Friday, January 30, 2009

Debt Diet - the rules

1. I must make a list before going to the grocery store, if it's not on the list it is not legal. Also, just so I won't be "working the system" I will only include things I need on the list. To be clear; Wine - need, gossip magazines - want. To help with this list, I will also make my menus for the week(s) to help with planning. Sometimes I do have to go to the store in the middle of the week, for milk or bread or something, on these occasions I must have a list, and still can NOT stray from that list, if all I need is milk, then that is all I can get.

2. NO DRIVE-THRUS. I can not just decide that tonight I don't want to cook and get the kids something at a fast-food restaurant. I have the menu prepared, therefore I can prepare that meal, as I should have the ingredients since I most likely got them at the store. The only time there is an exception to this is if I am very ill and can not get up from the bed to cook dinner, my plan is to stay healthy throughout the month. :)

3. We will still give to our church, this includes dinner on Wednesday nights.

4. Super Bowl Sunday, we can still order pizza. This is a tradition in our household which we will keep and Super Bowl Sunday just happens to fall on the first day of February.

5. Playgroups. On playgroup days I will have to bring a snack that can be made from what I have in the kitchen. I can NOT just go pick something up at the store on my way to playgroup.

6. Moms Night Out. I will have to go to these events with cash, and I can't spend past the cash that I have. If I have to use my check card, or credit card, then I will have to own up to it.

The main theme to my rules is plan making, and sticking to the plans. I am hoping to stop any bad habits on spending money and I am hoping that I will have a better grasp on how much money I spend unintentionally. If any of this seems unfair to any of the other debt dieters, then please speak now so that I can change my rules and post them here.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

the new me

I have been working on myself, making myself a beautiful person starting with the inside. I feel empowered doing this. I love how I feel after I run, I feel good not getting involved if it doesn't involve me, and I'm very excited to start knitting on Saturday! :) I am glad I made that list of New Years resolutions, I never would have thought how much of an impact it has on me. I have also decided that my blog has become a pretty negative place, which is no fun for me or the reader. I want to use my blog for good, make this a fun thing to read in the afternoon, or early morning, or whenever. I don't know when others do their computer time, for me it's spread out through the day - Mama needs a break!

Monday, January 26, 2009

a poem, by Queen "B"

timeless act of girl drama
regret for what is said
all girls all the time
just SHUT UP!

I thought this up while realizing that the girl drama starts early on. We can all do better by not getting involved, it will work itself out. Meanwhile, be nice to everybody!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Tagged, 2008 stuff

Random Mommy tagged me.

what did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
ran in a 10K race.

did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
i didn't make any, i don't usually, this year is just a fluke...

did anyone close to you give birth?
a lot of friends gave birth to a lot of cute babies. :)

did anyone close to you die?
No.

what countries did you visit?
None

what would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
a thinner body (I actually stole this from NLD, but I like it - sounds good to me).

what date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
november 4th, when the democrats declared victory! :)

what was your biggest achievement of the year?
hmmm, finishing the 10K race?

what was your biggest failure?
probably not reaching my goal weight.

did you suffer illness or injury?
no! i am back to healthy! :D

what was the best thing you bought?
a membership to the rec center.

whose behavior merited celebration?
my children.

whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
probably mine, when i stuck my foot in my mouth, happens too much, imo.

where did most of your money go?
buying clothes for the kids, they grow way too fast!

what did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nov. 4th when Obama won the election.

what song will always remind you of 2008?
"It's a New Day" by Will.I.Am

compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? happier
thinner or fatter? neither, the same
richer or poorer? about the same

what do you wish you’d done more of?
I'm not sure.

what do you wish you’d done less of?
still, not sure.

how did you spend christmas?
With family, all over the city.

did you fall in love in 2008?
still in love with the same husband and family.

how many one night stands?
none.

what changes did you make to “green up” your lifestyle?
light bulbs and more recycling.

what was your favorite tv show?
Survivor, sorry i just can't turn away from it.

do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
no, hate is such a strong, negative word!

what was the best book you read?
probably "The Road" - it's the last one I read, so I remember it was good, it can count as the best.

what was your greatest musical discovery?
"It's a New Day"

what did you want and get?
I can't think of any stuff I want and don't already have, it is all just stuff.

what did you want and not get?
see above.

what was your favorite film of this year?
"Four Christmases"

what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
35, and I don't remember.

what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Probably if I had made those stockings for my sister's kids.

how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
lazy and comfortable.

what kept you sane?
sanity is for sissies.

which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
hmmm, that's a thinker. I guess Brittney stands out the most, but I did pay a lot more attention to political stuff this past year.

what political issue stirred you the most?
the economy.

whom did you miss?
my daddy.

who was the best new person you met?
mommies from TBDMGE.

tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Don't value other people more than they value you, and don't make excuses for myself or anyone else. - I like that, so I'll steal it from Random Mommy.

quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I woke up this morning, feeling brand new
the dreams that I been dreaming
finally came true...
It's a new day, It's a new day..."


I tag 5 people:
Blue Momma
K-Mom
Kimtastic
Yankee Bell
Seis

Friday, January 2, 2009

New Year's Resolutions

I have to admit, I don't usually make these, just for the plain fact that if I want to change something why should I wait for the new year to do it? K-Mom got me thinking though with her post about New Years resolutions, so I had some time to reflect and make some of my own. All who are reading this can hold me accountable, I am not very good at keeping these things. ;)

1. I will think before I speak. This is very important, sometimes I will say these awful snobby type things and once they are out there, they are out there, I don't apologize for them usually, I guess because it was already said. I will often lay in bed not able to sleep because of something awful I said and don't know how to recover it.

2. Train for the Half-Marathon and Marathon. I am already registered to run/walk in the Mercedes Half-Marathon in February, and I am hoping to be full marathon ready by next year.

3. No more drama for me! This is pretty self-explanatory, but if you have something to say about someone else, I don't want any part of it. Well, unless it's something we plan to confront the individual about, like an intervention or something.

4. I will do better about putting stuff away and being more organized, making the whole family part of the process. I think all our days will be better with this in action, we can all be clean and organized, and then not be frantic right before we are to leave for school or church or something, making all of us happier.

5. I want to learn something new. This is something I would like to do every year. This year I want to learn to knit. My plan is to eventually be good enough that I can knit scarves and hats for cancer patients to give anonymously at local hospitals.