Fabulous Financials

When I was working out in the fitness center last week, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I liked what I saw.  I’m nowhere near where I want to be, but I know I’m getting there.  A few more pounds to my happy weight, another six months or maybe a year of toning and tightening, and a lifetime of health & fitness. Yes!

I walked into my apartment after work on Thursday and it was the first time I felt at “home” again.  Amazing what a few window treatments, family pictures, and carefully placed decorations can do for a room.  I stood in the middle of my living room and just smiled.

I finally decided to face another lifelong fear/struggle.  I signed up for adult beginner’s swim lessons. They were $85 and classes begin on 9/12 for 8 weeks.  I’m so scared. *sigh*

I “found” $700 last week.  Not for real, but it wasn’t money earned or expected.  I wanted to spend it on something frivolous but my good sense wouldn’t let me.

Holiday weekends on the beach are expensive, especially when hotels require a minimum 3 night stay.  Sheesh! I sucked it up and reserved an oceanfront room for Labor Day weekend.  I was hoping to spend some time with CG while I was there, but I just found out she already has plans.  Oh well, looks like I’ll get to take my solo beach trip after all.  I see lots of reading, lounging, eating, and running in my future.  And if I’m lucky, I may finally get to meet the wisest blogger I know, the lovely Chele.  We have so much in common and I look forward to it.

I made the final decision to go natural.  However, I don’t have the patience for transition and two textures, so I got my hair done in kinky twists.  Four hours and $180 later, I’m very happy with the results.  I will probably get them redone every 8 weeks and wear this style until the end of winter.  By early spring, I’ll be ready to do the big chop.

I can’t WAIT to reach my happy weight, if for nothing else but to finally go shopping.  I gave myself a $2,000 budget and put D-Day S-day on my calendar for the weekend of October 15.  I may also get to meet another lovely blogger, Catherine.  She’s working on her image consulting business and has offered to fly in from Chicago to help me shop.  How cool is that?!  Think I’ll kick off the weekend festivities with a massage because it’s also DC Spa Week.

I’ve been at my job for a whole year already.  My how time flies.  After my annual review, I learned that I will be receiving a 3.5% raise.  It’s funny because I didn’t feel the same excitement as I have in the past. More money has no effect on my lifestyle or happiness anymore.

CG sent a text to tell me she was going to a party.  Her first college party…and she texts her mom. LOL  I told her “have fun and be safe,” then said a silent prayer.  I’ve a feeling I’ll be doing that a lot in the future.  My child is now in God’s hands.

Oh, and I forgot to tell y’all. I didn’t meet my 5th motivation milestone. A few days before I took CG to college, I tried on those size 6 jeans.  I was able to pull them up….all the way up…zip and button too.  Yay!! But I COULDN’T BREATHE!!!! Lawd, no air!!  Umm yea, had to come out of those bad boys QUICK.  *exhale*  At least 10-15 more lbs for sure!

But…but…on the bright side, my size 10 jeans are now TOO BIG!! No more double digit sizes for me! Woot!  My buns are resting comfortably in a size 8.  And…and…I had to adjust the chest strap on my Polar HRM because it was getting too loose.  Yay for non-scale victories!

Had another great weekend. Family get together, good eats, gut wrenching laughs, spades, Wii, Just Dance, Rock Band, Family Feud, and Taboo. Need I say more?  But there is more.  It’s also DC Restaurant Week and I plan to meet a few girlfriends for another Sunday Brunch.  More good eats, laughs, and catching up.  Aaaah, I live for the weekends.

Yea, I think I’m slowly but surely finding me again.  Not only the me before CG left for the college.  But the ME before CG was ever conceived.  This is MY life and I intend to live it to the fullest…literally.  Hope all of you are having a great weekend too!

[source: Oh She Glows]

Slowly but surely, I am starting to feel like my old self again.  I hung out with some friends on Saturday.  First, my girl Debt Hater took me to her trampoline class.  Whew lawd!  Who knew there was a specific technique and form to jumping on a durn trampoline?  Sheesh! By the time I was done, I felt like I had been running AND working out with Jillian on The 30 Day Shred.  I was sore from my neck to the tip of my toes (literally) and had bruises on my knees and hands.  Yes, it is that physically strenuous. LOL  My wallet got a workout too because the cost of one class was $40.  Umm…yea. But it was fun and I’d definitely do it again.

After class, Debt Hater and I met up with Tisha for brunch at Crème Café in DC.  I think I had THE best chicken and waffles I’ve ever tasted in my life.  I should have known I was in the right place when the waiter didn’t flinch after I asked him to substitute the fried chicken for oven roasted.  You’re probably wondering, oven roasted chicken with waffles?  Yeeeeeees!!  Me no likey fried anything anymore.  The chicken breast they brought out was flavored to perfection and it was sooo moist and juicy.  Mmm…mouth watering!  The waffle was topped with fruit and was as big as the whole plate.  Can you say yummy to my tummy?!  Everything was so good, I had to send my appreciation to the cook.  We each ordered drinks and my rum punch was pretty good too.  To top it off, the service was excellent and I had a great afternoon with friends.  Just what the doctor ordered.         

On Sunday, I spent some time with the Lord.  It began with me doing a lot of talking, then a lot of listening, and ended with a whole lot of crying.  It was a much needed emotional cleanse.  After church, I spent a little time making my empty nest feel like a home.  I put up some curtains, unpacked a box (yes I’m still unpacking lazy), hung a mirror and a few wall accents, and organized a growing stack of papers.  And then…I had a date that lasted 4 hours. :-)

When I woke up this morning, I felt refreshed and happy.  I spent the first 15 minutes stretching on the floor.  That trampoline class did a number on my old bones.  Then I prayed, showered, and took my time eating breakfast.  When I finally decided to to get dressed, I eyeballed a pair of heels that I hadn’t worn in a long time – tiger print, peep toe, sling backs.  I slipped them on my feet and instantly felt brand new.  Funky shoes always make me smile.  Oh, and it helps that this size 10 skirt feels loose too. LOL

As soon as I settled into my office, I received a text from CG…

“Good Morning Mommy. I Love You.” 

I guess what they say is true.  Slowly but surely, everything is going to be alright.

This past weekend, a friend and I were talking about things we need want to buy in the near future.  Eventually, it turned into discussion about spending money on things versus experiences.  This is a topic that has been addressed numerous times throughout the personal finance community, so I won’t beat a dead horse.  But it did make me think about the things I own that bring me just as much long term pleasure as my most memorable experiences.

• My Class Ring from Undergrad: It is a white gold ring with my birthstone in the center and two diamonds on each side.  This is the first piece of jewelry I’ve ever owned with real diamonds and I bought it with my own money.  Although I rarely wear it anymore, to me, this ring represents a major turning point in my life.

• My Car – 2004 Honda Accord: I’ve owned several cars in my life, probably 5 or 6.  But this is the first car I ever purchased brand new, picked out the exact specs, negotiated the sales price, maintained according to factory standards, and paid in full.  To me, this car represents my breakthrough into adulthood and financial responsibility.

• My Dooney & Bourke Handbag: This is a designer purse that was a birthday gift from my best girlfriends.  I rarely carry this bag anymore, but I remember the day they surprised me with it.  They came over to my house with a pizza and drinks as if it was a casual visit for lunch.  When I opened the bag, I screamed “OMG, OMG, OMG!!” and jumped all around my kitchen like I was filled with the holy ghost. LOL  We still crack up about it to this day.

• My Daughter’s Bedroom Set: It is a white sleigh bed with a matching night stand and chest of drawers.  It was the first piece of furniture I bought after I purchased our first home and it is probably the best piece of furniture in my entire home.  Although her bedroom is unoccupied at the moment, I expect this furniture to remain in our family for many years.

Of all the “things” I own, these 4 make me smile when I think about them.  They have the same lasting effect as a memory from an experience – perhaps because all of them are associated with a memorable experience.  Regardless of the memory, I’d be really sad if either of them was lost, stolen, or damaged.  So this tells me, it’s ok to buy material things.  Just make sure your hard earned money is spent on things you love that will pay for itself for years to come.