• I found two Lululemon bags that are perfect for our lunch’s
• I cleaned my house
• Spent allot of money at Ikea yesterday
• My cactus’s are still alive
• A. told me that I couldn’t swap the craft room with the bedroom
• I need freezer paper
• Trying not to buy useless stuff
• Trying to track my spending
• Watched 3 episodes of True Blood
• Dinner at mom’s on Wednesday
• I like Bud Light Lime
• Girl Talk
• Mint Green Tea
• Froze mint leaves with water in an ice cube tray
• Need to save more money
• Vegas in  2 1/2 months
• Halifax in a month
• Didn’t go to the Lumiere Festival
• Want to watch a movie on the beach or in a park in Ottawa
• I don’t know how to kayak
• Too hot
• Not going to see a specific artist at Super Ex this year
• Might go to Super Ex
• Need to learn how to crochet
• Enjoyed the movie One Week
• Laughed at pantie scene in The Ugly Truth
• I like laughing

If it’s not free, don’t take it.

Good morning everyone!

Wow! It’s March already? Where did February go? It went by so fast! That’s good though, because February is cold and we are now one month closer to warmer weather. Hooray!

A lot of things happen in February. A. and I made a few decisions and I booked a vacation for my mom and I in March. February, I did another No Buying Useless Stuff and $10 Entertainment Challenge. The $10 Entertainment Challenge worked beautifully, except for buying dinner and drinks at restaurants. That seems to be one thing that I can not seem to shake. IF I wasn’t doing this challenge, I would have gone to a shooting range, movies, Spins and Needles, taken a knitting class at Wabi Sabi and taken a hot yoga class. Instead, I spent most of my time knitting squares for my knitted blanket and doing my Beatles puzzle (still doing my Beatles puzzle).

One thing that I did buy this month was travel stuff for my mom and I’s vacation to Walt Disney World. This is something that I was going to have to do when the time is right and it just happen to be the right time to pay for it in February. We are leaving this Saturday for our vacation, so if I decide to do the NBUS and 10EC again, I will have to exempt this. When I get to work today, I’m going to reevaluate March, so see if it’s do able to do my challenges again.

For the No Buying Useless Stuff Challenge, I was good. The only thing I bought this month, again, where clothing for work. I need for more clothing for work. Although my office is very casual, I would like to step it up a bit by wearing something a little more professional looking. Luckily I was able to find a few things this weekend. I also bought a racket and some balls for the gym. It looks like a friend of mine and I are going to start playing squash. I’ve never played before, hopefully it’s not that hard.

I’m still giving up sweets and starbucks for lent. No cheating yet. I’ve been good, even on Sundays. 

Other things that we’ve decided is that we may go to Toronto or Las Vegas in April, so this is something that I may have to pay for soon. Also, we’ve decided that we are actively house hunting for either an income property or a house house. No rush, but it’s something to keep in mind. Also this month, I will have to pay for a course that I want to take at Algonquin College and A. will have to pay for stuff for his real estate license.

So far it looks like the month of March is going to be expensive. I think I may have to do these challenges again and stick to the things that I know I’ll need to buy this month. Oh boy! Here we go again.

• Head to a casino with $20 ($10 in my case) in change and play the slot machines. They often serve free cocktails on the casino floor (source: cosmo)
• Pick up a couple of cheap plastic sleds at your local sporting-goods or hardware store and go sledding. Warm up afterward by roasting s’mores on your stove top. (source: cosmo)
• Stay in and rent a movie.
• Go enjoy the last weekend on winterlude and try one of the restaurants for the tastes of winterlude.
• Come help J. finish her puzzle.
• Go through your winter clothing and make a donation at a local Salvation Army.
• Make some money, by dropping off all your empties at the beer store.
• Don’t forget to drink tea and knit.

A week has gone by since I started my $10 Entertainment Challenge. I’ve noticed that so far so good.. except for drinks and eating out. Entertainment wise, I’ve been good. Doing nothing over $10. It’s the dinner and drinks that seem to $$$. Here is how the week went:

Monday: Had dinner at home and worked on knit blanket

Tuesday: Went for dinner with A.’s parents

Wednesday: Had dinner at my mom’s place

Thursday: Went for dinner with A.’s parents

Friday:Went to see He’s Just Not That Into You at Rideau Centre ($10), then met up with A. for drinks at Highlander Pub.

Saturday:Dinner for friend’s birthday and then drinks at O’Connors.

Sunday: Dinner at our place.

Saturday was not under $10, butthis is the birthday boy that wanted to go to a shooting range for his birthday. It didn’t end up happening, so his girlfriend planned a surprise birthday party for him at a restaurant in Kanata.

Things that I said no to this week for both challenges:

• Eating out again for breakfast and lunch on Saturday
• Buying a Wii and Wii Fit
• Buying a Valentine’s Day door decoration at the dollar store
• Another house
• Vintage mirror, lamp and photo frames
• Tickets to dinner theater at Rideau Carleton Raceway
• Tickets to see Russell Peters in Toronto
• Class at Wabi Sabi
• Yoga at yoga studio in Hintonburg
• Eating breakfast at Fil’s diner on Sunday

Last night we had a visit with our financial adviser. I am really liking this whole financial adviser thing, I just feel like we’re doing something, because before it was nothing. 

Our task for the past two months has been to decided where we would like to be in 1, 3, 5, 10 years and beyond, if possible. We found this exercise to be very hard, we didn’t know where to see ourselves in the next couple of years. In 5 years, I’ll be 30, the things that I want now, will probably change when I’m 30. But as our adviser said, this is just an rough guideline to work towards something.

For the next year or so, A. and I would like to stay unchanged. We like our lifestyle the way it is (we go out, eat out and travel alot right now), and we’ve already made a BIG purchase last year. BUT we would like to be in a position, that if a good opportunity came up, we’d like to be able to jump on it.

Another thing we’d like to do, is change jobs. We’re both feeling in a bit of a rut lately and need something new that either pays the same or higher.

Since we’ve already made a big purchase last year, we don’t plan on doing another one anytime soon. Although, if a very, very good deal came up we would take a look at it.

Tonight A. is going to look at another investment property on the street. In the MLS listing, it warns that the tenants are noticeably messy, so we’re defiantly not keeping our hopes up. Then again, who knows, this could be the property of a lifetime.. Stay Optimistic.

Does anyone use Mint.com? How safe do you feel using this service? Like or dislike it?

Thank you so much everyone, for the comments in the music post. I’m really looking forward to spending my night at home tonight, with tea, my laptop and your music suggestions. For me, this sounds like a good time.

In life after work news, nothing much has been going on these days. Not that we’ve been in a lull or anything, just sort of feel like hibernating and doing nothing. It’s FRIGGGINN’ cold out! For the past couple of nights, we’ve come home, did a few things around the house, ate, watched a movie or Barrett-Jackson (it’s a big car show action in Arizona going on right now). Things have been kind of quite around here.

Oh the good side, I haven’t spend any money either. I’ve also been able to keep my Starbucks consumption to once a day. Although, yesterday I had to convince myself about 7 times, not to go downstairs and grab a treat and a coffee. 

This weekend in Montreal, it looks like plans have changed. It seems that two to four of our friends are interested in coming up to Montreal this weekend too. So, now it looks like we may be sharing a room with another couple (no problem, I don’t mind doing this at all) and will probably now be doing something, because before it was going to be nothing. So, I’ll have to make myself a budget and stick to it this weekend.

I guess this weekend’s change of plans would be considered ’spontaneous’, but not romantic. That’s okay, I made A. promise me a rain check. Let’s see what he’ll do.

A. for Christmas wanted to buy me something nice. Something that I’ve been wanting for a while. He bought me Apple TV, one week before Christmas. So did I. Why? Because I wanted it. I can see that this is slowly becoming a problem.

For the past couple of months, I feel like every time I’ve wanted something, I got it. I feel that I’ve acting a little spoiled lately. I wanted an Apple TV, I got Apple TV, I wanted that lipstick, I got that lipstick. Enough is enough. I think that my spending is out of control. 

I think that now is a good time to try out the No Buying Useless Stuff Challenge. Luckily, I am not in any debt for buying useless stuff, on the other hand, I’m not saving either.

From the time that I landed in Ottawa (because I had to buy alcohol and cigars at the duty free on my way back from Cuba), Saturday, January 3, I will not buy any useless stuff. 

That tv for the bedroom (that we don’t need) put on hold. That Ikea magazine holder that I must have, nuhun, not till February. Everything is going to be put on hold. I think that this will give me an opportunity to assess want vs. need. 

For example,

Day 1 – I almost bought slippers, a new iPhone case, the Justin Timberlake live dvd and a CD from Best Buy.

Day 2 – I almost bought a beatles poster and a new stereo for the house. One that it would make it easier to listen to ipods on.

I don’t need these things. I have alot of stuff already. 

A. has been extremely supportive of me doing this. He’s even put a little wager on it. If I don’t buy any useless stuff for the whole month, he will start to work out. People.. this is big! 

I’m on Day 3 right now, so far so good. The only thing we’ve discussed that I’ve asked that I can get, is to get my hair done, it very overdo.

Other things I’m going to try and do this month:

Use up food in our pantry. We have alot of food there, why buy more. Use it up.

I will also try and use up all my lotions, shampoos, lip gloss before I buy another one.

and I will try and make more lunches rather than buying them.

Have you ever tried a No Buying Challenge. What kind of ground rules did you put?

My list of things to do in 2008 is going to be wrapped up soon. I’ll admit that this year, I didn’t work too hard on trying to complete my list.

Some things that I have done before 2009:

• buy a house
• buy a king size head board
• buy fresh produce at Ottawa’s farmers market
• buy king size bed
• buy more clothing
• buy something from workshop boutique
• do something romantic in April
• do something romantic in April (a.’s turn)
• do something romantic in February
• do something romantic
• do something romantic in January
• do something romantic in July
• do something romantic in July (a’s turn)
• do something romantic in June
• do something romantic in June (a’s turn)
• do something romantic in march
• do something romantic in march (a.’s turn)
• do something romantic in may
• do something romantic in may (a.’s turn)
• eat at the Sparks Street Mall Chicken and Rib Cook-Off
• get a pedicure and a manicure
• get a puppy
• get new glasses
• get tickets to be in a-channel’s live audience
• get to goodlife fitness membership
• go on a rollercoaster in Las Vegas
• go on the haunted walk of Ottawa
• go see a concert
• go see Dirty Dancing in Toronto
• go see the Cirque de Soleil’s presentation of Love: The Beatles
• go see We Will Rock You
• go to a Spins and Needles event
• go to Disco Bingo at least once this year
• go to new york
• have a garage sale
• have a hot dog from a street vendor
• pay off visa
• spend a whole day eating junk food without feeling guilty
• spend three months getting your body into optimum shape
• take a bikram yoga class
• take a Pilates class
• take pictures of everything in Las Vegas
• visit Las Vegas
• walk The Strip in Las Vegas
• watch Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
• watch when Harry met sally

Things to do before 2009

• be an extra in a film
• do Body Pump – 3 times in one week
• feed the ducks at dow’s lake
• get my driver’s licence
• go see a Blue Jays game
• go see an Ottawa Rapids game
• go see the Grand Canyon
• go skinny-dipping at midnight in the South of France
• go to Markerfaire
• go top karting
• go ziplining
• knit a pair of slippers
• learn to crochet
• learn to make sugar-free jam with blueberries
• make a dog bed
• participate in at min of 3 craft sales this year
• participate in the Run for the Cure
• plan a picnic at Andrew Hayden Park
• plant a tree
• play volleyball at Sammy’s Pizza in Dunrobin, ON
• send a message in a bottle (diy)
• send my mom a dozen roses
• sing a great song in front of an audience
• spend a day at Britannia beach
• spend a day at Kittawa Camping in Enburn
• spend a day at Mooney’s bay
• spend a night in the Ottawa jail hostel
• spend a whole day eating whole foods
• take a lululemon class (Rideau or Westboro)
• take a tour of parliament hill
• take a workshop at Workshop Boutique
• take someone on a Rideau Canal boat ride
• visit Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo
• visit Ottawa Lusk Caves
• visit Rideau hall
• visit the Canada Science and Technology Museum
• visit the currency museum
• visit the Hershey factory in smith falls
• visit the national gallery of Canada
• volunteer this year
• watch breakfast at tiffany’s
• watch Ocean’s Eleven
• watch the changing of the guard
• watch Vegas Vacation

I think that for 2009, I will create a similar list, but this time, I’ll try and complete it all before 2010. While I’m in Cuba, I’ll have to think of fun things that I can do this year.

One thing that I would like to do while in Cuba is to learn how to smoke a cigar. A long time ago, I used to smoke cigarettes and every single time I try and smoke a cigar, I inhale. I think I need some professional guidance on how to smoke a cigar.

What’s on your list for 2009?