Money

One of my 2011 goals is to eliminate "stuff." By this, I mean eliminating unnecessary items and junk from my home, but in a way, I also mean eliminating unnecessary spending. I really, really want to save more and pay off our car payments. The hubs and I are not completely on the same page with this. We're close, but not quite there. His idea is that we are doing ok by saving a little and spending the rest without a plan. To be honest, I was ok with this for a while. We do each save a certain percentage of our incomes automatically and have savings designated toward certain accounts. This has been good and we started this a long time ago so the principle is not new to us.

Now, though, I want to be more deliberate about what and where we spent and put our money. After reading about various budget and envelope system examples in blog-world, especially Emily's, I'm tinkering with how to best categorize our expenses and develop budgets for each. I don't want to make this too complicated; it needs to be easy to use.

Things we use the credit card for (and pay off each month):
child care
gas
work expense for the hubs (reimbursed through his company at the end of each month)

Automatic withdrawals from the bank:
mortgage
Roth IRAs
savings transfers
   - emergency savings
   - house/home improvement savings
   - vacation savings
   - Wyatt's savings/college fund (accumulated amounts go into a CD ladder)

Utilites are paid directly from our checking account when bills arrive:
gas
electric
cable/internet/phone
cell phone
recycling
water

Expense categories:
my personal expenses, monthly amount TBD
hubs personal expenses, monthly amount TBD
groceries, $300?
eating out (not counting lunch expenses during the week which will come from personal expenses)
household supplies
car payments
insurance
   - auto
   - life
entertainment and gym

Still tweaking, of course, but listing all of our expenses and categories is a start. In past years, we've used a self-created Excel spreadsheet to document expenses by month. We weren't always so good about keeping it up. A year or so ago, I created a Mint account. I liked it mostly because I liked seeing the big picture of having all your accounts and balances listed in one place. For 2011, we've decided to abandon our spreadsheet and use Mint. This way we won't need to enter dates, stores, amounts into a spreadsheet; instead, everything will be there and we'll just need to categorize it.

Calendar

After a week and a half of staring at a blank office wall and missing my giant Crate & Barrel Stendig wall calendar, I decided to create my own mini-version. Mine is 11x17, which is the largest size paper that I had readily available, but I think this could work well. I can just hang every month up at once in a three column by four row grid.

My version:

Crate & Barrel version (not sure of dimensions, 24x36 maybe):

When I was creating my version, I didn't think of the Monday through Sunday arrangement. Though it often took me a second upon glancing at the calendar to figure out which day of the week I should be looking at, I did really like the week starting on a Monday. Somehow it made the weekend seem more prominent when the days were grouped together, as if you had more time that you would if the Saturday was on one line and the Sunday was on another line.

Seven Months

Wyatt, you are seven months old! I feel like we are on a roller coaster; we've reached the top of that first big hill and now we are coasting down the other side. You are now closer to being one year old than you are to being born! Everyone says it goes fast. At first, I couldn't imagine this being true, but now I see.

You are happy, smiley, and giggly. You don't have any teeth yet, but they are soon to pop up soon. You have the cutest, most precious pouty face that I could even imagine. You sleep with your hands behind your head. You love to smack your lips. You are finally a master at rolling onto your back (even though this took you a while, you've been sitting up on your own for well over a month). You LOVE to kick. In the bathtub, you love the sound of your little feet hitting the tub and making big noises (and big splashes). You kick in your crib when you are ready to get up, sometimes so hard that your mattress is sure to be bouncing right along with you. Ah, my cute-pie, Wyatt-cakes!

Happy Birthday To Me

It's my birthday, and I feel pretty good about it.

On my Facebook wall, a friend wrote "So you're 25 today, right?" At first I thought "Oh, yeah, I wish," but in reality, I don't want to be 25 again. That was a tough time. Now, I have a better sense of direction and I'm less worried about what people think. There are certain ages that I wouldn't mind going back to, but only if I knew what I know now. I'm sure everyone could say that.

So, it's my birthday and I'm going to enjoy it.

Eleven

It's twenty-eleven! Really?

I haven't really been a person to make a big list of new year's resolutions in the past. But, eleven things seemed manageable, I think. I tried to make focused, specific goals, rather than big ideas (well, except for number eleven). I really am determined to make this a great year. 

1. blog, semi-daily

2. learn how to use my fancy-schmancy camera
3. find make time to run...this is a priority...running not only makes me feel healthier, but my general attitude and happiness depends on it
4. organize household paperwork by finding a system and sticking with it (and training the husband)
5. budget for and plan a trip in 2012
6. re-do bathroom
7. actively seek new job and employment opportunities
8. eliminate "stuff"
9. draw, write, sketch
10. try more new foods and recipies
11. don't be afraid, step out, take a risk and don't worry about all the little stuff

Refreshing

I got in a morning run this morning for what seems like the first time in ages. It's so refreshing and energizing to be up and out before the rest of the world wakes up. It's nice too when the temperature on the last morning of 2010 is 45 degrees.

My mom keeps a journal where she record weather and daily farm happenings (like dates of planting and harvest). I have a Garmin watch that keeps track of my distance and pace and though I could easliy download this information, I never have. Maybe I'll start keeping cumulative statistics in 2011.

Distance: 2.53 miles don't judge, it's been a looong time coming to even get out
Time: 26:20 so just a tad over 10/minutes a mile. I'm ok with that for now.Weather: 45 degrees, breezy

One upcoming resolution is to be more positive and confident about myself. No need to add the negative comments to everything. Just let it be what it is, right?

Wrapping Paper Fun

This could have gone on forever.

Brain Dump

I finally ordered Christmas cards last Saturday and they arrived yesterday...now, onto addressing them and buying stamps...I half completed my goal of family photo cards (on my list of new holiday traditions) by only including the little guy in the photo...the husband wasn't so interested in actually being on the card...speaking of which, we really do not have any photos of the three of us...

my sister got engaged a few weeks ago, and I saw her and her fiance last night for the first time since the big question was asked...yay! for her...our parents are, of course, pressuring her do things the expected way..."what, you're not going to get married in a church?" and "if you don't have the wedding here, grandma might not be able to come" and so forth...I know that it may not sound so bad in writing, but really they have a way of pushing the limits...I told my sister not to give in and I hope she doesn't...she asked me to be her matron of honor and I accepted....woohoo! I've actually never been in a wedding before...I wonder if this is means I have no friends???...I asked if I could design her invitations, programs, etc...her response: you're hired, go for it, and can you do the centerpieces too...so exciting...now to start collecting ideas...my head is spinning already

santa is coming to the little guy's daycare tomorrow and I can't wait to see his reaction...so fun...I also took tomorrow afternoon off in an attempt to finish off some Christmas shopping

Dylbug

How awesome is this? I won a giveaway from DesignMom for a personalized Christmas onesie from Dylbug. So excited! (Never mind the fact that I'm a week behind on this one.)

Thanks Design Mom and Dylbug.

Six Months

This little guy is six months old today. I can hardly believe it! Happy Half-Birthday Wyatt!

You are so big. Your dad and I were just looking at your newborn photos and it's amazing how much you've changed and grown. You love to smile and blow bubbles. You can mostly sit up on your own, though you are still working on your rolling. Your favorite toy is your set of keys. You've been eating rice and oatmeal as well as sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, peaches and pears. You've been a joy and I can't wait to see who you become!