You can’t fit into your jeans.
You can’t fit into your fat jeans.
Your sweat pants make you work up a sweat just trying to get them on.
I get it.
Here’s what you do about that excess weight: Continue reading “Don’t Belittle the Baby Steps …”
Wait, how much does that cost?
So it is a beautiful day in my hometown. I am at work thinking, “Boy! I can’t wait to get outside and spend some money!”
Well, not really.
However, all of the wonderful activities I want to do today with my kiddies involve some exchange of cash. Possibly lots of exchange of cash. Or giving up of cash would be a more accurate assessment.
Some of the ideas I’ve narrowed down are:
– Getting frozen yogurt
– Eating out for dinner
– Going to an outdoor movie
– Going grocery shopping (not so much a want, but a need!)
As the dollar signs started to amass, I had to reel myself back in and do a quick mental costs benefit analysis.
A cost benefit analysis is simply a method to carefully analyze and decide on a course of action, after weighing all of the costs and benefits associated with the decision.
After a mental brainstorming session, my cost benefit analysis looked like this:
Note: Although I love hanging with my kiddoes, I also work full time and study part time. Therefore I, like a majority of the population, am habitually exhausted! So these scenarios bring me about 75% happiness … the other %25 represents the cost of me being tired but still engaging in these activities. In other words, I am not technically totally “happy,” I am 75% happy because I am 25% exhausted. Makes sense, right?
It is always best to write this down, as write out your ideas and action with every other aspect of your life as feasibly possible. You’ve heard over and over again how putting ink (or pencil) to paper makes us more likely to achieve our goals.
I am willing to risk being too tired to not finish my chores after the kids have gone to bed tonight, to hit snooze on the alarm clock when it goes off at 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, etc.
This cost benefits analysis is specific to today. See, I am willing to risk it all because (1) you’re kids grow up faster than you can mentally process and (2) we are coming off a very cold winter. We ALL could use an afternoon in the sun!
I’ve decided on the last option, particularly because I like taking my children grocery shopping. It is a good habit to have children follow along at the grocery store, farmer’s market, etc. so they can begin understand the dynamic of preparing meals. Plus, this option will yield us meals for days, and not just today. Next (while the groceries are chillin’ in a cooler in my trunk), we will be swinging by a new park. After that we will whip up a quick dinner and finally get our frozen yogurt, because that is one benefit that is worth every bit of its cost!
Have a great weekend!
MistleToes
I always remember this song around the holiday season. My class performed in when I was in Kindergarten and I distinctly remember some of us students dressing up as a gift boxes. That performance had helped me, even at a young age, to always express my gratitude for those who have done so much for me over the year.
Now that I have a kindergartener [and a preschooler] of my own, I alway try to do a little something for my children’s teachers. After all – they are like an extended family. Although we are on a strict budget, I made sure to allot some funds to buy some small tokens of thanks.
After perusing the aisles of my local Family Dollar, I walked past some cozy socks. I instantly remembered my daughter’s kindergarten teacher saying how cold her house is in the winter. From there, and with the help of Pinterest, I came up with these inexpensive and practical gift bags:
The contents of the bags include:
*Warm Skid-Proof Socks
*Nail Polish
*Soap and Lotion
Total cost: about $4.50 per bag! Not too expensive and more personable than a $5.00 gift card to Wawa or Target (although I did buy some for other folks – I love gift cards!)
The teachers loved them and were very appreciative! And that’s what it is all about. Just being grateful towards others, and letting them know how grateful you are 🙂
C’mon – Give Me Some Credit!
Happy Holidays!
Sharing some quick tips for purchasing items on a credit card….
First things first –
You should only use your credit card in two instances: Continue reading “C’mon – Give Me Some Credit!”
If You Didn’t Know: Peanut Butter
One of the easiest substitutes to make when switching to a more wholesome diet is to change your peanut butter. Most commercial peanut butter produced today have sugar as an added ingredient.
The only ingredients in your peanut butter should be Continue reading “If You Didn’t Know: Peanut Butter”
Pore Some Sugar On Me!
Have you hopped on the turmeric in your DIY skin care regimen? Has it left you feeling a little – yellow? Well here’s a quick alternative to using the nutrient rich “dye” that will leave you feeling all mellow, without the yellow. Continue reading “Pore Some Sugar On Me!”
Daily Prompt: Maddening
Much Madness is divinest Sense – (620)
By Emily Dickinson
Much Madness is divinest Sense
To a discerning Eye
Much Sense – the starkest Madness
’Tis the Majority
In this, as all, prevail
Assent – and you are sane
Demur – you’re straightway dangerous
And handled with a Chain
…
My girl Emily knew the deal way back when. Those who go against the crowd are often singled out and discounted. Still, if going against the crowd means going for what is right and good we should march on. Never stop marching. And as history has shown us first they call us crazy. Then they follow.
Check, please!
Happy Finance Friday Everyone!
For those folks who are paid bi weekly – did you know there are three months in the year where you are paid THREE times in one month? Continue reading “Check, please!”
I don’t mean to Bragg, but …
Those on a new quest into all things organic and unprocessed are bound to come across Bragg’s products. While I stumbled across many claims that I frankly needed their products, I did not find too many useful reviews on the uses I sought for their products.
So I am presenting my 2.5 cents on my experiences with three of their most popular products. Continue reading “I don’t mean to Bragg, but …”
Vegan Hot Chocolate
Scene – Giant Supermarket, produce aisle
Peaches: Good afternoon ma’am …
Employee: Good afternoon! How can I help you?
Peaches: Do you know where I can find dates?
Employee: Ha, that’s funny – I was just thinking I could sure use a date!
Peaches: {Well this is awkward. Okay smile. But not too hard. And Warmly} !-)
This is a 100% accurate transaction that happened last year. It is safe to say I never forgot it. Or forgot where to locate dates in a large supermarket (I seriously cannot remember where the whip cream is located however!). But dates are located near the nuts and dried fruit! I feel I should get a pass because I never used the “large raisins before”. And they are my star ingredient for my Vegan Hot Chocolate! Continue reading “Vegan Hot Chocolate”
