Project 2012- Totally Rad.

I dislike everything about New Years.

I don't like to stay up late. I don't like to drink a lot at parties (who am I kidding. I don't go to parties). And I usually end up picking a resolution that only makes me feel bad about myself in the long run. All that being said, it usually ends up being my least favorite holiday. One in which I get into my pajamas around 7pm, and fall asleep on the couch trying to stay awake until midnight. Then Ryan wakes me up, laughing, because he finds my overly tiredness HILARIOUS and we go to bed around 11:40. Happy New Year.

BUT NOT THIS YEAR!

Without trying to add too much pressure to it, I've decided that 2012 is going to be absolutely rad. I am going to embrace the fact that I am NOT a night owl, and I will gladly go to bed after celebrating East Coast New Years at 9pm my time. And that will be the start of a good year. One in which I am productive, but not overwhelmed or uptight. One in which I have fun with my husband and spend time doing things that I want to do. One in which we will, hopefully, become a family of three. Or at least find out we will be one shortly. ;) Because when I really think about it... we've got pretty much everything we need in place to have an awesome year. I'm done with school. We both have jobs we like. We have pets we adore, we have a nice house that we love, and we have more time together than we've ever had before. Perfecto, no??

However, I decided I didn't want to entirely skip out on doing the whole Resolution thing, so I decided that my resolution was to be Monthly Goal Making. Each month I will sit down and write a handful (no more than 6, no less than 3) of attainable goals that I feel will help Project 2012- Totally Rad. Since my life focuses right now have been on Financial Independence and being a good homemaker, they mostly revolve around those things. And that's just the way I want it. :) So, here goes!

January Goals

1. Try one new dinner recipe.
2. Try one new baking/dessert recipe
3. Stick to a set cleaning schedule (I feel like this is going to be the toughie)
       Sun- Bedroom
            Tues- Bathroom
            Thurs- Kitchen
             Fri- Laundry
            Sat- Floors and kitchen
4. Obey "15 minute rule" as often as possible- this is where you set a timer right when you get home and work for 15 minutes to do whatever it is you gotta do to make the rest of the day easier. I usually end up using it to throw a load of laundry in, pick up random stuff around the house, change the toliet paper roll... whatever. It's super helpful and you can do almost anything for 15 mins, right?
5. Pay $200 towards debt
6.Stick to $40/ week grocery budget, with a $15/ week stockpile budget


I'm excited to see how these go! The thing that is nice for me is that if something falls a little, or it's not working out, I only have to scrap it until the next month, when I can make completely different goals or change one to make it work for me! And if I screw up completely, I get a fresh start in just a few weeks! Easy, peasy! So, what I want to know is who wants to make some monthly goals with me?? And what are your resolutions? Let's hear 'em!



I just need to say it.

Infertility sucks. A lot.

TVF. Kinda.

So in another blog I read, they do a little thing called "Thought Vomit Thursday" where they combine all the random snippets/thoughts that wouldn't be enough to hold up a whole post on it's own. But todays Friday... so I'm gonna call it TVF. It's what I'm feeling today, and it's been a while since I posted, so here goes!

- I'm completely reorganizing how I think about/spend/save money. Mostly thanks to this blog: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/
I should warn you that he's a bit of a potty mouth... but he has some really interesting (at times a little extreme) ways to think about cash and where it's going. I like that he goes beyond the usual "don't buy lattes and pack your lunch" advice that most financial advisers stick to. I think everyone should give it a read, if only for kicks and giggles. ;)

- What the heck are we supposed to do with AA batteries when they're empty?? Does anyone know?? For some reason it's stressing me out. I'm not supposed to throw them away because they leak into the earth at landfills, right? So what to do? (Random, I know.)

- My husband is a little obsessed with our Wii we just bought used from a friend. He's played that stupid ski jump game for, like, hours.

- I'm super proud of my bestie, Bridgette, for her amazing transformation/ weight loss this past year. You all should check out her blog at: http://onedayonestepandonebreathatatime.blogspot.com/

- I am ridiculously excited to go Black Friday shopping for the first time EVER with my dear friend Samantha. We are gonna TEAR IT UP.

Oh yeah, about that...

OK, so recently I wrote a blog about the things I love. Since no one screamed at me and told me it was a horrible idea, I thought it'd be amusing to make a list of the things I hate. Ok, 'hate' is a strong word. Things that annoy me. In a humorous, make-me-wanna-roll-my-eyes kind of way. ;) Feel free to join in or disagree in comments!! :) Also, there's no way I can get through this without a paranthetical running side commentary so...uh... heads up on that one.

1. Eyeballs. (If you thought you knew me and didn't realize this would be my first, you don't know me at ALL.)

2. When customers at work give me the "Hang on, I'm on the phone" finger while I'm trying to take their order (Hi, yeah, remember when you pulled up to a drive through window like you wanted something?? Go ahead and spit it out and I'll make it for ya. We're at a stand still until then. Just saying. ***)

3. Jon Bon Jovi. (Seriously, who does that guy think he IS?? And that's not his real name. Honestly.)

http://blog.villageorigin.com/tag/bon-jovi/

4. People who are repeatedly late. (Enough said. And I try to avoid this myself.) 

5. When people don't realize they have an INSANE amount of dog hair on them. (I have a dog that sheds sooo bad. But do I pick him up and rub him all over my body before I walk out the door? No. Because that would be stupid. Keep the animal hair ON the animal or buy a lint roller.)

6. The fact that no matter how many times I check my pant pockets there is always change littering my floors because they fall out of the laundry.

7. People who 'like' crunchy cookies. (Seriously, people. Have you ever eaten a soft, chewy cookie? Why, whhhyyy would you prefer crunchy, dry, disgusting-ness when the alternative is sooo much better?!? What is WRONG with you?!? Whew. Glad to have that off my chest.)

            

8. Jersey Shore. (One day, those poor kids are goona wake up at 40 someting years old and realize that all of their stupid mistakes are forever recorded for everyone to see and they're gonna be really, really upset.)

9. Enchiladas Mole. (It's so bad, I don't even wanna go into what it is. And unfortunately, Ryan likes to eat it on a regular basis. Gag.)

10. The sick, queasy feeling I get before deciding to give an artist a 'thumbs up' on Pandora. (All it takes is one bad choice to totally bring your favorite Pandora Station down. And there doesn't seem to be any take-back-sies. I'm feeling anxious so I need to stop thinking about this now.)

Whew. Glad to have that all out in the open!!

***The exception to this are my wonderful, 'regular' customers who wouldn't ever have to order again in their lives because I'll make 'em what I know they want every single day. If one of you is reading this... don't worry. You don't count. ;)

Next step, Rehab.

Boys and girls. Ladies and gentlemen. Friends and family. I have a confession.

I've been getting high.

You may be asking yourself what substance it was that took such a straight laced girl as myself down. Well, I'll tell you...

It's coupons (gasp).

You may have remembered in an earlier post that I mentioned Ryan and I were on a saving kick... We (and by we I mean ME and Ryan would agree) to be debt-free in three years. That means no consumer debt. As in, no more credit card payments, and no more car loans. Both (!) our car loans will be done in just under 3 years, leaving us at that point, hopefully, with just our mortgage and my student loans. Which are both reasonable, and I'd argue, perfectly acceptable according to most personal finance gurus. They are considered to be the only "positive" forms of debt because at some point they will both pay you back in a sense. We don't have a whooollleee lot of debt, but things build up over the years (especially with one of us in college for the past umpteen years) and we decided it'd be better to be free and clear.

So I figured my options were: make more, or spend less. I've worked as many as 3 jobs at once in the past. And I'd do it again if I had to. But I would really, really rather not. I'd done the "make more" bit and while it worked out ok, I wasn't really super happy doing it. (Read: I was exhausted and grumpy all the time). So I decided to spend less. The only real way to do this was either eat nothing but Top Ramen every night, or bite the bullet and learn about this whole "couponing" mumbo jumbo.

ADDICTED. It can be, at times, like legal stealing. Without the moral or legal implications. When you get a good deal, it's what I imagine getting high feels like. Giddy, excited and a little lightheaded. (Ok, I exaggerate a little) And I'm not even very good at it yet. YET. But I will be. I've only been at it for 2 weeks. The first week I got my feet wet with a few double coupons at Albertsons and a few manufacturer sales. I was interested, but not impressed. But then this week was much better. I got things for free, planned an entire meal for Ryan and I that cost a total of $1.50, and today at Target I saved $30 dollars on about $74 dollars worth of groceries and personal items (tampons, razors, etc.) I paid $44 dollars, plus got a $5 dollar giftcard to use on my next Target trip.

The one thing I'm having an issue with is the idea of "stockpiling." Avid couponers swear it's the only way to really be a successful couponer, but I'm not convinced I really have the space for that sort of thing. I was considering putting some shelves in the garage, which isn't really being used right now since Truth Remains has vacated it, and we don't park in there... I could even buy a stand alone freezer for out there... hmmm...

SO. In conclusion... I <3 coupons. Don't judge. And here's the most helpful websites I've been using:
http://www.frugallivingnw.com/
http://thekrazycouponlady.com/
I found both of these off a friend's facebook page. So, friend, if you're reading this... thanks and sorry I'm a creepy FB Stalker!! :)

ALSO! If you want to get your feet wet, here's my favorite coupon tip most people haven't seemed to catch on to: You can buy the Sunday paper, with all the inserts at the DOLLAR STORE. Making it half price instead of the $2 it normally is!! WooHoo!

Ohhhhh Looovee.

So, my husband can be the funniest person ever. The problem is, he's super quiet. Not in a shy kind of way, just in the kind of way where he'd rather hear someone else talk than himself. It's a quality I admire and I try and remind myself everyday to be more like him in that way.

I once asked him why he's so quiet and his response was "I just feel like someone else has something better to say than I do."

Lord, thank you for a husband who teaches me something every day.

SO when he DOES talk it's usually well thought out and sweet, or extremely hilarious. Last night he was hilarious. At least, I think so. ;)

We were both having kind of a weird day- I was 'baby sad' as I call it to Ryan, and he had just come home from working at the funeral of a 9 year old little boy who was much loved in our community, but had recently died of cancer.
So anyways, we decided to take the dogs and walk around Ashland. Ashland has a much better (and more exciting) 'nightlife' than Meddy does, and we hadn't done that before.

(I'm worrying at this point that I'm giving too much lead-in to such a small story... but it feels good, so stay with me).

So we had our two pups with us. Penny, who is a little bit of a freak... she jumps around everywhere, always has to be ontop of Colby and also has a very unfortunate bowel control problem so much so that we have to keep her crated at night because otherwise she poops everywhere (gross, I know. Sorry). And Colby, who's more mellow, but really athletic, and super cute.

So I ask Ryan (because we're nerds, and don't have children so we talk about this kind of stuff): "Do you think our dogs are like us? Like, I'm super excitable like Penny and you're more mellow like Colby?"
 And without missing a beat he says "Yeah, and you keep pooping everywhere, too"

I don't know why but it hit me as the funniest thing anyone had ever said to me, and I was doubled over  on the sidewalk in Ashland laughing at my husband quick (if a little gross) wit.

And just like that, my day was better. <3

Summertime and feelin' fine.

I've had such a FUN summer so far! :) :) Here's just a few things I've done the past few months:

-Hawaii. :)
- Swim Meet in Reno with my awesome team.
-Redding Waterslides with our fun couple friends.
-Spent waaay too much time on Pinterest.com
- Had a picnic anniversary dinner: (Super chill anniversary including shredded pork sandwiches? Yes, please!)

Then, this weekend, we went for a short little trip to the coast! We both get 'over' things really fast. Like, we'll spend a bunch of time getting somewhere, be really excited, then be bored within like 5 minutes. I call it "Situational ADD." Whatever it is, I'm glad to have found someone in life who's like me in that way. So, our beach day consisted of: Waking up at 5:30am, packing up and leaving the house by 7am, grabbing some HB on the way (duh), driving alll the way there, and being on the beach for about an hour. It was perfection. We brought the pups, and they did excellent off their leashes. I was a proud momma. :)

We hiked around before finding a spot to relax and have our picnic lunch, and between the hiking and the racing Colby on the beach my legs are TIRED and SORE. *Sidenote: My dog is the fastest dog on the face of the planet. I was full-out sprinting, and I glanced over at him running beside me and he was barely jogging.

We took some silly little pics with Ryan's camera phone, so excuse the blurriness and my lack of makeup. :) It looks overcast, but that's the Oregon Coast for ya, and it was actually a really nice temperature out.