My wife is hosting a “Ladies Night In” this weekend at our home.  There will be wine, there’s a person coming in to lead the group in a painting activity, and there will be food catered.  Ok, so caterer is me, but it sounds good doesn’t it?  I get to fire up the smoker and make brisket sliders.  Vonnie asked me yesterday if we wanted to simplify things and just buy pre-made brisket from Costco. “We will not serve imitation brisket,” was my response. In addition to the fact that using my smoker is one of my favorite activities, pre-made […] Read more »

It’s November, and I’m excited!  Why am I excited? I’m so glad you asked. Later this month is my most favorite of all holidays:  Thanksgiving!  I love Thanksgiving, and everything it represents.  I’m a HUGE advocate of being thankful for what I have.  I spend a moment each night recounting what I have to be thankful for that day, but spending an entire Holiday being thankful?  Glorious. The only problem is, Thanksgiving can be expensive.  Families get together, huge meals are prepared and eaten and the wallet gets a workout.  The time to start setting some funds aside is NOW.  […] Read more »

Happy Halloween weekend, EOD Nation! There will be plenty of ghouls, ghosts and goblins out and about this weekend.  Scary stuff, right?  You know what’s not scary? My finances. Yeah, yeah, yeah…I know, stop groaning.  But seriously, on a holiday that’s meant to be full of scary costumes, your finances are nothing to be afraid of.  Turn on the lights, blow the dust off your spending tracking spreadsheet and get to work.  I’m sure there’s plenty of us that could stand to give our budget a thorough scrubbing.  Am I right? I think it’s worth a fist pump…. Posts That […] Read more »

Last night Vonnie got her hair colored, and since it was all styled we felt like checking out a new restaurant that recently opened in the area.  As you well know, I’m not a huge fan of restaurants, but they did have  chimichurri beef skewers on their appetizer menu.  Since this was something I hadn’t ever had, it fit the bill (no pun intended) of a justified meal out.  That and my wife looked smokin’ HOT.   Even more than usual. On the way home, she asked me how we could possibly be OK with our entertainment spending.  She had just […] Read more »

After a few weeks of above average temperatures, fall definitely hit Minnesota this week.  It’s still been pleasant with highs in the 50’s and 60s but with talk of freezing temperatures during the nighttime, and leaves falling from the trees, the colder weather is here to stay.  Which means it’s time to close down my sprinkler system for the season. For years I borrowed an air compressor from one of several friends or neighbors that own one.  Last year was the first year I actually paid someone to come and do it for me, and I did it again this […] Read more »

I received an email last night from my daughter’s middle school orchestra teacher reminding us the instrument rental contract and fee was due today.  This was news to us since we had received zero previous correspondence regarding the contract and fee.  We knew it was coming, but this year has been different from other years.  Every other year the teacher has been at schedule pick up day at the end of Summer.  We pay our fee then along with all the other beginning of the school year fees.  Except this year, she wasn’t there.  There was a sign that indicated […] Read more »

My favorite weekend of Fall is here!  It’s Twin Cities Marathon (TCM) weekend!  I’m not running the marathon this year….but I am running.  A. Lot.  I have a 10K and 5K tomorrow (Saturday) and a 10 mile on Sunday.  I’m hoping to fist pump across the finish line just as I did when completed the marathon last year (it’s the picture I use for my Friday posts)!!!! After this weekend, I’m looking forward to things slowing down for awhile. The big calendar on the fridge shows no plans for the remaining weekends of the month.    I’m hoping to do […] Read more »