March Goals

Let's start with a little review of how I did last month...

February Goals

• continue working on "Do It Now." I think so? I'm not too sure. I need to make my goals more quantitative/ measurable.

• Read 2 books. Done! Will share on Show Us Your Books (3/14) 

• recreate/re-establish evening schedule. I used to have one, but with winter and my desire to hibernate, I've completely just go home and eat and lay under a bunch of blankets. I need to get back into a routine. Big Fat Nope on this one. Instead, I bought myself an extra blanket. (But it has foxes on it! I'd wanted it from 6 months ago and it was finally restocked! I even waited until 3/1. Not even a little bit mad about it. )

• Get taxes done.Done and already got my refund check! WOOT! 

• No Spend February. The allowances really helped me out. Success! 
• 21 Bags in 21 Days. 18/21 not too shabby! 

• 8 bags (and 1 box) of garbage- actual garbage, expired goods from every cupboard and my fridge/freezer, holey socks, uncomfortable undies, mis-shaped bras, and 1 box of (expired) bathroom crap that was sitting in my closet since I moved (over 2 years ago...oof). 
• 2 large bags of (mostly clothing) donations
• 1 bag to Plato's Closet
• 1 bag to ThredUp
• 4 bags of recyclables- expired vinegars (who knew apple cider and white vinegar could expire?!), bags of plastic bags, newspapers and mail, wine bottles, and empty BBW candles that I thought I'd use for storing small bathroom things but were really just taking up space in my freezer. (I didn't realize this was a problem until Blue was looking in my freezer for ice and pointed them out. Oops.) 
• 1 small bag of books to the library 

And now for this month!

March Small Goals

• Open a savings account. Especially with my tax refunding coming in, and a recent cyber security attack at work where they thought I was a victim of the breach where hackers stole employees' direct deposit checks. 
• Clean out at least one closet. It's time. 
• Make my lady doctor appointment. I'm tired of having to take time off work because my cramps are so bad I can't move. It was better when I was on BC, and I need to get back on it, STAT. 
• Get a facial. I'm tired of trying to figure out what works and what doesn't with nary any results. I just need someone to get in there and fix it. (This is my scariest, because I've only had one othe facial in my life, when I was 18 and my mom "thought it was a good idea." She didn't warn me that some woman would put a huge light on me and start extricating every pore on my face. I'm still a bit mentally scarred from that experience.) 
• Read 2 books. Again, halfway through one, and another on deck. I've already come to terms with the fact that I won't finish Erin's challenge in time, but I want to keep my recent momentum going. 

What are some of your goals this month? 

Linking up with writes like a girl and Kristin

Currently: March

Reading: I'm in a rut. Just finished Two Across by Jeff Bartsch (I DETESTED the ending!) and haven't been able to get over it enough to pick out my next read. Does this happen to anyone else? 

Watching: Big Little Lies (HBO) which I'm loving! Have you guys started watching it yet, and/or have you read the book? I read the book but I forget plots quickly, so it's like unraveling the mystery all over again for me! Travelers (Netflix) which I talked about the other day. I also saw Arrival which I enjoyed even though I'm not being a big "space movie" fan. And my faves which got me all teary-eyed last week (I'm talking about you, This Is Us and Nashville!) 

Listening To: The entire Hidden Figures soundtrack. SO GOOD!

Burning: Another $2 TJ Maxx find. Vintage Oak by Everyday Luxe. It smelled woodsy before I lit it, now it just kinda smells like soap. No matter, it was a mini. 

Planning: An all-inclusive getaway to ARUBA! Have you ever been there? Please share recommendations if you have any!

Packing: bags for 21 Bags in 21 Days! Update on progress next week. Spoiler alert: I didn't hit the full 21, but I'm still pretty proud of myself for committing to clear out some clutter. 

Eating: All the noms. Trio of tacos (beef, chicken, fish), poutine, and a new favorite, chicken and waffles! I had it for the first time last year and OMG I don't know what took me so long to try it but it's a favorite by far! 

Drinking: Craft beers!  I recently went to Carton Brewery in southern NJ and actually found a stout that I LOVED! (I'm more of a IPA/amber type beer person.) 

Buying: Honestly, I've bought a shit ton (yes, that's an official American unit of measure) of stuff since my freeze ended two days ago. I blame Bad's Deals emails and the Kohl's $10 and Under sale. I mean, I'm 3/4 done with Christmas shopping because of that sale alone!  And some awesome Groupon deals lately, this one being the latest. I love anklets and lost my last one in the sand about two years ago. This one was $5- one that I won't care too much about if the beach steals it. It's got a little heart which you can get engraved with an initial too. 

 

Organizing: I found this 6-hole cubby on the street and re-purposed it to hold some odds and ends at Blue's place. I love the cracked white paint against the aqua, which perfectly matches the colors in her room! 

Saying: Uhh,.. I haven't been saying anything of note lately. Though I am surprised at how fast this year seems to be going, and I'm SO ready for a vacation!

Loving: Good times with good friends that I haven't seen in awhile. 

Wearing: my uniform of fleece leggings under work pants, tank and long sleeve under a sweater. I get cold easily, so layers are my BFF. 

Posting: On IG than anything else, because that's my favorite platform. What's your favorite? 

Sharing: my books! I saw this idea on Steph and Erin's blogs, and loved it so much I thought I'd do it too! My bookshelf is overflowing with books, and these are some that I'd love to share. If you're interested in taking any of them, just let me know in the comments. I'll send them to you free of charge! 

Fourth Comings (Jessica Darling #4) - Megan McCafferty
Trouble- Kate Christensen
Belzhar- Meg Wolitzer
The Tipping Point- Malcolm Gladwell (marked up)
Jemima J- Jane Green
Labor Day- Joyce Maynard
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination- Helen Fielding
Mother, Can You Not?- Kate Friedman
The Devil Wear Prada- Lauren Weisberger
Nantucket Nights- Elin Hilderbrand
One For the Money- Janet Evanovich

Not pictured but also available: 
Dead Sleep- Greg Iles
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- Stieg Larson
Two Across- Jeff Bartsch

What currently new with you?

Linking up with Anne, Carrie, Kristen, Gretch, and Kristin! 

Favorites// Add it To My List

To Download: Seashells (app)
This is a free money-saving app that links to your credit/debit cards and rounds any purchases made on those cards to the nearest whole dollar. It virtually saves your spare change, and then adds a 15% bonus on top of those savings. Redeem your savings at any of their 100+ partner retailers (they give you an e-gift card), or donate your balance to charity through Charity Choice. Easy peasy. 

To Buy: Keep Collective engravable bar
I originally saw this on Christina's IG, but I love it so I'm sharing it here. (And truth be told, I haven't bought it yet since I'm on a bit of a spending freeze for February, but I'll be purchasing tomorrow!) $44 + s/h, and Tiffany donates a percentage to ACLU. How cool is that?! She's also super sweet and helpful. For more info and/or to place your order, contact Tiffany here. 

To Watch: Travelers (Netflix)

It's a sci-fi TV show currently in it's 2nd season about these people from the future who enter people in this time period's bodies right before they die to try and stop worldwide disasters before they happen. There are hundreds of them, and they work in groups on missions. Each group has a leader, a doctor, an engineer, a tactician, and a historian. The most interesting part is that the future people have to resume the peoples' bodies lives that they inhabit. They have to not let wives/husbands realize it's not a different person, take on the same jobs, etc. One guy got into a junkie's body and has to keep up a heroin addiction. It's cray. 

To Eat: Ben & Jerry's Urban Bourbon

It had bourbon caramel swirls, but it's not overwhelming. Kinda like a smoky tatste.... but in ice cream. Deeeeelicious. Oh, I also saw Hostess' Sno Ball and Twinkie flavored ice cream if that's more your jam. 

What should I add to my list?

Three On Thursday: Things Going On In My Life

Quirky Pickings and Lauren started this Tuesday Topics link up in the beginning of January, and I figured since I've been pretty quiet around these parts, I'd fill you in on "Three Things Going On In My Life." 

Work. 
Let's start with the not so fun stuff, eh? For the past 3 months, I've been covering for the telecommunications person at my company as she went out on short term disability (hip surgery). However, she's due back in March. I thought I'd just go back to my old position when she came back, except I was covering for two empty roles in that position, and both of those roles have now been filled. So I have no idea what I'll be doing or if I'll even still have a job in....oh, about 2 weeks. And I have no idea what to do about it, other than update my resume. 

Taxes.
I'm getting my taxes done tonight, and I'm really excited. Is that a weird thing to be excited about? No matter, I'm excited because I know I'm getting a return. Also, as I was gathering my necessary paperwork for the meeting, I realized that I'm able to pay off two student loans in full. Like, right now! BUT I'm going to wait (because ya know, I may be unemployed soon) and pay them off with my return (which I usually put towards a vacation, because priorities). 

Worlds Colliding.
This may just be me, but I always get slightly anxious when my worlds collide. For instance if I'm at happy hour with work friends, and my outside-work-friends join. Does that make sense? I'm worried if they'll like each other and get along. Obviously I want them to, but that doesn't always happen. Anyway, this will likely be happening again soon, and I'm trying not to worry about it. 

What are some things going on in your life right now? 

A Questionnaire and Sh!t Blue Said

I've been all out of sorts lately. So much that I forgot it was Show Us Your Books day even though it's written in my planner *face palm* So instead, in honor of Valentine's Day, I'm sharing some answers about Blue and I followed by a few gems that I remembered to write down recently. Hopefully I'll get my shit together and have a book post later this week. Maybe. 

*The couple that masks together stay together...
that's how it goes, right?*

Who's older? She is

Who was interested first? Probably me but she knew it first. 

More sarcastic? Her, but not by much

Hogs the remote? She does but only because it's her TV and I can't figure out how to use 4 different remotes!

Better driver? Her

Spends the most? She gets a lot of nerd boxes and must have the latest gadgets, so probably her

Smarter? She is... those extra years get her more life experience :)

Did you go to the same school? High school, yes, just at different times.

Who is the most sensitive? Depends on the topic.

Where do you eat out most as a couple? Taco Bell! Just kidding (kind of)... probably Casa Guiseppe's, our fave BYOB Italian restaurant. 

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Key West.

Who does the cooking? She does.

Who is more social? Me.

Who steals the covers? She does! 

Where was your first date? I didn't know it was a date but I guess a local bar. The one where I DID know it was a date was Tero's, a Portuguese restaurant. 

Who's better with the computers? She is.

Who picks where you go to dinner? Goes both ways, but she's usually more decisive.

Who wears the pants in the relationship? We both wear pants! Haha

Who eats more sweets? She does, I don't really like sweets.

______________________________________

Blue: I want an owl.
Me: Like, as a pet?
Blue: No I dunno. Just, around here.
Me: Well you already have neighborhood cats, dogs, birds, and wolves.
Blue: It's a coyote. They're like, the ghetto version of a wolf. And yeah, but there should be a neighborhood owl. They're just so cool.

Regarding breakfast sandwiches...
Blue: It's good hot, it's more egg-y.
Me: I didn't get mine hot. We got them to go.
Blue: You could get it hot, you just gotta talk dirty to it.

Regarding this pen...

Blue: He looks dead.
Me: Well yeah, it's Jesus
Blue: That's not Jesus, it's Obi-Wan Kenobi from the earlier Star Wars.
Me: It looks like Jesus.
Blue: Jesus doesn't have a light saber...
Me: MY Jesus has a light saber.


Watching Jim Gaffigan: " I don't know my wife's phone number..."
Blue: I don't know your phone number *tries a few times*
Me: I don't know yours either.
Blue: It doesn't matter, you wouldn't answer anyway since you don't answer unknown numbers. I could be in prison or dying in a hospital and I'd just tell wait until 8am and call the number that texts me calling me a sugar plum.


In the case of an emergency...
Blue: I could be like "Dani get up, our house is on fire" and you'd be like "Iz you suuuuure?"
Me: Yes.
Blue: And then you'd wait a while and start asking questions. "Do you smell smoke? Is it spreading? Wake me when you smell smoke or it's spreading...."At which point I'd just hog-tie you, throw you over my shoulder, grab the cat and go to warm up the car.

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Do you celebrate or consider it a "Hallmark holiday"? 

Small Goals: February

First, a quick update on January goals:  I was fairly good about powering down by 10pm, but didn't get a whole lot of reading done. And while I remembered to "do it now" at work, my personal email box is overflowing. Sigh. A work in progress I suppose. Basically the only thing that I really did was track spending and reassess the budget.

Spending:

Amazon: $47.97

Brunch with friends: $12

Lunch with coworkers @ Ruth Chris Steakhouse (Restaurant Week pre-fix): $25
Other lunch out with coworkers: $20

Groceries #1: $60.56

Groceries #2: $41.38

Date Night dinner @ Restaurant Week (pre-fix): $129.67

Train/O.A.R/Natasha Bedingfield concert tickets (4): $278

Big Brew Festival tickets (2- via Groupon): $94

Uber: $13.56

wine (5): ~$50

Dinner/drinks with friend: $35

TJ Maxx (all paid with gift cards, so doesn't count): $33

Girl Scout Cookies (4): $17
Superbowl Boxes: $30
Whiskey tasting event (2): $20
Michael's: $15 (planner & small package of stickers)
Anniversary & Valentines Day gifts: undisclosed because she reads this. 

Notes: Lots of dining out, but I really like going out to eat and Restaurant Week only happens twice a year, so not too mad about it. There were a lot of other expenses this month that only happen once a year if that (Girl Scout cookies, Superbowl boxes, concert tickets). Amazon was all stuff that could have been avoided but that I wanted: that CND nail polish that Steph recommended, earbuds because mine break ~every 3-4 months, 2 Christmas presents (on clearance), and a microwavable soup mug for work. 

February Small Goals

• continue working on "Do It Now." 

• Read 2 books. I'm halfway done with one, and if I don't really get on this, there's no way I'll finish the reading challenge.

• recreate/re-establish evening schedule. I used to have one, but with winter and my desire to hibernate, I've completely just go home and eat and lay under a bunch of blankets. I need to get back into a routine. 

• Get taxes done (scheduled for 2/23). I was so happy when I received a reminder text that I had an appointment. 2016 Dani was obviously planning ahead! 

• 21 Bags in 21 Days. Steph and Steph both recently did 30 Bags in 30 Days (in which you get rid of 30 bags of "stuff" in 30 days) but that seemed like a lot. And I didn't start on the 1st, I'm starting today. Wish me luck!

• No Spend February. (Started 2/4 because I wanted concert tickets that went on sale Friday. Moving along...) My rules are no "excess" purchases (Amazon and TJ Maxx, to name a few), and certainly not buying clothes/shoes/accessories. I've already purchased Valentine's Day gifts. But I'm taking a page from Michael's blog and giving myself some other allowances for this. 
• Allowances:
• 2 happy hours (one already scheduled)
• 3 dinners out
• 3 lunches out/purchased

What are some of your goals this month? 

Linking up with Writes Like a Girl. 

Currently: February

Reading: Two Across- Jeff Bartsch For Erin's Book Challenge 6.0 

Watching: all my old faves that are back from mid-season break- Top Chef All Stars, Nashville, Blind Spot, This Is Us, Grey's Anatomy. Also, I went to see Hidden Figures and it totally deserves all the awards and nominations. SO GOOD. I still kind of want to see La La Land, and definitely Lion. On Netflix, Jim Gaffigan's "Cinco" (really funny), Jen Kirkman: Just Keep Living? (ugh, don't waste your time). In the queue: Santa Clarita Diet (starring Drew Barrymore, available 2/3) and Chewing Gum (per Bre's rec). 

Listening to: John Mayer Moving On and Getting Over. On repeat. 

Burning: a $2 candle from TJ Maxx that smells like cigars (below).

Planning: a fun night out with a friend who's visiting from out of town on Friday. Hoping to head out to NYC Restaurant Week! 

Packing: lunches! Finally getting back in the habit of bringing my lunches from home. 

Jonesing: for some green tea ice cream and a vacation. 

Texting: Blue randomness throughout the day.

Wearing: my winter uniform of sweaters and jeans (or sweaters and work pants M-Th). And 

Hearting: my new combat boots which I am (quite unexpectedly) in love with. My mom picked them up randomly thinking I wouldn't like them, but they are so light and comfortable and now I wear them with everything! And this print. It was on clearance for $1, how could I not?! 

What's currently new with you?

Linking up with Anne, Erin, Kristin, Kristen and Gretch.