Life's Little Luxury Necessities

In reflecting on what we could do to cut back our spending, we looked closely at what we were spending our money on. What was necessary, what was not, and what was that in-between category I like to call a luxury necessity.

For us Netflix is a luxury necessity. Yes, technically we don't need Netflix, but we use it a lot and feel we are getting our money's worth out of it. We own movies and get the free basic cable channels, but Netflix adds so much more for a cheap price that it feels justifiable.

Another for me is getting the newspaper delivered to our door everyday. I read the newspaper, my husband will glance through it occasionally- he usually gets the news online. It's an expense, but again a minor one, especially considering the fact that I use the coupons and can usually recoup the cost of the newspaper, sometimes more. Plus I learn about events that are happening around town that would be hard to keep track of otherwise. It's very justifiable. Also, we recycle the newspapers.

One other luxury necessity we enjoy is grocery shopping at Harmons. Yes, sometimes the prices are more, but not always. But the experience is worth any extra cost. Whenever we go to Walmart or Winco, it feels like we are little guinea pigs running around a huge maze trying to avoid running into the crazy looking mice and rats that are everywhere. We know where everything is at Harmons, they carry certain items that other stores don't, and the quality of the produce and meat beats other stores. The have some extra nice items, like a salad bar with sushi, artisan breads, and really good store made bratwurst and store sliced thick bacon. Also, several employees seem to know us because it feels like we have to go at least once a week to the store- they are very friendly.

Those are some of life's little luxury necessities we enjoy, and we'll keep on enjoying them because we save by avoiding the non-necessity luxuries.

Confessions of a Pregnant Weeper

We all know that pregnancy hormones creates an onslaught of emotions we'd all rather not deal with. I'd like to say that most of the times these emotions are very valid and sincere, but unfortunately that is not the case for me. Here are some of the more ridiculous things I've cried about while gestating.

Asian man in truck: It was pretty early on in my pregnancy while my baby was developing vital organs such as his brain and heart and such, so my body was working overtime...that being said, I was driving home and I saw a young Asian man driving a large truck. He looked so small and innocent behind the wheel of the menacing machinery and I was suddenly struck by how fast people grow up and have to go into the world and drive big trucks of their own. I of course burst into sobs.

It's a Hard Knock Life: Again while driving I was listening to show tunes (because I am really cool) and It's a Hard Knock Life came on Sirius Radio. I lasted until around, "No one's there when your dreams at night get creepy! No one cares if you grow...of if you shrink! No one dries when your eyes get wet an' weepy! From all the cryin' you would think this place's a sink!" Then I melted into a blubbery mess. Because orphans.

My daughter's lisp: My daughter has a very very slight lisp. It's the most adorable thing in the world. Occasionally when she's telling me an experience that made her especially sad or happy, her speech patterns are so irresistibly adorable that they will bring tears to my eyes because of her innocence and sweet nature.

My sister's bachelorette party: Weddings can be emotional for anyone, especially a pregnant person. That being said, the night before my sister's wedding we were having a FUN PARTY which didn't include ANY EMOTIONAL STIMULI. Right after opening a bunch of scandalous gifts from her friends and playing lots of fun games I started picturing all the girls women at the party as I'll always remember them. Little girls. My sister is six years younger than I and I've known most of her friends and watched them grow up and suddenly it hit me that my little sister was getting MARRIED and I couldn't stop crying. Seriously, I was leaking out of my eyes and even though I got control over my voice and my heart, I couldn't stop inexplicably leaking tears. I kept wiping them away and all her friends were looking at me like I was a lunatic (which I am).

It's a Boy! Now lots of women cry during ultrasounds, especially when learning the gender. This one is more of the way than I cried than the actual subject material. I have two daughters, and the ultrasound tech whispered to my girls what kind of baby I would be having. My two year old informed me that it was going to be another sister, and I'm not going to lie, as much as I love daughters I was a little let down that I wasn't going to be having a son. That is until the Tech corrected my two year old and said, "No it's not a sister, it's a boy!" Perhaps it was my initial let down that caused me to be caught up in a storm of emotions. I was on the verge of tears learning that it was a girl, and now it was going to be a boy and the sudden and surprising high caught me in an uncontrollable sob. I had to get a hold of myself because I was shaking so badly she couldn't continue the ultrasound. picture a grown woman on a table curled up in the fetal position shaking like a crazy person and ugly crying. Pregnancy. 

Guilty Pleasures: Story of My Life

Okay.  Here's the thing. I think I have great taste in music (who doesn't think that really?).  It's eclectic. Maybe that means I actually have horrible taste in music.  I don't know!

Regardless of musical taste, I was driving home from work a week ago and I flipped on the radio (which I rarely do, mostly because my drive home is 10 minutes maximum) and maybe Story of My Life by One Direction was on the radio.  And maybe I was happy about that. And maybe I kind of sang along.

Then I felt a little embarrassed because I am a 30-year-old woman and, for whatever reason, really enjoying and liking a song by One Direction seems like something that shouldn't be a thing at this point in my life.  Then I said "screw that, this is a great song."

So yeah. Maybe it isn't a GREAT song, but it hit me in just that way that a good song should.  I was genuinely pleased to be listening to it.  The same thing happened to me on the way home today and I'm sure it will continue to happen because I definitely really like Story of My Life.






P.S. I feel inclined to add that I don't really like other One Direction songs. This is why I'm counting this as a guilty pleasure. It's out of the norm, and generally, I probably would keep this song hidden on my iPod and only listen to it when I was alone in my car, but I mean REALLY listen to it. Sing to it like a crazy person and sheepishly turn down the radio when I realize I drive a Hybrid and everyone walking past my car can hear me.

Get a life!

*This post is not meant to invoke any arguments or opinions on current laws, or debates. Simply a story of my life.

My husband said that to me. Right to my face.

Okay, so perhaps I am exaggerating. Maybe just a little.  Alright, that's not at all what he said, but that is how I took it.

Let me give you some quick background.  My husband is a huge gun enthusiast. He loves them. He is fascinated by them.  He has a vast knowledge of gun type and how they work and can name any gun we see in a movie even if it's only shown for the briefest of  moments.  I have to admit I am beginning to be able to as well. Crazy.

Well, he loves guns. They are his hobby. He learns about that, he plans to go shooting, he plans the next gun he wants to buy, and he loves telling me about them.  One night, he said to me "Hun, I feel bad always spending money on guns, you need to come up with a hobby to spend on too!"  This is his way of telling me he wants me to find something that I enjoy as much as he does.  But it took me by surprise.

I felt as though he was telling me to get a life.  And as I sat thinking of what hobby I could focus on, I found that I have many likes, but nothing I have enjoyed enough to call a hobby, per say.

So I sat down, and looked at pinterest (how did we ever get ideas before that lovely, horrible website?!) And I realized, I enjoy looking at ideas for improving my home.  We live in an apartment still, so I can only do so much, but with a treasure trove of ideas before me, I have found quite a few I can do.

And you know what? I am stoked!  I have already found several ideas, and even begun on some (this conversation and decision were fairly recent)  I'll share my first once it's done. I get this silly joy of making things for my home.

And I realized, it's very freeing. I have something I can do that is completely frivoulous, something that no one else may care about, something that is all mine.  Selfish, I am aware.  But, you need to know how good that feels.

So I challenge you. GET A LIFE.  Find a hobby, do something that's for you, that you enjoy, and embrace it.  Who cares if anyone else likes it with you, or if anyone wants to join.  I am beyond proud of my silly project that I will hang in my dining area.  And it feels good.

Social Media Challenge: Share Something Positive

Today's social media challenge, is for you to share something positive on the internet. 

The internet can be a cesspool of negativity between YouTube comments, political rivalries, and status rants, so today lets try to add a little more happiness by sharing something that uplifts and inspires us. 

It might be an inspiring quote you came across on Pinterest

It could be a moving video you saw on YouTube

Perhaps it's just a nostalgic post you saw on Buzzfeed

Or a cute picture of a child you love

Spread some JOY today