Right now, I am....
...drinking a green smoothie made with kale, berries, bananas, pineapple, and yogurt. Kale isn't my first choice for a green smoothie (spinach is better!), but I got a bunch of it in a Hungry Harvest box, so I'm using it up.
My green smoothie isn't actually green because raspberries disguise the green. There really is kale in there, though.
...happy because it's a warm day today! And more warm days are in the forecast.
...also happy that Mr. FG and I got to go for a bike ride yesterday in the warm weather.
...hoping Lisey successfully passes her learner's license test today.
(largely because she needs a photo ID for the intake paperwork for her new job!)
...feeling a little off my game because I don't have a menu planned for this week yet. Gonna knock that out ASAP, I think. I do not do well thinking of meal ideas last minute.
(The closer I get to dinnertime, the less my brain functions.)
...wondering how much school Sonia and Zoe are going to do this week. I've kind of left it up to them to decide how much of a spring break they want to take. So, they're going to weigh how much time they want off now vs. how much they'd like to just be done and into summer break sooner.
...still sore from getting back into exercising. Between my SD trip and getting sick and some other stuff, I had a bit of a break from working out. But in the last few days I've done Kung Fu, biking, walking, and several 7 Minute Workouts, and my muscles are a little cranky.
...thinking about making a batch of Hot Cross Buns.
...hoping to finish the April money email. Usually I do these at the beginning of the month, but I'm a little behind this time. I got halfway thru on Saturday and got derailed when I discovered fraudulent charges on one of our cards. And by the time I got finished dealing with that, I was out of time to finish the money email.
(Here's how I do money emails. And why!)
Now I'm cold from drinking my smoothie, so I'm going to go make a mug of hot tea.
-Making my to-do list for today (I should have done this last night).
-Happy that my four-year-old picked out her clothes and dressed herself today without having to be reminded a million times.
-Really loving the cheerful daffodils and irises that are sitting in my family room window.
-Sad that my husband won't be home until 10:30 tonight since he has a church meeting after work and there is no time to come home between.
-Wondering how I will ever use up all the leftovers in the fridge.
-Already sick of the ants that have invaded the house (getting traps today!!). I'm thinking it's going to be a bad year for bugs, since our winter was so warm. :((
I sure hope that it will be a TERRIBLE YEAR. We have a pest control company and could use an income bump to save up for equipping our first employee. Sorry.
That's so funny! I was thinking about making some hot cross buns as well. 🙂 I guess it's almost time for them, isn't it?
Right now I am:
-Anxious to get a job offer. I've been interviewing with a company for the last week and it's gone well. I'm meeting the CEO tomorrow and hopefully I can score a good job offer. I've been stressed at work so this would be a very welcome change.
-Drafting a guest blog post. I've been meaning to write more on other blogs, so I've got to get my tail into high gear with the actual content!
-Thinking about all the to-dos I forgot to do over the weekend. Oops! I meant to bake gyros and make homemade dishwasher soap. I'll save those for another day.
I know job interviewing can be stressful. Best of luck with the interview!
Best of luck baby girl!
I am...
...excited because I landed my first guest post on a blog that went live today!
...loving the newest book I'm reading (Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth)
...enjoying the sunshine coming through my window and wishing I could leave my desk and work outside
...looking forward to getting our garden up and going
...also looking forward to the smell of fresh cut grass 🙂
I am...
-Calling to get quotes for moving a baby grand piano! I am being gifted a baby grand and only need to pay for moving expenses. So not cheap, but when else would I get a baby grand??
-Calling to schedule car inspections for this month. We bought both of our cars at the same time, so the inspections are due at the same time. Again, not cheap since they are both older becuase they ALWAYS need work.
oh, and work...can't forget about work!
Whoa! That's a pretty great gift.
Piano moving is SO expensive. I've had to move my piano twice, and have always hired movers because my piano is worth quite a bit. But it's always a little painful to write that check.
The most amazing part is that I don't even know this woman. It is a friend of a friend and she is downsizing. I found a quote for $295 so I CAN NOT pass it up. I know enough about piano and music that I can at least introduce my kids to the basics and then, when it's time, have them take lessons.
Right now I am...
..Trying not to feel sorry for myself buuuutt.....I have a kidney infection, sinus infection, and for some reason I woke up with my left foot hurting. I coughed most of the night and just generally feel bad. Ok, pity party over.
...Hoping the Easter baskets I put together will sell for $5 per basket. They have more in them than the ones I have seen at the dollar store so my fingers are crossed.
..Enjoying being able to leave the doors open at our business even though the pollen is brutal. Still worth it. Love that I can hear the birds outside right now.
...Planning the evening meal of baked chicken, zucchini, and something.
...angry that my brother discovered that someone actually purchased a car with his credit back in 2011 without him knowing. He is disabled and easily taken advantage of so he has never even driven a car himself. When he went online to try to dispute it, one of the security questions was," when did you get your first car" so he couldn't even get in to the account! He is going to handle this in person today.
Oh my goodness, you poor thing! I hope you're feeling like yourself again soon.
Thanks! I am hopefully on the mend.
I'm also happy the weather is getting warmer today. But what I'm not looking forward to is the allergies *achoo*.
I'm surviving. I guess that's the best I can hope for lately. I'm trying to occupy my mind with less important things but for the most part, life is just difficult for a variety of reasons.
I'm sorry things are hard right now! I hope you get some rays of hope soon.
I hope you and yours get through this difficult period, as lightly as possible.
Life is just hard sometimes. I am sending a smile, hug ,prayer and would bake you cookies if I could. My late husband always told me " they can't eat you " I hope you find a smile. I sure do know what it is like to struggle.
I am...
~Getting ready to do some grading for my girls' teacher that should have been done over the weekend. Thankfully she is very gracious and I can give it to her at the end of the day.
~Enjoying a cup of coffee.
~Thankful my toddler is taking a nap.
~Hoping to get all the groceries we bought this morning away before I need to go pick up the others from school.
~Distracted by reading my emails and blogs on the computer... better get to grading before said toddler wakes up!!!
Right now I am...
...working-and being quite productive, I might add
...missing my kiddo and wishing I was home with him
...understanding that it's important for our finances that I work
...feeling grateful that he's at least with family who loves him while I work
...proud of the fact that I've been grain- and sugar-free for over a week
...thinking about dinners for this week and chores I'll need to get done tomorrow
...excited about the 70-degree weather forcast for the next few days
I hope she studied good for her test. In VA those things are hard if you haven't studied for them. Or at least thats what all my kids said 🙂 Good luck to her
She's been busily studying! And she's taken a bunch of practice exams too. So hopefully she'll be all right.
Was planning on making hot cross buns tomorrow using a King Arthur mix, but I might try your recipe first. The last time I made from scratch, about 15 years ago, they turned into hot cross rocks. Boy, the family loves to bring that up at Easter dinner lol. Good luck to Lisey on her driving test. And yes, karen b, the test in VA is difficult!
right now I am
.....thankful that I meal planned and meal prepped for the week! (dinners all prepped through wednesday!)
.....excited that my 2 year old is almost potty trained! (and feeling nostalgic, because how did time go by so fast!)
Ohh, that is a wonderful feeling. Potty training is a really un-fun process, but once it's done, it is such an improvement.
I just started doing a 'monthly financial email'; I didn't feel super successful at my first attempt. So, I have been meaning to try to find your post about. Perfect timing! Thanks!
Kristen do you add any liquid to your smoothie like orange juice or water? Sounds yum by the way 🙂
Right now I am going to bed after a long day minding our 3 children under 3..
Getting ready for sons birthday tomorrow- he ll be 3 which means I am officially out of the 3 under 3 camp!!! Yay for me..
Thankful for the lovely weather we have been having
I don't usually end up needing to, as the yogurt provides enough liquid. And the banana isn't frozen, so that gets pretty liquidy once it's blended.
Right now I am:
Sitting in my recliner after helping my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson plant 3 long rows of potatoes!
Doing paperwork for my knee-replacement surgery! I won't be much garden help after the first week of May!
Thanking God that my mom got released from the hospital last week after a 2 day stay. She is so much better!
Also thankful that my federal tax refund will more than cover the cost of my property taxes!
Well, I'm sitting here in the evening watching Jeopardy, getting ready to take a walk with The Professor and visit a friend/neighbor who is going to order something for us via Amazon Prime.
I also am feeling on the rotten side. Six weeks of pollen and every related sickness from it. On the other hand I am visiting my daughter at her college apartment and having a lovely time. I brought her lots of little goodies from my coupon shopping. I made her and the roommate little Easter baskets from springtime polka dotted gift bags . Filled them up with Russell Stover candy from the dollar tree . Sitting here planning our Easter dinner. I don't think I will need to buy anything. It is looking like a large roasted chicken. Dressing from the freezer with gravy. Son has to have peas. Dinner rolls from freezer too. I am thinking about a corn casserole. I believe I have everything to make a carrot cake. I love the recipe from my Pillsbury cookbook. If I run across any marked down dairy, I will make homemade butter.
I've been musing over doing something like a monthly money email that you've described because it sounds like such a great idea to keep on top of finances and be conscious and deliberate with how we focus our resources. I was not raised with a lot financial management education so this is hard for me (and my husband too for other reasons), but we know how to scrimp so we other than our mortgage we have no debt, we give regularly and focus on the big stuff. But, I always feel like we could we doing better.
All this to say, I wonder if you might consider sharing the format of your money email in more specific, nitty-gritty stuff. I am of course not asking for your own financial details, but for example, what do you include? is it things like: here's our fixed costs, how much we saved, how much spend on x, y and z? include your goals? I guess I would love some inspiration on what things we should be looking at every month, and so a general gist of what you look at in your situation might be very helpful if this is something you'd be up to at some point.
Love your fresh outlook on life and that is why I am longtime reader, and occasional commenter; it's more fun if we look at the positives and be gracious and grateful. Keep up your great blog! 🙂
... wondering how much I will owe in taxes.
... happy I did some cooking ahead so that even though I got home late yesterday, I produced dinner on time.
... glad to be transfering to a new job in my company, but wishing the timeframe was more specific than "probably 3-6 months from now."
... still hating how DST means it's dark when I go to work.
... girding myself for doing medical bills & insurance company follow-up during lunch; recently I was on the phone for, literally, three hours dealing with just a couple of issues.
... looking forward to another meal outside.