Here We Go Again...

Ok, so here I go again...trying to keep up with this blogging thing. I'm really going to make an effort to be better about posting. I'm starting Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred starting Monday. I'll be starting the Couch to 5K starting the following Monday, and I'm going back on Weight Watchers as of Monday morning as well. I'm tired of being tired and fat and I know that once I get some weight off I'll feel MUCH better. I'll be keeping track of my weight loss on the sidebar and hopefully I'll be able to get 50 pounds off by January. I'd love that!



I've been working on our budget and have figured it out (as long as we can stick to it, even if that means me picking up extra shifts) because if I've figured it correctly- we can be (almost) out of debt, other than the car payment, by July 8th 2011.



There are so many things that I have to discuss but I'll try to do one thing at a time instead of putting it all here. Maybe that'll be how I can keep up. :)


I found a new (to me) coupon site, Money Saving Queen that has a lot of helpful advice on couponing, saving money and being thrifty. Check it out!

Long time no Blog...

I haven't blogged in a while and a lot has been going on... I've lost a total of 7 pounds so far since starting weight watchers and I am trying really hard to lose about 80 pounds. I am excited by the big start I've had so far.

By starting weight watchers I have learned that I'll have to pay attention to what I'm putting in my body and I am glad that I can start this and maybe I will get rid of a LOT of the medical problems that I've been having. I found out through my step-brother in-law (police officer) that the park I've been walking at has been the host of many drug busts and 2 rapes....GREAT...so NOW I've got to find a new place to walk at.

The Oklahoma Aquarium

Today, Bryan brought up his girls and Raven and Norrah and I met them and had lunch today and went to the Aquarium. It was very fun. Norrah loved the fish, which meant that if she wasn't done looking at a particular type of fish, she threw a fit if we tried to move on. It took us a while to get through it because she was NEVER done looking at the fish. I'll probably take her back another time and spend the whole day looking around. I've talked to dh about possibly getting us a small pool (not too deep) that we can sit in and enjoy the cool water in the hot weather. I don't know if he's going to be up for it but I do think it'd be nice for us.

WAH-opportunities?

So I've started looking into the idea of working at home. I love being at home with Norrah during the day and if I found something that I could do a few hours a day on my time I would love to do so. I really wish I could have a "full time" at home job that if I do fast enough can be done on part time hours. Something like medical transcription or something. I haven't discussed this with Mike yet but eventually I will talk to him about the possibility of doing some sort of training program and then working from home. I don't know if it will work out the way I want it to- but since I already work nights it could be something that I do while I'm sitting at work all night long- it could be a great way to earn money while I'm already earning money. It's just a thought. If something like that could work it would make my whole day! I could still work my regular shift at work and the "second" job could be my spending money-or money for a car payment or vacation or something.

MBA WITH HONORS

As I was writing the last post- I ALMOST forgot the best thing about the week- My brother is graduating tomorrow with his MBA in Business- and he is doing it WITH HONORS!!! I'm very very proud of my brother and can't believe that he's gonna be done with school. He's worked his butt off and he deserves every congratulations and honor that he receives. I'll be heading to see him walk across that stage tomorrow morning and I've got a WHOLE NEW (free!!!) outfit for the occasion.

Youdata.com= Paypal!, and other random stuff

So, I've become obsessed with finding ways to earn money on the web- and I have found one that I think is almost foolproof- not that you will get rich from it or anything, but that it actually works and that they do what they say they are going to do- and that's deposit paypal into your account weekly if you earn it. I've already had them deposit $2.42 and while to most that doesn't seem like a lot of money- it will add up over time. That was for only about 5 minutes of clicking within their site and it paid off. I hope to get some referrals under me and start using the site more to make more $.  Here's the link: http://www.youdata.com/join/laceejohnson 

Now on to the other random stuff. I've scheduled my payments online to get most of the 2 of my credit cards paid off- I failed to send the checks in but have been paying them online- and will have them paid off (a little behind schedule) soon.

As far as my paypal and amazon gift cards go- I've decided that I'm going to get a new camera, not only for myself but for dh to share- and that way I don't have to keep taking pictures from my phone- while it works ok, it's not the same as having a GOOD camera that will do what I want it to. I want to take art- not just photos, and since it is what it is, I'll have to use any paypal or amazon cards to get it. I'll be saving for a while- but it will be worth it.

Also, I've got some yucky stuff in my diapers- and we're using sposies till I can get them soaked and stripped and cleaned out. I washed them the other day on my regular hot wash-double rinse and detergent, and the dryer wasn't done yet so I ended up putting it through another wash/rinse/rinse cycle WITH NO DETERGENT- and happened to catch it in the first rinse cycle and when I opened it up I was amazed and disgusted all at the same time- there was a film of soap all over the top of the water

This is what I saw...yuck-o right... so now it's time to strip again- and I just ordered some samples of Rockin Green detergent so I am going to wait, should have it Tuesday or Wednesday, and rock a soak of all the inserts and then strip all of my pockets, fitteds, prefolds, flats, and anything else that needs to be stripped...

and I FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO POST A PICTURE ON HERE...lol

Review of some Diapers

Here's my review (pics when I find my camera) of Kawaii Minky Diapers, and of Katydid Diapers.

Kawaii Minky OS Diaper-

These diapers are large! I have them set on the bottom rise snap and they come up still almost to her belly button. I've had them for at least 6 months- and have yet to have any leaks. I will be ordering some regular aplix ones for baby number 2 *when he/she is conceived* and they will probably be my go to diaper. I haven't used/don't want to try the snap version- but that's just because aplix is my preference. I do like one snap diaper- and that review is going to be coming up next.

Katydid diapers- shipped SUPER FAST- from an order (several) from Franklingoose- and they are nice diapers- similar to a bG in shape- with a FRONT POCKET instead of rear opening pocket. I love the inner as it's SUPER DUPER DUPER soft. I can say that these are getting more love from me than my bG 3.0s are. I wish she had an aplix version- but the snaps seem to be well placed and very easy to adjust to find the right fit. I have no complaints about them and they will get lots of love in this house.

Mother's Day

This Mother's day was awesome! Mike cooked breakfast for us- and it was delish! Then before lunch, he and Norrah brought out my gift (which I was NOT expecting!) and it was a card and new earrings from Jared!! They match my Christmas ring and I love them! Norrah even signed the card with a little help from her Auntie. She's gonna be a leftie. Mike cooked lasagna for lunch/dinner and we had a great night.

I did get my menu planned out for this week and it's as follows
Monday     Baked Chicken Mashed Potatoes Green Beans
Tuesday     BBQ Smokies Mac&Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday Roast with veggies Rolls
Thursday   Chicken and Rice Casserole
Friday       Sandwiches and Chips
Saturday   Cookout at my Parents (brother's graduation)
Sunday      Mike's Choice


Also, I've been working on my HomeBinder for a little while and I've made some changes to it this weekend, I'll have to take some pics. I've got a few new spots on it. and I'll be working on getting it even more functional and maybe I will use it for more than a month or two.

I hope everyone had a great Mom's day.

Facebook Giveaway

Green Diaper Demos is having a giveaway on their facebook. This is the whole post about their giveaway:

Ok, we are doing our very first giveaway!! This giveaway will be for 1 Rocky Mountain Diaper and insert in the Green Diaper Demos Exclusive Moovin' Strawberry print. The contest will close at 10PM Pacific Time on May 12th. I will use a random number generator to determine the winner.
How to enter: Each comment to this p...ost is an entry below is a list of qualified comments:
1 comment if you are a facebook fan (simply comment that you are a fan
1 comment if you place an order between Today April 28th and May 12th (put a comment with your order number)
1 comment if you link to us on your website (please post the website)
1 comment for registering at our store (will allow you to know about upcoming events)
 
 
 
HOW EASY IS THIS!! Go enter!

Doctor's Appointments and Graduation Day

Norrah and I both have doctors appointments this afternoon. Hers is her 12 month checkup and mine is my yearly exam. I can't wait to see how much Norrah weighs in at. I'll be putting her in her shorties over a prefold and a cute shirt. I've got her in a prefold and her fleece soaker right now, and they seem to be working just fine. I'm not looking forward to my appointment. I want this mirena out but I really don't want to get pregnant until January 2011. I am having a great time staying at home so far...lol it's only been a day.

I graduate on Friday night at 7pm. I've been working to this for a LONG time- a few semesters of part-time, a couple of nothing at all, and I've FINALLY DONE IT! I'm very proud of myself and I know that my family is proud of me too. I'll have my Associates in Psychology, and will be going back to get my BA soon. My brother is graduating 8 days after me. He's worked SUPER hard and has been working hard for many years, to get to where he's at. He'll have his MBA in Business and I'm SO PROUD OF HIM. His daughters are super excited because they are going to get to have some much needed time with him now. He'll be done with school (unless he decided to go to law school- but that's something totally different). His oldest daughter is 5 and she doesn't know her daddy without him being in school and working all the time. I know she's excited to have her daddy back.

Well, folks, you may have noticed the different Franklingoose items on the site today- that's because I'm now an affiliate with them and if you shop with them, I earn as well. Pretty awesome stuff. Go SHOP! lol

Fluff and Reviews

I got some fluff today from Franklingoose, and from FSOT (for sale or trade), and my free AIO from Green Diaper Store from their bG promo. I got 12 wipes and got a free Blossom AIO. I got my RearZ sampler from Franklingoose, and I got a pair of shorties from a mama on Diaperswappers. I'll be doing some reviews of the stuff I got in the morning. I'll have to do them IF I get dd to take a nap tomorrow- as she refused to do so today. It'll be my luck that she sleeps when we leave the doctor's office and will wake up when we get home.

Monday Morning

Well, it's Monday morning and I feel like I've accomplished something already. I got my home management binder out today. It had been put away for some time now- mainly because I didn't use it while I was working full time. Now that I get to stay at home again- it's going to be my best friend! I can't tell you how many times I've redone it already and I'll probably do it again once I get into a routine here at the house. I haven't got one yet but I'm sure I will soon. I made our menu plan and am going to work on the cleaning routine and see what I think will work best for us. Friday night we'll be eating out since that's the night of my graduation and we won't be in town until late.

The menu looks something like this

Breakfast
Cereal x5 (I work nights on the weekend so the can fend for themselves while I'm sleeping)

Lunch
Sandwich/chips x3
Leftovers x2 (cheesy chicken and spaghetti)

Dinner
Shake & Bake Pork Chops, Fried Potatoes, a veggie
Cheeeseburgers & Fries
Cheesy Chicken, brown rice, broccoli,
Spaghetti, Green Beans, Garlic Toast
Friday- out to eat

Birthday Party and a bunch of other stuff

I have been busy trying to figure out a birthday party for Norrah. It's her first birthday so we don't want to "go all out" like my cousin is doing- mainly because she's not going to remember it and we will have many many more parties for her. We aren't going to get her anything big- Meemah has already gotten her a swingset and I had ordered some Wooden Blocks from Franklin Goose, but I didn't get them yet. I guess we will get them when they get here. We are going to have Ryan's Steakhouse (buffet) that my in-laws are paying for since we just don't have the money yet to do so. I'll be glad when we get everything caught up and get things together.

I'll be working Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights from NOW on. I actually start my new schedule on the 9th and work only a 12 hour shift because I had asked off for Friday and Saturday a while back (I graduate at 7pm on Friday night) and then the following weekend I believe I have asked off for all weekend off- because my brother is graduating with his MBA!! I'm SOOO proud of him!

I'll be posting my menu plan for the week when we get it done on Sunday. I'll be taking care of the dinners now that I'm going to be home during the week. :)

Giveaway and Update on Life (info in post)

My Frugal Fun Life    is having a giveaway on her blog. It's for 10 awesome RearZ cloth wipes. If you aren't a follower already go see what she's got to say.

I'll be trying to keep up with giveaways and such, especially since I'll have some more time while I'm working nights again (weekends) and staying home with dd in the daytime. I'll be an ALMOST SAHM again. I'm super excited about it and I can't wait to get my schedule changed so I can start having the weekdays to spend with my sweet babylove.

Also, I was reading this thread on Diaperswappers and if you have wic, you should check into getting a moby if they offer them in your state!! I'll be calling my wic office to see if they have them- and if I can get one. :) Nothing like a free wrap to make breastfeeding fun! Maybe they are just realizing that most bf mama's are more likely to babywear too. Whatever their reasons are- they are promoting breastfeeding and I love it!

Diaper Station

I'm getting our diaper station together tonight. I've got so many diapers that they are overflowing and I can't find the ones I want when I want them. I went to Big Lots today and got a 3 drawer shelf and also a new pail for her room. I'll be getting everything together and getting pics of it so I can show it off once it's done. I still have a TON of stuff to do in her room, as we have been using it as our store all until we can get our stuff together and organized. I am ready to get all of our stuff together so that I can put her back in cloth full time- I'm tired of the nasty sposies and I'm really excited to get her enough pockets/aio's to last a couple of days so that I can send them to daycare for her too. I've pretty much decided that I'll wait until I get into the vo-tech for nursing school because it's a difference of about $20,000 from going to the private school that has no wait list- to the vo-tech that has at least a 2 semester wait- I'll be willing to wait- work full time- and save the money to pay the full amount in cash so that there is no more student loans hanging over us. I will also be able to get a bigger car if we wait because I'll be working full time still and we will be able to use my check for savings instead of bills since we don't have rent/utilities anymore.
Well, I'm off to work on our diapers...wish me luck hehe.

CVS IS HERE!!!

I was taking my client to the dentist today and I have seen the 3rd CVS in Tulsa! I can't wait till they get them all open, so that I can start getting in on the good deals. I will be asking a TON of questions on Diaperswappers in the Thrifty forum, I can already tell. I am super excited about it. HEHE Another way to be thrifty. I have made almost 6 bucks by reading emails this week alone, and I think I have $10 on a survey site, but I will have to double check.

Shopping.com

So, I found out about the shopping.com $100-for 100 reviews thing going on in a post from Diaperswappers, and I have all of mine done. I am just waiting till the end so I can get paid. I am super excited about it, and I hope that I get the $ in my paypal. It will help me out a TON! I'll be able to get a few more things and not have to worry about dh getting mad at me for spending money. I'll be on the lookout for some shorties for dd or a skirty. HEHE He will be ticked off if I spend my own money on it.

Enchiladas

Chicken or Beef Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce

For Chicken use Cream of Chicken Soup and Chicken as "Meat"
For Beef use Cream of Mushroom Soup and Ground or Shredded Beef as "Meat"

Meat-as much or as little as you want (I use 4 small or 2 large cans chicken, or 1 lb ground beef)
3 small or 1 lg can of Cream of Soup
1 16 oz container of Sour Cream
20 tortillas (or less if you want more fillings
1 bag cheese...whatever blend you like...I use fine cheddar
1 can ro-tel
chili powder to taste

Mix together 1 1/2 can of soup, 1/2 carton of sour cheese, spices, meat, 1/2 bag of cheese, and rotel
Fill tortillas and roll, placing into your baking dish as you go
Mix remaining soup and sour cream together and place on top of the rolled up tortillas and cover with cheese.
Bake on a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes until cheese is melted and dish is heated through.

(This is great with chips and salsa...I've even made the inside as a dip for a potluck and heated it alone and served with tortilla chips.)

This and That

I haven't been doing so well at keeping track of my spending or my food journal on here- I hope to be better at it next week. The sattelite guy was at the house today-and I still have to call the phone company again because the service is not working still (2 days later). I hope to have it working by this evening, because I'd love to call my mom tonight. We have misplaced the remotes during the move- so I hope that we find them while we're at the old house tonight. I can't imagine that we don't have them. I am glad that we'll be putting the cable down to a minimum of basic cable only and then when we move back out, there will be no charge for the cable company to come back and turn it all back on for them (in-laws).

I am looking for bread recipes online for a bread machine- I have NEVER used one and I'm looking forward to trying out my mother in laws. She said she has used it only 2 times. I'll have to make some garlic bread to go with spaghetti one night. YUM.

I am looking forward to working part time again instead of full time. Even though I will be gone more than a full time job becaue of school- it's only for 1 year- and it will ensure that I have a good job making good money- and in a field that is high demand. Nursing- I actually wish I had done it when I was a teenager like my mom had suggested, but I was tired of school- can't go back and change it now, but it will all work out.

Tonight, the plan is to get Norrah from the babysitter, drop her off with my sister in law, and head to the old house to finish moving, then come home and go to bed. Working a second shift tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it. It's about 20 miles on the OTHER side of Tulsa from where we live and I'm going to hit rush hour traffic. BLEH

Work Sucks, Life is good, WE ARE MOVED

Well, almost moved, we have a few more things left to bring over to the house, and cleaning to do, but the biggest part of the move is over. I am very glad too. I am working an extra 5 hours this week-under protest- and not looking forward to the drive to and from my 2nd assignment. I don't necessarily want to work extra, especially since I don't get paid time and a half- so it's of no real benefit for me to work extra hours. I have been working on making my life more simple and I am going to be going into our storage 2 weekends a month and going through the boxes that are in there full of who knows what- and throwing a ton of junk out. I don't want to move it to another house just for it to sit and gather dust and not get used. I am going to go through my clothes and put the ones that don't fit me into storage and once I go down a size I'll donate the ones that are too big, and get the smaller size back out- hopefully it will make me motivated to get into a smaller size. Some of the thrifty things I have been doing lately is- not going to the store-that's a BIG ONE, not looking at FSOT on Diaperswappers, and trying to keep myself of Spot's. I have signed up for InboxDollars and am getting a few cents for reading emails, it's not a LOT but it will add up by Christmas (I HOPE) and I will be able to get something GOOD with the money I'm earning. I've been trying to become an agent on KGB, but I keep missing it by 1 or 2 questions each time. Oh, well...I'll have to get it eventually. I am trying to get it together because once I start working overnight, I'll need something to keep me up, and what better way than by making money.

Saturday Stuff

Past couple of days have been not so good, yet really good. First off, I scored 2 bottles of all free and clear for $6.00-that's 1 dollar more than I normally pay for 1 bottle. And I got to hang out with my sister-in-law and mother in law. Got my Christmas ring fixed cost me $22.00 because I didn't take it in to be checked in December, so my Extended Warranty was voided out, so I had to pay for the stone to be replaced and it to be cleaned and fixed and prongs checked. Not too bad considering.

Not really much going on, just getting ready to move the big stuff out of the house tomorrow and then start cleaning it up since we only have until April 22...and then our first house is not ours anymore.

Swagbucks, KGB, InboxDollars, and NURSING SCHOOL

Yesterday I learned that if I go through all the no obligation offers from swagbucks I'd get 1-4 SB daily! That's right EVERY DAY!!! I got 3 yesterday and 1 today. Also, I got several over the course of the day yesterday for having the sb toolbar. Plus, there were 2 swagcodes that I was able to get in on. YAY!! I also signed up for inboxdollars...which is a survey/paid email site. I hope to be able to make some extra cash by doing this while I'm at work. I really think it's a good idea. I had read on someone elses blog that they work for KGB (542542) and earn so much per answer. I'll be heading over there and trying to work on that while I'm at work. Speaking of work, I'll be cutting my hours down to part time starting on May 17th. That's when I start NURSING SCHOOL!! I am very excited, as this is something that I've been debating on doing for a while. The debate was not whether or not I would do it, but where, as every school around here has at least a 2 semester wait, except for one...and I just happened to stop by there on Monday to see if I could get some info, and volia- as long as I pass the math and reading test on the 4th, I'll be starting on the 17th! It will put my getting a newer car back a few months, but hey, in 1 year I'll be a nurse! I can't wait! It will make working a little bit easier since I'll get more money and that means less hours I'll have to work. I'd love to be a SAHM again but that's not going to be possible for a while so I'll make the best of what I can and try to make up for my going to part time by trying to earn extra while I'm already at work. Off to do more surveys and try to make $$... hehe

ALSO, Check out the Thrifty Page of this blog. It has a free bG OS diaper code on it! And GROCERY COUPONS!

Dyeing Prefolds

I have a ton of prefolds (well not a ton but several) that I'm going to try to dye this weekend (after we're done moving) and I am going to try to make them as bright as possible. I'll post pics to show how I do. I've been wondering about getting some white wool and dying it, to make a pair of longies for Norrah...(I'm not the best knitter HARDLY, I've just started, but I still want to try.) I wonder if I'd dye it the same way or if there is something special that I'd have to do. Hmmm...off to search it and see what I can find. 

Yay for 8 hour days!!

I am so glad that my weekend has passed and I won't have another till the end of May. I worked 13 hours Saturday and Sunday. Norrah was asleep when I left Saturday morning, asleep when I got home Saturday evening, and still asleep when I left Sunday. She was awake when I got home Sunday and I cried when I got to hold her. I missed her SOOO much! She's such a sweetie and gave me TONS of kisses. Since we are in need of some mommy and me time, this afternoon I'm going to take her outside with her bubble gun and we're going to play in the yard. I've been saying for a month that I'm going to church on Sunday-and this Sunday I am going, to the early service at the Lutheran church that my former client went to. I met a lot of really nice people from there and got invited SEVERAL times, so I'm going to get up the nerve to try something new. I haven't been to church since I took my Grandma over a year ago. I can't believe it's been almost 2 years since my Papa died...wow...it doesn't seem like it's been so long. So it's been almost 2 years since I've been to church...I really need to go.

I'm soo gonna start making bread more since my mil has a bread machine...that has NEVER been used!!! I can't believe that she doesn't use it! I think it will probably be one of those things that is coming with us when we move. :D hehe I saw it this morning when I was putting my cereal up.

Norrah got some new outfits this weekend at TRU. MIL and SIL went in there for who knows what...and came out with 5 new outfits and a pair of slippers...the slippers are way too cute! Of course I just saw them but since I didn't buy them then I guess it's ok.

It's supposed to be 80 degrees this week and I am going to enjoy every minute of it. I can't wait to get my stroller from Franklingoose. I am going to take Norrah out for walks when we get it. Plus I got a sleepywrap and I'm going to use it too, when it comes in...WHENEVER that is.

I'll be soon posting an area for recipes and things that I have found to be easy to freeze, cook, cheap, thrifty, ect...

That's about it for this go round...

Monday's Food/Money Journal

For Monday
Breakfast
Corn Checks
2% Milk
OJ

Snack
Dr. Pepper- My "treat"
Fruit Snacks
This is planned for:
Lunch
Ramen Noodle cup
WW Yogurt
Water

Snack
no afternoon snack

Dinner
dh made hamsteak and fried potatoes for dinner...dd LOVES fried potatoes...totally unhealthy and bad for us but It was SOOOO good...

Sunday Spending Journal

I'll be at work all day so I shouldn't spend TOO much...so far I've spent $4.00 on breakfast and that should be all that I do spend. If I do spend more I'll update.

Moving

We have been trying to get moved the whole month of April. It seems like the time is FLYING by and we are never going to get done. We didn't have to get any boxes because I had Mike put all of the boxes we bought the last time we moved into the attic and save them. We are using duct tape instead of the package tape because we already had it at the house. We're moving into my in-laws until we can find a house to buy because renting is eating us alive, and we will sink if we keep it up. We're getting a storage unit and going to move as much as we can in our cars, and my father-in-laws truck so that we don't have to rent a truck. Mike's friend has been helping us pack on Mondays while he's off work. I wish there were a good alternative to a storage unit but it's going to be cheaper to rent a unit instead of a house. I wish that we could just take one weekend and get it all done and overwith and then I wouldn't have to worry about it, but I can't get a stinking day off...working through the week and then working 13 hours Saturday and Sunday both, which just sucks in general, but especially since I'm not doing anything but sitting on this ladies couch playing on the computer. I feel like it's a waste of my time. It actually really is a waste of my time because I don't get paid overtime for it.

Thrifty

I'm not always thrifty, actually it's hard to be thrifty when we are in the middle of a move and trying to get our bills caught up and paid off. I hope that soon...we will be debt free or only have a few debts instead of all of our money going to pay this or that. I'd like to have some to put up and sget an emergency fund set up. This is important for us because my husband was told in Febuary that he was going to be laid off as of June 1st...then July 21st...now they are going to take another position for his whole group and he is not losing his job...which I'm TOTALLY thankful for, but it made me realize that we REALLY need an emergency fund and we do need something in place for a just in case. I'm very thankful for Franklingoose because I know that no matter what happens, Norrah will have a good Christmas this year. I'm glad that I will be able to get her some great toys and not have to actually pay money out of pocket for them, especially since she will know what's going on this time. Monday I will be starting a daily spending journal and also a daily food journal. I'm hoping to get the hang of this blogging thing and make mine look as awesome as some of the others that I've seen.

I have a Plan!

I am super excited because I have a PLAN!! I just wrote out the checks that will pay off 2 of my credit cards! I made a payment over the phone (dang $11 fees!) but I mistyped the numbers to my checking account in there last month-which resulted in my account being suspended and a returned charge on my account...banging head against the wall...so I got THAT taken care of today, but I am just really tired of having to mess with them and their outrageous fees and rates. I am going to pay $25. EVERY WEEK until May 14th, at which time I'm going to take out 1/2 of the balance, and then another week of $25, then on the 28th----- THE REMAINING BALANCE!!! ALL DONE! YEAH! WHOOOO HOOOO!!!! I've had this monkey on my back for a while and I'm going to be done with it in 2 months!! I can't believe it! I am going to the post office today to get a package-no idea what it is- and going to get a book of stamps and stop at the dollar store and get envelopes and get them already made out so all I have to do is drop them in the box on Monday mornings.

Now my other plan: WEIGHT WATCHERS.
I've got 70-90 pounds to lose. I'd love to lose 70 by December, when we go on vacation, and then the last 20 pounds when I get back. I'm going to have the mirena taken out in January 2011, so I'd really like to lose and THEN get pregnant. Since I'm so overweight and was when I got pregnant with Norrah, I'd like to try and be smaller when I get pregnant this time. I hope it takes care of some of my medical issues. The ones that I'm having now and the ones that I get during pregnancy. My medical issues include: PCOS-controlled by Metformin, Hypertension-controlled by medicine, metabolic syndrome-no meds-and during pregnancy because I'm hypertensive already-preeclampsia and prediabetes-which the Metformin helps with.
I'm 27 and on high blood pressure medicine. I came to the realization that if I don't do something NOW about this I'm not going to make it to see my little girl graduate high school. It would be selfish if I didn't at least try to lose the weight, especially before I try to get pregnant a second time.

The First One

This is the very first blog entry, so let me tell you about myself. I'm Lacee-a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. I go by many more names, but those are the ones I'm most proud of. I am married to Mike-35- since September 08, 2007. We were married on my Grandparents last (57th!) anniversary. My daughter is Norrah, she was born at 12:32 via C-section on April 29, 2009.
I have a younger brother, Bryan, and a younger sister, Raven. Bryan is married to Jennifer, and they have 2 girls. Makayla is 5 and is a fireball! Savannah is 18 months old and she is going to be one of the funniest kids I've ever met. She's already a NUT!

I started this blog to keep a record of my journey from soggy to crunchy, spendy to thrifty, and most important to me-overweight to healthy. I hope that if you read this you will gain something from me and I hope that I can help someone in someway.

This is my journey...