I really suck at sticking to a budget. Really, really suck.

I spent a ton of money this weekend. We went into a climbing store, I tried on a pair of shoes, they fit like a glove and there was only one pair left, so I bought them. I'm really glad I won't be renting anymore, but I wasn't planning to buy right now.

We ate out too much, with the exception of this evening. Dinner at home, lots of veggies.

A few goodies from a co-op. I love those places. Organic everything makes me so happy.

Skipped a birthday party (accidentally) so that saved me $20.

We fell in love with an apartment. It's absolutely massive, and a really good price. The only catch? The landlords are a bit off. I'm afraid they would involve themselves too much in our lives. We've been discussing it all weekend, and no other place compares to that one, but....the landlords live downstairs. I can't decide. The place is huge and gorgeous and there is a fantastic fireplace. *sigh* What to do?

I'm not even going to tell you how much money I spent this weekend (figure-wise). I'm far too embarrassed. I still have to get an oil change and tire rotation on top of it.

The girls night on Friday was great though, very cheap, and we had a nice time. Every time I think about entertaining, though, I think about that huge apartment and how great it would be to have people over. I love, love, love my place, but it's sometimes hard to have parties.

I need a magic 8 ball that will tell me what to do based on the 10-year forecasted outcome...can I pick one of those up at Target?

My hair!!! I LOVE IT!!! She is a miracle worker. It's way shorter than it's ever been (not remotely near my shoulders) but I seriously love it. It's a lot blonder now, and closer to my natural color. I loved the brown, but it's time for summer! The price was not as pretty, however. I ended up spending $110. I'm not quite sure how we got to that amount, but I think she put in lowlights AND highlights, so that would do it. I went $50 over on my haircut budget. I've been shimmying other things around in my budget this morning, trying to find a way to still celebrate the umpteen occasions that are coming up, but also have enough money to pay off my credit card in May. What I'd like is an everlasting fountain of money. No, not youth, all I get is crap for being too young.

The girls are coming over tonight, yay! Just what I need.

The duplex was great...huge master bedroom, wood floors, large living room and kitchen, big french doors on the bedroom and lots of light...but the neighborhood was not great. The landlord kept talking about how the police drive by all the time (I suppose that was to make us feel safe), and there are drug dealers around occasionally, etc. Yeah, that doesn't thrill me. We're going to keep looking. What I really want is a HOUSE, with a big kitchen and lots of natural light in a good neighborhood. and a garden. sigh. My stylist said no one ever really figures anything out, which was probably supposed to make me feel better too, but it really didn't.

YAY for the weekend!

I'm feeling a bit better. My body is really fighting it. and just for PrincessPerky, my illness has nothing to do with pregnancy.

Last night I went to Walmart to pick up aquarium necessities. I spent $25.09 on aquarium things, $15.52 on groceries, and $26.91 on other things like face wash, conditioner, cheetos, and chocolate. It was more than I had planned, but I kept thinking of more things I needed (wanted, in the case of chocolate and cheetos), and corn was $.38 a can!

In 11 short hours I will have well-cut, highlighted hair yet again. I am REALLY looking forward to that.

I prepared what I could for Friday's dinner and put it in the fridge. Tonight is just too busy to be boiling potatoes and all that. I desperately need to wash dishes tonight, though. Days like this I really wish I had a dishwasher!

We're looking at another duplex tonight. It has a dishwasher. And, it's 12 minutes to work. We'll see...it's a little pricier than we wanted, and it's not in the neighborhood we wanted, but the kitchen looks gorgeous online.

My teeth have been bothering me lately, and I'm due for a checkup, so I'm going in this afternoon. It was the only appointment available until this summer (yikes!). I can't remember if there is a copay or not, but if there is, they mail a bill, so I'm not going to worry about it. It is going to make my evening very tight, though. I'll get home just in time to leave again. I have a long band practice tonight, yuck.

I'm still not feeling great. This morning I overheard a coworker talking about her week long flu bug. Then she sprinted to the bathroom. Shortly thereafter she went home. I really don't want what she has.

Nothing scheduled for Wednesday night (yet).

I made a hair appointment for Thursday night. This woman does a GREAT cut and I haven't been to her in too long. My hair is driving me nuts. I'm also getting my highlights reapplied...time for summer! I'm spoiling myself, but I love the look of my highlights, and I haven't had them fixed up since August.

Friday we might be having a girl's night. I suggested we have dinner at my house. That will save us all some money, as I have all the fixings for dinner and it will be simple. If they bring drinks, we'll be set. We normally just sit around gabbing and gossiping for hours anyway!

Saturday I have band practice again bright and early, and I'm going to a birthday party in the evening. I was tempted to go to this friend's birthday dinner too, but I just can't justify spending $50 on his birthday when I see him once a year, and there will be 40 of his closest friends there. I will make an appearance and have a drink.

Sunday I am going to collapse into a heap.

I need to pick up some items for my aquarium, so that will be about $24. Hair appointment, probably $60. Girl's Night, nothing if we don't go anywhere, hopefully not much if we do. Saturday night, $20 max. Gas tank will have to be refilled. 5 day estimate: $125.

I canceled my appointment with massage lady yesterday because I wasn't feeling well. I still am not feeling well and I stayed home from work. I probably could have gone in, but I'm fighting bouts of nausea.

Friday...I honestly cannot remember. I think we made dinner at home and that was about it. no money spent.

Saturday....went to the grocery store. BF paid, though i was planning to. $116. went to a show with BF & BF's brother (he paid for the tickets and the drinks, way too much money). BF got his car towed because we were all oblivious to the sign. he had to pay $150 to get it back, ouch. somehow I spent nothing on Saturday, but a lot of money changed hands around me.

Sunday...stayed home with an unhappy stomach. no spending.

My two ebay auctions did not sell. I am bummed. I might try to relist one item, but I might just pass it off to Goodwill or Freecycle instead. I've listed three things on ebay and none of them have sold...it's a bit disheartening.

It's a dreary, rainy day...perfect to stay home.

My mom just called saying that she wants me to go to a friend's masseuse to treat my headaches. She's been saying this for a while, but I've always said I don't have the money. Today she is insisting upon giving me the money to see this woman. So, I called the masseuse, and it was a bizarre conversation. She does not speak much English. I had trouble understanding her over the phone. In any case, she is coming to my house on Sunday with her massage table and I am to have two bedsheets ready for it. I had no idea this was a come-to-my-house sort of thing. I had trouble getting it across to her that I am NOT living with my parents. Apparently my parents' friend swears by this woman, though, so I will give it a shot, even though it seems really quite odd. How much do you tip a person who comes to your house with their massage table? I have no idea.

Weirder still, my mother wants me to see another doctor whom this friend goes to. This doctor puts little vials of chemicals on different areas of your stomach and it does different things to your body to adjust you, apparently. I am extremely hesitant about calling this guy (go figure). If it gets rid of my headaches, then it's worth it, I guess. First, however, I need to get up the courage to dial his phone number.

It reminds me of when my boss wanted me to go to her healer. I didn't, though, because it was $125/hr!

On Sunday we were going to go look at a duplex that I was really excited about, but the owner just emailed me and said it is no longer available. He wouldn't let us come see it any sooner. I'm bummed about that, it was in a cool old victorian house!

Ever feel like you just don't care about your budget, and you do crazy things because you don't care? Like eating out a whole bunch? That would be me. Last night we went to a very expensive dinner, and my boyfriend insisted on paying, but still. We shouldn't get into these bad trends because I know they become habits. Today I bought him lunch at Taco Bell - much cheaper, but still eating out. I really am in a "who cares!!!" mindset lately. I'm so frustrated with work and life and housing and cars and everything else that I am tossing my hands up into the air. Bad, I know.

I think I need a break. The reason we left for Taco Bell today was because I desperately wanted to get out of the building.

I applied to several jobs yesterday and today. A few were in Portland, Oregon. I really am considering packing up my apartment and taking off.

I had to buy gasoline last night, so there goes the no spend day. $24.59. ouch.

We looked at an apartment yesterday. It was cramped and smelled like smoke. and so the search continues. We're looking at two more tonight.

I am a complete idiot. I stepped on my laptop last night (BF had left it on the floor, gray carpet + gray computer = BAD), and smashed the LCD screen.

This morning my car was doing its frightening revving thing before I even pulled out of the driveway. I poured more oil into it and it behaved for a while. Still revving once I put it into park, though.

It's a dreary day....I nearly stayed home with my head under the covers. Is anyone else adversely affected by this time change? Normally they don't phase me one bit, but this year I am nothing but exhausted. I cannot seem to get a good night's sleep.

*yawn*

Yesterday:

$4 climbing shoe rental
$6.98 dinner

I am glad I'm not keeping track of no-spending days, because I suck at it.

Today, however, I have not spent a dime and don't intend to, unless I have to fill up my gas tank. I swear I saw $2.31 this morning, so I hope I won't have to fill up.

Spent so far this month: $26.10

So today I'm looking at apartments online and, since one of my coworkers keeps asking me every day if I'm going to buy a home yet, I merged seamlessly from apartments into homes. I did a mortgage calculator online, and the very most I can afford is $90,000. That won't even buy a one bedroom condo here. *sigh* That, my friends, is why I continue to rent. No offense to mobile home owners, but I lived in one briefly as a child, and I won't buy one. I'd rather rent.

I know I'm not supposed to think that more money will solve everything, but it's really hard not to. I hate feeling like I am behind everyone else. I know it's not a competition, but everyone is married, has their own home, drives a brand new car, is planning for their family or already has one, are making $20K more a year than I am at the same age...it's just frustrating. I'd like to fast forward to another age to see if I'm still going to feel like this at age 36, 46, 56...if so, what is the point? I might as well give up my job, get rid of all my stuff and hitchhike around the world doing odd jobs. It would be a lot more entertaining than this.

is it spring? is it really, really spring? oh, I am so happy. the weather is gorgeous. my BF and I went for a walk to enjoy it.

let's see...spending rundown for the weekend.

Friday: BF bought dinner. thank goodness.
Saturday: breakfast at friend's house (free). lunch at Chipotle ($15.12).
Sunday: five loads of laundry....did I mention how glad I am that I don't pay for water? or that part of the electric bill?

my weekend has had a lot of ups and downs. overall, I'd say it has been good, though. I took a ton of photos on Friday and Saturday, and then being the dummy that I am, I accidentally deleted most of my My Pictures file. (HOW did that happen? I have no idea) so I've been trying to recover it. I got some of them back, but I need my computer expert here to help me with the rest. he has gone to a movie with a friend, so I'll have to ask sweetly later.

I'm broke until Friday. I'm going climbing with a friend tomorrow, so I'll have to bring the $3 or whatever it is to rent shoes in quarters and dimes!

overall, though, I'm pretty happy today. warm, sunny weather really lifts my mood.

edited to add: I completely forgot to mention that I put two for sale listings up on eBay today! we'll see how they do.

I was pretty crabby yesterday after figuring out how much I couldn't spend on a car. That made it easy for my boyfriend to convince me that Dippin Strips from Pizza Hut would be a good option for dinner. and gooooooodd it was...only $13 out of my checkbook, but still. *sigh* Will I never learn? My diet disappeared yesterday, yet again.

Tonight we're going over to a friend's house for wine and games, and probably Indian takeout. I brought lettuce for lunch in an effort to counteract the calories I'll be consuming tonight. I had homemade yogurt for breakfast...yum!

I got 10 hours of sleep last night, so you'd think I'd be in better spirits today. I'm still a little down. Hopefully tonight's festivities will bring me out of this funk. (and my friend has cats at her house!!! god, I miss living with cats)

I have no idea how people afford new cars. According to bankrate.com, I can't even afford a $10,000 loan for three years, unless I ratchet it up to a 5 year loan, which I don't want to do. I am not hurting for a car (yet) but my commute is long and my car is 11 years old, and has many miles on it for a Ford. I am really afraid it is going to blow up one of these days and that will be that. I cannot find a trustworthy mechanic in this city either ($660 for a water pump? I don't think so). I'd like to give it to my sister, who has access to a decent mechanic and does not have a car yet. However. I'm not going to spend three years paying on a car when at the end of those three years it will have just as many miles on it as my current car does. This is a such a pain. What I really need is a new job that pays me a decent wage, so I can afford to buy a car that has less than 70,000 miles on it.

Yesterday I spent $6. Today I spent $4. Last night's kickboxing was really fun and a good workout. I was exhausted by the end. I really needed that.

I read a bit on that 'Money Millionaire In The Making' site, and it just made me irritated. There was a couple on there who are 25 and 27 and are making $108,000 a year. If they each make half of that salary, they are still each making $20,000 more a year than I am, and I am the same age as them with the same credentials!!! It made me feel like my college education was completely worthless. What really gets me irritated is the fact that I will be paying off my college loans for the next six years, and my loans are what are preventing me from buying a decent car or buying a home. God forbid I have a child, because there is no way on earth I could afford it.

By the way, my sincere thanks to whoever gave my journal five stars yesterday. It made my day.

Lots of rain today. I am pretty happy about that. It means spring is here!

Yesterday I spent $6.65 on a diet coke with lime, buns for lunches, and easter candy on sale for half off.

Tonight is kickboxing night! whoo hoo! I'll be buying dinner out; hopefully it will be inexpensive. I've been feeling like a sloth lately, so I'm looking forward to working out. Must remember to concentrate on form and not get irritated with the instructor.

I really need a hair cut, but I keep putting it off because of the price and the fact that I like being able to put my hair in a ponytail again. I've budgeted it for April, though.

I also would like to buy rock climbing shoes so I can stop paying to rent them...but I just don't have the funds to do it if I want to pay off my credit card. That's why I budget cash withdrawals every month, right? So I can rent shoes and buy dinner out on kickboxing nights. *sigh*

I am thinking about moving to a new place with my boyfriend. We'll see. I am very concerned that my landlord is going to rachet up my rent another $50 this year, and my budget is already bursting at the seams. If I moved to a new place with my BF, we could split the rent and utilities and maybe I could save enough money to move out of MN next spring. I found the most adorable place last night on craigslist.com...lots of hardwood floors, neat woodwork, and in an old victorian home. I'd really like to go look at it. I'm still a little torn about moving in with him, because part of me keeps thinking, "if I'm going to move in with him why don't I just marry him," but I'm not ready to take the marriage leap yet.

I think I need to actually set aside a budgeted amount for clothing. That might help my enternal closet struggle. Yesterday I bought a pair of summer pants and two tank tops, about $33. I definitely want to do more shopping....but I did pretty bad on my food intake (calorie-wise) yesterday, so that isn't helping me lose weight and feel better about my body.

In preparation for payday, I wrote out checks for three bills and made an entry in my checkbook for my savings account - pay myself first! I'm slowly starting to get that concept. Don't know what my problem is, it is a fairly simple concept, but not one I grew up with so it's hard to internalize.

I think I'll end up spending more this weekend than I'd like to. I'll have to buy groceries for my sister, I'm sure, because dorm life and no car means way too much cafeteria food than she'd like. Plus I am a nice big sister. I want to take her out to an awesome vietnamese restaurant, too, so that will be some $$. Oh well. She doesn't visit me often. I've spent a lot of money on frivolous things this month, but this doesn't count as one of them.

According to my budget, I've spent 110% of my income this month; 116% if you count savings. Ouch! Next month I'm shooting for 99% with savings.

I filled out my rental return, and I'm going to get a really nice return this year! It almost makes up for my exorbitant rent. but not quite.

I got a card in the mail yesterday about condo living, starting at $99K. I forgot to bring it today so I could look up the website. I really need to make some big decisions regarding my relationship (should we move in together? should we get married?), my job (should I move somewhere where I can actually find a job in the field I want?), and my living arrangement (is my landlord going to jack up my rent even more this year? can I stand this climate much longer?). UGH. I have no idea how to go about making these decisions, which is probably why I've been sitting in limbo for much too long.

I really wish I had a hybrid, or a TDI, or something like that that got excellent gas mileage. I spent $22 yesterday on a tank of gas, and that is ridiculous! My car is doing this weird revving engine thing again, and I am concerned. I've finally got some money into my savings, and I'd hate to have to yank it out again.

Sunday night: frozen pizza at home. no spending. lots of cleaning.

Monday: homemade soup for lunch, tacos for dinner at home. no spending.

Tuesday: leftover pizza for lunch, didn't eat dinner. bought gasoline, OUCH.

Today: peanut butter & jelly for lunch, not sure about dinner but it will be at home. I think I'm going to an outlet mall with a friend of mine this afternoon. I wasn't planning to buy clothes, but this morning was horrendous in that I wanted to through every item of clothing I own out the window. I just hate my closet. Part of it is bad body image, I know, but nothing seems to fit right. I wanted to lose 15 pounds before I went clothes shopping again, but hating my entire wardrobe nearly caused me to stay home from work today.

Thursday: I'm not planning to spend. Maybe I'll list my closet finds on eBay.

Friday-Sunday: My sister is coming to visit for the weekend. I'll have to run to the grocery store and take out some cash, and be prepared to spend a lot on gas money. I'd like to take her rock climbing, but I'm not sure if I'll have the money to do it. We may just end up doing free/cheap things. I have Friday off, thank god.

I'm chipping away at my credit card bill...slow and steady wins the race!

I spent six hours cleaning my place today. I took everything out of my main closet, trashed a bunch of it, organized the rest, and set aside a box for donation/eBay.

I've stayed in all weekend. Yesterday, Princess Perky inspired me to fire up my crock pot and make taco soup. I also made corn bread in the breadmaker, so a have a few more lunches in the freezer. Yay! Today I didn't eat much and made a frozen pizza for dinner. Nothing spent today, but a lot of useless stuff purged, and I feel better.

I make a point of never thinking about the week ahead until Monday morning....so I think I'll watch some tv!

I started to get a headache last night during our girl's night, and it's still here. luckily it is quiet and calm inside my apartment, and outside there is so much recent snow that it's muffling everything!

I spent about $56 last night, which was what I was expecting. It was pretty fun, but we did a lot of venting about a member of our group who has abandonded us for her boyfriend. That sucks, and we are really hurt by it, but there's not much you can do when someone is in "love". The problem I have with it is that that is the sort of thing girls did in junior high...not in their mid to late twenties.

I am fighting the urge to go shopping. I don't need anything, and I need to just keep reminding myself of that. I don't have enough in my bank account anyway. If I can keep myself out of the stores, it will be a no-spend weekend. I should really try to make an effort to have a no spend week up until payday next Friday!

ugh...I'm going to curl up on the couch.

I'm a little obsessed with hot tea lately. I don't like to drink coffee, and my office is perpetually freezing, so tea it is. I'm using a tea bag twice before tossing it...the second cup is much less flavorful, but enough to appease me.

Kickboxing rocked. It was challenging. I have a serious problem with authority in that I was getting very irritated with the instructor for bossing me around. I just kept trying to remind myself that she is trying to help me! It's hard for me though, because I hate, hate, hate being told what to do. I was a lovely child for my parents to deal with, as you can imagine.

I spent $6.06 on dinner, and that was all. When I got home, I paid two bills that had come in the mail. My cell phone bill was a little bit higher because apparently I was roaming and didn't realize it, but it was only a couple of minutes, so oh well.

I was going to buy a six pack of beer for our girl's night tomorrow night, but with the rest of our planned activities, I think I need to cut back on expenses for the evening. I'm planning to bake cookies tonight instead. that will shave a little bit off of the evening's cost.

Today's lunch is what I was supposed to eat yesterday, food from home. Tonight's dinner will be at home. Tomorrow's lunch will be free for listening to someone speak about finances. whoo hooo!

I just spent $11.51 on lunch for me and my beau. He bought me a green tea smoothie, though. Tonight I'll be buying dinner at a food court, and my kickboxing pass.

KICKBOXING!!!!! I am pumped. apparently there may be someone there who only speaks Spanish (how is he managing? I have no idea), so I may get the chance to practicar con el. no he hablado por anos, pero quisiera practicar con mas frequencia. si hay alguien que habla espanol aqui, me puede escribir!

I am not going to my obligation tonight. I am sick of it, and after the last few days, I don't need the aggravation.

Suffice to say that I spent the weekend with several people whom I love dearly and a few I don't. My weekend was definitely not my own, and I feel like I have been living at work. Today was full of people throwing more and more tasks on me, all the while treating me as though I am a five year old.

enough complaining. the job search continues.

On Friday I put $50 into savings ($25 of that for holiday gifts), and paid three bills (including paying off one credit card). On Saturday I ate free breakfast at work, lunch at home, and had a free dinner. Sunday I had free breakfast and free dinner. I bought $19 worth of card making supplies at Michaels (sale!). Monday I paid $5 to rent climbing shoes at the gym, had a free breakfast and free lunch at work, and leftovers for dinner at home. Today I filled my gas tank, washed my car (all those shiny cars around were driving me nuts!), ate breakfast at home, had leftovers for lunch, and so far I haven't prepared dinner, but it will be something from the pantry/freezer. I'm going to pay another bill tonight and maybe put something into my IRA.

Tomorrow! I'll bring lunch and breakfast from home. I am kickboxing again tomorrow night, so I'll have to buy dinner out and my kickboxing card.

As for the rest of the week, all I'm sure about is Friday...it will probably be a moderate spending night, but I haven't seen my girlfriends for months, and we need a night out.

fab-u-lous. it's been snowing all day. I can't possibly tell you how excited I am to have an extended, agonizingly slow drive home tonight.

I am so tired. I just want to nap. curling up with a cup of chocolate on the couch sounds better than anything right now.

the climbing was fun last night! my arms are sore and we didn't even do much. one of my college alumni was in the class too....go figure. I see former classmates everywhere. I guess that is one good reason to move out of state, but they are everywhere! I know this because I even ran into someone from a rival college on the top of Macchu Picchu. tell me, what are the chances of that. so I expect to recognize the whole climbing gym.

I paid off one of my college loans today! whooo hooo!! one down, two to go. I paid two other bills too. tonight I'm not spending any money. dinner in and maybe a movie in, and early sleep, because I have to work tomorrow.

Thank you, Nate, for making it so I can read my old posts as I type this one. You Rock.

I just got home from kickboxing. It was a workout, and it was really fun. I'll definitely be buying a membership punch card. I feel so good now!!! I kept saying to myself, why don't you move your body more often? This is actually fun! I just need to convince my procrastinator/perpetually tired side of that little fact.

Luckily I didn't have to pay for the punch card tonight, though, but probably next week. I spent $10 on dinner....not bad for a sit-down restaurant. That was all I spent today. Unfortunately that $10 also meant 745 calories...ouch. Carrot sticks for me tomorrow.

Tomorrow, lunch from home, then dinner at home, then climbing gym excursion. No money spent, with any luck.

I scheduled two workout sessions for this week: one for tomorrow night with a friend, and one on Thursday with my boyfriend at the climbing gym. I feel so fat, it is driving me nuts. All I want is my clothes to fit again...and to lose 35 pounds (hehe).

Yesterday I did not spend anything. My bf picked up wine for dinner. We made lasagna and it turned out great!

Today I am paying back a friend for picking up April concert tickets ($25). I also reserved our spots for the climbing gym class on Thursday ($40).

Tomorrow I'll need to pay for a punch card to work out with my friend ($50). I'll also probably need to buy dinner, because the class is at a time and place that makes it inconvenient to drive home and get dinner. Hopefully we'll pick somewhere cheap to eat.

Thursday should be a no-spend day! (hopefully)

I'm trying to figure out what to do...do I find a bigger place and move in with my bf here? Do I stay in my place alone, and risk the rent rising drastically like it did last year? If we stay here, should a new place be closer to my workplace, instead of such a long commute? Do I really think I can keep working here much longer? If not, since I can't find a job here, should I move? Where should I move to? Do I risk moving somewhere without a job? *sigh*

Saturday afternoon turned out to be a bust. I started getting a rapidly developing migraine and it was downhill from there. I didn't get much accomplished.

Sunday I woke up with a dull ache, but it felt like it was off in the distance, so I thought maybe I could keep it at bay. I did four loads of laundry over the course of the day, made cinnamon pecan bread, and cleaned up the kitchen. I went to Target and a couple of sporting goods stores in the afternoon. I spent $58 at Target, $28 more than I intended to, but I had coupons and stocked up on a few things. I didn't spend anything at the sporting goods stores. I went to the grocery store too, but my BF picked up the tab there - another $60, so that brings March's total thus far up to $135. We are trying to eat healthier things, and less prepackaged stuff. We even planned the week's meals when we got home...hopefully we can stick to it. My headache came back in the midst of all this, and I was in bed by 8:00pm.

Today the headache is in its same dull state.

I applied to several jobs yesterday, all over the country. We'll see.

Today will most likely be a no spend day, since my headache is creeping back in and I am tired of shopping for the moment. Plus, we are well stocked in groceries, and tonight is lasagna night!

I am on a roll today! I:
- prepared

potato empanada filling for dinner tonight -- it's better if it sits in the fridge for a bit to meld flavors

- baked chewy granola bars for weekday breakfasts -- I added some pecans and dried cranberries

- did the dishes
- swept the floors
- straighted the food shelves & tossed what was bad
- changed the water and the filter in the fish tank, and scrubbed away algae
- made yogurt
- straightened the living room

and last night I made pebre to go with the empanadas. it's best when it's had time to meld flavors, too.

I ate leftovers for lunch. now I am going to shower, and then tackle either the laundry or my den.

whooooo hoooooo!

I didn't spend any money yesterday, but I should pay my boyfriend back for some food he bought and gasoline.

Tonight I will probably drop as soon as I walk in the door. This weekend I am cleaning my house from top to bottom, doing my laundry, and making some things for lunches. It's so nice not to have plans set up whatsoever...the next three weekends are not so kind.

I think I'm going to have to move to get a job in the field I want. NYC and LA really do not appeal to me, but if the alternative is sitting here until I become a mushroom....

Yesterday I went to the mall to find a pair of jeans. No go, so I saved $40-50, I guess. Then, the grocery store adventure. I tried hard to buy organic food, perfect-looking produce, and good deals on other things. I spent $77.57 -- $17.57 more than what I was aiming for, but I bought a lot. Simmering in my cup is a bag of chai vanilla tea, YUM. Unfortunately there were no leeks, but I was not surprised. I bought raspberry newtons on sale but avoided the oreo cookies on sale, even though I adore them. I am trying to eat better! and after that jeans-shopping fiasco, not to mention the wedding-outfit-shopping-fiasco, I told myself last night that I'm not going clothes shopping again until I lose 15 pounds.

My allergies have seriously been kicking my butt this week. I've started taking my meds again like crazy. I have no idea what is causing it...everything is frozen over, and mold and dust are here year-round. I should take out stock in Kleenex.

Still looking for a new job...I never heard from my last interviewer. I love that. I wish people would, at the very least, write an email and say "you're not a candidate" as soon as they know that. Especially if you have interviewed once or even twice there! *sigh*

keep on truckin'...

I'll probably be spending today. I need milk and bread and some other necessities of life, so to the grocery store I will go. Another batch of yogurt with my handy-dandy yogurt maker is necessary, and that requires milk!

Last night I made beer-crust pizza topped with spinach, onion, tomato, garlic, olive oil, mozzarella cheese, and feta cheese. It was really good. I've had that feta in my cheese drawer for quite a while but it was still tasty. Today I brought leftover pizza and a can of pears for lunch. Fruit has never been my thing, really, but I am trying to incorporate more into my diet.

Tonight?? I have no idea what to have for dinner. Maybe I'll start perusing the recipe sites.

My goal is to spend $60 or less on groceries tonight! And that will have to include a leek or two, should they be in the store, because I'm dying to try that leek soup.