Thankful Time

I was reading a new fav blog called Christina's Adventure's, check her out at http://christinasadventures2010.blogspot.com/. She listed out some things she was thankful for and seeing as how I've been having a bad couple of days I thought perhaps doing this would help to brighten my mood. So here, in no particular order is what I'm thankful for. 1. An amazing fiance 2. An hour at the gym 3. A semi-clean house 4. the sight of an asleep kitten on my fiance, you can't help but smile after seeing that. 5. Summer People by: Elin Hilderbrand, I have been noticing lately that most of the books I've been reading I've been slogging through and I really haven't enjoyed them, this one is different, definetly a must read 6. Lies My Teacher Told Me by: James Loewen, This book has opened my eyes a bit and is definetly also a must read. In fact I've decided that anyone wishing to become president should have to read this book before they put their name in the ring 7. Blogs: Namely The Mobile Home Woman, Chez Larrson, and Walk Slowly, Live Wildly. I don't spend or keep in touch with my friends as much as I'd like, reading these blogs makes me feel like I've have friends that I keep in touch with, is that bad?

Spring? Where are you?

As I sit here typing this I hear the lovely sounds of birds chirping and the not so lovely sounds of cars driving by, I will never live on a main road again. The sun is shining and it looks gorgeous out. It makes me want to throw my running sneakers on and head out for a nice run. However, weather.com tells me that would be a bad idea, well unless that is if I'd like to add multiple layers to my body to go running. Bah! March 21st is spring why hasn't mother nature gotten the memo?

Erasing $70,000 in debt and why I'll never do it

Wow, post two for the day, I'm impressed. I find that the more I write the more writing I want to do, and the more ideas I have. But before I start, if you want this post to make any sense head on over here http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/112352/how-to-erase-70000-in-debt?mod=bb-debtmanagement .

Back? Wow, wasn't that article a doozy? Oh, you never left, well let me give you the lowdown. A young couple had $70,000 in debt, thanks to school loans, car loans, and house loans. However, by cutting back they were able to pay it all off in about a year while also saving $23,000. Sounds amazing right? Want to know why I will never attempt something like this? Quick sidenote, I will probably never need to attempt something like this. Together they made $140,000 in one year, one year! They decided they could live on $40,000 post-taxes. Now, if my fiance and I made that post tax I'd be a happy camper. She says they took on extra work, but I'm guessing it couldn't have been $100,000 of extra work could it?

When I read this article I just had to laugh. She's only a year older than me and already makes more than I will ever make in a year. But readers I told you I wouldn't have to worry about things like this and would you like to know why? Good, cause I was going to tell you no matter what.

I was an English/Communications major. My dream since I was little was to become a writer. My dad, being the savy money man that he is, knew that with my degree after four years I'd be lucky getting a job that paid more than one flipping burgers. So, he wouldn't let me take out any student loans, and I owe him forever for that.

Second, my parents have instilled in me some amazing values and beliefs. The first brand new car they got was purchased when I was in college. For that reason it has never even been a thought of mine to purchase a car brand new. I am in fact in the market for a new car now and, while I'm planning on waiting until after I get married to finally buy one, I'm only planning on looking at cars that I can afford to pay cash for. Thank you no car loan.

And second, the condo I bought was cheap enough that the down payment was pretty miniscule. By the time my fiance and I started looking at condo's we'd already started putting money away towards a wedding fund and part of that fund went to pay the down payment on our condo. It also helps that our monthly condo payment plus our HOA fee is a bit less than we were paying in rent.

So, there you have it folks. Why I will never be $70,000 in debt, and why I won't have to pay it off. And, even though I am now unemployed when I was employed I was able to put a good chunk away towards savings each month. Though I think a lot of that savings also went towards house stuff, because it's gone now. Ah well, there's always the wedding fund.

Working out and Cleaning, sometimes they go hand in hand

As promised I'm back this morning to tell you all about my new workout regimen.

So, I've been on Paxil for the past few years. I originally got on it because I was working somewhere that was not conducive to feeling good about yourself at all. Pair that with just having worked at a similar spot and Paxil was in my future.

I tried to go off it once, when I had found a job back with some great guys. However, shortly after I went off it I spent three days in bed unable to will myself out of bed. I knew it was time to hope back on the Paxil wagon.

Now though I'm hoping I'm back on it for good. This time going off it came about for two reasons. One, I got laid off and thus don't have health insurance currently, though I'm working on getting it again. And two, a few weeks ago I ran out of my current stash, I e-mailed my doctor asking if I could get a refill and was told by someone else at my doctor's office that she wasn't in and that the doctor on call wouldn't give me a refill because I hadn't been taking it since April. Of course this all happened on a Thursday or Friday so I went all weekend without it and I decided maybe it would be best just to get off it once and for all. Thankfully either my doctor came back or my e-mail back to them informing them that I had been taking it since April smartened them up because that Monday I noticed that I had another refill.

This time in going off my Paxil I thought I would try replacing it with something. That something being exercise. I've read a few things here and there that always say that exercise is supposed to help your mood so I thought it would be the perfect solution.

I already had a gym membership, and with the nice weather coming up I had a 5k planned, and have already added a second one to my races for the year. I started going to the gym every other day. Originally I just biked, usually for an hour. I'd bring a book and sit and read as my legs went to work. In the beginning just stepping into the gym would give me a giddy feeling. I've now progressed to trying to run a bit as well as do some weight machines.

Now, I'm sure you are all wondering how that has anything to do with cleaning right? Well, here it is. Before I started working out if I cleaned for any length of time, say a half hour, I felt like an old lady. My hips would bother me and make it painful to walk. There was even times when I couldn't roll over in bed because my hips hurt so bad. I blame this on two things, one being my weight, according to the bmi calculator I'm obese, and two while in college I got bursitis in my knee, however, they didn't tell me that was what it was until I came home for the summer and went to see a real doctor. I'm fairly certain my knee will never be the same.

Back to cleaning. I cleaned for an hour and a half, thank you laundry timer, and the hip pain never bothered me until I was all done, and even then it was half of the pain it usually was. So, thank you exercise for helping me to feel my age again.

Project Storage Cleaning

It has been my intention for a little while now to organize the storage unit we have. Originally we put anything in there that we didn't have room for in the house, a bike, a long overdue project, a Christmas tree, as well as a bunch of random stuff. We've since added things like empty boxes and extra plates and bowls we don't have room for in the kitchen. It's gotten to the point where I'm a little afraid to even look at it. Though I've had a few things that I've been wanting to put away there, mainly some extra plastic bowls that we don't have room for. I also cleaned our car out this weekend which added a whole new slew of stuff that didn't belong in the car at all, or at least not for now, snow broom anyone? Add to that the fact that our wonderful friend Lauren came and helped us finally tackle our office there's been lots adding up that isn't necessarily stuff I want to get rid of, but is also not something I want in the house.

So, I did it. I bit the bullet and tackled the storage unit today. The general set up of our unit is a small square room with shelves on the back wall as well as one side wall. I started by taking pretty much everything that was on the floor and moving it out into the laundry room. On a side note I was doubly productive because prior to starting the big clean I also started a load of laundry. This worked well on another front as well because it took me just over one wash and dry cycle, love being able to time it.

But back to the clean. I tried to make piles, or areas more like, of the things. One spot for things to get rid of, another for recycling, and so on. Part of the reason I finally tackled it was because we still had a bunch of moving boxes, we moved in October, are you as disgusted as I am? I thought so. I had decided today would be the day that I would finally bring them to the recycling center, and then I had another thought. Most of the boxes were from my fiance's work, they were uniform in size and pretty sturdy. So, I thought why not use them to organize the storage area? It worked out great.

I was able to take a bunch of flimsy Macy's boxes full and half full of dishes and glasses and consolidate them to two sturdy boxes. I found the perfect place for all our sports toys, the once empty cooler. I even had room for some empty plastic tubs. Part of me was thinking I should use the tubs, they are plastic after all and if any water gets in the unit that would stink. But I like the uniformity of the cardboard boxes and right now we don't have the money to go out and buy all the same plastic tubs, so for now this will work. Also, I noticed that everything seemed to fit quite well in the boxes, none were overfull, or close to empty, so that felt nice.

Sadly I didn't think to take a before picture until I was all done and so proud of my work that I wanted to take an after. So, you just have to envision it with me, ready, let's go. You cautiously open the door, afraid the bike on the top shelf will crash down on you, you eye a spot to put your feet in the unit and decide otherwise, you take out four boxes before finding what you wanted and then spend an hour trying to fit the boxes back where they came from. Okay, got a good picture of the before? Well get ready for the after....



Gorgeous isn't it? There's some space in front of the table to stand and there's space between the table and the green planter to stand as well. The bike is back up on the top shelf but it's not quite a precarious up there anymore. Sorry for such grainy pics but I didn't think to grab my digital and only had my cell on me.

Here's a close up of the boxes. Sadly, you can't read the labels but they all tell you what's in each box. I must say I find it quite fitting that my label maker ran out of tape just as I was labeling my last box. That box with three labels on it is simply because I didn't know how to lump a shower curtain, some throw rugs, and a regular curtain all into the same category, though I did have one small box of miscellanious house stuff.


There you have it, my wonderful storage re-do. I'd love to hear about any organizing or cleaning projects you've taken on that you're proud of. And check back tomorrow when I fill you in on my new exercise regimn and how it fits in with my storage cleaning

First Flower of the Season

I was so excited when I walked out the door this past weekend and noticed there was a flower that had bloomed right outside our front door. I was so excited I even took a picture.

Isn't it beautiful and exciting and just gets me reved up for spring.

And then today...

Yup, under there is my sad little flower. Ah, to live in New England.

A Love Poem to Danversbank

Oh Danvers how do I love thee?
Let me count the ways
You offer me complementary tea, coffee, or hot cocoa on every visit
You make it possible for me to take my nickels, pennies, and dimes and turn them into quarters
You up my debit card one day limit no questions asked
You have yet to overdraft me
Your tellers are kind and personable