walked with mom for 50 min today

Had pizza at mom's with sister and her family.

Sold a book at half.com for $2 today.

My July goals were:

1. Walk at least 25 days for 35 min
Because of rain and vacations we only walked 19 times. I think that's the first time I've missed this goal in more than a year.

2. Put $1000 in emergency fund. - Done

3. Put $500 in college fund - Done

4. Spend $450 or less on household items.
Way over on this - $520.11 - mostly because of niece time. But don't regret that, some months are higher than others.

Groceries - $191.30 - this was higher than usual too
Fast Food - $51.61
Restaurants - $28.19
Nieces - $102.09
Clothes - $29.26
Books/Newspapers - $30
Gas - $27.38
HBAs - 416.70
Other - $43.01

5. Get tires replaced

Not done - too many hours working

6. Set up new budget

Done - will try to post next weekend.

Finished reading my book Born to be Wild by Catherine Coulter. Romance. Good.

walked with mom for 50 min

Went to Borders and bought 2 books. Spent $15.98, but I used my Discover reward card so no out of pocket money.

Went to Barnes and Noble and bought 1 book. Spent $7.91 Had a 15% off coupon plus my 10% off membership. Also used a gift card so again no out of pocket money.

Went to Macaroni Grill for my sister's bday - dad paid.

Got some rebates together to send today. Walgreens and Advil PM.

Watched The Brother's Grimm video from the library. OK. Glad I didn't pay to see it in the theater.

Finished reading the library book Dates From Hell by Kim Harrison. Supernatural. OK.

walked with mom for 50 min

Went to grocery store and spent $36.59

Mom went to the Super Target and got me the free lb of hamburger we had coupons for and also picked up some walnuts for me, since that's the cheapest place I've found them. Spent $13.41

Finished reading my book Much Ado in the Moonlight by Lynn Kurland. Romance. Good.

walked with mom 55 min yesterday and again today.

I took off most of the day yesterday. Ended up working 2 hours in the morning. Despite taking the rest of the day off, I still ended up working 44 hours this week.

Took youngest niece to Red Robin for lunch. Spent $15.29

We went to see Pirates of the Caribbean. I liked it, but thought it was little intense for her. I really don't understand her mother. She took her to see this movie too, but wouldn't let me take her to see Monster House, because she thought it was too intense. Pirates starts out with people in cages getting their eyes plucked out by birds! How intense is that? It has cannibals and hugh monsters and voodoo queens. I don't get it. Anyways, spent $10.50

We got ice cream when the movie was over. Spent $3.86. It was a long movie - 3 hours.

After that we went to a glow in the dark miniature golf place. That was fun. She won a free pass for the next time. Spent $14.00

Went to Kmart and bought another shirt for me, plus a game of Rook for my parents for xmas and a think of tic-tacs for niece. Spent $16.57

My niece category is going to be pretty high this month for spending. Oh well, they're only young for a short time.

Got a sample of Sensodyne toothpaste in the mail. Gave it to mom.

I haven't read a book this entire week. I think that's the longest I've ever gone with completing a book. I have about 120 pages left on one that I started Sunday. Hopefully I can get some reading done this weekend.

walked with mom for 55 min

Went to Rosie's for dinner. Spent $6

Got Ban sample and Dove shampoo samples from WalMart.

Was supposed to get another comp day tomorrow, but now boss is trying to reneg. I've already worked 11 extra hours this week. I'm taking the day anyways since I promised my niece, but have to work before and after. Really, really, really stinks and as soon as this crunch is over, I'm going to make a hugh point out of how unfair this situation is.

walked with mom for 55 min

Mom invited me over for a baked potato bar tonight with the girls. Very good.

I got a very funny, if unexpected, email at work today. The manager of the development group made a mistake on one of our systems and sent me an email to ask me to fix it. So I did and sent her an email telling her it was done.

She sent an email back saying:

"Thanks, Sorry for the incontinence."

So I replied NP

She finally figured out what she had written and sent me another email saying:

"Wow - I've got to check my use of spell check... Ahem. I meant to say - sorry for the inconvenience..... ;-) "

I got a good laugh out of it though.

Finished listening to the library book on tape Dark Guardian by Christina Feehan. Romance. Very good.

walked with mom for 55 min

Went into work today to meet the new boss. Forgot to take my lunch. I had it all ready too, but left it in the fridge. Spent $4.37 for lunch. Then had a 4 hour meeting with new boss and she wanted me to show her some stuff, so I didn't leave work till after 6. Was starving by then and spent another $4.83 on dinner at Wendy's.

Good meeting with boss. She's very straight forward, which I like. I hate people who talk around things. She wanted to know what I liked and disliked about my job and what my frustrations were. She's been with the company a long time so knows a lot of what I'm talking about when I say standards have slipped. I came away feeling somewhat better about the overall situation. We'll see if she's just talk and no action.

walked with mom for 55 min

Got groceries this morning, spent $35.30. Finally found the 20ct of Advil in stock so will get $3.49 rebated back, plus I had a $2 coupon thanks to flash, so made $2.00 on the deal.

The grocery store had ranier cherries, which I hadn't heard about before. They looked good and I wanted a sample, but I couldn't find a produce person, oh well, I wouldn't have bought them anyways, because they were $3/lb. Maybe next week I can get a sample if they are still there.

Went to Chilis for lunch with parents. Spent $12

Made oatmeal, harboiled eggs, tuna and chopped veggies for week.

I washed my hair this morning with the Herbal Essences shampoo sample I got yesterday. It came just in time since I finished the Nexxus sample yesterday. Anyways the Herbal Essences shampoo made my hair really big! I have very short hair that's layered. My top layers are up around 3 inches high from my forehead vs usually 2 inches or so. It feels kind of weird to me, but not complaining it's free shampoo. I guess if you want a lot of body it would be good to buy.

Our newspaper had a coupon for a free lb of hamburger at the Super Target in the Target ads. I probably won't get there this week, but my mom thinks she might go. She got a coupon too and if she goes she will pick up the hamburger for me. I wish we had a super Target that was closer to us.

Finished reading the library book A Simple Choice by Deborah Taylor-Hough. Simplicity. OK

walked with mom for 55 min

I took a comp day Thursday but then needed to work till midnight last night and worked 10 hours today. So much for comp time. I have no one to blame but myself though. I just can't stand work that's not done and so after 4 months of waiting for someone else to do something I gave in and did it myself.

Got a free Herbal Essences sample. A very nice size of both shampoo and conditioner.

Got a rebate check for $5.99 from Longs.

Went to Subways and got a large sandwich which I split for lunch and dinner. Spent $8

Finished listening to the library book Wicked Widow by Amanda Quick. Romance. Very good.

walked with mom for 55 min

Got a free sample of Oasis mouthwash from Walmart.

Transferred a $1000.00 to HSBC account.

Purchased a $500.00 I bond

Finished listening to the library book on tape River of Ruin by Jack DuBrul. Adventure. Good.

walked with mom for 55 min

Clinique finally had a free sample deal so I took a comp day off from work to take my niece in to Dillards to get her makeover, which was part of her bday present from June.

She was so excited and loved the finished product. I thought she looked gorgeous! Many people have compared her to Sandra Bullock. I bought her the foundation and blush that was used in the makeover and she got a free lip gloss and moisturizer sample. Spent $40.64

We went to the Driver's license place in the mall and picked up a driver's handbook for her too. Her parents keep 'forgetting'.

Went to Kmart and I bought a new pair of jeans and a t-shirt for me. Spent $22.26

Next was Barnes and Noble where I had a 15% off coupon and got the other niece a book for her bday in Sept. Spent $5.34 Also picked up a form for her to get a free book if she reads 8 more books this summer.

Longs was next, where I got some pressed powser for my niece, plus they had Garnier Fructis styling products free after rebate and I had a $1.00 coupon. Bought a couple of pairs of earrings for me, Kleenex for .89 cents a box and index cards on sale for .34 cents.

We went to Jason's Deli for dinner. Spent $15.35

Next stop was Walgreens. The had Herbal Essences free after rebate and I had a $2.00 coupon so got that for my niece. Also picked up Sunsilk shampoo, FAR and Cura-Heat FAR. Got 2 packages of notebook paper on sale at 2/$1 and a rebate of $1, so free. Niece picked out 3 new nailpolishes that I got to finish up her present. Got some dixie paper plates on sale for $1.99. Have a form to get a $10 Blockbuster GC when make any Dixie purchase. Spent $20.95

I will get $13.50 back in rebates and a $10 GC to Blockbuster.

Last stop was Albertson's for gas. Spent $2.86/gal. Total $27.33

So all in all a very good day. She was very happy and that made me very happy.

To top it all off I got a $25 Borders GC in the mail for my Discover card rebate.

Finished reading the library book Danse Macabre by Laurell K Hamilton. Supernatural. Excellent. Love these books.

Missed walking again today due to rain. I don't think I'm going to make my walking goal this month, between mom and dad going camping and the rain I'm missing too many days. This will be the first month I've missed in 16 months. I like the rain, actually love it, just wish it would happen either earlier or later.

Went to dinner at Chili's with parents. Spent $9.02

I know some of you shop at Catherines. I saw this deal on

MOMdotCOM.net

DEAL: $15.00 off a purchase of $15.00 or more at Catherines.com http://catherines.charmingshoppes.com/home.aspx
Use Code 776764102

Finished reading my book Ghost Hunter by Jayne Castle. Sci/Fi - Romance. Very good.

Finally was able to walk again after several days of rain or vacation. Felt really good. Walked 55 min with mom.

Got a free sample of Nivea Body lotion in the mail today.

Also got my electric bill. My days of $9.00 monthly bills are over. I finally used up all my surplus from last year and the new budget billing is $37 a month. Still pretty reasonable.

Finished reading the library book Captain of all Pleasures by Kresley Cole. Romance. OK, not great.

no walking again today. We planned on it, but then got a big lightening and thunder rainstorm. First one in several days.

Got a sample of Fibersure from WalMart in the mail.

I found out my direct boss was laid off on Friday. I guess the company laid off a bunch of Managers. Going for the high salaries probably. So I have a new boss. Don't know much about her yet. Suppossedly she will be visiting each of the sites to meet people. Could be good, could be bad. Too early to say. It does mean I have to impress a new boss though.

My old boss knew my capabilities and saved my job once when layoffs where happening, I had moved to another group that they were cutting out and he intervened and brought me back to his group. He's always gotten me pretty good raises and several bonuses also. I had built up a lot of trust and goodwill with him over 9 years so I'll miss that. But he was kind of laid back and too many things fell through the cracks, rumor has it the new boss is more on top of things. As long as that doesn't mean micro-managing, that should be good. I'm pretty used to being given a job and left alone till it's done.

Finished reading the library book The Hard Way by Lee Child. Mystery. Very good. These books really suck you in.

another relaxing day, although I did a bit more than read and sleep, my contentment from yesterday remained, making me feel very happy and relaxed about now.

Went to King Soopers this morning. Spent $30.46 on groceries. $7.80 on a book of stamps and $4.50 on a magazine and a newspaper. I can't find the 20 Ct Advil PM anywhere, it's always sold out. I wonder if the stores aren't stocking it because of the rebates.

The magazine I bought is Arthur Frommer's Smart Shopping. I really like this magazine. I'm going to have to subscribe to it. This is the third one I've gotten. They come out quarterly. Lot's of good ideas and websites for saving money. They had a site called shirtsuppliers.com that sells Hanes T-shirts for $1.55 each. Next time I want some new hangout at home t-shirts I need to remember and check them out.

I found out why I couldn't buy the Entertainment.com book for $7.99 + 1 shipping. On the last page they tell you if you order the 2007 book you get $5 off the 2006 book. That's not mentioned on the first page and seems like false advertising to me. Definetely turns me off when companies do that.

I did a lot of food prep work today.

Chopped onions, tomatoes, celery, green onions and watermelon
Boiled eggs and cooked oatmeal
Made taco meat, tuna salad and potato salad
Grilled two hamburger patties to have for lunches this week.

I read the new magazine I bought and the newspaper plus the other 2 magazines I got from the library yesterday. I also read the library book At Risk by Patricia Cornwell. Mystery. Ok, not near as good as her Kay Scarpetta series.

I had a very relaxing day today. Went to the library and browsed for an hour. Got 4 magazines and read two of them, plus a bunch of books. I'm a big magazine fan, but I try not to buy them too much anymore. I used to drop $20 or more on magazines and then toss them. I like the concise information they provide.

Made a big pot of beans and sausages. White beans, pinto beans and black-eyed peas.

Took a nap. Make menus and grocery lists.

Finished reading the library book The Simple Life edited by Larry Roth. Simplicity. Good. An anthology of advice from simple living/saving money authors including Amy Dacyczyn, Joe Dominquez and Vicki Robin.

I'm so glad the weekend is here. My house is reasonably clean, no one is coming over, i'm not going anywhere. No major chores to deal with. I plan to devote the weekend to reading and sleeping. My two favorite pastimes

Finished reading the library book The Taming of the Duke by Eloisa James. Romance. Humorous.