Eating an Elephant - Part 2

For years, my money has controlled me.  I have always wanted to open a children's resale/consignment boutique, but money (well, lack of) has derailed this dream.  It has also caused me to worry, have strife in my marriage and live what I feel like has been an existence of shame.  I have never known if my loan application, car financing, or credit card request would be denied and it made me feel worthless and out of control.

But, Tommy and I have begun to change!  Back in August I posted that we were beginning a budget and trying to get a plan together to work on our debt.  You can read that post here:  Eating an Elephant - Part 1.

I wanted to take the time to give a little update on our progress.

August 1, 2010 Total Debt

(excluding the house)

$41,704.45

January 31, 2011 Total Debt

(excluding the house)

$34,368.88

We have paid off $7,335.57 in only 7 months!

I am so proud of us!  Although we have had some setbacks (car repairs, house repairs, etc.), we have stayed on course and are beginning to see the fruits of all our hard work.  I'll keep you updated!  I can't wait for the day that I can scream that I am debt free!

FYI,  I have a budget spreadsheet that I am happy to share.  If you would like a copy, leave me a comment and I will pass it on.

A Celtic Birthday

My precious mom-in-law, Lois, truly loves all things Irish/Celtic/Gaelic.  If you go to her house or get in her car, she is very likely to be listening to a Celtic Romance CD.  I love it and think that it totally adds to what a sweet person she is. 

Lois and Noah in Florida last summer

So, when Tommy and I realized that Celtic Woman was going to be performing in Tupelo on February 13, we knew we had to get her tickets for her birthday which is February 26.  We were able to find some 5th row tickets on Craiglist for a decent price!  Yay!  I wasn't sure what to expect when she asked me to come with her, but we had a great time!

They are a fantastic group that sings a varied list of songs including versions of the well known "You Raise Me Up" and "When you Believe" as well as fun Irish tunes like "Dulaman" and "At The Céili".  They also have a fantastic violinist who absolutely AMAZED me!

It was a really fun night and it was wonderful to get to spend some time with Lois.

Happy Birthday Mom!

(photos found via Google Images)

Shutter Love Tuesday - Eyelashes

I have looked at Shutter Love Tuesday over at The Trendy Treehouse several times, but I have never entered a photo.  But, when I saw that this week's theme was eyelashes, I knew I had a great photo of AnnaLauren to enter.

She definitely got her daddy's eyelashes - they are thick and black and gorgeous!

Snow Day 2010

If you want to join in the fun, or to vote for AnnaLauren (#72), you can click the link below!  It just so happens that we are having another snow day today - funny!

Click here to vote!

A Very Busy (and fun-filled) Weekend

One day (hopefully in the near future), I will have a laptop at my house that works and I will get to post pictures from Christmas and our snow days and all the other things we've been doing for the past month and a half.  For now though, our Dave Ramsey budget doesn't allow for a new computer purchase. :(

But, this weekend I made a few pictures with my phone so you will get at least a little of us!

So here's what we did...

Friday Night

Noah went to his dad's.

AnnaLauren went here with her GeGe - I do NOT love this place!

Tommy and I sat at home.  He "worked" on his work laptop and I decorated for a baby shower.

Saturday

AnnaLauren headed to her Grams to spend the night,Tommy headed out to get away from all the women and I threw a baby shower!

My sweet friend, Victoria, came over and we had a fabulous Woodland Themed Baby Shower, complete with pine cones, sunflowers and the cutest cakes you've ever seen!

This is one of the signs from the party.  So Cute!  I will try to do a complete post about this sweet and very budget friendly shower.

Saturday Night

After a little clean up.  Tommy and I got ready and had a little night out.

We went to a little place called The Stables for a cocktail and some fresh chicken strips.  Yum!  It's located is an alley downtown and actually did serve as a stable and carriage house way back in the day.

Then we went to see these guys!  They were never really on my radar before, but they were fantastic!  Seriously, two thumbs up!

Rascal Flatts

We had fun - see!  We even made a self-portrait!

 

After the show, we did the old stand by from back when we were single.  A run to Krystal!  I think this has been standard post-concert fare for us since before we even met.  Back in in high school days even!  But I question everything about you, if after a long night, that you don't love a Krystal Chik with Cheese. J/K :)

Sunday

We were losers and slept in on Sunday morning.  Being withour kiddos and staying out way too late will do that to you!  But, we should have been here...

But, the afternoon was devoted to football!

Our uber cool (way cooler than us) friends, the Warrens, had a few people over for a little Super Bowl party.  And although this year we weren't really pulling for one team over the other, I really liked seeing a new era of the Green Bay Packers withour Brett Favre.

We ate WAY too much though.  Just a partial menu was - 5 kinds of wings, hamburger sliders on hawaiian rolls. meatball sammies, cajun steamed shrimp, rotel cheese dip, peach cobbler and King Cake.

So fun!  I love restful weekends, but every now and then it's fun to go all out and have a non-stop weekend of fun.

Hope yours was fabulous too!