17) Coyote Blue: A Novel by Christopher Moore
18) The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Nature Photography by Jim Miotke

13) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel by Lisa See – AMAZING BOOK!
14) Garden Spells (Book Club Book) by Sarah Addison Allen
15) Past Remembering by Lyn Denison
16) Hunger: An Unnatural History by Sharman Apt Russell

Paid another 600 toward this debt. Total down to $4,844!

10) Standing in the Light: My Life as a Pantheist by Sharman Apt Russell

11) Imagining Reality by Lynn Galli

12) Prodigal Summer: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver

As you saw in my previous post this is almost finished. We’re hoping to get the curtains and maybe the blinds figured out this weekend. After that all we need to do is get the electrician in and buy the art and accessories. YAY!

We’ve got less than two months before we leave for Maine. We’re both so excited and have a lot of things planned. We’ve got all the lodging booked in both Maine and Mass. We’re planning to take our time driving up the coast of Maine by stopping in all the small coastal towns before we get to Bar Harbor. We’re planning hiking trips, sea kayaking, a lobster boat ride, shopping, and touring a local brewery and winery! We’ll be spending a lot of time in Acadia National Park. The pictures I’ve seen are just breath-taking. And we’ve also made a rule that we will eat lobster at least once every day we’re there!

I’m almost caught up on all the events that have happened recently. We had a few big things that were scrap-worthy happen all at once. First was our anniversary, then Terri’s birthday, and next we had a weekend vacation with friends. I’m finished with the anniversary and Terri’s birthday and hope to start on the friends weekend today or next week. I also want to scrap our two birdie families. So lots to do!

We made our first $600 payment toward the student loan. Going down?

Remodel my Bedroom
Well as I just posted in the weekend recap, this is underway. Here is our to-do list:

• Reroute electric – the overhead lights aren’t connected to the switch, not sure why they did that.
• Remove bumpy, annoying ceiling
• Remove ugly wall paper and border
• Prime & Paint walls and ceiling
• New bedroom furniture
• Add curtains
• New ceiling fan
• New storage containers, accessories, decor
• Add crown molding

I can say that we will have the crossed out finished by this week.

7) Wasted Heart by Lynn Galli

8) The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

9) In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan

We’re now ready to start working on this goal. Any extra money we have left over will be shoveled toward this debt. Outside of our mortgage this is the only other debt we carry right now. Currently we have a little over $6K to pay off. My goal is by the end of the year this will be gone but the sooner the better. I want at the VERY least to pay $600 a month on this goal. This will mean that we’ll need to really watch our budget and spending and I’m proud to say this so far this month we’ve done excellent!

For our savings we currently we have over $2500. With the economy the way it is we need to build this a little more. I’m banking that both of us won’t lose our jobs at the same time so if one of us loses our job we’ll need $5000 for 6 months living expenses in addition to the other persons income. If we both lose our jobs this would take us through about 2-3 months. This would be bare bones, no saving but insurances would all still be covered and we’re comfortable with that. So our savings goal is now $5000. We’ll be trying accomplishing this at the same time as our next goal, with the next goal being more of a priority.

Finally finished the beer dinner layout so I’m all caught up.

I’ve been putting us out there a lot more and it seems to be paying off. We’ve got a few “friend-dates” next week and a party invitation at the end of the month and I’m really excited about them.

I’m getting slightly afraid I’m getting in over my head and this is going to be too much to handle let alone maintain. I’m also putting myself way out there which makes me slightly uncomfortable, but sometimes uncomfortable is a good thing. These connections might all fizzle out also. I think the source is because I’m putting myself out there both personally AND professionally right now. The combination is a little overwhelming.

This goal is definitely being met which kind of has me thinking about when I’ll know I’ve met it. The goal is to make new friends so these connection need to turn into friendships. How does one measure that? I figure if I feel like I’ve made 2 good connections and these acquaintances become friends, I’ll have met my goal.

We’ve decided to cross boston off our list of stops. It will save us money and allow us more time in Maine. Last night I booked our cottage at Edgewater Motel and Cottage. I’m so excited. I need to re-do our itenterary and budget but I’m getting so excited. Four more months to go!

We filed the paperwork online last night to open DW’s IRA. She should be getting a phone call today to finish setting it up.

We volunteered this past weekend at the Humane Society. We had so much fun! When we first got there we got to help set up the puppy/kitten room. After that we spent the rest of the time walking the older dogs. Terri and I had a blast with the dogs and were able to tag-team which made it so much easier. It was raining and really muddy but I almost think that added to the fun! We’re planning to make this our monthly volunteer event.

I have been working on this goal it’s just a slow process. I’m in the process of taking an acquaintance relationship up to a friendship level. I think it will be a good friendship if it’s mutual and right now I think it is. In March, Terri and I will be joining some organizations that have been meeting on Wed’s. We’ve been unable to attend because of my pottery class but should be able to try them out this month. I’m excited!

We didn’t do as well as I hoped this month. Some of it is due to Terri having to work out of town and the cost for the food, travel, etc for her and her guys. That $250 will be refunded to her but it will probably be a few weeks and will go directly into savings when we get it. We also had to have a plumber come out this month which was another $130. So we were only able to add $120 this month BUT my tax refund will be coming in about a week and at that point we’ll be opening Terri’s IRA (another goal completed) and putting the rest into savings. By next month we will have completed some of our short term financial goals and I’ll be expanding on the next move we want to make.

4 The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation by Elizabeth Berg

5 The Life Organizer: A Woman’s Guide to a Mindful Year by Jennifer Louden

6 A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini