Financially Fried

I'm feeling that kind of financial pressure that has me needing to breath into a paper bag for a minute.  You know what I'm talking about?

I'm sure it isn't anything I can't handle.

Breathe.  Breathe.  Breathe.

December's credit card bill was, um, big.  So was January's.  And for a chunk of time in there Hot was not bringing in a full paycheck. 

Part of that was my excellent new dishwasher.... and I've been without for almost all of 2010 so I'm not complaining about that at all.

The Subie had some issues and cost almost $300 (and two hours of my life) to fix.

The kids started gymnastics... there's another $300.

Hot has had 3 major-ish health issues in 2010... nothing life threatening but all adding up in doc visits and meds and such. 

The pellet stove went on the fritz and cost us almost $300 in part and labor.  The awesome guy that fixes it for us came back a few days later to fix a jam in the auger for free so I can't complain.  I should take him a batch of cinnamon rolls for that.

We had some restoration work done on some antique family furniture.... we got a great deal on it but it was still almost $300 total.

Then January brings the house payment and registration for two of our vehicles. 

And I toasted my brake pads AND roters.....  another cool $300.

I got the breakout for 2010 daycare costs.... I'm not even going to tell you.

This weekend the high speed internet dude is coming to our house and that's going to cost... you guessed it... another $300.

Sweet is doing yet another fund raiser... cookie dough and pasta kits this time. 

Next up is taxes and property tax payment.

The pressure pump is dying.  The built in microwave is dead and I really want to remodel the kitchen.  We are doing the next tiny phase of our remodel plan this spring by replacing the septic system so it is upgraded for a house with more bedrooms. 

Ok... time to focus on SOMETHING ELSE for a while......

Conference Call Thankful

I'm mostly recovered from the holidays. 

We spent a solid chunk of time at the farm with my family and when I get home I had withdrawals and had to talk to my mom every day.  Not that I had anything new to tell her but we had talked SO MUCH that I couldn't go cold turkey.

Then my sister figured out how to conference call us on her fabulous phone.  Who-hoo.  Now we just need to figure out how to do it with 4 people so we can get my brother's wife on the call and it will be perfect. 

It strikes me as odd that I like these people so much.  I didn't get to pick them.  I got lucky.

So for those of you who are wondering what the family is doing.... My mom just finished up Jillian's 30 day shred.  She actually enjoyed it... or that's what she says.  She also chaperoned the Miss Rodeo Montana pageant this month.  We all met up for the finals on Sunday afternoon and then went to dinner at The Prospector.  We got a hotel (Monday was a holiday) and the kids swam.  My brother & sis-in-law & nephew came over to swim so we got our money's worth.  My sister wasn't there... she was in DC for work and this week she leaves for Hawaii to visit her brother-in-law and get some sun.  Dad has been having a heck of a time hauling wheat on the ice.  It's like an episode of Ice Road Truckers gone bad.  But the pictures are funny.  He's in Bozeman this weekend to renew his vet stuff... I'm sure he's attending some fabulous conference about parasites in cats or something.  Mom will be shopping the clearance sales while he goes to meetings and they will both be enjoying the hotel's exercise facilities.... which is hilarious because my dad hasn't bought any new "exercise clothing" in 20 years or so.... 

I sure do like these people.

Ideal Dreams

I love:
1.  Sephora hair bands
2.  ELF lipgloss
3.  Dansko shoes
4.  Smith sunglasses
5.  Thymes Olive Leaf
6.  My stubby handled 2" angled paint brush
7.  Victoria Secret hipsters
8.  My new travel coffee mug
9.  Gift cards for the coffee shack by my house

Things I'm searching for:
1.  good mascara
2.  solid base coat
3.  a cardigan as perfectly cut as my beloved but shabby black Carolyn Taylor one
4.  really great couch pillows
5.  curtains for the bedrooms
6.  new swimwear
7.  a paint color for the bedrooms
8.  perfect organization in the laundry room
9.  classic sandals for this summer

Fudge

Goal One

Here we are at the end of the first week of January and no posted goals.  Hmmm.

Ok.  Well.  Here's one for you.

I put all of the pictures for 2010 in a folder.  And all of them are broken down into folders within 2010.  Then I did a quicky change name thing so each picture has a decent label. 

Then I made a folder called Album 2010 and picked the best 200 (well 199 actually) pictures of 2010 and put a copy in there.  Then uploaded to Costco.com and ready to print... after I find the perfect 200 photo album to put them in.... or maybe I'll wait for a good deal at snapfish and just print a 2010 album direct.

Here's the thing.....

Here's the thing about my husband.

He overshops.

He insists on a list and then buys everything on it.

I got a new dishwasher.  A mother's ring (which I lost but then found... but that is another story.... seriously.... why does he buy me rings?).  A spotbot.  Jeans.  A henley shirt.  Socks.  Bread pans.  Metal bbq skewers.  Dark chocolate.