The Boredom Has Set In

I have watched WAY too much TV, checked out WAY too much Facebook, and sitting around doing WAY too much of nothing.  I don't do sick too well.  At first I thought this rest stuff would be awesome.  No grocery shopping, no laundry, no cleaning, just sitting...doing nothing.  It was awesome for about 2 hours.  Then I got antsy.

I absolutely love to read, but I only check out books from the library.  Since I wasn't planning this whole flu thing, I didn't check one out last week.  Silly me.  Next time, I'll be sure to plan.  Luckily, I had two Dave Ramsey books on hand, Total Money Makeover and Financial Peace University.  I was already halfway through Total Money Makeover so I finished that up and began Financial Peace University.

First off, I love both of them.  I love the message they convey.  I love the whole use every dollar every month.  I love the 'Tell Your Money Where To Go' attitude.  I love making a new budget each month to fit what happens in that month.  I love it all.

Steven and I have never been bad with our money, but we definitely live on a very limited income since we opted for me to stay home with the kids.  We don't have debt outside of our mortgage.  So why FPU (Financial Peace University)?  Frankly, we wanted to be more intentional about where our money goes.  More disciplined.  So far, we are almost one month down and this is definitely a new way of life for us.  It gives us so much more control and PEACE.  Shut the front door, right?

Since beginning this new lifestyle, I've had multiple questions and comments about what we're doing.  I think it's great to see so many people curious about changing the way they handle money, and how many of my friends are ALREADY doing this.  It's awesome.  Simply awesome.

What's not awesome are the statistics in this book.  I get so heartbroken at what people around me are going through with their finances.  Take this excerpt...

Now, if you live in a middle-income neighborhood, out of your 100 closest neighbors there is at least one house empty from foreclosure, plus one foreclosure under way, and four to seven of your neighbors are more than three months behind on their house payment.

~Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace Revisited

Good grief!  This is terrible...and real.  What really rocks me to the core is when I reference this with comments made by others.  

I could never do the whole cash thing.  I don't want to be that restricted.

If I want to go out to eat and not cook dinner, then that's what I want to do.  I don't want to wait on the cash to be there.

But what do you do if there's a really good sale?  How can you pass that deal up?  It will cost you more later?

So is our needs to have stuff more important then our needs to live within our means.  Are we really willing to put our homes in jeopardy because we want the stuff?  Crash our future finances for a great meal at the restaurant everyone has been talking about?  Maybe the people who own these comments really know they can afford to do all their 'wants'.  We can't.  This is why we opted for a more disciplined approach to our money.  Does it totally suck to decline invitations because we don't have the cash in the designated envelope?  Yep, but it doesn't suck to know what we are working towards just got a little more attainable.

Menu Monday

I have the flu.  Yep.  Totally stinks.  I have found that I don't do idle very well.  However, I get up to do something and suddenly that something turns into the most taxing workout I've ever done in my life.  It is so crazy.  I feel like I have a simple head cold with a worn out body. Not the flu.  Annoying.

Since we have covered the bases of how I feel about this flu thing, I think I shall be positive.  Our family, as a whole, will be whole and healthy.  No more sickness for us.  Sooo, if you're sick.  We love you, but stay home.

Now for the menu...

Monday-BBQ Chicken Quesadillas, Corn Saute
Tuesday-Baked Chicken, Sweet Potato Slices, Salad
Wednesday-Marlboro Man's 2nd Favorite Sandwich, Crispy Potato Bites
Thursday-Man Pleasing Chicken, Peas, Cheesy Biscuits
Friday-Chicken Tacos and Pineapple Salsa with Tortilla Chips
Saturday-Club Roll Ups and Fresh Veggies and Fruits
Sunday-Dinner at my FIL's!!!

Rhea Lana of South Tulsa~CONSIGN NOW

Rhea Lana of South Tulsa

Spring/Summer Sale

February 10th-16th

It's really hard to believe the RL sale is just around the corner.  It seems like I picked up my FAT check just a few months ago.  It's time for you to get ready to earn cash too!

Sometimes we get stuck on a narrow road of thought that our income only comes from steady paychecks.  Like Steven's job.  He brings in the bulk of our income, but I have to add to it to make this family stay afloat.  I do little things like teach gymnastics, keep my adorable nephews, and consign.  Yes, I said consign.  I sell off what we don't need to pay for things we do.  Does it take time?  Yes.  Is it money in my pocket? Yes.  Is it worth it? YES!  

Let's take the last sale for example.  I spent about 2 hours gathering, sorting, and prepping clothes.  I received over $225 for those two hours.  This was just on clothes alone.  No toys or baby gear.  JUST CLOTHES.  Think about that pay out.  I made about $112.50/hour.  I don't know about you, but that is time well spent.

Convinced that consigning is worth it?  Here's what you do...

1. GoHERE to sign up as a consignor.
2. Gather two bins.  One for donations and one for consigning.  (If you wouldn't buy it, don't consign it!  Rhea Lana has a reputation of selling nice items only.)
3. Prep and organize your items.  Go HERE for item prep.
4. Take your items in.  Go HERE for drop off times and procedure.
5. Sit down with a cup of coffee and watch your money grow through LIVE sales reports!
6. Pick up your check.

That's pretty simple, right?

Now, Rhea Lana automatically gives you 70% of your sales (that's more than any other sale in this area), but if that's not enough for you check out the ways to earn more HERE.

So there you have it.  All the information you need to get your unwanted/unused items working for you.  

Next week, I'm going to share how you can get in on finding the deals at the Rhea Lana of South Tulsa sale before anyone else!  You know, where you find the barely used Britax carseat for 60% off retail OR, that Ergo carrier dirt cheap and looking new.  How awesome is it to tell your friends...Yeah, I got this Ergo for $20.  

Stay tuned for more...

Until then, LIKE Rhea Lana of South Tulsa on Facebook.  I hear there are some giveaways in the works.  Yeah, I said it...GIVEAWAYS!  What are you waiting for???  Go like them!

  

Chubby Cheekers~11 Months Edition

Hey Ladies,

It's the last days of my baby life.  I have to say, I've totally rocked this first year and there's still a full month left.  That means I have a lot of time to get into more mischief around the house.  That is my area of expertise...mischief.

Since my last writings, I've learned to walk.  Even though crawling is my first mode of transportation, I would consider myself a proficient walker.  If I'm holding something, I'm an even better walker.  Just last night I was carrying around the step stool in the bathroom.  I'd like to think of it as lifting weights while walking, but Mommy just calls it 'Danger'.  She's so crazy.

For those of you wondering about my eating habits, they are great.  I still prefer fine milk via the Milk Twins, but I'll eat pretty much anything.  My favorite foods to chew are the ones called Daddy's Plate.  Stuff that comes from there is so yummy.  That Mommy, she can really cook up some good stuff.  If Daddy's Plate is unavailable, I will scarf down my baby food.  You know that stuff that goes in the blender.  It's not like I really need it pureed though.  I have seven teeth.  Trust me.  Those guys are sharp.

Speaking of teeth, I'd like to share with you my all time funniest jokes.  It cracks me up every single time.  First you find someone just sitting around not paying attention to you.  Then you crawl up and bite them.  When they say, "OWWWW!" you do a big 'ol belly laugh.  It is so funny. Finally, when they are paying attention you open your mouth real wide to show them all your ferocious teeth and pretend to bite them.  Your innocent victim will flinch every time.  That's funny too.  

Aside from my pranks, I have also found a new activity that I love.  It's called pull the dishes out of the dishwasher and walk off with them.  I can hear that dishwasher open a mile away.  I'm not quite sure why Mommy groans each time she opens that thing.  That's like a little party in a hidey-hole.  So many trinkets just laying around and water to splash in.  It's also super fun to step onto, because then I can reach the counter and guess what???  The counter has even better stuff up there.  If Mommy thinks I'm ornery now, she's got another thing coming.  Get ready Mommy!!!

Well, I'd better get my rest.  I have to save up my energy because I'll definitely be spending some tomorrow.  Tomorrow is the day I think I'll empty out the Tupperware drawer.  Oh wait, I do that everyday.  Another favorite past time.

Love,
Chubby Cheekers

Pork Palace

Undoubtedly I find my husband the most attractive man on this Earth.  He's tall.  He's dark.  He's handsome.  He has more muscles than I know what to do with, but once a year his 'looks' factor drops a few points.  It drops all because of this...

He grows out his beard.  By the looks of it, it's not too bad.  By the feel of it, it's awful.  I'm not sure what's worse rubbing my face next to his or a porcupine's butt.  They probably feel the exact same.

I'm guessing he does this to exercise his right of ultimate manhood.  My other explanation is maybe he has viewed too many episodes of Duck Dynasty, but who am I kidding?  This is no Duck Dynasty.  At best we're the Pork Palace.  That's a new pitch for a show.  A bunch of Puerto Rican's with beards searching for the ulitmate piece of pork.  I have mentioned how Puerto Rican's love their pork, right?

Menu Monday

We have our Chicago family coming to town this week.  We are so pumped.  They are arriving on Friday and staying through Monday.  Undoubtedly, they will want to go out to dinner.  Since we are on a cash only system, we have set aside out to eat money this week, so you'll see the Torres Family eating out.  In fact, as I'm typing Steven and I are listening to Part One of Financial Peace University (thanks Samantha).  So far, I'm in love and excited about living like no one else!

Chubby Cheekers also turns 11 months this week.  The last of his babyhood days.  Sigh.  I can't think about this right now so onto the menu...

Monday-Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken, Green Beans, Cheesy Biscuits
Tuesday-Fried Chicken, Au Gratin Potatoes, Salad
Wednesday-Creamed Chicken and Biscuits, Corn
Thursday-Baked Fajitas, Salad, Brown Rice
Friday-Out to Dinner
Saturday-BBQ Pork Chops, Steamed Broccoli, Buttered Bread
Sunday-Dinner at Yoly's (Steven's Mom)

My NEW Go To Snack

I am a granola bar girl.  When I need a quick snack, I grab one and devour it.  I know, I know. Great mental image, right?

Last week, I came across this on Pinterest.  Thank goodness I have friends who post healthy stuff.  Otherwise, I'd be eating cookies all the time.  I kid.  I think I kid.

So here's our family's new favorite snack.  Three different people who tried mine all said the same thing.  This tastes like no bake cookies.  In all honesty, one person who shall remain anonymous actually said, Hey!  These taste like diarrhea cookies.  And that folks, is the world I live in.  So glamorous.

Without further ado, here's the new snack we love...

Energy Bites

{pic via Give Me Some Oven}

Have a Great Weekend!