Weekly Goals 3-1-10

Ahhh....it's a new month. Last month was a little up and down...lots going on. Joel and I are sooooo excited about buying a home...but it has us on an emotional roller coaster. This week I am just going to focus on getting back on track:-)

1. NO SMOKING

2. Keep track of March Spendings (EVERY PENNY)

3. No sodas

4. Low budget dinners (that are still yummy)

5. Walk at work (Mon, Wed & Fri) Gym - (Tu, Th & Sa)

6. Portion Control - track calories

7. Lots of water

8. Scrap Page ( finish the bridal shower book)

9. Focus on what me and Joel talked about (personal stuff... I won't bore you will details)

10. Finish and mail Loris pics...and work on Thomas Basketball Team Pics!!

Yep...I can feel it....It's going to be a great week!!!

Weekly Goal Results 2-22-10

Let me start by saying it was a rough week for me. I didn't make it on most of my goals....but I am starting a fresh start tomorrow:-)

1. NO SMOKING - I smoked one....dang it!

2. No Sodas - I shared one with Joel at the Monster Truck Show....

3. Workout at least 3 times this week - Not ONCE:-(

4. Portion Control - I did do ok on this one:-)

5. Protein Shake for breakfast every day this week - Yes...I did:-)

6. Save money wherever possible - Not a penny:-(

7. Stick to menu plan all week:-) - Only a few days....

8. Make sure to order kids Birth Certificates for the cruise:-) - Yep...sent out the info!

9. Write pros and cons list about moving - figure out exactly what we want:-) - Yes!

10. Drink at least 6 cups of water a day - Pretty close

March Spending and April Savings.....

Soooo...I have decided that if Joel and I are going to be buying a house soon...I need to make sure that we are on a comfortable budget that will work well with out new payment(ugh...that's sounds scary!) I know that we can afford to buy a house...that's not the problem...the problem is we haven't really had to keep ourselves on a budget. Well, if we plan to buy a new house...guess what...budget..here we come! I am going to track EVERY penny that we spend in March. I am not going to do anything different then we usually do...just go about as normal. Then...I will be able to go over our spending and see where we could easily save money. When you don't have to stick to a budget it's hard to realize where all of your extra money is going...you know?? Then...my April spreadsheet will be to keep up with all of our spending on a budget...then I will be able to see what we need to do to live comfortable in our new home. Hey...it's better to try and figure it out now...rather than wait until we are in the house...and struggle for a while right?? I am looking forward to this. I think Joel and I will learn a lot from keeping track of all of the money we spend...or should I say blow...! We might think twice about all of the extra spending we do once we see how much we could be saving :-)

Power Thought for The Day

I am flexible and flowing:

I am open to the new and changing. Every moment presents a wonderful new opportunity to become more of who I am. I flow with life easily and effortlessly.

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Love this one....wish I was flowing effortlessly right now:-)

A Little Off Track.....just a little:-)

Ok...so I have managed to fall a little off track. I have been doing great with not smoking...eating well...working out....etc...etc....etc. Then we started looking for a house and it's got me all messed up! I am so excited about buying our first house that's all I can think about. I have totally let myself NOT focus on anything else that I have been working on. UGH! I guess it's good that I have noticed this...and am willing to start over and work on it again:-) Joel and I are on top of the world...this whole buying a house thing...is amazing. We knew that we would eventually buy a house together...but had no idea it would be this soon. This weekend we are going to take all of the kids to look at a house...what fun! It's going to be such a great time in our family's life! Decorating my new kitchen....the kids decorating their new rooms...Joel putting his B&W checkered floor in the garage...YES...he is really doing that. Hey...it's his garage...he can do what he wants! BUT.....my point here is that just because we have all of this exciting stuff going on DOESN'T give me a reason to be a slacker:-( Today...I am starting over...and I am going to get back on the track that I have been on for a few months now! It's a wonderful time in my life and I am super happy....so I will continue to do the things that please me...and that will allow me to live a longer and healthier/happier life with my wonderful family:-) THINK POSITIVE!!!!!!

Decisions....Decisions.....

Joel and I have been on a roller coaster ride trying to figure out where we want to move and what type of house we want...and what we can afford...and what the kids would want....etc...etc...etc. I thought looking for a house would be fun? Ok...it's fun....but it also wears you out! After going around in many circles we have come to an agreement (or compromise) that we think will make everyone happy.

What Joel and I want - We would love to live out in the country and have a few acres of land. I would love to start a garden....and enjoy the peace and quiet of the country life. I have always been a country girl. Joel loves living in the country as well. It's also closer to his kiddos which is something Joel wants...to be closer to his kids:-) We want a 4 bedroom so all of the kids can have their own room. We want to be able to still get to work in a reasonable amount of time. We want a newer house then what we live in now...with a game room for the kiddos. Oh and how could I forget that Joel MUST have a garage:-)

What Thomas wants - He DOES NOT want to live in the country. He doesn't want to change schools and move away from all of his friends. He wants to stay closer to the city and his Nana:-) He wants a bigger room and a pool.

What Haley and Brenden want - They don't live with us so they probably don't really care either way...but I do know that they would love to have their Dad living closer to them. Right now we live an hour away (without traffic). It makes it tough to make it to EVERY event they have.

The Compromise - Ok...so this is what Joel and I have FINALLY come up with. We are going to get everything we want out of a house...4 bedroom...newer home...2 car garage...game room. We have decided to NOT move way out to the country. It's just not good for us right now and we think it would make the move so much harder on Thomas then it needs to be. We are however still going to move closer to Haley and Brenden...that way Joel can be more involved in their lives. He is super pumped about that...and I sure the kids will be too. The location will still be drivable for Joel and I to work ....and Thomas will still be close to his friends and will still be able to go to a High School that some of his friends are going to:-) We have decided since we are giving up the country life (land) that we want a pool:-) We love to entertain and have friends and family over...and what better way to do in the hot summers of Texas?? YAY! I am super excited. So....we have narrowed it down and the hunt is on. The "perfect" house will come along soon and we will be able to start a new chapter in our lives.

Joel and I were both so relieved once we came to this conclusion. It was like 100 pounds were lifted off our backs. We know it's the right decision because it just fell into place...so we are confident that it happened the way it was supposed to:-)

Wish us luck. Hopefully I will be posting pics of our first house on here soon!!!! Oh...and I have posted a picture of one of the houses pools that we are looking at tomorrow. I think I could hang out on that patio all summer with NO problems:-) Nothing but a nice tan!!! How exciting...maybe it's "the one"!!!

Weekly Meal Plan

Monday - Teriyaki Chicken, rice and egg rolls

Tuesday - Sausage, turkey pasta with garlic bread and salad

Wednesday - Cheese Enchiladas, beans, chips and salsa

Thursday - Chicken Tacos, corn on the cobb

Friday - Poor Mans Meal, corn bread, peas

Sat - Fettuccine Alfredo, bread and salad

Su - Pulled Pork sandwiches, chips and coleslaw (NEW Recipe for the week)