Well, I think I can make a comeback to my blog ... finally. I took a leap and got the internet again after we moved ... I forgot how much I loved being able to talk to you all and really work at keeping my budget in check. I honestly think it's easier to pretend to be oblivious if I'm not able to check my account balances three times a day ... I mean, if I can't see where my money is going ... it's going to just be sitting there ... waiting for me, right?! Yeah, not so much. I've been such a spend thrift as of late, that it's scary.

So, after going nearly two years, I'm glad to say we did it. We were able to survive without a constant barage of internet and tv in our home ... but man, am I glad to be back. LOL. My daughter didn't even remember a time when we have cable tv in our house ... and she completely doesn't remember having the internet because she was barely old enough to use the computer when I got rid of it. This has been a blast for her ... and it's nice to play some of her games with her ... something she was only able to do at my parents house.

This week has been crazy, starting off that Juliette started Kindergarten on Tuesday! WOW ... it is seriously the best time of our life! I wasn't prepared for how easily she would jump right into this new place ... her teacher is amazing with her ... and I love that she is already working with her in her own special ways. Juliette is a very smart child, but can be a bit of a handful, and I am a bit worried about how hard it will be for her to sit in a class with 17 other kids and not be the center of attention. Her preschool teacher let her work at her own pace, Juliette is a bit of a perfectionist ... and in the two days school has been in session, Juliette has already brought home things she hasn't finished ... She wants everything to be "perfect" and is very concerned with the patterns that her drawings make. Needless to say, I see the next thirteen years ahead of me, and they are going to be long and trying.

It really is good to be back!

We are four days in, and my goal for the month is to cook at home each day. It seems so obvious, but is much harder to do for us.

So far, I have stuck to it. Even today, when I picked up a double I wasn't planning on, I went home and ate ... instead of spending around $15, eating at work and tipping my friends. YAY!

The only time I am going to let us off the hook is to eat at Chick-fil-a for Juliette. It's her "thing" she earns .. and I let her do it once a month.

I'd also like to really cut down on my personal spending. My goal is for $100 this month, and so far, I've only spent $7.

Let's see how this month goes!

I've been really busy the past couple of weeks, so I haven't posted my new goals. I have a lot of things I am working on this year ... and I know it's going to be a great year.

Things I am working on this year include:
1. Working on/organizing the house. Getting everything I want to do to the house in writing, and start planning. I am going to have a home binder for this.

2. Lose 50lbs *down three so far!*

3. Stay out of the stores. I have a shopping problem ... seriously.

4. I want to get all of the house bills in my name. Right now, all our in my parents name. I think this will be the best step in getting the house in my name as well.

I am going to post the rest of my goals ... sometime. UGH! I really need to give in and get the internet at home. I feel ... lost.

I know Florida has NOTHING on the rest of the US ... but seriously, I am cold. I've been cold for weeks, other than a short warm up last week. I've been having to crank up the heat every night ... which is sad. It's really not THAT cold.

However, this week it got in the 70's, and I never remembered to turn my air back on. It felt great in the house, I only noticed yesterday because I couldn't figure out why the house felt so stuffy.

I am soooo glad I don't live up north ..while this is gearing up to be one of the coldest winters in awhile, it could be a LOT worse.

Stay warm

I ordered something off of ebay to turn my mom's old ds into a black one. What my daughter asked Santa for. I spent $25 for the new case ... on December 7th.

It hasn't come in yet.

So, this morning, I ended up at Target buying a full price DS. $129.99 plus tax. The "deal" this week was a $10 giftcard for Target with purchase, which I used to buy the game she asked Santa for. LOL, it wasn't something I'd even considered.

So ... $150 later, and I am DONE. I really wish that other one would have come in ... it's either a refund (if it never makes it ...) or selling it on ebay.

I am almost done Christmas shopping ... thank goodness! I am so done, I don't even want to think about going to the stores.

I spent the morning looking for an outfit to wear to my interview. Whew ... I was exhausted before I even started. I found three shirts for under thirty dollars, and then spent $20 on a necklace and earrings. I have nothing "fancy" anymore ... thanks to a very bad roommate episode. Yeah, I don't even want to think about it. The problem was, while I completely enjoy spending money on clothes, the whole time all I could think about was Christmas coming up.

The only people I have left to buy for our my parents (the two hardest people to buy for in my family) and my brother. I usually have my mom's gifts months before Christmas, but so far, I have found nothing. I have no idea what to buy my brother, and honestly don't care. Isn't that horrible. He's not working right now, so I know he's not getting my anything, which is fine ... but I feel like I have to get him something. I just don't have a clue as to what.

I bought the stuff tonight to make chocolate covered pretzels. I am going to make them for the teachers at Juliette's school and for our neighbors. I know the neighbor next door I will possibly buy a small giftcard to Dunkin Donuts or something, and I should buy the neighbor acorss the street something ... again no idea what. My next door neighbors are AMAZING ... the husband has mowed my grass a few times this year, including edging. I mean, that's just amazing. They have a son who is a few years younger than my sister, so I will buy him something as well ... as well as the little kid from down the street. His mom is also a single mom, but she seems to have a harder time than I do. My friend thought it was weird that I am buying things for neighbors, but ... I've lived here pratically my whole life, so it just seems ... natural.

As long as the plan works for the great DS switch of 2009, I should spend about $75 on whatever Christmas shopping I have left. My little one asked for iCarly for the DS from Santa ... and I have no idea if I am getting it for her ... I SHOULD since she only asked for the DS and that one game ... but it's $30 and I don't know if it's over her head.

Then ... it's on to the birthday party ... she'll be FIVE in a couple of weeks!

I went to a pre-employment screening for a job last week .. and I was the youngest person in the room. I came home, not feeling very hopeful at all.

Yesterday I got a call back for an interview!

I am thrilled, though trying not to get to excited. But, it's a "real job" .. steady hours and pay .. my mom wouldn't have to watch Juliette on the weekends anymore ... please oh please! I'd get to wear my pretty shoes again!

I've done really well not spending money this week ... I've spent some, but not much. I have a few ideas of goals for next year ... and have been eating from home nearly everyday ... it's been a great week. I just hope next week is as good.

My work "friends" keep having parties. On days I work. And, they are upset that I won't request the day off or give up a shit to attend.

Seriously?!

Juliette's birthday is 1/2 .. which is a Saturday this year. I am considering not taking it off because of it being right after the Christmas holiday, when I am already going to be missing work (since work will be closed, no paid vacation days) and then two weeks after we're having her birthday party on a Saturday. I just can't afford to miss that many Saturdays in a row ... since usually they are good money days.

One of my friends had a baby shower a couple of Saturdays ago. I told her I would be there if I had the day off ... I didn't. She was upset, and I can understand that. Well, her boyfriends birthday is next week and they are having a huge party for him at Gameworks. However, it's on a Tuesday night. Tuesdays I always work, so I would miss work, have to pay for a baby sitter, and pay to go out ... sorry, no go.

Am I being mean?

When she handed me the invite she actually said "I don't know why I'm giving you this, it's not like you'll come."

Sorry, I'm having a hard enough time making my budget right now ...are you serious?

Another friend was throwing a birthday dinner for our friend at her house. She told me she wanted me to bring my daughter, and the night was a blast. I know I'm not old ... but I feel like it when they give me a hard time about not doing these things with them. One coworker was throwing a Halloween party, on Halloween night, and couldn't understand why I wouldn't go ... I'm serious. It just drives me nuts.

SOOO ... hopefully a new job will come along soon, with new people I can disappoint.

I am going to jump in and start December already ... my budget starts over on the weekends, so "technically" I am in December now. Good news, I get three paychecks in December ... bad news ... they are already spoken for as Chrismas/birthday gifts for the little one.

My challenges for the month:

[ ] Have 15 no spend days
[ ] Keep misc. spending under $300
[ ] Cook at home, every day.

I don't know if these are possible, but I am all about pushing my limits. The $300 spending limit does not include regular household bills, gas or Christmas money. It does include buying a magazine or a book to read while waiting in my sisters car pool line, or going to see New Moon ... again.

The cooking at home thing has been a challenge ... mainly during the day when I don't feel like cooking just for myself while my daughter is in school ... but this is something I am going to curb ...

So ... I don't really know if I can say a lot has changed during the past 8 months. I have been trying to be "better" with my spending, but I have learned this is always going to be a problem of mine. I am was born a spender, and finding a way to curb it is harder than I could have ever known.

I have been working at my "new" job for 8 months now .. and can I say I hate it? I feel bad for feeling this way, I know I am thankful to have a job ..I was out of work for four months, and it was the longest four months of my life ... but I really dislike my job. I have been actively searching for a new job for the past couple of weeks and had a "pre-employment screening" last week ... and I have another one this week. I am happy for this .... but trying not to get my hopes up. I think I would like my serving job more if I was, I don't know, making enough money .. but with the way the economy is ... well, ha. I know I am completely stressed out because of the money thing, so it's something I am trying to work on. Other than putting myself out there, and picking up as many shifts as possible ... there isn't anything I can do about this income issue. Stressing myself out over this is just going to get me an ulcer ...

I guess one of the best things to come out of the past year was cancelling our cable account. This wasn't something I would have done on my own ... it was a crutch. However, we've been without it for a year, and I don't miss it. LIE ... I miss my DVR like crazy ... lol ... but it's not something to pay $100+ a month for. I think I am going to "give in" and get the internet when I get a new job ... if it's in the budget. Using the computer only while at my mom and dad's is starting to be a PITA.

I have felt lost since April when my computer stopped letting me log in ... but now it's working again ... hmm.

I have so much to update .. and so little time. I'm just happy to have a place to get it all out there again.

Hope all our doing well!

Of all the things I cut back on when I was unemployed, I really miss the internet the most. Which is strange, because I thought I would miss being about to watch anything I wanted on tv at anytime more ... but nope, I don't miss it at all.

And ... I am trying to figure out how much longer I want to do without the internet. I'm still not making stable money at the new job, and I won't for at least another three weeks. Then, there is the fact that because of my unemployed stint, I have no savings ... and that is not a place I want to be.

So, would it be silly to try to make the goal of "No internet for a year"? Could I do it? Do I really want to? I don't want to, let's be honest ... but if it means I'll be getting $30/month closer to getting out of debt, I think this is a challenge I am willing to make for myself.

So .. two new challenges ...
1. No internet for a year (April 2010)
2. No new clothes (except work and undergarments) for BOTH Juliette and I ...

I don't know which one is scarier ... lol

I can honestly say that the first month back to work is going to be the hardest.

So far, I have no idea what my schedule will be like. However, if it is anything like my training schedule, it will be rough. Hard to get back in the swing of things, and most importantly, not so much liking the idea of working a 10 hour day without a break. At this point, money is money, and no one can be picky about that.

I enrolled Juliette in a daycare I wasn't completely in love with ... the daycare I was in love with didn't have any openings. Juliette isn't very happy at her school, and the one teacher grates my nerves. Every single day. She's always making a snide remark about me or Juliette ...and I have been trying really hard to not loose my temper. Daycare I love has an opening June 1st, so now I'm just trying to bide my time until then.

The worst part so far is just lack of money. I have money enough for gas and daycare, and not much else. My mom and dad are going to Disney this week for Spring Break, and are asking me to come up depending on my work schedule ... and I just don't want to waste the gas money. However, part of me really wants to get away, even if just for the evening to enjoy some Disney fireworks, and just to not have to sit in my house all the time. We don't have APs to actually go to the parks, but there is a lot of stuff to do at the campsite, all of them my favorite price ... free. I'm all about free.

May will be better, right? I know with all the new water restrictions we have ... my water bill will be a lot lower. Trying to do what I can to help with the drought, while also trying to get some veggies to grow in my garden ... it's a really tough balance. We got some really heavy rain yesterday ... the first time in at least 3 weeks. However, there doesn't look like much else in the future. Crazy how sometimes getting hit by at least a tropical storm to bring some much needed rain to the area doesn't really seem like a bad idea right about now ...as long as it didn't have completely horrid winds along with it.

Today was my first day of training ... and fingers crossed that everything worked out. It seems like I will do good there ... fingers crossed.

Of course, I got a stink cold. I feel ROUGH today.

Juliette started back at preschol on MOnday and she is thrilled. Actually, last night after school, she fell asleep at 5pm. Nice.

I think everything is going to go well. I've got optimism, and that's all that matters.

I really miss the internet at home ... maybe in a couple of months.

Woot!

It's not what I was looking for ... but, I don't care, I got a job. It's another serving job, and I didn't want to keep serving, but money is money ... and luckily it's a decent place where I should eventually make some money, after training and everything.

I start Monday, and enrolled Juliette in school today. I am so thrilled that she is going back to school, I could do a backflip.

I'm gonna keep up with the frugal lifestyle for the next couple of months to catch back up. We're caught up on cleaning supplies, clothes ... and things like that. I only need uniforms for work, which shouldn't be much. We finally got approved for food stamps, so I don't have to worry about food ... which is really good.

The gas will kill me because if I end up having to work nights ... I'm gonna have to drive all the way out to my parents house to pick up Juliette ... but we'll take it how it comes.

Yay for jobs!

My 25th birthday is Monday, and I am ready for it.

Today, I applied to some restaurants, and two of them look semi-promising. I don't want to serve anymore, but if I have to go back to serving to get a job ... well, then I will. I've got my fingers crossed that SOMETHING pans out this week, for no other reason than it's my birthday week.

Monday I think we might go to the zoo. It's free admission on your birthday, and a free meal at one of the restaurants. I would have to pay Juliette's admission, however, the food would be enough for the two of us to share. I don't remember how much Juliette would cost, but I think it would be around $20. I don't think that's bad at all, honestly.

I think this week we're also going to go and see the manatees, while they are still around. They come up to the electric plant during the winter, and even though it's hot as heck down here right now, you can still get a small glimpse of those giants swimming around in the water. Better yet, this is free! They also have a small museum that talks about why you shouldn't throw trash in the water, and why you have to drive slow in certain areas of the bay, and why we should conserve water - this is Juliette's favorite part. I should mention, my favorite park is that it's FREE.

Can you believe I have a budding hippie on my hands? Juliette takes these things VERY seriously. If we're in the parking lot of a store (or in the store itself) and there is trash on the ground, she will make me stop so she can pick it up and will put it in our buggy until she finds a trashcan. And heaven forbid someone drop litter on the ground in front of her ... I'm torn between being raised completely Southern (children do NOT talk to adults in that sort of way) and being completely proud when she stopped the woman who threw her trash on the ground and said "Mother Nature asks us all to put trash in the trashcan. It doesn't belong on her ground." LOL ... I mean, I feel like I should remind her that she shouldn't speak to people like that, and then, well hell, I'm proud that she has the nerve to stand up for what we believe in. She's also a complete light Nazi now, and scolds me if I am running out the door and leave a light on ... "MOoooom ... we have to conserve energy." Remember, this kid isn't going to school right now ... I have no idea where she is picking this stuff up from. We've talked about it a little ... but not this much.

I am almost halfway through our cash only month, and yes, I have used my debit card. Grr. Part of it is completely my fault. I lent my mother $100 of my cash (what was I thinking ... trying to be nice) and I haven't seen her since I lent it to her. Well, today I did, and it's been over a week, so she's forgotten all about it. Not a huge deal, because I know she'll give it to me when we both remember about it at the same time, however, I used my debit card to get gas twice. I'm not completely upset that I had to use the debit card, but those damn things are a really hard habit to break. Seriously.

We have been using redbox a bit, but only with free codes. That way Juliette still gets to watch a couple of her movies, and I don't have to listen to her whine ...all the time. I am praying I get a job so I can get a break from her. I know that sounds horrid, but ... I have officially found out I am not the kind of mom to stay at home. Lordy no. I don't know how people do it, but I am assuming they have a lot more patience than I do. I was going to preorder Twilight for my birthday, but I think I'm just going to gamble being able to get it from redbox. That will save me oh .... $24, and that's if I don't wait for a code as well. Not that picky over a dollar.

So far this month, I have spent right at $116. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. $53 of that was a trip to the Strawberry Festival (where I lent my mom the money, so she didn't have to stop at the Atm), which is a fair down here. Juliette rode rides all night, I was surprised. She is a thrill seeker. We had a very good time, and Juliette wants to know when we're going back. $30 of it has been in gas, and I have a $35 walmart giftcard somewhere in my house that might get me through this week. I've been spending about $30 a week in gas, driving all the way out to my parents house for them to watch her while I drive all over town looking for a job, and going on interviews that are seeming completely pointless.

This month, we also officially filed for child support. Oh yeah ... about time, I know, but it's something I have been dreading since she was born. I just didn't want the drama. I'm actually shocked that I haven't heard anything from the loveable fella, but ... nothing. I'm hoping he just goes along with it, and doesn't try to fight it. If he fights it, he can easily drag it out an additional 6-8 months. Joy! Oh well, I know it's just going to keep adding up against him ... I just (secretly) hope and pray that if he is paying for her, that he'll take an interest in her life. My little girl doesn't understand why her daddy isn't around. And, as a momma, I can say that kills me.

I've got a feeling this month is going to be a good one ... fingers crossed!

I've been seeing the ads for thsi movie all over the place, so I was intrigued. I found the book at Goodwill for .75, so I was sold. LOL. I had picked it up at Walmart but it was $13, and I just didn't want to spend that kind of money on a book.

Anywho, I LOVED this book, and actually laughed out loud a couple of times when I realized I had done (or do) some of the things she is talking about. Seriously.

Before I got even close to figuring out my finances, I would hide my bills. I don't think this is to uncommon of a thing for someone who doesn't want to admit to themselves just how much trouble they are in. I was in BIG trouble (and was working my way out of it, when I had a job). I used to put my bills in my car and forget about them. Oh yeah, you read that right. Like where were they going to go? I had no idea, but I was full of wishfull thinking.

Another thing I laughed at, and I still do this, is I totally will lie to my mom about how much I paid for something. I didn't even realize I did it until I read this book. My mom is over critical on my purchases, so I will straight up lie to her about it. I'll tell her I got something on sale when I didn't ... or something equally insane. What's up with that? I'm an adult, and as long as I have the means, I shouldn't feel the need to tell my mom I got something at a great price, even if I didn't. Right?

So, if you haven't read this book .. it's funny. It really is. I'll still be waiting for the movie to come out on DVD, but the book put a couple of things into a new light for me.

So, I have a crazy goal for this coming month. All of my bills are paid (yay!) ... and there isn't much left sitting in an account waiting for me to find a job ...

So I'm giving myself a budget of $200 next month. I wonder if this is even doable? Usually, I spend $160 a month just in gas ... and that's been while I'm unemployed, we do a lot of driving back and forth to my parents.

So, I have $200 in cash for the month of March. It's kinda ... scary, to be honest. I think it's doable though, at least I hope it it. I know our fridge/freezer and pantry are pretty stocked, I know I'll have to buy somethings in the coming month, but not a lot. We have pretty much everything else I can think of.

My goal is to not use my debit card at all this month. I actually had a freeze put on my card this month from using it so many times. ACK! I was stocking up on some really good sales, so Visa thought my card was stolen. I admit, it was incredibly embarrassing to have my card declined, and knowing there was money in the account, but what can you do? I wish they would call and ask BEFORE putting a hold on your card .. but whatever.

So ... I think this month could end up being interesting. Less driving, no redbox ... and having to explain to a four year old what no means. I swear, she knows, but she doesn't want to listen.

My 25th birthday is in March ... and Twilight is coming out. I might make an exception to the $200 rule for a birthday present, however it would be far more exiciting to try to include it. If I haven't gotten a job by my birthday, I think we'll be going to the zoo. They are doing a birthday celebration this year as well, and while not as cool in our book as Disney, it's a heck out of a lot cheaper.

The only thing that could be hard is my brother will be in town for a couple of weeks ... he was just here for Christmas, but he had to have surgery on his shoulder (or has to, I think it's the 4th), so he's coming out here to rest up. He has a lot of leave available, so I can see us coming out here more to see him, which is the only reason I can see our gas being a problem.

Fingers crossed for March ... maybe I'll finally get a stinkin job!

So, I don't know how many of you have heard about the latest girl from Florida who was apparently taken from her own bed .. but I'm officially creeped out.

Even though I don't necessarily live anywhere near where Jessica Lunsford was taken from, or near where the latest victim lived ... it SERIOUSLY creeps me out.

I can't help but wonder how many other times this happens, and what it takes for it to be "high profile" enough to hear about it if you don't live near the area that it happened. When Elizabeth Smart was taken, I think part of the reason it was on National news so quickly was because of how unbelievable it is.

This is the one time I don't mind that my 4 year old spends most nights in bed with me.

I think part of the reason it's making me worry so much is because this is really the first time I've lived on my own with Juliette. I have an alarm system, but it doesn't always ease my worries. The house across the street from ours is now in foreclosure, and the house two doors down is empty as the woman tries to decide if she wants to sell her father's old home. I feel vulnerable.

This week, I'm adding an extra lock on both front and back doors. I think it's just going to be a chain lock, I haven't reall decided, but I want it up just incase my daughter decides she wants to go for a late night walk or something.

I wish I could say I knew all my neighbors. There is one guy who honestly gives me the creeps when he walks by. And well, they usually say a mother's instinct are right. I don't know what it is about this guy, but he seems "off". He also likes to play with the kids in the neighborhood, and you don't want to lable someone just because you don't think it's normal, but well, I don't think it's normal for a grown man to play with little kids. That's weird, right?

I honestly remember growing up, in the same neighborhood, and my mom had us play outside. All the time. I don't feel comfortable letting Juliette play on the front porch most days.

Yesterday and today I drove my happy butt all over town. For four interviews and two "testing" sessions. I am exhausted. LOL. Who knew looking for work was so much well, work?

Good news, I have a 2nd interview lined up for tomorrow. YAY!

Tomorrow I HAVE to get some stuff done around the house. I feel like I haven't been home all week. And, well, I haven't. The really cool news is my parents have been feeding us. And my awesome dad has been watching Juliette.

I'm ready to just sit around the house all weekend.

I have two interviews this week, and two "testing sessions" for other jobs. Fingers crossed this leads to someTHING. Anything at this point.

One of the testing sessions is to work as a 911 operator. My dad laughed at this one, not because he doesn't think it's a good idea, but because he is a retired fire fighter, and both my brother and I have expressed an interest now in doing something along those lines.

The other testing session is for a work at home oppurtunity through a hotel chain. Let's see how that goes. The pay isn't great, and it's only part time, but hey, part time is better than nothing.

Ok, so I am blunt. I can be mean, and sometimes, I just keep talking when I know I shouldn't.

My grandmother is currently staying at my parent's house. They keep pushing to hurry up and get a room ready for her to come to my house. I keep stalling ...

Today I asked her when she was leaving. Oops!

I didn't mean to pry, or to really push. I don't want to be "rude" but well, when someone is walking all over you, it's hard not to.

She made an appointment at a lawyer's office back where she lives (2 hours away!) and then asked me "Mandi, you don't mind taking me, do you?" Umm, yeah, I do, but whatever. It took 8 HOURS to go out there and come back ... seriously.

In the car, I asked when she was planning on going out to California. That's all she's talking about, going out to California. She told me as soon as she gets all of her "stuff" done. She doesn't want to divorce her husband, she wants to have a seperation. She isn't asking for money ...

Needless to say, I wasted my entire day for the lawyer to tell her she could have done everything over the phone and he can't do anything until she talks to her husband. Which, she hasn't done yet. UGH!

I guess, to be optimistic, by spending the ENTIRE FLIPPIN DAY driving her around, I managed to keep another day of freedom by not working on her room. WOOT!

Hey, at least it was a NSD!

I have a little bit of "play" money set aside. I had been needing to buy a new computer for awhile (I cracked my laptop screen almost a year ago) but I was just doing without for the moment. I kept some money aside waiting for a deal ... and I finally came across one.

I bought the new computer last night.

Today I broke my cellphone.

UGH!

Normally, I would "do without" but now I am pulling money out of my savings because I have to have a cellphone. I don't have a landline at the house, and since I am TRYING to get a job, I have to have a phone for people to call me.

UGH!

So, I'm looking at phones, and really not wanting to sign up for a contract. Man, I'm just glad I have "play" money. It won't be "play" for long if I don't get a job ... but I don't feel safe not having a phone at home at all.

Stupid me for dropping the stupid phone.

The good news is, I have two interviews next week. One is part time, the other I have never heard of the company before. So ... fingers crossed!

I'm actually tired of spending money.

After a return trip to the doctors, we finally have a diagnosis. She has a UTI, probably due to the fact that a) she's a toddler who is still learning the whole wipe business and b) she's notorious for holding her pee in.

I took her in Monday after she spiked a temp of 104.5 Sunday night. I hate when my kid is sick.

I haven't killed my grandmother yet, thank goodness ... and hopefully she'll be going to California soon. She is stating that she wants to "tour" around our family. Well, I think I am going to put my foot down and say "Sorry there is no room at the inn."

I think part of my problem with this whole idea is I've JUST gotten out of the rommate stage. I mean, I want my OWN home, with my OWN rules ... and I certainly don't need another child (sorry, my grandmother is too dependent for my taste).

I just keep putting off the idea of her coming to my house ... my poor parents are stuck with her for now.

I just honestly can't comprehend someone deciding that just because someone has the "extra" room in their house (I have a four bedroom house, the other two rooms are my office and Juliette's playroom) They aren't "extra" to me. I told my parents I was going to find two roommates and tell her "Sorry". At least the roommates would pay ... my grandmother hasn't even offered to pay money to live there.

I can't wait until I am old(er) and can just assume that I can live with my grandchildren ... and not even offer to help out with the bills. SIGH!

Yeah, I might be overreacting, but, damn it, I'm going to stick with the title.

Julie came down with a fever on Thursday night ... and still has it. It's broken twice, but not for long. It's 103, close to 104 at times, and she is refusing meds. UUUGGGGHHHH!!!!!

On the way to the doctors on Sat, she threw up ALL OVER the back seat of my car. She hadn't been throwing up, and I swear I had been transplanted into some sort of horror movie at that point. It was GROSS! My mom had to meet us up at the doctor's office because I didn't have a spare change of clothes in the car. Her doctor is in a different town, and I would have missed our appointment if I had turned back home. Tomorrow, when I go back to our house, a spare change of clothes is going into the back of my car. YUCK!

Friday, my grandmother came to stay with us. I'm not the praying sort, but I am praying with all my might that this isn't permanent. She wants to come and live with me.

NO!!!!!!

I don't want to give up what little bit of freedom we just achieved by living with my completely irrational (spoiled) and just plain weird grandmother. Seriously, not gonna happen. My dad (her son) is highly allergic to cats, ended up in the emergency room the last time he had cats in the house because he stopped breathing. She comes with her cat, and tells my dad "No, I won't let the cat stay in the garage" ... yeaaaaahh, let's just kill your son because of your cat. Are you nuts?!!?!

I really try to be "mature" ... but I'm going to be a big fat baby on this one. I do NOT want this to happen. I can handle my grandmother and her possibly soon to be ex husband on small doses. Like, once a year sort of doses. Her marriage to my "grandfather" is her fourth marriage, and she's been threatening him with divorce for years. I think that's why most of my family migrated to California, so they wouldn't be stuck with her. UGH!

So, Juliette's sicker than anything I can remember .. and I have my grandmother watching over me asking me why Juliette's being so mean. Ummm .. because she's sick!? I haven't gotten much sleep since Thursday ... and I'm just tired. My car smells like puke, and I can't even be comfortable in my own home.

Here's to hoping she goes back home ... and soon. I told my dad and mom that if they convinced her to go and live with my Aunt in California, I would pay for the plane ticket. LOL, and I'm serious!

Hopefully Juliette gets better soon, but I have a feeling I'll be back at the doctor with her soon.

WOW ...

First off, let me say, setting a goal like that is HARD. I'm all for trying to strive to be better at things, but I do believe you can possibly set to high of a goal. However, I am very happy with how this week went.


I did spend money, however, and well, that means I didn't quite acheive this goal, but I am very happy by how it went.

I bought two newspapers this week, for a total of $1.50. It used to make sense to buy the Thursday newspaper in our town to get the grocery ads, and the job listings. However, I don't know if it was just this week or the paper I got, but NONE of the ads were in it, and well, neither were the jobs.

I spent $0.60 on a can of soda for Juliette as a "reward" for her being so good waiting for an appointment. I am not the type of parent to reward with high fructose corn syrup, but she was asking for a trip to Chick-fil-a, and well, that would have ruined our no spend week. I got her a fruit punch, which really has no fruit in it at all, but kept her quite until we could get home. I also realized that I scheduled my appointment during a bad time for her schedule, and now know to counter that by bringing crackers and juice with me. I'm learning how to be a better parent all the time, hopefully one day it will stick.

Technically the no spend week should have ended tomorrow for us, but Juliette came down with a 102 degree fever last night. I have not been able to get her to eat or drink anything all day, so I asked her if she would eat chicken nuggets, thinking I had some in the fridge. I didn't. So I took her to her favorite place in the world, Chick-fil-a. She ate the ice cream and two chicken nuggets ... and then I got my behind chewed by my dad about dairy products and fevers. DUH! We then had a family emergency, which had me driving out to my parents house this evening ... which means I had to fill up the tank a day before scheduled.

However, I think I did great for a no spend week, and I know we could have pulled it off if things had gone differently. I think life in general tries to prevent us from being able to accomplish these things, and we just have to find a way to work through them. I could have told my sick kid "Sorry, no chicken nuggets for you" but I'm not that kind of momma, and Juliette knows that. I could have coasted in on fumes to my parent's house ... and I would have been fine, but I would have had to pay higher fuel prices on this side of town (plus, Walmart who is typically the cheapest place in town was $.12 higher tonight, so I would have had to pay more money to fill up tomorrow. Which, I think we can all agree, doesn't make financial sense)

Next week won't be a no spend week at all, but my goal is 5 out of the seven days. Possibly 6, but with everything that is going on with the family, and since I really don't know how everything is going to end up ... I don't know how to plan for it.

I also had TWO job possibilities in my inbox this evening! Today started off pretty nice, and then went downhill ... but signing on to my email tonight gave me some hope for the future.

Like way to many other people, I am currently looking for a job. Oh boy, and I am just about OVER IT. LOL.

The SuperBowl is coming to town in like a week (I think?!) so I applied at a reputable hotel (think National chain, NICE hotel) about a temporary banquet server. They're looking for people to work the Super Bowl and by golly, I'm looking to work.

Here's the email I got back from them:
"We would like to interview you to work Superbowl. Please come to Human Resources this Tues between 10 and Noon if you are interested"

Seriously, that's the email. They didn't leave a contact name/number ... nothing. Just two lines that apparently I'm supposed to figure out. Talk about frustrating!

You know, if I was Mr. CEO of this hotel chain, I would be incredibly upset. I worked for awhile doing loan consolidations, and was in daily email contact with our lenders and borrowers. I admit, I don't have the greatest grammar, and I need to work on my spelling, but ummm ... that's why they invented spell check. I mean, seriously. And what about a proper greeting, and a closing? And how hard is it to go into outlook and I don't know, put it in your signature so that your contact info is in every email? I mean, seriously, you can assume that every person you email on a daily basis about your JOB is probably going to need to get in touch with you SOMEHOW and I don't know they might want your name.

SIGH.

Sometimes I realize I am enjoying this stay at home all the time with Juliette thing way too much, but I only have about 3.5 conservative months left in my EF. I want a job so I can have the excuse to get my internet back ... lol. Of all the things I've cut back on, I can honestly say I miss that the most. I want to get back into my rapid debt repayment plan. I WANT to go back to school in the Fall, and I really want to knock out my old student loans first. They're only at $3500, but when I'm not bringing home any income, there just isn't any money to send to them to get rid of them quicker. And I do NOT want to have to move back in with my parents, I mean, seriously!

So listen, if you work in HR and you're sending out emails to potential new employees, can you please just put your contact info so other unemployed hooligans aren't stressing out like this. Thanks!

Like I said in my last post, my parents took off for a Caribbean cruise for my sister's birthday .. lucky girl.

Except I am LOVIN house sitting. Besides the fact that I'm not actually on vacation, and I'm really only 20 miles away from my house, AND I have to walk their dogs (one who's gas actually woke me up from a deep sleep TWICE last night, YUCK!) in the cold. I am rather enjoying myself.

At home, my entertainment setup is bare minimum and I'm rather enjoying it. We have a decent size tv (I think it's 27 inches ... at most). We don't have cable, but we're enjoying our new digital cable box with kid shows. Thank the lord (the one thing I missed was being able to turn on Sprout and have something decent for her to watch ... Thank you PBS!) We have a HUGE collection of VHS tapes of (mostly) Disney movies thanks to Goodwill.

At my parents, they have a bigger than needed flat screen, with a sweet surrond sound system. My daughter asked me why the sound was coming out of the box behind her head ... "Well honey, it's this crazy thing called a speaker" They also have more movies than Netflix, internet (oh how I miss you!), and the "deluxe" cable channels. Man, this is great.

But what I'm really having fun with ... their new appliances. See, my parents have only lived here about two months. And before that, they lived in my house. I am in the process of buying it from them. My house was built sometime in the late 60's .. and needs a lot of work done to it. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice house ... and it's a hell of a lot better than not having one.

We had a dishwasher growing up that my parents told us that it broke, but in reality, it was putting to much water in our septic, and they weren't happy about it. I didn't know that for TEN YEARS. I really thought it had broken. Needless to say, I don't mind doing the dishes when I can load them up in the dishwasher.

I heard a beeping noise that I couldn't figure out ... I walked around the house for a good couple of minutes, putting my ears to different appliances, checking the doors and windows to make sure they were closed, checking the alarm ... oh I thought I had lost it. It was the fridge. It has an alarm in case say, your four year old gets into the fridge and doesn't close the door. It beeps at you until you close the door. AWESOME!

And let's not forget to mention their washer and dryer. They have a front loading, energy efficent brand spanking new washer and dryer set. I'm sure it would get old, but it's nice that my clothes take less time to wash and dry.

Of course, the detox of Juliette from being able to watch tv and play the computer probably isn't actually worth it, but she's having a good time, so I guess that's all I can ask for.

I woke up to the temp being 23 degrees here in sunny Central Florida. Holy crap, that's really cold! I fell asleep watching the news last night, so I awoke to the 6:30am news, where people not to far above us (about 45 minutes) woke up to frozen pipes. I kinda freaked out, because I didn't even know that could happen, so I called my mom to ask her what I should do if it gets cold like this again. What a stressful time to be a new homeowner ... lol, I'm gonna burn the house down and flood it out as well. Luckily, it should be warming up in the next day or so. We're about 20 degrees below average, and well, it's just too gosh darn cold for me.

The part that scares me is my electric bill. I feel like our central heat has been working all day and all night, and though I'm sure it kicks off sometimes ... I just am not looking forward to the next bill. It's probably going to be as high as my July bill when the air has to run 24/7. Brrr!!!!

My little sister turned 11 today! My sister really wanted to go to Disney for her birthday (thanks to the multiple Disney commericals we see nightly about getting into the parks free on your birthday) So my parents looked into it, and decided to go on a three day Disney cruise for her birthday instead. The girl is on cloud nine. Way to go Disney with your creative marketing, you got my parents hook line and sinker. However, cruising is something they all really like, and they are in the financial standpoint to be able to do it, so have fun!

When my dad gets home I am having him check out my heating system. During the night, it resets down to 60 degrees. I know someone of you keep your thermostats that low, but ... uh uh, not for me. I woke up frozen this morning.

Fingers crossed that this is the last of the really cold weather. Strawberry season is just about on us, and it's something our local economy completely depends on. However, for all of you strawberry lovers out there, the frosts that have been covering our strawberries will make them incredibly sweet and juicy. Can't wait! Right now they're selling half flats for $6.99, but in a week or so I should be able to get a full flat for $5.99. A full flat last us most of the year, but anything more than that and I wouldn't be able to use them all in time. I freeze the strawberries and use them in smoothies throughout the year. And honestly, there's nothing like a frozen strawberry as a snack on a hot as heck summer day. I'd love to learn how to make my own strawberry jelly as well.

Another thing I am incredibly grateful for is a friend of my mom's. She gave Juliette an insane amount of clothes that her daughter had outgrown. In it, and about a size to big, was a really warm winter jacket they had had when they lived in Ohio. I've never bought Juliette a coat like this, since we don't normally need it. Let's just say, it's gotten a good deal of use so far this season. And, it's big enough to be worn next year ... something I am very happy about. Juliette's happy because it's pink and has a hood that's attached to it.

For all of you who deal with weather like this on a daily winter basis, I have no idea how you handle it. I hope you all get warm soon! I'm a flip flop wearing, never seen snow Florida girl, I don't know how to handle this cold.

I haven't quite finished all of my goals for the New Year, but there are a lot of things I want to accomplish this year.

I am currently in the process of looking for a full time job. Right now, I am unemployed, so even a part time job is ok with me. LOL, I'm not picky.

But, in all honesty. I am planning on changing a lot of things in my life this year. I want to do the "normal" things and loose weight and all that jazz, but I really want to work at simplifying our life. I wouldn't mind becoming greener in our life, and just working to become a little more frugal.

I gave up internet at the house, so I am hoping to post at least once a week from my parents house. I'll try to find the time to do it sooner than that, but we live about 20 minutes away from my parents right now, so it would be silly to drive over here more than necessary.

Hope everyone had a good New Year! Juliette turned four yesterday, so our New Year always seems to be a rush for me. I've got to get going to get the little one in bed.