Cha-ching, Cha-ching, Cha-ching

I knew last week was going to be expensive. The work I had done at the house ended up being very reasonable -- $175. I was happy with that! The work on my car was better than I thought it would be -- $114 -- and then they told me I need new tires -- I've got dry rot going on. Joy. THAT will be closer to $500-$600. Sigh.

Spent a good portion of Saturday shopping. I really dislike shopping. However, it was necessary for several reasons. First, I am transitioning in my job -- and I needed work suitable pants as the job I will now be doing pretty much demands it. I never wear pants to work. Jeans on Fridays and that's pretty much it besides one pair of dressy pants that I really only pulled out on the coldest of days. Its not some sort of principal with me and pants. The fact is, I have a big butt and hips, and my waist is pretty small comparatively. Add to it that I'm not even fully 5'1" -- and well, pants shopping is a nightmare. And I really don't like to pay to have things hemmed. So, I had to pants shop. And only came home with one pair. So now I own two whole pairs of pants (sadly, capris are not work appropriate). I also had to try and do some shopping for the Princess. She put on a bit of weight over the winter, and is working to get it off, however, that is a slow and painful process. So I picked up some shorts for her. And they didn't fit. She is going out of town next weekend so is desperate for shorts. And she works several doubles this week so shopping time is almost non-existent. So, I just threw caution to the wind and money at the problem. I got online and ordered several pairs (next size up) on Target.com --- paid $46 freaking dollars to get them here by Wednesday. OUCH.

I also bought a new to me chair for the den from a friend for $100. Mother's Day and birthday shopping for my nephew were kept in budget at least.

I'll hit the hay early tonight -- full week of meetings and trying to close out my work in my current department all await me the next few days. Quite honestly, I'm whooped. And it is only Monday.

A Spendy Week

This week is shaping up to be a very expensive one!

 I took the pups in today to get their nails trimmed. Yes, technically I could do it myself -- I used to do it to Thing 1 between groomings, but Thing 2 and Thing 3 both have black nails -- I can't see the quick, so if I nip it... that's a LOT of blood. I prefer to leave it to the professionals. While I was there, I paid on my bill (carrying a balance right now). Since January, I've had shots and checkups for Thing 2 and Thing 3, Thing 2's daily meds, Flea and Heartworm preventives for both pups. That adds up to a LOT of $$$. Fortunately, we have used our vet forever, and I can carry a balance and pay it off with no interest or fees. That's a good thing.

Next, I'm having a the outlet for my dryer replaced, a new faucet installed in the kitchen AND getting my central air serviced. Cha-ching! The guy who is doing it for me is the head maintenance tech at the commercial real estate firm I worked at many moons ago. He's licensed and certified in all of those things and has his own small business on the side. He has always been very fair and extremely reasonable in his charges. (Fixed my washing machine a few weeks back for $45 total).

Then, there's Mother's Day. I asked my Mom what she might want, and she said money. I said no. I'm getting tired of our family just passing money back and forth. If we are going to do that, then we need to just abandon the whole gift thing altogether -- because I sure come out in the hole on that one! And we are doing my nephew's birthday on Sunday too.

AND I need to take my car in for servicing. I need an oil change, but it also sounds sometimes like something is clogged up because it hesitates and stutters sometimes when I'm accelerating. My car is 14 years old, but I'd like to get another couple years out of it. Wish me luck that it's not a HUGE expense.

So yeah, a LOT of money is going to be flowing out of the bank account this week. Should be tons of fun.

What A Fabulous Weekend!

After a week of storms and such, this weekend was sunny and dry. I took advantage of it and got a TON of yard work done! My front yard is starting to look fabulous. The back yard... well it is a work in progress. The peonies in the picture above have now started blooming for the first time in SIX YEARS. That's SIX YEARS! I'm a happy girl about that!

Lest you think I spent the whole weekend in the yard, that was certainly not the case. Grilled out with friends Friday night. Went out for pizza and craft beer with a fabulous friend yesterday --- not really on my diet, but oh so very good! Even came home with some beer swag --- a Terrapin Brewing T-shirt -- FREE! (I love free!)

Other than that, slept a lot, played with my pups, did some grocery shopping.... nothing out of the world, but man, it was a GREAT weekend! How about yours?

A Long Break......

Wow. I kept thinking about coming to write, but never was inspired. I should have been. I just wasn't though. Things have been moving along around here. The seemingly endless winter has finally given way to spring and with that.... severe weather ahead. I'm home sick today, but watching the weather closely as we expect roughly three days of very nasty weather. Yesterday was the third anniversary of the supposed "once in a generation" tornado event that devastated so much of our state. So, no warm fuzzies about the days ahead.

During my hiatus, we welcomed a new family member:

Meet Thing 3! He came to us from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. He was a 5 1/2 month old pointer mix at the time. Now he's an almost 7 month old ball of energy that is constantly getting into mischief! He has settled in well although the housebreaking is still an ongoing challenge. Thing 2 has just about forgiven us for bringing him into her calm and settled world. Our sweet Thing 1 was much less of trial to her (she doesn't quite remember that she was once an obnoxious puppy, too). Although, sometimes she gives us awfully dirty looks when he is all up in her space....

Other than that, not too much excitement around here. The Princess and I are both doing Advocare right now to try and shed some pounds. Seems to be working out well for now as we are both eating a lot healthier than normal. And we feel pretty darn good. 

I'm going to go and get to reading and catching up on what's been going on with y'all now! Take care!!!

Spring Fever Is In Full Force

Wow. I have been silent for a while. Didn't mean to be, but never felt inspired to write anything. Anyway, after suffering through the last few weeks of winter, this weekend was GORGEOUS. I've got daffodils popping out to say "HI!" and they are now in full bloom.

They did look a bit lonesome among the leaves and other debris throughout the yard though. This weekend proved the perfect time to start tackling the woefully neglected flower beds. A fabulous friend lent a hand and we got 4.5 of my flower beds de-wintered. And most of the horrible little prickly gumballs cleared from the front yard. Found a baby snake, too... EW. My fabulous friend insisted on relocating the little bugger instead of "getting rid" of it.... I might have to re-think that friendship! Ha!

Every muscle in my body is aching, and I'm only MAYBE 1/3 of the way through my flower beds. My yard work muscles are not happy that I spent most of this very cold winter sitting on my couch with a blankie over my lap!

How did you spend this weekend? Anything fun?

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day to you! I hope your day has been filled with love and lots of good things! I think I've eaten enough sweets to last me til Easter, but in all honesty I'm probably not done yet. I'm sure I'll make a fabulous dent in the box of chocolate truffles pictured above (yeah, there's one missing already -- I have NO IDEA how that happened!)

I gave the Princess a box of chocolates (identical to the one above but with all the chocolates still in it), a funky bracelet and her traditional fave minor holiday gift -- an iTunes card! All in all, I spent about $15 or so for about $35 worth of stuff -- that works.

Thing 2 got a Busy Bone -- which was gone in about 2 minutes -- she doesn't know how to savor stuff.

Anyway, I hope you all have felt cherished and loved today! Have a happy Valentine Night! Hugs!!!!

The Big Thaw Begins....

Woke up this morning to a gorgeous snowy landscape. Thing 2 got up and romped a bit, but is now curled beside me. The temperature is at 34 right now, so roads should be clearing pretty quickly and traffic is picking up a bit on the main road behind my street.

Our office is opening at 10, although I think that is a bit ambitious for the side streets everyone has to navigate. I will probably go in around 11. The Princess has to work at 11 too, so I'll make sure she gets there safe and then head to my own office.

Secretly I had hoped for a full day off -- but oh well, gotta do what they pay me to do!!!!!