Cash Only Budget

So I hate to admit it, but I have an addiction to my debit card. A swipe here, a swipe there and it all comes out in the wash. Sadly, I have gotten into some debt and desperately need to get out. I am going to start using the pay with cash method. I have thought about it for awhile, but haven't started yet. But seeing as how I don't have enough money in the bank to cover my bills until Friday, which is their due date, I have to do something drastic. Thank goodness that I get paid 3 times in April, it is my only saving grace. My mom got me an awesome new wallet for 50 cents and it has so many dividers. So instead of using envelopes, each pocket divider is going to be for a certain category. I just have to figure out how to label the dividers now. My wallet is so nice, clean and well organized and it is my goal to keep it well. I have to get better control of my spending before I turn 30-wish me luck!

Mailbox Suprise!

My friend gave me a subscription to this magazine this year for my birthday. I have been waiting and waiting for it to arrive, thinking that it may never actually come. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my mail today as I received my first issue! The recipes look so yummy and easy to make. Plus edamame is the featured veggie which is always a plus in my book because it is one of my favs. Can't wait to grab some ingredients and get cooking!

Spring has Sprung

Spring has officially arrived and I am definitely one of those who loves some spring cleaning! I spent most of the weekend working on the outside of the house and plan on spending the next few weeks (yes, I said weeks-when you work two jobs it is hard to find any spare time) to do a huge deep clean and to start my ever dreaded To Do List!

I am also determined to really make my house my home in the next few months, on a little, barely existing budget. When I bought my townhouse 6 1/2 years ago, I never intended on being here so long. I thought I would meet someone, get married, buy the bigger house with the picket fence. That hasn't happened yet, and for the first time in 6 years I don't have a roommate, so I will be able to decorate a guest bedroom! The way the economy is going, it looks like I will be here for an indefinite time so I want to finish all the projects that are in my head.

Hopefully this go around, I will be able to keep up with my online journal. It is my plan to put my goals out there so that I will actually get them accomplished! Happy Spring everyone!

Ummm...What happened to July?

I can not believe that it is almost August! July just flew right past me. While July was a super busy month for my family, I am in a way very thankful for all the craziness. It helps me to re prioritize my life and find out what really matters to me. What have I learned this month? Well, let me tell you....
1-I am horrible with money! Even though I am thrifty and love buying second hand, sometimes it turns into a very bad addiction.
2-I have way too much stuff! After helping my sister and her fiance move, I have decided that I have to get rid some of the clutter that is in my life. I have already started this process and it is quite freeing emotionally.
3-I love spending quality time with my friends, my family and my church family. No amount of money can take away the good times you have with those you love.
4-Christmas is only 5 months away...That means I need to get busy coming up with ideas for Christmas gifts for friends and family. Since I like to make a lot of my gifts, I have got to get cracking!

All of these thoughts have helped me come up with a drastic plan (well at least drastic for me!) that I will begin on August 1st! Details tomorrow friends!

Life's Latest Updates...

A lot of things have been happening around here lately, making life a little chaotic and a whole lot of fun!
1st-Nat and Alex are now both employed full time which is awesome! They will be moving to Rock Hill this upcoming weekend, which means that my house currently is filled with suitcases and boxes. As they leave I will be able to do some redecorating and rearranging, which I always find relaxing and fulfilling.
2nd-I finally got my floors to put down in the living room and dining room. I will be getting stuff for the kitchen later on this week. The plan was to put it down this week, but with all the moving, this long overdue project waits once again.
3rd-I have come to love my job even more, especially since I have been having to pick up hours at the hospital this summer. I can't wait to get back to my kids this fall.
4th-The surprise in my banana nut muffins? Cauliflower puree-can't taste it a bit and you get some veggies in with breakfast.
5th-Laundry room is painted, one of the shelves is hung and I am waiting to buy another shelf. I was trying to be thrifty and paint an old wooden shelf, but after it was left outside while the paint was drying, it warped and is now unusable as a shelf. So when I pick up my kitchen floors, I will be getting some shelves for the other side of my laundry room. Then after I hang my pictures and curtain to cover the not so beautiful laundry supplies, the room will be complete. Yea : )
6th-Sarah loved her pillows, she said they look great on her bed. I will have to get over there myself soon to take a look.
7th-I recovered the window seat cushion in the living room and if it ever stops raining and the sun reappears I will take some pics and post.
8th-So much more has been going on, but it is just about as boring as everything else I have listed. Sometimes it just feels really nice getting your thoughts out, ya know?

Sweet and Simple

My friend Sarah asked me months ago to make her some pillows for her bedroom. She couldn't find exactly what she wanted, but fell in love with this material. I have never done pillows before, but figured I would give it a shot. At first I thought she would want a little something extra on the pillows like a big button or pleats, etc; but I really like the way they turned out. I think the words have enough of a pattern to make the pillows interesting even though they are simply made. I made them into slip covers so that she could easily wash them and they are a little big because she and her roommate can shrink anything! Really, it is their dryer, but whatcha gonna do? Anyways, I am giving them to her tonight and I hope she loves them!

A Birthday Suprise!

For my friends 30th birthday, we held a surprise party on her boat. Hanging out on the "Turquoise Mermaid" is one of our favorite summer past times. I found an awesome picnic basket at Goodwill for 99cents and decided to give her a reusable picnic set.
I found some really cute dishes with fish on them, quite appropriate for lake time antics and then decided to make these reusable silverware rollups. I should really come up with a better name for them. I had intended on making on for myself first, seeing as how I eat at my desk while at work and am always searching for my silverware in my lunch bags, but I am glad that I decided to make them to go along with Meg's present. I basically took some fabric I had and came up with these beauties. I also added a little something to the napkins that I got on clearance.

I made a little holding section for the silverware and the napkin and the top part of the roll up folds over to hold the silverware snuggly and compactly. They are going to be amazing to use after spending time out on the lake and then eating while you are still all wet and sun screened up. Meg absolutely loved them and the whole picnic set. I wish I had thought to take a picture of the whole gift together because it turned out fabulously! Meg was also really excited about having things to reuse, I guess all of my "hippish-tendencies" are starting to rub off on my friends too!