Christmas Commercials

You guys, I just saw my first one of this season.

Gag.

Surgery Update

Still recovering, from these being pulled out of both nostrils:

MIA

for a few days while I recover from surgery.

I’ll be back as soon as possible.

No Spend Challenge Days 17 & 18

I caved yesterday.

Amazon (my Waterloo).

$3.96.

I tripped over both ethernet/dsl cords for the 5,286 time.

There may have been salty sailor language.

I decided to hang on to my big toes a few more years, so I ordered two USB wireless adaptors.

And I used my $10 gift card that I’ve been SAVING for gifts.

ETA is Wednesday afternoon.

223

The number of blogs I subscribe to in Reader.

Overkill?

No Spend Challenge Days 15 and 16

To add to my post from Day 14, Eric did not buy anything on my list. However, he bought things on his own list. As far as my challenge goes those purchases do not count.

******************************************************

No posting yesterday as I was busy with kids and hot chocolate and cupcake parties. They had a blast decorating and eating, and I got to clean up. Yippee!

******************************************************

My niece woke up at 3 am this morning, 15 minutes before the alarm went off for Eric to duck hunt.

I’m on my second pot of coffee.

No Spend Challenge Day 14

 

My husband didn’t have to work today.

Instead of staying home with me and watching HGTV shows, cooking shows, hoarding shows, rearranging rooms, researching pinterest, baking or cleaning, he chose to drive to St. Cloud.

I chose to give him a list of items to buy at the store. He’s called three times with questions. Pretty sure he won’t buy anything.

***********************************************************

My son went to school this morning with neon green hair. He loved it.

***********************************************************

We are having some guests this weekend – the little girl we babysit, and my two nieces. I made cupcakes so we can have a tea party tomorrow, although we will drink hot cocoa with marshmallows.

***********************************************************

I’m increasingly frustrated that I am unable to come up with a workable desk solution for me.

No Spend Challenge Day 13

I’m still doing well with this challenge.

I had my pre-op physical today, and there was no co-pay. Either that or I’ll get a bill for $3 next month. How much does it cost to print and mail both a statement and return envelope for a $3 copay? Everything looked good, and I’ve lost three more pounds. Yes, the juice fast rocks!

After the clinic I drove to the local beauty salon and got my haircut. SHORT!! (I used a gift card, so no money out-of-pocket.) My birthday is in a few weeks and I needed something different. I love it. I hope Eric does.

It’s very different getting your hair cut in a small town rather than THE BIG CITY. Everyone, and I mean everyone, knows who you are and what you are doing. The stylist is someone I know from our church, and her sister was also in there. I do like the way she styles my hair, but if I didn’t? That would be hard. When I was done I left and thought I’d stop by my mother-in-laws office to surprise her and show her my cut.

She was waiting for me.

She’d already been notified.

Good thing I stopped by or I’d get a phone call tonight asking me about my cut!

Here’s a picture thought for you…

Octoberly yours,

Paula

No Spend Challenge Day 12

I have nothing new to report on the no-spending front.

In other news, why am I having such a difficult time designing this site? Some of the html changes are easy, a piece of cake. Others? I can’t find answers. I know all the ‘blogger help’ sites to try, but nothing. I must not be asking the right questions.

I have the pinterest button on my right sidebar. I want to add the rss/google reader follow button. I found a cute one to use (free) but it will not work. I also followed a tutorial today that should have enlarged my profile picture over on the right. You may notice it did not work. Aargh.

I’m heading into town to ransack the library, deliver papers to child support office, and have lunch with my son.

Have a great day!

No Spend Challenge Day 11

 

I’m still going strong with my self-imposed no spending policy. I’m finding that I am consciously scheduling (or not scheduling) my trips to town based on this new policy. In the past I would drive to town at the drop of a hat, and while there would always stop at the local grocery store, the thrift store, even the little-bit-of-everything store.  Essentially I was just killing time, but I’d always buy something. Always.  Now that I’m trying not to spend on anything, I’m not driving to town unless absolutely necessary, and then as late as possible.

For instance, last night I had my monthly county planning meeting. Normally I would grab the cooler, head in about an hour early, and do some grocery shopping. If I still had time, I’d also buy a magazine. Then I’d drive to the courthouse, go into the meeting and read until we started. Instead, I left the house 25 minutes before the meeting started. I got there with a few minutes to spare, just enough time to open my can of pop and get settled.

Crap, I just realized I bought a can of pop before the meeting.

No Spend Challenge Day 10

ENOUGH with the wreaths and the mantel décor.

Go Vikings!

I had to buy milk yesterday, but since my wonderful hubby told me to buy it, it doesn’t count.

No Spend Challenge Day 9

 

I’m still going strong. I’ve been designing this website and trying to streamline and simplify my online presence. Google does not make things easier.

I wonder if I dare cheer on the Vikes today.

No Spend Challenge Days 7 and 8

 

I had to spend some money yesterday.

Out of necessity.

I watch a darling little girl every Friday afternoon to Saturday evening. Her mom is a single parent, working and attending school, and her schedule at work doesn’t mesh with a typical daycare provider. My pre-teen daughter and I take turns watching her, that way we both get some pocket money.

This weekend, the kids got out of school Friday at noon. After we got home Iris (aka little girl) told me she was very hungry. Turns out she didn’t eat lunch at school because she forgot to bring it and she doesn’t have a lunch account (I can’t believe the school didn’t feed her).  All the kids had a snack, and then a few hours later they had dinner. We left so I could take my kids to the drop-off site for their non-custodial parenting time, and Iris and I headed to my sisters for the night. Everything was fine until I asked Iris to get ready for bed.

No pajamas in her bag.

No clean underclothes in her bag.

No inhaler in her bag.

No jacket in her bag.

No jeans or sweatshirt in her bag – only shorts. It’s going to be rainy and 50 degrees, people.

And she was hungry again.

I had to buy a few things for her.

Would you count this against the challenge?

No Spend Challenge Day 6

Still no spending here.

I’m afraid my posts are getting a bit dull, repetitive and boring.

I can’t help it. My son is sick again/still. Poor guy. He threw up in the classroom towards the end of the day yesterday, and thinks the other kids might be angry with him. He is still feeling yucky, so he gets to hang out with mama today. I see hours of HGTV in the future.

And Hoarding.

I’m slightly obsessed with that show, so him being home is a great excuse for me to catch up on all my dvr shows.

Back to the spending, I may have a problem this weekend. There is a big junk/vintage kind of sale in Monticello, and I’ll only be a few miles away. I reeaally want to stop in and look around.

Decisions, decisions.

No Spend Challenge Day 5

 

It’s 12:30 pm and I haven’t spent any money all month.

I had an email conversation earlier today and mentioned that this may not be as hard as I thought, because I’m 17 miles from the nearest store. If I still lived in the Twin Cities there is no. way. I would be able to do this. 

That conversation also reminded me about another addendum to my plans. If my husband stops at the grocery store on his way home from work and buys milk, eggs, etc. ~ WITHOUT BEING SPECIFICALLY ASKED TO ~ I’m not counting it as a purchase.

Regardless of who eats it.

No Spend Challenge Day 4

I’m on a roll. A bankroll!

(I kill me.)

I have not spent any money this month. Woot!

I need to clarify my no-spending policy. I will have to purchase gas, which I stated at the beginning of the challenge. I also have to pay the monthly bills. I’m just not buying anything else. This includes DS games and Bruno Mars cds. Sorry kids.

It’s been easy up to this point. A lot of cleaning and purging and decisions.

One of the decisions I’ve made is to learn everything I can about blogging. I really want to learn more about the technical side and delve into social media. So, when Kristi at CreativeKristi offered a free How To Blog class, I jumped.

We had our first conference call via Skype last night. There is so much to learn. I really thought my years of working in the computer hardware and software industry would help, but the technology changes so quickly. I scribbled so many notes! Today I’m madly deciphering them. I can’t wait until next week!

No Spend Challenge Day 3

 

It’s 4:30 pm. Do you know what is in your wallet?

Mine is full. of. money.

I did not spend any money yesterday.

I have not spent any money today.

I may have spent a lot of time cleaning today (see notes from Day 2).

 

No Spend Challenge Day 2

 

It’s 8 am.

I did not spend any money yesterday.

At all. Not even on gas. Yippee!!

It helped that I didn’t leave the house.

And we were babysitting a five year old.

And my daughter has a broken toe.

And my son threw up three times.

Here’s to a better day today!

October No-Spend Challenge Day 1

 

The other day on Swoon Style and Home Shanna stated she was putting herself on a strict no-spend on home stuff policy for the month of October.

I rashly commented that I would join her, only I would go one step further and not buy anything but gas.

At my age I should have learned by now to think first before speaking or writing.

After looking at our October calendar, it may not be that bad. The hubs birthday is this weekend, but everything has already been purchased.  My niece will be 7 on the 30th. We usually make the cards and gifts, and won’t see her until November. If we don’t make something I will be able to purchase a gift before our visit. 

Hubby thinks I am doing this for him.  HA! My birthday bash weekend is in November and I need money to get my party on.

It’s 9 am and I haven’t spent any money.