The Life I Want

Oscars: Best Dressed

2015-02-23T16:57:00.000-06:00

Did you watch the Oscars last night? It is my favorite awards show to watch.....mostly for the fashion. To be honest, I was underwhelmed with this years gowns but I was able to find 5 that I liked (a lot).

5. Anna Kendrick

Although this dress sort of reminds me of a bridesmaids

dress, I loved it!

4. Jennifer Aniston

I am a sucker for sparkly dresses. I don't love the mesh part on

the bottom but overall, it's a winner!

3. Cate Blanchett

I loved the simplicity of this look - like this is something I could put

together myself for a special night out. That necklace though...

2. Anna Faris

Again with the sparkle....this dress stole my heart!

And the winner is.......

1. Reese Witherspoon

Chic, elegant, timeless - I LOVE this look!

Did you watch the Oscars? Who wore your favorite gown?

*Pictures are from People.com

My Current Budget

2015-02-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

Although my blog is not just about finance anymore, I still thought I'd share where I'm at with my budget and where my money goes each month. Here we go:

Rent, Utilities & Insurance - 39%

I'm totally okay with this amount as it covers my rent, cell phone, cable & internet, hydro and rental insurance.

Transportation - 4%

I currently don't have a car so this is just the cost of my monthly bus pass.

Food - 6.25%

It's just me so I am totally able to eat, and quite well I will add, on this amount. I usually try to spend the same each week but some weeks I stock up on items and have less to spend the next week.

Miscellaneous - 4%

This includes laundry money, Netflix, bank fees, medication and saving for dentist visits.

Fun Money - 5%

This is for lunches at work, going to the movies, dinner with friends - anything that is fun.

Vacation - 11%

Travel is what fuels my soul and is extremely important to me. I am more than happy to give up going out for lunch everyday to explore the world.

RRSP & Investments - 8.5%

This is the amount I save from my take home pay. I have RRSP contributions at work with company matching so in total with amount is closer to 20%.

Savings - 10%

Different from my long term savings, this amount represents different categories of savings. Right now the three categories are: car savings, general savings and short term savings for clothes, haircuts, etc.

Debt - 12%

I can hear you right now, "I thought you had no debt" and for the most part you are right. I didn't change this category after I paid off all my debt and it's working for me. Most months this money goes into my vacation fund as I'm headed on a pretty pricey vacation in a few months but this amount also helps cover the odd dinner that I put on my credit card or ukulele lessons. I also use this money for my monthly giving.

Right now this budget is really working for me. I love that I have flexibility in it with the buffer of the "debt" category. Once we receive our raises at work, I will reevaluate.

How is your budget working for you? Do you have a buffer?

Let's Talk Trash - January Empties

2015-02-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

I've got lots of great empties to share from last month, so let's get started!

Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Perfume - this is my signature scent. It has all sorts of different orange scents like blood orange and bitter orange mixed with tonka bean and sandalwood. Love, Love, Love this!!!

Bumble & Bumble Tonic Lotion - I've talked about this in the past. I consider this to be the secret to my healthy hair.

John Frieda Color Renew Tone Correcting Shampoo - I use this about once a week to get my highlights true to color. In the summer I use the shampoo and conditioner at our cottage every wash as our well water is awful.

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Wash - I love citrus scents and this is my favorite by The Body Shop. It's like being in an orange grove. I will definitely purchase this again.

Colgate Optic White - my go-to toothpaste. I love the taste and how white it makes my teeth. I will continue to purchase.

Aussie 3-minute Miracle Conditioner - I haven't been able to find this in Canada for quite a few years so I stock up when I go to the USA. I love the way it smells and how much moisture it provides. I use this about twice a week.

My Beauty Diary Coix Seed Sheet Mask - A colleague went to Korea and I asked him to pick up a few masks for me. This mask was clarifying and moisturizing - love it!! Wish we could get them here easily.

Bath & Body Works Cider Lane Candle - This is one of my favorite candles ever! The notes are mulled cider, warm caramel and sweet cinnamon.

My Beauty Diary Aloe Sheet Mask - This mask is moisturizing and soothing. Another love.

Gillette Satin Care in Flower Passion - I typically use this when I travel. It's inexpensive, smells nice and leaves my legs feeling soft.

Origins GinZing Eye Cream - Of all the eye creams I've used to date, this is my favorite. It's light weight but provides a lot of moisture. It has a brightening effect and makes my under eyes look less tired.

Static Guard - This is a staple for me. I wear a lot of flowy shirts and I like to spray them so they don't stick to my camis.

What have you used up? Any great suggestions?

A Little Extra Money

2015-02-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

I've mentioned Stella & Dot in a few different posts now and wanted to share my love for this business.

Let's go back in time.....

In August 2013 I hosted a Stella & Dot in-home Trunk Show. A stylist came over to my apartment with a ton of jewelry, bags and scarves, my girlfriends came over and we played dress up for the night. The jewelry and accessories were beautiful! After the party I was able to shop for free and half off. I was hooked!!! At the time the stylist suggested that I think about becoming a stylist but I wasn't overly interested and my life was sort of in a turmoil. She was totally understanding and that was that. A few of my girlfriends had trunk shows and my Stella & Dot addiction grew.

This past summer I decided it was time to have another trunk show - the previews I'd seen of the Fall 2014 Collection were amazing and I needed to get my hands on it. My stylist and I picked a date and I was looking forward to a girls night in. As the trunk show grew closer I started to think about becoming a stylist. My stylist shared tons of information with me, answered all my questions and I TOOK THE PLUNGE!!!

I've been having a great time being a Stella & Dot Stylist. I love the jewelry and accessories, I've met some wonderful new people and making a bit of extra money has been awesome. But the mission statement of Stella & Dot is what really speaks to me.

Feel free to check out my online boutique at: www.stelladot.com/sarahcw and if you ever have any questions, please let me know.

Five Favorites - January

2015-02-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

{I have been binge watching on Netflix all month}

{Being a Stylist with Stella & Dot}

{My Ukulele, Lenny}

{Cider Lane candle from Bath & Body Works}

{Painting my nails}

What were your favorite things for the month of January?

Finally - my 2015 Goals

2015-01-31T13:16:00.001-06:00

First, sorry about the radio silence. I had intention to be away from the blog for so long. Anyways I'm back and want to share my 2015 goals (even though they are a month overdue).

Health & Fitness
I think most people have some sort of health and fitness goal on their resolutions. My goal is to exercise more and be more fit in general. I'd like to exercise at least 3 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes. And although I don't have a weight loss goal, my doctor continues to encourage me to lose some weight for my general health (okay....maybe my blood pressure is a bit high too). I will continue to watch what I eat and make smart food choices.

Progress - Unfortunately I have been quite sick for most of the month of January so exercise hasn't been a priority at all. For the most part, I've eaten well. Come February - exercise will be a big priority for me.

Reading
I would like to read 2 books per month or 24 books in a year.

Progress - Not a great start on this goal either. I am currently reading my first book of the year.

Knitting

My goal is to complete 1 project a month (unless I'm working on a complicated blanket).

Progress - I haven't picked up my needles once in 2015.

Be More Giving

It's very important to me to give back whether that's through financial donations or giving time or supplies. I currently give to my local United Way each month but I want to do more. I started this last year - each month I give to a different person or charity/organization.

Progress - This is one of my favorite goals. I enjoy deciding each month where my resources are going to go. In January I donated to my brother who was riding his bike to raise money for Parkinson's.

Other Goals

Give birthday cards to all friends and family.

Be more organized.

Tidy on a daily basis.

Continue to make my apartment more "homey".

Get all my photos printed so that I can enjoy them.

Date more.

Grow my Stella & Dot business (more on this later).

I'll be sure to update you as the year goes along. I'm really looking forward to what 2015 has in store.

How are your goals for 2015 going?

Good Bye 2014, Hello 2015

2014-12-29T12:13:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year - the time that I re-evaluate what I want my life to look like and set some goals. Now, don't get me wrong, I am constantly adjusting goals and evaluating myself throughout the year but there's nothing like having a clean slate at the beginning of a new year. I'd love to hear some of your resolutions, perhaps I'm overlooking something. Don't worry - I'll be sharing my goals once I've figured everything out.

What are your New Year's Resolutions for 2015?

Let's Talk Trash - November Empties

2014-12-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

As my blog is not primarily focused on finance anymore, let me introduce a new feature - Let's Talk Trash. Here I will share my thoughts and feelings on different products I finish in the month. Now keep in mind, I didn't necessarily start the product in the month only finished it. So, let's get into my trash:

Bath & Body Works Pumpkin Cupcake candle - I LOVE pumpkin, all things pumpkin and this candle was no exception. It filled my apartment with the scent of a bakery that only baked pumpkin goodies - and I'm okay with that. I will definitely get this one again!

Dove Purely Pampering Nourishing Body Wash in Pistachio Cream with Magnolia - Another love. This body wash was creamy and created wonderful bubbles, and the scent.....oh, the scent - pistachio heaven. 'nuff said.

The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Shower Gel - I like to have two body washes going at the same time - one creamy and one that's not. The thing I like the most about this body wash is the scent. It's a true peach scent - not fake. Would purchase it again.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion - This is my go-to travel body lotion. While I like the lotion itself, I really love the bottle it comes in. I will continue to buy this but only when I am travelling.

White Barn Pink Petal Tea Cake candle - I didn't want this candle to finish. The wax was a beautiful pink, the label had a gorgeous picture of roses and the lid was a matte gold with ornate detail. It was the perfect combination of floral and bakery - neither over powered. It was completely balance. I really hope that this candle comes back in the Spring.

Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer - I've used this moisturizer for years and love it. Unfortunately I have been diagnosed with rosacea and have a new moisturizer....which I'm not loving.

Bumble & Bumble Tonic Lotion - One of my secrets to healthy hair. I spray this on my scalp after every shower and the mix of vitamins and tea tree oil help feed my scalp and hair. I will continue to buy this for the rest of my life!

Listerine Whitening Original - I love Listerine Whitening Plus Restoring but I hated this. The taste was horrible and I wanted to spit it out as soon as it was in my mouth. I will not be purchasing this particular mouthwash again.

Maybelline Full 'N Soft Mascara - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! This is my favorite mascara - nothing compares. Unfortunately, I cannot find it in Canada anymore so I have to stock up when I go to the States. Please Maybelline, bring it back!!

Bath & Body Works Sugar Berry Smash lotion - While I prefer the triple moisture body cream from BBW, I did love the scent of this lotion. When I didn't want to wear perfume I would slather this on my arms and chest. I would buy this scent again but only in the thicker lotion.

Biore Blemish Fighting Astringent - Again, a product I have used for years but with my rosacea I've had to move on to something different.

Bath & Body Works Island Nectar Deep-Cleansing Hand Soap - This is a great summery scent - it's like being at the beach while washing your hands. I prefer the foaming soaps but I would buy this scent regardless of which soap form it came in.

Have you tried any of these products? Have suggestions for products I must try?

Mani of the Moment

2014-11-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

Who says you can't wear brights in colder months?!? I'm loving this Essie polish in Pink Happy. It's creamy, easy to work this and although I did do two coats, you could easy get away with one coat. My accent nail is China Glaze Pizzazz which is a fun chunky multi-color glitter. This mani is definitely brightening up the gloomy days!

Say what.......I'm back!!!!!

2014-10-14T22:08:00.000-06:00

It's been a hot minute since I've been around these parts of the internet.....and I missed it. There is a ton of things to update you on. But the biggest is that I'm debt free. Okay, I have a few hundred dollars on my credit card but other than that I have no consumer debt. What a great feeling. I was able to pay the last of everything off about 8 months ago and I haven't looked back since.

So, now that I have no debt, what kind of blog will this be? Well...I'm thinking more of a lifestyles type blog - it will be about things I love and enjoy. Travel, fashion, books, food...and from time to time I would imagine there will be some financial discussion.

I'm really excited to get back into blogging and connecting (and reconnecting) with other bloggers and to see where this little blog goes. I hope you'll stick around - or join - to see what happens.

Oops! No Weekly Spending Update

2013-02-14T09:22:00.000-06:00

I didn't do my weekly spending on the weekend for two reasons:

1. I was in bed all day Sunday with that cold and

2. I WAY over spent last week.

I am the first to admit that I had no control last week. I bought lunches, I shopped online, I shopped at the mall. And even though I know I should still write about what I spent....everyone makes mistakes....I'm just not going to. But I do promise to do it from now on, regardless of my mistakes!

Productive Saturday

2013-02-09T15:50:00.000-06:00

What a start to the weekend. Last night was our Year End party at work. We went bowling and it was awesome! I forgot how much I liked bowling.

I was up early today, mostly because I have caught the dreaded cold that is going around, so I went and got groceries and put money on my laundry card all before 8:45am. I decided to got to Sobeys this week as it was Dollar Days and I like to stock up whenever that is on. I also had $5.00 off from my Sobeys points. What a great way to start the day.

One I was home and had my groceries put away, I got my laundry done, dusted, swept, and did some dishes. I finish my book....I Heart New York by Lindsay Kelk. It was alright but not good enough for a review. I'm planning to start reading Bunheads this evening.

Tomorrow is a busy day with a baby shower and meal planning. I hope that the baby shower won't go too long.

Hope that you all are having a wonderful productive day or a wonderful relaxing day....whichever you choose.

How much is going down the drain

2013-02-08T08:33:00.005-06:00

One night last week while having a bath I got wondering how much money I wash down the drain on a daily basis....literally. I know quite a few people have tons of products in their showers and although I don't have that much, I am guilty of having more than one of each item.

Here is what my shower caddy looks like:

Top Shelf (from the left)

Fruit and Passion exfoliator body glove - received this as a Christmas gift about 8 years ago. I absolutely love it!

Bath and Body Works Sparkle Blackberry Woods Shower Gel - I got it on sale for $5.00.

Honey I Washed the Kids soap from Lush - this came in a gift set I ordered with a gift card from my brother and his family for Christmas. I do cut all my Lush products so that I can get multiple uses out of them. This soap I cut in half.

Olive Condition from Dollarama - as I've stated in this post, I use this as shaving cream and not on my hair. It cost $1.25.

Shower cap - I get a pack of eight if these from Dollarama for $1.25.

Bottom Shelf (from the left)

Head and Shoulders Dry Scalp shampoo - while I don't have dandruff, I do have dry scalp and this seems to be the only shampoo that helps it. I don't use it everyday...maybe two or three times a week. I buy it on sale for $5.99

Herbal Essence Color Me Happy Conditioner - nothing special but I love the way it smells. It costs $2.99 at Walmart.

L'oreal Color Radiance Shampoo - this is my normal shampoo. Again, nothing that special but it's reasonably priced at $3.99.

Purple Shampoo - I'm not sure of the brand as this is from our family cottage...we have a lot if iron in our water there but I like to use it in the city about once a week to keep my color from going brassy.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser - this has been my yo to cleanser since I went to a dermatologist in high school. I always get the big bottle. This size costs $18.99 but I always have a coupon to use since I use their moisturizer as well and there is a coupon in the box.

Face cloth - this particular one is Fieldcrest Luxury. The other brand I have is Nautica. These were wedding gifts.

I also have a cup in the back corner of my shower that holds a foot paddle from Shoppers Drug Mart that was $2.00, a Venus razor - refills cost $12.99, and a bikini razor - 3 pack for $5.00.

Overall I'd say that my shower contains a fairly small amount of amount and since I love all of the products that makes it even better.

How much are you washing down the drain?

Weekend Update and Weekly Menu Plan

2013-02-03T16:15:00.000-06:00

Sunday afternoon already!!!! The weekends go by so quickly these days. I didn't have any plans this weekend, so I was able to just be at home and relax.

Yesterday morning I got up, made coffee and went back to bed and read my book. Sometimes I feel bad just lazing around but what are weekend's for. In the afternoon I made chocolate cupcakes, did some knitting, washed my winter coat and organized my tax stuff.....yeah!

Today I woke up and did the same thing with my coffee and book. After breakfast I called one of my best friends who lives in another province. She had a baby at the beginning of December and this was the first time that we'd been able to actually talk since then. She is loving motherhood and I am hoping to go for a visit in the next few months. Then I did all the usually Sunday stuff....dust, sweep, cleaned the bathroom.

This evening I plan to just watch the Super Bowl, knit and do a little more reading. I don't have a busy schedule this week other than a lunch on Tuesday and a work party on Friday.

As for what I plan on eating this week, here it is:

Sunday

Garlic pasta with salad and a cheese biscuit

Monday

Shrimp and spinach salad

Tuesday

Perogies and veggies

Wednesday

Eggs with hashbrowns with fruit

Thursday

I believe that my Dad is coming to town so we will have supper together

Both Friday and Saturday are unknown at this time.

Hope you all have a great Sunday evening whether it's watching the Super Bowl, not watching the Super Bowl or doing whatever your heart desires.

January Recap, February Goals and Products I Used Up

2013-02-01T20:52:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that January is over already!! It seems that time is just flying by. As far as January money goes, I didn't do very well. I went a little crazy on spending and entertainment. I wouldn't change it as I've had a great month doing all sorts of things I love with great people but it's definitely affected my budget.

Which leads me to my February goals. I want to spend as little as possible this month. I know for sure that I will have two meals out and at least one baby shower....could be two as my one friend is due in less than a week. I hope to get back into posting my weekly spending so you all can keep me in check.

This month I plan to get all my tax information organized so that as soon our T4's are ready at work, my taxes can be filed. My Dad is an accountant and when he did a rough tally on what my refund would be this year, it was close to $2500.00!!! Awesome!!

I would like to finish two knitting projects and read two books. I think that all of these goals are very attainable.

And now for a new feature on my blog....Products I've Used Up Last Month

I really like watching these kinds of videos on YouTube and I thought it would be interesting to see what products I go through. I'm only including make-up, bath and body care, nail care, candles, etc in this feature. Pleas note that this are products I finished during last month but didn't necessarily start the product last month, I could have started it three months ago. Here we go:

• Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods foaming hand soap. I love these soaps and this one has a great smell.

• Coconut Lime Breeze Body Scrub from Bath and Body Works. I thought this was a great scrub. I took this on my cruise so that I could easily exfoliate. It smells like a cocktail and made my skin feel wonderful. I would definitely buy this again.

• Equate Moisturizing Lotion, Oatmeal. Walmart's version of Aveeno. I liked this lotion because it absorbs very quickly and is not greasy. I took this on my cruise as well but mostly because it is in a squeeze bottle that travels well. I will buy this for my next vacation.

• Biore Blemish Fighting Astringent. This is my go to toner. I've use it for years and will continue to.

• Slatkin & Co Twisted Peppermint Bath and Body Works mini candle. All time favorite candle for the holidays and winter. This is from last year....I have this in a 3 wick candle.

• CO Bigelow Lemon & Pomegranate Body Scrub from Bath and Body Works. I loved the way this smelled but I didn't like the scrub itself.

• Colgate Optic White Toothpaste. I really like this toothpaste. It cleans well and helps whiten my teeth. I have bought this again.

• Snow Fairy Bodywash from Lush. This is one of my favorite holiday products from Lush. It's sweet smelling and has sparkles in it. I can't wait till it's out next year.

• up & up makeup wipes from Target. These are my favorite wipes and I always stock up when I am in the US. The purple package is my favorite. They remove my make-up really well and they don't have an offensive smell.

What products did you use up in Janaury? What are your goals for February?

Book Review - The Single Girl's To-Do List

2013-01-28T10:52:00.000-06:00

Lindsey Kelk's The Single Girl's To-Do List is a great light hearted read.

Rachel loves to write lists and her summer to-do list included a loving boyfriend, a flat and a great job. Not on the list: Being dumped. Rachel's best friends come to her rescue with an entirely new list - The Single Girl's To-Do List. All lots of adventures ensue as she checks items of the list.

If you are looking for a fun, easy, girls book then I absolutely recommend this book. I loved going on the adventures and cheering Rachel on.

**** out of five

2013 Goals - Better Late Than Never

2013-01-26T12:22:00.001-06:00

I know this is a long time coming but I figured that we aren't through the first month of 2013 so I can still share my goals for 2013.

Financial Goals

Increase my net worth by 20%

• Last year I was able to increase my net worth by 31%....exciting!!

Accumulate $2500.00

• Last year I accumulated about $3000.00 through tax refunds, GST, selling things, etc. I think that $2500.00 is much more manageable this year as I don't have that much to sell. I do plan on having a large garage sale when it gets warmer.

Pay for all vacations in cash

• I was pretty good with this last year but the bank/credit card companies always got me with the exchange on the dollar. This month I opened a USD bank account and got a USD Visa to help with this.

Non-financial Goals

Lose 20 pounds

• I lost about 18 to 20 pounds last year so I would be thrilled to lose an additional 20 pounds.

Read 20 books

• I am reading a lot more so I'm sure that this goal with be easy.

Make my apartment more homey

• Although I have lived here for about 18 months, I still don't have all my pictures hung up and things feeling/looking exactly how I want it.

Be more social

• Again I want to have more people over to my place and perhaps join a club.

So that's all. I feel pretty confident that I can do it. I've had a great time reading others people goals. I will keep you posted on how I'm doing as the year goes by.

Happy New Year

2013-01-05T19:58:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year and all that jazz!!!!

I'm currently just testing to see if my iPhone will post correctly....fingers crossed.

Quick Update

2012-12-06T09:31:00.001-06:00

I have not dropped of the face of the earth again. My computer has died - I'm pretty sure that it's my hard drive - so I have not been able to do any posting. I thought I would be able to do something from my iPhone but haven't been able to figure that out either. I hope to have all this sorted out once I return from vacation.

In the meantime, I should be able to update while I am away as my parents have a laptop.

The Countdown Is On

2012-11-29T07:30:00.000-06:00

Nine days! Nine days! Yeah....nine days!!!!

Can you tell that it's only 9 days until I leave for vacation. I'm so excited and things are coming together.

I was able to finish my overtime project last week. I had been working on that project since February and I'm not going to miss it.

Last weekend I went to my hometown to celebrate my Mom's 65th birthday. Although I'll be with her on her actual birthday next month, my siblings will not. We had a family supper out and then gave my Mom her presents. Everyone in my family chipped in and we got her a watch that she wanted, a Kobo Glo and some money to treat herself on whatever she'd like.

I'm pretty much packed to go but there are a few things that I need to figure out, iron and get into my bags. I also am constantly going over my budget to make sure that everything will be paid for. I did notice the other day that I hadn't budgeted for taxi money to and from the airport, so I will need to fit that in.

Are you heading on vacation soon? Do you check and re-check your budget?

Weekend Round-Up

2012-11-18T11:21:00.000-06:00

This weekend has been fairly busy. Friday evening I started to pull clothes for my vacation. I'm sending a bag with my parents since they are driving down to Florida but I have to have it ready by next weekend.

Yesterday I worked and then headed over to my friend's place for our Girl's Christmas supper. It seems so early but as I'm leaving in a few weeks, this was the only night that worked for everyone.

Today I will be cleaning my apartment, finishing my packaging and going over my budget for my vacation and *hopefully* completing a baby blanket of one of my friends. Of course tonight I'll be watching the Amazing Race and The Good Wife.

I hope you all have a great day!!

Table for One

2012-11-11T06:30:00.000-06:00

Last night I was supposed to have supper with my Dad but due to bad weather that didn't happen. After being at work for 7 hours, I didn't feel like cooking. I decided that I would go to the restaurant across the street from my apartment. They are known for having the best ribs in my city and the first (and only) time I ate there, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

When I walked in, the girl at the front looked at me hesitatingly. I said to her that I'd like a table for one. She walked me into the dining room and showed me to the table. I had a quick look around and I noticed a lot of people looking at me.....and even more when the server took away the other place-setting.

Why is it so strange for a person to eat alone? I'm very comfortable with myself and the fact that I'm single. Why can't I enjoy a nice meal in a restaurant without feeling like people are judging me? It seems that it's acceptable to eat alone at a fast food restaurant, a food court in a mall and the airport but not a "sit down" restaurant. I just don't understand.....

In the end, I had a great meal, glass of wine and I will definitely be going back......most likely alone.

Have you ever ate at a restaurant alone? Did you feel judged?

Back on the Grid

2012-11-09T19:48:00.002-06:00

Long time, no post but here I am. I had no intentions of disappearing for 3+ months but life just happens. I hope that you haven't given up on me.

A quick overview of what's been happening.

I've had a few family members have health scares. Some have turned out fine while others are taking a lot more time to figure out what the issue is.

I've not been the most financially responsible person but I do have all the cash I need for my upcoming vacation and have paid cash for all costs related to the vacation up to this point. Only 29 more days!!!!

I am still working a lot of overtime and have to be finished the project I'm working on by the time I leave for vacation.

I have three close friends expecting babies in the next 3 months.....and i'm way behind on my knitting.

I've continued my journey of losing weight and am happy with my results and progress.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to posting regularly again and I have a few ideas for some new features.

US Shopping Trip Recap

2012-07-31T07:00:00.000-06:00

I headed to the States with my Mom and Stepdad over the weekend. I had quite a list of things that I wanted to get. I had hoped to only spend $380.00 for weekend but had budgeted up to $500.00. Although I spent just over $500.00, I don't count myself as being over as I bought alot of groceries and will use my budgeted grocery money over the next few pay periods to pay myself back some of that money.

Here is what my apartment floor looked like last night when I got home.

It took my Mom and I three trips to the car to bring everything up.

Here is a breakdown of the groceries I bought:

* 3 packs of K-Cups (Donut Shop, Coconut Mocha Donut Shop and Milstone Hazelnut Cream)

* Cookie Crisp Cereal

* El Paso Taco Bake

* 2 lbs Quinoa

* Ranch Chips

* 2 Bear Creek Soups

* 2 variety pack of Quaker Granola Bars

* 2 Pilsbury Cake mixes

* 2 Biscuit Cheese and Garlic Buscuit mixes

* Fruit Chillers

* Balsamic Parmesan Asiago Anything Dressing

* S'mores Goldfish

* Keebler Fudge Mint Bar

* Refried Beans

* Enchilada Sauce

* 4 packs mini chocolate bars

* 2 blocks of cheese

* 2 bags of shredded cheese

* 17 yogurts

And for everything else:

* 1 stripped long sleeve dress from the GAP - on clearance

* 1 color-block sweater from the GAP - on sale

* 1 pair ankle jeans from Old Navy - on sale

* 2 cardigans from Target

* 1 black pencil skirt from Target (not pictures)

* 1 stripped tank dress from Kohl's - on clearance

* 1 pair black bathing suit bottoms from Sears - on clearance

* 3 pair of undies (I can't find these in Canada, so I always buy some)

* 1 pair pink flats from DSW - on sale

* 2 blouse type tops from JCPenny - on sale

* 1 belt

* 2 mascaras (does Maybelline not sell Full N Soft in Canada anymore?...I can't find it anywhere)

* 1 ELF eye primer

* 1 pack of make-up remover wipes

* 1 BBQ lighter

* 2 magnetic note pads (one I will be giving as a gift)

* 1 bottle of Skinny Girl Tangerine Vodka

* 1 bottle of Yellow Tail Wine

* 1 bottle of B 12 vitamins
* Smashbox BB Cream (so much cheaper in the US and they left me use a gift card I had)
* 2 cans of Tropical Oasis spray paint and 6 pink drawer pulls (I'm going to spray my headboard at the lake and put some new pulls on my dresser)

Overall I would say that it was a fairly successful trip even though I didn't get many items that I had on my list. I do think that August might have to be a "financial fast" month as I have to pay for my crown and I would like to plump up my savings account after this trip.

Working Those Rates

2012-07-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

With interest rates being low, I decided to check with "my guy" at the bank to see if there was a possibility to lower the rate on my loan. We met on Wednesday morning and talked about whether a line of credit would be a better option as you can typical get a lower rate than with a typical loan. I don't really want a line of credit as it provides me with an opportunity to cash even if I don't really have it and there is not a end date to have it paid off. In the end, I've decided to stay with my loan but I was able to get the rate lowered by just over 1%!!! Although my bi-weekly payments should be significantly less, I've set up the payment amounts to remain the same. If all goes according to plan, my loan should be paid off in the next 18 months.

While "my guy" and I were going through my application to reduce my loan rate, he told me that banks rate clients on a letter system, not a number system like a FICO score. He told me that last year when I originally applied for the loan, I was a "C"......and now I am an "A". This really validates the hard work I've done on my finances over the last couple of years but more specifically, the last year.

Have you gotten any good news from your bank lately?