Groundhog Day + Custom Bag Order + January Budget Results

Happy Groundhog Day!  So from Puxatawny Phil (I know I misspelled that name) we have 6 more weeks of Winter....from Staten Island "Sam" (because I cannot remember his name) we have an early Spring.  Tonight we're to get 1-2" of snow....I really hope it comes.  I feel the need to walk in the white!

I think I mentioned that the woman who bought my reversible beach tote, requested I make the same bag in fabric she supplied.  I needed to get one down to Florida for a gift by this upcoming weekend, and it is in the mail.  I made two in this fabulous pink, green, and tan swirly-paisley, so one goes to her for another gift along with a to-be-finished tote to follow.  

Now......I wrote about the BUDGET New Years Resolution.  Mr. Olive and I each had $100 to spend however we chose in January- instead of whipping out the charge card whenever something crossed our eye.  We were trying to be better with our spending, which can get out of hand, so this way we had to be cognizant that the $100 was all we had for ourself for the month.  I didn't think I would make it, but I did, and it wasn't THAT BAD.  To get the $100 each for February, we had to sit and go over how we spent our January $100.  Mr Olive?  I told you he has a nicotine habit and he spent $60 on that plus $10 on iTunes.   EXTRA - He had extra!!  I actually spent all mine with 8 days left in the month, but look what I got....

Beige embroidered shirt - Garnet Hill $40........Summer blue and black print shirt - Wal-Mart $14 (YES - I actually bought my first piece of clothing at the WM! crazy, but I really liked it)......Beige suede with brown leather trim mary-jane shoes by Naturalizer and black heals by Aerosoles 2 - Kohl's and each was super-sale at $9 each (crazy!!).......Green shiny snap-wallet by Mossimo - Target $7......and "Picture Perfect" DVD at KMart (a night waiting for the train in Penn Station) for $5.  I also spent $15 on iTunes - I had to download the unearthed APB album - the baseline in "Shoot You Down" rocks.

So, I have my new February hundred - and I'm not running out to spend it - the restraint of the end of January set in, but I also haven't seen many new summer sandals yet. :-0

New Years Day - Full of Optimism

It's a new year - and a new decade - I'm full of optimism that this year will be a good one. Not that past years haven't been good, but I have alot of resolutions and goals as we leave the 2000s behind and enter the 2010s. While swimming in my head, I decided to get some down on 'paper'. So here we go...

1) Pare Down. Why do I have 4 drawers and shelves of sweathers? Do I really need 8 white shirts? And 70+ pairs of shoes? 6 bottles of bubble bath? We live in a smallish house - I should be able to weed-out just like I do in the garden. I can donate or toss. I can shop in my own closet. I can declutter the piles of magazines. I know I can do it!

2) BUDGET. No excuse on this one. I have the template set up, but it doesn't work if it's half-assed filled out. I'm resolving to get the situation clarified and on paper. Along with that, I will organize my investment statements and see where I can combine old 401ks to cut down on the paper. Hubby and I have decided to alot each other $100 cash a month to be spent however we choose. We have each put the cash into an envelope and at the end of the month, before we get our new $100, we'll see where we spent the former month's money. My pink envelope still has the crisp bill intact - he has already started chiseling away at his (but he has a nicotine habit and I do not - this habit is supposed to come from this mad money). Can't wait to see how we do!

3) Promote the Sewing Business. I have so many ideas for new items from stuffed toys, to dresses, to skirts, to quilt designs. The more immediate goal is to get a graphic designer to do our website. Anyone out there know someone who could help us?? PLEASE let me know! I'd like to scratch this off the list early on.

4) Read more books! Continuing with my resolution of two past years, but upping the ante just a teeny bit...I resolve to read 7 books this year. I hit my mark of 5 the first resolution year, and didn't count yet to see if I read 6 in 2009, but I want to read more.

5) Drink Water. I'm resolving to drink down the H20. I think there is some ungodly '8, 8oz. glasses a day' out there, which to me means a whole lot of bathroom time, but I'm sure I can make at least 2 glasses a day.

6) Run a 5K. I'm not a big exerciser, but I will run in the warm months. I'm not talking entering a race, but running the 3.1 miles. If it comes in race form? Great, but I'm not going to seek it out. Longer term, I'm hoping to do a 1/2 marathon by the time I'm 45. I know this has less chance of completion, but why not throw it out there?

What is in store for you this fine first day of a new decade??

(( The adorable dog pick with the fun 2010 Hat is courtesy of "I Lick You" Etsy shop ))