4 Days of Zero Spend!

Woohoo! Not a whole lot of exciting stuff going on around here but hey, I've not spent any money for FOUR DAYS! That's an excellent thing, don't you agree?

I finally got around to doing the freezer inventories, 2 of the 3. Wow, I have a LOT of food. Really should only need to be picking up fresh produce and maybe milk (although I currently have 2 1/2 gallons and 1 gallon of almond milk at the moment).  I do need to replenish the lettuce and spinach but otherwise, good to go.

In other news, a trip to Indiana is coming soon as apparently, my dad is ready to be released at the end of this month. Rather bad timing in that it's the week before Easter and do you really think tickets will be somewhat affordable? I need to fly up there and get him (along with all his medication and whatever else I can think of quickly) and then turn around and fly back to Florida with him in tow. This will be interesting.

Curious what this will do to the budget temporarily. I mean, he has 'some' money left over every month since I turned the car back to the bank. He does have bills that need to be paid, I am working my way through them, trying to prioritize what I have here and there and deciding what NEEDS to be paid, and what can be possibly negotiated. Yes, bad debts. That is what I'm talking about. And I am so not ready for the bill collectors to figure out he's living HERE and calling our house for him. Uggg.

He will stay with us for a bit, a few weeks, possibly longer, til I can find him someplace to live. I just don't know why, but Mark and I are not comfortable with him being here by himself 10 to 12 hours a day. I've got tile everywhere, steps here and there, and well, it's just a big house. And if he's coming and going on his walks, how do I make sure he locks up when he leaves (sorry, he's not used to arbitrary break ins like we are down here, daytime break ins are 75% more likely than night time ... and the list goes on and on.  I feel very bad in that we DO have the room for him, I've got a guest room, guest bath and a guest kitchen, plus the Florida room located on the other side of the house. We could go for days without seeing each other, technically. But yet, come Friday and Saturdays, when we entertain, the music, the activity at the bar area, the laughing etc., could be 'disturbing' to him. Yes, I'm worried about inconveniencing HIM. What the heck??

Anyways. We will have to wait and see how this works out ... but in the meantime, Zero Spend Days? Bring them on!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Technically, I've had ONE Zero Spend Day, and that was Saturday ... only because I felt like crap. No, it was NOT because I had the Espresso Martini's on Friday (and an impromptu Fry Fest with friends) but because the sinus infection reared it's ugly head again.

Sunday, I had to take the Boy to his friend to get the ride back to Orlando. Stopped at the bank and withdrew $100. Gave him $60 for his bus pass and $30 to his friends mom for gas. That left me with $25 in my wallet for the week coming up. Time for me to pull out the debit card and American Express and stash them in the drawer again.

I will be staying OUT OF THE STORES this week for the most part. Mark and the Boy did a Costco run for me on Friday (sweet, I suppose, as much as I wanted to go) and stocked up on the every day things I was needing (eggs, milk, salad stuff, cheese, etc.) ... so not a whole lot of things I can think of that I need at the moment!

I need to hit the American Express bill today with $600. That will pretty much wipe out my bank account for the next 4 days until the 15th where I get my 2 week check. Then that will pay the balance of the car insurance, cell phone bill, water, cable and a few dollars towards credit cards. Uggg.

I hate feeling like I'm upside down. It seems that I go from great to shit and back to great again.  I know that this last month with the stuff going on with my dad and my brother's crap, well, I knew it would be tight. Oh well...live and learn (hopefully!)

I am also hitting the gym tonight as I slacked off last week between being sick and the Boy being home. When I workout, I find I spend LESS MONEY. Is there some kind of psychological connection there OR is it just because who wants to stop at the store when they are all hot and sweaty? I know how I feel!

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Happy Leap Year ...

It was a Zero Spend Day, thankfully!  Of course, that would be probably because I was running late this morning to work and then went straight from work to the gym ... and who wants to shop after being all hot and sweaty, right? I should take that approach much more often!

I stopped by Target last night (no working out, obviously) and picked up a pair of boots for $11.98. Yes. Cheap. Shoes. Yippee! Mind you, it's been 80 plus degrees and humid. But I will wear these boots ... trust me ... I've been on a boot wanting kick this past season and now I have 3 pairs. I think that is MORE than enough so no more ...

I will be setting up the cell phone, credit cards, american express and electric bill for payment by Friday. I just realized I didn't get the $400 today so need to make sure I get that deposited too ... I will need to hit AE hard this month :-( Ugg.

I'm thinking tomorrow should be a Zero Spend Day also and hopefully Friday too. However, Mark will be on me to get the truck washed and I can get it done for about $15 or so. And it will look like new (the body shop where we had them check something out and they had it for 10 days while I was out of town, they had it parked inside so it's got all that body shop dust) ... we will see. I know, I can wash it myself, but honestly, I just don't want to dedicate 2 hours to cleaning it ... lazy? Yes, maybe, I am, but I have plenty of other things to do with my 2 hours.

Wednesday and Thursday, February 8 and 9, 2012

Ahhh...2 more Zero Spend Days ... makes me a happy camper. I've been good in going straight to work out after I leave the office, and well, heck, who wants to browse a store all sweaty? Not me!

Mark has had jury duty all week and will most likely be in for the next week too on a trail. Interesting but of course, can't say a whole lot about it. They asked some pretty detail questions about what I do and who my attorneys are, but he's not said much to me. Did ask me what a Wild Deed was last night so that definitely perked my ears ... that's a SERIOUS title defect that NO ONE wants to tackle to cure ... so I'm starting to imagine all kinds of things!

I still have $11 in my purse (I hope, I've not seen it!) and I dont' think I need anything for the weekend, except, maybe a loaf of bread ... but not sure who will eat it. Oh, and maybe cat food. He's getting low (no litter, yeah!!)

I leave for Indiana on the 15th, and know that my Zero Spending will go out the window but am going to be ultra conservative while there. My father is being released from the hospital on Friday and he is (apparently) going to stay with my brother and his wife for a few weeks. Interesting, very very interesting. My brother was sending me texts at 9pm Thursday night but I didn't see them til I went to bed at 11, so need to follow up with him this morning.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Another Zero Spend Day ... excellent.

No issues to be had: made scrambled eggs for breakfast to take to work, took along leftover stuffed shells for lunch, worked out at the 5:30 class, came home, had a couple (yeah, 2) margaritas and went to bed.

Easy peasy. (and watched the freaky movie on ABC, The River).

Saturday and Sunday, February 4th and 5th, 2012

Went and worked out Saturday at 9am. My girlfriend was going to meet me but backed out at the last minute as she's been fighting a sinus issue for weeks now. We had planned to go get coffee and bagels at this little place afterwards, and I'm glad it didn't work that way. Not excited about a $5 cup of coffee, that's all. The day ended being a Zero Spend Day again ... so I'm pretty happy about that.

We have a SmartTV ... Mark held out til the old one died and then we shopped for ever to get this one. So basically, the TV has wifi connection ... and I just finally got around to setting up the Pandora account on the TV this morning. So all day long been listening to Kid Rock Radio while cleaning house. I think I may have messed it up though as I was adding other artist to the play list and now it's giving me some pretty funky music. Black Eyed Peas, no problem, Rhianna? No thanks. And then it goes in to some pretty hokey country stuff. Good grief! Gonna have to delete the station and restart.

Then instead of going out for dinner, I did a mock Olive Garden night ... Garlic Tuscan Chicken, salad with OG dressing and bread sticks ... pretty damn proud of myself. Had to share the kitchen with Mark as he was making his stuffed shells to go with the pizzola meatballs for the game Sunday.

Sunday turned into a Zero Spend Day too (woohoo!) as I put off going to get the 'weed and feed' for the cat (flea medicine, it's a joke in the house) ... will have to get it this week on my way to work one morning (utilizing that save an extra trip mentality) We wanted to have a Super Bowl Party but opted not to as a) it will be a late night, b) I didn't want to go buy a bunch of stuff and ruin the $20 a week plan for February (cheap? perhaps, but still) and c) neither team is a team we really care much for so it would be hard to root and cheer. We will watch in the background (me for the commercials, Mark for the chat factor this week) ... but I'll probably be messing on the computer and Mark will be doing something else too ...

So there we are, a new week and I have $27 to shop with this week. Sweet. Glad I didn't go to Aldis Sunday like I wanted to ... not a necessity although I will have to stop and get spinach and milk and really, bagels or bread for the Girl on Monday (and the weed and feed, but that's not in the budget anywhere, should be).

Tuesday and Wednesday, January 31st and February 1st, 2012

Tuesday - Zero Spend Day ... DAY SEVEN! That was a good feeling last night to be in for the night and be able to say that!

Wednesday was ALSO a Zero Spend Day, EIGHT DAYS!!

The Fresh Market opened Wednesday in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Like, I will drive by it every morning IF I don't take the scenic route. Um, like I need to take the scenic route :) I really want to go but I'm holding out only because I know I'll BUY something. Yikes.

I did a DIY lip wax earlier this week. If you want to know (and SEE the results, click over to the other blog). That's pretty impressive that it works AND that it didn't hurt all that bad, not to mention, easy to do. Yes. I saved myself $10. Woohoo. Next up are the eye brows, not so sure how THAT will go.

Mark took me out for dinner Wednesday to the japanese buffet. He paid. So no money out of MY pocket. Hence, it was still a zero spend day. I've had this same $20 in my walled for 9 days now. Wow. It feels good and there isn't anything that I need. I really wanted to get some sparkling water that was on sale but the sale is over, and I'm not dying yet, so it goes to show, missing good deals are not the end of the world.

Need to move the remaining funds from checking to savings (about $500) and start setting up bill pay for those bills that are coming in. After a bleak January, I'm aiming HIGH for February. Need to also get the modified budget up for review.

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Another Zero Spend Day! Sweet! That makes 6 days in a row. I know that the days are numbered: I need to hit the grocery store ... well, no really a necessity, but there's a few things I'd like to get while on sale and coupons ... and stay within that $20 range I gave myself per week for the month of February.

Went and worked out too. That was good. Finally got motivated and managed to keep up. I seriously think its because I guzzled lots and lots of water from 3pm to 5pm ... I'm bad about that and now that's why I'm not dripping in sweat when done like I should be. AND I found what exercise it is that makes me woozy ... the squeezing of shoulder blades, I feel a crunchy and burning feeling leaving it buzzy feeling and then my head goes WOOSH. So ... something up there. Not read to follow drs recommendation and see neurologist for pinched nerve just yet but will see if there isn't some way I can get it loosened up on my own first.

Also stopped at Kmart to return the 2 items I purchased a few weeks back. $17 and change back and that went straight in my No Touch Savings envelope. Have $50 plus in there right now. Changed out the 5's and singles for the $20 in my grocery envelopes as I'd rather NOT have a bunch of singles to deposit (those 1 by 1 transactions take forever!)

So, 6 days of Zero Spend. I feel good!

Saturday and Sunday, January 28th & 29th, 2012

The weekend is coming to an end and I'm so thankful to be able to say: Zero Spend for both days! That makes 5, yes FIVE days in a row. Excellent.

Of course, Mark took me out to dinner last night after our fast day out on the water. And he went to the store today to get some Cubano bread to go with the huge pot of red sauce he made (I'm afraid to look at the pantry and see how much of my tomato sauce he used, 8 28 oz cans??).  As he is not completely on the Year of Zero, he's entitled, I suppose, to cave in and run and get what he feels is necessary once in awhile :-)

I don't think I need to hit the store tomorrow or Tuesday at this point. I do want to go by Wednesday evening though to get the LaCroix sparkling water that on sale and I also have a $1 off 12 pk coupon. I should be able to get 2 12 packs for $2.50 with the sale and coupon ... this could help spread the wine over the month ... I've given myself $20 for each week in February for groceries. Lets see how it goes.

My menu plan is already messed up in that I wanted to make chicken kiev for dinner (and document for the other blog) but Mark took over the kitchen doing the sauce, so maybe I can prep it in the morning for dinner tomorrow ... we shall see.

Friday, January 26th, 2012

It's Friday ... I love Friday's nowadays. Used to be sort of my grocery shopping day, but not any more! I think I prefer that! Besides, I don't believe I could possibly need anything after the Costco trip this week.

Mark hit the gym after work. I came home and cleaned, menu planned, and put together a little mishmash of appetizers for dinner. And had a few beers.
It's another Zero Spend Day. I'd really like to take the truck and get it washed over at the local car wash place. But about $20 ... even though, in MY opinion, it's well worth it. The truck is D. I. R. T. Y. Dusty and wheel cleaner/black stuff splashed on the fenders. And they vacuum and wipe down the interior. PLUS the one manager loves my truck because it's so new looking (1999 Tahoe with 44000 miles, never wrecked, garage kept at night and covered parking during day, it lives a privileged life) so he makes sure it's taken care of.

So 3 days in a row with Zero Spend. There may be hope after all!

On other news, my brother called me Thursday ... dad is back at the hospital, had another stroke (#4?) and now they think it's his blood thinning that's causing problems (well  his sugar starts it and the blood thickness finishes it). He's already on thinner but now they are going to tweak it and he will be borderline danger on thinness, not a good thing for an old guy. Dad was rather cranky when I spoke to him, said they were starving him out. Well, come to find out, when he drank some water, he started choking, rather badly, so they said no food or water til further testing. He doesn't understand that but I think it's because they want to make sure there is no damage from the stroke, so will have to wait til the cat scan is done. D also told me that they got him set up on energy assistance program for electric. Good because it was something I tried to do here but couldn't because too much paperwork and copies of stuff needed that I was unable to do from here. Was just planning to do it when I got there. This shows how much lack of communication there is here. So regardless, his bill should be 12% less, but no one can tell me how much (I did the math, $120 vs $137). (I checked online later, and still see the balance and the same program he was on before so will pay the $137 Tuesday and check again next weekend to see if the program is changed). Dad was better today and they moved him out of ICU and will give PT over the weekend.

**Now I hear that it was NOT a stroke, but a TIA. However, my brother and the wife are requesting a 2nd neurologist to come in as they say it IS a stroke. But Dad sounds better than he has (speech wise) and this would be his 4th incident and I really  think his speech has improved this time around. I kind of, sort of think they want it to be a stroke so he can get further assistance :( Visiting nurse, etc.)

I've still not re-worked the budget and MUST get that done this weekend. Otherwise, February starts and I will feel just clueless yet again. Thinking of a No Spend for the kitchen since it's only 28 days and I'm pretty well stocked ... maybe $20 a week for salad and milk stuff?

**I've went ahead and took the 94 cash in my wallet that I had and divided it up into the 4 food envelopes, $20 in each. The $14 is in the No Touch savings account envelope. I'm committed.

Wednesday and Thursday, January 25-26, 2012

Thankfully, I can say both were Zero Spend Days ... wohoo! Be nice to go thru Monday saying the same, that would be FIVE days straight. Can I do it?

I was budgeting out the income through the end of the month and thought, heh, not so very bad that I can put in savings, but them I REMEMBERED that Hubby picked up half of the Gold AE bill (which I had put the funeral services on in December) so I need to cough up the balance of $700. He would have paid it all but I wanted to take care of some of it myself. We are odd like that.

Speaking of which. We have separate accounts. We each pay certain bills, and split up others (taxes, insurances, etc.). He pays the Boy's rent whereas I pay the Boy's food, classes, books and transportation fees (which I've put NONE of that on the budget). He pays the mortgage and other household stuff like that, whereas I pay the utilities and food.

Does it seem odd to most people that we do that? I have his pin number to his card and he has mine, but we are not co-signors on the accounts, nor do we have a card to each others account.  We are joint acount holders on the Gold AE and that's it.

Our tax refund last year (first time in like 10 years!) was put into my account only because we were going to VEGAS BABY and well, I was in charge of the cash on the trip. Here's hoping the same can be said this year too for my 48th birthday (we ARE going to VEGAS BABY again in early May and I'm hoping to have a tax refund to play with).

Well. Now that I deviated AWAY from the real topic, I'm back :) Zero Spend 2 days in a row. Sweet. I'm hoping I can do Friday too.

Friday, January 20th

Oh Thank God It's Friday! Seriously. What a week. It's been the week of "Beat Up Jan" ... well, so I think anyway. Slightly dramatic, I'm sure.

I have no need to go to the grocery store after work today, yahoo! I was planning on cubanos but I ended up making a nice chicken stirfry using what we had on hand, including the rice I froze the other night. Sweet.

I know it's not a big deal, and better to have done it this way but I stopped at the gym last night to cancel my membership. It's done 2/27/12 ... so I had to pay a $25 termination fee which would at least avoid this month and next month of $21.20 ... but I fought tooth and nail on it ... which was no use. Then when I was leaving the manager reminded me that Mark could still bring me along as a guest when I wanted to come ... oh yeah, I totally FORGOT about that. I guess he felt bad that he couldn't 'do' anything to help out with the early termination fee.

It's not a Zero Spend Day afterall ... needed to get gas so stopped and put $30 in, gave me almost half tank at $3.56 a gallon. Good lord it's not even creeping upward, it's shooting.

Saturday, January 21 - a Zero Spend Day (every one do happy dance!) ... we ended up making chicken thighs in mojo and black beans and rice. Just a general stay home day and night, although friends called us from bar down the street at 10pm and Mark was ready to walk over ... but I said no, too late, we've already had a few drinks, no need to go blow $100 for an hour of drunk fun :)

Sunday, January 22 - another Zero Spend Day but not a happy day. Had to take in Gman, the old kitty who we foster, to the vet and off to the big party. I can't believe how upset I was at having to do this. The $124 charge was paid by his old master, who used to be a pretty good friend. She borrowed a credit card from her father (??!!) to pay it instead of making me. I'm still very sad over this.

There is a Costco trip scheduled for this week. That makes me giddy and a little apprehensive. See, I'm taking CASH with me and leaving debit card at home. YIKES. No way around it then, huh? Although I will have the AE with me so I can get gas there ...

Thursday, January 19th

I made a quick decision this morning at 7:50am to make this face wash wipe things. Not that it was a big deal to do it (it's super easy!) but the fact is I leave the house no later than 8:30, I was still in my pajamas and had not made breakfast or lunch as of that time. For a moment, I said, "I'll just drive thru BK" ... just like the old days.

Ha. No. And I didn't. I brushed my teeth in the kitchen while I toasted the bagel and fried an egg. I washed my face (using my new face wipes) while tossing stuff into a Publix shopping bag for breakfast and lunch. Really. Egg sandwich with some shredded cheese tossed in. Cheese sticks. Fruit snacks. Bottled water. Banana. Yeah, an odd assortment but beats the hell out of a drive thru! Oh, and my large cup of coffee (in the Starbucks Tervas Tumbler with lid and straw that the Girl gave to me). That pretty much covered me for breakfast and lunch. Mark needs new dress slacks for work so we are heading to JCPenney's after work to shop for them. And then we will do our dinner out. $30 preferable, $40 would be the MAXIMUM which includes tip. I'm NOT paying, I have $2 in my wallet at the moment, and it's staying that way until Sunday.

It's been a rough week at work (although something totally came through and paid off today!), and dealing with my brother on the dad issues has not been at all soothing. I've just had to turn off my cell phone and ignore the text messages, otherwise I was going to get all worked up and I don't need to be doing that. Of course, it's financial stuff and rubs me the wrong way. I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world who has gone through this but OMG ... is there an END? Work has just been busy ... one of them weeks where I could have used an assistant ... but I can't justify hiring someone as next week could be dead quiet. So I deal with that on a day by day basis. But I do see a pattern that stress makes me want to spend money. Not intentionally, but just that 'make me feel better with something' type of attitude. Ack. Wish I could channel it to exercise!

So all in all, today is a Zero Spend Day on my side ... Mark, well, that was his call. He needed new slacks and it's hard to find NICE dress slacks for work, 2nd hand. So he needed to do it.

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

Yippee, it was another Zero Spend Day!

I came so very close to a drive through for BK though in the morning after I gave blood. Wouldn't have been so tempting except I had to wait an hour and 15 minutes at the lab place. At least it was interesting people watching and I had the Kindle with me to read ... but still. I was starving when I got out of there. Munched on a cheese stick and ate another when I got to the office.

The water bills both came in the mail. $20.47 is due on the sprinklers and $106.60 on the house ...they must have sent a meter reader by as the sprinkler is more than normal and the house is less than normal. Go figure.

Looks like I will be picking up my dad's electric bill this month. Said no to the car payment. $350 for a 5 year old car that is crapped out. I am trying to pursued everyone to just give it back (I know, not ethical or right, but he's living on $900 a month now with NO Medicare D and severe diabetes) and let Mark find him a car that we will pick up for him (2 grand should be a good deal) ... I don't know what else to do. He wants to come down here, seems to think this will make the world all right. And maybe it would for him, but I just don't know.... finally told him that we will bring him down for 3 weeks or so and see how he likes it. Who knows, he may hate it ... we may love it? It will definitely be an adjustment but it's not like it's for the next 20 years of our life, you know? And then I can at least keep an eye on him.

And just what does that last paragraph have  to do with the Year of Zero, you ask? Nothing and everything, depending on where it goes.  It's certainly NOT looking like I will have $900 left to roll to the savings account at the end of this month, that's for sure.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Here we are, the first Friday of the New Year! Woohoo. This is generally the night that Mark and I would have a few cocktails and get 'happy', at home. But I don't think we will be doing that tonight as we did it LAST night. WTH?

I am sending the dinner I got last night with both of us for lunches today. No sense in letting it go to waste (especially to the tune of $25) ... I'm still bummed it cost that much but oh well. Someone did eat the soup last night I see. And I ate some of the bread and stashed the special herbs for dipping aside. I'm going to try and decipher just how it's made and try to replicate it ...

Today is also the first day to get the $143.68 paycheck for the no-touch savings account. Can I tell you the anxiety I am having by knowing that this money will NOT go through the checking account? All of a sudden, we are down to the wire, I have less than $400 in my checking account ($370 I believe?) and the $261 electric brings it even lower ... and this money is not going in the account to give me safe, good feelings. Ack. I do need to dig out the debit card and pin number to stop and make a deposit. There is a Chase bank on every freakin corner it seems, BUT none of them are convenient for ME to get in and out of  (on wrong side or road, etc.). But I suppose that was the whole purpose?

In other news, the Tide I ordered on the 28th from Amazon (4 100oz bottles for $35) arrived on Tuesday and I completely forgot to mention ... I was very impressed seeing that Saturday, Sunday and Monday were considered no ship holidays ... excellent turn around time. I highly recommend you go to Amazon and check out the deals (or click over here, and you can use my affiliated link). If you click or belong to Subscribe and Save (they ship to you every so often, you decide how often) then they knock it down to $40 and change. I had some Swagbucks that I cashed out to Amazon gift cards (450 swagbucks gives you $5 ... if you haven't checked THAT out, you really need to ... here's the link for that) ... and used the $5 off for that too. Seriously, a good deal. I just happened to think to mention it since I put a load of darks (work clothes for the Girl) in and opened up my first bottle.

Then I wasted about an hour and half at work browsing for stuff for my dad...trying to find assistance for him as he's living on $970 a month. Not so bad, I'd say EXCEPT: $385 lot payment, $350 car payment, he's diabetic and does NOT have Medicare Part D (don't ask, we are still trying to piece all of this stuff together since my mom passed) ... and well, seriously, after factoring in food, scripts, cable, insurance (house and car), electric, cable, phone, he's doomed. It's downright pathetic.  Depressing. Stressful. And then I find out for whatever reason, the Township Trustee did NOT pay the lot rent this month, that a check from my father's account was delivered. Uggg. I may have to pick that up for the time being (seriously thinking that the budget is going to get a serious re-working at months end) ... and me & Mark both agree that he should give the car back to the finance company and Mark will buy him a cheap, safe, efficient vehicle for about $2000. That would free up probably $400 in monthly car stuff. Its' hard being HERE and then piecing together the information HE gives me and then trying to pry out the facts (100%) from my brother and SIL. Don't get me wrong, they are doing great things with him, but nothing seems to come to fruition when they say it's done. Trustee payment for example.

Put a call in to the Rhuematologist to see if I could up my dosage of anti-inflammatory or if it came in a stronger dosage, said yes and yes BUT she was still waiting on my blood work (yeah, I didn't do it yet) and would not give me a stronger pill till she gets it back. But in the meantime, I can take 2 for the next 3 to 5 days. Thank god because it feels like someone put both hands in a vice and twisted. :( I hate Lupus and degenerative joints.

I did manage to make it a Zero Spend Day at the end...thankfully (and insisted on making baked shrimp scampi according to the plan)

Day 2

Day 2 is showing as another Zero Spend Day which makes me a happy camper!

Of course, being home all day with a slight headache and light heady made if easy.

Was planing on baked shrimp scampi for dinner but believe I will toss some stuff in crockpot for soup.