Budgeting

I did it. Yesterday I set a 5-year plan to pay off student loans. I'm sick of them and I just want them done with! I know a lot can change in five years but if there is a plan then it's closer to getting done. Now I just have to follow it. I found this neat template on Microsoft templates. It's a loan amortization schedule with extra payments.

I also updated my budget for November, December and January with projected expenses (and actual for this month thus far to ensure it's realistic).

The Crockpot Lady

Have you heard about The Crockpot Lady? Thanks to Jen S. for passing this along to me. Crock pot Lady claims she has an "unnatural obsession with her crock pot" and has made a resolution to post one crock pot experiment per day. She has some fantastic ideas and I must admit, tonight for dinner it's crock pot barbecue chicken drumsticks and thighs. I might even get my smaller crock pot I had donated to my mother so I can have a side dish or dessert crocking away beside the main course. Maybe this should be my resolution for 2009??

I was particularly impressed with the fact that she doesn't only do food in her pot but crayons, candles and who knows what else too! I'm certainly inspired.

Canadian FICO Report

I'm being financially responsible by taking pro-active steps to learning about personal finances and important documents or steps I need to put into place to secure our family and plan for our future. I am following Suze Orman's Women and Money monthly strategies and I am on Month Two. The problem I am having is finding the Canadian FICO score for free. Suze Orman is from the United States and so a link she has provided in her book to obtain three free annual credit reports www.annualcreditreport.com does not apply to Canadians. I'm going crazy how to find a Canadian version of this report. If you know where to find one, please put me out of my misery!

What Do You Think ...

My family is sleeping soundly upstairs (the two kiddies and hubby). I am in the basement on our computer printing and catching up on commitments I have made but was unable to give attention to due to teething Travis (he got his two top teeth and it appears he is getting a molar!). I just hope to finalise the details of said commitments and get on with sleep myself! I think I'll have to strongly consider some resolutions for 2009 to include NOT signing up for as much as I could accomplish pre-children.

Christmas Planner

I found a fantastic site called Organized Christmas that really is simplifying things for me. You don't have to think - just print their templates and to dos by week (which are very reasonable) and voila! They even have awesome ideas for inexpensive non-cheesy homemade gifts. Very impressed - go check it out.

Let Us Remember

I am embarrassed to admit that I don't know much about my grandparents and their experiences with war. I am lucky enough to have all four of my grandparents still alive. Perhaps I will ask them what it was like for them.

Please take a moment to remember.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly S
carce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I love this post from My Simpler Life and so I have recycled this post (with some edits) for both myself and my readers to remember.
~
Stop what you are doing and listen around you. Is the TV on with no one watching it? Or maybe you are listening to a podcast while you read some blogs?

Does your desk mate have their music on too loud?

Or maybe you hear the whirl of a zillion technologies grooving?

For many people, the first thing they do when they come home is turn on the TV for background noise. When they get into their car it’s time to check the mirrors, check the gas, and turn on the tunes.

Moms with young kids know it’s tough to get any time with quiet.

But, all the extra noise rattles the body, mind and soul. And you can’t hear yourself think. Wouldn’t you like a little quiet?

The quietest time is early morning if you can get up before the family. But since that isn’t always possible, here are some other ideas:

...Can you have a closed door policy for an hour a week either at home or at work, so you get some quiet, thinking, creative time?

...How about not turning on the car radio one day? If no one is in the car, it can be the only quiet time you have all day.

...Take a deep breath between tasks. Don’t just rush from task to task. Center yourself. Check to see if you need to do a quick attitude adjustment.

...Get out into nature often. The soothing stream, call of birds, and rustling leaves is relaxing and renewing.

...Sit under a tree, in a hammock or in your rocking chair. And don’t hop up to do something else.

...Turn off the TV, music and clothes washer for a little bit. Instead of TV, you can look at photo albums, watch the backyard squirrels, or scan the stars.

...Find solace in the bathtub.

...Do something quiet as a family like reading or doing a craft. They need quiet time, too.

...Write your thoughts in a journal to settle your mind.

...Go fishing.

...Tea time. Quit your work for a few minutes each afternoon and enjoy some tea and cookies or whatever treat you like.

What is your favorite way to have quiet in your day?

Organizing Batteries

I love reading about how to organize and save money. Today on I'm an Organizing Junkie there is a fantastic post on how to organize batteries. With kids we have batteries of all types stuffed into drawers and stashed in other really good hiding spots that we cannot even remember where they are hidden! This is going to make things SO much easier.

House Cleaning Update

The Master Bathroom is D-O-N-E! Even the blinds have been dusted and inside plus outside windows. I tidied under the sinks and the drawers and it is FANTASTIC. I even purchased floor mats for in front of the sinks and valances for the two windows (which I plan to have hubby put up this weekend). I'll post before and afters when I get a minute.

Now I am on to the Master Bedroom.

Where'd That Diaper Come From??

Last week Ava came home from her "school" without a diaper. I only noticed when I put her in the high chair. This is most strange as she generally gets changed at the Centre she goes to (and I certainly keep her in one as she is only partly potty trained). And so I put on a new diaper after a few confused moments. She is eating her lunch and when I return to her high chair to give her a drink, there is a wet diaper on the floor beneath her chair. What in the world?? This is also the same chair that Travis slid out of ... (insert Twilight Zone theme song here).

NaBloPoMo

I was reading on Cynthia's blog that it is National Blog Posting Month. So far I am a bit behind in my postings but I'm desperately attempting to do this as I really do enjoy posting to my blogs.

Escape from the High Chair

Today I got all five kids into the chairs for lunch and they were eating quietly while I had to look up a recipe to make their lunch on the laptop within reaching distance of them! All of a sudden my little Travis (9.5 months old) literally slid out of his chair and landed on his tummy on the floor. Mommy is so tired she forgot to put the safety latch up - but the tray was on at least! He's okay. My daughter who saw it was more upset than he was. Barely a tear as soon as I put his food back in his hand.

Slimfast

I was going to write every day this month. So far I'm a little off course but I'll try to get back on it.

I have about 10 pounds that were gone after the baby was born earlier this year but has crept back on due to medication - I believe. I have been going to the gym fairly regularly the last few weeks and have noticed some inches are reducing but the scale isn't budging - except for "up" (sigh). So I went to my friendly neighbourhood Shoppers Drug Mart and purchased some Slimfast shakes and muffin bars plus some snack bars. I'm signing on to slimfast.ca and hoping this will help me get motivated to stop snacking. I don't think that it helps that I tend to be an emotional or bored eater and that is what I've been the last little bit. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I'm off to figure out the website now.

Who's Your Celebrity Style Sister?

Your Celebrity Style Twin is Jessica Simpson

Flirty, feminine, and fun.

Who's" Your Celebrity Style Sister?