Hello Lent.

Lent is traditionally observed and taken in part by Catholics.
I grew up in a big old Catholic family. I, however, am not. My mom never was either, its only my dads side. I'm like the one cracked egg in a carton full of perfect ones. Whenever religion is brought up at family dinner I just kind of bow my head and concentrate real hard on my food.

This Sunday all the kids are talking about what they've given up for lent - Their Nintendo DS's, etc. one of the smartass little ones said he has decided to "give up giving something up" I coulda smacked him.

My cousin asked me what I decided to give up in which I replied "Uh, Not Catholic. Remember" He then decides to announce it to the world. Annoying. They all know, but no one likes to be reminded of it. Not that most of them attend Mass ever anyways.

I got to thinking these past few days though, maybe I will give something up. Why not? I like a challenge. So I have decided to give up Coke for Lent. I have been trying really hard to cut back on this anyways. So there you have it, I am giving up Coke for Lent, wish me luck.

Are You Giving Anything Up?

Yearly Goals Checkin #2.

1. Walk 2.75 miles a week.

This has just not happened yet! I find it incredibly difficult to find the time to do, and when I find time it either rainy, or cold. So I have decided to change the perameters on this one. This challenge was all about fitness and health, so instead of walking I am changing it to exercise. From now on I will Exercise 3 times a week. Hopefully this challenge works a little better.

 

2. Save $1,000 to donate to a charity of my choice.

So far we have $80 saved up which will go to the charity of my choosing sometime this week. I am so proud of the fact that we managed this.

 

3. Put $2,000 into an emergency fund!

Total : $0. BUT next month I plan on putting $200 in. It just seemed silly to save for anything other than our move right now. Silly and impracticle.

 

4. $5.00 a week into a new car fund.

Check! This month we actually put $10 a week in to bump it up a little. So far I am very happy with this challenge and the way that its going. I wish I had started it sooner.

 

5. Start an IRA.

Not quite. But I start my new job in March, so hopefully after that I will be able to open up a retirement account.  

 

6. Finish writing my book.

I didn't open it once this month. Shame. On. Me.

 

7. Volunteer once a month in my community.

Okay here's what happened - we planned on volunteering at this one place. Then the woman got sick. Then Auston got sick. Then we were two months away from our move and it all seemed impossible to find time. So this month we failed. But we'll go twice next month to make it up!

8. Read atleast one book a month.

Done! I read The Help. which was awesome, and I suggest everyone reads it.

9. Use coupons for every BIG grocery trip.

I have been using them more! We went out to eat and saved $10 with a coupon! I'm just having the hardest time finding them!

 

10. Reduce eating out to no more than twice a week!

Lets not talk about this. Safe to say this month - that didn't happen.

 

11. Call my family atleast once a week.

I have been doing really well with this one.

 

12. Make and give away atleast 3 blankets.

I am halfway done with my crocheted one! And I just recieved a sewing machine from my Aunt, so I  should start sewing some soon!

My Dearest February, Thou art always the Worst.

Financially Speaking that is.

I don't know what it is about this month, I start off strong, still reeling from bringing in the New Year with a bang. Then two or three weeks go by, valentines day, my Birthday and all of a sudden I've lost track of my spending and my budget for the month is shot to hell.

Maybe you've noticed my lack of spending? Well thats the reason.

Today Marks the first day of our last week as Floridians. These next few days are going to be hecktic and I don't know if I will have time to post. So I figure this is as good a time as any to review my monthly goals.

-Double up on my Car fund : Put $10.00 each week instead of $5.00This thought donned on me the other day, I figure, why not? So instead of putting $20.00 aside, I'll be putting $40.00 aside this will bring my total to $80.00! Woo - High Roller. Its getting there - a little at a time.
We were laggin here in the middle (all of that mindless spending) but assuming all goes well this week we nailed this one! :] And I am that much closer to a new Car!
-Put $80.00 in my Charity Fund
I guess this is my magic number this month! So far I haven't put anything in my charity fund and that's a little upsetting. Now $50 seemed like to little, while $100 seemed like A LOT so I'm sticking to $80 this month.
Almost there! Once I work on tuesday I will be there and we will be writing our check. I am so happy we managed this!
-Comlete 1/2 of my first blanket.
I am slacking! I swear to you I will never crochet another blanket again. it takes WAY TO LONG!
Probably my best accomplishment! I was on a roll! then I slowed down, but I am deffinately about halfway there. I can not wait to see this puppy finished.

Whats next you ask?
March Goals:

-Do some exercise 3 times a week.
My original goal for the year was to walk 3 miles a week. But finding the time to walk was difficult. So I'm changing it to exercise. Any kind. 3 times a week.

-Attempt to put $200 in my emergency Fund.
I haven't put anything in here yet, but if I'm going to get to $2,000 by January, I need to start being more aggresive with it.

-Show Auston the awesomeness that is New Hampshire.
I grew up here. He is moving from Florida for the first time in his life. I just want him to understand the beauty and coolness of where we are going to.

-Donate $90 to a charity of my choosing.
A little more than last month, but I can't skip out on a month, or else meeting my goal for the year will be near impossible.

-Sew 3 baby bibs.
I want to start sweing and selling different items to help pay for our adoption fee's in the upcoming years. Hopefully I will be gitting a machine shortly.

-Write another Chapter in my book.
I have been neglecting my story :( And it is off to such a great start. So this month I want to sit down, and really focus on it.

There you have it!
Agressive, but imprtant to me! <3

Little car and I visited the Jiffy Lube :]

So my little 1994 Honda Civic is once again responsible for transporting Loveyy and I from one home to the next.
Almost two years ago I was packing her up and driving her 1,500 miles down here. I never thought she'd have to make the trip twice.
With the big move just 11 days away we decided to bring her to the car doctor for a check-up.
They filled up all of her fluids, and changes the oil. They also convinced me to flush the radiator. I haven't done this since I got her and I have put a good 100,000 miles on her since momma gave her to me after graduation in 2010.
All of this should have cost me around $130, which was steep but if it needed to be done, then it needed to be done.  However, with coupons, and discounts it only came to $70! I'd say I got a good deal! Proud? I am. We also bought some fuel injector and filler her up so hopefully her gas mileage will improve a little.
I LOVE when we take her in and get her tuned up, she always drives so much better afterwards.

Just 11 more days!!
I can not wait.

Yes, I am still here.

Sorry! I've been pretty scarce these past few days! I was working, and now Auston is out of town, so I've been having some time to myslef lately.
I thought about working tonight, then decided I really needed a Me day.

I promise to be back tonight with something financially relevant!!

Nineteen to go!

In exactly nineteen days I will be packing up the last little bits of my belongings loading my two cats and my dog and Loveyy into my itty bitty 1994 Honda Civic, while my dad gets into the 16 foot budget truck I have reserved and we will all be pulling out of Austons moms drive and heading for our new home in the mountains.

This has all happened rather quickly. When I started planning this trip 6 or 7 months ago it seemed like it was going to take forever! Even as soon as 2 months ago I still could hardly see the end of all the moving, and packing and planning and stress. Now its basically here at my doorstep and I am still a little shocked by how quickly these past 6 months have gone by.

I am amazed by my ability to pull something as large as moving 1,500 miles awway in just a few short months. Auston has never made a transition like this. I however, am all to familiar with starting fresh. I have moved to many times to count! The summer before I started high school I moved from New Hampshire to California. Talk about scary. Maybe the fact that I'm callous to moving now is why I have such trouble trying to talk to him and comfort him. He is after all leaving everything and everyone he has ever known behind, and I am headed towards my mommy. I know its tough.

Here are a few pieces of advice when planning a move such as this:

• Give yourself Ample amounts of time! Like I just said, these past six months have FLOWN by, and honestly I'd be okay with staying and saving for another month.
• Let those who will be most affected know EARLY on. That way everyone has a chance to say their piece and get used to the idea of not having you around. It will still hurt when the time comes, but atleast everyone feels as though they have put their best foot forward and said what they needed to say.  - When Auston's family found out, I thought they would never get over how upset they were. but they did. It just took some time. And yes It is still going to suck, but atleast they were able to give us their input.
• Check, then check again, then RE-CHECK your budget. Make sure every last thing is included. Don't forget food for your trip, or the fact that your car will need a tune up if you're driving. Are animals coming? You might want to factor in fees at hotels for having animals with you. Gas is a big one - for my car its going to cost around $200, but the truck will be around $600, thats $800 in gas alone!
• Downsize. Do you need everything in your house? We got rid of tons and tons of stuff and still require a 16 footer to move it all. The less you move the smaller the truck, the less in gas. Its really a chain reaction. So look at your things and think "is this really worth paying to ship?"
• Ask for help! I don't know how this trip would have been possible without the help we have recieved from friends and family. Some helped us move, some are storing tings for us while we are in a transitioning phase, some are caring for the animlas, and some are housing us during the transition. Help is key! Trust us.

Thats all the advice I have for now. After the big day I'll probably do a big breakdown of everything involved.

Not a Valentines Post.

Maybe I will tell you all about that later.

Today's post is about my birthday!

In exactly one week I will be twenty years old!
Wow, crazy. I am so excited.

Lately I have been thinking about things that I may like for my birthday, however, nothing really comes to mind. In all honesty I have most anything I would want or need. So with the exception of a few things from family members I was stuck, I didn't know what to tell people when they asked me. It's not like I'm a child anymore who wants to have more barbies, and more toys.

A thought donned on me a little while ago though. To be honest I thought it was a spectacular idea. Here is what I truly want. And if you dear readers want to participate, I would be forever greatful.

As most of you know, Auston and I plan to adopt. In roughly a year from now we will begin the process. I am asking the everyone I know donates just $5.00 towards our goal.
This adoption means so much to the two of us, I can hardly explain it in words. My mother grew up in foster care, so I grew up knowing about the dark side of being in the system. If I can just help one child find a loving home, I feel like I will have done something truly spectacular with my life.
Shortly I should be getting a sewing machine, and then I will be coming up with some crafty ideas, I plan to try and sell to raise more towards our goal. I won't go to in depth today because I have already written a rather lengthy post on this subject.

And if you could share this post with your readers, or your friends, I would be so thankful.

Happy Valentines Day

Sorry if this post seem Choppy today.

Hidden Fee's really upset me.

Today is my Valentines Day!
It is also the day I had to take my cat to the vet.

The new Vet we tried today has left me a little miffed. here's my story:
(And yes, it is totally financially relevant)

Ellie has been loosing a lot of hair recently, so we took her in to get looked at. Everyone in the office was so friendly. I was excited to try this new place. Then we went into one of the back exam rooms. The Dr. did some poking and prodding and told us she thinks that it might be Staph. So She was given a steroid shot. The vet was also going to give her a shot of antibiotics, but I just didn't have the money for it. Here's the part where I started to get upset. After telling her that I couldn't afford it she lets me know of a pharmacy who will fill the antibiotic prescription for FREE. Free? So she was just going to let me pay th $45 and not let me know of the alternative?
Every doctor I have ever seen, be it pet or human, has always let me know of a low cost solution if there was one. I have saved a couple hundred dollars in prescriptions this way. So needless to say I was a bit irratated by that. She informed me that since Ellie was past due on her rabies shot she was going to give her one of those as well, not offering to explain any price to me. At the end of the visit I looked at the bill that the super sweer receptionist gave to me and there were things on there that I had thought were just normal in the initial office visit. You know what I'm talking about, right? All that poking and prodding they do when they are first in the room. I was already paying $35 just to have the doctor look at her, now I had to pay $14 for a "special" poke that she did? Something that had nothing to do with ehr condition.
I was furious. I paid and left, wrote a nice review on google, and will not be returning.
I tell you, if I didn't love that cat so darn much...

Now the rest of my day has to be better, because Loveyy and I are going on our Valentines Day Date.

Look at our new toy!

This came in the mail for us yesterday . . .

Isn't it awesome?
You know the best part? It was free!
Auston donates blood frequently at the Blood Alliance, and his donations gave him enough points to claim this bad boy for his own.

I am so stoked. It records up to 1 hour, and the usb connector is built in, so you dont have to go searching for cords! It also shoots really nice quality.

If I can figure out how, later I will post a video!

And the winner is ME!

A couple of days ago I posted about bidding on a laptop power cord on E bay.
The starting bid was $.99, and no one else put anything in. So including shipping in handeling, I bought the cord for $7.98. Which ultimately saves me about $50. 

I am so excited about this. Loveyy really needs a new cord because he likes to write, and all of his information is on there.

So. I win, I win, I win! Yay!

Also, today I went to a friends baby shower. We all had a blast. I think she was so genuinley appreciative too, which is always nice. I won one of the games there, so I came home with some body was, and a tea candle set.

I bought  her a pack of #3 diapers, as well as some rubber ducks, a onesie, and this really neat contraption!

Its a rinse cup. The little half circle in the front is a rubber piece, when you are rinsing your childs hair you put that part against their forheads, and it forms a seal, so that water can't get in their eyes!
I know it seems silly, but I thought it would be neat. So I bought the pink one and stuffed it with littler gifts for her.

I get so excited when I go baby shopping, I can't help it, I want to buy everything for them. I can't wait to have one of my own! Just a couple more years.