I really did it! Here's proof!

So, earlier this year I share that one of my aspirations was to run a 5K.  Mind you, 3.1 miles, I realize, isn't that far, but for someone who'd never actually ran more than one mile in the prime of her youth (yea...I don't really know when that was), 3.1 miles is pretty damn far! 

In April, I did it!  I ran my first 5K ever!  I followed the Couch to 5K program (very highly recommended) and completed my first 5K in 29 minutes.  That's less than a 10 minute mile!  What?  Can I get a hell-to-the-yeah!?  Nope, not too proud to gloat...not me.

Sadly, I don't have any pics to share of that glorious moment.  But, alas, I do have this...

This is my SECOND 5K.  Yep, I was stupid enough to do it again!  This time, with the lack of regular running and the scorching heat, I eeked out a 34:41 time. 

But, there's this one too...

Yep, that's my daughter!  I'm so stinkin' proud of her.  Her first 5K was completed in just over 25 minutes.  This one she managed in just under 30 minutes.  She's awesome!

Oh, yeah, and there's these too!

Not only did I discover the world of running, my sister and most favorite cousin/bestie did too.  This is them racing running next to each other.  Sis is on the left in the yellow tank and Bestie is on the right in pink.  ( By the way, see that guy in the flourescent green/yellow socks?  Those aren't socks...they're leg warmers, probably meant to help his calves in some crazy fashion, but really...leg warmers?  It was 92 degrees at 8 am!  Oh well, he was lapping my sis and bestie at this very moment, so it's probably safe to say he knew what he was doing.)

And, for any non-believers out there...here's my Babe cranking out his first 5K!   

This day was most certainly one of the best days of the summer (so far).  Couldn't be more proud of my family and myself!

The Next Stage of my Love Affair

So I posted about my love affair, but what I didn’t tell was that there’s more to the story. Not only have four bunnies found a nook in my heart, so did seven of these:

I know, I know…seriously, Nickie, chickens? I asked myself the same question. How these chickens came into my life wasn’t exactly like the bunnies. I looked at the baby chicks and thought, “Awwww, how adorable.” And then… I. Walked. Away. I walked away; Joe, however, did not. Here’s how I remember the story of how the chickens came to be:

Joe: (looking at the chicks) Do you want to get some chicks?

Me: We’re not ready yet.

J: Are you sure?

Me: Yes, where would we put them?

J: In the barn.

Me: Where? We don’t have a stall cleaned out yet. We’re not ready.

And we (I)walked away. We (I) was on a mission to find the perfect bunny cage material. I wanted the perfect setup and had better things to do than goo and gaa over some baby chicks. A few minutes later, our (my) search for cage material returned us to the vicinity of the chicks.

J: You’re sure?

Me: Yes, we’re not ready yet.

J: OK

Again, we (I) walked away. Supplies carted up, we’re now on our way to the checkout, which by the way is NOT in the direction of the chicks, but at the chicks we ended up.

J: So, no chicks, huh?

Me: FINE! If you want chicks, get the chicks. You’ll just have to figure out a place for them until they can do into the barn.

And, so goes the story of how I ended up with a box of seven two-day old chicks on my lap on the way home.

As you can imagine, being true to my animal-lovin’ self, I fell in deep like with the chicks. Not love…it’s hard to love a chicken…but a deep like. So, for the first two weeks of their little lives, they lived here:

Getting desperate for a larger space for them, I resorted to this:

Who knew you could build a cage from PVC pipe, chicken wire and zip ties? Well, apparently this guy did; but I certainly didn’t…until the need arose. As my daughter and I were building this cage, she says to me, “Mom, this is more like doing arts & crafts than building something.” I say, “Why? Because we’re using zip ties instead of a hammer, nails and wood? Improvise, my dear.” Hopefully that’s a lesson that will help her in life!

For several more weeks, the chicks lived in this awesome PVC cage. Until finally, Joe cleaned the stall in the barn for them. This is where they continue to live and will hopefully supply me, and the rest of my family, with farm fresh eggs.

The lesson to be learned here is this:  You never know what you're ready for, until you jump in and find out.  It's the getting ready part that counts.  Oh, and stay tuned, I have LOTS more critter stories to share as life on Havoc Farm grows.

My Love Affair

Oh my gosh, where do I start…so much to update! Hmmm, I guess I’ll start HERE!


On March 31, 2010, my life changed. I took off work early that day to do my monthly yard duty at my kids’ school. It was the last day before Easter break. I should have known better and remembered what was waiting for me last year.  I should have just stayed at work. But I didn’t. What I did was succumb to this…

Tater Tot as a bitty baby

And so my love affair began. How could I possibly resist the incessant pleas of my children? How could I say no to such an adorable creature? It was simple. I couldn’t. And so began my love affair with not one, but five, baby bunnies.

Spooks as a baby, the only male of the group

It didn’t take long for them to outgrow the indoor sleeping arrangement. It didn’t take long for them to outgrow the temporary outdoor cages on my front porch. It didn’t take long for me to make special trips to the food store for just the right “greens” for them. And it didn’t take long for them to find a special little nook of my heart just for them. My sister, the one I used to chase around the house with a box turtle, even likes them. Yes, Tammy, I’m talking about you!

Fiver and Tater Tot "hiding" in the grass

Unfortunately, during our time of learning about keeping bunnies as pets, we learned a sad lesson. Apparently bunnies need A LOT of fiber…it’s what keeps them hydrated. If they don’t eat enough of their pellets and hay/alfalfa, they get dehydrated. We found this out too late to save our sweet, adorable Patches. He was the cutest of them all, but we (I) now know the proper feeding regimen to ensure the rest of the bunnies are happy and healthy.

People ask me what I’m going to with these bunnies and how I’m going to prevent the inevitable (you know what they say about bunnies…). For now, Spooks, our only male, stays quarantined from the girls. Who knows, maybe next Easter, YOU’LL be the one who can’t say no to the adorable face! Until then, I’ll continue my love affair while dreaming up ways to grow my little zoo and maybe even charge admission. :)

Rainy...don't tell the others, but she's my favorite!

You know, my kids think they outsmarted me the day I said, “Sure, we can have a bunny.” Secretly, I know the real reason these bunnies came to be our pets. My little nook needed fillin’.

I'm still alive!

Just wanted to place a quick post and let you all (my 10 followers) know that I'm still alive!  I've been so busy, that it seems blogging is what has fallen to the back burner!  Ooohhhh that irritates me! 

Finally...

 So, I've been thinking a lot about the direction of this blog.  I was talking with my good friend Michelle over at Dilly Dally and Flitter about how I follow so many "frugal" themed blogs and love them.  I have learned so much from and saved so much money with Collin at Hip2Save, Tracie at KC Penny Pinchin Mama and Angela at The Coupon Project, but these ladies, along with a number more, have the market cornered.  In addition, I couldn't possibly have the time to create a "frugal" themed blog...I have no time.  I'm convinced that's why they are so successful.  I've also recently read a number of "crafty" blogs and "organizing" blogs.  Again, no time.  I can't be one of those bloggers.  I've noticed that many...if not  most... of these bloggers are stay-at-home moms.  Unfortunately, I'm not.  I work full time, raise two kids as a single mom, maintain a home (well, sometimes it's maintained), feed and care for three dogs, a cat, and three fish, plus there are ten acres that require A LOT of my time, especially in the summer.  Add to this sports, workouts, and shopping, there's little time for other things.

Hmmm....then it hit me.  The direction of my blog....  Certainly there are other single moms like me who are doing the best they can with the time they have to do it in.  I'm pretty sure my direction has turned to a time/money/home/energy/health/children/work/self management blog geared mostly toward full time working outside the home moms.  I don't foresee posts changing much...lots of money saving tips and ideas to share, some personal goals, some workout schedules, and some random musings.

Being true to myself, though, I'm sure there will be changes....I am reserving that right now.  I can change and grow at anytime.

It's Official...

So, today I made decision...well, I actually made several decisions today, but this is the one that I'm sharing at this time.

I AM RUNNING A 5K ON APRIL 24.

I've even recruited two others to join me:  my sister, Tammy, and my cousin, Amy.

We're going to follow (well, I'M going to follow coolrunning's Couch to 5K in nine weeks program.  I think we actually have only 8 weeks, but I'm into modification.  My goal for the 5K is to finish it running more than I walked.  That's it.  It's reasonable, it's achievable, and it's not too easy of a goal.  Remember, this is the from the person who, until VERY recently, couldn't run more than 1/2 mile because I couldn't breath.  I'm still learning to breath when I run and to land on my forefoot rather than my heel, so these goals are true goals for me.  Not just some random, non meaningful goals. 

This week's training program looks like this:

W1D1 (Week 1, Day 1)  Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
W1D2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
 W1D3 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

I plan to add a weight training day or two in here as well, but am not sure when.  I'll probably do the 10 minute trainer; however, I may add a dumbbell workout that I create myself.  We'll just have to see.

I feels really good to have a goal.  I've been struggling since the beginning of the year with what my workout goals.  I started P90X and I love the workouts, but it just wasn't what I wanted as the end result.  I wanted more cardio, less weight lifting.  I really like the elliptical, but what can that give me?  I needed to achieve something besides increasing my distance while going NO WHERE!  Then I reminded myself of my bucketlist.  OH YEAH....the "run a 5K."  And here I am. 

Accountability 2/19/10

Today was a great day!  Although work is questionable, overall it was a good day.

B/F: banana & Cascadian Farms Sweet & Salty peanut pretzel granola bar (the BEST granola bar I've ever eaten)
Lunch: vegetable soup w/ oyster crackers
Dinner: tomato & basil veggie burger topped with Ragu Parmesan & Romano pasta sauce, Green Giant veggie medley
Snacks: handful of blue corn tortilla chips, 10 animal crackers, & (I'm ashamed to admit) 1 cup of 1/2 fat Breyer's chocolate chocolate chip ice cream (HO-LY CRAP was it good!)

Workout: 1 mile brisk walk, 1 mile elliptical, 1 mile run, 1/2 mile walk/run

Looking at my snack list, I'm not sure I made the best choices, especially after the large dinner I had, but man-oh-man was that ice cream good....and I did limit it to only 1 cup. 

Forefoot vs. Heel Strike? What?

One of the items on my bucket list is to run a 5K, and, since I'm not getting any younger, I've decided that I really need to get on this.  Right now.

I've started talking to a co-worker who runs for leisure about the "problem" I've always had with running.  You see, I can't breath when I run.  It's really quite distressing.  Since I can remember, I've recognized that I can push through the mental aspect of running as well as the physical, but I have to stop after a very short time and walk because my lung function just isn't there.  He asked me a simple question:  "What part of your foot hits the ground first when you run?"   

Uh...duh, Kevin. "My heel," I answered.  And you call yourself a runner...

"Well that may be your problem."

"What?  Why?"  Seriously?

 He then went on to give me some scientific explanation of one of Newton's (I think that who he said...I sort of glazed over at one point) laws.  Something about for the amount of force applied to the ground, the ground exerts an equal force back to the foot which is then absorbed into the body.  There was also some talk about rolling from your heel to your toe exerts too much energy to sustain any level of running.  Well, honestly, I got bored, so I decided I'd do my own research.  I found this.

Seriously, take the time to read this, even if you're not even remotely interested in running.  I've always wanted to be a runner, but I've never been able to do it.  It's just too hard for me.  I've always admired those people who can run.  I've always wanted to be able to set out on a run and just go.  I do my best thinking when I'm on the elliptical or engaged in some form of physical activity, so running is something that I've thought would be good for me, and I've just SO wanted to be able to do it.  Turns out, I can.

This article explains it perfectly.  It's logical to me and just makes sense, even to my nonscientific-based mind.  So, tonight, I tried it out.  I was amazed!  It was so hard and I felt like a psych-ward escapee, but I was able to run a less than 10 minute mile and wasn't even out of breath afterward.  I could have kept going, but my goal was only to time myself for one mile, and I didn't want to jinx it by pushing beyond my goal.

So, I now have my sights set on a local 5K on April 24.  I'm going to do it.  I don't even care if the two 10 year olds that run these races all the time beat me.  Just to finish and run more than I walk is my goal for this first 5K. 

If you want to join me, please do.  I do better when I'm pushed and have someone to compare notes with, so I'd love to have a partner or three.

Learning From My 9 Year Old

So, Alaina and I were watching The Amazing Race Sunday night.  Carol and Brandy are a team on the show and are described as "dating."  After about 1/2 hour of watching, Alaina turns to me and asks, "Are they sisters?" 

Hmmm...how do I respond?  "No......," I say.  And then pause....thinking.....thinking....she's still looking at me.....what do I say....this is not a conversation I really want to have right now.... "They're gay," comes out of my mouth.  Really, Nickie?  "They're gay" is the best you got?

At that moment, Alaina, in her nine-year-old wisdom says, "Mom, they're lesbians."  If you knew that, why did you ask if they're sisters!?!?!?!?!

What?  Where did that come from?  How do you know about that? Where did you hear that word?  Why would you ask if they are sisters if you knew they are lesbians?  UUGGHHH!  SOMEONE FREAKIN' HELP ME!  I don't want to enlighten my child with things that I wish she didn't know about YET.  Teaching moment?  Yep.  You gonna jump on it?  Nope. 

"It's the same thing, Lainey," I say to her.

"No, Mom, it's not," she says.  What?  Gay and lesbian aren't the same?  How do I respond to that? 

At this point, I drop my head and don't say another word.

I need to gather my thoughts and return to this conversation next Sunday. 

Grocery Trips (Who Says Couponing Isn't Worth It?) REVISED

Here's the breakdown from my Schnuck's trip on Wednesday:

Shelf cost: $111.13 (total amount I would have paid had I bought everything for it's shelf cost)

Discount:   $27.59 (total amount of savings due to "sales")

Coupons:   $21.75 (total amount of coupons)

Out of Pocket: $61.79 (pre tax) 

SAVINGS:  44.4% 

Plus, I got a $5 Catalina to use on my next trip to Schnuck's!

My best buy here was probably the 8 roll Sparkle pack.  On sale for $4.99 plus I had a $.50 coupon!  That's only $.56 a roll for name brand paper towels!  WOOT!  And I have been completely out of paper towels since the weekend.  I was waiting for a "deal" to arrive before buying more! 

Breakdown of Country Mart trip on Wednesday:

Shelf cost: $62.29 (total amount I would have paid had I bought everything for it's shelf cost)

Discount:   $9.46 (total amount of savings due to "sales")
Coupons: $17.16 (total amount of coupons)
OOP:       $35.67 (pre tax)
SAVINGS: 42.74%

I also bought two 15 lbs bags of potatoes for $2.99 each that wouldn't fit into this picture! 

I shop at Country Mart on Wednesdays because this is the day they double coupons up to $.50; however, I didn't use any $.50 coupons, so I didn't double any.  And, I bought 10 boxes of Nabisco products toward my Nabisco $20 Mail In Rebate.  I still have to purchase 5 Capri Suns and 5 Mac n Cheese bowls to qualify, but I'm waiting for a coupon/sale combo to score these for cheapo like the 100 Calorie boxes were.  They were only $1.50 after sale/coupon!  I love these for my kids' school snacks, but NEVER buy them because they are TOO expensive.  These were definitely my best purchase at Country Mart considering I'll get $20 back in MIR!

ADDITION:  

 

Holy Crap!  Was I super excited after my Shop N Save trip this afternoon!  Here's the breakdown:

Shelf cost:              $78.65

Discounts:              $18.13

Manufacturer Qs:   $20.50

Q Thursday:           $10.00

OOP:  $30.02

That's a savings rate of 62%!

I think my best deal was the Wanchai Ferry dinner kits.  The SRP is $4.88, on sale for $3.50, Q for $1/1 for a total of $2.50.  

In case you're wondering why I bought so many...I shop for two houses.  Joe works in Chicago, so when I see an outrageous bargain I pick up as many as I can for him too.
So all-in-all, I had some amazing shopping trips this week!  My total savings for these three trips was

Shelf Cost: $252.07
OOP:         $127.48
TOTAL SAVINGS:  50.57%

Since my Pantry Challenge last month, this is the first major grocery trip since December!  I'd say I did pretty well!

Accountability 2/17/10

Today was a great day!  I was a little worried considering I only emerged from slumber at 6:20 and I have to be at work at 7:30 and I live 30 minutes away from work.  But, I made it!  I even stopped for gas and coffee.  But what I consider most impressive is that everyone was fed.  I didn't forget to feed any of the hungry mouths that I feed each morning.  This includes the dogs Jersey, Stains & Bosco, the cat, Sammy, and the three unnamed fish.  I was impressed with this accomplishment!

B/F:  handful of Kashi Go Lean Crunch
Lunch:  a HUGE salad from Ruby Tuesday, 2 veggie burger minis and a few french fries
Dinner: bowl of Kashi Go Lean Crunch and soy milk
Snacks:  handful of blue corn tortillas

And, guess what?  NO DR PEPPER!!!!  yay!

Workout:  I rocked the elliptical tonight!  2.5 miles in 22 minutes, then walked/ran 1.5 miles.  This was the farthest I've gone since I started working out again.  Proud of myself!

Poor Sammy

 

 This is my cat, Sammy.  He's an awesome cat, and I love him...except in the middle of the night.  I hate him then.  He insists on sleeping ON my pillow.  It doesn't really matter that I'm the only person in the entire bed...it's my pillow he wants.  I've tried to set him up with his own pillow, but no...it's not good enough.  My pillow is apparently the perfect pillow.  When Alaina sleeps with me, he sometimes lays on her pillow, but she doesn't trust him so she wakes me up so that I'll move him.  He bites her when she touches him...it's quite funny actually.  She can't touch him anywhere on his body without getting swiped or bit.  Kaden can pet him and touch him, but not on his stomach.  NO ONE touches Sammy's stomach if they value their hand.  

Anyway, Sammy really only likes to drink fresh water...preferably straight from the tap.  Occasionally he'll drink from someone's glass, but it usually gets spilled, so we try to keep him away from them.  Joe says I've developed this habit, but I just give him what he needs, so I'm not sure I've really developed the habit.  So, today when I got home from work, I came in the house and noticed that Sammy wasn't around.  He usually greets me shortly after I come home, but today, nada.  I thought that he must be downstairs or hiding from Bosco (the evil Chihuahua/Boston Terrier mix), so I went about my business.  A few minutes later I went into the bathroom, and low and behold there was Sammy.  He got locked in the bathroom for the entire day!  That's 10 hours because I went to the grocery after work.  Stupid cat's stupid habit got him locked in the bathroom.  But what I thought was the funniest part of this situation was this:

 

After being locked in the bathroom for 10 hours, he just wanted a drink.  Stupid cat!  

Accountability 2/17/10

So, today wasn't the best day workout-wise, but I got caught up in my coupon clipping and filing.  I was REALLY behind. 

I was pretty sore from the 10 Minute Trainer workout from Monday, so I thought (excuse) that I would take the day off of working out.  I know, bad, lame, poor excuse, but it's mine so I'm using it.

B/F: handful of Kashi Autumn Wheat
Lunch: 1 cup vegetable soup with oyster crackers
Dinner: Veggie Delight from Subway, bag Southwest Ranch Baked Lays, 1 1/2 cup soy milk
Snack: handful Blue Corn tortilla chips

As I mentioned, my coupon binder is up to date and I have lists for the following stores:

Shop n Save (it's coupon Thursday this week)
Schnuck's
Country Mart
True Value (bird seed is cheep cheep this week--get it?  Yes, I'm a dork)
Buchheit's (going price shopping on dog food)

I'll keep you posted on my gorgeous savings!

Accountability 2/15/10

Workout:  Three 10-Minute Trainer Workouts -- Cardio, Lower Body, Abs  

This is a Tony Horton workout as well, and compared to the Cardio X workout, I liked this one better.  I do like the Abs workout from the 10 minute trainer better than the P90X Abs workout though.  I need to find the right mix.  I like P90X, but I'm just not completely pleased with the workout.  I'm definitely seeing results, but I think I would like more cardio.  I'm going to spend this week trying to figure out a schedule.  Now that basketball is over (Thank Goodness!), I have four nights a week back, so it should be easier.

B/F: a handful of Kashi Autumn Wheat, coffee with creamer
Lunch: 1 1/2 cup homemade vegetable soup

Dinner: one tomato & basil veggie burger topped with 1/4 cup pasta sauce, one box Green Giant immunity blend veggies, 1 cup soy milk
Snacks: about 6 Archer Farms blue corn tortilla chips (my absolute favorite salty snack)

Dr. Pepper will be the death of me.  I had half of a medium size DP today.  I can say no to chocolate, to ice cream, to McDonald's french fries, to meat at Taco Bell, to BACON for crying out loud (everyone knows that everything is better with bacon), but to Dr. Pepper...no I can't...or is it I won't?  If everyone is allowed a vice, should I let Dr. Pepper be mine?  Seriously?

I Helped Save 16 Lives on Saturday!

This is Marta and her fifteen puppies.  Yes, that's right, I said FIFTEEN!  15!  Can you believe this?  I've never, in my whole life, seen 15 puppies in one litter.  And, while Marta is a German Shepherd, she is a petite one.  Probably only weighed 50-60 lbs herself. 

I'm a small, teeny-tiny part of a much larger group of people across the United States that transports dogs from an animal control facility to a rescue.  In Marta's case, the poor girl found herself in a precarious situation.  She wound up in Animal Control in Monroe, Louisiana.  The problem was, she was VERY pregnant.  A rescue was found for her, but it was in Green Bay, Wisconsin...nearly 1000 miles away.  Poor Marta couldn't wait.  She gave birth before transport.  So, after only one week of giving birth to her brood, Marta left Louisiana early on Saturday morning.  I met her in Perryville at 5:15 pm.  She looked sad and broken.  She had no idea what was happening to her and to her new family.  There are so many puppies, they had to be separated into two groups so that all the babies could nurse.  I was heartbroken for her.  She had no idea what was happening to her.  To be swapped out of one car to another car every hour and a half or so must have been so confusing for her.  But I know that every person involved in this transport wanted the best for her.  I dropped her off in St. Louis to her haven for the night.  She spent the night in St. Louis and then started her final day's journey to a safe place where her puppies will grow and thrive and find their own forever homes.  Marta will never have to endure another pregnancy.  She, too, will find her forever home. If you'd like to follow Marta and her puppies, check out White Paws German Shepherd Rescue.

I get about ten emails a week asking for transport help.  I even help coordinate a local transport group in the St. Louis area.  If you can help by donating just a couple hours of time on a weekend, please let me know.  I can't begin to describe to you how good knowing you saved a life feels...an especially how saving 16 lives feels!

  Check out the baby panda that got mixed up in there!  Too cute!

Look Who the Cat Drug In...

Well, well, well...here it is nearly two weeks since my last post and what do I have to say for myself?  Nothing.  Nada. Nil.  No excuse.  Just pure non-motivation.

So, to catch up...actually, I'm not going to play catch up.  I'm too busy doing that with my laundry, dishes, vacuuming, and dusting.  The past week and a half has been pitiful.  So unmotivated, it's embarrassing.  Even my poor son noticed.  He asked for oatmeal for breakfast.  Turns out we ran out.  And, to top it off, even after I knew this, I couldn't muster the energy to make a trip to the grocery.  So sad.

But, back to Monday!  Today, I dug out of my funk and completed the following:

Woke up to a couple inches of snow.  Shoveled the carport.  Left for work.  Half way there, I realized I forgot my laptop.  Turned around, went home, and left again.  Got to work an hour late.  Did work...sorta.  Left an hour and a half early to visit an assisted living facility with my sisters and dad.  (He decided, in a total shock to us, that he would move in--no battle.)  Came home and started laundry.  Worked out.  Cooked myself a quick dinner.  And now, here I am, sitting here switching between The Drama Queen Jake the Bachelor and the Olympics.  Bode Miller got the Bronze!

I feel that I must share such an eventful day since today's activities have surpassed the past week-and-half's activities combined.

Accountability 2/5/10

So, I have a confession....I blew off my Thursday workout and my Friday workout...I decided to go to Chicago.  So, I'm sitting in Chicago playing Rock Band (actually listening to Rock Band) and drinking Sweet Tea vodka (who knew?) and lemonade.  I'm still eating on target, but the workout is shot! 

More to come later!

NLN

Accountability 2/3/10

 

W/O:  21 minutes on elliptical = 2 miles, ran 3/4 mi, walked 3/4 mi.
B/F:  banana, one piece of toast, coffee with Caramel Macchiato creamer
Lunch: Veggie Burger on bun with tomato, onion, lettuce & ketchup and a Dr. Pepper
Dinner: 1 slice PDQ potpie, 1/2 natural peanut butter & jelly sandwich
Snacks: 1/2 cup Kashi Autumn Wheat cereal, 1/4 cup oyster crackers

I'm trying so hard to come up with the motivation to get my budget down on paper, so I can start sharing that information on my accountability post, and it should be easy as I've got it all together, I just need to firm it up and take the plunge.

NLN

February Resolution

 Back in early January, I posted my personal goals for 2010.  Well, it's a new month, so I'm incorporating a new habit.  For February I'll be "learning to use a budget."  I've started some prep work on this and have been tracking all my expenses (down to that dang soda machine) for the month of January, so I'll be able to more accurately place correct amounts in the various categories.  I guess my biggest fear is the grocery budget.  Since I've did the Eat from the Pantry Challenge for January, I didn't spend as much on groceries as I normally would have; however, I still have plenty of pantry stock left...with the exception of some staples...that I probably won't need to go this month as much either. 

Anyway, I'll be adding some various information to my Accountability postings.  This is a big step for me as I'm not one to share finances, but in order to be held accountable, it's something that I have to do. 

My preliminary goal is to be debt free, except for the Jeep and the house by July 2011.  I'm still evaluating whether this is too lofty of a goal.  I want to set an actual reachable goal.  I know that it will be a major change in spending, and I'm definitely willing to do that. 

Well, wish me luck!  And, what's your goal for February?

NLN

My Foster Minnie

So, I got some pretty sad news last week.  I've previously posted that I foster dogs for Serendipity German Shepherd Dog Rescue and about Minnie, one of my fosters. Well, she didn't actually get adopted.  I thought she was, but as it turns out, she went to a training facility for extensive training.  She is an extremely shy dog who probably never had a human in her life who she could trust.  Despite her living with us for 7 months, she just couldn't learn to trust us either.  So, she went to a trainer's home in Belleville, IL.  After a month of living there, she escaped.  She was seen in the area for a couple of weeks, but hasn't been seen for over a week.  No one has been able to get close enough to her to catch her, which is pretty true to form for her.  She was like that with me as well.  If she would escape, it would take hours to get her back.

When I got the news, of course I felt guilty.  Guilty because I couldn't help her, and I couldn't keep her.  I wasn't able to get through to her, and I got to a point where I felt like I was doing her a dis-service by confining her all the time.  I hoped her new foster home would provide her with the ability to trust, but poor Minnie just couldn't find the courage to trust a human.  I know that she's a smart, street dog who has survival skills...but she deserves a warm bed to rest her head on at night without fear.  I hope she finds that place.