We've Spent a Quarter! Oh My!

Tthere is that old saying, "Time is Money."  I love it because it is true.  Everyday when I drive 3 hours round-trip for work, I think to myself about how I wish I got paid for it.  Sure, I make a decent salary, but my gas money eats into it pretty bad, especially with gas prices reaching toward $4.00 a gallon now.  I've got a pretty fuel efficient car, but that only matters when I drive 70mph constantly.  Of course I don't do that, as my 2 most recent speeding tickets will attest for. While I get 41 mpg when driving  like a calm person from Utah is expected to, I only get 30 mpg when I drive like a person from any other normal state.  Mind you, I have lived in Michigan, California, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, and Utah.  I have also been through Wisconsin, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, south Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico, and maybe even a few more, so I kind of have a really good idea of how people drive all over the country.  Utah is the worst so far!

I digress!

With the idea that time is money looming over my head, let's break a year down into monetary terms.   If we consider that we are spending time throughout the year, then we are also spending money...therefor we have spent one quarter of our dollar so far for the year.  When I was a kid, a quarter was a lot of money!  The tooth fairy didn't even leave a quarter under my pillow for a molar tooth!  Now I''m pretty sure kids get at least a whole dollar for just a regular front tooth, don't they? 

So now that I've spent a whole quarter, I have to decide if it was worth it for what I got in return.  So far, what have I done this year that accounts for spending a whole quarter on it?  Well, let's take a look:

Spent a week in the hospital 

completed my first term of school

achieved the President's list for my academic progress

worked for over a month on a special team at work where I have learned a ton of new stuff

 hosted a gender reveal party at our house

sent birthday cards almost on time

 went to the first annual games tournament party for work

 started the RAW DIET

lost 20 pounds

 started going to the gym

 started many projects around the house

have been away from Mr. Fantastic for 3 weeks now

got accepted to a vocational rehabilitation program for veterans which will in turn help me to finish school

got an MRI on my back after injuring it 3 1/2 years ago - thank you ARMY and Uncle Sam!  Jerks!

got my first mani/pedi in almost 2 years

got a dehydrator

got a food processor

stopped saying yes all the time, and realized I have to say no sometimes to protect my own sanity

did my taxes and won!

So, was all that worth a quarter?  I'd say so!  I think I have been pretty accomplished so far this year.  I am remaining curious by trying new things - new foods, new activities, new projects, new schedules, new classes, new jobs, new people, new tasks - and I am trying very hard to survive while the Mr. is away.

How did you spend your quarter?  Was it worth it to you?
Have a great weekend!
Loves!!!

52 Lists. 52 Weeks. Fours

This list actually has four lists within it!  How cool.  So here are the requirements for this weeks lists.

1. four places you've visited.
2. four things you wish you could get paid to do for a living.
3. four things you are looking forward to.
4. four people who inspire you the most.

Here are my 4 lists of fours:

1.  Australia, Germany, South Dakota, New Mexico
2.  Photography, Pinterest, Stationary Design, Procrastinating
3.  Mr. Fantastic coming home, our landscaping being done, having a place for everything and everything in its
     place, finishing my degree
4.  Mother Hen, Mr. Fantastic, My instructors, Grams

52 Lists. 52 Weeks. List #39

I Love Rock 'N Roll
I love this song first of all!  One of my very first experiences with it was back in high school when I was on the color guard squad.  Our half-time show was classic rock hits and we did three different songs.  The guard was amazing and we actually won some competitions with this show!  During this song in our show at one point all the music stops and the entire 100+ people in the band shout the lines "I love rock and roll so put another dime in the jukebox baby.  I love rock and roll so came and take some time and dance with me."  At this point, there was a huge burst of energy from both the music as well as the crowd!

Foreplay/Longtime
When all my friends and I lived in Texas, it used to be that everyone always crowded up on the weekends at "the house" and played Rockband, played guitars, sang songs, drank beer, played pool, and just had a good time.  This song was one of the favorites on Rockband.  Mr. Fantastic was the best at it on drums and pretty much had it memorized.  He would walk around singing out the colors of the drums that were meant to be hit and in the correct order and to the tune of the song!  Loved it. 

Anyone Else but You
The Juno movie and especially this song were really special to the Mr. and I during our summer of love.  That summer in '08 when we were falling in love was the greatest.  Nothing else seemed to matter except love, friends, and fun.  It was an amazing summer and I love remembering falling in love with this man!

1,2,3,4
When Mr. Fantastic was in Iraq for his third time, Ihad a really tough time.  We used to talk all the time, but it just wasn't the same as being with him.  At this same time I was learning to adjust to my Borderline Personality Disorder.  I always had trouble remembering how much he loved me.  One day he made me look this song up on YouTube and listen to it.  He told me to always think of it when I was feeling sad.

Pour Some Sugar On Me
This reminds me of the crazy life I lived when I was in Arizona.  We stayed up late and got up early.  Nothing mattered more to us than a good time and a fun party.  I'm not sure where all our money every went, but we were always broke and just didn't care.  We lived fast and hard. 

So, has your week gone well?  Mine is getting there!  I can't wait for the weekend though.
Loves!!!

52 Lists. 52 Weeks. Music I Can't Stop Listening to

So, I am completely addicted to my Sirius XM radio!  How did I ever live without satellite?   I have no idea!  My free trial is almost up and I have to subscribe again.  I sure wish they had the option of subscribing for life!  HAHA.
So, here is what I listen to for hours each day:

Adele

Grouplove

Foster the People

Animal Kingdom

Chalk Stars

Animal Kingdom | Myspace Music Videos
The Black Keys

The Eagles

Busy Being Fabulous

Eagles | Myspace Music Videos
Journey

Boston

Maroon 5
Florence and the Machine
Prince
Duran Duran
Katy Perry
Nickleback
John Mellencamp
Lady Antebellum
I'm telling you that the list actually goes on and on forever more as well, but I didn't want to spend all day with this post! I'll let you ger to your busy week! 
Loves!!!

RAW: Carrot Cake Goodness!

Just some lovely food inspiration.  I love what I am doing with RAW food and hope that I can inspire people to give it a try even if they don't go 100% Raw, every little bit will help them feel amazing.

The Cake

Closeup of all the yummy carrots, raisins, dates, and spices

 

 

 

With the yummy cashew frosting!

I hope you are all having a lovely start to your week!  Can you believe that Spring is really almost here?  Hooray!
Loves!!!

I Love You

I just wanted to remind all of my readers that I love you!  Since I have no idea how to get a gif image on my blog, I just used a lot of pictures to get the message across.  You can click on any of the images or the source link to see the original.  Trust me, it is way cooler!  Oh, and if anyone can tell me how to get a gif into a blogger post I would be so very happy!

 

 

Source

Loves!!!