Wednesday, July 30, 2008

DPL (Debt Proof Living) Summer Olympics

I have been trying to get my (our) money under control for a few months. Okay more than 6. With trying to plan a wedding, Dave’s change in jobs, and a few other things I have let this get pushed to the side. It’s the little things that are killing me. I like to eat out - it’s VERY bad I know. But it’s so easy for me - stop on the way to work, run out at lunch to get a break from the office, get home late - order some pizza. This HAS to stop. I have to be accountable for my spending.

So today I went back to the Debt Proof Living website which I haven’t even looked at in MONTHS. The first post I see if about the DPL Summer Olympics. You have to start a personal financial project and complete it during the time of the Olympics. It’s a 17 day challenge - starting Friday August 8th - Sunday August 24th.

My project will be to eat out less.
Only spend $20 in 2 weeks on eating out/soda out. (I am addicted to Mickey D’s Diet Coke so I had to put a $$ amount on it. $1.07 a day adds up!)
Only eat out once for a dinner Dave or I pay for. (We are going to be going home to see the family 2 different times - if they are taking us out I am game!)
Plan out meals ahead for this time - make a list of items needed to prepare those meals and only buy what is needed at the store.

We have a good amount of things in the cabinets and freezer but have nothing in the fridge to use to make them! Milk, cheese, etc. We will get some free eggs from my parents so that will save us a little!!

Wish me luck!!

We’re going camping!

We are going to go camping with our Hilliard Jaycees friends this weekend at Delaware State Park and I am pretty darn excited! I am looking forward to pizza pies, s’mores, and the wonderful smell of campfires!! And to make things even BETTER - it’s only 5 minutes from home so I am going to go home and shower J That makes things so much more tolerable!!

We went a few years ago and I had an OK time - but had the stress of making Saturday nights dinner - Grilled Chicken Breast, Corn on the Cob, and something else that I have blocked out of my mind! Anyone who knows me knows I think all this outdoors stuff sounds fun - but when I go to do it I can’t deal! I don’t like to sweat - ICK! This time I took the easy way out. I am in charge of Friday night dinner….pizza pies! This I can handle, and will be done before the weekend even really gets started!! So I can kickback and enjoy the rest of my time….as long as it doesn’t get toooo hot!

I am sure I will have some stories to tell on Monday!!

What a weekend...

My weekend was supposed to be very simple and boring. Take the day off work on Friday and work the Jazz and Rib Festival and then just chill out the rest of the weekend around the apartment. I was going to clean some, work on wedding invitations. All of this got changed on Thursday night. I went home and our middle cat (who was the first one we got 5 years ago) was sick. He wasn’t really moving and just looked BAD. So off to the Vet we went. He had a urinary blockage. Let’s just say things didn’t go very well and we ended up having to put him to sleep on Saturday. It wasn’t good. He was Dave’s baby - but I still seem to be taking it very hard! Harder than I thought I would. So we pretty much bummed around the rest of the weekend.

Sunday we did go to one of the Delaware Preservation Park’s. It was a nice walk…Dave got some pretty good pictures.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Stop the World...

I want to get off!

I go through this sometimes - just got overwhelmed for really no good reason!

Right now the main things I have going on are scheduling people to work and working the Jazz and Rib Festival this weekend. And of course wedding stuff - mainly invitations right now.

I have to admit - I was never a girl to have the dreams of a big wedding, or a wedding at all. And if we would have gotten married 5 years ago - we would have probably just done a destination wedding. But for some crazy reason in the last year I decided I wanted a wedding. This is very strange to many people who know me.

And really I didn't think it would be that bad. I love to plan events. But this whole things has taken on a life of it's own. I said I wanted a Simple Wedding. I have since learned (and been told numerous times) that the words Simple and Wedding really don't go together.

Since I never really had the thought of what I wanted my wedding to look like I am a little worried it is going to be very mis-match. But I have a few people trying to help me on that front to pull it all together.

My issue now is invitations. The FIRST thing I bought for the wedding. From Michael's - gotta love 50% off!!! Well when I did that I didn't think of think of things like accommodations and directions needing to be put in the invite. So now I am trying to figure out how to do all of this and pull it together so they all look right and match!!

So this has been my focus the last few days. And I am really not getting anywhere! I think today is the day....I am going to have to go beg a friend to see if she can help me!!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

I love Panera!

Since I got my laptop this year I think Panera is my new favorite place! (Until the Mickey D's in Ada opens) WiFi!!! I can get things done while I would normally be wasting time and shopping while waiting to go places.

What a busy weekend!
Friday - Went to work. At lunch I went and got the tags for my car renewed - I hate doing that. Next year I will do it early!! After work I went down to Indian Lake. We went on a boat ride, it was a perfect night! Not to hot not to cold to be on the lake. When we got back in we went to Froggy's for dinner. The place was PACKED! Tooo much for me. I don't are for large groups of people or loud noises. It was both.

Saturday - Mom and I went to meet meet the Day of Coordinator for the wedding and look at the reception site. Allison had some WONDERFUL ideas!! We also went to the park and found a few locations to have the ceremony. Then to lunch to go over flowers, set up, etc. It went very well - but I left with my head spinning!!!

Then mom and I went looking for a dress for her. We found one we both liked but she is afraid it isn't MOB enough..so we'll see if her friends approve! I hope so.

Then to Wal-Mart for a few items and back home. We met my dad and uncle at the Mexican restaurant in Ada. It was pretty good!! Nice to have some variety in town!

Then it was home to watch some TV....or in my case NAP! I napped for a little then up and talked to mom and uncle for awhile then finished the movie we had started.

Sunday - Bummed around then Jen came down to cut my hair the day went crazy from there. So I got my hair trimmed and headed home.

Yep after all of that I had to nap when I got back home again!!!

Overall a good and productive weekend. But now I have even more things I need to do. Well maybe not MORE but more brought to my attention!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

MRI

So yesterday I FINALLY went and had my MRI.

I was scheduled for it the end of May/start of June but I called and cancelled. I was looking into some insurance things which didn't really pan out. But I knew that a month ago and just kept putting it off. Last week the co-worker told me I needed to call and re-schedule. So I did. My nice dr. have me a small script for Valium since I freak out in small spaces pretty easy.

So I left work early yesterday and Dave and I headed down to the hospital. We went to the new hospital in Dublin that has only been open a few months. It was great! Everyone was VERY nice and helpful. (Even though we got there late)

I survived the MRI and should have results back in a few days. Then we will see where the dr. sends me next!

One more thing off my stress list for the week!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Now I Understand..

What it is like to Blog. I have been a blog stalker for more years than I care to admit. I normally check a few everyday. When I go and check a blog and there is no new post - I'll admit I am kinda sad.

This week I have found myself multiple times saying I need to update my blog or oh yea - I could update my blog. But I never seem to get logged in and do it!

Saturday - Was a tiring, but fun and productive day!
*I got to Stacy's around 10 AM. We looked at some stuff on-line for the wedding.
*Picked out jewelry to order. (I am not going to order right now but I just wanted what I was going to order decided!)
*Went over the shower invite list.
*Went Culver's with Jimmy for lunch.
*Then the shopping marathon started!
*The Party Store - looking for invites for the wedding shower, didn't see any we liked but did find some plate's to buy for Stella's b-day party.
*The Popcorn Store was next. We tired a bunch of popcorn, figured out how much we are going to need to buy for the wedding...over 52 gallons!!! It was yummmy!
*Target - Added a few more things to the registry. Found invites for the shower that we liked. Just looked at bunch of stuff while enjoying our Watermelon Jolly Rancher Slurpee-thingy.
*Back to Stacy's to get JoAnn's coupons
*To JoAnn's - Got our frame and mat for the photo mat to sign. (and got an extra discount!!!) Ribbon for out bouquets. Paint for an aisle runner, and a few other random wedding things.
*To Wal-Mart - Not even sure why we went in there! But I did end up wondering the school supply aisle. I LOVE school supplies!! I got a new binder to try and get all the wedding stuff in one area...we'll see how that goes!!!
*To Jackie's to pick up pasta salad..picked up pizza...and FINALLY back to Stacy's at 10:55 PM!!!

So we got alot of wedding stuff done...but best of all. I got to spend a day having fun and spending time with Stacy!!!!

A few checks down - many more to go!

Yahoo! BB 10

Yea! It is finally Big Brother time again :) Yes I know there was an extra season this winter/spring. But what would summer be without Big Brother? I am watching the 2nd episode on DVR right now. As of now just for her annoying factor I am ready for Remmy to go! I am not sure who I like the best yet. I normally takes me a few episodes to decide.

No I would never want to be on the show - not that social, and well they do ICKY and gross things!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

ACK!

So today has been wedding wedding wedding. I woke up to a dream about the wedding and NOTHING was done. Only 25 people showed up, it was in a SMALL room, we started an hour late and I had no aisle runner or programs. Sooo that made me start to make a list of what still needs done and what I need to buy.

*E-mail day of coordinator to set an appt to meet her. (Yes much to Dave's dismay I WANT one!! I would like to have a little less stress that day)

*I need a florist!! That is my main thing that is still not finalized. So I e-mailed a place today to see if he would give me a quote. I also sent pictures of what I want so hopefully it will go well. We meet with one florist 2 weeks ago but I am not sold on him yet. He was a little more than I wanted to pay. Yep I am cheap - but really I don't need that much so I don't think I am being THAT hard to deal with.

*I need to figure out invitations this weekend. See if I need to order anything.

*I need to buy a large frame/mat for guests to sign. And a few pens.

*I need to buy the aisle runner. And the items to paint on it. ( I NEED the monograms I ordered to come in!!!)

* The card box. Stuff is bought but needs put together.

*Engagement Pictures - They are taken. I e-mailed today to see if I can get them mailed to me (prints and CD). I am going to have to learn some photo editing to see if I can fix a few. I think we are also going to try and go take some more ourselves as I wasn't thrilled with the ones we got.

* Popcorn Buffet - I need to check bag size and see how much I am going to need to buy. Thanks Stacy for finding one of the bags I am looking out so I can see if it is too big or a good size!! Still need to do figure out the stickers to put on the bags.

*Programs - Need to see if I can do what I want with what we have....sometimes a small bridal party isn't a good thing!!

*Table Runners - I am buying some from a knottie. I should have all I need!!!

I love lists!!! I am trying to become more organized in my old age :)

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Whew!

I keep saying this but I think this time it might be true...things are starting to slow down for me. After 3 years of being VERY involved with the Jaycees and the local and state level this year I don't have alot of responsibilities. Relay for this year is over. Yea I have a few things here and there - but I have time!! And I can pick what I want to do and not to do.

Monday night I came home and Dave and I cleaned up a little, made some chicken and pasta salad for dinner, enjoyed some time outside - and had a NICE evening!

Tonight I came home - have been chatting with an old friend who I haven't talked to in YEARS. And now I am working on making pizza for dinner - it is currently in the oven. So my part is done...is this what adult life is suppose to be like? I might be able to get used to this.

I would like to start only being gone one or two nights a week.

Well I better get going, the pizza will be ready in a few and I need to get some things picked up!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Hello! Thanks for stopping by! After many years of thinking of starting a blog - and stalking other blogs I have decided to give it a whirl.

My name is Carrie and I live in an apartment central Ohio with my fiancé Dave and our 3 cats. We are currently in the middle of planning our October 18, 2008 wedding....after at that time almost 8 years of dating!! I just turned 30 last week and I am not taking it so well!!

I'm really not a very exciting person. Most of my time is spent volunteering, when not planning the upcoming wedding - which is taking more of my time and thought than I ever expected!

I am a member of the Hilliard and Gahanna Jaycees and the Chair for the Relay For Life of Hilliard. I am sure you will hear more about these things on a daily basis.