Dream, dream, dream, dream .....

So today I stopped at Lowe's to pick up a sink strainer and a washer for my kitchen sink faucet. My lovely Craiglist find has a leaky faucet and is missing a strainer.

So what was a simple and straightforward trip to the home improvement store turned into a lovely lesson on the power of dreams.

It is a cold, rainy and dreary day here in Ohio's capital city, so I guess I was looking for some inspiration at Lowe's when I stopped by the paint desk to look at mis-tinted paint. These are containers of paints that were custom tinted and for whatever reason, the customer was not satisfied with the color and did not purchase them. These paints are sold at a huge discount. I once got a gallon of satin Valspar paint for free.

Anyway, I have been dreaming of certain colors for the downstairs of the Big House that are from the Sherwin-Williams paint gallery called Pizzaz. You can take a quiz on their website and they will suggest a color pallette that suits your personality. S-W knows its marketing - I love this pallette.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/hgtv-home-by-sherwin-williams/color-palettes/color-pizzazz/

I knew the name of the colors I loved for the downstairs, and Lowe's has these little tester containers of paint that they can tint for you.

So I asked them to tint 3 of them in these colors: June Day (foyer), Mythical (front parlor) and Exuberant Pink (middle parlor). I want to paint the dining room Tango and my kitchen Frolic, but these rooms have no drywall or plaster - they are just down to the studs, so I will wait to test those colors later.

So I got home, and although I was really hungry, I skipped lunch and painted these colors on the walls of their designated rooms. And I was pleased.

A warm and inviting foyer needs a sunny color, like June Day. I like it a lot! I think I will use this color in the foyer and carry the same color up the front staircase and into the upstairs hallway.

Then I thought the Front Parlor will be a room for reading and reflection - and needs to be a soothing color. Like a soft purple. Thus, I chose Mythical for this room.

These are the same spot, but just two different views of the same thing - to give you an idea of all the curves and angles and details of the Big House.

Finally, for the Middle Parlor, I envision this room to be where people congregate - where the stereo and TV will be. I wanted a fun and lively color - like Mythical Pink.

Kiki looks pretty good against the pink - don't you think?

I so want to start painting - like now!! But alas, I need to sell some more houses so I can finish the mechanicals, insulate and drywall.

But it was pretty fun dreaming on this cold and rainy day.

Let me know what you think!!!

I also need to start selecting exterior colors. That seems so much harder for me.

A lot has happened since my last entry. My divorce was finalized in September 2012 and what a relief that has been.

In the time since then, I have visited places I've never been (Outer Banks and Cape Cod) went to Chicago and New Orleans (two of my favorite places), moved my real estate license to a different brokerage, joined a scooter club and I have made so many new friends, plus reconnected with some older friends.

And I am working on my house. Slow progress, sometimes painfully slow, but I am happy to report that the kitchen sink I found on Craigslist last week has been hooked up and is working!

What once was a square room down to the studs is now becoming a make-shift kitchen and is finally taking shape.

Plus, by the end of April I should have 3 more homes sold - and that means I can finish up the mechanical work in my house and possibly finish all the insulation.

And, I am now feeling the happiest and most fulfilled than I have in the last 5 years. Really, it's been more than 5 years.

What was an awful experience (the divorce) has blossomed into a wonderful adventure. It is full of fun, discovery, accomplishments, twists, turns and friendship.

So I am smiling again! The sun is shining and the weekend should be warm.

Stay tuned for more updates - I am so excited about this house renovation. More than I have ever been.

Peace,
Christina

When the going gets tough ....

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

We've heard that saying all of our lives. But it is important to remind ourselves of what it means to each of us.

Today, I feel tired and a little bit discouraged. Part of that is because I have been traveling for work the past couple of days and I have come home to a house that needs cleaned, and a big To Do List to accomplish this weekend.

Another reason I feel this way, perhaps, is that I have certain goals I want to accomplish. They are quiet goals, personal ones, I am keeping to myself. But right now, the ball to accomplishing those goals are now with other people. And I am waiting. I don't like to wait.

But to harken back to another tried and true saying:

"Good things come to those who wait."

So I wait, and clean my house, and drink more coffee and look for the sun to come back.

And create my own future, one day at a time.

Random Thoughts - Art, City, Architecture

Last Thursday I went to the quarterly Pecha Kucha event here in Columbus. PK is an awesome event where anybody can do a presentation using PowerPoint, but the catch is you are limited to 20 slides and you talk for 20 seconds on each slide. Then you are done. www.pecha-kucha.org/night/columbus

Anyway, it was held at the Columbus Museum of Art - a beautiful place - truely one of the gems of Columbus. www.columbusmuseum.org
If you haven't been there before, or if it's been a while since your last visit, I suggest you take an afternoon and browse their galleries.

I got home from work on Thursday, fed my pack of dogs and let them run through the back yard and then I set off to the Art Museum on foot. It's only 4 city blocks from my house. Reason #29 why I love living Downtown. I can walk to the beautiful art museum.

I arrived at the museum, ran into a few friends, and caught the first presentation given by my friend Brad Feinknopf. www.feinknopf.com
He is an architectural photographer - so I know him through my job at the State Architect's Office, and he was one of my commercial tenants when I worked at the Wood Companies. He is a super nice guy and a kick ass photographer.

Brad's presentation combined two subjects that I just love - buildings and twilight. Twilight as in that magical time of the day about 10 - 15 minutes after sunset, when the sky takes on an indescribable shade of translucent blue - not those vampire movies. Wow! Does that guy capture the spirit of buildings at a beautiful fleeting time of transition and makes the structure as well as the sky work together to create a remarkable scene. He even took a cookie cutter Barnes and Noble building, washed the exterior in flood lights and brought out all of the archiectural details of the building. The detailing at the top of the facade shined in the flood lights against the rapidly darkening sky. The next time you are at B&N, take a look at the exterior. Look at the top and pick out all the details. Nice.

So Brad's 20/20 presentation came to an end and the next person took the stage. I didn't find his subject very interesting and I was starting to get really hot in the crowd, so I considered going home.

They I thought, hey! I'm in the beautiful art museum. So I wondered through the galleries. I visited my favorite paintings - works by George Bellows, Robert Henri and John Sloan, and other artists from the Ashcan School of painting. Their works consisted of scenes of urban life mostly in New York City's poorest neighborhoods, which were not very popular at the time during the early twentieth century. Even while I was in college, studying art history, I always was drawn to the artists who depicted scenes of real life - from Rembrandt to Henri Cartier Bresson. Maybe that is why I love living in an urban setting?

Then I found the Sirak collection - a beautiful group of impressionist and post impressionist works donated by Dr. and Mrs. Sirak. Can you imagine having real works by Claude Monet, Paul Klee and Egdar Degas throughout your house? The collection is called Monet to Matisse: Celebrating 20 years of the Sirak Collection and is on display until May 13, 2012.

Feeling very fortunate to have spent time with my favorite paintings, and fighting off a head cold, I felt it was time to head home, although the Pecha Kucha event was still in full swing.

So I walked home, past the lovely highrise buildings of my fine city, in the twilight. I looked up at these modern monuments built to house two different insurance agencies, The Motorist Building and State Auto Building. Then I looked up at the trees, naked in their winter season, as their bare branches crossed the rapidly darkening sky. I felt all alone, but yet part of a large city filled with people, just like those Ashcan School paintings.

And I walked home, in the noisy quietness of my Downtown neighborhood, past the freeway, and into the shadow of the steeple of the big beautiful stone-clad Broad Street Presbyterian Church, my next door neighbor. It, too, was washed in artificial light, exaggerating the shadows of the rough stone on its exterior walls. It is a beautiful church, day and night.

All in all, it was a good day. I am fortunate and happy to have such beautiful things and events in my life.

Lean On Me

"Lean on me, when you're not strong, I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on."

Remember that Bill Withers tune? It's always been one of my favorite songs. Such a wonderful, powerful message he conveys.

You know what? It's even more meaningful when you are going through a rough time, and your friends all band together to help you out.

I typically am the one helping out - I like to help people. I help my family, I like to help my friends, I like to volunteer and help those less fortunate than me.

Because of my separation, I have taken a huge cut in income. I have cut back on a lot of things, and have started painting houses for my friends.

And word has gotten out, and I have a lot of painting work lined up. Yeah! Thank you friends.

A friend last week filled my car tank up with gas just for giving her a ride home from work. Thank you Friend!

Friends give me things I need - like food, dog food, cat food. I don't mind cutting back on expenses, but I can't do that for my pets. Thank you Cousin!

And thank you to all of those who believe in me, and tell me so. Your kind words of encouragement have brightened my days, helped me see through the dark clouds that cloud my thoughts and remind me that this trying time is only temporary.

And thank you for reassuring me that I am doing the right thing, that I need to build a bridge from my old life into my new one, and cross the bridge and leave all of the hurt behind me. Even blow that bridge up once I am over it. Thank you Friend for that bit of advice.

Soon, I will be caught up, back on my feet, going out, and have my skip in my step restored once again.

All work and no play does make Christina a somewhat dull gal. But I know that it is only temporary, plus I do love the work I am doing, and I am becoming one heck of a house painter.

So, thank you to all my friends and family who are so supportive. You know who you are ... and I love you all.

What I am Thinking About the Most

Sitting here, drinking my coffee on this second day of 2012, there is one thought that keeps swirling around my head. It is aways there, and makes me really excited about this year.

The thought is: My Big House.

I have this house that is under renovation. And I love this Big House. I also have a Carriage House, and I currently live in the apartment on the second floor of the Carriage House. It, in the day of horses and carriages, used to be the hay mow for the stable that was on the ground floor.

But I long to live in the Big House. I think it longs for somebody to live in it too.

In November 2011, I hosted a neighborhood party in the Big House - even in it's unfinished slpendor. It has no functioning bathroom, and the only sink that works is a utility sink in my rather creepy basement (think 1865 era house basement. Yes - that is creepy).

At any rate, I was the third stop on a progressive dinner tour, so I provided coffee and desserts to about 35 guests. I spiffed up the house as much as possible, set up chairs and makeshift tables on the first floor, blocked off the steps so that guests did not go upstairs, set up a fire pit and chairs in the backyard, invited some friends before hand to help set up the desserts in a nice presentation.

Then the guests came.

My house did something neat. It took on the aroma of those desserts and coffee. That sweet smell of desserts filled the entire house as the voices and laughter of my guests filled the house too. Even in its unfinished state, people raved about what a great house it was, and how it had so much potential and how lucky I was to have such a great house.

Me, lucky, to have this house.

I am lucky to have such a nice house. I think the Big House enjoyed having a party in it too, after so many years of being empty. I think houses get lonely, because they are built to house people, and fun occasions, and create beautiful memories.

A couple weeks went by and it still had the aroma of sweets and coffee in it.

This year will be the year that I finish the house, move into it permanently and create fun times and memories for the house, for my family and friends and for me.

As my good friend always tells me:

"Onward and upward, Christina."

He is right.

Let's do this.

2012 is My Year

Hi Friends -

A lot has happened in my life since my last post - hence the nearly year long absence.

I want to transform myself in 2012 to be an independent, thinner, financially fit, healthier woman capable of taking on the world.

Yes, these goals have always been my goals, but I realize I was constantly putting my goals and needs on the back burner for other people.

In 2012, I will document several topics - I will list them here, but I know that more topics will come up as I write more.

• DIY Weight Loss and Exercise
• DIY Home Improvement
• DIY Budget Management and Cutting Costs

These are the first ones that come to mind.

In 2011, some very dramatic events occured for me. The most devestating one was that I noticed my husband of 6 years (we had been together for 10 years) became less and less interested in me and the house we were renovating. I'll spare you the details, but the short story is that he was cheating on me. Boy, have I learned a lot about the signs of a cheating spouse! Maybe that will be a topic I should cover in this blog. I need to let some time pass before I tackle that one as right now my feelings are still a bit raw and I may not be very objective in my thoughts.

At any rate, we separated in early November 2011, and his income left the house with him. So I am now facing how to pay for the household we once shared on my income alone. I am keeping the house, because restoring an old house has always been my dream - long before I met the husband. And it is in my name. I cannot sell it for what I owe, anyway, so if I did a short sale I would just be destroying my credit even more.
Plus, it is a fabulous house and will be even more fabulous once I finish it.

I am launching some new projects in 2012 that will help me reach my fianancial goals. I am also going to document my weight loss goals - this has been a challenge for me my entire life. I will post the results on this blog weekly.

I hope you stay tuned to this blog - and possibly others that I create - to see how I make 2012 my year of transformation. Hopefully you can take away from the blog some tips and inspiration for your own life.

My quote of the day:

"Be happy. It's one way of being wise."

~ Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

Cheers to you and Merry Christmas

Making Progress Again

Friends -

Most of you know I have been super sick with the head cold from hell. Three weeks of it. Blah!

But the good news is that I am starting to feel better. Which means I can attend to stuff that I sort of neglected. When I get sick, I am down. Everything comes to a grinding halt.

But with Spring approaching (just 1 1/2 months away) I need to get back on track. That means promoting my real estate business (among other things - weight loss, fitness, tax preparation, bill paying).

But anyway - I have two awesome listings for you all to check out. Here is the first one:

http://www.postlets.comrepb/3898325


This is my aunt's house and it is up for sale. Cute little ranch house, large fenced backyard and only $84,900.

This is the second one:
http://www.postlets.com/4992913

An adorable historic condo in the trendy Olde Towne East neighborhood. Only $98,000.

If anybody is interested in either property, or if you have any questions about real estate, please contact me and I answer all of your questions, show you some houses, etc.

Have a great weekend!
Christina

Progress? I say Yes!

Well, yesterday's run at the gym has given me inspiration to keep it up.

So I made very good food choices, walked the dogs (all 3 of them) and worked out on the Wii Fit for an hour.

Eat well? Check!

Exercise? Check!

I also showed 6 condos to a new client - a person my cousin introduced me to.

Guess what? The new client fell in love with one of the condos and wants to make an offer on it tomorrow! I am so thrilled! that has never happened to me.

I am having awesome thoughts about this transaction.

So I am on a roll with my food choices, good exercise habits, and now real estate. And the more real estate I sell, the more extra money I can use to pay off my debt.

My quote of the day comes from the blog Ben Does Life.

"Happy are those who dream dreams and

are ready to pay the price to make them come true."

~ Leon J. Suenes

Check out Ben's blog here. He is truly an inspiration to me.

So - here's to progress. Today, tomorrow and onward.

I hate being sick - but feeling much better now

So the week started out great. Husband and I had just returned from Chicago where we walked (a lot), shopped, joined the Art Institute and caught up on much needed sleep.

But he had a terrible cold. And then Monday I came down with same cold.

Tuesday I felt so bad that I cancelled my personal training session.

Wednesday when I woke up I felt like a truck was parked on my face. But I was hosting a 2-day training session at work, and was to be a featured speaker, so I dressed up and went to work. I sat in the back of the training room, got the program started, gave my presentation and by 2pm I was sitting at my desk with my head on the surface of my desk. I went home and went to bed.

Thursday was worse. I sneezed every 5 minutes ... and not just the little "Ah-choo" kind. It was more like window rattling earthquake starting AHHHHHH-CHHOOOO! I couldn't even hold a cup of hot tea because each time I sneezed my hands flew in every direction and my whole body shook. And I had no sense of taste. None. So I slept all day.

Friday came and I headed to work because I had a meeting scheduled at 9am. I held my meeting and by 10 am once again my head was resting on the surface of my desk. Fortunately my co-worker stopped to check on me and tapped my on the shoulder. "Go home!" she told me. I dutifully followed her advice and spent yet another day in bed.

Today I feel much better! So I went to the gym - on a Saturday night. Not busy at all! I ran/walked over 2 miles on the treadmill and did the same distance on the elliptical trainer. I exercised for 70 straight minutes.

So maybe I needed to get a week's worth of rest. Sometimes a bad cold is your body's way of telling you to slow down, rest, and recoup your energy.

So I am so thrilled at my time at the gym tonight. Let's see how I feel tomorrow. I signed up to run the Warrior Dash in June 2011 (www.warriordash.com) so I must get back into the routine of running and strength training. Check it out - it will be a lot of fun. We are scheduled to run on Sunday at 3:30 pm.

Oh - I have lost 2 pounds since the beginning of the year and 6 pounds before that. So down 8 pounds total through the holidays.

Now, I just have to get focused on my financial goals.

Have a great weekend everybody.

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr holiday. Let's reflect upon Dr. King's work, vision, and make our worlds a better place in his honor.

Meeting Goals - Slowly

I am halfway to a goal - my savings account. Looking back through my transactions, I am disgusted to see how low I let the balance get. Seeing all my withdrawals and debits made my heart sick.

But .... I am pleased to report that I have nothing but deposits since September 2010 and on December 30 I will be half way to my Emergency Fund Goal. It isn't much, but it is something. And something is better than nothing.

I struggle with wanting it to be fully funded right now! But I need patience. I think back to a quote I read a few weeks ago:

"Gratification is best prepared in a Crock Pot. Nice and slow."

~ The Simple Dollar

I am showing a house on Wednesday, too. I am so thrilled about that.

I will make 2011 the year I pay off 2 more debts. 2011 I paid off the Furnace Guy. 2011 I will pay off BP Oil and Bank of America. And hopefully a few more.

Make it a great day, friends!!

2011 Goals

I guess I should call this blog Christina's Goals since it is going on to 2011 and I want to keep it up.

2010 is not over so I won't measure up my progress on my goals I set last year. I can tell you that I will work harder at my goals because I think I will come short.

I have done a lot of reading about blogs over the past year and I believe that blogging really has become the way to stay connected to your interests. I have become so dismayed at the news media - local, national - and they way those news outlets whip themselves (and the public) into the darling frenzy of the moment. We should seek out the news that interests each and every one of us and follow those trends, stories, etc.

So I have subscribed to several money saving and personal finance blogs. 2011 must be the year I really get my debt under control.

Anyway, here is to the last 2.5 weeks of 2010. I wish I could say it was a year of sensational change and progress. I think I managed to spin my wheels a lot. I hope I can regain traction in 2011.

So that will be my mantra for the next year:

"2011 - the year I gain traction" ... and get my mojo back.

Stay warm (if you live in the north and east), have fun if you live in the sun!

~ Christina

Encouragement in the most unlikely places

I was feeling very discouraged this evening. In one of those funks where I doubted about every decision I have made in the past 6 years. Not happy with my weight, looks, health, and many other things.

It was making me grumpy and impatient. And I knew I had to shake this mood.

My husband and I had dinner at a Chinese restaurant. I made good food choices. And you want to hear my fortune that was in my fortune cookie?

"Endurance and persistence will be rewarded."

And I began to shake my discouraging mood.

Now, the things that brought on the mood did not go away. I just know that I need to keep focused on the things that matter most to me: health (physical, spiritual, financial), family and balance.

I cannot forget that we must keep on keeping on.

That is all for tonight. I hope I have encouraged all those who read this post.

Good night my friends.

Shameless Advertising

Ok - you all know I have my real estate license. Well, take a look at this listing because it is a gem.

http://www.postlets.com/repb/3624558

1386 Bonnie Ridge Court is only $139,000. Three bedrooms, 2 baths, huge garage, close to city, close to the country. I am holding an Open House here on Sunday, August 1.

Or, if you are looking for a terrific and super affordable home, feast your eyes on this house.

http://www.postlets.com/repb/3898325

This one is 697 Powhatan Ave and is only $90,000. One story, darling house. Big backyard, finished basement, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, workshop in basement, close to Westgate Park. I need to tell you that I am related to the seller of this house.

Like what you see? Call me. Tell your friends and family.

Shameless advertising. But these are terrific homes. Call me and see for yourself.

Everything Counts

So last weekend I counted all of our change and rolled it - there was $15 and half of it was pennies. This is "found" money - pieces and parts of dollars spent. I put this $15 in my savings account so it can earn some interest. OK - I know that $15 is not much, and the interest it will generate will not be much either. But everything counts and adds up.



Just like recycling cans. Each can equals about 1.5 cents. Two cans make 3 pennies, 100 pennies make a dollar and so on. Again, every little bit adds up. Just like I've earned $57 so far from recycling. Couple that with the $15 "found" money and you have $72. Not much either, but think about that that $72 can pay for...

- A new pair of running shoes

- Meals for a needy family

- Groceries for a homeless veteran

- Supplies for a diabetic patient

- Food for homeless pets

- Utilities for an elderly person for a month

- Gas for my car - 2 fill ups

- 24 fill ups for my scooter



These funds are "found" money.



In these times of economic hardship found money does pay for many expenses. So what happens once the economy improves? Should we relax or continue our frugal ways?



If we continue our frugal ways, just think of how much more we could save.



And every little can recycled helps the environment and the economy. From the time an aluminum can is recycled it can be back on a store shelf in 60 days. This new can is made from reused metal. This re-use means less energy spent mining for new metal, less land destroyed for mining, leading to less pollution caused by mining.



My husband considers my effors - recycling and coin counting both - as a waste of time. But to me I am growing my personal wealth, improving my financial health and improving the environment. Plus putting these coins back into circulation makes them available to the banking industry and general public. Hopefully this effor will lessen the need to mint more coins. Like recycling, it will save energy land and pollution. Since the minting of coins is handled by the federal government I wonder if they even care about saving money and resources.



Sorry - I kind of went off on a tangent. So how does this post relate to my goals I set early this year? Depeche Mode sums it up perfectly:

"Everything counts in large amounts."

Keep on counting, saving, reusing, renewing.

Been Away Way Too Long

Isn't that a song? Anyway, I have been away from this blog for way too long. I can only say that I let other stuff get in the way, and I shouldn't. Writing here is theraputic.

I read a post on Sparkpeople.com about mindful eating. The basis of the post is that we need to be mindful of what we eat - every little thing does add up. And it takes more effort and more time to lose that extra 10 pounds than it took to gain it. Much easier to be mindless about your life than to be mindful. But the result of mindful eating is so worth the effort.

You could apply this "mindful" concept to about any area in your life. Mindful spending. Think about it. Every little purchase adds up. Dave Ramsey has said something to the effect that large ships are sunk by small leaks. And like the weight example, it takes more effort and more time to save, or earn, that $100 than it takes to spend it. But again, the result of mindful spending is so worth the effort.

I have a new friend at work who recycles everything. We took a walk at lunch and she picked up every aluminum can she saw. I recycle too, but not as much as she does. And it made me think - I can do that too. Mindful consumption. Making the world a better place by recycling cans, which also makes the area litter free. It is a simple action, but makes such a difference.

I often wonder why more people don't recycle, or at least throw their litter away. Do they not care? Do they think that their actions won't make a difference? Can they not be bothered? Probably yes to all of these questions.

So, think about mindful living. You can make a difference in your life, in your community, in your world. Every little action does add up.

I have started a savings account with my recycling money and hope to take a trip with the proceeds this fall. I'm up to $57. Not bad for collecting, crushing and recycling cans.

My quote today speaks to me on so many levels.

"Happiness is not a reward - it is a consequence.

Suffering is not a punishment - it is a result."

Until next time - I promise it won't be months between posts again.

6 Pounds

Hey Friends - just a quick update. I've lost 6 pounds since I started this blog. And it it coming off in odd places - like my wrists. My watch is too big. Hmm.

Anyway, I was getting discouraged, and then I realized this small weight loss.

So don't give up. Many small changes and efforts lead up to many small victories. Small victories add up to large victories.

Have a terrific weekend!

Live Like No One Else ...

I owe that quote to Dave Ramsey - that man is so full of wisdom! The entire quote is:

"Live like no one else, so later you can live like no one else."

Sounds redundant, and I thought so too at first. But what he means is that if you have a goal and are competely focused on it, you will give up things, almost anything, to reach that goal. And your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers may joke to you, maybe even make fun of you, about your behavior, but you know that this sacrifice is a means to an end. So you do live like no one else - you stop impulse shopping, you drive your old car a couple more years instead of buying a new one, you bring your lunch to work instead of dining out, you cut back on social activities so that you can stash some extra funds away to pay off bills. Or you do it so that you can focus or healthier eating in order to reach your weight loss goals.

Maybe you are spending more time in the gym to reach your fitness goals. How about you're turning off the TV so that you can read more and enlighten your mind, rather than numbing it? So what if you didn't watch American Idol last night? You finished a book full of new vocabulary, maybe it showed you a new way of looking at a situation.

All this living like no one else will help you reach your goal - whatever it is. So after foregoing all these extras, you are fit - financially, emotionaly, physically, and then when you reach your goal, you can live like no one else. You can go on a dream vacation and pay cash for it. You can go climb a mountain, or hike the Appalacian Trail, with ease and without gasping for breath.

So how does this quote apply to my goals?

Financial

• By not acquiring extra stuff, I am saving the money I used for impuse buying and putting it toward my debts.
• I get up early to work on my real estate work instead of hitting the snooze button. Hopefully this early moring work will lead to some real estate work.
• By packing my lunch and eating dinner at home, David and I are both saving money.

Physical

• Again, packing our lunches and eating at home more often helps us make better food choices.
• I have cut back on drinking alcohol and replaced it with water. Better for my waist line and for my checking account.
• Going the gym makes me feel stronger and is starting to make my clothes fit better. Plus I sleep better and genrally feel happier.

Mental

• I just mentioned at how I feel happier and am getting more sleep.
• My mind is stronger because of the less TV and more reading, plus the reading is making me be a better writer and helps me to be better spoken.

All of these improvements gives me glorious confidence. Confidence, in turn, motivates me to do better and to do more. People notice this confience.

So, a progress report. The furnace guy is 1/3 paid off. I have finished two books: Blink by Malcom Gladwell and The Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl by Shauna Reid. I can go longer on the treadmill (and actually run on it) and Spinning class does not leave me as winded as before, plus I can pack on more resistence.

So this goal setting takes time and effort and the results are showing up a little slower than I would like. But progress is progress and I am glad to see it. The quote of the day is again from Dave Ramsey:

"Every time I read the story the Tortise and the Hare, the hare wins every time."

Keep on living like no one else, so later .....

Width and Depth

Do your weekends wear you out? Mine do, sometimes I feel on Monday morning relieved to be back at work so I can rest up. What am I doing that is so tiring? Everything that I didn't get done during the week, I cram into the two and half days between Friday at 4:35 and Sunday evening at 11:30 when I tumble into bed, pet my pets' heads, and wish my husband sweet dreams. We work out, pick up groceries, try to spend time with friends, work on our house, pick up our daughters and help them with homework, I do real estate work and try to squeeze in time to do some reading.

I would not have it any other way, because I see so many people retire, thinking that they will enjoy doing "nothing". Then when they discover they have nothing to do, the become depressed and sleep all day. They miss the interaction they had with their co-workers when they were working. They don't get out like they did when they had a job. So maybe our jobs provide more than just a paycheck and a skill. Maybe they nurture something in our social and sub conscious areas.

Here is the quote of the day:

You can't do anything about the length of your life,

but you can do something about its width and depth.

- Shira Tehrani

So I know that this post doesn't have a direct connection to my goals, but it does indirectly. Think about it as a criss-cross effect that Chris Downie talks about in The Spark.

Ouch!

OK - the working out has caught up with me. My entire body aches - especially when I get out of bed. And starting spinning class always is a pain in the butt. Literally.

And we are due to get 6 inches of snow tonight.

I could just say: "I'm not going to the gym tonight. Body hurts, bad weather. Nope, not me!"

But I did pack my gym bag and it is sitting by the door waiting to go to the gym.

One thing about crummy weather - hopefully most people will just stay home. Maybe I will put my library book in the car and read if I get stuck in traffic.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Quote for today:

"Do. There is no try." ~ Yoda