Friday, March 4, 2011

Ready for the Weekend

I couldn't be more ready for the weekend. Seriously. It's been another tough week at work and just life. 

I'm super excited, tomorrow will be Mack's first dance class. So we shall see how that goes and if she likes it. Luckily the studio lets them do a free intro class. She loves music, to sing and dance, so I don't see why she wouldn't like it. 

Photo Credit 
I have a hefty list of things that I want to get done this weekend. Don't we all. Although spring doesn't come to the land of Lake Tahoe, CA until at least the middle or end of April. I have an itch to spring clean, organize and declutter the house. 

Have a great weekend all! 

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Time to pull the Goalie

I'm getting an itch for baby number two. More so to get it rolling and be done with it. No sense in dragging it out. I was looking at the old finances yesterday and well... yikes! 

However, there is some good news. My car is paid off next November... OMGeee! Which free's up around $420 bucks a month. There is a good chunk of change. Then I was browsing over the finances to see what we can cut and what else we can lower in order to put another child in day care. ($1000 bucks a month is murder). 

I did some calculations and well, we need to pay off all credit cards but two. Well that shouldn't be too hard right. I picked the best two we have for rewards, interest rates, cash advances, and over limit. We can totally manage to live off of two credit cards. I think. 

The Goal: Pay off all credit cards, but two by the end of November. Then, I say it will be time to "pull the goalie." I have an IUD and it's been a great goalie of defending the goal for the last 2 1/2 years. 

I figured then when the credit cards (but, 2) and my car is paid off we will have freed up enough money to live comfortably and have two kids in day care. Sweet, yes, success! 


It sounds so easy, but paying off anything can be challenge. The geek in me, it was time to make an excel spreadsheet and craft up some formulas. 




I did some screen shots of the budget. These are my real numbers for credit card balances and minimum payments. I don't want to lie and I want it to be as real as it can be.


We have some serious things to accomplish. We have $320 bucks a month extra to put towards credit card debt. I have crafted this spreadsheet to plan each month, which credit card will get the bulk of the extra payment a month and start to watch this numbers disappear. The number's in RED that's what we owe on the card. The line below that is the minimum payment to that card and the next column is the extra payment amount.

Sticking to a budget and goal is hard. Life throws you curve balls and thing happen. The important thing is not to give up but start over the next month and keep to the goals you have set yourself.

My goal is get rid the debt and get pregnant again. What's you debt goals? How will you achieve them? How did you conquer debt. Please tell me!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

The best view one can have for a 9 minute commute.
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Today's Letter Inspired - First Post

I've alway's wanted to write a letter and try it. I found this idea from my fellow blogger, The Forever Endeavor (her blog is awesome and she is awesome, so join the awesomeness and visit her). She in turn got the idea from letter's Today's Letter's. They have a cute blog and they write letter's to each other. Such a good idea. 

Today's Letter's: Dear Ian: I don't tell you all the time but I appreciate you and all you do for Mack and I. I'm so happy and excited for you that you passed yet another exam for work and another raise is added to your salary. I watched you boost your confidence since you have started this new job almost 3 years ago and your constantly raising the bar for yourself. Mackenna: you scared the crap out of me this weekend when you touched the wood burning stove and burned your hand. You cried and screamed and you have blisters to prove it. You are a strong kid. I slept on the floor of your room to make sure you were sleeping ok and tell you, "your ok", when you would stir and wake up in the middle of the night. Dear mother nature: thanks for the 4 feet of fresh snow you have graced us with. Maybe now L.A won't be in a drought and the lake's and river's will be full for summer. Dear Mack's Preschool Teacher's: you have always treated my daughter as your own. The love and care you show to her everyday is the best feeling in the world to a parent. She has learned more than you know and continues to grow and learn with you. 

P.S. Who would you write a letter too? What would you say? 

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Mack Monthly Update

Mack at the KidZone. 
Mack is now 2 Year's old and 2 month's old. She is growing up to be a well behaved and well mannered child. It's hard to think at times that you are the one that has created this person. She still surprises me everyday and is smarter than I ever imagined.


Weight: 36 pounds (Still the same weight)

Height: 3 feet tall. 

New Words: Wake up, Cya Later, more please, I love you (way more clear), Remembering her friends name's from school. Counts 1-10 and almost to 20. 

Eating Habits: Really into her favorites again. Being stubborn about new food items. 

Favorite Movies: A Goofy Movie, Bugs life, and Walle

Activities: Everything is "what's that!" She wants to know what everything is and will repeat what you tell her. She is picking things up so quickly. 

Potty Training Status: She went all by herself the other weekend. She just didn't get her undies down, but she went potty by herself. Progress.  

Sleeping: She is a sleepy kid. She still takes 2-3 hour naps a day and sleeps through the night from 8pm to 5:30am - 6:00am. 

Building with Friends
She built this all by herself.


Monday, February 28, 2011

McFatty Monday - Do Over

Repeat of Week #3....

Usually life is busy like all the time. Especially when you have a toddler that goes 100 miles a minute, writes on walls (yes, a new thing), and tests you every minute. Life shouldn't get in the way of my health goals, it should all encompass itself. Anyway, last week was a train wreck and I failed miserably. 

Work... I work a job that requires lot's of overtime. I'm not complaining, but 12 hours a day in front of a computer processing and analyzing data can be rough for more than a week. Last week we had a big volume push where we all had to buckle down and contribute some significant overtime hours. I'm not complaining, because money is money right. I love my job and I'm glad I have one. 

From a health stand point, those weeks and overtime hours are hard. I mean hard. I cracked and crumbled. I was drinking endless cups of coffee... and the devil itself and my weakest encounter.. the can of Red Bull. We don't need to go into details on how much red bull I drank last week. Ok, if you must know.... around like 8 or 9 cans last week. I'm not talking the small can's either. Some days they were 16 ounces and other's 12 ounces.  

And guess what I felt like shit. I had the shakes, stomach aches, and flat out just tired and couldn't even function or talk. There are several alternatives to fuel my body, but hey red bull on the way to work seem so much more easier. and it was. 

We have more overtime this week, and I can't do that again. 

I minor hicup in my success.. but I'm moving forward and starting over. New goals. 

Weight to Loose: 60 pounds

Weight left: 59 pounds

* I actually lost a pound.. meh! *

Goals:

10 Pounds by March 10th, 2011

20 pounds: (March 25th, 2011) Reward: Hair cut and color

30 Pounds (New outfit for summer)

Ok, I really need your help and support this week to help myself overcome the red bull and coffee while I'm working like a bee this week. Please link up with me if you would like to journey with me. 


* Isagenix is a cleanse program targeted to regain natural energy and natural weight loss. The opinions of the product and the results are my own . If you are interested in using the products, please visit. Isagenix.com 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

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