Impossible shows lately on TV.

What I found while surfing the net.... Well I didn't find this surfing the web, but it was on my facebook timeline this week:
"Honey & Cinnamon to Cure Colds

A teaspoon of honey (raw) and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon will beat a cold within a day or two. Take twice daily for three days for most effectiveness. Both honey and cinnamon are antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. They will also aid in dealing with internal infections, blood sugar problems, blood pressure disorders and can even be a great pain reliever for acute pain such as arthritis!"

On my to do list this week.... [at the lock/incense shop this week:]

1. sweep
2. clean the glass cases
3. I HAVE to do something about the paperwork!!!!!!!

[ for Cosmic Castle this week:]

1. We are closed on Monday's, and open regular hours the rest of the week
2. Tonight (Monday) we will make the Chicken N Noodles (from scratch to serve Tuesday evening)
3. Tuesday I count inventory
4. Thursday is truck day
5. Thursday is the Christmas Parade. 
6. We have a birthday party this week.....It's scheduled for Thursday night....during the Christmas parade. 

[at home this week:]

1. work on laundry, I made the dryer a lot safer to use, so we will be using that.  It will help laundry get done a lot faster.
2. try to do a little each night to keep place clean
3. keep dishes washed
4. start thinking about Christmas?

In the craft basket.... I still haven't been doing anything, but my husband is still working on a foam cannon.  He's painting it now.

Looking forward to this week....  I AM looking forward to tonight!  Not Thursday...I don't like large crowds of people.

Looking around the house....
It's looking better!  I got the crazy idea to clean last night.  The clean laundry is all put away (not piled on a chair on in baskets).  I have 1 load on the drying rack and a load to either put there or in the dryer.  Then I have a few more loads that have been sitting around waiting for time to wash/dry.

From the camera.......

I HATE these things.  More about this later this week.


On my prayer list.....

• My grandpa (he's 94 years old)
• My sister
• Business decisions
• Tuesday night to be successful
• Thursday night not to annoy me

  This post linked to Happy Homemaker Monday over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

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