Zero Spending

While trolling Pinterest, I stumbled upon a pin about "31 Days of Living Well and Spending Zero."

Spending Zero?

Really?

How much do we actually spend?

According to the blogger, their family saved $1,000.

One thousand dollars.

That's quite a chunk of change, if I do say so myself.

They cut out everything but the essentials like bills, seeds for their garden, a needed part to fix the car, etc. The froze their spending habits on things like eating out, Starbucks, shopping for clothing, hobbies (crafts, golf, etc), entertainment (I'm assuming movies and concerts), toys, toiletries (what?!), alcohol and other vices, lottery tickets, and any furniture or home decor. 

It's another challenge I'm going to look into for 2014, that's for sure!

Cheers!
LC

Project Planning

Super excited! I've just been talking with my co-worker, MT, about my trip in June to Yellowstone for my half marathon. How it'll work is I fly from the Bellingham International Airport (BLI) to Las Vegas (LAS) on Wednesday, stay the night, and fly to the Idaho Falls Airport (IDA) on Thursday. With Allegiant, I'm only paying $92 (already bought!) for my round trip flight from LAS to IDA/IDA to LAS and about $152 (not purchased, yet . . . next payday!) for my round trip from BLI to LAS/LAS to BLI. So, round trip flights are $244. If I were to fly to from Seatac (SEA) to IDA round trip, the tickets would be about $514 (thanks SkyScanner.com!). From SEA to Salt Lake City, UT and a shuttle north to Rexburg (which is a 4 hour trip I've done before -- best shuttle service ever, horribly long hours), I'm looking at $286 for the round trip flight and around $55 plus tip for the four hour shuttle north, round trip. Plus, I'll be needing to stay in hotels in Rexburg because my sister will have just given birth to my new niece or nephew. So . . . Nine days in a single hotel room (which will set me back at least $75/night), plus flights, plus shuttle, plus time and inconvenience . . . 

To sum up: 

A) SEA to SLC, shuttle, 9 days in a hotel with nothing to do in Rexburg but visit family, shuttle, SLC to SEA: $1,146

OR!!!

B) BLI to LAS, stay one night, LAS to IDA, hotel for 2 nights, stay with family for 5 nights, IDA to LAS, stay three nights (mucho to do, people to visit!), LAS to BLI: $536

Ding, ding, ding!! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!! B it is!!

All prices are subject to change (except those already purchased), obviously.

If I go to Vegas, I may have company! MT was saying she'd be super excited to come down for a few days. It'll be at the end of her finals week so we'll see how things roll when her quarter starts and if she'll have to do finals on Thursday or Friday that week. 

Keep your fingers crossed!!

Cheers!
LC

Do you wanna build a snowman?

Oh, Disney, you've done it again! I'm super excited about the movie Frozen and you should be, too!

Has anyone seen Frozen yet? I wasn't going to see it, originally, because I thought it looked silly. You see, I wanted to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (which I still haven't seen!!) but my party had already seen it the day before. Without me. Not that I'm bitter, mind you.

Ok. Maybe I'm a little bitter. 

But that's not the point! Back to the new epic movie . . . 

Frozen was adorable and I'm so glad Disney went into the Northern culture. The music was lovely and I can't seem to get it out of my head (Pandora even has shuffled it into my "Disney" station. [Don't judge! You're just jealous that you didn't think of it first!]). You can't dislike a movie who can use the word "fractal" in a song and talks about snowmen. (P.S., I don't like the Demi Lovato version of the song. Idina Menzel does it just fine, thanks!) 

It's been a long time since I've been surprised by a cartoon and there were a couple of twists in this movie that I wasn't expecting. Yay for something new and exciting! Plus, all of the graphics are lovely.

When it comes to DVD I'll definitely be buying it. :)

Cheers!

LC

Nature

Isn't it just, though?

When you're out in the middle of nowhere, without technology, it's really something else. And I think it's a good something else. 

I can't wait for the PCT and having a few months of therapy.

Cheers!
LC

Time for a Tea Party?

Did you know US based multinational corporations like Apple, GE, Bank of America, Verizon, FedEx, Microsoft, Walmart, Citigroup, Chevron, and BP are paying around $0 on their income taxes?

I didn't.

And now I do.

Because now I really, really understand what all the Occupy Wall St. protests are actually about. 

And now I'm pretty pissed about it. 

I've been watching We're Not Broke on Netflix. I need something to settle my stomach because, good Lord, y'all. Corporations are paying $0 in taxes (some are even having negative taxes, which means the government owes them money, not the other way around!!). I'm going to pay almost $2,200 in taxes this year and corporations earning hundreds of billions of dollars  aren't going to pay a single cent to the US government.

How on Earth is that remotely fair? 

Americans, as citizens, aren't broke. We have money, we spend money. But it's amazing that the more we spend to "boost" our economy, the further in the hole our country becomes. The reason for this is the big companies are dodging their taxes. They're paying 0% of their income (sometimes they've actually earned -0.5% income, which I didn't even know was possible! How can you earn a negative?) while we're sitting here paying God knows how much each paycheck. 

What happened to "the government is there to protect the citizens"? It's turned into "the government is there to protect the corporations because without those funds and 'donations' during campaigns those government officals couldn't run their ads."

Sometimes 'Merica blows.

In order to offset the government money lost to corporate income taxes, the government proposes tax cuts to civilian services like police officers, welfare programs (like food stamps), schools and public educations, 

Go watch the movie on Netflix. Go check out US Uncut's website. 

Perhaps it really is time to join a Tea Party . . . After all, we're all mad here anyway, right?

Peeves -- Super Controversial

Pet peeves.

Specifically those found at the work place.

I hate to have them but I know I do. We all do. There's no way we cannot not have them. After four, going on five, years of working in one place, you kind of develop a list. Here are a few of mine:

• Throwing, tossing or slapping your ID/credit or debit card on the counter.
• There is absolutely no reason for this. I don't care if you're mad, I don't care if you're in a hurry -- you're being rude.
• Tapping or banging on the counter.
• It isn't as sturdy as the construction looks from the outside. Every time you bang the counter, it comes a bit loose from the wall. I can move the counter, if I want to see the crack. Also, I'm right here. No need to try and gain my attention that way. I'm sitting right here. I can see you. I can smell you. No need to be rude. Again.
• Tapping your card or ID on the counter when there isn't anyone at the window but there is a sign which reads "working in back, call for assistance."
• Tapping isn't loud enough and you may be standing there for several minutes before someone even thinks they hear you. Just say "hello?" and someone will respond. It's not our fault we don't have two people staffed for every graveyard shift -- if there were more customers, we'd look into it.
• Making out the check at the window.
• You know you're coming up here. Why not make out your check at the last game you were sitting at? Or use the other, empty, window's counter? While you're standing there, I've developed a line behind you. 
• People who don't take wishes of good luck well.
• I'm being polite. If you don't want to be wished well by casino employees whose job it is to make you stay and play more then don't cash checks. Go use the ATM or the machines that break tickets. Don't bother with human interaction. We don't want your negative vibes messing up our windows anyway.
• People who become offended when asked for ID.
• It would be impossible for me to know every single customer who visits this establishment. Also, wouldn't you feel better if the person cashing your check/debit/credit card double checked your ID and signature against the card/check? I sure would! Don't get snooty with me, buster. I'm doing my job and protecting your finances. Be grateful.
• People who become offended when asked for their SSN.
• We are a financial institution. We have the right to ask for this information. Furthermore, if you're playing at the casino and win a jackpot, they have the right to ask for your SSN. We have to do our part and report specific things to specific government entities. We're not going to steal your information and place it anywhere unsavory people can collect it. We don't even see your SSN. Don't like it? Don't play.
• People who get irritated when there's no one to assist them but there's a sign which reads, "back in 10 minutes." 
• Generally, we're back within 5 minutes. So when you claim to have been standing there for 20 minutes, we know you're a liar. And when you page us over the PA system? Why would you do that? Were you unable to read the sign? Seriously? Maybe instead of spending all this money, you should go invest in the Sylvan Learning Center or Hooked on Phonics. Whichever.
• There are several state laws which would be broken if I decided to stay at my window all night long. Such as I'm entitled to breaks and lunches. And bathroom breaks. Quit freakin'.

There. I feel a bit better. After re-reading, I didn't realize there were so many things about my job which I became irritated over! Perhaps it's time for a change in careers? I'm usually quite happy-go-lucky but some people . . . They shouldn't be left to mingle with the public. Let's just leave it at that, shall we?

This list, by no means, is meant at anyone in particular. Sometimes it's just the little things bottling up over time. I'm not trying to offend anyone -- this is my blog and my journal. If you're going to be offended you can go read somewhere else. Seriously. It's a bit like a waitress' list of peeves she dislikes about customers -- snapping fingers, always unsatisfied customers (those who moan and complain just because they can or they think they can get discounts or free meals because "something wasn't right"), small or nonexistent tippers when fantastic service was given, etc. 

I'm sure you have peeves, too. What are they? Are my peeves too peevy?

Cheers!
LC

2014/2015 New Years Trip

Plotting my travel plans for New Years 2014/2015 . . .

I like this travel group, Contiki, and I plan on purchasing my ticket through them. The trip will look something like this:

• Day 1 (12/29/14): Meet in London. Take a ferry past the White Cliffs of Dover. Evening Tour of Illumination and see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, the Champs-Elysees, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Includes Hotel.
• Day 2 (12/30/14): Cruise down the River Seine. The rest of the day is yours. Optional Cabaret show (80 Euro). Includes Hotel, breakfast, and dinner.
• Day 3 (12/31/14): The day is yours. Includes Hotel and breakfast.
• Day 4 (1/1/15): Catch the ferry back to London; tour ends on arrival. Includes breakfast.

I think I'll fly into London the day after Christmas, arrive on the 27th and wander around for two days until the 29th. After I get back on the 1st, I'd like to stay another two days in the UK and wander some more. Back state-side on the 4th. Three days in France, four days in the UK. When I'm in the UK, I'll stay in hostels. I've used Hostel International before when I went to Hawaii and I was pleasantly surprised with my accommodations. I'll have to put $200 down with Contiki to reserve my place but after I only have to pay in-full 45 days before my trip. So make sure I have all my plans paid for before November 14th. I'll just round and say my deadline to pay is November 1. I will want to reserve my rooms, though ASAP. Hello, tax return!

Me like-y.

Here's the breakdown:

• $515 -- Contiki tour
• $1,500 -- airfare, approximately (if I buy early, there's a greater chance of it being cheaper!)
• $110-$270 ($55-$135/night) -- hostel in London, first trip, 2 days (dorm vs. private room)
• $110-$270 ($55-$135/night) -- hostel in London, second trip, 2 days (dorm vs. private room)
• $84+$105+$140=$329 -- Food: breakfast (~$12x7), lunch (~$15x7), dinner (~$20x7)
• $200 -- Souvenirs and extras

Grand Total: $3,084 (erring on the more expensive private room)

I can swing that in a year, I think. I'll start looking for plane tickets in May and keep my eyes peeled for great deals. I especially like using SkyScanner. They're a great resource for finding relatively good deals. And they send you emails whenever the trip you've got your heart set on goes up or down in price. And they have a phone app. 'Nuff said!

Enough investigating for one night!

Cheers!
LC

Bucket List

A bazillion things to do and only one life to do them. Here's a huge list of things I'd like to do in my lifetime. Some of them will happen and some of them won't. But I like to have guidelines so that's not too bad, right?


In the USA:

1. Sit on top of the Hollywood sign
2. Take a tour of the White House
3. Try authentic beignets in New Orleans, LA
4. Visit Key West, FL
5. Stay in Cinderella's Castle suite at Walt Disney World
6. See a Broadway play on Broadway
7. Go to Mardi Gras
8. Party in Las Vegas
9. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
10. Go for a run in Central Park
11. Go into an airport and buy tickets for a random flight
12. Throw a dart at a map and travel to wherever it lands
13. Ice skate in Central Park
14. Go on a cruise
15. Watch the ball drop in Times Square
16. Go to Hawaii
17. Ride a subway in New York
18. Have a White Christmas
19. Spend the night in a haunted mansion
20. Swim with a Manatee
21. Be in a live TV audience
22. Visit Pixar Studios
23. Drive down Route 66
24. See the Statue of Liberty
25. Go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
26. Go on a road trip from New York to California
27. Visit all 50 States
28. Visit the 9/11 Memorial in NYC
29. See a Narwhal
30. Hike the Pacific Crest Trail

In Africa:

1. Visit South Africa
2. See the Great Pyramids
3. Spend time volunteering in Africa
4. Go on an African Safari

In Europe:

1. Drink wine in Italy
2. Swim in the Dead Sea
3. Visit Auschwitz
4. Go to Greece
5. Visit the Louvre
6. Meet JK Rowling
7. Visit Paris
8. See the Eiffel Tower
9. Go to London
10. Experience New Years in Paris
11. Go to Italy
12. Eat spaghetti in Italy
13. Visit Madrid
14. See Stonehenge
15. See the Northern Lights
16. Kiss under the Eiffel Tower
17. Go on a food adventure in Paris
18. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Ireland
19. Visit the Sistine Chapel
20. Be in a snowy London
21. Visit England
22. See the Roman Colosseum
23. Ride a gondola in Venice
24. Float in the Dead Sea
25. Ride the London Eye
26. Eat a croissant at a bakery in Paris
27. Visit Platform 9 3/4
28. Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome

In Asia, Australia, and Oceania

1. Visit Sydney, Australia
2. Walk on the Great Wall of China
3. Visit New Zealand
4. Visit Thailand
5. Go to Bora Bora
6. Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef
7. Visit Tahiti
8. See the Sydney, Australia Opera House
9. Ride an Elephant
10. Hold a Koala Bear

In the Caribbean, Central America, and South America

1. Go to Brazil
2. Spend a holiday somewhere exotic
3. Watch the sunset at the beach
4. Watch the sunrise at the beach
5. Stay at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas
6. Visit Puerto Rico
7. Visit Rio de Janeiro
8. Travel to Belize
9. Stand with one foot on one side of the equator and one on the other side
10. Watch baby turtles hatch
11. See a Capybara
12. Swim with Dolphins
13. Go to the Galapagos Islands
14. Visit Jamaica
15. Visit the Caribbean
16. Surfing with a Whale Shark
17. Climb the steps of the Mayan Ruins

In life:

1. Stomp in a bucket of grapes and make wine
2. Have my favorite author sign my favorite book
3. Buy my first home
4. Hold a baby lion
5. Have a paint fight
6. Have a 50th wedding anniversary
7. Catch a bride's bouquet
8. Shower under a waterfall
9. Watch all of the Harry Potter movies in one day
10. Attend a masquerade
11. Send a message in a bottle
12. Ride in a hot air balloon
13. Get kissed under a waterfall
14. Kiss at the top of a Ferris Wheel
15. Ride in a helicopter
16. Design my own dream home
17. Find a four-leaf clover
18. Marry my best friend
19. Make love on the beach
20. Go skinny dipping
21. Own a pair of Louboutins
22. Slow dance in the rain
23. Go streaking
24. Jump in a pool fully clothed
25. Have sex on a plane
26. Cliff jump
27. Love him until I die
28. Go ziplining
29. Learn to surf
30. Go on a no-budget shopping spree
31. Own every Disney movie on DVD
32. Buy a Chanel Red lipstick
33. Have a closet full of shoes
34. Spend the night at an aquarium
35. Participate in a polar bear plunge
36. Have a natural birth
37. Be called "mommy"
38. Go parasailing
39. See a Great White Shark
40. Skydive
41. Learn fluent sign language
42. Have a perfect Valentine's Day with someone I love
43. Grow my own food
44. Have a NERF war
45. Build something at Build-A-Bear
46. Find the perfect "little black dress"
47. Shoot a gun
48. Write a book
49. Have a silly string fight
50. Do something stupid and break a bone
51. See a Blue Whale
52. Jump off a waterfall
53. Ride a mechanical bull
54. Own something Chanel (jewelry)
55. Completely restore an old Mustang
56. Have my children grow up with Harry Potter
57. Save up $15,000
58. Pay a stranger's tab at a restaurant
59. Run a marathon
60. Own a boat
61. Go to a spa
62. Learn fluent Spanish
63. Go sailing
64. Camp out in the back of a truck in the middle of no where
65. Host a masquerade ball
66. Learn to swing dance
67. Wear a corset
68. Have a Christmas Movie Marathon
69. Take cute kissing pictures in a photo booth
70. Be given a puppy as a present
71. Write a letter to myself and open it in 10 years
72. Kiss under Mistletoe
73. Complete a scrapbook
74. Go white water rafting
75. Bake every single thing in a cookbook
76. Learn how to cook a four course Italian meal 
77. Watch my children get married
78. Go on a camping trip with all my friends
79. Get front row tickets to a concert
80. Go Paragliding
81. Rope swing into water 
82. Get a belly button piercing for my 30th birthday
83. Be able to run a mile, easily
84. Swim in every ocean
85. Be in two places at once
86. Set foot on all 7 continents
87. Travel the World
88. Ride a horse on the beach
89. Stand on top of a mountain
90. Own a beach house
91. Move to a different country
92. Take my mom on the vacation of her dreams
93. Ride in a submarine
94. Pee in every ocean
95. Try food from all over the world
96. Travel first class
97. Take my kids on an amazing vacation
98. Go beach hopping
99. Create a secret family recipe

Still Not Dead

Hey All,

I'm still not dead. Which is good, I promise. I'm still house sitting and I'll be finished on Wednesday morning and can't wait to sleep in my bed again. Don't get me wrong -- the places I stay, they have some pretty sweet beds for their guests . . . almost like they never want them to leave! But there's much to be said about sleeping in your own bed. Its got your body spot, you know? That slight dip in the mattress which allows you to instantly find a "good" spot. The only downer will be going back to the neighbors. According to LB, they're still blasting music and dancing across the floor while dropping everything they own on the floor.

In other news -- no more frozen! The weather popped back up and it's just a whole lot of mud now. But at least I don't have to dress in five layers to brave the barn. Jeans, rain boots, and a sweater are sufficient these days and I couldn't be happier.

I've been doing lots of thinking, like usual. I've updated my 5-year plan. Again.

• 2014
• Pay off credit cards
• Save money for Thailand
• Paris for New Years
• 2015
• Teach ESL in Thailand
• New Years in Thailand
• 2016
• Teach ESL in Thailand
• New Years in Japan with my Japanese Sister
• 2017
• Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) through hiking from April to September
• Apply for Bachelor degree in Earth-Space Science at Western, WSU, UW, and BYU-I
• New Years at home with my family
• 2018
• School for the next four years or so until degree is finished
• Approximately 2021
• Graduate
• Travel the world with my teaching degree

Not to shabby, right?

A friend of mine is currently in Thailand teaching. She is having a great time and living my dream! I was talking to her and she said you don't need a degree to teach there. If you don't have a degree, you can still teach. You'll be more like a "guest speaker" than a teacher but you'll still grade papers and give lectures. You're mostly there to engage the kids and help them become enthusiastic about learning English. The program ($1,500), plane tickets (RT: about $1,000), and food, rent, and entertainment ($500) for the first month will cost approximately $3,000. I still need to look into travel insurance and other "fun" things like it but I'm super stoked about this opportunity!

By teaching abroad for two years, I'm hoping to have a huge advantage over my competition to enter the education program at Western -- A) It shows I'm serious about teaching, B) It gives me a lot of experience, and, C) I'll have marked off something amazing on my bucket list and write about in the entrance essays. I'm not very diverse and haven't done much of anything in my community. And I'm getting old. I'll have to duke it out with those uppity youngsters and that's always a challenge. If I'm not accepted at Western, I'll have backups at WSU, UW, and BYU-I. I'll apply for those programs in the fall of 2016 for Fall Quarter of 2017. That means while I'm hiking the PCT, I'll need to be finished in under 5 months. Which means a lot of 40 mile days to travel. Which means a lot of preparation is going to happen. A challenge, surely, but I'm willing to accept it and destroy it!

I feel better now that I've got some guidelines to follow. I'd been floundering ever since I finished my AA in June this year. I didn't have anything to do or plan towards. So, like I said, I'm feeling much better about life!

Cheers!
LC

Since Thanksgiving . . .

I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I'd give you an update in my life.

I'm currently house sitting. I've got 5 horses, three cats, and a dog at the house I'm staying at. It's fun but it's challenging. The last week or so there's been horrible freezing temps. That means in the morning and evenings, I have to kick through ice in order for the horses to have something to drink. 

Not. Fun.

At. All.

Not only is the water frozen . . . so are the droppings.

Yeah. 

It's really weird to try mucking stalls and not be able to pick up poop because it's frozen to the ground. You have to kick it, sometimes. I'm thankful they're mostly frozen all the way through because otherwise you wouldn't catch me ever kicking fresh horse poop. 

The dog is fine and so are the cats. It's just this crazy icy weather! I'm zapped of energy and freezing all the time. 

Plus, this is the longest I've ever house-sat for anyone -- 15 days. I didn't realize how long that was until the ice was there. This would be a sweet gig if this were summer . . . 

So, yeah. That's about all that's going on in my life. Let the horses out at 8AM and feed them. Hang out in the barn doing barn-ly things until 9AM. Go to sleep. Wake up at 4PM; do more barn-ly things and feed the horses. Head to work at 8:30PM. Work until 7AM and repeat. 

No time for family or friends, it seems like.

I can't wait for my weekend -- one more workday!

I also received my juicer in the mail. It looks epic-ly awesome! I can't wait to use it. I've decided I'm going to start in January (cliche, I know, but I'm feeling too exhausted right now to even contemplate planning a menu). I think my roommate, LB, will be joining me, so that'll be pretty cool.

K, my sister, did a bit of juice fasting. She lost 9 lbs! Good on her! I'm not sure where she's at with it, but I hope she keeps up with it. I'm super proud and excited for her.

My uncle, R, is going to marry his partner, B. They're coming in around the 17th or 20th and will be here for Christmas and perhaps New Years (both holidays which I get to work this year. Yuck). R will be heading back to Florida on the 4th of the New Year, I think.

And that's all I've got for the moment.

No idea what Christmas is going to look like.

Cheers, for now. ;)

LC

Butterflies In My Stomache

Every time I talk to someone about travel I become really excited. Butterflies start fluttering in my gut and my blood pressure increases. I also get this soppy smile on my face. It seems to me I've just described what it's like to be in love. Not that I've ever actually been in love before. Believe you-me, I've seen my fair share of Chick-Flick, Rom-Coms to last a lifetime and those are the usual symptoms. 

So far I've been told by three different people I should look into becoming a travel agent for a full-time career. At this point in my life, I'm seriously considering it.

But how do you become one? What skills do you need? Education? Training? Relocation? What do they even earn?

I'm hoping to swing by my local travel agent in a few days (stupid graveyard shift!) when I have some time off. We'll see if I can get a run-down on how they work, who they look for to hire, what kind of education an agent needs, and (best of all!) what kinds of vacations do the agents take and are they on company time.

I did a general Pinterest search for travel agents and was able to find a link to World Travel Holdings. They seem interesting and I'm going to investigate further. Working from home would be amazing but I'm not sure I like earning $11/hour.

We shall see! 

In the meantime, I will look forward to my vacation in February -- Disney World, here I come!

Cheers!
LC

Just a Little Reminder

As we all bounce back from Thanksgiving and the extra 20 lbs it added to our booties, just a little friendly reminder:

I saw this on Pinterest and thought I'd share. 

Cheers!

LC

Wish List

So. I haven't really made a wish list/Christmas list in a very long time. But I'm going to this year (not that I'm anticipating presents or anything -- it seems this year has been extra tight where cash is concerned)! I've just found so many things on Pinterest that I find useful and amazing and pretty cheap (sometimes the opposite, though!). 

Either way, it's a fun thing for me to do, since I like lists and am currently procrastinating everything I can think of doing (you know, exercising, juicing, planning Thanksgiving . . . just the usual stuff!).

Key Socks

I would actually wear heals if I could wear socks with them! This is an amazing invention and I can't believe no one thought of it sooner.

Sailor Moon Broach

I admit it -- I'm a bit of a geek. I absolutely adored Sailor Moon when growing up. I always wanted to have something like Usagi did (yes, I've read the manga, too. I still even own the comics!) and this would be amazing! It's only about $20, too, but it's on eBay so who knows if that's a fixed price or not . . . 

Time Key

I don't have any clue how much this is going to be but I'm assuming it'll be over $300 . . . The key to the fifth dimension? Yeah, I'd say $300 is worth it. 

Lunch Crock

I love being able to "set it and forget it." I would love to cook meals at work and make my co-workers suffer. Plus, it's small, so it won't actually take the usual 6-8 hours to cook. And it gives me a single-serving meal. 'Cause I'm snazzy like that.

Educational Decree White Board

I loves me some HP. I loves me some white boards. Do I really need to say more?

Heated Ice Scraper

Don't judge me! You want one, too. For someone who goes to work at night and comes home in the morning, this could come in handy. Some days, I have to scrape before I leave for work and again before I come home. And for someone who's worked 10 hours already, who wants to have to do that again? Forty bucks is a small price to pay, I think. 

Custom Car Emblem

Because I can. I don't need any reason whatsoever.

I told you I was a nerd, right? Yes, yes, yes. Run along now. Bip, bip, bip!

Jungle Tribe Blaster 3.0 (AKA: best purse ever)

Yeah. It's not going to happen though. This happy present would set whoever loves me oh-so-much back about $300. I'm not quite sure I'm loved that much. But it would be awesome to use while running (since no one thought it would be a good idea to put pockets in yoga pants -- where am I suppose to put my house keys or my iPod?!). How is it that people can be so clever?

Snitch Necklace

Another high-priced item ($150). Again with the HP lovin'. 

Supernatural Protection Necklace

Carry on my wayward son. I'm noticing a pattern with my "wants." They all have to do with geekery. Meh. I'll get over it someday, I'm sure. It's under $20, so we're doin' good.

Shiny Car Decal 

I'm not one for messing up my car with decals and stickers. But if I had this, I would make an exception. $5.

Kneel Before Loki Decal

Another thing I'd make an exception for. $10.

Gadget Holster

Here's my cheaper option to the holster above. $25.

Reusable Produce Bags (set of 5)

Great idea for someone who is going to be shopping exclusively at a produce stand. (Didn't you read my last post?) $12 isn't too bad for reusable, machine washable. 

Seat Belt Adjuster

Yes, I know. Just -- don't judge me, 'kay? It's super uncomfortable when driving over long distances to have your seat belt gouging into your carotid the entire drive. At least it doesn't have Hello Kitty on it, okay!

Nouveau Gate Stacking Mugs, Set of 6

One of my Aunts has two sets and I absolutely fell in love with them when we were over at her house. They stack easily and are pretty enough to be left on the counter, by the coffee pot my roomie has. $15. 

********************************

So, yeah. Those are things I wouldn't mind owning. Maybe this gives you a better understanding of how my mind functions?

It doesn't work for me.

Understanding, that is.

Cheers!
LC

$45

Produce stands rock.

Seriously! 

They're pretty epic. 

They feed you, they're hugely knowledgeable of their wares, and they know how to bag your groceries so they don't bruise your food. 

That last bit is super important to me (I'm that crazy lady in the supermarket who lines up her cart on the conveyor belt by sections: frozen, canned, produce, breakable things [like bread and eggs], chemicals, etc. Yes, I'm aware I have issues. No, I don't want any medications for them).

And the part where they feed you. I like that, too.

My sister, K, and I went to the produce stand for the first time last Wednesday. I finally convinced her to watch Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, and Hungry for Change. When she finished both, she was all gung-ho to buy a juicer. Only nothing was open at 3AM so she contained herself until the next day. Which is when we bought an entire cart full of produce. For $45.

$45.

Yep. A lot cheaper than we would have paid at Safeway or Haggen. I know, I checked my prices paid on Monday vs. the prices we paid on Wednesday. 

And that $45? Yeah, it's her groceries for the entire week.

No fair, K, no fair.

But that just goes to show I should totally have checked around more than I did. Shame on me!

And the people are so friendly! Plus, when we went, we were practically the only people in the stand. No lines, no annoying noises, no crazy people (myself excluded, of course). It was one of the best shopping experiences I've had in a long, long time.

And I'm totally only shopping for produce there. Ever.

Juicers

JE2200B.

My juicer.

Sort of. 

It juices. But I feel like it could be better, maybe. Like it's not really giving it's best effort or something?

It takes way too much time for me to juice a single serving. I have to wash my produce and then cut it up. We're not talking in half or in quarters, here. We're talking bite-sized pieces. Which takes a lot more effort and a lot more maneuvering around my (tiny!) apartment kitchen than I was thinking it would.

My biggest peeve, though, would have to be my pulp.

I could stick it in a cheese cloth and squeeze a bit more juice out of it, I think. 

But only for some fruits and vegetables. Carrots and spinach have a super-dry consistency while celery or cucumbers are nearly sopping. And don't get me started on fruits. Yes, I understand the water content is higher in both celery, cucumbers (which is why they make a good base), and fruits. And, yes, I understand carrots are roots and don't really have much water to them. But dang it! I don't want to lose my juice in my pulp! That's what I'm suppose to be drinking, not the garbage can!

But for $50 ($40 on sale at Khols), could you really turn down the price for a starter juicer, just to see if you're even interested in juicing?

Not really.

But I'm going to return it and buy a Breville Juice Fountain Plus. 

I watched a few YouTube videos (just search for "breville juice fountain plus reviews" and you'll get a few different ones) and this is more what I was thinking when I thought of juicing. I'm not quite sure what the pulp looks like (they don't show it much, for some reason) but I'm sure it's a lot better than almost-pulp. 

The Juice Fountain Plus is a bit more expensive than the Black and Decker model ($150 vs $50) but I'm thinking it will last me a lot longer and be less time consuming in the long run. I just have to return the one juicer and save up another $100 for the other . . . 

Fingers crossed, guys!

Cheers!
LC

Bad Call

I didn't get much sleep today and that's what I'm blaming for my "bad call."

Good call: saw a friend today who I haven't seen in a while and got caught up on each other's lives.

Bad call: went out for lunch at a Mexican restaurant*.

The food was great, actually. I felt it was fresher than other Mexican foods I've had in a long while. But after lunch, on my drive home, I was really feeling the aftereffects of eating out. I especially noticed them when I woke up from my nap (yes, a nap after lunch. I work graveyard and it was technically my "4AM" to "7AM" sleep time, so lunch really was an evening snack, if you want to get technical on me . . . ) and was feeling . . . off.

Bloated. Puffy. Heavy.

Over the past week, I've been feeling stronger, feeling leaner (even though my mirror says differently. But me and the mirror-woman don't see eye to eye, yet, so that's to be expected), feeling stronger. And it's only been about a week. What caused this amazing feeling?

For the last few days I've had juice (a mix of cucumber, celery, carrot, apple, spinach, kale, and parsley) with my breakfast and lunches. I've not been able to juice enough before work to just have juice for the entire night (but I'm working on it! I think I need a new juicer since I have to cut up my produce into pretty much bite-sized pieces before I can juice them) so I just have it with those two meals. I tell myself I'm "easing" into, since I don't want to freak my body out by saying, "oh, look. No solid foods for you ever again. Nener, nener, neeeeneeer!"

I didn't think I would feel this much of a difference in this amount of time.

Which says quite a lot about the lifestyle choice, if you think about it. If you can feel a difference, even after such a small change (juice plus my regular meals) in a small amount of time (I went grocery shopping on Friday and today is Tuesday), what is it going to be like when I kick it up and drop the "regular" meals and run it out over a month?

Hello, Bikini Season!

Which is kind of a goal. I'm going to Florida in February and am planning on spending one of my days there laying on a beach (I'm from Washington, guys! Florida February is like Washington June or July, nice and sunny without cloud coverage. *sigh* I wanna be there already!). One does not lounge on the beach all day without wearing a swim suite. And I want mine to be a bikini. 

I guess that means its time for more produce shopping, right? And I guess I'll just skip lunch and bring juice next time?

Hmm . . .  how on Earth do I socially get around that hump?

Cheers!
LC

*Check out Avocado in South Everett, WA if you can. They're really tasty and the lunch menu has entrees under $7 (at the time of this post). And don't forget your chips and dip! . . . which is why I'm still feeling bloated . . . But they're so nommers . . . *sigh*

Exercise and Food

Working out is hard work. 

Finding time to workout is even harder work. 

The hardest work of all is trying to convince your brain you actually do want to get up and workout instead of lay in your bed and sleep an extra hour.

Stupid bed.

(Just kidding! I love you please don't be mad, Bed. We'll be together forever, I promise!)

But seriously, if it wasn't so comfortable I wouldn't sleep so much. 

I haven't done as much as I would have liked but I've done more than I usually would, so that's a plus, right? Here's the schedule I'm trying (and marginally succeeding) to use: 

• wake up
• get dressed in running clothing
• jog for approximately 1 mile (if I can't jog the whole thing, walk for one light-pole-to-light-pole distance, and start again)
• do planks (increase duration every two days or so) and an exercise (switch between squat sequences and ab sequences, increasing repetition every few days or so)

That's it. That's my master plan for the moment. I'll eventually increase the 1 mile to 1.5, 1.7, 2.4, 2.7, and 3 miles. Anytime after I want to run 3 miles, I will need to run the Centennial Trail.

I'm super excited for being able to run those distances but at the same time, I'm, like, "have you seen my booty run? Not a pretty sight. It's kind of like Jell-o in an earthquake."

I'm not giving myself enough credit, though. I've almost made it the entire mile without walking. It may not be an eight-minute-mile but it's almost completely done by jogging and that's what matters most. 

Even more difficult than working out is working on what I eat. I know nutrition is super important and I'm a firm believer that 6-pack abs are shredded in the kitchen as well as in the gym. 

But that doesn't make it easy.

In fact, I think it makes it harder. Come on! Who is going to give up powdered donuts for tofu curds? Really?

sigh

Of all the "lifestyle" diets around, I'm leaning more toward the Paleo in style. I haven't actually read anything about it. I've just seen trends on Pinterest. But from what I understand, Paleo advocates non- or minimally-processed, GMO-free, heirloom foods. They encourage grass-fed, non-hormone and -antibiotic treated animal proteins. The discourage white sugar.

I'm just not too keen on all that coconut and almond flour nonsense.

If you can find a farmer who grows heirloom, GMO-free, organic wheat, why not use it? The problem with our current AP flour (and other varieties, of course) is that it mostly comes from genetically modified grain. More grain per stalk equals a higher yield come harvest. Better for the farmer, right?

Definitely not better for the consumer. 

As long as I can stick to organic, heirloom wheat, why can't I enjoy pasta and bread? (Speaking of bread, I have an amazing recipe I want to try! It's more nuts than flour and it looks amazing for toast. Check it out here.) I can grind my own wheat into flour using an attachment for my Kitchen Aid and go from there. 

Other than flour, I'm totally on board with the Paleo thing.

Well. I guess I would change a few things. Like vegetables at the base, fruits at level two, animal-protein, grains, and legumes/beans at level three, and desserts and fatty foods on top.

Enough ramblings for the night,

Cheers!
LC

Change Your Life

My sister, K, is quite lovely. She sent me a Pin this morning and I want to share it with ya'll.

The reason she sent this to me is on Thursday my sister, J, cut, colored, and styled my hair. When she first started parting for the color, she asked me what happened about eight months ago that was stressful. I counted back and said that would be about March and that's when our parent's separated. She said, "that explains the three gray hairs I've found." 

Three.

Gray. 

Hairs.

At 26.

THREE!!

Who needs this crap?!

She moved on and then said, "I'm not going to count them all, that would take too much time. It's a good thing we're doing color today!"

Too much time? Count them all?! How many are there?! 

GAH!!!

As she was cutting it, I felt like my shoulders were getting lighter, my worries were going away. I kept having thoughts go through my head, like, "this is it. This is where I'm changing everything. This is it." 

We've had a rough few months, my family and I. The last week or so, I decided I'm not going to play this game anymore. It's no fun and clearly not good for me (Gray. Hairs. Gray. Hairs.). I'm sick of the drama and the unnecessary chaos it adds to my daily life. I found a few quotes (on Pinterest, of course) that made me really think about my life and what's really going on in it and how I can change.

There are a whole bunch of people doing a whole lot more than me. Mothers who take care of their families, keep the house clean, work a full time job, and still manage to look fantastic, for one. They're clearly better time managers than I am. And I want to be one of them. We all get the same time. How on Earth do some people do so much in so little of it?

My other quote has a bit more oomph to it, I guess. Change something, just one thing, daily, in order to find success in life. Well, duh! Why didn't I think of that? I have thought of it but I've not thought of it how John has. Thanks, John!

Today is just one of those days where quotes are the rage. I'll leave you with one more: thanks, Veronicas, for the lovely workout thoughts:

We wanna change [your] worldWe wanna change your attitudeYeah, we wanna change your life We wanna give it back to you (O, yeah)

Gotta love those girl bands. 

Cheers!
LC