A size 12….That I’m not

Today I was killing some time over lunch on Grand Avenue at one of my favorite consignment shops. The gal was telling me they could really use some more cloths, and especially my size! Very fitting for me, one that has just gone through the closet as we moved and would be happy to take some of the bags that are just sitting there right now to the shop. This could mean a whole lot of new things for me as I take my old things into them and trade up (not in size just in items). Anyway, she follows her comment up with I would really like to make this area size 12 and up. WHA…SIZE 12 and UP, I think to myself. Ok I get it I have been lying to myself sometimes telling myself I am a size 6 when really it is more like an 8 but 12….I’m NOT a 12. Was she meaning my things, size 12 is what she needed, or was she simply making that statement that she would love to make the area a size 12 and up? I wonder if she knew about my pit stop at Taco Johns on my way to the shop, she did, I’ll bet she did and that was god’s way of reinforcing my guilt for stopping. Having this sweet lady tell me about her future plans for size 12 was god’s way to open my eyes to an exterior perception.

This has really got me thinking about the dreaded weight issue.

I paid the money and got the slim in 6 videos, tried them once and they have sat on the table ever since, you know how that goes. I just wish I could find the energy to want to work out. I also wish that the heavenly salty bag of chips in cupboard would not call my name at 5:35 while I stand in the kitchen making dinner. See I can come up with 101 excuses to my “married 20” that I have gained. Well guess what folks, it has nearly been a year and I am still banking on the excuse, something tells me it is time to move on, yep, move it (my ass) and move on!

So the long of the short I think I found someone to take these bags of cloths off my hands! And, I may get more out of it than dropping them off at Goodwill! The best part about it is they carry kids cloths too! Back to School shopping here I come.

Hating the word "Budget"

Does anyone else hate the word "budget"? Those two syllables just make me want to curl into a ball and hide under the couch and forget about money forever.
But here I go amongst the new house I’m diving in to this “budget” thing. I decided I better start balancing my checkbook, yep I work at a bank and don’t balance my check book. Not proud of it but I’m changing that. I tried to join Mint.com but it won’t connect BFCU so then I joined Wesabe (not as fancy but it works) I am really trying to set up a budget and follow it. I have been listening to the Dave Ramsey Financial Pease University CD’s the last few days….inspiring. Double car payments…wow, people besides my husband really do that

I'm doing a lot better with the idea of a "Conscious Spending Plan" -- which is one of the ideas that Ramit Sethi shares in his book, "I Will Teach You To Be Rich."
Instead of "budget" (blah), I get paid twice a month. On payday, I pay all my bills, pay 65-year-old self (contribute to Roth IRA), pay my 28-30 year-old-self (contribute to my SmartyPig savings goals) lastly I contribute to my GOK (God Only Knows/emergency savings plan) and then see how much money I have left for the month, and go about spending it. This is where I typically freak out and start taking my lunch to work for the next few days and finding things to eat around the house in the evening because we feel broke.

I think if I can create a system that works, life will feel more comfortable...heck maybe we can get CABLE!!!!

What do you guys think about this? Does the word "budget" stop you from making financial progress? Is it all just semantics?

Cheers!!

destined to find some organization

SO the last time we talked I told you about my morning chaos and my efforts to be destined to find some organization and rhythm in our house hold. So along with that I began to think about some of the things that I say in the morning that begin our day in a negative way. As I wish to seek out joy in our morning routine I have decided to clean up my habits of morning rampage. Yesterday I got to tour our new neighbors house…WOW that is all I can say is WOW. Her house was spotless not a thing out of Its place, that that is organization and simplicity! Shoes, where were the shoes piled at the door?? Dishes, where was her skink of dishes??? Toys, there were no toys strung through the living room. And my favorite, ALL, yes I said ALL the beds were neatly made. I told you, WOW. And YES she works full time she just takes pride in her home. Back to cleaning up, I will begin with cleaning my vocabulary, and no I’m not meaning cursing.

Tell me, have you ever uttered these phrases:
Hurry up--we're going to be late.

Don't forget to....

If you're like me--you've stated them many times. For me they seem like a part of getting out the door for us. I read about this not long ago and it is something that has stuck with me. It seems to be something I've pondered that has an ability to bless me tremendously, as well as my family. Everyone will benefit from it. In our home we are going to call them the “Targets”. The idea is the target we give our brain. If we say, "we're going to be late," then our brain aims for us to be late. When we say, "don't forget..." our brain thinks forget--and we forget to do or bring exactly what we didn't want to forget.


So in our home we've changed those target statements. Here they are now:
Let's get moving so that we'll be early.
Remember to ...

See the shift? Instead of forgetting, we're targeting remember, and instead of being late, we aim always to be early. There are so many other statements that we say that all we have to do is change up the wording a little to not only make it positive but also a target for us to give our brain.

Just wanted to share....our minds are powerful, aren't they? Today's challenge? Try replacing one of those statements. See what happens…

She looks well to the ways of her household...
Proverbs 31:27

Maybe she will brush tomorrow...

Is it really Monday again?! Really?! My weekends fly by way too fast. At least Summer is finally here! With school out, now is the perfect time to focus more on the family and get things put together a little more. But for some reason summer seems to give off the vibe that being unorganized is supplementary to the season. It is ok to be a little more relaxed when it comes to routine. My friend Jessica wrote in her blog last week about being organized, I am joining her in the life has been chaos lately category. I’m surely not the trophy mother that I must say I too truly envy. The mom's that set the cereal out the night before, the ones who have the clothes laid out and the toothbrushes pre-pasted, and lunches packed in their sacs tucked next to the backpacks sitting by the door ready to go for the next day. We look more like; hurry up brush your hair, find your backpack, get your shoes on, I’ll meet you in the car, type tornado in the mornings.

Today was our first real day of “school’s out for summer!!” Maci kicked on her flip-flops, a pair of soccer shorts and a t-shirt, comfy was the best part. Ha ha you know we need a break when I told her it was up to her if she was even going to brush her hair before daycare today because I don’t have any more teachers judging me if I do my kids hair today or not. I thought hu, I’m going to just take one…It’s up to you honey, day. You guessed it; nope she didn’t brush her hair today and I’m totally ok with that, there is always tomorrow.