Monday, must find the energy...

     Hubby and I were able to work in the yard for a couple of hours on Saturday.  He does not like his new mower, but it is always hard to get used to a new piece of equipment.  I don't like to use new sewing machines.  I picked all the produce available in the garden and got another bushel.  Made a huge pot full to the brim of tomato sauce which I froze in bags yesterday.  All of the pears are dry and I am waiting for another batch to ripen.  I would like to find some apples to dry but that may not happen this year.

     B our youngest came home yesterday afternoon.  It was nice.  I made homemade spaghetti with meat balls and home made french bread.  We had enough left over for her to take home and to give Hubby lunch and dinner today.  She stayed over night and we watched netflix together.  It was so nice and warm and cozy.  She just left for school.

     The phone has rung off the hook this morning with sewing business.  The house is a wreck as I did no cleaning or laundry this weekend.  I just need to systematically go through the place room by room.  But I don't wanna:(  Can someone come and kick my butt please.

     Hubby was released from his church job this weekend.  He has been a church clerk for 13 years.  The joke is once a clerk always a clerk.  He had a two hour quartet practice last night and they sound really good.  He has a a wedding this next weekend.  Speaking of weddings, we will attend a wedding for our niece in Boise the second weekend of October.  So I need to get some money saved up for the house payment and at least $500.00 to go to the wedding.  Eek!  I will need to get busy.  Nothing like looming debt to motivate you.

     I absolutely have to get my desk clean today and the last of the months bills paid.  I have to go to the bank and get things situated. Hopefully people will pay their tuition on time as I will need to do payroll by Friday.  Back to that nightmare.  Are you tired of it yet because I sure am?

    What a complainy (yes that it a word) post.  Just quit reading if you must.  You can quit reading but unfortunately I have to keep working this chaos at least today.

So here is the dreaded list:

1. start laundry
2. run through bedrooms, sweep and vacuum
3. sweep floors upstairs
4. put away dishes in kitchen
5. make 2 batches of cupcakes (Hubby's work meeting tomorrow)
6. clean off desk and pay bills
7. deposit, x-fer money, pay car payment
8. make curtain for studio bathroom sink
9. sew, sew, sew

     Well I am going upstairs to start a load of laundry and then run upstairs to start batch of cupcakes so they can cook while I do the floors.  I was such a slug this weekend and now I am going to have to pay the fiddler.

     I am glad Lena's back safe and sound.  What can we do for udy?

Out My Window:  Sunny but cool.  Beautiful Fall day.

Have a great and productive day, I know I am going to if it kills me.

Kim

Friday, modem woes.

     My modem went bonkers.  So for two days I have been trying to get through to the Internet company, but always get cut off or a customer comes or the phone beeps in and I don't speak Pakistani well enough.  Anyway to make a very long frustrating story short, I am $107.00 into a new modem.    As proof that I am typing this it works. 

     It was the cheapest way to go.  The company would ship me one and it would arrive in 7 days at the cost of $99.00 plus tax plus, the $16.95  shipping fee.  So I went to Wal-mart and bought one approved by the company and no shipping fee.  I just installed it.  I checked around and found them cheaper at staples but not company approved so if any changes came through the line on configuration I would have to replace the modem.  Bit the bullet and bought the company's modem.  Probably $5.00 worth of technology for $107.00.

     My chicken is laying little pullet eggs, so cute and I am so excited.  We were not able to get any chickens at the fair.  But now that she is laying I am sure we can use her as a brood hen next spring.  She is so proud of her self and has become quite a pet.  Before the chickens were just chickens.  But I go out and talk to her and pet her because she is alone.

     I have obviously irritated a blog nazi and I thought people would think that I had shut down.   But not the case.  Miss grouchy pants is right.  My busy life style is self imposed.  It makes me happy.  Well let's tell the truth, not always.  I can get over busy.  But I do enjoy the things I do.  They are important to me. ( like ironing pillow cases:) )  What is important to Judy, or Sluggy or Mysti or Rhitter, may not be important to me, but we each have our own things we do and enjoy and complain about, I just always try to be positive. Everyone is different. I do not write this blog for admiration, although I really admire several of the people with whom I blog.  I write to keep myself accountable.  I write to journal my life.  I also can pull records on my health almost daily for my doctors log.  Realize that I will be disabled by this disease in time and this is an accurate record of my daily struggles and pain.  I can go back and say I was down for 5 months last year with severe RA symptoms.  I had so many colds, infections and reactions.  All this will come in handy when I am going for a disability.  But can you imagine me disabled?  Yeah like that will happen.  Honk, snort.  Anyway I will not justify myself to mean spirited snipes.  In the words of Olympia Dukakis,  "My life ain't crap."

     We picked all the apples and pears from the trees in the backyard and I am drying them.  Tomatoes are coming on strong, so I will be making more sauce this weekend.  I hope to be able to get some more yard work done tomorrow but a big storm is supposed to be coming in tonight.  Maybe it will hold off until tomorrow night.  Cross my fingers.

    The shop is still very busy.  I have been sewing almost non stop and I still have so much to do.  Three wedding dresses came in today.

Out My Window:  Cold, but sunny.  Love it!

Have a great weekend!

Kim
  
   . 
    

Wednesday,

    The weather has changed here and it definitely feels like Fall.  We had 100 degree temperature 2 weeks ago and now for the first time I am in socks, pants, and a light jacket.  I am sure we will still have some hot days of Indian summer into October, but right now it is down right chilly!  I am not complaining the change is nice.

      I have the whole day until 5 o'clock to get things done around here.  I like not having to get into the studio so early in the afternoon.  I really earn my living sewing and it gives me more time to produce income.  That was kind of my goal this fiscal year and we will see if financially it works for the better.  I noticed this summer the majority of my customers come at three times.  First thing in the morning ( as observed last week when I was trying to get a bath:))  At the noon or lunch hours, and later in the day around 4-5.  Many will say they can get out of the office early around 4:30.  By going into the studio so early I was missing business.
The idea is to maximize revenue at both businesses and simplify my life.

     I was able to get 3 dresses done yesterday, (also ironed 15 shirts) so I will finish the other two today among other projects:)  I have many pairs of pants to hem.  My bride rescheduled for Friday, which is nice I won't have to lay out sheets today and get the shop ready.  Business is great and I am happy.

     I have to get moving or get out my space heater.  I just realized I am shivering.

Out My Window:  Cool, dewy and lovely fall day, makes me think of pumpkin pie.

Hey Mysti:  thinking about what you said on my CC debt. also thanks for having my back.  Life is what it is and I'm not changing it, except for the better.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim 

    

Tuesday, I do nothing well

     I was bad yesterday and spent the afternoon playing with my daughter.  So today I will need to be busy.  Way to much sewing to do and 2 brides coming in for fittings this morning.  I have another bride tomorrow.  Plus I have to bake a cake and take it over to the church  for a funeral this afternoon.  I have plenty of time to complete all these tasks but the thing is will I do them?  I have a tendency to get busy doing nothing.  I am very good at that.:)

     Well cake is in the oven and the kitchen is cleaned up, so I must listen to the timer.  I started a load of laundry.  I am going to make a game with myself today.  Every time I finish a dress I have to (get to ) iron 5 shirts.  Yippee!  What a treat.  At least this will get them off the floor.  My first project is to shorten the sleeves on a dress jacket for a funeral tomorrow.  Then dresses, dresses, dresses.  I don't have to be to the studio until 4:30.

     Did any one notice that I have put more totals at the side? I am still waiting for the car payment to go through at the end of the week and then I will post.  I hope to be able to show the monthly change in these totals and the overall total.  Maybe it will make me feel better.

     I love the way Mysti does this and I watch her total go down and it is so inspiring.  So I thought I would copy her , my sincerest from of flattery. You will note that the Credit Card totals are not up there.  It is too depressing and a work in progress.  I only have the two a personal and a business, but both are just out of control, I seem to make no progress on them. I will have to that is all I can say.  I will have to.  I will have to. I will have to.

     This month was expensive at the studio and I hope to be able to make a small dent next month in the cards. The one thing I have not been doing is using them.  They are hands off.  You can't make any progress in paying off debt if you continue to go into debt.  Bet you didn't know that, Huh?  It has taken me years to figure this out and if I could find a loop hole believe me I would have by now.


     I love my Tuesday classes.  They are all little ones 7 and below and are so funny.  Just fun to teach.  Actually I spend the majority of my time running between classrooms, helping with shoes and discipline.  The classes are large and it takes two to get any thing done.  I run help one teacher and then run help another.  Eventually it will calm down I think.  But we have over 40 students in a 3 hour time block,  Crazy!
    
     Out My Window:  Cool rained all night.  Boy do we need the rain.  Plants are just loving it. Trees are so happy you can see them smile.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Monday, busy weekend, Happy Fall!

      Here are the pictures of our hard work! Judy I survived.

 Look at those perennials filling in without weeds!

Front weeded left the waves and will pull those after the first freeze.  Look at those curb edges cleaned out,yeah!  I am so happy.

     I was a busy beaver this weekend.  We were able to weed the front lawn and flower beds.  It took us until 3 in the afternoon and I am still feeling the affects of the workout.  It is not done to my satisfaction but it looks a lot better. I was not able clean the front porch and get around the side of the house, but we did have an entire full pickup load of weeds and trimmings to take to the dump at 4 on Saturday.  I hope to get Hubby out there next weekend and we will continue this little game.

We pulled out several small trees planted by neighborhood squirrels and many blackberry starts , it is still a mess and needs more love but much better.

Front porch still a little messy, but at least is is started.

     I have come to the conclusion that I have too many flower boxes and pots.  I am going to do something about this next year.  Remind me when I am frantically trying to get everything planted  I try to reduce the number every year, but this is getting ridiculous.  I really don't enjoy it any more and it becomes a burden.  Maybe it is because I felt so lousy this summer.

     Hubby and I went to the county fair Saturday night.  We laughed because the night before we had gone to McDonald's on a date.  My younger sister had called me as we were walking in and she was so surprised we would call that a date.  She talked to my hubby and told him he was cheap.  But we had closed up the studio from the Art walk,(which was a huge success).  We were going to get something to eat and Hubby had a stomach ache.  So we went home and I had a Hebrew Frank hot dog and then I had a stomach ache.  We watched an episode of big bang theory and then it was 8:30 and decided to go get ice cream at Mcdonald's.  We kind of planned our weekend.  Yard work, county fair, find some chickens to purchase, eat fair food (sissie I hardly ate a thing:))  Isn't that a date?

     Okay so maybe my life style is kind of ghetto compared to my sisters but we have fun.  Hubby and neighbor next door spent the entire day Saturday giving me a bad time.  He was also getting his front yard ready for winter.  This is the neighbor that lost his wife almost a year ago.  Boy did they have a good time with me.  I was the butt of every joke.  Don't worry I can defend myself.

     We left the fair grounds about 7:30 and went home where Hubby begged me to help him cut and put string quartet music together.  I said no as I feel that he often has me do most of his work because he is slow and plodding.  But I was in the kitchen trying to deal with over a bushel of tomatoes, peppers and squash.  He was cutting and gluing and complaining.  I said how many pages are you doing?  He then told me that one of the songs requested for this Wedding had 12 pages.  So 5 parts X 24 lines for one song?  No wonder he was almost frothing at the mouth.  So I would run in cut a page line it up in parts, Violin 1, Violin2, Viola, Cello, Bass and then go back in  the kitchen and cut veggies.  By 10:30 we had all the scores done and into clear plastic folders and I had a huge pot of Spaghetti squash sauce on the stove boiling down.  I was able to put 10 freezer bags of sauce together and make a huge cucumber and tomato salad.  Needless to say we were both beat to death.

     Took 4 .5 hour nap Sunday afternoon, I wonder why?  I made a huge pot of beef curry with onions and potatoes.  There is enough to feed us for the next 2 days.  I will have to 1/2 the recipe next time.  All I have to do for dinner today is put some rice in the rice cooker.  I tried to bake a chocolate cake yesterday for dessert and obviously grease had been spilled in the oven (I wonder who did this?).  The oven started to smoke and the whole house filled with smoke.  I knew my cake was ruined.  So I turned off the oven hoped the neighbors would not call the fire department as smoke was pouring out the back door of the kitchen.  Then I waited 2 hours and cleaned the oven.  It was full of grease, like a 1/2 inch deep.  I had made trays of Swedish meat balls 2 weeks ago and had hubby take them out as they are hot and heavy, so I am sure he slopped over a pan.  This is easy to do, but I would have cleaned it up immediately.   So glad I made the bad cake yesterday as I have to do another cake for a funeral tomorrow and I would have had the same mess and no cake.  Then I would have been down buying a sheet cake for $20.00 instead of a $1.00 mix and homemade frosting.  Small blessings.

 See what I mean all need love.

     Well I have 5 dresses and a sport coat waiting for me in the shop among other things.  I also need to run through the house.  With all the busy work this weekend it is a little worse for wear.  I still have a pile of ironing on the floor from last week.  It is starting to not be funny any more.

This is just a mess now.

     Out My Window:  Cooler but sunny, waiting for calls on chickens.

     My  word it is 11:30?  I have to get busy.

Have a great and productive day! So far I have just pooped around.

Kim

Saturday, yard work is calling

     I have on my work clothes, my work jeans are tight which means I need the exercise this day is going to bring.    It is a little cool out side so I can work up a sweat. My front yard will be weeded before noon if it kills me.  This may be my last post :(

     Now where did I put my garden gloves?  Will be back with pictures later.  Stay tuned.....

Kim

Friday, yippee!

  I should not be so excited about Friday, but I am bushed.  Tried to take a hot bath this morning and that was a bust.  I literally got out of the tub 4 times, and went down to the shop in wet hair and robe.  The shop does not open until 10 but people don't read and when you run a business out of our home you have to expect this.  I also had 3 phone calls.  I just love a nice hot relaxing bath.

     Tonight is the art walk in downtown so I need to be at the studio by 4 to set up.  This will be fun and I hope the weather which looks great right now holds.

     My tomatoes are coming on fast and furious so I will need to deal with produce this weekend.  I plan to make a big tomatoes, cucumber and onion salad that is my husband's favorite.  I am also going to make a large pot of Zucchini, yellow squash, onion and tomatoes.  I will freeze this in small bags to add to soups and spaghetti sauce.  I can also layer this into lasagna.  It is so good.  I had hubby eat left overs last night so I will need to put that stew into the crock pot today.  My kitchen counter is covered with produce right now.

     Sewing will come first today as I have several people picking up and I do not have their things done.  So the first thing I will do after I blog is get myself into the shop and tie myself to the machines.  I have already made myself beautiful:)

     So before I hit the studio, I have plenty to do. Yikes!  I only have 4 hours; I had better move.

     Out My window:  Cooler but beautiful, hope to get lots of yard work done tomorrow. 

Have a great and productive day.


Kim

Thursday, I have to differ my friends

If I put it on the floor and I have to trip over it, I will do it, maybe?

Kind of blurry mangle picture.  See those beautiful pillow cases!

      I have a feeling there are many pillow case ironing haters out there in blog land.  But I love me a freshly ironed pillow case.  They smell and feel so good.  It is one of life's simple pleasures  You know that feeling you get when you slip into a bed with fresh sheets and an ironed pillow case.  Try it, you will love it!  I also own a mangler so it takes about 10 seconds to iron a pillow case at my house.  Much advice to stop ironing, but I just can't, it is much like stop eating chocolate, I can't.

     I think I can pay a few more studio bills this morning.  I also need to run to Joanns for a few sewing items.  Still did not pay the studio rent yesterday so I will put that on my list as I go down town.  Where is my brain?

     I received two checks in the mail today for sewing,  I love it when that happens.  It is like extra money I forget about. 

     Yesterday I was in a quandary of what to make for dinner with my one large thawed out chicken breast.  Hmmm.....  So I minced an onion and added a clove of garlic to some olive oil and sauteed them until clear, then added the sliced up chicken breast.  I put that to the side and again sauteed a small zucchini, a small yellow squash, two green peppers, and three roma tomatoes from the garden until they were nicely browned.  I boiled a package of linguini and added the above two saute's and then grated 1/2 cup of cheese on top and some Parmesan cheese, sea salt and pepper, a little more olive oil.  It was delicious and cheap!  Add a salad mostly from the garden and some bread, you have a meal.  Plus there were left overs for Hubbies lunch.

    Thursdays is my long teaching day, but I don't have to clean the bank tonight so I call that a win.  Tomorrow is Art Walk in downtown Lewiston so I will have to be at the studio, but that is always fun.  Lots to do and see, I have a few groups dancing.  It is an easy form of advertizing.

     I am having stew in the crock pot for dinner, and I noticed we were out of milk so I will add that to my list of errands.

     Out My Window:  The yard is beyond bad in the terms of weeding.  Hope to get out there this weekend if I can convince myself.

     Well I am off to clean up , run through the house, start a load of laundry and go do my errands.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim
    

Wednesday, dribs and drabs of thought

     Hi Sissie!  This is what I look up at most mornings when I am blogging.  Sometimes it is his backside depending on his mood.  He is one big old cat!
.

Rucifee asks,  "Are you blogging again?"

     Have several sewing projects that are due today, so I will be busy in the shop.  Just realized I forgot to run the rent check to the landlord for the studio.  What am I thinking.  I wrote it last week.  Crazy me.

     It will be minimums this month on the CC's it took so much to catch up from summer.  I hope to be on an even keel next month.  Our second daughter will go off our health insurance plan and that will drop it by about $30.00 a month.  Our car insurance will drop by about $50.00 and our cell phone bill has gone from
$220.00 for 5 phones to $136.00 for 4 phones.  Only one is a smart phone.  So the reality is we should see about a $200.00 a month savings overall.  It is a bittersweet savings as my second child is really grown up.

     Our oldest was in a car accident yesterday.  She was rear ended and then shoved into a big pickup.  Did quite a bit of damage to her car.  I asked her if she let the guy who hit her know she was a prosecutor.  She said no and signaled the Police officer who arrived to not tell him either.  She said he was upset enough, but he was sited.  No one wants to hit an attorney.

   I had such a peaceful day yesterday, just worked through my list.  I think having a well organized, clean house makes me happy.  It makes my Husband happy.  It also saves me money.  I am busy, I realize I have all I need and I want less.  I am satisfied with what I have.  When you care for something you grow to love it and cherish it, this helps satisfy cravings for new things.

     I need to figure out what I am going to do with the thawed out chicken in the fridge.  I also would like to get some ironing done today as it is taking over.  Maybe if I just set a goal for 10 pieces.  Okay the pillow cases and 10 pieces.  I can do that.

     It is homecoming season and I have many dresses coming in today.  I also have a few going out.  So I had better go brush the old teeth, set the hair, do a house run through and get busy.  I only have one class to teach tonight.

     Out My Window:  Cooler by a long shot, like 30 degrees cooler.  It is great!  I really need to do yard work this weekend.  Hope I can talk myself into it.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Tuesday, blah.....

     Woke up with the blahs.....

    Have you ever woke up with the blahs?  It is not depression just a malaise of not even trying to figure out where you stand or what you are going to do with the day?  I mean I know I have to teach and clean the bank, but no one will make me get anything done around the house, or the shop, or the finances.  I can just blah...(my head sinks to the computer).

     Should I put on some music?  No I have to listen to music when I get to the studio.  Should I set a timer?  This sometimes gets me going, but that would mean I have to get up and go upstairs, I think that is more than I can handle right now. :) ( head sinking again)

     I have been having trouble sleeping and have not been getting to bed before 2 or 3 in the morning.  Then I have to be up by 7:30 or 8 and that is just not enough sleep for me.  This has been going on for about 5 days and that could be contributing to the blahs.  I know my body well enough to realize that eventually I will kick back into a normal rhythm.  I need to be asleep by midnight at the latest to feel my best.  I am sure that getting used to teaching and having my evenings taken up has caused this time flux.  I come home and still think I have several hours to putz and I don't.

       Yesterday, I cleaned the family room and the shop and did several loads of laundry.  Just need to dry the last load and put it away.  I thawed out a lb of burger, and some chicken breasts and bacon.  Hubby had blt's for dinner last night and lunch today, so I do need to figure out what to do with that thawed meat. Trying so hard to care right now... (pause to care....) sorry just can't make it happen.

     It actually got down to 85 yesterday and today it is supposed to be in the 70's.  That should make me have all kinds of energy.  I actually just went and put on a light jacket.  This last two weeks of extremely hot weather has everyone in town a little put off.

     So now that I don't have the excuse it is just too hot, I had better get my butt in gear.  I will make a list and set my timer upstairs and get busy.  Here goes!

In order of importance:

1. Brush teeth          (Anything in red was done in the first fifteen minutes)
2.fix hair (the Chewbaka look is out)
3. a little makeup wouldn't hurt the world, (or my face)
4. make bed
5. straighten room
6. get deposit ready for studio
7. transfer last load of laundry from wash to dryer so it is dry when I get home.
8. go to personal credit union and deposit
9. go to studio credit union and deposit
10. fold, and hang dryer laundry  
11.Put laundry away
12. Clean and straighten guest room and bath
13. Make a bean hot dish with burger and figure out what to do with chicken
14. finish cleaning downstairs guest bath
15. change sheets in downstairs guest room and dust and straighten
16. re straighten the family room 
17. sew a little or a lot!                     Blue means it was done by 1:30
18. teach
19. clean bank
20.  get to bed by 11:00 if possible!

     Now this looks like a formidable list but many of these things will only take a few minutes.  I will set my timer for 15 minute increments and see how far I get.  I will come back and update you with times because I know all of you are just waiting and checking my blog to see what I get done because you have nothing else to do, am I right ?:)

     Pretty pathetic when I have to have imaginary people checking my progress to stay motivated.

What kind of things do you guys do to fight the blahs and stay motivated?  

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Monday,comparing prices

     I am so proud to me.  I came with in $20.00 of paying for our new lawn mower.  We were able to find one on sale for $450.00 and I had $430.00.  So I call that a success.  Now I need to sit down and balance books again today and figure out how much Hubbies over time was and put it in savings.
 

     I can not figure out why our grocery bill is so high.  I mean there is just the 2 of us and I look at how some of you are feeding families for $240.00 a month.   It seems hard for me to get through the week on $100.00.  So I took a careful look at what we normally buy.  1% milk, greek yogurt, fruit,cereal, seem to be the things that we but every time we go to the store.  I do not buy chips, or candy.  We do buy soda but I try to stock up when it is on sale. 

    I then compared prices of the products we do buy.  Greek yogurt is 2x the price of the store brand, but the protein content is so much higher, it keeps you satisfied longer, to me that is worth the price.  We also buy mixed salad greens and they are 2x as high as a big bag of iceberg lettuce, but again the flavor and vitamin count is so much better.  Hebrew franks versus the $1 store brand of (chicken part ) franks.  Do I have to justify this?  We eat only heavy seeded bread that is 100% Whole Wheat.  I try to buy fruit in season, but Hubby takes a piece every day in his lunch.  We also buy wheat chex or whole grain cereal's and they cost more.  So I guess our biggest problem is we buy for health and flavor and not for our pocketbook.

     I am just beginning to wonder if it is cheaper to buy store bought mixes and frozen pizzas?

     Anyway, my question is: Do you spend more for quality food?  If you do why?  Is it nutrition? Is it taste?

     I need to get cleaned up, I'm 1/2 way there, but have a wet head and no makeup on.  (I think I just scared my first customer:))

     The house needs a quick run through, the basement needs a fire hose, laundry needs to be caught up and I have sewing and books to do.  Don't even want to look at the ironing pile it is taking over the shop. I hope this week is as productive in the shop as last week.


Out My Window:  It was 98 degrees here on Friday and Saturday, it cooled down to 96 on Sunday.  This is such a hot September.  Everyone is getting grouchy.  Our large buildings cannot keep up with the demands and teachers and school children are melting.  No school system wants to run air conditioners.  We are all looking forward to fall weather.

     Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Friday,sewing, sewing, sewing

     I don't have to teach tonight!  Yippee!  But I do have auditions tomorrow.  Just the idea of sewing all day and then going to the studio to teach tonight makes me tired before I start my day.

     I paid the house payment yesterday, my car is full of gas, Hubby is commuting again so that will save.  We have plenty of groceries and I have $160.00 in restaurant cards so we will be fine.

I was hoping to pay a good chunk to debt this month, but I used so much money playing catch up from August that I know now that will not happen.  It is okay next month will be better.  I can say this.  I have not used a CC this month at all which is nice.


     I have 5 dresses waiting for me in the shop.  I need to go to Jo-Ann's and get a few things before I start sewing.  I might run to Wal-Mart as it will be cheaper.  I need velcro, and elastic.  Then I will sew away for my lawn mower.  It is easier for me to have a goal.  Keeps me motivated.

     I have discovered it is much less expensive to keep B in an apartment instead of the Sorority.  They had all these figures about how it was less to live on campus and to have meals provided.  Also no utilities an place to do laundry, but this is not the case at all.  I think we are saving at least $200.00 a month.  We will see what that brings at the end of the year.

     B is still insisting on driving 90 miles to work and back on Saturdays.  She does make about $70.00 in tips plus her wage covers her gas and then some, but I hate to have her driving when the weather gets bad.  So she will put in a two weeks notice.  She also has a work study job most graduate students would kill for.  I guess it is hard to get students who do not have traffic violations or DUI's.  B can drive a clutch truck and even knows how to clutch a tractor as she did it for me a couple of summers when she was 9 and 10.  She would stay on the tractor and read a book , when I needed the tractor forward she would clutch it out and roll then put on the brakes.  This kept me from having to climb up and down for hours.  Of course we did not let her driver it to and from the fields.  But she just grew up in a family where planting was part of the life style. So she will work in Agriculture research.  She is a micro biology major so maybe this will lead to a career.

     I had better get busy.  Need to clean up and get my errands done so I can get to work.


Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Thursday, bridesmaid dresses!

     I am posting late as I have been chained to my machine hemming and fitting bridesmaid dresses.   I have had several drop offs and pick ups(including a try on) since 9 this morning.  It is almost 2 and I have finished 4 dresses all with three layer hems.  Now I have 3 more pewter grey that came in today and 2 Royal blue.  I need to leave for the studio at 2:30 and today is my long teaching day.  So I am taking a break.

     One thing nice about this bridal rush and all these dresses coming in at the last minute, I am able to make my house payment today.  I have about $25.00 left over.  I also think with all these dresses and other things in the shop I have done waiting to be picked up I will have a good chunk of change for our new lawn mower, I am sure we will buy one this weekend.

     So glad I don't have to clean the bank tonight, I am going to be wiped out!  Heck I am wiped out right now.  Snore.......

Out My Window:  It was 98 yesterday.  Yes September 11 and 98 degrees at 7 in the evening.  I will never complain about cold again.  Until next winter:)

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday,

     Sure glad I made that list in yesterday's blog as all I did on the list was sew.  But at least I got that done.  I have to get several big things done today.  Hem dresses, replace zippers.  I was very busy yesterday and so much more work came in that I am now behind.  Story of my life.

     I am going to make a deposit and balance the books today before I sew a thing.  If I start in the shop I will never get to the desk.

     I am going out to lunch with a friend at 11:00, I plan to be done with the books and well on my way through a few projects.  I don't have to be to the studio today until 4 so that gives me more time.  I  only have to stay until about 6:30, then I will come home and try to catch up where I left off.  Glad to be busy, I need to pay the house payment and I am short about $300.00.  I can get this by Friday. But my truck also has the empty light on so there goes, $60.00 and Hubby will need gas tonight so there goes another $40.00, I guess that $100.00 in cash I took in yesterday will not last long;)

     The first part of this month has gone so fast because of the studio and I hardly know what day it is. So I am a little dingy.

     We need to buy a lawn mower so My next big goal after the house payment is to save up at least $400.00 from the sewing shop to buy a new lawnmower.  I want Hubby's overtime fire money to go back in the emergency fund.

     Ugh! money!

Out My Window:  88 to 90 everyday, but beautiful outside.

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Tuesday, internet down

     I got up to blog yesterday and our internet was down.  So frustrating.  But it is stupid how much we depend on this service that did not even exist 20 years ago.  I actually think it is older than that but when the world wide web really took off about 20 years ago.
    
     I am very busy in the shop and trying to adjust to the schedule.  Very tired is all I can say.  I was able to get through the week end without spending a ton of money.  We went out to breakfast and paid the young man who mowed the lawn.  That was it.  I paid daughter who taught dance yesterday.  We stopped to get Hubby some fruit and spent 16.57 at fruit market.  So I am still trying to keep track of my spending. 

     I have not figured up studio tuition yet as I have more students coming in every day.  I will be ready to do this by the end of the month.  I think we will be okay and on track for some payoffs by next June, but no promises.  Just slow and steady.

     I really need to sew a great deal today.  Many, many bridesmaids dresses and formals for homecoming.  Just so much to do.  I am done teaching tonight at 6:30 so that will be an earlier night.  Last night I was not out of the studio until 8:30 and still had to clean the bank.

To do list:

1. make deposit
2. put away laundry
3. figure out dinner
4. sew, sew, sew
5. balance checkbooks


     It is never ending, I am sure glad I had a few weeks in August to veg.

     My mom's health is causing our family stress.  She is just not handling things very well right now and she is so independent she will not let us tell her what to do. Stressful to say the least.

Out My Window:  Still reaching 90 everyday here and is supposed to continue through the week.


Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Friday, groceries, ugh!

     Hubby met me with a list last night when I got home from the studio.  He needed gas and we were out of, mustard, milk, onions,cereal. etc.  So off to the grocery store we go.  $94.63 later we have what we need.  I hope this is for at least two weeks.  We might have to get more milk.  I also spent $47.52 on gas.   So there goes everything I made this week in the shop.

     I was able to pay a few more bills yesterday.  Just keeping it going is the hard part.  I have to teach again tonight.  I am tired.  Celtic enrollment is way down, but other classes are way up.  So it equals out.  I still have huge classes so I am satisfied.  I never want the studio to turn into a money issue.  I just want it to pay for itself.  I don't want greed.  It is quality over quantity. I am excited to see where the numbers are by the end of the month.

     I will be adding totals to the side bar as they come in this month and will then cross them out so you and I can see how much I have paid off.  You will notice I do not have the CC debt over there.  Well let's say it is too ugly right now and I am trying to see if I can just get back to where I was last January.  I think I can but boy is it tough.

     Looking forward to Saturday where I have nothing to do!

Out My Window:  Cooler, finally! When is that chicken going to start to lay?

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Thursday, getting tired...

     I paid bills yesterday and put them in the mail and then promptly forgot to make a large deposit.  So I will be doing that this morning.  I think I am a little tired from the week and I still have two days to go.

     Tanner commented that she wondered if I knew that my side totals were empty?  Well yes I do but I just have not gotten to them yet, I am a little tired and slow.

     What I find ironic is that I have not spent any money since the studio opened.  I mean I have not stopped to get a soda or gone to a grocery store.  It is weird.  I am sure this will wear off soon but so far if things go as planned I won't spend any money.  Yeah like that will happen.
 
     I am excited to see what my Jr. Celtic class brings as enrollment for Company was down.  Not that I mind as a smaller Company is always easier to deal with in the long run.  As kids grow up they want to be involved in sports and other activities and don't want to devote themselves to a dance studio and that is okay.  I would rather have them 100% committed it just makes for a better team.
         
     I did quite a bit of sewing yesterday and will do as much as I can today.  I have things that need to go out for the weekend.  I also have not started to save any money for the house payment, so I need $500.00 in the next 10 days.  I was having so much fun not doing anything the last two weeks of August I forgot my obligation.  I have no money in the emergency fund so it is really up to me.  Hubby's checks from fire should boost our Efund back to $1000.00 by the end of the month.

     Out My Window:  We had terrible thunderstorms last night and really hard rain off and on, but it is now muggy and humid.  I do not do humid well.  We are all used to dry heat here.  I think the weather has finally broken.

     I need to go get in the tub!

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Wednesday, Studio Smiles

      We were overwhelmed by students last night.  I was running around kissing and hugging all of my old students.  I missed them so much.  We have ended up with huge classes of little ones.  We had 42 dancers last night.   I am very excited.  I can't wait to see what happens tonight.  This might be the year I can actually take home some money:)

     I have a huge deposit done and ready to drop off at the bank.  I do need to sit down and pay bills as I did not get that done yesterday.  I am in a happy little daze right now and just want to sit and bask in its glow.  Actually I don't want to get my fat butt up and do anything.

     I think the hardest part about getting out of debt is that you have to work, blah.........

     So here goes the list:  ( I know you have all been waiting for it)

1. Hair, makeup
2. beds, straighten
3. laundry
4.kitchen
5.dinner
6.bills, budget
7. sew! sew! sew!
8. studio
9.clean bank
10.crash

     I will soon be able to see if I can meet my goal for the year which was not to go any deeper into debt and to have made progress on over all debt.  It will be interesting.  I hope I am not disappointed.

Out My Window:  It was cooler yesterday like 88. 

Have a great and productive day!


Kim

Tuesday, studio opens today!

     I am so excited to see the students.  I really love my kids.  Can't wait to see them.  I have so much to do today before I hit the studio.

     Hubby and I really cleaned the upstairs yesterday so that is okay.  I do have to finish up the laundry and get all the garden produce taken care of in the kitchen.  So as soon as I am done with my post I will get my butt in gear and get my to do list done.

     I have noticed that since I was so sick this last summer with my arthritis I spent many weeks just laying around waiting to feel better.  Well I do feel better, not perfect but certainly better.  I have gotten used to laying around and it is a bad habit.  I am gaining weight and things are not getting done that need to be done.  I do promise that I will never go back to my impossible self, of over doing everything.  I just need to get a little more active.

     Who am I kidding, I will be over doing it before you can say Jack Rabbit.  This is my to do list before I hit the studio:

1. get some makeup on and do my hair! done
2. Make beds done
3. laundry, hang up shirts done
4. kitchen, clean, put away produce. done
5. make dinner in the crock pot   It is now noon so I have about 1.5 hours to get the next 4 items done!
6. make a studio deposit done
7. balance both checking accounts done
8. clean off desk and pay bills  1/2 done still have to pay bills
9. sew something, anything just do something......  FAIL
10. go pick up rug squares for studio  on my way
11. studio from 3-7
12. clean bank
13.collapse:)

     I am not leaving here until 1:30 so I have three hours and this is not a very long and involved list.

Out My Window:  It is smokey, overcast but still hot!

Have a great and productive day!

Kim

Monday, Beginning in September.

     I always feel like my life starts over in September.  Probably because of the kids and school and the fact that I teach and was so involved in school arts.  This feeling has continued with opening the studio.  Even though I have no more children at home I still feel like life begins tomorrow.  Now I feel it on the financial side of my life.  Tuition will come in and I can pay all the studio bills without a struggle.

     I am going to try to keep an expense journal this month.  I have tried over and over in the past but I am so bad at  this.  I just want to know what I spend on gas and groceries.  Everyone has these grocery budgets for these families and I have no idea.  there are just the two of us so that does make things easier.  We do have a large food storage and a large garden.  But I am determined.

     Hubby was at fire camp all weekend.  He just got home this morning.  We have a picnic this evening for the church and I have still not decided what to bring.  My house is a nasty dirty mess so I need to get busy and clean it as tomorrow I have a great deal of sewing to do.

     I love summer but I am so happy September is here.  Now if it would only get out of the mid 90's!

Have a great and productive day!

Kim