I was browsing family cars online (SO was curious about a model) and an offer for a $25 gift card popped up if we would do a test drive. Last night we went to the dealer to cash in the deal. We didn't have to go on the test drive because we really had no intention of buying a new car, especially since we will be moving possibly overseas within the next year. The $25 Target gift card will go for Christmas presents!

We are postponing the cruise for a bit. There is new administration at work, my roster has doubled, and I just don't feel comfortable taking some days off in October. I will keep the money in there for the holidays, and then by next summer we will be ready to do some more traveling.

at least it felt that way! We had three birthday parties in a week and two dinners out. Now that it is Monday, it has caught up to me and my shorts felt tight all day! But the parties are over with and the leftovers are done, too. Today I had 3 veggie servings and 2 fruits, so I'm getting back on the better eating band wagon.

I also need to get back on the low spending band wagon. Those meals out and parties weren't cheap, and to be honest the meals out were not worth it. I'm going to make September my "no eating out" month. North Georgia Girl and others have inspired me!

I'm almost done shopping for school stuff. I set a limit of $250 to include clothes, supplies, and haircuts for 2 girls. So far I've spent $200, including some clothes, most school supplies, haircuts and quality shampoo liters. With the remaining $50 I will get the remaining supplies for the girls (shouldn't be more than $10), and bookbags and lunch packs. I will do that shopping this weekend.

I'm back at work now, started last week, getting my room set up and planning. I spent $70 today on an online subscription for an education website that will really help out my class. I'm confident it will be worth the money, I've tested it out in another classroom. So there's no more extra money this week in the budget, but it's ok, I paid myself and my bills first, I can manage until Friday.

There are lots of changes going on around here right now. School and work will be starting back up, that always brings change, every day is a new adventure. On the homefront, my SO is putting the house on the market in anticipation for a new set of orders. I like our life how it is right now and I don't "want" to change! I love living so close to my family and friends. I love my master bedroom suite. I love the people I work with.

But it's time for the pity party to be over. I'm excited about the possiblity of orders in a great location. I'm excited about the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world with my kids. And I have to admit, part of me is excited to start up somewhere different in the world. I know I could easily get too comfortable where I am now, and I'm just not ready to do that yet. It's not our time yet.

As for financial news, I was able to deposit an extra $100 into savings, bringing the new total to $1039. I also received a $15 rebate check, bringing the cruise savings to $1226. We don't go on the actual cruise until the end of October, so I know I can save the total cruise costs by then.

Today I plan on going through the girls' wardrobes, to determine what else needs to be purchased for the upcoming school year. I know it will be shorts for a while, but the weather can change overnight and I want to be prepared.

Sunday we had friends over for brunch, it was delicious and free!

After the friends left I started the lasagne. While the lasagne cooked I finished the curtains for my classroom shelves. Now that the curtain project is out of the way I can focus on my Spanish lessons again and classroom lesson planning for Sept-Nov. I go back to work on the 24th.

It was a productive but relaxing Sunday with no spending, can't complain. I did eat a Lot, but I will start fresh today.

Today's agenda: medical paperwork since the insurance changed when the girls' dad retired. Also request a copy of DD1's birth certificate, her original has gone missing and I need another original.

The rebate check was for $15. This brings the cruise fund up to $1211.

Today I plan to finish sewing the curtains for my classroom shelves, 6 more to go. I will also cook a meatless lasagne and take the kids swimming. Easy day!

It should be a NS day!

The annual Polynesian festival is here, and our group danced yesterday and will dance again this morning. It is total chaos, but we had a great time yesterday. It is on a big outdoor stage right at the beach. So after a few hours of standing around, keeping track of kids, then dressing, it was finally time to perform. A few mistakes here and there, but I was proud of our show regardless. And glad to have it over with!

Of course, after all the chaos, the kids just wanted to go to the beach to play in the waves. So I took 6 of them down to the water and played in the waves with them and watched as they dug a pool in the sand. It was a fun afternoon. My own girls had a great time, I really enjoyed spending the day with them.

We brought home ribs from one of the vendors for $24. Looove Hawaii barbq! We had sides at home along with the ribs, and we still have ribs leftover for a lunch. So for $24 the four of us ate a nice meal plus a little left over.

The only other money spent was $10 for parking.

Today the festival is providing breakfast for the dancers, but I'll still have to pay $10 for parking. I will probably buy a coffee as well. We will most likely be eating lunch at the beach,too. We will probably stay at our group's booth after our performance to sell items. I will pack some food so maybe we can get by with not purchasing full meals for 4 people...

I'm updating my savings to $638. When this reaches $5000 I will add it to my taxable investment account, and start saving all over again. Savings has been very slow this summer... but at least I'm not building any debt.

I did a bit of back to school shopping this weekend.

In the past few months I've earned $30 in Old Navy Rewards with their Visa card (I use this for everyday purchases). I brought those with me to Old Navy with the girls. I also used a coupon good for $15 off of a purchase of $50 or more. So for $16 I received: 2 pairs of teen jeans, 3 t-shirts, 1 girls t-shirt dress, 2 tank tops for me, 1 teen hoodie, and 1 bracelet! I was thrilled! Plus I received $20 in rewards dollars to use in September

Then we stopped by Target to pick up a birthday gift. I had my daughter pay for part of it this time. I give them a dollar a day for allowance, so they can start using some of their money to help pay for things like birthday gifts. Total at Target for the gift was $11 after DD pitched in $5.

I need to stock up my gift closet, then the girls could choose something from there instead of going out shopping everytime a party comes up. They can choose a gift from the closet, or choose to pay extra for another gift. Right now I have more adult gifts in the closet, no kid gifts.

All of my meals this weekend were eaten at home, with the exception of a Sonic Java Chiller I bought as a snack yesterday afternoon! It was tasty, but really made me lethargic and bloated afterwards. I don't do ice cream very often.

Grocery shopping was under budget, yay! We budget $80/week for groceries. This week we hit $64, which includes the purchase of disinfectant wipes for my classroom in bulk, nearly $10. So really only $54 if you don't count my school purchase. I'm happy with the $80/week budget, so long as most of our meals are eaten at home.

Cooking done for the week:
-Charro beans: Half of these will be mashed for burritos this week for the girls. The other half of the beans are used for the grown ups, as they will be a little spicier. The beans will be mashed and a little chorizo will be added. Beans and chorizo make fabulous sandwiches!

Weekly cooking to be done today:
-German potato salad (I have some red potatoes to use up)
-Chicken and Vegetable soup (this will use up the carrots, celery, cabbage, and corn)
-Flour Tortillas

Yesterday I did a 30 minute kettlebell workout at home. Today I plan on going to the park with the girls and the dog early in the morning before it gets too hot and run for 30 minutes. I don't have the distance tracked, so I estimate 10 minutes of running=1 mile. I'm a little faster on the treadmill but I know outside it is hotter and so I am slower.

I'm pretty proud of this, it's a lap pad with a cupcake pattern on one side and a fun orange fabric on the back. It weighs 3 pounds. I made it for my classroom.


Weighted lap pads and other weighted objects are often useful to students with sensory issues. You know the kid who just can't sit still, no matter what?Frequently students with autism, attention-deficit disorders, or other disabilities feel more "grounded" with some weight on them and are more able to attend to the present moment. Kind of like when we get x-rays at the dentist and have to wear that weighted lead vest. I actually like that feeling!

I had fun with it and I'm going to continue perfecting my sewing skills, with different patterns and fabrics. My students can try them all out for me!

For the past year and a half my family has been saving rebates, credit card rewards, and spare change. I guess this is what others consider "snowflakes". We have almost paid off our cruise with this extra money!

I could easily have drained this money throughout the year on things here and there. Yet by saving it in an account especially for the cruise, I felt a responsibility to not touch the money. The money has a "face".

Yesterday was a NSD, felt good to have one, finally! DD used a birthday gift card to pick up a game on sale at a gaming store. Then we picked up DD2's new glasses, these were paid for when we ordered them a week ago.

Last night I used a groupon deal I had purchased, a month of boot camp classes. I was miserable, but in a good way,I guess! Very tough workout. I was able to keep up, though. I should be able to attend at least 2-3 classes a week until school starts back up for teachers. Then I will have to look at my schedule and the cost of continuing classes. During the school year I do most of my workouts in my classroom afterschool and on my treadmill on the weekends.

Dinner out is already planned with SO and one of her friends, so I have some planned spending tonight. Planned eating out is acceptable this month. Eating out because I didn't plan or I'm feeling lazy is not acceptable, there is no room in my budget for that.