Shopping Ban - FAIL.

I nailed it .. not.  I didn't fail horribly but I definitely need to work on my consumer habits.

We got hit with the Snowzilla here, and days before it lead to a shopping trip to Home Goods and And That!  I bought some decor for Valentines day (didn't need) and snow tubes for the boys.  Which were a big need and so useful during the storm and days after.  I also bought 2 pairs of workout pants (didn't need).

So as much as I wanted to be successful and write about how easy it was to not buy anything all month, I didn't.  However, I am proud of the accomplishments I did make.  I was able to go to Target and stay to my list for groceries.  I went to the mall and didn't buy anything (for myself).  I focused on my budget and sticking to it.

For the month of January, my breakdown of my income was like this:

38% Mortgage/daycare/utility bills
34% debt
15% savings
13% food/gym/blow money

I plan on staying at these percentages for the next couple of months, until my debt (credit cards, personal loan) are paid off.  Then the plan is to take half of the 34%, put half towards car payment and the other half towards savings.

One day I will re evaluate challenging myself with another Shopping ban..

30 Day Shopping Ban - Weeks 1 and 2

A Quick Update:

 It's going .. well, it's going okay.  I met my best friend for coffee last Thursday (spent money at Starbucks) but it was worth it.  I also bought a new bed sheet from the Thrift store, as the cat ripped our other one.  Yes, we only have 1 set of bed sheets.  And I bought them used, so it is okay.

I went grocery shopping this past weekend and was able to stay to my list, and then the second store I only bought the items I had coupons for.  I made sure to create a dinner plan with easy meals for the week so there was no fast food nights.

I've struggled a bit with making sure to have all of my food planned for the week - one morning I was running late and could have stopped by the store to grab an oatmeal to go - instead I threw some oatmeal and PB2 in a container and heated it at work.

I am on budget and it feels good.  I am able to pay off my credit cards and put money towards savings.  I am keeping myself busy at work and also at the gym, so I am not thinking about Happy Hour, coffee runs, etc.  

I will try to have a break down on what I have spent by the end of the month.

30 days shopping ban

I've got this crazy idea to not spend money on useless stuff for 30 days.  I didn't make this up.  I found a Minimalist blog and have loved reading every article.

http://blondeonabudget.ca/

She actually did a shopping ban for a year.  Maybe one day I will get to that point, maybe.  For now I will start with 30 days.  :)

The rules are simple. I am allowed to shop for necessities, such as groceries, toiletries, basic cosmetics (like eyeliner and mascara, but only after I ran out), and cleaning supplies.  I did not make an Approved Shopping List like Cait, as its only 30 days and I just pretty much got a whole bunch of goodies at Christmas.  

We eat out as a family every Friday.  That is the only time I am allowed to spend money on eating out.  No Target runs.  No Starbucks.  No Dunkin Donuts.  Some may think I am making my family suffer.  No, not at all.  We can cook/bake the same things at home, probably better.  I just need to make a complete grocery shopping list and stay on budget.  

Day 4, so far so good.  The weekend was crazy after NYE so we just relaxed in the house and watched football on Sunday.  Here is my countdown for the next 27 days.

Being alone

I have not been alone for 10 years now.  I do not even know what it feels like, to be alone. And im not talking about 1 hour at the gym, alone.  Or at the grocery store, alone.  

I mean a single life.  

I got pregnant when I was 20.  I didn't know what life was.  Heck, I wasnt even old enough to drink at the bar!  
I've been reading a lot of blogs lately.  Girls, who are still in college.  That live in an apartment.  That do daily activities.  Alone.  They even have scheduled timeline to prove it.  

 I have been alone before.  On vacation.  Out at the bar.  I don't even know what to do with myself.  It makes me feel as if I missing something.  

That I need to be constantly needed.  Make dinner.  Help with homework.  Bath bodies.  Tie shoes.  Walk to the bus.  I really do not know what or how to be alone.

I am not complaining .  I love my life.  I am happy.  I just think sometimes.  Think about the what ifs?  And being alone.  Is one I cannot do.  

My KonMari Adventure

I stumbled across the Marie Kondo book in a blog one day.  I am always up for trying new things (Whole 30, Dave Ramsey, Minimalism, anyone?).  I ordered the book on Amazon and patiently awaited its arrival.

I ended up reading the first half of the book and dove right in.  On a Wednesday night I did my clothes.  And holy shit did I have a lot of clothes.  I took them all out from every nook and cranny of my room and threw them on my bed.  It took me about 3 hours to go through, separate, bag, and ‘fold’ all of my new clothes.  In the book, you are to hold each piece of clothing up, one by one, and ask yourself if it brings you joy.  If the answer is no, you thank the article of clothing for its time well spent, and move on to the next.  Sounds super crazy, I know.  I felt strange saying it out loud, so I thanked it in my head.  And folding was a task!  See, Marie has a different folding method, one I’ve never done.  It was daunting at first, but once I put all of my clothes away, I was in awe of what I saw.  I was so happy I could see every shirt, every pair of pants – I knew it would be so easy now to pick what I wanted to wear.

The following week, I finished the book.  I went around the house doing other items.  Books, then papers.  (This is the order to follow, per the book). Then it was the living room (which included toys) and the Kitchen.  The Kitchen was by far my favorite, as this is where I spent most of my time.  Cleaning out the junk drawer, glasses/plates/bowls, and making my kitchen more functional.  I used to shove everything in the lower cabinets. Now everything has its own *space.

For the most part, I thought I was done.  Until recently I was having issues in my closet.  My shoes were everywhere, and I felt that I didn’t have enough storage for them.  So, I re-konmari’d my shoes.  The ones on the shelves were ones that I don’t wear, and don’t bring me joy anymore.   I tossed about 15 pairs, and made room for the everyday heels, boots, and sneakers.  I then went through my shirts, again.  I realized I have a lot of shirts that I have not even touched since I started this journey.  If I don’t wear them, why do I have them?  I really had to think about this one.  Some were coaching shirts, other gave me memories of races I did, or bring me joy when I workout.  I kept the ones that brought those happy memories.

I have not touched my boy’s clothes.  Nor my husbands.  Marie stats the first step is to confront your own stuff.  And sometimes I cringe looking at my husband’s side of the room.  But getting rid of his items would not bring me joy.  Maybe one day he will want to do it and I will help.

This book has helped me appreciate everything I have.  When I get home from work, I walk into my house, put my keys in their holder (thank the car for getting me there safe), hang up my coat (thank it for keeping me warm), take off my shoes (thank them for the hard work they did that day) and change my clothes into my loungewear.  I sound nuts, right?  Yeah I thought the same thing at first when I read the book.  But now, its second nature to me.  I can thoroughly enjoy my stuff, my house, my family, because I am not knee-deep into tidying every day.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays!

 Yes and now that it is almost February I thought I would give you a holiday update.


Christmas was of course a crazy time in our house, especially with 3 little boys.  I wanted to enjoy playing Santa, but I swear my 6 year old changed his mind every week on what he expected Santa to bring, even thought I bought all the gifts on Black Friday.  In the end, he was so happy and didnt complain once.  (which is surprising when it comes to him).

We hosted New Years Eve and it started off bad but turned out to be a great night.  I didnt drink that much (shocker), and still enjoyed myself, hanging with the in-laws.

January 1st came around and I decided to start the Whole30 again.  I really gained that 'holiday' weight and was tired of the fluff hanging over my jeans.  Here is a difference between Day 1 and Day 10.  Currently I'm on Day 24, feeling great for the most part, but scared as to what I will do when Day 31 rolls around.  More on that at another time.  I have been documenting all of my meals over on the Whole 9 forum, here, if you want to take a look.

2014 will be a great year for my family and I.  I started a new job back in November, and still trying to adjust.  Lacrosse season is coming up and trying to prep myself for that. 

Life seems busy from the outside, but my day to day goes by so slow, especially at work.  I am trying to be grateful for everything I have, but it is hard when I see it from day to day.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles with cream cheese frosting.

It is finally fall so now I can bake with pumpkin and not feel like I am cheating the world.  Kind of like Starbucks did when they brought out the pumpkin spice latte a month early.   I scored through Pinterest on what I should make first and came across these pumpkin snickerdoodles:

http://onestarrynight.com/pumpkin-snickerdoodles/

They looked easy, and knew the boys could help with the rolling.  Well I dont know what I did wrong, because they tasted bland.  Thankfully, the boys loved them.  I didnt want to leave 2 dozen cookies in my house that me or my husband couldnt eat, so  I whipped up a cream cheese frosting to dollop on top and bring them to work.  Would I make these again?  No.  Am I looking for another pumpkin recipe?  Yes.  Next stop, bread.

 

sorry for the crappy iPhone picture.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles with Cream Cheese Frosting
recipe adapted from One Starry Night

Ingredients
 

The Cookie
• 1 C canned plain pumpkin
• 1 large egg
• 2 sticks of room temperature unsalted butter (1 cup)
• 1/2 C brown sugar, packed
• 1 TSP ground cinnamon
• 1/2 TSP fresh ground nutmeg (or 1/4 tsp for the pre-grated)
• 1 1/2 TSP baking powder
• 3 C all purpose unbleached flour
• 3 TSP pure vanilla extract
• pinch of kosher salt
The Sugar Mixture for Rolling

• 1/3 C granulated white sugar
• 1/2 TSP ground cinnamon
• 1/4 TSP fresh ground nutmeg (or 1/8 tsp pre-grated)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until well combined and a bit fluffy.
3. Add in the egg, salt, pumpkin, and vanilla
4. Mix in the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking powder.
6. Use a spoon and take a golfball-size amounth of dough and roll the dough in your palms to make it more ball like.
7. Drop the ball of dough into the sugar mixture and roll around until all sides are coated in the mixture.
8. Place about two inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet, or Silpat.
9. Now if you want a flatter cookie, smoosh the dough balls down with the flat end of a glass.
10. Bake for 14 minutes. When your timer goes off, transfer the cookies to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes.
    
    Once the cookies have cooled completely, start making the icing.  Honestly, I didnt measure any of it.  But here are my best guesses as to how much.
    
    -4oz cream cheese (softened)
    -2 tbsp whole milk
    -2 tsp vanilla extract
    -1/4tsp nutmeg
    -1.5 cups powdered sugar
    
    Cream together the cream cheese, milk, extract, and nutmeg.  slowly add in the powdered sugar until your at a consistency you like.  You may need to add more if you want it thick.  Spread onto cool cookies and sprinkle with cinnamon.  Enjoy!