PAR-TAY! (and goals.....)

So damn proud of America for their highest voter turn-out since 1908!

I was cheering on Obama, personally, but both candidates were respectable and even better - they both inspired their supporters to get out and vote. And McCain's concession speech was eloquent and inspiring.

[cooldance]

Anyways, thought I should set out my goals for this month.

1) Give up my daily coffee.

I am way too caffeinated as a rule. So far, I have successfully managed by switching to tea. Also $3.50 cheaper and I can reuse the bag!

I started this on Saturday and seriously, I have totally been less 'manic-panic' than I was. Just goes to show how an itty-bitty change can improve your day.

2) Use the library more.

This, I think, shall be easier done than said. They are renovating my local Chapters and I am pissed - I can't hardly find anything right now.

3) Get back into the gym.

I'm feeling blobby. The weather has been so nice lately that I've been reluctant to be cooped up indoors. I have been doing morning stretching again and that has seriously helped me stay more controlled and calm throughout the day.

4) Reduce the amount of time I spend online.

I would rather not be the hunchback of North Toronto. I also find it's too easy to lose track of time and space out. There are better things I could be doing with my time and I shall do them!

5) Spending:

I only need a few sweaters for winter. I think I can make it without issue through the rest of the year without indulging in my need for fripperies.

I am, however, buying a chair at Ikea next weekend - it's $129 and I can dye the cushion covers myself to save money.

I hope to spend less at the grocery store, thus continuing in my 'leftovers are not evil' campaign.

I also want to start bringing my lunch to work again. I've been a bad girl recently on this point.

I also need to find a new hairdresser. He's raised his prices to $65 a cut. :-(

On a completely unrelated matter, there is a woman who is clearly not eating properly in my office building. She has 'anorexia knees'. I'm a little concerned.

If you're American and reading this.....

WHY THE *#$@ AREN'T YOU VOTING!!!!!!!

Go vote.

People die trying to get the right you're taking for granted.

Monthly Round Up: Need vs. Want challenge

Kinda proud of myself, I must say!

My whole challenge for this month was to go on needs rather than wants.

I totally resisted the bookstore this month, and went to the movies using - ta da! - the gift certificates I forgot I had!

I bought a new fall/early winter coat, which I needed. Even better - it was on sale for $40! I had to get the cuffs taken up as usual, but since it was on sale, I didn't mind the tailoring charge.

I also finished my ultra-wide scarf - I can fold it over, sort of like a cowl, which TOTALLY stops the dreaded neck draft! I knitted it myself so it's in the colours I like. Even better - same concept scarf at the Bay was $60.

I still haven't found a toque I like, though, and I totally suck at knitting in the round. :-(

I had enough yarn left to start making a skinny accessory scarf, too!

Haven't posted in a while because.....

I have been soooooooo busy at work! When I get home, I want to avoid anything computer-related.

The extent of my free time has been spent watching MSNBC - I get home, eat dinner, watch Chris, Keith and Rachel, and then hit the hay to start the cycle all over again.

Ironically, it's done wonders for my savings.

I've also done something smart - I've signed up to put $60 a month into a Canada Savings Bond.

It's a good, safe and RELIABLE way to save money! Very important in this climate!

Our rush time is over and done with for the next few weeks, so hopefully I can get back to posting more often.

Oh, yeah - OBAMA '08!

A good shopping day!

In-keeping with my only buy what I actually need goal for the month, I decided to test myself in the mall.

I'm rather thrilled I went.

Not only did I *not* spend in a bookstore or music store, but those items I did purchase actually followed the major rules:

• it screamed 'buy me, you look good!"
• the items were on sale
• I actually needed them

I needed gloves and I bought them - and they were on sale!

A Strange Violation and October's Goals

I was going to update earlier but I'm still kind of weirded out by something that happened Tuesday night: someone stole my sweaty, yucky though somewhat new sneakers at the gym!

Yes, we are talking a seriously disgusting human who doesn't know where my feet have been! Y. pestis could be incubating in those sneakers for all the thief knows! Ew!

In light of that development, I had a brainwave vis-a-vis my goals for the month.
This month's goal is to achieve something not too ambitious but important nevertheless: I am going to make an effort to only purchase that which I actually need rather than want. These kinds of purchases include a new pair of sneakers (for obvious reasons), groceries, that kind of thing.

Today's Resisted Items - based on an "ooh, I could buy" thought:

1. Iron Man DVD (it will be available On Demand soon enough);
2. John Adams DVD set (I will wait until I can rent it);
3. Blue Jeans;
4. Boots;
5. Flat shoes;
6. Gloves and scarf (cold, damp and windy out with AC still on in office).

Ironically, my refusal to "mall" after a rough day at work meant that I had to evaluate why I wanted to spend. Answer: boredom, frustration, desire to validate my need to feel good and what I call the 'oreo cookie' urge - mmm, yummy, just one more, oh just one more, until the bag is empty and I feel like crap.

That tells me something - if I have a crap day - GO HOME AND EAT DINNER. If I *still* want it, I'll wait for the weekend. If it's still in my brain when I wake up Saturday morning, then I'll go look for it. I won't be stressed or off-kilter, so I will be relaxed and able to not impulse shop because I'll have time to compare prices.

Today's spending report, in light of those goals:

1. TTC Pass since I need to get to work;
2. New nylons (since I laddered my tights this morning on my way to work);
3. Large Latte and a breakfast sandwich.
4. Dinner from grocery store because I missed lunch - pre-made Caesar salad, pre-made beef goulash, green tea ginger-ale, chocolate sundae.

So, after having eaten, I've still got the "me want" thoughts on the following items:

• blue jeans
• boots
• gloves
• scarf

I'm waiting on Saturday. Let's see how the 'deep breath and wait' approach works out.

Good things come to those who wait!

I really wanted an HD TV but I refused to even think about looking at buying one. My TV worked just fine and I thought it would be wasteful to spend $1000 when there was nothing wrong with the one I had. The purchase also would not have been in-keeping with my 'responsibility and impulse control' goals.

A few weeks ago, I bought a ticket for a charity draw for a big-screen HD TV and an HD cable box. The charity is one that I support and believe in, so I didn't regret the $10 for the ticket.

Long story short -

I won the damn draw!

I am now the proud owner of a very large, very wide HDTV!

Patience is a virtue and good things do come to those who wait!!!!!!!