My Quest

I am on a quest to become more financially savvy. Since having Joy we have had more than one month where out output was more than our input. I know these things happen occasionally and especially with kids and an 8 year old American car (Rob's 10 year old Honda is in better shape). However, it has been more months than I would like to admit. I am sure that some of these were my fault as I don't always want to eat at home, I am terrible at cutting coupons, I buy things for Joy when I think she needs or I want them and as long as they are under $20 I think nothing of it. I am terrible at just getting things at Target and not really seeing the bottom line. So I am on a quest. Well to be honest it is a forced quest, Rob finally looked at the bank statements and saw what I already knew was happening. So he told me until the credit card is paid off no second child. This I can agree with and was in my head as a goal. In my head as a goal and in his head as a goal are 2 different things. My goals come and go his are put in stone. So my quest to be a better steward of our money in an effort to pay off the credit card possibly build a little more back into savings and have my second child that I want so badly.
So far I was very lucky and happy to be the recipient of the many toys that were passed down to Joy. This is a great blessing as some of these things are things that I truly wanted or needed for Joy. The next thing is I am looking into summer clothing now and I have already received some hand me downs from Jen/Lily and someone from one of my Mom groups that are 12mo size what I think she will be in this summer. To my amazement they are also summer clothes, in the past the few hand me downs we have gotten seem to be for the wrong season! My mother also was generous with some clothes for Joy as a Valentine gift. Then today I went to Kohls to see what they had and to get a present for my Mom's upcoming birthday and I got a few mix and match short sets for $5 a piece. I have also inquired of Michelle who I know frequents area resale shops for the good ones in the area. I look forward to shopping at the 3 she let me know about in the near future. I also know she didn't hide one from me since her youngest is not the same size or sex as Joy.
In addition to my new quest for lower priced stuff for Joy I am also going on what I have heard referred to as an "all cash diet". Basically I have told Rob I will leave the debit card at home, write checks at Target and Grocery shopping. I will then only spend cash on any food or other frivolous things. I will keep the credit card in my wallet for occasional need, and for gas since I hate to go inside at gas stations.
So there it is my new quest to get the credit card paid off and the savings back up. I know it's not an impossible quest, but I know a few habits will have to change. I am sharing this with you in hopes you will share with me your money saving tips. Also know I have tried and failed at the grocery game, and I just buy more than I need when I coupon clip, so although the receipt may say I saved $10 with coupons the truth is I spent $20 on things I would not have gotten if it weren't for having the coupon.
In this quest I am also looking at and thinking about options for next year. I already have the summer planned to have 3 kids here 2 days of the week. They are paying for care, and I look forward to seeing how it works out for me and for their parents. I have already somewhat decided not to return to my church's PDO next year for various reasons (#1 as a teacher being pay). I am thinking of looking for someone or an extended PDO so I can substitute which makes decent money. I have also thought about trying out other PDO's in the area, although being the loyalist I am I feel like a traitor not supporting my church's PDO. Right now it's all a big blur and I hate thinking about it. I also really miss having other Mom interactions during the week so I am hoping to have Wednesdays available for my mom group's playdates. I really like and want to be a stay at home mom, but have yet to find the right niche to contribute to the money situation and stay at home full time. If you know of a good legitimate easy money maker for me let me know, I am interested.

Thanks Michelle!! I was tagged

Okay so apparently in blogger world their is a game of tag happening, and Michelle who is a very nice person and otherwise a good friend tagged me. I being a rule follower am playing along.
Here goes:

Rules:
1: Link to the person that tagged you.
2: Post the rules on your blog
3: Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
4: Tag at least 3 people at the end of your post and link to their blogs
5: Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
6: Let the fun begin!


Me Following Rules:
1. Michelle's Blog
2. See above
3. See below
4. It's not the end but here they are: Geneva, Electric Monk (my Sunday school teacher, I hope he tells me about the name sometime, and I am only keeping it anonymous since he does), and Krista (I just want something new to read on your blog!)
5. Done.
6. This is fun?

Okay my six non-important things/habits/quirks about me:
1. In grade school I figured out if you stand still and don't look like you are playing tag you can play tag and never be tagged (it's true it was my method).
2. I hate people playing with my hair.
3. I bite my nails and crack my knuckles or any joint that I can pop I will.
4. I hate cleaning my ears, I cough when I do a nasty dry painful cough
5. I have texture issues
6. I over-think, over-plan and obsess about little things, especially when it comes to being a hostess something I love to do, but feel inadequate doing.


Okay it's over and I apologize to Geneva, The Electric Monk, and Krista, but Michelle made me do it! Oh and Michelle it wasn't that bad, I enjoyed reading yours and look forward to reading the others.

Okay and now for a fun little story about friendship... (Sorry about the formatting it's just that way and I didn't want to get into the HTML).

"True" Friendship

None of that Sissy Crap

Are you tired of those sissy "friendship" poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality? Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship. You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card- Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much Worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.

9. This is my oath .... I pledge it to the end "Why?" you may ask; "because you are my friend".

Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel it's true warmth.

Remember: A friend will help you move. A really good friend will help you move a body. Let me know if I ever need to bring a shovel...

Picturepalooza

Okay here are some pictures from the past couple of weeks:

Lily and Joy in Lily's wagon at the zoo February 7th

Joy's new kitchen, she loves it Michelle thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Daddy and Joy buckling the baby in the stroller. She loves the stroller Jen, thank you thank you thank you!

Joy in her new outside chair (she kept wanting in the big unstable ones) Notice the chair is inside! She also has a "sweep" (broom) and a rake. When she sees them she says "sweep" or "rake" in a cute little questioning mode.

Joy's Valentine from Daddy.

We just had to order the heart shaped pizza, even though it was thin crust, it wasn't too bad.

Rob, my flowers which he got me, thank you, thank you, thank you, (I think he did a perfect job this year I love the colors!) and the pizza.

Little People Village! Joy hasn't seen it yet as I set it up while she has been napping this afternoon, but I am sure she will love it. I do! With the exception of the house and the bus these are all part of the freebies from Jen! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Oh and the preschool is in her room so it's not out, but otherwise those are all her Little People. Please stay tuned for Rob's version of the Little Village People.

As far as news in our little world I have none other than my sister, brother in law, and husband all have tomorrow off and I will be at work. Isn't that supposed to be the other way around I am the teacher for goodness sake! Please play a sad tune now.

I'm a grandma!

I am a grandmother to a sweet diaper-less baby. The baby's name is officially Molly, but she is just baby to her Mommy, Joy. The baby can ride in her stroller (thanks Jen) and she can eat in her high chair (thanks Jen) and well, that's all for now. The baby has ridden in her stroller out to the car each morning this week so in addition to the sleeping baby, 500 bags and whatever else I bring home from work I must now also remember to bring the stroller and the baby back inside. It's cute, Joy is a good Mommy, that is if you don't really watch how she carries the baby (by the bottom). The baby is fed every day multiple times in a ten minute period. She sits in very interesting positions in the stroller and in the high chair. All in all the baby is the new object of our affection. Oh we still love our puppy but baby is quickly becoming more interesting. I guess if puppy got a collar and a leash he may also become interesting, but she got a stroller and a high chair for baby. So the baby is our new love. She has shown she has a few more words in her vocabulary because of her love of her baby she now knows for certain, ride, eat, and buckle. Yes, I said buckle and oddly enough in her ever growing vocabulary this has to be one of the clearest words she says! It amazes me how clear it comes out. Where stinky is still ninkey, and chocolate is gotlet, buckle is clear and precise. She can also scream buckle and no at the same time if you try and buckle her into something she did not intend to be buckled into. Just fair warning for those of you out there wanting to buckle Joy, good luck!

Free Toys Rock!

Poor Joy has not been very joyful this past week, she has been ill with what we learned on Friday is/was a left ear infection, fluid in the right ear, fever and a bronchial cough. None of which is really contagious just icky and no fun! Especially since this is the first real sickness we have had and it includes 3 different medicines! Poor baby starts screaming as soon as she sees me and Dad pins her down. Anyone want to volunteer for the noon pinning when Dad goes to work on Monday? She is doing better and by the looks of the crust I took out of her ear this morning her left ear is draining now. (Sorry Vicki for the TMI).
Anyway the real reason I am posting tonight is to say friends with kids are awesome and I love you Michelle and Jen! This week Joy really scored some great "new" toys. At the football party hosted by the wonderful Michelle (They Outnumber Us) I came home with a small kitchen which Joy has not stopped playing with since I took it out of my trunk on Thursday. Oh and I made the mistake of telling her the blue square cube was ice so now she goes to our fridge and wants ice while playing with hers. Then Thursday Jen gave Joy a stroller, high chair and I got a caterpillar piano/bell (I will let Joy borrow it on occasion). Then today when I went to help Jen and Liz move (YEAH it's finally done!) I got 2 boxes of Little People. I can't wait to set it all up in the entry and have Little People town! Then maybe I will let Joy play with that too! I am going slow on the showing Joy all her new toys so she doesn't go into overload, especially since she's ill. I will post pics as I get them with the new stuff oh and keep it coming I am always willing to receive, and promise to pass on that which I receive!

Bathtime

Bath time has gotten a little better, but not much. The dreaded water on the head is hard to get through without tears, but we manage. I finished getting the shampoo out of her hair last night and decided she would look cute with a mohawk. I was right. You don't get the full effect with the pictures but she's cure with the spikey hairdo!

I'm bored...

I am bored, I have 100 things I could be doing 1,000 things I should be doing so I googled bored and this just made me smile, now to see if I can get my list to 999. (oh and sorry about the original image, not my favorite although funny!